Restaurants in Mountain View tend toward the casual side, but Chez TJ is an exception. This old-school, French-inspired, prix-fixe-only spot that’s housed in a cozy Victorian cottage is ideal for extra-special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or the conclusion of a successful round of seed funding.

Here, you’ll find modern Pueblan dishes—a fusion of foods of the indigenous people of Puebla, Mexico and the French “haut cuisine” that influenced it during France’s occupation. The burritos, quesadillas, and enchiladas are worth your time and money, along with dishes where the French accent is a little more pronounced, like the excellent champinoñes con chile seco.

The tapas at Cascal are top-notch any day of the week, but we love going on the weekends when the live latin music turns dinner into a full-on party. Start with drinks then go for the mojo-marinated Cuban pork. If you're dining with a group, don’t skip the paella Cascal, topped with a mountain of chicken, pork, sausage, and shellfish. Gluten-free dishes are clearly marked and comprise much of the menu, so it’s an ideal spot for wheat-averse folks.

You will encounter a line when you stop into the Mountain View location of Zareen’s, a tiny halal Indian-Pakistani spot in an unassuming strip mall near the Google campus. Don’t worry—this location is carry-out only, and the automated ordering system and efficient kitchen team mean food comes out fast, even when it’s busy. Get the flaky paratha, an order of the tarka daal with yellow lentils and either the hearty madras chicken curry or the creamy paneer tikka masala.

Even though it’s one of the busiest spots in town, Doppio Zero always feels cozy and intimate, mostly thanks to the warmly lit dining room and the crackling fire in the open kitchen’s wood-burning pizza oven. The restaurant may be best known for its gorgeously charred, blistered Neapolitan pizzas, but don’t overlook the crispy fried artichokes, tender housemade gnocchi in eggplant sauce, or braised wild boar over fresh fettuccine.

When it comes to sushi, all we really want is high-quality fish prepared expertly and served without too much fanfare. Fortunately for us (and all sushi lovers within driving distance of Mountain View), this is precisely what Sushi Tomi offers. The menu is short, but it’s still packed with standouts, from excellent nigiri, rolls, sashimi, and chirashi, to comforting bowls of udon. At lunchtime, take advantage of the $20 bento box or $22 sushi/sashimi deal for generous portions.

The exclamation in Eureka!’s name is a good representation of the fun injected into every element of the dining experience there. Stop in for their very well-priced “Hoppy Hour” and get a massive handle of beer for just $5.50, along with an order of giant fried mac and cheese balls. At dinner, get the Dorito-crusted fried shishito peppers, then move on to one of the unique burgers.

The first thing you’ll notice when you peruse the menu at Pho Tran Vu is the sheer volume of choices. With 10 kinds of rolls, 10 different chicken soups, and a whopping 19 kinds of beef soup to choose from, it might be hard to know what to get. We like to start with the grilled shrimp and mango spring rolls, then move on to the gorgeously rich oxtail beef noodle soup, the savory seafood curry soup, or the comforting chicken congee.

When it comes to brunch and lunch, it’s hard to beat the dim sum cart experience. Mere moments after you sit down at Fu Lam Mum, hot tea and a seemingly endless flow of delectable little snacks are wheeled directly to your table. Depending on when you stop in during the brunch/lunch rush without a reservation, you might have to wait a little while, though usually not for more than a few minutes as seating is ample and the staff is very efficient.

It’s hard to find a better date night spot in Mountain View than Scratch. Star dishes include the perfectly cooked pan-seared sea scallops with a smoky jalapeño sweet potato puree and the crispy fried chicken. If daytime dates are more your thing, stop into their weekend brunch and get the fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes. For something more casual and a little less expensive, meet your special someone during Scratch’s Happy Hour.

Carbonara fans will want to try the unique mentai cream sauce udon, which combines cod roe and parmesan cheese for an indulgent, pleasantly funky noodle experience. Pork belly lovers should get the tonkatsu udon deluxe, which comes topped with both kurobuta chashu and pork kakuni. The tempura offerings are extensive (our favorites are the pumpkin and corn), and if you’re dining with udon-loving youth, they can have a mini udon and two pieces of tempura for just $9.50.

This Mexican-Salvadorean food truck operates out of O’Malley’s Sports Pub. Their menu is stacked with taqueria classics like quesadillas, burritos, and queso birria tacos stuffed with slow-cooked beef and served with consommé that’s so good, you’ll want to drink it by itself. Their carnitas are among the best we’ve tried—simultaneously tender with super crispy edges.

We’ve been going to Oren’s Hummus for silky-smooth hummus, crispy green falafel, fluffy pita, and herby beef kebab for a while now, in both San Francisco and Palo Alto, and the Mountain View outpost offers the same menu of Middle Eastern delights as the others. It’s perfect for both quick lunches and leisurely casual dinners, and if the weather is good, opt for one of the many umbrella-covered tables in the outdoor eating area.

Even if you enter the Parisian-style bakery Maison Alyzee fully intending to order a light lunch, resisting the breathtakingly gorgeous sweets in the bakery case is going to be a tall order. Our recommendation is to lean into it and get a macaron or two (our favorites are the passion fruit and lavender flavors), a vanilla mille feuille, and an almost-burnt-but-in-a-good-way canelé. Lovers of chocolate should get a triple chocolate croissant.

While it’s true that the Mountain View location of Chaat Bhavan would be a perfect place to take your favorite vegetarian and/or gluten-free dining companions, that’s hardly the biggest reason to go. This Indian restaurant has expertly prepared chaat, a comprehensive list of fresh breads, and delicious curries. The menu is big, so if you can’t make up your mind, opt for one of the thalis, which includes bread, rice, dal, vegetables, dessert, and a beverage.