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Mon-Fri. 11:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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LOVE IT!!! How have I not heard of this place til now???? Awesome! Safe! Western Saloon Styling! Live country music.! Good crowd. Great Food! Plenty of Parking and just a great environment to sit and enjoy good drinks with great prices and a super free n easy feeling....
LIVE COUNTRY MUSIC!!! I love it!!! Will make it a regular stop!!!
Great place! We met T, the lovely, tattooed bartender when we were out one night, and we decided to drop in to check this place out. Great food, friendly service, and welcoming environment!
When we walked into the saloon, T greeted us with a couple of bevies at the bar. We ordered calamari and oysters on the half shell, which came out quickly, and we snacked on our apps while T was called to the stage. Apparently, every Thursday is kareoke night, and even the staff is encouraged to sing with the regular patrons. What a voice! That girl can sing!
After a few more drinks, our growing appetite was ready for some real food. The suggested Lamb shank special was so tender that the meat just fell off the bone. the sauce was an amazing garlic-tomato gravy, which went well with the mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The cup of clam chowder that came with the meal was tasteful, creamy, and so good my boyfriend ordered a bowl of his own.
Aside from the great food, the service was quick, friendly, and personable. T cracked jokes about the beer that poured out of the dog, whose leg happens to be the tap! The owner George greeted us personally and chatted with us about how Bosco's came to be over a round of Tang Drops.
We definitely recommend coming to this amazing find and will absolutely be back again. Thanks for the good time guys! :)
Bosco's has dive bar written all over it, and I LOVE IT!!! My boyfriend and I came here on a spotaneous outing to check out the beer pouring stuffed dog (aka Mayor Bosco). No joke! You'll have to visit this place to get the whole history behind it. :)
We came here on a good night because the live band TNT was awesome! Great oldies and cover songs, and the group was just a ton of fun! Their version of the B 52's Love Shack was dead on! The crowd was ... interesting. What definitely made the night was the dude busting out moves that looked like the African Ant Eater Ritual! If you've seen "Can't Buy Me Love", you know what I'm talking about! Here's a video recap: http://www.youtube.com... :D
Hilarious!
What tops off the 4 star rating is the fact that they pour a mean citron & soda for $6. I welcome any bar that can serve cheap strong drinks! Definitely come here if you're looking for a chill and fun place to get your drink on and show off your dance moves!
My husband and I went there for an early dinner on a Sunday after hiking. I initially went to the bar while my husband found parking. A redheaded wench, I mean waitress, was a nasty hag, very rude with an attitude and sat us in the back.
Then why am I giving it 4 stars you ask? My husband said let's try the actual restaurant next door. Glad we did!
This waitress was very good, nice, friendly young lady. The chairs at our tables were stained though and I had to swap for a clean one.
The food and service from this point forward was FABULOUS. We had battered calamari, clam chowder, ciopinno and my husband had some sort of chocolate cake. The food was fantastic, that's all I can say. We had four beers, appetizer, soup/salad, shared the ciopinno and desert for $53. That's unheard of in Northern California for the quality of food. They need to clean the place up and fire the rude staff next door (in this economy I'm sure they can find people who actually want to work). I'd of given it 5 stars if the first impression hadn't been so poor.
Meh. I spent $120 here for their Fathers Day Brunch. I was sad as I had hoped for really awesome food and a great time. The food was either overcooked (from the Bunsen burners) or the stuff like the shrimp, salad dressing, salad, etc..was not put on ice and was room temp.
The pasta looked as though it had sat for hours, calamari was like rubber bands and the desserts were 3 different kinds of store bought pies. ((shrugs)).
I've heard a-lot of great things about this place, but I truly feel like I did in no way get my moneys worth. The meat station was the only thing that was "par" and they charged $6.00 per mimosa! (its a shot of champagne and OJ for crying outloud).
I'll check out their saloon and maybe an appetizer or two in the future..but for anyone who is considering their brunch, you might as well go to Hometown buffet, they serve the same food and it's actually good for 1/2 the amount I spent at this place.
This was near the end of our wine tour and while I wish I could remember more, I can't.
