Carpaccio
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
80 Reviews for Carpaccio
One of Carpaccio's Favorite Reviews
This place was fantastic! Starting with the atmosphere, which is exactly what you want from a small Italian restaurant - small and cozy.
Then came the service, which was exemplary from the moment we came in right up to when we left. We were seated immediately (however this may be due to the fact that we came in on a Wednesday) and the waiters gave us continuous attention. Everyone was very courteous, answered all our questions, and always made sure our glasses were full (which is huge for me).
But best part was the food. The four of us each ordered different dishes, and not a single person could complain (which is fairly rare). The ingredients were obviously very fresh and the cook is great. Thankfully we had room left over for dessert because it was one of the best creme brule I have ever tasted.
Overall, the only thing that was perhaps off was that most of their clients were on the older side, but since I was with my family that was perfectly fine with me.
Positives:
Food
Service
Atmopshere
Negatives:
An older crowd (but that could be a positive depending on what you're looking for)
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This place is fantastic. This is one of my favorite restaurants. My family always comes here for our special events, and when family comes into town we always bring them here, or else they request that we do! I love their signature dish- the Carpaccio. Their appetizer which has herb marinated shrimp atop artichoke bottoms with roasted red bell peppers and hearts of palm is to die for as well. Everything I have had here is wonderful but I seem to always get the same thing- as well as my other family members and their favorite dishes. I always get the spaghetti with meat sauce, but with angel hair pasta. My sister loves the tortellini with procuitto and green peas. And the best of all is the desserts! The banana and macadamia nut tart is so mouthwatering! FANTASTIC!!!!!
This was one of those forgettable, fine-dining experiences. I liked the cozy ambiance of the restaurant, the friendly staff, and the light background noise of glasses and silverware clinking. It was bustling for a Saturday night, and the dim lighting made even our large party of 15 seem intimate.
The carpaccio was delicious, of course, and the main courses were solid, though nothing that I'd remember to come back for. All in all, a forgettable but pleasant experience.
Oh, we did still have to wait for about 25 minutes before we were seated, even though we had reservations.
So our good friends, Pam and Doug, give us a last second heads up! "We got a babysitter, let's go out Sat. night". K...so this was Thurs., pretty much everything in Palo Alto and Menlo Park are booked solid because of Stanford Graduation but Rose comes up with a 7:30pm reservation at "Carpaccio". Hmmm....none of us have ever been here but let's give it a shot. It's very rare that Pam and Doug get a babysitter so Pam suggests to meet there at 6:30 so we can start drinking! NICE!
Rose and I get to downtown Menlo Park at 6:30, the streets are vacant, there is no one around! Did a neutron bomb go off, what's going on?? Downtown is a ghost town. We open the door to Carpaccio and the place is jammed at 6:30pm! Jammed, even the bar is jammed. WTF, is everyone in Menlo in this restaurant? Did all these people with blue hair survive the blast or was it the carpeted floor or acoustic ceiling that shielded them. Wow, the place is hopping.
Talk about a throw back Italian restaurant this place was right out of "Goodfellas"!
We stood at the bar and ordered our drinks, the bartenders do it right here, very generous pours and always attentive. In fact, if you're craving an excellent martini, this is the place. They serve them with a chilled overpour of gin or vodka to make sure you still get a full, fresh helping of booze after your first few sips.
We were seated promptly at 7:30! Our waiter who was prompt and efficient not to say very good looking according to Rose and Pam as they gushed about him the whole evening, even to the point where Doug even admitted he had a man crush on him! WTF...How about me..I'm Italian. Finally the food, everyone loved their meal. I had the NY steak and it was cooked perfectly, exactly how I asked for it. It melted in my mouth. Rose ordered the sole, which was smothered in a light tomato garlic sauce. Everyone cleared the food off their plates if that is any indicator of how good it was.
To sum it all up, we had zero expectations coming in but left having a fantastic time with excellent food, drink and service. Bottom line...Yo Vinnie, we will be back!!
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I love this place. I don't think I've ever had anything I could fault. Ciya (the proprietor who hosts small group trips to Italy every other year) is a dynamo and loves a good joke. Ask her to tell you some of Goody's; they may be a bit wild, but they're guaranteed to make you laugh.
