The famous blueberry coffeecake has finally arrived in downtown San Jose.
In Silicon Valley, blueberry coffeecake means one thing: Hobee’s, the locally owned restaurant group founded 50 years ago in Mountain View.
This month, owners Camille and Daniel Chijate opened for breakfast and lunch in a landmark blue Victorian on North Second Street that has been home to a German-American social club for decades.
This location is officially named Hobee’s Restaurant & Beer Garden. The brews and companion menu will make their debut in early 2025, the couple said.
Hobee’s Famous Blueberry Coffeecake is served with omelets, scrambles and other breakfast dishes. (Photo courtesy of Hobee’s)
But the patio is already welcoming alfresco diners. Eventually, there will be seating for 140 outdoors. The homey interior accommodates 65.
Hobee’s menu is a long one. At the other locations — Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and Redwood Shores — the Florentine Scramble and the Benedicts are particularly popular. Names of many dishes reflect the restaurants’ Peninsula heritage. The Stanford Cardinal Omelet combines chicken, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, fresh spinach and cheeses, and the El Camino Ommie folds seasonal veggies into an egg white omelet.
Opening-week customers dine at the new Hobee’s in downtown San Jose. (Bay Area News Group)
Burgers and sandwiches are served with a choice of hash browns, tortilla chips or a small cup of black bean chili.
Besides the popular coffeecake, Hobee’s is also known for its freshly brewed Cinnamon-Orange Tea. The restaurant serves bottomless cups of that aromatic tea (it’s caffeinated, though Hobee’s does offer herbal teas) and the house coffee.
The restaurant was pleasantly busy during its first “soft opening” days, attracting a mix of neighborhood residents and Hobee’s regulars — and even repeat customers.
The Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble i– with mushrooms, red onions, Gouda cheese — is one of more than 35 breakfast platters on the Hobee’s menu. It comes with hash browns, toast or Hobee’s Famous Coffeecake. (Bay Area News Group)
“The first customers who came in this morning were the last people who came in yesterday!” a delighted Camille reported on the first Sunday in business.
The couple aims to play a strong role in the neighborhood. Camille said they plan to offer food for concertgoers and moviegoers at the nearby Levitt Pavilion at St. James Park; welcome customers with children and dogs; and offer event rentals at the historic banquet hall adjoining the restaurant.
Details: Open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Thanksgiving). 261 N. Second St., San Jose; https://hobees.com
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment