We were starving after being at Stanford Medical for appointments all afternoon so since we were staying here at the Westin, decided to grab a bite to eat here. The bartender was very nice and took our order for a burger with garlic fries. Took about 10 minutes and she brought it out in a bag and ready to take up to our room. The cheeseburger had avocado and bacon on it and it was out of this world and the garlic fries were hot, crunchy and delicious! Highly recommend this place. read more

We only had drinks here, but the food smelled good. The drinks were great. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The cafe has grab and go or buffet breakfasts and Happy Hour specials. read more

Café Soleil - Dark side of the Street poolside - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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The food was surprisingly good, like every bite had some good flavor going on without being too much, I liked that you could tell it was fresh and made with care which you don't always get these days, the people working were super patient too even when it got a little crowded and folks were waiting they kept cool and polite, I noticed they treated everyone with the same kind of attention no matter how busy it got which was nice to see, even the small stuff like checking if we needed water or just giving a smile as they passed made the whole vibe better, sometimes you don't even notice good service unless it's missing but here it stood out in a good way, also the place was clean and not too loud so you could chill and enjoy your meal without any fuss, honestly it felt like they actually cared about doing a good job and making sure people had a nice time, the food hit that sweet spot of simple and delicious and I'm glad we stopped in. read more

Sadly the only saving graces for Soleil are the service, location and the 1000 Open Table Bonus Points, um yeah, I just checked, the points are 'pending', pending what?!? A good review? Sorry I cannot tell a lie about mediocre food. Soleil is probably used as a marketing tool for the Westin or rather, a sit down version of their room service. Yes, it's pretty bad: -Caesar salad, absolutely NO flavor. -Lobster/crab cakeS, don't advertise CAKES, when there is only ONE, not bad, the best thing of the night. -Duck confit, overcooked and WAY too many beans, but not horrible. -Soleil tasting was pretty horrendous, it was worst than last week's left overs at Aunt Edna's. The filet was dry, medium, when RARE was requested, also it was drenched in sauce that was reminiscent of something one could purchase at a discount store, the ahi was GRAY in color, the lamb chop was very fatty and the lobster pot pie was laughable. Freebies: bread, not very good, not crusty or crunchy, the olive oil and balsalmic had a mound of buttered minced garlic-yum. Odd and a bit scary: the brunch stainless steel warmers were still sitting on the dining floor. Parking: Soleil validates, make sure you get this or you'll be even more pissed that you had an wretched overpriced meal AND had to pay for parking. read more

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Restaurant Soleil is on the second floor of the Westin Palo Alto. I have been here several times before and liked the ambience. It is a good place to meet a friend or have a small gathering. The Sunday brunch was excellent and I liked the lamb chops on the menu. The closest to a disappointment I had was perhaps the butterflied grilled chicken which was dry. read more

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************** 1687 ************* We stayed at the Westin Palo Alto for a StayCation, we came here for brunch. Love the open kitchen, breakfast buffet hot and cold are served. You got bacon, sausage, omelette, salmon, cheese, snacks, and everything else. Good service, cute place, and good service. We will definitely return here next time we stay at the Westin again. read more

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I am absolutely blown away by the Sunday brunch buffet at Restaurant Soleil. Around a year ago, I tried out the buffet and had a lackluster experience, but since, Restaurant Soleil has upgraded their buffet to include a raw seafood bar and a choice of an entrée a la carte--and the buffet experience is beyond amazing. Its $40/person price is a great deal, given the bottomless champagne or mimosas, the entrée, and the wide variety of food selections from the raw seafood bar, appetizers, baked goods, and desserts. The seafood at the raw bar is high-quality; I enjoyed the sweet oysters coupled with mini lemon wedges. My parents were especially enthusiastic towards the flavorful king crab legs. I also savored the creamy, indulgent foie gras and the fresh deviled eggs topped with ham. For the entrées, I was pleasantly surprised by the vibrant plating and the taste of the dishes (I've tried a couple on different occasions). The NY steak & eggs features a juicy steak with the crispiest purple and brown potatoes I've ever tried--highly addicting. The catch-of-the-day risotto had a tenderly grilled salmon and a velvety risotto with peas and ham, finished with a healthy heap of arugula. The Kobe steak burger was dripping with juice and topped with fresh avocado. For dessert, today's tiramisu was perfection--I loved how the cake was soaked with liquor and was not sweet. The chocolate fondue fountain is always a delight to play with as well. There are also an assortment of adorable, mini macarons of different flavors. I have had a delightful time at Restaurant Soleil and will be back again soon! read more

