of Silicon Valley
South Bay Dive Experience
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Santa Clara The old downtown was bulldozed in favor of the Franklin Mall (yes, no one else has heard of it either). Surprisingly few dives for a city with some history. Shame. Shame on you.
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Neto Sausage Company 3499 The Alameda Santa Clara | ||
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Cafe Dhaka 3284 El Camino Real Santa Clara | ||
Featuring Bangladeshi and Pakistani Halal cuisine, Cafe Dhaka is where all the local Pakistani's hang out. For lunch they feature a steam table buffet with soup, pakora, 2 meat items, one fish item, rice, naan, salad, raita (a cooling sauce) and chutney. Dishes change by the day but you could have AlooGobi with Aloor Dhom one day, Begun Bhaja and Shaag Bhajee with a side of Kolar Mocha Bhajee the next. They also have Burgers as well as fish and chicken sandwiches by order for the less adventurous. The food is a bit more spicy than typical Indian fare but not overwhelming. It's located in an old strip mall and surrounded by Korean restaurants up and down the street. No beer. Worth a try. | ||
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Kabab House Halal 2521 Newhall Street Santa Clara | ||
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Sara's Kitchen 1595 Franklin Street Santa Clara | ||
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Shan Restaurant 3739 El Camino Real Santa Clara | ||
Pakistani at it's best. Although in a strip mall location with pedestrian surroundings, this place takes itself seriously. Tandoori ovens, lots of curry dishes. You can tell it's good as the Pakistani populace packs the tables out. Chicken Tandoori is a hit. We sampled the Mutter Paneer, Palak Paneer and the Paneer Masala. A bit of Naan and you good to go. Didn't have a chance to try the deserts including several types of Barfi. Next time! | ||
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Su's Mongolian Bar B Q 1111 El Camino Real Santa Clara | ||
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Manila Kitchenette Agnew Road and Lafayette Santa Clara | ||
We really wanted this place to be a 3 diver or better but were put off by the steam table serving protocol. A real authentic Filipino restaurant which serves different fixings every day (depending on the mood of the cooks that morning). Beef dishes include Afriada, Bopis, Kaldereta, Kare-Kare, Pinapaitan... Vegetables include Ampalaya Guisado, Bulanglang, Ginataan Sitaw/Calabasa... Desserts include Bananaque, Bibingka, Calamay, Halo Halo, Pitchi Pitchi and Sapin Sapin. It gets even better from here. Definitely an adventure! | ||
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Mondo Burrito 3300 The Alameda Santa Clara | ||
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Side Dish Corner El Camino Real at Pomeroy Santa Clara | ||
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St. John's 510 Lawrence Expressway Santa Clara | ||
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[Ocean] Seafood 3561 El Camino Real Santa Clara | ||
Really authentic Korean food and OB (Korea's #1) beer. The menu is a delightful spelling test (e.g. speshals) but best of all, we liked the generous portions of good, spicy Korean food. Lunch ended up being an eight-course meal. Tea is served in hotel glasses and the karaoke stand was ominously in full view (but thankfully not in use). You may feel out of place if you're not a Korean national but the service is good and the prices reasonable. However, despite the hot spices, DO NOT be tempted to go out afterwards for a chocolate dipped frosty cone from the Dairy Belle down the street (personal tip). | ||
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Old Ironsides Cafe 4655 Old Ironsides Drive Santa Clara | ||
A reader says, "Its an excellent family owned/run falafel dive. Try their falafel wrap or eastern combo for starters but they're happy to do whatever you want with the ingredients at hand. One missing criteria: its not in its own building. Its hiding in the bottom of one of the random 4 story 1980s office towers there. You'ld never know the place was there unless someone told you. Its only indicator is a small sign on the street, an awning over the door with a TV antenna "hidden" inside it, a $1.99 breakfast sign and a neon open sign. Inside? well i was there today and they're remodelling (amazing! they should be careful, it could lose dive status if they do a good job. but relax, i think they're doing it themselves ;) half the place is ripped up with some old fixtures and furature piled in it and a mix of carpet and an ancient 1980s copy machine in a corner that's had a for sale sign on it for as long as i've been going there. The food is great. The owners are a very greek looking older couple always working there, a good sign for a falafel joint". | ||
