Sadly, this place has changed. Now if you've never been, you might be quite happy with this place. But as someone who has been coming here on a regular basis for a while, I can no longer rate it anything more than 3 stars. Before I jump into why I'm disappointed, I must acknowledge that their bar program has actually improved. The latest tropical addition cocktails were beyond delicious. The Bula Bula is one of the smoothest and most delicious cocktails I've had. No wonder I had a few of them that night. If you're in the area, please drop by the bar. Now to the changes: -The old chef left and so did the staff. Previously, the service was very professional, warm, and super attentive. Now, our server was nice, but definitely not on the same level. My husband placed an order for a beer and a while later I placed an oder for a drink. My cocktail arrived and we had to remind her to bring us the bottled beer. She also didn't stop by our table to check on the dishes after they came out. Again, friendly lady, but not what we are used to from O&V. -The food has changed a lot. Our beloved branzino--one of the biggest reasons we drive to this place--is no longer on the menu. Their charcuterie, while still decent, doesn't use the high quality truffle honey, is significantly smaller and doesn't have as many options (used to always have 3meats and cheeses and now it's two). We got their pork ragu (based on the recommendation of our waitress) and the dish was inedible. It lacked seasoning, contained over cooked pasta, was swimming in disgusting oil and came out barely warm. Needless to say, we sent it back as our appetite was ruined. We were not the only ones who felt that way, as the table next to us didn't eat their pork ragu either and were waiting on their waiter to pick it up. Their cheesecake is a poorly executed cream cheese on some graham crust that was melting...can't believe they served it. -Their chill atmosphere was traded in for mass service. I used to love sitting my the fountain, which is now blocked off by a couch and fireplace. Tables are tightly packed together eliminating any hope for intimacy. It also seems to be more of a family place than a night out vibe, so keep that in mind. We don't really live close by; it's a 30 min. ride for us. But it was previously worth it. I doubt we will be going out of our way to eat here, but I will stop for some Bula Bula if we're in the neighborhood. read more

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Great atmosphere and decor , mediocre service and high prices for what you get - will probably look for other dine options next time. We were a party of 4 and tried a few dishes - 1) shishitsu peppers (appetizers menu) 2) truffle French fries (appetizers menu) 3) mussels (appetizers) 4) shrimp and bacon croquettes 5) bread pudding We also had 2 cocktails - the habanero one and another fruity one (came in with a lychee ) The cocktails were great , but 16$ seem too high . The mussels came in a fairly small portion (10-12). Bread pudding was so-so (too doughy ) The shiahitsu peppers were just ok - some Atlantic sea salt would do wonders The croquettes and the truffle French fries were just ok The service was ....not great - had to call the server multiple times to get their attention and food took a long time to arrive . At the end we asked for a 1/3 and 2/3 split and the server could just not figure this out and ended up splitting 50:50. read more

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This place had such a nice ambiance but I was really disappointed with the food. So to start off, this restaurant is in a hotel, a very bougie hotel. Valet parking is free if you're eating there. We got there for our reservation for 8 but they split us into two tables for covid protocols. Luckily the tables were right next to each other. We ordered some fries to start off which were good! I think they had some truffle in them for a little flavor. For the main course, I ordered the King Oyster Mushroom Pappardelle with a side of chicken. Food took a while to get to us as well. I was so disappointed in the pasta. It honestly didn't have any flavor and tasted like plain tomato sauce. I didn't like the chicken much either. It tasted like they only added a light amount of salt to it. The redeeming factor was their dessert. The dark choco mousse was amazing and lemon meringue wasn't bad either. The unfortunate thing was that we were charged 20 dollars per person for entertainment fee. We had 8 people so that came to 160 dollars just for entertainment. Music wasn't good either. Probably won't be back. read more

