Lovely spot, bartender Alberto was wonderful to chat with! Glad they stock Chartreuse, food was good but portions are small for the price. Drinks were very well made. read more

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I met a friend here for drinks and charcuterie last night- our waiter was very friendly and attentive! We weren't sure if we wanted the cheese or charcuterie board, and he offered to make us one that was half-and-half! It was a great plate for two people to share. We also really enjoyed our drinks! I had the Camper Cooler mocktail and my friend ordered the Royal Exhibition. Both were refreshing and delicious! I also saw there is a private entrance for those who live in the adjoining Springline apartments, which look very nice! It's nice to have this place in the area, and I'll definitely be back! read more

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Favorites of the night were the Dungeness crab rolls, Catalan shrimp, and the artichokes. A cute spot and nice edition to the new restaurants in Menlo Park near the train. Parking is ample in the parking garage even though street parking can be challenging. Deviled eggs, pickled mustard seeds Cultured seaweed butter, acme bread Fried chickpea pannise fries Dungeness crab salad rolls Short rib + bone marrow bocadillo Catalan garlic shrimp "a la plancha" Fried Half Moon Bay Brussels Sprouts Flash fried globe artichokes Cinnamon dusted fried Churros Crema Catalana Traditional read more

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I'm always looking for tapas places, and will definitely add this spot into our mix! It's located on the side of the Springline complex, right across the street from Son and Garden. They have outdoor and "lounge" seating. In terms of the indoor seating, there are a few tables, but it's largely lounge seating, which I guess works okay for tapas food. It has a pretty bar and nice decor, but the ambience/vibe definitely feels more hotel lobby than swanky restaurant. I enjoyed my red wine, which these days is the most important part of my meal! Prices are pretty typical of tapas, dishes ranges from 10s-20s and are very shareable. Baked Winter Squash and Comte Toast- not much winter squash on it, but very cheesy. The cheese is a bit strong for me, but my husband loved it Vine Ripe Tomato Pulp Toast- a classic that we often ordered, and the tomato topping was fresh, lightly flavored, delicious Artichoke and Cheddar Croquettes- we pretty much always order croquettes, and I liked the slight twist on their version. These disappeared from our table pretty quickly.... Roasted Bone Marrow- bone marrow is another dish where when I see it, I gotta get it! Comes with 2 huge pieces of bone marrow, and they top it off with a lot of shredded beef, it it's a heartier version than most bone marrow spreads Garlic Shrimp- also pretty good, we enjoyed it. Tortilla Espanola- another classic my husband always has to get- comes with two slices of this egg/potato omellete dish. Overall we enjoyed our meal here! read more

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Yum! We loved both the food and beverages here. The wine on tap was delicious and reasonably priced. Service was great and none of our dishes disappointed. Ambience was a bit quiet but it worked for our late 30s / early 40s group. It was unusual seeing the apartment complex residents walk through with their dogs to go outside, but that didn't really bother us. For us, the highlights were the churros (delicious chocolate sauce!), potatoes, and tomato toast. The steak was also well-cooked great for the price. read more

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Small, quaint, contemporary spot in the kinda new commercial space in el camino. I will have to say right off the start, this place is kinda in the pricey side, given the mediocre quality, taste and quantity of food. Sangria was tasty but come on! At least give customers a healthy pour of it. The scallops were a surprise. For some reason we thought they would be seared, but instead it was prepared like a carpaccio. Again, the tiniest portion, but crazy expensive. This isn't a Michelin starred restaurant!! Also tried the croquettes which were decent, the snap peas, which were OK, but a little too saucy for me. The bread and seaweed butter was excellent and probably the star of the meal (sorry to say). Will I go back? Maybe, but I first want to try other new restaurants in that complex. Summary: nice place, but mediocre food which doesn't warrant the high price. read more

This place has small unique plated finger foods. In a really nice location and attached to condos. I was visiting a friend, stopped here for a bite and a drink. I had a delicious anchovy tappa and one of their signature mixed drinks. read more

