El Jardin Tequila Bar & Restaurant
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
- Music: Live
- Best Nights: Fri, Sat, Sun
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
23 reviews
San Jose, CA
"Aside from the small size, this place is Mexican supermarket heaven. I love that I can get great Mexican food products right in downtown…" read more »
85 Reviews for El Jardin Tequila Bar & Restaurant
Great place to hang out at when you want some tequila and people watching. The guac and sandwiches were all pretty tastey. The live band really perks up the ambiance to another level. This place gets really packed so expect to do some chair begging from other tables.
I'm the 80th person to review El Jardin Tequila Bar. Do I really have anything unique to add? Is this going to be the one review to encourage or discourage you? I can't deal with that kind of pressure. That sort of responsibility is too much, and I'll lose sleep over it. Therefore, I'm going to give the most vanilla review e-v-e-r.
Keep in mind, I went here on a Sunday evening for an early dinner. This was not a crazy night out in Santana Row. ;)
The sangria was good.
The tortilla chips were good, the salsa was actually excellent.
The ceviche was just fine, just a little too spicy.
The seating is weird, me and a friend were seated at the same table as complete strangers. Whatever, I'm cool with that.
The service was good, Sonia was really cool.
All overpriced, but not too bad even for Santana Row.
I'll be back.
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Last night the book club I meet with decided to change things up and meet here for dinner instead of at a bookstore. Man are we sorry we did. I can say the ambience is very nice and it was a lovely night to dine outside ... but that's about it.
We arranged to meet at 7:30. When the first person arrived, the place was 90% empty, but still they wouldn't let her go to a table and order a drink - even when she said the others were just looking for parking. When a couple more of our party showed up, they went to a table.
Then a few more of us showed up - at which point the waitress came over to tell us we couldn't take up more than one table. When I pointed out that six people couldn't fit at the one table, so couldn't we scoot over this second one? No, she moved us to another table. Which wouldn't have been so bad except the large table had bench seats that were hard and uncomfortable. Not inviting at all.
The waitress came around to get drink orders, but apparently because we were all in conversation and not eagerly awaiting her arrival to order, she actually poked one of our group in the shoulder to get her attention (not a tap on the shoulder, a stiff fingered poke into the upper arm).
Finally our last member showed up carrying her 6-month old. They had not allowed her to bring the stroller in with her. The place was still not busy, there was tons of room, but we had to play "pass the baby" so everyone could get a chance to eat (the fact we all wanted a chance to hold and play with him was beside the point - if he'd been fussy or ready for nap it would have been very inconvenient).
Since the menu declared that groups of 6 or more have a mandatory 20% gratuity, I decided not to order dessert as I'd originally planned (I ate dinner earlier) and a couple of others passed on food orders too. The food the others ordered looked ok, but I felt it was pricey for how much arrived. Utensils to eat with arrived somewhat after the food, and not all of them were clean.
A 20% gratuity for the service we received was, in my opinion, exceedingly high. I think we were all in agreement since we made sure that the bill was paid exactly - not a penny more.
We won't be going back.
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Went there for my 19th birthday dinner since I was craving Mexican food. Since Consuelos line was really long, we decided on El Jardin since the wait wasn't too bad considering a dinner time walk in. However, our tables were split up, which kind of defeats the purpose of a birthday dinner. The boys were on one table and the girls on the other so I had to keep going back and forth. It has a really cute atmosphere though, right outside in the middle of santana row with live jazz music. The musican of the night sang happy birthday to me and thought i was 14 years old.
Went here last night for Santana Row Jazz. Got there just in time to get the happy hour special of margarita pitcher and chips & salsa. Nice price break at happy hour but if I had been paying regular prices, I wouldn't have ordered either of those items.
The chips & salsa were yummy but I wouldn't want to pay that much for a basket of chips and a small side of salsa. We also ordered the pork sopes and the chicken tostadas. They were both very good but again kind of expensive for what you get. I would go back but I will be sure to get there during happy hour which is from 2:30 to 5:00.
