Bird Dog

Wow. EVERYTHING about this meal Every dish had a defining, unique, endearing flavour — and a delightful textural adventure to boot. The pocari «sweat» w asparagus; the smoked uni alongside the best fried chicken w green curry sprinkle! The matcha dusted kampachi … The miso farro — the best «risotto» I’ve ever had. The Yuzu cognac cocktail. The décor w black steel cutlery. Oh and Ramen chocolate buttermilk cake? EVERYTHING. Delightful. Safely the best in Palo Alto. Up there as the best in the USA #willbeback
Unanimous favorite was the perfectly fried chicken dusted in green curry spices atop smoked uni hollandaise and egg yolk. My next favorite the Farro w sunflower, kosho, poached egg and miso — citrusy and reminiscent of truffle… And that pocari sweat managed to bring a subtly carbonated texture to the asparagus.

I have to start this review with a gigantic W O W. I did a lot of research to see where to take my girlfriend as a special graduation dinner, and we were not disappointed. This place is absolutely stunning, inside and out. From the moment we saw the exterior of the restaurant from afar, we knew it was game changing. The sleek dark doors, the tall ceiling, the modernism mixed with a touch of naturalism and minimalism, were all so innovative, creative and visually beautiful.
We made a reservation the night before, and were seated without a wait. It was packed, so make a reservation! For two people, our server recommended 6 dishes. We were both about a «medium» level of hungry, so we ordered 4 in total, but if you’re starving, I definitely think 6 – 7 dishes is a good amount for 2 people. Some dishes are bigger than others, so this might play a factor into the number of dishes you order.
We started off with cocktails and these change regularly. Cocktails are pretty strong and all very unique and creative. Their wine and beer list is also quite extensive!
TAI SNAPPER: we started with the tai snapper which was thinly sliced and incredibly fresh. In fact, it was so fresh that it basically melted on my tongue and dissolved away. It was decorated with lime, grapefruit, serrano and white soy, and I thought this was an incredibly challenging feat to accomplish. To fuse so many flavors and ingredients together and ensure the fish is still the star of the dish is always a challenge, but it all worked so well together. There was a sharpness in acidity of the lime and serrano to the smoothness of the soy and fish. Amazing way to start the dinner.
PORK BELLY: the pork belly came next with a light squid salad, topped off with peanuts and mango purée. It was an interesting combination of flavors and textures, and I really liked the squid salad. It was extremely fresh and sweet and it complimented the saltiness of pork belly really well.
FARRO: This was really a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t too familiar with what farro was — it was a rice-​like grain and came in a risotto-​texture with sunflowers and kosho. The dish was slightly sweet, salty, sour — it was everything, and perfectly balanced. It was topped off with an amazing poached egg which brought the whole dish together. This is an excellent dish for carbs, and is also slightly larger and more shareable than the others!
FRIED CHICKEN THIGH: I am not exaggerating when I say this was the best fried chicken in my life. The crunch on the skin was unreal, and fried perfectly to golden ecstasy. But after the crunch faded, the tender warm juices which were so rich in flavor flowed in and danced on my tongue. I could feel the warmth and richness in my mouth, seasoned to perfection. I enjoyed it more and more with each bite, and the smoked uni and egg yolk purée brought such a dynamic «bounce» to the chicken flavor. It worked so well together, and gave an unbelievable depth in taste and smell. Again, I would like to emphasize this is the best fried chicken in my life, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who eats at Bird Dog.
Bird Dog brings together the rustic backdrop of various cultures and combines it with a flair of modern Americanism which is evident in every detail of the restaurant, from the food to the design of the front door. The experience is unreal, and each dish tells different journey, and I cannot wait to come back here soon.

