While visiting San Jose, our local friend suggested we try The Farmers Union for dinner, and I'm so glad we did! One of my favorite things about San Jose is the weather. Even though we were there in August, it was cool enough to comfortably sit outside on the patio, so that's exactly what we did. I ordered the beef brisket, which came with bourbon cola baked beans, mac and cheese, and a cheddar biscuit. The mac and cheese was absolutely amazing! It was creamy, perfectly cooked, and easily one of my favorite parts of the meal. My daughter ordered a burger and fries from the kids' menu, and I was pleasantly surprised by the size. Even though it was a kids' meal, the burger was basically the same size as a regular burger. It was cooked perfectly, and she really enjoyed it. Our other friend ordered the salmon with corn and vegetables. She said it was delicious, and honestly, it looked amazing too. The other person at our table ordered the Pimentón garlic prawns and ate every single bite, so I'm going to take that as a pretty strong endorsement! For dessert, two of us split the crème brûlée, and there wasn't a single bit left. We basically licked the bowl clean! That should tell you everything you need to know about how good it was. Another huge bonus was the location. It was an easy walk from our hotel, which I always appreciate when traveling. Being able to walk to dinner instead of having to call an Uber makes everything so much easier. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and quick, and the whole evening was just really enjoyable. We got to sit outside, catch up with friends, enjoy the beautiful San Jose weather, and eat some genuinely delicious food. I would absolutely recommend The Farmers Union to both locals and visitors. It was a great dinner, a great atmosphere, and a great way to spend an evening in San Jose! read more

See all

The mushroom empanadas are one of the best appetizers on the menu. I was surprised. I don't even like mushrooms but I love these fried empanadas. The mushroom sauce is also delicious. The bananas foster bread pudding is also really good. I'm usually too stuffed to order dessert. read more

See all

Everything you need on a small menu with more appetizers. I had a big lunch so I chose the devil eggs with prosciutto. Bacon was crispy. After each bite, it was delightfully flavorful. Servers were busy at the time we dined. We had to flag the server a couple times. My friend always ordered the grilled cheese and soup sandwich. It's a fancy, modern restaurant for casual and intimate dining. read more

The Farmers Union - Devil eggs and prosciutto - American Near Me - San Jose, California

We stumbled onto Farmers Union. Immediately loved the vibe. Showed up early for happy hour and bartender hooked us up with several tasters! Happy Hour Brisket Tacos and Ribs were excellent. Cool bar and huge selection of beers on tap. Hope to return next time in SJC! read more

See all

Arrived at about 5pm on a Wednesday and we were one of two groups. By the time we left around 7pm the place was packed. Good place for work or group gatherings. They have high chairs for kids if needed. Bathrooms are clean. Food was mostly good - we had one issue with a piece of scrubber from the fryer being in our calamari and vegetable appetizer. The manager was very apologetic and comped a few appetizers for us without us asking. The banana pudding is delicious. I would come back again just for that. read more

See all

Flavor on the roasted chicken (moist and a bit over seasoned imo but ymmv) and fries tasted good. Now for the cons. Ordered at 6:30 pm, so an hour and a half past when bbq was available - fries (lukewarm) were not crispy at all, could've been double fried - pulled pork was so dry it is pork floss and it was cold - brisket, only the super fatty one was moist the rest were so dry!!! Like dry!!!!!! Anyway prob never coming back. Service was fine, a bit slow to get to us because we're upstairs prob. read more

The Farmers Union - Bbq for two, House-Cut Fries - American Near Me - San Jose, California

Best happy hour around!!! Got the Kennebec Fries which are fried in beef tallow. They were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle and came with this dipping sauce that was amazing. They were really good. I also got two different tacos. The Beef Brisket and Salmon A La Pancha. Both were really good and very filling. They put a lot of stuff on them. Lastly I got the Smoked BBQ Pork Ribs. The sauce was delicious and they are very tender. Come right off the bone. All the food was not only great but also reasonably priced. I got a cocktail too. The Bourbon Bramble. It was pretty good. The servers and staff were all amazing and helpful. read more