Oak + Violet - Meringue, Dark Chocolate Mousse, Panna Cotta - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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The oak + violet croquettas were so tasty! I highly recommend. Perfect texture. Poached pear salad had lots of flavor. All the ingredients were perfectly matched and the dressing was light. Seafood in the seafood paella had loads of flavor. VERY tasty. The rice itself could've used some more salt or flavor--maybe even some tomato-y-ness. The mango sorbet was good but nothing special. Service and drinks were good too. Overall, a solid place and would come back. One shareable, one first course, and one entree was enough for 2. read more

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

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The absolute best restaurant!! This review is way over due but my family and I went here for my dad's birthday in early February and it was phenomenal. Not only was the food and ambiance spectacular but what really stood out to me was the service from the oak and violet staff, particularly Renee and Barassa (i think that's how you spell it). They were so kind and generous. They were fun to talk to and helpful when deciding what to eat! They really treat you like family. That was my first time there but definitely not my last. I recommend this to anyone looking for a night out or for big occasions. You can tell they have a lot of fun here and it was such a memorable night! The food was bomb too!! read more

Oak + Violet - Charcuterie Board and Truffle Fries!!! MUST TRY - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

A couple friends and I came here to celebrate a friend's bday. Absolutely loved our experience. I didn't actually have big expectations for the food, as I mainly wanted to go for the ambiance but the food surprisingly tasted really great. I didn't take a photo of our main entree but we got sea bass (which was coated in panko), Brussels sprouts, calamari, truffle fries and the bread pudding for dessert. They also gave us a complementary lavender pudding as part of the birthday celebration. I loved how the calamari wasn't fried. I think that and the bread pudding were my favorite. I normally don't like bread pudding bc it's so mushy but this one held it's shape well and was filled with figs! Delicious. The ice cream balance was a bit off tho; definitely needed a bigger scoop. Service was excellent but would have preferred a bit less interruption. It's always nice when the servers know when we need something. I felt like we kept being asked if everyone is ok when we were trying to have a conversation. No parking lot, but valet and street parking are available. Outdoor patio can get a bit windy but they had heat lamps to keep us warm. Overall, loved the vibe and would recommend for a date or girls night out. read more

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Love the vibe here! The food was yummy and the service and ambiance were 10/10. My favorite was the appetizers. Truffle fries and the brussels sprouts are a must-get! The main was alright, I got one of the pasta, it was delicious don't get me wrong, but I think the appetizers were better and also the drinks. I think the main dishes are always changing so maybe the next time I come back, I'll try something different besides the pasta. I recommend this place and will def go back. I want to go here with my fiancé or with a bunch of my girlfriends read more

This place is very nice for appetizers and drinks. There is only street parking or valet parking, no parking lot for customers. The atmosphere was very nice, I love the open outdoor seating. I ordered the red panda to drink, truffle fries, calamari, Brussel sprouts, and the spinach pasta. -Red panda: 4/5 I love that there was a piece of lychee at the bottom of my glass. It was a great balance of vodka to lychee, not too sweet, not too strong. -Truffle fries: 4/5 I love the pieces of truffle throughout the fries. Delicious! -Calamari: 4/5 I was expecting fried calamari, but instead they were cooked in a red sauce with potatoes and olives. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would when I first saw this dish. -Spinach pasta: 1/5 VERY bland. No flavor what so ever! We asked for salt and pepper and even after adding it, it did not make much of a difference. My mother in law got the pasta with pork, that had no flavor as well. My father in law had the brisket on a bed of mash potatoes, no flavor as well. read more

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Let me start with this dinner was for a large party of 18. Pulling off a successful dinner with 18 diverse guests is pretty impressive. With that said, I really appreciated the food, service, and their organization with servers and kitchen. Atmosphere: Great outdoor dining! Perfect for a California dining experience. Service: exemplary! Food: Appetizer standouts- sautéed calamari, croquettes and Brussel sprouts. Entrée standouts- short ribs and the ribeye. By the way, the restaurant bar was small, but very attentive and made good craft cocktails. So come to Oak & Violet, start with a pre dinner cocktail and then enjoy dinner on their outdoor patio. read more

