San Jose’s biggest-ever Dine Downtown event offers deals at 47 restaurants, coffeehouses and more

The San Jose Downtown Association’s biggest-ever Dine Downtown promotion starts Thursday.

For 11 days, through Sunday, July 23, a record number of restaurants, coffeehouses, lounges and bakeries — 47 at last count — will offer specials that range from fixed-price meals and chef specials to food-and-wine pairings and savings on casual bites.

“Foodies making their way to San Jose for Dine Downtown will choose some extraordinary dishes,” SJDA chief executive Alex Stettinski said in announcing the organization’s annual promotion. “New and regular customers will find a robust restaurant scene overall, which now includes a Michelin-rated restaurant.”

One downtown mainstay — Mezcal — has been a part of all 15 years of Dine Downtown. Other longtime participants include Loft Bar and Bistro, Farmers Union and Nomikai Social Food + Eatery, which have participated 10 or more years. At nine years are Habana Cuba and Scott’s Seafood.

Several downtown newcomers, in business for less than a year, are participating. That list includes Angkor Chef, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Hula Bar and Kitchen, Fox Tale Fermentation Project, Casa Guzmania, AJI Bar and Robata in the Hilton, Dr. Funk Rum House, Master Shin Korean Plate, Saby Thai Restaurant and Slice of Homage Pizza.

They join a number of venerable businesses that are offering Dine Downtown deals for the first time. Among those are Bijan Bakery, Cafe Eden, Firehouse No. 1, Fountain Restaurant at the Signia by Hilton hotel, Hella Good Burger, Old Wagon Saloon & Grill, Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse and Nirvana Soul Coffee Purveyors.

Here’s a sampling of menus. Check back often as we’ll keep posting more highlights:

— A three-course, $45 Portuguese meal at Petiscos gives diners nine choices of appetizer (Flamed Chourico, Shrimp in Garlic Sauce), 10 entree choices (Roasted Octopus, Pork and Clams) and three dessert choices (Chocolate Mousse, Flan, Orange Torte). Petiscos, the sister restaurant of Michelin-starred Adega, itself has received Michelin acclaim. On Tuesday, the restaurant was honored with a Bib Gourmand, an award reserved for restaurants that present “excellent food at reasonable prices.”

— At Mezcal, the three-course, $45 prix fixe menu starts with an appetizer of Tortilla Soup, Summer Salad or Choriqueso, with house-made chorizo; then offers entree selections of New York Steak, Pan-Fried Halibut or Vegan Enchiladas with tomatillo sauce; and finishes up with Tres Leches Cake or Churros for dessert.

— A four-course, $45 dinner at Devine Cheese & Wine starts with a cheese selection and offers course choices such as Braised Black Angus Short Ribs, Mostaccioli Salmon Pasta and Grilled Peach Tartine with Ricotta and Saba.

— At the Dr. Funk Rum House, for $50 you’ll sip a cocktail (Mai Tai or Puka Punch), then move on to the appetizer course (Coconut Shrimp or Curry Fries) and pick an entree (Hawaiian Ribs or Spam Fried Rice).

— The Towers Cafe is pairing a California Burrito (eggs, bacon, avocado, cheese, salsa) with a Vietnamese iced coffee for $12.

— At Scott’s Seafood, two can dine on the Surf and Turf special — a 6-ounce Filet Mignon with mushroom demi-glaze and a 6-ounce Lobster Tail, plus grilled asparagus and roasted red potatoes — for $110.

— Habana Cuba will offer a chef’s special of Tostones con Lechon, marinated and roasted pork, for $13.

— Inside the Downtown Hilton, Secco has put together a prix fixe menu of Char-Grilled Salmon with mango salsa and vegetables, Summer Salad dressed in a berry vinaigrette and Crunchy Mocha Cake for $56,

— The Brit is pairing a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with house salad and a pint of London’s Pride for $22.

— A $40, three-course dinner at the Farmers Union offers a half-rack of Smoked Ribs with Bourbon-Cola BBQ Sauce as one of the entree choices. For dessert there’s Salted Caramel Bread Pudding or Warm Chocolate Brownie with ice cream.

Want more savings? The city’s ParkSJ garages at Market and San Pedro Square, Second and San Carlos, Third Street, Fourth Street and Third and Santa Clara streets all offer 90 minutes of free parking.

Find details on other menu specials at https://sjdowntown.com/dine-downtown.