I remember:
My friend asking the hostess if Bosco was still around. She replied, "Yes,..well - he's in the bar. Do you want to meet him?" Little did we know (as we were following her), she was talking about a taxidermied dog (it's actually just a fancy stuffed animal but still really weird). They turned him into a beer tap. :O
Being fascinated with the Country Bear Jamboree type circular stage, complete with red velvet curtains (We ate in the area where the bar is).
Our waiter graciously bringing us an entire pitcher of water when he had already had to replenish our glasses 2+ times.
I ordered a plate of fried stuff...yea..I was drinking. It was pretty good.
They had a hand written drink menu behind the bar and one of the specials was a "panty dropper".
The architecture is incredible. They just don't make buildings anything like this anymore.
Check it out!
We really liked the live music and relaxed atmosphere. The service was good for drinks and snacks. We will go back next time a bit earlier to have a diner before meeting friends for drinks.
We saw great blues band the night we were there: The Blues Bottle Band. People seemed to have great time. We danced and the floor was packed by the second set.
I also liked the "Western Saloon" decor in the bar/dining area.
Side of the road, tie your horse up, and eat. Bosco will pee in your glass and it's a good thing!
During our Livermore wine tour, we made our lunch stop here. We skipped the dinning room and opted for the bar. Interesting bar. That's where Bosco is these days. The wall of local brands ( ranchers hot iron brands) along with some pictures of long ago, was probably the best parts for me. The "oldtime" wall mural print from not long ago was something to look at over and over as food disappeared. The food was pretty good for my taste and worth the asking price.
Remember this one word: interesting.
You can have a former mayor piss you a draft beer in the bar at Bosco's.
Yes, I was disturbed but fascinated too.
Food was cheap, plentiful, and perfect to soak up all the wine consumed during the morning.
Bosco the Dog was once elected mayor of Sunol. Bosco is no longer with us, but a stuffed replica has been formed into a beer tap, functioning just like, well, a dog would function.
This is really all you need to know about this fine establishment.
Otherwise, you'll find standard American fare served in an old-fashioned roadhouse/whistlestop atmosphere. Aim for the crispy fried, the beefy, or the cheesy, and wash it down with a beer. Fast and attentive service make for a friendly spot in a quiet corner of the Tri-Valleys.
I'm not a hater.... but this place kinda sucked. I'm sorry Sunol lovers. I really, really wanted to love this place. I picked it for a sunday dinner with my husband and I was all excited because of the awesome Yelp reviews but this time... i think some people are on something silly.
We both started with drinks from the bar. I had a martini and and my hubby had a beer. My martini was weak.
I ordered a veal oscar ($18.95) and it was pretty much gross. It tasted like something made by Sandra Lee on Semi-Homemade. She's crazy.
My husband ordered the fillet of chicken picatta ($15.95) and it was so-so. Not very flavorful. Just bland.
The server seemed nice though it took a long time to get water refills.
I might give this place another chance if we feel like taking a nice beautiful drive down niles.
BTW: I love how Bosco the DOG was the mayor of Sunol. He was a DOG! I love it!
It was a surprise for me
Good service and good bread
A bit old fashion for me but the food is OK
a bit expensive too
Tough place to review but it would get 5 stars as a local bar, 5 stars as a biker bar and 3 stars for 'fine dining'. I just love Sunol and since there is only one bar in town, this Swiss Army Knife of an establishment is a nice fit. When we were there, it was all bikers and locals and very, very friendly. The food was great bar food but I'm not sure there's a different menu in the restaurant. I'll make this a regular stop!
There are pluses, & minuses.
To begin with a plus: the oysters are fresh (but smell them anyway), tasty & reasonably priced. The meat (when they have it) is cooked as ordered. In other words: medium rare is medium rare. Watching Bosco pour a beer is always amusing.
The minuses- call before you go! If you want oysters- make sure they came in fresh, & they have them when you arrive. Why is this my 'negative point?)
Valentines Day- they were out of prime rib
St. Patrick's Day- they were out of corned beef (yup- out & we had reservations for 8)
April 4- they were out of veal.