Amazing atmosphere very open and bright with fresh air for outside seating. This restaurant bar is in a upscale hotel and all the drinks were balanced and tasty. Our bartender was Ed and really made our experience excellent. He made specialty cocktails based on our preference and each one exceeded expectations. Thanks Ed! read more

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Had a really lovely experience here overall for my birthday! Super friendly staff, the food was fresh and the drinks, appetizers, and the sides that came with our main dishes were delicious! Drinks: 5 stars! got the El Camino (basically a Paloma with mezcal) and my partner got the Southside, both of which were excellent Apps: 5 stars on both! Truffle fries which were very tasty! Wood fired Mussels--probably one of the top things I ate! Spicy, flavorful, tender, probably the best mussels I've ever had! Salads: 4 stars I got the watermelon feta salad--it was delicious, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It was more like a salad with a couple pieces of watermelon and a tiny crumbling of feta. Also our salad plates must have come right of the dishwasher so we're veryyy hot so we didn't put the salad on them because everything would have wilted Entrees: 4.5/5. Stars The Nordic Blu salmon: the saffron risotto is the STAR of this dish. It was so freaking good, tied with the mussels for best thing we ate. The salmon was simple, well-seasoned, cooked to perfection, nothing too exciting but didn't really need to be because that risotto was everything Short rib - 3/5 stars My mom and stepdad got the short rib and said that the pasta that came with it was amazing but the actual meat was cooked well but really under seasoned (if my mom has to ask for salt, you know there is no salt on there, believe me!) I don't eat meat so I did not taste it myself, this is just coming from her! Dessert: cheesecake, 5/5! It was my birthday and they gave us a piece of their cheesecake which was tart and delicious and had a really tangy yummy rasps berry sauce I'd absolutely come here again! The staff were really sweet and friendly, thanks for making this a great visit! read more

Oak + Violet - Left is the Southside and right is the El Camino - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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I love this place! The food is amazing, my favorite was the baked Brie and the steak. The outdoor seating it is absolutely gorgeous. Great lighting and ambiance. The live music is a nice touch. Great for a date night or a night out with friends. read more

Oak + Violet - Baked Brie and Crostini - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Yes!! This place is spendy, but that's not a surprise given the location. Great outdoor patio. Delish good and top notch, professional service. Great cocktails. We had a salad, sea bass and charcuterie board, with paper plane cocktail and Aperol spritz. Lovely dinner. read more

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This was such a wonderful experience l! The food here is so full of flavor, creativity, and love! Every bite was euphoric! The atmosphere was amazing, the drinks were delicious! The host was very sweet, greeted us with a smile and quickly sat us! Our server was kind, knowledgeable, fun, he made our night! The Chef, Shane, who we go to thank, is gifted! It was a wonderful night! We can't wait to come back! read more

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Everything from food, service and the ambience was perfect! It was pretty warm in there but there were a lot of exposure to the outdoors. We tried a good amount of food and the selections were great. I have the braised beef and it was nothing short of my expectations. There was a wedding outside so we had to find parking in the neighboring areas. We will definitely come back read more

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This is a a great spot for a solid meal. I've visited several times and always enjoyed the food and service. I sit at the bar most often and it's always a social group between the other patrons and the bartenders. read more

We came early to celebrate a couple of birthdays and had a choice of tables. The restaurant was very accommodating and service was prompt. It was nice because we could have a kids table as well as an adult table. The oenophiles in our group were not enamored of the wine list but were able to find a decent Pinot. I was happy with my lager and red beer. The truffle fries were tasty but you could also taste the salt. The brussels sprouts were especially good and crispy and I would get those again. The salad was also very good. The chicken was crispy but also a little dry and the waygu was not the quality we expected. It was a little tough. The chocolate cake was very good as well as the lemon tart. read more

