New American Restaurants near Menlo Park, CA

“Chef Marcus’ dishes are full of flavor & fresh ingredients that make for a spectacular culinary experience. 😋“

“I was happily surprised to find Saturday evening reservations available at this outstanding Menlo Park establishment. I was in Palo Alto to visit my god-daughter at Stanford and had a hankering for some awesome food while in town. The restaurant has its own (free) parking lot, which was also a big plus. We were greeted warmly and seat promptly for our 7:15 pm reservation. The services was very attentive, right off the bat, with water and fresh baked bread arriving swiftly. The lamb chop appetizer was divine and our only complaint about the delicious dungeness crab gnocchi appetizer is that it wasn't available as an entree portion (we made a suggestion to the chef to change that). She joined the clean plate club with her risotto entree and I really enjoyed the fresh catch entree. If you drink lemonade, don't miss out on the lavender rendition offered here. We were saddened that they has already sold out of the homemade snickerdoodle ice-cream, but I guess we'll have to save it for next time. I can't wait to visit here again. It was simply outstanding. Thankfully my god-daughter has two more years at Stanford!“

“Amazing staff as soon as we valet the guys greeted us with a smile and adored our 🐶 🐶
Loved the open concept and casual style of restaurant. Drinks 🍸 were smooth and refreshing. The chef 👨‍🍳 made everything on point, appetizers delicioso 😋 and each main dish was perfect serving!👌 we even
got special visits from chef 👨‍🍳 w/furbabies 🐕 🐕
We recommend & will be going back before we leave the Bay Area!“

“Beautiful venue - food was amazing!“

“The food was absolutely delicious. My wife and I took our three month old baby there for breakfast one morning and everything was delicious! Especially the coffee! The place is very well designed with high-end tables and chairs and decorations. The overall feel of the building on the inside and out is well thought of plan and placed well

Our only complaint was our waitress. She seemed like she could give a rip about anything. When asking some simple questions about the items on the menu she practically rolled her eyes to go ask the chef some questions. When we were finished with our meal, she came back with the check and we asked her if we could have another coffee, and I swear that I was either pulling her teeth or torturing her by asking for another coffee. She kind of grunted and slowly walked back to get what we had asked for. Our whole overall experience would have been awesome if it was not for the service. I highly recommend finding new help.

Also, there were only six customers total in the entire place (including my wife, and I ) when we were there. She was not being overworked or overwhelmed…. she literally hated every moment of being there from what we could tell.“

“We had a lovely lunch. Food and service were excellent!“

“Pretty drinks and yummy food“

“We had a nice table in the mezzanine, which we really enjoyed. We were meeting with friends who really needed to unwind from some things going on in their life. Our waiter / bartender gave us great service with time when we needed it and attention when we needed it. The food and drinks were very good. The brioche bun dessert is fantastic - highly recommend.“

“I really enjoyed the ambience of this restaurant. Beautiful decor, ambient lighting, and an overall vibe. It is located inside the beautiful Hotel Nia, one of my favorite Autograph Collection hotels by Marriott.

The Wagyu burger was a great choice and I really really enjoyed the unique offering of garlic fries instead of the traditional or truffle option. This really was a standout of the meal. The burger was flavorful and cooked to my desired temperature. Tommy’s Margarita (not pictured) wasn’t as tasty as I expected but it was still a solid tequila choice. The best part of the drink was the dried pineapple slice. My waitress even brought me extra at my request which I appreciated. Overall 9/10 experience.

My server was nice and attentive.“

“Amazing food and excellent service!“

“An exceptional culinary experience at Protégé in Palo Alto. Every dish showcased masterful technique and impeccable flavors. The A5 Japanese Wagyu Ribeye was perfectly marbled and melted effortlessly, while the Crab and Caviar delivered a luxurious balance of brine and sweetness. The lobster toast was crisp, buttery, and indulgent, and the Black Bass—flawless in execution—was the best I’ve encountered. The Ricotta Dumplings , delicate yet deeply flavorful, rounded out an unforgettable meal. The shigoku oysters with whipped ponzu were indescribably fresh and flavorful. The sunflower Caesar, with its preserved tomato jam, was a unique and unforgettable twist on a classic. As for the brick chicken that we took to go, it was so delicious that it barely made it home before being devoured. The experience was elevated even further by the outstanding service—every person was kind, attentive, and genuinely dedicated to creating a memorable evening. A true showcase of precision, creativity, and hospitality“

