Guidebook for Menlo Park
Food Scene
our favorite. Great casual spot with outdoor seating. Really popular at lunch (great sandwiches and paninis), but also good for breakfast and brunch. And fantastic (but pricey) for dinner. Get a f
79 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Borrone
1010 El Camino Realour favorite. Great casual spot with outdoor seating. Really popular at lunch (great sandwiches and paninis), but also good for breakfast and brunch. And fantastic (but pricey) for dinner. Get a f
LB Steak Menlo Park
fancy, but also has a great burger lunch (M-Sat)
amazing pastrami, great burgers, and a fantastic beer list with lots of Belgian ales
59 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Refuge
963 Laurel Stamazing pastrami, great burgers, and a fantastic beer list with lots of Belgian ales
An institution. Go here for a burger and a beer (and to watch some sports). Very casual.
28 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dutch Goose
3567 Alameda de las PulgasAn institution. Go here for a burger and a beer (and to watch some sports). Very casual.
Great Mexican food. Small area for eating in. We get takeout from here a lot
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lulu's on the Alameda
3539 Alameda de las PulgasGreat Mexican food. Small area for eating in. We get takeout from here a lot
upscale organic California food. Our favorite special occasion restaurant in the area.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flea Street
3607 Alameda de las Pulgasupscale organic California food. Our favorite special occasion restaurant in the area.
great spot for brunch. Amazing oatmeal pancakes. Beautiful location in an old house
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Alana's Cafe
1408 Burlingame Avegreat spot for brunch. Amazing oatmeal pancakes. Beautiful location in an old house
fancy and high quality Italian. Great spot for a date night.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Donato Enoteca
1041 Middlefield Rdfancy and high quality Italian. Great spot for a date night.
Vesta
2022 BroadwayAmazing pizza. Expect a wait
great brunch. Pancakes, omelettes, burger are all amazing.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Saint Michael's Alley
140 Homer Avegreat brunch. Pancakes, omelettes, burger are all amazing.
great breakfast/brunch (chocolate chip pancakes), great lunch (sandwiches, crepes, arepas), great coffee, great dessert. Note they also have locations on Stanford’s campus.
63 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Coupa Cafe - Ramona
538 Ramona Stgreat breakfast/brunch (chocolate chip pancakes), great lunch (sandwiches, crepes, arepas), great coffee, great dessert. Note they also have locations on Stanford’s campus.
amazing authentic upscale Greek food. Date night material. Reservations are hard to get.
94 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Evvia Estiatorio
420 Emerson Stamazing authentic upscale Greek food. Date night material. Reservations are hard to get.
upscale organic California food. Our second favorite special occasion restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Saint Michael's Alley
140 Homer Aveupscale organic California food. Our second favorite special occasion restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner
amazing upscale Vietnamese fusion food. Date night for sure. Make reservations.
60 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tamarine Restaurant & Gallery
546 University Aveamazing upscale Vietnamese fusion food. Date night for sure. Make reservations.
Philz Coffee
101 Forest AveTasty coffee. Expect a line.
Really good Burmese food (think fusion between Chinese and Thai). Great cocktails.
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine
445 Emerson StReally good Burmese food (think fusion between Chinese and Thai). Great cocktails.
Amazing thin crust pizza. Palo Alto outpost of a San Francisco institution.
598 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StAmazing thin crust pizza. Palo Alto outpost of a San Francisco institution.
Patxi's Pizza
511 Hayes StChicago style deep dish pizza
casual middle eastern. Amazing hummus. Expect a wait
102 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Oren's Hummus
261 University Avecasual middle eastern. Amazing hummus. Expect a wait
great bakery. Best croissants in the area. Fancy pastries. Takeout sandwiches. Restaurant is expensive, but really high quality. Wonderful pasta/pizza. Best burger in the area. Amazing
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mayfield Bakery & Cafe
855 El Camino Realgreat bakery. Best croissants in the area. Fancy pastries. Takeout sandwiches. Restaurant is expensive, but really high quality. Wonderful pasta/pizza. Best burger in the area. Amazing
fresh, organic food by the original Google chef. Extremely varied menu (Mexican to American to Asian) with lots of vegetarian options.
22 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Calafia Café
fresh, organic food by the original Google chef. Extremely varied menu (Mexican to American to Asian) with lots of vegetarian options.
