(650) 521-5095
185 University Ave
(High Street)
Palo Alto,
CA
94301
37.4446
-122.1631
Neighborhood: Downtown North
Hours:
Tue-Thu 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-10pm
Fri 11:30am-3pm, 4pm-11pm
Sat 11:30am-4pm, 5pm-11pm
Sun 5pm-9:30pm
Price:
$$
Lavanda Restaurant & Wine Bar
Last updated 11.20.09
What People Are Saying About Lavanda Restaurant & Wine Bar
The Owner
Lavanda Restaurant & Wine Bar
Owner
Lavanda Restaurant and Wine Bar presents Mediterranean cuisine and award-winning wines in downtown Palo Alto. We use the freshest and most subtainably produced ingredients available such as hormone-free Niman Ranch meats and GreenLeaf produce. Our wine list, winner of the 2003 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, incorporates one-of-a-kind wines from around the world.
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene – With a glass chandelier in the rotunda and muted earthy colors, this restaurant sets a casually romantic mood, appropriate for anything from a second date to a big-time anniversary. A very hip reservation on the Peninsula, Lavanda features a sizable wine-tasting bar in addition to the dining room area. – – The Food – A modern fusion of Italian and New American cuisines. Begin with roasted artichokes in pepper-flecked, oil-and-vinegar marinade, or roasted eggplant puree and marinated mushrooms. The pastas are the least pricey main courses and, luckily,…
Not a good place to dine
by Cloris at Citysearch
My order from al a carte menu was entree, one side dish and glass of wine. The skirt steak was tough (hard to imagine); the side order of green beans with prosciutto contained no prosciutto that I could detect. The side of green beans was topped with red pasta sauce, the wait-staff assuring that the sauce was flavored--NOT. They offered to and did replace side with sauteed spinach, not much better. In a location that has access to organic ingredients, this restaurant does not, in my opinion, use. The dining dollars are better spent elsewhere.
- Pros: Ambience, linens, wait-staff
- Cons: Poor food, even mis-represented
Finaly Lavande has a great chef!
by annienonomus at Citysearch
I eat out in Palo Alto almost every night. I gave this place a couple tries late last year, because the wine list was so good. The food was not so good then, but this time, WOW. I ate there earlier this week. The bar was maybe half full, the restaurant maybe a little more so. We got fast, friendly service from Patrick the bartender. There are plenty of wines by the glass and half bottle options, and a full bar. I like a place with good champagne by the glass, and these guys have some good options (Nicholas Feullete rose, delish, not too expensive). The wine list is still great- lots of variety from quality producers, Ca, French, and elsewhere in all price ranges. If you bring your own, corkage is only $20! Used to be $30, which was a rip-off.
We shared several small plates, including figs wrapped around dates (cooked perfectly!), lamb rib-lets (also perfectly done-falling off the bone and well seasoned).Fresh tomato salad was full of flavor, dusted with finely shaved parmesan, which added nice salty taste. Soup of the day was fresh tomato with bread and basil. Good but not great. The rabbit ragut with thin homemade pasta sheets was fantastic. Rich, flavorful, complex (fresh white truffle in there- not nasty truffle oil-fantastic!
I was too full for dessert, but since i enjoyed it so much I'll be back soon...
- Pros: FOOD, finaly! Good bartender, not too crowded on a Wed.
- Cons: none recently
Smug, indignent wait staff -- second time in a row..
by chipoverstreet at Citysearch
The food is pretty good, despite the somewhat small portions. Just be prepared for a smug, indignent wait staff. Truly unbelievable. We eat out every Saturday night, and this is the second time we've encountered such poor service at Lavanda (and we've only eaten there twice). I've never berated a restaurant before in a review, but this one is deserving. If you're going out in Palo Alto, pick one of the dozens of restaurants where they value your business...it isn't this one.
The Details on Lavanda Restaurant & Wine Bar
Save Time:
The 200-bottle wine list can be daunting, but knowledgeable servers will make recommendations to pair with meals.
Save Money:
In addition to the full-size appetizer list, the restaurant also offers assorted small tastes. Pick three small tastes for $12.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, Date Spot, Group Dining
Cuisine:
Message from Lavanda Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Wine Tasting
- Traditional Regional Recipes
- Jazz on Sunday's
Lavanda Restaurant and Wine Bar presents Mediterranean cuisine and award-winning wines in downtown Palo Alto. We use the freshest and most subtainably produced ingredients available such as hormone-free Niman Ranch meats and GreenLeaf produce. Our wine list, winner of the 2003 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, incorporates one-of-a-kind wines from around the world.







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