Best of Pleasanton Best of Pleasanton (September 17, 2004)

The votes are in - read about Pleasanton's best

Thanks to everyone for responding to our Reader Poll 2004, a fun survey to involve our readers and find out what you feel is best in Pleasanton. One thing was clear: Everyone thinks that Pleasanton is the very best place to live. Another thing that quickly became obvious is that many businesses - from restaurants to hair salons to fast-food outlets - have their fans who love them dearly. Choosing the winners was strictly a numbers game. The one who got the most votes won. But many establishments that did not win have faithful followers who wrote glowingly about them. And the entire downtown has many, many fans.

A few people named their favorites in categories we did not have. One person said that the best place to hide from your boss was the Mission Pipe Shop, where you could go to smoke a cigar. Another person named the worst eyesore: "the Vintage Hills center." Thanks to those who said the Pleasanton Weekly is the best newspaper. Our entire staff works hard to produce an informative, lively paper each week, and it's nice to know our efforts are appreciated. This issue, however, could not have been done without you.

The winner of the dinner for two for the best comment is Tara Sheehan, who wrote: "The best place 'To Be Proposed To' has to be Gay Nineties Pizza, as that is where my then-boyfriend, Jack, proposed to me. It was in September of 1995, over a medium sausage and mushroom, I believe. It was the 'best' place since it was the last place I expected to be proposed to - so the element of surprise was there. We even have a tiny plaque on the wall above the booth where the proposal took place. We figured one more plaque on the wall at Gay Nineties wouldn't hurt. (By the way, I happily said 'yes!')"

The 10 T-shirt winners, chosen by a drawing, are Becky Altman, Ryan Brown, Jenny Mack, Martha Mantei, Pat Markel, Pat Mederios, Kim Page, Jerry Pentin, Melanie Sensiba and Mary Serrano.

And the "Best of" winners are:
Around Town
Place to people watch

In just a few short years, the brick plaza at Angela and Main streets - which most of our readers call Tully's Plaza - has become a favorite place for people watching. Crowded most evenings and always on the weekends, this plaza won the "Best of" award hands down, although many said that Main Street, itself, is a great place to watch and meet others. Of course, it's not just Tully's that anchors this plaza. Hundreds go there for High Tech Burritos, Cold Stone ice cream, TortaBella pastries and the sumptuous pastas and homemade soups at Fontina Ristorante, all which open onto the 349 Main St. plaza. For Stephanie Ferreira of Benjamin Court, it's all part "of our wonderful community where people still take the time to stop and talk, and where my grandchildren can safely play."
Place to take kids

With swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and picnicking among the fun things to do at Shadow Cliff Regional Park, it is no wonder the 249-acre park was voted by a landslide as the place to take kids. Open at 6 a.m. and closing at 6 or 9 p.m., depending on the season, the park offers plenty of outdoor activities, including bird watching or just walking the dog. With a waterslide park and concession being enlarged on the premises and a BMX track in the works, the park promises to become an even better place for the entire family.
Place to get hair styled

Although 36 salons were nominated, it was Fusion 3 Hair Salon and Spa that was voted by our readers to be the best place to get your hair styled. The team-oriented salon has 13 stylists on staff plus one esthetician, a nail technician and five receptionists to serve clients six days a week, with Monday reserved for in-house skills training. Undoubtedly, the salon's complimentary scalp and aroma massages and footbaths have earned it balloting kudos.
Place for free entertainment

Friday Concerts in the Park is the overwhelming people's choice for Pleasanton's best free entertainment. And it's small wonder why. Bands perform live music, ranging from oldies and rock, to rhythm and blues and the big band sound, drawing in the crowds to Lions Wayside Park, a tree-lined park nestled a block from downtown on First and Neal streets. From June to September beginning at 7 p.m. every Friday, the concerts have become a great way to kick off the weekend. Young and old alike spread out their blankets, set up their lawn chairs, unpack the munchies and then groove to some awesome tunes.
Public event

