Best Romantic Restaurants in Portola Valley

36 restaurants available nearby

A photo of The Village Bakery and Cafe restaurant

1. The Village Bakery and Cafe

4.7

Exceptional(1968)

Price: Moderate

• American • Woodside

Booked 72 times today

## The Village Bakery and Cafe: A Taste of Home in the Heart of Woodside Nestled in the charming town of Woodside, The Village Bakery and Cafe is more than just a restaurant. It's a haven for locals and visitors alike, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere, delicious food, and a touch of home-style comfort. Step inside and be greeted by the aroma of freshly baked bread and the friendly smiles of the staff. The cozy interior, with its exposed brick walls and warm lighting, creates a sense of intimacy and relaxation. Whether you're enjoying a leisurely brunch on the sunny patio or a romantic dinner by candlelight, The Village Bakery and Cafe provides the perfect setting for any occasion. The menu features a delightful array of American cafe dishes, each prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Start your day with a classic breakfast of fluffy pancakes or a savory omelet, or indulge in a decadent lunch of gourmet sandwiches and salads. For dinner, savor the flavors of perfectly grilled meats, fresh seafood, and homemade pasta dishes. And don't forget to leave room for dessert! The bakery's selection of cakes, pies, and cookies is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. But The Village Bakery and Cafe is more than just good food

2. The Village Pub

4.8

Exceptional(4028)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Woodside

Booked 44 times today

The Village Pub is a romantic restaurant with a warm and elegant ambiance. Reviewers often highlight the spectacular setting for special occasions, with one mentioning 'red velvet chairs and beautiful wood appointments'. Another praised the 'relaxing upscale ambiance', while another noted the 'great ambience and service'. The food, particularly the 'exquisite' dishes and 'fantastic cocktails', add to the overall romantic experience.

3. Nobu Palo Alto

4.5

Awesome(1607)

Price: Very Expensive

• Japanese • Palo Alto

Booked 45 times today

Nobu Restaurants' now classic and seamless blend of Japanese and Peruvian food has officially made it’s way to the Bay Area. Here you may divulge in some of our signature world famous dishes like our Alaskan Black Cod, Yellowtail Sashimi Jalapeño, and Salmon Sashimi New Style just to name of few. Situated at the lobby floor of the Nobu Hotel, Epiphany we offer indoor and outdoor seating right in the heart of Palo Alto. Dine with us, stay with us.

4. Flea Street

4.7

Exceptional(2646)

Price: Expensive

• Farm-to-table • Menlo Park

Booked 46 times today

Flea Street is a romantic hotspot in Menlo Park, known for its sophisticated and inviting ambiance. As one reviewer puts it, 'Love the food, service and ambiance for a nice romantic dinner.' The intimate private dining and beautifully prepared dishes, coupled with a wine list featuring California’s extraordinary vineyards, create a perfect setting for a date night or special occasion. The quiet, cozy atmosphere, paired with the excellent service and unique cocktails, make it a top choice for those seeking a truly memorable dining experience.

5. Zola + BarZola

4.6

Exceptional(1230)

Price: Expensive

• French • Palo Alto

Booked 35 times today

BarZola offers an elevated cocktail experience complemented by a dinner menu from the Zola kitchen. We feature an array of French and California wines, as well as the best and closest sourced meat and produce of the season.

6. Portola Bistro

4.3

Awesome(46)

Price: Moderate

• European • Portola Valley

Booked 8 times today

Portola Bistro is a vibrant new dining destination offering a blend of European flavors with an emphasis on French, Italian, and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with a California flair. The restaurant features a warm and inviting atmosphere, an indoor space, heated patio, and bar, and wood-fired pizza oven. With a carefully crafted menu, Portola Bistro is poised to become the go-to spot for memorable dining experiences in Portola Valley.The restaurateurs are well-loved for their other popular Bay Area restaurant—Barbayani Taverna in Los Altos.

7. Osteria

4.6

Exceptional(1395)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Palo Alto

Booked 11 times today

Our vision is to insure a quality dining every time you eat with us. Osteria's purpose is to provide 'Culinary Contentment.' Whether you are choosing to enjoy an Osteria meal at home, your business via delivery, or in our dinning room, it is our pleasure to assist you. We believe in preparing fresh, whole food, as an essential to our customer's well-being. We are focused at providing you, our family and friends, with a traditional Tuscan cuisine, which pleases the palate is healthy, and progressive. Whether you are gathering with family, friends, co-workers, or entertaining clients, we happily offer our assistance. It is a privilege to serve you, grazie!

