Great date night restaurant in Palo Alto! My partner and I had a late dinner reservation at Sekoya on a Saturday night and were very impressed with the quality of the food. The hand made fettuccini and dry aged NY steak were both cooked perfectly. The healthy portion sizes were appreciated also, we had leftovers. Also get the bread pudding, you will not regret it! Fun dinner at Sekoya, we will be back. read more

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I came here with a friend's recommendation and reservation of 3 adults and 2 toddlers. I don't recommend coming without a reservation. When we arrived they were going to seat us on the patio and said inside was full. They were able to accommodate us and seat us on the back patio which was nice. The food was good but pricy and overall a bit too salty for us as we kept having to drink a lot of water. The service was excellent as the waiters frequently checked on us and refilled our water, wiped the table and cleared the plates. They were not very familiar with children so I don't think it's recommended for going with kids, as they took away my 2 year old's plate and cutlery and I needed to ask for it back so she could eat on something. They don't have baby plates/utensils available. They did have high chairs available. They box up food for you if you take home leftovers. Bathroom was nice. They should check that the fire extinguisher isn't blocked by any plants. read more

Came here to celebrate Mother's Day and thought most of the food was pretty good. We ordered tempura mushrooms ($16), octopus ($26), fries ($12), and the mustard greens salad ($19) to share. Tempura mushrooms were quite good and came with an addictive dipping sauce. The octopus was cooked well and I also really enjoyed the sauce it came with. Fries were as expected, and the salad sounded better on paper than it really was. I did enjoy the bits of grapefruit, but those pieces were far and few. For my main, I opted for the scallops ($46). The dish came with 3 scallops and they ranged in various sizes, so it didn't look very uniform. Although the scallops were cooked well, I thought the overall dish was a bit sweet, which is odd for a savory course. Desserts were hit or miss. I thought the teeny tiny cookies ($14) would be a fun thing to order, but they're nothing special. It's literally just a bowl of tiny cookies and not worth the $14 or the calories in my opinion. The butterscotch pudding ($16) was much better, although it too was a tiny portion. I combined the two together, and honestly enjoyed the cookies more that way. Our server was super friendly, but the timing between shareables and mains took way too long. They also never brought out my coffee until I reminded them, and even then I probably should have just cancelled it. However, our server brought out the bill before that happened, so I just decided to ask about it. In general, a bit pricey, but I guess you pay for the ambience. I also thought it was going to be more of an adult atmosphere, but there were some young kiddos running about (to be fair, it was Mother's Day). I'm all for taking kids out to eat, but these kids were flopping around and rolling on the ground, while another kid kept shining his bright light in our direction. It was a bit hectic. I do really like the lights hanging above the bar! They look cool and it was confirmed that they are flexible. read more

Come here after dinner for the cocktails, not the food. Grabbed dinner with a friend over the weekend, and the food was very disappointing. I've been here several times and recommended the spot as a solid option (my views have changed). The first disappointing dish was the app tuna tartare. Completely flavorless with little to no seasoning with run of the mill potato chips for dipping. In fairness, we also got oysters which were a bit small but good flavor. The real disappointment though came with one of the entrees. We ordered the NY strip 8 oz which, first of all, I guess we're the suckers for ordering that cut of meat and size FOR 58 DOLLARS. But hey, steak sounded good. It wasn't. The seasoning was fine but at one point we started laughing because the steak was so chewy we had to break mid convo to get down the bite. Along with a sad mushy mess of Swiss chard to complement, this was a rough dish. The service: strange. Our waiter was generally good, but not 60 seconds after ordering apps and drinks, he came back asking if we were ready to order entrees. Umm no, we've barely just sat down, let's pump the breaks. Later on, he came over and told us that the steak was ready, should he let it sit or bring it out. What? I've never gotten that question before. Yeah dude, bring out the food. Cocktails: the reason I gave this 3 stars and not less. Very solid option along Cal Ave to sit at the bar and have good drinks. read more

