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Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant (Napa)

Address: 4110 Howard Ln, Napa, CA 94558

Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant is a fancy Italian dining restaurant that serves fresh traditional Italian dishes and is open for lunch and dinner. In 1993, Giovanni and Donna Scala opened Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant in Napa. Donna Scala who is a renowned Chef later died in 2014. Chef Donna Scala’s legacy was continued by his husband Giovanni and current Chef Scott Warner. Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant is one of the famous Restaurant in Napa.

The Restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor heated seating with colorful sun shade. We arrived for lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni restaurant at around 11:30 a.m. which is the time when the restaurant just opened. We were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess and was seated at one of their outdoor heated table closest to the beautiful vineyard. There was a beautiful, whimsical water fountain situated in the middle of the garden. And all their outdoor tables were situated in their relaxing garden overlooking the beautiful mountains and the vineyards.

We decided to celebrate our Easter Sunday lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant in Napa. The friendly waiter named Juan provided us with a Fresh Focaccia bread with olive oil to dip the fresh warm bread. We started out with an appetizer and ordered the famous “Grilled Octopus” with frisee, arugula, potatoes, olives, lemon and olive oil for $18. The grilled octopus was soft, flavorful and not too rubbery or tough and was grilled to perfection. And for our main entrees, we ordered “Pollo Alla Diavola” which is an oven roasted spicy rocky junior half chicken, Linda’s brocolli, natural jus for $35. The chicken’s skin is crunchy outside but very soft and moist in the inside. “Ravioli” with spinach, pecorino, bellwether ricotta lemon cream for $18. And my wife had a special menu of the day which is a fresh fish with capers and a special creamy sauce on top with a side of vegetables and potatoes. And for our dessert we ordered their special mango and coconut sorbet which is shaped like an Easter egg and a duck shaped cookie. The special sorbet dessert is so refreshing and melts in the mouth. As for our cocktail drinks my wife ordered the “La Vida Flora” made up of La Vida Mezcal, Amaro Montenegro and pineapple juice for $16.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the food that we ordered. The gorgeous view of the mountain and vineyards, the great service, outdoor seating and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our experience extra special. We would highly recommend the Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant due to the quality of food and the amazing Napa view. The best part was meeting the owner Don Giovanni and took a picture with him and my family. He was approachable, friendly, inviting and a warm personality.

Tips: Make sure that you reserve the earliest time since they get so busy on weekends. The restaurant is close to Meritage Resort and Spa with a bowling alley, Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, Town of Yountville with Bouchon Bistro and Bakery famous for their sweet and delicious pastries. V. Sattui Winery which is about 20 minutes drive and famous for their dessert wine “Muscato”.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel/room close to Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant in Napa Ca.

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Trattore Farms Tasting Room & Terrace Winery (Sonoma County)

Address: 7878 Dry Creek Rd, Geyserville, CA 95441

*** On your visit please mention to Trattore Winery that you’ve seen the review via our travel blog www.explore2places.com

The Trattore Winery is a boutique winery situated high a top a hill with an amazing view of the valley/vineyards. The winery is located west of Healdsburg in Dry Creek Valley and grows both good quality wine grapes and award winning olive oil. Trattore Winery is owned by Mr. Tim Bucher and his wife Mary Louise Bucher. Trattore means tractor in Italian due to the owners love for tractors. In fact, they have a few cool and beautiful red tractors on display inside their spacious wine tasting bar area. And the winery features Rhone-style wines, olive oils, vinegar, charcuterie, panini, and seasonal wood-fired pizzas. The Trattore Winery is about 1 hour and 30 minutes (85 miles) from San Francisco via US-101 North. It is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 am- 5 pm and closed on Tuesday-Wednesday.

The Trattore Winery accepts both reservation and walk-in customers. I contacted the winery the same day when we were in the area and was lucky that they have availability. The scenic drive to the winery was very relaxing with the gorgeous view of the mountains and beautiful wineries. The fun part was driving through all the wineries with our Mustang convertible on a warm sunny day. We had to pass through the winery gate and drove up the long winding driveway that led us to the top of the hill. The property grounds are beautiful, clean, and relaxing with olive trees. The amazing view on top of the property was so picturesque and relaxing.

