Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Le Petit Bistro

    4.0 (488 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Closed Closed

    Le Petit Bistro Photos

    Business Info

    LE PETIT BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Le Petit Bistro

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Interior LHS
    Mark T.

    6/14/2025 Le Petit Bistro 1405 W El Camino Real Mountain View, CA 94040 I went there for an early Saturday dinner. It's an easy to miss place on east bound ECR in MTV. There is some parking in the back, enter from the furniture store lot. It's small and cozy inside. Service was attentive and exceptional. I had the Côtelettes D'Agneau au Jus et aux Herbes de Provence, medium rare; with a complimentary glass of wine with a local paper coupon.. The mint jelly was a perfect marriage with the lamb. It was delicious. I also got the onion soup for take out. This was an excellent French dining experience. It's pricey but worth it. I'll be back.

    Tiramisu
    K T.

    The ambiance was classy, romantic. It felt like I was dining in France - authentic. The food was beyond excellent, particularly the French onion soup. I would go back just for that! The pate was very good but not as special compared to the other appetizers. The escargot would have been excellent if they had added some salt. It was completely bland but very flavorful - garlic, butter, herbs. For entrée, I had the Japanese scallop - OMG! So good... A few layers of flavors and the scallops were cooked to perfection. Anyone who knows how to cook knows that scallops are hard to make, not to mention perfectly done. Dessert - tiramisu. The rum made it even more delicious. The service was great - the owner introduced the daily specials, talked to us about how the food was prepared. You can tell he genuinely wanted to make sure we were happy with the food and everything. He even offered to let us taste a dish before ordering. The server was attentive too, even though she was busy serving 4 other tables. This is a restaurant that deserves a big tip. All in all, I highly recommend this bistro. Reasonably priced. Great service. Excellent food. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

    Katrina V.

    My husband and I got engaged in Paris on New Year's, so it's been our tradition to have New Year's Eve dinner at a local French restaurant. Not many of them were open in the South Bay for NYE unfortunately, but we're always willing to take a drive up the peninsula for new experiences. I found Le Petit Bistro from a Google search and verified that they would be open. I made a request for a reservation a month in advance, which the restaurant accepted. My husband and I had reservations for 5pm. We were one of the first few parties that were at Le Petit Bistro, but the place was filled up by the time we neared the end of our dinner. The restaurant was cute and simple. It didn't exactly give me the Parisian vibe, but it did feel rustic and cozy. That being said, I found that the food at Le Petit Bistro was the most authentic French food since my husband and I spent a month in Paris. Great customer service. Michelle was our main server, and she was the sweetest. The other staff members were also friendly and attentive. When Michelle was running around tending to other tables, I had no problem seeking assistance from other waiters. The food came out in a timely manner, which was a huge plus. Le Petit Bistro offered a prix fixe menu for the evening, but there were a few appetizer that could be ordered a la carte including smoked salmon salad, paté, and escargots. I'm a huge fan of escargots, so I was pleased that Le Petit Bistro had them. The snails were plump, but I did find the butter sauce a bit bland. I got the butter lettuce salad with walnut oil dressing, which was refreshing and a nice palate cleanser. My husband ordered the lobster bisque, and we both agreed that it was top 3 of tastiest and most flavorful lobster bisque we've had. I was expecting it to be thick and creamy, but it had a much thinner broth-like texture. I ordered the scallops as my main course, and it was fantastic. Funny enough, my favorite thing I ate in Paris was a scallop dish. The scallops were sauteéd in an amazing sauce with mushrooms. I also thought that the veggies were steamed perfectly. My husband got the filet mignon. I forgot that the French do medium rare differently than Americans (à point). This was something I didn't miss when we were in Paris, because the meat ends up being slightly rarer than medium rare I'm used to - still very edible though. That being said, the filet mignon was great. For dessert I got the chocolate mousse and my husband got the opera cake. The chocolate mousse, which was so smoothe and silky, was my favorite as I've had better opera cake elsewhere.

