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    La Fontaine Restaurant

    3.9 (709 reviews)
    ModerateFrench, Italian
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated a few days ago

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    LA FONTAINE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Mandarin Cosmo & Chocolate Martini
    Vi T.

    Came here for a drink at the bar having after dinner at a nearby restaurant. I ordered chocolate martini and to my surprised it was the best drink I had in a while. Our bartender was nice and attentive, store ambience feels cozy under the dim lights. I also noticed that they got an award hanging at the front door, will definitely comeback and check out their food in the future.

    Our dinner hee
    Kay O.

    The numbers of times my family and I have gone here over the years. We've always had the exact same amazing, friendly, outgoing, service, and a lot of the same servers! I've never spoken to the owner, but I am wondering if this is a family run establishment. Everybody always seems so friendly and outgoing and there's a gentleman that does cool napkin tricks also!! Very old-fashioned, but I love it!! They have an incredibly authentic food with delicious flavors and they're smoked salmon,crostini's are simply to die for!! I actually haven't had a dish here that I haven't loved so I would suggest you get a little bit of everything! Even their desserts and ports are perfect pairings! Hee We will definitely be back!!

    Mushroom ravioli
    Bernadette G.

    My husband and I walked out of one restaurant due to poor service, so we were a bit anxious about trying this place. It was still empty when we arrived. It is a cute Italian/French restaurant with very simple decor. Old school jazz vibe (don't take my word for this as I am clueless about style). Our server was so pleasant and jovial. I always like it when I they tell me i ordered their favorite on the menu. The appetizer was so good. I think it was the special for the day. It was stuffed dates with prosciutto I had the truffle mushroom ravioli which was very rich and creamy. So what if I am lactose intolerant? I enjoy now and suffer y. My husband had a pizza (boring!) which he said was delicious. The place started filling up, but the servers moved fast, food seemed to come out of the kitchen in a timely manner. I will definitely return.

    Champagne cocktail
    Neeta M.

    This place is nestled in downtown Mountain View and has a great vibe - we sat outdoor and enjoyed a beautiful California day. The food is freshly made and is simple Italian food. The Basil lemon drop didn't have as much basil or alcohol in it - heavy on the sugar. The hibiscus champagne was very refreshing and the hibiscus flower was edible and surprisingly tasty. I used to love their panna cotta (it was one of the best in the South Bay) but they made it vegan - still tasty but was not firm enough for my taste - it did melt in your mouth. The mushroom pesto ravioli was good - the pesto was very fresh. Our waiter allowed us to stay as long as we wanted and was very good in communicating when we needed to place our orders.

    beef wellington
    Yue X.

    Came here for a work lunch a couple days ago, and was pleasantly surprised. Servers were polite and the decor was typical of nicer Italian restaurants. Thankfully, they allowed also ordering from the dinner menu by request, and I was told the beef wellington here was quiet good. My party ordered a steak and beef wellington, and after trying it, I was not disappointed. The beef for both was very tender, and the pastry was cooked perfectly. It's made a big differently than some of the ones I've had before, where the mushrooms were ground and in between the beef and steak, but it still tasted great. Price wise, it was a bit expensive, but it is Mountain View. Otherwise, it's a nice restaurant for Italian if you're in the area and I don't really have any complaints.

    Blackened sole - delicious
    Sabrina J.

    Came here on a Thursday night for a birthday dinner. Was only 1 of 2 tables. Not crowded at all. What's weird is that they only offered the special menu, where all the dishes are $40+ when they have a whole regular menu with a wider variety of prices. Finding out they had a normal menu that they didn't offer was strange but made me think they wanted us to pay more since they had so few customers. The blackened sole I ordered was quite delicious, but I would have liked being able to choose from all the options.

    Menu
    Priscilla D.

