Great service, some excellent bites, others that were just ok and a warm space! We tried four different dishes, and two of those were great - the tomatoes and squid salad. The lobster pasta fell a bit flat and wouldnt be something to order again. The service was quick, friendly and the space feels warm and comfortable and had most tables full on a Saturday night. Worth trying if you're looking for high quality, modern american food in the area! read more

If you're looking for a spot with a cozy, rustic camper vibe and top-notch food, this place is a must-visit. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with a laid-back charm that makes you feel like you've stumbled upon a hidden gem. The food? Absolutely fantastic. Every dish was well-executed, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented--all at a very reasonable price. What stood out this evening was the amberjack crudo; the flavors of the agua chili paired with sweet ripe kiwis -- made for an exceptional and memorable dish. The cocktails were equally impressive, crafted with creativity and precision -- making them a highlight of the experience. Service was friendly, though a bit stretched. Our waitress was handling a large section, so we didn't see much of her except the beginning and end, and unfortunately, our crudo was forgotten until we asked about it. However, she was kind and accommodating when we did interact. Overall, the atmosphere, food, and drinks more than made up for the minor service hiccup. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Brunch at Camper is splendid! I highly recommend the campfire milkpunch, if you like a strong but satisfying brunch cocktail. Additionally Camper has the most crazy amazing pancakes, like little lemon clouds of deliciousness melting In your mouth! You gotta try 'em! read more

Camper - Strawberry rhubarb French toast, pancake and potatoes - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I've heard of Camper from numerous friends and was so happy when one of my good friends suggested we go there for my birthday dinner. It definitely exceeded my expectations - the food was delicious, the drinks on par and the ambiance was lovely. I gave it 4 stars. Sadly it fell short one star on the service. It took FOREVER to get our drinks, and the server even completely forgot my friends drink. So I was sitting there waiting patiently for her drink for a long time. It finally did come and he apologized but still, that left an impression. The food: For an appetizer we got a burrata dish and the chick pea croquettes. The Burrata was tasty with fresh veggies. The croquettes were OK. A little too small for my taste. Now the star of the night was the bucatini. I read the reviews raving this dish and my, were they RIGHT! The sauce was to die for, the noodles fresh and paired so nicely together. The duck pasta was also very tasty and filling. I would 100% recommend those dishes. For dessert we got the panacotta which was really good! I loved how it came out as a big portion and can be shared with two people. The ambiance is really pretty. There's plenty of outdoor tables, where you can quietly sit and talk and it's tucked away from the bustle and bustle of the Main Street. Overall I totally recommend coming here just for the delicious food, especially the main dishes! I would just be prepared to have the service be not that great. But it's totally still worth the trip. read more

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The food tasted great! I do wish the portions were a bit bigger, and this is the first time I'm saying this as I'm 96lbs. The prices is what to expect in the area, the crab pasta was $37. I got a couple of shells in my pasta but it was definitely delicious read more

To all the real ones who know--Camper's brunch is BACK, and I couldn't be happier! This downtown Menlo Park staple is serving up more chances to enjoy their incredible food, and trust me, it's worth it. There isn't a lot of brunch photos for camper online so allow me to feed your eyes with the me documenting our satisfying brunch. Came hungry and majorly craving carbs, so my girl friend and I went all in--Logan's Orange + Currant Scones for her, Challah French toast for me. Her scones? Warm. Flaky--paired with fresh butter that gave such a buttery finish to every bite. She wasn't super hungry, so the "on the side" menu was perfect. Love that they offer that option. Me on the other hand? I was ravenous. LET ME TELL YOU--the Challah French toast was life-changing. A thick, buttery slab of challah, cooked perfectly, ridiculously satisfying to cut and bite into, and topped with macadamia nut butter that added just the right nuttiness and umami. I can't even describe in words how good it was, no words would do it justice, you'd have to try it for yourself. Shoutout to our server and the kitchen for the amazing service and accommodating my request to swap the apples for strawberries. I'm 100% sure those apples would've been amazing, but sadly, my gut does not agree. Thought I'd still be starving, but that French toast was actually the perfect level of satisfying. Took my chicken apple sausages for family to enjoy; I'm already dreaming of my next French toast bite. Service? A+. Ambiance? Perfect for a girly brunch. Plus, downtown Menlo Park has easy parking (a rare win for downtowns) and is just 8 minutes from Palo Alto Shopping Center if you want to make a day of it. TL;DR: Brunch at Camper is back! Please make a reservation on OpenTable and enjoy a nice brunch solo or with someone. Their hours aren't updated online-- but know that brunch is back. Get the French toast. Thank me later. read more