    The best Coquilles St. Jacques. Delicate cheese sauce, and the fish cooked perfectly.
    Teresa E.

    I LOVE this very small restaurant. We have had consistently great food, never rushed, always a nice atmosphere, for years. My birthday dinner last week was again fantastic. I love the French food, French wine and the beautiful sauces from the talented chef. Do not let the outside fool you. This is a true gem for great food. Make a reservation or you will wait on a Sat night.

    Louis L.

    It was Valentine yesterday, I'd booked a reservation on Monday last week, but when the time to confirm my reservation, there was none. I've made reservation online many times and never a failed one except here. I called a few times and only answering machine. Anyhow, it was a disappointment but luckily we found Chez Christina not to far away and we had a great dinner. I was glad that the reservation system failed me, because if a great establishment shouldn't have inferior booking system. Yes, I filled in name, hour, email and phone #.

    Scallops and Duck
    Ben W.

    Instead of going to Left Bank, go to Le Petit Bistro. They have popovers (instead of bread), an excellent selection of French wine, and daily specials. The scallops in béchamel were life changing--perfectly sautéed scallops in a creamy, white sauce. French onion soup was appropriately cheesy, and the escargot was perfectly garlicky. The duck was tender w cheesy scalloped potatoes on the side. A massive portion of duck, including a leg and cut up breast in a delicious sauce. Was too stuffed to get dessert.

    French Onion Soup

    Can't wait to share the most ridiculous ever dinning experience I ever had. Had meal in this restaurant today. They were overbooked, huge line waited after me. After the meal, I asked for extra piece of bread to the waitress since the plate is small(understandable, I don't have issue with that), and the waitress agreed and served me the bread into my plate. The boss immediately ran over to my table and talked to the waitress in French, and then claimed to me in English that they are not serving a second the piece of bread given they are overbooked. The waitress literally waited at my table so I said that "you can take the piece of bread back if you want", and she really did it. I don't know who are they planning to serve the recycled piece of bread to. Funniest experience ever: taking food away from customer's plate since they don't have enough prepared. Food taste okay though, hope it is not recycled.

    Scallops in bechamel
    Xing Q.

    Unfortunately, the food was not good at all. Service was fine. The best part of the whole meal was their house red wine, which was surprisingly good. On food, the biggest disappointment was the filet mignon. There was very little sauce and almost no flavor (or seasoning). The filet itself was of poor quality. The one we received was so small that they added another small piece to make it up for it. Also, the side vegetables are aggressively bland. They tasted like they were microwaved. The escargots and duck liver mousse were fine, but not outstanding. The scallops were again pretty disappointing. They were again just not high quality ingredients- the scallops were quite small and the portion size was also small.

    Medallions of tenderloin pork with mushroom demi-glace.
    Bobby C.

    Was really hoping for better experience from a restaurant with so many positive reviews, but our anniversary dinner was unfortunately underwhelming. The primary waitress is a native French speaker and was friendly and attentive. The entrees were prepared and presented to us at the same time. But the seasoning and flavor on the Coq Au Vin was bland, and the Pork Medallions were too salty. What was actually nice were the accompanying vegetables and mushrooms in each sauce. Premium prices for a meal that was comme ci comme ça. The parking lot is shared with Danish Concepts and patrons have to park in the back only. For some reason all the spaces next to the restaurant are reserved and explicitly signed NOT FOR RESTAURANT.

    A delicious Lapin (rabbit) dinner last night. Bravo Chef Jean Michele
    Donna G.

    Love Le Petit Bistro. Very authentic French Bistro food. Service is very friendly and you feel like you're in France!

    Vivi B.

    My favorite French restaurant!. The unique cuisine is fabulous!. My favorite dishes Escargots De Bourgogne, flirt de boeuf Madagascar. Excellent customer service.