Granted, I was only here for a drink before my main dinner but I was so pleased by the quality service from our bartender and the delicious drink. My friend said the bartender (Jeana?) made it feel like she had all the time for us even though it was clear she had many cocktails to make. She made our drinks immediately upon ordering and the check came immediately upon asking. And this was on a busy Saturday night too. For drinks, I ordered the bear divine which was the smooth combination of bourbon honey and orange flavors. For the boozy old fashioned lover, I highly recommend! read more

Sekoya - Bear divide - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I came here for a work dinner on a Thursday (8 people) and was super impressed with Sekoya's menu and vibe! They are located right on California Ave. so it's very walkable. (NOTE: part of California Ave. is pedestrian only, and Sekoya is right in the middle of it. You will need to park a block or so away, however there is both street and garage parking nearby.) I arrived after a few people in our party, and we were seated a few minutes after our reservation time. We had a nice large table in the main dining room, close to the doorway to the bathrooms and private dining area. There are only a few tables in the dining room: hybrid booth and chair seating for around 30 people that can be mixed for groups, and a few low tables for 2 or 4. There is a large bar area as well, with low backed bar seats. I could see it being very busy on a Friday or Saturday, but I enjoyed the cozy and warm ambiance that came with fewer patrons during the week. Our group shared a few appetizers, and ordered individual entrees: *TUNA TARTARE (passion fruit vinaigrette, cucumber, mango, wonton chips): Really yummy and refreshing, but definitely too small to share between 8 people. I would like to try this again when I can really enjoy the flavors and multiple bites! *BURRATA (golden and red beets, saba, olive oil, toasted sliced almonds): simple and classic. I enjoyed it, but it was also hard to split with our larger group and didn't really stand out. *DOUBLE-FRIED TEMPURA MUSHROOMS (shimeji & oyster mushrooms, whipped tofu, yuzu, sweet soy, togarashi, chives): I'm normally not a mushroom person, but these were super tasty! They weren't overly battered/fried, and the flavor of the sauces and toppings was mind-blowing. I would definitely order these again! *BREAD SERVICE (hot out of the oven parker house rolls, served with cultured butter): I LOVE parker house rolls, and these were very good. Light and fluffy, and the butter combined with the fleck salt on top was delicious. You can also get whipped ricotta and mascarpone for a small charge ($3). *ROASTED SCALLOPS (day boat scallops, snap peas, parsnips puree, bacon jam, beurre blanc, chili crisp): These are incredible! The scallops were cooked to perfection, and I loved all of the elements of the dish from the sauce, to the jam, to the chili crisp. My only gripe is you get 3 scallops; I don't know if I could justify paying $15 per scallop if it was my own money. Personally I think it's worth trying, but I just don't know if I would order again knowing the portion size. *VIOGNIER Triennes "Saint Fleur," Provence, FR, 2023: A great wine, and paired nicely with the appetizers and scallops. Very floral (honeysuckle) and slightly fruity (peach), and overall bright and fresh. I'm glad I had a second round with my dinner! Since I was there with coworkers, I didn't snap as many photos as I normally would...so I definitely need a trip back with the #YEShusband soon! Overall, the amazing food and vibes were exactly what I was hoping to experience here-looking forward to returning! read more

Sekoya - Scallops - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Had our birthday celebration here. Service was wonderful! Loved that they have a back patio and a private room. Loved the ambiance. The bread was yummy. The pork dish was delicious. I also loved the bread pudding. Chicken liver was unique. It comes with banana bread donuts, which were not too sweet. And it was surprisingly delicious. read more

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I was looking for a nice, but relaxed place to meet some friends for dinner on Yelp and found Sekoya. We got a table on their nicely set up outdoor patio with outdoor style table and chairs (wooden slats). The service was very good, attentive, but not intrusive. Our meal was well prepared, presented and delicious. We ordered the following items, - Double-Fried Tempura Mushrooms, a generous portion of well seasoned shimeji and oyster mushrooms with a crispy tempura batter, but they were VERY oily - Crispy Prawns, had the same positives as the mushrooms, but they were also very oily - Truffle Fries were crispy and delicious - Sekoya Burger and Wild Salmon were the favorites of the evening - Chocolate Cake was a moist slice of cake with ice cream and raspberry sauce and a great way to end the meal. I'd include Sekoya on the list for a nice, casual and relaxed meal on California Street. read more

