Straits may be known as a bastion of cutting-edge cuisine, but imaginative cocktails here are equally a draw.
Exotic ingredients blend with top shelf liquors for concoctions like the kaffir lime and Van Gogh vanilla vodka in Regina’s Martini, or the mix of passionfruit juice with Malibu rum in the Blue Lagoon. The Pink Ginger Lemonade—among the most popular choices—combines house-infused ginger Smirnoff vodka with fresh sweet and sour and a dash of cranberry juice, and the Gin “10” Mule is a refreshing blend of Tanqueray 10 with lime, mint, and house-made lemongrass soda. The margaritas and “sake-tinis” are also not to be missed, the latter combining junmai—the finest grade of sake—with liquors such as Cointreau, Midori and Grand Marnier.
The atmosphere is lively, with patrons clad in fashionable clothes mingling in the lounge or chatting next to the DJ booth. Both the Burlingame and San Jose locations have evening DJs and afternoon jazz, but Straits Santana Row livens things up even more by mixing in karaoke, live cover bands and reggae.
And when the appetite kicks in, you’re already where you want to be for some incredible food. —Christine Zumba
Locations:
Burlingame: 1100 Burlingame Ave.; 650/373-7883
San Jose: 333 Santana Row; 408/246-6320
San Francisco: 845 Market St., 4th Floor; 415/668-1783
More Info:
www.straitsrestaurants.com
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