Willow Glen Resident
Business
Cafe San Jose has people talking and checking out menu, service
By Emilie Crofton
Cafe San Jose off Meridian Avenue has been open for only one month, but it's already intrigued locals with its hearty breakfast and lunch specials.
It took just one meal for Deborah and David Reza to fall in love with the cafe.
"My wife and I came here to eat lunch for the first time. We loved the food so much we had to come back again," David Reza says.
Deborah Reza was immediately hooked on the garlic fries and had to come back for a second helping.
Customers can enjoy a meal at a cozy table, with soothing music in the background and admire hand-painted landscapes on the walls, which is part of the ambiance created by first-time owner Sandra Long.
"When I heard about the available place for a new restaurant, I jumped on it," Long says.
Long, who has 18 years in the restaurant industry, changed careers and ventured into real estate, but after a year and a half she discovered she missed the restaurant scene.
"I've always loved the public," she says. "It's all I know. I'm a people person; it's who I am."
For Long, the cafe is more than just a business.
"Feeding people is a very rewarding experience. Food brings families and friends together and makes for many happy times and memories," she says. "I have fed so many wonderful people that have become good friends."
The cafe is her first venture as a business owner, and it is a chance for her to use all the skills she developed while working at Mimi's Cafe, Rooftop Cafe and Bakers Square.
Long now calls the Cambrian area home, but has lived in Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and Los Gatos. She graduated from Pioneer High School and attended De Anza College.
Long credits the cafe's initial success to head chef Chauhtemoc Ramirez, who helped created the cafe's menu. The items range from Greek God Scramble --with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and feta cheese--to pancakes, homemade soup, hamburgers and those garlic fries that Deborah Reza raved about.
Long has added an eco-friendly twist. On the back of the menu, Long suggests a list of ways to help the Earth stay green, such as using fans instead of air conditioners and using recycled paper.
Long wants the cafe to remain a family business. She runs the cafe with the help of five workers, including her daughters, Serena 28, and Shaina, 21. Samantha, 8, comes to help out on weekends.
The San Jose native also plays an active role in the community, donating to numerous charities that focus on children and elderly.
"It is a wonderful experience to be able to do what you love and do it in your own restaurant," Long says. "There are so many customers that I have yet to meet."
Cafe San Jose will have its grand opening on June 3 with live music from the Aurora Mandolin Ensemble.
Cafe San Jose, 1538 Meridian Ave. is in the Giant Plaza Shop. For more information, call 408.265.3020 or visit www.cafesanjose.com. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
