Love this place. An authentic British Pub with all the quirky an kitschy items you'd want to be surrounded by...not to mention they have darts and board games. This delightful establishment is equipped with a fireplace, flags, and leather chairs that scream Cookiemonster's Theather. If you're tired of fueling up with caffiene when checking your emails, come to trials for a beer instead. They have free wireless internet. With a beer in hand, responding to daunting emails or apartment searching online never became so pleasant. If you're a smoker, there are always a few chimneys outside that are game for a chat. Tables and chairs arranged for your pleasure. Awesome, friendly bartenders. Not overly friendly in the processed Tang sugar-kind-of way, but in the sugar rimmed glass on your refreshing mojito kind-of-way. That is my kind of bar. read more

Best pub in San Jose. I love the atmosphere. Laid-back bar with good music played low enough to hear the person sitting across from you. No TVs - sorry, sports fans. The pub food is good -- Monday night trivia is always extra fun when accompanied by some curry chips. I get them medium because I am a wimp. Bartenders are friendly and funny. I'm not a "regular," but go here often enough and I've never felt uncomfortable or like an outsider. Good job, Trials. Five stars. read more

Trials used to be myneighborhood pub. I miss it, even though my bike ride went from 1 minute to 10 minutes. I love the music Rob plays. Dinner specials delight and Beer selection is on point. It may get crowded, but that's always good. Gotta love that "Cheers" feel when you walk in the door. And thank @#$ there's no TV! **LOVE** read more

This bar has a cozy, traditional English pub atmosphere. Unfortunately, I was there around 5PM on a Saturday so it was pretty dead. It has a nice beer selection, including Kronenbourg, which my British husband said that he never saw before in the States. I had a nice Strongbow that really hit the spot! We got the curry chips, which were available in mild, medium, and hot. The hot, although quite spicy, were very good! I wish they would have turned up the tunes a little bit, as they were playing some fun Brit-pop stuff like Pulp. If I lived closer to San Jose, I'm sure I'd be at this bar a lot. read more

I checked this place out on Yelp's good word, and was not disappointed. I had popped in for a beer a couple times, and finally got food this past weekend to complete my review eval :) They have a wide selection of solid beers, and for a reasonable price of $5 a pint. Bartenders are quick with orders, but I haven't been there when it was super busy yet, so maybe it was just the traffic I saw. Food was pretty good too, considering the bartenders bring it out. I had some mozza sticks (solid) and the chicken curry. The curry was hot, like I asked for it, but a little boring tastewise. If it was stellar, I'd have pushed this place to 5 stars, but hey, you win some, you lose some. I think I'll definitely make a habit of coming in every so often to have a drink with friends. It has a real nice atmosphere, bartenders are chill, and the food is better than a strip club's. Win. read more

Continuing on my crazy curry obsession, I said to my friend, "You know what would be fantastic? Curry fries. Waaaay better than chili fries." Next thing I know, I'm being taken to Trials Pub for a few pints and curry fries. The curry fries are large thick sliced fries and you can have your choice of spiciness in the curry. Have it with a dab of ketchup and it's the perfect pub food! read more

I like it a lot here. I had no idea I would run into so many familiar faces. It's quaint, and can get pretty cramped, but it's laid-back living room feel is the perfect environment for catching up with old friends over delicious drinks. They've got a kitchen that serves up some pretty mean curry "chips" among other things as well. Unfortunately, the kitchen closes at 10pm, so hurry up and get your order in! It's the best bar in downtown San Jose, hands down. There's no way you won't have a good time here. Everyone talks to one another and they've got plenty of conversation pieces decorating the interior, as well as board games + darts. read more

The Booze, beer and food here are great. The staff is great. Its just the people that kinda bug me. I used to come here when I turned 21 and it was fun because everyone came to have fun. I went here a few months ago and it was full of people that were doing the following: 1. Playing "magic the gathering" 2. READING BOOKS! 3. Camping out and not even drinking, just talking about politics I used to LOVE playing darts here! But a bunch of people in their 40's with professor beards were blocking the lane and wouldn't move. I miss you Trials of old read more