This was a tie between the Alameda County Fair and the First Wednesday Street Parties that take place on Main Street from 6-9 p.m. on the first Wednesdays of the month from May through September. The County Fair is in its 10th decade of celebrating agriculture and a greater sense of community for two weeks each summer, organized with a carnival at one end and a horse-racing track at the other. This year organizers added an Action Zone to focus on physical activities, bringing in Xtreme sports skateboarders and bicycle stunt teams as well as other athletes. The First Wednesday Street Parties are a great way to greet neighbors while learning about the community at different booths, and enjoying barbecues, kettle corn and live music on St. Mary Street. These two events can be proud of winning this category because Pleasanton is a city that hosts many public events, fun parades, and sporting and arts events.
Place to get a last minute gift

Just as they did last year, our readers have once again named Domus as the place to shop for last minute gifts, with fellow-Main Street shop Clover Creek coming in a close second. But Domus' eclectic wares continue to lure loyal patrons. Any hard-core shopper worth his or her weight in salt would delight in the shop's huge array of knick-knacks, books, kitchen gadgets and accessories, glassware and linens, stationery and bath and body treatments. And for Pleasanton Weekly readers, it's the No. 1 spot for the unique, hard-to-find or just plain cool.
Place to get spoiled

Spare the skin and spoil the person, say our readers who proclaimed sunless tanning salon Spray Soleil as the top place to get spoiled. Our readers raved about Jaye Sanchez's shop at 350 Main St. "I got so many compliments, nobody believed it wasn't real," says Amanda Mulder of her sprayed-on tan. Sanchez, a self-labeled "tanning bed junkie," said she got into the business after seeing some negative affects from staying in the sun or in tanning beds too long. She wanted the bronzed look without the damage. Every tan is personalized, sprayed on in minutes with an artist's airbrush, Sanchez says, adding that the results are so natural looking, many of her clients won't tell anyone it's not real. It's their secret, she said. While it may be their secret, the official word is out: Spray Soleil is Pleasanton's shining suntan.
Place for a first date and to splurge

Making an impression and extravagance must go hand in hand as our readers voted Hap's restaurant as both the place to go for a first date and to splurge when dining out. From its exterior at 122 W. Neal St., Hap's is unassuming, but one step inside and you know you are in for a special treat. The tastefully decorated steakhouse offers ambiance and serves quality meals. But don't let the upscale atmosphere fool you - portions are generous and the tender, juicy steaks can satisfy a man's man. We only hope that people don't splurge only on the first date. A place like Hap's is worth the first-month anniversary, and the second-month anniversary, and the fourth anniversary of the first telephone call, and ...
Place for a romantic date

Most of these votes went to restaurants, and Barone's is the winner. This continental restaurant on St. John Street prides itself on its innovative pasta, seafood and meat entrees. It is open for dinner seven nights a week, and lunch Monday through Friday. It also has outdoor dining, and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, plus a full bar. Its tasteful dŽcor features romantic artwork on the walls and candlelight, sure to put anyone in a romantic mood. Of course outdoor enthusiasts may prefer romance al fresco - two said the best place for a romantic date was Pleasanton Ridge. Hope they find each other!
Place with best landscaping

For a city that abounds in well-groomed residential and business landscaping, readers had numerous choices for the best landscaping in town, but Sports Park was by far the favorite. Each winter, the Parks Department closes the 103-acre site that serves a surging youth and adult sports population to re-seed and build up soccer, baseball and football fields for another season. That keeps the grass dense, green and well-conditioned for play when club sports start again each spring. Although readers voted overwhelmingly in naming Sports Park the best landscaping in Pleasanton, one reader who differed was Hillary Bessiera of Corte Margarita. She said the best landscaping in town is at her home. Readers will have to check that out before casting ballots next year.
Sell a used car