See all

I came in the evening after the IoT convention and I was seated at a table taken care of by Nachelle B. She gave me recommends for dinner; I chose the steak tacos (x2), tomato soup, sangria spritz (alcoholic), and paradise punch (non-alcoholic). Everything was delicious. I would go back to try out other items on the menu read more

See all

Saturday night busy but not packed. Menu is varried and good; specials as well. Quickly seated and order taken. Double cut pork chop was well cooked and juicy. Cabbage was good as well. The squash au gratin was too cooked for my taste but well done. Service throughout was good. The only down note was the creme brulee....custard was grainy and rubbery. All on all a good meal! read more

The Farmers Union - Double cut pork chop and ceaser salad - American Near Me - San Jose, California

We arrived for an early dinner, so we were seated promptly. We were never sure that our server got our orders correctly, and sure enough, he forgot our Cheese Biscuits. Everything that did show up was prepared nicely though. They need to get rid of the ridiculous "5% Operations Surcharge." It makes me feel like I'm tipping the restaurant, not my server. Just raise the prices of the items of which the costs of those ingredients went up. Is that too much math for you? All in all, not a good value. read more

The Farmers Union - Grilled Flat Iron Steak!! - American Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

TFU is kind of a bummer y'all. Firstly we were sat outside despite the restaurant being largely empty before the dinner rush. I don't care for the outdoor heaters as one side of me cooks while the other freezes. It's the food that was a drag this time. I ordered crabcakes as my main, with a side of broccolini so as to have something green on the table. The broccolini couldn't have been more underdone; it felt like I was sawing through a green log to get a bite. But the real crime was the "crab cakes." Look, I'm from Maryland. My bar for crabcakes has been set. What landed on my table were four balled, fried croquettes, with more filler than a Hollywood darling. For that price? A CRIME to call them crabcakes. Y'all should be downright ashamed of yourselves. I couldn't even finish them. Basically hush puppies with crab in them. Shame on y'all. Cocktails and service were good enough that I'd stop by again but only for drinks. read more

See all

Food (2.5 stars) + Brussel sprouts and calamari are my favorites. Sprouts are seasoned well and cooked well. I like the calamari sauce. + Beef brisket is great and my daughter ate all of the Mac and cheese but the biscuit was inedible and meh baked beans ~ Bread pudding taste good but although the outside was warm the inside was cold - Flat iron steak fell flat as the meat is tough and chimichurri sauce is overpowering but nice fries. - Fish tacos should not be made with salmon. It just doesn't work. Service (5 stars) + Francesco is very attentive and kept coming back filling our waters and checking on us. We complained about the biscuit and he brought us another one that was slightly better. Kudos for trying. He managed quite a few tables as it got busy flawlessly. + We were seated promptly on a Sunday evening around 8p Ambiance (4 stars) + Although it got crowded upstairs, we were seated at a nice corner where we can people watch and still have conversation + Great vibe for casual dining but can also come solo and eat at the bar I think this place would be good for small bites and sandwiches. I came here with my family and ordered quite a variety. Next time I'll stick with appetizers and sandwiches. read more

See all

Tried The Farmer's Union for lunch and it was ok. I got the pesto chicken sandwich and a side salad. My salad was drowned in dressing so that pretty much cancelled out any calories I was trying to save by having a salad instead of fries. The sandwich was ok. The chicken part of it was good but the bread needed to be toasted more to hold up with the pesto. Food wasn't bad but I'm not in a hurry to come back and try something else. read more

See all

Excellent venue with plenty of seating both downstairs and upstairs. I made reservations for a Monday night, and we were promptly seated and well taken care of. I ordered the beef brisket, which was a very generous portion, so definitely come hungry! Our server, Carlos, was absolutely wonderful and incredibly attentive. I really appreciated how mindful he was, checking in at just the right moments without interrupting our conversation. read more