Canteen - Wine Bars Near Me - Menlo Park, California

4.5 stars Canteen is a modern Spanish-inspired restaurant attached to the new Springline residential/office/retail development in Menlo Park. Every dish was beautifully plated and had a creative flair, and my favorite was the Mixed Mushrooms a la Ganbarra, made of sautéed wild and foraged mushrooms mixed with greens and served with a creamy "egg yolk jam". The mushrooms had plenty of meaty, umami flavor, and the unctuous egg yolk jam brought everything together. The Bomba Rice + Seafood Socarrat was a creative take on paella, made of a generous portion of crispy rice mixed with chorizo, topped with mussels, squid, and greens. The best part of the dish was the rice, which had nicely crispy socarrat bits throughout. The Slow Cooked Spanish Octopus came with chopped tentacle chunks mixed with Gigante beans, citrus, and basil pistou. The octopus was tender and the basil pistou was flavorful and herbaceous, but the Gigantes were slightly undercooked. Finally, the Crispy Twice Cooked Chicken were two crispy chicken leg quarters served over a Basque piperade (cooked bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions) mixed with golden raisins and green olives. Overall, everything here was creative and delicious, and the service and atmosphere were on point as well. The menu prices were expensive for the portion sizes but nothing crazy for a nice restaurant like this! read more

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This is a really nice spot to hang out with some friends and get some nice bites to eat. I don't believe there is a Happy Hour but the food and drinks are really nice. It's not crowded either so perfect to stop by on a weeknight. read more

Canteen - Amazing Brussel Sprouts! - Wine Bars Near Me - Menlo Park, California

As pescatarians, who love seafood options, but don't eat meat--Canteen is one of our favorite dinner spots in the area. We love ordering a bunch of the snacks, tapas and pintxos because you can try a bunch of different tasty items. Our faves are the Maine Lobster "steam rolls" (at some times in the year, these are prepared as Dungeness crab rolls), Garlicky Tomato Pulp toast (their version of pan con tomate) with the add-on option of SF Bay anchovies, deviled eggs, shishito peppers, and especially the gazpacho soup, and mussels on toast they had earlier this summer. We also always enjoy the charred sugar snap peas and the wild mushrooms from the "From the Farm" section and the yellowfin crudo, the snapper, and the sole from the "From the Sea" main courses section. For dessert, we get these custard toast with seasonal fruit, which is like an extra gooey French toast. The service is great. They have been cool about making dietary substitutions. For example, tonight the snapper dish had chorizo sauce tonight, but we asked our server for a non-meat substitution on the sauce and she and the kitchen happily complied. For cocktails, I get the Brightside (gin, lemon, honey, jalepeño), but ask to get it made with tequila, instead of gin. My husband gets the Private Jet (their take on a Paper Plane, with bourbon, aperol, and amaro). The bartender is on-point. The drinks are always exceptional. The ambiance is also chill and casual with low velvet swivel chairs. We love this place! read more

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Conveniently located in menlo park, right across from caltrain (where farmhouse thai is located). Restaurant is attached with luxury residential building. There is both indoor and outdoor. There are many small plates - tapas/pintxos like. Wine selection was alright, mostly new world. I grabbed a rioja and enjoyed small plates and split a salad with my friend. Total came tomorrow approx $60/person. Tad pricey but pretty normal for menlo park. Parking is also easy peasy. Service is friendly also! read more

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Food was delish - we were party of 8 and ended getting lots of dishes - most of the snacks and pintxos were smaller we got 2 of each - we also got the Crispy, Twice Cooked Basque Chicken, Roasted Creekstone Hanger Steak, and the Slow Cooked Spanish Octopus entrees and they delicious! We ate them before I could get pictures - Of the pintxos, the croquettas were especially tasty, as well as the Rock Cod + Green Garlic 'Bacalao' Dip! Service was excellent, and the restaurant was modern, great vibes and I can imagine if I was living in the neighborhood to come by for drinks and snacks! read more

