Camper
898 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
(650) 321-8980
Recent Reviews
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Good selection of whiskies to start the evening out sitting at the counter. We just walked in without a reservation but there were seats at the bar for us. Mixed drinks were creative also. The cornbread was individually cooked in a pan and had a nice crust to it. We also needed the comte tortellini which was interesting with celery and celery root in more of a broth than a traditional sauce. Mush less heavy. Also had the strip steak served with bok choy and potatoes. Steak was perfectly cooked and was plated very appitizingly.
This was our first visit to Camper. We were really intrigued by the menu, which offers elevated, healthy dishes. Great variety of choices and unique pairings like the roasted halibut over black chickpeas, which both my husband and I tried. It was excellent. The sourdough bread with cashew dipping sauce drizzled with basil oil was amazing. We also had the little leaves salad that kept us wondering how a simple salad could be so incredibly delicious. The petals and pine cocktail—vodka, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Prosecco, Macchia Vermouth, Saler's Gentiane, a touch of Rosewater—was everything a cocktail should be: herbaceous, tart, and refreshing. The service was excellent, and the vibe was very relaxed and inviting. Loved it all and will definitely be back.
Consistently great food. I love that they keep many of the same entrees on the menu but do a seasonal twist on the dish. Caliber of the food and presentation is always top-tier. Inventive cocktails with a wonderful bar selection.
Wait staff very attentive, going out of his way to ensure no alum in the dish my husband ordered. However, butternut ravioli was a bit undercooked and was not the taste sensation I was expecting from the description. Halibut looked like a nice piece but was dry. Insufficient green vegetables on 3 of 4 dishes. Restaurant was too loud to have a conversation.
Nice people. Good service. Great bartender,. Average food. Fish was overly salted and the whole dish bland. Steak was simply average, but cooked perfectly. Unreasonably loud at 6pm on a Sunday night. The acoustics didn't help. I do like the owner and the service was good. Wish them the best.
We had a great meal at the Camper Saturday night. We started with the burrata salad, I had the steak and my hubby had the pasta and apple tart for dessert.
The team at Camper were fantastic. Friendly attentive and generous beyond words. The food tastes like it was picked this morning. The fresh pastas freaking killer. How we even ate dessert was a mystery. Best part our 8 year old had something he liked while we got to indulge more adventurous. Don't skip on Camper.
We had a lovely birthday dinner at Camper. The food was incredible and the service was attentive without feeling intrusive. The moment we took even a small sip of water, it was refilled. We had dined at a Michelin-star restaurant the night before, and the service here stood toe-to-toe with that experience, though Camper maintains a more casual, relaxed atmosphere without any of the stuffiness. We ordered a variety of dishes to share family style. Portions were surprisingly generous, and we ended up with plenty to take home. It's honestly hard to choose a favorite, but the rigatoni and the bread milk pudding were standouts. We brought a bottle of champagne and enjoyed a round of cocktails while it chilled, which allowed us to take advantage of their policy of waiving the corkage fee when you order cocktails. Overall, an excellent meal and a wonderful place to celebrate. We will definitely be back.
My experience at camper was okay. I think I was a bit underwhelmed since everything was just okay. The cornbread was done well and so was the halibut fillet, but it wasn't super interesting so I'm not sure I would go back. I also thought the paper menus with random drink stains and wrinkles were a bit odd given the otherwise nice ambiance. Service was pretty decent though the food takes a bit to come out. Overall, well executed preparation but the food flavors were just average. They have a very cute apple dessert!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Great vegetarian brunch options! Must try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great service. Great food. Perfect portions. Not too little or too much. Just right. Great atmosphere very lively. Enjoyed our evening very much.
A mixed experience overall. We started with the cornbread and salad — both very good — and the Camper spaghetti was excellent. However, the chickpea panisse was disappointing; the eggplant slices tasted overly vinegary, which threw the dish off. Service was fine, though the ambiance leaned a bit noisy for comfortable conversation.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
The food was delicious, as was the new drink named the "Pop Quiz" that we tried, our waiter was terrific-- pleasant and attentive--and the lively atmosphere was fun. My sister and I didn't feel rushed or ignored which can happen when you're in a busy restaurant on a weekend night, and I'm planning to come back soon and bring my husband.
Camper is one of those rare places where everything just feels right, the food, the atmosphere, the people. Each dish is made with intention and care, and it shows. It’s the kind of restaurant that makes you slow down, enjoy the moment, and feel genuinely nourished. I can’t believe it took me three years to discover it, but it already feels like a favorite for my whole family!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sat outside ,space heaters and lightening made the ambience great. deviled eggs, crab spaghetti, corn ravioli and smores dessert were all fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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