We had an exceptional dinner at Strata this week. From the moment we arrived, the entire team made…read moreus feel genuinely welcome. Every staff member was warm, attentive, and polished, delivering hospitality that was both gracious and professional throughout the evening. The prix fixe menu was outstanding--each course was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and more memorable than the last. We especially enjoyed the thoughtful explanations accompanying every dish, which gave us a deeper appreciation for the ingredients, techniques, and creativity behind the menu. The experience rivaled Michelin-starred meals we've enjoyed, yet at $85 per person, it was an extraordinary value. Strata delivered an elevated, memorable evening without feeling pretentious or inaccessible. We're already looking forward to returning for our anniversary in December to try the winter seasonal menu. Congratulations to the chef, bartenders, front-of-house team, and servers for creating such a remarkable experience. A thoroughly deserved five stars!

Went here after I heard Rotallini restaurante closed…read more Ordered the bread and butter and a tortellini and both were delicious. Our service was good but almost too much (I felt like he was trying to scoot us out). The ambiance was upscale, but I wish they didn't try to go too upscale (for example I asked for a seven up or sprite and all they had was squirt which seemed weird...) Will be back!

GOGA is one of those restaurants that reminds you why independent, chef-driven dining is so…read morespecial. We had a 5:30 reservation on a Friday. First tip: it's a little tricky to find! It's tucked behind the buildings just off Saratoga's main strip. Trust Google Maps, head to the rear parking lot, and follow the sign through the alley to the restaurant. Dinner is prix fixe only -- $93 as of August 2026. We mentioned that we had plans afterward and just wanted a lighter dinner and some wine, and they were incredibly gracious about letting us split one prix fixe. Honestly, the portions still felt very generous, and we ended up spending about the same amount on wine anyway. The wine list is small but really thoughtfully curated, and they also allow you to bring your own bottle for a corkage fee. The standout for me was the Hokkaido scallop with crab and caramelized carrot. Genuinely one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. A couple of dishes were liberal with the finishing salt, but the flavors, seasoning, creativity, and technique were top tier. Everything is cooked to order by the chef, and it showed -- every course came out beautifully prepared and cooked to perfection. The whole place feels like a passion project. The chef has spent decades in the industry, including time in Shanghai and Hawaii, and it feels like he and his wife basically said, "This is what we do, this is the food we love -- let's make a place for it." And I love that. There are some rough edges that come with making the space work for them, but the things that actually matter -- food, service, organization, and cleanliness -- were excellent. Even the single restroom was very clean and well kept. It's a small, intimate space, so I definitely recommend making a reservation. That said, they seemed genuinely accommodating to everyone who came through and clearly care about making people feel welcome. More than anything, the restaurant just felt happy. Everyone around us was having a great time, people were ordering liberally from the wine list, and by the time we left around 7, it felt like a room full of people who understood exactly what this place is about. GOGA isn't trying to win you over with a bunch of empty promises and trendy decor. It's about really good food, wine, and hospitality from people who clearly care about what they're doing. I'd love to see the space evolve over time, but never at the expense of the food or the wonderfully unique experience they've created. We'll absolutely be back -- brunch is next.

To start out, I am a HUGE fan of Hawaiian food and Asian fusion cuisine; thus, I was very excited…read moreabout visiting GOGA to celebrate my birthday with my wife (who shares the same birthday) and my two kids. We found GOGA on Yelp and it seemed like it had just the right vibe (a laid-back atmosphere with the meticulous and intentional attention to detail that only a master chef can bring to a meal). I'll start out with the good. We were seated quickly (as the first reservation of the evening should) and they offered us a burger and fries option for our small children; this is nice since kids are often too picky to appreciate the mixture of flavors/textures on offer. My six-year-old had the burger and he reported that it was good (with one thumb up) but not great (two thumbs up); I think that if he had not removed the tomato and lettuce, it would have been better but he is a much tougher critic than me. On to the areas where improvement is needed. The chef's attitude toward small children is not inviting. For example, my son is small, 36". He does not put his feet on the chair because he wants to but because he needs to in order to prop himself up to a comfortable height. The chef yelled at him from the kitchen, "Tell the young man to put his feet down!" I get it, the chairs are upholstered in a leather material but a better approach would be to send the server over to communicate in a friendlier way, offer a booster, or to ask if he would be willing to remove his shoes if he needs to prop himself up in the chair. The next thing was the smoke. At one point before they decided to turn on the range hood the entire restaurant was filled with smoke that was pretty irritating and a bit alarming. They seemed to get it under control but the whole restaurant stayed musty at all times, it definitely needs more circulation. One idea would be to install a large folding door on the side of the restaurant next to the entry-way to create a sort of indoor/outdoor dining that makes use of the entry-ally way. It would also help to avoid the feeling of claustrophobia from being in such a small space. The prix fixe menu for the evening was a four-course meal at $95 that included the tuna sashimi salad, a lobster roll, American Wagyu, and raspberry tiramisu. The tuna salad was decent, very smooth, rich and well matched to the veggies and avocado. The lobster roll is where things started to fall apart. The bun was butter and overly salted and over-powered the meager bits of lobster that was included within. Last was the Wagyu (which we were highly anticipating due to having to wait 45 minutes after the lobster roll to arrive). Sadly, it was also over-salted, dry on the outside and chewy on the inside with a very gamey flavor (it was the worst steak I have had in a long time and definitely the worst Wagyu I have ever tasted). It was paired with a single spear of broccolini (extremely over-salted) and a large cut of heirloom tomato. Nothing about this pairing brought to mind Hawaii and its unique savory and sweet profiles but then again it just did not taste good. Last was the tiramisu. It was good, perhaps a bit heavy on the cream but overall good. The only other thing to note from this portion of the meal was that their only attempt at helping us celebrate our birthdays was a single heart-shaped candle which is nice but definitely minimal effort. As I was getting ready to sign the bill (around $400 total including a mimosa, three prix fixe, and a burger) the chef visited our table. I thought this was going to be a visit to ask how our meal was but instead he wanted to let us know that there were other guests waiting for our table... wait what?!? We arrived promptly at 5:30, they took 20 minutes to serve our salad, another 30 minutes to bring the lobster roll, 45 minutes to bring Wagyu, and 20 minutes to serve desert and somehow we are the ones holding things up?!? Frankly, I was too impressed by their total lack of self-awareness to get overly angry. Conceptually, I'm OK with the chef not adhering to the Hawaiian theme (regardless of the Hawaiian music playing throughout our visit) as long as they provide food quality that matches the fine dining price. Perhaps I visited on an off-night (since the menu is likely changing frequently) but for nearly $100 per person I expect better. Sadly, it looks like I'll still be waiting for a fine-dining approach to Hawaiian cuisine because GOGA just isn't it.