As to the food, let's start with the bread -- the absolute best in the Bay Area. Chewy crust, chew interior, great for dipping or when slathered in butter.
For starters, the house salad is outstanding, but try the fondo di carcioffo con gamberetti (artichoke bottoms with shrimp and the outstanding herb dressing) or ostriche asiago (oysters rockefeller with asiago instead of parmegiano and, accordingly, better). I don't care what you pick for your entree: they are all fantastic . I love the battuto di calamari -- definitely the most tender calamari steak you'll ever taste. the pasta is the freshest you will taste on the peninsula, whatever you choose (during the summer, try the capellini de pomodoro con basilica (angel hair with tomatoes, garlic and basil).
Because I'm diabetic i tend to stay away from the pizza and desserts, but friends who have had the pizza rave and I'm always happy with a double espresso (accompanied by some wonderful biscotti -- ok I cheat a bit).
Enjoy.
I have been to Carpaccio a few times and I like the big, vintage lithographs they have in their main dining area. But the real reason I like dining here is their panna cotta, which is so silky-creamy it's like heaven sliding down your throat.
During my most recent visit we ordered the polenta al forno con funghi (grilled polenta smothered with a wild mushroom, Madeira,
and veal stock reduction) which was good but could be better if the polenta was a bit crispier on the outside - but I would order this again for another go. I wanted something simple for lunch so I ordered the capellini al pomodoro e basilico (angel hair pasta with tomatoes, basil & garlic), which was delicious despite the lack of meat or poultry. For dessert I had the panna cotta, which did not disappoint. I would go back again next week just for this.
This place is popular for business lunches and there is a huge parking area across the street which fills up quickly so if you go here during the day, I would recommend an early lunch to get a parking spot. I have also been here for dinner and a seat at the window can be quite romantic.
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This is the go-to place for us. My husband and I started frequenting Carpaccio back when we were still dating and we have celebrated all sorts of special occasions, birthdays, and even our wedding rehearsal "lunch" there. As many of the other said, it has the perfect atmosphere for an Italian restaurant, cozy and friendly. The food is great and serves up many varieties for everyone's taste.
Favorite Appetizers:
calamari
carpaccio
raw oysters
Favorite entree/pasta/meat:
smoked salmon pizza (my personal favorite)
rack of lamb
risotto
The crowd is older but I have noticed that the last time I went there for an earlier seating, there were quite a few young families there as well. We never thought it was too much of a kid-friendly restaurant until then actually. Now we might not be as concerned bringing our two little toddlers there afterall.
If possible, I'd request for window seating when making your reservations. It's definitely romantic, especially during the warmer months when they open up that giant window.
Reviewing Carpaccio is like evaluating a family member. I am not sure I am totally objective because I go so often, twice a month for years. That ought to be a ringing endorsement. And it is.
The catch is that having a good restaurant in Menlo Park is a Monumental Accomplishment. Having all your teeth is a big deal in this town. If this restaurant were in say, Noe Valley, I would still go, but nowhere near as often. And if it were in Noe Valley that would leave me with one restaurant, so you get the idea: Menlo Park should have a high suicide rate.
Enough of the melodrama.
Carpaccio does a few things extremely well:
-- Carpaccio of course. I think they have some guy i[with no teeth?] n the back who has been pumping out the carpaccio for years and he has it down. 4 stars.
-- Mark is a Hall of Fame bartender. If he ever left, I would follow him into Flaming Hell. Mark understands hospitality, and he has a very heavy pour. Two of his drinks, and you should avoid operating a printing press, in case the thought strikes you, or avoid any strenuous, intellectual conversations. Also walk home. Mark is a major reason for Carpaccho's success. He is God. 5 stars+.
-- High level of consistency across many of the dishes: pasta, veal, fish, pizza, etc. The Lasagna on Friday night sells out fast. The Chicken Milanese is thin, breaded and covered in arugula and tomatoes and excellent. I have been happy with most of the pastas and the pizza [wood-fire of course]. 4 stars overall.