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I came alone with my two kids age 9 and 6 and chose lounge seating when I reserved although I was unsure what that was. They have a mix of outdoor tables, indoor, and the lounge area consists of comfy chairs and sofas surrounding a large low table. It was perfect for us and the kids who were tired after soccer to relax while our food came. They also allow dogs indoors! Always nice to know we can bring our dog along if we want to. The food was tasty and kids especially loved the corn croquettes, tomato toast, and ribeye. I've had better chickpea fries (not crispy enough on the outside and kind of thick). Also liked the deviled eggs and the quail was good, but a little small (I guess it is a small bird, but still). Slow service to start but food came out quickly even it seemed pretty busy. Would love to come back! read more

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The menu looked somewhat disappointing but once we got the food, we were really happy. Not too unique but they were tasty. Great place to get together with friends and family to have a great time. read more

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This restaurant is such an awesome gem in Menlo Park. It's located off of Oak Grove & Merrill, inside the lobby of Springline Apartments. Parking is easy, you can park right out front or in the Springline parking lot. Some items get switched out weekly so there's always something new to experience on the menu. The ambiance is cozy, fun, yet relaxing. Lots of seating options inside and outside, especially if you have pets. Greg and his staff create a warm and welcoming environment for a wonderful night out with friends and family. Alberto is very knowledgeable about the menu and he offers great recommendations when you let him know what you like. Overall a very cool spot if you're in the mood for just a drink, hanging out by yourself or with friends. read more

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The Basque country is a special place to me. I have friends there and it is one of the most special places to eat in the world. So for a place to bring the spirit of pintxos bars and txikiteo to the area was long awaited. Txakoli and seafood is a great pairing. As is rioja and txuleton. . Damn i love Euskadi cuisine. Ill let the food pics speak for themselves read more

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Love this place! I know it's already rated well on Yelp so they don't need this, but I've been going here regularly since they opened and I get the sense that they're still super underrated. They have a large menu, which normally might worry me, but so far literally everything is good. I don't know how they stock such a wide selection of high quality ingredients and then prepare basically everything very well. Service is excellent, and I love the loungey atmosphere. Doesn't really matter what I'm looking for, whether it's some evening cocktails, a light snack, or a full dinner, they handle it all with ease. Will obviously be back for more. read more

Came here for dinner and drinks, had a phenomenal time. The waitstaff are extremely attentive, and made sure to check in on us throughout the meal. Since they just opened, we got a complimentary order of seared peppers with our first course, which were truly delicious. The other highlight was the beef cheeks, which were incredibly tender, crispy on the outside, with tons of flavor. There are some rough edges since it opened so recently, like decorations that aren't quite done and some dishes that feel like they're still being iterated on. However, overall we had a fanatic time and spent more than 3 hours enjoying their menu. read more

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Spanish tapas are one of those things that I have infinite appetite for, all day everyday. The quality of the food and service was pretty good. I did like their bar design and overal decor and their choice of cutlery and plates were also solid. Thet need to polish their white plates with Bar Keepers Friend though to remove scratches. Now for the food and drink: The Sangria Blanco lacked finesse, the orange and strawberry were cut clumsily but taste wise was good. The Spanish anchovies were fresh and served in a simple olive oil lemon juice and the sweetness of Piquillo Peppers made it a perfect bite. The tomato pulp toast with garlic aioli was cold and quite refreshing and the bread was greased and toasted to perfection, I had the option of albacore tuna on top but I had other plans. The braised octopus overall was not well put together and the marriage of flavors was weak. It was zesty but could have used some more supremed orange, mandarin woukd have probably worked better. The octopus was tender and had a good char but lacked richness. I liked the addition of smoked speck but it was not smokey enough. The garlic shrimp was pretty good, it was grilled but had a chilli sauce with hint of saffron on top and the addition of crunchy breadcrumbs added a good depth of flavor. I believe the bread slices were toasted with cioppino butter because it had a fishy taste which was delicious. I ended the dinner with some churros which had a superflous "smoked" in the name, I liked the dark chocolate dip becaused it balanced out the sweetness. Overall it was a good place to try but they need time to perfect their dishes. It was a 7.5/10 experience for me. read more

