Restaurants in Los Altos

At Sushi Blvd, a tantalizing display of teriyaki steaks and udon noodle soups intersects with ocean-fresh sushi creations to entice taste buds with dinners that embrace the intricacies of spicy, umami, and tangy flavors. Guests kick off feasts with plates of steamed mussels or savory enoki mushrooms before investigating specialty rolls including caterpillar rolls draped in slivers of avocado, and Flying Duck rolls dusted with crispy tempura flakes. Hot plates of pork katsu and fresh mackerel pair with potent glasses of sake, which help guests toast to the chef’s good health or the waiter’s uncanny Hume Cronyn impersonation.

Dishes of salmon tartare and bacon-fried rice glide through the dining room of The Red Crane, as if imitating the flight of the restaurant's namesake. They land atop crisp white tablecloths, which cover tables dotted with glowing tea candles. In the kitchen, chefs prepare other contemporary renditions of classic Asian cuisine, using traditional recipes to create teriyaki sauce and enhancing other dishes with modern design principles. Brimming with tuna, salmon, hamachi, and three types of vegetables, the chefs' signature rainbow ceviche is more colorful than a sunset during a paintball tournament.

Taking diners on a journey through the regions of India, the artisan cuisine at The Menu runs the culinary gamut from sizzling tandoori chicken to fluffy naan, each dish composed of fresh, organic, and healthful ingredients. Puffy samosas and crispy kale pakoda are lightly fried in grape-seed oil, while curries are prepared with almonds and other nuts to create a rich, creamy consistency free from the fattiness of cream. These cooking practices are part of The Menu’s commitment to promoting organic food and healthy sustainable living as an active member of the organic movement. In addition to earth-friendly food, part of The Menu’s mission is to be a positive and hands-on member of their community and support local schools and charities through fundraising and nutritional food dives.

Spanning 10,000 square feet, The Menu's interior includes a dining room, wine bar, full stage, and private banquette hall for up to 150 people. On Thursday evenings, the sounds of live jazz fill the expansive space, delighting guests and the hot-air-balloon pilots who transported them there.