Ambiance: 5 stars Food: 2 stars…read moreService: 2 stars Wine selection: 3 stars The outdoor patio and live music are truly the highlights here. The setting is charming and relaxed, and the live music creates a calm, enjoyable atmosphere that makes it easy to unwind and focus on the company you're with. From a purely ambiance standpoint, it's a beautiful spot. Beyond a fairly simple cheese plate, the dishes felt underwhelming and not particularly well prepared. Like many other reviews, staff are slow and not particularly attentive or warm. The wine list was fair and the bottle we enjoyed was pleasant. This feels like the kind of place you go for the atmosphere only. Where you go to sit outside, enjoy live music, and spend one-on-one time with someone you care about. If you come primarily for that and keep expectations low around food and service, you'll likely have a lovely time.

Such a fun and charming spot in Palo Alto -- it's a house turned into a wine bar, which makes it…read morefeel extra special. There's adorable seating out front, beautiful indoor seating by the piano along with bar seating, and they even open up the back patio at 5:30 (with heaters). They offer happy hour from 4:30-5:30 (even on Saturdays) which is great. The whole place has a cozy, homey feel with a strong wine list and food that pairs really well. I tried the chipotle samosa, which was a fun twist on the classic Indian appetizer -- the chipotle sauce was surprisingly delicious with it. The cheese plate was also excellent with a red wine; there's nothing better than a sip of wine right after a bite of cheese. Their Gewürztraminer white wine also really stood out to me. It was a crowd favorite. Great staff and incredible ambiance -- I'd definitely come back for a group get-together or a date night.

The food is good and ambiance is nice! I have been 6+ times for the food. However, unfortunately I…read morehave to take a few stars off for the service. Just overall, the people who work here are not very nice. Right at the start, the host/manager ignores you as you are awkwardly waiting to tell them you have a reservation. They just tap away on their iPads without looking up. I have had the same server multiple times, and every time I feel like my family is bothering her by just asking if she can take our order. I'm usually really patient with this kind of stuff when the restaurant is busy, but this happens when the restaurant is almost empty. For the price point, the service needs substantial improvement.

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.

TLDR: Honestly, a simply fantastic seasonal tasting menu…read moreexperience. It's beautifully decorated inside, the food was excellent & fresh, and the service was generally great. Would 100% come back for our favorites, and I'd recommend the meats here over the seafood. My favorite among the Eylan, Ettan, Copra sister restaurants! ------ FOOD: 1. [MUST TRY] TARO ROOT CHAAT (5/5) Wow wow wow. My new favorite way to enjoy chaat. Two crispy taro root chips sandwiching a medley of sauces, then covered thoughtfully in sev (short, crunchy noodles) and topped with pomegranate seeds. It's not only beautiful but also delicious. 2. RIBEYE (5/5) Had no expectations that this ribeye would be anything special, but it was surprisingly excellent quality. We absolutely loved it and the side of broccolini that came with it (super flavorful). 3. EYLAN CRISPY CHICKEN (5/5) Crispy exterior without excessive batter, super tender + juicy chicken, and great aioli to pair. The chicken comes out piping hot (be careful) with seasoning that adds the slightest kick. 4. CHILLED GREEN GRAPE CHAAS (4.75/5) Such a refreshing start to the meal. The flavors and textures were all perfect. The only reason this isn't a 5/5 is because, surprisingly, the semolina balls are slightly different sizes, so some were too big to have in one bite. 5. WOODFIRE CHICKEN SEEKH (4.5/5) Another chicken dish that comes out piping hot. Again, extremely tender chicken (texturally, maybe they marinaded the chicken in yogurt?). They kept emphasizing that a skewer only comes with 3 pieces, but each piece was actually quite large so we're glad we didn't over-order. Both the chicken and the chutney it comes with are very spicy though, so be prepared. 6. KOHLRABI & PINEAPPLE (4.5/5) The surprises kept coming. Honestly, had no idea what this was when I tried it, but the best way to describe it for others who have never had something like this before is an unbelievably flavorful Indian version of kimchi (without the fermentation). Thin slices of kohlrabi and pineapple with smokiness, sweetness, and crunch, smothered in a delicious glaze. WOW. 7. FROZEN SHRIKHAND (4.5/5) Another surprise win! The epitome of not-too-sweet. A very refreshing and easy-to-share dessert that is both light and rich at the same time. 8. KING TRUMPET MUSHROOM (4.25/5) A simple dish that reminded me of Mongolian skewered mushrooms. Nice smokey flavor paired with a flavorful seasoning sprinkled on top. 9. HISPI CABBAGE (4.25/5) Another nice vegetable dish where the cabbage is not only cooked nicely, but it's swimming in a thick curry that you can eat with your breads. 10. WOODFIRED NANTE CARROT (4.25/5) Like a sweet and savory crepe. Small but mighty, and another unexpectedly tasty item where the looks deceived you into think it was a simple item. 11. GULF SHRIMP (4/5) This was a nice dish but I found the shrimp to be slightly overcooked and slightly fishy. Not bad at all, but probably not something I'd order again. 12. EYLAN CHICKEN YAKHNI PULAO (4/5) Super interesting flavor I've never had before in a rice dish, and extremely generous with the amount of chicken used in this. Loved the crispy shallots as a garnish on top. Rice was a little dry. 13. CHARRED BLACK COD (4/5) Crispy skin and piping hot. The fish itself was not tough but it wasn't melt-in-your-mouth tender -- definitely firm. Had the slightest fishiness to it in my opinion but it's still not bad. I think the move here is Eylan's meats though. 14. FLAXSEED POEE (3.75/5) Loved that it came out freshly-baked, easy to share, and super fluffy. Very high quality but the flaxseed flavor wasn't my favorite and there was something about the avocado saag that made it taste more like a condiment than something to eat with the poee. 15. BERRY MAKHANA KHEER (2/5) This is just a personal preference. These kinds of desserts are not for me flavor-wise. Also difficult to eat since we were given flat plates and this is a liquid dessert. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * This is a truly beautiful restaurant. It's clear that they put a lot of attention into each detail and decoration, reminiscent of Copra in SF or Ettan nearby (sister restaurants). * They play music semi-loudly in the restaurant which creators a very lively atmosphere that I actually quite liked, but you can also ask them to turn down the music if it ever gets bothersome. * The restaurant is located alongside a main road in Menlo Park, but it's a bit more tucked away from the road such that it doesn't feel too exposed. ------ SERVICE: * Maybe because we were a large group, but they gifted us a plate of delicious Naankhatai (Indian Ghee Cardamom Shortbread) after dessert and those cookies were divine. We asked for the last couple to be packed up, and to our surprise, they gave us a whole new batch of cookies! That's excellent service. * They were diligent about filling our waters, wiping down our tables, and providing enough serving spoons for all our dishes.