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Brunch Bust. We were informed the mimosas were unlimited. Sadly, that was not the case and champagne cost $8 a glass, after 2. I paid it because Lord knows we needed it at this serious/drama/emotional brunch. The food selection was impressive, not enough to be overwhelming but lots of choices. There was an omelet maker I'm sad I missed. I'm ALWAYS excited to see eggs Benedict, plus the other breakfast friendly pork options of bacon ans sausage, smoked salmon. The one sushi roll did feel a tad out of place, so did the cold cut assortments. Pluses- the staff was very courteous, and nice, although a little slow with the water. For $40 buck or so, I'd probably take my brunch butt somewhere else tho. read more

The only reason to come here is if you're staying at the Westin and are simply too tired to muster the energy to walk to the plethora of great restaurants on University Avenue. My experience was grim. We came on a Saturday night at 7pm to discover it was pretty much empty. Two other tables were finishing up their meals and we were alone in the restaurant for the duration. We came, despite my trepidation about it being a hotel restaurant, because one of our guest really wanted fondue. La Fondue in Saratoga was by far my first choice, but it books up weeks in advance. Since the Yelp reviews here -- particularly for the Fondue -- were solid, we decided to give it a try. What a mistake. Let's say, among other things that they are temperature-challenged. It started with undrinkable, lukewarm sparkling wine which we had no choice but to send back. The Fondue Savoyarde was actually quite good, but alas nowhere near warm enough. Just like Bon Vivant downtown [avoid], they serve it atop a candle instead of a sterno and you quickly end up with two-foot strands. The Charcuterie plate was a nice idea, but "sweaty" -- it was all greasy and warm from having sat out too long, so of the fat had literally fallen out of its holes in the salami and Chorizo. The pate-like substance was not bad, awful warm as well. Note that I'm not saying these meats should be refrigerator temperature; there is certainly more flavor when they've been out a bit. But these felt like they'd been out for hours in a warm kitchen. Too much. The steaks my guests had were reasonable, the New York was better than the Filet (which was quite chewy for a Filet). The Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese ravioli was a train wreck, horrific presentation, blobs of goat cheese, a thick sweet-ish sauce, ringed by a balsamic reduction. The staff were nice enough and they tried hard. In conclusion, I will admit some downward bias by the fact it was empty because I loathe eating in empty restaurants, primarily because I'm wondering what everyone else knows that I don't. In the end, if you're a tired Westin guest and you can't muster the energy to walk down the street, I might eat here. Or, if you're a Fondue diehard and can't find another option, but make sure they serve it hot and ideally with a sterno, not a candle. read more

Four of us went to Soleil in the Westin Palo Alto before going to the DCI West Championships in July. Westin PA is a fairly nice hotel and Soleil looks fits right in with the decor and ambiance. Soleil serves Mediterranean cuisine. The French Onion soup was very good. The four of us had seafood pasta, paella, duck, and sea bass. They were all very good. The seafood pasta was excellent; not too strong in flavors and the wide-noodle pasta cooked well. The paella wasn't as good as what you'd get at some Spanish tapa places in the city. We had a discount to get 50% off the meal which was totally gravy, but in all honestly I'd come here paying full price for the meal. The service and surroundings are great and the food is good. The menu isn't very big what but what have, they do very well. read more

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The family went for Father's Day brunch and it was great! Definitely added to my list of brunch spots now. Turns out, they have Champagne Brunch every Sunday. $32.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors and free for kids under 3. Although the restaurant itself is small, it's intimate and has a great selection of food. They have a cold food bar, hot food bar, carving station, omelet station, and plenty of desserts, including a chocolate fountain! I got full really fast, but if I could, I wanted to eat EVERYTHING! read more

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Fancy restaurant. I came here my boss and co-workers to entatain an invited speaker. I had roasted samon, salad, and, chocolate moose, and green tea. Great. good for fancy people. I wouldn't go by myself... it is expensive. read more

