My fave cocktail bar been visiting since they opened pre-Covid deserved an update to my original…read morereview. 24 visits and counting at the time of this review's post and have paid it forward recommending it to my friends and them to theirs. Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no but toast tab Return worthiness: yes Eve award: best quality cocktails in taste and presentation Highlights: - Cocktail quality: everything is top notch and fantastic - Cocktail uniqueness: drinks are truly their own creations you can't find elsewhere. Love the creativity. - Fun glassware: for some they have great receptacles to go with the personality of the drink - Theatrical ones: those are the creme de le creme and so much fun. I've had them all. Faves of those: -- Dead men tell no tales: pirate themed comes in a chest you can open and the drinks are in diamond shaped glasses. But it's not just a fun show. The drink is amazing. A smooth, complex, clarified bunch. 5 stars -- Magic carpet one: when they had that it was one of my faves I'd order regularly. 5 stars -- Rinse and repeat: one of their classics which comes in a bathtub complete with foam and a rubber duckie. Refreshing and not sweet. 4.5 stars - New for the summer. Tried a few -- Bear necessities: little honey bear with cantaloupe, white miso, and sauvignon blanc. Quite delicious and summery. 4.5 -- Open container: artsy clear version of a paper bag. Interesting ingredient mix with Havana club rum, fermented pineapple, almond milk, and others. Little bit sweet. 4 stars - Their now more standard drinks are still some of the ones I still rely one. Faves of those: -- Studio 54: vodka based with lemongrass and bubbles served in a shiny colored disco ball glass 5 stars -- Man and his mule: peppercorn version of a mule and love the peppery kick. 4.5 stars -- Grand larceny: punch of a spirit forward cocktail my husband loves. 4.5 stars - Rotate out cocktails ever so often to maximize the fun - Halloween and Christmas they go all out with their unique menus and decor: no generic national pop ups for them and I look forward to it every year. - Food items: high quality as well. Some of my go tos -- Crab toasts: 4 little pieces of lovely toast with a dollop of avocado mousse and a heap of dungenous crab topped with lemon beurre blanc. My fave snack I always have to get. 5+ stars -- Grilled cheese: wonderful combo of white cheddar, monterey jack, and provolone with a bit of truffle flavor--not too much--on a nice fluffy roll. Served with soup to dip it in--often times a nice tomato. 4.75 stars -- French dip: solid version on the same type of roll. 4.5 stars - Can make reservations now online which makes it a lot more convenient - Wines: have a fabulous wine by the glass list but I can't ever pull myself away from the cocktails - Bourbon/whiskey: have a stellar collection and knowledgeable staff to tell you about them (but again never get to it) - Staff: friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable - Atmosphere: relaxed yet fun Midlights: - They used to have a nice nut mix I enjoyed but not on the menu anymore Lowlights: - Books up for the holidays so grab those reservations when you can

Not sure why we never got around to trying this place before. Came in with some clients and was…read morehonestly pretty impressed. The service was great, the drinks were delicious, and the light bites were surprisingly good across the board. We had the Kobe "Eye of Ribeye" Steak Tartare, Prime Rib Beef Dip, Heirloom Tomato & Burrata, Lobster Roll, Black Truffle Deviled Eggs, Dungeness Crab Toast, and the Hamachi Crudo. The only thing that wasn't really our favorite was the deviled eggs, but everything else was solid. Overall, a great spot for a drink and a few bites. Definitely one of those places I'll be coming back to, especially since there are still quite a few things on the menu I'd like to try.

Long story short, Second Story was one of the best cocktail bar's I've ever been to. We went there…read morelast night for our friend's birthday party, and we were just ordering drinks from the bar. The bartender (manager?), Filippos, recognized we had a lot of people, and proactively got us a comfortable seating area for all of us. Thank you Filippos for being so thoughtful and hospitable! And once we got seated, we had a server named Tikka, who was amazing. She made our whole night smooth and memorable. The service was above and beyond. Also, shout out to Dakota, one of the best bartenders. He was super friendly (even though it was very busy) and wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of. In terms of drinks, I recommend the Vesper and So Fresh So Clean. All their drinks are exceptional. The ambiance was the most impressive part. It's very spacious and you don't feel cramped like other cocktail bars. And they have two bars that are both well-staffed, so no one is annoyed trying to order a drink. Even when it's crowded, you don't have to wait. Thank you, for all the hard work behind the scenes to create best-in-class customer service and cocktails.