-- Did I say the drinks were large? The martinis are served right: with a separate small bottle kept on ice so your martini is fresh all the way down. Unlike Blondie's on Valencia where they give you a shaker full of ice which dilutes the drink rapidly. The martinis and other straight drinks are terrific. 5 stars
Carpaccio also has a few issues:
-- The salads are uneven. Guys, where did you get such a lame Caesar? Get over it. The good news is that if you split a salad, you magically get more.
-- The crowd is a bit blue hair at times. We only eat at the bar, which is delightful. Not that the bar crowd has any tattoos, but it's better.
-- That one waiter in the front. You know who you are. Is he shagging the owner or what? Get rid of this guy or send him to EST.
This place is family though. The overall service is warm and inviting, and it's likely because their staff rarely turns over.
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We're locals (for now) and it is our local haunt for a cozy Italian dinner-for-two. Yeah it's a tad pricey, but we live down the street so it's worth it. Would I drive an hour to eat here? No. Sometimes the wait staff are great, sometimes they are rushed and forgetful, but always friendly. The owner CARES and always makes us feel welcome. Great bar and bartender, and the Manhattan's are an 7/10... prefer Scoma's or Original Joe's for my favorite cocktail.
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I HEART pasta and Carpaccio is hands-down the best in the MP area! I'd go as far as to say - Top 3 Italian on the Peninsula. I've been a regular for more years that I can count and never had a bad meal - not one!
If you're in for a drink at the bar expect the regulars to chat you up and the bartenders to serve a stiff one. Speaking of bartenders - they're friendly, professional and they do remember your name! The only thing missing is Dan... Oh Dan, my high school 'first' why did you leave Carpaccio? You made us laugh hard and talk about memory lane...
Back to the review...The food is de-lish and if you like lasagna make sure to order it early because it will sell out on Friday night. My fav are 'the balls' - I could eat that one dish the rest of my life! Coming in a close second - the Scampi! Wow - to die for!!! Make sure you request a seat in the front - great people watching and intimate tables. If you happen to be seated near the back - ask for Ruben :) He's the best server at Carpaccio and ladies he is very easy on the eyes... Hmmm - I better update my Yelp Current Crush!
Driving to Menlo Park for work everyday is a drag, but eating there might even be worse.
Bland. Bland. I had one of the worst margherita pizzas I have ever had. It was more like chopped tomato and basil bruschetta topping on a pizza crust with no sauce. On the other hand pasta had too much sauce. Overuse of garlic, which is typical in most italian-american restaurants.
Lots of "Desperate Housewives" and octogenarians. Probably a good place to go cougar hunting while taking grandpa out to dinner.
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My favorite restaurant on the SF peninsula. I can't think of one bad meal there after eating there regularly for over 7 years.
I love this restaurant!!! The menu is fantastic and their sol in red sauce is a personal favorite. The atmosphere is warm and cozy and the food is sure to delight. 5 Stars to this restaurant, a wonderful place for any special occasion or fun meal out.
good food, service, atmosphere.. nothing so amazing as to get a 5 star
So you start out with a good wine selection, followed by nice balance of strong Italian favorites. Everything my date and I had was good, except the signature Carpaccio. As others have stated, they go nuts with the capers. After having picked them all out, we still don't finish the dish. I'd suggest passing on it.
Service was great. I don't recall any slow periods and the recommendations were right on.
The atmosphere was nice, although the decor may not appeal to everyone. Expect your typical Menlo crowd of older, well-to-do's. The entry area can get really crowded, although there is seating. I would highly recommend getting a reservation.
There is a huge lot across the street, so parking shouldn't be too bad.
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I selected Carpaccio based on the previous Yelp reviews it received. I even told my friend whom I was meeting for dinner to check it out on Yelp too. In fact HE selected Carpaccio over Mantra. However, during our post dinner conversation about the food he remarked "I feel two stars coming on". Right on!
The service WAS good.
The atmosphere WAS lovely but...
The food was mediocre and bland and certainly not worth what I paid for it! I feel kind of bad saying this but I feel like I have had better cannelloni at Olive Garden. I didn't finish mine and my friend who was more than willing to polish it off (you know how men are) didn't finish my sloppy seconds either. Now you know your food is to' up when a man with a bottomless stomach refuses to eat something! I also didn't put much of a dent in my dessert because ah, I was hungry from not eating much of my dinner. The brownie I had was so gritty that the vanilla gelato they served it with couldn't moisten it up!
