09/05/08

Finaly Lavande has a great chef!

by annienonomus

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

06/22/08

Smug, indignent wait staff -- second time in a row..

by chipoverstreet

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.

02/23/08

Great location, fabulous wines. Good service. Bad food.

by majoreaterouter

Went for a nice night out and picked Lavanda. Was extremely relieved to find valet parking (which became an issue, but save that for later). Had 7 pm reservations, got there around 6:45 pm, was immediately seated at the bar and was offered a view at a very variant wine list - great selections and the bartender was a very generous fellow who offered some good tastings and had some great suggestions. Bought a nice Cab, got seated around 7:15 pm and then things mostly went downhill. Service was very substandard, food apart from the small salads was disappointing to say the least.

Upon our departure, we could not find the valet and after we did find him our car took about 20 minutes to come back (as the valet was busy talking on his cellphone). Even though the owner, a great guy named Bruce, was super apologetic and apathetic, I would go back for another go at their wines not at their service or food.