Very popular spot since theres is never cover all night, every night. Downstairs is just the bar, no speakers and such for dancing. Upstairs, the dancefloor is pretty small, but theres a little patio area also. Looks like they upgraded the sound system finally. Sounds better now. Af far as lighting goes, theres only one small one. No money to add 1 or 2 more? Even I have more lights at home. Bathroom is kind of an issue. Downstairs theres only one. Upstairs theres 2 spots for guys. Pretty bad waiting in line. Wherever they serve a lot of drinks, they need to have enough bathrooms to pee in. But I gues thats how it has to be sometimes w/ limited space in the venue.. Dress code: pretty relaxed, just no hoodies, hats, shorts. You can go in with jeans and a T-shirt, no problem
(4)
Mike P.
I don't know how I can get my message more clearly - just don't waste your precious bucks here if you're eating out. So, a little update from a few weeks ago when I complained to the owner. He allegedly said that he was going to send me a gift certificate and he wants to run his business the right way. Well, there has been a long radio silence. A total disappointment.
(1)
Tiffany S.
I've been here twice, my first time being Halloween night and second time for a birthday event/dinner and then dancing afterwards. Dinner here was alright... nothing special. I had the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich with fries and it was good, but I think temperature wise it could've been hotter. Dance time! I had a good time, but I was buzzin' so that could've been it... It was super packed... and honestly, I think they should've made the bathroom a bigger... 2 stalls for like 20 girls waiting in line (exaggerated a bit), but really when you're at a club and had a couple drinks, you do not want to wait in a line in a cramped bathroom. Anyways... Onward with the review.. I like that there isn't a cover charge . But the downside of that is that drinks are expensive. Plan on pre-partying before coming.. it's easy to blow $50 on like 3 drinks. Ridiculous... Either pre-party or buy the biggest baddest most alcoholic drink you can think of so you won't have to buy another. Oh yeah, the music is mediocre... Not really today's hits? I mean they got a couple good stuff, but I realized the second time I went, the music is more like the older hip hop/pop songs with a couple of new stuff here and there. I think they need to upgrade their music to todays music... Would I come here again? Yes, the atmosphere is nice and it's a nice place to dance and have fun. Food and drink wise.. I'll say no to that...
(3)
Tanya T.
Went here for dinner during San Jose's Restaurant Week. Hmm... I'll just say that the salad was the best throughout the night. I got the Bleu Cheese and Pear salad. MMM. For the main course I got the Teriyaki Beef Shortribs. Uh, not so much. The texture was weird and the sauce wasn't that great. For dessert I chose the cheesecake. Yeah, also a no. The texture wasn't creamy at all and it tasted a little bland. No thanks, I didn't even bother eating the rest.
(2)
Chi-Chong s.
Really?! Really?! you're charging me this price for drinks??? MEH!
(2)
Pauline L.
Purely a lounge review: I've been here twice and had a fabulous time on both occasions! No cover, the bartenders are nice, and you don't have to dress to the nines to dance here. It's laid back, fun, and play some great old school 90s hip hop and R&B on Saturday nights. It does get crowded (because it's FREE maybe..) and drinks are pretty pricey at $9 a shot, but a club in downtown SJ without the drama and all about the fun factor gets the STARS in my book!
(4)
Vivian V.
LOVE LOVE this place. Never been here and I'm already in lovvvve~ Came here saturday night for a clubbing night with a large group of friends. The cool thing I learned, they just card you and there's no cover charge! Love it alreadyyy!! Skipped the downstairs, and went straight for the stairs leading to the 2nd floor. It was preettty nice to look around. Dark and two sides of the place. One side with the bar and restrooms, plus on the right side is the dance floor. What's really neat about the dance floor, there's actual seats (lounge chair) and there are hug windows facing the outside to the front. It was pretty to look at and a wall to support if you get dizzy (like I did. LOL) Music was greaaat! I even saw the live DJ on the side of the dancefloor. He had his own small corner to play music, and everywhere I tried to squeeze through, because the dance floor was crackin' . Overall, the music selection was good and the darkness suit the atmosphere really well. I had to also meet up with another group of friends. This is a great place to bring a group of friends to drink, dance and have a fun night ~ I plan on coming here again! I believe alot of people on the dancefloor were really friendlyy :]
(5)
mike l.
This review is for the afterhours, not the food since I have never eaten here before. One star for having no cover charge and a DJ. One star for happy hour before 11:00PM. Cheap drinks. The staff and security that work here are morons. I walk in with my black leather jacket that has a hoodie connected to it... the bouncer says to tuck my hoodie in.. no problem. I figured it's a policy so I comply. I take two steps inside and what do you know, I see 4 other guys rockin their hoodies with their hoods OUT. So I pull mine out.. Bouncer comes up to me and says, "What did I tell you about tucking in your hoodie..." WTF. I call him out on it and point out the 4 other guys wearing their hoodies and ask him what's so different about my hoodie that it needs to be tucked in. He says, "They know the owner.. so they get perks." Ok...... so if you know the owner, you can have your hoodie out. That makes complete sense. So boo to you loft for hiring stupid security staff. On top of that, there is typically a 5 guy to 1 girl ratio here. They don't call it MAN-JOSE for nothing!
(2)
Michael P.
Ok so it was the second stop of the night; LOVED IT. We had sushi earlier for dinner and were in need of the appetizers :) The Steak Bites and Chicken Poppers hit the spot. The drink specials had not started yet but the list looked descent most drinks on there were under $10. I alway love when bartenders like to give visitors good advise on what do on your trip and where to eat. We had a couple of drinks and went on to the next but the dance floor and DJ were just getting set up so I'm sure it would be a great place to meet new people and have some great food, drinks and dance the night away :)
(5)
Michelle W.
I would give this place negative stars if I could, but Yelp isn't as brutal as I am. This place is a joke. I've come here for dinner AND clubbin and both occasions were a disaster. I had a restaurant.com certificate, so I figured I'd tried it out. Blegh. I should've stayed home and cooked some Nong Shim ramen instead. Then, I came here for the club because I figured OOH, free cover after midnight...who doesn't like free cover? To the fat ass rent-a-cop douchebag bouncers outside on the stools actin like they owned the place - I should've pulled that stick out your jiggly ass and beat you to oblivion! They had to look at my ID more than 3 times and finally said "since you're under 25, you need a credit card with you name on it as another form of ID". 0.o!! Da heyl!?! I've never been asked that/heard of that nonsense in my entire life. I'm a chick...why would I bring anything but my ID to a club?? So to "verify" that my ID was legit, they asked me to sign my name...3 times!! Once backwards. I wanted to take that pen and stab them in the eye... Perhaps I'm overreacting, but I am appalled when people think I have a fake ID. Why would I get a fake ID just to get into your sorry wannabe club? On top of that, the music was crap and the ventilation was crap. It felt like a suana. Tell me why someone's sweaty forehead ran into my arm...disgusting! Downtown San Jose, I hope you redeem yourself soon cuz you just made #1 to my shat-list.
(1)
Maureen R.
Gone here for a few of my friend's birthdays and I used to have reservations about this place, but The Loft just might have redeemed itself (a little) from the last few times I've been there. First of all, it's downtown San Jose, so set your expectations a little lower than you normally would and you'll have a good time. This place never has a line and there's no cover. Plus when you leave, there are plenty of late night Mexican fast food restaurants to hit up. There are 2 floors - downstairs is mostly just a bar + area for people to stand around + longass line for a single-stall bathroom; upstairs is another bar + dance floor + patio + more longass lines for slightly bigger bathrooms. Bar area upstairs tends to get crowded, the prices are a little annoying, and that one drunk girl might spill her drink on you. The dance floor gets ridiculously crowded, and some people think it's a smart idea to walk in with a drink in hand. Every time I've been here, I've always liked the music - from what I remember they play all hip-hop jams. But as with any other club you go to, the company you bring can always make the experience worthwhile - so make sure you bring some friends who want to dance! Plus if it's a Friday/Saturday night and you're looking for a good time on the cheap, this is a good place to go.
(3)
Irfan R.
Very nice interior decor here. Tried the prawn wrap which was large and pretty good. Friendly service.
(4)
John-Michael C.
I was going to write this for the last time I was here... however since then I came back for an elite event.. go figure! I have not been hassled for two forms of ID.. actually I just walked in with my drivers licsense. Perhaps I should have gone on crazier days to experience it. The crazy would have been nice to the nearly empty space however considering that the alternative would have been a packed sweaty space... perhaps less full isn't such a bad idea. Overall I like the space, I like the wood, the layout it not so bad. I wish they did have a slide so I could just drunkenly zip on out when I wanted to. My thing is, if it's called Loft I understand that there's the open space but there should be beds or something really comfortable laid out. Just saying! The first time the music was alright and the drinks were strong. The second time the music was alright when I could hear it... the food was better... i love tartar sauce.. goes with everything... and the drinks were still strong... courtesy of Sky Vodka.... kekekkeke I don't really remember much of the 2nd time I went... courtesy of YELP!!! I can barely make any rhyme or reason based on the puzzle piece pictures that were taken by all the ever present photogs... there were a ton of people I wanted to talk to however Mr. Sky talked to me first.... next time ;D
(4)
Thyrone A.
I always give thumbs up for bars that has no cover charge. However, 2 forms of I.D is ridiculous. There's a lot of great places in downtown San Jose, and the Loft is not the best. The venue has two floors. The main bar and the restroom is located on the first level and the main dance floor is on the second level. Things upstairs don't get going until late, but once they do you can count on great music (depending on what day and the DJ). The only negative thing that I have to say about this place and the reason why I'm giving it 2 stars is because the dance floor area is so small that it gets really crowded to the point where you can smell a penetrating odor. The venue looked a lot cooler/bigger on the internet and once again, me, I've experienced better.
(2)
Jeffrey K.
I met my co-workers after a day manning a booth at a trade show at the convention center. I was greeted by a hostess that immediately showed me the way upstairs to where my co-workers were. We ordered a plethora of appetizers, including the fried calimari (okay), ahi tuna (okay), beef bits (okay), brazed ribs (great). I had the parmesan chicken (great). What made the parmesan chicken so good was that it was panko breaded. It was a really big serving that I was unable to finish!!! The waitress, Tracy, was absolutely the best!!! The whole staff was very friendly!!! Great place to have a nice casual meal.
(4)
T L.
This place looks like it'll be in SF. Love the space and how big the 2nd floor is. And the drinks were pretty strong : ) If there was a place I'd go to downtown SJ to chill, it'll probably be this place!!
(4)
Ashley B.
Went back, had to for a friend's birthday, thats where she chose (monotone sarcastic voice). No entry fee but $12 a shot! That's like vegas but in San Jose....no dice loft, no dice! They serve in plastic now but I don't think they allow flip flops still! The Dj did play our request, when the lights after last call were on... won't be there again unless I have to!
(2)
Michael H.
I stopped by here during my lunch break for a quick pint. I ordered a Black Velvet, however the bar tender didn't know how to make one, I told her it was like a Black and Tan, but with a Cider ale. She made it with Wyder's and Guinness which worked great. I know traditionally some places do it with white wine, but that's not the version I prefer and most bar's I have been at make it with a beer instead of wine. Anyway, she was very nice and since it was slow we talked for a bit and then I left after finishing my drink. She mentioned they have a live Jazz Band on Thursday nights and really get poppin' at night. I suppose I'll need to come back here in the evening now.
(4)
Charissa I.
Oh, Loft, here we are again. I don't know what the fuck it is about you that gets me to keep coming back, gets me to review this place over and over, gets me to complain about something, then I come back to do it all over again! Every time! Man, it's a cycle! Holy moley, I'll give it to you guys.. I don't know how you manage to do it, but in spite of my 2.5 star reviews you still have a loyal patron in me. I ate here for lunch 2 days ago, and what's to say that I haven't said already? Due to their lack of a lunch menu, I would think twice to eat here if you're hungry and craving something lunchy. Only because the options for something less dinner worthy are limited. You can pretty much choose between a french dip, 3 different wraps-- chicken, tri tip, shrimp-- all with avacado, I believe a hamburger, and a vegetarian sandwich. And.... I didn't like what I ordered. Not terrible, but not good. Sure, I realize I'm paying for the portion of something dinner worthy, but I have a problem with looking at the menu and being intimidated by how much I will potentially be paying for lunch. However, if you're not starving, but are more "thirsty" and have the munchies, then this is a chill place to satisfy your craving. The calamari and popcorn chicken with their chipotle aioli sauce is delish! Until we meet again....
(2)
Danny N.
Not a review: My friend promotes and I DJ @ Loft every Friday night (home of 4 turntables). If you love or hate Loft (Nightlife), please clarify which night it was that left an impression on you. i'll play almost anything you request: rnb, old school, westcoast, bay, rock, dance, reggae, house, electro, even britney. anything except trance. if you would like to make a song request, give a bday shout out, want discount bottle service, or tell me that i flat out suck, send me an email: djexrated@gmail.com . Remember: LOFT FRIDAYS is the home of resident djs: ExRated and JQuest. SO COME OUT AND SHOW SOME LOVE!! Alright, party people. I hope to see you this Friday, and next Friday, and the Friday after next.
(5)
brent h.
review is for late night crowd. wayyy too crowded. The place is split in two, a bar downstairs and upstairs a bar with a dance floor. They love to cram folks upstairs! The dance floor was so packed that you could not even walk into it. Even while seeing this, the bouncers forced you to still enter the mob...which is borderline impossible. I tried following my group into the mob, turned around for a second, and when I looked back they were gone. How does that happen in a small room such as that?? The bathrooms are too small for this many folks and I heard the downstairs ones are shared between both guys and females.. Music was good tho. =)
(2)
Diana T.
The food is nothing too special and the dance floor is usually crowded as all hell during Th-Sa.
(3)
Margo G.
Went after seeing Margaret Cho since it was right next door. Why does this seem to be the only place to go to on a Saturday night? It was packed! Too much for me to handle really. You have to squeeze your way up to the bar and then wait till they see you. Drinks were good but a bit pricy. The DJ has issues. Yeah I said it. He never let an entire song play so even though people would be singing along and dancing, he would go to his next mix. And seriously, how many times do you need to play Beyonce's Single Ladies? I was only there for about 2 hours and heard it 4 times in different mixes. C'mon now. No one likes a repeat song. Just play in it's entirely and be done with it. Now when I went to Loft for an Elite party, there was no DJ but there was food and drink. The Loft staff did a great job in keeping the food coming, the tables cleared and the bartenders worked fast and with no attitude. Bless your hearts!
(3)
Edward Joseph D.
Went there 2 weeks ago with the newly single folks in my group. I had a hella Fun time. No cover, live DJ spinnin some good music and a really live crowd, it just got too crowded. The dance floor was crackin, but then AC started leakin on people. They have a full bar but the drinks were way overpriced. I asked for a Corona, the bar tender poured it into a plastic cup and cost $7.00.. for real? For beer in a dixie cup? Anyways, if you want a to have a good time at Loft, get drunk before you go.
(3)
Tarra R.
Dragged back here last night (again) and I have to give it one more star because the bartender (forgot his name) made a damn good Mojito. Props to the cutie that tried several times to get me out on the dance floor. Next time I wont turn you down.....*wink*
(3)
Mikey U.
Adrienne(?), our waitress, YOU ARE AWESOME! This is the best I've ever seen a party of 20 waited and attended to by a single server. The Lofts interior is a successful amalgam of fashionable furnishings and accents adorning the already existing retro brick and wood of the old-downtown building. It makes for an upper scale vibe and atmosphere while remaining cozy and unpretentious. The food options are fairly contemporary American. Well prepared and nicely plated/presented/portioned. The Braised Lamb Shanks are incredibly tender and the accompanying sweet mint rosemary port wine sauce compliments the succulent meat perfectly. For a more accessible option for the unadventurous, the Angus beef half-pound burger or the french dip are hearty selections. For a lighter palate (but not necessarily a lighter appetite!) the salad options are splendid, particularly the Grilled Flank Steak Salad, the Bleu Cheese and Pear Salad, and the Baby Spinach Salad w/added chicken. Service was splendid and friendly. Our server in particular was very good about checking with us and seeing how we were doing throughout the night. She was even able to find some candles for the (surprise) birthday cake I brought... she totally saved the occasion!
(4)
Victor C.
This place breeds women that are secure of themselves and know what they want. I've seen it happen to my friend with my own 2 eyes, and last week it happened to me! You just gotta say something then follow-up on the dish-out quick! BAMMM! Give me your number! I was like; "That's my line!" Hahaha!
(4)
Jackie D.
The Loft is an awesome place in downtown SJ - no cover, no lines, and strong drinks + awesome DJs spinning good songs. We celebrated my best friend's birthday here last weekend and when we first entered, the place was empty. I was kind of surprised and almost scared that nobody else would be coming. But, since there was a Sharks game that night and the traffic on Santa Clara St was packed, the Loft started filling up. We decided to stick to one alcohol all night and Hennessey was that drink of choice. We had numerous shots - the bartenders are super nice. The music was hot and got to dance for a bit. The best part is that the patio was open this time around, so we could get air outside. And there's two bars - upstairs & downstairs - makes it less crowded to walk around. I love this place because its so chill, guys can wear their sneakers, and jeans are just fine. Plus, no cover and strong drinks :) Always a plus! I'm definitely coming back - finally a chill place in SJ! Sweet! Cheers!
(4)
Chris T.
$12 for a shot of patron? Are you serious?! $6 for a pint of Hef on tap is alright, but $12 for a shot of patron in Downtown Man Jose, I don't know about that. You've got to be kidding me. That's the most I ever got charged for a shot outside of Vegas, and Loft is far from Vegas. I had to be the drank Nazi last night and go NO TIP FOR YOU! Didn't even hook it up with the salt. That's probably the reason some dude got stabbed or shot outside of Loft last night near the Improv after the Eddie Griffin show and why there was 20+ SJPD cars lined up all down 2nd street and San Fernando and they had the sidewalks all police taped up. Sheiiit! mercurynews.com/ci_11485… But yeah, I guess 2 forms of ID is standard over here now. I gave the bouncer 2 IDs without being asked. The music played was actually better than previous times I've been, so I guess they've been getting a little better DJs over here than in the past, or they got better music on their playlists vs. all that Top 40 Radio sheit. Still don't like their small ass cramped dance floor though. P.S. - Stop telling all of us guys to pull up our jeans or saying that we're wearing too baggy jeans and for us to pull them up, when us simply giving a short quick tug on them isn't making them any less baggy (you're just pissing off your customers). Skinny jeans ain't baggy jeans homes! Check your eyes and your vocabulary!
(2)
Suzy L.
The Loft is our Favorite, Favorite, Favorite place to hang out for the following reasons: - No Cover Charge, EVER!! - 2 Bars: 1 downstairs as you enter the main door & 1 upstairs (both areas have space to SHAKE your BOOTY! - Outdoor patio (covered during the winter - which makes it a great spot to get some fresh air, where you don't have to be surrounded by the smokers!) - bench seating at the Upstairs Bar Area - bathrooms are classy (which shows you they spent a bit of $$ on the place) - Location is great for nearby parking Some Cons, reasons for minus 1 star: - At times, (I think randomly) the bouncer will ask you a bunch of questions or ask for another form of ID, rather than your DL. This is RETARDED - how many times (esp. girls) have you put your DL and some cash in your back pocket or bra and ran out the door? - the Bouncers inside the bar get strick at times, so you have to be careful NOT to get kicked out or have your DRUNK A** Friends kicked out - the downstairs bar on Friday & Saturday nights has a bartender (Asian guy with Long Hair) he is ALWAYS, ALWAYS RUDE! I think he doesn't like his job - he needs to be kicked to the curb, cuz I'm sure lots of GREAT BARTENDERS would jump at the chance to Bartend here with all the PACKED Party-ing nites! - Women's restrooms only have 3 stalls - BOO! Other than that, this place is great!! See you out there!!
(4)
Stephan N.
This review is for the lounge/club/bar on Friday and Saturday evenings... The only good thing about this place is that there is no cover charge but they more than make up for that with the ridiculously expensive drinks! Come on it's San Jose!!! Don't be trying to charge an arm for drinks! This ain't Vegas or Miami! I'm more than happy to pay $15 bucks for a drink in Vegas but not in "Man Jose"! Also, not to be mean but the crowd that tends to occupy this place on weekend nights is a little on the ghetto side. There should be some kind of dress code. Out-of-shape posers with "Affliction" and "Tapout" shirts seem to flock here. It's funny how some people think a $40 shirt can turn them into a badass. A $20/month gym membership would be a better investment! All-in-all, I guess you can't complain much about this place because it's free to get in, but make sure you pre-party in the parking lot!
I came here with my friends on a Friday night and this place was pretty packed. I love the idea that it's an upstairs bar, hence the name Loft Bar. It is a nice place and it also has a nice dining area outside, on the side of the dance floor. It's a spacious place for people who wanted to chat in a more quite and subtle part of the bar. The bar itself was okay. I tried the "White Gummy" since it was one of their special, but I had no idea what was in it. But it was tasty. It wasn't that strong so... I also really liked their music choice of the night, but not so much of their dance floor. I guess I wasn't that into the dancing scene, especially when everyone else around you are couples. It was just kind of weird to me. Like the music, but not the crowd. Overall, I might be back again because I really like this place. I'm okay just to chill and to enjoy the music!
(3)
Andrew C.
Went there around the evening. Very spacious seating on both floors. I like the retro/wooden feel to the place, but it seemed very clean to me. There were booth's on the side that seemed slightly outdated but I felt the setting was just right. They had sold out of Corona the night before but that didn't stop me from ordering another. Got the steak bites which I ordered medium rare (came out medium well), but it was still good. For first-timers, this is definitely worth ordering. Next was the crab cake salad. Seemed somewhat plain. Like crab cake and avocado on top of mozzarella tossed romaine. The blackened salmon tastes really nice. The side vegetables that came with it could have been better (they were the same vegetables on the side that came with our steak bites). The rice pilaf was great nonetheless. The strawberry shortcake and tiramisu were great for dessert :) Service was great. Our server was very communicative and checked back with us in case for other orders. Rating: 3.5-4
(4)
Annie S.
After writing my first review for this place, I came back another 23940309420394324 times for the dancing (no cover, no fancy dress code, good music = awesome). The DJ was great (hip hop whooo), and I've always wanted to ask him for his business card. Solid 4 stars for sure (not 5 stars because the dance floor gets SO PACKED and crowd can get rowdy). BUT when I went about a month ago, the DJ announced that it was his last night because he was retiring (after 10 years if I remember correctly)?!?!!?!?!?!?! NOOOoOooOooOooOooOoOOoO. I wondered if the place would ever be the same again and feared that I may no longer have a go-to spot for hip hop music anymore... I checked out the Loft this past weekend, and it is not the same :(... willing to give this place another try before I let go haha
(3)
Shawna L.
Excellent food! Great environment. Prices are expected. Most definitely can't wait to come back
(5)
G. F.
The place itself is nice. Broody ambience which gives it a mellow loungy feel. Food is pretty good but a little pricey for it's taste quality. Staff needs work though. Aren't too many smiles going around, more like you're-here-and-so-am-I-so-let's-get-this-done kind of attitude. Our waiter disappeared and didn't let us know that. So we were looking for him everywhere before we had to hunt someone else down. She informed us, oh yea he transferred you to me.. Oook, well thanks for letting the table know. Otherwise after hours when it's club and not restaurant, it always gets packed and the choice of music isn't always the greatest.
(3)
Joseph O.
I live in downtown SJ, and have been eating at the Loft for almost 10 years. I went on NYE for the first time in about a year. Wow what a change. Food is mediocre at best. Their great wedge salad has degenerated to a bit of iceberg lettuce and a cherry tomato. We ordered Martinis and got half full glasses. When we ordered more we were told that the bar is backed up (only 1/2 of the tables were occupied in the restaurant). The drinks eventually came with the bill after dinner. One of our party of six ordered a medium steak and got a brown lump that looked microwaved. Used to love this place, sad to see it mismanaged so badly. Just FYI. J
(1)
Ilicia Maxine R.
Loft and I have a long history. The food is always fresh and good. The service is always stellar. I haven't done the club atmosphere they create on the weekends, but if it's anything like their other ventures, it will be better than most.
(4)
Kevin B.
I think I would like to give this place another try when it's NOT Valentine's Day. I was in San Jose for the weekend looking for a place to do dinner with my family. We weren't looking for a romantic Valentine's dinner, just a good meal. I found Loft on Open Table and they had reservations available which amazed me because I was booking this on Thursday. I took a look at their Menu from THEIR OWN WEBSITE, and it looks amazing. Tantalizing small plates salads that make your mouth water. We were excited that they had a Low Carb section of their menu which looked delicious. My wife has some extremely annoying dietary restrictions and the idea of being able to go to a restaurant, order something that she can eat right off the menu without modifying or begging them to change it made our weekend. We were really looking forward to our meal at Loft. Our plans changed and we ended up being available for dinner WAY earlier than we expected. I called the restaurant and asked if they could get us in earlier, they were great and seated us immediately when we arrived. The ambiance in the restaurant is very nice, modern, without being stuffy or pretentious. From there, our dinning experience went downhill. When we were seated, we were informed that they were not offering their normal menu this evening. They had a special Valentine's Menu, and everything that we were looking forward to eating, was NOT on the menu. I went back and checked their menu today before writing this and DISCOVERED THAT THEY RAISED THEIR PRICES ALMOST $10/PLATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY. I had the Teriyaki Beef Short Ribs for $28, my wife, the Salmon $28, and my in-laws, the Filet Mignon $38. Normal price $19.95, $19.95, and $28.95. I do understand raising prices for Valentine's Day, I even understand limiting the menu, but in my humble opinion they really did themselves a disservice. I look at their menu and see a tantalizing list of delicious food. What they offered for Valentine's Day looked like the menu in a swanky hotel or country club in Duluth Minnesota (no offense to the fair people of Minnesota). Maybe they put their VDay menu together based on the most popular dishes, maybe we have a more adventurous palate than their normal guests, I don't know. We did ask the server about the options from the normal menu and were informed that they were only offering the Valentine's Menu. Fine, we had a 82 year old lady with us, I didn't want to be walking all of San Jose looking for dinner. I hope our server was new and nervous about the V-day crowds, if she was, then I'll give her a pass. I could tell that she was trying. My wife was SO, SO, SO, SO (do you get the point) EXCITED to be able to go to a restaurant and order something right off the menu that worked with her pain in the ass dietary restrictions. Not only does she have to eat Gluten Free, but she's now been told out that she needs to eat a low glycemic diet. Well no such luck last Saturday, and to make things even better, we got to pay a premium for the food we didn't really want! After reading other reviews, I see we weren't the only ones left wanting more from our experience on Valentine's Day. *Much of this review I also posted on Open Table. There were a few finishing thoughts that I did not have room to post.
(2)
Adrianna V.
If you are a female looking for some booty call action look no further, the thirst is real every single weekend here. However, I wish males would understand that no means NO and sometimes a girl just wants to let loose and dance alone with her girl friends, like me! Basically you need to have a lot of patience to reject creeps or get really drunk with beer goggles. Save your $ and pregame elsewhere too.
(3)
Rachel V.
Awful. I went here on a Tuesday night, checked in and asked if the kitchen was still serving- it would be for another hour. My husband and I thought it would be a good choice for a dinner on a nice evening in downtown. We were offered a 'patio' seat. Out of the tables available, most had other guests garbage and plates, or were occupied. The only unoccupied seat was for two (tippy and barely enough room for a person and their laptop, let alone a three course dinner for two) was located 5 feet from the door. The incessant buzzing of the heater was horrible, as was the oppressive heat. We asked to be moved, happily and moved to a seat downstairs. It was rather annoying that the one offered was the tiny two person again next to the door instead of one of the numerous four person tables. There was only one other party in the place, they just didn't want to remove the extra place settings. We ordered. Didn't get any water, but got bread with one pad of butter. It was cold. We ordered veggie sliders and braised lamb shank. The sliders were cold, (the bread and everything). Ew. I thought they would be grilled. Not appetizing having cold mozzarella on cold buns with a slice of tomato. The lamb was gross. I can't really describe the sauce that clearly came out of a packet. The mashed potatoes were packaged. Everything tasted packaged. This was the second worst meal I've had this year. That's saying something. Did I mention it was my 8 year anniversary???
(1)
Johnny W.
Let's start (and, well, finish) with what I actually remember from this night. We held our KollabSF afterparty here at Loft Bar, being allocated a semi-outdoors, semi-private area on the top floor. Arriving a little past 11pm, we found that the first floor was actually pretty empty, while the main dance floor was fairly packed, so many of us opted to order our drinks at the downstairs bar instead (which was indeed much, much, faster). While I imagine most people don't come here for their specialty cocktails, and are more likely to stick with shots and the basics, they do have a rotating schedule/menu of nightly specials on specialty cocktails, at around $6 or $7 per. And, surprise surprise, not only are they rather tasty, they're also surprisingly strong. After a few more or these, I woke up the next morning in my hotel room, not completely sure how I managed to get back (my wonderful friends helped me recount the night in hilarious detail). And while I'm not really one to comment on the clientele, especially since I was mostly hanging out with my own crew, I did notice, as many others have commented, that the crowd was notably predominantly male, so take that as you will. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Accessibility is a bit of a tricky issue here. The venue, when not crowded, is perfectly accessible, albeit somewhat inconvenient: the first floor is fine, the second floor is accessible via an elevator that management has to unlock, and the top patio level is accessible via a small stair lift that they have to operate as well. When it's crowded though, as the dance floor is bound to be on a weekend, getting around becomes tough. Fortunately, the staff is quite helpful, and will try to clear a path as best they can. Bathroom - I can't recall if they have a bathroom upstairs, but the downstairs one was perfectly accessible.
(3)
Tina N.
"Please don't stop the music." Wait, no. Please, oh please. Stop the music. Tina's Tips and Tantrums - Oh no no no no no, it was good when we were young. All the people that are newly 21 come here and jam to the music. Now, I feel old... - Super crowded, messy restrooms, and rude / perverted gentlemen, oops I mean boys. - Positives are mainstream music, and no entry fees. But parking might be a hassle. - Dance floor is a place where you cannot budge, but make sure you dance the night away. Just kidding. Creepers are standing by and staring. Haha - Drinks are averagely priced and I like how they have the bench seating near the bar area, which most don't have - Overall, don't expect to meet the guy of your dreams here.
(2)
Lilee K.
Overall: 4/5 Food and Drink: 5/5... This was where I had my first date with my husband, and so this place will always be meaningful to me. I do not remember exactly what I had on my first date with my husband... I think it could be the Chicken Penne dish. My husband is not offended, since he probably does not remember what he had either, but he does remember that I was an eater and that I finished my meal! Hey, the food was good, and I had to be myself. :) I have also been here for special occasions and for clubbing, and from what I recall, the food has been consistent each time. One of my favorite dishes here is the Teriyaki Beef Short Ribs, which is one of my favorite short rib dishes I have tried so far in the South Bay Area, and I think I have tried a salmon dish and filet mignon dish here before too. Ambiance and Environment: 4/5... The place has an urban feel, dim lighting, two stories, bar areas, and interior brick walls with art. Every time I have come here, I sat in the dining area upstairs or in the outside patio upstairs, which can be nice on a summer night out in Downtown San Jose. Service: 3.5/5... The service can be inconsistent. We waited quite a while one time for our food, and our waitress did not get my order completely right, but our waitress had a busy night that night and apologized for the long wait.
(4)
Jorge C.
Great place and good environment to have dinner. Music is not too loud, and the different environments (including outdoors) provides different options. Having an elevator is a plus, since 2nd floor with high ceilings is very comfortable atmosphere. The food was really good. Ordered several small plates, and I must admit that all were good. Attention was good as well, a lot better than most of the similar restaurants. I don't believe it's a place for kids, but definitively for groups and romantic dates (I guess).
(4)
Runa T.
I've been coming here for nights out since 21! That says a lot since most of the clubs I was going to at 21 are no longer around. Lol. Loft is definitely one of my go-to's for casual/spontaneous nights out for drinking and dancing. They never have cover which is great. They are casual but are pretty strict about men's clothes.. specifically pants and shoes. They have late night happy hours from 10p-11p on pretty awesome drinks. There's a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays and the dance floor gets crazy packed. I worry that the floors gonna give out one day 8|
(4)
Jon K.
I had gone here this past weekend 2/22/15 for my friends surprise engagement brunch. I will get right to the point - Everyone's food came out under-par. Dishes that CLEARLY stated on the menu "3 pieces of this will be served with this dish" only came out with two..I wouldn't say much but we had a party of 16 people and 3 people ordered the same thing and they EACH got less than they ordered. My friend ordered the crab cake salad...2 crap cakes. hahah! I personally ordered the chicken avacado wrap. Very bland and tasteless. The ONE thing i could very much taste was the individual grill marks on my wrap. Pretty gross bite after bite and i pretty much stopped eating it... We weren't here for the food, more or less, but for each others company- so we ended up getting a few rounds of drinks. I took one shot and felt something went down with the shot that did not feel right. I didnt chase my shot but instead reached in my mouth and found a hair inside... VERY GROSS. Let me say that the Staff was super friendly and kind regarding the whole matter and didnt charge us for the shot, and gave us another one on the house. We didnt make a scene, again we just wanted to have a good time to celebrate our friend's wedding approaching. Summary - Go here for the bar scene at night. The food is JUST. THE. WORST. over priced. they'll short you on your food. and if youre lucky... you wont have hair in your food. The people are wonderful and showed no hostility after the matter and should not be penalized since they did a great job to resolve the issue which is the only saving grace and the merit of 2 stars.
(2)
Stephanie B.
I came here on a very random encounter with myself and my friends for my birthday, we were club/bar hopping around Downtown San Jose. There was $0.00 cover fee all night, the security are pretty cool, they let one of my friends in even though there was a dress code that night and they aren't super mean like most clubs down here. Lets start with customer service. They are on point. Very fast with food and drinks.The drink prices are you know kind exorbitant, their happy hour prices are reasonably priced but I wasn't there for that. Some drinks were watered down but over all I enjoy my time there. As you enter the club, there's a small bar and a small area. Some sets to sit, grab a drink before you head upstairs. Upstairs there's an crazy ultimate party with pretty big dance floor, also another bar to get your white girl drunk on. I don't remember most drinks I got since I was already pretty drunk from the other clubs. Over all a good place.
(5)
Nicole J.
I organized an event for 300 people at The Loft Bar & Bistro back in November. Kam was great throughout the process and on the night of the entire staff was fabulous. They made the process so much easier on me and were very accommodating with my DJ, security team and photographers. I would definitely recommend the Loft for any large events or parties!
(5)
Racquel R.
I attended a birthday dinner here over the weekend and let me just say, I am very pleased with this establishment. We had a table of 5 and had one of the most attentive waitresses ever. From the second I sat down, I was offered a beverage and handed a menu. The menu looked great and I was pretty upset with myself that I had snacked beforehand. I didn't bring the appetite I should have. I ordered the crab cakes and they were delish. Lot's of flavor and the vegetables were great as well. There was one thing I noticed about the place. It was 7pm on a Saturday and it was practically empty. This place is definitely in need of more patrons and I hope that changes soon. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Courtney H.
The customer service here is absolutely amazing!!! One of my best friends used this as the venue for her wedding reception last night (7/3/14) and Adrian (the manager/owner) made sure we were happy from start to finish. He and his staff were suuuper hands on and helpful! The bride and groom had no worries the entire night. The food and drinks were great and the price for the overall function was waaaaay lower than expected! We'll definitely be coming here again to host future events! Thank you Adrian and the Loft staff for everything last night. You are truly appreciated and Raydan and Timeka's wedding will forever be a night to remember!!!
(5)
Ty N.
Wonderful Service from our waitress, Nicole, on my surprise 28th birthday. Food is delicious and the back-lit bar amplified the wonderful experience!
(5)
Mario M.
I was there 11/30 and the service was Awful. I had a friend who worked their who said they served water down drinks. I thought he was bsn, but today I ordered a vodka tonic and got water tonic. Brought it to the bartenders attention but he denied it. ¿??????¿? Bass FYI.
(1)
Alan M.
Pros: 1) Casual and formal dress codes are welcomed. 2) Made up of 2 floors. 3) The 1st floor has a bar and is more like a bar environment. 4) The 2nd floor has a bar and is more like a club environment. 5) Best of both worlds...lounge and club! 6) Both floors have a restroom. 7) It has one room on the 1st floor and two rooms in the second floor. 8) Love the music here... very hip hop and electric music. 9) Great place to dance! 10) Accept credit/debit cards 11) Best of all NO COVER CHARGE! Cons: 1) Only one restroom for both genders on the 1st floor. Line can get a little long. 2) Has sepearte restrooms for both genders on the 2nd floor but for some reason the MEN's restroom line is longer than the WOMEN's. 3) Drinks are a bit pricey! $$$ 4) Way too crowded for its size but of course its a bigger party. Conclusion: * If you want to get some drinks and dance like if you were in a club and not have to worry about the $10-$20 cover most clubs here in downtown San Jose charge, this is the place! Great staff! Great service! Great people!
(4)
Erica C.
So we went for Valentine's day, and even though we had a reservation, we still had to stand in line. Everyone did - they never even asked us for a reservation. We waited for about 30 minutes just to sit down, and there were asked to stand in an awkward hallway while they set the table. They should have had us wait to come up, as we were run into left and right by servers and other guests. We finally get to our seats and we ask our host for some bread which he ignored. Starving, we waited 15 minutes before we even saw our server. We were taking into consideration how busy of a day it was, but it seemed that they had just not planned anything at all. She finally comes up, and like the rest of the wait staff, was dressed VERY casually for the evening. Normally I don't care, but I felt that they should have at least kicked it up a notch for such a big day. She asks for drinks, which we order, and then we have to ask her for bread again. We also placed our order for appetizers and entrees at the same time, even though they didn't offer the NY steak listed as it was a typo, that was at their other restaurant. 15 minutes later my drink comes, but not my boyfriend's because she forgot to put it in. She did come back about 10 min later with his drink, and said it was on the house. That was a nice touch. About 20 minutes later we get our soups (appetizer). Mine was cold, it had clearly been sitting out for a long time before our waitress remembered it was there. Another 30 minutes we finally get our food (I was watching out of sheer curiosity at the time). My crab cakes were tiny, but pretty good. They were also out of the garlic mash, and without even asking swapped it for rice pilaf. That was a bit frustrating. Also the mixed veggies were beans, carrots, beets, and broccoli, but they weren't mixed at all. I had mostly beets, and my boyfriend had zero, but everything else. Since I hate beets, we switched. They then did bring us an additional drink on the house to apologize for the mess, which I did appreciate, but it didn't make up for the chaos. I might come back here on a less busy night, but will not come back on a weekend or busy night.
(2)
Don J.
This was a very nice venue. Clean and roomy. We had a birthday party there and everything was right. I highly recommend this place when in san jose.great food and good prices.super waitress.
(4)
Genevieve M.
The Loft is a nice place to stop by if you're downtown. The food is good and the prices are very fair. The only thing I could say is that their beer and drink menu is not that extensive but really a small complaint for a decent restaurant.
(3)
Mai C.
Went here on a Saturday night with friends. I had a lotta fun. They played Top 40 and a couple of old songs too. I had a fun time. The crowd wasn't rowdy or anything. There were waitresses coming around asking if we wanted drinks so it was nice that we didn't have to go directly to the bar for drinks. There was even a small little area to dance/sit down outside which I did like because it gave you a chance to get air if you were too hot from the inside lol
(4)
Martin A.
We came here for a Valentines day dinner, big mistake! There was no hostess to check you in for your reservation, then what was the point in making one? They took us upstairs to a table that was not bussed. We knew they were busy so we ordered our drinks, appetizer, dinner and desert all at the same time. I'm sorry to say they brought our dinners out at the same time as our appetizer and we still didn't have our utensils. One of the busiest nights of the year for any restaurant and they were severely understaffed. I don't think I'll return anytime soon. The food was good and so was the desert. The drinks, well I can get better ones at my neighborhood dive bar for a fraction of the price.
(2)
Jeziell B.
Came here for my girl's gift exchange lunch, the day of New Years Eve. We got there around 11:30 and was able to be seated right away. I don't know if it was because of the holidays or what, but it wasn't busy at all. The service was really good. They always checked up on us and made sure everything was ok. We never felt rushed and they never acted any different if any of us had special requests for our food. There were so many options on their menu, it took awhile for everyone to figure out what they wanted. The bread and dip though, was so tasty! It was served with some kind of balsamic sauce that all the girls loved. I ordered the boneless short rib appetizer and it was definitely a good lunch for me. Haven't been there to drink/dance for a while. Oh yeah, it's because I'm pregnant and getting old. LOL. But for lunch, I'd say its a pretty solid spot.
(3)
April R.
It was okay. Main proteins were generous portions and cooked well. Sauces were good. Sides ok. Long wait for drinks but food came very quickly. Service was fine, no problems but nothing special. In the end maybe a little over priced. A bit cramped and hard to hear; server acknowledged they added tables for the evening. Indoors much nicer than patio. Restroom very lacking.
(3)
Jocelyn M.
On St. Patricks Day my boyfriend and I were not allowed into the bar across the street because he was wearing a raider shirt.. so went across the street to this place and were overwhelmed by the great service. The upstairs was empty, but the bartender Leo seemed happy to get a few customers, and served us a few drinks right away. The other bartender from downstairs came upstairs to help close up the bar while we were drinking, I think her name was Libby, and she was really sweet, and chatted with us. They never rushed us out even though no one was there. These guys were so friendly, and really made our st. pattys day a blast. The security Manager Collin also gave us a free Voss water on our way out after hearing about the bad time we had across the street. This place really knows how to treat people right, and we're definitely going to come back again!
(5)
James H.
Terrible SERVICE. Food OK. Server, Conner, gave me someone else's dinner bill and charged my card. When I discovered error, and called it to his attention, he said that he "fixed it", and never gave me proof of credit card cancellation., Charged for two (2) meals, after I had left restaurant. Called American Express afterwards to tell them. I had signed receipt for correct meal charge and told them that the other, more expensive charge, wasn't mine. American Express took care of it for me---they're the BEST. The Loft's server-not so much! Food OK.
(1)
Hills N.
I brought a couple of my friends to this place because I first had an amazing experience and thought the second time around would be just fine....I was so wrong. The service was bittersweet, the servers were charming, but when it came out to bringing our food & drinks, even menus, it was pure disastrous. Portion of the food is quite good, pricing, not so much. Tasting the food, I definitely do not think its worth such a high price! This is coming from a girl who is particularly not picky with her food too, LOL. But anyways, it took about 30+ mins for our food to come out. We were playing games while we waited for our food! They charged us for SHARING meals! That is just plain ridiculous! Some of my friends didn't have much money to spare, so they asked to share a meal, and the bill was only worse than they could imagine! They didn't even tell us they would charge us for such a thing. It was't even listed or stated anywhere in the menu. Pure bullcrap! Nice venue and everything, but pretty sure I can go anywhere else for better prices, better food, and better service. Go somewhere else people. Trust me.
(1)
Joe N.
Beautiful rooftop dining area, the food is priced perfectly. it would be an awesome place to do something romantic for a significant other ;] Filet mignon meal was perfect, and it is the only place I know locally that would even do black and blue.
(5)
Dixie L.
Giving this place 5 stars mainly because my club's winter dinner upstairs was held here and it went so smoothly!! The food was A+, ambiance was very high end fancy, service was organized and patient, both the background music and the live music downstairs were enjoyable!!! I would definitely enjoy another event held here :)
(5)
Neda F.
I don't understand why more people don't rate Loft with 5 stars! I love this place, especially during both regular and late night happy hours. They have good food (amazing bread and olive oil dip to start) and it's very laid back in the middle of busy downtown SJ. The upstairs patio is covered and where I prefer to sit when going there on warmer days. Although I don't exactly prefer it when it's more of a bar with the DJ, I do like it when I am meeting up with friends after work or for dinner before going to the Improv next door. Their steak bites are excellent as a small plate, and all of the food that I have tried there has been better than average. It surprises me that it doesn't get busy during happy hour, but I guess it is kind of like a hidden gem for me when I want to schedule lunch or drinks with friends.
(5)
AnnaMarie C.
We had our Department's Holiday party upstairs two years in a row. That alone should tell you that this place was GREAT! The management was very accommodating and the staff was extremely pleasant to work. We had a party of 60 and they didn't miss a beat. We ordered the lunch buffet and the food was outstanding both years. We will more than likely return again next year. This is a great spot if you party is less than 60 people.
(4)
Nadia W.
The food here is delicious! There isn't anything on the menu that I've tried and didnt like! I've had two birthday dinners here with 20+ people and they make a section for you so that its a little more intimate and buffet style.
(5)
Elizabeth Q.
Loft isn't a place you strive to go to on weekends, it's usually where you end up at, as the last resort. Why is that? Not because it's crackin or popppin, but because its free! It's ALWAYS free entrance. BUT like my mama told me, nothing in life is free. And Loft is the primary example of it. You may get in for free but you and your friends will repay that debt by dealing with the massive crowd of janky dudes who gropes like there is no tomorrow. I'm not a very high maintenance girl, I usually don't really care, nor am I picky about crowds. But Loft is a serious jank fest. Girls, you won't be able to walk through the place without getting groped, grabbed, violated or yanked. And the dance floor is always so packed that it seriously feels like I am back at a high school dance. And because there are so many people and mainly sweaty dudes grinding all over the dance floor, that you will literally leave the place feeling sticky and gross. But never the less, I am guilty of returning to Loft.... Always Twerkin for Jesus, E. Quachie
(2)
Anne G.
The manager and owner here are so rude and questionable characters. I would not recommend anyone go here. Its very difficult to put in a complaint with management- they are extremely defensive & rude, and literally walked away when trying to explain about our complaint. Food is overpriced and not worth the cost. Don't even think about coming after 6pm, the entire staff is rude and the security staff/door people, are not respectable. Bathrooms get crowded-only 3 small stalls for everyone, and the line is constantly long going out into the bar area, who wants that?! Pretty tacky. I would not recommend this place if you want to be treated as a respectable customer, and get a good meal.
(1)
Tesh S.
I would have given it 3.5stars if the bartenders were not rude and made proper drinks and the dance floor was a little bigger. if you are lucky, you will not get a rude bartender. but the staff at door was friendly and the crowd is all right. I would go again, but prob not order drinks from that one bartender. btw,... drinks are too expensive and not made right.
(2)
Adrian P.
Two story lounge! Dance and drinks upstairs tables and food downstairs. Average for pricing of drinks, decent music that is kind of over played now. Bartenders get your drinks out quite fast, service appreciated!
(3)
Allen C.
Came here with the group for lunch. My salad was $20. It had exactly 4 average-sized scallops, 4 slices of tomato, a few olives and the lettuce covered the rest of the plate. Enough said.
(3)
Ronnie C.
Service was good.Food NOT GOOD and overpriced! Prawn avocado cocktail was a small cocktail glass with some sliced up shrimp and about a teaspoon of avocado,$11.95... what? Dinner was Chicken Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.When it was served,I thought they were bringing more bread.Hardly any filling,dry chicken and we found NO CHEESE in either sandwich.
(1)
Jeff S.
I like this place. A lot. Though I'm not a "club" person, I find their restaurant to far-exceed my expectations at every visit. The Loft remains one of our go-to destinations as it is becoming a San Jose landmark.
(5)
Tony C.
Wow. $14 cocktail drinks really? The bar tenders are really cool. The ones we talked to so far. Bouncers or door guys are also cool. Not dicks like some other places. Always too crowded to even really dance upstairs especially sat nights. Real hot too. The fan don't seem to help. Great music most of the time though. New top 40's mixed with some old school hip hop and R&B. Recently heard some fist pump stuff here and there to accommodate the molly head edm people. Hard to please everyone. Mostly hip hop crowd here. Free entrance and always cracking. Overall a cool place to hang out. Come earlier if you want to dance any later you'll be a sardine hopping up and down fist pumping like the edm people. Haha.
(4)
Celza O.
Recently ate here after an event close by and was pretty impressed. Food was full of flavor, service was good, and the wait was not too bad for a Friday night. We arrived at 8pm with a party of 7 and they sat us right away. Our waitress was attentive and patient. Crab cakes are amaze, calamari was good, shrimp scampi was yummy. Didnt care for their white rice dish but everything else was very very flavorful. As we were leaving it started to get very busy so it seems to attract a late crowd and is next door to the improve. Will come again.
(4)
Ray V.
You know, this place doesn't give a very good first impression. The security is rude, the drinks are ordinary and the dance floor is repulsively hot and cramped, but you know what? That's the charm of this place. Loft is like the chick friend you can fall back on when your date didn't work out, she can turn a ruined night into an evening of laughter and fun. More than a few times, I make plans to have fun at the clubs around the area, but the DJ always ends up sucking, the crowd is weak, and there's no vibe. Surely many of you have found yourselves in the same situation, look at each other and say: "You know what, this isn't working out, let's head to Loft." You arrive to Loft and it's that familiar feeling of freedom: no dress code, no pretentious DJ, ordinary, but quick, drinks. After paying cover fee at a sucky club, you come here and you're allowed in for free, maybe you just wanna dance with your friends and maybe you will feel like having that ONE more beer to get you going for the rest of the night. The cramped-ness of this place is kind of what makes it feel very welcoming. There's also a quieter area where you can sit with your friends and take a breather maybe even chit chat with strangers sitting next to you. It took me a while to realize this, but maybe after making Loft the backup plan of my nights, I'll make it the headliner and just know I'm gonna have a good time with my friends and MAYBE talk to a pretty girl or two. This place just grows on you.
(4)
Shinny L.
Recently ate here for dinner - finally tried the full on dinner, and have to say it's pretty tasty. A bit pricey but the quality of the food is probably worth it. I would go here again for a semi-formal meal of good old american food.
(3)
Kyle D.
3.5 stars. Been here four times now that I've been here (strictly for nightlife). I think it's time for a review! First off, the "nightlife" clubbing/drinking scene is definitely not me. I am the most awkward dancer you'll ever meet in your entire life. I'll throw out the 70's chest pops and 80's hand gestures. I don't drink. Probably because I am also the most awkward drunk you'll ever meet - I get quiet and contemplative after a couple drinks. Not to mention I look like an 18 year old kid, lost in the crowd. All in all, I'm probably not the drinking buddy you want to bring the to the club, so I don't know why my friends keep pulling me out to these things. Oh, now it just hit me. I'm there to take care of drunk slobs after a crazy night. :( Despite that, Loft is dandy and nice because there is no cover charge at all(!) and getting in is pretty easy. Also, there is practically no dress code. T-shirt and jeans is a go! So if you're looking for just a casual place to dance and maybe mingle, this may be the place for you. Drinks range from standard to overpriced, ranging from 8-13 dollars. Some are overpriced, but most of the time, people are too drunk here to care about the prices anyways lol. I've had a number of drinks here, and they were all decent. No complaints. The crowd here does get busy, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Weekdays, you might not see a soul until maybe 11:30-12pm. Free DJ and music is also pretty awesome - they play a lot of recent pop and house hits, mixed in with a couple old school songs. +1 star for playing a remixed Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" :D Be sure to park at Safeway! They validate for the parking lot there.
(4)
Jessica M.
Came her Saturday night for a friend's bday. It was the last stop of the night. It was SO PACKED. I liked that it had 2 leels. There were 2 different rooms upstair. One was smaller with a different DJ and it seemd like a lame party in someone's living room. The larger room was packed, but there was more energy. It's cool if you dont mind being shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. I liked the DJ, but I would prefer coming earlier so I;m not squeezing my way through. Also, I asked for a shot of a specific tequila and they were low so the bartender asked if I wanted to wait for the bottle to be brought out or try another. I decided to wait. He was really nice about it but the girl who finally poured my shot shook it in ice first so it was way watery and not worth the price at all! I'd be back, but it'd probably be my first stop or I would come earlier
(3)
Analisa S.
So turns out downtown San Jose is pretty dead around dinner time on a Saturday. We went to Loft Bar at the suggestion at some very nice fireman wandering around, trying to figure out where to eat. I got the Open Face Teriyaki Beef Short Rib - Tender, boneless short rib served on a sesame bun. So I have no idea why they call it "open face" considering it came sandwiched between two buns. I didn't like the short ribs, it tasted too manufactured. And the fries weren't salted. Nice ambiance, but kind of expensive for what it is. I generally don't find myself down in San Jose, but if I am ever around again, I'll try someplace else.
(2)
Emily Y.
This review is STRICTLY regarding my last visit here. My previous visits (spent upstairs) left MUCH to be desired. If THOSE visits had been reviewed, I certainly wouldn't give more than 1 star: the bartenders up there can't smile - they're too busy? I didn't know it took so much effort. BUT. This review isn't about them, like I said. Last Friday night there were three of us (my gf was visiting from SD), so we went the more mellow route: downstairs. Little did we know how FANTASTIC the bartenders would be, having experienced the upstairs crew. I'm SO bummed I can't remember his name, but our bartender is someone I would go back to visit. He was simply that great. Accommodating our every whim with wit and hilarity. He was everything you'd want in a bartender - and more, I'd venture to say. Grey Goose La Poire and Soda is my favorite, but he MAY have hooked me on Three Olive's Loopy (Fruit Loop flavored). Happiness is...finding a bar you love. Thank you so much for making our night, Mr. Bartender.
(5)
Christine N.
I've been here a couple of times. The first time I came, me and my group of friends ate upstairs. I love their upstair area. It's huge and the outdoor area is very nice. The dancefloor upstair is decent too. I tried coming before but the whole restaurant was closed for a private party, so there was a man passing out these complementary appetizer cards for our next visit. I used it and bought the Chicken Lettuce Wraps and it tasted excellent. At my second visit, since it was slow on a Sunday we were seated downstairs. The nice upstairs area was closed.. I used a $50 gift certificate on the Braised Lamb Shanks and my boyfriend spent on the Chicken and Broccoli Rotini. My lamb shanks only tasted okay. They weren't something that were unique from any other restaurant. But the mash potatoes that came with it were really garlicky and good. My boyfriend's food was only okay but mostly bland. There is such a wide variety on the menu though. I'm pretty sure there's really good stuff on that menu but we just didn't pick well that night. Service was really good though. As much as I hate crowdedness, I'm going to say that it's best to come here on a crowded night, so that means Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Our waitress left and a new one came. I paid with my gift card but the new waitress didn't give me a bill back to tip. When you use your gift card, they charge an extra $1 when you tip with your credit card. I wasn't told that late at night but I just went with it anyways. I tipped generously since we were frequently tended to.
(3)
Taylor J.
I had a great time at the loft last Saturday with my friends. The DJ was good and there weren't many problems with other guys! The dance floor was a little small- but with no cover charge you can't expect much else. I'd definitely go back
(3)
Mya M.
Came here on a Friday night. So much better than Saturdays! There's two places to park on the left side of Loft, off of 2nd Street: there's the Safeway parking lot which is free with validation and a parking garage across from safeway which is $5 flat for the whole night. Music was good! Old school hip-hop mostly. Drinks weren't so bad also- i'm such a girl when it comes to drinks because i like them fruity with just a hint of alcohol - If you're like me order a Gummy Bear cocktail which is only $6. Oh Loft, till we meet again.
(4)
Priscilla O.
Came here for drinks & appetizers with some friends. Okay...let's start off with our waitress. As kind as she was...she totally forgot about us. There was only 1 other party out on the patio & she kept forgetting our orders & requests. We got our food pretty slowly...due to that. the food had dinky portions, and it's pretty pricey. one thing that just MIGHT pull me back...is their bread & dip. what?! goodness gracious i felt as if i was addicted to their balsamic dip. it's...hands down the best thing i've ever dipped bread into. Our waitress then told us that the chef puts HONEY into the balsamic vinegar. Yummmmm. BUUUT...something I can replicate at home. I've tried a couple times & I've come close. :P the bread dip alone = 5 stars. lololol....everything else...2. -.-;; Just didn't have a very good experience there & paid way too much for mere appetizers. also when we exited there was a dance floor going on. it looked kinda sad...but maybe because it was a thurs. night instead of a sat night or something... I wouldn't come here again.
(2)
E T.
I can see why their rating is so low! Got escorted out tonight because I was just standing there having my drink. Your so called bouncers are costing you money and business! Complete incompetence!
(1)
Mage L.
$6 happy hour mixed drinks and $4 beers aren't really that good of a deal. The $6 turkey avocado sliders were okay, but the onion rings were just a greasy mess. Coming during happy hour is fine, but I wouldn't want to pay full prices for their weak drinks. Our group had a table reserved but it wasn't ready even an hour and a half after after we got there. There was plenty of standing room, but still.
(3)
Angeline H.
3 stars because they don't charge for cover. The nightlife here is pretty decent. But living in MAN JOSE, you're more likely to be groped, stared down, or have some creepy indian guy dancing behind you on the dance floor. No doubt, it's a cool place in the summer when the outside back patio what ever you want to call it is open. The bartenders are super sweet and hook it up if you ask nicely.
(3)
Elise G.
The food was really expensive and the presentation was not at all impressive for the price. I was disappointed. Scallop Salad ($20): Fishy. Prawn Salad ($18): Good. The prawns were cooked nicely and grilled. Side salad ($7): Mixed greens. Pretty plain with just the lettuce and your choice of dressing. I got creamy balsamic on the side. I liked it, but it wasn't anything I couldn't have made at home. Marinated Fire Roasted Artichoke ($11): It tasted good all charred with the chipotle mayo, but it wasn't amazing. Steak Bites ($14): Great dipping sauce that was like gravy. 8 oz of cubed beef cooked to order. They allowed us to order half med-rare and half med-well, which was nice. Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($11): Chicken, raw veggies, and teriyaki sauce. I liked it. The dish was sweet and the lettuce was crisp and fresh. Service was slow. The food came out before the drinks, which were sitting at the service bar for a while. We ordered salads and small plates, which took a while, considering how simple they looked. The manager apologized for the service and another more knowledgeable server took over, which made our experience a bit better. The bartender, Veronica was nice. I probably wouldn't come back again because the food wasn't that good.
(3)
Christie B.
This is a review for the food not the club Took my daughter here for dinner last night before we headed off to watch Cirque du soleil at the Shark Tank. It was early for a friday so the place was a tad empty when we got there but filled up before we left. LOVE the exposed brick and whole feel of the resturant. Our waitress was great and the owner happend to be at the upstairs bar and greated us with a huge smile which is always a plus! Thanks Cam! We were brought soft bread & butter and their signature dipping sauce. Yum yum yum! The butter was soft which was nice but it would have been even better if the bread was warm. But of course this didn't stop up from eating every crumb. My daughter had the small plate of short ribs and veggies. I was impressed with the portion size for only being a small plate item. Ribs were tender and flavorful and plenty of fresh and perfectly cooked veggies. There was so much food for her she acually couldn't eat it all. Yes ... she may be 20 but she's an itty bitty. I had the grilled shrimp plate that came with the same veggies and I changed my rice for potatoes. Every mouthful was perfect. Tons of shrimp that were prefectly grilled, potates were flufy and flavorful too. Price was good for portion size, resturant location and great service! We both left full and extremely happy with our meals. Already looking forward to our next visit!
(4)
Jake K.
This club is run by thugs with over aggressive bouncers. Drinks are overpriced and the crowd is seedy. Stand on the wrong side of the bar and they throw you out for "clogging traffic", and shove you on the way down the stairs to the exit.
(1)
Surge C.
Welcome to Man Jose ladies and gents! I have a love-hate relationship with Loft. I've had a couple good times, some bad times, but no great times here. Only reason I keep coming back is because the bouncers are incredibly nice, the bartenders are cool, they play my booty-shaking music often, and it is convenient (more emphasis on convenience). It's one of the few spots I will tolerate if I have to come party in San Jose. However, gentlemen, do not expect to find many ladies here. This place is always a sausage fest, as are most SJ spots. I find myself drinking more to tolerate the scene. The good thing about Loft is there is never cover. The bad thing? Well..............
(3)
James N.
I came here drunk. Very drunk. All I remember is that I was told to take off my hat by these bouncers. To go up to the loft of course, you have to go up some stairs. Leaving this place was the biggest adventure I've ever had. Those stairs looked so intimidating when you're seeing through drunk-goggles. No cover fee which was pretty cool. All I had to drink here was water I think, I don't remember. Sorry for the useless review. LOL
(3)
Kivani R.
I've now visited the Loft twice for dinner. My first experience here was definitely better than my last. Being a server at a downtown restaurant myself, I know how hectic a busy night can get and I know how much harder a "complicated table" can make it. Though my last visit was on a very slow night. And service was beyond horrible in more ways than one. We arrived at 445 for a 5 o'clock reservation. We were seated promptly by a woman who happened to be our server. We ordered drinks off the happy hour (there was 4 of us at this point and we were the only people seated in the entire restaurant). The first round took almost 10 min to arrive. The drinks were good though. We had also ordered appetizers, which took maybe and additional 20 min to arrive. We were ready for round 2 before the appetizers ever arrived, those took maybe another 10 minutes to arrive(the restaurant was still empty) at this point I was pretty upset because I literally watched our server gossip and giggle with other employees in the bar. Took her about 5 minutes to get started on our drinks. When she brought our drinks over I asked her what took so long... I also mentioned how the appetizers took a while and we were the only table present... She never apologized and blamed another waitress for not sending our order in. I then saw her walk back to the bar and tell all the servers present our entire conversation(not in a polite manner). I also overheard management talking to another server about how her table earlier was "high maintenance" he laughed about this.... I'd say it's safe to assume he promotes this kind of behavior. Anyhow, after tonight I will never come to the Loft for dinner, food was mediocre and staff def does not give a damn about costumer service. Only reason our server got a tip is because I myself am a server and understand servers depend on their tips. Was not deserved though.
(1)
Zeke A.
This place had pretty good food, and the atmosphere was okay. We sat outside in the patio section, but it seemed like were were surrounded by salmon concrete walls and not really outside. The waiter was a bit slow as well. I think the worst part of my evening were the semi uncomfortable chairs and the lamp heaters were way too hot. I felt like I was going to break a sweat. I think I got a good tan though. HA!
(3)
Alina S.
Unbelievable. This place requires 2 forms of id. Yes, for most people they do ask you, unless you're a regular which I am definitely not. It has a environment to lounge. The dance floor upstairs gets too packed and the sound system broke early in the evening, which is a sign that this place was ghetto-fab! haha I am just glad I didn't have to pay any cover charge. Watch out for long and unnecessary lines outside.
(2)
Enrique M.
I came here one night for a night of dancing with my girlfriend. And after searching through different clubs we ended up coming here. First of all there's no cover charge! so good thing for us. We got there pretty early, around 10pm and it was pretty empty. Most people were having a drink at the bar or gathered with friends and chatting it up. It wasn't till around 10:45ish where people started dancing. The DJ did a very good job with the music! I loved it! Getting drinks I found was very easy, I didn't have to fight my way to the counter. Quickly got in there, got my drinks, and got out. The crowd was also mainly asian and my gf ran into a bunch of her friends. She's a native of SJ, not me, I'm from MV. The security guys did a great job keeping everyone in check, ie making sure no one was blocking the stairs, cleaning up empty cups, etc. Now for the bad, The drinks were good but just a little pricey. by 1230 it was way too packed, got very hard to even dance on the dance floor. There were tons of "wallflowers" there, googling all the ladies. They got in my way and made it too crowded. We left at about 1:00 because it got way too crowded. Overall great place, I wouldnt mind coming back. Just a word of advice, have a couple drinks/shots before showing up because the drinks were pricey.
(3)
Jennifer S.
Went to Loft bar and Bistro after an evening at the Improv. Weather was warm and we sat on patio. We were greeted by a nervous new waitress that was very lost how to take a drink order... what is Ketel one?? LOL We did not eat dinner, but we enjoyed some super overpriced drinks... $11 for a shot of Patron?? WOW.. $7 for a coors?? Get outta here. Never again I am sorry to say...
(2)
Kitty B.
This is my favorite happy hour spot. My collegues, friends and family enjoy coming here. Kam, Adrienne, Maria, Shey and everyone on the staff is very professional, pleasant & attentive. I always reccomend this place to people when they are looking for a good happy hour place to go to & eat. The food is really good. I enjoyed the prawn cocktail & the blackened porkchops. The wine is also good there. Great selection, I think. I'm no wine expert, but I know what my taste bud likes :) If you are looking to go dancing afterwards, they have the 2nd floor upstairs. The DJ plays good beats, from 80's, new wave to current hits, except that he skips a few beats sometimes, but it's okay, it happens. Also a good mix of crowd which I like, from people in their 40's to the young crowd. They also have tables & chairs at which you can sit when you're tired from dancing! All and all, definately a good spot to mingle with friends after work. Cheers!
(5)
Gwen S.
If you eat here be sure to check out the outdoor dining. When you first enter, it looks small and you have to go upstairs for the best seats. Pluses: Great waitstaff. We recently ate at another restaurant where the waitstaff was plain inattentive and it really spoiled the experience. At the Loft, my husband and I informed our server that we were sharing our entree and salad, and true to professional form, they split our dishes for us and gave us two separate plates. It looked like two whole dinners! After lame service at the other restaurant (see my other review), we were impressed. The food was pretty tasty, but I can't honestly say it was memorable, except we had the white chocolate creme brulee for dessert which was perfect, and my sour apple martini was delicious! My husband's mojito was one of the best I've ever tasted. Minus: The very sad looking seating hostess who seemed to need a serious shot of enthusiasm for the job. Not the first impression you want to make when you're trying to get customers into your restaurant. (Who knows, maybe she got bad news that day!) Good location to have a nice meal, then head over to the Improv. All in all, we'd definitely come back and would recommend to others.
(4)
Eli W.
The upstairs outdoor chairs need updating The arms of the metal chairs don't allow for thigh movement and are very uncomfortable after 10mins! Wine was cheaper at $7 and $11 for a mixed drink :(. I may go back for a happy hour? Food is fine. Update: I went back for late night HH and I enjoyed everything we got. :)
(3)
Rogerio F.
If you bring friends, this can be a cool place to chat. But forget about mingling. Everyone's pretty much into their own group. It can get crowded on the second floor since it's a long skinny bar. I'll come here if I feel like having a little bit more atmosphere than, say, a sports bar like SJ Bar n Grill, but overall, I've sworn off bar-ing and club-ing in SJ.
(3)
Pho K.
I have been here for both dinner, drinks, & dancing. First, food is decent. Not anything special. I rather go to Pasta Pomodoro. For the lounge, it's mostly a Flipino crowd (or it seems that way). I like the music here, they have good DJ's. The dance floor is really packed. It's poppin. There are 2 levels, 2 bars, & a patio. Go for the lounge.
(4)
Mazen K.
i like the loft because of i like the lift because of the good dj mixing on saturdays, plus there is no cover all thou the drinks are expensive im not a drinker. beautiful girls everywhere. its perfect except it gets super crowded
(4)
Beth F.
I can't think of anything that could have made this experience better. One of my friends had suggested Loft as our pre-Theatre on San Pedro Square event, so the four of us met up around 6pm last night for dinner and drinks. I ordered the Capers Meatloaf, which came with lightly garlicky mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed veggies. Aside from home cooking, I don't think I've ever had a meatloaf that tender, and its sweetened mushroom sauce and a succulent bit of Canadian bacon in the middle just made it sing. At the risk of sounding cliched, I won't say that the mashed potatoes melted in my mouth--rather, the garlic bloomed and as well blended pieces slid down my throat. Our service was impeccable--our waiter was constantly attentive, even when we former English majors allowed our blabbing to interfere with our menu selections. The gentlemen bearing water pitchers didn't even allow our glasses to drop a few centimeters, and if someone finished, they swooped back in with a ready refill. Even the seating was most awesome--upstairs in the coolly air conditioned goodness, and semi dark enough for some killer ambiance. I would normally complain about the $15 I paid for food (interior monologuewise, anyway), but this was worth every penny. Bravissimo, Loft!
(5)
Rj S.
Currently this place seems to be the place to go to downtown. It's nice to actually see females in the otherwise hostile male dominated environment. Did I mention there's no cover, but you have to provide a secondary form of ID. I like the setup of the place: 1st floor is a typical bar area, and the second floor has a bar as well as a dance floor at your disposal to get "your drink and your two step" on. It's of moderate size, but its always packed. DJ is spinning typical top 40/ urban rap radio station music. This is as good as it gets in Downtown SJ.
(3)
Joelle L.
I went here for one of my best friend's birthday dinner. Honestly, she could have picked a better place. The service here was horrible. The food was not good. Their drinks seemed like they were watered down. Thank God that I didn't order a drink or that would have been a waste of my money. And they're super strict with the age deal. Right at 10, pretty much got kicked out, but then again I was happy to leave this place. Even when I am 21, I won't be back to this place at all.
(1)
Cabaca T.
After speaking with friends who've gone on separate occasion, we've come to the conclusion that THEY WATER DOWN THEIR DRINKS. They food is also overpriced, but decent. This place does have an interesting vibe as a higher end bar with a dance space, but it's been getting worse as the years go on. I must have missed it, but I'm pretty sure they sent fliers to all the guys in San Jose to come and make this the biggest sausage fest of downtown. It's the only way possible. The bartending staff are attentive and keep the drinks going, which helps their ruse of watering down drinks. Go to Dive bar, go to Agenda, go somewhere else than here.
(1)
Sara W.
I just come here to dance, and every time, I really enjoy myself. It's nice that it's free, and I love it when the drinks keep coming. I've never had to wait terribly long in line. It's fun to dance, although it gets pretty hot in there sometimes and I can get kind of sweaty. Just look out for broken glass on the ground. I like that dancing is upstairs, and you can chill downstairs. I would recommend the $2 garage across the street for parking (it only takes cash).
(4)
Matt D.
5 Stars This place is a great blend of great food and stylish atmosphere. To celebrate a co-worker's triumphant return from a terrible injury, we decided to treat him (and ourselves) to one of the best places in downtown SJ. When you enter, you might be surprised by the small size of the first floor. It's mostly reception and bar. You gotta have a little love for a place that fills most of your initial view with a bar right inside the front door. Then you'll be ushered upstairs where the bulk of the real seating is located. Lots of dark woods, on both the table and the floor. I especially like the tables in this place. They look a bit like artisan-crafted pieces - definitely not the kind of thing they just picked-up at the restaurant supply store. So we pull-together several of those cool tables to sit around and enjoy a little time out as a team. Our waitress did a fine job finding out what we wanted, and brought us everything in a swift manner. We put in our order, and soaked-in our drinks during the short wait for our food. I had a cobb salad, which I'm glad to report was of the "chopped" variety. I'm a fan of chopped salads. Everything bite size, no huge pieces of lettuce trying to choke you. As I'd expected, it was fantastic. lettuce, blue cheese dressing, little tomato, bacon, and avocado. I think my only suggestion would be to incorporate a little more color into mix. They primarily use iceberg lettuce, so the plate looks a little bland at first glimpse. Color not withstanding, the flavor was there. Great salad. Last time I ate here, I had the panko crusted chicken breast. Another great choice. If I had more of an appetite this time around, I might have ordered it again. I think I've come to the conclusion that I'll go for just about anything panko crusted, with the possible exception of dessert items. Final words on the place itself. There's a few tables outside on the 2nd St. sidewalk in a little sectioned-off area for a nice day or evening. And this restaurant is just a few doors down from the PF Changs location I reviewed earlier today. That means it's right down the street from the Improv and a couple nice bars on 2nd St., and very close to popular places in San Pedro Square. I've only been for a couple lunches, but I'll bet it's a great place for a nice dinner before the rest of the night unfolds.
(5)
Hanan H.
One of my favorite "going out" places in the San Ho. Food was good, tunes were good, dancing was good, vibe was good. I'm digging it!
(4)
Chris L.
I used to go to this place when all the other places would be crowded. It WAS a place where you could always fall back on, and just be able to hang out and chill or even dance if you wanted to, without the hassle of a large crowd. However, I don't think this is the case anymore. There's hardly any room to dance, and all the chairs are usually taken up.
(3)
Rosie S.
Im writing this review for nightlife. I have been here twice. The first time was for literally less than 15 min, we had gotten there at around 10:30 and the place was dead and no music. So we left and went across the street to Tres Gringos Instead. The second time I came, it was a totally different story. It was about the same time on a Saturday night the weekend after christmas, and it was for my 22nd birthday, I had wanted to go to a place that wasnt a club but still fun and chill so i can talk to my friends. I figured from last time i was here it would be chill place to go. So like everyone else says, yes you do need a second ID to get in, i came prepared, with my ID and bank card. When we first came in you could hear the music playing upstairs already, and downstairs was nice and quiet and not crowded. My friends all got there around 11 or so, which is when we headed up to the second floor, let me tell you, it was super HOT in there and TONS of people to dance with, not including my friends...we all had a great time, though fighting for our spots on the floor to dance was a bit hard. One of the down sides, one of the "security" guards was hitting on a friend of mine, then some other guys kept coming up to her and hitting on her as well, i think they were the security guys friends, and they just didnt get the hint to leave her alone, arent they supposed to be working and not hitting on my friends? Anyways, drinks were a little more pricey, and not as strong as other places i have been to, but still decent. The lines for the bathrooms WAY too long, and like everyone says, yes it smells like someone farted in a certain spot. OTher than that, it was a great time, great company and great music to dance to. I will definetly go back again
(4)
Kristan B.
Mmm mmm good. Nice place to hit if you are seeing a show at the Improv. This place is right next door. It's nice enough and our waitress was super cute. She had some sort of Irish accent and definitely made sure we got what we needed. I ordered some chicken honey-mustardy thing, while my boyfriend got the crab cakes. Delish. Let me say this as well, I don't like Mai Tai's...but something compelled me to order one. This is my new favorite drink, let's just hope they can make it this good at other bars...
(4)
Liz V.
The Loft is great, if you're Asian. Each time I've been there, there has been an overwhelming segregation on the dance floor. I guess if you were to go in a large group it wouldn't matter, but if your going with just a couple guy or girlfriends like I normally do be prepared for 0 interaction from other people, despite how packed it gets on Saturday night. Maybe I'm just used to more of an outgoing crowd of people on the dance floor. Anyhow, no cover, no lines, variety of music, and the people that work there were polite. My friends and I didn't need two forms of ID either.
(3)
Rainbow B.
I went here last nite with some good company. We got in line and I guess it was about 11pm. Good for them, they regulate entrance early. But when I got to the door... I had my ID. AND apparently they said "we need a second form of idea for anyone under 25" WTH. I said, "Well, I didn't bring a credit card etc to a lounge.... I could however, tell you my driver's license number by heart...." The dude calls over I guess the lead security dude and said "girl here that doesn't have a second form of ID." They asked me when my birthday was and how old I was... LOL. Stupid me, I had to have a moment to think about it... [[twirling my thumbs, thinking thinking... well i was 21 once... and I was 22..23... ]] and I slowly answered, "24, turning 25 on (so and so date)." Now, this is usually ok with me because I do look fairly young (not to toot my own horn or anything) but this occurs every single time I've been to this place. Halloween for example, same situation but it was much more justified because I had a cool costume on. It was a bit "geez" for tonite. We first had a shot and a mixed drink. My fave shot is a jager bomb. First, the cup they served my red bull in was warm--- the red bull itself was room temp. Well, the first shot didn't matter too too much, alcohol is alcohol. We proceeded upstairs as a wave of people were leaving from upstairs. I can tell you why! Because there really isn't any place to sit or chill. UNLESS you get bottle service (for the patio). Otherwise, you're pretty much herding around the sides of the dance floor, in the walkways, or near the bathroom. EXCEPT these people are real cattle dogs and won't for one second let anyone stand in these areas. If you go, don't expect to do anything else but to wait in line for the bartenders attention or dance. Otherwise, you'd feel herded into the above mentioned crowds. Lounge? I think not. I've also eaten here once and the food is not that great. I've had way better at cheaper prices.
(2)
Gina A.
My buddies and I ate dinner here...don't get anything with crab cakes. I got the crab cake salad and my friend got the crab cake-something-dish. We both agreed that we prefer crab cakes that are crispier, but these were mostly soft throughout and it was sort of annoying. But this place got better later at night. We stayed for dancing and the music and crowd were pretty good. Except that they repeated a few song - also annoying. See three stars. :oP
(3)
Mister R.
DJ music is too hard, too much hip hop, not enough top 40. Speaker placement is a little inconsiderate but to like ensure like circulation paths. No one wants to remain standing near the speakers, but that was a loss of dance space. My ears were buzzing after and it wasn't even great music :(. Crowd was respectful but boring. Not that much dress to impress. I WENT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.
(3)
Denise B.
A great, trendy locale that really helps liven up the sometimes blah downtown area of San Jose. I love the fact that in this restaurant you sit in cute little elevated tables to eat your food. The menu is varied, pretty much universally tasty, and a reasonably priced for the quality of food. The mixed drinks are great as well. This was one of my favorite places to eat when I lived in San Jose, especially to take company.
(5)
Danny P.
After graduating from college about a year ago, I couldn't find a bar that I always went to living in the city. I came here for a friends bd and it totally reminded me of the good ol' days. They played all the good new school songs and the classic oldys like "i got 5 on it....where you from, oakland, smokin..." There is also NO COVER. There is a downstairs part where it is calm and you can talk and here your group talk. Then theres the upstairs part where you get down and dirty. My new favorite spot in SJ.
(5)
Judy O.
I like this place. Saturday night, my friends and I went to the Loft Bar and Bistro for drinks and dancing. The line was shorter than at most other clubs, and there was no cover. The bartenders were friendly and made good drinks. We went upstairs to dance and even though the dance floor was busy, we were able to squeeze in. All in all it was a good night. I recommend the Loft to others.
(4)
Nadia L.
This place was ok. I did not have dinner there, only drinks. I liked the fact that there was no cover charge. When you walk in there is a downstairs bar area along with some tables people who just wanted to chill and still have a conversation can hang out. Upstairs there is a small dance floor and a few seats to the right and the bar on the left. Also on the right if you walk up the stairs there is a small covered patio with tables and chairs where people can enjoy some fresh air. I gave this place 2 stars for the no cover charge, good mojitos and the good music playing. Nothing more because the drinks were WAY overpriced here for San Jose (I pay the same when I go out in Hollywood and that's Hollywood..), when we wanted to turn the heater down on the patio and couldn't flag anyone down, we turned it off ourselves and a guy rushed over rudely saying "next time get a staff member to do it"...well shit if your staff paid better attention we would have and the attitude of the bartender on the first floor. When one of my friends wanted to order a vodka red bull and asked what vodka they have available he just gestured to where all the bottles of alcohol were sitting without saying a word and looking like he was pissed off he had to be there (it wasn't even busy so he could have at least helped us out a bit). Then when my friend asked for Smirnoff he just said "no" and immediately turned to help someone else. Then we asked for a mojito because the mojitos upstairs were great and he just paused and said "we have no mint"...somehow at that point I didn't believe him, I think he was just too lazy to make the mojito! All in all if you do ever end up in this place, chill upstairs where the bartenders are friendlier and the music is good. FYI it seems that dress code is stricter here than others so just be careful (especially for the guys).
(2)
Edmond T.
Been to the Loft Bar & Bistro many time, primarily for its happy hour during 5pm to 6pm daily. It is how it works: happy hour menu has a limited selection of half sized appetitizers such as a calarami dish, steak bites, chinese chicken salad, onion rings and chicken wings. Each appetizer is $3.75, and all drinks (house red, house white and beer) are also $3.75. I usually order all of them plus a few drinks. It is a fun place to go to with a few friends after work. Food is not GREAT but it's a cool place to hang out. Seating upstairs by the window is the best seats in the house if you want some privacy.
(4)
Shelley M.
I have to give this place a 3 mostly because the food is not worth the price. I came here with my sister and her BF, had some drinks and a Tiramisu. The ambiance was really nice and the crowd was classy and mature. After around 11pm the music started and people immediately went into loose mode. Come here for a drink and the dance floor but skip the food.
(3)
Madelyn Y.
I like the look and decor of this restaurant/bar, and I really don't mind having drinks on their rooftop terrace which is really cute and cozy. Yet according to my alcoholic friend, their mixed drinks are watered down for what they're worth. I would NEVER suggest this place for dinner. Their dinner menu has all the safe n'standard appetizer, burgers, and steak/chicken items. I ordered a veal picatta and my palate unmasked poorly prepared veal costumed with the mediocre sauce that it was covered with. Don't let the sauce fool ya.
(3)
Jo V.
This place blows. Saturday night at 11:30pm and about 5 people on the dance floor. What....oh, that explains the no cover charge. We walked in and out in about 5 minutes. I have eaten here a couple of times also and the food is nothing to rave about; the service was slow and unfriendly. I'm over it, won't be going back ever.
(1)
Shalee S.
I had my 30th birthday here and I had a great time. We had the outside patio area and we did the buffet dinner. The food was great and the service was excellent. We were going to stay to dance but I have old friends and no one was feelin the music so we went bowling.
(5)
Gloria P.
I was a bit aprehensive about coming here since the reviews for dining here were not so positive. But I wanted to try someplace new so....We started with the steak bites. This was a generous portion of steak with a side of veggies. The steak was very good as was the sauce, this could make a light meal by itself. We also ordered margaritas, there was a 2 for 1 special on these. These were good! My husband ordered the lamb shanks. The meat was very tender and the sauce was very tasty. This came with a side of veggies. I ordered the lamb penne and was very pleased. The meaty sauce with this was excellent and the chunks of tender lamb plentiful! Our waitress was very attentive. This has to be one of the best meals that I've had in San Jose.
(5)
Julie F.
Seriously, this place is great. I came here for dinner with my parents and grandparents for my grandmas birthday. The service was great (granted it was dead because we had dinner at 5pm because old people eat really early), but still our server was on top of things. Everything looked so good that I had such a hard time making up my mind. I jokingly told my mom that I wanted to order 5 things and she said, "Julie, we'll pay for one and you're on your own for the rest of them." Anyway, my shaved tri-tip meal was great, and everyone else loved their meal as well. Since it was grandmas birthday, we ordered dessert, 2 chocolate cakes, and they put a candle in the cake for her. The ambiance was nice. Classy, but not all snooty. If you're in downtown San Jo, check this place out.
(5)
Kenny P.
Place seems to be a lot more popular in the last 6 months than it was to me before. I dunno, the place is kinda overrated in my opinion. The crowds here isn't bad, prob. better girls here than most places in S.R... just for comparison. Younger crowd kinda in general. I'm not giving them 4 stars because the bouncers seem more strict than they need to be when checking ID's (not to mention you need a CC to accompany it). The cocktail drinks are f-ing expensive as are prob. the shots and most everything else. Don't really see myself going back unless its a special occasion again.
(3)
Brad S.
It was sunny and warm in San Jose and sitting on the roof-top patio was nice escape from the crowded dining room at PF Changs. There's nothing wrong I can say about the food; it's tasty and comes in very decent size portions. We had the calamari and steak bites for appetizers. And for dinner we had the short ribs and french dip sandwich....all were very nicely done. And the service was cheery and quick.. The issue for me is....I had hoped that restaurant would create their own menu and not mirror the food at it's sister restaurant; Capers in Campbell. Maybe if they carried a few items over from Capers, but if I really wanted to go to have a dining experience at Caper's I would have made the trek to Campbell.
(3)
Kristina N.
The Loft is lovely. It's a great location and they easily sat our table of 12 for dinner. One of the best things about this place is that you can have a full huge group and lots of other customers, but it's not so noisy that you have to yell to talk to someone across the table from you. Service was prompt and my food was excellent - I highly recommend the baked halibut - it's been perfect every time I have had it. The only drawback was that two of my tablemates' meals were not put in correctly and then we had to wait for their food to be corrected and brought out properly.
(4)
Lauren H.
It's after 11, so most of the restaurants are shutting down. You are wandering around downtown San Jose with your friend after having a few drinks, not quite ready to go home. You don't really want to pay a cover for some lame club with bad music and a questionable crowd. Since you're driving, you'd really like a nice espresso or maybe some cake, but your friend wants a martini. On top of everything, you, at 26, are starting to feel a bit old around the crowds outside Tres Gringos and Blue Monkey. What is a girl to do? Head to Loft Bar and Bistro. I guess this has been here a while, but I have never noticed it tucked behind PF Changs. The downstairs bar area is low key. Upstairs is a little more lively with louder music and darker lighting. Both serve their full menu late into the night, including dessert and espresso. I probably wouldn't go here specifically for dinner, but it is a great option (because it is the only one that I know of) to drink and/or eat after 11PM. I had the tomato bisque, which was thick and rich, and hit the spot. (I was sorta hungry, but didn't want to pig out at La Vic.) My decaf was surprisingly good. Very flavorful and not the least bit bitter.
(4)
Karen B.
**** 3 1/2 STARS **** Been to this place a few times and the experience has ranged from "WOW" to "Ugghhh." The upstairs sitting area is very nice...their wine selection is sub-par and their food is hit or miss...had a french dip and the chicken penne and those entrees were pretty good....calamari was a disappointment...they seem to rent out the restaurant or part of it to parties quite often (but then again we did go around Christmas time those few times...)
(3)
Colleen C.
We just had our wedding reception here on 11/6/2010 and we couldn't have asked for anything better. We got so many compliments on the food and service. We had a blast and are so thankful to Adrian and his team for pulling everything off. It was a great night!
(5)
Shawn P.
The service was awesome and the was great! A very nice setting!
(4)
Zito R.
can't really complain if the place doesn't do cover charge. only thing you gotta worry about is the line and the space inside. the building is 2 levels. downstairs one is more like a bar type, no room to dance to unless you force it, upstairs has a little dance floor, but always crowded -_- they got a big bar and big restroom. music is decent. only thing sucks is the space. make use of your elbow if you wanna dance.
(4)
Carla C.
The Loft was recommended to me by a friend who knows the owner. I wanted a special dinner for a birthday and they did a great job. The beef spare ribs were very good, but a little fatty (I'm weird about that, maybe they're supposed to be that way?) Regardless, it was delicious. Others had filet mignon and the steak which they all loved. For my 7 year old they were able to toss together penne pasta and alfredo sauce. She ate almost all of it. Everyone was very pleased with their meals and drinks. The waitress who sounded German or French was excellent. I would go here again. Though next time I wouldn't chose to go during Christmas in the park. Parking was a nightmare!
(4)
Lily G.
Good bar, early in the night, good crowd, mid 20's very mixed crowd. The actual loft is probably nice in the summer, when it's cold it's covered and very claustrophobic. The dancefloor is also TOO small, I get mad when girls AND guys are pushing their way in and out when you are dancing, I do not want to fight for turf when I'm on one trying to relax on my one night out. I should've bar hopped, but the crowd was good, so I didn't bother leaving once drunk...shall try again. Also, there was one guy working downstairs who ran after my friend after she dropped her keys, wish I had more $$ to tip him, that was uncalled for and very honest and nice of him to do. Thanks guy.
(3)
Thomas N.
Continuing on my Yelp binge... I am only rating the nightlife. I thoroughly enjoy this place. Great and strong drinks, cool people, cool environment. Reliable. Enough said.
(5)
Wooodis D.
You need TWO forms of I.D. to get into this place!!!! WTH???! I didn't know this place was a High end CLUB???? 2 stars only for the patio area. If I wanted to dance with hella sweaty people i would go to a rave!
(2)
Jared C.
one of the guys we were with suggested that we check this place out. overall it was a pretty good place. pros -nice decor -music from what I remember (it was a good night) was good -when we got there at 9ish, there was no line, no cover charge and they didn't make any noise about the fact that we had 15 dudes (eng company) and that most of them were from out of state. -drinks were reasonably priced for the bay area and the bar tenders were quick. cons -upstairs was packed around 11. you couldn't move anywhere. I felt bad for anyone that was there trying to dance. -the bouncers were douche bags at the end of the night basically pushing people out the door. i think that mostly ticked me off only because i had just bought a bunch of drinks for people and then the lights came on. the bar tender didn't even give us a heads up.
(3)
Germie L.
Downtown SJ could be infiltrated by the Young & Ugly at times. I have a solution to your nightlife needs: The Loft. It's a nice spot for the Grown & Sexy. They play music that you can vibe to. Drinks are okay, a tad bit pricey, and the bars can get full. I suggest going there early, chat it up in the outdoor patio and dance to Salt & Pepa's "Push it."
(3)
Julio L.
I use to frequent this place a year ago but it has changed and not for the good. The food is mediocre and the last time, it felt they were trying so hard for it to be a cool and hip club. That's not going to happen. I don't go here anymore and either do my friends, go back to being a bar and bistro.
(2)
Bryan R.
I always enjoy a night at the Loft. Whether it be just a meet-up with the friends before going to another bar or club or for a full on Loft Party. There are two levels: The ground floor level has a bar and it's a good place to escape the dance floor and chat with friends. The 2nd floor has a Lounge and Bar, Dance Floor, and a patio. They even serve food late on a Friday and Saturday nights. Drinks are kinda pricey and the last time I went I was getting my drinks in plastic cups (kinda lame). The music is decent top 40s and keeps the dance floor bumpin. And you won't pay any cover at the door which is great. I am a fan of this place and I will repeat indefinitely.
(4)
David L.
I am a fan of the Loft. There's no cover, the place isn't bad looking and the drinks are reasonable. It's also a good size, and while crowded, never gets to the point where I feel like I have to be a running back to get around. When you feel a little stuffy, there's a patio on the outside. Overall, it's a pretty chill place to hang out and have some drinks with your friends. However, it's been about three months since I last went there. Upon reading some more recent reviews, it sounds like they're requiring 2 IDs now. Sorry but that's a bit ridiculous don't you think?
(3)
Jessica D.
this place is so retarted. bouncers/securities think they're the shit just because this is the only place the gives them to power to do so. hello assholes, you guys are only fucking workers, don't be acting like you're the boss. pay resects to people and for sure ass hell, they will respect you back. tonight, i dropped my gf off at loft and went to find a parking w/out realizing that one my friend had my id in her pocket. therefore, i asked her to come out t give it to me and guess what, all of my friends got kicked out just because of that. (i was being honest and told the bouncers that my friend has my id and she will be out to give it to me) . stupid assholes probably thought/assumed that we shared ids..how dumb is that.. each of us had an id..he can always check all of our id..assholes probably lazy to check all the id and said that because we're under 25, we need another form of id to get in..wtf..so my friend all had their cc and still, he said we can't go in and there's no reasons for it..fucking assholes probably hating b/c we're asians and we're 1/4 his sz. and weights...stupid dick heads....i don't even want to give them a star but it's required so here go your stupid star ... ps: not that i hate loft ,i love it..but bouncers tonight are efffking retarted..probably pmsing...
(1)
Erin C.
This is another of my go-to spots in San Jose. Great for lunch or happy hour. First of all, the place itself is beautiful providing a really nice place to hang-out (especially nice for downtown San Jose). If you're hungry, I highly recommend the Steak Bites -they are amazing. I'm also a big fan of the prawn salad and the steak salad. The house Mango Mojitos are also suberb. Thursday nights there is live jazz downstairs and Friday and Saturday there is usually a DJ and dancing upstairs. I've found dancing to be hit-or-miss at the Loft, but there's no cover and it doesn't typically get anywhere near as crowded as the other clubs downtown. Music tends to be a mix of Top 40 and hip-hop. When I've gone with my own group (used to hit up the Loft oten with co-workers when I worked downtown), we don't tend to care too much who else is on the dancefloor. Management is friendly, as are most of the bartenders and staff. In the summertime, I recommend sitting on the roof deck upstairs. It's especually nice to on a warm day sipping one of those Mango Mojitos with friends.
(5)
Kristina R.
Went to this place with a friend during Happy hour. We sat upstairs on their enclosed patio and it was very quiet and nice. So, the prices during happy hour were awesome. We had the fried calamari (yummy- .they use the whole squid with tentacles) and a wedge salad. Both were delicious and the drinks were great! The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I also noticed you can get an entire burger for 4.95 during happy hour. I will be going back for sure.
(4)
JImmy N.
Food was decent, but they get 4 stars because the service was great.
(4)
.elin f.
Came for my girlfriend's birthday dinner and were seated on the rooftop patio. Since it was a beautiful, calm night, I could think of no better place to dine and enjoy the elements. The roof was fairly crowded with another large birthday party in the corner and happy couples scattered about the smaller tables. It's simply decorated with tables, benches, a few orange umbrellas and dim lighting. I imagine that this place would also be quite pleasant for lunch. We started off with a round of cocktails (they have your staples - lemondrops, mojitos and variations of those - raspberry lemonade, coconut or mango mojitos, etc.) The dinner menu consisted of selections of meat, chicken, and fish. Not too many vegetarian options though. I had the grilled salmon. It was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of flakiness. The accompanying rice was a bit like fried rice with peas, corn & carrots but gag, it was mushy (and I really can't stand mushy rice!). The rest of the gals seemed to enjoy their meals as well since almost everyone cleared their plates. Only one of us ordered dessert as they didn't have much of a selection. I did enjoy a refreshing glass of port though. I left with a fond reflection for Loft Bar & Bistro. The service was efficient, the prices weren't outrageous (about $40 per person with drinks), and very nice ambiance. I've been thinking about checking out the San Jose Improv, located a few doors down. When I do come back down for a show, I think I'd do dinner here again.
(4)
Kate J.
I went here for a birthday and it was a pretty bad experience. When we got there they didn't have a table ready for our reservation even though it was not very crowded. The watiress we got never refilled our drinks or asked if we needed anything or whatnot. LUCKILY the food was really good. I ordered the prawn salad and it was amazing. But I don't think I'll be coming here again.
(2)
K L.
I had my sisters surprise bridal shower here over the weekend. Originally i reserved the rooftop area but it was soooo hot that they kindly set up another area for us inside. The service was great! The manager was very nice and walked my sister and friend to the table area since he knew it was a surprise. The food was fabulous and prices very reasonable! The portions are pretty big too! At first I was kinda bummed we were indoors since we would have less privacy but in actuality it turned out fine because the vaulted ceilings ate up a lot of sound so we were able to talk and play games while other tables still enjoyed their lunch and conversation.
(5)
Rex V.
Came here to drink for one of my friend's bday. The place is 2 stories both level with a bar but the bigger one is upstairs. There's no cover so it's a plus already. There's a dj spinning some old school and top 40's and the dance floor isn't too small. The drinks here are mildy priced with 3 drinks for about $30. It gets pretty crackin' on thurs-saturday nights. Nice place to check out if you wanna hop around downtown sj.
(3)
Eileen M.
I was in the mood for steak and I was in the mood for salad. So I was pleasantly surprised with the Flank Steak Salad. And it tasted pretty good with the Pinot I had with it. I have never seen a flank steak salad on a menu before, which was the main reason I wanted to try it out. And a special thanks to the host AND waiter who bent over backwards to accommodate our request to eat dinner on the rooftop patio on a semi-crowded Friday night. We probably should've just ate indoors though, because the tini-tiny table they gave us could barely fit 3 large entrees. Oh well! The ambiance was fantastic considering it was a clear starry night and it wasn't too cold. Fabulous.
(4)
Liz M.
Very fun dancing, reasonably good looking scene, no cover! They made me show like five forms of ID to get in though, and drinks were ridiculously overpriced, I recommend pre-partying somewhere else first!
(3)
Steve M.
This place is cool. I have been here a lot and have never had a bad meal. It is a bit pricey, especially if you like to tip a few beverages back. The food is great, the staff is very friendly and fun. The rooftop patio is nice. My only real complaint about this place is late at night they turn in to a want-to-be nightclub. This is when I get the heck out. If you want a great meal this is the place.
(5)
El Q.
A bouncer gave my friend a hard time for not having two forms of id, but another bouncer eventually let her in after making her sign her name a couple times. Overzealous security kept herding people away from the "walkway" into the already packed crowd by the bar. Small, crowded dance floor. DJ played mostly 90s and early 2000s hip hop (I went on a Friday night). Strong drinks- my gin&tonic was almost straight gin.
(3)
Lily N.
This is from the night club perspective. The only thing that will get me to go to Loft is the fact it's someone's birthday and they insist on going to Loft no matter how much i beg them to go somewhere else. Layout: Two Bars. Dual Level, outdoor patio area is upstairs. Call me conceited but I feel like the club rejects go here. Looking to go hit on hot chicks or some hot guys? Maybe dance up some storm? No thank you. I remember this one time this guy was trying to do a back that ass up booty bump sort of thing to joke around (if he wasn't joking, pray for him). He kept bumping his ass into me and i'd try to move away but hed try to part his crowd of friends so they can watch him so he'd move more back into my direction and bump into me more. I seriously have never done this but i got to the point where i pushed him back, said "Are you fuckin KIDDING me" and walked off the dance floor and out the doors. Like i said about motif, having the dance floor up stairs, heat rises. Ventilation is not adequate. So it get nice and musty. And by nice i'm being sarcastic. I think the last time i was there, i was cheated out of my vodka. I had ordered goose, and i always have goose. What he gave me was NOT goose. The music was whack. The music has always been whack the last 4 times I've gone/dropped in (after begging to leave). I am a fan of top 40's. I heard at some point 80's, techno, freestyle (like jon B. style) stuff. The dance floor is a place to be careful on, the floor is not smooth and a girl in heels can break a leg if you get what i mean. If you don't care what i have to say and want to experience it yourself and maybe even prove me wrong. Bring two forms of id. It is required to get in.
(1)
Tara B.
The Loft is a great place to meet for happy hour after work! The place has old world charm, excellent salads, strong martinis, and a very attentive staff. The prices are great for the quality and amount of food. Plus, it's always great when you walk into a place and the wait staff makes you feel like you are a VIP right away!
(5)
Joe B.
really, incredibly overpriced, but work footed the bill, so who cares? I am down here for a week on a work conference, and this is where we went on our first night out. Everything was a little too oily, and the mixed vegetables pasta was pretty unappetizing. Nothing good to say about it. Nothing to see here, move along.
(2)
Deb L.
Came here around 9:30pm on a Saturday night for a late dinner. First off, we were carded at the door, which is understandable as it is a bar as well. But 2 forms of identification if under 25? One of my friends was wearing a hooded zip up under a nice peacoat, and the bouncer gave him the option of either tucking his hood under his peacoat or taking the hooded zip-up off entirely. Seriously? It's San Jose. (Not to mention that later on, we saw a guy in a hooded sweatshirt wandering around.) Ok, whatever. We go up to the rooftop where the dining section was still open. We ordered steak bites (medium) for appetizers and they were NOT good. Way too chewy. I ordered a wedge salad, which was decently fresh but drowned in too much blue cheese dressing. It's pretty hard to mess up a salad. Halfway through our dinner, our waitress carded us again. Again? I mentioned that we were already carded at the door, but she mumbled something about "not being in her presence" and so we handed over our IDs again. The funny thing was, my friend decided later on to order one of their mixed cocktails, and was carded AGAIN. Wow. It wasn't even worth it because the cocktail tasted like children's cough syrup mixed with rotten apples. By the time we were finished, it was already 11pm. The music was blasting inside that I had to yell at the others to make myself heard. I just think that if they're going to serve food in a sit-down setting late night, to at least separate the bar/club area better from the dining area. Not planning to return anytime soon.
(2)
Bernie P.
i usually only come here to pre-drink before hitting up Voodoo. i actually had my bday dinner there.. the food wasn't bad but i thought it wasn't worth the price either way the bill was racked up. bar service is never bad and they always have a DJ Thursday - Saturday.. they make really good mojitos! the only thing i wish they did was allow people to smoke on their outside patio! and the dance space is awkward... its smack dab in the middle of a dining area some nights.. i mean I'm not sure late 30 year olds wanna see the new 21 get low to some Lil Jon? i think that vibe needs to be reviewed by management.
(3)
Tara P.
We had a dinner party of 15 at the Loft Bar and Bistro and had a GREAT time!! It was work friends for a night out after we had a conference in San Jose. Great food, great service, great company and great conversation. I, being the red meat eater that I am, ordered the Grilled Filet Mignon and it was DE-LISH! Prepared exactly as I asked: Medium Rare with just the right pink in the middle! My friend Annie ordered the Panko Crusted Chicken Breast. We were all taken back by the size (hence the photo I am adding with her hands next to it!) She said it as yummy, but unfortunately couldn't eat the whole thing, She sure did make the effort!! My friend Jen ordered the Cajun Spice Ahi Tuna and thought that was delicious too. After dinner, most of our party left, but the remainder of us took the party to the patio and enjoyed more drinks and more great conversation. I highly recommend this establishment. If I am ever in San Jose again, I would definitely make the effort to eat here again!
(4)
Jason F.
I am thinking of possibly going here for my Birthday so I figured I should try it out. We went on a very quiet rainy Monday evening and were seated immediately. We checked out the menu and noticed it was a bit spendy for the offerings. I ordered the wedge salad with crab cakes with some wine. I enjoyed both and had a really nice experience. The service and food were good, just wasn't in love with the pricing. It seemed like you could get similar food elsewhere for cheeper but overall good experience and nice place.
(4)
Victoria N.
This place is perfect if your goal is to easily grab a drink and have a good time with friends, either on the dance floor or outside on the patio. Dance floor has a more mature crowd, so there are no sleezy horny guys sneaking up from behind trying to grind me. Patio is cozy and makes for a nice ambiance to get away from the loud music and have a good ole heart to heart or drunken conversation.
(4)
Stephen D.
The night my friends and I went was the night that Gabriel Igelsias was at the Improv on Friday night, March 13. We still had time before the show starts so went to this place for some drinks and appetizers. Just by the drinks and appetizers alone, I liked it. I don't agree with the prices, I mean, for the amount I paid I could've have gotten a dinner for 2. All we had was drinks and couple of appetizers. I have not tried the dinner and I don't think I will. I'd rather eat at home and save my money. But drinks are good and also the appetizers.
(3)
Christophe B.
Rather disappointing. I dined here with some of my friends before seeing a performance on a Saturday night. The restaurant was NOT busy, however the service was exceptionally poor and slow. When I asked our server for a drink recommendation, it as if I had asked her to give me the square root of 473. She was a complete nit-wit. the rest of the staff seemed equally incapable of basic service principles as well. The entrees themselves were unimpressive. Ive had better chicken penne at the olive garden, and that should speak volumes. The flavor was lacking in all of our entrees, and the presentation was very poor. After we ate we waited a good 25 minutes for our server to reappear and try to get our check. After an hour and a half we finally exited and had to rush to the performance that, with decent timely service, we would have been early for. for the prices, you are definitely better off eating elsewhere. one star for the bartender who, despite our twit of a server's inability to make a competent suggestion, was able to make a delicious cocktail called the bermuda triangle.
(1)
Peter P.
This is probably one of the worst clubs I have ever been to. I hardly ever hang out in San Jose, but I was invited to a birthday day party at the Loft. There was no rhyme or reason to their seating arrangements. Having seats reserved for the club meant you got left over tables from dinner which resembled something you would find at a late night diner or Dennys. They are trying to maintain an upscale image, but however this place can not compare to anything upscale in SF, LA, NY, CHicago or vegas....Even anything in Santana Row is much better than this place. If you don't venture much out of Downtown San Jose, then this is you place to be for a high end club. However, if you have experience going to high end clubs in other cities, then this place is NOT for you... and to top it off, I don't mind paying 13 dollars for my Grey Goose in NYC or LA, but San Jose? When you pay that much for a drink, you better be getting some scenery out of it (or a sizable pour, which was't the case) There is NONE at the Loft. NO NO NO to the LOFT as a club..
(1)
Kelly P.
Good food, good drinks, nice feel to the place. I will definitely be back.
(4)
John C.
If you don't know the place and just walk by, you'd probably would not go in. I went in because I was meeting friends there. The upstairs is very nice thus the name Loft. Pretty good food and very accomodating service. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Chris G.
I came here with a bunch of friends on Thursday night and it was an overall cool vibe. The bartenders make some decent drinks and the music is generally hip hop. Like other have said there are a lot of guys which does bring in the shady types ever once and a while. One thing that surprised me is the how lax the dress code was. I heard no baggy jeans, but people with white tennis shoes and regular t-shirts came in droves.
(3)
Hal S.
I recently moved in the same building complex as the Loft and had about 15 friends over for a house warming dinner. After dinner we decided to walk to the Loft for some cocktails. When we tried to get in, our doorman refused my ID because he said it was in bad condition. This was after the fact that I had recently been there several times before with the same ID. He was very rude and obnoxious and for some reason had a chip on his shoulder. Instead of wasting our time at the Loft, we took our business across the street to San Jose Bar and Grill where they did not have any issues with my ID.
(1)
Samson W.
I finally had the privilege of trying this place a week for dinner. The food is OK. The scampi was good. Though, the portion was not adequate enough. Same thing with the amount of rice. Could have added another heaping of rice. This place is pricey for the amount of food that you get as I had experienced. More expensive than Tarragon in Sunnyvale. It seems that the restaurants on this particular block of South 2nd street are OK and pricey.
(3)
Eddie k.
It was ok place. Another place of 200 dudes to 1 female. It was like 2 basements stacked on top of each other full of sausages. It was funny to see the poor females get hoarded by the groups of dudes that was all trying to hit up on them. It was like a bunch of sausage zombies attacking the poor defenseless female..AHAHHAHAH..I want to eat your braaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiinssssss
(2)
Pete N.
The Loft has great outdoor seating for a downtown San Jose Restaurant. Food wise I had calamari as a appetizer. This was the first time I have had calamari with fried jalapenos, this highlighted the appetizer. It was tasty and not chewy. The calamari was not overcooked and it made a great combination with the fried jalapenos. I had a lamb shank which was good but I think it was a Valentine day special. The shank was moist and rich. It had great flavor and was not a disappointment. Service was slow but the best place I have learned to always get a quick drink is from the bar, from any restaurant. The bar staff is friendly and makes good mixed drinks. I waited late to see what the crowd was like when the restaurant turned into a club. It was slow and the dj was just ok. Food wise I would go here due to the great view of the stars from the outside terrace and the food exceptional. The club was not wort it but I would give it another try.
(3)
rob m.
i've never had a bad experience at the Loft. Never eaten here, ok i lie, i think i had an order of fries - but it's a great New York-style bar with a great sense of "i'm not in San Jose anymore" which can be kind of nice at shitey times. It's very clean and there are no crazy drunk people getting into fights because some dood was staring at another dood's girlfriend's boobs. It is actually quite friendly although the dancing is a bit poor which I think they might be able to fix with a better DJ selection and better advertising. But I've kind of enjoyed the lo-key status so far. I'm not sure about the mingling part since I've never gone to a bar nor club to do this, but it is a great place to go with friends and chat it up while downing a few very strong drinks.
(5)
ryan w.
nothing to write home about.
(2)
Joy V.
I am definitely a fan of this place. Have been here on a few different occasions. My first experience was heading there with some friends before a concert around the holidays. They were closed for a giant private party, but the person at the door was super cool about it and gave us each a card for free appetizers for another time. So.....we came back a different time. Had some good eats. Big portions, nice wait staff, the decor is very new york loft, cool, clean bathrooms, full bar with some tasty specialty drinks. 2 words: Bocce Ball!!! My last visit was for my 30th b-day. We reserved some tables around the downstairs bar and had some appetizers and drinks. And more drinks, and more drinks. Oh was that just me? I got completely shit faced. Hey, it was my b-day back off! The wait staff was top notch. Drinks kept coming, free non-alcoholic drinks for the DD's, was a lot of fun. I recommend going and enjoying what they have to offer.
(4)
Loe M.
I always get the Chinese Chicken Salad... Yumm. Drinks are so-so. Service is great. But if you're not in the mood to spend $$, go somewhere else.
(3)
Vick D.
I think its a good place to eat. its not really a club scene. the patio is a cool, peole that work there are great and freindly. the loft is more of casual apmosphere than a fast pace chain resturaunt. good place to have a b-day party...........
(4)
Virg A.
Been here a couple times and my experience hasn't been "HELL to the yea", but overall a pretty good time. No cover- but the double ID thing can get somewhat cumbersome so be sure to bring you license and a debit card. Drinks are expensive so pre-gaming is definitely something you should do if you plan to come here. Music is pretty good, but the upstairs dancefloor is way too small for the big crowd. It can get hot and sticky- but hey, if you like that kind of thing- this is your place! The line for the ladies room upstairs kind of merges with the guys' line. (yes, there's a guy's line). So it's a little awkward to have all these guys checking out the girls while they wait to pee. Still a sausage-fest, albeit it an Asian one (hey- i can say it, cuz i am! :), but still a good time. Upstairs there's also a nice patio area which is a nice breather from the sauna that can happen inside. Downstairs is much more chill but the bathroom down there is a unisex so ladies - make sure you double soap! If all else fails, Tres and SJ bar and grill are across the street so if you don't enjoy, the night can still be salvaged!
(4)
Rhia R.
This has quickly become my go to spot when I'm not feeling in the mood to stand in line or put my name on a guest list for any of the clubs that I still hit up in San Jose. The drinks will make up for the free entry at around $10 a pop, unless you happen to order any of the discounted specialty drinks or come in around happy hour. There's a bar in each of the two floors. However, the one upstairs is always likely to get crowded once the music starts. The DJs I've come across here have been pretty good. The last time I was here, they did a special set for Michael Jackson in honor of his 1st year anniversary. Totally made my night. I also discovered that sweet tea vodka is unbelievably delish, not to mention a creeper. Most of the customers are in and out of the place since it's situated near other bars/lounges. But feel free to linger a while and check out the dance floor upstairs, given that there's any room to do so.
(4)
Johnny D.
Music was alright not complaining, good mix of people, but it was very hot and a small dance floor and u better drink beverage at the bar or someone will knock right into you.. security was ok but after the night there A$$holes they make u leave and walk down the street and you cant wait for your friends?? and they actually touch you and shove you and ask you to leave, and if you talk back in a respectful manner they trip out even more and threaten to call the cops over...
(3)
Maureen M.
I'm a big hater on the San Jose nightlife. The bartender upstairs was effen rude (the bald white dude with white plugs in his ears) and was bitchin to other customers about our drink order while making it. and he over charged my friends drink orders and gave some excuse about the girl who served them before was new and undercharged them the first time. the decor is nice but no matter how nice the place if the employees AND crowd is wack there is no saving this place. there is a lot of non VIP seating areas. and park at the west/east pavilion garage for free. i think i would rather come here during the week for lunch than for a weekend nightclub scene.
(1)
princess l.
one of my good friends gave me a lunch coupon for this restaurant...decided to grab lunch with the hubbs one day and we liked how the restaurant looked like..so fancy & sophisticated. we were seated on top floor & from there we ordered our food. i guess the food was okay, it wasn't anything especially that i would remember for the rest of my life. it was any other restaurant that served 'ok' food at an expensive price? it didn't much 'wow' me but i'm sure other people liked it better. definitely a place to hold private events for 21+ kids.
(4)
Bee T.
A great place to go for a drink or hang out during the weekend. They make great martinis, and most cocktails taste very good. It is one of my favorite place in downtown SJ. I've been there for dinner twice, and I think their food is okay. However, they don't have too much choices on the menu, and only one vegetarian dish.
(4)
Marevie T.
Definitely fun place! Haven't tried the food, but my friends RQ and Christylz spin here often. Lots of fun! However, for some reason I have this luck for bumping into EX-BOYFRIENDS at this place. Maybe its a curse. Anyway, missing one star because I haven't tried the food yet =)
(4)
Emily N.
For a $23 halibut plate, I expected more food that tasted better. It was just average and bland. I probably could have cooked something better myself, and I'm no chef. I would have given this place two stars, but their drinks are their saving grace. I really enjoyed my Sexy Alligator. I refuse to go there for dinner again; it's just not worth it for such mediocre food. But if you're going for a cocktail, then it's a nice place to stop.
(3)
Carl F.
You guys are doing a great job....Ive been there several times, but decided to share my thoughts today Yelp Style.....the food is awesome and very few folks know that your kitchen crew also works at The Grill on the Alley at the Fairmont, which is a huge plus in my eyes and really speaks to the consistency of each dish....Another plus is that you have the only roof top patio in downtown (besides the Capitol Club which is not really open to the public)....Beyond the normal dining experience and tasty food, your Friday and Saturday nights are pretty cool too...nice late night happy hour deals but I only wish you had a bigger dance floor because I like to spread my wings when Im dancin....keep up the good work....thanks for listening...its obvious why so many people love your place.....btw, do you guys except names for a VIP list to avoid lines on Fri and Sat? It would be awesome to walk straight in!!
(5)
Robert L.
1 of the spots we hit up last week. music was good..drinks alright. we were here a little early, so didnt get the full night life experience. will probably come back at a later time next time.
(3)
Jilly B.
Downstairs bar has good, strong drinks, but it's also very small. Upstairs, there's another bar, quaint little dance floor and rooftop smoking patio, but the DJ on Friday night only played little samplets of songs, not the full songs, which is extremely irritating. Don't play just 2 minutes of "Freaks of the Industry" -- play the whole thing, damn it! Also, $10 for 2 bottles of Voss water is pure BS. I know we live in Silicon Valley, so the cost of living is higher, but come on...........
(2)
Zofeone D.
Based on my first impression, i thought, wow, cool, i like the atmosphere in this place, as well as the design/decoration. While my g/f and I thought about what to order, bread and a garlic vinegarette arrived at our table. I though "eh a little chince on the bread". It turns out they bring more without asking. the vinegarette was great on the first run, but the second time they brought bread, I couldn't even taste the garlic until I was maxing out at the bottom. Lame. It took a while for me to decide cause everything was so damned expensive. I finally settled on one of the daily specials, BBQ Salmon with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. I was attracted to this choice mainly because of the cole slaw. Man what a bummer.. First off, for 23 bucks, i don't want a sliver of salmon, plain mashed potatoes and some innovative cole slaw that consists only of red cabbage! You would think these guys would have at least come up with a better presentation to at least hide the fact that they're ripping you off BIG time! The salmon was cooked perfectly and came with extra BBQ sauce on the side. The mashed potatoes were luke warm (like the plate) and PLAIN and presented in a pile, like the cook just plopped a spoonfull on the plate. eww.. The cole slaw was good, but too plain and the lettuce it was on top of didn't make it look to appetizing. Oh god and the drink, how could i forget that? WAY over priced! I think it was like 11 bucks for the bermuda triangle one and it came in a gloried shot glass. I was really disappointed combined with the feeling i was ripped off. NOT COOL.
(1)
Kevin J.
Really nice place to hang out but don't go there for the food! Their kitchen is minuscule and added as an afterthought. I had a Cajun style dish there that tasted like butter! This is primarily a lounge folks and the food definitely takes a back seat. If you're not looking for food and want a nice lounge to hang out in, however, this place is a good choice.
(3)
Bill H.
This place was cool. My lady took me here and I had no clue what to expect. It looked like a bar, until we walked into the back and got into the elevator to go up to the restaurant where we got to sit outside and have some great seafood. I had a great time and had no clue the place was ever there!
(4)
rob. l.
The food is great but the service has been so bad both the times I can't give it better than a 3 star review. Last time we went there we had to wait 30 minutes to even get a drink order taken. If I were eating at the bar it might have been better. But if you can get past the service the meatloaf sandwich and french dip are both amazing.
(3)
Joey C.
This place gets 2 stars by my standards. Maybe 2 years or so ago, when this place WAS good, I woulda given it 3 or 4 stars, but that is clearly not the case anymore. The level of quality at Loft has seriously deteriorated from when they first opened. I clearly recall coming here when I first moved back home to SJ from college and the food was really well prepared, the ambiance was something different than other SJ eatieries I had gone to before, and the services was friendly, knowledgable and efficient. I don't know what might have happened in the year or so time that I hadn't visited Loft, but something defintiely is not the same. The first several times I went, it was my two younger brothers (one of which actually introduced me to Loft) and another several times with a guy i was seeing back then. And again, I remember the menu being decent and the food actually tasting like it had just been cooked. Oh, and yeah, the waitress was able to answer any questions I may have had. Recently, however, I went there about 2 weeks ago with my Dad and my youngest brother for an early dinner before my bro left for boarding school again (yes, he is still in high school) and the reason we went, actually, was because my brother wanted to have their Rack of Lamb i believe, which he said he had really liked the last time he ate there. I had the Prawns Scampi and Dad had some salad entree i think. Anyhow, the server was kinda weird, like, she mumbled a lot and had an accent which I couldn't quite put my finger on, yet, she was clearly caucasian. Weird. So yeah, our appetizer came before our drinks (and mind you, we all ordered soft drinks and i ordered a beer, so you know there was no preparation involved) and the calamari was average at best. I think I've had better calamari from a frozen box I purchased at Costco once. Despite having arrived before the main dinner rush (around 5-ish), the waitress seemed rushed the entire time and wasnt able to answer all of our questions concerning the menu and sides, etc. BUt at the same time she didnt seem new, just sorta.....slow. Entrees arrive along with drinks, and my shrimp, i SWEAR, tasted like they were the microwavable heat-and-serve kind you get from a frozen box in the discount section of the grocery store and upon sticking my fork into them, they were obviously overcooked and hard. Very stingy with the sauce, which, I have to admit, was quite good but barely covered half my shrimp, which, to be exact, were 6 medium sized shrimp, not prawns. Dad's salad needed more dressing and the lettuce was still wet, and little brother's lamb was mediocre. All in all, utter dissappointment. There was another time, when I first moved to downtown SJ, that I took my friends there and again, WARNING SIGN, the food was very mediocre at best. Other than that, this place has great potential considering its location in the heart of downtown and right next to the Improv Comedy Club, and the ambiance is very chill too. I would certainly come back here for drinks before going elsewhere since I do like the bar upstairs and unlike other places in SJ, the ambiance isnt trying too much to be industrial or some sorta fake something its not. People though, can range from your typcial Gucci/Louis Vuitton toting asian fashionistas with 7 inch stilletos to the absurdly loud ever so average white guy who thinks not having taste in the way he dresses is tasteful, so its hit or miss or a good mix, whichever way you want to look at it. Very San Jose if you ask me. The outside seating area has heat lamps so I can see it being good for getting together for drinks w/friends after work or before going elsewhere.
(2)
Tammie S.
My reviews are strongly based upon quality/taste of the food, and I thought Loft lacked in flavor and was boring. There wasn't a "wow" factor or even anything that had a unique style/taste that made me remember it. Sorry. I guess I could mention: Service was good and atmosphere is chill.. can't say much for the bar.. maybe should have headed there before eating.
(2)
Vy R.
Threw my hubby a surprise birthday party here last weekend. Out of all the places I called, the people here were by far the friendliest and most helpful. Everything went smoothly, and we had fun. The vibe was good and drama free. Except for when my hubs and friend had each other in a headlock, and security thought they were fighting forreals. haha... took them outside, lectured them for a bit, and then let them back in. Security was very strict and watched everyone who seemed like they couldn't maintain. I had to deduct a star because the food wasn't all that great and drinks are pretty damn expensive. $13 for a shot of patron? Ummm next time I'm gonna get my drank on across the street at Tres' first.
(3)
Steven C.
We came here on a Wednesday night. The room was less than half full but servers were hard to find when I needed one. There is a bar downstairs and a patio on the roof for outdoor dining. The atmosphere is pretty informal and I think this would be a great place to unwind after a shift with a beer or cocktail. I tried the lychee vodka martini and I thought it was pretty refreshing. We started with the carpaccio and a cup of the creme of spinach soup. The soup had a nice spicy bite to it and while creamy it was not overwhelmingly so. The carpaccio tasted OK but it had an odd slightly brown tint to it and the meat kept tearing up as I tried to get it off the plate so I would not get that again. The braised lamb shank has a REALLY nice glaze that at first seemed cloyingly sweet but with the lamb really worked. One nice thing is that you can order one shank or for about $5 more you can add another. Since I had an appetizer I got one which was just right for me. The lamb shank itself was fall off the bone tender. While not the best shank I have ever had it is a fine example of how it can be done right. I would recommend it to anyone who likes lamb shanks. The veggies were sauteed in garlic and were served with mashed potato. Often sides of veg are rubbery flavorless nuggets of blandness. It is really refreshing to see someone who actually takes the time to make good sides. My wife had the roasted salmon which was OK and had the same veggies. We ran out of time for dessert but we'll look at them when we come back. Overall this is a great watering hole for locals that serves well done, straight forward food that has its own character.
(3)
Caitlyn O.
We had a really good meal here. First of all the service was very, very attentive and friendly. Our water glasses were always full and the table was always clean. . . Anyway the food was really good too - nothing exceptional but just simple, yummy pasta. Also - don't be afraid of the meat loaf. It's was delicious. Drinks were a little pricey. Overall good atmosphere and food - we'll definitely be back for dancing.
(4)
Lulu C.
Haven't been here in a really long time, but from what I remember, it was pretty decent. Been there a few times, 1st time was with an ex, and we ate upstairs at a small bar table. The food was good, nothing to write home about..pricey for what it is. 2nd time I went, was for a friends bachelorette party. Sat upstairs at the bar area, and had a great time. I knew a bartender who worked there at the time, so we got our drinks comped most of the night. Dark atmosphere, nice outdoor patio overlooking 2nd st.
(3)
Amy T.
Overall, it think this place is trendy, cute and the food is delicious! I tried the grilled salmon with veggies and it was really good. By far, it is the best grilled salmon i ever had! I guess it was a bit pricey but it was well worth it.
(5)
Kristi D.
I came here for dancing. Not for food. Not that there's anything wrong with food. I like food. So it's one of those places you get moderately inebriated at, dance in such a way that you're embarrassed to come back, but still do, because it's less annoying than the places in Campbell and not as crowded as the places in Santana Row. They play a decent mix of 90s booty-rap meshed with butchered 80s. People are respectful and don't elbow you. Everyone is respectfully tipsy. The girls aren't pretending to be lesbians to catch guys' attention, yet there's still random love triangles to add to passerby amusement. Word of advice: watch your drinks or they'll be taken away while you dance. I'd go back. Maybe even for some food.
(4)
Niki M.
i've dined here a few times for lunch & dinner and have never been disappointed. as the name suggests it has a "lofty" industrial feel which i like, though it's a little dimly lit at night and hard to read the menu. ;P on the weekends it gets more bar-ish around 10:30 and includes a dj. it's definitely one of the more hipper places in downtown and good for groups and the service is always good. i liken the quality of the food to that of the cheesecake factory..only not as large in portion and the menu is not as diverse. the pluses are the meatloaf, pork chops, cajun salmon & smoked salmon rotini. good luck.
(3)
Lily L.
Haven't had the food here but the drinks are good. I've only been here after dinner hours.
(3)
Jr. Jun W.
Just came from this place... it was ok I guess ran into a couple snoby young bucks but whats new. Music was ok , crowd was decent . nice mixed crowd however everyone seemed to only want to mingle or dance within there group of friends " boring". Would I visit this place again.. Maybe, but its not to die for.
(3)
Khoa N.
No cover, leneint on the dress. Great place to dance, chill or watch some sports at the bar! My new fav place for the summer. Always filled w/ beautiful ladies who are SUPER easy to spot in the mixed crowd
(5)
Korn D.
Overpriced food and drinks!!! Food isn't good. Ambiance is nice, but the place is kinda dead. Came here for drinks before, but never wanted to stay any longer than one drink. Once in a while it smells like a sewer when you go down the stairs. It has the looks, but just have better food and lower the prices a little then the place will be a hit.
(2)
Sabrina A.
I had truely a wonderful dinner while back. I was seated on the patio on top, cute and with only a few other tables, I can like my privacy sometimes. The staff was great, no one was rude or snobby, but rather attentive, kind and willing. I hate when I go to places and its like I am killing them to be there. Anways. I shared a casear salad, just enough dressing, not drenched, great taste with anchove. Perfect! I then shared a soup and steak dinner with a friend, I have food envy (I envy everyone else's food wondering what it tastes like instead of just loving mine), the tomato soup was just right and so was my steak, not burnt or mooing. The bottle of white I was recommended was good as well. Though a bit pricey, the restaurant came through and me feel like it was worth it. Great location, to after just grab a drink somewhere and head out!
(4)
Ro C.
the service here is great. very attentive and nice people. the appetizers I tried were the carpaccio, tomato and mozarella salad and the marinated fire roasted artichoke. the carpaccio was good but not my favorite. i did like the tomato and mozarella salad. it was nice and fresh. the marinated fire roasted artichoke was good and the sauce had a nice kick to it. i had the spicy cajun blackened salmon (low carb). it was cooked perfectly however there weren't enough "spicy cajun blackened" spices. i can hardly taste it. i still love the taste of salmon so i ate it anyway. the steamed vegetables were okay. a little overcooked. the papaya-jicama salad that came with it was mediocre. i must say though that the dessert i had was scrumptious. it was fresh berries with grand marnier whipped cream. it was so good! the berries were nice and sweet not tart-like. there were strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. I wish they had put more of the grand marnier in it. it tasted so light and fresh. a definite treat. our waitress was super nice and they kept replenishing our drinks. a major plus! i'll have to come back again and try the other entrees. i came here during lunch. very mellow atmosphere. not crowded at all! parking was a cinch. there's a parking lot across the street and the restaurant will validate your ticket.
(3)
Heather K.
I loved this place. Very small and quiant. The drinks and food were delicious. And was priced fairly well!
(5)
Michelle K.
I was in San Jose for a conference and we went to the Loft for some drinks one night. I had a Long Island Iced Tea. It was good - I'm not sure if it was worth the $10 that it cost, but they did have a nice heated and covered outdoor patio. It was fun for a drink.
(4)
Kevin C.
Cool spot to eat and hang out afterwards for a drink. They have a outside patio which is nice. It's more of an older crowd which is good and if you want to be a little immature college student you could always go across the street for Tres Gringos. I would consider it more of a chill spot then a typical bar. Overall it's good for thier drinks, decor and service.
(4)
Mai L.
had my 22nd bday dinner at the loft and it was fun. made reservation for 16 people for a saturday night was a breeze. we got there at 7 and was seated right away. surprisingly, it wasnt pack. we hit the bar right after we settled down. bartenders were nice. good drinks, delicious food (even though they took away my unfinished food when i was too busy getting shots). GREAT service. we went bar hopping before they turn it into a dance floor, so no comment for that. overrall, we were really satisfied and will come here again for my next bday!
(4)
Kenny W.
i've been here a few times for parties but tonight was the first time I came for dinner. First thing I noticed were the brick walls, darkness, casual dining environment and dim mood lighting: great ambiance. The acoustics were great too as we were able to hear each other across the table w/o raising our voices. The tables were spaced far enough apart so we weren't listening to 5 other conversations simultaneously either. We had the beef carpaccio and steak bites for appetizers. Carpaccio was chewy but it seems to be that way everywhere. Steak bites were tender and juicy and big enough to be an entree itself. Their ever popular Panko Crusted Chicken was basically chicken katsu w/ honey mustard but it was still badass. It wasnt breaded too much and the honey mustard was a perfect compliment. The braised short ribs w/ red wine sauce was really tender but then again that should be the case w/ anything braised. For desert, we had the Loft Cheesecake, and Fresh Berries w/ Grand Marnier Sabayon. Cheesecake was really good but the berries were, well, berries. Didn't really get the sabayon part. Our only complaint would be the cosmos. It was just bad. All in all, I'd say 3.5 stars for the food but the great casual ambiance takes it up to 4.
(4)
Manuel S.
To be honest, I really can't speak on behalf of the restaurant side of "The Loft" (as it's known to me and my peeps), as I'm typically there to quench my thirst. Even when I have have sampled the culinary fare, I was already impaired, so it was always delicious, right? The Loft is actually pretty cool if you use it appropriately. It's not a "stay here all night" kind of spot. I find it's best when it's seen as a stop along the night's crawl - typically early to mid-evening. Oh, and another thing, I'm talking about the bar upstairs, not downstairs. The crowd tends to be dominated by young professional types (dare I say "yuppies?") for a bit more of a mature crowd (you would expect) than you're going to find across the street at SJ Bar & Grill or Tres Gringos. Oh, and the outdoor patio?... I have yet to sit out there, but I also have yet to hear a favorable review of it.
(4)
J. P.
The food was delicious - filet mignon. *drools* Months later I am still talking about the food. The service was pretty decent. Service for drinks and such could have been quicker considering there was only one other party there. Overall, a good place for a nice dinner.
(4)
Y U.
The place is big some 3 floors giving a choice of sitting options and the food is Quite Good too. A nice place to celebrate Bdays. Most dishes cost in and around 15-18 $ making it cheap for ambiance.
(4)
Michele W.
My friend and I decided to throw a little birthday dinner get together here. We reserved the upstairs area (which also turned into a dancefloor w/ DJ after 10pm) - cute, small area w/ nice, dim lighting. It was a party of about 20 people and of course everyone came at different times! The waitresses were very patient, polite and accomodated everyone as they came....The food was good, had a good selection - but overpriced in my opinion. My friends also had some trouble at the bar when the bartender made our drinks using a tall glass and charged us $9. A few minutes later the same bartender made the SAME drinks using a short glass and still charged us $9! wtf?! Weird....Anyway, 3 stars overall. Maybe i'll go back for lunch, but prolly wouldn't go there for drinks again...
(3)
Cheryl C.
I went to Loft for the first time last month and had the best time! If you love to dance, this is the place to be. The DJ on Sat rocks! He def. plays music you could dance too- good smashups and doesn't repeat songs 3x times a night like they do at Vivid. There's a bar downstairs if clubbing is not your thing. I'll def. be back to shake my ass there again - maybe this weekend!
(4)
Alexandra O.
The Loft is one of the best spots in downtown San Jose to eat for lunch, dinner and happy hour. The atmosphere is swanky, but the prices are reasonable for the kind of food that is served. This place is good if you like red meat and I love the balsamic vinegar/caper/garlic/EVOO bread dip they serve with meals.This is a great spot when you want to watch a football game, grab some afterwork cocktails or a take someone on a date.
(4)
Yvonne C.
We took some friends from out of town here because we have read good things about this place. Even though our waiter told us that it was only his second day on the job- I was impressed by the service and the food was good. I had the grilled prawn salad which was good, but it could have had a bit more dressing. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, juicy and flavorful. My boyfriend had the french dip which he said was excellent. It came with a side of horseradish sauce that I used for a dipping sauce for his fries since he doesn't like horseradish. It was perfect! My girlfriend had the cajun salmon which she liked and her boyfriend had the vegetarian pasta which he liked as well. I was dissapointed to see that there was only one vegetarian dish (besides salad of course)on the menu. The desserts were my favorite part of the experience! The white chocolate creme brulee is divine! We shared some berries with grand mariner and some kind of creamy cheese which was excellent as well.
(4)
Rachel L.
Passed by this place many times finally had a chance to try last Friday for my friend's birthday. When I walked in, it was just a bar and was quiet. We had a couple drinks then walked upstairs. Surprisingly, it was packed. I like the atmosphere. The reason I gave it a 2 stars because of the food quality. I ordered a Braised Lamb Shanks....NOT GOOD! Someone ordered Vegetarian Pasta...too oily. Scampi Prawns...nothing special. Other than food....mango mojito was pretty good. I would only go for a drink.
(2)
Daniella M.
Came here when it first opened up and really pleased with the food quality, service, ambiance, etc. Was seated upstairs. Not sure about prices because I didn't pay for anything but I'd definitely return again. Oh, and the bathrooms are so pretty too!
(4)
Mika D.
this would be such a great place if their marketing was on point in promoting this joint! would come here again for drinks.
(3)
M C.
If they'd just improve the food this place would be excellent. Great service, nice private patio, good drinks, relaxed atmosphere.....but the food is just not that yummy. The fried calamari is blah. How do you screw up fried calamari?!
(3)
Rosalynn D.
was here last night randomly cuz we had nothing to do at 12am....cool place to chill. theres no cover...but the air was damn sticky icky in there with all the sweaty ppl on the dance flooo.
(3)
Deb N.
Arrived at 7:30pm on a Friday night and easily got a table upstairs. Parking was the difficult part, parked across the street and two cars just happened to leave the lot which was full and made two slots available. The nice thing, after 6pm, parking is free, so that was sweet. The restaurant was nice, dark and quiet with windows and dark woods, a side room upstairs, covered and enclosed outside with a stage. Ordered a mozzerella tomato balsalmic appetizer, the 2, 5 oz. grilled porkchops with veggies and mashed potatoes and beef braised ribs with demi glaze, mashed potatoes and veggies. So much beef, had to take some home. Had an alcoholic bev. The porkchops were moist and flavorful and the mashed pots had a good flavor. The ribs were tender and rich with the demi glace. All for $54 which I found quite reasonable with the quantity and quality. Nice atmosphere, quiet, dark and nice for a one on one dinner, our server was very attentive and so was our bus staff. The desserts seemed lackluster, so went someplace else for the desserts.
(4)
Ashley H.
i think i just went here on the wrong day with the wrong people. i think it has potention but maybe only during the week. we went on sat bc we didnt want to go to tres anymore. it was ok. service was a little slow even though there were like 4 barteneders and 2 barbacks. and the drinks were a little pricey for what this place really was. i think id go again maybe during happy hour. but for a sat night of dancing....not so much.
(3)
Daisy A.
This place is not bad. Dj David Q seems to play here a lot. I folllow him around because he plays the best mashups. If it weren't because of him I probably would of never discovered this place. Its a two level so its spacious. Bar upstairs and downstairs. You have to go with the right people otherwise it may get a bit tooo boaring when especially when the music is not right. This place right around the corner is perfec to hang out. It's the cinnbar and you may have heard a lot of bad things about it but I really dig.
(4)
K T.
I went here for a friend's bday before a couple of years ago and it was fun. The last time I went it was a bit crowded and the music was too loud to talk so we left.
(2)
Rod V.
Went there @ 11:30pm this passed Saturday (04/14/07). I actaully liked the atmosphere! Good mix of people, decent music, little crowded on the dance floor. DJ messed up a few times that night, but hey it happens! I'd go there again!
(3)
Mark A.
Great food and great drinks. They know how to make a martini and have a good wine selection. Service is good and when it turns into a nitespot its a good place to be.
(4)
KC L.
Very fun and good food. I have always had great service here. Perfect for before the Improv shows
(5)
Charmayne O.
When I showed my ID to the bouncer, he asked to see 2 other identification cards. When I asked him "you don't believe me??" he responded with " we ask everyone under 25." However, both of the people I was with ages 23 and 24 weren't asked for extra identification! Wtf?? When you first walk in theres a pretty quiet bar downstairs. Once you go upstairs, theres another bar, dance floor, and outside seating area. When we got upstairs around 11pm we were wondering if theres was even a dance area because there was only 5 people getting their groove on! As the night went on it got pretty crowded. The dance floor is very tiny, with strangers rubbing up all over you (not necessarily a bad thing for some people). The one of the three bartenders that served us was sarcastic but still friendly. I love how the outdoor restaurant area can just be a place to lounge while the waitresses serve you drinks. I liked that it was a very diverse crowd including diverse age groups (cougar-ville!!). There's a parking lot right across the street, just don't get run over by the VTA! The SJ Improv is next door, so enjoy some comedy and then come here to chill! I"ll definately be going back : )
(4)
Douglas R.
great place for down home cooking. good portions but the tables are a little close together. desert a little pricey for frozen prep.
(4)
soy y.
This place has the slowest service ever. I've eaten here twice (once for a bday function, the other just for a weeknight dinner) and both times the service was sooooooooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwww. Food was good but it took us over a half hour just for somebody to take our order. Got a drink on the house because of it but.... There really weren't that many people at the restaurant to warrant that long of a wait.
(3)
bei c.
The food was average. I had the marinated flank steak--dry and rough. My friend's chicken marsela tasted like it had been doused in clam sauce. However, the service was exceptional, and I had a lot of fun there nonetheless. The ambience there is really nice too, but just a little too dark for me.
(3)
Aarica C.
Very cute, trendy place. Very good food. Kind of expensive but worth it if you are with the right company. The drinks are good and strong, just like they should be!
(4)
P H I L H.
The Loft has a great bar upstairs with a little one downstairs. The rooftop patio is especially nice for warm nights with comfy furnishings. Food is good for a decent meal once in a while between drinks.
(4)
Tawheed K.
I went to the Loft with a couple of friends on a Saturday night. Although the San Jose Bar and Grill, which lies across the street, was overflowing with people, the Loft sported a much lighter crowd with mostly couples in their corners doing their own thing. The outdoor patio was an awesome area, definitely good for larger group gatherings. The drinks were strong, and the waiters were very friendly. Overall a good experience. But don't expect to go there to meet new people.
(4)
Stefan E.
The manager at the Loft is the biggest prick I've met in my life, avoid the place at all cost!!!
(1)
Patrick U.
Very much mediocre service and less than mediocre food! My friend had the mango mojito that did not taste like mango at all. I saw a lady on the next table who ordered that same drink and she actually asked the waitress if it really was the mango rather than the regular. One word of advice to all the servers in the restaurant industry, please don't ask us how we are doing when we have our mouth full of food. I almost chock on my sandwich trying to answer the waitress that it's we are OK for the moment. My guests and I've ordered a couple of dessert to share considering one of my guest was a pastry chef at a four star restaurant. She thought that it was a joke to call those blobs --- "desserts". She said that the fruits with Grand Marnier sabayon were too watery as if those berries had been washed and served in non-fat milk and had no trace of Grand Marnier flavor at all. The white chocolate creme brulee was so thick and egg-y, it had very unpleasant mouth feel. She said that the first year culinary student would have made the better dessert than those we had that night. The only good impression I've got out of that night was that the busser was very swift, quiet and very polite. I would have had him as our waiter than the waitress we were stuck with that night.
(2)
Kevin K.
I've both dined at the loft as well as threw back a few drinks at this place. Their food is pretty good and its a fun place to go if you're looking for a chill NYC like lounge atmosphere. My friends and I like to go there on the weekends to have a few drinks before hitting the clubs since the lines at the bars there are much shorter than at other places. There's usually no cover charge and you can find a seat on their outside patio. Def a place to get your drink on before hitting up the downtown nightlife.
(4)
Marialinh L.
I am a fan of their garlic tomato bisque. The other food is pretty good American. Nothing too spectacular. I frequent this place for lunch since I work downtown and it's a good spot to grab a salad or their sandwiches. I think Capers (their other restaurant) is better. But overall, the restaurant has a nice ambiance and is nice to go with some coworkers or for a bite during or after work.
(3)
becky f.
Four stars for the upstairs patio area... heating lamps, the stars and drinks... a great place even when it's a little chilly. 3 stars for the rest of the bar area... I've gone a handful of times (weeknights and weekends) and the place has never been busy or dance-friendly, in fact, it's been pretty sad to see a dj spinning all by his lonesome while people stare at him:( I don't really go for the food (unless I happen to have the munchies), I don't really go for the drinks (I've sent three back so far), and I don't really go for the crowd b/c I'm there for friends... the patio is really the main draw.
(4)
vimal p.
not a bad place to eat, and just hang out, food is not bad, had the leg of lamb, not bad value. would reccomend it to check out at least once
(3)
Sau y.
The Loft Bar & Grill is located in the heart of downtown San Jose, so if you're out at the Improv, watching a movie or going bar hopping afterwards, it's prime location to start the night. Or if you just want a meal, parking is pretty good around there, so all in all- great location. Ambiance is nice: a little trendy nightlife meets down- home brewery comfort. It is a bit loud, but that also depends on the time and day you go. They usually seat the big parties in a separate area outside upstairs, which is why it's loud, but it's not unbearable. The service was good and the food was prompt. We munched on bread and dressing while we waited. The food is good, not amazing, but not too shabby either. The prices are reasonable for entrees ranging from $14 (chicken)- $27 (filet mignon). MY RECOMMENDATIONS: For a salad, the Bleu Cheese and Pear Salad is delicious and a steal at only $9. The Scampi Prawns comes with rice and veggies in a garlic white wine butter, but it's much better over pasta (so ask for the substitution!). The shrimps are generously sized for the price ($17) and the dish is a safe bet if you like seafood over pasta. The Braised Beef Short Ribs are pretty tasty and come with veggies and mashed potatoes. The meat is a huge serving split in two (so share if you're not a hearty eater/ not super hungry), the mashed potatoes are average, a bit overwhipped for my taste, and the veggies were just average. What makes the dish good is the tenderness of the braised meat and at $19, it's a whole lotta meat! I can usually get through half of the dish before I'm topped out. I recommend it over the Braised Lamb Shanks, but I think that comes down to preference in the end. Keep in mind, I haven't had everything on the menu, so it's likely there are other tasty choices to choose from.
(3)
Shaye S.
I have found that on weekends the crowd differs from the weekdays. The menu is good for basic american food. Nothing spectacular but the wife and I enjoy the appetizers and drinks. The ambiance is great if you are looking to meet some new people and the outside patio can be a great place to dine al fresco during nice summer day.
(4)
S K.
a great hangout in the heart of san jose. i like the happy hour here better than their day operation, good place to go on friday afternoon. one knock would be the service. the bartender was rude and unskillful, but love the ambient and the setup here, especially the "loft" area. the food is decent but nothing to brag about. across the street from san jose bar & grill. if you want to grab something quick b4 u bar hop in downtown, this should fit the bill.
(3)
Matthew C.
Great restaurant. Most people prefer to sit upstairs away from the bar so don't be hesitant when you see an empty entrance to the restaurant. Take the elevator upstairs; for some reason that built up a lot of anticipation for the food in me. The food was solid and nothing too bold. The meatloaf tasted like a piece of sausage and didn't have a chunk or two of all the things it said it was made out of. The mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables were really bland and maybe reminiscent of a TV dinner's, but it was still good. I really enjoyed the taste of their sauces. The bread dipping sauce was great, so was the sauce on top of the Panko breaded chicken and the sauce that drenched the prawns in our appetizer. MMm, almost good enough to drink. The calamari also was good; didn't like how the batter slipped off the rings though. And finally, the dessert, creme brulee was actually good! Thanks for a good last-minute dinner. I was looking at E and O Trading Company and decided it wasn't what I was feeling. I walked passed Bella Mia, Melting Pot, busy Original Joes, and Tres Gringos, but Loft's big old-theater style lights brought me to it like a moth to my computer screen at night. I would recommend this place totally as the better alternative against next-door PF Changs. Also, if you read my reviews, I am a total water guy; I need my water to have ice and be refilled constantly. Anyway, so the waitress actually asked me if I wanted more ice in my water. I couldn't believe it. Awesome. Thanks. -Matt
(3)
Gerard L.
its really good there, food wise. i've had two dinners and lots of drinks at this loation...but kinda a bit pricy.
(4)
Waynele Y.
this place is a good place to go to grab a bite with friends. the food is under $20,, most around $14 so you can still order drinks without making too big of a dent in your pocket. the food was good, but nothing really stood out. my husband had the chicken parmigean, which he thought would come with noodles, but didn't and we tasted some of my friend's ribs, which were also good. the ambiance is pretty lively, but you can still hear your dinner conversations, and the service was pretty good. parking was really tough to come by on a friday night. all the public lots were full.
(3)
Suzanne T.
I just had my wedding here this past Saturday! I had a very quick, very last minute wedding and needed a venue ASAP. I googled locations in San Jose and came across this place. After a couple phone calls and an email, Kam, the owner, basically hooked me up with the patio. On the day of, my parents went to decorate a bit (I didnt have any involvement since I was busy getting ready). Since our guest list went from 40 to 80 people within a couple weeks, I was worried about space on the patio. It turns out they let my parents decorate not only the patio but also part of the inside. It was absolutely better than anything I could've possibly imagined! Kam, Adrian (catering manager), the servers and busboys were all fantastic! I can't wait until I have another reason for a big party! Everyone loved the food too! Thank you Loft Bar and Bistro for making our special day even better than we imagined!
(5)
minal s.
My new mantra is to review a place only if i have been there twice. Both the times we went up there for drinks and some appetizers. Its a great place to hang out with 2 floors. The bar on the second floor is better than the one below. Great ambiance, brick walls and decent size dance floor. We got a variety of drinks, all of them were good. Got the calamari and steak bites which were great. But as the evening progressed (9pm and later) the place started picking up, suddenly it was filled with short skirt somethings and gelled back hair boys. Once the DJ started spinning some tunes, they take the tables away. HUH? We were at the bar not even close to the dance floor it was kinda weird. So we had to take off and didn't get a chance to stuff dinner before the place transformed into a party. Back when I was in school this would have been a cool place to hang out with single friends, now its just a place to grab some drinks and go!
(3)
Riff Raff V.
im a fan of this joint. its not a hole in the wall nor is it the tavern on the green but in my opinion it has great ambiance and is very cozy. it is two levels or tri level actually with the out door rooftop patio (extra plus). mojitos are very good but depends who is making it. at lunch its a different vibe, more lit but still very enticing and one doesnt feel rushed, we received a patio table immediately. dinner though was also a pleasurable experience, enticing dimly lit tables and paintings on the wall mixed with dim lights as well. the brick walls adorn many areas of the loft and decor is tastefully done. appetizers will run you $7 to $10.00 bones. dinners start at the 9's upwards to $20 bills. ive not had a bad experience there, theyve all been very pleasant.
(4)
Craig Y.
Me and my wife came here because we always see their ads in the Wave and the Metro. The food is alright, not bad but nothing really special. The service was not the greatest but in their credit there was only like 1 waitress for the whole front section covering about 15 tables.
(3)
Colby D.
Well, although this didn't affect my rating, I was quite disappointed to arrive and find out that the entire loft was being occupied by a very loud, very douchey-music-loving company on an outing, so that everyone else who came for the loft of Loft Bar and Bistro had to sit downstairs. Although understaffed, or busy because of a large party, we were decently waited on. The complimentary bread and vinegar mix were both very delicious, although the bread was not fresh. I ordered the chicken and broccoli rotini, which wasn't bad, but was a bit bland and seemed to be seasoned mostly with pepper. My boyfriend ordered the French dip sandwich, or something of the sort, and he seemed to enjoy it. The fries that came with it were pretty generic. I don't see myself returning here until I am sure that the loft isn't completely occupied, and I wouldn't order the chicken and broccoli rotini again.
(3)
Deepti N.
So I've come here twice with one of my friends who went to SJSU. We've usually come too late when all the other bars have $20+ covers and this one has none. However, that means expensive drinks ($9 for a margarita that was pretty weak and $8 for a fireball shot) and a ratchet crowd. My second time here (this past Friday), my wallet got stolen. An idiot literally decided to open up my cross body and grab my wallet out of my bag while I was dancing with my friends. I initially thought I just left it at the bar, and got no sympathy from the bouncer/bartenders. They were super rude and told me "I was in the way." Way to attract the right crowd. I'm going to stick to The Patio in Palo Alto, thank you very much.
(1)
Lucy Z.
Came here because I read online this was one of the restaurants in San Jose Downtown that had outdoor patio seating. My first impression was ok. The hostess wasn't downstairs and there wasn't anyone at the bar so my boyfriend and I had to wait a couple minutes before being helped. Our waitress was extremely friendly and the atmosphere upstairs was nice. Our waitress was informative and able to answer any questions I had, as I have been on a health diet for a couple weeks. Our food arrived promptly, although the flavor is nothing special in my opinion, and a little overpriced considering there weren't any leftovers. They also charged me for regular price drinks when we ordered during happy hour. I was too lazy to correct them on a few dollars, and I just let it go. I don't ever come here for night life as I have been here before and it is sweaty with no breathing space. I don't think I would ever return here for dinner or recommend this place to someone.
(3)
Lana N.
This use to be our local Friday night spot until we had kids. I recently thought of places to boom our year end party and for some reason, Loft came into mind. I emailed about a month ago and the manager responded fairly quickly. He answered all my questions/concerns and was even able to work with the budget I had. About 30 people attended our private event so they gave us the whole bottom floor. We had 1 bartender named Kory and he was on top of all our drink orders. I had ordered appetizers, but didn't realize how hungry people were so I kept ordering when the food was gone. The kitchen staff were so quick on getting the orders out for us. Everyone had such a great time and the Loft staff had a great deal in making it memorable for all of us! Thanks Loft, we will definitely book your venue again!
(5)
Michelle M.