This needs to be taken with a grain of salt, we’ve only been one time our 4 star rating is due only to our incompetent waitress. Would easily be 5 stars & among the best dining in all of Palo Alto (big words right there) if the service & waitstaff was competent.
First, I asked about the wine menu & cocktails, it was clear at that point she didn’t know what was going on, so I went with a beer. The waitress description of the menu took 3 attempts to clarify with our party of 4. She ended up recommending each person pick 3 things to order as the dishes are relatively small. We had 4 large appetites & this was WAY too much in the end, brought home 2 bags of food.
The food was delicious. Here is what we got & how we liked it:
1) The grilled avocado was perfect & unique, great way to start things off
2) Apples & Cheddar salad with mustard vinaigrette, exceptional, great cheese & mustard combo, pretty light and good to share with 4 people
3) Beets & Berries: was pretty good, but probably the least favored of the 4 of us. Had a strong cumin taste, almost tasted like a curry mix as well. Good but not amazing
4) Tai Snapper: I’m not a fish guy, but it was good, the other 3 really liked it. Believe it was actually halibut the night we went
5) Potatoes & English Peas: was delicious, probably top 3 plates ordered. Saw some bad reviews, complaining about dryness but we didn’t experience that
6) Hierloom Carrots: pretty good, curry was a little overpowering. We didn’t finish these, brought them home instead
7) Meats, this is where it gets amazing (each meat is served in an 8oz portion so beware):
–Duck breast, with skin & perfectly cooked. Amazing wood smoke flavor and perfect texture
–Pork belly, really nice, but slightly over cooked, still a nice sized portion
–Fried chicken, easily the best thing we ate all night. Sizeable portion, came with 3 – 4 bonesless chicken thighs, they were perfectly fried, thick layer of batter/​flour. Accompanied by a nice lime zest & an amazing mayo based sauce with a little sauce.
If we go back, ordering will be simple. My wife and I will both get the fried chicken dish, perhaps the duck, the potatoes & peas & 2 avocados!
Really hope they can figure out the service situation, maybe we just got unlucky, but the food was really awesoome!

Birddog was a very disappointing experience. The ambience, seating and conversation of the individuals sitting adjacent to us were far more interesting and enjoyable than the garnished potato entrée.
Grilled avocado was good but how do you mess up avocado?
Our next dish, salt with a side of potatoes and peas was dry and overly salted.
The Farro, even with the egg was bland and forgettable.
I appreciate the quality of alcoholic mixed drinks but the food was very bad.
Look past the distractingly good ambience and you’re left with bad tasting food.

The best restaurant in downtown PA. Almost a fine dining experience, without the pomp and price tag. It’s a fun, elegant vibe that’s more casual than stuffy.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not cheap, but it’s not French Laundry expensive either. At least one Michelin star should be on the way soon I suspect.
The only ding would be a oftentimes missing waiter. I didn’t subtract a star bc when he was present he was extremely knowledgeable (almost to the point of being a parody), accommodating, and pleasant, and bc the busser seemed to be picking up his slack.
All the food was delicious. And the dessert worth the calories. Great job!

The new hot spot in Palo Alto?! Had reservations for 8:45 on a Thursday night but we were able to get seated at 8:30 since the restaurant wasn’t too packed. While waiting for my other dining companions, I decided to have a drink at the bar. My go to is an Old Fashion. The bar tender asked if I had a preference of bourbon or gin and I went with the bourbon. The drink was standard fare as far as Old Fashion go but my only complaint was that the bar tender used his bare hand to grab the ice. Is it a show stopper? No, but I don’t think he should be using his bare hands but on to dinner.
We started off with a complementary order of naan. The naan in my opinion felt out of place. Didn’t quite fit with the ambiance and setting of the restaurant. In addition, the naan was a little oily.
We ordered a few dishes to share amongst the 3 of us. The plates are rather small and are good for sharing. We ordered the wood grilled avocado. Read other reviews that this was a must to order. The avocado did have a smokiness flavor to it but I think the amount of ponzu was a bit overkill. For $ 14 bucks I would normally pass but felt compelled to try it.
We also ordered the potato (es) which was unique as it appeared to have layers of potato slices forming a sort of potato layer cake. They call it a potato terrine. More interesting than the wood grilled avocado.
I ordered the salmon which was cooked perfectly. My GF’s sister ordered the Wagyu strip loin. The meat was cooked medium rare and was flavorful. The GF ordered the pork belly. Pork belly is my weakness. I could’ve ordered another portion easily but didn’t want to seem like a pig!!! We all agreed that we had to order the Fried Chicken Thigh with Uni sauce. The chicken was cooked perfectly, moist and juicy.
Bird Dog is good for Palo Alto. Has the vibe and setting of a 5 star restaurant in the city or even in New York. Very chic and trendy. I’d like to see Bird Dog do well!