As we arrived at the door, we were immediately greeted by the friendly and welcoming owner Mary Louise. We were then escorted to our table with an unobstructed view of the valley/vineyards. The table was on a large outdoor patio, very clean and have sunshade available to keep their customers cool on a warm sunny day. The view is amazing, picturesque and looks like a picture on a postcard. We were served by both the owner Mary Louise and Candis (Manager) They were very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with an excellent service. My daughter ordered a glass of fruit juice and while my wife had the 5 small glasses of their signature wine sampler. There were a wide variety of appetizers or food pairings on the menu but we ordered the Trattore Charcuterie (serves 2-4) which is a selection of Journeyman Meat Company salumi, local artisan cheeses, dried fruit, nuts, arugula salad and house made crostini for $35. The delicious Grilled Seasonal Chipotle Chicken panini sandwiches with roasted tomatoes, white cheddar, and DCOC Chipotle olive oil for $20. The Italian with Ham Panini sandwiches with Black Forest ham, journeyman’s salumi, mozzarella and pesto for $20. My favorite is the Italian Ham Panini since I love anything with pesto. We didn’t order dessert as we were all satisfied and full with the food that we ordered. My wife bought one bottle of their popular “Two Lakes” wine and we’re lucky enough that the Vineyard owner Mary Louise signed the wine bottle with my daughter’s name on it. My daughter was surprised, very happy and thankful for the kind gesture.

Overall, we were very satisfied with the quality of the food and the outstanding service of the owner Mary Louise and the entire staff. The unobstructed view of the beautiful vineyard, the outstanding service, and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our wine tasting experience very memorable. It made our early Valentines Day celebration for my wife and daughter a success. The best part of our experience was when the owner Mary Louise signed (with my daughter’s name) the “Two Lakes” bottle that we purchased.

Tips: All their outdoor seating have a view of the vineyard. They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. Dogs and children are welcome in the winery. Lake Sonoma is about a 15-20 minutes drive from the winery. Try to visit the overlook area with a view of Lake Sonoma but drive safely as the road is winding. The winery is also close to Truett Hurst Winery which allow children and have farm animals onsite. Trattore also have a display of cool tractors inside their wine tasting bar area. You can book an “Estate Tour” or “Private Event” online or by calling them. The winery also offer seasonal wood-fired pizza on Sundays from April-October. They also offer wine club membership to customers.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Trattore Winery after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you. Please don’t forget to subscibe to our blog.

Click here to find a hotel close to the Trattore Winery in Geyserville Ca.

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Hazel Hill Restaurant at Montague Resort in Healdsburg

Address: 100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Hazel Hill Restaurant in Montague Resort is an indulgent French-influenced California style cuisine that is perched on a hill in Healdsburg with an amazing view of the mountain and vineyards. The restaurant is nestled in the 258 acres of rolling vineyards with heritage oak groves. surrounding the property. It is also an exclusive and expensive resort with two beautiful swimming pools, private rooms with a view and lots of amenities onsite. The restaurant is located minutes away from historic downtown Healdsburg. Hazel Hill Restaurant is about an hour and 40 minutes ( 79 miles) away from San Francisco via US 101- North. Hazel Hill is open 7 days a week and the breakfast hours are from 7:30 am-10:30 am, lunch is from 11:30 am- 2:30 pm and dinner is from 5:30 pm- 9pm.

We were impressed and in awe of the exclusivity and modern decor of the property. We had to passed through the main lobby with a fireplace in order to get to the restaurant. The Restaurant is by reservation only and it’s usually difficult to reserve a table due to it’s popularity. We arrived for lunch at Hazel Hill Restaurant at around 1:30 p.m. and was amazed by the ambiance and unobstructed views of the mountain and vineyard. We drove slowly up on a hill for about 3 minutes on a narrow winding road. As we arrived on top, we were immediately greeted by a friendly valet attendant, who opened our car doors, gave us a claim stub, and parked our car for free. (The valet service was free only on the day we visited). We noticed a lot of very expensive and exotic cars parked in front of the hotel. We checked in with the friendly host and were seated right away.

