Hey. This should probably be a new topic.
I would have a hard time recommending anywhere in Palo Alto right now, especially a discriminating palate.
Here are a few to look at:
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Flea Street ( MP nearer 280 ). it’s a bit dated, but I have always liked the atmosphere. They make you feel special, and it was “farm to table” in the best Alice Waters tradition before F2T became The Thing We All Must Do. Meal usually starts with a few little veg from the owner / chef’s garden. There is a little bit of outdoor seating, but it’s alongside a road and not particularly great seating.
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Vesta ( RWC ). This has been my favorite mid-range place for a while. It seems like the typical high-end-pizza kind of place ( a la piazzolio ), but it is a little romantic, does have front and back outdoor seating that’s quite pleasant ( the front in particular ). This is the kind of place where you should probably just get the specials, whatever they are, except for the mushroom toast. Short but well maintained beer & wine list, lush gelato at the end. Historic building but with really good sound isolation. Make a reservation, it’s a long wait between 6pm and 9pm - unless you want to have a drink around the corner at Martin’s West.
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Zola ( PA ). Misses on several factors - no outdoors, a little too loud - but I do like the food. it actually hits the modern french taste very well, with light cooking, ingrediants, and a very nice wine list. It is a cozy little shoebox.
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St Michael’s Alley ( PA ). I hate to recommend this place, because I almost never go there. I find the food a bit too middle of the road, but it’s a slam-dunk on the extremely pleasant outdoor seating side. They do run a nice seasonal menu, and whenever I eat off that, I wonder why I don’t go back more often.
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Donato Enoteca ( RWC ). very northern italian. Although they have a couple of pizzas, come here for the roasted meats and pasta and having a glass of wine outside. Very classy joint, feels like a Napa type place ( in good ways ). Large distance between tables, good outdoors.
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Mayfield. Often overlooked, but they actually have very good food. The outdoor seating is pleasant but I wouldn’t call it romantic. Inside is cozy, both with booths and a decent counter. Excellent housemade bread. Short but excellent wine by the glass list. Cal-Ital. Might be one of the better compromises.
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Two other spots: Village Pub ( Portola ) and Madrone ( Rosewood Hotel ). The VP backs up the substantial prices and tony interior with killer food in the Zuni Cafe direction. No outdoor seating. Madrone has amazing views and big windows and a killer deck ( arrive for sunset glass of wine ) but lost its michelin star a year or two ago, food isn’t quite all that, but menu entries are a good read. What’s amazing is the entree prices - like, $25 / $30 - are matched by much less impressive places in downtown PA.
If there’s other places that come up in your research, give a shout…