With gasoline prices still at near-record-high levels, many of the used cars for sale along Santa Rita Road from Safeway south to Black Avenue are SUVs and other large gas guzzlers. That section of Santa Rita was chosen even over the Weekly, we regret to say, as the best place to sell a used car. This won't make the Pleasanton Police Department and traffic authorities happy. Tired of seeing "For Sale" vehicles on this public roadway, the city posted four-hour time limits on parking there, enough to allow soccer moms to see their kids play at Amador Park, but inconvenient for sellers who find this a perfect spot to unload their cars. Whether the new restrictions are not being enforced or sellers just come around every four hours to move their cars, we don't know. But like reader Winnie Smith of West Neal Street told us, the Santa Rita location has become a popular place to look for a used car and to sell one.
Stepping Out
Watering Hole

Earning best watering hole bragging rights again for the fourth year in a row is Hop Yard Alehouse & Grill at Hopyard Road and Valley Avenue. Our readers are ardent fans of the Hop Yard, which opened in 1993 and now has a second location in San Ramon. The reigning watering hole even has its own Hop Yard Harvester Beer Club for true beer connoisseurs. There are a lot of reasons why it's No. 1 in Pleasantonians' book. If it's not the comfortable, family friendly atmosphere and grill favorites, it must be one of the other 30 reasons: the microbrews on tap.
Place for live music

The Pleasanton Hotel was the overwhelming winner in this category. Perhaps it's the Thursday evening Blues on the Patio that people enjoy, with music and dancing, a full patio bar and special patio menu; it begins in late May and runs through early October so it's not too late to check it out this season. Or maybe it's the live music inside from 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, which features dance music from all eras year round. To just sit and listen - but we dare you to keep those toes from tappin' - or to boogie the night away on the spacious dance floor, the Pleasanton Hotel is our readers' choice.
Place for girls' night out

We relied on readers to tell us just where the girls go while the hubby or whoever stays at home. And it's OK, guys, there are no Chippendales among the entertainers at the Pleasanton Hotel, which girls said was their favorite place to spend an evening together, followed closely behind by Stacey's and the Union Jack Pub, all on Main Street. In fact one reader, Suzanne Hopkins, said Main Street, itself, is the place she likes to visit on her night out.
Place for boys' night out

Watch out, guys! You named Union Jack as your favorite place for a night on the town. Hope that your "girl" isn't the one sitting across the room or you may both be in for a treat. At our last check, the long lines waiting to get into the Union Jack on Friday and Saturday nights were mostly 20-somethings and female, which may account for the pub winning the best in our boys night out balloting.
Place for a picnic

There were two winners in this category: Friday night Concerts in the Park at Lions Wayside Park, and Pleasanton Ridge. Guess it depends whether you like your picnics accompanied by great music or great views. The concerts are so popular that people begin early in the day to lay out their picnic blankets to claim their spots. Long before the show begins at 7 p.m., people arrive with baskets and bags of food and drink to enjoy while visiting and waiting for the music. Some picnics are lavish spreads, while other people simply bring a bottle of wine to enjoy with cheese and crackers. Food is also for sale by some local restaurants. Pleasanton Ridge has benches and tables at several spots along the trail, and toward the top a small side trail leads to a picnic table with the one of the best views in the city - if not the world.
Place for friends to meet

In front of Tully's, on the corner of Main and Angela streets, is like a downtown hub and even those just passing through cannot miss the row of motorcycles parked along the street or the easygoing atmosphere that is so inviting to passersby. So, it is no surprise that the coffee house was voted the best place to meet friends. Friendly and laid-back, Tully's has arguably one of the best people-watching views both inside the shop and outside. Tully's has become a great place to meet on weekdays or weekends, where shopping and dining is all within an easy walking distance, or where folks can just sit back and enjoy coffee and conversation.
Quick Fixes
Burrito/taco

It isn't just beans and cheese, and that's probably why burrito buffs chose High Tech Burrito on Main Street as the numero uno burrito spot. With stores throughout the Bay Area, and headquartered in Petaluma, High Tech has taken burritos to a new level. Choose one of the many tantalizing burritos, from the flame-broiled steak and chicken-packed Godzilla to Mangia, Mangia, made with either tiger prawns or chicken breast. Or customize one. And the price won't burn the pocketbook: a hearty burrito made with flame-broiled steak, black beans and rice with chips, salsa and a drink can be had for $6.50.
Ice cream

