San Jose Info
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Home Country: usa
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 Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:04 am Post subject: FOOD & DINING IN SAN JOSE / SAN JOSE DINING GUIDE |
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FOOD & DINING IN SAN JOSE
Downtown
The great number of popular bars and restaurants in downtown San Jose, the hub of the city's nightlife, presents something of a challenge. The visitor must choose from establishments ranging from the trendiest to the cheapest, featuring cuisines from every corner of the globe.
For the most refined and stylish dining in San Jose, regardless of cost, one should try the five-star Emile's, fusion favourite E & O Trading Company, and Spiedo Ristorante.
You can certainly eat well at other downtown restaurants, without such severe prices. Scott's Seafood, Il Fornaio and Blake's Steakhouse and Bar are all excellent choices for a business lunch or dinner. Robust and reliable American fare can also be had at local favourites Original Joe's, Waves Smokehouse and Saloon, and 94th Aero Squadron.
Vegetarians may want to check out the popular White Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant. Red Sea, specializing in Ethiopian, is another good bet for vegetarians, though it's slightly north of downtown at 684 N 1st St.
Eulipia serves imaginative fusion fare at reasonable prices in stylish surroundings. If you are a sushi lover, Kazoo should satisfy with remarkably fresh fish. Thepthai Thai Cuisine and House of Siam are favourites with local Thai food enthusiasts. Also, like any other large California city, San Jose has scores of Chinese restaurants. Pagoda (in The Fairmont Hotel) offers a particularly serene, intimate atmosphere in which to enjoy first-rate Chinese food, and it's dimly lit, in case you want a bit of privacy with your dining companion. And if you're not in the mood for Asian cuisine, try Picasso's Restaurant, a charming and traditional Spanish establishment with live flamenco guitar on weekends.
For some inexpensive but satisfying grub, the burrito haven of Muchos should fit the bill. Or head to Juicy Burger, and to top it all off, O'Brien's Candy Store, an old-fashioned soda fountain inside the San Jose Historical Museum and a favourite, it has been said, of Richard M. Nixon.
Willow Glen
South of downtown, Willow Glen (an older neighbourhood of San Jose) has lined its main drag, Lincoln Avenue, with some fine dining establishments. Aqui Cal-Mex Grill offers California-Mexican with a grill, as does John's XLNT Foods. Willow Street Wood Fired Pizza and China Palace are two other low-budget Lincoln Avenue favourites. Cramped, family-owned La Villa Delicatessen, while not a restaurant per se, does make homemade raviolis that make great eating on their patio (furnished with umbrellas and chairs).
Nearby Cities
Los Gatos, a town with a carefully preserved image and lots of money, has a small downtown area offering many worthwhile places to drink and dine. The Los Gatos Brewing Company is a local hangout where many go after work for some suds and chow. Another favourite is the small English pub, Carry Nations. The California Cafe offers memorable views to complement the California cuisine and pleasant ambiance. Steamer's and The Plumed Horse are two other popular choices for locals and visitors. Authentic Pigalle is as French a restaurant as one could hope to find outside the Septieme Arrondissement in Paris, while Valeriano's serves inventive Italian cuisine in a lovely surroundings.
A stroll down Santa Cruz Avenue (Los Gatos' main drag) will take you by a number of night spots where one can dance or listen to music. One can sniff the wealth in the restaurants of nearby Saratoga, as well: Viaggio is an impeccable Italian restaurant and bar, and Le Mouton Noir is French, expensive and delightful. At La Fondue reservations are required up to three months in advance. The primary culinary attraction of Campbell (wedged between San Jose and Los Gatos) is The Pruneyard, a shopping centre, where shopping is accompanied with a variety of eateries.
A highlight of Santa Clara (for the most part a land of chain and franchise restaurants) is Birk's Restaurant. Its California cuisine is worth the trip if you're in the area, but the main attraction here seems to be the busy bar scene. |
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