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Andy's BBQ 2367 El Camino Real Santa Clara | ||
What is old becomes new again. They've taken over the Mr. Steer location at 2367 El Camino Real and look to open before September. It's really quite a nice place. Red leather booths, tiffany lamps, oak paneling, matching silverware and fairly awesome service. The menu is classic BBQ with ribs, links, brisket and such served as plates or sandwiches. Sides include 'slaw, beans, potato salad or fries. There are pictures of Andy's employees serving BBQ to patrons scattered throughout the restaurant. Full bar, two rooms, they cater. Good stuff. Mom would like the free and constant refills for any non-alcoholic beverage. Go. This institution in Campbell offically closed its doors at the end of July, 2004. The offical word is they're trying to find an alternate location but they're settling into a catering mode by sharing operations with Talk of the Town catering in Willow Glen (home of the former Australian restaurant. This was a tough one to rate. What we found was WONDERFUL food, one of the best BBQ sandwiches around (try the beef brisket or the Carolina pulled pork). As you walk into the WWII era block-shaped building, there is a full bar with good beers on tap. The bar decor is basically a shrine to Joe Montana - extra points. You can dine at the bar or in the main dining room. All this would normally give them a four star rating. Unfortunately the place was a little too well lit and a little too clean for our liking (after all, we are divers, aren't we??), almost placing Andy's into the "Too Nice to be a Dive" category. They make their own BBQ sauce which is for sale - Regular (very neutral) and Spicy (barely, but still good). Worth a trip to Campbell. | ||
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Chi Dogs El Camino Real at Pomeroy Ave Santa Clara | ||
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House of Soul Food 2015 Lafayette Street Santa Clara | ||
Don't know if this place was moved elsewhere - only that we didn't have a chance to try before it disappeared. The old review: A reader says: "Food includes sliced BBQ beef, beef ribs, pork ribs, BBQ chicken, hot links. Sides include potato salad, cole slaw, fried okra, hush puppies, collard greens, and lotsa other good southern food. They have combination specials and platters. Has a bar. Sodas have free refills. Family run. Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday, 11-2. The sliced BBQ beef was popular with all our party, and the pork ribs were also popular. BBQ chicken was ok. All in our group thought we'd visit there again. | ||
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Jolly Mon's Scott Blvd at Space Park Drive Santa Clara | ||
A Jimmy Buffett theme dive with specialties including the "honey do" sandwich, the blue calypso the magic mushroom burger and of course - the cheeseburger in paradise. Recommended by several disparate dive patrons. We never had a chance to try it but It musta' been good 'mon. | ||
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Mister Steer 2367 El Camino Real Santa Clara | ||
The old Mr. Steer is now Andy's BBQ after Andy's was unceremoniously booted from downtown Campbell to make room for a hotel. Here's the former Mr. Steer review: We've probably received more suggestions for Mr. Steer than any other establishment. However, it's definitely too nice to be a dive. Unstained carpet, wood paneled walls, unshreded upholstery and other tell-tale signed of a relatively standard (but nice) steakhouse. We had steak sandwiches which were good enough. We're told the ribs are worth trying as well. | ||
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University Chicken 2565 The Alameda Santa Clara | ||
Now closed :-( We've heard great things about this place - a college dive with a spicy twist. You can choose the spiciness of your "wingers" based on their thermometer scale ranging from Mild, Atomic, Nuclear, Thermo Nuclear to 911. They have a 911 challenge if you dare! A dozen wingers at the 911 level to get your pic on the wall and a free T-shirt. Many are called but few are chosen. | ||
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