    *First time review* I was with my family walking downtown MV on Castro last Saturday and we were all in the mood for a place we haven't tried before. We looked at the menu outside and decided to give it a shot. We all got totally different things which was great because I got to try a few things. Pasta 4/5 - I got the chicken and mushroom pasta with sun dried tomatoes. I think it came with peas and I said no peas. The flavor was excellent! Only thing I didn't care for was some of the chicken. Unsure if it was boiled or what but some of them were chewy. Burger - 5/5 super tasty meat, juicy and stacked high with fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce and a nice toasted brioche bun. Those garlic fries are sooooooo good! I'd come here just for those. Crusted fish - unsure if it was pecans or walnuts (my dad forgot too) but he said it was excellent. I'm not a nut fan so I didn't have any. He said "try it" Chicken with veggies - my bro was eating lean and got the grilled chicken and veggies. He likes the variety of veggies and said the chicken was good. Service was ok; they weren't that busy but only had one person waiting tables. Would come back again and probably get the burger and fries.

    Menu
    Annabelle R.

    We stopped by here for drinks this past weekend cuz I was craving a chocolate martini, and this hit the spot, perfect boozy, sweet and chocolatey goodness. In addition, we got an extra dry gin martini w/ pickled onion, and it was made well and satisfying. Service was attentive and accommodating, and we were delighted to find The Fables of La Fontaine book on display at the bar for our amusement. We took a glance inside, skimming these beloved tales, including one of my faves, The Hare and the Tortoise. We also ordered the arancini to go, and they were yummy. Nice and crisp on the outside, and filled with gooey melted fontina cheese, a good late-night snack... but not as good as those cocktails!

    Lava cake with salted caramel gelato. Don't tell them you're going to split it because they charge for an extra spoon.
    Vicki B.

    We had dinner recently at La Fontaine. Reservations were easy to make (OpenTable, several days in advance) and were in the relative timeframe I wanted. We got there early and were seated promptly, which was a good thing because unfortunately we were placed next to what turned out to be a party of about 14, so being seated early meant we were out of there by the time they all arrived. Party of 14 notwithstanding, it was pretty noisy in the restaurant. Service was good, although I did have the forethought to ask for to-go boxes, dessert and the check at the same time since that was about when our neighbors started ordering in earnest. We had calamari, beet salad, orecchiette, cavatelli meatballs and, for dessert, lava cake with a scoop of sea salted caramel gelato. (Allegedly. To me it tasted faintly of caramel but I did not find a hint of salt whatsoever.) The calamari and my beet salad were delicious and the best parts of the meal. My husband enjoyed his pasta and meatballs. The orecchiette was EXTREMELY bacon-forward, even for a bacon-lover like me. It could have used less (much less) bacon and more peas. And oddly enough, even with all the bacon, it was pretty dry. Though the list price for the dessert is $10, I'm pretty sure I was charged $12, even though the menu online says there's a $1.50 split fee. I guess it's another way to make money, but what really was split? The miniscule dessert was served on one plate, so basically I was charged $2 for an extra spoon. Ridiculous.

    Sea bass (branzino)
    DrDuru A.

    Absolutely excellent food, service, and experience. One of those rare fine dining experiences that is worth every penny. I had the sea bass (branzino). The fish was soooo succulent. The mashed potatoes rich and creamy. Even the vegetables were cooked with care, every bite fresh and delicious. I also ordered a chocolate martini for good measure. Well done and plenty of volume. Our server was fun and cheery with hilarious napkin folding routines. He made a moving mouse, raw chicken, and hats. We all had fun with his routines. Here are the other orders from my dining party... Calamari: lightly breaded and not over cooked, nicely seasoned, served with two dipping sauces. Braised ribs: fall off the bone tender, wonderfully seasoned, great sauce, the planets was a little bland though. BlackBerry mojito - no skimping on the alcohol, enjoyable and refreshing. Lobster ravioli: pasta had a nice texture, flavorful Angel hair pomodoro with chicken: the chicken strips had a good texture and was flavorful. Next time, it'll be a date night....

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    Amazing vibes for an evening date! The cocktails are great and the bartender is a very nice person.

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    Food service and ambiance all nice and relaxing. Server was very nice. Restaurant very clean.

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    Maison Alyzee - Délice: Whipped dark chocolate Manjari 64% ganache, Confit blackberry raspberry, Crémeux raspberry& Milk Chocolate  , Soft Cacao Biscuit

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    4.0(908 reviews)
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    Love this place! Fresh and high quality, never disappointed. Each pastry is layered and such…read moredetailing makes it such a visual experience with some awe.

