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Rara, Palo Alto, CA

Rara

4.5
4.5
29 Reviews
$30 and under
Nepalese

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
  • Great for brunch
  • Good for business meals
  • Charming
Rara, a charming Nepalese restaurant located in Palo Alto, California, derives its name from the breathtaking Rara Lake in Nepal. This enchanting lake, known for its pristine beauty and serene surroundings, serves as an inspiration for our culinary journey.

Just as Rara Lake captivates all who visit with its natural allure, our restaurant aims to captivate your senses with the irresistible flavors of Nepal. Our commitment to providing authentic Nepalese food with a modern touch is a tribute to the authenticity and beauty of Rara Lake, and we invite you to experience the harmony of tradition and innovation in every dish we serve. Come dine at Rara and embark on a culinary adventure that carries the spirit and name of Nepal’s stunning Rara Lake.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Nepalese
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed–Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (650) 485-1055
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 29 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Peninsula

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rara offers a delightful Nepali dining experience with "great food" and a "cozy atmosphere." Highlights include the "melt-in-your-mouth momos" and "rich and deep flavors." The restaurant is praised for its "exceptional service" and accommodating staff. While service can be slow during peak times, the overall experience is memorable and inviting.

29 Reviews
  1. Decker

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I consider Rara quite a find. The food was delicious, mildly spiced as we asked, and authentic - we'd never had dishes like these before. The Momo dumplings were special. The goat was deliciously prepared as were all the side dishes. The service was cheerful and prompt and unobtrusive. We enjoyed the paintings and lighting fixtures. A most enjoyable experience.

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  2. Carrie

    San Francisco

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on December 31, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Great food and outstanding food. We will return with family and friends!

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  3. Ryan

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tried Rara for the first time with my family. I’ve had Nepali food before, they have not. All of us enjoyed Rara. Service is casual, so it can take a bit of time to flag down a waiter, but it’s on par with other similar restaurants. Cozy ambience. Some of the food is very spicy, and not always clearly marked as such, so definitely ask before you commit. Standouts for us were the gorkhali lamb shank (fell off the bone and the rice was great too), the momos (we didn’t think there was a need to get the sizzler, so we just got the regular momos), and the very spicy mushroom chhoila. We also enjoyed the goat taas (also pretty spicy) and the paratha. The lassi was also good (and helpful with the spicier food). We didn’t try the curries but they also looked very good; it seems like they do a really good job with slow cooked meats or really anything that has to braise/simmer. Definitely a good place to order family style so that you can try everything (they don’t make it obvious that you can do it that way). Flavors were rich and deep, but the food wasn’t overly heavy either - really well-cooked. Will definitely go back!

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  4. Alison

    San Francisco

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Interesting and delicious Nepali-spice flavor profiles, well-cooked tasty food, with a range of vegetable dishes also (harder to find). Will definitely go back. Service was good, friendly and with that family run feeling.

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  5. Brian

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 27, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Very promising beginning for this new restaurant. We sampled the chickin momo, himalayan salad, lamb shank, and cauliflower. Table favorite was the cauliflower, but everything we tasty. Everyone was nice, but service and ordering were a work in progress. We look forward to returning.

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  6. Sush

    VIP

    San Francisco

    34 reviews

    2.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on October 26, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    It was just Ok for us. We wanted to love it! One dish was Amazing and completely baffled our tastebuds in a good way, but others that followed it were very Meh :/ service was spotty, there were only 2 servers helping the wholedining room, so I’m sure they were doing the best that they could. We wouldn’t go back in a hurry.

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  7. Kellie

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 11, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a big party (20ppl) so I’m understand that the service would be slower. However it took over an hour and a half for our entrees to come out and one person’s entree didn’t even make it out. We also found some of the chicken undercooked. Other than this, everything else was great.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 4, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food! There is something for everyone (meat, veg, gluten free, etc). Don’t miss the cauliflower appetizer!
    RaraResponded on October 8, 2024
    Thank you for the 5-star review! We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again soon.

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  9. Sunil

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 29, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ordered the paneer wrap, jhol veg momos and veg chow mein. The paneer wrap was good. Everything else was just average. Quite average compared to other nepali places I’ve been to in the area
    RaraResponded on October 8, 2024
    Thank you for sharing your feedback, Sunil. While we’re glad you enjoyed the paneer wrap, we’re sorry to hear that the other dishes didn’t meet your expectations. We appreciate your input and will use it to improve our offerings. We hope you’ll give us another try in the future.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. sunita

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 27, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The food quality was not at all good. Our waiter was good…
    RaraResponded on October 8, 2024
    Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the food didn’t meet your expectations, but we’re pleased you had a positive experience with our service. We appreciate your input and will work to improve the quality of our dishes. We hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Rara is rated 4.5 stars by 29 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
Google Map for Rara

201 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed–Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Nepalese
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
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