I was dining solo and honestly could not have felt more welcomed or taken care of. The service was warm, attentive, and thoughtful without ever feeling overbearing. They really made an effort to make my experience special, and I appreciated that so much. And the food was amazing. I started with the roasted oysters, which were incredible, followed by the grilled Sonoma quail, beautifully cooked and full of flavor. The wild king salmon was another standout, and the warm sourdough with roasted garlic was absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh, creative, and beautifully prepared. I also have to mention the space. The outdoor dining area is wonderful, and the dining room is beautiful as well. It is such a lovely setting for a relaxed meal, whether you are dining alone or with friends. Oak + Violet really checks all the boxes: exceptional food, wonderful service, and a beautiful atmosphere. I left feeling genuinely cared for and so happy I stopped in. I cannot recommend it enough! read more

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I really want to give this place 5 stars but I can't. The atmosphere was amazing. We came on a hot summer night and there was a jazz band playing on the patio in the evening as the air cooled down. I absolutely loved that. Drinks were also pretty solid, but slightly watered down. Food was pretty expensive and it wasn't particularly a wow factor. The staff were very courteous and the executive chef came out and greeted customers and asked us to sample a new dish he was making. read more

Nice ambience and good service. We started with the yellowfin tuna crudo and asparagus salad. Crudo was very good but wish there was more. Asparagus was okay, but not what the waiter described. He said it was a salad, but very little greens. Got the sourdough, one with ricotta and other with organic butter. The ricotta was nice, didn't taste anything different with the butter. Not sure if it's worth it because it only comes with four small pieces, though we were comped one bread refill. For the mains we had the black cod (very good), beef strip loin (good and decent portion), lamb mixed grill (just okay and a little tough, asked for medium rare, but came out medium well), and Petaluma chicken (pretty good). Tried one of each dessert, chocolate mousse, cinnamon roll sundae and buttermilk cake. All were tasty, chocolate mousse probably the favorite, except the devil's food cake portion was small. read more

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We went here to celebrate my birthday and I liked my experience here. I like fancy hotel restaurants and I thought the ambiance here was very nice. There was also nice live music when we went too! The bread with the cheese was interesting! The cheese was very creamy and I liked the honey drizzle. I did think the cheese could have popped a bit more if it had some sea salt on top. The bread was nice and soft. My husband got the oysters which I didn't sad but I really liked the mizuna dipping sauce that it came with. It was like minty lemon juice or something and I even had it with the bread. I got the lamb grilled plate and liked it! I am a little wary of large chunks of lamb chop but the piece wasn't difficult to chew and it was very rich. I liked the caramelized onion compote it came with as well as the sausage. The side of farro was also super rich and the flavor was so strong. I couldn't quite place the flavor. It may have been butter but I felt like something else was shining through. I told the waiter we were here to celebrate my birthday and they said they don't normally have anything but he'd look into it and came back with a nice cheesecake! It had frozen grape shavings which I thought was cool and tasted great. The service overall wasn't the most attentive (maybe could have stopped by a few more times to check in) but everyone was rather friendly and nice whenever we did have to interact with them! read more

Oak + Violet - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Really fancy and nice place. My food was really good, I got the tilapia and it was excellent. The vibe was nice and upscale. Lots of tech bros. Our waiter was amazing and super kind. read more

Oak + Violet - Tillipia - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Amazing food, steak cooked medium well. salmon cooked perfectly and crispy crust. all of the sides including rice, potatoes, veggies were cooked to perfection as well. Amazing outdoor seating and bar for team dinner! read more

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One star for Service alone as I didn't get the chance to dine here. Here is why: I decided to visit Menlo Park for a mini vacation following my trip to Tokyo. While exploring the city on foot I came across Oak + Violet, which looked really cute so I decided to stop in for ice cream and a drink if available. Upon entering everyone seemed really friendly and greeted me. The server shared they only had their bar menu and that ice cream was available! Just as we were discussing where I would sit a couple walked in and he said he needed to get them situated first. That could (like me) did not have a reservation and just wanted to get drinks (similar to me). The server then turned his complete attention to that couple, helped them determine where they wanted to sit then left to seat them as I just stood there flabbergasted. Not sure WHY someone who came in after me with a very similar request without a reservation would be seated and helped before me. Perhaps as we are approaching the 250th Anniversary of America this server decided to implement some throwback Jim Crow era service in which Black people are served after white people. But I was not going to wait around to find out. So I left after he left to seat the other patrons instead of me. read more

