Wow! A pub with wall space not taken up by TVs, but instead with mostly (association) football paraphernalia. It's refreshing to go into a bar with out the flashing television sets blaring out noise. The chicken curry is good, better than the local downtown Indian place! I washed it down with a Newcastle Toon Ale, although the barman thought I asked for a Newcastle Toe Nail. Must be the Aussie accent. The beers are mostly European varieties on tap and one of a few establishments that do serve Hoegaarden on tap, my wife's favourite beer. We left an Aussie twenty on their currency wall. If you ever bump into us San Aussies at Trials, ask us to show you the five dollar trick where the Queen does a... read more

Great beer, friendly staff and rather tasty foods. Always a great stop on my way home from a Shark's game (or to one).

laid back environment. Games to play when you're drunk and also darts if you ask for them...be careful though cause you've probably been drinking at this point. Good beer, good food - i always seem to spend too much money here. read more

We were in San Jose for a week long conference and were looking for a nice place to relax. Trials was not too far from our hotel, and located near a Light Rail stop, so we gave it a try. We instantly became regulars stopping in every night we were in San Jose. Great food and wonderful people. Everyone from the staff to the regular customers adopted us and made us feel welcome. The chicken curry is some of the best I have ever eaten. read more

I went to Trials on July 4th when hardly anything else downtown was open, and they did not disappoint. We got there just around the time they open. We had to wait a bit before they would take orders for food, but we weren't in a hurry anyway. I had a pint of cider and a sandwich, and they were both relatively inexpensive. The sandwich (with fries) was enough to fill me up. The bartender was friendly and relaxed. I will definitely go to Trials again in the future. read more

We tried the Fat Tire and an Amber. Tall glasses, cold cold beer, great atmosphere. Parking is very convenient. No TV's for distraction. Long long bar, not very wide, but hey, easier to actually sit at the bar. Crowd was older than night. Perfect for conversation and just enjoy cold beer. read more

This is an excellent pub! After months of bitching about there being nowhere good in San Jose, I proved myself wrong. This place is as close to a British Pub as I've found in America. It's chill, cozy, and friendly... and I don't mind going in jeans and a t-shirt, unlike most of the places in SJ. read more

I love Trial's. This is the one review I'm hesitant to post because I just don't want it to blow up any more so I can keep it all to myself, y'know? When I was a "man of leisure" for a couple of months, the lady bartender made just enough conversation to be social, but never intrusive. I was that loser faux-artsy type with a Moleskine and a book that I didn't actually read, nursing my shot and brew until I had to close my tab and ship out. The chips (fries) are great, as is the Sheppard's Pie and Bangers and mash. read more

This place is pretty small and cramped. Was super freakin hot in here too...like no ventilation. They gave me warm flat beer...prob wont go back read more

Wicked innit! I just Love LOVE LOVE this place. No TV or attitude - like a real locals pub ya know?! All kinds of people come here. I've had just about everything on the menu. The gravy on the bangers and mash is to die for (yeah like me mum's ok?) and the BFs fav. is the curry. My 17 year old son (loves the sausage rolls) will come and join us every once in a while so we play darts. I'm lucky to live up the street but I know that even if I didn't, I consider it my local and would make the effort to come here. It's the queen's bollocks this place. read more

Wish the beer selection changed once in a blue moon, but they don't serve Blue Moon so kudos to them!

Good atmosphere, diverse downtown crowd without the trouble makers and most authentic dive pub you can ask for in San Jose.

Great Pub. A great place to forget that you are in San Jose. Too bad it's downtown.

Great place for relaxing. Decent food. Decent drinks. Lot of beers and European taste. Super friendly staff and no pretentious San Jose wannabees .Recently discovered but immediately got to be a standard stop. Plan to get to be a regular. read more

Trials is a great place to head after work. There is always a nice face at the bar ready to serve you and the food is excellent

If you're looking for a great neighborhood Irish Pub - this is the place. Great beer, friendly people, darts 9of course), and try the fish and chips. They're crispy and fine. read more

i went here with a friend once. it was my first time. i just wanted to sit around and not have to worry about being hassled by people. this was just the place. my friend introduced me to the apple cider stuff. yes, 'm great with my words. whatever. it was pretty tasty. it was a nice place just to sit and drink a beer. we were able to just kind of relax and talk without worrying bout getting another drink or rushed out. it was kind of low key. it wasn't the usual crowd of asians trying to look all nice and pretty to impress people. i'm sick of that scene. not a bad place. cleanliness? well, it's a pub. what can you do? people? they're alright. read more

Maybe it was because I was here on a weeknight early in the week, but it was just kind of okay. I noticed a lot of people mention the food and the board games, and our group didn't do any of that, so maybe we didn't get the full experience. Mixed crowd, mostly older, and pretty mellow. Cool ambiance with a heavy Euro influence, but not much to write home about. read more

This bar is exactly what a bar should be!! Mediocre food, great booze, a perfect dart board, and lots of little nooks to sit in. It has great big library chairs in the front, and a nice long bar- both of which are great to get drunk in. The bar tenders don't do table service, and I like it!! If you sit in the back with the dart board, you have to get up and get yourself the drinks and the bartenders are lots of fun. If you are the laid back drinker that likes to get a good buzz and have a good time then go! I also recommend you always take a cab home as I always seem to leave belligerent. read more

I picked Trials after reading all the positive reviews here on Yelp. It was super chill as people mentioned, the beer selection was pretty good and the food was alright. I liked that it wasn't as noisy as a lot of other bars, I could actually have a decent conversation. Crowded on a Friday but we were still able to stand at the bar without having to wait. Next time I'll come on a weekday, it seems like a nice place to just chill out and have a beer. read more

