Guidebook for Menlo Park
Food Scene
Closest thing to a neighborhood bar. Great food (burgers, caesar salad, sandwiches, fries, pizza) and beer on tap. Full bar. Big screen TVs throughout for sports.
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Dutch Goose
3567 Alameda de las PulgasClosest thing to a neighborhood bar. Great food (burgers, caesar salad, sandwiches, fries, pizza) and beer on tap. Full bar. Big screen TVs throughout for sports.
Lulu's on the Alameda
3539 Alameda de las PulgasGood Mexican food. Informal.
Naomi Sushi
1328 El Camino RealVery good sushi in Menlo Park
Great for families. Informal. Pizza oven, salads, pastas.
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Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
880 Santa Cruz AveGreat for families. Informal. Pizza oven, salads, pastas.
Gombei Japanese Restaurant
1438 El Camino RealInformal, inexpensive asian/japanese
Nearest sit-down Mexican restaurant. Good food, friendly service. Informal. Inexpensive. Next to Safeway's in Sharon Heights Shopping Center.
El Cerrito
325 Sharon Park DrNearest sit-down Mexican restaurant. Good food, friendly service. Informal. Inexpensive. Next to Safeway's in Sharon Heights Shopping Center.
Known for its extensive beer list (Belgian beers on tap) and reuben sandwiches. Informal with a good menu. If on your own grab a seat at the bar and watch some sports while you enjoy the beer and reuben. Not walking distance but it is downtown Menlo Park.
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The Refuge
963 Laurel StKnown for its extensive beer list (Belgian beers on tap) and reuben sandwiches. Informal with a good menu. If on your own grab a seat at the bar and watch some sports while you enjoy the beer and reuben. Not walking distance but it is downtown Menlo Park.
If you like something more exotic and spicy try Shiok!, a small informal restaurant serving authentic Singapore food. Roti prata, satay, nasi lemak, mee siam, hainanese chicken etc.
Downtown Menlo Park.
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Shiok! Singapore Kitchen
1137 Chestnut StIf you like something more exotic and spicy try Shiok!, a small informal restaurant serving authentic Singapore food. Roti prata, satay, nasi lemak, mee siam, hainanese chicken etc.
Downtown Menlo Park.
Italian. Downtown Menlo Park. Full bar and good service and wine list. This is not casual dining. Good food and warm ambiance. Pricier.
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Ristorante Carpaccio
1120 Crane StItalian. Downtown Menlo Park. Full bar and good service and wine list. This is not casual dining. Good food and warm ambiance. Pricier.
Shopping
All the major brand names. Manicured outdoor shopping mall. Restaurants on premises: From McDonald's, Max's Opera Cafe, California Pizza Kitchen, to Fleming's Prime Steak House.
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Stanford Shopping Center
660 Stanford Shopping CenterAll the major brand names. Manicured outdoor shopping mall. Restaurants on premises: From McDonald's, Max's Opera Cafe, California Pizza Kitchen, to Fleming's Prime Steak House.
Main street running through Menlo Park. Peet's, Starbuck's, Walgreens, Cheeky Monkey Toy Store, ACE hardware, Kepler's books, estaurants and other shops. Bus runs from Sharon Heights down Santa Cruz.
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Santa Cruz Avenue
Santa Cruz AvenueMain street running through Menlo Park. Peet's, Starbuck's, Walgreens, Cheeky Monkey Toy Store, ACE hardware, Kepler's books, estaurants and other shops. Bus runs from Sharon Heights down Santa Cruz.
Costco Wholesale
450 10th StThis is your nearest Costco and Costco gas station.
Many different stores, restaurants and bars along University Avenue near Stanford University.
University Avenue
University AvenueMany different stores, restaurants and bars along University Avenue near Stanford University.
Essentials
The Sharon Heights Shopping Center is walking distance, straight down Sharon Park Drive. There is a Safeway for groceries, CVS pharmacy, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Dry Cleaning, El Cerrito Mexican Restaurant, Eric's Deli and Wildberry Yogurt, bakery and a Starbuck's.
