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Ethel's Fancy, Palo Alto, CA

Ethel's Fancy

4.9
4.9
495 Reviews
$50 and over
Californian

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 19 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
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Scott Nishiyama
  • Area
    Palo Alto
  • Cross Street
    University Avenue &amp; Waverley Street<br />Hamilton Avenue &amp; Waverley
  • Parking details
    Public Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 495 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

NoiseModerate

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.

495 Reviews
  1. Dana

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    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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  2. Mahesh

    San Francisco

    55 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    55 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    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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  3. MargieK

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 November 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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  4. Gypsy

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 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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  5. Jennifer

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our favorite place for family celebrations. It’s creative, flavorful California cuisine with a non-stuffy ambience.

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  6. Cheryl

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 3 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Surprising , delicious, unique food. The chef is incredible talented and creative with ingredients and flavors. A Bay Area hidden gem.

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  7. Andy

    Hong Kong

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 3 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We chose Ethel's Fancy for our 18th anniversary celebration and they did not disappoint. The restaurant is fairly new (opened in 2022) and the ambiance is modern, energetic and vibrant. We sat at the Chef's Counter to watch them prepare and serve all the dishes, which was a very special experience especially you're into cooking. Every dish was fresh, creative, delicious and healthy-tasting, exemplifying the best of California cuisine. The service was attentive and friendly, and everyone including the chefs knew it was our anniversary and made us feel very special. We're definitely going back again before our next anniversary.

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  8. Inge622

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on 3 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Since their opening in October 2022, Ethel's Fancy has been one of our favorite restaurants. Chef Scott continues to impress me with his unique blend of Japanese and American ingredients and tastes. The service is impeccable with staff providing their insights about the menu and recommendations. Reservations are highly recommended as they fill up quickly!!

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  9. eddie

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 2 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing local restaurant serving up delicious and creative dishes. Well worth a try for anyone who’s been thinking about trying a new place. You won’t be disappointed!

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  10. Savannah

    Orlando

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I ate here on my last night in the Bay Area and it was fantastic. The restaurant is well located and the food was delicious. I had the milk bread, pork belly, and blue fin tuna. The cocktails were also very well done. I would absolutely come back!

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FAQs

Ethel's Fancy is rated 4.9 stars by 495 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 19 times today
Google Map for Ethel's Fancy

550 Waverley St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1720

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    University Avenue &amp; Waverley Street<br />Hamilton Avenue &amp; Waverley
  • Area
    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 Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Scott Nishiyama
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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