Best of the East Bay - Food

Best steak house, milk shake, Thai food, farm stand, brisket sandwich...

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Indian Food

Reader Pick

→ In Berkeley, Breads of India has long had a loyal following for its daily menu of freshly made breads and vegetable-rich curries. In 2005, Walnut Creek got its own outlet of the eatery, and it quickly earned a similarly devoted crowd. Bread, from fluffy plain nan to dense whole wheat kulcha, always arrives piping hot from the tandoor, and curries are spiced according to regional recipes. Breads’ style is so successful, the owners have opened a third outlet, in Oakland.
2448 Sacramento St., Berkeley, (510) 848-7684; 948 Clay St., Oakland,

(510) 834-7684; 1358 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, (925) 256-7684; www.breadsofindia.com. —K.J.

Brisket Sandwich

Editor Pick: New and Notable

→ When the owners of a barbecue joint ask you if you want your brisket juicy or lean, you know they fully understand the cut. Brisket, that slow-cooking foreshank of beef, is all about the fat, but just the right amount to suit your taste. At Cuz’nz BBQ, the question is posed every time, and regardless of your preference—we usually go for 50-50—the meat will be tender and smoky. It comes on the soft, freshly made roll of your choice—wheat, white, or herb—with a generous slathering of caramelized onions and barbecue sauce on the side. With a wedge of dill pickle, this sandwich re-affirms that life is good.

1355 S. California Blvd., Walnut Creek, (925) 930-0240, www.sunrisebistrocatering.com —K.J.

Breakfast Joint

Reader Pick

→ If you must get out of bed, Katy’s Korner is the best place to go. The San Ramon restaurant is floor-to-ceiling country kitsch with farm animal figurines, antique signs, lace drapes, and hundreds of sassy slogans. The friendly servers zip around the cozy dining room, delivering all manner of breakfast fare from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Try the Swedish pancakes, served cold with mixed berries, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream; a Basque omelet with chorizo, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa; banana or mulberry pancakes; or house-made corned beef hash, served sizzling in a small skillet.

2550 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Ste. L, San Ramon, (925) 831-2145.—LeeAnne Carson
 

Sunset Dining

Editor Pick

→ The Dead Fish restaurant in Crockett serves a hearty selection of surf and turf, as well as Italian fare, from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily. So, what’s the best time to go? Sunset, of course. Dead Fish offers a spectacular view across the Carquinez Strait or toward the Al Zampa Bridge, which gets moodily illuminated by the last rays of the sun. The patio’s five cozy, tented booths have space heaters for chilly nights and can be curtained off completely once the sun goes down.

20050 San Pablo Ave., Crockett, (510) 787-3323, www.thedeadfish.com. —Peter Crooks

Booze

Editor Pick

→ When absinthe was legalized in the United States last year, St. George Spirits in Alameda was ready. Distiller Lance Winters had been experimenting with creating his own absinthe for several years, and when the ban on the mythical liquor was lifted, St. George Absinthe Verte became the first domestically produced absinthe available in the United States in nearly a hundred years. The first batch hit the market on December 21 and sold out in a mere six hours. Diablo’s discerning tasters found St. George’s product more than holds its own against foreign competitors.

$75 a bottle, available at Beverages & More and at the distillery, 2601 Monarch St., Alameda, (510) 769-1601, www.stgeorgespirits.com. —Justin Goldman