Had another outstanding meal here. The food menu had some slight changes but really all the dishes…read morewere just phenomenal. This time it was the chicken seekh kabab, which was some of the most tender and flavorful chicken I've had in recent memory, a the cabbage and paneer dish, a few other things.. And the frozen shrikand is still so so good. Sat in the main dining room instead of the bar this time and loved the ambiance just as much as last time. Elegant with lots of really cool Indian imagery on the wallpaper and decor I am however docking a star for repeated service issues - very interesting that it was the same as last time, even in the main dining room this go around. For whatever reason the server just disappears on you after the mains come out. And also for whatever reason they just never bring out spoons to serve the gravy dishes with, which seems odd for a restaurant where family style ordering is the norm... and it was painfully difficult to get anyone's attention to amend these when we wanted to order more or share spooning out a dish while it was hot

We had such a wonderful experience at Roma in Menlo Park. My mom made a reservation for 10 of us…read moreafter Easter service, and everything was perfect from the start. They set up our table in a beautiful indoor-outdoor space, and with the amazing weather, the whole atmosphere felt special. The staff was incredibly warm and hospitable, and once our full party arrived, everything flowed smoothly from appetizers to the main course. Every dish was top-notch. The highlight for me was the carbonara. It's the only place I've found that truly makes it the way they do in Rome. A few years ago, I visited Rome and, like a classic tourist, ate carbonara nonstop. Ever since then, I haven't been able to find anything that compares--until now. One bite honestly took me right back. Highly recommend. We'll definitely be coming back.

3.5 stars. My most…read morerecent Roma experience was on the evening of Thursday, May 28, 2026. Mom was craving squid ink pasta, so she suggested this place for our dinner destination. I had visited once before and also remembered ordering take-out from them a few years ago. I wasn't super impressed by them back then, but was open to seeing if I would have an improved opinion of them. Roma ITALIAN CUISINE is a casual dining spot that serves authentic dishes at Menlo Park's main drag, Santa Cruz Avenue. They offer both indoor, comfy quarters and sidewalk seating options equipped with heat lamps. Their warm, neighbourhood vibe with white-tablecloth comfort provides a relaxed atmosphere ideal for unwinding. Mom called Roma shortly after 7:30 PM to see if they had a table for five available for us. No problem, so we headed straight to the restaurant and arrived around 7:45 PM. We were quickly seated and served iced water. Unfortunately, we had to return 1.5 rounds of the water because the glasses were dirty. Mom asked our waitress/server #1 for sliced lemon for our water to which she was told that the kitchen ran out of lemons. Interestingly, our waiter/server#2 brought out the requested slices. This was the waitress' strike #1. Roma's cuisine is more traditional than trendy, serving an array of classic Northern Italian inspired dishes. In addition to the warm, soft complimentary bread, below are what we had for dinner: GNOCCHI ($27) + grilled chicken ($11) - The green pesto looked richly tasty and the potato dumplings looked plump and pillowy. V was a fan of his dish. SQUID INK PESCATORE ($38) - Both Mom and Z ordered this PASTA, but Z requested to substitute the clams with more of the other seafoods. Initially, we were told by the waitress/server #1 that there would be an extra charge for subbing the clams, but our waiter/server #2 ensured that where was no such surcharge. Strike #2 for waitress #1. Initial misinformation aside, Z and Mom were happy with their orders. LASAGNA ($30) - Substantial in size. Chaz finished every bite with enjoyment. POLLO MARSALA ($32) - Very good. I was pleasantly surprised to finally enjoy a dish at Roma. Service kicked off with major disappointment due to our waitress'/server#1's falsifications. Mom was extremely displeased by her which was completely understandable. Thankfully, our waiter/server #2 was much more helpful and friendly. He saved our dinner experience...and my opinion of Roma did, indeed, improve.

