Amazing food made with fresh local seasonal ingredients…read more Very flavorful, very well presented. Great service and ambiance. Upscale, elegant, high quality and unpretentious.

A poultry restaurant with more fish than poultry. Ended up being good but nothing to write home…read moreabout. Apparently the restaurant sources nearly all of their ingredients very locally I overheard a waiter tell that to a different table though not ours which would be a great thing to hear. heritage ham - Really weird for $22 it was served like prosciutto and just the ham alone again is a bit weird just a sauce or some melon could have made this really good. farfallone d'estate - Great the best thing of the meal the smokey tomato taste was great, and the pasta was great too. smoked wolfe ranch quail milanese - Rather good, the corn was especially good and very rich. The quail was nice. grilled short rib a la caesar - Everything was good. california golden chicken basquaise - Was good. paris-brest - The dessert was very good for most of it though 1/4 of the pastry was extremely salty from too much salted caramel. Online the restaurant talks about being a bird focused restaurant but that dosen't seem to be true. One of the people dining with me said to a waiter they were expecting more chicken and they were told there was poultry, but there is 3 poultry related items with 4 fish ones. So this restaurant is actually a fish restaurant? We were told that everything is meant to share though it really didnt feel like it. A lot of the dishes felt like they could have been for one person. The waiter as well was just okay for most of the night. The ambiance of the place is very nice and well decorated. Ultimately once they actually get more poultry on the menu, and just tighten up I would probably come back.

Fish lovers rejoice!…read more Haven is located is small shopping area with probably 4 more business around. Parking is bit limited, but I was able to find parking a Saturday afternoon, since the other businesses did not have too much going on. Once you enter this space you will see a massive wall of tins to your right, and to your left there will a be a fridge with beer and other drinks. Also to your left a beautiful bar, that it's soft color palette will make you smile. We were greeted and helped by the owner. She used to work on HR and now she is following her passion. She is so friendly, and such a great host, that it almost felt like I was visiting a long term friend's business. Now the menu it's extensive with tins from Portugal, Spain, and many other places. Highly recommend that you consider making it a boards because the bread is so yummy. She made recommendations on wine pairings, but of course you pick. It was such a cool experience to pick tins, and chill by the bar. Super cool concept. If you are a fish lover this place is a must visit.

We enjoyed our lunch experience at Haven, a wine bar located in the Menlo Park area…read more We shared: +a Tin Fish Board - served with pickled veggies, maldon salt, house chili oil, butter, chili threats, and a choice between country bread or potato chips - go for the bread; you get to choose your tin, so I recommend the IASA Spicy Anchovies in Olive Oil for a kick +the Bruleed Cana de Cabra - baguette with a French soft-ripened goat cheese and a raspberry-thyme gelee +and, the Mac & Cheese - prepared with mezzi rigatoni, house kimchi, 3 cheese mornay, and Parm breadcrumbs There is a nice drink menu, offering champagn, sparkling options, red/white/rose, beer, cider, spritz, and even low proof/non-alcoholic options. Staff and service were friendly, and the space is modern and clean. Try to get a counter seating! +wine and bites +friendly staff & service

Madera is located at the Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel, which averages $1100-2800 per a night...so if…read moreyou can afford to stay here you must be winning at life, and Madera's prices won't scare you. These prices definitely scared me, but thankfully I was here for a work conference so everything was free for me. Service was friendly all around. I had wonderful delicious multi course family style dinner...here goes: Dirty Girl Farm Butter Lettuce $23 + Dungeness Crab $24 = $47 Salad! My most expensive salad ever, but the better lettuce was fresh, green and vibrant, along with avocado and radish slices. Cute quail eggs. The fresh sweet Crab meat was generously covered all over the salad, yum! Farallon Islands Black Cod $44 Melt in my mouth warm buttery fresh cod that was perfectly roasted with lovely puree of Iacopi Farm English Peas ,Carrot, Mint, and Meyer Lemon. Brandt Ranch Filet $58 Beefy, tender, juicy, and succulent filet mignon cook perfectly in a peppercorn sauce. Sautéed Fifth Crow Farm Bloomsdale Spinach $14...pretty good for spinach, and great fiber, vitamins and bowel movements. Roasted Zuckerman Farm Potato $14...nothing too fancy, but nice roasted buttery potatoes. Dandelion Camino Verde Chocolate & Hazelnut Cake $16...tastes exactly as its described, decadent and delicious! If you factor in the 3 glasses of wine and Old Fashioned, and Sparkling Water, plus tax and tip, and a 5% surcharge, this was likely a $350ish meal I consumed...thankfully I didn't have to pay!