Food and atmosphere were overall just okay. If you're looking for a slightly above average pub, then this is your spot. I got a beer and a burger. The burger wasn't high quality -- I asked for medium and got closer to well-done, and it came with frozen fries. read more

Nice little pub. Fun staff and crowd but don't ask for Jägermeister! I can see how it would get crowded fast on a busy night. Good prices on beers and I'll try some of the food next time I visit! read more

Great, relaxed drinking atmosphere. This pub has everything it needs (wide drink selection, tasty and filling food, great service) and nothing it doesn't (electronic dartboards, loud music, shot girls, foam). I've only had one dish at Trial's, but it was delicious. I highly recommend the falafel and chips plate. Trial's is a great place for drinking. I actually leave happy, not pissed that 50 people stepped on my foot, in debt and sober. read more

I like this pace because it's off the main street of bars so it doesn't get too crazy. It's almost like a secret spot that you have to seek out. As far as a pub goes, it's a bulls-eye. They have a good selection of quality beers, like Smithwicks. I feel that if you don't have Smithwicks on tap, you're not a legitimate pub. The grub is pretty decent too. Pretty typical selection of British food and other standard pub stuff, not great, but definitely above average. There are a few knocks that would keep me from giving this place 5 stars: it's small, so it can fill up pretty quickly. There's only a narrow path connecting the front area to the back area; so if you're drinking in the front and need to use the restroom, you'll probably have to squeeze past a bunch of people. And when you get to said restroom, you'll probably have to wait as there is only one toilet per gender. The service can be slightly slow here as well, but the staff is pretty cool and friendly, so I hate to complain on the front. And due to parking limitations, you may end up walking a block to get there. Not terrible though. If you like pubs, or just drinking good draft beer in an environment conducive to conversation, you should really check this place out. read more

Probably my favorite place to drink in San Jose. Probably my favorite place in San Jose, PERIOD. Great music, great atmosphere, great bartenders and most importantly, great selection of beers! Everybody I've taken here has loved the place. I'd give it 5 stars if it was slightly bigger and had better seating arrangements. It's not always crowded (though it seems that lately, it's been getting more popular), though when it is chances are you'll get horrible seating (if at all). The worst seating of all, of course, being right next to the bathroom. Still, I come here often and am usually able to find decent seating. Get here before 10 (on weekends) and you'll likely get a decent place to sit. Best bar in San Jose! read more

We decided to go to Trials pub after finding out that the wait at Yard House was 3 hours long. Trials was definitely a winner with zero wait, a full bar, and food. My partner and I were able to have a peaceful conversation without yelling. read more

I love this place. It can feel kind of small at first but there are tables in the back if you have a larger party. I wouldn't recommend bring a group larger than maybe 10 or 15 people on a weekend. You could get away with it on a week day though. They have a cabinet of board games/ card games so you can play some silly drinking games with your friends. $8 redbull... awesome $6 wine, pretty standard. I guess they have a pretty good beer selection but I haven't ordered any brew yet. Overall, this place is really homey and fun. read more

Live very close by so I'm starting to become a regular at this place. Make sure you bring someone with you, going it alone kinda sucks. Decent drinks, decent prices. Food is actually really good. Bartenders are nice and have a good time. Will be back for more! read more

Great put- it's relaxed and low key. Very neighborhood-y and the beer selection is fabulous. Note- a great place for BEER, not wine. No TVs either so there isn't a big sports crowd. I love the fireplace in the back. Warning to the faint of heart- it's haunted! Thankfully I've been too drunk to notice if there really is a ghost that typically haunts the women's bathroom... read more

The crowd changes a lot, but it never seems a meat market. My husband and I like to go here to get our British fix. It's not that the place is SUPER British, but they have Stella and Strongbow on tap, and the fish and chips is nicely done. I also like the chips and curry sauce a LOT, but the doctor says I have to cut back for cholesterol reasons. When we get a night out without the kids, we come here. We can talk, have a few beers and something to eat, and go home. We're pretty happy with what we can get now that we have kids. We have taken our toddler here for an early supper on a recent weekend night, and that was fine. Wouldn't bring kids after dark, but technically they are allowed in as long as the kitchen is open. That's interesting. read more

