We keep thinking that "next time" the experience will be better. From the time this incredibly amazing property opened, the Madera staff has not quite grasped hospitality. On occasion, there have been a few stand out members of the Madera team, yet unfortunately the restaurant hostesses are not among them. Recently we had come early for brunch and were given a rapid fire third degree---did we have a reservation, were we staying at the hotel, etc. Not in a kind, inquiring way, but a cool, off-putting manner. Then a glance around the empty restaurant and lightly seated terrace only to tell us that they did not have a table available. When we gently pressed and said that our meal would be brief, we were taken to a table. We were there an hour and there were still a good number of empty tables when we left. We have also experienced unengaged host/hostess staff even when we do have reservations. Puzzled, we thought we would try again early Sunday evening for a quick dinner. We asked if it were possible to have a table for two? Same interrogation ensued, followed by a glance around the empty restaurant except for a very few occupied tables. This time, the hostess turned back to us and said "we are fully committed" with no attempt to accommodate or offer another time or the bar as an alternative. The dismissive nature is surprising in such an environment. This time, instead of engaging the hostess further to see if there was a way we could have a quick meal and not disturb reservation times, we just said Oh, OK and slowly turned and left the podium. We were on the property for awhile and the restaurant was still largely empty, even if the idea was to maintain some table availability for hotel occupancy. We are local, long-time residents who frequent properties and fine dining establishments such as yours. While it is now unlikely we will ever return to Madera--we give up-- we can always hope that serious attention will ultimately be given to the selection of host/hostess staff and expectations for how guests are treated. read more

This is a glorified hotel restaurant, decked out with dark woods that bespeak a high price tag. In the winter, when it's dark by dinner-time, the view is invisible and the ambiance decidedly unspectacular. High ceilings result in cacophony, making it impossible to engage in normal dinner conversation without practically screaming at your kids/friends/SO. Service? Overly solicitous, with servers stopping by to swap out unused utensils for other utensils. Who knew that the knife for salads needed to be an inch longer (but otherwise identical to) a regular knife? Still, I expect Madera has high standards when hiring its employees, and no complaints about them, just about the amount of hovering they were expected to do. Food: unexceptional. Cost about twice as much as you'd expect in a decent local restaurant, and significantly more than you'd pay for a better meal in a less pretentious restaurant in San Francisco or Manhattan. I'm not sure who gives this restaurant four or five stars? I mean, it's not awful, but don't you all mind getting ripped off? Or is it more like "wow, I just spent $300 on dinner for four...that must have been good!" read more

Had breakfast here the other morning. Great place to meet if you are on this side of the valley. Friendly and attentive service with solid straight forward food. A little on the pricey side but what can you expect being in Venture Capital Alley. read more

The Foie Gras is back!!! And oh soo good! Madera has really never been operating on all cylinders as much as it is now.

Went to try Madera after they received their star. The decore was nice, but that rest of the experience was fairly disappointing. Pros: - Crab appetizer was pretty good - Nice wine list - Waiter was attentive Cons: - The acoustics in the room are pretty bad, and the table is so long that it is difficult to speak to someone across from you. - Our service felt very forced, even though it was very polite. Not a very comfortable experience - The bread was bad. I didn't think it was possible for this to happen, but the bacon bread was underseasoned and bland. The other bread they provided was over salted and unpleasant to eat. - The main courses (duck and NY strip) were very disappointing. The duck was also underseasoned + bland and my friend claimed that the brussels were undercooked. The NY strip was overdone even when ordered Med. Rare and not particularly flavorful. The bone marrow accompaniment was sparse and not well prepared. The star and the fairly high prices made this meal even more disappointing. read more

Perfect spot for a celebration! 4 of us went on a Friday night to celebrate a girlfriend's 60th birthday. Got there at 4:30 and the main bar room was full but the connecting 'library' room was open...and much better if you don't go there for a pick-up. The service was timely, they brought your bottle of wine to your seat to pour and the appetizers were delicious. I had ordered a small cake and it was beautiful, with eatible orchards as decoration, and a superb mango flavored mousse filling. Yes, it was expensive, but worth it for a special occassion. read more

My friend & I just celebrated another birthday at Madera on Friday. Usually there are 3 of us but this time one was out of town. Our waiter couldn't have been nicer or more helpful and our lunch was delicious. Thank you once again! read more

