New American Restaurants in Palo Alto, CA

“Sat at the bar, by choice. Good selection of fine spirits, especially Japanese whiskey and tequila. Cocktails were very well made and balanced. We also asked for a mocktail modified to be “less sweet” than normal and it came out perfect. Food was great, not outstanding, but I would absolutely eat here again. The truffle fries were a miss for us since the white sauce makes them soggy. Burger and NY steak were exactly as advertised, possibly sous vide on the medium rare steak. The tempura mushrooms stood out to us as one of the best small dishes we ate. The Spanish Octopus was an unusually large tentacle, made me wonder how tender it would be. I prefer to have octopus more on the grilled side and that seemed to be lacking here but the favor was decent. The oysters were delicious!“

“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“

“Food here is fun and interesting with unexpected ingredients, combinations, and textures. My husband and I decided to make a meal of the small and medium sized dishes and skipped entrees so that we could try more things. Favorites included the grilled Romano beans and the octopus. Misses for me included the tofu custard and kohlrabi. Overall we enjoyed the mix of dishes, as well as our cocktails. We were seated by the window and although we liked the outlook to the street, the glass was not well insulated and we were cold! I think we would have been warmer outside with the heaters.“

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

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

“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….❤️❤️“

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

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

“They have all the product just like your in Paris shopping“

“one of the best burger places in California.“

“My sister and I had lunch on July 28, 2025. The French fries are absolutely the best. Crisp with rosemary scattered on top. Two Ceasar salads, one with chicken and one with wild Pacific prawns. My sister said the chicken was cooked perfectly and had good flavor. The problem was with the salads. The dressing on the salad had no flavor at all. Who ever made must have forgotten the flavor ingredients. My prawns were cooked perfectly but no seasoning, just no flavor. Not sure what happened yesterday but just no taste and no seasoning of the dressing and prawns.“

“Had a wonderful, fresh breakfast and a nice dinner at the restaurant in The Westin in Palo Alto. The breakfast I chose was the bar which included eggs, bacon, potatoes, and French toast. Cereal, coffee, OJ, and toast was available as well a 8 varieties of fruit.For dinner, I started with the cheese plate and finished with the Soleil Burger with Gilroy fries. Long Islands were outstanding. The cheese plate was excellent and served with toast. The burger was cooked to perfection with bacon and cheddar.“

“Absolutely fantastic… I will return!“

“I have to say, not many restaurants serve their food hot anymore. When I ordered the chipotle BBQ chicken with mashed potatoes, they exceeded my expectations. So what if they may have warmed the side of mashed potatoes in the microwave? It made all the difference to my taste buds and mood that afternoon. Plus, I had the other side order of the baby spinach salad. I loved it. And im not one who is crazy about salads. The dressing, chopped almonds, and generous portion of goat cheese made me very happy. I will get this entree again since I am also satisfied they listed the calories next to each item on the menu.“

“Very good food for lunch here“

“This was my fourth trip back to wild onion, and the quality of the experience is consistently terrific. Staff could not be nicer and more accommodating, food is yummy and interesting with choices that make even brunch more exciting. The Bloody Mary was divine. I've gone there for lunch meetings, because the noise level is low enough that you can hear each other comfortably, and while it's an open layout, I never feel a lack of privacy. And the free valet parking, may they never discontinue that, makes it so easy to get in on time, and be stress-free. I like that the mood is casual enough that I don't feel I need to get dressy, but stylish enough that I make an effort. If you go for brunch, definitely get the Nueske's bacon, it's the best America produces and it's hard to get here in California. Bon appetit!“