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This is a review for their happy hour, which they call Amber Hour, which happens Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 6pm and also Fridays & Saturdays from 4pm to 6pm at their bar and lounge areas only. I always love restaurants and bars that have happy hours on the weekends! This is a very cool, chic, and modern bar and restaurant in the heart of Palo Alto's California Avenue. Lots of dark tones and love the cool rope light fixture above the bar. Their cocktails are perfectly crafted and very creative. They go well with a variety of happy hour bites, including these briny soft oysters that feel like you can eat two dozen of them. The bartenders are very efficient and friendly, and even let me order another amber hour drink a little after the end time. read more

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If you're looking for exceptional service in Palo Alto, Sekoya is it. Marly was our hostess, and she truly elevated the entire experience. She was attentive without hovering, warm without being overbearing, just the perfect balance. When our 3-year-old decided he would only eat plain white rice, she didn't hesitate. She went out of her way to make it happen, which as a parent, meant everything. She also caught that the happy hour drink we received wasn't what we ordered and proactively followed up with the bartender to make it right, all without us even needing to press the issue. It's rare to experience service that feels both polished and genuinely caring. Marly made our early evening seamless. The ambiance at Sekoya is effortlessly laid back: refined but not pretentious. It's the kind of place where you can unwind after work with colleagues, enjoy a relaxed dinner with family, or simply linger over drinks with friends. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between lively and comfortable, making it easy to settle in and stay awhile. We'll absolutely be back. read more

Sekoya - Banana Daiquiri (humboldt spice rum, pairidaeza crème de banana, bitter lime cordial, lime) & Improved Naked & Famous (mezcal drink,) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

"Amber hour" aka happy hour, will knock $1 to $4 off select items from the regular menu, which is on the pricey side. So, deal wise, it's not blow your socks off. However, the food and service totally delivered here. We got the raw oysters, Sekoya burger, truffle fries, fried mushrooms, shishito, chicken and beef tongue skewers. Everything was delicious! The burger was super juicy and meaty. I also got the Sekoya clover club that looked really pretty, but I thought it tasted like medicine. Definitely recommended for some good eats, great service and ambiance. Just don't expect to walk away with a deal for happy hour: our tab still ended up being just shy of $50/pp pre tax and tip for one drink each and shared food. read more

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Went out to celebrate with a friend, and we were seeking exceptional cocktails -- this place did not disappoint. The appetizers were surprisingly great too, and made the evening so pleasant. I drank the Bear Divide and then the Black Butte while nibbling on the crudo, grilled octopus, Caesar salad, and truffle fries with my friend who raved about the Grapevine Cobbler. Our server was really thoughtful in giving us recommendations too! Can't wait to come back for a proper meal read more

Sekoya - Black Butte and truffle fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Food was solid but def pricey. Loved the cocktails and would come back again for drinks Tuna tartare ($27)- good and liked the passion fruit for a different taste from everywhere else but it's it really something I gotta get again maybe not Octopus - solid dish. no complaints Pork belly- solid but I've had better. Did like the sweet potato with it Scallops ($50)- 3 scallops so you're not gonna be very filled but this was our fav dish of the night. The bacon jam and chili crisp sauce on top gave it a unique flavor. Overall, the food was solid but pricey but prob in line for the area. Loved the drinks and wouldn't mind coming back to try their other cocktails read more

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The duck breast I got was so undercooked that I left half of it uneaten. I've had plenty of beautifully cooked medium rare duck breast over the years, so at first I thought I could stomach it, but nope. Relatedly; the duck skin was not rendered enough and as a result has a rubbery texture and the flavor was not intensified enough. I didn't complain to anyone because the space was so loud that I just felt like finishing quickly and leaving. Also we sat at the bar and the bartender was clearly overwhelmed most of the night; we had trouble waving him down even when we wanted more drinks. I don't think the team at Sekoya was generally incompetent or careless though. All other dishes were pretty good. And the bartender apologized a few times for the slow service and only ended up charging us one cocktail out of three we ordered - that was a nice gesture. Perhaps someone in the kitchen made a mistake. Also if I end up coming back and want a peaceful dinner where I can talk, I'll definitely sit outdoors. read more

