Tootsies

11/6/2017

Very cute place! Had a lovely time eating lunch here at one of their outdoor tables.

Pollone: Surprisingly tender chicken breast, brightened by refreshing endive slaw. Yummy!

Panozzo: Mediocre sandwich

Tomato basil soup (soup of the day): Good flavor, but did not love the texture, as it was a bit fibrous.

Bomboloni: Loved the one filled with lemon curd, which seemed to be made with real lemons! Not too heavy.

We also got the chai tea, but were disappointed that it was just a cup of hot water with a tea bag.

10/19/2017 Updated review

• 11 check-ins

• Listed in The Best Of Shallow (Palo) Alto

Things have slipped a bit here at Tootsies. Don't get me wrong, its still pretty good, but not as extraordinary as it once was.

Service is slipping alot. You get a bit of push back from the staff especially when it comes to changing up the orders which in the past was never a problem. For example, many in our party would prefer to substitute a croissant in the breakfast pennino. Its a no brainer really as the croissants are super good. First off how hard can that be? But its 50/50 if we will get a curt "No", or they will reluctantly do it.

The eggs.......  Almost every other time the poached eggs are way overcooked. The whole point of serving poached eggs IMHO on toast is to allow that gooey yolk to soak into the bread. Somedays yes, somedays no.

Look at those onions grilling on the range. "Could I add some to my order? Ill be happy to pay"....... 'no..... those are for something different" Seriously?

The quality of the food is there but the execution is starting to get unpredictable. We will be keeping a close eye on the situation.

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• See all photos from Fred T. for Tootsies

10/16/2017

Ok, the place is really pretty inside and out.
From a distance... I went there for Saturday lunch.
They maybe short on staff?
The tables were not wiped down after each customer so I had to clean the table using some napkins and it was so dirty(dirtier than usual due to construction dust from the main building).
They also ran out of utensils so we had to wait.
For the food... we ordered their signature brunch menus, fritters and poached egg plate... they lack seasoning and flavor... They should at least provide hot sauce or other condiments at their self serve bar...

9/30/2017

• 1 check-in

• Listed in 2017 Yelp Elite Reviews

The STAPLE place for breakfast, brunch, lunch for us Stanford folk! You'll definitely see lots of Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard employees frequent this small restaurant/cafe. There is very limited seating inside and the majority of the tables/chairs are outside around the perimeter of Tootsies.

Menu is heavily European/Italian-influenced. I would recommend their sandwiches, salads, and of course-- NUTELLA CROISSANT! Why don't more places offer nutella croissant? Who knows. But it's a heavenly genius idea! I am drooling dreaming about it ;)

The foods are made-to-order and super fresh. Ingredients seem to be rolled in weekly and the service is impeccably fast. Friendly service? Not too much but just grab your food and enjoy overall. Coffee drinks are pretty decent but nothing impressive like my local craft coffee shops. Overall, decent eats, price is reasonably (for Palo Alto) and it's next to the hospital and Stanford Mall! Parking is limited and a painnnn though. You've been warned.

10/11/2017

We (roommates) went there for brunch on a nice and warm Saturday. We picked this place because of the good reviews. The looks of the place and photos of the food were amazing. So we went there.

We ordered standard breakfast food. poached eggs, bacon, toast, frittata, potatoes, pancakes with maple syrup.

the food that came out looked good. However, it was less than mediocre.

potatoes were under cooked.

poached eggs did not have any hollandaise sauce. poached eggs were served on top of steamed chard / collard green leaves that were not washed thoroughly so we could taste the soil and it kept crunching in our mouths. I am from India and I have had all kind of funny food. I am not a snowflake to complain about some soil in the vegetables. However, quality should be better when I pay 20$ (tootsies) vs 1$ (a mediocre joint in india).

toast was dripping oil or butter or margarine.

The frittata was supposed to have seasonal vegetables and all we could find in there were pieces of zucchini.

the only good thing on the savory side was bacon because (thank god) there is not an easy way to mess it up.

Lastly pancakes. They were supposed to have ricotta cheese. It was not there. Also, the maple syrup was was as runny as water. It was so heavily watered down, that it was beyond disappointing. I have a sweet tooth and I really know my desserts. The maple syrup tasted sour like sour cream. It had gone bad and smelled funny as well.

Tootsies, never again !!

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  poached eggs with some random steamed greens :-/

  poached eggs with some random steamed greens :-/
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  frittata with seasonal vegetables (zucchini) :-/

  frittata with seasonal vegetables (zucchini) :-/
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  pancakes with fresh fruit (strawberries) :-/

  pancakes with fresh fruit (strawberries) :-/

6/25/2017

Was so excited to try this cute brunch spot but didn't see too many options for paninis/sandwiches for vegetarians/people who don't eat or enjoy salami during lunch
+ got the pollone which was a great CHICKEN option! Very filling..
+ nice outdoor seating, can get busy during lunch time but didn't take too long to find a seat after ordering (you order than find your own seat)

- sandwich was very oily..
Might come back to try brunch but options are limited...

