Social Policy

I've have only been here once for their cold brew. Overall solid spot with ample seats, chill vibe and decent coffee.

This location is in downtown area, with lots of parking garages around and parking validation here as well.

Man, I tried to like Social Policy, but nothing I've tried here has really been remarkable, or even worth recommending to others.

I've tried mostly drinks here, but I can't remember any of them except the gingersnap latte I got in December. The quality of coffee was definitely better than Starbucks, but honestly, Starbucks' gingersnap latte tastes better.

As for the food, I've only tried the avocado smash, which is avocado toast with arugula and radishes. With all of the avocado toasts out there, I really don't think this one is worth $11. It's a piece of baguette. I didn't find it filling at all.

What's also upsetting is that the employees I've dealt with just seem either too cool to be helpful, or apathetic toward their job and good customer service.

It's a shame, because the place itself is so cute. The location is prime and I do like the way it's decorated. It's also awesome that they participate in art events with local artists.

I wish I could like this place, but I've tried it multiple times and just don't. What else should I try that would make me change my mind?

This place has changed from restaurant after restaurant ever since I went to SJSU 10 years ago, eek! I hope Social Policy or "So/Po" sticks around since the concept of quick dining or getting a drink makes sense as it's in the vicinity of a college. Not everyone has time to sit down for days and eat.

I came here with my best friend for her birthday brunch. We heard it was a college spot so we honestly didn't know what to expect. When we went there on a Sunday, there was actually a mix of folks: families, adults (maybe in their late 20's to early 30's), and young adults (who were possibly in college). Guess it depends on the day you go when there's more college students vs. a mix of people.

You wait in-line to order food and then find a table. The vibe kind of reminded me of Philz Coffee - super chill and non-pretentious.

I ordered "The Scramble" which consisted of an egg scrambled with andouille sausage, spinach, bell peppers, onions, cotija cheese, avocado, and a drizzle of sriracha mayo. It also comes with a side of griddled potatoes but I opted for some boring greens.

Food was 5/5 except the wait time for food kinda sucked (but I was warned upfront that it would take at least 30 minutes). The reason for the docked star is because the food runner kept bringing food to our table that wasn't ours. Also, the price of food was kind of expensive (I paid $35 for two dishes and 1 cup of tea).

Despite the food runner mishaps, the quality of food is good, they do offer free parking validation (at Park SJ garages), and they have honest customer service. I would recommend trying it out for yourself if you're in the area!

Came here during a big convention, so it was very crowded. While the decor is interesting, I can't really say the same for the food, though it just could've been what I ordered. The great thing is that it's conveniently located in the downtown San Jose area, as it was about a 10 minute walk from the convention center. I give them a 3.5/5.


Order:
16 oz Blood Orange Soda($3.50)-
Reportedly made in house. I wouldn't order it again, but it wasn't necessarily bad. Very filling, so don't eat too much if you order it.

American Breakfast ($13.00)-
Came with eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of toast, mixed berry jam, and griddle potatoes. Was good, but not amazing. I will say the bacon wasn't too burnt or crispy, which was great.

Wait time:
15 minutes in line and 5-7 minutes for the food.

Seating:
There is quite a bit of seating inside and outside. As well as barstool seating, regular table seating, and a long table with seats for big groups.

Service:
Good, the cashier was nice and so were the people who gave me my food.


Cost(s):
$$

"Euphemism." A "euphemism" is the replacement of a harsh or bitter term with a milder or more pleasant term. Whether it's the inclusion of multiple exclamation marks in a text message to try to hide the real beef going on or the fake smile you flash when you see someone you hoped not to see again, it seems that we're all trying to find ways to hide what we're really feeling.

Anywho, these were the stupid thoughts I was having as I graded essays within the beautiful space known as Social Policy!

Social Policy is a cafe that I never thought of checking out since the first photo on Yelp was of bacon and eggs (I assumed that it was a purely breakfast/brunch place). But boy was I wrong.

Some unique traits about this place:
-They always have artwork displayed here.
-They play awesome music (e.g., Tupac, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu).
-There's a lot of seating.
-The employees are friendly and helpful.
-They serve up a pretty good iced Chai Latte.
-They serve "food-food," pastries, coffee-based drinks, and fruity teas/drinks.

I had to park rather far away (if you consider a 10~15 minute walk to be far), but the coin-parking is pretty affordable!

For the beauty and drinks, I would definitely come back again! Oh and for the vibes and music.

Just moved to SJ and a friend told me about SOPO. One glance at the menu and I was already excited. There are many promising items and brunch staples.

You order first then sit down- plenty of indoor and outdoor space right along 1st Street.

My husband got his crossiant sandwich first, and even though my food hadn't come out yet I had food envy. The crossiant is buttery and flakey, and the eggs fluffy.

I was eager to try my eggs benedict, but unfortunately it took SO LONG to come out. My husband finished his entire breakfast (after I said not to wait) by the time the benedict arrived. I actually saw an order of benedict come out but it went to another table. AND turns out, the lady was almost done with her food when her husband got his benedict! So I flagged down the server and asked if he could check on the order. When they finally brought it out, he just said "sorry we got the orders mixed up." Ummm ok? Really? That's it? Like oops our bad. Ugh.

The worst part is, I'm going to go back because I want to try other delicious things on the menu (like avocado toast.) Will report back

Social Policy is an excellent place for coffee in downtown San Jose. Social Policy and B2 at San Pedro Square are run by the same folks.

My favorite here is the hot mocha which always comes out perfect. Temperature is always perfect to consume right away and the espresso is very smooth. The chocolate is smooth, not too sweet nor dark, just perfect! The foaming on the drink is also excellent!

Throughout the last couple of years, Social Policy has expanded their menu to now include food! Their pastries I heard are tasty as they bake them in house daily!

Service is always excellent here too! :)

$5.25 for a Mocha!

Came for brunch on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed! We were lucky to find enough table and seating for 5, and we bussed and cleaned our own table. We tried to wait until the line died down, but it continued to grow! So we finally decided to wait in line, and I ordered the eggs benedict of course. I like how it comes with a side of salad.

Food takes about 20 minutes, and we all enjoyed our food for the most part. I enjoyed my eggs benedict and salad and it was perfect for what it is, although a little pricey. My friends' breakfasts looked good too, although they really burnt their toast.

Overall, pretty good food but they could use some extra tables and chairs for the amount of people that come in!

It is a hip small bites kinda place

I stopped by here to grab breakfast before watching a movie. The place itself has a lot of space for it being in downtown. It's also pretty big on sponsoring local happenings such as shows and concerts. I went about looking at the menu to realize that it isn't very extensive. There aren't very many choices, however, that there is on the menu is fairly good. I had the egg and ham sandwich which could use a little more spread. The prices are a little on the higher side probably because it's in downtown.

Overall: I would probably come here for the pastries over the food. Maybe even grab a cup of Joe here next time and relax.

Atmosphere: 5
Laid back and open, the cafe has plenty of space. You can choose your own seats and after ordering, you'll get a number stand and the food will be brought to you. The menu is at the counter where you order.

Flavors: 5
My mango and avocado salad was delicious. The dressing is light and has a hint of heat. I can take a lot of spicy so I really barely tasted it. The tea and coffee is pretty standard and won't disappoint you. But don't expect artisan crafted level coffee if that's what you're looking for.

Portion: 5
Perfect size for a meal for me. There was an abundance of avocado, mango and seeds to make each bite a balance of flavors. My fiancé's croissant sandwich came with a side salad too.

Overall, I would go there again. It's a good brunch/breakfast place with good options for food and drink.