For those in the area, I heartily recommend family-run Transilvania Restaurant in Los Gatos for Romanian and other Eastern European home-cooked flavor and warm atmosphere.
The hostess admitted they struggle to get customers, something I guess could be owing to the chi-chi’ness of the area. It would probably do better with bluer collars on its neighbors.
As it is, it represents something fairly unique in the South Bay. It may be the only place you can get Romanian wine, which is possibly Europe’s best-kept viniculture secret. The food is delicious, and you can get a free sample of any dish and also of the wine. As an appetizer we had bulsz, a combination of melted cheeses in a soft polenta crust. For entrees our party had schnitzel, a mild fresh sausage called mititei, and garlic sausage. On the menu is also sarmale- stuffed cabbage rolls, and Hungarian goulash, along with the usual bistro-type offerings. The high point for me was a dessert Pavel and I shared, a sponge cake with jam center soaked in a little booze. Our hostess/waitress served everything with a smile and with obvious pride and humor about her Romanian heritage.
The downsides are lack of parking (downtown Los Gatos is parking purgatory) and the prices, which will keep us from going as often as we otherwise might though they are moderate for the area.
However, given that Germano- and Slavophiles in this area can be hungry people, it’s nice to find such a charming tribute to the Romanian cousins.
-Gina