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Came here with my coworkers for a girls happy hour. First off, this place has free 2 hour valet which is very convenient for the guest. The restaurant has a very cute and elegant outdoor setting. The weather was perfect the day I went and there was live singing. The host, manager, waiter, and chef treated us all really nice. I loved the service and attention they provide for each table. The food here was amazing. We were able to try the truffle fries, charcuterie board, pasta, mussels, beef tartar, and tomahawk steak. Chef Shane is an amazing chef and her dishes really impressed the group and I. Food was outta this world. I believe this is the spring menu so get it before summer comes xD. Honestly one of the best experiences I've ever had and will come back with my friends and family next time. read more

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

Outstanding food and service for a hotel restaurant... butternut squash ravioli and pear salad was the best ever, and I'm a NYC foodie.. wine selections also above par by the glass.. well done!! Sarah my server was also amazing!! read more

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4.1 stars! Amazing bar, and great selection of drinks! Deducted one star because the place is not chill! The downside is that this place is mostly for older folks- seems 40s and above! So it is not chill at all, quiet the opposite, which was a bit disappointing, but the drinks are amazing, and the bar tenders are super friendly! Hence instead of giving this place 4.1 stars! Jeremy and Brenden were super sweet, and amazing bartenders, provided great customer service and knew about Real Estate (knowledge sharing while getting a drink is always a plus!!!) We tried their Hall Cab from Napa, it was great, and their Zin is amazing as well!! Had the chocolate mouse which was super delicious! Customer service is on point, the place is clean, I just wish it was a bit more chill, but oh well (maybe because it is located where it is, they get an older crowd, which spikes the prices; hence one glass of Cab was $25 (yes you read it right; it was just one glass of wine!) Overall, not a bad place to go maybe get a drink and work; or meet with colleagues (seems business like) or being folks here who are out of town! Give this place a try and see what you think!:) read more

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This restaurant has both outdoor and indoor dining. We sit inside and a lot less people sitting inside, so it is very safe. It is a newly opened restaurant in Menlo Park and it is a restaurant inside a hotel. The service is friendly and good; food overall is good. The atmosphere is nice, clean, modern and comfortable. We ordered the following: 1.) Fritto Misto - This is deep fried calamari, shrimp and anchovies. All the seafood are fresh and well seasoned. The fried anchovies is unique and good, it is fresh and not fishy at all. The shrimp and calamari are good, but not memorable. The calamari is little overcooked, so it is kind on the dry end. The sauce served is tasty and refreshing. Overall it is a good dish. 2.) Peach and Beet Salad - The dressing for the salad is more on the sour side. But the peach and beet are sweet, so give a good contrast to the veggie themselves. Overall the salad is good, but it is nothing special or memorable. 3.) 8oz. Filet - The steak was great. The filet is tender, juicy, and the seasoning is just right. The extra sauce on the side of the plate is sour and did not has much other taste to it, so it did not go well with the steak and did not add any value to it. But he onion is sweet and juicy, which goes well with the steak. 4.) Branzino - The whole fish is very well cooked. The skin is crispy outside and fish is soft inside. The fish is fresh and has good seasoning. It added onion inside the fish, which is a good addition too. The sauce on the side taste like ketchup that is in orange color. 5.) Chocolate Moose - The moose good, not too sweet, but not memorable. read more

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What a beautiful space!! They have a very large outdoor patio and outdoor bar seating. Something that should almost belong in Miami. I was invited for a yelp elite event for a wine tasting. They offered two wine stations and two cheese and charcuterie stations. The wine was by dry creek, more organic, less sugar and 12% alcohol content. Favs. The Austrian whites and their limited reds that they didn't advertise as much. Food served: cheese and charcuterie. They were running out often but they also replenished often. That's all I ever want with my wine. The seating was so comfortable. Plenty of patio seating, highboys and bench seating. Didn't try their restaurant but they have a very nice board room with access to the large patio. It's a hidden gem. read more

Came to celebrate my fiancé's birthday and the food, it's presentation, and service were absolutely amazing. They were fine about bringing out a surprise cake and even had Happy Birthday played on a harp for us. Note: Theres no on site parking so you'll have to go through valet or find something on the street but it's worth it read more

