Tucked away amid the Oracle Emerald City in sickeningly suburban Redwood Shores, Mistral offers patrons solid California/Mediterranean fare in pleasant surroundings. Overlooking a placid lagoon, Mistral features a cozy bar and two-tiered dining room decorated in rich earth tones. With a menu including appetizers such as spicy Duck Confit Potstickers and garlicky Roasted Mussels Provencal and entrées such as Oak Fired Paella, Penne with Roasted Chicken, and Sesame-Crusted Ahi, Mistral delivers solid, if not innovative, cuisine. Diners should not be in a hurry, as service can sometimes be slow because management spreads the otherwise polite, knowledgeable servers too thin. The fairly-priced wine list abounds with California and French selections that harmonize with the cuisine, while the bar offers a full complement of more potent libations. While not the vanguard of the Northern California food scene, Mistral offers Peninsula dwellers well-executed fare at reasonable prices (dinner for two with wine $125).
Pros: Lots of parking, Solid execution
Cons: Not innovative
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