The bar has some things to be desired: the drink pours are not consistent. Either way too much alcohol (sometimes that is possible) , other times, not enough. & bartender: would it be so tough to sometimes wipe the glass after the beer has pour all over it... really over poured.
I suppose I should give these folks another chance. Perhaps, if I'm in the area again. I just don't know if it was worth it other than the location and atmosphere of the place.
Anyway, I came to the place with a car club. We had 45 people in attendance. We were given a 5 item streamlined menu to save time. We were in the banquet room upstairs.
IT TOOK THEM 2 HOURS TO SERVE OUR MEALS. I kid you not. Some of the group left after waiting 90 minutes. They did get the beer and water served to us promptly, I'll give them credit for that. My husband's meal was overlooked, so I gave him half of my meal. After we told them to cancel the meal, it was brought out. My meal (California Chicken Sandwich) was a rewarmed, dried chicken sandwich with a tiny strip of bacon, a tablespoon of avocado, overcooked chicken, velveeta cheese and stale bread (ok, the french fries were okay). It didn't look that appetizing, but I was hungry after waiting two hours. My husband's entree (Bosco Sandwich) had the same cheese, bread and a few shell bits from the crab (protein!). Others had ordered the French dip and it was better, but not by much. The meat was fatty. The hamburgers were about the best of of the lot.
Anyway, it's not a bad place to check out if you took the Niles Canyon train, but I 'd go AFTER the train ride, since the service was so late. You wouldn't want to miss the train, especially if you parked at Niles. I'm sure they told the group organizer that they could easily serve 45 people. It looked they promised more than they could deliver. I think I'd be peeved if say, I booked them for a company party or a wedding reception and this situation occurred. It looks like an interesting venue to have a party, and yes, I wanted to like the place.
It's a safe bet that they can manage a dinner or lunch for two people. Yes, they're under new management (The bottom of the bill had the pleading message "WE ARE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!") just to make sure you knew that aspect. Waiting 2 hours to get your meal is pretty pathetic. Go order a small pizza from Domino's while you're waiting.
A nice place if you are in the Sunol area; though the only reason you would be in the area is for, wine tasting, biking or hiking. Food is decent, decor is warm and the best thing about the place is the stuffed dog (that used to be someone's pet) that dispenses beer...like a real dog.
My family wanted to celebrate my birthday with dinner out - had a drink in the bar several months ago - so decided to give it a go.
I had read that the original owners had sold the place so did have second thoughts. When we walked in on a Saturday night - the place was desserted. The hostess at the front wore a kitchen helpers shirt and was very disinterested in us as she led us past the three booths that were in use and seated us in the rear (we had a party of eight).
The place is decorated very nicely in a turn of the century motif, is clean and quite attractive. The menu is diverse and has is priced accordingly.
We brought in our own wine ($10 corkage) and ordered apps and dinner.
Service was a tad slow - only 15 dinners in a restaurant seating 100+ - the apps we ordered were OK - give them 3-1/2 stars - but dinner was disappointing.
I ordered cioppino - large amounts of edible seafood in tomato soup! My daughter-in-law ordered a filet and after leaving she said: "my steak was not a filet." I chastised her for not mentioning this while we were dining - she didn't eat all of it and when we got home - it was a piece of sirloin cut out to mimic a filet - what a low blow.
We did wander into the bar after dinner - they had a jazz rock trio that was pretty good and the bar looked great - especially Bosco - but alas - we will not return here - too many other choices now in Livermore and Pleasanton.
An unexpected find in Sunol! The interior is well maintained and the food was pretty good. I would go back again the next time I am cruising Niles Canyon and Palomares.
Dead dog on the bar, Sunolians, and classic rock. I dont know how this can get any better. Good service and live music fridays and saturdays. Closes early but hell its Sunol. The only place I can put Hank Jr and people wont look at me and my friends funny hahaha. Definately give it a try.
