Good place to enjoy with friends reasonable price for drinks Lite music and good design inside @@@ hope to back soon with friends !!! read more

I used to live 2 blocks away and go all the time but I feel that the quality of the beer has suffered some so I stopped going. Also the service can be spotty even on slow nights. Stay away from the food, it'll give you the squirts... read more

Trials is the closest thing to the old-style British Pub that I've found on the West Coast (I am from Boston--Go Red Socks!) It's refreshingly void of televisions, which breeds great conversation among the patrons at the bar. Trials is frequented by the greatest range of patrons that I have ever seen in any bar--and I have been in a few! I lived downtown prior to getting married, so I frequented Trials quite a bit. I love my wife and my new house, but I sure miss going to Trials all of the time! Website: http://www.trialspub.com/ read more

Solid place. Curry Fries are Great and the Fish and Chips are worth a try as well. Comfortable spot to grab a pint.

Trials Pub is an institution in San Jose, though you need to stay for the Trivial Pursuit.

I have not been here for a while, though this is my favorite pub in San Jose/Santa Clara. I for some reason thought it had closed down. Though looks like it still up and going. I use to like to have a beer and a game of chess here. I will be coming back here for sure. read more

We love love this place. Everything about it is just beyond awesome from the bartenders, selection and the vibe. Their food is out of this world!! We had the curry fried and shepherd's pie-- is was out of this world! We will be making this a regular spot! read more

This place isn't too bad. The crowd that hangs out here is real chill, but making your way around the bar is an adventure. When you can get the bartenders attention the list of drinks is quite decent, but they often vanish and don't come back too often. It's a laid-back atmosphere for this pub, but overall it's just OK. read more

Great place to have a nice chat and relax with a friend and down a beer. Ask for a black and tan, but there's numerous of beers I've never heard of to try. They were all good to me! Friendly atmosphere. Reminds me of the tv show Cheers sometimes where, "everybody knows your name." Its that comfortable feeling of just coming in to unwind. Haven't tried the food, but wish I had. Smelled great from what I saw. read more

I've never been treated so poorly. Bartender Tim was extremely rude.we left within 20 minute. The owner should consider how they want their business represented. read more

Doesn't look like much from the outside but best fish and chips in San Jose! Good selection of beer too. Will definitely be coming back.

This is the perfect local pub. Food is very good - much better than standard pub-grub - their fish and chips are always perfectly fried, not too greasy, with a light, crisp batter. Service is always friendly, prices are good, they have a great selection of draft beers, and the bartenders are helpful if you're having trouble deciding. Most people who come in are regulars from the neighborhood, so it has a very friendly atmosphere. read more

A really cool pub this chill out at. They have a outside area you could dine and drink at. Inside is very chill and homey. I had one of the beers and the smell was a bit off, and the sandwich of the day - the cordon bleu was just alright. The buns were kind of generic and felt like hot dog buns. This is a good place to hang out with great service, but the food is just a tad off. read more

this place is awesome because its literally a minute walk from where i live. they serve a lot of great beer on tap and the best garlic cheese fries. the only issue i have is the occasional superrrrrrr long wait for service. but i guess thats expected since the beers are "supposed" to be warm. read more

I am so conflicted about this place, I love the atmosphere, and the first two times I was here the staff was so friendly and the service was good. Their beer selection is okay, they don't have too many options, but they do have items that I haven't had or heard of before. Their food is good pub food, I've had the hamburger, mac n' cheese bites, and chicken pot pie, they've all been good. Last time I was here I was pretty disappointed in the service. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar for dinner and drinks. The food took a while to come out, not a huge deal, but the bartender/waitress never checked in on us. Our beers were done, for at least 15 minutes, she walked past us tons of times behind the bar, but still never asked if we wanted another one or checked in. It wasn't until I took our drinks and placed them at the very edge of the bar near her, that she asked us if we wanted another. read more

Canadian chips (i.e. poutine)! My Canadian coworker had recommended this place as one of the few places that offers poutine, and I had to go - for $7, it was so worth it! Their $11 chicken curry is surprisingly good, but the naan that comes with it is more like pita bread, and the amount is perhaps less than I expected for the price (San Jose is full of Indian buffets, after all), but for pub food, it was great! I had a guiness and tried their dragon slayer - both hit the spot, and at $6 each for a tall glass, about average or perhaps below average in price. The atmosphere is casual, the music is loud but you can still hold a conversation without too much trouble, and overall I had a great time here for dinner and drinks. There's more seating in the back of that narrow passageway and it's self-seating, order and pay at the bar as there aren't any waiters. For a casual night out, there's not much better! read more

What an awesome find. This place is the neighborhood bar that every neighborhood needs. Informal, convivial and full of interesting people. The food was very palatable but unremarkable. It didn't really matter all that much however because this place is all about the atmosphere. We've found our new hang out place. read more

Awesome pub atmosphere with excellent cask-drawn beer, friendly staff and great music!