    Escargots De Bourgogne

    See all

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave K.
    145
    1037
    314

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of K T.
    0
    14
    6

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Wendy B.
    0
    129
    350

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 4

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vivi B.
    71
    156
    400

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Thank you Vivi for the review!

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carl L.
    117
    94
    40

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Thank you Carl for coming to see us, please come back soon.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Nora R.
    103
    213
    93

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 4
    Photo of Yun C.
    474
    896
    1599

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K N.
    12
    160
    49

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony T.
    62
    13
    22

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Thank you so much for visiting us Tony! Hope to see you again soon

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of France E.
    106
    3
    19

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Olee L.
    579
    587
    3555

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of JJ L.
    25
    4
    2

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jean-Michel P.

    Jean-Michel P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mr Kitty K.
    152
    944
    1595

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Le Petit Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Le Petit Bistro

    You might also consider

    La Fontaine Restaurant - Our sign at night!

    La Fontaine Restaurant

    3.8(707 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Casual Italian- French restaurant, voted best of Mountain View, right on Castro with ample outdoor…read moreand indoor seating. Only 2 other parties there when we arrived around Sat 12pm. We sat next to window so nice for people watching but got bit hot with sun, even with shade down. Later a few families (seemed like regulars) came in. Lunch menu feels more Italian than French to me - various pastas, pizza, sandwiches, plus entrees. For party of 4, we ordered clam chowder the soup of day, seafood pasta dish, Chicken penne dish, pasta with bacon, and chicken breast entree. Bread with olive oil on the house. My dish Chicken breast was tender and juicy, downed with a lot of buttery sauce, so it was filling.

    Brought my toddler and husband here to eat. They had high chairs for my toddler and even a coloring…read morebook and crayons. They even asked if we wanted to have the TV turned off when they noticed he was watching the tv. Very attentive. The food was great. It also came with complimentary bread that was warmed up and served with olive oil. My toddler enjoyed the free bread as well. We got the arancini, crab cakes , cordon blue , margarita pizza, mushroom truffle ravioli and steak frites. Our favorite dishes were the crab cakes , steak frites and the mushroom ravioli. The crab cakes were tasty and came with a lemon wedge and aoli, the steak frites came in a large portion. The meat was tender and came with a tasty sauce a mushrooms. My son enjoyed the fries that it came with , tasted like there was truffle oil in it. The ravioli was also good, nice and creamy. They also provided a free panna cotta for my husbands birthday. Overall, toddler friendly and expansive menu given that there are both Italian and French options.

    Photos
    La Fontaine Restaurant - Beet Salad

    Beet Salad

    La Fontaine Restaurant - Duck Breast

    Duck Breast

    La Fontaine Restaurant - Branzino

    See all

    Branzino

    La Boheme - Free baguette, but fresher will be better.

    La Boheme

    4.0(621 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    C'est un délice! Quite literally the place is great. The…read morephotos don't do justice for the ambiance. We sat and decided on calamari and steak frites for the table. The calamari was quite possibly the best I've had. Not overly fried and not your typical cheap rings. Great sauces on the side The steak was cooked perfectly to order and the sauce was great as well. Top it off with a great wine selection and fresh baguette to snack on. The owner is a kind Frenchwoman who pays attention to every detail. A huge bonus! I drove out of my way to eat here and would do so again!

    La Bohème is exactly the kind of place you hope to find when you're craving a true French dining…read moreexperience. I was not disappointed. The ingredients were fresh, beautifully balanced, and honestly so good I considered ordering another round. The bread was solid too -- perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. We tried a range of dishes and everything delivered. The omelette stuffed with shrimp was generous and great value, the French onion soup, mussels, and entrecôte were all absolutely spot on, and the chocolate mousse to finish was delicious. Next time, I'm definitely coming back for the soufflé. Even the fruit bowl stood out -- you could tell it was freshly cut, with each fruit tasting crisp and distinct rather than blended together. It's those little details that really show care. The space itself is charming and cozy, with a lovely French ambiance. It's a medium-sized restaurant , with additional outdoor seating, and a decor that makes you want to linger. What really stood out, though, was the service. Absolutely top notch. You can tell the staff and chefs genuinely care about what they're doing -- and that makes all the difference. Honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't more packed -- it deserves to be. We'll absolutely be back to explore more

