22 Best American Restaurants in Palo Alto

“Amazing food and staff. Highly recommend“

“This restaurant meets every expectation! Great food, excellent service and convivial atmosphere. It offers a menu of 'shared plates' each more delicious than the one before. The variety of offerings is excellent. It will be my 'go to' for many special dinners in the future!“

“Without any expectations, I was highly impressed. Their Easter brunch was fantastic. We had the caviar and monkey bread appetizer and they were the bomb. My wife had the lamb cheeks over polenta and it was divine. With the great service, I found the experience one of the best I've had and I've been to three Michelin stared restaurants before.“

“Incredible. The Wagyu beef was a transformative experience. Every time going forward I’m in N California-this is an incredible restaurant“

“I had the most amazing experience and it was my first time. I will definitely go back before l leave San Francisco.“

“Great friendly service. I ordered a patty melt last night for takeout and found out it was an Italian job instead because it was meatless with mushrooms instead. I came back the next day and they made me a new patty melt after I showed them a picture of what I got. This place is great for a late night snack and they open late!“

“Had dinner with some friends, had the crepes, amazing stuff. The staff is the best, friendly, beautiful very efficient. highly recommended...“

“Love the environment, music, food, wine and staff….❤️❤️“

“This spot is a downtown gem, off the beaten track, and open to the public (next to senior center Avenidas). The food is delicious, fresh, and has the “extra flair” that comes from Chef Julien being a passionate foodie and French culinary school trained professional. The fish sandwich is outstanding (I have now had it on three visits!) with beer-based batter (not too much, not greasy, not dry) with at least seven different savors coming through the sauce, fresh veggies, and condiments on the fresh ciabatta bun. I like to have it with a Perrier sparkling water and follow up with tiny raspberry jam-filled beignets and a small americano on the hidden inside patio. Chef Julien is working to expand and improve coffee offerings. He is kind, down-to-earth, and very approachable. And also does catering for events, has a crêpe stand at the Sunday California Avenue Farmer’s Market, and is a private chef. Great value for money.“

“This is one of our favorite brunch spots to take out of town guests because the menu and presentation is so unique! We love the stone pot bibimbop and the big hip, but we have also found that the other menu items are equally delightful. You should definitely also try their ube latte - super delicious!“

“I love the flavors that come through in these dishes. Great food. I was iffy on the order/pay from the QR code. First of all our waitress didn't tell us that's how we were supposed to order so we were waiting for a while wondering why she hadn't come back to take our order... I do think it's convenient but then why did we have a waitress in the first place because she did absolutely nothing. Someone else brought our food/drink.“

“Pretty atmosphere and food was good but my choices might have been off... I had ricotta pancakes with omelette and bacon ! Bacon was very tasty My son and husband's choices were better ! They picked food from Chef'x Specials and all was tasty with pretty presentation! Our server was excellent! Thank you Pop! The lavender spritzer was delicate and refreshing ! The ricotta pancakes were ok but not as fluffy as advertised! All in all a nice experience for mother's Day except were a bit rushed by the hostess who told us we have the table for 1 h and 15 min ! I made reservations 2 months ago and we flew from NY ! Possibly we did not need a time frame to enjoy Mother's Day brunch! But I understand!“

“Rice bowl with pork belly excellent. I'll go back for it. Friendly bar. Manager (owner) came over to chat.“

“I recently had the pleasure of indulging in a delightful brunch experience at Joanie’s. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the warm ambiance and bustling atmosphere—a sure sign of a popular spot.For my brunch selection, I opted for the breakfast medley and chicken Milanese, and I must say, both dishes exceeded my expectations. The breakfast medley was a delightful combination of flavors, while the chicken Milanese was cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful with a satisfying crunch.What truly set this experience apart, however, was the exceptional service provided by the staff. Despite the morning rush, they were incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring that every guest felt welcomed and well taken care of.Overall, my brunch experience was nothing short of fantastic. Whether you’re craving a hearty breakfast or a delicious lunch option, this place has it all. I highly recommend paying them a visit—you won’t be disappointed!“

“Took my daughter here for a mother-daughter lunch. Excellent. She loved her grilled cheese, made with cheddar not American cheese (which is ew according to her). Popovers and consommé are always top notch. Great service. Elevated lunch but not crazy fancy or stuffy.“

“1st time in Cali , this place was a 3 min walk from my hotel . I had the adult grill cheese. It was delicious. The service was great and the prices were not bad at all . I definitely recommend and will be returning next time i’m on the west coast .“

“Shakes and good breakfast“

“Enjoyed their Hamburger and fish & Chips Fries are excellent. Lovely surroundings, the ducks enjoyed the pool.“

“Came here for breakfast and forgot this place existed... super reasonably priced and the owner is so friendly and caring. Parking is ample, but the entrance is in the garage and I needed to hit the handicap door opener to get in as this place opens at 7am, but city hall opens at 8am. Plenty of choices and the super (mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers) breakfast burrito was amazing and flavorful. Will come back for sure!“

“Honey Baked Ham is a time honored tradition that we have been partaking now for years either for family get togethers, just cause or for work events. It's the best type of tradition to be able to enjoy this wonderful treat, year round. I have been to several locations but this one has become my favorite so far, partly because I have discovered the trick to save time and avoid frustration. Its quite simple really, but be prepared, shop early and pick up early. I love their website this year, now they give you an option to prepay or pay at the store. They did an overhaul completely but it's much better and so user friendly. I prepaid and I obtained an email with a QR code that once you go in to pick up your order, they scan. Quick for all, there was only one person ahead of me and I was out in less than 5 minutes. Parking is limited, 9 spots and 1 handicap accessible spot. Keep that in mind the longer you wait for pickup and the closer you get to a holiday....you won't be able to find parking. There is street parking but it's limited too when there is a crowd. I have seen that line circle around and go at least 50 people deep. Service is always exceptional here. Kudos for the people working at Honey Baked, they have to move fast and deal with crowds and those sometimes with the non festive spirit. The taste of the ham is always sooo good. Can't wait to have it during this Thanksgiving holiday!!“

“We went to Palo Alto Creamery for dinner tonight. It's a classic diner, and we were not disappointed with the food quality and excellent service crew. We ordered cheeseburgers with hand-cut fries, and they were served perfectly with a lightly toasted bun and deliciously grilled meat. The onion rings and french fries were hot, crispy on the outside, and just right on the inside. Moreover, the service was fast and very friendly. Our server and other staff members checked in on us frequently and made sure we were well taken care of. We didn't have room for dessert, but they had an impressive selection of homemade cakes and cookies that looked fantastic. Overall, we had an excellent experience and we will definitely be back. Thank you!“

“We were weary travelers stopping by Scotty's in hope of a more chill vibe with some good food, and Scottys delivered! Our bartender, Sergio, was so friendly and fun! We got some inside knowledge about the town as we are from Oregon. The drinks were perfect and the food was top notch! I would have expected to pay a lot more for the quality of food and service we received at literally any of the surrounding places. We will visit Palo Alto again if only to go back to Scotty's as a new tradition! Thank you, Sergio, for making our anniversary dinner a great one! Someone give him a raise!“