Tamarine
546 University Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 325-8500

Seats: 140
Cuisine: contemporary Vietnamese
Specialties: Saigon cinnamon shrimp with avocado cream; Tamarine prawns with tamarind sauce; shaking beef – cubed filet mignon seared with garlic and onions and served with watercress salad; warm chocolate ganache wantons
Main courses: $14-$22
Chef/Partner: Tammy Huynh
Partner: Anne Le

Seats: 139
Cuisine: American
Specialties: ahi tartare; Kobe chicken fried steak; Maine lobster pot pie with truffled cream and baby vegetables; Bing cherry crêpes.
Main courses: $21-$45
Chef: Andrew Budnjy
Owner: Mina Group

Consuelo Mexican Bistro
377 Santana Row, (408) 260-7082

Seats: 140
Cuisine: traditional mexican
Specialties: tableside guacamole; mole poblano; halibut with cuitlacoche sauce; white chocolate mousse with strawberries
Main courses: $7-$14
Chef: Alejandro Padilla
Owner: Eduardo Rallo

Parcel 104
2700 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, (408) 970-6104

Seats: 310
Cuisine: seasonal farm-fresh American
Specialties: local king salmon with Coachella Valley corn succotash and avocado cream; lamb T-bones with organic squash, fennel and olive vinaigrette; warm tapioca pudding with seasonal fruit sorbets
Main courses: $19-$38
Chef: Bart Hosmer
Owners: Santa Clara Marriott and Lark Creek Restaurant Group

Straits Santana Row
333 Santana Row, (408) 246-6320

Seats: 220
Cuisine: modern Asian-Singaporean
Specialties: Vietnamese grilled beef in grape leaves with mint, basil and roasted peanuts; Cantonese paper chicken with ginger, scallions and orange-ginger vinegar; Singaporean-style paella with abalone, shrimp, clams, mussels and a spicy coconut-curry broth; banana chiffon cake with spiced, roasted banana ice cream and passionfruit crème anglaise
Main courses: $12-$40
Chef/Co-owner: Christopher Yeo
Co-owner: Kelly Yeo