Over dinner, my husband and I decided that if we ever hit the Silicon Valley lottery, we will schedule weekly dinners at Bird Dog.
This was, of course, after two glasses of complimentary champagne (Did I mention we were celebrating our one-​year wedding anniversary?) and two well-​made drinks (the negroni and the meadow). Still, the sentiment was only strengthened by our food choices (in preferential order: the chicken, the farro, the trout, the avocado, the apples and cheddar salad) and the cool-​but-​comfortable atmosphere created by the «90s hip hop with a dash of trip hop» music playlist that kept catching our ears. (BD – do you have a SoundCloud account? Can I find you on Spotify?) Brian, our server, was just as much an invited part of our night as the rest. He was thoroughly unpretentious in guiding us through the menu and listened well enough to our curiosities and tastes to help us plan our courses and pairings. Let me tell you – it served us well to take his suggestions. Five stars for Brian!
So, my review might be inflated by a half or full star because I was so taken by the experience, the treatment and the occasion. I accept that. But it doesn’t mean I’m not dying to come back.
Thank you, Bird Dog, for the wonderful night.

2 words: GRILLED AVOCADO.
My fiancé wanted to go here so badly and I truly didn’t understand the hype about any of it but holy cow it was amazing. We had so many incredible things that I left with such a full stomach but I was so happy with everything. We had the privilege of meeting Chef Robbie and he was just incredible, he was so friendly and unpretentious.
As far as the food, everything was incredible but the grilled avocado was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. HOW is this so novel?! We live in California!!! I could have just eaten that and left happy.
The service was also amazing, our server so perfectly attentive and knew what we wanted before we asked.
I can’t wait to go back!

3.5 stars but rounding up. I’ve had Bird Dog on my bookmarks since they opened a few months ago, and finally ad the opportunity to come here for dinner on a Thursday night. They were still super busy around 8:30pm, so reservations are highly recommended! They also have a bar area that didn’t seem as busy, so that’s always an option if you dont have more than 2 in your party. Our table was ready when we arrived, and we were sat right away. We lucked out and were seated in the slightly elevated section, and it was much quieter and relaxing to sit in that area, versus the louder hubbub of the main section. We tried:
–Complimentary Roti (
): Delicious– I loved how crispy the outside was, but how soft and fluffy it was inside. The spices mix they used wasn’t my favorite, but it lent a nice savoriness to the roti– this was a perfect way to start the meal, although I wish they gave you more!
–Tai Snapper (Lime, Chiles From Peru, Pecan, Sesame Oil, $ 17,
): Really fresh and enjoyable, but this dish looked more amazing than it tasted. Although this was good, I would rather try another crudo style dish versus order this one again.
–Wood-​Grilled Avocado (Ponzu, Fresh Wasabi, $ 14,
): YUM– amazing, and a must order! The avocado definitely becomes more buttery after grilling, and it goes really well with the ponzu. I just wish they gave you some toasted baguette slices with this (so you can make your own mini avocado toast) or a small bowl of rice to go with the avocado.
–Wagyu Striploin (Yuzu, Kosho, $ 31,
): Super disappointing. I thought this was too bland, and on the dry/​chewy side. It was a bit overcooked (medium versus medium rare). but I don’t think that really changed the texture. I wouldn’t order this again.
–Fried Chicken Thigh (Green Curry, Egg Yolk, Smoked Uni, $ 18,
): Delicious, and the chicken was fried very well! I loved how crispy the chicken was, and this was a good sized portion. Recommended!
–Pork Belly (Squid, Peanut, Mango, $ 21,
): This dish was so close to being really delicious, but it was just ok. The pork belly needed a hard sear, so it could form a crust– what we got was more like fatty bacon style cooking. I’m a huge fan of fat, but some parts were even hard for me to eat. The flavors were really good though, and everything worked well together. However, I’m not sure I would order this dish again.
–Potato Terrine (Kabocha Squash, Brown Butter, $ 12,
): Also disappointing, and very bland. The potato terrine looked really cool, but I couldn’t taste the brown butter or much kabocha squash flavor. The potato was also slightly undercooked, and needed more of a sear– skip!
–Chocolate Cremeux ($ 8,
): Very interesting, and it was pretty good, but I didn’t think some of the ingredients quite worked together. The cremeux was nice and smooth, and the chocolate «noodles» were very interesting, but there was one ingredient in this dessert I really didn’t like, and I couldn’t quite figure out what it was. I don’t think I would order this dessert again.
Our server was great, and really knowledgeable and accommodating. The food took a little while to come out, but it’s understandable since they were still so busy at the time. This was definitely a pretty long dinner, and I think it took us close to 2 hours to get in and out. The ambiance is great here, and a good place to go for a date night. The bathrooms are a trip– super modern, but they have a chef’s voice going over a recipe playing (we had Jacques Pepin), which is pretty weird without a TV to watch them actually cooking the recipe. Overall, I enjoyed a majority of the food, and they have some unique dishes/​ingredient pairings. They change parts of the menu frequently but keep the favorites, so it’s nice that you can get a difficult food experience each time. Although Bird Dog is on the pricey side, I would come back to order my favorites again and try some new dishes. Parking is the worst part about coming here– although they have public lots and some street parking, it can be difficult to find a spot.

