Food Awards

You voted for your favorite restaurants, and Diablo's judges rated them for food, ambience, and service - out of a possible 90 points. Find what the judges had to say about them, starting with our number one: Pizzaiolo. Visit all 17 of the top restaurants and be your own judge.

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Va de Vi.Walnut Creek

 Food: 28 points, Ambience: 22 points, Service: 26 points

FINAL SCORE: 76 points out of 90 points

	"This is a festive gathering place that hits the right note between gourmet sophistication and just plain good food." - Kathryn Jessup

What they’re doing right: The food is so good and well thought out. And then, there are those wine flights.

Showstopper: The grilled pork ribs are addictive. How do they always get ribs with a perfect balance of lean to fat? Great texture and great flavor—and the napa cabbage is a perfect accompaniment.

Defining moment: The carpaccio. Any orderer’s remorse? Yes, that we didn’t order six more orders of carpaccio.

The detail we’re glad they attended to: Really thinking through a dish, making sure all the elements work.

Who goes there: Apparently everyone in Walnut Creek; the place is always crowded. Lots of groups of women, lots of wine flights being served.

Please stop: Bringing delicious plates of food. On second thought, don’t stop.

Flavor we can’t forget: The richness of the scallops with their just barely bitter layer of searing.

Best dish: Hanger steak over silky roasted garlic mashed potatoes with bone marrow and red wine sauce, cooked precisely to our medium-rare order.