Yelena Tsurkan

Kosher

Christmas isn’t the only time Jews like Chinese food — Shangri-La, a kosher, vegetarian Chinese restaurant in San Francisco, is a consistent favorite among j. readers. Although there is no mezuzah on the door, it is the only Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area that is certified kosher.

Oakland recently welcomed Amba, a new kosher eatery that serves up tasty Middle Eastern treats in its hopping Montclair District locale. Having only opened its doors a few months ago, the owners of Amba are hoping to gain the reputation of serving the best hummus in California.

The Kitchen Table in Mountain View serves up kosher contemporary California cuisine with dairy-free — and peanut-free — meals. Along with the usual lunch and dinner menu, it offers special meals commemorating holidays such as Purim, and even has a menu for the nine days leading up to Tisha B’Av, when observant Jews don’t eat meat.

In second place were Sabra Grill in San Francisco, Holy Land in Oakland and Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels in Palo Alto.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Shangri-La

(415) 731-2548

East Bay

Amba

Oakland

(510) 339-8000

www.ambafalafel.com

South Bay/Peninsula

The Kitchen Table

Mountain View

(650) 390-9388

www.thekitchentablerestaurant.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Sabra Grill

(415) 982-3656

www.sabragrill.com

East Bay

Holy Land

Oakland

(510) 272-0535

www.holylandrestaurant.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels

Palo Alto

(650) 329-0700

www.izzysbrooklynbagels.com

Jewish-style deli

Although pretty much everyone would agree that the best of the best Jewish delis are in New York, the Bay Area doesn’t fall too far behind. Delicious Reuben sandwiches and matzah balls can be found all around the Bay.

This year, Max’s was the readers’ choice for San Francisco, Peninsula and the North Bay. Max’s prides itself on its authenticity: “Some of our sauces are even flown from New York,” says general manager Michael Adams. It must be working, because for 25 years Max’s has been serving sandwiches in the same way — and j. readers still think it’s tops. “You get what you pay for. You get a big sandwich,” Adams says.

A recent hot spot for watching World Cup soccer games, Saul’s Restaurant and Deli in Berkeley doesn’t try to replicate other delis, but rather offers its own spin on the Jewish kitchen. With a dedication to the environment (including serving humanely raised meat and cage-free organic eggs) and a cozy atmosphere, it’s not hard to see why Saul’s is a favorite.

In second place were Miller’s East Coast Deli in San Francisco, Oakland Kosher Foods and Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels in Palo Alto.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco/Peninsula/North Bay

Max’s World

Various locations

www.maxsworld.org

East Bay

Saul’s Restaurant & Deli

Berkeley

(510) 848-3354

www.saulsdeli.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Miller’s East Coast Deli

(415) 563-3542

www.millersdelisf.com

East Bay

Oakland Kosher Foods

Oakland

(510) 272-0535

www.oaklandkosherfoods.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels

Palo Alto

(650) 329-0700

www.izzysbrooklynbagels.com

Italian and Pizza

Sometimes it’s impossible to resist pasta, meatballs, extra cheese and deep-dish. So why is it that Italian food appeals to Jews? Maybe it’s because Jews and Italians share a common American capital — New York.

Delfina in San Francisco is “always changing things up,” says owner Craig Stoll. Inspired by trattorias all over Italy, the menu changes daily. With an open kitchen, guests can see the pastas being made by hand, which brings a taste of Tuscany to San Francisco. “We cure many of our own meats and fish and make our own sausages, pastas and gelato,” Stoll says.

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza in Berkeley has been a Reader’s Choice favorite for quite some time. You can’t rush a masterpiece — at Zachary’s, the pizzas are slow-cooked and take up to 40 minutes to bake. This employee-owned pizzeria has been a favorite not only among j. readers, but has made its way onto many lists of top spots to eat.

Did you know that Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria in the South Bay allows its pizza dough to rise for 48 hours? Maybe that’s why Google chose Amici’s to deliver 1,000 pizzas to its Mountain View offices — the local pizza chain’s largest single order to date. Amici’s maintains its ovens at 700 degrees — around 200 degrees hotter than most other pizzerias — while still offering half-baked pizzas that can be finished at home.

Gaspare’s Pizza House in San Rafael offers a taste of Sicily in the Bay Area, serving pasta, calamari, pizza and cheesecake under one roof. And when they say thin crust pizza, they really mean it — sometimes, just like in Italy, you have to eat your pizza with a fork.

