Diners' Choice: Californian restaurants in Peninsula

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Californian cuisine in Peninsula? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Ethel's Fancy

4.9

4.9 (510)

$50 and over

Californian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

A hip and fun restaurant with chef's counter dining, serving thoughtful American cuisine, with an emphasis on local seasonal products.

Ethel's Fancy is open at 5 PM Tuesday - Saturday.

We have a small dining room with a limited amount of reservable tables. We do keep our Bar seats and a table in the restaurant open for people to walk-ins. Walk-ins are on a first come basis.

Please do not make multiple reservations with the intention of combining reservations to increase party size.

All guests must be present before your party will be seated.

To help provide a seamless experience for all our guests, we have allocated 2-hours for your group of 2 to 4 people.

Top review

MaheshVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent food and service. Thanks to the chef, Micky and our waiter Leandro. Everything was superb. Probably top restaurants here in Palo Alto

Parkside Grille

4.8

4.8 (1845)

$31 to $50

Californian

Portola Valley

About the restaurant

Discover the rustic charm of our cozy, California restaurant, tucked among the towering redwoods of Portola Valley! Where every dish and drink tells a story, and every gathering is a celebration. Reserve your table now for an unforgettable dining experience filled with warmth and flavor!

We proudly use only the highest-quality, organic produce from our local farms to serve you. For a taste of some of our most popular dishes, we recommend our Wood-Oven Baked Goat Cheese and our Asian Angus Skirt Steak.

Family-owned & operated since 2000.

Top review

lisaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Beautiful bar area with perfect service and excellent food. What more could you ask for?

West Park Bistro

4.7

4.7 (700)

$30 and under

Californian

San Carlos

About the restaurant

West Park Bistro is nestled in the heart of downtown San Carlos & is built on the principle of solely using fresh local produce. The newly-founded establishment boasts an award winning wine collection designed to compliment a contemporary menu, exclusively using the most satisfactory hand cuts of meat & seafood. Chef James's vision encompasses a genre of cuisine that endorses the most sophisticated form of dining. The warm atmosphere & quaint design supplies the ideal destination for brunch, lunch or dinner. The grand Wine Cellar is quintessential for corporate or private events.

Top review

Kerri

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Only thing upsetting was they advertise on the website a happy hour that didn't exist, it was one reason we chose the place for our 10 employees

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Experience

Book your next private party with us!

Dinah's Poolside Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (814)

$30 and under

Californian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant offers indoor and heated outdoor dining in a relaxing environment overlooking the pool. Private dining is also available in our Fireside Room or private Lanai patio.

This casual restaurant is renowned by locals for a hearty breakfast and lunch-time favorites. In the evening, Chef Gerardo Naranjo elevates the experience with steak and seafood classics.

Fresh, seasonal and local. We offer the highest quality cage free eggs, sustainable produce and free range meats sourced locally whenever possible.

For over 55 years we have been serving the Palo Alto area with great service, consistent food, and hand squeezed orange juice!

Top review

Susan

Dined on Dec 2, 2024

Our waiter was excellent. He remembered everyone's order in our group of 5 with no notes and everything came correctly! Food was hot that was supposed to be hot. The salads were gorgeous.

Roja Los Altos

4.6

4.6 (868)

$31 to $50

Californian

Los Altos

About the restaurant

Roja, located in the heart of downtown Los Altos gives a Fine/Casual dining experience, offering seasonal California ingredients prepared by using classic French/Italian/Spanish cooking techniques.

Food and family are most important to us so please, let us take care of you as family and prepare you a meal from our hearts.
Bon Apetit!

Top review

Christian

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Great food, service, polite, clean, value commensurate with quality & ambience.

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Experience

Christmas Eve Dinner

Twelvemonth

4.6

4.6 (586)

$31 to $50

Californian

Burlingame

About the restaurant

At Twelvemonth, our approach begins with passion and respect for people and the planet.

Everyone can play a part in imagining a healthier, more sustainable world. Our role is to bring people together with delicious, 100% plant-based food.

Our passion and respect have driven us to craft a culinary destination to suit every occasion: from your morning coffee to a happy hour beer at the bar to an eight-course tasting menu.

We source from local farmers, champion waste reduction, and push the boundaries of vegetable-first
creativity.

