We wanted to love Clara's Junction and at first blush, it looked great: Attractive, spacious, clean, with a great vibe. Lots of space inside or on the patio. An air of smoke (in a good way). Service was excellent and the server was very helpful. The menu was so promising with lots of interesting-sounding dishes and the server suggested several that we had noticed. But when the food arrived, there were disappointments. Nothing was bad but it most dishes fell short of expectations. Most of the issues are fixable and I hope the restaurant can do better with time, as this is a great concept with clever menu items and has good potential. I was most looking forward to the Esquites and Burnt Ends (described as Mexican street corn off the cob, bbq tri tip, crema mayo, lime, chili) and it was the greatest disappointment. A dish of corn in a sauce, topped with a single, smallish cube of meat, served with corn chips. The cube of meat was the "bbq tri tip" and it seemed to be slow cooked with dry rub but if it was in the smoker, it was hard to tell. One thing it absolutely was not was "burnt ends." Very puzzling to me how it could be called burnt ends. The Croquetas (described as "Oaxacan cheese, chorizo, jalapeno-cilantro aioli") were nicely fried, crisp and not oily. Five to the portion and served with nice aioli, this was the best thing we had. Good flavor, great texture. To me, "Mexican street corn off the cob" means something in a creamy, lime and chile cheesy sauce, hopefully charred on the the grill. Since this was November, I was not expecting farm-fresh corn, but maybe it would be sauteed in a smoky pan. This seemed like canned corn, just heated--competent but nothing special. Served with chips, I expected something dippable but the sauce was more like a thin broth and the chips just seemed out of place. Nothing objectionable in this dish but I wish it were as inspired as the menu description. Soooo much potential--I would love to have had esquites with burnt ends, but sadly, this wasn't that. Our third dish was the Little Gem Caesar Salad, which we ordered with chicken (an extra $8, making this a rather pricey $24 salad). This was a competent salad but for a couple of flaws. One was that the lettuce was in very large pieces, meaning we had to use a knife and fork and the other, harder to forgive, was that the lettuce wasn't as fresh as one might expect and had some brown sections. The croutons were crunchy and well seasoned. An OK salad but not what it should be. Hope Clara's can up their game (or maybe we hit it on an off day), as we think the place has promise. read more

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Recently I visited this place and I had a really good experience I recommended the place to enjoy of a excellent food, drinks, and cocktails it also has a variety of draft beers the service is excellent, friendly and attentive thanks to my waiter Adrian and Stanford for their service, thanks to the manager Harry who went to ask if everything was alright. I also had the encounter with chef Judith with who I congratulate for his amazing food and it's wonderful cooking staff thank you. I 100% recommended the place I will be returning to it. The place is very friendly and clean which makes the scene more enjoyable. Thank you read more

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Service was good, atmosphere was nice, I like the outdoor space but food was meh at best and overpriced. Smallest $24 tri tip sandwich I've ever had. After spending $68 on lunch I had to stop at in and out because my daughter and wife were still hungry. If I were staying close by for an event or something this place might good for a drink and a snack but I'd go elsewhere if you're looking for a reasonably priced fulfilling meal. read more

Clara's Junction - 1/2 of tri tip sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

First time here the ambiance looked inviting and since it's close to home we stopped by to grab some food after the gym. We walked in and some fun activities were going on, trivia I thought that was cool. We sat inside because it was sprinkling although the fire pits looked pretty cozy outside. One thing I noticed was the limited selection on food nothing looked really appetizing but I decided on the poke bowl. For $28 the size was extremely small. I love poke but ended up sending this back because it was extremely salty. My bf got a burger and fries (fries were like cardboard) our waitress was nice I ended up with the fish tacos. I would go only back for the ambiance and to hangout but definitely skip the food read more

This spot has a great outdoor area and have a great selection of draft beers for only having 12 taps. The staff was friendly and the bartender, Brianna recommended their version of a smash burger and it was solid. If you're in the area it's worth checking out. read more