There's a downstairs and upstairs. Upstairs is more of the crowded dance floor area that gets packed on popular nights. Seems like a mix of people here. I've seen older and younger aged people here. Mix of ethnicities too, but overall minorities, which I can say right, since I'm also a majority of the minority? Hope so! Music overall I liked. Music you can dance to and have fun. Popular songs you know and love including some old school. Bathrooms upstairs for the girls gets packed so I wish it was bigger with more stalls. A girl threw up the last time I was here and because it's a smaller space it really stinks and you can't get away from it. Overall this place is ok, I wouldn't say it's my favorite spot. I waver between three and four stars. No cover so that makes it more of a 3.5.
(3)
Dave T.
Leo, Vanessa, and Mark are amazing. Great atmosphere and service. Great drinks! Definitely recommended!
(5)
Akhil P.
We love this place...this is our usual hanging spot on most Thursdays. We love Joseph and Leo who are the bartenders there, they make wonderful drinks by the mood. They have every option you can think of,a patio, live music, dj,dance floor,food and drinks. What else do you need to have a good time. Me and my girlfriend went here every week during our initial dating days. We love the music and since it is not as trashy as tres gringos across the street it is fun to dance. Food is tasty decently portioned but I think is a bit over priced. During peak and happy hours they should have more cheaper finger food options to sell more.
(5)
Silvia T.
I am uphold in how employees treat customers. I came on a Friday night to party with friends and two young ladies that work there are ghetto and have no class. I was using the restroom while they were closing and the two employees came in the bathroom and yelled. " you ratchet girls need to leave the place is closing".. They are so ignorant that they identify themselves as employees of loft when I asked them who they were to talk to me like that. I am disgusted by their behavior and also because I told "supposedly" their manager and nothing was done. Yes I had a couple of drinks but I deserve respect at all times especially as a frequent consumer. That attitude by the 2 girls and management was unprofessional. It takes one bad experience to ruin all the good ones.
(1)
Jozza M.
Too many smelly indians at this place i swear! LOL everytime i think of giving it another shot the same thing happens all the time. One time came out with my girls and one of girlfriends refused to dance with some indian dude and straight up said, "you guys suck dicks" and she responded with, "yes, yes we do but never yours" LMAO hellla funny
(3)
John B.
Neat, clean venue with rooftop seating. It was enclosed since it was November, but normally would be open air. Reasonable menu. We were here for drinks before going to the Improv comedy club next door. Reasonably priced for this area.
(4)
Joe B.
Nice place!! Conveniently located to area hotels. The menu had quite a selection of choices to fit every person. Full bar with lots of house cocktails as well. Rooftop dining option as well. They even have a kids menu for traveling families.
(3)
Eric R.
The food is over cooked but good. Our server/bartender was pompous and unattentive, who corrected me (incorrectly ) on the pronunciation of my wine. With our table being the only table being the only occupied table he should have been more personable and . The busboy served us and the server never came back to check on us during our meal. I may have given up to 4 stars if the service wasn't so bitter.
(2)
Stephanie U.
I've only been here on the weekends. Too frikkin packed. If you can even make your way in and stand on the dance floor you will get unintentionally grinder on from 3 different angles. Maybe my review will change if I actually went during the week to eat. So i guess my review is for friday and Saturday nights. Downstairs is not too bad though. It raised my two stars to 3
(3)
Kimi K.
I'll definitely frequent this place more often now that I am on a semi-break;) I love the music they play---they play a good mix of early 2000's-modern hip hop on the dance floor that appeals to my late 20's soul hehe. Dance floor gets crowded---but what do you expect when San Jose does not hold many dance clubs in the area, unless they are specialty (i.e. salsa, etc.). Drinks were overpriced as people mention but again---that's the price you pay to go out, yes? Only complaint would be to expand the dance floor since it gets crowded and also to open up more restrooms---there is only one uni-sex restroom downstairs which is a bit problematic for a small Asian girl with a tiny bladder. Otherwise keep up good work!
(4)
Jenny P.
My first time at Loft with my friends last night and I liked how spacious it was and how it was 2 stories. DJ was on point last night too! Only thing I didn't like was that the crowd was really uptight and bitchy. Idk, if you're gonna go to the club, enjoy yourself. Don't stand in the corner and text and talk to the security guard and make a hissy fit that you're not having fun. Nice club, but not digging their crowd.
(3)
Steve D.
I've never seen this place in the daytime until yesterday and I will never come back for the food. Came in with a group of friends to celebrate love. I ordered the lamb and it came with 2 shanks which one of them taste nasty while the other one taste average. I did eat them though because it was $21. All my friends agreed that their food was as good as a blind date with a serial killer. I had 3 friends order the exact same thing (chicken with prawns) and in the menu it says 3 prawns. What's the chances that all 3 orders only came with 2 prawns each? Apparently really good odds because that's exactly what happened. Did we complain? Nope because it's not that big of a deal. It's like going on a great date and get a friend hug goodnight. You still went on that date even though you didn't get that kiss Next we ordered shots (because there's no better way to celebrate any occasion than with alcohol) and one friend looked like he was about to throw up after his shot and it wasn't because he was drunk. THERE WAS A HAIR IN HIS SHOT! He's bald so it couldn't have been him unless he trimmed his armpits. The only reason this place is getting 2 stars is the people who worked there. Really nice and the girl who made the mixed drinks did well. If you want to waste money on average food, combed over to my house. I'll make sure to disappoint you as long as you pay me.
(2)
Jennifer C.
Service is really great! The workers were very kind and entertained us. They kept bringing us bread and butter. We were a larger group about 20 people and from what my friend said it wasn't so bad to get reservations and they even called her the day of to confirm! Food was great. I had the avocado tri-tip wrap which was basically a burrito. I really liked the sliders and onion strings. I'll be coming back again!
(4)
Jon C.
Dudes, dudes & more dudes... Where's all the single women at? I usually come here after 10pm on weekends when it becomes a bar & lounge. This used to be 1 of my spots 5 plus years ago. Now, I hit it up once every 3-4 months hoping it would be better than the last time, yet it continues to disappoint. The best thing is NO cover charge. Also, the music is usually pretty good depending who the DJ is. It's usually Top 40 & Hip Hop. Now, the things that suck; 1) Drink prices ($7 beers, $12 shots, $15-17 mix drinks). That's why people go else where to drink & then come here around midnight already buzzin. 2) Upstairs gets way too crowded & it's because that's the only floor playing music, also tends to get stuffy & hot to the point where the pipes start to drip. Downstairs has a full bar, plenty of open space & a unisex restroom, yet it's usually dead because there's no music. Having music downstairs would at least split it up a bit. 3) Bouncers. I know they're just doing their job, but there's been many times I cant move around upstairs, so I try to find a spot where I can just chill & enjoy my drink only to have a bouncer tell me I cant stand there. I move somewhere else, and again, I cant stand there. It gets VERY annoying to where I would just finish my drink & leave. 4) Lack of a smoking area. Before, they had an area upstairs where people can smoke. Then they moved the smoking area to the front. Now if you want to smoke, they make you go outside & walk away from the club a good 20-30 feet. Those are the main reasons why I don't frequent this place anymore. If they can fix those issues, I'd gladly come back on a regular basis.
(2)
Yelena A.
I contacted the Loft Bar and Bistro to potentially have a wedding ceremony on the rooftop and after several emails back and forth, I was invited for a site visit. Prior to the visit, I had confirmed the number of guests in my party to make sure the space could accommodate the party since we were driving an hour to San Jose (and an hour back home) on a weeknight in order to see the space. When we arrived, we were greeted by Adrian (owner? manager?) who did not recall the specifics of our request, however, after we told him the date and number of people, he proceeded to lead us to the rooftop. The rooftop could not accommodate even half our party and Adrian suggested we cut the size in order to fit into their space. Such disrespect for our time when the staff obviously was aware that we would not be able to fit. Or perhaps try reading emails and not just trying to get folks into the space. THIS PLACE IS RUN BY JOKERS. I don't recommend working with such people or even frequenting their establishment. I would give 0 stars but not an option.
(1)
Sarah A.
I wouldn't get the soup, it's so little and 6 bucks. The service sucked a lot and it's pretty expensive. The food is mediocre but the patio is somewhat nice.
(2)
Emily G.
I came here during the wee hours of the club hours they have nights and this review is solely in reflection of that. I like how the don't have a cover, yay! Downstairs is a bar and sitting area, but you can still hear the music pumping from upstairs. Upstairs there's a bar, small dance floor, and another smaller dance floor out on the patio. This place was packed, so small dance floor = sweaty B.O. smell, ick. Not to mention all the creepers that seemed to populate the bar. As a female dressed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt (clubbing wasn't on my agenda but it happened anyway, as it tends to) I couldn't walk through the crowd without getting touched purposely. Boys, when you gonna figure out we don't like that? When my group finally found a dancing spot it was worse, guy kept coming up and creeping, not getting our obvious hints of moving away. The music itself was ok. The DJ kept playing the fun club hits, but halfway through the song he'd cut it off and move on to another one. I hate that when I'm feeling a groove! I'm not sure about the drinks either, I just got a simple rum and pineapple and it wasn't that great. I don't think I'd come back here again. I couldn't stand the smell or the creepers again.
(2)
Linda N.
I like this place. its very chill and plays great music. I went on a friday with a group of friends. although the dance floor is small i still had a great time. :)
(4)
Alexandra S.
This place has pretty good food! Actually really good! The rooftop seating is really nice as well. They do a really nice job. I would go here again.
(4)
Mary T.
Positives: No cover Two bar areas A patio to chill out Good dancing music Happy hour before 10 or 11, I believe? Negatives: Expensive drinks Too many hungry guys Small dance floor .. And yet I still go here often. :,/
(3)
Pat L.
Excellent food and service. My lady and I shared the meatloaf and lamb shank. Both were excellent. The lamb was exceptional with a generous portion. Best meal I've had in a while and I would definatley recommend to my friends. There is a full bar and nice selection of cocktails.
(5)
Rimi K.
~Classic Loft Atmosphere, Plenty of seating and versatile space~ I came with a couple friends for Sunday Brunch. Ordered: Build your own omelet - Cheese, spinach and mushroom Chicken Salad and Tomato soup The omelet was good, the sides were better. The soup was lumpy but good. The salad was big. I saw the DJ speakers in the corner and the outdoor patio... Potential.
(4)
Jenn V.
This place is a BLAST! I went upstairs to the bar and dance floor. I had the white gummie and it was delicious! The dance floor was so fun and full of life. I had the night of my life here. Great music, mixed crowd, tasty drink = a GOOD time! Definitely coming back soon!
(5)
Lynna C.
Just, NO. NIGHTLIFE: I used to frequent Loft a lot in my early 20s & all of my experiences have been mediocre to just gross. The music is decent (which is probably the ONLY good thing about this place), but the dance floor is so tiny that you smell & feel everyone's sweat. EW. My memories are clouded with liquor and the stench of throw up from that upstairs girl's bath. I stopped going here after a while because I realized that there are much better places to go to dance & drink in downtown San Jose. DAYTIME: Came here yesterday for the first time during the day for an engagement party. It definitely wasn't our first choice, but it's what we ended up with on such short notice. First of all, when I walked in and told the hostess the party I was with, she sent me upstairs to the patio. We didn't think we'd get the patio when we called in to set the reservation, so I got excited. I walked up to the patio with a party already there and I took one step outside and realized that this was definitely NOT my party. There were a bunch of tables set up inside on the second floor, so I thought maybe that was our table. A gentleman (I think the manager) came up to me asking if I was with some girl's party. I told him that I didn't even know who that was and that I was there for the party of 15-20 for the engagement party. He looked just as lost as I did. He went downstairs to check and told me that our table was actually downstairs. ALL that work & confusion when the hostess could have just listened to me in the first place instead of sending me to a different party. Okay, now for the food. Everyone's food was less than mediocre. First of all, where's the brunch menu?! A bunch of us were excited for brunch food, but I guess they don't do brunch anymore. Please take it off your website if that's the case. My friend opted for the crabcake salad and it was pretty much a side salad with 2 little tiny crab cakes. For about $15, that's ridiculous. It wasn't just her dish though. A bunch of our friends ordered things expecting more for the price. The "small plate" items on the menu are just as expensive as the entree items! I personally ordered the tri-tip avocado wrap with fries. The chipotle aioli was WAYY too salty. I barely ate half. Everyone was pretty disappointed in the food. Sucks. Since we were there for an engagement party, we ordered a round of shots because, why not? It's Sunday Funday & we were there to celebrate the engagement of two of our good friends. One of my friends had a HAIR in his shot. It was DISGUSTING. He pulled the hair out of his mouth and I wanted to throw up. Yuck. When we told our server, she apologized and took it off our bill & even gave us another free shot. She was super nice about it, so can't blame her. That's just nasty though. All in all, everyone left a little bit poorer with unsatisfied bellys. Definitely will not be coming back here ever.
(1)
Cam-An N.
I went here with a large group during a conference we went to in San Jose. The rooftop patio was super cute and nice on a warm summer night. We had to remind the servers a few times that we were missing a couple drink orders. It took about 15 minutes between the time we got the first set of drinks and the time we got the missing ones. I had the crab cakes and they were ok. I've definitely had better ones before. For dessert I had a chocolate cake. I LOVE chocolate but this cake wasn't that good. All in all, this place didn't stand out to me in food or service.
(2)
Kathy N.
Friends and I came went here after eating at Flames down the street. We were already dressed up coming back from another event, so we decided to drop in here to check it out. We all get dressed up once in a blue moon, so might as well explore the city in our dapper outfits. We didn't order any food/drinks here. We came just to dance the night away. The great thing about the club on the second floor is that there is no cover charge to get in. Alright! Free entertainment! The downside about this place is that it is a bit cramped on the dance floor, so there can be a lot of grabbing (girls be careful) without knowing who grabbed you. If you squeeze your way through far enough, there will eventually be a small pocket you and your friends can dance the night away in. We stayed and danced for about an hour before deciding to leave. Ventilation is not all that great, so it can get pretty hot in there. A good thing only if it's cold outside, but only a good thing for so long. Also, be careful. I mentioned that it's cramped, but cramped is really bad if people are too drunk and barf. =X Someone who needs to barf will have a hard time squeezing their way out of the dance floor. Chances are they won't make it to the bathroom. If they (and you) are lucky, they'll barf on the floor on their way to the bathroom and not on you or someone else on the dance floor.
(3)
Lisa Z.
Parking across the street is $5/hr on the weekend (pretty do-able). Music is okay. People...not so much. People be spilling drinks and not leaving you alone when you've said 'No' a million x's. Place gets pretty packed by 11pm.... Happy hour cocktails - watered down. Big fan by the dance floor - genius. No cover!
(2)
Vivian H.
LOL THIS PLACE. One of the places you would hit if everywhere else sucks because, i dont know why, ... but upstairs its always packed, hot, and sweaty as hell even when its cold out. the fan in the back does not help. and its free cover all the time. downstairs is fine. theres liteally no one there except to get drinks and not the destination people usually wanna stay at when the get to Loft. They wanna go upstairs. Drinks both upstairs and downstairs are typical strong so alcohol is not an issue. Benches next to the bar if you just wanna sit and chill or if someone's a liittttlle too drunk lol. If you're okay by the sweaty wet mob of people and forcing your way into the crowd, the music isn't too bad either. Mix of top 40s and EDM.... And an extra star for location. Not bad for smack in the middle of downtown. Right across sjbg
(3)
Iván S.
Bocce ball, summer weekday 2nd floor rendevouz w/ Syntax. (not on the menu) Window seating, people watching, a hideout from the casual-usual dive, the hostess and staff here are professional and nice about everything. Mature mover-shaker, office crowd, chowing and enjoying lunch. Calm and relaxed atmosphere. I heard their roasted chicken Quesadilla worth the exercise. ha. Night life. hmmm I don't think so. Peace
(5)
Denise N.
REVIEW FOR NIGHTLIFE ONLY No cover WHEEE! but a LC was $12 bucks ): drink somewhere else and skip the drinks here but make sure you go upstairs to the dance floor! Music is mainly hiphop, and the dance floor is pretty crowded and hot but thats always better than an empty dance floor :) Oh and there's a bar upstairs too
(3)
Wes P.
We ate there on a Sunday afternoon. The nice thing about Sundays is that you can bring your own wine with no corkage fees and free desert with purchase of two entrees. we had the Panky salmon, crab cakes, burger, tuna, and chicken breast with shrimp. Food was a 4 star. bread before lunch came right before lunch with minimal butter and minimal dipping sauce...why so stingy? Parking was supposed to be validated but neither tickets worked...oh well. overall a 4 star experience.
(4)
Catherine C.
Wow is all I have to say. We waited 2 hours for our dinner. Yeah they were busy but the managers should of helped pick up the slack, offer some free appetizers or discount the bill. I've worked at restaurants so I understand it wasn't the servers fault that the food wasn't coming out but at the same time you have to make sure the guests are happy. Waiting 2 hours on a Saturday night when we came their starving after church was so miserable. There wasn't even any bread. I mean she took my moms wine off the bill but I felt she should of took off an entree or two. Because if that I will never go there again. We had parking validated for 2 hours from Safeway and since this damn place took so long we ended up having to pay the 6 bucks at the parking garage still...
(1)
Denise L.
The club scene here is quite a hot mess. Literally. Sweaty bodies writhing on the dance floor, and such a mix of people who aren't quite moving to the beat. Awkward creepers trying to grind up on the ladies from all directions, extremely underaged-looking people, and a lot of Europeans exchange students?!? (during the summer, at least) This mix creates such a strange vibe, but as long as everyone is having a good time... why not? Happy hour is okay. Cheap prices ($4 drinks and $6 appetizers), and cocktails are decent. But there wasn't much of a selection of eats from the happy hour menu that appealed to me. So we went elsewhere for food. Also they told us they would give us 2 hours' worth of validation, but my friend only got 1 hour validated and ended up having to pay the difference at the parking garage. Boooo. TIP: Plenty of better happy hours elsewhere. But if you enjoy random sweaty writhing bodies moving offbeat, this is the spot for you.
(3)
Greg F.
We enjoyed a weekend afternoon snack and cocktail sitting outside. I wasn't a huge fan of the shrimp cocktail, but it came as advertised. We did enjoy the Spare ribs mmm mmm good. Excellent service as well, and I really liked the outdoor seating :)
(4)
Anna M.
I know it was Valentine's Day and the restaurant is busy, but if you're going to accept reservations you should be ready to take them on and not seat your guests an hour late and have food served late as well. On top of it, when we received our food it was mediocre and overly salted that I fell ill the next day. I don't think we'll be going back.
(2)
Mandy G.
Needed a night out with the girls to get some things off my mind. Taking me to the Loft was a good idea! Overall the place is okay. We came in probably around 11:30 pm and the first thing we did was hit the bar on the first floor (you'll see it when you enter). There was a female bartender who was working by herself and there were probably like 3 other couples waiting around to order drinks. Suddenly after 15 minutes of waiting, a huge crowd from upstairs came and the place was getting crowded. The couple next to us before we entered and my friends still haven't made our orders, so we decided to hit the bar upstairs. (Basically the first floor's bartender service is slow). Upstairs had 2-3 bartenders working, a dance floor, and couches! The dance floor is fairly small, so it can get pretty crowded. The bartenders on the second floor makes the drinks quick and STRONG. Got an AMF; Didn't like the music at first but when my buzz started to come in, things got better. There is a bench across from the bar where you can sit but most people just put their drinks there, so be careful not to sit on any spilled drinks (same with the couches). Dress code can be casual or formal. They accept credit cards. & the best part? NO COVER CHARGE! Yeeee! :D
(3)
T S.
I don't get it, the food was expensive and not too good, the drinks were expensive and horrible. I had a cucumber jalapeno drink, both ingredients I adore but the drink tasted like it should be poisonous. Why is this place popular? It took forever to get served. I felt like maybe my presence was an inconvenience for the staff. The loft was cool, if the food and drinks matched, I could see why there would be a crowd.
(2)
Jan P.
Channeling my inner party animal self! I have come here on random encounter if me and my friends are club hopping around Downtown San Jose. This place isn't even a loft, hence, the name... $0.00 cover fee all night, the security are cool and aren't super douche-y like at most clubs. As you enter, there's a bar and a small area where you can unwind and talk, but that's not it! There's an ultimate party with dance floor upstairs with another bar to get your fade going. The drink prices are exorbitant, but I heard their happy hour prices are reasonably priced. Me and my buddies had a few round of Silverbacks, consist of 3oz of Hypnotiq liqueur, 3oz of Red Bull, and 1oz of 151! You only need a couple of these shots to knock you out for the night. I had about 4 shots and then I don't even remember grinding on a chick or walking back to the car after finding out I woke up at my best friend's couch in the next morning. It was one of the biggest black hole in my life. Definitely was not a night to remember, haha.
(3)
Mary N.
You know how Jamba Juice has a secret menu with the gummy bear drink that is highly addicting? Loft has the same drink, but for adults if you get my meaning ;) My friend took me for an introductory dtsj night on the town and loft was one of the pit stops. It wasn't too crowded here which was good, but I definitely noticed a lot of creepers on the prowl. If I come here again, I'm gonna bring friendsies to surround me so that I don't end up a victim to the creepers coming up to poor unsuspecting girls.
(2)
Josie O.
Made a reservation for my graduation dinner and called to confirm the day before. When I got there, they were overbooked and couldn't let us in. Thanks for nothing.
(1)
Judy H.
Cover - none! Drinks - ehh Music - pop, lock, & drop it! Crowd - eww Two stars but I'm giving Loft an extra one because they played my all-time favorite clubbing song: Pitbull's "Go Girl". I was flipping out when the DJ put this song on, and my dancing soul couldn't believe it either since this was my anthem back in my teen years! There is a parking lot right across the street from this club ($5/hour). One of the pluses about Loft is that there is no cover charge to enter. Let's be real, with parking, drinks, and more drinks, a night out can get pretty expensive. Then add another $10-$20 for cover fees, and that means one less drink you can be sippin'. So I'm a huge fan of free entertainment and more funds for booze. However, the number one factor that keeps me coming back is the music! Top 40 hits, hip-hop, and a bit of old school, you'll be shaking what your mama gave you on the dance floor! Now the dance floor itself is fairly small so it gets cramped, hot, and sweaty. There is a huge fan to keep you cool but once it gets packed...what fan? This takes me to the crowd. The two times I've been here, it was an Asian Invasion. My first time the place was crawling with young Asian boys. That's all right--except I'm no longer in college and I feel weird dancing with little teenie boppers. On my second visit, the place was filled with Indian guys--with ages across the whole spectrum. Yes, like grown men in their 40s trying to get at you. Gross. Nearly all of the guys at this club are gross because they think it's acceptable to come up from behind you, grab you, and start grinding on you. Even after numerous no thank you's, they still won't leave you alone! AND then there are those dumb dudes and gals who bring their drinks onto a jam-packed dance floor where body parts are moving in every direction. How can you be SO stupid?! Hence, you'll inevitably get alcohol spilled on you, or someone will step on your foot, or both at the same time. Speaking of the drinks, they have a Happy Hour special that ends at 11. The drinks are watered down and not very tasty. To be honest, all the drinks here are just OK. But I come here to dance and that's why I'll return (and because of Pitbull)!
(3)
Stella M.
The only reason I'm giving two stars and not one is that my pear ginger martini was pretty good. Otherwise, my experience was horrible. My crab cakes came lukewarm and had a strong smell and taste (definitely not even close to fresh meat), and when they came, they were the appetizer and not the entree, which should have included rice and vegetables. Our waitress tried to tell me there was no crab cake entree on the menu. Rather than let my crab cakes get even colder, my husband asked if they could just bring a side of rice and vegetables. A restaurant focused on customer service would have removed the side items from the check, but clearly this one's management isn't thinking about return customers. Never going back there again. And it was expensive to boot! They should stick to cocktails.
(2)
Summer S.
We made a reservation for my birthday dinner (approx 16 ppl) and they were very accommodating to fit our group where we'd be comfortable. The food was AMAZING and the drinks were great too. Our server (Vanessa I think) was super friendly and attentive. The DJ came on a little after 10:30pm and played great (hip-hop) music. It was a great night. I'd definitely visit here again.
(5)
Derek G.
Love this place, I always try to visit when I'm in the SJ area.
(4)
Megan C.
Went here with my cousins for some late night clubbing! No cover charge and drinks are pretty expensive over like $10 for anything. However they have a happy hour before 11:30 on a Saturday night actually, mixed drinks were like $6. Our bartender was awesome though, I told him I wanted something fruity, not bitter, but something that'll do the job. He advised me to have a White Gummy and it wasn't strong but it was sweet and fruity! Upstairs music was pretty cool, some edm, some hip hop, some old school, some mainstream pop, there was a bit of everything! It is pretty packed, we came here on a Friday night. Thank goodness I came with a bunch of my cousins though because without them I would've been dancing up against nasty ugly guys. And they do not allow you to dance near the bar or in the walkway (but we did anyway :)) which sucks because that's the only place you can like breathe!!! However, I also came here on a Saturday night and it was so dead. So I guess this place is a hit or a miss.
(3)
Becca E.
Came here for my first time and it was okay.. The music was ok sometimes they played good hip hop but it was mostly mainstream up until the end.. The drinks were pretty pricey although I think they had a happy hour lol it was kind of small.. No dress code what's so ever I was dressed pretty summer casual that's why I came here. There was lots of random people not just one sort of group so I guess that's the culture random!!! Haha I still had fun with my crew though mainly cause I was drunk lol
(2)
Brianna S.
I loved this place. The atmosphere was really awesome....very loft-like! But the patio is not so nice. The Valentine's Day menu was OUTSTANDING. We ate every bite of food we were served (I was so full!). The beef carpaccio was to die for. Yummy sundried tomato/roasted garlic soup. Lamb shanks...divine. Creme brulee was among the best I've had. We had great service from Jenelle, although I did see some awkward service happening around us. Parking is in nearby commercial lots--expensive but convenient. Loft is also expensive. But not out of line with the area. We really enjoed our visit!
(4)
Shauna S.
My friends and I met here for dinner before a show at the Improv last Saturday. So my review is strictly about the dinner. They sat us upstars on an outside patio that was really cute. I loved the atmosphere, it was quiet and nice to be with friends. The food was so-so. Everyone said it was okay, nothing great. We had two plates of pasta and one of racks of lamb. I ordered the bbq chicken sliders, and they were tasty, but again, nothing out of the ordinary. I wouldn't go back just for that. Bonus though is that they serve bread before your meal which is always a plus! The service was okay, my only complaint was that I asked a few general questions about food items on the menu, and our server had no idea how to answer them. Which is why I ended up with the BBQ sliders, didn't think there was anything they could screw up there.
(3)
Shilly W.
How have I not rated this place yet? Loft is just one of those places where you end up at the end of the night and that's OK. I've gone here so many times, with a group of friends, with just 1 other girlfriend, with just my partner, I can't even count. It's literally a staple in the heart of Man Jose and SJSU. It's also one of those places where you either feel the scene/vibe or you don't. But if you're someone who just wants to have FUN, this is the place to be. It's chill, relaxed, bar-y and club-y at the same time, ALWAYS no $ cover, don't have to dress up if you don't want to, and you can just have fun/dance around without being judged. I guess some cons, if any, are that people complain that there are too many dudes in here. It is true that there are a lot of males, but don't forget: this is in Man Jose and..well that's that. SHOUTOUT to the guys that keep the door and the bouncers!! These guys are ALWAYS respectful and just ...NORMAL. They aren't looking you up and down, trying to find something about you to not let you in. Or making you recite your birthday and address because you "just don't look like your picture." They're just chill and respectful and I really appreciate their no-bullshit way of running business. Comparing Loft to San Jose Bar & Grill and Tres which are RIGHT across the street and easily competitors, Loft wins by MILES. Those bouncers across the street are RUDE and OBNOXIOUS, and will kick you out or not let you in because they just "don't like you." You won't find that attitude at Loft. IN SUMMARY: PRO'S: - always no cover fee - great security and bouncers - their staple drink White Gummy is good. (I think $13?) - fun, chill atmosphere - there are multiple areas for just sitting and chatting and a main dancefloor - hip hop music most of the time, fused with a bit of EDM towards the end of the night. CON'S: - Lots of guys - it can get REALLY hot and musky! They have one big fan on the dancefloor but I wish they had more air ventilation during those times
(4)
Alan K.
Went in at 8:30 on a Thursday night made sure they were still serving dinner before we sat down. We were the only people downstairs. The server was very nice however it took 45 minutes for the food. I ordered a chicken parmesan which was delicious but the mash potatoes and vegetables were cold. My girlfriend ordered the shrimp scampi prawns, they were over cooked and tough. This is our first time coming here. We've been to sister restaurants which have been above par. We spent $70 on two entrees and an appetizer and water as our drinks. Over priced for what we received. Will not return.
(2)
Dennis R.
Horrible service. Drinks came to our table one at a time. We ordered bread for our very impatient kids and that to came out slowly which generated a lot of whining from or children. We asked for separate checks and the waitress said we'd figure things out later. Don't come here with children. Supposed to validate parking but ran out of stickers/cards. Meatloaf was very plain. Wife's sauteed shrimp was pretty good. Can't recommend this restaurant and won't be returning.
(1)
Tram N.
I got a $50 gift card some time ago so I decided to spend it all last night. My goal was to not have to come back here to eat. Apparently tons of groups like going here for dinner. The beau and I were lucky enough to get a small table inside the restaurant. However, the location of the table is so inconvenient as its right next to the stairs and people kept bumping into our chairs. How annoying is that when you're trying to have a meal?! I had a hard time choosing something because the menu is so extensive. It's good and bad. Good because of the different choices they offer. Bad because I don't know what their specialty is. In the end, we ordered steak bites in medium rare but they were more like medium. The one thing I've learned in being a carnivore is to order more rare at a place that doesn't specialize in cooking steak. Chances are, it'll always be overcooked. Although not medium rare, it was still amazing with the cabernet sauce. I could care less about the veggies that came with it because they looked like the frozen kinds you can buy at Costco; they were also waaaaay under seasoned. I had to add a bunch of salt. We also ordered the teriyaki shortribs sliders. This came with crispy onion strings so I was very happy bc those onion strings are BOMB! The shortribs was amazing!!! So tender and soft. I thought the teriyaki was too overpowering but the side of ranch that I got made up for the extra flavor. For an entree, we got shared sliced tri tip. I guess low carbs mean low sodium because they were SO bland even with the au jus sauce. I had to add so much salt. This entree was okay. I wouldn't order it again. Even though there were cooked onions, I didn't get that taste in the meat. The servers kept coming to refill our water. I saw our waitress serving multiple tables but she was still alert when I needed something. Overall, mediocre food but I wouldn't come back unless I had another gift card.
(4)
Marlon E.
The Loft can be a cool place to hang out and dance with your friends, since there is a bar and a dance floor. Most nights though, it is pretty crowded, mainly due to the no cover charge and the somewhat lax dress code. You can get your drink on here, but as other reviewers have mentioned, drinks are pretty expensive compared to other places. In terms of music, it was alright. It's pretty much top 40 radio hits, with some sprinkling of old school stuff. Personally, I would like it the other way around. I think Voodoo Lounge across the street has the ratio right.
(3)
Brian L.
This place is also one of the very few places in San Jose that is not ghetto. Don't worry if you still want the experience or taste of the San Jose ghetto San Jose club scene Tres Ghettos errr sorry Tres Gringos is across the street. You're almost guaranteed to see a fight outside of there. The Loft at least has professional staff, a dress code, and it's a pretty chill place. One of the better places to go with the limited non-ghetto club scene around San Jose.
(3)
Sheila C.
Lounge Review Only Loft, I had a lot higher expectations of this place then I was met with. It is an ok spot pretty swamped with bodies, honestly I think at one point in the night the fire marshal would have shut the place down. Loft is another dance lounge place in downtown. Typical low lighting to enhance the customers appeal, dark wood, over priced drinks of which I can't really comment on drink quality because I stick to shots here. The music is decent for dancing music that you hear in every club/lounge in the area. Cool atmosphere for just hanging out or getting your grove on, I might make it a spot I'd hit up every so often when I get the urge to dance because the fact that there is no cover is actually appealing enough to bring me back. Oh note to this review...The bouncers are really nice, my friend didn't have her Drivers License and they let her in with two forms of other ID which was awesome of them so thanks for not being DBs guys!!
(3)
Cindy K.
I've been here both for lunch and to party at night. I don't actually remember what I ordered at lunch but I just remember it being really good. The wait-staff was also really attentive and nice. As a bar, it's pretty fun. It's usually pretty packed, and its always fantastic when there's no cover. The bouncers are pretty strict and were constantly telling me to move to one side or another, which was confusing because I had no where else to go. The bartenders downstairs also weren't that friendly - kind of scary and mean. But they played good music, and I like that they have a downstairs where you can come escape to when it's too packed/hot upstairs. I would give it a 3 and a half if I could!
(3)
Gary T.
Loft (the night scene)....I've seen it through the goods and the bads. When I first started to club in SJ, about 3-4 years ago, Loft had its ups and downs. I've seen it empty to uber crackin! I remember back in college that this place had the most redonkulous prices on drinks! I've recently partied here to and I might say well done to whoever runs/promotes here. I used to hear Loft sucks left and right, but now I hear it's one of the most crackin' places if you want to hang out in SJ. They now have drink specials from $6 dollar shots to $4 dollar kamikaze and purple hooter shots (?) from 10PM-1130PM. The music there is pretty good usually top 40s. Now for the bad. This place gets pretty packed to the point you can't move or you have to start shoving people around. It gets really hot in here to the point where you feel drops of condensation built-up on the pipes dripping down. (really not sure if it's leaking water but i think it's condensation). They really need to fix the ventilation in there. Overall, great place to hang out with friends and get your dance on.
(4)
Cindy D.
Despite what everyone says I actually like that the place isn't HUGE. It's cozy=] Came here for my birthday and I was like..wait what? The first floor is pretty small and mostly consists of a bar and a few tables. The real party is upstairs. Theres a bar along the back, a few tables, a nice little dance floor, and more table far up. Drinks were good but a little pricier compared to other places. Music is pretty chill. Lotta throwbacks. The dance music doesn't come on til around 10-10:30. Came here on a Thursday and wasn't too busy at first. Came with a pretty big group and the place got busier later on. I hear Loft gets pretty packed on the weekend so I guess come on a Thursday night if you have a large group? Overall I had a great time. =]
(4)
Elizabeth H.
I've eaten here a few times and it's always been a-okay, but nothing to garner more than a 3.5 star review. They get another star for attentive service, but they lose that star for charging me $10 for a light-on-the-liquor Sapphire & tonic. Rounding up to 4 stars because it looks like a great date restaurant.
(4)
Janice S.
If I had to eat in downtown San Jose, I would choose this place. The food is pretty good every time I go and the drinks are always good. I even had my bridal shower there during the day, which they do just for special events, and it was a nice time in the outdoor/patio section. They were super nice and everyone loved the food. The last time I went was during that evening when we went to that horrid Motif place. So we had dinner at Loft, then walked to Motif, found ourselves unhappy, and went back to Loft to find it MUCH better and good time. There was a good mix and better music. Is it me, or are the 90s hip hop and rap songs the best era. Can anyone find a song that gets you hype more than Snoop/Dr. Dre's Aint nothin but a G thang or I got 5 on it? I digress...or maybe it's a point that I'm not the young 23-year old that can club thursday through sunday anymore and when I go out to a club, I expect fireworks everytime, and you should to!
(3)
Chris F.
I had great expectations for this place, and for the most part, they were met. Not surprisingly, it was easy to be seated because it was a rainy, Monday evening. So I can't say much about the service since there was no one dining anyway so of course service would be good. Our server was attentive and our drinks and bread were refilled often. As far as the decor, atmosphere, and space, it is surprisingly large. There are plenty of seats around, and it looks like a good place for a group for dinner. I can't say much about the club part of the restaurant since it wasn't happening, but I'm sure it's great. The food...large selection of food, but a bit overpriced in my opinion. I've had just as good a food as here somewhere else for much less. Two crab cakes for $13 is a bit much. Hell, it was cheaper in Seattle and the crabs were picked right off the water. Don't know what that is about. I'm not cheap, but I won't be spending a lot on food when it doesn't need to be that way. If it was at the Fairmont, yes, but here, no. Overall, good place to go as a group. It looks like a great place for clubbing as well. Not so in love with the food. Nothing really wowed me so much that I'd want to come back here just for it.
(3)
Barry F.
I've recently moved into the downtown area. The Loft if nothing else is devoid of the typical thoughtless egotism I've encountered in many lesser establishments. Bravo, to Che the Bartender you have a new fan.
Let me start by saying, I've never eaten there, so this is no judgment on the food. That said, there's a specific reason I haven't eaten there. In my tireless hunt for a reasonably priced dinner reservation (less than $100) for Valentine's Day, I have emailed several restaurants asking, very simply, "Are you having any specials for Valentine's Day?" Below is the email exchange I had with the OWNER. I wrote, "Are you having any specials for Valentine's Day?" "yes we will have specila menu that night thank you," was the only response. Typos and all. Diligently I wrote back, "That was shockingly little information. Price? Menu?" To which I received the equally useless email, "the menus will be on oue web site by the 1 of feb thank you " In high school I had a teacher who had a son around our age, +/- 16, and he recounted to us how he had taken away his son's license because he received a C in his history class. We students were outraged and he merely replied, "Do you really want to be on the road with someone who can't maintain a B average?" I've always liked that argument. Same idea applies here. Do you really want to eat somewhere that 1) does not offer information to a customer who is clearly in the market to overspend on a special occasion, 2) doesn't know how to use the simplest of grammar including capital letters, punctuation and spelling 3) fails to understand the basics of customer service. I just can't imagine that this is the kind of establishment that would provide a memorable meal...
(1)
Leilani N.
If you're trying to get a drink here at night, double-check your tab. There have been a couple of instances in which the bartenders miscalculated mine and other patron's bills--they either overcharge or deal out the incorrect change.
(2)
Jenna L.
I spent my Birthday Friday here. Damn ! It was FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNN until I had to leave and the reason will be on another blog of mine. X_X I ate their salad and had some of the steak wrap. OMGGGG. It's just enough to split it with two people ^.^ If you want something LIGHT before getting your booty on - you should get the wrap! I love the music. Love Love LOVE! If you were alive in the 90's then you'll enjoy the old school hip hop ( = The DJ that night was on fire.. I swear.. playing old school hits to the new mainstream songs w/ incredible mixes and beats. We had a masquerade theme going on :D hahaha got drunk and started dancing w/ them. People were friendly !! We started to crash dancing groups and everyone seemed pretty chill. My kind of crowd ! Friday Nights = Awesome Nights No Pay = OKAY !!
(5)
Elysse P.
Ghetto. And musty as eff. But when you're in DTSJ, it's slim pickin's. 3 stars for the music?
(3)
Jackie M.
Came here on a Saturday night, first time here so I didn't know what to expect. My friend's friend who was there said it was poppin and I had no complaints. The music was good and the crowd was going. My only complaint about this place is that shots are expensive! $13 a shot, wtf?! Where are we, Tao in Vegas? Pssh, I don't think so. Despite the price being a bit higher than normal I still bought two rounds. I'm glad they didn't skimp or else I woulda thrown a fit. Lol. Anyways, as the night dragged on and my memory became fuzzier I was still enjoying my time at the Loft. This place is a little dressy. A cute top, jeans, and heels will do. Location is good as it is a block away from the parking garage.
(3)
Vivienne J.
Summary: Not a bad place for dinner on a Friday night, but a bit pricey. The Good: ** Fantastic waitress - she had great timing on the food ** Seated immediately upstairs at a window seat (there are elevators if needed) ** They were willing to try and make me an Aviation (it was a little lemony) ** Fire roasted artichoke appetizer ($10.95) was tasty, if messy ** Good clam chowder ($4.95/cup x 2 cups) ** Generous serving of strawberry shortcake (good for 2 to share; $7.95) The Meh: ** "Cabernet" sauce with my filet mignon was...interesting. It was pretty tasty, don't get me wrong, but I'm positive I smelled both peanut sauce and Worcestershire in it. It was also a bit too thick methinks. ** My filet mignon ($21.95) had some stringy bits in it ** What I'm assuming was balsamic vinegar in the oil given to us with the bread was entirely too sweet and there was way too much of it. ** The butter pats given to us with the bread were ice cold and hard. The Bad: ** The mashed potatoes that came with my dish tasted and had the texture and consistency of boxed rehydrated potatoes. ** The "sun dried tomatoes" that were supposed to be in said potatoes were either not actually dried or were not dried very well. ** "Quite possibly the worst cappuccino I've ever had." says the honey. There were grounds at the bottom of the cup. Cappuccino $4.75. ** $10 Aviation, $9.50 gin and tonic We went here because we had been given a gift certificate and had already tried Capers. The patio was unfortunately closed off for a private party (sad face). Total for dinner for 2 for everything above plus Chicken wrap ($14.95) and port ($8) was $106.52 before tip. I'd be happy to go back again if I have another gift certificate or if a friend insists, but for the price vs. quality of food it's not going to be my "go-to" place.
(3)
Cecilia S.
Not a bad place. It's fairly small, and the dance floor can be pretty crowded. But because I FINALLY felt my buzz here, it's not too bad. Service at the bar was quick, our bartender was really friendly, and he made our drinks STRONG! Tokyo Tea in one hand and a Sex on the Beach in the other - wooooo! Side note - no cover charge - beware of the dance floor, either the air-condition isn't working or the pipes are messed up, but the ceiling drips water.. I was dripped on several times on my way out.. not to mention the floor was really slippery!
(3)
Hayne P.
Yikes. Went in there on a Friday night, mainly because my friend was showing me around to places she goes to, and I didn't feel like paying cover because I needed to leave soon. I just wanted to stop by one place just to explore. It's nice to explore. I am definitely more used to mixed crowds. I was dead surprised that it was packed with 90% Asians. I know, Hayne, you're Asian, you should be used to Asian clubs, right? Surprisingly, I don't go to many clubs or club events that are mostly Asians like this, and the few times I have, I didn't really have that good of a time. Maybe I should've drank more or something, but yea, it just felt funny feeling that all the Asians in San Jose were in that club. Club was playing top 40s, with some hip hop from 2006ish or so, so if felt kind of like high school in an okay way. I just felt a little nostalgic. Also, I have never noticed this in other clubs, but there were so many guys at this club. I almost thought I was in a gay bar. No, I scratch that. Gay bars attract a lot of women. I didn't know what to think of this place, but seeing a lot of guys just standing around and looking lost, confused, predatory, or out of place is kind of really sad. Floor is slippery, and the air in the upstairs dance area is kind of... muggy. It's not terrible, but the air just feels a little off. Be careful when you're walking around. It's crowded, the floor is wet, and it's just crowded in there. Pros: - no cover - if you're a single girl on the hunt, this place will be easy pickings (I imagine... I'm not single and I'm not looking/don't need to boost my already big ego) - crowded Cons: - too many guys... I feel like this can potentially be a problem - crowd is not diverse - wet floor - steep staircase (not drunk or heel friendly) Overall, this place wouldn't be on my top list of places to go in San Jose. I would take barhopping over this place. It was a good thing I had awesome company and I wouldn't say no to coming back to this place, but I would rather go other places. Not a terrible place, but you can do much better.
(2)
Stephanie B.
3.5! Pretty chill place to eat and then drink/dance at night. I came here for a bday shindig and had a really solid night. Although, TBH, I thought my Cubano sandwich was forgettable. I ordered it because I saw the ingredient "jalepenos" - which I couldn't resist! The service here was really pleasant. We were a huge party and the waitress was really patient with us, especially considering the fact that we had a bigger party than expected. So nice! The bartender here is super cool too! He had great energy and helped us celebrate my friend's bday. Pretty sure he was one of the nicest bartenders I've ever encountered. Not feeling their $6 dollar beers though. At first, I got really excited when their DJ started playing some old school hip-hop jams. He was pretty good, and then by the end of the night he was going into the Top 40 and EDM songs.....which all DJs seem to do these times. Wish he stuck to the hip-hop, but I guess his music was rather enjoyable (better than Studio 8, that's fa sho!).
(3)
Richard J.
No cover charge, free drinks, a lot of hawt women and the music makes you really high. hahahah Ok, not all true. This club gets really packed so the best time to come here is when you are buzzinn. It's free to get in that's why it's likely pack during weekends. I had a good time the weekend before the Halloween. There were more women willing to get freaky with you hahaha The drinks are all somewhat fair but expect a expensive beers because it's a night club. Music is alright and the Dj' is a regular so you can expect good dance music. The service at the bar is quite difficult to rate because almost all bar that you go to are likely the same. I found that the bartenders likely serve the woman first before the guys... so send your honey to get beers hhahaha. It's an easy fix but the owner don't seem not to care. They should have a capacity control because it does gets really crowded inside. How do you expect to see them girls doing the La Macarena dance?hehehe
(3)
Margaret R.
#NAME?
(4)
Robert A.
Service is not good at all here! Took forever to get our food. Didnt bring out anything on time. Food was good but that was about it. We had a reservation but didnt get seated until 20 minutes later. We requested the patio and didnt get that either.
(1)
Manu J.
The place is nice and the food is really good. I went for a business lunch and their chicken Marsala was so tender and tasty! Just a little bit disappointed by the cheese cake but all was very good and the service pretty efficient !
(5)
Sylvia K.
i really like their blue cheese and pear salad! that's what I usually get when i come here for lunch. the menu is really big - plenty of options form burgers to sandwiches to wraps to salads. hour of happiness goes on till 7 every night. $6 select cocktails and appetizers, and $4 on select beers. the popcorn chicken is good. the 1/2 lb angus burger with fries is part of the happy hour menu and is pretty much a meal in itself - probably the best value on the HH menu.
(4)
Glenn L.
Been here too many times so I decided to FINALLY write a review! My friends and I sorta have this love/hate thing with Loft! We love that there's no cover (the only thing and keeps us coming back here), and we hate... pretty much everything else about this place. Yes I know it's a 21 and up club, but the last time we went here the crowd ranged from 21 to WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY up, and it was on Halloween night!!! The Loft has a bar downstairs and upstairs! The dance floor is ALWAYS packed, and it's a surprise that they're able to let that many people in without hitting their capacity! I still gave this place two stars because there's a taco stand across from it!!!
(2)
Kevin T.
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(3)
Monica U.
This sure wasn't our best dinner experience with our friends. In fact, it was a disappointment. None of us had been to the Loft Bar and Bistro before, and from the looks presented on the website, it looked like a cool place with a wide variety of food. We made reservations for dinner on a Sunday, and I asked if our party could be seated on the outdoor/upstairs patio. The host said that a DJ event was set-up outside until 5pm, but he thought things would be cleaned up by the time we came. We arrived two hours after said DJ event had ended, and things outside on the patio were a mess. It felt a little awkward to wait for a table to be cleaned up. Restaurant had a few patrons but it was quite empty for the size of the place. Didn't even need to make reservations! Loved the brick walls and the decor of the place, but it just went steadily down hill! * Cabernet dipping sauce that came with our appetizer (steak bites) which came highly recommended by the waitress tasted like nothing more than a mushroom gravy. Steak bites themselves were good. * My salmon dinner had a hair in it! I was offered a free dessert (only after another person in our party asked if we could be compensated somehow), but a free dessert was already the "special" for Sunday nights with the purchase of two entrees. * Bathroom was a mess with paper towels strewn about. The waitress used the facilities while I was in there and made no attempt to tidy it before leaving again. At least she washed her hands. Sounds like the place has a busy night-life, but I wouldn't recommend it for the food. The amount of people dining there (hardly ANY!) should have been my first clue! The only reason I'm giving it two stars is we did get fed while we there.
(2)
Roxanne G.
I wasn't going to review this place as it's garnered plenty of other negative reviews. Apparently the owner doesn't bother to read Yelp or care, so I'll be brief. A dozen friends met here for dinner. We were seated in the most cramped space available, despite the fact that we made reservations a month a head of time. Cramped as sardines. Service was meh. Food meh. It was freezing outside and anyone sitting in the downstairs got blasted by cold air whenever the door was opened. We did not feel cared for and I did not leave additional tip -- as a former waitress, I am generous tipper, but if I had my druthers, I would have left $10. Won't be back and do not recommend.
(1)
Karla g.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants in San Jose for a few years. I am always happy with the quality of the food and they have a great happy hour.
(5)
Rachel H.
Aside from being PACKED AND CROWDED as hell, I cant recall ever having a bad experience here. About a year or 2 ago I got kind of iffy about it because I felt like I was at Pearl or something because of the crowd...but within the last year of going back again and again this place is so much more diverse WHICH I LOVE! The staff is super friendly, I NEVER have a problem at the door, security is always on the watch...I don't think theres really ever been a fight thats broken out all the times I have gone. My only issue is the dance floor which is always PACKEDDDDD. But Im not going to dock any stars for that...all in all, its a good time!
(5)
Alan W.
This review is for the restaurant. Came here for my brother's birthday to finally check out the food at this establishment. Definitely different when there aren't hundreds of people packing the floor when it converts to a club. I've been to their sister restaurant Capers before so I kind of knew what to expect, but if I recall correctly, the menu at the Loft seems a little more sophisticated. We started with a Beef Carpaccio which was pretty good. But when we got to our entrees, it wasn't as tasty as the appetizer. I ordered the French Dip sandwich, my gf got the Braised Lamb Shank, and my brother ordered the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak all of which were just okay or a little bland. The service was really attentive and nice - after they carded my brother and found out it was his birthday, they gave him complimentary slice of cheesecake which was delicious. Overall the experience was a good one, the service was great, but the food was just average. I'd probably come back, but for the nightlife.
(3)
Gabriela W.
Honestly, just not worthwhile. My husband and I wanted to try someplace new in downtown and it just so happened we drove by Loft and saw that the place was practically packed inside. We both thought, wow, this place must be great. When we got inside, we were immediately ushered upstairs. No one told us we had to climb two flights of stairs to get to our actual destination. I thought the restaurant was on the first floor, but it must have been a private party because we weren't even offered to sit there. Once upstairs, we thought it would be fine, lot's of space, nice romantic ambiance and we we got a table next to the window. So far, so good, except that there was booty shaking music playing and it kind of killed the "romantic" feel the restaurant has. Now, I'm not one for hating on booty shaking music, in fact, I love it, but somehow, it didn't feel right. The food was fine but the server never came back to refill our water, instead, we had to ask another server to do it. We left feeling pretty blah.
(2)
Kavita B.
I've always been a fan of this place. The service is usually on key and the food is always delicious. The best part of this place are their drinks, creative and yummy! We like to come here on special occasions because the ambiance provides for a romantic evening.
(4)
Ashley T.
This review is based on the bar/night experience. No cover charge = a wild crowd. The drinks are expensive and the crowd is overwhelming. I'm pretty buzzed but this place still stank real bad. I swear there was about 100 people on the dance floor getting buck wild. I have no idea how they fit in that small area. The line for the restroom is extensive, both men and women's. I hate coming here, it's hot and humid. The place is filthy and the crowd is hostile. Pass!
(1)
Vi T.
My late night cohorts - be they completely separate groups of friends - do love them some Loft. As such, when I do "club," which is RARELY, it tends to be this place. I wish I could give you an exciting review, but I pretty much agree with most of the other reviews in terms of the nightlife. So here we go: I really like that there's never a cover charge and the people are pretty chill. Drinks are just okay and around the 11 dollar mark, but damn! That dance floor gets packed sometimes! Contrary to what you may believe, I really dislike being pressed up against by random strangers. NOT my cup of tea. When it's less of a fire safety hazard, though, I do find myself enjoying it a lot more (like this past Saturday!). I suppose that's due to the whole generally not liking to club deal-eo. Final thoughts: I don't love it, but I don't hate it. And when you're with good friends, you can't help but have a good time... so drink, dance, and be merry!
(3)
Manda Bear B.
*********************** 638 ************************** Decent food, menu does change seasonal here, generous portion, limited wine list. Happy Hour week days are good price here. 1 of the better place for eat in downtown San Jose. Good service.
(3)
Jay B.
Came here with friends from work and got a table on the rooftop; it was cold out, so the rooftop is covered, but still a cool area to eat in nonetheless. I ordered the lasagna which was pretty tasty. The staff was warm and attentive.
(3)
Hetal P.
Really nice Happy Hour!! Libby who served us was just amazing! Made up for the crazy day I had!!!
(4)
Sophia P.
I rediscovered this place last night - on a very rainy and windy night. I went there with a friend who was eager to try this place as he'd never been there. I recalled that I had been there about 5 years ago, sat outside (2nd flr), and tasted some fine tequila! Last night was a lot of fun - we had great angus burger, onion rings and fries that we shared. What made it so great was Leo, the bartender. It helped that it wasn't crowded which afforded us the opportunity to really get to talk to Leo, and Leo made us some banging drinks!! I wanted to try fuzzy navel as I had a hankering for it (had not had them for over 10 yrs), and he made me awesome hairy navels! Then, he made me a drink w/chambord, a bit of crown royale (+ another ingredient that I forgot), and it was just wonderful! What makes me not give this place 5 stars is that they didn't have happy hour prices. However, the place was so much fun that we'll bring the rest of the gang for our biweekly HH! I'm looking forward to seeing Leo again with his awesome drinks - and great knowledge about drinks! This place beats single barrel anytime. The staff's very friendly - another plus in my books. Besides Trick Dog in SF, this is my new fave place in San Jo. We both took pix of Leo preparing our drinks and posted it on Instagram - dude should get a raise!! :) See you next Thursday!
(4)
Mona W.
Had lunch here for a company event. We had the banquet menu and food were served buffet style. Appetizers: Crispy Calamari, Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, Roast Artichokes, Chinese Chicken Salad, Fresh Vegetable Platter Entrees: Pesto Salmon, Grilled Flank Steak, Chicken Marsala, Vegetarian Penne Desserts: New York Cheesecake, White Chocolate Crème Brulee The food was decent. Nothing really blew my mind but I was pretty impressed with the service. Bartenders were friendly and efficient. Drinks were promptly served/refilled and our servers were all very attentive. There were never any dirty plates left on the table when I returned from the buffet table. Even with a huge 50+ people group there were no mixed up of any kind. Highly recommend this place for group/company events.
(3)
Betty N.
**WARNING: THE $13 SHOT DID NOT INCLUDE A BLOW JOB** Midnight run. Upstairs we went. Dance floor was packed. Good dance music and the most eclectic group of people got their freak on. Bought 2 Grey Goose shots for $26 total. WTF. "Does it come with a blow job?" I asked the bartender. "No." was the response. Basically I blew $30. That, my friends, WAS the blow job.
(3)
Jessica H.
I really liked the feel of this place from the moment I walked in. The staff was accommodating and made excellent recommendation that went well with the Zin I was having. I pork rib small dish... And let me tell you it was amazing, tender and just the right amount. It was not too loud so I was able to talk to my friends that were sitting with me. Great place for large parties too just call ahead. Great wine selection.
(4)
Prince A.
Take me down one star to three stars as a Service has gotten router and less friendly over the last month.. It is where I stop in Austin with friends, co-workers, or so for.. Most of the time the nice and polite, last four to five weeks from the factor has gone away whatever it is bring it back
(3)
Catherine L.
Smelled like egg fart when we walked in. Proceeded to the second floor and tons of guys.. why no one who looks like Paul Walker ? Drinks were okay. The music was pretty good until they tried to mix.. Only two stalls in the ladies room so if you need to go, don't wait until your bladder is about to burst. Girls take foreverrr when intoxicated.
(3)
Susie O.
Chanced upon this place Sat night and hostess led us upstairs past a highschool reunion. Bar was jam-packed with middle aged folks nearing 50 dressed in their reunion best. Lady on mic was shouting out raffle ticket winners... We were seated on the outdoor patio. It was nice. Service was stellar. Our server, Kaitlyn, was great..she never stopped moving and was incredibly attentive. Specialty drinks listed on menu were mediocre. "Speakeasy" knocked me on my arse. Tasted nasty but was strong. Lychee martini was weak and foamy. As a juice, it was an A+. Food is subar. Calamari killed my appetite but the crab cakes were good. Can safely say that I won't be coming back.
(2)
Stephanie C.
#1 selling point: NO COVER! I've been here a handful of times...and I have yet to go upstairs. I blame it on the bar downstairs that I can never leave. Most recently because we had to leave by midnight since the birthday boy was kicked out - happy birthday to him as we carried his incoherent booty to the car :) Although I can hear the beats being played from upstairs and I'm feelin it. Downstairs bathroom line can get long since it's a unisex one and if there's some drunk chick in there yacking her brains out, be prepared to cross your legs and hold your bladder. Next time I'm making it upstairs!!!
(3)
R D.
+ No cover charge 2 bars. Upstairs and downstairs. Small and nice - Overpriced drinks Sausagefest Can get very crowded DJs arent very good. Rough cuts and lousy beatmatching. Cheap equipment, the DJ in the 2nd room blew his 1 speaker.
(2)
Archie G.
Restaurant: A horrible, overpriced restaurant in downtown San Jose. I have tried several appetizers and dishes on their menu. and they were mediocre and the prices are a bit higher than they should be. Drinks: Way too overpriced. It's disgusting. Nightlife: They offer a solid bar/dance atmosphere. It can get heavy on the guys, but then again, this is Santa Clara County. It is to be expected that every drinking venue will end up being a sausage fest. Anyway, I suggest you eat dinner somewhere else, and then get drinks somewhere else, and then come here to dance.
(2)
Michelle G.
It may cost a billion dollars for a cocktail and there's always water or SOMETHING dripping from the ceiling on the second floor, but the Loft still captivates me. Ok, maybe it isn't exactly captivating, but I do consider it as one of the better places to chill in Downtown San Jose... Please note that I am reviewing the nighttime atmosphere at the Loft. To keep it simple: No cover. You'll wait 3 minutes at most to get in, and that's only because they ask everyone for 2 forms of ID. Two bars - one downstairs, one upstairs. Expensive drinks. Pretty cool bartenders. Bouncers always telling you to move, even when you're not obstructing any sort of emergency escape route. There is ample seating and a separate patio area upstairs. The floor always seems to be wet... Leaky pipes? DJ can get the crowd pumpin' with today's Top 40. You can't really go wrong with the Loft. It does have a few cons as I noted above, but come here with some good company and you'll have a good time.
(3)
JASMIN O.
Sure you feel like the top floor is gonna cave in on you, and sure it's deceiving that there's a patio upstairs and you can't smoke on it, and who the hell knew that you could order food at midnight.. but it's free to get in, and hey.. free is free. Your friendly neighborhood hang out right across from Tres and SJ Bar and Grill that never leaves you waiting in line with a bunch of dudes already throwing up because they pre drank at their buddies house. Thanks for keepin it classy Loft.
(3)
Angela D.
I came here on a Saturday night around 11:30. I didn't really know what to expect since it was my first time clubbing in San Jose. I didn't realize how you had to have a second form of ID. But it was good I had my debit card. The line was long since people didn't realize there were two lines. Neither did I until my friend did. I didn't get a good chance to see what was on the first floor and went straight up stairs. First thing when I came upstairs was being blinded by security with their flashlights to move along and pick a side. That was a bit annoying. I was glad that there wasn't a cover and understand the long lines. My other friends had come at midnight and told me that they had reached maximum capacity and had to wait 45 mins. I was a bit shocked but then they came in about 15 mins later since a bunch of people left. The only thing I don't like is how small the dance floor is. It gets so packed like sardines and there is no ventilation. Other than the random Indian guys who try to dance with girls, it was okay. I didn't buy drinks since I heard they were over priced but they seemed pretty strong to me.
(3)
Steven B.
I've been here a bunch of times at night to drink and dance the night away. Drinks are little more expensive then usual but at least this place doesn't have cover. Usually before 11pm this place is DEAD but once it hits closer to midnight, it starts getting packed. When it gets packed, it gets PACKED! I've never had to push myself through so many people even at the bar. Its a good place just to grab a drink with some friends. The dance floor tends to be completely dead or way too packed so if you want to do some serious dancing try some place else. There are 2 floors to this place so if you arn't in the dancing mood you can just hangout downstairs at the bar and drink your night away.
(3)
Jason H.
This review is based off notes I made via the yelp app. I cannot give a full review as I don't remember everything about the place after so much time however - I must say, I did not like this place. The chicken had a very gross seared on an electric stove burned taste that was just awful. The waitress was sort of rude in an impatient sort of way. I will not be back voluntarily.
(1)
Robert S.
All I can say is this place is overpriced, crowded and I have yet to have a good time in this place. I am sure ill try it again or I will go there in the early hours when I can actually try the food. I did hang out with my GF for the first time here so I have to give it some credit, but so far not too much. static1.px.yelpcdn.com/s… Maybe if i'm there at 10:30 to hit up them drink specials it will turn the tide.
(2)
Irene L.
Stopped in here on a Saturday night cause friend's coworker was having a birthday party here. No wait to get in which was pretty awesome and no cover charge either. Sweet. It was raining so I'm pretty happy. It wasn't too crowded when we first got here about 11:30pm but definitely got packed later and there was no room on the dance floor which sucked. The friends had bottle/table service (in the patio) which was nice and a waitress stopped by pretty frequently to clean the table and make sure everything was good. There was another dj in the patio room and upstairs dance floor was poppin'. The music was good and downstairs wasn't crowded at all. Would come back to dance and drink again if there was room on the dance floor.
(3)
Kathy D.
loft. you still haven't failed me one bit... some of my friends say different things about this place... but I, on the other hand, love it! I would like to give a BIG THANKS to the owner of Loft!!!! I forgot my second form of ID, since I previously lost my purse the week beforehand and only had my License and money with me.. He came out, checked things out, made me sign some things, and ended up letting me in....so make sure at all TIMES.. two forms of ID here! Thank you to the very cooperative staff members and workers there.. I really appreciate it and because of you, I had a great time that night! All i have to say is, who cares if the loft is empty at the beginning of the night... you know why i don't care? because everyone from all the other places end up coming here by the end of the night!!! That's what!!! Of course, you will get bored of your vivid, your motif, your tiki... where else would be better to end the night then the loft... free entry and never disappointing music! great atmosphere! drinks can vary, so if you're lucky, they'll be strong! but it does get crowded i may say! which makes me love it! i love people! oo and i realized that there is no coat check here.. FYI for all you girls who can't suck it up and leave your coats in the car :p i didn't get dripped on this time though :) by the AC vents up above!!
(5)
Sofia H.
When Stratta Grill and Bar closed summer '05 San Jose was in dire need of a fun new place. Loft was the answer. Similar architecture and decor; high ceilings, hardwood, and large pieces of art adorn the walls. Loft definitely filled a void. The crowd is quiet different, Loft attracts a younger savvy crowd, which is ready to line up shots. Their menu is lovely and offers many fantastic options. The Sun-dried tomato roasted garlic soup and Steak Bites are great starters. The Angus burger is wonderfully prepared at medium rare and their fries are great. The Chicken Penne prepared with zucchini, squash, mushrooms, sun-dried tomato and Penne pasta tossed in a sherry wine cream sauce has superb flavor and you must save room for the fresh berries with sabayon. After the dining hours are over Loft transforms into a trendy club, complete with local ladies in deep v-neck tops and shorts with 4 inch heels, bartenders promptly pour many different martini's, wines, and draft beers. There normally is a DJ upstairs that may or may not be inspiring the masses to crowd the dining room/dance floor. Out of all of the night spots in downtown San Jose this is definitely one that is worth venturing to.
(4)
Patty N.
If you want to feel like you're dancing in a closet with 10 other people than Loft is the place to be. I can't hate on loft too much because hey it's free, but boy does it get hot up in there. Sometimes I try to crack open a window on the side of the dance floor but I swear those things are bolted down, guess they don't want drunks falling out the window. Bartenders are pretty nice, crowd is mixed (you got your 21 newbies and 40 year old creepers). Downstairs is mostly for standing around and chatting, while upstairs is the dance floor. Let me put this in caps lock: MAKE SURE TO BRING TWO FORMS OF ID. That's that. Live, Laugh, and Lunch Patty
(3)
chris c.
Not my scene. I know this place is bar, it says so right on the sign. This place should just go and stick to that. They try to do too much. Restaurant, bar, lounge, club blah blah blah. Epic fail on trying to be a jack of all trades. Getting in was a breeze for me and the gf. We are both hella old so its no problem. No cover which is great only to be greated by $13 mixers... The music was alright. Lots more old school than I would like. Leave the jackson 5 and new edition out of the play list please. The bathroom was destroyed by midnight. This is the only place that I've seen where the line for the mens room was longer than the womens lol. If you like tshirts and you are a guy, come here. No need for a button up shirt or even a collared one. Hell, you can even get away with nikes.
(2)
Sam L.
There's no cover! But there's a long line and what's up with the second form of ID? Sheez. Any who, we get in and the place isn't even packed so that line was totally unnecessary. It took forever to get drinks, bartenders were too busy f'ing around with each other (water fight or something?). Well I got my drink, weakest goose and red bull I have ever gotten and it was fifteen bucks, sheez. But...maybe the dancing will make up for it, decent music but no room to actually dance. The crowd is ok, but mostly Asian and kind of a sausage fest. I'll probably come back to try the food but the nightlife was a total buzz kill.
(3)
Linda D.
This place is pretty nice. There's two stories. Downstairs is just a bar and a place to talk. Upstairs has another bar and a dance floor. The music is good, and this place is always packed. There's no charge, but they do ask for two forms of Id occasionally. The drinks are kind of pricy, and there's a bad guy to girl ratio. Last time I came here with three other girls and it seemed like the boys started swarming towards us like predators lmao. And sometimes they even follow you even though you purposely moved to get away from them! Guess some people don't take no for am answer haha
(3)
Jacqueline d.
So I had a couple of gift certificates that I won from a raffle at work. Decided to use them on Mother's Day because I thought that they had a cool patio area. Boy was I wrong - wish that we had sad inside. Their patio area is SAD....On top of that, we made a reservation days before but the table wasn't even ready. My husband had to help pull the tables together! Their food wasn't all that great - went their during brunch and they had some MD specials. I first ordered the crab cake benedict - YUCK!!!! Nasty! Had them take it back and get me the french toast, which they happily obliged. Never been her for happy hour or drinks and don't think I will. Oh and on top of that - I get up only to find out that I was sitting on gum! Never again....
(1)
Angela W.
I've been here three times and each night served a different purpose. My first visit was for dinner. We were seated upstairs and although the place was packed it wasn't obnoxiously noisy. The meal was good but not memorable enough for me to recall what I had! hehe... I was overall pleased with everything. The second time I met up with a girlfriend for drinks and a small bite to eat. We ordered the cheapest bottle of red (which was actually pretty ok) and shared the steak bites. Heaven! The steak was super good. My last trip was really just to drink and dance. The dance floor was pretty small and crowded but I managed to have a good time anyways. The highlight had to be the fact that it hasn't been ruined by what I call the "ghetto crowd" just yet. Try to keep it classy, San Jo.... Anyways, if you're looking for dinner, a yummy appetizer, or to party... I'd say it's definitely worth a try.
(3)
J L.
This is a review for the after hours night scene. Pros: No cover Good music if you like hip hop (dance floor is always packed) Packed with young people (20s) looking to have fun. Chill area to talk to your friends downstairs as well as a pateo area upstair seperate from the dance floor Pretty much drama free Above average decor Cons: Very pricey drinks Pro or Con depending on how you look at it. Non mixed crowd. 90% of people here are Asian
(3)
Tony C.
Sounds like this place gets pretty popping on weekends, too bad I went on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. I don't venture into SJ that often as a rule of principle, not a meat market guy and most of the women I've ever met at there want to see your bank account or car keys before they give you the "honor" of buying a drink for them. Just stopped in for a quick bite before heading over to the airport to drop off my ex-girlfriend, awkward! Bottom floor smelled like urinal cakes, yes the pink or blue things you pee on in a men's bathroom. I already knew that I I was going to leave as soon as our waiter moved if we stayed there, but we were escorted to the top floor, which smelled like onion rings, a huge step up from pee pee potty. Maybe it smelled that bad since they were still cleaning from the night before? Food was good, not great for the price. $15 bucks for a shrimp wrap, aka salad in a tortilla! Eh. Service was friendly but I swear she made a comment about poop before walking away. It left me and my significant nothing laughing for most of the meal. "Did she say poop on my shoe?"
(3)
Mark H.
If I were ONLY reviewing LOFT for their Valentine's menu it would be a 2-star, but we really like them for lunches. The salmon (prepared any way) is usually tasty and moist, and the variety of the regular menu is very good. The bread dipping sauce is a legend. Valentine's Day they posted would have a special menu but didn't post the actual menu online. It was shellfish heavy and had few veggie options. We and the diners at the next table would have chosen elsewhere had we known. The baked salmon was flavorful but boring. The veggies were beautiful and colorful but only lightly steamed and equally boring. I kept them for leftovers. The server was accommodating, and we ordered the chicken penne dish without the penne. That was up to their usual flavor. Price was also a big drawback. I would not have paid almost $30 per plate for what we received if I had another option, but we were out of time to go elsewhere. We'll go back, but we're sticking to the full lunch menu.
(3)
Maggie H.
Your fingers and breath smell like shrimp, spices, lemons and soap and bits of corn on the cob are stuck between your teeth. What do you do when you're low on cash and want to dance away the bloatedness that follows an overdue visit to The Boiling Crab? No cover. No dress code.. Make sure you have 2 forms of ID. Hot, sweaty dance floor. Ratio of girls to guys is HORRIBLE! Top40s, Mash-up, and some 112 - Peaches and Cream. Haha. Two bars, one upstairs and one downstairs. We just missed their late night happy hour by a mere 10 minutes (11:30PM is when it ends) and had to pay bank for our drinks. We're talking about $12 Long Islands and AMFs and $13 Purple Hazes. What. The. Fuxk?! I'm assuming the upstairs patio was for table service patrons but for some reason we were able to gain access to it... So, shrugs. The patio came fully equipped with heat lamps, chairs, benches and its very own DJ! Awesome! I just realized why I'm a fan... It's a two-story, fancier, more expensive Divine Bovine aka HOLY COW. HAHAHA!
(4)
BrendaJoy G.
Nightlife review only. I say this place is more like a 2.75. I recently came here with a bunch of friends, mostly guys, who are regulars here. Pretty diverse crowd. The best things about this place is no cover & a kinda lenient dress code. When there is no cover fee, yknow what that means--expensive drinks. Bartenders are pretty friendly & some security are too. However, security needs to do some major crowd control! Major fire safety violations & the female-to-male ratio is definitely in the male spectrum. Total sausage fest! We arrived around 10:30 when it was pretty empty & by the time it was 11:30, it was totally crowded upstairs. Like sardines! Downstairs was pretty empty. The music is alright; top 40, house, old school. However, to the DJ who was spinning the night I came here, PLEASE do better transitionings or at least have songs that blend well together! Hip hop to house? Umm, that was a drastic change in music genres. Loft, I do have to say I had a good time, but just fix those issues & I'll have even more of a good time. But forsure, I'll be coming back again.
(3)
Samantha N.
I've eaten and partied here so I've made two reviews...sorta. For Dranks: Yes you don't have to pay cover ever but why the fuck do they have to check your second form? It was still pretty expensive for drinks but honestly, what can I expect, I'm downtown at a bar/club. The dance floor is too small, and it still interconnects with the bar upstairs. Nothing makes this place stand out to me. For Food: WHEN THERE ISN'T A CROWD, the place is super nice. I liked the options they had and I liked that you went upstairs to eat! It was super yummy :) So for food I'm digging it but for fun it's alright.
(4)
Sus L.
Worst service experience..EVER! We had 5 different people waiting on us so it's hard to pin point who exactly was screwing up the orders, ignoring our table when we needed to more drinks, and making us wait 30 minutes before bringing us the tab. If it wasn't for the two guys refilling the water, clearing our table, and making sure we had an abundance of bread, we probably wouldn't have left a tip. This was our 6-7 time eating there and it seems to be really going down hill,fast. Such a shame since the food is decent and the atmosphere is great.
(1)
Christina G.
Can't help but review loft. I've been here twice...once for my birthday dinner (as a present from a bf, ) and another time (or 2) with some friends. Whenever people ask me my favorite places in downtown...I usually just say Loft because I haven't been to toooo many yet. Well I've been to Fahrenheit (when it first opened, a few years ago, guess it was cool. BUT if anyone asks me "how is it" I just say it's ok it just has a small dance floor...because people tend to like large dance floors right?!) As everyone knows--there's a downstairs area, and a nice long staircase towards the left. Quite a hike (not really) but in heels and if you've been drinking, YEAH a hike. I got the AMF...still don't know what they put in it, just have to look it up, $12 or so, it's good. And BLUE. Girls bathroom is alright, usually there's a wait, well the guy's bathroom is right next door so the bf or guy friend or whoever will be waiting outside for you along that "awkward" wall...you know the wall where everyone stands / waits and where security is always walking through saying "don't stand there you're blocking traffic" or something. Lots of stairs...well some more stairs onto the main "dance floor", and there's an outside area too. Main reason why I love this place, well I like the crowd, lots of Asians. That's also what I tell people...not super sketch or freaky you know. Just good atmosphere and everything. And there's couches right near the 2nd floor bar where everyone sits and takes pictures. Who doesn't these days?!
(4)
Kelsey G.
Came back after a stellar company Christmas party back in December. Prices were obviously raised for the "holiday" but still seemed reasonable without a pre fix (THANK YOU!). We showed for our reservation up and they explained it would be 15 minutes because the kitchen was behind. 35 minutes later we noticed that people who arrived after were being seated. When we were finally called to sit we were stoked to find we landed a pretty great seat upstairs. Our server seemed busy and unaware of how to handle the crowd. We figured she was most likely new and we were forgiving. The food took about 40 minutes to arrive and we were offered another round of wine... that we later had to pay for. Food was decent but you could tell it wasn't their best performance. Wasn't excited nor disappointed but was hoping for so much more based on the previous, private party experience. I'd totally recommend going on a non-holiday evening.
(3)
Cherylynn N.
Oppps, 5'5 is the max height to get into Loft? *takes off 5 inch heels* Sprinkler's Birthday Stop #2! On Saturday, February 12th, my friends and I came to Loft after having several drinks at Tres Gringos across the street. C O V E R: None. I noticed many other Yelpers mentioned needing two forms of ID, but I only had to show one and I got in fine. I guess it's up to the bouncer's discretion? Either that or I look like a Cougar-in-Training. I suspect the latter... There NO ins/outs unless you want to wait in line again. L I N E: None at midnight, however there was a line about 20 people deep around 12:45 AM. D R E S S C O D E: None, however, most of the crowd wore club attire. S T A F F: The bouncers were rude and on a power trip. There's a way of getting your point across without flashing a light in people's faces or S C R E A M I N G at them! Note to the Bouncers: Wearing a black suit from Burlington Coat Factory doesn't make you a Secret Service Agent. C R O W D: Hmmm, did the crowd down some "Drink Me" potion (Alice in Wonderland)?!?!?! If so, Loft needs to add "Eat Me" Cake on the menu. Sorry, I just had to say that... My friend told me that Loft would be more my style (i.e. Asians), but he warned me the guys would be tiny. With 5 inch heels, I'm maybe 5'6 at the very tallest BUT tell me why I was towering most of the guys there? *sigh* The crowd was predominately Asians in their mid-20s and on the fobby side. It was also a sausage fest with some guys ranging up to their 50s. (Next time, I'm definitely bringing my single mom!) M U S I C: The DJ was a buzz killer and definitely lacked skills. Although he played Top 40s, Hip Hop and Mash-ups, he did so with no transitions and did a hard stop before going on to the next track. I'm normally the first to say, "I WANNA DANCE!!!!" but not even for a mere second did I want to. D R I N K / B A R (S): There were 2 bars; one downstairs and one upstairs. My friend got the drinks so I'm not sure how much were the drinks, but the shots were on the smaller size at 1 oz. A M B I A N C E / D É C O R: Simple and contemporary, yet rustic; large open space, dark wooden furnishings and exposed red brick walls. The Loft has 2 levels which is like Day and Night... 1st Level: Where the "civilized" congregate to sit, chill and mingle (hence the 3 Stars). 2nd Level: WTF, WHERE AM I?!?!? A rave? A mosh pit? A breeding ground for "freak" beginners? The 2nd level was PACKED--think Tao (LV) on a Fri/Sat night with NO room to move. At one corner, you'll see a group sloppily doing a stomp, skip, hop movement while "attempting" to do a figure 8 with imaginary glow sticks in tote. To the right, you'll see guys trying to *jump jump jump*, I guess they're trying to gain some height? Then to the left near the pillars, you'll see a guy standing getting a free-standing lap dance by some drunk chick who is feverishly rubbing all over herself. TIP: Take 2, 3, 4, or in my case 6 shots BEFORE going upstairs! Outdoor Patio: There's an outdoor patio in the 2nd level so you can take a breather from all the madness upstairs. HOWEVER, you can't smoke there. You can only smoke downstairs near the entranceway and you will have to WAIT AGAIN to go back inside. R E S T R O O M S: One stall downstairs and several upstairs. I didn't want to have to brave the crowd upstairs so I went to the restroom downstairs. There were ONLY guys in line so the wait was about 2 minutes with 4 guys in front of me. The bathrooms are very clean; toilet paper, seat covers, soap and paper towels were fully stocked. P A R K I N G: With all the nightlife, I expected parking to be a nightmare but I was able to find street parking half a block away within 5 minutes. There's a parking lot half a block away on San Fernando/2nd for a $5 flat fee. If/When I ever return to Loft... NOTE TO SELF: Wear flats and come SMASHED with Goose Goggles in FULL-EFFECT!!!
(3)
Dennis T.
Came here few time had good time everytime ,good DJ
(4)
Vicky T.
So the Elite party was phenomenal, and I have been here once before when it was a sweat bar clubby atmosphere. In comparing the two, I give this place a three. There food was on point- very rarely do you find skewered meat that is not dry-- last night it was well done. Their calamari was decent.. wait staff was polite. When there are hawt drunken messes and lots of music going on- this place I am not a fan of..... My suggestion- go for dinner downstairs but avoid the "clubby" dealio or have a private party upstairs.
(3)
Huy T.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE DINNER ONLY! Not a big fan of the club part. My girlfriend and I had dinner at Loft for the first time and were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. First things first though. We asked to be seated in the patio area and what we got was a patio that was covered up completely. If you want to sit in the patio in open air, make sure to find out if they have their protective covering up first or not. Our server was friendly and fast. I should've gotten her name, but she knew the menu really well. We ordered Teriyaki beef quesadillas and she endorsed it right off the bat. We also got the smoked salmon pasta (I think it was called Rigotti) and pork something that came in slices with mashed potatoes and veggies. The teriyaki beef quesadillas were AWESOME. It was sweet enough for those who like sweet, but not so overwhelming that it didn't make sense to put teriyaki in a quesadilla. The beef was tender and added just enough grease to put in some of that totally unhealthy quality that, depending on who you are, you love or hate. My girlfriend and I happen to love that. The smoked salmon pasta dish was also good. It was salty like smoked salmon should be and not overly creamy. The pork dish was also awesome because it wasn't dry. A lot of places don't do chicken or pork right because they always dry out the meat somehow, but that wasn't the case here. Covered in picatta (spellling?) sauce and served with buttery mashed potatoes. They didn't do much with the veggies, but it balanced out well with everything else. For dessert, we had a strawberry shortcake, which is basically Sarah Lee's pound cake with strawberries and whip cream. It tasted good, but how can you go wrong with Sarah Lee's pound cake? Four stars because this was our first dinner visit and it tasted great. Definitely want to go back and try the other menu items.
(4)
Kimberly S.
When i attended San Jose State my friend and i found this place. We ended up being regulars. I used to study downstairs at the bar waiting to got to class, eating an appetizer and having a cocktail. The food is Fabulous. I have moved away and i miss it so so so much.
(5)
Jamie Y.
+1 for finding my credit card and returning it to me the next morning =) I favor this place over others because: upbeat music, a (small) dance floor, no cover, and there aren't lines for the bathrooms! well, the times that i've been there. And yes, they d
(4)
Kevin C.
This place gets packed before there's no cover. I remember being on the dance floor one time, it was really cramped and someone farted on the dance floor. It stunk really bad and it sucked not being able to get out. Not one of my fondest experiences here.
(2)
Ken C.
Just finished happy hour and more than enough food specials for dinner. Nice selection of beer, wine and cocktails at great happy hour pricing. Wings were ok but nothing remarkable. Calamari was very tender and tasty, perfectly fried; maybe the best I have ever had. Sliders ( beef and BBQ chicken) rounded out the meal. Seating out front on sidewalk is a bit noisy due to street traffic but not a real problem. Service was excellent. We only selected from the happy hour food menu and did not try any of the main menu items. But they had a huge list of items to select from. Great food and drinks at low prices with good service. Highly recommended!
(4)
Donovan T.
So I noticed that I been reviewing this place on a yearly basis, and the only trend is that as I get older, I give it a lower rating. This used to be the spot on a weekly basis when I was still an undergrad. Maybe because there was no cover or dress code, and I could predrink in the parking garage with my buddies, go to Loft and meet and dance with girls and call it a night! If you ever seen the dance floor when it is in it's "restaurant" setup or when the club just opened up and it's empty, you will see how ridiculously small it is. So it amazes me how they fit so many people in here. By 11:30, everybody is packed in like sardines and the place is practically a sauna. Drinks being spilled everwhere, people pushing and shoving, it's not a good look. Free cover? Yes! Expensive drinks? Yes x2. They charge Vegas prices almost. Premium top shelf shots and mixed drinks are $13 each. Beers run $6, and wells are $8. I consider fair San Jose pricing to be $8-$10 for a shot/mixed drink, so $13 is ridiculous. They do have a happy hour from 10-11 where Grey Goose and Hennessy is $6 though. However, there are some positives. The music tends to be a good mix of top40s, mashups, and a little EDM her and there. No dress code, if you end up going out spontaneously or don't feel like dressing up. And never a cover charge which is always nice. Not too much of a fan anymore. I'm nowhere as wild as I used to be but I still know how to party and the Loft is on my blacklist. Nowadays it serves as the backup plan or last resort amongst my friends and myself.
Surprisingly this place is pretty awesome (and no, it's not awesome because I am Asian). I came here on a Saturday night with 2 of my girlfriends and up to the second floor we go. There was a mixed crowd and the dance floor was packed with people! We decided to get a drink here and I had ordered three kamikaze shots but the bartender had told me they had specials going on tonight that saved me some cash and got me even more tipsy (SCORE!) The music here consists of the top 40s, old school and a little bit of house. The view on the second floor was nice because you can actually look out the window and see all the fights going on from across the street (SJ Bar & Grill, Tres Gringos). Overall, I give this place a 4 star and I will definitely be coming back with more girls so we can shake a tail feather or two!
(4)
Patrick N.
For San Jose it was the best club we could find out of the 4 Horrible Ghetto Ones. This place is packed, Which is good because hella people are dancing, having a good time and on the prowl when its crowded... The Venue is nice. They have a bar downstairs and upstairs... But they did not know how to make drinks. The sex on the beach my friend ordered was horrible, He put Pepsi into a Sex on the Beach... The music was good and the staff was pretty great as well. They have a parking lot across from this venue for $4.00 an hour. They need to enforce dress codes more though. Other then that. It was a good time meeting people here and to have a good time.
(4)
Sara T.
I used to come here on the weekends during my drinking days, but this review is solely off my experience booking a party here. I was planning a surprise birthday party for my mom here with about 34 guests. The management here was pleasant to work with & answered all my questions. They also came through with any requests I had. I reserved the first floor for everyone, so they can have access to the bar. I also had a large table set-up on the side for gifts and cupcakes. I selected their $25/guest menu which came with a choice of a two salads & 5 entrees. I had the pesto salmon, which was yummy! Every guest loved what they ate. They waiters/waitresses had great service and were friendly. They let us stay there to open gifts, talk and drink w/out ever rushing us. If you're looking for a intimate place to hold a group event, this place is great. You can reserve their upstairs outdoor patio as well as upstairs inside if you order a drink package. Otherwise, the first floor could easily fit up to even 40 people. Cheers!
(3)
Amy D.
This review is for the nightlife scene only. There's NO cover charge of a Saturday night, which is apparently getting harder to find around the downtown San Jose area. However, there are only 2 stalls in the ladies restroom, but they do have an upstairs and downstairs bathroom, and the stalls were surprisingly clean for a Saturday night and actualy stocked with toliet paper and toliet liners. They played good music, and the dance floor upstairs was packed, and there were people dancing downstairs as well. There is also a bench area to sit at behind the bar upstairs, which at least gives us ladies an option to rest our feet for a bit. My girlfriends and I had a great time here and will be back the next time we head to downtown San Jose. Parking can be difficult around this area since I don't believe you can park on this street, but there are some lots in the surrounding blocks where you can pay for parking.
(4)
Saloni J.
I went there on a thursday night because they had live jazz music! music was ok but the drinks suck! its over priced and my friends ordered cosmopolitan and the drink taste anything like it. I just had a beer because after the cosmo disaster I didn't wanted to take a chance. We left early to go to another place. Not going there again!!
(2)
Sarah E.
Came here the other night with my boyfriend and his father, and we had a wonderful experience! We happened to come in on a Tuesday night, which meant it was trivia night. Throughout the night we enjoyed taking part in the trivia, the host making it very fun. Although we didn't win, it was very fun to do together. The menu was very expansive, and the food we had was good. I personally love onion strings, and they we delicious! The staff were very nice, and friendly. Overall it was a great experience.
(5)
Kenny L.
Loft is one of the "premier" lounges in San Jose, but their service is just decent. their bartenders are just OK but damn their drinks are pricey AND small. i swear they use the smallest cups that don't even seem recyclable. the place is clean, and it's a plus with a clean bathroom top and bottom, but maybe an upgrade on some of the bartenders would be nice.
(2)
Christine L.
I came here for the first time last Friday for a friend of a friend's birthday, and we had a blast! :) I loved that there was no cover no matter that time it was too! A couple people mentioned the double ID thing, and a few in our group got double carded, what happens if you don't bring two though?? :( We got in around 1130 and immediately went upstairs to where the crowd was, we split up and half of us went over to the bar to get a few drinks! I was just going to order my own drink bc I didn't have cash to pay back a friend but then I saw that they have a $15 debit/credit card minumum, sad face! I was pretty sure a redbull vodka would not cost that much so we decided to charge everything to my card. Woulda been nice if I could have just gotten myself a drink... anyways the drink was pretty good, the bar was crowded but the bartenders moved very quickly. Onto the dancing! I really liked the music, the songs were all familiar but not so familiar that I'm sick of hearing them 24/7 on all the popular radio stations. It was a bit packed, but that's only bc people want to be there right? Plus there's a really nice outdoor patio that is covered so it's cool enough without being freezing in the wintertime! Also loved that there was an industrial fan on one side of the dancefloor! Security was making sure nobody stopped by it for too long though. For some reason, this place was really wet the night we went! Water was coming at us from both the floor and ceiling! I don't know if people were just clumsy or drinking too much but I stepping on ice cubes on the floor, and for a while, my friend and I thought we were getting splashed by sweat drops from this one guy who was jumping so hard he looked like he was having the time of his life! Turns out it was coming from the ceiling though, while we were standing on the steps between the bar and the dancefloor, and while we were sitting across from the bar, we all kept getting hit by drops of (i hope) water!! It definitely wasn't raining out, so there's no reason why the ceiling should be leaking! Other than the small problems, we had a GREAT time, and I'd definitely want to come back! :)
(4)
Chinese Kitchen O.
Some friends and I went here for happy hour and the good part is that it lasts til 7pm. There are two bars - one downstairs and one upstairs. We opted sit upstairs. When we arrived, we didn't get greeted for a good 5-7 minutes. Finally, a bartender came around and offered to get us drinks. My boyfriend asked which cocktail had vodka in it and she rudely suggested Cosmopolitan with a smirk on her face. Good thing she wasn't our server!! Our server turned out to be great and attentive. If you have Tammy she's awesome! We ordered a lot of food and drinks such as calamari, buffalo wings, 1/2 pound angus burger, and popcorn shrimp. The strange thing is that this restaurant serves EVERYTHING with a side of ketchup. I don't know if I like dipping everything in ketchup. Especially not my calamari. Luckily, Tammy brought us out some cocktail sauce. For 6 drinks and 6 appetizers the bill came out to be $100 not including the tip. Not bad and we also had to pay $8 for parking across the street.
(3)
Raquel Y.
I dont think I ever want to come here again. I've come here maybe 4 times already. And each time it just got worse. - They let anyone and everyone in = creepers and PACKED that you can't move, it's soo hot and everyone's sweaty and disgusting! - drinks were expensive and weak! what a waste of money! Sorry loft. I've had enough of you. At first it was cool because hey! no cover, no dress code, no long wait. And then now I realize why clubs do that. Haha. It was fun while it lasted.
(1)
Cat P.
This place is one of my fave places to go to in downtown San Jose. Food here is WHATEVERS but for the nightlife on Friday nights, this place is cool...especially since there's NO COVER CHARGE! I love the $6 vodka or hennesy shots before 11:30pm...what a freaking brilliant idea! Especially since vodka is my choice of drink, and the shots are cheap enough to get me drunk and not feel bad after 11:30pm when i'm paying full price for my drinks! woot! Also, they've got nice (and cute) bartenders (upstairs only, NOT downstairs...). A few times i was getting hit on at the bar upstairs by some weirdo, and the bartenders would make eye contact with me and ask if i was okay and if i wanted them to do something about the guy. I told them I was fine and could handle it, and they gave me the signal to let them know if i needed anything. Nice to know that they're lookin out! =) Bad thing about this place is that it's so poppin on Fri nights that often times towards the end of the night, water starts dripping from the ceilings! Condensation turned precipitation, or whatever it's called in the water cycle? hahaha. I guess it's not too bad, cuz by this point, you're so drunk and sweaty on the dance floor anyway, you don't even realize the water's drippin on you. hahah. so gross, i know. =P Oh, and also, I dunno if it's cuz i'm getting old, but it's slowly dawning on me that all the kids that are coming here are super young, and i find myself getting hit on by 21 and 22 year olds. sighhhh, so depressing. hahaha.
(4)
Albert H.
11:30 on a Thursday night, and you want dinner in San Jose? There's a place for that. Seriously, they were serving their full menu up to about 11:30pm on Thursday, and it's a big menu. It's far from fine dining, but we got seated in the empty patio area upstairs, and our server was remarkably friendly attentive ... not just nice for it being near midnight at a club, but really welcoming. They have a long list of cocktails and shots and such, as befit a club bar. Sweet and fruity cocktails on special that night ( something suspiciously called a white gummy bear, and a hurricane ) were surprisingly well mixed. Tap beer list could use some work, about the most adventurous thing on there was SNPA. Avocado Shrimp Cocktail - chopped shrimp, cocktail sauce, topped with diced avocado. The shrimp was pretty good quality despite not being whole. Steak Bites - we asked for rare, and got something past medium. Slightly tough, but the large portion comes with a side of veggies and an excellent char flavor. Tuna Sashimi - not sashimi, but sesame crusted seared tuna. Fine for a seared tuna dish. Artichoke - four quarters, marinated and roasted. Served with dabs of spicy mayonnaise. A little difficult to eat, but surprisingly good flavor. Served warm, too. Strawberry Shortcake - Fresh strawberries in sauce over a couple slices of what appeared to be grocery store poundcake. Got the job done. It is a dance club, and we were seated in a room right next to the dance floor, so it wasn't the most quiet experience. Our server offered to close the door, which was a nice gesture and which made conversation possible. Like I said - this is nothing fancy, but at midnight, one can't afford to be picky. We certainly liked the offerings better than Fahrenheit down the street - not higher in concept, but much better in execution.
(4)
Jennifer W.
My first club/bar in downtown san jose on a friday night! it was FUNNNN!!! =) there's no cover fee or must-get-on-the-guestlist-or-you-don't-get-in crap. apparently, there's a line around 11pm or something and the bouncer let people in slowly. good thing my friend had been coming here for the past 8 weeks and be friend-ed with the bouncer! LOL therefore, Jenna L. and i didn't have to wait in line to get in. YAYY!! we got there around 1230am and our friend was waiting for us for half an hour just chatting it up with the bouncer. o_O it was cool though. people had told me before that Loft for some reason require you to bring a second form of ID (credit card with the same name as your ID) O_O. i forgot to bring my credit card!!! but the bouncer just checked our id and let us in. YAY! there's 2 floors. the bottom is the bar, which is boring! upstairs is where the fun is at. bars + dance floor. OMG! i love LOVE LOVEEE the music there! they play all the 90s and old school hip hop and some new mainstreams! YEEE!! I LIKE THE DJ!!!!! =) GOOD MIXES!! the bar is crowded, dirty and wet floor, which is spilled with alcohol. ughh! drinks are EXPENSIVE! well, i guess it evens out. no cover fee, but expensive drinks! lol! the dance floor is small and crowded! but it was fun fun fun! lots of creepers X_X a lot of people just stand around and you're trying to get thru. GET OUT OF MY WAY! sheesh! oh yeah, and there's a random couch next to the dj. o_O RECOMMEND ON A FRIDAY NIGHT!
(4)
Robin L.
With apologies to Flo Rida for what I'm about to do to "Club can't handle me" youtube.com/watch?v=zyUA… You know that I know how To yelp a place for us to lunch out The loft is the bistro to go now southwestern salad, they go all out I'm too old to handle the club right now I'm too old to handle the club right now Leave it to me to pick the "club" for a lovely afternoon lunch away from the office. Well it wasn't a club when we were there but based on a lot of these less than stellar reviews, looks like this place goes off after dark! At any rate, this review is for the restaurant.....in the middle of the day.....which to me was really lovely. Here's why: ***Food was delicious: I had the southwestern salad which had mesquite grilled chicken that was seasoned/flavored perfectly and chunks of cut corn and other fresh vegetables atop leafy greens. ***Service was super friendly: From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by smiling faces, welcoming us to the establishment and telling us where the table was. Our server and those that dropped the food continued in this trend. ***Ambiance was perfect for lunch: We sat upstairs and with the light flowing in against the comfortable back booth where we were sitting, the ambiance was great for lunch. So many bustling lunch places seat you in crowded tables where the decibal level is so loud you feel like you're shouting, but here we had lots of room, and could hear both sides of the table. So I'm a fan of this place for lunch, but just a note for those reading this review. Carina C. had the cobb salad and it was a ton of chopped iceberg lettuce...so much that I thought that she had ordered tacos. Recommend staying away from that one as it didn't hold to the quality of our very leafy table (other fellow lunchers had the blue cheese and pear salad, the seared ahi tuna salad, the chilled poached salmon salad etc-- and those salads did not overdo it on the iceberg)!
(4)
Sandra L.
I came here on a Saturday night between 12 AM - closing. It was free admission but boy was it crowded. Once we got in, we made ways to the upstairs dance floor. Of course right as you make it to the top of the stairs, there's no room to budge. My girlfriends and I had to squeeze in and tried to go all the way to the back, next to the window. We danced like sardines along the wall but still had a good time. As we left, we were chatting with one of the security guys. Brandon was very pleasant. Then we were chatting with the DJ and he introduced himself. As the girls and I chatted with him, I kept staring and wondered where I knew him from. Ah yes, I know him cuz he was the dj at my friend's Thanksgiving party! Anyways, dancing at the loft has always been crowded. 10 years later... nothing has changed. Be prepared, FREE = CROWDED and it also equals rude people. I chose to get away from negative energy and had a blast!! I did not experience people grinding on me, grabbing me, etc because I smiled politely when I said "no thank you" to all the college boys and young men who wanted to dance with me. For all you folks that are claustrophobic - DO NOT GO HERE.
(3)
Mimi T.
I spent many nights drinking and dancing at Loft years ago, but this past Thursday was my first time dining here. Jan P. and I chose Loft out of a list of restaurants for Dining out for Life. We figured it was for a good cause, why not? Our server was friendly and very helpful when we asked for suggestions. Their bread and balsamic dipping sauce was sooooo good! The jalapenos in the fried calamari appetizer was a nice touch. My crab cakes were delicious, although, at that price, I expected larger crab cakes. It came on a bed of arugula, which I love, but the minute hot crab cakes sit on any type of greens, we all know its a wilted mess. The greens were dressed, but needed more acid. Both Jan P. and I ordered a side of veggies, and Jan P. ate almost all of hers, which is a good thing (she never eats veggies!). Both of our drinks were good, hers a virgin mojito, and mine a lychee martini, both refreshing and strong. For dessert, we shared the house made tiramisu also delicious. Overall good food, good service, and not so bad ambience. I wouldn't make it a regular dining spot, but an ok place for birthday/celebration dinners.
(3)
Matt T.
Came to the Loft one night late at the suggestion of a friend. It has a good atmosphere. Good music, Nice rooftop patio, good decor, and a decent sized dancefloor. The drink are quite pricey, you find cheaper drink across the street for way less. But at least they don't have a cover charge. The place gets very crowded on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. So crowded in fact that its nearly impossible to walk around. I still come here regularly despite these drawback. Funny how the crowd here is so diverse. There are the older people 40+ and then there's the college kids. But somehow it works out. Service is meh, depending on which day of the week it is. Some days its good other days it just plain sucks. Kinda depends on luck. But I still come here because my friends like the place and I don't mind it.
(4)
Miss H.
Note: This review is for nightlife. I haven't gone out in SJ much, but my one experience here was enough for me to see why they call it "Man Jose". 1) My guy friend asked me to help him find a decent girl. I look around me on the dance floor and I am in a sea of dudes. Not a girl in sight! Ok, maybe like 5. 2) My girl friend was plastered and some dude was grinding up on her from the back, so I joined in on the action from the front and then pulled her away (common female cockblock tactic). The guy proceeded to scream out "HAAAAATERRRR!!" hahahahah that's RIGHT. 3) I went to the bathroom and there was no line but there was a line for the guys... and it was 10 guys long. The venue here is decent, I liked the music, and the bartender made my vodka tonic w/ extra lime just right. But if I have to wait 30 min in line on a cold night for a Man Jose experience again, I'll pass.
(3)
Eric R.
Mediocre food at too-proud prices. For $24.00, the New York strip steak really ought to be better than what one expects to get at Denny's. And for $12.00, their mojito doesn't do nearly enough to ease the pain of paying so much for such an unimpressive dinner.
(1)
Samira A.
The Loft is a cool spot to get drinks with friends and mingle, great scene for single people! : ) Food is also very good here, last time I was there I ordered the Grilled Flank Steak Salad, it is Marinated flank steak on chopped romaine lettuce tossed in balsamic vinaigrette with artichoke hearts, tomato, olives, red onions and crumbled bleu cheese. OH SO GOOD! During the summer, I enjoy sitting in their outdoor patio upstairs. Take your friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, whoever, they will surely enjoy this place!
(4)
Drew A.
I guess I could have done this a bit more democratically, cause it sounded like everyone liked what they ordered but me. A big WTF for the yelper who said "get the lamb shank." That shit was disgusting!!! The meat was a lot gamyer than I can do (and I love me some good german game meats), and the sauce that tried to cover it up was something I might have had on an airplane. I am glad the drinks weren't bad,and the service made up for my plate. Again, the wraps, fried chicken breast,the shrimp skewers, grilled artichokes were great. I am sorry I missed the YE event, but this was a pretty good trip. This is a place I will be back for drinks and light apps.
(3)
Cheryl P.
If it weren't for the fact that this place turned into a club after hours, I would've given it 1 star. Went here on Friday for a bday party. Our table of 13 had a bill of ~ $500 for overpriced food. Most of us had the sandwiches which were HUGE! I plate is enough to feed 3! I had the crab cake salad - $18, which consisted of two dry tasting crab cakes, chopped lettuce, a few pieces of chunky tomatoes and some olives. I honestly would have preferred a salad from McDonalds. Music was great, bartenders were nice & attentive and drinks weren't bad. (Scooby snacks were yummy.) Dance floor was suuppperr crowded to the point were people were pushing and shoving! Yikes! All in all, a decent night.
(3)
Mr. T.
FREE COVER IS AWESOME. I just need quick liquored up and I'm good to go on the dance floor. Need more selection in the bar. I used to bartend, and I can say, they need more variety. Also, easy on the ID checking at the door. If they're going to ask so much questions and such, they should at least do so with a smile. I don't mind pricks as long as they smile. Softens the mood a bit.
(4)
Loren John B.
2 FORMS OF I.D.?! W.T.F. Jeffrey L. recently informed me that due to a shooting that occurred outside the club, the Loft requires 2, yes 2, forms of I.D. Let's see, I'm not bringing my passport or my social security card. My college I.D. is expired. The closest thing I guess is a Costco card. All hell will break loose if I lose that. Anyway, its nice that the place has free cover. I came under-dressed one time, but they let me in anyway, so that was cool. Hey, I wasn't planning on coming here. The drinks here are expensive, and on top of that they're too strong that they don't taste the way they're supposed to. Yeah, since its stronger and the alcohol is not made of the proper proportions it'll get you buzzed/drunk faster, but I want to be able to enjoy what I paid for. It's usually crackin' here, but the music is alright. The DJ will play music that no one has really heard of, and I noticed how some people were turned off by it. There were no VIP sections by the main floor from what I remember, but ample places to sit. Oh, and this is where Anne A. got hit on by a drunk Vietnamese guy who kept pretending he was Filipino. He was clearly Vietnamese though, and his friends had to help him leave since he was extra hammered. I usually think of that incident when this place come to mind. I haven't been to downtown SJ since August of last year, but after going to downtown Sf lately, I see why I haven't been in awhile.
(3)
Lynn V.
I just have to rant on again about how much I HATE HATE HATE this place. Why? Bouncers are assholes...especially that one douche bag who checks IDs at the front (guy with dirty blond spiky hair) I swear he gets some sort of pathetic pleasure out of giving ppl a hard time about their IDs when it's obviously their ID. 2 forms of ID AND signing a damn paper to prove the signature is legit? It's unheard of at any other club/bar...so Loft must think that they're hot shit or something. Wack!!! AND to top that off, he'll ask insulting questions about your name and anything he can pick at on the ID. All the while, holding a smartass grin on his face. He obviously has nothing else better to do and the doorman job is the only thing that makes him feel good about himself at the end of the day. I'll only come to this place if there is absolutely nothing else going in DTSJ. And even at that point, I'd rather just go home. I refuse to support this establishment. Note that I'm not the only person on here who has complained about their security staff. Management seriously needs to make a change to this.
(1)
Amy R.
Settings: Two-story with second story balcony (covered, but open in the winter). Low-lit but atmospheric bar on the first floor, I honestly didn't see much of this, gorgeous second floor. Full height arched windows with a view onto 2nd Street. Full bar on both floors, clean bathrooms, elevator available for patrons and wait staff (so you don't have to feel too bad about ordering a meal on the second floor). Dark woods, well constructed, not a lot of noise despite many diners. Looks small when you first get in, but plenty of space on the second floor and balcony. Rating: A Service: This was a little jumbled, but overall positive. The Maitre d was prompt and polite, letting us know a little bit about the restaurant. Bar tender on the second floor was fantastic, well made drinks and great suggestions for making a favorite drink a little something special. Our table waitresses were a little slower than we'd like and a little brisk, but our food came quickly, but the second round of drinks were quite slow. Water refills were prompt and plates were cleared when necessary. Rating: B Food: I absolutely Adored the Panko-Crusted Chicken Breast, I would eat that any day of the week. My drinks were delicious and appropriately strong. The lamb and pork that members of my party ordered were also delicious. And while the low-carb menu is Highly appreciated, those who ordered from it were rather disappointed, probably due to very out of season mango salsa. My only complaint is that when a menu says "served with seasonal vegetables" I shouldn't be served cauliflower, snap peas and carrots in the winter. Something in the mushroom, broccoli or brussel sprouts would have been appreciated. Rating: B Value: Very satisfied wit the cost:enjoyment ratio on this menu, there are lots of options if you want to stay closer to the $12/plate amount, or you can amp it up if you're looking for a little more protein. I wasn't feeling ripped off with the amount of booze in our $9 cocktails. Overall: B - I would go back again, happily, but there is room for improvement in service and seasonality.
(4)
Amber U.
Ok, ok, I know this place is a restaurant, but I've never really come here for food (a little pricey for my taste), I've only gone here while bar-hopping. This place is great! Creeper-free, good music, nice atmosphere, and oh did I mention there's no gross guys trying to grab my ass while I'm there? Makes it worth waiting in line and having to show 2 IDs to get in. (Yeah, if you're under 25, must show 2 forms of ID.... good thing my credit card has my pic on it, or else I wouldn't have gotten in). I LOVE the upstairs loft. Casual, fun, and a great way to get some fresh air after dancing. From what I have heard, the food is good, so I hope to come back here during dining hours.
(4)
Annie N.
They don't charge cover but they make up for it with their $12 drinks. That's right, $12 x 5 + tips = 1 guy's heroic attempt to get the girls. The music here is pretty good, but the dance floor is tiny. If they could just use some of their outside patio area for the dance floor it would save a lot of fights and janitorial services to clean up spilled drinks. Yes, don't even attempt to bring your expensive drink into the dance floor because you'll only spill it when someone try to push and shove their way around. Still, this is the default go to place when it's passed 11pm and everywhere else charges cover. (Btw, you don't need 2 forms of ID if you're over 25 years of age.)
(3)
Desmond H.
No cover. Need 2 forms of ID. I just turned 21 a couple months ago and the bouncer always says "Happy Belated Birthday," whenever I go... which I think is kinda funny. Nice guy. The music is usually good. It gets too crowded later in the night. The dance floor is packed upstairs and there are people that stand on the side staring at other people. The patio is a nice touch. It's not as crowded and a breathe of fresh air is always nice. The waitresses are also really nice. However, the drinks are kinda expensive. Also, the employees are kinda anal about where you stand upstairs. (Which is kind of a good thing. I guess)
(4)
Myles G.
If I wanna go clubbing in downtown SJ, this is probably going to be one of my first choices. No cover, decently priced drinks, and good music.. what more can you ask for? I've been here a couple times and so far each experience has been pretty good. Sometimes they ask for a second form of ID (like a credit card) so just a heads up. Don't be fooled if it doesn't look poppin' at first. From the outside, you can only see the small downstairs area with a bar and a stairway. It's not until you go up those stairs that you see where the party's at. The last time I was here, a couple of friends and I bought AMFs from the bar downstairs and THEY DO NOT PLAY. They were probably the strongest AMFs any of us have ever had and that got me going pretty well throughout the night. The girls who go here aren't too stuck up either.. you can always find someone to dance with if you wanted to. I always remember smelling food near the upstairs bar but never quite got around to ordering anything on the menu yet. There isn't really anything thats out of the ordinary at loft but if you just want to have a good time on a friday night then you might enjoy the place.
(4)
Daniel T.
This was only the 3rd 21+ club I've been too, and it's a pretty nice-looking place. I didn't try any of the food or anything. The men's bathroom is decently clean, and not a swamp like some places *cough*VoodooLounge*cough*. You will NEED two forms of ID, I brought my ID card cause I don't wanna lose my DL and a credit card, which got me in. No cover, another plus. Overall I had a good time, but I did go with a bunch of friends. There's a pretty diverse crowd and decent guy/girl ratio. I went there on a Thursday... not sure if that matters. If you're upstairs the bouncers will constantly tell you to either stay on the dancefloor or stay off the stairs/walkway area. The bouncers were even shooing us off the sidewalk in front of Loft when the club closed! SMH. Oh and one of the bouncers smelled like weed, hardcore! The credit card minimum is $20 and drinks and shots are like $12 each!! So there isn't a cover, but you're still paying for it either way. The dancefloor gets pretty stuffy and cramped once a bunch of people get in there... I think I was unintentionally dancing with five different people at the same time.
(3)
Sam K.
Believe it or not, I'm think this isn't a bad place. I think it's brick wall that holds the stairs, or the good size bar upstairs ... I know it's not the dance floor because it is ... who cares! It's Free, any place where you don't have to pay to fuckin' get is is a bonus for me! For all the guys that can't dance and actually thinks their game is so tight when they are drunk, there is another room for you. Now you can harass the ladies not only on the dance floor but in the other room while they are sitting with their friends. Bonusx4 Another bonus is ... for the handful of times I've been there ... no ghetto ass ppl there that would start shit for no apparent reason. Come on, you go out to dance, have fun, talk to some hawties and cut a rug. You really gotta be a loser to go out w/ your boys to start shit, is your game that bad that you gotta take it out on other ppl. sorry, venting The bad ... Now I know why they call it Man Jose, damn! Oh, srry, I'm hatin' again, while I'm at it, who lied to the big girls and said that tight clothes are in for them? come on, really! I don't wanna see ya raise your hands and your shirt lifts up with them abd cookie dough overlaps your jeans. I apologiize BBW ( just learned that) but someone has to say it!
(3)
Jessica C.
This review is based on club. Came here after koji sake lounge on a saturday and the lines weren't long at 11:30 pm. The bouncers are nice. No fee to get in! The lower level has a bar and it's more for people who want to just talk and hang out. I liked the lower level because I'm not into dancing, but you can still hear the music from upstairs. The upper level is where all the dancing is it and another bar. The dance floor is small and crowded. I wonder how many peoples toes get hulk smashed. The night I came, the music was good. I did not hear any house music...thank you cause if they played house music, I would of chugged my drink and stumble out the door. I like the ambience of this place so I would be coming back, but only staying at the lower level.
(4)
Peggy S.
Dining at Loft was like traveling on a plane to an exotic place, minus the plane and the exotic place. What I mean is - overpriced airplane food! For San Jose's Restaurant Week, we decided to go to Loft for our first stop. The reservation was not needed because including us, the whole place probably had five tables. The hostess promptly sat us on the second floor, and our orders were quickly taken. Let me say, their complimentary bread and dip was tasty - the dip was garlicky and balsamicky. But the night went downhill after that. Dylan H. and I both ordered Baby Spinach Salad. It was a huuuuge plate of leafy greens, topped with sweet red onions, feta cheese and some olives. I didn't quite expect that... in my silly little mind, I thought spinach salads usually come with candied walnut, cranberries, etc. But mattered not, I devoured my salad because it was fresh and delicious, even though feta cheese was slightly overpowering. Oh and I hate olives. I got Grilled Salmon with Pesto for my entree. It was... nothing special. Even though the fish was moist, it was slightly more fishy than I liked... but grilled salmon is normally a fishier smelling fish anyway. But the pesto was quite salty! I did enjoy my side veggie and my little mount of rice. The rice was flavorful, and lightly coated with grease. It balanced out the saltiness of the fish. The dessert was alright. We got chocolate mousse and white chocolate creme brulee. Being a girl, I basically licked both items clean, but they are not outstanding or anything. The creme brulee was actually cold... is that normal? I thought it's supposed to be luke warm. But it did come with fresh strawberries on top! Was it worth the $30 prix fixe? No. But our waitresses were attentive - she heard me dropping my knife (I am clumsy... I know) and quickly walked over and gave me a new one. How sweet :) Hopefully we'll have better luck at restaurant picking for the rest of the Restaurant Week!!
(2)
Tina S.
Came here on Saturday and the DJ sucked! The transitions were bad, the mixes were bad, and the randomness of the songs was all bad. Yes, the crowd ranged from young to old, but that doesn't mean you gotta cater to everyone. Oh, and their mango mojitos tastes like soda. I asked the waitress to fix my drink, but apparently if you want to taste any alcohol you gotta pay extra for another shot! Whack! BTW, all you wall flower guys who just stand on the dance floor.... get OFF. The dance floor aint big enough and it's just creeepy!
(1)
Denise L.
with the bust of SJ Eats, we wandered as far as possible to grab lunch and cocktails. ive only been here at nighttime, and for a birthday party outdoors upstairs with appetizers many years ago. we were seated outside, but it is covered up on the size and top, so doesnt really feel like you're outside. our waitress was also the bartender, and she said on afternoons its usually just her. she did have a bus boy that helped out, and service wasn't slow even though there were a handful of patrons dining. we started with the popcorn chicken (very good, not overly breaded), and the bread with the balsamic vinegar (with herbs/garlic) was AMAZING! best ive had! i ordered the chicken sandwich but with turkey. it had cheese, sun dried tomatoes, lettuce and grilled onions. it was very good! the bread (french roll) was really soft and yummy as well. got fries as a side, and they were good as well. to be honest, nothing caught my eye at first on the menu, but you can never go wrong with a sandwich. my friend got the smoked salmon pesto rotini (pasta) and it was really good as well! food is a bit on the pricey side though. paid $30 for a sandwich/fries and a mojito. guess that's pretty standard though.
(3)
Michelle W.
Came here several times on different days of the week. Never once did I have an enjoyable experience. Yes, I agree with all those that call "San Jose", "Man Jose", because Loft is the definition of that. I'm not snobby or picky when it comes to crowds, but the ratio is literally 20 males: 1 female. It gets to the point where the girls are unhappy because they're chased after like a juicy steak offered to a pack of starving, ravenous carnivores and the guys are also unhappy because there's just too many of them around!! The dance floor is always packed (full of guys), to the point where you can't get around or take a step without getting hit on, pinched in the butt, cussed at, humped, spilled on, or a combination of such. Drinks are expensive: $13 for redbull vodka-- really? That's how much I pay at V-bar in Santana Row!
(2)
Joon Y.
DJ HAU = Always awesome. Seriously, $15 for a Redbull vodka? It should come with a blowjob per my friend Betty N's. review. And this place is gets way to packed in the dance floor to even be enjoyable anymore. I miss the old Loft. =/
(2)
Ada C.
I've only come here on Friday and Saturday nights, so this review is entirely for the nightlife. After trying many of the venues in downtown San Jose (Motif, Studio 8, Sabor, etc), I have concluded that Loft is one of the best places to end up. Yes, this place may be tiny, but what it lacks in size and glitz it makes up for with free entry, pleasant staff, and incredible DJ's. Every weekend for the past month my friends and I have some how always end up at Loft for one night, and this place has never failed to give us a good time of dancing the night away.
(4)
Jeffrey C.
I like how there's no cover charge which makes this a decent bar when there's a decision to be made on where to go. They even have a bar downstairs and upstairs which is a plus. The crowd I found to be decent and not too overly obnoxious compared to some of the other bars I've been to in the area. With all that said, I found it to be weird how they ask you for 2 forms of ID although it didn't bother me all that much.
(3)
Teresa N.
I like Loft a lot because NO COVER! :D None of that guestlist BS, where even if youre on the guestlist, its after 11 so... you still have to pay! I work closing shifts a lot and I usually don't get out until 1030 so we usually get downtown by 11... most places charge $15-20 to get in... loft doesnt! So I can always count on loft. The only downside is that their drinks are a little on the pricier side, I would recommend pre-gaming and coming to loft, or head over to Flames cos they have happy hour until midnight (EVERYDAYY!!) The dance floor is small, but I think its pretty decent when theres a good balance where its kinda packed, and its fun, but you're not packed in like sardines. Sometimes though... it is SUPER crackin' and the only space you have is to jump up and down basically. The crowd is a hit or miss somsetimes... and its a club so there will always be creepers, what do you expect? If you're under 25, they ask for 2 forms of ID, so bring a student ID or a debit card or something. Don't have one? You can still get in but you have to sign like this waiver thing. I like loft, I feel like its a dependable place to go to when its too late and you dont wanna pay cover.
(4)
Tylor M.
Neat spot downtown with a nice rooftop patio. The atmosphere was great. The food was pretty good. The prices were not great. I suppose you do have to charge a premium to make money in this location. We had the calamari appetizer. It came with jalapenos and parmesan, which I thought was unique and delicious. I couldn't keep my hands off it. I had the flank steak and potatoes, a blue moon, and a port for desert. Everything was delicious. I would definitely eat here again if I am in the area and not penny-pinching. We had an early dinner, around 5:30. The place was almost empty when we arrived, but filled up quickly. Monday Night Football was on when we left, but I was surprised the bar wasn't packed. I'd be interested to see the atmosphere later in the evening.
(3)
Jenny T.
Is there a way to give half a star? I'm not a fan of Loft at all. It's a default lounge/club for whenever I'm in the San Jose area, but it's just plain nasty and not fun. The workers here are RUUUUUDDE!! Anytime you're moving from one spot to another, they tell you to clear the isle, basically pushing you around. Sometimes, after getting a drink, I don't want to dance just yet, I want to hang out and talk to friends and the workers just keep shoving us around. Can the workers here please just relax? And let people get from one place to another without being such dicks? Also, the crowd here tends to be ghetto. I've never had a fun night here once but we somehow end up here every so often just because "it's right there." I used the bathroom once and forgot my wristlet, then got a $300 charge the next day. Granted, it was entirely my fault for forgetting but it makes me not want to come back to Loft even more.
(1)
Kimberly C.
Free, free!! no entrance fee! Used to be all asians for awhile, but went again last night and saw some white boys, hispanic boys..all KINDA BOYS (and ladies too)! Because it's free to get in, I guess it's why they can charge you a few dollars more than other places for drinks. But there's a happy hour, not sure when it starts, but ends at 11:30pm. Some cocktails are $6 like tequila sunrise, etc. and greygoose and henny shots are $8 I believe. Music is usually decent, usually playing mainstream hiphop/rap and sometimes mixing in house/dance music. Gets way too crowded and watch out for 'rain drops' falling on your shoulder or head..coming from the ceiling and pipes up above.. The main area upstairs is the dance floor, but the bar has a few places to sit and there is a separate room to chill. Downstairs you can just grab drinks and chat a bit. Definitely still a go-to spot when I'm in the area. As I say, dance like no one's watching. Just watch out for the guys that somehow show up right behind you when you're on the dance floor ladies. Where are your manners men?? I guess most men with manners don't frequent Loft.
(4)
Julie R.
We celebrated my 40th birthday party here and everything was perfect. We are regular customers of Capers, the Loft's sister restaurant in Campbell, and the owner Kam bent over backwards to take great care of us! The space was awesome--we had the entire second floor to ourselves. We had a band and about 75 people--it was perfect. The food was delicious and the service was attentive and friendly. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone looking for a great event space!
(5)
David T.
This in my opinion by far the best club/bar in downtown SJ. The security is ridiculously strict and anal, but I guess that's how you filter out stupid kids trying to fake their way in. No cover charge, which is great, BUT the drinks are kind of pricey, so be prepared. The music is my FAVORITE part about this club because the DJs have such a large variety of music from today's hit pop/hip hop songs to the old school music and their mixes are clean and sweet. I also really enjoy the crowd that comes through here. Very classy or maybe it was just the night I was there, but damn, everyone was really chill which I appreciate. Very good first impression.
(5)
Thao N.
This place is always packed and it's probably because there's no cover. If you like to dance, this place may not be the best spot because it gets super crowded on the tiny dance floor. It gets so hot and everyone just pushes you back and forth. Just in case it gets too hot upstairs, you can go downstairs and hangout by the door to catch some fresh air. They have happy hour on certain shots and you should take advantage of it because once it's over, the prices skyrocket. Also, if you're a germ-a-phobe , you'll be happy to know that they serve their shots and drinks in plastic cups. I'm not sure if pouring shots in a plastic cup is better than a shot glass because some bartenders pour more than others. Tip: If you want to get your money's worth, I suggest watching the bartenders to see how they pour.
(3)
Jay C.
I'm surprised by the disparity of ratings for the Loft. I've been going there since they opened with parties of 2 to 10 to 125, and they've been great virtually every time. I keep going back because I really believe that the ownership and management will always make it right for me. The bars (downstairs and upstairs) are beautiful and well-stocked. Nice pours. Good happy hour selections of drinks and appetizers. A number of entrees are in the $20-$30 range (hence, 4 stars and not 5 stars), but the quality and portions are consistently satisfying. My favorites are the calamari appetizer (light breading, quick fried), chicken salad (tasty dressing, meaty chicken, huge portion) and the crab-stuffed salmon special. Sorry, I don't know about the post-10pm nightclub action :) The Loft is a great Downtown SJ option for after-work and weekend drinks and meals. p.s. They validate for the parking lot under the very-nearby Safeway.
(4)
Christine P.
This place was great! My husband and I had dinner here right before watching a comedy show at the San Jose Improv. The staff all around was TOP NOTCH! It was Valentine's weekend and they were busy but were able to sit us within 5 minutes. I ordered the shrimp scampi and my husband ordered the shrimp ceaser salad. Everything was GREAT! I LOVED my shrimp scampi and wanted more after I cleaned off my plate. I'm giving it 5 stars due to their great service and delicious food. They made our start to a great night even better. Just like M.A. B. who mentioned, the waitress here kept our water glasses filled all night long and continued to check on us throughout the night. Nordstrom type customer service by everyone from the host to the server. Thanks guys! Loved it here.
(5)
Stephanie B.
You know, I really don't review bars/clubs/lounges often, but i feel compelled to do it for this place. The place is nice, came here for a birthday. I love how they had the "reserved" signs. The place got pretty packed quick. I had to get away from the little party that was up in the patio because the music sucked up there. I thought it was strange that the inside and the upstairs patio had different music playing. Anywho, I ended up going downstairs to just hang out at the bar. The bartenders were really friendly, actually making conversation with me. Maybe because I was alone and didn't have people surrounding me. I ended up getting a shot on the house and drinking with the bartenders. It was actually quite fun. Plus, the bar wasn't all crowded and they seemed to take care of everyone that walked up. I'd come here again, i just hate the stairs and bathroom!
(4)
Linda N.
Night life review: ALWAYS bring 2 forms of ID if you plan on going here after eating hours, you probably won't get in otherwise. No cover, which is great. The crowd is not bad. However, the crowdedness... different story. I don't know how people can dance, I can hardly move around, walking through the dance floor is quite a feat. Also, their drinks are way expensive to make up for lack of cover.
(2)
Jen H.
Been here a few times for friends' birthdays, and i am always disappointed how crowded this place gets! It is like a mosh pit, and I am ready to head out. You LITERALLY have no room to dance--unless you like being bumped and shoved. I been here Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is all the same..CROWDED!!!! The only perk of this place is entrance is free no matter what time you go, and DJ plays good music. However, I heard they get you on the drinks. I am not sure how much they cost, but I think my friends said it was around $1-3 more per drink than other places in DTSJ, where they charge for admission after 10:30pm. You will rarely find me at clubbing events--i only come out for special occasions=)
(3)
Grace T.
I celebrated my 21st birthday here two years ago and had a mediocre experience. First, my friends and I had dinner at the Loft Bar and Bistro. And then, stayed the remainder of the night to experience the bar. The food was excellent! I ordered some type of salmon dish and my boyfriend ordered a steak. Both were ridiculously great tasting, however, I did like the steak a lot more. The specialty drinks were mediocre. I forgot what drinks I had (because my friends bought me all different kinds), but I have to say that I was not pleased with them. As for the venue, it is a two story building with a bar on each floor. There is a dancing area upstairs with a DJ. The only negative thing is that the place gets really crowded.
(3)
Michelle C.
I'm not sure what inspired me to eat here. Maybe it looked semi classy, maybe I was just blinded by my craving for lamb. Whatever it was, we left totally unimpressed. I think during our meal we had five different people at our table. We were seated by someone who took our drink order, then two different people took our food order, another person brought us our food, and then someone we had never seen before brought the check (about 15 minutes after we had finished eating). It was one of those nights that you're in the middle of a conversation and you feel like the waitstaff is up your ass every 3 seconds, except of course when you're ready to leave. As for the food, it was pretty mediocre. My lamb shank was cooked perfectly, but the sauce it was drowned in totally took away from the flavor of the meat. I'm not a huge sauce person, and if I order lamb (which is rare for me), I want to taste it. He ordered the lasagna which was packed with weirdly spicy tarragon sausage. Clearly they were trying to do a spin on a traditional dish, but it was an utter failure. Maybe I'll check out the upstairs some night for dancing, but I won't be eating here again.
(3)
Marvin N.
I love the loft. Its our to go spot for dancing. My only gripe is that some women who shouldnt be wearin heels end up stomping on my toes.
(4)
Dara H.
I came here last night with my boyfriend for our anniversary dinner -- we wanted to have a casual dine-in experience. Anyway, it was exactly as I expected. I was not disappointed at all. I knew it was in Downtown San Jose, so I didn't really expect it to be anything very fancy. I like the location, it's not that out there. It's also not that crowded, perhaps because it was a Thursday. ALSO, there was a jazz band playing which I liked. The place has two floors with a patio on their rooftop (didn't get to see the patio), but I like the idea of sitting there on a sunny day having lunch with friends. The waitress came and took our order. She's pretty helpful too. The service was quick which surprised me a little bit (in a good way, of course). I ordered the Baked Lamb Penne -- for most people, it would be gross, but since I'm Filipino I like any kind of meat on my pasta. I loved the combination. I didn't really stare at my food and figure out all the ingredients because obviously I was busy eating away. I really liked it -- it's different from any pasta I've tried. My boyfriend had the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak and HE LOVED IT! His plate was wiped out clean! We also ordered the Marinated Fire Roasted Artichoke -- IT WAS DIVINE! We enjoyed eating it, although it was really hard to chew because after all, it is an Artichoke. Overall, we enjoyed our anniversary dinner! We will come back here and try it on a lunch time. I really want to try dining in the rooftop patio on a sunny day! :-)
(4)
Stacey L.
They got a little stricter with checking ID's now; you have to provide a second form of ID (credit or debit card) along with your DL. If you don't have a second form of ID, they'll ask you to sign your signature and compare it to your DL. The dance floor is ridiculously crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, which may or may not be a good thing. I suppose better than an empty one. A lot of guys here come off as creepers though so in this case, not a good thing. Drinks are super expensive and filled with tons of ice. M y friend got a Tokyo Tea and it was $13 but came in a dinky plastic cup. Lame. The overall place looks nice I guess. Not really a favorite selection.
(2)
Shannon L.
Man Jose at its finest. Initially the evening started off quite well; they played late '90s hip hop and there was an equal ratio of guy to girl. But after an hour or so, the music turned to trance and it was a total sausage factory. And now I finally understand the reason for having cover charges and even for bouncers supposedly being discriminatory against groups with too many guys. We found that there were many all guy groups just standing around the dance floor staring at everyone. Eeek! Surprising to me was also HAPPY HOUR on a Saturday night. Shots of grey goose and select drinks were $6. I had a Hurricane which was pretty gross - it tasted bitter initially then really watery. The security guys don't let you stand in any parts of the hallway so you'll have to be stuck on the crowded dance floor or on the patio where it's much cooler (but there is a maximum capacity for people that they regulate). I didn't know downtown SJ was so happening; I love people watching especially if the aftermath of people drinking too much. Overall, Loft is great because there is no cover charge and it's pretty clean compared to the dirty streets outside.
(3)
Carol G.
I have been here a couple of times for Happy Hour and each time I leave feeling about the same. The spot is okay, the drinks are fine, the food is average. There isn't anything about this location that is unique for Happy Hour, but it's not terrible either. The drink and food specials are about on point with the rest of downtown, although about a dollar more expensive then most of the places I frequent down here. $6 for an order of 7 hot wings, $6 for a small but tasty lychee martini, and the service is decent. The best service I have gotten was sitting at the bar upstairs, and will probably be where you will find me if I get motivated to head on over here again. All of the bar food we tried that was on special was average bar food. Nothing stood out as a must-try. However, we didn't stay for dinner so I can't attest to the rest of the menu. A solid spot, but one I wouldn't go out of my way to frequent.
(3)
Stephen D.
*This review is for the bar/nightclub and not for the bistro. This is overall a great place to experience SJ nightlife without spending too much or travelling away from downtown San Jose. --POSITIVE-- + Free admission + Close to other clubs in case you need to hop around + 2 bars, one upstairs, one downstairs + 2 DJ's, one inside and one outside on the patio + The DJ's are good + Sometimes 3rd parties will give out free shot samples or t-shirts + Somewhat air conditioned + They still sell food during nightlife hours + Dress code is very casual (guys can wear nice t-shirts) + Patio servers are friendly --NEGATIVE-- - Mixed drinks are $12-15 dollars, Shots are $11-13 - Bathrooms are usually really crowded, even for guys - Dancefloor gets packed as it's not too large --FOR GIRLS ONLY-- G Guy/girl ratio leans towards more guys (BOO, MAN JOSE, CA!) G Bartenders are mostly male and attend to girls more (will sometimes give out free drinks to girls) --NEUTRAL/FACTS/TIPS-- = You need 2 forms of ID to get in (don't forget this) = Crowd is mixed demographic, mid to late 20's = Bouncers very quick to identify drunk people and boot them = For really fast drink service, go to the bar downstairs. Nobody is there since the DJ's are both upstairs. You'll save yourself a good 10 to 15 minutes of waiting. = Upstairs bathrooms usually have shorter wait times, downstairs only fits 1 person (unisex) at a time Although drinks are a bit pricey, the admission is free and it's an overall good time. If any of your friends suggests Sabor, Abyss, or Temple, opt for the Loft instead!
(4)
Randy S.
This review is for the nightlife here at the Loft and oh Man Jose how it's been so long. Visiting the loft with some friends late at night brings back memories. On the positive side: There's no cover, easy to get into, good up to date music (house and hip hop tends to be played here) On the negative side: There's definitely a gender imbalance here.... lines outside the men's rest room and none outside the lady's. But from my experience that is just kind of San Jose in general haha. Oh and It's also so crowded you can't help but struggle to move and dance, doesn't help that the floor is tiny either. Overall, if you are just planning for a night to dance and drink with your friends the loft is an alright place to do it (although drinks are on the pricey side). If you're a dude looking to pick up girls...... good luck!
(2)
Kunal K.
I came into grab a couple drinks with some friends on a Thursday night and it was pretty dead. Seemed to be a nicer crowd than most places in Dtown. My only complaint was even with like 20 people there it took me almost 10 minutes to get a drink which was kind of annoying. Overall I would come back here if my friends wanted to grab a drink but my overall impression of Dtown San Jose is low as is.
(3)
Lianne L.
Although I'm not old enough to come here when this place turns into a sort of night club, this place is pretty good. I used to work here so I might be biased, although I was only a host. The three things you need to try when coming here are: 1. The Calamari ( SOOO GOOD) 2. The Ahi Tuna ( perfectly cooked) 3. And if you don't like raw fish, try the Shrimp Scampi (my favorite) I took my mom here for her birthday and she said the Ahi Tuna was the best Ahi Tuna she has ever had. This place is pricey though but sure damn good!
(4)
John B.
I swear I keep searching for the negative star option, but its nowhere to be found. As I said, all my downtown San Jose reviews are gonna be bad... so let's talk about the 15 minutes I was in the place. I walk to the door, husky security guard guy checks my ID and asks me how old I am. For real? You can obviously tell from the ID, it's not my fault you can't do math. My bladder is on the verge of eruption as I make my way to the back to go use the facilities. Keep in mind, this was during my brief stint of abstinence. I was sober and had a bladder full of water. There's a long line to use the unisex bathroom. I was informed that the wait upstairs was ridiculous so I patiently and anxiously awaited my turn. When I was next in queue this drunken mess came up to me and simply said "I need to go". This caused an uproar in the line. This chick tried to make a sob story that she was in an accident (wtf right) and needed to go. Everybody was shouting obscenities at her and I said I'm sorry you're going to just have to wait. Things got nasty. She had the audacity to check me into the wall and said no. I then looked at her boyfriend who looked like jabba the hut and I was like hey man, you got to watch your lady. To which he shrugged. Useless. I was so ready to throw it down on the both of them but calmed myself down and asked the janitor en espanol if he could get me "the damn seguridad". I'll give the security guy +2 stars for resolving the issue. Everybody in line shouted what was going on to him to which I calmly told him that I'd bring this issue to upper management if he wasn't going to get this resolved. Nice enough guy. He kicked the both of them out and I enjoyed my well deserved tinkle. Yeah, I might be an ass but hell, they got what they deserved and the line cheered and applauded as they were escorted out. The only thing that made my night was seeting John Witherspoon outside. Tip: Go somewhere else.
(1)
Kit K.
The Loft is a good place to eat as a restaurant, but as for a night club, it has it's ups and downs. Great place to grab a cocktail or some food after a long day of work. Usually they turn Loft to a lounge/night club after 10pm. Let me tell you. This place gets packed!!! Hard to move around or even find an area to dance. o BTW, you might feel like a minority if you are not Asian! Lol This place literally has 80-90% Asians. The music is usually good, lots of good dance music. I figured out their trick for no cover. The reason why they don't charge cover is because they pump their drink prices up by at least $1 or more to make up the cover charge so don't think they are getting the ultimate deal HAHA Again, it is DT SJ, you can't expect too much out of it. Good enough to go back when you are trying to party a little on the weekends.
(3)
Himani A.
I have been there a handful of times and it never been disappointed. Music is good, good crowd, good locations, etc. I went there last Friday, after stopping at Motif and crying because no one was there. The DJ at Motif recommended that we leave Motif and go to the Loft. Oh did I mention...NO COVER. yahooo!! I took off one star because the bouncers are ummmm whats that word...the one which suggests that they have inappropriate relations with their mothers. yeah that one. But otherwise I say its probably one of the good spots left in dying San Jose downtown scene.
(4)
Ashley S.
Walked in on a Sunday evening after seeing a movie and my first thought was "Why did this restaurant smell like a restroom."... the s.o. and I walked in and I swear I almost walked out because of the smell. AJ didn't say anything so I thought for a second it was just me. We sat down at the empty except for one person bar and ordered wine from the bartender. Only then did I turn to AJ and ask him if he smelled the reeking mens bathroom smell also? And he did. We worked to get over it because we were already committed and ordered some steak bites. All in all if was an OK experience. Pros: steak bites, bread dipping sauce, nice bar Cons: poor selection of wines by the glass, AWFUL SMELL, employees acting unprofessional just because it was pretty empty My thing is, if I am paying full price, I would like the same treatment as if the bar was full of people. Everyone who worked there was messing around and it kind of made me feel like I should have been getting my food for free or 1/2 off because they obviously weren't acting like I was a customer. Oh well....
(2)
Jon H.
The only reason why this place gets 2 stars is the no cover charge. Other than that let me break down the gripes. 1) No hats or sunglasses. What? How can a place have no dress code but ask you to remove accessories? Tell me what the terrorist threat these articles of clothing have on club goers? Seriously this must be something that bouncers get to do because they're bored of their job. False authority for something absurd. 2) Every 5 minutes, a bouncer is going through the crowd with his 300 lb frame and a LED flashlight in people's faces. Um why? Do you not see that broom closet sized dance floor. Why would we make room for you? 3) AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN SAFETY, I know the fire code. So BOUNCERS exercising that the ramp towards the outdoor smoking area must be kept clear? Um no. This is retarded. Fire cooridors are to be only kept clear if they lead to a direct egress that exits the building downward not upward... towards the roof.... Another false authority for something. 4) If I was a Fire Marshall, I'd write you guys a notice of violation for not respecting the maximum capacity of your establishment. The reason why upstairs is so jam packed is because you're trying to fill so people can buy drinks. Your bouncers need to do a much better job counting the number of people entering and maintaining a free flow of traffic. Be stern and build up a line outside so that it never reaches maximum capacity.
(2)
Christina Y.
Nightlife: The Loft is a good place to stop by after a Friday night at the Improv. The music is great! ..but come on a super packed day, like the day after Thanksgiving, and the line is ridiculous. The doormen = asses. We were in line in the freaking cold for almost an hour! ..we could've left, but we were meeting up with friends who somehow got inside by passing up the line inconspicuously :P We hardly moved for a good 20 minutes and we were reciting those lines from "Knocked Up." You know, when Debbie (Leslie Mann) goes: "You're just a doorman, okay!? You're a doorman, doorman, doorman, doorman.......... doorman! So... Fuck You!" Ughhhh.. Finally around 12ish, we got in.. by then, it was too late to go anywhere else. Yet, after a few drinks, it didn't matter. In any case, busy day or not, the Loft gets super crowded! After a few minutes, you'll be defending your dance spot! ..or either that, you'll be drowning in the sea of people, just trying to leave. Be either drunk or have a high tolerance for crowds (which I don't have) and you'll have an okay time!
(2)
Gio G.
I have a general rule when it comes to Club/Lounge/Restaurants. I avoid places that have "Loft" and "Bistro" in the title. This place has BOTH! I only went because it was a friend's birthday and some friends from out of town where going to be there. Our plan was dinner, then bail before the crowd rolls in. I must say, the place is spacious and I do like the Patio they have in the back upstairs. The dinner was average though. I had the NY Steak w/ Bleu Cheese crumbles & Carmelized onions. It was nothing to rave about, but I did leave the plate clean empty. The service was attentive, and the drinks were poured a little better than fairly. I stil can't get over a place titles "LOFT BISTRO" though. I can't help but to think I'm in a pretentious over-priced out of towner trap. But the prices were fair for what I got. I'l go again, but won't suggest if it were my turn to entertain my out of town guests in the South Bay....Unless I had to choose between here & some spot in Mantana Row.
(3)
Yancy R.
I was here for two events in one week. The first was a Yelp event which was awesome and the second is the basis for this review. I and a few friends threw a private party for our friend Regina and everything was outstanding. The service was excellent, from the Manager who helped me set it up - Adrian to our server - Jenny, I was pleasantly surprised. They had everything prepared, was always checking up on us, and brought the champagne and cake in at the perfect time. The food was also great! During the Yelp event we had buffet style food but it was still very good. The night of the party, I asked the server what was a good dish - the Lamb or the burger - and I knew she would up sell me like a good server should but the Lamb turned out to be exquisite! So I would definitely go here again, oh not to mention it's a safe place as the SJPD had a party there as well. Great work to the staff here at the Loft!
(5)
Alysia W.
Everything I've read about this place is true.. Small dance floor, overpriced drinks, and 2 forms of ID required!! BUT the crowd isn't half bad and the DJ plays a great selection, not just that top 40s crap.. We found parking for just $3 in a structure right around the corner from Loft, and there's no cover so it can be really inexpensive if you drink before you get there [: All I spent on was a bottle of Voss water which was $5 but after dancing for hours and moving all over the place it's nice to have something with a cap on it.. They have a huge fan in the corner of the dance floor so my group stayed in that area and kept cool the whole night! No gross sweaty monsters in that section :P The bathrooms were well kept and there were no lines which is always nice.. The only thing I didn't like was the bouncer not buying my own ID as mine.. I obviously don't do my signature the same as when I was 15.. Come on buddy! I guess it's time for me to update that so I can avoid future arguments with the doormen.. Overall I had a great time though and would surely return again! The only reason this place isn't a 5 star club is cuz of their drink prices.. Everything else I can deal with [:
(4)
Daniel H.
First off, you need two forms of ID to enter, but you shouldn't have a problem getting in if you have those two forms of ID. Also, there was no cover charge. There's a bar downstairs, a bar upstairs along with the dance floor. I really don't need to really explain the layout. Just go and find out. The drinks were expensive and this place was packed especially on the dance floor. Seriously, so many people were leaving the dance floor that I was just standing still rather than "dancing" to the music. Another thing about this place would be the girl to guy ratio. Out of the times I've been here, I'd say my last visit was a straight up sausagefest. There's almost always more guys than girls at this place which might (or might not) be good for girls depending on them of course. Since there's so many people (guys mostly), it was super hot. It's not the good kind of super hot either (don't think there's a good kind). Sometimes it was hot and musty and those two should never be put together. Seriously! Some guys need to use deodorant or cologne or something! The DJs were usually good but sometimes you get one that can't mix the beats properly to transition to the next song and it just messes up the rhythm of the dance floor. Anyways, I thought this place was okay minus the sausagefest dancefloor.
(3)
Corrina S.
I've only been here twice and only to drink, but I've always had a good time at the Loft. No cover, good music, good atmosphere, and i've never had any problems getting in. In fact, I don't think I've even seen a line for this place but it definitely gets packed. Like everyone says, it's basically a 90% asian crowd... maybe even 95? I dont think there's a dress code, but some people were wearing dresses + heels and others like me just jeans and flip flops, it's not the kind of place ppl care about that which is nice... unpretentious and just fun! :) another thing I like about this place is that there are places to sit down!! The only minuses: Expensive(ish) drinks and stupid security dudes telling you MOVE every 2 minutes. I swear, if you are parked for more than 10 seconds somewhere, someone will come up to you to tell you to move. It's rediculous. They need to chilllllll out.
(4)
Ben T.
Food was okay, but felt a bit overpriced. I got the filet and have definitely had better. Definitely just okay, and wouldn't be back.
(2)
Melissa T.
I have never eaten here so I don't know how the food is. But... The Loft is no club thats for sure but for no cover, it's defs the Plan B kinda place. Whoa whoa whoa, not the birth control. Be cool. Loft is where you come when you first stop at Sabor and see how empty and lame it is. Don't worry! Loft will be there. Loft is where my girls come if we decide too late that we want to drink and dance. Because when we drink, we dance. They go hand in hand my friends. The music is pretty crackin some times. There is always a fairly good mix of people and the dance floor is tiny and hot. But who cares! Drinks are kinda expensive to make up for the no cover and sometimes the bouncers can be lame. One time my friend pretended to be drunk so that a dude could back off and the bouncers almost threw us out! Which makes me think that if you were really messed up, they wouldn't help you but instead throw you out on the street. Warning! But Brandon is our favorite bouncer there. He is always there and is super sweet. Waddup. But the drinks are big and come in actual glasses. None of this plastic cup crap. We big kids now.
(4)
Darla S.
Good little place to keep it casual, get some good drinks and eats. I have not been there for the bands so I cannot comment. We usually dine here before hitting a sporting event or concert at the HP ~ We definately have enjoyed the handful of visits for dinner at The Loft. It does get loud and service can be casual so don't plan to be in a hurry.
(4)
Michelle C.
3.5 stars I've never eaten any of the food here. This review is strictly for the drinks and the nightlife. Loft is my default Downtown San Jose spot. No cover for the entire night, great music. They now have grey goose shots for $6! The bartenders are friendly, and the drinks are decently strong. I like how the bar area has a long bench for people who are too drunk to dance or don't want to dance. I'm usually there by the end of the night... The place has a good vibe to it; lots of energy. One complaint is that it gets extremely packed here on Saturday nights, to the point where you can't really move on the dance floor. That also means it gets really really hot! Just go out to the patio to breathe for a bit, and get right back to backin that ass up. There are also a lot of dudes, but that is Man Jose to blame, not Loft.
(3)
Steven P.
I just moved to San Jose a couple months ago and I've been to Loft a lot. What are your choices to drink, dance, and have a good time in DT San Jose? Loft, Tres, Temple, Studio 8, Sabor, Myth, Fahrenheit... Loft never charges cover. Temple's dance floor is small; Tres' dance floor is miniscule. I'm going to Loft to get my dance on.
(4)
Jason S.
I've actually always had a good time here. It's a perfect place to get some drinks in and catch up with some friends. People dance, but the floor's crowded. The bar's the place to be. Food is decent, too. They serve great sliders here.
(4)
Tim C.
I've only been here during the club hours where they transform the upstairs into a club type...thing. Kind of reminds me of LAVO@the Venetian....but much smaller and without the cool lights. The decor is decent, they play mostly hip hop, and the drinks are averagely priced.
(3)
Kim N.
This review is only for afterhours, not dinner. I used to like coming to Loft since there are no covers and it's casual. I always thought the drinks were a little more expensive but I didn't realize they were charging $13 for a shot of goose. $13?! RIDICULOUS! I didn't know this was Las Vegas! Ugh, come on we're in dtsj. Anyways, the place can get crowded. And yes, they have a DJ but the dancefloor is tiny and super packed. No thanks. If I wanted to go to a casual place with no cover, I'd rather walk around the corner and go to Cinebar and pay the same amount for twice as many dranks!
(2)
Carnita M.
This place deserves more of a 2.5 rating: +1 star for not charging a cover +1 star for the older gentleman who displayed some fancy footwork on the dancefloor. Way to show up the younger people with those moves! + .5 star for the DJ who played decent songs and was decent at mixing Also, the bouncers were pretty pleasant and friendly enough, but I don't give stars for bouncers, thus not being able to round this rating up to 3 stars. Some not-so-great things: - The creeper level is very high! They follow you and corner you here! I usually try and politely decline but the aggressive creepers that night couldn't seem to get that no means no. And we were onto you creeper who kept sitting nearby in the hopes of getting private dances from us! - The dancefloor gets realllly realllly crowded as the night goes on, making it difficult to get away from creepers, and just when you think you've gotten rid of one you end up finding youself in a new spot having to dodge a new group of creepers. Also, it gets hot in there, meaning B.O.! Ewwwwwww! And beware of guys holding their glasses wayyyyy off the to the side while they're dancing and flailing their arms about. Thanks for being oh so careful. Got approached by a guy on my way back onto the dancefloor that night asking if it's surprising that he's single and if he's good-looking. Okay, what kind of a question is that? Always nice to be put on the spot but come to think of it he wasn't bad-looking. Which brings me to my next point: there wasn't much eye candy on the dancefloor and the ones who could have probably qualified were in the bar area or just on the outskirts of the dancefloor. Hmmm, maybe because they were trying to be amongst other eye candy types and avoid the B.O.??
(2)
joyce l.
this review for food only. a group of us went to the Loft for dinner being catching the Black Eyed Peas. Our waittress was really good. She was attentive and knowledgeable. The grilled artichoke app was really yum. Fried calamari came with sliced jalapeno which is a nice touch. i had the crab cake salad. very filling for a salad. crab cake didn't have too much bread filling, but it also didn't have big chunks of crab. it was good. my hubby had the braised short rib. OMG it was good. tendency and juicy and melt-in-your mouth. i would go back just for the short ribs. if you're in the area craving some damn good meat, visit the Loft!
(3)
Kari M.
I got sucked into buying 2 $50 gift cards at Costco because they were giving out samples of their Garlic Tomato Soup. Yummy! Came here on Friday before the Sharks game with hubby and father in law. I had the Filet Mignon with a starter of the tomato soup. Hubby had the pesto salmon and dad in law had the pork tenderloin. All were decent. Pluses: Happy hour drinks/appetizers are decently priced. Dipping sauce for the bread was awesome. Minuses: The Filet Mignon tasted better with the dipping sauce. Never a good sign. Overpriced for the quality. Sorry, but I can get better meat elsewhere and for cheaper. Will I be back? Most likely not. Unless it's for happy hour.
(3)
Vanessa C.
Security at the entrance did not let my friend in. She changed her address on her id and DMV just happened to poke a hole right on the year for expiration. Her ID wasn't expired, but she had a change of address so DMV gave her that temporary piece of paper saying a new ID was coming in the mail. Security did not accept it. There was an older gentleman sitting also checking IDs and my friend showed disappointment. The older security asked to see her ID, but my friend didn't want to go in anymore. Words straight out of his mouth, "If you're going to be rude to me, I'm going to be rude back." It seemed like he wanted her to kiss up to him, so he could let her in. Know your worth ladies and stand your ground. Have respect for yourself and just walk away. Our business can be taken elsewhere. It's JUST loft. (Hair flip)
(1)
Kylie S.
Loft is a must when I go downtown. The layout of this place is really nice. I haven't eaten here, but the nightlife is great. Music is nice and loud. They play mostly hip hop with strings of edm and classics. Dance floor can get pretty packed Friday and Saturday. Lots of asians, but that is expected in dtsj. There is a bar upstairs and downstairs. Careful for getting drunk upstairs, because you still have to leave down the stairs. There is also an outside area that is really nice upstairs. Oh yea, and there is never a cover. :)
(4)
Walt C.
Only reviewing based on a grouped based dinner for a wednesday night. I was a little worried when I was reviewing the wide range of ratings for this place. We were meeting with a group of about 12 folks. Parking was easy enough across the street and the location was easy to find. Once we arrived, the hostess led us upstairs. This place seemed a bit small due to there being 2 other large groups also dining. Was definitely difficult to carry on a conversation due to the large group. There was one waitress assigned for our group and I felt she did a great job. Food wasn't too expensive and tasted pretty good. I think if you had a fairly large group on a weeknight, this would definitely be a place to consider. Really no major complaints, but then again, nothing special stands out either.