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I was a little suspicious of how pretty the decor of this place was. Happily, these suspicions were misplaced: the food here is lovely. The tuna tartare with plantain chips is a surprisingly delicious combination, the tempura shimeji/oyster mushroom combination with whipped tofu and yuzu is possibly even better, and the whipped ricotta/mascarpone mix served with the bread is delightful. For the main course, the chicken dish is prepared in a classically French style, served with delicious mashed potatoes and chicken jus. I did not particularly care for the salmon and quinoa dish - quinoa feels like it belongs with the healthy food trend of the 2010s. The braised short rib (?) pasta was nice, but the mains contain a few too many pasta dishes now for my taste. The restaurant is fitted out with a lovely dark green colour palette and tasteful furniture, but I must admit I'm perturbed by the porcelain dinner plates that have been made to look like wood. Yes, I get that the name Sekoya is probably an homage to the great sequoia trees, but even the convicts that the British shipped to Australia switched from wooden dishware to porcelain at the first opportunity. read more

Sekoya - Roasted chicken, braised short rib pasta, salmon and quinoa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Brioche starter bread was fantastic - could have just eaten a couple loafs of that and skipped dinner. All of the dishes we tasted great - except using plantains for the tuna tare tare was a bit unwieldy and had a weird mix of flavor. Drinks were pretty good as well. It'll be busy during dinner time but you can take a stroll in the area and come back when the spot opens up, they'll hold it for ya. read more

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Stumbled upon Sekoya while walking through downtown the area and was pleasantly surprised. Though I didn't try the food, the experience was memorable just from the drinks and the staff alone. The restaurant has a moody, mid-century modern feel--perfect for a date night! I loved the Almond Blossom, a vodka-based drink with amaretto that was on the sweeter side, refreshing, and beautifully balanced. The Yuzual, a gin-based cocktail with yuzu citrusy-bitter note. I'm already looking forward to coming back for more drinks and to try the food. read more

Sekoya - May 2025: Almond Blossom (left) & The Yuzual (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Came here with my boyfriend for our anniversary and it was our first time checking this place out. I totally loved the vibes, very modern, cool interior with a great atmosphere. Parking was pretty easy. There's a lot nearby, plus a parking garage. Service was great! The staff was super friendly and attentive the whole time. The food was amazing! Every dish we ordered was on point and beautifully presented. We got the Oysters, Prime NY Strip, Steelhead Trout, Fried Tempura Mushrooms, and Kanpachi Crudo. For drinks, I got the Tropical Nights which has rice washed tequila, mango, Thai basil, bitter lime cordial and creamed sake foam (10/10) then my bf got the Bear Divide which has honeycomb cereal infused bourbon, barenjager, dry curaçao and orange bitters. Everything was honestly worth ordering. I'm a big snacker, so I really enjoyed the double fried tempura mushrooms as an appetizer. Definitely planning to come back again for another special occasion! read more

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The space here is really nice; stylish but still feels cozy and comfortable. Service was friendly and laid-back, which I appreciated. We started with the tempura mushrooms and the tomato and watermelon salad. Both were solid. The mushrooms were crispy and satisfying, and the salad was fresh and light. My friend had the vegan gnocchi and really liked it, soft pasta, good texture. I went with the duck breast over noodles. The flavor was great, but the duck was a little underdone for my taste. Still enjoyable overall. read more

Rented out the back room and patio area for an event and it was great. Service was good, drinks were delicious. I wish they would have asked if we wanted to pack up the food at the end of the meal instead of discarding it, but everything was good otherwise. Looking forward to hosting more events here! read more