Our family has dined at Madera for years, repeatedly giving it the benefit of the doubt despite…read moredisappointing experiences. After our most recent dinner, we will not be returning. To be clear, our complaint is not that Madera is expensive or that restaurants cannot establish their own policies. Our complaint is how a significant financial policy was communicated, and the quality of the experience provided in return. We reserved dinner for nine and were seated at an ordinary, somewhat wobbly table beside the terrace doors, not in a private room. Near the end of dinner, my cousin, who made the reservation, was told our party was subject to a $2,000 minimum and that we had ordered approximately $1,100. When my 82-year-old grandfather, who was hosting and paying, questioned this, management's explanation was essentially: "Last time you had eight people. This time you have nine." We were told that exceeding eight guests triggers the $2,000 minimum. Consider what that meant in practice: nine people had naturally ordered approximately $1,100 worth of food and beverages, yet crossing from eight guests to nine meant we suddenly needed to spend roughly another $900 to satisfy the minimum. We had no private room or special setup--just a regular table. Whatever Madera's rationale for that policy may be, a financial commitment of this magnitude should be unmistakably clear before dinner begins. Rather than continue arguing, my grandfather asked for the wine list and instructed the restaurant to select bottles sufficient to bring us to the $2,000 requirement so we could pay and leave. The final bill was approximately $3,020, including roughly a $250 table/room-related charge, a 23% service charge, and other applicable charges. Most importantly, only after the bill had been paid did the restaurant explain the policy and associated charges clearly to the entire table. That is precisely our complaint. If the complete policy could be explained to nine guests after collecting payment, it could have been explained with equal clarity beforehand, when that information could actually inform our decision. Disclosure after payment is an explanation. Disclosure beforehand is informed choice. The dining experience hardly justified the expense. Drinks took approximately 10 minutes, appetizers around 25 minutes, followed by another roughly 25 minutes for our mains. Our server checked on us infrequently, particularly disappointing given the mandatory 23% service charge. The food was equally underwhelming. The ribeye was visibly unevenly cooked when sliced, with a pronounced grey band along one side. The potatoes were soggy, bland, and nearly flavorless. Unfortunately, poor communication here is not new for our family. About two years ago, we made a winter reservation by phone and were never told it would require outdoor seating. We arrived with my grandparents, both in their 80s, only to be told we had to sit outside despite visibly available indoor tables. Rather than make them sit through a cold Peninsula evening, our entire family left without eating. We nevertheless returned and gave Madera another chance. Our family could have willingly spent $3,000 on an exceptional dinner and left delighted. The amount is not the issue. The ability to knowingly choose how we spend it is. We ordered approximately $1,100, were told late in the evening that having nine rather than eight guests subjected us to a $2,000 minimum, purchased additional wine specifically to satisfy that requirement, and ultimately received a bill of approximately $3,020. Madera may have a policy explaining every charge. Simply repeating that policy does not address the substance of our complaint: material financial terms should be unmistakably clear before a meal, not comprehensively explained after payment. At this level, hospitality should mean clear communication, attentive service, properly executed food, and treating longtime patrons with grace. After years of giving Madera the benefit of the doubt, our goodwill is exhausted.

