BLUF: Disappointing Experience and Complete Lack of Accessibility Awareness While we didn't end up dining here, the way we were treated by the staff ensures we never will. We stopped by during a really busy Farmer's Market hoping to rest for a moment. If you've ever been to Los Altos Farmer's Market you know how busy it can be with a lack of seating anywhere. I was accompanying my father who has Parkinson's and is in a wheelchair--and we saw an empty outdoor table belonging to the restaurant (unbeknownst to us), but on the side of State Street Market. The table had no chairs, wasn't set up, and wasn't being used at the time or for the remainder of the evening (see the photo for the state the table was in all night). When we attempted to use the table to eat, an employee confronted us with complete indifference and an unnecessarily rude attitude, showing zero empathy or flexibility for someone needing a brief accommodation. He stated very rudely "Move him to the street or find some place inside State Street!" Basic courtesy and respect cost nothing. A restaurant's hospitality is reflected in how its staff treats people, whether they are currently paying customers or not. Based on this unfriendly interaction, I cannot recommend supporting a business that treats individuals with disabilities and their families with such lack of respect. read more

Cetrella - The table I tried to park my disabled father's wheel chair at. No settings, no chairs, no people. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

Absolutely fantastic experience! The food, the service, the ambience. All just excellent. Staff is attentive and respectful. Met the owner and he is very kind and friendly. Even gave me a tour of the speakeasy. I had the Chesapeake crab cakes. Very crispy and light. anot heavy on the breading at all. Very satisfying. Then I had the Forest mushroom risotto. Tasty and perfect consistency. Finally I had the Sancerre for drink. Crispy and refreshing. Overall I recommend and will absolutely go back with other people. read more

Cetrella - Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Cakes - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Cozy restaurant located in downtown Los Altos that offers great options for a good dinner with family or business. The tram is very gentle, the paella in the picture was a special of the day and was phenomenal!!! Highly recommended if you love paella, a small and cozy restaurant and a team that is ready to serve amazing foods! Oh and the starters... all so great, especially the crab cakes, the meatballs and the kale!! read more

Cetrella - Dessert - Panna cotta - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Food was really delicious and the staff was attentive. They checked on us multiple times and were very nice. We got the filet mignon and ragu rigatoni for mains, brussel sprouts and potato fingerlings for sides. The pasta had a nice al dente chew and the flavor was awesome. The filet mignon was also really delicious. I loved the sides that we got and I'm glad that we had extras to take home for leftovers tomorrow. We had a really lovely experience here with delicious food and kind staff. read more

I hate to write this review but sharing my honest feedback is what I do best. I booked this restaurant for a team dinner with some senior leadership on my team. I originally booked for 8 people online, which was accepted, but I had one more person join last minute so I called the morning of to adjust it. The person on the phone replied with, "well I guess we don't have a choice" in which I responded with just, "ok". One person ended up canceling last minute which brought my party back down to 8 so I did let the host know prior to me being seated which didn't end up being a problem. I ordered apps for the table as my party began to arrive and while we waited for the last two people. One person didn't and up coming and one other was running so far behind that this person who I suspect was the owner was pacing back and forth stating he needed the table back if they're not going to show. I assured him they were still but it's very rude to say that in front of my entire party and loud enough for everyone around us to hear it. The most senior person in my group even stated how rude that was. It was so embarrassing! I was out calling the person and they finally showed up and I went back out to talk to the gentleman who was telling us he needed the table back and told him that 1 of 2 people showed up and asked him nicely to not take the table and to stop saying he would in front of our party. He told me he wouldn't as it's too late now that they arrived. I have never had this experience anywhere I've dined at before and it's very unprofessional. Though the food and the other staff were great, I unfortunately won't be recommending this restaurant to anyone. If you do decide to dine here, I hope you never encounter a similar experience. read more