This is a review for the lounge and bar. I come over to the Peninsula a few times a month for business and I have found my new favorite place! I spent a great afternoon up at Madera, meeting my associates, taking in the view, working on my laptop...I really didn't want to leave! We started with nibbles and iced tea and as the afternoon wore on, we ended with wine and some great appetizers. The service was lovely and attentive. I am always on the look-out for great outdoor spaces to wine and dine in a relaxed space where I can converse and plan, and enjoy being alive. Madera is all that. It's my new back yard on the Peninsula! read more

If you go to Madera planning to order either the ribeye or lamb, then I would recommend you make a detour to Nick's on Main in Los Gatos. It baffles me how Madera has been bestowed 1 Michelin star. Neither flavors, creativity, nor presentation was astounding. read more

Oh Madera. Over the years you have been hit or miss. I'll give you 1 star on consistency, but the last couple of visits the food and service have been great. The view and the deck are great on a nice day and I'm sure I'll continue to take my chances from the time to time. To those reading trying to get a sense of the place, go for the deck on a beautiful day and you might get lucky with a good server and dishes. read more

Madera is a beautiful place to have a memorable meal. I was there for their Christmas dinner. Even though the flavor was nice, the portion was gigantic, and hence cannot be described as delicate or pretty. And for desserts, since I insisted on trying different ones, we had a peppermint chocolate pots de creme, which was served in a whiskey glass. You could imagine the terror when I saw that thing. And of course, we left it on the table after the second spoonful. read more

I savored every bite of the flatbread from the starter menu. The one I ordered had grilled asparagus, maitake mushrooms, roasted peppers, and freshly made ricotta cheese. It was very satisfying and tasty. I look forward to trying more items from the menu next time. The menu was comprised of locally grown and sustainably farmed dishes that are artfully presented, fresh, and simply delicious. read more

This place has a long way to go to merit top end pricing. I'd drive a bit more to get a better meal. I am not a fan of Madera. The menu is limited. We had the steak and the sole, the steak was well cooked but just not that good a piece of meat, the sole was cooked with a sauce that dominated the dish in a not so good way. The octopus salad was very good, although the menu made it seem more like a vegi salad. The asparagus starter was tasty but nothing special. Wine is interesting and very pricey. By the glass menu has some nice choices but the two Cabs we had were just opened and needed more than the duration of our meal to open up. The list is long, full of famous names and marked up as much as you will see anywhere. The country club feeling dining room gets that from its new touch on 80s architecture (check out the high up windows on the end of the room) plus the slightly disheveled looking wait staff and the miss match of decorating styles. The open kitchen and the order entry computers out in the open pull the atmosphere down a few notches too. The coolest design thing is the lighting in the hall way leading to the lobby, projecting a pattern like sun coming through trees. All in all this is a place that seems better suited with expectations taken down a few notches. We are all very fortunate to great restaurants all around. Madera has an infinitely far way to go to join the ranks of the top end eats in the area. I'll watch yelp and give this place another try in 6 months if folks report an improvement. All my gripes may be startup issues for them, Rosewood is a well regarded operator and I would expect them to eventually get it right. read more

Great scene, great presentation, great service, great menu, but the food is still mediocre. First visit for lunch had the Soft Shell Crab BLT - messy and tasteless. Second visit had the Niman Ranch Pulled Pork Sandwich with Potato Salad, messy and tasteless. Seems to be a theme. It's a shame as they're giving the VIllage Pub a run for the lunch VC crowd, but as of yet its not for the food. read more

I have eaten here several times. The food namely, halibut is prepared well consistently. The sliders are good for the price. The Rib-eye was prepared well. I had this once. The wine list is astounding, yet so are the prices. There is a significant mark-up. The servers one female waitress/sommalier we had was quite crabby. Not sure if she was trying to aloof and professional, but she was really aloof! Indeed she forgot an item, and vanished for quite some time before could pay the check. Hmmm? read more

Went to Madera three times over a course of two weeks and sampled a bunch of items on the menu. Conclusion: barelyyy Michelin Star worthy - the food is not particularly creative or delicious so my guess is what pushes Madera over the line is its extensive wine list and upscale ambiance. Service is kind of weird in a saccharine way. Overall, I found the starters and sides better than the entrees; winners include the caprese salad w burrata and the macaroni and cheese. Not so great were the pork belly (jerky-ish) and steak (blah). I think Madera makes a convenient, *nice* place to have a meal, but it's not anything memorable. read more

Very nice evening with another couple. Meals were good. Wine was extremely expensive. Whole meal was expensive - more pricey than it felt it needed to be. We all really enjoyed the beignets. 3 stars because of high price. Otherwise, would give it 4. read more

