Be wary of Cascal if you're hardcore about food. Yes it's popular and busy, and has had some great ad-hoc daily specials. Good for business lunches. Several marriages and lots else attributed to its bar, but those folks maybe didn't go there mainly for the food. I could say much more, but please talk to your locally very knowledgeable foodie friends if you want more lowdown. Joya much more the place if you want interesting true "tapas" IMO.
Recent info on NEW downtown-MV restaurants in a current thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/894465#8046229
I keep pretty close track of MV restaurants. Veggie-friendly? Sakoon was hot stuff, unusual upscale modern cosmopolitan Indian, Michelin recommended no less, until 2010 when its famous founding chef left (Sachin Chopra); might still be of interest. Scratch (of Rob Fischer's "Restaurants from Scratch" group which includes Reposado, Gravity, others) has offered classy wild-mushroom flatbread pizzas under chef Root, and HALF PRICE during Happy Hour (4-6 weeknights in bar area); but check to make sure that item is still on menu. Fresh and varied seafood too.
Will post further if other reccs come to mind.
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