@A LO H A M I A 6 7
For a complete list of Tri-Valley r Wayfinding / EAT estaurants, click here
DANVILLE
Albatross The presentations
are highly
refined; the flavors,
worldly; the decor,
sophisticated. Yet
the vibe is relaxed
and convivial.
Grilled octopus arrives
with potatoes
smashed with ’nduja—
a spreadable,
spicy Italian salumi.
Lamb ragu lands in
Persia with a crispy
saffron rice cake and
preserved peppers.
Even dessert was
extraordinary: a
perfectly poached
pear served with
silky caramelized
white chocolate. 312
Railroad Ave., 925.
718.5445, albatrossdanville.
com. Brunch
Sat. and Sun., lunch
Tues.– Fri., dinner
daily. $$$$
Basque
Boulangerie Café
This cafe shines at
breakfast, when
rich, baked-fromscratch
French toast
and bread pudding
demand an extra
shot of espresso in
your latte or a second
cup of coffee
from the array of
self-serve choices.
A modest beer and
wine list and kombucha
on tap add
intrigue at night.
411 Hartz Ave., Ste.
A, 925.208.1631,
basqueboulangerie.
com. Breakfast and
lunch Wed.–Mon.,
dinner Thurs.–Sat.
$$
Blue Gingko Blue
Gingko’s waterside
lounge reels in passersby
to a piscine
paradise. The sushi
is always pristine,
but lunch is the best
value, with generous
slabs of nigiri and
seaweed salad.
Winning small plates
include crunchy
soft-shell crabs and
tempura prawn
lettuce wraps. 3496
Blackhawk Plaza
Cir., 925.648.7838,
bluegingkosushi.
com. Lunch and
dinner daily.
P $$
Blue Line Pizza
The signature deepdish
at this modern
parlor is phenomenal,
packing just-wilted
spinach into a
cornmeal crust with
feta and a garlicky
tomato sauce that
seals the deal. Spicy
chicken wings don’t
get any better,
and the salads are
bold and beautiful.
550 Hartz Ave.,
925.362.3295, bluelinepizza.
com. Lunch
and dinner daily.
$$
Bridges
Restaurant &
Bar After 25 years,
Bridges remains remarkably
fresh. The
refined, Asian- and
French-accented
menu shows both
creativity (watermelon
salad with manchego
cheese and
kimchee vinaigrette)
and craftsmanship
(New York steak
served with edamame
and bacon).
Famous for its scene
in Mrs. Doubtfire,
Bridges’ stunning atmosphere
(including
the garden patio) is
timeless. 44 Church
St., 925.820.7200,
bridgesdanville.com.
Lunch Mon.–Fri.,
dinner daily, brunch
Sat. and Sun.
P $$$$
Crumbs This
umbrella-festooned
eatery offers hearty
American breakfast
and lunch standards
every day. 428
Railroad Ave., Ste.
B, 925.838.8824,
crumbsdanville.com.
Breakfast and lunch
daily. $$
Danville Harvest
This country-chic,
farm-to-table
restaurant showcases
elevated
comfort food with
a Southern twang.
A mustardy, South
Carolina–style
barbecue pork
loin, scallion hush
puppies and My
Mama’s Breakfast
Plate (at brunch) are
seductive samples.
500 Hartz Ave.,
925.362.3665,
danvilleharvest.com.
Dinner daily, lunch
Mon.–Fri., brunch
Sat. and Sun.
$$
Esin Restaurant
& Bar It has a
reputation for fine
dining, but Esin
is really more of a
classy neighborhood
bistro, attracting
friends and families
with its affordable
“small” plates and
three-course dinner
specials. Housemade
pastas, pot
roast, and comforting
cakes and
pies, along with
weighty flatware,
crisp service and
a serious wine list,
add up to one of
Contra Costa’s most
consistently excellent
restaurants.
Choose seating on
the patio or in the
stately dining room.
750 Camino Ramon,
925.314.0974,
esinrestaurant.com.
Lunch and dinner
daily. $$$
Faz Faz’s warm
wood interior with
surrounding redwoods
and a twinkle
of tiny white lights
creates an enticing
mood. The menu
features a Mediterranean
medley
of house-made
pastas, smoked and
spit-roasted meats,
and fresh seafood.
Have the grilled rack
of lamb with mint
chutney, and finish
with tiramisu. 600
Hartz Ave., (925)
838-1320, fazrestaurants.
com. Dinner
Tues.–Sat. $$$
Forbes Mill
Steakhouse
With its expansive
lounge, Forbes feels
like a Las Vegas–
style steakhouse.
Check out the white
anchovy–dressed
Caesar salad, the
panko-crusted
crabcakes and
buttery Kobe
steaks. The wine
list boasts powerful
Napa Valley reds
that can stand up
to the meat. 200
Sycamore Valley Rd.
W., 925.552.0505,
forbesmillsteakhouse.
com. Lunch
Mon.–Fri., dinner
daily.
$$$$
Locanda Ravello
With its convivial
courtyard and
cottage-turned-bar,
Locanda is built for
hospitality. Epicurean
pizza toppings
(porcinis, burrata,
prosciutto di Parma)
and plates served
with gusto (such as
Mamma Carmela’s
meatballs) represent
just two aspects
of an extensive
menu—with a wine
list to match. 172
E. Prospect Ave.,
925.984.2101,
ravello-danville.com.
Lunch and dinner
daily. P $$
Norm’s Place This
casual automobile-
themed eatery
offers a menu that
changes regularly,
but staples include
comfort foods such
as wings, burgers
and a spicy chicken
wrap. Salads and
sandwiches are
fresh and reasonably
priced. 356 Hartz
Ave., 925.552.6676,
normsgrill.com.
Brunch Sun., lunch
Tues.–Sun., dinner
daily. P $$
The Peasant &
the Pear Chef
Rodney Worth
serves smart salads
and sandwiches,
such as the Tuscan:
sliced chicken and
sun-dried tomatoes
on focaccia. If
you go for dinner,
don’t miss the lamb
shank and specialty
martinis, such
as the signature
Spiced Pear-tini. The
heirloom tomato
salad (seasonal) and
crostini with housemade
burrata also
impressed. 267 Hartz
Ave., 925.820.6611,
rodneyworth.com.
W H E R E T O E A T
Key to Symbols
$ Cheap ($10 or less per dinner entree)
$$ Inexpensive ($11–$
17)
$$$ Moderate ($18–$
24)
$$$$ Expensive (more than $25)
Wine and beer
Full bar
Outdoor dining
P Private room parties of 50 or more
Late-night dining (service after 10 p.m.)
Dog friendly
Dog friendly (when seasonal patio is open)
Restaurant listings are courtesy of Diablo
magazine. Pick up a copy for a full East Bay list.
6 2 V I S I T T R I VA L L E Y.COM