I meant to write this sooner since I went two weeks ago, but life got in the way ! I had a mini celebrations with some girlfriends here. Bruce , one of the managers I met, was extremely helpful when I called the restaurant to ask questions about seating. When I got there and found him, Bruce and his staff made sure we had enough space heaters and were comfortable. It is a very spacious restaurant by the 49rs stadium. The atmosphere is very relaxed (we went when there wasn't a game) and they also have corn hole to play with. The food itself was delicious and the portions are bigger than what you would expect from bar food. Definitely tastes better than bar food too! I definitely want to come back, I felt so welcomed! read more

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Cute patio, dog-friendly, kid-friendly (and approved), yummy mocktails, tasty smash burgers, and kind staff. What else can you ask for? read more

Clara's Junction - Smash burger - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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I have been here twice and have one major gripe. About 50% of the music playing has very explicit lyrics. I myself do not care but am here with my 3 year old who repeats everything. I wish they would save that type of music until later in the evening around 8 pm when families with young kids are gone. Other than that i absolutely love the concept of the huge outdoor space and outdoor games and the fact my toddler can run around. As far as the food goes, the first time I went I had the nachos which were a strange take on nachos, the cheese didn't seem to go with it very well. I also had the cauliflower which was fine but not amazing. I went a second time to give the food another try because I loved the space so much and we live super close. I had the herb fries which were delicious crispy outside fluffy inside and the eggplant parmesan which was also delicious. Service both times has been super friendly and fast. I'll definitely be back but hoping I'm not on the edge of my seat everytime a song comes on trying to talk loudly so my toddler can't hear it. read more

Staff was nice, but....I had raw chicken in my sandwich and my friend had a piece of paper from the cheese in his burger. It was $150 for two meals 4 drinks and guac. Wouldn't recommend, read more

I don't know what is going on with this place but it seems to be going down hill fast...I used to come here a lot then there was a change in management and from there it just spiraled. from food not being consistent and seeing manager run around like his head is cut off. I understand the business I have been in the business for 15 years. The burger I received was over cooked the bun was hard, I ended up just not eating because it took so long for us to get our food that if and when I got it it would of been well past everyone else. the fries were good though. I felt bad because I recommended this spot for everyone before the game, my friends were not impressed with the food quality and the price's were a lot for the amount of food we received. I would caution others to know it is a long wait for food and we still were hungry. If you like the Bistro-ish type then good. the outside seemed overly crowded and though the vibe was happening it just need something like new blood or new servers who act like they want to be there, We did meet Henry the manager who seemed very busy but he did stop in and say hi, we didn't have the heart to cause him anymore stress. Please Hire more servers, they are running around crazy... read more

I stopped by for a quick lunch with my boyfriend and I thought all the food was okay. We got the crushed avocado which was just guac and chips, and shared the The Whole 9 Yards burger. Guac and chips were standard, nothing to complain about. I didn't really like the burger though. It tasted bland. For instance, it was supposed to have cheddar but the cheese felt lacking..maybe it melted onto the patty? But I didn't taste much cheese. Also the beef patty itself tasted kind of weird, like too gamey almost. French fries were yummy and crispy. The service was also nice. The table next to us got this giant plate of nachos which looked way better. read more

Visited this location with a couple of coworkers and loveddd the space! Everyone was so friendly and helpful especially with the questions we had during ordering, Gabbie was amazing! The food and drink options were also great and we were lucky to stumble on a trivia night. The experience was a blast :) read more

Went here for date night, and I'm so glad we found this spot! It's right down the street from Levi's Stadium and super close to the train station. If you're looking for a chill place to grab some beers with friends, this is it. They've got good food, games, and a fire pit to hang around. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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If you are looking for a good spot to hang outside with your dog or watch a pro sports game, while enjoying a beer, this is the place to go. The service was exceptional (especially Gabriella). However if you are looking to eat, that's another story. The food was disappointing. I had a burrito, from the truck, and my hubby ended up with the Salmon platter. The burrito was below average (no flavor) and the Salmon was "nothing special". And both were pretty pricey. I was only going to give 3 stars, but decided a good atmosphere with great service is hard to find. Therefore giving it 4 stars and wishing it the best. read more

