May 9, 2008

Calling all foodies

Under new partnership Vaquero’s offers new menu, low priced lunches

Vaquero’s American Mediterranean Cuisine is located at 1010 El Paseo De Saratoga Ave., San Jose.

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

If you’re in the mood for shish kabob, pasta, gyros, pork chops, seafood or steaks, Vaqueros American Mediter-ranean Restaurant fits every gourmand.

Tucked in the El Paseo de Saratoga Shopping Center, Vaquero’s has recently undergone a management addition initiating a myriad of changes.

“We offer fine dining, but we are also family friendly,” said Vaquero’s new partner Rushid Safarzadeh who joined Brian Jafari earlier this year. “We are making many changes for our customers. Lunch specials are under $7, we now have outdoor covered seating and we’ve added falafels, gyros and Greek food. We offer American, Mediterranean and Persian specialties.”

The congenial pair met 10 years ago at another restaurant, but Safarzadeh was singing Iranian Pop and is still a Bay Area favorite with his own CD “Zang-e-Zeda.” Asked if he will sing at his new business, the amiable Persian Elvis Presley says “perhaps.” But make no mistake; his new love is Vaquero’s, the customers and the cuisine.

Vaquero’s American Mediterranean Cuisine where fine dining and family friendly join with the freshest of ingredients.

Jafari and Safarzadeh have remodeled the restaurant with fans, hanging glass lights; flat screen TVs and a romantic tented patio area. Vaquero’s namesake cowboy mural still graces a wall between an open kitchen and full bar but the duo’s additions add to the comfortable ambiance. Menu changes are extensive with a meat lover’s dream choices of filet mignon, New York, rib-eye steaks and hamburgers all certified Angus beef. The kabobs are large enough for two to share, if you can decide between filet mignon, shrimp, lamb, chicken, mixed grill and the catch of the day.

“I have so many customers who order the double cut pork chop with the choice of apple cider glaze or mushroom sauce,” said server Athena Rice. “It’s huge! I love working for an independent restaurant. You feel close to the people work here and the customers, too.”

Lighter fair includes fresh grilled salmon, shrimp pasta or angel hair with smoked salmon, and chicken Marsala. Vegetarian choices at Vaquero’s include entrees of pasta with pesto and mushroom, fettuccine Alfredo, Greek salad or veggie kabob. Appetizers include carpaccio, quick fried calamari, pan seared ahi tuna, sautéed prawns among others.

Added to the noon buffet are the new lunch specials featuring the Vaquero’s burger, Philly cheese steak, grilled chicken breast, gyros beef, turkey avocado and club sandwiches, falafel wrap, koobideh and chicken kabob.

The partnership of Rushid Safarzadeh and Brian Jafari formed a winning combination for Vaquero’s American Mediterranean Cuisine.

Though very kid friendly with a menu for the under 12 crowd, Vaquero’s offers wine, a full bar and martinis with exotic names like red passion punch, sapphie’erotic, sand in your shorts, old blue eyes, raspberries in velvet and even a Ranchero made with Chinaco Silver tequila. Coffee drinkers won’t be disappointed either with choices from around the world to be enjoyed with cheesecake, crème brulee, chocolate amaretto brownies topped with vanilla ice cream or baklava. The covered outside area offers the sweet apple, banana, raspberry Hooka lounge smoking after 10 p.m.

Safarzadeh and Jafari are excited that a volleyball team meets for kabobs or burgers and drinks at the sports bar and would like other teams and groups to enjoy Vaquero’s hospitality. They also cater groups at the Santa Clara Senior Center, meetings, weddings and even the Norouz [Persian New Year’s Day] Festival at Vasona Lake County Park in April serving 1,000s of people.

“My intention is to have people think of Vaquero’s as a fine dining restaurant that is family friendly,” said Safarzadeh. “And that we have very good fast food with all items fresh.”