First time at Cetrella was for a holiday dinner for the SVC NASPP EC/PC Group on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Our reservation was booked for 5:30 PM for a party of about 23 persons. I parked in the lot on Main Street across the street from Cetrella and arrived promptly at 5:30 PM. As I walked up to the venue, I could see that they have a small patio for a few tables to offer dining al fresco. It was a crisp, winter night, so no one was seated outside that evening. Inside, the main dining room was brightly lit and appeared very clean. I was immediately greeted by a staff member and led to our party's table. Below are a few items of what we ordered: Crown of the Peninsula ($18) - A few of us ordered this fruity cocktail in a vintage-style champagne glass. I wished that the raspberry flavour of the purée came through stronger than it did. Garlic Prawn ($19) - Ok, not super exciting. Crab Cakes ($21) - Two served per order. Not bad. Fritto Misto ($19) - This was the most popular STARTER of the night. Roasted Spanish Octopus ($22) - I did not try this, but those who did seemed to enjoy it. Braised Lamb Shank ($37) - This was one of the popular dishes ordered from the MAIN section. Everyone who ordered was happy with their meal. Filet Mignon ($45) - This was my order. The meat was cooked to perfection and the fritto and potato dauphinoise were nice accompaniments. Forest Mushroom Risotto ($28) - Rhonda ordered this and found it deliciously rich. In fact, she found it too heavy to finish in a single seating. She shared some of this rice dish with me - YUM! Brussels Sprouts SIDE ($13) - Served with slightly crisped, almost caramelized and topped with shredded parmesan cheese. Green Beans SIDE ($13) - These veggies were bright green and slightly wrinkled from the cooking process. Tarte au chocolat ambroisien ($16) - Chocolate lovers, this dessert is for you! Soft Vanilla Cream Cake ($16) - Everyone was intrigued by this dessert that looked like a cheescake, but was surprisingly much lighter. Tahitian Vanilla Panna Cotta ($13) - I didn't order DESSERT, but once I saw this served, I regretted that I didn't order it. This sweet looked delectable, especially topped with the pistachios. Next time for sure!! Service was friendly and helpful. We had a very nice time at Cetrella. Everyone left with smiles and happy tummies. read more

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I have always wanted to try Cetrella but never got the chance as my kids love the State Street Diner that is next door which trumps going to this spot. So when I had the chance, I ended up going to this for a dinner party I hosted for 7 guests and me. Everyone had a blast. Food: We had 7 or 8 starters that we shared. I highly recommend getting a bunch of starters and sharing them. The beat salad and the crab cakes were the highlights. Service: We had exquisite service and the staff was very courteous. I am sorry that there are no pictures, but I will be going here again. read more

Excellent Food and great atmosphere. I really recommend this place. . We definitely will be back.

A lovely restaurant with a very attentive wait staff. A small menu, which was fine because you don't get lost amid a myriad of options. I didn't care for what we ordered but my friend loved it. (We shared the beet hummus with pita and the kale salad with chicken). The pita itself was excellent, I just didn't care for the hummus. The feta taste was way way way too strong for me, but my friend thought it was amazing. The kale salad's dressing wasn't my style, but the added chicken was exceptionally delicious. It was large sections of breast that were moist and tasty. So I'd go back here, but order a bit less adventurously. It's clear their ingredients are of excellent quality and very fresh. For lunch, you don't need a reservation. This is a large place. read more

3.4 stars. Not quite making it to round up to 4. Slightly disappointing considering all the other reviews I see, but maybe just not my scene. I came here for a work dinner on a Thursday night, not packed, but lively inside. Food was 4 stars. Great dishes, very well made. I got see the ribeye, the short rib, the risotto, as well as my own lamb ragu pasta- if those were as delicious as mine, they were all great! The basque cheesecake was tasty -mayeb not everyone's fave since it's more savory than one might imagine. All the starters we shared were good as well. Service: professional and attentive, but also given the mellowness of the night, they seemed less on the ball than I've seen at other work events in other restaurants. It seemed like they were super busy, though it didn't appear that they were. Specific sub-three-star example that drew down my rating: my cocktail sat empty for many many minutes. Why wasn't I preemptively asked if I wanted another? When I finally got someone's attention, the cocktail didn't arrive until halfway thru the main. I could see the bar from my seat, and the two bartenders were not slammed or anything. Yes they were making drinks for other tables, but again compared to the coordination I see many other places, this attention & timing gap was a poor showing. (What I ordered: a Manhattan, so should be pretty basic to make) Given how many other restaurants of this caliber are around this area -even just up the block, I have no reason to choose to come back. read more

Neighborhood gem with devoted attention to detail, mouth-watering food and attentive service.

