420 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, California
Evvia has been serving beautiful and elegant Greek cuisine since 1995. The menu, showcasing seafood and game, features many of the most sought-after traditional Aegean dishes as well as selections which have been modernized through the innovative blending of cultures, techniques and Californian fare.
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535 Ramona St., Palo Alto, CA
Cajun. At this festive eatery, barbecue and Jamaican jerk dishes jump-start meals that march on toward gumbos, grilled seafoods, jambalayas and a raft of sensuous desserts. Casual. Full bar.
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546 University Ave., Palo Alto CA
New Vietnamese. If Tamarine was a book, it would be a Pulitzer Prize-winner. From a sophisticated cocktail menu and intriguing wine list, to electrifying small plates cooked with genuine inspiration, Tamarine is the answer to a seemingly unanswerable question: What is the one thing missing from the Palo Alto dining scene?
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430 Kipling St., Palo Alto, CA
Southern Mediterranean. This eye-popping remodel by the renowned chef/partners of Restaurant LuLu in S.F. offers delectable wood-fired favorites plus sushi. Breakfast too.
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185 University (at Emerson), Palo Alto, CA
Mediterranean Grill Chef Clyde Griesbach has left a trail of great dining wherever he's cooked, and with Lavanda he's found a sophisticated showcase. This urban grill at the top of University Avenue offers eclectic small tasting plates, along with heartier fare such as roasted sea bass with chanterelle mushrooms and guinea fowl with sautéed chard. Save room for the signature grilled coconut cake!
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265 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto
Progressive California. Elegantly flashy, with decor as loud as the noise level, Spago provides upscale vivacity. The menu pampers, purrs and occasionally shows some teeth. Full bar.
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3295 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Singapore exotica. Blending culinary motifs from India, China and Thailand, the food of Singapore is anything but timid. The menu at Straits is lavish and diverse, and desserts are artfully arranged like edible sculptures. Full bar.
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4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Polynesian-American. A jungle gym of tiki gods--but a classy jungle. Sip a high-class mai tai in the lounge before embarking on a dinner trip from pork spareribs to boat-fresh seared suki tuna to a Calcutta curry. The centerpiece here is the wood-fired oven, where delights like the Indonesian Rack of Lamb come to worship.
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Bella Luna
233 University Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.322.1846.
Ristorante Italiano Italian. Sunny Tuscan hues saturate the intimate interior, and the dishes create a tasty illusion of dining in Italy on food prepared by Italian chefs. The pasta, tender yet al dente, is unbelievably good. Beer, wine. |
Bistro Élan
448 California Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.327.0284.
California French. The only problem with the menu is that it's all tempting. Using seasonal produce, the chef allows flavors to speak for themselves. Wine, beer. Closed Sun-Mon. |
Buca di Beppo
643 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.329.0665.
Nondesigner Italian-American. Like a Sicilian Christmas carnival in the '50s, this party spot blends clutter, joy, high spirits and, oh yes, huge portions. Go with several friends. |
Cafe Brioche
445 California Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.326.8640.
Southern French. Mediterranean magic: exceptional cuisine on oversize plates is whisked to tables as soon as it's created. |
Cafe Maremonti
201 California Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.322.8586.
Mediterranean. Graced with Mediterranean appointments and a sensuous menu, Café Maremonti is dedicated to making an impression. Fresh ingredients and artistic presentation power each dish. Open daily with Sat. & Sun. brunch. |
Cafe Riace
200 Sheridan Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.328.0407.
Trattoria. An absolute joy. Every dish is made with honest expertise--no tricky trendiness here--and served with flourish and pride. The homey offerings are based on wholesome Italian staples. Beer, wine. |
Elbe
117 University Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.321.3319.
Germania. Named for the third longest river in Europe, Elbe adjoins Rudy's and hence hosts a boisterous next-door bar crowd. The ambiance leans strongly toward Hollywood-on-the-Rhine. The food? Bratwurst, Polish sausage, sauerkraut, venison. Don't miss "Bill and his magical accordian" on Fri-Sat. Open daily. |
Empire Grill & Tap Room
651 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.321.3030.
California grill. Waiters with charm to spare, an energetic clientele and a menu packed with grilled, roasted and smoked intensity make Empire Grill much more than simply a smart place to sip a cosmopolitan. Full bar. |
Fanny & Alexander
412 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.326.7183.