What can be said for the best dining experience I've ever had for hosting a work event?! From day…read moreone, chef Winston was timely, responsive, kind and the most helpful professional I've ever encountered in the service industry. He crafted the appropriate menus that could appeal to our several various dietary restrictions and even provided us a digital survey to make my life easier for collecting all 28 colleagues' appetizer, entree, and dessert selections. Everything was done with such intention to help take any headache off my plate (no pun intended). Cut to the evening dining "experience" because that's truly what it was. We were able to reserve the entire restaurant for just our group. They surprised us with bountiful family style appetizers, the food felt endless, one new beautiful and delicious dish after the next. My entree was the salmon with potato pairings and some accouterments, but I looked at the steak as well as the vegetarian dish and I knew there was no wrong. Each dish was so fresh you could tell they don't freeze or reheat anything. In fact, they consciously purchased and prepped for our group alone that evening. I have nothing but positive things to say about this hidden secret gem. It's very rare these days to find somewhere intimate with such high quality food where the chef is the owner and personally ensures you're enjoying your meal. Well, the secret is officially out, and I hope they don't get an ego about it, because we'll all be sending friends and colleagues Winston's way for a good Thyme!! (Yup, couldn't resist).

I came here for a special celebration work dinner and didn't even realize this was a dedicated…read moreprivate dining experience venue. I had seen it on the corner before during the day but never saw anyone inside. We had about 16 people for our dinner, which they were able to accommodate with a u-shaped setup. They had various wines for us, including a sparkling wine, a gewürztraminer, a Pinot, and a St. Emilion. We started with passed appetizers: caprese skewers, smoked salmon and cucumber, and spicy shrimp. We each had 3 courses with 3 choices on each course. - Roasted beet and asparagus salad with feta: great flavor on the beets - Ribeye with caramelized onions: a fatty cut and a bit tougher to an expected, but it was good with the Bordeaux. Those who got the salmon and risotto options really liked their mains - Orange olive oil cake with berries: great olive oil flavor, not too sweet Staff were attentive and tried hard. Parking wasn't hard in this part of downtown. Thyme is a nice space in downtown Palo Alto for an intimate private event.

A bit of a late post, but we had our wedding dinner here in December. The event was last minute as…read morethe goal was to have my mom join before she couldn't anymore, so this was incredibly meaningful. We kept it small and intimate (12 people) and Michelle was absolutely fantastic with answering all my questions and making sure everything went smoothly. We reserved a portion of the outdoor area with a few dividers, and the staff were kind and accommodating. The family loved the food - in fact, it was the first time I had seen my mom eaten so much in a very long time. The noodles were my favorite :) We had come here a few times before and all were great times, but very special shout out to the staff here. Thanks for making that evening special for me, my husband, and our family.

Unfortunately we were disappointed by the quality of food. We were expecting dishes with a more…read moreheavier taste profile of Indonesia but we felt that it was more Chinese/Western based. We tried the sea bass which we had to ask to give back because it was really not what we expected. The fish filet itself was dry and did not taste fresh, it was very different than what was detailed in the menu and there was a broth under the filet. I don't know, we just weren't expecting a fish soup. Next, we tried the crispy pork and mie goreng with high expectations, and instead we were disappointed yet again. I think we will try to explore other Southeast asian cuisines. Thank you!

We stopped into Meyhouse in Palo Alto for some Mediterranean cuisine and happy hour cocktails and…read morehad a fantastic experience. The atmosphere was stylish, welcoming, and perfect for a relaxed evening out. We shared several Mediterranean bites, and everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The quality of the ingredients really stood out, and each dish was packed with flavor. The cocktails were excellent, and my husband especially enjoyed the Japanese whiskey flight, which was a fun way to sample a variety of unique whiskeys. It was a great addition to the meal and made the experience feel even more special. As fans of Pera Mezze House in Roseville, we were excited to learn that Meyhouse shares the same ownership, and the same attention to quality and hospitality definitely shines through. Great food, delicious drinks, and wonderful service. We look forward to coming back the next time we're in Palo Alto!