When someone says "Nights in White Chocolate" they aren't talking Moody Blues; it's pure ice cream and Cold Stone Creamery is the flavor of choice. Reaping scoops of kudos in the form of votes, Cold Stone is the Pleasanton favorite to savor the frozen confection. The ice cream flavors are numbing ... cake batter, cheesecake, peanut butter, eggnog and amaretto to name a few. But what really sets the shop apart are its "mix-ins." Using metal paddles, employees will smash and smush your favorite candy, nut, fruit, cookie, brownie or other delectable sugary treat into your favored scoop. Piled high into a chocolate-dipped cone, it's a taste of heaven.
Coffee

Mmmmmm. Nothing like a morning cup of coffee. Unless it's an afternoon latte. Or perhaps an evening espresso. Our readers once again chose Tully's as the best place for this quick fix. Tully's quickly became a Pleasanton institution after opening four years ago November. It's spacious and inviting, both inside and out. There's a children's corner, plenty of Weeklies to read every Friday, and a community bulletin board - as well as great coffee. Tully's buys its coffee beans from every corner of the world and roasts them to bring out their best qualities, resulting in a "full-city" roast. The rich coffee flavor may be a little strong for local drinkers, said manager Candice Long, because Tully's is based in Seattle, but customers can ask advice from the barristas, who go through two-day training at the local headquarters. They care about every bean, said Long, as well as every customer.
Hamburger

The name says it all: Bob's Giant Burger. It's a burger to make Jimmy Buffet proud. You won't find anything fancy, trendy nouvelle cuisine with some ridiculous name. It's a Burger with a capital "B." It comes in two sizes. With or without cheese. It's always grilled to perfection with condiments you'd find at the family picnic. So when you're in the mood for a good, juicy burger - and you're hungry - stop by Pleasanton's oldest burger place and this year's best burger winner - you won't be disappointed.
French fries

Who do you think you're foolin' if you actually expect to leave the drive-through of one of Pleasanton's McDonald's restaurants without busting out those golden delicious french fries. Pal, you'll be lucky to make it out of the parking lot before scrounging for the strays at the bottom of the bag. That's right, top honors for the skinny-fried potato go to McDonald's - the Queen Mother of the Fast-Food Franchise. And what does this tell ya - Pleasanton's a firm believer in go-with-what-ya-know. You can travel around the world and not be disappointed in the trademark fry with just the right amount of salt, crunchiness, firmness, and well ... grease (you knew what you were getting into). So order the supersize for the ride home, let the dog eat the fries that fall between the seats, and feel good about who you are. God Bless America and the McDonald's French Fry!
Sandwich

It's hard to pick a favorite sandwich shop in a city that has great variety and noontime specialties all over town. But Togo's, with its piled-high and carb-conscious menu of a long list of sandwiches was clearly our readers' choice in the Best of Sandwich category. Togo's won out over 31 restaurants, fast-food providers and supermarkets that readers named as their choice for sandwiches. Those choosing Togo's said they liked the fast service, ample choice of salads as sandwich substitutes, and large list of drink selections.
Pizza

If you are one of those people who consider pizza one of the Basic Four Food groups and think a slice of pepperoni is at the very top of the food pyramid, then you are probably already familiar with the pie that Pleasanton calls its best. Gay Nineties Pizza on Main Street is a pizza-lover's pizza. It sticks to traditional Italian seasonings and those toppings that properly belong on a pizza - like pepperoni, sausage, salami, linguica, green bell pepper, mushrooms, olives, fresh garlic. Yet, heck with tradition - Gay Nineties' ham and pineapple pie goes great with a pint of Sierra Nevada and a casual afternoon on its back patio. And like the song says, "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie" - Gay Nineties has also been the romantic location for a Pleasanton couple's marriage proposal. Who wouldn't say "Yes" over a medium sausage and mushroom - "That's amore!"
Dining Out
Best take-out