What a cute little place with lot's of atmosphere. From the old oak carved bar to the theater curtain and painted wall with cabaret ladies. You felt right at home at the saloon, the bartender quite nice and social with a few locals while were were there for our short stay, with the must have draft of the dog. The beer today was Dead Guys Ale _ Rogue (which was pretty good considering alot of beer's give me faces but this one was drinkable to me, hubby like it (pale ale)) but it does change so just have whatever the dog gives you if your adventurous. It's a site to see.
For food we tried the Bosco's Sandwich (Dungeons Crab with bay shrimp and cheddar on sour dough) good but I would call it a grilled sourdough sandwich with milky mayo dressed shrimp. I don't think I saw or tasted any crab, mainly shrimp, good but the dressing on the shrimp was a bit too runny. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad I just could improve it by making it a bit less runny, maybe a few more spices in the shrimp salad dressing and a bit less greasy on the grilled bread. Again not bad but I will be tyring something different next time. My hubby ordered the French Dip (which we split) and this was yummier than I initially thought. I saw some fat hanging out of the sandwich but this wasn't Grissel, you didn't realize there was any fat as you at this delicious sandwich, I guess it just melted in your mouth. Maybe both were not the healthiest but they both were good, dip the better one however.
I will be back for the atmosphere and all.
This restaurant is an exercise in contrasts... The left side, as you enter, is a dimly lit, classy restaurant in hues of red, black, and brown. It's the type of place that would be nice for a date. The other side is the bar & grill, decorated strongly in a Western motif, from the wall-mounted rifle and portrait of John Wayne to the life-size mural of a saloon crowd. The thing that confused us, though, was that amidst all the country-fication, the stereo was playing jazz music! Now, I like that genre, but jazz and John Wayne don't really go together terribly well. Then things got REALLY unusual. A closer look at the back-bar revealed a large taxidermied dog, but that's not the bizarre part. The bizarre part is that the dog dispensed beer when you lifted the hind leg! Our entire group was awestruck by this unique fixture, and if we hadn't spent the entire day wine-tasting, I think most of us would have tried the beer just for novelty's sake!
TRIVIA: The dog is question, Bosco, was actually named honorary mayor of Sunol, CA in 1981 and served until his death in 1994. We were relieved to discover that the beer-dispensing dog in the bar is a replica and not the real Bosco. Amusingly, in 1990, Bosco's case was reported in a Chinese newspaper as an example of the failure of the American electoral system. Clearly, the best was yet to come...
I had the opportunity to visit this place a while back, and I have to say it was a pretty enjoyable experience. The atmosphere is fantastic- you roll into "downtown" Sunol alongside the train and there it is, in all its 19th Century finery. The decorating in this place truly takes you back to another time. they have old drawings and photos all over the walls, flanked by brass light fixtures that shine on heavy wooden tables. The people who work here are very attentive, especially if you go at a non-peak time. The food is alright, nothing to lose your shirt over but worth the money. Come here for the experience the first time, and return if it's your cup of tea.
This used to be our favorite and best kept secret fun place to go have a great tender juicy quality steak dinner without having to brave a nasty chain place...not any more!!!
The original owners must have sold the place! We went there several months ago with out of town guests...and man was our face red! While the western homey theme was the same as before......the beef was a disaster! Pitiful place for the new owners to save money as Bosco's was well known in the past for it's great beef dinners!
If the prices had been lowered to match the lower quality beef...well then maybe...but the prices were high.
Perhaps it was just a bad night, but all four of us ordered differently and no one was happy with their choice.
I am so sad to loose yet another of the few good places to eat in our area!
How cool is a town that voted a dog for mayor ? ? ?
San Francisco could learn something from these folks . . .
Now the dog is immortalized and serves drinks in his own inimitable way . . .
Take a ride on the nearby steam train to complete your jaunt into the past where common sense ruled the day, instead of huge ego's . . .
Then drive Calaveras Road east under 680 and continue on past the reservoir, over the hill and then back down into Milpitas . . . this watershed is San Francisco Water District property and our drinking water comes from out here . . . What, you thought it came out of the faucet, like the milk from the carton - without the cow ??
Nothing like sitting out on the hillside over the reservoir to relax and leave all your stress behind . . .
