More San Jose Eats
I'm in downtown San Jose for about one of every 6 or 7 weeks, and am always trying to find decent places within walking distance of downtown to eat. Last trip I tried three inexpensive restaurants I hadn't tried before.
Poor House Bistro on Autumn street, a few blocks' walk from downtown, is in an old victorian house. It serves New Orleans-style food in a very casual (i.e. order at the counter) atmosphere. I had a fried shrimp po boy with remoulade and a side of red beans and rice. Red Tail ale on tap, and you've got yourself a meal. They also have gumbo and other standards, which I'm told are pretty decent.
Tandoori Oven is a small chain Northern Indian restaurant sort of like the many Pakistani/Indian restaurants in San Francisco and the East Bay, except that it's a bit more expensive, and maybe a little more corporate/designed. The food is pretty good, which is to say, better than most of the Indian restaurants in the area, especially at lunchtime where they offer mostly disgusting buffets. It's nothing great, but just a decent plate of chicken tikka masala, naan and rice for $10.
Up the street from Tandoori Oven (86 S. First St) is Smile Sushi, a small Japanese restaurant with fairly standard American Japanese restaurant fare. I wasn't expecting too much, but was pleasantly surprised--the prices were reasonable and the sushi fish was pretty good considering the prices. $10 bento lunch, which included agedashi tofu, sashimi, and three pieces of nigiri. They serve real green tea, not a cup of hot water and a teabag.
Poor House Bistro on Autumn street, a few blocks' walk from downtown, is in an old victorian house. It serves New Orleans-style food in a very casual (i.e. order at the counter) atmosphere. I had a fried shrimp po boy with remoulade and a side of red beans and rice. Red Tail ale on tap, and you've got yourself a meal. They also have gumbo and other standards, which I'm told are pretty decent.
Tandoori Oven is a small chain Northern Indian restaurant sort of like the many Pakistani/Indian restaurants in San Francisco and the East Bay, except that it's a bit more expensive, and maybe a little more corporate/designed. The food is pretty good, which is to say, better than most of the Indian restaurants in the area, especially at lunchtime where they offer mostly disgusting buffets. It's nothing great, but just a decent plate of chicken tikka masala, naan and rice for $10.
Up the street from Tandoori Oven (86 S. First St) is Smile Sushi, a small Japanese restaurant with fairly standard American Japanese restaurant fare. I wasn't expecting too much, but was pleasantly surprised--the prices were reasonable and the sushi fish was pretty good considering the prices. $10 bento lunch, which included agedashi tofu, sashimi, and three pieces of nigiri. They serve real green tea, not a cup of hot water and a teabag.
posted by Peter at 5:51 PM
