Cafe Pro Bono

4.9

1447 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Good for business meals

Cafe Pro Bono stands as Palo Alto's premier destination for exquisite Italian cuisine. With a legacy spanning over 30 years, we take pride in offering a diverse array of authentic and reasonably priced Italian and European dishes, each crafted with a dedication to freshness that is evident in every bite.

Whether you seek a romantic evening or a casual dinner, our menu features a wide selection of traditional dishes at accesible prices. From beautifully presented appetizers to homemade pastas, daily fresh seafood, quality meats, and indulgent desserts, complemented by expertly crafted cocktails we strive to ensure every visit is a memorable culinary experience.

Consider our Private Event Room for your next rehearsal dinner, birthday celebration, baby shower, family gathering or business meeting. Our full bar offers a variety of cocktails, including alongside domestic and international wines.

We look forward to welcoming you soon to Cafe Pro Bono.

Buon Appetito!!!

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, European, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Sun 5:00 pm–8:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:15 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
Phone number
(650) 326-1626
Website
http://www.cafeprobono.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Ignacio Cortez
Private party facilities
To reserve our private room (or the entire restaurant!) for your next business meeting or party, call us at 650/326.1626 - or fill out our inquiry form at https://cafeprobono.com/private-dining-special-events and we will contact you right away Stop by our web site to view our ‘Events Menus’ too - we have a variety of menus/pricing to choose from.

Location
2437 Birch Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Cross street
California Ave. / Sherman Ave. Garage: handicap/charging stations
Parking details
New four-level parking garage directly across the street.
Public transit
Cal Train - California Avenue stop, VTA
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Liquor, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Popular dishes

Grilled Polenta$15.95
Roasted Portobello Mushroom Sauce
Sauteed Gulf Prawns$17.95
Parsley, Garlic, Lemon, White Wine
Carpaccio$24.95
Thin Sliced Raw Beef, Bermuda Onions, Capers, Parmigiano Reggiano, Drizzled Dijon Mustard Truffle Oil
Susan's Downfall$18.95
Cheese & Herb Ravioli, Gorgonzola Sauce, Toasted Almonds

Starters

Organic Baby Spring$12.95
Mixed Greens, Roma Tomato, Cucumber, and Fresh Citrus Vinaigrette
Wild Arugula$15.95
Candied Walnuts, Poached Bosc Pear, and Balsamic Dressing
Caesar Salad$14.95
Organic Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano

Panini

all our sandwiches are served with salad

Grilled Portobello$19.95
Mushrooms, Roasted Bell Peppers, Caramelized Onions, Tapenade
Steak Panini$28.95
Black Angus Filet Mignon, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Butter Gorgonzola Cheese
Chicken Confit$22.95
Mary's Free Range Chicken Confit, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Provolone Cheese
Smoked Salmon$26.95
Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Bermuda Onions, Arugula, Lemon Caper Aioli

Luncheon Salads

Yabo Salad$32.95
King Salmon, Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, Roasted Red Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Olives, Feta Cheese, Citrus Vinaigrette
Duck Confit Salad$19.95
Organic Baby Spinach, Mushrooms, Sun Dried Cranberries, Granny Smith Apple
Grilled Chicken Salad$24.95
Pro Bono Bistro Salad, Mushrooms, Roma Tomatoes, Citrus Fresh Herbs

Pasta

Capellini$22.95
Fresh Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Spaghetti Bolognese (homemade)$25.95
(Beef & Veal Top Sirloin) Classic Bolognese Sauce
Tortiglione$25.95
Organic Whole Grain Buckwheat Pasta, Portobello Mushrooms, Green Peas, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Broccoli Crown, Light Marinara
Gnocchi$25.95
(homemade) Basil Pesto, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts
Susan's Downfall$28.95
(homemade) Cheese & Herb Ravioli, Gorgonzola Sauce, Toasted Almonds
Rigatoni$26.95
(homemade) Spicy Italian Sausage, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce
Tagliatelle alla Pro Bono$27.95
(homemade) Pasta with Smoked Free Range Chicken, Roasted Shitake Mushrooms, Light Alfredo
Linguini alla Vongole$29.95
Fresh Manilla Clams, Calabria Pepper, Basil, Lemon, Vermentino
Squid Spaghetti$32.95
(homemade) Gulf Prawns, King Salmon, Manila Clams, Roasted Tomato Sauce

Lunch Entrees

all entrees served with starch and vegetables

Pollo alla Pro Bono$29.95
Free Range Chicken Breast, Pine Nuts, Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
Loch Duarte Salmon$33.95
Orzo Pasta, Dill, Lemon Chardonnay Sauce
Veal Scaloppine$37.95
Lemon Capers Pinot Grigio Sauce

What 1,447 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Italian
Peninsula
Best Overall
Peninsula
Best Food
Peninsula
Best Service
Peninsula
Best Value
Peninsula
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Cafe Pro Bono in Palo Alto is celebrated for its "extraordinary" service and "delicious" cuisine. Frequent diners praise its "favorite" status, with standout dishes like Susan's Downfall and Veal Piccata. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, and the welcoming staff, including owner Akif, enhance every visit.

