Noya Restaurant & Lounge, San Pablo

At Noya Restaurant & Lounge, guests experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of many different cultures. The worldly menu spans dishes such as American barbecue ribs, Italian chicken fettuccini alfredo, Honduras carne asada, and Salvadorian salpicon—a mixture of chopped steak, onions, cilantro, radish, vinegar and lime juice. The atmosphere, meanwhile, is just as inspired as the cuisine: on any given night, diners might dance to live jazz or salsa beats or belt out their own favorite tune at karaoke. In addition to bringing together guests from all walks of life for food and fun, the restaurant further links itself to the community by working closely with local culinary students, senior citizens, and special-education programs.