Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Santa Clara

We are a bit biased, we love Left Bank. We've had lovely meals here, with family from out of town, just the two of us on an anniversary or in this case, on Valentine's Day. We were there for lunch and the food tastes great. The only thing that was maybe a bit disappointing was that there wasn't any Valentine's Day decor. I would have expected a bit more ambiance for the occasion. I was pleased with myself that I reserved for lunch, to avoid the large crowd at dinner. It felt less rushed. The waiter was able to answer questions about the menu. I was also a bit surprised that there were no special Valentine's Day additions to the menu.

This place is so aesthetic with mood lighting, high ceiling, and a buzzing atmosphere. Service from Makaela was top notch fantastic on Galentine’s (2/13)! We need more people like her. Cocktails were good. I got the Crimson & Clover (refreshing) and my friend got the spicy Tree of Life. Food was plated beautifully and the only complaint was saltiness for the pasta, pork chop, and mushrooms. We let them know. Flavors were delicious aside from that. They serve complimentary amouse bouche (savory cone with steak tartare & caviar that day), a palate cleanser to sip on (chilled honey citrus liquid), and even mini waffle bowls filled with chocolate ganache. So many nice surprises! We ended the night with sweet, hot n freshly fried loukomades beignets with honey, nuts, and angelaise cream hand poured table side. Excellent experience!

**A Wonderful Dining Experience at Il Fornaio - Santa Clara!** Our dinner at Il Fornaio - Santa Clara was made extra special by our fantastic server, John Orrock. From the moment we sat down, John greeted us with a warm smile and genuine friendliness. He was incredibly attentive, ensuring that everything was perfect throughout our meal. What truly impressed us was that he even remembered my husband from a visit a year ago—such a personal touch! The food was absolutely delicious! My seafood linguine was a standout—the prawns and scallops were huge, perfectly cooked, and bursting with flavor. Every bite was a treat! Great food, amazing service, and a welcoming atmosphere—thank you, John, for making our evening so memorable. We’ll definitely be back!

My new favorite spot in San Jose! The service is consistently excellent! Each dish is so flavorful and hand made! I had the lobster bisque and shrimp and crab Cobb salad. The bisque was perfectly flavored and not salty…the Cobb was a generous portion and excellent dressing. My server was so professional which made lunch even tastier! I will be coming back soon!

We enjoyed a pre-opera dinner on Friday night. It was very quiet which allowed for pleasant conversation. The assortment of bar bites and appetizers was extensive and satisfying. We selected the sliders, potstickers and calamari. They were ample enough to satisfy three diners. We also ordered the rice dish with Chinese sausage which was very tasty. The waitstaff was attentive without being intrusive. We were very pleased and will return.