This was our 2nd trip, 1st time was a weekday, it was slow maybe 8 customers inside and a handful outside. That day they had a special, vegetable soup, outstanding. By the time we left, we were greeted/interacted with 4 staff members. Everyone was welcoming and patient on giving us info that first timers would need and appreciate. Today, Saturday, the taco truck and bbq corner were in effect. We had Tri-tip steak sandwich, shown in the top of pic, and the pulled pork, a big a** pretzel for dessert, and an Old Fashion. We are happy once again with the food, service, prices. I hope this new establishment does well. It's a stone throw away from Levi Stadium so when weather warms up and games are rolling, this place will do well. Thanks CJ! read more

Clara's Junction - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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This hidden gem is sort of in the middle of nowhere, but also right by Levi Stadium. Beautiful patio, one of the few nice ones in the area. Scan and order from your phone which is a delight. The staff was super friendly and attentive. I had the salad which was giant and delicious. Definitely check it out y'all! read more

Great lunch. Best smash burger I've had. Service was great. I will be back! Very convenient location to the County offices, train station, and the Stadium. read more

the creamy mac and cheese is very warm and cheesy. i loved the relaxed patio seating here.

I really wanted to like Clara's Junction, but my experience was terrible. We ordered the chips and guacamole, and honestly, it was some of the worst I've ever had. The guac tasted old and definitely not fresh--like it had been sitting in the fridge for days--and the chips were stale and flavorless. On top of that, the service made the whole experience worse. There seems to be a new manager, an older lady with glasses, who kept glaring at me and my friends the entire time. It was uncomfortable and unwelcoming, and it set the tone for the rest of the visit. Between the bad food and the rude vibe, this place has really gone downhill since the last manager, Bruce, left. Sadly, I won't be coming back. read more

THEY HAVE CORN HOLE! I've been looking for a restaurant w BBQ, outdoor seating and corn hole ever since moving to the Bay and never would've guessed it was a mile away! The atmosphere is great, however some of the sandwiches my table ordered were somewhat small. Overall, great drinks, fantastic fries, but the vibes are what have us coming back again:) read more

Clara's Junction - Hot honey chicken & BBQ Tri-Tip Steak Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

3-4 stars rounded up. We came on the weekend which is when they have 2 food vendors on site (Taz's tacos & the Pit.) We ordered 2 items and food was tasty except the coleslaw tasted a bit off and the portions for the BBQ deal seemed a but pricey. The outdoor space is great with lots of seating. The service was great too as the workers were attentive and helpful. Again, the price is something I'm not sure I would want to pay for some things again. read more

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What a fun place! Cornhole, fire pits, great seating! Clara's Junction is a definite must if in Santa Clara! The Croquetas were amazing and the jalapeño-cilantro dip made me want to dip everything into it!! We had the Whole nine Yard Burger with bacon and honestly can't remember the last time I had such a juicy burger! The straw in the beer was new, but definitely made us laugh. Management was attentive and helpful, we will definitely be visiting again! read more

Dang. Really was hoping this BBQ spot/craft beer was gonna be a hit. Unfortunately. Saturday night 9 pm....place is dead. Had the elote appetizer, and it was like a can of corn, heated up, placed in a bowl, with an oz of brisket on top. Not worth the $. Birria tacos are good! Wifey did like those! So kudos there. Otherwise my burger was extremely bland, got the double smashed bacon burger with cheese blended in. Meat was extremely bland, like the only seasoning was to come from the ingredients of the burger....oh well 1 star Because our server was really great. Super patient and attentive to the table. Never going back again. Sorry. Not sure if I clarified that. I do not recommend this place if you like good service and bbq, GO TO SMOKED OUT BBQ in Santa Clara. Only 5 min drive away. Easy. read more

i was there for the superbowl !!! SEAHAWKS!!! beers and bloody marys was great. all inclusive buffet was good too - best things were the chicken wing pyramids and the meatball,,,, they kept refilling the food and I kept eatin. The workers were super busy but handled it. this place is great ...SEAHAWKS read more

Came for pregame breakfast and ended up just having bloody Mary's and some nachos!! Amazing ambiance and food! Order from your table and pretty fast service especially not expecting with it being game day! read more

Food was good but portions were small. Also one of my friends orders was super late coming out BUT they refunded the meal. Cool area all-around, I see the vision of what it could be. read more

