Adega - San Jose (CA)

5 /5 Travis Wise: This restaurant is definitely an unexpected surprise. For years, I had heard legends that this restaurant existed. But I never had a reason to go there until this year. I was amazed. More people should experienced this. I know at one point they had a Michelin star and then when they closed down that went away. I hope they get it back. It is definitely worthy. The neighborhood has a lot of character, but this restaurant is the Crown Jewel. Parking in the back of the restaurant was not difficult because we had an early reservation. The courses came out evenly and consistently, and were all presented extremely well. The staff were all very well trained and knew how to operate a fine dining establishment. The food was all delicious and fresh. Each course had unique flavors that were amazing. If youre looking for a fine dining establishment for a special occasion, this is it.

5 /5 Jake Byman: Truly one of the best meals weve had in the Bay Area. The tasting menu was fantastic, and worked really well with the sangria and wine. The opening dish was honestly one of our favorites. A huge assortment of delicious bites. Definitely a focus on seafood, but everything was super well executed. The only thing that didnt quite hit for us was the mushroom risotto, which tasted a bit bland. Food was amazing, service was amazing, and the design of the restaurant was really calming and welcoming. Strongly recommended! Would totally come back!

4 /5 Shahaf Akavia: The Good: The food and service were excellent. Each dish was unique, with diverse flavors and beautiful plating. The portions were generousmy wife and I were completely full by the end of the course meal. We also received complimentary appetizers and dessert from the chef, which added a special touch and included items not listed on the menu. The staff was very friendly and attentive throughout the evening. The Bad: The atmosphere didn’t match the $450+ price tag. From the moment we arrived, the experience felt underwhelming. The parking area in the back of the resturant which was dark and unwelcome , the restaurant exterior resembled a medical office more than a fine dining establishment. The waiting area was dull, with an unattended bar that gave off a strange vibe. The main dining room felt very basic simple tables and chairs, minimal decor, and poor acoustics. Even with relatively quiet neighbors, it was hard to hear the background music. Overall, it lacked the ambiance and immersive experience I would expect at this price point. Overall the food worth it , but the atmosphere of fine dinning should improve.

2 /5 Eric Fang: This is a review of my visit in October, 2023. I booked 2 tasing menus for my girlfriends birthday and was sorely disappointed by the experience given the price: Food: Most dishes were tasty but failed to impress for a restaurant of this caliber. The Tuna Tartar tasted slightly fishy and my girlfriend found a piece of glass in embedded in her tartar. The desserts were the only items that lived up to our expectations. We had also paid $25 for a box of pastries since weve heard of great things from their sister bakery, Pastelaria Adega. But for $25 we received 6 very average, cold Portuguese egg tarts. Service: The staff is not trained to to the standards of a fine dining restaurant. We were served a few different kinds of bread. When we asked for an extra serving of one of the breads, we were told no because they only made enough bread for each seating of the night. In addition, when my girlfriend retrieve the piece of glass from her tuna tartar, the staff nonchalantly said "Sorry" and walked away. All in all, we paid $569 for 2 tasting menus, 2 glasses of wine, and a box of pastries. For this price or less, we have dined at much better fine dining establishments that delivered unforgettable experiences (Lord Stanley in SF is an excellent example). It blew our minds how Adega could get away with charging this price for this kind of experience. Adega a mediocre restaurant masquerading as a Michelin starred establishment. Be warned if youre considering on visiting

5 /5 Catherine Warren: I love Michelin starred restaurants. Not because they are bougie, although they certainly can be, but because of the work. It takes an extraordinary amount of work. It also takes talent, which we all wish we could cultivate through sheer determination, yet we know that at the very foundation there must be a God given gift, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. Then one must layer on business acumen, which is an art form in itself. Add to that the discipline and the work ethic. Artists are rarely born with either, so that too must be learned and earned. Often these chefs begin from humble origins, where little is expected of them and where resources are scarce. That means limited capital, and certainly no angel investors swooping in with blank checks. Those who believe otherwise have watched far too much television; angel investors belong in Dickens novels, not in many real life kitchens. So when you encounter Adega, a Michelin starred restaurant in San Jose’s Little Portugal neighborhood, it feels like entering the triumphant final scene of an underdog film. This is a family business gone right. Adega was founded in 2015 by Carlos and Fernanda Carreira, with their daughter Jessica Carreira and her husband David Costa leading the kitchen. Against the odds, in less than a year Adega became the first and only Portuguese restaurant in the United States to receive a Michelin star. Jessica, just twenty three at the time, became one of the youngest chefs in the world and one of the few women to achieve such an honor. Adega’s ascent was not without setbacks. The restaurant lost its star in 2018, only to regain it in 2021, a testament to resilience and mastery. It closed briefly in 2023, but by November 2024 it reopened in its original Little Portugal space, bringing its star lit artistry back to San Jose. And then, of course, there is the art. The dishes are poetry, rooted in Portuguese tradition and reimagined with precision and grace. Adega is proof that when heritage, discipline, business sense, and artistry collide, greatness is not only possible, it is inevitable. #Adega #SanJose #MichelinStar #PortugueseCuisine #CulinaryExcellence #UnderdogStory #FoodArt #LittlePortugal