Village Cheese House
855 El Camino RealGreat deli with BEST sandwiches anywhere.
Tin Pot Creamery
855 El Camino Realsmall batch ice cream to die for.
super casual spot for burgers, salads, etc. and milkshakes!
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gott's Roadside
855 El Camino Realsuper casual spot for burgers, salads, etc. and milkshakes!
Authentic Mexican food from the Puebla region. (think mole). This place catered Mark Zuckerberg’s wedding –it’s that good. We always get the Pollo Guajillo.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
CinéArts at Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino RealAuthentic Mexican food from the Puebla region. (think mole). This place catered Mark Zuckerberg’s wedding –it’s that good. We always get the Pollo Guajillo.
really good thin crust pizza and pasta. Feels authentic Italian. Nice courtyard seating out back.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Terún
448 California Avereally good thin crust pizza and pasta. Feels authentic Italian. Nice courtyard seating out back.
really great (pretty casual) French food. Run by French – very authentic. One of our favorite places for brunch or lunch. Chicken sandwich is stellar. Anything with duck is amazing.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pastis
447 California Avereally great (pretty casual) French food. Run by French – very authentic. One of our favorite places for brunch or lunch. Chicken sandwich is stellar. Anything with duck is amazing.
Turkish food. Very tasty. We love their manti (Turkish Ravioli) – not always easy to find.
Anatolian Kitchen
340 Birch StTurkish food. Very tasty. We love their manti (Turkish Ravioli) – not always easy to find.
Cuban food. Very tasty. Get the shrimp or pork. And a mojito.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Bodeguita del Medio
463 California AveCuban food. Very tasty. Get the shrimp or pork. And a mojito.
Cafe Pro Bono
2437 Birch Sttasty Italian
Caffe Riace
200 Sheridan Avetasty Italian. Gorgeous ambiance in a courtyard
Baumé
201 California Ave2 Michelin Stars. French food. Tasting menu only. Very expensive.
Essentials
upscale gourmet grocery store. Best butcher around. High quality (but expensive) produce. Lots of imported goodies, fancy sauces, etc.
66 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Draeger's Market
222 E 4th Aveupscale gourmet grocery store. Best butcher around. High quality (but expensive) produce. Lots of imported goodies, fancy sauces, etc.
Always can find tasty things here and produce is cheap!
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trader Joe's
720 Menlo AveAlways can find tasty things here and produce is cheap!
Safeway
2811 Middlefield RdThe standard
Drinks & Nightlife
Interesting food. Great beer. Cool scene (especially for suburbia)
28 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Martins West Gastropub
831 Main StInteresting food. Great beer. Cool scene (especially for suburbia)
Sightseeing
I-Rodin Sculpture Garden
FREE Rodin sculpture museum
Everything Else
Very nice art museum. Cafe onsite is really good. (Same people who do Flea Street Cafe)
143 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts
328 Lomita DrVery nice art museum. Cafe onsite is really good. (Same people who do Flea Street Cafe)
Arts & Culture
Santa Clara County
Great concert venue.
Our favorite movie theater. Good mix of indie films and mainstream movies
100 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Redwood Downtown 20 and XD
825 Middlefield RdOur favorite movie theater. Good mix of indie films and mainstream movies
CinéArts at Palo Alto Square
3000 El Camino RealIndie movie theater
Landmark Aquarius Theatre
430 Emerson StIndie movie theater
Entertainment & Activities
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve
1530 Arastradero RdGreat hiking trails. Dog friendly.
Great, somewhat strenuous hiking trail. No dogs allowed.
99 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Stanford dish hiking trailhead
Stanford Dish Hiking TrailGreat, somewhat strenuous hiking trail. No dogs allowed.
Bedwell Bayfront Park
1600 Marsh RdGreat hiking trails. Lots of birds.
Swimming pool (open to non-residents). Playground. Fields. Library.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Burgess Park
701 Laurel StSwimming pool (open to non-residents). Playground. Fields. Library.
Nealon Park
800 Middle AveOur daughter's favorite playground.
Fremont Park
Wednesday night concerts in the summer.
Jack W. Lyle Park
620 Fremont StPlayground and soccer field.
Hillview Middle School
1100 Elder AveBasketball courts, Track, Soccer field. Small playground for young kids.