We were seated in the outdoor patio/terrace which we had requested with an unobstructed view of the mountain and vineyard. The server provided us with a fresh bread with olive oil and butter. As for our drinks, we started off with non alcoholic beverages. We ordered Manzanita with lemon, honey, sparkling apple cider for $8. And Spring Bloom with pomegranate grenadine, lime and soda for $8. As for our main entree, my daughter ordered the famous Westholme Wagyu Steak frites with ramp vinaigrette, bearnaise for $38. While my wife had the JB’s Spicy Squid Salad with arugula, white beans, and taggiasca olives for $21. As for me, I ordered the savory Southern BBQ Shrimp with grits, white cheddar and tasso for $36. And finally for our dessert we had the Donut Holes (12 pieces) with vanilla cream anglaise and chocolate sauce for $13 (its similar to Beignet). To our surprise, we were also served a free complimentary Meyer Lemon Tart meringue with sable breton and fresh berries for our Wedding Anniversary.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the foods that we ordered. The amazing view of the vineyard, the great service and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our experience special and memorable. We would highly recommend the Hazel Hill Restaurant due to the quality of food and the amazing mountain and vineyard view.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Hazel Hill Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near Hazel Hill Restaurant/ Montague Resort in Healdsburg, Ca.

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Boat Oyster Bar (Marshall, CA.)

Address: 20215 Shoreline Hwy Marshall, Ca. 94990

Boat Oyster Bar is a full-service outdoor cafe at Hog Island Oyster Farm. In 1983, started oyster farming in Tomales Bay on five acres of shellfish farm and produced high-quality, fresh Pacific Oysters. The oyster farm grew to 160 acres and raised five farm-raised, edible oysters. The uniqueness and fresh taste of their oysters are credited to their farming techniques and the water they grow. Boat Oyster Bar is situated in a town called Marshall California and is owned by Marine Biologists/Oyster Farmers John Finger and Terry Sawyer. The company is one of the Top Producers of sustainable shellfish. The Boat Oyster Bar is about 1 hour and 41 minutes (57 miles) from San Francisco via US 101 North and CA-1 Pt. Reyes Petaluma Rd.

Our drive to the Boat Oyster Bar in Marshall was a very fun, scenic, and winding road. The relaxing and beautiful view of Tomales Bay during our travel was well worth the drive. We saw a lot of dairy farms, cows, and local stores on our way to the Boat Oyster Bar. We arrived at around 11:30 a.m. and found parking right away. We had to pass through some of the areas where they keep their fresh oysters and a retail window for ordering oysters to go. We were surprised and mesmerized as we walked into the Boat Oyster Bar. The settings were so relaxing and beautiful as there were about 10-15 outdoor picnic tables all overlooking the beautiful Tomales Bay with clear blue skies. There were only 2 couples seated when we arrived as if we have the entire place to ourselves. We had to first place our order at the bar and our food was brought to our table by our friendly server. The cool thing is that we get to watch or see when they were grilling our fresh oysters. The extra small oysters which are called sweetwater were rich, sweet-tasting Pacific Oysters that were so delicious, especially the grilled bbq. The oysters were a little bit spicy due to the Chipotle but very savory with a mouth-watering flavorful sauce.

There were three of us at our party which includes 2 adults and 1 child. We ordered the BBQ grilled oysters with 4 oysters per order and grilled with Chipotle bourbon butter for $17. Daily Raw Oysters served with hogwash and lemon with 6 oysters for $21. (12 pcs for $40, 24 pcs for $80). Charcuterie Board for 4 people with the famous Cow Girl Creamery Mt. Tam, salami, and crackers for $34. And for our drinks, my daughter had the Mexican Coke and my wife ordered the local wine. We ordered the famous extra small oysters (sweetwater) which were so sweet and delicious. My wife loved the savory, fresh raw Pacific oysters served on a platter with ice. After lunch, we walked around the area and took lots of beautiful pictures with the view of Tomales Bay. The taste of Mt. Tam cheese on our charcuterie board was very delicate, cheesy, and earthy that we end up driving to the town and purchased one.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun Father’s Day lunch experience at the Boat Oyster Bar especially eating at their outdoor picnic tables overlooking the beautiful Tomales Bay. Nothing compares to eating outdoors with family on a sunny day with good quality food, wine, and fresh raw and grilled oysters. It’s definitely a unique memorable experience to be remembered.

