Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant Week is July 11-21

Later this week, one of the largest restaurant weeks in Downtown San Jose history will kick off with 40 participating restaurants. This is a great opportunity to try out fixed price multi-course menus and other specials at discount prices.  

There are many classic and new restaurants on the list. I'm going to highlight a few that I've personally been to:

• AJI - great Japanese Peruvian fusain restaurant in the lobby of the Signa Hotel (former Fairmont). Have been here several times and it has never disappointed, great for groups.
• Angkor Chef - Downtown San Jose's first Cambodian restaurant. Affordable and delicious.
• Club on Post - Great brunch, best Espresso Martini in San Jose. 
• Cobre & Clay (NEW) - Mexican cuisine at the corner of the San Jose Marriott.
• Dr. Funk - Tiki bar with outstanding ambiance, great way to surprise guests and friends.
• EggHead (NEW) - Very popular local chain featuring egg sandwiches.
• Elyse (NEW) - French Vietnamese fine dining in beautiful expanded space. Perfect date-night. restaurant.
• Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ (NEW) - the only Japanese BBQ Downtown.
• ISO Beers (NEW) - They're back and newly remolded! Previously they did not serve food, but I see they have will have dinner specials.
• Orchestria Palm Court - One of the most unique restaurants I have ever been to. Part museum, part 40's restaurant experience.
• Petiscos - Downtown San Jose's only Michelin-rated restaurant. Excellent introduction to Portuguese cuisine.
• Pastelaria by Adega - Petisco's sister restaurant with a focus on Portuguese desserts (amazing egg tarts) and snacks.
• Rollati (NEW) - Hot addition to the San Jose dining scene and the flagship restaurant around City Hall.
• Silicon Valley Capital Club (LIMITED ACCESS) - This is Downtown San Jose's only place to dine in the sky. It takes up the penthouse floor at 50 West San Fernando and is actually a private club. It's only open for everyone during Restaurant Week. I'd recommend taking advantage of it and soaking up amazing views of San Jose and Silicon Valley from their giant outdoor balcony.
• Urban Putt (NEW) - The best minigolf course I have ever done, a true love letter to San Jose. Their food and drinks are surprisingly great and unique as well (Pad thai pizza?). If you haven't been here yet, this is a great reason to go.

Check out all 45+ restaurants over here and support your unique, local San Jose Restaurants!

Restaurant Week July 13-23

The largest restaurant week in Downtown San Jose history kicked off yesterday and continues all the way until July 23rd. This is a great opportunity to try out special fixed price multi-course menus at discount prices. 

There are several newer restaurant this year such as AJI (in the Signia by Hilton hotel, formerly the Fairmont), Angkor Chef, Bum Me Up, Tiki Pete, Casa Guzmania (which is excellent), Fox Tales Fermentation Project (also excellent), La Carne Asada, Mommy's Banh Mi, Master Shin, and Dr. Funk with a cocktail as part of the 3-course menu. Your old favorites are on the list as well.

Check out all 45+ restaurants over here and support your unique, local San Jose Restaurants!

Dine Downtown is happening now!

Dine Downtown is back with an assortment of specials to encourage people to try out Downtown San Jose's many fine establishments. This time around you have everything from a Cold Brew and Stan's Donut pairing for $5 at Academic Coffee to a $40 prix fixe menu at Petiscos. There are also many new names on the list like Serious Dumplings, Secco, Mama Kin, Desi Express, The FAB, and San Pedro Social.

To see all of the great specials, head over here!

Participating Restaurants:

• Academic Coffee • Desi Express • Devine Cheese & Wine • District • The FAB (Food & Beverage) • The Farmers Union • Fuze • Habana Cuba • Il Fornaio • Mama Kin • Mezcal

• Nomikai Social Food + Drinkery • Nox Cookie Bar • Orchestria Palm Court • Pastelaria • Petiscos • San Pedro Social • Scott's Seafood • Secco • Serious Dumpling • Voltaire Coffee Roasters • Voyager Craft Coffee

Dine Downtown 2021!

One of the best opportunities to try out new restaurants at a discount launches today. 27 restaurants will be participating in the latest Dine Downtown event with special three and four course fixed-price menus. This time around instead of a restaurant week, the event will take place over the course of over two weeks.

Several new restaurants such as The Good Spot, Petiscos, Scott's Chowder House, and The Shop are on the list. In fact, the only restauranteurs in San Jose to ever get a Michelin Star have three different eateries on the list: Adega, Pastelaria, and Petiscos. Old favorites like Orchestria Palm Court, Habana Cuba, and Mezcal are on the list too.

