Poor House Bistro

Address:	91 S Autumn St, San Jose, CA 95110, USA
Phone:	+1 408-292-5837
Site:	poorhousebistro.com
Rating:	4.2
Working:	11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 10AM–8PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

John Dyke

"Unfortunately, the people of Louisiana are not racists."―Dan Quayle The Poor House Bistro (PHB) has been filling a void in the South Bay food landscape of Nawlins-style food since its inception in 2005. With a menu that consist mostly of Po Boy sandwiches and some other LA specialities like Gumbo, Crawfish and Red Beans & Rice this is about as close to the Bayou as well get here. Personally, Im a complete sandwich addict and have a hard time straying from their signature Po Boys. Po Boys- Po Boy sandwiches are a Louisiana staple of usually some kind of meat or fried seafood served up on a baguette-like loaf. Im pretty sure Ive sampled every possible combination they have here, but if I had to pick my top two it would be the Cochon de Lait (slow-roasted pork) and the fried Shrimp. The Pork is tender, sloppy and full of porky goodness but it can get a bit heavy on your stomach towards the end. The freshly-fried Shrimp are served in a Cornmeal coating and topped in this heavenly Remoulade sauce over a bed of lettuce that adds a nice freshness to the sandwich. Fries- PHBs fries and sweet potato fries are fresh, hand-cut and delicious. You can also order "Cajun" versions (even though the sweet potato one isnt listed on the menu) of both of them, and that consists of a sprinkling of a Cajun Seasoning on top. You cant go wrong with either one, but I almost always order the Cajun Sweet Potato variation. Its got the perfect combo of sweet, crunchy, soft center and just a little bit of zing from the spices. This is how fries were meant to be. Service & Ambiance- Located just a stones throw from the Shark Tank and Downtown the PHB is located inside a beautiful, old Victorian home surrounded by beautiful Queen Anne Palms and adorned in Jazz and Mardi Gras decorations with some kind of Jazz or Blues music being piped throughout. PHB is a fast casual joint, which is my one of my favorite type of eatery for weekday lunches. The service is always friendly and efficient. Value- The meals at PHB usually run around $10-15 for giant, quality portions. Im not sure how people can say their portions are "small" because I can barely finish a Po Boy and small fry order. I guess theyre comparing it to the portions you get in LA, but theres a reason the South is full of fat asses... PHB is definitely one of my favorite places to eat in all of SJ, and my "go-to" spot when Im in the mood for visiting the Bayou―without all the bugs and flooding. Highly recommended for a delicious Sammy and Fries.

Johann Naylor

I wouldnt go out of my way to come here, this is a place you eat if you happen to be in the area. The frying is done right, judging by the shrimp. The pulled pork poboy also good. Not a big fan of the jambalaya,too dry for me and nursing cayenne. Gumbo is good, Cajun style (as opposed to Creole), but lacking heat that cayenne should have brought tho the dish. So in my opinion these are exactly wrong as they are not in the style they profess to be (or that style has been muted to the point that the style isnt clear). Red beans where passable as Creole, but could have used a bit more distinction. Honey cornbread was good however so if you get any dish that could have cornbread with it, opt for it if it doesnt. Though ymmv. For me nothing has the undercurrent of spice it should have (I dont mean over powering) and animal fat base if its truly meant to be Cajun style. And nothing was delicate or complex and distinct as one would expect from a higher class Creole interpretation of the dishes. So to me this must be Cajun without the flair or a muddled interpretation. So why would you make a non distinct version of food known for its distinctiveness? Thats just an open question. So this is the place to come if you want Louisiana themed dishes that taste almost nothing like what you might find in a freely selected food outlet in New Orleans or surrounding area. Reminds me more of a Midwest interpretation than anything else. Cool live music though. Probably come back for that and a shot at another poboy or a muffaletta. I rounded up food wise since I heard there is a fair bit of variation among cooks. May well slip on a second visit.

Kimberly Ann Graham

This place is just good ole fashioned Louisiana fun if you ask me! Situated in an old house down by the SAP Arena (a.k.a. The Shark Tank). This place is one of THE places to eat before any event at the Arena. Its only a couple of blocks away, the food is good and moderately priced and they often have live music going. There is a VERY small amount of seating inside but that okay. All the fun happens out on what was once the driveway on the side of the house! They have covered and enclosed it as best they can without making it an "addition". In cold weather, they have plenty of propane heat lamps all over the place to keep you more than warm enough. The food is just what youd expect to find, Shrimp PoBoys, Sausage Bread (french bread stuffed with italian sausage, served with creole mustard), couple of different varieties of Gumbo and Blackened Chicken & Tasso Pasta (I loved this one!). Pro Tip: Save some room for the Bread Pudding and plan to share it. Its DELISH! #ReviewLocal

A Private User

Oh..sheesh...I coulda written a review a long time ago...every week for that matter. It is just that the "regulars" and there are so many every week.....just take PHB for granted. I am sorry. Okay here goes: The FOOD IS ALWAYS great!!!! I adore the salad w/ walnuts ...or is it pecans?? sigh. I ADORE the jambalaya and chicken wings!!! The coffee is chicory-laden and powerful. Yum!!! W/ a beignet, fabulously the real thing just like New Orleans. And, the music...The music is da blues most often and it is heaven-sent. I am so grateful that it would not bother me a bit to kiss the ground Jay walks on!!! Or his FEET!! It is a magical place...and it goes on day after day after day....entertaining us, feeding us, in more ways than one! It is not possible to meet a greater group of people than at PHB. Hugs to all those that make it possible!!! Including all the musicians that play their hearts out for us! Dig it mucho!!! Karen

Matthew Palma

This place is one of the shining stars of San Jose. PHB is a unique place that is full of character. The food is southern/Louisiana style with Poboys and other classics. The flavors are fairly strong but not overwhelming. There is a constant rotation of specials so there is always something new to try. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating usually gets filled pretty quick especially on nights with music. Yes, there is live music outside as well as a bar. The drinks are good and not watered down. Its a friendly atmosphere with a vibrant energy. Youll hear allot of blues with other styles mixed in. One of the few places to find that in San Jose. It gets pretty busy on nights with a sharks game. It does make a great launching pad for game night so this is why that is. This place is definitely worth the visit.

Paul Smith

FOOD IS AWFUL - but still go for beer and music. Just eat somewhere else first. This is a review of the really terrible food. The back patio and live music is fun but, dont ever think of eating here. Ive actually given the kitchen 3 tries since we usually come here for beer and music but, sometimes you forget and come hungry. Last time we were sorry we ended up with over-microwaved tough chewy tiny fried shrimp. And the worst bayou food. Clawshack , Lous Beach Shack, and Poorboys are way better for jamabalaya. The kitchen is a couple guys in a 10 ft square area with old pots of goop and a couple microwaves, so you could say at least its quick, not tasty, not inexpensive but, quick.