    Nearly ALL of my European clients and friends have raved about Maison Alyzee as being the most…read moreauthentic French patisserie in the area. Some of them don't even go to any other bakery besides this one and as such, I was excited to try their pastries. I got a combination of both basic items such as their croissant and their more decorative items such as their Paris Brest. The fundamental difference between American pastries and their French counterparts is that the latter are much less heavy and sweet and in that sense, Maison Alyzee does a good job. However, that quality really isn't that important to me unless I'm making baked goods at home or having them at a friend's. When it comes to a bakery, I care more about nuanced flavors, tastes, and textures and in those aspects, this place didn't really blow me away. To put it this way, I would rather travel to Midwife and the Baker and have one of their croissants at a cheaper price even if it may be more of a sugar bomb. I was actually contemplating knocking off another star because of how much the pastries cost an arm and a leg (almost $10+ for some of the individual items). In the end, I decided against it because this bakery is the first I've visited where the pastries both look nice AND taste good (Paris Baguette and Alexander's Patisserie, take note). Overall, this place is good if you are looking for pastries that both look and taste nice. Perhaps my palate is just not sophisticated enough but I just don't get any unique taste that warrants them being the most authentic French patisserie in the area. Personally, I would visit Midwife, Craftsman, and (soon) Arsicault in Palo Alto to get a more "quality' pastry.

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    Maison Alyzee - Discover the newest jewel in our collection--Strawberry Bliss (Zemlyanika Glava). A poetic balance of textures and bright, seasonal flavors,

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    La Boheme - Free baguette, but fresher will be better.

    La Boheme

    4.0(617 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    La Bohème is exactly the kind of place you hope to find when you're craving a true French dining…read moreexperience. I was not disappointed. The ingredients were fresh, beautifully balanced, and honestly so good I considered ordering another round. The bread was solid too -- perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. We tried a range of dishes and everything delivered. The omelette stuffed with shrimp was generous and great value, the French onion soup, mussels, and entrecôte were all absolutely spot on, and the chocolate mousse to finish was delicious. Next time, I'm definitely coming back for the soufflé. Even the fruit bowl stood out -- you could tell it was freshly cut, with each fruit tasting crisp and distinct rather than blended together. It's those little details that really show care. The space itself is charming and cozy, with a lovely French ambiance. It's a medium-sized restaurant , with additional outdoor seating, and a decor that makes you want to linger. What really stood out, though, was the service. Absolutely top notch. You can tell the staff and chefs genuinely care about what they're doing -- and that makes all the difference. Honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't more packed -- it deserves to be. We'll absolutely be back to explore more

    We went for an early Valentine's day dinner (the 13th instead of the 14th). We had a reservation…read moreand were seated immediately. The staff were warm and nice and I liked the ambiance of the restaurant. I ordered a coke to drink and my partner had a French beer. We proceeded to order the charcuterie and french onion soup for appetizers and the duck breast and french burger for entrees. The soup came and it was fine- it tasted like french onion soup. The charcuterie never came; I guess they forgot to put the order in or forgot to make it. It was awkward just sitting there starving while my husband ate his soup though. We figured maybe they were bringing it after he finished the soup so there'd be room on the table but nope. The burger looked nice and was cooked to the ordered temp of medium rare. Otherwise it was like any other burger anywhere else, not overly special. The fries were crisp and well salted. The duck was underwhelming. It's $38 for this plate of food and it came with totally flavorless and dry mashed potatoes, whose texture was akin to boxed potatoes. No butter or cream flavor to speak of. The vegetables were so disappointing. They had no seasoning whatsoever and were as soft as baby food- I am not exaggerating on that. I was surprised by how mushy the carrots were. For almost $40 I expect more exciting veg than broccoli, cauliflower and carrots all steamed to death. The duck was okay. There was a large tendon running through the middle of every piece and I could only eat half of it due to gristly fat. The port wine reduction that covered it totally masked the flavor of the duck. All I tasted was soy sauce. We let them know about the missing charcuterie to make sure it was not included on the bill. Other small things that detracted from the experience included them never clearing any dishes from the table (like the basket from the complimentary bread, appetizer plates or the huge wine glasses that neither of us needed) and not checking in on us to see how everything was going. The table was so cluttered it was hard to eat. It took a really long time to get the check and was so uncomfortable just sitting there obviously done with our food. For the prices charged I expected a higher level of service that was blatantly absent. Overall will not return. Over priced, slow, bland food.