The Farmers Union - Beef Brisket - American Near Me - San Jose, California

I could've sworn I wrote a review for The Farmers Union before, but I don't see it. So, instead of writing an update, here's my review. The Farmers Union is in downtown San Jose on the corner of Santa Clara & Almaden Avenue. There's a large parking structure across the street so parking is a breeze. They have a lot of outdoor seating in addition to inside the restaurant with the big bar in the center of the space. I first ate at The Farmers Union a few years ago with a couple of friends. One had the fried chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes with bacon gravy. The other had the Farmers breakfast, and I had a burger with bacon avocado & mushrooms. I liked the homemade ranch with fresh dill that I dipped my airy French fries into. On my recent visit for lunch, a couple of people ordered the Grilled Cheese w/Tomato Soup combo, which they raved about. Someone got the Grilled Veggie Plate w/Salmon. Her salmon was properly cooked and the veggies looked like they still had some crunch. Other dishes ordered included the Brisket Sandwich, French Dip, and Cheeseburger. Service was good, and their homemade ranch inspired me to make some at home, so that's a win-win. read more

See all

Nice place in San Jose downtown San Pedro Squares. Big place good for watching games. A lot of different options and we like all The ones we tried. There are places near by for desert or listen to music too. Friendly staff. read more

The Farmers Union - Dinner menu - American Near Me - San Jose, California

As my friend and I decided to get something late for dinner, I figured he was at the bar and enjoy ourselves with another drink. My girl drinks tequila and was able to get a shot for about $17 and I had a glass of the Trefethen Chardonnay for I believe 17th as well. I was rather shocked. They had a wine from there since it said winery up in Napa and only sold at certain locations. My friend and I decided to sit at the bar and our server was nice and friendly, but honestly, when she went on break the lady that helped her, a nice College age student maybe? I forget where she said she was from maybe Sweden or the Netherlands? (I'm terrible but I remember thinking I knew somebody from there, but I have two friends from both countries and I can't remember which one now. Lol). She said she traveled a lot since her family was back overseas. But she was rather pleasant and actually talk to us more than the original bartender we had. Hee Ambience was like a typical bar with a lot of seating areas and private booths around the bar so I liked how you could be private while still somewhat at a bar scene. I will definitely go back and have another girl dinner with my friend!! All the appetizers and another round sound delicious! read more

See all

I find myself back in San Jose a couple of times for business and the Farmer's Union is my go-to spot when I connect with friends. I used to come here a lot when I lived in San Jose because the service, food and drinks were consistently great. It's so good to see that has not changed. On my most recent trip I connected with a good friend here for dinner. We decided to get a bunch of small plates: - Seared Ahi Tuna - Garlic Prawns - Grilled Fish Tacos - Brussels Sprouts - Mushroom Cigars All of it was really good. They also did a great job with our drinks. The service was as fantastic as I remembered. It is a large restaurant with tables, booths, bar seating + private dining rooms. It's a great spot for small and large groups. Overall a great experience and I am looking forward to going back. read more

See all

We've got a funny review update incoming. Came here before a Sharks game to grab a drink that was good and not $24+, decided we wanted a snack too and after perusing the menu we landed on the brisket tacos. After ordering them I decided to look at my review from last time, in which I said I wouldn't get the smoked brisket tacos again as they were way too smoky...happy to report that while they are still smoky, it was much more balanced this time, and I would in fact order them again. This time we sat at the bar, where we received fantastic service! Wish I got her name because she was so great! Still not the most welcoming service from the host stand, but it was super crowded with a conference taking over downtown, so they were probably stressed. I still think the food is pretty average to slightly above, especially for the price, but it was better this time and I was really blown away by the number of beers they had on tap, especially with the large sour selection they have. Definitely see myself coming back here for drinks before a sharks game, and will likely try more food in doing so. read more

See all

The food and ambiance were both really good and definitely the highlights of our visit. Everything we ordered was flavorful and well prepared, and the atmosphere was inviting and enjoyable. That said, the service could use some improvement. It felt a bit slow and inattentive at times, which took away from the overall experience. With better service, this place would easily be a go-to spot. Overall, still worth checking out for the food and vibe. read more

See all

In town for an event and stopped here for Cocktails. Service and the drinks were great! If you enjoy Espresso Martini make the time to try one here! The Moscow Mule also had perfect carbonation from the ginger beer. The Ambiance, Great food and Drinks makes a perfect place for a night out! read more

The Farmers Union - Espresso Martini (Top) & Moscow Mule (Right) - American Near Me - San Jose, California

