Original Gravity in Downtown San Jose provides the perfect balance for those trying to go out for a drink and those trying to get a quick bite.
When you first walk in, you’ll notice the spaced-out seating, the dim lighting and clean setting, a modern feel that one may as well call a hipster heaven.
With the options for beer changing on a regular basis, its difficult to determine exactly one drink for beer enthusiasts to go for when they visit.
The bartender recommended the Vă-da to me, which was a typical 13-ounce beer. This drink was great and refreshing amongst an otherwise busy day.
Its clear orange was one that I’ve rarely seen with beers, reinforcing an almost feeling of relief that good beer is still out there somewhere.
Other beer brands that were on the menu during my visit included Imperial, Russian Imperial, Irish Dry and English.
What’s the appeal?
Maybe it’s how quiet it is aside from the other bars that stand alongside Original Gravity amongst the collective bar scene that lines up Downtown San Jose.
Opening at noon, Original Gravity provides an almost wholesome feeling with its mellow atmosphere that greatly contrasts the late night scenes at San Jose Bar and Grill and Tres Gringos.
Another key difference? The food.
While many bars provide food, there aren’t too many people who go to the bars for food when there’s a 2 a.m. hot dog stand just outside.
With Original Gravity, it’s different and the first bite proves it.
It would be a sin to recommend just one type of sandwich so I chose two of its sandwiches, one for the meat lovers and one for those who prefer something a little more basic.
But as I learned, basic wasn’t a term that could be applied to any of these sandwiches.
Per recommendation of the main cook, I first tried the Mouse Trap grilled cheese, a popular sandwich with havarti, monterey jack and cheddar cheese between two pieces of toasted white bread.
Something that I would have preferred along with it was fries on the side. But at the time, the beer and a cup of water were enough to suffice.
The perfect blend of cheeses made the sandwich feel special and that there was no way someone could make a sandwich just as good back at home.
Other grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu include the Pesto, which is pesto, mozzarella and tomato and the B.A.T., a meat lovers sandwich with bacon, arugula and cheddar in it.
The second sandwich I chose was a sausage sandwich, one that has attracted much of the restaurant’s popularity when it comes to food.
A cook recommended that I purchase the Bavarian – a sandwich that blew away any expectations I could have had trying the sandwich.
Served on a toasted bun loaded with cheddar cheese and pork sausage, there is an option of additional toppings in which I chose the most popular: grilled onions and grilled bell peppers.
The Bavarian pleased my taste buds even more than the first sandwich.
Based on this sandwich alone, I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.
With a rush of flavors and beer that will satisfy the most cynical of beer enthusiasts, Original Gravity is a gift that keeps on giving.
