SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant

Service was terrible. Our server made it obvious she wanted to go home. She recommended their most popular dishes which we chose because of her recommendations. Then she comes back 10min later to tell us that they are out of everything we ordered. After our food finally came out we wanted to order drinks. She told us to order from the bar so she could close out our tab. Food that we did have was decent but not a place that I would recommend

Ambiance was nice but outside seems more fun with tvs and lounging couches. The food was average and not much options. Felt place is over priced

In sum: It was alright, but probably not a spot I would necessarily return to except to have a very short happy hour drink and then move on.
Deets: I only tried the happy hour menu, but I very much enjoyed the chicken and waffle and the ribs. The chicken/​waffle had a nice citrus flavor, light breading, and syrup on the side. The ribs were super tender. The mac-​n-​cheese was average, the drinks were good but small, and the service was just alright. Wings and fries weren’t worth ordering because they weren’t anything special.
I expected a little more from their happy hour, but I still had a good time with friends. At least booze makes everything fun, right?

Great craft cocktails. Dimly lit beautiful atmosphere. Friendly service. The ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ burger is delicious. The fries have an interesting jerk seasoning, which I did’t really care for. The flatbreads are scrumptious. Communal seating for happy hour. I’d definitely go back.

Took my boyfriend’s mom here for her 54^th birthday, pretty sure she felt really out of place, but she got her birthday wish of dining in DTSJ.
Food: We all ordered four dishes and ate them family style due to the large portions. I ordered the half roasted chicken, which I believe was the best dish we had. It came with potatoes, squash and onions. The chicken was absolutely amazing, one of the tastiest, most tender, moist, aesthetically and palate pleasing. I could go on about this dish, but you really just have to try it. If you order anything here, please do yourself a favor and order this dish. My boyfriend’s mom doesn’t even like chicken and even she admitted that this was the best tasting chicken she’d ever had. The best part about it, is that you will be satisfied, but you won’t feel so much guilt because it doesn’t feel as heavy or unhealthy. My boyfriend’s dad had the pan seared atlantic salmon — also tasty, full of flavor, yet light. Mama had the shrimp and arugula flatbread which was okay, but way too savory/​salty. Not sure what exactly made it this way, maybe the shrimp or the cheese, but it was just a bit too salty for all of us. The flatbread on the other hand was crispy, buttery and very fresh. I pulled the shrimp off and just ate the bread. My boyfriend ordered the pan seared duck breast — honestly, it was boring and plain. It came with beans and heirloom tomatoes. The quality of the duck breast wasn’t the best I’ve had, it was very fatty and the rest of the stuff they added in was just really plain and didn’t compliment the dish.
Ambiance: Contemporary, rustic and warm. Very dim lighting during dinner time, my boyfriend’s parents kept asking «why are the lights off?»
Service: Inconsistent. At times our server was super friendly and courteous, other times she was very brief and seemed a bit irate. I have to come back to give service another shot.
Price: Pretty pricey, but I felt the quality was above average and the portions were extremely generous. So basically… worth it.
Overall: Great food, nice ambiance and a really great place to hangout in DTSJ… if you’re young. Not sure if we’ll be bringing my boyfriend’s parents back. We on the other hand will be back for happy hour!

Came with a large group for a combo HH/​dinner on a Tuesday night and was really impressed! We had reservations for a group of 10 and were promptly seated. Food is decent, but nothing mind-​blowing and the menu options are pretty standard. We ordered multiple of everything except the cauliflower from the HH menu, and I had the pork for my entrée. Portions are large and prices are on par with any other midlevel restaurant (~$ 24 – 28 per entrée). HH deals are good at $ 6/​dish. Drinks are very weak. Street parking is easy to find in front of the restaurant and meters are free after 6pm.
The four stars are mainly for the ambience. It’s modern, trendy and sleek, which creates a nice atmosphere for dinner and drinks. They’d get bumped up to five stars if they had a more creative menu and stronger drinks!

SP2 is one my favorite places to go for date nights.
I like the ambiance, I like how they make my gin & tonics and have brand name liquor.
I like the outside intimate seating. And I usually like the people there.
I can’t speak regarding food but I always enjoyed my time here.

Went here for Happy Hour before a Sharks Game. Ordered a beer, fries, wings, and mini pizza all off the happy hour menu. The wings were very good; bone in with just the right amount of tang and spice. However I wasn’t fond of the dipping sauce they had for them. They do not have traditional Ranch but more of an aoli to use. The mini pizza is a margarita one and was tasty as well. The fries are thin cut which I like and had a nice seasoning to them. I was a little disappointed in the service, not very timely considering we were on our way to the game and when they removed a plate they didn’t leave the dipping sauce that we were using for multiple items.

Wow, I haven’t review SP2 even though I’ve been here many many times!
I like their food.
I like their drinks.
I like their staff and one of them looks like Ryan Gosling.
I hope you give this fun, cool, and hip place a try. Cheers.