“Friendly people and good food.“

“good food and love the mimosa“

“Steins is a great restaurant with a wide beer selection! They also sponsor the annual MV Oktoberfest!“

“fast customer service and good food“

“The do called "inclusive" atmosphere is really just an owner who hates everyone who has different views. If your social or political views are woke, you aren't welcome. Spend your money elsewhere. This guy is an idiot.“

“i like this place all very fresh“

“Food was good & lots of it. Wait staff seemed like they were new with one experienced person. Host was very attentive. The place looks nicer & more comfortable than Coupa was. Not many people there on a football playoff Sunday. Will definitely go back but as non-tech seniors we're not real comfortable with the online ordering“

“I went back after a week and it was a whole new experience again. There were delicious new dishes and very innovative desserts. The kampachi crudo and pork belly were so good. Each element on the dish was thoughtfully placed. The wait staff was wonderful. Each person who came by was cheerful and attentive. This is my happy place.“

“Es un restaurante muy bonito, sus platos muy bien servidos y deliciosos! Recomiendo a Local Union siempre, excelente servicio el de Guadalupe y Estefany!“

“Fantastic food and service, great for special occasions.“

“Muy buen servicio y personas muy amables .“

“I hosted a small group for work at Sekoya and we had a fantastic time. Olivia, the head bartender, was super friendly and very accommodating when it came to making some custom cocktails. We were seated in the lounge area, which was really nice and casual for our group. We shared a bunch of starters and I'll have to call out that the fried mushrooms, the beef, tongue, skewers, and the crispy tuna rolls were really delicious! I had the tropical nights cocktail, which was so tasty and a good size drink. “

“The outdoor patio was perfect for our Sunday brunch and our 18th Anniversary. We’ve celebrated many occasions at All Spice and have always had a stellar experience with the staff and the food. Our table felt intimate — we were sharing a large space with four other tables, appropriately distanced. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Again, all Covid-19 compliant. The food, oh the food! The Dutch baby was perfectly cooked and the fruit fillings were gorgeous. The chicken sandwich was out of this world. The Mimosa and hard apple cider beverages were on point. We always love our meals at All Spice and this time was no exception. It’s a total gem!“

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

“I went to dinner with my husband we shared the calamari. It was excellent. Then we shared three sliders. With salad and French I enjoyed two glasses of wine my husband was unhappy Because they don’t serve hard liquor he had a hard day at the office and looking forward to taking me out for dinner. and enjoying a couple of drinks. and would she he really needed“

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

“Yvette, the owner of Swing Shift, has cooked, owned and managed restaurants, AND has traveled extensively. She has brought those experiences to Swing Swift and created a “Greatest Hits” menu. My favorite? The tacos from Mexico City are to die for! Chicharrones give them texture and the tortillas are sublime. Not your usual CalMex tacos. My wife could live on rice. She fell in love with the 5 Spice Fried Rice. The pork belly is tasty, not fatty. And a fried egg finishes the dish. Yvette’s burger isn’t from her travels, it’s from her chef’s brain. She marries spices and cheese and high quality beef to create a new burger experience. Ya gotta try it! While we were there, a regular customer walked in, the staff greeted him and said, “Gumbo?” “Yes.” “Anything else?” “No.” He’s in there all the time, JUST for the gumbo. It will remind you of New Orleans. On a personal note, my mother and grandmother used to challenge each other to chili cook-offs and both their chilis were superb. Mom, Grandma, don’t let Yvette join the contest. Her chili is that good! My wife liked the wine list and I was surprised to find mock-tails (try the Sour!) that were actually good, and not just a mishmash of ingredients like so many places. And they take reservations….yay!“

“We have been here several times now. It is a cozy and relaxed restaurant. The menu is somewhat limited however everything we have tried has been delicious. The staff are very pleasant. We will be back.“

“A place that values quality and source of ingredients“

“Recommended 100%, great food, great place to have breakfast with your family and friends, been there so many times with my family every time we have a chance, if you want to have a great meal with your loved ones and friends.. hey let me tell you.. this is definetely the place!..five stars!!“

