Los Altos Real Estate Blog

Well, it's Cinco de Mayo in Los Altos and most people will take advantage of the opportunity to get a great margarita at one of the many excellent restaurants in town.  Having been to all the Mexican restaurants in Los Altos, I can speak with some authority as to the quality of the food and drinks.  If you want to have a good time today in Los Altos, I definitely recommend Fiesta Vallarta and Casa Lupe in downtown Los Altos.  If you head down San Antonio Road, pay a visit to Estrallita's.

One of the great things about Fiesta Vallarta is that there is very nice patio dining out back.  I've had many fine meals out there enjoying the quiet courtyard, munching through a bowl of chips and tasty salsa, drinking a well made margarita or a beer.  They also have an excellent selection of top-quality tequila at reasonable prices.  This place is the largest of all the restaurants including inside and outside space so bring your friends for a party!

Casa Lupe has been around forever and makes first-class burritos, enchiladas, and other favorites.  It's a bit small inside but that helps with the ambiance.  Eating here is like going home as it tastes like Mom is in the kitchen working her magic to create traditional dishes with a little extra flare.  They usually have a couple of spots in the courtyard outside the restaurant for outdoor dining but not as much as Fiesta Vallarta.  You'll do well to come here to celebrate!

Estrallita's is at the north end of Los Altos on San Antonio Road.  Parking can be a challenge but it's worth it to get their classic dishes.  They've been in business since 1958 and show no signs of slowing down.  The food is fabulous which is why they've been around so long.  Along with the usual drinks, they have some house specials including a quality hand-made margarita you're unlikely to find elsewhere.  Prices are really reasonable too so a trip here won't cut into your budget much at all.

You can only try one of these tonight but take the time to try them all.  Los Altos definitely has a wide variety of Mexican restaurants each offering their own unique flavor and appeal.

UPDATE:  Opa! is open in Los Altos and the food is great!  I stopped by to have a snack and buy a few gift certificates for my happy clients.  I was there between the lunch and dinner crowds so service was great.  The manager is a really nice guy and he took care of my needs personally, while the staff was also very friendly.  The food itself was top notch, fresh, excellent flavor, and totally authentic.  I strongly encourage going there and having a bite to eat.

There are great changes coming to downtown Los Altos and one we'll see soon is a new restaurant, Opa!  While not open yet, this is a nice addition coming to downtown after the loss of Zitune.  Los Altos is in need of many more popular restaurants and this makes a welcome addition.

I've been to the Opa! restaurant in Los Gatos and had the food there.  It truly is authentic Greek cuisine of the highest quality.  When I went there with friends, it was extraordinarily busy, even though it was only a Wednesday night.  The bar was lively and the diners all happy enjoying their food.  The service was top notch with the hostess quickly attending to our needs and keeping an eye on patrons for an open table.  The wait staff was friendly and prompt.  They were more than happy to accomodate special requests for our menu and to split the bill three ways as I had two other friends along.

The food was first-rate and prepared quickly.  As I recall, we had a variety of menu items that came out relatively quickly, considering how busy things were.  I ordered a souvlaki which I've had at many other restaurants.  As a dish, it's a good measure of how well the chef can cook and how authentic the taste is.  In the case of Opa!, they definitely delivered.  The meat was tender, cooked to perfection, and seasoned well.  I could not have asked for more.

I see this as being a really popular hang-out.  Los Altos has been needing a place with food like this for a long time.  The idea of tasty, well-done Greek food is destined to become a fixture in Los Altos along with a handful of other popular destinations.  Let's support it when they open their doors.

Los Altos has lost another fine restaurant from it's line of greats - Zitune.  They shut the doors on Monday after determining that the patron traffic wasn't enough to stay in business.  The final dinner on Sunday night was bittersweet because many patrons showed up for one final meal at the 4-year old restaurant.  There was a nice story in the Los Altos Town Crier about all the reasons for ending the business.

I've eaten at Zitune many times and found the food to be creative and first-class quality.  The service was good and the staff welcoming.  The last time I was there in late November with a group, we had a mix of menu and special items that impressed everyone.  One thing that surprised me was that the restaurant was, in fact, relatively quiet for prime lunch time.  I don't think the Los Altos lunch crowd gave them the appropriate level of attention, even when they offered really good lunch specials.

The busiest Los Altos restaurants always seem to have a steady stream of people every day.  Some notable popular Los Altos spots include Le Boulanger, Aldo, Spot Pizza, and Main Street Cafe.  While we need more good restaurants, one of the issues with getting critical mass is a lack of offices downtown with people wanting lunch.  There are plans for more offices on the table and construction has already started on the new Packard Foundation building on 2nd Street.  As more offices are built, we should have more foot traffic and hopefully that will translate into fewer good restaurants closing.

Burger Town in Los Altos
RESTAURANT - CASUAL
Prices: $
Hours:  10-7 (Closed Sunday)
Credit/Debit: Yes

Yelp Review

BRYAN'S OPINION:  This place is a classic example of the "greasy spoon" burger joints of the old days but with better quality.  It's totally unassuming, operating in what was a Dairy Queen and sandwiched between a vacant lot and a vacant building.  The clientele ranges from construction workers to locals with something for everyone on the menu.

Burger Town is the best "bang for the buck" burger joint of any place in Los Altos.  While I love the burgers at First and Main, The Grill, and Maltby's, they are all much more expensive.  For $6 I get a quarter pounder and fries hot and fresh.  The flavors and quality are excellent.  This place is not about ambiance but about hearty food.  Onion rings, shakes, and more are all made to order fast.

Similar to In and Out Burger, you can opt to get more patties for a small extra fee.  They have a 3/4 pound burger on the menu but if you want more you can get it.  Grilled onions, no problem.  Extra cheese, coming right up.  It's truly a burger joint for those who are all about the burger.  Lots of options that all taste great.

If you read the reviews on various sites, you'll get mixed feedback.  Trust me, it's worth a visit.  I eat there more than I should and I've always walked away satisfied.

FAST FACTS

RESTAURANT - SPORTS BAR

Open: Mon-Sun

Prices: $$

First and Main Sports Lounge

BRYAN'S OPINION: The only real sports bar in Los Altos is First and Main Sports Lounge. It's a great place for everything from group meetings to gathering with friends. There are screens everywhere. It is impossible to NOT see a game and they have all the major sports on. There's memorabilia everywhere and many sports folks have signed the wall above the bar. This place exudes a cool sports vibe from every corner.

The food is, for me, the best part of First and Main Sports Lounge. They have arguably the best burger in Los Altos and their variety is excellent. The salads are always like getting a hand-picked from the garden fresh. The quantity is more than enough to satisfy a big appetite. I'm always impressed with the service which is always delivered with a smile. The best part is that the owner (one of them) is frequently onsite so there's a lot of consistency in both quality of food and service.

This is one of my favorite places to visit in Los Altos and I highly recommend stopping in to visit with friends and watch a game.