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    La Boheme - Inside

    Inside

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    Chez TJ

    Chez TJ

    3.8(841 reviews)
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    Chez TJ is a bit hidden, as it is a cute little house on a busy street in downtown Mountain View,…read moreso it may blend in a bit. There is a parking lot across the street, as well as street parking surrounding the area, but parking may be hit or miss, depending on when you come by. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating - we were greeted warmly and treated with the best service during the whole evening. We were able to try their Pear Panna Cotta, Royal Kaluga Caviar, Fermented Gooseberry, Dill; Onagadai Tartlette, Creme Fraiche, Fingerlime, Horseradish; Brassica Veloute, Fenugreek Oil, Guanciale Powder Okinawa Sweet Potato, Perigord Black Truffle, Burrata Foam; Petite Baguette; Mushroom & Barley Tea; Squab, Cascabel Mole, Chanterelles, Winter Citrus Gel; Pain Levain, Navel Orange Ricotta; Australian Wagyu, Confit Beetroot, Smoked Parsnip, Sticky Cabbage; Strawberry Basil Mousse, Honeycomb, Strawberry Caviar, Basil Oil Palmier; Hazelnut Chouquette; and The Lime & The Coconut Ganache. My favorites were definitely the Onagadai Tartlette; Petite Baguette; and Squab, Cascabel Mole, Chanterelles, Winter Citrus Gel. Overall, everything was delicious and I was blown away for the experience.

    Good laughs, good service, and a lot of different drinks & dishes to try…read more Came here for a company dinner recently, the host and wait staff were very nice and fast to act. We enjoyed the garden tour and trying the many drinks prior to dinner service. For the meal, we started light and wrapped up with a waygu dish. The desserts were good, but the staff miscounted and missed a portion, I ended up getting a replacement dish that didn't have 2 out of 3 of the original components. Overall, it was a fun experience and the patio seating made the ambience very enjoyable.

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    L-R Fried oysters, quail eggs and radishes from CTJ's garden

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    Élyse Restaurant - Belgian fries

    Élyse Restaurant

    4.3(547 reviews)
    11.2 miDowntown
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    Had a great experience here this evening. I wanted to treat my coworkers to dinner so made a…read morereservation for a large group a few weeks prior. Making the reservation was a tad difficult since the my did not respond to my email or inquiry from their website and had to call. We arrived for our early dinner and was seated promptly. The place slowly filled up as the night went on. We ordered an assortment of appetizers and entrees. Raved about dishes were their Belgium fries, mussels, and the chicken dish. Most of my coworkers ordered the shaken filet and rice. I had the short rib. Everyone throughly enjoyed their food. They also have a nice cocktail menu. I don't drink but all of my coworkers had a drink and they all seemed to enjoy their drinks. Service was prompt and courteous. We all had a great time. I would definitely return here again.

    CHECK YOUR BILL!!. I recently dined at Elyse in San Jose and wanted to share a mixed experience…read more First, the positives -- the food was genuinely very good. The dishes were well-prepared, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. The overall ambiance was also enjoyable, making it a nice spot for a dinner out. Unfortunately, the experience took a concerning turn at the end of the meal. Our bill came out to $86.42, and I handed my credit card to the waiter. Within seconds (thanks to my card alerts), I received a notification that $103.92 had been charged. When the waiter returned with the receipt, there was no mention of any discrepancy. After waiting a few minutes to see if it would be addressed, I brought it up myself. The waiter appeared flustered and then claimed he had accidentally charged me for someone else's food. That explanation didn't align with the itemized bill I was given, which made the situation feel questionable. He assured me that it would be corrected and that I should see the adjustment in a few days, which I'll be watching closely. Mistakes can happen, but the lack of transparency and the fact that it wasn't proactively disclosed is what left a bad impression. Being overcharged without explanation -- and having to catch it myself -- is not something I expect when dining out. I'd consider coming back for the food, but I'd definitely be more cautious when it comes to the bill.