Came here for a belated birthday dinner with my family and the restaurant definitely had that upscale feel! I was a little concerned about the seating arrangements, since it wasn't clear in the Yelp photos, but they DO have regular seats. The bar is SUPER nice, very sexy vibes, and can totally see this as a great hang out spot with friends both for dates or casually with a group given the variety of different seating options. The staff were incredibly nice, and the food was a hit with the whole family. It was super reasonable and their version of parker rolls were yum! Definitely will come back soon! read more

Generally a pleasant visit for a birthday dinner. Service was good but could improve in some areas. Dishes are generally creative in appetizers and ok on entrees. First, service: 1. We ran late, so I called to push out the reservation from 6:30 to 7pm and the host made the accommodation right away. - Great! 2. Our server was friendly and gave good recommendations. He gave us a tip that they were also hosting a 40 people private dining, so if we didn't put our first round of order in, we would have to wait 40 minutes. His recommendation of the cocktail was also good. - Great! 3. Bus service needs some training. We were finishing up the appetizers and our plates were being taken away while I was working on the last dish. This happened again when we were working on the main dishes. - Embarrassing! 4. The lady who brought us dishes was great in taking pictures for the family. She took multiple from different angles and they all looked great. - Great! Secondly, food: I'm particularly interested in their Starters as they look quite interesting. - Double fried tempura mushrooms (shimeji & oyster mushrooms, whipped tofu, yuzu, sweet soy, togarashi, chives): super good! Mostly you can't go wrong with fried food, but the volume of the dish is another pleasant surprise. We all rated this number one, our most favorite. - Grilled Quail (caramelized figs, pickled mushrooms, chicken jus): this is a disappointment. I was expecting more quail than 4 tiny drums. The caramelized figs were too sweet and the pickled mushrooms were too sour. It's probably ok if you eat the fig and mushroom in the same bite but it's not how we ate the dish, so the pickled mushroom was a big shock to the palette. The quail legs were also too cooked. - Chicken Liver Mousse (banana bread doughnuts, mixed fruit compote, cherry): this is an interesting dish and we all liked it. The fried doughnuts were kids favorite but my delight rests on the sauce, which was made from the chicken liver mousse and elevated by the sweetness from fruits. I was debating if I should order some bread and wipe up the sauce from the plate. - Grilled Spanish Octopus (romesco sauce, Jimmy nardello peppers, roasted potatoes): this dish is spicy from the sauce though the grilled peppers were not. The amount of octopus was frugal compared to the $24 price tag. The octopus was tender but slightly overcooked. - Spring Mix (peaches, grapes, candied pecans, balsamic vinaigrette, goat cheese): a good balanced fresh salad. I did not find any peach, but the greens were very fresh. I was happy with this dish. - roasted duck breast (noodles, carrots, bok choy, paprika): this dish is ok but it's more like a Chinese chow mein than a upscale roasted duck dish. The duck portion was good and cooked to just right. The noodle is el dente texture and the dish tasted fine, probably costs less than $38 in an Asian restaurant though. :) - Housemade fettuccine (prawns, alfredo sauce, parmesan cheese): this dish was good! The prawns were fresh, cooked to a bouncy texture, the fettuccine was not soggy, the sauce was heavy in parmesan cheese flavor. - Beef Tongue Skewer: one skewer with 4 pieces of beef tongue cubes. The teriyaki flavor was great and the texture was soft and juicy. $14 is a bit pricey but the flavor won. - California Oasis (gin, elderflower, chareau, bitter lime cordial, lemon, orange, egg white): a hefty $19 for cocktail! I asked our waiter against Almond Blossom which one is less sweet and he recommended California Oasis. The egg white foam on the top was good, consistent and thick. Thirdly, ambiance: This place is bigger than I thought! Other than outdoor seating in the front, you would pass the main room with dining tables on one side and a bar on the other. They have a very neat looking long wood table with a sliding edge for party of 6. They can also setup a long table for a big party. We were led to walk pass the main hall, pass the kitchen and then almost like a U shape, we were led to the other side of a smaller room with smaller size parties. At the back there's another long room for private group setting. The overall tone of decoration is casual and a bit dark. Overall we were happy with the meal, good quality of meal and attentative service. The only big dent on the score was the dish busing service was a bit too aggressive. It's ok to wait a bit, you know....:) read more

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So glad we bumped into this place. Needed a quick drink & they had a cute bar. Looks like a spot to take a date or have a girls night. It was dim but that's how we want it at night right? Glass of your choice and have a conversation type of place. Our bartender was friendly and recommended this smooth tequila that didn't need any backs. Definitely would come back to try their food out. read more

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A vibrant, classy place for cocktails with mocktails that were delicious and well-crafted.

