88 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Notable new(ish) restaurants the beat on your eats dishes, rice and a comforting bowl of miso soup. Seeking other recs off the menu? Regulars adore their citrusy salmon rolls and sandos with miso katsu sauce. Haru also has a selection of stylish fusion cocktails, so enliven your visit with a yuzu margarita, cucumber sesame mule or a lychee spritz. Kanpai! 325 Main Street. Open daily. zaytinya PALO ALTO A hub for dining as well as designer boutiques, Stanford Shopping Center makes sure to satiate visitors with full bags and full stomachs. Among several exciting openings at the center over the last year is Zaytinya, a Mediterranean restaurant by celebrity chef and cookbook bestseller José Andrés. Load up on grilled lamb chops, octopus and bass branzino, but don’t forget the veggies. You won’t want to miss the refreshing watermelon salad with kalamata olives and feta or the perfectly crispy Brussels sprouts with coriander and a tangy garlic yogurt sauce. To balance everything out, better order a slice of Turkish coffee chocolate johnny's SAN MATEO Brunch in the Bay just got better. Johnny’s, already a beloved breakfast spot in Half Moon Bay, recently expanded to a second location, bringing burgers, benedicts and BLTs to San Mateo. Like a splash of sunshine, the diner’s canary yellow chairs and light fixtures will help you welcome the day. So cross the iconic checker tiles to a bright teal booth seat, then dig into lemon ricotta pancakes brightened by blueberry compote or fluffy French toast dusted with powdered sugar and flower petals. Bring on the bubbles with prosecco and a floating orange juice sphere that playfully resembles an egg sunny-side. But if you’re there on a date, better opt for the milkshake with two straws for the romantic retro vibe. 7 North B Street. Open daily. haru LOS ALTOS With so many modern Japanese restaurants popping up on the Peninsula in recent years, it can be hard to know which to check out first. Haru should be on your list. Already a fan favorite, Haru specializes in dry-aging fish, a process that cultivates complex flavors, and offers toro and salmon tastings at their sushi bar. It also specializes in gozen, a satisfying set meal that serves sushi alongside side {food coloring} cake with roasted pistachios or lemon olive oil cake with orange blossom cream. Zaytinya, second to none in ambiance, boasts coastal blue accents, patterned tilework and a stunning backlit glass arch behind the bar. 180 El Camino Real, Stanford Shopping Center. Open daily. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: JOHNNY'S
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