Beautiful restaurant. Great service. Impeccable food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adrian Otto
Everything about this experience was world class.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fraser Street
Had a set meal event for work. Was excellent except the main “brick chicken” was not great. A bone in thigh which was hard to eat. Otherwise very good. Desert was good. Space is nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Elle Travel
Food was amazing with very creative presentation. Great wine and excellent service. Relaxed vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yamil Maldonado
Incredible experience! The food was outstanding, the service was impeccable and the restaurant itself is beautiful. We flew all the way from Oregon just to visit this place and it was worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yvonne Chen
I love the special, which was a Focaccia with persimmon, prosciutto, and ricotta. The chef really put thoughts into this. Highly recommended, and we each got two pieces of it. We also enjoyed the desserts, which were a slice of pistachios cake and a slice of fig soufra. The fig soufra was paired an ice cream we thought was almond or saffron. The only thing I’m not quite getting was the cauliflower entree, which was a little too sweet for me. The rice on the cauliflower dish was great though. Overall, a really positive experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Carol Liu
First time eating at Protégé’s bar~ really great experience. Bar tender is very nice and tentative. Drinks are delicious and food are pieces of art that makes my mouth and stomach happy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Crab and Caviar
Quinn He
If a restaurant like Protege can have a Michelin star, the whole rating system needs to be reevaluated. The staff and service are almost robotically nice in an overbearing and fake sort of way. Many of the dishes lack balance in flavor, though the halibut really stood out. One of the desserts was also quite good and the food was not terrible, but it certainly left a lot to be desired. For what they charge here, that’s unacceptable.
The best words to describe Protege are pretentious, overpriced, unexciting. It epitomizes all the negative stereotypes of Silicon Valley, only caring about money, pretentious, tasteless rich people only making things expensive for the sake of it.
There feels like a genuine lack of caring about food and only valuing the money, which while important, leaves me feeling soulless when I walk out. It’s like a dementor (from Harry Potter) sucked the money right out of my pocket, leaving me empty and sad. It’s so grossly overpriced for what you get. Even if I was a snooty VC, I’d still want to put my money somewhere else with better value and taste. We will go to Ettan next time.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Kate Forecast
In one word, “perfection” This place is unreal! From the minute you walk in, you are greeted so warmly! The food is just to die for, every dish is heavenly! I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant! If you love food, and being treated like a princess, don’t hesitate and go here! Trust me, you’ll love it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aria
Absolutely disappointing. If you are ever considering a fine dining to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, don’t come to this one. First of all, it is relatively pricey among all the Michelin restaurants. It has 7 courses but nothing special. There is a course of cheese that is totally a waste. Go somewhere else. I have had the worst experience.
I chose Protégé for our anniversary dinner on a Tuesday evening, booking the last available time slot. When we arrived at 6:30 pm, the restaurant was already lively with patrons, yet street parking was plentiful. We were warmly greeted by the host and seated in the main dining room near the bar. The atmosphere struck a balance between intimate and vibrant—cozy lighting, a view of the open kitchen, a large glass wall looking outside, and a playlist mixing old classics with current pop hits created a welcoming ambiance.
Our server, Patrick, was attentive and took time to explain the menu and share thoughtful recommendations. We began with oysters, milk bread with butter, and the crab & caviar. Each starter was brought out promptly and plated beautifully. The oysters were incredibly fresh, and the milk bread—soft, warm, and paired with rich butter—was an instant favorite.
The stone fruit salad and the octopus were highlights of the night, both recommended by Patrick. The salad was a surprisingly delight, perfectly balancing sweet and savory with a deep, cured flavor I wouldn’t have thought to order myself. The octopus was tender and artfully presented with olive oil foam and a bright, flavorful sauce.
For mains, we shared the brick chicken and halibut. The chicken was juicy with crispy skin, served over a well-seasoned fideuà that paired beautifully without overpowering the dish. The halibut was equally impressive, accented by crunchy toppings that added texture and flavor.
Dessert was both playful and refined, the 18-layer Dubai chocolate cake and the mushroom cap cookie. The cake was stunning, with layers of nutty pistachio and just enough bitterness from dark chocolate to balance the sweetness. The mushroom cookie, subtly fragrant with maple and served alongside ice cream, was whimsical and memorable.
We also sampled three cocktails, all well-crafted. The Match Made in Honey was a highlight, while the Old Fashioned was perfectly balanced.
Overall, the dinner and service were excellent. The only touch I felt was missing—given it was a special occasion—was a small gesture such as a card, something I enjoy collecting from restaurants each year. That said, Protégé may not be that kind of establishment, and the experience itself was more than enough to make the evening special. I’d happily return to explore more of their seasonal offerings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Brick Chicken, Brown Butter Parker House Rolls
elephantnose
The service was fantastic and the environment is great. But tbh the tasting menu is kind of mid. It’s the kind of menu that when you thought about several days later, you’d remember one or two dishes (the hawthorn berry foie gras and the cheese board in this case) but you wouldn’t think “oh woah that was a great dining experience”.
Overall, I’d say it’s very much what one star means. “If you are in the area, it’s worth a try.”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Damian McGee
I have no complaints. Visited Palo Alto for work and decided to give Protege a try and they did not disappoint. The food was really good and the service was GREAT!! Very friendly server and the Sommelier was top notch!! Enjoyed the conversation and exploration into the wine list! Definitely worth the money and I look forward to visiting again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amelie Sophie Vavrovsky
We love this place so much. We’ve dined at the best restaurants in the world including Oriole, Alinea, and Benu this year and Protégé remains our favorite.
The service is incredible — we are treated like family every time we come, The cocktails are the best we’ve ever had.
