The story
Petiscos is the casual, small-plates sibling of Michelin-starred Adega, brought to downtown San Jose by the same family-run team. Open daily from 11:30am to 9:00pm, this restaurant focuses on sharing dishes drawn from family recipes rooted in Portugal. The name itself hints at the experience: petiscos are Portuguese snacks or small plates meant for the table, and the menu follows that tradition with a selection of starters, bites, and sweets.
The story of Petiscos begins with owners Fernanda and Carlos. Fernanda’s parents emigrated from the island of Faial, Azores, in 1970; Carlos arrived from Portugal in 1988. Their daughter, Chef Jessica, trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena and then spent three years working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Portugal, where she met Chef David Costa. Together with Chef Sandra, they now lead the kitchens across all three family businesses. Petiscos opened in November 2020 during the pandemic, initially offering only outdoor seating, and has since earned a Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin for its good quality, good value Portuguese cooking.
The menu is built for sharing. Starters like cured olives, lupini beans, flamed chouriço, codfish cakes, shrimp fritters, and meat croquettes set the tone. There are also salads (with shrimp or filet mignon), soups like kale and corn, and vegetable sides such as green bean tempura and sautéed vegetables. To finish, look for pastel de nata, chocolate mousse, flan, and tart options. The drink list draws from Adega’s specialty cocktail program, with drinks like the Açoriana (rum, passion fruit, coconut) and the Alentejana (bourbon, brown sugar, Iberico ham).
Petiscos is located at 399 S. 1st Street in San Jose, with a second location coming soon to Gilroy. The downtown spot also offers limited pastries from the family’s bakery, Pastelaria.
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