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    Le Papillon - Peach Clafoutis with Vanilla Cremeaux and Creme Anglaise

    Le Papillon

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    7.8 miWest San Jose
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    Tasting Menu 5 presentation, flavors, texture were all very good…read moreService 5 Ambiance 5

    I haven't been to Le Papillon in 20 years, but I could hardly remember my experience then. My…read morehusband had never been, so our recent dinner was basically new to us. We were both highly impressed by the food and service. My husband didn't expect the restaurant to look as fancy as it did. That said, there were a mix of guests wearing anything from casual to formal attire. It was New Year's Eve though, so I felt like most guests erred to the side of being well dressed. There was a 4-course prix fixe menu for the evening, which was superb. Each course had 4-6 options, and I was extremely pleased with everything my husband and I chose. My salad with had baby lettuce, toasted pecans, and shaved feta was the best salad I've had all year. The sea bass I got for the main course was particularly outstanding. I was informed that the sea bass was a staple of the daily dinner menu, so I can't wait to get this dish again. The dinner was also accompanied by complimentary bread service, amuse bouches, and mignardises. Last but not least, overall service was excellent. Kendra was our lead server, and she was friendly, attentive, and very helpful when it came to making selections. All the wait staff members were on top of clearing plates and refilling beverages. The pace by which the food was brought out was perfect.

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    Le Papillon - Rear dining room

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    Gochi - Mountain View - Hamachi Carpaccio

    Gochi - Mountain View

    4.1(671 reviews)
    1.1 mi
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    So delicious I'm still thinking about this meal. The service was amazing. There's a huge menu with…read morelots of great options. This has been one of my favorite bites in South Bay. We ordered the sake oyako mesh with dashi to have the option for ochazuke, kurobuta katsu, tori karaage, and hojicha creme brulee. The rice clay pot dish had so much flavor and dimension. The katsu and karaage were both very crispy and fried to perfection. And the hojicha creme brûlée was the perfect sweetness. I would love to come back to try more of their dishes.

    I came here with my brother and we ordered a variety of different items ranging from pizza to clay…read morepot rice, to carpaccio. The things we ordered included: Yuzu ceviche- This was delicious. The house made chips resembled ruffles and the ceviche was actually very refreshing. I couldn't stop taking bites out of it. Hints of citrus plus tomato, cucumbers, this was the perfect appetizer for clearing the palate before a meal. Ankimo - Monkfish liver, this dish was decent. The ponzu really shined and it wasn't fishy at all. Also oddly refreshing. The liver tasted like a paste almost. Sake carpaccio- Smooth, sweet, and light. The salon was nicely seared and tasted wonderful. Yakiniku Kochijan- The pizza crust was light and flaky and the cheese had an amazing cheese pull. The kimchi was subtle but it was definitely present in flavor. Jako Mentaiko Meshi- Dried fish and cod roe clay pot rice. The rice was super crispy and the dried fish had a ton of flavor. When mixed in thoroughly with the rice it just brings out the essence of the fish and the flavor. Overall, a solid spot!

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    Protégé - Fancy Butter

    Protégé

    4.3(552 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$$$

    I celebrated my birthday here and had a truly wonderful dinner experience in the cocktail lounge…read more The à la carte menu offers a thoughtful blend of Asian fusion bites--each dish more impressive than the last. We were attended to by four staff members, and while that may sound like a lot, their service was seamless. Every movement felt intentional and unobtrusive, enhancing rather than interrupting the ambiance. The craftsmanship of the food--wow. This Michelin rating is absolutely well deserved. Each dish had such depth of flavor that we couldn't help but murmur "mmm" with every bite. The presentation was, of course, stunning, with flavors that matched the beauty on the plate. I can't wait to return and experience the dining room next. I highly recommend adding Protégé to your "Best of the Bay" list.

