Petiscos "Downtown"
Petiscos offers an authentic taste of Portugal with its flavorful small plates, recognized by a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Enjoy sharing dishes in a livel...
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Petiscos "Downtown"
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Petiscos offers an authentic taste of Portugal with its flavorful small plates, recognized by a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Enjoy sharing dishes in a lively atmosphere.
"Experience the heart of Portugal in San Jose with delicious small plates and a Bib Gourmand award."
Share Family Style
Opt for family-style sharing to explore a wider variety of delicious Portuguese small plates.
Try Recommended Dishes
Don't miss out on highly praised items like sausage, scallops, octopus, and duck rice.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Portuguese
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Portuguese Small Plates
Experience Portugal's beloved 'petiscos' tradition with a diverse array of flavorful small dishes, perfect for sharing.
Michelin Bib Gourmand Recognition
Savor home-style, flavor-packed Portuguese cooking celebrated for its approachability and quality.
Charming Outdoor Seating
Enjoy a lively atmosphere and a wonderful ambiance in the standout outdoor dining area, especially appealing in the evenings.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Share Family Style
Opt for family-style sharing to explore a wider variety of delicious Portuguese small plates.
Try Recommended Dishes
Don't miss out on highly praised items like sausage, scallops, octopus, and duck rice.
Be Mindful of Pricing
Some reviewers note certain dishes can be overpriced; consider sharing to manage costs.
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
To avoid long waits, especially on busy nights, consider visiting during less crowded times.
Tips
from all over the internet
Share Family Style
Opt for family-style sharing to explore a wider variety of delicious Portuguese small plates.
Try Recommended Dishes
Don't miss out on highly praised items like sausage, scallops, octopus, and duck rice.
Be Mindful of Pricing
Some reviewers note certain dishes can be overpriced; consider sharing to manage costs.
Visit During Off-Peak Hours
To avoid long waits, especially on busy nights, consider visiting during less crowded times.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Petiscos is praised for its authentic Portuguese small plates and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, offering a delightful taste of Lisbon. Many reviewers highlight the flavorful dishes, friendly staff, and pleasant outdoor seating. However, some guests have noted issues with inconsistent seasoning, occasional overpricing, and slow service, impacting the overall dining experience.
"Petiscos "Downtown" in San Jose is an great restaurant spotlighting Portuguese small plates. The food is served in a unique style, and the staff are very friendly. Each of the items were extremely delicious. Special mentions are the sausage, the octopus, the scallops, and the sardine. The food is very good, and the desserts are to die for!
I highly recommend this restaurant."
Oindrila Dawn
"The atmosphere and service are nice. My favorite is duck rice, octopus and meat croquettes. The mocktail red sangria is pretty good. But a few dishes are too salty and lobster bisque has a very strong unpleasant taste. Beef tongue, clams and seafood rice are okay. I expect more for the price."
Henry Zhang
"Went for dinner Thursday for dinner before heading to San Jose Improv. We arrived at 6 PM when there were plenty of seats and at 7:30 it was half full. The dishes we enjoyed most are beef tongues and pork with clams. Meats were tender and flavorful. Highly recommend. Enjoyable but with flaws dishes included filet mignon salad-vegetable fresh and seasoned right but meat cut was off too tough to chew; cheese bread - not sure what cheese they used but definitely lacking the creamy texture; and blood sausage- a little salty and too little blood so it tastes like just another normal sausage. Lastly not recommended the francesinha sandwich. Coming at the end of the meal the sandwich is very heavy with a lot of greasy sauce. If you just come for one dish this might do, fried egg ham and steak simmering in tasty sauce. The steak in the middle again I think is too tough. Overall I would say avoid their steaks. We would love to come back to try their seafood tapas and duck rice another time as people praised them highly online."
Jenn Jiang
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
It's recommended to share multiple small plates (petiscos) family-style to experience a variety of flavors.
Popular recommendations include sausage, octopus, scallops, duck rice, and the beef tongue.
Yes, Petiscos features a charming outdoor dining area that enhances the dining experience, especially in the evenings.
Yes, Petiscos is a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient and offers a great setting for a romantic lunch, especially with its outdoor seating.
The restaurant offers a lively atmosphere with a bright, casual vibe, reminiscent of traditional Portuguese taverns.
The menu includes some vegetarian options, and reviewers mention dishes like 'Papa Chulo' and 'Cactus' as vegan choices.
The price range is generally considered upscale, with most dishes around $20 and some climbing into the upper $30s.
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When Adega, a Portuguese restaurant, earned San Jose’s first Michelin star back in 2016, it was a big deal for the city. A dutiful seven years later, the owners closed the restaurant in favor of opening a more casual tapas spot called Petiscos. And it’s been a hit ever since it opened in early 2024, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand thanks to its approachable, home-style, flavor-packed Portuguese cooking.
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Petiscos are as much a cultural reference as they are a small snack accompanied by drinks. They’re fun and approachable, designed to be shared among good friends and family so this spot, complete with a bar, knows how to welcome guests. Authentically prepared dishes highlight the flavours of Portugal and feature imported ingredients.
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Lively atmosphere with a variety of Portuguese and Spanish small plates. The outdoor dining area at Petiscos is a standout feature, offering a wonderful ambiance that enhances the dining experience. During evenings, this area is especially appealing, providing a comfortable and relaxed setting for patrons.
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Like any good meal, petiscos are best enjoyed when shared with those you love. Petiscos are small plates of traditional dishes and are incredibly popular in Portugal. Named after this popular type of meal, Petiscos has a bright, casual atmosphere and is a great place to enjoy food with friends.
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Petiscos in the SoFa District is a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, perfect for a romantic lunch. Like tapas in Spain, petiscos are a Portuguese tradition of smaller shareable dishes like shrimp fritters, arroz de pato (duck rice) and caldo verde (kale soup).
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Experience the flavors of Portugal at Petiscos, a contemporary San Jose restaurant that offers authentic dishes blending traditional recipes with modern culinary techniques.
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- Rating: 3.9/5 (543 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 399 South 1st St. San Jose, California - Categories: Portuguese, Tapas/Small Plates, Seafood- Read more on Yelp
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Petiscos: Roasted Octopus, Duck Rice and Codfish Casserole are among the main dish selections on this three-course, $69 prix fixe menu.
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