I remember when this Westin was built years ago and after reading the initial Mercury news review, I meant to try it out. Cut to years later, and I'd totally forgotten this place existed. So in the effort of finding something downtown PA that I'd not tried we gave it a shot. The hotel is quite nice and the walk upstairs into the well appointed dining room was a good first impression. However, the place was completely empty except for a table of four. Hmmm..not a good sign when you're in an area that has tons of retail activity. Given, they are off of the main Univ ave strip and they are in a hotel, but if the food is good, they will come right? Then menu had a lot of interesting items, so much so, that I decided on the Soleil Sampler. Lamp chop, petite filet mignon, seared ahi, and mini lobster pot pie. Now everything was cooked well, but the flavors just didn't do it for me. The meats were on the salty side (and I like my sodium) with the ahi being on the bland side. Lobster pot pie might have been the most flavorful of the bunch but also the smallest. I'd have to say I was disappointed since my expectations of the Mercury review. The service was very nice and they treated us as though we were guests at the hotel. It's just too bad the cuisine seems to have gone down hill from what I remember reading. For the amount of money you'll end up paying, there are plenty of other place in the area where you'd have a much better meal. read more

We ended up coming here because a group of us wanted to celebrate graduation, but since we were booking so late, all the better restaurants were already reserved. The service was good enough for our group, and they were able to accommodate us, but the menu was very uninspired and the food was just not very good. Is that about normal for a hotel restaurant? I tried: -Dungeness Crab Salad: Not much of a salad. It was like a Tuna Tartare with crab instead of tuna.... was okay... -Lamb Chops: Swimming in sauce. The sauce wasn't blissful, and the lamb chops themselves were pretty boring. I guess this is what happens to lamb chops that aren't seasoned to great taste. I usually only see lamb chops at fantastic restaurants, so they come out tasting fantastic. (These weren't fantastic). -Pork Chop: Dry & Tough. The sauce tasted like a fruity barbecue sauce. Thus, not a good pork chop. The yucca fries that come with it were nice at least. -Grand Sequoia Dessert: 'Twas a mousse with orange flavor in a chocolate ring. Not the fluffiest mousse I've had, but was probably still the best dish of the night. _________ Conclusion:Convenient for hotel guests, but I would not recommend it otherwise. Expensive prices for bland and uninspired fare, cooked to unimpressive levels. read more

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After spending a few days in Vegas I came back home and was on a desperate search for something similar to Vegas buffets. This, my friends, is not. Reading the reviews for this place and also seeing there was only ONE picture of the brunch buffet made me curious. I had to try it, and also take pictures of everything and share with the world. It was torture for me to not have pictures to view! Alas, I now have pictures for you, my fellow yelpers! Here is what I scouted at the Sunday brunch buffet: Pancakes, waffles, omelets, eggs made to order Carving station (prime rib and turkey breast the day I came) Pasta, roasted breakfast potatoes, roasted vegetables, bacon (not crispy,) breakfast sausages Lox, the toppings, and bagels Assortment of breakfast pastries Eggs benedict Crackers, breads, cheeses, cold meats Assortment of tossed salads Cold seafood platter Some vegetarian sushi roll Dessert table with macaroons, tiramisu, pastries, bite-sized desserts, chocolate fondue with marshmallows, strawberries, and cigar cookies to dip I must comment that the pancakes were quite interesting. They were flatter, more pale and chewier than what I am used to, but still tasty. I liked them (: I ate 9 or 11 of them eehheeh. Decent brunch buffet with a lot of variety, but probably not worth the $42 per person bill. I suggest you save your $42 and spend it gorging at a deserving Vegas buffet instead. read more

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We had cheese fondue for appetizer. They use focaccia instead of baguette. It was messy. The taste of the cheese fondue is ok. Had better. The experience is not memorable. Based on the price I'm paying, there are loads of better restaurants out there with better value and better price. read more

More like a 3.5. I decided to stay in one night and eat at the restaurant inside the hotel. It was very convenient and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. There weren't many diners there. Everyone was super nice and attentive. I had the ahi tuna tartare. First bite of it with the seaweed was that it was great! As I ate more of it, it became too sweet for me. I recommend sharing it as an appetizer. For my main entree, I decided to go light with a black truffle with lobster mac'n cheese. Sounds very decadent. I like black truffle oil and shavings of it but the pieces of black truffle here were tough. The Mac'n Cheese was a bit bland and I had to season it with salt'n pepper several times. I was a bit surprise by the amount of lobster on the mac'n cheese. It was quite a lot. As others have mentioned, expect to pay more since it is in the hotel. read more