Sharon Park Drive
Sharon Park DriveThe Sharon Heights Shopping Center is walking distance, straight down Sharon Park Drive. There is a Safeway for groceries, CVS pharmacy, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Dry Cleaning, El Cerrito Mexican Restaurant, Eric's Deli and Wildberry Yogurt, bakery and a Starbuck's.
Everything Else
Posh Bagel
869 Santa Cruz AveFriendly service. Great bagels and sandwiches, bubble teas.
Safeway
325 Sharon Park DrNearest grocery store in Sharon Heights Shopping Mall.
Fancier grocery store where you can find everything. Large deli section, bakery, fancy cheeses and wine section etc.
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Draeger's Market
222 E 4th AveFancier grocery store where you can find everything. Large deli section, bakery, fancy cheeses and wine section etc.
This is your nearest Trader's Joes.
Just off Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park.
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Trader Joe's
720 Menlo AveThis is your nearest Trader's Joes.
Just off Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park.
Drinks & Nightlife
There is a Salsa Club with a variety of bands playing in downtown redwood city next to the Fox Theatre, and a variety of restaurants and gastro pubs. The ones I know are:
Striped Pig (gastropub)
Milagro (Mexican)
Yokohama (Japanese)
But for music variety, you really need to head further to SF, Oakland or San Jose.
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Redwood City
There is a Salsa Club with a variety of bands playing in downtown redwood city next to the Fox Theatre, and a variety of restaurants and gastro pubs. The ones I know are:
Striped Pig (gastropub)
Milagro (Mexican)
Yokohama (Japanese)
But for music variety, you really need to head further to SF, Oakland or San Jose.
University Avenue, Palo Alto, a straight shot from Stanford Campus offer a wide variety of restaurants and bars. Just walk. The ones I know include:
Tamarine (fusion vietnamese) with nice bar.
Reposada (upscale Mexican)
Nola's (New Orlean's food)
Nobu (Japanese - expensive)
There are many more informal places up and down University avenue.
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Palo Alto
University Avenue, Palo Alto, a straight shot from Stanford Campus offer a wide variety of restaurants and bars. Just walk. The ones I know include:
Tamarine (fusion vietnamese) with nice bar.
Reposada (upscale Mexican)
Nola's (New Orlean's food)
Nobu (Japanese - expensive)
There are many more informal places up and down University avenue.
Sightseeing
About 30 minutes over 92 you hit the coast. Half Moon Bay has some restaurants but I head about 6 miles north to Moss Beach (Moss Beach Distillery restaurant), or to Miramar Beach Restaurant, or to Pillar Point where there is a brewery and number of restaurants. It is a scenic drive over and up the coast.
There is surfing off Pillar Point just north of Half Moon Bay. You can also rent kayaks there.
Try Hot Dogma for good local beer. Dog friendly.
Barbara's by the beach is good for seafood.
Half Moon Bay Brewery opposite.
A bit north:
Moss Beach Distillery for dinner or drinks on patio during afternoon.
For tide pooling try the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.
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Half Moon Bay
About 30 minutes over 92 you hit the coast. Half Moon Bay has some restaurants but I head about 6 miles north to Moss Beach (Moss Beach Distillery restaurant), or to Miramar Beach Restaurant, or to Pillar Point where there is a brewery and number of restaurants. It is a scenic drive over and up the coast.
There is surfing off Pillar Point just north of Half Moon Bay. You can also rent kayaks there.
Try Hot Dogma for good local beer. Dog friendly.
Barbara's by the beach is good for seafood.
Half Moon Bay Brewery opposite.
A bit north:
Moss Beach Distillery for dinner or drinks on patio during afternoon.
For tide pooling try the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.
Entertainment & Activities
Large, comfortable movie theatre with reclining chairs you can reserve ahead of time. Pizza My Heart next door. Good Boba tea in courtyard in front of town hall nearby. Easy underground, validated parking. Many eateries walking distance from there.
100 Einheimische empfehlen
Redwood Downtown 20 and XD
825 Middlefield RdLarge, comfortable movie theatre with reclining chairs you can reserve ahead of time. Pizza My Heart next door. Good Boba tea in courtyard in front of town hall nearby. Easy underground, validated parking. Many eateries walking distance from there.