Now I am not saying I would NEVER go back there again. I would certainly be willing to give them a second chance um as long as someone else is paying for the meal.
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I'm sorry, but this is not a place for you if you're not snobby, older, and walk around with a sense of entitlement.
Okay, first, the restaurant is full of older people. Fine, I can handle that, no big deal, age is just a number. Right? Wrong. These older people have a very big sense of establishment. I came here tonight with two of my friends, and we had reservations. We were the youngest ones (if you don't count children that came with families). We walked into the hostess area to see a sea of heads. Fine, whatever. We go to the front desk to let the hostess know we are there for our reservations. An older man stands at the desk, blocking our way. I thought he was waiting for the hostess, so I stood behind him, dutifully waiting for what I thought was my turn. Turns out that man was just standing there for no reason, but didn't have the courtesy to move out of the way, despite seeing me there and seeing that I'm lining up. OH WAIT. He does have the courtesy, to move out of the way of a pushy other older lady, who came barging into the door about 5-10 minutes after I had already been standing there waiting to tell the hostess. He is very nice to her, and he clearly doesn't know her, but he tells her, oh, I was just standing here, let me move for you. She then cuts right in front of my face, and tells the hostess in a snooty, entitled voice, 'This is the Irvines, we have reservations.' I'm like, HELLO, I've been waiting!
Finally, the hostess sees me and doesn't bother to acknowledge me, and then she walks away. I'm pissed off at this point, so I stop her, and I say, hey, I am here to confirm my reservations as well. She then looks for my name, and she crosses it off, and says ok, we'll get you a table. Now, during all this time, there was a huge crowd of people in the waiting area, and more were pouring in afterwards. Guess what? Everybody, including people who came in after us and had reservations at the same time, were seated before us. We waited about 20 minutes. Now, there was no shortage of tables. By the time she seated us (we were the last, and we weren't the largest or smallest group), there were still four or five tables open that we could have sat at earlier. She made sure to hob nob with all the other older folks before she deigned to seat the three of us.
The food was hearty and filling, and definitely worth eating - but not something I'd go back for unless I was over 50 years old and willing to deal with the smug crap that place spoons out. The spaghetti and meatballs were very tasty and a solid hit, and the creme brulee comes with strawberry slices inside (a very neat twist on a classic dessert and was a perfect pairing). I definitely enjoyed the food, but the service was awful. At one point, we tried to give the waiter our check and he waved his hand at it with a 'shooing' motion like he was disgusted to take our money. Well, excuse me!
A group of mid 20 something year olds like us are not going to claim to be wiser than this group of older folks, but we sure as hell shouldn't be treated like crap, and we certainly don't have to take crap like that just because we are younger.
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OMG. They have FLIMSY wine glasses. We broke two between the four of us.
What it proved:
-Servers really are relaxed and take accidents in stride.
-We can have FUN in Menlo!
Seriously we had a great time. Yes, the median age is well into retirement, but Carpaccio really has this intoxicating energy.
Complimentary bread was sourdough and crusty. Yum.
Food was rich and comforting. The presentation could use some work, but really what can you do with a plate of pasta?
LOVED that they have fresh cracked pepper and parmesan for literally everything.
Ordered:
*Carpaccio, I would ask them to lighten up on the capers on the next round, very good.
*Side of meatballs, the size of golf balls, comes in a set of three, I'm offering this information, b/c the server thought I was nuts for asking about the size of the meatballs, of course, it determines how many I will order, hmph!!!! DRY. Bleh.
*Tomato soup, dining companion raved about this one.
*Parmesan souffle over arugula, I thought it was very good, but heavy for a salad, split it, FOUR ways. Reminded me of a high end, baked, fluffy Goldfish cracker.
*Butternut squash ravioli, didn't blow me away. Okay. I wouldn't order again.
*Breaded chicken, two pieces of tenderized chicken, breaded, tender.
*Calzone, HUGE, very good, marinara sauce had a kick, nice and spicy.