Coming down a notch after brunch last Sunday. The food was still excellent. The server was terrible. He was nice enough, but never got a single thing done or right the first time. Perhaps there was a language problem. We don't know, but it got tiresome having to ask for everything over again or being brought things we hadn't asked for. We understand that someone named Sophie has left and apparently used to keep things running better. Maybe she even did the hiring and training. Something needs correction now. read more

I would say their decors and atmosphere is awesome. And their service was excellent too. But their food was just ok. I could find something better with that price. It was very salty but everybody's preference could be different so I won't complain much. But taste wise, it was just whatever. It looked good when it came but eh.. read more

I've eaten at the Rosewood Hotel bar a number of times over the years, this review reflects multiple experiences that have ranged from 2 to 4 stars. It's a beautiful high end bar, with a great patio outside, and it's always been fairly busy when I've been there. The service is usually quite good, bartenders are friendly and very capable, though earlier this week the kitchen took over 30 minutes to get my appetizer of sliders out. Great ambiance, you feel comfortable with a suit, or just nice jeans and a shirt. One of the best wine selections by the glass you'll find anywhere. The food is good, but not terrific. The shrimp are memorable, other items are fine but you could get similar quality for a lot less at other places. You're paying for the high end surroundings, and if you catch it on a good night with a nice crowd and good friends, it's very good. Often, though, you leave with the feeling that what you got didn't justify what you paid for it. read more

I have been here almost every other week. Madera is absolutely top of the bar for weekend lunch in Bay Area. The desserts are amazing!! On the service side, it is tricky, most of the servers are extremely nice and attentive, but there is a few times, I would say ~20% of among my visits, checkin-desk staff are not so friendly and helpful. read more

Not consistent. Disappointed in the food. High prices for glib presentation, but food lacks in foundation or true quality.

the view was lovely surprisingly since it's so close to 280 but you really can't see it. the decor and artwork is just beautiful. the restaurant definitely still has that "hotel restaurant" vibe but they did the best they could considering it is still in a resort hotel. the bar/lounge area has a much cozier feel but I can tell that place will be packed for happy hour times due to the smallish size and of course location at the end of sand hill rd. it is a welcomed addition to the restaurant choices for sand hill/280. If you need a quick fix, the spa deli looks amazing with made to order sandwiches and premade salads and desserts. They have their own drive access as well so you don't have to go all the way through the resort to get to it. I will definitely use this for sandwich orders in the future. read more

If ratings were given on food and service separately - 4/2 = 3 overall. First, this place is beautifully designed. From the large oak panels adorning the bar entrance to the massive contemporary pieces throughout, coodos to the ID! Considering this is touted as a 5 star hotel AND restaurant, after having lunch here, i left unimpressed, not by the food, but by the service. Half of our party got drinks instantly, the rest waited 20min, we were only 8 ppl! Food was solid - no complaints. Food on our director of accounting's new white pants and blouse? Bad move. Accidents happen, but without even an offer to dry clean to correct the error, it left a bad taste in everyone's mouths Talk of the town? Once management gets their act together and retrains its servers and kitchen for efficiency and effectiveness, Madera will do great. Hurry..... read more

I'm giving this place two stars - one for the view and one bc they allowed us to bring our dog. The service was inept and the food was average and over priced. I came here for brunch and the menu was extremely limited. I'm in no rush to return. read more

Mediocre food, high prices and so-so service. This was a real disappoint to us as we expected so much more. A very limited menu. The bar is filled with the afterwork 20's set - loud and on the make. If you are 40+ this place is not for you. read more

pros: -outdoor seating is great and dog friendly -lounge during the day is kid friendly, and at night romantic + initiate if you can find a place to sit -bar- day or night fun cons: -drinks are great but at times inconsistent -food usually good but also inconsistent. as a waitress once told me, it "depends on who makes it." -wait staff... inconsistent at best. this is either because they are understaffed or incompetant. they are all very nice but it's so hard to flag someone down for drinks, etc. -depending on the night, bar can have undertones of a meatmarket vibe. ive been there well over 2 dozen times the past 3 years, and plan to return. read more

Lovely restaurant, lovely setting, mediocre food. Nothing special about this place at all - the food is completely ho-hum. Had the grouper which was completely flavorless, and hubby had the pork chop, which was only slightly better than the grouper. The green chilis (side dish) were yummy. Manhattan cocktail was wonderful. The fried soft-shelled crab was indeed pretty tasty. All this for over $200. Really, unless you're doing business in Silicon Valley, this place is way over-priced for what you get. Trouble recommending it to anyone other than a biz type needing a place to talk biz close to SandHill Rd. read more