; )
P.S. Don't forget to pet the dog, Bosco . . . and leave some treats for him . . .
Depending on what you come here for... it could be great, and it could be disappointing. Having read the stories, I was prepared. We had a group of 12 for drinks after work. Some of us ordered appetizers... and the appetizers were pretty good. The fried calamari was EXCELLENT. The fried eggplant was dry. The fried zucchini was pretty good. The fried oysters, I didn't get any to sample. A couple of other ordered dinner, and there were no complaints, and I think they had seafood. We had some more calamari, and everyone was feeling pretty happy. We had a baby with us, and he wandered around having a good time. There is a big projector tv screen and lots of tables to pull together at the bar. The people pulled the tables for us... no problem. We had great service... again no problem. Across the street is a large fenced in area for spill over parking. I guess all in all, we had a nice time.
Note, the wine list is changing to have more local wines served. The dog peeing beer was not working last night because the keg was tapped out!! I guess everyone wants beer from the dog tap. Too funny.
I met a friend for lunch recently and we chose Bosco's as our meeting spot. I took a peak at the bar area, but had lunch in the dining area. The menu looked pretty good and the prices were reasonable. I had a crab sandwich which was pretty tasty, while my friend had a ceasar salad with grilled chicken. The food was okay, but not great. The atmosphere and decor was country. The service was good with attentive waiter making sure everything was okay. I would go back if I happen to be in the area.
Living in Sunol, this is the only place in town you can get dinner, so we have gone there many times. My husband always gets the Cioppino - it is fresh, full of several kinds of seafood and a huge portion. I like the stuffed portobello (heart attack waiting to happen - but I can't resist it's cheesy deliciousness) and the chicken parmigiana. The prime rib is fantastic.
Portions are fairly big, with a choice of homemade minestrone or a salad on the side.
I have yet to try the dog / beer other folks raved about, but it sure sounds fun!
Can you say funky? Funky in a good way. I won't say great but I have been here several times for both lunch and dinner and have never had anything close to a bad or disappointing meal. For lunch the French Dip sandwich is excellent and benefits from the fact that their yummy and flavorful prime rib leftover from previous-nights dinners is used in making these tender, tasty, classic French Dip sandwiches. The roll is soft, fresh and perfectly toasted for that buttery crisp crunch, the meat is thinly-sliced, very tender with outstanding flavor.
For dinner my wife always gets the Veal Oscar and always loves it. Tender veal medallions, topped with fresh dungeoness crab, crisp, al dente asparagus spears and Bearnaise sauce. I usually get the Rack of Lamb and have never regretted it.
The service is professional and prompt. The waiters and their assistants are attentive but not intruding. Even when we haven't been there for months, the waitress always remembers us and makes us feel at home.
The bar in the adjoining room is loaded with rural, old-time California ranch character. Cozy with a kind of woodsy cabin feel. Lots of locals/regulars that have been both welcoming and chatty.
Loving the drive through Niles Canyon is just one perk to going to Bosco's. The sandwiches are great: best French Dip around. Any Italian item can be hit & miss as the new owners are Asian and can't really get a grasp on tomato sauce. Honestly, most everything on their menu is really good except for their Italian items. Try the Clam Chowder!!!
Sit in the bar, check out "Bosco Brew"...ask the bartender. They will happily show you Bosco's trick.
Love the dead dog on the bar!! This bar definitely has a history.
Lunch was packed with people and so was the bar.
Great western Saloon ambience, service was excellent
Parking can be in front of the Saloon and across of the street!
Great hidden jewel of downtown Sunol. Take a short trip through Niles on 84. I believe this place has been around for a while.. so I am surprised that not many East Bay yelpers has heard of it.
Cool dining experience.. If you are looking for something different, I would definitely recommend this place. and dont forget to check out the dead dog!
This past Sunday, Bosco's proved itself to be more than just a saloon with a stuffed dog. They were great in getting everything together to host a 60 people buffet lunch in their banquet room with VERY short notice.
