Josh,

A nice, if predictable choice for dinner is:

Il Forniao
302 South Market Street
@ the St. Claire Hotel
San Jose
408.271.3366

This restaurant is on the first floor of the St. Claire, down the street from your Hotel. Il Forniao is around the corner from the South First klub scene (which I don’t participate in), and kitty korner from an independent film multiplex.

This is the listing I use for downtown:
http://www.metroactive.com/dining/silval/san-jose-dwnt.html
The San Jose Metro has been around since I was in high school, and it is fairly trustworthy for entertainment.

Have a nice time!

Yeah, looks like you’ll be just a couple blocks from House of Siam. Every time I’m in San Jose I go there for some great Thai dinner. Gordon Biersch is popular too, but seems expensive to me.

Mission Ale House is also nearby, reasonable drink prices but it’s sort of a sports bar. They have a nice back patio if the weather’s good. There are also a bunch of nightclubs on (I think) 1st Street and Market Street. Last time I was there we didn’t find anything great and it seems like most have a cover charge now. I think Toons didn’t have a cover, if that matters.

So what’s the conference?

If you want more “hip” type of eating, I suggest either The Loft, which has excellent food and atmosphere, 7 / Seven Lounge or Eulipia.

All of these places have websites with menus:

http://www.loftbarandbistro.com/
http://7restaurant.us/home.htm
http://www.eulipia.com/

My recommendations in downtown are:

Picasso’s Tapas Restaurant
62 W. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 298-4400

and

Teske’s Germania Restaurant-Bar & Beer Garden
255 N 1st St
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 292-0291