To see the full press release and the list of restaurants, just scroll on down.

SSAN JOSE – Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant “Week” returns for 18 days, starting July 1.

 

Normally the “week” lasts 10 days, but Dine Downtown was delayed and extended successfully to six weeks last October and November amid the COVID pandemic, so it will be extended again this year to assist with economic recovery after 15 months of tough times.

 

Twenty-seven downtown eateries have confirmed participation, offering food-and-drink pairings, 3- and 4-course price-fixed menus, or chef specials.

 

For first-timers as well as veteran downtown diners, the restaurant promotion provides a good way to explore new places and return to old favorites.  Several new Dine Downtown restaurants that opened during the pandemic are participating:  The Good Spot, Petiscos, Scott’s Chowder House and The Shop by Chef Baca. 

 

The newcomers have waited a long time for their chance to show off their mettle during Dine Downtown.  For example, Petiscos, new to the SoFA District, has a three-course menu that includes appetizers from flamed chouriço to asparagus rice; 15 choices for the main course from these categories:  shells & claws, tentacles & scales, and feathers & bones; and five choices for “sweet endings.”

 

On the customer side, every price point can participate.  Pastelaria by Adega offers a grilled cheese sandwich, drink and pastry for $10.  Grace Deli and café has a breakfast combo of egg, bacon, avocado and hash browns with salsa and fruits, plus bottomless coffee for $11.

 

The Grill on the Alley decided to mix it up, offering a featured cocktail –  a Ruby Red Lemon Drop – to go with their three-course meal of appetizer, filet mignon pot pie or Norwegian halibut as entrée, plus dessert.

 

Nomikai social food + drinkery offers chef’s specials and cocktail specials.  Choose from mango jalepeno wings, pork belly musubi on the food side or P.O.G Pig or a green tea highball.

 

71 Saint Peter and Mezcal have participated in all 13 years of Dine Downtown.

 

All the choices are posted at dinedowntown.com.

 

“It will be smiles all-around this summer,” said Julie Carlson, SJDA marketing director.  “Our chefs, hosts and servers are ready to welcome their customers ready for a beautiful evening out in downtown.”

 

 

2021 Dine Downtown

restaurant roster

• 4^th Street Pizza
• 71 Saint Peter
• Adega
• The City Fish
• Devine Cheese and Wine
• District
• Enoteca la Storia San Jose
• The Farmers Union
• The Good Spot
• Grace Deli & Cafe
• The Grill on the Alley
• Habana Cuba
• Il Fornaio
• Mezcal Restaurant 
• Nomikai Social Food + Drinkery
• Nox Cookie Bar
• Orchestria Palm Court
• Paper Moon Cafe
• Pastelaria
• Petiscos
• Scott’s Chowder House
• Scott’s Seafood
• The Shop by Chef Baca
• SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant
• Spoonfish Poke
• Voltaire Coffee Roasters

Dine Downtown returns with a super-sized 6 week program

The Dine Downtown program is back and better than ever despite COVID19. Not only will more eateries be included but the event has been extended to 6 weeks, running all the way to November 15th. Each participating restaurant will have a multi-course special just for the event. This time around even cafes are included with food and coffee pairings, which is a fantastic idea!

The list of participants includes many local favorites like 71 Saint Peter, District, Enoteca La Storia, Habana Cuba, Mezcal, Pastelaria Adega, and Farmer's Union. There is one notable addition, which for me is the most highly anticipated restaurant opening in Downtown for all of 2020... Petiscos by Adega. This is a new casual restaurant by the same owners of Adega (the first and only San Jose restaurant to ever get a Michelin Star) and Pastelaria Adega on Santa Clara Street. Petiscos by Adega will offer Portugal's version of tapas at the corner of First and San Salvador (above Haberdasher). It's inclusion on the list hopefully means it will be open by November.

The Dine Downtown press release is below and a list of participating restaurants and menus can be found here.

Dine Downtown San Jose returns for 12^th year, Oct. 1-Nov. 15

 

SAN JOSE – Dine Downtown, version 2.020, celebrates all Downtown San Jose restaurants currently open during the COVID-19 crisis. 

 

“This is our most popular dining event because it highlights downtown’s unique food cultures,” said Julie Carlson, marketing director for the San Jose Downtown Association, which produces the event.  “This year, we stretched Dine Downtown to include more restaurants over a longer period of time to make sure customers have plenty of time to explore new dining experiences AND revisit a favorite.” 