1,448 Reviews

A
Aman
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
The ambiance was very uninteresting. But then the service was extremely slow. It took us 20 mins just to get water and then another 15-20 mins to get have someone take our order for drinks. The place was very busy due to Valentine’s Day but the restaurant should plan for days like this as this is the business they are in, customer service. Lastly, the food (whatever that was available as most items on menu ran out) was horrible tasting. The complimentary bread was cold (how hard is it to toast it). And then the main course was cold and also tasted very weird. I have traveled a lot around the world, not just the US or the bay, and this restaurant really had a very poor experience overall.
Is this helpful?
L
Larry
VIP
San Francisco
24 reviews
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on February 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant is one of my top 5 places to eat.I never get tired of it because there's a new menu everyday and the staff is incredible.
Is this helpful?
J
Jackie
VIP
San Francisco
25 reviews
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on February 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delightful. Always delicious food, great staff and service. Appreciate the moderation of noise level--now easy to hear others at the table.
Is this helpful?
J
Jill
VIP
Central Coast
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Attentive service and delicious food as always. My husband enjoyed the tasty filet (surprisingly had a little gristle) and I had the yummy squid ink pasta with seafood. It was a lovely dining experience. This restaurant will definitely be in our rotation of Friday night dining!
Is this helpful?
J
Jerry & Sandy
VIP
Central Coast
47 reviews
5.0
47 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Consistantly our favorite restaurant‼️ Service and food are extraordinary! 👍
Is this helpful?
D
Dave
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cafe Pro Bono is our favorite Italian. Always a great meal and dining experience.
Is this helpful?
P
Peter
Paris
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great experience. Service was warm and inviting, all our questions were answered regarding the food. One of us has Celiac, gluten free options were very good. Food was delicious. I would dine again at Pro Bono.
Is this helpful?
M
Mindie
VIP
San Francisco
25 reviews
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing service and food. Duck and is outstanding and pasta cooked perfectly.
Is this helpful?
A
Andrea
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Andy made our night a fantastic experience. My favorite restaurant!
Is this helpful?
J
Jessica
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious meal and excellent service. We'll be back
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cafe Pro Bono offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 326-1626.

Cafe Pro Bono is rated 4.9 stars by 1447 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 14 times today

Order delivery or takeout

2437 Birch Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Additional information

Cross street
California Ave. / Sherman Ave. Garage: handicap/charging stations
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Hours of operation
Sun 5:00 pm–8:45 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:15 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, European, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
New four-level parking garage directly across the street.
Public transit
Cal Train - California Avenue stop, VTA
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ignacio Cortez
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Liquor, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.cafeprobono.com/
Phone number
(650) 326-1626
Private party facilities
To reserve our private room (or the entire restaurant!) for your next business meeting or party, call us at 650/326.1626 - or fill out our inquiry form at https://cafeprobono.com/private-dining-special-events and we will contact you right away Stop by our web site to view our ‘Events Menus’ too - we have a variety of menus/pricing to choose from.

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Cafe Pro Bono

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Rigatoni

Gnocchi

Cappellini

Appetizers

Grilled Polenta$15.95

Sauteed Gulf Prawns$17.95

Carpaccio$24.95

Susan's Downfall$18.95

Starters

Organic Baby Spring$12.95

Wild Arugula$15.95

Caesar Salad$14.95

Panini

Grilled Portobello$19.95

Steak Panini$28.95

Chicken Confit$22.95

Smoked Salmon$26.95

Luncheon Salads

Yabo Salad$32.95

Duck Confit Salad$19.95

Grilled Chicken Salad$24.95

Pasta

Capellini$22.95

Spaghetti Bolognese (homemade)$25.95

Tortiglione$25.95

Gnocchi$25.95

Susan's Downfall$28.95

Rigatoni$26.95

Tagliatelle alla Pro Bono$27.95

Linguini alla Vongole$29.95

Squid Spaghetti$32.95

Lunch Entrees

Pollo alla Pro Bono$29.95

Loch Duarte Salmon$33.95

Veal Scaloppine$37.95

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Cafe Pro Bono offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Cafe Pro Bono restaurant rated?

Is Cafe Pro Bono currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day