Tips: Make sure you get there early to find parking and avoid the long lines, especially on weekends. You can reach the Boat Oyster Bar either via Nicasio Valley Road or Tomales Petaluma Road. We took both ways and find that Nicasio Valley Road has more winding roads than the Tomales Petaluma Road. On Thursday they only allow walk-ins and reservations are required on weekends (Fri-Mon). Limited to one party of 2-10 people per table. Behaved dogs on leash are allowed. No outside food or beverages and a $20 corkage fee per bottle for the first 2 bottles. Bring jackets, hats, and sunscreen as the weather changes. They no longer offer the onsite “shuck your own oyster” experience but you can buy fresh oysters to go at their retail window. If you want a full dining experience visit Tony’s Seafood Restaurant a few minutes away. You can buy good cheeses at Cow Girl Creamery which is located at Point Reyes Station about 20 minutes away.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Boat Oyster Bar after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near the Boat Oyster Bar in Marshall California

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EPIC Steak Restaurant

Address: 369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, Ca. 94105

Epic Restaurant is a classy steakhouse with a picture-perfect, romantic view of the waterfront and the Bay Bridge. It has a custom-built wood-burning grill and oven with a spectacular fireplace. The Waterbar and Epic Restaurant are sister companies, Parke Ulrich is a business partner and Executive Chef for Epic Restaurant. EPIC has both an indoor and outdoor heated patio seatings available with a contemporary cuisine and a variety of crafted cocktails.

EPIC restaurant is located in the Embarcadero area and situated under the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. We made a reservation for 4 pm via open table for my daughter’s 12th birthday celebration. She requested to eat at EPIC since she loved the steak on our first visit. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and sat us at the heated outdoor patio table as per our request. The outdoor patio table has an unobstructed view of the waterfront and the Bay Bridge. All the heated tables outside have a great view of the Bay Bridge and the waterfront. The inside of the restaurant has a very rustic and contemporary theme or setting.

We were promptly greeted by our friendly and knowledgeable server named Meike. She answered all our questions regarding the menu and provided us some recommendations regarding the drinks and food. We ordered our appetizers which were composed of Acme sourdough with European style butter($6), Dungeness Crab Cake ($24), Garlic Shrimp ($24). As for the main entree we had Roasted Maine Lobster ($38 half/$76 full), 14 oz Prime New York Steak ($59), 14 oz Prime Ribeye Steak ($61). We also ordered some side dishes such as the Roasted Mushrooms ($12) and Julia Child’s potatoes ($12). And finally, we ordered the delicious sweet peach cheesecake with a “Happy Birthday” written for my daughter’s birthday. My daughter ordered the mojito (virgin/no alcohol) and my wife had the refreshing mixed drink called Painkiller($15) which is made up of Flor de Cana Gran Reserva 7 rum pineapple, and coconut cream.

The Acme sourdough bread was warm, soft, and fresh which is paired with the sweet European style butter. My daughter enjoyed the soft and moist flavorful Dungeness crab cakes which are made up of corn pudding and nopales salad. My personal favorite is the delicious, appetizing Garlic Shrimp with cognac and soft brioche. As for the main entree both the 14 oz Prime N.Y. steak and the Prime Ribeye steak were juicy and cooked to perfection. The Roasted Maine Lobster is a light dish with a great combination of Pernod and ricotta gnocchi. And finally, the sweet peach cheesecake was very delectable with a combination of poached summer fruits and white chocolate.

Overall, we were fully satisfied with the flavorsome food, drinks, and outstanding service at EPIC restaurant. Especially with our friendly server and Assistant Manager on duty that day. We were lucky that we personally met Mr. Parke Ulrich which is friendly and a business partner and Executive Chef of EPIC Restaurant.

Tips: The EPIC restaurant’s valet service is not operational as of now. So you would either park your car on a metered street parking or park at Hills Plaza Garage (Folsom st) which is across the street from the restaurant but a little bit pricey.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the EPIC Steakhouse Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Epic Restaurant in San Francisco.