The curry chicken was outstanding, and the beer was great. They have plenty on tap, but you do need to go up to the bar to get place your order and pay. No table service, which wasn't a problem, but you should know going in. Darts in the back, along with a fireplace. Wood stove and comfy chairs up front and seating outside, too! read more

This place was a five start until the end when I go "hey bud, can you do me a favor?" to the bartender. At which point he turned cold on me, as if I just swore at him. I travel all the time and visit a lot of places and try to be as polite as possible. Judging by the locals reaction it wasn't a secret he didn't like to be called 'bud'. I don't know if it was some traumatic childhood experience or him acting out against the establishment but it was ridiculous. I never got the guys name as I finished one beer and left. It was the Wednesday night bartender there. My advice would be to steer clear of bud, friend, or sir.... read more

i used to get drunk here alot in '05. no bar snacks. though lots of beers on tap or bottle. lots of indie kids frequent this joint. especially skaters. you'll bump into lots of skaters here...so avoid if you disapprove of them. read more

Yeah, Trials is a great joint. Bartenders are friendly and cool, food is pretty decent, and the clientele is intelligent and low key. I have often struck up very interesting conversations with strangers sitting next to me at the bar. LOVE the Monk's ale....beautiful stuff. Get there early, settle in, and try as many kinds of beer as you can. It will be a good night. read more

I love the board game cabinet and the music is always good. The beer list is great- I especially like Fat Lip or Dragon Slayer. The food is really good too- try the Canadian chips. The service is friendly and makes you feel at home. read more

Best pub in the South Bay. I've been coming here for years and will keep coming for years to come. Great beer and pub food. Make sure to stop by when Larry and Dave are tending the bar! read more

I hit this place up somewhat often with my friends from grad school, and we have yet to be disappointed. I've a sampled a number of their dishes, including the cheese fries (sinfully hearty, starchy, and cheddar cheesy); the Ploughman's Platter (a bit overpriced and not entirely filling); the Mediterranean Platter (all good--dolmas, humus, etc); the spicy falafel sandwich and chips (super filling and spicy, yes!); and the KILLER chicken and crimini mushroom pie with its creamy basil brandy sauce--salad and a few chips on the side. I would say that the latter has been my favorite thus far. Damn good food. As for the help, I've been enormously impressed by the barkeeps. All I had say yesterday was, "We need some menus" to a friend as we headed back to snag a table, and the barkeep slid them over to us before I'd even had a chance to ask him personally. As for drinks--yes, they make them heavy on the alcohol and light on the mixer. Strong rum and coke, strong cosmos, and perfect appletinis. I have yet to find a drink from their bar that beats their appletinis--those things warm me to my toes. As for other miscellaneous bits--killer music, free darts and a cup dice game, and a homey pub decor. I'll definitely be going back soon. read more

Some places try hard to create and maintain a certain kind of atmosphere, certain ambiance... not Trials! It is what it is! And what it Is is Awesome. Once I discovered Trials, it became a regular hangout for me. I managed to go there at least once a week, and enjoy a chilled glass of beer (my beer of choice was Hoegaarden :) ) I have yet to eat something there that I don't like. everything from a simple chicken salad to the curried fries to the falafel plate and tofu and rice, is so good! It's no gourmet food! It's just what you would expect at a British pub - plain and simple good food to go with the plain and simple good beer, in a dimly lit comfy, friendly environment (sometimes loud, depending on the number of people there, and their level of drunkenness!) There are no TV's in there, just a dart board, so it makes for a good spot to chill with friends absolutely any evening of the week! read more

I love the chill old school decor and feel of this place. Every time I come by I grab a stool and order the closest thing I can get to Canada's Poutine. It will do until I fly up north. Service is good and I will continue to be a regular. read more

This place has a lot of beer selection on tap and the bartenders are super friendly and engaging (if you want them to be). For the ladies, I have to warn you, it's a real 'old boys' club' kind of pub so you better be comfortable with that. Meaning, I would only go back if my friends invited me to sit down for a few drinks and for loads of conversation. read more

