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Cafe Pro Bono, Palo Alto, CA

Cafe Pro Bono

4.9
4.9
1465 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian
2437 Birch Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
7:00 pm
Booked 14 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
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!!!

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
  • 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 ā€˜Events Menus’ too - we have a variety of menus/pricing to choose from.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Area
    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, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,465 people are saying

Cafe Pro Bono reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Italian

  • Peninsula

    Best Food

  • Peninsula

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Pro Bono in Palo Alto is a culinary gem known for its "outstanding food" and "first class" service. Guests praise the welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff, with the owner often described as "amazingly welcoming." Signature dishes like "Susan's Downfall" and the "gorgonzola pear salad" are highly recommended.
1,465 Reviews
  1. Roger VIP

    San Francisco44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Really well done duck breast. The house Chianti was reasonably priced and good as well

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  2. Glenn

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 3 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    CFB is my go to spot in Palo Alto when I’m in town. The owners are the greatest people, amazingly welcoming to all, and they just love running a great restaurant. The food is fresh, extremely tasty, and their Susan’s Downfall entree is to die for, really! The toasted Gorgonzola cream sauce over their house made raviloi is something I order every visit. While I’m not a big drinker I do love their cocktails and wine selection. You can’t go wrong dining here.

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  3. Kathy VIP

    San Francisco53 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 31 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time dining here for our party of 4 after a TheatreWorks production at Lucie Stern Theatre. Conveniently located about 2 miles away, we arrived about 20 minutes before our 5:30 reservation and were seated right away in a cozy corner by the front window. Our server was pleasant and made sure our water glasses were always filled. We shared a bottle of Pinot Noir from Santa Cruz that was excellent! This paired well with fresh crispy bread and balsamic dipping oil. The winter salad special was arugula, radishes, beets, and goat cheese delicately dressed with a tasty vinegaret. My husband enjoyed the Caesar salad. All the entrees were delicious: veal marsala, halibut, and sausage rigatoni. A generous portion of hand-grated parmesan cheese was added upon request. Desserts were also exquisite: tiramisu, pistachio apple tart, and a custard for two. The atmosphere was relaxing, and the courses paced just right to allow for conversation and savoring each bite. It's definitely worth a repeat visit!!

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  4. John

    San Francisco16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 27 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding Italian food. Really enjoyed the flavorful prawns appetizer dish. Fresh salad was tasty. Really wants to try the veal piccata and I wasn’t disappointed. Very flavorful. Will be back. Highly recommended!

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  5. Rosemary VIP

    San Francisco37 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 26 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Pro Bono is always good-service and food. Had smoked salmon panini for lunch. Very good.

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  6. Carol

    San Francisco9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 26 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Cafe Pro Bono never fails to deliver excellently prepared and beautifully presented meals. Ingredients are fresh and, while the menu contains some familar favorites, the chef also presents new offerings. Every time I go to this restaurant the experience starts with a warm welcome followed by impeccable and attentive service. When dining in Palo Alto it's my #1 choice for business and personal.

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  7. Richard VIP

    Jackson Hole6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 17 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another wonderful meal at a consistently wonderful restaurant!

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  8. Victor

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food, great service, friendly ambience. One of the few places we can have a conversation while having dinner.

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  9. Jonathan

    San Francisco52 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoy every experience there! Staff keeps us coming back!

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  10. Harbrinder

    San Francisco7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 12 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a fabulous owner, the food was great, and the service and staff are awesome

    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 1465 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Peninsula
  5. Palo Alto

Make a booking


Booked 14 times today
Google Map for Cafe Pro Bono

2437 Birch Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    California Ave. / Sherman Ave. Garage: handicap/charging stations
  • Area
    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, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • 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 ā€˜Events Menus’ too - we have a variety of menus/pricing to choose from.
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