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Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch Restaurant (St. Helena)

Address: 738 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574

Farmstead at Long Meadow Restaurant is owned by Mr. Ted Hall and has a farm-to-table dining experience. Established in 2010, Farmstead is housed in a former nursery barn with a fun and relaxing ambiance. The restaurant features authentic farm-to-table menu selections and is vegetarian-friendly offering vegan and gluten-free options. Farmstead is open for indoor, heated covered dining, wine tasting, cafe, and Friday Farmers Market.

The Restaurant is by reservation only and it’s usually difficult to find an open time slot to reserve a seat. We arrived early for lunch at Farmstead restaurant at around 10:30 a.m. which our appointment was scheduled at 11:00 a.m. We registered/check-in with the host and were given a pager to inform us when our table is ready. Since, we arrived too early, we decided to check out the surrounding area. The property grounds are beautiful, clean, and peaceful. The first thing that we visited was their organic garden full of a variety of fresh vegetables. My daughter and my wife enjoyed seeing an old truck and tractor located near the oak trees with a few chairs and tables set up to relax and enjoy your wine tasting. We also visited the General Store and the outdoor Farmstead Cafe where you can order breakfast and drinks in the morning. We were finally seated at a covered outside table and were impressed by the beautiful table set-up. All of the tables were surrounded by vines that made our table setting feel very private, unique and secluded.

Our server was very professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with excellent service. We first ordered an apple juice and shirley temple drinks for both myself and my daughter while my wife had the “Birds of Paradise” cocktail drink with Ilegal mexcal, aperol, passionfruit, caramelized pineapple, and lime for $12. There were a wide variety of appetizers but we ordered the appetizing Warm Di Stefano Burrata with roasted garlic, estate olive oil, baguette for $19, and their famous Cheese Biscuits. The savory smoked chicken wings with Alabama sauce for $18. And for our main entree, we ordered the flavorful Dungeness Crab Cioppino with manila clams, pei mussels, rockfish, calamari, tomato and fennel broth with a side of garlic bread for $48, the Grilled Idaho Trout with mushrooms, fennel, toasted almonds and bacon vinaigrette for $34, and the Dungeness Crab Roll with butter toasted brioche and housemade potato chips for $42. Lastly, for our dessert, we all shared the delicious and popular “Big Easy” Beignets with bourbon caramel sauce which costs $12.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the food and the outstanding service of the entire staff. The relaxing view of their organic vegetable garden, the great service, and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our farm to table experience very memorable.

Tips: Close to V. Sattui Winery and Gott’s Roadside Burger which has a good dessert wine and famous hamburger in Napa. Request for an outdoor seating when making a reservation and be there early as it gets crowded by noon. There is a separate cafe, outdoor seating lounge for wine tasting and a General Store located within the property. Few of the visitors end up parking in a residential area due to limited parking space.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch Restaurant in St. Helena.

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Cafe Aquatica (Jenner) (Sonoma County)

Address: 10439 CA-1 Jenner, Ca. 95450

Cafe Aquatica is a relaxing beach shack situated on a rocky hill just above the Russian River estuary in Jenner, California which offers stunning ocean and river views with fresh local organic ingredients. The small coastal town of Jenner is located on the Pacific Coast and situated close to the mouth of the Russian River. Jenner is also known as Jenner-by-the-sea. The Cafe Aquatica is about 1 hour and 45 minutes from San Francisco via US-101 North and CA-1 ( 84 miles). Cafe Aquatica is open for business 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Our drive to Cafe Aquatica in Jenner was a very fun, scenic, and winding road. The beautiful panoramic view of the ocean during our travel was well worth the challenging drive. We saw a lot of dairy farms, cows, cheese, and local creamery stores on our way to the restaurant. We also drove by at a small, quaint coastal town called Bodega Bay where they filmed the movie by Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. We were lucky enough to find a parking space in front of the Cafe. The interior and exterior design of the Cafe is like a Gypsy sea-hut decor. As of now, the Cafe only has outdoor seatings available due to Covid safety practices. We first had to order our food over the counter and were given a pager to inform us once our food is ready. The server called our names and we had to pick up our food at the counter window. The place wasn’t too busy so we were able to find a table in the covered patio and later moved to a table closest to the water. The Cafe has a very relaxing, cozy, and peaceful ambiance. There was a singer/entertainer that performed live music near the covered patio or deck during our visit.

