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Sangria Restaurant 721 Willow St, San Jose 408.287.9777 Saddle Up Where sitting at the bar is a gripping experience By Mary Spicuzza Sangria Restaurant transforms the usually mundane tasks of barhopping, like mounting a stool, into a near-religious experience. Its collection of brightly colored ceramic saddle stools beckons adventurous types to abandon their tables and head straight for the festive bar section, complete with its homemade sangria and an impressive tequila selection. Bar patrons just shouldn't plan on heavy, tear-in-their-beer talks--one friend became so absorbed in straddling her saddle and spinning around (yelling "Whoopee!") that she couldn't hear a word anyone else was saying. Heavier sangria drinkers may eventually want to move to an actual chair, as riding sidesaddle on a stool can prove dangerous to inebriated and less-coordinated users. Sangria is not a singles bar, nor does it have any decipherable hipster scene. And anyone rushing to find a quick taqueria meal should look elsewhere. But those looking for a beautiful spot to gather a group of friends for an evening filled with freshly made tortilla chips, big plates of Mexican food and a tasty alternative to the typical margarita couldn't have wished for a better find. Servers seem to move at a leisurely, south-of-the-border pace, and the cozy telephone stall doesn't actually have any phone in the vicinity. But after absorbing the sombrero lamp-shaded ambience and a pitcher of sangria, though, nobody should be complaining about places to go or things to do. Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm Crowd Age: Varied Music: No live music Décor: Mexico's most colorful imports, saddle bar stools Signature Drink: Sangria Games/Amenities: No Listings by Geographical Location: Campbell | Cupertino | Los Gatos | Mtn. View | Peninsula | Central San Jose | San Jose 'Burbs | Santa Clara | Saratoga | South County | Sunnyvale | South County | Bar and Club Locator Features: Light's On, Door's Open: What makes a bar a favorite hangout the world over? One writer aims to find out. I'll Have What She's Having...: What's new and what's cool when it comes to the latest cocktail twists. Reviews: Senoritas and Margaritas: Left at Albuquerque--blame it all on Route 66. Scene Stealer: All the animals come out at night... to the Camera Cafe. Saddle Up: Sangria Restaurant, where sitting at the bar is a gripping experience. Retro Groovin': At the DancePlex. partygoers relive the '70s, '80s and... this morning! Flash and Dash: Mardi Gras and other surprises at Nola Restaurant and Bar. Knight Dreams: Black Watch--where swords cross and Stoli freezes over. United Nations: Lido's Nightclub, where world beat has a whole new meaning. Taste the Music: The Icon Supperclub is the new incarnation of the Edge. Mineral Wealth: Mining for meaning under the Cinebar's disco ball . In the Pink: All in a dogone day's work at the Pink Poodle. Rod's Roadstop: Britannia Arms at Almaden wears it well. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]