Restaurants Near the Marin Civic Center

[SunsetKid]

We are planning to meet for dinner before an event at the Marin Civic Center. We are from Berkeley and San Francisco and really don't know restaurants in the area. Any ideas?

[wolfe]

Check this out.
Le Chalet Basque Restaurant
405 N San Pedro Rd
San Rafael, CA 94903
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/701879
http://www.chaletbasque.com/

[Sarah]

Depends on what you're in the mood for - across the freeway from the MCC, there's Toscana and Gaspare's. One freeway stop away is Northgate Mall where there's a lot of chain-y places.
http://www.ristorantelatoscana.com/
http://www.gasparespizza.com/San_Rafael_directions.html
http://www.shopatnorthgate.com/Dining...

[TerriL]

Is there a type of food or atmosphere you're looking for? What's your price range? In addition to the restaurants already mentioned in the immediate vicinity of the CC, I occasionally go to Joe's Cafe on Redwood Hwy and Jhan Tong at Northgate One.

If you're coming from Berkeley and SF, you'll pass right by downtown so could easily stop there as well.

[SunsetKid]

Non-chain thanks and food is more important than price.

[gumbolox]

Downtown San Rafael is more or less on your way. Close to the freeway you'll find Las Camelias: http://www.lascameliasrestaurant.com/pages/our_story.html. Family run, distinctive Mexican: Sol Food:http://www.solfoodrestaurant.com/ A bit of hustle bustle here, but the line usually moves quickly; Royal Thai: http://www.royalthaisanrafael.com/ Under the freeway. Good quality and well prepared. Sometimes could use some hottening, but they will provide you with the appropriate condiments on request. Lotus has decent Indian food: http://www.lotusrestaurant.com/, though I'm inclined to head to the city or the East Bay for this.
All of these are an easy, close off-on 101 on on your way to the Civic Center

[Malcolm Ruthven]

All those suggested by gumbolox are better than the ones very near Civic Center mentioned above.