No room for dessert. Next time I'll lay off the meatballs, carpaccio, salad & calzone.
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I had high hopes for this place, I really love good Italian food. My friends were treating me here for my birthday because they know what I love. We had reservations made for weeks, so when we arrived, we expected everything to go smoothly.....we were sorely mistaken. The place was crowded, mostly old people, but that's ok, they are popular....good sign. We get in and we are patiently waiting to check in for our reservation behind an older gentleman. It turns out, he wasn't waiting to check in, he was just standing there in front of the hostess stand. When an older, pushy woman walked in, he moved right over for her and let her get in and confirm her reservation. The hostess didn't even give us a second look and started to walk off to seat a group when my friend quickly spoke up and said that she was waiting to confirm a reservation as well. The hostess just simply crossed our names off one list and put us on another. We were okay with that, b/c we had arrived early for our 7pm reservation. Well 7pm came and we were soon one of the last groups left waiting, in the now empty foyer, to be seated. Groups that had come in after us for the same reservation time were being seated way before us and there were tables available. If someone had a 645 reservation, by all means, they should be seated first, but we were in much earlier than the other 7pm reservations, we did not see how we had to wait for everyone else to be seated, treated like an afterthought. It was very annoying. It seemed that because we were the youngest, we would have to wait. Everyone there was old or very well to-do and well off. Perhaps a group of 20 something girls don't strike them as a priority customer, maybe b/c they think we don't have as much money or status as the regulars. That is unfortunate, b/c guess what, Menlo Park is in Silicon Valley and guess what Silicon Valley has a bunch of....that's right, 20 somethings with money to spend. They need to learn to treat all their customers, regardless of age, the same.
When we were finally seated, we still had to wait for the specials sheet to be hurriedly given to us, then wait still for water and bread. We were never asked if we would like to order wine or drinks to start off, no one offered to go over the specials or the wine list (which was extensive) or give us recommendations. When the waiter finally got to us, he seemed very rushed and looked like he wanted us to rush with our orders. Good thing we had already made our decisions and could oblige him by rattling off our orders.
The food was very good, the highlight of the whole experience. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and couldn't be happier with the dish. It was delicious. For dessert, we shared the creme brulee, it was very good. I liked how they put strawberries in the custard, a very nice surprise to find a sweet berry beneath the crispy caramelized sugar.
As we were trying to pay, we had been waiting with the credit card ready, but no one came by to pick it up. We saw our waiter pass and my friend attempted to hand him the check, but he waved it off and didn't want to take it. How hard is it to grab a small black book with a credit card??? Why would he want to wave off the payment??? He wasn't carrying a tray of food or empty plates, he wasn't talking to another table, he was walking past us. Geez...seriously??? Well, he came back and finally took the check. The evening had come to an end.
I had good food with my good friends. The food was tasty, but the service left much to be desired. I probably won't be going back anytime soon, it seems I need to age another 20 years to even qualify as a normal customer, instead of a second rate customer.
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"I need a refreshing drink!"
The bartender proceeded to hook me up with some mix of juices and vodka in a martini glass and it was perfect for me while people watching and waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. Interesting crowd at the bar--older single men and then a couple of middle-aged women being loud and obnoxious (regulars?), and I was the only Asian in the place.
I was part of an 89 year old's birthday celebration group of 6. The service was good and the food was great. Older crowd for sure.
Appetizers: We shared a plate of calamari and polenta with mushrooms--both very good. We didn't get the carpaccio but I wouldn't mind trying it another time.
Salad: The special salad of the week was a souffle on top of some spinach with a warm dressing. Very, very good. Everyone else gobbled up their Caesars.
Entrees: A couple of us really enjoyed the shrimp pasta. My friend had veal that he ate and almost licked the plate after. I had the duck leg and thigh that was done just right--a crispy skin over tender meat, served over a bed of risotto. Yummy.
The restaurant staff was sweet, sang to our birthday boy while serving him the apple pie a la mode with a candle in it. We ordered applie pie for the table and also tiramisu. Both were really good treats.
