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Cheap Eats By Gary Singh Peanuts Deluxe Café 275 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 408.998.9778 Breakfast and lunch Mon-Fri 6:30am-7pm, Sat 7:30am-3pm Beer, wine PEANUTS CAFÉ began serving up cheap eats in November 1982. Perched right across the street from San Jose State University, the little sandwich shop packs 'em in during the school year, as students, staff and faculty choose from a variety of cheap sandwiches and breakfast plates. The most expensive item on the menu is a Philly cheese steak, which is a whopping $4.45. For breakfast, you can slurp down a hefty combination of bacon, two eggs, hash browns and toast for $3.15. Coffees, teas, doughnuts and biscuits are also available. All food is ordered at the grill counter, after which you're presented with a ticket. The ticket is then taken to the cash register and stamped "paid" after you fork over the dough. When the food is done, your number is called out over the microphone, and you pick up your plate back at the grill counter. What a process. As if the diverse university clientele weren't enough, locals of all shapes and sizes roll in for the downright dirt-cheap alcohol. During happy hour (2-4pm), pitchers of Budweiser are $5, and a glass of chablis straight out of the box is $1.50. Couch-cushion change! In the back, you'll find a juice bar, where you can order a 20-ounce banana protein smoothie for $3.59. Brewer's yeast and bee pollen are 35 cents extra. Send a letter to the editor about this story . [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]