“Fast casual gastropubs” will not yield much in the way of search results. Even Google hasn’t caught-up with the ingenious mind of Louis Silva, of Naglee Park Garage fame. Silva and his partner, Long Nguyen, envisioned their newest restaurant endeavor, Park Station Hashery, as “a different kind of eatery for everyday life.”

The menu runs the gamut from traditional American fare (e.g. burgers and ribs) to colorful foreign cuisine (e.g. Piri Piri and Portuguese salt cod). Not only can they take care of one’s nutritional needs, but libations are also a specialty. With craft beers on tap, wine and a full coffee bar, this place definitely keeps people hydrated.

The first thing to catch the eye is the magnificent Rose Garden-inspired mural on the east side of the building, created by local artists Ben Henderson and Lacey Bryant. It really helps Park Station stand out, which is tough considering that they’re kitty-corner from the Rosicrucian Museum. The interior is simple but elegant, with long wooden tables that can be used for communal dining. There’s also an open patio to dine alfresco. Individual tables are available for a more private rendezvous.

We gave the weekend brunch menu a sample. Park Station qualifies as fast casual, as orders are made at the counter. We ordered the Corned Beef & Hash ($13.95), Our French Toast ($11.95) and—to quench our thirst—the Rose Park Mimosa ($8) and El Chapo ($5.50) a spicy cayenne mocha. The counter and ensuing table service was efficient and very friendly.

The corned beef & hash comes with two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce. The eggs provided plenty of delicious, rich yolk to smother the almost excellent house-made corned beef. The dish was beefy, bold and had a nice combination of spices that didn’t give me tongue fatigue as corned beef can. Their french toast is made with vanilla bread pudding and topped with whipped cream, maple syrup and toasted pecans. The bread pudding itself was soft and tender, but the flavor was one note. The crunchy pecans helped to liven things up, but it needs maybe a whiskey sauce or some cinnamon to flesh it out. On the positive side, I appreciated that it wasn’t ridiculously sweet.

As for the drinks, I thought the mimosa had a good balance, but my wife felt like it could’ve been a little boozier. The El Chapo had a nice mix of spice and a deep chocolate flavor, but maybe could’ve used a bit more of coffee to give it more kick. With an inventive menu, bold ownership and a hungry clientele, Park Station Hashery is an exciting new addition to the Rose Garden dining scene.

Park Station Hashery
1701 Park Ave, San Jose.
408.320.1711