Asa South

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Asa South in Los Gatos: Michelin-Recommended Californian-Mediterranean Dining

Asa South: Contemporary Californian-Mediterranean in Los Gatos

Since opening in 2019, Asa South has become a fixture on the Los Gatos dining scene, earning a Michelin recommendation for its thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking. The restaurant describes its cuisine as “Contemporary American Fare” with clear Mediterranean roots—a style that plays out across a menu built on bright, seasonal flavors and bold, layered preparations.

The space itself offers several distinct moods. The main dining room looks onto a wine wall and barrel-aging cocktails, while the covered, enclosed patio is heated in winter and cooled by fans in summer. The patio is also dog-friendly, and the bar and lounge area features tall tables and a large communal table that can be reserved for groups of 12 to 24.

The menu changes with the seasons—a spring menu arrives in March, bringing fresh flavors and new dishes alongside winter favorites. Starters range from the sea (fresh shucked oysters with granita cocktail sauce, a bowl of clams with pancetta and pernod) to the land (house-made burrata with Nekeas Spanish olive oil, roasted delicata squash with cashew puree and pomegranate reduction). The kitchen also offers a selection of Spanish-inspired bites, including croquettes de pollo with jamón ibérico and a plate of 100% acorn-fed Pata Negra jamón ibérico.

Mains continue the Californian-Mediterranean thread. Standouts include Asa’s Exotic Mushroom Pasta—described as “a staple, a secret”—and the Coq au Vin, a roasted 38 North bird braised in red wine with organic carrots and wild mushrooms (allow 30 minutes). The hand-cut New York steak comes in petite (12oz) or grand (24oz) portions, finished with Manchego herb compound butter. For lighter options, the Spanish Judion Bean Stew and the Fifty-Fifty salad (radicchio, arugula, fennel, feta, walnuts) hold their own.

The cocktail program, which includes barrel-aged options, and a wine list by the bottle round out the experience. Asa South is open for dinner and offers takeout—call ahead to order.