Tanglewood in Santana Row

In many ways this Santana Row eatery has become my favorite hangout on the Row. Love the decor, the food and the service. Especially the weekend brunches. But tonight, I'm here for a late supper, and the usually crowded restaurant was empty. Most of the patrons had left for the evening, and so I felt like I had just walked into a new restaurant for the first time.

I like the fact that all the produce are sourced from local farm producers and the restaurant is a strong supporter of sustainable farming. Soups are always good here, as well as the appetizers. Also a favorite on the menu is the meatloaf, a generous and flavorful portion of meat served with side vegetables or mashed potatoes or fries. The garlic fries that comes with most dishes are one of the tastiest I've had in a while.

Brunch is another wonderful experience on weekends. There's a set menu consisting of typical breakfast dishes as well as an amazing french toast filled with fresh orange cream and drizzled with syrup, This, and fresh juice and a table by the sidewalk on a Saturday morning watching the world go by is how I love to spend my weekends.

Thea Mediterranean on Santana Row

I stumbled upon this place at a quiet corner of Santana Row some time back, but never got round to writing a blog entry until now. In some ways, the cuisine at Thea reminds me of Kokkari, another wonderful Greek establishment in San Francisco. But Thea brings modern Greek fine dining to suburban San jose, and does it with a lot of flair. As you enter the main entrance you are greeted by the high ceiling and the luxurious decor enveloping the restaurant in a Mediterranean island atmosphere.

Tonight, I we ordered the usual Saganaki Opai appetizer, a Greek cheese flamed with brandy and lemon right by the tableside. This is one dish you would want to order to impress your date or partner. The lemon juice imparts a zesty flavor to the aromatic cheese that melts in your mouth. Sometimes I'd go for the Soupa Avgolemono, a traditional Greek chicken soup flavored with lemon, egg and rice.


Seafood has always been very fresh at Thea, and one of my other favorite mains is the Garides - grilled large prawns in greek spices over zucchini cake and argula salad. If you want something more hearty, then the moussaka is the other favorite option that never fails to disappoint.

Unlike most San Jose restaurants, Thea stay open late, and even after 10:30pm, you can get a table by the bar and order drinks and some selected bar foods from the dinner menu. The cocktails are also expertly concocted by resident bartender Asia, who does a mean lychee martini.