Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Mountain View Dining Means Never Getting Bored

You can't think of Silicon Valley, California without thinking about food, restaurants, and food lovers. It has become known for some of the finest restaurants in the world, most of which capitalize on the fact that variety is the spice of life. Castro Street in Mountain View, California is home to a treasure trove of diverse restaurants - from fine dining to unusual eateries. One thing is for sure, living in Mountain View means never getting bored of your neighborhood menu...

Cascal
400 Castro St., Mountain View CA 94041
For anybody who has ever enjoyed tapas before, you know that it is all about an intimate atmosphere, good company, and small portioned plates. Cascal has all the necessary elements and is sure to impress even the most discerning Spaniard. The tapas menu grants credit to the tried and true old world recipes, but also does not shy away from trying something different. From the Brazillian Shrimp and Rice Croquettas to the Duck Confit Gorditas, you will have to try everything at least once.
http://www.cascalrestaurant.com/

Sakoon
357 Castro St, Mountain View, CA
An indian restaurant may not be the first place you would think of to go to happy hour, but Sakoon is the talk of the town come 5 o' clock on Friday. The upstairs lounge area is plush and stylish and makes you feel as if you've found your own private room. Try the incredibly fresh naan, the delectable butter chicken, or one of their famous cocktails.
http://www.sakoonrestaurant.com/

The Kitchen Table
142 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA
This restaurant is the perfect example of a place that you can only find in Silicon Valley. This California Contemporary restaurant only serves Kosher cuisine. Dairy-free, peanut-free, and kosher meat they actually make themselves, the Kitchen Table is definitely one-of-a-kind and as fresh as it gets. Meat lovers and vegans alike love it here because of the specially catered dishes. While they are known for their pastrami sandwiches, their veggie burger is also a best-seller.
http://www.thekitchentablerestaurant.com/tkt/

Ristorante Don Giovanni
235 Castro St., Mountain View CA 94041; Tel. 650.961.9749
You'll have to pinch yourself when you walk through the doors of Ristorante Don Giovanni, otherwise you'll think you'd just arrived in Italy. This dining masterpiece is everything Italian from the knowledgable and polished wait staff, to the elaborate decor, to the lively dining room filled with loud and happy patrons. Homemade Gnocchi, Veal Saltimbocca, Risotto al Funghi Salvaggi, pasta dishes with mouthwatering homemade sauce - you really can't go wrong with anything on this menu.
http://www.dongiovannis.com/

Whether you are brand new to the Mountain View area, or are already familiar with the area and ready to buy a new Mountain View home, there is always more to learn about the area. It is such a rich and diverse place, you will need a tour guide who understands the area, the Santa Clara County market, and where to go to find the best pasta dish in Silicon Valley. I am a Silicon Valley real estate agent who is happy to answer all of your questions and give you the grand tour. I am available whenever you need me.

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
Visit My Silicon Valley Real Estate Website
Find Silicon Valley Area Listings

Silicon Valley Real Estate: The Cold Hard Facts, with a Soft Touch

As much as I love to find you interesting stories and fun events about the Silicon Valley Area and its communities, sometimes the best source of information is the quick cold, hard facts. If you are looking for a home in Santa Clara County, maybe you don't have the time to sit and chat. You just need to know the hard statistics about Silicon Valley real estate.  So here is the breakdown from a very trusted source, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

San Francisco Bay Area Information:
Median Price: $553,620
Length of time from listing to opening escrow: 55.0
Number of months it would take to sell all homes on the market at the current sales rate: 5.2
Median Price for homes in San Jose: $400,000
Median Price for homes in Mountain View: $656,500

Santa Clara County Facts:
Located: South Bay
Size: Just over 1,300 square miles
Cities: Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and San Jose, as well as the Silicon Valley

Useful Santa Clara County Websites:
http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/
http://www.sccoe.k12.ca.us/default.asp
http://www.2chambers.com/californ2.htm

Now that I have told you what you need to know, let me tell you what you want to know. After all, when it comes to living in Silicon Valley, beauty and pleasure are as much a part of the lifestyle as facts and figures...

Living in Silicon Valley means having outdoor activities like golfing, kayaking, and scuba diving at your fingertips.

Culture flows from the streets - from art galleries and museums to eclectic shopping and wineries to die for.


A great school system and a priority on community makes neighborhoods like Mountain View, California and Willow Glen, California wonderful places to raise a family, grow up, or grow old.

If you want to know more Silicon Valley facts, hard or soft, let me know. I'm a Silicon Valley Real Estate agent that values facts and information, but never discounts that being your agent means finding you a place to call home – a very personal journey. Whatever you need from me, I am here to help.

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
Visit My Silicon Valley Real Estate Website
Find Silicon Valley Area Listings

The Glory of Silicon Valley Real Estate

Silicon Valley. The famed southern part of the San Francisco Bay area that has become known to all as the high-tech capital of the United States (and possibly the world). Silicon Valley is home to the city of San Jose, the southern Peninsula, the Southern East Bay, and all of the Santa Clara Valley.

You know Silicon Valley for its venture capitalism, dot-com bubble, and prestigious Universities (Stanford, University of California, Carnegie Mellon), but do you know Silicon Valley for its real estate, beautiful homes, and picture-perfect neighborhoods? If not, here is a little introduction to one of Silicon Valley's best areas, Mountain View Real Estate...

Mountain View sits at 12 square miles and is home to just under 74,000 residents. One of its most admirable qualities would have to be the lush orchards and vineyards that have stood the test of time through the high-tech revolution. It remained a primarily agricultural town all the way through the 60's, and even when it did transition along with the rest of Silicon Valley, it kept its natural beauty.

It is no surprise that this already attractive town slowly gained California real estate value as it added neighborhood parks and playgrounds, recreational facilities, a top notch education system, and shopping facilities throughout the years. Today, Mountain View real estate is a highly sought after commodity. The icing on the cake is when it earned the AAA credit rating, recognizing it for its diversified tax base, strong financial operation and a low debt burden (an honor afforded to only two other cities in California).

Ever the stable community, Mountain View was able to hold its own through the housing market ride over the past few years. It has shown the most stable market compared to other Silicon Valley neighborhoods. Its median sales price was able to go up instead of down during the 2009 market slide, and even now has been able to safely sit at $900,000 for single-family homes.

Natural beauty. A good education system. Affordable housing. A stable economy. What's not to love? If you would like to learn a little bit more about Mountain View Real Estate or are just curious about Silicon Valley and all its glory, please contact me. I'm always available to answer your e-mails or your phone calls.

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
Visit My Silicon Valley Real Estate Website
Find Silicon Valley Area Listings

Welcome to the Silicon Valley Real Estate Blog!

This blog is your resource for Silicon Valley Real Estate. Here you will find a wide variety of useful information and resources designed to help you buy or sell a home more effectively in the Cambrian and Willow Glen areas of San Jose as well as Mountain View and Palo Alto in the Peninsula of Santa Clara County. From information on the local community, to advice about finding a mortgage or preparing your home to sell, it's all available here on my blog!

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
Visit My Silicon Valley Real Estate Website
Find Silicon Valley Area Listings