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So delicious! Especially the spaghetti with crab- chewy fresh pasta and the sauce was amazing. The raw tuna was also wonderful. We happened to order the sourdough with avocado spread which was also awesome and the bread worked well for "cleaning up" remaining sauce/spread. The rigatoni was also good. Service was fast and good. It was pretty loud (Saturday night) and a little cold for some reason. We are definitely going back! read more

Absolutely amazing experience at Camper! We came for dinner on Saturday and really liked the inspired outdoor aesthetic, with blankets and warm wood tones. The layout is well thought out, with a large patio to the left, the bar on the right, and the main dining area extending toward a banquet room in the back. There were two of us, and we tried several cocktails because their specialty drink menu was so interesting. The best drink by far was the Jardin D'Hiver--Thai citrus-infused tequila, St. Germain, and (I think) Aperol. It was so good, easily the best drink we've had in a long time. We also tried the bartender's special, Straw Man, which was fine but didn't stand out enough to be a featured drink. The Peas Maker was fresh and herbal, and the Basilisk (vodka with matcha) had a nice color but wasn't for us--the matcha didn't add much. We should have gone for the spicy margarita, which looked great, as did most of the drinks. Loved how creative their flavors were. With dessert, we had the mezcal espresso martini (Midnight Raider), which was good. For food, we started with the Kanpachi Crudo, which was beautifully plated with apple and celery. The celery flavor stood out the most, and while it was very good, it needed a bit more salt. The warm sourdough bread was amazing, but we didn't care for the hummus it came with--it was supposed to have garlic but tasted bland to us (we're salt and butter lovers, though). Even the bread presentation was great, served as a mini loaf on a nice board. The twice-cooked carrots left us torn--it tasted good, but the dish was mostly chickpeas with just two small carrots on top. We had expected more of a veggie-forward dish. The English pea agnolotti, however, was everything--I'm obsessed. We seriously considered ordering it again but opted for dessert instead. Dessert was the only slight letdown. The menu had four options--pudding, a play on s'mores, a tart, and sorbets (some of which were already out at 5 PM on a Saturday). We chose the tart, which came in a skillet with a nice crust. Lattes were excellent, and I loved the glassware and mugs. The whole aesthetic of the restaurant is really well done. Service was great--our server was friendly, as was the server assistant and the hosts. Everyone made us feel welcome and taken care of. read more

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Good food and drink, portions not as great on value but it's to be expected as it's Menlo Park. Bartender Alexis was lovely! Been here before for a work larger group dinner outside in the summer which was a great experience as well. read more

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Can't say I understand the hype. I was with a party of six and we tried a few appetizers, a bunch of entrées, cocktails, and wine. With the exception of the beet salad nothing stood out. Everything was mediocre even the things the waiter recommended. For the cost, my friends and I have agreed we won't return. read more

I am blown away. The crab spaghetti was very pleasant, with a light tomato sauce, fried garlic, and squash. It was perfection. The flavors of the corn agnolotti transcended anything my taste buds have ever experienced, and the textures were unparalleled. Milk jam pudding was also divine!!! read more

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Food was enjoyable, cauliflower was a standout dish for me along with the the squid ink pasta. Service was great Alejandra really helped us out on what to order and for that 5 stars! So many times a wait or will tell you things that are okay or just the most popular, but brutal honesty on what to order is what separates a good form a a great dining experience along with other factors. Ambiance is nice and on point for the price point and location of the eatery. read more

Camper - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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I've been here in the past, including corporate events, and it's a great little spot. The overall environment is fantastic, and the contemporary look complements the overall decor, service, and food (including presentation) quite well. My wife and I have had a variety of dishes there, and they were all quite good. Everything felt reasonably high quality and fresh (which one would hope given their price point). Unless you get a private room, I don't think it's great to go with a huge group. It's worth a try if you haven't been here before so you can judge for yourself. read more

