Lunchtime Dives
of Silicon Valley

Your Source for the
South Bay Dive Experience

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So Many Dives, So Little Time -- Divemaster
Alviso

A sleepy backwater tucked up next to the bay. This used to be the Port of San Jose and was eventually annexed by it's larger neighbor to the south. What used to be all farm land (that would flood every few years) now has corporate tilt-ups nibbling at its egde. Stop by and have a simple meal in a nice dive - while you still can.



andiamo Restaurant not
5220 N 1st Street Alviso
Formerly Rosita's, they took the classic Mexican off-beat dive and have partially attempted to make it an Italian upscale restaurant. A dichotomy that doesn't seem to work. We sampled the Mexican side of the menu and - it's still a good Mexican dive.. Prices are higher than the old Rositas, the bar is a bit cleaner but -- it's still a dive!
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Maria Elena's not
1450 Gold Street Alviso
Formerly Mexico Lindos. When Rosita's closed, this place inherited the Silicon Valley Mexican Food Alviso Divers. Even after the boom, they still gather crowds. They've lost the outdoor seating area which was a wonderful place to be on a temperate spring/fall day. But seem to have improved the service and cleanliness. On busy days, there is a buffet for people on a schedule. Once seated, the food can be good - chorizo, machaca con huevos and fresh chips were all a plus. Domestic and Mexican beers available. There are a few neighborhood cats who are cute enough to deserve a piece of chicken or two and everyone is tempted to try on the little sombrero that covers the tortillas.
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Vahl's take
1513 El Dorado St Alviso
A great place to mention it's your birthday (even though it may not be) since they play the cheesiest birthday song ever. The place is a holdover from the early 40's when pink tablecloths and doilies said "love". Wonderful older women run the place and make you feel like you've been on a visit to grandma's formal dining room. Lots of Art Deco and velvet paintings of local interest, including a model of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sadly, matron and founder Amelia Vahl has passed away but ran the place well into her 90's. Check out the bar...real authentic naugahyde booths, blue neon behind the bottles, and they have an old coin-op bowling game there. Also, if you get there early enough, ask for a window seat next to the garden, where you can watch two cats frolic.So when you feel like a good helping of pot roast or scampi, it's Vahl's. A reader adds, "if Amelia Vahl seats you, she will decide what sort table you get. A man and a woman dressed professionally will get a cozy table for two with flowers, two women in jeans risk getting seated at the "kid's table" in the hall. One of the younger hostesses snuck over and said she could move us,but I didn't dare move!" Closed Monday and Tuesday
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Ernie's Fiesta Restaurant heaven
Taylor St at Gold St Alviso
We heard this place has passed away. Alas, none of our staff had a chance to visit before it's demise. However, one of our faithful readers noted that, "It's way better than Maria Elena's now that they have become so popular. Ernie, a native Alviso-can, is always on hand to greet his customers. His kids are running around in their walkers. The Chili Rellenos are great."
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Rosita's heaven
5220 North First Street Alviso
Silicon Valley's Former Power Lunch Dive Reincarnated as andiamos. A reader intones: I used to (and still do) enjoy the food at Rosita's. I had my first meal ather place in the '60s when it was on the south corner of Gold and First streets. The floors were tilted and the tables were in several small rooms, situated in a disorganized fashion probably due to the rooms having been added on to the small main building over the years. You walked in passing the "kitchen", picked up your drink and the Spanish speaking waitress eventually came to your table and took your order. The food was delicious, worth the visit to a TRUE dive!! Having recently returned from a lengthy trip to Mexico, this was true Mexican dining. Business picked up from the electronics boom of the late '70s early '80s and she upgraded her operation, moving to the opposite side of First street,about 2 blocks south. The facility had been a bar before her arrival. Theatmosphere changed too; moved out of the dive category. There was a large bar on the left as you entered the front door with the dining tables to theright in two rooms. Waitresses were also upgraded both in character and language skills, speaking both Spanish and English fluently. Food was still excellent. The kitchen was in the back, out of sight. Shortly after makingthe move, the prices were raised SUBSTANTIALLY, and the recession hitshortly thereafter. I stopped going because the prices were way out of line. Many others must of had the same feelings. Next time I went for lunch a year or so later, the place was locked up tight. I later learned that she had opened a deli/grocery store (Rosita's Deli &Market) another block or so further south on First street, under the high voltage wires near the school and new library. I have been enjoying hercooking for several years now at this new location. It has shifted more tothe food service and down played the grocery store services over the past 18months. Food is still excellent. Large portions. Great waitresses (light on the Spanish now). You still get your own drinks from the coolers, and the kitchen is in full view at the end of the intimate one-room dining area.I definitely recommend having lunch at "Rosita's Deli". Divemaster recalls the original experience - especially the tilted floors and the flood marks on the building where it was 7 feet underwater during the '82 floods. We list this under the "yet to try category" because the same owner now runs Rosita's Deli and we have yet to make it out there.
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