Reviews for Mini Gourmet

12/25/2012 - Lizz Neligan
This Restaurant/Diner is a classic! It has been located here since before I was born (01/1966), and has always provided the best food, service and convenience of hours (open 24/7 - 365) which after all of these years, I consider to be not only phenomenal in keeping their delicious food available all the time, but also in keeping the restaurant exactly the same through all of these years and changes which most would not succeed in doing. This is not only the best restaurant in San Jose for affordability and quality of service, but it has managed to remain a humble atmosphere where you can feel at home. I have never, I mean not even once, received poor service, bad food or too expensive of an item from this favorite of mine. That is a record for sure since I have been coming to this little Mom & Pop owned business since I was just a kid and am now rapidly approaching 50. It takes real business smarts to figure out, that if you change anything at all about your business to accommodate the public needs, well it better not be a change involving what makes the business work or what makes it unique. Change is not always the answer, nor is it always a good thing, no matter what people try to tell you. Keeping its quaint little building the same size, the small parking lot which isn't the easiest to access the same, and keeping the coffee the same, the menu the same, the people that work there are required to be able to handle all the tables if need be, by themselves, and keeping certain standard and requirements from the seasoned chefs and cooks they hire without sacrificing any part of the business itself, this owner has managed to do the impossible for restaurants which meas sticking to your ethical practices regarding the food business and operational standards with expectations of its employees to hold the same high standards with regards to food service. This is all without sacrificing anything that is too extreme or could possibly change the uniqueness of this quality favorite. I for one know first handed that the entire bloodline of my family is based on if they like the Mini Gourmet or not. They don't like Mini Gourmet? Not related to me, or they are not interested in the one thing I would marry if it weren't a restaurant, well They would not be invited again to share the most marvelous meal in Silicon Valley and being served in the most comfortable and relaxed atmosphere which has actually saved my sanity on several occasions throughout my lifetime and that alone is good enough reason to thank this restaurant and its owner for still being here and if I weren't located in another city I would probably frequent this place once a night, just to get away with not having to cook or deal with the family issues or drama of work that day. I know it is the home away from home and no one will bother me there, because everyone there is looking for the same peace of mind and peace / relaxation that the next guy can relate to. There is somehow just a common goal amongst the patrons/customers there and I believe I can live with that so easily. It is my home away from