I love this place. I am a regular for the Monday night pub quiz. It's much more like a real British pub than any I've been to in the U.S. with the possible exception of King's Head in Santa Monica. The staff is also very friendly, and the quiz is a lot of fun. Also, the music selection is great - there are all kinds of eclectic things on. Prices are pretty good. The food is very hearty, and there's all the kinds of things you'd expect to see at a pub. The fish and chips and curry are both highly recommended. There's sandwiches and a couple tasty salads too. My only real gripe is the beer selection - they have a lot of beer, but none that I really love. Don't go here if you are looking for a "party atmosphere" since it's very low key. The music is not loud, it's well lit, and there's no dancing or anything like that. This is a pub, not a bar. read more

When I want to hang out somewhere calmer and more relaxing for a drink it's ALWAYS Trials. i like the idea that i can bring a book with me and actually READ it there. i always get my pints quickly and with smiles and i love going for Sunday Burgers. Canadian chips with cheese and gravy is lovely too. the people there are usually pretty relaxed and very friendly. there's always a good time on quiz nights too. just a good place to meet up with people or have a quiet pint alone. it's nice to meet some of the regulars who bring their puppies to hang out outside as well. read more

My favorite local pub, Trials is the perfect place to grab a pint of something cask conditioned, a plate of curry fries, a deck of George Bush pin-up cards, and settle in for the night. Forget the Brit, this is where you come to enjoy quality drinks and food and a real pub vibe without the lame club scene crowd. Well...settle in for the night may be putting it a bit strongly, because what would have been a five star review (six, maybe, if I could) loses one due t the fact that the last few times I've been in, they closed super early. 11pm on a Friday? I know it's San Jose, but come on. The pub was full, too. Weird. BUT! I love it all the same, and while I don't got there so often after rehearsals since I'm often not done till 10:30 and can't count on getting more than a pint in before getting the boot, I still go there a few times a month because Trials is just that damn awesome. They have UK brews on tap that you can't even find at many local so-called British pubs, and the sausage rolls are worth doing someone bodily harm over. Think you're a trivia master? Come down Monday nights at 8pm to play for bar bucks, but look out for me and my man, because we will give you a schooling like you haven't seen since fourth grade. The Lowdown: Still the best pub in San Jose hands down and my favorite night time hang out, despite the occasional grandma-friendly closing time. read more

My favorite pub/bar in the area! Granted, I'm not a night-life kinda gal, but I appreciate Trials for it's awesome food and good alcohol. It's small, so it gets kinda crowded. If you show up early, you'll find seating, tho. I like just chilling, eating and drinking with friends here. Food: DO try the various fries (curry, canadian and garlic/cheese)- all are good! Bangers are amazing! Fish and chips are also very good! Shepherd's pie bland, though. Drink: Reasonably priced with a wide range of selection. I like my traditional guinness, but I also like my Strongbow Cider and Frambic Lamboise (or is it Lambic Framboise...?). I did come here on St. Paddy's Day last March, and it was VERY crowded. If that's your plan, arrive early or you might never find a seat! If I could improve this fine establishment in any way, I would make them play Irish music (with occasional live performances). ::sigh:: Right now, they just place the regular alternative stuff. read more

A very laid back neighborhood feeling type of place. Pretty good amount of beers on tap. Drinks are fairly priced. It's a nice place to go when you don't want things too rowdy or crazy. I've never had the food yet but I heard it's tasty as well. You can drink outside until 11pm. The pub is next to a lot of condos/apartments so they don't want things too loud late at night. read more

Great place with many different kinds of beer! My friend and I came here to chill out. We ordered beer that we never had before. It was really smooth and good. The appetizers are really great too! read more