 

Downtown restaurants are eager to see their customers return for the extended promotion Oct. 1-Nov. 15 – that’s 46 days covering seven weekends to celebrate and support all the downtown San Jose eateries that have remained open for business during the strict pandemic protocols.

 

“Our restaurants are struggling because of the pandemic,” said Autumn Young, SJDA’s interim managing director.  “We wanted to bring attention to those businesses making their way through these difficult times so they can focus on what they do best – which is making delicious food!”

 

Cafes are joining in the program this year with creative food and coffee pairings. Dine Downtown in past years focused on white tablecloth dining with chef specials, prix fixe menus and wine/cocktail tastings.

 

More than 100 food establishments are open downtown offering take out, delivery and Al Fresco outdoor dining.   Of those, more than 20 will feature a Dine Downtown offer.

 

SJDA is still gathering offers from regular Dine Downtown participants, including 71 Saint Peter, Farmers Union, District, Enoteca la Storia, Habana Cuba and Hawaiian Poke Bowl.  One newcomer this year is the Petiscos by Adega Portuguese restaurant at 399 S. First St., which is scheduled to open during Dine Downtown’s run.

 

Examples of specials for this 12^th year of Dine Downtown:

 

·      Tiki Pete, 23 N. Market St. offers a food-and-drink pairing of Mai Tai and Shoyu Chicken ($20) and a Chef Special of ahi poke nachos ($10).  The Prix Fixe for two includes Cajun fries appetizer, seafood combo of shrimp, green mussels from New Zealand, dark clams in shell, plus choice of Dungeness crab, king crab legs or whole lobster, plus Hawaiian sausages, corn and red potatoes, and haupia for dessert ($90).

·      The Farmers Union on San Pedro Square brings back its offer from previous years of three courses for $30 of choice of creamy tomato soup or Caesar’s salad appetizer, entrée choice of Farmers veggie bowl, grilled flat iron steak, half-rack smoked ribs or salmon, and warm brownie and salted caramel bread pudding for dessert.

 

Many of the cafes, delis and coffee houses are excited to participate in Dine Downtown:

 

·      The Nest Asian Bistro, 312 S. Third St., offers 77-cent boneless chicken wings and $5 beer on Monday and Wednesday.

·      Cubamex, 325 S. First St., will add chips and salsa and soda to any sandwich order for $2 more.

·       MakiBQ on Fountain Alley has three chef specials:  Kimbap & Inari Combo with House Sauce ($6); Chicken Katsu Musubi with Cucumbers & Teriyaki Sauce ($6); Volcano - Fire Fries, Fried Chicken & Crispy Noodles Spicy ($8)

 

Other participants include Academic Coffee, Voyager Craft Coffee, Voltaire Coffee Roasters, Paper Moon Café and  Pastelaria Adega.

San Jose Restaurant Week - Jan 16 to 26

Restaurant week is back and it features 33 restaurants all around San Jose. Each will feature a multi-course tasting menu at a discounted price. You can see all of the deals over here.

The one I really would like to highlight is Adega, San Jose's first and only restaurant ever to get a Michelin star. They have a three-course restaurant week menu for $50 when one of their entrees alone costs $51. They added an intimate bar a while back and you might be able to stroll in there Tuesday through Thursday without a reservation to enjoy some of the best food San Jose has to offer.

The Adega owners also opened Pastelaria in Downtown San Jose, which is a must visit. They also have a $10 prix fix menu with a drink, grilled cheese sandwich, and a pastel de nata (best dessert you can find Downtown).

I'm also a big fan of 3rd & Bourbon, LB Steak, Meso, Luna, Oveja Negra, Park Station Hashery, Super Good Kitchen, Umi Handroll Bar, and Zona Rosa.

Dine Downtown San Jose 2019

The latest "Dine Downtown" restaurant week runs until July 28th and features prix fixe tasting menus, chef's specials, and food & drink pairings at Downtown San Jose's hottest restaurants. Some of my favorite new restaurants like Elyse, Enoteca Las Storia, SuperGood Kitchen and District are on the list as well as classics like 71 Saint Peter, Cafe Stritch, Scott's Seafood, The Grill on the Alley, Mezcal, and Nemea.

To see the full list of 22 participating restaurants and their featured menus, head over here. OpenTable also set up a handy page to easily book Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurants here.

Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant Week is July 13-22, 2018

Downtown's best restaurants offer prix fixe menus or chef's specials

SAN JOSE - Some of downtown San Jose's best restaurants will celebrate Dine Downtown Restaurant Week with prix fixe meals, chefs’ specials and food-and-drink pairings from July 13-22.