My wife ordered the healthy Pesto Portabello Sandwich with toasted Foccacia, balsamic roasted mushrooms, tomato greens, pesto aioli, served with side pickles for $12. As for my daughter, she had the famous and delicious Local Dungeness Carb Roll for $15. And lastly, I ordered the Smoked Lox Bagel with a toasted bagel, cream cheese, salmon lox, greens, and seeds for $12. As for our drinks, my wife ordered the Pinot Noir red wine while my daughter and I had the strawberry and orange seltzer water.

Overall, we enjoyed our relaxing and California Dreaming experience at Cafe Aquatica, especially with all the outdoor patio tables and chairs overlooking the beautiful ocean, gorgeous sunset, and the Russian River. Nothing compares to eating outdoors with your family on a nice sunny day with good quality food, relaxing ambiance, live music, stunning ocean and river view.

Tips: No reservations are needed for breakfast and lunch since it’s on a first-come, first-serve basis. Watch out for oncoming cars on both sides of the main road when coming out from the parking lot in front of the Cafe. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, etc in the Visitor Center close to the Cafe. There’s also a local gas station and kayak rental booth across the Cafe. Live Music is available only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s also a nice restaurant a few minutes away from the Cafe called River’s End with an amazing panoramic view of the ocean and the river.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Cafe Aquatica after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe.

Click here to find a hotel close to Cafe Aquatica in Jenner.

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La Costanera Peruvian Restaurant (Half Moon Bay)

Address: 260 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

La Costanera Peruvian Restaurant opened in 2009 and is headed by the famous Chef Carlos Altamirano. It gained the Michelin star in 2012 and 2013, and in 2021 moved the restaurant to Half Moon Bay (Princeton). It’s an Authentic Peruvian Restaurant famous for its savory ceviche (cebiche in Spanish) with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and serves a wide variety of unique, savory Peruvian dishes that culminates the Latin Cuisine. La Costanera highlights two bars, a lounge area, and an outdoor patio with firepits. The Restaurant is situated in a touristy and retail area called Princeton and surrounded by local restaurants and retail stores. The La Costanera Restaurant is about 31 minutes from San Francisco via CA-1 South, ( 25 miles). The restaurant is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9 pm, Friday-Sunday from 11 am- 9 pm, and closed on Mondays. There is a lot of free customer parking available in the area.

The parking lot area is adjacent to the La Costanera Restaurant. As we walked in, we were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess and were seated at the relaxing outdoor patio with a firepit that kept us warm in sunny but cooler weather. Our table had a partial view of the Pacific Ocean, Pillar Point Harbor, and a few colorful boats. We were impressed with the festive, South American stylish design or decor of the restaurant. The huge bar that is located in the middle of the lower level is very unique and a good spot to take pictures. They also have a lot of tables available inside the restaurant. There were only a few customers at the restaurant since they just opened up at 11:00 a.m. Our server was very fast, friendly and provided us with complimentary Yucca chips and salsa. Our server even provided us with a brief summary of what dishes are popular at the restaurant. As for starters, we ordered the popular Cebiche Tasting combo (3 cebiches) which is composed of 3 savory samplers of cebiche Pescado with fresh fish of the day, aji rocoto Leche de Tigre. Cebiche Chino Peruano with sushi-grade ahi tuna, rocoto sweet chili Leche de Tigre, roasted nori and wontons. And Cebiche Mixto with fresh fish, calamari, mussels, camarones, aji rocoto Leche de tigre. He even suggested the famous Peruvian Chicken Empanada De La casa which was very delicious with lots of chicken meat inside. My wife ordered the Seafood Paella Peruvian style with bomba rice, seafood medley, saffron-tomato base (cooked in our succulent shrimp broth). While my daughter ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich with Mary’s chicken marinated in lime-chili Amarillo with salsa Criolla, chili rocoto aioli, and french fries. I had the healthier, flavorful Salmon Bandido with fresh pan-seared salmon, purple mashed potatoes, and escabeche. And for dessert, we had the smooth textured, mild, and creamy Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta which is a cooked cream and sugar. Also, all the tables were sanitized and separated to adhere to the Covid-19 safety regulations.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun family lunch experience at La Costanera, especially with the panoramic ocean-view seating surrounded by colorful local boats. Nothing compares to eating lunch with your family on a sunny day with good quality authentic Peruvian food, great service, ambiance, and a stunning ocean view. All the staff members are very friendly, fast and accomodating, especially the Manager (Yuri) on duty who visited our table and ensure that we were taken care of and have a nice first-time experience.

