I had the pleasure of dining at Petiscos in San Jose on September 29, 2023, and I must say, it was a delightful culinary experience. Petiscos offers authentic Portuguese cuisine in the heart of San Jose, and it truly exceeded my expectations. **Atmosphere:** The restaurant had a lively and bustling atmosphere, which added to the overall charm of the place. It was evident that Petiscos is a popular spot, and the energetic ambiance made it feel like a vibrant slice of Portugal in California. **Service:** The service at Petiscos was exceptional. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They provided excellent recommendations and ensured that our dining experience was smooth and enjoyable. **Food Quality:** Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the food! Petiscos delivered an outstanding culinary journey through Portuguese flavors. Each dish was a burst of authentic tastes and meticulously prepared. From traditional bacalhau to succulent grilled meats, every bite was a reminder of the rich Portuguese culinary heritage. **Menu Variety:** The menu at Petiscos offers a diverse selection of Portuguese dishes, ensuring there's something for every palate. Whether you're a seafood lover or prefer hearty meat dishes, you'll find plenty of options to satisfy your cravings. **Price Range:** While Petiscos offers a high-quality dining experience, it is worth mentioning that the prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you receive. It's a great value for the taste and experience offered. **Special Dishes:** I highly recommend trying their "Bacalhau à Brás" if you're a fan of codfish. The blend of flavors and textures in this dish is simply exquisite. Also, don't miss out on their "Pastéis de Nata" for dessert - a sweet and creamy delight! **Overall Experience:** My dining experience at Petiscos was outstanding. From the vibrant atmosphere to the attentive service and, most importantly, the amazing food, it's a restaurant that I would gladly visit again and again. Petiscos truly brings the flavors of Portugal to San Jose, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an authentic and memorable dining experience. In summary, Petiscos in San Jose, CA, is a gem for lovers of Portuguese cuisine. If you're looking for a place with great ambiance, attentive service, and exceptional food, make sure to pay them a visit. It's a culinary journey you won't soon forget! read more

Zero-star rating: My experience at Petiscos was nothing short of appalling. I feel obligated to share the sheer disappointment and frustration I experienced to prevent others from making the same mistake. This restaurant claims to offer authentic Portuguese cuisine but miserably fails to deliver on all fronts - from the food to the service. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with an overwhelming sense of disorganization. The restaurant is staffed with insufferable and arrogant staff and in spite of being almost always empty clearly struggling to keep up. The menu, at first glance, appears to have a promising selection of traditional Portuguese dishes. However, the illusion of authenticity will be shattered when food arrives. The food overcooked, bland, and drenched in oil. For example, tasteless broth with a few sad pieces of kale floating around. You will be dismayed to find that the pastéis de nata, those delicious custard tarts, imo are nothing more than soggy, pre-packaged imitations. Adding insult to injury, the customer service is abysmal. Servers seem to have adopted an attitude of complete indifference, and you will feel like an inconvenience rather than valued patrons. One has to chase them down even for water refills. Your entire experience at Petiscos will be a complete disaster. The food will be inedible, and the service will be deplorable. I implore you to avoid this restaurant at all costs, as there are far better places to experience a pleasant experience in downtown San Jose. This establishment is a disgrace to the rich culinary traditions of Portugal, and I regret having wasted my time and money in this lamentable excuse for a dining experience. read more

I had the pleasure of dining at Petiscos, a Portuguese gem in downtown San Jose, and it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, the cozy, welcoming atmosphere transported us to Portugal. The interior is warm and rustic, with a modern twist that perfectly complements the authentic cuisine. We started with the bacalhau croquettes, which were crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth delicious on the inside. The flavor was perfectly balanced, and the accompanying aioli added just the right amount of zest. For the main course, we tried the piri-piri chicken and the seafood rice. The chicken was juicy, flavorful, and had a delightful smoky heat, while the seafood rice was rich and aromatic, packed with fresh shrimp, clams, and mussels. The wine selection was excellent, with a great variety of Portuguese wines to pair with the dishes. Our server was knowledgeable and helped us pick a bottle of Vinho Verde that complemented our meal perfectly. To top it off, we indulged in the pastéis de nata for dessert--heavenly custard tarts with a flaky crust that were the perfect sweet ending. The service was impeccable throughout the night. The staff was attentive, friendly, and clearly passionate about sharing the flavors of Portugal. If you're looking for a unique dining experience in San Jose, Petiscos is a must-visit. It's perfect for a date night, a celebration, or simply exploring a new cuisine. I'll definitely be back! read more