(3)
Crystal V.
One of my few favorite places in DTSJ. ASIAN FRIENDLY FYI, but I don't mind since I'm half. Great djs. I don't think I've ever left cuz I said, "that dj was an amateur!" It's clean and two levels but the party is always upstairs. Def a must!!!! ;)
(5)
Melanie R.
I wasn't much of a dancer the night we went here, but the place was packed. The crowd wasn't anything to brag about, but I'm sure it's different each night. Just whatevs.
(3)
Avni S.
I went to the Loft for an company event dinner. I'm vegetarian and they had some good options. Their eggplant parmesan/mash potatoes were probably the best I've had in a long time! Service is friendly and I'd definitely come back for dinner.
(4)
Wen C.
The loft used to be cool when no one really knew about it a couple of years ago. These days it is way too packed on Fridays. On Friday it is Asian night, so do not be surprised if you are surrounded with asian folk...we are friendly though...well except for one bitch that accused me and my cousin of taking way to long in the restroom when we went together and took like 5 mins compared to some drunk girl in front of us that took 15. So I made sure she heard I said she was a BITCH Moving on, the Loft is cool because there is no cover, there dance floor is pretty small but they have a semi-spacious patio with a DJ that spins out there too. I definitely do not go here for the drinks, I actually dread it, I always end up getting this white australian guy who can make any decent drink. I just remember my martini that tasted like rubbing alcohol. They need to hire some hot female bartenders, too much penis behind the bar, and the uniforms they make their cocktail servers wear is so boring and prudy. Music is ok here, nothing special, tried their food before, nothing special either. I hear the bouncers are anal when it comes to ID check, actually a million of questions and even a second form of ID at times. I never had a problem with any of them but my friends and cousins have. Oh yeah thats right they commented on my friend's pants that weren't even baggy at all...he no where looked like a thug or gangster. I only go here when I have too these days....
(2)
Christine T.
I was given a gift certificate by my aunt and decided to take my boyfriend here for a pleasant dinner/christmas in the park walk. It's is conveniently an easy walk away from market street. The atmosphere is very crispy. We weren't very familiar with this way of dining. We had a difficult time choosing what to eat, but we decided on Crab cakes, Pasta, and some Steak. The crab cakes were DELIC! Pasta has large pieces of veggies and chicken. Just right if I concur. The steak was juicy and perfectly cooked. The price is reasonable given the fact you're also paying for the atmosphere. We had a plentiful meal for 2 for around 60 dollars. The toilets are pitch black and can be quite frightening-- just a heads up.
(4)
Chanmao S.
I've been to the Loft on several occasions now. When I visited there a month ago, I decided that I was not going to go back. The hubby and I went and bought 4 drinks. 2 Henny, 2 Coronas. $15 dollars shots, and $7 dollars beer. A $10 dollar value with a $44 dollar price tag... and that was not even including tip. Ouch. I was definitely not planning to come back for their overly crowded dance floors, over priced beers and 20 minute wait bathroom line. Fast forward a few weeks to Sat, 9/26/09... a good friend of ours was celebrating her birthday here, because we wanted to celebrated the joyous occasion with her we came back to the Loft. Only to add another reason not to come back... drinks and a loooong staircase does not mix well. :( I'm not saying I wont come back, because they do have a big plus ... no cover charge.
(3)
Naramie N.
One of the few clubs in San Jose that I enjoy because first of all they don't jack you with the $20 ridiculous cover fee. All these dumb clubs think they're located in SF or something... I've been to them all and frankly the club scene here is very poor especially considering how much they try to rape you in the wallet before you even step foot into the club. It's all about store front presentation but once you get inside you're disappointed because the ridiculous cover didn't meet your expectations. First of all the music is fine, the DJ's are the same lineup that every other club uses. They all use the same set list. So if you got a DJ you didn't like... WELCOME TO SAN JOSE!! Cause they're all the same. The drinks are reasonably priced considering you don't have to pay some jerk off $20 cover fee to get in and wait in some scrub line like a retard. If you're drinking more than 6 drinks per night then you seriously need to go to some AAA meetings. I'd rather pay $10 for a shot, than pay some $20 cover fee and wait in a stupid ass line in the cold and pay a whopping $8. Wow you saved $2 dollars, plus a tip that's really breaking the bank here. If you're that much a cheapass go get drunk in the parking lot like high school kids. The dress code is kind of weird I've seen people get rejected for wearing inappropriate attire (ie. SJ Sharks jersey after a home game) yet they let in some America's Best Dance Crew reject without any problems. Whenever I come here I tend to overdress but from all the places downtown they're definitely a lot more lax when it comes to dress code. The bouncers here are so-so it depends on the person but they're not any worse/better than any where else. The dance floor is decently sized, it's not a huge dance floor by any means but at least people here are dancing instead of sitting on the wall hating. This place also gets pretty packed after about 11ish when the fallout from all the other clubs rolls in. There are two floors here, the bottom floor is the bar/standing room. If you want to chat/drink go there or outside. The top floor has a dance floor and a bar although I'd recommend going to the bottom bar because it's less crowded and you can get your drinks much faster. The bathrooms here kind of suck, they're inadequate for the amount of people that come here and there's always a line. But it's designed more for the restaurant crowd than the club folk.
(4)
Kendall W.
I have only eaten here during happy hour. The drink menu is very creative in non-traditional mixing of flavors. My friends and I had all of them. I enjoyed the mojito and hurricane the best, but all were good. The happy hour appetizer plates were basically meal sized so that's what we had to eat. Dancing here after dinner upstairs is okay, but I can think of many other bars I'd rather go to. The live music is okay but I prefer video bars. It gets too hot and steamy up there.
(3)
Rana A.
Loft has got some great eats as well as fabulous bar fun! I've been there for dinner, chill late night drinks as well as "whooo hooo" late night drinks. The food is excellent. They even have a few low carb options for those of you who try to eat healthy (or for those of you who would rather save up calories from food to invest in alcohol :oP ) As far as a bar goes, they've got a DJ that spins on weekends which usually guarantees a good time. Ever since SOFA closed in Downtown SJ, my girls and I have no real place to party. Loft has now become our new alternative!
(4)
Andrew L.
I try not to review bars/clubs because the experience is HEAVILY dependent on the promoters of the night attracting certain crowds and having certain DJs spinning. But this place is a special case because it can hold its own against venues that rely on promoters and feels like it's being promoted when it's not. THE VENUE: FREE entry with ID. $2 parking on 2nd and San Fernando. Competent DJs (occasional mash-up mixes are meh) who keep the energy going. Not-so-competent bartenders (they didn't know how to mix a Strawberry Lemondrop) and a couple times they kept my Visa when I never specified to keep the tab open. I dig the outdoor patio right by the dance floor and bar up top and traditional dining/bar setup on the bottom floor. The bouncers assertively keep all walkways clear (for good reason), but they cool. No power trippin' there, just keeping the machine oiled and running. THE CROWD: Yes it is. VERY crowded. Cause it's free and the floor space is about half that of a proper nightclub. I've only gone on Thursdays and Saturdays and both times the crowd was a good mix. Not as ghetto as Agenda. Not as Asian as ViVid but enough to make me feel at home. Every time I've gone, I've chatted with random people standing in the line to the bathroom (2 separate BR's up top and one unisex on the bottom). Mind that this is EARLY in the night while we still speak with cohesive sentences, so that says something about the people - some real down-to-earth, professional types going for good times. Plus I randomly run into people I know (and dance with people I pretend to know :P) from way back. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. Obviously a poppin' spot. I voted 4 stars because of the bartenders and small size, but now I'm just whining because it's free entry! Besides, if I rate it too high then too many yelpers would go hence making it impossible for me to get in right? -_-
(4)
Diana Lyn Z.
I'm only reviewing the bar/nighttime, not the restaurant. I came here this past weekend for a friend's birthday party. I swear my friend said that it was a lounge, but it wasn't! I was deceived! We got there fairly early and security not only asked me for one ID, but a 2nd one, anything else with my name on it. Luckily I brought a credit card and a school ID, but I think they do this to people who don't look 21+...like me. My first drink ended up costing $10?! My second drink was paid for, thank goodness, and my third drink cost me another $10. Geeze...so expensive. Good thing I'm a lightweight-- I didn't have to drink too much to get a good buzz going. Phew... This place was small, but the no cover/no guestlist I guess is the trade-off.
(3)
Beatriz P.
Compare to Temple, this is my favorite!!!! Music & crowd is really chill. Enough room for dancing & just lounging around. No cover which is good. There are two bars so getting drinks are quick and fast.
(5)
Cliff S.
Another restaurant by day club at night. Pros: -Plenty of places for your group to meet up and socialize. -Two stories with bars away from the dance floor allowing easy access to the sauce. -No cover Cons: Crowded dance floor with a predominant male crowd I don't think there is anything special about this place. Just an average experience.
(3)
Jean K.
Originally, my friend and I were going to go to the SJ Bar and Grill to get drinks. Then, I remembered that place is just really loud. He apparently likes the Loft, so we decided to go here instead. Since it was only 9, there weren't a lot of people in there making it a nice place to have a conversation. Also, the bartenders were really nice, and the bathroom was nice too! We stayed for a couple hours, and lord and behold! It turns into a club (or at least a club like place) after hours! We went upstairs and danced for a bit. The only negative comment I'd make about this place is on the cost of their drinks. They're surprisingly expensive! I guess it does make sense considering it's secretly a club, but I was mildly surprised at 9 pm when I thought it was an ordinary bar.
(4)
Luis C.
Went there on a Friday night. First off there's no cover so that s plus. The dance floor upstairs was pretty good. Descent music (top 40), could've been a little better. Only complaint I have is that there were alot more guys than girls.
(3)
Debbi B.
Went to Loft Bar early on a Sunday before a show at the Improv (didn't want to have the Improv dinner, but needed to get there on time). The food was very good, it took a little longer than I anticipated to be served, which on another night could have had an impact on getting to the show. I had the short rib small plate, which was small but quite nice for a smaller eater. The other 3 had the pasta with lamb, which they all loved. Even I liked it, and I am not a lamb lover, but it's a very savory, hearty dish, just great for a cold winter night. The bread was good, and they brought more without being asked. All in all, it was a nice dinner before our show, and the price was reasonable. They did not have a huge selection of wine by the glass though, so you need to be flexible about what you want.
(4)
Tyler M.
It was my first time here and it was an alright experience. I liked the fact that there was a dance floor and seating that was outdoors. The employee that was standing by the stairs to go to the outside seating was a little rude and kept rushing us. The drinks were alright, but the prices were off somehow. For our first round, we got 6 shots of grey goose, which ended up being only $36, which is very cheap! When we got our second round of drinks, we only got 4 drinks (cheaper liquer such as well liquer & malibu), which cost $44. That was very odd that our second round cost that much considering we got less drinks and got lower end liquer! Other than that, it is an alright bar to go to.
(3)
Nicole T.
I went to Loft tonight with the San Jose Dishcrawl ( dishcrawl.com ).. the food was excellent, the service was great, and the atmosphere was fun. Would love to dine here on other occasions.
(5)
Angela C.
Hey LOFT, i effing HATE you. with a sweltering passion! if i could give you 0 stars i would. oh wait, i take that back, negative stars! *here comes the bitchy ramble* (oh and this is based solely on the clubbing experience) 1) 2 forms of ID? on ME and my GFS? what are you doing? trying to turn away hot girls, who ARE OVER 21??? I know all you want is for us to bring our cards, so we can spend more $ at your stupid club with overpriced drinks and shitty/mean bartenders. If my drivers license says i'm 21, and the pic looks like me, and i know my own birthday, wtf is your problem? 2) you have a 20$ minimum for using cards. Again, i must point out, all your stupid rules are based on trying to get people to spend more money. Eff that, i'd rather go somewhere that appreciates whatever $ i do spend. 3) your bouncers/security are all assholes. Case in point, this one time i was really drunk and felt sick, so i went to the bathroom. There was a bouncer working the door, and a line for the girls bathroom. So i politely went up to him and asked if i could go in first cuz i felt sick. he said, OH NO YOU HAVE TO GET OUT NOW! like wtf, i'm a girl, and you want to kick me out for feeling sick. i guess youd rather me make a scene and puke outside on the curb in front of your stupid club instead of wanting my business another day. 5 bouncers literally escorted me and my friend out of the club.. wow i felt real welcome there. Case 2, the last time i was there (oh and double entendre, it is definitely the last time i'm going there), all the security guys were just screaming at us telling us to move out of the way when we were standing/chatting near the bar (when the place was already crowded as is). like sorry there's no where else to chat in your small club. and i know you just dont want us around the bar if we're not buying drinks. 4) your music is nothing to rave about either. I mean yea, its better than some other clubs, but its nothing special. They don't really play anything really exciting to get you pumped up to dance. And the little side room has had shitty ass music everytime i've gone. 5) you sell overpriced drinks that taste like shit, and the bartenders can't even make some drinks my friends and i have requested. Bartenders are also mean and shady.. My friend ordered a long island (if memory serves me correctly) and the bartender said some # i cant remember now, and then when my friend gave that amount of cash, she said No i said 13. which was totally off from what she had said before. and wow really ? 13 for one drink? i guess its not too hard to hit that 20$ minimum card fee. Ive never tried the food here, so no clue on how that is. But if the service is like the clubscene, then EW. only good thing you have going on is the no cover. but thats just your ploy to get people with a card in your club so they can waste their money. anyway, i hate you loft, and i'm never coming back. and i enjoy ranting about you to all my friends so that they can do the same :) k thx bye, i hope you close down soon
(1)
Mary T.
Seriously. I mean, seriously. There were six of us, and one of us happened to bring an expired ID. And so she was denied. What the heck! It's not like we're 21 anymore. I was riding a nice buzz from the prior establishment at that point, so it didn't bother me much. But still. Seriously. We walked away and probably won't return any time soon. However, we discovered Rocco's because of the incident. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.
(2)
Gena M.
This place has really gone down hill. I have been there once before for dinner. Expensive, over rated, and nothing out of the norm..Comparable to olive garden (taste not price) The Jazz and candles were nice. I have been there twice for drinks-they were strong and did the job. I have been there maybe ten times for the night time lounge, it use to be one of the best well hidden gems on this side of SJ-I went back recently and was unpleasantly surprised to find a line around the block..really? around the block. It's one tiny dance floor, one tiny outside area..watered down lounge drinks. Me and my friends weren't going to wait in a line so we club hoped for a while and then came back. The line was gone, but surprise! they all got in! I have some nice descriptive words for everyone...smelly. hot. stail. packed. pervs grabbing your ass. Where did all the hot bouncers go? they're all rude with their flash lights. The owner has always been a total douche-saw him too. What a total bummer. Food already not worth going now the lounge too? Oh well, there's plenty to do and eat in Downtown SJ. I just can't get over the hype for such a bunk ass spot. Oh Loft, you've fallen so hard.
(1)
Margret A.
First experience was fun but my friend was afraid of the dance floor since she was wearing 4 inch heels. The dance floor is pretty small but love the music. Bar wait is wayyy to long and I wasn't about to go downstairs to buy a drink. Second experience was completely different. Since downtown has been rowdy, they now expect you to bring 2 forms of ID.. or at least an ID and a credit card. I brought only cash that night because I didn't want to use any of cards and left it at my friend's apt which was 4 blocks down. I wasn't about to walk back and go to an empty place. The security guard told me that if we come back with an appropriate ID, he will buy his our first round drinks. Well, we just headed over to Temple since you can never go wrong with that place.
(3)
Marc M.
Arrived on a Thursday night before the Sharks Game, so definitely wanted to be in and out. We ended up parking across the street and the seating area was packed, tables reserved, but the upstairs dining area was closed. After a few drinks at the bar we were seated near the door, which was annoying, but the only available seat. Shortly after ordering we were bombarded by a Fall formal after party event (4 bus loads) that was being held upstairs. The DJ started blasting music and shortly after the restaurant was overrun by Collegiate and high school attendees. Needless to say our quiet dining experience was over. We both ordered the Salmon, mine was blackened and the other with spinach salad. The food was good, but it was difficult to enjoy as an ambulance came by to pick up a drunk attendee. Lesson learned, try not to come on a night when events are planned upstairs. Needless to say we left in time and made it to the game. SHARKS won 3-1. :)
(3)
Bobby M.
Still need to Check this place out .....
(3)
Shannon B.
SKIP IT! Myself and a group of friends went here after years of not visiting the downtown San Jose night life. We went here on previous memories of good times. Man, was the ever a mistake! Not only was the crowd frequenting the place pretentious, but so was the staff! We headed up stairs away from the Jersey Shore want-a-bes. The DJ upstairs was playing his shitatious music so loudly, that it was distorted. We decided we were not drunk enough to enjoy, so we went to the patio to escape while our men folk order shots at the downstairs bar. On the patio they had anther DJ spinning music I used to groove to at Junior High Dances - WTF? The patio was full of Miami-Vice-Stunna-Shade where-ing dudes and too many chicks that hit the last sale at Forever 21. The bartender spilled my shot after pouring it, when we asked her to pour it again SHE ACCUSED MY HUSBAND OF DRINKING IT!!!! WTF? He ordered ice water since he was the DD! Never in my life had we EVER encountered such a bold and wild accusation! So, unless you like this kind of crowd - SKIP IT! Why pay for overprices drinks that the bartenders spill and shitty distorted music????
(1)
Jen K.
The Pros: Diverse crowd No cover serves food The Cons: Super expensive drinks Small dance floor Crappy music Considering you can get the pros listed above any many other places, I suggest skipping this place. I wasn't impressed. It wasn't a hell hole, but it sure couldn't keep my interest for very long.
(2)
David M.
There are very few restaurants or bars in downtown San Jose that I like but this is one of them. The food is very consistent. Try the steak bites! I prefer the bar upstairs as the ambiance and people watching is better. Stick around later in the evening on a weekend if you want to get your groove on... good DJs. During the summer check out the outdoor patio upstairs.
(4)
Jerome J.
We were all thinking about having appetizers and drinks outdoors on a Sunday evening and decided on the Loft. We chilled on the rooftop and ordered calamari, beef sliders, crispy fried onions, tuna sashimi and carpaccio. All were good, except I think the mixed drinks were a little too high in price. Overall, place is perfect for just chillin outdoors.
(3)
Sammy N.
i love love love this club... it has become the go to place for me and my roomies... everytime we go .. we have fun. drinks get expensive after 11.30 pm.. but no cover... so that evens it out. i love the music, the crowd... but the floor gets wet, a little too loud and a little pushy-shovy
(4)
Shannon N.
I'm thinking this place needs separate reviews for bar and for food. I'm not a bar gal, and I was only in the downstairs bar area. We ordered several appetizers to share - they were ok, but really quite expensive. I had a blue cheese and pear salad that had three thin slices of pear - gee, thanks. I wouldn't rush to go back here, but I wouldn't be too pissed about returning if I had to.
(2)
Mary Ann S.
I still have a ton of fun here, but there's one bartender that I do not like. There I am, being completely ignored for over 20 minutes. I noticed that he was tending to the cute scantily clad Asian girls. When he finally gets to me, I order 5 jaeger bombs. The guy pours the jaeger into the drink, completely defeating the purpose of the bomb. Then he charges me $75 for the drinks. Over it. A couple weeks later, I come back and go to the bar. What do you know, he serves me right away. Guess I was looking cute that night? lol. 2 Amaretto Sours for $18! No way San Jose! I'm avoiding that bartender like the plague.
(3)
Paul D.
No cover price, for that very common dance club experience. I like the fact that everyone celebrates their birthday here. I wouldn't blame them...I mean for a place where you can dress to impress for a more mature environment and not pay annoying cover fees...why not? This place has its ups and downs, just like its two story structure. UPS: -2 Floors = 2 Bars: When the top floor bar is packed, the bottom floor bar is a staircase away to get your drink on faster. -2 Floors=2 Sets of Bathrooms: Don't you just hate it when your waiting in line for the bathroom... -Patio: This a great place to get away from the over crowded bar and dance floor -No Cover Charge: 'nuff said. DOWNS: -2 Forms of I.D.- It's kinda of annoying to be asked for another form of I.D. A debit/credit card should be okay to support your I.D. -Top Floor Bar: I know its closest to the dance floor, but damn, this spot gets too crowded. Get your drink and move on so others behind you can order please! -Space on the 2nd Floor: The music is cool and all, but for a place that doesn't have cover charge, they should do better with crowd control. I feel like a bouncer is constantly flashing his light a people to move away from the minimal traffic space. It gets packed!!
(3)
Jacqueline G.
I came here on Halloween, so of course any place is going to be a party. The small dance floor was CROWDED, but I loved every minute of it. Pretty good DJ playing Top 40. We went to the bar and I got a Long Island Iced Tea =$12. It was SUPER STRONG. I would go back again, parking is so much easier than in the city.
(4)
Hylary L.
This place seemed pretty cool, but my experience was marred by a few things. #1 Who charges $6 for a Corona? A CORONA as in the bottled beer you pay $2 for at most bars and clubs...that was kind of confusing for me. #2 Why did they ID us at the door (two forms of ID were required no less) and then again at the upstairs bar...one thing I cannot stand at bars/clubs is being ID'd twice. I think it's rude, I'm sorry. I know there's fines and stuff they can get if minors manage to sneak it, but figure it out at the door guys. Don't ID us twice. Other than those two things which peeved me, it seems like a nice place. The layout is interesting, and I enjoyed all the options (i.e. dance floor, bars up and downstairs, patio area.) Maybe I'll go back and give this place another try. I just won't order any Corona.
(3)
Alex C.
3rd stop. I'm gonna round down from 3.5 and give it a 3. I didn't get too long of an experience here but this place is probably a 3 or 4 on any given night; depending on the girl:guy ratio and how stuck-up the girls are if they are cognizant of a ratio highly skewed towards dudes (aka c***-fest). Actually, that thought just soured me a bit. I can see this place getting a 2. Luckily, on this night, I left before that happened and when it was basically only girls on the dance floor. Unluckily, I had "dead sea-salt." Regardless, I had a good time here. I'm a fan of the no-cover, especially so considering there are lounges in S.F. worse than this that do charge cover.
(3)
Wilson R.
Not going to lie but this place sucks in terms of a club spot. (Not sure of the food since I never tried it. So I can't comment on the food.)In terms of the crowd, there really is not much of a variety/diversity. Nothing but a sausage fest and honestly, the music can suck at times. So that was a big turn-off. I really don't recommend anyone to come down here. Yeah, it's free but c'mon? You can do better by going somewhere else.....
(1)
Mark M.
Its still the same place, but last time I was there there was this huge fight which took out most of the people outside lol. Apparently two girls gave each other dirty looks, small confrontation and a bunch of dudes jump in. Big group of people swinging at each other. It was cool to watch and justified the amount of security all over the place. No cool chick this time though so still just a 3.
(3)
Anju R.
Went there for dinner and had the Ahi Tuna and the caesar salad. The salad was pretty much what I was expecting, but the Ahi Tuna was pretty good. The cajun spice was a little much sonsidering the Tuna was such a good cut of fish. I think it would have been better on it's own. Overall I would definitely go back...went there on a wednesday night and it was raining...i was literally the only one in the place.
(3)
Raymond G.
Not into this place at all. It's decent enough, but the prices are way above their menu and food quality. The best thing they had was the tomato and mozzarella salad. Nice thick slices of fresh mozz, with romano tomatoes and basil. Great start. But the main course just fell apart. I had the braised ribs. I've had so much better. It was totally fatty, wasn't 'fall-off-the-bone' tender, and the flavor was just terrible. It tasted like an out-of-the-bottle soy sauce with sugar that was way too sweet. By scraping it off, you got some flavor of the meat, but that was completely bland. If you braised something, you have the opportunity to pack that meat with serious flavor. Obviously the chef didn't bother with that part. Thought maybe the sauce would make up for it. Ugh. Oh, and the side dish of garlic mashed potatoes. Where'd the garlic go? Also bland, don't bother. My wife had a panko-crusted chicken which she didn't finish. That said it all. Our service was pretty minimal. "Hey, what do you want." "Here's your food." "Here's your check." Not coming back, maybe for a drink with friends. But not to dine. There's way better restaurants in downtown.
(2)
Chris D.
Not really fond of this place to be honest... But somehow, the nights that i end up in this place is because party crew picked this as the spot to be at. (horrible choice in my book). Btw, i'm speaking for the nightlife/club scene of this place and not its restaurant because i've never dined here. It is always packed to the point where you could barely walk through the dance floor. I literally had to push and plow my way through to get through all those nasty people full of sweat and BO. This is not my favorite spot at all. And who the hell asks for 2 forms of i.d!?!? its not like we're flying out of the freakin' country... might as well ask for passport too!
(1)
Kristin O.
The food is good! Filet mignon, and the burgers :) The meat is so succulent and tender. The non-dinner part: The drinks are a little pricey. There's no cover, there's a small dance floor on the second floor and there's an outdoor patio. This place gets packed and you basically can get drinks when you want them when you're literally sitting at the bar. If you're not sitting there, good luck getting your drink! I advise double fisting.
(3)
Kelly T.
I have always wanted to REALLY like this place and sometimes it lives up to my expectations and sometimes, uh, not so much. Whenever one of my GF's call me and we need to discuss the negative sides of having men in our life, we generally will meet here because its nice and chill but still classy. The food, however, is sometimes less than desirable. I came here last night on a double date with parentals (don't even ask how that happened 'cause I am still trying to figure how they sneaked into my date night) and sat outside on the patio. Apparently, my Dad loves the dipping sauce for the bread and devoured it in record time. I ended up splitting the Grilled Flank Steak Salad with my Mom and my Dad got the Meatloaf and my date ordered the Pork Chops. Um... yeah...nothing to be desired. Home cooked food - not too bland but not too tasty either. It's just...there, you know? BUT I will say that they do make the girls and I strong drinks whenever we go upstairs and sit at the bar to rant. So they make up for it there.
(3)
Eric E.
This place is OK. I went here last week and the drinks are a bit expensive and sort of watered down. People are friendly and the music is pretty good. There is a second floor which you can hit up. They need bartenders, when I was there only 1 was working very hard. Surprisingly my mojito took 10 min to be completed. Maybe I chose the wrong drink?
(3)
Christine N.
Another Friday night, another sorry-ass downtown San Jose establishment. For its location and venue, Loft's drinks are completely overpriced. $13 for a gin & tonic (and I'm not talking about a tall glass). Last I checked, we weren't in New York City. As predicted, the crowd consists of "San Jose's finest", which is laughable. If you would like a more complete review of Loft from me, please read my review of Vivid in downtown San Jose, and assume that it's just a teensy bit better than what Vivid has to offer.
(2)
Rommel D.
you can't even go in here and have a hood on! so now you've got 15 guys in this club looking like morons with rolled up hoods. on top of that, you have to be constantly moving or the "security guards" will flash a light on you and make you move. there is no cover charge so i guess thats cool.
(2)
Minty O.
Great place for a drink and some most delicious appetizers...i recommend the Fries and the Roasted Artichokes. But don't bother for dinner... overly priced and poorly prepared. We had the halibut and it was $$$$ and DRY and bland and horrible. Vegetables were lightly blanched... which was OK I suppose (plain veggies to match with the plain fish). Hmmm, our fish is so DRY and BLAND... what do we do? I know! Let's drown it in some red-pepper cream sauce, yeah... that's the ticket. The only saving grace was the uncle ben's rice that was doused in butter... but one can only handle some much of THAT without feeling nauseous and guilty. Would I come back? NEVER for dinner... but for drinks and apps? I'm down.
(2)
Tracy N.
Went here the other night for a friend's bday outing and we all had a great time! Drinks were good, music was good, dance floor was a little small but the rooftop patio was really cool! Great place to take a break and sit down (for the girls wearing heels), chat a little bit. While we were up there a dance off was taking place between 2 different groups, which was fun to watch while we rested our feet. Only weird/different thing here was that last call was around 1:15am, most places wait til after 1:30 or so but we were tired anyway and ready to go to La Vic's. This place was fun and I'd definitely come back!
(4)
Oliver S.
I love the decor, such an incredible looking and feeling place. The staff is great as well. Food was delicious! However, if you look at these pictures posted.. it would look as if the people who eat here are obnoxious.. .. its true.. they are.. I could have sworn these photos were taken the day I ate dinner there.. just the most rude.. loud.. obnoxoius people I have ever witnessed.. and I am NOT snobby.. seriously.. i'm not..
(3)
Muy C.
I've been here many, many times for the nightlife but never for dinner so it was a cool experience. We had our surprise party for one of my friends here last weekend and it was really nice. I was pleasantly surprised at how busy the whole place was. There was an elegant yet casual feel to the atmosphere of the place. I especially liked the vibe of the patio upstairs with the whole canopy and heat lamps surrounding it. The hostess was really nice and professional and escorted me upstairs to my party table. The food was actually pretty good. I really liked my scampi prawns and rice a lot since it had the right portion and wasn't too bland nor salty. My friend and I absolutely loved the rice! The smoked salmon rotini was good too yet I felt it was a little too salty. Pretty much all of the dishes looked really good but I thought the prices were slightly steep with what they offered. The chocolate truffle martini was delicious but not enough of alcohol in it. Service was good. The waitress checked up on our group of 14-15 girls numerous times and the bus boy cleared our plates quickly when we were all finished. It seemed like everyone was pretty pleased with the service from what I saw. The only thing I highly recommended is to reserve dinner a little bit early since there's DJ and dancing upstairs around 10:30 or so and it can get pretty packed in there. Downstairs is not too busy so it's nice to lounge around and talk. Free cover all the time, with or without dinner. Overall, a great place for dinner with friends, or with your beau and afterwards, go dancing without leaving. The only cons is there is no coat check and parking is on the street.
(4)
Brooke A.
The first time I went into the loft was a weekday night. It wasn't busy but the waitress seemed upset and the drink I ordered didn't taste very good. But, I decided to give it another shot. I had lunch here today! While it's a bit pricey (maybe you can take a hot date here for a nice dinner) the food I had was delicious. I ordered the grilled salmon. The fish was cooked PERFECTLY. While the veggies lacked a bit of flavor, the rice was awesome. Overall it was a great lunch!
(4)
Veronica V.
Of all the downtown San Jose restaurants Loft seems to be the one we frequent the most. It isn't because of the food that Loft is on the top of our list, it's because of Loft's nice outdoor patio. On a summer night having dinner on the patio is a good time and a good reason to be a little more dressed up then if we went to the local taco truck or falafel drive-in. The tomato soup bisque and steak bites are good appetizers and the steak salad is the best but I would warn against the meat pile, not such a good choice. The service is okay and it's a good place for a large group. This place also turns clubby after a certain hour and I can't say that the music is very good. This is a good place for drinks after work, a romantic dinner or a birthday when the company and atmosphere are what matter most.
(4)
David L.
I had come here on a Tuesday evening for a work-related function. The restaurant / bar occupies both floors of the building, and I understand that there is an exterior patio portion as well. It has a sort of a fun, casual feel to the place, while not being too loud with sports playing on TV's or from patrons talking. I had a smoked salmon rotini. If you like a lot of sauce, then you will love this as it was practically swimming in the cream-based sauce. The asparagus and the smoked salmon should have been the key ingredients of this dish, but they were overshadowed by the abundance of red onion pieces in the dish, which I had to remove most, if not all of it, from the pasta dish. Bottom Line: Cool place for a drink in the downtown SJ area, as the food is just so-so.
(3)
Hoda F.
Went there for dinner with my husband last night. Overall experience was good. The service was great, they were very attentative to us which was a plus. Food came out really fast, but the taste was good, not great.
(3)
Michael D.
When i first walked in I thought that was it. Oh was I wrong. After walking up the stairs I was greeted by some good beats and a nice size bar. Ok so my memory of this night is kinda blurred but from the pics and what the rest of my group told me this place was great. The drinks were flowing and the music had the dance floor packed. What else can you ask for? Definitely heading back here!
(4)
Margo N.
I once that this was a classy place for the young and the not-so young to frequent. I have spent a ton of money on great meals at this location. I live downtown and this was one of my favorite spots... Not anymore. I will not "talk smack" about this place but lets just say its now all about the underage young girls that dominate this once classy joint. Very sad....
(1)
MissJennifer L.
This review is for the bar, not the dining experience. I honestly don't know why I keep coming back here. Maybe because the crowd is slightly older than the just-turned-21-people at other San Jose bars. The music here is alright, but DJ's now a days don't even use real records anymore, which is a shame because that was the art of a real DJ. The place gets overcrowded on the small dance floor, the bartenders can be d-bags, and the bathrooms can get pretty gross. The last time I went there, there was something leaking from the ceiling which was totally gross. Helpful tip: When they check IDs, sometimes they ask for an ATM card or another form of ID. They don't always do this, but it happened to me last night so I don't know if it's a new policy. They even asked if I had a library card... I don't even know the last time I borrowed a non-school related book!
(2)
Johanna F.
HORRIBLE!!! Overly crowded, rude people, and gross guys!! Unless you enjoy dancing up against sweaty gross people on an overly crowded dance floor, go elsewhere! Security is also really rude. Apparently you're not allowed to stand where there is actual room. You either have to be on the crowded dance floor or in the crowded bar.
(1)
Jill C.
Food and service was excellent! I had chicken rigatoni and hubby had chicken Parmesan. Delicious! The price was reasonable. I also had a mango mojito. Probably the best I've had. I give it 4 stars because we were seated on the rooftop patio and there were no other diners. Also there was a lot of road noise. I think it would be great to sit out there in the summer though.
(4)
Dan N.
My friend and I went here on a whim from a recommendation from a friend. We've had everything from their chicken wing appetizers to the lamb shanks and so far this place has been nothing short of fulfilling. The service there has always been good, I dont remember the name of the gentlemen working at the bar but he was very friendly and sociable when i was there. Our food arrived promptly and was prepared with much care. The carpaccio was very good. My personal favorite is the above mentioned lamb shanks. If you're ever in the downtown SJ area, this place is my personal favorite.
(5)
Nancy L.
Anybody who reads my reviews about clubs in downtown Man Jose knows that I am not a fan. Actually, let's just be honest. I'm not only a hater of the scene, but I am also the damn President of the Downtown Man Jose Scene Hater's Club. But, Loft Bar and Bistro is sort of an exception to my rule. Well, maybe not so much an exception as, "the lesser of many evils." Loft is like the cubic zirconia of clubs. Although it ain't as good as the real thing, it'll suffice. The crowd consists mainly of college kids, shorties and short guys. I don't know about you but, generally, I don't like it when, in a sea of people, I can see over all the heads and when 50% of the heads are bald. Fun fact: The very first time I went to Loft, I saw a straight-up cat fight break out right before my eyes. I bolted for the DJ Booth and prayed that I would live to make it through the night. And the music? For the most part, the DJs at Loft seem to prefer R&B, which is great if you're slow dancing at a high school prom but absolutely useless when you're trying to get your dance on. Despite all my gripes, I still give Loft three (3) stars. Why? Three reasons: 1) NO COVER. EVER. So even if it's a waste of your time, it ain't gonna waste any of your money getting in. 2) Even if the crowd is a lil' young and a lil' ghetto, they at least attempt to dress well and behave in a civil manner. [Note: I'm hoping that cat fight was an exception to the rule. But, just in case, I recommend wearing your bulletproof vest.] 3) It was at Loft that I had a "revelation." No harps, no angels, no light radiating from my sixth chakra or whatever. But, it was at Loft that I "discovered" my attraction to Asian guys. *gasp* Maybe this revelation was anti-climatic. Maybe I had one too many drinks. Maybe it's a phase. Maybe Asian guys around the world are now running for their lives and activating their Romulan cloaking devices. Whatever. I'm not gonna go into a description of the guy who sparked the revelation but, if you're 6' tall lean/skinny Asian guy with spiky-ass hair, looking like you just stepped off the plane from Taiwan, holla at me. Hahaha. ;-)
(3)
Dinara O.
went there for dinner w 5 other friends. We had wonderful time. we had lots of food and cocktails. Definitely going back for more.
(5)
Charissa P.
I still think this place is ok. I did have 2 IDs on me thank god! The place plays some songs twice. And this time there was no random fart smells. However, I had fun but that's because of the sake before coming to this place and I was in good company.
(3)
Bernardo M.
What can I say? There's really no better last resort on a seemingly uneventful weekend night than Loft. I suppose the prices are jacked because there's no cover, but some of the prices are ridiculous.
(3)
J R.
Food - not great and and overpriced for what it is. The place is fine it starts turning itself into a cheesy club around 10. It was really quite odd to see the whole transformation.
(1)
Karen C.
Been here twice and wasn't impressed either time. We came once before a weeknight Sharks game and we FROZE for our entire meal sitting upstairs in the Loft. We couldn't wait to get out. Oh and the food was just ok and definitely not worth freezing over. None of us were impressed. Second time was a Sunday afternoon after a jazz concert. That time we sat in the bar. Food was ok but not fantastic. I'd go back to the bar again, but not the Loft.
(2)
Brian B.
This place is ridiculous. I don't like giving 1 star, except to places like WalMart. But come on! I only go to this place because it is a common meeting spot for my friends, but every time is disappointing. If you show up after 11 on a weekend night without any girls, have fun standing in a line by yourself. They definitely have that whole, "Oh, a line! That must mean it's good" mentality. The bouncers are complete, total, unwavering assholes. Not only are they just dicks, but after you stand in line with your 5 friends for 15 minutes, you go through the following process: (keep in mind I'm 25, with a full beard, and normally don't get carded at most places)1. Check my valid CA driver's license. 2. Look at me in the face with a mean expression, check ID again. 3. Bend ID to make sure it's legit. 4. Ask me my birthday. 5. Ask me my age. 6. Ask me for another form of ID. 7. Look at my credit card that has no picture. 8. Look at back of my credit card. 9. Ask me if I work for any government alcohol or drug agency. 10. Ask at least one more ridiculous question. 11. Act as if they were doing me a favor by letting me in. Freaking eh! The ambiance is this: typical south bay club with top 40 hits, stuffy staff, overdressed creeper dudes, overdressed skanky looking girls, at least one fight per night, at least one really really drunk idiot getting kicked out. Not particularly cheap. Music is lame. No diversity. The only redeeming quality? It's free.
(1)
Benjamin L.
I've dined here twice for lunch with a friend, and both times, we have been able to sit on the rooftop patio. The setting is nice, and because we had a late lunch both times, it was pretty quiet. The prices here aren't cheap, but then the food certainly matches the price. The service here also isn't shabby, as we have had very pleasant servers who stop by to check on us just enough. The Chicken Penne that I ordered both times is just splendid. There is a nice mix of chicken, sundried tomatoes, and mushrooms with a light cream sauce smothered over the perfectly-cooked penne pasta. Delicious! Best of all, the Loft is located almost directly across the street from the 2nd St. parking lot, and given the validation, you get to park at a prime location at no charge. What more can you ask for?
(4)
Shali N.
You walk in and you think, hey... this place is cute, but it's a little small? The hostess comes up with a big smile and will ask you to follow him. You follow him into an elevator. Weird??? As soon as you exit the elevator, a beautiful dining room awaits with a nice full sized bar. There is even an exist to a rooftop patio! Nice!!! You sit down, then look at the menu specials. Asian chicken wrap? Sounds good! You open up the main menu and you are bombarded by too many great choices that sound all too good. Sauteed tiger prawns with garlic and butter? Veal Picatta? French Dip? Grill Chicken Sandwich? Pesto crusted herbed salmon? What to get, what to get!!! I was here for lunch so I had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with a cup of the Sundried tomato garlic bisque.... DELICIOUS! They also have AMAZING tiramisu and a huge variety of dessert choices. I definitely will come here again.
(5)
JC A.
Pros: No cover, nice venue, good dj's and the bouncers are cool. Cons: Small dance floor, and depending on the night you go, it may be an uber sausage fest. I went here when a couple of friends were visiting from socal. Luckily, this place struck it rich with the females.(There may be a god after all.) I recommend this place to people who just want to hang out and have some fun. This is also a place where you don't have to worry so much about what you wear (although I do suggest that you look presentable, just saying). And if you want a drink, go downstairs, you'll get your drink faster.
(3)
Silvia V.
I went to my local Costco and spoke to a representative from Loft Ba/Crapesr and specifically told him my intention on purchasing 1K work of gift cards (son's graduation party), he even gave me a catering menu and said it was a great buy. When I arrived home I noticed there was a disclosure stating not for parties, events etc... I called the owner, Kam and explained the situation. He was extremely rude and said that these discounted offers were not meant for us to take advantage of them but rather for families to enjoy. I explained that the representative that he sent (manager) was well aware of what my intent was. He basically said it didn't matter and there would be no exceptions. I explained that I might have a problem returning them and he said that it would be my problem. I ram very surprised that the owner could not understand the situation and make an exception, being that I was given the wrong information from the person that he sent to represent this restaurants!
(1)
Marc C.
I've visited Loft several times to the point of being a semi-regular patron. I have recently noticed the Loft is not as "cool" as once supposed. To be blunt, the Loft thinks it self to be a high end gathering spot, charging way too much for drinks. I understand charging a little more for the house specialties, but the pricing is not for the market they serve. Well drinks @ $8 or $9 is a little indulgent on their end and evidence of their hubris that they're a high end lounge. Secondly, the upstairs dance floor is ridiculously over crowded--to the point that I am surprised they are not violating capacity regulations. It takes the fun out of the evening having people bump into you all night on the dance floor. Along with that, the security staff is not very customer experience focused. I understand that they have a job to do, in particular, keeping aisle ways clear. But for the love of all that is not sacred, say, PLEASE, EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU and DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME OR MY GUESTS! I was really unimpressed when the staff and the liberty they were taking with their hands. Unfortunately if you do say anything to the staff or rebuke them for their lack of respect, chances are you are going to be escorted out of the Loft. The Loft is beautiful building and and has a lot to offer, however, the lack of customer respect (pricing, over-crowding and staff) makes it difficult to spend time there and in turn, refer others to patron the Loft.
(2)
Laura C.
Late night club review: If you frequent this place every so often, drink, and happen to be an ungraceful drunk, chances are you'll get kicked out of this place at least once. On at least 3 separate occasions have I seen my friends get kicked out - sometimes legit reasons, sometimes silly reasons. Pros: -No cover -DJ & dance floor -OK music -I don't know if they have this anymore, but there used to be a happy hour around 10 or 11pm (and it last for a very small window of time). It was just 1 to 3 drinks on the HH menu, but any happy hour is better than none at all. -Relatively clean -Rooftop patio -Right around the corner from Cinebar, where you can lay down the cheap drinks. -2 bar areas - one upstairs and one downstairs Cons: -Dance floor can be crowded. Since it's located upstairs, sometimes I wonder if the floor will one day collapse. I would be pissed if I fell to the first floor and lost the $12 drink I just bought. -Drinks are a bit expensive. What makes it worse is that shots and cocktails were served in plastic cups the last few times I've gone. Pretty cheesy in my book. If I'm paying $10+ for a drink, it better be served in a glass!! -Security is always telling you can't stand here, you can't stand there, and then they proceed to shine their flashlights directing the cluster of people to keep walking. I suppose it's good that they want to keep areas uncongested....and for safety reasons as well. It's still annoying though - they just keep pointing their flashlights and telling you to move. If the club is crowded, you have to keep scooting around to find a clear spot. It's almost like a chicken trying to find a clean place to poop in an overcrowded coop.
(3)
Hugo V.
Do the owners think that their "Loft Bar" is in Las Vegas? That can be the only explanation for their ridiculous prices on beers and mixed drinks. Here is my gripe, i was there last night celebrating a friends going away gathering. I buy a round of drinks for FOUR people, two Coronas, a Jack and Coke and a Jager RedBull, why oh why did the tab come out to $37? Because, according to the receipt that I still have I was charged $7 per Corona, $10 for a premium whiskey mixed drink (since when is Jack Daniels a premium alcohol?) and $13 for my Jager Redbull. Seriously THIRTEEN dollars? That's how much I pay for the same drink in Vegas. Utterly ridiculous. What made me even more upset was the inconsistency of the prices being charged for the drinks. When my friend bought me my next Jager RedBull, he was only charged $12 WTF? I have this receipt as well. The atmosphere is ok as well as the music, but the main beef is with how expensive their drinks are. NOTE TO MANAGEMENT: Out of all the Bars and Clubs in San Jose, LOFT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE! This is not Las Vegas, bring your prices down to reasonable levels like all your competitors around you. Last time I hang out at the LOFT, unless I hear of some changes. I'm telling everyone that I know to stay away from this rip off joint. Right down the street, Dive Bar has top shelf mixed drinks for $7 to $8 a pop. OK, REVIEW TIME Updated 6/15/10 All right, so I was forced to come back to this POS joint for a friends bday party. Why he chose this lousy spot beats me. Anyhow, I just wanted to say that this place was ridiculously crowded. I'm sure its a fire and safety hazard to have that many people jam packed in there. Prices for drinks are still outrageous. Its usually about half the price of a bottle what you pay for one drink. People, avoid this place. There are so many better places to party and drink. LOFT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Lacey H.
I really love this place. The bread and dipping sauce is delicious. My caprese salad was light and fresh and perfect for lunch. Just bought a $25 gift certificate on Restaurants.com for $5 (thanks Borders)! Looking forward to having dinner there this week :) (February 19, 2009) - Changed my review from a 4 to a 3. Food wasn't all that awesome. Atmosphere is great - will definitely come again.
(3)
J L.
Always satisfied. The place is always FREE! Its been open for quite some time now. They check your ID and usually ask for a second ID (like a credit card to see if the names match). The alcohol is OVERPRICED for such a small amount. The shot glasses are now these plastic cups (almost like those medicine cups) and the drinks aren't that strong. They do play good beats 90% of the time, but i recommend you predrink before coming here. The dance floor is small, but there is an outdoor patio (upstairs) usually reserved for bottle service.
(4)
K H.
3.5 stars - for the night life, not food ... Each time we come here to hang out or have a birthday or something, it's an interesting experience. Sometimes we can reserve the whole patio area, sometimes we can't. Here's the lowdown... *really good music (yay!) *it's almost always crowded *pretty casual *not a bad crowd, sometimes mixed...sometimes 90% Asian.. *no space to dance *BO =x *you can't smoke on the patio - wtf ...but we still get drunk and have a good time, ha.
(3)
Michael C.
I've come to Loft several times in the past mainly for drinks, but every once in a while for something to eat. The food isn't too bad, but it also isn't all that great either. I like the atmosphere of the place, and it definitely gives downtown San Jose a classy place to just unwind and have a few drinks. This last time I went, I had meatloaf with a wedge salad. The wedge salad was a bit heavy on the dressing, so I'll have to remember to ask them to go easy on it next time. It was basically drowning in the bleu cheese dressing. Also, I think someone made a mistake because it was a wedge of cabbage, and not lettuce, but I didn't really pay attention until I was nearly done with it, but didn't really say anything... The meatloaf wasn't too bad either, but nothing great. It was interesting that they could make it look like a slab of steak though. My cousin and my co-worker both thought I had ordered a steak at least. We also ordered quesadilla and crispy calamari appetizers. The calamari was tasty, but heavy on the garlic, so if you're out on a date, I would steer clear of it. The quesadillas were a bit disappointing though. A lot of tortilla, but it was a bit too crispy, and the cheese was pretty minimal. I would have liked it to be a little greasier. Our server was pretty accommodating, considering that it was pretty busy the night we were there, but she came back just about the right number of times to check up on us. I would give a 3-star rating, but considering my last several visits being very good, I would give it one extra star, and consider this last time as a fluke.
(4)
Carolyn P.
We had a gift certificate to eat here and that's the only reason we will ever eat here again. The food was not impressive at all. I could have made a better meal from food in my fridge. The service was not so friendly either. I still have a gift certificate but I think I'll go to their other restaurant, Capers, next time.
(1)
Linh D.
I came here for the food, and it was okay. Meh, to say the best. I like how the portions of the salad are huge, but it was something that I could have made at home. However, the drinks are a different story. My friend and I got the white gummy bear drink, mine was super sweet like high fructose corn syrup, and hers was strong as heck. What the h-e-double hockey sticks?! It made me drink 4 glasses of water just to get that sugar diluted. Hire bartenders who can whip together a drink, and maybe I'll be back.
(3)
Holly W.
4.25 espresso. Nuff said.
(3)
april h.
I like the place to hang out in, but as far as food goes..... Way over priced. A mediocre vegetable pasta for over $15? So not worth it. Drinks are also astronomical. And there is only one thing on the menu for vegetarians (aforementioned vegetable pasta). I'll come to hang out if my friends want to go here, but I won't order anything (except water!).
(2)
Leon A.
Cool place. I go here with my friends, it's awesome.
(5)
Anna G.
I may have went on a bad night because it seems like my friend really enjoys this place haha. Anyways, the place itself is pretty snazzy. Nice decor and I like the fact that theres a place to chill downstairs and a place to dance upstairs. (stairs are not good for those who are drunk and need to descend..) When I went to this place, it was full of pedophiles I swear. Maybe it was too early but we bounced as we didn't want old people grinding up on us. The only complaint I have about this place is the price! $15 bucks for silverbacks? Ridiculous. AND the bartender didn't even make our drinks correctly! *sigh* However, this place always gets long lines so I would go back and give it a shot again.
(3)
Emergencydpt.com e.
Valentine's Day Massacre. We booked our table on opentable.com . Hostess was poised and seated us immediately. We were seated on the roof, a canvass converted indoor-ish area. The busser came immediately with water and bread. We were packed in tightly. The noise level was quite high. Our server was efficient but uninformed that the kitchen had run out of the lamb shanks so she made a second pass at the table so we could reorder filets instead. The cosmo arrived tepid. I mean really then, what's the point? The server did not deliver the drinks or food. She checked in literally two seconds after the food arrived but otherwise did not return until we had pushed away our plates. We skipped desert. Nothing specific was suggested. We weren't offered coffee. We ordered the crab cake app which normally sells for $12.95 but was a Valentines Day "Special" at $18.95. The order consisted of two smallish cakes resting on a bed of field greens. We both liked the crab cakes but they were not well paired with the thin lemon butter caper dressing. The filet mignon (normally $28.95) was on special for $33.95. They arrived in a very reasonable time but were probably just a little undercooked for what we ordered. Medium should be pink and warm in the center. These were pink and cool. However they were well seasoned and practically fell apart on your tounge. The garlic mashed potatoes did not come with gravy so we both used the 'cabernet dipping sauce' in that role. It tasted like gravy to me. The potatoes seemed to have been missed by the garlic fairy. However it could have been so sublte to have been overshadowed by the 'dipping sauce'. I'm not sure. The mixed vegitables were stand out. Corn cut from the cob, snap peas, waffle cut carrots and were deliciously salty and spicy and not a bit overcooked. The usual menu was truncated and the prices were increased for Valentines Day. I suspect there were more tables added then usual but I've never been there before so I could be mistaken. Perhaps they always pack their guests in rubbing seat backs. The decor was sparse on the roof but warm and romantic inside (if a bit crowed). The noise level was uncomfortably loud. Less tables and more plants would have made the date more romantic and quieter. Nothing was exactly bad about the experience but with the shortened menu and increased prices, I felt like I had been taken advantage of. We certainly didn't get anything extra for the rather steep increase in prices from the normal menu.
(2)
Herb R.
Freedom of speech is okay here right? Because for the next essay type explanation will be nothing but 1 star worthy for the club/bar area. I came here last night to celebrate my birthday, came a in a good time before the rush of the thirsty maniacs got there. place seemed like it wasn't going to be crowded but to me, I didn't care because I'm here to celebrate. So few drinks were passed, I got silly, drank some more, danced, chatted with friends and enjoyed my damn time at this place...what I dont get was, when I went downstairs to look for some of my friends..I WAS ESCORTED OUTSIDE because they think that I had one too many. OKAY, forgive me for having one too many but wow isn't it a place to dance, get silly, and DRINK? Does loft hire bouncers/security men to control and stabilize and NOT TO KICK people out? I wasn't the only one, my friend also got kicked out who was truly genuine when a bouncer (sorry I don't care what your P.C. title is but you're a mere asshat who doesn't make much money) he said that he had one too many but will drink some more and he was not let back in AND HE HAS HIS CREDIT CARD WITH THEM STILL and won't let him get it. That's not the only reason why this place deserves one star, I thought they hire bouncers to stabilize crowd control? no no no no.....helll no they hired the wrong people apparently. My friend's eye got lacerated by some guy for no reason and they didn't even care what happened. Wouldn't you see/investigate who did such injustice?If I was the hiring manager for this place, I would definitely overhaul it and fire these asshats ASAP. I don't know why I keep coming back here because this would be the 3rd time I was asked to leave in the last year. LOFT you SUCK, your security/bouncer crew definitely needs to be booted off. You're drawing out people who obviously wants to spend some money......so sad. so sad.
(1)
Naomi Y.
Dang it. I had a really great dining experience the first time I came here but the second time... not so much. The manager served our table and he was soooo slow... I ordered the Cajun Ahi Tuna ($23.95) again. It wasn't as good as the last time. This time the soy glaze was jelly... As if it was old and jellied over... I don't know.. It was gross. When the manager brought the complimentary bread and butter, instead of oil and vinegar, he brought balsamic vinaigrette(for the salads) to dip out bread in.. Eeeewwww... I asked for oil and vinegar and then he brought the same friggin salad dressing!!! Wow.. maybe he wasn't the manager.. maybe he was the supervisor but seriously he can't tell the difference??!! So after the manager set our food on the table he never checked up on us after that. Then I suppose he transferred our table to a server (Natalie) and she never checked on us. I had to walk up to the bar to give them my credit card and then she set the bill on the table so that everyone could see it.. I was trying to be discreet.. DUH! Other items we ordered: Panko Crusted Chicken $15.95 Chicken Parmigiana $15.95 Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich $12.95 Total bill: $74.48 for four people I say that this was an ok experience. I do like their chicken dishes. I have to give it to them for having good flavor for every dish I have tried here. It just sucks that the service doesn't match the price tag.
(3)
buttercup r.
This review is for dinner only. I'd made reservations for a group of 14, and they were nice when I called to tell them it would be between 12 and 15. No problem. When I realized we were going to be late, I called them about 5 minutes before we should have been there. We got there probably 30 minutes late, but this wasn't a problem and we were seated immediately with courtesy. Our waters were refilled, plates taken away on time, and we were asked if we needed anything else in the middle of the meal. Nice job. I got the chicken wrap with fries (you can also get it with fruit salad or caesar salad). It was very good, and I am particular about my meat. Satisfying to bite into, with fresh lettuce and tomato. The fries were good too, and trust me I've had bad fries - it is possible to mess them up. The atmosphere Is very cozy. I would think this place is good for both dates and large groups. Low lighting, but not so dark you can't see your food. Prices are average.
(4)
Francis B.
So, Finally I have a chance to write a review about the Loft, This review base on Club night. So there no cover. Thats awesome There music is good, The ladys kinda look more classy here. The bar tenders are super super friendly. I think the manager name is Adam he like what he does and he goes above and beyond customer Service and also his crew. Sooo Tip your bartenders.
(5)
Phoenix D.
Jaw-Dropping Disrespect... if this is how MANAGEMENT treats their VIPs then i don't even wanna know how they treat their normal customers... i've only been here on thursdays (5 in a row now) to support one of my best friends... we usually drop a pretty penny, to the point where the downstairs bartender points at me and asks "another saphire and tonic?" Excellent food... Fantastic wait staff... Superior drink crafters... but... BUT... i could do without the attitude from management/security... seriously, WTF?!?!? i'm there as one of the djs best friends and i get treated like a nuisance... mind you this is after dropping $200+ on dinner and drinks... and bringing in 7 people who wouldn't have ever stepped foot in the joint... i was VIP... and i was treated with so much disrespectful attitude that i actually plan on going back and explaining to the manager that he is the one and only reason that the establishment will never see another penny from me... or anyone i know... i'm currently trying to convince my friends to stop playing there... you don't treat people like that... PERIOD! especially regulars... ESPECIALLY regulars who spend lots of money and bring in more patrons... it's a shame because the food is ridiculously delicious & the bartenders actually know what they are doing... a damn shame...
(1)
Janet D.
I was just here Friday and it was a lot of fun. They had a happy hour between 1030p-11:30p and it was well worth it. Tequila sunrises for $6 dollars score! The white gummy bear drink not so much but shots were also $6. It's one of a few clubs that have no cover charge and mostly friendly security guys. It is my friends go to dance clubs in the downtown area. The male to female ratio is like 20 to 1 but if you've got a great wing-woman it's pretty safe to enjoy dancing with your homies without being harassed too terribly.
(4)
La C.
I went here for the first time tonight and I LOVED it. The ambiance is great -- shabby modern in a very tasteful way with exposed brick and all that. It's very comfortable, intimate and festive with strands of mini lights everywhere. I could see how it might get loud if it was crowded, but the crowd was sparse on this night. Our waitress Jenny was as good as it gets -- smart, attentive and fast. After seeing the extensive menu, I was a little worried -- sometimes restaurants with so many options don't excel at any one thing. But the Loft delivered! The steak cubes appetizer was cooked perfectly according to our request (half medium rare, half well done). The shrimp avocado wrap was fantastic and large -- we took half of it home. The crab cakes entree was great too. We ordered the white chocolate creme brulee for dessert. We were disappointed about its diminutive size, but found it to be very rich and actually just about the perfect portion for two people to share at the end of an already-filling meal. I would recommend this place without hesitation during the quiet midweek. We'll be back again, maybe on a busier weekend just to check it out then. We'll definitely go back on another school night!
(5)
Jessica B.
I gave it an extra star because the manager was friendly... otherwise, it would have only earned 1 star. I went for an early happy hour with a friend and was sadly disappointed after hearing such great things about their dinner menu. The drinks were weak, the food was SO bland. We had the turkey sliders (which weren't really sliders at all but rather sliced turkey meat with a piece of lettuce and a slice of over-ripe avocado. No sauce or other flavoring at all) and the chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla came with a very small dish of pico-de-gallo which had zero spice and could have been mistaken for a dish of tomatoes. We didn't even finish a third of either dish, which the manager noticed and commented on. My friend shared that we were very disappointed with how bland the food was when their dinner items have always been quite good. He said he would pass the information along to the chef and promptly handed us our bill. I won't be going back regardless, but I don't expect that the happy hour appetizers will improve at all. We each ordered a Ketel and club soda (which does not qualify as a happy hour drink so we paid full price) which was VERY weak. I couldn't bring myself to order a second because why pay $7 for a glass of club soda? Scratch another place off the list of San Jose happy hour spots. I'm still in search of one I like but am quickly losing faith that such a place exists. UPDATE!! PLEASE READ!!! I am going to stick with the 2 stars but I have to mention that I received a remarkable message from the manager (to whom I referred in my original post) responding to my review. In summary, he remembered serving us and apologized that we were disappointed with our experience. He said that he did in fact pass along our feedback to the Executive Chef and that they intend to review their happy hour menu and make some adjustments. With 1100 reviews for the Loft, I think his response speaks to the dedication of the management and kitchen team and their desire to provide a positive experience to its customers. I would add a star for excellent customer service and have put it back on my list to try for dinner as I hear the food is quite enjoyable.
(2)
Jovi C.
10:30 p.m. and Justine and I needed some food before hitting some spots. We noticed this place was open and still serving food. We were seated upstairs and outside, which was fine and dandy... until we realized that we walked into the Twilight Zone. In the span of about 5 minutes, it went from chill restaurant with outdoor seating on the roof to some sort of meat-market, DJ-spinning, dance club. WTF! I can't tell you how freaking retarded it was to order a $17 meal and having to eat it surrounded by loud, obnoxious people dancing and squealing to the sounds of Usher. Justine and I looked at each other and were like, "What the f?@#* just happened??" I guess we didn't understand the vibe of this place, and got the hell out of there ASAP. It was so weird though! One minute, chill restaurant, and next minute the scene totally changed! What the hell? Anyway, reviewing the food.... From what I ate of my meatloaf, it was good. The only reason it gets two stars was that the food (although overpriced) was good, and the waitress was really really nice and felt sorry for us, so she gave us two gift cards for free appetizers next time we come in ---- if we ever come in again. Certainly not on a Saturday night though!
(2)
Khai T.
I've been to Loft once, and I'm sold!!! When I went it was a Thursday night, and the place was packed by 11pm. The second floor has a dancefloor, and the happy hour isn't too bad. I dig the music they play here. As mentioned before they play new hits, and 90's hits which makes for great fun. If you bring a friend or two along, also like dancing, and aren't shy to approach women, then this is a great place to go to in SJ. Shall be back
(4)
Vincent N.
Probably one of my favorite places to go to in downtown San Jose. There's no cover but you need to bring at least two types of id (ex. drivers license + credit card). Drinks are pretty pricey and the crowd is mostly dudes...a negative for me for obvious reasons. Also this place has an outdoor patio and a decent sized dance floor upstairs but is always packed. Like you can barely walk anywhere throughout the place. Also the crowd is mostly asian. A good place to go to after you've had a few drinks and feel like dancing. From what I remember the music was pretty decent...
(3)
Vincent S.
Just gave it one star. Mann this ain't New York. Why does Jack and Coke and Midori Sour cost $26.00 and the bartender expects a tip. Give me a break.
(1)
Kristi C.
BEWARE! This place is unprofessional and disrespectful. I booked this place "6 months" in advance to host my wedding rehearsal dinner. I communicated with the event manager and even the owner of the place through chains of emails making it crystal clear that I wanted to host my rehearsal dinner out in their patio. And let me make this as clear as I was when I booked this place, the primary selling point of this place for me was "the patio." I was pretty excited and looking forward to hosting my party there, until only "one week" before my rehearsal, I get an email from The Loft informing me that the patio was double booked for a larger party and they can only accommodate us in a semiprivate area space in their stinky, dark dining room. I was so upset... for one, I booked this place 6 months prior to my event and I even looked at their event calendar and didn't notice another party on that same day. Secondly, I was communicating with both the owner and manager...how can they say these two events just slipped through the cracks? Thirdly, this is not just any dinner.. it was planned for my wedding rehearsal party... and they didn't have the respect to inform me of this issue until "ONE WEEK" before my wedding. Lastly, after the event manager informed me about the situation, all he can say was "Well, I can through in some additional appetizers and some creme bruee." Honestly, everyone knows that girls aren't going to eat anything the day before their wedding. Did this guy really think that some chicken wings and a creme bruee was going to make everything okay! I am usually a very clam and reasonable person, but this place really upset me. They made it seem as though they could just push me aside... and I am assuming this....because I had a much smaller party the other one. But I still feel that... first come, first serve...no matter what! Also, even though they double booked... the owner should at the very least have informed me sooner than a week they had an issue. Well, it all turned out in the end. We decided to host our rehearsal dinner at Il Fornaio in San Jose. They are so amazing and wonderful with everything. So I guess there was a happy ending to this drama... we had a great time at a much brighter and lively place!
(1)
Alex T.
I actually wanted to give it 3.5 stars but oh well. This is a great place to just grab a small bite and a couple drinks. Me and my lady typically sit at the bar, order our usual drinks and always get the carpaccio. It taste good, and is just what you need to get a quick filler. They have other food that is mediocre, but I typically stick to the appetizers. At night this place gets pretty crowded and turns into a bar/club. Not bad if you dont want to pay for entrance fee, and wanna chill with some friends. Watch out though, different bartenders charge different amounts for drinks.
(4)
Catherine L.
I only like going here to drink becuase they have yummy mojitos I've eaten here twice and both times were bleah - i don't remember what i had the first time, but the 2nd time i ordered the chicken marsala in hopes that it would be as delicious as buca di peppo's..... it was inedible (and for me, that's saying a lot!!!!) it was dry and not tasty and after one or two bites i gave up =(
(3)
J U.
NOTE: This review is only for the bar upstairs. I've been here twice and neither time was good. Security at the front door does a much longer sweep over your ID than usual and makes you feel like theres something wrong with it. And then comes the MANDATORY DRESS CODE. Nothing with a hood is allowed, and neither is baggy pants. I'm not the one to wear ill-fitting clothes, but I had on a very fashionable jacket with a hood and was forced to either take it off or TUCK IN the hood! If you want drinks under $10, this is not the place. One drink, and I was already out $12 dollars (a very weak Mojito at that). And if you complain about the weakness of their drinks, as my friend did, you are told to either pay more or deal with it. The music is the only good thing around, and without other decent amenities, I may as well just listen to the radio.
(1)
Tony L.
Came here for dinner and some drinks before the Improv. Service from the bartender upstairs was fantastic - she was friendly, attentive, and prompt. They have some of the BEST fries I've ever had, but the chicken poppers were mediocre. Drinks were good, although grossly overpriced. $11+ for a Goose Driver? That's more than the clubs!
(4)
Lauren C.
My Yelp on Dinner I went there last night for my birthday. Hmmmm....where do I start? We were supposed to have roof top dining but didn't get it. The french bread that came to the table was okay. When I say okay..I mean blah!! The beef cubes and the calamari was decent. Nothing special. The chicken niblets were disgusting with a side of ketchup. Yummmy....being sarastic here!! Now to my main dish - the Chinese Chicken Salad. How can any restaurant mess this dish up? It's a disgrace to the Asian race. I mean the chicken cubes were hard. It looks like it was last night's chicken that has been sitting out for awhile. It was a plate of lettuce with some cube chicken and some fried rice noodles and a side of soy sauce. I guess I should of just left it there instead of having it packed up to go. Ended up just tossing it when I got home. I mean the internet has some really good recipes for Chinese Chicken Salad...they should definitely start surfing if they want to continue to serve good food. One friend ordered the crab cakes and he said it was good but not terribly excellent. Another friend ordered the chicken parmesan and he said on a scale from one to five, he would give it a 3. The overall dinner was average. On the positive side, I really loved the veggies and the mashed potatoes. The veggies were cooked to perfection. Would I go back? Nope....never.
(2)
Junel L.
So this was our second stopped from our bar hopping experience in downtown san jose. So it was still dinner time by the time we came by it was around 930 ish, didnt get to see the second floor but the first floor is intimate, room lit with candles. Marvelous!! bartender was very attentive. Will either plan a company party here or a little get together with my close friends.
(4)
Cathy M.
The Loft Bar and Bistro is the best kept secret in town. They have a great upstairs area and an outside patio. The food is better than any restaurants in downtown San Jose. The salmon, chinese chicken salad (you can even ask for it grilled) and the chicken quesadillas are delicious! The owner Kam is awesome. The bartender and waitresses are very nice. The manager Adrian has the best customer service skills ever. He is friendly and down to earth and wants to provide you outstanding service. I just worked with Adrian to throw a Retirement party for a gal at work. He worked with our budget, threw in a few extras, provided plates and folks to cut the cake, gave us boxes for the extra cake, provided a mic for our speeches and even let us use the white screen for our slide show. He went above and beyond to make sure our event was the BEST EVER. I highly, highly, highly recommend the LOFT Bar and Bistro for lunch, dinner or any special event. You will be very happen with the service, food and the special attention that you will receive.
(5)
Bonnie L.
When making a reservation, if you can't get the patio, don't try at all! :( I had my 17th birthday dinner here with my friends, and I really wanted to try Loft, so I brushed off the fact that I couldn't get the patio, but guess what I got... I got the bottom floor, up against the wall. No, not even near the window. It was ugly where I was. :( Food was alright.
(2)
Michael H.
The Loft Bar and Bistro, is exactly that - a loft that's been turned into a bar and bistro. This two-story complex offers a dining area, two bars, a patio, and a small dance floor. Although the Loft isn't that big, it hosts a dinner area, dance area, chill area, and drink area. The menu offers a wide variety of American cuisine, from salads to sandwiches to pasta to steak. Appetizers range from $9-$13 while entrees range from $14-24. It's difficult to order something on the menu. There's so much to pick from, along with the fact that nothing sounds that interesting or in simple terms: "yummy". Being that they focused on American cuisine, I ordered the meatloaf. The meatloaf comes with mixed stir fried veggies, meatloaf topped with gravy, and mashed potatoes. Everything was "nice", but it's ultimately forgettable. The menu stated that the meatloaf would be served with garlic mashed potatoes. This was not the case. On top of that everyone's mashed potatoes weren't topped with gravy. This made it pretty bland. The veggies are done al dente. Personally I would've liked them to be cooked a touch longer, but I don't really have any gripes with raw veggies. The meatloaf was pretty standard. I would definitely not come back here for entrees. We ordered two appetizers: string onions (fried onions) and calamari. Both were A-Ok. Dessert sizes are extremely tiny! Service was real nice and I was surprised at how well my glass was refilled. Complimentary bread is served with olive oil. Like always they over-ask if you'd like to order any drinks or appetizers (where all the real income comes from). Overall I was pleased with the service. Once the Friday night started, the clubbers started rolling in. The second floor hosted a DJ blasting music as if it were channeled straight from the radio. The music was way too loud, but maybe I'm getting too old for this. I like the fact that you can chill on the quiet patio or just sit around after dinner. We weren't pressured to buy anything either. ___ A nice place, with forgettable food. Stick to the appetizers and drinks on the patio.
(3)
Megan L.
Ever since my first visit here, I have always enjoyed Loft Bar and Bistro. Their outdoor dining patio is quaint, and perfect for San Jose summers. Having dinner here is great, although I think the prices have gone up, even since I visited for dinner in March. I will say, though, don't do the cheesecake. The waitress recommended it, noting that it was in fact homemade in their own kitchen, the first time I ate here and it was a mistake. The cheesecake was so dry and crumbly, nothing like cheesecake should be. The next time I came, I had the chocolate, molten cake, and that was superb. Try going on a non-party night and you'll be able to enjoy the full experience of this place. Otherwise, you'll run into the party crowd looking to enjoy a night out for drinks and dancing. Love this place!
(5)
John J.
I am never disappointed when I go to the Loft. Well, the only time is when I can't be seated at the patio because its full. This place is nice and elegant. Food is priced well. I super loved it when they first opened because not many people knew about the place. But now it has gotten so popular and it is my only complaint.
(4)
James L.
Loft Bistro has just enough class for lunch / dinner and the nightlife of the club. I've had lunch here and on a nice day for lunch come outside to the patio area and enjoy a nice affordable lunch. For dinner i used the concept of restaurants coupon which works wonders and helps save some moola. My GF got this panko crusted chicken plate which was very good. There was a sauce that went with the chicken which was very delicious. Also had the carpachio (sorry spelling is off) for our appetizer. This was really good as the meat was cut so thin and placed on bread. There were some other sauce on it too but the combination of the flavors were really good. It made my taste buds tingle in a good way on this appetizer. The nigh-life here at loft, i actually enjoy because it is FREE. The people that usually go to loft dress pretty casual. The place in general has an upstairs and a downstairs, the dancing happens on the 2nd floor. There are two bars, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. Most of the time there is a good amount of people on a Friday or Saturday night. And to me, it's the best free nightlife place in Downtown SJ.
(3)
Mia N.
I had my birthday dinner here last year since it was convenient (we were having bottle service at a club nearby after). The service was just alright. I don't remember the food very well so I guess there's nothing to write home about. Good place to have some drinks and food with your friends. I'd come back again.
(3)
Chris K.
So I came here one night with George St Pierre and a mutual friend of ours. Pretty cool place. Not a fan of the stairs. I'd like to know how many people have fallen down those stairs while intoxicated. If you're looking for Asian people, this is the spot. It's like watching the Travel Channel. The drinks are pricier than other places. You're better off getting drunk somewhere else and coming here to socialize. The dance floor is gross. It's usually too packed. You'll end up getting your wallet stolen. Or step on someone's foot and start a fight.
Stopped by here prior to catching Russel Peters at the Improv. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but was actually pleasantly surprised. My girlfriend and I wanted to be and out of there quickly so we just ordered up two appetizers and a salad to share. Honestly, that was A LOT of food. We ordered the Smoked Salmon and Steak Bites appetizers and the Chinese Chicken Salad. Honestly, everything came out quickly and well prepared. The steak bites were quite tender and the cabernet sauce it came with was pretty tasty and didn't overpower the steak. The Chinese Chicken Salad looked like it would be pretty plain, but it was actually quite good... the chicken breast pieces were tender and well prepared... surprising, but true. The smoke salmon was probably the most in line with my expectations, but the honey mustard sauce that went along with the appetizer was an interesting, but surprisingly tasty touch. The space is mostly industrial looking and consists mostly of blacks, metal, and dark woods. It looks like it'd be a pretty good place to grab drinks after work or just to hang out for a few appetizers and drinks. I'd probably stop by here again. Overall, 3.5 stars. BTW, Russell Peters was hilarious tonight.
(4)
stacy r.
*VEGETARIANS BEWARE* Last night my work unit went to The Loft for our annual holiday dinner. Bottom Line: Pricey food and not very vegetarian friendly. The restaurant is definitely for carnivores. They do have the single obligatory PC pasta dish on their dinner menu and a vegetable sandwich on their lunch menu. So, yes, they do offer...something. That being said, my dish was really awful. The meaty dishes were generous and beautiful looking...not sure how they tasted, but they looked good. My sorry dish of pasta was, well, sorry. The pasta was overcooked and mushy, and the sauce had no flavor at all (even though the dish apparently was cooked with onions, garlic, and pesto). I had to repeatedly salt and pepper my dish to make it edible. Keep in mind that my taste buds are sensitive andI like my food bland (but not tasteless). The dish also had zucchini and broccoli. ($15.95). Pasta is clearly not their forte'. It was so dissatisfying that I ordered a side of mashed potatoes...also not very tasty, which cost about $4.00 for a small plateful. I also ordered the tomato and mozzarella salad, drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette and pistachios. It was actually quite tasty, but four thin slices of tomato and four slices of cheese for $10.00 is, like I said, pricey. Oh, and they are apparently a popular bar. I have an alcoholic drink maybe once or twice a year. The drinks looked good, so I decided to order one. I first ordered a Mango Mojito at the recommendation of the waitress. The drink was not good. It tasted like peaches with mint...need I say more? So, she took it back and brought me a traditional Mojito...which was really bitter. I tried adding some sweet syrup, but it did not help, so sent it back too. Good thing, because it cost $11.00. The waitress was very nice, and tried to be helpful. However, she and the wait staff were almost never to be seen and hardly checked in on us. I would have given this place one star, had it not been for the fact that they let me call in advance and place a special meal order (the pasta dish on the menu sounded really unappetizing). All in all....$37.00 (including tax and tip) for a really bad meal. Just think, if I had had the drink it would have been a really bad $50.00 meal. Yikes! Would I return? Definitely not!!!
(2)
Jeremy K.
I was here the past Thursday night and it really wasn't a great experience. My friends and I got there a little early, around 10pm. The crowd was a tad on the older side [my friends and I are all in our early 20's], but we figured that it was just the last leg of the businessmen out for a drink after work. The music was decent when we arrived but as the night went on it got worse. It must have been an off night because the whole time we were there the place was pretty empty. There was no line at the bar and the dance floor was only about 1/4 filled up, and keep in mind it's already a small dance floor. It was also a TOTAL SAUSAGE FEST. There must have been honestly about 10 -12 girls in there? And that's including the girls in my group. The only good things were that we didn't have to pay cover, the drinks were decent and watching this one old man, probably in his 60's, rock out on the dance floor looking like he trying to trying to play DDR. I would probably give it another go since there are some really good reviews for this place. Most likely on a Sat. One more thing to mention is that the bathrooms are pretty small and pretty soundproof. Only one stall and one urinal, so when you walk in there and there's a small line of guys waiting and the only sound you hear is another guy peeing....it's just awkward. They need thinner doors so the music filters in. hahaha.
(2)
Marilou A.
I've had a wine tasting session, been to two catered banquets, and had more than my share of drunken nights at Loft. The wine tasting session was through my Wine Appreciation class at San Jose State University back in 2006. They served 3 different wines with samples of 3 dishes. The Loft representative was very informative and passionate about his position and the wine/food that was served. The two banquets that I went to were both upstairs and had about 40 attendees each. Both times they provided an awesome buffet selection. They had three entree selections including beef, chicken, and fish. The also provided several vegetable dishes, side dishes, and a beverage. I remember paying 30-35 for my meal... not bad considering the options. Definitely think about hosting a large party here at least once. There's no hope if you're trying to speak and make announcements, though. There's usually a DJ spinning or music playing on the speakers and the restaurant is pretty loud itself. I've only had a handful of bad experiences at the Loft when it comes to their nightlife. Their bartenders (especially the bald guy upstairs and the old guys downstairs) can be asshole-like at times. I know some people who have been lucky with them... but I stick to the bartenders to the left of the upstairs bar. The mojitos here are bomb and the music is hot on most nights. The patio area can smell like a sewer every once and again. Once the entire patio smelled like weed and the management came out to my party a couple of times to see if it was us. They even asked some of my homies to take their hands out of their pockets (like they would f*cking put anything that was lit into their pants). WTF. Haha. Other than a few random sucky late night moments, this place is cool. Good music, no strict dress code, cool people, no cover... and one of the only place in downtown SJ that I haven't been kicked out of yet! Holla.
(4)
Rachel S.
Great food, great service. Really friendly servers are always quick to get your order and food to the table. I'm a fan of the calamari with jalapenos, never had it like that before, and the skirt steak wedge.
(5)
David W.
Food here is decent. I had the chicken marsala and it was delicious. I really liked the rice that it came with primarily because it reminded me of the rice that I ate back in elementary school. As far as nightlife, it can get crowded. Some days are just a hit or miss. The only thing I disliked, depending on the dj, is that they don't mix the music. I noticed that they rewind the track and let a new track spin. I prefer real dj's that know how to mix songs. But I guess if you are drunk no cares right?
(3)
Valerie Q.
Great place for dinner! I highly recommend the steak bites. They are delicious!!!! and the dipping sauce gives the steak bites a rich and juicy flavor.
(4)
Nate H.
for the first time coming here, i was seated promptly to the bar since i was solo. browsed the menu which included seasonal additions, which is always nice to see restaurants keeping their menu fresh with new options. i had the daily soup, at the time which was chx veggie, and was craving something hot that specific night so it hit the spot as a starter. then ordered the cuban sandwich, that had sold me at pork tenderloin and pepper jack cheese( which was, from the taste of it, served on ciabatta, tasted really exceptional.) . in all, the bartender was attentive with the customers at the bar, and not picking favorites, (lingering with just one instead of the other customers like you see at some places.) and made the meal all worth while, when asked if she could make my drink with a personal favorite topping. i give this a 4 because this is only my first time and will consider that extra star once ive tried a good percentage of their up-to-date menu.
REVIEW for the RESTAURANT So, I've got a 100 dlls gift certificate for the Loft, I decided to give it a try for Valentine's. My husband and I arrived around 6pm, it wasn't busy and the staff was very friendly. The 5dlls flat rate parking lot across the street is very convenient. The decor was nice and the music was also very relaxing. They had a special menu for valentines which was VERY EXPENSIVE for what it was..In fact was a bit ridiculous and while ordering We lost track of how much it was, the drinks where very expensive also..10 dlls for Martini although I have to admit they were very descent and not watered down. The Damage was: 162 dlls!!!!!!!! for 2 people? really? We had : -A scotch whiskey + Asmtel light beer -2 lemon drop martinis -Fried calamari -steak bites -Surf and Turf dish -Filet Mignon -and some little dessert The taste of the food was pretty average. I don't know but I have been at better restaurants and is never that much. I have no complaints about the staff, they were really really nice but the prices for their food..just too much. I will not come back to eat here again.
(2)
Will S.
Out of some of the spots I've been to around Downtown San Jose, I'd note this place as a good spot for night life. Our group (party of 6) got there around 1030-11pm, I think, and there was a short line. I thought it was a bit odd though that when we got to the front of this short line we still had to wait a while. Also, the bouncer for some reason wanted to check my credit card, just to see some second form of ID. Whack. At least there was NO cover. The dress code wasn't that bad either. A good amount of people were dressed up and some got away with wearing sneakers in this place. So when we got in, immediately you enter the bar and the dining area on the 1st floor. Up the stairs you see another bigger bar to the left, crowded with people getting drinks (what else is new?) and the moderately sized dance floor to the right, with a DJ hiding around the corner. I noticed almost everybody (75%) were Asian. I don't know about you but I prefer to see some diversity at the places I visit. And the ratio of girls to guys seemed to be a good 2:1. The music was enjoyable, most of it being from today, but I wish the DJ played some stuff from the 90's. The drinks were well made but I didn't care too much for their prices. For a Jack and Coke and a Amaretto Sour, I paid $14. We stayed until 130am because we just got tired and someone from our group said there were a few creepers roaming around. Overall, I thought it was nice place to go after dinner. It reminded me of Deco's at the Gaslamp (Downtown San Diego). And there's something about having a bar/ club on the upper floors of a building that produces good vibes. Check it out if you get a chance.
(4)
Milicent A.
Cute bouncer: "How old are you?" Me:".......21" Cute bouncer: "Have a good night!" Me: "Sh*t guys I almost said 22!" ANYWAY, went here on a Friday night...Let's just say I looked like everyone else that night if you catch my drift...not a diverse crowd that night, yet not ghetto which is always good :) the venue itself is pretty nice. a bit more "classy." bathrooms were super clean. we were upstairs most of the time where the bigger dance floor was. when we first got there, no one was dancing, but it eventually got packed. always lame, but the most annoying guy to enter my life was there and the sardine packed crowd was only good for me to GET AWAY :) HEHE DJ that night wasn't too bad at all. there was another room with another dj to the side of that dance floor...but didn't stay in there. bouncers are chill..staff was actually kinda cute! HAHA...just don't stand anywhere for too long. "keep it going!" other than that the place was not too bad. You don't pay cover, but drinks were a bit more expensive than other places. Beers were about 6...paid 7 for some shot. my raging bull was had HELLA ice in it. overall, had a good night because i was with my girls! i'd go again, but maybe a different night. btw, make sure to bring 2 IDs (they check 2 just to show if you really ARE 21) and if they ask your age, make sure you're not to drunk to ALMOST forget :)
(3)
Mary G.
After much hype from friends and for the cost of the meal, I was disappointed with dinner. Baked halibut was dry and the spicy Cajun blackened chicken was "blah". Their calamari and wine were only things enjoyable. Better options are in walking distance.
(2)
Jonas S.
Came here for lunch with a $25 gift certificate although Ive been coming since they opened and had nice experiences before. The first 10 minutes was great then it collapsed. Ordered the crab cakes, got the popcorn chicken by mistake which was average. The Prawn Salad was BORING lettuce, shrimp and onions. Throw in some color, some spice, I had to ask for some blue cheese to spice it up! Got a refill on iced tea after asking for it even though a server refilled other people's iced tea. I couldn't really blame the waiter as the manager was around helping. In fact I would have to blame the manager (wearing tie). The waiters looked poorly trained and managed, they were all over the place. The patio had 3 waiters, 1 bus boy and the Manager supporting only 6 tables and the service was still bad and no iced tea refills. That is ridiculous! I like this place, they just need to get it together! I think I figured it out, they are just way too casual and disorganized and it shows.
(2)
Stacy F.
I have been to The Loft twice now and the food and atmosphere is top notch! I can't say enough about this place... The 1st time I went to The Loft, I was attending a wedding reception. The appetizers and main course were served in a buffet style. I wasn't sure what to expect since buffet style sometimes is not that great but... The calamari was amazing, my husband went back for "fourths." The main courses, steak and salmon were out of this world. This was buffet style! I just went back last night... I had the salmon pesto and it was sooooo good. The fish was prepared perfectly, the vegetables were so good, I just really like this restaurant. I am going back for sure and telling everyone I know... Check out this place on 2nd street! Why are places like BJs and PF Changs at Oakridge packed when there is really amazing food at the same price in downtown San Jose? People need to wake up and get some good cuisine!
(5)
Erika M.
I was kinda iffy about this place. To be honest, I had heard that it was "where all the asians go." lol. And I have absolutely no problem with that, I guess I just didn't wanna feel out of place. But this place was a lot better than I expected. I went with a whole bunch of coworkers, and it turned out to be a really fun night. No cover charge, which is awesome. Although some drinks seemed a little high. This place gets really packed, so I definitely suggest coming early. The dance floor upstairs can get pretty crowded, and can get really hot and humid. That would probably be my only complaint. Overall pretty good place for no cover charge.
(3)
Donna Z.
Note to self: "Rooftop" is covered...and actually has its own roof. The drinks were delicious. The company was fun. The balsalmic vinegar concoction that came with the bread could be sold in a store...it's that good. I'll be back...for bread and drinks. As is the case for lots of places downtown...don't come here if you're actually hungry.
(4)
Brittany L.
I love the atmosphere of this place. Most employees seem youthful and energetic, and ofcourse friendly. Food is great, I definitely love the desserts. A good place to go out with friends, or on a date. I will come back to eat and drink here for sure.
(5)
Zakk D.
Every so often, I let my friends convince me to go out and sample the "nightlife" of downtown San Jose. In reality, its to see what hellhole some club owner thought to put out here. Not that it's not close by, to wit, I live 3 blocks from it. My downtown chastity is completely self-imposed. But every so often, I venture out into the lameness that is my backyard and sample the pitiful and ridiculous fare it offers. My night at the Loft was no different. Walking up to the door, the requisite bouncer with an attitude is sitting there. Two forms of ID? Come awn. After having to dig around for more ID, our whole party gets in and is herded upstairs. The upstairs is a mass of humanity of women old enough to know they can't wear that with guys doing their best to look tough and like they aren't having a good time. I mean, what "cool guy" is at a dance club having a good time!? DJ Train-Wreck is there with the mixing ability of a chimp that found a crack pipe, busting out the funky rhymes. Actually, they just sucked. His style sucked, mixing sucked, his track selection must have been from Stevie Wonder picking out the CD's. The "dance floor" however, was grossly small. The bartenders were good. The pours were generous. Drinks were good, and service was quick. Between the bar hands and the wonderful friends there with me, that is the ONLY reason this place is getting two stars. Everything else sucked. *sigh* Another wasted night of my life. I could have spent it plucking nose hairs out of a rabid skunk. Such is life.
(2)
Christina C.
Why do people in the South Bay like going to this place so often at late hours?! It always has a weird mix of people from 20's up to late 40's. One night there was a SJ Repertoire theater event where one half the downstairs bar was cordoned off. Despite the already slow bar service notorious at this place, getting only half the bar space increased the drink wait time by 10 minutes. I recommend the upstairs bar has a bench area which makes it easy to people watch and close to bathrooms and the dance floor. The DJ that night was so terrible even I had a hard time staying awake and/or dancing. This bar actually has a really awesome layout and even an outdoor patio with a separate DJ at late hours. If I was 21 and had my formfitting t-shirt dress on that showed my ass every time I made any sudden movements with my steve madden 4 inch stilettos, I'd probably come here to make out with some white guy with an asian fettish before stumbling home.
(2)
Alex W.
Loft is an amazing place for group dinners. We just had our holiday team dinner at the loft and the service, food, and decor was absolutely amazing! It's tough to wow a group of event planners, but that's just what they did. Our server Jenny kept the whole group of 16 satisfied through the whole night and made sure we had everything that was needed to enjoy the night. The food was absolutely exceptional. I had the lamb shank and the meat was mouth watering and perfectly paired with the house red wine. The manager even came by to check on us several time to make sure everything was going smooth. I use to love coming here for the night club scene, but now will definitely be coming back for dinner, too!
(5)
Chris C.
Was in Downtown San Jose when the fiance and I decided to stop at Loft Bar and Bistro for dinner because it was someplace the fiance always wanted to try. Loft Bar is one of those trendy upscale bar. They do have a decent old fashion look to their decor done with a little bit of class. Loft is really divided into 3 sections, the bottom area that's pretty much just a bar, the upstairs which is dining, and the patio area. Since we got here around 6PM we went upstairs and decided to look over the menu for dinner. Food style here is upscale american bistro. So expect things like crab cakes, grilled steak, salmon, different types of upscale salads, and upscale version of sandwiches. Because this is an upscale place, prices reflex it too. Most items, including appetizers start at $8. So for appetizers and salads it's between $8 - $15, sandwiches & burgers $10 - $13, and main courses $15 - $30. We looked over the menu and I put in an order for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Fries and the Fiance got the Grilled Veggie Sandwich and the Salad. We also put in an order of drinks, I got a beer that they had on tap and she got the mango mojito. Drinks came out pretty quick. My beer was a decent size and it's hard to screw up a beer, so mine was ok. Here mango mojito was very good. We chatted for a while and out came the sandwiches. Portion wise, very nice, half a sandwich was plenty. My sandwich was ok, the chicken was a bit dry and over cooked. Her sandwich was good, she really liked how they grilled the veggies. The fries were good, some of the better fries I've had in a long time and her salad was decent. We wrapped things up and got the bill. Damn for a 2 sandwiches, a beer, and a mojito including tip, the bill came out to be about $53. Her mojito was about $13! I was think $7 or $8 especially considering this was a week day during happy hour, but $13???!! It was good, but no F-ing way it was that good. And just so you know, they don't print the prices of mixed drinks or beer on the menu. So overall, the food was good, but way way overpriced. The service was friendly but nothing special. Normally I would give a place like this 3 stars, but charging $13 for a mojito and the price of dinner was way overpriced, I knock them down 1 star. So 2 star rating and the only reason to come here is if you got plenty of cash and want to be seen in a trendy upscale place that doesn't print prices on their menu for their drinks and doesn't offer happy hour specials.
(2)
Jana A.
A possible alternative to temple? perhaps... it doesn't get as crowded as temple... but then their music isn't as good... pretentious... wasn't fond of that... asian invasion... wasn't fond of that... i thought that it was odd that they ask the young ones for 2nd forms of id... maybe they got narked on previously for letting little tricks in.... drinks were eh... didn't hang upstairs too much... it's much easier to just stay downstairs at the bar and have the bartendar within arm's reach... i do however like the upstairs patio... if i ever do a private party, i would keep this place in mind... but for now 2 stars for nightlife...
(2)
Shari B.
Ok I'll make this short and sweet. The number one reason that I like the Loft Bar and Bistro is because the people who go here are not ghetto. It's one of the few places in downtown SJ where a working professional can go to. I'm a working professional and thought that downtown San Jose would be filled with bars of professional people b/c of Adobe and the other companies in the area. I quickly found out that was NOT the case. In most of the bars/clubs here people are ghetto and you know there are definitely gang members with their wife beater shirts and hair in ponytails at most other places. Scared the crap out of me when I first went to dance club in the area! Yes, there's a lot of shy guys and girls hanging in groups but if you are looking for a nice place where you feel safe to dance with your friends the Loft bar is the place. Also the food is pretty good to and they have good drink specials.
(4)
Kimberly B.
Came here for happy hour yesterday and got minor food poisoning last night. Enough said.
(2)
Spencer H.
Best place to go in downtown SJ for sure. Granted it isn't saying much but it's still pretty good. First of all, no cover. 2nd, they have a solid dance floor upstairs and a lounge area on the first floor as you walk in. The drinks there are reasonably priced and have almost anything you can think of. The music is always rocking well here and there is no dress code. A must go stop if you are interested in hitting up a free and fun dance environment.
(4)
M. E.
My party was looking for a chill yet fun place to welcome 2008. I had a great experience here for my birthday dinner before as well (manager or chef came out to say 'hi'). We were hard pressed to find a place in downtown San Jose without running into the frat kids or "amateurs" on the biggest party night of the year, nevermind other clubs' inflated cover charge just to get in the door (um.. you're not a San Francisco club). Loft was perfect. People were a little more dressed up as was their attitude. Found a cozy spot at the bar for all of us. Service was always Johnny-on-the-spot. I was even honored with a complimentary Crowne and Coke. We were ordering lotsa' cocktails after all. Most importantly, the females in our group were comfortable the whole night. No moron lurkers on the dance floor! See you next year?!
(5)
yael w.
If you are over 18, want to keep your hearing good as it is, and see no point in observing a collection of bimbos dancing, cross that, shaking assorted body parts to the sounds of extremely loud (bad) music, maybe you should consider going... elsewhere. The bread was stale and the drinks... well, if you are 18 or under, you may be fooled with the non-existent alcohol in your drinks. The rum was watered down to the point of extinction. 2 mojitos came and went, leaving nothing behind... (other than the bill that is). Don't go. One compliment: the design is nice. Totally fooled us. We expected a grownups bistro- the dcor sort of implied it, or at least fooled us to expect it. Our mistake.
(1)
J. J.
I like the Loft Bar and Bistro. It's always been a pleasant place to catch dinner and a drink or two before hitting the late show at the comedy club next door. Additionally, I must rave about the service and help we received from (I'm guessing manager and assistant manager) a couple of weeks ago. One person in our party forgot their ticket to the comedy club and we were hoping to find a computer where she could print out a new ticket from her email account. Well the manager overheard us talking and he said "no problem, we know those guys very well. After your dinner we'll walk you over and we'll take care of it." They did! And, we did not have to go looking for them either. About the time we were wrapping up dinner an assist. mgr. was waiting for us so he could take us over and work out our missing ticket situation. I was a fan before, but now I'm a SUPER FAN! Love that customer service. Thanks again!!
(4)
Christine K.
While waiting for the midnight movie at Camera 12 to start, Hubster, TB and I wandered around looking for a bar that TB swore was in the neighborhood, but he couldn't remember what it was called or where it was exactly. Sheesh. So we ended up here. When we first arrived it was slightly swollen with people but not overly crowded and the hippity hop music was really loud. Within about 5 minutes though, the volume got turned down, within 10 minutes, there were a LOT more people inside. Luckily we had snagged seats at the bar. I wasn't drinking so I can't review drink quality. I did spend a lot of time watching the bartenders though, who seemed pretty top notch but still friendly and accommodating, one of them even told a girl how to order the drink she wanted, since she was obviously new to the whole ordering a drink thing.
(3)
Kerry T.
This is Great place to throw a private party. The top floor is large enough hold a party of 40-50 but small enough where the whole floor is yours. The waiters here are nice and brings refills before you finished the drinks The food is a little pricey around 35 per person. This came with salad calamari, salmon, chicken, and mashed potatoes. The food was good but nothing that makes you craving for more after you had your fill. I would probably only come back if were to throw a party again or to have a couple drinks at the bar. 2 star for food 1 star for venue 1 star staff
(4)
Bryan B.
Sorry ass Bouncers, starting crap with people outside at the San Jose Bar and Grill. One fat one, has the education of a five year old, using the "Your Momma" lines. Pathetic !!! Would never even consider going there ! If you want people to consider stepping in, get rid of the losers outside, get someone professional !!!!!
(1)
ClosetDork ..
DONT HAVE THE FOOD and you'll have the same four-star-rating kind of experience here. There's nothing wrong with the food. It's just bland, mediocre, middle-of-the-road, nothing special ... (I've run out of things to describe the food ... maybe I should look up thesaurus.com ?). Good to have with the drinks, which are by the way awesome, because that way you wouldn't even care if the food tastes half decent or not at all. Food aside, this place is awesome. The rooftop area is a great place to enjoy the evening when it's not freezing cold. In case of subzero temperature, resort to the small seating area near the bar on the second floor . Have always hung out upstairs the few times I went there - once for a private party, other times just to chill (and made a rather stupid decision to have dinner there). And oh, they have live jazz on Thursday night! What's NOT to love about this place? Um.. the food.
(4)
Lisa H.
Here's the disclaimer on the 4 stars: It's 4 stars for San Jose standards. Sorry to be a San Jose-hater, but I don't like going out in San Jose. There are too many overweight girls who think they're skinny, skinny girls with concave chests, and plastic girls with more makeup on then you can find at Sephora. I don't mean to be haughty, but going out in San Jose sucks. I grew up here. I know. BUT, if you are going to go out in San Jose, I would recommend the Loft. I would give it 3 stars, but for San Jose standards, it gets 4. You can eat beforehand too, and the food is decently priced and average tasting. I tried the Chicken Marsala, Chinese Chicken Salad, Salad with Tri Trip, Calamari, and Caprese Salad. All were...average. Decent, solid, expected...but not, "Mmmm...yummy!" The drinks are good though! Try the Mango Mojito. It's delish. I agree with the previous raves about the service---it's great! Our server was really patient and friendly, cut my birthday cake for me...the works! Lastly, you can stay and dance because they have a DJ! The crowd is descent and respectable as well (The hoochies are frolicking somewhere else in San Jose).
(4)
Casey B.
I wanted to give it 2 stars but I've only been here once so I want to maybe give it another try first. Because certainly the panko crusted chicken with honey mustard sauce was a HUGE disappointment. I knew I should have ordered the salmon or better yet...have gone to cluck u, dammit! Cool building though...we sat upstairs, I wish we could have gotten a table next to the window but they were full. All in all it was just kind of...eh But worth a try now that you have been informed what not to order.
(3)
Vincent D.
We came to Loft late Friday, around 11:30 pm, to meet up with friends. We ordered two drinks ($20) and it was so badly made. Felt like there was no alcohol it it.The place was very crowded & music was good. But please make a proper drink.
(1)
edward g.
1st star = no cover 2nd star = good enough music this place was okay when i first started going probably because i had just turned 21 . now that ive experience a lot better, i cant recommend coming here for no other reason than not having to pay a cover . the first floor is really small and is where all the lamers sit . should be another dance floor if you ask me . which brings me to the main dance floor which so small you get grinded on by people not even dancing with you . elbows hit your back constantly and people step on your toes and good shoes . the last time i came here was actually pretty packed, but it was wayyyy too hot . my shirt was soaked, which is not entirely appealing to the ladies . and the absolute worst part is the price of the drinks . unnecessarily expensive if you ask me or anyone else . i once paid like $45 for 3 redbull vodkas . i got cheaper drinks in vegas . a jack and coke cost me $10 last time . if i know i am coming here i am gonna pre-drink my ass off . take my 4-6 shots at home and then limit myself to one drink to buy . i suggest you do the same if you come here . but then again my rating suggest you shouldnt come here . hmmm...
(2)
Elizabeth G.
I love the space here and what they've done with it. It is funny how it usually looks empty and if you didn't know of the second floor, you may be a little turned off. I was not happy with the food I had the one time I had dinner here. It was some sort of vegetarian sandwich and it had no flavor and... I can't believe I'm saying this... too much cheese. I would like to try it for brunch. I like the rooftop patio, even though it's all enclosed and would be cooler if you could have some sort of view. I had fun at the bar upstairs, but the food is not very good.
(3)
C.J. A.
We got there very very early like 930. iTs Free to get in! 1030 starts the music. The dress code is it not well enforce. Crowd is great...mix..! :P Drinks are reasonable depending what you get. Upstairs, they have this chill place right next to the dance floor...just to relax. Bathroom are dirty but what plcae isnt. The ratio was 4 to 1 not bad dont you think? I will be sure to come back here! Sooner than later!
(5)
Stephanie L.
My first time partying down in downtown SJ since I usually rage it hard in SF was here in the Loft. The Loft was the only option because one of my SoCal friends adamantly preferred bars over clubs and had no good-looking club clothes with him, so we had to eliminate a lot of possibilities. The Loft offered the best of both worlds: bar and dancefloor...made my life easier and was able to cater to all my friends. However, I left the night feeling unsatiated. A few things: the drinks were way expensive, but expensive drinks are OK if they weren't so watered down. A jager bomb, long island, adios and a beer later...just barely tipsy. Dance floor upstairs was kinda small considering the number of people rubbing against each other. You had barely enough room to flap your arms on the floor to do the funky chicken dance. Way too many people, way too crowded. A few creeps here and there. Music was bumpin'. Might come back if I really have to, although I'd probably check out the other places around downtown.
(3)
Caroline L.
I would have liked to experience this place better than I did. I was there for my cousin's graduation party, and it was pretty cool that we got to have the roof all to ourselves and have a buffet-style Saturday lunch. The food was pretty good, especially the steak, mashed potatoes and chicken. Also, good calamari, which can be hard to find at "upscale" type places in my opinion. But then again, is it really to hard to dip something in batter and then fry it until it's done? Maybe the place isn't really "happening" throughout a Saturday afternoon either because I saw that the rest of the restaurant (through some trips to the bathroom and bar, of course) was kind of empty except for some smatterings of people near the windows. But I was told this place turns into a club at night, which I suppose can be exciting for a place like that. I was also told that the roof was an actual rooftop, meaning I would see some blue skies and breathe some fresh air. When I arrived, it was covered, and I received some sketchy information about it from my sister (meaning, she is a LIAR). It also smelled like sewage sometimes, at the oddest moments. And it was HOT like we were all burning in hell. The tarp doesn't seem so useful now, does it.... Other than that, I had a pretty good time. Got to spend time with my family and stuff my face... that's how I've always dreamed of spending random weekends.
(3)
Denisse M.
Ok, I gotta "elaborate" a little more on my hubby's review back in June.... First off, i love the place, the environment upstairs.. food is always really good and the servers are always very nice. This particular night we were seatted by 2 middle aged couples. Right away we noticed the alcohol level on one of the females was wayyyyyy over the limit because she was loud as hell - one of those females that don't have any other way of getting attention from people but being annoyingly loud(even if it means the wrong f**ing attention) - this lady was laughing like a maniac and talking about her husband getting a "Colonoscopy" done. (**endoscopic examination of the large colon and the distal part of the small bowel with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus** ) I coudl not believe her mouth! even the couple behind us who must have been in their late 70's could not believe it.. their look on their faces was unforgettable.. if they woudl have stayed 5 more minutes I would have probably had to say something and make the stupid b*** shut up! but lucky for EVERYONE in the restaurant, the lovely couple took off right after that stupid comment. If I was the husband, I would have done my OWN PERSONAL colonoscopy procedure and shove something up her behind! **lol** (true story).
(4)
Jenny L.
I had my birthday here before & reservations were easy to make. I kinda didn't like the waitress that was serving us. She was a bit rude. The food was okay, not grand. The good thing is that there's no cover, no dress code, but you do need two forms of ID. This place have some good nights and bad nights depending on what day you go. I think the drinks are pretty pricey though. It's an ok place to chill and hang out.
(3)
Evelyn N.
I'd rather NOT go here for the bar & clubbing scene. The drinks are ridiculously overpriced! Plus, the dance floor is on the second floor and the stairs are kinda steep. It's just waay too dangerous having the bar downstairs and then the dance floor upstairs (that's where the DJ is at), because I can sooo imagine some drunk ass people falling down those stairs. There are a LOT of asian people who come here, which doesn't give you very much of a racial spread. I don't know if it's just me, but I'm not really feeling the vibe at this joint.
(1)
D L.
This review is only based on the drinks. 13 for a shot of Hennessy. Usually a shot of Hennessy is about 7-10 bucks. 13 is a bit much. Not sure if you get more per shot though.
(2)
Tony S.
This place was alright. Not my first choice for a place downtown but the happy hour drinks are pretty good. I also like the roof top patio. I have not been there when there has been a DJ but I could understand how it would get crowded the downstairs is sort of small.
(3)
Precious S.
I never tried their food here...I just usually go here with friends for drinks and dancing...So far this place is cool, cause theres no ghetto fights going down...They play awesome music that you can dance too, while you enjoy your drinks...Theres a $5 dollar cover charge but I'm not sure if its different on certain days...
(3)
KT C.
I completely echo the sentiments of the other reviewers about the extreme noise level of this place. Their food is really good, as I've had almost everything on the menu, but the loud-mouths that frequent this place for birthday or bachelorette parties is ruining the atmos for me. I think if you show up for an early dinner and leave before the noisemakers show up to ruin the night for you, you'll have a good experience. Just be prepared though, the management and staff act as if they have no control over this even though people complain about it continually.
(2)
Anne T.
I went here for the first time on Friday night and was quite pleased. The rooftop patio seating is quaint and cozy and makes for a relaxed dining experience. Our server was great, friendly and gave recommendations without being pushy or too involved. We started with a grilled artichoke which was a little messy to eat but tasted great, it was served with a chipotle aioli that made the dish. My entree of seared ahi tuna was good, but not great. However, my fiancee raved about his smoked salmon pasta. The building itself is huge and I would definitely recommend the rooftop seating as the rest of the place seems kinda sprawling. I will definitely come back though, seems like it would be a great place for happy hour with friends.
(4)
Jacqui M.
We went to The Loft with some friends on Saturday night. They had made reservations and were excited for us to try this place out. I was excited too since it's been a while since we've gone out with another couple for a nice dinner (we have a 6 month old). When we arrived the lower level wasn't crowded but strangely enough it was closed for a private party. I was a little confused since you have to enter through that door to get to the restaurant upstairs, (sans...the loft). After about 5 mins of waiting we were escorted upstairs to our table and our waitress was quite pleasant. The briased ribs were recommended but I would have much have preferred the Salmon...but alas I went for the ribs. I was a bit disappointed - a little to smokey for my taste. It was crowded and after we ordered dessert our waitress disappeared for a while. It took about 1/2 to get our desserts, which I didn't have any of but none the less the wait was agonizing. Not sure if I'll try that place again...maybe
(3)
Daniel F.
Went here for a friends birthday. There was about 30 of us for dinner. There was a space for us upstairs in their covered patio area. It was a cool place to chill and hang out while we ordered drinks and food. I must say the food was pretty good. I ordered the meatloaf and a salad. The salad came out as a quarter of a lettuce head. I have never seen it served this way, but it was really tasty. The meatloaf had a fair price, but the salad was $8. it was good, but not worth $8 for what you get....lettuce, blue cheese crumbles, dressing, bacon bits, and a cherry tomatoe cut in half. What I considered ridiculous was the price of their drinks. We love drinking vodka tonics and it costs $10 for ketel one/tonic and $10.50 for grey goose/tonic. The glassware that they used were pretty small for what you pay for. And it did not taste any stronger with the short glass. As a former bartender, I would have to say that there is probably less then 2 oz of vodka in that little glass. If you do decide to go here, go for the food. Noone at our party complained about it. However, don't spend money on drinks if you don't have to. You can walk across the street to San Jose bar and grill and drink there after dinner.
(3)
Kat D.
Came here for a bday dinner and they had set menu options which I think are great for large parties...we all had the same amount to pay and knew before hand how much per person. Made collecting money easy! There were three entrees to choose from and three of us at the end of the table. We had 1 of each entree and shared it with each other. Food was great - salmon, chicken, and meatloaf.
(5)
Fiona T.
Not a Fan of Loft. Space is limited and it gets too crowded on the dance floor because its so small. Not only this, water is drippin from the ceiling near the dance floor. Left my credit card there once, called the next day to retrieve it only to hear them say " We are kind of busy today, try calling later." I called at least 5 times, finally the answer was "Sorry, we dont see it." Drinks are over price and service is kind of slow.
(2)
Jackie D.
meeehhhhhhhh.....this place is always an experience with me. one time my friend was off the wall drunk and knocking tables over. then another time i tried to help my friend hit on a girl and oh my...did i want to run away. long story short...it was uncomfortable. AHH!!! the martinis here aren't bad and that's all i really remember of the drinks here. it's just my experience here was.....UGH.
(2)
Jonathan C.
This place was the first stop for our night to treat the bachelor before he's shacked up with the old ball and chain. The food here is superb. The patrons were decent looking. Actually funny story to tell here. Imagine, 15 guys. One of them, clean cut hair cut, dressed more "San Franciscan" with his Diesel jeans, nice shirt under his jacket. Two girls at the bar noticed him and one of them sent their scout. Their best pick up line was to ask if anyone at the table, particular him if we could break a 20 with 2 tens. That caught us by surprised because why the heck they needed it for. They were only interested in him and the geeks that we are didn't pick up that they were just trying to create small talk. While our bachelor party was going, we caught sight of a bachelorette party going on in a table across the room. Every man for himself :)
(4)
dre G.
i like the loft because you go there a few time the people get to know you well that is what has happened with me and my friends. There is always a dress code not bad just get used to it. the food during the day is good. ok yes the dance floor is small but so what, usually the ration is pretty good, as far as much that i have been there there has never been a fight like many of the other night clubs ...
(5)
Mimi D.
This is the sister restaurant to Caper's loft and although the food was not as good, the service was excellent. We ate upstairs in the area that turns into the dance floor adjoining the bar. The bar scene was pretty dead. We ordered the scampi prawns which were a little fishy, tuna sashimi which was ok but seared too much, chicken parmesan - huge but bland, pork tenderloin - undercokked, and BBQ chicken sliders - typical bar food. I loved our server, but that is all I loved here. The food was mediocre, but I guess that's typical for bar food. Do you like Asians chicks? There are a ton of them here.
(2)
Lex S.
Their night life is terrible! I've gone here with my friends multiple times and all times I never stayed for no more then 10 minutes! Yeah there's no cover, BUT they ask you millions of questions making sure your 21! Definitely kills your buzz. I look exactly how I look in my ID, had to recite my address, birthday,zodiac sign. Then after all the interrogation I had to show him my credit cards and anything else my name was on! And it wasn't just me! My friends and girlfriend were heavily questioned. And on top of that, one of my friends had to sign a waiver, because they still didn't believe she was 21 AFTER all the interrogation! And she's 23! We finally got in, and we were complaining by the door of how bullshit their bouncers were, and one of them just threw my friend out because he was venting to us of how much the trouble the bouncer was giving him! These guys are old, and just want to ruin the fun for the young. Other then the bouncers, the dance floor up stairs is super crowded. When you dance, it seems as if you're dancing with 4 other people around you. Music is cool, but no room to dance. If you want to listen to music in a hot room a hot room, then this might be the place for you. Bathroom lines can be long, as well as the bar upstairs. Downstairs bar isn't as crowded but you are next to the bouncers, so watch what you say or how you act, they give no warnings. Bouncers really kill the buzz for me and my friends all the time. I really wanted to like this place but it just isn't happening.
(1)
Victoria Y.
So I've concluded that this place is better when you're with a lot of friends. My friend knows the dj here which is why we come. The bar is upstairs and drinks don't take that long to get. One downside is its a bit pricey but I love the music!!
(3)
Marc L.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Seated upstairs by a window. Service with a little slow but I think our waitress might of been brand new so that's ok. It's a small candle lit intimate place to have dinner and the food and portions per price is pretty good.
(3)
Nancy D.
Awesome place. Majority are Asian. ( which I don't mind) Pros: No cover fee. No long lines for entrance, bathrooms, or even at the bar. Great music. Good DJ. No strict dress code. Cons: Very crowd,so it gets awfully hot, people starts to sweat (gross) , required 2 forms of I.D. , drinks and food are VERY EXPENSIVE ( to cover up for the "free" cover fee) . Small dance floor. Bad guys to girls ratio (Man Jose). I would totally go here if I wanted to avoid the "clubbing" atmosphere. And for the food.. I would recommend grilled steaks or the filet mignon as an entree. steak bites as an appetizer . creme brulee and cheesecake as for dessert. Service is ehh, alright.
(4)
rich s.
Although this place is on San Jose's "ghetto side" of the nightlife scene, it was a great experience. The bartenders were friendly, and there was a lot of room upstairs and downstairs to either dance, mingle, or just sit and chill with some drinks. The drinks were good as well, and there wasn't an overabundance of testosterone fueled men, as most places in downtown San Jose tend to be. There was actually more women here when I went! The only negative thing I have to say about this place was the overpricing of the drinks. I ended up just having a couple since they are ridiculously overpriced.
(3)
The O.
Note that I am somewhere between three and four stars on this place. I'd give a 3.75 if I could. Getting to what you folks care about. I've been here twice. The first time with way too much pregame and once with significantly less. The first time was super crackin', but I'm not sure if it was because Loft was crackin or because I would have had a crackin time anywhere at that point. There's a downstairs and upstairs. Both have a bar and music, but downstairs is the more chill dancefloorless area. From what I remember the dj was playing a healthy variety of popular hip hop tracks and the dance floor was crackin because everyone was just up dancing the hell outta the night. My friend ordered a round of drinks too that I'm pretty sure was good. Then the second significantly more sober time I went it was still cool. Djs were still playin crackin hip hop mixes, but being more sober allowed me to notice how overly crowded the dance floor was. It's super annoying getting bumped into constantly. This was probably the biggest factor for me giving this place 3 stars instead of 4. So to sum it all up, this place is definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area, don't let my 3 star rating fool you. It's free and seems to always be crackin. The only real downside I can think of is that the dance floor can actually be a bit TOO crackin with the amount of people on it. Just buy a couple drinks until you stop noticing/caring.
(3)
Alina M.
This place isn't even a loft! hahahah Anyway, it's a nice looking small club and I like the fact that the bar is nice and long BUT when it gets hot from all the body heat, condensation drips from the freaking ceiling pipes. It's so gross! (And probably unsanitary) Anyway, I've been here a couple of times in the past few years and only because sometimes my friends want to. I would never suggest it, but I don't ban it like I ban BOSS in SF. (See review)
(3)
Lora R.
I've only been on afternoons between 2pm and 6pm. Each time the place has been quiet, calm and relaxing though the wait staff agreed it gets loud in the evenings. Every time the service has been friendly fast and convenient. Staff was friendly, though several of the girls were giggling and making a bit of a racket more than once which is annoying when eating! Their drink selection is great (I last had the mango mojito and it was super yummy) and their beer selection is decent. Atmosphere was casual though the TVs all have the same boring channel on mute. I've tried several of their salads and each had large portions, lots of taste and good garnishes. Their crab cakes are delicious as was the salmon and others. Food was ready super fast and happily served.
(3)
Shannon F.
The first time I went here was for my 30th B-day, last year. We just went back last Saturday and had a late lunch, before heading to the Improv. Food was good, again. Those damn Steak Bites, I'm telling you...good stuff, could use a little more dipping sauce though. I've also had their Grilled marinated Flank Steak and the Blackened pork chops. Both pretty good. The pork chops weren't as "blackened" as I imagined, but nonetheless good. the mashed potatoes were a little bland but the flavor from the meats and accompanying salsa made up for it. The most appealing feature about this place has gotta be the outdoor/upstairs patio area.
(4)
Peggy T.
I can't say much about the food, but Friday Night Adventure crew and I wandered over here on a Saturday night (blasphemy, I know. I should start referring to them as Weekend Adventure crew instead.). We got there a bit late, past 11pm, and there was a bit of a line outside. I didn't really understand why there was a line since it wasn't grossly crowded inside. Maybe they wanted to up the ante on how poppin' this place is by creating their own line, as if to brag "Yeaa, we so cool. You wanna be here... Get in line." It took us less than 5 minutes to get our 8 person group in. Plus there was no cover! Woohoo! It's a nice, 2 story place with a smaller room and bar downstairs and a dance floor ish thing upstairs. I was getting all impressed by this place until I tried ordering drinks at the downstairs bar. Sure, my boobs weren't hanging out of my shirt and I may not be the most gorgeous person in the place, but I thought it was quite ridiculous how long it took before I ordered my drinks. There were probably around 5 bartenders and no more than 3-4 other people trying to buy drinks at the bar, but it still took a freakin' long time before i got my order in. I've gotten drinks at a crowded Vegas bar faster than here. I think the bartenders were too caught up in their light saber action to notice they had customers. (Seriously, they had light-up light sabers they were stabbing at each other.) The drinks were a little more expensive than the rest of the places I've been to in Norcal so far. They were definitely Socal-priced drinks. About $10 a pop. The upstairs was more crowded, but not as bad at other places *ahembluechalkahem* so I did not touch boob or ass by just standing there. Whew. I would go back, assuming the bartenders were just momentarily distracted by glowing light sabers.
(4)
Janette W.
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, if I could, I'd give it a 3.5. I love the atmosphere, sitting outside is great, or the first floor gives you a good view. The second floor seating area is a little more private, but still fun. The appetizers are great, specifically the smoked salmon, roasted artichoke, and the calamari. As far as entrees go, the flank steak is my favorite, but I've also been pleased with the dinner salads and the Chicken Marsala. The waiters seem a little bit off, but still nice and friendly. They have a good drink menu, with some inventive martinis. My only complaint is the second to last time I went there, we sat outside and not only did a crazy bum woman start yelling at me, the waiter spilled a full glass of ice water on my boyfriend and didn't even apologize, OR bring him another glass of water so we had to share mine!
(3)
Tung T.
Basically the only time I had fun here was when i had 20 of my friends with me and was completely wasted. But then again who wouldn't have fun wasted with 20 of your closest friends around. The rest of the times sucked. I don't mind showing my ID and credit card although me thinks weird. They have drink specials usually up to 11:30pm but its always their special drinks. What if i just want a rum and coke. Nope, no well drinks special. Although their Hurricane will do the trick if you want to get a buzz going. But Loft is the epitome of Man Jose. I usually don't notice nor mind the ratio when i go out to clubs in San Jose. But at Loft, I do. You know it's bad when the DJ tells you to bring more girls with you on your way out. LOL. Plus, the guys here are way aggressive. I came with a couple of girls last time and the whole time my friends were swamped with cats trying to grind up on them or ask for their number. Often the same cats over and over again. To the point where my friends had to ask me for help. This doesn't really reflect the place but still a good story to tell. The girls be lacking in this spot too...so... Review is only based on the nightclub portion of Loft. Never had their food so I can't comment on that. Go here if it's your last resort. Spoiler! Never have I seen a group of 10 guys dancing in a circle in the middle of a dance floor before. I guess there's always a first for everything. Unfortunately, my first time was at Loft.
(2)
T. C.
This review is only for the bar and lounge. Great music! Top notch! BUT, the crowd is ghetto.
(3)
Cindy C.
Came here for the drinking and the dancing, not for the food. I liked that this place doesn't charge a cover (1st reason why the crew chose to go here) and has GREAT music (2nd reason why the crew chose to go here). It got really packed, and the little dance floor became a little too crowded and way too hot for my liking towards the later parts of the evening, but over all, it was lots of fun and hanging out with the SBC was a hoot and a half. I had the pleasure of tasting Nadia's long island and it was made really well (and strong). Will go again if I'm in the SJ area and looking for a place to dance!
(4)
Jessica C.
Probably the only place that is never crackin'. No cover, and still no one goes. There are times when there are crowds trying to get in, most likely Saturday nights after 11:30pm, but since it is no cover, try getting into other clubs before hitting this one. Just don't show up before 11 or you'll be the only lady on the dance floor. Drinks are mad expensive, 10 to 12 a drink, but the service is alright. Since there arent a lot of people, the bartenders are friendlier and make the drinks well. This is just a place to shake and groove like no ones watching. Not a place to pick up chicks or dicks. Go with a group though, there still are creepers.
(3)
Jennifer D.
This place gets crowded, the floors get sticky, the bathroom lines are long, it's crowded at the bar, and the ceilings drip sweat on us. However, free cover and a dance floor. Sometimes, that's all you really need!
(3)
Anh Thu P.
Here is the low down, Loft does not charge cover, has two stories, but is really small and has pricey drinks. I have gotten kicked out of Loft many times for either being underage or being too drunk. So it is not my ideal place to go in San Jose. Nonetheless, it is one of the few places that does not charge so we often go here after the bars. The place always gets packed on thursdays & fridays and the price for drinks keep skyrocketing! However, try to come for happy hour which is like.. 10 or so and you get a good deal on drinks. I think $8 grey goose versus the usually $13/14. Anyways, the music is top 100 and the upstairs dance floor is always really packed and gross. On the better seasons, they open up the bistro upstairs so it isn't as bad, but in the winter time be prepared to smell some B.O! Come here if it is your last resort because you are better off swiggin a bottle out of the backseat of yo car!
(2)
Terry W.
This place is decent. Usually never a line and never had trouble with bouncers. You get a crowd from mid to upper 20s and its pretty diverse. A few complaints are the small restrooms they have and the tiny dancefloor that when crowded you get your feet stepped on left and right. They have a few sofas one upstairs and downstairs when you get tired, also chairs/tables for those who want to chill. Music is a mix up or top songs and mashups. Overall this place is a nice place to go when other places such as Pearl and Temple are dead.
(3)
David G.
So, I had some free time before my internship so I decided to take a shot. I had only heard of this place because they were selling $100 worth of gift certificates for $50. Now I know why. When I showed up, the place was completely empty for lunch. When I walked in, instead of seating me downstairs, which would have been good for everyone (I get a seat quickly, they get to look like they have business), they walk me up the stairs and sit me in the corner. I was in a bit of a rush, so I ordered a French Dip. I thought, hey that's simple. As a personal note, I am easily pleased when it comes to this dish, not picky. It shows up quickly which is good, but expected considering the lack of business. The good: No onions on the french dip. Horseradish comes on the side. That's it, sadly. The bad: Meat was either low quality or over-cooked. It was so tough and sinewy that it got caught in my teeth. Not pleasant. It also was not seasoned much, if it all. The cheese was almost nonexistent. The bread was just plain. The service was ok, but not great. When I got my food to go (what can I say, I hate wasting food), she bagged everything up but forgot until I was leaving to give me some of the au jus to go as well. Sorry, but that's the most important part of a french dip, otherwise its just a meat sandwich. The worst part was the price. 14 bucks for a french dip? It better be good. Oh wait, it's not.
(2)
Lorrie M.
I think this place looks nice and has a nice feel and ambiance, but overall it is either extremely crowded on Fri/Sat to the point where you can't even move around without running someone's drink on you somewhere, or really dead/empty. Overall I wouldn't mind coming back as it was one of the better places in downtown San Jose that I could see myself enjoy hanging out at. I've been here once also for food, and I really wouldn't go back because it's just not the type of place for the type of food and the amount you pay for it. I wasn't extremely disappointed but I would not choose to eat here again since there are so many other great restaurants in downtown San Jose. If you must come, do it on a Friday night!
(3)
Rich Y.
5 stars for the service. Our waitress was training a new hire and the trainee was on par with veteran wait staff. The food also deserves 5 stars but gets 4 for overall execution. The artichoke appetizer, my chicken penne, and my girlfriend's salmon pesto were drenched in some variant of oil or butter. A runny chicken penne is not a happy chicken penne. There is a landing in the middle of the stairs. When it's dark and your sixth martini kicks in, don't miss it.
(4)
Lucy D.
* Review is for the night life* The Loft is a +21 club that is small but great place to go casually without having to pay or wait in such a long line. The music, crowd and drinks are pretty good. Also, this place is a great backup if the other clubs within the area ain't crackin. Pros No coverage charge: All you need is your ID and maybe a secondary ID if they don't believe you. No wait: There is practically no line most weeknights and maybe a small line during the weekends but don't expect the long line of some other clubs. Music: Depending on the DJ the music is pretty good. They play a large variety of music but it can turn you off if your not into some of the genres. Balcony: They have a small outside balcony upstairs if you want to kick it or have a stoge. Cons Bathroom: The line for the bathroom is ridiculously long because there is only one bathroom for downstairs, and about 2 upstairs. Crowded: This place can get packed at night which is a good or bad thing depending on how you life it. Expect to be literally shoulder to shoulder with someone at the peak hours on the dance floor. Overall this place is a great place to go with friends for a spontaneous night out in downtown San Jose without having to wait or pay a service charge. It can get pretty packed but that is great for the dance floor.
(4)
Patrick R.
I really like this place more than any other nightlife downtown other than flames. The dance floor is crowded some nights, but I really enjoy the music that they play. It can get pretty packed Friday and Saturday nights so get there early those nights. Thursday nights are usually dead as a doornail because of tres and SJBG but they are becoming too ghetto and roudy. I really like Loft and will continue to come back.
(4)
Ryan L.
Hanging out in downtown San Jose, my cousins decided to take us here. Apparently this place needs heavy security because they asked me a bunch of questions as they checked my ID (which looks exactly like me). I wonder what happens to people who make a crazy decision and change their appearance, like cut your hair! I bet a bunch of sirens go off and extra security detail is called. Really, is this place that exclusive? The inside is nice and cozy. I enjoyed the patio we sat in that was separated from the dance floor, it was a nice find. Apparently, Friday night is Asian night, as we were everywhere in the building. I thought i was at an asianavenue.com party like back in the day. But we're fun, and everyone was in a jovial mood. Drinks were pricey, as my beam and diets were $12. That's almost on par with vegas prices and pricier than most places here in chicago. Remember, i was in San Jose, that's expensive. I have a complaint with the men's bathroom. It consists of one stall...so it's a one person bathroom. There was a long line for the guys and absolutely no line for the ladies' room. I've experienced the opposite before, with long lines for the ladies, but never the other way around. That's just inefficient planning. Maybe a couple extra stalls or urinals to make the line go faster? Cool, kthxbye.
(2)
Gloria T.
I am only reviewing the bar part of this bar and bistro. Loft is the place I usually go after I've already been bar hopping and I don't feel like paying to go somewhere to dance. They never have a cover charge and their dress code is pretty relaxed. Why don't I come here first you ask? Being the savvy saver that I am, I don't want to pay $7 for a beer when I can pay $4 just around the corner. There are two levels and a bar on each. I recommend getting a drink at the bottom floor if you want one because the top floor gets extremely packed. It gets so packed that it can be hard to dance and gets pretty hot. Fortunately, the security here is pretty nice. I've never been yelled at or hassled by them. One time I got separated from my friends and my phone had died. One of the guys actually let me use his cell phone to call a friend. How's that for good customer service? A nice plus is the "rooftop" patio. It's a covered patio where you aren't allowed to smoke. They have a separate DJ in there and it's nice to get some air after bumping around the crowded dance floor. I've noticed that the crowd here is mixed, but only when it comes to the males. Most females are Asian. It's not a plus or a minus for me, it's just the truth.
(3)
Veronica S.
Like it, it's nice. Food is ok. Overall always have a good time at this place.
(4)
Aivy C.
No cover, always a plus! The DJ and upstairs bartenders are great on a Friday night, but the lack of room on the dance floor leaves much to be desired. I wish there was a separate room for people without rhythm. The bartenders get extra props as well. After a mere two shots, I was sufficiently liquored up enough to dance to Miley Cyrus' "Party In The USA" without shame. Okay.... I sang along too.
(3)
Shanna K.
Um. What kind of bar doesn't carry grapefruit juice? Seriously. Came here on Wednesday after a show at The Improv, ordered a Greyhound and was told they don't carry grapefruit juice. The bartender was a nice guy and I'm flexible so I ordered something else but... for real? I appreciated that the kitchen was open til 10:30pm, though, so our table tried the grilled artichoke, grilled vegetable sandwich, mini bbq chicken sliders, poached salmon salad and the chicken quesadilla. Everything was good... not mind-blowing, but good. If I'm back in the area I could see ending up here but I won't make it a destination. I'm not looking for a club scene and there are better drinks and food to be had elsewhere.
(2)
Darryl R.
Great place to grab some beers and appetizers before heading to the club. No cover charge, no need for dress shoes, and it's usually always packed. The music is on point and I occasionally run into friends from my college days at SJSU. My only tip for you folks dancing on the dance floor.. please finish your drinks at the bar! Please don't take it to the dance floor! Very Dangerous! I remember awhile back I was gettin down on the dance floor with a lil hottie and her friend through her hands up in the air to trey songz and she accidentally spilled my drink into her friends face! I still laugh about it till this day. Although she did wash down my drink and her eye brows haha I definitely felt bad so I decided to buy her a shot after she cleaned up her face.. ALL BAD! hahaha I hope that Japanese girl isn't reading this right now! =)
(4)
B D.
This review is for their lunchtime service. Not the night time fun. Decent food. But darn near impossible to get anyone's attention. There were only 2 other tables dining and I had to chase after the waitress then flag down the waiter for ketchup. Still waiting... still waiting for the ketchup...never got the ketchup nor the bread. I have to give credit where it's due, their complimentary bread is very good especially with the accompanying house made balsamic dipping sauce/dressing. The other tables had their bread delivered along with their drinks. We, on the other hand, were halfway through our entrees and still no bread. Maybe third times a charm? I got out of my seat again and hurried after the waiter to ask for bread and ketchup, he then shouted across the way to a waitress to get them for us. 5 minutes later she brought bread and ketchup to the table next to us who were then so pleasantly surprised that they've been gifted a second basket of bread. I am a dejected carboholic. The food that we did get to eat was average. Maybe it would've been better with ketchup. Your food needs to be pretty unicorn magical amazing to make amends for such poor service. I saw no unicorns. --------------------------------------------------Â------------------------------------ Hi Betty, Thank you for taking the time to visit our restaurant and writing a review. We apologize for your recent lunch experience. After reading your valuable review we are going to evaluate our service approach here during lunch. What would help us get better is knowing what day you had lunch here. If you can provide us with this information that would be awesome. If not then no worries. Thank you again for your review. -Armando V. Duran Social Media Manager
(1)
Patricia L.
Came here on a Friday night. They convert the upstairs area to a club. I was a little unsure when we first got there since the doormen were all probably old enough to be my dad and it was pretty empty. (This was at like 10pm though) We went upstairs and they had a space cleared to dance and a bar area right next to it. We ordered a few drinks and they were pretty standard. I believe I paid $6 so not bad pricing. Eventually we moved to the dance floor and it slowly started filling up. By midnight it was really packed and hot but luckily there was a big fan in the corner. (We moved to be right in front of it) The music was alright but the transitions were pretty bad. Other than that I had fun and we ended up leaving a little early because of the heat and we also wanted la Vic's. Nothing special but I also don't have anything bad to say about it. If you go with good people you're going to have a good time.
(4)
Anna V.
*This review is for DINNER* This place was surprisingly pleasing! I came here with low expectations because I'd been here for late nights when they turn into a bar. I had assumed that this place was only good for what no-cover night life they could offer, but was surprised when the hostess took us upstairs to see a decent number of groups dining here. I had the lamb shanks and my sister had the filet mignon. Their plates are freaking huge... we felt like we were gonna pop after dinner. Their olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette dip was good and garlicky. The lamb shanks seemed to be in some sort of cabernet sauce that was really sweet - which was good at first, but then the sweetness got a little overwhelming as I ate more of it. Their mashed potatoes are really creamy. If you want a good dessert, their cheesecake is heavenly. They bake it from scratch in the morning! It looks like it has almost a fluffy texture. So good! I'm not usually a cheesecake fan, but this one really did it for me. Service here for dinner is great. After our server realized that the kitchen made a mistake in telling us that our dinners were coming in a minute when, in fact, it took a lot longer, they offered to comp our dessert. Who would have thought we'd have such a nice dinner at a joint like this? Yay!
(4)
Holly Y.
I went here during lunch time for their food. Although I didn't have much and can't really judge it, what I had was alright. However, their service was definitely a ++. The person who served us is really friendly. She even made small talks with our table so it was really nice. I don't think I would come back for the food though...maybe, if someone took me.
(3)
David K.
So I'm updating this because my friend had a surprise bday thing here, anyways went to a different door person this time. Wow they didnt ask for a second ID, did some policy change? anyways the door person was a lot more friendly, just asked how old I was and I was let in. So that deserves another star. But $12 for a shot of hen. holy crap that is robbery! did i magically teleport to Las Vegas? We got to chill in the patio area for a bit with some bottle service that wasn't bad. But after that we left. haha
(2)
Terri L.
I don't care for this place all too much. Basically, I thought this was the coolest place ever when I first turned 21, but now that I've been around the block and checked out other places, this place is pretty much garbage. There's no cover, which is great, but they get you in hiked drink prices. First, it takes 20 minutes for a bartender to even take your drink order, then they're too busy talking to their "regular patrons" to even give you the time of day. Shots are $13, so unless you're REALLY drunk, don't offer to buy everyone a round, you'll regret it in the morning. Onto the dance floor! Umm...eww. I'm only 5'2", that means I only come up to the average person's armpit. The climate there is not very pleasing. There's literally NO WHERE to dance and you can't breathe. I've been dancing in a lot of places and I've never experienced anything as guh-ross and as claustrophobic as Loft.
(2)
Ula C.
I'm not quite sure what happened to the night life scene in downtown San Jose. It could be that I just got older or that every club or lounge is now officially "sucky." Loft used to be our last resort when I was still in college, about 2 years ago. My friends and I usually rely on Sabor or what used to be called Pearl but is now Studio 8 for quality music and crowd but now both places are not even worth going to. A couple of things I DO like about Loft: -No Cover Charge-ever! -Happy Hour (ranging from $5-$7) -Good music (especially on Fridays...Saturdays are kinde meh) -Mixed Crowd (it's not just Asian people here folks...) -Outdoor Patio (for those of you that need some fresh air...I know I usually do once the dance floor gets too packed) -They have food during the day, although I haven't tried their dishes yet With that said, I almost always have a good time here at Loft. No pretentious girls here with their barely there dresses or guys who think they're all that because they wear Ed Hardy shirts (eewww) and have big ass biceps (but small ass legs lol). Loft is casual but not dowdy so ladies feel free to dress up and look good but please, save your slut wear for Vegas or Frisco...that's not necessary here....unless of course you like being grabbed or hated on. Come here if you want to have a good time and not spend the whole night standing around and looking at other people; there's Fahrenheit for that!.
(3)
Milinh V.
Okay okay, although I swore off this place..a good friend of mines was having his birthday party here. So, I went for him. I agree with Jenny T. when she asks, "Is there a way to give half a star?" We had a group of 25-28 people. They wouldnt let you sit unless half of the party came. Okay, no problem, we'll wait. When it was time to seat us, the waitress seemed stressed/irritated with us. She was slow to take our orders, disappeared often (not like the place was busy, it were only us in the whole damn resturant). The quality of food was not that great. I ordered philly cheesesteak --it should be named philly BARELY-any-cheese-dry-steak. My hubby's order --meat was super dry too. I also ordered the mango mojito --diluated like juice! I'm usually a cheap drunk, but this barely made me feel anything! Its official, i'm not a fan, nor do I wish to come back. The FOOD AND SERVICE SUCKS!
(1)
Stephen L.
The food is alright here. I like the happy hour mixed drinks for $6. Service is nice and friendly. The few times I've been here Friday and Saturday late nights, it's always been packed. Great music. The crowd is really mixed.
(3)
Jessica C.
This place has good eats, decent beats, and ok drinks. But I must like this place because in a 7 day span I went here twice. Once for one of Henry L's many farewell parties that we had. We started with drinks at the downstairs table and then went up for dancing and fun. The second event was the Yelp Elite party where there were snacks a plenty; the food was amazing. The vodka provided was so good. The space is really nice, open and swanky. Calamari yum, grilled artichokes yum, pasta yum. I'd be back and also for the music which was really great when we went.
(4)
Christine L.
If you're looking to go bar hopping in downtown San Jose... this bar needs to go on your list. There is a large amount of MAN-JOSE in this bar. That's right, Let me emphasize the MAN in Jose. There is an overwhelming pack of guys that come here. The ratio is literally 2 girls to 10 guys. On one occasion, I found myself and my group of 2 other girls surrounding by squirming creeper guys, some of which just stood there and stared at us. Other than the uneven ratio issue, I usually have a good time at this place. There is no cover charge any time, any day of the week, so the bar benefits by expensive drinks. Also, there is no dress code but remember to bring two forms of ID.
(3)
Sheri S.
Sigh. I really wish I could give this place a great review since a friend and I picked it to host our 25-year high school reunion, but I cannot. All I can say, in way of my defense, is that I had never been there and had never tried the food since I live across the state. Where to start? First of all, when we arrived at 5pm to set up for a 6pm event, the previous event was still going on (it was suppose to end at 5pm and the manager let them go overtime) and our event wasn't even set up until 6:30pm. As people arrived, they were sent to the bar to hang out and wait. Even though it had been explained in advance how we wanted it set up, the manager didn't seem to know what to do and kept asking us how we wanted it set up; the staff members who were trying to set up spent a lot of time standing around starting at someone for some direction. They didn't seem prepared for us at all, as if they were surprised that we showed up even though we had a contract. They didn't have enough of the same types of tables, chairs and linens to set-up for our size group so there was inconsistency in the look. We had asked for a mix of 4, 6 and 8-tops but we ended up with two long rows of tables end-to-end with the chairs squished together in super tight. They didn't even "finish" the tables with salt/pepper, candles, place settings or anything to make it look decent. It looked like a picnic table setup, really lame. There really wasn't enough space to set up for the number of guests that we had and because our final headcount was "too low" (in the manager's opinion, even though the space barely accommodated our "low" numbers in that cramped fashion) he didn't allow us to have the entire upstairs area for our event - which meant that not only did we not fit in the space but we had their regular customers mingling around and with us. Even though we tried to block it off, we still had random people walking through our area to get to the patio seating. It only got worse after dinner. Our event was schedule for 6pm-10pm and at 10pm their DJ was schedule to start playing and the space would be opened up to the public. Well, by 9:30pm there were people coming upstairs ready to party and dance and they just started blending in with our group...basically taking over our space. So, we got about 3 of the 4 hours that we scheduled in a too-tight space, half of the time being over-run by strangers. I'm only thankful that our bar tab was per person and not on consumption because I'm fairly certain that a bunch of other people got free beer and wine courtesy of our group that night. The food, unfortunately, was fairly awful. Although it seemed fairly priced when we booked it, $25 per person for bland, flavorless, lukewarm bulk buffet food was not worth it at all. Maybe the food in the main dining room is really good there, I wouldn't know, but they do not know how to serve 60 people at a time. Nothing about the meal was tasty. As one of the people who selected this place, I felt terrible about it and was quite embarrassed. And to top things off, during all the chaos of set-up, somehow the $200 worth of custom desserts (mini-cupcakes and cake pops - we specifically chose bite size desserts for the end of a big meal and lots of drinking) that we brought in "walked away" with someone else...maybe another guest, possibly the group that was departing...we never found out. The manager felt bad and took $100 off our tab and gave us free desserts that consisted of mini-chocolate bundt cakes cut in half. They looked completely unappealing and I don't think one single person had a bite. Luckily for me, our group is a bunch of fun-loving, easy-going 40-somethings who proceeded to drink heavily and have such a good time catching up on the "good old days" that most of the "behind the scenes event planner" stuff went mostly unnoticed and everyone was polite enough to not mention the food. When we were finally completely over-run by 20-something hoochie-mamas and guidos that are lured in by the free cover charge (yeah, yeah, that used to be me...I'm old, I get it), we headed out to another bar where we could hear each other talk and get a drink without being slammed into by all those "rude youngsters". Live and learn.
(2)
Nam N.
We used to come here a lot for drinks after work and if we needed to do a little boogey-ing down on a Friday night. But unfortunately, the crowd got a lot younger....and I didn't. :) I've eaten here a few times and the food is ok--a bit overpriced for what you get. Drinks are fine and they do have a dancefloor. Other perks is that there isn't a cover charge--bonus. But what stands out about the Loft for me is their patio. I absolutely love grabbing a drink here on a warm and sunny afternoon. Hmm...is it Happy Hour yet????
(2)
Jessica K.
I like this place :) NO cover charge but the drinks are a bit expensive. $13 for an Adios, $11 for a Vodka & Redbull. They had a Blue Hawaiian that was only $4...vodka, pineapple and that blue stuff that goes in an Adios. :-P Music was good. Two DJs. One inside and one outside. We got two vodka & redbulls tho, put them down on our table right next to us so we could dance, and the waitress thought they were waters, so she gathered our drinks up with the other waters at the table. We told her about it and at first she kinda argued with me about it, but eventually got us new drinks, no charge(duh). We had only taken a SIP out of each one! It was a lot of fun, but the waitresses shouldn't be taking full drinks...no matter what they are. Especially if they're gonna charge so much for them.
(3)
Charles D.
This place is pretty cool to hang out in. Multiple rooms with good ambiance. Can get quite packed so make sure to come early!
(4)
Janel Y.
A co-worker asked me if I wanted to do dinner with her to try out the SJ pre-fixe menu and I've never really ventured into downtown SJ (let alone, SJ itself) but love trying new places so decided to take her up on her offer, even though I'd be coming straight from a 12hr work shift. Good thing there wasn't any traffic. Made it in 30 min and found street parking on the next street over. We had made reservations and even though we arrived on time and our whole party of 3 were there, we still had to wait about 10-15 min to be seated. The place was packed: there were private parties upstairs and all the tables were filled downstairs. We headed to the bar and ordered martinis: chocolate truffle and a sour apple. I didn't think the bartender was hospitable or friendly at all. Clearly he was busy and even though he made eye contact with us, he didn't even say "I'll be right with you" or anything like that. Then to make it worse, to make my friend's chocolate truffle martini, he had to look at the menu again to see what's in it? After finally sitting down, we got some bread with balsamic vinegar and were ready to order off the $20 pre-fixe menu: -soup of the day (clam chowder): creamy, thick and rich. AND there was bacon in it! -chicken marsala: tender and moist, creamy white marsala sauce -salmon with pesto: great with pesto on top -meatloaf: full body flavor...my vote for the best off the menu then for dessert they ran out of the cheesecake so we all had the creme brulee which was alright. The sugar top was too thick and the custard, bleh. For the first course they also had a caesar salad (which nobody ordered) and a pear and bleu cheese salad which I didn't try. The service was okay...didn't get our waters right away, but our server did check in with us. The food was decent and my sour apple martini was lip puckering good. I don't know if it was the alcohol, the laughs I had with my friend or my tasty meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but the night was fun and I'd give this place another shot. Maybe not when it's so busy...
(3)
Cari F.
Terrible, terrible service. The food is nothing spectacular (my pasta was bland), and seriously just a complete lack of thought. This was for a birthday celebration and they were slow, promised a dessert that never came, and sat us outside in the covered loft which was FREEZING. Do not recommend - there are far better options.
(1)
Jeff A.
Not my favorite place for the daytime food. Not my favorite place for the nightlife either, but they don't have a cover charge to get in. The drinks here are overpriced, it takes 2 IDs to get in, and the dress code is pretty strict for what you get out of it. If you can, I suggest you go somewhere else.
(2)
Lynn T.
My four star rating is based on the dine-in experience here, not the nightlife at Loft. Surprisingly, the food here is pretty good! I had ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna salad as my entree and it was very satisfying and filling! The ahi tuna was fresh, the condiments (tomatoes, palms, mango slices, etc) in the salad, along with the sweet balsamic vinaigrette well complimented the salad's overall taste, and the entree's presentation was great! By far one of the best ahi tuna entrees I've had! So even though it was weird dining on the dance floor of Loft, my friends and I were impressed and enjoyed our dining experience here.
(4)
Vinh N.
I felt compelled to write a review after being dragged here one too many times. I thought the first time was bad, but the second time justified my feelings about this place. Perhaps I'm a spoiled brat who has partied too much in Hollywood during her time at UCLA or perhaps I was just not drunk enough, but this place is such a bust! I knew something was up when I heard there was NO COVER. Suspicious, much? The next thing that threw me off was their request for additional ID. Even after I provided it, they still stared at me as if I was a liar. Seriously, Morpheus-wannabe, I'm Asian. I'm gonna look like I'm 13 until I'm at least 40, so just deal with it. After getting past the mean-mugging bouncers who were on a power-trip, I made it upstairs with my friends. I was hit in the face with hot and humid air that intertwined with the smell of B.O. *Sigh* it was going to be a long night. Time to bring on the shots. Shots ranged from 10-13 dollars which seems rather spendy for a pretty low-budget looking place, but whatever gets you through the night, right? After downing some drinks, we made our way to the cramped dance floor. If you're a girl who is looking to get some, this is probably your heaven as it was a complete sausage-fest. No, they're not going to be your Prince Charming. No, they don't really have much game. Yes, they will try to rub their penis on you. Yes, that is your alcohol coming back up into your mouth. Bathrooms were small with only two stalls, but drunk girls grouped together somehow makes for some strange camaraderie, so your time cramped in the girl's bathroom will probably be a pleasant one. They get one star for providing me with some priceless stories that you usually recall after having a bad night. I'll share one with you guys here: -- A fellow came up and tried to make some small talk with me. I commented that he was tall, to which he thought it was his cue to pick me up off the dance floor and raise me into the air. He was a stranger, I was buzzed, it was dark, and it was really high off the ground, which all lead to a good freak-out on my behalf. When guys are supposed to pick up chicks, it's not LITERAL, fool!
(1)
Dr Duy L.
We had a company dinner here during the 2011 Holidays. They had the long table set-up for us before we arrived. The waiting staff is extremely patient and cool. The menu has variety of food that everyone can enjoy. The wine list is full of well-known and exclusive wines. And the bar is a couple of steps away. They convert to bar/night club after 10PM and we stayed for some funky time. Had a great time at this joint and will come back soon.
(4)
Vicky T.
Asians, Asians, everywhere. Been here a few times and surprise, surprise, the crowd is what? Predominately Asian, with clumps of Indian men dancing in circles together. Weird, yes. At least the music is loud, the food is good, and the drinks are strong.
(3)
Jennifer A.
Came here recently as one of our stops during our bachelorette party and the place was off the hook!!! The music was bumping, the people were dancing and the drinks were a comin!!! Its been a while since I been here, but this place was exactly what the girls ordered!!
(4)
Jake W.
Note to self: don't take the advice of concierges at 5-star hotels. After a long day working my company's annual event at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose (an absolutely beautiful hotel) -- and a short nap -- I called the concierge and asked for a fairly decent casual dining choice within walking distance of the hotel. (For some reason, Google Places was pulling up Denny's and Popeye's, and I wanted something better. Besides, I had a per diem for food.) He suggested The Loft, so I figured, why not. P.F. Chang's happened to be 2 doors down, but I just didn't want to go to a chain. I was seated upstairs -- the 'loft' -- and after surveying the nearly empty room, I joked with the hostess, 'Wow, I guess you guys aren't that busy tonight.' 'No, we're not,' she explained. 'And on Fridays and Saturdays, this area becomes a club with a DJ. See the DJ booth over there?' That should have been my second clue. I was in the mood for sushi, steak, and salad, but couldn't decide. As such, I ordered 2 dishes: the Tuna Sashimi appetizer and the Grilled Flank Steak Salad. The Tuna Sashimi arrived in an attractive plate. However, it was devoid of taste, and several dunks in the soy sauce cup didn't help matters. The Grilled Flank Steak Salad also arrived in an attractive plate, with what appeared to be a healthy portion of steak. Again, however, flavor was lacking, and the pieces of romaine were only from the heart (there were no leaves). I only ate half and took the rest back to my hotel room. I can't honestly recommend this place. Sorry, concierge.
(2)
Michael V.
Pretty good food. Good service. Based on the food and restaurant alone I'd have only given them 3, but the service was pretty darn good. Unfortunately, we went while the improv (next door) was having sewage problems... so it didn't smell fantastic. But I'm trying to set that aside for the review. The food was great (a bit pricey for the portions), but tasty. Scallops & meat weren't cooked perfectly but had wonderful flavors and the scallops sauce was LEGIT. The bread was also great and even better when combined with the scallop sauce (I like to party). Calamari was fritto misto style (as opposed to crappy sports bar breading style). I wasn't super crazy about the crab cakes... but I won't take away points for that since everyone else seemed to love their dishes as well. Their happy hour goes on forever (3-7pm) M-F, I think? And had decent drink prices (but only brings the food down to normal prices).
(4)
Jocelyn L.
Busy location, OK food. This place likes their capers Summary: - Crab cakes: quite flavorful - Beef Carpaccio on Bruschetta: Yummy with capers and grilled bruschetta - Tomato with Mozarella with Pistachio and drizzled balsamic - Grilled Prawns on Skewers with Rice: the prawns were way too dry and not succulent. Wish they hadn't overcooked it
(3)
Yamileth O.
No line, no cover? really wow! I'm in! This was my first time enjoying the night life in San Jose, and it was a good one. I'm taking 2 stars away first because they asked me for a second form of ID, which I thought it was a little excessive. Second because a fight broke off on the dance floor. Security was really quick about it though. The floor was packed, but it was only because the DJ was absolutely amazing! Only good music playing that night! I will definitely be visiting Loft Bar again.
(3)
Kevin W.