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We went here with my parents for brunch the weekend before Mother's Day. I really wanted to go for a brunch buffet and find somewhere we could take our three young kids, and there doesn't seem to be a lot on offer in the area. We were pretty happy with Soleil. It's clean and bright with a pleasatn atmosphere. The food was mostly good and the service very friendly and attentive. Nice coffee and mimosas. There wasn't much of a buffet to speak of (I guess they stopped doing that a little while back), just a seafood bar and a dessert bar, but that's OK. I felt it was pretty good value for money, considering the area. The waiters and staff were great with my young kids and made them pancakes etc. for their main course while the rest of us had steak and eggs. The waitstaff really was the highlight of the experience. The Cons (aka, stuff that kept me from giving 5 stars): - my steak was ordered medium rare and was definitely rare. I'm OK eating rare-ish meat so I didn't send it back but I ended up taking most of it home and cooking again for dinner. - The dessert bar was pretty sad. Chocolate fountain turned off and just dripping. Everything half-stocked. Most items very stale. Not worth the calories. - It's a very small space. Very small. Only room for a few tables and there were a couple bigger parties so the noise level was pretty high when we got there at noon. My father has significant hearing loss and found it extremely difficult to hear the waiters or my kids. - Brunch is from 10 - 2, but they were packing up shop around us at 1. read more

We enjoyed a terrific Mother's Day Brunch here last Sunday. The food was excellent- great quality; standouts were the smoked salmon, prime rib, cheeses, omelette.. well, I could go on and on.. Even the champagne was the best I've ever had as included in a brunch.. Vuolopo or something..? And the service-- GABY was the Best- as were her backup crew!! Everyone was terrific; warm, friendly, but professional. Since it was the busiest brunch day of the year, I won't spend a long time on the problem with the online confirmation mix up. My son had an issue, as well as some other parties that I observed but all were handled with courtesy. I would advise being more organized next year plus maybe a prettier greeting table. read more

Breakfast is Very Good and the Service staff was really awesome... this would be my family's Breakfast Place

Not bad. Overpriced but reasonable for Palo Alto. Slammed my check down on the table almost right after we sat down. read more

Café Soleil - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

We have been to Soleil numerous times over the last six years and found it to always have the highest-quality cuisine served in a tastefully appointed, comfortable and QUIET dining environment. Yes, you can dine at Soleil and carry on table conversation with a party of six, or even eight, and have everybody able to hear each other without shouting. If you've grown frustrated with the high noise levels and many other restaurants, this is the place to go for that intimate dinner, or business meal where you want to be able to talk to each other, AND have a great meal. The Sunday brunch is spectacular! A huge array of dishes to choose from and all of champagne you can drink! Highly recommended! read more

Nice little place, We came for breakfast and enjoyed ourselves. Despite coming right before ten, we were still able to get to the buffet which had a really nice selection of eggs, sausages,pancakes etc. There were some really good fruit too! For those with smaller appetites there is also the option to order off the menu. For example they have a really good selection of egg white omelettes, oatmeal and fruit bowls. Good food for a good price. Simple delicious and reasonable. read more

This is a stylish classy place. The atmosphere comfortable. Not badly priced for lunch (average entree about $13, but about $27.50 for dinner). Waiter was really attentive, but we were the only one's there. Why do people overlook restaurants in hotels (upstairs at the Starwood Westin in this case)? The soup du jour was tomato with shell fish. Not spicy, not bland, very tasty; followed by gambas "a la plancha" with chorizo de Espana (sautéed prawns "a aa plancha" with olive oil, garlic, chorizo, served with saffron rice). This shrimp were plumb and nice...the chorizo spicy and a nice complement. I asked for an open full-bodied cab (glass) and got one, and a double expresso to follow. This place is quiet, you have their attention always. So, if you want to talk, this is the place. read more