We came for a collab event with Sake Ono and had a fantastic meal. The ambiance was great, with a warm greeting from the staff and wonderful musician playing an electric harp in the background. Food was fantastic - the quail was my husbands favorite and mine was the dessert (which is why I don't have a photo - I was too busy scarfing it down!). The drinks were also super fun and their ambassador explained all the uniqueness of their sake. We finished the night outside sitting by the fire finishing our cocktails. Their manager informed of another fun collab they're doing soon. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Visited Oak + Violet in Menlo Park and walked away with mixed impressions. The ambience is definitely a win--chic, welcoming, and great for a night out. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite match the setting. The steak and chicken were both dry, and the pork chop was also overcooked, which was disappointing given the price point. Service was friendly and the space itself has a lot of charm, so I might return for drinks or to try their small plates. Hoping for a better food experience next time. Kid friendly, has indoor open space for them to run around, with some high chairs. read more

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Update to my previous review of Oak + Violet. After posting my review on Yelp, I received a phone call from the General Manager of the Park James Hotel. He was very apologetic that my email I had sent directly to them had not been forwarded to him so he could reply to me. He agreed with me that their employee had been unprofessional and he would work to ensure that this issue would not happen again. He told me he was also embarrassed about the entire situation. I really appreciated his phone call and follow up email. Everything about our evening was great except for the one interaction with one employee. I believe that this issue will be addressed and I try Oak + Violet again, and I recommend everyone try the restaurant. read more

Pleasantly surprised as soon as we walked in. Live music and beautiful seating inside and outside. Starters were delicious. Brussel sprouts were surprisingly incredibly flavorful & Truffle fries were also very solid. I ordered the Shrimp Tagliatelle pasta. I almost never.. and i mean NEAVER order pasta at restaurants but the description of the sauce intrigued me. The Calabrian Chile cream sauce was impressive with notes of heat, umami & hint of sweetness. Mushrooms paired seamlessly & the shrimp was the perfect protein. An incredibly high quality fish for $29. The only thing i wouldnt order again was their mocktails. They were about $10 and not memorable. Staff was not over intrusive which my party of 6 loved. We were not rushed and truly enjoyed our experience! Overall i plan on returning read more

Oak + Violet - Shrimp Tagliatelle - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Tonight, we stopped by Oak & Violet to catch the live music. Ken, an acoustic guitarist and singer, performed, and his voice and guitar skills were fantastic. We liked him so much we asked for his business card for private events. We were impressed by the ambiance, and had a great evening enjoying cocktails, wine, and appetizers. The service was excellent, and the patio ambiance was cozy. While street parking is limited, the restaurant, located inside a hotel, offers free valet parking for two hours, with a $10 charge after that and additional fees for overnight guests. We'll definitely be returning for more live music! read more

I would like to first start out by saying I give this restaurant 5+ stars!!! Food was delicious, desserts were delightful and the family style dinner for Thanksgiving was great!! Everyone from the valet, greeter at the front door to the impeccable service by the waitstaff to the amazing food was 100% the best!! Not to mention we were checked on more than once by Management staff. The servers were very attentive. All did an amazing job Our family decided to take Thanksgiving outside of our home and the oak + violet restaurant at the Park James Hotel your restaurant exceeded our expectations!! We will definitely be back! Thank you for adding another great memory to our family!! We will definitely be back! Excuse the last post. read more

