This is the best lunch deal in the South Bay. Michael Mina of Aqua fame (and who now owns an eponymous restaurant in San Francisco) launched Arcadia in the downtown San Jose Marriott. Though he no longer cooks himself, the food is still great. Dinner is pricey, so go for the express lunch, which is only $19.

The lunch consists of a salad you create yourself (choose up to 10 ingredients from a list of around 30), two small cups of soup (e.g., corn chowder and tomato), and four small sandwiches (e.g., roast beef with foie gras, lobster salad, lox, BBQ chicken). Although everything in the lunch is referred to as “bites”, there is plenty of food. You can also get a dessert sampler for an additional $7, which might include s’mores, a mini-root beer float, cookies, and peaches with cream.

Cuisine:	American
Price:	The express lunch is $19. Otherwise, entrees are $15-30.
Dress:	Business casual and up. Don’t wear jeans, even if they are of the $150 variety.
Noise:	Not a problem.
Reservations:	Recommended.
Payment:	Cash and credit cards.
Parking:	Street parking during the day can be difficult and the time on the meters is limited anyway. There are paid lots nearby.
Date place?	Yes, if you don’t dining in a hotel (though it is part of the new minimalist Marriott format).
Homepage:	www.sanjosemarriott.com/dining.html