For those light rail-riding SJSU students, a new food and drink joint in downtown may have already caught some eyes.
The Blackbird Tavern sits right on 200 S. First Street parallel to the light rail tracks on the Paseo de San Antonio walkway.
The classy but comfortable-looking restaurant, open since late June, sports a sophisticated interior as well as a spacious outdoor patio area perfect for people-watching and enjoying the fresh air.
The Blackbird Tavern, owned by Chris Esparza and Brendan Rawson, who also co-own downtown’s Naglee Park Garage, is advertised as an American bistro, but I simply couldn't ignore its European feel.
Maybe it’s the outdoor seating, the fresh roasted coffee they serve, or the plethora of live bands that make their way through the doors.
My roommate studied abroad in Spain last year and I spent a few weeks there too, so she was my first choice to accompany me in checking out this new American bistro with a European flair.
We were seated on the patio at 6 p.m. on a calm Thursday evening.
There were four other parties seated on the patio and five seated inside. The crowd picked up as the night progressed, but we continuously received attentive service.
While I opted to stick with water, my roommate selected a glass of malbec wine, which she loved. According to the restaurant manager, the tavern prides itself on its choice beer and wine selections all on tap.
We began our meal with small cups of the smoothest, most heavenly tomato soup complete with bite-sized grilled cheese sandwiches on top. I have yet to stop dreaming about that delectable comfort food.
We continued our appetizer course by selecting a combination from their charcuterie/cheese selections that vary from day to day.
We chose finocchiona salami and Brie cheese for $6.75 each.
The meat and cheese combo came with mini crostinis and honey. We did not regret our selections in the least.
When it came to entrées, menu options were limited. In fact, there were only seven main entrees to choose from, each representing a main meat category such as chicken, pork, steak or salmon. The items ranged from $12.75 to $22.75.
My roommate and I both decided on items from the appetizer menu to serve as our main course. She chose a romaine salad with lemon Parmesan dressing, and I chose a chopped salad with chicken and coriander lime vinaigrette complete with two giant onion rings on top. No complaints there. Each salad had a full or half-size to choose from and the half-size was plenty.
Though there was little room left in our stomachs, we could not resist trying the lemon pound cake with strawberry relish for dessert. Add to that a delicious cappuccino each, and I felt like I’d just treated myself to a fabulous multi-course dining experience.
At some point during our meal, a jazz band began playing inside the restaurant and a few people could be seen dancing near the end of the bar that ran central throughout the interior. The upbeat notes floated out to the patio area where we were sitting, making for a pleasant background to our conversation.
Had we been sitting inside, however, the music would have been much too loud for conversation to take place. In fact, we saw a group of diners move outside once the music began playing due to the high noise level.
My roommate and I agreed that the meal was definitely on the pricier side – $70 for our total bill. Then again, we had appetizers, dessert, wine and coffee with our meal. A simple entrée and drink would have been much cheaper.
The Blackbird Tavern seems to be a great place to start the evening with a drink or appetizers before heading out for a night downtown with friends. Though it might not be the friendliest option for a college student’s budget, my roommate and I decided we’d definitely come back – at least for the tomato soup and salami and Brie plate. Maybe the cappuccinos, too.
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