Quaint little pub in the not so bustling bar section of San Jose, but that somehow seems more appropriate for this place. Cozy, homely, with board games! The bartender was super nice and helpful, prices were fair. Great beers on tap, the hoegaarden was my personal favorite. If I liked beer more, definitely be a regular here read more

This is San Jose's pub. There are no tvs so you're there to drink, socialize, and have decent conversation. Good pub food with bangers, curry and the like. Good selection of hand pulled beers and ales. It's a comfortable crowd that hangs here from the geek types, SJSU, scooter types, lawyer types, musician types, shark fans, and the local neighborhood denizens. It's definitely worth a visit and it might turn into one of your favorites. read more

Trials has a lot going for it. They have a selection of beers on tap that I only ever seem to be able to find here, and they rotate it around. If they've got the Boddington's Cream-flavored Ale, I'd definitely recommend that (I can barely find it anywhere, let alone on tap). It's not loud, and there's usually at least one seat open at the bar. That said, it's also very crowded a lot of the time and tends to draw a slightly older audience for a bar, most of the people seem to be firmly in their 30's whenever I go. I also have trouble keeping drinks coming if I'm in the seated area past the bar. Most places will have a waitress, but Trials doesn't (or at least they never have when I've been in there). If you like British beer, then you have to at least come try this place out. read more

Pretty good British bar food. We went on a Tuesday night and it wasn't crowded. My friend had been talking this place up for weeks, talking about how great their shepard's pie is. Ordered curry chips (fries) and a banger plate (sausages), coupled them with a Kronenbourg lager. Pretty decent size for appetizers, definitely couldn't finish them myself. The chips are steak-cut and perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and not too dry on the inside. The curry definitely has some complex flavor, although the only one I could identify is cumin. It's savory and a bit sweet, but not too strong like Indian curry. The banger plate comes with three kinds of sausage (from what I could tell, I'm guessing the meats here): a tender veal sausage, a spicy pork sausage, and a hearty beef sausage. All served with a light mustard sauce to dip in, which is not overpowering at all. My friends also got chili cheese fries and shepards pie, which were pretty good too. The cheese on the fries goes great with the chili and fries, although the chili is a bit runny and not as hearty as I'd hope. The shepard's pie is a beef stew in a small bowl covered with mash potatoes. The stew is both sweet and hearty, and tastes like it's been cooked for hours. I'm pretty sure there's some vegetables in there, but they've been cooked so long that they're brown like everything else. Also comes with a small side salad, which balances out the thick, rich flavor of the stew. read more

Was in the San Jose area and just needed a drink...ended up at Trials Pub. I'm not much of a pub goer so I felt a little out of place here, but have to say, for what it is that this place was chill. They have a decent selection of beer on tap, kronenbourg, smithwick's, dragon slayer, hoegaarden, harp, bass, english ale are some I can name off the top of my head. If you're trying to go somewhere for a drink, this is a good place to go. While I was very entertained by the characters in this place along with their intellectual and edgy conversation, this isn't a place I would frequent. I ended up continuing my drink on at V bar in Santana Row. If you just want to grab a drink and hang out, Trials will do the job in downtown san jose. read more

This is a decent enough pub, with good quality beers, and whilst not much like a pub in England (which it's clearly trying to be), it's a lot closer than most English theme pubs are. The only problems I have with it is there are a couple of staff members who are just plain rude. I'm not looking for a barman to be my best friend, but I am looking for them to pay attention to when my glass is getting empty and not just focus on his mates further up the bar. Another downside is the food is terrible. Stick to the beer and you'll be golden. read more

Cool little venue and friendly staff, but food service is soooooooo sllloooooowwwww. Well, maybe not so much the service, but after you order it will be roughly 10 years before you end up getting your meal. In the mean time, they have a good selection of beers and a friendly staff to keep you entertained. The joint is decorated with lots of interesting artwork and artifacts, so you'll have a lot to look at too. Eventually, when you are old and grey, your burger and chips will arrive. It will be so-so, but you'll be so hungry that you won't really care anymore...and it will be gone before you know it. The guys behind the bar were great, and pretty funny too. Overall a good experience. The wait didn't bother me because the company I was with was great. I'd go back, though only with a lot of free time if I wanted to eat dinner sometime that night... read more

