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    Arbuckle Café

    3.6 (46 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican
    Closed Closed

    Arbuckle Café Photos

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    ARBUCKLE CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    An example of one of a HUGE variety of plates they serve

    Arbuckle is one of the best cafeterias on Stanford campus (it's located at the GSB), and with it's wide variety of quality food options, I can always find food that I enjoy (or I can customize for what I'm feeling that day)! See pictures for examples of a HUGE variety of plates they serve. Also, it goes without saying that the environment at Arbuckle (and the GSB in general) is beautiful, so it's a great place to dine. Staff are also always very friendly :)

    a group of people sitting outside
    Alex G.

    Arbuckle a very high quality cafeteria, and the best place to eat on Stanford campus. It's located on the business school campus, and has funny tacky names for each food station ("Foreign Exchange", "Market Mix", "Liquid Assets" is the drinks station lol). The menu at the ~5 stations changes every day, so there are always new delicious options to try. There's also great gourmet pizza and some self-serve salad and sandwich stations. They have great outdoor seating to chill with friends or have a quick meeting. One con: It's sort of stingy for the price that refills from the self-serve soda fountain aren't free, like they are at pretty much every other restaurant I've ever been to.

    Scarlet C.

    My main complaint is the portion size given the price... They have two sizes, large and medium (or regular and small ... depending on how you prefer to call it), the large being $9.75 and the medium $6.75, but even the large is not enough to feed one person... for example this is a "large" that I just got - it's literally three scoops of rice ... I also think they discriminate depending on *your* size - there are so many times when they give a large male in front of me in the line twice as much as what they give me because I'm a skinny short female ... :( And also the food is not that good - it's usually either raw or over-cooked or both: the outside burnt (which can give you cancer) and the inside raw (which can give you stomachache) and I'm not talking about stuff like steak that is supposed to be like that but stuff like chicken which is not supposed to be eaten raw ...

    long and chaotic lines (per usual)
    Ian S.

    The prices are outrageous. There are no nutritional values listed. Portions are small and skimp on protein. The salad bar is constantly running out of things -- they're pretty much always out of chicken. The seating area is always messy, with garbage left sitting on the tables for long periods of time. Condiments, utensils, water fountains, tray pickups, tray drop offs, etc. are all laid out in very inconvenient ways. Lines are extremely long during peak hours. They don't seem to have appropriate staffing, preparation, and processes to deal with these very predictable customer patterns, which is amazing given that this cafe is run by a business school. Some food items require complicated order forms which are thrown into messy piles and handled at random. They give out annoying punch/discount cards which earn you a $10 discount after ~20 meal purchase. It's very frustrating to have to carry this flimsy paper card around and pull it out, over and over, and it slows down the long lines. This discount system is essentially a tax on everyone but the most devoted deal-seekers / card carriers among us. There is a coffee shop located in the rear of the cafe. Good luck finding someone who mans it. It is almost always empty. You usually have to call someone from another place to tend to the station. The whole ordeal takes several minutes. I've pretty much given up, and so have most other Arbuckle patrons. On Thursdays, they have outdoor barbecues. Strangely, you have to go inside, wait in line once to obtain a paper voucher, then go outside, and wait in once more to obtain your food. Surely, in Silicon Valley, at Stanford, there are some mobile technologies that can better handle this. On the positive side, I will say that the look-and-feel of the place is very nice. Arbuckle is spacious with high ceilings and abundant indoor and outdoor seating. The location is fantastic.

    Local farmers are here
    Marina L.

    A variety of food stations - farm to fork - to choose. Fresh local food features a quality nutritious menu that brings awareness to local food production and sustainability. Also, includes lots of grab and go for quick pre-lecture bites. The line at the grill can get too long. I'm a fan of grilled cheese. Can't go wrong with a classic. The wine offerings are a blessing. This is a popular space on campus.

    Madhur B.