I had to trek up to San Jose to buy a study guide and being an alkie decided to arrive early and do a little bar studying before the appointed time. Before I proceed, let me just tell you how oddly this little bar is located, it took this navigationally challenged person a few passes to find it and then another one to park. San Jose and all the one way streets. urgh. It is located where two one way streets coincide, so you are forced to make a turn. Hilarious in that ahh I hate when I can't read the damn numbers while blaring kanye west in my car kinda trying not to hold up traffic or kill pedestrians kind of way. So I arrived, nice little place not quite a dive, but not quite high end. If you have a cousin, friend, family member, or if you yourself live in the projects, can't afford new furniture, have a roof that leaks, but strive really hard to keep it presentable, then you should feel instantly at home in this pace. Quaint, cute, bartenders are totally nice and as I was leaving the hotties started to come in. I ended up calling my friend to come out and play with me. Didn't do much studying. Reasonably priced, Guinness, Stella, fish and chip and tip 25-30. In the future I would probably pass on the food. I had fish and chips, the friend had cheese sticks and poppers. It was kinda blah, which might make it authentic, I don't know. Wait, I am lying I do know., but I only ate Shepard's pie in London and that was Fab! You don't see a whole lot of native English food making the cover of Food and Wine for their innovative flavors and technique. Friend and I had fun, would def head back. read more

only been here once, but i really liked it. the bartenders were really friendly and talkative, and the place was just overall on the chillaxin side There are plenty of places to sit and hang with your friends.i love the neighborhood that it is in too, because it's downtown, but just north of all the santa clara street bullshit. i definitely be going back. read more

My boyfriend and I took a visiting friend here last night for a game of trivia pursuit and a hot toddy. Love this place! The drinks are great, bartenders are friendly, and the curry chips (fries) are to die for. read more

The best bar in San Jose. Large, well-priced pints. Many beers on tap. Good food. A friendly, neighborly atmosphere. The fireplace is nice during the cooler part of the year. This place has many, many pluses and I've enjoyed thousands of hours here. read more

for a town that is seriously lacking in the awesome bar department, trials is pretty great. they have great veggie food and strongbow on tap. plus, thane and bosco are awesome and always friendly. the only downside is that it's a little on the small side and you have to get there early to get a seat. some people don't mind standing, but i much prefer to sit. especially considering that downtown is full of rude ass people who like to barge through rather than say "excuse me" to get past you. learn some manners, people! read more

Best bar to meet a person on a Vespa!

This place has some of the best pub food I have ever had. The beer is decently priced. It's a real bar, which is great. I do think the walkway is a bit narrow, and I can imagine the place gets crowded fast. Overall, a really great bar. read more

Imagine a cross between Cinebar (some pretty hard core alcoholics, and therefore not very trendy, and sometimes friendly) and The Dive Bar (trendier but not some dumb club, also pretty friendly) and I think you'll wind up with Trials. Except the bar staff is nicer and not hurried. This is my favorite bar downtown. When I lived downtown, I could walk to any bar, and yeah, this is the closest, but it's not only b/c of that. It's because the rest of downtown's bars are full of barely legallers and they're all dressed up for the clubs and to be seen-- you know you've seen the half dressed 21 yo chicks running down 1st or 2nd who refuse to put on a jacket even though it's a freezing night in January; that's who I am talking about. Not my crowd. This place is almost like downtown's version of Cheers-- everyone (staff and customers alike) are friendly, plenty of alcohol that's not pricey. Everyone there is very ... dare I say... real. It's a place to have some drinks and some good pub grub and converse with friends. You can actually do that here, and you don't have to yell, be all dressed up, or follow The Hills. Imagine! Please please please don't let the clubbers know! Or establish a dress code or something (if you show cleavage, you're not welcome). If I lose this place, I will cry. One gripe, they don't open in the afternoon... they're open at like 5. But that's it. I can't find anything else negative to say. read more

Named for its proximity to the courthouse, Trials is a bit out of the way, but just a 3-block walk if you've parked your car down at san pablo square garage. The notable thing for me about this pub is there is NO TV OR VIDEO SCREEN of any kind.No band, no jukebox, no dish, no wifi. It is a place for conversation, with the person you came with, or with those already there. Sports Bar? not so much. It feels like a place people walk to. The light rail goes clanging by outside the big front window for a very citified atmosphere .But the station is a little hike across the park. It always makes me a little wishful that I lived in one of those nearby townhomes so this could be my regular spot. read more

I like the atmosphere. It's not a noisy sports bar! It has beer on tap. It has a fireplace. The large legal chairs in the front window are great for conversation. PLUS, their food is quite tasty. ;-) read more

Love this place! Roscoe is my fav there! Always super nice, attentive, and funny. This place is great for people watching, all sorts of random people show up there. Its the kind of place that you can drink a red strip, answer trivia, and eat a pretty good cheese plate. Theres this weird guy who wears a hat.. hes totally a douche and had to ask me 3 times what i ordered.. all the other people there are cool. The place is SMALL. Plan on standing. read more

wow, powerful drinks. I also had some that were strong and great tasting. we sure got drunk here. darts are a plus. i heard they have poutine, but i have yet to try that. read more