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I can definitely say that during the summer months, this is a early dinner spot my Girlfriends and I hit up. Go around 430/5pm so there is no wait and you can just have a blast all night, downing Sangria and eating Sopes - Mmmm - So tasty - especially the Pork ones.
We ended up here on Friday at 530 and had to wait 45 minutes to be seated so we just headed over to Sino for a quick Martini and to get hit on my older money-grubbin' Sales types and leave them with the bill - Hehe - A smile can go a long way, girls!
Ended up ordering the Vegetable and Pork Sopes, Pork Quesidilla, Ceviche and the Guac. All is great, all is good - I have yet to complain about their food or service.
It's a great place to hang out after a long week of work and honestly stay there all night - My girls and I generally do 3-5 hour stints there - It's WONDERFUL!
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yourTT: how was the el jardin?
tanny: not impressed
tanny: i read some reviews before we left and one of them said that they thought the same items were on the jardin menu as well as consuelos across the street
tanny: so they asked the server and they denied being affiliated with each other
tanny: so we went to jardin and as it turns out its only comfy chairs and low small tables cool for drinks and apps. but the menu was only one page and it's all like apps
tanny: i mean they had tostadas and regular stuff, but no meals
tanny: so we said we'll we finish our drinks and go to consuelos
tanny: so the menus looked very similar had a few key items exactly the same and the kicker was the same manager looking guy who went around asking if we were ok at jardin came in consuelos and was hovering over all the workers there too
tanny: so they are totally affiliated, i don't know why they would deny it
tanny: it's very non typical mexi food. some familiar things and most unfamiliar and not convincingly emxican
yourTT: ha. busted. i'm gonna put this IM convo on yelp. LOL
tanny: lalo
tanny: yeah i was thinking abt yelping it
tanny: but yeah that would be a funny yelp review...this convo
tanny: yeah do it
yourTT: ok
yourTT: so who all went.......
yourTT: did you get some tequila?
tanny: i had mango margarita and she had pomegranete
tanny: they both looked so pretty and vibrant colors...looked thick and fruity like juice or more like nectar but then we drank and they tasted just like tequila
tanny: no taste of mango or pom at all
tanny: we tasted each others and realized they tasted exactly the same???????? lol
Cool atmosphere. The margarita I had tasted great but wasn't at all strong. You'd need to down 3 or 4 to get a good buzz. The appetizers were nice but tasted very similar to Consuelo's next door. The server said they were not related. Not sure I believe him. Pretty pricey.
Pros:
Good service.
Nice relaxing environment.
Cons:
Food is overpriced. Even if it's not a "restaurant", I expect much more for the price.
Drinks are weak.
Not great, but not bad. Is it worth a wait to get seated? Meh, I don't think so, but if there is no wait, I wouldn't mind going there.
I would have enjoyed my tasty margarita better if my seat didn't smell like cat piss and bums!
When they sat us I looked down at the cushions and saw multi-colored stains all over them. It was quite reminiscent of an old mattress left on the side of the road. Not wanting to touch them we sat on the edges trying not to lean back.
The waitress was friendly, helpful, attentive, and cute. Excellent service! But the guacamole came with corn tortillas instead of chips, which neither of us wanted or expected. It had no kick. Plain, fresh, plain.
As the smell wafted from my seat I felt nauseous and I wondered if my cats would retaliate if they smelled my skirt. Because the smell was so strong I wondered if I could even clean the stench out of the skirt if I sat there any longer.
I left after one drink.
2 margarita's and a guacamole..40 clams!
Sometimes I think to much.
One thing I know for sure is I won't sit down if I go again!
(Unless they change the cushions and bring them in at night that is)
Happy hour there is from 2-5!
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This is strictly for the middle tequila bar spot, not the restaurant itself (I didn't even know there was a separate restaurant until someone told me a day later). I cannot TELL you how fantastic this place is for a people watcher like myself. Sipping a drink and relaxing in a lounge chair while listening to music and people watching on a warm summer evening....it doesn't get much better than that. It was pretty busy and they only had 2 servers for the entire place, so that is the only reason for the -1 star, but our server was a GEM. I'm definitely going back as soon as I can - it's worth the long wait for service, it's not like you don't have enough to keep you busy while you wait.