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This place is fantastic! Firstly, it is an incredible space--a visual wonder of the outside-coming-in and more. I sat up at the rail in the bar, which is a surround. I got to chat not only with people next to me and bartending staff, but also across the way (and people bought me drinks! Yay!) I was looking out at the parallel rail, but also at their outdoor space--including a tree--and their green-wall which is made up of edible plants. In the foyer, they have a beautiful wall of wood which they have decorated with small glass vases with orchids. The staff were beyond delightful--I met six of them including the manager--and was entertained and served cocktails by the delightful Juan and Andres. The Southside, created by Juan I believe, was a cloud of a drink--light, lovely and luscious. When I wanted something a little "meatier," they created a Brooklyn for me (a fun adaptation of a Manhattan with, evidently, dry vermouth and Maraschino liqueur according to the web). I went back the next night and had a Whisky Sour which was amazing too--also light and luscious and the best I've ever had. My time there was so fantastically fun. It was like I was at a party--and even though I went in knowing nobody, by the time I left I felt I had hung out with very dear and old friends. And they even gave me a teeny, tiny clothespin to anchor the orchid from my drink in my hair. Love fest!!! read more

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We ordered the calamari and the baked Brie. Both were good and filling, and our server Sarah was awesome. Would be willing to come back with friends! read more

Went here for a yelp event. Came early to meet with a friend. Had the cheese plate and bone marrow. Both of which were nice and unique. Then went on to the lobster tacos. They were overall nice and flavorful. Their mixed drinks are very nice. Had the burboun mix and it was wonderful. We came for an event for redbrest whisky which was also done very well. They gave us a welcome drink with redbrest that was fantastic. The best whisky drink I have ever had. Staff was great. Good place to hang out in Menlo Park. read more

Oak + Violet - From tasting event. - New American Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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I was initially impressed with how this restaurant + food looked considering it was part of a hotel, so when my husband and I were considering somewhere to go for valentine's day in the Peninsula we figured to give this place a try. They had a set menu for the day with pretty standard menu items i.e. steak, salmon, pasta, etc. The experience for us fell a little short when we were placed in what seemed like a banquet room versus the main dining area I was expecting to be in. Since it was valentine's day, all the tables were rowed up and I joked with my husband that it felt like a speed dating room with all the couples lined up lol. Luckily there was live musicians in the room that filled the room with nice background music and without them, the whole dinner would've been very underwhelming. For starters, my husband got the lobster bisque and I had the beet salad. The lobster bisque was very fishy and would've been a little better if it was served with a breadstick or something to cut the strong taste. My husband didn't finish it because the fishy taste was a over powering. My salad was ok, nothing to rave about. For our main dish, my husband chose the filet mignon while I had the porcini pappardelle. My husband wished the filet was seasoned better and the papperdelle was good, but the caramelized leeks + ricotta were very strong in taste as well. Lastly, for dessert we tried the lavender vanilla bean pots de creme which tasted very lavender forward that it almost wasn't edible. We also tried the triple dark chocolate mousse cake was very decadent, so we were only able to take a few bites. Overall, all the dishes and overall experience was lack luster. The best thing about our experience were the live musicians otherwise there would've been nothing to save the dinner. Not sure if we'd come back based on this experience. read more

First time here. Greetings started from the valet to those at the front door and was completed with attentive service from the bartender. Since I was was only at the bar for a quick drink - a perfectly chilled Paper Plane - I will definitely make plans to come back to experience their dinner menu. read more

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

Food is delicious - everything is delicious. Loved the truffle fries, and all their main menu items were always tasty, seasoned just right and good portions. Menu changes. We've come back a few times because of the excellent experience. The kids always look forward to the truffle fries and the buttered pasta here. Service is outstanding. Lovely ambience. read more