Well, I've been to Soleil three more times since my initial review, and have ordered the fondue each and every time. Every time, it has impressed, and is one of the best fondues you'll find anywhere, even better than restaurants that charge twice the price for their fondues. The French Savoyard fondue has an excellent, deep, rich blend of flavors. The sharpness of the gruyère is balanced with the sweetness of the emmenthaler. But then you add the unique, sharper flavor of the beaufort, and you really make an amazing fondue! But the reason I'm updating this review is not to continue raving about the fondue because I already did enough of that in the previous review. I'm updating this review to also rave about their wonderful wine menu. I've ordered a couple of their white wines with my cheese fondue, and they were both really quite good. The highlight, though, is their Italian Torre di Luna pinot grigio. It perfectly complemented my cheese fondue, and made for an excellent pairing. One other thing worth mentioning is that you can park in their private garage for free; just have the restaurant validate your parking, and you're good! Overall, Restaurant Soleil tucked into the Palo Alto Westin is certainly a hidden gem. Only 19 people have reviewed it here on Yelp, and those who haven't are certainly missing out! read more

Soleil is located in the Westin ... had lunch here. The Caesar salad was good stuff, try it with shrimp or chicken. I also had the Kobe Burger, not so good, tasted like frozen grocery store meat, and served with standard diner type fries. Atmosphere is pretty cool with open kitchen and bar seating. Service was really good and the ice tea is mango or something fruity, very good! Typical of what to expect in quality and prices from a hotel restaurant ... read: over priced. read more

The restaurant is nice, but that is to be expected since it is in the Westin Hotel. I'm only giving it 4 stars because the melon plate was overpriced and it took way too long to get my ticket. They breakfast buffet is only 19.00 which is reasonable. If I return, that will be my option since I paid 8.00 for a plate of melon alone. read more

Café Soleil - Mmm melon! - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Their breakfast buffet on Sunday was $19, though most menu items are in the $10-18 range, so it's a better value. The fruit was very fresh - beautiful and very sweet strawberries in February?? Plus sweet pineapple, beautiful blackberries... The omelette bar has a good selection, with shrimp and goat cheese among the filling options, plus egg whites. You order at the counter, and they bring it to you after it's done. The Belgian waffles are also made to order and were done just right. The rest of the breakfast has standard scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast, and potatoes (not crisped enough for my liking). There were also bagels with lox and cream cheese. Coffee was nice and strong. The lunch selection actually looked much more appealing with individually made dishes and a bigger spread. It definitely wasn't cheap - 4 adults and 2 kids under 5 added up to $120. Parking is $2 the first hour and $1 for each hour after that, $10 per day if you are a hotel guest, $15 for valet. I came only because our friends were staying at the hotel, but for the price, there are plenty of other brunch places with free parking in the area. read more

When I came here for dinner, I left quite surprised at how good the food was for being a hotel restaurant! Came here with the in-laws for MIL's bday. Parking is valet only unless you can find street parking on the side of the hotel. On a Sunday evening, we were only the 3rd table around. Pretty quiet. For starters, we had their Ahi Tuna Tartare and Calamari. Both were tasty and just enough for 4 people. For dinner, I had the Moroccan Spiced Grilled Lamb Chop with oregano white beans, baby carrots, in a lovely lamb jus. This was SOOOOO GOOOD! Generous portion too. I just wanted to lick the plate! Service was good since it wasn't busy at all. I hope to come back again just for this lamb. Passport cards accepted. read more

Had dinner here with 3 friends. The food selection was pretty good. I ordered a tasting platter along with a friend. The lobster pot was delicious but unfortunately that was the only thing that had real flavor. The dish included a lamb chop and steak and seared tuna, all of which I thought was very bland. My friend who ordered the same thing and was glad that there wasn't much seasoning on the meat ( I guess it depend on what you are looking for .) The dessert menu was a typical dessert menu with the Tiramisu , chocolate cake, creme brulee ,etc. The atmosphere was nice but overall, for this kind of money, I would expect more. read more

I found this place on another web-site and made reservations for today. I went for the Sunday Brunch and it was a bit disappointing. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, however, the selection was sparse and all over the place. I wouldn't even know where to start describing what was there to eat. The buffet had the usual selection, waffles, sausage, bacon (HECKA GOOD), omelet's, and the dessert bar which included a chocolate fondue fountain. There was a separate table that had seafood and other items that I did not recognize. Possibly due to the fact that I spend most of my time in BBQ joints. This would be a great place to take ya Momma for Mother's Day or to take your sweetheart for a special occasion. I'm only giving it three out of five b/c for the selection of food to price ratio...it just didn't add up. PS: This restaurant is in the Westin Hotel. Three Trans Fat Stars out of Five... read more

