50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Palo Alto

“🎉 Just had an unforgettable evening at Ettan! Cozy vibes, top-notch service, and every dish was a masterpiece. 🍽 The chef's special? Mind-blowing! 🤯 Whether it's for the ambiance, the flavors, or the amazing staff, Ettan's a must-visit. Left with a full belly and even fuller heart. ❤️ Can't wait to go back! #EttanMagic #FoodieDream #BestDinnerEver“

“Good food and great customer service. Do recommend“

“Going in with little knowledge on this restaurant, we had a great culinary experience. Food was innovative and freshly prepared and service (Mariah) on point. The small plates menu, as explained by our server, allowed us to sample many different dishes. We sampled the Oysters, Warm Sesame Pancakes, Salad, Crudo, Yellowfin Tuna over rice and Pork Belly and Octopus. Most "mindblowing" were the Oysters topped with Meyer Lemon Foam.“

“I had an amazing experience at Italico Restaurant! The food was fresh and flavorful, especially the truffle pasta and wood-fired pizza. The service was top-notch, and the atmosphere was cozy yet modern. I’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of their delicious dishes. Highly recommend!“

“Absolutely amazing❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ best sushi!“

“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“

“Staff are friendly. They’re pet friendly. My Ribeye steak was the best!“

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

“Walked over for a treat after lunch at a nearby cafe. And was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. I got the chocolate with Nutella. So good. Lines were much shorter than other ice cream spots in the area and it was a nice walk to get there.“

“A hidden gem nestled in Silicon Valley’s history.

Vina Enoteca is one of those rare restaurants where everything—from the food to the atmosphere—feels intentional and quietly extraordinary. Housed in the beautifully restored Stanford Barn, the space itself is stunning: high arched ceilings, warm brick walls, and an open kitchen where you can actually watch fresh pasta being made by hand.

The menu is classic Italian but elevated. We tried the spinach tagliatelle with ragù and the burrata with seasonal vegetables—every bite was rich with flavor and clearly made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The wine list is equally impressive, with thoughtful regional pairings that feel more curated than trendy.

Service was warm but unintrusive. You can tell this team takes hospitality seriously without being overly formal.

Bonus points for the market inside the restaurant! We left with a bag full of fresh pasta, house-made sauces, and a bottle of wine we’d sampled during dinner. It’s rare to find a place that does dine-in and take-home this well.

Highly recommend for a date night, small group dinner, or even just grabbing a bottle and a pizza to go. Palo Alto is lucky to have this spot.“

“It's a refined place. Went during the week and had Two dishes. Forgot their names but they were really fresh and tasty. Bill was 100 bucks which means it's spendier than the average (I think. I'm not a local to Cali) but it was a treat!“

“Food and atmosphere are always great. On this particular visit service was very slow even they weren't busy. Side note regarding slow service: I hate that they automatically added a 20% gratuity to the bill, I will tip based of the service, thank you.“

“Friendly staff🥰, best bagel in the states🥯“

“love the Food. perfect seasoning. love the environment and Food is great“

“Yummy food! Well made! Udon is awesome!“

“Had lunch here yesterday while passing through the area, the mushroom pide was out of this world. The pastry/crust was unbelievably fresh and the flavor was delicious! Our server Umut was super friendly and attentive. Positive experience all around!“

“We stopped by on a busy Saturday evening and ordered the coconut breeze and the mango mochi coconut pudding. I like how both items taste fresh and not too sweet. The mango is ripe and sweet. The drink had a lot of textures and is well balanced.“

“Pretty standard for a Shake Shack, but that’s a good thing. Service was solid, the staff were friendly, and the food was as good as always.

Be sure to stop by when they are running a promo. Getting two hotdogs for the price of one always makes the meal taste even better.“

“Ottimo cibo, servizio veloce, locale molto carino.“

“An absolute gem for anyone craving authentic and flavorful South Asian cuisine. The food is consistently delicious, and the atmosphere has a cozy, welcoming feel that makes you want to keep coming back.

Their Chapli Kabab is a standout—juicy, perfectly spiced, and cooked to perfection. Paired with their soft, fluffy plain naan, it’s a combo that hits the spot every time. You can tell they put real care into their recipes.

The service is friendly and efficient, even during busy hours. It gets packed, especially around lunch, but the food is always worth the wait.

Highly recommended for a casual meal that doesn’t compromise on taste.“

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

“Ada’s is the best place for delicious food, friendly service and a real sense of community. On top of all that, it believes everyone can have meaningful employment and trains and offers wonderful work under the kind and generous care of founder Kathleen. It’s a community GEM!!“

“Love love love. Fresh ingredients and healthy options that taste delicious. Had the tuna nori wrap which was good. Had better ones but this tasted good. Shout out to Hayes and Cesar for their warm hospitality. Hayes recommended the pineapple mint juice and gave me samples of others. Juice was refreshing and delish. Hayes hooked it up for 10% discount for first time customer which was super nice. Tipped it back and more of course. Cesar was super friendly and helpful, said they make their flat bread fresh daily made to order and that I should’ve tried that. Will next time. And he complimented me with a delicious chocolate fudge brownie which was yum! Nice chill ambiance, tall doors and ceiling which I liked—it allowed for plenty of fresh air to flow through. Glad I stopped by!“

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

“Visited Anatolian kitchen for a birthday dinner. The place is located on California Ave. It is a cozy place. The food and service is very good. I tried the adana kebab and lamb shish kabab, both were amazing. Certainly looking forward to visiting next time.“

“The best worst flavor
They have abominations like habanero with berries and strawberries with pepper and balsamic, for the bold.

The rest of less weird combinations are just delicious, vanilla bean with sea salt and caramel, lavender, chocolate brownie.