I read that Menlo Park is THE place to live if you're single and rich. Pshhh, forget trying to play the lotto... Ladies, push up the girls (or contour the hell out of your chest), throw on some stilettos, and head to Madera on VC Row! But, if you're over the pretentious scene with thirsty cougars, head to Oak + Violet! Located inside the new James Park Hotel, Oak + Violet is a new California craft kitchen with gorgeous courtyard patio. It's THE place to be right now: https://bit.ly/2z3Cvha. Ok, ok...I know this doesn't look like a lot of people but for sleepy Menlo Park, it was crackin' on a Saturday night (the inside dining area was filled). I've been waiting for the opening of Oak + Violet so I can make a weekend out of it by also booking a room at James Park Hotel (my review: https://www.yelp.com/biz/park-james-hotel-menlo-park). Although I made reservations for the [dog-friendly] courtyard, I was told that it was first come, first serve so plan accordingly. They kindly accommodated our reservations for outside but we showed up early anyways. The dining room and courtyard have different menus but many crossover items. If you ask nicely, they may allow you to order from both. =) Usually hotel restaurants have such inflated prices (*ahem* Nobu in Palo Alto) so I really appreciated that Oak + Violet is not price gouging customers. It's not cheap though because it's Menlo Park but expect to spend $80-$100 pp, standard for a nice meal with booze in the Bay Area. At this time, the food is about a 3 - 3.5 stars. Nothing wow'd us but they're only several weeks young so I'm confident the food will be more noteworthy in the future. BUT, the craft cocktails are on point! D R I N K S * Pacific Mule: Re-find cucumber vodka, kiwi purée, fresh lemon, ginger beer ($14): https://bit.ly/2PVeuQy * Southside: Junipero gin, lime, butterfly tea syrup, mint, sea salt ($14): https://bit.ly/2SjGXkO * Vesper: Gin, vodka, lillet, lemon twist ($15): https://bit.ly/2EJOhmK Loved all three cocktails as they were all stiff and well-balanced but my absolute favorite was the Pacific Mule! It was very refreshing and I enjoyed the kiwi's sweet and tart tropical flavor. F O O D * Oysters of the Night: Miyagi (1/2 dozen - $17): https://bit.ly/2JfE2oZ I only tried one which was fresh and nicely shucked. Both the cocktail sauce and mignonette were solid. * O+V Signature Lollipop Buffalo Wings w/ celery seed bleu cheese dipping sauce (courtyard menu - $14) My fav dish of the night, the frenched wings were hot and crispy with a light batter that nicely soaked up the buffalo sauce but still maintained its crispy texture. The buffalo sauce had a good balance of acidity and heat. * Mini Lobster Tacos w/ avocado creme, cilantro, red onion sofritto ($18): https://bit.ly/2D44Nwd Each mini taco was filled with fresh lobster pieces (no fillers) but the avocado crème was very sour. * Wagyu Butcher Steak Tartare w/ pickled veggies, truffle Texas toast, poached egg ($17): https://bit.ly/2O5T955 The tartare could have used a touch more seasoning and pickled veggies because it was on the bland side. The poached egg didn't have the flowing money shot but still had a custardy center. * Cast Iron 16 oz. Bone-In Filet Mignon w/ roasted shallots, fennel, parsnip puree, bone marrow butter (dining room menu - $59) Great seared crust and cooked rare as requested. Most places can't get the temperature right, steakhouses included so kudos! Like the tartare, it could have used more seasoning to bring out the beefy flavor of the filet. I was sad that most of the marrow had been rendered out of the bone. * Salted Caramel Pudding: Butterscotch, gram, fleur de sel, peanut butter cookies ($8): https://bit.ly/2OMYDXV My least fav dish, the pudding was grainy, not a silky smooth consistency and the cookies were very dry. Service was friendly and food service was prompt (we dined at 5 pm) but as it got busier, our server was spread thin. Everyone we encountered was kind and approachable. Oak + Violet won me over with the gorgeous courtyard adorned with succulents and string lights. And, yay for being dog-friendly: https://bit.ly/2D5dztU! The sofas are so freakin' comfy, I wanted to lay there all night in front of the firepits and oak tree with a streaming waterfall in the background. There's umbrellas, heat lamps, and blankets to keep you warm. I dine outdoors a lot so I appreciate these little thoughtful touches. Free valet parking for customers. Overall, I had a good experience at Oak + Violet with the cocktails and ambiance being the highlight. I can't wait to see how they evolve when I return for another staycation at Park James Hotel! read more