Came here on a Friday night, and the place was pretty full. I would highly recommend making a…read morereservation. The restaurant is located in a smaller strip mall with plenty of parking. Note, when most people think Los Gatos, they think downtown, however this restaurant is on the edge of Los Gatos/San Jose. But don't let that deter you, the interior of the restaurant felt trendy and on par. Since this was our first time here and we're not too familiar with Eastern European dishes, we opted for the chef's menu and it did not disappoint! The food was amazing and the presentation was even better. Everything felt very fresh. The egg and the macaron bites are so unique, I would definitely recommend giving them a try. Service was impeccable, I don't think our water glasses ever got even halfway empty before they were refilled. Our server explained the menu and food/wine extremely well. With 10 items on the chef's menu, the portions were perfect. I actually appreciate a menu with more items and smaller portions, allowing you to taste more without feeling too full to eat the last few dishes. One of us has a tree nut allergy and they were able to accommodate them with no problems at all. Something to note, the chef's menu was pretty seafood heavy, which I love, but it might not be for everyone. I did overhear the table next to us sing praises of the short rib, so I will definitely be back to give that a try!

We've been to Lily Cafe many times and always love it, so we were excited to try Lily's Kitchen for…read morethe first time. The space is beautiful -- very stylish, modern, and thoughtfully decorated. The moment you walk in, it feels like you've stepped into a completely different world. The ambiance is really special. The food was excellent overall and definitely had that European/French influence they describe. One of our favorite dishes was the mushroom and potato pancake-style dish, which was rich, comforting, and delicious. We also had the chicken liver, which came with warm toasted madeleines, and the combination of sweet and savory was surprisingly wonderful. We also ordered the pork and the squid ink scallops, and both were very good. The one dish we did not enjoy was the oysters. They came with a tomato-flavored shaved ice/granita topping that was so cold it actually made our mouths hurt, and we could barely taste the oysters underneath it. That one was not for us. Our server was very knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the dishes, but I do think there was too much upselling. We had already ordered several starters and told him we wanted to wait before deciding how many entrées to order. He strongly encouraged us to order two entrées right away because he felt we would still be hungry. We followed his recommendation, but by the time we finished the earlier courses, we were completely full and ended up taking most of the entrées home. I think when customers say they would prefer to start with a few dishes and order more later, that choice should be respected. We could always have ordered additional food, whereas in this case we ended up overspending, taking food home, and having no room for dessert. That said, we still had a wonderful evening and really enjoyed the restaurant. The food is creative, the atmosphere is beautiful, and it feels like a great place for a special occasion. It is definitely on the pricier side -- our dinner for two with two drinks, several starters, and two entrées came to just over $200. Overall, I'd give it about an 8/10 and would definitely return, especially for a special night out.

