Many thanks to the e-mail respondents to my original post of the question: "Any Slovaki or Czech restaurants around the Bay, preferably near San Jose'?" Here's the scoop. Names have been deleted to protect the hungry, except in one case that deserves it... . ------------------------- I do know of one such restaurant, but it is nowhere near San Jose. It is in the town of Inverness, of the coast of Marin county, on the road to Point Reyes. Inverness is a small town, and the restaurant is right on the road. I cannot remember anything else, except that the name may be The Blue <something> (not Danube). You might also examine the menus of some German restaurants. They are sometimes run by non-Germans who decided to offer "what sells." They then have a few items from their own country buried in the menu, or available if you know to ask for them. --------------------------- There are two Czech (well, maybe they're really Slovakian) restaurants in Inverness, near Point Reyes. Unfortuantely, I haven't tried either one and I'm not sure of the names anymore, but any guidebook of Marin, if not of the Bay Area, should list them. Ivan's? Malke's? --------------------------- There is ONE restaurant that is way too far for casual dining, and it may be the one you were told about. I will pass on our experience in case you ever have something like a family overnight up there. What you do is stay overnight in Inverness, on Tomales Bay, and drive over to Point Reyes for the educational value to justify the trip for your kids, but then plan a long and leisurely dinner in Inverness at Vlad's. It claims to be Czech, I think, but there were some Hungarian foods and wines. We stopped in the afternoon and had a glass of wine, and "Vlad" was the cheerful talky barkeep... . We went back for dinner, and there was great recorded music, classical and folk, and furthermore "mein host" was all dressed up in period European riding outfit. Or a cross between that and Hussar? Made such an impression (1987) I still have occasional flashbacks of how good it felt there. Just what you need--something to take up your time. Now get back to work or I'll NEVER get my pension! [Hmmmm... "Vlad's". As in "Vlad the Impaler"? or "Vlad the Impresser"? :-] ------------------------------- There is/was a restaurant called Gypsy Cellar at 932 Middlefield Rd. in Redwood City (415) 367-1166 that served Czech and Hungarian food. I can't vouch for authenticity but I liked it the few times that I went there. I have no idea whether or not they are still in business. There was also a Hungarian place in San Carlos called Rudi's L'angos Budapest at 1201 Laurel St. (415) 594-9170 that I tried once or twice and found OK. It's been a few years since I've been to either one and given the high turnover rate of restaurants they may well no longer be in business. If you do find any places please post. My wife is partly of Slovak descent and also enjoys finding food "like Grandma used to make." -------------------------------------- All informants wished me "Good Luck!" [except the wise ass about the pension--hello DHW! Hey Fred! Does the lady need a leash now? :-], and so I wish the same to you: Happy salivation and pass the sour cream! Alex
San Francisco Bay Area, CA