I came here once for a birthday party and it was a nice time because of the party. The second time I came for a drink with a friend. The bartender didn't come to ask for my order for the longest time. Then, after we had ordered and had been there a while, my friend asked, "Can we get some of those bar snacks and water?' and the bartender replied, "Maybe...Maybe..." He was arrogant and rude. Who wants to go somewhere and be treated like they are doing you a favor for selling you overpriced, mediocre drinks? This place is over hyped and snobby. I wouldn't go back. read more

We've been coming here for the past couple years and I hate to say it, but I think the quality of the food has come down. We each ordered seafood entrees and the fish was overcooked and bland, and just didn't taste fresh. Our cauliflower soup was much better, in fact very good. But in general, I think the food is not that good for the price you're paying. It's all about the atmosphere here, and the bar area and dining room get so crowded which is fun, and it's really a beautiful space. I love seeing the kitchen as you enter and the service is on point. I know I'll be back, but I think I might stick to the salads and first courses for a while..... read more

This new restaurant is beautiful. The views spectacular. We thought the menu was small. I had the filet of sole which was horrible. It tasted like sole with corn flakes. With it was some type of fish sausage which was so salty and had a terrible taste. My husband had the rib eye and said that it was so fatty he could not eat it. The desserts were extremely small and nothing special. All this being said, I would go back and see if it improves. We need a good restaurant around her. read more

I went with a group of girls for a birthday get together and it was great! We sat out on the Patio area, which has a beautiful view of the foothills, and we watched the sun set. At night the place has a very nice ambiance to it. I can't comment on the food because I didn't have any, but I had their Tahitian Lemon Drop and it was divine! It is pricey, but well worth it for a special date or gathering. Dressing up a little would definitely be appropriate. Think "business" or "cocktail casual" type of dress. The only reason I gave it four instead of five stars is that I felt the service left a little to be desired. They weren't real quick about filling water glasses or clearing the table and once we paid our bill, we were pretty much ignored. But overall, it was a lovely place! read more

Need a chic place for a lively night out? Check out Madera in the Rosewood Hotel. I went there for the first time for dinner and drinks on a Friday night. It's a great alternative to other options in the mid-peninsula because it's more high-end and trendy that what you typically find. When you first walk in, you may notice it's a bit dark, lodgy and empty, but once you get to the bar area, that's where all the action is. The bar is packed with people and feels like you're hanging out in someone's swanky library/den in Incline Village. The service is attentive and the bar menu was decent. Then we moved into the main dining room. If you've ever been to the Hyatt Regency in North Lake Tahoe, this place will remind you of the Lone Eagle Grill restaurant. It's open and airy, lots of light colored wood and just a great ambience. The food was delicious. We ordered the lamb, sea bass, and ribeye. They also have decadent desserts that you'll want to leave plenty of room for. Overall, great place for drinks and food if you want to hang out, but don't feel like driving into the City. Crowd: well-groomed, professional, 30s-50s age range. read more

My two adult daughters and I took my wife to Madera for her 50th Birthday lunch. We had high expectations as we'd heard it had a Michelin star. What an incredible disappointment! The service was mediocre at best...glacially slow, inattentive, lacking attention to detail, inconsistent. Polite but untrained. As we waited, every step of the way, they could be seen clustered together by the kitchen, chatting amiably. We tried to get their attention but they couldn't (or refused to) recognize our cues. To be sure, when we first sat down we were approached with menus promptly, and offered drinks. But that's it. No bread or anything was ever offered. We were very hungry, having anticipated a great meal. But the waiter didn't appear again for nearly fifteen minutes. When he did it took another looonnngg time for the food to arrive. And when the food did come... wow. The asparagus tempura appetizer featured profoundly overcooked vegetables saturated in oil with globs of excess batter. We had to peel it off and salvage the asparagus. On the other hand, the cheddar soup was quite good. When they finally removed the appetizer serving plate they left our individual side dishes, each piled high with greasy tempura batter that we'd rejected, for many minutes, until a woman (who wasn't our server) finally noticed and took pity on us, removing them. Later, my $32 steak was presented in the most bland fashion...sliced meat on one side, with a huge pile of cold, soggy, saturated onion curls filling the plate. Period. Not a smidgeon of green to be found. The meat itself was very good, but the onions were inedible. Couldn't they have offered up even one vegetable or even parsley? My wife got the cod and it was very good. My daughter had their house burger and it was also good, but not great. The bacon was hard as a rock and had to be removed as it literally couldn't be eaten. The new Umami Burger in downtown Palo Alto is infinitely better at half the price. But my other daughter's BLT was stupendously bad. The Canadian bacon slabs were tough as leather and mostly fat. There were green tomatoes that had good flavor and texture, but some other vegetable(?) that had the consistency of wood. I felt like I was eating brush. The bread was stale. It couldn't be finished. My daughter left hungry. We sat, pushed away from the table, for over ten minutes before someone came to remove the plates. Another five long minutes later the server came and offered dessert, but by that time we'd firmly decided against it, even though we'd come hoping to celebrate my wife's birthday with a treat. Before tip the bill was $134. Stunningly bad experience. We've eaten everywhere around the Bay Area for decades, and this was one of the worst experiences we've ever had. Avoid it and send the management a message that they need to stop cynically delivering mediocrity (at best) at Michelin star prices just because of their proximity to Sandhill Road's VC money. read more