The paella might be the star but their grilled octopus is mindblowing. Perfectly seasoned, went…read morevery well with the sauce. The best grilled octopus Ive ever had.

My son & his girlfriend treated me to one of their favorite places for dinner. We started with the…read morePatatas Bravas, potatoes cooked perfectly, the Cali-Flower (one of my favorites) with a delicious sauce on top. Tuna Tacos, Pan Con Tomate, jamon iberico de bellota (38 month cured ham) & the star of our meal, G&G Paella Negra! Everything was cooked perfectly. Service was excellent! We had a few cocktails, dined outdoors in perfect weather. A most memorable evening & great food shared with some of my favorite people.

Wow. Could not have been happier with the food!…read more Will present the food in the order I would recommend: Banana fritters- soft clouds of fried dough, over some rum dark chocolate sauce. Divine! 7/5 Curry cauliflower over a red non spicy sauce. Refreshing! The flavors blended together with the flavorful but not overpowering flavor, with the well balanced sauce underneath. Could not stop eating it. $17 8/5 Mezze plate - the coconut feta was very creamy and good, I really enjoyed the pomegranate arugula salad with pickled onion and with the pieces of falafel inside. The flatbread was a little hard, but good. The eggplant was good and hummus also good. $32 price a little steep for the platter 6/5 Impossible cheeseburger - classic impossible burger. The standout item was the fries, quite good! Crisp outside and soft inside. 5/5 French toast - ok, a little dry, the berry sauce was good but lacking a little dynamic flavor maybe some citrus? 3/5 Cookie with vegan ice cream. Alas, pastries are still difficult to make well vegan 3/5 Service was a little distracted and hard to order. Bussing was very on top of it. I will return for the top items

It was my mistake not doing full research beforehand, as I didn't realize it was a vegan…read morerestaurant. My rating reflects the food from a vegan standpoint. Everyone ordered different dishes so we could try a lot of things from the menu. 1/5 Athenian Eggplant - Far too sour and the flat bread was SO HARD. Even carb lovers didn't want to finish it. 4/5 Green Falafel - Came warm and the tzatziki sauce was pretty good. 4/5 French fries - Sauces were interesting. 1/5 Mushroom bao - ONE small piece of fried mushroom in each of the two baos that came out. It was stuffed with sour lettuce instead. 2/5 Corn pizza - That coconut mozz was not it for me. 3/5 Chicken sandwich - Solid. Drinks were good! What's up Doc was my fave. Located in the corner of the plaza next to CVS. Good service.

I came here strictly for the baked oysters. It's the only way I can eat them! They were beyond…read moredelicious. I had to order more! Their cheese bread is unbelievably good as well. It was fairly empty when I got there so the service was fast. I shared a huge hurricane pitcher with my husband which was fun to drink. I'll be back to try more menu items for sure.

I've always wanted to try this place after seeing it on social media. We also love coming to Palo…read moreAlto, as the offer so many different dining options. My husband took me here for Mother's Day. The menu is quite overwhelming so we decided to stick with the Creole dishes. We got the etouffee, crawfish and shrimp gumbo, bbq pulled pork po boy and beignets. My son got the sliders. The food came out super quick after we'd ordered, so that was good. I'm also glad that we can order via the QR code so we don't have to flag the server down. We ate at the covered portion outside so the sun wouldn't be beaming on us. I enjoyed the decor and the NOLA feel to the place with the beads everywhere. Back to the food: Etouffee: 4/5 pretty good but not the best I've had. The flavors were there. Gumbo 4/5: I couldn't tell the difference between the gumbo and étouffée, but this was also good. Pulled pork po boy 3/5: Just OK. Maybe the shrimp would've been better. Beignets: 4/5 I loved that they came with the different sauces and tasted great after the meal, but we were too stuffed to finish them. Overall, great experience and good eats. It is unique to the area to have this kind of restaurant, so that gives this place a little extra appeal.

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.

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).