Exploring the Bay Area

See's Candy When writing about the best places to grab a bite in the Bay Area, perhaps you should not neglect to consider See’s Candy, as their stores command a large and loyal following. See’s Candy is a luxury California chocolate brand that offers premium treats by the box or individually, sold by weight, which can be made into custom boxes according to your preference. Freshly made here in the Bay Area at a factory in South San Francisco, it’s perfect for gifts and for treating yourself. The chocolates here are rich and creamy, and they encase pretty much every type of filling you can think of. The store has white, milk, and dark chocolate, and they are all sweet and soft to the bite, even if they are stuffed with salty nuts or crispy pralines. The dark chocolate here is great; it’s not too bitter, and it pairs nicely with the fillings. The milk chocolate is even better, as it’s sweeter and milkier. But I have a real weakness for the white chocolate, which is as sweet and also ...

Piccino Piccino coffee bar sits in the Dogpatch next to a proper restaurant by the same name, which I have not yet tried. It’s merely a small room with a refrigerator holding sandwiches and cookie dough and a counter in front of their espresso equipment and kitchen, displaying some yummy pastries. It has no seating, but it is always well-staffed, so the service is rather prompt. The menu has a variety of coffee, espresso, and tea beverages; they proudly serve caffeinated and non-caffeinated options, and everything is carefully prepared for quality assurance. For example, they have lattes, including vanilla lattes, mochas, chai tea, and hot chocolate, among others, and everything tastes professionally made. Prices are what you’d expect from a San Francisco coffee shop, and the bitterness of the coffee or tea flavor tends to be mild, and the temperature and the consistency of the milk always hit the spot. All these things make it a great spot for a little pick-me-up. In my opinion, thoug...

Nola Located in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, Nola is a cozy Cajun-style restaurant with a thoughtfully curated menu of interesting food, drink, and dessert options that appeal to a wide variety of people. Sit inside the brick-lined dining room or outside on the sunny patio, and choose from New Orleans specialties like Cajun pasta, Southern comfort food like fried chicken and waffles, or common dishes like tacos, salads, and burgers. The food comes out looking beautiful. Each dish is masterfully crafted to embody sophistication, style, and taste. The result is a meal that is not only satisfying but also memorable. The dining area is dimly lit, giving off den-like vibes. The outdoor seating feels like downtown Palo Alto, California, in all its glory; it’s sunny and pleasant, surrounded by Californian businesses with Californian customers. But stepping inside, you find yourself feeling as though you’ve travelled far, far away. It’s a dim and cozy place with brick trimming and a firepl...

Scoop N Chill In downtown Berkeley, a delightful coffee, ice cream, and sweets stand is hidden inside Crave Subs , the cartoon-themed sandwich shop that I’ve also written about. It’s called Scoop N Chill, and it serves some of Berkeley’s best ice cream! It's a little-known hidden gem, especially because it is so hard to find. The counter Scoop N Chill occupies inside Crave Subs looks adorable, with waffle-cone like lattice and ice cream scoops on the ceiling to look as if they were thrown there. It's bright white and clearly immaculately clean. Reading the menu, you will see that they proudly serve crepes, croffles, and sushi crepes, in addition to espresso/coffee beverages, milkshakes, and gelato, all at competitive prices. I tried the Biscoff gelato and fell in love. Every detail was thought of and perfected. Everything here (not just the Biscoff gelato) is expertly and lovingly made. (The product comes out looking professional, beautiful, and anything but sloppy every time.)...

Endless Summer Sweets A trip to Endless Summer Sweets is like a trip back in time to childhood. This small shop specializes in all of our childhood favorites, with an emphasis on summer fair food. The shop is brightly lit and painted in pastel blue-green and light pink, colors that resemble classic cotton candy. When you walk in, you will be surrounded by these festive colors and will see a counter that displays caramel apples and several flavors of kettle corn; behind that counter, you will see the entire menu in bright colors on television screens.  The main course menu consists of hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken tenders, and chicken sandwiches. The side options include fries and nachos. For dessert, you can have cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream, churros, funnel cakes, milkshakes, and more. You can order and pay at a kiosk or in person with the help of a cashier.  The corn dogs taste like pure nostalgia--exactly what you remember the corn dogs tasting like in childhood. By this...

La Mission La Mission is a popular small restaurant in Berkeley that sticks to authentic and delicious Mexican cooking. La Mission keeps the food affordable without sacrificing authenticity or quality. This restaurant is no secret. Crowds come back again and again to dine in or get takeout.  The menu is made up of elaborate, traditional Mexican recipes that they can whip up in a jiffy. They serve a variety of appetizers, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, other entrees, soups, salads, and desserts.  We have been here more than once and have sampled several of the items. Below, I will describe some of our favorites, but honestly, it's hard to go wrong.  First of all, the spicy chile colorado burrito with chicken is a real hit. It is very spicy but very good! The spices from the chile de arbol and the chile colorado mix beautifully to make an intriguing flavor of their own. It makes for a satisfying and filling meal. Next, the ceviche is always light and summery. It ...

Masse's Pastries  Masse's Pastries is a small and European-style bakery located in Berkeley. It has two glass cases and five tables in its small eating area.  Because of its small size, it has a limited selection of options. They specialize in exquisite cakes (small and large, perfect for any occasions), breakfast pastries, cookies, and macaroons. Although there are not as many options as other bakeries, this place clearly emphasizes quality over quantity; the pastries are delicious!  Although the pastries are very attractive and yummy, the pricing is very affordable. The shop is also very cute, and they have free wifi. It is a great place to either pick up a snack or sit down and stay for a while.  1469 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709

Coupa Cafe Coupa Cafe is famous in the South Bay for being a cross between a quality coffee shop and a proper sit-down restaurant. Coupa Cafe proudly serves coffee, pastries, smoothies, desserts, and full-fledged breakfast options alongside salads, crepes, paninis, wraps, and burgers. It delivers expertly-made food and drink items for an inexpensive price and welcomes guests to use the tables for as long as they like, There's a lot I could say about this restaurant, but simply put, it is a fantastic place to choose to visit. The food and beverages are yummy. The prices are competitive. Their tables make a great place to eat, drink, or meet, and Coupa is a restaurant that does its best for the community and the environment. It's even part of the South Bay culture by now, a place favorited by Silicon Valley executives and common folks as well.  Coupa Cafe has been family owned since 2004 and is a shop bursting with personality. They take real pride in what they do, as they serve...

  Ghirardelli Square Ghirardelli is a San Francisco company that is world-famous for its premium chocolates. These chocolates are creamy, rich, and milky, and come in multiple varieties, with white, milk, and dark chocolate squares, filled with an assortment of fillings, including mint and caramel. They are distributed all over, but they are freshly made here in the San Francisco Bay Area, making this perhaps the best place to try them. Ghirardelli embraces its San Francisco heritage by selling gifts with iconic pictures of the city and maintaining a strong presence in the area. As such a popular, well-known, and well-loved brand, Ghirardelli is a part of San Francisco’s culture and very identity. Thus, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco is a destination I recommend to visitors and residents of the Bay Area alike. This charming red brick complex, situated on a hill, has been a landmark of San Francisco since 1862. The square hosts a variety of nice restaurants, shops, and places t...