08.18.2023 - Date Night After shopping at Stanford Mall, we were famished. As I go through yelp's list for seafood, O+V popped up. Only 6-7min away from the Mall, perfect! Reservations were easy to make on OT with ample slots available. Valet parking is offered, but not sure what the cost is. We were fortunate to find street parking just a black away. O+V is nestled within a hotel. Bar seating, indoor seating and patio seatings are available. It was a warm evening so we asked for patio dining. As the host escorts us to our table, we entered a courtyard type of ambiance with long lounge sofas in the center, patio tables surrounding it with a party room to the right and live music playing to the left. Seems like we chose an evening where a wedding was happening. Awesome! Service was impeccable from start to finish. Our table was wobbly and the host was quick to get it properly leveled. He also offered us complimentary bubbles for the table not being properly ready upon seating. Wow! We were very impressed with their level of customer service. Bravo! If you follow my reviews, you already know, I'm going to order the most (lol). To my defense, we don't live in the area and I have no clue when we'll be back to try other things on the menu. My poor husband is worried that I'll get too full and we'll end up with leftovers (I don't like leftover, therefore, I don't eat leftovers). But I insisted that we order everything I wanted. Guess what? I had to compromise and for-go two shareable items: Goodbye~ truffled fries and charred shishito peppers (sad face). "If only I was with my seastar and bestie gf..." I thought to myself. "Sorry honey. If you were with your sister and bff, I'm sure you guys would have ordered everything" he says. Amazed how he read my mind!. This is marriage. -Back to the food review- Mussels are a must! Super fresh with a kick of spice! Perfectly seasoned and buttery. The 2 levain toasts were the perfect utensils to absorbed all the broth. Brussel sprouts seemed to be Asian-inspired and the flavors were tasty. Nutty, caramel-like sweetness, with a splash of fresh lime juice brought everything together. One word: Tasty! Grilled salmon was clearly the winner between the dryaged ribeye. Tender salmon filet with savory blistered cherry tomatoes, crunchy-sweet yellow corn, juicy squash...every bite was enjoyable, and then some. The dryaged ribeye lacked flavor. This was a disappointment as it was $59. The potatoes were bit on the al-dente side and the greens, oh the awfully bitter greens were just not palatable. The entirety of the dish fell short from the flavor to texture. Pass! Early Girl tomato bisque was served lukewarm. The bisque appeared to be on the more watered-down side. We tried to finish it, but even my hubs was thrown off by it. Pass! Tomato-Watermelon-Burrata Salad was very interesting. I enjoyed the individual flavors, but when I ate all the ingredients together, it didn't marriage well at all. The watermelon slices were sweet, but I felt as though it didn't belong in the plate. The burrata appeared more dense then the burrata that I'm used to. When cutting it, I expected the cheese curds inside to slowly run, but this burrata stayed intact through it all. Pass! Crème brûlée, oh my love for dessert~ Now, how can you tell it's good crème brûlée? (1) When you use your spoon to crack the thin layer of torched sugar, and it cracks! This crème brûlée? It didn't. Very...elastic? Rubbery? It didn't crack. I had to stretched the top layer to tear it off. (2) The texture is supposed to be smooth, creamy with a slight firmness to it. This crème brûlée? It wasn't. Rather, very...wet. The custard's consistency broke. Pass! Only 3 out of 7 dishes that we ordered were delightful! More than half of it fell short. However, despite several disappointments, considering the ambience, the friendly and super attentive customer service, and the price point, I still recommend O+V. Despite it all, 4 stars are much deserved!!! read more

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I was recently at a busy party at this hotel, and the bar staff were blatantly scamming customers. When you order drinks and pay by credit card, they quietly add a 20% tip without telling you. They don't present an itemized bill, showing the tip--only a credit card signature slip that prompts you to add a tip again. Most people naturally add another 20%, resulting in a 44% total tip. This wasn't a one-off mistake. It happened at both the front and back bars with different staff, which makes it clear that this is deliberate, not accidental. It's an unacceptable practice and shows extremely poor ethics from the business and staff. read more

Really cute hotel restaurant in Menlo Park! They have a nice outdoor patio. Their cocktail menu was amazing and we loved the Paper Plane, Southside, and Dragon Breath. We shared the truffle fries and the plum and burrata for apps which were delicious. I got the shrimp tagliatelle pasta which was delicious as well. For a pretty upscale restaurant, the prices were actually pretty reasonable. Definitely would come back for drinks and apps. read more

Oak + Violet - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Restaurant was right off El Camino with ok parking in the neighborhood. I parked a block away behind ducky car wash next door, so took a couple min to walk to restaurant. Outdoor and indoor seating was available and outside was dog friendly. Waiter quickly brought a water bowl for the pup and a pleasant surprise was a special dog menu (similar to other restaurants like hamburgers party with rice and veggies or chicken). My friend and i both got the chilled soup, and salad and a Margherita pizza. Everything was tasty and pricing was the usual menlo price. Total came to approx $50/person. read more

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Great food and service. Lovely setting. Love the outdoor dining and music when the weather permits.