Madera Restaurant is located on Rosewood and Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park. A fairly new hotel and restaurant catering to the Silicon Valley and Stanford crowds. A beautiful, spacious location with a terrace overlooking the foothills. Great view, large open kitchen and dining area, beautifully furnished. My wife and I joined another couple who had purchased dinner at a charity auction. The restaurant was busy with many business groups dining. Fairly loud with the high vaulted ceilings, connected kitchen and large parties. Service was slow. My wife and I started with a glass of chardonnay and pinot noir. Our server eventually came and we ordered gazpacho and shrimp appetizers. They were both decoratively presented but very average. Our salmon and halibut entrees took a long time to arrive and our waiter kept asking if we wanted more wine. When the entrees arrived nearly 60 min after being seated, the halibut was well prepared but my salmon was dry and over cooked in spite of ordering it medium rare. We had banana cake and cheese cake for dessert, both were very good. Our bill including wine, appetizers, entrees, dessert, tax and tip came to almost $200. So a mixed review of the restaurant. Beautiful location, great views watching the sun set, slow service, small portions, very showy presentations, a disappointing salmon entrée, very noisy and very expensive. If your business or a charity purchase is paying, it's an interesting experience. With the noise level and business crowd, it is not a romantic setting. There are much better restaurants in the area for far less money. read more

The bar at Madera is a fun upscale place to have cocktails after a hectic day at the office (or a less hectic but just as busy day at the Rosewood Spa and lounging by the Rosewood pool). Great people watching! highly recommended. read more

Breathtaking views and delicious drinks. The service is the only reason why they don't have 5 stars... there was a big group of us and I didn't feel like the servers were being helpful or pleasant.. one of them had an attitude problem. But the best part was seeing Ashton and Demi there last night :) overall, would def come here again! read more

Really enjoyed my Saturday lunch at Madera. The views are incredible (and that's not something you typically get at a Palo Alto restaurant!) The bests were the burger and a delicious burrata starter (oh, and a beautiful chocolate sphere for dessert). My cobb salad was just okay...wouldn't order again. Will be back! read more

Not sure how to start. I actually joined yelp just for this review. Came here to celebrate a small financial success. We had a few cocktails; very upscale with nice touches; a little on the pricey side but justified for the clubhouse style size of the drinks and the premium ingredients. We had cheese and cured meat and oysters; all well presented. Well, I passed the bar and a woman server was pointing to a patron and was referring to her(fake) breasts while laughing. Then, as if to compliment herself, she cupped her own breasts and told her companion that hers were real. I, who had augmentation surgery myself, was pretty horified. I returned; this did not exactly put a damper on my celebration but I found this type of behavior coming from the staff to be wildly inappropriate. Plus I ended the evening with the appetizers and drinks and had dinner elsewhere. I asked my own server ,who was consumately professional the name of the offeding waitress and was told it was Barbara. If management culls yelp reviews in an attempt to impove, I suggest a chat with Barbara. Some people might not be as easy-going as myself. read more

I would give 3 1/2 stars. This view really is beautiful, not the best but very pretty with the hills and sunset. I came here for the first time yesterday for an event. The place is full of the older crowd, I was easily the youngest person there. But it also makes for wonderful people watching (cougars trying to get at the VCs) LOL. Parking is plentiful. It can be pricey but in the heart of silicon valley, you kind of have to expect that, I mean, did you take a look at the cars in valet?! Anyways, its was a fun experience. I'd like to try that restaurant next door someday. This place started getting pretty packed when I left last night (about 8pm). Oh, and the prosciutto flat bread and SLIDERS were yummy. read more