Oy with the service. Had to ask for water 6 times. For real. Sorry, honey... seriously, you're sweet and all but, write it down.
Food was mediocre. Tortas didn't look that great, though they were huge. No one raved.
I wasn't very hungry, so I ordered light. It's mostly bar snacks after all. My sopes were just okay (one chicken, one pork, one vegetable... not super flavorful, didn't bother finishing)... the Tostadas de Tinga we ordered for the table and the meat was pretty flavorful if a little salty. Nothing to write home about.
The chips and salsa is a total ripoff. Wish the guac had more flavor. I do like their soft corn tortillas... they're nice when warm. Too bad I won't be having them again.
Why?
More atrocious service...
We had to also ask like 12 times (and I am so not kidding) to get the heater lit, but it never happened and eventually it turned out to be broken. They didn't bother to tell us that until we kept asking and asking and wondering what was going on and why no one was coming over. After acting like we didn't exist for 20 minutes, they finally told us it wasn't working and someone was coming to fix it tomorrow. So they knew, the whole time.
Busboy tried his damndest to fix it but to no avail. Manager on duty was a total jerk about it. You... yea you with the neck tattoo. I know my friend was crabby but she was cold and hungry and sick of being ignored and you suck at customer relations. I'm sure your job ain't the greatest but your "oh well.. too bad for you" attitude ain't gonna get you a better one anytime soon.
Oh and suddenly deciding later that doing a shot of cheap tequila with us would be a good backpedal, after my friend... a total gentleman... took you aside and said (in a nutshell) "Dude.....wtf...?" ... doesn't make up for it.
Pretty much never going there again.
Yep, I know you won't suffer... but at least I don't have to either.
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Damn this place! Damn this place to hell. I looooove it here. I can't get enough of the yummy food, the cute waiters (Eddy!), the strong drinks, or the ambiance. The sopes and the caesar salad are so especially yummy. While the bands may be good, after a couple mojito's can one really process music anymore?
My only complaint would be the creepy old guys that like to hit on the young women at night there. Can't a woman have a good time without having to fend off ya'll?
FUN..Fun!
Went here on a Thursday night...a friend's band was playing here...so a bunch of us went to support and hang out...fun and very relaxed atmosphere...loved the couch/booths...ages ranged from 20's to late 50's...it's located outside in the middle of SR...i love relaxing OUTSIDE!
Drinks were the norm for SR...$9 or so...yummy tortas (sandwiches)...the services was good too...I'll be back for more!
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We come here on Friday nights after work for their Sangria. It's a great place to hang out especially on a warm, Friday afternoon. Great location also.
Came here for some drinks last night with some friends and it was a great little getaway. You kind of forget you are at Santana Row (well except for the drink prices..hah) even though you're actually right in the middle of the row (between Consuelo's and Pasta Pomodoro).
Comfy seating. Plush pillows. Fresh air. And of course TEQUILA!
Fun place for a variety of margaritas. I don't know my tequila at all but there were about 15 types of margaritas to choose from and 10 infused tequila cocktails. And of course being a tequila bar, quite possibly any tequila you'd want. Their menu was pretty huge.
The food is alright as well. About 3 bucks for chips and salsa. The salsa is quite spicy and has a good kick to it. The torta (sandwich) was alright because the meat was tender and juicy but it could use a bit more toppings to make it more flavorful.
Try the Sex at Jardin if you like something sweet (there was fresh squeezed OJ in there. yum!)
There is usually a wait to get in if you go when it's very crowded. The hostess will make you wait at the gate. OR you can put your name on the list and they will call you but it's about an hour wait on a Friday evening. And if they call you back and you can't make it..you have to come back in person to change your reservation time. They told us be there in ONE minute. ONE? But hey there was tequila and the manager was very friendly once we got there so no harm done.
Great place to hang out and the best part is you're still outside!
