Ethel's Fancy

4.9

501 Reviews

$50 and over

Californian

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 30, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 17 times today

Innovative
Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails

A hip and fun restaurant with chef's counter dining, serving thoughtful American cuisine, with an emphasis on local seasonal products.

Ethel's Fancy is open at 5 PM Tuesday - Saturday.

We have a small dining room with a limited amount of reservable tables. We do keep our Bar seats and a table in the restaurant open for people to walk-ins. Walk-ins are on a first come basis.

Please do not make multiple reservations with the intention of combining reservations to increase party size.

All guests must be present before your party will be seated.

To help provide a seamless experience for all our guests, we have allocated 2-hours for your group of 2 to 4 people.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Californian, Japanese, Contemporary French / American
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(650) 561-4860
Website
http://www.ethelsfancypa.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Scott Nishiyama

Location
550 Waverley St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1720
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Cross street
University Avenue & Waverley Street<br />Hamilton Avenue & Waverley
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 501 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

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Innovative
San Francisco Bay Area
Californian
Peninsula
Innovative
Peninsula
Hot spot
Peninsula
Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ethel's Fancy offers an exceptional dining experience with "incredible food, service, and atmosphere." Chef Scott's inventive dishes blend Japanese and American flavors, captivating diners with their unique combinations. The "pork belly and milk bread are to die for," while the "charming and appealing" ambiance ensures a memorable evening. Perfect for special occasions, this Palo Alto gem is a must-visit.

501 Reviews

a
anne
San Antonio
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved every bite. Interesting and innovative food. I like how you can order a variety of dishes. Especially enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the very skilled staff do their thing. The halibut was the best I’ve ever eaten! Thank you, Chef!
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L
Leo
San Francisco
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous food. Fabulous service. This place should get a Michelin recommendation!
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K
Kathy
Seattle
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is our favorite restaurant in Palo Alto. Incredibly delicious and unique food. Incredible service!
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E
Eve
Mobile
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
delicious and inventive good and attentive service
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R
Rebecca
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, great service and wonderful ambience. Chef Scott has created a restaurant that is top of its class.
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T
Ted
San Francisco
64 reviews
vip
5.0
64 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I try to go to Ethel's Fancy every month or two. Always wonderful interesting food and very good service.
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D
Dana
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ethel’s never disappoints! Still our favorite spot in the Bay Area. Perfection- service, food, ambiance, attention to detail. Food is creative and delicious. Can’t wait for our next visit!
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M
Mahesh
San Francisco
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was amazing. Chef Scott has a special touch. Each dish was a masterpiece by itself. Service was beyond good. Garret was super attentive and caring. GM was very gracious. One of the best places in S Bay.
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MK
MargieK
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The most flavorful, unique food and dining experience on the peninsula. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this restaurant.
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G
Gypsy
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All of the dishes we were ordered were delicious, combining interesting flavors and textures. A few highlights were fuyu persimmons with a scrumptious tahini dressing; sesame pancakes with a spectacular white fish dip; perfectly cooked "salt and pepper" octopus with blistered cherry tomatoes; crispy pork belly; and an exquisite halibut. The wine list included a diverse selection from California, France and Italy without being overwhelming. Pricing was reasonable given quality. Staff were knowledgeable about wines, friendly and attentive. We sat outdoors, so noise was not an issue. We'll certainly we back!
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FAQs

Ethel's Fancy is rated 4.9 stars by 501 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 30, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 17 times today

550 Waverley St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1720

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
University Avenue & Waverley Street<br />Hamilton Avenue & Waverley
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Californian, Japanese, Contemporary French / American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Scott Nishiyama
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.ethelsfancypa.com/
Phone number
(650) 561-4860

Ethel's Fancy

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 501 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Ethel's Fancy restaurant rated?

Is Ethel's Fancy currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information