    Okay there's no way this place warrants a 3-star average. Now that we are sans-Ike's, this is the best quality food on campus, hands down. Relative to your other options, this isn't expensive and they have a variety of stations inside producing a unique variety of options every day. The seating area has a great ambience, and is an ideal spot to catch up on work. I recommend checking out the online menu beforehand and choosing your perfect day to visit.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Arbuckle Café

    Review Highlights - Arbuckle Café

    Located in the GSB, Arbuckle has great breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that cater to a number of diets e.

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    Horsefeather

    Horsefeather

    4.1
    (244 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Fantastic Cocktails, Vibrant Small Plates, and Great Group Vibe!…read moreWe had an outstanding meal at Horsefeather in Town & Country Village near Stanford! The space is sleek, modern, and light-filled, making it a perfect spot to gather with friends for lunch or evening drinks and bites. Here is a breakdown of what we tried: Deviled Eggs: A must-order appetizer! Topped with tobiko/caviar, crispy shallots, and chives, they are incredibly creamy with a nice pop of texture and savoriness. Korean Fried Chicken Wings: Crispy, perfectly glazed in a sweet-and-spicy sauce, and topped with sesame seeds. Served with a cool dipping sauce that balances out the heat wonderfully. Tacos (Carnitas & Shrimp): Both taco options were served on warm, fresh corn tortillas topped with pickled red onions, cilantro, and served with a side of slaw and spicy salsa. High quality and super flavorful. Roasted Cauliflower: A gorgeous mixture of purple and white cauliflower tossed with a rich green pesto and drizzle of spicy red pepper sauce. A phenomenal vegetable side with a great kick. French Fries: Golden, crispy, well-seasoned, and served in a massive bowl--perfect for sharing across the entire table. Overall: Excellent presentation, generous portions for small plates, and a super welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're stopping by for creative craft cocktails or grabbing a bite with a group near campus, Horsefeather delivers. Highly recommended!

    My friend and I came here for dinner last night. I highly recommend not sitting outside in front of…read morethe restaurant. It was pretty loud and the Palmetto Superfoods people were wheeling their garbage past as as we were eating, so I'd recommend sitting inside. We ordered a margarita, a mezcal cocktail, the wings, fries, deviled eggs, mushroom pasta, and a cheeseburger. The drinks were good! I guess the wings were the best dish we had, but I wouldn't come running back for them. My burger was also good. For some reason the ketchup that comes with the fries is seasoned with curry, which both of us really didn't like (although we both love Indian food). We were going to ask for plain ketchup or a different sauce, but our waiter was super busy with other tables and we didn't want to bother him. My friend said her pasta was just ok. The deviled eggs were so-so. For dessert, we shared the whiskey butter cake and my friend also got the chocolate dessert to-go to take to her friend. I didn't really care for the cake. I don't think I'll be back unless it's just for drinks.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Deviled Eggs
    Deviled Eggs
    Umami Fries

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    Umami Fries
    Sweet Maple

    Sweet Maple

    4.2
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This was my first time going after passing by there a million times and we loved it! We went on a…read moreSaturday morning and had to wait about 20 mins after putting our name down. The service was good and the food came out pretty quick. We loveddddd the chicken and waffles. The seasoning on the chicken was perfect. We also got the millionaire bacon, it was sweet with a hint of spice. I'll definitely be returning.

    We arrived before 11am on a Sunday, and after putting our name down on the wait list, it only took…read moreabout 15 minutes before our table was ready. This was faster than expected, as we tried coming here around noon the weekend before, and the wait was over 30+ minutes before we decided to go somewhere else to eat. The omurice was okay - galbi was kinda sweet and the rice was on the wet side. The egg tasted pretty buttery. I thought the combination did not really work together. I liked the matcha moffle. The matcha cream was very good and flavorful and went well with the texture of the mochi waffle. The service was not great. I'm not sure if they were shortstaffed, but no one stopped by to take our order and we had to flag someone down. We had to ask for water. They refilled 1 person's water but not everyone else's, even though my cup was almost empty. When they dropped off the moffle, they didn't provide a knife and we had to ask for one. The server did bring us sharing dishes unprompted which was nice. The people who picked up our plates and utensils were very quick and came around more often that the server. Tip options start at 18% on the card reader, but you can customize the tip to the service you received. Ambiance - a little hard to have a conversation and talk with people at my table, we had to keep asking each other to repeat ourselves. Overall, probably wouldn't come back, I can get better food, ambiance and service elsewhere.