We were a walk in for dinner last night at Oak + Violet. They were able to seat us right away. There was live music to enjoy on a Saturday night. The menu isn't very extensive but seemed to have options for all types of diners. We started to off with the hamachi crudo - nice portions of fresh fish. For mains, we order the steak and salmon entrees. Well presented with good flavor albeit my steak was slightly overcooked but not enough to send back. Finally, a flavorful and large portion of Tiramisu to end the meal. Our service was spot on. read more

We went with another couple to celebrate two birthdays. Had two cocktails and two "Proof Zero" or alcohol free. All were delicious. The wait staff was very attentive and we felt well cared for. Food was absolutely wonderful. Throughout our dinner the waitstaff checked on us without being intrusive. For our main courses we had a strip steak, tuna and a cod with a sizable ravioli on top. Again, all were fantastic. For dessert, we shared the molasses cake and it was very rich and full of flavor. Noise level was moderate and we were able to converse easily with our friends. We came away fully satisfied by the lovely dining experience. A special shoutout to Julio, who could not have been more attentive or more helpful. We will be back. read more

Our group of 5 had a very pleasant experience on a very quiet saturday night, staying for a few hours on the couches and having dinner and drinks, felt like we had the place to ourselves. But then discovered they force a 24% gratuity on groups of 5 or more. Never heard of such a high number. read more

Didn't expect the outdoor seating to be so nice! We came in October so it wasn't really cold but still appreciated the heaters. The pasta was good but I wish it had more flavor. The indoor bar seating is really nice as well. Valet is free for the first two hours which is really helpful, otherwise there's street parking usually. Overall, I enjoyed the ambience a bit more than the food and its a really nice place for groups. I would probably come back for appetizers and drinks rather than a meal! read more

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Good ambiance and tasty food. My friend and I were set to have dinner, but I got tied up with work and was a bit late. I add this because the wait staff was so nice to her as she waited for her delinquent friend (me!) They also were so nice to us and let us hangout for a bit. We split: - Charcuterie - Brussel sprouts - Truffle fries - Baked brie - Grilled Ribeye Everything was pretty good and they have a few affordable bottles of red on the menu. The brie came out almost cold, but they were nice enough to send it back and make it right. I enjoyed the ribeye and thought the bone marrow truffle butter was an excellent touch! Looking forward to coming back when it's warmer and I can try the outdoor seating. read more

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DO NOT GRACE THIS PLACE WITH YOUR BUSINESS; THEY DON'T DESERVE IT. We've lived in Menlo Park for many years and thought it was time to try it out. NOOOOO!!!!! The four of us went for THANKSGIVING DINNER. The service was OK but much of the food was a disastrous miss and some was outright not edible: not seasoned, dry, cold, burned at the edges... It was so bad that we actually laughed. OUR BILL WAS $530. A coupled days later I left a message for the Manager; I wanted to described our experience. I called again in a few days when I didn't hear from him, and I was reprimanded: he is a busy man, he will call when he can. After 10 days of silence I decided to write this review. read more

The outdoor seating is very airy and pleasant. We sat at the couches and had the firepit going. Went on a Tuesday and they had live music going! The dinner menu was okay and good was just medicore. The drinks are what stood here. Highly recommend the cucumber gimlet! The customer service was good. The staff is friendly and welcoming. Beware parking sucks and Valet is $30. read more

Really enjoyed the ambiance at this low key hotel restaurant in Palo Alto. It was nice enough to sit outside and they had lovely jazz music playing in the courtyard. I had a glass of their sparkling wine which was delicious and reasonably priced. We started off with the truffle fries that we finished in probably under 10 minutes because they were scrumptious. I ordered the grilled chicken plate which had veggies and a squash purée. I really loved the purée but overall the dish could have used slightly more seasoning. But for the prices- this was a great meal! read more

Oak + Violet - Grilled chicken entrée - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Party place. Covid approved! Many good appetizers and amazing truffle fries! Steak and salmon is a pass, avoid cauliflower steak, most of the appetizers are wonderful. Cocktails are good! There are only 3 dessert, we try them all. Save room for dessert! Corkage is $35/bottle, but their wine selection was not what we like so we have to bring our own wine. Parking is hard to come by but ambiance is wonderful! Easy to book for table of 10! Will come again! read more

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Great spot for summer evenings (or any other time of the year, really!) Their patio is truly welcoming, almost magical, and oasis in the middle of the town. Enjoyed the food, delicately crafted, the ambiance and how relaxing and elegant all the experience was. We came here a couple of t in es, one bday occasion and another time with friends, truly enjoyable read more

FOOD POISONING BEWARE Spectacular ambience and lovely cocktails can't make up for horrendous bouts of food poisoning caused by the truffle fries. Two colleagues in our party had the fries, and both ended up vomiting (amongst other things) well into the morning hours. The incident was reported to the City and an inspection was performed with seemingly no problems, but our attempts to contact the restaurant were fruitless. The staff took a message for the manager, who didn't even have the decency call the sick individuals back. Shame on you Oak and Violet. You were supposed to be our neighborhood gem, not a hidden landmine. read more

Both service and food was good. Xmas menu was 95 plus 24% service charge. Nice atmosphere too.