Participating restaurants include:

71 Saint Peter

Cafe Stritch

District

Élyse Restaurant

Enoteca La Storia San Jose

The Farmers Union

Forager Tasting Room & Eatery

The Grill on the Alley

Hawaiian Poke Bowl

Lobby Lounge at Fairmont San Jose

Loft Bar & Bistro  

McCormick & Schmick’s

Mezcal Restaurant

Mosaic Restaurant & Lounge

Nemea Greek Taverna

Nomikai Social Food + Drinkery

Olla Cocina

Poor House Bistro

Uproar Brewing Company

Foodies need only show up at the restaurant of their choice and ask for the Dine Downtown option.

By expanding from prix fixe menus, newcomer eateries can join Dine Downtown this year.  For example:

• District’s sampler plates featuring cheeses, charcuterie, yellowfin tuna poke and lamb meatballs are paired with sparkling, red and white wines and whiskey flights.
• Fairmont Lobby Lounge chef James Hoang offers three courses including Wakame seaweed salad or summer rolls, fusion tacos or Fairmont Sushi Roll, and Moet Imperial champagne sorbet.
• Olla Cocina Chef Alex Jimenez has put together a Mexican meal including marinated and grilled half chicken, frijoles and rice, all paired with the restaurant's featured craft cocktail, the Latin Lover Margarita.
• Nomikai’s chef special by Emil Marquez is a summer pizza loaded with freshness:  salmon sashimi, avocado, microgreens, pickled red onions and aioli.
• And Elyse restaurant goes all out with prix fixe menus at two price points, including mushroom tarts and grilled oysters as appetizers, seafood trio and short ribs bourguignon as main course choices, plus dessert and optional wine pairings.

Longtime supporters of Dine Downtown just seem to get better, creating new and inventive dishes for their patrons:

• 71 Saint Peter’s Dine Downtown menu by head chef Cordial Pajor offers summer melon gazpacho, followed by charred ceviche and entrée of duck confit risotto or marinated bavette steak, plus passion fruit crème brulee for dessert.
• Nemea Greek Taverna executive chef Sandra Martinez has put together classic Greek choices for a four-course meal.
• Poor House Bistro has a price-fixed offering of classic Cajun fare.

“The chef’s specials and pairings opens the possibilities for more restaurants to get involved and gives customers more choices to explore,” said Julie Carlson, SJDA marketing director.

Check dinedowntownsj.com for offer specifics.  Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. nightly.

Check http://dinedowntownsj.com for offer specifics. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. nightly. Reservations made through OpenTable.

Dine Downtown is produced by the non-profit San Jose Downtown Association.

Many of the participating restaurants have validation programs. Parking information is available on http://ParkSj.org.

Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant Week is July 7-16

A total of 19 restaurants are participating in this year's Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant Week. Each restaurant will feature prix fixe multi-course meals, discounts, or chef's specials. This is one of the best times to try out new restaurants Downtown, and it is a very strong list of eateries this year. Participating restaurants include:

• 71 Saint Peter Modern European Kitchen
• Café Stritch
• The Farmers’ Union
• The Grill on the Alley
• Habana Cuba Restaurant
• Il Fornaio
• La Pastaia
• Loft Bar and Bistro
• M Asian Fusion Restaurant
• McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks
• Mezcal
• Mosaic Restaurant and Lounge
• Nemea Greek Taverna
• Nomikai Social Food + Drinkery
• Olla Cocina
• Our House
• Poor House Bistro
• Scott’s Seafood San Jose
• SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant

As an example, 71 Saint Peter is offering a $45 four-course meal with prosciutto wrapped melon, charred octopus salad, pan-roasted quail or braised short ribs, and a Bergamot orange creme brulee. To see all of the menus and specials, head over to the Dine Downtown website.

Dine Downtown is produced by the San Jose Downtown Association and sponsored by Sysco. Dinners begin at 5:30pm nightly and the event runs from July 7th to 16th.

Dine Downtown Restaurant Week kicks off tomorrow

Starting tomorrow you will be able to get three-course meals at a variety of Downtown San Jose restaurants for a fixed price. 18 different restaurants are participating in the latest Dine Downtown Restaurant Week, including several of my favorites. I highly recommend Arcadia, Cafe Stritch, Nomikai, Scott's Seafood, and SP2. $1 will be donated to Martha's Kitchen for every meal that is purchased during the event.

Below in the SJDA press release you will also find a list of events to pair with your dining experiences. To see the full list of participating restaurants, head over here.