You know that place that you always go to, and you're kinda tired of it, but you always have a good time no matter what: Me: Where do you wanna party? Friend: I dunno. Me: Loft! Friend: Loft again? Me: We always have a great time! Maybe its my South Bay partner-in-crime and her great company? Maybe its because we're both cheap dates and know how to really pre-party? Whether we intended to go there in the first place or just end up there by the end of the night - we always have a great time! For starters, there's never a cover - everyone starts off in a great mood with FREE and hence usually no line unlike other clubs where the bouncer holds the line to get cover after a certain time. Two floors. Bar and chill area downstairs. Dance floor and another bar upstairs. Upstairs windows on the dance floor facing the street so you can shake it for all the passerbys. Outdoor patio that sometimes has a separate DJ for dancing as well - very nice after the main dance floor gets hot and heavy. And as expected with any place with no cover, its always packed and hot and heavy. Being a guy, I can't comment about how touchy/grabby the crowd is. (Sadly, my assets are not touch-able or grab-able.) But I've never had to really step in to save a damsel in distress. My girl friends usually have a good time, and there's never been a "OMG we're never going back there again. Hella shady!" moment.
(4)
Lisa H.
Two story bar with cool seats on the second floor b/c I really like the high level seats where you can dangle your legs. Plus from where I was sitting facing the bar, I could watch the TV. My complaint, the food. We ordered the 6 grilled shrimps on skewers, when the shrimp came there were only 5, and we noticed because there was 6 of us so we would get 2 each. We also had the small fried chicken chunks, which tasted super dry. The outside seating, which is cool during the summer has a nice view of the sky, but it would be really nice if the walls were lower so you could see the street below, but I guess then there would be too much liability for the bar with all of the drunk people.
(3)
Adi F.
not a huge fan of the downtown SJ bar scene, but the white gummy bears here are the best!
(4)
Jon B.
The issue I have with this restaurant is they are trying to be something they are NOT which is a high end eatery. A few examples: $30 entrees for food that was good but nothing special, and were worthy of a $20-25 price tag. Average portions and nothing unique about the taste or presentation. By comparison I eat at Dry Creek Grill regularly and feel like the quality, taste and value is always there. At Loft I felt like I was being taken. Service was below average....they struggled to find a table for four even though we booked via opentable and the place was half empty, the wrong meal was brought to us, we had to ask repeatedly for more water and bread) and mid meal one of the kitchen workers rolled his mountain bike through the front door right by our table and oh they played classic rock too loud (I love classic rock btw, just not when I'm out eating a $30 a plate meal. Keep it to the sports bar). If they were serving grubby food at $20 a plate and billed themselves as general restauarnt I'd be thrilled. Again, they need to own who they are an not pretend to be something they are not.
(2)
Andrena R.
I love Loft Bar! But that's also because it's one of the few bars around the bay area where you don't have to pay a cover charge which means more money for drinks. They do have drink specials which are pretty cheap but once happy hour is over, drinks can get pricey and you have to spend a minimum of $15 to use credit card so if you plan on only ordering one drink, bring cash. Also, you do need two forms of ID which isn't that big of deal as long as you come prepared. As for the decor and setting, downstairs is more upscale and more for mingling and chatting while upstairs is a complete club scene. I also appreciate that there is no dress code but people usually dress nice anyways. Lastly, the music is usually pretty good so overall, I'm a fan of Loft Bar.
(4)
Kerri T.
Met a date last night in the downstairs bar area and the bartendar was not only entertaining, but very good at his job. I gave him a very specific order with instructions on making it - and he did a great job! Highly recommend and will definitely be back again.
(4)
Angelica C.
No cover and no ventilation, you get hot quick, and by the time you meander to Tres Gringos or San Jose Bar & Grill, you'll be one sweaty mofo! Perhaps it depends on the bouncers/security, but there have been a few times where they've required two forms of ID (e.g. license and credit/debit cards). I like the LOFT's layout; it's two stories, the downstairs bar is more of an intimate setting, the music isn't blaring and people are able to converse. WATCH OUT for the staircase leading up to the second floor. It easily has 20-25 steps and it can be a real challenge for women in heels,women intoxicated and in heels, and women falling down drunk and intoxicated in heels, etc. The same applies for men too, watch out for the staircase! The scene upstairs is basically summed up in my first sentence of this review: hot and sweaty with no ventilation. Oh, and they tend to play solely Rap & Hip-Hop. I will note the huge fan they have that adds to the musty air being circulated around the club, and there are windows, they just don't open them? It doesn't take long to get drinks, but it sure gets packed on the second floor. Just be prepared to be grazed by other sweaty mofos on the dance floor, and don't take offense to anyone pinching your ass either!
(3)
Charlotte F.
The worst dining experience ever-the only good thing my group decided was that because so many things were bad it became comical. Made reservations for my bday dinner-showed up and had to wait forever, then were seated out on the patio which was freezing. The waitress didn't bring enough water for everyone and we had to ask multiple times for her to bring enough. Asked for bread and she brought out one small thing that only had 5 pieces and our group was 10. Took over an hour for appetizers and then the same for our meals. The rain started coming through the cover on the patio and we were getting wet-told a staff we needed our check bc we were getting wet. While he helped find our waitress, there was no apology. Some of the group liked there food, but others found it bland. However, because of the service will never go back.
(1)
Neal E.
We had our team dinner here - we had the entire upstairs and outdoor patio reserved. We started out with some appetizers on the patio - as I recall - a fried calamari offering with tartar and seafood cocktail sauces; a Tomato and Mozzarella Salad: fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese and sliced tomatoes topped with pistachios and basil-balsamic vinaigrette; and a Prawn Cocktail: jumbo prawns cut up bite size and served with cocktail sauce avocado, tomato, lime juice, onion and cilantro. The Prawn Cocktail and the Calamari were pretty good. For dinner we had a buffet offering: Braised Beef Shortribs, Baked Halibut, and Grilled Marinated Flank Steak. There were also sides of vegetables, mashed potatoes, and such. I was not impressed with any of the buffet offerings - the best thing I ate was the mashed potatoes - and later - a glass of 16 year old Lagavulin. The wait staff did a nice job of fulfilling our drink orders and keeping us well lubricated. A special thank you to the bartender on the upper floor for going downstairs in search of Lagavulin when there was none to be had in the upstairs bar. All-in-all - a very average dining experience. A shame too - it has such a cool ambiance upstairs with the outdoor patio.
(3)
carol c.
First the good: We arrived on Sunday night and the place was empty, which we loved. The upstairs room was nice and we could hear each other talk. Our waitress was really nice. Free corkage on Sunday nights, so our party of 6 brought 3 bottles and enjoyed them. The $6 happy hour menu is fabulous--the tri tip quesadilla is huge, and tasty. Our friend liked the rare tuna and her husband liked the lettuce cups. Cheesecake--deelish, except smothered in whipped cream--why? Who does this? Ruined the taste. Have you ever heard of a Chinese chicken salad with almonds? This one has them. Now, the not so good. Chicken broccoli rotini was as bland as the one they serve in Campbell. Yech. The calamari batter was falling off the meat, didn't looked well prepared at all. The $8 hot fudge chocolate cake was about 2" in diameter with barely any hot fudge. Plus, it was overpowered by the berry sauce it came with (but wasn't mentioned on the menu so I could ask them to hold it, since I am allergic) I might have paid $4 for that dessert, it was definitely a disappointment. Don't bother to order. Go figure: $6 for a huge, delicious tri tip and $8 for an awful dessert. I've always thought Capers had potential; its dishes are spotty, though.Choose carefully.
(3)
Nicholas R.
More like a 3.5 Wandered over here with some friends a few weeks back. I usually stay away from the downtown scene, but this was a nice little place. Went straight upstairs, where they had happy hour. Drinks were cheap, but make sure to buy them before the discounts end. After happy hour, they're pretty pricey. I liked the fact that this bar, while downtown, was not packed with a bunch of clubbers. There was no cover charge, but a decent-sized dance floor upstairs. Really laid back atmosphere, and I'll probably go back if I want to hang out downtown.
(3)
Yang Q.
The place may be small, with a very small bar area downstairs, another crowded bar area upstairs, and a tiny dance floor. It may be super crowded, sweaty, and grimy (the tiny dance floor and dripping pipes). And it may be ghetto--it's downtown SJ, how can it not be? Yet, there's no cover charge, you're very likely to run into people you know, and somehow, I always get really drunk and have hella fun here. Just be sure to bring 2 forms of ID because they always ask for it.
(3)
Jamie J.
Heart heart heart this place! Even on a raining night the music does not disappoint! Met up with my girls acroos the street at Tres and came here shortly after. We walked in and went straight to the dance floor and the only time we left the dance floor was when we went to go get some drinks. Drinks are a bit more here but there was plenty of guys willing to buy us drinks ;) Met DJ How High later in the night and he didn't try to get into our pants? Neg star! jk Always a great place to check out if your out bar hopping. Best music and vibe in Man Jose. Just bring 2 Id's and be ready to sign on a napkin haha
(5)
Joshua T.
The bartenders here are very personable and professional. Adam and Mario are great to talk to while waiting for my drinks...good dudes. Dinner here was also very good (surprisingly). The flank steak was actually prepared well and the area looked great, considering it turns into a club after dinner. Surprisingly no alcohol or vomit smells as we had dinner in the same area that is the dance floor. Recommended.
(5)
Melanie N.
Times are changing! I use to come here alot for the nightlife... i'll be here on the weekends for drinks, hanging out on their patio and dancing the night away. So much great memories here! Now i only come here for business lunches! I 've had dinner here before and I now usually meet up with clients here for lunch. It's not the best place for lunch on your wallet but it's definately yummy! Their steak bites are ubberly delicious as the steak is tender, comes on a bed of greens along with a cabernet dipping sauce! I also like their Chicken Marsala which was flavored and cooked perfectly. Loft never fails to dissapoint my tummy! =)
(4)
Joseph M.
Crappy music, but that's what we get for choosing a pace that doesn't charge you a cover.. Drinks ... $62 for 4 shots of Hennessy and a Long Island? o.O Huge sausagefest on the dance floor, but overall the crowd is really nice. My friends and I were at the bar on the second floor and this girl was walking by and slipped on something wet and TOTALLY ate it :( But everyone (myself included) quickly came to her rescue to make sure she was okay. Teamwork, baby! Loft DJs, would it kill you to play some tunes from the Top 40?
(2)
Cindy T.
I've been here upstairs plenty of times during college (nightlife). It's a great lil place and I've seen it when it's crack-a-lackin' and when it wasn't. I've also been here a handful of times for dinner, sitting upstairs and out on the patio - love the roof top patio, especially in the summer time. Most of the dinner offerings are good - all very traditional American dishes. As for desserts, I've had the creme brulee - let's just say it's just A-OK.
(3)
Stephanie J.
Loft has screw us over. Not ONCE but TWICE! That is just not acceptable anymore! Before my bestis goes back to Taiwan, she wants to go clubbing . To save my time, I decided to ask all the girls to Loft. Mainly because it's open to everyone and there is no guest list. So we went last Friday. I been to loft numerous time before and I know this place can get pretty packed. But to my surprises they were still pretty empty at 10:30 am. So anyway... as usual... we took our shot and went dancing and rejected all the guys who want to dance with us. Although the music was A-OK (no current hip-pop music playing)... we make the most out of it. I was still waiting for 2 more girls to show up at that time. 30 minutes later the girls texted me and told me the bouncers downstairs is not letting them in because one of the girl has a experienced ID and have forgotten to bring her new one. Seriously... it not like she is freaken 21!! she is 26 for goodness! So here how it all went downhill. The 2 friends has just drove 2 hours meet us at LOFT. So of course I have to go out to talk to them. Leaving our friends upstair, my bestie and I went downstairs and outside to talk to my friends. My bestie decided to talk to the bouncers to see if there is anyway around it. To make the story short... they kicked us out as well. The bouncers pointing at bestie and I claiming that we was too "intoxicated" to let us back in. Too "intoxicated"!!!! How are we too intoxicated if we barely got there?? Especially pointing fingers at me? Dude... I have the strongest alcohol tolerances among all my friends... how could say think that I was intoxicated? We barely got our night started! =( that is why I would never go back to LOFT again!!! I can say this because I been there enough to make a point! 1st the music there is so-so.. so good night and enough bad night like this Friday. 2nd : Strict.. strict.. strict... will kick people out for anything!!! What make me upset is we didn't even do anything! 3rd : Few months back they won't let us in because my bestie's driver license still has her high school picture and they claim that it does not look like us and rejected her to go in last time. We asked our friends who is still upstairs in LOFT to come down. We left LOFT and I mentally say my forever goodbye. We finally check out the bar across from Loft... The bouncers there were a lot more understanding and let all of us girl in for free. That end of MERRY FRIDAY NIGHT. SJBG SAVE THE NIGHT!
(1)
Warren R.
A nice 2 level place to party (This is reviewing the dancing/drinking side of Loft). No hassle at the door - just show your ID and you're good to go. The bars at both levels are long, and the bartenders a pretty quick with your drinks. Chatted up with a cool ass bartender by the name of Mario (i think) who hooked up my gin n tonics. The place was the perfect mix of, good looking females,not-to-crowded, and under control (There was staff everywhere). The DJ spinning threw on some sick mixes and never put on an awkward song or anything slow. I'm trying to rate the bar, and not the patrons. The establishment is pretty sick, but some people can rude as hell - especially on the dance floor ( i guess that's everywhere you go though). I like this place because the dance floor is in CLEARLY defined area [unlike most places that require you to pass the dance floor to get drinks so people are constantly walking through it], its in its own section of the bar - SO, IF YOUR NOT GOING TO DANCE STAY OUT! Please don't walk laps around the dance floor or stand awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor looking around... Got a group of people in Downtown SJ? Give this spot a try. I know I'll be back/
(4)
Kylie H.
This is the place to be either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights. *No cover charge!* Drinks are ridiculously expensive here, though. They are very watered down & totally not worth it. My friend and I both ordered a double, thinking it would solve this issue (costing $40 for both), but it still didn't taste like an alcoholic beverage. HUGE waste of $$$!!! I always like the music they play here. Mostly hip-hop. The layout is pretty different, as well. There is a bar on the first floor as you enter, then up the stairs there is another bar & dance floor. I'd choose this place over Sabor and Voodoo Lounge any day!
(4)
Jamie M.
This place is one of the various places in Man Jose for nightlife. Compared to other nightlife places in the city, it attracts a larger crowd and plays a good variety of music. A big plus for this place is that there's no cover charge. However, they get you back by charging you an insane amount for drinks. $13 for a shot of patron? C'mon son, this isn't Vegas! The layout here is also different from the other venues for nightlife in Man Jose. There are two bars and two bathrooms (one on each floor), but the upstairs portion of this place is better than the downstairs. In addition, the actual dance floor is upstairs and the bouncers do a decent job clearing out a lane so it isn't so cramp. Overall, it's a cool place to go enjoy the nightlife if you're in downtown but I would recommend having your drinks somewhere else.
(3)
Susan D.
I don't really go out much anymore but when I do, I think the Loft is an alright place to hit. It usually has less of a line than other clubs, charges no cover and has a bar downstairs that is easy to get drinks from (small dance floor and 2nd bar are upstairs). That means if you wanna chat with friends, you can do so in an area where the music isn't blaring. There's also an outdoor patio upstairs for the smokers. The crowd is typical, drinks are strong enough and music is fun. What more do we need? See ya there.
(4)
Catalina R.
We had one appetizer, the Popcorn Chicken, it was really good, and had 2 coctails. I was feeling like having a margarita and ordered just a traditional one on the rocks with patron. It was all right,but I was expecting something better. They even forgot the salt on mine. the real good one was the one the bf got. Spiced cucumber margarita. it smells and taste like cucumber and it is really spicy. I loved it. Maybe I'll go back and get one of those. The place is pricy and for sure I won't pay for a regular drink again there.
(4)
Yvette P.
I came to this place because a friend recomended it and I was utterly disappointed. I went on a Wednesday night expecting to have a late lounge type dinner. I had never been there before so I asked the waiter for recommendations. It was 3 of us and we all ordered something different. The food was pretty disgusting. I paid $15 for a tri-tip wrap that tasted like soggy soup. How is that even possible? My friends ordered sliders and a salad. Those were also equally gross. The only thing that we probably enjoyed was the waiter. It helped that he was nice to look at, otherwise, the food stinks.
(2)
Enza P.
So, I've been here several times now, with different crowds each time. I do appreciate the atmosphere here and the general vibe. The dance floor upstairs is always super packed. The music does make me want to dance so I'm usually sweating by the time I leave. I don't like how there is no smoking area, so whenever I head outside with friends, we all have to get out, and then get back in line and get checked when everyone is ready to back inside. I also think the drinks can be a bit overpriced here. It's $2 more and they give you smaller cups. I guess that's their discreet way of getting a cover charge out of you. The drinks are usually strong though, so it's alright. The dancing crowd is honestly fun but it can get soooo crowded that people get pushed around pretty often, so my friends and I often chill by the bar. The security is not nice here. They make you whip out your license as well as your debit cards EVERY TIME YOU WALK IN even though they know you're just waiting for someone or if they just checked you. I am not down for that! I wish they gave us a stamp or something to make it easier. My friends went to smoke and their tabs were still open and they didn't let us go back inside at 1:20 AM to close the tabs. They took the licenses and brought out the check and made us sign it outside. We also did not appreciate the attitude of the security. If I was being a drunk hot mess, I would understand but we were all being really nice and they weren't. I appreciate the no cover charge, good music, the overall vibe from the crowd so it's an okay place to go to. It'd be nice if they lightened up a bit though!
(3)
Bonnie K.
Well seems like our experience was early evening and the other reviews seem to be more about the evening thumpin' part so this review is about the food! In my opinion: absolutely delicious. All I had was a Lychee Martini (my first and delish!) and Asian Chicken Salad and Chicken WIngs. These just happened to all be at Happy Hour prices which was an additional treat. The restaurant was nice & quiet (at around 6pm) and the service was okay, our server was a bit dingy/spacey. And we got a free dessert by joining their VIP Club! Delicious Tiramasou. I am a fussy eater so take this feedback seriously!
(4)
Cheryl B.
This is for the bar. I should have known when I heard the DJ mixed 30 second snippets of songs that this place would be FoF - Full of F**kery. But no, the dirty martinis in plastic cups did that. I will say the no cover is cool and finding a place for a drink after 12:30 on a weekend night is hard enough and Loft was open and fit the need.
(2)
Earlene C.
Great spot - delicious drinks and food! I've come for the night life before and recently for a graduation dinner. Service was great, food excellent. We of course started with Mojitos and the complimentary bread served with sweet balsamic vinegar. For appetizer and entree: -Calamari -Salmon -Parmesan Chicken -Tri-tip wrap Everything was tasty, generous portions, so you definitely get what you pay for!
(4)
Amanda I.
So I've been here 3 times now and I thought it was about time to give a review for their nightlife. Of course, nothing really lives up to Vegas, but when my friends and I felt like going out to dance, Loft has always been a good option so far. The music is good clubby type music with some older stuff thrown in, but the vibe is definitely better for me here than at Fahrenheit, for instance. No cover charge which is nice, close parking structure, no lines that I've had to wait in (unlike Fahrenheit where my girlfriend and I had to wait for like, 20 min and then we just left anyways because it was pretty slow inside, everyone was pretty old, and the music wasn't that great). Drinks are typical club sized drinks and prices, but we really came to just have a couple nights out dancing. We had a lot of fun, although it can get pretty annoying with those way older guys trying to come up behind you to dance with you. At least have the decency of coming up beside me and ask me if I want to dance; I'd be more willing to say yes if you're not so rude as to treat me like I'm just some kind of mindless scratching post. But that has nothing to do with Loft itself, more the types of males one encounters. So, because I've always had a lot of fun dancing here, have felt pretty safe since it's on a pretty busy street and cops were outside sort of patrolling when we left sometimes, and there's no cover, I think overall I'd give this place a 4. update: I've been back to the Loft a couple more times since I reviewed, and unfortunately, the experiences haven't been that great lately. I wouldn't mind it so much if my friends and I could go and just dance, but every time we go we are bothered by weird, creepy older guys. Not cool. It taints the experience and doesn't make it very fun for us if we're always looking over our shoulder. Not planning on coming here anymore if I can avoid it, probably going to hit up downtown Mountain View or somewhere else where the crowd is younger, more mixed, and not full of old creepy guys
(2)
Mike C.
This review is for the nightlife only. First thing to note about this place is that there is no cover, so that sort of speaks for itself. Next thing to note is it's across from spectacles such as San Jose Bar & Grill and Tres Gringos, so that's another thing to keep in mind. Now onto the place itself. Not much ever really happening on the bottom floor, just people getting drinks from the bar there and a few people chatting. Move onto the main event upstairs. The dance floor has been packed to the brim both times I've been here. The makeup is usually small groups of asian girls who will dance exclusively with each other or their over protective boyfriends and then random latino/black dudes around the edges of the floor. Expect to have drunk girls rudely shove you out of the way often and have people constantly stepping on your shoes. The music is usually top 40/rap, which I'm not a HUGE fan of, but can still get down to. Both time I've been here the DJ has actually been pretty good, so that's a plus. The drinks? Well I only ordered one ever, a gin and tonic, and it ended up being a tonic and gin if you know what I mean. To be fair though, my friend's drink was also weak and he asked for a little more liquor and was given it for free so that's cool. All in all, I wouldn't really come here unless you already have friends you plan on dancing with, but I'm not really a big fan of this place.
(2)
Jatinder S.
Two good things have to say about the Loft is that there is no cover charge (my friends and I went as a back up because we got to downtown late) and there is a decent-sized dance floor upstairs with plenty of chairs and tables lining the walls. The rooftop patio is a plus, too. They make their money off of $10 drinks--so definitely beware of that. Happy hour is cool if you can get here early enough, otherwise you should drink elsewhere... like Flames which has happy hour until midnight. As for the staff, the bartenders were a lot of fun, but count on getting the third degree at the door if you're under 25. They ask for two forms of ID at the door. I didn't have two, so they made me sign a waiver and bitched about how my signature was different from the one on my ID. I signed that crap when i was 15 on a cramped magnetic strip with an over-sized stylus--why are you berating me about it 8 years later?? I can see that they're just doing their job, but I was just irritated because I don't really drink and don't appreciate being type-casted among the neanderthals of my generation who make all these security measures necessary. **end rant** As for the vibe---if you are at all familiar with MAN Jose, California--you should know that this place is stocked up with a lot of creeps that generally outnumber the girls. Go with a group, ladies! And the ventilation in the club is pretty bad everywhere except for the bathroom. You can count on getting sweaty and nasty. The DJs are pretty lame...on a Saturday night, we really weren't feeling 50% of the beats. That's terribad. Would I go again? I guess... since there is no guest list or cover, but I wouldn't be all that excited about it. I always have fun when I'm out with the girls, but I'd try to avoid it on crowded nights.
(2)
Braden K.
haha i now know why the bouncers at loft have been giving me trouble! bouncers, managers, basically all security staff are faultless. who's the cause of all this? you know who you are.
(1)
Amanda S.
Wow....I couldn't believe how packed the upstairs dance area was! I guess that's what happens when there's no cover on a Saturday night. Though it was great to walk upstairs without waiting in a line, I think some quota should be set and enforced to ensure those dancing actually have the space to do so. Good energy of people here, though some lacked courtesy and failed to notice they were smacking/elbowing others in their effort to showcase their dance moves.
(3)
Natasha S.
this is the third or fourth time that ive been here. I love how you don't have to pay for cover. i like how they have bouncers their making sure that people are not standing in the walk ways and making sure that everyone is in the damn way. I have to agree with other reviewers, its definitely good for bar hoping ... you cant stay suffocated in there for too long. i wish they would add MORE fans than the ONE they had. i didn't get to drink this time cause i was the good ol DD that night ... i haven't drank their in a while so i dont remember what the drinks were like ... however my friends took jager bombs and they looked pretty gooood afterwards haha overall: probably would go back ... music never fails me :)
(3)
Elizabeth R.
Made reservations for 4 people using opentable. When we arrived, they didn't ask if we had a reservation. They asked if we wanted to sit outside (front) or we could sit inside (entrance level) if there was a spot open or upstairs. I told her inside and upstairs if there was nothing available at entrance level. She seated us upstairs OUTSIDE which is partially covered. I didn't want to sit outside because it was a tad chilly. Luckily the covering provided some shelter. Inside there was a high school reunion with a DJ starting to heat things up so it seems dinner seating at 8pm on a Saturday was a bit tight. They have a large menu which was surprising. Almost every entree comes with vegetables. I ordered the meatloaf which was smothered in a mushroom sauce. The sauce was good and provided some much needed flavor to the otherwise bland meatloaf. Despite my friends ordering salmon and my husband had pork, we all had the same overcooked bland mixed vegetables that were probably pre-cooked or frozen simply scooped onto our places. Bread was not offered to us yet we saw it flowing to other tables. When I asked, the bus boy told me that when they are in short supply of bread they only bring if requested otherwise when they have plenty of bread they bring it out to all tables - guess they were short since we didn't get any nor did we ask because it was too late at this point. I have no need to come here again. It was nothing stellar. My friends food looked average at best. Prices are reasonable but they need to work on the freshness of the food and flavoring.
(3)
Nikki J.
Packed over priced drinks mixed crowed old ppl young
(2)
Chelsea B.
I've been here a couple times (nighttime only, not for the restaurant part), so this is coming from a cumulation of all my experiences here. Generally speaking, this place is pretty fun. Music is good, no cover, drinks are decently priced and not watered down, and it's clean/not sketchy. All of which are pluses in my book. It's also nice because there's two bars, so it's easier to get drinks faster. Maybe that's strategic thinking on their part... Downside is that the dance floor is EXTREMELY tiny. So please do not come here if you are claustrophobic because you will pass out in about 30 seconds. Maybe less depending on the night. Crowd wise, it's a decent group for downtown SJ. Not too noticeably ghetto and not too snobbish. Sidenote: for some reason everyone seems short. Granted I'm pretty tall, but still being able to see over 90% of the people's heads when you're just slightly above average female height is a little weird. Basically, just not very ethnically varied. Also general tips: 1. Get your drinks downstairs because it's WAY faster. 2. There's no coat check, so unless you're willing to hold your coat, leave it and suck it up for the walk between your car and the door.
(3)
Wanugee N.
What a lot of people don't know about Silicon Valley is that besides the plethora of YASVE (no, this is not a variation speliing of the ancient name for God taken from archealogically discovered tablets found in the Middle East; it is an acronym for "Yet Another Silicon Valley Engineer") is that in the early days, a lot of what is now in the Silicon Valley Tech Musem was built by Assemblers. Yup, Assemblers, hourly wage workers putting things together with a pneumatic screwdriver or soldering iron. This was pre-pneumatic or electric machines that did all this automatically without people, and before all that went to China. EMS companies (Electronic Manufacturing Services, or Contract Manufacterers) were outfits that were the original outsources, before the Accounting was sent to the Philipines, the Tech Support was sent to India, and the Design and manufacturing was sent to China. That industry started here, in Silicon Valley. Companies like Flextron, Jabil and Solectron, where many skilled laborers, mostly from ethnic backgrounds themselves, Assembled. Solectron got started by two Asians, who hired only immigrants for their work ethic and a chance to get started in their new adoptive country. Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Mexicans, etc. So what does this Silicon Valley Tech history have to do with the Loft? Well, all the second and third generation off-spring are here! Yup, the spoiled, mainstream assimilated children of all those immigrants who worked their butts off so their kids could have a bright future, are partying here, carry their iPhones, texting while dancing, getting silly drunk, driving their Bimmers, many who are your friends! Actually this place is cool. No cover charge, good beats upstairs with the DJ spinning with a Bump and Grind to popular hip hop sounds, a decent venue. But it gets PACKED, more dense than a double sided, wave soldered PC board. And the Big Bouncers spend most of their time with little flashlights directing you to not clog up the walkways around the dance floor like a break in the solder of a PCB creating a defect reject. And there are a fair amount of well assembled hotties here, who pass Eyeball QC. Just get to them before they are outsourced elsewhere.
(3)
Mike T.
I was really impressed. I was looking for a no cover nightlife spot that was bar-like but where my friends could still dance. Not a high end club but then again no high priced cover or pretension either...so exactly what I was looking for. Music was great. A good mix of Top40, R&B, Stuff with a Latin flair, etc. so there seemed to be something for just about everyone. Drinks are a little on the pricey side but I imagine that's necessary since they probably get a lot of people that come for the dancing and don't buy anything due to the no cover. Downstairs bartenders were HORRIBLE and took forever. My two friends waited over 20 minutes for drinks and it wasn't even that crowded. They went upstairs to the more crowded bar to get drinks because we weren't sure when they would get served. Costs them a 5th star! Upstairs bartenders and servers going to the tables were great and fast so that made up for the downstairs people. Good diverse attractive crowd without pretension or skanky-ness!
(4)
Jo H.
After three visits I think I'm finally ready to write a review. Drink specials (decent pours) before 11:30 are a win. The DJ is pretty good for a place with no cover WIN. It's in stumbling distance from most of the bars I end up at. When I drink I like to dance so that's definitely a WIN. The weird thing I've noticed about this place is that it can go from morgue to PACKED in 5 minutes. The dance floor get's rushed at like 11:45-12. If you're worried about getting sweaty this definitely isn't the place for you. There's a big fan in back and that area beneath it is prime real estate. If you don't mind getting close check it out. If anything you'll burn off what you drank and minimize your hangover for the next morning. That's my little secret don't say I never gave you anything.
(3)
Yen T.
Do you like to dance like you are in a pack of sardines? Do you like to pay $15+tip for a shot of Henn? Do you like to have weird guys grope on you? Do you like ugly girls to throw themselves on you? How about getting a flash light flashed in your eyes every time you walk to the bar or bathroom? This place is for you...
(1)
Sunny M.
I like loft because it's free. I like loft because it's bigger than temple. I like loft because they play dancey dance music. It's not THAT small. I mean, it's not like a Ruby Skye or Temple SF but I find it on the bigger end of free. Smaller than Pearl but free all night w/out guest list. And yes, it does get hot in here, but no more than other cozy places I've been in. It for sure doesn't get to Holy Cow levels of humidity. In conclusion, best free choice I know.
(4)
Cristine I.
*Review based solely on the night club and not the restaurant.* With the crap downtown San Jose has to offer, this is my favorite night club. Why? First off there's no cover charge, hip-hop before midnight :) then the 80s throwbacks kick in :(, most everyone actually dance, two bathrooms for the ladies, and dress code stays pretty casual The downside is that they always ask me for two forms of ID (retarded from my standpoint), pricey drinks offset the free cover charge, and the upstairs bar is always crowded. Never really cared for the small outer techno room or the sausage bar downstairs but the upstairs dance floor is always worth it for me.
(4)
Mark H.
FOOD REVIEW !!! This is about my 10th time here at loft. That should say something right there. Some past favorites are the carpaccio, fried calamari and the steak. Tonight was an exclamation point ! The only thing preventing me from giving five stars was the chef left a big clump of dressing in the salad. Other than that, the chicken with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes was expertly prepared and seasoned. The skin was perfectly grilled and chrispy. Well done! I'll be back...
(4)
Steph V.
NO COVER. That's one of the biggest reasons why I love going here. The other reason is because I know one of the cute waitresses that work here. She is sooo fine ;) But seriously, this is the first place I actually went to for my first "clubbin" experience when I turned 21. It can get really crowded here so if you want to get down and dirty with your homies, expect to be two stepping in a one foot radius of each other. Still, it's pretty fun and the service is always friendly and fast. They have jazz nights on Thursdays until 11p and before the hoards of people rush over to dance the night away. I've yet to stop by on Thursday night since my ass has work early the next day, but I should! I like this place. I've been meaning to come try the food during the dinner hours when the tables are set up and the atmosphere is a little bit more on the classy side. It's in the perfect part of downtown and there are parking lots right across the street. Don't lie. You know you want to come booty shake at Loft.
(4)
Evelyn S.
Coming here on a Friday night at 8:45 PM, the place was really empty. There were a few people at the bar downstairs, bar upstairs, and tables outside. Within a place this huge, it was a bit disappointing how empty it was. We got complimentary bread, which was a bit disgusting. The inside wasn't that fluffy, and the crust of the bread was so hard that I couldn't even eat it. I ordered a shrimp and avocado wrap for $14.95. Although it was pricey, the wrap was HUGE. I didn't expect a big wrap, but it was the size of a Chipotle burrito at least. It kind of justified the more than usual expensive price, but that's about it. There were a lot of prawns in it, but there was too much mayo and overshadowed everything. My boyfriend got the panko chicken, which just okay. The crust of the chicken was too crunchy, and didn't really remind me of how a panko chicken will be fried at a Japanese restaurant. However, I really liked the sauce they provided -- it was a bit spicy like a spicy mustard, but a bit more creamy as if there was a tad of mayo in it. Looking at reviews now, it seems like this is more of a happy hour place. If that is true, I wouldn't recommend this place for food because it's just mediocre and not worth the price.
(3)
Dorothy N.
No line. No cover. Complimentary drinks as we walked in. Music was poppin'! Packed dance floor. Clean bathrooms. No complaints. One thing: for such a small place, they have HELLA security personnel.
(4)
Sport G.
Wanted to sit on the roof top deck, but it was closed for a private party. The onion strings for an appetizer were a hit for the three of us. Each of us enjoyed our meals. The veggie stir fry was flavorful and filling. The chicken caesar salad was good. Great drink specials till 7pm during the week. The atmosphere was just fine; would have been made better on the roof top deck, I'm sure. I'll give it another shot, for sure.
(3)
Shane J.
This is a review of their dinner service- not the party scene at night. My wife & I got to enjoy dinner here on a Sunday night. Thanks to the Downtown Business Association's coupon they gave to individuals who are season ticket holders at the San Jose Repertory Theatre- we decided to give this restaurant a try. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed... We were happy to be seated on their nice patio. It was a little eerie though, that as we made our way through the restaurant to get to the patio, the entire place was pretty empty. Next door was pretty busy- but we decided to stick through and give it a shot anyways. We started with their bread- by far, the best part of our experience... They had an excellent dip- which we were told was a combination of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, garlic & spices. Yummy! While I'm here- I want to say, our server, Jennifer, was very attentive, and brought us water and bread without asking (nice!). Being on the top floor, I was concerned that we would be forgotten about, and we were the ONLY people on the patio. However- our server was always there- and she did a great job! As an appetizer, we ordered their tri-tip quesadilla. It was on happy hour special- $6 for the quesadilla + $2 for the steak. We got it pretty quickly (thanks again, Jennifer! :) ). The sad part was that there was absolutely NO FLAVOR in it at all. No seasoning left a bland quesadilla, and it was rather disappointing. Next- onto our entrees- My wife was feeling their Chinese salad. Once again, it was back to NO FLAVOR. It was bland- but she still liked the bread! :) Well- I decided that a little comfort food would be nice. I ordered the lasagna. At first, it was okay. Garnished with two disappointing pieces of *bleh tasting garlic bread, the taste was okay as I started. I had two bites, and it was warm, but okay. As I got to the middle. and the end, it was warming up (sounds like microwave to me...). However, the terrible part was in the last third, I had a bite that was way hotter than the rest of it. It burned the roof of my mouth. Normally, I would blame myself for this embarrassing mistake- but I was getting to the end of the lasagna- I couldn't have expected the middle of it to be WAY hotter than the outsides of it. Overall- I completely understand why this restaurant was empty- they are loosing care for the quality of their food. Microwaved lasagna? Poorly made garlic bread? Non-seasoned Salad? Bland and tasteless quesadilla? All signs that they don't care anymore... Based on some other reviews I am seeing here- I am not to surprised that I had this experience. It sounds like they are running DOWN-HILL- :(
(1)
is n.
I went for my 21st and they asked for a debit card. Thank goodness I was sober at this point and the debit was in easy access. We didn't go during happy hour,so the drinks were steep. The Redbull Vodka and Tequila Sunrise were $20ish. I can't say it was worth it, but no cover at night. Solution: Pre-game and then go. hahaha. This place is Asian guy creeper central,so be prepared.
(3)
Hideo M.
Usually the spot I go to when I'm in Downtown. This place is a two story complex. downstairs is more for lounging and getting drinks and second floor is for people who want to dance to top 40. The dance floor is small and there are tons of people Friday and Saturday nights. You're always likely to bump into random people since its really small. The drinks are moderately priced and no cover. 11:15-11:30 pm is the time when the place starts to get really crowded.
(3)
Karen W.
Ugh! Pretty unhappy with my last trip here (though I liked my company). Sure, the Loft is free, but the staff was douchey to me. Apparently there is this new rule, that if you are under 25 you need to present some other form of ID besides your driver's license. Yeahhh dumb...first time happening to me. Of course, I did not bring a credit card as I did not want to risk losing it. 1st guy wouldn't let me in, so I talked to the other guy, who had me sign this paper to match up my signature, and shook his head disapprovingly when he saw the way I signed. I insisted it was my card (IT IS) and he had me recite my address (and I volunteered my birth date) before he reluctantly let me in. W...T...F. Are these guys dumb? You WANT girls who are over 21. Did they realize how much of a sausage fest it was in there? The guy-girl ratio was at least 3:1. Idiots. Also, it makes no sense that someone over 21, but under 25 with a real ID should not be able to get in, whereas someone with a fake ID that says they're 25+ may be able to get in, no problem. Not sure what was going on there...probably some power trippin' people or something. My friends (a guy and a girl) are my age and got in fine. Inside, it was sausage-festy...and I was reminded about how: (1) The Loft is RIDICULOUSLY CROWDED, just like Temple. (2) The guys at The Loft are as my guy friend says, "like predators." I feel grateful if someone actually asks me if I want to dance, or if they go away or stop grabbing at me if I say no. (3) That a lot of guys in Norcal dance by banging their pelvises against you rapidly. (4) That some people smell really f***ing bad. Yeah, I dunno. Back to Socal's electronica clubs for me?
(1)
Anna P.
I'm a little torn between 3 stars and 4 stars......but I'm feeling nice today. I've been here plenty of times, out of those plenty of times very seldom did I have to pay for drinks. But every piece of food I've ever had here has been delicious! My fiance and friend threw a surprise party for me a few weeks ago, and from what I hear management and servers were a joy to work with. (great to hear). I myself have had a very pleasant experience w/ the manager yeeeeears ago before Yelp was around. I was overcharged for something (yes overcharged for the already outrageously priced drinks) and he went out of his way to totally explain and show me records of the mistake and how they fixed it. He also gave me a complimentary appetizer and drink. I was livid when I walked in, but I walked out w/ a free buzz, satisfied tummy, and peace of mind. Food has been great every time! salads, appetizers, tuna, and salmon have been d-lish! ***Drinks however are outrageous!!! I can't completely rule this place out because I actually like it, but I'm sneaking my flask in next time!! This is 'redonculous'! LOL, never buying a drink there again! Music is great, I do appreciate that I don't have to be walking the streets of downtown looking for a place to dance after dinner or waiting in line. So all of the pros of this place justify the four stars and out weigh the nasty CON that everyone else seems to HATE!
(4)
Anna S.
This place sucks at night. *Disclaimer, I did not try the food* I ended up here after some of my friends wanted to "dance their cares away" or just get their "groove on", but the music sucked, people were beligerently grinding each other (though that is the culture of a nightclub, but I want to rant anyways, and the LOFT will get my rath), and the staff was exceptionally rude when trying to get us to leave (I swear one of the bartenders sold my friend a beer 5 minutes before closing and then within 2 minutes, asked her to finish up and leave, and walked away saying "Drunk Bitch". Then, we had a friend in the restroom and they made us leave the place without telling her we were being evacuated, and when we got out onto the curb, they wouldn't let us wait for her again. They kept pushing us to "keep moving" without letting us wait for her. San Jose night scene is getting out of control these days. There were cops and "security" guys from all kinds of clubs yelling orders at everybody to get the *F* out, and back to their cars. There was one guy yelling, "The Light is Green People, GO GO GO!" within seconds of the light. Jerk didn't even give us time to respond to the light, and got people looking at him instead. This is my wake up call to remind me why I haven't tried to go "clubbing" in years. LOFT Bar and Bistro, You Gets NO LOVE from this Yelper... I'm OUTRO! Later Suckas!
(1)
Navin B.
Good food and drinks..
(4)
Patty O.
if you're under 25, you will need 2 forms of ID to get in. ( e.g drivers license and credit card) the crowd here is pretty young, and it gets pretty packed. the dance floor is tiny and crowded, but the music is pretty good, so it's pretty fun i would say. no cover! thumbs up.
(3)
Mitty C.
This review is regarding Loft as a bar at night. I've never eaten here or gone here earlier in the day, so I wouldn't know how the bistro part is. Loft should definitely be on your bar hopping list if you're roaming downtown San Jose on a weekend night. There is no cover, which is always a relief to hear (especially if you've been buying drinks right and left already), and the DJs play a mix of mainstream music and dance beats. If you've never been to Loft, you'll soon find out that it's a two-story establishment with a bar on both the first and second floor. The dance floor and the DJ is on the second floor, which is literally a giant loft. I'm usually asked for a second form of ID, and I just show a credit card or an ATM card that has my name printed on it even though they have no photo on them (I don't usually carry around a second photo ID). I've read some of the reviews written so far, and there's some mention of an uneven guy to girl ratio, which I agree with. But if you're bar hopping and dancing with just your friends or if you just don't care, then that shouldn't rain on your fun. :) Last call for drinks is usually around 1:15 AM and lights go on at around 1:30 AM. If you need a pick-me-up drink while you're at Loft and the bar on the second floor is packed (which it usually is), don't forget that there's one downstairs.
(4)
Tisha G.
How have I not reviewed LOFT before? Hmm. Don't really mind this place at all because it's local, in the middle of everything going on, and has NO COVER! Came here again last Saturday to dance and drink.The doormen were not rude, but not very welcoming either. Perhaps because SJSU students who are underage try to sneak in with borrowed IDs. They asked us for two different types of IDs which was inconveniencing, but I won't hold it against them as they were just doing their job. After getting looked over from multiple angles, I proceeded to walk to the bar (DUH where else would I go). Rachel the bartender was awesome, as was her team behind the scene. I really appreciated their friendliness, smiles and small talk although they were busy. Bouncers: DUD. Bartenders? SUP! Music: Too preoccupied with drinking to listen. I'll be back!
(3)
Steven C.
*Review only for night life portion/bar. No food.* After the debacle here last new years, entire experience written in detail by Floria C., I didn't think I'd ever be back. But over this past year that I've been avoiding downtown SJ as much as I could, I've actually grown to like this place. As of this moment this is probably one of the few places in downtown SJ I'd agree to go to willingly for a weekend night out, I guess mainly due to my preference for a more chill environment to hangout and catchup with friends instead of the typical club scene as of late. No cover, two bars with fast service, and it's never too crowded. The atmosphere of this place is also more preferable compared to the more shady or questionable looking places around downtown. Drinks are strong, priced on the higher end but I suppose that's what you pay for in this type of environment. Whether you prefer being a bit more upscale compared to the rest of downtown SJ is up to you but I believe this place tries to cater to the "non ghetto" crowd. Although if your looking for a unique crowd you'll probably have better luck over at the new WET. Never had any issues with ID checks here but having kept in mind what happened a year ago, security here is strangely uptight.
(3)
Jennifer H.
after being here a couple more times, i realize, this place isn't so great. the dance floor is way too small to welcome a bunch of penny savers. due to the limited space, i had to warn a few of my friends to watch out before they get socked in the head by flaring arms. plus, it gets too hot! no air whatsoever. and since there's no air, odors are present. i swear, someone hella farted on the dance floor. just sayinn. crowd varies i suppose, but apparently i've been encountering annoying creeps. here's how a conservation went when i wouldn't dance with a guy because i was dancing with my boyfriend... WEIRD GUY: FUCK YOU! ME: oh..ok.. that's cool... WEIRD GUY: NO, I WANT TO FUCK YOU.... ME: O_O;; BOYFRIEND: WHOA WHOA WHOA... *weird guy dances back to his entourage and continues to harass other females.* who the hell does that and wtf am i suppose to say to that??... RAPE!!!! i'ma bust out my rape whistle and a rape flashlight to reveal the perp!! oh yeah, music.. is eh. half of that time, i kept thinking "dude, i cannot dance to this shit!" and when i started to dance again because the music was getting good, the dj switches RIGHT at the chorus to a non-danceable song. lets just put it this way, the songs that are played here do not get you super pumped up. bummer really. anyhoo.. loft.. me thinks not.
(1)
Maygan A.
I came here with a bunch of friends lookin for a good ol time but all I got was a bunch of dirty/awkward/confused looks from people in the crowd (mostly consisting of older people and mean looking women in tight dresses) and questions about whether or not I was 21. I'm not upset about being around people older than me but I don't appreciate getting stared in the face constantly. Or it might've been the fact that they had reached way over maximum capacity and making it impossible to move anywhere on the dance floor. My friend ordered a drink ($8 for a screwdriver, I guess...) and the guy actually took more money than he charged, taking a hefty load of his tip away. Their VIP area is confusing because it looks like a smoke break spot with a bunch of used cups and garbage all over the place. The bouncers are annoying because you need at least 2 forms of identification to get in this spot and if you leave for a smoke break they card you all over again, which is just some personal pet peeve of mine. They must like raves a lot because they treat their little flashlights like they're giving light shows the way they wave them around and flash them in peoples faces. On the plus side, the music was decent. Too bad there was no room to move.
(2)
Michael V.
this review is based on the bimbo who worked the front door on the night of NYE 2011/2012. so i walk in the front door and i end up kicking this small ass unopened bottle of liquor that someone had just dropped. it made a loud unbreaking noise.. probably champagne. i picked it up and held it out blatantly with both hands trying to figure out where in the fuck it came from. i dunno, maybe from some girl who i was destined to meet that night. you know, that type of bullshit. so then the front door lady comes in and grabs it from me, points the bouncer to me, and tells him i was trying to bring in alcohol. what the fuck. my bad batman. crime fightingfuck. anyways, i got kicked out. it's okay though because i waited 3 minutes and got back in. bitch almost ruined my night.
(1)
Brenda L.
Came here @ night and got a tasty pineapple cocktail, but it was expensive, almost 10 dollars. They had okay music upstairs playing and they have no cover charge. The music was choppy b/c they kept cutting it off and merging with other songs, I would have liked it they played more of ea/ song. Also the speaker quality wasn't that great and the music wasn't loud enough. I like the decor though w/ the loft vibe and brick walls.
(3)
Melissa R.
Definitely a spot to hit up if you & group feel like having a chill night & don't feel like paying cover. I've got asked for another form of ID twice. Don't mind it. Expensive drinks.. paid $23 for two AMF's. -_____- But I guess the expensive drinks compensate for the free entry? Small dance space upstairs. Attended shoulder-to-shoulder, sweaty, crowded nights once or twice before. Gets annoying, especially if drunk messes are breathing down your neck.. or if you're involuntarily bumping & grinding with the couple next to you.... But when you're drunk along with them... it's the funnest time! =)
(3)
Thomas T.
pros: No cover Laxed dress code good DJ's Cons: Expensive drinks Too many guys Loft is a good place to go if you want forgot to get on a guest list or dont want to pay a cover. Ive gone to loft a bunch of times straight from SJ bar and grill across the street after we've had some drinks, which is nice as it required no planning whatsoever. It also seems like the girls that go to loft are somewhat uptight, but maybe thats just san jose, who knows. My usual drink of choice is a Tokyo tea, which cost me $14. so if you want to get pretty tipsy at loft you might want to go with the stronger mixed drinks like tokyo teas/AMF's/long island, or LCs/silverback to get the most bang for your buck. For the most part i do have fun so long as im with good company.
(3)
Jaime O.
OK, We were at the UPSTAIRS bar this time. the downstairs bar was closed for a private party. Hubby still loves the manhattan there. I asked for the "new" tomato macerated belvedere. They did not have it, BUT the bartender thought they had another tomato vodka option dowstairs and off he went to find it for me. So, although once again they did not have the drink I wanted the bartender made an effort to try to get me something like what I wanted. I appreciated his service. I compromised with a vodka martini, spicy tomato side. I will be back to the ustairs bar because the bartender was so nice and concerned.
(3)
Mary S.
We had a company dinner here the other night. So since I didn't pay, this reviewed may be a bit skewed. The entire top floor including the outside terrace was reserved for our party which was nice. The decor is quite charming, exposed brick and duct work. Lots of reds and dark wood. They had several servers working our group and they did a very good job keeping everyone's drinks filled and passing around the appetizers. Which consisted of tomato bruschetta, veggie skewers and calamari. All were good. The dinner menu was our choice of pear salad or spinach salad. I had the pear and it was very good. Main course was filet mignon, lamb shanks, orange roughy or veggie pasta. I had the fish and although orange roughy is very delicate it was paired nicely with fabulous crispy vegetable medley and saffron rice. I had some leftover for lunch the next day and it was even better. Dessert was cheesecake, chocolate mousse or creme brulee. Unfortunately, I cannot comment because we slipped out before it arrived. Overall, I think the service was great. Food was very good. Drinks a little on the weak side which may have been a good thing since it was a work event. It was a positive experience. I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a venue to hold a company dinner. They did an exellent job logistically with our large party.
(4)
Vanessa O.
not for anyone over 22 years of age. also, the drinks were crazy expensive!
(1)
Mel J.
I scheduled my graduation party here. The communication with the Owner is a joke, he is the person you arrange with and he never returns calls/emails. One day he promises one thing and the next he retracts his statements. Make sure you keep copies of your emails! After all the troubles of booking the non refundable deposited party, the actual event was smooth. Food was decent, the patio/loft was what I expected. Overall, the formality of doing private parties definitely needs organization and priority. Business is not managed well.
(2)
Fraulein C.
Had my friend's bachelorette party here. The service wasn't that great to begin with. My friends and I ordered appetizers that weren't even appealing and our entrees...disastrous. Two of our friends didn't get their correct order. WTH?! The only reason why I gave this place three stars was for their mojitos, the crowd of people, nice venue and the ambiance. Good time to come here are Fridays if you're into asians. Two points taken off for bad service and the food. FYI: Free Live Jazz Every Thursday Night! from 8pm - 10pm. Here's the HAPPY HOUR INFO: When: Mondays-Fridays, 3pm-6pm Drinks: $3.75 house wine by the glass $3.75 draft beer Food Menu:$3.75 calamari onion strings Chinese chicken salad
(3)
Jeff B.
Wow... from it's appearance (both outside and inside), I thought this was going to an awesome meal! 4 of us went on a Saturday late-afternoon (around 4pm) - the place was pretty much empty. We sat upstairs - and as I said, the vibe was great. The waitress was very friendly... and quick to take our orders. I ordered the Tri-Tip Avocado Wrap - yum! I was so hungry - and so excited for a good wrap. Well... after awhile, it finally arrived. I dug in... UGH... this wrap had NO taste whatsoever! How could a Tri-Tip Wrap with Avocado, lettuce, and tomato not have any taste? It was supposed to be served with a chipotle aioli too - there's no what that could have been there.... all you could taste was the lettuce. After two bites - I knew what it needed - hot sauce. Something to add some flavor. I tried looking for the waitress... waited... waited. She had disappeared! Finally after about 10 minutes, I chased her down and asked for some hot sauce. Another 10 minutes went by - and I realized she had forgotten. Mind you... i was only two bites in... hungry... and wanted my damn hot sauce ;) So, I got up and went to the bar to ask the busser for hot sauce. He quickly brought over some tobasco! With the hot sauce, he brought a treat - fried jalapenos! These were amazing!!!! The one star I'm giving Loft Bar goes to the busser who brought me some amazing fried jalapenos. So... the morale of the story is - don't judge a book by it's cover. This places looks like it'd a great place to eat - but it's not! Everyone at my table complained of tasteless food... we were all looking for hot sauce, salt, anything to add flavor. Not worth the $$$ we spent. If you're going to visit... just sit at the bar and order a beer with the fried jalapenos!
(1)
Joe N.
Another San Jose club and another mixed review. I don't get why clubs can't put together the perfect formula and just make it a standard. Oh well. I like the music here, they usually find good djs that fit the atmosphere and the crowd at this place. I'm not saying it's perfect, because they do tend to hire guys that manage to play the latest Katy Perry or Kesha song like 5 times within the 3 hours I'm there too. The place also stays busy because they don't charge a cover, which would help if they weren't overcharging for shots. A bottle of goose costs $30 at Safeway, so why is a ghetto San Jose club charging $13 a shot? You pay those prices in premium locations, not places that are sandwiched between a PF Changs and the Improv.
(2)
Sherbi B.
Definitely a 5 star! When I used to work in downtown, I would usually go to Loft once/twice a week. I also had couple of my private parties hosted there whether they were inside or in their nice patio. You can not go wrong with any of their dishes you order. Their raspberry lemon drop is exactly how I like it made (of course, never had these during working hours). There is an open parking lot across from the restaurant which you can always validate your parking. The two bars (downstairs and upstairs) makes it convenient for those that want to grab a quick drink before going to a show at the Improv or those that would like to sit down and have a nice dinner. The manager and staff are very friendly. The food is decently priced and is prepared in a timely manner. Also a good place to have lunch while working as you'll be in and out of there in less than an hour. As I have in the past, Loft is a place that have and still would visit often.
(5)
Vi Y.
We grabbed a snack here last night, before catching Ovo, and I was really disappointed in the quality of the food. We ordered mozzarella with tomatoes, pistachios, and balsamic dressing, steak bites, grilled shrimp, and 2 glasses of wine. The steak bites were like Vietnamese cubed steak, but really dry and flavorless. We ordered it rare, and it was still tough to chew through. The grilled shrimp itself had a good flavor, but the salad below it had no flavor at all. The mozzarella used wasn't high quality, and had a rubbery texture. We went to Fahrenheit next, and the food was 10 times better for the same prices. I don't think I'd eat here again since Fahrenheit is right around the corner. At least we got to use a restaurant.com coupon. :) $25 off....yay! :)
(2)
Elaine H.
One of the place where you can expect hella asians to be at when barhopping in downtown SJ. The dancefloor upstairs can get pretty hot and stuff, but their have big fans blowing at you so thats an extra plus. Drinks are more expensive compared to other bars in the area, maybe 2 dollars more? Prepare to have 2nd form of ID just incase because chances are, they will ask. They always ask me, so I already have my credit card out! The people carding can be strict or just be mean and not let you in. If you are trying to get in and are tipsy, you BETTER act right or you're not getting in. I've seen it happen too many times. No Cover.
(3)
Jasmine P.
After dark, this is the spot to dance, kick it with friends, and really enjoy the night life like it's meant to be enjoyed. The dance floor is packed tight, like a twin bed holding five or so grown adults... but that's just because everyone there wants to be at one of downtown's hottest spots. The Loft is a "hot spot" in the sense that the music is great, people are cool (not the typical pig feed) and it is truly different from most clubs now days. Enjoy a DJ who plays a little bit of everything all mixed up (R&B, slow jams, old school, hip hop). Close your eyes and imagine a cool soulful joint, and this is it... only with less elbow room! The Loft even has a beautiful patio area outside for those who really wanna enjoy a drink, some laughs and "what"-peace and semi-quiet. Now, I can't pretend to know anything about the food or service during the day, but if you want a drama free night, where you can really let your hair down, enjoy beautiful people, then well... I'll see you on the dance floor.
(5)
Denise W.
So I've never update any of my reviews before.. but after seeing all these negative reviews.. i feel like i need to defend this place. haha. The Loft is the only place in downtown SJ that I've never had a problem with. I only dock a star because the drinks are expensive here but I guess that's how it is since there's no cover. The staff is super chill, Ive never needed a 2nd ID, and the musics usually pretty good. If I'm barhopping in downtown.. I'll usually barhop my way around for cheaper drinks but I'll usually end up at here at the end of the night. So what I dont get is, and i had to scroll up a couple of times while reading these reviews to make sure we were talking about the same place... the talks about rude bouncers/ staff, lights in faces, cover charges etc. This is kinda news to me.. i cant even imagine it. but then I've only visited on Thursdays.. if that makes a difference. :|
(4)
Ling H.
I've usually only been to the Loft after dinner hours for the nightlife scene since it is only one of the few places in San Jose that does not charge a cover. Good night life vibe and depending on the night, how crowded it is. Dance floor is a little tiny and drinks are a little bit more expensive than your normal club, but always a good time here. Came here for dinner NYE 2008. I honestly was not expecting too much of the food, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of it all. The grilled prawns were cooked to perfection. I tried a friend's filet mignon, which was decent but could have used a little bit more spice or marinade. My other friend's Grilled New York Steak was a little dry for my taste and I also tried the Ahi Tuna, which by far was THE best dish of the night. The only drawback of eating at the Loft is the minimum $25 food and drink charge for everyone at the table. So don't come to the Loft for dinner if you are planning on spending less than that.
(4)
Annais R.
Love the food here :) awesome
(4)
Quynh-Anh N.
Loft has the most persistent guys: Indians that sneak behind you, Latinos that think they can persuade you with their moves, and Asians that deploy in two. And there is a whole lots of perspiration (sweats are literally dripping from the ceiling). It is always crowded, the drinks are overpriced, and the transition needs work. But they have good music and you will always find yourself having a good time.
(3)
David T.
This place is horrible! The drinks are over priced and the bartenders are wack. This one bartender made our drinks wrong and we told him. He throws a fit and starts to give us an attitude. After talking to his manager, I found it quite funny that the manager told my friend not to give them a bad yelp review. The stairs is super dangerous and always wet. Yes, I fell down the stairs because it was so slippery. I'll never come back to this place. The crowd is ok and the music is decent but over priced alcohol is a big no no when it comes down to partying.
(1)
Michelle D.
Came here before a play at SJ Rep Theatre. Sat outside on the roof top eating area. The food was fabulous and I am a foodie. I highly recommend the gazpacho and especially the ceviche...yum!
(4)
Eugene N.
Been to this place a while back before it became more popular. Being in "MAN Jose" any male gets excited by a new club spot to hit up. Why is that? My use for the name of the city, Man Jose, should be self explanatory. But for those who are in denial of the obvious, or are just not aware of the "scene" we have here in San Jose, it goes like this: San Jose has one if not the worse guy to girl ratio. Recent studies by San Jose's own Metroactive states we have a 6:1 guy to girl ratio. We were even featured on Oprah showing San Jose being a great place for single women to meet men. Thus now dubbed "Man Jose". So back to the review, of course all male daters are aware of San Jose's worse kept secret, but it is unavoidable. So when there is a club or spot that recently opens, it is a great opportunity to hunt for their female prey before the environment becomes overshadowed by cocks. So enter Loft Bar and Bistro. While everybody was at the usual cockfest clubs of San Jose, the Loft Bar and Bistro starts a good thing for those who knew about its initial existence. The place was very clean. The entrance would have you fooled to only be at a bistro. No signs of dancing or partying down here. The stairs leading upstairs was obviously the way to my purpose of being here. You get upstairs and its a nice lounge scene. The decor was to my liking. Going for a more contemporary elagance rather than the obvious glamour that most people tend to overuse. The bar was inviting and so were the staff. It definitely resembled a "Loft". The dance floor was of a decent size, much more open than Temple. DJs always vary, but at this night I had no complaints. There were plenty of seating during the time I went. Not just around the dance floor, but also a space outside on the second floor if it was getting too hot in "thurrrr". As for the crowd, I was enjoying it because it was diverse, the ratio wasn't bad, and it wasn't overcrowded where you couldn't move or get your own personal space on teh dance floor. I hear they serve gourmet meals prior to club hours, but I myself have never tried. No club in SJ deserves 5 stars, I rarely give 4, from first time experience it would have got a 4, but the follow up, well... ------------ I went back here again a few months later, when it was nothing new and the word obviously hit all the locals. San Jose's virus is Man Jose, and it spreads fast because it has hit this place, and although I still stick with my prior review, the most drastic change that the virus has compromised is the ratio. Expect typical "Man Jose" ratio, so bring your A game. You'll need it, because all the other guys sure will.
(3)
Andrew W.
The drinks here are expensive. The DJ was terrible. He just wouldn't play a song from start to finish. After a minute, he would cut to a different song with a different tempo. How am I supposed to get my groove on? I appreciate the patio on a warm day. They have drink specials. So, stick with those or you will be overpaying. I think a margarita was $10. And, they suck at mixing drinks. It tasted awful. I think they used rail tequila. Fail.
(2)
Katherine L.
Have you ever felt kind of weird sitting at a restaurant/club during the day when you're used to it filled with naughty, brash, sweaty, drunk people hyped up and humping everyone, and possibly anything in sight? Been at Loft three times at unholy hours with friends to knock back a couple of drinks and shake the booty. They've got an upstairs and downstairs with a bar and different music playing on both floors. It gets really packed and sticky. I mean sticky with the floor and sticky with...if you bump into another person, you feel their sweat on you. Seriously, they need to open a couple of windows to bring some air in. Recently went there for dinner, club looks more "innocent" with the daylight flowing in and the tables and chairs out where the dance floor is. My friend recommended the meatloaf, which I usually think of meatloaf being a variety of unidentified meat grounded together with breadcrumbs and baked untl it becomes a rectangle looking funky "THING". Oh well, meatloaf it is. I remember it having swiss cheese, ham, bacon, and some other whatever ingredients they tosssed in there. Guess the fun thing about meatloaf is that everything's ground up to pieces, so you don't really know what is in it. Kinda reminds me of Spam. Meatloaf was delicious, huge, larger than my foot, literally 3 inches high. Depending on the brand, my shoe size is 7 and a half. It came with some veggies and mashed potatoes. I think they had that with the meatloaf as a way of saying, "Yes this is a huge meatloaf, but we're going to toss you some veggies, so you don't feel guilty about the meat fest."
(4)
Jon H.
Came here after a decidedly disappointment at WET (closing the guest list at 10, HUGE lines). Despite the reviews, I didn't have too bad of a time. It might be the fact that I kept turning around and seeing various old college friends, so the entire night was a chain of college reunions, and the fact that I was with an awesome group of people - but I felt the music, drinks, and the crowd wasn't too bad for a Friday night in man-jose. Crowd- mix of college students and yuppies, heavy on the asians. FOR ONCE, there seemed like there was more girls than guys on the dance floor. Drinks - Average cost, average bartenders = drinks that don't blow you away or disappoint. About 5-6 for a beer, 6-8 for mix. Security - these guys are on a power trip. Flashing lights when not needed, moving people around, making us cool down three "trees" away, asking me how old I was.... Overall: Again, not too shabby. No cover? GREAT. I'll come back here again, but keep your expectations low, and you might end up having a good night. Not great, but good.
(3)
Candice T.
~LOVED~ this place. i'm discovering more and more that if the staff loves their job at a particular place, that's where you'll find me, eating/ chillin'/ shopping. Che is a fabulous bartender who not only loves his job, but loves that you love him mixing your drinks. This place has a tendency to create regulars due to the personable service. So go ahead, go on in a weekday. Even still, go in by yourself and you'll still feel like you're among friends.
(4)
Sachiko K.
Free cover, but expensive drinks. Make sure you bring 2 forms of ID. This place isn't that bad. Two bars: upstairs and downstairs. The bar downstairs usually tends to be less crowded so you should go here for drinks if upstairs is too crowded. Bartenders are always nice, never experienced a rude bartender. The dance floor gets really crowded, but you can't really complain... it's free cover so a lot of students are going to come here. Don't get too drunk! Even if you're just putting your head down or resting your head on your elbow to take a break, the bouncers will tell you to get up/stand up, or they will kick you out. They're really strict about having drunk people inside so if you look like you've had too much they won't hesitate to escort you out. GREAT TIP: What my friend's and I usually do to avoid spending so much on drinks is to go to Flames first! They have happy hour until closing (midnight) and offer drinks for $4. So get your drink on there first and then head over to Loft afterwards! PARKING: There's usually a lot of parking a block away from flames on 5th street. It's the street that leads into SJ City Hall from San Fernando, it's not a through street. Park there, stop by Flames, walk over to Loft which is like a 5minute (or less) walk. Seems far, but when you're walking back to the car after drinking and dancing, it'll only feel like it's a block away! But maybe not if you're DD though D:
(3)
Steph C.
6$ hen and grey goose shots till 11:30! Can't beat that anywhere in downtown.. Maybe its the 'old' in me coming out but I really enjoy the diverse crowd that Loft brings in. Besides the totally trashed girl trying to take of her underwear in the bathroom line, I thoroughly enjoyed myself here last night.
(5)
Grace Y.
To begin, I was inbetween 3 and 4 stars, but since I didn't have to pay for my dinner, I think it toppled it towards the 4 stars. As stated, I didn't pay for my dinner here, one of my friends had one of those coupons from restaurants.com or something that was like spend 30 bucks, get 25 bucks off and used it for our meal. Since we're good fooding buddies, we ordered all kinds of things and shared family style. If you're going to eat out, that's totally the way to do it...more bite for your imaginary buck ;) So first things first...when we ate, we went up an elevator and ended up....in a loft! Haha. Now I understood the name of the restaurant. Sometimes I can be a little slow in these kinds of things... Appetizers we had calamari and the artichokes. The calamari was decent, and I liked the dipping sauce. Nothing too special about it, and I wouldn't have paid for it. I liked the artichoke, but it's not very easy to mess one up. They had a yummy sauce that accompanied it as well. For my entree, I got the pork chops and he got a chicken dish. It was all decent, the meat was prepared properly and they were good cuts and of good quality. Nothing super spectacular, and I'm not sure if I would pay for my meal here. Not when there are a bunch of other restaurants nearby that I 've been wanting to try. I hear there's dancing here too, but not when I was here (Sunday night).
(4)
Rocker K.
I came here the other night for Mikey U's UYE B-day/noob event. This was our second stop for the night. When we got there, it wasn't that crowded. It's a nice bar with two stories. Upstairs they have another bar and a medium sized dance floor. There is a private area that you can sit in for private parties. There is no cover so that's always good. It's a 21 plus bar/restaurant. I noticed that they have an elevator there which is good to have especially at bars since climbing stairs whether you're going up or down when tipsy is not a good idea. Don't take any chances if you tend to trip when you're tipsy or drunk especially for you ladies who wear heels. There are two bathrooms there. The one on the first floor is unisex and they only have one stall. The one upstairs is located by the wall and has two, one for women and one for men with more stalls. Don't wait until you really have to go as that place got packed quickly. I mostly sat upstairs in the private area to chill out with some drinks. I talked to Jeremy M., Anny P., and Vijay mostly while there. They ordered some calamari which looked good. Everyone was having a lot of fun but it was way too hot and crowded there and I thought the security guys were a bit rude so decided to go downstairs. They looked really mean and looked like they were hoping to get someone kicked out that night. We had to leave the private area for some other party and when escorted out, I felt like turning around and saying" "Moo" to them as they were hurdling us like cows. lol! I didn't as I knew that would just piss them off and get me kicked out maybe. I noticed the elevator was broken before I went down and that was strange since it was just fine when we got there. I think what really happened is that a few people may have thrown up in there, lol. I spent the rest of the time sitting alone downstairs near the Xmas tree across from the bar. A few people came up and said hi to me like Sha B. and Brian. Brian is really cool and funny. He talked quite a bit and was nice enough to buy me a drink. Also, there is a flat screen TV there that plays sports shows. It's not a bad place and the music is OK. The drinks happen to be overpriced though. My margarita cost $11.00. I guess that's why they charge no cover, they make money off the overpriced drinks. I won't be going back here on my own, but sure would with the SBC crowd!
(4)
Alex G.
This is probably my favorite place to eat in downtown San Jose for lunch. The salads are delicious and even on the large side. I haven't tried many of the appetizers because I love the salads and the tomato soup so much. Entrees are also pretty large and I have a hard time putting away a whole sandwich The serving staff is friendly and attentive, no matter how many refills of lemonade I ask for. If you come during lunch on weekdays there is never a big crowd and a really pleasant experience.
(5)
susanne r.
Wanted to find downtown alternatives for dinner prior to performances. Great food, awesome service and validation for parking. Even more perfect is they have happy hour with drinks and food that coincide with performance dining!!
(4)
Jenna H.
3.5 stars for nightlife But I'll bump it to 4 stars for NO COVER CHARGE! This is my second time coming here, both times to celebrate girlfriends' birthdays. We all met up on a Saturday night, and me being me I always arrive at the 'designated' time, if not early. (I should have guessed everyone else would be running on Asian time--my fault) I was pretty surprised when I arrived at 10:15pm on a saturday night though. The 'nightlife' aspect hadn't even started yet. They were starting to clear tables and a few patrons looked like they were still eating. The crowd was definitely older to say the least. By 11pm, I'd say there was a good amount of people. Drinks: They have a small "Happy Hour" list of drinks ranging at $4, $6, $8 that is good til 11:30, so I'd definitely recommend getting your drink on and your buzz going with the happy hour drinks while they are cheap. Afterwards the drinks can get pretty pricey ($9 for a White Gummy after happy hour, $6 during happy hour). If you like fruity/sweet drinks, I'd DEFINITELY recommend the WHITE GUMMY. SO good!! Atmosphere/Crowd: It's funny when I read the reviews before coming here and many saying "Man Jose", there were surprisingly a lot more women than I was expecting. Well, that was before the place got packed. Tip to the men out there: Get here earlier while it's still dead. Easier to make a move when there's less competition. If you come while it's already poppin', you've lost your chance and need to compete with the other creepy men. But I saw a good variety of people in the crowd. It does get pretty crowded on the floor though Music/Dancing: I do like how they have an area for dancing. DJ was pretty good, spinning top 40s/hiphop/house. Pretty much any song he played you could 'club dance' too. Parking: So in reviews a couple people said they validate parking for Safeway. I called Loft to double check, and was told (6/9/12) that Loft DOES NOT VALIDATE PARKING, at least not anymore. **EDIT: Thank you Maria of Loft's customer service for clarifying their parking validation! Loft does validate, but only for certain lots. "The closest lot to The Loft that still accepts validations is the multi-story garage between 2nd and 3rd on San Carlos."** I also heard that Safeway validates parking for 2 HOURS with a purchase. Worth checking up on, but is 2 hours really enough? THEREFORE, right across the street is an underground parking structure (Pavilion Garage?) that is $5 FLAT rate for the whole night if you get in BEFORE 11pm. Don't park on the ground level lot next door that's $10 flat rate, or the lot across the street from Loft that's $4/HOUR. Or at the lots that Loft DOES validate parking. Overall: I had fun. Good place to get your drink on and dance. I wish the nightlife aspect started sooner. Place was poppin by 11-11:30, but they kick everyone out at 1:30.
(4)
Maronita I.
My boss took me and about 12 other girls out for my bday! We were all starving so we ordered many apps: Calamari w fried jalapenos and parm---delishhhh Buffalo Chicken Wings---good but nothing wow'd me about em Roasted Chicken Quesadilla---Out of this world, served with all the fixens... I had the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak--- Topped with demi-glace and a spicy papaya-jicama salsa served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. To be honest, it wasn't bad... but I would definitely order something different next time. My meat was a lil tough. The hit on the plate was the veggies...super fresh, crunchy and in season to boot. I love this place. The atmosphere is great. It's upstairs so you get a nice breeze comin thru the windows with a decent view of the street. The drinks are not very strong but just right if you're drinking for flavor and not to get tossed. Im sure you can ask for an extra shot in the martinis if they don't satisfy your thirst. Three of us girls had the Bermuda Triangle Martini.. 3 each : /... mmmm they were fantastic. But not very strong so we were able to get back to work and function. They even brought me a birthday cake...molten chocolate with berries...it was out of this world. All in all....I felt very special. The bill came out to almost 500 for about 12 people... Not too bad for a fine lunch with alcohol flowing. Thanks Boss!!!!!!!! I'll definitely be back... P.s. I have a few friends that party here on the weekend evenings.. say its a nice crowd despite the ghetto-ish across the way at the two other bars.
(4)
trevor l.
Probably my go to lounge/bar/club place in SJ. Dance floor, drinks, space to walk, a patio..
(4)
R C.
This is a must read- "WATCH OUT FOR 60-YEAR OLD LOOKING STAFF WITH TEMPER". I went there for a birthday party at their upstairs outdoor patio. Not knowing there were 2 parties going on at the same time, I picked up one of the strawberries that were being served, when "the 60 year old looking staff with glasses" ran up to me and this conversation took place, word for word- 60- Do you belong to this party? Me- Ya, I am here for xxxx's birthday. 60- THIS IS NOT XXXX'S BIRTHDAY'S SIDE. PUT THAT STRAWBERRY DOWN!!! (screaming at me, no joke). Me- Okay, I'm sorry, I didn't know there were 2 parties up here. (Put my half bitten strawberry down and picked up my drink). 60-I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET ANYTHING FROM THAT SIDE! Me- Umm, I got this drink from the bar. 60- YOU SURE??? Me- Excuse me, but I really don't need to eat these foods out here or drink for free, I can pay for it if I really want to. I got this drink at the bar. 60-DON'T BE A SMART ASS OR I CAN HAVE YOU THROWN OUT IN A SEC!!! Watch out for this guy, he looks old and wears glasses. He runs around the club in a staff shirt. The rest of the club seemed friendly. But this was the worst experience of my life at a club, as a paying customer.
(1)
Skippy P.
***3.5 Stars*** Got a philly cheese steak sandwich, all of it was good but the steak, if that makes sense. It tasted like boiled steak with little flavor and the chunks were too big for my liking. The grilled onions, red and green bell peppers, cheese and bread were amazing though. The fries were perfect! Maybe I caught them on a bad day. I really wanted to like this sandwich. I'm sure the rest of their food is great. The staff was very nice and attentive. I'll definitely go back, but not sure if I'll try the philly on my next visit, but I will give it another go. Everything that I saw come out of the kitchen looked yummy!
(3)
Jerry S.
This is a great place if you're looking for a watering hole in downtown San Jose. Ther's no cover, however the bouncers will thoroughly check ID's and ask for a second form of ID or a credit card. I guess they just want to make sure that no one under 21 gets inside. This is a bar so it's easy on the dress code. The drinks are moderately priced unlike some other places I know. The dance floor can get a little crowded upstairs, but the music is always good. I suggest running to the downstairs bar if you need a drink during these harsh times as there is usually no wait. Overall, the Loft is a solid spot for weekend shenanigans.
(4)
D. B.
No cover & drink specials from 10:30-11:30pm! I go here occasionally with friends to have a good time. It gets crowded! Music is okay. Crowd is good. Not too many obnoxious people (at least from my experience).
(4)
Peter H.
To quote the Talking Heads: some good points, some bad points. Good points: beautiful space, particularly the upstairs bar and upstairs rooftop patio are pleasures in themselves. The management and nearly all of the bar and wait-staff are friendly and extremely competent. The food, while not a revelation, is quite edible and delivered in a timely fashion. I don't know how to describe the cuisine...American bistro-esque I guess. (I strongly recommend the steak salad.) On weeknights, there is trivia (Wed. nights?) and a really good jazz trio (Thursdays). V. nice flatscreen HD TVs upon which to watch sporting events. Corkage fee a mere $15. Bad points: winelist from hell and it never changes; downstairs bar looks dull from the street, whereas the upstairs bar is tres cool; menu is rather dull. But the worst thing is that on weekend evenings around 10pm, the upstairs bar becomes a "club" scene, replete with crappy DJ/hip-hop/whatever loud-and-tuneless music. The crowd gets low rent, and the bartenders get stressed out. This place could do better. The verdict: generally a reasonably priced, very good ambience place. Give it a shot, keep your expectations within the (reasonable) price point, and enjoy.
(4)
Sharon T.
Its a pretty decent place to dance - but the DJ's awkwardly mix the music to the point where the crowd will obviously come to a HALT once a beat is skipped or a completely random song gets thrown into the mix that kills the vibe. Not cool. Last Saturday, I was in the middle of a packed dance floor that felt as though it were going to CAVE-IN. I'm not joking. I have been there several times, more drunk than this last time, and I've never felt as though it were going to collapse because it was NEVER this crowded before... and I was not the only one that felt that - because my sober bf felt the same thing as he stood on the middle of the dance floor amongst the other sardines and he feared for his life. They closed down SoFA lounge for "Safety" reasons, but I never saw a flaw in the establishment - except the narrow stair entryway... This was my next favorite place, but with all the recent mini-earthquakes, I'm not too keen on the idea of returning after feeling the floor beneath me give with each beat of the speakers... and I am surprised no one has complained about this before. The food - well, I had the lamb shank, and it was nothing to brag about. The portion was good for the price, but it tasted like it was marinated with soy sauce and sugar. The service was okay, and the bouncers here are strict when opening doors here for you, but are friendly once your ID is checked, and you don't act a fool... I miss the days when the rooftop was NOT covered and was an open area to smoke. That kept me from pissing off the bouncers and owner by standing in front of the establishment and being prompted to step a good 15 feet or so away from the door. Take that god forsaken cover OFF so I can see the stars again, and I'll quit my whining. I do have a good time here because you don't get the smelly fucktard that thinks he can hump your leg or the ghetto girl that gets pissy because she won't move her stupid ass while you're inching past to get to where you want to be.
(3)
Rachel R.
Came here for a joint bachelor/bachelorette party. I learned a few things that night. One, never come here with such a large group(we came with 30 people). The server split our tab into 3 groups, one with 4 people, another with 3, and the remaining 23 on one tab. Unfortunately, mine was on the tab with the 23. Seriously? Do you realize how freakin' hard it is to split a tab of almost $800 between 23 people? Two, If there happens to be drama going on between some of the "party", don't come. You ruin the mood for everyone. Three, Don't try to do anything remotely stupid, like walk outside with a drink, no matter how drunk you are, security will get up in your face, no matter how little the infraction is. Anyway, the food we ordered was pretty good, so was the alky, but the service sucked. I understand that the server had to deal with 30 people, 3/4 of them drunk, but never again will I come here with such a large group. I will be willing to come back though, but only with parties of less than 6. Parking was also relatively easy, one across the street, and the 2nd street parking garage.
(3)
Christina A.
I like the way this bistro is set up, but I felt the tables were a little too close together. I could hear everyone's conversation around me. When I sat down I noticed that there were bread crumbs on my sister's and my appetizer plate. We weren't even served bread yet! Pretty gross.
(2)
Gene P.
Went back here on a thursday. The DJ wasn't as horrible as last time so no Kelly Clarkson buzz kill. However they hired some really weird bartenders on the bottom floor. The place was packed as hell and the vibe was chill, except for the fact that the bartenders on the bottom floor were messing up order after order. Apparently "Jagger" and "Jagger bomb" is too hard to decipher in a loud environment, but I guess I could give a pass for that... Original rating 3 stars +1 cause they got a better dj that knew not to mix E-40 with Kelly Clarkson immediately after -1 for the bartenders downstairs for messing up orders and slowing down the flow of people trying to get a drink. Next time I'm getting my drinks upstairs.
(3)
Juanita M.
Shared a couple of small plates for dinner as not very hungry. They were good.
(3)
Larry L.
I've only been here at night after dinner time, when they blast music and serve only alcohol. I appreciate that the place has no cover. But it does get wildly packed in there. Bartenders are cool. Crowd is cool. It's A-OK.
(3)
CindyAnne C.
ewww..i really dislike this place..sorry but they charge wayy too much here for drinks. This place is another example of one of those trying hard to be upscale bar/restaurant that thinks they belong to the city of LA or SF..sorry not even close. age range is prolly 21-23yrs old crowd and its such a meca for asians...no mix crowd at all. Lower Down ur drink prices then maybe u can attract an older, smarter and more practical costumers...FYI...ure not in SF! place is not even nice to begin with...I HATE WANNABEES LIKE THIS..=P
(1)
Rev. Dr. Christopher J. G.
You know, I'm shocked that it took a Cinequest Happy Hour to get me to The Loft. I was early, as always, and found myself sitting around waiting for the fun to begin. It was really nice, great waitstaff and bartenders, the Happy Hour prices were nice and the portion sizes were really good. The Onion Strings were too big for me to finish! Once the Happy Hour event with Cinequest started, it was even better. The drinks they made were good and Happy Hour priced, though I understand that drinks are regularly quite a bit more expensive. The place can crowd up quickly, which happens a lot of places, but really, the bar is the place to be. I'd happily go back for another Happy Hour.
(4)
Cam P.
This place was sooooooooooo crowded. I literally couldn't breathe. I was sweating up a storm dancing and trying to run away from creepers who wouldn't gtfo of my face But overall, the bartenders were quick and the dance floor was of good size. I liked how it had an extra dance floor to the left of the main dance floor.
(3)
Christine L.
My awesome friends took me to this restaurant to celebrate my 30th birthday! We had the best experience seated on the roof. The waitress was great and very patient as we had a huge group. I know personally I was all over the place and never ready to order anything every time she came around! Some of the highlights were the artichoke, calamari, crab cakes, ahi tuna, and halibut. I also had some very yummy martini's. This was the perfect place for my birthday dinner. The food was terrific and the restaurant had a great atmosphere.
(4)
Nathalie N.
This place is one of my favorite restaurants. It was a recent discovery recommended by a friend about a year ago. Since then, I've been here several times. Favorites: - Lamb Shanks (Yum!) - Crab Cakes - Chilled Salmon Salad Service is good. Parking is easy (nearby in the 2nd street parking garage). Drinks are well prepared. Food is great.
(5)
Angie M.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Thursday night. It was a decent place with good food and friendly service. There was a jazz-trio on the first floor; they were good, but it was a bit loud where they were playing... thankfully, the hostess sat us in the 2nd floor dining room so we were able to enjoy the jazz as background music. Food was yummy. Steak bites appetizer and calamari for the table, and I had the crab cake caesar salad: yum! And of course, the staff was willing and able to keep my Sapphire & tonic full to the brim the entire night. :) Service and atmosphere was pleasant; perfect for a large group dinner. Will definitely go here again.
(3)
Tom G.
Restaurant review only... Dinner for 6 last nite, and all of us were impressed. Appetizers were calamari with jalapenos and the steak bites. Both met with unanimous approval. Entrees: 2x pesto salmon, 1x marinated flank steak, 1x pork loin, 1x scampi skewers and 1x some-kinda-crusted-chicken. Small crowd in the dining area, food arrived hot and all at the same time. I could go into great detail, but here is the bottom line... everyone at the table was saying to someone else at the table, "Here, you gotta try some of this this. Oh, it's good." There you have it. The portions were good sized, even the side vegetables were hot, fresh and well prepared. Not real cheap... with tip, drinks (3x drafts, 2x ice teas, 2x wine, 2x martini) and a $25 cert from Restaurant.com I dropped $235. We plan to return. Only complaint = If you order the iced tea, tell them to limit the ice! It was 90% ice and 10% tea.
(4)
Monica S.
I love it that there is no line or cover. No obnoxious crowd. Perfect for a good time to catch up with friends, you can actually have a conversation w/o yelling. Great appetizers. Their mango mojitos is a must!!
(3)
Melanie C.
I've been here twice now, because there's no cover. Sitting up on the roof is actually a good time if you have good company. It's quiet enough you can talk and just enjoy the company and drinks. Dancing, however, is meh. The music is mediocre and the dance floor is crowded. The first time, something STANK. And I got bored. The second time, well, they closed at 1:30, and we had just stepped on the dance floor. Good for drinking, although the bar tender kept trying tricks with the bottle and dropped them twice in the five or so minutes we were standing there - not impressive - but I am still looking for a good venue to dance.
(2)
Chris T.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. The downstairs entrance leads straight to a bar and there's another entrance to the staircase up to the Bistro and another bar. As it works out, we went on a sunday night so there was barely any people there. We literally had the whole patio to ourselves, which was cool because we ended up taking pictures all over the place. . It was a bit chilly, but they had heaters that kept the environment nice. The waitress was really nice and was really patient with us. They made sure we got our bread refills and didn't bug us too much. I thought the food was good. The bread they give was chewy and had a nice vineger sauce. I had the chicken marsala and a mango martini. The martini was pretty good, but was small. I was expecting one of those big glasses, I don't know about paying $10 for it. My friend had warn me ahead of time, so I knew it wasn't going to be cheap. The chicken marsala was okay. I was kind of wondering if it was going to be anything like the indian version, but it wasn't really. The chicken was a bit dryer than I liked. It does come with sides of rice and steamed veggies. Overall, I thought it was a nice experience. A bit pricey, but other than that it was fine. We also went on a night when they had a deal where you order two entrees, you get a free complimentary dessert. As it was my friend's bday, we let her have all the desserts, so i can't actually tell you if it was good or not, but it looked good :P
(3)
Raj S.
This place is a rip off. Yeah, they don't charge you a cover, but $13 for a freakin drink? Your better off going to Sabor which is right down the street.
(1)
Floria C.
Went here for New Year's and they almost successfully ruined our night. A couple night's in advance I call them and book a reservation for a party of about 15. I make sure with the host that I was speaking to that they don't have a cover charge (when the restaurant turns into a bar) and he says nope. I was in disbelief! No cover on NYE!?? Too good to be true, right? A few seconds I get off the phone, I receive a call from them and the manager introduces himself, asking if I have any more questions. I ask him if it's okay if some of our party orders dinner and others just go for drinks and appetizers (we were planning to go late, around 9pm). He assures me that it's okay. Up to this point, I was quite impressed with their initiative and customer service. We get there the night of NYE and I was greeted by very friendly and courteous staff. The bar area and outer loft look nice. I was worried about the loft being cold, but it was surrounded by a tent-like wall so it was a good temperature. First let down of the night: $25 minimum on food. And it was so convenient that each entree was like $21.99. You couldn't even order a drink to help you reach the $25 minimum. Thank you, manager, for letting me know this in advance! What do you think we were going to do, order 3 appetizers a person?? That was disappointing. Then, our waitress tells us that there is no cover charge (I asked because we had more friends who wanted to join us later at the bar), but you have to buy a $20 gift card on food to get in. You couldn't even use this gift card to buy drinks that night - it had to be on food. We get a call from our friends outside that they aren't going to be let in. Granted, we are a younger group (22-24 yr. olds). I knew the bouncer had the instructions to maintain a certain "crowd" in the place. That means: yuppies. So, since half of our friends weren't allowed in, those of us who were already seated decided we didn't want to stay. They were almost going to make us pay for food (which wasn't even ordered in the kitchen yet, we made sure the waitress would wait...) but the owner who finally decided to make an appearance (after we consistently asked to speak to him... guess he was too good to talk to his customers) came and said it was settled. I understand they needed to maintain a certain "crowd". I understand that some of my friends may have not fit in the "yuppy" category. BUT I don't understand why they couldn't be honest IN THE FIRST PLACE, when I was making a reservation and asking so many questions to make sure the restaurant was a good pick. If they had told me initially about the $25 food minimum and $20 forced-gift certificate, then it probably would have saved US and THEM time and money that night. What a head-ache. Last thing you need on NYE is some yuppy restaurant wasting your time. Decent mango mojito though. That is why I'm giving them 2 stars.
(2)
Kary M.
Came here yesterday for a friend of a friend's birthday party, and all I can say is NO, just NO. I should have known how the night would turn out when the bouncer asked me for a second form of ID. I was expecting it from reading the yelp reviews, but it wasn't that ... he stillll didn't believe it was me and actually LAUGHED after asking me how old I was, because he was freaking lamer and didn't calculate my age correctly. When I finally got in, as gEe C. said, I was herded EVERYWHERE I went. You're not allowed to stop moving if they feel you're "in the way," which btw is pretty much everywhere except the dance floor. They were freaking nazis about it. Obviously they felt important with their little flashlights, because they would flash them all over you, tell you to keep moving and push you along. The final straw was being given my $10 rum and coke by a bartender who was stoned out of his mind. $10???? COME ON. It tasted like soda. I can't even find one positive thing to say about the place, seriously.
(1)
Tanya N.
You know when you have a meal that you sort of instantly regret? Such was our experience at Loft Bar and Bistro. Let me back up. Looking for a place to eat dinner pre-movie, we decided to try Loft based on the offering of martinis and the promise of a patio. Inside is very nice and chill with its NY loft-style decor and service was quite good. But oh, the food. A split caprese appetizer featured tomatoes on par with those found in a McDonald's sandwich: anemic and utterly tasteless. When tomatoes are really the key ingredient of a dish, as they are in a caprese salad, it's kind of an issue. My entree was similarly perfunctory but uninspired: New York steak accompanied by an undercooked vegetable medley and mashed potatoes. The blue cheese butter with onions topping the steak seemed like it would be a nice touch, but it was kind of just slopped on top of the steak (and also the likely culprit of some nauseous dry heaving on my part later). My dining companions were similarly disappointed in the food. D is particular couldn't even finish his French dip sandwich even though he was ravenous...the Safeway-esque bread was untoasted, and he stated that he had better food in Denny's in the midwest. Add having to pay $60+ per person (and I wasn't even drinking), and, well, I think we would have been better trying the neighboring Chicken Coop. D did say his tiramisu dessert was good, and everyone seemed happy with their drinks. The service was very good and the atmosphere really nice (hence the third star), but I would never go again for anything beyond drinks and perhaps dessert.
(3)
Dennis C.
True to its name, Loft does indeed have a very pleasant outdoor/loft dining area. On a nice evening (aren't most evenings in San Jose nice?), it's a nice place to meet up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine before dinner. Oh, speaking of dinner... I ordered the lamb shank and thought it was pretty good. Good portion and it had a nice smoky flavor. Others in our group ordered stuff ranging from veal medallions to salads. I think everyone liked what they got. Here's the problem. The service was bad. No, I mean it was really bad. There was no wait for our seating, but once we were given menus, it was another 40 minutes before the waitress managed to get back to our table to take our orders. After that, it was another interminable wait until all of our food came out. Now, I'm no restaurant expert, but if the first person to get her food is done before the last person in the party gets his...I think there's something wrong there. Also, they messed up the last dude's order, so not only did he get his meal after most of us were done, he got the wrong dish. So sad. By the time we got our check and realized that we were incorrectly charged too much on our bill, it just felt kinda right to end our evening at the Loft by arguing with the waitress that we were, indeed, overcharged.
(2)
Dawn T.
I am writing this review as a lunch customer (not as a night club-goer). It had been years since I had been to The Loft as my husband and I don't frequent downtown San Jose often. I scheduled a business meeting for a noon reservation. We were seated upstairs, and all of us liked the atmosphere. It was not too noisy and the service was great. We all shared the steak bites (as a compliment from the owner) and they were delicious. One of my colleagues had the salmon and another the ahi salad. Two of us had the low-carb chicken. All meals were really very good. I will definitely be going back!
(4)
Debbie L.
My friend and I went around 8pm on a Saturday night. We sat outside, and had a few drinks and some burger sliders. We had found it when we asked Google Maps for anything with a rooftop bar in downtown SJC. The drinks were GREAT (albeit a bit pricey at $12 per mojito), and the sliders were good. Food at other tables looked pretty awesome, but we weren't that hungry. The outside was NOT loud. Music was played very low, which was a pleasure. We thought we'd have a huge view, but there really wasn't that much of a view. Still, being outside in a non-smoking environment was nice. We agreed that we would come back to this place again, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. If you love lots of mixed drinks, you'll probably hate the price, so for you, this might be 2 or 3 stars.
(4)
stephanie n.
I love how they make the chambord here! If you can not drink or hate the taste of alcohol then this drink is for you! I usually come here at night for the bar, it is usually so crowded! My friend decided he wanted to eat here for his birthday, the food sucked and it smell like bathroom. The drinks made up for it but that it. I'll come to dance but not to eat!
(3)
Allen C.
Overpriced and one of the worst places that I have eaten. I think this place is up to par with the Burger Pitt ( 5 burgers for like $6) So as usual I invited my parents again. Experience: I was looking at the menu outside and the waitress lets us know that there is a bar upstairs and I look over the menu and it looks alright. So I decide to go in there. We go in there and we are taken to the 2nd floor. They seat us in a place that is a bit to close to other tables.. it seems that in the effort of trying to fit more tables, they put them much closer together. So we get seated, water is brought along with bread. The waitress comes by and asked us for our drinks, I order a diet coke which was kind of on the verge of being flat. So I order calamari. So as most of the foodies out there know, it's hard to get a good piece of calamari and they know how it tastes. So after waiting a couple of minutes, our waitress comes out with the calamari and it looks pretty good. So we get it and at the bottom is a paper napkin with like pieces of calamari. So I start eating and OMG, it was like eating paper, the calamari was super thin and it was OVERCOOKED. It had a decent flavor with the chilies but that's about it. What we ordered Blue Cheese with chicken: Chicken was super-dry. Basic cooking mentions that you should make the entire chicken evenly in order to not over cook the chicken. But no, they don't get that concept and that's why it was soo overcooked. Flank steak (medium well) No flavor, the steak was undercooked for what we ordered. The vegetables and mashed potato were alright. Btw, most of the main entrees have mashed potatoes and vegetables.. which is super bizzare. Chicken Avacado Wrap I think that In and out has better fries than this place. The fries were super greasy. the chicken wrap itself was ok. The chicken again was undercooked. Overall, I didn't like this place at all. I don't think that I would go back. But if you like to pay for overpriced horrible food. Then this is your place.
(1)
gEe C.
Do you want to feel like cattle being herded? Then by all means come to LOFT. This place was crackin' for all the wrong reasons. Three words to describe this place: A HOT MESS. Never again. Never again.
(1)
Jenny C.
Bar hopped with the ladies last night and came here. This place is amazing in decor and food. This was also where I met my bf 2 years ago. The 2 accessible bars made it easy to access refreshments but the only issue was the bathroom. Only 2 stalls!??!?!?! We'll at least it was clean so I can't complain all too much about that. Overall it was an awesome experience for a girls night!
(5)
Scott P.
Dropped in with a group of people for drinks and snacks, the staff was super nice as soon as we walked in the door... grabbed some space upstairs and pondered the appetizers... really recommend the chicken popcorn - a great chipotle dipping sauce, the calamari was good too - had deep fried jalapeno slices, so you could make a little combo if you wanted a little kick...
(3)
Crystal C.
I have gone here for the bar scene. No cover charge, good drinks and they have a covered outdoor deck. It can get really crowded and super hot, but they do play good music.
(3)
Rick S.
Think quaint, a little unique. Think "a little bit of NY or Chicago" in downtown San Jose. The ambience is cool. The setting is nice. You can choose to sit downstairs, have a beer, mull over a meatloaf sandwich, listen to the music and sit quietly in the glow of the large, picture windows and watch the people, cars and landscape on the sidewalk move and change beneath the city lights. Or, from past experiences, you can walk upstairs, where the feeling is a little more cosmopolitan... better to go with a cocktail here, glass walls, dark seating areas, windows to the world below, room full of miniskirts and shined shoes. Have some savory steak bites or grilled shrimp, and intimately take in the perfume of the person with you. It's Saturday night, where the night begins with appetizers and dinner, cocktails at the loft... before you head to the noise of a Club... or your own lofty ambitions.
(4)
Ashley N.
First, let me start by saying that I chose Loft Bar ad Bistro based on the pictures from their website and it's location in relation to the SJ airport. This dinner was supposed to serve as a 'welcome back to San Jose' celebration for my boyfriend who had been out of town for the past week. His plane arrived at 7:35, perfect dinner timing, so I wanted something in the area. Enter Loft Bar and Bistro. I will give them one thing: the pictures are quite accurate and the food looked just like them. When we arrived, it looked like the place was closed because there was literally no one downstairs with the exception of 3 employees, one of which was tending the (empty) bar with the other two sitting at one of the tables talking. If there hadn't been a open sign in the window, I would have assumed they were closed, tuned around and hit La Vics on the way home. OK, enough about the atmosphere, I know you only want to hear about the food. Selection : yes! Delicious : yes! Prompt : no... Worth the price : no... The bread they bring you is decent (I'm always a big fan of the "free starter") but it was the balsamic-y dipping sauce that was the star of the plate. We started with the $12 (!!) prawn & avocado cocktail. It was OK, way smaller than I expected for the price. It was basically a stemless martini glass filled with chunky cocktail sauce and cut up prawns with about 6 avocado bits on top. I had the Panko Crusted Chicken with Dijon Mustard, mashed potatoes and veggies, and my man had Seared Ahi tuna, some kind of spinach saute and a lump of rice. We were both impressed with our dishes' flavor and presentation. I would certainly not wish to visit this restaurant on a busy night. Based on some of the other reviews, it looks like this place can get pretty poppin' on a hot night. (BTW, I went on a Tuesday.) Our server was slow and inattentive. It's not like they were busy! She came quickly to take our drink orders and when she came back with them, she asked if we wanted an appetizer. It was almost 15 minutes that we waited for our appetizer and we had finished it by the time she came back for our entree order! After ordering, our food was promptly served. All in all, the 3 stars is for the food and the environment, which had that relaxed, trendy feeling that I'm into when I hit DTSJ. I would make another trip to Loft if I had money to burn and wanted good food and lackluster service... the again, La Vics IS right on the way home =)
(3)
Bee V.
the only reason why i'd rate this place 4 and not 5 is because i've experienced better bars/bistros that have set the curve but otherwise, this place is really awesome. i went to dinner this weekend for a friend's birthday and the service was fast and the food was definitely yummy! it was a little overpriced but you get what you pay for! my friend and i shared an appetizer: steak bites. it was about $13 and she ordered it well done.....which we shouldn't have=\ it was too overcooked and dry but that was entirely our fault. we should have ordered medium! we then shared a chicken pasta. i really forget the name of it but i was delicious! when i asked the waitress if its enough for us to share she said ABSOLUTELY! which is right! it was such a huge portion! and they weren't cheap on chicken either! the only thing i would have asked for, was more veggies. i loveeeee veggies and the entire thing was really yummy! i even had like....7 pieces of chicken left over! we downed that with 2 glasses of widmer (my fave) and called it a night. total was about 42 and tipped them 18%= ] i also really like that they don't charge cover at night. i love love love the music and it's always crackin....but it gets so god damn sweaty up there= [ oh well! i always have fun here= ] note: make sure you bring 2 forms of id!!! they're usually lenient about it....but just in case!
(4)
Crystal B.
While checking out downtown last Saturday night we luckily stumbled upon Loft. After going bar to bar, trying to find someplace we liked, we finally found it! Loft has 2 levels, the lower that is pretty relaxed and quiet, although you can still hear the music from upstairs, and the upper level, where all the dancing is. The upper level was fun, we enjoyed the music, and the guys were fun and cute! What more could you ask for?! We will definitely be back!
(4)
Reece W.
Went here for Happy Hour and I have to say it was one of the best Happy Hours I have been to since moving to San Jose. First two star rating is based on the fact that here you can sit anywhere in the restaurant and order Happy Hour selections. They don't push you to a certain area and then if there is no seating your just SOL (bad for business) Moving right along we were seated at the bar located on the second floor. The bartender that waited on us was great. My coworker had decided not to eat meat so it was only two food selections she could choose from. Informing the bartender this information he had special veggie sandwich's made for her. He made sure to keep checking to see if we needed anything and even kept refilling our glasses of water. I ordered 3 drinks with a good amount of food and it came up to approx 30 bucks. The establishment is two floors, very clean, open space, lots of seating and has a outside patio.
(5)
Emmanuel K.
A group of us ate here last weekend for a friend's birthday. The food was okay - my girlfriend and I had the braised lamb shank and shared some other dishes. The lamb and its sauce were mild on flavor and didn't impress me. I've had better. The panko crusted chicken was the best dish I tried that night, and the honey mustard was a standout. The balsamic sauce for their bread is also pretty good. For me, service is almost as important as the quality of the food. Our waitress (Linda? with short hair) tried to take away our plates as we were still eating. A bus boy came minutes later and tried to do the same thing. Then when my girlfriend left the table for a minute, Linda comes back and takes our plates away, asking "DO YOU GUYS WANNA TAKE THE BONES HOME?" I obviously felt insulted, but just to humor her, I joked and asked her to put them in my napkin. If I ever eat here again, I'll be asking for Maria or a different server. I'll also ask my friend who DJ's here to find out what the hell Linda's problem is. Later that night as my friend fired up the turntables, the dance floor slowly filled with fellow cover-evading patrons. Which explains the outrageous drink prices at the bar. Don't expect a healthy tip to save you from subsequent $11 shots. Our waitress Linda should be reminded not to insult her patrons. At least not before the bill is settled.
(2)
xochi i.
Ate here once. Had a bunch of appetizers. Recommend the steak bites, those were really good. As for the night scene, here's my two cents: Pros: no cover, EVER. Almost 100% of the time you'll get in right away, there's usually no waiting, and they've never not let people in for exceeding capacity. Good music, spacious patio area, some seating available on the main floor against the wall if you get too tired of dancing/manage to get wasted. If you're not into the "club" atmosphere, you can also have the "bar" one on their downstairs floor. Also, the DJ's are usually really cool, and they've done birthday shout outs whenever I've requested any, as well as song requests. Cons: if you don't have two forms of ID, and YES, they ALWAYS ask for two, security might ask you a lot of questions/hassle you. The drinks are a bit pricey compared to other places downtown, mostly Asian crowd (not hating, it'd just be nice to see more variety), and of course because there's no cover it's usually REALLY packed, especially on a Saturday night. There's not a lot of ventilation on the dance floor, so it gets really hot. 3/5 because they always give my friend a lot of crap whenever we go there, even when she has two forms of ID. No idea why. They've denied her TWICE for stupid reasons.
(3)
Jarek A.
Draw the conclusion if half the are living on their own or with family/roommates and decide if their opinions are validated. Just buy some GCs from Costco and have a bitchin time!
(3)
Aly M.
I honestly wish I could give 3.5 stars but since i can't ill go with 3... we went here for one of my dearest friends birthdays... Dinner & drinks... Before we went I inquired about using the remainder of my Costco gift card...bought a $100 gc used $80 @ Capers in Campbell & were then given a $20 return gift card credit...even though the two places are both capers restaurants they would not accept the $20....bummer!!! Onto the other stuff...we sat on the patio which was not even closely set the way the photos on their website portray it!! While it was nice to sit outside I wasn't really impressed... There was also two huge birthday dinners going on outside too and they were obnoxious. The steak I had was good and house wine was alright but the experience over all did not make me want to come back again...
(3)
Alariza N.
Best thing on their cocktails menu: The Cucumber Jalapeno Margaritas!!!!! Yum yum yum yum! Bobbi is the best bartender too. My friend and I have become regulars and when she sees us walking through the door, she already starts making our Margaritas for us!!! I love the place!!! I actually don't care for the food, but trust me; once you've tried the CJM, your mouth will be on fire but beg for more!!!
(4)
Tiffany K.
i still hate the fact that they require 2 forms of ID... i understand you guys wanna be strict, but its pretty lame when ONE of my friends is turned away because she only had her drivers license on her... god, if i ever come here again, illl be sure to bring my whole wallet.
(2)
Magda M.
My colleague and I worked closely with the owner to plan our company's holiday party here and we were very satisfied with our working relationship & the party! Kam and his team did a wonderful job, meeting our team's preferences and requests, and the party was a huge success! We were able to reserve the entire second floor and really enjoyed having the comfortable, spacious area to ourselves. Our evening menu included the Caesar and Chinese Chicken salads, calamari, Salmon, Chicken Marsala, Beef and a variety of pastas and rices. Everything was full of flavor, served hot and wonderful! All of our colleagues & their guests at the party (70 people total) had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the evening. One note-- we all preferred the creme brulee over the cheesecake. If you are looking for a place to host a work party for a reasonable price & wonderful food, I highly recommend Loft! Thanks to the staff for doing such a great job with our party.
(5)
Patricia V.
This is probably like one of the few spots that I like to go to in SJ. No cover charge=GREAT! The drinks are a little pricey though. The one thing I love about The Loft is the music. I can actually dance to the music. It's mostly hip hop and danceable music. Although, it can get crowded but they have a dj out in the patio which helps. Every time I go here I always have a good time, no complaints whatsoever. Pros- no cover charge, good music Cons- gets crowded on the dance floor
(4)
Dylan H.
Loft's slogan should read: Lean Cuisine microwavable meals served daily and at a 400% markup! But, wait. Let me rewind a bit. We arrived at Loft on a Wednesday night at 8PM. The lower level was empty but we were quickly greeted by a friendly hostess. She took us upstairs and sat us and our waitress was fast to welcome us and take drink orders. I was excited to check out Loft as it was restaurant week here in San Jose and their special prix fixe menu looked quite exciting and delicious. I ordered the Spinach Salad and the Chicken Marsala. At this point I would typically tell you about that salad but I am unfortunately unable to judge it as it was covered in so much feta cheese that my olfactory senses required me to push it as far away as the table would allow. Perhaps, I should have assumed the salad would be covered in feta cheese and maybe this is all my fault. On the other hand, maybe I could have specifically asked the waitress to list off every ingredient that they planned on going overboard with. But the menu certainly made no mention of that fact. But I digress, I wasn't there for the salad. I wanted the main entree, the Chicken Marsala. Mmmm delicious chicken marsala. It is hard to mess up isn't it? Well, I used to think so. My meal was served to me on a wonderful setting with a side of rice and vegetables. It looked amazing! It would have made an excellent photo in the menu or in retrospect, an excellent photo on the box of a microwave dinner. The marsala was cold, dry and rough. It reminded me of that time back in college when I was so hung over that I ate 2-day old Fettuccine Alfredo that I had left out on the counter *cringe*. Unfortunately, I had not eaten anything all day and would have gladly eaten anything at that point. I think I got about half-way through my plate before I went back to eating the table bread again. Oh well, at least there was still some desert coming! Desert: Chocolate Mousse Mmmm freshly taken out of a package and dumped right into a glass! No-frills here. Just run-of-the-mill Chocolate Mousse, I was hoping Bill Cosby would pop in and offer me some jello pudding instead. Regretfully, he did not. The only reason I give this two stars instead of one, is that the wait staff was kind and polite and the food was somewhat edible. It is my opinion that this place only stays open because of their highly priced drinks and because they have a DJ on weekends that brings in a few people to pay the bills.
(2)
Mai L.
This is one of the only bars I will still go to in downtown San Jose. Why? 1. Always poppin' on the dance floor 2. No cover 3. Not a long wait at the bar 4. strong drinks 5. laid back dress code 6. no long wait in line Loft is one of the best, last stops in SJ. If you had a lame experience anywhere else, make Loft your last stop to dance your ass off.
(4)
Thao V.
Loft is one of the better places to go in downtown San Jose since there's no cover, and it's a decent place to dance with your girlfriends. There's 2 bars, one upstairs and downstairs so the wait for getting drinks isn't too bad. Two dance floor upstairs with two different type of music playing but it gets really packed and stuffy and of course the guy to girl ratio sucks.
(3)
Ken N.
YES! Went last Friday and all I have to say is... 1) No cover charge 2) $6 Goose and Henny shots from 10:30PM - 11:30PM - Stuff people actually want to drink, not the boring fruity drinks 3) Awesome music (2 DJs on 4 turntables which you RARELY see in San Jose) 4) Spacious rooftop patio to chill (heated and covered for the cold and rainy nights). You can hang out downstairs too if you want to sneak away from the madness upstairs for a little bit. It's usually faster if you grab drinks downstairs then head upstairs to party. 5) They even do bottle service on the rooftop patio if you hate waiting around at the bar. And did I say $6 Goose and Henny shots before 11:30PM?! Scoreeee!
(5)
Jacquelynne S.
Bar Review: It always seemed so empty whenever I walk by Loft, minus the group of foreign-chic asians with faux-hawks that smoke their cigarettes outside the bar. I never bothered to go to Loft because there's never a line nor loud music playing so I would always assume that it was a boring spot. Also, from outside, it kind of looks like a rundown wannabe Starbucks or some old cafe. After 5 years of passing by, I decided to give the bar a try. WTF? There's a dancefloor? Who would have thought? So I guess I was wrong, it is pretty crowded inside, you just have to walk up to the second floor. Overall, I had a good time plus the drinks are reasonably priced. I managed to score free drinks by hitting on the fierce lesbian bartender. As far as the dj, eh...typical San Jose bar music. AKA, an endless cycle of Pussycat dolls, Fergie, Lil Wayne, and Journey. Sounds horrific but you'll eventually get used to it...unfortunately. -2 because the bar screams "AzN" invasion. I need me some diversity dammit!
(3)
Nolan V.
Nightlife: Well, youre going to need two ID's so be prepared for that. Pretty strict. Downstairs you can get drinks. bar. Head upstairs to dance and find another bar. Hip hop and the like. good music to dance to.
(4)
Stephanie B.
Went their with the boyfriend, boyfriend's brother, and brother's girlfriend. I was hopeful because the place looked really nice and swanky. Also the food was a bit on the expensive side so I thought the food would be good. They ordered beers and I ordered a cocktail...Not work $9 that's for sure. It was an alright drink. Tasted nothing like a mango would taste like. It was called a Mango Cocktail. I was really hopeful for the food but it ended up just being eh. Wasn't horrible but wasn't good which it should have been for the money we spent on it. I ordered the meatloaf sandwich which didn't have much flavor. The boyfriend ordered the Philly Cheese Steak. He said it was alright and that he had a better one over at the Blue Chip (Sports bar) on S 1st Street for cheaper. The brother ordered French Dip and said he had better as well for cheaper. Brother's girlfriend ordered some sort of salad I forgot the name. She said it was good and there was something called Heart of Palm in it which we all tried for the first time. Not bad. Tasted kind of like a cold artichoke heart. But honestly like the stars title says "Meh. I've experienced better" is what I feel. I don't think I'll be coming back here. The type of people there was mostly middle aged slightly dressed up people who made good money to come there. Go to the Blue Chip. They have the same food for cheaper and better.
(2)
Heidi C.
NIGHTLIFE SCENE. LOFT NOW HAS DRINK SPECIALS 10:30-11:30 THURSDAY NIGHTS! (not sure if it applies to weekends also...) FREE entry all night AND drink specials? COME ON NOW! I believe it's $6 kamikaze & purple hooters. I was here last night (Thursday). It was a little slow in the beginning. Not too many people, but it did build up as the night went on. Actually... There were A LOT of girls in the building... not enough testosterone to go around. Music was GREAT as ALWAYS. If I could choose one place in downtown to go to almost every Thursday night, it would be here. The people who come here are friendly, the bartender, ADAM is such a sweetheart and again.. the MUSIC ya'll, the MUSIC is KEY for a good night. My friends and I had loads of fun last night mostly because of the music. Only downside is that it gets SUPER hot in there. If you're lucky, you COULD take over the spot in front of the big fan. =P if not, then you'll just be sweating bullets all night. What was really cool about last night was that a waitress and a bouncer were dancing also. It was pretty epic.
(4)
Emmie N.
I have a love-hate relationship with Loft. I love that it is no cover all night. That's right, no guestlist to get on to, no rushing to get to the club, all you need is 2 forms of IDs. I love that there are 2 floors - one on the bottom that's more like a lounge where you can drink/talk/flirt/get to know someone/whatever floats your boat, and one on top to dance. I love the music they play here, none (or rarely) of that annoying hyphy-music-nonsense, urgh, I can't stand hyphy music. However, I hate the dance floor - it is TINY. If you go with a group of friends, it is hard to find a spot where everyone is comfortable and can dance the night away. Even when you find a spot, you are interrupted every 20 seconds by people trying to squeeze through to get to the other side and whatnot...ANNOYING!
(3)
Nicole C.
I love this place! Every time I've gone here it's always been really fun. They play good music and i love that they have a patio with a dj. The reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because one of the bartenders named Mario was REALLY rude to me. I was trying to order a drink and he strait up put his hand in my face! Just because you are a little busy does not give you the right to disrespect a cutomer like that! If your unavailable you can say so not put your hand in my face like a teenage girl! Besides Mario the other bartenders are really nice and helpful. i love this place, but wish i didnt have to deal with a jerk like him.
(4)
Sam W.
Review for the night life / bar hours: +1 Star: No cover [but I figure that's the reason why they have so many bouncers working the floor]. -1 Star: Huge pushy crowd. Little Snooki-wannabes in high heels exposing too many fat rolls ghetto stomping your feet to make way. -1 Star: Weird guys glued to the walls oddly ogling girls on the dance floor and trying to stare down guys who give them the, "WTF are you creeping up behind on my gf/friends like that?" look. -1 Star: Did I mention the huge pushy crowd, where one second you're dancing with a chick that pulled you in, and then the next some dude is rubbing up on you/your female friends from behind? - 1 Star: $20 for a shot in a tiny plastic cup and a mixer with a hint of alcohol. Seriously, in this part of town with this type of crowd? Note to self: Bring a bucket of chum next time, toss onto dance floor, and watch Snooki horde go Shark Week on other patrons.
(1)
Martha T.
Ooo Emm Gee.. 2 Shots & 1 Long Island for $36.00??!?!?! Holy shit...I had to take a second look to see if I was in Vegas... these prices are ridiculous!! =/ I assume its payback for the free cover (w/ two forms of ID). I've been going here for the past four years, and it seems like the demographic has been predominantly Asian in their mid twenties. I came here again last Saturday around midnight and this place was packed. The bottom floor is mainly for chit chatting and upstairs is where people get down and dirty... LITERALLY. The music here is mainly hip hop and R&B, so in a sense, they entice you to get your 'FREAK ON.' The dance floor is fairly small, so if you are the type that likes their own personal space to dance, this place is not for you. I personally like this place only because you can mingle downstairs or have the option to go upstairs and do a little dancing. The smoking area is fairly big as well, and the best part??? They have heating lamps so you don't have to freeze your butt off. However, I would suggest everyone to have a good buzz prior to going here. Otherwise, it will cost you an arm and a leg to have a good time.
(3)
Love L.
I will give 3 stars for the customer service, the food it was over price because u can get the same from any chin restaurants. And there is no free parking ... I don't think we will be go there agin
(3)
Warren W.
****FYI: Need TWO forms of ID. Examples: License, debit/credit card, school id, passport (no, really, don't bring your passport)**** **NO COVER!** Was just here last night for clubbing, not the restaurant portion. Girlfriend's cousin's birthday. I've heard lots of great things about the Loft forever and last night was one of those rare rare rare, highly coveted Saturday nights where I wasn't dj'ing myself somewhere. So yea, ya need two IDs. Security was cool. zero pat-downs. There is a bar below with no music. The main floor is the upper floor with a DJ and a bar. There's a patio room for another DJ albeit a much smaller 1 speaker setup (still enough, just not not enough on the low EQ). DJ's are excellent here. Lots of variety in the hip hop genre. The main floor hip hop DJ's tend to cut mix perhaps too heavily however it is done well and seamlessly. Solid solid bpm cognizance the whole night, very cool. Excellent music programming all around. DJ's barely even speak on the mike, great restraint. They did a birthday shout-out for our group which is killer, I don't recall them doing that for anyone else. The bar itself was cool, full selection. Mostly dude bartenders. First time paying for a $7 corona. Most expensive ever. Considering the free cover.... I guess it's reasonable. For those of us asians born with that miraculous enzyme to process alcohol and never have asian glow, GOOD LUCK trying to get plastered here. You'll empty your wallet long before that. The bathroom situation was hilarious. Get this, NO line for the girls but one for the dudes. Hahahah! Only two toilets there. Hilarious. Overall, great time. Enjoyed the free cover. Music was great. DJ Adam Cova rocked out the patio for a house set. Had a great time. Would definitely do this again.
(5)
Kyu K.
I think I am not ready for the 2nd floor of this place yet. I should wait until my metabolism slows down quite a bit so my body doesn't get warm easily. On a friday night around 11pm, the place is kinda slow. then out of no where, the floor gets packed in no time. I mean packed! probably their staff continuously asking crowd to move helps to get it packed even more. After about 15 mins in the middle of crowd, it reminds me of the sauna in public bath. actually sauna is less crowded but the body heat from all the packed ppl definitely produce the same effect. And I have no choice but going down and out for some air. It's just me. All the people there don't seem to mind it at all and busy shaking their weekdays off. their booze is not weak and hurricane is the bomb. ;) and there isn't a cover as far as i know. if ya enjoy dancing tight next to lots of ppl, you gotta go shake here.
(3)
Tracy T.
My new fav place to go to for nightlife in SJ. Bangin' music (loved it!), parking is a breeze at the garage a block away ($2, but I guess after a certain time it's free!), getting drinks was easy, and it was pretty spacious. Maybe it was because my friends and I came late, but I wasn't complaining and I had a blast. P.S. This place reminded me of my college days and a bar/brewery that I used to frequent, but this one is a more trendy version of it. (another plus for good times and good memories)
(4)
Suzy S.
I'm not familar with many South Bay establishments but met some friends here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. We dined upstairs where our server provided us with swift service and stiff drinks. Our party ordered a couple of starters. The Onion Strings were tasty, crisp and not too greasy, the Tomato/Mozzarella plate was just so-so. The Poached Salmon Salad was excellent and everyone else enjoyed what they ordered. Not a destination restaurant but I'd recommend stopping here if you're in the area.
(4)
Chi N.
Came here a few times.. no cover, always good. I got in easy, no inquisition to come in. There's a happy hour from 10:30-11:30, $6 shots for Hen and Goose, not bad. My BF loves when this place is part of the night's schedule because then he gets to order food. We typically go upstairs, get ourselves a plate of garlic fries and calamari, and just lounge while the rest of our friends drink. The place isn't ridiculously crowded like most places, and music is pretty good. The wait staff and bartenders are pretty nice too. Downside, their woman's bathroom only has 2 stalls. WTF.
(3)
Jane C.
Gone here a few times with my friend and fellow Yelper Angie M. What I like most about it and will keep me coming back is that it's downtown, and it's a great place for accomodating large groups of people. It's fairly relaxed but a little bit upscale feeling. That said, it's also a little bit generic. But the food is pretty good, the drinks are great, and the service has always been friendly and reliable. So yep, that's an endorsement from me!
(3)
Gal B.
We came here for dinner with friends before our play on a Friday night. My first impression was really good. I like the brick walls and the restaurant and bar look really nice. Unfortunately the food does not match the prices or the ambiance. It was just OK, and you expect a lot more for what you pay for. It's too bad - I would have come back here.
(2)
Richard T.
This place is only good because there is no cover and decent music. Other than that, there seems to be a 80:20 ratio of people who want to have fun to people who are looking for a fight. This 20% may be because the dance floor is small and always crowded. This is also the spot where you usually see a dozen SJ police officers waiting after last call. Coincidence? Probably not. The drinks are fairly strong, but way overpriced. $14 for an AMF that comes in a plastic cup? This place is really only worth it if you don't plan on having more than two drinks, otherwise it would actually be cheaper to find a club with a cover and cheaper drinks. If you are from San Jose, you will run into people you know here. The lines to the bathroom sometimes get close to the stairs (yes even for the men's bathroom). Sometimes the urinals are covered in puke. Also, there is a pipe over the walkway to the outside terrace that tends to build up condensation and drip water on the unsuspecting people below. In conclusion, getting in is cheap. Drinking once inside is not. Long lines for the bathroom and the bar.
(3)
Francis N.
My friend: Hey, me and "blah"-and-"blah" are going clubbing tonight at Loft. You down? Me: Dude...I'm hella tired and I got work tommorrow morning and- My friend: Hey, there's NO cover charge, NO dress code, and they play really GOOD music! Me: ...Forreal? My friend: Chyah! Me: Ugh...fine...give me 10 minutes to get ready. The dance floor was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded and the DJ was alright-playing some decent songs. And seriously people, don't bring drinks to the dance floor. God knows how many drinks I've been bathed in and how many fights I almost got myself into.
(2)
Justin G.
It's a great spot to hang out with your friends, get a couple of drinks, and hit the dance floor. Yeah they're pretty strict with the ids but whatever. I mean just have your id and debit/credit or whatever form of other identification and you're set to go. The times I've shown my identification, they never had any problems with it. (Funny story, my friends and I came here one night and the bouncers asked each of us how old we were. I was the only one out of the bunch that said "21 1/2" and they all looked at me like wtf...I never heard that before. ha ha....yeah not funny i know. be quiet) The place has no cover at all unlike sabor or pearl. (screw pearl and their 20 dollar cover after 11) So that's a plus. Also there's no dress code (except for hooded sweatshirts and hats) People say drinks here are expensive. But what place isn't though? (with the exception of happy hour and 2 dollar tuesdays) Either take advantage of the happy hour here (6 dollars for mai tai, zombies, shot of hennesey, etc) or just pregame a jack inside your car. My friends and I wanted to order another round of drinks but happy hour was over by a minute. The bartender was kind enough to charge us the happy hour price. So that was another plus in my book. Dance floor is packed fridays and saturdays. guess that's good if you're not claustrophobic. Overall this place treated me well. My suggestion is to go with a group of friends to have fun. (guys + girls mixed) You'll never get girls here and they'll think you're a creeper unless you're rico suave. Make the best out of it and don't let security or the price get to you. Shit happens.
(4)
Celine D.
You know how they say that people will more readily complain before they will compliment? Well this is one of those situations. We have a group called the DAM Diners (dinner a month) and have no complaints about any of the restaurants we've tried. Until tonight. I'm gonna list the good and the bad and leave it at that. The only reason there isn't just one star is because we were hungry and now we are not.' the bad: -had a reservation for the patio, our table was not set up and we had to stand there (awkwardly) as the servers argued about who was going to set the table. ( I heard them complaining, awesome, made use feel bad) -appetizer, steak bites, was described as having a cabernet sauce...umm can you say mushroom gravy? not the best -appetizer size is super small. I get it, if you're like a 5-star restaurant or something, but if you're not, them gimme some volume -the patio never got re-organized, cleaned or spruced up after the all-day mimosa fest that was supposedly "awesome" because it was bottomless for all the drunks who like paying $11 to have a place to party all afternoon on a Sunday.....um weird and messy. -HAIR in my friends salmon...here, have a free dessert that is free on Sundays anyway...did I mention HAIR?! -bathrooms were a mess with crap strewn all about. The kicker was when the waitress came in, used the facilities, and left without ever noticing the mess. -not a care in the world about making things right, better, appear good, or decent by any of the wait staff. They even switched servers on us and didn't even tell us...next thing we heard is "I'm your server now, she (the other one) worked all day". the good: -desserts were decent, they were supposed to be free because of the hair, but we got charged. Gosh, with so much competition in the restaurant business I would think that this place would be busting its booty to try to please and woo the customer. So it is not the case at Loft Bar and Bistro. I gotta say, the name and facade are both very cool, but once you're inside and experiencing whatever there is to offer here, one learns very quirky it's about a "meh" and a "not so much" away from "bleck".
(2)
Peter M.
Love this place. Something for everyone. Watch the game or have a romantic meal. Two outdoor patios. Great food, full bar, extensive wine list.
(5)
Pawan R.
They don't have draft beer here. The dance floor is upstairs, and the dance area feels more like a cramped closet filled with sweaty people. They don't have draft beer... It takes FOREVER to get an over priced drink. If you plan on drinking at this place make sure to bring someone with a pair of tits and a low cut shirt... (the number one rule of bartenders: serve the hot girls 1st). Did i mention they don't have draft beer. The ONLY plus side is there is no cover and usually there isn't a wait to get inside. But if you don't mind being covered by other people's sweat, the terrible drink selection, and ridiculous wait for drinks this is the place for you!
(2)
Cecilia H.
Looking for a good time in DTSJ, but too cheap to pay a cover fee? That's exactly what my friends and I were looking for on a Saturday night when we stumbled upon The Loft. We got there around 11PM and the wait in the line wasn't ridiculously long, but it was certainly long enough for me to lose my buzz. And what pissed me off was when we were waiting in line, this dude tells one of the bouncer that it's his birthday and him and his homies wanted to get in and cut the line. And the bouncer took him and his pack of 10 guys through and let them in first! I thought flirting with bouncers only worked if you were wearing a short skirts and heels! I guess not at this place. The inside decor was fairly nice, pretty crowded though and if you want to get anywhere on the dance floor you gotta go through a pool of slimy people grinding up on each other. No thanks man! I'm a fan of hip-hop/rap so I liked the music. The drinks were averaged priced and average size, relatively speaking. However, once you did get your drink it automatically decreased in half because its so crowded half your drink spills out when you get bumped. There's street parking around and parking garages. Be careful driving though, its super crowded on the streets, and DTSJ is always crawling with cops.
(3)
Ashley K.
I had been to the loft bar and bistro for dinks before and thought they were a little pricey for a bar. My fiance and I went there for dinner last night. It was silicon valley restaurant week so we had the prix fix menu for $25. He started with the boneless rib appetizer, which was very good, but the portion was too large for an appetizer. I had the lentil soup, which was very good and comforting-like eating a hug. I had the picatta and he had the tuna. The picatta was good, but the shrimp was a little bland. My fiance said the tuna was good-not my thing. For dessert, he had the tiramisu and I had the creme brulee. They were both good desserts. Overall, we will probably go again to have dinner and watch Monday Night Football. Oh, and since we sat in the bar, they had happy hour drink specials. $5 for a hurricane, and $4 for a beer. On a side note, we almost didn't stay because of the sewer smell. The bathrooms need some work.
(3)
Analisa N.
They have this South Western Chicken Salad that keeps me coming back. Best salad i''ve ever had. But thats not the only reason i go to the Loft. For one the ambience of the place is amazing. Relaxing, Calm an ideal place to unwind with some friends or someone special. Free bread is always a plus. Not having the waiter harrass you every 10 minutes is also a plus. I didn't get my waitress name but she's awesome. The drink's are meh .. Kinda watery .. The deserts have solified the meal !! Boo why did i find this place before i move to CT :(
(4)
Ocee D.
3 Stars Met up here w/ some friends after they were done with dinner. The upstairs gets packed pretty quick, and the crowd is decent (mostly asian). Drinks were ok, some were a little too sweet and not strong enough, but others made up for it. Staff was for the most part cool too. We'll probably be back.
(3)
kat a.
I've been coming to Loft Bar and Bistro since they first opened a few years back. The main reason that I really keep going back is because of the ambiance. I like the sleek dark wood interior and the fact that they have an elevator that I can use when I'm too lazy to take the stairs. The outside area upstairs is the best part about this place. During warm summer nights, it's a perfect place to go and have a drink. It's tucked away but still outside. Makes you feel like your in a big metropolitan city even though you are in San Jose. Recently, I went to the Loft for a birthday outing. I liked the fact that there was no cover charge. Security did not ask for 2 pieces of ID as other Yelpers mentioned, so maybe they did away with that. Also, they were raffling off gift baskets. My friend bought a few of the raffle tickets and ended up winning a men's cologne basket filled with 4 different high end cologne's. The basket was easily worth about $200! Even though it was a Thursday night, the place got pretty packed. The tiny "dance floor" was a real hit and so was the upstairs bar. The DJ's played the usual radio jams, nothing too special. The biggest downside that night was that since it was so crowded, drinks were flying everywhere. I had about 3 drinks spilled on my dress alone. When the night was over, I felt like I had just come out of a cocktail shower.
(3)
Christine A.
Came here around 11 something and it didn't look too crackin but when we got upstairs... damn! Had hellaaa fun and their drinks were bomb. I had a shot of goose here and a hurricane. Hurricane was yuuummyy! The dj was hella good too. Prettty much danced the entire time.. drinks were kinda pricey but ehh, it's like that everywhere. Some guy ordered onion strings and it smelled so good. Next time I'm trying their food!! I think I like it here so much cause the people are really chill compared to going to Sabor when all the girls think they're too good for the world. And the guys think they're fucking 20 pack and shit! This place just had down to earth people, just trying to drink and dance.
(4)
Monica V.
this was my first time here last night on a Friday night. Usually I don't like to go to Downtown San Jose. I always thought it was kind of "ghetto".... but this place pleasantly surprised me! Its comparable to some of the places in downtown mountain view and Palo Alto. I got there about 10ish, the place was not packed until about 11:30pm when you can hardly get through the herds of people on the dance floor. Best part was from 10pm to 11:30pm, you get $3 beers so it caught me by surprise when I was asked for 6 bucks after 11:30pm but I mean it was fine. Everyone knows drinks are always pricey thats why I like to start drinking before I get to the club! :) all in all I enjoyed it. Decent crowd. I would go back. Parking is right across the street. 10 bucks but hey ! if you wanna have fun, costs money! enjoy! :)
(3)
Lynette M.
I can go on and on about how much I love The Loft so I will try to keep it short. First of all it has a great vibe and the staff is super friendly not to mention that the food is GREAT. They play live Jazz on Thursday and on friday and saturday nights it turns into a nightclub (no cover charge ever not even on New Years Eve) with a cool DJ and a nice roof style patio. This is a great place for a romantic night out, happy hour, groups and you can even rent it out for special events. It's a wonderful place to go for dinner before heading out to a show at The Improv which is right next door. I love the braised short ribs, crab cakes, pesto salmon, french dip, all the salads, prawn cocktail (not your usual prawns and cockatil sauce), tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and I love their cucumber jalepeno margarita. Oh yeah and my nephew LOVES the steak bites! Don't hesitate to give them a shot because you will be so glad you did!
(5)
John H.
I went to this place after a dinner adventure through San Jose with sushi at Sushi Boat Town, Carl's Jr., and Paradise Yogurt.... This place is still crackin!!! Damn there was so many people I couldn't even dance! Haha. Still my favorite place to hit up in San Jose for some late night boogying. =P And yes folks, this was last night as in a Friday night! You may want to give it a try one of these Fridays! =D
(5)
the t.
What's not to like about this place? Good food, great music.. and the people here are pretty gosh darn cool! -1 star security check is such a bitch.. 2 IDs .. really now?
(4)
RJ A.
Ok so this bar is definitely not the business. A lot of contradictions with this place or illusions. So there really isn't an enforced dress code and it is free to get in but this is the only place I know that requires at least two forms of identification. This place gives an appearance in which it looks like its cracking but reason being is they also don't enforce their maximum capacity. IT just seemed even though there was no space they allowed more and more people to come in. People inside are pretty rude as well so the environment isn't really too friendly as well. The drinks are over priced but they're not compensated in potency. These drinks were so weak and for 3-4 more dollars more than other bars not worth it. I know I'm a big guy but the AMF I ordered for me and my home girls seriously tasted like straight up Kool Aid even they were able to down it with ease. Overall I would only recommend this place to people who don't give a shit about how much they spend because it seems as if it would take 100's of dollars to get the job done. Also for people who like to be compressed with other people and with all the body heat and sweat you get the picture. If your down for those things then don't let me stop you but I ain't down for this spot.
(1)
ML S.
I am pretty sure they thought they dodged a bullet with my friend nor I not writing about our recent experience eating here, but guess what...they didn't. At my suggestion, never had trying this place out before, I took up my friend's offer in picking a place for lunch as a late birthday gift. Constantly I have walked by the Loft, but never have I went inside, which immediately when we stepped in, it was not as nice as I envisioned it looking from the outside. None the less, we sat down and had a little good lunch going with drinks and a appetizer that was okay. As soon as we got our meal, I felt something wasn't right. For one thing, my food was lukewarm which I thought was odd since I ordered a hot dish. With my friend's food which was a crab sandwich, gradually she started to complain about her food, until she looked at the bottom bun of the sandwich... To put it blatantly, it had a shit ton of mold. Not a speck, but a ridiculous amount of mold (please refer to the picture uploaded). My friend and I were soooooo mortified. Even the waitress was shocked and speechless. IT WAS A SHIT TON OF MOLD ON THAT BREAD! I will say that the manager came out and apologized to us about the situation and took all the food off of our tab (mind you, he still kept the drinks). He basically blamed the bread delivery people which didn't answer the question of how and why the chef didn't notice the gross amount of mold. They offered us free appetizer vouchers. I don't know about my friend, but I immediately threw mine away. No way in hell am I or any of my other friends and/or colleagues will be eating there ever again.
(1)
Michael W.
Short Story: It's a nice place to go for happy hour. Long Story: I came here with some friends for a Match.com Stir event. The event was a happy hour mixer and there was a good number of people that night. About 50 people upstairs. The place was nicely laid out with high ceilings, many windows, and outside seating. Kinda like a loft...lol! The service was good and really liked the decor and ambiance. It's a good place to meetup for drinks. Verdict: I would go back with friends.
(4)
Lisa T.
This place is pretty trashy. The floors were completely soaked and sticky. People were barefoot and dancing the bar area. Dance floor so packed, it looks like a mosh pit. I guess if you're looking to get wasted for the night, this is the place? Also, everyone looked like they were 18.
(2)
Katrina T.
This place started out with 3 stars, but ended the night with 4. 3 stars for food plus 1 star for the club. SERVICE: Friendly! Booked a table for 15 on OpenTable and the lady was so nice on the phone confirming the reservation. I arrived later than everyone else, but everyone was seated by the time I got there and our waitress was so nice. One of the waiters was even so kind and encourage my bf to drink for his birthday. We were seated in the spacious upstairs area. We had enough space and were actually able to hear FOOD: Not that great. It is decent enough to eat with reasonable prices considering a Bar & Bistro. I got the Grilled Salmon Pesto. The salmon was thankfully not dry. I was confused as to why the pesto was just drizzled on top though. It looked really random and the flavors worked together, but usually pesto and salmon are not likely combinations. My bf got the Short Rib. It was pretty good, but too flavorful. There must have been one ingredient that was definitely giving it too much of a kick. I had to eat it with the mash potatoes to tone it down. AMBIANCE of restaurant & club: We were seated in the spacious upstairs area. We had enough space and were actually able to hear each other speak! The restaurant turns into a club afterwards. The music started off slow, old school then as the night went on, the music got much much better. This DJ was pretty legit. He definitely made my night a fun one. I really liked his mix and I finally felt HAPPY. Finally! I was able to enjoy a club in SJ that wasn't too fobby with asians, the dance floor wasn't dead, and the music didn't suck. Everything was pretty fun! I'd come back here again. PLUS there is no cover!
(4)
Michelle C.
My 2nd review is about the club, after hours. I really like that they don't have a cover charge to get in. However, what does this equal? A super crowded dance floor. They offer a happy hour before 11:30pm. Woot! Another cheapman's perk. I noticed they played a lot of old school jams. Ladies, they only have 2 bathroom stalls. So you better know how to hold it. What else??? Oh you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the dance floor. It isn't anything crazy, but if you take one wrong step. Bump, dun dun, bump. There you go.
(4)
Christy L.
The service here was amazing. After getting totally screwed over by Gordon Biersch we went to The Loft to salvage our night, and even though they were pretty booked with another party, they were accommodating and made us feel like we were the only party in the restaurant. I can't speak more highly of the management here, they bent over backwards to make sure we were taken care of. Loft/Capers staff, you really did save our night. Thanks for everything!
(5)
Cristina H.
Had them cater a company mixer. Food was ready on time and they even brought it out to my car!! Had nothing but good feedback from people at the mixer. Enough food for everyone!!
(5)
Azizi M.
This review is for the food. It's a while since I've been here, the food is descent. They have a good menu and wouldn't suspect from this area especially from a place that is a lounge/club at night. When I came it was dead, but the good was good. I would consider trying it again if I lived in the area.
(3)
Amy H.
This was actually the first dance club I went to when I turned 21. My sister wanted to make it official and we didnt plan on heading over here. I was in line at 11:58pm and he wouldnt let me in until it was midnight when it was officially my birthday. This place asked for two forms of ID which was really annoying so I had to show them my drivers license and credit card. I have been here before and it is pretty dead if you come here before midnight. After midnight the music gets better and they play like 102.5 or top 40 music. Its not the best of the best music but it is better than EDM. There are two floors- bottom floor is just a bar and upstairs has the little dance floor, patio, and bar. The patio is nice because you get to relax and rest your feet. This place just attracts the creepiest of the creepy people in San Jose. They just stand there and watch you...or worse....they surround girls like a pack of hyenas. The guys here are not cute and overly aggressive. It was a nice memory since it was the first club I had been too but for future references, I will not come back here. **TIPS** 1) Dont be lazy and just head over to SF for clubs. There are better looking creeps over there at least.
(2)
Katelyn L.
Why can you always get a reservation here??? Because the food is overpriced and service is terrible. We went there today for Easter brunch and there were only 4 occupied tables tables. Waitress was rude, food was meh... Bill was $70 for 2 people.
(2)
Samantha L.
Happy Hour!!.... More like Very Happy Hour! I came here last Thursday for Happy Hour with a co-worker. We both were very impressed with the selection and quality of happy hour items. We tried the buffalo wings, fries, calamari, quesodillas, and they made special vegetarian sliders just for me. The sliders weren't on the menu but the bartender made them for me after I told him I'm a vegetarian. All of the food was really good and they served large portions. Also, I got three beers and my coworker tried a few mixed drinks. We sat at the upstairs bar which was really fun. They have a bar downstairs, upstairs, as well as a outdoor patio. Overall Loft Bar & Bistro is good in my book.
(5)
Char L.
A great place that has that family feel you don't find too much nowadays. We love this place! The food is great (the meatloaf is what I always get), calamari is light and juicy, the pesto salmon melts in your mouth, garlic mashed potatoes are awesome, and they even make the vegetables tasty yet healthy. We've had 2 family parties here, and the Loft is very accommodating and their prices are great for the quality and the amount of food your party gets. Our family loves the food, the personalized service is great, and they make you feel at home. I know we will be having future family events here :)
(5)
Kailey O.
I had a wonderful dining experience here. My boyfriend and I went out for a nice dinner and enjoyed the live jazz music on that particular Thursday night. The music starts around 7:30 and I noticed most of the diners were seated upstairs; the perfect balance of conversation and music levels. We ordered a bottle of the house red wine, which I was quite pleased with. For my entree, I ordered the tri-tip on the low carb menu. um hello, tri-tip? low carb? yes please! The horseradish sauce was incredible. Overall I enjoyed the experience, the service was so fast! I had a glass of water in front of me 2 seconds after we were seated. I would probably come back here, but not regularly. To me this felt like a special occasion venue: date night, birthday, anniversary, etc.
(4)
Veronica A.
NO COVER! I always end up here at the end of the night because there's no cover, and is pretty damn crackin'. PROS: -No cover -Upstairs and downstairs bar -Upstairs dance floor -Usually no line at all to get in CONS: -Be prepared, guys wear pants, no shorts allowed, and a collared shirt. -Drinks can be a bit pricey. -Bathrooms are downstairs, and can be a bit of a wait -Don't be surprised if fights break out, usually there's something that happens at least once that I see. -Dance floor is SUPER CROWDED -CREEPERS GALORE.
(3)
David W.
Came here for post job-interview dinner. Place is pretty chilll and I love the ambiance. Had the salmon salad it was DELICIOUS!
(5)
Eli Y.
Got the moves like Jagger? Come here and unleash them upon the crowd! So I've never eaten here, and that being said this is just a review about the night life. When you walk in, this place will seem totally dead, but fear not my fellow night owls, the party is likely raging upstairs! The upstairs has a bar area (not the cheapest drinks but good happy hour prices) and a dance floor. There is also an outdoor patio area with more music going on. The outdoor patio is a nice spot to go, it's a bit quieter, so if your mad swagger has won you the affections of another, it's a good place to go and get better acquainted. The dance floor is usually packed by about 11 and will rage on until about closing. And I'm not using the word packed lightly here, it can be hard to move at times (putting a serious damper on you if you're giving lessons on how to dougie). But at the same time it can be kind of fun in sardine can kind of way. The music is good and the DJ's will usually take requests. All in all this is a pretty good spot to head to if you want a fun night out.
(4)
Daman T.
Food is below average, and way too expensive for that quality.
(2)
Tiffany L.
So incredibly shady. We had a private party here on a Monday night. The owner was told explicitly to serve well drinks unless call drinks were requested (pretty standard stuff). Not a single well drink was on our bill (I'll just add that the bill was over $10k). Not one. Unless, of course, they're serving Grey Goose and the like in the well. I asked for "just water" and they brought me a bottle of Voss. I said no, tap water is just fine, thank you. Apparently, this is a thing, because it turns out they also opted to walk around with trays, passing out bottles of water at $5 a pop when it was not requested. And 137 bottles later, a lesson was learned: Don't go here. This kind of stuff gives the whole restaurant industry a bad reputation, which makes me sad, but in this case, for this place, it's deserved. Edited to respond to comments from Maria D. of Loft Bar and Bistro: Obviously, there were a lot of people, hence a tab of over $10k. The problem wasn't the cost. When you have a lot of people, you expect a heavy tab. This isn't rocket science. The problem is the dishonesty. You're telling me that out of 300+ people, 100% of them ordered call drinks? Plain and simple fact: some people didn't call. Doing something so cutting edge as overhearing people order while standing next to the bar let me witness it. Didn't see that one coming, did you, Yelpers? ;) If you're industry, you should be well aware that there are lots of expensive beverages that are not single malt scotches. (For example, Louis XIII, and even Johnnie Walker is a blended scotch!!!). Should I be surprised I didn't hear: "I'm sorry, we can't serve you this Mccallan 18, can I interest you in this bottle of Cristal?" But would one really expect to go through a receipt over 4 ft long, literally listing hundreds of drinks, at 1 in the morning? I guess if you expect to get ripped off, you should--so let this serve as a word of warning to others. (FWIW, the receipt didn't group everything together, so it read 6 VOSS, etc.--only when it was tallied up does it become painfully apparent. At a glance, the receipt totally looks legit....and then you realize, 137 waters, and NO well drinks.) I think if anything, the fact there were so many people made it less obvious that there was something fishy going on. I can only assume they knew this was a one-time corporate event and decided to take full advantage of it; I suppose this happens often, especially with so many tech companies in the area.
(1)
Marlene G.
Came here for dinner and I must say very impressed. I had no idea they served dinner. I've been here for the night club scene (not impressed with that at all) however the food was delicious. I ordered the steak bites and boy they were good. Definitely recommend coming here before 9pm for dinner. Hostess / waiter was on point with her service.
(4)
Ben P.
Solid, big menu and pleasant service. Especially good for groups with mixed tastes and interests. Patio seating is nice add-on.
(4)
Richard F.
SECURITY ON THE WEEKENDS ARE JERKS. the security guard called my friend a bitch because she bumped into him by accident. another security guard did the same thing because the guys were friends. Never experienced such bad service before in my life. Also the dance floor gets ridiculously overcrowded with creepy guys trying to look for girls. Not a good job by security regulating
(1)
Ee Vonn Y.
$23 for a single shot of ciroc that was filled up halfway---in a paper cup!--and one red bull vodka. Cheers!
(1)
Carla G.
My Business Networking Group (BOING) met today for lunch and we not only enjoyed wonderful food but the service was outstanding. This group pre-orders with individual checks and all of the wait people were on top of everything with all orders arriving at the same time. They set up tables for us away from the regular lunch crowd and that allowed us to conduct our networking. Thank you and we will return.
(5)
Kevin L.
Each entree was excellently prepared. The Calamari was delicious. They serve bread with either butter or this natural olive oil mix. The bread was fresh. I ordered the Cubano sandwich with salad which was just the right amount of meats and touch of onions. The drinks are a bit expensive $11 for strawberry mojito. Short rib was tender and the French fries were just the right amount of salt and very tasty. The space is huge and we were seated in the outside patio. Very nice orange and since it was lunch time they had adequate shade. The waitress was very hospitable and I would recommend to try it out if your visiting the city.
(5)
Phillip R.
This was the second spot of a drinking night. The reviews going to be short and sweet (because it's a blur). Two stories, two bathrooms to wait in line for. Drinks are cheap and its good for big groups to travel into. Order --- Drinks
(4)
Krittika W.
Went there on a Sunday evening and was sad to find out they had closed their rooftop patio seating an hour before their closing time. Good: My friend and I got Panko Crusted Chicken Breast and Chicken and Prawn Picatta and they were delicious! The Panko Crusted chicken was to die for, I will definitely go back for it. Corey was our server, and he was very pleasant! We paired our food with Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, and Corey was VERY generous with that. Bad: Ordered the Marinated Fire Roasted Artichokes, they sounded delicious (as I love artichokes) but once served I couldn't cut through it. Forget being able to chew it. Overall it was a good experience. Hoping for my artichokes to be cooked next time.
(3)
Joey B.
Ok, I arrived here during club hours with my friend Alice, after 9pm. TO be exact at 12am on Sept 13th 2015. Pros: NO cover fees! Cons: (1) Theres only one bathroom down stairs behind the first bar that you walk in from the entrance. And kid you not, its F****kin UNISEX. Like really now, to make matters worse, the line is abnormally long! And I just want to take a quick urination. Thats it! Waiting for over 30min was not totally expected! (2) ALL drinks are priced ABNORMALLY HIGH! For a lil plastic glass of AMF, got charged $13. WTF! One sip wasn't even drinkable, pretty much wasted it and gave the bushes some alcohol, and too lazy too walk back to the bar to ask for a water instead. So I just saved the ice. (3) You can't stand in the hallway to converse nor drink as well. Have to go into the dance area that is overly packed upstairs! WTF! (4) Overly drunk people was everywhere, the scene was a nightmare, dodging drunk people to avoid a VOMIT PROJECTILE unto me. (5) MUSIC is wayyyyyyy too loud! (6) NOT enough places to sit. Considering you can't really stand at the hallway. And no standing next to the side of the dance area as well to take a rest... Ugh! (7) Not ENOUGH SECURITIES! (8) ELEVATOR wasn't working to take a quick shortcut to go downstairs to avoid the drunk people from vomiting unto me. (9) Its too hot! (10) Not enough ventilation! Everyone stinks with all the mix perfumes/colognes/body odor! ULTIMATE YUCK! Will I be back, certainly NOT DURING CLUB HOURS! This place is a JOKE!
(1)
Krissy L.
Not a 3, and definitely not a 4. So many in-betweens for me about this place but The Loft still makes for a pretty sweet night time spot. I've had the pleasure of dining and dancing at this location and the verdict? Not too shabby! There's pretty good music, a very lively dance floor, and NO COVER CHARGE! It does get super crowded upstairs though, but what do you expect? As for dining, the food is pretty good! Nothing to write home about, but good! My favorite thing has to be that complementary bread and dip. The bread kind of sucks but that balsamic whatever dip was YUM! I also really like the fact they serve low-carb options here, which is great for the carb-conscious - I personally had the sliced tri-tip and I liked that it was tender, juicy and was served with a side of horseradish dip. I didn't like the shitty lettuce and sliced tomato piece, making my dish look like a sad, deconstructed sandwich without the bun. The biggest downer was that everything is super overpriced for something that's 'okay'. You do, however, get a free desert with a yelp check-in, so that's always nice!
(4)
Tiffany T.
Me and my friend ended up here because there was no one at Studio 8 night club. Lol this place is actually fun. The music is good, and I love how there is a place for you to sit down. There's also no cover charge. And yes, there's always more guys than girls but everyone knows that. What do you expect? I enjoy having conversations with people I'll never see again :)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : DJ Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Steven L.
Very popular spot since theres is never cover all night, every night. Downstairs is just the bar, no speakers and such for dancing. Upstairs, the dancefloor is pretty small, but theres a little patio area also. Looks like they upgraded the sound system finally. Sounds better now. Af far as lighting goes, theres only one small one. No money to add 1 or 2 more? Even I have more lights at home. Bathroom is kind of an issue. Downstairs theres only one. Upstairs theres 2 spots for guys. Pretty bad waiting in line. Wherever they serve a lot of drinks, they need to have enough bathrooms to pee in. But I gues thats how it has to be sometimes w/ limited space in the venue.. Dress code: pretty relaxed, just no hoodies, hats, shorts. You can go in with jeans and a T-shirt, no problem
(4)Mike P.
I don't know how I can get my message more clearly - just don't waste your precious bucks here if you're eating out. So, a little update from a few weeks ago when I complained to the owner. He allegedly said that he was going to send me a gift certificate and he wants to run his business the right way. Well, there has been a long radio silence. A total disappointment.
(1)Tiffany S.
I've been here twice, my first time being Halloween night and second time for a birthday event/dinner and then dancing afterwards. Dinner here was alright... nothing special. I had the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich with fries and it was good, but I think temperature wise it could've been hotter. Dance time! I had a good time, but I was buzzin' so that could've been it... It was super packed... and honestly, I think they should've made the bathroom a bigger... 2 stalls for like 20 girls waiting in line (exaggerated a bit), but really when you're at a club and had a couple drinks, you do not want to wait in a line in a cramped bathroom. Anyways... Onward with the review.. I like that there isn't a cover charge . But the downside of that is that drinks are expensive. Plan on pre-partying before coming.. it's easy to blow $50 on like 3 drinks. Ridiculous... Either pre-party or buy the biggest baddest most alcoholic drink you can think of so you won't have to buy another. Oh yeah, the music is mediocre... Not really today's hits? I mean they got a couple good stuff, but I realized the second time I went, the music is more like the older hip hop/pop songs with a couple of new stuff here and there. I think they need to upgrade their music to todays music... Would I come here again? Yes, the atmosphere is nice and it's a nice place to dance and have fun. Food and drink wise.. I'll say no to that...
