In the good news you can use department, we have new restaurants making their debut, others expanding hours and offerings, plus local food folks winning awards and getting airtime.
One of my hot new faves, Poppy & Claro, makes it easier to get going in the mornings with new breakfast items like the Golden Poppy omelette (with turkey, bacon, tomato, caramelized onions, avocado, feta cheese and creme fraiche), house-baked artisan croissants and pastries or the Poppy Benedict (brioche topped with poached eggs, turkey, bacon, avocado and Hollandaise). These new items debuted Monday, April 27, at the downtown San Jose restaurant, long with many morning beverage options from Sightglass Coffee, plus iced offerings including Matcha Spritz and Marmalade Espresso Tonic. New hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Chef Christopher Littman is introducing new all-day dishes, served from 11a.m. on and featuring Green Garlic Vichyssoise; Salmon Club with Green Goddess on Manresa sourdough; and Beyond Strawberries & Cream, angel food cake topped with strawberry, elderflower cream, bee pollen, brown butter streusel and vanilla soft serve. Littman, who hails from NYC, is a true soft serve afficionado.
With its extended hours, the art-filled dining room at 50 West San Fernando St. and comfortable patio overlooking downtown San Jose’s iconic Circle of Palms is a great place to share Shrimp Campechana (poached shrimp tostadas) and the vegetarian-friendly Black Walnut Forager Pizza (tomato base topped with broccoli rabe, caramelized onion, maitake mushroom and black-walnut chili crisp).
New low-alcohol and zero-proof cocktails based on housemade shrubs, syrups and fresh juices include California Bloom (Blanc Vermouth, strawberry-basil shrub, elderflower tonic) and the seasonal Rhubarb Rose (gin, elderflower, rhubarb-rose shrub, lemon, sparkling wine). Happy hour specials from 3-5:30 p.m.
Strāta, featuring contemporary California (New American) food, is set to debut May 13 in downtown San Jose. A chef-driven menu emphasizing seasonality and global influences will evolve every six to eight weeks. The concept is from the MO Hospitality Group team that brought us Paper Plane, Eos & Nyx and MiniBoss. Peak California ingredients will be sourced to explore different flavors, regions and styles.
Fans of Japanese fare are flocking to Yutori, as their Palo Alto marketplace opened April 17, aiming to provide the Peninsula a taste of Japan. Located at 3375 El Camino Real, the 4,600-square-foot space was formerly occupied by Corner Bakery Café. The full-service bar and restaurant are slated to open by June.
The Bywater Los Gatos is totally excited about their appearance on “Check Please! Bay Area,” which aired on April 23. Congratulations to them.
Berkeley-based Boichik Bagels, founded by Emily Winston, with a store in Los Gatos Village Square, won the Best Bagel Yeasted award at the April 2026 BagelFest West in Los Angeles.