Whether it’s sushi or a fish taco, whether it’s for a family of
six or a dinner for two, whether it’s formal attire or casual
– the area’s diversity of restaurants and tastes makes it a good
place to tickle your tummy.
Whether it’s sushi or a fish taco, whether it’s for a family of six or a dinner for two, whether it’s formal attire or casual – the area’s diversity of restaurants and tastes makes it a good place to tickle your tummy.
Small, non-chain establishments are scattered throughout shopping areas and neighborhoods, offering an endless variety of tastes – from German and Basque in San Juan Bautista to sushi in Gilroy to seafood and Indian in Morgan Hill. The community also houses area favorites that include Mexican in Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan and Italian in Morgan Hill.
“(Diversity) is very beneficial for the area. It shows diversity in the city if we have diversity in our restaurants,” said Sunday Minnich, executive director of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
Having various dining options is also good because it keeps people in the community.
“It gives more variety for people to stay within their own city instead of traveling to fulfill their tastebuds,” Minnich said. “The options mean people don’t have to go out of the community for a nice dining experience.”
Three popular restaurants Minnich mentioned have live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights – Golden Oak Restaurant, Le Bistro and Maurizio’s.
Theresa Kiernan, executive director of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, said restaurants at the county’s golf courses offer “excellent menus.”
The Tres Pinos Inn is a good stop, Kiernan said. It’s “popular and in a very small area.”
Most restaurants in San Benito County are open for lunch and dinner, she said.
“During lunch hour, I wait in line everywhere I go,” she said.
Because of Gilroy’s location near U.S. 101 and Highway 152 and its proximity to Interstate 5, the city offers a high ratio of restaurants to population, said Susan Valenta, executive director of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce.
“Gilroy really offers a variety for consumers to meet their every taste,” Valenta said.
Also, Gilroy offers many attractions including the Prime Outlets and Bonfante Gardens, Valenta said. Popular Gilroy eats include Tasso’s Old House Restaurant and Cocktails, Harvest Time Restaurant, Black Bear Diner, Station 55 and J.R. Brewski’s.
While there are several barbecues, steakhouses and Mexican restaurants in the area, there are also places not found in every little town.
A taste o’ the Irish is served up at the Claddagh Irish Restaurant and Pub in Gilroy. The menu includes calamari, garlic mushrooms, Claddagh salad, fish and chips, Galway chicken and corned beef.
Owner Lesley Benson said she opened the restaurant four years ago because of a lack of restaurants in the area.
“When I moved here eight years ago, there weren’t many places to go,” Benson said. “This is a meeting place for people. It’s nice to have somewhere alternative.”
Popular items are the calamari and clam chowder, which have won people’s choice awards, Benson said.
Gilroy has its fair share of Mexican and Japanese restaurants and has many small places to choose from.
However, Gilroy does have a disadvantage because many residents commute north and they end up eating dinner in Silicon Valley before driving home, Benson said.
Although there are restaurants that meet just about any taste in food, this is a recent trend. Most of the restaurants have been operating in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister and San Juan for less than five years.
Joan and Peter’s German Restaurant in San Juan Bautista is an exception.
“The diversity has just started,” said owner Joan Lottermoser. “When we first came … most of the people came to San Juan for Mexican and Chinese food.”
Joan and Peter’s German Restaurant opened in 1983. Peter is German and was a cook at various restaurants. Both thought a German restaurant would do well.
The restaurant offers authentic favorites that include sauerbraten, wienerschnitzel, sausages, sauerkraut and red cabbage as well as steaks and chicken dishes. Potato pancakes are a popular favorite, Joan said.
Also, unlike what is commonly found in American doughnut shops, Joan makes real German apple strudel that are long pieces of dough rolled with an apple mixture folded within. Everything is made from scratch, Joan said. Also, the restaurant serves imported German beer.
Joan said the restaurant’s atmosphere reflects feelings of smallness and coziness.
“People, when they come here, they say it’s like eating at home,” Joan said.
Joan and Peter have hosted an annual Oktoberfest celebration for the past 20 years with live entertainment, a dance floor and German beers and drinks. This year’s event is Sept. 7.
At four years old, Rosy’s at the Beach in downtown Morgan Hill specializes in seafood. The restaurant, although close to the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas, is a rarity in the area.
“We’re the only fish place around,” owner Rosy Bergin said. “It’s good for people with special diets. A lot of people are appreciative. A lot of restaurants will serve fish, but not focus on it.”
Rosy’s is noted for its fish tacos, Bergin said. They include grilled salmon, shredded cabbage, salsa, avocado and a light dressing. It’s been named best fish taco in the Silicon Valley, Bergin said.
“Once they try it, they love it,” she said. “It suffers from a bad name.”
Gilroy Bowl on Monterey Street in the downtown offers people a unique bowling and dining experience. The bowling alley houses a restaurant with American, Mexican and Japanese cuisine on the menu.
Owner Scott Kawano said the restaurant started as a snack bar that offered sandwiches and hamburgers, then the Japanese owners decided to offer Japanese dishes.
“At the time, there wasn’t any Japanese restaurant in the area,” Kawano said. “… The area is growing and so are the types of food offered with the different types of cultures moving into the area.”
The menu includes tamales, steak ranchero, tempura, New York steaks and prime rib, Kawano said.
“People are surprised – especially those new to the area,” he said. “They all expect hamburgers and hot dogs.”
Kiernan said the diversity is beneficial to local restaurants and entices interest.
“I like the idea that we are different. I bet you people will want to go to check it out,” she said.
