human
That Thing You View

Maurice Carrubba and his brother, Giuseppe, are perhaps the most successful restaurateurs much of the Bay Area has never heard of. This is probably because their specialty isn't opening up trendy joints, but rather in taking old classics that have seemingly been around forever and reenergizing them. Established brands have recognition, history and soul, commodities in short supply in the new, new, new of Silicon Valley.

Over the last ten years they've taken over about a half-dozen or so old school restaurants, like La ForÃªt (New Almaden), Osteria Toscana (Palo Alto), Caffe Riace (Palo Alto), San Benito House (Half Moon Bay) and, of course, The Grandview. 

Originally built in 1884 as a roadhouse, The Grandview was known more for its views than cuisine but after taking it over in 2015 the Carrubas have transformed it into one of San JosÃªt's top dining destinations and the perfect place for a celebratory meal. 

The Good:

*Most--if not all--the fruits, veggies, and eggs for the pasta are all sourced from their own private farm across the street, aptly named Grandview Farms. (Positive)

*As mentioned earlier, if you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, promotion, or whatever, this is the perfect place to do so. The ambience, not-so stuffy fine dining atmosphere and tuxedoed staff, make for the perfect venue. (Positive)

*Cocktails are always spectacular, but the presentation on The Smoking Gun (old-fashioned) was amazing, and the flavor was fantastic. (Positive)

*As mentioned earlier, they make all their pastas in-house, and it's always terrific. (Positive)

*The freshest seafood as their catch-of-the-day special is constantly changing with what's in season, and in our recent visit, the Cioppino was fantastic. The creamy tomato broth was so rich and full of flavor, and all the seafood was cooked perfectly. The pearl couscous was an unexpected but welcome addition that really put the dish over the top. (Positive)

*While the food is always good, here at The Grandview, the best part is in the name, as the view from the outdoor patio is nothing short of spectacular. Pro tip: plan your reservation about 1-1.5hrs before sunset for the best dining and view combo. (Positive)

*I don't normally comment on salads--what am I a rabbit?!--but their Kale & Greens salad was actually quite delicious. (Positive)

*Reservations are available and highly recommended. Don't come here hoping for an open table unless you call ahead and be sure to check the dress code. (Neutral)

*Before you stop by, go to Costco and pick up a few gift cards ($80 for $100) to save you a few dollars. But be aware you can only use four at a time ($160 for $200). (Positive)

The Meh:

*While the service is pretty good overall, on both our visits, we've had some weird issues. On our first visit the guy was new and spoke very quickly making it tough to understand, while on a recent visit the guy was pretty good overall but just came off a little smarmy and disingenuous as we kept hearing him repeat the same two or three one-liners repeatedly to all his tables. (Negative)

*Parking lot and street parking are both very limited, so arrive a bit early to account for that. (Neutral)

The Ugly:

*The drive-up is quite harrowing on narrow roads precariously near the edge of the mountain. It doesn't help when some speed demon in a sports car comes up on your ass but there's not much you can do at that point. Oddly enough, the ride down isn't quite as  harrowing; my guess is because you don't have that guardrail in the way down, so psychologically, it's not seemingly as dangerous. (Negative)

TLDR: One can't help but walk away impressed from The Grandview, and not just from the view and the food but their environmental stewardship. By sourcing all their foods in-house, they've found a way to thrive in what might be the toughest location in Silicon Valley to run a restaurant. Highly recommended.

Overall Sentiment: Positive
gpt
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