(3)Tanya T.
Went here for dinner during San Jose's Restaurant Week. Hmm... I'll just say that the salad was the best throughout the night. I got the Bleu Cheese and Pear salad. MMM. For the main course I got the Teriyaki Beef Shortribs. Uh, not so much. The texture was weird and the sauce wasn't that great. For dessert I chose the cheesecake. Yeah, also a no. The texture wasn't creamy at all and it tasted a little bland. No thanks, I didn't even bother eating the rest.
(2)Chi-Chong s.
Really?! Really?! you're charging me this price for drinks??? MEH!
(2)Pauline L.
Purely a lounge review: I've been here twice and had a fabulous time on both occasions! No cover, the bartenders are nice, and you don't have to dress to the nines to dance here. It's laid back, fun, and play some great old school 90s hip hop and R&B on Saturday nights. It does get crowded (because it's FREE maybe..) and drinks are pretty pricey at $9 a shot, but a club in downtown SJ without the drama and all about the fun factor gets the STARS in my book!
(4)Vivian V.
LOVE LOVE this place. Never been here and I'm already in lovvvve~ Came here saturday night for a clubbing night with a large group of friends. The cool thing I learned, they just card you and there's no cover charge! Love it alreadyyy!! Skipped the downstairs, and went straight for the stairs leading to the 2nd floor. It was preettty nice to look around. Dark and two sides of the place. One side with the bar and restrooms, plus on the right side is the dance floor. What's really neat about the dance floor, there's actual seats (lounge chair) and there are hug windows facing the outside to the front. It was pretty to look at and a wall to support if you get dizzy (like I did. LOL) Music was greaaat! I even saw the live DJ on the side of the dancefloor. He had his own small corner to play music, and everywhere I tried to squeeze through, because the dance floor was crackin' . Overall, the music selection was good and the darkness suit the atmosphere really well. I had to also meet up with another group of friends. This is a great place to bring a group of friends to drink, dance and have a fun night ~ I plan on coming here again! I believe alot of people on the dancefloor were really friendlyy :]
(5)mike l.
This review is for the afterhours, not the food since I have never eaten here before. One star for having no cover charge and a DJ. One star for happy hour before 11:00PM. Cheap drinks. The staff and security that work here are morons. I walk in with my black leather jacket that has a hoodie connected to it... the bouncer says to tuck my hoodie in.. no problem. I figured it's a policy so I comply. I take two steps inside and what do you know, I see 4 other guys rockin their hoodies with their hoods OUT. So I pull mine out.. Bouncer comes up to me and says, "What did I tell you about tucking in your hoodie..." WTF. I call him out on it and point out the 4 other guys wearing their hoodies and ask him what's so different about my hoodie that it needs to be tucked in. He says, "They know the owner.. so they get perks." Ok...... so if you know the owner, you can have your hoodie out. That makes complete sense. So boo to you loft for hiring stupid security staff. On top of that, there is typically a 5 guy to 1 girl ratio here. They don't call it MAN-JOSE for nothing!
(2)Michael P.
Ok so it was the second stop of the night; LOVED IT. We had sushi earlier for dinner and were in need of the appetizers :) The Steak Bites and Chicken Poppers hit the spot. The drink specials had not started yet but the list looked descent most drinks on there were under $10. I alway love when bartenders like to give visitors good advise on what do on your trip and where to eat. We had a couple of drinks and went on to the next but the dance floor and DJ were just getting set up so I'm sure it would be a great place to meet new people and have some great food, drinks and dance the night away :)
(5)Michelle W.
I would give this place negative stars if I could, but Yelp isn't as brutal as I am. This place is a joke. I've come here for dinner AND clubbin and both occasions were a disaster. I had a restaurant.com certificate, so I figured I'd tried it out. Blegh. I should've stayed home and cooked some Nong Shim ramen instead. Then, I came here for the club because I figured OOH, free cover after midnight...who doesn't like free cover? To the fat ass rent-a-cop douchebag bouncers outside on the stools actin like they owned the place - I should've pulled that stick out your jiggly ass and beat you to oblivion! They had to look at my ID more than 3 times and finally said "since you're under 25, you need a credit card with you name on it as another form of ID". 0.o!! Da heyl!?! I've never been asked that/heard of that nonsense in my entire life. I'm a chick...why would I bring anything but my ID to a club?? So to "verify" that my ID was legit, they asked me to sign my name...3 times!! Once backwards. I wanted to take that pen and stab them in the eye... Perhaps I'm overreacting, but I am appalled when people think I have a fake ID. Why would I get a fake ID just to get into your sorry wannabe club? On top of that, the music was crap and the ventilation was crap. It felt like a suana. Tell me why someone's sweaty forehead ran into my arm...disgusting! Downtown San Jose, I hope you redeem yourself soon cuz you just made #1 to my shat-list.
(1)Maureen R.
Gone here for a few of my friend's birthdays and I used to have reservations about this place, but The Loft just might have redeemed itself (a little) from the last few times I've been there. First of all, it's downtown San Jose, so set your expectations a little lower than you normally would and you'll have a good time. This place never has a line and there's no cover. Plus when you leave, there are plenty of late night Mexican fast food restaurants to hit up. There are 2 floors - downstairs is mostly just a bar + area for people to stand around + longass line for a single-stall bathroom; upstairs is another bar + dance floor + patio + more longass lines for slightly bigger bathrooms. Bar area upstairs tends to get crowded, the prices are a little annoying, and that one drunk girl might spill her drink on you. The dance floor gets ridiculously crowded, and some people think it's a smart idea to walk in with a drink in hand. Every time I've been here, I've always liked the music - from what I remember they play all hip-hop jams. But as with any other club you go to, the company you bring can always make the experience worthwhile - so make sure you bring some friends who want to dance! Plus if it's a Friday/Saturday night and you're looking for a good time on the cheap, this is a good place to go.
(3)Irfan R.
Very nice interior decor here. Tried the prawn wrap which was large and pretty good. Friendly service.
(4)John-Michael C.
I was going to write this for the last time I was here... however since then I came back for an elite event.. go figure! I have not been hassled for two forms of ID.. actually I just walked in with my drivers licsense. Perhaps I should have gone on crazier days to experience it. The crazy would have been nice to the nearly empty space however considering that the alternative would have been a packed sweaty space... perhaps less full isn't such a bad idea. Overall I like the space, I like the wood, the layout it not so bad. I wish they did have a slide so I could just drunkenly zip on out when I wanted to. My thing is, if it's called Loft I understand that there's the open space but there should be beds or something really comfortable laid out. Just saying! The first time the music was alright and the drinks were strong. The second time the music was alright when I could hear it... the food was better... i love tartar sauce.. goes with everything... and the drinks were still strong... courtesy of Sky Vodka.... kekekkeke I don't really remember much of the 2nd time I went... courtesy of YELP!!! I can barely make any rhyme or reason based on the puzzle piece pictures that were taken by all the ever present photogs... there were a ton of people I wanted to talk to however Mr. Sky talked to me first.... next time ;D
(4)Thyrone A.
I always give thumbs up for bars that has no cover charge. However, 2 forms of I.D is ridiculous. There's a lot of great places in downtown San Jose, and the Loft is not the best. The venue has two floors. The main bar and the restroom is located on the first level and the main dance floor is on the second level. Things upstairs don't get going until late, but once they do you can count on great music (depending on what day and the DJ). The only negative thing that I have to say about this place and the reason why I'm giving it 2 stars is because the dance floor area is so small that it gets really crowded to the point where you can smell a penetrating odor. The venue looked a lot cooler/bigger on the internet and once again, me, I've experienced better.
(2)Jeffrey K.
I met my co-workers after a day manning a booth at a trade show at the convention center. I was greeted by a hostess that immediately showed me the way upstairs to where my co-workers were. We ordered a plethora of appetizers, including the fried calimari (okay), ahi tuna (okay), beef bits (okay), brazed ribs (great). I had the parmesan chicken (great). What made the parmesan chicken so good was that it was panko breaded. It was a really big serving that I was unable to finish!!! The waitress, Tracy, was absolutely the best!!! The whole staff was very friendly!!! Great place to have a nice casual meal.
(4)T L.
This place looks like it'll be in SF. Love the space and how big the 2nd floor is. And the drinks were pretty strong : ) If there was a place I'd go to downtown SJ to chill, it'll probably be this place!!
(4)Ashley B.
Went back, had to for a friend's birthday, thats where she chose (monotone sarcastic voice). No entry fee but $12 a shot! That's like vegas but in San Jose....no dice loft, no dice! They serve in plastic now but I don't think they allow flip flops still! The Dj did play our request, when the lights after last call were on... won't be there again unless I have to!
(2)Michael H.
I stopped by here during my lunch break for a quick pint. I ordered a Black Velvet, however the bar tender didn't know how to make one, I told her it was like a Black and Tan, but with a Cider ale. She made it with Wyder's and Guinness which worked great. I know traditionally some places do it with white wine, but that's not the version I prefer and most bar's I have been at make it with a beer instead of wine. Anyway, she was very nice and since it was slow we talked for a bit and then I left after finishing my drink. She mentioned they have a live Jazz Band on Thursday nights and really get poppin' at night. I suppose I'll need to come back here in the evening now.
(4)Charissa I.
Oh, Loft, here we are again. I don't know what the fuck it is about you that gets me to keep coming back, gets me to review this place over and over, gets me to complain about something, then I come back to do it all over again! Every time! Man, it's a cycle! Holy moley, I'll give it to you guys.. I don't know how you manage to do it, but in spite of my 2.5 star reviews you still have a loyal patron in me. I ate here for lunch 2 days ago, and what's to say that I haven't said already? Due to their lack of a lunch menu, I would think twice to eat here if you're hungry and craving something lunchy. Only because the options for something less dinner worthy are limited. You can pretty much choose between a french dip, 3 different wraps-- chicken, tri tip, shrimp-- all with avacado, I believe a hamburger, and a vegetarian sandwich. And.... I didn't like what I ordered. Not terrible, but not good. Sure, I realize I'm paying for the portion of something dinner worthy, but I have a problem with looking at the menu and being intimidated by how much I will potentially be paying for lunch. However, if you're not starving, but are more "thirsty" and have the munchies, then this is a chill place to satisfy your craving. The calamari and popcorn chicken with their chipotle aioli sauce is delish! Until we meet again....
(2)Danny N.
Not a review: My friend promotes and I DJ @ Loft every Friday night (home of 4 turntables). If you love or hate Loft (Nightlife), please clarify which night it was that left an impression on you. i'll play almost anything you request: rnb, old school, westcoast, bay, rock, dance, reggae, house, electro, even britney. anything except trance. if you would like to make a song request, give a bday shout out, want discount bottle service, or tell me that i flat out suck, send me an email: djexrated@gmail.com . Remember: LOFT FRIDAYS is the home of resident djs: ExRated and JQuest. SO COME OUT AND SHOW SOME LOVE!! Alright, party people. I hope to see you this Friday, and next Friday, and the Friday after next.
(5)brent h.
review is for late night crowd. wayyy too crowded. The place is split in two, a bar downstairs and upstairs a bar with a dance floor. They love to cram folks upstairs! The dance floor was so packed that you could not even walk into it. Even while seeing this, the bouncers forced you to still enter the mob...which is borderline impossible. I tried following my group into the mob, turned around for a second, and when I looked back they were gone. How does that happen in a small room such as that?? The bathrooms are too small for this many folks and I heard the downstairs ones are shared between both guys and females.. Music was good tho. =)
(2)Diana T.
The food is nothing too special and the dance floor is usually crowded as all hell during Th-Sa.
(3)Margo G.
Went after seeing Margaret Cho since it was right next door. Why does this seem to be the only place to go to on a Saturday night? It was packed! Too much for me to handle really. You have to squeeze your way up to the bar and then wait till they see you. Drinks were good but a bit pricy. The DJ has issues. Yeah I said it. He never let an entire song play so even though people would be singing along and dancing, he would go to his next mix. And seriously, how many times do you need to play Beyonce's Single Ladies? I was only there for about 2 hours and heard it 4 times in different mixes. C'mon now. No one likes a repeat song. Just play in it's entirely and be done with it. Now when I went to Loft for an Elite party, there was no DJ but there was food and drink. The Loft staff did a great job in keeping the food coming, the tables cleared and the bartenders worked fast and with no attitude. Bless your hearts!
(3)Edward Joseph D.
Went there 2 weeks ago with the newly single folks in my group. I had a hella Fun time. No cover, live DJ spinnin some good music and a really live crowd, it just got too crowded. The dance floor was crackin, but then AC started leakin on people. They have a full bar but the drinks were way overpriced. I asked for a Corona, the bar tender poured it into a plastic cup and cost $7.00.. for real? For beer in a dixie cup? Anyways, if you want a to have a good time at Loft, get drunk before you go.
(3)Tarra R.
Dragged back here last night (again) and I have to give it one more star because the bartender (forgot his name) made a damn good Mojito. Props to the cutie that tried several times to get me out on the dance floor. Next time I wont turn you down.....*wink*
(3)Mikey U.
Adrienne(?), our waitress, YOU ARE AWESOME! This is the best I've ever seen a party of 20 waited and attended to by a single server. The Lofts interior is a successful amalgam of fashionable furnishings and accents adorning the already existing retro brick and wood of the old-downtown building. It makes for an upper scale vibe and atmosphere while remaining cozy and unpretentious. The food options are fairly contemporary American. Well prepared and nicely plated/presented/portioned. The Braised Lamb Shanks are incredibly tender and the accompanying sweet mint rosemary port wine sauce compliments the succulent meat perfectly. For a more accessible option for the unadventurous, the Angus beef half-pound burger or the french dip are hearty selections. For a lighter palate (but not necessarily a lighter appetite!) the salad options are splendid, particularly the Grilled Flank Steak Salad, the Bleu Cheese and Pear Salad, and the Baby Spinach Salad w/added chicken. Service was splendid and friendly. Our server in particular was very good about checking with us and seeing how we were doing throughout the night. She was even able to find some candles for the (surprise) birthday cake I brought... she totally saved the occasion!
(4)Victor C.
This place breeds women that are secure of themselves and know what they want. I've seen it happen to my friend with my own 2 eyes, and last week it happened to me! You just gotta say something then follow-up on the dish-out quick! BAMMM! Give me your number! I was like; "That's my line!" Hahaha!
(4)Jackie D.
The Loft is an awesome place in downtown SJ - no cover, no lines, and strong drinks + awesome DJs spinning good songs. We celebrated my best friend's birthday here last weekend and when we first entered, the place was empty. I was kind of surprised and almost scared that nobody else would be coming. But, since there was a Sharks game that night and the traffic on Santa Clara St was packed, the Loft started filling up. We decided to stick to one alcohol all night and Hennessey was that drink of choice. We had numerous shots - the bartenders are super nice. The music was hot and got to dance for a bit. The best part is that the patio was open this time around, so we could get air outside. And there's two bars - upstairs & downstairs - makes it less crowded to walk around. I love this place because its so chill, guys can wear their sneakers, and jeans are just fine. Plus, no cover and strong drinks :) Always a plus! I'm definitely coming back - finally a chill place in SJ! Sweet! Cheers!
(4)Chris T.
$12 for a shot of patron? Are you serious?! $6 for a pint of Hef on tap is alright, but $12 for a shot of patron in Downtown Man Jose, I don't know about that. You've got to be kidding me. That's the most I ever got charged for a shot outside of Vegas, and Loft is far from Vegas. I had to be the drank Nazi last night and go NO TIP FOR YOU! Didn't even hook it up with the salt. That's probably the reason some dude got stabbed or shot outside of Loft last night near the Improv after the Eddie Griffin show and why there was 20+ SJPD cars lined up all down 2nd street and San Fernando and they had the sidewalks all police taped up. Sheiiit! mercurynews.com/ci_11485… But yeah, I guess 2 forms of ID is standard over here now. I gave the bouncer 2 IDs without being asked. The music played was actually better than previous times I've been, so I guess they've been getting a little better DJs over here than in the past, or they got better music on their playlists vs. all that Top 40 Radio sheit. Still don't like their small ass cramped dance floor though. P.S. - Stop telling all of us guys to pull up our jeans or saying that we're wearing too baggy jeans and for us to pull them up, when us simply giving a short quick tug on them isn't making them any less baggy (you're just pissing off your customers). Skinny jeans ain't baggy jeans homes! Check your eyes and your vocabulary!
(2)Suzy L.
The Loft is our Favorite, Favorite, Favorite place to hang out for the following reasons: - No Cover Charge, EVER!! - 2 Bars: 1 downstairs as you enter the main door & 1 upstairs (both areas have space to SHAKE your BOOTY! - Outdoor patio (covered during the winter - which makes it a great spot to get some fresh air, where you don't have to be surrounded by the smokers!) - bench seating at the Upstairs Bar Area - bathrooms are classy (which shows you they spent a bit of $$ on the place) - Location is great for nearby parking Some Cons, reasons for minus 1 star: - At times, (I think randomly) the bouncer will ask you a bunch of questions or ask for another form of ID, rather than your DL. This is RETARDED - how many times (esp. girls) have you put your DL and some cash in your back pocket or bra and ran out the door? - the Bouncers inside the bar get strick at times, so you have to be careful NOT to get kicked out or have your DRUNK A** Friends kicked out - the downstairs bar on Friday & Saturday nights has a bartender (Asian guy with Long Hair) he is ALWAYS, ALWAYS RUDE! I think he doesn't like his job - he needs to be kicked to the curb, cuz I'm sure lots of GREAT BARTENDERS would jump at the chance to Bartend here with all the PACKED Party-ing nites! - Women's restrooms only have 3 stalls - BOO! Other than that, this place is great!! See you out there!!
(4)Stephan N.
This review is for the lounge/club/bar on Friday and Saturday evenings... The only good thing about this place is that there is no cover charge but they more than make up for that with the ridiculously expensive drinks! Come on it's San Jose!!! Don't be trying to charge an arm for drinks! This ain't Vegas or Miami! I'm more than happy to pay $15 bucks for a drink in Vegas but not in "Man Jose"! Also, not to be mean but the crowd that tends to occupy this place on weekend nights is a little on the ghetto side. There should be some kind of dress code. Out-of-shape posers with "Affliction" and "Tapout" shirts seem to flock here. It's funny how some people think a $40 shirt can turn them into a badass. A $20/month gym membership would be a better investment! All-in-all, I guess you can't complain much about this place because it's free to get in, but make sure you pre-party in the parking lot!
(2)Ryan C.
They Got Me with the Spiced Cucumber Margarita. If there are two random things I enjoy when dining out, a well prepared cucumber and margarita. Combined the two together? Well, the end result is, "You got me." My friend ordered the Lychee Martini and it's scary delicious, it can sneak up on you. And if I may add, excellent martini selection. I've only heard of The Loft Bar & Bistro prior, but more for it's reputation of being one of the hottest nightlife destination spots in Downtown San Jose. I have friends & acquaintances that have attended party events and all have nothing but great praises about the venue. I also have a few fellow DJ friends that have guest DJ for few events at The Loft Bar and also have nothing but great review about the place. "A young, hip, sophisticated and chic venue that attracts guests, patrons and party goers that are the same" are the common praise I've previously heard about The Loft. So, for a first timer, I was quite taken back surprised about the dining side of the place. This ain't your neighborhood bar's gastro food. Quality fine dining type food, excellent portion and savory dish selection. For starters, as predictable as I can be, if calamari is in the appetizer list, for sure that will be in my order, so we ordered the Crispy Calamari and off the bat this took the top 2 spots of all my favorite fried calamari dish, now if I could add side note, if the chef can offer his own take of a wasabi tartar sauce? this would be instantly my #1 Fried Calamari starter. My dear friend ordered the Salmon Pesto, it's heavenly. I ordered the Crab Cake entrée and I love crab cakes, this for sure in my top 5 favorites, only because the rest of my top 5 right now involves Egg Benedict brunch dish. For finale, we ordered the White Chocolate Crème Brule & fresh berries w/ Gran Manier Sabayon. The Crème Brule get an instant love from me, BUT the Fresh Berries w/ Gran Manier Sabayon?! Pardon my French, BUT OMG! (expletive!) this some very very (expletive!) delicious! The host who sat us is welcoming and friendly. Our server was very attentive and sweet. Couldn't have more lovely first time at The Loft Bar & Bistro. Sincerely, Officially The Loft Bar & Bistro Fan
(5)Chang L.
No ventilation upstairs, no stock of pineapple juice backs, and I think I got roofied by the bartender.
(1)Eugene L.
I was Fortunate enough to score a pair of Tickets from Yelp . To Cinequest VIP Soiree and Screening Of Kill Me Three Times. Thanks Candice and Yelp . After getting permission from my PO and Recharging my Ankle Bracelet. I jumped into my Whip Black Beauty and rolled to Downtown San Jose and Cinequest. I parked in my Secret Spot and Street Hiked to Loft Bar and Bistro . This is Where the Cinequest VIP Soiree was being Held . After Checking in with a Cinequest Coordinator and Receiving Tickets for a Screening Of Kill Me Three Times with Simon Pegg . I headed Upstairs to the Cinequest VIP Soiree . This is where I met Cinequest Representatives Katey, Douglas ,Kathy and Tom . They are Really a great source of Information on Cinequest and are Awesome Party Hosts. Loft had a Great Spread of Food out. Canapés , Chinese Chicken Salad , Chicken Skewers , Calamari and Fried Onion Blooms. Stella Artois and J Lohr provided Adult Beverages . Love That Stella Yum Yum. Crave More was Handing Out Swag. There were a Lot Of Beautiful People floating around . Lots Of Great Conversation and Socializing . I had to Roll to the Movie and Plus my Ankle Bracelet Started Going Off . So I excited Stage Right LOL.
(5)Wendy Y.
I came here with my friends on a Friday night and this place was pretty packed. I love the idea that it's an upstairs bar, hence the name Loft Bar. It is a nice place and it also has a nice dining area outside, on the side of the dance floor. It's a spacious place for people who wanted to chat in a more quite and subtle part of the bar. The bar itself was okay. I tried the "White Gummy" since it was one of their special, but I had no idea what was in it. But it was tasty. It wasn't that strong so... I also really liked their music choice of the night, but not so much of their dance floor. I guess I wasn't that into the dancing scene, especially when everyone else around you are couples. It was just kind of weird to me. Like the music, but not the crowd. Overall, I might be back again because I really like this place. I'm okay just to chill and to enjoy the music!
(3)Andrew C.
Went there around the evening. Very spacious seating on both floors. I like the retro/wooden feel to the place, but it seemed very clean to me. There were booth's on the side that seemed slightly outdated but I felt the setting was just right. They had sold out of Corona the night before but that didn't stop me from ordering another. Got the steak bites which I ordered medium rare (came out medium well), but it was still good. For first-timers, this is definitely worth ordering. Next was the crab cake salad. Seemed somewhat plain. Like crab cake and avocado on top of mozzarella tossed romaine. The blackened salmon tastes really nice. The side vegetables that came with it could have been better (they were the same vegetables on the side that came with our steak bites). The rice pilaf was great nonetheless. The strawberry shortcake and tiramisu were great for dessert :) Service was great. Our server was very communicative and checked back with us in case for other orders. Rating: 3.5-4
(4)Annie S.
After writing my first review for this place, I came back another 23940309420394324 times for the dancing (no cover, no fancy dress code, good music = awesome). The DJ was great (hip hop whooo), and I've always wanted to ask him for his business card. Solid 4 stars for sure (not 5 stars because the dance floor gets SO PACKED and crowd can get rowdy). BUT when I went about a month ago, the DJ announced that it was his last night because he was retiring (after 10 years if I remember correctly)?!?!!?!?!?!?! NOOOoOooOooOooOooOoOOoO. I wondered if the place would ever be the same again and feared that I may no longer have a go-to spot for hip hop music anymore... I checked out the Loft this past weekend, and it is not the same :(... willing to give this place another try before I let go haha
(3)Shawna L.
Excellent food! Great environment. Prices are expected. Most definitely can't wait to come back
(5)G. F.
The place itself is nice. Broody ambience which gives it a mellow loungy feel. Food is pretty good but a little pricey for it's taste quality. Staff needs work though. Aren't too many smiles going around, more like you're-here-and-so-am-I-so-let's-get-this-done kind of attitude. Our waiter disappeared and didn't let us know that. So we were looking for him everywhere before we had to hunt someone else down. She informed us, oh yea he transferred you to me.. Oook, well thanks for letting the table know. Otherwise after hours when it's club and not restaurant, it always gets packed and the choice of music isn't always the greatest.
(3)Joseph O.
I live in downtown SJ, and have been eating at the Loft for almost 10 years. I went on NYE for the first time in about a year. Wow what a change. Food is mediocre at best. Their great wedge salad has degenerated to a bit of iceberg lettuce and a cherry tomato. We ordered Martinis and got half full glasses. When we ordered more we were told that the bar is backed up (only 1/2 of the tables were occupied in the restaurant). The drinks eventually came with the bill after dinner. One of our party of six ordered a medium steak and got a brown lump that looked microwaved. Used to love this place, sad to see it mismanaged so badly. Just FYI. J
(1)Ilicia Maxine R.
Loft and I have a long history. The food is always fresh and good. The service is always stellar. I haven't done the club atmosphere they create on the weekends, but if it's anything like their other ventures, it will be better than most.
(4)Kevin B.
I think I would like to give this place another try when it's NOT Valentine's Day. I was in San Jose for the weekend looking for a place to do dinner with my family. We weren't looking for a romantic Valentine's dinner, just a good meal. I found Loft on Open Table and they had reservations available which amazed me because I was booking this on Thursday. I took a look at their Menu from THEIR OWN WEBSITE, and it looks amazing. Tantalizing small plates salads that make your mouth water. We were excited that they had a Low Carb section of their menu which looked delicious. My wife has some extremely annoying dietary restrictions and the idea of being able to go to a restaurant, order something that she can eat right off the menu without modifying or begging them to change it made our weekend. We were really looking forward to our meal at Loft. Our plans changed and we ended up being available for dinner WAY earlier than we expected. I called the restaurant and asked if they could get us in earlier, they were great and seated us immediately when we arrived. The ambiance in the restaurant is very nice, modern, without being stuffy or pretentious. From there, our dinning experience went downhill. When we were seated, we were informed that they were not offering their normal menu this evening. They had a special Valentine's Menu, and everything that we were looking forward to eating, was NOT on the menu. I went back and checked their menu today before writing this and DISCOVERED THAT THEY RAISED THEIR PRICES ALMOST $10/PLATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY. I had the Teriyaki Beef Short Ribs for $28, my wife, the Salmon $28, and my in-laws, the Filet Mignon $38. Normal price $19.95, $19.95, and $28.95. I do understand raising prices for Valentine's Day, I even understand limiting the menu, but in my humble opinion they really did themselves a disservice. I look at their menu and see a tantalizing list of delicious food. What they offered for Valentine's Day looked like the menu in a swanky hotel or country club in Duluth Minnesota (no offense to the fair people of Minnesota). Maybe they put their VDay menu together based on the most popular dishes, maybe we have a more adventurous palate than their normal guests, I don't know. We did ask the server about the options from the normal menu and were informed that they were only offering the Valentine's Menu. Fine, we had a 82 year old lady with us, I didn't want to be walking all of San Jose looking for dinner. I hope our server was new and nervous about the V-day crowds, if she was, then I'll give her a pass. I could tell that she was trying. My wife was SO, SO, SO, SO (do you get the point) EXCITED to be able to go to a restaurant and order something right off the menu that worked with her pain in the ass dietary restrictions. Not only does she have to eat Gluten Free, but she's now been told out that she needs to eat a low glycemic diet. Well no such luck last Saturday, and to make things even better, we got to pay a premium for the food we didn't really want! After reading other reviews, I see we weren't the only ones left wanting more from our experience on Valentine's Day. *Much of this review I also posted on Open Table. There were a few finishing thoughts that I did not have room to post.
(2)Adrianna V.
If you are a female looking for some booty call action look no further, the thirst is real every single weekend here. However, I wish males would understand that no means NO and sometimes a girl just wants to let loose and dance alone with her girl friends, like me! Basically you need to have a lot of patience to reject creeps or get really drunk with beer goggles. Save your $ and pregame elsewhere too.
(3)Rachel V.
Awful. I went here on a Tuesday night, checked in and asked if the kitchen was still serving- it would be for another hour. My husband and I thought it would be a good choice for a dinner on a nice evening in downtown. We were offered a 'patio' seat. Out of the tables available, most had other guests garbage and plates, or were occupied. The only unoccupied seat was for two (tippy and barely enough room for a person and their laptop, let alone a three course dinner for two) was located 5 feet from the door. The incessant buzzing of the heater was horrible, as was the oppressive heat. We asked to be moved, happily and moved to a seat downstairs. It was rather annoying that the one offered was the tiny two person again next to the door instead of one of the numerous four person tables. There was only one other party in the place, they just didn't want to remove the extra place settings. We ordered. Didn't get any water, but got bread with one pad of butter. It was cold. We ordered veggie sliders and braised lamb shank. The sliders were cold, (the bread and everything). Ew. I thought they would be grilled. Not appetizing having cold mozzarella on cold buns with a slice of tomato. The lamb was gross. I can't really describe the sauce that clearly came out of a packet. The mashed potatoes were packaged. Everything tasted packaged. This was the second worst meal I've had this year. That's saying something. Did I mention it was my 8 year anniversary???
(1)Johnny W.
Let's start (and, well, finish) with what I actually remember from this night. We held our KollabSF afterparty here at Loft Bar, being allocated a semi-outdoors, semi-private area on the top floor. Arriving a little past 11pm, we found that the first floor was actually pretty empty, while the main dance floor was fairly packed, so many of us opted to order our drinks at the downstairs bar instead (which was indeed much, much, faster). While I imagine most people don't come here for their specialty cocktails, and are more likely to stick with shots and the basics, they do have a rotating schedule/menu of nightly specials on specialty cocktails, at around $6 or $7 per. And, surprise surprise, not only are they rather tasty, they're also surprisingly strong. After a few more or these, I woke up the next morning in my hotel room, not completely sure how I managed to get back (my wonderful friends helped me recount the night in hilarious detail). And while I'm not really one to comment on the clientele, especially since I was mostly hanging out with my own crew, I did notice, as many others have commented, that the crowd was notably predominantly male, so take that as you will. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Accessibility is a bit of a tricky issue here. The venue, when not crowded, is perfectly accessible, albeit somewhat inconvenient: the first floor is fine, the second floor is accessible via an elevator that management has to unlock, and the top patio level is accessible via a small stair lift that they have to operate as well. When it's crowded though, as the dance floor is bound to be on a weekend, getting around becomes tough. Fortunately, the staff is quite helpful, and will try to clear a path as best they can. Bathroom - I can't recall if they have a bathroom upstairs, but the downstairs one was perfectly accessible.
(3)Tina N.
"Please don't stop the music." Wait, no. Please, oh please. Stop the music. Tina's Tips and Tantrums - Oh no no no no no, it was good when we were young. All the people that are newly 21 come here and jam to the music. Now, I feel old... - Super crowded, messy restrooms, and rude / perverted gentlemen, oops I mean boys. - Positives are mainstream music, and no entry fees. But parking might be a hassle. - Dance floor is a place where you cannot budge, but make sure you dance the night away. Just kidding. Creepers are standing by and staring. Haha - Drinks are averagely priced and I like how they have the bench seating near the bar area, which most don't have - Overall, don't expect to meet the guy of your dreams here.
(2)Lilee K.
Overall: 4/5 Food and Drink: 5/5... This was where I had my first date with my husband, and so this place will always be meaningful to me. I do not remember exactly what I had on my first date with my husband... I think it could be the Chicken Penne dish. My husband is not offended, since he probably does not remember what he had either, but he does remember that I was an eater and that I finished my meal! Hey, the food was good, and I had to be myself. :) I have also been here for special occasions and for clubbing, and from what I recall, the food has been consistent each time. One of my favorite dishes here is the Teriyaki Beef Short Ribs, which is one of my favorite short rib dishes I have tried so far in the South Bay Area, and I think I have tried a salmon dish and filet mignon dish here before too. Ambiance and Environment: 4/5... The place has an urban feel, dim lighting, two stories, bar areas, and interior brick walls with art. Every time I have come here, I sat in the dining area upstairs or in the outside patio upstairs, which can be nice on a summer night out in Downtown San Jose. Service: 3.5/5... The service can be inconsistent. We waited quite a while one time for our food, and our waitress did not get my order completely right, but our waitress had a busy night that night and apologized for the long wait.
(4)Jorge C.
Great place and good environment to have dinner. Music is not too loud, and the different environments (including outdoors) provides different options. Having an elevator is a plus, since 2nd floor with high ceilings is very comfortable atmosphere. The food was really good. Ordered several small plates, and I must admit that all were good. Attention was good as well, a lot better than most of the similar restaurants. I don't believe it's a place for kids, but definitively for groups and romantic dates (I guess).
(4)Runa T.
I've been coming here for nights out since 21! That says a lot since most of the clubs I was going to at 21 are no longer around. Lol. Loft is definitely one of my go-to's for casual/spontaneous nights out for drinking and dancing. They never have cover which is great. They are casual but are pretty strict about men's clothes.. specifically pants and shoes. They have late night happy hours from 10p-11p on pretty awesome drinks. There's a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays and the dance floor gets crazy packed. I worry that the floors gonna give out one day 8|
(4)Jon K.
I had gone here this past weekend 2/22/15 for my friends surprise engagement brunch. I will get right to the point - Everyone's food came out under-par. Dishes that CLEARLY stated on the menu "3 pieces of this will be served with this dish" only came out with two..I wouldn't say much but we had a party of 16 people and 3 people ordered the same thing and they EACH got less than they ordered. My friend ordered the crab cake salad...2 crap cakes. hahah! I personally ordered the chicken avacado wrap. Very bland and tasteless. The ONE thing i could very much taste was the individual grill marks on my wrap. Pretty gross bite after bite and i pretty much stopped eating it... We weren't here for the food, more or less, but for each others company- so we ended up getting a few rounds of drinks. I took one shot and felt something went down with the shot that did not feel right. I didnt chase my shot but instead reached in my mouth and found a hair inside... VERY GROSS. Let me say that the Staff was super friendly and kind regarding the whole matter and didnt charge us for the shot, and gave us another one on the house. We didnt make a scene, again we just wanted to have a good time to celebrate our friend's wedding approaching. Summary - Go here for the bar scene at night. The food is JUST. THE. WORST. over priced. they'll short you on your food. and if youre lucky... you wont have hair in your food. The people are wonderful and showed no hostility after the matter and should not be penalized since they did a great job to resolve the issue which is the only saving grace and the merit of 2 stars.
(2)Stephanie B.
I came here on a very random encounter with myself and my friends for my birthday, we were club/bar hopping around Downtown San Jose. There was $0.00 cover fee all night, the security are pretty cool, they let one of my friends in even though there was a dress code that night and they aren't super mean like most clubs down here. Lets start with customer service. They are on point. Very fast with food and drinks.The drink prices are you know kind exorbitant, their happy hour prices are reasonably priced but I wasn't there for that. Some drinks were watered down but over all I enjoy my time there. As you enter the club, there's a small bar and a small area. Some sets to sit, grab a drink before you head upstairs. Upstairs there's an crazy ultimate party with pretty big dance floor, also another bar to get your white girl drunk on. I don't remember most drinks I got since I was already pretty drunk from the other clubs. Over all a good place.
(5)Nicole J.
I organized an event for 300 people at The Loft Bar & Bistro back in November. Kam was great throughout the process and on the night of the entire staff was fabulous. They made the process so much easier on me and were very accommodating with my DJ, security team and photographers. I would definitely recommend the Loft for any large events or parties!
(5)Racquel R.
I attended a birthday dinner here over the weekend and let me just say, I am very pleased with this establishment. We had a table of 5 and had one of the most attentive waitresses ever. From the second I sat down, I was offered a beverage and handed a menu. The menu looked great and I was pretty upset with myself that I had snacked beforehand. I didn't bring the appetite I should have. I ordered the crab cakes and they were delish. Lot's of flavor and the vegetables were great as well. There was one thing I noticed about the place. It was 7pm on a Saturday and it was practically empty. This place is definitely in need of more patrons and I hope that changes soon. I will definitely be back.
(5)Courtney H.
The customer service here is absolutely amazing!!! One of my best friends used this as the venue for her wedding reception last night (7/3/14) and Adrian (the manager/owner) made sure we were happy from start to finish. He and his staff were suuuper hands on and helpful! The bride and groom had no worries the entire night. The food and drinks were great and the price for the overall function was waaaaay lower than expected! We'll definitely be coming here again to host future events! Thank you Adrian and the Loft staff for everything last night. You are truly appreciated and Raydan and Timeka's wedding will forever be a night to remember!!!
(5)Ty N.
Wonderful Service from our waitress, Nicole, on my surprise 28th birthday. Food is delicious and the back-lit bar amplified the wonderful experience!
(5)Mario M.
I was there 11/30 and the service was Awful. I had a friend who worked their who said they served water down drinks. I thought he was bsn, but today I ordered a vodka tonic and got water tonic. Brought it to the bartenders attention but he denied it. ¿??????¿? Bass FYI.
(1)Alan M.
Pros: 1) Casual and formal dress codes are welcomed. 2) Made up of 2 floors. 3) The 1st floor has a bar and is more like a bar environment. 4) The 2nd floor has a bar and is more like a club environment. 5) Best of both worlds...lounge and club! 6) Both floors have a restroom. 7) It has one room on the 1st floor and two rooms in the second floor. 8) Love the music here... very hip hop and electric music. 9) Great place to dance! 10) Accept credit/debit cards 11) Best of all NO COVER CHARGE! Cons: 1) Only one restroom for both genders on the 1st floor. Line can get a little long. 2) Has sepearte restrooms for both genders on the 2nd floor but for some reason the MEN's restroom line is longer than the WOMEN's. 3) Drinks are a bit pricey! $$$ 4) Way too crowded for its size but of course its a bigger party. Conclusion: * If you want to get some drinks and dance like if you were in a club and not have to worry about the $10-$20 cover most clubs here in downtown San Jose charge, this is the place! Great staff! Great service! Great people!
(4)Erica C.
So we went for Valentine's day, and even though we had a reservation, we still had to stand in line. Everyone did - they never even asked us for a reservation. We waited for about 30 minutes just to sit down, and there were asked to stand in an awkward hallway while they set the table. They should have had us wait to come up, as we were run into left and right by servers and other guests. We finally get to our seats and we ask our host for some bread which he ignored. Starving, we waited 15 minutes before we even saw our server. We were taking into consideration how busy of a day it was, but it seemed that they had just not planned anything at all. She finally comes up, and like the rest of the wait staff, was dressed VERY casually for the evening. Normally I don't care, but I felt that they should have at least kicked it up a notch for such a big day. She asks for drinks, which we order, and then we have to ask her for bread again. We also placed our order for appetizers and entrees at the same time, even though they didn't offer the NY steak listed as it was a typo, that was at their other restaurant. 15 minutes later my drink comes, but not my boyfriend's because she forgot to put it in. She did come back about 10 min later with his drink, and said it was on the house. That was a nice touch. About 20 minutes later we get our soups (appetizer). Mine was cold, it had clearly been sitting out for a long time before our waitress remembered it was there. Another 30 minutes we finally get our food (I was watching out of sheer curiosity at the time). My crab cakes were tiny, but pretty good. They were also out of the garlic mash, and without even asking swapped it for rice pilaf. That was a bit frustrating. Also the mixed veggies were beans, carrots, beets, and broccoli, but they weren't mixed at all. I had mostly beets, and my boyfriend had zero, but everything else. Since I hate beets, we switched. They then did bring us an additional drink on the house to apologize for the mess, which I did appreciate, but it didn't make up for the chaos. I might come back here on a less busy night, but will not come back on a weekend or busy night.
(2)Don J.
This was a very nice venue. Clean and roomy. We had a birthday party there and everything was right. I highly recommend this place when in san jose.great food and good prices.super waitress.
(4)Genevieve M.
The Loft is a nice place to stop by if you're downtown. The food is good and the prices are very fair. The only thing I could say is that their beer and drink menu is not that extensive but really a small complaint for a decent restaurant.
(3)Mai C.
Went here on a Saturday night with friends. I had a lotta fun. They played Top 40 and a couple of old songs too. I had a fun time. The crowd wasn't rowdy or anything. There were waitresses coming around asking if we wanted drinks so it was nice that we didn't have to go directly to the bar for drinks. There was even a small little area to dance/sit down outside which I did like because it gave you a chance to get air if you were too hot from the inside lol
(4)Martin A.
We came here for a Valentines day dinner, big mistake! There was no hostess to check you in for your reservation, then what was the point in making one? They took us upstairs to a table that was not bussed. We knew they were busy so we ordered our drinks, appetizer, dinner and desert all at the same time. I'm sorry to say they brought our dinners out at the same time as our appetizer and we still didn't have our utensils. One of the busiest nights of the year for any restaurant and they were severely understaffed. I don't think I'll return anytime soon. The food was good and so was the desert. The drinks, well I can get better ones at my neighborhood dive bar for a fraction of the price.
(2)Jeziell B.
Came here for my girl's gift exchange lunch, the day of New Years Eve. We got there around 11:30 and was able to be seated right away. I don't know if it was because of the holidays or what, but it wasn't busy at all. The service was really good. They always checked up on us and made sure everything was ok. We never felt rushed and they never acted any different if any of us had special requests for our food. There were so many options on their menu, it took awhile for everyone to figure out what they wanted. The bread and dip though, was so tasty! It was served with some kind of balsamic sauce that all the girls loved. I ordered the boneless short rib appetizer and it was definitely a good lunch for me. Haven't been there to drink/dance for a while. Oh yeah, it's because I'm pregnant and getting old. LOL. But for lunch, I'd say its a pretty solid spot.
(3)April R.
It was okay. Main proteins were generous portions and cooked well. Sauces were good. Sides ok. Long wait for drinks but food came very quickly. Service was fine, no problems but nothing special. In the end maybe a little over priced. A bit cramped and hard to hear; server acknowledged they added tables for the evening. Indoors much nicer than patio. Restroom very lacking.
(3)Jocelyn M.
On St. Patricks Day my boyfriend and I were not allowed into the bar across the street because he was wearing a raider shirt.. so went across the street to this place and were overwhelmed by the great service. The upstairs was empty, but the bartender Leo seemed happy to get a few customers, and served us a few drinks right away. The other bartender from downstairs came upstairs to help close up the bar while we were drinking, I think her name was Libby, and she was really sweet, and chatted with us. They never rushed us out even though no one was there. These guys were so friendly, and really made our st. pattys day a blast. The security Manager Collin also gave us a free Voss water on our way out after hearing about the bad time we had across the street. This place really knows how to treat people right, and we're definitely going to come back again!
(5)James H.
Terrible SERVICE. Food OK. Server, Conner, gave me someone else's dinner bill and charged my card. When I discovered error, and called it to his attention, he said that he "fixed it", and never gave me proof of credit card cancellation., Charged for two (2) meals, after I had left restaurant. Called American Express afterwards to tell them. I had signed receipt for correct meal charge and told them that the other, more expensive charge, wasn't mine. American Express took care of it for me---they're the BEST. The Loft's server-not so much! Food OK.
(1)Hills N.
I brought a couple of my friends to this place because I first had an amazing experience and thought the second time around would be just fine....I was so wrong. The service was bittersweet, the servers were charming, but when it came out to bringing our food & drinks, even menus, it was pure disastrous. Portion of the food is quite good, pricing, not so much. Tasting the food, I definitely do not think its worth such a high price! This is coming from a girl who is particularly not picky with her food too, LOL. But anyways, it took about 30+ mins for our food to come out. We were playing games while we waited for our food! They charged us for SHARING meals! That is just plain ridiculous! Some of my friends didn't have much money to spare, so they asked to share a meal, and the bill was only worse than they could imagine! They didn't even tell us they would charge us for such a thing. It was't even listed or stated anywhere in the menu. Pure bullcrap! Nice venue and everything, but pretty sure I can go anywhere else for better prices, better food, and better service. Go somewhere else people. Trust me.
(1)Joe N.
Beautiful rooftop dining area, the food is priced perfectly. it would be an awesome place to do something romantic for a significant other ;] Filet mignon meal was perfect, and it is the only place I know locally that would even do black and blue.
(5)Dixie L.
Giving this place 5 stars mainly because my club's winter dinner upstairs was held here and it went so smoothly!! The food was A+, ambiance was very high end fancy, service was organized and patient, both the background music and the live music downstairs were enjoyable!!! I would definitely enjoy another event held here :)
(5)Neda F.
I don't understand why more people don't rate Loft with 5 stars! I love this place, especially during both regular and late night happy hours. They have good food (amazing bread and olive oil dip to start) and it's very laid back in the middle of busy downtown SJ. The upstairs patio is covered and where I prefer to sit when going there on warmer days. Although I don't exactly prefer it when it's more of a bar with the DJ, I do like it when I am meeting up with friends after work or for dinner before going to the Improv next door. Their steak bites are excellent as a small plate, and all of the food that I have tried there has been better than average. It surprises me that it doesn't get busy during happy hour, but I guess it is kind of like a hidden gem for me when I want to schedule lunch or drinks with friends.
(5)AnnaMarie C.
We had our Department's Holiday party upstairs two years in a row. That alone should tell you that this place was GREAT! The management was very accommodating and the staff was extremely pleasant to work. We had a party of 60 and they didn't miss a beat. We ordered the lunch buffet and the food was outstanding both years. We will more than likely return again next year. This is a great spot if you party is less than 60 people.
(4)Nadia W.
The food here is delicious! There isn't anything on the menu that I've tried and didnt like! I've had two birthday dinners here with 20+ people and they make a section for you so that its a little more intimate and buffet style.
(5)Elizabeth Q.
Loft isn't a place you strive to go to on weekends, it's usually where you end up at, as the last resort. Why is that? Not because it's crackin or popppin, but because its free! It's ALWAYS free entrance. BUT like my mama told me, nothing in life is free. And Loft is the primary example of it. You may get in for free but you and your friends will repay that debt by dealing with the massive crowd of janky dudes who gropes like there is no tomorrow. I'm not a very high maintenance girl, I usually don't really care, nor am I picky about crowds. But Loft is a serious jank fest. Girls, you won't be able to walk through the place without getting groped, grabbed, violated or yanked. And the dance floor is always so packed that it seriously feels like I am back at a high school dance. And because there are so many people and mainly sweaty dudes grinding all over the dance floor, that you will literally leave the place feeling sticky and gross. But never the less, I am guilty of returning to Loft.... Always Twerkin for Jesus, E. Quachie
(2)Anne G.
The manager and owner here are so rude and questionable characters. I would not recommend anyone go here. Its very difficult to put in a complaint with management- they are extremely defensive & rude, and literally walked away when trying to explain about our complaint. Food is overpriced and not worth the cost. Don't even think about coming after 6pm, the entire staff is rude and the security staff/door people, are not respectable. Bathrooms get crowded-only 3 small stalls for everyone, and the line is constantly long going out into the bar area, who wants that?! Pretty tacky. I would not recommend this place if you want to be treated as a respectable customer, and get a good meal.
(1)Tesh S.
I would have given it 3.5stars if the bartenders were not rude and made proper drinks and the dance floor was a little bigger. if you are lucky, you will not get a rude bartender. but the staff at door was friendly and the crowd is all right. I would go again, but prob not order drinks from that one bartender. btw,... drinks are too expensive and not made right.
(2)Adrian P.
Two story lounge! Dance and drinks upstairs tables and food downstairs. Average for pricing of drinks, decent music that is kind of over played now. Bartenders get your drinks out quite fast, service appreciated!
(3)Allen C.
Came here with the group for lunch. My salad was $20. It had exactly 4 average-sized scallops, 4 slices of tomato, a few olives and the lettuce covered the rest of the plate. Enough said.
(3)Ronnie C.
Service was good.Food NOT GOOD and overpriced! Prawn avocado cocktail was a small cocktail glass with some sliced up shrimp and about a teaspoon of avocado,$11.95... what? Dinner was Chicken Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.When it was served,I thought they were bringing more bread.Hardly any filling,dry chicken and we found NO CHEESE in either sandwich.
(1)Jeff S.
I like this place. A lot. Though I'm not a "club" person, I find their restaurant to far-exceed my expectations at every visit. The Loft remains one of our go-to destinations as it is becoming a San Jose landmark.
(5)Tony C.
Wow. $14 cocktail drinks really? The bar tenders are really cool. The ones we talked to so far. Bouncers or door guys are also cool. Not dicks like some other places. Always too crowded to even really dance upstairs especially sat nights. Real hot too. The fan don't seem to help. Great music most of the time though. New top 40's mixed with some old school hip hop and R&B. Recently heard some fist pump stuff here and there to accommodate the molly head edm people. Hard to please everyone. Mostly hip hop crowd here. Free entrance and always cracking. Overall a cool place to hang out. Come earlier if you want to dance any later you'll be a sardine hopping up and down fist pumping like the edm people. Haha.
(4)Celza O.
Recently ate here after an event close by and was pretty impressed. Food was full of flavor, service was good, and the wait was not too bad for a Friday night. We arrived at 8pm with a party of 7 and they sat us right away. Our waitress was attentive and patient. Crab cakes are amaze, calamari was good, shrimp scampi was yummy. Didnt care for their white rice dish but everything else was very very flavorful. As we were leaving it started to get very busy so it seems to attract a late crowd and is next door to the improve. Will come again.
(4)Ray V.
You know, this place doesn't give a very good first impression. The security is rude, the drinks are ordinary and the dance floor is repulsively hot and cramped, but you know what? That's the charm of this place. Loft is like the chick friend you can fall back on when your date didn't work out, she can turn a ruined night into an evening of laughter and fun. More than a few times, I make plans to have fun at the clubs around the area, but the DJ always ends up sucking, the crowd is weak, and there's no vibe. Surely many of you have found yourselves in the same situation, look at each other and say: "You know what, this isn't working out, let's head to Loft." You arrive to Loft and it's that familiar feeling of freedom: no dress code, no pretentious DJ, ordinary, but quick, drinks. After paying cover fee at a sucky club, you come here and you're allowed in for free, maybe you just wanna dance with your friends and maybe you will feel like having that ONE more beer to get you going for the rest of the night. The cramped-ness of this place is kind of what makes it feel very welcoming. There's also a quieter area where you can sit with your friends and take a breather maybe even chit chat with strangers sitting next to you. It took me a while to realize this, but maybe after making Loft the backup plan of my nights, I'll make it the headliner and just know I'm gonna have a good time with my friends and MAYBE talk to a pretty girl or two. This place just grows on you.
(4)Shinny L.
Recently ate here for dinner - finally tried the full on dinner, and have to say it's pretty tasty. A bit pricey but the quality of the food is probably worth it. I would go here again for a semi-formal meal of good old american food.
(3)Kyle D.
3.5 stars. Been here four times now that I've been here (strictly for nightlife). I think it's time for a review! First off, the "nightlife" clubbing/drinking scene is definitely not me. I am the most awkward dancer you'll ever meet in your entire life. I'll throw out the 70's chest pops and 80's hand gestures. I don't drink. Probably because I am also the most awkward drunk you'll ever meet - I get quiet and contemplative after a couple drinks. Not to mention I look like an 18 year old kid, lost in the crowd. All in all, I'm probably not the drinking buddy you want to bring the to the club, so I don't know why my friends keep pulling me out to these things. Oh, now it just hit me. I'm there to take care of drunk slobs after a crazy night. :( Despite that, Loft is dandy and nice because there is no cover charge at all(!) and getting in is pretty easy. Also, there is practically no dress code. T-shirt and jeans is a go! So if you're looking for just a casual place to dance and maybe mingle, this may be the place for you. Drinks range from standard to overpriced, ranging from 8-13 dollars. Some are overpriced, but most of the time, people are too drunk here to care about the prices anyways lol. I've had a number of drinks here, and they were all decent. No complaints. The crowd here does get busy, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Weekdays, you might not see a soul until maybe 11:30-12pm. Free DJ and music is also pretty awesome - they play a lot of recent pop and house hits, mixed in with a couple old school songs. +1 star for playing a remixed Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" :D Be sure to park at Safeway! They validate for the parking lot there.
(4)Jessica M.
Came her Saturday night for a friend's bday. It was the last stop of the night. It was SO PACKED. I liked that it had 2 leels. There were 2 different rooms upstair. One was smaller with a different DJ and it seemd like a lame party in someone's living room. The larger room was packed, but there was more energy. It's cool if you dont mind being shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. I liked the DJ, but I would prefer coming earlier so I;m not squeezing my way through. Also, I asked for a shot of a specific tequila and they were low so the bartender asked if I wanted to wait for the bottle to be brought out or try another. I decided to wait. He was really nice about it but the girl who finally poured my shot shook it in ice first so it was way watery and not worth the price at all! I'd be back, but it'd probably be my first stop or I would come earlier
(3)Analisa S.
So turns out downtown San Jose is pretty dead around dinner time on a Saturday. We went to Loft Bar at the suggestion at some very nice fireman wandering around, trying to figure out where to eat. I got the Open Face Teriyaki Beef Short Rib - Tender, boneless short rib served on a sesame bun. So I have no idea why they call it "open face" considering it came sandwiched between two buns. I didn't like the short ribs, it tasted too manufactured. And the fries weren't salted. Nice ambiance, but kind of expensive for what it is. I generally don't find myself down in San Jose, but if I am ever around again, I'll try someplace else.
(2)Emily Y.
This review is STRICTLY regarding my last visit here. My previous visits (spent upstairs) left MUCH to be desired. If THOSE visits had been reviewed, I certainly wouldn't give more than 1 star: the bartenders up there can't smile - they're too busy? I didn't know it took so much effort. BUT. This review isn't about them, like I said. Last Friday night there were three of us (my gf was visiting from SD), so we went the more mellow route: downstairs. Little did we know how FANTASTIC the bartenders would be, having experienced the upstairs crew. I'm SO bummed I can't remember his name, but our bartender is someone I would go back to visit. He was simply that great. Accommodating our every whim with wit and hilarity. He was everything you'd want in a bartender - and more, I'd venture to say. Grey Goose La Poire and Soda is my favorite, but he MAY have hooked me on Three Olive's Loopy (Fruit Loop flavored). Happiness is...finding a bar you love. Thank you so much for making our night, Mr. Bartender.
(5)Christine N.
I've been here a couple of times. The first time I came, me and my group of friends ate upstairs. I love their upstair area. It's huge and the outdoor area is very nice. The dancefloor upstair is decent too. I tried coming before but the whole restaurant was closed for a private party, so there was a man passing out these complementary appetizer cards for our next visit. I used it and bought the Chicken Lettuce Wraps and it tasted excellent. At my second visit, since it was slow on a Sunday we were seated downstairs. The nice upstairs area was closed.. I used a $50 gift certificate on the Braised Lamb Shanks and my boyfriend spent on the Chicken and Broccoli Rotini. My lamb shanks only tasted okay. They weren't something that were unique from any other restaurant. But the mash potatoes that came with it were really garlicky and good. My boyfriend's food was only okay but mostly bland. There is such a wide variety on the menu though. I'm pretty sure there's really good stuff on that menu but we just didn't pick well that night. Service was really good though. As much as I hate crowdedness, I'm going to say that it's best to come here on a crowded night, so that means Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Our waitress left and a new one came. I paid with my gift card but the new waitress didn't give me a bill back to tip. When you use your gift card, they charge an extra $1 when you tip with your credit card. I wasn't told that late at night but I just went with it anyways. I tipped generously since we were frequently tended to.
(3)Taylor J.
I had a great time at the loft last Saturday with my friends. The DJ was good and there weren't many problems with other guys! The dance floor was a little small- but with no cover charge you can't expect much else. I'd definitely go back
(3)Mya M.
Came here on a Friday night. So much better than Saturdays! There's two places to park on the left side of Loft, off of 2nd Street: there's the Safeway parking lot which is free with validation and a parking garage across from safeway which is $5 flat for the whole night. Music was good! Old school hip-hop mostly. Drinks weren't so bad also- i'm such a girl when it comes to drinks because i like them fruity with just a hint of alcohol - If you're like me order a Gummy Bear cocktail which is only $6. Oh Loft, till we meet again.
(4)Priscilla O.
Came here for drinks & appetizers with some friends. Okay...let's start off with our waitress. As kind as she was...she totally forgot about us. There was only 1 other party out on the patio & she kept forgetting our orders & requests. We got our food pretty slowly...due to that. the food had dinky portions, and it's pretty pricey. one thing that just MIGHT pull me back...is their bread & dip. what?! goodness gracious i felt as if i was addicted to their balsamic dip. it's...hands down the best thing i've ever dipped bread into. Our waitress then told us that the chef puts HONEY into the balsamic vinegar. Yummmmm. BUUUT...something I can replicate at home. I've tried a couple times & I've come close. :P the bread dip alone = 5 stars. lololol....everything else...2. -.-;; Just didn't have a very good experience there & paid way too much for mere appetizers. also when we exited there was a dance floor going on. it looked kinda sad...but maybe because it was a thurs. night instead of a sat night or something... I wouldn't come here again.
(2)E T.
I can see why their rating is so low! Got escorted out tonight because I was just standing there having my drink. Your so called bouncers are costing you money and business! Complete incompetence!
(1)Mage L.
$6 happy hour mixed drinks and $4 beers aren't really that good of a deal. The $6 turkey avocado sliders were okay, but the onion rings were just a greasy mess. Coming during happy hour is fine, but I wouldn't want to pay full prices for their weak drinks. Our group had a table reserved but it wasn't ready even an hour and a half after after we got there. There was plenty of standing room, but still.
(3)Angeline H.
3 stars because they don't charge for cover. The nightlife here is pretty decent. But living in MAN JOSE, you're more likely to be groped, stared down, or have some creepy indian guy dancing behind you on the dance floor. No doubt, it's a cool place in the summer when the outside back patio what ever you want to call it is open. The bartenders are super sweet and hook it up if you ask nicely.
(3)Elise G.
The food was really expensive and the presentation was not at all impressive for the price. I was disappointed. Scallop Salad ($20): Fishy. Prawn Salad ($18): Good. The prawns were cooked nicely and grilled. Side salad ($7): Mixed greens. Pretty plain with just the lettuce and your choice of dressing. I got creamy balsamic on the side. I liked it, but it wasn't anything I couldn't have made at home. Marinated Fire Roasted Artichoke ($11): It tasted good all charred with the chipotle mayo, but it wasn't amazing. Steak Bites ($14): Great dipping sauce that was like gravy. 8 oz of cubed beef cooked to order. They allowed us to order half med-rare and half med-well, which was nice. Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($11): Chicken, raw veggies, and teriyaki sauce. I liked it. The dish was sweet and the lettuce was crisp and fresh. Service was slow. The food came out before the drinks, which were sitting at the service bar for a while. We ordered salads and small plates, which took a while, considering how simple they looked. The manager apologized for the service and another more knowledgeable server took over, which made our experience a bit better. The bartender, Veronica was nice. I probably wouldn't come back again because the food wasn't that good.
(3)Christie B.
This is a review for the food not the club Took my daughter here for dinner last night before we headed off to watch Cirque du soleil at the Shark Tank. It was early for a friday so the place was a tad empty when we got there but filled up before we left. LOVE the exposed brick and whole feel of the resturant. Our waitress was great and the owner happend to be at the upstairs bar and greated us with a huge smile which is always a plus! Thanks Cam! We were brought soft bread & butter and their signature dipping sauce. Yum yum yum! The butter was soft which was nice but it would have been even better if the bread was warm. But of course this didn't stop up from eating every crumb. My daughter had the small plate of short ribs and veggies. I was impressed with the portion size for only being a small plate item. Ribs were tender and flavorful and plenty of fresh and perfectly cooked veggies. There was so much food for her she acually couldn't eat it all. Yes ... she may be 20 but she's an itty bitty. I had the grilled shrimp plate that came with the same veggies and I changed my rice for potatoes. Every mouthful was perfect. Tons of shrimp that were prefectly grilled, potates were flufy and flavorful too. Price was good for portion size, resturant location and great service! We both left full and extremely happy with our meals. Already looking forward to our next visit!
(4)Jake K.
This club is run by thugs with over aggressive bouncers. Drinks are overpriced and the crowd is seedy. Stand on the wrong side of the bar and they throw you out for "clogging traffic", and shove you on the way down the stairs to the exit.
(1)Surge C.
Welcome to Man Jose ladies and gents! I have a love-hate relationship with Loft. I've had a couple good times, some bad times, but no great times here. Only reason I keep coming back is because the bouncers are incredibly nice, the bartenders are cool, they play my booty-shaking music often, and it is convenient (more emphasis on convenience). It's one of the few spots I will tolerate if I have to come party in San Jose. However, gentlemen, do not expect to find many ladies here. This place is always a sausage fest, as are most SJ spots. I find myself drinking more to tolerate the scene. The good thing about Loft is there is never cover. The bad thing? Well..............
(3)James N.
I came here drunk. Very drunk. All I remember is that I was told to take off my hat by these bouncers. To go up to the loft of course, you have to go up some stairs. Leaving this place was the biggest adventure I've ever had. Those stairs looked so intimidating when you're seeing through drunk-goggles. No cover fee which was pretty cool. All I had to drink here was water I think, I don't remember. Sorry for the useless review. LOL
(3)Kivani R.
I've now visited the Loft twice for dinner. My first experience here was definitely better than my last. Being a server at a downtown restaurant myself, I know how hectic a busy night can get and I know how much harder a "complicated table" can make it. Though my last visit was on a very slow night. And service was beyond horrible in more ways than one. We arrived at 445 for a 5 o'clock reservation. We were seated promptly by a woman who happened to be our server. We ordered drinks off the happy hour (there was 4 of us at this point and we were the only people seated in the entire restaurant). The first round took almost 10 min to arrive. The drinks were good though. We had also ordered appetizers, which took maybe and additional 20 min to arrive. We were ready for round 2 before the appetizers ever arrived, those took maybe another 10 minutes to arrive(the restaurant was still empty) at this point I was pretty upset because I literally watched our server gossip and giggle with other employees in the bar. Took her about 5 minutes to get started on our drinks. When she brought our drinks over I asked her what took so long... I also mentioned how the appetizers took a while and we were the only table present... She never apologized and blamed another waitress for not sending our order in. I then saw her walk back to the bar and tell all the servers present our entire conversation(not in a polite manner). I also overheard management talking to another server about how her table earlier was "high maintenance" he laughed about this.... I'd say it's safe to assume he promotes this kind of behavior. Anyhow, after tonight I will never come to the Loft for dinner, food was mediocre and staff def does not give a damn about costumer service. Only reason our server got a tip is because I myself am a server and understand servers depend on their tips. Was not deserved though.
(1)Zeke A.
This place had pretty good food, and the atmosphere was okay. We sat outside in the patio section, but it seemed like were were surrounded by salmon concrete walls and not really outside. The waiter was a bit slow as well. I think the worst part of my evening were the semi uncomfortable chairs and the lamp heaters were way too hot. I felt like I was going to break a sweat. I think I got a good tan though. HA!
(3)Alina S.
Unbelievable. This place requires 2 forms of id. Yes, for most people they do ask you, unless you're a regular which I am definitely not. It has a environment to lounge. The dance floor upstairs gets too packed and the sound system broke early in the evening, which is a sign that this place was ghetto-fab! haha I am just glad I didn't have to pay any cover charge. Watch out for long and unnecessary lines outside.
(2)Enrique M.
I came here one night for a night of dancing with my girlfriend. And after searching through different clubs we ended up coming here. First of all there's no cover charge! so good thing for us. We got there pretty early, around 10pm and it was pretty empty. Most people were having a drink at the bar or gathered with friends and chatting it up. It wasn't till around 10:45ish where people started dancing. The DJ did a very good job with the music! I loved it! Getting drinks I found was very easy, I didn't have to fight my way to the counter. Quickly got in there, got my drinks, and got out. The crowd was also mainly asian and my gf ran into a bunch of her friends. She's a native of SJ, not me, I'm from MV. The security guys did a great job keeping everyone in check, ie making sure no one was blocking the stairs, cleaning up empty cups, etc. Now for the bad, The drinks were good but just a little pricey. by 1230 it was way too packed, got very hard to even dance on the dance floor. There were tons of "wallflowers" there, googling all the ladies. They got in my way and made it too crowded. We left at about 1:00 because it got way too crowded. Overall great place, I wouldnt mind coming back. Just a word of advice, have a couple drinks/shots before showing up because the drinks were pricey.
(3)Jennifer S.
Went to Loft bar and Bistro after an evening at the Improv. Weather was warm and we sat on patio. We were greeted by a nervous new waitress that was very lost how to take a drink order... what is Ketel one?? LOL We did not eat dinner, but we enjoyed some super overpriced drinks... $11 for a shot of Patron?? WOW.. $7 for a coors?? Get outta here. Never again I am sorry to say...
(2)Kitty B.
This is my favorite happy hour spot. My collegues, friends and family enjoy coming here. Kam, Adrienne, Maria, Shey and everyone on the staff is very professional, pleasant & attentive. I always reccomend this place to people when they are looking for a good happy hour place to go to & eat. The food is really good. I enjoyed the prawn cocktail & the blackened porkchops. The wine is also good there. Great selection, I think. I'm no wine expert, but I know what my taste bud likes :) If you are looking to go dancing afterwards, they have the 2nd floor upstairs. The DJ plays good beats, from 80's, new wave to current hits, except that he skips a few beats sometimes, but it's okay, it happens. Also a good mix of crowd which I like, from people in their 40's to the young crowd. They also have tables & chairs at which you can sit when you're tired from dancing! All and all, definately a good spot to mingle with friends after work. Cheers!
(5)Gwen S.
If you eat here be sure to check out the outdoor dining. When you first enter, it looks small and you have to go upstairs for the best seats. Pluses: Great waitstaff. We recently ate at another restaurant where the waitstaff was plain inattentive and it really spoiled the experience. At the Loft, my husband and I informed our server that we were sharing our entree and salad, and true to professional form, they split our dishes for us and gave us two separate plates. It looked like two whole dinners! After lame service at the other restaurant (see my other review), we were impressed. The food was pretty tasty, but I can't honestly say it was memorable, except we had the white chocolate creme brulee for dessert which was perfect, and my sour apple martini was delicious! My husband's mojito was one of the best I've ever tasted. Minus: The very sad looking seating hostess who seemed to need a serious shot of enthusiasm for the job. Not the first impression you want to make when you're trying to get customers into your restaurant. (Who knows, maybe she got bad news that day!) Good location to have a nice meal, then head over to the Improv. All in all, we'd definitely come back and would recommend to others.
(4)Eli W.
The upstairs outdoor chairs need updating The arms of the metal chairs don't allow for thigh movement and are very uncomfortable after 10mins! Wine was cheaper at $7 and $11 for a mixed drink :(. I may go back for a happy hour? Food is fine. Update: I went back for late night HH and I enjoyed everything we got. :)
(3)Rogerio F.
If you bring friends, this can be a cool place to chat. But forget about mingling. Everyone's pretty much into their own group. It can get crowded on the second floor since it's a long skinny bar. I'll come here if I feel like having a little bit more atmosphere than, say, a sports bar like SJ Bar n Grill, but overall, I've sworn off bar-ing and club-ing in SJ.
(3)Pho K.
I have been here for both dinner, drinks, & dancing. First, food is decent. Not anything special. I rather go to Pasta Pomodoro. For the lounge, it's mostly a Flipino crowd (or it seems that way). I like the music here, they have good DJ's. The dance floor is really packed. It's poppin. There are 2 levels, 2 bars, & a patio. Go for the lounge.
(4)Mazen K.
i like the loft because of i like the lift because of the good dj mixing on saturdays, plus there is no cover all thou the drinks are expensive im not a drinker. beautiful girls everywhere. its perfect except it gets super crowded
(4)Beth F.
I can't think of anything that could have made this experience better. One of my friends had suggested Loft as our pre-Theatre on San Pedro Square event, so the four of us met up around 6pm last night for dinner and drinks. I ordered the Capers Meatloaf, which came with lightly garlicky mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed veggies. Aside from home cooking, I don't think I've ever had a meatloaf that tender, and its sweetened mushroom sauce and a succulent bit of Canadian bacon in the middle just made it sing. At the risk of sounding cliched, I won't say that the mashed potatoes melted in my mouth--rather, the garlic bloomed and as well blended pieces slid down my throat. Our service was impeccable--our waiter was constantly attentive, even when we former English majors allowed our blabbing to interfere with our menu selections. The gentlemen bearing water pitchers didn't even allow our glasses to drop a few centimeters, and if someone finished, they swooped back in with a ready refill. Even the seating was most awesome--upstairs in the coolly air conditioned goodness, and semi dark enough for some killer ambiance. I would normally complain about the $15 I paid for food (interior monologuewise, anyway), but this was worth every penny. Bravissimo, Loft!
(5)Rj S.
Currently this place seems to be the place to go to downtown. It's nice to actually see females in the otherwise hostile male dominated environment. Did I mention there's no cover, but you have to provide a secondary form of ID. I like the setup of the place: 1st floor is a typical bar area, and the second floor has a bar as well as a dance floor at your disposal to get "your drink and your two step" on. It's of moderate size, but its always packed. DJ is spinning typical top 40/ urban rap radio station music. This is as good as it gets in Downtown SJ.
(3)Joelle L.
I went here for one of my best friend's birthday dinner. Honestly, she could have picked a better place. The service here was horrible. The food was not good. Their drinks seemed like they were watered down. Thank God that I didn't order a drink or that would have been a waste of my money. And they're super strict with the age deal. Right at 10, pretty much got kicked out, but then again I was happy to leave this place. Even when I am 21, I won't be back to this place at all.
(1)Cabaca T.
After speaking with friends who've gone on separate occasion, we've come to the conclusion that THEY WATER DOWN THEIR DRINKS. They food is also overpriced, but decent. This place does have an interesting vibe as a higher end bar with a dance space, but it's been getting worse as the years go on. I must have missed it, but I'm pretty sure they sent fliers to all the guys in San Jose to come and make this the biggest sausage fest of downtown. It's the only way possible. The bartending staff are attentive and keep the drinks going, which helps their ruse of watering down drinks. Go to Dive bar, go to Agenda, go somewhere else than here.
(1)Sara W.
I just come here to dance, and every time, I really enjoy myself. It's nice that it's free, and I love it when the drinks keep coming. I've never had to wait terribly long in line. It's fun to dance, although it gets pretty hot in there sometimes and I can get kind of sweaty. Just look out for broken glass on the ground. I like that dancing is upstairs, and you can chill downstairs. I would recommend the $2 garage across the street for parking (it only takes cash).
(4)Matt D.
5 Stars This place is a great blend of great food and stylish atmosphere. To celebrate a co-worker's triumphant return from a terrible injury, we decided to treat him (and ourselves) to one of the best places in downtown SJ. When you enter, you might be surprised by the small size of the first floor. It's mostly reception and bar. You gotta have a little love for a place that fills most of your initial view with a bar right inside the front door. Then you'll be ushered upstairs where the bulk of the real seating is located. Lots of dark woods, on both the table and the floor. I especially like the tables in this place. They look a bit like artisan-crafted pieces - definitely not the kind of thing they just picked-up at the restaurant supply store. So we pull-together several of those cool tables to sit around and enjoy a little time out as a team. Our waitress did a fine job finding out what we wanted, and brought us everything in a swift manner. We put in our order, and soaked-in our drinks during the short wait for our food. I had a cobb salad, which I'm glad to report was of the "chopped" variety. I'm a fan of chopped salads. Everything bite size, no huge pieces of lettuce trying to choke you. As I'd expected, it was fantastic. lettuce, blue cheese dressing, little tomato, bacon, and avocado. I think my only suggestion would be to incorporate a little more color into mix. They primarily use iceberg lettuce, so the plate looks a little bland at first glimpse. Color not withstanding, the flavor was there. Great salad. Last time I ate here, I had the panko crusted chicken breast. Another great choice. If I had more of an appetite this time around, I might have ordered it again. I think I've come to the conclusion that I'll go for just about anything panko crusted, with the possible exception of dessert items. Final words on the place itself. There's a few tables outside on the 2nd St. sidewalk in a little sectioned-off area for a nice day or evening. And this restaurant is just a few doors down from the PF Changs location I reviewed earlier today. That means it's right down the street from the Improv and a couple nice bars on 2nd St., and very close to popular places in San Pedro Square. I've only been for a couple lunches, but I'll bet it's a great place for a nice dinner before the rest of the night unfolds.
(5)Hanan H.
One of my favorite "going out" places in the San Ho. Food was good, tunes were good, dancing was good, vibe was good. I'm digging it!
(4)Chris L.
I used to go to this place when all the other places would be crowded. It WAS a place where you could always fall back on, and just be able to hang out and chill or even dance if you wanted to, without the hassle of a large crowd. However, I don't think this is the case anymore. There's hardly any room to dance, and all the chairs are usually taken up.
(3)Rosie S.
Im writing this review for nightlife. I have been here twice. The first time was for literally less than 15 min, we had gotten there at around 10:30 and the place was dead and no music. So we left and went across the street to Tres Gringos Instead. The second time I came, it was a totally different story. It was about the same time on a Saturday night the weekend after christmas, and it was for my 22nd birthday, I had wanted to go to a place that wasnt a club but still fun and chill so i can talk to my friends. I figured from last time i was here it would be chill place to go. So like everyone else says, yes you do need a second ID to get in, i came prepared, with my ID and bank card. When we first came in you could hear the music playing upstairs already, and downstairs was nice and quiet and not crowded. My friends all got there around 11 or so, which is when we headed up to the second floor, let me tell you, it was super HOT in there and TONS of people to dance with, not including my friends...we all had a great time, though fighting for our spots on the floor to dance was a bit hard. One of the down sides, one of the "security" guards was hitting on a friend of mine, then some other guys kept coming up to her and hitting on her as well, i think they were the security guys friends, and they just didnt get the hint to leave her alone, arent they supposed to be working and not hitting on my friends? Anyways, drinks were a little more pricey, and not as strong as other places i have been to, but still decent. The lines for the bathrooms WAY too long, and like everyone says, yes it smells like someone farted in a certain spot. OTher than that, it was a great time, great company and great music to dance to. I will definetly go back again
(4)Kristan B.
Mmm mmm good. Nice place to hit if you are seeing a show at the Improv. This place is right next door. It's nice enough and our waitress was super cute. She had some sort of Irish accent and definitely made sure we got what we needed. I ordered some chicken honey-mustardy thing, while my boyfriend got the crab cakes. Delish. Let me say this as well, I don't like Mai Tai's...but something compelled me to order one. This is my new favorite drink, let's just hope they can make it this good at other bars...
(4)Liz V.
The Loft is great, if you're Asian. Each time I've been there, there has been an overwhelming segregation on the dance floor. I guess if you were to go in a large group it wouldn't matter, but if your going with just a couple guy or girlfriends like I normally do be prepared for 0 interaction from other people, despite how packed it gets on Saturday night. Maybe I'm just used to more of an outgoing crowd of people on the dance floor. Anyhow, no cover, no lines, variety of music, and the people that work there were polite. My friends and I didn't need two forms of ID either.
(3)Rainbow B.
I went here last nite with some good company. We got in line and I guess it was about 11pm. Good for them, they regulate entrance early. But when I got to the door... I had my ID. AND apparently they said "we need a second form of idea for anyone under 25" WTH. I said, "Well, I didn't bring a credit card etc to a lounge.... I could however, tell you my driver's license number by heart...." The dude calls over I guess the lead security dude and said "girl here that doesn't have a second form of ID." They asked me when my birthday was and how old I was... LOL. Stupid me, I had to have a moment to think about it... [[twirling my thumbs, thinking thinking... well i was 21 once... and I was 22..23... ]] and I slowly answered, "24, turning 25 on (so and so date)." Now, this is usually ok with me because I do look fairly young (not to toot my own horn or anything) but this occurs every single time I've been to this place. Halloween for example, same situation but it was much more justified because I had a cool costume on. It was a bit "geez" for tonite. We first had a shot and a mixed drink. My fave shot is a jager bomb. First, the cup they served my red bull in was warm--- the red bull itself was room temp. Well, the first shot didn't matter too too much, alcohol is alcohol. We proceeded upstairs as a wave of people were leaving from upstairs. I can tell you why! Because there really isn't any place to sit or chill. UNLESS you get bottle service (for the patio). Otherwise, you're pretty much herding around the sides of the dance floor, in the walkways, or near the bathroom. EXCEPT these people are real cattle dogs and won't for one second let anyone stand in these areas. If you go, don't expect to do anything else but to wait in line for the bartenders attention or dance. Otherwise, you'd feel herded into the above mentioned crowds. Lounge? I think not. I've also eaten here once and the food is not that great. I've had way better at cheaper prices.
(2)Gina A.
My buddies and I ate dinner here...don't get anything with crab cakes. I got the crab cake salad and my friend got the crab cake-something-dish. We both agreed that we prefer crab cakes that are crispier, but these were mostly soft throughout and it was sort of annoying. But this place got better later at night. We stayed for dancing and the music and crowd were pretty good. Except that they repeated a few song - also annoying. See three stars. :oP
(3)Mister R.
DJ music is too hard, too much hip hop, not enough top 40. Speaker placement is a little inconsiderate but to like ensure like circulation paths. No one wants to remain standing near the speakers, but that was a loss of dance space. My ears were buzzing after and it wasn't even great music :(. Crowd was respectful but boring. Not that much dress to impress. I WENT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.
(3)Denise B.
A great, trendy locale that really helps liven up the sometimes blah downtown area of San Jose. I love the fact that in this restaurant you sit in cute little elevated tables to eat your food. The menu is varied, pretty much universally tasty, and a reasonably priced for the quality of food. The mixed drinks are great as well. This was one of my favorite places to eat when I lived in San Jose, especially to take company.
(5)Danny P.
After graduating from college about a year ago, I couldn't find a bar that I always went to living in the city. I came here for a friends bd and it totally reminded me of the good ol' days. They played all the good new school songs and the classic oldys like "i got 5 on it....where you from, oakland, smokin..." There is also NO COVER. There is a downstairs part where it is calm and you can talk and here your group talk. Then theres the upstairs part where you get down and dirty. My new favorite spot in SJ.
(5)Judy O.
I like this place. Saturday night, my friends and I went to the Loft Bar and Bistro for drinks and dancing. The line was shorter than at most other clubs, and there was no cover. The bartenders were friendly and made good drinks. We went upstairs to dance and even though the dance floor was busy, we were able to squeeze in. All in all it was a good night. I recommend the Loft to others.
(4)Nadia L.
This place was ok. I did not have dinner there, only drinks. I liked the fact that there was no cover charge. When you walk in there is a downstairs bar area along with some tables people who just wanted to chill and still have a conversation can hang out. Upstairs there is a small dance floor and a few seats to the right and the bar on the left. Also on the right if you walk up the stairs there is a small covered patio with tables and chairs where people can enjoy some fresh air. I gave this place 2 stars for the no cover charge, good mojitos and the good music playing. Nothing more because the drinks were WAY overpriced here for San Jose (I pay the same when I go out in Hollywood and that's Hollywood..), when we wanted to turn the heater down on the patio and couldn't flag anyone down, we turned it off ourselves and a guy rushed over rudely saying "next time get a staff member to do it"...well shit if your staff paid better attention we would have and the attitude of the bartender on the first floor. When one of my friends wanted to order a vodka red bull and asked what vodka they have available he just gestured to where all the bottles of alcohol were sitting without saying a word and looking like he was pissed off he had to be there (it wasn't even busy so he could have at least helped us out a bit). Then when my friend asked for Smirnoff he just said "no" and immediately turned to help someone else. Then we asked for a mojito because the mojitos upstairs were great and he just paused and said "we have no mint"...somehow at that point I didn't believe him, I think he was just too lazy to make the mojito! All in all if you do ever end up in this place, chill upstairs where the bartenders are friendlier and the music is good. FYI it seems that dress code is stricter here than others so just be careful (especially for the guys).
(2)Edmond T.
Been to the Loft Bar & Bistro many time, primarily for its happy hour during 5pm to 6pm daily. It is how it works: happy hour menu has a limited selection of half sized appetitizers such as a calarami dish, steak bites, chinese chicken salad, onion rings and chicken wings. Each appetizer is $3.75, and all drinks (house red, house white and beer) are also $3.75. I usually order all of them plus a few drinks. It is a fun place to go to with a few friends after work. Food is not GREAT but it's a cool place to hang out. Seating upstairs by the window is the best seats in the house if you want some privacy.
(4)Shelley M.
I have to give this place a 3 mostly because the food is not worth the price. I came here with my sister and her BF, had some drinks and a Tiramisu. The ambiance was really nice and the crowd was classy and mature. After around 11pm the music started and people immediately went into loose mode. Come here for a drink and the dance floor but skip the food.
(3)Madelyn Y.
I like the look and decor of this restaurant/bar, and I really don't mind having drinks on their rooftop terrace which is really cute and cozy. Yet according to my alcoholic friend, their mixed drinks are watered down for what they're worth. I would NEVER suggest this place for dinner. Their dinner menu has all the safe n'standard appetizer, burgers, and steak/chicken items. I ordered a veal picatta and my palate unmasked poorly prepared veal costumed with the mediocre sauce that it was covered with. Don't let the sauce fool ya.
(3)Jo V.
This place blows. Saturday night at 11:30pm and about 5 people on the dance floor. What....oh, that explains the no cover charge. We walked in and out in about 5 minutes. I have eaten here a couple of times also and the food is nothing to rave about; the service was slow and unfriendly. I'm over it, won't be going back ever.
(1)Shalee S.
I had my 30th birthday here and I had a great time. We had the outside patio area and we did the buffet dinner. The food was great and the service was excellent. We were going to stay to dance but I have old friends and no one was feelin the music so we went bowling.
(5)Gloria P.
I was a bit aprehensive about coming here since the reviews for dining here were not so positive. But I wanted to try someplace new so....We started with the steak bites. This was a generous portion of steak with a side of veggies. The steak was very good as was the sauce, this could make a light meal by itself. We also ordered margaritas, there was a 2 for 1 special on these. These were good! My husband ordered the lamb shanks. The meat was very tender and the sauce was very tasty. This came with a side of veggies. I ordered the lamb penne and was very pleased. The meaty sauce with this was excellent and the chunks of tender lamb plentiful! Our waitress was very attentive. This has to be one of the best meals that I've had in San Jose.
(5)Julie F.
Seriously, this place is great. I came here for dinner with my parents and grandparents for my grandmas birthday. The service was great (granted it was dead because we had dinner at 5pm because old people eat really early), but still our server was on top of things. Everything looked so good that I had such a hard time making up my mind. I jokingly told my mom that I wanted to order 5 things and she said, "Julie, we'll pay for one and you're on your own for the rest of them." Anyway, my shaved tri-tip meal was great, and everyone else loved their meal as well. Since it was grandmas birthday, we ordered dessert, 2 chocolate cakes, and they put a candle in the cake for her. The ambiance was nice. Classy, but not all snooty. If you're in downtown San Jo, check this place out.
(5)Kenny P.
Place seems to be a lot more popular in the last 6 months than it was to me before. I dunno, the place is kinda overrated in my opinion. The crowds here isn't bad, prob. better girls here than most places in S.R... just for comparison. Younger crowd kinda in general. I'm not giving them 4 stars because the bouncers seem more strict than they need to be when checking ID's (not to mention you need a CC to accompany it). The cocktail drinks are f-ing expensive as are prob. the shots and most everything else. Don't really see myself going back unless its a special occasion again.
(3)Brad S.
It was sunny and warm in San Jose and sitting on the roof-top patio was nice escape from the crowded dining room at PF Changs. There's nothing wrong I can say about the food; it's tasty and comes in very decent size portions. We had the calamari and steak bites for appetizers. And for dinner we had the short ribs and french dip sandwich....all were very nicely done. And the service was cheery and quick.. The issue for me is....I had hoped that restaurant would create their own menu and not mirror the food at it's sister restaurant; Capers in Campbell. Maybe if they carried a few items over from Capers, but if I really wanted to go to have a dining experience at Caper's I would have made the trek to Campbell.
(3)Kristina N.
The Loft is lovely. It's a great location and they easily sat our table of 12 for dinner. One of the best things about this place is that you can have a full huge group and lots of other customers, but it's not so noisy that you have to yell to talk to someone across the table from you. Service was prompt and my food was excellent - I highly recommend the baked halibut - it's been perfect every time I have had it. The only drawback was that two of my tablemates' meals were not put in correctly and then we had to wait for their food to be corrected and brought out properly.
(4)Lauren H.
It's after 11, so most of the restaurants are shutting down. You are wandering around downtown San Jose with your friend after having a few drinks, not quite ready to go home. You don't really want to pay a cover for some lame club with bad music and a questionable crowd. Since you're driving, you'd really like a nice espresso or maybe some cake, but your friend wants a martini. On top of everything, you, at 26, are starting to feel a bit old around the crowds outside Tres Gringos and Blue Monkey. What is a girl to do? Head to Loft Bar and Bistro. I guess this has been here a while, but I have never noticed it tucked behind PF Changs. The downstairs bar area is low key. Upstairs is a little more lively with louder music and darker lighting. Both serve their full menu late into the night, including dessert and espresso. I probably wouldn't go here specifically for dinner, but it is a great option (because it is the only one that I know of) to drink and/or eat after 11PM. I had the tomato bisque, which was thick and rich, and hit the spot. (I was sorta hungry, but didn't want to pig out at La Vic.) My decaf was surprisingly good. Very flavorful and not the least bit bitter.
(4)Karen B.
**** 3 1/2 STARS **** Been to this place a few times and the experience has ranged from "WOW" to "Ugghhh." The upstairs sitting area is very nice...their wine selection is sub-par and their food is hit or miss...had a french dip and the chicken penne and those entrees were pretty good....calamari was a disappointment...they seem to rent out the restaurant or part of it to parties quite often (but then again we did go around Christmas time those few times...)
(3)Colleen C.
We just had our wedding reception here on 11/6/2010 and we couldn't have asked for anything better. We got so many compliments on the food and service. We had a blast and are so thankful to Adrian and his team for pulling everything off. It was a great night!
(5)Shawn P.
The service was awesome and the was great! A very nice setting!
(4)Zito R.
can't really complain if the place doesn't do cover charge. only thing you gotta worry about is the line and the space inside. the building is 2 levels. downstairs one is more like a bar type, no room to dance to unless you force it, upstairs has a little dance floor, but always crowded -_- they got a big bar and big restroom. music is decent. only thing sucks is the space. make use of your elbow if you wanna dance.
(4)Carla C.
The Loft was recommended to me by a friend who knows the owner. I wanted a special dinner for a birthday and they did a great job. The beef spare ribs were very good, but a little fatty (I'm weird about that, maybe they're supposed to be that way?) Regardless, it was delicious. Others had filet mignon and the steak which they all loved. For my 7 year old they were able to toss together penne pasta and alfredo sauce. She ate almost all of it. Everyone was very pleased with their meals and drinks. The waitress who sounded German or French was excellent. I would go here again. Though next time I wouldn't chose to go during Christmas in the park. Parking was a nightmare!
(4)Lily G.
Good bar, early in the night, good crowd, mid 20's very mixed crowd. The actual loft is probably nice in the summer, when it's cold it's covered and very claustrophobic. The dancefloor is also TOO small, I get mad when girls AND guys are pushing their way in and out when you are dancing, I do not want to fight for turf when I'm on one trying to relax on my one night out. I should've bar hopped, but the crowd was good, so I didn't bother leaving once drunk...shall try again. Also, there was one guy working downstairs who ran after my friend after she dropped her keys, wish I had more $$ to tip him, that was uncalled for and very honest and nice of him to do. Thanks guy.
(3)Thomas N.
Continuing on my Yelp binge... I am only rating the nightlife. I thoroughly enjoy this place. Great and strong drinks, cool people, cool environment. Reliable. Enough said.
(5)Wooodis D.
You need TWO forms of I.D. to get into this place!!!! WTH???! I didn't know this place was a High end CLUB???? 2 stars only for the patio area. If I wanted to dance with hella sweaty people i would go to a rave!
(2)Jared C.
one of the guys we were with suggested that we check this place out. overall it was a pretty good place. pros -nice decor -music from what I remember (it was a good night) was good -when we got there at 9ish, there was no line, no cover charge and they didn't make any noise about the fact that we had 15 dudes (eng company) and that most of them were from out of state. -drinks were reasonably priced for the bay area and the bar tenders were quick. cons -upstairs was packed around 11. you couldn't move anywhere. I felt bad for anyone that was there trying to dance. -the bouncers were douche bags at the end of the night basically pushing people out the door. i think that mostly ticked me off only because i had just bought a bunch of drinks for people and then the lights came on. the bar tender didn't even give us a heads up.
(3)Germie L.
Downtown SJ could be infiltrated by the Young & Ugly at times. I have a solution to your nightlife needs: The Loft. It's a nice spot for the Grown & Sexy. They play music that you can vibe to. Drinks are okay, a tad bit pricey, and the bars can get full. I suggest going there early, chat it up in the outdoor patio and dance to Salt & Pepa's "Push it."
(3)Julio L.
I use to frequent this place a year ago but it has changed and not for the good. The food is mediocre and the last time, it felt they were trying so hard for it to be a cool and hip club. That's not going to happen. I don't go here anymore and either do my friends, go back to being a bar and bistro.
(2)Bryan R.
I always enjoy a night at the Loft. Whether it be just a meet-up with the friends before going to another bar or club or for a full on Loft Party. There are two levels: The ground floor level has a bar and it's a good place to escape the dance floor and chat with friends. The 2nd floor has a Lounge and Bar, Dance Floor, and a patio. They even serve food late on a Friday and Saturday nights. Drinks are kinda pricey and the last time I went I was getting my drinks in plastic cups (kinda lame). The music is decent top 40s and keeps the dance floor bumpin. And you won't pay any cover at the door which is great. I am a fan of this place and I will repeat indefinitely.
(4)David L.
I am a fan of the Loft. There's no cover, the place isn't bad looking and the drinks are reasonable. It's also a good size, and while crowded, never gets to the point where I feel like I have to be a running back to get around. When you feel a little stuffy, there's a patio on the outside. Overall, it's a pretty chill place to hang out and have some drinks with your friends. However, it's been about three months since I last went there. Upon reading some more recent reviews, it sounds like they're requiring 2 IDs now. Sorry but that's a bit ridiculous don't you think?
(3)Jessica D.
this place is so retarted. bouncers/securities think they're the shit just because this is the only place the gives them to power to do so. hello assholes, you guys are only fucking workers, don't be acting like you're the boss. pay resects to people and for sure ass hell, they will respect you back. tonight, i dropped my gf off at loft and went to find a parking w/out realizing that one my friend had my id in her pocket. therefore, i asked her to come out t give it to me and guess what, all of my friends got kicked out just because of that. (i was being honest and told the bouncers that my friend has my id and she will be out to give it to me) . stupid assholes probably thought/assumed that we shared ids..how dumb is that.. each of us had an id..he can always check all of our id..assholes probably lazy to check all the id and said that because we're under 25, we need another form of id to get in..wtf..so my friend all had their cc and still, he said we can't go in and there's no reasons for it..fucking assholes probably hating b/c we're asians and we're 1/4 his sz. and weights...stupid dick heads....i don't even want to give them a star but it's required so here go your stupid star ... ps: not that i hate loft ,i love it..but bouncers tonight are efffking retarted..probably pmsing...
(1)Erin C.
This is another of my go-to spots in San Jose. Great for lunch or happy hour. First of all, the place itself is beautiful providing a really nice place to hang-out (especially nice for downtown San Jose). If you're hungry, I highly recommend the Steak Bites -they are amazing. I'm also a big fan of the prawn salad and the steak salad. The house Mango Mojitos are also suberb. Thursday nights there is live jazz downstairs and Friday and Saturday there is usually a DJ and dancing upstairs. I've found dancing to be hit-or-miss at the Loft, but there's no cover and it doesn't typically get anywhere near as crowded as the other clubs downtown. Music tends to be a mix of Top 40 and hip-hop. When I've gone with my own group (used to hit up the Loft oten with co-workers when I worked downtown), we don't tend to care too much who else is on the dancefloor. Management is friendly, as are most of the bartenders and staff. In the summertime, I recommend sitting on the roof deck upstairs. It's especually nice to on a warm day sipping one of those Mango Mojitos with friends.
(5)Kristina R.
Went to this place with a friend during Happy hour. We sat upstairs on their enclosed patio and it was very quiet and nice. So, the prices during happy hour were awesome. We had the fried calamari (yummy- .they use the whole squid with tentacles) and a wedge salad. Both were delicious and the drinks were great! The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I also noticed you can get an entire burger for 4.95 during happy hour. I will be going back for sure.
(4)JImmy N.
Food was decent, but they get 4 stars because the service was great.
(4).elin f.
Came for my girlfriend's birthday dinner and were seated on the rooftop patio. Since it was a beautiful, calm night, I could think of no better place to dine and enjoy the elements. The roof was fairly crowded with another large birthday party in the corner and happy couples scattered about the smaller tables. It's simply decorated with tables, benches, a few orange umbrellas and dim lighting. I imagine that this place would also be quite pleasant for lunch. We started off with a round of cocktails (they have your staples - lemondrops, mojitos and variations of those - raspberry lemonade, coconut or mango mojitos, etc.) The dinner menu consisted of selections of meat, chicken, and fish. Not too many vegetarian options though. I had the grilled salmon. It was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of flakiness. The accompanying rice was a bit like fried rice with peas, corn & carrots but gag, it was mushy (and I really can't stand mushy rice!). The rest of the gals seemed to enjoy their meals as well since almost everyone cleared their plates. Only one of us ordered dessert as they didn't have much of a selection. I did enjoy a refreshing glass of port though. I left with a fond reflection for Loft Bar & Bistro. The service was efficient, the prices weren't outrageous (about $40 per person with drinks), and very nice ambiance. I've been thinking about checking out the San Jose Improv, located a few doors down. When I do come back down for a show, I think I'd do dinner here again.
(4)Kate J.
I went here for a birthday and it was a pretty bad experience. When we got there they didn't have a table ready for our reservation even though it was not very crowded. The watiress we got never refilled our drinks or asked if we needed anything or whatnot. LUCKILY the food was really good. I ordered the prawn salad and it was amazing. But I don't think I'll be coming here again.
(2)K L.
I had my sisters surprise bridal shower here over the weekend. Originally i reserved the rooftop area but it was soooo hot that they kindly set up another area for us inside. The service was great! The manager was very nice and walked my sister and friend to the table area since he knew it was a surprise. The food was fabulous and prices very reasonable! The portions are pretty big too! At first I was kinda bummed we were indoors since we would have less privacy but in actuality it turned out fine because the vaulted ceilings ate up a lot of sound so we were able to talk and play games while other tables still enjoyed their lunch and conversation.
(5)Rex V.
Came here to drink for one of my friend's bday. The place is 2 stories both level with a bar but the bigger one is upstairs. There's no cover so it's a plus already. There's a dj spinning some old school and top 40's and the dance floor isn't too small. The drinks here are mildy priced with 3 drinks for about $30. It gets pretty crackin' on thurs-saturday nights. Nice place to check out if you wanna hop around downtown sj.
(3)Eileen M.
I was in the mood for steak and I was in the mood for salad. So I was pleasantly surprised with the Flank Steak Salad. And it tasted pretty good with the Pinot I had with it. I have never seen a flank steak salad on a menu before, which was the main reason I wanted to try it out. And a special thanks to the host AND waiter who bent over backwards to accommodate our request to eat dinner on the rooftop patio on a semi-crowded Friday night. We probably should've just ate indoors though, because the tini-tiny table they gave us could barely fit 3 large entrees. Oh well! The ambiance was fantastic considering it was a clear starry night and it wasn't too cold. Fabulous.
(4)Liz M.
Very fun dancing, reasonably good looking scene, no cover! They made me show like five forms of ID to get in though, and drinks were ridiculously overpriced, I recommend pre-partying somewhere else first!
(3)Steve M.
This place is cool. I have been here a lot and have never had a bad meal. It is a bit pricey, especially if you like to tip a few beverages back. The food is great, the staff is very friendly and fun. The rooftop patio is nice. My only real complaint about this place is late at night they turn in to a want-to-be nightclub. This is when I get the heck out. If you want a great meal this is the place.
(5)El Q.
A bouncer gave my friend a hard time for not having two forms of id, but another bouncer eventually let her in after making her sign her name a couple times. Overzealous security kept herding people away from the "walkway" into the already packed crowd by the bar. Small, crowded dance floor. DJ played mostly 90s and early 2000s hip hop (I went on a Friday night). Strong drinks- my gin&tonic was almost straight gin.
(3)Lily N.
This is from the night club perspective. The only thing that will get me to go to Loft is the fact it's someone's birthday and they insist on going to Loft no matter how much i beg them to go somewhere else. Layout: Two Bars. Dual Level, outdoor patio area is upstairs. Call me conceited but I feel like the club rejects go here. Looking to go hit on hot chicks or some hot guys? Maybe dance up some storm? No thank you. I remember this one time this guy was trying to do a back that ass up booty bump sort of thing to joke around (if he wasn't joking, pray for him). He kept bumping his ass into me and i'd try to move away but hed try to part his crowd of friends so they can watch him so he'd move more back into my direction and bump into me more. I seriously have never done this but i got to the point where i pushed him back, said "Are you fuckin KIDDING me" and walked off the dance floor and out the doors. Like i said about motif, having the dance floor up stairs, heat rises. Ventilation is not adequate. So it get nice and musty. And by nice i'm being sarcastic. I think the last time i was there, i was cheated out of my vodka. I had ordered goose, and i always have goose. What he gave me was NOT goose. The music was whack. The music has always been whack the last 4 times I've gone/dropped in (after begging to leave). I am a fan of top 40's. I heard at some point 80's, techno, freestyle (like jon B. style) stuff. The dance floor is a place to be careful on, the floor is not smooth and a girl in heels can break a leg if you get what i mean. If you don't care what i have to say and want to experience it yourself and maybe even prove me wrong. Bring two forms of id. It is required to get in.
(1)Tara B.
The Loft is a great place to meet for happy hour after work! The place has old world charm, excellent salads, strong martinis, and a very attentive staff. The prices are great for the quality and amount of food. Plus, it's always great when you walk into a place and the wait staff makes you feel like you are a VIP right away!
(5)Joe B.
really, incredibly overpriced, but work footed the bill, so who cares? I am down here for a week on a work conference, and this is where we went on our first night out. Everything was a little too oily, and the mixed vegetables pasta was pretty unappetizing. Nothing good to say about it. Nothing to see here, move along.
(2)Deb L.
Came here around 9:30pm on a Saturday night for a late dinner. First off, we were carded at the door, which is understandable as it is a bar as well. But 2 forms of identification if under 25? One of my friends was wearing a hooded zip up under a nice peacoat, and the bouncer gave him the option of either tucking his hood under his peacoat or taking the hooded zip-up off entirely. Seriously? It's San Jose. (Not to mention that later on, we saw a guy in a hooded sweatshirt wandering around.) Ok, whatever. We go up to the rooftop where the dining section was still open. We ordered steak bites (medium) for appetizers and they were NOT good. Way too chewy. I ordered a wedge salad, which was decently fresh but drowned in too much blue cheese dressing. It's pretty hard to mess up a salad. Halfway through our dinner, our waitress carded us again. Again? I mentioned that we were already carded at the door, but she mumbled something about "not being in her presence" and so we handed over our IDs again. The funny thing was, my friend decided later on to order one of their mixed cocktails, and was carded AGAIN. Wow. It wasn't even worth it because the cocktail tasted like children's cough syrup mixed with rotten apples. By the time we were finished, it was already 11pm. The music was blasting inside that I had to yell at the others to make myself heard. I just think that if they're going to serve food in a sit-down setting late night, to at least separate the bar/club area better from the dining area. Not planning to return anytime soon.
(2)Bernie P.
i usually only come here to pre-drink before hitting up Voodoo. i actually had my bday dinner there.. the food wasn't bad but i thought it wasn't worth the price either way the bill was racked up. bar service is never bad and they always have a DJ Thursday - Saturday.. they make really good mojitos! the only thing i wish they did was allow people to smoke on their outside patio! and the dance space is awkward... its smack dab in the middle of a dining area some nights.. i mean I'm not sure late 30 year olds wanna see the new 21 get low to some Lil Jon? i think that vibe needs to be reviewed by management.
(3)Tara P.
We had a dinner party of 15 at the Loft Bar and Bistro and had a GREAT time!! It was work friends for a night out after we had a conference in San Jose. Great food, great service, great company and great conversation. I, being the red meat eater that I am, ordered the Grilled Filet Mignon and it was DE-LISH! Prepared exactly as I asked: Medium Rare with just the right pink in the middle! My friend Annie ordered the Panko Crusted Chicken Breast. We were all taken back by the size (hence the photo I am adding with her hands next to it!) She said it as yummy, but unfortunately couldn't eat the whole thing, She sure did make the effort!! My friend Jen ordered the Cajun Spice Ahi Tuna and thought that was delicious too. After dinner, most of our party left, but the remainder of us took the party to the patio and enjoyed more drinks and more great conversation. I highly recommend this establishment. If I am ever in San Jose again, I would definitely make the effort to eat here again!
(4)Jason F.
I am thinking of possibly going here for my Birthday so I figured I should try it out. We went on a very quiet rainy Monday evening and were seated immediately. We checked out the menu and noticed it was a bit spendy for the offerings. I ordered the wedge salad with crab cakes with some wine. I enjoyed both and had a really nice experience. The service and food were good, just wasn't in love with the pricing. It seemed like you could get similar food elsewhere for cheeper but overall good experience and nice place.
(4)Victoria N.
This place is perfect if your goal is to easily grab a drink and have a good time with friends, either on the dance floor or outside on the patio. Dance floor has a more mature crowd, so there are no sleezy horny guys sneaking up from behind trying to grind me. Patio is cozy and makes for a nice ambiance to get away from the loud music and have a good ole heart to heart or drunken conversation.
(4)Stephen D.
The night my friends and I went was the night that Gabriel Igelsias was at the Improv on Friday night, March 13. We still had time before the show starts so went to this place for some drinks and appetizers. Just by the drinks and appetizers alone, I liked it. I don't agree with the prices, I mean, for the amount I paid I could've have gotten a dinner for 2. All we had was drinks and couple of appetizers. I have not tried the dinner and I don't think I will. I'd rather eat at home and save my money. But drinks are good and also the appetizers.
(3)Christophe B.
Rather disappointing. I dined here with some of my friends before seeing a performance on a Saturday night. The restaurant was NOT busy, however the service was exceptionally poor and slow. When I asked our server for a drink recommendation, it as if I had asked her to give me the square root of 473. She was a complete nit-wit. the rest of the staff seemed equally incapable of basic service principles as well. The entrees themselves were unimpressive. Ive had better chicken penne at the olive garden, and that should speak volumes. The flavor was lacking in all of our entrees, and the presentation was very poor. After we ate we waited a good 25 minutes for our server to reappear and try to get our check. After an hour and a half we finally exited and had to rush to the performance that, with decent timely service, we would have been early for. for the prices, you are definitely better off eating elsewhere. one star for the bartender who, despite our twit of a server's inability to make a competent suggestion, was able to make a delicious cocktail called the bermuda triangle.
(1)Peter P.
This is probably one of the worst clubs I have ever been to. I hardly ever hang out in San Jose, but I was invited to a birthday day party at the Loft. There was no rhyme or reason to their seating arrangements. Having seats reserved for the club meant you got left over tables from dinner which resembled something you would find at a late night diner or Dennys. They are trying to maintain an upscale image, but however this place can not compare to anything upscale in SF, LA, NY, CHicago or vegas....Even anything in Santana Row is much better than this place. If you don't venture much out of Downtown San Jose, then this is you place to be for a high end club. However, if you have experience going to high end clubs in other cities, then this place is NOT for you... and to top it off, I don't mind paying 13 dollars for my Grey Goose in NYC or LA, but San Jose? When you pay that much for a drink, you better be getting some scenery out of it (or a sizable pour, which was't the case) There is NONE at the Loft. NO NO NO to the LOFT as a club..
(1)Kelly P.
Good food, good drinks, nice feel to the place. I will definitely be back.
(4)John C.
If you don't know the place and just walk by, you'd probably would not go in. I went in because I was meeting friends there. The upstairs is very nice thus the name Loft. Pretty good food and very accomodating service. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Chris G.
I came here with a bunch of friends on Thursday night and it was an overall cool vibe. The bartenders make some decent drinks and the music is generally hip hop. Like other have said there are a lot of guys which does bring in the shady types ever once and a while. One thing that surprised me is the how lax the dress code was. I heard no baggy jeans, but people with white tennis shoes and regular t-shirts came in droves.
(3)Hal S.
I recently moved in the same building complex as the Loft and had about 15 friends over for a house warming dinner. After dinner we decided to walk to the Loft for some cocktails. When we tried to get in, our doorman refused my ID because he said it was in bad condition. This was after the fact that I had recently been there several times before with the same ID. He was very rude and obnoxious and for some reason had a chip on his shoulder. Instead of wasting our time at the Loft, we took our business across the street to San Jose Bar and Grill where they did not have any issues with my ID.
(1)Samson W.
I finally had the privilege of trying this place a week for dinner. The food is OK. The scampi was good. Though, the portion was not adequate enough. Same thing with the amount of rice. Could have added another heaping of rice. This place is pricey for the amount of food that you get as I had experienced. More expensive than Tarragon in Sunnyvale. It seems that the restaurants on this particular block of South 2nd street are OK and pricey.
(3)Eddie k.
It was ok place. Another place of 200 dudes to 1 female. It was like 2 basements stacked on top of each other full of sausages. It was funny to see the poor females get hoarded by the groups of dudes that was all trying to hit up on them. It was like a bunch of sausage zombies attacking the poor defenseless female..AHAHHAHAH..I want to eat your braaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiinssssss
(2)Pete N.
The Loft has great outdoor seating for a downtown San Jose Restaurant. Food wise I had calamari as a appetizer. This was the first time I have had calamari with fried jalapenos, this highlighted the appetizer. It was tasty and not chewy. The calamari was not overcooked and it made a great combination with the fried jalapenos. I had a lamb shank which was good but I think it was a Valentine day special. The shank was moist and rich. It had great flavor and was not a disappointment. Service was slow but the best place I have learned to always get a quick drink is from the bar, from any restaurant. The bar staff is friendly and makes good mixed drinks. I waited late to see what the crowd was like when the restaurant turned into a club. It was slow and the dj was just ok. Food wise I would go here due to the great view of the stars from the outside terrace and the food exceptional. The club was not wort it but I would give it another try.
(3)rob m.
i've never had a bad experience at the Loft. Never eaten here, ok i lie, i think i had an order of fries - but it's a great New York-style bar with a great sense of "i'm not in San Jose anymore" which can be kind of nice at shitey times. It's very clean and there are no crazy drunk people getting into fights because some dood was staring at another dood's girlfriend's boobs. It is actually quite friendly although the dancing is a bit poor which I think they might be able to fix with a better DJ selection and better advertising. But I've kind of enjoyed the lo-key status so far. I'm not sure about the mingling part since I've never gone to a bar nor club to do this, but it is a great place to go with friends and chat it up while downing a few very strong drinks.
(5)ryan w.
nothing to write home about.
(2)Joy V.
I am definitely a fan of this place. Have been here on a few different occasions. My first experience was heading there with some friends before a concert around the holidays. They were closed for a giant private party, but the person at the door was super cool about it and gave us each a card for free appetizers for another time. So.....we came back a different time. Had some good eats. Big portions, nice wait staff, the decor is very new york loft, cool, clean bathrooms, full bar with some tasty specialty drinks. 2 words: Bocce Ball!!! My last visit was for my 30th b-day. We reserved some tables around the downstairs bar and had some appetizers and drinks. And more drinks, and more drinks. Oh was that just me? I got completely shit faced. Hey, it was my b-day back off! The wait staff was top notch. Drinks kept coming, free non-alcoholic drinks for the DD's, was a lot of fun. I recommend going and enjoying what they have to offer.
(4)Loe M.
I always get the Chinese Chicken Salad... Yumm. Drinks are so-so. Service is great. But if you're not in the mood to spend $$, go somewhere else.
(3)Vick D.
I think its a good place to eat. its not really a club scene. the patio is a cool, peole that work there are great and freindly. the loft is more of casual apmosphere than a fast pace chain resturaunt. good place to have a b-day party...........
(4)Virg A.
Been here a couple times and my experience hasn't been "HELL to the yea", but overall a pretty good time. No cover- but the double ID thing can get somewhat cumbersome so be sure to bring you license and a debit card. Drinks are expensive so pre-gaming is definitely something you should do if you plan to come here. Music is pretty good, but the upstairs dancefloor is way too small for the big crowd. It can get hot and sticky- but hey, if you like that kind of thing- this is your place! The line for the ladies room upstairs kind of merges with the guys' line. (yes, there's a guy's line). So it's a little awkward to have all these guys checking out the girls while they wait to pee. Still a sausage-fest, albeit it an Asian one (hey- i can say it, cuz i am! :), but still a good time. Upstairs there's also a nice patio area which is a nice breather from the sauna that can happen inside. Downstairs is much more chill but the bathroom down there is a unisex so ladies - make sure you double soap! If all else fails, Tres and SJ bar and grill are across the street so if you don't enjoy, the night can still be salvaged!
(4)Rhia R.
This has quickly become my go to spot when I'm not feeling in the mood to stand in line or put my name on a guest list for any of the clubs that I still hit up in San Jose. The drinks will make up for the free entry at around $10 a pop, unless you happen to order any of the discounted specialty drinks or come in around happy hour. There's a bar in each of the two floors. However, the one upstairs is always likely to get crowded once the music starts. The DJs I've come across here have been pretty good. The last time I was here, they did a special set for Michael Jackson in honor of his 1st year anniversary. Totally made my night. I also discovered that sweet tea vodka is unbelievably delish, not to mention a creeper. Most of the customers are in and out of the place since it's situated near other bars/lounges. But feel free to linger a while and check out the dance floor upstairs, given that there's any room to do so.
(4)Johnny D.
Music was alright not complaining, good mix of people, but it was very hot and a small dance floor and u better drink beverage at the bar or someone will knock right into you.. security was ok but after the night there A$$holes they make u leave and walk down the street and you cant wait for your friends?? and they actually touch you and shove you and ask you to leave, and if you talk back in a respectful manner they trip out even more and threaten to call the cops over...
(3)Maureen M.
I'm a big hater on the San Jose nightlife. The bartender upstairs was effen rude (the bald white dude with white plugs in his ears) and was bitchin to other customers about our drink order while making it. and he over charged my friends drink orders and gave some excuse about the girl who served them before was new and undercharged them the first time. the decor is nice but no matter how nice the place if the employees AND crowd is wack there is no saving this place. there is a lot of non VIP seating areas. and park at the west/east pavilion garage for free. i think i would rather come here during the week for lunch than for a weekend nightclub scene.
(1)princess l.
one of my good friends gave me a lunch coupon for this restaurant...decided to grab lunch with the hubbs one day and we liked how the restaurant looked like..so fancy & sophisticated. we were seated on top floor & from there we ordered our food. i guess the food was okay, it wasn't anything especially that i would remember for the rest of my life. it was any other restaurant that served 'ok' food at an expensive price? it didn't much 'wow' me but i'm sure other people liked it better. definitely a place to hold private events for 21+ kids.
(4)Bee T.
A great place to go for a drink or hang out during the weekend. They make great martinis, and most cocktails taste very good. It is one of my favorite place in downtown SJ. I've been there for dinner twice, and I think their food is okay. However, they don't have too much choices on the menu, and only one vegetarian dish.
(4)Marevie T.
Definitely fun place! Haven't tried the food, but my friends RQ and Christylz spin here often. Lots of fun! However, for some reason I have this luck for bumping into EX-BOYFRIENDS at this place. Maybe its a curse. Anyway, missing one star because I haven't tried the food yet =)
(4)Emily N.
For a $23 halibut plate, I expected more food that tasted better. It was just average and bland. I probably could have cooked something better myself, and I'm no chef. I would have given this place two stars, but their drinks are their saving grace. I really enjoyed my Sexy Alligator. I refuse to go there for dinner again; it's just not worth it for such mediocre food. But if you're going for a cocktail, then it's a nice place to stop.
(3)Carl F.
You guys are doing a great job....Ive been there several times, but decided to share my thoughts today Yelp Style.....the food is awesome and very few folks know that your kitchen crew also works at The Grill on the Alley at the Fairmont, which is a huge plus in my eyes and really speaks to the consistency of each dish....Another plus is that you have the only roof top patio in downtown (besides the Capitol Club which is not really open to the public)....Beyond the normal dining experience and tasty food, your Friday and Saturday nights are pretty cool too...nice late night happy hour deals but I only wish you had a bigger dance floor because I like to spread my wings when Im dancin....keep up the good work....thanks for listening...its obvious why so many people love your place.....btw, do you guys except names for a VIP list to avoid lines on Fri and Sat? It would be awesome to walk straight in!!
(5)Robert L.
1 of the spots we hit up last week. music was good..drinks alright. we were here a little early, so didnt get the full night life experience. will probably come back at a later time next time.
(3)Jilly B.
Downstairs bar has good, strong drinks, but it's also very small. Upstairs, there's another bar, quaint little dance floor and rooftop smoking patio, but the DJ on Friday night only played little samplets of songs, not the full songs, which is extremely irritating. Don't play just 2 minutes of "Freaks of the Industry" -- play the whole thing, damn it! Also, $10 for 2 bottles of Voss water is pure BS. I know we live in Silicon Valley, so the cost of living is higher, but come on...........
(2)Zofeone D.
Based on my first impression, i thought, wow, cool, i like the atmosphere in this place, as well as the design/decoration. While my g/f and I thought about what to order, bread and a garlic vinegarette arrived at our table. I though "eh a little chince on the bread". It turns out they bring more without asking. the vinegarette was great on the first run, but the second time they brought bread, I couldn't even taste the garlic until I was maxing out at the bottom. Lame. It took a while for me to decide cause everything was so damned expensive. I finally settled on one of the daily specials, BBQ Salmon with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. I was attracted to this choice mainly because of the cole slaw. Man what a bummer.. First off, for 23 bucks, i don't want a sliver of salmon, plain mashed potatoes and some innovative cole slaw that consists only of red cabbage! You would think these guys would have at least come up with a better presentation to at least hide the fact that they're ripping you off BIG time! The salmon was cooked perfectly and came with extra BBQ sauce on the side. The mashed potatoes were luke warm (like the plate) and PLAIN and presented in a pile, like the cook just plopped a spoonfull on the plate. eww.. The cole slaw was good, but too plain and the lettuce it was on top of didn't make it look to appetizing. Oh god and the drink, how could i forget that? WAY over priced! I think it was like 11 bucks for the bermuda triangle one and it came in a gloried shot glass. I was really disappointed combined with the feeling i was ripped off. NOT COOL.
(1)Kevin J.
Really nice place to hang out but don't go there for the food! Their kitchen is minuscule and added as an afterthought. I had a Cajun style dish there that tasted like butter! This is primarily a lounge folks and the food definitely takes a back seat. If you're not looking for food and want a nice lounge to hang out in, however, this place is a good choice.
(3)Bill H.
This place was cool. My lady took me here and I had no clue what to expect. It looked like a bar, until we walked into the back and got into the elevator to go up to the restaurant where we got to sit outside and have some great seafood. I had a great time and had no clue the place was ever there!
(4)rob. l.
The food is great but the service has been so bad both the times I can't give it better than a 3 star review. Last time we went there we had to wait 30 minutes to even get a drink order taken. If I were eating at the bar it might have been better. But if you can get past the service the meatloaf sandwich and french dip are both amazing.
(3)Joey C.
This place gets 2 stars by my standards. Maybe 2 years or so ago, when this place WAS good, I woulda given it 3 or 4 stars, but that is clearly not the case anymore. The level of quality at Loft has seriously deteriorated from when they first opened. I clearly recall coming here when I first moved back home to SJ from college and the food was really well prepared, the ambiance was something different than other SJ eatieries I had gone to before, and the services was friendly, knowledgable and efficient. I don't know what might have happened in the year or so time that I hadn't visited Loft, but something defintiely is not the same. The first several times I went, it was my two younger brothers (one of which actually introduced me to Loft) and another several times with a guy i was seeing back then. And again, I remember the menu being decent and the food actually tasting like it had just been cooked. Oh, and yeah, the waitress was able to answer any questions I may have had. Recently, however, I went there about 2 weeks ago with my Dad and my youngest brother for an early dinner before my bro left for boarding school again (yes, he is still in high school) and the reason we went, actually, was because my brother wanted to have their Rack of Lamb i believe, which he said he had really liked the last time he ate there. I had the Prawns Scampi and Dad had some salad entree i think. Anyhow, the server was kinda weird, like, she mumbled a lot and had an accent which I couldn't quite put my finger on, yet, she was clearly caucasian. Weird. So yeah, our appetizer came before our drinks (and mind you, we all ordered soft drinks and i ordered a beer, so you know there was no preparation involved) and the calamari was average at best. I think I've had better calamari from a frozen box I purchased at Costco once. Despite having arrived before the main dinner rush (around 5-ish), the waitress seemed rushed the entire time and wasnt able to answer all of our questions concerning the menu and sides, etc. BUt at the same time she didnt seem new, just sorta.....slow. Entrees arrive along with drinks, and my shrimp, i SWEAR, tasted like they were the microwavable heat-and-serve kind you get from a frozen box in the discount section of the grocery store and upon sticking my fork into them, they were obviously overcooked and hard. Very stingy with the sauce, which, I have to admit, was quite good but barely covered half my shrimp, which, to be exact, were 6 medium sized shrimp, not prawns. Dad's salad needed more dressing and the lettuce was still wet, and little brother's lamb was mediocre. All in all, utter dissappointment. There was another time, when I first moved to downtown SJ, that I took my friends there and again, WARNING SIGN, the food was very mediocre at best. Other than that, this place has great potential considering its location in the heart of downtown and right next to the Improv Comedy Club, and the ambiance is very chill too. I would certainly come back here for drinks before going elsewhere since I do like the bar upstairs and unlike other places in SJ, the ambiance isnt trying too much to be industrial or some sorta fake something its not. People though, can range from your typcial Gucci/Louis Vuitton toting asian fashionistas with 7 inch stilletos to the absurdly loud ever so average white guy who thinks not having taste in the way he dresses is tasteful, so its hit or miss or a good mix, whichever way you want to look at it. Very San Jose if you ask me. The outside seating area has heat lamps so I can see it being good for getting together for drinks w/friends after work or before going elsewhere.
(2)Tammie S.
My reviews are strongly based upon quality/taste of the food, and I thought Loft lacked in flavor and was boring. There wasn't a "wow" factor or even anything that had a unique style/taste that made me remember it. Sorry. I guess I could mention: Service was good and atmosphere is chill.. can't say much for the bar.. maybe should have headed there before eating.
(2)Vy R.
Threw my hubby a surprise birthday party here last weekend. Out of all the places I called, the people here were by far the friendliest and most helpful. Everything went smoothly, and we had fun. The vibe was good and drama free. Except for when my hubs and friend had each other in a headlock, and security thought they were fighting forreals. haha... took them outside, lectured them for a bit, and then let them back in. Security was very strict and watched everyone who seemed like they couldn't maintain. I had to deduct a star because the food wasn't all that great and drinks are pretty damn expensive. $13 for a shot of patron? Ummm next time I'm gonna get my drank on across the street at Tres' first.
(3)Steven C.
We came here on a Wednesday night. The room was less than half full but servers were hard to find when I needed one. There is a bar downstairs and a patio on the roof for outdoor dining. The atmosphere is pretty informal and I think this would be a great place to unwind after a shift with a beer or cocktail. I tried the lychee vodka martini and I thought it was pretty refreshing. We started with the carpaccio and a cup of the creme of spinach soup. The soup had a nice spicy bite to it and while creamy it was not overwhelmingly so. The carpaccio tasted OK but it had an odd slightly brown tint to it and the meat kept tearing up as I tried to get it off the plate so I would not get that again. The braised lamb shank has a REALLY nice glaze that at first seemed cloyingly sweet but with the lamb really worked. One nice thing is that you can order one shank or for about $5 more you can add another. Since I had an appetizer I got one which was just right for me. The lamb shank itself was fall off the bone tender. While not the best shank I have ever had it is a fine example of how it can be done right. I would recommend it to anyone who likes lamb shanks. The veggies were sauteed in garlic and were served with mashed potato. Often sides of veg are rubbery flavorless nuggets of blandness. It is really refreshing to see someone who actually takes the time to make good sides. My wife had the roasted salmon which was OK and had the same veggies. We ran out of time for dessert but we'll look at them when we come back. Overall this is a great watering hole for locals that serves well done, straight forward food that has its own character.
(3)Caitlyn O.
We had a really good meal here. First of all the service was very, very attentive and friendly. Our water glasses were always full and the table was always clean. . . Anyway the food was really good too - nothing exceptional but just simple, yummy pasta. Also - don't be afraid of the meat loaf. It's was delicious. Drinks were a little pricey. Overall good atmosphere and food - we'll definitely be back for dancing.
(4)Lulu C.
Haven't been here in a really long time, but from what I remember, it was pretty decent. Been there a few times, 1st time was with an ex, and we ate upstairs at a small bar table. The food was good, nothing to write home about..pricey for what it is. 2nd time I went, was for a friends bachelorette party. Sat upstairs at the bar area, and had a great time. I knew a bartender who worked there at the time, so we got our drinks comped most of the night. Dark atmosphere, nice outdoor patio overlooking 2nd st.
(3)Amy T.
Overall, it think this place is trendy, cute and the food is delicious! I tried the grilled salmon with veggies and it was really good. By far, it is the best grilled salmon i ever had! I guess it was a bit pricey but it was well worth it.
(5)Kristi D.
I came here for dancing. Not for food. Not that there's anything wrong with food. I like food. So it's one of those places you get moderately inebriated at, dance in such a way that you're embarrassed to come back, but still do, because it's less annoying than the places in Campbell and not as crowded as the places in Santana Row. They play a decent mix of 90s booty-rap meshed with butchered 80s. People are respectful and don't elbow you. Everyone is respectfully tipsy. The girls aren't pretending to be lesbians to catch guys' attention, yet there's still random love triangles to add to passerby amusement. Word of advice: watch your drinks or they'll be taken away while you dance. I'd go back. Maybe even for some food.
(4)Niki M.
i've dined here a few times for lunch & dinner and have never been disappointed. as the name suggests it has a "lofty" industrial feel which i like, though it's a little dimly lit at night and hard to read the menu. ;P on the weekends it gets more bar-ish around 10:30 and includes a dj. it's definitely one of the more hipper places in downtown and good for groups and the service is always good. i liken the quality of the food to that of the cheesecake factory..only not as large in portion and the menu is not as diverse. the pluses are the meatloaf, pork chops, cajun salmon & smoked salmon rotini. good luck.
(3)Lily L.
Haven't had the food here but the drinks are good. I've only been here after dinner hours.
(3)Jr. Jun W.
Just came from this place... it was ok I guess ran into a couple snoby young bucks but whats new. Music was ok , crowd was decent . nice mixed crowd however everyone seemed to only want to mingle or dance within there group of friends " boring". Would I visit this place again.. Maybe, but its not to die for.
(3)Khoa N.
No cover, leneint on the dress. Great place to dance, chill or watch some sports at the bar! My new fav place for the summer. Always filled w/ beautiful ladies who are SUPER easy to spot in the mixed crowd
(5)Korn D.
Overpriced food and drinks!!! Food isn't good. Ambiance is nice, but the place is kinda dead. Came here for drinks before, but never wanted to stay any longer than one drink. Once in a while it smells like a sewer when you go down the stairs. It has the looks, but just have better food and lower the prices a little then the place will be a hit.
(2)Sabrina A.
I had truely a wonderful dinner while back. I was seated on the patio on top, cute and with only a few other tables, I can like my privacy sometimes. The staff was great, no one was rude or snobby, but rather attentive, kind and willing. I hate when I go to places and its like I am killing them to be there. Anways. I shared a casear salad, just enough dressing, not drenched, great taste with anchove. Perfect! I then shared a soup and steak dinner with a friend, I have food envy (I envy everyone else's food wondering what it tastes like instead of just loving mine), the tomato soup was just right and so was my steak, not burnt or mooing. The bottle of white I was recommended was good as well. Though a bit pricey, the restaurant came through and me feel like it was worth it. Great location, to after just grab a drink somewhere and head out!
(4)Ro C.
the service here is great. very attentive and nice people. the appetizers I tried were the carpaccio, tomato and mozarella salad and the marinated fire roasted artichoke. the carpaccio was good but not my favorite. i did like the tomato and mozarella salad. it was nice and fresh. the marinated fire roasted artichoke was good and the sauce had a nice kick to it. i had the spicy cajun blackened salmon (low carb). it was cooked perfectly however there weren't enough "spicy cajun blackened" spices. i can hardly taste it. i still love the taste of salmon so i ate it anyway. the steamed vegetables were okay. a little overcooked. the papaya-jicama salad that came with it was mediocre. i must say though that the dessert i had was scrumptious. it was fresh berries with grand marnier whipped cream. it was so good! the berries were nice and sweet not tart-like. there were strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. I wish they had put more of the grand marnier in it. it tasted so light and fresh. a definite treat. our waitress was super nice and they kept replenishing our drinks. a major plus! i'll have to come back again and try the other entrees. i came here during lunch. very mellow atmosphere. not crowded at all! parking was a cinch. there's a parking lot across the street and the restaurant will validate your ticket.
(3)Heather K.
I loved this place. Very small and quiant. The drinks and food were delicious. And was priced fairly well!
(5)Michelle K.
I was in San Jose for a conference and we went to the Loft for some drinks one night. I had a Long Island Iced Tea. It was good - I'm not sure if it was worth the $10 that it cost, but they did have a nice heated and covered outdoor patio. It was fun for a drink.
(4)Kevin C.
Cool spot to eat and hang out afterwards for a drink. They have a outside patio which is nice. It's more of an older crowd which is good and if you want to be a little immature college student you could always go across the street for Tres Gringos. I would consider it more of a chill spot then a typical bar. Overall it's good for thier drinks, decor and service.
(4)Mai L.
had my 22nd bday dinner at the loft and it was fun. made reservation for 16 people for a saturday night was a breeze. we got there at 7 and was seated right away. surprisingly, it wasnt pack. we hit the bar right after we settled down. bartenders were nice. good drinks, delicious food (even though they took away my unfinished food when i was too busy getting shots). GREAT service. we went bar hopping before they turn it into a dance floor, so no comment for that. overrall, we were really satisfied and will come here again for my next bday!
(4)Kenny W.
i've been here a few times for parties but tonight was the first time I came for dinner. First thing I noticed were the brick walls, darkness, casual dining environment and dim mood lighting: great ambiance. The acoustics were great too as we were able to hear each other across the table w/o raising our voices. The tables were spaced far enough apart so we weren't listening to 5 other conversations simultaneously either. We had the beef carpaccio and steak bites for appetizers. Carpaccio was chewy but it seems to be that way everywhere. Steak bites were tender and juicy and big enough to be an entree itself. Their ever popular Panko Crusted Chicken was basically chicken katsu w/ honey mustard but it was still badass. It wasnt breaded too much and the honey mustard was a perfect compliment. The braised short ribs w/ red wine sauce was really tender but then again that should be the case w/ anything braised. For desert, we had the Loft Cheesecake, and Fresh Berries w/ Grand Marnier Sabayon. Cheesecake was really good but the berries were, well, berries. Didn't really get the sabayon part. Our only complaint would be the cosmos. It was just bad. All in all, I'd say 3.5 stars for the food but the great casual ambiance takes it up to 4.
(4)Manuel S.
To be honest, I really can't speak on behalf of the restaurant side of "The Loft" (as it's known to me and my peeps), as I'm typically there to quench my thirst. Even when I have have sampled the culinary fare, I was already impaired, so it was always delicious, right? The Loft is actually pretty cool if you use it appropriately. It's not a "stay here all night" kind of spot. I find it's best when it's seen as a stop along the night's crawl - typically early to mid-evening. Oh, and another thing, I'm talking about the bar upstairs, not downstairs. The crowd tends to be dominated by young professional types (dare I say "yuppies?") for a bit more of a mature crowd (you would expect) than you're going to find across the street at SJ Bar & Grill or Tres Gringos. Oh, and the outdoor patio?... I have yet to sit out there, but I also have yet to hear a favorable review of it.
(4)J. P.
The food was delicious - filet mignon. *drools* Months later I am still talking about the food. The service was pretty decent. Service for drinks and such could have been quicker considering there was only one other party there. Overall, a good place for a nice dinner.
(4)Y U.
The place is big some 3 floors giving a choice of sitting options and the food is Quite Good too. A nice place to celebrate Bdays. Most dishes cost in and around 15-18 $ making it cheap for ambiance.
(4)Michele W.
My friend and I decided to throw a little birthday dinner get together here. We reserved the upstairs area (which also turned into a dancefloor w/ DJ after 10pm) - cute, small area w/ nice, dim lighting. It was a party of about 20 people and of course everyone came at different times! The waitresses were very patient, polite and accomodated everyone as they came....The food was good, had a good selection - but overpriced in my opinion. My friends also had some trouble at the bar when the bartender made our drinks using a tall glass and charged us $9. A few minutes later the same bartender made the SAME drinks using a short glass and still charged us $9! wtf?! Weird....Anyway, 3 stars overall. Maybe i'll go back for lunch, but prolly wouldn't go there for drinks again...
(3)Cheryl C.
I went to Loft for the first time last month and had the best time! If you love to dance, this is the place to be. The DJ on Sat rocks! He def. plays music you could dance too- good smashups and doesn't repeat songs 3x times a night like they do at Vivid. There's a bar downstairs if clubbing is not your thing. I'll def. be back to shake my ass there again - maybe this weekend!
(4)Alexandra O.
The Loft is one of the best spots in downtown San Jose to eat for lunch, dinner and happy hour. The atmosphere is swanky, but the prices are reasonable for the kind of food that is served. This place is good if you like red meat and I love the balsamic vinegar/caper/garlic/EVOO bread dip they serve with meals.This is a great spot when you want to watch a football game, grab some afterwork cocktails or a take someone on a date.
(4)Yvonne C.
We took some friends from out of town here because we have read good things about this place. Even though our waiter told us that it was only his second day on the job- I was impressed by the service and the food was good. I had the grilled prawn salad which was good, but it could have had a bit more dressing. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, juicy and flavorful. My boyfriend had the french dip which he said was excellent. It came with a side of horseradish sauce that I used for a dipping sauce for his fries since he doesn't like horseradish. It was perfect! My girlfriend had the cajun salmon which she liked and her boyfriend had the vegetarian pasta which he liked as well. I was dissapointed to see that there was only one vegetarian dish (besides salad of course)on the menu. The desserts were my favorite part of the experience! The white chocolate creme brulee is divine! We shared some berries with grand mariner and some kind of creamy cheese which was excellent as well.
(4)Rachel L.
Passed by this place many times finally had a chance to try last Friday for my friend's birthday. When I walked in, it was just a bar and was quiet. We had a couple drinks then walked upstairs. Surprisingly, it was packed. I like the atmosphere. The reason I gave it a 2 stars because of the food quality. I ordered a Braised Lamb Shanks....NOT GOOD! Someone ordered Vegetarian Pasta...too oily. Scampi Prawns...nothing special. Other than food....mango mojito was pretty good. I would only go for a drink.
(2)Daniella M.
Came here when it first opened up and really pleased with the food quality, service, ambiance, etc. Was seated upstairs. Not sure about prices because I didn't pay for anything but I'd definitely return again. Oh, and the bathrooms are so pretty too!
(4)Mika D.
this would be such a great place if their marketing was on point in promoting this joint! would come here again for drinks.
(3)M C.
If they'd just improve the food this place would be excellent. Great service, nice private patio, good drinks, relaxed atmosphere.....but the food is just not that yummy. The fried calamari is blah. How do you screw up fried calamari?!
(3)Rosalynn D.
was here last night randomly cuz we had nothing to do at 12am....cool place to chill. theres no cover...but the air was damn sticky icky in there with all the sweaty ppl on the dance flooo.
(3)Deb N.
Arrived at 7:30pm on a Friday night and easily got a table upstairs. Parking was the difficult part, parked across the street and two cars just happened to leave the lot which was full and made two slots available. The nice thing, after 6pm, parking is free, so that was sweet. The restaurant was nice, dark and quiet with windows and dark woods, a side room upstairs, covered and enclosed outside with a stage. Ordered a mozzerella tomato balsalmic appetizer, the 2, 5 oz. grilled porkchops with veggies and mashed potatoes and beef braised ribs with demi glaze, mashed potatoes and veggies. So much beef, had to take some home. Had an alcoholic bev. The porkchops were moist and flavorful and the mashed pots had a good flavor. The ribs were tender and rich with the demi glace. All for $54 which I found quite reasonable with the quantity and quality. Nice atmosphere, quiet, dark and nice for a one on one dinner, our server was very attentive and so was our bus staff. The desserts seemed lackluster, so went someplace else for the desserts.
(4)Ashley H.
i think i just went here on the wrong day with the wrong people. i think it has potention but maybe only during the week. we went on sat bc we didnt want to go to tres anymore. it was ok. service was a little slow even though there were like 4 barteneders and 2 barbacks. and the drinks were a little pricey for what this place really was. i think id go again maybe during happy hour. but for a sat night of dancing....not so much.
(3)Daisy A.
This place is not bad. Dj David Q seems to play here a lot. I folllow him around because he plays the best mashups. If it weren't because of him I probably would of never discovered this place. Its a two level so its spacious. Bar upstairs and downstairs. You have to go with the right people otherwise it may get a bit tooo boaring when especially when the music is not right. This place right around the corner is perfec to hang out. It's the cinnbar and you may have heard a lot of bad things about it but I really dig.
(4)K T.
I went here for a friend's bday before a couple of years ago and it was fun. The last time I went it was a bit crowded and the music was too loud to talk so we left.
(2)Rod V.
Went there @ 11:30pm this passed Saturday (04/14/07). I actaully liked the atmosphere! Good mix of people, decent music, little crowded on the dance floor. DJ messed up a few times that night, but hey it happens! I'd go there again!
(3)Mark A.
Great food and great drinks. They know how to make a martini and have a good wine selection. Service is good and when it turns into a nitespot its a good place to be.
(4)KC L.
Very fun and good food. I have always had great service here. Perfect for before the Improv shows
(5)Charmayne O.
When I showed my ID to the bouncer, he asked to see 2 other identification cards. When I asked him "you don't believe me??" he responded with " we ask everyone under 25." However, both of the people I was with ages 23 and 24 weren't asked for extra identification! Wtf?? When you first walk in theres a pretty quiet bar downstairs. Once you go upstairs, theres another bar, dance floor, and outside seating area. When we got upstairs around 11pm we were wondering if theres was even a dance area because there was only 5 people getting their groove on! As the night went on it got pretty crowded. The dance floor is very tiny, with strangers rubbing up all over you (not necessarily a bad thing for some people). The one of the three bartenders that served us was sarcastic but still friendly. I love how the outdoor restaurant area can just be a place to lounge while the waitresses serve you drinks. I liked that it was a very diverse crowd including diverse age groups (cougar-ville!!). There's a parking lot right across the street, just don't get run over by the VTA! The SJ Improv is next door, so enjoy some comedy and then come here to chill! I"ll definately be going back : )
(4)Douglas R.
great place for down home cooking. good portions but the tables are a little close together. desert a little pricey for frozen prep.
(4)soy y.
This place has the slowest service ever. I've eaten here twice (once for a bday function, the other just for a weeknight dinner) and both times the service was sooooooooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwww. Food was good but it took us over a half hour just for somebody to take our order. Got a drink on the house because of it but.... There really weren't that many people at the restaurant to warrant that long of a wait.
(3)bei c.
The food was average. I had the marinated flank steak--dry and rough. My friend's chicken marsela tasted like it had been doused in clam sauce. However, the service was exceptional, and I had a lot of fun there nonetheless. The ambience there is really nice too, but just a little too dark for me.
(3)Aarica C.
Very cute, trendy place. Very good food. Kind of expensive but worth it if you are with the right company. The drinks are good and strong, just like they should be!
(4)P H I L H.
The Loft has a great bar upstairs with a little one downstairs. The rooftop patio is especially nice for warm nights with comfy furnishings. Food is good for a decent meal once in a while between drinks.
(4)Tawheed K.
I went to the Loft with a couple of friends on a Saturday night. Although the San Jose Bar and Grill, which lies across the street, was overflowing with people, the Loft sported a much lighter crowd with mostly couples in their corners doing their own thing. The outdoor patio was an awesome area, definitely good for larger group gatherings. The drinks were strong, and the waiters were very friendly. Overall a good experience. But don't expect to go there to meet new people.
(4)Stefan E.
The manager at the Loft is the biggest prick I've met in my life, avoid the place at all cost!!!
(1)Patrick U.
Very much mediocre service and less than mediocre food! My friend had the mango mojito that did not taste like mango at all. I saw a lady on the next table who ordered that same drink and she actually asked the waitress if it really was the mango rather than the regular. One word of advice to all the servers in the restaurant industry, please don't ask us how we are doing when we have our mouth full of food. I almost chock on my sandwich trying to answer the waitress that it's we are OK for the moment. My guests and I've ordered a couple of dessert to share considering one of my guest was a pastry chef at a four star restaurant. She thought that it was a joke to call those blobs --- "desserts". She said that the fruits with Grand Marnier sabayon were too watery as if those berries had been washed and served in non-fat milk and had no trace of Grand Marnier flavor at all. The white chocolate creme brulee was so thick and egg-y, it had very unpleasant mouth feel. She said that the first year culinary student would have made the better dessert than those we had that night. The only good impression I've got out of that night was that the busser was very swift, quiet and very polite. I would have had him as our waiter than the waitress we were stuck with that night.
(2)Kevin K.
I've both dined at the loft as well as threw back a few drinks at this place. Their food is pretty good and its a fun place to go if you're looking for a chill NYC like lounge atmosphere. My friends and I like to go there on the weekends to have a few drinks before hitting the clubs since the lines at the bars there are much shorter than at other places. There's usually no cover charge and you can find a seat on their outside patio. Def a place to get your drink on before hitting up the downtown nightlife.
(4)Marialinh L.
I am a fan of their garlic tomato bisque. The other food is pretty good American. Nothing too spectacular. I frequent this place for lunch since I work downtown and it's a good spot to grab a salad or their sandwiches. I think Capers (their other restaurant) is better. But overall, the restaurant has a nice ambiance and is nice to go with some coworkers or for a bite during or after work.
(3)becky f.
Four stars for the upstairs patio area... heating lamps, the stars and drinks... a great place even when it's a little chilly. 3 stars for the rest of the bar area... I've gone a handful of times (weeknights and weekends) and the place has never been busy or dance-friendly, in fact, it's been pretty sad to see a dj spinning all by his lonesome while people stare at him:( I don't really go for the food (unless I happen to have the munchies), I don't really go for the drinks (I've sent three back so far), and I don't really go for the crowd b/c I'm there for friends... the patio is really the main draw.
(4)vimal p.
not a bad place to eat, and just hang out, food is not bad, had the leg of lamb, not bad value. would reccomend it to check out at least once
(3)Sau y.
The Loft Bar & Grill is located in the heart of downtown San Jose, so if you're out at the Improv, watching a movie or going bar hopping afterwards, it's prime location to start the night. Or if you just want a meal, parking is pretty good around there, so all in all- great location. Ambiance is nice: a little trendy nightlife meets down- home brewery comfort. It is a bit loud, but that also depends on the time and day you go. They usually seat the big parties in a separate area outside upstairs, which is why it's loud, but it's not unbearable. The service was good and the food was prompt. We munched on bread and dressing while we waited. The food is good, not amazing, but not too shabby either. The prices are reasonable for entrees ranging from $14 (chicken)- $27 (filet mignon). MY RECOMMENDATIONS: For a salad, the Bleu Cheese and Pear Salad is delicious and a steal at only $9. The Scampi Prawns comes with rice and veggies in a garlic white wine butter, but it's much better over pasta (so ask for the substitution!). The shrimps are generously sized for the price ($17) and the dish is a safe bet if you like seafood over pasta. The Braised Beef Short Ribs are pretty tasty and come with veggies and mashed potatoes. The meat is a huge serving split in two (so share if you're not a hearty eater/ not super hungry), the mashed potatoes are average, a bit overwhipped for my taste, and the veggies were just average. What makes the dish good is the tenderness of the braised meat and at $19, it's a whole lotta meat! I can usually get through half of the dish before I'm topped out. I recommend it over the Braised Lamb Shanks, but I think that comes down to preference in the end. Keep in mind, I haven't had everything on the menu, so it's likely there are other tasty choices to choose from.
(3)Shaye S.
I have found that on weekends the crowd differs from the weekdays. The menu is good for basic american food. Nothing spectacular but the wife and I enjoy the appetizers and drinks. The ambiance is great if you are looking to meet some new people and the outside patio can be a great place to dine al fresco during nice summer day.
(4)S K.
a great hangout in the heart of san jose. i like the happy hour here better than their day operation, good place to go on friday afternoon. one knock would be the service. the bartender was rude and unskillful, but love the ambient and the setup here, especially the "loft" area. the food is decent but nothing to brag about. across the street from san jose bar & grill. if you want to grab something quick b4 u bar hop in downtown, this should fit the bill.
(3)Matthew C.
Great restaurant. Most people prefer to sit upstairs away from the bar so don't be hesitant when you see an empty entrance to the restaurant. Take the elevator upstairs; for some reason that built up a lot of anticipation for the food in me. The food was solid and nothing too bold. The meatloaf tasted like a piece of sausage and didn't have a chunk or two of all the things it said it was made out of. The mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables were really bland and maybe reminiscent of a TV dinner's, but it was still good. I really enjoyed the taste of their sauces. The bread dipping sauce was great, so was the sauce on top of the Panko breaded chicken and the sauce that drenched the prawns in our appetizer. MMm, almost good enough to drink. The calamari also was good; didn't like how the batter slipped off the rings though. And finally, the dessert, creme brulee was actually good! Thanks for a good last-minute dinner. I was looking at E and O Trading Company and decided it wasn't what I was feeling. I walked passed Bella Mia, Melting Pot, busy Original Joes, and Tres Gringos, but Loft's big old-theater style lights brought me to it like a moth to my computer screen at night. I would recommend this place totally as the better alternative against next-door PF Changs. Also, if you read my reviews, I am a total water guy; I need my water to have ice and be refilled constantly. Anyway, so the waitress actually asked me if I wanted more ice in my water. I couldn't believe it. Awesome. Thanks. -Matt
(3)Gerard L.
its really good there, food wise. i've had two dinners and lots of drinks at this loation...but kinda a bit pricy.
(4)Waynele Y.
this place is a good place to go to grab a bite with friends. the food is under $20,, most around $14 so you can still order drinks without making too big of a dent in your pocket. the food was good, but nothing really stood out. my husband had the chicken parmigean, which he thought would come with noodles, but didn't and we tasted some of my friend's ribs, which were also good. the ambiance is pretty lively, but you can still hear your dinner conversations, and the service was pretty good. parking was really tough to come by on a friday night. all the public lots were full.
(3)Suzanne T.
I just had my wedding here this past Saturday! I had a very quick, very last minute wedding and needed a venue ASAP. I googled locations in San Jose and came across this place. After a couple phone calls and an email, Kam, the owner, basically hooked me up with the patio. On the day of, my parents went to decorate a bit (I didnt have any involvement since I was busy getting ready). Since our guest list went from 40 to 80 people within a couple weeks, I was worried about space on the patio. It turns out they let my parents decorate not only the patio but also part of the inside. It was absolutely better than anything I could've possibly imagined! Kam, Adrian (catering manager), the servers and busboys were all fantastic! I can't wait until I have another reason for a big party! Everyone loved the food too! Thank you Loft Bar and Bistro for making our special day even better than we imagined!
(5)minal s.
My new mantra is to review a place only if i have been there twice. Both the times we went up there for drinks and some appetizers. Its a great place to hang out with 2 floors. The bar on the second floor is better than the one below. Great ambiance, brick walls and decent size dance floor. We got a variety of drinks, all of them were good. Got the calamari and steak bites which were great. But as the evening progressed (9pm and later) the place started picking up, suddenly it was filled with short skirt somethings and gelled back hair boys. Once the DJ started spinning some tunes, they take the tables away. HUH? We were at the bar not even close to the dance floor it was kinda weird. So we had to take off and didn't get a chance to stuff dinner before the place transformed into a party. Back when I was in school this would have been a cool place to hang out with single friends, now its just a place to grab some drinks and go!
(3)Riff Raff V.
im a fan of this joint. its not a hole in the wall nor is it the tavern on the green but in my opinion it has great ambiance and is very cozy. it is two levels or tri level actually with the out door rooftop patio (extra plus). mojitos are very good but depends who is making it. at lunch its a different vibe, more lit but still very enticing and one doesnt feel rushed, we received a patio table immediately. dinner though was also a pleasurable experience, enticing dimly lit tables and paintings on the wall mixed with dim lights as well. the brick walls adorn many areas of the loft and decor is tastefully done. appetizers will run you $7 to $10.00 bones. dinners start at the 9's upwards to $20 bills. ive not had a bad experience there, theyve all been very pleasant.
(4)Craig Y.
Me and my wife came here because we always see their ads in the Wave and the Metro. The food is alright, not bad but nothing really special. The service was not the greatest but in their credit there was only like 1 waitress for the whole front section covering about 15 tables.
(3)Colby D.
Well, although this didn't affect my rating, I was quite disappointed to arrive and find out that the entire loft was being occupied by a very loud, very douchey-music-loving company on an outing, so that everyone else who came for the loft of Loft Bar and Bistro had to sit downstairs. Although understaffed, or busy because of a large party, we were decently waited on. The complimentary bread and vinegar mix were both very delicious, although the bread was not fresh. I ordered the chicken and broccoli rotini, which wasn't bad, but was a bit bland and seemed to be seasoned mostly with pepper. My boyfriend ordered the French dip sandwich, or something of the sort, and he seemed to enjoy it. The fries that came with it were pretty generic. I don't see myself returning here until I am sure that the loft isn't completely occupied, and I wouldn't order the chicken and broccoli rotini again.
(3)Deepti N.
So I've come here twice with one of my friends who went to SJSU. We've usually come too late when all the other bars have $20+ covers and this one has none. However, that means expensive drinks ($9 for a margarita that was pretty weak and $8 for a fireball shot) and a ratchet crowd. My second time here (this past Friday), my wallet got stolen. An idiot literally decided to open up my cross body and grab my wallet out of my bag while I was dancing with my friends. I initially thought I just left it at the bar, and got no sympathy from the bouncer/bartenders. They were super rude and told me "I was in the way." Way to attract the right crowd. I'm going to stick to The Patio in Palo Alto, thank you very much.
(1)Lucy Z.