Hands down the best brunch place I have been to in a long time. Service is A+, a real class act from the management to the waiting staff. Food is excellent (and they even have a chocolate fountain!). Caveat: expect it to be expensive but in my opinion it is worth it. read more

My husband took me here for Mothers day brunch and it is wonderful! The food was fresh, delicious and nicely presented. The staff were all cheerful and helpful. We had a great time and a well stuffed tummy. Valet parking is included too! read more

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I don't know if this place necessarily deserves 2 stars but I felt a bit betrayed! A friend of ours is going through some relationship dealings and some of the girls in our group got together here for brunch. It was recommended to J from a co-worker so I called them up to make sure they did a brunch, what times, and (of course) do they have UNLIMITED mimosas? Well apparently they said they do on the phone SO for $32/person and a huge buffet a food, I think it's worth it. The attendants were really nice and helpful while we were eating and talking. Right away they asked us what we want to drink, we said champagne or mimosas - HOWEVER at this point the attendant says they only allow 2 drinks per person. I was a bit confused because I had double checked to make sure it was unlimited and what's the point of going if it's that expensive w/o all the alcohol?! (HEY - we are drunkards who are going through some severely depressing crap!). Anyway, the food was edible but it was more designed for the lunch crowd - Plus I feel weird mixing sushi and salami with bacon and eggs (But maybe that's just me). I really don't think I will be coming back here again - A little too pricey for a smaller buffet and limited mimosas! read more

We came here because we were guest at the hotel and didnt want to leave for dinner! We hang out at the bar on the first floor for a few drinks and didnt feel safe driving anywhere. Marilyn at the bar was excellent! She had great stories to tell and was very entertaining! The restaurant itself was overpriced. 2 burgers and a bottle of wine $90 with tip. Service was awful as well. They were too busy setting up for breakfast for the next morning and completely disregarded us and the table next to us. Not worth $90 at all....sorry! read more

Booked our Easter reservations for the family here and it was a hit! Had never been to this Westin property before and it is gorgeous. For the Easter brunch they had the whole day dialed in from the moment we made our reservations, to check in, to the service and the food. They had a Prime rib station, Ham, chocolate fountain, omelette, waffle station, hot plates, dessert station, cold station, freshly squeezed orange juice/mimosas and a cheese station like no other. The Easter brunch prices were very reasonable and they also offer Sunday brunch here on a weekly basis so make sure to bring the family to check this place out. read more

How can you not give this restaurant 5-stars? Yes, it is hidden in a hotel on El Camino, yes, it is always empty, but the food and the atmosphere is simply impeccable. Since the restaurant is a little pricey, we only go here during special events, and we have never been disappointed. We would dress up, walk around Stanford Mall to work up a good appetite and drive to Westin for our wonderful dinner. During our last visit, we ordered Little Neck Clams ($9.95) as appetizer, Pork Chop ($25.50) and Steamed Halibut ($28.95) as main entrees. I actually ordered the Lamb Chops, but I guess they heard me say Pork instead. Nonetheless, the pork was decent, not as special as the Lamb, but it was good. My wife's halibut was cooked perfectly; moist and good quality fish. The restaurant is located on the second floor of the very well appointed Westin, and make sure you get your parking validated by the restaurant. To ease your mind, they have already added 15% gratuity to the check, so you don't have to fire the old brain up after such a satisfying meal. This beats driving all the way up to SF for an equally satisfying meal for 4X the price. read more