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We were lucky enough to go to Canteen last night. It's always interesting going to a new place in the first couple of weeks. In general my rule of thumb is to give everyone and everything a little extra grace and understanding - especially when they're working out the kinks. Overall it was amazing. Our waiter couldn't have been sweeter. The chef sent us "gifts" of delicious items we didn't order as we were a bigger group celebrating a birthday. And the food and drinks were delicious. There is no hostess and I was not expecting to be eating in the lobby of the new residential Springline condos. But to be honest it didn't bother me - just wasn't expecting it. The vibe was very New York and that was fun for me since I'm always whining that Menlo Park needs to be more exciting after 5 PM. :) Will definitely come back for ladies nights and drinks and an occasional date night. read more

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Food is good and staff is nice! Small plates but good! Desert was delicious! Make sure you have the deviled eggs they are delicious

Canteen in Menlo Park offers a delightful culinary experience with its seasonal and locally sourced menu. The cozy and inviting space creates a warm ambiance for diners. The attention to detail in every dish is evident, with beautifully presented plates that showcase the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Whether you're stopping by for dinner or tapas, Canteen's commitment to excellence and its commitment to supporting local producers make it a standout choice for those seeking a memorable and satisfying meal. Definitely recommend everything on their menu - especially the croquettes, hamachi and churros. read more

Canteen - Wine Bars Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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We had a great time here. Excellent cocktails, very good tapas, and while they're still settling into their space and working through some first month adjustments, if you go in hoping to relax, you'll have a good time. Particularly recommend their G&T equivalent, the mussels, and the croquettes. read more

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New spot in Menlo Park near the Caltrain station. If you find yourself waiting for Farmhouse Thai, you should check out this spot. It's super trendy looking and it looks like it's good for small groups. I popped in here for a small bite and to scope out the spot. I got really good service sitting at the bar. The bartender was super helpful in explaining the menu and the newness of this place. I wasn't too hungry so I got the charcuterie and deviled eggs. Egg-celent. I plant to come back to try the other things on the menu. read more

I went with a small group for drinks and tapas, and we had a great time. Alberto, the bartender, really demonstrated great hospitality by introducing us to the best tapas on the menu and steering us through the cocktail, wine, and beer menu. Alberto is very friendly and makes you feel welcome. We had a cheese and charcuterie board and marinated anchovies. Both tapas were excellent. We can't wait to go back! read more

Service was great, food delicious! We enjoyed every bite! I wish we had more people with us so we could try all of the dishes! Can't wait to go back. read more

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Fantastic food, good service. There were only two of us so we could not try everything. We will come back and try more dishes. read more

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Love this place. It's small and intimate, like hanging out at someone's house , but with a private chef and bartender. Food here is good and tasty. If you're looking for a casual spot to hang with friends with options for eating and cocktails, this is the place. read more

We tried to find restaurant after parking in structure, but there were no signs how to get there, we could see it on the map at the mall but there was no obvious way of reaching it from there and no one answered phone at restaurant spent 30 minutes trying to find it finally gave up!!! read more

Really confused by the high rating here. Everything we ordered was under seasoned - actually had to ask for finishing salt for the hanger steak! Octopus dish was over priced for getting small pieces of octopus rather than the standard serving as a whole. Chickpeas frites were advertised as crispy on the menu but came out with a tofu-like texture --we sent it back. The Bocadillos were recommended by the server and it was so rich and heavy, more like pub food. Service also seemed a bit green --I ordered an Albariño and didn't realize there were 2 choices until my drink came. Server assumed I wanted the pricier one. Also didn't ask how I wanted the steak cooked. Overall, an expensive meal for really underwhelming food. read more

Always a great time with absolutely delicious food and drinks! Menu is great and the seating provides a cozy intimate vibe. Excellent and friendly staff! read more

Nice new restaurant in Menlo Park. The seating is set up more like a hotel lobby bar with a few regular dining tables and some couches on the inside and some outdoor dining. The low couches made dining a bit awkward and uncomfortable. The staff and service was good. Menu had a good variety of options with some new items according to the staff. The crab toast lacked seasoning, hamachi crudo needed some acid to brighten up the dish, the garlic shrimp were good size and had a good sauce for dipping with toast, the Bomba rice was ok nothing special, tortilla espanol was a bit wet and not much flavor, the charcuterie and cheese plate was the best, and the chocolate mousse with sea salt worked except not with the olive oil. Overall a bit pricey for what you get. Hopefully over time they will get better as there is good potential. read more