Both times that I have been here have been midweek around 7 – 8 and it’s always been pretty slow, just means we get more attention! :)
Every time I have been, the service has been great, and the food is yummy. I have gotten the flatbreads, Mac n cheese, and the stone fruit salad. Everything has been delicious (especially the salad!). I don’t think the drinks are very strong.
I came on ¹²⁄₁ around 8pm and the bartender was EXCELLENT! He took great care of me and my friend. I wish I remember his name, but it starts with a J. Thanks!

SP2 has quickly become my favorite spot to chill/​drink in the past month or so. If in the SJ area, I’ve always spent the night out in the San Pedro area, but I had never heard of or been to SP2 until some friends suggested it one random night out.
I think the best part of SP2 is that it’s always not TOO crowded, and the patio area is such a nice/​warm (literally and figuratively) touch. The service there is exceptional as well. One particular incident I remember was on a random Tuesday night my friend and I stopped by for a glass of wine/​whiskey and the outside patio was «closed» with all the fire/​heater off. My friend asked the bartender if it was possible to still sit outside, and the bartender went out of his way to ask the manager, who then, came over to personally talk to us to see what he could do for us. He suggested turning on one of the fires just for us and we could sit there. We didn’t want to be a burden so we said it was fine, we could just sit inside. Rather than take our word for it, he, again, went out of his way to turn the fire on for us anyway.
The bartenders there are also really nice and you get your drinks pretty quickly.
Lastly, they have a good list of whiskey and wine, which is a huge plus!

I like it here! Very spacious and roomy with big wooden tables. They serve very interest concoctions… My friend ordered a drink that had sriracha in it. She loves it, but… to each their own. :P When I went, they ran out of IPA, so I had a sour beer.
I think I found my favorite drinking spot because I hate very crowded drinking places. I just wish they had more craft beer options, but I think I can live.

Spacious and outdoor lounge here.
This place is great for many occasions, such as for sports, birthdays, celebrations, bar hopping and more!
The vibe is all chill!

SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant offers tasty food, tasty drinks, and a beautiful patio.
I ordered a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ Burger ($ 15) and a side of Truffle Oil and Parmesan Fries ($ 3 to upgrade from plain fries). Let me start first by saying SP2’s online menu is outdated, so I didn’t get the burger I had hoped for. The current ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ burger comes with a patty that consists of ground beef and bacon, additional bacon slices, tomatoes, pickled red onions, greens (probably spinach), avocado, and what I assume is Swiss cheese, on a ciabatta bun. My burger was properly prepared (medium-​well; it looks extra pink because of the bacon) and tasted extremely fresh (4 stars). The truffle fries were just okay; they needed additional seasoning (3 stars). Additionally, my meal came with a complimentary mini blueberry muffin, which was tasty (3.5 stars).
This restaurant usually gets 3 – 4 stars from various Unilocalers, which is due to poor customer service. During my visit, my server was new on the job, and I could tell she was nervous and still getting her «feet wet.» I was seated in the patio area, and I was never given a napkin nor utensils, so after my food was brought to me, I had to wait a few minutes before I could successfully flag down my server.
I think SP2 could be a 4-​star restaurant, but they’re too inconsistent with their customer service. That being said, my visit wasn’t terrible, and I know what it’s like to be new on the job, so I’ll be back to SP2 in the near future so I can try some of their lunch items.

Gather around the digital campfire, my fellow Unilocalers, and let me regale you about an era in Downtown San Jose that was many moons ago.
Imagine a landscape much different from today. From the streets beginning on Third going west to Almaden Blvd, stretching as far south as Reed and Williams. In the early 2000s, the San Jose nightlife was a decrepit blight on a city known for its technological innovations. Lawlessness abounded. A wild west of sorts. Ghetto. Bunk. Boo boo. Not somewhere you would want to take an out-​of-​towner. I mean, really, what was there? A bunch of run down clubs, serving watered down, over priced drinks to citizens thirsty (literally and figuratively) for something decent. We wanted a place to call home during happy hour. Possibly grab some drinks before a date. Maybe a little dancing should the mood strike. There was nothing of the sort during that era. It was awful. Someone needed to wave a skunk in front of DTSJ 1.0.
Thankfully, this area has received a major face lift. Economic redevelopment has rejuvenated business owners and patrons alike. Downtown San Jose is the spot to be for all your post-​work libations. It feels safe, clean, and vibrant.
SP2 has been on the forefront of DTSJ 2.0. It is the biggest venue on the block and one of my personal favorite watering holes. Plenty of space for you and your group to mingle. The bartenders are attentive and will work quickly to get you your alcohol. I haven’t tried the food, but it looks pretty good. Keep in mind that this is not the place to get turnt. For those who have mischievous desires, you can still find those old haunts in San Jose from a by-​gone era. But for me? I will gladly pick SP2.