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  Tootsies

  Tootsies
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  Lunch paninis

  Lunch paninis
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  Chicken sandwich

  Chicken sandwich
• See all photos from Mahima D. for Tootsies

5/10/2017

• 1 check-in

Tootsie's is a breakfast/lunch cafe thats conveniently located between the Stanford Hospitals and the Stanford Shopping Center.  I came here for a late lunch after dropping off the wife.  Their menu has a number of Italian-inspired salads, paninis, and pastries. Plenty of seating inside and outside.  

I ordered their Pollone, a crispy, thin and lightly-fried chicken breast sandwich with capers and endive slaw for some slight bitterness. It was a very flavorful sandwich, and I liked the crispiness of the bread too.  I did not realize it came with a side salad of some more endives and other bitter greens, so you get a pretty good deal for $11.

I eyed the Nutella Croissant, but they ran out!  Instead, I opted for the Bomboloni, which is like a lemon curd-filled beignet.  Very good!  Would have been better piping hot but it wasn't oily or greasy and still had nice crispiness and airiness.  That lemony filling was so good.

I can see why lots of Stanford health care staff and construction workers (yes, both Berkeley and Stanford seem to have years of perpetual expansion) frequent this place.

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  Bomboloni - Lemon-filled beignet. (4 stars)

  Bomboloni - Lemon-filled beignet. (4 stars)
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  Pollone (thin fried chicken breast) Panini with endive slaw and side salad. (4 stars - crispy bread and chicken).

  Pollone (thin fried chicken breast) Panini with endive slaw and side salad. (4 stars - crispy bread and chicken).

6/12/2017

• 1 check-in

Nice little lunch spot just off the beaten path in Palo Alto. Reminds me of a little Italian café with pressed sandwiches / paninis, salads and an assortment of other goodies. Some pastries as well. Counter service and speedy delivery.

Had a spinach salad with peas, mushrooms and grilled chicken which was actually great and refreshing. Others had the sandwiches which also seemed to go down extremely well.

Great fresh brewed iced tea.

The place is tiny, and finding a table outside in the shade on a sunny day can also be a challenge. But, overall a great little spot, friendly folk and a cool experience.

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  Spinach salad with mushrooms, peas and chicken.

  Spinach salad with mushrooms, peas and chicken.

6/3/2017

Great location and great selection of brunch menu.
Loved their paninis. It's a great place to bring your little one and hang out outside on a nice sunny day.
Friendly service as well very prompt. Wish there were many more places like this.

Portions are okay size. Not too big not too small. Definitely more towards the quality side rather than quantity. A great place to come and seat outdoors.

12/17/2017

The food is god awful. They hide walnuts in their granola and don't want people with food allergies. They also make it an effort to add syrup and honey to just about everything you order. Not everyone wants to get diabetes. Terrible food and every unhealthy.

5/13/2017

• 1 check-in

Great view for brunch place, feels upscale outside, not inside, inside is just a small cafe shop, nice outside seating in a bright day with all the colorful flowers and grass, n palm tree
delicious food including frittata, definitely order soup of the day, otherwise the bread is a little dry; relaxing; my favorite brunch places in Palo Alto

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  Walk in road view

  Walk in road view
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  Pretty view from my seat

  Pretty view from my seat
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  Outside Seating

  Outside Seating
• See all photos from Stephanie W. for Tootsies

12/8/2017

Very disappointed with this place. I went in the morning and ordered an omelette and asked them to remove the cheese. There were 5 or more employees behind the counter/kitchen and all they were doing was talking/playing with each other, laughing uncontrollably, and being unprofessional.
I was the only person in line and after  a long wait when I got my eggs, the cheese was still placed in my omelette.

Another time I asked to switch the bread underneath my eggs (instead of focaccia to put the sourdough) as I saw both breads on the kitchen table, and they said no.

This is not the first time I've been there. I work at Stanford hospital and I've been there multiple times and I was hesitant to write at first but the disappointment in service at Tootsies has been repetitive.

11/23/2017

• 1 check-in

Great for breakfast, brunch or lunch, Tootsies has a variety of baked goods (come early they sell out) and hot breakfasts. There's a few tables inside but a great selection of tables on the outdoor patio facing the road and some tables, bar tables and benches in the back courtyard. A great, quaint date spot or a serene place to read/do work.

12/23/2016

• 2 check-ins

FOOD//
Come here for brunch on Saturdays! I personally think it is better. Entrees are served with this crispy potato spiral on weekends. And there are bombolini on weekends, too!

SERVICE//
Can be a bit spotty, make sure you remember what your number is and what you ordered. They sometimes give your dish to someone who ordered the same dish after you! The waiters come by and yell out what order they are holding and then you have to wave them down! So, PAY ATTENTION.

AMBIANCE//
There is very, very little seating inside. There are probably max eight seats inside. There is lots of outdoor seating, but good luck finding an open spot. This place gets busy pretty quick! But, it is perfect for a warm day especially if you have a dog!

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  Saturday brunch menu!