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Fancy and new, with pretty good food, but still working out its kinks and was hungry after still :( not a whole lot of street parking and valet was required but free Ambiance: love the indoor outdoor concept, the heat lamps and swanky vibe. Service: friendly, but took about 50 minutes to get our food. Super slow :( The food: - Free Bread (2 stars): toasted and served with garlic butter and a little oil. A bit too hard imo - Brussels (3 stars): a bit oily for my tastes, but flavorful and crispy - Smashed potatoes (4 stars): baked then fried, loved the crispiness - Kale salad with lobster (4 stars): enjoyed this salad, very fresh but could be spiced up with something unique or a bit more cheese TLDR: cool new swanky place, but not great if you come hungry :( read more

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Awesome food, ambiance and customer service- will be back. Lyle, Chris and team thank you for the personable experience and memorable time!

First time here and I have head this about Oak + Violet ... that it can be a bit of a let down. But, to start with the positives! The staff is friendly, the ambience- super cute, very nice and relaxing, I really love the outside space and the overall atmosphere. I like the drink menu, the have some great wine and beer choices. The cocktails, well only had one, the Firemelon and it was tasty! A spicy, watermelon margarita of sorts. It was good, but nothing exceptional. I was expecting more signature cocktails based on Yelp, seems like they have a rotational drink menu, which is fine but I felt like there could have been a couple more options. Then, there was the food and this was where it fell really flat for me. It started off well with the charred shishito peppers - those were super yummy! Rich but tasty, I would definitely get those again. Then we got La Verdura - a veggie plate described to come with veggies, root chips and various dips. The presentation was pretty, but that's about it. We did not get any root chips... that was sad. The dips were all under seasoned as were the vegetables. Everything was flat and one-note. I am happy there was a healthy, veggie forward dish, but it was definitely not as good as it could be. Would not order again. I ordered the branzino and my husband ordered the scallops. We ordered the pasta for our son, just butter and cheese. The branzino came out looking like it had sat under a warmer, the puree on the plate was dry and micro greens wilted. The fish was ok, but also a little dry, purée had potential but was also a little flat. It came with a fennel, mini bell pepper sauté on the side and that was actually not tasty at all.... Just kind of a throwaway. Definitely would not order again. My husband's scallops were much better, but still ... there is a lacking a flavor building, it all seemed so one-note despite the many ingredients on the plate. Probably would not order again. Our son's pasta was good, homemade pasta with butter and cheese, so... that's that. $22 for buttered pasta, but at least there was something for him I guess. I really hate having to give reviews like this, and typically I will give a place at least another try before reviewing less than stellar things.... but I was pretty disappointed in the meal and have heard similar stories about Oak + Violet. Maybe I'll go back soon and hopefully have a better experience so I can update. But for now, this is it. read more

Average dinner from what looked like an awesome place! This place is in a hotel which made finding the front door a bit difficult (walked through a party) on accident! The Brussel sprouts were the best item we got... also had the calamari, salmon and mushroom ravioli. The salmon was highly disappointing, no seasoning and overall bland. read more