We came here for the Father's Day brunch buffet. The diners are spread out between two rooms, the buffet in one and the main dining room off to the side. I requested an easily accessible table for my grandfather, who can't walk well but enjoys seeing everything, so we were seated right next to the dessert buffet (perfect!) Service was slow but very polite - our coffees and mimosas were kept topped off throughout the meal. The food selection seemed to be a weird mishmash of things - Mediterranean cold cuts, French and Italian cheeses, grilled vegetables, sushi and seaweed salads, a tofu caprese salad, frittata, smoked salmon, pastries, and a selection of cocktail shrimp, mussels, and clams (which were overcooked and tough). They also had stations with steamed veggies, sausages/bacon, eggs benedict, ribs, sliders, and a random steamer with dim sum. The made to order Belgian waffles and maple syrup were good (according to the Canadian who decided the maple syrup was so good he put it in his coffee instead of sugar), but the omelettes were dry. We arrived just in time to get a few perfect cuts of prime rib our first go around the buffet, but by the time we went to check out a second round they were out and were firing up flat iron steaks instead. Both were well cooked, but it was a bit disappointing that they didn't have enough of the advertised "Father's Day special" for even half the brunch hours. The highlight of the meal was definitely the dessert spread. Beautiful macarons, a lovely moist strawberry & cream layer cake, a selection of other cakes, mini tart shells filled with chocolate mousse or topped with meringues, and best of all a good selection of fruits with a huge chocolate fountain. I wouldn't come again, but we were pleased with the meal we had. read more

Café Soleil - New American Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Read this if you're considering a place for Thanksgiving dinner for next year. Maybe they do better at hosting brunch on their regular schedule. This review was our experience for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. I was disappointed with the overall experience considering it was $55 pp. We've had better experience at Left Banks for Thanksgiving dinner. They sat our table of 10 plus high chair right near the entrance of the restaurant. It was tight to get in and out of your seats, since we had to make frequent trips to the buffet. The seating probably wouldn't have been a big deal if dinner wasn't buffet style. The table behind us was about 2' apart from us, so wasn't easy to navigate through. I could understand if the restaurant was busy and was trying to get as many seating as they could. But the other side of the restaurant had fewer people in that section, so I couldn't understand why we were crammed in this section. The buffet setup wasn't very fluid either. The carving station was on the other side of the restaurant past the hostess check in; opposite of the dessert table. We only noticed it because we saw people coming from there with turkey on their plates. Maybe I'm super picky about this because I'm a corporate event manager and consider setup when planning to feed 10,000 people. This made no sense to me on why the carving station was hidden on the other side of the entrance. Unless they didn't want that station to get hit hard, so they could control servings. Service - our server was very attentive, but the staff supporting to bus the tables were not on par. We had our plates stacked on the table, since they weren't being cleared. We saw a few of them eye our plates, but would pass on by. It got to point where my brother had to practically stand up in front of them and asked "may I hand these to you". Sweet Tomatoes does a better job clearing plates than this restaurant. If you're required to pay an automatic gratuity and tip for a party of 10 does it mean you should expect less service? Final disappointment of the meal - cold coffee. Who doesn't love a warm cup of coffee with their dessert? We were all excited to have our warm beverage with our sweets only to find out the first sip was cold coffee that must have been sitting in the urn for sometime. We should have known something was off when we saw the half and half coagulating on top. Seems like the cream was out for awhile too. Would I be super picky about this experience? Nah, if it was Home Town Buffet, but from a Westin hotel restaurant? So yes I think it's fair to have certain expectations from Restaurant Soleil at a price of $55 + per person. read more

This review is for their Easter Sunday brunch only. $40/person in 2010 (excluding tax&tip). 3 good stars: 1) Unlimited champagne/juice/mimosa & beverage. 2) Attentive service, super nice & clean white-table atmosphere. Quaint posh Palo Alto location. We got seated by the window & looked out the balcony. (Well, at least I did, everyone else was too busy stuffing their faces) 3) huge variety & selection. From carving station (beef & lamb - was good) to waffle maker, omelet station, chocolate fountain, dessert table w/cakes. (you can tell I eat my dessert first). I filled myself up with the lamb, desserts & drizzled my crispy waffle under the chocolate fountain. 2 negative stars: 1) mediocre food & culinary skills. They had a table of cheese, crackers & dried fruits , smoked salmon - all of which I can buy at the grocery store. So my $40 didn't get me very far - only quantity overload. 2) The quality was very average. Sausage, bacon, eggs - all kept warm over the heat tray - can't remember what else if offered as it was not memorable. Overall, this is a fancy place to treat your hungry Dad/Uncle/boyfriend on special occasions as quantity definitely beats quality. I wouldn't take the stuck-up high maintenance foodie Mom or gf here. read more