Restaurants

Dan Pitt’s Opinionated Compendium of Downtown Palo Alto Restaurants

The Restaurants

Type

American

Bakery

Bar

Bar/Bistro

Burmese

Cajun

California

California-

Japanese-

French

Caribbean

Chinese

Chocolate

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee, Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee, Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee, Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee, Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Coffee,

Tea, Juice

Crêperie

Dance Club

Deli

French

Georgian

Greek

Hawaiian

Hotel

Dining

Hotel

Dining

Hotel

Dining

Ice Cream,

FroYo,

Acai

Ice Cream

FroYo

Ice Cream

FroYo

Ice Cream

FroYo

Ice Cream

FroYo

Ice Cream

Fro Yo

Ice Cream

Fro You

Indian

Italian

Japanese

Japanese-Mexican

Korean

Mediterr

anean

Mediterr

anean

Mediterr

anean

Mediterr

anean

Mexican

Mexican-

Japanese

Pizza

Pub-British

Pub-Sports

Russian/

Georgian

Singaporean

Spanish/

Tapas

Steak

Thai-Sing aporean

Turkish

Uzbek

Vietnamese

Wine Bar

Restaurant

Peninsula Fountain &

Grill (often called The Creamery)

SliderBar Cafe

Son & Garden

Sweet Maple

Mademoiselle Colette Patisserie

Marvel Cake

Mochi Dough & Bober Tea

Dumpling Cloud

(Claudio Corallo)

Bober Tea & Mochi Dough

(two locations)

(two locations)

Tea4U (aka T4)

(Palo Alto Pho & Banh Mi)

Ike’s Place

Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market

New York New York

Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store

Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store

Arya Persian Steakhouse

Zamira

(Palo Alto Pho & Banh Mi)

Price

$$$

$$$$

$$$

$-$$

$$$$

$$$

Address

566 Emerson

324 University

535 Bryant

150 University

499 Lytton

250 University

121 Lytton

205 University

488 University

320 University

548 Emerson

445 Emerson

535 Ramona

420 Ramona

550 Waverley

271 University

488 University

27 University

140 Homer

496 Hamilton

550 Waverley

642 Ramona

530 Bryant

544 Emerson

443 Emerson

452 University

209 University

560 Waverley

423 University

522 Bryant

654 Gilman

444 University

539 Bryant

456 University

121 Lytton

417 University

538 Ramona

111 Lytton

439 Waverley

544 Emerson

520 Cowper

508 University

240 Hamilton

318 University

271 University

436 University

153 Homer

101 Forest

575 High

540 Bryant

151 University

165 University

542 Ramona

369 Lytton

162 University

125 University

548 Ramona

367 University

412 Emerson

250 Hamilton

405 University

401 Lytton

167 Hamilton

125 University

900 High

450 Bryant

535 Bryant

168 University

581 Ramona

774 Emerson

565 Bryant

335 University

420 Emerson

800 Emerson

407 Lytton

488 University

625 El Camino

675 El Camino

530 Emerson

435 Emerson

900 High

566 Emerson

203 University

250 University

440 University

320 University

321 Hamilton

129 Lytton

518 Bryant

(hidden in alley)

473 University

643 Emerson

520 Cowper

247 Hamilton

201 University

460 Ramona

330 Lytton

180 Hamilton

164 University

541 Bryant

403 University

448 University

322 University

140 University

220 University

640 Emerson

261 University

236 Hamilton

115 Hamilton

491 Lytton

632 Emerson

448 University

320 University

520 Cowper

325 Hamilton

220 University

651 Emerson

532 Ramona

547 Emerson

412 Emerson

335 University

552 Waverley

339 University

140 University

543 Emerson

640 Emerson

335 University

405 University

185 University

546 University

419 University

431 Kipling

520 Ramona

Tel (650)

323-3131

322-7300

304-3903

521-0764

272-6873

421-9069

(408)

313-0486

561-4898

843-9755

509-5900

561-4929

323-6543

328-2722

656-8180

561-4860

322-7509

843-9755

321-9990

326-2530

704-6828

561-4860

329-9533

Opening ?

521-0069

328-6885

613-1700

322-1888

329-9168

323-6488

324-4500

796-5287

384-6322

323-8282

326-1263

313-0486

323-3600

322-6872

741-0713

494-4173

521-0069

853-3888

No phone?