Solid hang out- good atmosphere and beer selection. I haven't personally tried the Shepard's Pie there, but I have heard from reliable sources that it's delicious! read more

great place for a couple things, sausage rolls! playing real darts! eating fish n chips! and just hanging out with mates, check it out a pretty cool place. read more

I remember going to Trials Pub back in the day and really liking the laid back environment and cool customers, but when we went there a few weeks ago, it just seemed like an old bar with not much going on. The bartenders were really nice, but the food was just OK and the atmosphere was pretty much dead. We went on a Saturday night around 6pm, so maybe it was too early or just an off night, but definitely wasn't how it used to be.... read more

This place has Lindeman's Framboise Lambic. That right there earns 4 stars in my book. I have to take away 2 stars for the fish and chips. But then bring back another star for the very cool vibe this pub has. I feel like I was transported to a small English town with Sex Pistols and the Specials coming through the speakers. Very unique experience in San Jose and will be back again to try other things in the menu. My wife had the pot pie with chicken and mushrooms. That was great. Cheerio! read more

Solid 4 stars for cider and steak cut fries [chips] topped with curry sauce enough to feed a small army [or 5 opera singers as the case was]. read more

I like this bar a lot for one main reason. It has no tv's. It's an old school pub that sports many flags, has nice solid wooden tables in the back perfect for drinking games. Has two dart boards. Has a great selection of beer on tap. Also I have had the food here and it ain't bad either. A good pub to go to for a beer and a good convo. read more

Still one of my top 3 favorite pubs of all time, this place has a GREAT beer selection on tap of stuff I've never found elsewhere in the Bay. And no I don't mean Smithwicks as another Yelper pointed out (lmao). I mean good stuff like Hoegaarden, Dragonslayer IPA and Boddington's. The curry and the fish and chips are pretty darn good, too. Oh and the building is really cool! I heard it used to be brothel, then a jail, or maybe both at the same time? And there's supposedly a ghost (if you're into that sort of thing). Bonus: there is the light rail stop just outside the door! Ah Trials, how I miss thee... read more

Great atmosphere, crowd and beer. Try the chicken curry or curry fries. So good.

I just moved a block from this place and I've been looking for a neighborhood pub. this place is cool. I went on a Friday night and the pub was full of people which is typically a good sign. I find a place at the bar, order my drink and hang out. the menu looked really good but coming from dinner i didn't order. I'll be back for the food. but the beers were great and what i really liked about this place is that they have hand pulled beers on tap. you don't see that very often. So I like this place, its a block from my house and it had a menu that looks really good. I'll write another review once i have some of the food. The Chips and gravy looked awesome! read more

handsdown my favorite bar in san jose, because it's the only bar in san jose that has no t.v. :) not only that the staff is amazing, the beers are plentiful, and the food is good! bangers, curry, shepherds pie, fish and chips, salads..(excellent) i'm never disapointed, and i never fail to run into someone I know. sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name - cheers! read more

I used to live right by here! This is a real neighborhood pub. Everytime I would drive home from work, I'd see the same people sitting outside and be jealous that they were having fun. It's really chill with sofas and chairs in here and fun games to play. Real laid back. read more

First time visit a week ago on a Saturday night and it wasn't even crowded. Did not feel like I was in San Jose at all yet it seemed like everyone was a local. Good beer selection with friendly bartenders and people. Instead of televisions they offer an armoire full of board games and what not, insisting that you socialize. A great place for a hand full of friends to gather and enjoy each others company. read more

Just went here for the first time w/my friend who lives in the area. Super cute bar. It's warm and cozy and has books and games. It feels like you're chilling at someone house. It is not super big so it does look crowded so if you want room to walk or even sit, it may be a bit difficult. Then again, i guess it depends on the time one goes. I loved it!! Great beer selection, mellow crowd, and nice bartenders. I for sure will go back again. read more

Best bar I've found in San Jose. Great atmosphere, bartenders, cabinet full of games, interesting decor... you really couldn't ask for more. Its cozy in here and is a place where you can actually come to hang out with your friends and talk to them while drinking a good beer. That is the purpose of a bar IMO, and not many establishments deliver the right environment. Instead you get noisy, overcrowded, pits of drunkenness with bad music to boot. Trials is where you bring your friends that you actually would like to talk to and be able to hear what they say! (We didn't get to try the food because it was too late, but we would have if we could have!) read more

After failing gloriously at a first visit to single barrel, we decided to wander up here. Neat little place that has good true euro pub feel to it. Decent beer selection, but it was to late for snacks, so that will be saved for another time. Would like to see some more hefty curl you toes beers, but I am a beer geek. Bartenders was quick to get our order and serve up a decent ipa and a brown, if I recall right, that had no backbone. Hop stoopid, 90 minute, black butte porter... Some of the many beers that would draw me back. Though I havent gone back to see how often they switch em up. Maybe theres a sexy beer awaiting my consumption! read more

Curry fries overrated..Came here on St Pattys day for dinner. Very tight layout of the bar. Cool vibe. Had corn beef n cabbage for the first time. Delicious! But needs more beef or cabbage or something. One of those entrees that leave u feeling hungry still. read more

An excellent, competely unpretentious pub that is comfortable and yet even a bit... elegant. Order your chips with the garlic cheese sauce, aka molten lava. As a bonus, they're always playing cool music, like vintage rocksteady. read more

Best pub ever. Great food, great drink selection, and great folks working behind the bar. If I hadn't moved out of downtown SJ I'd still be frequenting here at least twice a week. read more

Gtreat Food....Great Beers....Great Atmosphere....Friendly and Helpfull staff......Hands down a five star hangout!!! :-)

I like this place...it is very much like the pubs I've seen in England and Ireland. The food is okay - not bad at all, better than a lot of restaurants here in San Jose. Prices are comparable and service is definitely better than most small bars. read more