Long overdue review because we've been to Orchard City Kitchen a few times, and our latest visit…read morewas the perfect excuse to finally write one. We came for a casual weekday lunch to celebrate our 22nd anniversary after spending the whole morning at a day spa. We sat outside and enjoyed a little bit of everything. The blackened hamachi tataki was refreshing and perfect for a summer lunch. Their take on steak and eggs, deviled eggs topped with Wagyu, is so simple but packs a punch. The Korean fried chicken was crunchy with a tangy sauce and great for sharing. And of course, we had to get the BBB, which is always a must for us! After all that, we shared the cheesesteak sandwich and I honestly thought I was going to tap out, but it wasn't heavy at all. It was so good that we finished the whole thing. Somehow, we even had room for Beth's hand pie, a delicious peach compote that tasted like a churro and peach pie had a baby. The cocktails were also a highlight. I had the Coco Julius, which is dangerously good because it's so smooth, fruity, and refreshing with orange and pineapple. Hubby had the La Ola with strawberries and hibiscus. Another great meal at OCK!

I've eaten here several times over the years and the staff is lovely and the food still goodbit on…read moreour most recent visit I must add: The cocktail/drink menu was almost INDECIPHERABLE. Holy Ai misfire Batman. I'm not sure who decided that menu revamp would be helpful, but they need to take a seat.

Service: Our server was Tin and he was super nice and attentive, he recommended a few popular…read moredishes. Ambiance: Small, intimate, & chic, they have an outdoor patio. Everything was nice and clean. Food: The food we ordered was very fulfilling, the curry was super comforting w the rice. The chicken wing was crispy and delicious w the sauce. The papaya salad was lao style, it wasn't too spicy for us, we know now to add more peppers next time.

BEWARE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR RECEIPT EVERYONE!!!…read more Came to San Jose for the Sharks vs Oilers game and got into town late so we decided to come here since they closed at 11pm. We were seated right away! The ambiance was amazing! Love the decorations! Adam, the manager, was very cordial and our waiter was attentive about refilling our water just not when punching in orders... We ordered the only Pad Thai that was on the menu, the crispy pork belly, 1 sticky rice, and 2 Thai rum and coke. When our drinks came, we thought it looked weird and I told my husband it tasted like Thai tea... when we asked our waiter, he did say that the bartender made the wrong drinks and stated they wouldn't charge us, but we sent them back and received what we originally ordered. When our food came, the sticky rice was so mushy that we couldn't even eat it! Then the pad Thai, somehow our waiter punched in surf and turf pad Thai (which wasn't even on the menu, an extra $15)! It was super tart by the way, not a balance of sweet and sour. The best part of our meal was definitely the pork belly! Our bill came to almost $100 plus 20-25% tip! When we mentioned the amount to the manager, he offered to take the $15 off and stated our waiter was new, but my husband said it was fine. The manager also offered to give us some free drinks but we will not be returning.

We were craving some oysters and Lamella seemed the obvious choice in the Willow Glen area…read more Let's start with the service. Our server Alexis was wonderful! Kind, friendly, and super attentive in a way that elevated our experience. We also noticed that Alexis carried this same positive energy to all table. The food... I said . We started with a dozen raw and a 4-piece Rockefeller. The raw were delicious, little to no shell bits, but the Rockefeller... Wow! Suffice it to say that after we each had our first rockefeller, we promptly ordered a 1/2 dozen more. For drinks we went with a bottle of The decor is warm and intimate and there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Thanks to Alexis for excellent service, unfortunately unusual these days. I will be back!

Cute little oyster happy hour! My friend and I enjoyed the rose bubbles with our oysters. We also…read moreshared a prosciutto sandwich. The rosemary focaccia and burrata on the sandwich were highly enjoyable. The tomatotini was interesting but not my cup of tea. It was a little too celery forward. I would have appreciated more tomato flavor.

This is a hidden gem within Valley Fair and Bloomingdale's!…read more Fantastic prices (especially for Silicon Valley), easy to get a seat or table, daily happy hour (even on weekends!), great cocktails. Food looks fantastic too but haven't tried yet (famous for their crab and garlic noodles, like all of Chef An's restaurants). Despite what their website says, they have happy hour every day from 3pm-5pm. Both their Crustacean and Lychee cocktails were tasty and well made. Fast and efficient service, small but cozy and modern decor.

Met a friend for lunch. I arrived first and was promptly seated by Kyle. He was also my waiter. I…read moreasked his recommendation on an appetizer and he suggested Crispy orange peel chicken. While I waited, I took in the room. It was upscale casual. A little quiet but not pretentious. As my friend arrived, the chicken came out shortly after. Perfect timing. We ordered two glasses of wine, Buddha fried rice and Mango salad. Our wine was on the table in no time and the food came out not too long after. Everything was delicious. I handed Kyle my Bloomie's card earlier as I wanted to take care of the bill. When he brought the check, he was very casual about it. My friend hadn't even noticed what was happening. Kyle did not impose the tip either, as I've experienced other waiters do. I had a great experience for the first time eating here. Thanks Kyle!

Jordyn is a great supervisor. Checked on everyone throughout our time there. Love the food. Will…read moredefinitely be coming again.

We went here to celebrate a birthday for my mom. Bianca was our server and she was amazing. She was…read moreattentive to every single one of our needs and recommended great appetizers and entrees. WOW that butter cake to end off the night was unbelievable. Will definitely be back for the amazing food and for the even better service. Thank you Bianca!