    Photos
    Brunch with friends!
    Brunch with friends!
    Egg Soufflé
    Egg Soufflé
    Florentine Benedict with potatoes

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    Florentine Benedict with potatoes
    Fambrini's Cafe

    Fambrini's Cafe

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Fambrini's is a clean streamlined establishment that is straightforward and efficient. You walk in…read moreto be greeted by a small lobby, and a full staff working diligently to accommodate customers. You place your orders and walk to their out door patio which is a haven of umbrellas and seating. The staff is kind, our interactions were limited but I can tell they were vigilant. The biscof pancakes deserve the hype, and the omelette was sensational. But the star of the show was the tri tip sandwich. The meat was sensational, and the worst part of my meal is that it ended. I'd come here again.

    I'd been wanting to check out Fambrini's Cafe for years, but always got scared away by the line out…read morethe door. So glad we finally braved it! There was plenty of seating on the (dog friendly) patio, and the line to order food moved pretty quickly. I chose the Iced Rose Latte and Brie and Mushroom Omelette, and my partner got the Dirty Chai Latte and Fambrini's Breakfast. We also got an order of the O La La Buttermilk Pancakes to share. Both coffee drinks were excellent - strong and flavorful. We definitely ordered way too much food, but it was delicious! My omelette was basic but tasty, and the pancakes were insane. We skipped the cotton candy topping, but the lemon-custard cream and homemade whipped cream were incredible. Service was quick and seamless. Would definitely return for more!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Lotus Biscoff Pancakes/STACK OF 2
    Lotus Biscoff Pancakes/STACK OF 2
    Matcha Latte

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    Matcha Latte
    Ethel's Fancy

    Ethel's Fancy

    4.4
    (417 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    A nice vibrant, modern asian fusion eatery, with a great selection if small bites and shareable…read morefood for the table, everything from delectable milk bread to fresh and fried seafood. Definitely a family style dinner, order multiple things to try! Made a reservation couple weeks in advance for a week night dinner for 2. Celebrated our anniversary and couldn't be more happy we came to Ethel's Fancy. Service was great, everyone was friendly and explained the menu and process. Helped making some personal recommendations and the food came out quickly. The only dish that came out very slowly was the dessert, we did wait about 25 - 30 minutes just for the softserve, but all other dishes came out in a moderate time. Rouge de Bordeaux Milk Bread, comes with cultured amazake butter and some salt. Comes out super warm, puffy, and soft. Very nice pull and the butter is super decadent. Very great take on a japanese shokupan, we were hesitant at first, but it makes for a good appetizer 5:5 Warm Sesame Pancakes were like those mini sesame mochi pancakes at chinese dim sum, but the texture was slightly airy. The sauce to accompany it was unlike anything i've had, smoked trout, avocado and yuzu. The avocado was not over powering and the cream on top was whipped. Amazing pairing. 5/5 Sashimi of Kanpachi, japanese cucumber salad as the base and dressing with the kanpachi sashimi. I will say this was the weakest dish of the night. While still good, it was a bit too tart, it overpowered the other natural flavors. Fish was still very good, tender and not fishy, but again, over powered but all the tartness in the dish. 3/5 Yellowfin Tuna on sushi rice - this was a great shareable plate of upscale poke. The tuna was great, no fishy taste, perfectly seasoned and the smoked kira had an amazing pop of flavor. Very rich and decadent dish, absolutely loved the harmony of a slight smokey flavor to the nice rich, umami savoriness. 5/5 Crispy Caledonian Prawns - Absolute star of the night. We could not stop talking about these prawns. Big plump prawns, fried perfectly, where the prawn itself was not dry but the shell had a shatteringly crispy exterior definitely slightly coated with a starch to give it a nice crunch. The chili ramp sunomono was a great touch, not spicy at all but added a great touch of flavor that complimented the crispy prawns. Could devour plates of these! 6/5! Sword-Fish Katsu Style - A great take with sword fish, flakey but not overcooked, great thin crispy katsu. Accompanied by kumquat and cauliflower, helps cut down the greasiness. The sauce with it was a buttery tart sauce. This was a lot better where the tartness helped the fried fish. It was like eating a fried fish burger without the buns. I really enjoyed this one. 5/5 Lastly we ordered a softserve with peaches, shokupan croutons and a caramel dressing. We had to wait about 25 minutes just for the small softserve so we were a bit surprised as other dishes came out relatively quickly or in an orderly fashion. It still tasted great as a little small dessert but definitely was surprised by how long it took. 3/5 Overall, we were very happy with our experience at Ethel's and it definitely lives up to the standard it sets. I can't wait for other new dishes to try and come back in the future.