  Saturday brunch menu!

12/30/2016

• 1 check-in

I'm in love with this place! Came here for brunch ages ago--don't know why it's taken me so long to review this place. I highly recommend coming here on Saturdays...that's the only day they have their bombolinis (aka best pastries in the world), I believe. The nutella one is amazing. The texture is super light and fluffy but the cream inside packs a ton of flavor. Perfect balance, in my opinion.

The Breakfast Panino here is also amazing. The fried egg is done perfectly and it's served with spinach and pancetta. Also comes with a side of salad and potatoes. The potatoes are quite unique. They slice them pretty thin but the texture is perfect and you get a very generous serving. Prices here are very reasonable as well. Basically, the only downside here is the long line/wait to get the food. But it's so worth the wait and I look forward to coming back very soon!

8/11/2017

This is a great looking spot to grab food, but after trying the Spinacio Salad I left very hungry. It's not nearly enough food. Bad value!

My girlfriends' side salad was also extremely under-dressed. On the plus side, the sandwiches look more filling and their bread is very good.

If you're looking for a satisfying meal, try the sandwiches or come for brunch.

6/17/2017

• 1 check-in

I stumbled across this hidden gem after a morning filled with shopping at Stanford. I ordered the frittata del giorno which came with a pretty big sized frittata, a breakfast potato & half of a Nutella panini. The meal was delicious! I loved how it came with the panini, it was the perfect sweet bite to my frittata. They have a ton of Italian pastries too that looked so good! There's mainly outdoor seating too, which is great bc I brought my dog with me. If you're in the area shopping and worked up an appetite, I highly recommend coming here! I will be back!

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  Frittata

  Frittata

12/10/2016

• 1 check-in

A very cute place to have brunch, specially when the weather is good. We came here when it was raining outside, so had to sit in which was great too. Ordered coffee, chamomile citrus tea , bombolini ,house fries , breakfast panino and poached eggs . Everything was good and filling. You can skip the fries if you want but the rest was good.

It has open seating so feel free to grab a place as soon as you see one. Service is quick so you won't have to wait for long for the food to come.

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  Coffee!

  Coffee!
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  Bombolini

  Bombolini
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  House fries

  House fries

9/11/2017

• 1 check-in

Came with some friends for brunch/lunch.  This is a very cute restaurant.  I must say, depending on what time you go. you may have a hard time find seating.  There are seating on the outside patio that goes around the front side of the restaurant.  There are seating inside but is very limited.  Water is self serve and restrooms are located in the building next to the restaurant so you have to walk a little bit.  This day, I got the breakfast frittata of the day and a lemon bomboloni.  The breakfast frittata ws good but was a little light on the flavoring for me and could have used a little bit of salt and pepper on the side but I did not see any to use.  It came with side of potato and toast with nutella. I have been here a few times and definitely would recommend the lemon bomboloni for people that have not tired it.  I think overall their foods is good and the place is super cute and relaxing.

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  Frittata of the day

  Frittata of the day

7/28/2016

• Listed in Out To Brunch

With a whimsical name like "Tootsies," who isn't curious to go try the food? My friends were visiting from "La La Land" (LA for those of you peeps who don't know my weirdo lingo yet.) I've been to the place once before; maybe over a year ago. I thought it would be a good spot for lunch because they wanted to check out Stanford University. Yep, we were tourists for the day! : )

Tootsies At The Stanford Barn is located on Welch Road in Palo Alto. It is right next to the Stanford Shopping Center. You can't miss it because it is literally a barn! Like the barns in the old westerns, except not as run-down and much prettier.

The setting is definitely one of the more prettier ones I've seen in Stanford. (for a lunch spot.) The barn is such a cool backdrop against the field of lavender. They have benches inside for customers and also tables with umbrellas outside for those who have pets which is certainly a plus! The only thing I would have to be picky about is the disorganized and confusing line to order and pay inside. They have two entrances on both sides of the shop and if you enter on the wrong side, you will see the cashier register station first, therefore having to walk around the shop to get in line on the other side. That's not really a deal breaker of course, but it's a hassle.

Their food is mainly Italian; salads, sandwiches, coffees, and pastries. I have to say their salads do come with 2 pieces of Focaccia bread as are their Soup Of The Day. It was Asparagus Soup that day. I wouldn't call it the best. It was just average. However, their burger and fries were really tasty! We also got a Nutella Croissant and a Morning Bun. Both were tasty. There was actually a lot of Nutella spread inside the croissant and the Morning Bun was large n didn't have too much of the cinnamon flavor which sometimes I think is way too much. (hi Cinnabon!)

My friends enjoyed the beautiful setting and delicious food and coffee. I don't regret taking them there at all and will definitely return for their breakfast items next time!

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  the lunch spread.

  the lunch spread.
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  Asparagus Soup w/ Focaccia. just ok.

  Asparagus Soup w/ Focaccia. just ok.
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  Morning Bun. big & yummy!

  Morning Bun. big & yummy!
• See all photos from Julie W. for Tootsies