A beloved New American style restaurant in the heart of Willow Glen is closing after being unable to keep up with inflation and rising food costs.
Braise, located on Lincoln Avenue in San Jose, is shutting its doors on Aug. 5, despite soldiering on through COVID lockdowns and the economic downturn during the pandemic. Partner and chef Anthony Jimenez opened the restaurant in 2017, which features a rotating menu, innovative cocktails and the famous peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a twist — an addition of decadent bone marrow.
“It’s always tough,” he told San Jose Spotlight. “I’m not just making the decision for me, I also have staff that’s been good to me. Having to take their livelihood away is hard. That almost feels harder than the closure itself.”
Jimenez said the restaurant’s profit is down 20% from last year. As the cost of rent, milk and meat have risen, he said he couldn’t raise menu prices to match. Doing so would’ve cost him more customers, and the number of people coming in to eat has already declined. It’s a trend Jimenez has seen among other restaurant owners.