Exclusive: San Jose’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, Adega, is making a comeback

A year after closing their acclaimed Portuguese restaurant — San Jose’s first and only Michelin-star holder — owners Carlos and Fernanda Carreira have announced they will reopen Adega.

Friday, Nov. 15, will be the first night of service in the city’s Little Portugal neighborhood, with executive chef David Costa and pastry chef Jessica Carreira back at the helm.

“We never expected people would miss Adega as much as we did,” Carlos said Monday. Specifically, Fernanda added. “They missed that level of fine-dining service and food for their birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.”

A comeback was always a possibility, with Carlos telling the Mercury News last December that many customers begged them not to close Adega. “We tell them that we are simply ‘saving it up in the cloud’ — to use Silicon Valley tech language — and who knows what the future has for Adega? The brand and the business itself will remain active for the foreseeable future.”

For the past year, the Carreiras and their culinary team have been devoted to building out their casual restaurant brand, Petiscos. The Alum Rock Avenue location of Adega became a Petiscos, joining the original one located in downtown San Jose. And, as they announced earlier this year, they are planning and constructing a South County location of Petiscos, in Gilroy. That one is expected to open in March 2025.

With Adega 2.0, the goal is to offer a destination dining experience with a prix fixe menu that will change frequently.

Michelin recognition “was never our intention from the beginning,” when the restaurant made its debut in 2015, Fernanda said. “We were very humbled by it.”

Details: 1614 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose; www.adegarest.com for reservations.

This is a developing story. Come back for updates.