Came for drinks and appetizers on a Thursday evening. The place is really nice on the inside, with a good balance of dining room seating, lounge seating, and bar seating. The bartender was awesome – I wish I remembered his name. We were surprised by a gift from the kitchen (their housemade Roti) which was pretty good. We then ordered two cocktails, their Apple Cheddar appetizer, and the Avocado. The Apple Cheddar was really more of a salad, but it was dressed very nicely and tasted fresh. The avocado was great – they slice open the avocado, and pour ponzu sauce into the hole where the pit was. I believe the avocado was baked, which gives it a richer flavor. Would definitely recommend this place!

I am very sad to write this review, as I had high hopes for this place. I love — LOVE — State Bird Provisions. Yes, I realize that the two restaurants have nothing whatsoever to do with one another. But I still somehow thought this place would be amazing. Maybe because it’s so hard to get a reservation (scarcity = quality? :)
My group and I were underwhelmed. The complimentary dish (roti) was flavorless. The fried chicken and Waygu were pretty good, but not wonderful. The farro and potato terrine were just OK. We got a couple of the crude appetizers, and the fish did taste fresh, but the preparation was unoriginal. I can tell that they’re using quality ingredient, but they’re just not putting them together in a way that’s exciting.
Honestly, this place isn’t bad. It’s just not good. Sadly.
I will say this — the service is terrific. Smooth, professional, well-​timed, attentive and prompt, the manager is clearly doing very well at that front. Our group was there for a birthday party, and we never had to look around to find someone.
Fix the boring menu and then let’s talk.

Every week, I look forward to eating at a new restaurant and this week is Bird Dog.
The pictures of the Waygu ribeye blew me away, so I had to check this place out.
We ordered the following:
— Big eye-​tuna = Nice starter and super fresh!
— Grilled persimmon salad = the burrata adds a delightful touch.
— Waygu ribeye = GET IT! GET IT!
— Lime tart = not as tangy as I would like it to be. I’d skip this!
Overall, I enjoyed our meal with a very talkative and knowledgeable staff. I would recommend this place for dinner date night or any occasions.
I do hope you give this tasty place a try. Cheers!