“Always try to go at least once when I’m in Old El Palo Alto.“

“We had an absolutely lovely experience here! Came for my boyfriend’s birthday, everyone was friendly and attentive. Fantastic high end ambience. The food was almost too beautiful to eat and every one of us thoroughly enjoyed our entrees. One of our guests said it was the best spaghetti he had ever had! The mushroom risotto was perfection. I had the Chilean sea bass and WOW! The salmon was also amazing. The other two guests had roasted chicken and hangar steak… I didn’t get to try them but they looked amazing and everyone cleaned their plate even though we were full lol! We will absolutely be back. Highly recommend!! 5 stars ⭐️“

“Our reservation originally was at 12:30pm on Mothers' Day, but we came early and just asked the host if we can be seated. She checked and we were seated right away. I did not get a chance to ask her name. Our server was Andre, very Professional and quick service. The food was well cooked and tastes so good. We enjoyed our dining experience and would definitely come back.“

“Wonderful neighborhood restaurant.“

“The environment is very nice and food is 😋😋😋“

“Great just like my mom’s homemade cooking Carrot cake moist. Good. Coffee. Waiters are Courteous“

“A SUPERB RESTAURANT. [Original] A SUPERB RESTAURANT.“

“The Cowboy and chili cheese tots!“

“I had the Chicken Mix Bowl with the smokey chipotle sauce and it was AMAZING. I am allergic to dairy, gluten, and soy so being able to not worry about that with my meal was so nice. I also have ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder) and have a really hard with certain textures, usually chicken is really hard for me to eat but I had no issues with this chicken!! The texture was consistent all the way through, pulled apart really easily, and was just overall amazing. The portions are really good and the food is very flavorful. I'm really happy with my meal. Thank you guys for the amazing food. I highly recommend this place!!“

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

“Come for Happy Hour or a cold beer few times a week. Good atmosphere, fast service usually Liz, Chelsea and Guy with longer hair and hat or Angel there they all have good customer service, friendly and Happy to Help. all good at what they do but Liz is definitely our favorite only because we have known her the longest and she has never let us go Thirsty or hungry and great at always checking on us 💯👍 as well as Chelsea Angel and the other guy. Been to many BJs in different states but got to say San Mateo has the best atmosphere then By other BJs we been too. But guessing it's only because of the staff there give them what they deserve and keep them around Because without them it wouldn't be the same.“

“Fresh air and warm . Food was awesome and they give you yours moneys worth“

“Tomar un café y rentar un bote“

“Fantastic night! Enjoyed Sema and her hospitality tremendously!“

“Awesome ambience Nice place to hangout Cocktails were too gud“

“As always, excellent food, service, and atmosphere. We’ve always been able to be seated in the wine room which definitely adds to the experience. This is our favourite restaurant in San Carlos. We have always come as a group of 5 and everyone has always left happy. Thanks to our server Engin tonight. He was excellent!“

“Great venue! Fabulous staff! Be there!!“

“I've been to the one in the city and figured I'd give this place a try and have a nice quiet lunch to myself.Upon entering, it said, "Please wait to be seated." A few minutes passed by, and I saw employees walking around but wasn't acknowledged. I noticed the cashiers to my left and walked up. The lady was nice and took my order and told me to have a seat anywhere and that someone would be bringing me my drink. I was low-key annoyed. Why can't they make a sign that says place order with cashier?I looked around for a place to sit. The vibe seemed pretty chill. Decor was simple neutral colors. I took a seat, and a waitress grabbed my ticket. She was super nice and attentive. She was constantly refilling my Arnold Palmer, which was a huge plus.I ordered:1. Clam chowder - I'm not a huge soup fan, but this was surprisingly tasty and paired well with the cheese toast they provided.2. Chef's featured steak - This dish came with potatoes and spinach, I believe. I kind of wished it came with a roll. This was delicious, it definitely satisfied my craving.3. Crème Brûlée - I didn't think I had room for dessert but this was Aaaammmaaazzzing.To be honest, I was surprised for once I finished all my food all by myself. This is rare lol but speaks volumes to how good the food and service was. I'll definitely be back.“