I called three weeks ago to look into taking my car club here (or to the Sunol Cafe) for lunch. At the time, I had only about 30 people signed up on the event. BB&B said no problem, our lunch room seats 40 people. The person I talked to didn't take my name or number down and I thought that was a little strange.
Well, this past Friday, I found out that I was going to have about 60 people attending the event! I quickly called Bosco's and they forwarded me to their banquet coordinator, Michelle. She told me that they already had two parties planned for Sunday and wouldn't be able to accomodate us. Also, we couldn't take the main dining room because there wouldn't be enough service staff on such short notice. I explained my situation and she said she would call me back.
She called me back in about 10 minutes and said she could do a buffet style lunch in their banquet room. At $15.95/person + tax/tip = $20.43/person for 50 people, she listed off an extensive menu that was good for a wide range of palattes. I said I would take it because I didn't really have much choice and put down a 10% deposit.
We got there around noon and they were ready for us in 20 minutes or so. The banquet room was chilly but warmed up in time.
The menu was great and everyone said they really liked the food. Shrimp and fried calamari were some of the items along with a variety of entrees and fruit and dessert. They also refilled a lot of the items almost as we were leaving.
Our group was able to get in and out of there in about an hour or so and that was key. We still had an afternoon of driving to do.
I wouldn't mind going back and hanging out in the saloon for lunch on a lazy weekend.
Although this was the first time I was here, I cannot see not giving this bar/restaurant 5 stars off the bat. We stopped for brunch before boarding the train and the food was excellent. I had the open-face crab sandwich, which was truly yummy with a side of slaw. And a mimosa in a lovely champagne flute. The bar is beautiful and very chi-chi. Reminiscent of an old stylish western saloon. I would love to hear a band here and they have some good ones by the flyers on the wall. Clean, lean and mean. I loved it.
Definitely a much better value than Saturday's brunch.
You should come here for the atmosphere alone. Have you ever had beer out of a taxidermied dog? Now's your chance. The food was fair... about what you'd expect to get in a very small town pub, and the prices were equally average. The unique decor and incredibly friendly (and informative!) staff are what make this well worth a visit.
The city of Sunol is like a mini-wild wild west and you must visit Bosco's. Seafood is awesome. The stuff dog (also the former Mayor of Sunol) is here too.
Great place....new owners...wonderful wines.
Well I didn't try the beer from the dog but it did look interesting! Went with some friends, the food was great and so was the service. It was a Friday night so there was live music, which was a lot of fun. The bartender was great, and pretty friendly.
I guess I was expecting a bit more of a roadhouse. The menu was lot of 'banquet' food. The dining room was fine, if a little uninspired. That Bar was a bit more interesting, and they go out of their way to put on a good show there.
Service was a bit depressing. We were 90 minutes from 'in to out' and I'm going to attribute about half of that to the fact the staff just didn't seem to quite have their act together.
It was OK, but probably not worth a special trip unless you are in the neighborhood.
We found this place by accident. We had small children with us and all was great. The food was good and so was the service. It's certainly kid-friendly!
The food only gets 3 stars, but the bar, ambiance, and uniqueness of this place boosts me up to 5 stars. I had one of the most memorable experiences of my life in this bar. Eating spaghetti at the bar, drinking beer that came out of Bosco the dog, and watching some live music. Fremont needs more culture like this. And I met some really unique people here, too. What a great night!
A bar and restaurant which recently changed hands. I didn't like the food as much the second time as I did the first time around under the old owners. The first incarnation was typical "western fare", steaks, burgers, meat and potatoes. And while I like that myself only occasionally, it was good food. Now, I'm not sure what they're going for and I sensed things were still in flux. It's possible I'd try it again but it'd be several months, maybe the food and the staff (they seemed pretty green) will be a bit more locked in then. Going into the bar however is worth it just for the kitsch factor. Be sure to order a pint that comes out of the dog. What do I mean by this? :) You'll have to see for yourself.
Fremont, CA
Category: Pizza
Newark, CA
Category: Dive Bars
Fremont, CA
Category: Creperies
Fremont, CA
Category: Dive Bars
Sunol, CA
Category: American (New)
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