391-9299

322-5301

384-6520

325-2091

321-2161

867-3869

(415)

561-3795

322-6684

321-5588

328-2877

634-2414

(408)

847-1743

Opening ?

323-1815

323-3900

322-2575

559-0382

322-1766

543-8135

483-4765

323-3175

289-5400

304-3903

323-7688

212-7385

(415)

326-8676

521-0651

600-0043

326-0983

304-3840

752-6931

843-9755

328-2800

321-4422

272-6885

327-1317

323-3175

323-3131

384-6939

656-9224

665-7954

509-5900

477-1001

321-6688

752-6281

800-7090

329-0665

853-3888

328-5700

324-3300

441-5247

text only

325-2696

666-3322

313-2104

no phone

494-4437

600-9696

656-8161

304-3119

853-8182

521-0935

752-6492

833-3151

847-1334

322-8226

649-6077

(415)

600-9696

509-5900

853-3888

328-0351

327-9400

353-2208

494-4241

327-7673

322-2575

600-0043

752-6039

853-9800

304-3119

323-7700

521-0935

600-0043

559-0382

561-3240

325-8500

323-3600

328-0450

322-1292

Remarks

All meals; burgers, meatloaf, BIG shakes, great shakes, beer, and save room for pie! see Favorites

Breakfast and lunch/dinner sliders; priced by 1, 3, or 12; loud, crowd

Tony breakfast, lunch, and high tea; food & decor made to Instagram

Specializing in bacon, SF offshoot; see Rants+Raves

The most delicious pastries I have ever tasted.

French bakery, patisserie, some savories, coffee, drinks; entrance is on Ramona, probably 50 yards south of University Ave., near Citibank & De Novo jewelers

Japanese Mochi doughnuts plus boba tea

So many varieties of baklava

The rooftop bar of the Graduate Hotel; seasonal bites, craft cocktails

Hidden inside Curry Pizza House; beer, wine, cocktails

What a nice bar; good food, drink, furnishings, conviviality

Interesting and delectable dishes that could come only from Burma; lovely room; see Rants+Raves

Young crowd; in/outdoor; mucho boozing; see Rants+Raves

High end in everything but the food prices; see Rants+Raves; $45 corkage

Hard to classify with California, Japanese, & French influences & the experience of Michelin-starred chef Scott Nishiyama

Farm to table with focus on locally procured foods; breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, smoothies

Located in the Graduate Hotel but hardly just a hotel restaurant; all-day dining, shared plates at night

Fabulous Julia Morgan building (ex-WWI USO); southernesque menu; get beef rib chop for two

Devoted local following; some say best in town; I am not one of them

Farm-to-table ambitions; limited casual menu; closed during the pandemic, private parties now

Michelin-starred chef Scott Nishiyama; fusion in the best sense plus his mother’s recipes

Hukilau Hawaiian-style Caribbean food (and drink!)

Dumplings, soup, good & hot; less wet food, too

Chinese hot pot (related to Happy Lamb Hot Pot) but also specializing in Chinese teas & fruit drinks

Spicy, greasy, bustling; see Favorites

Taiwanese fusion cuisine in cute little bento boxes

Hong Kong and dim sum, mostly steamed; see Rants+Raves

Pure Hong Kong; half the kitchen for dim sum

The usual Szechuan, incl. pork tripe, sea cucumber, and griddled bullfrog; see Rants+Raves

Both truffles and bars, they grow and make their own; see Rants+Raves

Bars from elsewhere and a lot of education; open only Wed. eves & Sat. mornings; see Rants+Raves

Gorgeous Persian jewels, plus coffee & some fruit candies

Artisanal chocolates made in front of your very eyes

Good coffee & light food in the new Hanahaus/SAP incubator

Bubble tea & mochi donuts

Choose your beans, your roast, your blend; it’s a lot of work; see Rants+Raves; they have also expanded their wine list

Panini, arepas, eggs, wine; ‘til 11 pm; full of surprises; see Favorites

Taiwanese bubble tea, highly customizable

Fine Chinese teas & fruit drinks, not to mention hot pot food dishes (like Happy Lamb)

These people know how to make coffee (and bread, pizza, etc.); bar on left as you enter (not serving in pandemic)