SEE PICS
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Sipping margaritas on a friday evening and listening to live music, fantabulous. Getting the bill after several rounds of drinks, not-so-fantabulous. It's pricey here but I loved their drinks. I really did. I don't know if listening to the live music made me feel "like being back home in mexico" (their motto) but I had a good time. Come early cause this place gets so packed. I couldn't believe how busy it was. This place is perfect for outdoor get-togethers and people watching. We had no problems with the service here. Next time I visit this place I'll try the appetizers.
Overall I love this place, I love the atmosphere and their drinks. BUT do NOT go there if you are hungry. Their food is not that great, portions are tiny with no flavor and it is very expensive. This is a tequila bar so they do not specialize in food. Their drinks are very delicious and well prepared. This place is not cheap, so do not go there if you're on a tight budget. My favorite is their pomegranate mojito which cost about $12, my husband tried several different tequilas which were ALL very delicious and ranged between $30-$65 per shot. The atmosphere is very relaxing and fun especially if it's a nice sunny day. Reminds me of my Cancun vacation except there's no ocean next to us. I personally do not mind the mariachi playing but I know a lot of folks probably get annoyed. Service was good.
This is my favorite place for drinks at Santana Row. It's cozy, laid back, and you can actually here your friends talk. The drinks are absolutely delicious and the waiters are quick and helpful.
An unpretentious place in Santana Row to get a drink.
If you are at all like me, drinking outside is one of your pastimes. But if you live in San Jose you know that in this area we are lacking. El Jardin provides a nice alternative to my patio which, during this time of year is full of asthma inducing tree fluff. Mariachis, comfortable seats, chips and guac is what you get here and the people watching is free of charge. Santana Row has in some regards grown into the city it inhabits, as opposed to the way it seemed to just appear, plopped down in the city center upon initial arrival. Now it seems when you look around you really do see a demographic similar to what you'd find in any other South Bay sub-division or community. I like this end of the row and find the front end, Gucci, Straits, Cocola, Tod's etc to be the stuffy end. Thankfully El Jardin is the opposite, in more ways than one.
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Beautiful ambience and the food is nice but WORST SERVICE EVER!
I've been to El Jardin three times and the service has been atrocious every time. The last time I went there I was waiting for my friends to arrive and I watched two people leave because nobody served them. The hostess didn't even apologize. I could go on and on about the bad service.
The seating layout is ridiculously stupid as well. We had a large party and had to sit around a tree so not everyone could see each other. Eating is awkward because the tables are basically coffee tables.
I don't know why insist on going there. The place may be a cool concept and it looks like fun but the service just keeps getting worse every day. Getting a table is usually hard and finding a place in the bar is impossible.
The staff is not very helpful or accommodating, seems like they don't care if you leave or stay. One time we were asked to leave because the table we were sitting at was going to be used for a reservation. The staff could've given us another table but instead they didn't have a problem losing our business. Last Sunday I waited over 20 minutes to order a drink which never came. Got tired of waiting so I just got up and left!
For a tequila bar, their margaritas sucked it. We had to send two different ones back. But they took them back with a smile. Hence the four stars. Nice outdoor scene, lots of pretty girls and they have mariachis sometimes. Don't miss the steak sandwich, though.
I love their Tequilalito - Mint and Pomengranate!!
When 2 of us got there early (Party of 4) we had to wait to be seated until the rest of our party showed up. This is maddening! Thursday night is so crowded and we wanted to get a good seat right after work, but they weren't going to budge on that one. The tree crap kept falling into our hair, clothes, food and drink (but hey, we are outside - c'est la vie).
It was pretty expensive, but a fun one time trip. May go back one more time for another Tequilalito, but that's it.
Things to bear in mind to make it more enjoyable: 1) you can't be in a hurry; 2) don't come if you're looking for anything more substantive than appetizers and sandwiches; and 3) you gotta be okay with sometimes off-key Mariachi music. Having said that, I like this place. I've found the best time to come is for Sunday brunch on a sunny day. In my opinion, it's the most relaxing outdoor restaurant in all of Santana Row, and the fact that it's cordoned off in the center of SR, gives you breathing room from the rest of the crowds. I've certainly had better margaritas and Mexican appetizers, but I enjoy it for the overall experience of being outdoors on a sunny day, enjoying a cocktail, a tasty appetizer, and the ambient Mexican music. If you're looking for inexpensive, "healthy" sized portions, and short waits, there's tons of other places, this just isn't one of them.