8. Menlo Tavern

4.6

Exceptional(450)

Price: Expensive

• American • Menlo Park

Booked 16 times today

Enjoy one of our new cocktails and dine on our seasonal menus or cozy up to the fireplace with a glass of wine. 'Smores by the firepits are a continued favorite for all ages! Daily breakfast and weekend brunch are even more special with friends and family. Treat your favorite client or coworker to lunch or enjoy a romantic dinner with a loved one in the dining room. Come find out why our guests have voted us best American restaurant on the peninsula!Join us for Tavern Time, our daily Happy Hour from 3-5PM. And don’t forget about holidays! Reservations fill quickly for holiday celebrations, so be sure to plan ahead.Reservations are available here for groups of up to six guests. For parties of more than 10 guests, please contact the Menlo Tavern directly at (650) 330-2794.

A photo of St. Michael's Alley restaurant

9. St. Michael's Alley

4.7

Exceptional(800)

Price: Expensive

• American • Palo Alto

Booked 15 times today

Established in 1959, owners Jenny Youll and Mike Sabina expanded the once small coffeehouse of St. Michaels Alley into this intimate dining establishment in 2009. The restaurant provides three comfortable spaces for a dinner out with friends, date night, or a complete private event. The main dining room is wood paneled and intimate. The front room / bar area is more casual and social, yet still offers tables with linens and the full menu. The solid wood bar is a favorite dining spot for many of the regulars and locals. A beautiful outdoor patio is most enjoyable on warm summer days and nights as it open to the sky. Enjoy a cocktail at the full bar before venturing into one of the upscale and relaxed dining spaces of St. Michael's Alley.The restaurant is currently offering the Autumn Menu on the Patio as well as takeout, Tuesday through Sunday starting at 5pm.

A photo of Oak + Violet - Park James Hotel restaurant

10. Oak + Violet - Park James Hotel

4.7

Exceptional(833)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Menlo Park

Booked 6 times today

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

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

C
Colleen
San Francisco Bay Area •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Great ambiance and lighting and the servers so sweet to my children. Felt like a family restaurant (we ate early).
More info
The Village Bakery and CafePrice: Moderate• American• Woodside
•
4.7
T
tinaVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •55 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
This is by far the best restaurant in the bay area. Great service, amazing food. We love this place!
More info
The Village PubPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Woodside
•
4.8
M
Mina
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
We invited few friends tonight at Zola for dinner. Everything was great and our dinner was outstanding. We are planning to go back there next week. Highly recommend the restaurant to everyone.
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Zola + BarZolaPrice: Expensive• French• Palo Alto
•
4.6
D
Dennis
San Francisco Bay Area •57 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
It was very pleasant to have staff treat us as if we were the only diners in the room—attentive, pleasant, prompt, congenial—it makes the meal so pleasant. The food, as usual, was outstanding from the traditional Flea Street biscuits to the after dinner chocolate, it was a joy to eat. Had the short ribs (excellent—tender, juicy, nice sides), the Oro salmon (high quality), the crab cake (better than usual and better than most competitors with its threads of crab, not just ground up compressed crab meat), an excellent consome, tasty and delicious with mushrooms (although a bit small), and the garden salad (although missing the avocado dressing advertised, but the quality of the greens was enough that we didn't complain). What would we do to improve? More choices of wine by the glass (we had to order a whole bottle to get a white wine we liked); more choices of dessert (only 3 on the menu); more popular imported brands of beer. We will certainly return.
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Flea StreetPrice: Expensive• Farm-to-table• Menlo Park
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4.7
D
DianaVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •13 reviews
5.0
Dined on 13 Jan 2025
The restaurant is beautiful, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the food of course, outstanding.
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Nobu Palo AltoPrice: Very Expensive• Japanese• Palo Alto
•
4.5

Best Romantic Restaurants in Portola Valley

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36 restaurants available nearby

1. The Village Bakery and Cafe

2. The Village Pub

3. Nobu Palo Alto

4. Flea Street

5. Zola + BarZola

6. Portola Bistro

7. Osteria

8. Menlo Tavern

9. St. Michael's Alley

10. Oak + Violet - Park James Hotel

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