Twelvemonth exists to foster genuine connections. It’s a place where we share compelling stories and aim
to build a better future together—one that works in closer, tastier harmony with the environment.

Top review

AfshinVIP

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

best vegan restaurant in the bay area from food to service to atmosphere

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Experience

Chef's Counter - 7 Course Tasting Menu

Oak + Violet - Park James Hotel

4.7

4.7 (830)

$31 to $50

Californian

Menlo Park

About the restaurant

Welcome to Oak + Violet where the vibrant spirit of California's Culinary creativity meets the craft cuisine. Tucked away in the heart of Menlo Park.
From farm-fresh salads bursting with seasonal produce to succulent seafood caught.
And let's not forget about the drinks! Our carefully curated selection of local wines, craft beers, and artisanal cocktails reflects the innovative spirit of California's beverage scene.
Oak + Violet is a gathering place where friends and foodies come together to celebrate the flavors, the culture, and the community that make California so special.

Come and Enjoy the Oak + Violet Experience

Top review

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Loved everything about this visit! Our server Jackie was absolutely lovely and so kind and on point with all her recommendations. We can’t wait to come back!

Cascade at Costanoa

4.4

4.4 (367)

$31 to $50

Californian

Pescadero

About the restaurant

Cascade at Costanoa uses local, organic, and handcrafted ingredients in its offering of fresh California coastal cuisine. Cascade maintains Costanoa's commitment to sustainability by working with local family farms, organic growers, and sustainable/fair trade producers in order to present you with fresh, delicious food made from the best and most responsibly sourced ingredients possible. Cascade's menu is updated seasonally to include freshly harvested ingredients from nearby farms as well as Costanoa's own organic farm, so please check back with us to see what's new!

Top review

Margery

Dined 3 days ago

Our experience at The Cascade Restaurant was totally outstanding, from the moment the reservation was made, to the Costanoa entrance, the warm greeting, the seating, cocktail suggestions, menu review and then the food, which was stunning fabulous, this restaurant deserves high praise. There was a bit of time between our appetizer and main course but the comfort of the surroundings made for extended conversation, magnifying the joy and beauty of spending time on the rural coast of California. Each entre was presented beautifully, the food temperature, seasoning and taste was beyond good. While enjoying the incrediably wonderful dining experience, our observations of the serving and bartending staff showed refreshing professionalism. What a great place for a great meal.

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Popular dish

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Mistral Restaurant & Bar - Redwood City

4.4

4.4 (1315)

$30 and under

Californian

Redwood City

About the restaurant

Mistral’s California cuisine focuses on serving the best local ingredients available. Mistral is a destination restaurant for anniversaries & birthdays, and has an off-the-beaten-path ambiance with year-‘round patio dining and water views, an outdoor fireplace, and plenty of outside heaters. Two private rooms and the covered patio are available for private dining, business dinners, banquets, cocktail parties, weddings, and special events.

A note on waterfront tables:

WE DO NOT ACCEPT RESERVATIONS
We kindly ask that you and your party follow our dining limit of 1 hour and 30 minutes on our waterfront tables.
Your time limit starts from your reservation time.

Top review

Yvonne

Dined 4 days ago

Beautiful quiet evening with excellent service and wonderful food

Quattro Restaurant and Bar - Four Seasons Hotel

4.2

4.2 (1400)

$30 and under

Californian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Discover Quattro, the go-to dining spot in Palo Alto at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, where Italian flavors blend with California's fresh, seasonal ingredients. Known among locals and visitors alike, Quattro offers an upscale yet inviting atmosphere, ideal for date nights, business meals, and social gatherings in the heart of Silicon Valley. With expertly crafted dishes, an extensive California wine list, and signature cocktails, every meal is a culinary experience to remember. If you're searching for the best Palo Alto restaurants or a standout dining experience near Stanford, Quattro is your perfect choice.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

We visited for a birthday dinner. We booked an indoor seat because it was cold, but the outdoor seat was already full term. The food was generally delicious and the service was satisfactory. It was a perfect evening except for the surprise that the family of the side table made a few loud noises in the middle. At first, I made a reservation at 6:30 a.m. by mistake, but I was so embarrassed because it was no-show.

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