Palo Alto

Tamarine

546 university ave, palo alto, 650 325-8500, (http://www.tamarinerestau...). with a cool but comfortable decor, tamarine offers consistently well prepared vietnamese cuisine. pair your clay pot cod with a tasty cocktail from their extensive cocktail list, and combine it with exceptional service, and you have got the makings for a perfect night out.

Buca di Beppo

643 emerson st, 650 329-0665, (http://www.bucadibeppo.co...). family style italian cuisine, and they do mean family style - one entree will feed multiple people. they do not accept reservations, so get there early.

Nola

535 ramona st, 650 328-2722 (http://www.nolas.com) new orleans themed restaurant with good food. rowdy bar famous for its hurricane cocktail.

Sprout

168 university ave. ph: 650 323-7688, (http://cafesprout.com/) the best fresh salads in town, great home made soup including a killer butternut squash, delicious sandwiches and small bites. a great place to have lunch during a shopping or sightseeing trip downtown.

A great bar and restaurant featuring Cuban inspired cuisine. A friendly and welcoming neighborhood place with a walk-in humidor and smoking patio. There is also a great bar with over 50 sipping rums featuring Cuban inspired cuisine.

Taqueria El Grullense

3636 el camino real, 650 251-9317. for the best mexican food palo alto has to offer, visit the taqueria and be sure to give their salsa verde a try. grullense has become famous for its "super burritos", which are tasty and very filling.

PF Chang's

Stanford shopping center, 650 330-1782, (http://www.pfchangs.com/l...). offers california-style asian cuisine in a bistro environment.

Located in downtown Palo Alto, Bistro Maxine is the perfect location for French bistro feel and European atmosphere. Opened in June 2006, it is the only place to offer real authentic French crêpes.

Pluto's

482 university ave. at cowper, ph: 650 853-1556, fax: 650 327-9569, (http://plutosfreshfood.co...). some of the tastiest and healthiest sandwiches and salads to be found in the bay area. anything with roasted turkey is particularly recommended.

Shokolaat

516 university ave. ph: 650 289-0719, (http://www.shokolaat.com/). wonderful modern bistro and chocolatier, serving lunch and dinner but also open in the morning for pastries and coffee. some of the best food in town. sit outside on a nice day on the expansive front patio.

Sushi House

Moderately priced Japanese Cuisine. A good alternative to Fuki Sushi.

Sundance Steakhouse

1921 el camino real, ph: 650 321-6798. a very good steakhouse with superb prime rib and a great whiskey peppercorn sauce to go with it; pricey and worth it. the clam chowder is rich and delicious. the restaurant is quiet and provides excellent ambiance for a leisurely dinner.

Hobee's

67 town & country village, 650 327-4111, (http://www.hobees.com/pal...). a moderately priced restaurant with california-fusion meals and good vegetarian options. famous for its blueberry coffeecake with its eclectic omelets and fruit smoothies. also at 4224 el camino real, 650 856-6124.

Fuki Sushi

(http://www.fukisushi.com/). best japanese food near palo alto, albeit expensive even by local standards.

So Gong Dong Tofu House

4127 el camino real, 650424-8805. gong dong has a bright and cheery decor which complements the tasty and healthy cuisine. dishes include tofu soup, beef dish, and short rib dish which are all rich tasting and delicious. servers are standing by to explain the menu and the intricacies of the cuisine.

Pizza Chicago

Great deep dish pizza, although a tad more expensive than your average pie.

Pizza My Heart

220 university ave, 650 327-9400, (http://www.pizzamyheart.com) by the slice or by the pie, this place serves up some pretty good pizza. thin crust only.

Straits Cafe

(http://www.straitsrestaur...), 3295 el camino real, palo alto, 650 494-7168. lacking the hip ambiance of its san jose counterpart, this chain restaurant offers safe, sanitized south east asian cuisine. the samosas and roti prata are highly recommended and will start your meal off right.

Zibibbo

430 kipling between university and lytton, 650 328-6722, (http://www.restaurantzibi...). with a high price tag attached to the dishes, you would expect the quality of the good and service to match, but unfortunately, it does falter on occasion. with a huge layout, it's hard to convey ambiance and intimacy, although dishes such a roasted rabbit and wild mushroom pizza do exceed expectations.