Downtown San Jose’s eagerly anticipated Poppy & Claro — the ground-floor anchor restaurant for the 50 West tower on San Fernando Street — will make its debut at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16.
Yes, 7:30 a.m. That time signals the restaurant’s raison d’etre: This is an all-day restaurant that aims to satisfy the food and beverage needs of downtown employees, visitors and residents from breakfast through early dinner, whether they want a sit-down or takeout meal.
Breakfast will be served until 11 a.m. on weekdays. The menu that goes into effect then will combine lunch and dinner offerings, and be offered until 7:30 p.m., again on weekdays. The restaurant will be available for private bookings on weekends.
Poppy & Claro is the first restaurant for the real estate developer Jay Paul Co., which has sizeable holdings in Silicon Valley. The company owns 50 West through an affiliate. The ground-floor space for a restaurant became available when KQED vacated the building.
Christopher Littman has been named executive chef for Poppy & Claro. He cut his culinary teeth at the three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park in New York City, then came to California and focused on corporate dining and catering.
The inaugural menu by Littman, in consult with The Eating Company, is still under wraps. But Littman promises NorCal-sourced dishes that will change seasonally. Look for Dijon-Dill Seared Salmon, Skirt Steak, Shrimp & Scallop Cornmeal Bites, Farro & Rainbow Carrot Salad and artisanal pizzas like the Truffle Shuffle, made with house-fermented dough.
“We’re really focused on quality ingredients,” he said, noting that the restaurant will use sustainably raised Cream Co. beef and New School American cheese for its 50West Smashburger.
Black walnuts will factor into some dishes, he said, as the “Claro” in the restaurant’s name refers to the wood of a walnut tree species.
Poppy & Claro is a counter-service operation for food orders — with delivery to diners’ tables — but the bar will be fully staffed.
The restaurant will quietly serve a couple of “friends and family” dinners this week before closing for a few days to allow the staff to “calibrate” for the Oct. 16 opening, Littman said.
Details: 50 W. San Fernando St., San Jose; www.poppyandclaro.com