What a wonderful night it was! A huge Thank you to Melissa…read moreand her team who executed the perfect Happily ever after party for my son and daughter in law. The night was exactly what they wanted; Great friends, incredible cocktails, yummy food, music and a whole lot of Love and Laughter!!! Do not hesitate to book a party at SS,

EVERYTHING was AMAZING!! Food, drinks, service, ambiance…read more.. EVERYTHING! The owner, Liz is amazing! She's done a great job! She also invented a very impressive Robot that makes ur burgers! You've gotta check it out!! Highly recommend! I can't wait to go back! I'm bringing all my friends!

We came here on a Friday evening at 7pm, with a reservation - party of 4. We were greeted and…read moreseated right away. I don't remember the name of our server but five that guy a raise because his service was exceptional! 5/5. The truffle fries were great. Perfect seasoning, crispy, and flavorful. We also got the crispy rice with spicy tuna - classic appetizer. We also had the longevity noodles and the steak. Beautiful presentation for both entree dishes and very delicious. The highlight dish for us were the savory waffles. Amazing flavor, airy and crisp. The butter that came with it was also SO GOOD on the waffle. Like who knew waffles could be so goooooood, and savory waffles...5/5 probably the best savory waffles I have ever had. Drinks! I almost forgot. My friend and I got the mango margs and they were so delicious! The cups they came in were refreshing the rim was lined with tajin.

I was invited by my daughter to check out this hidden gem in Los Gatos and absolutely love it! I've…read morebeen here twice, and both times, I've had a very pleasant and welcoming experience. Every item I've tried has been delicious. The ingredients are always fresh, creative, and full of flavor. The cocktails are a huge plus (smooth, well-balanced, and a work of art!), the service is excellent, and the ambience is beautiful. Love the warm Middle Eastern vibe (makes me feel like I'm getting a glimpse of the culture). Definitely going back and want to try their brunch next! Pictures are some of the drinks and apps we had on my second visit.

Cute dinner place and great location in Los Gatos with street parking and a small lot around the…read morecorner. I managed to get a spot during peak dinner time last night. Cool how it's located right next to Los Gatos Soda Works so we could just grab drinks next door after dinner. Design and ambiance was a nice blend of indoor and outdoor with plenty of seating. Lighting's immaculate outside with the soft natural sun coaxing around the redwood tree. Food's decent, not outstanding. Website says they're the same owners of Tamra, a restaurant that closed down a few years ago in Sunnyvale which we both coincidentally tried as well. The menu is actually pretty reminiscent of it. We ordered the pomegranate braised lamb shank, the confit duck pastilla, the date chermoula kufta, the Mediterranean trio, and a few cocktails. The unilateral thing that was missing from all dishes was spice. Maybe intentional, but the palate leaned into sweet and savory. The kufta was better than expected -- beefy, tender, flavorful, and great with the sweet & zesty sauces. The pastilla was the standout with fun flaky texture of the pastry and the nice warm shredded duck. The duck was seasoned well and was reminiscent of pork. The beet spread was fresh and light, the hummus was plain, the labneh was too loose imo - just tasted like Greek yogurt out of the container. Giving credit where it's due, the lamb shank was better than it was at Tamra. However, the flavors and textures all just kind of melded together so it lacked depth and interest. Had the familiarity of a basic beef stew. Onto service. Abysmal. It wasn't busy. Nobody there to greet at the door, wait staff just wandering aimlessly around, food's drop and go, took quite a while to get someone to take our order and receive our check. In a word, very transactional. If this was a pho restaurant or dim sum place, I'd be more lax about it but the service sure doesn't fit the market positioning of where this restaurant wants to be in. 3.5 overall for food. It's safe, uninspired, but very much decent. Gotta round down for the service.

Good food and service. I have enjoyed to have lunch here. The atmosphere was also really nice.read more

Absolutely phenomenal food! Had the short ribs and they were delicious; one of their specialties…read more Drinks were outstanding and the side of shrimp was also a 10. Love the salad. Fresh greens just enough dressing to give it a little flavor. Perfect meal.