We keep coming back—never disappointed.
Pro tip: sit at the bar to watch Linguini work his magic.
Beautiful restaurant. Great service. Impeccable food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything about this experience was world class.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a set meal event for work. Was excellent except the main “brick chicken” was not great. A bone in thigh which was hard to eat. Otherwise very good. Desert was good. Space is nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Food was amazing with very creative presentation. Great wine and excellent service. Relaxed vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible experience! The food was outstanding, the service was impeccable and the restaurant itself is beautiful.
We flew all the way from Oregon just to visit this place and it was worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love the special, which was a Focaccia with persimmon, prosciutto, and ricotta. The chef really put thoughts into this. Highly recommended, and we each got two pieces of it. We also enjoyed the desserts, which were a slice of pistachios cake and a slice of fig soufra. The fig soufra was paired an ice cream we thought was almond or saffron. The only thing I’m not quite getting was the cauliflower entree, which was a little too sweet for me. The rice on the cauliflower dish was great though. Overall, a really positive experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
First time eating at Protégé’s bar~ really great experience. Bar tender is very nice and tentative. Drinks are delicious and food are pieces of art that makes my mouth and stomach happy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Crab and Caviar
If a restaurant like Protege can have a Michelin star, the whole rating system needs to be reevaluated. The staff and service are almost robotically nice in an overbearing and fake sort of way. Many of the dishes lack balance in flavor, though the halibut really stood out. One of the desserts was also quite good and the food was not terrible, but it certainly left a lot to be desired. For what they charge here, that’s unacceptable.
The best words to describe Protege are pretentious, overpriced, unexciting. It epitomizes all the negative stereotypes of Silicon Valley, only caring about money, pretentious, tasteless rich people only making things expensive for the sake of it.
There feels like a genuine lack of caring about food and only valuing
the money, which while important, leaves me feeling soulless when I walk out. It’s like a dementor (from Harry Potter) sucked the money right out of my pocket, leaving me empty and sad. It’s so grossly overpriced for what you get. Even if I was a snooty VC, I’d still want to put my money somewhere else with better value and taste. We will go to Ettan next time.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
In one word, “perfection”
This place is unreal! From the minute you walk in, you are greeted so warmly! The food is just to die for, every dish is heavenly! I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant! If you love food, and being treated like a princess, don’t hesitate and go here! Trust me, you’ll love it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely disappointing. If you are ever considering a fine dining to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, don’t come to this one. First of all, it is relatively pricey among all the Michelin restaurants. It has 7 courses but nothing special. There is a course of cheese that is totally a waste. Go somewhere else. I have had the worst experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
I chose Protégé for our anniversary dinner on a Tuesday evening, booking the last available time slot. When we arrived at 6:30 pm, the restaurant was already lively with patrons, yet street parking was plentiful. We were warmly greeted by the host and seated in the main dining room near the bar. The atmosphere struck a balance between intimate and vibrant—cozy lighting, a view of the open kitchen, a large glass wall looking outside, and a playlist mixing old classics with current pop hits created a welcoming ambiance.
Our server, Patrick, was attentive and took time to explain the menu and share thoughtful recommendations. We began with oysters, milk bread with butter, and the crab & caviar. Each starter was brought out promptly and plated beautifully. The oysters were incredibly fresh, and the milk bread—soft, warm, and paired with rich butter—was an instant favorite.
The stone fruit salad and the octopus were highlights of the night, both recommended by Patrick. The salad was a surprisingly delight, perfectly balancing sweet and savory with a deep, cured flavor I wouldn’t have thought to order myself. The octopus was tender and artfully presented with olive oil foam and a bright, flavorful sauce.
For mains, we shared the brick chicken and halibut. The chicken was juicy with crispy skin, served over a well-seasoned fideuà that paired beautifully without overpowering the dish. The halibut was equally impressive, accented by crunchy toppings that added texture and flavor.
Dessert was both playful and refined, the 18-layer Dubai chocolate cake and the mushroom cap cookie. The cake was stunning, with layers of nutty pistachio and just enough bitterness from dark chocolate to balance the sweetness. The mushroom cookie, subtly fragrant with maple and served alongside ice cream, was whimsical and memorable.
We also sampled three cocktails, all well-crafted. The Match Made in Honey was a highlight, while the Old Fashioned was perfectly balanced.
Overall, the dinner and service were excellent. The only touch I felt was missing—given it was a special occasion—was a small gesture such as a card, something I enjoy collecting from restaurants each year. That said, Protégé may not be that kind of establishment, and the experience itself was more than enough to make the evening special. I’d happily return to explore more of their seasonal offerings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Brick Chicken, Brown Butter Parker House Rolls
The service was fantastic and the environment is great. But tbh the tasting menu is kind of mid. It’s the kind of menu that when you thought about several days later, you’d remember one or two dishes (the hawthorn berry foie gras and the cheese board in this case) but you wouldn’t think “oh woah that was a great dining experience”.
Overall, I’d say it’s very much what one star means. “If you are in the area, it’s worth a try.”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
I have no complaints. Visited Palo Alto for work and decided to give Protege a try and they did not disappoint. The food was really good and the service was GREAT!! Very friendly server and the Sommelier was top notch!! Enjoyed the conversation and exploration into the wine list! Definitely worth the money and I look forward to visiting again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love this place so much. We’ve dined at the best restaurants in the world including Oriole, Alinea, and Benu this year and Protégé remains our favorite.
The service is incredible — we are treated like family every time we come, The cocktails are the best we’ve ever had.
We keep coming back—never disappointed.
Pro tip: sit at the bar to watch Linguini work his magic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Real flavor!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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