    Protégé is a New American casual restaurant that offers both an a la carte and a tasting menu…read more We made reservations in advance, and we were excited to check this place out for dinner. Our party went for the a la carte option to order a variety of dishes to share, rather than to be restricted to options. We tried: +the Milk Bread - served with Stepladder Creamery cultured butter and Balinese sea salt +the 'Fish & Chips' - prepared with hamachi, Asian pear, red curry, and pickled jalapenos +Crab and Caviar - with dungeness crab, Protégé reserve caviar, and yuzu sabayon +and, the A5 Wagyu Tataki - with black sesame crackers, enoki mushrooms, and karashi For my entree, I tried the Flannery Beef Short Rib, which was served with sunchoke 'hash', charcoal-grilled king trumpet mushrooms, horseradish, and pimenton; I also tried one's Blackened Monkfish and the 'Peas and Carrots.' Everything was well-presented and aesthetically-pleasing, service was on point, and they checked upon our large party often. The restaurant itself is well-decorated, with nice photographs on the wall; request for the tufted seating, as it's more comfortable. +attentive staff +a la carte and tasting menu offered +reservations accepted

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    Protégé - Dining Room

    Dining Room

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    Mango Cheesecake Chocolates

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    Zola + BarZola - Meatballs

    Zola + BarZola

    4.2(623 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$$

    I visited Zola for a private birthday dinner. While I've dined in the restaurant previously, this…read morewas my first private event at Zola. This review is for the private event experience not regular dining. Service - Incredible! The servers were very attentive and food came out seamlessly. Ambiance - The private room is divine. Classically decorated. Very quiet. We had 22 people and it did not feel crowded. Zola did the flowers for the tables and they were beautiful. Food - Absolutely delicious. I wish I'd taken photos of all the dishes, but I got distracted A few key dishes (all but the salad and desserts were served family style): Chickpea Panise - absolutely divine. So flavorful. (Picture included) Bib lettuce salad - delicious. Bright. (Picture included) Bread and butter - omg. I couldn't stop eating it. Olives - was told they were awesome, I'm not an olive fan (Picture included) Chicken and salmon - both were to die for. So good. Crème brûlée and chocolate mousse - perfect small size with big bold flavors. Both were amazing. (Picture included) They also baked her a beautiful strawberry cake. It was fresh and very tasty. There were more dishes that were also all delicious. I included a copy of the menu too. The birthday girl selected the menu options. Highly recommend for a private event.

    Very easy to make reservations online and they are dog friendly!…read more The cocktails were good, love that they have unique specialty cocktails. They were refreshing and not too strong. Food was better than I expected. Oysters and the salad were ok, but the escargot was great! The steak frites were delicious too. Our server was very attentive and checked on us multiple times throughout our meal. Overall, I definitely recommend trying this place if you want to eat escargot.

    Photos
    Zola + BarZola - Restaurant interior

    Restaurant interior

    Zola + BarZola - Poulet Sous Brique

    Poulet Sous Brique

    Zola + BarZola - Manhattan de luxe (left); Colette (right)

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    Manhattan de luxe (left); Colette (right)

    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto

    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto

    4.5(212 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    Full bar
    Private events

    Enjoyed a wonderful Valentines dinner here!…read more We sat at the bar. Mustafa was the bartender and he made the night! He asked what type of cocktails we preferred and then made us drinks that fit our profile. They were AMAZING. The food was delicious. We had schnitzel, spatzle, potato salad, amazing desserts. Every bite was amazing. The owners of the restaurant were there and heavily involved. Everyone was friendly and working really hard to create a fabulous experience for their guests. Highly recommend! Go for the food and stay for the cocktails!

    Food was average overall, but the cocktails were good. I called ahead to make a reservation and…read morementioned that we were celebrating a friend's birthday. Usually when I note a birthday occasion, restaurants will at least acknowledge it with a small dessert or candle, so I honestly thought there might be something small for us too -- though maybe that's only during dinner service. In the end, there wasn't anything. What upset me more was how rushed the experience felt near the end. Staff were very quick to clear empty plates, and when we got the dessert menu, we asked if the restaurant was closing. The staff member told us the kitchen would close in 5 minutes and rushed us to order dessert quickly. It honestly made the atmosphere feel stressful instead of enjoyable, especially for a birthday celebration. In the end, we didn't even order dessert and just left. I've experienced rushed dining before, but mostly at busy casual places, so I was surprised to experience this kind of atmosphere here. Overall, the experience felt more rushed than welcoming

    Photos
    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto
    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto
    Naschmarkt - Palo Alto

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    La Fontaine Restaurant - french - Updated May 2026

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