    Photos
    La Boheme - Inside

    Inside

    La Boheme - Calamars

    Calamars

    La Boheme - Soufflé au Grand Marnier

    See all

    Soufflé au Grand Marnier

    Chez TJ

    Chez TJ

    3.8(841 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$$

    Chez TJ is a bit hidden, as it is a cute little house on a busy street in downtown Mountain View,…read moreso it may blend in a bit. There is a parking lot across the street, as well as street parking surrounding the area, but parking may be hit or miss, depending on when you come by. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating - we were greeted warmly and treated with the best service during the whole evening. We were able to try their Pear Panna Cotta, Royal Kaluga Caviar, Fermented Gooseberry, Dill; Onagadai Tartlette, Creme Fraiche, Fingerlime, Horseradish; Brassica Veloute, Fenugreek Oil, Guanciale Powder Okinawa Sweet Potato, Perigord Black Truffle, Burrata Foam; Petite Baguette; Mushroom & Barley Tea; Squab, Cascabel Mole, Chanterelles, Winter Citrus Gel; Pain Levain, Navel Orange Ricotta; Australian Wagyu, Confit Beetroot, Smoked Parsnip, Sticky Cabbage; Strawberry Basil Mousse, Honeycomb, Strawberry Caviar, Basil Oil Palmier; Hazelnut Chouquette; and The Lime & The Coconut Ganache. My favorites were definitely the Onagadai Tartlette; Petite Baguette; and Squab, Cascabel Mole, Chanterelles, Winter Citrus Gel. Overall, everything was delicious and I was blown away for the experience.

    Good laughs, good service, and a lot of different drinks & dishes to try…read more Came here for a company dinner recently, the host and wait staff were very nice and fast to act. We enjoyed the garden tour and trying the many drinks prior to dinner service. For the meal, we started light and wrapped up with a waygu dish. The desserts were good, but the staff miscounted and missed a portion, I ended up getting a replacement dish that didn't have 2 out of 3 of the original components. Overall, it was a fun experience and the patio seating made the ambience very enjoyable.

    Photos
    Chez TJ - L-R Fried oysters, quail eggs and radishes from CTJ's garden

    L-R Fried oysters, quail eggs and radishes from CTJ's garden

    Chez TJ - Sea Urchin with Carrot Foam

    Sea Urchin with Carrot Foam

    Chez TJ - Lobster salad

    See all

    Lobster salad

    Élyse Restaurant - Tiramisu

    Élyse Restaurant

    4.3(548 reviews)
    11.7 miDowntown
    $$

    Oh my! Just say that they're temporarily closed until the end of May 2026, so we lucked out having…read morethe chance to eat here last Friday 05-01-2026 for the first time. First off, great service! Upon arriving the hostess greeted us and asked if we had a reservation. When we told her yes and gave our first name, she immediately said our last name without looking down and seated us. Within moments our server, wish I remembered his name because he was awesome!, also greeted us and introduced himself. He didn't rush us or anything but politely asked if we wanted something to drink other than water. Then he took our order and everything came out in good time. The food was yum with great flavor and the space had a lively scene without it being crowded. So fun to see the double bar that has an opening to the dining room. Everyone was super friendly and wait staff totally professional and helpful. We look forward to come back and to maybe even host a private event since the have a room that can fit about 24 people.