Clara's Junction - Tri-tip sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Love this place! Super dog friendly, they gave him his own bowl of water! Food is yummy, I like option of the restaurant menu or the taco truck menu. The staff is very attentive and the manger on duty was friendly and checked in on us as well. Clean inside and really large outdoor area. We will definitely be back! read more

Clara's Junction - Our spread - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Great place! Food is great and outdoor space is awesome. Come before the concert! !Great variety of music! and great staff. I will came back agai. read more

I discovered this cool spot through a Yelp review. After attending the convention, I would like to eat dinner. I am glad to have found this cool spot, my dinner was delicious! & thank you for your excellent customer service! read more

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Really nice outdoor area, with good music and dog friendly. It's a great open space to watch games and has outdoor heaters for the weekend. I've never seen it busy, and the waiters don't rush you at all. I enjoy the food at Clara's but there's also a few food trucks in the yard. For first timers, it's a little confusing how the seating/ordering works. But hopefully they put up signs by all the entrances in the future. read more

People are friendly, but so disorganized. The staff not sure what's going on on game day. No hostess free for all.... Too bad

First off, this is a GREAT place to watch the game or enjoy as a postgame location. Situated in the shadow of Levi's, it's as easy as getting off the Lick Mill VTA stop. They have a great selection of food and drinks, and there are TVs at nearly every angle. I got the delicious CJ Smash, and my wife--a vegetarian-- got the crunchy Zucca sandwich. Service is attentive and polite. Lots of outdoor space available, and the inside is really nice, too. Be sure to try the games! The have corn hole, jenga and giant connect four outside, and they have hook and ring setups on the long side tables! Overall, an awesome experience. read more

Clara's Junction - The Zucca - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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This place has a very nice set up, perfect outdoor area. Great for kids. The food was mediocre. They forgot a bunch of our items. We asked for the bill to be split and it wasn't... our server if you asked any questions on the menu he gave zero suggestions. read more

I visited with my family and was welcomed with a warm open atmosphere and delicious food. They have outdoor games/activities and lots of area in the outdoor common area. The food - The chicken sandwich was tangy and not too spicy, The quesobirirra tacos reminded me of Mexico with "the soup"! The burger was tender and juicy, over a brioche bun, I think? Next up were the WINGS! It is tender and juicy, but seasoned and fried, with a sauce that blends everything together. My only regret was not trying more food! (And maybe some cocktails too... which looked phenomenal, btw) read more

Website and instagram need to be updated. They are advertising on game days they are open at 11 or 3 hours before which ever one comes before. Went today at 12. It was empty and clearly closed a worker said they would not be opening till 2. Update what you are advertising to reflect when you will actually be open. Many individually tried getting in and were disappointed. read more

Great food, great bar, great service, great location and awesome space with outdoor TVs and bag toss. Really awesome restaurant.

The ambience and outdoor space is quite nice, we can bring our dog along as well. However, the food is not vegan friendly. Only a couple of appetizers are vegan (upon asking). Staff are helpful and friendly, it'll be great to see a few clearly marked vegan options on the menu. read more

I cannot rave about this place enough! The food is amazing, and I have always had great service. Also their outdoor area is spacious and SO FUN (Big Connect 4, Big Jenga, Beer Pong, Cornhole) - such a fun summer spot! (Would highly recommend the burger). read more

Clara's Junction - Chilaquiles - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This is truly an all around great up and coming spot in North Side San Jose. Every dish that we had was amazing. The eggplant Parmesan was my favorite, super flavorful and delicious. The ribs and chicken were fall off the bone, juicy, and flavorful. The potatos that come with the ribs were amazing, a great combo of crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and a perfect amount of salt to add to the flavor. The chicken tacos are a must as well. The burger and chicken sandwhich were juicy and flavorful, and the fries on the side also a perfect amount of seasoning and crunch. It will definitely be a big hit on game days as well, there are games outside as well as TVs and fire pits. Bruce behind the bar was an amazing server and the rest of the staff as well were friendly and helpful. Don't miss out, this is a must try! read more

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Food was great drinks were great and service even better! Will come again! Go Try it out!!