Came here because I read online this was one of the restaurants in San Jose Downtown that had outdoor patio seating. My first impression was ok. The hostess wasn't downstairs and there wasn't anyone at the bar so my boyfriend and I had to wait a couple minutes before being helped. Our waitress was extremely friendly and the atmosphere upstairs was nice. Our waitress was informative and able to answer any questions I had, as I have been on a health diet for a couple weeks. Our food arrived promptly, although the flavor is nothing special in my opinion, and a little overpriced considering there weren't any leftovers. They also charged me for regular price drinks when we ordered during happy hour. I was too lazy to correct them on a few dollars, and I just let it go. I don't ever come here for night life as I have been here before and it is sweaty with no breathing space. I don't think I would ever return here for dinner or recommend this place to someone.
(3)Lana N.
This use to be our local Friday night spot until we had kids. I recently thought of places to boom our year end party and for some reason, Loft came into mind. I emailed about a month ago and the manager responded fairly quickly. He answered all my questions/concerns and was even able to work with the budget I had. About 30 people attended our private event so they gave us the whole bottom floor. We had 1 bartender named Kory and he was on top of all our drink orders. I had ordered appetizers, but didn't realize how hungry people were so I kept ordering when the food was gone. The kitchen staff were so quick on getting the orders out for us. Everyone had such a great time and the Loft staff had a great deal in making it memorable for all of us! Thanks Loft, we will definitely book your venue again!
(5)Michelle M.
There's a downstairs and upstairs. Upstairs is more of the crowded dance floor area that gets packed on popular nights. Seems like a mix of people here. I've seen older and younger aged people here. Mix of ethnicities too, but overall minorities, which I can say right, since I'm also a majority of the minority? Hope so! Music overall I liked. Music you can dance to and have fun. Popular songs you know and love including some old school. Bathrooms upstairs for the girls gets packed so I wish it was bigger with more stalls. A girl threw up the last time I was here and because it's a smaller space it really stinks and you can't get away from it. Overall this place is ok, I wouldn't say it's my favorite spot. I waver between three and four stars. No cover so that makes it more of a 3.5.
(3)Dave T.
Leo, Vanessa, and Mark are amazing. Great atmosphere and service. Great drinks! Definitely recommended!
(5)Akhil P.
We love this place...this is our usual hanging spot on most Thursdays. We love Joseph and Leo who are the bartenders there, they make wonderful drinks by the mood. They have every option you can think of,a patio, live music, dj,dance floor,food and drinks. What else do you need to have a good time. Me and my girlfriend went here every week during our initial dating days. We love the music and since it is not as trashy as tres gringos across the street it is fun to dance. Food is tasty decently portioned but I think is a bit over priced. During peak and happy hours they should have more cheaper finger food options to sell more.
(5)Silvia T.
I am uphold in how employees treat customers. I came on a Friday night to party with friends and two young ladies that work there are ghetto and have no class. I was using the restroom while they were closing and the two employees came in the bathroom and yelled. " you ratchet girls need to leave the place is closing".. They are so ignorant that they identify themselves as employees of loft when I asked them who they were to talk to me like that. I am disgusted by their behavior and also because I told "supposedly" their manager and nothing was done. Yes I had a couple of drinks but I deserve respect at all times especially as a frequent consumer. That attitude by the 2 girls and management was unprofessional. It takes one bad experience to ruin all the good ones.
(1)Jozza M.
Too many smelly indians at this place i swear! LOL everytime i think of giving it another shot the same thing happens all the time. One time came out with my girls and one of girlfriends refused to dance with some indian dude and straight up said, "you guys suck dicks" and she responded with, "yes, yes we do but never yours" LMAO hellla funny
(3)John B.
Neat, clean venue with rooftop seating. It was enclosed since it was November, but normally would be open air. Reasonable menu. We were here for drinks before going to the Improv comedy club next door. Reasonably priced for this area.
(4)Joe B.
Nice place!! Conveniently located to area hotels. The menu had quite a selection of choices to fit every person. Full bar with lots of house cocktails as well. Rooftop dining option as well. They even have a kids menu for traveling families.
(3)Eric R.
The food is over cooked but good. Our server/bartender was pompous and unattentive, who corrected me (incorrectly ) on the pronunciation of my wine. With our table being the only table being the only occupied table he should have been more personable and . The busboy served us and the server never came back to check on us during our meal. I may have given up to 4 stars if the service wasn't so bitter.
(2)Stephanie U.
I've only been here on the weekends. Too frikkin packed. If you can even make your way in and stand on the dance floor you will get unintentionally grinder on from 3 different angles. Maybe my review will change if I actually went during the week to eat. So i guess my review is for friday and Saturday nights. Downstairs is not too bad though. It raised my two stars to 3
(3)Kimi K.
I'll definitely frequent this place more often now that I am on a semi-break;) I love the music they play---they play a good mix of early 2000's-modern hip hop on the dance floor that appeals to my late 20's soul hehe. Dance floor gets crowded---but what do you expect when San Jose does not hold many dance clubs in the area, unless they are specialty (i.e. salsa, etc.). Drinks were overpriced as people mention but again---that's the price you pay to go out, yes? Only complaint would be to expand the dance floor since it gets crowded and also to open up more restrooms---there is only one uni-sex restroom downstairs which is a bit problematic for a small Asian girl with a tiny bladder. Otherwise keep up good work!
(4)Jenny P.
My first time at Loft with my friends last night and I liked how spacious it was and how it was 2 stories. DJ was on point last night too! Only thing I didn't like was that the crowd was really uptight and bitchy. Idk, if you're gonna go to the club, enjoy yourself. Don't stand in the corner and text and talk to the security guard and make a hissy fit that you're not having fun. Nice club, but not digging their crowd.
(3)Steve D.
I've never seen this place in the daytime until yesterday and I will never come back for the food. Came in with a group of friends to celebrate love. I ordered the lamb and it came with 2 shanks which one of them taste nasty while the other one taste average. I did eat them though because it was $21. All my friends agreed that their food was as good as a blind date with a serial killer. I had 3 friends order the exact same thing (chicken with prawns) and in the menu it says 3 prawns. What's the chances that all 3 orders only came with 2 prawns each? Apparently really good odds because that's exactly what happened. Did we complain? Nope because it's not that big of a deal. It's like going on a great date and get a friend hug goodnight. You still went on that date even though you didn't get that kiss Next we ordered shots (because there's no better way to celebrate any occasion than with alcohol) and one friend looked like he was about to throw up after his shot and it wasn't because he was drunk. THERE WAS A HAIR IN HIS SHOT! He's bald so it couldn't have been him unless he trimmed his armpits. The only reason this place is getting 2 stars is the people who worked there. Really nice and the girl who made the mixed drinks did well. If you want to waste money on average food, combed over to my house. I'll make sure to disappoint you as long as you pay me.
(2)Jennifer C.
Service is really great! The workers were very kind and entertained us. They kept bringing us bread and butter. We were a larger group about 20 people and from what my friend said it wasn't so bad to get reservations and they even called her the day of to confirm! Food was great. I had the avocado tri-tip wrap which was basically a burrito. I really liked the sliders and onion strings. I'll be coming back again!
(4)Jon C.
Dudes, dudes & more dudes... Where's all the single women at? I usually come here after 10pm on weekends when it becomes a bar & lounge. This used to be 1 of my spots 5 plus years ago. Now, I hit it up once every 3-4 months hoping it would be better than the last time, yet it continues to disappoint. The best thing is NO cover charge. Also, the music is usually pretty good depending who the DJ is. It's usually Top 40 & Hip Hop. Now, the things that suck; 1) Drink prices ($7 beers, $12 shots, $15-17 mix drinks). That's why people go else where to drink & then come here around midnight already buzzin. 2) Upstairs gets way too crowded & it's because that's the only floor playing music, also tends to get stuffy & hot to the point where the pipes start to drip. Downstairs has a full bar, plenty of open space & a unisex restroom, yet it's usually dead because there's no music. Having music downstairs would at least split it up a bit. 3) Bouncers. I know they're just doing their job, but there's been many times I cant move around upstairs, so I try to find a spot where I can just chill & enjoy my drink only to have a bouncer tell me I cant stand there. I move somewhere else, and again, I cant stand there. It gets VERY annoying to where I would just finish my drink & leave. 4) Lack of a smoking area. Before, they had an area upstairs where people can smoke. Then they moved the smoking area to the front. Now if you want to smoke, they make you go outside & walk away from the club a good 20-30 feet. Those are the main reasons why I don't frequent this place anymore. If they can fix those issues, I'd gladly come back on a regular basis.
(2)Yelena A.
I contacted the Loft Bar and Bistro to potentially have a wedding ceremony on the rooftop and after several emails back and forth, I was invited for a site visit. Prior to the visit, I had confirmed the number of guests in my party to make sure the space could accommodate the party since we were driving an hour to San Jose (and an hour back home) on a weeknight in order to see the space. When we arrived, we were greeted by Adrian (owner? manager?) who did not recall the specifics of our request, however, after we told him the date and number of people, he proceeded to lead us to the rooftop. The rooftop could not accommodate even half our party and Adrian suggested we cut the size in order to fit into their space. Such disrespect for our time when the staff obviously was aware that we would not be able to fit. Or perhaps try reading emails and not just trying to get folks into the space. THIS PLACE IS RUN BY JOKERS. I don't recommend working with such people or even frequenting their establishment. I would give 0 stars but not an option.
(1)Sarah A.
I wouldn't get the soup, it's so little and 6 bucks. The service sucked a lot and it's pretty expensive. The food is mediocre but the patio is somewhat nice.
(2)Emily G.
I came here during the wee hours of the club hours they have nights and this review is solely in reflection of that. I like how the don't have a cover, yay! Downstairs is a bar and sitting area, but you can still hear the music pumping from upstairs. Upstairs there's a bar, small dance floor, and another smaller dance floor out on the patio. This place was packed, so small dance floor = sweaty B.O. smell, ick. Not to mention all the creepers that seemed to populate the bar. As a female dressed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt (clubbing wasn't on my agenda but it happened anyway, as it tends to) I couldn't walk through the crowd without getting touched purposely. Boys, when you gonna figure out we don't like that? When my group finally found a dancing spot it was worse, guy kept coming up and creeping, not getting our obvious hints of moving away. The music itself was ok. The DJ kept playing the fun club hits, but halfway through the song he'd cut it off and move on to another one. I hate that when I'm feeling a groove! I'm not sure about the drinks either, I just got a simple rum and pineapple and it wasn't that great. I don't think I'd come back here again. I couldn't stand the smell or the creepers again.
(2)Linda N.
I like this place. its very chill and plays great music. I went on a friday with a group of friends. although the dance floor is small i still had a great time. :)
(4)Alexandra S.
This place has pretty good food! Actually really good! The rooftop seating is really nice as well. They do a really nice job. I would go here again.
(4)Mary T.
Positives: No cover Two bar areas A patio to chill out Good dancing music Happy hour before 10 or 11, I believe? Negatives: Expensive drinks Too many hungry guys Small dance floor .. And yet I still go here often. :,/
(3)Pat L.
Excellent food and service. My lady and I shared the meatloaf and lamb shank. Both were excellent. The lamb was exceptional with a generous portion. Best meal I've had in a while and I would definatley recommend to my friends. There is a full bar and nice selection of cocktails.
(5)Rimi K.
~Classic Loft Atmosphere, Plenty of seating and versatile space~ I came with a couple friends for Sunday Brunch. Ordered: Build your own omelet - Cheese, spinach and mushroom Chicken Salad and Tomato soup The omelet was good, the sides were better. The soup was lumpy but good. The salad was big. I saw the DJ speakers in the corner and the outdoor patio... Potential.
(4)Jenn V.
This place is a BLAST! I went upstairs to the bar and dance floor. I had the white gummie and it was delicious! The dance floor was so fun and full of life. I had the night of my life here. Great music, mixed crowd, tasty drink = a GOOD time! Definitely coming back soon!
(5)Lynna C.
Just, NO. NIGHTLIFE: I used to frequent Loft a lot in my early 20s & all of my experiences have been mediocre to just gross. The music is decent (which is probably the ONLY good thing about this place), but the dance floor is so tiny that you smell & feel everyone's sweat. EW. My memories are clouded with liquor and the stench of throw up from that upstairs girl's bath. I stopped going here after a while because I realized that there are much better places to go to dance & drink in downtown San Jose. DAYTIME: Came here yesterday for the first time during the day for an engagement party. It definitely wasn't our first choice, but it's what we ended up with on such short notice. First of all, when I walked in and told the hostess the party I was with, she sent me upstairs to the patio. We didn't think we'd get the patio when we called in to set the reservation, so I got excited. I walked up to the patio with a party already there and I took one step outside and realized that this was definitely NOT my party. There were a bunch of tables set up inside on the second floor, so I thought maybe that was our table. A gentleman (I think the manager) came up to me asking if I was with some girl's party. I told him that I didn't even know who that was and that I was there for the party of 15-20 for the engagement party. He looked just as lost as I did. He went downstairs to check and told me that our table was actually downstairs. ALL that work & confusion when the hostess could have just listened to me in the first place instead of sending me to a different party. Okay, now for the food. Everyone's food was less than mediocre. First of all, where's the brunch menu?! A bunch of us were excited for brunch food, but I guess they don't do brunch anymore. Please take it off your website if that's the case. My friend opted for the crabcake salad and it was pretty much a side salad with 2 little tiny crab cakes. For about $15, that's ridiculous. It wasn't just her dish though. A bunch of our friends ordered things expecting more for the price. The "small plate" items on the menu are just as expensive as the entree items! I personally ordered the tri-tip avocado wrap with fries. The chipotle aioli was WAYY too salty. I barely ate half. Everyone was pretty disappointed in the food. Sucks. Since we were there for an engagement party, we ordered a round of shots because, why not? It's Sunday Funday & we were there to celebrate the engagement of two of our good friends. One of my friends had a HAIR in his shot. It was DISGUSTING. He pulled the hair out of his mouth and I wanted to throw up. Yuck. When we told our server, she apologized and took it off our bill & even gave us another free shot. She was super nice about it, so can't blame her. That's just nasty though. All in all, everyone left a little bit poorer with unsatisfied bellys. Definitely will not be coming back here ever.
(1)Cam-An N.
I went here with a large group during a conference we went to in San Jose. The rooftop patio was super cute and nice on a warm summer night. We had to remind the servers a few times that we were missing a couple drink orders. It took about 15 minutes between the time we got the first set of drinks and the time we got the missing ones. I had the crab cakes and they were ok. I've definitely had better ones before. For dessert I had a chocolate cake. I LOVE chocolate but this cake wasn't that good. All in all, this place didn't stand out to me in food or service.
(2)Kathy N.
Friends and I came went here after eating at Flames down the street. We were already dressed up coming back from another event, so we decided to drop in here to check it out. We all get dressed up once in a blue moon, so might as well explore the city in our dapper outfits. We didn't order any food/drinks here. We came just to dance the night away. The great thing about the club on the second floor is that there is no cover charge to get in. Alright! Free entertainment! The downside about this place is that it is a bit cramped on the dance floor, so there can be a lot of grabbing (girls be careful) without knowing who grabbed you. If you squeeze your way through far enough, there will eventually be a small pocket you and your friends can dance the night away in. We stayed and danced for about an hour before deciding to leave. Ventilation is not all that great, so it can get pretty hot in there. A good thing only if it's cold outside, but only a good thing for so long. Also, be careful. I mentioned that it's cramped, but cramped is really bad if people are too drunk and barf. =X Someone who needs to barf will have a hard time squeezing their way out of the dance floor. Chances are they won't make it to the bathroom. If they (and you) are lucky, they'll barf on the floor on their way to the bathroom and not on you or someone else on the dance floor.
(3)Lisa Z.
Parking across the street is $5/hr on the weekend (pretty do-able). Music is okay. People...not so much. People be spilling drinks and not leaving you alone when you've said 'No' a million x's. Place gets pretty packed by 11pm.... Happy hour cocktails - watered down. Big fan by the dance floor - genius. No cover!
(2)Vivian H.
LOL THIS PLACE. One of the places you would hit if everywhere else sucks because, i dont know why, ... but upstairs its always packed, hot, and sweaty as hell even when its cold out. the fan in the back does not help. and its free cover all the time. downstairs is fine. theres liteally no one there except to get drinks and not the destination people usually wanna stay at when the get to Loft. They wanna go upstairs. Drinks both upstairs and downstairs are typical strong so alcohol is not an issue. Benches next to the bar if you just wanna sit and chill or if someone's a liittttlle too drunk lol. If you're okay by the sweaty wet mob of people and forcing your way into the crowd, the music isn't too bad either. Mix of top 40s and EDM.... And an extra star for location. Not bad for smack in the middle of downtown. Right across sjbg
(3)Iván S.
Bocce ball, summer weekday 2nd floor rendevouz w/ Syntax. (not on the menu) Window seating, people watching, a hideout from the casual-usual dive, the hostess and staff here are professional and nice about everything. Mature mover-shaker, office crowd, chowing and enjoying lunch. Calm and relaxed atmosphere. I heard their roasted chicken Quesadilla worth the exercise. ha. Night life. hmmm I don't think so. Peace
(5)Denise N.
REVIEW FOR NIGHTLIFE ONLY No cover WHEEE! but a LC was $12 bucks ): drink somewhere else and skip the drinks here but make sure you go upstairs to the dance floor! Music is mainly hiphop, and the dance floor is pretty crowded and hot but thats always better than an empty dance floor :) Oh and there's a bar upstairs too
(3)Wes P.
We ate there on a Sunday afternoon. The nice thing about Sundays is that you can bring your own wine with no corkage fees and free desert with purchase of two entrees. we had the Panky salmon, crab cakes, burger, tuna, and chicken breast with shrimp. Food was a 4 star. bread before lunch came right before lunch with minimal butter and minimal dipping sauce...why so stingy? Parking was supposed to be validated but neither tickets worked...oh well. overall a 4 star experience.
(4)Catherine C.
Wow is all I have to say. We waited 2 hours for our dinner. Yeah they were busy but the managers should of helped pick up the slack, offer some free appetizers or discount the bill. I've worked at restaurants so I understand it wasn't the servers fault that the food wasn't coming out but at the same time you have to make sure the guests are happy. Waiting 2 hours on a Saturday night when we came their starving after church was so miserable. There wasn't even any bread. I mean she took my moms wine off the bill but I felt she should of took off an entree or two. Because if that I will never go there again. We had parking validated for 2 hours from Safeway and since this damn place took so long we ended up having to pay the 6 bucks at the parking garage still...
(1)Denise L.
The club scene here is quite a hot mess. Literally. Sweaty bodies writhing on the dance floor, and such a mix of people who aren't quite moving to the beat. Awkward creepers trying to grind up on the ladies from all directions, extremely underaged-looking people, and a lot of Europeans exchange students?!? (during the summer, at least) This mix creates such a strange vibe, but as long as everyone is having a good time... why not? Happy hour is okay. Cheap prices ($4 drinks and $6 appetizers), and cocktails are decent. But there wasn't much of a selection of eats from the happy hour menu that appealed to me. So we went elsewhere for food. Also they told us they would give us 2 hours' worth of validation, but my friend only got 1 hour validated and ended up having to pay the difference at the parking garage. Boooo. TIP: Plenty of better happy hours elsewhere. But if you enjoy random sweaty writhing bodies moving offbeat, this is the spot for you.
(3)Greg F.
We enjoyed a weekend afternoon snack and cocktail sitting outside. I wasn't a huge fan of the shrimp cocktail, but it came as advertised. We did enjoy the Spare ribs mmm mmm good. Excellent service as well, and I really liked the outdoor seating :)
(4)Anna M.
I know it was Valentine's Day and the restaurant is busy, but if you're going to accept reservations you should be ready to take them on and not seat your guests an hour late and have food served late as well. On top of it, when we received our food it was mediocre and overly salted that I fell ill the next day. I don't think we'll be going back.
(2)Mandy G.
Needed a night out with the girls to get some things off my mind. Taking me to the Loft was a good idea! Overall the place is okay. We came in probably around 11:30 pm and the first thing we did was hit the bar on the first floor (you'll see it when you enter). There was a female bartender who was working by herself and there were probably like 3 other couples waiting around to order drinks. Suddenly after 15 minutes of waiting, a huge crowd from upstairs came and the place was getting crowded. The couple next to us before we entered and my friends still haven't made our orders, so we decided to hit the bar upstairs. (Basically the first floor's bartender service is slow). Upstairs had 2-3 bartenders working, a dance floor, and couches! The dance floor is fairly small, so it can get pretty crowded. The bartenders on the second floor makes the drinks quick and STRONG. Got an AMF; Didn't like the music at first but when my buzz started to come in, things got better. There is a bench across from the bar where you can sit but most people just put their drinks there, so be careful not to sit on any spilled drinks (same with the couches). Dress code can be casual or formal. They accept credit cards. & the best part? NO COVER CHARGE! Yeeee! :D
(3)T S.
I don't get it, the food was expensive and not too good, the drinks were expensive and horrible. I had a cucumber jalapeno drink, both ingredients I adore but the drink tasted like it should be poisonous. Why is this place popular? It took forever to get served. I felt like maybe my presence was an inconvenience for the staff. The loft was cool, if the food and drinks matched, I could see why there would be a crowd.
(2)Jan P.
Channeling my inner party animal self! I have come here on random encounter if me and my friends are club hopping around Downtown San Jose. This place isn't even a loft, hence, the name... $0.00 cover fee all night, the security are cool and aren't super douche-y like at most clubs. As you enter, there's a bar and a small area where you can unwind and talk, but that's not it! There's an ultimate party with dance floor upstairs with another bar to get your fade going. The drink prices are exorbitant, but I heard their happy hour prices are reasonably priced. Me and my buddies had a few round of Silverbacks, consist of 3oz of Hypnotiq liqueur, 3oz of Red Bull, and 1oz of 151! You only need a couple of these shots to knock you out for the night. I had about 4 shots and then I don't even remember grinding on a chick or walking back to the car after finding out I woke up at my best friend's couch in the next morning. It was one of the biggest black hole in my life. Definitely was not a night to remember, haha.
(3)Mary N.
You know how Jamba Juice has a secret menu with the gummy bear drink that is highly addicting? Loft has the same drink, but for adults if you get my meaning ;) My friend took me for an introductory dtsj night on the town and loft was one of the pit stops. It wasn't too crowded here which was good, but I definitely noticed a lot of creepers on the prowl. If I come here again, I'm gonna bring friendsies to surround me so that I don't end up a victim to the creepers coming up to poor unsuspecting girls.
(2)Josie O.
Made a reservation for my graduation dinner and called to confirm the day before. When I got there, they were overbooked and couldn't let us in. Thanks for nothing.
(1)Judy H.
Cover - none! Drinks - ehh Music - pop, lock, & drop it! Crowd - eww Two stars but I'm giving Loft an extra one because they played my all-time favorite clubbing song: Pitbull's "Go Girl". I was flipping out when the DJ put this song on, and my dancing soul couldn't believe it either since this was my anthem back in my teen years! There is a parking lot right across the street from this club ($5/hour). One of the pluses about Loft is that there is no cover charge to enter. Let's be real, with parking, drinks, and more drinks, a night out can get pretty expensive. Then add another $10-$20 for cover fees, and that means one less drink you can be sippin'. So I'm a huge fan of free entertainment and more funds for booze. However, the number one factor that keeps me coming back is the music! Top 40 hits, hip-hop, and a bit of old school, you'll be shaking what your mama gave you on the dance floor! Now the dance floor itself is fairly small so it gets cramped, hot, and sweaty. There is a huge fan to keep you cool but once it gets packed...what fan? This takes me to the crowd. The two times I've been here, it was an Asian Invasion. My first time the place was crawling with young Asian boys. That's all right--except I'm no longer in college and I feel weird dancing with little teenie boppers. On my second visit, the place was filled with Indian guys--with ages across the whole spectrum. Yes, like grown men in their 40s trying to get at you. Gross. Nearly all of the guys at this club are gross because they think it's acceptable to come up from behind you, grab you, and start grinding on you. Even after numerous no thank you's, they still won't leave you alone! AND then there are those dumb dudes and gals who bring their drinks onto a jam-packed dance floor where body parts are moving in every direction. How can you be SO stupid?! Hence, you'll inevitably get alcohol spilled on you, or someone will step on your foot, or both at the same time. Speaking of the drinks, they have a Happy Hour special that ends at 11. The drinks are watered down and not very tasty. To be honest, all the drinks here are just OK. But I come here to dance and that's why I'll return (and because of Pitbull)!
(3)Stella M.
The only reason I'm giving two stars and not one is that my pear ginger martini was pretty good. Otherwise, my experience was horrible. My crab cakes came lukewarm and had a strong smell and taste (definitely not even close to fresh meat), and when they came, they were the appetizer and not the entree, which should have included rice and vegetables. Our waitress tried to tell me there was no crab cake entree on the menu. Rather than let my crab cakes get even colder, my husband asked if they could just bring a side of rice and vegetables. A restaurant focused on customer service would have removed the side items from the check, but clearly this one's management isn't thinking about return customers. Never going back there again. And it was expensive to boot! They should stick to cocktails.
(2)Summer S.
We made a reservation for my birthday dinner (approx 16 ppl) and they were very accommodating to fit our group where we'd be comfortable. The food was AMAZING and the drinks were great too. Our server (Vanessa I think) was super friendly and attentive. The DJ came on a little after 10:30pm and played great (hip-hop) music. It was a great night. I'd definitely visit here again.
(5)Derek G.
Love this place, I always try to visit when I'm in the SJ area.
(4)Megan C.
Went here with my cousins for some late night clubbing! No cover charge and drinks are pretty expensive over like $10 for anything. However they have a happy hour before 11:30 on a Saturday night actually, mixed drinks were like $6. Our bartender was awesome though, I told him I wanted something fruity, not bitter, but something that'll do the job. He advised me to have a White Gummy and it wasn't strong but it was sweet and fruity! Upstairs music was pretty cool, some edm, some hip hop, some old school, some mainstream pop, there was a bit of everything! It is pretty packed, we came here on a Friday night. Thank goodness I came with a bunch of my cousins though because without them I would've been dancing up against nasty ugly guys. And they do not allow you to dance near the bar or in the walkway (but we did anyway :)) which sucks because that's the only place you can like breathe!!! However, I also came here on a Saturday night and it was so dead. So I guess this place is a hit or a miss.
(3)Becca E.
Came here for my first time and it was okay.. The music was ok sometimes they played good hip hop but it was mostly mainstream up until the end.. The drinks were pretty pricey although I think they had a happy hour lol it was kind of small.. No dress code what's so ever I was dressed pretty summer casual that's why I came here. There was lots of random people not just one sort of group so I guess that's the culture random!!! Haha I still had fun with my crew though mainly cause I was drunk lol
(2)Brianna S.
I loved this place. The atmosphere was really awesome....very loft-like! But the patio is not so nice. The Valentine's Day menu was OUTSTANDING. We ate every bite of food we were served (I was so full!). The beef carpaccio was to die for. Yummy sundried tomato/roasted garlic soup. Lamb shanks...divine. Creme brulee was among the best I've had. We had great service from Jenelle, although I did see some awkward service happening around us. Parking is in nearby commercial lots--expensive but convenient. Loft is also expensive. But not out of line with the area. We really enjoed our visit!
(4)Shauna S.
My friends and I met here for dinner before a show at the Improv last Saturday. So my review is strictly about the dinner. They sat us upstars on an outside patio that was really cute. I loved the atmosphere, it was quiet and nice to be with friends. The food was so-so. Everyone said it was okay, nothing great. We had two plates of pasta and one of racks of lamb. I ordered the bbq chicken sliders, and they were tasty, but again, nothing out of the ordinary. I wouldn't go back just for that. Bonus though is that they serve bread before your meal which is always a plus! The service was okay, my only complaint was that I asked a few general questions about food items on the menu, and our server had no idea how to answer them. Which is why I ended up with the BBQ sliders, didn't think there was anything they could screw up there.
(3)Shilly W.
How have I not rated this place yet? Loft is just one of those places where you end up at the end of the night and that's OK. I've gone here so many times, with a group of friends, with just 1 other girlfriend, with just my partner, I can't even count. It's literally a staple in the heart of Man Jose and SJSU. It's also one of those places where you either feel the scene/vibe or you don't. But if you're someone who just wants to have FUN, this is the place to be. It's chill, relaxed, bar-y and club-y at the same time, ALWAYS no $ cover, don't have to dress up if you don't want to, and you can just have fun/dance around without being judged. I guess some cons, if any, are that people complain that there are too many dudes in here. It is true that there are a lot of males, but don't forget: this is in Man Jose and..well that's that. SHOUTOUT to the guys that keep the door and the bouncers!! These guys are ALWAYS respectful and just ...NORMAL. They aren't looking you up and down, trying to find something about you to not let you in. Or making you recite your birthday and address because you "just don't look like your picture." They're just chill and respectful and I really appreciate their no-bullshit way of running business. Comparing Loft to San Jose Bar & Grill and Tres which are RIGHT across the street and easily competitors, Loft wins by MILES. Those bouncers across the street are RUDE and OBNOXIOUS, and will kick you out or not let you in because they just "don't like you." You won't find that attitude at Loft. IN SUMMARY: PRO'S: - always no cover fee - great security and bouncers - their staple drink White Gummy is good. (I think $13?) - fun, chill atmosphere - there are multiple areas for just sitting and chatting and a main dancefloor - hip hop music most of the time, fused with a bit of EDM towards the end of the night. CON'S: - Lots of guys - it can get REALLY hot and musky! They have one big fan on the dancefloor but I wish they had more air ventilation during those times
(4)Alan K.
Went in at 8:30 on a Thursday night made sure they were still serving dinner before we sat down. We were the only people downstairs. The server was very nice however it took 45 minutes for the food. I ordered a chicken parmesan which was delicious but the mash potatoes and vegetables were cold. My girlfriend ordered the shrimp scampi prawns, they were over cooked and tough. This is our first time coming here. We've been to sister restaurants which have been above par. We spent $70 on two entrees and an appetizer and water as our drinks. Over priced for what we received. Will not return.
(2)Dennis R.
Horrible service. Drinks came to our table one at a time. We ordered bread for our very impatient kids and that to came out slowly which generated a lot of whining from or children. We asked for separate checks and the waitress said we'd figure things out later. Don't come here with children. Supposed to validate parking but ran out of stickers/cards. Meatloaf was very plain. Wife's sauteed shrimp was pretty good. Can't recommend this restaurant and won't be returning.
(1)Tram N.
I got a $50 gift card some time ago so I decided to spend it all last night. My goal was to not have to come back here to eat. Apparently tons of groups like going here for dinner. The beau and I were lucky enough to get a small table inside the restaurant. However, the location of the table is so inconvenient as its right next to the stairs and people kept bumping into our chairs. How annoying is that when you're trying to have a meal?! I had a hard time choosing something because the menu is so extensive. It's good and bad. Good because of the different choices they offer. Bad because I don't know what their specialty is. In the end, we ordered steak bites in medium rare but they were more like medium. The one thing I've learned in being a carnivore is to order more rare at a place that doesn't specialize in cooking steak. Chances are, it'll always be overcooked. Although not medium rare, it was still amazing with the cabernet sauce. I could care less about the veggies that came with it because they looked like the frozen kinds you can buy at Costco; they were also waaaaay under seasoned. I had to add a bunch of salt. We also ordered the teriyaki shortribs sliders. This came with crispy onion strings so I was very happy bc those onion strings are BOMB! The shortribs was amazing!!! So tender and soft. I thought the teriyaki was too overpowering but the side of ranch that I got made up for the extra flavor. For an entree, we got shared sliced tri tip. I guess low carbs mean low sodium because they were SO bland even with the au jus sauce. I had to add so much salt. This entree was okay. I wouldn't order it again. Even though there were cooked onions, I didn't get that taste in the meat. The servers kept coming to refill our water. I saw our waitress serving multiple tables but she was still alert when I needed something. Overall, mediocre food but I wouldn't come back unless I had another gift card.
(4)Marlon E.
The Loft can be a cool place to hang out and dance with your friends, since there is a bar and a dance floor. Most nights though, it is pretty crowded, mainly due to the no cover charge and the somewhat lax dress code. You can get your drink on here, but as other reviewers have mentioned, drinks are pretty expensive compared to other places. In terms of music, it was alright. It's pretty much top 40 radio hits, with some sprinkling of old school stuff. Personally, I would like it the other way around. I think Voodoo Lounge across the street has the ratio right.
(3)Brian L.
This place is also one of the very few places in San Jose that is not ghetto. Don't worry if you still want the experience or taste of the San Jose ghetto San Jose club scene Tres Ghettos errr sorry Tres Gringos is across the street. You're almost guaranteed to see a fight outside of there. The Loft at least has professional staff, a dress code, and it's a pretty chill place. One of the better places to go with the limited non-ghetto club scene around San Jose.
(3)Sheila C.
Lounge Review Only Loft, I had a lot higher expectations of this place then I was met with. It is an ok spot pretty swamped with bodies, honestly I think at one point in the night the fire marshal would have shut the place down. Loft is another dance lounge place in downtown. Typical low lighting to enhance the customers appeal, dark wood, over priced drinks of which I can't really comment on drink quality because I stick to shots here. The music is decent for dancing music that you hear in every club/lounge in the area. Cool atmosphere for just hanging out or getting your grove on, I might make it a spot I'd hit up every so often when I get the urge to dance because the fact that there is no cover is actually appealing enough to bring me back. Oh note to this review...The bouncers are really nice, my friend didn't have her Drivers License and they let her in with two forms of other ID which was awesome of them so thanks for not being DBs guys!!
(3)Cindy K.
I've been here both for lunch and to party at night. I don't actually remember what I ordered at lunch but I just remember it being really good. The wait-staff was also really attentive and nice. As a bar, it's pretty fun. It's usually pretty packed, and its always fantastic when there's no cover. The bouncers are pretty strict and were constantly telling me to move to one side or another, which was confusing because I had no where else to go. The bartenders downstairs also weren't that friendly - kind of scary and mean. But they played good music, and I like that they have a downstairs where you can come escape to when it's too packed/hot upstairs. I would give it a 3 and a half if I could!
(3)Gary T.
Loft (the night scene)....I've seen it through the goods and the bads. When I first started to club in SJ, about 3-4 years ago, Loft had its ups and downs. I've seen it empty to uber crackin! I remember back in college that this place had the most redonkulous prices on drinks! I've recently partied here to and I might say well done to whoever runs/promotes here. I used to hear Loft sucks left and right, but now I hear it's one of the most crackin' places if you want to hang out in SJ. They now have drink specials from $6 dollar shots to $4 dollar kamikaze and purple hooter shots (?) from 10PM-1130PM. The music there is pretty good usually top 40s. Now for the bad. This place gets pretty packed to the point you can't move or you have to start shoving people around. It gets really hot in here to the point where you feel drops of condensation built-up on the pipes dripping down. (really not sure if it's leaking water but i think it's condensation). They really need to fix the ventilation in there. Overall, great place to hang out with friends and get your dance on.
(4)Cindy D.
Despite what everyone says I actually like that the place isn't HUGE. It's cozy=] Came here for my birthday and I was like..wait what? The first floor is pretty small and mostly consists of a bar and a few tables. The real party is upstairs. Theres a bar along the back, a few tables, a nice little dance floor, and more table far up. Drinks were good but a little pricier compared to other places. Music is pretty chill. Lotta throwbacks. The dance music doesn't come on til around 10-10:30. Came here on a Thursday and wasn't too busy at first. Came with a pretty big group and the place got busier later on. I hear Loft gets pretty packed on the weekend so I guess come on a Thursday night if you have a large group? Overall I had a great time. =]
(4)Elizabeth H.
I've eaten here a few times and it's always been a-okay, but nothing to garner more than a 3.5 star review. They get another star for attentive service, but they lose that star for charging me $10 for a light-on-the-liquor Sapphire & tonic. Rounding up to 4 stars because it looks like a great date restaurant.
(4)Janice S.
If I had to eat in downtown San Jose, I would choose this place. The food is pretty good every time I go and the drinks are always good. I even had my bridal shower there during the day, which they do just for special events, and it was a nice time in the outdoor/patio section. They were super nice and everyone loved the food. The last time I went was during that evening when we went to that horrid Motif place. So we had dinner at Loft, then walked to Motif, found ourselves unhappy, and went back to Loft to find it MUCH better and good time. There was a good mix and better music. Is it me, or are the 90s hip hop and rap songs the best era. Can anyone find a song that gets you hype more than Snoop/Dr. Dre's Aint nothin but a G thang or I got 5 on it? I digress...or maybe it's a point that I'm not the young 23-year old that can club thursday through sunday anymore and when I go out to a club, I expect fireworks everytime, and you should to!
(3)Chris F.
I had great expectations for this place, and for the most part, they were met. Not surprisingly, it was easy to be seated because it was a rainy, Monday evening. So I can't say much about the service since there was no one dining anyway so of course service would be good. Our server was attentive and our drinks and bread were refilled often. As far as the decor, atmosphere, and space, it is surprisingly large. There are plenty of seats around, and it looks like a good place for a group for dinner. I can't say much about the club part of the restaurant since it wasn't happening, but I'm sure it's great. The food...large selection of food, but a bit overpriced in my opinion. I've had just as good a food as here somewhere else for much less. Two crab cakes for $13 is a bit much. Hell, it was cheaper in Seattle and the crabs were picked right off the water. Don't know what that is about. I'm not cheap, but I won't be spending a lot on food when it doesn't need to be that way. If it was at the Fairmont, yes, but here, no. Overall, good place to go as a group. It looks like a great place for clubbing as well. Not so in love with the food. Nothing really wowed me so much that I'd want to come back here just for it.
(3)Barry F.
I've recently moved into the downtown area. The Loft if nothing else is devoid of the typical thoughtless egotism I've encountered in many lesser establishments. Bravo, to Che the Bartender you have a new fan.
(4)Belén T.
Let me start by saying, I've never eaten there, so this is no judgment on the food. That said, there's a specific reason I haven't eaten there. In my tireless hunt for a reasonably priced dinner reservation (less than $100) for Valentine's Day, I have emailed several restaurants asking, very simply, "Are you having any specials for Valentine's Day?" Below is the email exchange I had with the OWNER. I wrote, "Are you having any specials for Valentine's Day?" "yes we will have specila menu that night thank you," was the only response. Typos and all. Diligently I wrote back, "That was shockingly little information. Price? Menu?" To which I received the equally useless email, "the menus will be on oue web site by the 1 of feb thank you " In high school I had a teacher who had a son around our age, +/- 16, and he recounted to us how he had taken away his son's license because he received a C in his history class. We students were outraged and he merely replied, "Do you really want to be on the road with someone who can't maintain a B average?" I've always liked that argument. Same idea applies here. Do you really want to eat somewhere that 1) does not offer information to a customer who is clearly in the market to overspend on a special occasion, 2) doesn't know how to use the simplest of grammar including capital letters, punctuation and spelling 3) fails to understand the basics of customer service. I just can't imagine that this is the kind of establishment that would provide a memorable meal...
(1)Leilani N.
If you're trying to get a drink here at night, double-check your tab. There have been a couple of instances in which the bartenders miscalculated mine and other patron's bills--they either overcharge or deal out the incorrect change.
(2)Jenna L.
I spent my Birthday Friday here. Damn ! It was FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNN until I had to leave and the reason will be on another blog of mine. X_X I ate their salad and had some of the steak wrap. OMGGGG. It's just enough to split it with two people ^.^ If you want something LIGHT before getting your booty on - you should get the wrap! I love the music. Love Love LOVE! If you were alive in the 90's then you'll enjoy the old school hip hop ( = The DJ that night was on fire.. I swear.. playing old school hits to the new mainstream songs w/ incredible mixes and beats. We had a masquerade theme going on :D hahaha got drunk and started dancing w/ them. People were friendly !! We started to crash dancing groups and everyone seemed pretty chill. My kind of crowd ! Friday Nights = Awesome Nights No Pay = OKAY !!
(5)Elysse P.
Ghetto. And musty as eff. But when you're in DTSJ, it's slim pickin's. 3 stars for the music?
(3)Jackie M.
Came here on a Saturday night, first time here so I didn't know what to expect. My friend's friend who was there said it was poppin and I had no complaints. The music was good and the crowd was going. My only complaint about this place is that shots are expensive! $13 a shot, wtf?! Where are we, Tao in Vegas? Pssh, I don't think so. Despite the price being a bit higher than normal I still bought two rounds. I'm glad they didn't skimp or else I woulda thrown a fit. Lol. Anyways, as the night dragged on and my memory became fuzzier I was still enjoying my time at the Loft. This place is a little dressy. A cute top, jeans, and heels will do. Location is good as it is a block away from the parking garage.
(3)Vivienne J.
Summary: Not a bad place for dinner on a Friday night, but a bit pricey. The Good: ** Fantastic waitress - she had great timing on the food ** Seated immediately upstairs at a window seat (there are elevators if needed) ** They were willing to try and make me an Aviation (it was a little lemony) ** Fire roasted artichoke appetizer ($10.95) was tasty, if messy ** Good clam chowder ($4.95/cup x 2 cups) ** Generous serving of strawberry shortcake (good for 2 to share; $7.95) The Meh: ** "Cabernet" sauce with my filet mignon was...interesting. It was pretty tasty, don't get me wrong, but I'm positive I smelled both peanut sauce and Worcestershire in it. It was also a bit too thick methinks. ** My filet mignon ($21.95) had some stringy bits in it ** What I'm assuming was balsamic vinegar in the oil given to us with the bread was entirely too sweet and there was way too much of it. ** The butter pats given to us with the bread were ice cold and hard. The Bad: ** The mashed potatoes that came with my dish tasted and had the texture and consistency of boxed rehydrated potatoes. ** The "sun dried tomatoes" that were supposed to be in said potatoes were either not actually dried or were not dried very well. ** "Quite possibly the worst cappuccino I've ever had." says the honey. There were grounds at the bottom of the cup. Cappuccino $4.75. ** $10 Aviation, $9.50 gin and tonic We went here because we had been given a gift certificate and had already tried Capers. The patio was unfortunately closed off for a private party (sad face). Total for dinner for 2 for everything above plus Chicken wrap ($14.95) and port ($8) was $106.52 before tip. I'd be happy to go back again if I have another gift certificate or if a friend insists, but for the price vs. quality of food it's not going to be my "go-to" place.
(3)Cecilia S.
Not a bad place. It's fairly small, and the dance floor can be pretty crowded. But because I FINALLY felt my buzz here, it's not too bad. Service at the bar was quick, our bartender was really friendly, and he made our drinks STRONG! Tokyo Tea in one hand and a Sex on the Beach in the other - wooooo! Side note - no cover charge - beware of the dance floor, either the air-condition isn't working or the pipes are messed up, but the ceiling drips water.. I was dripped on several times on my way out.. not to mention the floor was really slippery!
(3)Hayne P.
Yikes. Went in there on a Friday night, mainly because my friend was showing me around to places she goes to, and I didn't feel like paying cover because I needed to leave soon. I just wanted to stop by one place just to explore. It's nice to explore. I am definitely more used to mixed crowds. I was dead surprised that it was packed with 90% Asians. I know, Hayne, you're Asian, you should be used to Asian clubs, right? Surprisingly, I don't go to many clubs or club events that are mostly Asians like this, and the few times I have, I didn't really have that good of a time. Maybe I should've drank more or something, but yea, it just felt funny feeling that all the Asians in San Jose were in that club. Club was playing top 40s, with some hip hop from 2006ish or so, so if felt kind of like high school in an okay way. I just felt a little nostalgic. Also, I have never noticed this in other clubs, but there were so many guys at this club. I almost thought I was in a gay bar. No, I scratch that. Gay bars attract a lot of women. I didn't know what to think of this place, but seeing a lot of guys just standing around and looking lost, confused, predatory, or out of place is kind of really sad. Floor is slippery, and the air in the upstairs dance area is kind of... muggy. It's not terrible, but the air just feels a little off. Be careful when you're walking around. It's crowded, the floor is wet, and it's just crowded in there. Pros: - no cover - if you're a single girl on the hunt, this place will be easy pickings (I imagine... I'm not single and I'm not looking/don't need to boost my already big ego) - crowded Cons: - too many guys... I feel like this can potentially be a problem - crowd is not diverse - wet floor - steep staircase (not drunk or heel friendly) Overall, this place wouldn't be on my top list of places to go in San Jose. I would take barhopping over this place. It was a good thing I had awesome company and I wouldn't say no to coming back to this place, but I would rather go other places. Not a terrible place, but you can do much better.
(2)Stephanie B.
3.5! Pretty chill place to eat and then drink/dance at night. I came here for a bday shindig and had a really solid night. Although, TBH, I thought my Cubano sandwich was forgettable. I ordered it because I saw the ingredient "jalepenos" - which I couldn't resist! The service here was really pleasant. We were a huge party and the waitress was really patient with us, especially considering the fact that we had a bigger party than expected. So nice! The bartender here is super cool too! He had great energy and helped us celebrate my friend's bday. Pretty sure he was one of the nicest bartenders I've ever encountered. Not feeling their $6 dollar beers though. At first, I got really excited when their DJ started playing some old school hip-hop jams. He was pretty good, and then by the end of the night he was going into the Top 40 and EDM songs.....which all DJs seem to do these times. Wish he stuck to the hip-hop, but I guess his music was rather enjoyable (better than Studio 8, that's fa sho!).
(3)Richard J.
No cover charge, free drinks, a lot of hawt women and the music makes you really high. hahahah Ok, not all true. This club gets really packed so the best time to come here is when you are buzzinn. It's free to get in that's why it's likely pack during weekends. I had a good time the weekend before the Halloween. There were more women willing to get freaky with you hahaha The drinks are all somewhat fair but expect a expensive beers because it's a night club. Music is alright and the Dj' is a regular so you can expect good dance music. The service at the bar is quite difficult to rate because almost all bar that you go to are likely the same. I found that the bartenders likely serve the woman first before the guys... so send your honey to get beers hhahaha. It's an easy fix but the owner don't seem not to care. They should have a capacity control because it does gets really crowded inside. How do you expect to see them girls doing the La Macarena dance?hehehe
(3)Margaret R.
#NAME?
(4)Robert A.
Service is not good at all here! Took forever to get our food. Didnt bring out anything on time. Food was good but that was about it. We had a reservation but didnt get seated until 20 minutes later. We requested the patio and didnt get that either.
(1)Manu J.
The place is nice and the food is really good. I went for a business lunch and their chicken Marsala was so tender and tasty! Just a little bit disappointed by the cheese cake but all was very good and the service pretty efficient !
(5)Sylvia K.
i really like their blue cheese and pear salad! that's what I usually get when i come here for lunch. the menu is really big - plenty of options form burgers to sandwiches to wraps to salads. hour of happiness goes on till 7 every night. $6 select cocktails and appetizers, and $4 on select beers. the popcorn chicken is good. the 1/2 lb angus burger with fries is part of the happy hour menu and is pretty much a meal in itself - probably the best value on the HH menu.
(4)Glenn L.
Been here too many times so I decided to FINALLY write a review! My friends and I sorta have this love/hate thing with Loft! We love that there's no cover (the only thing and keeps us coming back here), and we hate... pretty much everything else about this place. Yes I know it's a 21 and up club, but the last time we went here the crowd ranged from 21 to WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY up, and it was on Halloween night!!! The Loft has a bar downstairs and upstairs! The dance floor is ALWAYS packed, and it's a surprise that they're able to let that many people in without hitting their capacity! I still gave this place two stars because there's a taco stand across from it!!!
(2)Kevin T.
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(3)Monica U.
This sure wasn't our best dinner experience with our friends. In fact, it was a disappointment. None of us had been to the Loft Bar and Bistro before, and from the looks presented on the website, it looked like a cool place with a wide variety of food. We made reservations for dinner on a Sunday, and I asked if our party could be seated on the outdoor/upstairs patio. The host said that a DJ event was set-up outside until 5pm, but he thought things would be cleaned up by the time we came. We arrived two hours after said DJ event had ended, and things outside on the patio were a mess. It felt a little awkward to wait for a table to be cleaned up. Restaurant had a few patrons but it was quite empty for the size of the place. Didn't even need to make reservations! Loved the brick walls and the decor of the place, but it just went steadily down hill! * Cabernet dipping sauce that came with our appetizer (steak bites) which came highly recommended by the waitress tasted like nothing more than a mushroom gravy. Steak bites themselves were good. * My salmon dinner had a hair in it! I was offered a free dessert (only after another person in our party asked if we could be compensated somehow), but a free dessert was already the "special" for Sunday nights with the purchase of two entrees. * Bathroom was a mess with paper towels strewn about. The waitress used the facilities while I was in there and made no attempt to tidy it before leaving again. At least she washed her hands. Sounds like the place has a busy night-life, but I wouldn't recommend it for the food. The amount of people dining there (hardly ANY!) should have been my first clue! The only reason I'm giving it two stars is we did get fed while we there.
(2)Roxanne G.
I wasn't going to review this place as it's garnered plenty of other negative reviews. Apparently the owner doesn't bother to read Yelp or care, so I'll be brief. A dozen friends met here for dinner. We were seated in the most cramped space available, despite the fact that we made reservations a month a head of time. Cramped as sardines. Service was meh. Food meh. It was freezing outside and anyone sitting in the downstairs got blasted by cold air whenever the door was opened. We did not feel cared for and I did not leave additional tip -- as a former waitress, I am generous tipper, but if I had my druthers, I would have left $10. Won't be back and do not recommend.
(1)Karla g.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants in San Jose for a few years. I am always happy with the quality of the food and they have a great happy hour.
(5)Rachel H.
Aside from being PACKED AND CROWDED as hell, I cant recall ever having a bad experience here. About a year or 2 ago I got kind of iffy about it because I felt like I was at Pearl or something because of the crowd...but within the last year of going back again and again this place is so much more diverse WHICH I LOVE! The staff is super friendly, I NEVER have a problem at the door, security is always on the watch...I don't think theres really ever been a fight thats broken out all the times I have gone. My only issue is the dance floor which is always PACKEDDDDD. But Im not going to dock any stars for that...all in all, its a good time!
(5)Alan W.
This review is for the restaurant. Came here for my brother's birthday to finally check out the food at this establishment. Definitely different when there aren't hundreds of people packing the floor when it converts to a club. I've been to their sister restaurant Capers before so I kind of knew what to expect, but if I recall correctly, the menu at the Loft seems a little more sophisticated. We started with a Beef Carpaccio which was pretty good. But when we got to our entrees, it wasn't as tasty as the appetizer. I ordered the French Dip sandwich, my gf got the Braised Lamb Shank, and my brother ordered the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak all of which were just okay or a little bland. The service was really attentive and nice - after they carded my brother and found out it was his birthday, they gave him complimentary slice of cheesecake which was delicious. Overall the experience was a good one, the service was great, but the food was just average. I'd probably come back, but for the nightlife.
(3)Gabriela W.
Honestly, just not worthwhile. My husband and I wanted to try someplace new in downtown and it just so happened we drove by Loft and saw that the place was practically packed inside. We both thought, wow, this place must be great. When we got inside, we were immediately ushered upstairs. No one told us we had to climb two flights of stairs to get to our actual destination. I thought the restaurant was on the first floor, but it must have been a private party because we weren't even offered to sit there. Once upstairs, we thought it would be fine, lot's of space, nice romantic ambiance and we we got a table next to the window. So far, so good, except that there was booty shaking music playing and it kind of killed the "romantic" feel the restaurant has. Now, I'm not one for hating on booty shaking music, in fact, I love it, but somehow, it didn't feel right. The food was fine but the server never came back to refill our water, instead, we had to ask another server to do it. We left feeling pretty blah.
(2)Kavita B.
I've always been a fan of this place. The service is usually on key and the food is always delicious. The best part of this place are their drinks, creative and yummy! We like to come here on special occasions because the ambiance provides for a romantic evening.
(4)Ashley T.
This review is based on the bar/night experience. No cover charge = a wild crowd. The drinks are expensive and the crowd is overwhelming. I'm pretty buzzed but this place still stank real bad. I swear there was about 100 people on the dance floor getting buck wild. I have no idea how they fit in that small area. The line for the restroom is extensive, both men and women's. I hate coming here, it's hot and humid. The place is filthy and the crowd is hostile. Pass!
(1)Vi T.
My late night cohorts - be they completely separate groups of friends - do love them some Loft. As such, when I do "club," which is RARELY, it tends to be this place. I wish I could give you an exciting review, but I pretty much agree with most of the other reviews in terms of the nightlife. So here we go: I really like that there's never a cover charge and the people are pretty chill. Drinks are just okay and around the 11 dollar mark, but damn! That dance floor gets packed sometimes! Contrary to what you may believe, I really dislike being pressed up against by random strangers. NOT my cup of tea. When it's less of a fire safety hazard, though, I do find myself enjoying it a lot more (like this past Saturday!). I suppose that's due to the whole generally not liking to club deal-eo. Final thoughts: I don't love it, but I don't hate it. And when you're with good friends, you can't help but have a good time... so drink, dance, and be merry!
(3)Manda Bear B.
*********************** 638 ************************** Decent food, menu does change seasonal here, generous portion, limited wine list. Happy Hour week days are good price here. 1 of the better place for eat in downtown San Jose. Good service.
(3)Jay B.
Came here with friends from work and got a table on the rooftop; it was cold out, so the rooftop is covered, but still a cool area to eat in nonetheless. I ordered the lasagna which was pretty tasty. The staff was warm and attentive.
(3)Hetal P.
Really nice Happy Hour!! Libby who served us was just amazing! Made up for the crazy day I had!!!
(4)Sophia P.
I rediscovered this place last night - on a very rainy and windy night. I went there with a friend who was eager to try this place as he'd never been there. I recalled that I had been there about 5 years ago, sat outside (2nd flr), and tasted some fine tequila! Last night was a lot of fun - we had great angus burger, onion rings and fries that we shared. What made it so great was Leo, the bartender. It helped that it wasn't crowded which afforded us the opportunity to really get to talk to Leo, and Leo made us some banging drinks!! I wanted to try fuzzy navel as I had a hankering for it (had not had them for over 10 yrs), and he made me awesome hairy navels! Then, he made me a drink w/chambord, a bit of crown royale (+ another ingredient that I forgot), and it was just wonderful! What makes me not give this place 5 stars is that they didn't have happy hour prices. However, the place was so much fun that we'll bring the rest of the gang for our biweekly HH! I'm looking forward to seeing Leo again with his awesome drinks - and great knowledge about drinks! This place beats single barrel anytime. The staff's very friendly - another plus in my books. Besides Trick Dog in SF, this is my new fave place in San Jo. We both took pix of Leo preparing our drinks and posted it on Instagram - dude should get a raise!! :) See you next Thursday!
(4)Mona W.
Had lunch here for a company event. We had the banquet menu and food were served buffet style. Appetizers: Crispy Calamari, Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, Roast Artichokes, Chinese Chicken Salad, Fresh Vegetable Platter Entrees: Pesto Salmon, Grilled Flank Steak, Chicken Marsala, Vegetarian Penne Desserts: New York Cheesecake, White Chocolate Crème Brulee The food was decent. Nothing really blew my mind but I was pretty impressed with the service. Bartenders were friendly and efficient. Drinks were promptly served/refilled and our servers were all very attentive. There were never any dirty plates left on the table when I returned from the buffet table. Even with a huge 50+ people group there were no mixed up of any kind. Highly recommend this place for group/company events.
(3)Betty N.
**WARNING: THE $13 SHOT DID NOT INCLUDE A BLOW JOB** Midnight run. Upstairs we went. Dance floor was packed. Good dance music and the most eclectic group of people got their freak on. Bought 2 Grey Goose shots for $26 total. WTF. "Does it come with a blow job?" I asked the bartender. "No." was the response. Basically I blew $30. That, my friends, WAS the blow job.
(3)Jessica H.
I really liked the feel of this place from the moment I walked in. The staff was accommodating and made excellent recommendation that went well with the Zin I was having. I pork rib small dish... And let me tell you it was amazing, tender and just the right amount. It was not too loud so I was able to talk to my friends that were sitting with me. Great place for large parties too just call ahead. Great wine selection.
(4)Prince A.
Take me down one star to three stars as a Service has gotten router and less friendly over the last month.. It is where I stop in Austin with friends, co-workers, or so for.. Most of the time the nice and polite, last four to five weeks from the factor has gone away whatever it is bring it back
(3)Catherine L.
Smelled like egg fart when we walked in. Proceeded to the second floor and tons of guys.. why no one who looks like Paul Walker ? Drinks were okay. The music was pretty good until they tried to mix.. Only two stalls in the ladies room so if you need to go, don't wait until your bladder is about to burst. Girls take foreverrr when intoxicated.
(3)Susie O.
Chanced upon this place Sat night and hostess led us upstairs past a highschool reunion. Bar was jam-packed with middle aged folks nearing 50 dressed in their reunion best. Lady on mic was shouting out raffle ticket winners... We were seated on the outdoor patio. It was nice. Service was stellar. Our server, Kaitlyn, was great..she never stopped moving and was incredibly attentive. Specialty drinks listed on menu were mediocre. "Speakeasy" knocked me on my arse. Tasted nasty but was strong. Lychee martini was weak and foamy. As a juice, it was an A+. Food is subar. Calamari killed my appetite but the crab cakes were good. Can safely say that I won't be coming back.
(2)Stephanie C.
#1 selling point: NO COVER! I've been here a handful of times...and I have yet to go upstairs. I blame it on the bar downstairs that I can never leave. Most recently because we had to leave by midnight since the birthday boy was kicked out - happy birthday to him as we carried his incoherent booty to the car :) Although I can hear the beats being played from upstairs and I'm feelin it. Downstairs bathroom line can get long since it's a unisex one and if there's some drunk chick in there yacking her brains out, be prepared to cross your legs and hold your bladder. Next time I'm making it upstairs!!!
(3)R D.
+ No cover charge 2 bars. Upstairs and downstairs. Small and nice - Overpriced drinks Sausagefest Can get very crowded DJs arent very good. Rough cuts and lousy beatmatching. Cheap equipment, the DJ in the 2nd room blew his 1 speaker.
(2)Archie G.
Restaurant: A horrible, overpriced restaurant in downtown San Jose. I have tried several appetizers and dishes on their menu. and they were mediocre and the prices are a bit higher than they should be. Drinks: Way too overpriced. It's disgusting. Nightlife: They offer a solid bar/dance atmosphere. It can get heavy on the guys, but then again, this is Santa Clara County. It is to be expected that every drinking venue will end up being a sausage fest. Anyway, I suggest you eat dinner somewhere else, and then get drinks somewhere else, and then come here to dance.
(2)Michelle G.
It may cost a billion dollars for a cocktail and there's always water or SOMETHING dripping from the ceiling on the second floor, but the Loft still captivates me. Ok, maybe it isn't exactly captivating, but I do consider it as one of the better places to chill in Downtown San Jose... Please note that I am reviewing the nighttime atmosphere at the Loft. To keep it simple: No cover. You'll wait 3 minutes at most to get in, and that's only because they ask everyone for 2 forms of ID. Two bars - one downstairs, one upstairs. Expensive drinks. Pretty cool bartenders. Bouncers always telling you to move, even when you're not obstructing any sort of emergency escape route. There is ample seating and a separate patio area upstairs. The floor always seems to be wet... Leaky pipes? DJ can get the crowd pumpin' with today's Top 40. You can't really go wrong with the Loft. It does have a few cons as I noted above, but come here with some good company and you'll have a good time.
(3)JASMIN O.
Sure you feel like the top floor is gonna cave in on you, and sure it's deceiving that there's a patio upstairs and you can't smoke on it, and who the hell knew that you could order food at midnight.. but it's free to get in, and hey.. free is free. Your friendly neighborhood hang out right across from Tres and SJ Bar and Grill that never leaves you waiting in line with a bunch of dudes already throwing up because they pre drank at their buddies house. Thanks for keepin it classy Loft.
(3)Angela D.
I came here on a Saturday night around 11:30. I didn't really know what to expect since it was my first time clubbing in San Jose. I didn't realize how you had to have a second form of ID. But it was good I had my debit card. The line was long since people didn't realize there were two lines. Neither did I until my friend did. I didn't get a good chance to see what was on the first floor and went straight up stairs. First thing when I came upstairs was being blinded by security with their flashlights to move along and pick a side. That was a bit annoying. I was glad that there wasn't a cover and understand the long lines. My other friends had come at midnight and told me that they had reached maximum capacity and had to wait 45 mins. I was a bit shocked but then they came in about 15 mins later since a bunch of people left. The only thing I don't like is how small the dance floor is. It gets so packed like sardines and there is no ventilation. Other than the random Indian guys who try to dance with girls, it was okay. I didn't buy drinks since I heard they were over priced but they seemed pretty strong to me.
(3)Steven B.
I've been here a bunch of times at night to drink and dance the night away. Drinks are little more expensive then usual but at least this place doesn't have cover. Usually before 11pm this place is DEAD but once it hits closer to midnight, it starts getting packed. When it gets packed, it gets PACKED! I've never had to push myself through so many people even at the bar. Its a good place just to grab a drink with some friends. The dance floor tends to be completely dead or way too packed so if you want to do some serious dancing try some place else. There are 2 floors to this place so if you arn't in the dancing mood you can just hangout downstairs at the bar and drink your night away.
(3)Jason H.
This review is based off notes I made via the yelp app. I cannot give a full review as I don't remember everything about the place after so much time however - I must say, I did not like this place. The chicken had a very gross seared on an electric stove burned taste that was just awful. The waitress was sort of rude in an impatient sort of way. I will not be back voluntarily.
(1)Robert S.
All I can say is this place is overpriced, crowded and I have yet to have a good time in this place. I am sure ill try it again or I will go there in the early hours when I can actually try the food. I did hang out with my GF for the first time here so I have to give it some credit, but so far not too much. static1.px.yelpcdn.com/s… Maybe if i'm there at 10:30 to hit up them drink specials it will turn the tide.
(2)Irene L.
Stopped in here on a Saturday night cause friend's coworker was having a birthday party here. No wait to get in which was pretty awesome and no cover charge either. Sweet. It was raining so I'm pretty happy. It wasn't too crowded when we first got here about 11:30pm but definitely got packed later and there was no room on the dance floor which sucked. The friends had bottle/table service (in the patio) which was nice and a waitress stopped by pretty frequently to clean the table and make sure everything was good. There was another dj in the patio room and upstairs dance floor was poppin'. The music was good and downstairs wasn't crowded at all. Would come back to dance and drink again if there was room on the dance floor.
(3)Kathy D.
loft. you still haven't failed me one bit... some of my friends say different things about this place... but I, on the other hand, love it! I would like to give a BIG THANKS to the owner of Loft!!!! I forgot my second form of ID, since I previously lost my purse the week beforehand and only had my License and money with me.. He came out, checked things out, made me sign some things, and ended up letting me in....so make sure at all TIMES.. two forms of ID here! Thank you to the very cooperative staff members and workers there.. I really appreciate it and because of you, I had a great time that night! All i have to say is, who cares if the loft is empty at the beginning of the night... you know why i don't care? because everyone from all the other places end up coming here by the end of the night!!! That's what!!! Of course, you will get bored of your vivid, your motif, your tiki... where else would be better to end the night then the loft... free entry and never disappointing music! great atmosphere! drinks can vary, so if you're lucky, they'll be strong! but it does get crowded i may say! which makes me love it! i love people! oo and i realized that there is no coat check here.. FYI for all you girls who can't suck it up and leave your coats in the car :p i didn't get dripped on this time though :) by the AC vents up above!!
(5)Sofia H.
When Stratta Grill and Bar closed summer '05 San Jose was in dire need of a fun new place. Loft was the answer. Similar architecture and decor; high ceilings, hardwood, and large pieces of art adorn the walls. Loft definitely filled a void. The crowd is quiet different, Loft attracts a younger savvy crowd, which is ready to line up shots. Their menu is lovely and offers many fantastic options. The Sun-dried tomato roasted garlic soup and Steak Bites are great starters. The Angus burger is wonderfully prepared at medium rare and their fries are great. The Chicken Penne prepared with zucchini, squash, mushrooms, sun-dried tomato and Penne pasta tossed in a sherry wine cream sauce has superb flavor and you must save room for the fresh berries with sabayon. After the dining hours are over Loft transforms into a trendy club, complete with local ladies in deep v-neck tops and shorts with 4 inch heels, bartenders promptly pour many different martini's, wines, and draft beers. There normally is a DJ upstairs that may or may not be inspiring the masses to crowd the dining room/dance floor. Out of all of the night spots in downtown San Jose this is definitely one that is worth venturing to.
(4)Patty N.
If you want to feel like you're dancing in a closet with 10 other people than Loft is the place to be. I can't hate on loft too much because hey it's free, but boy does it get hot up in there. Sometimes I try to crack open a window on the side of the dance floor but I swear those things are bolted down, guess they don't want drunks falling out the window. Bartenders are pretty nice, crowd is mixed (you got your 21 newbies and 40 year old creepers). Downstairs is mostly for standing around and chatting, while upstairs is the dance floor. Let me put this in caps lock: MAKE SURE TO BRING TWO FORMS OF ID. That's that. Live, Laugh, and Lunch Patty
(3)chris c.
Not my scene. I know this place is bar, it says so right on the sign. This place should just go and stick to that. They try to do too much. Restaurant, bar, lounge, club blah blah blah. Epic fail on trying to be a jack of all trades. Getting in was a breeze for me and the gf. We are both hella old so its no problem. No cover which is great only to be greated by $13 mixers... The music was alright. Lots more old school than I would like. Leave the jackson 5 and new edition out of the play list please. The bathroom was destroyed by midnight. This is the only place that I've seen where the line for the mens room was longer than the womens lol. If you like tshirts and you are a guy, come here. No need for a button up shirt or even a collared one. Hell, you can even get away with nikes.
(2)Sam L.
There's no cover! But there's a long line and what's up with the second form of ID? Sheez. Any who, we get in and the place isn't even packed so that line was totally unnecessary. It took forever to get drinks, bartenders were too busy f'ing around with each other (water fight or something?). Well I got my drink, weakest goose and red bull I have ever gotten and it was fifteen bucks, sheez. But...maybe the dancing will make up for it, decent music but no room to actually dance. The crowd is ok, but mostly Asian and kind of a sausage fest. I'll probably come back to try the food but the nightlife was a total buzz kill.
(3)Linda D.
This place is pretty nice. There's two stories. Downstairs is just a bar and a place to talk. Upstairs has another bar and a dance floor. The music is good, and this place is always packed. There's no charge, but they do ask for two forms of Id occasionally. The drinks are kind of pricy, and there's a bad guy to girl ratio. Last time I came here with three other girls and it seemed like the boys started swarming towards us like predators lmao. And sometimes they even follow you even though you purposely moved to get away from them! Guess some people don't take no for am answer haha
(3)Jacqueline d.
So I had a couple of gift certificates that I won from a raffle at work. Decided to use them on Mother's Day because I thought that they had a cool patio area. Boy was I wrong - wish that we had sad inside. Their patio area is SAD....On top of that, we made a reservation days before but the table wasn't even ready. My husband had to help pull the tables together! Their food wasn't all that great - went their during brunch and they had some MD specials. I first ordered the crab cake benedict - YUCK!!!! Nasty! Had them take it back and get me the french toast, which they happily obliged. Never been her for happy hour or drinks and don't think I will. Oh and on top of that - I get up only to find out that I was sitting on gum! Never again....
(1)Angela W.
I've been here three times and each night served a different purpose. My first visit was for dinner. We were seated upstairs and although the place was packed it wasn't obnoxiously noisy. The meal was good but not memorable enough for me to recall what I had! hehe... I was overall pleased with everything. The second time I met up with a girlfriend for drinks and a small bite to eat. We ordered the cheapest bottle of red (which was actually pretty ok) and shared the steak bites. Heaven! The steak was super good. My last trip was really just to drink and dance. The dance floor was pretty small and crowded but I managed to have a good time anyways. The highlight had to be the fact that it hasn't been ruined by what I call the "ghetto crowd" just yet. Try to keep it classy, San Jo.... Anyways, if you're looking for dinner, a yummy appetizer, or to party... I'd say it's definitely worth a try.
(3)J L.
This is a review for the after hours night scene. Pros: No cover Good music if you like hip hop (dance floor is always packed) Packed with young people (20s) looking to have fun. Chill area to talk to your friends downstairs as well as a pateo area upstair seperate from the dance floor Pretty much drama free Above average decor Cons: Very pricey drinks Pro or Con depending on how you look at it. Non mixed crowd. 90% of people here are Asian
(3)Tony C.
Sounds like this place gets pretty popping on weekends, too bad I went on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. I don't venture into SJ that often as a rule of principle, not a meat market guy and most of the women I've ever met at there want to see your bank account or car keys before they give you the "honor" of buying a drink for them. Just stopped in for a quick bite before heading over to the airport to drop off my ex-girlfriend, awkward! Bottom floor smelled like urinal cakes, yes the pink or blue things you pee on in a men's bathroom. I already knew that I I was going to leave as soon as our waiter moved if we stayed there, but we were escorted to the top floor, which smelled like onion rings, a huge step up from pee pee potty. Maybe it smelled that bad since they were still cleaning from the night before? Food was good, not great for the price. $15 bucks for a shrimp wrap, aka salad in a tortilla! Eh. Service was friendly but I swear she made a comment about poop before walking away. It left me and my significant nothing laughing for most of the meal. "Did she say poop on my shoe?"
(3)Mark H.
If I were ONLY reviewing LOFT for their Valentine's menu it would be a 2-star, but we really like them for lunches. The salmon (prepared any way) is usually tasty and moist, and the variety of the regular menu is very good. The bread dipping sauce is a legend. Valentine's Day they posted would have a special menu but didn't post the actual menu online. It was shellfish heavy and had few veggie options. We and the diners at the next table would have chosen elsewhere had we known. The baked salmon was flavorful but boring. The veggies were beautiful and colorful but only lightly steamed and equally boring. I kept them for leftovers. The server was accommodating, and we ordered the chicken penne dish without the penne. That was up to their usual flavor. Price was also a big drawback. I would not have paid almost $30 per plate for what we received if I had another option, but we were out of time to go elsewhere. We'll go back, but we're sticking to the full lunch menu.
(3)Maggie H.
Your fingers and breath smell like shrimp, spices, lemons and soap and bits of corn on the cob are stuck between your teeth. What do you do when you're low on cash and want to dance away the bloatedness that follows an overdue visit to The Boiling Crab? No cover. No dress code.. Make sure you have 2 forms of ID. Hot, sweaty dance floor. Ratio of girls to guys is HORRIBLE! Top40s, Mash-up, and some 112 - Peaches and Cream. Haha. Two bars, one upstairs and one downstairs. We just missed their late night happy hour by a mere 10 minutes (11:30PM is when it ends) and had to pay bank for our drinks. We're talking about $12 Long Islands and AMFs and $13 Purple Hazes. What. The. Fuxk?! I'm assuming the upstairs patio was for table service patrons but for some reason we were able to gain access to it... So, shrugs. The patio came fully equipped with heat lamps, chairs, benches and its very own DJ! Awesome! I just realized why I'm a fan... It's a two-story, fancier, more expensive Divine Bovine aka HOLY COW. HAHAHA!
(4)BrendaJoy G.
Nightlife review only. I say this place is more like a 2.75. I recently came here with a bunch of friends, mostly guys, who are regulars here. Pretty diverse crowd. The best things about this place is no cover & a kinda lenient dress code. When there is no cover fee, yknow what that means--expensive drinks. Bartenders are pretty friendly & some security are too. However, security needs to do some major crowd control! Major fire safety violations & the female-to-male ratio is definitely in the male spectrum. Total sausage fest! We arrived around 10:30 when it was pretty empty & by the time it was 11:30, it was totally crowded upstairs. Like sardines! Downstairs was pretty empty. The music is alright; top 40, house, old school. However, to the DJ who was spinning the night I came here, PLEASE do better transitionings or at least have songs that blend well together! Hip hop to house? Umm, that was a drastic change in music genres. Loft, I do have to say I had a good time, but just fix those issues & I'll have even more of a good time. But forsure, I'll be coming back again.
(3)Samantha N.
I've eaten and partied here so I've made two reviews...sorta. For Dranks: Yes you don't have to pay cover ever but why the fuck do they have to check your second form? It was still pretty expensive for drinks but honestly, what can I expect, I'm downtown at a bar/club. The dance floor is too small, and it still interconnects with the bar upstairs. Nothing makes this place stand out to me. For Food: WHEN THERE ISN'T A CROWD, the place is super nice. I liked the options they had and I liked that you went upstairs to eat! It was super yummy :) So for food I'm digging it but for fun it's alright.
(4)Sus L.
Worst service experience..EVER! We had 5 different people waiting on us so it's hard to pin point who exactly was screwing up the orders, ignoring our table when we needed to more drinks, and making us wait 30 minutes before bringing us the tab. If it wasn't for the two guys refilling the water, clearing our table, and making sure we had an abundance of bread, we probably wouldn't have left a tip. This was our 6-7 time eating there and it seems to be really going down hill,fast. Such a shame since the food is decent and the atmosphere is great.
(1)Christina G.
Can't help but review loft. I've been here twice...once for my birthday dinner (as a present from a bf, ) and another time (or 2) with some friends. Whenever people ask me my favorite places in downtown...I usually just say Loft because I haven't been to toooo many yet. Well I've been to Fahrenheit (when it first opened, a few years ago, guess it was cool. BUT if anyone asks me "how is it" I just say it's ok it just has a small dance floor...because people tend to like large dance floors right?!) As everyone knows--there's a downstairs area, and a nice long staircase towards the left. Quite a hike (not really) but in heels and if you've been drinking, YEAH a hike. I got the AMF...still don't know what they put in it, just have to look it up, $12 or so, it's good. And BLUE. Girls bathroom is alright, usually there's a wait, well the guy's bathroom is right next door so the bf or guy friend or whoever will be waiting outside for you along that "awkward" wall...you know the wall where everyone stands / waits and where security is always walking through saying "don't stand there you're blocking traffic" or something. Lots of stairs...well some more stairs onto the main "dance floor", and there's an outside area too. Main reason why I love this place, well I like the crowd, lots of Asians. That's also what I tell people...not super sketch or freaky you know. Just good atmosphere and everything. And there's couches right near the 2nd floor bar where everyone sits and takes pictures. Who doesn't these days?!
(4)Kelsey G.
Came back after a stellar company Christmas party back in December. Prices were obviously raised for the "holiday" but still seemed reasonable without a pre fix (THANK YOU!). We showed for our reservation up and they explained it would be 15 minutes because the kitchen was behind. 35 minutes later we noticed that people who arrived after were being seated. When we were finally called to sit we were stoked to find we landed a pretty great seat upstairs. Our server seemed busy and unaware of how to handle the crowd. We figured she was most likely new and we were forgiving. The food took about 40 minutes to arrive and we were offered another round of wine... that we later had to pay for. Food was decent but you could tell it wasn't their best performance. Wasn't excited nor disappointed but was hoping for so much more based on the previous, private party experience. I'd totally recommend going on a non-holiday evening.
(3)Cherylynn N.
Oppps, 5'5 is the max height to get into Loft? *takes off 5 inch heels* Sprinkler's Birthday Stop #2! On Saturday, February 12th, my friends and I came to Loft after having several drinks at Tres Gringos across the street. C O V E R: None. I noticed many other Yelpers mentioned needing two forms of ID, but I only had to show one and I got in fine. I guess it's up to the bouncer's discretion? Either that or I look like a Cougar-in-Training. I suspect the latter... There NO ins/outs unless you want to wait in line again. L I N E: None at midnight, however there was a line about 20 people deep around 12:45 AM. D R E S S C O D E: None, however, most of the crowd wore club attire. S T A F F: The bouncers were rude and on a power trip. There's a way of getting your point across without flashing a light in people's faces or S C R E A M I N G at them! Note to the Bouncers: Wearing a black suit from Burlington Coat Factory doesn't make you a Secret Service Agent. C R O W D: Hmmm, did the crowd down some "Drink Me" potion (Alice in Wonderland)?!?!?! If so, Loft needs to add "Eat Me" Cake on the menu. Sorry, I just had to say that... My friend told me that Loft would be more my style (i.e. Asians), but he warned me the guys would be tiny. With 5 inch heels, I'm maybe 5'6 at the very tallest BUT tell me why I was towering most of the guys there? *sigh* The crowd was predominately Asians in their mid-20s and on the fobby side. It was also a sausage fest with some guys ranging up to their 50s. (Next time, I'm definitely bringing my single mom!) M U S I C: The DJ was a buzz killer and definitely lacked skills. Although he played Top 40s, Hip Hop and Mash-ups, he did so with no transitions and did a hard stop before going on to the next track. I'm normally the first to say, "I WANNA DANCE!!!!" but not even for a mere second did I want to. D R I N K / B A R (S): There were 2 bars; one downstairs and one upstairs. My friend got the drinks so I'm not sure how much were the drinks, but the shots were on the smaller size at 1 oz. A M B I A N C E / D É C O R: Simple and contemporary, yet rustic; large open space, dark wooden furnishings and exposed red brick walls. The Loft has 2 levels which is like Day and Night... 1st Level: Where the "civilized" congregate to sit, chill and mingle (hence the 3 Stars). 2nd Level: WTF, WHERE AM I?!?!? A rave? A mosh pit? A breeding ground for "freak" beginners? The 2nd level was PACKED--think Tao (LV) on a Fri/Sat night with NO room to move. At one corner, you'll see a group sloppily doing a stomp, skip, hop movement while "attempting" to do a figure 8 with imaginary glow sticks in tote. To the right, you'll see guys trying to *jump jump jump*, I guess they're trying to gain some height? Then to the left near the pillars, you'll see a guy standing getting a free-standing lap dance by some drunk chick who is feverishly rubbing all over herself. TIP: Take 2, 3, 4, or in my case 6 shots BEFORE going upstairs! Outdoor Patio: There's an outdoor patio in the 2nd level so you can take a breather from all the madness upstairs. HOWEVER, you can't smoke there. You can only smoke downstairs near the entranceway and you will have to WAIT AGAIN to go back inside. R E S T R O O M S: One stall downstairs and several upstairs. I didn't want to have to brave the crowd upstairs so I went to the restroom downstairs. There were ONLY guys in line so the wait was about 2 minutes with 4 guys in front of me. The bathrooms are very clean; toilet paper, seat covers, soap and paper towels were fully stocked. P A R K I N G: With all the nightlife, I expected parking to be a nightmare but I was able to find street parking half a block away within 5 minutes. There's a parking lot half a block away on San Fernando/2nd for a $5 flat fee. If/When I ever return to Loft... NOTE TO SELF: Wear flats and come SMASHED with Goose Goggles in FULL-EFFECT!!!
(3)Dennis T.
Came here few time had good time everytime ,good DJ
(4)Vicky T.
So the Elite party was phenomenal, and I have been here once before when it was a sweat bar clubby atmosphere. In comparing the two, I give this place a three. There food was on point- very rarely do you find skewered meat that is not dry-- last night it was well done. Their calamari was decent.. wait staff was polite. When there are hawt drunken messes and lots of music going on- this place I am not a fan of..... My suggestion- go for dinner downstairs but avoid the "clubby" dealio or have a private party upstairs.
(3)Huy T.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE DINNER ONLY! Not a big fan of the club part. My girlfriend and I had dinner at Loft for the first time and were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. First things first though. We asked to be seated in the patio area and what we got was a patio that was covered up completely. If you want to sit in the patio in open air, make sure to find out if they have their protective covering up first or not. Our server was friendly and fast. I should've gotten her name, but she knew the menu really well. We ordered Teriyaki beef quesadillas and she endorsed it right off the bat. We also got the smoked salmon pasta (I think it was called Rigotti) and pork something that came in slices with mashed potatoes and veggies. The teriyaki beef quesadillas were AWESOME. It was sweet enough for those who like sweet, but not so overwhelming that it didn't make sense to put teriyaki in a quesadilla. The beef was tender and added just enough grease to put in some of that totally unhealthy quality that, depending on who you are, you love or hate. My girlfriend and I happen to love that. The smoked salmon pasta dish was also good. It was salty like smoked salmon should be and not overly creamy. The pork dish was also awesome because it wasn't dry. A lot of places don't do chicken or pork right because they always dry out the meat somehow, but that wasn't the case here. Covered in picatta (spellling?) sauce and served with buttery mashed potatoes. They didn't do much with the veggies, but it balanced out well with everything else. For dessert, we had a strawberry shortcake, which is basically Sarah Lee's pound cake with strawberries and whip cream. It tasted good, but how can you go wrong with Sarah Lee's pound cake? Four stars because this was our first dinner visit and it tasted great. Definitely want to go back and try the other menu items.
(4)Kimberly S.
When i attended San Jose State my friend and i found this place. We ended up being regulars. I used to study downstairs at the bar waiting to got to class, eating an appetizer and having a cocktail. The food is Fabulous. I have moved away and i miss it so so so much.
(5)Jamie Y.
+1 for finding my credit card and returning it to me the next morning =) I favor this place over others because: upbeat music, a (small) dance floor, no cover, and there aren't lines for the bathrooms! well, the times that i've been there. And yes, they d
(4)Kevin C.
This place gets packed before there's no cover. I remember being on the dance floor one time, it was really cramped and someone farted on the dance floor. It stunk really bad and it sucked not being able to get out. Not one of my fondest experiences here.
(2)Ken C.
Just finished happy hour and more than enough food specials for dinner. Nice selection of beer, wine and cocktails at great happy hour pricing. Wings were ok but nothing remarkable. Calamari was very tender and tasty, perfectly fried; maybe the best I have ever had. Sliders ( beef and BBQ chicken) rounded out the meal. Seating out front on sidewalk is a bit noisy due to street traffic but not a real problem. Service was excellent. We only selected from the happy hour food menu and did not try any of the main menu items. But they had a huge list of items to select from. Great food and drinks at low prices with good service. Highly recommended!
(4)Donovan T.
So I noticed that I been reviewing this place on a yearly basis, and the only trend is that as I get older, I give it a lower rating. This used to be the spot on a weekly basis when I was still an undergrad. Maybe because there was no cover or dress code, and I could predrink in the parking garage with my buddies, go to Loft and meet and dance with girls and call it a night! If you ever seen the dance floor when it is in it's "restaurant" setup or when the club just opened up and it's empty, you will see how ridiculously small it is. So it amazes me how they fit so many people in here. By 11:30, everybody is packed in like sardines and the place is practically a sauna. Drinks being spilled everwhere, people pushing and shoving, it's not a good look. Free cover? Yes! Expensive drinks? Yes x2. They charge Vegas prices almost. Premium top shelf shots and mixed drinks are $13 each. Beers run $6, and wells are $8. I consider fair San Jose pricing to be $8-$10 for a shot/mixed drink, so $13 is ridiculous. They do have a happy hour from 10-11 where Grey Goose and Hennessy is $6 though. However, there are some positives. The music tends to be a good mix of top40s, mashups, and a little EDM her and there. No dress code, if you end up going out spontaneously or don't feel like dressing up. And never a cover charge which is always nice. Not too much of a fan anymore. I'm nowhere as wild as I used to be but I still know how to party and the Loft is on my blacklist. Nowadays it serves as the backup plan or last resort amongst my friends and myself.
(2)james a.
If you have #glass or any new tech don't go to the loft downtown San José. They told me to take it off or leave. I thought this was a country of freedom! His excuse was that guys that come here don't want there wives you know. Why is that my problem? I ask if I can wear them if I turned them off. He said no just carry them. Way to go jerk!!
(1)Phoebe T.
Surprisingly this place is pretty awesome (and no, it's not awesome because I am Asian). I came here on a Saturday night with 2 of my girlfriends and up to the second floor we go. There was a mixed crowd and the dance floor was packed with people! We decided to get a drink here and I had ordered three kamikaze shots but the bartender had told me they had specials going on tonight that saved me some cash and got me even more tipsy (SCORE!) The music here consists of the top 40s, old school and a little bit of house. The view on the second floor was nice because you can actually look out the window and see all the fights going on from across the street (SJ Bar & Grill, Tres Gringos). Overall, I give this place a 4 star and I will definitely be coming back with more girls so we can shake a tail feather or two!
(4)Patrick N.
For San Jose it was the best club we could find out of the 4 Horrible Ghetto Ones. This place is packed, Which is good because hella people are dancing, having a good time and on the prowl when its crowded... The Venue is nice. They have a bar downstairs and upstairs... But they did not know how to make drinks. The sex on the beach my friend ordered was horrible, He put Pepsi into a Sex on the Beach... The music was good and the staff was pretty great as well. They have a parking lot across from this venue for $4.00 an hour. They need to enforce dress codes more though. Other then that. It was a good time meeting people here and to have a good time.
(4)Sara T.
I used to come here on the weekends during my drinking days, but this review is solely off my experience booking a party here. I was planning a surprise birthday party for my mom here with about 34 guests. The management here was pleasant to work with & answered all my questions. They also came through with any requests I had. I reserved the first floor for everyone, so they can have access to the bar. I also had a large table set-up on the side for gifts and cupcakes. I selected their $25/guest menu which came with a choice of a two salads & 5 entrees. I had the pesto salmon, which was yummy! Every guest loved what they ate. They waiters/waitresses had great service and were friendly. They let us stay there to open gifts, talk and drink w/out ever rushing us. If you're looking for a intimate place to hold a group event, this place is great. You can reserve their upstairs outdoor patio as well as upstairs inside if you order a drink package. Otherwise, the first floor could easily fit up to even 40 people. Cheers!
(3)Amy D.
This review is for the nightlife scene only. There's NO cover charge of a Saturday night, which is apparently getting harder to find around the downtown San Jose area. However, there are only 2 stalls in the ladies restroom, but they do have an upstairs and downstairs bathroom, and the stalls were surprisingly clean for a Saturday night and actualy stocked with toliet paper and toliet liners. They played good music, and the dance floor upstairs was packed, and there were people dancing downstairs as well. There is also a bench area to sit at behind the bar upstairs, which at least gives us ladies an option to rest our feet for a bit. My girlfriends and I had a great time here and will be back the next time we head to downtown San Jose. Parking can be difficult around this area since I don't believe you can park on this street, but there are some lots in the surrounding blocks where you can pay for parking.
(4)Saloni J.
I went there on a thursday night because they had live jazz music! music was ok but the drinks suck! its over priced and my friends ordered cosmopolitan and the drink taste anything like it. I just had a beer because after the cosmo disaster I didn't wanted to take a chance. We left early to go to another place. Not going there again!!
(2)Sarah E.
Came here the other night with my boyfriend and his father, and we had a wonderful experience! We happened to come in on a Tuesday night, which meant it was trivia night. Throughout the night we enjoyed taking part in the trivia, the host making it very fun. Although we didn't win, it was very fun to do together. The menu was very expansive, and the food we had was good. I personally love onion strings, and they we delicious! The staff were very nice, and friendly. Overall it was a great experience.
(5)Kenny L.
Loft is one of the "premier" lounges in San Jose, but their service is just decent. their bartenders are just OK but damn their drinks are pricey AND small. i swear they use the smallest cups that don't even seem recyclable. the place is clean, and it's a plus with a clean bathroom top and bottom, but maybe an upgrade on some of the bartenders would be nice.
(2)Christine L.
I came here for the first time last Friday for a friend of a friend's birthday, and we had a blast! :) I loved that there was no cover no matter that time it was too! A couple people mentioned the double ID thing, and a few in our group got double carded, what happens if you don't bring two though?? :( We got in around 1130 and immediately went upstairs to where the crowd was, we split up and half of us went over to the bar to get a few drinks! I was just going to order my own drink bc I didn't have cash to pay back a friend but then I saw that they have a $15 debit/credit card minumum, sad face! I was pretty sure a redbull vodka would not cost that much so we decided to charge everything to my card. Woulda been nice if I could have just gotten myself a drink... anyways the drink was pretty good, the bar was crowded but the bartenders moved very quickly. Onto the dancing! I really liked the music, the songs were all familiar but not so familiar that I'm sick of hearing them 24/7 on all the popular radio stations. It was a bit packed, but that's only bc people want to be there right? Plus there's a really nice outdoor patio that is covered so it's cool enough without being freezing in the wintertime! Also loved that there was an industrial fan on one side of the dancefloor! Security was making sure nobody stopped by it for too long though. For some reason, this place was really wet the night we went! Water was coming at us from both the floor and ceiling! I don't know if people were just clumsy or drinking too much but I stepping on ice cubes on the floor, and for a while, my friend and I thought we were getting splashed by sweat drops from this one guy who was jumping so hard he looked like he was having the time of his life! Turns out it was coming from the ceiling though, while we were standing on the steps between the bar and the dancefloor, and while we were sitting across from the bar, we all kept getting hit by drops of (i hope) water!! It definitely wasn't raining out, so there's no reason why the ceiling should be leaking! Other than the small problems, we had a GREAT time, and I'd definitely want to come back! :)
(4)Chinese Kitchen O.
Some friends and I went here for happy hour and the good part is that it lasts til 7pm. There are two bars - one downstairs and one upstairs. We opted sit upstairs. When we arrived, we didn't get greeted for a good 5-7 minutes. Finally, a bartender came around and offered to get us drinks. My boyfriend asked which cocktail had vodka in it and she rudely suggested Cosmopolitan with a smirk on her face. Good thing she wasn't our server!! Our server turned out to be great and attentive. If you have Tammy she's awesome! We ordered a lot of food and drinks such as calamari, buffalo wings, 1/2 pound angus burger, and popcorn shrimp. The strange thing is that this restaurant serves EVERYTHING with a side of ketchup. I don't know if I like dipping everything in ketchup. Especially not my calamari. Luckily, Tammy brought us out some cocktail sauce. For 6 drinks and 6 appetizers the bill came out to be $100 not including the tip. Not bad and we also had to pay $8 for parking across the street.
(3)Raquel Y.
I dont think I ever want to come here again. I've come here maybe 4 times already. And each time it just got worse. - They let anyone and everyone in = creepers and PACKED that you can't move, it's soo hot and everyone's sweaty and disgusting! - drinks were expensive and weak! what a waste of money! Sorry loft. I've had enough of you. At first it was cool because hey! no cover, no dress code, no long wait. And then now I realize why clubs do that. Haha. It was fun while it lasted.
(1)Cat P.
This place is one of my fave places to go to in downtown San Jose. Food here is WHATEVERS but for the nightlife on Friday nights, this place is cool...especially since there's NO COVER CHARGE! I love the $6 vodka or hennesy shots before 11:30pm...what a freaking brilliant idea! Especially since vodka is my choice of drink, and the shots are cheap enough to get me drunk and not feel bad after 11:30pm when i'm paying full price for my drinks! woot! Also, they've got nice (and cute) bartenders (upstairs only, NOT downstairs...). A few times i was getting hit on at the bar upstairs by some weirdo, and the bartenders would make eye contact with me and ask if i was okay and if i wanted them to do something about the guy. I told them I was fine and could handle it, and they gave me the signal to let them know if i needed anything. Nice to know that they're lookin out! =) Bad thing about this place is that it's so poppin on Fri nights that often times towards the end of the night, water starts dripping from the ceilings! Condensation turned precipitation, or whatever it's called in the water cycle? hahaha. I guess it's not too bad, cuz by this point, you're so drunk and sweaty on the dance floor anyway, you don't even realize the water's drippin on you. hahah. so gross, i know. =P Oh, and also, I dunno if it's cuz i'm getting old, but it's slowly dawning on me that all the kids that are coming here are super young, and i find myself getting hit on by 21 and 22 year olds. sighhhh, so depressing. hahaha.
(4)Albert H.
11:30 on a Thursday night, and you want dinner in San Jose? There's a place for that. Seriously, they were serving their full menu up to about 11:30pm on Thursday, and it's a big menu. It's far from fine dining, but we got seated in the empty patio area upstairs, and our server was remarkably friendly attentive ... not just nice for it being near midnight at a club, but really welcoming. They have a long list of cocktails and shots and such, as befit a club bar. Sweet and fruity cocktails on special that night ( something suspiciously called a white gummy bear, and a hurricane ) were surprisingly well mixed. Tap beer list could use some work, about the most adventurous thing on there was SNPA. Avocado Shrimp Cocktail - chopped shrimp, cocktail sauce, topped with diced avocado. The shrimp was pretty good quality despite not being whole. Steak Bites - we asked for rare, and got something past medium. Slightly tough, but the large portion comes with a side of veggies and an excellent char flavor. Tuna Sashimi - not sashimi, but sesame crusted seared tuna. Fine for a seared tuna dish. Artichoke - four quarters, marinated and roasted. Served with dabs of spicy mayonnaise. A little difficult to eat, but surprisingly good flavor. Served warm, too. Strawberry Shortcake - Fresh strawberries in sauce over a couple slices of what appeared to be grocery store poundcake. Got the job done. It is a dance club, and we were seated in a room right next to the dance floor, so it wasn't the most quiet experience. Our server offered to close the door, which was a nice gesture and which made conversation possible. Like I said - this is nothing fancy, but at midnight, one can't afford to be picky. We certainly liked the offerings better than Fahrenheit down the street - not higher in concept, but much better in execution.
(4)Jennifer W.
My first club/bar in downtown san jose on a friday night! it was FUNNNN!!! =) there's no cover fee or must-get-on-the-guestlist-or-you-don't-get-in crap. apparently, there's a line around 11pm or something and the bouncer let people in slowly. good thing my friend had been coming here for the past 8 weeks and be friend-ed with the bouncer! LOL therefore, Jenna L. and i didn't have to wait in line to get in. YAYY!! we got there around 1230am and our friend was waiting for us for half an hour just chatting it up with the bouncer. o_O it was cool though. people had told me before that Loft for some reason require you to bring a second form of ID (credit card with the same name as your ID) O_O. i forgot to bring my credit card!!! but the bouncer just checked our id and let us in. YAY! there's 2 floors. the bottom is the bar, which is boring! upstairs is where the fun is at. bars + dance floor. OMG! i love LOVE LOVEEE the music there! they play all the 90s and old school hip hop and some new mainstreams! YEEE!! I LIKE THE DJ!!!!! =) GOOD MIXES!! the bar is crowded, dirty and wet floor, which is spilled with alcohol. ughh! drinks are EXPENSIVE! well, i guess it evens out. no cover fee, but expensive drinks! lol! the dance floor is small and crowded! but it was fun fun fun! lots of creepers X_X a lot of people just stand around and you're trying to get thru. GET OUT OF MY WAY! sheesh! oh yeah, and there's a random couch next to the dj. o_O RECOMMEND ON A FRIDAY NIGHT!
(4)Robin L.
With apologies to Flo Rida for what I'm about to do to "Club can't handle me" youtube.com/watch?v=zyUA… You know that I know how To yelp a place for us to lunch out The loft is the bistro to go now southwestern salad, they go all out I'm too old to handle the club right now I'm too old to handle the club right now Leave it to me to pick the "club" for a lovely afternoon lunch away from the office. Well it wasn't a club when we were there but based on a lot of these less than stellar reviews, looks like this place goes off after dark! At any rate, this review is for the restaurant.....in the middle of the day.....which to me was really lovely. Here's why: ***Food was delicious: I had the southwestern salad which had mesquite grilled chicken that was seasoned/flavored perfectly and chunks of cut corn and other fresh vegetables atop leafy greens. ***Service was super friendly: From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by smiling faces, welcoming us to the establishment and telling us where the table was. Our server and those that dropped the food continued in this trend. ***Ambiance was perfect for lunch: We sat upstairs and with the light flowing in against the comfortable back booth where we were sitting, the ambiance was great for lunch. So many bustling lunch places seat you in crowded tables where the decibal level is so loud you feel like you're shouting, but here we had lots of room, and could hear both sides of the table. So I'm a fan of this place for lunch, but just a note for those reading this review. Carina C. had the cobb salad and it was a ton of chopped iceberg lettuce...so much that I thought that she had ordered tacos. Recommend staying away from that one as it didn't hold to the quality of our very leafy table (other fellow lunchers had the blue cheese and pear salad, the seared ahi tuna salad, the chilled poached salmon salad etc-- and those salads did not overdo it on the iceberg)!
(4)Sandra L.
I came here on a Saturday night between 12 AM - closing. It was free admission but boy was it crowded. Once we got in, we made ways to the upstairs dance floor. Of course right as you make it to the top of the stairs, there's no room to budge. My girlfriends and I had to squeeze in and tried to go all the way to the back, next to the window. We danced like sardines along the wall but still had a good time. As we left, we were chatting with one of the security guys. Brandon was very pleasant. Then we were chatting with the DJ and he introduced himself. As the girls and I chatted with him, I kept staring and wondered where I knew him from. Ah yes, I know him cuz he was the dj at my friend's Thanksgiving party! Anyways, dancing at the loft has always been crowded. 10 years later... nothing has changed. Be prepared, FREE = CROWDED and it also equals rude people. I chose to get away from negative energy and had a blast!! I did not experience people grinding on me, grabbing me, etc because I smiled politely when I said "no thank you" to all the college boys and young men who wanted to dance with me. For all you folks that are claustrophobic - DO NOT GO HERE.
(3)Mimi T.
I spent many nights drinking and dancing at Loft years ago, but this past Thursday was my first time dining here. Jan P. and I chose Loft out of a list of restaurants for Dining out for Life. We figured it was for a good cause, why not? Our server was friendly and very helpful when we asked for suggestions. Their bread and balsamic dipping sauce was sooooo good! The jalapenos in the fried calamari appetizer was a nice touch. My crab cakes were delicious, although, at that price, I expected larger crab cakes. It came on a bed of arugula, which I love, but the minute hot crab cakes sit on any type of greens, we all know its a wilted mess. The greens were dressed, but needed more acid. Both Jan P. and I ordered a side of veggies, and Jan P. ate almost all of hers, which is a good thing (she never eats veggies!). Both of our drinks were good, hers a virgin mojito, and mine a lychee martini, both refreshing and strong. For dessert, we shared the house made tiramisu also delicious. Overall good food, good service, and not so bad ambience. I wouldn't make it a regular dining spot, but an ok place for birthday/celebration dinners.
(3)Matt T.
Came to the Loft one night late at the suggestion of a friend. It has a good atmosphere. Good music, Nice rooftop patio, good decor, and a decent sized dancefloor. The drink are quite pricey, you find cheaper drink across the street for way less. But at least they don't have a cover charge. The place gets very crowded on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. So crowded in fact that its nearly impossible to walk around. I still come here regularly despite these drawback. Funny how the crowd here is so diverse. There are the older people 40+ and then there's the college kids. But somehow it works out. Service is meh, depending on which day of the week it is. Some days its good other days it just plain sucks. Kinda depends on luck. But I still come here because my friends like the place and I don't mind it.
(4)Miss H.
Note: This review is for nightlife. I haven't gone out in SJ much, but my one experience here was enough for me to see why they call it "Man Jose". 1) My guy friend asked me to help him find a decent girl. I look around me on the dance floor and I am in a sea of dudes. Not a girl in sight! Ok, maybe like 5. 2) My girl friend was plastered and some dude was grinding up on her from the back, so I joined in on the action from the front and then pulled her away (common female cockblock tactic). The guy proceeded to scream out "HAAAAATERRRR!!" hahahahah that's RIGHT. 3) I went to the bathroom and there was no line but there was a line for the guys... and it was 10 guys long. The venue here is decent, I liked the music, and the bartender made my vodka tonic w/ extra lime just right. But if I have to wait 30 min in line on a cold night for a Man Jose experience again, I'll pass.
(3)Eric R.
Mediocre food at too-proud prices. For $24.00, the New York strip steak really ought to be better than what one expects to get at Denny's. And for $12.00, their mojito doesn't do nearly enough to ease the pain of paying so much for such an unimpressive dinner.
(1)Samira A.
The Loft is a cool spot to get drinks with friends and mingle, great scene for single people! : ) Food is also very good here, last time I was there I ordered the Grilled Flank Steak Salad, it is Marinated flank steak on chopped romaine lettuce tossed in balsamic vinaigrette with artichoke hearts, tomato, olives, red onions and crumbled bleu cheese. OH SO GOOD! During the summer, I enjoy sitting in their outdoor patio upstairs. Take your friends, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, whoever, they will surely enjoy this place!
(4)Drew A.
I guess I could have done this a bit more democratically, cause it sounded like everyone liked what they ordered but me. A big WTF for the yelper who said "get the lamb shank." That shit was disgusting!!! The meat was a lot gamyer than I can do (and I love me some good german game meats), and the sauce that tried to cover it up was something I might have had on an airplane. I am glad the drinks weren't bad,and the service made up for my plate. Again, the wraps, fried chicken breast,the shrimp skewers, grilled artichokes were great. I am sorry I missed the YE event, but this was a pretty good trip. This is a place I will be back for drinks and light apps.
(3)Cheryl P.
If it weren't for the fact that this place turned into a club after hours, I would've given it 1 star. Went here on Friday for a bday party. Our table of 13 had a bill of ~ $500 for overpriced food. Most of us had the sandwiches which were HUGE! I plate is enough to feed 3! I had the crab cake salad - $18, which consisted of two dry tasting crab cakes, chopped lettuce, a few pieces of chunky tomatoes and some olives. I honestly would have preferred a salad from McDonalds. Music was great, bartenders were nice & attentive and drinks weren't bad. (Scooby snacks were yummy.) Dance floor was suuppperr crowded to the point were people were pushing and shoving! Yikes! All in all, a decent night.
(3)Mr. T.
FREE COVER IS AWESOME. I just need quick liquored up and I'm good to go on the dance floor. Need more selection in the bar. I used to bartend, and I can say, they need more variety. Also, easy on the ID checking at the door. If they're going to ask so much questions and such, they should at least do so with a smile. I don't mind pricks as long as they smile. Softens the mood a bit.
(4)Loren John B.
2 FORMS OF I.D.?! W.T.F. Jeffrey L. recently informed me that due to a shooting that occurred outside the club, the Loft requires 2, yes 2, forms of I.D. Let's see, I'm not bringing my passport or my social security card. My college I.D. is expired. The closest thing I guess is a Costco card. All hell will break loose if I lose that. Anyway, its nice that the place has free cover. I came under-dressed one time, but they let me in anyway, so that was cool. Hey, I wasn't planning on coming here. The drinks here are expensive, and on top of that they're too strong that they don't taste the way they're supposed to. Yeah, since its stronger and the alcohol is not made of the proper proportions it'll get you buzzed/drunk faster, but I want to be able to enjoy what I paid for. It's usually crackin' here, but the music is alright. The DJ will play music that no one has really heard of, and I noticed how some people were turned off by it. There were no VIP sections by the main floor from what I remember, but ample places to sit. Oh, and this is where Anne A. got hit on by a drunk Vietnamese guy who kept pretending he was Filipino. He was clearly Vietnamese though, and his friends had to help him leave since he was extra hammered. I usually think of that incident when this place come to mind. I haven't been to downtown SJ since August of last year, but after going to downtown Sf lately, I see why I haven't been in awhile.
(3)Lynn V.
I just have to rant on again about how much I HATE HATE HATE this place. Why? Bouncers are assholes...especially that one douche bag who checks IDs at the front (guy with dirty blond spiky hair) I swear he gets some sort of pathetic pleasure out of giving ppl a hard time about their IDs when it's obviously their ID. 2 forms of ID AND signing a damn paper to prove the signature is legit? It's unheard of at any other club/bar...so Loft must think that they're hot shit or something. Wack!!! AND to top that off, he'll ask insulting questions about your name and anything he can pick at on the ID. All the while, holding a smartass grin on his face. He obviously has nothing else better to do and the doorman job is the only thing that makes him feel good about himself at the end of the day. I'll only come to this place if there is absolutely nothing else going in DTSJ. And even at that point, I'd rather just go home. I refuse to support this establishment. Note that I'm not the only person on here who has complained about their security staff. Management seriously needs to make a change to this.
(1)Amy R.
Settings: Two-story with second story balcony (covered, but open in the winter). Low-lit but atmospheric bar on the first floor, I honestly didn't see much of this, gorgeous second floor. Full height arched windows with a view onto 2nd Street. Full bar on both floors, clean bathrooms, elevator available for patrons and wait staff (so you don't have to feel too bad about ordering a meal on the second floor). Dark woods, well constructed, not a lot of noise despite many diners. Looks small when you first get in, but plenty of space on the second floor and balcony. Rating: A Service: This was a little jumbled, but overall positive. The Maitre d was prompt and polite, letting us know a little bit about the restaurant. Bar tender on the second floor was fantastic, well made drinks and great suggestions for making a favorite drink a little something special. Our table waitresses were a little slower than we'd like and a little brisk, but our food came quickly, but the second round of drinks were quite slow. Water refills were prompt and plates were cleared when necessary. Rating: B Food: I absolutely Adored the Panko-Crusted Chicken Breast, I would eat that any day of the week. My drinks were delicious and appropriately strong. The lamb and pork that members of my party ordered were also delicious. And while the low-carb menu is Highly appreciated, those who ordered from it were rather disappointed, probably due to very out of season mango salsa. My only complaint is that when a menu says "served with seasonal vegetables" I shouldn't be served cauliflower, snap peas and carrots in the winter. Something in the mushroom, broccoli or brussel sprouts would have been appreciated. Rating: B Value: Very satisfied wit the cost:enjoyment ratio on this menu, there are lots of options if you want to stay closer to the $12/plate amount, or you can amp it up if you're looking for a little more protein. I wasn't feeling ripped off with the amount of booze in our $9 cocktails. Overall: B - I would go back again, happily, but there is room for improvement in service and seasonality.
(4)Amber U.
Ok, ok, I know this place is a restaurant, but I've never really come here for food (a little pricey for my taste), I've only gone here while bar-hopping. This place is great! Creeper-free, good music, nice atmosphere, and oh did I mention there's no gross guys trying to grab my ass while I'm there? Makes it worth waiting in line and having to show 2 IDs to get in. (Yeah, if you're under 25, must show 2 forms of ID.... good thing my credit card has my pic on it, or else I wouldn't have gotten in). I LOVE the upstairs loft. Casual, fun, and a great way to get some fresh air after dancing. From what I have heard, the food is good, so I hope to come back here during dining hours.
(4)Annie N.
They don't charge cover but they make up for it with their $12 drinks. That's right, $12 x 5 + tips = 1 guy's heroic attempt to get the girls. The music here is pretty good, but the dance floor is tiny. If they could just use some of their outside patio area for the dance floor it would save a lot of fights and janitorial services to clean up spilled drinks. Yes, don't even attempt to bring your expensive drink into the dance floor because you'll only spill it when someone try to push and shove their way around. Still, this is the default go to place when it's passed 11pm and everywhere else charges cover. (Btw, you don't need 2 forms of ID if you're over 25 years of age.)
(3)Desmond H.
No cover. Need 2 forms of ID. I just turned 21 a couple months ago and the bouncer always says "Happy Belated Birthday," whenever I go... which I think is kinda funny. Nice guy. The music is usually good. It gets too crowded later in the night. The dance floor is packed upstairs and there are people that stand on the side staring at other people. The patio is a nice touch. It's not as crowded and a breathe of fresh air is always nice. The waitresses are also really nice. However, the drinks are kinda expensive. Also, the employees are kinda anal about where you stand upstairs. (Which is kind of a good thing. I guess)
(4)Myles G.
If I wanna go clubbing in downtown SJ, this is probably going to be one of my first choices. No cover, decently priced drinks, and good music.. what more can you ask for? I've been here a couple times and so far each experience has been pretty good. Sometimes they ask for a second form of ID (like a credit card) so just a heads up. Don't be fooled if it doesn't look poppin' at first. From the outside, you can only see the small downstairs area with a bar and a stairway. It's not until you go up those stairs that you see where the party's at. The last time I was here, a couple of friends and I bought AMFs from the bar downstairs and THEY DO NOT PLAY. They were probably the strongest AMFs any of us have ever had and that got me going pretty well throughout the night. The girls who go here aren't too stuck up either.. you can always find someone to dance with if you wanted to. I always remember smelling food near the upstairs bar but never quite got around to ordering anything on the menu yet. There isn't really anything thats out of the ordinary at loft but if you just want to have a good time on a friday night then you might enjoy the place.
(4)Daniel T.
This was only the 3rd 21+ club I've been too, and it's a pretty nice-looking place. I didn't try any of the food or anything. The men's bathroom is decently clean, and not a swamp like some places *cough*VoodooLounge*cough*. You will NEED two forms of ID, I brought my ID card cause I don't wanna lose my DL and a credit card, which got me in. No cover, another plus. Overall I had a good time, but I did go with a bunch of friends. There's a pretty diverse crowd and decent guy/girl ratio. I went there on a Thursday... not sure if that matters. If you're upstairs the bouncers will constantly tell you to either stay on the dancefloor or stay off the stairs/walkway area. The bouncers were even shooing us off the sidewalk in front of Loft when the club closed! SMH. Oh and one of the bouncers smelled like weed, hardcore! The credit card minimum is $20 and drinks and shots are like $12 each!! So there isn't a cover, but you're still paying for it either way. The dancefloor gets pretty stuffy and cramped once a bunch of people get in there... I think I was unintentionally dancing with five different people at the same time.
(3)Sam K.
Believe it or not, I'm think this isn't a bad place. I think it's brick wall that holds the stairs, or the good size bar upstairs ... I know it's not the dance floor because it is ... who cares! It's Free, any place where you don't have to pay to fuckin' get is is a bonus for me! For all the guys that can't dance and actually thinks their game is so tight when they are drunk, there is another room for you. Now you can harass the ladies not only on the dance floor but in the other room while they are sitting with their friends. Bonusx4 Another bonus is ... for the handful of times I've been there ... no ghetto ass ppl there that would start shit for no apparent reason. Come on, you go out to dance, have fun, talk to some hawties and cut a rug. You really gotta be a loser to go out w/ your boys to start shit, is your game that bad that you gotta take it out on other ppl. sorry, venting The bad ... Now I know why they call it Man Jose, damn! Oh, srry, I'm hatin' again, while I'm at it, who lied to the big girls and said that tight clothes are in for them? come on, really! I don't wanna see ya raise your hands and your shirt lifts up with them abd cookie dough overlaps your jeans. I apologiize BBW ( just learned that) but someone has to say it!
(3)Jessica C.
This review is based on club. Came here after koji sake lounge on a saturday and the lines weren't long at 11:30 pm. The bouncers are nice. No fee to get in! The lower level has a bar and it's more for people who want to just talk and hang out. I liked the lower level because I'm not into dancing, but you can still hear the music from upstairs. The upper level is where all the dancing is it and another bar. The dance floor is small and crowded. I wonder how many peoples toes get hulk smashed. The night I came, the music was good. I did not hear any house music...thank you cause if they played house music, I would of chugged my drink and stumble out the door. I like the ambience of this place so I would be coming back, but only staying at the lower level.
(4)Peggy S.
Dining at Loft was like traveling on a plane to an exotic place, minus the plane and the exotic place. What I mean is - overpriced airplane food! For San Jose's Restaurant Week, we decided to go to Loft for our first stop. The reservation was not needed because including us, the whole place probably had five tables. The hostess promptly sat us on the second floor, and our orders were quickly taken. Let me say, their complimentary bread and dip was tasty - the dip was garlicky and balsamicky. But the night went downhill after that. Dylan H. and I both ordered Baby Spinach Salad. It was a huuuuge plate of leafy greens, topped with sweet red onions, feta cheese and some olives. I didn't quite expect that... in my silly little mind, I thought spinach salads usually come with candied walnut, cranberries, etc. But mattered not, I devoured my salad because it was fresh and delicious, even though feta cheese was slightly overpowering. Oh and I hate olives. I got Grilled Salmon with Pesto for my entree. It was... nothing special. Even though the fish was moist, it was slightly more fishy than I liked... but grilled salmon is normally a fishier smelling fish anyway. But the pesto was quite salty! I did enjoy my side veggie and my little mount of rice. The rice was flavorful, and lightly coated with grease. It balanced out the saltiness of the fish. The dessert was alright. We got chocolate mousse and white chocolate creme brulee. Being a girl, I basically licked both items clean, but they are not outstanding or anything. The creme brulee was actually cold... is that normal? I thought it's supposed to be luke warm. But it did come with fresh strawberries on top! Was it worth the $30 prix fixe? No. But our waitresses were attentive - she heard me dropping my knife (I am clumsy... I know) and quickly walked over and gave me a new one. How sweet :) Hopefully we'll have better luck at restaurant picking for the rest of the Restaurant Week!!
(2)Tina S.
Came here on Saturday and the DJ sucked! The transitions were bad, the mixes were bad, and the randomness of the songs was all bad. Yes, the crowd ranged from young to old, but that doesn't mean you gotta cater to everyone. Oh, and their mango mojitos tastes like soda. I asked the waitress to fix my drink, but apparently if you want to taste any alcohol you gotta pay extra for another shot! Whack! BTW, all you wall flower guys who just stand on the dance floor.... get OFF. The dance floor aint big enough and it's just creeepy!
(1)Denise L.
with the bust of SJ Eats, we wandered as far as possible to grab lunch and cocktails. ive only been here at nighttime, and for a birthday party outdoors upstairs with appetizers many years ago. we were seated outside, but it is covered up on the size and top, so doesnt really feel like you're outside. our waitress was also the bartender, and she said on afternoons its usually just her. she did have a bus boy that helped out, and service wasn't slow even though there were a handful of patrons dining. we started with the popcorn chicken (very good, not overly breaded), and the bread with the balsamic vinegar (with herbs/garlic) was AMAZING! best ive had! i ordered the chicken sandwich but with turkey. it had cheese, sun dried tomatoes, lettuce and grilled onions. it was very good! the bread (french roll) was really soft and yummy as well. got fries as a side, and they were good as well. to be honest, nothing caught my eye at first on the menu, but you can never go wrong with a sandwich. my friend got the smoked salmon pesto rotini (pasta) and it was really good as well! food is a bit on the pricey side though. paid $30 for a sandwich/fries and a mojito. guess that's pretty standard though.
(3)Michelle W.
Came here several times on different days of the week. Never once did I have an enjoyable experience. Yes, I agree with all those that call "San Jose", "Man Jose", because Loft is the definition of that. I'm not snobby or picky when it comes to crowds, but the ratio is literally 20 males: 1 female. It gets to the point where the girls are unhappy because they're chased after like a juicy steak offered to a pack of starving, ravenous carnivores and the guys are also unhappy because there's just too many of them around!! The dance floor is always packed (full of guys), to the point where you can't get around or take a step without getting hit on, pinched in the butt, cussed at, humped, spilled on, or a combination of such. Drinks are expensive: $13 for redbull vodka-- really? That's how much I pay at V-bar in Santana Row!
(2)Joon Y.
DJ HAU = Always awesome. Seriously, $15 for a Redbull vodka? It should come with a blowjob per my friend Betty N's. review. And this place is gets way to packed in the dance floor to even be enjoyable anymore. I miss the old Loft. =/
(2)Ada C.
I've only come here on Friday and Saturday nights, so this review is entirely for the nightlife. After trying many of the venues in downtown San Jose (Motif, Studio 8, Sabor, etc), I have concluded that Loft is one of the best places to end up. Yes, this place may be tiny, but what it lacks in size and glitz it makes up for with free entry, pleasant staff, and incredible DJ's. Every weekend for the past month my friends and I have some how always end up at Loft for one night, and this place has never failed to give us a good time of dancing the night away.
(4)Jeffrey C.
I like how there's no cover charge which makes this a decent bar when there's a decision to be made on where to go. They even have a bar downstairs and upstairs which is a plus. The crowd I found to be decent and not too overly obnoxious compared to some of the other bars I've been to in the area. With all that said, I found it to be weird how they ask you for 2 forms of ID although it didn't bother me all that much.
(3)Teresa N.
I like Loft a lot because NO COVER! :D None of that guestlist BS, where even if youre on the guestlist, its after 11 so... you still have to pay! I work closing shifts a lot and I usually don't get out until 1030 so we usually get downtown by 11... most places charge $15-20 to get in... loft doesnt! So I can always count on loft. The only downside is that their drinks are a little on the pricier side, I would recommend pre-gaming and coming to loft, or head over to Flames cos they have happy hour until midnight (EVERYDAYY!!) The dance floor is small, but I think its pretty decent when theres a good balance where its kinda packed, and its fun, but you're not packed in like sardines. Sometimes though... it is SUPER crackin' and the only space you have is to jump up and down basically. The crowd is a hit or miss somsetimes... and its a club so there will always be creepers, what do you expect? If you're under 25, they ask for 2 forms of ID, so bring a student ID or a debit card or something. Don't have one? You can still get in but you have to sign like this waiver thing. I like loft, I feel like its a dependable place to go to when its too late and you dont wanna pay cover.
(4)Tylor M.
Neat spot downtown with a nice rooftop patio. The atmosphere was great. The food was pretty good. The prices were not great. I suppose you do have to charge a premium to make money in this location. We had the calamari appetizer. It came with jalapenos and parmesan, which I thought was unique and delicious. I couldn't keep my hands off it. I had the flank steak and potatoes, a blue moon, and a port for desert. Everything was delicious. I would definitely eat here again if I am in the area and not penny-pinching. We had an early dinner, around 5:30. The place was almost empty when we arrived, but filled up quickly. Monday Night Football was on when we left, but I was surprised the bar wasn't packed. I'd be interested to see the atmosphere later in the evening.
(3)Jenny T.
Is there a way to give half a star? I'm not a fan of Loft at all. It's a default lounge/club for whenever I'm in the San Jose area, but it's just plain nasty and not fun. The workers here are RUUUUUDDE!! Anytime you're moving from one spot to another, they tell you to clear the isle, basically pushing you around. Sometimes, after getting a drink, I don't want to dance just yet, I want to hang out and talk to friends and the workers just keep shoving us around. Can the workers here please just relax? And let people get from one place to another without being such dicks? Also, the crowd here tends to be ghetto. I've never had a fun night here once but we somehow end up here every so often just because "it's right there." I used the bathroom once and forgot my wristlet, then got a $300 charge the next day. Granted, it was entirely my fault for forgetting but it makes me not want to come back to Loft even more.
(1)Kimberly C.
Free, free!! no entrance fee! Used to be all asians for awhile, but went again last night and saw some white boys, hispanic boys..all KINDA BOYS (and ladies too)! Because it's free to get in, I guess it's why they can charge you a few dollars more than other places for drinks. But there's a happy hour, not sure when it starts, but ends at 11:30pm. Some cocktails are $6 like tequila sunrise, etc. and greygoose and henny shots are $8 I believe. Music is usually decent, usually playing mainstream hiphop/rap and sometimes mixing in house/dance music. Gets way too crowded and watch out for 'rain drops' falling on your shoulder or head..coming from the ceiling and pipes up above.. The main area upstairs is the dance floor, but the bar has a few places to sit and there is a separate room to chill. Downstairs you can just grab drinks and chat a bit. Definitely still a go-to spot when I'm in the area. As I say, dance like no one's watching. Just watch out for the guys that somehow show up right behind you when you're on the dance floor ladies. Where are your manners men?? I guess most men with manners don't frequent Loft.
(4)Julie R.
We celebrated my 40th birthday party here and everything was perfect. We are regular customers of Capers, the Loft's sister restaurant in Campbell, and the owner Kam bent over backwards to take great care of us! The space was awesome--we had the entire second floor to ourselves. We had a band and about 75 people--it was perfect. The food was delicious and the service was attentive and friendly. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone looking for a great event space!
(5)David T.
This in my opinion by far the best club/bar in downtown SJ. The security is ridiculously strict and anal, but I guess that's how you filter out stupid kids trying to fake their way in. No cover charge, which is great, BUT the drinks are kind of pricey, so be prepared. The music is my FAVORITE part about this club because the DJs have such a large variety of music from today's hit pop/hip hop songs to the old school music and their mixes are clean and sweet. I also really enjoy the crowd that comes through here. Very classy or maybe it was just the night I was there, but damn, everyone was really chill which I appreciate. Very good first impression.
(5)Thao N.
This place is always packed and it's probably because there's no cover. If you like to dance, this place may not be the best spot because it gets super crowded on the tiny dance floor. It gets so hot and everyone just pushes you back and forth. Just in case it gets too hot upstairs, you can go downstairs and hangout by the door to catch some fresh air. They have happy hour on certain shots and you should take advantage of it because once it's over, the prices skyrocket. Also, if you're a germ-a-phobe , you'll be happy to know that they serve their shots and drinks in plastic cups. I'm not sure if pouring shots in a plastic cup is better than a shot glass because some bartenders pour more than others. Tip: If you want to get your money's worth, I suggest watching the bartenders to see how they pour.
(3)Jay C.
I'm surprised by the disparity of ratings for the Loft. I've been going there since they opened with parties of 2 to 10 to 125, and they've been great virtually every time. I keep going back because I really believe that the ownership and management will always make it right for me. The bars (downstairs and upstairs) are beautiful and well-stocked. Nice pours. Good happy hour selections of drinks and appetizers. A number of entrees are in the $20-$30 range (hence, 4 stars and not 5 stars), but the quality and portions are consistently satisfying. My favorites are the calamari appetizer (light breading, quick fried), chicken salad (tasty dressing, meaty chicken, huge portion) and the crab-stuffed salmon special. Sorry, I don't know about the post-10pm nightclub action :) The Loft is a great Downtown SJ option for after-work and weekend drinks and meals. p.s. They validate for the parking lot under the very-nearby Safeway.
(4)Christine P.
This place was great! My husband and I had dinner here right before watching a comedy show at the San Jose Improv. The staff all around was TOP NOTCH! It was Valentine's weekend and they were busy but were able to sit us within 5 minutes. I ordered the shrimp scampi and my husband ordered the shrimp ceaser salad. Everything was GREAT! I LOVED my shrimp scampi and wanted more after I cleaned off my plate. I'm giving it 5 stars due to their great service and delicious food. They made our start to a great night even better. Just like M.A. B. who mentioned, the waitress here kept our water glasses filled all night long and continued to check on us throughout the night. Nordstrom type customer service by everyone from the host to the server. Thanks guys! Loved it here.
(5)Stephanie B.
You know, I really don't review bars/clubs/lounges often, but i feel compelled to do it for this place. The place is nice, came here for a birthday. I love how they had the "reserved" signs. The place got pretty packed quick. I had to get away from the little party that was up in the patio because the music sucked up there. I thought it was strange that the inside and the upstairs patio had different music playing. Anywho, I ended up going downstairs to just hang out at the bar. The bartenders were really friendly, actually making conversation with me. Maybe because I was alone and didn't have people surrounding me. I ended up getting a shot on the house and drinking with the bartenders. It was actually quite fun. Plus, the bar wasn't all crowded and they seemed to take care of everyone that walked up. I'd come here again, i just hate the stairs and bathroom!
(4)Linda N.
Night life review: ALWAYS bring 2 forms of ID if you plan on going here after eating hours, you probably won't get in otherwise. No cover, which is great. The crowd is not bad. However, the crowdedness... different story. I don't know how people can dance, I can hardly move around, walking through the dance floor is quite a feat. Also, their drinks are way expensive to make up for lack of cover.
(2)Jen H.
Been here a few times for friends' birthdays, and i am always disappointed how crowded this place gets! It is like a mosh pit, and I am ready to head out. You LITERALLY have no room to dance--unless you like being bumped and shoved. I been here Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is all the same..CROWDED!!!! The only perk of this place is entrance is free no matter what time you go, and DJ plays good music. However, I heard they get you on the drinks. I am not sure how much they cost, but I think my friends said it was around $1-3 more per drink than other places in DTSJ, where they charge for admission after 10:30pm. You will rarely find me at clubbing events--i only come out for special occasions=)
(3)Grace T.
I celebrated my 21st birthday here two years ago and had a mediocre experience. First, my friends and I had dinner at the Loft Bar and Bistro. And then, stayed the remainder of the night to experience the bar. The food was excellent! I ordered some type of salmon dish and my boyfriend ordered a steak. Both were ridiculously great tasting, however, I did like the steak a lot more. The specialty drinks were mediocre. I forgot what drinks I had (because my friends bought me all different kinds), but I have to say that I was not pleased with them. As for the venue, it is a two story building with a bar on each floor. There is a dancing area upstairs with a DJ. The only negative thing is that the place gets really crowded.
(3)Michelle C.
I'm not sure what inspired me to eat here. Maybe it looked semi classy, maybe I was just blinded by my craving for lamb. Whatever it was, we left totally unimpressed. I think during our meal we had five different people at our table. We were seated by someone who took our drink order, then two different people took our food order, another person brought us our food, and then someone we had never seen before brought the check (about 15 minutes after we had finished eating). It was one of those nights that you're in the middle of a conversation and you feel like the waitstaff is up your ass every 3 seconds, except of course when you're ready to leave. As for the food, it was pretty mediocre. My lamb shank was cooked perfectly, but the sauce it was drowned in totally took away from the flavor of the meat. I'm not a huge sauce person, and if I order lamb (which is rare for me), I want to taste it. He ordered the lasagna which was packed with weirdly spicy tarragon sausage. Clearly they were trying to do a spin on a traditional dish, but it was an utter failure. Maybe I'll check out the upstairs some night for dancing, but I won't be eating here again.
(3)Marvin N.
I love the loft. Its our to go spot for dancing. My only gripe is that some women who shouldnt be wearin heels end up stomping on my toes.
(4)Dara H.
I came here last night with my boyfriend for our anniversary dinner -- we wanted to have a casual dine-in experience. Anyway, it was exactly as I expected. I was not disappointed at all. I knew it was in Downtown San Jose, so I didn't really expect it to be anything very fancy. I like the location, it's not that out there. It's also not that crowded, perhaps because it was a Thursday. ALSO, there was a jazz band playing which I liked. The place has two floors with a patio on their rooftop (didn't get to see the patio), but I like the idea of sitting there on a sunny day having lunch with friends. The waitress came and took our order. She's pretty helpful too. The service was quick which surprised me a little bit (in a good way, of course). I ordered the Baked Lamb Penne -- for most people, it would be gross, but since I'm Filipino I like any kind of meat on my pasta. I loved the combination. I didn't really stare at my food and figure out all the ingredients because obviously I was busy eating away. I really liked it -- it's different from any pasta I've tried. My boyfriend had the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak and HE LOVED IT! His plate was wiped out clean! We also ordered the Marinated Fire Roasted Artichoke -- IT WAS DIVINE! We enjoyed eating it, although it was really hard to chew because after all, it is an Artichoke. Overall, we enjoyed our anniversary dinner! We will come back here and try it on a lunch time. I really want to try dining in the rooftop patio on a sunny day! :-)
(4)Stacey L.
They got a little stricter with checking ID's now; you have to provide a second form of ID (credit or debit card) along with your DL. If you don't have a second form of ID, they'll ask you to sign your signature and compare it to your DL. The dance floor is ridiculously crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, which may or may not be a good thing. I suppose better than an empty one. A lot of guys here come off as creepers though so in this case, not a good thing. Drinks are super expensive and filled with tons of ice. M y friend got a Tokyo Tea and it was $13 but came in a dinky plastic cup. Lame. The overall place looks nice I guess. Not really a favorite selection.
(2)Shannon L.
Man Jose at its finest. Initially the evening started off quite well; they played late '90s hip hop and there was an equal ratio of guy to girl. But after an hour or so, the music turned to trance and it was a total sausage factory. And now I finally understand the reason for having cover charges and even for bouncers supposedly being discriminatory against groups with too many guys. We found that there were many all guy groups just standing around the dance floor staring at everyone. Eeek! Surprising to me was also HAPPY HOUR on a Saturday night. Shots of grey goose and select drinks were $6. I had a Hurricane which was pretty gross - it tasted bitter initially then really watery. The security guys don't let you stand in any parts of the hallway so you'll have to be stuck on the crowded dance floor or on the patio where it's much cooler (but there is a maximum capacity for people that they regulate). I didn't know downtown SJ was so happening; I love people watching especially if the aftermath of people drinking too much. Overall, Loft is great because there is no cover charge and it's pretty clean compared to the dirty streets outside.
(3)Carol G.
I have been here a couple of times for Happy Hour and each time I leave feeling about the same. The spot is okay, the drinks are fine, the food is average. There isn't anything about this location that is unique for Happy Hour, but it's not terrible either. The drink and food specials are about on point with the rest of downtown, although about a dollar more expensive then most of the places I frequent down here. $6 for an order of 7 hot wings, $6 for a small but tasty lychee martini, and the service is decent. The best service I have gotten was sitting at the bar upstairs, and will probably be where you will find me if I get motivated to head on over here again. All of the bar food we tried that was on special was average bar food. Nothing stood out as a must-try. However, we didn't stay for dinner so I can't attest to the rest of the menu. A solid spot, but one I wouldn't go out of my way to frequent.
(3)Stephen D.
*This review is for the bar/nightclub and not for the bistro. This is overall a great place to experience SJ nightlife without spending too much or travelling away from downtown San Jose. --POSITIVE-- + Free admission + Close to other clubs in case you need to hop around + 2 bars, one upstairs, one downstairs + 2 DJ's, one inside and one outside on the patio + The DJ's are good + Sometimes 3rd parties will give out free shot samples or t-shirts + Somewhat air conditioned + They still sell food during nightlife hours + Dress code is very casual (guys can wear nice t-shirts) + Patio servers are friendly --NEGATIVE-- - Mixed drinks are $12-15 dollars, Shots are $11-13 - Bathrooms are usually really crowded, even for guys - Dancefloor gets packed as it's not too large --FOR GIRLS ONLY-- G Guy/girl ratio leans towards more guys (BOO, MAN JOSE, CA!) G Bartenders are mostly male and attend to girls more (will sometimes give out free drinks to girls) --NEUTRAL/FACTS/TIPS-- = You need 2 forms of ID to get in (don't forget this) = Crowd is mixed demographic, mid to late 20's = Bouncers very quick to identify drunk people and boot them = For really fast drink service, go to the bar downstairs. Nobody is there since the DJ's are both upstairs. You'll save yourself a good 10 to 15 minutes of waiting. = Upstairs bathrooms usually have shorter wait times, downstairs only fits 1 person (unisex) at a time Although drinks are a bit pricey, the admission is free and it's an overall good time. If any of your friends suggests Sabor, Abyss, or Temple, opt for the Loft instead!
(4)Randy S.
This review is for the nightlife here at the Loft and oh Man Jose how it's been so long. Visiting the loft with some friends late at night brings back memories. On the positive side: There's no cover, easy to get into, good up to date music (house and hip hop tends to be played here) On the negative side: There's definitely a gender imbalance here.... lines outside the men's rest room and none outside the lady's. But from my experience that is just kind of San Jose in general haha. Oh and It's also so crowded you can't help but struggle to move and dance, doesn't help that the floor is tiny either. Overall, if you are just planning for a night to dance and drink with your friends the loft is an alright place to do it (although drinks are on the pricey side). If you're a dude looking to pick up girls...... good luck!
(2)Kunal K.
I came into grab a couple drinks with some friends on a Thursday night and it was pretty dead. Seemed to be a nicer crowd than most places in Dtown. My only complaint was even with like 20 people there it took me almost 10 minutes to get a drink which was kind of annoying. Overall I would come back here if my friends wanted to grab a drink but my overall impression of Dtown San Jose is low as is.
(3)Lianne L.
Although I'm not old enough to come here when this place turns into a sort of night club, this place is pretty good. I used to work here so I might be biased, although I was only a host. The three things you need to try when coming here are: 1. The Calamari ( SOOO GOOD) 2. The Ahi Tuna ( perfectly cooked) 3. And if you don't like raw fish, try the Shrimp Scampi (my favorite) I took my mom here for her birthday and she said the Ahi Tuna was the best Ahi Tuna she has ever had. This place is pricey though but sure damn good!
(4)John B.
I swear I keep searching for the negative star option, but its nowhere to be found. As I said, all my downtown San Jose reviews are gonna be bad... so let's talk about the 15 minutes I was in the place. I walk to the door, husky security guard guy checks my ID and asks me how old I am. For real? You can obviously tell from the ID, it's not my fault you can't do math. My bladder is on the verge of eruption as I make my way to the back to go use the facilities. Keep in mind, this was during my brief stint of abstinence. I was sober and had a bladder full of water. There's a long line to use the unisex bathroom. I was informed that the wait upstairs was ridiculous so I patiently and anxiously awaited my turn. When I was next in queue this drunken mess came up to me and simply said "I need to go". This caused an uproar in the line. This chick tried to make a sob story that she was in an accident (wtf right) and needed to go. Everybody was shouting obscenities at her and I said I'm sorry you're going to just have to wait. Things got nasty. She had the audacity to check me into the wall and said no. I then looked at her boyfriend who looked like jabba the hut and I was like hey man, you got to watch your lady. To which he shrugged. Useless. I was so ready to throw it down on the both of them but calmed myself down and asked the janitor en espanol if he could get me "the damn seguridad". I'll give the security guy +2 stars for resolving the issue. Everybody in line shouted what was going on to him to which I calmly told him that I'd bring this issue to upper management if he wasn't going to get this resolved. Nice enough guy. He kicked the both of them out and I enjoyed my well deserved tinkle. Yeah, I might be an ass but hell, they got what they deserved and the line cheered and applauded as they were escorted out. The only thing that made my night was seeting John Witherspoon outside. Tip: Go somewhere else.
(1)Kit K.
The Loft is a good place to eat as a restaurant, but as for a night club, it has it's ups and downs. Great place to grab a cocktail or some food after a long day of work. Usually they turn Loft to a lounge/night club after 10pm. Let me tell you. This place gets packed!!! Hard to move around or even find an area to dance. o BTW, you might feel like a minority if you are not Asian! Lol This place literally has 80-90% Asians. The music is usually good, lots of good dance music. I figured out their trick for no cover. The reason why they don't charge cover is because they pump their drink prices up by at least $1 or more to make up the cover charge so don't think they are getting the ultimate deal HAHA Again, it is DT SJ, you can't expect too much out of it. Good enough to go back when you are trying to party a little on the weekends.
(3)Himani A.
I have been there a handful of times and it never been disappointed. Music is good, good crowd, good locations, etc. I went there last Friday, after stopping at Motif and crying because no one was there. The DJ at Motif recommended that we leave Motif and go to the Loft. Oh did I mention...NO COVER. yahooo!! I took off one star because the bouncers are ummmm whats that word...the one which suggests that they have inappropriate relations with their mothers. yeah that one. But otherwise I say its probably one of the good spots left in dying San Jose downtown scene.
(4)Ashley S.
Walked in on a Sunday evening after seeing a movie and my first thought was "Why did this restaurant smell like a restroom."... the s.o. and I walked in and I swear I almost walked out because of the smell. AJ didn't say anything so I thought for a second it was just me. We sat down at the empty except for one person bar and ordered wine from the bartender. Only then did I turn to AJ and ask him if he smelled the reeking mens bathroom smell also? And he did. We worked to get over it because we were already committed and ordered some steak bites. All in all if was an OK experience. Pros: steak bites, bread dipping sauce, nice bar Cons: poor selection of wines by the glass, AWFUL SMELL, employees acting unprofessional just because it was pretty empty My thing is, if I am paying full price, I would like the same treatment as if the bar was full of people. Everyone who worked there was messing around and it kind of made me feel like I should have been getting my food for free or 1/2 off because they obviously weren't acting like I was a customer. Oh well....
(2)Jon H.
The only reason why this place gets 2 stars is the no cover charge. Other than that let me break down the gripes. 1) No hats or sunglasses. What? How can a place have no dress code but ask you to remove accessories? Tell me what the terrorist threat these articles of clothing have on club goers? Seriously this must be something that bouncers get to do because they're bored of their job. False authority for something absurd. 2) Every 5 minutes, a bouncer is going through the crowd with his 300 lb frame and a LED flashlight in people's faces. Um why? Do you not see that broom closet sized dance floor. Why would we make room for you? 3) AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN SAFETY, I know the fire code. So BOUNCERS exercising that the ramp towards the outdoor smoking area must be kept clear? Um no. This is retarded. Fire cooridors are to be only kept clear if they lead to a direct egress that exits the building downward not upward... towards the roof.... Another false authority for something. 4) If I was a Fire Marshall, I'd write you guys a notice of violation for not respecting the maximum capacity of your establishment. The reason why upstairs is so jam packed is because you're trying to fill so people can buy drinks. Your bouncers need to do a much better job counting the number of people entering and maintaining a free flow of traffic. Be stern and build up a line outside so that it never reaches maximum capacity.
(2)Christina Y.
Nightlife: The Loft is a good place to stop by after a Friday night at the Improv. The music is great! ..but come on a super packed day, like the day after Thanksgiving, and the line is ridiculous. The doormen = asses. We were in line in the freaking cold for almost an hour! ..we could've left, but we were meeting up with friends who somehow got inside by passing up the line inconspicuously :P We hardly moved for a good 20 minutes and we were reciting those lines from "Knocked Up." You know, when Debbie (Leslie Mann) goes: "You're just a doorman, okay!? You're a doorman, doorman, doorman, doorman.......... doorman! So... Fuck You!" Ughhhh.. Finally around 12ish, we got in.. by then, it was too late to go anywhere else. Yet, after a few drinks, it didn't matter. In any case, busy day or not, the Loft gets super crowded! After a few minutes, you'll be defending your dance spot! ..or either that, you'll be drowning in the sea of people, just trying to leave. Be either drunk or have a high tolerance for crowds (which I don't have) and you'll have an okay time!
(2)Gio G.
I have a general rule when it comes to Club/Lounge/Restaurants. I avoid places that have "Loft" and "Bistro" in the title. This place has BOTH! I only went because it was a friend's birthday and some friends from out of town where going to be there. Our plan was dinner, then bail before the crowd rolls in. I must say, the place is spacious and I do like the Patio they have in the back upstairs. The dinner was average though. I had the NY Steak w/ Bleu Cheese crumbles & Carmelized onions. It was nothing to rave about, but I did leave the plate clean empty. The service was attentive, and the drinks were poured a little better than fairly. I stil can't get over a place titles "LOFT BISTRO" though. I can't help but to think I'm in a pretentious over-priced out of towner trap. But the prices were fair for what I got. I'l go again, but won't suggest if it were my turn to entertain my out of town guests in the South Bay....Unless I had to choose between here & some spot in Mantana Row.
(3)Yancy R.
I was here for two events in one week. The first was a Yelp event which was awesome and the second is the basis for this review. I and a few friends threw a private party for our friend Regina and everything was outstanding. The service was excellent, from the Manager who helped me set it up - Adrian to our server - Jenny, I was pleasantly surprised. They had everything prepared, was always checking up on us, and brought the champagne and cake in at the perfect time. The food was also great! During the Yelp event we had buffet style food but it was still very good. The night of the party, I asked the server what was a good dish - the Lamb or the burger - and I knew she would up sell me like a good server should but the Lamb turned out to be exquisite! So I would definitely go here again, oh not to mention it's a safe place as the SJPD had a party there as well. Great work to the staff here at the Loft!
(5)Alysia W.
Everything I've read about this place is true.. Small dance floor, overpriced drinks, and 2 forms of ID required!! BUT the crowd isn't half bad and the DJ plays a great selection, not just that top 40s crap.. We found parking for just $3 in a structure right around the corner from Loft, and there's no cover so it can be really inexpensive if you drink before you get there [: All I spent on was a bottle of Voss water which was $5 but after dancing for hours and moving all over the place it's nice to have something with a cap on it.. They have a huge fan in the corner of the dance floor so my group stayed in that area and kept cool the whole night! No gross sweaty monsters in that section :P The bathrooms were well kept and there were no lines which is always nice.. The only thing I didn't like was the bouncer not buying my own ID as mine.. I obviously don't do my signature the same as when I was 15.. Come on buddy! I guess it's time for me to update that so I can avoid future arguments with the doormen.. Overall I had a great time though and would surely return again! The only reason this place isn't a 5 star club is cuz of their drink prices.. Everything else I can deal with [:
(4)Daniel H.
First off, you need two forms of ID to enter, but you shouldn't have a problem getting in if you have those two forms of ID. Also, there was no cover charge. There's a bar downstairs, a bar upstairs along with the dance floor. I really don't need to really explain the layout. Just go and find out. The drinks were expensive and this place was packed especially on the dance floor. Seriously, so many people were leaving the dance floor that I was just standing still rather than "dancing" to the music. Another thing about this place would be the girl to guy ratio. Out of the times I've been here, I'd say my last visit was a straight up sausagefest. There's almost always more guys than girls at this place which might (or might not) be good for girls depending on them of course. Since there's so many people (guys mostly), it was super hot. It's not the good kind of super hot either (don't think there's a good kind). Sometimes it was hot and musty and those two should never be put together. Seriously! Some guys need to use deodorant or cologne or something! The DJs were usually good but sometimes you get one that can't mix the beats properly to transition to the next song and it just messes up the rhythm of the dance floor. Anyways, I thought this place was okay minus the sausagefest dancefloor.
(3)Corrina S.
I've only been here twice and only to drink, but I've always had a good time at the Loft. No cover, good music, good atmosphere, and i've never had any problems getting in. In fact, I don't think I've even seen a line for this place but it definitely gets packed. Like everyone says, it's basically a 90% asian crowd... maybe even 95? I dont think there's a dress code, but some people were wearing dresses + heels and others like me just jeans and flip flops, it's not the kind of place ppl care about that which is nice... unpretentious and just fun! :) another thing I like about this place is that there are places to sit down!! The only minuses: Expensive(ish) drinks and stupid security dudes telling you MOVE every 2 minutes. I swear, if you are parked for more than 10 seconds somewhere, someone will come up to you to tell you to move. It's rediculous. They need to chilllllll out.
(4)Ben T.
Food was okay, but felt a bit overpriced. I got the filet and have definitely had better. Definitely just okay, and wouldn't be back.
(2)Melissa T.
I have never eaten here so I don't know how the food is. But... The Loft is no club thats for sure but for no cover, it's defs the Plan B kinda place. Whoa whoa whoa, not the birth control. Be cool. Loft is where you come when you first stop at Sabor and see how empty and lame it is. Don't worry! Loft will be there. Loft is where my girls come if we decide too late that we want to drink and dance. Because when we drink, we dance. They go hand in hand my friends. The music is pretty crackin some times. There is always a fairly good mix of people and the dance floor is tiny and hot. But who cares! Drinks are kinda expensive to make up for the no cover and sometimes the bouncers can be lame. One time my friend pretended to be drunk so that a dude could back off and the bouncers almost threw us out! Which makes me think that if you were really messed up, they wouldn't help you but instead throw you out on the street. Warning! But Brandon is our favorite bouncer there. He is always there and is super sweet. Waddup. But the drinks are big and come in actual glasses. None of this plastic cup crap. We big kids now.
(4)Darla S.
Good little place to keep it casual, get some good drinks and eats. I have not been there for the bands so I cannot comment. We usually dine here before hitting a sporting event or concert at the HP ~ We definately have enjoyed the handful of visits for dinner at The Loft. It does get loud and service can be casual so don't plan to be in a hurry.
(4)Michelle C.
3.5 stars I've never eaten any of the food here. This review is strictly for the drinks and the nightlife. Loft is my default Downtown San Jose spot. No cover for the entire night, great music. They now have grey goose shots for $6! The bartenders are friendly, and the drinks are decently strong. I like how the bar area has a long bench for people who are too drunk to dance or don't want to dance. I'm usually there by the end of the night... The place has a good vibe to it; lots of energy. One complaint is that it gets extremely packed here on Saturday nights, to the point where you can't really move on the dance floor. That also means it gets really really hot! Just go out to the patio to breathe for a bit, and get right back to backin that ass up. There are also a lot of dudes, but that is Man Jose to blame, not Loft.
(3)Steven P.
I just moved to San Jose a couple months ago and I've been to Loft a lot. What are your choices to drink, dance, and have a good time in DT San Jose? Loft, Tres, Temple, Studio 8, Sabor, Myth, Fahrenheit... Loft never charges cover. Temple's dance floor is small; Tres' dance floor is miniscule. I'm going to Loft to get my dance on.
(4)Jason S.
I've actually always had a good time here. It's a perfect place to get some drinks in and catch up with some friends. People dance, but the floor's crowded. The bar's the place to be. Food is decent, too. They serve great sliders here.
(4)Tim C.
I've only been here during the club hours where they transform the upstairs into a club type...thing. Kind of reminds me of LAVO@the Venetian....but much smaller and without the cool lights. The decor is decent, they play mostly hip hop, and the drinks are averagely priced.
(3)Kim N.
This review is only for afterhours, not dinner. I used to like coming to Loft since there are no covers and it's casual. I always thought the drinks were a little more expensive but I didn't realize they were charging $13 for a shot of goose. $13?! RIDICULOUS! I didn't know this was Las Vegas! Ugh, come on we're in dtsj. Anyways, the place can get crowded. And yes, they have a DJ but the dancefloor is tiny and super packed. No thanks. If I wanted to go to a casual place with no cover, I'd rather walk around the corner and go to Cinebar and pay the same amount for twice as many dranks!
(2)Carnita M.
This place deserves more of a 2.5 rating: +1 star for not charging a cover +1 star for the older gentleman who displayed some fancy footwork on the dancefloor. Way to show up the younger people with those moves! + .5 star for the DJ who played decent songs and was decent at mixing Also, the bouncers were pretty pleasant and friendly enough, but I don't give stars for bouncers, thus not being able to round this rating up to 3 stars. Some not-so-great things: - The creeper level is very high! They follow you and corner you here! I usually try and politely decline but the aggressive creepers that night couldn't seem to get that no means no. And we were onto you creeper who kept sitting nearby in the hopes of getting private dances from us! - The dancefloor gets realllly realllly crowded as the night goes on, making it difficult to get away from creepers, and just when you think you've gotten rid of one you end up finding youself in a new spot having to dodge a new group of creepers. Also, it gets hot in there, meaning B.O.! Ewwwwwww! And beware of guys holding their glasses wayyyyy off the to the side while they're dancing and flailing their arms about. Thanks for being oh so careful. Got approached by a guy on my way back onto the dancefloor that night asking if it's surprising that he's single and if he's good-looking. Okay, what kind of a question is that? Always nice to be put on the spot but come to think of it he wasn't bad-looking. Which brings me to my next point: there wasn't much eye candy on the dancefloor and the ones who could have probably qualified were in the bar area or just on the outskirts of the dancefloor. Hmmm, maybe because they were trying to be amongst other eye candy types and avoid the B.O.??
(2)joyce l.
this review for food only. a group of us went to the Loft for dinner being catching the Black Eyed Peas. Our waittress was really good. She was attentive and knowledgeable. The grilled artichoke app was really yum. Fried calamari came with sliced jalapeno which is a nice touch. i had the crab cake salad. very filling for a salad. crab cake didn't have too much bread filling, but it also didn't have big chunks of crab. it was good. my hubby had the braised short rib. OMG it was good. tendency and juicy and melt-in-your mouth. i would go back just for the short ribs. if you're in the area craving some damn good meat, visit the Loft!
(3)Kari M.
I got sucked into buying 2 $50 gift cards at Costco because they were giving out samples of their Garlic Tomato Soup. Yummy! Came here on Friday before the Sharks game with hubby and father in law. I had the Filet Mignon with a starter of the tomato soup. Hubby had the pesto salmon and dad in law had the pork tenderloin. All were decent. Pluses: Happy hour drinks/appetizers are decently priced. Dipping sauce for the bread was awesome. Minuses: The Filet Mignon tasted better with the dipping sauce. Never a good sign. Overpriced for the quality. Sorry, but I can get better meat elsewhere and for cheaper. Will I be back? Most likely not. Unless it's for happy hour.
(3)Vanessa C.
Security at the entrance did not let my friend in. She changed her address on her id and DMV just happened to poke a hole right on the year for expiration. Her ID wasn't expired, but she had a change of address so DMV gave her that temporary piece of paper saying a new ID was coming in the mail. Security did not accept it. There was an older gentleman sitting also checking IDs and my friend showed disappointment. The older security asked to see her ID, but my friend didn't want to go in anymore. Words straight out of his mouth, "If you're going to be rude to me, I'm going to be rude back." It seemed like he wanted her to kiss up to him, so he could let her in. Know your worth ladies and stand your ground. Have respect for yourself and just walk away. Our business can be taken elsewhere. It's JUST loft. (Hair flip)
(1)Kylie S.