SAN JOSE – Downtown diners can experience a new hot spot every night over 10 days this June, when restaurants offer specially priced, three-course meals for Dine Downtown.

From June 10 to June 19, downtown restaurants create special menus for Dine Downtown. Options include new up-and-coming restaurants and recognized, award-winning downtown icons.  There’s a meal to meet every want – from Hawaiian to Asian-inspired comfort food to steakhouses, Italian food and beyond.  See all of the restaurants and menus at http://dinedowntownsj.com.

Since food is also about community, the dining experience isn’t just for the joy of a great meal.  Dine Downtown sponsor Sysco will donate $1 to Martha’s Kitchen for every meal purchased.  Martha’s Kitchen has provided hot meals to the hungry for 35 years.

Dine Downtown is a great week to explore all the area has to offer – from great food to arts. Be sure to check out these great events downtown at the same time:

• You and I:  Play-goers "take the leap into an unexpected friendship" with a poignant and insightful story about two teenagers.  City Lights Theater.  www.cltc.org
• The Art of Fashion: A special preview of a collection that will be shown at Anne & Mark’s Art Party.  http://pivot-artfashion.com
• Third Thursday:  After-hours with live music, food, drinks and, of course, art at the San Jose Museum of Art. http://sjmusart.org/calendar
• Wild Party:  A musical and whodunit set in the Roaring 20s.  The Stage Theater Company. http://www.thestage.org 

For a full list of downtown events, visit www.sjdowntown.com/events.

Arts, giving and great food: That’s what great community and Dine Downtown are about.

Reservations taken through Open Table:  http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=365&m=4

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About Martha’s Kitchen: Martha’s Kitchen has served more than 3 million meals to San Jose’s hungry over 35 years.  Based between Willow Glen and downtown, it provides meals to service agencies and through its own dining room.

About Sysco:  Sysco helps the foodservice industry satisfy diners’ appetites with 194 locations throughout the U.S., Bahamas, Canada, Ireland & Northern Ireland. http://www.sysco.com

About the SJDA:  The non-profit San Jose Downtown Association was founded in 1986 to represent businesses and property owners.  It works to enhance downtown’s vitality. http://sjdowntown.com

Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant Week - Kickoff is Tomorrow!

If you want great food at a great price, Dine Downtown San Jose starts tomorrow. 23 Restaurants will be offering 3 course prix-fixe dinners for $20, $30, or $40. Oh, and for the first time a few restaurants will be offering lunch specials (including Curry Pundits, The Fountain, Take One Pizza, and Tengu Sushi). You can find those here.

Of the participating restaurants, there are a few I need to call out specifically:

• The Craftsman - this used to be "First to Market." They still have a lot of their classic items (the pimento mac & cheese is a must) and a mixology-grade cocktail bar, but freshened up the design a bit.
• The Capital Club - private club on the top floor of the "Knight Ridder" building. This is your best chance to dine up there without having to pay the membership fees. The view from their massive outdoor balconies is incredible--no other place like this in the Bay Area.
• Arcadia - Michael Mina's signature San Jose restaurant. Try the tuna tar tar and the foie gras sliders.
• Nemea - The best Greek restaurant in San Jose.
• Scott's Seafood - I know this is a chain, but there isn't another Scott's like this one. They just redid their outdoor patio, which is on the roof of a 7-story parking structure. Awesome view, great ambiance, and delicious food.

To see the full restaurant list, head over here!

Dine Downtown San Jose Starts Today!

A 10 day "restaurant week" in Downtown San Jose kicks off today. This year there are 27 different restaurants including 8 brand new options. You can check out the full list below along with some menu examples. For a restaurant list with links to Opentable reservations, check out this handy SJDA webpage. 

Dine Downtown San Jose – June 20-29
27 downtown restaurants combine value, service and quality

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Foodies have a lot of new choices at the sixth annual Dine Downtown San Jose “restaurant week,” so good it extends to 10 days.

From June 20-29, new and regular customers alike can savor the tastes of 27 different restaurants offering prix-fixed, three-course meals including appetizer or salad, entrée and dessert, starting at $15 per person.

Restaurants new to the Dine Downtown program this year include: Blackbird Tavern, The Blue Mango, Bluefin Sushi, Da Kine Island Grill, The Farmers Union, First to Market, La Pinata and Nomikai Social Food + Drinkery.