Came to check out this cute little spot in downtown Menlo Park. I like the ambiance, we sat outside on the patio with heaters. I didn't know what to expect coming here, as we were just walking around and picked out this spot. The burrata with prosciutto app and ricotta with sourdough bread were delicious. We love some good cheeses! I also had the rigatoni and it tasted pretty good but it was a little dry for me, I needed more sauce/ragu. The parm on top was a little dry as well but meat sauce did taste good. My friend got the wagyu burger, which he said was pretty good and it was giant! We thought it would've been on the smaller size but did not disappoint a hungry fella. Overall, service was good, very nice and attentive. If you live in the area, looks like a cute little date spot to check out. read more

Camper - Gold Die Mezze Rigatoni with braised pork ragu, sourdough bread crumbs, & parm - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Food was horrible. Nothing tasted delicious which was shocking given location/ cost! Deviled eggs - sour! Breakfast mediocre at best .. go somewhere else ! read more

Went here on a whim with my husband and two toddlers and was so impressed not only with the incredible food but also the incredibly accommodating and attentive staff. We ordered the burrata which was served with thinly sliced squash, the Dungeness crab spaghetti, and the halibut and everything was INCREDIBLE. my only regret is that we couldn't stay to order dessert. I will definitely be back for more. Just found my new favorite restaurant. read more

I'll try to keep this brief... Camper is really cute; it's in a great location on the corner of Santa Cruz Ave, and the ambiance is warm and welcoming. The holidays brought in a few large parties, so it was very busy. The staff is amazing - super friendly and very attentive, even with how busy it was. The food was so, so good. I thoroughly enjoyed the cod dish I ordered; the mix of flavors was perfect. I cleaned my plate, eating every last lentil! It was a bit pricey, but I recommend visiting even if it's just once. You'll find a reason to go back, guaranteed. read more

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We came here on a Wednesday evening and the restaurant was quite busy for a weeknight. They have a large outdoor patio for when the weather is nice. The food we ordered was fine though we felt the taste and quality didn't match the price even compared to other places in the area. However, our largest concern was the pace of service. We had a very difficult time getting ahold of our server throughout the meal and waited over 15 minutes trying to get their attention to pay our bill. read more

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Came at opening at 5pm. Cornbread: nice flavors and would order again Eggplant moussaka: nice flavors but way too oily. Coachella valley corn agnolotti: pasta was well cooked and enjoyed the sweetness from the corn Gold die mezzo rigatoni: Flavor profiles were a bit one note. A good option for those looking for a heartier option. Wagyu cheeseburger : Bun was nice, but didn't taste too special. Service was below average. Our server didn't seem too interested and dishes took awhile to come out. Overall, food was fine, but a bit too pricey for me to recommend when you include an additional 25%+ on top for tip and the included service charge (6%). read more

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Crispy, flash-cooked brussels sprouts 2 Cajun crunch seasoning, bitter Pasta: Sweet Pea Agnolotti 4 fava beans, pea, charred spring onions, lemon, small dumplings, medium flavorful filling, oily sauce Potato Crusted Rock Cod 3 eggplant confit, black rice, chili vinaigrette, cashew coriander sauce, medium juicy, medium flavorful read more

We sat outdoors for dinner and they had plenty of heaters to keep us warm. The service was nice as well, our waiter was kind. Corn agnolotti pasta- sooo good!! Very creamy and I love the corn with this. Sad that it's a seasonal dish, so get it while it's there! You really don't get much pasta though, and for the price I was expecting to get more. American wagyu cheeseburger- very flavorful, cooked well, overall a good burger S'mores dessert- didn't taste too much like s'mores but was still good. Surprisingly I found this too sweet and I have a sweet tooth! read more

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Love the small seasonal changes and evolutions Camper makes to the menu. The front patio is a lovely place to be, and the team is always kind and happy to offer steers on the menu if you ask. The vibe is polished but never stuffy. I'm thankful for Camper's quality and consistency on the Peninsula! read more

