Still O.G. & Alter Ego Cocktail Club — Restaurant in San Jose

Alter Ego: Do NOT come here hungry. Small plates are smaller than small and very pricey You get four bites per dish, at most. Tables are very small to match the plates. We had two drinks each and spent two hours here and ran to Rookie's after for a meal.

Our first 3 dishes arrived well before our first round of cocktails, which was strange service and timing. Servers overall were nice and doing a good job.

The octopus was by far the best dish. The wagyu was also good. The mushroom tart was way too small. The scallops are raw (not mentioned on the menu). The beef tartar is topped with puffed rice (also not mentioned on the menu) that looks like toasted meal worms, which was startling and extremely off-putting, as was the concerning gray color of the beef. Overall, portions are frustratingly minuscule with large price tags. We've had far better value at Michelin star restaurants.

Drinks are overall good, but I will note that the foam on the astronaut drink is an off-putting flavor.

We ran into a snafu when we ordered the chocolate dessert. We were warned that it would take 25 minutes (also not mentioned on the menu), and we ordered it anyway. We ordered a second round of drinks to wait on our dessert with. Drinks gone, and with at least 30 minutes passed, we asked about our dessert, and someone went to check. 15 minutes later we were warned by the manager that our table only had 15 more minutes left on our reservation, and we thought he meant we were to wait another 15 for the dessert, but he was pushing us out of our table. We had to again remind them of our dessert and waited more time before it came out. We had to eat a hot souffle quickly to meet the manager's demand and leave "on time." It came off rude and we received no apology for the delayed dish or unfortunate unspoken time limit, though he apparently silently comped the dessert on our bill, which is appreciated. That all said, the chocolate was quite good, just be sure to order it ahead of time.

Overall, if you have a corporate card, feel free to burn a pile of cash here to feel pretentious, but be sure to plan to eat at an actual restaurant afterwards. Our experience tonight dropped my opinion of this establishment from 5* to much less.

Still O.G.:

We went early (8:30ish) to the front bar on a Friday night. There was a short wait to get in, which was no problem. The menu is entirely draft cocktails, which keeps the bar line moving, but not quite as fast as I'd expect with all the drinks already prepared on tap. That said, we were able to get two rounds of drinks without much friction (one patron behind us was strangely rude to us about the short wait, which isn't the fault of the establishment but might be a clue about the clientele, which skewed older). It's crowded inside despite the metering of the line out front, many people were standing room only. The drinks were good, atmosphere was decent. There's only one unisex bathroom, the second bathroom being beyond a curtain for the reservations-only area, so we always had to wait a while for the restroom despite the other one being available, which was peculiar. Overall, fun vibe, loud music (had to shout to hold conversation), interesting music, neat decor, smells of new leather, good drinks. A new bar worth checking out...

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG – A Unique Dual Experience in San Jose

I have visited Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG twice since February, both times after dinner for late-night drinks. One important note is that reservations for Alter Ego Cocktail Club are essential because the space is intimate and seating is limited. While waiting, my friends and I enjoyed cocktails and bar fare at Still OG, where the atmosphere is vibrant and nostalgic. The DJ booth is beautifully decorated, and the DJs spin classic hits on vinyl. They are personable, engaging, and clearly passionate about music, which adds to the fun energy of the night.

Alter Ego Cocktail Club, on the other hand, offers a more refined lounge setting with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and curated small plates. I sat at the bar and had an excellent experience with bartenders who were true mixologists. They were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable in both their craft and conversation. The one time I arrived without a reservation, I found the waitlist process confusing. If the reservation system does not allow walk-ins to be properly tracked, I recommend having a pen and paper sign-in to avoid the awkward experience of chasing staff or being forgotten.

Must-Try Cocktails at Alter Ego Cocktail Club

Canyon Lullaby ($20) – 4.8/5 Rye, aromatic bitters, passion fruit, Calpico, honey, and lemon. Beautifully presented with a balanced flavor profile. The passion fruit stands out, and the bitters complement the sweetness perfectly.

Annabel Lee ($19) – 4.5/5 Bolivian brandy, pommeau, aperitivo, smoked pineapple, chili, tamarind, egg white, and lime. The tamarind and lime slightly overpower the pineapple, but it is still a bold and complex cocktail worth sipping slowly.

Asteroid Blues ($20) – 4/5 Tequila, manzanilla, avocado, lychee, and lemon. The drink looked stunning, though the flavors were more muted than expected. The lychee and lemon could have been more pronounced, but it remained lightly sweet and enjoyable.

Final Thoughts Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG offers two distinct yet complementary nightlife experiences. Still OG delivers high-energy fun with music and dancing, while Alter Ego Cocktail Club provides one of the best cocktail bar atmospheres in San Jose for a sophisticated evening out. From the DJs to the mixologists, you can feel the passion that goes into crafting the experience. This is, without question, one of the best spots in the Bay Area for craft cocktails, a lively atmosphere, and an...

Alter Ego is one of those places that you might stumble upon in the middle of the night, expecting a fleeting experience of good drinks and the quiet hum of conversation. Hidden behind the unassuming Still OG, a casual Japanese vinyl bar that already has its own story to tell, Alter Ego reveals a whole new layer to the evening. Think Gatsby's 1920s with a twist of modern elegance-a speakeasy that doesn't just nod to the past, but reinvents it.

I've been to Alter Ego a few times before, drawn in by their creative cocktails, each one a masterpiece in its own right. But it wasn't until I met Elias that I truly understood the level of thought and care behind not just the drinks, but the food. Elias isn't just a bartender, he's a curator of experiences. With every pour and plate, he unveils the philosophy behind the bar. The food here isn't just an afterthought to soak up alcohol; it's a companion to the cocktails. Each dish is deliberate, every ingredient with a purpose, from the garnish of a celery leaf in a chowder like prawn soup to the texture of the bread that accompanies a soft, smooth, butter spread.

The menu, both liquid and edible, is like a jazz composition: intricate, thoughtful, and bold. The cocktails? Perfectly crafted. They flirt with your expectations, offering up familiar flavors with a touch of the unexpected-think smoked herbs, spiced syrups, and even a hint of citrus to cut through richer elements. Yet the food doesn't play second fiddle; instead, it stands shoulder to shoulder. Dishes are composed in a way that compliments the drinks. No ingredient feels excessive, nothing seems misplaced.

But what really sets the night apart is Elias. His recommendations didn't just open up the menu; they transformed the experience. He speaks about the cocktails and dishes with a passion that's infectious, carrying on great conversations while ensuring that everything from service to ambience hits the right note. Elias not only knows the menu inside out, but he knows how to make you feel like part of the process. You don't just eat or drink here, you participate in.

Alter Ego is more than just a speakeasy bar; it's an escape from the ordinary. And while Still OG-the lounge that hides this gem, deserves its own place in any respectable night out, Alter Ego is where the real story unfolds. With people like Elias at the helm, it's impossible not to appreciate the quiet but deliberate elegance that defines this spot. You come for the cocktails, but you stay for...