Not bad. Had a great salad. We split the meatballs. Pretty good. Wine not bad. 1 less star for lack of menu items. Meatballs were very average. read more

4th visit in as many years. Stopped in for lunch on the patio on a Sunday, food was tasty but felt pricey at $80+ for 2 people. * Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup - great combo of crunchy sourdough, grain mustard, grilled onions, & blend of cheeses - a grow up grilled cheese. Soup is the actual star of the dish. * Grass-Fed Burger - Bf was a fan of the juicy patty & pickled onions * Drinks: Good selection of beer, wine, cocktails. Pint prices comparable to other restaurants ($10 each). * Bummed to see they moved away from in-house made skin-on french fries and switch to standard frozen restaurant supply fries. ***Note: Didn't catch the fact that the fries were fried in beef tallow until after the visit. Had I known pre-meal, I would have declined the fries that come with meal. I hope strict vegetarians catch this before ordering .*** * Service: Kind hostess & wait staff, regularly checked in on * Ambiance: Fun patio area - plenty of tables, umbrellas & overhang for sun protection. * Good to Know: 5% surcharge added to each check to cover "rising vendor & supplier costs", does not go to staff. Tasty food, but at this price point we won't be making this a habit. read more

The Farmers Union - Grass-Fed Burger - American Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We had dinner here this past weekend, reserved in advance and seated at arrival. Got the grilled flat iron steak and spicy prawn linguini, and enjoyed both dishes. The flat iron steak was cooked medium as requested, juicy and flavorful, the dirty fries with a hint of spice, the green beans garlicky and yummy, and the egg runny and delicious. We shared the strawberry shortcake for dessert. Fresh slices of strawberry, crumbly biscuit, a light cream and strawberry sauce, just a perfect little tower of yumminess. For drinks, we got the chimay belgian style ale, raspberry fields forever, and sangria. Everything was quite good, both cocktails were especially tasty and presented nicely, with fresh fruit and garnish on top. Service was great when we were first seated. But then slow and inattentive for the remainder of our visit. At one point we had to hunt down our waiter walking through the restaurant to order more items, as he didn't come by our table for a very long time and we were going to be late for an event. All in all, we had a good experience, and the setting is perfect for date night or just an evening hanging out with friends and watching sports (they have a lot of TV's). There are a ton of indoor and outdoor tables available, as well as seating at the bar. Easy parking in the garage across the street too. read more

See all

I really enjoyed the farmers union for dinner. I got a steak with mashed potatoes and veggies. I also got a lemon drop to drink and it was made perfectly. The food all around was very good, but the real rave about the farmers union goes to our server. Our server was so nice and always checked on us to make sure that we didn't need anything. He also was nice enough to let us sample a piece of their smoked pulled pork, which was phenomenal. This was overall a great experience for dinner. read more

The Farmers Union - Steak - American Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Large space that is good for a friends gathering, but I don't think I could get over how disgusting the bread we were served was. It just seemed like microwavable bread from a grocery store freezer aisle that had been frozen for too long. The only redeeming thing was that the bbq meats were really good. Service was quick but also seemed like they were rushing us a bit. read more

The Farmers Union - American Near Me - San Jose, California

Sat outside for an evening meal with friends and enjoyed ourselves. Happy hour drink specials were nice. Missed the cheese fondue appetizer but perhaps they'll bring it back. Service was spotty even though the crowd was low. Seems our server got distracted or assigned too many tables. She was pleasant, but missed on some requests. We'll be back - love the area. read more

Excellent restaurant, chill atmosphere, great drink selection, service is solid. The empanadas were delicious and the smoked chicken was dry, yet flavorful. If you're looking for a pleasant sit down, this is a top selection downtown read more

See all

Had a wonderful time here. Got here at 4:30pm on a random Thursday and caught happy hour. Ordered mushroom empanadas, the Kennebec fries fried in beef tallow, and the beef brisket taco all from the happy hour menu. My husband ordered the skirt steak with brocollini, fries, and fried egg. We both enjoyed our food. Service was great, and ambiance was also good. Parking was easy and it made for a wonderful date night dinner. We will definitely go back, and highly recommend this to others. read more