Only ever been here for work dinner so no food photos... The newish location is cozier than the previous one (positive) but the acoustics are such that it can be a little loud. as always, the staff is very nice -- attentive without being intrusive. They'll even banter with you if that's your thing. Salmon Gravlax: tender and nice flavor. Maybe a tad more of the trout caviar. I ate it all -- quickly. Burrata: with beets and cherry tomato. A runnier burrata rather than the firmer kind. If I'm quibbling, more beets. Truffle Polenta Cappelletti: this is a pleasant surprise. The polenta is stuffed into the cappelletti -- think a smallish tender gnocchi. The lamb meatballs were excellent. A smaller sized main compared to some of the other dishes. Glazed Short Rib: served with mash potato and spinach. Slow cooked as you'd expect. Solid dish and worth repeating. NY strip: gigantic portion. Expertly seasoned. Despite a Herculean effort, couldn't finish it. Even better the next morning with eggs. Tarta de queso vasca: what? A Basque cheesecake with vanilla bean ice cream. If you're not familiar, the basque version has a slightly burnt exterior that imparts a bittersweet note, while the texture is denser and firmer than the NYC version. This one is made expertly. There aren't many wines by the glass but a nice selection by the bottle. The Grotto margarita is almost too good. The food comes out at a Spanish pace. Relax and have a good conversation with your dining party. read more

Cetrella - Menu (June 2024) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

I had high expectations coming here given the restaurant's reputation and pricing, but unfortunately the experience was extremely disappointing. At a place that positions itself as high-end, the level of service and food quality should reflect that -- and this fell far short. The staff came across as inattentive and somewhat dismissive. It often felt like we were inconveniencing them just by asking for basic things like water refills or updates on our order. There was very little effort to check in on the table or ensure we were enjoying the meal, which is surprising for a restaurant at this price point. read more

This is based on my first visit to the *new* Cetrella since they changed locations, moving from the corner of Main and First to the State Street market. There is a new chef and overall I think the food is even better than before. The pate is more of a mousse but very good, as was the vichysoisse, and the burrata (with plenty of salad that came with it). The steaks were very good and the salmon made my mother-in-law (a tough customer) ecstatic. The basque cake (roughly a cheesecake) was very good as was the sorbet. So, net, on the food -- it's even better than before though I do miss a few of the old menu items (e.g., the mussels, beignets, and the simply-grilled mains). The service was and is remains wonderful. The owner gets to know his guests and takes care of them. The servers were and are amazing. The ambiance is different, it's a bit more compact, the tables are a bit closer together, the noise level is similar. So at the first order, I'd say different. At the second order, I'd say better -- i.e., it's lighter and a bit more modern and I can't wait for the Spring/Summer when they can use lovely patio area. Overall a great visit. read more

Fantastic meal from start to finish. My wife and I went to Cetrella on a weeknight with no reservation; showed up a little before 5 so there was no problem getting a table though the place did start to fill up as the night went on. Even as more guests arrived the ambience remained charming and comfortable yet elegant. Great spot for a date. And there was no question why it would fill up. From the croquette appetizer to our entrees of glazed short rib and rigatoni to the dessert, everything was outstanding. All that paired with an excellent wine list made for an unforgettable meal. Finally, kudos to the front of house and wait staff. They made a great meal into a great experience. read more

