Palo Alto Restaurants

Palo Alto restaurant reviews

View all Palo Alto restaurant reviews

Restaurant Zibibbo
Mar 16, 2008 by Babs from San Jose
Overall Rating: 7
Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[4]

• Tasty food, if fresh.
• Horrific customer service.

“Zibbios throughout the years, I have spent 1000s of dollars between Lulus in S.F and Zibbios I Palo Alto. Tonight, they have seen my last dollar. While the food is good and the atmosphere trendy, the philosophy of the restaurant is to try to pocket as much money as they can from the costumer. We ordered 1 appetizer, 2 salads, 4 entrees, drinks, cappuccinos and 2 deserts. We have been to the restaurants in Palo Alto and San Francisco, a multitude of times for both personal and private parties, so we know that they are known for serving things family style. Our server, who was very efficient, reinforced that the entrees were served family style. I believe that family style, mean that you share the entrée and take a portion of it to put on your plate. Our party of 4 did just that, aside from my sister-in-law, who has food allergies, the 3 of us shared each dish. One delicious bite after another, we all agreed how good the food was until we tasted the salmon. We all curtained that it tasted very bad and could not eat it. I told the server that it wasnt good at all, and he offered us something else off the menu, as any good server would do. We took him up on the offer and ordered a more expensive dish. When, it was time for the check, he sheepishly disclosed that we had been charged for the salmon and the additional dish (which we would, naturally pay for) but that the manager would not subtract the salmon from the bill. We asked for the manager, who told us it was company policy to charge you for the entrée if half of portion was missing from the plate. If 3 people are sharing the plate, how would half of it be left on the plate to begin with? At no point did someone come out to apologize or to examine our individual plates, if they had, they would have discovered that the salmon was pushed aside. Have they hired someone to examine each plate that is returned to the kitchen via the bus boys and how much of each family style dinner they have actually consumed? The management and owner actually expected us to pay for a dinner that was not eaten? After all, the server offered to replace it, as he should have. He did the right thing. The manager argued with us and told us about this ludicrous policy, his manner very abrupt and rude. He told us the owner checked with the chef to see if the fish was good and the chef said it was. Therefore, we had to pay for the salmon. Did the chef actually taste the leftovers? We refused to pay for the salmon and just wanted to pay for the replacement dish that we all enjoyed. On the way out, I saw the owner; I told her how disappointed I felt about being treated so poorly and that she lost several customers over a $25.00 salmon dinner. All I can say is that she didnt want to admit that she was the owner and when she finally did, she tried to say something about the fish being fresh. I wasnt looking for any freebies, we had just spent a wad, an apology would have been appropriate. Instead, she began to defend the right to rip off the customers. So I will assume that they knew the fish wasnt fresh and served it anyways (the worst), or that it was frozen and not truthfully advertised or that they just dont care about their customers. As far as I am concerned all of it is insulting. Shame on you!”

Restaurant Zibibbo
Oct 5, 2007 by michael from los altos
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[6] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[4]

• The restaurant is nice end big.
• Is expensive.

“The chef is really mean person that I knew.”

University Coffee Co
Jun 30, 2007 by SS from Menlo Park, CA
Overall Rating: 1
Food:[3] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[1]

• Looks cute on the outside.
• Service.

“Bad service! The manager and wait staff have attitude. Food was ok--once I received it. It took over an hour to receive my food, and it wasn't served as ordered. Other customer received their food a lot faster. Poor customer service! Spend your money somewhere else!”

La Bodeguita Del Medio
Jun 5, 2007 by Karen from Palo Alto
Overall Rating: 10
Food:[9] • Service:[9] • Atmosphere:[8]

• Excellent food. Good service, atmosphere.
• Pricey, recommend reservations, always busy. Parking can be difficult.

“Great Cuban food. Very good selection with specials daily. Pricey. Great omits! Busy, busy. Need reservations to guarantee a table. Bar area. Very good service; friendly, timely...”

German Elbe's Food
Nov 17, 2006 by Eric from Mountain View, CA
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[9] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[7]

• Great food, good service.
• Closes early so space can re-open as nightclub.

“Only been there once so far. My wife had spatula with vegetables, I had roulade. Both were great. We also had potato pancakes (very good, if a touch oily). Didn't have time for dessert as we got there late the restaurant had a gentleman there playing traditional German tunes on an electronic (!) Accordion. It was pleasant and unobtrusive. Ambiance is nice, though a little surprising since the room is largely a dance floor and a bar. When the restaurant is open they place tables on the floor, and hang a couple of chandeliers. In spite of this curious arrangement, the space is quite pleasant. Bathrooms are a surprise though, as they are shared with the bar (Rudy¿s pub?) Next door. As my wife put it, going there is like going to another planet. Overall we liked it a lot, and look forward to going back.”