Although Togo's won in the sandwich category, readers chose Strizzi's and Panda restaurants downtown as the Best of Pleasanton in our take-out dining category. Those two restaurants, a favorite for sit-down dining, tied in the balloting for best take-out with a total of 39 restaurants and fast food establishments named by readers. They liked the family meals at both Strizzi's and Panda, which they could order ahead, adding that the tasty cuisine and ample helpings filled the dinner table at home.
Place for breakfast

Although each stands apart on its own merits, combined they can be considered Pleasanton's trinity of breakfast spots. Dean's Cafe, Vic's All Star Kitchen and Jim's Country Style Restaurant were named one, two and three, respectively, best breakfast places. Dean's city-wide-famous omelets won over our readers this year. With hundreds of combinations, few omelet variations remain untried in the cafŽ. And just down Main Street, Vic's, coming in second this year, continues to draw in loyal customers with a down-to-earth menu, great service and friendly atmosphere. And farther south, on Sunol Boulevard, Jim's rounds out the trio. Bustling with business, the crew at Jim's serves up hearty breakfasts and lunches, always fast and always with a smile.
Place for dessert

With the recent 100-degree days, our readers must have been looking for ways to beat the heat and they found relief in their No. 1 dessert place: Cold Stone Creamery. With its smooth and creamy ice cream in decadent flavors, the ice cream shop is a winner for taste buds of all ages. But ice cream isn't the only sweet shop in town; only two votes separated Cold Stone from its next door neighbor on Main Street, TortaBella, home of freshly baked pastries, cheesecakes, baked goodies, espressos and gelato.
Sushi restaurants

Pleasanton is truly blessed with sushi, and 14 restaurants were nominated in this category. The winner was Sozo, a busy place at lunch and dinner, where everyone is greeted with friendly shouts when they enter. Supplies are delivered fresh each day, sauces are made from scratch, and even the "Sushi World Guide" notes its "creative maki menu." As Cynthia Wood Sobrero wrote: "The food is fresh and delicious. It arrives quickly and is well presented, and the atmosphere is efficient and bustling yet amazingly calm. We always feel like we begin our weekend early when we eat at Sozo's each Friday evening." Whether craving sushi, sashimi, maki or nigiri, check out Sozo, located on Hopyard at Valley, near Gene's Fine Foods.
Italian restaurant

Readers named 15 restaurants as their favorite for Italian cooking, but Pasta Trattoria at 405 Main St. won by a large majority. Readers said they liked the ambiance, the authentic Italian cuisine and Pastas' luscious desserts. On warm summer evenings, diners stand in line for tables on the restaurant's Main Street sidewalk where they told us they enjoy hand-tossed pizzas and pasta dishes. This was also a downtown favorite for being seen and watching passersby.
Mexican restaurant

It's not hard to find great Mexican food in Pleasanton, but when it comes to a favorite, readers chose family-owned and operated Alberto's at 435 Main St. as the Best of Pleasanton. They said they liked the authentic Mexican food with the chance to dine outside overlooking Pleasanton's historic Main Street or in one of Alberto's festive dining rooms. Another favorite activity, readers said, was drinking Alberto's prized margaritas while watching games in the restaurant's sports bar on its 73-inch high definition TV.
Chinese restaurant

Panda won this category. Located downtown on Angela Street, Panda Mandarin Cuisine offers the "savory delights of Northern China," with fresh ingredients and spices, which obviously go over great with Pleasantonians. Owners call dinner at Panda "a real adventure in the delicate aromas and taste sensations that make classical Mandarin cuisine so world famous." Lunch specials, which include soup, salad, spring rolls, crab butterfly, rice, tea and fortune cookie, begin at $5.75. Panda also does a brisk takeout service. The dŽcor - starting with the outside - is cool, uncluttered Asian.
Place to eat with kids

With four McDonald's restaurants now in Pleasanton (Santa Rita, Bernal, Wal-Mart and Stoneridge mall), it's not hard to count the ballots and find it's the winner as the best place to dine out with kids. Readers especially liked the Playland at the new Bernal and Stanley McDonald's and also the fast food eatery's new reduced-calorie supersized salads that appeal more to our mom and dad readers than to the younger set. Even though McDonald's won our reader poll, it's not without competition. In their ballots, readers named 33 places they favor for dining out with kids, including several in Dublin. It's enough to keep Ronald McDonald on his toes.
Place for Sunday brunch

