Reflecting and looking ahead at the Peninsula’s dining scene
Happy New Year! I can’t believe it’s been a full year since I took on the role as Peninsula Foodist – time sure flies when you’re catching up on food news.
During the newsletter’s two-week hiatus, I spent time reflecting on 2024 and looking forward to 2025. Dubai chocolate, nonalcoholic beverages and Asian French fusion dominated the Peninsula’s dining scene this past year, with new and established eateries hopping on these trends. I also rounded up some much-anticipated restaurant openings for the year, including one that’s been hit by a lawsuit alleging the owners stole confidential information from a competing restaurant.
This week, we’re also taking a look at a new business that aims to be “a sanctuary of feeling good,” according to its owner Maggie de Vera. Inspired by her younger brother who has Down syndrome, as well as her childhood memories from the Philippines, she’s created a unique ice cream cafe that hosts an abundance of feel-good community events like laughter yoga and meditation. It sounds like a pretty chill spot to me.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
A new San Mateo ice cream cafe is a hub for dairy-free varieties and community events
For Maggie de Vera, ice cream is much more than a sweet treat – it’s a way to build community. The Burlingame resident has fond memories of her grandparents’ ice cream parlor and pharmacy, which was located in the basement of her family home in the Philippines.
15 restaurants and eateries coming to the Peninsula in 2025
The new year is set to be an exciting one already: A cat cafe serving Korean drinks and snacks will open in Santa Clara, a robotic food truck brand is opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in San Mateo, and a “Top Chef” and “Iron Chef” winner is opening a restaurant in Sunnyvale. Here is a roundup of 14 restaurants and eateries expected to open in winter and spring 2025.
A new restaurant is served with a lawsuit, a cocktail lounge replaces an iconic nightclub and a string of burglaries hits downtown eateries
- A Spanish restaurant primed to open in the former Bird Dog space has been hit by a lawsuit. Teleferic Barcelona claims the owners of Macarena stole confidential information to create a “copycat restaurant.”
- A new contemporary Indian restaurant offering elevated plates and drinks has opened in Cupertino. ARTH Restaurant is offering up unique creations like paan-infused whisky, caramelized jackfruit dosas and tandoori soft-shell crab.
- The former Mountain Charley’s nightclub is now a swanky cocktail lounge called Second Story. Think martini carts, caviar and a DJ bumping old-school hip-hop and R&B.
- Popular Northeast coffee chain Gregorys is coming to Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center next week. The cafe has a variety of vegan food options and doesn’t charge extra for nondairy milks.
- Four downtown Palo Alto restaurants were recently burglarized within a few days of each other.
- The Palo Alto City Council is considering removing a policy that currently allows downtown restaurant parklets to take up space in front of retail stores.
- Sulbing, a Korean shaved ice cafe, opened its second Bay Area location in Mountain View on Dec. 20, replacing Cafe Terrace.
- Chef Martin Yan, the host of PBS’s “Yan Can Cook,” will be hosting a cooking demonstration and book signing on Tuesday at the Los Altos Library.
- After 20 years in East Palo Alto, Three Brothers Tacos has closed its University Avenue location.
- Ox 9, a Chinese restaurant specializing in Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles, soft opened its sixth Bay Area location in downtown Mountain View on Monday, replacing QBB.
- Menlo Park’s Springline had its first closure: Greg Kuzia-Carmel’s Canteen permanently closed on Dec. 14.
- Son & Garden has reopened in Menlo Park. The trendy brunch spot temporarily closed last January.
- Want free gyros? Nick the Greek is opening in downtown Mountain View on Tuesday in the former Rocket Fizz space. In celebration of its grand opening, all patrons will receive one free entree from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the new Mountain View location.
Chicken thali at Surmai
If you’re looking for unique flavors in a non-fussy environment, look no further than Surmai, a Sunnyvale restaurant serving cuisine from the Maharastrian region of India. Most Indian restaurants in the Bay Area feature North Indian cuisine (think butter chicken and saag paneer), but Surmai specializes in coastal dishes like fried pomfret and pandhra rassa, a coconut milk-based soup.
The menu is relatively succinct and the ambiance is simple – it’s one square room filled with wooden tables and black chairs. Expect large crowds, especially families, and a loud and raucous atmosphere. Order one of the thali options (think of it as an Indian bento box) and prepare to feast.
I opted for the chicken thali ($26.99), which came with a chicken kebab, Konkani chicken masala, tomato saar (a tomato and coconut curry), dal (a lentil soup), solkadhi (a sour coconut milk), rice flour bhakri (a stretchy bread) and rice. The kebab was smoky and spicy, while the chicken masala had a jerk-like flavor profile to it with warm spices and a hint of sweetness. Both chicken preparations were extremely tender, and the bhakri it was served with was stretchy and fluffy, reminiscent of mochi. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the sides: The dal wasn’t as good as others I’ve had, and the tomato saar tasted a bit off, almost like it had the funkiness of Parmesan. Solkadhi is definitely an acquired favor, as it’s quite salty and vinegary.
Surmai opened last March and is a sister restaurant of vegetarian restaurant Puranpoli and Maharastrian restaurant Solkadhi.
Surmai, 500 Lawrence Expressway, Sunnyvale; 408-736-2411, Instagram: @surmaii17. Open Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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We cover the dynamic, under-the-radar food scene around the Peninsula through articles, interviews and eating excursions. Pass along tips, comments and recipes to PeninsulaFoodist@PaloAltoOnline.com.
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