Restaurant guide for San Jose, California, including a list of the best ethnic foods and most popular places to eat.
San Jose is not the town you might think of when you want to hit the town necessarily, being that it is a hard working section of Silicone Valley, but don't be fooled. In San Jose are a great number of wonderful eateries for just about every taste. You'll find American, Chinese, Italian, French, Californian Cuisine, and Japanese food in everything from the family diner to a five star establishment. You can find something elegant and wonderful, no matter your budget, no matter what type of food you are craving.
Arcadia, in the Marriott hotel, is a fine example of a great dining experience. It's creative, elegant, and delicious menu is raved about by critics and customers alike. One favorite, the Lobster Pot Pie, is always recommended to first timers. However, the menu is extensive with contemporary American dishes consisting of oysters, crab, and shrimp, to name a few. The casual elegance of Arcadia would be a great place for a date, just be prepared to spend a little cash.
La Foret is a five star establishment that is known to be a very romantic place to eat. The restaurant itself used to be a boarding house for miners, built in 1848, with huge picture windows and quiet babbling brooks just outside. Dress code is enforced, reservations are a must. Once you are in, you are in for a dining experience of exquisite French food that has made some refer to this restaurant as one of the 50 best French restaurants in the United States. Wild game, lobster, and unique creative desserts will have you coming back for more.
For something a little more eclectic and diverse, try La Fondue. The environment is just as fun, creative and versatile as its menu. Velvet covered furniture in deep purples, gold, and blues, all very eccentric and whimsical. The selection of fondues is vast, whether it's desert or dinner you crave. Everything is prepared
right at your table by a staff that has been trained extensively in fondue making. The restaurant attracts all kinds, families, dates, corporate types, and has something for everyone. Great pricing for food and drink make this fun and unique night out.
71 Saint Peter is truly something special in San Jose. It provides a warm atmosphere along with a wide variety of entrees to choose from. The menu consists of Mediterranean, Spanish, and French food with a slightly American twist. The menus are creative and change with what is fresh with the season, making everything taste even better. The portions are generous, the prices reasonable, and the location in downtown San Jose suburb. At 71 Saint Peter you will find a friendly, smiling, and knowledgeable staff always willing to answer questions about the seasonal menu.
One really unique place not to be missed in San Jose is Original Joe's. Original Joe's was established in 1956, but descended from the first Original Joe's in 1937 in San Francisco. It's a good old fashioned family diner, with great old fashioned family food. The menu is heart, extensive, and contemporary. You can get tiramisu with your ribs if you'd like, or prime rib and a bottle of wine. The locals refer to Original Joe's as a classic and classy rat-pack-style diner where the waiters actually wear tuxedos. There is a full bar at Joe's, and it's open late for those late night cravings.