    I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience deserves to be shared because it involves food…read moreallergy safety based on my visit to this restaurant in early June. I have a severe tree nut allergy. Before ordering, I informed our server of my allergy and asked him to identify every dish that contained nuts so I could safely participate in our family-style business dinner. He assured me he would take care of it and specifically pointed out one dish that contained hazelnuts. Later, a golden beet dish was served to the table with no mention that it contained cashews. After taking a few bites, my tongue immediately began tingling. When I asked if the dish contained nuts, our server had to go back to the kitchen to check. He returned and explained that the dish did, in fact, contain cashews and that he didn't know they had recently been added to the recipe. This is exactly the type of mistake allergy protocols are supposed to prevent. Even after it was confirmed that the dish had triggered an allergic reaction, the plate remained on our table until I specifically asked for it to be removed. At the time, I was over six months PREGNANT and traveling alone for work. I had to take Benadryl, leave my business dinner early, miss the remainder of the evening with my colleagues, and spent much of the night vomiting, experiencing gastrointestinal distress, and recovering before a full day of meetings the next morning. I recognize that ingredient changes happen. What is unacceptable is failing to communicate those changes to the staff responsible for protecting guests with serious allergies. The next day, I immediately sent a detailed email to the restaurant's management and owner explaining what happened and asking what changes they planned to make to prevent this from happening to someone else. I never received a response even 2 months later. To make matters worse, I later learned they only removed the charge for the single dish that caused the allergic reaction, despite the significant impact the incident had on my evening, as well as my colleagues, and the obvious seriousness of the situation. I'm incredibly fortunate that my reaction did not progress to anaphylaxis. Another guest may not be so lucky. If you or someone you're dining with has a serious food allergy, I would think very carefully before eating here. A restaurant can make mistakes, but how it responds afterward (or shall I say lack of response) says just as much about its commitment to guest safety; and in my experience, that response was deeply disappointing.

    Photos
    Open kitchen view from the bar seating
    Open kitchen view from the bar seating
    Warm sesame pancake
    Warm sesame pancake
    Kampachi Crudo ($26)

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    Kampachi Crudo ($26)
    Arya Steakhouse

    Arya Steakhouse

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Romantic vibe
    Fine dining

    Service/Food: Everyone specially Avi our host was seriously exceptional! From the start, he treated…read moreis us specially well. When we ordered 2 cowboy rib eye, 1 NY steak, 1 porterhouse- he asked us if we were sharing and of course we were - he offered to bring it in on a big tray which was excellent! The steaks were perfectly done! The sides were had cesar salad, the twice baked baked potato, the mixed vegetables were all excellent! The appetizers- bread basket, mushrooms and octopus were also 10/10.. Our dessert-the Pistachio Cheesecake is the best! We are so happy to be at this place! Everyone was checking on us, making sure our drinks were poured, that we were okay and if we needed anything else! Better than the highly rated steak houses..This will always be our go to Steak house on our special family occasions.. By the way our drinks were also the best! The cucumber spritzer, the watermelon, the soju and the mixed Crown Royal with Canadian whiskey.. Thank you for taking care of us so well..