Thought I came across a hole-in-the-wall when I found this place on Yelp, but truthfully I can see why Oak + Violet isn't more hyped up, despite the exquisite presentation and aesthetics of their dishes and venue. Unfortunately, I found the food mediocre, especially for the prices charged. Here's what I tried: Branzino: definitely the best dish of the bunch. The fish was fresh and cooked to perfection- tender on the inside flesh, and crispy on the outside skin. The sauce was also perfect, and gave the natural brininess of the fish a little extra kick. Unfortunately, the veggies on the side were largely inedible and mostly for aesthetics- I mean who eats stir fried olives? Scallops: was so excited about the jumbo size of the scallops, which pictures definitely don't do justice. However, the scallops were barely seared and seasoned, which was a bit disappointing since it's not hard to do. The sauce was also flat and dimensionless, and I was confused by the combination of peas, seafood mushrooms, and grapefruit that paired the scallops. Oysters: I ordered half a dozen east coast oysters, which were fresh and a good size, which is always a plus! However, for the price of $3 a piece, I would have expected more sauces or at least some presentation beyond simply shoyu (which was WAY too salty and overwhelmed the oysters) + lemon slices. South side: definitely one of the other highlights of my night. Their drinks are beautifully mixed, without a strong taste of alcohol, but they're definitely strong and catch up on you. Would highly recommend this drink! Overall, Oak + Violet would be a good place for drinks and perhaps some light bites, but I would not recommend dining in, especially for a special occasion, because their main entrees definitely fall flat when it comes to execution and taste. read more

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I had a hybrid business meeting - the kind where you can bring your partner - and someone suggested Oak + Violet. The evening before, I set up a reservation for 4 people via Open Table and requested an outdoor seat. Afternoon of, I got a note that someone was bringing their spouse as well so I modified the reservation to 5 people very easily. Once I got there (on a Tuesday), our table was already set up -- for 5 -- outdoors, just as I requested. The outdoor dining area was gorgeous with the perfect volume of live music. Food was delicious, though portion sizes for appetizers were quite small especially for the price. Service was a bit spotty at times. While the staff was very cordial and my water glass was often refilled without me asking, one of my dining partners had a bit of trouble getting her drink request fulfilled. I think it was a bit of a fluke situation, but since the restaurant is part of a hotel, we think that maybe some of the staff may have also been helping with arriving hotel guests. I would definitely recommend for a business or romantic dinner! read more

Oak + Violet - Halibut - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Love this place, the ambiance and layout is definitely upscale. We sat inside, but the outside patio would have been enjoyable during the warmer months. Our table tried 4 different cocktails from the menu and they were all delicious. Staff are super nice and attentive, valet is complimentary but don't forget to bring cash to tip! For appetizers both the Brussels sprouts and truffle fries are highly recommended. For entrees, the Branzino was cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and moist inside. The wagyu was also a large portion for the price point. They also gave me a birthday shot of tequila and dessert to celebrate my graduation. Will definitely be back. read more

Oak + Violet - Celebratory dessert - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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I'm visiting this area and was looking for a place for dinner. I saw the interior dining room photos and I wanted to come here for the vibe. I made a reservation online and was seated right away in their patio area. I wanted to sit inside but I think with Covid they rather have people sit outside. Valet parking is $25 overnight and $10 for two hours. However, if you dine in at the restaurant parking is free for the first 2 hours. After 2 hours you pay $10 at the front entrance. Street parking is available if you can find a spot. What I ordered: Tomato bisque soup Brussels sprouts Oysters (12) South side Fire melon Peach plum salad Linguine trapane 8oz petit filet Dark chocolate mousse Panna cotta Three dishes and our drinks came out first and then we waited for an hour for the entrees to come out. We asked them to check on our food and Felipe came to check on us. He gave us a free salad (another peach plum salad). After we finished our entrees Felipe said he would comp our desserts so we chose dark chocolate mousse and panna cotta. Overall the appetizer, drinks and desserts are the highlight. The view too, of course. Initially I wasn't going to give this place a four star but Felipe really took care of us. Also, the drink south side is delicious and it sneaks up on me! read more

