Santa Clara Restaurant Recommendations

San Jose

Maggiano's Little Italy
3055 Olin Avenue, #1000,
San Jose, CA
Telephone: 408-423-8973
Santana Row

Recently opened, each time I have visited this restaurant it was packed. The only time open when I called Friday morning for lunch was 1:30pm, and when we got there we had to wait 15 minutes for a table---but we got a booth. Italian food---Great!!! Wow!!! This is the place!!!

The best Veal Parmesan I have ever had. While I like Original Joe's and many others, the cheese was light, not a heavy slab, and the sauce with garlic perfect. You could also cut it with a fork. They don't serve vegetables with it. The Manhattan chowder was like New York with plenty of bite size clams and they tasted fresh. Sue took home half her Lasagna.

We have had the pasta here, and can also highly recommend it. Sauce is like "Little Italy."

The tables have real cloth, not paper. The service was superb, even though they were crowded all the time I was there. The floor manager walked the area and when I started looking for the waitress, he anticipated it and came to my table to help. I was impressed.

The prices are very good, too. All ages. This is going to be the place to go in San Jose.

Perhaps the only down side might be all they play is Frank Sinatra music. Now if you are a Frank Sinatra fan, as I am, it is terrific.

I was also trying to find out where the name of the restaurant came from as it is a "chain." In "From Here to Eternity," the movie that won Frank Sinatra the 1953 academy award for best supporting actor and rejuvenated his career, the character he played was Angelo Maggio. Close.

If you like garlic, you will really like the food here. Not overbearing, but pungent, you just taste it and then the bite kicks in after you swallow the food. I also had the best Spumoni I have had to date---I mean it had all the cherries, nuts, and pistachio and chocolate and ice cream to die for. If you are a diabetic, it is worth it to cheat with this dessert.

Everyone gets a take-home bag, too, I noticed. This is for groups, families, and foursomes, primarily. If there is a complaint, they serve too much food. You have to take home. My advice, bring a group.

The bar was busy even on Sunday afternoon. The bartender was serving wine and "high balls." No complaints from us. It is easy to find, and park, right off Winchester and Stevens Creek.

They specialize also in take-out. They have a special entrance and counter, noting you can park at the curb, if need be, and get it yourself or with a valet on the weekends.
www.maggianos.com

Locations:
http://www.maggianos.com/menu/

Map (actually right off Winchester, easy to park, or valet or curb for carry-out)

Carry-Out
"As an added bonus, most of our restaurants have a dedicated carryout counter that enables our staff to serve you quickly and easily. Your large orders (15 people and up) are best reserved the day before. At most Maggiano's, we run what we call "curb-side" service. We bring your order out to your car - no parking hassles involved! We even offer "family-style" portions for parties of four or more. Your family and friends will be thrilled!"