Rokko Sushi--Sunnyvale, CA

I met up with Jenny for lunch a week ago at Rokko Sushi. Having heard it would be a good one, Jenny got the sashimi salad and it didn’t disappoint. Both the salmon and the tuna were creamy in the mouth and the roe, with the juicy pop with every little sphere, was fun to eat.

We also split the saba plus udon. The mackerel was as good as I’d ever had. It arrived hot, tender and moist and made a great pairing with the sashimi bowl. The udon was a success, too, but not quite as memorable. I'm not a tempura person, but the vegetable tempura that went with the mackerel and the soup was just my type--the coating was light and the vegetables sweet and crisp.

The mackerel and sashimi salad each came with its temperature counterpart as a starter (a cold salad for the mackerel and a hot bowl of miso soup for the sashimi bowl).

Though parking was tough, the restaurant didn’t quite fill up. Competition is as fierce as ever in downtown Sunnyvale. The point is, if it’s lunch you’re after, stop by when you want—they’ll fit you in.

I have to give Rokko bonus points for responsibility. I left my wallet there by mistake and when I came back several hours later it was cheerfully returned. 

Rokko Sushi

190 S Frances St.

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

(408) 773-8225

rokkosunnyvale.com

La Victoria Taqueria--San Jose, CA

Last weekend we saw the San Jose Sabercats take on the Arizona Rattlers. We got there early to grab parking, then walked down Santa Clara St. to hunt for a place to eat. We picked La Victoria because it was kid friendly and seemed to have something that suited all of us.

For the boys we got an order of the chicken enchiladas. It was a disappointment for a couple of reasons: It was soupy and difficult to navigate with a knife and fork and it was spicy (both aspects were unfortunate surprises). Finding the enchiladas too hot to handle, the nine-year-olds resorted to grabbing my dinner and Jenny's.

Finding the psychological barrier of my tongue burrito too difficult to surmount (and a bummer, too, for them, since it was the best dish at the table), they ate Jenny's grilled chicken burrito.

I believe La Victoria Taqueria can be a good place to eat, especially for families. But, it isn't a place I'd return to even though the restaurant options are very limited around the SAP Center. The enchiladas were flooded. The grilled chicken burrito was ordinary. Corn chips was 50 cents. Who's heard of a charge of any kind for chips, much less for a small bowl?

La Victoria Taqueria
131 Santa Clara St.
San Jose, 95113
www.lavicsj.com

Pacific Catch--Mountain View, CA

Monday, Jenny's parents gave us the night off. Even though I love college basketball (and my bracket was on the line), I didn't mind missing the championship game. What can be better than a date night outside in perfect weather with Jenny? We went to Pacific Catch.

I reviewed the San Francisco Pacific Catch three years ago. Compared to that version, the Mountain View location ism much more spacious and pleasant. They started us off complementary bottled water--nice touch! I took it sparkling.

Jenny liked the mix of textures and flavors in her Japanese Wasabi Rice Bowl (featuring ahi). She chose brown rice. We would have liked to see the tuna a more vibrant red, but other than that, the bowl was great!

Wanting something meaty, heavy and rough, I got the swordfish (fresh catch of the day) with chutney. Yes, it was a little on the tougher side, but it met expectations. The Perfuvian purple mashed potatoes were delightful for the eyes. In the mouth, they tasted just like mashed Idahos.

We wrapped with a brownie sundae. The brownie was a bit too sweet, drowning out the flavor of the vanilla ice cream. Though this dessert was a bit pricey at $8, it was nevertheless a delightful cap to a great evening out.

Pacific Catch
545 San Antonio Rd.
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 941-1810
www.pacificcatch.com