See all

I came on a Saturday evening and had a good time! This place is perfectly located in a great location next to San Pedro Square and although I've walked past it, this was my first time actually trying out the food. We got a the French dip sandwich and the cheese burger which came with extra crispy fries. I love my fries extra crispy so I enjoyed them a lot. The cheese burger and French dip were good. Although they weren't necessarily amazing, I thought it was okay for what it was. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. It's not anything special where I'd be back solely for the food but due to convenience, location, and good atmosphere, I'd definitely be back with my fiance or with friends! read more

See all

Came here for lunch during the week and was able to get seated right away. It was great to get the fast sit down and then followed up by prompt and speedy service by waiter. While I enjoyed my brisket sandwich special, some in my party found the food just ok. Ultimately it was a decent meal, didn't mind the food and service was good read more

The Farmers Union - Lunch Special - Brisket Sandwich - American Near Me - San Jose, California

Love coming to this place! The food is always good and never disappoints. Their produce is basically next level. So the ingredients going into each dish are really incredible. Not pictured but one of my favorites here is the farmers union salad. Just tastes so fresh and the ingredients come together really well. Other staples include the biscuits and honey butter, always hits the spot. Love the Brussels sprouts too, although slightly oily. The mushroom empanadas are marvelous - the sauce that comes with them is a mushroom lovers paradise! Burgers/sandwiches are also very good. The service is very friendly and they can customize any drinks for you to make them into mocktails / sans alcohol. The bartending staff is very talented! The ambiance is upscale and cozy at the same time. This place gets very busy whenever there's a conference in downtown SJ or other events. Otherwise they usually accommodate you with minimal wait. The restrooms are really clean but the flushes could be a bit slow so just wait 20 seconds before a 2nd flush (that might be helpful to mention on a sign in the restroom). Everything here is wonderful! Please go check it out! read more

See all

Had a good meal at The Farmers Union! The menu has a ton of tasty options that make it a fun spot for comfort eats with a twist. The apps and drinks were good and the for the mains, the grass fed burger, and beef brisket asada tacos were solid. Fun vibe. read more

We had such high hopes for this spot. The highlights were amazing ambiance, very friendly staff and the cheddar biscuits. The downside was the French dip (roast beef easily worst I ever had), salad (had no taste and was just a little off) and the appetizer brisket tacos. Hard to explain, but almost a little raw or something off with them. So much potential for this place, but big swing and miss for food. If just doing drinks before or after Sharks game, then yes ... but things need to improve in the kitchen. read more

See all

They have a new head chef and the menu change is horrible. They removed the fried chicken dish which was my favorite item on the menu, along with the mash and gravy. I order the steak medium, it came out well done, and the mash potato had zero flavor, the broccolini taste like nothing but onions . I asked for a side of gravy and the waitress (she was lovely) came back with a side of au jus, more like flavorless broth. I sent it back and order the crab cakes which was worse, at that moment I wish I'd kept the mashed potato. Overall the food was extremely disappointing. I used to love going there. read more

The Farmers Union - Grilled Flat Iron Steak* subbed the fries for mashed potatoes - American Near Me - San Jose, California

The food is delicious & the service is attentive. Its a nice scenery for both a casual dinner night & a dinner date night. 10/10 would recommend I come often read more

The Farmers Union - A la cart tacos - American Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Prime location downtown right in San Pedro. Service is attentive. Food is good. I liked the grilled cheese; comes with fries too! read more

Food is well made depending on what you order. We ordered cheese burger , impossible veggie burger and garlic shrimp .Ambiance is great and large space for large gatherings. read more

See all

The place was slammed from the World Cup watch party happening (which was also why we were there). The service was surprisingly quick. My grilled vegetables place was AMAZING! Highly recommend! read more

We have been coming here for years and recommending it to other people. The last two times in the last month have been substandard and I don't think we will be returning unfortunately. They changed their fries to be fried in beef fat which is gross, and their fries were my fave. They also reduced portion and quality. The fish and chips used to be delicious and now they give less fish and it was super greasy. My husband frequented the burger and it was super overcooked and the ingredients were not quality. On top of all of this, they raised the prices (again). Their servers and staff are always really nice and the space is great for groups, but in this economy and in an area abundant with options, it just isn't it anymore. read more