Nice and cozy place to kick it with friends... Came here for the first time and it was cool... Bartenders were really chill and funny... They made awesome recommendations for food since we never been there before and we were getting kinda hungry... Best thing was the sausage roll appetizer with chips!!! They were amazing!!!! And their beer selection was great too... They also made suggestions for it and we were not disappointed... It's a real small place so don't expect to find a seat on a friday/saturday night... We were lucky that we got there when a couple was leaving the bar :P read more

YUM! This place was awesome. I liked the Poutine and the Bangers and Mash. The jalapeno poppers were a little over-cooked and the jalapeos were not spicy :( but everything was awesome. Guiness on tap? I'm there. done. read more

So, I have this thing, where if I write a poor review, I have to write two positive ones. My first choice is easy! My favorite bar of all, Trials Pub! A lot of people don't actually know about it, and although I consider that a good thing, the owner would probably disagree? So, I will put in my two cents worth that if you are looking for a neighborhood bar- cool, calm with character, here you go! Its actually a pub, so you can order food, which I also like. Bartenders are super cool, friendly, and make me all kind of drinks! Trials rocks! read more

I like this pub 'cause here are big selection of beer. It's great for party with your friends. read more

It's a decent pub in San Jose. It usually doesn't get too crowded unless there is some type of special event. It's very homey and quaint which I enjoy. A good place to grab a drink and relax. Although certain nights there is trivia night and etc, so it's good to figure that out before going. They've also changed the hours before which is good to pay attention to. read more

This is one of my favorite bars ever. The Fish and Chips are the best Ive ever had.. They use Guiness in their Batter! If you are interested in Great beer and spirits and are decent dart thrower hopefully I'll see you there read more

Just checked out trials and were surprised to discover a real gem. Food: 5 Stars We had the Vegetarian appetizer as well as the Fish and Chips, both of which were delicious. The fish and chips was like nothing I'd seen before, I was used to fishsticks and fries. Here, there was an excellent piece of cod battered alongside flat, perfectly done thick fries along with tartar sauce. Very good portions, the appetizer with the entree was enough for both me and my guest, though I suspect the beer helped a bit. They had Hoegaarden on tap here, which is an excellent light beer which previously I'd only been able to find bottled. We also got a taste of a raspberry beer from another patron who we met the night we were there, it was fantastic, though I suspect hardly alcoholic. Note they claim to be "home to the imperial pint." This means you get 20oz pints instead of the standard 16oz pint or dare-i-say anemic 12oz bottles. Service: 4 Stars We seemed to be the only people who hadn't been there before and so the bartender seemed a bit standoffish at first, though they warmed up by the time we left. Otherwise service was prompt and polite, I never had an empty glass for longer than a moment and food came surprisingly quickly. I'll be back to Trials soon... read more

I like to come here often to eat. I use to love to go for drinks but with a baby on board, the food menu is my savior! The place is cute and fun. I see people talking about hipsters and so on. I only see people of all sorts hanging out, having a good time. And no Im not a hipster :) Drinks are always yummy and I have only seen amazing bartenders with a big smile! The hottie Aryn makes a killer Shirley Temple! Food wise...Mmmmm the food. I crave their curry on a regular basis, chicken curry, fries and curry. Shepherds Pie...Mmm Mmm good! I just recently tried the bangers and mash! Perfection! We always get our food quickly and with a smile! read more

Trials is a small pub as close as you will find to a British style pub. There are no TV screens so it's great for good old fashioned conversation. There's a good selection of draft and hand pulled real ales. The food selection is unusual....huge bowls of fries with curry, gravy or cheese. The shepherd's pie is great as is the fish & chips with mushy peas. Monday night feature's Bosco's trivia contest. Good fun. Oh, and great friendly bar staff. Lots of locals frequent Trials especially right after work. Give it a try, you will enjoy the place. read more