Loft is a must when I go downtown. The layout of this place is really nice. I haven't eaten here, but the nightlife is great. Music is nice and loud. They play mostly hip hop with strings of edm and classics. Dance floor can get pretty packed Friday and Saturday. Lots of asians, but that is expected in dtsj. There is a bar upstairs and downstairs. Careful for getting drunk upstairs, because you still have to leave down the stairs. There is also an outside area that is really nice upstairs. Oh yea, and there is never a cover. :)
(4)Walt C.
Only reviewing based on a grouped based dinner for a wednesday night. I was a little worried when I was reviewing the wide range of ratings for this place. We were meeting with a group of about 12 folks. Parking was easy enough across the street and the location was easy to find. Once we arrived, the hostess led us upstairs. This place seemed a bit small due to there being 2 other large groups also dining. Was definitely difficult to carry on a conversation due to the large group. There was one waitress assigned for our group and I felt she did a great job. Food wasn't too expensive and tasted pretty good. I think if you had a fairly large group on a weeknight, this would definitely be a place to consider. Really no major complaints, but then again, nothing special stands out either.
(3)Crystal V.
One of my few favorite places in DTSJ. ASIAN FRIENDLY FYI, but I don't mind since I'm half. Great djs. I don't think I've ever left cuz I said, "that dj was an amateur!" It's clean and two levels but the party is always upstairs. Def a must!!!! ;)
(5)Melanie R.
I wasn't much of a dancer the night we went here, but the place was packed. The crowd wasn't anything to brag about, but I'm sure it's different each night. Just whatevs.
(3)Avni S.
I went to the Loft for an company event dinner. I'm vegetarian and they had some good options. Their eggplant parmesan/mash potatoes were probably the best I've had in a long time! Service is friendly and I'd definitely come back for dinner.
(4)Wen C.
The loft used to be cool when no one really knew about it a couple of years ago. These days it is way too packed on Fridays. On Friday it is Asian night, so do not be surprised if you are surrounded with asian folk...we are friendly though...well except for one bitch that accused me and my cousin of taking way to long in the restroom when we went together and took like 5 mins compared to some drunk girl in front of us that took 15. So I made sure she heard I said she was a BITCH Moving on, the Loft is cool because there is no cover, there dance floor is pretty small but they have a semi-spacious patio with a DJ that spins out there too. I definitely do not go here for the drinks, I actually dread it, I always end up getting this white australian guy who can make any decent drink. I just remember my martini that tasted like rubbing alcohol. They need to hire some hot female bartenders, too much penis behind the bar, and the uniforms they make their cocktail servers wear is so boring and prudy. Music is ok here, nothing special, tried their food before, nothing special either. I hear the bouncers are anal when it comes to ID check, actually a million of questions and even a second form of ID at times. I never had a problem with any of them but my friends and cousins have. Oh yeah thats right they commented on my friend's pants that weren't even baggy at all...he no where looked like a thug or gangster. I only go here when I have too these days....
(2)Christine T.
I was given a gift certificate by my aunt and decided to take my boyfriend here for a pleasant dinner/christmas in the park walk. It's is conveniently an easy walk away from market street. The atmosphere is very crispy. We weren't very familiar with this way of dining. We had a difficult time choosing what to eat, but we decided on Crab cakes, Pasta, and some Steak. The crab cakes were DELIC! Pasta has large pieces of veggies and chicken. Just right if I concur. The steak was juicy and perfectly cooked. The price is reasonable given the fact you're also paying for the atmosphere. We had a plentiful meal for 2 for around 60 dollars. The toilets are pitch black and can be quite frightening-- just a heads up.
(4)Chanmao S.
I've been to the Loft on several occasions now. When I visited there a month ago, I decided that I was not going to go back. The hubby and I went and bought 4 drinks. 2 Henny, 2 Coronas. $15 dollars shots, and $7 dollars beer. A $10 dollar value with a $44 dollar price tag... and that was not even including tip. Ouch. I was definitely not planning to come back for their overly crowded dance floors, over priced beers and 20 minute wait bathroom line. Fast forward a few weeks to Sat, 9/26/09... a good friend of ours was celebrating her birthday here, because we wanted to celebrated the joyous occasion with her we came back to the Loft. Only to add another reason not to come back... drinks and a loooong staircase does not mix well. :( I'm not saying I wont come back, because they do have a big plus ... no cover charge.
(3)Naramie N.
One of the few clubs in San Jose that I enjoy because first of all they don't jack you with the $20 ridiculous cover fee. All these dumb clubs think they're located in SF or something... I've been to them all and frankly the club scene here is very poor especially considering how much they try to rape you in the wallet before you even step foot into the club. It's all about store front presentation but once you get inside you're disappointed because the ridiculous cover didn't meet your expectations. First of all the music is fine, the DJ's are the same lineup that every other club uses. They all use the same set list. So if you got a DJ you didn't like... WELCOME TO SAN JOSE!! Cause they're all the same. The drinks are reasonably priced considering you don't have to pay some jerk off $20 cover fee to get in and wait in some scrub line like a retard. If you're drinking more than 6 drinks per night then you seriously need to go to some AAA meetings. I'd rather pay $10 for a shot, than pay some $20 cover fee and wait in a stupid ass line in the cold and pay a whopping $8. Wow you saved $2 dollars, plus a tip that's really breaking the bank here. If you're that much a cheapass go get drunk in the parking lot like high school kids. The dress code is kind of weird I've seen people get rejected for wearing inappropriate attire (ie. SJ Sharks jersey after a home game) yet they let in some America's Best Dance Crew reject without any problems. Whenever I come here I tend to overdress but from all the places downtown they're definitely a lot more lax when it comes to dress code. The bouncers here are so-so it depends on the person but they're not any worse/better than any where else. The dance floor is decently sized, it's not a huge dance floor by any means but at least people here are dancing instead of sitting on the wall hating. This place also gets pretty packed after about 11ish when the fallout from all the other clubs rolls in. There are two floors here, the bottom floor is the bar/standing room. If you want to chat/drink go there or outside. The top floor has a dance floor and a bar although I'd recommend going to the bottom bar because it's less crowded and you can get your drinks much faster. The bathrooms here kind of suck, they're inadequate for the amount of people that come here and there's always a line. But it's designed more for the restaurant crowd than the club folk.
(4)Kendall W.
I have only eaten here during happy hour. The drink menu is very creative in non-traditional mixing of flavors. My friends and I had all of them. I enjoyed the mojito and hurricane the best, but all were good. The happy hour appetizer plates were basically meal sized so that's what we had to eat. Dancing here after dinner upstairs is okay, but I can think of many other bars I'd rather go to. The live music is okay but I prefer video bars. It gets too hot and steamy up there.
(3)Rana A.
Loft has got some great eats as well as fabulous bar fun! I've been there for dinner, chill late night drinks as well as "whooo hooo" late night drinks. The food is excellent. They even have a few low carb options for those of you who try to eat healthy (or for those of you who would rather save up calories from food to invest in alcohol :oP ) As far as a bar goes, they've got a DJ that spins on weekends which usually guarantees a good time. Ever since SOFA closed in Downtown SJ, my girls and I have no real place to party. Loft has now become our new alternative!
(4)Andrew L.
I try not to review bars/clubs because the experience is HEAVILY dependent on the promoters of the night attracting certain crowds and having certain DJs spinning. But this place is a special case because it can hold its own against venues that rely on promoters and feels like it's being promoted when it's not. THE VENUE: FREE entry with ID. $2 parking on 2nd and San Fernando. Competent DJs (occasional mash-up mixes are meh) who keep the energy going. Not-so-competent bartenders (they didn't know how to mix a Strawberry Lemondrop) and a couple times they kept my Visa when I never specified to keep the tab open. I dig the outdoor patio right by the dance floor and bar up top and traditional dining/bar setup on the bottom floor. The bouncers assertively keep all walkways clear (for good reason), but they cool. No power trippin' there, just keeping the machine oiled and running. THE CROWD: Yes it is. VERY crowded. Cause it's free and the floor space is about half that of a proper nightclub. I've only gone on Thursdays and Saturdays and both times the crowd was a good mix. Not as ghetto as Agenda. Not as Asian as ViVid but enough to make me feel at home. Every time I've gone, I've chatted with random people standing in the line to the bathroom (2 separate BR's up top and one unisex on the bottom). Mind that this is EARLY in the night while we still speak with cohesive sentences, so that says something about the people - some real down-to-earth, professional types going for good times. Plus I randomly run into people I know (and dance with people I pretend to know :P) from way back. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. Obviously a poppin' spot. I voted 4 stars because of the bartenders and small size, but now I'm just whining because it's free entry! Besides, if I rate it too high then too many yelpers would go hence making it impossible for me to get in right? -_-
(4)Diana Lyn Z.
I'm only reviewing the bar/nighttime, not the restaurant. I came here this past weekend for a friend's birthday party. I swear my friend said that it was a lounge, but it wasn't! I was deceived! We got there fairly early and security not only asked me for one ID, but a 2nd one, anything else with my name on it. Luckily I brought a credit card and a school ID, but I think they do this to people who don't look 21+...like me. My first drink ended up costing $10?! My second drink was paid for, thank goodness, and my third drink cost me another $10. Geeze...so expensive. Good thing I'm a lightweight-- I didn't have to drink too much to get a good buzz going. Phew... This place was small, but the no cover/no guestlist I guess is the trade-off.
(3)Beatriz P.
Compare to Temple, this is my favorite!!!! Music & crowd is really chill. Enough room for dancing & just lounging around. No cover which is good. There are two bars so getting drinks are quick and fast.
(5)Cliff S.
Another restaurant by day club at night. Pros: -Plenty of places for your group to meet up and socialize. -Two stories with bars away from the dance floor allowing easy access to the sauce. -No cover Cons: Crowded dance floor with a predominant male crowd I don't think there is anything special about this place. Just an average experience.
(3)Jean K.
Originally, my friend and I were going to go to the SJ Bar and Grill to get drinks. Then, I remembered that place is just really loud. He apparently likes the Loft, so we decided to go here instead. Since it was only 9, there weren't a lot of people in there making it a nice place to have a conversation. Also, the bartenders were really nice, and the bathroom was nice too! We stayed for a couple hours, and lord and behold! It turns into a club (or at least a club like place) after hours! We went upstairs and danced for a bit. The only negative comment I'd make about this place is on the cost of their drinks. They're surprisingly expensive! I guess it does make sense considering it's secretly a club, but I was mildly surprised at 9 pm when I thought it was an ordinary bar.
(4)Luis C.
Went there on a Friday night. First off there's no cover so that s plus. The dance floor upstairs was pretty good. Descent music (top 40), could've been a little better. Only complaint I have is that there were alot more guys than girls.
(3)Debbi B.
Went to Loft Bar early on a Sunday before a show at the Improv (didn't want to have the Improv dinner, but needed to get there on time). The food was very good, it took a little longer than I anticipated to be served, which on another night could have had an impact on getting to the show. I had the short rib small plate, which was small but quite nice for a smaller eater. The other 3 had the pasta with lamb, which they all loved. Even I liked it, and I am not a lamb lover, but it's a very savory, hearty dish, just great for a cold winter night. The bread was good, and they brought more without being asked. All in all, it was a nice dinner before our show, and the price was reasonable. They did not have a huge selection of wine by the glass though, so you need to be flexible about what you want.
(4)Tyler M.
It was my first time here and it was an alright experience. I liked the fact that there was a dance floor and seating that was outdoors. The employee that was standing by the stairs to go to the outside seating was a little rude and kept rushing us. The drinks were alright, but the prices were off somehow. For our first round, we got 6 shots of grey goose, which ended up being only $36, which is very cheap! When we got our second round of drinks, we only got 4 drinks (cheaper liquer such as well liquer & malibu), which cost $44. That was very odd that our second round cost that much considering we got less drinks and got lower end liquer! Other than that, it is an alright bar to go to.
(3)Nicole T.
I went to Loft tonight with the San Jose Dishcrawl ( dishcrawl.com ).. the food was excellent, the service was great, and the atmosphere was fun. Would love to dine here on other occasions.
(5)Angela C.
Hey LOFT, i effing HATE you. with a sweltering passion! if i could give you 0 stars i would. oh wait, i take that back, negative stars! *here comes the bitchy ramble* (oh and this is based solely on the clubbing experience) 1) 2 forms of ID? on ME and my GFS? what are you doing? trying to turn away hot girls, who ARE OVER 21??? I know all you want is for us to bring our cards, so we can spend more $ at your stupid club with overpriced drinks and shitty/mean bartenders. If my drivers license says i'm 21, and the pic looks like me, and i know my own birthday, wtf is your problem? 2) you have a 20$ minimum for using cards. Again, i must point out, all your stupid rules are based on trying to get people to spend more money. Eff that, i'd rather go somewhere that appreciates whatever $ i do spend. 3) your bouncers/security are all assholes. Case in point, this one time i was really drunk and felt sick, so i went to the bathroom. There was a bouncer working the door, and a line for the girls bathroom. So i politely went up to him and asked if i could go in first cuz i felt sick. he said, OH NO YOU HAVE TO GET OUT NOW! like wtf, i'm a girl, and you want to kick me out for feeling sick. i guess youd rather me make a scene and puke outside on the curb in front of your stupid club instead of wanting my business another day. 5 bouncers literally escorted me and my friend out of the club.. wow i felt real welcome there. Case 2, the last time i was there (oh and double entendre, it is definitely the last time i'm going there), all the security guys were just screaming at us telling us to move out of the way when we were standing/chatting near the bar (when the place was already crowded as is). like sorry there's no where else to chat in your small club. and i know you just dont want us around the bar if we're not buying drinks. 4) your music is nothing to rave about either. I mean yea, its better than some other clubs, but its nothing special. They don't really play anything really exciting to get you pumped up to dance. And the little side room has had shitty ass music everytime i've gone. 5) you sell overpriced drinks that taste like shit, and the bartenders can't even make some drinks my friends and i have requested. Bartenders are also mean and shady.. My friend ordered a long island (if memory serves me correctly) and the bartender said some # i cant remember now, and then when my friend gave that amount of cash, she said No i said 13. which was totally off from what she had said before. and wow really ? 13 for one drink? i guess its not too hard to hit that 20$ minimum card fee. Ive never tried the food here, so no clue on how that is. But if the service is like the clubscene, then EW. only good thing you have going on is the no cover. but thats just your ploy to get people with a card in your club so they can waste their money. anyway, i hate you loft, and i'm never coming back. and i enjoy ranting about you to all my friends so that they can do the same :) k thx bye, i hope you close down soon
(1)Mary T.
Seriously. I mean, seriously. There were six of us, and one of us happened to bring an expired ID. And so she was denied. What the heck! It's not like we're 21 anymore. I was riding a nice buzz from the prior establishment at that point, so it didn't bother me much. But still. Seriously. We walked away and probably won't return any time soon. However, we discovered Rocco's because of the incident. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.
(2)Gena M.
This place has really gone down hill. I have been there once before for dinner. Expensive, over rated, and nothing out of the norm..Comparable to olive garden (taste not price) The Jazz and candles were nice. I have been there twice for drinks-they were strong and did the job. I have been there maybe ten times for the night time lounge, it use to be one of the best well hidden gems on this side of SJ-I went back recently and was unpleasantly surprised to find a line around the block..really? around the block. It's one tiny dance floor, one tiny outside area..watered down lounge drinks. Me and my friends weren't going to wait in a line so we club hoped for a while and then came back. The line was gone, but surprise! they all got in! I have some nice descriptive words for everyone...smelly. hot. stail. packed. pervs grabbing your ass. Where did all the hot bouncers go? they're all rude with their flash lights. The owner has always been a total douche-saw him too. What a total bummer. Food already not worth going now the lounge too? Oh well, there's plenty to do and eat in Downtown SJ. I just can't get over the hype for such a bunk ass spot. Oh Loft, you've fallen so hard.
(1)Margret A.
First experience was fun but my friend was afraid of the dance floor since she was wearing 4 inch heels. The dance floor is pretty small but love the music. Bar wait is wayyy to long and I wasn't about to go downstairs to buy a drink. Second experience was completely different. Since downtown has been rowdy, they now expect you to bring 2 forms of ID.. or at least an ID and a credit card. I brought only cash that night because I didn't want to use any of cards and left it at my friend's apt which was 4 blocks down. I wasn't about to walk back and go to an empty place. The security guard told me that if we come back with an appropriate ID, he will buy his our first round drinks. Well, we just headed over to Temple since you can never go wrong with that place.
(3)Marc M.
Arrived on a Thursday night before the Sharks Game, so definitely wanted to be in and out. We ended up parking across the street and the seating area was packed, tables reserved, but the upstairs dining area was closed. After a few drinks at the bar we were seated near the door, which was annoying, but the only available seat. Shortly after ordering we were bombarded by a Fall formal after party event (4 bus loads) that was being held upstairs. The DJ started blasting music and shortly after the restaurant was overrun by Collegiate and high school attendees. Needless to say our quiet dining experience was over. We both ordered the Salmon, mine was blackened and the other with spinach salad. The food was good, but it was difficult to enjoy as an ambulance came by to pick up a drunk attendee. Lesson learned, try not to come on a night when events are planned upstairs. Needless to say we left in time and made it to the game. SHARKS won 3-1. :)
(3)Bobby M.
Still need to Check this place out .....
(3)Shannon B.
SKIP IT! Myself and a group of friends went here after years of not visiting the downtown San Jose night life. We went here on previous memories of good times. Man, was the ever a mistake! Not only was the crowd frequenting the place pretentious, but so was the staff! We headed up stairs away from the Jersey Shore want-a-bes. The DJ upstairs was playing his shitatious music so loudly, that it was distorted. We decided we were not drunk enough to enjoy, so we went to the patio to escape while our men folk order shots at the downstairs bar. On the patio they had anther DJ spinning music I used to groove to at Junior High Dances - WTF? The patio was full of Miami-Vice-Stunna-Shade where-ing dudes and too many chicks that hit the last sale at Forever 21. The bartender spilled my shot after pouring it, when we asked her to pour it again SHE ACCUSED MY HUSBAND OF DRINKING IT!!!! WTF? He ordered ice water since he was the DD! Never in my life had we EVER encountered such a bold and wild accusation! So, unless you like this kind of crowd - SKIP IT! Why pay for overprices drinks that the bartenders spill and shitty distorted music????
(1)Jen K.
The Pros: Diverse crowd No cover serves food The Cons: Super expensive drinks Small dance floor Crappy music Considering you can get the pros listed above any many other places, I suggest skipping this place. I wasn't impressed. It wasn't a hell hole, but it sure couldn't keep my interest for very long.
(2)David M.
There are very few restaurants or bars in downtown San Jose that I like but this is one of them. The food is very consistent. Try the steak bites! I prefer the bar upstairs as the ambiance and people watching is better. Stick around later in the evening on a weekend if you want to get your groove on... good DJs. During the summer check out the outdoor patio upstairs.
(4)Jerome J.
We were all thinking about having appetizers and drinks outdoors on a Sunday evening and decided on the Loft. We chilled on the rooftop and ordered calamari, beef sliders, crispy fried onions, tuna sashimi and carpaccio. All were good, except I think the mixed drinks were a little too high in price. Overall, place is perfect for just chillin outdoors.
(3)Sammy N.
i love love love this club... it has become the go to place for me and my roomies... everytime we go .. we have fun. drinks get expensive after 11.30 pm.. but no cover... so that evens it out. i love the music, the crowd... but the floor gets wet, a little too loud and a little pushy-shovy
(4)Shannon N.
I'm thinking this place needs separate reviews for bar and for food. I'm not a bar gal, and I was only in the downstairs bar area. We ordered several appetizers to share - they were ok, but really quite expensive. I had a blue cheese and pear salad that had three thin slices of pear - gee, thanks. I wouldn't rush to go back here, but I wouldn't be too pissed about returning if I had to.
(2)Mary Ann S.
I still have a ton of fun here, but there's one bartender that I do not like. There I am, being completely ignored for over 20 minutes. I noticed that he was tending to the cute scantily clad Asian girls. When he finally gets to me, I order 5 jaeger bombs. The guy pours the jaeger into the drink, completely defeating the purpose of the bomb. Then he charges me $75 for the drinks. Over it. A couple weeks later, I come back and go to the bar. What do you know, he serves me right away. Guess I was looking cute that night? lol. 2 Amaretto Sours for $18! No way San Jose! I'm avoiding that bartender like the plague.
(3)Paul D.
No cover price, for that very common dance club experience. I like the fact that everyone celebrates their birthday here. I wouldn't blame them...I mean for a place where you can dress to impress for a more mature environment and not pay annoying cover fees...why not? This place has its ups and downs, just like its two story structure. UPS: -2 Floors = 2 Bars: When the top floor bar is packed, the bottom floor bar is a staircase away to get your drink on faster. -2 Floors=2 Sets of Bathrooms: Don't you just hate it when your waiting in line for the bathroom... -Patio: This a great place to get away from the over crowded bar and dance floor -No Cover Charge: 'nuff said. DOWNS: -2 Forms of I.D.- It's kinda of annoying to be asked for another form of I.D. A debit/credit card should be okay to support your I.D. -Top Floor Bar: I know its closest to the dance floor, but damn, this spot gets too crowded. Get your drink and move on so others behind you can order please! -Space on the 2nd Floor: The music is cool and all, but for a place that doesn't have cover charge, they should do better with crowd control. I feel like a bouncer is constantly flashing his light a people to move away from the minimal traffic space. It gets packed!!
(3)Jacqueline G.
I came here on Halloween, so of course any place is going to be a party. The small dance floor was CROWDED, but I loved every minute of it. Pretty good DJ playing Top 40. We went to the bar and I got a Long Island Iced Tea =$12. It was SUPER STRONG. I would go back again, parking is so much easier than in the city.
(4)Hylary L.
This place seemed pretty cool, but my experience was marred by a few things. #1 Who charges $6 for a Corona? A CORONA as in the bottled beer you pay $2 for at most bars and clubs...that was kind of confusing for me. #2 Why did they ID us at the door (two forms of ID were required no less) and then again at the upstairs bar...one thing I cannot stand at bars/clubs is being ID'd twice. I think it's rude, I'm sorry. I know there's fines and stuff they can get if minors manage to sneak it, but figure it out at the door guys. Don't ID us twice. Other than those two things which peeved me, it seems like a nice place. The layout is interesting, and I enjoyed all the options (i.e. dance floor, bars up and downstairs, patio area.) Maybe I'll go back and give this place another try. I just won't order any Corona.
(3)Alex C.
3rd stop. I'm gonna round down from 3.5 and give it a 3. I didn't get too long of an experience here but this place is probably a 3 or 4 on any given night; depending on the girl:guy ratio and how stuck-up the girls are if they are cognizant of a ratio highly skewed towards dudes (aka c***-fest). Actually, that thought just soured me a bit. I can see this place getting a 2. Luckily, on this night, I left before that happened and when it was basically only girls on the dance floor. Unluckily, I had "dead sea-salt." Regardless, I had a good time here. I'm a fan of the no-cover, especially so considering there are lounges in S.F. worse than this that do charge cover.
(3)Wilson R.
Not going to lie but this place sucks in terms of a club spot. (Not sure of the food since I never tried it. So I can't comment on the food.)In terms of the crowd, there really is not much of a variety/diversity. Nothing but a sausage fest and honestly, the music can suck at times. So that was a big turn-off. I really don't recommend anyone to come down here. Yeah, it's free but c'mon? You can do better by going somewhere else.....
(1)Mark M.
Its still the same place, but last time I was there there was this huge fight which took out most of the people outside lol. Apparently two girls gave each other dirty looks, small confrontation and a bunch of dudes jump in. Big group of people swinging at each other. It was cool to watch and justified the amount of security all over the place. No cool chick this time though so still just a 3.
(3)Anju R.
Went there for dinner and had the Ahi Tuna and the caesar salad. The salad was pretty much what I was expecting, but the Ahi Tuna was pretty good. The cajun spice was a little much sonsidering the Tuna was such a good cut of fish. I think it would have been better on it's own. Overall I would definitely go back...went there on a wednesday night and it was raining...i was literally the only one in the place.
(3)Raymond G.
Not into this place at all. It's decent enough, but the prices are way above their menu and food quality. The best thing they had was the tomato and mozzarella salad. Nice thick slices of fresh mozz, with romano tomatoes and basil. Great start. But the main course just fell apart. I had the braised ribs. I've had so much better. It was totally fatty, wasn't 'fall-off-the-bone' tender, and the flavor was just terrible. It tasted like an out-of-the-bottle soy sauce with sugar that was way too sweet. By scraping it off, you got some flavor of the meat, but that was completely bland. If you braised something, you have the opportunity to pack that meat with serious flavor. Obviously the chef didn't bother with that part. Thought maybe the sauce would make up for it. Ugh. Oh, and the side dish of garlic mashed potatoes. Where'd the garlic go? Also bland, don't bother. My wife had a panko-crusted chicken which she didn't finish. That said it all. Our service was pretty minimal. "Hey, what do you want." "Here's your food." "Here's your check." Not coming back, maybe for a drink with friends. But not to dine. There's way better restaurants in downtown.
(2)Chris D.
Not really fond of this place to be honest... But somehow, the nights that i end up in this place is because party crew picked this as the spot to be at. (horrible choice in my book). Btw, i'm speaking for the nightlife/club scene of this place and not its restaurant because i've never dined here. It is always packed to the point where you could barely walk through the dance floor. I literally had to push and plow my way through to get through all those nasty people full of sweat and BO. This is not my favorite spot at all. And who the hell asks for 2 forms of i.d!?!? its not like we're flying out of the freakin' country... might as well ask for passport too!
(1)Kristin O.
The food is good! Filet mignon, and the burgers :) The meat is so succulent and tender. The non-dinner part: The drinks are a little pricey. There's no cover, there's a small dance floor on the second floor and there's an outdoor patio. This place gets packed and you basically can get drinks when you want them when you're literally sitting at the bar. If you're not sitting there, good luck getting your drink! I advise double fisting.
(3)Kelly T.
I have always wanted to REALLY like this place and sometimes it lives up to my expectations and sometimes, uh, not so much. Whenever one of my GF's call me and we need to discuss the negative sides of having men in our life, we generally will meet here because its nice and chill but still classy. The food, however, is sometimes less than desirable. I came here last night on a double date with parentals (don't even ask how that happened 'cause I am still trying to figure how they sneaked into my date night) and sat outside on the patio. Apparently, my Dad loves the dipping sauce for the bread and devoured it in record time. I ended up splitting the Grilled Flank Steak Salad with my Mom and my Dad got the Meatloaf and my date ordered the Pork Chops. Um... yeah...nothing to be desired. Home cooked food - not too bland but not too tasty either. It's just...there, you know? BUT I will say that they do make the girls and I strong drinks whenever we go upstairs and sit at the bar to rant. So they make up for it there.
(3)Eric E.
This place is OK. I went here last week and the drinks are a bit expensive and sort of watered down. People are friendly and the music is pretty good. There is a second floor which you can hit up. They need bartenders, when I was there only 1 was working very hard. Surprisingly my mojito took 10 min to be completed. Maybe I chose the wrong drink?
(3)Christine N.
Another Friday night, another sorry-ass downtown San Jose establishment. For its location and venue, Loft's drinks are completely overpriced. $13 for a gin & tonic (and I'm not talking about a tall glass). Last I checked, we weren't in New York City. As predicted, the crowd consists of "San Jose's finest", which is laughable. If you would like a more complete review of Loft from me, please read my review of Vivid in downtown San Jose, and assume that it's just a teensy bit better than what Vivid has to offer.
(2)Rommel D.
you can't even go in here and have a hood on! so now you've got 15 guys in this club looking like morons with rolled up hoods. on top of that, you have to be constantly moving or the "security guards" will flash a light on you and make you move. there is no cover charge so i guess thats cool.
(2)Minty O.
Great place for a drink and some most delicious appetizers...i recommend the Fries and the Roasted Artichokes. But don't bother for dinner... overly priced and poorly prepared. We had the halibut and it was $$$$ and DRY and bland and horrible. Vegetables were lightly blanched... which was OK I suppose (plain veggies to match with the plain fish). Hmmm, our fish is so DRY and BLAND... what do we do? I know! Let's drown it in some red-pepper cream sauce, yeah... that's the ticket. The only saving grace was the uncle ben's rice that was doused in butter... but one can only handle some much of THAT without feeling nauseous and guilty. Would I come back? NEVER for dinner... but for drinks and apps? I'm down.
(2)Tracy N.
Went here the other night for a friend's bday outing and we all had a great time! Drinks were good, music was good, dance floor was a little small but the rooftop patio was really cool! Great place to take a break and sit down (for the girls wearing heels), chat a little bit. While we were up there a dance off was taking place between 2 different groups, which was fun to watch while we rested our feet. Only weird/different thing here was that last call was around 1:15am, most places wait til after 1:30 or so but we were tired anyway and ready to go to La Vic's. This place was fun and I'd definitely come back!
(4)Oliver S.
I love the decor, such an incredible looking and feeling place. The staff is great as well. Food was delicious! However, if you look at these pictures posted.. it would look as if the people who eat here are obnoxious.. .. its true.. they are.. I could have sworn these photos were taken the day I ate dinner there.. just the most rude.. loud.. obnoxoius people I have ever witnessed.. and I am NOT snobby.. seriously.. i'm not..
(3)Muy C.
I've been here many, many times for the nightlife but never for dinner so it was a cool experience. We had our surprise party for one of my friends here last weekend and it was really nice. I was pleasantly surprised at how busy the whole place was. There was an elegant yet casual feel to the atmosphere of the place. I especially liked the vibe of the patio upstairs with the whole canopy and heat lamps surrounding it. The hostess was really nice and professional and escorted me upstairs to my party table. The food was actually pretty good. I really liked my scampi prawns and rice a lot since it had the right portion and wasn't too bland nor salty. My friend and I absolutely loved the rice! The smoked salmon rotini was good too yet I felt it was a little too salty. Pretty much all of the dishes looked really good but I thought the prices were slightly steep with what they offered. The chocolate truffle martini was delicious but not enough of alcohol in it. Service was good. The waitress checked up on our group of 14-15 girls numerous times and the bus boy cleared our plates quickly when we were all finished. It seemed like everyone was pretty pleased with the service from what I saw. The only thing I highly recommended is to reserve dinner a little bit early since there's DJ and dancing upstairs around 10:30 or so and it can get pretty packed in there. Downstairs is not too busy so it's nice to lounge around and talk. Free cover all the time, with or without dinner. Overall, a great place for dinner with friends, or with your beau and afterwards, go dancing without leaving. The only cons is there is no coat check and parking is on the street.
(4)Brooke A.
The first time I went into the loft was a weekday night. It wasn't busy but the waitress seemed upset and the drink I ordered didn't taste very good. But, I decided to give it another shot. I had lunch here today! While it's a bit pricey (maybe you can take a hot date here for a nice dinner) the food I had was delicious. I ordered the grilled salmon. The fish was cooked PERFECTLY. While the veggies lacked a bit of flavor, the rice was awesome. Overall it was a great lunch!
(4)Veronica V.
Of all the downtown San Jose restaurants Loft seems to be the one we frequent the most. It isn't because of the food that Loft is on the top of our list, it's because of Loft's nice outdoor patio. On a summer night having dinner on the patio is a good time and a good reason to be a little more dressed up then if we went to the local taco truck or falafel drive-in. The tomato soup bisque and steak bites are good appetizers and the steak salad is the best but I would warn against the meat pile, not such a good choice. The service is okay and it's a good place for a large group. This place also turns clubby after a certain hour and I can't say that the music is very good. This is a good place for drinks after work, a romantic dinner or a birthday when the company and atmosphere are what matter most.
(4)David L.
I had come here on a Tuesday evening for a work-related function. The restaurant / bar occupies both floors of the building, and I understand that there is an exterior patio portion as well. It has a sort of a fun, casual feel to the place, while not being too loud with sports playing on TV's or from patrons talking. I had a smoked salmon rotini. If you like a lot of sauce, then you will love this as it was practically swimming in the cream-based sauce. The asparagus and the smoked salmon should have been the key ingredients of this dish, but they were overshadowed by the abundance of red onion pieces in the dish, which I had to remove most, if not all of it, from the pasta dish. Bottom Line: Cool place for a drink in the downtown SJ area, as the food is just so-so.
(3)Hoda F.
Went there for dinner with my husband last night. Overall experience was good. The service was great, they were very attentative to us which was a plus. Food came out really fast, but the taste was good, not great.
(3)Michael D.
When i first walked in I thought that was it. Oh was I wrong. After walking up the stairs I was greeted by some good beats and a nice size bar. Ok so my memory of this night is kinda blurred but from the pics and what the rest of my group told me this place was great. The drinks were flowing and the music had the dance floor packed. What else can you ask for? Definitely heading back here!
(4)Margo N.
I once that this was a classy place for the young and the not-so young to frequent. I have spent a ton of money on great meals at this location. I live downtown and this was one of my favorite spots... Not anymore. I will not "talk smack" about this place but lets just say its now all about the underage young girls that dominate this once classy joint. Very sad....
(1)MissJennifer L.
This review is for the bar, not the dining experience. I honestly don't know why I keep coming back here. Maybe because the crowd is slightly older than the just-turned-21-people at other San Jose bars. The music here is alright, but DJ's now a days don't even use real records anymore, which is a shame because that was the art of a real DJ. The place gets overcrowded on the small dance floor, the bartenders can be d-bags, and the bathrooms can get pretty gross. The last time I went there, there was something leaking from the ceiling which was totally gross. Helpful tip: When they check IDs, sometimes they ask for an ATM card or another form of ID. They don't always do this, but it happened to me last night so I don't know if it's a new policy. They even asked if I had a library card... I don't even know the last time I borrowed a non-school related book!
(2)Johanna F.
HORRIBLE!!! Overly crowded, rude people, and gross guys!! Unless you enjoy dancing up against sweaty gross people on an overly crowded dance floor, go elsewhere! Security is also really rude. Apparently you're not allowed to stand where there is actual room. You either have to be on the crowded dance floor or in the crowded bar.
(1)Jill C.
Food and service was excellent! I had chicken rigatoni and hubby had chicken Parmesan. Delicious! The price was reasonable. I also had a mango mojito. Probably the best I've had. I give it 4 stars because we were seated on the rooftop patio and there were no other diners. Also there was a lot of road noise. I think it would be great to sit out there in the summer though.
(4)Dan N.
My friend and I went here on a whim from a recommendation from a friend. We've had everything from their chicken wing appetizers to the lamb shanks and so far this place has been nothing short of fulfilling. The service there has always been good, I dont remember the name of the gentlemen working at the bar but he was very friendly and sociable when i was there. Our food arrived promptly and was prepared with much care. The carpaccio was very good. My personal favorite is the above mentioned lamb shanks. If you're ever in the downtown SJ area, this place is my personal favorite.
(5)Nancy L.
Anybody who reads my reviews about clubs in downtown Man Jose knows that I am not a fan. Actually, let's just be honest. I'm not only a hater of the scene, but I am also the damn President of the Downtown Man Jose Scene Hater's Club. But, Loft Bar and Bistro is sort of an exception to my rule. Well, maybe not so much an exception as, "the lesser of many evils." Loft is like the cubic zirconia of clubs. Although it ain't as good as the real thing, it'll suffice. The crowd consists mainly of college kids, shorties and short guys. I don't know about you but, generally, I don't like it when, in a sea of people, I can see over all the heads and when 50% of the heads are bald. Fun fact: The very first time I went to Loft, I saw a straight-up cat fight break out right before my eyes. I bolted for the DJ Booth and prayed that I would live to make it through the night. And the music? For the most part, the DJs at Loft seem to prefer R&B, which is great if you're slow dancing at a high school prom but absolutely useless when you're trying to get your dance on. Despite all my gripes, I still give Loft three (3) stars. Why? Three reasons: 1) NO COVER. EVER. So even if it's a waste of your time, it ain't gonna waste any of your money getting in. 2) Even if the crowd is a lil' young and a lil' ghetto, they at least attempt to dress well and behave in a civil manner. [Note: I'm hoping that cat fight was an exception to the rule. But, just in case, I recommend wearing your bulletproof vest.] 3) It was at Loft that I had a "revelation." No harps, no angels, no light radiating from my sixth chakra or whatever. But, it was at Loft that I "discovered" my attraction to Asian guys. *gasp* Maybe this revelation was anti-climatic. Maybe I had one too many drinks. Maybe it's a phase. Maybe Asian guys around the world are now running for their lives and activating their Romulan cloaking devices. Whatever. I'm not gonna go into a description of the guy who sparked the revelation but, if you're 6' tall lean/skinny Asian guy with spiky-ass hair, looking like you just stepped off the plane from Taiwan, holla at me. Hahaha. ;-)
(3)Dinara O.
went there for dinner w 5 other friends. We had wonderful time. we had lots of food and cocktails. Definitely going back for more.
(5)Charissa P.
I still think this place is ok. I did have 2 IDs on me thank god! The place plays some songs twice. And this time there was no random fart smells. However, I had fun but that's because of the sake before coming to this place and I was in good company.
(3)Bernardo M.
What can I say? There's really no better last resort on a seemingly uneventful weekend night than Loft. I suppose the prices are jacked because there's no cover, but some of the prices are ridiculous.
(3)J R.
Food - not great and and overpriced for what it is. The place is fine it starts turning itself into a cheesy club around 10. It was really quite odd to see the whole transformation.
(1)Karen C.
Been here twice and wasn't impressed either time. We came once before a weeknight Sharks game and we FROZE for our entire meal sitting upstairs in the Loft. We couldn't wait to get out. Oh and the food was just ok and definitely not worth freezing over. None of us were impressed. Second time was a Sunday afternoon after a jazz concert. That time we sat in the bar. Food was ok but not fantastic. I'd go back to the bar again, but not the Loft.
(2)Brian B.
This place is ridiculous. I don't like giving 1 star, except to places like WalMart. But come on! I only go to this place because it is a common meeting spot for my friends, but every time is disappointing. If you show up after 11 on a weekend night without any girls, have fun standing in a line by yourself. They definitely have that whole, "Oh, a line! That must mean it's good" mentality. The bouncers are complete, total, unwavering assholes. Not only are they just dicks, but after you stand in line with your 5 friends for 15 minutes, you go through the following process: (keep in mind I'm 25, with a full beard, and normally don't get carded at most places)1. Check my valid CA driver's license. 2. Look at me in the face with a mean expression, check ID again. 3. Bend ID to make sure it's legit. 4. Ask me my birthday. 5. Ask me my age. 6. Ask me for another form of ID. 7. Look at my credit card that has no picture. 8. Look at back of my credit card. 9. Ask me if I work for any government alcohol or drug agency. 10. Ask at least one more ridiculous question. 11. Act as if they were doing me a favor by letting me in. Freaking eh! The ambiance is this: typical south bay club with top 40 hits, stuffy staff, overdressed creeper dudes, overdressed skanky looking girls, at least one fight per night, at least one really really drunk idiot getting kicked out. Not particularly cheap. Music is lame. No diversity. The only redeeming quality? It's free.
(1)Benjamin L.
I've dined here twice for lunch with a friend, and both times, we have been able to sit on the rooftop patio. The setting is nice, and because we had a late lunch both times, it was pretty quiet. The prices here aren't cheap, but then the food certainly matches the price. The service here also isn't shabby, as we have had very pleasant servers who stop by to check on us just enough. The Chicken Penne that I ordered both times is just splendid. There is a nice mix of chicken, sundried tomatoes, and mushrooms with a light cream sauce smothered over the perfectly-cooked penne pasta. Delicious! Best of all, the Loft is located almost directly across the street from the 2nd St. parking lot, and given the validation, you get to park at a prime location at no charge. What more can you ask for?
(4)Shali N.
You walk in and you think, hey... this place is cute, but it's a little small? The hostess comes up with a big smile and will ask you to follow him. You follow him into an elevator. Weird??? As soon as you exit the elevator, a beautiful dining room awaits with a nice full sized bar. There is even an exist to a rooftop patio! Nice!!! You sit down, then look at the menu specials. Asian chicken wrap? Sounds good! You open up the main menu and you are bombarded by too many great choices that sound all too good. Sauteed tiger prawns with garlic and butter? Veal Picatta? French Dip? Grill Chicken Sandwich? Pesto crusted herbed salmon? What to get, what to get!!! I was here for lunch so I had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with a cup of the Sundried tomato garlic bisque.... DELICIOUS! They also have AMAZING tiramisu and a huge variety of dessert choices. I definitely will come here again.
(5)JC A.
Pros: No cover, nice venue, good dj's and the bouncers are cool. Cons: Small dance floor, and depending on the night you go, it may be an uber sausage fest. I went here when a couple of friends were visiting from socal. Luckily, this place struck it rich with the females.(There may be a god after all.) I recommend this place to people who just want to hang out and have some fun. This is also a place where you don't have to worry so much about what you wear (although I do suggest that you look presentable, just saying). And if you want a drink, go downstairs, you'll get your drink faster.
(3)Silvia V.
I went to my local Costco and spoke to a representative from Loft Ba/Crapesr and specifically told him my intention on purchasing 1K work of gift cards (son's graduation party), he even gave me a catering menu and said it was a great buy. When I arrived home I noticed there was a disclosure stating not for parties, events etc... I called the owner, Kam and explained the situation. He was extremely rude and said that these discounted offers were not meant for us to take advantage of them but rather for families to enjoy. I explained that the representative that he sent (manager) was well aware of what my intent was. He basically said it didn't matter and there would be no exceptions. I explained that I might have a problem returning them and he said that it would be my problem. I ram very surprised that the owner could not understand the situation and make an exception, being that I was given the wrong information from the person that he sent to represent this restaurants!
(1)Marc C.
I've visited Loft several times to the point of being a semi-regular patron. I have recently noticed the Loft is not as "cool" as once supposed. To be blunt, the Loft thinks it self to be a high end gathering spot, charging way too much for drinks. I understand charging a little more for the house specialties, but the pricing is not for the market they serve. Well drinks @ $8 or $9 is a little indulgent on their end and evidence of their hubris that they're a high end lounge. Secondly, the upstairs dance floor is ridiculously over crowded--to the point that I am surprised they are not violating capacity regulations. It takes the fun out of the evening having people bump into you all night on the dance floor. Along with that, the security staff is not very customer experience focused. I understand that they have a job to do, in particular, keeping aisle ways clear. But for the love of all that is not sacred, say, PLEASE, EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU and DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME OR MY GUESTS! I was really unimpressed when the staff and the liberty they were taking with their hands. Unfortunately if you do say anything to the staff or rebuke them for their lack of respect, chances are you are going to be escorted out of the Loft. The Loft is beautiful building and and has a lot to offer, however, the lack of customer respect (pricing, over-crowding and staff) makes it difficult to spend time there and in turn, refer others to patron the Loft.
(2)Laura C.
Late night club review: If you frequent this place every so often, drink, and happen to be an ungraceful drunk, chances are you'll get kicked out of this place at least once. On at least 3 separate occasions have I seen my friends get kicked out - sometimes legit reasons, sometimes silly reasons. Pros: -No cover -DJ & dance floor -OK music -I don't know if they have this anymore, but there used to be a happy hour around 10 or 11pm (and it last for a very small window of time). It was just 1 to 3 drinks on the HH menu, but any happy hour is better than none at all. -Relatively clean -Rooftop patio -Right around the corner from Cinebar, where you can lay down the cheap drinks. -2 bar areas - one upstairs and one downstairs Cons: -Dance floor can be crowded. Since it's located upstairs, sometimes I wonder if the floor will one day collapse. I would be pissed if I fell to the first floor and lost the $12 drink I just bought. -Drinks are a bit expensive. What makes it worse is that shots and cocktails were served in plastic cups the last few times I've gone. Pretty cheesy in my book. If I'm paying $10+ for a drink, it better be served in a glass!! -Security is always telling you can't stand here, you can't stand there, and then they proceed to shine their flashlights directing the cluster of people to keep walking. I suppose it's good that they want to keep areas uncongested....and for safety reasons as well. It's still annoying though - they just keep pointing their flashlights and telling you to move. If the club is crowded, you have to keep scooting around to find a clear spot. It's almost like a chicken trying to find a clean place to poop in an overcrowded coop.
(3)Hugo V.
Do the owners think that their "Loft Bar" is in Las Vegas? That can be the only explanation for their ridiculous prices on beers and mixed drinks. Here is my gripe, i was there last night celebrating a friends going away gathering. I buy a round of drinks for FOUR people, two Coronas, a Jack and Coke and a Jager RedBull, why oh why did the tab come out to $37? Because, according to the receipt that I still have I was charged $7 per Corona, $10 for a premium whiskey mixed drink (since when is Jack Daniels a premium alcohol?) and $13 for my Jager Redbull. Seriously THIRTEEN dollars? That's how much I pay for the same drink in Vegas. Utterly ridiculous. What made me even more upset was the inconsistency of the prices being charged for the drinks. When my friend bought me my next Jager RedBull, he was only charged $12 WTF? I have this receipt as well. The atmosphere is ok as well as the music, but the main beef is with how expensive their drinks are. NOTE TO MANAGEMENT: Out of all the Bars and Clubs in San Jose, LOFT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE! This is not Las Vegas, bring your prices down to reasonable levels like all your competitors around you. Last time I hang out at the LOFT, unless I hear of some changes. I'm telling everyone that I know to stay away from this rip off joint. Right down the street, Dive Bar has top shelf mixed drinks for $7 to $8 a pop. OK, REVIEW TIME Updated 6/15/10 All right, so I was forced to come back to this POS joint for a friends bday party. Why he chose this lousy spot beats me. Anyhow, I just wanted to say that this place was ridiculously crowded. I'm sure its a fire and safety hazard to have that many people jam packed in there. Prices for drinks are still outrageous. Its usually about half the price of a bottle what you pay for one drink. People, avoid this place. There are so many better places to party and drink. LOFT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Lacey H.
I really love this place. The bread and dipping sauce is delicious. My caprese salad was light and fresh and perfect for lunch. Just bought a $25 gift certificate on Restaurants.com for $5 (thanks Borders)! Looking forward to having dinner there this week :) (February 19, 2009) - Changed my review from a 4 to a 3. Food wasn't all that awesome. Atmosphere is great - will definitely come again.
(3)J L.
Always satisfied. The place is always FREE! Its been open for quite some time now. They check your ID and usually ask for a second ID (like a credit card to see if the names match). The alcohol is OVERPRICED for such a small amount. The shot glasses are now these plastic cups (almost like those medicine cups) and the drinks aren't that strong. They do play good beats 90% of the time, but i recommend you predrink before coming here. The dance floor is small, but there is an outdoor patio (upstairs) usually reserved for bottle service.
(4)K H.
3.5 stars - for the night life, not food ... Each time we come here to hang out or have a birthday or something, it's an interesting experience. Sometimes we can reserve the whole patio area, sometimes we can't. Here's the lowdown... *really good music (yay!) *it's almost always crowded *pretty casual *not a bad crowd, sometimes mixed...sometimes 90% Asian.. *no space to dance *BO =x *you can't smoke on the patio - wtf ...but we still get drunk and have a good time, ha.
(3)Michael C.
I've come to Loft several times in the past mainly for drinks, but every once in a while for something to eat. The food isn't too bad, but it also isn't all that great either. I like the atmosphere of the place, and it definitely gives downtown San Jose a classy place to just unwind and have a few drinks. This last time I went, I had meatloaf with a wedge salad. The wedge salad was a bit heavy on the dressing, so I'll have to remember to ask them to go easy on it next time. It was basically drowning in the bleu cheese dressing. Also, I think someone made a mistake because it was a wedge of cabbage, and not lettuce, but I didn't really pay attention until I was nearly done with it, but didn't really say anything... The meatloaf wasn't too bad either, but nothing great. It was interesting that they could make it look like a slab of steak though. My cousin and my co-worker both thought I had ordered a steak at least. We also ordered quesadilla and crispy calamari appetizers. The calamari was tasty, but heavy on the garlic, so if you're out on a date, I would steer clear of it. The quesadillas were a bit disappointing though. A lot of tortilla, but it was a bit too crispy, and the cheese was pretty minimal. I would have liked it to be a little greasier. Our server was pretty accommodating, considering that it was pretty busy the night we were there, but she came back just about the right number of times to check up on us. I would give a 3-star rating, but considering my last several visits being very good, I would give it one extra star, and consider this last time as a fluke.
(4)Carolyn P.
We had a gift certificate to eat here and that's the only reason we will ever eat here again. The food was not impressive at all. I could have made a better meal from food in my fridge. The service was not so friendly either. I still have a gift certificate but I think I'll go to their other restaurant, Capers, next time.
(1)Linh D.
I came here for the food, and it was okay. Meh, to say the best. I like how the portions of the salad are huge, but it was something that I could have made at home. However, the drinks are a different story. My friend and I got the white gummy bear drink, mine was super sweet like high fructose corn syrup, and hers was strong as heck. What the h-e-double hockey sticks?! It made me drink 4 glasses of water just to get that sugar diluted. Hire bartenders who can whip together a drink, and maybe I'll be back.
(3)Holly W.
4.25 espresso. Nuff said.
(3)april h.
I like the place to hang out in, but as far as food goes..... Way over priced. A mediocre vegetable pasta for over $15? So not worth it. Drinks are also astronomical. And there is only one thing on the menu for vegetarians (aforementioned vegetable pasta). I'll come to hang out if my friends want to go here, but I won't order anything (except water!).
(2)Leon A.
Cool place. I go here with my friends, it's awesome.
(5)Anna G.
I may have went on a bad night because it seems like my friend really enjoys this place haha. Anyways, the place itself is pretty snazzy. Nice decor and I like the fact that theres a place to chill downstairs and a place to dance upstairs. (stairs are not good for those who are drunk and need to descend..) When I went to this place, it was full of pedophiles I swear. Maybe it was too early but we bounced as we didn't want old people grinding up on us. The only complaint I have about this place is the price! $15 bucks for silverbacks? Ridiculous. AND the bartender didn't even make our drinks correctly! *sigh* However, this place always gets long lines so I would go back and give it a shot again.
(3)Emergencydpt.com e.
Valentine's Day Massacre. We booked our table on opentable.com . Hostess was poised and seated us immediately. We were seated on the roof, a canvass converted indoor-ish area. The busser came immediately with water and bread. We were packed in tightly. The noise level was quite high. Our server was efficient but uninformed that the kitchen had run out of the lamb shanks so she made a second pass at the table so we could reorder filets instead. The cosmo arrived tepid. I mean really then, what's the point? The server did not deliver the drinks or food. She checked in literally two seconds after the food arrived but otherwise did not return until we had pushed away our plates. We skipped desert. Nothing specific was suggested. We weren't offered coffee. We ordered the crab cake app which normally sells for $12.95 but was a Valentines Day "Special" at $18.95. The order consisted of two smallish cakes resting on a bed of field greens. We both liked the crab cakes but they were not well paired with the thin lemon butter caper dressing. The filet mignon (normally $28.95) was on special for $33.95. They arrived in a very reasonable time but were probably just a little undercooked for what we ordered. Medium should be pink and warm in the center. These were pink and cool. However they were well seasoned and practically fell apart on your tounge. The garlic mashed potatoes did not come with gravy so we both used the 'cabernet dipping sauce' in that role. It tasted like gravy to me. The potatoes seemed to have been missed by the garlic fairy. However it could have been so sublte to have been overshadowed by the 'dipping sauce'. I'm not sure. The mixed vegitables were stand out. Corn cut from the cob, snap peas, waffle cut carrots and were deliciously salty and spicy and not a bit overcooked. The usual menu was truncated and the prices were increased for Valentines Day. I suspect there were more tables added then usual but I've never been there before so I could be mistaken. Perhaps they always pack their guests in rubbing seat backs. The decor was sparse on the roof but warm and romantic inside (if a bit crowed). The noise level was uncomfortably loud. Less tables and more plants would have made the date more romantic and quieter. Nothing was exactly bad about the experience but with the shortened menu and increased prices, I felt like I had been taken advantage of. We certainly didn't get anything extra for the rather steep increase in prices from the normal menu.
(2)Herb R.
Freedom of speech is okay here right? Because for the next essay type explanation will be nothing but 1 star worthy for the club/bar area. I came here last night to celebrate my birthday, came a in a good time before the rush of the thirsty maniacs got there. place seemed like it wasn't going to be crowded but to me, I didn't care because I'm here to celebrate. So few drinks were passed, I got silly, drank some more, danced, chatted with friends and enjoyed my damn time at this place...what I dont get was, when I went downstairs to look for some of my friends..I WAS ESCORTED OUTSIDE because they think that I had one too many. OKAY, forgive me for having one too many but wow isn't it a place to dance, get silly, and DRINK? Does loft hire bouncers/security men to control and stabilize and NOT TO KICK people out? I wasn't the only one, my friend also got kicked out who was truly genuine when a bouncer (sorry I don't care what your P.C. title is but you're a mere asshat who doesn't make much money) he said that he had one too many but will drink some more and he was not let back in AND HE HAS HIS CREDIT CARD WITH THEM STILL and won't let him get it. That's not the only reason why this place deserves one star, I thought they hire bouncers to stabilize crowd control? no no no no.....helll no they hired the wrong people apparently. My friend's eye got lacerated by some guy for no reason and they didn't even care what happened. Wouldn't you see/investigate who did such injustice?If I was the hiring manager for this place, I would definitely overhaul it and fire these asshats ASAP. I don't know why I keep coming back here because this would be the 3rd time I was asked to leave in the last year. LOFT you SUCK, your security/bouncer crew definitely needs to be booted off. You're drawing out people who obviously wants to spend some money......so sad. so sad.
(1)Naomi Y.
Dang it. I had a really great dining experience the first time I came here but the second time... not so much. The manager served our table and he was soooo slow... I ordered the Cajun Ahi Tuna ($23.95) again. It wasn't as good as the last time. This time the soy glaze was jelly... As if it was old and jellied over... I don't know.. It was gross. When the manager brought the complimentary bread and butter, instead of oil and vinegar, he brought balsamic vinaigrette(for the salads) to dip out bread in.. Eeeewwww... I asked for oil and vinegar and then he brought the same friggin salad dressing!!! Wow.. maybe he wasn't the manager.. maybe he was the supervisor but seriously he can't tell the difference??!! So after the manager set our food on the table he never checked up on us after that. Then I suppose he transferred our table to a server (Natalie) and she never checked on us. I had to walk up to the bar to give them my credit card and then she set the bill on the table so that everyone could see it.. I was trying to be discreet.. DUH! Other items we ordered: Panko Crusted Chicken $15.95 Chicken Parmigiana $15.95 Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich $12.95 Total bill: $74.48 for four people I say that this was an ok experience. I do like their chicken dishes. I have to give it to them for having good flavor for every dish I have tried here. It just sucks that the service doesn't match the price tag.
(3)buttercup r.
This review is for dinner only. I'd made reservations for a group of 14, and they were nice when I called to tell them it would be between 12 and 15. No problem. When I realized we were going to be late, I called them about 5 minutes before we should have been there. We got there probably 30 minutes late, but this wasn't a problem and we were seated immediately with courtesy. Our waters were refilled, plates taken away on time, and we were asked if we needed anything else in the middle of the meal. Nice job. I got the chicken wrap with fries (you can also get it with fruit salad or caesar salad). It was very good, and I am particular about my meat. Satisfying to bite into, with fresh lettuce and tomato. The fries were good too, and trust me I've had bad fries - it is possible to mess them up. The atmosphere Is very cozy. I would think this place is good for both dates and large groups. Low lighting, but not so dark you can't see your food. Prices are average.
(4)Francis B.
So, Finally I have a chance to write a review about the Loft, This review base on Club night. So there no cover. Thats awesome There music is good, The ladys kinda look more classy here. The bar tenders are super super friendly. I think the manager name is Adam he like what he does and he goes above and beyond customer Service and also his crew. Sooo Tip your bartenders.
(5)Phoenix D.
Jaw-Dropping Disrespect... if this is how MANAGEMENT treats their VIPs then i don't even wanna know how they treat their normal customers... i've only been here on thursdays (5 in a row now) to support one of my best friends... we usually drop a pretty penny, to the point where the downstairs bartender points at me and asks "another saphire and tonic?" Excellent food... Fantastic wait staff... Superior drink crafters... but... BUT... i could do without the attitude from management/security... seriously, WTF?!?!? i'm there as one of the djs best friends and i get treated like a nuisance... mind you this is after dropping $200+ on dinner and drinks... and bringing in 7 people who wouldn't have ever stepped foot in the joint... i was VIP... and i was treated with so much disrespectful attitude that i actually plan on going back and explaining to the manager that he is the one and only reason that the establishment will never see another penny from me... or anyone i know... i'm currently trying to convince my friends to stop playing there... you don't treat people like that... PERIOD! especially regulars... ESPECIALLY regulars who spend lots of money and bring in more patrons... it's a shame because the food is ridiculously delicious & the bartenders actually know what they are doing... a damn shame...
(1)Janet D.
I was just here Friday and it was a lot of fun. They had a happy hour between 1030p-11:30p and it was well worth it. Tequila sunrises for $6 dollars score! The white gummy bear drink not so much but shots were also $6. It's one of a few clubs that have no cover charge and mostly friendly security guys. It is my friends go to dance clubs in the downtown area. The male to female ratio is like 20 to 1 but if you've got a great wing-woman it's pretty safe to enjoy dancing with your homies without being harassed too terribly.
(4)La C.
I went here for the first time tonight and I LOVED it. The ambiance is great -- shabby modern in a very tasteful way with exposed brick and all that. It's very comfortable, intimate and festive with strands of mini lights everywhere. I could see how it might get loud if it was crowded, but the crowd was sparse on this night. Our waitress Jenny was as good as it gets -- smart, attentive and fast. After seeing the extensive menu, I was a little worried -- sometimes restaurants with so many options don't excel at any one thing. But the Loft delivered! The steak cubes appetizer was cooked perfectly according to our request (half medium rare, half well done). The shrimp avocado wrap was fantastic and large -- we took half of it home. The crab cakes entree was great too. We ordered the white chocolate creme brulee for dessert. We were disappointed about its diminutive size, but found it to be very rich and actually just about the perfect portion for two people to share at the end of an already-filling meal. I would recommend this place without hesitation during the quiet midweek. We'll be back again, maybe on a busier weekend just to check it out then. We'll definitely go back on another school night!
(5)Jessica B.
I gave it an extra star because the manager was friendly... otherwise, it would have only earned 1 star. I went for an early happy hour with a friend and was sadly disappointed after hearing such great things about their dinner menu. The drinks were weak, the food was SO bland. We had the turkey sliders (which weren't really sliders at all but rather sliced turkey meat with a piece of lettuce and a slice of over-ripe avocado. No sauce or other flavoring at all) and the chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla came with a very small dish of pico-de-gallo which had zero spice and could have been mistaken for a dish of tomatoes. We didn't even finish a third of either dish, which the manager noticed and commented on. My friend shared that we were very disappointed with how bland the food was when their dinner items have always been quite good. He said he would pass the information along to the chef and promptly handed us our bill. I won't be going back regardless, but I don't expect that the happy hour appetizers will improve at all. We each ordered a Ketel and club soda (which does not qualify as a happy hour drink so we paid full price) which was VERY weak. I couldn't bring myself to order a second because why pay $7 for a glass of club soda? Scratch another place off the list of San Jose happy hour spots. I'm still in search of one I like but am quickly losing faith that such a place exists. UPDATE!! PLEASE READ!!! I am going to stick with the 2 stars but I have to mention that I received a remarkable message from the manager (to whom I referred in my original post) responding to my review. In summary, he remembered serving us and apologized that we were disappointed with our experience. He said that he did in fact pass along our feedback to the Executive Chef and that they intend to review their happy hour menu and make some adjustments. With 1100 reviews for the Loft, I think his response speaks to the dedication of the management and kitchen team and their desire to provide a positive experience to its customers. I would add a star for excellent customer service and have put it back on my list to try for dinner as I hear the food is quite enjoyable.
(2)Jovi C.
10:30 p.m. and Justine and I needed some food before hitting some spots. We noticed this place was open and still serving food. We were seated upstairs and outside, which was fine and dandy... until we realized that we walked into the Twilight Zone. In the span of about 5 minutes, it went from chill restaurant with outdoor seating on the roof to some sort of meat-market, DJ-spinning, dance club. WTF! I can't tell you how freaking retarded it was to order a $17 meal and having to eat it surrounded by loud, obnoxious people dancing and squealing to the sounds of Usher. Justine and I looked at each other and were like, "What the f?@#* just happened??" I guess we didn't understand the vibe of this place, and got the hell out of there ASAP. It was so weird though! One minute, chill restaurant, and next minute the scene totally changed! What the hell? Anyway, reviewing the food.... From what I ate of my meatloaf, it was good. The only reason it gets two stars was that the food (although overpriced) was good, and the waitress was really really nice and felt sorry for us, so she gave us two gift cards for free appetizers next time we come in ---- if we ever come in again. Certainly not on a Saturday night though!
(2)Khai T.
I've been to Loft once, and I'm sold!!! When I went it was a Thursday night, and the place was packed by 11pm. The second floor has a dancefloor, and the happy hour isn't too bad. I dig the music they play here. As mentioned before they play new hits, and 90's hits which makes for great fun. If you bring a friend or two along, also like dancing, and aren't shy to approach women, then this is a great place to go to in SJ. Shall be back
(4)Vincent N.
Probably one of my favorite places to go to in downtown San Jose. There's no cover but you need to bring at least two types of id (ex. drivers license + credit card). Drinks are pretty pricey and the crowd is mostly dudes...a negative for me for obvious reasons. Also this place has an outdoor patio and a decent sized dance floor upstairs but is always packed. Like you can barely walk anywhere throughout the place. Also the crowd is mostly asian. A good place to go to after you've had a few drinks and feel like dancing. From what I remember the music was pretty decent...
(3)Vincent S.
Just gave it one star. Mann this ain't New York. Why does Jack and Coke and Midori Sour cost $26.00 and the bartender expects a tip. Give me a break.
(1)Kristi C.
BEWARE! This place is unprofessional and disrespectful. I booked this place "6 months" in advance to host my wedding rehearsal dinner. I communicated with the event manager and even the owner of the place through chains of emails making it crystal clear that I wanted to host my rehearsal dinner out in their patio. And let me make this as clear as I was when I booked this place, the primary selling point of this place for me was "the patio." I was pretty excited and looking forward to hosting my party there, until only "one week" before my rehearsal, I get an email from The Loft informing me that the patio was double booked for a larger party and they can only accommodate us in a semiprivate area space in their stinky, dark dining room. I was so upset... for one, I booked this place 6 months prior to my event and I even looked at their event calendar and didn't notice another party on that same day. Secondly, I was communicating with both the owner and manager...how can they say these two events just slipped through the cracks? Thirdly, this is not just any dinner.. it was planned for my wedding rehearsal party... and they didn't have the respect to inform me of this issue until "ONE WEEK" before my wedding. Lastly, after the event manager informed me about the situation, all he can say was "Well, I can through in some additional appetizers and some creme bruee." Honestly, everyone knows that girls aren't going to eat anything the day before their wedding. Did this guy really think that some chicken wings and a creme bruee was going to make everything okay! I am usually a very clam and reasonable person, but this place really upset me. They made it seem as though they could just push me aside... and I am assuming this....because I had a much smaller party the other one. But I still feel that... first come, first serve...no matter what! Also, even though they double booked... the owner should at the very least have informed me sooner than a week they had an issue. Well, it all turned out in the end. We decided to host our rehearsal dinner at Il Fornaio in San Jose. They are so amazing and wonderful with everything. So I guess there was a happy ending to this drama... we had a great time at a much brighter and lively place!
(1)Alex T.
I actually wanted to give it 3.5 stars but oh well. This is a great place to just grab a small bite and a couple drinks. Me and my lady typically sit at the bar, order our usual drinks and always get the carpaccio. It taste good, and is just what you need to get a quick filler. They have other food that is mediocre, but I typically stick to the appetizers. At night this place gets pretty crowded and turns into a bar/club. Not bad if you dont want to pay for entrance fee, and wanna chill with some friends. Watch out though, different bartenders charge different amounts for drinks.
(4)Catherine L.
I only like going here to drink becuase they have yummy mojitos I've eaten here twice and both times were bleah - i don't remember what i had the first time, but the 2nd time i ordered the chicken marsala in hopes that it would be as delicious as buca di peppo's..... it was inedible (and for me, that's saying a lot!!!!) it was dry and not tasty and after one or two bites i gave up =(
(3)J U.
NOTE: This review is only for the bar upstairs. I've been here twice and neither time was good. Security at the front door does a much longer sweep over your ID than usual and makes you feel like theres something wrong with it. And then comes the MANDATORY DRESS CODE. Nothing with a hood is allowed, and neither is baggy pants. I'm not the one to wear ill-fitting clothes, but I had on a very fashionable jacket with a hood and was forced to either take it off or TUCK IN the hood! If you want drinks under $10, this is not the place. One drink, and I was already out $12 dollars (a very weak Mojito at that). And if you complain about the weakness of their drinks, as my friend did, you are told to either pay more or deal with it. The music is the only good thing around, and without other decent amenities, I may as well just listen to the radio.
(1)Tony L.
Came here for dinner and some drinks before the Improv. Service from the bartender upstairs was fantastic - she was friendly, attentive, and prompt. They have some of the BEST fries I've ever had, but the chicken poppers were mediocre. Drinks were good, although grossly overpriced. $11+ for a Goose Driver? That's more than the clubs!
(4)Lauren C.
My Yelp on Dinner I went there last night for my birthday. Hmmmm....where do I start? We were supposed to have roof top dining but didn't get it. The french bread that came to the table was okay. When I say okay..I mean blah!! The beef cubes and the calamari was decent. Nothing special. The chicken niblets were disgusting with a side of ketchup. Yummmy....being sarastic here!! Now to my main dish - the Chinese Chicken Salad. How can any restaurant mess this dish up? It's a disgrace to the Asian race. I mean the chicken cubes were hard. It looks like it was last night's chicken that has been sitting out for awhile. It was a plate of lettuce with some cube chicken and some fried rice noodles and a side of soy sauce. I guess I should of just left it there instead of having it packed up to go. Ended up just tossing it when I got home. I mean the internet has some really good recipes for Chinese Chicken Salad...they should definitely start surfing if they want to continue to serve good food. One friend ordered the crab cakes and he said it was good but not terribly excellent. Another friend ordered the chicken parmesan and he said on a scale from one to five, he would give it a 3. The overall dinner was average. On the positive side, I really loved the veggies and the mashed potatoes. The veggies were cooked to perfection. Would I go back? Nope....never.
(2)Junel L.
So this was our second stopped from our bar hopping experience in downtown san jose. So it was still dinner time by the time we came by it was around 930 ish, didnt get to see the second floor but the first floor is intimate, room lit with candles. Marvelous!! bartender was very attentive. Will either plan a company party here or a little get together with my close friends.
(4)Cathy M.
The Loft Bar and Bistro is the best kept secret in town. They have a great upstairs area and an outside patio. The food is better than any restaurants in downtown San Jose. The salmon, chinese chicken salad (you can even ask for it grilled) and the chicken quesadillas are delicious! The owner Kam is awesome. The bartender and waitresses are very nice. The manager Adrian has the best customer service skills ever. He is friendly and down to earth and wants to provide you outstanding service. I just worked with Adrian to throw a Retirement party for a gal at work. He worked with our budget, threw in a few extras, provided plates and folks to cut the cake, gave us boxes for the extra cake, provided a mic for our speeches and even let us use the white screen for our slide show. He went above and beyond to make sure our event was the BEST EVER. I highly, highly, highly recommend the LOFT Bar and Bistro for lunch, dinner or any special event. You will be very happen with the service, food and the special attention that you will receive.
(5)Bonnie L.
When making a reservation, if you can't get the patio, don't try at all! :( I had my 17th birthday dinner here with my friends, and I really wanted to try Loft, so I brushed off the fact that I couldn't get the patio, but guess what I got... I got the bottom floor, up against the wall. No, not even near the window. It was ugly where I was. :( Food was alright.
(2)Michael H.
The Loft Bar and Bistro, is exactly that - a loft that's been turned into a bar and bistro. This two-story complex offers a dining area, two bars, a patio, and a small dance floor. Although the Loft isn't that big, it hosts a dinner area, dance area, chill area, and drink area. The menu offers a wide variety of American cuisine, from salads to sandwiches to pasta to steak. Appetizers range from $9-$13 while entrees range from $14-24. It's difficult to order something on the menu. There's so much to pick from, along with the fact that nothing sounds that interesting or in simple terms: "yummy". Being that they focused on American cuisine, I ordered the meatloaf. The meatloaf comes with mixed stir fried veggies, meatloaf topped with gravy, and mashed potatoes. Everything was "nice", but it's ultimately forgettable. The menu stated that the meatloaf would be served with garlic mashed potatoes. This was not the case. On top of that everyone's mashed potatoes weren't topped with gravy. This made it pretty bland. The veggies are done al dente. Personally I would've liked them to be cooked a touch longer, but I don't really have any gripes with raw veggies. The meatloaf was pretty standard. I would definitely not come back here for entrees. We ordered two appetizers: string onions (fried onions) and calamari. Both were A-Ok. Dessert sizes are extremely tiny! Service was real nice and I was surprised at how well my glass was refilled. Complimentary bread is served with olive oil. Like always they over-ask if you'd like to order any drinks or appetizers (where all the real income comes from). Overall I was pleased with the service. Once the Friday night started, the clubbers started rolling in. The second floor hosted a DJ blasting music as if it were channeled straight from the radio. The music was way too loud, but maybe I'm getting too old for this. I like the fact that you can chill on the quiet patio or just sit around after dinner. We weren't pressured to buy anything either. ___ A nice place, with forgettable food. Stick to the appetizers and drinks on the patio.
(3)Megan L.
Ever since my first visit here, I have always enjoyed Loft Bar and Bistro. Their outdoor dining patio is quaint, and perfect for San Jose summers. Having dinner here is great, although I think the prices have gone up, even since I visited for dinner in March. I will say, though, don't do the cheesecake. The waitress recommended it, noting that it was in fact homemade in their own kitchen, the first time I ate here and it was a mistake. The cheesecake was so dry and crumbly, nothing like cheesecake should be. The next time I came, I had the chocolate, molten cake, and that was superb. Try going on a non-party night and you'll be able to enjoy the full experience of this place. Otherwise, you'll run into the party crowd looking to enjoy a night out for drinks and dancing. Love this place!
(5)John J.
I am never disappointed when I go to the Loft. Well, the only time is when I can't be seated at the patio because its full. This place is nice and elegant. Food is priced well. I super loved it when they first opened because not many people knew about the place. But now it has gotten so popular and it is my only complaint.
(4)James L.
Loft Bistro has just enough class for lunch / dinner and the nightlife of the club. I've had lunch here and on a nice day for lunch come outside to the patio area and enjoy a nice affordable lunch. For dinner i used the concept of restaurants coupon which works wonders and helps save some moola. My GF got this panko crusted chicken plate which was very good. There was a sauce that went with the chicken which was very delicious. Also had the carpachio (sorry spelling is off) for our appetizer. This was really good as the meat was cut so thin and placed on bread. There were some other sauce on it too but the combination of the flavors were really good. It made my taste buds tingle in a good way on this appetizer. The nigh-life here at loft, i actually enjoy because it is FREE. The people that usually go to loft dress pretty casual. The place in general has an upstairs and a downstairs, the dancing happens on the 2nd floor. There are two bars, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. Most of the time there is a good amount of people on a Friday or Saturday night. And to me, it's the best free nightlife place in Downtown SJ.
(3)Mia N.
I had my birthday dinner here last year since it was convenient (we were having bottle service at a club nearby after). The service was just alright. I don't remember the food very well so I guess there's nothing to write home about. Good place to have some drinks and food with your friends. I'd come back again.
(3)Chris K.
So I came here one night with George St Pierre and a mutual friend of ours. Pretty cool place. Not a fan of the stairs. I'd like to know how many people have fallen down those stairs while intoxicated. If you're looking for Asian people, this is the spot. It's like watching the Travel Channel. The drinks are pricier than other places. You're better off getting drunk somewhere else and coming here to socialize. The dance floor is gross. It's usually too packed. You'll end up getting your wallet stolen. Or step on someone's foot and start a fight.
(3)Sierra A.
I went there last Sunday for dinner with my husband. We were seated upstairs in there rooftop area. First of all, let me start by saying the service was excellent. Our sever (girl with long hair) and our busboy (tall man) were on top of everything and very friendly. Their quality of service surpassed the quality of food. The reason for this bad review is the food!!! Nothing was fresh! We knew we were off to a bad start when our drinks arrived. The limes placed on the glass were 1 or 2 days old. They were brown and dry. Most bars cut their fruit every morning. Obviously, this place does not. Our Ahi appetizer followed. The wasabi crumbled (old or it almost looked and tasted like it came from a powder base. Also, isn't Wasabi supposed to be hot?) The wedge salad was wilted and the tomatoes on it were soft and almost rotten. Advise to this restaurant; store your lettuce in water throughout the day to stay fresh. Then again, the lettuce was a couple of days old. Most likely, nothing would have helped. My entrée, the short-ribs, tasted average. I could have done a better job at home, especially with the mash potatoes. My husband's entree, the salmon, was very dry. We will never go back again. This restaurant should maybe focus on their nightclub aspect, rather than dining.
(2)Steve T.
Stopped by here prior to catching Russel Peters at the Improv. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but was actually pleasantly surprised. My girlfriend and I wanted to be and out of there quickly so we just ordered up two appetizers and a salad to share. Honestly, that was A LOT of food. We ordered the Smoked Salmon and Steak Bites appetizers and the Chinese Chicken Salad. Honestly, everything came out quickly and well prepared. The steak bites were quite tender and the cabernet sauce it came with was pretty tasty and didn't overpower the steak. The Chinese Chicken Salad looked like it would be pretty plain, but it was actually quite good... the chicken breast pieces were tender and well prepared... surprising, but true. The smoke salmon was probably the most in line with my expectations, but the honey mustard sauce that went along with the appetizer was an interesting, but surprisingly tasty touch. The space is mostly industrial looking and consists mostly of blacks, metal, and dark woods. It looks like it'd be a pretty good place to grab drinks after work or just to hang out for a few appetizers and drinks. I'd probably stop by here again. Overall, 3.5 stars. BTW, Russell Peters was hilarious tonight.
(4)stacy r.
*VEGETARIANS BEWARE* Last night my work unit went to The Loft for our annual holiday dinner. Bottom Line: Pricey food and not very vegetarian friendly. The restaurant is definitely for carnivores. They do have the single obligatory PC pasta dish on their dinner menu and a vegetable sandwich on their lunch menu. So, yes, they do offer...something. That being said, my dish was really awful. The meaty dishes were generous and beautiful looking...not sure how they tasted, but they looked good. My sorry dish of pasta was, well, sorry. The pasta was overcooked and mushy, and the sauce had no flavor at all (even though the dish apparently was cooked with onions, garlic, and pesto). I had to repeatedly salt and pepper my dish to make it edible. Keep in mind that my taste buds are sensitive andI like my food bland (but not tasteless). The dish also had zucchini and broccoli. ($15.95). Pasta is clearly not their forte'. It was so dissatisfying that I ordered a side of mashed potatoes...also not very tasty, which cost about $4.00 for a small plateful. I also ordered the tomato and mozzarella salad, drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette and pistachios. It was actually quite tasty, but four thin slices of tomato and four slices of cheese for $10.00 is, like I said, pricey. Oh, and they are apparently a popular bar. I have an alcoholic drink maybe once or twice a year. The drinks looked good, so I decided to order one. I first ordered a Mango Mojito at the recommendation of the waitress. The drink was not good. It tasted like peaches with mint...need I say more? So, she took it back and brought me a traditional Mojito...which was really bitter. I tried adding some sweet syrup, but it did not help, so sent it back too. Good thing, because it cost $11.00. The waitress was very nice, and tried to be helpful. However, she and the wait staff were almost never to be seen and hardly checked in on us. I would have given this place one star, had it not been for the fact that they let me call in advance and place a special meal order (the pasta dish on the menu sounded really unappetizing). All in all....$37.00 (including tax and tip) for a really bad meal. Just think, if I had had the drink it would have been a really bad $50.00 meal. Yikes! Would I return? Definitely not!!!
(2)Jeremy K.
I was here the past Thursday night and it really wasn't a great experience. My friends and I got there a little early, around 10pm. The crowd was a tad on the older side [my friends and I are all in our early 20's], but we figured that it was just the last leg of the businessmen out for a drink after work. The music was decent when we arrived but as the night went on it got worse. It must have been an off night because the whole time we were there the place was pretty empty. There was no line at the bar and the dance floor was only about 1/4 filled up, and keep in mind it's already a small dance floor. It was also a TOTAL SAUSAGE FEST. There must have been honestly about 10 -12 girls in there? And that's including the girls in my group. The only good things were that we didn't have to pay cover, the drinks were decent and watching this one old man, probably in his 60's, rock out on the dance floor looking like he trying to trying to play DDR. I would probably give it another go since there are some really good reviews for this place. Most likely on a Sat. One more thing to mention is that the bathrooms are pretty small and pretty soundproof. Only one stall and one urinal, so when you walk in there and there's a small line of guys waiting and the only sound you hear is another guy peeing....it's just awkward. They need thinner doors so the music filters in. hahaha.
(2)Marilou A.
I've had a wine tasting session, been to two catered banquets, and had more than my share of drunken nights at Loft. The wine tasting session was through my Wine Appreciation class at San Jose State University back in 2006. They served 3 different wines with samples of 3 dishes. The Loft representative was very informative and passionate about his position and the wine/food that was served. The two banquets that I went to were both upstairs and had about 40 attendees each. Both times they provided an awesome buffet selection. They had three entree selections including beef, chicken, and fish. The also provided several vegetable dishes, side dishes, and a beverage. I remember paying 30-35 for my meal... not bad considering the options. Definitely think about hosting a large party here at least once. There's no hope if you're trying to speak and make announcements, though. There's usually a DJ spinning or music playing on the speakers and the restaurant is pretty loud itself. I've only had a handful of bad experiences at the Loft when it comes to their nightlife. Their bartenders (especially the bald guy upstairs and the old guys downstairs) can be asshole-like at times. I know some people who have been lucky with them... but I stick to the bartenders to the left of the upstairs bar. The mojitos here are bomb and the music is hot on most nights. The patio area can smell like a sewer every once and again. Once the entire patio smelled like weed and the management came out to my party a couple of times to see if it was us. They even asked some of my homies to take their hands out of their pockets (like they would f*cking put anything that was lit into their pants). WTF. Haha. Other than a few random sucky late night moments, this place is cool. Good music, no strict dress code, cool people, no cover... and one of the only place in downtown SJ that I haven't been kicked out of yet! Holla.
(4)Rachel S.
Great food, great service. Really friendly servers are always quick to get your order and food to the table. I'm a fan of the calamari with jalapenos, never had it like that before, and the skirt steak wedge.
(5)David W.
Food here is decent. I had the chicken marsala and it was delicious. I really liked the rice that it came with primarily because it reminded me of the rice that I ate back in elementary school. As far as nightlife, it can get crowded. Some days are just a hit or miss. The only thing I disliked, depending on the dj, is that they don't mix the music. I noticed that they rewind the track and let a new track spin. I prefer real dj's that know how to mix songs. But I guess if you are drunk no cares right?
(3)Valerie Q.
Great place for dinner! I highly recommend the steak bites. They are delicious!!!! and the dipping sauce gives the steak bites a rich and juicy flavor.
(4)Nate H.
for the first time coming here, i was seated promptly to the bar since i was solo. browsed the menu which included seasonal additions, which is always nice to see restaurants keeping their menu fresh with new options. i had the daily soup, at the time which was chx veggie, and was craving something hot that specific night so it hit the spot as a starter. then ordered the cuban sandwich, that had sold me at pork tenderloin and pepper jack cheese( which was, from the taste of it, served on ciabatta, tasted really exceptional.) . in all, the bartender was attentive with the customers at the bar, and not picking favorites, (lingering with just one instead of the other customers like you see at some places.) and made the meal all worth while, when asked if she could make my drink with a personal favorite topping. i give this a 4 because this is only my first time and will consider that extra star once ive tried a good percentage of their up-to-date menu.
(4)Steve P.
Celebrated New Years Eve 2010 at Loft Bar & Bistro. I was skeptical as there were numerous poor reviews on Yelp. We had a wonderful evening though. The food was really good. On drinks...their Speak Easy was the tastiest we had all night. There is also a Mochatini that was an amazing coffee drink. On appetizers...the portions are pretty big and very tasty. On entrées...portions are again generous. The crab cakes are worth every penny and the seared ahi tuna salad was mouthwatering. Service was quite prompt. As the night wears on tables are removed to make a dance floor. DJ spun excellent hip-hop tunes to dance to. Sound system was quite adequate. Overall, we had a great time despite previous poor reviews here on Yelp.
(4)D M.
REVIEW for the RESTAURANT So, I've got a 100 dlls gift certificate for the Loft, I decided to give it a try for Valentine's. My husband and I arrived around 6pm, it wasn't busy and the staff was very friendly. The 5dlls flat rate parking lot across the street is very convenient. The decor was nice and the music was also very relaxing. They had a special menu for valentines which was VERY EXPENSIVE for what it was..In fact was a bit ridiculous and while ordering We lost track of how much it was, the drinks where very expensive also..10 dlls for Martini although I have to admit they were very descent and not watered down. The Damage was: 162 dlls!!!!!!!! for 2 people? really? We had : -A scotch whiskey + Asmtel light beer -2 lemon drop martinis -Fried calamari -steak bites -Surf and Turf dish -Filet Mignon -and some little dessert The taste of the food was pretty average. I don't know but I have been at better restaurants and is never that much. I have no complaints about the staff, they were really really nice but the prices for their food..just too much. I will not come back to eat here again.
(2)Will S.
Out of some of the spots I've been to around Downtown San Jose, I'd note this place as a good spot for night life. Our group (party of 6) got there around 1030-11pm, I think, and there was a short line. I thought it was a bit odd though that when we got to the front of this short line we still had to wait a while. Also, the bouncer for some reason wanted to check my credit card, just to see some second form of ID. Whack. At least there was NO cover. The dress code wasn't that bad either. A good amount of people were dressed up and some got away with wearing sneakers in this place. So when we got in, immediately you enter the bar and the dining area on the 1st floor. Up the stairs you see another bigger bar to the left, crowded with people getting drinks (what else is new?) and the moderately sized dance floor to the right, with a DJ hiding around the corner. I noticed almost everybody (75%) were Asian. I don't know about you but I prefer to see some diversity at the places I visit. And the ratio of girls to guys seemed to be a good 2:1. The music was enjoyable, most of it being from today, but I wish the DJ played some stuff from the 90's. The drinks were well made but I didn't care too much for their prices. For a Jack and Coke and a Amaretto Sour, I paid $14. We stayed until 130am because we just got tired and someone from our group said there were a few creepers roaming around. Overall, I thought it was nice place to go after dinner. It reminded me of Deco's at the Gaslamp (Downtown San Diego). And there's something about having a bar/ club on the upper floors of a building that produces good vibes. Check it out if you get a chance.
(4)Milicent A.
Cute bouncer: "How old are you?" Me:".......21" Cute bouncer: "Have a good night!" Me: "Sh*t guys I almost said 22!" ANYWAY, went here on a Friday night...Let's just say I looked like everyone else that night if you catch my drift...not a diverse crowd that night, yet not ghetto which is always good :) the venue itself is pretty nice. a bit more "classy." bathrooms were super clean. we were upstairs most of the time where the bigger dance floor was. when we first got there, no one was dancing, but it eventually got packed. always lame, but the most annoying guy to enter my life was there and the sardine packed crowd was only good for me to GET AWAY :) HEHE DJ that night wasn't too bad at all. there was another room with another dj to the side of that dance floor...but didn't stay in there. bouncers are chill..staff was actually kinda cute! HAHA...just don't stand anywhere for too long. "keep it going!" other than that the place was not too bad. You don't pay cover, but drinks were a bit more expensive than other places. Beers were about 6...paid 7 for some shot. my raging bull was had HELLA ice in it. overall, had a good night because i was with my girls! i'd go again, but maybe a different night. btw, make sure to bring 2 IDs (they check 2 just to show if you really ARE 21) and if they ask your age, make sure you're not to drunk to ALMOST forget :)
(3)Mary G.
After much hype from friends and for the cost of the meal, I was disappointed with dinner. Baked halibut was dry and the spicy Cajun blackened chicken was "blah". Their calamari and wine were only things enjoyable. Better options are in walking distance.
(2)Jonas S.
Came here for lunch with a $25 gift certificate although Ive been coming since they opened and had nice experiences before. The first 10 minutes was great then it collapsed. Ordered the crab cakes, got the popcorn chicken by mistake which was average. The Prawn Salad was BORING lettuce, shrimp and onions. Throw in some color, some spice, I had to ask for some blue cheese to spice it up! Got a refill on iced tea after asking for it even though a server refilled other people's iced tea. I couldn't really blame the waiter as the manager was around helping. In fact I would have to blame the manager (wearing tie). The waiters looked poorly trained and managed, they were all over the place. The patio had 3 waiters, 1 bus boy and the Manager supporting only 6 tables and the service was still bad and no iced tea refills. That is ridiculous! I like this place, they just need to get it together! I think I figured it out, they are just way too casual and disorganized and it shows.
(2)Stacy F.
I have been to The Loft twice now and the food and atmosphere is top notch! I can't say enough about this place... The 1st time I went to The Loft, I was attending a wedding reception. The appetizers and main course were served in a buffet style. I wasn't sure what to expect since buffet style sometimes is not that great but... The calamari was amazing, my husband went back for "fourths." The main courses, steak and salmon were out of this world. This was buffet style! I just went back last night... I had the salmon pesto and it was sooooo good. The fish was prepared perfectly, the vegetables were so good, I just really like this restaurant. I am going back for sure and telling everyone I know... Check out this place on 2nd street! Why are places like BJs and PF Changs at Oakridge packed when there is really amazing food at the same price in downtown San Jose? People need to wake up and get some good cuisine!
(5)Erika M.
I was kinda iffy about this place. To be honest, I had heard that it was "where all the asians go." lol. And I have absolutely no problem with that, I guess I just didn't wanna feel out of place. But this place was a lot better than I expected. I went with a whole bunch of coworkers, and it turned out to be a really fun night. No cover charge, which is awesome. Although some drinks seemed a little high. This place gets really packed, so I definitely suggest coming early. The dance floor upstairs can get pretty crowded, and can get really hot and humid. That would probably be my only complaint. Overall pretty good place for no cover charge.
(3)Donna Z.
Note to self: "Rooftop" is covered...and actually has its own roof. The drinks were delicious. The company was fun. The balsalmic vinegar concoction that came with the bread could be sold in a store...it's that good. I'll be back...for bread and drinks. As is the case for lots of places downtown...don't come here if you're actually hungry.
(4)Brittany L.
I love the atmosphere of this place. Most employees seem youthful and energetic, and ofcourse friendly. Food is great, I definitely love the desserts. A good place to go out with friends, or on a date. I will come back to eat and drink here for sure.
(5)Zakk D.
Every so often, I let my friends convince me to go out and sample the "nightlife" of downtown San Jose. In reality, its to see what hellhole some club owner thought to put out here. Not that it's not close by, to wit, I live 3 blocks from it. My downtown chastity is completely self-imposed. But every so often, I venture out into the lameness that is my backyard and sample the pitiful and ridiculous fare it offers. My night at the Loft was no different. Walking up to the door, the requisite bouncer with an attitude is sitting there. Two forms of ID? Come awn. After having to dig around for more ID, our whole party gets in and is herded upstairs. The upstairs is a mass of humanity of women old enough to know they can't wear that with guys doing their best to look tough and like they aren't having a good time. I mean, what "cool guy" is at a dance club having a good time!? DJ Train-Wreck is there with the mixing ability of a chimp that found a crack pipe, busting out the funky rhymes. Actually, they just sucked. His style sucked, mixing sucked, his track selection must have been from Stevie Wonder picking out the CD's. The "dance floor" however, was grossly small. The bartenders were good. The pours were generous. Drinks were good, and service was quick. Between the bar hands and the wonderful friends there with me, that is the ONLY reason this place is getting two stars. Everything else sucked. *sigh* Another wasted night of my life. I could have spent it plucking nose hairs out of a rabid skunk. Such is life.
(2)Christina C.
Why do people in the South Bay like going to this place so often at late hours?! It always has a weird mix of people from 20's up to late 40's. One night there was a SJ Repertoire theater event where one half the downstairs bar was cordoned off. Despite the already slow bar service notorious at this place, getting only half the bar space increased the drink wait time by 10 minutes. I recommend the upstairs bar has a bench area which makes it easy to people watch and close to bathrooms and the dance floor. The DJ that night was so terrible even I had a hard time staying awake and/or dancing. This bar actually has a really awesome layout and even an outdoor patio with a separate DJ at late hours. If I was 21 and had my formfitting t-shirt dress on that showed my ass every time I made any sudden movements with my steve madden 4 inch stilettos, I'd probably come here to make out with some white guy with an asian fettish before stumbling home.
(2)Alex W.
Loft is an amazing place for group dinners. We just had our holiday team dinner at the loft and the service, food, and decor was absolutely amazing! It's tough to wow a group of event planners, but that's just what they did. Our server Jenny kept the whole group of 16 satisfied through the whole night and made sure we had everything that was needed to enjoy the night. The food was absolutely exceptional. I had the lamb shank and the meat was mouth watering and perfectly paired with the house red wine. The manager even came by to check on us several time to make sure everything was going smooth. I use to love coming here for the night club scene, but now will definitely be coming back for dinner, too!
(5)Chris C.
Was in Downtown San Jose when the fiance and I decided to stop at Loft Bar and Bistro for dinner because it was someplace the fiance always wanted to try. Loft Bar is one of those trendy upscale bar. They do have a decent old fashion look to their decor done with a little bit of class. Loft is really divided into 3 sections, the bottom area that's pretty much just a bar, the upstairs which is dining, and the patio area. Since we got here around 6PM we went upstairs and decided to look over the menu for dinner. Food style here is upscale american bistro. So expect things like crab cakes, grilled steak, salmon, different types of upscale salads, and upscale version of sandwiches. Because this is an upscale place, prices reflex it too. Most items, including appetizers start at $8. So for appetizers and salads it's between $8 - $15, sandwiches & burgers $10 - $13, and main courses $15 - $30. We looked over the menu and I put in an order for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Fries and the Fiance got the Grilled Veggie Sandwich and the Salad. We also put in an order of drinks, I got a beer that they had on tap and she got the mango mojito. Drinks came out pretty quick. My beer was a decent size and it's hard to screw up a beer, so mine was ok. Here mango mojito was very good. We chatted for a while and out came the sandwiches. Portion wise, very nice, half a sandwich was plenty. My sandwich was ok, the chicken was a bit dry and over cooked. Her sandwich was good, she really liked how they grilled the veggies. The fries were good, some of the better fries I've had in a long time and her salad was decent. We wrapped things up and got the bill. Damn for a 2 sandwiches, a beer, and a mojito including tip, the bill came out to be about $53. Her mojito was about $13! I was think $7 or $8 especially considering this was a week day during happy hour, but $13???!! It was good, but no F-ing way it was that good. And just so you know, they don't print the prices of mixed drinks or beer on the menu. So overall, the food was good, but way way overpriced. The service was friendly but nothing special. Normally I would give a place like this 3 stars, but charging $13 for a mojito and the price of dinner was way overpriced, I knock them down 1 star. So 2 star rating and the only reason to come here is if you got plenty of cash and want to be seen in a trendy upscale place that doesn't print prices on their menu for their drinks and doesn't offer happy hour specials.
(2)Jana A.
A possible alternative to temple? perhaps... it doesn't get as crowded as temple... but then their music isn't as good... pretentious... wasn't fond of that... asian invasion... wasn't fond of that... i thought that it was odd that they ask the young ones for 2nd forms of id... maybe they got narked on previously for letting little tricks in.... drinks were eh... didn't hang upstairs too much... it's much easier to just stay downstairs at the bar and have the bartendar within arm's reach... i do however like the upstairs patio... if i ever do a private party, i would keep this place in mind... but for now 2 stars for nightlife...
(2)Shari B.
Ok I'll make this short and sweet. The number one reason that I like the Loft Bar and Bistro is because the people who go here are not ghetto. It's one of the few places in downtown SJ where a working professional can go to. I'm a working professional and thought that downtown San Jose would be filled with bars of professional people b/c of Adobe and the other companies in the area. I quickly found out that was NOT the case. In most of the bars/clubs here people are ghetto and you know there are definitely gang members with their wife beater shirts and hair in ponytails at most other places. Scared the crap out of me when I first went to dance club in the area! Yes, there's a lot of shy guys and girls hanging in groups but if you are looking for a nice place where you feel safe to dance with your friends the Loft bar is the place. Also the food is pretty good to and they have good drink specials.
(4)Kimberly B.
Came here for happy hour yesterday and got minor food poisoning last night. Enough said.
(2)Spencer H.
Best place to go in downtown SJ for sure. Granted it isn't saying much but it's still pretty good. First of all, no cover. 2nd, they have a solid dance floor upstairs and a lounge area on the first floor as you walk in. The drinks there are reasonably priced and have almost anything you can think of. The music is always rocking well here and there is no dress code. A must go stop if you are interested in hitting up a free and fun dance environment.
(4)M. E.
My party was looking for a chill yet fun place to welcome 2008. I had a great experience here for my birthday dinner before as well (manager or chef came out to say 'hi'). We were hard pressed to find a place in downtown San Jose without running into the frat kids or "amateurs" on the biggest party night of the year, nevermind other clubs' inflated cover charge just to get in the door (um.. you're not a San Francisco club). Loft was perfect. People were a little more dressed up as was their attitude. Found a cozy spot at the bar for all of us. Service was always Johnny-on-the-spot. I was even honored with a complimentary Crowne and Coke. We were ordering lotsa' cocktails after all. Most importantly, the females in our group were comfortable the whole night. No moron lurkers on the dance floor! See you next year?!
(5)yael w.
If you are over 18, want to keep your hearing good as it is, and see no point in observing a collection of bimbos dancing, cross that, shaking assorted body parts to the sounds of extremely loud (bad) music, maybe you should consider going... elsewhere. The bread was stale and the drinks... well, if you are 18 or under, you may be fooled with the non-existent alcohol in your drinks. The rum was watered down to the point of extinction. 2 mojitos came and went, leaving nothing behind... (other than the bill that is). Don't go. One compliment: the design is nice. Totally fooled us. We expected a grownups bistro- the dcor sort of implied it, or at least fooled us to expect it. Our mistake.
(1)J. J.
I like the Loft Bar and Bistro. It's always been a pleasant place to catch dinner and a drink or two before hitting the late show at the comedy club next door. Additionally, I must rave about the service and help we received from (I'm guessing manager and assistant manager) a couple of weeks ago. One person in our party forgot their ticket to the comedy club and we were hoping to find a computer where she could print out a new ticket from her email account. Well the manager overheard us talking and he said "no problem, we know those guys very well. After your dinner we'll walk you over and we'll take care of it." They did! And, we did not have to go looking for them either. About the time we were wrapping up dinner an assist. mgr. was waiting for us so he could take us over and work out our missing ticket situation. I was a fan before, but now I'm a SUPER FAN! Love that customer service. Thanks again!!
(4)Christine K.
While waiting for the midnight movie at Camera 12 to start, Hubster, TB and I wandered around looking for a bar that TB swore was in the neighborhood, but he couldn't remember what it was called or where it was exactly. Sheesh. So we ended up here. When we first arrived it was slightly swollen with people but not overly crowded and the hippity hop music was really loud. Within about 5 minutes though, the volume got turned down, within 10 minutes, there were a LOT more people inside. Luckily we had snagged seats at the bar. I wasn't drinking so I can't review drink quality. I did spend a lot of time watching the bartenders though, who seemed pretty top notch but still friendly and accommodating, one of them even told a girl how to order the drink she wanted, since she was obviously new to the whole ordering a drink thing.
(3)Kerry T.
This is Great place to throw a private party. The top floor is large enough hold a party of 40-50 but small enough where the whole floor is yours. The waiters here are nice and brings refills before you finished the drinks The food is a little pricey around 35 per person. This came with salad calamari, salmon, chicken, and mashed potatoes. The food was good but nothing that makes you craving for more after you had your fill. I would probably only come back if were to throw a party again or to have a couple drinks at the bar. 2 star for food 1 star for venue 1 star staff
(4)Bryan B.
Sorry ass Bouncers, starting crap with people outside at the San Jose Bar and Grill. One fat one, has the education of a five year old, using the "Your Momma" lines. Pathetic !!! Would never even consider going there ! If you want people to consider stepping in, get rid of the losers outside, get someone professional !!!!!
(1)ClosetDork ..
DONT HAVE THE FOOD and you'll have the same four-star-rating kind of experience here. There's nothing wrong with the food. It's just bland, mediocre, middle-of-the-road, nothing special ... (I've run out of things to describe the food ... maybe I should look up thesaurus.com ?). Good to have with the drinks, which are by the way awesome, because that way you wouldn't even care if the food tastes half decent or not at all. Food aside, this place is awesome. The rooftop area is a great place to enjoy the evening when it's not freezing cold. In case of subzero temperature, resort to the small seating area near the bar on the second floor . Have always hung out upstairs the few times I went there - once for a private party, other times just to chill (and made a rather stupid decision to have dinner there). And oh, they have live jazz on Thursday night! What's NOT to love about this place? Um.. the food.
(4)Lisa H.
Here's the disclaimer on the 4 stars: It's 4 stars for San Jose standards. Sorry to be a San Jose-hater, but I don't like going out in San Jose. There are too many overweight girls who think they're skinny, skinny girls with concave chests, and plastic girls with more makeup on then you can find at Sephora. I don't mean to be haughty, but going out in San Jose sucks. I grew up here. I know. BUT, if you are going to go out in San Jose, I would recommend the Loft. I would give it 3 stars, but for San Jose standards, it gets 4. You can eat beforehand too, and the food is decently priced and average tasting. I tried the Chicken Marsala, Chinese Chicken Salad, Salad with Tri Trip, Calamari, and Caprese Salad. All were...average. Decent, solid, expected...but not, "Mmmm...yummy!" The drinks are good though! Try the Mango Mojito. It's delish. I agree with the previous raves about the service---it's great! Our server was really patient and friendly, cut my birthday cake for me...the works! Lastly, you can stay and dance because they have a DJ! The crowd is descent and respectable as well (The hoochies are frolicking somewhere else in San Jose).
(4)Casey B.
I wanted to give it 2 stars but I've only been here once so I want to maybe give it another try first. Because certainly the panko crusted chicken with honey mustard sauce was a HUGE disappointment. I knew I should have ordered the salmon or better yet...have gone to cluck u, dammit! Cool building though...we sat upstairs, I wish we could have gotten a table next to the window but they were full. All in all it was just kind of...eh But worth a try now that you have been informed what not to order.
(3)Vincent D.
We came to Loft late Friday, around 11:30 pm, to meet up with friends. We ordered two drinks ($20) and it was so badly made. Felt like there was no alcohol it it.The place was very crowded & music was good. But please make a proper drink.
(1)edward g.
1st star = no cover 2nd star = good enough music this place was okay when i first started going probably because i had just turned 21 . now that ive experience a lot better, i cant recommend coming here for no other reason than not having to pay a cover . the first floor is really small and is where all the lamers sit . should be another dance floor if you ask me . which brings me to the main dance floor which so small you get grinded on by people not even dancing with you . elbows hit your back constantly and people step on your toes and good shoes . the last time i came here was actually pretty packed, but it was wayyyy too hot . my shirt was soaked, which is not entirely appealing to the ladies . and the absolute worst part is the price of the drinks . unnecessarily expensive if you ask me or anyone else . i once paid like $45 for 3 redbull vodkas . i got cheaper drinks in vegas . a jack and coke cost me $10 last time . if i know i am coming here i am gonna pre-drink my ass off . take my 4-6 shots at home and then limit myself to one drink to buy . i suggest you do the same if you come here . but then again my rating suggest you shouldnt come here . hmmm...
(2)Elizabeth G.
I love the space here and what they've done with it. It is funny how it usually looks empty and if you didn't know of the second floor, you may be a little turned off. I was not happy with the food I had the one time I had dinner here. It was some sort of vegetarian sandwich and it had no flavor and... I can't believe I'm saying this... too much cheese. I would like to try it for brunch. I like the rooftop patio, even though it's all enclosed and would be cooler if you could have some sort of view. I had fun at the bar upstairs, but the food is not very good.
(3)C.J. A.
We got there very very early like 930. iTs Free to get in! 1030 starts the music. The dress code is it not well enforce. Crowd is great...mix..! :P Drinks are reasonable depending what you get. Upstairs, they have this chill place right next to the dance floor...just to relax. Bathroom are dirty but what plcae isnt. The ratio was 4 to 1 not bad dont you think? I will be sure to come back here! Sooner than later!
(5)Stephanie L.
My first time partying down in downtown SJ since I usually rage it hard in SF was here in the Loft. The Loft was the only option because one of my SoCal friends adamantly preferred bars over clubs and had no good-looking club clothes with him, so we had to eliminate a lot of possibilities. The Loft offered the best of both worlds: bar and dancefloor...made my life easier and was able to cater to all my friends. However, I left the night feeling unsatiated. A few things: the drinks were way expensive, but expensive drinks are OK if they weren't so watered down. A jager bomb, long island, adios and a beer later...just barely tipsy. Dance floor upstairs was kinda small considering the number of people rubbing against each other. You had barely enough room to flap your arms on the floor to do the funky chicken dance. Way too many people, way too crowded. A few creeps here and there. Music was bumpin'. Might come back if I really have to, although I'd probably check out the other places around downtown.
(3)Caroline L.
I would have liked to experience this place better than I did. I was there for my cousin's graduation party, and it was pretty cool that we got to have the roof all to ourselves and have a buffet-style Saturday lunch. The food was pretty good, especially the steak, mashed potatoes and chicken. Also, good calamari, which can be hard to find at "upscale" type places in my opinion. But then again, is it really to hard to dip something in batter and then fry it until it's done? Maybe the place isn't really "happening" throughout a Saturday afternoon either because I saw that the rest of the restaurant (through some trips to the bathroom and bar, of course) was kind of empty except for some smatterings of people near the windows. But I was told this place turns into a club at night, which I suppose can be exciting for a place like that. I was also told that the roof was an actual rooftop, meaning I would see some blue skies and breathe some fresh air. When I arrived, it was covered, and I received some sketchy information about it from my sister (meaning, she is a LIAR). It also smelled like sewage sometimes, at the oddest moments. And it was HOT like we were all burning in hell. The tarp doesn't seem so useful now, does it.... Other than that, I had a pretty good time. Got to spend time with my family and stuff my face... that's how I've always dreamed of spending random weekends.
(3)Denisse M.
Ok, I gotta "elaborate" a little more on my hubby's review back in June.... First off, i love the place, the environment upstairs.. food is always really good and the servers are always very nice. This particular night we were seatted by 2 middle aged couples. Right away we noticed the alcohol level on one of the females was wayyyyyy over the limit because she was loud as hell - one of those females that don't have any other way of getting attention from people but being annoyingly loud(even if it means the wrong f**ing attention) - this lady was laughing like a maniac and talking about her husband getting a "Colonoscopy" done. (**endoscopic examination of the large colon and the distal part of the small bowel with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus** ) I coudl not believe her mouth! even the couple behind us who must have been in their late 70's could not believe it.. their look on their faces was unforgettable.. if they woudl have stayed 5 more minutes I would have probably had to say something and make the stupid b*** shut up! but lucky for EVERYONE in the restaurant, the lovely couple took off right after that stupid comment. If I was the husband, I would have done my OWN PERSONAL colonoscopy procedure and shove something up her behind! **lol** (true story).
(4)Jenny L.
I had my birthday here before & reservations were easy to make. I kinda didn't like the waitress that was serving us. She was a bit rude. The food was okay, not grand. The good thing is that there's no cover, no dress code, but you do need two forms of ID. This place have some good nights and bad nights depending on what day you go. I think the drinks are pretty pricey though. It's an ok place to chill and hang out.
(3)Evelyn N.
I'd rather NOT go here for the bar & clubbing scene. The drinks are ridiculously overpriced! Plus, the dance floor is on the second floor and the stairs are kinda steep. It's just waay too dangerous having the bar downstairs and then the dance floor upstairs (that's where the DJ is at), because I can sooo imagine some drunk ass people falling down those stairs. There are a LOT of asian people who come here, which doesn't give you very much of a racial spread. I don't know if it's just me, but I'm not really feeling the vibe at this joint.
(1)D L.
This review is only based on the drinks. 13 for a shot of Hennessy. Usually a shot of Hennessy is about 7-10 bucks. 13 is a bit much. Not sure if you get more per shot though.
(2)Tony S.
This place was alright. Not my first choice for a place downtown but the happy hour drinks are pretty good. I also like the roof top patio. I have not been there when there has been a DJ but I could understand how it would get crowded the downstairs is sort of small.
(3)Precious S.
I never tried their food here...I just usually go here with friends for drinks and dancing...So far this place is cool, cause theres no ghetto fights going down...They play awesome music that you can dance too, while you enjoy your drinks...Theres a $5 dollar cover charge but I'm not sure if its different on certain days...
(3)KT C.
I completely echo the sentiments of the other reviewers about the extreme noise level of this place. Their food is really good, as I've had almost everything on the menu, but the loud-mouths that frequent this place for birthday or bachelorette parties is ruining the atmos for me. I think if you show up for an early dinner and leave before the noisemakers show up to ruin the night for you, you'll have a good experience. Just be prepared though, the management and staff act as if they have no control over this even though people complain about it continually.
(2)Anne T.
I went here for the first time on Friday night and was quite pleased. The rooftop patio seating is quaint and cozy and makes for a relaxed dining experience. Our server was great, friendly and gave recommendations without being pushy or too involved. We started with a grilled artichoke which was a little messy to eat but tasted great, it was served with a chipotle aioli that made the dish. My entree of seared ahi tuna was good, but not great. However, my fiancee raved about his smoked salmon pasta. The building itself is huge and I would definitely recommend the rooftop seating as the rest of the place seems kinda sprawling. I will definitely come back though, seems like it would be a great place for happy hour with friends.
(4)Jacqui M.
We went to The Loft with some friends on Saturday night. They had made reservations and were excited for us to try this place out. I was excited too since it's been a while since we've gone out with another couple for a nice dinner (we have a 6 month old). When we arrived the lower level wasn't crowded but strangely enough it was closed for a private party. I was a little confused since you have to enter through that door to get to the restaurant upstairs, (sans...the loft). After about 5 mins of waiting we were escorted upstairs to our table and our waitress was quite pleasant. The briased ribs were recommended but I would have much have preferred the Salmon...but alas I went for the ribs. I was a bit disappointed - a little to smokey for my taste. It was crowded and after we ordered dessert our waitress disappeared for a while. It took about 1/2 to get our desserts, which I didn't have any of but none the less the wait was agonizing. Not sure if I'll try that place again...maybe
(3)Daniel F.
Went here for a friends birthday. There was about 30 of us for dinner. There was a space for us upstairs in their covered patio area. It was a cool place to chill and hang out while we ordered drinks and food. I must say the food was pretty good. I ordered the meatloaf and a salad. The salad came out as a quarter of a lettuce head. I have never seen it served this way, but it was really tasty. The meatloaf had a fair price, but the salad was $8. it was good, but not worth $8 for what you get....lettuce, blue cheese crumbles, dressing, bacon bits, and a cherry tomatoe cut in half. What I considered ridiculous was the price of their drinks. We love drinking vodka tonics and it costs $10 for ketel one/tonic and $10.50 for grey goose/tonic. The glassware that they used were pretty small for what you pay for. And it did not taste any stronger with the short glass. As a former bartender, I would have to say that there is probably less then 2 oz of vodka in that little glass. If you do decide to go here, go for the food. Noone at our party complained about it. However, don't spend money on drinks if you don't have to. You can walk across the street to San Jose bar and grill and drink there after dinner.
(3)Kat D.
Came here for a bday dinner and they had set menu options which I think are great for large parties...we all had the same amount to pay and knew before hand how much per person. Made collecting money easy! There were three entrees to choose from and three of us at the end of the table. We had 1 of each entree and shared it with each other. Food was great - salmon, chicken, and meatloaf.
(5)Fiona T.
Not a Fan of Loft. Space is limited and it gets too crowded on the dance floor because its so small. Not only this, water is drippin from the ceiling near the dance floor. Left my credit card there once, called the next day to retrieve it only to hear them say " We are kind of busy today, try calling later." I called at least 5 times, finally the answer was "Sorry, we dont see it." Drinks are over price and service is kind of slow.
(2)Jackie D.
meeehhhhhhhh.....this place is always an experience with me. one time my friend was off the wall drunk and knocking tables over. then another time i tried to help my friend hit on a girl and oh my...did i want to run away. long story short...it was uncomfortable. AHH!!! the martinis here aren't bad and that's all i really remember of the drinks here. it's just my experience here was.....UGH.
(2)Jonathan C.
This place was the first stop for our night to treat the bachelor before he's shacked up with the old ball and chain. The food here is superb. The patrons were decent looking. Actually funny story to tell here. Imagine, 15 guys. One of them, clean cut hair cut, dressed more "San Franciscan" with his Diesel jeans, nice shirt under his jacket. Two girls at the bar noticed him and one of them sent their scout. Their best pick up line was to ask if anyone at the table, particular him if we could break a 20 with 2 tens. That caught us by surprised because why the heck they needed it for. They were only interested in him and the geeks that we are didn't pick up that they were just trying to create small talk. While our bachelor party was going, we caught sight of a bachelorette party going on in a table across the room. Every man for himself :)
(4)dre G.
i like the loft because you go there a few time the people get to know you well that is what has happened with me and my friends. There is always a dress code not bad just get used to it. the food during the day is good. ok yes the dance floor is small but so what, usually the ration is pretty good, as far as much that i have been there there has never been a fight like many of the other night clubs ...
(5)Mimi D.
This is the sister restaurant to Caper's loft and although the food was not as good, the service was excellent. We ate upstairs in the area that turns into the dance floor adjoining the bar. The bar scene was pretty dead. We ordered the scampi prawns which were a little fishy, tuna sashimi which was ok but seared too much, chicken parmesan - huge but bland, pork tenderloin - undercokked, and BBQ chicken sliders - typical bar food. I loved our server, but that is all I loved here. The food was mediocre, but I guess that's typical for bar food. Do you like Asians chicks? There are a ton of them here.
(2)Lex S.
Their night life is terrible! I've gone here with my friends multiple times and all times I never stayed for no more then 10 minutes! Yeah there's no cover, BUT they ask you millions of questions making sure your 21! Definitely kills your buzz. I look exactly how I look in my ID, had to recite my address, birthday,zodiac sign. Then after all the interrogation I had to show him my credit cards and anything else my name was on! And it wasn't just me! My friends and girlfriend were heavily questioned. And on top of that, one of my friends had to sign a waiver, because they still didn't believe she was 21 AFTER all the interrogation! And she's 23! We finally got in, and we were complaining by the door of how bullshit their bouncers were, and one of them just threw my friend out because he was venting to us of how much the trouble the bouncer was giving him! These guys are old, and just want to ruin the fun for the young. Other then the bouncers, the dance floor up stairs is super crowded. When you dance, it seems as if you're dancing with 4 other people around you. Music is cool, but no room to dance. If you want to listen to music in a hot room a hot room, then this might be the place for you. Bathroom lines can be long, as well as the bar upstairs. Downstairs bar isn't as crowded but you are next to the bouncers, so watch what you say or how you act, they give no warnings. Bouncers really kill the buzz for me and my friends all the time. I really wanted to like this place but it just isn't happening.
(1)Victoria Y.
So I've concluded that this place is better when you're with a lot of friends. My friend knows the dj here which is why we come. The bar is upstairs and drinks don't take that long to get. One downside is its a bit pricey but I love the music!!
(3)Marc L.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Seated upstairs by a window. Service with a little slow but I think our waitress might of been brand new so that's ok. It's a small candle lit intimate place to have dinner and the food and portions per price is pretty good.
(3)Nancy D.
Awesome place. Majority are Asian. ( which I don't mind) Pros: No cover fee. No long lines for entrance, bathrooms, or even at the bar. Great music. Good DJ. No strict dress code. Cons: Very crowd,so it gets awfully hot, people starts to sweat (gross) , required 2 forms of I.D. , drinks and food are VERY EXPENSIVE ( to cover up for the "free" cover fee) . Small dance floor. Bad guys to girls ratio (Man Jose). I would totally go here if I wanted to avoid the "clubbing" atmosphere. And for the food.. I would recommend grilled steaks or the filet mignon as an entree. steak bites as an appetizer . creme brulee and cheesecake as for dessert. Service is ehh, alright.
(4)rich s.
Although this place is on San Jose's "ghetto side" of the nightlife scene, it was a great experience. The bartenders were friendly, and there was a lot of room upstairs and downstairs to either dance, mingle, or just sit and chill with some drinks. The drinks were good as well, and there wasn't an overabundance of testosterone fueled men, as most places in downtown San Jose tend to be. There was actually more women here when I went! The only negative thing I have to say about this place was the overpricing of the drinks. I ended up just having a couple since they are ridiculously overpriced.
(3)The O.
Note that I am somewhere between three and four stars on this place. I'd give a 3.75 if I could. Getting to what you folks care about. I've been here twice. The first time with way too much pregame and once with significantly less. The first time was super crackin', but I'm not sure if it was because Loft was crackin or because I would have had a crackin time anywhere at that point. There's a downstairs and upstairs. Both have a bar and music, but downstairs is the more chill dancefloorless area. From what I remember the dj was playing a healthy variety of popular hip hop tracks and the dance floor was crackin because everyone was just up dancing the hell outta the night. My friend ordered a round of drinks too that I'm pretty sure was good. Then the second significantly more sober time I went it was still cool. Djs were still playin crackin hip hop mixes, but being more sober allowed me to notice how overly crowded the dance floor was. It's super annoying getting bumped into constantly. This was probably the biggest factor for me giving this place 3 stars instead of 4. So to sum it all up, this place is definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area, don't let my 3 star rating fool you. It's free and seems to always be crackin. The only real downside I can think of is that the dance floor can actually be a bit TOO crackin with the amount of people on it. Just buy a couple drinks until you stop noticing/caring.
(3)Alina M.
This place isn't even a loft! hahahah Anyway, it's a nice looking small club and I like the fact that the bar is nice and long BUT when it gets hot from all the body heat, condensation drips from the freaking ceiling pipes. It's so gross! (And probably unsanitary) Anyway, I've been here a couple of times in the past few years and only because sometimes my friends want to. I would never suggest it, but I don't ban it like I ban BOSS in SF. (See review)
(3)Lora R.
I've only been on afternoons between 2pm and 6pm. Each time the place has been quiet, calm and relaxing though the wait staff agreed it gets loud in the evenings. Every time the service has been friendly fast and convenient. Staff was friendly, though several of the girls were giggling and making a bit of a racket more than once which is annoying when eating! Their drink selection is great (I last had the mango mojito and it was super yummy) and their beer selection is decent. Atmosphere was casual though the TVs all have the same boring channel on mute. I've tried several of their salads and each had large portions, lots of taste and good garnishes. Their crab cakes are delicious as was the salmon and others. Food was ready super fast and happily served.
(3)Shannon F.
The first time I went here was for my 30th B-day, last year. We just went back last Saturday and had a late lunch, before heading to the Improv. Food was good, again. Those damn Steak Bites, I'm telling you...good stuff, could use a little more dipping sauce though. I've also had their Grilled marinated Flank Steak and the Blackened pork chops. Both pretty good. The pork chops weren't as "blackened" as I imagined, but nonetheless good. the mashed potatoes were a little bland but the flavor from the meats and accompanying salsa made up for it. The most appealing feature about this place has gotta be the outdoor/upstairs patio area.
(4)Peggy T.
I can't say much about the food, but Friday Night Adventure crew and I wandered over here on a Saturday night (blasphemy, I know. I should start referring to them as Weekend Adventure crew instead.). We got there a bit late, past 11pm, and there was a bit of a line outside. I didn't really understand why there was a line since it wasn't grossly crowded inside. Maybe they wanted to up the ante on how poppin' this place is by creating their own line, as if to brag "Yeaa, we so cool. You wanna be here... Get in line." It took us less than 5 minutes to get our 8 person group in. Plus there was no cover! Woohoo! It's a nice, 2 story place with a smaller room and bar downstairs and a dance floor ish thing upstairs. I was getting all impressed by this place until I tried ordering drinks at the downstairs bar. Sure, my boobs weren't hanging out of my shirt and I may not be the most gorgeous person in the place, but I thought it was quite ridiculous how long it took before I ordered my drinks. There were probably around 5 bartenders and no more than 3-4 other people trying to buy drinks at the bar, but it still took a freakin' long time before i got my order in. I've gotten drinks at a crowded Vegas bar faster than here. I think the bartenders were too caught up in their light saber action to notice they had customers. (Seriously, they had light-up light sabers they were stabbing at each other.) The drinks were a little more expensive than the rest of the places I've been to in Norcal so far. They were definitely Socal-priced drinks. About $10 a pop. The upstairs was more crowded, but not as bad at other places *ahembluechalkahem* so I did not touch boob or ass by just standing there. Whew. I would go back, assuming the bartenders were just momentarily distracted by glowing light sabers.
(4)Janette W.
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, if I could, I'd give it a 3.5. I love the atmosphere, sitting outside is great, or the first floor gives you a good view. The second floor seating area is a little more private, but still fun. The appetizers are great, specifically the smoked salmon, roasted artichoke, and the calamari. As far as entrees go, the flank steak is my favorite, but I've also been pleased with the dinner salads and the Chicken Marsala. The waiters seem a little bit off, but still nice and friendly. They have a good drink menu, with some inventive martinis. My only complaint is the second to last time I went there, we sat outside and not only did a crazy bum woman start yelling at me, the waiter spilled a full glass of ice water on my boyfriend and didn't even apologize, OR bring him another glass of water so we had to share mine!
(3)Tung T.
Basically the only time I had fun here was when i had 20 of my friends with me and was completely wasted. But then again who wouldn't have fun wasted with 20 of your closest friends around. The rest of the times sucked. I don't mind showing my ID and credit card although me thinks weird. They have drink specials usually up to 11:30pm but its always their special drinks. What if i just want a rum and coke. Nope, no well drinks special. Although their Hurricane will do the trick if you want to get a buzz going. But Loft is the epitome of Man Jose. I usually don't notice nor mind the ratio when i go out to clubs in San Jose. But at Loft, I do. You know it's bad when the DJ tells you to bring more girls with you on your way out. LOL. Plus, the guys here are way aggressive. I came with a couple of girls last time and the whole time my friends were swamped with cats trying to grind up on them or ask for their number. Often the same cats over and over again. To the point where my friends had to ask me for help. This doesn't really reflect the place but still a good story to tell. The girls be lacking in this spot too...so... Review is only based on the nightclub portion of Loft. Never had their food so I can't comment on that. Go here if it's your last resort. Spoiler! Never have I seen a group of 10 guys dancing in a circle in the middle of a dance floor before. I guess there's always a first for everything. Unfortunately, my first time was at Loft.
(2)T. C.
This review is only for the bar and lounge. Great music! Top notch! BUT, the crowd is ghetto.
(3)Cindy C.
Came here for the drinking and the dancing, not for the food. I liked that this place doesn't charge a cover (1st reason why the crew chose to go here) and has GREAT music (2nd reason why the crew chose to go here). It got really packed, and the little dance floor became a little too crowded and way too hot for my liking towards the later parts of the evening, but over all, it was lots of fun and hanging out with the SBC was a hoot and a half. I had the pleasure of tasting Nadia's long island and it was made really well (and strong). Will go again if I'm in the SJ area and looking for a place to dance!
(4)Jessica C.
Probably the only place that is never crackin'. No cover, and still no one goes. There are times when there are crowds trying to get in, most likely Saturday nights after 11:30pm, but since it is no cover, try getting into other clubs before hitting this one. Just don't show up before 11 or you'll be the only lady on the dance floor. Drinks are mad expensive, 10 to 12 a drink, but the service is alright. Since there arent a lot of people, the bartenders are friendlier and make the drinks well. This is just a place to shake and groove like no ones watching. Not a place to pick up chicks or dicks. Go with a group though, there still are creepers.
(3)Jennifer D.
This place gets crowded, the floors get sticky, the bathroom lines are long, it's crowded at the bar, and the ceilings drip sweat on us. However, free cover and a dance floor. Sometimes, that's all you really need!
(3)Anh Thu P.
Here is the low down, Loft does not charge cover, has two stories, but is really small and has pricey drinks. I have gotten kicked out of Loft many times for either being underage or being too drunk. So it is not my ideal place to go in San Jose. Nonetheless, it is one of the few places that does not charge so we often go here after the bars. The place always gets packed on thursdays & fridays and the price for drinks keep skyrocketing! However, try to come for happy hour which is like.. 10 or so and you get a good deal on drinks. I think $8 grey goose versus the usually $13/14. Anyways, the music is top 100 and the upstairs dance floor is always really packed and gross. On the better seasons, they open up the bistro upstairs so it isn't as bad, but in the winter time be prepared to smell some B.O! Come here if it is your last resort because you are better off swiggin a bottle out of the backseat of yo car!
(2)Terry W.
This place is decent. Usually never a line and never had trouble with bouncers. You get a crowd from mid to upper 20s and its pretty diverse. A few complaints are the small restrooms they have and the tiny dancefloor that when crowded you get your feet stepped on left and right. They have a few sofas one upstairs and downstairs when you get tired, also chairs/tables for those who want to chill. Music is a mix up or top songs and mashups. Overall this place is a nice place to go when other places such as Pearl and Temple are dead.
(3)David G.
So, I had some free time before my internship so I decided to take a shot. I had only heard of this place because they were selling $100 worth of gift certificates for $50. Now I know why. When I showed up, the place was completely empty for lunch. When I walked in, instead of seating me downstairs, which would have been good for everyone (I get a seat quickly, they get to look like they have business), they walk me up the stairs and sit me in the corner. I was in a bit of a rush, so I ordered a French Dip. I thought, hey that's simple. As a personal note, I am easily pleased when it comes to this dish, not picky. It shows up quickly which is good, but expected considering the lack of business. The good: No onions on the french dip. Horseradish comes on the side. That's it, sadly. The bad: Meat was either low quality or over-cooked. It was so tough and sinewy that it got caught in my teeth. Not pleasant. It also was not seasoned much, if it all. The cheese was almost nonexistent. The bread was just plain. The service was ok, but not great. When I got my food to go (what can I say, I hate wasting food), she bagged everything up but forgot until I was leaving to give me some of the au jus to go as well. Sorry, but that's the most important part of a french dip, otherwise its just a meat sandwich. The worst part was the price. 14 bucks for a french dip? It better be good. Oh wait, it's not.
(2)Lorrie M.
I think this place looks nice and has a nice feel and ambiance, but overall it is either extremely crowded on Fri/Sat to the point where you can't even move around without running someone's drink on you somewhere, or really dead/empty. Overall I wouldn't mind coming back as it was one of the better places in downtown San Jose that I could see myself enjoy hanging out at. I've been here once also for food, and I really wouldn't go back because it's just not the type of place for the type of food and the amount you pay for it. I wasn't extremely disappointed but I would not choose to eat here again since there are so many other great restaurants in downtown San Jose. If you must come, do it on a Friday night!
(3)Rich Y.
5 stars for the service. Our waitress was training a new hire and the trainee was on par with veteran wait staff. The food also deserves 5 stars but gets 4 for overall execution. The artichoke appetizer, my chicken penne, and my girlfriend's salmon pesto were drenched in some variant of oil or butter. A runny chicken penne is not a happy chicken penne. There is a landing in the middle of the stairs. When it's dark and your sixth martini kicks in, don't miss it.
(4)Lucy D.
* Review is for the night life* The Loft is a +21 club that is small but great place to go casually without having to pay or wait in such a long line. The music, crowd and drinks are pretty good. Also, this place is a great backup if the other clubs within the area ain't crackin. Pros No coverage charge: All you need is your ID and maybe a secondary ID if they don't believe you. No wait: There is practically no line most weeknights and maybe a small line during the weekends but don't expect the long line of some other clubs. Music: Depending on the DJ the music is pretty good. They play a large variety of music but it can turn you off if your not into some of the genres. Balcony: They have a small outside balcony upstairs if you want to kick it or have a stoge. Cons Bathroom: The line for the bathroom is ridiculously long because there is only one bathroom for downstairs, and about 2 upstairs. Crowded: This place can get packed at night which is a good or bad thing depending on how you life it. Expect to be literally shoulder to shoulder with someone at the peak hours on the dance floor. Overall this place is a great place to go with friends for a spontaneous night out in downtown San Jose without having to wait or pay a service charge. It can get pretty packed but that is great for the dance floor.
(4)Patrick R.
I really like this place more than any other nightlife downtown other than flames. The dance floor is crowded some nights, but I really enjoy the music that they play. It can get pretty packed Friday and Saturday nights so get there early those nights. Thursday nights are usually dead as a doornail because of tres and SJBG but they are becoming too ghetto and roudy. I really like Loft and will continue to come back.
(4)Ryan L.
Hanging out in downtown San Jose, my cousins decided to take us here. Apparently this place needs heavy security because they asked me a bunch of questions as they checked my ID (which looks exactly like me). I wonder what happens to people who make a crazy decision and change their appearance, like cut your hair! I bet a bunch of sirens go off and extra security detail is called. Really, is this place that exclusive? The inside is nice and cozy. I enjoyed the patio we sat in that was separated from the dance floor, it was a nice find. Apparently, Friday night is Asian night, as we were everywhere in the building. I thought i was at an asianavenue.com party like back in the day. But we're fun, and everyone was in a jovial mood. Drinks were pricey, as my beam and diets were $12. That's almost on par with vegas prices and pricier than most places here in chicago. Remember, i was in San Jose, that's expensive. I have a complaint with the men's bathroom. It consists of one stall...so it's a one person bathroom. There was a long line for the guys and absolutely no line for the ladies' room. I've experienced the opposite before, with long lines for the ladies, but never the other way around. That's just inefficient planning. Maybe a couple extra stalls or urinals to make the line go faster? Cool, kthxbye.
(2)Gloria T.
I am only reviewing the bar part of this bar and bistro. Loft is the place I usually go after I've already been bar hopping and I don't feel like paying to go somewhere to dance. They never have a cover charge and their dress code is pretty relaxed. Why don't I come here first you ask? Being the savvy saver that I am, I don't want to pay $7 for a beer when I can pay $4 just around the corner. There are two levels and a bar on each. I recommend getting a drink at the bottom floor if you want one because the top floor gets extremely packed. It gets so packed that it can be hard to dance and gets pretty hot. Fortunately, the security here is pretty nice. I've never been yelled at or hassled by them. One time I got separated from my friends and my phone had died. One of the guys actually let me use his cell phone to call a friend. How's that for good customer service? A nice plus is the "rooftop" patio. It's a covered patio where you aren't allowed to smoke. They have a separate DJ in there and it's nice to get some air after bumping around the crowded dance floor. I've noticed that the crowd here is mixed, but only when it comes to the males. Most females are Asian. It's not a plus or a minus for me, it's just the truth.
(3)Veronica S.
Like it, it's nice. Food is ok. Overall always have a good time at this place.
(4)Aivy C.
No cover, always a plus! The DJ and upstairs bartenders are great on a Friday night, but the lack of room on the dance floor leaves much to be desired. I wish there was a separate room for people without rhythm. The bartenders get extra props as well. After a mere two shots, I was sufficiently liquored up enough to dance to Miley Cyrus' "Party In The USA" without shame. Okay.... I sang along too.
(3)Shanna K.
Um. What kind of bar doesn't carry grapefruit juice? Seriously. Came here on Wednesday after a show at The Improv, ordered a Greyhound and was told they don't carry grapefruit juice. The bartender was a nice guy and I'm flexible so I ordered something else but... for real? I appreciated that the kitchen was open til 10:30pm, though, so our table tried the grilled artichoke, grilled vegetable sandwich, mini bbq chicken sliders, poached salmon salad and the chicken quesadilla. Everything was good... not mind-blowing, but good. If I'm back in the area I could see ending up here but I won't make it a destination. I'm not looking for a club scene and there are better drinks and food to be had elsewhere.
(2)Darryl R.
Great place to grab some beers and appetizers before heading to the club. No cover charge, no need for dress shoes, and it's usually always packed. The music is on point and I occasionally run into friends from my college days at SJSU. My only tip for you folks dancing on the dance floor.. please finish your drinks at the bar! Please don't take it to the dance floor! Very Dangerous! I remember awhile back I was gettin down on the dance floor with a lil hottie and her friend through her hands up in the air to trey songz and she accidentally spilled my drink into her friends face! I still laugh about it till this day. Although she did wash down my drink and her eye brows haha I definitely felt bad so I decided to buy her a shot after she cleaned up her face.. ALL BAD! hahaha I hope that Japanese girl isn't reading this right now! =)
(4)B D.
This review is for their lunchtime service. Not the night time fun. Decent food. But darn near impossible to get anyone's attention. There were only 2 other tables dining and I had to chase after the waitress then flag down the waiter for ketchup. Still waiting... still waiting for the ketchup...never got the ketchup nor the bread. I have to give credit where it's due, their complimentary bread is very good especially with the accompanying house made balsamic dipping sauce/dressing. The other tables had their bread delivered along with their drinks. We, on the other hand, were halfway through our entrees and still no bread. Maybe third times a charm? I got out of my seat again and hurried after the waiter to ask for bread and ketchup, he then shouted across the way to a waitress to get them for us. 5 minutes later she brought bread and ketchup to the table next to us who were then so pleasantly surprised that they've been gifted a second basket of bread. I am a dejected carboholic. The food that we did get to eat was average. Maybe it would've been better with ketchup. Your food needs to be pretty unicorn magical amazing to make amends for such poor service. I saw no unicorns. --------------------------------------------------Â------------------------------------ Hi Betty, Thank you for taking the time to visit our restaurant and writing a review. We apologize for your recent lunch experience. After reading your valuable review we are going to evaluate our service approach here during lunch. What would help us get better is knowing what day you had lunch here. If you can provide us with this information that would be awesome. If not then no worries. Thank you again for your review. -Armando V. Duran Social Media Manager
(1)Patricia L.
Came here on a Friday night. They convert the upstairs area to a club. I was a little unsure when we first got there since the doormen were all probably old enough to be my dad and it was pretty empty. (This was at like 10pm though) We went upstairs and they had a space cleared to dance and a bar area right next to it. We ordered a few drinks and they were pretty standard. I believe I paid $6 so not bad pricing. Eventually we moved to the dance floor and it slowly started filling up. By midnight it was really packed and hot but luckily there was a big fan in the corner. (We moved to be right in front of it) The music was alright but the transitions were pretty bad. Other than that I had fun and we ended up leaving a little early because of the heat and we also wanted la Vic's. Nothing special but I also don't have anything bad to say about it. If you go with good people you're going to have a good time.
(4)Anna V.
*This review is for DINNER* This place was surprisingly pleasing! I came here with low expectations because I'd been here for late nights when they turn into a bar. I had assumed that this place was only good for what no-cover night life they could offer, but was surprised when the hostess took us upstairs to see a decent number of groups dining here. I had the lamb shanks and my sister had the filet mignon. Their plates are freaking huge... we felt like we were gonna pop after dinner. Their olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette dip was good and garlicky. The lamb shanks seemed to be in some sort of cabernet sauce that was really sweet - which was good at first, but then the sweetness got a little overwhelming as I ate more of it. Their mashed potatoes are really creamy. If you want a good dessert, their cheesecake is heavenly. They bake it from scratch in the morning! It looks like it has almost a fluffy texture. So good! I'm not usually a cheesecake fan, but this one really did it for me. Service here for dinner is great. After our server realized that the kitchen made a mistake in telling us that our dinners were coming in a minute when, in fact, it took a lot longer, they offered to comp our dessert. Who would have thought we'd have such a nice dinner at a joint like this? Yay!
(4)Holly Y.
I went here during lunch time for their food. Although I didn't have much and can't really judge it, what I had was alright. However, their service was definitely a ++. The person who served us is really friendly. She even made small talks with our table so it was really nice. I don't think I would come back for the food though...maybe, if someone took me.
(3)David K.
So I'm updating this because my friend had a surprise bday thing here, anyways went to a different door person this time. Wow they didnt ask for a second ID, did some policy change? anyways the door person was a lot more friendly, just asked how old I was and I was let in. So that deserves another star. But $12 for a shot of hen. holy crap that is robbery! did i magically teleport to Las Vegas? We got to chill in the patio area for a bit with some bottle service that wasn't bad. But after that we left. haha
(2)Terri L.
I don't care for this place all too much. Basically, I thought this was the coolest place ever when I first turned 21, but now that I've been around the block and checked out other places, this place is pretty much garbage. There's no cover, which is great, but they get you in hiked drink prices. First, it takes 20 minutes for a bartender to even take your drink order, then they're too busy talking to their "regular patrons" to even give you the time of day. Shots are $13, so unless you're REALLY drunk, don't offer to buy everyone a round, you'll regret it in the morning. Onto the dance floor! Umm...eww. I'm only 5'2", that means I only come up to the average person's armpit. The climate there is not very pleasing. There's literally NO WHERE to dance and you can't breathe. I've been dancing in a lot of places and I've never experienced anything as guh-ross and as claustrophobic as Loft.
(2)Ula C.
I'm not quite sure what happened to the night life scene in downtown San Jose. It could be that I just got older or that every club or lounge is now officially "sucky." Loft used to be our last resort when I was still in college, about 2 years ago. My friends and I usually rely on Sabor or what used to be called Pearl but is now Studio 8 for quality music and crowd but now both places are not even worth going to. A couple of things I DO like about Loft: -No Cover Charge-ever! -Happy Hour (ranging from $5-$7) -Good music (especially on Fridays...Saturdays are kinde meh) -Mixed Crowd (it's not just Asian people here folks...) -Outdoor Patio (for those of you that need some fresh air...I know I usually do once the dance floor gets too packed) -They have food during the day, although I haven't tried their dishes yet With that said, I almost always have a good time here at Loft. No pretentious girls here with their barely there dresses or guys who think they're all that because they wear Ed Hardy shirts (eewww) and have big ass biceps (but small ass legs lol). Loft is casual but not dowdy so ladies feel free to dress up and look good but please, save your slut wear for Vegas or Frisco...that's not necessary here....unless of course you like being grabbed or hated on. Come here if you want to have a good time and not spend the whole night standing around and looking at other people; there's Fahrenheit for that!.
(3)Milinh V.
Okay okay, although I swore off this place..a good friend of mines was having his birthday party here. So, I went for him. I agree with Jenny T. when she asks, "Is there a way to give half a star?" We had a group of 25-28 people. They wouldnt let you sit unless half of the party came. Okay, no problem, we'll wait. When it was time to seat us, the waitress seemed stressed/irritated with us. She was slow to take our orders, disappeared often (not like the place was busy, it were only us in the whole damn resturant). The quality of food was not that great. I ordered philly cheesesteak --it should be named philly BARELY-any-cheese-dry-steak. My hubby's order --meat was super dry too. I also ordered the mango mojito --diluated like juice! I'm usually a cheap drunk, but this barely made me feel anything! Its official, i'm not a fan, nor do I wish to come back. The FOOD AND SERVICE SUCKS!
(1)Stephen L.
The food is alright here. I like the happy hour mixed drinks for $6. Service is nice and friendly. The few times I've been here Friday and Saturday late nights, it's always been packed. Great music. The crowd is really mixed.
(3)Jessica C.
This place has good eats, decent beats, and ok drinks. But I must like this place because in a 7 day span I went here twice. Once for one of Henry L's many farewell parties that we had. We started with drinks at the downstairs table and then went up for dancing and fun. The second event was the Yelp Elite party where there were snacks a plenty; the food was amazing. The vodka provided was so good. The space is really nice, open and swanky. Calamari yum, grilled artichokes yum, pasta yum. I'd be back and also for the music which was really great when we went.
(4)Christine L.
If you're looking to go bar hopping in downtown San Jose... this bar needs to go on your list. There is a large amount of MAN-JOSE in this bar. That's right, Let me emphasize the MAN in Jose. There is an overwhelming pack of guys that come here. The ratio is literally 2 girls to 10 guys. On one occasion, I found myself and my group of 2 other girls surrounding by squirming creeper guys, some of which just stood there and stared at us. Other than the uneven ratio issue, I usually have a good time at this place. There is no cover charge any time, any day of the week, so the bar benefits by expensive drinks. Also, there is no dress code but remember to bring two forms of ID.
(3)Sheri S.
Sigh. I really wish I could give this place a great review since a friend and I picked it to host our 25-year high school reunion, but I cannot. All I can say, in way of my defense, is that I had never been there and had never tried the food since I live across the state. Where to start? First of all, when we arrived at 5pm to set up for a 6pm event, the previous event was still going on (it was suppose to end at 5pm and the manager let them go overtime) and our event wasn't even set up until 6:30pm. As people arrived, they were sent to the bar to hang out and wait. Even though it had been explained in advance how we wanted it set up, the manager didn't seem to know what to do and kept asking us how we wanted it set up; the staff members who were trying to set up spent a lot of time standing around starting at someone for some direction. They didn't seem prepared for us at all, as if they were surprised that we showed up even though we had a contract. They didn't have enough of the same types of tables, chairs and linens to set-up for our size group so there was inconsistency in the look. We had asked for a mix of 4, 6 and 8-tops but we ended up with two long rows of tables end-to-end with the chairs squished together in super tight. They didn't even "finish" the tables with salt/pepper, candles, place settings or anything to make it look decent. It looked like a picnic table setup, really lame. There really wasn't enough space to set up for the number of guests that we had and because our final headcount was "too low" (in the manager's opinion, even though the space barely accommodated our "low" numbers in that cramped fashion) he didn't allow us to have the entire upstairs area for our event - which meant that not only did we not fit in the space but we had their regular customers mingling around and with us. Even though we tried to block it off, we still had random people walking through our area to get to the patio seating. It only got worse after dinner. Our event was schedule for 6pm-10pm and at 10pm their DJ was schedule to start playing and the space would be opened up to the public. Well, by 9:30pm there were people coming upstairs ready to party and dance and they just started blending in with our group...basically taking over our space. So, we got about 3 of the 4 hours that we scheduled in a too-tight space, half of the time being over-run by strangers. I'm only thankful that our bar tab was per person and not on consumption because I'm fairly certain that a bunch of other people got free beer and wine courtesy of our group that night. The food, unfortunately, was fairly awful. Although it seemed fairly priced when we booked it, $25 per person for bland, flavorless, lukewarm bulk buffet food was not worth it at all. Maybe the food in the main dining room is really good there, I wouldn't know, but they do not know how to serve 60 people at a time. Nothing about the meal was tasty. As one of the people who selected this place, I felt terrible about it and was quite embarrassed. And to top things off, during all the chaos of set-up, somehow the $200 worth of custom desserts (mini-cupcakes and cake pops - we specifically chose bite size desserts for the end of a big meal and lots of drinking) that we brought in "walked away" with someone else...maybe another guest, possibly the group that was departing...we never found out. The manager felt bad and took $100 off our tab and gave us free desserts that consisted of mini-chocolate bundt cakes cut in half. They looked completely unappealing and I don't think one single person had a bite. Luckily for me, our group is a bunch of fun-loving, easy-going 40-somethings who proceeded to drink heavily and have such a good time catching up on the "good old days" that most of the "behind the scenes event planner" stuff went mostly unnoticed and everyone was polite enough to not mention the food. When we were finally completely over-run by 20-something hoochie-mamas and guidos that are lured in by the free cover charge (yeah, yeah, that used to be me...I'm old, I get it), we headed out to another bar where we could hear each other talk and get a drink without being slammed into by all those "rude youngsters". Live and learn.
(2)Nam N.
We used to come here a lot for drinks after work and if we needed to do a little boogey-ing down on a Friday night. But unfortunately, the crowd got a lot younger....and I didn't. :) I've eaten here a few times and the food is ok--a bit overpriced for what you get. Drinks are fine and they do have a dancefloor. Other perks is that there isn't a cover charge--bonus. But what stands out about the Loft for me is their patio. I absolutely love grabbing a drink here on a warm and sunny afternoon. Hmm...is it Happy Hour yet????
(2)Jessica K.
I like this place :) NO cover charge but the drinks are a bit expensive. $13 for an Adios, $11 for a Vodka & Redbull. They had a Blue Hawaiian that was only $4...vodka, pineapple and that blue stuff that goes in an Adios. :-P Music was good. Two DJs. One inside and one outside. We got two vodka & redbulls tho, put them down on our table right next to us so we could dance, and the waitress thought they were waters, so she gathered our drinks up with the other waters at the table. We told her about it and at first she kinda argued with me about it, but eventually got us new drinks, no charge(duh). We had only taken a SIP out of each one! It was a lot of fun, but the waitresses shouldn't be taking full drinks...no matter what they are. Especially if they're gonna charge so much for them.
(3)Charles D.
This place is pretty cool to hang out in. Multiple rooms with good ambiance. Can get quite packed so make sure to come early!
(4)Janel Y.
A co-worker asked me if I wanted to do dinner with her to try out the SJ pre-fixe menu and I've never really ventured into downtown SJ (let alone, SJ itself) but love trying new places so decided to take her up on her offer, even though I'd be coming straight from a 12hr work shift. Good thing there wasn't any traffic. Made it in 30 min and found street parking on the next street over. We had made reservations and even though we arrived on time and our whole party of 3 were there, we still had to wait about 10-15 min to be seated. The place was packed: there were private parties upstairs and all the tables were filled downstairs. We headed to the bar and ordered martinis: chocolate truffle and a sour apple. I didn't think the bartender was hospitable or friendly at all. Clearly he was busy and even though he made eye contact with us, he didn't even say "I'll be right with you" or anything like that. Then to make it worse, to make my friend's chocolate truffle martini, he had to look at the menu again to see what's in it? After finally sitting down, we got some bread with balsamic vinegar and were ready to order off the $20 pre-fixe menu: -soup of the day (clam chowder): creamy, thick and rich. AND there was bacon in it! -chicken marsala: tender and moist, creamy white marsala sauce -salmon with pesto: great with pesto on top -meatloaf: full body flavor...my vote for the best off the menu then for dessert they ran out of the cheesecake so we all had the creme brulee which was alright. The sugar top was too thick and the custard, bleh. For the first course they also had a caesar salad (which nobody ordered) and a pear and bleu cheese salad which I didn't try. The service was okay...didn't get our waters right away, but our server did check in with us. The food was decent and my sour apple martini was lip puckering good. I don't know if it was the alcohol, the laughs I had with my friend or my tasty meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but the night was fun and I'd give this place another shot. Maybe not when it's so busy...
(3)Cari F.
Terrible, terrible service. The food is nothing spectacular (my pasta was bland), and seriously just a complete lack of thought. This was for a birthday celebration and they were slow, promised a dessert that never came, and sat us outside in the covered loft which was FREEZING. Do not recommend - there are far better options.
(1)Jeff A.
Not my favorite place for the daytime food. Not my favorite place for the nightlife either, but they don't have a cover charge to get in. The drinks here are overpriced, it takes 2 IDs to get in, and the dress code is pretty strict for what you get out of it. If you can, I suggest you go somewhere else.
(2)Lynn T.
My four star rating is based on the dine-in experience here, not the nightlife at Loft. Surprisingly, the food here is pretty good! I had ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna salad as my entree and it was very satisfying and filling! The ahi tuna was fresh, the condiments (tomatoes, palms, mango slices, etc) in the salad, along with the sweet balsamic vinaigrette well complimented the salad's overall taste, and the entree's presentation was great! By far one of the best ahi tuna entrees I've had! So even though it was weird dining on the dance floor of Loft, my friends and I were impressed and enjoyed our dining experience here.
(4)Vinh N.
I felt compelled to write a review after being dragged here one too many times. I thought the first time was bad, but the second time justified my feelings about this place. Perhaps I'm a spoiled brat who has partied too much in Hollywood during her time at UCLA or perhaps I was just not drunk enough, but this place is such a bust! I knew something was up when I heard there was NO COVER. Suspicious, much? The next thing that threw me off was their request for additional ID. Even after I provided it, they still stared at me as if I was a liar. Seriously, Morpheus-wannabe, I'm Asian. I'm gonna look like I'm 13 until I'm at least 40, so just deal with it. After getting past the mean-mugging bouncers who were on a power-trip, I made it upstairs with my friends. I was hit in the face with hot and humid air that intertwined with the smell of B.O. *Sigh* it was going to be a long night. Time to bring on the shots. Shots ranged from 10-13 dollars which seems rather spendy for a pretty low-budget looking place, but whatever gets you through the night, right? After downing some drinks, we made our way to the cramped dance floor. If you're a girl who is looking to get some, this is probably your heaven as it was a complete sausage-fest. No, they're not going to be your Prince Charming. No, they don't really have much game. Yes, they will try to rub their penis on you. Yes, that is your alcohol coming back up into your mouth. Bathrooms were small with only two stalls, but drunk girls grouped together somehow makes for some strange camaraderie, so your time cramped in the girl's bathroom will probably be a pleasant one. They get one star for providing me with some priceless stories that you usually recall after having a bad night. I'll share one with you guys here: -- A fellow came up and tried to make some small talk with me. I commented that he was tall, to which he thought it was his cue to pick me up off the dance floor and raise me into the air. He was a stranger, I was buzzed, it was dark, and it was really high off the ground, which all lead to a good freak-out on my behalf. When guys are supposed to pick up chicks, it's not LITERAL, fool!
(1)Dr Duy L.
We had a company dinner here during the 2011 Holidays. They had the long table set-up for us before we arrived. The waiting staff is extremely patient and cool. The menu has variety of food that everyone can enjoy. The wine list is full of well-known and exclusive wines. And the bar is a couple of steps away. They convert to bar/night club after 10PM and we stayed for some funky time. Had a great time at this joint and will come back soon.
(4)Vicky T.
Asians, Asians, everywhere. Been here a few times and surprise, surprise, the crowd is what? Predominately Asian, with clumps of Indian men dancing in circles together. Weird, yes. At least the music is loud, the food is good, and the drinks are strong.
(3)Jennifer A.
Came here recently as one of our stops during our bachelorette party and the place was off the hook!!! The music was bumping, the people were dancing and the drinks were a comin!!! Its been a while since I been here, but this place was exactly what the girls ordered!!
(4)Jake W.
Note to self: don't take the advice of concierges at 5-star hotels. After a long day working my company's annual event at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose (an absolutely beautiful hotel) -- and a short nap -- I called the concierge and asked for a fairly decent casual dining choice within walking distance of the hotel. (For some reason, Google Places was pulling up Denny's and Popeye's, and I wanted something better. Besides, I had a per diem for food.) He suggested The Loft, so I figured, why not. P.F. Chang's happened to be 2 doors down, but I just didn't want to go to a chain. I was seated upstairs -- the 'loft' -- and after surveying the nearly empty room, I joked with the hostess, 'Wow, I guess you guys aren't that busy tonight.' 'No, we're not,' she explained. 'And on Fridays and Saturdays, this area becomes a club with a DJ. See the DJ booth over there?' That should have been my second clue. I was in the mood for sushi, steak, and salad, but couldn't decide. As such, I ordered 2 dishes: the Tuna Sashimi appetizer and the Grilled Flank Steak Salad. The Tuna Sashimi arrived in an attractive plate. However, it was devoid of taste, and several dunks in the soy sauce cup didn't help matters. The Grilled Flank Steak Salad also arrived in an attractive plate, with what appeared to be a healthy portion of steak. Again, however, flavor was lacking, and the pieces of romaine were only from the heart (there were no leaves). I only ate half and took the rest back to my hotel room. I can't honestly recommend this place. Sorry, concierge.