First to Market’s (399 S. First St.) $35 per person Dine Downtown San Jose sampling includes grilled watermelon salad, pork belly mac and cheese or grilled ahi for appetizers, grilled elk chops, seared scallops or brown rice-stuffed bell pepper for main course and pie of the day.  Or after trying Nomikai’s arugula salad and corn pizza, save room for fresh strawberry with Nutella coconut cream parfait, all for $20 per person.

The offers also include a six-course meal at 71 Saint Peter for $45 a person and a five-course, $55 offer at Nemea Greek Taverna.

Some of downtown San Jose’s best restaurants will return to support the popular program: 71 Saint Peter Modern European Kitchen; Arcadia – A  Michael Mina Steakhouse; Bella Mia; Billy Berk’s Restaurant; Cafe Stritch; Fahrenheit Restaurant & Lounge; Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant; The Grill on the Alley; Il Fornaio San Jose; Loft Bar and Bistro; Los Gatos Brewing Company; Mezcal Restaurant; Morton’s The Steakhouse; Nemea Greek Taverna; Orchestria Palm Court Restaurant; Paolo’s Restaurant; San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine; Scott’s Seafood San Jose; and Vino Vino.

Since 2009, Dine Downtown showcases the exceptional restaurants offered in the center city.  Based on restaurant surveys, Dine Downtown customers come back again and again, trying new places and returning to familiar favorites.  In 2013, downtown restaurants served thousands of meals

“The San Jose Downtown Association loves to produce Dine Downtown because it promotes some of downtown’s best assets,” said Julie Carlson, SJDA marketing director. “We’re excited to see so many new restaurants and old favorites in the Dine Downtown mix this year.”

Dine Downtown restaurants, menus and additional information are at dinedowntownsj.com.  Dinner starts nightly at 5:30 p.m. and reservations are recommended through each restaurant’s website or OpenTable.com.

Sysco, the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, will sponsor Dine Downtown for the second year.  For each meal served, Sysco will donate $1 to San Jose’s Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen.  Also, OpenTable will again take Dine Downtown reservations.

Meals to tempt the most discriminating of culinary tastes, including vegetarian options, include:

$30 for two people
La Pinata:
First:  Nachos, flautas or quesadilla
Second:  Super famoso burrito, mole enchiladas or enchilada/taco combo
Third:  Flan, cheesecake chimichanga or pastel tres leches

$39 for two people
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant:
First:  Southwest egg rolls
Second: Baby greens, Caesar salad
Third:  Brewhouse chicken, miso mahi, bourbon chicken & grilled shrimp, and bistro steak medallions
Fourth:  4 mini sampler desserts

$20 per person
Bella Mia:
First:  House side garden salad
Second:  Oven-baked lasagna, ravioli trio or crab & shrinp cannelloni
Third:  Petite season fruit crisp

$30 per person

Blackbird Tavern:
First:  Soup du jour, green Waldorf salad or grilled farmers market peppers
Second:  Bourbon grilled chicken, seasonal risotto, steak frites or rockfish
Third:  Nectarine bruschetta or strawberries and cream ice cream

Da Kine Island Grill:
First:  Ahi poke, tako poke, salmon poke, Kalua nachos or Kalua quesadilla
Second:  Hawaiian plate, mahi loco moco, seared ahi plate, aloha spare ribs, flamin salmon, mango pork chop, Da Kine chicken Ceasar
Third:  Rum bread pudding or pineapple sticky rice

Mezcal:
First:  Oaxacan summer salad, tortilla soup or seared scallops
Second:  Bacon-wrapped filet mignon, sea bass or vegetarian duo
Third:  warm Oaxacan chocolate cake or Don Julio anejo neat, chocolate and sliced orange

$45 per person (six courses)

71 St. Peter Mediterranean Grill
Amuse-Bouche:  Chilled gazpacho
First:  Fresh Dungeness crab salad
Second:  Spring vegetable risotto
Intermezzo: Lime sorbet
Main Course:  Pancetta wrapped petite filet mignon, or sage roasted California sea bass, or roasted butternut squash ravioli
Dessert:  Apricot upside-down cake

$45 per person
Morton’s The Steakhouse
First: Caesar salad, Morton’s salad or baked five-onion soup
Second: 6oz single cut filet mignon (+$10 for 8oz), double cut prime pork chop, honey-chili glazed salmon or chicken bianco
Third:  Chocolate mousse or cheesecake

$50 per person

Arcadia
First:  Heirloom tomato salad or roasted corn soup
Second:  Grilled king salmon steak or petit filet & short rib rillettes
Third:  Chocolate molten cake or mascarpone cheesecake

$60 per person
The Grill on the Alley:
First: Charcuterie board or rustic grilled Ceasar
Second:  Smoked bacon-wrapped filet or sweet pea, lemon & prawn risotto
Third:  Vanilla brandy panna cotta

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San Jose Downtown Association is a non-profit group of business and property owners working to improve the vitality and livability of downtown San Jose.  Check www.sjdowntown.com.

Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen is a non-profit organization that has served the working poor, families, homeless and seniors living in and around the downtown and East Side of San Jose for over 32 years. What began as a simple first meal of fish and bread for 11 adults and 15 children has grown to nearly 500 meals per day, served with dignity.  Visit www.loavesfishes.org.

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 177 distribution facilities serving approximately 400,000 customers. Visit www.syscosf.com.

Dishcrawl Debuts Dine Downtown Dishes: Sneak Peek 8 Restaurants for Dine Downtown

The San Jose Downtown Association and Dishcrawl are teaming up to provide a sneak peak for the Dine Downtown Restaurant Week! This is the ultimate way to sample a bunch of different foods in one night and plan out your dining adventures. Tickets are only $5, and you can get them right over here. In addition, Discrawl will be donating a portion of each ticket sold to the Oklahoma Relief Fund to benefit those affected by the tornado (use the promo code "oktornadorelief"). The promo code will work until June 1st. More info below:

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Dishcrawl Debuts Dine Downtown Dishes
Sneak Peek 8 Restaurants for Dine Downtown

San Jose, CA – Dishcrawl, popular for providing local food adventures, will be hosting a sneak preview to the annual Dine Downtown event. Join us in downtown San Jose on Wednesday, June 19th from 5-8pm, we invite you to engage your taste buds as we explore the many special offerings of our local favorites two days early.

“With participating locations like Fahrenheit and Billy Berk’s, Dine Downtown is sure to be a successful restaurant week and Dishcrawl is giving people a VIP exclusive,” says Kirby Ptacek, Dishcrawl ambassador.

With the destination set at serving quality dining experiences, the San Jose Downtown Association seeks to highlight the quality and diversity of dining options in downtown San Jose. This year, Dishcrawl will feature 8 of the participating Dine Downtown venues and dish out a unique and memorable way for people to connect over food.

A ticket grants entry to the event, a cupcake, and the chance to win up to $500 of prizes courtesy of the San Jose Downtown Association. Tickets for menu offerings will be available for purchase on day of event. Entry tickets are $5 and now available for purchase here.

Dine Downtown San Jose – June 20-July 1

Restaurant week is back for 2012! This is a great way to experience an assortment of different foods at San Jose's top restaurants for a reasonable price. New to the list this year are Vino Vino, Myth, and Back A Yard Caribbean American Grill. Also for the first time, we have 2 Dishcrawls that will feature Restaurant Week eateries. Full details below!

Downtown restaurants combine value, service and quality into fourth annual event

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Take a culinary expedition through Downtown San Jose during Dine Downtown restaurant week, June 20-July 1. 

Some of downtown’s best restaurants provide gourmet three- and four-course prix-fixe specialty dishes and equally outstanding service at special price points ranging $20-$70, most $40 and under.

“This is a favorite promotion of the year for many San Jose foodies,” said Julie Carlson, SJDA Marketing Director.  “Dine Downtown allows people the opportunity to try new places and return to old favorites.”

Participating restaurants for this fourth annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week include (committed as of today):

•  19Market Restaurant - 19 N. Market St.; 280-6111

•  71 Saint Peter Mediterranean Grill - 71 N. San Pedro St.; 971-8523

•  Azucar Latin Restaurant & Lounge - 71 E. San Fernando St.; 293-8482

•  Back A Yard Caribbean American Grill - 80 N. Market St.;294-8626

•  Bella Mia Restaurant & Bar - 58 S. First St.; 280-1993

•  Billy Berk's Restaurant - 99 S. First St.; 292-4300

•  Britannia Arms Downtown - 173 W. Santa Clara St.; 278-1400

•  Fahrenheit Restaurant & Lounge - 99 E. San Fernando St.; 998-9998

•  Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant - 33 E. San Fernando St.; 294-6785

•  The Grill on the Alley - in the Fairmont Hotel, 172 S. Market St.; 294-2244

•  Habana Cuba  Restaurant, 238 Race St. 998-2822   

•  Il Fornaio - in the Sainte Claire Hotel, 302 S. Market St.; 271-3366

•  La Pastaia Ristorante & Enoteca - in the Hotel De Anza - 233 W. Santa Clara St.; 286-8686