I had the most wonderful date night here with my husband! We made a reservation for a Saturday dinner at 6pm. We arrived a few minutes early to our reservation to a warm reception and were promptly shown to our table. The service was lovely, and the food even better. We had a great time! Appetizers: Mussels - fresh, warm, and delicious. Comes with some bread pieces for dipping into the delicious sauce at the bottom. The bread was a little crispy and I believe would have been better as a soft spongey bread instead. Otherwise, delicious! Fritto Misto - another great app. The breading was light, crispy, and well-seasoned. My favorites were the shishito peppers and rock shrimp. Mains: Grilled Swordfish (daily special) - so, so good. I'm used to having swordfish that is always slightly dry, but this was anything but! Especially the parts close to the skin were so buttery and juicy, and the beurre blanc helped tremendously with the moisture. Honestly the best swordfish I have ever had. Amazing! Whole Grilled Branzini - another well-executed fish dish. Crispy skin and great meat texture. I wish I tried more of this, but my husband let me know that he loved it! Dessert: Seasonal Housemade Sorbet (raspberry) - delicious, and as expected! The two available flavors were lemon and raspberry. I misheard the waiter when choosing the flavor and did not realize I could have chosen both flavors. I wish I could have tried the lemon as well because the raspberry was delicious! Tiramisu - light, creamy, and not so sweet. A perfect way to end dinner. The interior has such a clean, sophisticated feel, and the food was phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this place for a romantic dinner date or to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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Cannot say enough great things about the quality of the food here. Service also very attentive and professional. Very impressively run. read more

Cetrella - Flourless chocolate cake with Blood Orange sorbet - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

Over priced, cold food,horrible service. I've tried this restaurant 4 times. Twice in their old location, and twice in their new. Figuring any restaurant could have an off day. Never again. There are many more Los Altos restaurants I can spend my money at. read more

This restaurant is in a nice location with a warm, elegant ambiance inside, although the booth seating seemed a bit awkwardly shaped. We started with a Gravlax appetizer (special that evening) which was beautifully presented/plated - but looked better than it tasted. The salmon and short rib entrees were reasonably good, but I wouldn't say they were memorable. The whole roasted branzino also looked better than it tasted. It was stuffed with a hefty batch of sauteed fresh spinach and could have benefited with a bit more seasoning. The standout items of the evening were the Fritto Misto and the Crabcake starters. Both of those were delicious and worthy of ordering again. Overall, we all enjoyed our meal - I'm sure we would come back again. read more

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Wonderful! Great pasta dishes & filet mignon and the service is always good. Very picky eater friendly.

Food is outstanding for all choices on the menu. My favorite is the bronzini. Service is very attentive. Owner very involved in all aspects of the restaurant. read more

Cetrella - Bronzino - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

The best dinner restaurant in Los Altos! Absolute delicious and a relaxing, friendly atmosphere. Great cocktails also!

Best meal I've had in a long time. And great service/atmosphere too. Look forward to going again.

Best restaurant in the Los Altos/Palo Alto area. French chef from Paris, fresh/organic ingredients, really tasty and healthy food. The location and ambiance are great too. Highly recommend! read more

Fabulous dinner at Cetrella! Started with the fish crudo - fresh, delicate, delicious! Husband ordered the Squid Ink pasta with prawns & octopus, and he's still raving that it was the best pasta dish he's had. I ordered the mushroom risotto which was perfectly done, with a very generous variety of mushrooms. We were too full for dessert, unfortunately! Very friendly, attentive service, as always. We had been to the previous locations many times and really enjoyed the new place by State Street Market. We were too busy enjoying the food to take photos... read more

Had a great time, love the "new" venue and vibe! Short ribs were tasty and tender, mushroom risotto was flavorful and creamy. Service was great, attentive but not intrusive. read more

Consistent 5 star experience ! Best food and service in Los Altos! Owner is a delight, and this place should be packed every night (but please don't tell anyone). The Kale salad is to die for ! read more

Five of us had dinner last night at Cetrella and all 3 appetizers (Tuscan Kale Salad, Fritto Misto and the Garlic Shrimp (special) were excellent as were all five of our entrees: Forest Mushroom Risotto, Squid Ink Spaghetti, Branzino, Crispy Skin New Zealand Ora King Salmon and the Glazed Short Rib. Fantastic meal and service, thank you. The only disappointment was that the Blue Jays lost the WS. read more

It's not bad, but they never offer anything new. There are better places to eat in Los Altos. The highlight of their menu is perhaps the short rib with mashed potatoes. read more