Tips: The second floor is only available during dinner time with a nice view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean and harbor/pier. The Restaurant is very close to Pillar Point Harbor and Oceano Hotel and Spa. There is also a Mexican/Peruvian food truck called “Lamas” across the street with delicious, sweet, fried bananas called “plantanos” for $6. Joanne’s Ice Cream serves a very good carrot cake while Cafe Mezza Luna sells pastries as well as their delicious Gelato Ice Cream. You can walk around and enjoy Pillar Point Harbor and its surrounding areas. The Pier even sells fresh live crabs through the fisherman’s boats that are docked at the Harbor.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about La Costanera Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe.

Click here to find a hotel close to La Costanera Peruvian Restaurant.

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Jardines De San Juan Mexican Restaurant & Gardens (San Juan Bautista, Ca ) (San Benito County)

Address: 115 Third St, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045

Jardines De San Juan Restaurant is a stylish, relaxing eatery with a quaint, colorful interior & a cozy garden patio serving authentic Mexican dishes. It is located in the small town of San Juan Bautista in San Benito County, California. In 1977, Alicia and Manuel Santana opened the restaurant but passed away and are still currently owned by the Santana Family. It’s a rare hidden gem of a restaurant in the historic downtown San Juan Bautista. And in 1797, the town of San Juan Bautista was founded by the Spanish under Fermin de Lasuen. The Jardines De San Juan Restaurant is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from San Francisco via 280 South, US-101 South, and CA-156 East/San Benito County ( 90 miles). Jardines De San Juan is open 7 days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m. -7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant also is vegetarian-friendly and have vegan options available on their menu.

Parking was easy as we parked our car on Washington Street close to the side of the Plaza Hotel and the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. It took us about 3 minutes to walk from the parking area to the Restaurant. As we arrived at the restaurant we were impressed by the cozy ambiance and the Spanish Colonial Era settings of the restaurant. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were immediately seated at their beautiful outdoor garden patio table surrounded by succulents, a wide variety of plants, and colorful flowers. We were immediately served complimentary tortilla chips and salsa sauce. The friendly and fast server took our orders and provided us with a glass of cold water. As for starters, we ordered the famous, savory Honey-Chipotle Chicken Wings with ten succulent chicken wings, oven-roasted and lightly crisped, smothered in Jardines signature spicy and sweet sauce for $12.99. My wife ordered the People’s Choice Burrito which is the winner of 2015, 2016 & 2017 People’s Choice Awards at the Watsonville Burrito Bash. It’s made up of crispy carnitas, jack cheese, whole beans, sour cream, pico de gallo, cilantro, onions, and red salsa for $14.99. As for my daughter, she ordered the Beef Quesadilla with a crispy shredded beef taco, lettuce, Chon’s guacamole, tomato & cheese enchilada, onions, and black olives for $14.99. And lastly, I ordered the delicious, healthy Rock Cod Fillet which is a seasoned fillet, pan-seared, served with lime wedges and tortillas for $17.99. My wife ordered the Calavera Cocktail for $11 while my daughter had a Pineapple Jarritos drink for $3. We all shared the dessert and ordered the Mexican Classic Flan, smooth creamy baked custard in a light golden caramel sauce, served with whipped cream for $5.99.