All the way from Denmark with coffee, tea, music, vibe, attitude; loved in LA; living large here

Rather different approach from its predecessor David’s Tea; this one is definitely Asian

Coffee, smoothies, 3 meals, locally procured ingredients

Handcrafted boba tea (whatever that means)

Bay Area’s (obviously superior) answer to Starbucks

Every cup brewed to order; a nice place to hang out; see Rants&Raves for the rules of engagement

Not just juices but juice cleanses, like Comet, only liquid; $9.25 & up for juice (already bottled), cleanses $65

Bubble tea, fruit tea, black tea, milk tea, ice tea – choose ice level

Where Lemonade was; such a better venue

Taiwan-style bubble tea; try the jellied fig, or something unexpected

Teas, tea sandwiches, pastries; are we in the Cotswolds, Dear?

Collocated with wine bar Salvaje, 8:00-2:00 Weds-Sun only

Locavore coffee, baked goods, & a small food menu; I’ve been in Tokyo

Fine Taiwanese tea in a large selection of boba drinks

Sweet & savory crêpes; coffee, wine; very French; 7am-10pm

Way more than crêpes, and friendly staff and no corkage fee

Like the original Rudy’s except you’re less likely to get beat up or shot, plus nice hidden terrace in back

On Floor A of City Hall; breakfast & lunch

Banh Mi sandwiches, pho, & pearl tea, which is what a deli is today

Big sandwiches with kitschy names; $9-13 + extras; takeout only

Location #30, offering craft beer and “local” wines, hopefully including the wonderful wines of Mendocino County & Anderson Valley

NY deli food: hummus & falafel? bagels yes tongue no; minuscule

Sandwiches, burgers; housemade ice cream; no evenings or Sundays yet; see Favorites

Salads, sandwiches, pastries, coffee; in the Avenidas senior center; M-F 8 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Advertised as a breakfast restaurant but lunch, too, & American & Asian styles, farmhouse fresh

Healthy salad/sandwich factory; get the chipotle chicken!!!

Bowls, salads, even a small amount of chicken (but don’t mention it)

Quite an array of prepared foods and salads, all made by pierced people

Menu might be “seasonal French” but nothing else is; see Rants+Raves

From the Republic of Georgia; combo of Middle Eastern and Russian

Gourmet Greek; high class; loud; fine Greek wines

Evvia, Kokkari, & Dio Deka alumni deliver great things at (slightly) sub-Evvia prices; charming; loud (or convivial); see Rants+Raves (twice)

Poké and sushi, mainly

Located in the Graduate Hotel but hardly just a hotel restaurant; all-day dining, shared plates at night

American; very nice for guests; not a townie destination

Mediterranean; expensive without the ambiance and limited wine without the vintages listed; closed for pandemic

Acai berries with super-natural additions from cacao to kale for $12 & up; neither ice cream nor fro-yo

Always a line, and deservedly so

The dairy’s own outlet; sandwiches, burgers; no evenings or Sundays yet; see Favorites

All meals; burgers, meatloaf, BIG shakes, great shakes, beer, and save room for pie! see Favorites

A “microcreamery”, making small batches with pure ingredients

Seasonal, gourmet, chef-created flavors, straight down from Portland

Korean Ah-Boong, a fish-shaped waffle cone with your choice of filling and topped with soft serve

I like pizza and I like curry but I’m not sure it makes sense to mix them

Indian street food; originally only a truck

Popular; heavy on the butter

Modern Indian, celebrity chef, individual & family style

Progressive Indian, not your typical curry house; cocktail bar, wood-fired grill; reservations essential

Kitchy; family-style plates; crowded; loud; good for large parties

Where VCs eat breakfast; pizza, too; fine food & wine; see Favorites (not serving in pandemic)

Long-time local favorite; no longer underpriced; no more laminated menus; wine list on an iPad – damn

Yet another name change; I’m not sure they kept the ginger jars on the table

5-course set menu; $175 pp to March 31, $195 pp thereafter, plus 20% service

Specializing in sushi, almost all à la carte; good, not great

Highest-end Japanese restaurant ever to lodge in downtown Palo Alto; why go to Las Vegas? or London? or Kichijoji?

