Beyond FloMo Dining
Now that you newbies have settled into your rooms on campus, you’ve probably begun to notice that Dorm food, while acceptable, might not satisfy your palette the way you had hoped it would. In fact, after awhile, the monotony of Grade F chicken and rather odd looking vegetables can really start to get on your nerves. Luckily, Stanford sits next to Downtown Palo Alto, a really gorgeous town that provides the upbeat feel of a city without all of the hassles of an urban environment you might find at a Brown, Yale or Johns Hopkins. It is the common belief that Palo Alto is far too expensive for college students. Sure, it might be pricier than using your existing meal plan, but why not indulge and explore from time to time? Palo Alto offers a range of diverse cuisines that range from decent to wildly expensive, but regardless of cost, you are guaranteed a good meal. The best part of Downtown Palo Alto is that it is readily accessible by foot, bike, or Marguerite. While most of the town is concentrated on University Avenue, there are literally hundreds of places that reside on the side streets as well. Here are some of my personal favorite eateries established across a range of prices, allowing you to select the perfect meal based on circumstances/special occasions and wallet thickness per head.
Very Casual (Under $10)
Here are the places you go to for a quick bite when ambience is not a priority. There are many in DPA, and I encourage you to go out and find them. Here are my favorite three.
Noah’s Bagels
(278 University Ave)
A basic bagel chain; Here you’ll find good bagels and sandwiches for a nice breakfast/lunch with a Starbucks next door
Pizza My Heart
(220 University Ave)
Thin crust pizzas available in full pies or large slices with a myriad of gourmet toppings make for an excellent lunch, dinner, or late night snack (open till 2 am most days)
Andale Mexican Restaurant
(209 University Ave)
Fresh, inexpensive Mexican food with a nice décor and location make Andale a great place to grab a great, south-of-the-border meal.
Casual ($10-$20)
This is where the majority of my DPA dining is done. These restaurants offer a nice balance of good food and a chill atmosphere. You can still dine here without breaking the bank, and the experiences are great!
California Pizza Kitchen
(531 Cowper Street)
You can get pizzas, pastas, and global cuisine appetizers here. A helpful, efficient staff make CPK a must.
The Cheesecake Factory
(375 University Avenue)
Depending on your appetite, it can get expensive here, but with one of the largest menus of any restaurant and amazing desserts, it’s not hard to eat your heart out here
Janta Indian Cuisine
(369 Lytton Ave)
A small Indian restaurant located out of the way on Lytton. Specializing in north Indian delicacies, Janta does a great job of adding Indian flavors to Palo Alto
Jing Jing
(443 Emerson Street)
One of my personal favorite Chinese restaurants. Specializes in hot and spicy food. While clearly not authentic, the staff is very nice and very fast. I recommend ordering almost exclusively from the specialties list. Plus, they deliver to Stanford!
Krung Siam
(423 University Ave)
A large selection of Thai delicacies make Krung Siam a very good place to satisfy the Southeast Asian palette
Siam Royal
(338 University Ave)
While smaller and dingier than Krung Siam, Siam Royal is less expensive and serves better Pad Thai than the other, making your decision a toss up when you want Thai food.
Less Casual ($20+)
These are the big guns you reserve for special occasions. Don’t be surprised when the bill comes and you’re dropped $40 dollars per person; instead realize that you have partaken in a truly amazing meal. I’m not kidding; the food and atmosphere at these places is absolutely incredible.
Evvia
(420 Emerson St)
Evvia is by far one of my favorite restaurants. Evvia offers food from the Aegean region of Europe, consisting primarily of Greek food. The vegetarian options are somewhat slim, but equally tasty. Evvia also offers a diverse range of appetizers and wines, each one more marvelous than the next. With a hopping, upbeat atmosphere, Evvia is great place to celebrate birthdays or milestones with a lot of friends.
Sundance Steakhouse
(1921 El Camino Real)
While not in the bounds of DPA, Sundance’s reputation makes it a must visit. The selection of cuts is impressive, I must say I had the best prime rib I ever had here at Sundance. With very low lighting and a quiet ambience, Sundance is the perfect place to go to relax and eat a great meal.
Zibibbo
(430 Kipling St)
This restaurant shares a lot of qualities with Evvia. Offering food from Mediterranean (consisting primarily of Greek but with accents from all over the Mediterranean), Zibibbo is a gigantic restaurant with several different sections, each devoted to a particular ambience that best suits you. Like Evvia, the place is upbeat and has a great selection of appetizers and wines that make for a great place to go when you want something more than just a restaurant.