After our lunch, we walked a few minutes and visited a small local ice cream parlor shop called Margot’s and we all had their Lappert’s Ice Cream. My daughter ordered the Cookie Monster Dough flavor, while I had the Washington Strawberry and my wife ordered the famous Dole Whip Pineapple.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun family authentic outdoor lunch experience at Jardines De San Juan, especially their relaxing outdoor garden patio seatings surrounded by colorful flowers, plants, and succulents. Nothing compares to eating lunch outdoor with your family on a sunny day with good quality food, fast service, and great ambiance. It was a very memorable experience that made us feel like we were back in time during the Spanish Colonial Mission Era.

Tips: There are a lot of street parking spaces available all around the San Juan Bautista town. There is an Ice Cream Parlor store close by called Margot’s that serves Lapperts ice cream. Jardines is the sister restaurant of Manuel’s in Aptos. The restaurant is within walking distance from San Juan Bautista State Historic Park and the San Juan Bautista Mission. Try to bring a jacket just in case the weather gets cold as the town gets the cool breeze coming from the coast. Most of the food items that they serve come in large portions, especially burritos.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Jardines De San Juan Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe.

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Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant (Monterey County)

Address: 101 Fishermans Wharf #1, Monterey, CA 93940

Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant is formerly known as BigFish Grill. It is located at the end of the famous historic Wharf in Monterey called Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Built-in 1846, it was Monterey’s earliest pier of stone that recognized the fisherman in the early days. The Pier offers a wide variety of local stores and restaurants such as the Chocolate Factory, Pirate’s Cove Giftshop, Carousel Fine Candies, Monterey Bay Creamery home-made ice cream, Candy World, Crabby Jim Restaurant, and many more. The Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant is about 2 hours from San Francisco via 280 South, US-101 South, and CA-156 West ( 120 miles). Rockfish Harbor Grill is open 7 days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner from 11:30 a.m. – 9 pm. We parked at the City of Monterey waterfront public parking and paid an hourly rate via the payment kiosks located in the parking area.

From the parking lot area, we had to walk all the way to the end of the Old Fisherman’s Wharf Pier to get to the restaurant. We even saw a few local performers, vendors selling artifacts, and souvenirs along the Wharf. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were immediately seated at a corner table inside with an unobstructed spectacular view of the ocean. We were impressed with the relaxing design or decor inside of the restaurant. The hostess informed us that the restaurant just had a major overall interior renovation. All their tables are located inside and they don’t have outdoor seating. There were only a few customers at the restaurant since they just opened up at 11:30 a.m. As for starters, we ordered a basket of Garlic Cheese Bread for $8.95. My wife ordered the famous Central Coast Ciopinno with fresh fish, prawns, scallops, clams & calamari in a hearty tomato broth with garlic bread for $34.95. As for my daughter, she ordered the Grilled Sourdough Crab Melt with sliced tomatoes, American cheese, french fries for $17.95. And lastly, I ordered the delicious swordfish steak with sauteed vegetables, wild rice pilaf, lemon caper sauce for $17.95. My wife ordered the Rockfish Margarita with Milagro silver, tequila, sweet and sour, triple sec, fresh lime juice, a splash of O.J. on the rocks for $13 while my daughter had a Virgin Shirley Temple drink. Also, all the tables were sanitized and separated to adhere to the Covid-19 safety regulations.

After our lunch, we went up the stairs and visited the restaurant’s viewing area on the second floor. The views were very relaxing, memorable, picturesque with a panoramic view of the beautiful ocean, colorful local boats, sailboats, and seabirds flying all over the Pier.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun family lunch experience at Rockfish Harbor Grill, especially with panoramic ocean-view seating surrounded by colorful local boats. Nothing compares to eating lunch with your family on a sunny day with good quality food, great service, ambiance, and a stunning ocean view.

Tips: Make sure to visit their upper deck viewing area on the second floor and there is also a glass-bottom boat experience vendor booth across the restaurant. Try to visit all the nice local stores along the Old Fisherman’s Wharf Pier. There is also a cool place called Lover’s Point Beach Cove with a great view and good for a nice walk along the coast which is located a few minutes away from the Pier. There are a lot of parking spaces available where you pay on a kiosk but it gets full in the afternoon. The restaurant also offers its famous Mezcal shot and cocktail flights.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe.

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