Straits Cafe Santana Row - San Jose

We ordered eight appetizers; most were acceptable, but the spring rolls were particularly unappetizing. For our main courses, we ordered four dishes, and unfortunately, neither the beef nor chicken tasted fresh, though the sea bass was quite good. When it came time for coffee and dessert, the coffee arrived at a lukewarm temperature, and we were informed that none of the three desserts we ordered were available. To top it off, there were not enough teaspoons for our coffees. Frustrated, we canceled the coffee and desserts and decided to leave. Having dined at Straits for lunch several times, I had assumed their dinner service would be equally competent, but I was mistaken. There were too many issues to attribute the blame solely to the server or kitchen. It seems Straits needs to seriously evaluate whether they can function effectively as a bar and restaurant rather than just as a bar.

I have to say that Straits has a vibrant bar area that’s great for people at Santana Row. However, I wouldn’t suggest it for dinner. The portion sizes were small, and the food didn’t meet my expectations. On a positive note, I did appreciate the bowls they used for the noodles. Other than that, I would only recommend visiting for the bar. There’s typically a DJ on weekend nights as well.

I share mandeelish’s sentiments about this restaurant. Much like Blowfish, it’s the kind of place where you end up spending a lot for very little food while struggling to hear your dining companions. Even just walking past it is an assault on the ears. I’m not a fan of blaring music when I’m trying to hold a conversation during dinner. However, if you’re just looking for a bar experience, it’s consistently packed with attractive people, and some of their specialty drinks are enjoyable. Just don’t bother trying to eat there—it’s not worth the price. On the other hand, if you have a date whose company you find unbearable (think Janice from Friends), this might be the perfect spot to bring them. I’m giving it two stars because the food is decent, but certainly not worth the high prices for what you receive.

Bad customer service. Tasty food. Avoid the Blonde hostess at all means possible.

I had a great time at this sports bar! The ambiance and decor are really nice. I visited on a Friday night during the COVID days, but it felt safe and lively inside—everyone was enjoying themselves. There were a lot of large parties, which did slow down the service for family dinners, but our server was very apologetic and made sure we were taken care of. Just a heads up: if you see that there are big groups, it’s best to make an advance booking. We were lucky to get a table while on the waitlist. The food was quite good, and they even have a separate vegetarian menu. It is a bit on the expensive side, but worth it!