    CHECK YOUR BILL!!. I recently dined at Elyse in San Jose and wanted to share a mixed experience…read more First, the positives -- the food was genuinely very good. The dishes were well-prepared, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. The overall ambiance was also enjoyable, making it a nice spot for a dinner out. Unfortunately, the experience took a concerning turn at the end of the meal. Our bill came out to $86.42, and I handed my credit card to the waiter. Within seconds (thanks to my card alerts), I received a notification that $103.92 had been charged. When the waiter returned with the receipt, there was no mention of any discrepancy. After waiting a few minutes to see if it would be addressed, I brought it up myself. The waiter appeared flustered and then claimed he had accidentally charged me for someone else's food. That explanation didn't align with the itemized bill I was given, which made the situation feel questionable. He assured me that it would be corrected and that I should see the adjustment in a few days, which I'll be watching closely. Mistakes can happen, but the lack of transparency and the fact that it wasn't proactively disclosed is what left a bad impression. Being overcharged without explanation -- and having to catch it myself -- is not something I expect when dining out. I'd consider coming back for the food, but I'd definitely be more cautious when it comes to the bill.

    Photos
    Élyse Restaurant - Seared Salmon on a bed of risotto

    Seared Salmon on a bed of risotto

    Élyse Restaurant - Ribeye steak

    Ribeye steak

    Élyse Restaurant - Shady Scheme

    See all

    Shady Scheme

    Protégé - Fancy Butter

    Protégé

    4.4(561 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$$

    I celebrated my birthday here and had a truly wonderful dinner experience in the cocktail lounge…read more The à la carte menu offers a thoughtful blend of Asian fusion bites--each dish more impressive than the last. We were attended to by four staff members, and while that may sound like a lot, their service was seamless. Every movement felt intentional and unobtrusive, enhancing rather than interrupting the ambiance. The craftsmanship of the food--wow. This Michelin rating is absolutely well deserved. Each dish had such depth of flavor that we couldn't help but murmur "mmm" with every bite. The presentation was, of course, stunning, with flavors that matched the beauty on the plate. I can't wait to return and experience the dining room next. I highly recommend adding Protégé to your "Best of the Bay" list.

    Protégé is a New American casual restaurant that offers both an a la carte and a tasting menu…read more We made reservations in advance, and we were excited to check this place out for dinner. Our party went for the a la carte option to order a variety of dishes to share, rather than to be restricted to options. We tried: +the Milk Bread - served with Stepladder Creamery cultured butter and Balinese sea salt +the 'Fish & Chips' - prepared with hamachi, Asian pear, red curry, and pickled jalapenos +Crab and Caviar - with dungeness crab, Protégé reserve caviar, and yuzu sabayon +and, the A5 Wagyu Tataki - with black sesame crackers, enoki mushrooms, and karashi For my entree, I tried the Flannery Beef Short Rib, which was served with sunchoke 'hash', charcoal-grilled king trumpet mushrooms, horseradish, and pimenton; I also tried one's Blackened Monkfish and the 'Peas and Carrots.' Everything was well-presented and aesthetically-pleasing, service was on point, and they checked upon our large party often. The restaurant itself is well-decorated, with nice photographs on the wall; request for the tufted seating, as it's more comfortable. +attentive staff +a la carte and tasting menu offered +reservations accepted

    Photos
    Protégé - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Protégé - Mango Cheesecake Chocolates