In second place were Giorgio’s Pizzeria in San Francisco, Pizzaiolo in Oakland, and Pizza My Heart in San Mateo.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Delfina

(415) 552-4055

www.delfinasf.com

East Bay

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

Berkeley

(510) 525-5950

www.zacharys.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria

Various locations

www.amicis.com

North Bay

Gaspare’s Pizza House

San Rafael

(415) 472-7100

www.gasparespizza.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Giorgio’s Pizzeria

(415) 668-1266

www.giorgiospizza.com

East Bay

Pizzaiolo

Oakland

(510) 652-4888

www.pizzaiolooakland.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Pizza My Heart

San Mateo

(650) 344-9800

www.pizzamyheart.com

Hamburgers

Hamburgers may not be kosher — or healthy — but they sure are tasty! When j. readers crave a hunk of meat, they know where to go.

BurgerMeister in San Francisco offers not only whopping half-pound ranch beef patties, but also the famous Mitchell’s ice cream. Each hamburger is cooked to order, which may take longer, but customers (including j. readers) can taste the difference.

On a less meaty path, Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers in Berkeley serves over 20 varieties of vegetarian burgers (in addition to plenty of meat.) Diners can take a trip across the world with Barney’s specialties, ranging from Greek (feta cheese, cucumbers and avocado, to Hawaiian.

Serge Karanov, owner of Jeffrey’s Hamburgers in San Mateo and Menlo Park, came to America from the Soviet Union at age 19 with only $100 in his pocket — and although a lot has changed for him, his handmade burgers are a blast from the past. “Big and juicy is the key,” Karanov says.

Tying with Jeffrey’s Hamburgers, the Counter in San Jose and Palo Alto transforms a classic burger joint into an entire burger culture. A clipboard with an extensive list of burger fillings includes herb goat cheese and Bermuda red onions. With 315,000 possible combinations, the Counter rarely makes the same burger twice.

The giant cheese and bacon burger is a favorite among regulars at Phyllis’ Giant Burgers, with three locations in Marin. But if the mere thought has you calling your cardiologist, rest easy: A low-carb wrap with lettuce can be made out of any Phyllis burger.

In second place were Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers in San Francisco, and Fat Apple’s Restaurant and Bakery in Berkeley and El Cerrito.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

BurgerMeister

Various locations

www.burgermeistersf.com

East Bay

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers

Berkeley

(510) 849-2827

www.barneyshamburgers.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Jeffrey’s Hamburgers

San Mateo and Menlo Park

www.jeffreyshamburgers.com

The Counter

San Jose and Palo Alto

www.thecounterburger.com

North Bay

Phyllis’ Giant Burgers

Various locations

www.phyllisgiantburgers.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers

Various locations

www.barneyshamburgers.com

East Bay

Fat Apple’s Restaurant

and Bakery

Berkeley and El Cerrito

(510) 526-2260

(510) 528 3433

Vegetarian

Closer than cheese and a bacon burger to a kosher kitchen, vegetarian eateries run the gamut from straight vegetable fare to the cutting edge of faux meat fashion.

Shangri-La on Irving Street in San Francisco blends Chinese fare with vegetarian flavor. Along with spicy cucumber and golden corn and mushroom soup, Shangri-La specializes in plates like Mongolian beef and goose — all fake meat, of course!

Amba in Oakland strives to offer the best hummus in the region. Offering Middle Eastern “pitzas” of the day, the menu does not stay the same for long. And that signature hummus? It’s made in small batches several times a day, so it’s always fresh.

Garden Fresh, with locations in Mountain View and Palo Alto, makes its dishes works of art. With choices such as veggie prawns with walnuts, scallion pancakes and vegan chocolate cake, j. readers don’t miss the meat.

Second-place winners were Millennium in San Francisco and Herbivore in Berkeley.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Shangri-La

(415) 731-2548

East Bay

Amba

Oakland

(510) 339-8000

www.ambafalafel.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Garden Fresh

Mountain View and Palo Alto

www.gardenfresh.us

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Millennium

(415) 345-3900

www.millenniumrestaurant.com

East Bay

Herbivore

Berkeley

(510) 665-1675

www.herbivorerestaurant.com

Specialty/gourmet market

Want a wide array of kosher products, and not just around the holidays? Head to Mollie Stone’s, j. readers’ favorite gourmet market in San Francisco and the North Bay. Year-round, Mollie Stone’s stocks frozen kosher foods, dairy, poultry and wine. It also can order and deliver any product sold in the U.S. to its customers.

Rockridge Market Hall in Oakland is the first European-style marketplace in the Bay Area, housing eight merchants under one roof. With a caterer, flower shop, butcher, pasta shop, fish shop, produce market, wine assortment and bakery, it’s no surprise why it’s j. readers’ favorite — a one-stop shop in a bustling neighborhood.

Draeger’s Supermarket in San Mateo is more than just a gourmet market — it also houses a cooking school and a deli, and sells custom-designed gift baskets for special occasions. Draegers’ catering menu is the ultimate in eclectic, with Japanese cucumber cups, tandoori salmon, olive mashed potatoes and other high-end dishes.

