Left Bank-Santana Row… Oh, how I love you….
I have to start this post with a little astonishment. I almost started to blame myself, but really-I blame YOU. That’s right. If you are reading this and you have been to Santana Row before SHAME ON YOU for not clueing me in. I felt like I went home on Thursday. The home of my people, my kind of food, and the luxury that is SO fun to walk around in for a couple of hours-but that is a bit much to live in daily. Can you say indulgence boys and girls?
So, we all know I love to indulge and there is rarely a bigger treat for me than a great meal coupled with a fantabulous drink. And if I am alone with a great book? Sweeeeeeet. The only thing better is a handsome man next to me. Thursday was all about the book! The man was on my mind-but that is another blog…
Since the closure of Left Bank left Pleasant Hill (see previous post re: Left Bank Larkspur), I have pined away for the fondue and lemon drops (not to mention the cute boys buying my drinks). Divine. I have gone to the Larkspur location several times in desperate attempts to get my fix, but the fondue is never more than a runny, bland impersonation of what PH used to serve and the men who frequent the Larkspur location are retired or should be. Such a waste-they really need to cater to the younger crowd. Anyway, on Thursday I had an unexpected day of freedom and decided to head south. I considered driving to the coast, and thought I would sit and have lunch in San Jose and see if the beach was still calling me when I was done. I knew there was a Left Bank in San Jo which I had never set foot in, and it was just the right opportunity to explore. As I walked up I felt my heart jump into my throat-talk about love at first sight. OMG I wish I had taken more pictures. The location is beautiful. The restaurant is beautiful. The bartender was covered in tattoos! C’est magnifique!
So I take a seat in the lovely, Parisian-with-a-side-of-punk (screaming Missy heaven!) bar area and quickly order the fondue with crostini and fruit (apples, pears, raspberries, grapes), a side of chives and a Ketel One Lemon Drop. I can’t even explain my excitement just sitting in this bar, waiting for my order. I barely wanted to crack open my book. When my order arrived-absolutely everything about it was perfection. The drink and the fondue were both unbelievably good-even by my high Left Bank standards. The fondue was creamy, thick and richly flavored. The fruit paired with the fondue was exquisite. The drink was delicious but a tad edgy. MMMmmm
At the end of my lovely hour here there was only one conclusion possible-Left Bank at Santana Row is the best LB I’ve been to by a mile, overshadowing even P Hill back in the day. High enough on my list for me to make the hour long trip down once in a while?
Hell to the yes.
