Adega

Adega
Company type	Private
Industry	Restaurant
Founded	2015
Headquarters	San Jose, California, United States
Area served	San Jose, California
Products	Portuguese cuisine
Owner	Carlos and Fernanda Carreira

Adega was a Portuguese dining establishment situated in the Little Portugal district of San Jose. Founded in 2015, it achieved the distinction of becoming the first restaurant in San Jose to receive a Michelin star in 2016. In the summer of 2023, the proprietors declared that Adega would close by the end of the year, making way for a second branch of Petiscos, a more relaxed Portuguese eatery operated by the same culinary team. Nevertheless, in October 2024, they reversed this decision and announced that Adega would reopen in November 2024.

History

The name Adega, meaning "wine cellar" in Portuguese, debuted as a café in late 2015 within Little Portugal, taking over the space formerly occupied by Sousa's, a Portuguese restaurant with a 33-year history. The establishment was owned by Carlos and Fernanda Carreira, local residents and wine importers. Leadership was provided by their daughter Jessica Carreira, a pastry chef, alongside her husband David Costa. Both chefs had prior experience at Eleven, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant located in Lisbon. Adega specialized in authentic Portuguese culinary traditions.

Michelin star

Adega received its Michelin star in October 2016, marking it as San Jose’s inaugural Michelin-starred restaurant and only the second Portuguese restaurant in the United States to earn this honor. At just 23 years old, Jessica Carreira stood out as one of the youngest female chefs to secure such recognition.

The restaurant maintained its Michelin star through 2017, lost it in 2018, and then regained it in 2021.

Spin-off restaurants

In November 2019, the owners expanded their portfolio with Pastelaria Adega, a bakery and café situated downtown San Jose. The following year, they introduced Petiscos in the SoFA District, offering casual Portuguese small plates. Petiscos was subsequently recognized by the Michelin Guide in 2023 and included on the Bib Gourmand list.

Closure

July 2023 saw Adega’s announcement of its impending closure scheduled for December of that year. The space was planned to transform into a second Petiscos location, marking a shift from upscale fine dining to a more informal dining experience.

Return

In October 2024, plans were unveiled to revive Adega at its original venue with a reopening set for November 2024, reinstating San Jose’s pioneering Michelin-starred restaurant.

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