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Came here with a few friends for dinner (during COVID actually) and the restaurant itself was really cute and lively. Connected to a hotel, we actually sat outside in what looked like the hotel courtyard - which was beautiful, super intimate and fun with a bar that opens up both inside/outside. Service was super nice and quick, while the menu had a great variety of new American dishes and cocktails. In the the end as much as we wanted to love this place, the food and cocktails all fell a little short from expectations overall. If around the area, I might stop by - but at at the moment - wouldn't go out of my way for it. Let's Dig In: (1) Salad - OK, nothing particularly special or memorable. (2) Fries - standard, but didn't come out very hot or crispy which is unfortunate. (3) Burrata - this was disappointing, nothing special in flavor/sauce or even the quality of the burrata. Tasted like something that can def. be thrown together at home. (4) Fish Tacos - a whole lot of toppings and sauce, but really missing the mark on what a good fish taco - sometimes going simple is needed. (5) Shishito Peppers - this was one of the better things - they were blistered well, not as charred as I usually like them but the seasoning and flavor was tasty. (6) Whole Branzino - this was an upset, the pickled veggies were interesting but not really complimentary with the fish, didn't really care for the sauce either, and the fish was really lacking seasoning - meat inside was tender but the skin didn't have that beautiful crispiness. (7) Pasta Bolognese - this was my least fave, it was also the most strangest bolognese sauce I've ever had - noodles were cooked perfectly al dente but the sauce was overly sweet and just missing a whole lot of other flavors to it. (8) Grilled veggies - sad to say, but this was the best thing here. (Some) of the veggies had a great charr to them, perfectly seasoned. ALTHOUGH, there were some inconsistencies and some def. needed more time on the grill. (9) Dark chocolate mouse dessert - this was OK, simple and creamy, but also something I could def. whip up at home. (10) Panna cotta dessert - this was OK, I love me a good panna cotta and sadly this was not it. Very milky with no real other flavor to it. (11) Southside cocktail & P3 cocktail - the southside was a really pretty drink and tasty, not amazing but still refreshing overall. My friend's P3 drink was ok, a little too sour/tart for my personal taste. read more

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A friend and I had the best time visiting for dinner and drinks! Philippe was our server and he was wonderful, recommended a fantastic wine bottle (Wente) for us to split and even brought us an extra glass at the end of the evening. We appreciated that the servers didn't try to push the most expensive bottle on the menu, and we were surprised with how delicious the Wente was! The food was excellent, we had the Brussel sprouts, truffle fries, calamari, pear salad, beet salad and crème brûlée. We will definitely be back !! read more

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

If you're looking for a place to support and have safe feeling dining experience this is it on top of delicious and fantastic service. Plenty of social distance on the patio. They have their heaters going which worked great. As the night got nippy they offered me a cup of hot water. The entire service was superb. Everyone super friendly and helpful. I noticed they wear latex gloves when bringing items to the table - a first for me - shows their attention to safety and detail. Now for the yums: drinks wonderful; persimmon fall salad delicious as well as the gnocchi (and beautifully plated with color pops. Sadly did not catch a pic). We also had dessert and coffee. Patio is pet friendly. They brought my baby a big bowl of water and a treat, which he enjoyed in addition to the bites of squash he lucked in on. Doggie approved! Will definitely be back. read more

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This is inside the hotel (I was staying at) and the perfect setting for a work or friends meal. I went with a group of coworkers and it was very enjoyable. We all had a cocktail and they were well balanced. Then I chose the salmon that was very flavorful and the perfect portion. I also highly reckons ordering a side of fried. Server was also very attentive and when we ask if there was music he could turn on, he was happy to. (We sat outside). The only downside is they often have events here so you can't always sit outside if there is an event going on. read more

A great restaurant that has the Silicon Valley vibe down. They often have live music, and you have a friendly, eclectic group of folks. I had a great time, with good food, and our host, Sarah, was fantastic! I look forward to returning. read more

After eating here, the restaurant called me and accused me of "walking out without paying the bill," which was very strange as I paid and even took a photo of the signed check (it was a business dinner). The guy on the phone was very condescending, told me I was lying about paying, and wouldn't even give me his name (just the letter "T" - really!). I insisted on emailing my photo and even called my bank who confirmed that the payment had gone through. The next day the restaurant called me back and said "Okay we got your payment." No apology for the accusation or the stress they caused me, no apology for the time I wasted calling my bank, no explanation for the mix-up. Very disappointing, since the food and ambience were actually decent and my party tipped very well, but I can't recommend this place now due to this very poor experience. Edit: Restaurant responded to this review on Opentable, asking me to call them and "discuss." They were extremely proactive about calling me to accuse me of not paying the bill, but it's funny that they won't exercise the same proactivity in resolving the situation. read more