I love coming here on Sunday evenings for the $18 pitcher of Sangria and the hundreds of types of agave tequila!
On sunny days, this place is cherry. Perfect location right on the Santana Row strip. Drinks are perfect, waitresses are cute - how can you go wrong?
Well, there is one way - last Sunday when I was here, they ran out of Sangria! D'oh - minus one star, although I may come back and add it if they don't run out next time.
I'm not a margarita girl, but they're not too bad here. We went to El Jardin before heading to dinner. The place was packed and we had to WAIT to sit down, so we were told to head to the bar area which was an awkward place in the middle of the patio basically STARING at everyone sitting down. They have these weird rules to corral you into the middle of the bar. Otherwise, the drinks are pretty alright. I had the Agave Azul.
The worst part about this place? EVERY employee is SO DUMB. The first time we went here, we asked if they had a happy hour and the hostess looked at us like we were speaking another language. She ACTUALLY asked three or four other employees what a happy hour was until one dude actually explained it to her and told her they DIDN'T have one. Then, last night when we went, a waitress dropped her whole tray of drinks and it spilled on my husbands shirt!! He didn't say anything, but when we stopped our waitress to tell her about how his shirt was ruined, she listened with a very deer-in-the-headlights sort of look on her face. Then, later she came back and out-of-the-blue accused my husband of TRIPPING the waitress so that we could finagle a free drink out of her. Uhhhhh, excuse me? We didn't ask her for anything! That was rude AND stupid. Whatever! Drinks were decent, but the damn wait staff needs to spend more time in school and less time doing shots with their sleazeball clients. I won't be back.
I have to give this place the lowest possible rating because of their terrible service. Our cocktail waiter was actually pleasant and prompt. But after waiting 2.5 hours to sit down with my large party, the manager was entirely unapologetic, blamed his staff for not seating us, and then told us that we never should have expected to eat there in the first place, because, "this is not even a restaurant." He was completely unprofessional, and even physically aggressive toward my (female) party. Don't bother giving these people your money, especially when you can enjoy the many other places on Santana Row, like Amber, Sino, and Pizza Antica.
Outdoor setting is great! They even have baskets of blankets!!
I don't like tequila or Mexican food so I didn't rate on those qualities.
My rating is based on the atmosphere and pricing. $5 beers, $13 margaritas, and $8 guac was what my party and I ordered.
I like that they tried to do the live music thing, but they have not figured out the volume yet. It is WAY too loud for how close the people are sitting.
It is a good addition to Santana Row with a cute outdoor setting- just nothing that really blows your mind away!
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inconsistent margaritas...sometimes tart...sometimes strong....$eight house...$two extra flavored...additional for specialty margarita mixers.....no pitcher service availability....nickel 'n' diming of $three chips and salsa....$eight guacamole....expensive end of margarita 'n' snacks munchin'...santa row inners pricing...servicing slower paced...outdoor patio lounging good...average mexican food dining, but with high $premium....
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240 kinds of pure agave tequila! From what I hear, this is the largest collection in NorCal. Good place to meet with 4-? friends. If your a couple, you might have to share a table if this place get's packed. They don't serve dinner here. It's more like good little filling appetizers for around 7-bucks a plate. The "sope" appetizers are good.
They usually have live music on nice sunny days. You'll have to check with them or the website.
I went to El Jardin last weekend to meet a friend for lunch, and it did not really impress me too much. To be fair it is not a full service restaurant, it is a tequila bar so they serve appetizers. You don't get chips and salsa at your table when seated, you do have to pay for them, and they give you a small basket with a tiny cup of salsa. The Guacamole is good but very small in portion. I had a pollo asado sandwich.......no flavor at all :( The best part about the restaurant is that it is outside, with great outdoor couches, pillows and authentic Mexican chairs. It is right in the middle of the Santana Row strip and is great for a group to go and hang out and drink or two for lunch to sit and enjoy the loungy atmosphere. Do not go there to eat a full meal....no, no, no, go there if you are not too hungry but want to enjoy drinks and a fun but laid back atmosphere.
