OVERVIEW
In Silicon Valley’s City of San Jose; known for Hi-Tech start-ups and Fortune 500s, resides Left Bank Brasserie. This restaurant is located on the “Row” aka, Santana Row, an upscale shopping district also know for many options for fine dining including Left Bank Brasserie. You will feel like you have been transported in time and space to classic France as an extra in a Godard film (but in color- much more colorful), seated at a French café. If you are looking for a pet-friendly restaurant in Silicon Valley, go do the CANGO at Left Bank Brasserie.
IS THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT/SERVICE WORTH A VISIT?
Left Bank is an upscale restaurant with many career waiters on staff, as in people who actually want to be food servers. There is a diverse staff and they appear to be genuinely happy to work there. I asked and you can tell. This (vibe) is a good sign to me in terms of management and can flow over into your pleasant experience as a customer.
I received good service both inside in the people only area and outside in the pet-friendly area. I had a very positive experience with an excellent server, Jessica, when I was outside with Lovie. In both areas, I got quick service and never felt forgotten. I was also able to chat with the wait staff. They were all friendly and not overly stressed; even though the place was packed all three times I visited with parties, couples, friends, and individuals. Many of the individuals sat at the bar to take advantage of the nice sports bar aspect with big-screen TVs- available and visible in the interior non-pet area only.
You can tell that the food is fresh. Not only do you feel comfortable but you are encouraged to take your time and enjoy leisurely fine dining.
I tried and can safely recommend:
BLACK CHERRY SOUR Effen Black Cherry Vodka, lemon, Brazin zinfandel, crème de mure $12
RUE CLER 360 Georgia Peach Vodka, apple juice, basil, lime, agave $14
ONION SOUPE GRATINÉE baguette, Emmenthal cheese $11
It was very rich.
HOUSEMADE GARLIC PORK SAUSAGE balsamic braised red cabbage, pommes frites $19
I like sausage and fresh is noticeably different.
SOUPE DU JOUR $9
The one I tried was a hearty soup with beans, well-suited for a winter evening.
PRAWNS PROVENÇALE tomato, Niçoise olives, basil, capers, Pernod garlic butter $14
If you like pesto, you will like this dish. I also like capers and olives, so if you do, this would be a match.
POULET RÔTI Roasted Rocky Jr. natural half chicken, Brussels sprouts, roasted fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, pearl onions, mushrooms, jus de poulet $25
This dish tasted homemade- like it was made just for you, not on an assembly line. The veggies were also cooked just right so they had a little crunch yet were still tender.
FONDANT AU CHOCOLAT dark chocolate molten cake, chocolate sauce, artisan vanilla ice cream $8
I would not be surprised if people stopped by just to have this rich and indulgent dessert with a nice dessert wine or glass of champagne- I would.
HOW PET-FRIENDLY IS IT?
The San Jose location of Left Bank Brasserie is located on the very pet-friendly Santana Row– which I must admit, I was surprised how truly pet-friendly “The Row” is: there are stainless steel dog bowls in front of the majority of shops and doody bag dispenser at multiple locations. So then it is not surprising that a restaurant like Left Bank Brasserie would be pet-friendly in an upscale manner. What do I mean when I say “upscale manner”? Left Bank has real, sturdy overhangs and canopies that provide adequate and reliable shade. This restaurant also invested in outdoor heaters that really work- I went from chilly to comfortable in under five minutes from a single heater. In addition, you can actually see in the outdoor patio area because there is adequate lighting not just night light “mood” lighting.
The staff brought out water without the need for a reminder. They do not offer a complimentary treat nor do they have an official pet menu; however, I was able to order an unseasoned steak for my dog, Lovie. The staff was friendly to Lovie. The only aspect that I think could be improved would be to give pet owners a little more space from other tables when seating is available. I found some of the hostesses a little challenging to communicate this to as a pet owner and someone with equipment, one was a little snippy. There were plenty of unseated tables that could have been set.
IS IT CONVENIENT OR A PAIN IN THE —?
There is time-restricted free street parking that can be very competitive depending on when you get there. There are also covered lots. I took advantage of the gated off-leash “pet area” in a free parking lot located where Olin dead ends. The designated “pet area” in the back of the lot offers an opportunity for your dog to do his/her business before visiting the businesses on the Row. The pet area has packed sand to run on and a doody bag dispenser. The Row also offers plenty of places to dispose of waste and opportunities for pet-friendly shopping and along the way to fine dining at Left Bank Brasserie.
If window-shopping is not enough activity, I would suggest taking advantage of Los Gatos Creek County Park. Lovie and I both love going here- in fact, I wish it were closer and we live by many popular parks. The event coordinator for the trio of restaurants (Left Bank, LB Steak and Mesa), Jill, recommended it to me and it was right up our alley. It is definitely worth driving the 5 miles/ 15 minutes to enjoy the trails and segregated dog areas. Check out my pReview for a sneak peek.
Left Bank Brasserie of San Jose’s Santana Row is pretty easy to find, it is fairly close to the Stevens Creek exit off I-880 or the Winchester Boulevard exit off I-280. I will say that I have turned right off the freeway too soon and ended up heading towards the Westfield Valley Fair mall instead by mistake and then had to drive an additional 5-10 minutes to get back to Olin.
The closest 24/7 emergency vet is Silicon Valley Veterinary Specialist located at7160 Santa Teresa Blvd in San Jose. This clinic is over 15 miles away or a 20-minute drive, which is pretty far. The closest vet is Pet Care Animal Hospital located at 700 S Winchester Blvd Suite 10 in San Jose, but it is only open 9-7 PM Monday through Saturday (closes 6 PM).
*[Please note: We provide the veterinary locations as a reference and resource, not a referral or endorsement].
