You will find my own take on places this age group favors at the bottom of the Kids page. Most of the thoughts on this page come from roving collaborator Kati D., a 2008 graduate of Palo Alto High School (“Paly”), who is in the food business herself and spends at least the summers crawling the Downtown Palo Alto restaurant scene.

Oren’s Hummus Shop – Lines out the door at all hours. All ages love this place, but especially, it seems, college students. It’s not just the hummus, but also the skewers, abundant side dishes, hot, melt-in-your mouth pita bread, and sweet-potato fries that populate the tables. Tiny wine list (one of each color?) but beautifully chosen. And no corkage the last time we brought wine there.

Pluto’s – We used to go here all the time for lunch during high school - you can call in your order and all you have to do is pick it up, which is perfect for Paly's 40-minute lunch break. I still go here a lot with friends.  

Peninsula Creamery – We go here a lot for breakfast/brunch on Saturdays. A lot of Paly students and grads work here so I always end up getting a free milkshake or side of fries or something. It's always really busy though, but worth waiting for a table.

Fraiche – My favorite of the froyo places in Palo Alto. Doesn't have an artificial aftertaste, and they use seasonal and homemade toppings which are yummy. It seems like not a lot of people know that they serve oatmeal for breakfast, and it is so good!

Joya – I am biased because I used to work there, but I still enjoy going back to eat. They may be a little overpriced but it's a fun place to go with friends and if everyone shares a bunch of tapas plates, it isn't too expensive.

Old Pro – The food is so much better than regular sports-bar food. This is where a lot of Paly grads go when they turn 21 on weekends so you always run into someone you know.

Gelato Classico – I have been here a lot (maybe too much) recently. They have such good gelato for cheap, and I love that for a small charge you can have two different flavors.

Nola's – I’ve gone to school in New Orleans, so I am a little biased when it comes to southern food, but Nola's has a fun atmosphere and is fun to go to with friends. They have a lot of private dining rooms, which are great for big groups. We usually tend to order off of the appetizer menu, though.

Pizza My Heart – Open until 2 a.m. on weekends, which makes it a pit stop most weekends since I don't eat at the other options (Jack in the Box, etc.). Their slices are always so good, even though sometimes there are big lines.

Comments? Write me at PaloAltoRestaurants.