Fun atmosphere, good food and drinks, especially nice on a warm summer evening. Try the Sangria and Tequilito for drinks. I also recommend the ceviche, which I LOVE. Guac is good too and comes with warm, homemade tortillas.
They have heat lamps and blankets for when it gets chilly, but my blanket did not look that clean. Used it anyway because I was freezing.
We had trouble flagging down our waiter at one point, but the service was good other than that one time.
You should also know that you might get seated directly across from people you don't know. They just seat you wherever they have room, so it's good for meeting new people if you're into that I guess. We just said hi to the people we sat across from, but didn't talk to them after that, but it seemed like other tables were getting to know each other.
HELLO!
So it is a beautiful day, the sun is shinning, the breeze is nice and its finally Saturday! What a great idea to go to El Jardin to enjoy the wonderful weather by sitting outside sipping sangria! Of course you and about 1000 other people have thought of this great idea... and OF COURSE it will be packed.
Its like realizing you want to go to the beach when the weatherman says it will be 80 degrees this weekend. If you go too late you will obviously hit a ton of traffic. El Jardin is the same way,.
We went to El Jardin this past Saturday and of course it was PACKED! The hostess claimed it would be an hour wait- so we opted to wait at the bar and just get drunk! Before our drinks even came out we were seated. (apparently everyone heard an hour wait and left!!)
We sat down and had 3 pitchers of sangria, 1 shot of their cheapest tequila ($8), 1 Margarita. The sangria is addicting and not too strong. I only wish they had more fruit in it. But by picture 3- we were well on our way to a nice afternoon.
The food:
Tostada chinga or something like that. AMAZING! Real avocado slice on top!!! Tostadas were ok but by this time any type of food would have sufficed. And 1 green pepper quessadilla- good but extremely pricey.
Overall: the experience at El Jardin was like sitting in a little restaurant in the heart of another country (Spain). We had live music playing, people everywhere enjoying themselves and sipping on some ice cold Sangria on a hot April (Only April!??) afternoon.
This was the perfect way to spend the lovely Saturday afternoon. Yes it is a bit pricey- and you may have to wait a bit- but let's be real- chances are if you thought to go to El Jardin so did the rest of the bay area. Still a great place to relax- once you get in!
I only give this place two stars because it was a very nice day today and the seating was comfortable. $5 beers, $18 pitcher of Sangria, and awful Quesadillas...
And yes, they also charge you for chips & salsa (and charge you more if you want extra salsa; trust me, they don't give you much).
The only reason to come here is for the setting.
Then again, I'm not a Santana Row kind of person, so screw this place. I'm never dining/drinking here again.
I love this place. an still trying to find a place like this in nyc....havent found one yet. the Tequila selection is off the hook and the vibe is nice and chill. hmm... I wonder if I can "franchise" this place and open up one in nyc.
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Perfect place for drinks on a summer night as there is usually live music and the mojitos and mexican beer selection is friggin fantastic. However, count yourself lucky if you're able to snag a table since the wait is often long. Also, what happened to free chips and salsa? Diners here must pay per basket of tortilla chips + salsa...unacceptable. The rest of the food offered here is overpriced; however, the drinks remain rather affordable.
This place is wonderful. They have an unbelieveable selection of drinks available, especially margaritas and the food is fantastic. It is one of my favorite places to go on Santana Row. Try the carnitas!
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OK...who ever came up with this design is a friggin genius......that is all I need to say.....
Great set up, great places to sit, good drink....we only had shots, but we plan on going back for more.......the tequila was great.....can't beat it......
If you go anywhere in Santana Row, come here and sit back and relax
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The best part of this place is the atmosphere. The outdoors (with the heat lamps thank God) with the live music, it's really comfortable and trendy. The drinks are not cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for. The service was slightly lacking but tolerable. The only downside is that there has been a wait every time I go and there are no heat lamps in the line around the block for sure!