How is this my local «watering hole» and I have not yet reviewed it?!
You will most likely find me here almost every other week. I’ve noticed that this is THE SPOT for my South Bay friends to host their birthdays or any other celebration for that matter.
Great bartenders. Hot tamale hostesses. Pretty decent waiter/​waitress service. You may sometimes deal with a bit of a slow wait on them taking your order but that usually happens on one of their busier nights.
Two drinks I highly recommend here:
1. Rye and Sand has old overholt rye, sweet vermouth, heering cherry liqueur, fresh squeezed orange juice and a dash of orange bitters. Think Old-​Fashioned, but wayyy smoother. ;)
2. SP2 Coffee Cocktail has vanilla vodka, cinnamon-​vanilla syrup that’s served cold. I ALWAYS want this drink when I’m there but they usually run out of fresh whipped cream at night so it’s rare when they can make it for me. The first night I had one of these though, I was HOOKED. I had 6 in a row that night. Imagine yourself buzzed but also super alert. What a great combo yeah?
You can also never go wrong with their happy hour here. Everything, and I mean everything on that HH menu is legit. Do yourself a favor and order one of each.
— Mini Pizza
— Ribs
— Wings
— Parmesan Truffle Fries
— Chicken & Waffle
— Truffled Basil Popcorn
— Roasted Cauliflower
And if you happen to miss happy hour… it’s all good in the hood cause their dinner entrees are bomb dot com as well as their brunch on Sundays (holla to endless mimosas).
Great place to bring a date and an even better place to catch up and party with your closest friends!

My friend and I had brunch here today, and it was great! It was welcoming with the open floor plan and large patio, and the waiter we had (Caz) was very nice. We were instantly greeted by some homemade mini muffins which were really good.
We got the create your own mimosa, which was great. It was $ 15 (before 2pm), and you got a bottle of sparkling wine and your choice of juice from 3 flavors (orange, grapefruit, or cranberry).
We got the pizza and the carnitas benedict. Both were tasty, but I think the carnitas benedict had more flavors. Note the benedicts were on like a biscuit or something similar rather than an english muffin.
Also, you can get a free shot if you follow them on IG!

Attended this place for a rehearsal dinner and I was very impressed with the place, food, and staff.
The place itself is beautiful. Nice and large outdoor seating and indoor seating. Modern and communal. Great place for any gathering– birthdays, bachelorette parties, and rehearsal dinners.
Now the food and drinks were spectacular. At the dinner we were served mini chicken and waffles, honey glazed ribs, watermelon skewers, ahi tuna skewers, and Mac n cheese.
Everything was freakin amazing. The meat was falling off the rib bones and that glaze was the bomb.
I ordered the apple pie drink was reminiscent of apples but not apple pie. Still good though. And the coconut trip drink was refreshing. Rum with coconut water and cinnamon!
If I lived in San Jose, I would totally have my birthday party here.
Check it out y’all.

Love love love!!!
While on business, I reached out to a good friend of mine and he chose this place for a nice brunch to catch up. What a treat! The day was so beautiful and we were able to sit at the lounge area close to the DJ and band that was playing outdoors.
The service was phenomenal. So attentive without rushing us. The ambiance was lovely and the music, well that’s 5 stars all on its own. Just a wonderful time for brunch in a perfect setting.
I tried several of the sides: biscuit, potatoes (wow!), and bacon. So good! My friend had the carnitas biscuit and he loved it! It was just the perfect experience overall. I can’t wait to visit again!

I’ve been here a few times now and the interior is great– large open space floor plan (No, I’m not trying to sound like a real estate agent I promise) and an outdoor patio if you feel like getting some fresh air. Does anyone else remember when this place was F’n A’s– Wow, that was a long time ago but I digress. It has now evolved into a great restaurant with an awesome happy hour.
If I can recommend one thing from happy hour, you *must* get the ribs. It’s $ 5 for 2 pieces and I ordered two for both me and my mom. These are some of the best ribs I’ve ever tasted. The lightly sweetened glaze along with the fall off the bone meat that also happens to be ever so slightly crunchy is to die for.
Here’s a breakdown of the rest:
*50/​50 Burger — House Ground Beef & Bacon Patty, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Bacon, Cheddar, Avocado and Fries *Fri/​Sat ONLY*: We came on a Monday evening and our awesome server told us that they could accommodate mom’s request for this. Thank God she did because we both ended up splitting it because I didn’t end up liking my order at all. (A rare occurrence in my world) I loved *every* single bite of this. The house ground beef with bacon mixed in was tender and juicy. The toasted ciabatta bread bun was the perfect accompaniment.
Pancetta & Kale Cheddar Mac ‘n’ Cheese — Fresh Thyme and Bread Crumbs: I ordered this as a recommendation from the server but after one bite I knew that it wasn’t for me. I’m not usually a pasta person to begin with but I thought this could be a fresh take on the usual kids mac ‘n’ cheese. I’ll just say that my palate didn’t agree.
Service was great from the beginning– our server knew I didn’t touch my food and ended up sharing with mom. They were kind enough to take the Mac ‘n’ Cheese off the bill without me asking.