Sekoya is one of the best restaurants I've stumbled upon. It's a Japanese fusion restaurant and though I'm generally a bit skeptical of fusion, we were blown away by most of the dishes we ordered, and by the quality of the service. We called ahead to snag a last minute bar reservation on Saturday night and feeling adventurous, ordered some of their most popular dishes. Chicken thigh skewers - some of the best I've had; juicy and had a great charred and umami flavor. Wish we ordered another! Grilled octopus - my favorite of the night and surpassed all expectations by far. I've never had grilled octopus and this is now my favorite way to consume octopus. Tender and satisfying texture, extremely flavorful and great with the crispy potatoes. Tempura mushrooms - I don't like mushrooms but these are good, everyone on yelp raves about them. Chicken liver mousse - ingredient list: "banana bread doughnuts" "figs" "chicken liver mousse". A lot of creative liberties were taken here, but in this household we support that and so we ordered it. I really wanted this to work and it did, but barely. The flavors of banana and chicken almost cancel each other out. Texturally, the doughnuts were also quite dense and doughy. Parker house rolls - perfect marriage of a croissant and a butter roll. Crispy on the outside and fluffy, and soft on the inside. Absolutely delicious. Salad - 10/10 no notes. Cabbage + Grapefruit + edamame + citrusy sesame dressing. I really appreciate when restaurants put effort into salad and it's not a soggy spring mix I could buy from Costco. This was super yummy. Beef tongue skewer - i don't really like beef tongue but i think this was great, very soft Chocolate cake - fantastic vanilla gelato, but just get the butterscotch pudding or the sundae. The quality and taste of the cake was rather mid compared to everything else. Service is amazing!! Everyone was so attentive and kind. This place puts a lot of care into everything they do. Honestly the food might be 4.5 stars but service is definitely 5. read more

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I had one of the best burgers of my life right here (get the bacon jam). Juicy smash burger with the perfect crisp, and the bacon jam elevates it to the stars. Half of my burger was stolen by my companion and I'm still a little mad about it more than a week later, but I guess what's done is done. We also tried poached shrimp and cocktails, and they were really good. I just don't remember a whole lot because the burger dominated my thoughts for the rest of the night. read more

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Come to Sekoya if you're looking for a date night, a girls night, or for a team dinner! I've been to this restaurant before and remembered I loved it so I was excited when I was coming back again! My girls and I came on a Friday night and it was packed. So make sure to make reservations ahead of time! Everyone dining was either on a date, doing some girls night, or a work dinner. Vibes here were cozy, and intimate. Service was also attentive despite how many people were there. Food and drinks were great too. I liked that the menu is concise and succinct. It helps narrow down choices for me. THE FOOD - Warm bread: 5/5 SMELLS AMAZING. TASTED AMAZING. So warm and fluffy. This is a MUST get. - Tempura Mushrooms: 5/5 this was my fave appetizer. The tofu sauce paired amazingly well with the crispy tempura mushrooms. Definitely get this as well. - Fried Chicken: 4/5 so so juicy and crispy. Knocked down 1 star bc it wasn't super unique compared to a good ol' fried chicken shop w/ sweet and sour sauce. And for $30? Maybe pass on this for something else. Overall a very well rounded spot for dinner! read more

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We had a large group here in the patio where it was nice and cozy with the heaters. Although the menu was smallish, we found nice dishes for everyone's taste. Here is what we ordered: - mushrooms tempura 5/5 - popcorn 3/5 - mustard and cabbage salad 5/5 - burrata 5/5 - fries 5/5 - beets 3/5 - halibut 4/5 - tbone steak 4/5 - fried chicken 4/5 Service was excellent. They kept refilling our tea pots. The teas are from tea leaves and not tea bags. We really enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and service. We will come back for another party again. read more