    Food in this place is delicious. We ordered lots of things and it was all tasty. Unfortunately our…read more90 minutes drive was for the tomahawk, even though they have tomahawk but they can't cook it as a whole, they can cook it cut in pieces. I understand people may be ok with that, but not for me. They said they can cook it but will be 35 to 40 minutes and we said that is perfectly fine and understood. But 20 minutes in, the Chef came in gracefully to share that he can't cook it, and he will bring it now, and if we slice it and don't like it, he can then cook the slices. Me and my son thought that we should be able to eat it, even if it was a bit on the rare side, and we did. It wasn't the perfect situation for us, which is the 3 stars, but it wasn't bad. Moral of the story, if you like your tomahawk cooked in one piece, this is not the place for you. For me if it is slices, then it is no longer tomahawk but rather sliced steaks and that's not why I am here. Will we go there again? Most probably, but 100% not for tomahawk.

    Photos
    Arya Steakhouse
    Arya Steakhouse
    Arya Steakhouse

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    Sun of Wolf

    Sun of Wolf

    4.4
    (486 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Every time I have come to Sun of Wolf, I always get top notch service, everyone is so friendly…read more I also like the menu selection and the vibes of the restaurant. On this occasion, we came here on a Friday evening, we had made reservations for 6 of us. I personally ordered the agua fresca-pineapple and the lasagna. We ordered 2 chips and salsa for the table and the others ordered, arugula salad, tacos de carnitas, mahi mahi tacos, hamachi tostadas and drinks such as the spicy tamarindo, mocktail and margarita. Everyone loved their selections. One of my friends ordered the chocolate tart and the chocolate was too rich for my liking but the mousse that accompanied it was soo good, very tart and tropical. This restaurant is on California Ave., no restaurant parking but there is street parking nearby, although not on this street since its closed off to vehicle traffic. There is also a parking lot and a parking garage nearby. Once you eat, you can take a nice stroll down the Ave. Check online for details but once a month, on Thursdays, the city helps to sponsor a Thursday Live events with music, giveaways and games. Even without the Thursday Live events...this restaurant is a must if you are in the area.

    We came in a Sunday and if you come too early there is always an amazing farmers market you can…read morewalk around at. Because of timing for other errands we came at 10:30 am and they were open on time and ready. Sitting outside or inside is amazing, outside you get the crowd and the sun. Inside you get amazing interior design. My overall feedback is this is one of the rare "fancy" Mexican places that justify the price and justification. Everything is above average in taste and execution. Brunch Tacos mole: chicken mole poblano, scrambled eggs, huitlacoche, tortillas, epazote crema, fried shallots & avocado. Perfect portioning and the salad that came with it had a fantastic dressing. I pulled some chicken out and gave it to my wife and then it was perfect, a bit too overstuff before. The mole and overall taste were quite good though. Chilaquiles: tortilla chips sautéed in chile de árbol-guajillo salsa, topped with queso fresco, cilantro crema, and an egg. My wife loved this so much it made her question every time she didn't order it before. Fried egg sandwich: two over easy eggs on house baked brioche bun, chipotle aioli, avocado, bacon, cheddar cheese, fried shallot. Kids loved this and happily ate the leftover after. Iced Mexican Cafe: delicious iced coffee with a distinct Mexican taste. Distrito Verde: mezcal, basil, lemon, and falernum. Simple but refreshing brunch cocktail, really paired well with the mole tacos. Chips and salsa: These are not free but worth the price. Both the chips and the 2 salsa are of extremely good quality and preparation. Abnormally tasty and the kids went crazy eating it.

    Photos
    Interior, narrow but deep, nicely designed
    Interior, narrow but deep, nicely designed
    Chips and salsa
    Chips and salsa
    Iced Mexican coffee

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    Iced Mexican coffee

    Arbuckle Café - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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