Excellent food and service! For dinner we had the kale salad, and I'm always impressed when people can make kale taste delicious. Then had the salmon which was excellent, and said squid ink spaghetti with octopus which was amazing! The drinks were all great, including the non alcohol Andalusian Forest! Desserts were memorable too, the panacotta and the white layered cake. Service was excellent, Andre I believe. The maitre de checked on us several times too! Can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes. It sounds like their lamb and branzino are highly rated. read more

Everything was great from start to finish including the house Manhattan, mushroom risotto, and the lamb ragu pasta special. And even though I am not a fan of kale, the kale salad really was fantastic. No room for dessert but will get it next time. Service was excellent. We'll be back. read more

Wow, what a great experience. We were a multigenerational party of five--two grandparents, two parents, and one child--and everyone loved their food. This is often difficult given that we are foodie transplants from Manhattan, with both vegetarians and meat eaters in our group. We had lamb shank, filet mignon, crab cakes, chicken, and various salads. Everyone raved about their meal. And their homemade bread was equally delicious. Cocktails were also creative and well crafted. What I loved is that they also had non-alcoholic cocktails for my daughter. Apart from great dining, we loved service. It was truly impeccable. Super attentive and warm but non intrusive. Ambiance is modern-elegant. Appropriate for a special occasion, date, or night in town. Or if you just want to treat yourself to great food and nice setting :-) We can't wait to be back. read more

Great service, lovely bar, and new Michelin star chef. The new menu and location is lovely read more

Cetrella - Tasty and beautifully decorated soup - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Altos, California

Food was amazing, Best salmon I have ever had. Service was impeccable. Not intrusive. Ambiance was classy and welcoming. We love this place. It's the best game in town. read more

Complete rip-off for a very underwhelming experience. Cannot recommend. We made a reservation for NYE dinner via Open Table, and were looking forward to their menu that sounded pretty interesting. However, when we arrived at the restaurant, we were in for a rude surprise that they only had a new year's special 4-course menu that night for $120 per person (excluding taxes and tips). This was not indicated when we made the reservation for Dec. 31st. Since it was NYE, and we were a reasonable party, we had to make the practical choice of going with it rather than leaving and trying to find another dinner place later in the night. The 4-course dinner ended up being an unimpressive Italian spread, completely deviating from their regular menu. There is nothing to write about the dishes. If the business had been up front about the special menu while making the reservation, we would have had the chance to look for other options. They made it a catch 22 situation for the customer. This is not the attribute of a transparent and customer-caring business. This may be a good place on regular days, but we are disappointed and will not return to give it another try. read more

Went to Cetrella again and our experience was even better than the last time. Love the casual atmosphere and great food and service. Anyone in Los Altos that doesn't dine at Cetrella frequently is missing a great evening. read more

I do not recommend Cetrella. The food is marginal, at best. The menu is limited, and there are many alternatives in Los Altos. The lunch arrived cold. My recommendation is the management to make changes to the restaurant, including changing the menu. read more

Came out here with a few friends for a last minute engagement. It's my first time here and we tried to order a good selection of entrees the menu had to offer. (Thankfully with Yelp I had a lot of time to review photos of the food ) - started with their Persian salad, and I kid you not, the tahini sauce with lemon was just so addicting, I could eat a whole bowl of this. It was a great start to freshen up the palate for what's left to come. -I am always a sucker for everything truffle so of course I had to try their truffle pasta. Delishhhhhh. -the short rib was great, nothing to complain. It was tender and soft. Great sauce with it too. -pizza was probably my least favorite, it's safe and a bit bland. :/ presentation looks great though. -salmon was cooked great. Simple and tasty. -topped everything off with panna cotta which was light, and not too sweet which we loved. If you're looking for Mediterranean/Italian style dishes, I recommend checking them out! read more

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The food was amazing, and it started with the appetizers with the salmon, tartare moving over to the crabcakes, along with great ribeye Everyone else had either salmon, which was fantastic tortellini, and risotto, which turned out to be fabulous as everyone said! read more

Another wonderfully beautiful evening at Cetrella. The short rib was fork tender, the pasta perfectly al dente, the flavors so delicious and well-balanced. The ambiance relaxed yet refined. We didn't want it to end! We will definitely be back soon!! read more