(2)Michael V.
Pretty good food. Good service. Based on the food and restaurant alone I'd have only given them 3, but the service was pretty darn good. Unfortunately, we went while the improv (next door) was having sewage problems... so it didn't smell fantastic. But I'm trying to set that aside for the review. The food was great (a bit pricey for the portions), but tasty. Scallops & meat weren't cooked perfectly but had wonderful flavors and the scallops sauce was LEGIT. The bread was also great and even better when combined with the scallop sauce (I like to party). Calamari was fritto misto style (as opposed to crappy sports bar breading style). I wasn't super crazy about the crab cakes... but I won't take away points for that since everyone else seemed to love their dishes as well. Their happy hour goes on forever (3-7pm) M-F, I think? And had decent drink prices (but only brings the food down to normal prices).
(4)Jocelyn L.
Busy location, OK food. This place likes their capers Summary: - Crab cakes: quite flavorful - Beef Carpaccio on Bruschetta: Yummy with capers and grilled bruschetta - Tomato with Mozarella with Pistachio and drizzled balsamic - Grilled Prawns on Skewers with Rice: the prawns were way too dry and not succulent. Wish they hadn't overcooked it
(3)Yamileth O.
No line, no cover? really wow! I'm in! This was my first time enjoying the night life in San Jose, and it was a good one. I'm taking 2 stars away first because they asked me for a second form of ID, which I thought it was a little excessive. Second because a fight broke off on the dance floor. Security was really quick about it though. The floor was packed, but it was only because the DJ was absolutely amazing! Only good music playing that night! I will definitely be visiting Loft Bar again.
(3)Kevin W.
You know that place that you always go to, and you're kinda tired of it, but you always have a good time no matter what: Me: Where do you wanna party? Friend: I dunno. Me: Loft! Friend: Loft again? Me: We always have a great time! Maybe its my South Bay partner-in-crime and her great company? Maybe its because we're both cheap dates and know how to really pre-party? Whether we intended to go there in the first place or just end up there by the end of the night - we always have a great time! For starters, there's never a cover - everyone starts off in a great mood with FREE and hence usually no line unlike other clubs where the bouncer holds the line to get cover after a certain time. Two floors. Bar and chill area downstairs. Dance floor and another bar upstairs. Upstairs windows on the dance floor facing the street so you can shake it for all the passerbys. Outdoor patio that sometimes has a separate DJ for dancing as well - very nice after the main dance floor gets hot and heavy. And as expected with any place with no cover, its always packed and hot and heavy. Being a guy, I can't comment about how touchy/grabby the crowd is. (Sadly, my assets are not touch-able or grab-able.) But I've never had to really step in to save a damsel in distress. My girl friends usually have a good time, and there's never been a "OMG we're never going back there again. Hella shady!" moment.
(4)Lisa H.
Two story bar with cool seats on the second floor b/c I really like the high level seats where you can dangle your legs. Plus from where I was sitting facing the bar, I could watch the TV. My complaint, the food. We ordered the 6 grilled shrimps on skewers, when the shrimp came there were only 5, and we noticed because there was 6 of us so we would get 2 each. We also had the small fried chicken chunks, which tasted super dry. The outside seating, which is cool during the summer has a nice view of the sky, but it would be really nice if the walls were lower so you could see the street below, but I guess then there would be too much liability for the bar with all of the drunk people.
(3)Adi F.
not a huge fan of the downtown SJ bar scene, but the white gummy bears here are the best!
(4)Jon B.
The issue I have with this restaurant is they are trying to be something they are NOT which is a high end eatery. A few examples: $30 entrees for food that was good but nothing special, and were worthy of a $20-25 price tag. Average portions and nothing unique about the taste or presentation. By comparison I eat at Dry Creek Grill regularly and feel like the quality, taste and value is always there. At Loft I felt like I was being taken. Service was below average....they struggled to find a table for four even though we booked via opentable and the place was half empty, the wrong meal was brought to us, we had to ask repeatedly for more water and bread) and mid meal one of the kitchen workers rolled his mountain bike through the front door right by our table and oh they played classic rock too loud (I love classic rock btw, just not when I'm out eating a $30 a plate meal. Keep it to the sports bar). If they were serving grubby food at $20 a plate and billed themselves as general restauarnt I'd be thrilled. Again, they need to own who they are an not pretend to be something they are not.
(2)Andrena R.
I love Loft Bar! But that's also because it's one of the few bars around the bay area where you don't have to pay a cover charge which means more money for drinks. They do have drink specials which are pretty cheap but once happy hour is over, drinks can get pricey and you have to spend a minimum of $15 to use credit card so if you plan on only ordering one drink, bring cash. Also, you do need two forms of ID which isn't that big of deal as long as you come prepared. As for the decor and setting, downstairs is more upscale and more for mingling and chatting while upstairs is a complete club scene. I also appreciate that there is no dress code but people usually dress nice anyways. Lastly, the music is usually pretty good so overall, I'm a fan of Loft Bar.
(4)Kerri T.
Met a date last night in the downstairs bar area and the bartendar was not only entertaining, but very good at his job. I gave him a very specific order with instructions on making it - and he did a great job! Highly recommend and will definitely be back again.
(4)Angelica C.
No cover and no ventilation, you get hot quick, and by the time you meander to Tres Gringos or San Jose Bar & Grill, you'll be one sweaty mofo! Perhaps it depends on the bouncers/security, but there have been a few times where they've required two forms of ID (e.g. license and credit/debit cards). I like the LOFT's layout; it's two stories, the downstairs bar is more of an intimate setting, the music isn't blaring and people are able to converse. WATCH OUT for the staircase leading up to the second floor. It easily has 20-25 steps and it can be a real challenge for women in heels,women intoxicated and in heels, and women falling down drunk and intoxicated in heels, etc. The same applies for men too, watch out for the staircase! The scene upstairs is basically summed up in my first sentence of this review: hot and sweaty with no ventilation. Oh, and they tend to play solely Rap & Hip-Hop. I will note the huge fan they have that adds to the musty air being circulated around the club, and there are windows, they just don't open them? It doesn't take long to get drinks, but it sure gets packed on the second floor. Just be prepared to be grazed by other sweaty mofos on the dance floor, and don't take offense to anyone pinching your ass either!
(3)Charlotte F.
The worst dining experience ever-the only good thing my group decided was that because so many things were bad it became comical. Made reservations for my bday dinner-showed up and had to wait forever, then were seated out on the patio which was freezing. The waitress didn't bring enough water for everyone and we had to ask multiple times for her to bring enough. Asked for bread and she brought out one small thing that only had 5 pieces and our group was 10. Took over an hour for appetizers and then the same for our meals. The rain started coming through the cover on the patio and we were getting wet-told a staff we needed our check bc we were getting wet. While he helped find our waitress, there was no apology. Some of the group liked there food, but others found it bland. However, because of the service will never go back.
(1)Neal E.
We had our team dinner here - we had the entire upstairs and outdoor patio reserved. We started out with some appetizers on the patio - as I recall - a fried calamari offering with tartar and seafood cocktail sauces; a Tomato and Mozzarella Salad: fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese and sliced tomatoes topped with pistachios and basil-balsamic vinaigrette; and a Prawn Cocktail: jumbo prawns cut up bite size and served with cocktail sauce avocado, tomato, lime juice, onion and cilantro. The Prawn Cocktail and the Calamari were pretty good. For dinner we had a buffet offering: Braised Beef Shortribs, Baked Halibut, and Grilled Marinated Flank Steak. There were also sides of vegetables, mashed potatoes, and such. I was not impressed with any of the buffet offerings - the best thing I ate was the mashed potatoes - and later - a glass of 16 year old Lagavulin. The wait staff did a nice job of fulfilling our drink orders and keeping us well lubricated. A special thank you to the bartender on the upper floor for going downstairs in search of Lagavulin when there was none to be had in the upstairs bar. All-in-all - a very average dining experience. A shame too - it has such a cool ambiance upstairs with the outdoor patio.
(3)carol c.
First the good: We arrived on Sunday night and the place was empty, which we loved. The upstairs room was nice and we could hear each other talk. Our waitress was really nice. Free corkage on Sunday nights, so our party of 6 brought 3 bottles and enjoyed them. The $6 happy hour menu is fabulous--the tri tip quesadilla is huge, and tasty. Our friend liked the rare tuna and her husband liked the lettuce cups. Cheesecake--deelish, except smothered in whipped cream--why? Who does this? Ruined the taste. Have you ever heard of a Chinese chicken salad with almonds? This one has them. Now, the not so good. Chicken broccoli rotini was as bland as the one they serve in Campbell. Yech. The calamari batter was falling off the meat, didn't looked well prepared at all. The $8 hot fudge chocolate cake was about 2" in diameter with barely any hot fudge. Plus, it was overpowered by the berry sauce it came with (but wasn't mentioned on the menu so I could ask them to hold it, since I am allergic) I might have paid $4 for that dessert, it was definitely a disappointment. Don't bother to order. Go figure: $6 for a huge, delicious tri tip and $8 for an awful dessert. I've always thought Capers had potential; its dishes are spotty, though.Choose carefully.
(3)Nicholas R.
More like a 3.5 Wandered over here with some friends a few weeks back. I usually stay away from the downtown scene, but this was a nice little place. Went straight upstairs, where they had happy hour. Drinks were cheap, but make sure to buy them before the discounts end. After happy hour, they're pretty pricey. I liked the fact that this bar, while downtown, was not packed with a bunch of clubbers. There was no cover charge, but a decent-sized dance floor upstairs. Really laid back atmosphere, and I'll probably go back if I want to hang out downtown.
(3)Yang Q.
The place may be small, with a very small bar area downstairs, another crowded bar area upstairs, and a tiny dance floor. It may be super crowded, sweaty, and grimy (the tiny dance floor and dripping pipes). And it may be ghetto--it's downtown SJ, how can it not be? Yet, there's no cover charge, you're very likely to run into people you know, and somehow, I always get really drunk and have hella fun here. Just be sure to bring 2 forms of ID because they always ask for it.
(3)Jamie J.
Heart heart heart this place! Even on a raining night the music does not disappoint! Met up with my girls acroos the street at Tres and came here shortly after. We walked in and went straight to the dance floor and the only time we left the dance floor was when we went to go get some drinks. Drinks are a bit more here but there was plenty of guys willing to buy us drinks ;) Met DJ How High later in the night and he didn't try to get into our pants? Neg star! jk Always a great place to check out if your out bar hopping. Best music and vibe in Man Jose. Just bring 2 Id's and be ready to sign on a napkin haha
(5)Joshua T.
The bartenders here are very personable and professional. Adam and Mario are great to talk to while waiting for my drinks...good dudes. Dinner here was also very good (surprisingly). The flank steak was actually prepared well and the area looked great, considering it turns into a club after dinner. Surprisingly no alcohol or vomit smells as we had dinner in the same area that is the dance floor. Recommended.
(5)Melanie N.
Times are changing! I use to come here alot for the nightlife... i'll be here on the weekends for drinks, hanging out on their patio and dancing the night away. So much great memories here! Now i only come here for business lunches! I 've had dinner here before and I now usually meet up with clients here for lunch. It's not the best place for lunch on your wallet but it's definately yummy! Their steak bites are ubberly delicious as the steak is tender, comes on a bed of greens along with a cabernet dipping sauce! I also like their Chicken Marsala which was flavored and cooked perfectly. Loft never fails to dissapoint my tummy! =)
(4)Joseph M.
Crappy music, but that's what we get for choosing a pace that doesn't charge you a cover.. Drinks ... $62 for 4 shots of Hennessy and a Long Island? o.O Huge sausagefest on the dance floor, but overall the crowd is really nice. My friends and I were at the bar on the second floor and this girl was walking by and slipped on something wet and TOTALLY ate it :( But everyone (myself included) quickly came to her rescue to make sure she was okay. Teamwork, baby! Loft DJs, would it kill you to play some tunes from the Top 40?
(2)Cindy T.
I've been here upstairs plenty of times during college (nightlife). It's a great lil place and I've seen it when it's crack-a-lackin' and when it wasn't. I've also been here a handful of times for dinner, sitting upstairs and out on the patio - love the roof top patio, especially in the summer time. Most of the dinner offerings are good - all very traditional American dishes. As for desserts, I've had the creme brulee - let's just say it's just A-OK.
(3)Stephanie J.
Loft has screw us over. Not ONCE but TWICE! That is just not acceptable anymore! Before my bestis goes back to Taiwan, she wants to go clubbing . To save my time, I decided to ask all the girls to Loft. Mainly because it's open to everyone and there is no guest list. So we went last Friday. I been to loft numerous time before and I know this place can get pretty packed. But to my surprises they were still pretty empty at 10:30 am. So anyway... as usual... we took our shot and went dancing and rejected all the guys who want to dance with us. Although the music was A-OK (no current hip-pop music playing)... we make the most out of it. I was still waiting for 2 more girls to show up at that time. 30 minutes later the girls texted me and told me the bouncers downstairs is not letting them in because one of the girl has a experienced ID and have forgotten to bring her new one. Seriously... it not like she is freaken 21!! she is 26 for goodness! So here how it all went downhill. The 2 friends has just drove 2 hours meet us at LOFT. So of course I have to go out to talk to them. Leaving our friends upstair, my bestie and I went downstairs and outside to talk to my friends. My bestie decided to talk to the bouncers to see if there is anyway around it. To make the story short... they kicked us out as well. The bouncers pointing at bestie and I claiming that we was too "intoxicated" to let us back in. Too "intoxicated"!!!! How are we too intoxicated if we barely got there?? Especially pointing fingers at me? Dude... I have the strongest alcohol tolerances among all my friends... how could say think that I was intoxicated? We barely got our night started! =( that is why I would never go back to LOFT again!!! I can say this because I been there enough to make a point! 1st the music there is so-so.. so good night and enough bad night like this Friday. 2nd : Strict.. strict.. strict... will kick people out for anything!!! What make me upset is we didn't even do anything! 3rd : Few months back they won't let us in because my bestie's driver license still has her high school picture and they claim that it does not look like us and rejected her to go in last time. We asked our friends who is still upstairs in LOFT to come down. We left LOFT and I mentally say my forever goodbye. We finally check out the bar across from Loft... The bouncers there were a lot more understanding and let all of us girl in for free. That end of MERRY FRIDAY NIGHT. SJBG SAVE THE NIGHT!
(1)Warren R.
A nice 2 level place to party (This is reviewing the dancing/drinking side of Loft). No hassle at the door - just show your ID and you're good to go. The bars at both levels are long, and the bartenders a pretty quick with your drinks. Chatted up with a cool ass bartender by the name of Mario (i think) who hooked up my gin n tonics. The place was the perfect mix of, good looking females,not-to-crowded, and under control (There was staff everywhere). The DJ spinning threw on some sick mixes and never put on an awkward song or anything slow. I'm trying to rate the bar, and not the patrons. The establishment is pretty sick, but some people can rude as hell - especially on the dance floor ( i guess that's everywhere you go though). I like this place because the dance floor is in CLEARLY defined area [unlike most places that require you to pass the dance floor to get drinks so people are constantly walking through it], its in its own section of the bar - SO, IF YOUR NOT GOING TO DANCE STAY OUT! Please don't walk laps around the dance floor or stand awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor looking around... Got a group of people in Downtown SJ? Give this spot a try. I know I'll be back/
(4)Kylie H.
This is the place to be either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights. *No cover charge!* Drinks are ridiculously expensive here, though. They are very watered down & totally not worth it. My friend and I both ordered a double, thinking it would solve this issue (costing $40 for both), but it still didn't taste like an alcoholic beverage. HUGE waste of $$$!!! I always like the music they play here. Mostly hip-hop. The layout is pretty different, as well. There is a bar on the first floor as you enter, then up the stairs there is another bar & dance floor. I'd choose this place over Sabor and Voodoo Lounge any day!
(4)Jamie M.
This place is one of the various places in Man Jose for nightlife. Compared to other nightlife places in the city, it attracts a larger crowd and plays a good variety of music. A big plus for this place is that there's no cover charge. However, they get you back by charging you an insane amount for drinks. $13 for a shot of patron? C'mon son, this isn't Vegas! The layout here is also different from the other venues for nightlife in Man Jose. There are two bars and two bathrooms (one on each floor), but the upstairs portion of this place is better than the downstairs. In addition, the actual dance floor is upstairs and the bouncers do a decent job clearing out a lane so it isn't so cramp. Overall, it's a cool place to go enjoy the nightlife if you're in downtown but I would recommend having your drinks somewhere else.
(3)Susan D.
I don't really go out much anymore but when I do, I think the Loft is an alright place to hit. It usually has less of a line than other clubs, charges no cover and has a bar downstairs that is easy to get drinks from (small dance floor and 2nd bar are upstairs). That means if you wanna chat with friends, you can do so in an area where the music isn't blaring. There's also an outdoor patio upstairs for the smokers. The crowd is typical, drinks are strong enough and music is fun. What more do we need? See ya there.
(4)Catalina R.
We had one appetizer, the Popcorn Chicken, it was really good, and had 2 coctails. I was feeling like having a margarita and ordered just a traditional one on the rocks with patron. It was all right,but I was expecting something better. They even forgot the salt on mine. the real good one was the one the bf got. Spiced cucumber margarita. it smells and taste like cucumber and it is really spicy. I loved it. Maybe I'll go back and get one of those. The place is pricy and for sure I won't pay for a regular drink again there.
(4)Yvette P.
I came to this place because a friend recomended it and I was utterly disappointed. I went on a Wednesday night expecting to have a late lounge type dinner. I had never been there before so I asked the waiter for recommendations. It was 3 of us and we all ordered something different. The food was pretty disgusting. I paid $15 for a tri-tip wrap that tasted like soggy soup. How is that even possible? My friends ordered sliders and a salad. Those were also equally gross. The only thing that we probably enjoyed was the waiter. It helped that he was nice to look at, otherwise, the food stinks.
(2)Enza P.
So, I've been here several times now, with different crowds each time. I do appreciate the atmosphere here and the general vibe. The dance floor upstairs is always super packed. The music does make me want to dance so I'm usually sweating by the time I leave. I don't like how there is no smoking area, so whenever I head outside with friends, we all have to get out, and then get back in line and get checked when everyone is ready to back inside. I also think the drinks can be a bit overpriced here. It's $2 more and they give you smaller cups. I guess that's their discreet way of getting a cover charge out of you. The drinks are usually strong though, so it's alright. The dancing crowd is honestly fun but it can get soooo crowded that people get pushed around pretty often, so my friends and I often chill by the bar. The security is not nice here. They make you whip out your license as well as your debit cards EVERY TIME YOU WALK IN even though they know you're just waiting for someone or if they just checked you. I am not down for that! I wish they gave us a stamp or something to make it easier. My friends went to smoke and their tabs were still open and they didn't let us go back inside at 1:20 AM to close the tabs. They took the licenses and brought out the check and made us sign it outside. We also did not appreciate the attitude of the security. If I was being a drunk hot mess, I would understand but we were all being really nice and they weren't. I appreciate the no cover charge, good music, the overall vibe from the crowd so it's an okay place to go to. It'd be nice if they lightened up a bit though!
(3)Bonnie K.
Well seems like our experience was early evening and the other reviews seem to be more about the evening thumpin' part so this review is about the food! In my opinion: absolutely delicious. All I had was a Lychee Martini (my first and delish!) and Asian Chicken Salad and Chicken WIngs. These just happened to all be at Happy Hour prices which was an additional treat. The restaurant was nice & quiet (at around 6pm) and the service was okay, our server was a bit dingy/spacey. And we got a free dessert by joining their VIP Club! Delicious Tiramasou. I am a fussy eater so take this feedback seriously!
(4)Cheryl B.
This is for the bar. I should have known when I heard the DJ mixed 30 second snippets of songs that this place would be FoF - Full of F**kery. But no, the dirty martinis in plastic cups did that. I will say the no cover is cool and finding a place for a drink after 12:30 on a weekend night is hard enough and Loft was open and fit the need.
(2)Earlene C.
Great spot - delicious drinks and food! I've come for the night life before and recently for a graduation dinner. Service was great, food excellent. We of course started with Mojitos and the complimentary bread served with sweet balsamic vinegar. For appetizer and entree: -Calamari -Salmon -Parmesan Chicken -Tri-tip wrap Everything was tasty, generous portions, so you definitely get what you pay for!
(4)Amanda I.
So I've been here 3 times now and I thought it was about time to give a review for their nightlife. Of course, nothing really lives up to Vegas, but when my friends and I felt like going out to dance, Loft has always been a good option so far. The music is good clubby type music with some older stuff thrown in, but the vibe is definitely better for me here than at Fahrenheit, for instance. No cover charge which is nice, close parking structure, no lines that I've had to wait in (unlike Fahrenheit where my girlfriend and I had to wait for like, 20 min and then we just left anyways because it was pretty slow inside, everyone was pretty old, and the music wasn't that great). Drinks are typical club sized drinks and prices, but we really came to just have a couple nights out dancing. We had a lot of fun, although it can get pretty annoying with those way older guys trying to come up behind you to dance with you. At least have the decency of coming up beside me and ask me if I want to dance; I'd be more willing to say yes if you're not so rude as to treat me like I'm just some kind of mindless scratching post. But that has nothing to do with Loft itself, more the types of males one encounters. So, because I've always had a lot of fun dancing here, have felt pretty safe since it's on a pretty busy street and cops were outside sort of patrolling when we left sometimes, and there's no cover, I think overall I'd give this place a 4. update: I've been back to the Loft a couple more times since I reviewed, and unfortunately, the experiences haven't been that great lately. I wouldn't mind it so much if my friends and I could go and just dance, but every time we go we are bothered by weird, creepy older guys. Not cool. It taints the experience and doesn't make it very fun for us if we're always looking over our shoulder. Not planning on coming here anymore if I can avoid it, probably going to hit up downtown Mountain View or somewhere else where the crowd is younger, more mixed, and not full of old creepy guys
(2)Mike C.
This review is for the nightlife only. First thing to note about this place is that there is no cover, so that sort of speaks for itself. Next thing to note is it's across from spectacles such as San Jose Bar & Grill and Tres Gringos, so that's another thing to keep in mind. Now onto the place itself. Not much ever really happening on the bottom floor, just people getting drinks from the bar there and a few people chatting. Move onto the main event upstairs. The dance floor has been packed to the brim both times I've been here. The makeup is usually small groups of asian girls who will dance exclusively with each other or their over protective boyfriends and then random latino/black dudes around the edges of the floor. Expect to have drunk girls rudely shove you out of the way often and have people constantly stepping on your shoes. The music is usually top 40/rap, which I'm not a HUGE fan of, but can still get down to. Both time I've been here the DJ has actually been pretty good, so that's a plus. The drinks? Well I only ordered one ever, a gin and tonic, and it ended up being a tonic and gin if you know what I mean. To be fair though, my friend's drink was also weak and he asked for a little more liquor and was given it for free so that's cool. All in all, I wouldn't really come here unless you already have friends you plan on dancing with, but I'm not really a big fan of this place.
(2)Jatinder S.
Two good things have to say about the Loft is that there is no cover charge (my friends and I went as a back up because we got to downtown late) and there is a decent-sized dance floor upstairs with plenty of chairs and tables lining the walls. The rooftop patio is a plus, too. They make their money off of $10 drinks--so definitely beware of that. Happy hour is cool if you can get here early enough, otherwise you should drink elsewhere... like Flames which has happy hour until midnight. As for the staff, the bartenders were a lot of fun, but count on getting the third degree at the door if you're under 25. They ask for two forms of ID at the door. I didn't have two, so they made me sign a waiver and bitched about how my signature was different from the one on my ID. I signed that crap when i was 15 on a cramped magnetic strip with an over-sized stylus--why are you berating me about it 8 years later?? I can see that they're just doing their job, but I was just irritated because I don't really drink and don't appreciate being type-casted among the neanderthals of my generation who make all these security measures necessary. **end rant** As for the vibe---if you are at all familiar with MAN Jose, California--you should know that this place is stocked up with a lot of creeps that generally outnumber the girls. Go with a group, ladies! And the ventilation in the club is pretty bad everywhere except for the bathroom. You can count on getting sweaty and nasty. The DJs are pretty lame...on a Saturday night, we really weren't feeling 50% of the beats. That's terribad. Would I go again? I guess... since there is no guest list or cover, but I wouldn't be all that excited about it. I always have fun when I'm out with the girls, but I'd try to avoid it on crowded nights.
(2)Braden K.
haha i now know why the bouncers at loft have been giving me trouble! bouncers, managers, basically all security staff are faultless. who's the cause of all this? you know who you are.
(1)Amanda S.
Wow....I couldn't believe how packed the upstairs dance area was! I guess that's what happens when there's no cover on a Saturday night. Though it was great to walk upstairs without waiting in a line, I think some quota should be set and enforced to ensure those dancing actually have the space to do so. Good energy of people here, though some lacked courtesy and failed to notice they were smacking/elbowing others in their effort to showcase their dance moves.
(3)Natasha S.
this is the third or fourth time that ive been here. I love how you don't have to pay for cover. i like how they have bouncers their making sure that people are not standing in the walk ways and making sure that everyone is in the damn way. I have to agree with other reviewers, its definitely good for bar hoping ... you cant stay suffocated in there for too long. i wish they would add MORE fans than the ONE they had. i didn't get to drink this time cause i was the good ol DD that night ... i haven't drank their in a while so i dont remember what the drinks were like ... however my friends took jager bombs and they looked pretty gooood afterwards haha overall: probably would go back ... music never fails me :)
(3)Elizabeth R.
Made reservations for 4 people using opentable. When we arrived, they didn't ask if we had a reservation. They asked if we wanted to sit outside (front) or we could sit inside (entrance level) if there was a spot open or upstairs. I told her inside and upstairs if there was nothing available at entrance level. She seated us upstairs OUTSIDE which is partially covered. I didn't want to sit outside because it was a tad chilly. Luckily the covering provided some shelter. Inside there was a high school reunion with a DJ starting to heat things up so it seems dinner seating at 8pm on a Saturday was a bit tight. They have a large menu which was surprising. Almost every entree comes with vegetables. I ordered the meatloaf which was smothered in a mushroom sauce. The sauce was good and provided some much needed flavor to the otherwise bland meatloaf. Despite my friends ordering salmon and my husband had pork, we all had the same overcooked bland mixed vegetables that were probably pre-cooked or frozen simply scooped onto our places. Bread was not offered to us yet we saw it flowing to other tables. When I asked, the bus boy told me that when they are in short supply of bread they only bring if requested otherwise when they have plenty of bread they bring it out to all tables - guess they were short since we didn't get any nor did we ask because it was too late at this point. I have no need to come here again. It was nothing stellar. My friends food looked average at best. Prices are reasonable but they need to work on the freshness of the food and flavoring.
(3)Nikki J.
Packed over priced drinks mixed crowed old ppl young
(2)Chelsea B.
I've been here a couple times (nighttime only, not for the restaurant part), so this is coming from a cumulation of all my experiences here. Generally speaking, this place is pretty fun. Music is good, no cover, drinks are decently priced and not watered down, and it's clean/not sketchy. All of which are pluses in my book. It's also nice because there's two bars, so it's easier to get drinks faster. Maybe that's strategic thinking on their part... Downside is that the dance floor is EXTREMELY tiny. So please do not come here if you are claustrophobic because you will pass out in about 30 seconds. Maybe less depending on the night. Crowd wise, it's a decent group for downtown SJ. Not too noticeably ghetto and not too snobbish. Sidenote: for some reason everyone seems short. Granted I'm pretty tall, but still being able to see over 90% of the people's heads when you're just slightly above average female height is a little weird. Basically, just not very ethnically varied. Also general tips: 1. Get your drinks downstairs because it's WAY faster. 2. There's no coat check, so unless you're willing to hold your coat, leave it and suck it up for the walk between your car and the door.
(3)Wanugee N.
What a lot of people don't know about Silicon Valley is that besides the plethora of YASVE (no, this is not a variation speliing of the ancient name for God taken from archealogically discovered tablets found in the Middle East; it is an acronym for "Yet Another Silicon Valley Engineer") is that in the early days, a lot of what is now in the Silicon Valley Tech Musem was built by Assemblers. Yup, Assemblers, hourly wage workers putting things together with a pneumatic screwdriver or soldering iron. This was pre-pneumatic or electric machines that did all this automatically without people, and before all that went to China. EMS companies (Electronic Manufacturing Services, or Contract Manufacterers) were outfits that were the original outsources, before the Accounting was sent to the Philipines, the Tech Support was sent to India, and the Design and manufacturing was sent to China. That industry started here, in Silicon Valley. Companies like Flextron, Jabil and Solectron, where many skilled laborers, mostly from ethnic backgrounds themselves, Assembled. Solectron got started by two Asians, who hired only immigrants for their work ethic and a chance to get started in their new adoptive country. Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Mexicans, etc. So what does this Silicon Valley Tech history have to do with the Loft? Well, all the second and third generation off-spring are here! Yup, the spoiled, mainstream assimilated children of all those immigrants who worked their butts off so their kids could have a bright future, are partying here, carry their iPhones, texting while dancing, getting silly drunk, driving their Bimmers, many who are your friends! Actually this place is cool. No cover charge, good beats upstairs with the DJ spinning with a Bump and Grind to popular hip hop sounds, a decent venue. But it gets PACKED, more dense than a double sided, wave soldered PC board. And the Big Bouncers spend most of their time with little flashlights directing you to not clog up the walkways around the dance floor like a break in the solder of a PCB creating a defect reject. And there are a fair amount of well assembled hotties here, who pass Eyeball QC. Just get to them before they are outsourced elsewhere.
(3)Mike T.
I was really impressed. I was looking for a no cover nightlife spot that was bar-like but where my friends could still dance. Not a high end club but then again no high priced cover or pretension either...so exactly what I was looking for. Music was great. A good mix of Top40, R&B, Stuff with a Latin flair, etc. so there seemed to be something for just about everyone. Drinks are a little on the pricey side but I imagine that's necessary since they probably get a lot of people that come for the dancing and don't buy anything due to the no cover. Downstairs bartenders were HORRIBLE and took forever. My two friends waited over 20 minutes for drinks and it wasn't even that crowded. They went upstairs to the more crowded bar to get drinks because we weren't sure when they would get served. Costs them a 5th star! Upstairs bartenders and servers going to the tables were great and fast so that made up for the downstairs people. Good diverse attractive crowd without pretension or skanky-ness!
(4)Jo H.
After three visits I think I'm finally ready to write a review. Drink specials (decent pours) before 11:30 are a win. The DJ is pretty good for a place with no cover WIN. It's in stumbling distance from most of the bars I end up at. When I drink I like to dance so that's definitely a WIN. The weird thing I've noticed about this place is that it can go from morgue to PACKED in 5 minutes. The dance floor get's rushed at like 11:45-12. If you're worried about getting sweaty this definitely isn't the place for you. There's a big fan in back and that area beneath it is prime real estate. If you don't mind getting close check it out. If anything you'll burn off what you drank and minimize your hangover for the next morning. That's my little secret don't say I never gave you anything.
(3)Yen T.
Do you like to dance like you are in a pack of sardines? Do you like to pay $15+tip for a shot of Henn? Do you like to have weird guys grope on you? Do you like ugly girls to throw themselves on you? How about getting a flash light flashed in your eyes every time you walk to the bar or bathroom? This place is for you...
(1)Sunny M.
I like loft because it's free. I like loft because it's bigger than temple. I like loft because they play dancey dance music. It's not THAT small. I mean, it's not like a Ruby Skye or Temple SF but I find it on the bigger end of free. Smaller than Pearl but free all night w/out guest list. And yes, it does get hot in here, but no more than other cozy places I've been in. It for sure doesn't get to Holy Cow levels of humidity. In conclusion, best free choice I know.
(4)Cristine I.
*Review based solely on the night club and not the restaurant.* With the crap downtown San Jose has to offer, this is my favorite night club. Why? First off there's no cover charge, hip-hop before midnight :) then the 80s throwbacks kick in :(, most everyone actually dance, two bathrooms for the ladies, and dress code stays pretty casual The downside is that they always ask me for two forms of ID (retarded from my standpoint), pricey drinks offset the free cover charge, and the upstairs bar is always crowded. Never really cared for the small outer techno room or the sausage bar downstairs but the upstairs dance floor is always worth it for me.
(4)Mark H.
FOOD REVIEW !!! This is about my 10th time here at loft. That should say something right there. Some past favorites are the carpaccio, fried calamari and the steak. Tonight was an exclamation point ! The only thing preventing me from giving five stars was the chef left a big clump of dressing in the salad. Other than that, the chicken with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes was expertly prepared and seasoned. The skin was perfectly grilled and chrispy. Well done! I'll be back...
(4)Steph V.
NO COVER. That's one of the biggest reasons why I love going here. The other reason is because I know one of the cute waitresses that work here. She is sooo fine ;) But seriously, this is the first place I actually went to for my first "clubbin" experience when I turned 21. It can get really crowded here so if you want to get down and dirty with your homies, expect to be two stepping in a one foot radius of each other. Still, it's pretty fun and the service is always friendly and fast. They have jazz nights on Thursdays until 11p and before the hoards of people rush over to dance the night away. I've yet to stop by on Thursday night since my ass has work early the next day, but I should! I like this place. I've been meaning to come try the food during the dinner hours when the tables are set up and the atmosphere is a little bit more on the classy side. It's in the perfect part of downtown and there are parking lots right across the street. Don't lie. You know you want to come booty shake at Loft.
(4)Evelyn S.
Coming here on a Friday night at 8:45 PM, the place was really empty. There were a few people at the bar downstairs, bar upstairs, and tables outside. Within a place this huge, it was a bit disappointing how empty it was. We got complimentary bread, which was a bit disgusting. The inside wasn't that fluffy, and the crust of the bread was so hard that I couldn't even eat it. I ordered a shrimp and avocado wrap for $14.95. Although it was pricey, the wrap was HUGE. I didn't expect a big wrap, but it was the size of a Chipotle burrito at least. It kind of justified the more than usual expensive price, but that's about it. There were a lot of prawns in it, but there was too much mayo and overshadowed everything. My boyfriend got the panko chicken, which just okay. The crust of the chicken was too crunchy, and didn't really remind me of how a panko chicken will be fried at a Japanese restaurant. However, I really liked the sauce they provided -- it was a bit spicy like a spicy mustard, but a bit more creamy as if there was a tad of mayo in it. Looking at reviews now, it seems like this is more of a happy hour place. If that is true, I wouldn't recommend this place for food because it's just mediocre and not worth the price.
(3)Dorothy N.
No line. No cover. Complimentary drinks as we walked in. Music was poppin'! Packed dance floor. Clean bathrooms. No complaints. One thing: for such a small place, they have HELLA security personnel.
(4)Sport G.
Wanted to sit on the roof top deck, but it was closed for a private party. The onion strings for an appetizer were a hit for the three of us. Each of us enjoyed our meals. The veggie stir fry was flavorful and filling. The chicken caesar salad was good. Great drink specials till 7pm during the week. The atmosphere was just fine; would have been made better on the roof top deck, I'm sure. I'll give it another shot, for sure.
(3)Shane J.
This is a review of their dinner service- not the party scene at night. My wife & I got to enjoy dinner here on a Sunday night. Thanks to the Downtown Business Association's coupon they gave to individuals who are season ticket holders at the San Jose Repertory Theatre- we decided to give this restaurant a try. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed... We were happy to be seated on their nice patio. It was a little eerie though, that as we made our way through the restaurant to get to the patio, the entire place was pretty empty. Next door was pretty busy- but we decided to stick through and give it a shot anyways. We started with their bread- by far, the best part of our experience... They had an excellent dip- which we were told was a combination of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, garlic & spices. Yummy! While I'm here- I want to say, our server, Jennifer, was very attentive, and brought us water and bread without asking (nice!). Being on the top floor, I was concerned that we would be forgotten about, and we were the ONLY people on the patio. However- our server was always there- and she did a great job! As an appetizer, we ordered their tri-tip quesadilla. It was on happy hour special- $6 for the quesadilla + $2 for the steak. We got it pretty quickly (thanks again, Jennifer! :) ). The sad part was that there was absolutely NO FLAVOR in it at all. No seasoning left a bland quesadilla, and it was rather disappointing. Next- onto our entrees- My wife was feeling their Chinese salad. Once again, it was back to NO FLAVOR. It was bland- but she still liked the bread! :) Well- I decided that a little comfort food would be nice. I ordered the lasagna. At first, it was okay. Garnished with two disappointing pieces of *bleh tasting garlic bread, the taste was okay as I started. I had two bites, and it was warm, but okay. As I got to the middle. and the end, it was warming up (sounds like microwave to me...). However, the terrible part was in the last third, I had a bite that was way hotter than the rest of it. It burned the roof of my mouth. Normally, I would blame myself for this embarrassing mistake- but I was getting to the end of the lasagna- I couldn't have expected the middle of it to be WAY hotter than the outsides of it. Overall- I completely understand why this restaurant was empty- they are loosing care for the quality of their food. Microwaved lasagna? Poorly made garlic bread? Non-seasoned Salad? Bland and tasteless quesadilla? All signs that they don't care anymore... Based on some other reviews I am seeing here- I am not to surprised that I had this experience. It sounds like they are running DOWN-HILL- :(
(1)is n.
I went for my 21st and they asked for a debit card. Thank goodness I was sober at this point and the debit was in easy access. We didn't go during happy hour,so the drinks were steep. The Redbull Vodka and Tequila Sunrise were $20ish. I can't say it was worth it, but no cover at night. Solution: Pre-game and then go. hahaha. This place is Asian guy creeper central,so be prepared.
(3)Hideo M.
Usually the spot I go to when I'm in Downtown. This place is a two story complex. downstairs is more for lounging and getting drinks and second floor is for people who want to dance to top 40. The dance floor is small and there are tons of people Friday and Saturday nights. You're always likely to bump into random people since its really small. The drinks are moderately priced and no cover. 11:15-11:30 pm is the time when the place starts to get really crowded.
(3)Karen W.
Ugh! Pretty unhappy with my last trip here (though I liked my company). Sure, the Loft is free, but the staff was douchey to me. Apparently there is this new rule, that if you are under 25 you need to present some other form of ID besides your driver's license. Yeahhh dumb...first time happening to me. Of course, I did not bring a credit card as I did not want to risk losing it. 1st guy wouldn't let me in, so I talked to the other guy, who had me sign this paper to match up my signature, and shook his head disapprovingly when he saw the way I signed. I insisted it was my card (IT IS) and he had me recite my address (and I volunteered my birth date) before he reluctantly let me in. W...T...F. Are these guys dumb? You WANT girls who are over 21. Did they realize how much of a sausage fest it was in there? The guy-girl ratio was at least 3:1. Idiots. Also, it makes no sense that someone over 21, but under 25 with a real ID should not be able to get in, whereas someone with a fake ID that says they're 25+ may be able to get in, no problem. Not sure what was going on there...probably some power trippin' people or something. My friends (a guy and a girl) are my age and got in fine. Inside, it was sausage-festy...and I was reminded about how: (1) The Loft is RIDICULOUSLY CROWDED, just like Temple. (2) The guys at The Loft are as my guy friend says, "like predators." I feel grateful if someone actually asks me if I want to dance, or if they go away or stop grabbing at me if I say no. (3) That a lot of guys in Norcal dance by banging their pelvises against you rapidly. (4) That some people smell really f***ing bad. Yeah, I dunno. Back to Socal's electronica clubs for me?
(1)Anna P.
I'm a little torn between 3 stars and 4 stars......but I'm feeling nice today. I've been here plenty of times, out of those plenty of times very seldom did I have to pay for drinks. But every piece of food I've ever had here has been delicious! My fiance and friend threw a surprise party for me a few weeks ago, and from what I hear management and servers were a joy to work with. (great to hear). I myself have had a very pleasant experience w/ the manager yeeeeears ago before Yelp was around. I was overcharged for something (yes overcharged for the already outrageously priced drinks) and he went out of his way to totally explain and show me records of the mistake and how they fixed it. He also gave me a complimentary appetizer and drink. I was livid when I walked in, but I walked out w/ a free buzz, satisfied tummy, and peace of mind. Food has been great every time! salads, appetizers, tuna, and salmon have been d-lish! ***Drinks however are outrageous!!! I can't completely rule this place out because I actually like it, but I'm sneaking my flask in next time!! This is 'redonculous'! LOL, never buying a drink there again! Music is great, I do appreciate that I don't have to be walking the streets of downtown looking for a place to dance after dinner or waiting in line. So all of the pros of this place justify the four stars and out weigh the nasty CON that everyone else seems to HATE!
(4)Anna S.
This place sucks at night. *Disclaimer, I did not try the food* I ended up here after some of my friends wanted to "dance their cares away" or just get their "groove on", but the music sucked, people were beligerently grinding each other (though that is the culture of a nightclub, but I want to rant anyways, and the LOFT will get my rath), and the staff was exceptionally rude when trying to get us to leave (I swear one of the bartenders sold my friend a beer 5 minutes before closing and then within 2 minutes, asked her to finish up and leave, and walked away saying "Drunk Bitch". Then, we had a friend in the restroom and they made us leave the place without telling her we were being evacuated, and when we got out onto the curb, they wouldn't let us wait for her again. They kept pushing us to "keep moving" without letting us wait for her. San Jose night scene is getting out of control these days. There were cops and "security" guys from all kinds of clubs yelling orders at everybody to get the *F* out, and back to their cars. There was one guy yelling, "The Light is Green People, GO GO GO!" within seconds of the light. Jerk didn't even give us time to respond to the light, and got people looking at him instead. This is my wake up call to remind me why I haven't tried to go "clubbing" in years. LOFT Bar and Bistro, You Gets NO LOVE from this Yelper... I'm OUTRO! Later Suckas!
(1)Navin B.
Good food and drinks..
(4)Patty O.
if you're under 25, you will need 2 forms of ID to get in. ( e.g drivers license and credit card) the crowd here is pretty young, and it gets pretty packed. the dance floor is tiny and crowded, but the music is pretty good, so it's pretty fun i would say. no cover! thumbs up.
(3)Mitty C.
This review is regarding Loft as a bar at night. I've never eaten here or gone here earlier in the day, so I wouldn't know how the bistro part is. Loft should definitely be on your bar hopping list if you're roaming downtown San Jose on a weekend night. There is no cover, which is always a relief to hear (especially if you've been buying drinks right and left already), and the DJs play a mix of mainstream music and dance beats. If you've never been to Loft, you'll soon find out that it's a two-story establishment with a bar on both the first and second floor. The dance floor and the DJ is on the second floor, which is literally a giant loft. I'm usually asked for a second form of ID, and I just show a credit card or an ATM card that has my name printed on it even though they have no photo on them (I don't usually carry around a second photo ID). I've read some of the reviews written so far, and there's some mention of an uneven guy to girl ratio, which I agree with. But if you're bar hopping and dancing with just your friends or if you just don't care, then that shouldn't rain on your fun. :) Last call for drinks is usually around 1:15 AM and lights go on at around 1:30 AM. If you need a pick-me-up drink while you're at Loft and the bar on the second floor is packed (which it usually is), don't forget that there's one downstairs.
(4)Tisha G.
How have I not reviewed LOFT before? Hmm. Don't really mind this place at all because it's local, in the middle of everything going on, and has NO COVER! Came here again last Saturday to dance and drink.The doormen were not rude, but not very welcoming either. Perhaps because SJSU students who are underage try to sneak in with borrowed IDs. They asked us for two different types of IDs which was inconveniencing, but I won't hold it against them as they were just doing their job. After getting looked over from multiple angles, I proceeded to walk to the bar (DUH where else would I go). Rachel the bartender was awesome, as was her team behind the scene. I really appreciated their friendliness, smiles and small talk although they were busy. Bouncers: DUD. Bartenders? SUP! Music: Too preoccupied with drinking to listen. I'll be back!
(3)Steven C.
*Review only for night life portion/bar. No food.* After the debacle here last new years, entire experience written in detail by Floria C., I didn't think I'd ever be back. But over this past year that I've been avoiding downtown SJ as much as I could, I've actually grown to like this place. As of this moment this is probably one of the few places in downtown SJ I'd agree to go to willingly for a weekend night out, I guess mainly due to my preference for a more chill environment to hangout and catchup with friends instead of the typical club scene as of late. No cover, two bars with fast service, and it's never too crowded. The atmosphere of this place is also more preferable compared to the more shady or questionable looking places around downtown. Drinks are strong, priced on the higher end but I suppose that's what you pay for in this type of environment. Whether you prefer being a bit more upscale compared to the rest of downtown SJ is up to you but I believe this place tries to cater to the "non ghetto" crowd. Although if your looking for a unique crowd you'll probably have better luck over at the new WET. Never had any issues with ID checks here but having kept in mind what happened a year ago, security here is strangely uptight.
(3)Jennifer H.
after being here a couple more times, i realize, this place isn't so great. the dance floor is way too small to welcome a bunch of penny savers. due to the limited space, i had to warn a few of my friends to watch out before they get socked in the head by flaring arms. plus, it gets too hot! no air whatsoever. and since there's no air, odors are present. i swear, someone hella farted on the dance floor. just sayinn. crowd varies i suppose, but apparently i've been encountering annoying creeps. here's how a conservation went when i wouldn't dance with a guy because i was dancing with my boyfriend... WEIRD GUY: FUCK YOU! ME: oh..ok.. that's cool... WEIRD GUY: NO, I WANT TO FUCK YOU.... ME: O_O;; BOYFRIEND: WHOA WHOA WHOA... *weird guy dances back to his entourage and continues to harass other females.* who the hell does that and wtf am i suppose to say to that??... RAPE!!!! i'ma bust out my rape whistle and a rape flashlight to reveal the perp!! oh yeah, music.. is eh. half of that time, i kept thinking "dude, i cannot dance to this shit!" and when i started to dance again because the music was getting good, the dj switches RIGHT at the chorus to a non-danceable song. lets just put it this way, the songs that are played here do not get you super pumped up. bummer really. anyhoo.. loft.. me thinks not.
(1)Maygan A.
I came here with a bunch of friends lookin for a good ol time but all I got was a bunch of dirty/awkward/confused looks from people in the crowd (mostly consisting of older people and mean looking women in tight dresses) and questions about whether or not I was 21. I'm not upset about being around people older than me but I don't appreciate getting stared in the face constantly. Or it might've been the fact that they had reached way over maximum capacity and making it impossible to move anywhere on the dance floor. My friend ordered a drink ($8 for a screwdriver, I guess...) and the guy actually took more money than he charged, taking a hefty load of his tip away. Their VIP area is confusing because it looks like a smoke break spot with a bunch of used cups and garbage all over the place. The bouncers are annoying because you need at least 2 forms of identification to get in this spot and if you leave for a smoke break they card you all over again, which is just some personal pet peeve of mine. They must like raves a lot because they treat their little flashlights like they're giving light shows the way they wave them around and flash them in peoples faces. On the plus side, the music was decent. Too bad there was no room to move.
(2)Michael V.
this review is based on the bimbo who worked the front door on the night of NYE 2011/2012. so i walk in the front door and i end up kicking this small ass unopened bottle of liquor that someone had just dropped. it made a loud unbreaking noise.. probably champagne. i picked it up and held it out blatantly with both hands trying to figure out where in the fuck it came from. i dunno, maybe from some girl who i was destined to meet that night. you know, that type of bullshit. so then the front door lady comes in and grabs it from me, points the bouncer to me, and tells him i was trying to bring in alcohol. what the fuck. my bad batman. crime fightingfuck. anyways, i got kicked out. it's okay though because i waited 3 minutes and got back in. bitch almost ruined my night.
(1)Brenda L.
Came here @ night and got a tasty pineapple cocktail, but it was expensive, almost 10 dollars. They had okay music upstairs playing and they have no cover charge. The music was choppy b/c they kept cutting it off and merging with other songs, I would have liked it they played more of ea/ song. Also the speaker quality wasn't that great and the music wasn't loud enough. I like the decor though w/ the loft vibe and brick walls.
(3)Melissa R.
Definitely a spot to hit up if you & group feel like having a chill night & don't feel like paying cover. I've got asked for another form of ID twice. Don't mind it. Expensive drinks.. paid $23 for two AMF's. -_____- But I guess the expensive drinks compensate for the free entry? Small dance space upstairs. Attended shoulder-to-shoulder, sweaty, crowded nights once or twice before. Gets annoying, especially if drunk messes are breathing down your neck.. or if you're involuntarily bumping & grinding with the couple next to you.... But when you're drunk along with them... it's the funnest time! =)
(3)Thomas T.
pros: No cover Laxed dress code good DJ's Cons: Expensive drinks Too many guys Loft is a good place to go if you want forgot to get on a guest list or dont want to pay a cover. Ive gone to loft a bunch of times straight from SJ bar and grill across the street after we've had some drinks, which is nice as it required no planning whatsoever. It also seems like the girls that go to loft are somewhat uptight, but maybe thats just san jose, who knows. My usual drink of choice is a Tokyo tea, which cost me $14. so if you want to get pretty tipsy at loft you might want to go with the stronger mixed drinks like tokyo teas/AMF's/long island, or LCs/silverback to get the most bang for your buck. For the most part i do have fun so long as im with good company.
(3)Jaime O.
OK, We were at the UPSTAIRS bar this time. the downstairs bar was closed for a private party. Hubby still loves the manhattan there. I asked for the "new" tomato macerated belvedere. They did not have it, BUT the bartender thought they had another tomato vodka option dowstairs and off he went to find it for me. So, although once again they did not have the drink I wanted the bartender made an effort to try to get me something like what I wanted. I appreciated his service. I compromised with a vodka martini, spicy tomato side. I will be back to the ustairs bar because the bartender was so nice and concerned.
(3)Mary S.
We had a company dinner here the other night. So since I didn't pay, this reviewed may be a bit skewed. The entire top floor including the outside terrace was reserved for our party which was nice. The decor is quite charming, exposed brick and duct work. Lots of reds and dark wood. They had several servers working our group and they did a very good job keeping everyone's drinks filled and passing around the appetizers. Which consisted of tomato bruschetta, veggie skewers and calamari. All were good. The dinner menu was our choice of pear salad or spinach salad. I had the pear and it was very good. Main course was filet mignon, lamb shanks, orange roughy or veggie pasta. I had the fish and although orange roughy is very delicate it was paired nicely with fabulous crispy vegetable medley and saffron rice. I had some leftover for lunch the next day and it was even better. Dessert was cheesecake, chocolate mousse or creme brulee. Unfortunately, I cannot comment because we slipped out before it arrived. Overall, I think the service was great. Food was very good. Drinks a little on the weak side which may have been a good thing since it was a work event. It was a positive experience. I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a venue to hold a company dinner. They did an exellent job logistically with our large party.
(4)Vanessa O.
not for anyone over 22 years of age. also, the drinks were crazy expensive!
(1)Mel J.
I scheduled my graduation party here. The communication with the Owner is a joke, he is the person you arrange with and he never returns calls/emails. One day he promises one thing and the next he retracts his statements. Make sure you keep copies of your emails! After all the troubles of booking the non refundable deposited party, the actual event was smooth. Food was decent, the patio/loft was what I expected. Overall, the formality of doing private parties definitely needs organization and priority. Business is not managed well.
(2)Fraulein C.
Had my friend's bachelorette party here. The service wasn't that great to begin with. My friends and I ordered appetizers that weren't even appealing and our entrees...disastrous. Two of our friends didn't get their correct order. WTH?! The only reason why I gave this place three stars was for their mojitos, the crowd of people, nice venue and the ambiance. Good time to come here are Fridays if you're into asians. Two points taken off for bad service and the food. FYI: Free Live Jazz Every Thursday Night! from 8pm - 10pm. Here's the HAPPY HOUR INFO: When: Mondays-Fridays, 3pm-6pm Drinks: $3.75 house wine by the glass $3.75 draft beer Food Menu:$3.75 calamari onion strings Chinese chicken salad
(3)Jeff B.
Wow... from it's appearance (both outside and inside), I thought this was going to an awesome meal! 4 of us went on a Saturday late-afternoon (around 4pm) - the place was pretty much empty. We sat upstairs - and as I said, the vibe was great. The waitress was very friendly... and quick to take our orders. I ordered the Tri-Tip Avocado Wrap - yum! I was so hungry - and so excited for a good wrap. Well... after awhile, it finally arrived. I dug in... UGH... this wrap had NO taste whatsoever! How could a Tri-Tip Wrap with Avocado, lettuce, and tomato not have any taste? It was supposed to be served with a chipotle aioli too - there's no what that could have been there.... all you could taste was the lettuce. After two bites - I knew what it needed - hot sauce. Something to add some flavor. I tried looking for the waitress... waited... waited. She had disappeared! Finally after about 10 minutes, I chased her down and asked for some hot sauce. Another 10 minutes went by - and I realized she had forgotten. Mind you... i was only two bites in... hungry... and wanted my damn hot sauce ;) So, I got up and went to the bar to ask the busser for hot sauce. He quickly brought over some tobasco! With the hot sauce, he brought a treat - fried jalapenos! These were amazing!!!! The one star I'm giving Loft Bar goes to the busser who brought me some amazing fried jalapenos. So... the morale of the story is - don't judge a book by it's cover. This places looks like it'd a great place to eat - but it's not! Everyone at my table complained of tasteless food... we were all looking for hot sauce, salt, anything to add flavor. Not worth the $$$ we spent. If you're going to visit... just sit at the bar and order a beer with the fried jalapenos!
(1)Joe N.
Another San Jose club and another mixed review. I don't get why clubs can't put together the perfect formula and just make it a standard. Oh well. I like the music here, they usually find good djs that fit the atmosphere and the crowd at this place. I'm not saying it's perfect, because they do tend to hire guys that manage to play the latest Katy Perry or Kesha song like 5 times within the 3 hours I'm there too. The place also stays busy because they don't charge a cover, which would help if they weren't overcharging for shots. A bottle of goose costs $30 at Safeway, so why is a ghetto San Jose club charging $13 a shot? You pay those prices in premium locations, not places that are sandwiched between a PF Changs and the Improv.
(2)Sherbi B.
Definitely a 5 star! When I used to work in downtown, I would usually go to Loft once/twice a week. I also had couple of my private parties hosted there whether they were inside or in their nice patio. You can not go wrong with any of their dishes you order. Their raspberry lemon drop is exactly how I like it made (of course, never had these during working hours). There is an open parking lot across from the restaurant which you can always validate your parking. The two bars (downstairs and upstairs) makes it convenient for those that want to grab a quick drink before going to a show at the Improv or those that would like to sit down and have a nice dinner. The manager and staff are very friendly. The food is decently priced and is prepared in a timely manner. Also a good place to have lunch while working as you'll be in and out of there in less than an hour. As I have in the past, Loft is a place that have and still would visit often.
(5)Vi Y.
We grabbed a snack here last night, before catching Ovo, and I was really disappointed in the quality of the food. We ordered mozzarella with tomatoes, pistachios, and balsamic dressing, steak bites, grilled shrimp, and 2 glasses of wine. The steak bites were like Vietnamese cubed steak, but really dry and flavorless. We ordered it rare, and it was still tough to chew through. The grilled shrimp itself had a good flavor, but the salad below it had no flavor at all. The mozzarella used wasn't high quality, and had a rubbery texture. We went to Fahrenheit next, and the food was 10 times better for the same prices. I don't think I'd eat here again since Fahrenheit is right around the corner. At least we got to use a restaurant.com coupon. :) $25 off....yay! :)
(2)Elaine H.
One of the place where you can expect hella asians to be at when barhopping in downtown SJ. The dancefloor upstairs can get pretty hot and stuff, but their have big fans blowing at you so thats an extra plus. Drinks are more expensive compared to other bars in the area, maybe 2 dollars more? Prepare to have 2nd form of ID just incase because chances are, they will ask. They always ask me, so I already have my credit card out! The people carding can be strict or just be mean and not let you in. If you are trying to get in and are tipsy, you BETTER act right or you're not getting in. I've seen it happen too many times. No Cover.
(3)Jasmine P.
After dark, this is the spot to dance, kick it with friends, and really enjoy the night life like it's meant to be enjoyed. The dance floor is packed tight, like a twin bed holding five or so grown adults... but that's just because everyone there wants to be at one of downtown's hottest spots. The Loft is a "hot spot" in the sense that the music is great, people are cool (not the typical pig feed) and it is truly different from most clubs now days. Enjoy a DJ who plays a little bit of everything all mixed up (R&B, slow jams, old school, hip hop). Close your eyes and imagine a cool soulful joint, and this is it... only with less elbow room! The Loft even has a beautiful patio area outside for those who really wanna enjoy a drink, some laughs and "what"-peace and semi-quiet. Now, I can't pretend to know anything about the food or service during the day, but if you want a drama free night, where you can really let your hair down, enjoy beautiful people, then well... I'll see you on the dance floor.
(5)Denise W.
So I've never update any of my reviews before.. but after seeing all these negative reviews.. i feel like i need to defend this place. haha. The Loft is the only place in downtown SJ that I've never had a problem with. I only dock a star because the drinks are expensive here but I guess that's how it is since there's no cover. The staff is super chill, Ive never needed a 2nd ID, and the musics usually pretty good. If I'm barhopping in downtown.. I'll usually barhop my way around for cheaper drinks but I'll usually end up at here at the end of the night. So what I dont get is, and i had to scroll up a couple of times while reading these reviews to make sure we were talking about the same place... the talks about rude bouncers/ staff, lights in faces, cover charges etc. This is kinda news to me.. i cant even imagine it. but then I've only visited on Thursdays.. if that makes a difference. :|
(4)Ling H.
I've usually only been to the Loft after dinner hours for the nightlife scene since it is only one of the few places in San Jose that does not charge a cover. Good night life vibe and depending on the night, how crowded it is. Dance floor is a little tiny and drinks are a little bit more expensive than your normal club, but always a good time here. Came here for dinner NYE 2008. I honestly was not expecting too much of the food, but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of it all. The grilled prawns were cooked to perfection. I tried a friend's filet mignon, which was decent but could have used a little bit more spice or marinade. My other friend's Grilled New York Steak was a little dry for my taste and I also tried the Ahi Tuna, which by far was THE best dish of the night. The only drawback of eating at the Loft is the minimum $25 food and drink charge for everyone at the table. So don't come to the Loft for dinner if you are planning on spending less than that.
(4)Annais R.
Love the food here :) awesome
(4)Quynh-Anh N.
Loft has the most persistent guys: Indians that sneak behind you, Latinos that think they can persuade you with their moves, and Asians that deploy in two. And there is a whole lots of perspiration (sweats are literally dripping from the ceiling). It is always crowded, the drinks are overpriced, and the transition needs work. But they have good music and you will always find yourself having a good time.
(3)David T.
This place is horrible! The drinks are over priced and the bartenders are wack. This one bartender made our drinks wrong and we told him. He throws a fit and starts to give us an attitude. After talking to his manager, I found it quite funny that the manager told my friend not to give them a bad yelp review. The stairs is super dangerous and always wet. Yes, I fell down the stairs because it was so slippery. I'll never come back to this place. The crowd is ok and the music is decent but over priced alcohol is a big no no when it comes down to partying.
(1)Michelle D.
Came here before a play at SJ Rep Theatre. Sat outside on the roof top eating area. The food was fabulous and I am a foodie. I highly recommend the gazpacho and especially the ceviche...yum!
(4)Eugene N.
Been to this place a while back before it became more popular. Being in "MAN Jose" any male gets excited by a new club spot to hit up. Why is that? My use for the name of the city, Man Jose, should be self explanatory. But for those who are in denial of the obvious, or are just not aware of the "scene" we have here in San Jose, it goes like this: San Jose has one if not the worse guy to girl ratio. Recent studies by San Jose's own Metroactive states we have a 6:1 guy to girl ratio. We were even featured on Oprah showing San Jose being a great place for single women to meet men. Thus now dubbed "Man Jose". So back to the review, of course all male daters are aware of San Jose's worse kept secret, but it is unavoidable. So when there is a club or spot that recently opens, it is a great opportunity to hunt for their female prey before the environment becomes overshadowed by cocks. So enter Loft Bar and Bistro. While everybody was at the usual cockfest clubs of San Jose, the Loft Bar and Bistro starts a good thing for those who knew about its initial existence. The place was very clean. The entrance would have you fooled to only be at a bistro. No signs of dancing or partying down here. The stairs leading upstairs was obviously the way to my purpose of being here. You get upstairs and its a nice lounge scene. The decor was to my liking. Going for a more contemporary elagance rather than the obvious glamour that most people tend to overuse. The bar was inviting and so were the staff. It definitely resembled a "Loft". The dance floor was of a decent size, much more open than Temple. DJs always vary, but at this night I had no complaints. There were plenty of seating during the time I went. Not just around the dance floor, but also a space outside on the second floor if it was getting too hot in "thurrrr". As for the crowd, I was enjoying it because it was diverse, the ratio wasn't bad, and it wasn't overcrowded where you couldn't move or get your own personal space on teh dance floor. I hear they serve gourmet meals prior to club hours, but I myself have never tried. No club in SJ deserves 5 stars, I rarely give 4, from first time experience it would have got a 4, but the follow up, well... ------------ I went back here again a few months later, when it was nothing new and the word obviously hit all the locals. San Jose's virus is Man Jose, and it spreads fast because it has hit this place, and although I still stick with my prior review, the most drastic change that the virus has compromised is the ratio. Expect typical "Man Jose" ratio, so bring your A game. You'll need it, because all the other guys sure will.
(3)Andrew W.
The drinks here are expensive. The DJ was terrible. He just wouldn't play a song from start to finish. After a minute, he would cut to a different song with a different tempo. How am I supposed to get my groove on? I appreciate the patio on a warm day. They have drink specials. So, stick with those or you will be overpaying. I think a margarita was $10. And, they suck at mixing drinks. It tasted awful. I think they used rail tequila. Fail.
(2)Katherine L.
Have you ever felt kind of weird sitting at a restaurant/club during the day when you're used to it filled with naughty, brash, sweaty, drunk people hyped up and humping everyone, and possibly anything in sight? Been at Loft three times at unholy hours with friends to knock back a couple of drinks and shake the booty. They've got an upstairs and downstairs with a bar and different music playing on both floors. It gets really packed and sticky. I mean sticky with the floor and sticky with...if you bump into another person, you feel their sweat on you. Seriously, they need to open a couple of windows to bring some air in. Recently went there for dinner, club looks more "innocent" with the daylight flowing in and the tables and chairs out where the dance floor is. My friend recommended the meatloaf, which I usually think of meatloaf being a variety of unidentified meat grounded together with breadcrumbs and baked untl it becomes a rectangle looking funky "THING". Oh well, meatloaf it is. I remember it having swiss cheese, ham, bacon, and some other whatever ingredients they tosssed in there. Guess the fun thing about meatloaf is that everything's ground up to pieces, so you don't really know what is in it. Kinda reminds me of Spam. Meatloaf was delicious, huge, larger than my foot, literally 3 inches high. Depending on the brand, my shoe size is 7 and a half. It came with some veggies and mashed potatoes. I think they had that with the meatloaf as a way of saying, "Yes this is a huge meatloaf, but we're going to toss you some veggies, so you don't feel guilty about the meat fest."
(4)Jon H.
Came here after a decidedly disappointment at WET (closing the guest list at 10, HUGE lines). Despite the reviews, I didn't have too bad of a time. It might be the fact that I kept turning around and seeing various old college friends, so the entire night was a chain of college reunions, and the fact that I was with an awesome group of people - but I felt the music, drinks, and the crowd wasn't too bad for a Friday night in man-jose. Crowd- mix of college students and yuppies, heavy on the asians. FOR ONCE, there seemed like there was more girls than guys on the dance floor. Drinks - Average cost, average bartenders = drinks that don't blow you away or disappoint. About 5-6 for a beer, 6-8 for mix. Security - these guys are on a power trip. Flashing lights when not needed, moving people around, making us cool down three "trees" away, asking me how old I was.... Overall: Again, not too shabby. No cover? GREAT. I'll come back here again, but keep your expectations low, and you might end up having a good night. Not great, but good.
(3)Candice T.
~LOVED~ this place. i'm discovering more and more that if the staff loves their job at a particular place, that's where you'll find me, eating/ chillin'/ shopping. Che is a fabulous bartender who not only loves his job, but loves that you love him mixing your drinks. This place has a tendency to create regulars due to the personable service. So go ahead, go on in a weekday. Even still, go in by yourself and you'll still feel like you're among friends.
(4)Sachiko K.
Free cover, but expensive drinks. Make sure you bring 2 forms of ID. This place isn't that bad. Two bars: upstairs and downstairs. The bar downstairs usually tends to be less crowded so you should go here for drinks if upstairs is too crowded. Bartenders are always nice, never experienced a rude bartender. The dance floor gets really crowded, but you can't really complain... it's free cover so a lot of students are going to come here. Don't get too drunk! Even if you're just putting your head down or resting your head on your elbow to take a break, the bouncers will tell you to get up/stand up, or they will kick you out. They're really strict about having drunk people inside so if you look like you've had too much they won't hesitate to escort you out. GREAT TIP: What my friend's and I usually do to avoid spending so much on drinks is to go to Flames first! They have happy hour until closing (midnight) and offer drinks for $4. So get your drink on there first and then head over to Loft afterwards! PARKING: There's usually a lot of parking a block away from flames on 5th street. It's the street that leads into SJ City Hall from San Fernando, it's not a through street. Park there, stop by Flames, walk over to Loft which is like a 5minute (or less) walk. Seems far, but when you're walking back to the car after drinking and dancing, it'll only feel like it's a block away! But maybe not if you're DD though D:
(3)Steph C.
6$ hen and grey goose shots till 11:30! Can't beat that anywhere in downtown.. Maybe its the 'old' in me coming out but I really enjoy the diverse crowd that Loft brings in. Besides the totally trashed girl trying to take of her underwear in the bathroom line, I thoroughly enjoyed myself here last night.
(5)Grace Y.
To begin, I was inbetween 3 and 4 stars, but since I didn't have to pay for my dinner, I think it toppled it towards the 4 stars. As stated, I didn't pay for my dinner here, one of my friends had one of those coupons from restaurants.com or something that was like spend 30 bucks, get 25 bucks off and used it for our meal. Since we're good fooding buddies, we ordered all kinds of things and shared family style. If you're going to eat out, that's totally the way to do it...more bite for your imaginary buck ;) So first things first...when we ate, we went up an elevator and ended up....in a loft! Haha. Now I understood the name of the restaurant. Sometimes I can be a little slow in these kinds of things... Appetizers we had calamari and the artichokes. The calamari was decent, and I liked the dipping sauce. Nothing too special about it, and I wouldn't have paid for it. I liked the artichoke, but it's not very easy to mess one up. They had a yummy sauce that accompanied it as well. For my entree, I got the pork chops and he got a chicken dish. It was all decent, the meat was prepared properly and they were good cuts and of good quality. Nothing super spectacular, and I'm not sure if I would pay for my meal here. Not when there are a bunch of other restaurants nearby that I 've been wanting to try. I hear there's dancing here too, but not when I was here (Sunday night).
(4)Rocker K.
I came here the other night for Mikey U's UYE B-day/noob event. This was our second stop for the night. When we got there, it wasn't that crowded. It's a nice bar with two stories. Upstairs they have another bar and a medium sized dance floor. There is a private area that you can sit in for private parties. There is no cover so that's always good. It's a 21 plus bar/restaurant. I noticed that they have an elevator there which is good to have especially at bars since climbing stairs whether you're going up or down when tipsy is not a good idea. Don't take any chances if you tend to trip when you're tipsy or drunk especially for you ladies who wear heels. There are two bathrooms there. The one on the first floor is unisex and they only have one stall. The one upstairs is located by the wall and has two, one for women and one for men with more stalls. Don't wait until you really have to go as that place got packed quickly. I mostly sat upstairs in the private area to chill out with some drinks. I talked to Jeremy M., Anny P., and Vijay mostly while there. They ordered some calamari which looked good. Everyone was having a lot of fun but it was way too hot and crowded there and I thought the security guys were a bit rude so decided to go downstairs. They looked really mean and looked like they were hoping to get someone kicked out that night. We had to leave the private area for some other party and when escorted out, I felt like turning around and saying" "Moo" to them as they were hurdling us like cows. lol! I didn't as I knew that would just piss them off and get me kicked out maybe. I noticed the elevator was broken before I went down and that was strange since it was just fine when we got there. I think what really happened is that a few people may have thrown up in there, lol. I spent the rest of the time sitting alone downstairs near the Xmas tree across from the bar. A few people came up and said hi to me like Sha B. and Brian. Brian is really cool and funny. He talked quite a bit and was nice enough to buy me a drink. Also, there is a flat screen TV there that plays sports shows. It's not a bad place and the music is OK. The drinks happen to be overpriced though. My margarita cost $11.00. I guess that's why they charge no cover, they make money off the overpriced drinks. I won't be going back here on my own, but sure would with the SBC crowd!
(4)Alex G.
This is probably my favorite place to eat in downtown San Jose for lunch. The salads are delicious and even on the large side. I haven't tried many of the appetizers because I love the salads and the tomato soup so much. Entrees are also pretty large and I have a hard time putting away a whole sandwich The serving staff is friendly and attentive, no matter how many refills of lemonade I ask for. If you come during lunch on weekdays there is never a big crowd and a really pleasant experience.
(5)susanne r.
Wanted to find downtown alternatives for dinner prior to performances. Great food, awesome service and validation for parking. Even more perfect is they have happy hour with drinks and food that coincide with performance dining!!
(4)Jenna H.
3.5 stars for nightlife But I'll bump it to 4 stars for NO COVER CHARGE! This is my second time coming here, both times to celebrate girlfriends' birthdays. We all met up on a Saturday night, and me being me I always arrive at the 'designated' time, if not early. (I should have guessed everyone else would be running on Asian time--my fault) I was pretty surprised when I arrived at 10:15pm on a saturday night though. The 'nightlife' aspect hadn't even started yet. They were starting to clear tables and a few patrons looked like they were still eating. The crowd was definitely older to say the least. By 11pm, I'd say there was a good amount of people. Drinks: They have a small "Happy Hour" list of drinks ranging at $4, $6, $8 that is good til 11:30, so I'd definitely recommend getting your drink on and your buzz going with the happy hour drinks while they are cheap. Afterwards the drinks can get pretty pricey ($9 for a White Gummy after happy hour, $6 during happy hour). If you like fruity/sweet drinks, I'd DEFINITELY recommend the WHITE GUMMY. SO good!! Atmosphere/Crowd: It's funny when I read the reviews before coming here and many saying "Man Jose", there were surprisingly a lot more women than I was expecting. Well, that was before the place got packed. Tip to the men out there: Get here earlier while it's still dead. Easier to make a move when there's less competition. If you come while it's already poppin', you've lost your chance and need to compete with the other creepy men. But I saw a good variety of people in the crowd. It does get pretty crowded on the floor though Music/Dancing: I do like how they have an area for dancing. DJ was pretty good, spinning top 40s/hiphop/house. Pretty much any song he played you could 'club dance' too. Parking: So in reviews a couple people said they validate parking for Safeway. I called Loft to double check, and was told (6/9/12) that Loft DOES NOT VALIDATE PARKING, at least not anymore. **EDIT: Thank you Maria of Loft's customer service for clarifying their parking validation! Loft does validate, but only for certain lots. "The closest lot to The Loft that still accepts validations is the multi-story garage between 2nd and 3rd on San Carlos."** I also heard that Safeway validates parking for 2 HOURS with a purchase. Worth checking up on, but is 2 hours really enough? THEREFORE, right across the street is an underground parking structure (Pavilion Garage?) that is $5 FLAT rate for the whole night if you get in BEFORE 11pm. Don't park on the ground level lot next door that's $10 flat rate, or the lot across the street from Loft that's $4/HOUR. Or at the lots that Loft DOES validate parking. Overall: I had fun. Good place to get your drink on and dance. I wish the nightlife aspect started sooner. Place was poppin by 11-11:30, but they kick everyone out at 1:30.
(4)Maronita I.
My boss took me and about 12 other girls out for my bday! We were all starving so we ordered many apps: Calamari w fried jalapenos and parm---delishhhh Buffalo Chicken Wings---good but nothing wow'd me about em Roasted Chicken Quesadilla---Out of this world, served with all the fixens... I had the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak--- Topped with demi-glace and a spicy papaya-jicama salsa served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. To be honest, it wasn't bad... but I would definitely order something different next time. My meat was a lil tough. The hit on the plate was the veggies...super fresh, crunchy and in season to boot. I love this place. The atmosphere is great. It's upstairs so you get a nice breeze comin thru the windows with a decent view of the street. The drinks are not very strong but just right if you're drinking for flavor and not to get tossed. Im sure you can ask for an extra shot in the martinis if they don't satisfy your thirst. Three of us girls had the Bermuda Triangle Martini.. 3 each : /... mmmm they were fantastic. But not very strong so we were able to get back to work and function. They even brought me a birthday cake...molten chocolate with berries...it was out of this world. All in all....I felt very special. The bill came out to almost 500 for about 12 people... Not too bad for a fine lunch with alcohol flowing. Thanks Boss!!!!!!!! I'll definitely be back... P.s. I have a few friends that party here on the weekend evenings.. say its a nice crowd despite the ghetto-ish across the way at the two other bars.
(4)trevor l.
Probably my go to lounge/bar/club place in SJ. Dance floor, drinks, space to walk, a patio..
(4)R C.
This is a must read- "WATCH OUT FOR 60-YEAR OLD LOOKING STAFF WITH TEMPER". I went there for a birthday party at their upstairs outdoor patio. Not knowing there were 2 parties going on at the same time, I picked up one of the strawberries that were being served, when "the 60 year old looking staff with glasses" ran up to me and this conversation took place, word for word- 60- Do you belong to this party? Me- Ya, I am here for xxxx's birthday. 60- THIS IS NOT XXXX'S BIRTHDAY'S SIDE. PUT THAT STRAWBERRY DOWN!!! (screaming at me, no joke). Me- Okay, I'm sorry, I didn't know there were 2 parties up here. (Put my half bitten strawberry down and picked up my drink). 60-I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET ANYTHING FROM THAT SIDE! Me- Umm, I got this drink from the bar. 60- YOU SURE??? Me- Excuse me, but I really don't need to eat these foods out here or drink for free, I can pay for it if I really want to. I got this drink at the bar. 60-DON'T BE A SMART ASS OR I CAN HAVE YOU THROWN OUT IN A SEC!!! Watch out for this guy, he looks old and wears glasses. He runs around the club in a staff shirt. The rest of the club seemed friendly. But this was the worst experience of my life at a club, as a paying customer.
(1)Skippy P.
***3.5 Stars*** Got a philly cheese steak sandwich, all of it was good but the steak, if that makes sense. It tasted like boiled steak with little flavor and the chunks were too big for my liking. The grilled onions, red and green bell peppers, cheese and bread were amazing though. The fries were perfect! Maybe I caught them on a bad day. I really wanted to like this sandwich. I'm sure the rest of their food is great. The staff was very nice and attentive. I'll definitely go back, but not sure if I'll try the philly on my next visit, but I will give it another go. Everything that I saw come out of the kitchen looked yummy!
(3)Jerry S.
This is a great place if you're looking for a watering hole in downtown San Jose. Ther's no cover, however the bouncers will thoroughly check ID's and ask for a second form of ID or a credit card. I guess they just want to make sure that no one under 21 gets inside. This is a bar so it's easy on the dress code. The drinks are moderately priced unlike some other places I know. The dance floor can get a little crowded upstairs, but the music is always good. I suggest running to the downstairs bar if you need a drink during these harsh times as there is usually no wait. Overall, the Loft is a solid spot for weekend shenanigans.
(4)D. B.
No cover & drink specials from 10:30-11:30pm! I go here occasionally with friends to have a good time. It gets crowded! Music is okay. Crowd is good. Not too many obnoxious people (at least from my experience).
(4)Peter H.
To quote the Talking Heads: some good points, some bad points. Good points: beautiful space, particularly the upstairs bar and upstairs rooftop patio are pleasures in themselves. The management and nearly all of the bar and wait-staff are friendly and extremely competent. The food, while not a revelation, is quite edible and delivered in a timely fashion. I don't know how to describe the cuisine...American bistro-esque I guess. (I strongly recommend the steak salad.) On weeknights, there is trivia (Wed. nights?) and a really good jazz trio (Thursdays). V. nice flatscreen HD TVs upon which to watch sporting events. Corkage fee a mere $15. Bad points: winelist from hell and it never changes; downstairs bar looks dull from the street, whereas the upstairs bar is tres cool; menu is rather dull. But the worst thing is that on weekend evenings around 10pm, the upstairs bar becomes a "club" scene, replete with crappy DJ/hip-hop/whatever loud-and-tuneless music. The crowd gets low rent, and the bartenders get stressed out. This place could do better. The verdict: generally a reasonably priced, very good ambience place. Give it a shot, keep your expectations within the (reasonable) price point, and enjoy.
(4)Sharon T.
Its a pretty decent place to dance - but the DJ's awkwardly mix the music to the point where the crowd will obviously come to a HALT once a beat is skipped or a completely random song gets thrown into the mix that kills the vibe. Not cool. Last Saturday, I was in the middle of a packed dance floor that felt as though it were going to CAVE-IN. I'm not joking. I have been there several times, more drunk than this last time, and I've never felt as though it were going to collapse because it was NEVER this crowded before... and I was not the only one that felt that - because my sober bf felt the same thing as he stood on the middle of the dance floor amongst the other sardines and he feared for his life. They closed down SoFA lounge for "Safety" reasons, but I never saw a flaw in the establishment - except the narrow stair entryway... This was my next favorite place, but with all the recent mini-earthquakes, I'm not too keen on the idea of returning after feeling the floor beneath me give with each beat of the speakers... and I am surprised no one has complained about this before. The food - well, I had the lamb shank, and it was nothing to brag about. The portion was good for the price, but it tasted like it was marinated with soy sauce and sugar. The service was okay, and the bouncers here are strict when opening doors here for you, but are friendly once your ID is checked, and you don't act a fool... I miss the days when the rooftop was NOT covered and was an open area to smoke. That kept me from pissing off the bouncers and owner by standing in front of the establishment and being prompted to step a good 15 feet or so away from the door. Take that god forsaken cover OFF so I can see the stars again, and I'll quit my whining. I do have a good time here because you don't get the smelly fucktard that thinks he can hump your leg or the ghetto girl that gets pissy because she won't move her stupid ass while you're inching past to get to where you want to be.
(3)Rachel R.
Came here for a joint bachelor/bachelorette party. I learned a few things that night. One, never come here with such a large group(we came with 30 people). The server split our tab into 3 groups, one with 4 people, another with 3, and the remaining 23 on one tab. Unfortunately, mine was on the tab with the 23. Seriously? Do you realize how freakin' hard it is to split a tab of almost $800 between 23 people? Two, If there happens to be drama going on between some of the "party", don't come. You ruin the mood for everyone. Three, Don't try to do anything remotely stupid, like walk outside with a drink, no matter how drunk you are, security will get up in your face, no matter how little the infraction is. Anyway, the food we ordered was pretty good, so was the alky, but the service sucked. I understand that the server had to deal with 30 people, 3/4 of them drunk, but never again will I come here with such a large group. I will be willing to come back though, but only with parties of less than 6. Parking was also relatively easy, one across the street, and the 2nd street parking garage.
(3)Christina A.
I like the way this bistro is set up, but I felt the tables were a little too close together. I could hear everyone's conversation around me. When I sat down I noticed that there were bread crumbs on my sister's and my appetizer plate. We weren't even served bread yet! Pretty gross.
(2)Gene P.
Went back here on a thursday. The DJ wasn't as horrible as last time so no Kelly Clarkson buzz kill. However they hired some really weird bartenders on the bottom floor. The place was packed as hell and the vibe was chill, except for the fact that the bartenders on the bottom floor were messing up order after order. Apparently "Jagger" and "Jagger bomb" is too hard to decipher in a loud environment, but I guess I could give a pass for that... Original rating 3 stars +1 cause they got a better dj that knew not to mix E-40 with Kelly Clarkson immediately after -1 for the bartenders downstairs for messing up orders and slowing down the flow of people trying to get a drink. Next time I'm getting my drinks upstairs.
(3)Juanita M.
Shared a couple of small plates for dinner as not very hungry. They were good.
(3)Larry L.
I've only been here at night after dinner time, when they blast music and serve only alcohol. I appreciate that the place has no cover. But it does get wildly packed in there. Bartenders are cool. Crowd is cool. It's A-OK.
(3)CindyAnne C.
ewww..i really dislike this place..sorry but they charge wayy too much here for drinks. This place is another example of one of those trying hard to be upscale bar/restaurant that thinks they belong to the city of LA or SF..sorry not even close. age range is prolly 21-23yrs old crowd and its such a meca for asians...no mix crowd at all. Lower Down ur drink prices then maybe u can attract an older, smarter and more practical costumers...FYI...ure not in SF! place is not even nice to begin with...I HATE WANNABEES LIKE THIS..=P
(1)Rev. Dr. Christopher J. G.
You know, I'm shocked that it took a Cinequest Happy Hour to get me to The Loft. I was early, as always, and found myself sitting around waiting for the fun to begin. It was really nice, great waitstaff and bartenders, the Happy Hour prices were nice and the portion sizes were really good. The Onion Strings were too big for me to finish! Once the Happy Hour event with Cinequest started, it was even better. The drinks they made were good and Happy Hour priced, though I understand that drinks are regularly quite a bit more expensive. The place can crowd up quickly, which happens a lot of places, but really, the bar is the place to be. I'd happily go back for another Happy Hour.
(4)Cam P.
This place was sooooooooooo crowded. I literally couldn't breathe. I was sweating up a storm dancing and trying to run away from creepers who wouldn't gtfo of my face But overall, the bartenders were quick and the dance floor was of good size. I liked how it had an extra dance floor to the left of the main dance floor.
(3)Christine L.
My awesome friends took me to this restaurant to celebrate my 30th birthday! We had the best experience seated on the roof. The waitress was great and very patient as we had a huge group. I know personally I was all over the place and never ready to order anything every time she came around! Some of the highlights were the artichoke, calamari, crab cakes, ahi tuna, and halibut. I also had some very yummy martini's. This was the perfect place for my birthday dinner. The food was terrific and the restaurant had a great atmosphere.
(4)Nathalie N.
This place is one of my favorite restaurants. It was a recent discovery recommended by a friend about a year ago. Since then, I've been here several times. Favorites: - Lamb Shanks (Yum!) - Crab Cakes - Chilled Salmon Salad Service is good. Parking is easy (nearby in the 2nd street parking garage). Drinks are well prepared. Food is great.
(5)Angie M.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Thursday night. It was a decent place with good food and friendly service. There was a jazz-trio on the first floor; they were good, but it was a bit loud where they were playing... thankfully, the hostess sat us in the 2nd floor dining room so we were able to enjoy the jazz as background music. Food was yummy. Steak bites appetizer and calamari for the table, and I had the crab cake caesar salad: yum! And of course, the staff was willing and able to keep my Sapphire & tonic full to the brim the entire night. :) Service and atmosphere was pleasant; perfect for a large group dinner. Will definitely go here again.
(3)Tom G.
Restaurant review only... Dinner for 6 last nite, and all of us were impressed. Appetizers were calamari with jalapenos and the steak bites. Both met with unanimous approval. Entrees: 2x pesto salmon, 1x marinated flank steak, 1x pork loin, 1x scampi skewers and 1x some-kinda-crusted-chicken. Small crowd in the dining area, food arrived hot and all at the same time. I could go into great detail, but here is the bottom line... everyone at the table was saying to someone else at the table, "Here, you gotta try some of this this. Oh, it's good." There you have it. The portions were good sized, even the side vegetables were hot, fresh and well prepared. Not real cheap... with tip, drinks (3x drafts, 2x ice teas, 2x wine, 2x martini) and a $25 cert from Restaurant.com I dropped $235. We plan to return. Only complaint = If you order the iced tea, tell them to limit the ice! It was 90% ice and 10% tea.
(4)Monica S.
I love it that there is no line or cover. No obnoxious crowd. Perfect for a good time to catch up with friends, you can actually have a conversation w/o yelling. Great appetizers. Their mango mojitos is a must!!
(3)Melanie C.
I've been here twice now, because there's no cover. Sitting up on the roof is actually a good time if you have good company. It's quiet enough you can talk and just enjoy the company and drinks. Dancing, however, is meh. The music is mediocre and the dance floor is crowded. The first time, something STANK. And I got bored. The second time, well, they closed at 1:30, and we had just stepped on the dance floor. Good for drinking, although the bar tender kept trying tricks with the bottle and dropped them twice in the five or so minutes we were standing there - not impressive - but I am still looking for a good venue to dance.
(2)Chris T.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. The downstairs entrance leads straight to a bar and there's another entrance to the staircase up to the Bistro and another bar. As it works out, we went on a sunday night so there was barely any people there. We literally had the whole patio to ourselves, which was cool because we ended up taking pictures all over the place. . It was a bit chilly, but they had heaters that kept the environment nice. The waitress was really nice and was really patient with us. They made sure we got our bread refills and didn't bug us too much. I thought the food was good. The bread they give was chewy and had a nice vineger sauce. I had the chicken marsala and a mango martini. The martini was pretty good, but was small. I was expecting one of those big glasses, I don't know about paying $10 for it. My friend had warn me ahead of time, so I knew it wasn't going to be cheap. The chicken marsala was okay. I was kind of wondering if it was going to be anything like the indian version, but it wasn't really. The chicken was a bit dryer than I liked. It does come with sides of rice and steamed veggies. Overall, I thought it was a nice experience. A bit pricey, but other than that it was fine. We also went on a night when they had a deal where you order two entrees, you get a free complimentary dessert. As it was my friend's bday, we let her have all the desserts, so i can't actually tell you if it was good or not, but it looked good :P
(3)Raj S.
This place is a rip off. Yeah, they don't charge you a cover, but $13 for a freakin drink? Your better off going to Sabor which is right down the street.
(1)Floria C.
Went here for New Year's and they almost successfully ruined our night. A couple night's in advance I call them and book a reservation for a party of about 15. I make sure with the host that I was speaking to that they don't have a cover charge (when the restaurant turns into a bar) and he says nope. I was in disbelief! No cover on NYE!?? Too good to be true, right? A few seconds I get off the phone, I receive a call from them and the manager introduces himself, asking if I have any more questions. I ask him if it's okay if some of our party orders dinner and others just go for drinks and appetizers (we were planning to go late, around 9pm). He assures me that it's okay. Up to this point, I was quite impressed with their initiative and customer service. We get there the night of NYE and I was greeted by very friendly and courteous staff. The bar area and outer loft look nice. I was worried about the loft being cold, but it was surrounded by a tent-like wall so it was a good temperature. First let down of the night: $25 minimum on food. And it was so convenient that each entree was like $21.99. You couldn't even order a drink to help you reach the $25 minimum. Thank you, manager, for letting me know this in advance! What do you think we were going to do, order 3 appetizers a person?? That was disappointing. Then, our waitress tells us that there is no cover charge (I asked because we had more friends who wanted to join us later at the bar), but you have to buy a $20 gift card on food to get in. You couldn't even use this gift card to buy drinks that night - it had to be on food. We get a call from our friends outside that they aren't going to be let in. Granted, we are a younger group (22-24 yr. olds). I knew the bouncer had the instructions to maintain a certain "crowd" in the place. That means: yuppies. So, since half of our friends weren't allowed in, those of us who were already seated decided we didn't want to stay. They were almost going to make us pay for food (which wasn't even ordered in the kitchen yet, we made sure the waitress would wait...) but the owner who finally decided to make an appearance (after we consistently asked to speak to him... guess he was too good to talk to his customers) came and said it was settled. I understand they needed to maintain a certain "crowd". I understand that some of my friends may have not fit in the "yuppy" category. BUT I don't understand why they couldn't be honest IN THE FIRST PLACE, when I was making a reservation and asking so many questions to make sure the restaurant was a good pick. If they had told me initially about the $25 food minimum and $20 forced-gift certificate, then it probably would have saved US and THEM time and money that night. What a head-ache. Last thing you need on NYE is some yuppy restaurant wasting your time. Decent mango mojito though. That is why I'm giving them 2 stars.
(2)Kary M.
Came here yesterday for a friend of a friend's birthday party, and all I can say is NO, just NO. I should have known how the night would turn out when the bouncer asked me for a second form of ID. I was expecting it from reading the yelp reviews, but it wasn't that ... he stillll didn't believe it was me and actually LAUGHED after asking me how old I was, because he was freaking lamer and didn't calculate my age correctly. When I finally got in, as gEe C. said, I was herded EVERYWHERE I went. You're not allowed to stop moving if they feel you're "in the way," which btw is pretty much everywhere except the dance floor. They were freaking nazis about it. Obviously they felt important with their little flashlights, because they would flash them all over you, tell you to keep moving and push you along. The final straw was being given my $10 rum and coke by a bartender who was stoned out of his mind. $10???? COME ON. It tasted like soda. I can't even find one positive thing to say about the place, seriously.
(1)Tanya N.
You know when you have a meal that you sort of instantly regret? Such was our experience at Loft Bar and Bistro. Let me back up. Looking for a place to eat dinner pre-movie, we decided to try Loft based on the offering of martinis and the promise of a patio. Inside is very nice and chill with its NY loft-style decor and service was quite good. But oh, the food. A split caprese appetizer featured tomatoes on par with those found in a McDonald's sandwich: anemic and utterly tasteless. When tomatoes are really the key ingredient of a dish, as they are in a caprese salad, it's kind of an issue. My entree was similarly perfunctory but uninspired: New York steak accompanied by an undercooked vegetable medley and mashed potatoes. The blue cheese butter with onions topping the steak seemed like it would be a nice touch, but it was kind of just slopped on top of the steak (and also the likely culprit of some nauseous dry heaving on my part later). My dining companions were similarly disappointed in the food. D is particular couldn't even finish his French dip sandwich even though he was ravenous...the Safeway-esque bread was untoasted, and he stated that he had better food in Denny's in the midwest. Add having to pay $60+ per person (and I wasn't even drinking), and, well, I think we would have been better trying the neighboring Chicken Coop. D did say his tiramisu dessert was good, and everyone seemed happy with their drinks. The service was very good and the atmosphere really nice (hence the third star), but I would never go again for anything beyond drinks and perhaps dessert.
(3)Dennis C.
True to its name, Loft does indeed have a very pleasant outdoor/loft dining area. On a nice evening (aren't most evenings in San Jose nice?), it's a nice place to meet up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine before dinner. Oh, speaking of dinner... I ordered the lamb shank and thought it was pretty good. Good portion and it had a nice smoky flavor. Others in our group ordered stuff ranging from veal medallions to salads. I think everyone liked what they got. Here's the problem. The service was bad. No, I mean it was really bad. There was no wait for our seating, but once we were given menus, it was another 40 minutes before the waitress managed to get back to our table to take our orders. After that, it was another interminable wait until all of our food came out. Now, I'm no restaurant expert, but if the first person to get her food is done before the last person in the party gets his...I think there's something wrong there. Also, they messed up the last dude's order, so not only did he get his meal after most of us were done, he got the wrong dish. So sad. By the time we got our check and realized that we were incorrectly charged too much on our bill, it just felt kinda right to end our evening at the Loft by arguing with the waitress that we were, indeed, overcharged.
(2)Dawn T.
I am writing this review as a lunch customer (not as a night club-goer). It had been years since I had been to The Loft as my husband and I don't frequent downtown San Jose often. I scheduled a business meeting for a noon reservation. We were seated upstairs, and all of us liked the atmosphere. It was not too noisy and the service was great. We all shared the steak bites (as a compliment from the owner) and they were delicious. One of my colleagues had the salmon and another the ahi salad. Two of us had the low-carb chicken. All meals were really very good. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Debbie L.
My friend and I went around 8pm on a Saturday night. We sat outside, and had a few drinks and some burger sliders. We had found it when we asked Google Maps for anything with a rooftop bar in downtown SJC. The drinks were GREAT (albeit a bit pricey at $12 per mojito), and the sliders were good. Food at other tables looked pretty awesome, but we weren't that hungry. The outside was NOT loud. Music was played very low, which was a pleasure. We thought we'd have a huge view, but there really wasn't that much of a view. Still, being outside in a non-smoking environment was nice. We agreed that we would come back to this place again, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. If you love lots of mixed drinks, you'll probably hate the price, so for you, this might be 2 or 3 stars.
(4)stephanie n.
I love how they make the chambord here! If you can not drink or hate the taste of alcohol then this drink is for you! I usually come here at night for the bar, it is usually so crowded! My friend decided he wanted to eat here for his birthday, the food sucked and it smell like bathroom. The drinks made up for it but that it. I'll come to dance but not to eat!
(3)Allen C.
Overpriced and one of the worst places that I have eaten. I think this place is up to par with the Burger Pitt ( 5 burgers for like $6) So as usual I invited my parents again. Experience: I was looking at the menu outside and the waitress lets us know that there is a bar upstairs and I look over the menu and it looks alright. So I decide to go in there. We go in there and we are taken to the 2nd floor. They seat us in a place that is a bit to close to other tables.. it seems that in the effort of trying to fit more tables, they put them much closer together. So we get seated, water is brought along with bread. The waitress comes by and asked us for our drinks, I order a diet coke which was kind of on the verge of being flat. So I order calamari. So as most of the foodies out there know, it's hard to get a good piece of calamari and they know how it tastes. So after waiting a couple of minutes, our waitress comes out with the calamari and it looks pretty good. So we get it and at the bottom is a paper napkin with like pieces of calamari. So I start eating and OMG, it was like eating paper, the calamari was super thin and it was OVERCOOKED. It had a decent flavor with the chilies but that's about it. What we ordered Blue Cheese with chicken: Chicken was super-dry. Basic cooking mentions that you should make the entire chicken evenly in order to not over cook the chicken. But no, they don't get that concept and that's why it was soo overcooked. Flank steak (medium well) No flavor, the steak was undercooked for what we ordered. The vegetables and mashed potato were alright. Btw, most of the main entrees have mashed potatoes and vegetables.. which is super bizzare. Chicken Avacado Wrap I think that In and out has better fries than this place. The fries were super greasy. the chicken wrap itself was ok. The chicken again was undercooked. Overall, I didn't like this place at all. I don't think that I would go back. But if you like to pay for overpriced horrible food. Then this is your place.
(1)gEe C.
Do you want to feel like cattle being herded? Then by all means come to LOFT. This place was crackin' for all the wrong reasons. Three words to describe this place: A HOT MESS. Never again. Never again.
(1)Jenny C.
Bar hopped with the ladies last night and came here. This place is amazing in decor and food. This was also where I met my bf 2 years ago. The 2 accessible bars made it easy to access refreshments but the only issue was the bathroom. Only 2 stalls!??!?!?! We'll at least it was clean so I can't complain all too much about that. Overall it was an awesome experience for a girls night!
(5)Scott P.
Dropped in with a group of people for drinks and snacks, the staff was super nice as soon as we walked in the door... grabbed some space upstairs and pondered the appetizers... really recommend the chicken popcorn - a great chipotle dipping sauce, the calamari was good too - had deep fried jalapeno slices, so you could make a little combo if you wanted a little kick...
(3)Crystal C.
I have gone here for the bar scene. No cover charge, good drinks and they have a covered outdoor deck. It can get really crowded and super hot, but they do play good music.
(3)Rick S.
Think quaint, a little unique. Think "a little bit of NY or Chicago" in downtown San Jose. The ambience is cool. The setting is nice. You can choose to sit downstairs, have a beer, mull over a meatloaf sandwich, listen to the music and sit quietly in the glow of the large, picture windows and watch the people, cars and landscape on the sidewalk move and change beneath the city lights. Or, from past experiences, you can walk upstairs, where the feeling is a little more cosmopolitan... better to go with a cocktail here, glass walls, dark seating areas, windows to the world below, room full of miniskirts and shined shoes. Have some savory steak bites or grilled shrimp, and intimately take in the perfume of the person with you. It's Saturday night, where the night begins with appetizers and dinner, cocktails at the loft... before you head to the noise of a Club... or your own lofty ambitions.
(4)Ashley N.
First, let me start by saying that I chose Loft Bar ad Bistro based on the pictures from their website and it's location in relation to the SJ airport. This dinner was supposed to serve as a 'welcome back to San Jose' celebration for my boyfriend who had been out of town for the past week. His plane arrived at 7:35, perfect dinner timing, so I wanted something in the area. Enter Loft Bar and Bistro. I will give them one thing: the pictures are quite accurate and the food looked just like them. When we arrived, it looked like the place was closed because there was literally no one downstairs with the exception of 3 employees, one of which was tending the (empty) bar with the other two sitting at one of the tables talking. If there hadn't been a open sign in the window, I would have assumed they were closed, tuned around and hit La Vics on the way home. OK, enough about the atmosphere, I know you only want to hear about the food. Selection : yes! Delicious : yes! Prompt : no... Worth the price : no... The bread they bring you is decent (I'm always a big fan of the "free starter") but it was the balsamic-y dipping sauce that was the star of the plate. We started with the $12 (!!) prawn & avocado cocktail. It was OK, way smaller than I expected for the price. It was basically a stemless martini glass filled with chunky cocktail sauce and cut up prawns with about 6 avocado bits on top. I had the Panko Crusted Chicken with Dijon Mustard, mashed potatoes and veggies, and my man had Seared Ahi tuna, some kind of spinach saute and a lump of rice. We were both impressed with our dishes' flavor and presentation. I would certainly not wish to visit this restaurant on a busy night. Based on some of the other reviews, it looks like this place can get pretty poppin' on a hot night. (BTW, I went on a Tuesday.) Our server was slow and inattentive. It's not like they were busy! She came quickly to take our drink orders and when she came back with them, she asked if we wanted an appetizer. It was almost 15 minutes that we waited for our appetizer and we had finished it by the time she came back for our entree order! After ordering, our food was promptly served. All in all, the 3 stars is for the food and the environment, which had that relaxed, trendy feeling that I'm into when I hit DTSJ. I would make another trip to Loft if I had money to burn and wanted good food and lackluster service... the again, La Vics IS right on the way home =)
(3)Bee V.
the only reason why i'd rate this place 4 and not 5 is because i've experienced better bars/bistros that have set the curve but otherwise, this place is really awesome. i went to dinner this weekend for a friend's birthday and the service was fast and the food was definitely yummy! it was a little overpriced but you get what you pay for! my friend and i shared an appetizer: steak bites. it was about $13 and she ordered it well done.....which we shouldn't have=\ it was too overcooked and dry but that was entirely our fault. we should have ordered medium! we then shared a chicken pasta. i really forget the name of it but i was delicious! when i asked the waitress if its enough for us to share she said ABSOLUTELY! which is right! it was such a huge portion! and they weren't cheap on chicken either! the only thing i would have asked for, was more veggies. i loveeeee veggies and the entire thing was really yummy! i even had like....7 pieces of chicken left over! we downed that with 2 glasses of widmer (my fave) and called it a night. total was about 42 and tipped them 18%= ] i also really like that they don't charge cover at night. i love love love the music and it's always crackin....but it gets so god damn sweaty up there= [ oh well! i always have fun here= ] note: make sure you bring 2 forms of id!!! they're usually lenient about it....but just in case!
(4)Crystal B.
While checking out downtown last Saturday night we luckily stumbled upon Loft. After going bar to bar, trying to find someplace we liked, we finally found it! Loft has 2 levels, the lower that is pretty relaxed and quiet, although you can still hear the music from upstairs, and the upper level, where all the dancing is. The upper level was fun, we enjoyed the music, and the guys were fun and cute! What more could you ask for?! We will definitely be back!
(4)Reece W.
Went here for Happy Hour and I have to say it was one of the best Happy Hours I have been to since moving to San Jose. First two star rating is based on the fact that here you can sit anywhere in the restaurant and order Happy Hour selections. They don't push you to a certain area and then if there is no seating your just SOL (bad for business) Moving right along we were seated at the bar located on the second floor. The bartender that waited on us was great. My coworker had decided not to eat meat so it was only two food selections she could choose from. Informing the bartender this information he had special veggie sandwich's made for her. He made sure to keep checking to see if we needed anything and even kept refilling our glasses of water. I ordered 3 drinks with a good amount of food and it came up to approx 30 bucks. The establishment is two floors, very clean, open space, lots of seating and has a outside patio.
(5)Emmanuel K.
A group of us ate here last weekend for a friend's birthday. The food was okay - my girlfriend and I had the braised lamb shank and shared some other dishes. The lamb and its sauce were mild on flavor and didn't impress me. I've had better. The panko crusted chicken was the best dish I tried that night, and the honey mustard was a standout. The balsamic sauce for their bread is also pretty good. For me, service is almost as important as the quality of the food. Our waitress (Linda? with short hair) tried to take away our plates as we were still eating. A bus boy came minutes later and tried to do the same thing. Then when my girlfriend left the table for a minute, Linda comes back and takes our plates away, asking "DO YOU GUYS WANNA TAKE THE BONES HOME?" I obviously felt insulted, but just to humor her, I joked and asked her to put them in my napkin. If I ever eat here again, I'll be asking for Maria or a different server. I'll also ask my friend who DJ's here to find out what the hell Linda's problem is. Later that night as my friend fired up the turntables, the dance floor slowly filled with fellow cover-evading patrons. Which explains the outrageous drink prices at the bar. Don't expect a healthy tip to save you from subsequent $11 shots. Our waitress Linda should be reminded not to insult her patrons. At least not before the bill is settled.
(2)xochi i.
Ate here once. Had a bunch of appetizers. Recommend the steak bites, those were really good. As for the night scene, here's my two cents: Pros: no cover, EVER. Almost 100% of the time you'll get in right away, there's usually no waiting, and they've never not let people in for exceeding capacity. Good music, spacious patio area, some seating available on the main floor against the wall if you get too tired of dancing/manage to get wasted. If you're not into the "club" atmosphere, you can also have the "bar" one on their downstairs floor. Also, the DJ's are usually really cool, and they've done birthday shout outs whenever I've requested any, as well as song requests. Cons: if you don't have two forms of ID, and YES, they ALWAYS ask for two, security might ask you a lot of questions/hassle you. The drinks are a bit pricey compared to other places downtown, mostly Asian crowd (not hating, it'd just be nice to see more variety), and of course because there's no cover it's usually REALLY packed, especially on a Saturday night. There's not a lot of ventilation on the dance floor, so it gets really hot. 3/5 because they always give my friend a lot of crap whenever we go there, even when she has two forms of ID. No idea why. They've denied her TWICE for stupid reasons.
(3)Jarek A.
Draw the conclusion if half the are living on their own or with family/roommates and decide if their opinions are validated. Just buy some GCs from Costco and have a bitchin time!
(3)Aly M.
I honestly wish I could give 3.5 stars but since i can't ill go with 3... we went here for one of my dearest friends birthdays... Dinner & drinks... Before we went I inquired about using the remainder of my Costco gift card...bought a $100 gc used $80 @ Capers in Campbell & were then given a $20 return gift card credit...even though the two places are both capers restaurants they would not accept the $20....bummer!!! Onto the other stuff...we sat on the patio which was not even closely set the way the photos on their website portray it!! While it was nice to sit outside I wasn't really impressed... There was also two huge birthday dinners going on outside too and they were obnoxious. The steak I had was good and house wine was alright but the experience over all did not make me want to come back again...
(3)Alariza N.
Best thing on their cocktails menu: The Cucumber Jalapeno Margaritas!!!!! Yum yum yum yum! Bobbi is the best bartender too. My friend and I have become regulars and when she sees us walking through the door, she already starts making our Margaritas for us!!! I love the place!!! I actually don't care for the food, but trust me; once you've tried the CJM, your mouth will be on fire but beg for more!!!
(4)Tiffany K.
i still hate the fact that they require 2 forms of ID... i understand you guys wanna be strict, but its pretty lame when ONE of my friends is turned away because she only had her drivers license on her... god, if i ever come here again, illl be sure to bring my whole wallet.
(2)Magda M.
My colleague and I worked closely with the owner to plan our company's holiday party here and we were very satisfied with our working relationship & the party! Kam and his team did a wonderful job, meeting our team's preferences and requests, and the party was a huge success! We were able to reserve the entire second floor and really enjoyed having the comfortable, spacious area to ourselves. Our evening menu included the Caesar and Chinese Chicken salads, calamari, Salmon, Chicken Marsala, Beef and a variety of pastas and rices. Everything was full of flavor, served hot and wonderful! All of our colleagues & their guests at the party (70 people total) had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the evening. One note-- we all preferred the creme brulee over the cheesecake. If you are looking for a place to host a work party for a reasonable price & wonderful food, I highly recommend Loft! Thanks to the staff for doing such a great job with our party.
(5)Patricia V.
This is probably like one of the few spots that I like to go to in SJ. No cover charge=GREAT! The drinks are a little pricey though. The one thing I love about The Loft is the music. I can actually dance to the music. It's mostly hip hop and danceable music. Although, it can get crowded but they have a dj out in the patio which helps. Every time I go here I always have a good time, no complaints whatsoever. Pros- no cover charge, good music Cons- gets crowded on the dance floor
(4)Dylan H.
Loft's slogan should read: Lean Cuisine microwavable meals served daily and at a 400% markup! But, wait. Let me rewind a bit. We arrived at Loft on a Wednesday night at 8PM. The lower level was empty but we were quickly greeted by a friendly hostess. She took us upstairs and sat us and our waitress was fast to welcome us and take drink orders. I was excited to check out Loft as it was restaurant week here in San Jose and their special prix fixe menu looked quite exciting and delicious. I ordered the Spinach Salad and the Chicken Marsala. At this point I would typically tell you about that salad but I am unfortunately unable to judge it as it was covered in so much feta cheese that my olfactory senses required me to push it as far away as the table would allow. Perhaps, I should have assumed the salad would be covered in feta cheese and maybe this is all my fault. On the other hand, maybe I could have specifically asked the waitress to list off every ingredient that they planned on going overboard with. But the menu certainly made no mention of that fact. But I digress, I wasn't there for the salad. I wanted the main entree, the Chicken Marsala. Mmmm delicious chicken marsala. It is hard to mess up isn't it? Well, I used to think so. My meal was served to me on a wonderful setting with a side of rice and vegetables. It looked amazing! It would have made an excellent photo in the menu or in retrospect, an excellent photo on the box of a microwave dinner. The marsala was cold, dry and rough. It reminded me of that time back in college when I was so hung over that I ate 2-day old Fettuccine Alfredo that I had left out on the counter *cringe*. Unfortunately, I had not eaten anything all day and would have gladly eaten anything at that point. I think I got about half-way through my plate before I went back to eating the table bread again. Oh well, at least there was still some desert coming! Desert: Chocolate Mousse Mmmm freshly taken out of a package and dumped right into a glass! No-frills here. Just run-of-the-mill Chocolate Mousse, I was hoping Bill Cosby would pop in and offer me some jello pudding instead. Regretfully, he did not. The only reason I give this two stars instead of one, is that the wait staff was kind and polite and the food was somewhat edible. It is my opinion that this place only stays open because of their highly priced drinks and because they have a DJ on weekends that brings in a few people to pay the bills.
(2)Mai L.
This is one of the only bars I will still go to in downtown San Jose. Why? 1. Always poppin' on the dance floor 2. No cover 3. Not a long wait at the bar 4. strong drinks 5. laid back dress code 6. no long wait in line Loft is one of the best, last stops in SJ. If you had a lame experience anywhere else, make Loft your last stop to dance your ass off.
(4)Thao V.
Loft is one of the better places to go in downtown San Jose since there's no cover, and it's a decent place to dance with your girlfriends. There's 2 bars, one upstairs and downstairs so the wait for getting drinks isn't too bad. Two dance floor upstairs with two different type of music playing but it gets really packed and stuffy and of course the guy to girl ratio sucks.
(3)Ken N.
YES! Went last Friday and all I have to say is... 1) No cover charge 2) $6 Goose and Henny shots from 10:30PM - 11:30PM - Stuff people actually want to drink, not the boring fruity drinks 3) Awesome music (2 DJs on 4 turntables which you RARELY see in San Jose) 4) Spacious rooftop patio to chill (heated and covered for the cold and rainy nights). You can hang out downstairs too if you want to sneak away from the madness upstairs for a little bit. It's usually faster if you grab drinks downstairs then head upstairs to party. 5) They even do bottle service on the rooftop patio if you hate waiting around at the bar. And did I say $6 Goose and Henny shots before 11:30PM?! Scoreeee!
(5)Jacquelynne S.
Bar Review: It always seemed so empty whenever I walk by Loft, minus the group of foreign-chic asians with faux-hawks that smoke their cigarettes outside the bar. I never bothered to go to Loft because there's never a line nor loud music playing so I would always assume that it was a boring spot. Also, from outside, it kind of looks like a rundown wannabe Starbucks or some old cafe. After 5 years of passing by, I decided to give the bar a try. WTF? There's a dancefloor? Who would have thought? So I guess I was wrong, it is pretty crowded inside, you just have to walk up to the second floor. Overall, I had a good time plus the drinks are reasonably priced. I managed to score free drinks by hitting on the fierce lesbian bartender. As far as the dj, eh...typical San Jose bar music. AKA, an endless cycle of Pussycat dolls, Fergie, Lil Wayne, and Journey. Sounds horrific but you'll eventually get used to it...unfortunately. -2 because the bar screams "AzN" invasion. I need me some diversity dammit!
(3)Nolan V.
Nightlife: Well, youre going to need two ID's so be prepared for that. Pretty strict. Downstairs you can get drinks. bar. Head upstairs to dance and find another bar. Hip hop and the like. good music to dance to.
(4)Stephanie B.
Went their with the boyfriend, boyfriend's brother, and brother's girlfriend. I was hopeful because the place looked really nice and swanky. Also the food was a bit on the expensive side so I thought the food would be good. They ordered beers and I ordered a cocktail...Not work $9 that's for sure. It was an alright drink. Tasted nothing like a mango would taste like. It was called a Mango Cocktail. I was really hopeful for the food but it ended up just being eh. Wasn't horrible but wasn't good which it should have been for the money we spent on it. I ordered the meatloaf sandwich which didn't have much flavor. The boyfriend ordered the Philly Cheese Steak. He said it was alright and that he had a better one over at the Blue Chip (Sports bar) on S 1st Street for cheaper. The brother ordered French Dip and said he had better as well for cheaper. Brother's girlfriend ordered some sort of salad I forgot the name. She said it was good and there was something called Heart of Palm in it which we all tried for the first time. Not bad. Tasted kind of like a cold artichoke heart. But honestly like the stars title says "Meh. I've experienced better" is what I feel. I don't think I'll be coming back here. The type of people there was mostly middle aged slightly dressed up people who made good money to come there. Go to the Blue Chip. They have the same food for cheaper and better.
(2)Heidi C.
NIGHTLIFE SCENE. LOFT NOW HAS DRINK SPECIALS 10:30-11:30 THURSDAY NIGHTS! (not sure if it applies to weekends also...) FREE entry all night AND drink specials? COME ON NOW! I believe it's $6 kamikaze & purple hooters. I was here last night (Thursday). It was a little slow in the beginning. Not too many people, but it did build up as the night went on. Actually... There were A LOT of girls in the building... not enough testosterone to go around. Music was GREAT as ALWAYS. If I could choose one place in downtown to go to almost every Thursday night, it would be here. The people who come here are friendly, the bartender, ADAM is such a sweetheart and again.. the MUSIC ya'll, the MUSIC is KEY for a good night. My friends and I had loads of fun last night mostly because of the music. Only downside is that it gets SUPER hot in there. If you're lucky, you COULD take over the spot in front of the big fan. =P if not, then you'll just be sweating bullets all night. What was really cool about last night was that a waitress and a bouncer were dancing also. It was pretty epic.
(4)Emmie N.
I have a love-hate relationship with Loft. I love that it is no cover all night. That's right, no guestlist to get on to, no rushing to get to the club, all you need is 2 forms of IDs. I love that there are 2 floors - one on the bottom that's more like a lounge where you can drink/talk/flirt/get to know someone/whatever floats your boat, and one on top to dance. I love the music they play here, none (or rarely) of that annoying hyphy-music-nonsense, urgh, I can't stand hyphy music. However, I hate the dance floor - it is TINY. If you go with a group of friends, it is hard to find a spot where everyone is comfortable and can dance the night away. Even when you find a spot, you are interrupted every 20 seconds by people trying to squeeze through to get to the other side and whatnot...ANNOYING!
(3)Nicole C.
I love this place! Every time I've gone here it's always been really fun. They play good music and i love that they have a patio with a dj. The reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because one of the bartenders named Mario was REALLY rude to me. I was trying to order a drink and he strait up put his hand in my face! Just because you are a little busy does not give you the right to disrespect a cutomer like that! If your unavailable you can say so not put your hand in my face like a teenage girl! Besides Mario the other bartenders are really nice and helpful. i love this place, but wish i didnt have to deal with a jerk like him.
(4)Sam W.
Review for the night life / bar hours: +1 Star: No cover [but I figure that's the reason why they have so many bouncers working the floor]. -1 Star: Huge pushy crowd. Little Snooki-wannabes in high heels exposing too many fat rolls ghetto stomping your feet to make way. -1 Star: Weird guys glued to the walls oddly ogling girls on the dance floor and trying to stare down guys who give them the, "WTF are you creeping up behind on my gf/friends like that?" look. -1 Star: Did I mention the huge pushy crowd, where one second you're dancing with a chick that pulled you in, and then the next some dude is rubbing up on you/your female friends from behind? - 1 Star: $20 for a shot in a tiny plastic cup and a mixer with a hint of alcohol. Seriously, in this part of town with this type of crowd? Note to self: Bring a bucket of chum next time, toss onto dance floor, and watch Snooki horde go Shark Week on other patrons.
(1)Martha T.
Ooo Emm Gee.. 2 Shots & 1 Long Island for $36.00??!?!?! Holy shit...I had to take a second look to see if I was in Vegas... these prices are ridiculous!! =/ I assume its payback for the free cover (w/ two forms of ID). I've been going here for the past four years, and it seems like the demographic has been predominantly Asian in their mid twenties. I came here again last Saturday around midnight and this place was packed. The bottom floor is mainly for chit chatting and upstairs is where people get down and dirty... LITERALLY. The music here is mainly hip hop and R&B, so in a sense, they entice you to get your 'FREAK ON.' The dance floor is fairly small, so if you are the type that likes their own personal space to dance, this place is not for you. I personally like this place only because you can mingle downstairs or have the option to go upstairs and do a little dancing. The smoking area is fairly big as well, and the best part??? They have heating lamps so you don't have to freeze your butt off. However, I would suggest everyone to have a good buzz prior to going here. Otherwise, it will cost you an arm and a leg to have a good time.
(3)Love L.
I will give 3 stars for the customer service, the food it was over price because u can get the same from any chin restaurants. And there is no free parking ... I don't think we will be go there agin
(3)Warren W.
****FYI: Need TWO forms of ID. Examples: License, debit/credit card, school id, passport (no, really, don't bring your passport)**** **NO COVER!** Was just here last night for clubbing, not the restaurant portion. Girlfriend's cousin's birthday. I've heard lots of great things about the Loft forever and last night was one of those rare rare rare, highly coveted Saturday nights where I wasn't dj'ing myself somewhere. So yea, ya need two IDs. Security was cool. zero pat-downs. There is a bar below with no music. The main floor is the upper floor with a DJ and a bar. There's a patio room for another DJ albeit a much smaller 1 speaker setup (still enough, just not not enough on the low EQ). DJ's are excellent here. Lots of variety in the hip hop genre. The main floor hip hop DJ's tend to cut mix perhaps too heavily however it is done well and seamlessly. Solid solid bpm cognizance the whole night, very cool. Excellent music programming all around. DJ's barely even speak on the mike, great restraint. They did a birthday shout-out for our group which is killer, I don't recall them doing that for anyone else. The bar itself was cool, full selection. Mostly dude bartenders. First time paying for a $7 corona. Most expensive ever. Considering the free cover.... I guess it's reasonable. For those of us asians born with that miraculous enzyme to process alcohol and never have asian glow, GOOD LUCK trying to get plastered here. You'll empty your wallet long before that. The bathroom situation was hilarious. Get this, NO line for the girls but one for the dudes. Hahahah! Only two toilets there. Hilarious. Overall, great time. Enjoyed the free cover. Music was great. DJ Adam Cova rocked out the patio for a house set. Had a great time. Would definitely do this again.
(5)Kyu K.
I think I am not ready for the 2nd floor of this place yet. I should wait until my metabolism slows down quite a bit so my body doesn't get warm easily. On a friday night around 11pm, the place is kinda slow. then out of no where, the floor gets packed in no time. I mean packed! probably their staff continuously asking crowd to move helps to get it packed even more. After about 15 mins in the middle of crowd, it reminds me of the sauna in public bath. actually sauna is less crowded but the body heat from all the packed ppl definitely produce the same effect. And I have no choice but going down and out for some air. It's just me. All the people there don't seem to mind it at all and busy shaking their weekdays off. their booze is not weak and hurricane is the bomb. ;) and there isn't a cover as far as i know. if ya enjoy dancing tight next to lots of ppl, you gotta go shake here.
(3)Tracy T.
My new fav place to go to for nightlife in SJ. Bangin' music (loved it!), parking is a breeze at the garage a block away ($2, but I guess after a certain time it's free!), getting drinks was easy, and it was pretty spacious. Maybe it was because my friends and I came late, but I wasn't complaining and I had a blast. P.S. This place reminded me of my college days and a bar/brewery that I used to frequent, but this one is a more trendy version of it. (another plus for good times and good memories)
(4)Suzy S.
I'm not familar with many South Bay establishments but met some friends here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. We dined upstairs where our server provided us with swift service and stiff drinks. Our party ordered a couple of starters. The Onion Strings were tasty, crisp and not too greasy, the Tomato/Mozzarella plate was just so-so. The Poached Salmon Salad was excellent and everyone else enjoyed what they ordered. Not a destination restaurant but I'd recommend stopping here if you're in the area.
(4)Chi N.
Came here a few times.. no cover, always good. I got in easy, no inquisition to come in. There's a happy hour from 10:30-11:30, $6 shots for Hen and Goose, not bad. My BF loves when this place is part of the night's schedule because then he gets to order food. We typically go upstairs, get ourselves a plate of garlic fries and calamari, and just lounge while the rest of our friends drink. The place isn't ridiculously crowded like most places, and music is pretty good. The wait staff and bartenders are pretty nice too. Downside, their woman's bathroom only has 2 stalls. WTF.
(3)Jane C.
Gone here a few times with my friend and fellow Yelper Angie M. What I like most about it and will keep me coming back is that it's downtown, and it's a great place for accomodating large groups of people. It's fairly relaxed but a little bit upscale feeling. That said, it's also a little bit generic. But the food is pretty good, the drinks are great, and the service has always been friendly and reliable. So yep, that's an endorsement from me!
(3)Gal B.
We came here for dinner with friends before our play on a Friday night. My first impression was really good. I like the brick walls and the restaurant and bar look really nice. Unfortunately the food does not match the prices or the ambiance. It was just OK, and you expect a lot more for what you pay for. It's too bad - I would have come back here.
(2)Richard T.
This place is only good because there is no cover and decent music. Other than that, there seems to be a 80:20 ratio of people who want to have fun to people who are looking for a fight. This 20% may be because the dance floor is small and always crowded. This is also the spot where you usually see a dozen SJ police officers waiting after last call. Coincidence? Probably not. The drinks are fairly strong, but way overpriced. $14 for an AMF that comes in a plastic cup? This place is really only worth it if you don't plan on having more than two drinks, otherwise it would actually be cheaper to find a club with a cover and cheaper drinks. If you are from San Jose, you will run into people you know here. The lines to the bathroom sometimes get close to the stairs (yes even for the men's bathroom). Sometimes the urinals are covered in puke. Also, there is a pipe over the walkway to the outside terrace that tends to build up condensation and drip water on the unsuspecting people below. In conclusion, getting in is cheap. Drinking once inside is not. Long lines for the bathroom and the bar.
(3)Francis N.
My friend: Hey, me and "blah"-and-"blah" are going clubbing tonight at Loft. You down? Me: Dude...I'm hella tired and I got work tommorrow morning and- My friend: Hey, there's NO cover charge, NO dress code, and they play really GOOD music! Me: ...Forreal? My friend: Chyah! Me: Ugh...fine...give me 10 minutes to get ready. The dance floor was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded and the DJ was alright-playing some decent songs. And seriously people, don't bring drinks to the dance floor. God knows how many drinks I've been bathed in and how many fights I almost got myself into.
(2)Justin G.
It's a great spot to hang out with your friends, get a couple of drinks, and hit the dance floor. Yeah they're pretty strict with the ids but whatever. I mean just have your id and debit/credit or whatever form of other identification and you're set to go. The times I've shown my identification, they never had any problems with it. (Funny story, my friends and I came here one night and the bouncers asked each of us how old we were. I was the only one out of the bunch that said "21 1/2" and they all looked at me like wtf...I never heard that before. ha ha....yeah not funny i know. be quiet) The place has no cover at all unlike sabor or pearl. (screw pearl and their 20 dollar cover after 11) So that's a plus. Also there's no dress code (except for hooded sweatshirts and hats) People say drinks here are expensive. But what place isn't though? (with the exception of happy hour and 2 dollar tuesdays) Either take advantage of the happy hour here (6 dollars for mai tai, zombies, shot of hennesey, etc) or just pregame a jack inside your car. My friends and I wanted to order another round of drinks but happy hour was over by a minute. The bartender was kind enough to charge us the happy hour price. So that was another plus in my book. Dance floor is packed fridays and saturdays. guess that's good if you're not claustrophobic. Overall this place treated me well. My suggestion is to go with a group of friends to have fun. (guys + girls mixed) You'll never get girls here and they'll think you're a creeper unless you're rico suave. Make the best out of it and don't let security or the price get to you. Shit happens.
(4)Celine D.
You know how they say that people will more readily complain before they will compliment? Well this is one of those situations. We have a group called the DAM Diners (dinner a month) and have no complaints about any of the restaurants we've tried. Until tonight. I'm gonna list the good and the bad and leave it at that. The only reason there isn't just one star is because we were hungry and now we are not.' the bad: -had a reservation for the patio, our table was not set up and we had to stand there (awkwardly) as the servers argued about who was going to set the table. ( I heard them complaining, awesome, made use feel bad) -appetizer, steak bites, was described as having a cabernet sauce...umm can you say mushroom gravy? not the best -appetizer size is super small. I get it, if you're like a 5-star restaurant or something, but if you're not, them gimme some volume -the patio never got re-organized, cleaned or spruced up after the all-day mimosa fest that was supposedly "awesome" because it was bottomless for all the drunks who like paying $11 to have a place to party all afternoon on a Sunday.....um weird and messy. -HAIR in my friends salmon...here, have a free dessert that is free on Sundays anyway...did I mention HAIR?! -bathrooms were a mess with crap strewn all about. The kicker was when the waitress came in, used the facilities, and left without ever noticing the mess. -not a care in the world about making things right, better, appear good, or decent by any of the wait staff. They even switched servers on us and didn't even tell us...next thing we heard is "I'm your server now, she (the other one) worked all day". the good: -desserts were decent, they were supposed to be free because of the hair, but we got charged. Gosh, with so much competition in the restaurant business I would think that this place would be busting its booty to try to please and woo the customer. So it is not the case at Loft Bar and Bistro. I gotta say, the name and facade are both very cool, but once you're inside and experiencing whatever there is to offer here, one learns very quirky it's about a "meh" and a "not so much" away from "bleck".
(2)Peter M.
Love this place. Something for everyone. Watch the game or have a romantic meal. Two outdoor patios. Great food, full bar, extensive wine list.
(5)Pawan R.
They don't have draft beer here. The dance floor is upstairs, and the dance area feels more like a cramped closet filled with sweaty people. They don't have draft beer... It takes FOREVER to get an over priced drink. If you plan on drinking at this place make sure to bring someone with a pair of tits and a low cut shirt... (the number one rule of bartenders: serve the hot girls 1st). Did i mention they don't have draft beer. The ONLY plus side is there is no cover and usually there isn't a wait to get inside. But if you don't mind being covered by other people's sweat, the terrible drink selection, and ridiculous wait for drinks this is the place for you!
(2)Cecilia H.
Looking for a good time in DTSJ, but too cheap to pay a cover fee? That's exactly what my friends and I were looking for on a Saturday night when we stumbled upon The Loft. We got there around 11PM and the wait in the line wasn't ridiculously long, but it was certainly long enough for me to lose my buzz. And what pissed me off was when we were waiting in line, this dude tells one of the bouncer that it's his birthday and him and his homies wanted to get in and cut the line. And the bouncer took him and his pack of 10 guys through and let them in first! I thought flirting with bouncers only worked if you were wearing a short skirts and heels! I guess not at this place. The inside decor was fairly nice, pretty crowded though and if you want to get anywhere on the dance floor you gotta go through a pool of slimy people grinding up on each other. No thanks man! I'm a fan of hip-hop/rap so I liked the music. The drinks were averaged priced and average size, relatively speaking. However, once you did get your drink it automatically decreased in half because its so crowded half your drink spills out when you get bumped. There's street parking around and parking garages. Be careful driving though, its super crowded on the streets, and DTSJ is always crawling with cops.
(3)Ashley K.
I had been to the loft bar and bistro for dinks before and thought they were a little pricey for a bar. My fiance and I went there for dinner last night. It was silicon valley restaurant week so we had the prix fix menu for $25. He started with the boneless rib appetizer, which was very good, but the portion was too large for an appetizer. I had the lentil soup, which was very good and comforting-like eating a hug. I had the picatta and he had the tuna. The picatta was good, but the shrimp was a little bland. My fiance said the tuna was good-not my thing. For dessert, he had the tiramisu and I had the creme brulee. They were both good desserts. Overall, we will probably go again to have dinner and watch Monday Night Football. Oh, and since we sat in the bar, they had happy hour drink specials. $5 for a hurricane, and $4 for a beer. On a side note, we almost didn't stay because of the sewer smell. The bathrooms need some work.
(3)Analisa N.
They have this South Western Chicken Salad that keeps me coming back. Best salad i''ve ever had. But thats not the only reason i go to the Loft. For one the ambience of the place is amazing. Relaxing, Calm an ideal place to unwind with some friends or someone special. Free bread is always a plus. Not having the waiter harrass you every 10 minutes is also a plus. I didn't get my waitress name but she's awesome. The drink's are meh .. Kinda watery .. The deserts have solified the meal !! Boo why did i find this place before i move to CT :(
(4)Ocee D.
3 Stars Met up here w/ some friends after they were done with dinner. The upstairs gets packed pretty quick, and the crowd is decent (mostly asian). Drinks were ok, some were a little too sweet and not strong enough, but others made up for it. Staff was for the most part cool too. We'll probably be back.
(3)kat a.
I've been coming to Loft Bar and Bistro since they first opened a few years back. The main reason that I really keep going back is because of the ambiance. I like the sleek dark wood interior and the fact that they have an elevator that I can use when I'm too lazy to take the stairs. The outside area upstairs is the best part about this place. During warm summer nights, it's a perfect place to go and have a drink. It's tucked away but still outside. Makes you feel like your in a big metropolitan city even though you are in San Jose. Recently, I went to the Loft for a birthday outing. I liked the fact that there was no cover charge. Security did not ask for 2 pieces of ID as other Yelpers mentioned, so maybe they did away with that. Also, they were raffling off gift baskets. My friend bought a few of the raffle tickets and ended up winning a men's cologne basket filled with 4 different high end cologne's. The basket was easily worth about $200! Even though it was a Thursday night, the place got pretty packed. The tiny "dance floor" was a real hit and so was the upstairs bar. The DJ's played the usual radio jams, nothing too special. The biggest downside that night was that since it was so crowded, drinks were flying everywhere. I had about 3 drinks spilled on my dress alone. When the night was over, I felt like I had just come out of a cocktail shower.
(3)Christine A.
Came here around 11 something and it didn't look too crackin but when we got upstairs... damn! Had hellaaa fun and their drinks were bomb. I had a shot of goose here and a hurricane. Hurricane was yuuummyy! The dj was hella good too. Prettty much danced the entire time.. drinks were kinda pricey but ehh, it's like that everywhere. Some guy ordered onion strings and it smelled so good. Next time I'm trying their food!! I think I like it here so much cause the people are really chill compared to going to Sabor when all the girls think they're too good for the world. And the guys think they're fucking 20 pack and shit! This place just had down to earth people, just trying to drink and dance.
(4)Monica V.
this was my first time here last night on a Friday night. Usually I don't like to go to Downtown San Jose. I always thought it was kind of "ghetto".... but this place pleasantly surprised me! Its comparable to some of the places in downtown mountain view and Palo Alto. I got there about 10ish, the place was not packed until about 11:30pm when you can hardly get through the herds of people on the dance floor. Best part was from 10pm to 11:30pm, you get $3 beers so it caught me by surprise when I was asked for 6 bucks after 11:30pm but I mean it was fine. Everyone knows drinks are always pricey thats why I like to start drinking before I get to the club! :) all in all I enjoyed it. Decent crowd. I would go back. Parking is right across the street. 10 bucks but hey ! if you wanna have fun, costs money! enjoy! :)
(3)Lynette M.
I can go on and on about how much I love The Loft so I will try to keep it short. First of all it has a great vibe and the staff is super friendly not to mention that the food is GREAT. They play live Jazz on Thursday and on friday and saturday nights it turns into a nightclub (no cover charge ever not even on New Years Eve) with a cool DJ and a nice roof style patio. This is a great place for a romantic night out, happy hour, groups and you can even rent it out for special events. It's a wonderful place to go for dinner before heading out to a show at The Improv which is right next door. I love the braised short ribs, crab cakes, pesto salmon, french dip, all the salads, prawn cocktail (not your usual prawns and cockatil sauce), tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and I love their cucumber jalepeno margarita. Oh yeah and my nephew LOVES the steak bites! Don't hesitate to give them a shot because you will be so glad you did!
(5)John H.
I went to this place after a dinner adventure through San Jose with sushi at Sushi Boat Town, Carl's Jr., and Paradise Yogurt.... This place is still crackin!!! Damn there was so many people I couldn't even dance! Haha. Still my favorite place to hit up in San Jose for some late night boogying. =P And yes folks, this was last night as in a Friday night! You may want to give it a try one of these Fridays! =D
(5)the t.
What's not to like about this place? Good food, great music.. and the people here are pretty gosh darn cool! -1 star security check is such a bitch.. 2 IDs .. really now?
(4)RJ A.
Ok so this bar is definitely not the business. A lot of contradictions with this place or illusions. So there really isn't an enforced dress code and it is free to get in but this is the only place I know that requires at least two forms of identification. This place gives an appearance in which it looks like its cracking but reason being is they also don't enforce their maximum capacity. IT just seemed even though there was no space they allowed more and more people to come in. People inside are pretty rude as well so the environment isn't really too friendly as well. The drinks are over priced but they're not compensated in potency. These drinks were so weak and for 3-4 more dollars more than other bars not worth it. I know I'm a big guy but the AMF I ordered for me and my home girls seriously tasted like straight up Kool Aid even they were able to down it with ease. Overall I would only recommend this place to people who don't give a shit about how much they spend because it seems as if it would take 100's of dollars to get the job done. Also for people who like to be compressed with other people and with all the body heat and sweat you get the picture. If your down for those things then don't let me stop you but I ain't down for this spot.
(1)ML S.
I am pretty sure they thought they dodged a bullet with my friend nor I not writing about our recent experience eating here, but guess what...they didn't. At my suggestion, never had trying this place out before, I took up my friend's offer in picking a place for lunch as a late birthday gift. Constantly I have walked by the Loft, but never have I went inside, which immediately when we stepped in, it was not as nice as I envisioned it looking from the outside. None the less, we sat down and had a little good lunch going with drinks and a appetizer that was okay. As soon as we got our meal, I felt something wasn't right. For one thing, my food was lukewarm which I thought was odd since I ordered a hot dish. With my friend's food which was a crab sandwich, gradually she started to complain about her food, until she looked at the bottom bun of the sandwich... To put it blatantly, it had a shit ton of mold. Not a speck, but a ridiculous amount of mold (please refer to the picture uploaded). My friend and I were soooooo mortified. Even the waitress was shocked and speechless. IT WAS A SHIT TON OF MOLD ON THAT BREAD! I will say that the manager came out and apologized to us about the situation and took all the food off of our tab (mind you, he still kept the drinks). He basically blamed the bread delivery people which didn't answer the question of how and why the chef didn't notice the gross amount of mold. They offered us free appetizer vouchers. I don't know about my friend, but I immediately threw mine away. No way in hell am I or any of my other friends and/or colleagues will be eating there ever again.
(1)Michael W.
Short Story: It's a nice place to go for happy hour. Long Story: I came here with some friends for a Match.com Stir event. The event was a happy hour mixer and there was a good number of people that night. About 50 people upstairs. The place was nicely laid out with high ceilings, many windows, and outside seating. Kinda like a loft...lol! The service was good and really liked the decor and ambiance. It's a good place to meetup for drinks. Verdict: I would go back with friends.
(4)Lisa T.
This place is pretty trashy. The floors were completely soaked and sticky. People were barefoot and dancing the bar area. Dance floor so packed, it looks like a mosh pit. I guess if you're looking to get wasted for the night, this is the place? Also, everyone looked like they were 18.
(2)Katrina T.
This place started out with 3 stars, but ended the night with 4. 3 stars for food plus 1 star for the club. SERVICE: Friendly! Booked a table for 15 on OpenTable and the lady was so nice on the phone confirming the reservation. I arrived later than everyone else, but everyone was seated by the time I got there and our waitress was so nice. One of the waiters was even so kind and encourage my bf to drink for his birthday. We were seated in the spacious upstairs area. We had enough space and were actually able to hear FOOD: Not that great. It is decent enough to eat with reasonable prices considering a Bar & Bistro. I got the Grilled Salmon Pesto. The salmon was thankfully not dry. I was confused as to why the pesto was just drizzled on top though. It looked really random and the flavors worked together, but usually pesto and salmon are not likely combinations. My bf got the Short Rib. It was pretty good, but too flavorful. There must have been one ingredient that was definitely giving it too much of a kick. I had to eat it with the mash potatoes to tone it down. AMBIANCE of restaurant & club: We were seated in the spacious upstairs area. We had enough space and were actually able to hear each other speak! The restaurant turns into a club afterwards. The music started off slow, old school then as the night went on, the music got much much better. This DJ was pretty legit. He definitely made my night a fun one. I really liked his mix and I finally felt HAPPY. Finally! I was able to enjoy a club in SJ that wasn't too fobby with asians, the dance floor wasn't dead, and the music didn't suck. Everything was pretty fun! I'd come back here again. PLUS there is no cover!
(4)Michelle C.
My 2nd review is about the club, after hours. I really like that they don't have a cover charge to get in. However, what does this equal? A super crowded dance floor. They offer a happy hour before 11:30pm. Woot! Another cheapman's perk. I noticed they played a lot of old school jams. Ladies, they only have 2 bathroom stalls. So you better know how to hold it. What else??? Oh you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the dance floor. It isn't anything crazy, but if you take one wrong step. Bump, dun dun, bump. There you go.
(4)Christy L.
The service here was amazing. After getting totally screwed over by Gordon Biersch we went to The Loft to salvage our night, and even though they were pretty booked with another party, they were accommodating and made us feel like we were the only party in the restaurant. I can't speak more highly of the management here, they bent over backwards to make sure we were taken care of. Loft/Capers staff, you really did save our night. Thanks for everything!
(5)Cristina H.
Had them cater a company mixer. Food was ready on time and they even brought it out to my car!! Had nothing but good feedback from people at the mixer. Enough food for everyone!!
(5)Azizi M.
This review is for the food. It's a while since I've been here, the food is descent. They have a good menu and wouldn't suspect from this area especially from a place that is a lounge/club at night. When I came it was dead, but the good was good. I would consider trying it again if I lived in the area.
(3)Amy H.
This was actually the first dance club I went to when I turned 21. My sister wanted to make it official and we didnt plan on heading over here. I was in line at 11:58pm and he wouldnt let me in until it was midnight when it was officially my birthday. This place asked for two forms of ID which was really annoying so I had to show them my drivers license and credit card. I have been here before and it is pretty dead if you come here before midnight. After midnight the music gets better and they play like 102.5 or top 40 music. Its not the best of the best music but it is better than EDM. There are two floors- bottom floor is just a bar and upstairs has the little dance floor, patio, and bar. The patio is nice because you get to relax and rest your feet. This place just attracts the creepiest of the creepy people in San Jose. They just stand there and watch you...or worse....they surround girls like a pack of hyenas. The guys here are not cute and overly aggressive. It was a nice memory since it was the first club I had been too but for future references, I will not come back here. **TIPS** 1) Dont be lazy and just head over to SF for clubs. There are better looking creeps over there at least.
(2)Katelyn L.
Why can you always get a reservation here??? Because the food is overpriced and service is terrible. We went there today for Easter brunch and there were only 4 occupied tables tables. Waitress was rude, food was meh... Bill was $70 for 2 people.
(2)Samantha L.
Happy Hour!!.... More like Very Happy Hour! I came here last Thursday for Happy Hour with a co-worker. We both were very impressed with the selection and quality of happy hour items. We tried the buffalo wings, fries, calamari, quesodillas, and they made special vegetarian sliders just for me. The sliders weren't on the menu but the bartender made them for me after I told him I'm a vegetarian. All of the food was really good and they served large portions. Also, I got three beers and my coworker tried a few mixed drinks. We sat at the upstairs bar which was really fun. They have a bar downstairs, upstairs, as well as a outdoor patio. Overall Loft Bar & Bistro is good in my book.
(5)Char L.
A great place that has that family feel you don't find too much nowadays. We love this place! The food is great (the meatloaf is what I always get), calamari is light and juicy, the pesto salmon melts in your mouth, garlic mashed potatoes are awesome, and they even make the vegetables tasty yet healthy. We've had 2 family parties here, and the Loft is very accommodating and their prices are great for the quality and the amount of food your party gets. Our family loves the food, the personalized service is great, and they make you feel at home. I know we will be having future family events here :)
(5)Kailey O.
I had a wonderful dining experience here. My boyfriend and I went out for a nice dinner and enjoyed the live jazz music on that particular Thursday night. The music starts around 7:30 and I noticed most of the diners were seated upstairs; the perfect balance of conversation and music levels. We ordered a bottle of the house red wine, which I was quite pleased with. For my entree, I ordered the tri-tip on the low carb menu. um hello, tri-tip? low carb? yes please! The horseradish sauce was incredible. Overall I enjoyed the experience, the service was so fast! I had a glass of water in front of me 2 seconds after we were seated. I would probably come back here, but not regularly. To me this felt like a special occasion venue: date night, birthday, anniversary, etc.
(4)Veronica A.
NO COVER! I always end up here at the end of the night because there's no cover, and is pretty damn crackin'. PROS: -No cover -Upstairs and downstairs bar -Upstairs dance floor -Usually no line at all to get in CONS: -Be prepared, guys wear pants, no shorts allowed, and a collared shirt. -Drinks can be a bit pricey. -Bathrooms are downstairs, and can be a bit of a wait -Don't be surprised if fights break out, usually there's something that happens at least once that I see. -Dance floor is SUPER CROWDED -CREEPERS GALORE.
(3)David W.
Came here for post job-interview dinner. Place is pretty chilll and I love the ambiance. Had the salmon salad it was DELICIOUS!
(5)Eli Y.
Got the moves like Jagger? Come here and unleash them upon the crowd! So I've never eaten here, and that being said this is just a review about the night life. When you walk in, this place will seem totally dead, but fear not my fellow night owls, the party is likely raging upstairs! The upstairs has a bar area (not the cheapest drinks but good happy hour prices) and a dance floor. There is also an outdoor patio area with more music going on. The outdoor patio is a nice spot to go, it's a bit quieter, so if your mad swagger has won you the affections of another, it's a good place to go and get better acquainted. The dance floor is usually packed by about 11 and will rage on until about closing. And I'm not using the word packed lightly here, it can be hard to move at times (putting a serious damper on you if you're giving lessons on how to dougie). But at the same time it can be kind of fun in sardine can kind of way. The music is good and the DJ's will usually take requests. All in all this is a pretty good spot to head to if you want a fun night out.
(4)Daman T.
Food is below average, and way too expensive for that quality.
(2)Tiffany L.
So incredibly shady. We had a private party here on a Monday night. The owner was told explicitly to serve well drinks unless call drinks were requested (pretty standard stuff). Not a single well drink was on our bill (I'll just add that the bill was over $10k). Not one. Unless, of course, they're serving Grey Goose and the like in the well. I asked for "just water" and they brought me a bottle of Voss. I said no, tap water is just fine, thank you. Apparently, this is a thing, because it turns out they also opted to walk around with trays, passing out bottles of water at $5 a pop when it was not requested. And 137 bottles later, a lesson was learned: Don't go here. This kind of stuff gives the whole restaurant industry a bad reputation, which makes me sad, but in this case, for this place, it's deserved. Edited to respond to comments from Maria D. of Loft Bar and Bistro: Obviously, there were a lot of people, hence a tab of over $10k. The problem wasn't the cost. When you have a lot of people, you expect a heavy tab. This isn't rocket science. The problem is the dishonesty. You're telling me that out of 300+ people, 100% of them ordered call drinks? Plain and simple fact: some people didn't call. Doing something so cutting edge as overhearing people order while standing next to the bar let me witness it. Didn't see that one coming, did you, Yelpers? ;) If you're industry, you should be well aware that there are lots of expensive beverages that are not single malt scotches. (For example, Louis XIII, and even Johnnie Walker is a blended scotch!!!). Should I be surprised I didn't hear: "I'm sorry, we can't serve you this Mccallan 18, can I interest you in this bottle of Cristal?" But would one really expect to go through a receipt over 4 ft long, literally listing hundreds of drinks, at 1 in the morning? I guess if you expect to get ripped off, you should--so let this serve as a word of warning to others. (FWIW, the receipt didn't group everything together, so it read 6 VOSS, etc.--only when it was tallied up does it become painfully apparent. At a glance, the receipt totally looks legit....and then you realize, 137 waters, and NO well drinks.) I think if anything, the fact there were so many people made it less obvious that there was something fishy going on. I can only assume they knew this was a one-time corporate event and decided to take full advantage of it; I suppose this happens often, especially with so many tech companies in the area.
(1)Marlene G.
Came here for dinner and I must say very impressed. I had no idea they served dinner. I've been here for the night club scene (not impressed with that at all) however the food was delicious. I ordered the steak bites and boy they were good. Definitely recommend coming here before 9pm for dinner. Hostess / waiter was on point with her service.
(4)Ben P.
Solid, big menu and pleasant service. Especially good for groups with mixed tastes and interests. Patio seating is nice add-on.
(4)Richard F.
SECURITY ON THE WEEKENDS ARE JERKS. the security guard called my friend a bitch because she bumped into him by accident. another security guard did the same thing because the guys were friends. Never experienced such bad service before in my life. Also the dance floor gets ridiculously overcrowded with creepy guys trying to look for girls. Not a good job by security regulating
(1)Ee Vonn Y.
$23 for a single shot of ciroc that was filled up halfway---in a paper cup!--and one red bull vodka. Cheers!
(1)Carla G.
My Business Networking Group (BOING) met today for lunch and we not only enjoyed wonderful food but the service was outstanding. This group pre-orders with individual checks and all of the wait people were on top of everything with all orders arriving at the same time. They set up tables for us away from the regular lunch crowd and that allowed us to conduct our networking. Thank you and we will return.
(5)Kevin L.
Each entree was excellently prepared. The Calamari was delicious. They serve bread with either butter or this natural olive oil mix. The bread was fresh. I ordered the Cubano sandwich with salad which was just the right amount of meats and touch of onions. The drinks are a bit expensive $11 for strawberry mojito. Short rib was tender and the French fries were just the right amount of salt and very tasty. The space is huge and we were seated in the outside patio. Very nice orange and since it was lunch time they had adequate shade. The waitress was very hospitable and I would recommend to try it out if your visiting the city.
(5)Phillip R.
This was the second spot of a drinking night. The reviews going to be short and sweet (because it's a blur). Two stories, two bathrooms to wait in line for. Drinks are cheap and its good for big groups to travel into. Order --- Drinks
(4)Krittika W.
Went there on a Sunday evening and was sad to find out they had closed their rooftop patio seating an hour before their closing time. Good: My friend and I got Panko Crusted Chicken Breast and Chicken and Prawn Picatta and they were delicious! The Panko Crusted chicken was to die for, I will definitely go back for it. Corey was our server, and he was very pleasant! We paired our food with Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, and Corey was VERY generous with that. Bad: Ordered the Marinated Fire Roasted Artichokes, they sounded delicious (as I love artichokes) but once served I couldn't cut through it. Forget being able to chew it. Overall it was a good experience. Hoping for my artichokes to be cooked next time.
(3)Joey B.
Ok, I arrived here during club hours with my friend Alice, after 9pm. TO be exact at 12am on Sept 13th 2015. Pros: NO cover fees! Cons: (1) Theres only one bathroom down stairs behind the first bar that you walk in from the entrance. And kid you not, its F****kin UNISEX. Like really now, to make matters worse, the line is abnormally long! And I just want to take a quick urination. Thats it! Waiting for over 30min was not totally expected! (2) ALL drinks are priced ABNORMALLY HIGH! For a lil plastic glass of AMF, got charged $13. WTF! One sip wasn't even drinkable, pretty much wasted it and gave the bushes some alcohol, and too lazy too walk back to the bar to ask for a water instead. So I just saved the ice. (3) You can't stand in the hallway to converse nor drink as well. Have to go into the dance area that is overly packed upstairs! WTF! (4) Overly drunk people was everywhere, the scene was a nightmare, dodging drunk people to avoid a VOMIT PROJECTILE unto me. (5) MUSIC is wayyyyyyy too loud! (6) NOT enough places to sit. Considering you can't really stand at the hallway. And no standing next to the side of the dance area as well to take a rest... Ugh! (7) Not ENOUGH SECURITIES! (8) ELEVATOR wasn't working to take a quick shortcut to go downstairs to avoid the drunk people from vomiting unto me. (9) Its too hot! (10) Not enough ventilation! Everyone stinks with all the mix perfumes/colognes/body odor! ULTIMATE YUCK! Will I be back, certainly NOT DURING CLUB HOURS! This place is a JOKE!
(1)Krissy L.
Not a 3, and definitely not a 4. So many in-betweens for me about this place but The Loft still makes for a pretty sweet night time spot. I've had the pleasure of dining and dancing at this location and the verdict? Not too shabby! There's pretty good music, a very lively dance floor, and NO COVER CHARGE! It does get super crowded upstairs though, but what do you expect? As for dining, the food is pretty good! Nothing to write home about, but good! My favorite thing has to be that complementary bread and dip. The bread kind of sucks but that balsamic whatever dip was YUM! I also really like the fact they serve low-carb options here, which is great for the carb-conscious - I personally had the sliced tri-tip and I liked that it was tender, juicy and was served with a side of horseradish dip. I didn't like the shitty lettuce and sliced tomato piece, making my dish look like a sad, deconstructed sandwich without the bun. The biggest downer was that everything is super overpriced for something that's 'okay'. You do, however, get a free desert with a yelp check-in, so that's always nice!
(4)Tiffany T.
Me and my friend ended up here because there was no one at Studio 8 night club. Lol this place is actually fun. The music is good, and I love how there is a place for you to sit down. There's also no cover charge. And yes, there's always more guys than girls but everyone knows that. What do you expect? I enjoy having conversations with people I'll never see again :)
(4)