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I went here during the holidays and it was a really good restaurant in the middle of nowhere, to me at least. The decor and feel was really nice, definitely not a bad idea to dress up a lil bit! The service was great. The wine list was plentiful however the food menu lacked more choices. They have one page for specials for the day and two pages of dinner items which I guess I expected more choices. The food was good but portions were somewhat small and expensive, yet tasty. I had mahi mahi and veggies and it was delicious! The waiter was nice too as we had to split the bill 3 ways, he was helpful. Overall, good place but I wish they had more choices.
I was pleasantly surprised by Carpaccio. Tucked away in a little side street off El Camino, I would have never thought of going into this restaurant until I saw the reviews on Yelp, so I decided to try it out. The atmosphere is cozy and warm, and the wait service is friendly.
The menu is a little small, so I had a difficult time picking a dish for dinner. While my friends and I were there, they had a dinner special going on consisting of several great-sounding dishes, so that was a nice addition to the regular dinner menu. In the end I opted for the Cannelloni con Frutti di Mare...basically cannelloni stuffed with crab, scallops and shrimp with a lobster sauce. It was great, albeit the portion was a little small for the price that I was paying. I ended the meal with panna cotto, which was good.
Overall, a great Italian restaurant well worth your time. I wasn't completely wowed by it but it'd be a nice place to go for a date or special dinner. Free parking is right across the street so you can't beat that either.
We hosted a party of 6 at Carpaccio last night, after reading rave reviews about it here on Yelp -- big mistake! From the moment we entered the front door (when the hostess glanced our way and continued chatting with other people, without so much as an, "I'll be right with you) this evening was a disaster. Although we had a 7pm reservation, our table was not even set (although it was empty!) until 7:30 -- there was no appology for this, only a "we're really busy because yesterday was leap day -- what???? She did say they'd take "good care" of us -- still waiting on that...
The menus arrived and we went about deciding, only to then receive the "specials" page (which should have been inserted into the regular menu) 10 minutes later. This made ordering really awkward and lengthy.
We ordered cocktails to start, which were skimpy at best. They were served with 1/3 of the drink poured into martini glasses, with the rest in an ice server. When I poured the remainder of my (syrupy sweet) cocktail into the glass, it was still only 2/3 filled. Why the ice server if their drinks don't even fill the glasses? Also, the drinks were brought to the table painfully slow and one at a time. By the time the last of us received her cocktail, the first one was done.
Ok, so we finally ordered (which really confused our profusely sweating waiter.) Not only did he mix up the orders while taking them, he couldn't get it straight when he brought them to the table (offering my 8 year old, who ordered a cheese pizza, my grilled shrimp...)
The service went on as above. The food was tasty but the service left us all in such awful moods that at that point it didn't matter what we were eating. When it was time to clean the table, a couple of us asked for containers to bring home our remaining food. Again, this caused confusion -- at one point, my table mate received what she thought were her leftovers, only to have them taken back a moment later by the busboy who said they belonged to someone else -- yuck!
When it came time for dessert, we ordered the homemade sorbetto, but were later told they were sold out. Coffee, like cocktails, came one at a time -- we joked that they must have been picking the beans.
The clincher came when the bill showed a 18% tip added (including the cost of cocktails and wine -- a real no-no.) At that point we didn't want to make a scene in front of our guests -- we were embarrassed enough to have taken them to this place.
One last weird thing -- the whole time we were there, the hostess stood at her reception stand dusting off menus -- what was that all about????
Don't waste your time or money on Carpaccio; it is soooo not worth it!
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Solid Italian. All of the ingredients are fresh and the lunch menu gives a good deal for the price.
I went with Clam linguini in a tomato sauce and I was very impressed. The clams were fresh, the sauce was spicy without overwhelming the other flavors and hte pasta was pretty good.
Overall not spectacular, but a highlight in Menlo Park. Lunch gets crowded quickly, so watch out.
Where am I....Cocoon?
I came here with a group of thirty-somethings for a birthday party and felt a *little* out of place age-wise. Eh, we make the party happen so it really doesn't matter too much what the atmosphere was like. I imagine this place would be better for a date.
