Help?: Santa Rosa, San Jose, Santa Cruz

[ExtraMSG]

Flying down to Sacramento Thursday. Then will be taking my little brothers (12 and 9) on a loop probably up to Santa Rosa, then down to Santa Cruz and back. Will be looking for mostly cheapish food in Sacramento, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, East Bay, San Jose, and Santa Cruz. I'll be taking a couple days.

I think I have a good idea of what's available in Sacramento, the East Bay, and San Francisco, though any new winners would be greatly appreciated. However, I don't know Santa Rosa, San Jose, or Santa Cruz at all.

Here are the things that would be ideal (but don't avoid telling me your favorites):

* Taquerias with hard to find or regional dishes, but any place that rocks and doesn't specialize in burritos is much appreciated. An area, like the Fruitvale area of Oakland or the Franklin area of Sacramento or the Mission area of San Francisco are fine. I can explore carnicerias, panaderias, and taquerias a bit. Non-English speaking is fine.

* Great pizza of any type. My brothers love pizza above all else.

* Ice cream or gelato.

* Something somewhat unique. Anything not able to be found many other places.

* Also would be interested in hearing about any regional Mexican or upscale Mexican.

Thanks in advance.

[Gifted Gourmet]

The best place for general listings and descriptions is http://metroactive.com/dining/santa-cruz/santa-cruz.html

and then there is this:

http://www.gdtimes.com/04_01_04/diningguide/

and then when you narrow down your choices, we can provide more details and opinions ... certainly tanabutler and I have mentioned a variety of local places which you will find appealing .... taking into account that you'll be taking kids with you, of course ...

Edited April 7, 2004 by Gifted Gourmet (log)

[tanabutler]

Flying down to Sacramento Thursday.  Then will be taking my little brothers (12 and 9) on a loop probably up to Santa Rosa, then down to Santa Cruz and back.  Will be looking for mostly cheapish food in Sacramento, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, East Bay, San Jose, and Santa Cruz.  I'll be taking a couple days.

I think I have a good idea of what's available in Sacramento, the East Bay, and San Francisco, though any new winners would be greatly appreciated.  However, I don't know Santa Rosa, San Jose, or Santa Cruz at all.

Here are the things that would be ideal (but don't avoid telling me your favorites):

* Taquerias with hard to find or regional dishes, but any place that rocks and doesn't specialize in burritos is much appreciated.  An area, like the Fruitvale area of Oakland or the Franklin area of Sacramento or the Mission area of San Francisco are fine.  I can explore carnicerias, panaderias, and taquerias a bit.  Non-English speaking is fine.

* Great pizza of any type.  My brothers love pizza above all else.

* Ice cream or gelato.

* Something somewhat unique.  Anything not able to be found many other places.

* Also would be interested in hearing about any regional Mexican or upscale Mexican.

Thanks in advance.

1) Near Sacramento is the fabulous Mister Taco, a legend with eGulleteers and foodies everywhere I know. Scroll down for my photo. A do not miss.

2) Santa Cruz:

Tacquerias: there are two places that locals squabble over who's best. Chef David Kinch, in this month's San Francisco magazine, is firmly on the side of Tacos Moreno, on Water Street near the Staff of Life grocery store. I personally prefer Tacqueria Vallarta, far and away. There are many locations: downtown SC, on Soquel Avenue by Shopper's Corner (one of the best grocery stores in town), Capitola down 41st about five (?) blocks from the ocean, and maybe elsewhere.

I think I recommended the best Mexican place in the county in that other thread, though. The one with the odd name in Watsonville. If it were me, I'd head there and skip Santa Cruz.

UPSCALE MEXICAN: Definitely El Palomar on the Pacific Garden Mall. I just ate there last week. The chicken chimichanga was just bursting with flavor. Fresh, warm tortilla chips with two kinds of house-made salsa. Highly recommended, EMSG.

GELATO: here I can help you. There is a brand-new gelateria in downtown Santa Cruz that is awesome. Right on the Pacific Garden mall: Gelato Mania. It's a real Italian man from Bologna with his family's recipes. Pricey but to die.

There is also a great market in Aptos, Rancho Del Mar Blvd., called DeLuxe Foods. (We call it the DEElux, all Southern-y.) You should stop in there: among other reasons, they've got a gelato maker from Watsonville selling his stuff by the pint. Take some home, dude. Also, the cheeses there are just wonderful, and they have samples out. You will love that store.

ICE CREAM: Marianne's on Ocean Street and Marini's on the Pacific Garden Mall are good. I don't do much ice cream.

Also good eating on the mall: Zoccoli's Deli (it's at the very "top" of the mall, just a block or so past the post office). Go there and get one of their sandwiches. It's just a fantastic little place, and a real fixture for years and years here. None finer.

PIZZA: Well, what used to be the best, Pizza My Heart, has gone downhill in my book. I would have to say that, though it's more expensive than some other places, Pleasure Point Pizza (end of 41st Avenue in Pleasure Point/Capitola) is worth a stop. The Santa Barbara pizza, with artichoke hearts, is making me salivate as I type.

Do NOT go to Tony & Alba's Pizza. DO NOT. They are the most insanely over-priced, over-rated junk ever. I am convinced that they stuff the ballot boxes on reader polls in local papers. $25 for a basil pizza? I think not! Don't go there under any condition. Talk about your nekkid emperors.

I will give some thought to the "unique" thing. I am traveling right now and will be home later tonight. Hopefully my DSL will be fixed by then.

Hope this helps.

[ExtraMSG]

Thanks. I'll be in Watsonville next week and definitely will have that place on the top of my list. My immediate concern are places I can take my brothers, pizza, ice cream, and low-end Mexican. But I'll be travelling a little with my wife next week, too.

[ExtraMSG]

Here's an update:

http://www.extramsg.com/modules.php?name=N...e=article&sid=8

1) Near Sacramento is the fabulous Mister Taco, a legend with eGulleteers and foodies everywhere I know. Scroll down for my photo. A do not miss.

This was probably the most disappointing stop on the trip. I was really looking forward to it. Both Chowhounders and eGers praise it so much. But I found it mediocre at best.

PIZZA: Well, what used to be the best, Pizza My Heart, has gone downhill in my book. I would have to say that, though it's more expensive than some other places, Pleasure Point Pizza (end of 41st Avenue in Pleasure Point/Capitola) is worth a stop. The Santa Barbara pizza, with artichoke hearts, is making me salivate as I type.

Didn't get a chance to search out Pleasure Point, but Pizza My Heart, Taqueria Vallarta, and Gelatomania were all near each other. Of the three, Gelatomania is a true winner in its genre. But Pizza My Heart and Vallarta make their cuisines admirably as well. I appreciate a chain as big as My Heart that actually still hand tosses every crust. I would have liked to taste it at its peak.

[Chris Cognac]

I went to San Jose State and we used to live on food from Super Taquria on 10th street just south of campus and a small shack called Sonia's Kitchen that had the best steak sanwhich's..its at 360 8th st, cross of williams near SJSU, 408 295 5654. I took a bunch of Detectives there while at a training course a few years ago...it was still as good as I remembered!..Get one for me!