Generous portions and long line on weekends, try them on off-peak hours and you can have a couple of tastes“

“The best Sandwich in 100 miles! Been coming here ever since it opened and will continue to eat delicious sandwiches for years to come. NOM NOM NOM.“

“While it’s a beautiful place and great location, I wasn’t particularly blown away by the food. It really might be what I ordered but for 30 dollars with the substitutions the Gardena soufflé is really underwhelming. But the dishes my friend ordered as well as dishes on tables near us looked much more flavorful and interesting so I’m not docking much from my rating. But overall i left a little disappointed. I would recommend trying something besides the soufflés as I suspect that’s where I made my mistake.“

“Always have 2 slices 1 is never enough. It’s that good..“

“My goto French cafe with delicious French bakery, Freshly pressed OJ’s, and excellent coffees.“

“Hamachi shots were insane. The tofu was some of the best I’ve ever had, super soft and fried just a bit for the perfect thin, crispy texture. The sauce for the tofu was also so yum!!! Crab was pretty good, though both the crab and tofu got soggy quickly due to the sauce. The o toro nigiri was honestly the best thing from this dinner. SO. TENDER. Salmon toro and Ebodai (butter fish) were also tender, but the o toro was unmatched. Honestly could’ve passed on the yellowtail maki, it was very rice-y but still good. Yuzu cheesecake was a great way to end this magical meal. We are moved.“

“I’ve been there a few times and is always very good I highly recommend“

“Joanie’s is a staple on California Ave, having been around for more than two decades. After many years, I decided to revisit the place recently.

Some things have changed but the place has mostly stayed the same as I remember it. With good service, decent food options, and lovely atmosphere, Joanie’s is a solid choice.

In the past, service has been a mixed bag. When we went recently it was mostly solid. There were quite a few instances where it took a lot of effort on our part to get a hold of a waiter but when we did, they were friendly, efficient, and got the job done.

The atmosphere, just like most of California Avenue, is more laid back, quiet, and communal. The lovely dining options outside, coupled with the beautiful weather, made the meal more pleasant.

The food itself is solid but nothing exceptional or mind blowing. While many restaurants have evolved over the years, it seems like Joanie’s in many ways is stuck in the past. While their French toast was yummy, their potato options (both the hash brown and potatoes) were just ok and a bit flavorless. The eggs were cooked exactly as requested but the beef hash left a bit to be desired. It seems like while others are innovating, here time has stopped.

Overall, Joanie’s is a classic that’s sticking to their roots while many places are evolving to better serve their customers. What may have been ok 20 years ago doesn’t necessarily make it good enough in today’s competitive landscape. The most I can rate Joanie’s Cafe is 4 stars.“

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

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

“Great lunch choices. Healthy and unique. Desserts are the perfect combination for your coffee or latte. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Location is easy for access with designated parking. Will repeat for sure.“

“Rico todo , buen servicio“

“Love the pizza there, we ordered white pie and red pie. Both are great taste“

“Amazing Sicilian food, cozy patio and dining experience. Wait staff are welcoming❤️“

“We eat here a lot. Friendly service, delicious French food. I usually get the salmon, the bouillabaisse, one of the eggs benedicts, or the beef bourgogne. All great.“

“Fantastic meal made with care and attention to detail. Fresh ingredients from the farmer's market. Desserts made in the restaurant (normally not done because restaurants otherwise lose money on desserts), even the ice cream. The restaurant is small so they can keep track of everyone and not run their kitchen as an assembly line. The customers are mostly regulars.“

“Great nice clean place friendly crew as I write this I'm back here again ... Good Day cheers“

“Classic Stanford spot, I’ve been going here for a long time. I think it is only open for breakfast and lunch, but I’ve only gone for lunch. The food is good, with a variety of offerings; I get the sandwiches/paninis. The best part is the sitting outside, where they offer umbrellas. The service is super friendly. There is a lot of parking too which is great!

Wheelchair accessibility: Easy access“

“The food was absolutely delicious! As a regular consumer of Caribbean cuisine, I came in with my expectations in check—but I was pleasantly surprised. The portions were generous (I went for lunch and ended up skipping dinner). The subtle hint of coconut in the rice truly made my day and the curry goat was one of the best I’ve had in a long time—yes, I said it! The service was decent; although our orders got mixed up, the staff were very friendly and apologetic, which made up for it. Overall, a fantastic experience that I’ll definitely be coming back for.“

“I’ve been to many coffee shops, but none come close to the warmth and energy of the baristas at Philz. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with genuine smiles and an uplifting atmosphere that sets the tone for your whole day. The baristas here don’t just make coffee — they go out of their way to ensure your drink is exactly how you like it, often exceeding expectations.

What truly stands out is how consistently kind, cheerful, and attentive they are. It’s rare to find a team that takes this much pride in creating not only a great cup of coffee but also a positive customer experience. A special thank you to all of the Philz baristas for smiling and making every visit a little brighter. You make great coffee — but even better, you make people feel good.“

“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 .“

“Great beer! Especially the Belgians. Friendly bartender.“

“In truth, I recommend Jessica --the front desk-- who makes sure that I receive extra marinara as well as extra sauce Anglaise... for takeout. Until, we talked, I stopped ordering from Terun on principle. I was a frequent client. Takeout customers must be honored for requests that are gladly honored when in the dining room. Takeout customers should be thanked for not causing dirty tablecloths and dishes -- and LOYALTY. Jessica reinstated that loyalty. I truly hope that the owners appreciate her. Without extra sauces the food is too dry. With it, delicious. The prices honor extra sauces and more!“

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

“By far was this is the best Mexican food I've ever had. A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it!“