eating in cali, esp near UC SC

I might be visiting family in the US, so I'd like ideas for good places to eat (and places to avoid). They live near Los Gatos, and sort of near US SC. (At least, the UC that has a worm for a mascot.)

Where are the great eats?

Where are the places to avoid?

And have you heard of the Golden Fork??

Ciao Bella is a great restaurant. It's out in the middle of nowhere but it has a great SG feel to it. It's up highway nine in between Santa Cruz and Los Gatos ( a sorta out of the way "in between" but a really pretty drive.) The whole building is spraypainted neon colors. They have belly dancers and the waitresses do the Coyote Ugly thing on a stage. The food is good also. If you are going there, make a day of it and stop at Bonny Doon winery. It's really cheap and they have good wine with some of the most creative labels I have ever seen.

Find out if you are staying in Los Gatos or Santa Cruz and I can recommend some places. They are about 20 miles apart but it's a long 20 miles over Highway 17.

It's a banana slug!

Whoops. Okay, that is the right uni though.

I went to a place near there once and they'd won a "golden fork" - it wasn't great.

I also went to some tiny little chocolate place and ZOMG real chocolate, and really really nice.

If you are a vegetarian, the Saturn Cafe is good. The service sucks but the food is realy good.

eww NO! the saturn sucks now!!

If you are downtown, I recommend any of the following:
Hula's Island Grill
221 Cathcart Street

Shogun
1123 Pacific Ave

Acapulco (great margaritas)
1116 Pacific Ave

Kianti's
1100 Pacific Ave.

Vida (balsamic chicken is devine!)
1222 Pacific Ave

Zoccoli's (great italian deli sandwiches)
1534 Pacific Ave

Here's a link to more downtown goodness.

actually, we are slugs, heh. "banana slugs, no known predators"

and yes! Zoccoli's! Down pacific is another place with heavenly desserts and stuff! It's called Chocolate.