We came by this place for a dinner after a trip, and had some of the best paella ever…read more We had a Patatas Bravas appetizer, that came in a ceramic cub. A slight kick but overall nice to hold over until the main dish. Since this is Paella, we shared a single dish: the Iberico Paella. It had Iberico smoked pork chop and pork belly, as well as roasted chicken and piquillo peppers. I've always wanted to have paella of this quality, and will be returning just for this. As for our drinks, they had amazing cocktails, such as the Barceloneta Sangria (sparkling wine with prickly pear and lemon) and the Teleferic Sangria (a cinnamon and mint mixed drink, with gin, brandy and triple sec). The atmosphere itself was very relaxed and made me feel at home, with soft chairs and open to the outdoors. Overall, this dinner is one we plan to repeat very soon!

Restaurant and bar is spacious and beautiful. Bar and kitchen is open concept and very…read moreentertaining. Nice patio seating too. They claim paella 25mins from station to table but it honestly was more like double. Server said something happened to the receipt, told us it'd be another 25mins, and gave us a few Ham Croquetas to compensate, which were just ok but appreciated. They automatically add 20% tip to the bill so be cognizant of that. Beautifully showcased ample wine section and a cute store with Spanish products called El Merkat. They even sell their sangrias in the refrigerated section and paella pan kits, which I'm buying as a Xmas gift! They also have happy hour & I'd like to return for it. Here's my overall delightful experience... Barceloneta Sangria $14: Sparkling wine, lemon, prickly pear, honey, rosemary, orange, mixed berries... delicious, light, and refreshing!! Even better than the Teleferic Sangria and Spicy Sangria my husband had (and I love red and spicy!)! Patatas Bravas $10: Tangy potatoes topped with Brava sauce and aioli... Potatoes are hot, fluffy, crispy, salted, and delicious! Paella Mixta $46: Pork belly, chicken, gulf shrimp, and Piquillo peppers... minimal pork belly, succulent chicken, slightly overcooked shrimp IMHO, creamy rice, and delish flavor!! Ask for extra lemon wedges to squeeze over paella, really makes a difference in each bite! Ham Croquetas $12: Authentic croquetas with Iberian ham... yummy but rich, creamy, and a bit heavy being deep fried.

Ian and Ashley are a talented service team!! It was our first time here and we are definitely…read morecoming back. Food was so delicious and the environment allowed us to feel like we had a private suite and a personal chef experience. So happy!

Great wine collection and service. Awesome appetizers. We had a great time. I would go there again.read more

Brian is an awesome bouncer! This place is legendary in Los Gatos and I met some new friends here…read moretonight. The bar is a neighborhood hangout and has been here for decades. It used to be called Black Cat but that was ages ago! There were a lot of fun people here tonight and I can't wait to come back!

Stopped in at the black watch. Can't believe I've lived in Los Gatos all these years and never been…read morehere! We came on St. Patrick's Day, because it seemed like maybe it was the best place in town to get a pint. It may well have been! Got two Guinness' and listened to Irish music. Totally enjoyable place! Nice bartender. Decent crowd. Friendly. I'll probably return here.

The Service was great and the food was better, Brussels Sprouts were awesome…read more Chef Yvonne does a wonderful job. Definitely will return and try more of the menu.

I'll first start by saying the server did a great job, as she was very attentive. The food arrived…read morefairly quick after placing the order, so that was good. The view from the dining area is also nice, as you can see the hills and downtown LG. Unfortunately the food is where this all fell off. We had ordered fish and chips, crispy chicken sandwich and the naked wings. All three were super greasy, kind of like when you fry food on too low of a temp and it ends up absorbing a lot of the oil. Will not return.

Great food and ambience. I had a lengthy dinner, and the service was superb throughout…read more The duck and sole were delicious. Prices are also great. I highly recommend this restaurant.

This used to be one of my wife's and my favorite places--a charming French bistro with great food…read moreand an atmosphere that always made us feel welcome. Unfortunately, our most recent visit completely changed that. We had reservations for a Saturday evening and were seated promptly. That's where the positive experience ended. After being seated, we waited 20 minutes without a single acknowledgment from staff--no greeting, no water, nothing. Meanwhile, other parties who arrived after us were attended to right away, which made the situation even more frustrating. After more than 30 minutes of being completely ignored, we decided to leave. It was honestly one of the most uncomfortable and disappointing dining experiences we've had. As strong supporters of local restaurants, this was especially disheartening given how much we used to enjoy coming here. Sadly, this experience has permanently changed how we feel about this place, and we won't be returning. I hope the staff takes this as a reminder that every customer deserves the same level of attention and respect.