30 Best American Restaurants in Santa Clara

“This was my first time at Gish, and it didn't disappoint us. It was quite hard to get a reservation, and there must've been a cancellation when it showed an open reservation on the same day. Gish serves dinner only from 6 - 10 pm, and our dinner course took a full 2 hours, which meant they can only have two turnovers. It is a small place with about 25-26 seats total, with 4 seats right in front of the kitchen. They only have a single 4-course meal on the menu that changes every month, and you have to make a reservation in blind about a month ahead since there is no clue what the next month's menu will be. For December, the first course was tofu with winter green salad, which was quite refreshing, and we both enjoyed it very much. The second course, makgeolli mussel bean stew, was an interesting attempt, but it was a bit too salty for our taste - I think mainly it was the reduction of the clam juice and makgeolli. Toasted Manresa sourdough was great. The main course was beef cheek jjim, which was very tender and didn't need to use the knife at all. radish, kimchi, pomegranate, and mushroom somehow all provided a nice balance and interesting, unique taste. Dessert was goguma medley, which was my wife's favorite dessert. Overall, it was quite a pleasure, a nice surprise dinner for both of us, and we will be back for certain. It would be nice to give a heads up on the next month's menu so that people don't end up making a reservation then cancelling later. 2 2-hour dinner is nice for a special event dinner, but it may be a bit too long for others. I'd recommend this place to others to try, but be aware that the reservations fill up quickly, but I think many people end up cancelling too, so it is a bit of hit and miss. Very nice professional staff, explains every food and ingredient, and nice ambiance. Song selection can be hard to please everybody, but my preference is a bit lower volume. We will be back certainly on next occasion.“

“The service attitude here is great. I like the drinks very much. It feels very magical, like a magic potion🥰“

“Lately I've seen that each customer has to deal with 2-3 people. One of them gets you a seat, another one will take the order and the third one will get the order and take care everything is going good for the customer. It can be confusing as a customer to know which person to call for any help.“

“Davon was an amazing host! He went over an beyond to help us order and recommended food.
2nd time already we came here and we keep coming back since Davon was so naturally pleasant and phenomenal. He showed caring and concern for us even after eating. He made sure we got our food and drinks. Was a great person to speak with, you would almost have thought he owned the place. Appreciate the love and care he provided.
The 2nd we went we brought more people.
I would say the only complaint was the chairs are a bit uncomfortable to sit in but food was delicious and service was top notch due to Davon and his crew.

Thank you being open so late, our church has now found a great place to fellowship afterwards and know we are being taken care of. I thank God for Davon!!!“

“Never leave reviews. Just HAD to this time!! Outstanding meal & cust svc. Had the French onion soup burger - TO DIE FOR‼️But it’s at least FOUR napkins. Took 1/2 burger home. So delish & filling. The staff VERY friendly & helpful. I went to Cap Exp to meet a friend. Can not wait to try Law Exp (near me). You won’t be sorry. Enjoy‼️‼️“

“we love their southwest garden salad, lettuce wraps with tofu and eureka american burger with veggie patty. Really like that they have an option of veggie patty in every burger of theirs. The taste is amazing and the service. their ginger lime soda is also good. overall I totally recommend this place.“

“Been coming here since grad school in the early 2000s. Still good food after all these years. The nice owners work so hard to make delicious food. Too bad they no longer serve beer. Owner says SCU students got too rowdy with alcohol and causing trouble, so it’s not worth it to serve alcohol anymore. Thank the kids for ruining it for everyone.“

“Nice friendly staff, clean restaurant we go there every Monday or Tuesday“

“Fun, Relaxed Spot with Great Food and Vibes

Clara's Junction is a fun place to hang out — the food is pretty good, and there are fun games to play while you eat and relax. They sometimes have food trucks and even a separate BBQ section, which adds a nice variety.

It’s also a great spot to bring your dog once in a while and just enjoy a laid-back meal outdoors. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better.

Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!“

“Very attentive staff and delicious food“

“Went on Thanksgiving Day , we ordered cocktails Aged Tropic Old Fashioned and Whistlepig Barrel Aged Smoked Old Fashioned. Both drinks were amazing but the Whistlepig Old Fashioned is the best. Tried the Chipotle Steak Bits and Crab Croquettes very tasty. The set Thanksgiving menu was fabulous. (Key lime pie❤️)So far the best as for Going out on Thanksgiving. I will definitely be back to try their steaks and seafood platter hope it doesn't disappoint. Thanks to the amazing Chef and staff who worked on Thanksgiving holiday !“

“Nice to hang out with my friends after a round of 9 holes. Good drinks and tasty food.“

“I've been dining here for several years, their fish is always fresh. But yesterday the food was greasy, smelly, and mostly inedible. Fries were old and soggy. Tacos were barely warm and soggy as well. Fish was not fresh, there were just greasy pieces. Very disappointing. Not sure if I will be coming back.“

“Good place to handout for people living nearby bay area“

“I don't normally make reviews about shopping centers, but this one is very nice and aesthetic one to go to. To be honest, I've never been in a shopping center that looks as ambient compared to average ones I go to.

Yes it's not really a big place, but it's built nice and clean at the same time. Probably most people who work around here come here for lunch. It would have been better if there are bigger building while using the same materials as well as a bigger shopping center, but this is fine.“

“First time there and the food was absolutely amazing - can not recommend the brisket“

“First off, the staff is incredibly attentive. I was greeted by three different people within 5 minutes of sitting down! They made sure I had a drink ASAP and were kind enough to come over to where I was sitting and take my order, even though I'm pretty sure you go up to the counter to place orders.
The food is incredible, yesterday I had the burrito trio and today the breakfast burrito. Absolutely phenomenal!
Will be my go-to lunch spot going forward!“

“Great staff, clean and comfortable rooms, and quiet with nice balconies“

“This is the best dining option at California's Great America! With a wide variety of menu choices—from quinoa and beef burgers to chicken tenders and several types of pizza—plus sides like mac & cheese, seasonal vegetables, and more, it's the best value in the park. The condiment bar is well-stocked, and the staff is always friendly and efficient. The restaurant is well-organized, with consistently clean tables, though they can get packed during lunch and dinner rushes, so you might have to wait for a table. They sometimes run out of artisan sandwiches and desserts, and the quinoa burger takes a few extra minutes to cook but is worth the wait. Highly recommended!“

“I decided to drop by and see what the place was about because there was a “dating coach” on YouTube that felt like she was above The Cheesecake Factory … After visiting here, I think that particular dating coach is a lunatic … I think this place is wonderful for casual meetings as well as serious dinner dates …“

“Pretty average hotel. Giving it 4 stars given it included breakfast and happy hour. The bartenders and omlette maker were excellent and friendly. Other breakfast staff seemed less than thrilled to be there but overall went about their tasks and kept out of guests way. The rooms could definitely use some updating and the layout was quite awkward being right next to the stairwell. The room felt cramped and the bathroom small to maneuver in. Not sure if all rooms were that way but I'd suggest a different room. The hotel was reasonably close to some restaurants and easy enough to get around the area. Overall not a bad stay.“

“Solid breakfast, great service on a Sunday morning, and generous mimosas. Yeah, the OJ is just for color 😄“

“The food was delicious 😋 and the service was excellent, I recommend this place for have a nice lunch or dinner“

“Good food. Wings are decent, just OK. I had the traditional death sauce. It was not that hot and the flavor was kind of weird. The steak sandwich I had was good, not the best, but not the worst. The place is nothing special and definitely a little pricey. Has good selection of beers as well.“

“food was fresh and delicious minus missing hash browns“

“Go here for lunch on Tuesdays & Thursday. They work hard in this program and I really think it shows. Food is usually very good. Portions are great value.“

“The Hut has the best Tri tip sandwich I’ve ever had. The pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwich is to die for!! The French fries are always yummy😋you really can’t go wrong with any thing on the menu ! My son loves the baby back ribs. The Hut is a warm , friendly, fun , place do dine!! The service is always great!!“

“As mid as you'd expect but not in a bad way.
Salad bar is a must, small hot foods with salads and soups but it's pretty ok.

Overall pricing it's a bit high once you get an entrée, salad bar, and drink but it's not a horrible value.“