In second place were Oakland Kosher Foods, Whole Foods in San Francisco and San Mateo, and Paradise Foods in Corte Madera.

 1st Place

San Francisco/North Bay

Mollie Stone’s Markets

(415) 567-4902

www.molliestones.com

East Bay

Rockridge Market Hall

Oakland

(510) 250-6010

www.rockridgemarkethall.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Draeger’s Supermarket

San Mateo

(650) 685-3700

www.draegers.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco/South Bay

Whole Foods Market

Various locations

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

East Bay

Oakland Kosher Foods

Oakland

(510) 839-0177

www.oaklandkosherfoods.com

North Bay

Paradise Foods

Corte Madera

(415) 945-8855

www.foodsofparadise.com

Bakery/bagels

It’s hard to eat a bagel — staple food of the Jewish experience — without comparing it to a genuine New York bagel. But with bakeries serving up round treats around the Bay, you won’t miss the “real” thing.

House of Bagels in San Francisco may have originated on Second and Geary in 1962, but its famous bagel recipe originated in Brooklyn. While the name gives away House of Bagels’ specialty, it also bakes — from scratch — artisan breads, pastries and Russian tea cookies, among other delicacies.

Grand Bakery, the first and only kosher bakery in Oakland, offers more than 100 pastries, sweets, and other goodies. Its black-and-white cookies are what brought the bakery to life nearly 50 years ago, but its menu has expanded to include sandwiches, blintzes, macaroons, challah and more.

The New York Times once called a bagel “an unsweetened doughnut with rigor mortis,” but Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels in Palo Alto thinks you don’t know bagels until you’ve tried theirs. Izzy’s is known for its many varieties of cream cheese, including Mexican salsa, roasted red pepper and cucumber scallion.

Although plain is always a customer favorite, Barton’s Bagels in San Anselmo tantalizes sweet tooths with chocolate and cinnamon sugar bagels. The pizza bagels are a favorite at lunchtime, when they are still steaming from the oven.

In second place were Noe Valley Bakery in San Francisco, House of Bagels in the South Bay and La Farine in Oakland.

 1st Place

San Francisco

House of Bagels

(415) 752-6000

www.houseofbagels.com

East Bay

Grand Bakery

Oakland • (510) 465-1110

South Bay/Peninsula

Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels

Palo Alto • (650) 329-0700

www.izzysbrooklynbagels.com

North Bay

Barton’s Bagels

San Anselmo • (415) 458-8818

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Noe Valley Bakery

(415) 550-1405

www.noevalleybakery.com

East Bay

La Farine

Oakland • (510) 654-0338

www.lafarine.com

South Bay/Peninsula

House of Bagels

Various locations

www.houseofbagels.com

California winery

It is bad luck to make a toast with an empty glass. So it’s fortunate that j. readers make their l’chaims in the country’s foremost wine-producing region.

At JC Cellars, visitors can see the entire winemaking process while they taste. The warehouse winery in Oakland produces 21 varieties of wine — including the “First Date” wine, which has the aromas of fresh apple pie and apricot blossoms. Jeff Cohn — the “JC” part of JC Cellars — produced over 70 wines while working for Rosenblum Cellars before starting his own winery.

Speaking of Rosenblum Cellars, this Alameda winery tied with JC Cellars. Also known as “mecca for zin-fanatics,” Rosenblum Cellars has also established a reputation for crafting acclaimed Rhône varietals. Honoring the commitment made by his vineyard partners, Kent Rosenblum personally oversees every wine.

Ridge Vineyards in Cupertino began its business in 1964 when its first Zinfandel was produced. Celebrating its 50-year anniversary this year, Ridge is still a hit for wine critics from the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times — particularly its signature reds.

Located in the heart of wine country, Hagafen Cellars in Napa offers a pairing of Hagafen wines with rich, delicious, milk, dark or white chocolate — all certified kosher. “Fine wine starts in the vineyard with careful vineyard management,” says owner Ernie Weir. “I never seek to change what nature has provided. My goal is to showcase the best that our land has produced.”

In second place were La Honda Winery in Redwood City and Covenant in Napa.

 1st Place

East Bay

JC Cellars

Oakland

(510) 465-5900

www.jccellars.com

Rosenblum Cellars

Alameda

(510) 865-7007

www.rosenblumcellars.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Ridge Vineyards

Cupertino

(408) 867-3233

www.ridgewine.com

North Bay

Hagafen Cellars

Napa

(707) 252-0781

www.hagafen.com

 

 2nd Place

South Bay/Peninsula

La Honda Winery

Redwood City

(650) 366-4104

www.lahondawinery.com

North Bay

Covenant

Napa

(707) 963-3887

www.covenantwines.com