!! Phenomenal !! That sums up our experience in this superb place. When we first walked in, our reserved table wasn't ready. The staff (hostess, bartender, manager) were so gracious, offered to sit us in the inviting bar and have champagne to kick off our special dinner date and a starter- whaaattt?! They happen to serve us the best champagne we ever had with their delicious cornbread! The delay wasn't even that long and shortly after we were seated. They won our hearts & now we're all gung-ho on totally experiencing this establishment, got on full gear, ordered 2 cocktails & 5 diff dishes for 2 - gulf prawns, mushroom, salad, pasta, asian fusion fried dish with coffee, desert at the end ...Omggg... so much thought & creativity on each dish. Every single one is just mind-blowing greatness- phew! I swear this is one of our best, over-the-top resto experiences that'll stay with us- exceptional service/food/cocktails, oh my. We highly, highly recommend this fantastic place!! And yes, you know you're worthy of it. Thank Youuu Camper, you're doing everything right. You're special! We're hooked!! read more

This place is like your mama won master chef. SO cozy, so classy. The food was impeccable.. we had a last minute reservation for 4 and got a wonderfully intimate table inside to celebrate my wedding weekend. We each ordered a dish with an intention to share and all 4 of us were absolutely in love with our choices. The range of dynamic flavors and clearly fresh ingredients made for such an elevated experience, while also feeling like the most comforting home cooked meal. The beans in the prawns!! The dynamic and vegetarian entree worthy carrots!! The divine halibut with sunchokes!! The chili butter on the cornbread!! Phenomenal. Oysters with kumquats?? Muah. This is the kind of place that enhances the best qualities in food and makes you want to tell everyone. The service was so attentive and perfectly timed and made us feel so celebrated. Can't recommend enough. read more

Camper - Halibut - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Food is great; service is pretty good. Restaurant is painfully loud; conversation at our table of 5 was impossible.

My coworker and I came here after working in the office on Monday. And I was blown away with the food. I always love pasta and Italian food in general but this place I went home and kept on talking about it to my partner. When we arrived we thought that we would sit outside, but my allergies were so bad that sitting under the tree would've been uncomfortable. The waiter completely understand how we felt and sat us inside happily, we were so grateful for the good service! I really loved the homemade pasta, I ordered the homemade pappardelle with morel mushrooms which I know are in season right now and it was so good. My coworker ordered the sweet pea agnolotti and it was phenomenal as well with the lemon citrus flavor! We even finished with the s'mores dessert, and we were both super surprised that we weren't like too full that our stomach hurt. Which I love because it shows how perfect the portions were on top of the deliciousness! I am definitely coming back and will be bringing my partner and friends over. An extra side note I got a couple cocktails and it was super yummy and strong to give ya a good buzz. Definitely going to come back here! read more

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Made reservations for 6:15pm on a Friday evening. Loved the ambiance! It was pretty fancy and serene, with medium noise level. Reminded me of a hotel lobby. My party of 4 shared the warm buttermilk cornbread, charred Zuckerman's asparagus, handcut pappardelle, wagyu cheeseburger, and "Greg's Steak." Food came quickly with good timing! Loved the cornbread and would highly recommend it! It came with green chile+honey butter dip which was a great touch. Asparagus with burrata was pretty good but pretty small portion. Handcut pappardelle was fresh, but it's on the heavier/creamier side, which may be hit-or-miss for some. Greg's Steak was delicious and cooked beautifully. Wagyu cheeseburger was also delicious! The meat was cooked very well at a medium rare. Overall, all of the dishes were pretty solid and the service was fantastic! read more

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A classic that we continue to return to. Dates nights, gatherings, solo. Good food and good ambiance. We've been here a few times - on its off days, it's still good. On it's on days, it's great. I'd recommend their rigatoni. I've had the apple crisp dessert twice - once it was amazing and once (on a busy night) it was bad. The s'mores are consistent and a must try for any first timers. I'M A HAPPY CAMPER! read more

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I was expecting so much more!! I'd come here pre-pandemic and had a good experience so was excited to bring part of my team and the intern to try it out! The apps were decent, but when it came to my meal and the service, not what I would expect from this restaurant. 1. Service: after the waitress seemed annoyed that we had questions on the menu, she took our orders and we didn't see or hear from her until she brought our food. Once all the food was delivered she never came back. No one was asked about refills on a drink or even if they were enjoying their meal. 2. Food: most of my team seemed to enjoy their meal. I ordered the prawns and for $40 I expected more. My food was brought out last and the prawns were not hot and beans were not done. Not impressed at all. I should have ordered the halibut. Won't be coming back here any more. read more

