pichulita

My honey and I are in our early 60's and will be visiting SJ for a couple of days to celebrate our anniversary. We are looking for a nice, classy restaurant (pastas, seafood, steak) AND somewhere to go to after dinner where we can enjoy a piano bar or some jazz and an after dinner drink. We are not looking for your typical night club, but rather, a "grown up" place where we can hear each other talk without screaming at one another. Any suggestions?

easytraveler

Well, I'd say that THE place to have steak in Silicon Valley is Alexander's:

http://www.alexanderssteakhouse.com/

It's not really in San Jose, but in Cupertino.

Will you have a car?

If the prices at Alexander's are a bit too steep, I can recommend some other restaurants, if I knew your price range, your mobility, and whether you prefer pasta over steak, etc.

A piano bar? Are you kidding me? This is Silicon Valley where at 9pm people are still at work or are already in bed. Just joshing.

sunbum1944

The town of Los Gatos is a great area very close to SJ- you might enjoy an evening walking around there with dinner at Los Gatos Hotel at Deo Deka's - lovely dining, great service

I am not sure about a piano bar close by though- but many other places to have a nice drink.

And of course Santana Row in SJ has lots of great restaurants and bars - in the summer there is usually outdoor music at one of the bars where you can stop for a drink

I really like Santa Row area but much more crowded than Los Gatos area

easytraveler

Santana Row would be the best all around choice - plenty of restaurants to choose from and it's compact enough so you can walk around and see which restaurant appeals to you and which one will have a bar (piano bar, I don't know, as sunbum1944 has mentioned). Probably Left Bank. (I don't like Sino's)

http://www.santanarow.com/dining/

Rastaguytoday

Downtown San Jose has some restaurants, but mostly chain oriented from higher end chains:

Alexanders has zero around it. It used to be a Mexican restaurant.

Michael Mina's Arcadia - his version of a steakhouse.
Morton's, yes, another dam Morton's.

Santana Row is not near downtown.
Left Bank in Santana Row is French oriented, but their LB Steak nearby is what it says it is.

Los Gatos is near San Jose and the best there is Forbes Mill Steakhouse, a favorite of mine.

After dinner, head to the De Anza Hotel. Their bar is beautiful. http://www.hoteldeanza.com/hedley_club.asp
Jazz Thurs-Sat.

San Jose native.

sunbum1944

If you are looking for classy you won't be disappointed

http://www.diodeka.com/

easytraveler

Los Gatos is my home town.

I absolutely agree with Forbes Mill Steakhouse.

Dio Deka - meh.

However, Los Gatos isn't in the center of Silicon Valley - it'll all depend on where you will be staying and - on how much wine you will be drinking.

sunbum1944

Easy - did not know you lived in Los Gatos - I LOVE Los Gatos and have always had fabulous meals at Dio Deka - but daughters friend was event manager there and we were waited on hand and foot. And owner would come by with lots of free appetizers, drinks etc.

Daughter lives in Campbell - but always enjoy an evening in Los Gatos.

Los Gatos not center of Silicon Valley but very easy drive- depending on traffic of course- everything in California is dependent on traffic it seems

easytraveler

Hi, sunbum!

Lucky you! to get such wonderful service and great meals at Dio Deka!

If we had had your experiences, we'd be recommending Dio Deka too!

Unfortunately, our experience has been less than stellar, which is why we have not returned.

I love Los Gatos, too!


pichulita: have you decided yet which restaurant for your great celebration? Just curious.

hazel1

I agree with the recommendation of the DeAnza Hotel Headley Club for after dinner music and cocktails - it's a wonderful place. If you want to be in downtown San Jose for dinner as well, The Grill on the Alley at the Fairmont Hotel has a very nice atmosphere and great food, and Arcadia, in the SJ Marriott, is also a very fine choice, too. And if you don't want to move more than a few steps between dinner and music, there's La Pastaia restaurant in the DeAnza Hotel right next to the Headley Club.

Rastaguytoday

Don't let the DeAnza facade fool you. The hotel is totally refurbished, and has been kept up to date.

The Headly Club is a trip, with it's main room ceiling two stories tall.

It's where my parents spent their wedding night.

november_moon

Bella Mia is a nice Italian restaurant not far from the De Anza. If you are in the mood for Medeteranian, 71 St. Peter is a nice choice.

Rastaguytoday

Also downtown is McCormick & Schmick, a left coast chain of seafood restaurants. Good seafood and patio service if the weather is good.

pichulita

Thank you all for your suggestions. Ironically, I was able to get a very inexpensive vouchure for a 4 coarse meal at 71 St. Peter for two people (all the reviews were very good) and then we'll move unto the DeAnza for their jazz music and an after dinner drink. The next night we'll probably go to the DeAnza Hotel to try their dinner and then go to our musical production....a very nice 2 day celebration.

By the way, I'm trying to find a contact number for the San Jose Historic Walking Tour, but I can't find it anywhere....does it still exist?

Rastaguytoday

Fair warning, La Pastaia at the De Anza is a semi-chain.

Here is their menu. http://www.lapastaia.com/index.php?o...d=38&Itemid=73

Of all the restaurants listed, it would be close to the bottom of my choice.

Walking tours.

http://www.preservation.org/

http://www.sjpl.org/blog/explore-san...our-smartphone

What's any town without famous dive restaurants? The link is somewhat dated. However, Henry's Hi-Life is still going strong and has very good steaks. You order and stay in the bar until your order is ready, then you are escorted to your seats.

http://www.webdives.com/listings.php?cityfind=San Jose Downtown

Check out Henry's Hi-Life menu
http://www.henryshilife.com/

sf7307

Rasta, what other restaurants are in the La Pastaia "chain"? Curious because I don't like the food at La Pastaia, so I might have to avoid the others!

hazel1

Yeah, Rasta, what the heck does a "semi-chain" mean? It's certainly not apparent from LaPastaia's website that they have any other locations or "sister" restaurants.

And you've GOT to be kidding recommending Henry's Hi-Life for someone wanting a "classy" restaurant. You're right, it's a dive, so by definition, it's not classy. Even if their steaks are decent, I would never consider it a "nice restaurant". It's loud, crowded and doesn't take reservations, so the wait can be long and frankly, uncomfortable.

Rastaguytoday

I'd rather go to to an original like Henry's than a small or semi chain like La Pastaia.

La Pastaia reminds me of a place your aunt Tootie wants to go to for a family reunion, kids an all.

I did tell the folks it was a 'dive' restaurant, and sent them the website to see for themselves.

sf7307

I still don't understand what makes it a small or semi-chain -- there are other locations?

As for Henry's, you did say it was a local dive, but the original request was for a CLASSY restaurant - Henry's doesn't qualify!

november_moon

You guys do realize that the OP already had dinner, right?