We went to this restaurant as we were going to the opera and are fans of Adega. We made an early reservation so we would not have to rush and arrived to a completely empty restaurant. Over the next hour, the restaurant filled but it seemed like there were enough employees to cover the influx. I think our server was probably new so I will give him the benefit of the doubt but we had issues with the service. We ordered drinks and snacks and then our server was busy with all of their other tables so getting our dinner order in was a struggle. In addition, many of the plates are simplistically described on the menu (other than the 2 main components, you won't know what else is in the dish). Food was dropped off but nothing had any kind of description other than what was on the menu. Example would be charcuterie board, 4 types or meats but no idea what they were other than my base knowledge of Portuguese meats. Lastly, I felt like most of the dishes we ordered needed bread or crackers or something (the lobster kimchi was literally a dip) and it didn't come with anything to eat it on. We had to ask for bread several times just to get through the meal. Overall just felt lacking for the cost. Will give it another try since I like the brand. read more

The food here was absolutely delicious. Everything we had was really fresh and flavorful. I will definitely come back here and try other things on the menu. We were really impressed with the flavors and the food. The reason for only 3 stars is the lack of knowledge our server had. We sat at the bar so I'm sure it was the bartender that took care of us and he didn't know what the dishes were. I expect to have a server who is able to tell me what I'm eating, he didn't know the types of cheese used on the cheese platter, and didn't know the ingredients included on the plate. Also when they deliver your food there is no description of what you're eating and you're not told what the sauce's are or any of the components of the dish. It's just placed in front of you and that's it. Although the food was delicious, I didn't know what I was eating other than the straightforward ingredient. Some restaurants are super descriptive when delivering food and some aren't, which is okay but at the end of the day I think the server or bartender should know what they are serving and be able to tell you read more

I recently had an incredibly disappointing dining experience at Petiscos. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met in various aspects, including the food quality and the level of service. To start, the food was served cold, which was highly disappointing and unacceptable. It's perplexing how a restaurant could serve dishes like filet mignon or scallops that are meant to be enjoyed hot when they arrived at our table chilled. The rice dish we ordered was particularly disappointing, with dry and overcooked rice and meat. The taste and presentation did not meet the expected standards, especially considering Petiscos is the sister restaurant of Adega. Moreover, the service was inattentive and lacked the engagement one would anticipate. While I understand that busy periods can be challenging, our server was noticeably absent for prolonged periods, leaving us struggling to get assistance or have our questions answered. Overall, my visit left me feeling incredibly dissatisfied and frustrated. It's disheartening when a dining experience falls so far below expectations. read more

My colleagues and I visited the restaurant during a jam-packed lunch hour without a reservation. The hostess, while very kind and forthright, informed us that the wait could be extensive and offered to text us once she had a more precise estimate. Surprisingly, we were called about a table availability just 10 minutes later. The service staff was excellent, but due to the bustling nature of the hour, our food arrived much later than anticipated. Our salad, intended as an appetizer, was served after the main courses, and one of the starters arrived midway through the meal. Despite the timing issues, the food was delicious, though the sequence of dish arrivals seemed quite erratic. After a 15-minute wait for our bill, we decided to skip dessert, as the service delays had already extended our stay. Our favorite dish was the steak salad. The steak was so tender and the seasoning was spot on light and refreshing read more

Overall, I found the experience to be quite disappointing. One major issue was the general lack of salt in the dishes, which resulted in a bland taste. The restaurant refused to split the meal, which was inconvenient. Another downside was the absence of serrated knives, making it difficult to eat the Francesinha. Specifically, the Caldo Verde, a traditional Portuguese soup, failed to impress with its lack of authenticity. The Francesinha, a signature Portuguese sandwich, had a sauce that was not up to the mark, leaving the dish lacking its usual flavor. The only bright spot was the Broa and the Octopus, which were decent, but couldn't make up for the overall mediocre. I hope they can improve their dishes and service to provide a more enjoyable dining experience in the future. read more

