Got a car, where to go eat?

[m_l]

Hi there,
I am visiting SF Bay Area in about a weeks time and for two days i have a car and would like to drive around just see the area outside the city but even more importantly i would like to be able to go to some great diners or restaurants for lunch & dinner.

Day 1 i'm planning to go shopping so will be driving to Gilroy and Milpitas
Day 2 is undecided, so if you have any suggestions please do let me know

By the way, we're a group of foodies who don't drink

thanks in advance!!

ML

[wolfe]

When your drive is over where do you plan to end up, SFO, Oakland, San Jose?

[m_l]

some really good suggestions, thanks everyone.

will end up in SFO.

[annabana]

Second the rec. of Tomales Bay for oysters. The Marshall Store, right on the bay has the best bar.b.q'd oysters on the planet, with incredible views from its rustic deck. On the way up the coast, on HWY 1, drive along the Bolinas lagoon for the seals and birds and then amble through Point Reyes Station, a quirky little town with interesting shopping and is the home base of Cowgirl Creamery, the now iconic Bay Area cheese maker. Have fun.

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Marshall Store
19225 Hwy 1, Marshall, CA 94940

Cowgirl Creamery
80 4th St, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

[Robert Lauriston]

You might consider going to the outlets in Vacaville or Petaluma instead, the South Bay is mostly suburban sprawl.

Be sure to drive down 280, there's nothing there but it's lovely. The Vietnamese food courts at Grand Century and Lion Tully are worth a detour.

I have Lizarran on my list to try next time I'm in Gilroy. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/794664

Second on Fremont Diner though the main draw up that way is wineries.

Driving out Sir Francis Drake to Point Reyes and back down highway 1 through Bolinas (or the other way around) is a nice trip, some good food in Point Reyes Station, oysters at the Marshall Store.

http://www.chow.com/search?query=poin...

The half and half artichoke and green chile soup is at Duarte's. Fun old dive, you can eat well or badly depending on what you order. Barbara's Fish Trap is good, most of the locals seem to order from the Mexican half of the menu.

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Marshall Store
19225 Hwy 1, Marshall, CA 94940

Grand Century Shopping Mall
1001 Story Rd, San Jose, CA

Barbara's Fish Trap
281 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Fremont Diner
2660 Fremont Dr, Sonoma, CA

Lion Tully
1710 Tully Rd, San Jose, CA

[wolfe]

I believe I constructed the sentence well enough to convey that the soup was that which RW suggested at Duarte's, maybe not. In any event, if you are going to send someone there you should warn them about the pies. I believe your words were:"Good filling, crap crust"
Robert Lauriston on Aug 10, 2010 01:39 PM
"Buy the excellent olallieberry filling and make your own pie. Duarte's crust is tasteless crap."
Robert Lauriston on Mar 18, 2009 07:45 PM

[ML8000]

Instead of Duarte's, might try Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos (the taco joint in the gas station) for a quick lunch, or try somewhere in Half Moon Bay. I tried a hole-in-the-wall-ish place on Hwy 1 in Half Moon Bay, Taqueria La Mexicana, with some friends. Good Mexican food, plus broasted chicken (which was excellent). Reasonable prices, nice staff.

From there I'd head down to Los Gatos via Hwy 1 and go to Manresa for dinner or perhaps Santa Cruz. Good tacos and then some some excellent michelin star California cuisine. However if you head back over the hill towards Milpitas, could hit Chez TJ or a number of nice places.

Either way, seeing the Pacific is a good thing.

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Manresa Restaurant
320 Village Lane, Los Gatos, CA 95030

Taqueria La Mexicana
250 Cabrillo Hwy S, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

[Civil Bear]

Count me in as a lover of the half & half at Duarte's.

[rworange]

What days of the week?

Day 1 ... shop at Milpitas first. On the way back from Gilroy, come back along the coast. Stop at Swanton Berry farm if they are open late. Have some artichoke soup at Duarte's in Pescadero. Pick someplace in Half Moon Bay.

Day 2

Fremont Diner in Sonoma
If Sunday, the San Rafael farmers market in the morning.

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Fremont Diner
2660 Fremont Dr, Sonoma, CA

[wolfe]

I would drive the extra 45 miles to get to the coast for the view and maybe Barbara's Fish Trap but not the artichoke soup, even 1/2 and 1/2 with the green chile. I would even throw in Harley's Goat Farm but not that soup.

http://www.harleyfarms.com/

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Barbara's Fish Trap
281 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

[rworange]

Extra 45 miles from Gilroy? Since they were down south it just seemed it would be nicer to come back along the coast. I wouldn't send anyone stationed in SF for two days down that way for artichoke soup. Anyway, I was hoping others might give other recs for coast route back.

[AdamD]

marshall on tomales bay for oysters
nice drive and a beautiful setting to enjoy the local oysters