Bird Dog, Dog Bird? how did they come up with this combo of such a cute animalistic name? :)
I had this fairly new restaurant bookmarked wayyy back when they just had their soft opening. I wanted to wait to c what other Unilocalers had to say about the place first before I went in myself. so after 90 something pretty good reviews n comments, I placed a reservation early in the week n waited in anticipation.
Bird Dog is located on Ramona Street in downtown Palo Alto. it’s closer to the Stanford University side of University Ave. there’s parking lots on either side of the main street in addition to street parking.
the outside of the restaurant is already a foretelling of the minimalistic design of the place. as I walked in, I could appreciate the straight n clean lines of the large bar area to the right, the beautifully designed high ceiling in the main dining room, n also the brightly lit open kitchen where customers can c their dishes being made. they also have another more private room in the back for larger groups.
Bird Dog is the type of high quality restaurant that uses tweezers to place a sprig of mint on a plate n the prices do reflect that. this could easily b a 4 dollar sign kind of place if u have a larger appetite. the service there ran smoothly; like a well-​oiled machine. our server was friendly n helpful in explaining the simple menu. (I LOVE restaurants that does simple menus!) each dish came to us warm n pretty as a picture! we finished EVERYTHING. I can’t wait for my next experience at Bird Dog. hopefully they will have a different menu next time! :) I’m stingy with my 5 star reviews, but this really has potential.
Roti (complimentary): this was complimentary for every table. it was just ok. warm but not amazing.
Potato Terrine: DE-​LISH! I love my potatoes n this really exceeded my expectations. layers of potatoes. crispy on top like a French fry but done really well. the Kobacha Squash w/​brown butter sauce complimented well also.
Eggplant: this was grilled til soft. tomato n shishito pepper sauce was an interesting mix of tastes.
Wagyu Striploin: done medium rare. I wanted more! so good! perfect redness in the center. we usually order Filet Mignon at steakhouses, but this striploin was seared well.
Fried Chicken Thigh: unlike the other dishes, this one was actually a larger portion. there were 3 pieces on my plate n they were all tender n juicy. the highlight though were the egg yolk drops n green curry mixed with smoked Uni. dipping the chicken pieces in that sauce was HEAVEN. even though curry is a strong flavor, I could still taste the Uni in the sauce. what’s missing was more sauce! :)

4.5 sparkling stars!
— Wagyu strip — interesting flavor and tender. Recommended over the bavette by the waiter.
— Fried chicken — Unique flavor profile and super juicy, lightly crunchy. My favorite entrée.
— Pork belly — pretty good but not my favorite of the entrees
— Trout appetizer — so refreshing. Noticeably quality ingredients from the fresh raw trout to the fresh grated horseradish. Amazing combo.
— Kampachi — Loved the flavors, a little stringy though.
— Potato terrine — interesting but heavier than expected.
— Eggplant — Not as flavorful as expected.
Beautiful space, incredible plating, stellar service, unique flavors. This place isn’t cheap and portions are small, but it was a great dining experience — recommend making reservations early. Can’t wait to return!

