Words by Johanna Harlow
New dining destinations in divine spaces.
izzy’s on the peninsula
San Carlos
If you’ve eaten at Izzy’s in a previous decade, it’s time to revisit this old friend. After Cinderella-like renovations, this steakhouse has transformed into a dark and dreamy lounge with lamps illuminating every table and lining the bar. Since you’re at a steakhouse, you’re probably not here for the chicken. Try filet mignon, perfectly cooked to order and served with a sinful and silky herb butter (or your choice of other sauces). This is best accompanied with a side of Izzy’s Own Potatoes—served au gratin, with buttery layers highlighted by the gentle tang of cheese—and maybe something from the novelette-sized wine and spirits list. If you’re feeling cheeky, order the Notable Harlot, a cocktail with vodka, vanilla, passionfruit and lime, served with a bubbling rosé sidecar. 525 Skyway Road. Open daily.
hurrica restaurant
Redwood City
For seafood that will sweep you off your feet, head to Hurrica. Docked right beside Westpoint Harbor, the restaurant overlooks a fleet of yachts, including its namesake, the sleek Hurrica V, a boat boarded by actor Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby. Diners savor bites of chili crisp-topped tuna sashimi while moon jellyfish drift by in the restaurant’s enormous tank. There are no bad choices on this carefully-crafted menu, but the whole hearth-roasted dorade on a bed of tangy fried rice is the creamiest fish you may ever taste. In warm weather, try the refreshing house-cured king salmon served with chilled soba noodles, crunchy curlicues of cucumber and pops of cold roe. Stick around for the Michelin-worthy desserts and the artful interior, which includes copper wire fish and curved woodwork mimicking the hull of a boat. 150 Northpoint Court. Open daily.
che fico parco menlo
Menlo park
Bold both on and off the plate, Che Fico boasts funky tropical wallpaper, a flashy red ceiling, chandeliers like dragon fruit and shelves upon shelves of potted plants. The handmade pasta—from the gnocchetti to the tortelloni—would gain any Italian grandmother’s nod of approval. Meanwhile, the seared octopus with a citrusy tomatillo salsa verde and an herb medley of mint, basil and marjoram is a complex dish that finishes differently than it starts. For a sharable showstopper, try the vongole in crosta with Washington manila clams and ‘nduja butter baked inside a pizza dough shell. It’s cut open at your table in a cloud of steam and drenched in lemon juice. Expect meals at Che Fico to linger decadently on in typical Italian fashion with the Wagyu ribeye and roasted chicken taking an hour to prepare. 1302 El Camino Real. Open Tuesday through Saturday.