Gourmet brown-rice balls, your choice of fillings, wrapped in seaweed; see Rants+Raves

Revered Tokyo-based chain with 50 locations in Asia; this is first U.S. one; see Rants+Raves

Teishoku style of dining; think set meal or bento box; order by iPad

Sushi inside burritos; lunch only

Private parties only, maximum 20, no walk-ins; customized menu & wine list; see Rants+Raves; won a Michelin star in 2019; not sure it’s still operating

Persian food plus $$$$ expensive steaks; halal meat

Casual Greek & Mediterranean; free Wi-Fi; be under 30

Turkish specialties, both familiar and new sorts

Full menu with grills and many sides, beer and wine, devoted to hummus; always a line; see Rants+Raves

Modern Mexican, and gorgeous

Mexico City street foods with a focus on cocktails.

Peninsula’s best fish tacos; veggie burritos good, too

Not like Mexico, but that’s OK for most Americans; think upscale tacos and other nouveau-trendy accents

Burritos filled with sushi; open lunches only (perhaps a good thing)

I like pizza and I like curry but generally at separate meals

Incredible pizza plus full Italian meals; see Favorites

Pizza by the slice or the pie; thin crust, no less

Tasty slices or whole pies; salads; decent atmosphere, considering

The San Francisco success expands to Palo Alto where Empire Tap Room used to be; a bit artisan, a bit precious; nice thin crust, though

First Palo Alto location; includes Equator Coffee, also gelato

English “food”; hidden in parking lot; trivia Tuesdays; see Rants+Raves

Fresh air, at least (out back)

More Georgian than Russian (i.e., vegetables & fruits, not just meat)

Named after its first location on Killiney Road in Singapore; not an Irish bar; there is coffee and a Singaporean street-food menu for breakfast, lunch, & dinner

19 tapas, 8 mains; only California, Spanish, & S. American wines; wow corner location; see Rants+Raves

Finally a working steakhouse in downtown Palo Alto; this one is Persian, so the meat is Halal

Amazingly, competent pan-Asian; in/outdoor

Turkish specialties, both familiar and new sorts

Tiny Uzbek menu inside the Georgian restaurant Bevri

Just a sandwich shop, but a Vietnamese one, with Banh Mi, Pho, and other goodies

Pretty fancy pho along with rice plates and Vietnamese steaks

Fabulous food; heavenly wine list; Riedel stemware; sophisticated atmosphere; see Favorites

48 wines, all from Italy, including 19 by the glass

Only local wines; tea, light fare (chèvre, crostini, frisée) and real dinners plus art, music, stuff

Quiet, comfortable adult drinking spot; some sofas; cozy; light, cold food thus far

Here is the list of restaurants, all in contiguous Downtown Palo Alto. They are organized alphabetically by Type, and by Restaurant (name) within Type. A few appear more than once because they fit in different type categories. If you know the name of a restaurant but can’t guess what category I have put it in, you can use the Search function in your browser. I apologize for alignment errors that might appear in some browsers. If you see any, please email me immediately with details.

When a restaurant has its own website you can find the hyperlink behind the restaurant’s name. I urge you to reserve your table in advance at the better restaurants, so I have also indicated those restaurants at which you can reserve a table online using opentable.com (abbreviated as OTC), which I use regularly and recommend; just click on the OTC in the third column if so. At the opentable.com page you might have to select Palo Alto in the center pulldown menu that says “All Peninsula Neighborhoods”. For Google Maps for this area, click here.

The remarks are my own. Some are purely descriptive, others evaluative. No offense is intended, but humor is. The remarks reflect my own sensibilities and preferences for local ownership, attention to quality in all respects, price reflective of quality, and inventiveness. You will also find others’ opinions on yelp.com and you should post your reviews there – I do (though I don’t have time to do so very often). In any case, I encourage you to form your own opinions.

KEY TO SYMBOLS

OTC = opentable.com for online reservations; just click on the “OTC” in the column next to the name

$$$$ = top of the price range

$$$ = some entrées or typical meals over $30

$$ = entrées $15-29

$ = entrées under $15

All phone numbers are in area code 650 unless indicated otherwise

All zip codes are 94301; for Google Maps type in “<street address>, 94301”; you don’t need “Palo Alto”

Comments? Write me at PaloAltoRestaurants.