Two months and four visits later, I’m still a big fan of Bird Dog though it’s not a resounding five stars anymore.
I’ve tried the whole menu in it’s current form. My first experience was the best by far. The next few times had some misses, though the meals were delicious overall.
Looking at the other reviews, I can see why this restaurant is polarizing. There are consistency issues and as a shared plates experience, there an increased probability of getting a miss. The price point is also high (but honestly it’s on par with upscale Palo Alto). For a meal that can easily run over $ 75/​person, it’s understandable that diners will judge more harshly.
Having said that, Bird Dog still tops my restaurant list in the Peninsula/​South Bay for modern, Californian cuisine. The creativity and plating outshine other places. I appreciate the experimentation — they tweak the presentation and ingredients often. And when Bird Dog gets the execution right, they make some really f*king delicious food.
RECOMMENDED:
Fried Chicken — I eat a good amount of fried chicken. Bird Dog’s version is consistently one of the better ones. The perfectly crispy outside and juicy inside has yet to disappoint me. Just get it!
Potato Terrine — This modest dish is my favorite of the sides. There’s something about the thin layers of potato with the sweetness of the squash that is so very enjoyable.
Waygu Striploin — The other two cuts of Waygu they serve are frankly not done very well, but the Striploin is delicious — tender, seasoned, with a nice sear.
Wood-​Grilled Avocado — This is a popular dish, and it’s always been tasty. Compared to my other top dishes though, it’s just a great grilled avocado with great ponzu flavor. Don’t expect the skies to open up.
Farro — I’ve only had this once, but it was very creamy and enjoyable.
RECOMMENDED BUT YMMV:
Tai Snapper — The first time, this was sliced extra thin and was one of my favorites. The chiles provided nice heat, and it had great brightness from the lime. The next time, they plated the snapper in thick chunks. I felt like it didn’t allow the flavors to pop, and it messed up the delicate harmony.
Eggplant — The cook on each eggplant seems to vary slightly. The best ones are the best of any eggplant I’ve had, but the others can be weirdly tough or chewy.
Salmon — I’ve had a version with outstanding, substantial crispy skin and delicate center. Another time the salmon was undercooked, and the dish wasn’t the same. The skin wasn’t crispy, and the center was mushy.
Pork Belly — I loved this dish when it was smaller cuts and with better protein-​to-​fat ratio. The squid and mango were a great contrast to the fatty meat. Most recently, the pork belly was almost all fat and cut in a larger slab. Not the same.
NOT RECOMMENDED:
Waygu Skirt Steak and Ribeye — Both these dishes weren’t as tender as Waygu should be and were underseasoned. I liked the flavor profiles though — papaya and avocado, medjool date and black garlic.
The Salads — They are heavy on the greens with little of the featured ingredient. The flavor combos are great, but they aren’t satisfying when you have only three pieces of apple or butternut squash for example.
OTHER NOTES:
–Service has been good for me. I have no complaints, though I haven’t had a chance to observe how they treat allergies or food restrictions. The bartender did mess up my order once, but that was a minor mistake.
–Cocktails are solid, and they have an impressive wine selection.
–You can order the food menu if you sit at the bar.
–Julia Child’s voice still plays on in the bathroom!

Bird Dog offers an excellent culinary experience, but overall, I was not the biggest fan.
The presentation was amazing– beautiful and elegant. The complimentary roti was an great addition despite the dishes having such diverse flavors.
My boyfriend and I ordered the Thai snapper, Farro grain, grilled avocado, Wagyu ribeye, and the fried chicken dish. My favorite by far was the grilled avocado. I was pleasantly surprised by the ponzu sauce nestled in the middle of the avocado, a combination I will definitely employ now in my own cooking. The Thai snapper with pecans was delicious, soft mouthfuls with a nutty crunch. At first, I didn’t think the grain dish with an over easy egg would be anything worth mentioning, but my boyfriend was a huge fan. A little more grainy than I would like but creaminess burst with flavor.
I was actually very disappointed by the Wagyu ribeye– medium rare as I always like my red meat but too chewy for my taste. The cuts were a little thicker, making the chewiness not a pleasant experience. Loved the paired mustard sauce though!
My boyfriends favorite was the fried chicken– very juicy meat with soft fried skin.
Overall, wonderful add to Palo Alto, worth a try but I’m not sure if I’ll be back again.