My coworker found this nice little place for an after work dinner. The elevated menu definitely is a draw to enjoy a dinner that isn't formal but also not super casual, the interior decor is refined but not stuffy and the menu also speaks to that with each dish executed very well. For our meal we split the cornbread which came recommended. The cornbread has a delicious crust along with the accompanying butter. I can see why this was a crowd favorite as it's perfect for sharing and a great way to start the meal. I opted for the steak dish cooked medium rare. The combination of perfectly cooked steak, vegetables and mole were a delight. A lot of complex flavors are established from the mole and you'll find yourself wanting to dip your steak in the sauce for more and more. My coworker ordered the cheeseburger with fries also cooked medium rare and felt it was a solid burger option, essentially a quitensential burger should look and taste like. The service was spot on with the team being attentive and highlighting recommendations and ensuring the food came out at a nice leisurely pace. The dining room got fairly busy, but we still felt the team did a great job checking in on us throughout our meal without feeling overbearing. Overall camper is a nice place to visit, I feel you get a nice dining experience at the price point and would recommend checking it out. read more

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Came here for a company dinner and Camper did not disappoint! I started off with the fresh half dozen oysters which already had a light mignonette applied long with minced garlic. I also appreciated the "sleeve" that they had over the lemon which allowed you to extract the juices without any of the seeds falling into your food - genius! The oysters themselves were fresh, slightly sweet, and bursting with juice, accented by the tart lemons. For the entree, I decided to go with the charcoal stained spaghetti and Dungeness crab fra diavolo. The pasta was cooked al dente, just how I like it and you could easily tell that this was made in-house. They also don't skimp on the crab here and you will likely get one in every bite. My only complaint with this dish was that I wish the sauce was just a tad thicker so the noodles could better pick it up - was so hard to resist not picking the plate up and slurping all the broth down! Finally, I ended the meal with their olive oil mochi cake. This comes served on a cast iron pan topped with fresh fruit to help cut the fattiness, easily shareable! I'm always a fan of the chewy mochi texture and this cake definitely scratches that itch, it's also not too sweet so you don't feel guilty when you inevitably finish the whole cake yourself. The vibe at Camper is definitely a more intimate/fancy setting so come here for your special occasions! read more

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This review is for Camper's private dining services. We hosted our wedding reception at Camper, and it was absolutely perfect. From the very beginning, Logan was awesome to work with as she always communicated promptly with us (and we had a huge amount of questions!). She made sure everything was exactly as we wanted, from the layout of the reception space to the timing of the night, to the food and drink options and menus. On the night of the reception, the Camper staff went above and beyond. We had multiple people taking drink orders, serving food, and making sure our guests were well taken care of. The service was seamless, the food was outstanding, and the whole evening flowed beautifully thanks to their team. We got so many compliments from people saying how much they loved the reception dinner. I can't recommend Camper's private dining enough for anyone planning a wedding reception or any other big dinner. They truly made our celebration unforgettable. read more

On a whim we decided to try Camper. The photos on Google maps of the corn bread and s'mores looked so yummy we couldn't pass it up. Got last minute reservations at 5pm on a Saturday without issue, but the rest of the slots were full until 8pm. The ambiance is great, I love the subtle camping theme (they could even go further if they wanted). But the place is really comfortable and cozy and just perfect little touches everywhere. We did end up ordering the corn bread and s'mores, and both are fantastic. I could just get those next time and be happy. For my main, I got the honey nut squash agnolotti. The pasta tasted fresh and the filling was a little sweet but not too sweet. The sauce was a bit too oily for my taste, but not too much, I still enjoyed the meal quite a bit. My husband got the rigatoni and it was really yummy. The whole menu looked really good and it was hard to decide! Service was nice and friendly! Great hostess and waitstaff. read more