Yes I know, blah blah blah, how's the food right? Ok...here's the summary of what I tasted:
BOMBETTA di PARMIGIANO - parmesan souffle served warm with baby spinach arugula and shaved asparagus in a champagne walnut oil vinaigrette
- delicious! The souffle is really great...good salad to share w someone.
FONDO DI CARCIOFO CON GAMBERETTI - artichoke bottom with bay shrimp and herb sauce
- ok this was freakin GOOD....I would definitely get this again. The combo sounds a little weird, but trust me...it's yum-O.
SPAGHETTINI CON POLPETTE DELLA NONNA - spaghetti with grandmother style meatballs simmered in marinara sauce
- I'm a huge spaghetti and meatballs fan. I heard great things about this restaurant's dish but was unfortunately left disappointed. The sauce was ok, nothing special. The meatballs were not juicy and were pretty standard.
RISOTTO W SCALLOPS- this was one of their daily specials...the risotto itself was good, not great. The scallops on the other hand were delicious and cooked perfectly.
Overall, this place is great...I would definitely come back again for the food.
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Can I give this restaurant a rating of 3.5 stars? The service and variety on the menu were great. My friends enjoyed their meals but I think this place is most recognized for their appetizers and pastas. The waiter himself wrinkled his nose a bit when I told him I was debating between a pasta and a pizza. I went with the pasta.
A few modest recommendations:
1. Try the zabaione crema for dessert. You won't find this at many Italian restaurants in the Bay Area but it's a treat when you do encounter it on a menu.
2. Avoid their wines and go with a cocktail. Their wine list isn't all that impressive nor are their recommendations well founded.
3. Make reservations but don't be shocked when the hostess waits on the 5 elderly couples ahead of you despite your early arrival.
Great place to take groups. I used to go there in high school for dinner before dances and proms, and the staff was always nice and polite to us, and we were a bunch of rowdy high schoolers. And if they were nice to us, imagine how they would treat you!
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Warm comfy atmosphere, well-versed hostess, great menu and wine list... we thought we would be in for a treat. Instead we were met with extremely rushed service who barely said hello before asking for our order and breezed by to whisk our food on and off the table. Everything was pretty expensive, given the quality.
Highlights:
- Polenta app - grilled with mushrooms and a veal reduction - rich and delicious
- Ambience, but not service
Lowlights:
- Salmon was extremely expensive, overseasoned, and overcooked, and not grilled as claimed on the menu. The entire dish looked wilted and depressed, sort of what you'd expect at a Denny's (ok, a Denny's that serves green beans and risotto with their salmon)
- Service was poor poor poor. The hostess was sitting at another table served by our waiter, and it was very clear that she was waaaay more important than us. We could barely place our wine and meal orders.
When I spend $100 for two in the South Bay, I expect it to be darn good. And this just, well, wasn't all that.
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I had the pleasure of going here for a birthday. The food is great, really romantic atmosphere, tucked away in a pretty hard to find street.
I had the gnocchi, and it was pretty good. I'd love to come back here again.
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The gnocchi was really good! They made a sauce substitution to make it vegetarian for me. It's all about the sauce when it comes to pasta and the sauce was yummy! I got a taste of the eggplant dish from my co-worker and that one was really good too! I will have to order that one next time. I ordered a hot tea and they brought a box with an assortment of teas for me to choose. I went with a huge group of people for lunch and everyone was quite pleased. My hot water pot was never empty and the service was really wonderful. The bread basket was also filled all the time which I ended up eating way too much of. LOL. We got there really early and by the time we had our food the place was packed. I recommend going there early for lunch if you want a decent table, or make reservations for your party.
This is one of those places in Menlo Park where I know everyone (staff and customers alike). Michele R.'s comment that it is like "Cheers" cannot be more true!
I like to eat at the bar with all the regulars who frequent the place.
This is what I eat at Carpaccio:
-Carpaccio
-artichoke bottom with bay shrimp and herb sauce
-the oysters! (plump Eastern oysters baked with fresh spinach and asiago cheese)
-tortelloni al prosciutto
-shrimp with lemon
-risotto with grilled chicken
-not on the menu (but Carbonara!)
-I order my bread with a side of Bolognese!