Again the Pleasanton Hotel was the winner. Its Sunday champagne buffet brunch is legendary, with people advised to make Mother's Day reservations weeks in advance. Chef Neil Marquis really outdoes himself for these Sunday brunches, and the buffet tables are laden with every imaginable breakfast and lunch food one would want to feast on. Chefs also stand by to create made-to-order omelets, pastas and dessert crepes. The friendly servers are gracious with the champagne - as well as cider, coffee, hot chocolate and freshly squeezed orange juice - and children are welcome. A dessert table offers goodies from tortes and mousses to cream puffs and brownies.
Atmosphere

The Pleasanton Hotel also won this category. Perhaps it's the high-backed chairs, Victorian wallpaper and tall ceilings that people like. In the daytime, it's probably the views of the beautiful gardens. Of course a sense of history adds to any atmosphere and knowing that the Pleasanton Hotel has been around for more than a century helps, as does the knowledge that bandit Joaquin Murieta frequented the poker games upstairs in the 1800s. Close runners-up for atmosphere were old-time favorite Haps and the patio of the Blue Agave, which certainly has a wonderful atmosphere on a warm summer's evening.
Solo dining

Eating alone? You're not a loser! It's become socially acceptable these days - even for women. And the winner for solo dining is - the Pleasanton Hotel. This category had 40 different restaurants nominated but most were more casual than the Pleasanton Hotel. Which goes to show that people like the Pleasanton Hotel, for its brunch, its atmosphere or even when dining alone. One woman found the concept of dining alone unimaginable, saying "What's that, with four kids?" Hey, ma'am, you're the one who would really appreciate it - do you have a birthday coming up?
Let's Get Physical
Place to jog; public park

Smack in the middle of town is one of the city's greatest treasures and assets, the Sports Park. In addition to being a home to team sports like volleyball or soccer, it's also considered the best place to jog as well as the best city park by our readers. With 103 acres, a paved path encircles the entire park. With sports fields, picnic and play areas, the Sports Park offers a wide array of space for outdoor activities. Along the paved route, joggers and solo, group and canine walkers can enjoy the tree-shaded lanes. And depending on the time of day, they can watch fellow sports enthusiasts perfecting their pastime, be it skateboarding, baseball, softball or that spatula sport, heating up the barbecue for a serious hotdog roast.
Health/fitness center

ClubSport of Pleasanton was our readers' choice by a wide margin. Readers said they liked the diversity of exercise and program options, citing the Mom's Club social get-togethers, Kids' Club, after-work runs, nutrition coaching, group exercise classes, modern weight room equipment and an expansive cardio room. Reader Melissa Grundstrom of Payne Road told us that "ClubSport of Pleasanton represents the true spirit of our great city. Surrounded by friends and neighbors with similar healthy attitudes, (we) truly have it all." She also pointed out that she can have her hair cut, nails done and a pedicure while her children are watched for free at "Kids' World."
Bike trail

While one reader quipped that the best bike trail is "great to use after a meal," the majority take their riding seriously, proclaiming Pleasanton Ridge the top place, hands down. The 3,163-acre park outlines Pleasanton to the west, giving visitors pastoral relief from busy city life. The oak-filled ridge is a delight, whether you're hiking, bicycling or on horseback, with wildflowers, scenic views and solitude the rewards of a Ridge visit. Open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. year-round, the Ridge has free parking and doesn't charge for pooches either.
Golf course

You've got to be a member, but even so, Castlewood Country Club and Ruby Hill Golf Club tied in the golf course category. A majority of readers told us that both of these clubs offer challenging play and enjoyable after-play activities and refreshments. We have to acknowledge that some readers chose Pleasanton's new $40 million Callippe Preserve golf course as the best, even though that course is still under construction. Although it's now at least six months behind schedule, Callippe may open in mid-2005 in time for at least a few readers to try the course and submit their ballots in our Best of Pleasanton competition a year from now.

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