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Sekoya is more than just a restaurant--it's a space designed to renew the social spirit, elevate your dining, and impress all your senses. A few months ago, I visited for a friend's birthday, and we were blown away by the ambiance--cozy yet upscale, creating the perfect blend of comfort and sophistication. (Sorry for the late review, hehe!) Here's what we ordered: Oysters Bread Service Burrata Espresso Martinis Gnocchi Melon and Tomato Salad Tropical Nights Great for date night and celebrations. Price point is a bit steep, but you're also paying for the environment. If I lived closer, I'd come back often just for the amazing bread and espresso martinis during happy hour. Overall, we had a great experience and I'd recommend this restaurant in Palo Alto! read more

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The environment and service are great, but I'd only give the food two stars. The bread was the best item. Other dishes looked nice, but the flavors didn't come together well and the seasoning felt very basic. The mashed potatoes tasted like they were store-bought read more

Sekoya has been on our list for a while, and we were finally able to make it for a birthday celebration. They made it special from the start, giving us a personalized menu with 'happy birthday'. The inside of the restaurant has a cool vibe to it, so if you're looking for something more special I'd recommend that. Otherwise the heated covered patio is a great option. Their cocktail program is extensive and absolutely fantastic. But the food, that is where the magic is happening. We started with the tuna tartare- fresh, classic. The plantain chips give it a nice flavor. The crispy prawns were over a bed of papaya salad and spicy mayo- a balance of sweet, spicy and crunchy in each bite. For mains, we had to try their burger. This 6oz patty was flavored in I don't know what, but it was easily one of our top burgers of the year. The side of truffle French fries were a classic but could be skipped. The roasted scallops were large, perfectly cooked over polenta and topped with bacon jam. If I could have licked my plate I would have. A MUST get was, yes, the beef tongue skewer. Our waiter told us it would be his last meal so naturally we had to try it. It was absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. We will definitely be ordering it again. To celebrate the meal (and our birthday), we got the mini crispy chocolate chip cookies with a side of vanilla ice cream. The perfect pairing to end an amazing meal. There are so many other good options on the menu we cannot wait to come back! read more

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My super cute girlfriend and I wanted to try someplace that both of us haven't tried before and she helped to find Sekoya. Parking was convenient, close and free! We walked in without reservations and they were able to seat us in the back room which was perfect because it was quiet and secluded so we could have private conversations. After chatting with the sommelier, we ordered a bottle of Nebbiolo Vietti Perbacco, the chicken liver mousse, french fries, and the short rib plate. We both were surprised with chicken liver because we like the taste of how it is normally prepared. We weren't prepared for blackberries, but the surprise was kinda nice. The short rib entree was marinated well, but was tough to chew and so dry so I couldn't eat it, but I took it home for leftover fried rice. The service was great! They kept checking on us and filling our glasses so that we didn't have to fill it for ourselves. The restroom was clean and private. read more

Sekoya is a really nice new American spot on Cal Ave. It has a great vibe, good drinks, and solid food and service. I especially like the Parker House rolls -- probably the best I've had. They're warm, buttery, and super satisfying. I've also enjoyed the hanger steak, salmon, and fish dishes -- all well done and flavorful without being too heavy. A good place to go for a relaxed but polished dinner. read more

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Service was the shining star of our night. My husband made reservations for dinner to catch up with friends. It would be a total of 7 - 4 adults and 3 babies that would need high chairs. My husband also asked if we could sit at the community size tree table and not only were we able to get the table but the table was already set up with the three high chairs ready for us to rock and roll. We order the large bread service for the table. Warm and delicious, easy starter. For the other other choices: Starters Hamachi crudo - it was a smaller dish to share, wish the slices were bigger Popcorn - really easy and fun sharable snack Dinner Fried Chicken - 3 pieces, easy to share Short Rib - a bit salty but overall was very tender Our friends ordered the rib eye to share. More fat than they would have liked but they said it was pretty tasty. Dessert Cookies - it was giving bougie cookie crisps (millenials will know what i mean). It was ok, easy to share - literally a bowl of little chocolate chip bites. Overall the food was a 4 out of 5 but it was the service and cocktails that I would bring me back. I'm a dirty martini girl and when I asked for extra dirty - they delivered. read more

