Blast & Brew — Restaurant in San Jose

So the food here is really good, and the beer wall has a nice selection, and priced around what beer walls where we live are priced. Got the Asada fries and a make your own pizza. Fries were amazing, and pizza is thin crust. It was a bit soggy, but that isn’t bad cause it makes it easy to fold. While in the area we wanted to try food different from home, and this place hit that perfectly.

So why 2 stars? Outside of kitchen staff employees baffle me here. We sat and waited 10 minutes with no service. A table came in, and somehow had beer wall cards. My husband went to hostess cause he though maybe you get the cards there. However, she said no, but I’ll send someone over. Well we’re still waiting, and all of a sudden the table that sat behind us has a server appear. Really we’ve been sitting over 10 minutes, and a table comes in, gets to go to the beer wall immediately, and service as soon as they sit back down?! An employee walked by, so I nicely let her know that we had been waiting over 10 minutes with no server, and a table who just got in is getting service before us, so finally a server comes over. Also, we sat for about 15 minutes after the hockey game to get our check and leave.

So, the hockey game. I saw online that this place functions like a sports bar. So, between beer wall, an interesting Pizza place menu, and sports I was excited to come here. I wore my Jason Robertson Stars jersey. Well 2/3 of the way through the game they decided to change the tv in front of me. Most of the TVs already had the Giants and basketball game on. The server was really nice when she did come to our table. We brought up watching the game, and I pointed out I had a hockey jersey on for the team in the playoffs. It took her multiple times to come over and figure out what happened. Eventually the game was put back on, but I had to move seats with my husband to watch it.

So, idk what the issue was with us. Although the server was really nice when she came over we left feeling discriminated against. I doubt they knew we were gay, so I don’t think it was that. However, we were 2 white guys, and the minority there. The table that got service immediately while we’d been waiting over 10 minutes were in the majority. I usually don’t say things like this, but it’s how we felt when we left. It’s like they kept doing what they could to get us not to be customers and leave fast. I really hope it wasn’t this. However, if it wasn’t the front of the house staff is really really bad. Between changing a game on someone with a jersey of a NHL conference playoff team on, and how we were left waiting while others got immediate service we’re glad we don’t live here. This is the type of place we’d love to bring business to, but the service would make it hard for us...

Blast & Brew was always my go to place for social hangouts around North Park/Riverview in San Jose. I’ve been coming here consistently since 2019 and the quality of the service has significantly dropped since then.

It’s NYE (yesterday) and I called in the morning to make a reservation for a dinner. The attendee told me that the kitchen closes at 8, but we were more than free to hangout after. We arrive at 6:30pm and restaurant clearly was preparing to close up. The restaurant smelt of cleaning supplies. There were cleaning supplies placed all over the drinks on taps area and overall felt like we shouldn’t have been there. Our waitress had double layered gloves and masks on because she was clearly cleaning and serving. She was rushing us to finish our meals as the kitchen now supposedly closed at 7:30 and they wanted us out by 8 (not what the initial attendee) told us. The music/tvs were turned off and all you could hear was cleaning. It felt extremely gross knowing the plates she was serving with were also held by the same hands that were cleaning as well.

I understand and empathize with the rush to go home early on NYE. However, why tell us that we would be able to stay past 8 and then have us hurry our food. The mood/vibe of the meal absolutely ruined our NYE. I don’t normally make reviews, so I truly write this out of sheer disappointment. What was supposed to be an amazing night, was ruined by our experience.

I used to recommend B&B to all my local friends. B&B, you have lost a customer. I shouldn’t have paid for what was that absolute...

2025 Update: We've gone to Blast and Brew quite a few times since my last update and have enjoyed it, but this most recent one was below par from what I've expected from this restaurant. When we entered the main entrance the strong pungent smell of bleach was present to the point of nausea; I hate the smell of bleach, it's make me lose my appetite and I'm likely not alone in this. It was overbearing to the point that I requested to be seated outside. Other patrons did the same as it got crowded in the patio area as we ate.

2023 Update: Their standards are high. Things are the same. I still look forward to my visits here as do my kids. A new favorite of the family is the Fig, Prosciutto and Arugula pizza. Delicious.

Blast & Brew has become my default go to restaurant to meet with family, friends and coworkers. There's something for the kids. They have vegan options. They cater to food allergies. Indoor dining is comfortable with televisions to watch games or to keep the kids occupied. :-) There's outdoor seating with heaters! Most importantly, they have an awesome beer selection. I have been here countless times and it has never disappointed. Kudos to the staff, especially Khristine; she's amazing.

UPDATE: They have brunch now! Eggs Benedict with fried chicken. Delicious! Still a great staff.

They are going through the same staffing shortage as everyone else, so please be patient.

Always enjoy our time spent here.

2022 Update: Still going here, excellent food, excellent service. Staff is amazing. Great...