Wow, don’t even know where to start! So I saw Bird Dog pop up on my feed saying that it’s something new and hot! I wanted to try it for a week or so, but no one to go with. Luckily a friend of mine popped in from NYC for work, so perfect!
From the exterior to the interior, ambiance to atmosphere, people to food was extraordinary. As a designer and foodie, it’s a perfect combo for me to mesmerized the design, the materials, the light fixtures, to the small details of frosted plexi glass menus. Then comes the food! Love all the presentation based on fellow Unilocalers and then some being served to the table next to me. Drooling while waiting for my friend.
The plates are on a smaller side, but with great impact! A few dishes on each columns will find you full and satisfied, which is divided into three sections: raw, meat and vegetables.
We ordered the infamous grilled avocado and the tai snapper. It may be a simple avocado, but a premium grade avo with that smokiness of the grill and then the ponzu… never thought of eating it with avo, but it was amazeballs! Then sprinkled with what I can think of… sea salt. The tai snapper was great as well. The fish itself didn’t have much taste, but the combination of lime, chiles, pecan, and sesame oil made it decadent. Oh, must not forget the curry infused roti that’s complimentary. That was yummy.
Next was our meals. I have ordered the chicken thigh entrée (felt like being a fatty that night). It was definitely crispy and oily and full of happiness. You actually get a lot for this plate, about 3 pieces of chicken — I think dark meat, but felt like white meat. It’s so tender that I don’t know what is what! My friend ordered the salmon entrée. He seemed to like it, he finished it. I guess I was so into my dish, that I don’t really remember! We paired our meals with the farro and potato terrine. Now these are interesting dishes. The farro is like a lighter version of risotto once you mixed the poached egg. The potato terrine was super unusual and enticing. It looked like a piece of cake! But it was stacked with kombucha squash and brown butter. Everything was just paired perfectly.
We had to order some sort of dessert! I was hoping for the panna cotta, but they were out of permissions so no panna for me. I went with the lemon curd tart. Didn’t disappoint either. So petite, yet so powerful taste. I paired with my usual — earl grey with cream + honey. My friend only had a few bites b/​c he was full, but I didn’t disappoint Bird Dog either, I finished it!
The service was immaculate. On point and attentive. Good personality and lots of jokes and laughter. I will need to come back for the rib eye and hopefully some panna cotta!
Thank you for the great experience!

Best dinner in Palo Alto to date.
Walking in, one might not recognize the tail bottom of the restaurant outside says Bird Dog. The mystique is added by the dark doors that then open up into a beautifully lit venue covered with flying birds.
Asking the meaning behind the name, Dog Bird signifies always being on the hunt but always returning back with something new. Thus, chef brought a new concept to Palo Alto and kept one dish, the grilled avocado.
To eat, we started with the Grilled avocado and Snapper plates. Both excellent. I didn’t think I’d like the avocado as much as I did. The ponzu and wasabi mixture really brought out a taste is never experienced. The snapper had nuts and spice on it adding a nice crunch and kick at the end.
For mains, we did the Ribeye which was slightly modified and had an orange glaze and the as fried Chicken with green curry and uni and gellied egg. Both incredible and worth ordering. I ordered the chicken and loved it but enjoyed the ribeye more which I found interesting given I don’t eat much meat. We shared a potato terrine. It wasn’t my favorite.
For dessert, we had the Meyer lemon tart. The coconut Icecream paired quite nicely.