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Found this place on a whim for a Friday night Happy Hour which they refer to as Amber Hour. Amber Hour can only be held outdoors, at the bar or in the lounge area, which was not a problem at all given the weather happened to be so nice. It was the perfect place for it. The cocktails and food selection was had a great balance of options and allowed you to pair with regular menu items which were equally delicious. We got the popcorn, fried mushrooms, and smash burgers with bacon jam. The popcorn was such a perfect combination of flavors, sweet and spicy. The fried mushrooms paired well with the white cream sauce, but were just a tad stale, less crunch. The smash burgers were a pleasant surprise as it definitely is filling and packed with flavor. The jam really brings it to a whole other level. My only tad 0.5 deduction was that the buns were burnt a bit inside and underneath and it took quite awhile for them to come out. Otherwise it was perfect! In addition we had the bread from the regular menu. It was THE HIGHLIGHT. So good that we had to order another one! Perfect for kids to share too! We also ordered the gnocchi which was also a wonderful blend of fresh flavors. The cocktails definitely throw a punch. Be ready to be tipsy after one whole drink. They pair nicely with the food offerings! The desserts were just okay and can use some improvement, the pannacotta was a little flavorless, cookies were a bit too buttery, but all in all it was still nice. Above all, the service was kind and thoughtful. We didn't feel rushed and really enjoyed our time! We would highly recommend this place to a leisurely hangout or night out. read more

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We had a post-holiday company dinner at Sekoya and they were able to accommodate a group of 22 people in the enclosed back patio area. The food was delicious and plentiful and we had a really nice 3 course meal and celebratory dinner. read more

Sat here at the bar last night for diner and was really impressed. the two bartenders were both really knowledgeable about their cocktail menu (and had the dinner menu memorized as well). The cocktails themselves were quite tasty, a good riff on a black Manhattan, a cachasa & mescal with just a bit of spicy. Food was also excellent. We tried the chicken liver pate with donuts, a very fun combo of sweet and savory! We had a skewer of beef tongue, which was super tender and very beefy. We had the smash burger and trufffle fries, also top notch. I'm extrapolating that we're going to need to come back and try one of the big meat dishes soon! Atmosphere: very hip and open indoor space, kind of airy vs just cramming tables together. Between here and Son of Wolf across the street, a very good pair of cocktail bars! read more

We got the Sekoya Milk Punch and California Oasis, and it was divine! Great ambiance, love the mood lighting of the "shoelaces." Definitely caught our eye as we were walking around. Not too crowded. read more

I came here for a birthday dinner and was disappointed by both the service and the food, especially given the high price. The service was mediocre, and the food was underwhelming and overpriced. They charged over $123 without tax/ tip/ service fee per person, yet the portions were so small that the cost felt completely unjustified. Some of us did not even get to try any of the appetizers even though they should have gave enough or at least enough for 1 per person if they're charging per head. We even had 1 less person but paid for an extra person and still did not have enough food. It seemed like they reduced the amount of food while increasing the price due to the preset menu and an additional event fee. If we had been able to order à la carte, we would have gotten more food for a lower price. As for the food itself, it was not great. We had quail, bread, mushrooms, salad, steak, halibut, and a chocolate banana pudding-like dessert. The entire party of over 25 people agreed that the halibut was extremely dry. Everything else was just okay, but the steak was served cold. The drinks were good, but at $19 per cocktail, the pricing was excessive. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place for a party. read more

Sekoya - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Great service, delicious food, simple menu. A bit pricey but worth it for the quality and novelty. Intimate setting with luxe interior decor. Didn't try the drinks but seems like there are plenty of good options read more

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