San Jose’s Dine Downtown restaurant deals return, July 21-31

The San Jose Downtown Association’s Dine Downtown program, a promotion intended to give local businesses a boost and customers some fresh dining options, returns this week.

From July 21-31, restaurants, lounges and coffee houses will offer specials that range from fixed-price meals to chef specials to food-and-wine pairings.

“After two years of pandemic, Dine Downtown could be one of the drivers compelling Bay Area residents and office workers out of their houses,” Julie Carlson, marketing director of the Downtown Association, said in announcing the participants. It’s the 14th year the SJDA has coordinated San Jose’s “restaurant week,” which this time will run for 11 days.

Among the 20-plus participants are businesses that bravely opened as the region is emerging from the pandemic economy: The FAB (Food & Beverage); entertainment venues Mama Kin and San Pedro Social; Secco at the Hilton San Jose; and Serious Dumpling.

One downtown mainstay — Mezcal — has participated in all 14 years of Dine Downtown. This time, the restaurant will offer a three-course, $30 prix fixe menu with choice of Tortilla Soup or Caesar Salad, an entree of Pollo al Horno with orange-rum sauce, Lemon Pepper Salmon or Vegan Green Enchiladas; and Tres Leches Cake or Fried Plantains with ice cream for dessert.

The array of other businesses includes full-service restaurants Il Fornaio, Orchestria Palm Court and Scott’s Seafood; three coffeehouses (Academic, Voltaire, Voyager); bakeries Pastelaria and Nox Cookie Bar; pairing specialists Devine Cheese & Wine and the District wine and whiskey bar, and fast-casual eateries.

Among the other menu highlights:

— A three-course, $40 dinner at Portuguese specialist Petiscos that offers diners 16 choices of appetizer (Codfish Cakes, Caldo Verde), 18 entree choices (Roasted Octopus, Pork and Clams) and seven dessert choices (Orange Torte, Pastel de Nata).

— A four-course, $45 dinner at Devine Cheese & Wine that starts with a cheese selection and offers selections including Braised Black Angus Short Ribs, Grilled Peach and Ricotta Toast with Saba, and Almond Cake with Laroda Plums.

— A $50 dinner at Mama Kin that features Ribeye N Grits, oysters and prosecco

— A $35 three-course dinner at the Farmers Union with a half-rack of Smoked Ribs with Bourbon-Cola BBQ Sauce as one of the entree choices.

— A $29 dinner at FAB with Chicken Alfredo Pasta or Chipotle Pasta, plus soup, salad and dessert.

— A $30 menu at Serious Dumpling with Soy Noodle Salad, Beef SJB and Lava Cake.