San Jose’s Poor House Bistro is relocating from its current digs in Lakehouse to a new spot in Little Italy. The plans were set in motion this past weekend when the Victorian-era house that the restaurant calls home was literally lifted off its foundation and wheeled to its new address at 317 W. John St.
The Mercury News covered the move, which took place on Saturday, Jan. 8 in what turned out to be a four-hour affair wrought with live music and cheering spectators. The house itself was decorated with Mardi Gras beads and Italian flags, as a tow truck maneuvered the wide load up Montgomery Street, around the SAP Arena and onto St. John Street, where it is now nestled between Henry’s Hi-Life and the Italian Cultural Center & Museum.
Since its establishment in 2005, Poor House Bistro became a San Jose go-to for New Orleans-inspired cuisine. Their most popular menu items range from Po Boy sandwiches to gumbos made with shrimp, catfish, oysters, and more. Poor House is also known as a great hang-out spot with live blues and jazz music.
Owner Jay Meduri opened Poor House Bistro in the Victorian-era home, which he briefly lived in himself and has been in his family for decades. Now that it has been moved to its new location, it is due for a new foundation and a plethora of interior and exterior work to get it up and running as a fully-functioning restaurant. That said, Poor House Bistro is expected to open on St. John Street by early summer at the latest.
Until then, the restaurant is still in operation from its current address at 91 S. Autumn St. The patio is open to guests, who will still be able to enjoy live music and their cajun food favorites cooked in a mobile kitchen. For more information, visit poorhousebistro.com and check out their Facebook page.