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Came here for dinner on a friday night with reservations. They have valet parking (free for first 2 hrs) or you could find street parking nearby. We sat on the patio and it was one of the most cutest places to eat ever. Perfect for a bday or a date. It was a little chilly but they had heat lamps which was perfect. I ordered the firemelon drink and it was really good! As a table we ordered to share: oysters, burrata salad, filet mignon, papardelle pasta, panna cotta, and chocolate mousse. All of the food was yummy and I'd come here again for a special occasion. read more

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6/25/2021 OoOoo an overdue GNO - We had bookmarked Oak + Violet and decided it was time to visit the James Hotel in Menlo Park. I met up with one of my girlfriends for drinks and apps and this was our meet half way. We were both looking forward to trying lobster tacos and the e signature lollipop wings but unfortunately they weren't on the menu :( We asked our waiter what happened to the menu and was advised that they had to scale the menu down as the kitchen isn't fully back to operating at full capacity. Whomp whomp. Ambience and Service was 4 stars. Food was overall 3.5 stars. We ended up with fritto misto which was anchovies, squid, and shrimp served with tarragon aoili and it was good. Some were crispy and some weren't. We actually liked the anchovies which aren't usually included at other places. Brussels Sprouts w/chopped hazelnuts was crispy and on point. Love the hazelnuts for the added crunch. Truffle fries wasn't as crispy as we would have liked but the flavor was yum! Cocktails were as easy on the eyes and tasty. We sat outdoors in the courtyard and service was pretty good. Our table was super wobbly but one of the servers adjusted that with a cardboard he folded up shortly after delivering our water. They do valet for free when dining - don't forget to tip so bring cash. Don't be me and forget the cash (insert facepalm) , although if you didn't want to valet, Parking was not hard to find if you want to park in the street behind the building. It's just a hop, skip a block away. It's a trendy spot with a good vibe. If I happen to be around the area, I would be open to coming back to try food once the kitchen is fully operational again and seeing if it tops this initial visit. read more

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The waitress was very friendly, and I really enjoyed the fries and fish. The food was flavorful. I would come back again!

Good vibes American restaurant that was pretty empty on a Wednesday evening. I liked the brussel sprouts, pan seared salmon, and new york steak. I've heard certain days feature live music so would love to time my next visit on one of those days. Would visit again for special occasions! read more

After seeing a 5 start review, we gave this hotel restaurant a try. Terrible choice. Everything from the food to the service to the tip being included is why I am giving 1 star. Friday night, not too busy: The octopus tasted so fishy it was inedible Caesar salad had no flavor at all Hamachi was bland The server barely paid attention to us and forgot our drinks twice Final straw was that the waitress who ignored us for most of the night didn't even call out that the tip was included and we were only 4 people. The band was the only good part of tonight. read more

When Santa Clara County was still in the red tier, we had to cross the county line to find someplace for a family celebration. San Mateo County, while just down the road, seemed like another planet, because the restaurants were already open. Sneaking over to Menlo Park for a nice dinner kind of felt like we were getting away with something. Even though the streets were pretty quiet due to the lockdown, the Park James Hotel was bustling. We pulled in, but there was no one at the valet station. No problem, since there was plenty of street parking on El Camino. The restaurant is on the first floor, and the tables were nice and spread out, with plenty of heat lamps. We decided to sit inside, with the open walls, where it was a little warmer, but still open air. Everyone wore masks. We started out with the wine. They had a large selection, including a bunch by the glass. The server started us with a couple tasting glasses of a very good Zinfidel. We eventually ordered a Pinot Noir and a really good Cab. Everything was good, even by the glass. These big wines had great complexity, and paired well with our food. The appetizers were interesting: truffle fries, fried shishito peppers, and a nice apple winter greens salad. The entrees were even more memorable. I just had to get the branzini, which everyone seemed to recommend. Seafood watch says it's also known as European sea bass and is a good sustainably raised fish. The brazini has an amazing flakey texture, just like sea bass, and came butterfly grilled with the skin on, nice and crispy. Thank you yelp! The most amazing thing we ordered, though, was a giant Ribeye steak, served on a butcher block. The special went for like $115 and was big enough for three people. It was served bone-in, and the bone was as big as a hammer. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly medium rare. The juicy meat was so rich, especially paired with the bold wine, it made me want to drink more, which made me want to take another bite of steak, again and again, until it was all gone. Dessert was simple but elegant. They had a special affogato which was intriguing, but it was getting late. We didn't want to be bouncing off the walls all night with all that caffeine. Thankfully, they were able to make the espresso decaf, and it was a hit. We also ordered a strawberry panna cotta and some gelato. And more booze, this time a complentary tawny port to round out the meal. read more

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