Loft Bar and Bistro
90 South 2nd Street, San Jose, California 95113 

Valentine's Day Massacre,
a review of Loft Bar and Bistro

We booked our table on opentable.com.  Arrived early but parking made us 10 minutes late.  Hostess was poised and seated us immediately.  We were seated on the roof, a canvass converted indoorish area.  The busser came immediately with water and bread.  There were probably about 10% more tables then neccessary and so we were packed in tightly.  The noise level was quite high.

Our server was efficient but uninformed that they had run out of the lamb shanks so she made a second pass at the table so we could reorder the filet instead.  The cosmo arrived tepid.  The server did not deliver the drinks or food.  She checked in just a few seconds after the food arrived but otherwise did not return until we had pushed away our plates.  We skipped desert.  Nothing specific was suggested.  We weren't offered coffee.

We ordered the crab cake app which normally sells for $12.95 but was a Valentines Day "Special" at $18.95.  The order consisted of two smallish cakes resting on a bed of field greens. We both liked the crab cakes but they were not well paired with the thin lemon butter caper dressing.  The field greens under the cakes were de rigour for appetizers these days. They were fresh.

The filet mignon (normally $28.95) was on special for $33.95.  They arrived in a very reasonable time but were probably just a little undercooked for what we ordered. However they were well seasoned and practically fell apart on your tounge.

The garlic mashed potatoes did not come with gravy so we both used the 'cabernet dipping sauce' in that role.  It tasted like gravy to me.  The potatoes seemed to have been missed by the garlic fairy.  However it could have been so sublte to have been overshadowed by the 'dipping sauce'.  I'm not sure.

The mixed vegitables were stand out.  Corn cut from the cob, snap peas,  waffle cut carrots, etc and were deliciously salty and spicy and not a bit overcooked.

The usual menu was truncated and the prices were increased for Valentines Day.  I suspect there were more tables added then usual but I've never been there before so I could be mistaken.  Perhaps they always pack their guest in rubbing seat backs.

The decor was sparse on the roof but warm and romantic inside (if a bit crowed).  The noise level was uncomfortably loud.  Less tables and more plants would have made the date more romantic and quieter.

The exit is separate from the entrance so when you come down the stairs, it's like a cattle shoot shunting you out the door.  Without a greeter (goodbye'er?) there I felt like they had taken my money and were now finished with me.  I felt like I should be hanging my head down and covering my face.

Nothing was exactly bad about the experience but with the shortened menu and increased prices, I felt like I had been taken advantage of.   We certainly didn't get anything extra for the rather steep increase in price from the normal menu.

I would have prioritized giving diners a memorable experience on Valentines Day in hopes of capturing more business in the future.  Instead is was a bit like war profiteering: Whatever the traffic will bare.  But once the war is over, you haven't really garnered any repeat business.

Booked our table on opentable.com.  Arrived early but parking made us 10 minutes late.  Hostess was poised and seated us immediately.  We were seated on the roof, a canvass converted indoorish area.  The busser came immediately with water and bread.  There were probably about 10% more tables then neccessary and so we were packed in tightly.  The noise level was quite high.

Our server was efficient but uninformed that they had run out of the lamb shanks so she made a second pass at the table so we could reorder the filet instead.  The cosmo arrived tepid.  The server did not deliver the drinks or food.  She checked in just a few seconds after the food arrived but otherwise did not return until we had pushed away our plates.  We skipped desert.  Nothing specific was suggested.  We weren't offered coffee.

We ordered the crab cake app which normally sells for $12.95 but was a Valentines Day "Special" at $18.95.  The order consisted of two smallish cakes resting on a bed of field greens. We both liked the crab cakes but they were not well paired with the thin lemon butter caper dressing.  The field greens under the cakes were de rigour for appetizers these days. They were fresh.

The filet mignon (normally $28.95) was on special for $33.95.  They arrived in a very reasonable time but were probably just a little undercooked for what we ordered. However they were well seasoned and practically fell apart on your tounge.

The garlic mashed potatoes did not come with gravy so we both used the 'cabernet dipping sauce' in that role.  It tasted like gravy to me.  The potatoes seemed to have been missed by the garlic fairy.  However it could have been so sublte to have been overshadowed by the 'dipping sauce'.  I'm not sure.

The mixed vegitables were stand out.  Corn cut from the cob, snap peas,  waffle cut carrots, etc and were deliciously salty and spicy and not a bit overcooked.

The usual menu was truncated and the prices were increased for Valentines Day.  I suspect there were more tables added then usual but I've never been there before so I could be mistaken.  Perhaps they always pack their guest in rubbing seat backs.

The decor was sparse on the roof but warm and romantic inside (if a bit crowed).  The noise level was uncomfortably loud.  Less tables and more plants would have made the date more romantic and quieter.

The exit is separate from the entrance so when you come down the stairs, it's like a cattle shoot shunting you out the door.  Without a greeter (goodbye'er?) there I felt like they had taken my money and were now finished with me.  I felt like I should be hanging my head down and covering my face.

Nothing was exactly bad about the experience but with the shortened menu and increased prices, I felt like I had been taken advantage of.   We certainly didn't get anything extra for the rather steep increase in price from the normal menu.

I would have prioritized giving diners a memorable experience on Valentines Day in hopes of capturing more business in the future.  Instead is was a bit like war profiteering: Whatever the traffic will bare.  But once the war is over, you haven't really garnered any repeat business.