Bird Dog is the latest addition to the Peninsula dining scene and has succeeded in bringing the creative, novel and modern cuisine that is common to San Francisco to Palo Alto.
It all starts with the entryway and chic ambiance. The large wooden doors will be reminiscent of several places in the city and the high ceilings, eclectic décor (bird models hanging from the ceiling), and multilevel layout and spacing are meant to invoke an adventurous atmosphere.
The open kitchen is well staffed and the menu is both simple and very different than the staples that you’re used to seeing at all mid-​upper tier restaurants nowadays. There are a lot of Japanese influences but also Thai and Indian influences and it’s not dissimilar to menu touches at Morimoto Napa or Orchard City Kitchen (Campbell) which also share viewable open kitchens.
The crudo and especially raw fish highlight the appetizer portion while the main entrees or proteins occupy the middle. The sides are listed on the right, but in reality are sized more as portions readily shared among the group. Prices are on the higher end but are nicely reflective of the high quality ingredients and the top notch plating. Our order:
Cocktails — $ 14. A separate menu of several twists on old classics and several original cocktails from Bird Dog. The cocktail bar with seating is both popular and well staffed. Drinks were strong and Perro Caliente I ordered was refreshing. Many tables order or bring their own wine.
Big-​Eye Tuna — $ 19. The raw appetizers are shared to be about 3 – 4 ounces. Each is beautifully plated and freshness is key. The tuna were thick cuts perfectly marinated and paired with tiny round slices of crisp Asian Pear. Delicious.
Wood Grilled Avocado — $ 14. A nice vegetable appetizer. The avocado is grilled and then shelled completely out of the skin. The seaweed and ponzu sauce are a great combo and I’ve never had them before on avocado.
Tai Snapper — $ 17. Another gorgeously plated dish of sushi grade snapper. Paired with a nice mix of lime, crumbled pecans, sesame, and chilis. Fantastic appetizer and the two appetizers were more filling than I expected and perfect for sharing.
Wagyu Ribeye — $ 33. Perfectly cooked medium rare and sliced for both presentation and sharing. Wagyu and Kobe are one of the most overused words on menus nowadays (and with no solid definition or quality control) but I can confirm the steak is tender, delicious, and nicely seasoned with some finishing salt. A bit pricey given the portion size, but solid.
Chicken Thigh — $ 18. I was much more impressed with the chicken. There’s a saying that you should order the most boring item on the menu, because it must be there for a reason and chicken thigh doesn’t sound nearly as exciting as Wagyu Ribeye, Striploin or Pork Belly. I am glad I did. The chicken was super tender and flavorful and while it looked mostly white meat it was moist and so delicious. The crispy chicken skin deep fried and served as topping were lip-​smacking good.
Farro — $ 12. A grain that I wasn’t familiar with but the ingredients included a poached egg and miso so I was in. The miso is subtle and not overwhelming and the server was spot on when they said the grain was cooked like a risotto. The sesame seeds add some flavor and texture to the creamy and tasty consistency.
Orange Creamsicle Panna Cotta– $ 8. All the desserts sounded very different and creative, but panna cotta sounded like a slam dunk. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. This dessert completely missed. The orange creamsicle flavor tasted artificial and the yogurt chips on top (goat milk?) completely did not go with the flavors. Whatever the herb was on top, it also didn’t go well. It was an amalgam of flavors, but nothing tasted or went well together. Definitely felt like a case of trying to make a unique and creative dessert but nothing worked at all.
Overall, we had a very nice meal at Bird Dog. Service was friendly and professional and the menu while limited is both refreshing and well executed (except the dessert). I loved the crudo items and the chicken was fantastic. While portion sizes aren’t huge, many are still perfect for sharing and I liked the server gave realistic estimates of portion size (probably after feedback). Bird Dog is an ambitious different restaurant and we need more of that on the Peninsula. I saw some off-​menu pictures and I think that would be a great area for the restaurant to grow for the menu that don’t necessarily fit in the crudo/​protein/​side subcategories.
Bird Dog accepts credit cards including American Express.

Palo Alto has finally received a restaurant that isnt completely playing it safe. It’s not modernist by any means but the techniques and flavors are definitely more adventurous than the majority of eateries in downtown. Maybe Lure+Till was the last thing to offer more modern takes on familiar cuisine. I can’t say I miss the old Mandarin restaurant and what the Bird Dog team has done makes it unrecognizable. It’s dark and sleek and feels very open compared to the previous tenant. Large bar, open kitchen and a sizeable dining room. They’re in soft opening so the menu is a subset of what they plan to offer. However what they’re cooking now is on point.
–Snapper and big eye tuna crudo are smaller plates that start with pristine fish with both Japanese and Japanese/​Peruvian accents.
–Perfectly cooked salmon with honey, chamomile and lemon
–A spot on, mid rare wagyu strip with yuzu kosho and mushrooms
Everything was cooked perfectly. Given not many people know the place is open and it’s the beginning of the week, so they get to ease into their opening. My friend just got back from LA and was feeling lazy so lucky for us they were open and ready to serve delicious food. Im impressed with just the tip of the iceberg so far so it has a lot of potential down the line. Hooray for a progressive restaurant that is not another Italian or Turkish concept (and believe me I love those two cuisines!)
Definitely looking forward to seeing the expanded menu