I've been to the Sunnyvale location of Meyhouse a few times but never the Palo Alto one, which is…read moreturns out also has live jazz (not in the main dining room). A fun way to start is to get Raki, which is like the Turkish equivalent of ouzo, but you have to like anise/licorice. They have a few options available, and our Turkish server was helpful when we were trying to choose one. They do have a full bar available. Onto food: We had a group of 4 and ordered everything family style. - Girit: a garlic and spice whipped cheese with pistachios, great with bread. - Pancar: roasted yellow and red beets with Turkish white cheese. - Uc Borek: 3 phyllo rolls: they're fairly small, so it's hard for more than 3-4 people to share (1 bite each). One is zucchini, one is cheese, and one has beef. Beef was my favorite - Ahtapot: fire grilled octopus with a bean spread. - Ege Salatasi: similar to a Greek salad with tomatoes (so good in summer!), green bell peppers, onions, cucumber, croutons, Turkish white cheese, olives. - Chilean sea bass: loved the Aegean greens with this. The sea bass was so flavorful and was a generous portion. - Alinazik: beef tenderloin skewers with smoked eggplant labneh. Desserts: - Kunefe: melted mozzarella filling coated in phyllo, served warm. - Damla sakizli: their homemade mastika ice cream, which pairs wonderfully with the kunefe It's best to go with a group so that you can try more dishes. Everything had bold Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flavors, and our server was really helpful when we were trying to decide on dishes. If you have more time or are hungrier, the tasting is also a great way to go (I've done it at the Sunnyvale location)!

Sushi Adachi is a place we had been waiting for forever. I first noticed the sign while it was…read morestill under construction maybe a year ago, so I was very excited to finally see it open. The space is intimate and cozy, especially the rounded sushi counter. I also loved the artwork on the walls, including a cool Rolling Stones × Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji piece that gave the space a little personality. We chose the $200 per person omakase, and the progression was really well done. The meal started with fig shiraae. It was creamy and delicate, and somehow the fig reminded me of grilled eggplant--in a surprisingly good way. The pressed saba sushi was excellent too, especially with the ginger mixed into the rice giving it a nice kick. The cold chawanmushi was perfect for summer, with sweet crab on top. The uni and ikura Inaniwa udon was another standout. The marinated ikura had a very distinct flavor that I really enjoyed. Then came the nigiri, and honestly, every piece seemed to get better and better. We had kohada, ishigarei, kinmedai, aji, shima aji, chutoro, kanpachi, and tachiuo. Every single one was excellent. The uni and ikura over rice featured bafun uni from Hokkaido, so of course that was amazing. Dessert was amazake gelato with peach compote, which was light and refreshing after such a long meal. One thing I especially liked was the atmosphere behind the counter. All of the chefs looked like they were genuinely enjoying what they were doing, which made the experience feel warm and relaxed rather than overly formal. At one point, one of the chefs even prepared matcha in a beautiful tea ceremony-style bowl.

Sushi Adachi is the local omakase experience we've been looking for since getting back from Japan,…read moreand it is an absolute must-try. We dined on the evening of June 6th and were lucky to have Talmage as our server and Shoya-San as our chef. They were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about every course. Talmage and the rest of the team provided a level of service that perfectly matched the quality of the food and preparation, elevating the meal from a simple dinner to an unforgettable experience. The food was amazing. It's very traditional, which we love, with a strong emphasis on high-quality fish sourced directly from Japan. We had the $160 16-course Omakase, and my top three highlights (in no particular order) were: 1. Hokkaido Bafun Uni Nigiri: They piled it on high, and it was so naturally sweet and creamy. 2. Chutoro Nigiri: It absolutely melted in our mouths. 3. Uni Inaniwa Udon: Incredibly rich, but perfectly balanced by the house-marinated ikura. That said, absolutely everything was good. Even the sardine nigiri was phenomenal. The ambiance is a massive upgrade from the Milpitas location, which was already quite nice. We really enjoyed the bar seating; the counter is a great height and the chairs were highly comfortable, though my feet were dangling a bit. I'd love for there to be a foot rest in the future. The lighting was warm, and the entire restaurant was spotless. We plan to be back again soon and highly recommend!

The peking duck was sensational. Some the best I've had in a while. Also, Alan was an excellent,…read morefriendly, and Attentive server. Would recommend getting the peking duck if you visit! The restaurant it self is in a convenient spot with a delightful outside area.

Food and service was on point! We had:…read more - Signature Peking Duck (half) - Cucumber Salad - Mongolian Beef - Siu Mai - Chive and Pork Dumplings - Xiao Long Bao We brought our two dogs and enjoyed the outdoor seating and ambiance. Everything we ate was super good! Our favorites were the dumplings. Our server, Chavez, recommended them since they're made in house. The recommendations did not disappoint. We will definitely be back and bring our friends :)