Prima Deli
Located on Rossevelt Avenue in Redwood City, Prima Deli is a great place for lunch. Their veggie sandwich is the BEST - try it with jack cheese and smoked gouda for extra punch.
Happy Salon
This independent salon in Redwood City offers friendly service at a great price. The owners are really friendly and professional. Haircuts are reasonably priced, as are manicures and pedicures. No need to visit a high priced salon - everything you want is right here.
Gathering Tribes
Gathering Tribes is THE shop for Native American art, crafts, jewelry and books. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and are able to direct you to what you want if they don't have what you're looking for. Well worth a visit.
Mam Lan's
Mama Lan's is a great Vietnamese restaurant in Berkeley offering delicious food and attentive service. Menu items are always fresh and delicious and the sauces are wonderful.
Ajanta Restaurant
We, too, have eaten excellent, and otherwise, Indian food in the U.S. and London, and we love Ajanta. The restaurant varies their menu, offering seasonal specialties from all regions of India. From the moment you step through the door (reservations suggested, as it is always packed!) the aromas confirm you are in for a special treat. No greasy, gloppy faux-Indian here, but a special treat for the senses. Beer and wine only.
Aroma Cuisine of India
This newcomer to the Castro Valley dining scene offers tasty Indian food in a bright and friendly atmosphere. In addition to the attractive dining room, there is a pleasant outdoor patio perfect for lunch or a summer evening. Portions are large and the menu offers a good range of Indian dishes, including Tandoor oven dishes. Restaurant offers beer and wine as well as soft drinks. Not the best Indian cuisine I've had, but definitely tasty and worth a visit.
Duarte's Tavern
This is a great place to get in out of the coastal chill. Order a cocktail at the bar and stay for lunch or dinner. Portions are large and food is imaginative and good. Plenty of familiar choices, as well as truly original options. They're famous for their artichoke soup and the crab sandwich is muy delish. Great people watching, too. Lots of locals, lots of tourists. Always busy, so you may have to wait, but service is speedy and friendly.
Luna Sea
For me, no visit to the San Mateo Coast is complete without a stop at this great shop in Pescadero. I find the most unusual gifts here, plus plenty of treasures to dream about. From artwork to cards, hats & scarves, tableware, pictures, and interesting garden sculptures, this is truly a treat for the senses.
Made In Pescadero
No trip to the San Mateo coast is complete without a small detour inland to Pescadero. The town is a cute throwback to an earlier time and there is good food to be had and fun shops to visit. We love to visit Made in Pescadero to see the gorgeous handmade furniture. We sit in every chair, running our hands over the satiny surface and open every drawer in the dressers to admire the joints and inhale the aroma of the wood. Someday perhaps we'll make a purchase (prices are fairly steep, as you would expect for custom-made pieces). For now, we'll settle for treating our senses.
Coast Gallery-Big Sur
We stumbled on this gallery on a drive down the coast soon after the Big Sur wildfire of 2008. Damage was visible nearby, but the gallery was thankfully untouched. Mary Trotter was a friendly and enthusiastic proprietor and we spent an enjoyable hour or so perusing all the beautiful paintings, photography, Frogman sculptures, Glass, etc., etc. Well worth a visit.