By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

If the first week of business was any indication, the new restaurant called Z on First Street, Los Altos, could soon be one of the top dining places on the Peninsula.

“We planned a soft opening, and it surprised us how fast the word got around,” said Jason Zafiropoulo, executive director/owner in partnership with Noah Cooper, executive chef/owner. “The cocktail party last month was a great marketing tool for us.”

The cuisine is modern French with an Asian influence, but it’s also a blend of East Coast and West Coast. The menu changes every day, and you can always find a generous portion of New England seafood chowder in a pleasing presentation.

Both owners are Massachusetts natives from a small town west of Boston. Zafiropoulo came west and eventually wound up managing 840 in San Jose and then the former Adobe Creek restaurant, located where Z now is.

Cooper was executive chef at Spago’s in Palo Alto, but he wanted to be with his brother, Zafiropoulo, and together they opened their new restaurant, Z.

“Most of my California cooking knowledge came from Spago’s,” Cooper said.

Managing Adobe Creek gave Zafiropoulo a good feel for the area and what diners like.

“I like this community. It’s tight knit, with strong ties, and there’s always a business buzz in the air. Noah and I are ecstatic to have a fine dining restaurant here in Los Altos,” he said.

Both owners are young, energetic and inquisitive about what the area needs, and it shows when you first enter the restaurant.

“Notice it’s not noisy,” Zafiropoulo said. “We wanted to provide a new feel when you walked into the restaurant, so we installed theatrical drapes all around, changed the carpets and put in new furniture, including lounge sofas.”

The menu reflects Cooper’s creative ideas. Entrees include seared Hawaiian ono with baby Asian vegetables, oven-roasted veal chop with Napa cabbage, and mustard-sesame-crusted rack of lamb with celery root puree. And, of course, Maine lobster flown in daily.

Starters and salads feature baby tender greens, carrot and ginger soup and coconut shrimp.

Z is open all day, Monday through Saturday. The lunch menu is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A lounge menu is served from 2 to 5 p.m., and the dinner menu is available from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Starters cost $7 and up, and entrees are $17-27.

California and French wines are available in a range of prices, from $20 a bottle to $900. Wine by the glass is available at $6-14.

Z is the only restaurant in downtown Los Altos with a spacious patio.

The main dining area, on the first floor, accommodates 85 diners, and for banquets, 120 people can be seated on the second floor.

Z restaurant is located at 127 First St. For more information and reservations, call 917-2000.