New American, with Asian-Cajun spin. Spicy Thai shrimp and salmon carpaccio show up as appetizers, while entrees linger in the region of blackened meats and filet mignon in cognac sauce. Full bar. |
Fuki Sushi
4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; Tel. 650.494.9383.
Japanese. For over two decades this superb Japanese restaurant has served sushi to Nobel laureates and other grateful foodies. Small wonder, since Fuki Sushi is easily the best appointed Japanese eatery in the area. Open daily. |
Gordon Biersch
640 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.323.7723.
New American. Food takes equal billing with ambience and fine handmade beers at the first in this group of successful brewpubs. The menu is so fine-tuned, though, it could thrive even without a brewery attached. Beer, wine. |
Higashi West
636 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.323.9378.
Asian/European. East meets West in a way that is anything but clichéd. Casually elegant. Full bar. Closed Sun. |
La Bodeguita del Medio
463 California Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.326.7614.
Cuban/Californian. Themed after a vintage Havana haunt of Ernest Hemingway's, this zesty restaurant serves lively Cuban influenced cuisine along with liquid staples like rum and mojitos in a handsome, casual atmosphere. Full bar. Cigar divan. Closed Sun. |
L'Amie Donia
530 Bryant St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.323.7614.
French bistro. This relentlessly stylish bistro continues to attract grateful gastronomes with an eclectic wine list and seasonally changing prix fixe offerings. Beer, wine. Closed Sun-Mon. |
Left at Albuquerque
445 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.326.1011.
Southwestern. Two-fisted burritos, high-wattage marga-ritas and what may be the best salsa fresca in the West. Casual. Full bar. |
Niebaum-Coppola
473 University Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.752.0350.
Italian. An Italian-American director's answer to Planet Hollywood, Niebaum-Coppola gives Palo Alto a genuine tourist mecca. The brasserie-cum-trading post lures incoming diners with a glittering tableaux of Coppola paraphernalia, and lines the back walls with an acreage of wines, accessories, condiments, and tablewares. |
Nouveau Trattoria
541 Bryant St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.327.0132.
Mediterranean with French accents. No dotcom accoutrements clutter up the charmingly nondesigner ambience at Nouveau Trattoria. Owner Annie Nunan puts her personal touch on a steadfastly untrendy menu filled with French classics and heartfelt pastas. Full bar. |
The Old Pro
2865 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; Tel. 650.325.2070.
Sports fan food. An oddball sports bar serving a broad selection of entrees, including burgers, pizza and ribs. Eleven television monitors and constant conviviality keep this place hopping. Expect little and you'll get a lot. Beer and wine. |
Osteria
247 Hamilton St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.328.5700.
Italian. Authentic Italian cooking done by skilled chefs from Italy--inventive men willing to explore, yet mindful of Old World standards. Be sure to make a reservation, or you'll be lucky to put a single foot through the door. Beer, wine. Closed Sun. |
Palermo
452 University Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.321.9908.
Southern Italian. Located in a cozy corner of downtown Palo Alto lies a relaxing and rewarding stop. Palermo exists to celebrate the atmosphere and sunny flavors of Sicily. The food is all very Old World with simple, clean flavors. |
Piatti
2 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto; Tel. 650.324.9733.
Italian. Dining in the shadow of the Bay Area's most tasteful shopping center demands elegance. Piatti rises to the challenge, offering luscious local produce and a solid wine list. Menu specials include grilled salmon in a creamy pool of polenta, and cannelloni filled with porcinis, veal and ricotta in a rose-colored sauce. Beer, wine. Lunch daily at 11:30am. Dinner daily at 4pm. |
Restaurant Soleil
675 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; Tel. 650.321.4422.
New American. A mouthwatering menu and an elegant, golden-hued room shine together at Soleil, upstairs in the Westin Palo Alto. Local ingredients and provocative sauces create dishes worthy of the wine list. |
St. Michael's Alley
806 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.326.2530.
New California. Reservations are a must at this smart bistro, whose menu includes inventive potato, meat and seafood dishes that tilt toward New American cookery. Beer, wine. Closed Mon. |
Spalti Ristorante
417 California Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.327.9390.
Italian. Along with a handsome interior, Spalti offers good wine and sparkling flavors. Casual. Beer, wine. |
ZAO Noodles
261 University Ave., Palo Alto; Tel. 650.328.1988.
Asian. Putting a hip spin on an ancient culinary art form, this contempo noodle palace purveys many forms of the deliciously messy primal food. Casual. Beer, wine, sake. |