We visited this restaurant because it's listed in the Michelin Guide, but unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the hype. The food was underwhelming--our duck dish only had a few small pieces of duck, and the rest was mostly rice. The clams didn't taste fresh, and the sauce lacked any real flavor. The cheesebread was a disappointment as well. The beef tongue came with way too much bland sauce, completely masking the taste of the meat. Even the cocktails were subpar. To top it off, the place didn't feel very clean. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant based on our experience. read more

Absolutely delicious. Exactly what you would expect from the family that gave San Jose it's first and ONLY Michelin rated restaurant. It is all in the details and Petiscos, just like Adega pays close attention to them. The food is absolutely delicious. The staff is attentive and so polite. This family knocks it out of the park yet again. I think the city should pay them to just keep opening more and more eateries. They seem to be the only people in town who know what the hell they are doing when it comes to good food and fantastic customer service! read more

This Portuguese restaurant was incredibly good. We thoroughly enjoyed every dish we ordered. Sharing the food family-style enhanced the experience, allowing us to sample a wider variety of items. Our meal included mussels, duck rice, octopus, bread, and a francesinha (a substantial sandwich filled with steak, sausage, pork, cheese, and a rich gravy). The house wine was also quite good. The price was reasonable; our bill was around $130 for my wife and me, but the amount of food could easily have served three people. read more

From the Michelin folks from Adega, this is an amazing tapas bar in San Jose. The best new place in downtown. Definitely a must visit for anyone looking for great tasting food. The menu is long and I will be back frequently until I taste everything. I felt very save while visiting. Tables are 6 feet apart, all staff wears gloves and masks. My temperature was taken when checking in. The draft beer is only $5 too. San Jose needs more places like Petiscos read more

Family and I stopped by this spot for dinner, and wow--what a lively scene! The place was packed, but the energy was infectious, not overwhelming. The staff? Super friendly and on top of everything, even with the crowd. The food didn't disappoint either--flavorful, fresh, and just the right amount of indulgence for a great night out. And the décor? A perfect mix of urban and chic, which added to the buzzing vibe. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

The drinks were pretty cool and food was so delicious. They have nice food options too. The quality was so beyond great. The bar area so amazing. Pretty great vibe inside. The Seafood rice was so good and so tasty too. So tender and nicely seasoned food. The Meat Croquettes were good. Huge portions size of food. It was well-cooked. Everything was appetizing. The restaurant has nice setting and pleasant ambiance. read more

Pestiscos offers good small bites with a focus on fresh, perfectly cooked seafood. While the flavors are a bit tamer than I expected, they're still enjoyable and inoffensive, appealing to a wide range of palates. The quality of the seafood stands out, but be prepared for a higher price tag. It's a nice spot for a special occasion or when you're in the mood to splurge a little on quality small plates. read more

The food here was actually really good fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. We really enjoyed our meal. However, the service was a bit slow. It took a while for someone to take our order, and we had to wait quite a bit between courses. The staff was polite, just not very attentive or timely. If they could improve on the service speed, this place would easily be a 4 or 5-star spot. read more

We've been here a few times so menu selection was easier. There are so many wonderful dishes to choose. There were three of us and we ordered six dishes plus dessert. Totally full with that amount of food probably could've had one less dish? The sweet rice for dessert was wonderful. Lots of cinnamon and I had to fight my son for the last minute! read more

The grilled octopus was tender and had a pleasant smoky flavor. It was seasoned well and had a good balance of flavors. The presentation was visually appealing, and the portion size was decent. It was an enjoyable dish for seafood lovers who enjoy octopus. read more

We had an incredible dinner here! The food was delicious and the service was top-notch. Our server, whose name I can't recall, recommended a few dishes that were perfect. If you're craving fantastic Portuguese cuisine, Petiscos is a must-visit! read more