Castro goes KosherCool (tm); review of The Kitchen Table restaurant in Mountain View, CA

by, Linda Korn

Very often, the word "kosher" connotes something a cut above, or healthy, or good for you. That's the way it should be, and that's definitely KosherCool(tm). Unfortunately, there also exists a preconception or generalization that "kosher" can mean more expensive, but not worth the price, or fatty foods and matzoh balls. But Kosher dining these days is not just deli and felafels. It has entered a realm where- unless you were specifically looking for the kosher certification notice hanging in the corner of the window or were otherwise in the know, one would not have any indication that many of the delicious Asian inspired restaurants or steak houses and other fine dining establishments that have popped up especially in NY and Los Angeles, were certified Kosher. But residents of the Bay Area, including Berkeley, San Fransisco and all over Northern CA have gotten used to eating out of their own kitchens, packing their lunches and dinners on day trips and carting off pots and pans, plastic wear and kosher food to luxury vacation spots.

Now KosherCool (tm) has hit Mountain View's hip Castro Street, a short trip from most major Northern CA cities. Now when we visit our in-laws in Los Altos, those kosher pots and pans, dishes, and foods we always make sure are in the house for us can have at least a day off while we dine with the whole family for lunch or dinner at THE KITCHEN TABLE restaurant in Mountain View.

We've been very excited to try The Kitchen Table restaurant since we heard about it a couple of months ago. Finally, after driving all afternoon back to Los Altos from a wonderful vacation in Lake Tahoe, we decided to end the vacation by stopping off in Mountain View and have dinner at The Kitchen Table with our cousin, parents and our 2 year old son.
Who'd have thought that they'd be completely booked up with reservations weeks in advance and for weeks out -- so unfortunately we could not get a table at 6pm on Sunday.

We could, however, order food to go, which we did and dined aL fresco by my in-laws lovely pool and garden. We didn't miss the people watching on Castro street at all while we enjoyed as good of a meal as you could expect from a fine restaurant. Between us, we sampled Halibut , Ribs, Pasta, Portabello burger and several side dishes like fries and cole slaw and eggplant. Everything had a unique and home cooked flair. Curry and other intense flavors mixed with simply grilled meats and deliciously prepared vegetables, coated our palletes and left us completely satisfied and grinning. The restaurant is also beautifully designed, mixing old world with modernity. They also have a nice children's menu. Although we took the food to go, I got the impression that it was a friendly place. It could be a romantic night out, a family gathering or dinner for one viewing the open kitchen, or enjoying the street life on Castro. You can tell that the chef/owner has put passion into this place, and yes there is Matzo Ball soup on the menu, but you will also find Tuna Ceviche and Red Mole Spicy Chile.

My mother-in-law was so taken by the food and menu that she said she was going to take her friends there and NOT mention that it is a Kosher restaurant. To me, the fact that this yummy restaurant on hip Castro street, with creative decor and yummy food, IS also kosher, is the cool part, in fact it's KosherCool(tm).