    Mango Cheesecake Chocolates

    Protégé - Crab and Caviar

    See all

    Crab and Caviar

    Zola + BarZola - Meatballs

    Zola + BarZola

    4.2(630 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$$

    We had a wonderful dinner at Zola. There are many seating options at this restaurant. You can sit…read moreoutside, in the bar area (at the bar or small tables), and a couple of dining rooms. We were seated in the bar area at some tables. The bar is impressive. It's filled to the ceiling with different bottles. We felt like we had to try a cocktail to start. Our bartender was great and even went off menu for some of our drinks. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Once we were seated we got some appetizers to get us started. We ordered chickpea panisse, French onion soup, goat cheese mousse, and the apple salad. Everything was delicious. My favorite was the chickpea panisse. It looked like fried tofu, but it was so delicately soft in the center. The aioli that came with it was great too. My second favorite was the goat cheese mousse. It was beautifully presented and a good balance of flavors. For main dishes, we got a variety of things. We got salmon, hanger steak, flat iron steak, and poulet roti. Everything was delicious. I think the flat iron steak was preferred over the hanger, but both were good. I thought the chicken was delicious. It seemed braised with a lot of flavor. It was a generous portion with a large salad. It was very well done. We also got a couple of sides of macaroni and cheese. Those didn't disappoint. They came in hot iron skillets and were hearty and delicious. For dessert we got the mousse au chocolat. The mousse with ice cream was a great combination. The dessert was well balanced. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening. The staff was great, the food was delicious, and the vibe was fun.

    Zola is pretty good. The indoor decor is pleasant and refined, and I was mesmerised by the…read morebeautiful steak knives. The food: 1. Parker house rolls were fresh and tasty, although not spectacular. The wildflower butter tasted about the same as regular butter. 2. French onion soup was very pleasant, highly recommended. It had a strong taste of (1) something resembling wine must and (2) a meat stock, although I wasn't entirely sure. 3. Roasted chicken was good, maybe not as good as at Sekoya in terms of juiciness, but not dry either, especially with the jug of juice. The chicory salad served alongside it was delightful, however, and one of my favourite parts of the meal. 4. The duck was somewhat small and drier than the usual Chinese style. I did like the demi glace sauce and the rutabaga garnish. 5. The 12oz dry aged rib eye was tasty, with a beautiful crust, but the interior again was a little drier than I would hope for medium rare. Again, the bordelaise sauce was very good. We all loved the aioli that was served alongside the French fries. 6. The side of cooked beans was the main disappointment. The beans themselves didn't taste of much, and the dish as a whole was only rescued by the generous serving of marcona almonds. 7. The grits were decently good. Overall, the meal was an enjoyable dining experience and I would recommend Zola, especially as this style of cooking is becoming less common and squeezed out by restaurants serving more aggressively-flavoured dishes.

    Photos
    Zola + BarZola - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Zola + BarZola - Poulet Sous Brique

    Poulet Sous Brique

    Zola + BarZola - Manhattan de luxe (left); Colette (right)

    See all

    Manhattan de luxe (left); Colette (right)

    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto

    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto

    4.5(219 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    Full bar
    Private events