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Wow! Atmosphere, good service, excellent food...what's not to like and at a reasonable price. I have never been to Carpaccio's where all of the above have not happened making my dining out experience one worth looking forward too. Friends and family always enjoy the way one is treated when going to this restaurant. Their goal is ALWAYS to please their customers. If some of you get bent out of shape, or are spoiled, get over it. This restaurant is for YOU and they do everything to make you feel taken care of. Bravo Carpaccio for over 20 years of giving this patron pure enjoyment time after time again.
Last Sunday I went to Carpaccio's for the first time with my husband. It was our first anniversary -- and we could not have picked a better place! We made last minute reservations (an hour before) and boy are we glad that we did. I can't believe how packed it was for a Sunday evening! A steady stream of patrons flowed into the restaurant until we left around "closing time" at 9pm (early, but it was Sunday).
We kept it simple -- splitting the calamari appetizer, I had the cannelloni and my husband had the tortelloni. We both loved our meals and are definitely planning on returning.
BTW. I would also recommend their "take out" option. My husband brought home food from Carpaccios for a romantic dinner for two at home. It was delicious and oh so special. They include their delicious bread in the take out, too!!
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Went here for a big group dinner this past weekend and enjoyed it. We had 7 o'clock reservations, and the place was packed! I did notice that the place was full of seniors....I think the average age was 65, give or take. Just an observation.
The food was pretty good. I split a bombetta di parmagiano salad with my friend. It was a nice ix of spinach, arugula, and asparagus, topped with a wonderfully light but delicious souffle. For my main dish, I ordered the risotto with seared scallops. I'd give the risotto itself 4/5 but the scallops were insanely good!
I didn't get to sample the other dishes that my friends ordered, but they all looked pretty good, particularly the spaghetti and meatballs.
I would love to go back sometime and try out some of the other dishes.
I used to come here every month in high school. for a while, i thought the place was waning. however, i came here again a few months ago. the portions were much larger than they used to be. ive always liked the cozy, but refined ambiance here. the servers are all very nice. i love my veal and im happy to have a good place for it once again, especially where i could go for lunch in my sweats if i wanted.
[edit] no change in number of stars but i have decided to stop eating veal due to unethical practices.
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Yes, they have fantastic Carpaccio. This is a great place for good food and good time. They're real friendly and remember you every time you go. The bar is pretty cool and gets crowded early. Its my top Italian restaurant in Menlo Park.
Sometimes they have a Lentil soup which is out of this world. The lasagna is great. Also, they really feed you. You always end up taking a doggie bag.
Very good! Another of KC's lunchtime recommendations. The ambiance is nice, which is somewhat a must being in downtown Menlo Park. Upon walking up to the spot, I thought "wow this might cost more than the $24 I have in my wallet".
We had Carpaccio's namesake carpaccio which as a great starter. I got the risotto, which smelled divine and was delicious. Everyone's dishes looked great and I'm sure tasted good since most people cleaned their plates. I was impressed that they had an actual "Arnold Palmer" pitcher. Nice touch guys!
Nearly spotless review save the waiter's spill behind us. It may be a bit pricey, since I've had better risotto for the same price (similar risotto but with DUCK! - thus the minus star).
What do you know... $24 is just enough!
Carpaccio is a nice little spot in downtown Menlo Park.
First of all, obviously you must get the carpaccio. Its damn tasty.
Carpaccio is a great place for some good ol Italian food. The taste of their pastas is right on the money, and the portions are good enough to satisfy you.
Setting is very nice. An older crowd tends to go to Carpaccio, but its still a nice place for families or a couple on a date.
My girlfriend grew up near Menlo Park and this is her family's favorite Italian restaurant in the area. It's now mine too; I always try to eat there when I'm in or around MP.
The carpaccio is, of course, super delicious. They use a ton of freshly grated cheese, capers, finely diced purple onions, spicy mustard, black pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. I've considered just ordering two carpaccios and having them both the appetizer and main course. Mmm.
Tonight I had the margherita pizza and it was divine! They use "best quality" cheese, for sure. The crust was thin and perfect. The house red wine was a great compliment. Even the complimentary bread/balsamic/olive oil seemed special.
I can't wait to go back!