We celebrated my friend's birthday at Camper last week. Made reservations and arrived a little before. There is plenty of parking in the lot in the back. The 4 of us ordered: Burrata: 5/5 good tasty salad Trout rillettes: 4/5 fish rillettes was good but the chips were super salty. Would have been better if they served it with pita chips. Tagliolini lamb: I had a taste of this and I don't like lamb so I did not really like this one. Could taste lamb throughout the pasta. Chickpea Panisse: 5/5 this was the best dish aside from the dessert. Very flavorful. Charcoal crab spaghetti: 4/5 this was the second best entree. Not as tasty as the panisse. Rock Cod: 3/5 this was just ok, cod was nothing special. S'mores: 5/5 smooth creamy chocolate filling. Really really yummy. They added extra s'mores since we were a bigger party. Good service, nice ambiance, and good food. This seems to be a popular spot for group dinners. read more

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Camper is our favorite restaurant! I just hosted a bridal brunch in their private back room and it was a wonderful day! Logan was so nice to work with on the planning and chef Marcus outdid himself with the food. Everyone raved about the biscuits with honey butter and jam, delicious fruit salad, the green salad and the choice of entrees. Service was also impeccable and attentive. I can't recommend Camper enough, whether it's for dinner out, weekend brunch or hosting a private event! It is THE BEST! read more

Camper - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Cute spot in downtown Menlo Park. Came to celebrate my husband's birthday dinner and enjoyed the food, service and ambiance. Wouldn't say it's amazing but it's a nice celebration spot and on a Friday rainy night this place was packed! What we ordered: - Cornbread with green chile honey butter (3/5): - sourdough bread with smoked ricotta dip (2/5): with all the great bakeries in the bay was disappointed with the bread and the dip was a bit too smoky for my taste - herb loaded fries with Catalan ketchup and garlic aioli (3/5): fries were nicely crisped but not loaded with herbs at all. Aioli had great flavor. - charcoal stained spaghetti with dungeoness crab (5/5): the best dish we had! Just the right balance of savory with a hint of sweetness from the crab - Artichoke agnolotti in a brown butter sauce (4/5): the agnolotti was very good but the butter sauce was a bit too heavy making it feel greasy. I think if there was less of the sauce this would've been 5/5 We also ordered a couple of cocktails and they custom made a well balanced drink based on criteria I asked for. For birthday celebrations they'll also give you a free dessert on the house. Overall I'd come back again but would visit for brunch/lunch since they have a nice outdoor patio and try the wagyu burger which a lot of other diners had. read more

Really lovely restaurant with great food and cocktails and good service. Our favorite dishes were the corn agnolotti (best pasta dish I've had in a LONG time) and the milk jam pudding. read more

Honestly surprised Camper isn't rated higher on Yelp. The food and service are exceptional for both brunch and dinner. The dinner menu rotates seasonally, but the squash anolotti and crab pasta are standout favorites for me. For brunch, the French toast and Benedict are must orders. Everything I've had has been top-quality and consistently makes me want to come back. They also have a great cocktail bar and a lovely ambiance. The servers are attentive and welcoming, and the crowd is a nice mix - from business diners to families with kids. Parking lot located right next door. I also follow a lot of local restaurants on Instagram and have noticed that other (high end) restaurant teams host private parties here, which really speaks to the quality of the food. read more

Delicious menu and amazing service! Celebrated my birthday here and it was great. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Came here recently for hubby's bday. Five stars for service - minus the host who was not very warm when we arrived - but everyone else was lovely, from helping my son into his high chair, then cutting the burger without us asking and putting it on two plates (although I can see how some people may be annoyed by this, but we share all dishes, so it was nice), and overall very warm and friendly waiters. Had to take off some points for the food. We started off with the cornbread, which was pretty good especially with the garlic butter, but could have benefited from a touch more sweetness in the corn bread. Then we got our drinks - I had the Honeysuckle and hubby had the bourbon drink. Drinks were pretty tasty, but lacked presentation - I think they forgot straws too. We shared the pasta Bolognese and a burger. Burger and fries were pretty good but standard - I really liked the aioli that the fries came with, and also had two different ketchups! The pasta was decent, but hubby said it was not very flavorful. I guess for a restaurant of this caliber, we were expecting more robust and unique flavors. Skipped dessert since we had too much sweets at home. read more

Camper - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California