    First visit to NASCHMARKT in Palo Alto was with Mom on the evening of Saturday, June 27, 2026, to…read morecelebrate her great news and clean bill of health from her urgent care appointment. I had already bookmarked this Austrian spot on my watchlist, and Mom readily agreed to go here after seeing their menu and Yelp photos of their SALZBURGER NOCKERL. NASCHMARKT Palo Alto is one of the trio of Austrian restaurants "coined after the largest open-air market in Vienna." Located off of bustling California Avenue, the eatery is on the quiet side of Birch Street, conveniently located across the street from a public parking lot. The venue includes distinct dining areas, offering both indoor and outdoor patio dining, along with a full bar and counter seating. The interior features a warm, cozy, yet refined European bistro feel. According to their website, NASCHMARKT "offers a unique culinary experience infusing California's flavors with Austrian kitchen delectability." They feature classic items like HOMEMADE PRETZEL ($16), SMOKED PORK BRATWURST ($17), CLASSIC WIENER SCHNITZEL (Pork Cutlet $36, Chicken Cutlet$36, Veal Cutlet $46), HUNGARIAN BEEF GOULASH ($44), alongside desserts like APPLE STRUDEL ($16) and SACHER TORTE ($16). Below are what we ordered for dinner: WATERMELON VELVET ($20) - Mom enjoyed this sophisticated, refreshing cocktail that blends muddled watermelon with a smooth, complex finish and egg white foam topping. GOAT CHEESE PURSE SALAD ($16) - A warm, creamy goat cheese-stuffed pastry "purse" set atop fresh mixed baby greens made for great presentation. The touch of rosemary, drizzle of honey, and savoury balsamic vinegar reduction combined well as flavour accents and with the added textures from the poached apples and crunch from the walnuts. BEET SALAD ($18) - This was a refreshing starter featuring a blend of fresh greens, fruit, pistachios, and goat cheese. It was the preferred salad of the two that we ordered. CLASSIC WIENER SCHNITZEL Pork Cutlet ($36) - This was Mom's order. She substituted the Austrian potato salad with Seasonal Vegetables. Pounded remarkably thin, coated in fine breadcrumbs and pan-fried to a brilliantly golden, exceptionally crispy crust, the tender pork cutlet was light and delicate rather than heavy or greasy. The accompanying lingonberry sauce offered a tart and sweet fruit contrast to the savoury pork. DELISH!! JAGER SCHNITZEL ($40) - Because I'm a saucy girl, I went with this schnitzel with the mushroom cream sauce and it did not disappoint. BEST jager schnitzel and YUMMIEST spätzle that I ever had...and that says A LOT because before this day, I was not a fan of the egg pasta dish. The lingonberry sauce with this schnitzel was also very good! Next time (yes, I will return!), I will ask if I can have the schnitzel crusted and fried like the classic version to enjoy with the delectable mushroom and lingonberry sauces - ooh, yeahhhhhh!! SALZBURGER NOCKERL ($16) - Mom got her soufflé craving satisfied from this fluffy, cloud-like vanilla egg-white baked dessert. The light, airy, and ethereal soufflé, sitting atop a sweet-tart blueberry compote, rose high to a delicate, golden exterior and a meltingly soft interior. We replaced the vanilla bean ice cream with the light and refreshing strawberry sorbet. This was an A++ dish!! Nehir, affectionately also known as Mia, was our superb waitress. She was extremely friendly, informative, and super accommodating - all of our special requests were happily granted with a warm smile. After learning that we were celebrating Mom's wonderful health report, Nehir/Mia served one of our two orders of SALZBURGER NOCKERL on the house. Such a sweetheart she was. We appreciated her so much that we gave her tight hugs before we left. What an amazing first impression we had from our most enjoyable and unforgettable dining experience at NASCHMARKT Palo Alto. I highly recommend this place and can't wait for my next visit!!

    Bland, bland, bland. Jäger Schnitzel was swimming in a mushroom cream sauce. The sauce was heavy…read morecream, butter, mushrooms, flour, and salt. That's it. No herbs. No wine. No garlic. No onions. No nutmeg. Germans love onions, so it should have been loaded with onions and garlic. Germans also love nutmeg in cream-based dishes, but this was devoid of herbs, spices and flavor. The mushrooms were not pre-roasted, which would have given more flavor too. It was painfully bland. Spätzle was also swimming in a similar, basic cream sauce of cream, butter, salt, and flour. The plain sauce on the noodles reinforces the plain oily mushroom sauce and it becomes heavy, oily, cloying, and overwhelmingly bland. There is enough salt in both dishes, just not enough flavor from herbs, spices, onions, and garlic. Also had the Apfel Strüdel; it was ok, edges were burnt, but acceptable with the provided vanilla sauce and whipped cream. Both the whipped cream and vanilla sauce had visible vanilla bean seeds. So they know how to flavor the sweet sauces, just not the savory. Ordered to go and the best part was the hot food containers; fully sealed and contained all the liquid while also keeping the food very hot! Not all places have considered matching their dishes and to go containers; Naschmarkt clearly has. I really wanted to love to Naschmarkt, but their food is far too bland. From what I see in the pictures, it wasn't just an off-night, that's is how they make their dishes regularly. As a German from Germany, that makes me sad because it could and should be much better.

    Photos
    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto
    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto
    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto

    See all

    Le Petit Bistro - french - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...