•  Loft Bar and Bistro - 90 S. 2nd St.; 291-0677

•  Los Gatos Brewing Company - 163 W. Santa Clara St.;292-9928

•  Mezcal Restaurant - 25 W. San Fernando St.; 283-9595

•  Morton's The Steakhouse - 177 Park Ave.; 947-7000

•  Myth Taverna & Lounge - 152 Post St.; 286-7678

•  Paolo’s Restaurant - 333 W. San Carlos St. # 150; 294-2558

•  San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine - 20 N. Almaden Ave.; 298-9463

•  Sonoma Chicken - 31 N. Market St.; 287-4098

•  Vino Vino - 87 N. San Pedro St. #105; 703-2333

Dishcrawl will host preview events June 12-13.  Check http://dishcrawl.com/dinedowntown

Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. nightly.  Reservations are recommended, and many of the participating restaurants accept reservations through OpenTable.com.  Or, contact the restaurants by phone or use their websites.

All the info and links are at sjdowntown.com/dinedowntown.

More information can be found at Metro, NBC Bay Area, KCBS, Mix 106.5, 94.5 KBAY, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers and El Observador.

More background information

•  Restaurants present specially crafted menus that showcase their unique flavor and flare

•  Goals:  

• fun and entertaining evenings for customers  
• new and repeat customers for restaurants
•  improvedunderstanding of the quality and diversity of dining options of downtown San Jose, a true destination for quuality dining experiences

•  Reservations:  recommended.  Some reservations are accepted through OpenTable.com

•  Restaurant info and prix fixe menus available on sjdowntown.com/dinedowntown

•  Call (408) 279-1775

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San Pedro Square Market Updates

I have always been bullish on The San Pedro Square Market, even after numerous delays and the loss of a few promising tenants. However, I'm going to make a really bold statement and say not only will the Market be a tremendous success... but it will be the inflection point that will change people's negative perceptions of Downtown San Jose and will likely be one of the most successful markets of it's kind in the US.

Some people are going to cringe when I say this, but it does have a lot of similarities to Santana Row. The attention to detail in the Market is impeccable, from the hummingbirds hanging from the ceiling to the flower selection in the courtyard. It has great open-air dining options, including the incredible courtyard with the Peralta Adobe. There is live music and entertainment. And, it is being progressively elaborated. Santana Row wasn't built in a day, in fact it is still being built. With SR, I always enjoyed going there and discovering what is coming next. There were always new surprises to discover, and now the same is happening with the Market.

Before I get into the updates, let me tell you where The Market and Santana Row are different. 1.) Instead of national anchors and restaurants, every tenant in The Market is a local small business where the owners are incredibly passionate about what they do and are striving to deliver the best possible product possible. SR venues go for consistency, the Market is going for excellence and innovation (can give you examples of innovative concepts from every food vendor). 2.) Price. The Market has the best value proposition imaginable for dinner. Pay "lunch" prices all day long, mix and match foods from vendors, no reservations needed, and it's both kid and adult friendly (three bars by summer).  3.) History. There is actual historical value in the venue itself. It is more than retail in a box. The Market will actually help preserve some San Jose history and make it more accessible to the public.

Okay, now for the good stuff.  Here are the updates since the last time I posted about the Market:

• On a Roll is now open right at the front of the Market. They serve Vietnamese sandwiches, noodle plates, spring rolls, tofu, and several other items. I've tried it already... the noodle plate with the pork is fantastic. Great addition!
• New seating has been added outside the Market and adjacent to On a Roll.
• The Crepe place (Crepe-Paris) is about 2 weeks away from opening. They'll have both savory and sweet crepes and be right between Vino Vino and On a Roll.  Also, they will likely stay open late to provide food for the post 10pm bar crowd.
• A new awning has been added in the courtyard, as well as some new festoon lighting.
• A new sign has been added for Blush, which also looks like it's getting a roll-up door on the side of the building.
• Building #2 (Lusardi) is 4-6 weeks away from opening. Unlike Building #1 (El Dorado), it's likely going to open mostly full with the following vendors:
• Treatbot Karaoke Ice Cream Truck
• Veggiebox - fresh, local veggies and prepared dishes
• Blush - Sushi, oysters, and a really unique bar
• Showroom - Boutique apparel, including I<3SJ shirts
• Ay Dios Mio - Mexican  
• The Little Cheese Shop - Cheese, Charcuterie, and Gourmet Foods
• San Pedro Square Seafood
• Loteria Taco Bar will be coming to the original building later this year.
• New Saturday San Pedro Farmers Market which will wrap around the Market and kick off April 7th!