Worked with the Canteen event management team to coordinate a large corporate dinner. They were very responsive and accommodating. Everyone loved the ambiance of the cozy space and the unique menu items were a hit! read more

We loved the food, the service and the ambiance. We will definitely return! The filet was excellent! read more

Canteen - sitting in dining area - Wine Bars Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Good ambiance. Small amount of lounge seating with couches in addition to tables. Great service. Diverse menu and delicious food as well as good cocktails. read more

Restaurant review (for friends and neighbors) @Canteen (on Oak Grove x El Camino) is fairly new place in Menlo Park that combines an indoor/outdoor venue with a Spanish tapas style restaurant. The locale connects to the new housing/commercial space and provides a unique alternative to the Menlo slate of restaurants. The menu has an adequate smattering of beer/wine/cocktail offerings and features fairly priced selection of small plates. Im not a Spanish cuisine expert but the empanadas, coquettes, brussel sprouts, rice and fish items were all tasty. I view it as a cozy and friendly spot with attentive service and very good but not great tastes. Extra credit: @Canteen enjoys a nice relationship with their neighbors @BareBottle and some of my friends brought our craft beers over one nite and the management @Canteen was more than accommodating. Salud! read more

Such a wonderful new place! Beautiful small plates (the shrimp were too delicious to stop to photograph) and a delightful selection of Spanish wines. We tried an assortment of tapas and glasses of mostly-unfamiliar wine varietals, and everything was excellent. Seating was a little limited on a Friday evening, we got in with no trouble but it looked like there was a lot of interest by the time we left. A great opportunity to enjoy Basque food and wine! read more

Canteen - Smoked striped bass in some sort of amazing bright sauce - Wine Bars Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Very excited for this new tapas bar in Menlo Park. From the team that brought you Camper, one of our favorite restaurants in the area. We tried much of the menu and liked the bass crudo and the croquetas best. They are working out some of the kinks in service - we look forward to coming back in a couple of months. read more

The food here is absolutely delicious! I am a gluten free pescatarian and my husband eats all the things and there are so many tasty options for us both. The cauliflower (sounds boring, but it's so good!) and the shrimp are incredible! I'm not super wine savvy, but my friend was really excited about the selection. The staff is all super friendly. The only downside is the ambience is a bit...funny? It's in the lobby of an apartment building so there's a casual vibe. The food is so incredible that I'd love for it to be a romantic date night spot...but the casual setting makes it more a "grab a drink and a bite with some friends" type of place. read more

Canteen is the antithesis of Teleferic Barcelona. I hate to make comparisons, but they both serve tapas style food, but the experience at Canteen is head and shoulders above Teleferic. When I arrived at Canteen, I was greeted with a smile and asked if I'd be having drinks or dinner. I was only planning on having drinks, but the host was so kind, I thought why not have dinner. I was then seated at on of their tables for two and given TIME to look over the menu. When my friend arrived, the manager came to our table and asked us what we would be having for the evening. After giving us his recommendations, we selected several "snacks" or tapas to enjoy. We ordered the Early Girl Pulp Toast and the Barbajuans. All of the food was light, fresh, and delicious. We ordered one more item, but I can't remember the name of it, but I think it's the only turnover/empanada they have on the menu. I enjoyed it as well. NOTE: any time I don't include pics that's a good time, because it means I'm enjoying myself and the food and experience is so wonderful, I completely forget to take pics. Towards the end of our meal, I make the connection between the two restaurants, so I decide to order my favorite: churros. I thought, this would put an exclamation mark on my experience. Canteen did not disappoint. The churros, like the rest of the food, we light, crispy, gently sweetened with cinnamon and sugar, and were deeeeeeeeeelicious. Needless to say, my friend and I lost track of time, which is something they won't let you do at Teleferic Barcelona. I took a moment to look around the room and all I saw were smiling faces, including on the faces of the staff. I'm sure the food I ate was fantastic, but I'm also certain the cozy atmosphere and kind and thoughtful staff contributed to my experience. Thank you Canteen. I'll definitely be back, and my invite to my friends will be a gift that I know they'll enjoy. read more