Parkside Grille

It’s just OK. The baked goat cheese is good but everything else including service is just OK. They ran out of the fish, the pasta was under cooked and watery. We went the Wednesday before Christmas and it was packed but they say us promptly. Maybe we’ll go back if we happen to be in the area.

I had been here years ago and stumbled on it on Open Table and thought to give it a go. I had remembered good food and a beautiful location surrounded by redwoods.
Sadly the service was very poor. The woman who waited on us was almost rude. Slow to get to us. Took forever for our bread and wine to appear. She was clearly trying to manage the other servers and was very distracted. She never once asked how we were doing or how our food was. For the amount we paid the service should have been much better.
The food was good… but honestly will probably not be back. Service is as important to me as the food — so this was not a good experience.

Hadn’t been here for several years so decided to go again last night, mostly because it’s close to where we live. We were rewarded nicely with an excellent meal, with both of us having the lamb chops. They came with a very nice Greek salad that complimented the chops perfectly, including a dollop of soft feta cheese. It was all simply delicious! And the portion size was good! We will be dining here again in the near future!

Don’t know what happened to this restaurant. Last visit I would have given them a 4.5, this time a 3. The house wine was do bad I couldn’t drink it. The food was acceptable, maybe a 4. But the service was a study in chaos. Even though we made reservations we ended up in a table in the middle of the action. The bus boy was rude, bumping into me twice, the waitress was very nice but clearly over worked. I think they need to examine what made them successful previously and go back to it.

I’ve been coming to this place for years and the food can be really good but today for lunch my friend and I ordered the same lunch «the Asian Chicken Salad». Unfortunately we both tasted our salads and it didn’t have any Asian dressing, both salads only had oil and none of the Asian sesame flavor, when we pointed it out the owner jumped on us and behaved much like «Sammy» of «Amy’s backing company» from the hit show «Kitchen Nightmares. The owner would not believe my friend or I, or even believe the mistake that the kitchen made and took his frustrations/​bad mood out on me. After this encounter I would NOT COME BACK to such a ill tempered owner of this restaurant. This restaurant would be much better if he and his ill fouled mood where not in it.

Totally revising my review. We had a terrible experience, but the owner reached out and then won me over! Acknowledged the mistake, completely changed my opinion of the place. Now I’m back to 5 stars, which is why we go back.
Go, check it out. The food is worth the drive. :)

Came in around 7 on a Saturday night with about 6 friends, no reservation. Took an hour but we were having drinks at at the bar to wait. They make really good moscow mules here. Their bread and butter is warm and delicious. We had a Margarita pizza appetizer, good but not amazing. I had the New York steak with baked potato and broccolini. It was cooked exactly how I ordered and very tasty. Slightly on the chewy side though and could have had more seasoning. Baked potato also could have been cooked a bit more but the sour cream chive stuff they put on it was good. We had asked for extra, as well as butter and he forgot but that’s ok. When they boxed up my food they only boxed up the steak though and I wanted the rest of my potato and broccolini :\ Over all it was a good experience. Pricey, but good.

I consider this to be one of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. We always find something on the menu that were in the mood for and they have an excellent selection of wine. Highly recommend coming here if you haven’t.

We held a private event at the Parkside Grille last night, and it couldn’t have been any better. We had the private room to ourselves, and the food, ambiance, and service was exceptional. We are so looking forward to going back! Definitely recommend it.

Easily the best restaurant in Portola Valley (few choices). Parkside is a safe dinner choice. Overall 3.5 starts for me.
The big positive is the staff and service. I always find the staff to be friendly, attentive and positive. The location and the ambiance are a solid 5.
However the food needs an update. I never had a bad dish (maybe tried half the menu at this point and a lot of the specials), but I never had a WOW dish either. Another reviewer (Bob O.) said it well — «hotel diningroom-​ish».

food is OK, pretty standard hotel diningroom-​ish, not bad ingredients, prepared ok. Caesar salad was marginal, risotto had been held on a broiler too long so scallops overdone and some rice crunchy and dried out. Short rib special was barely good. We were asked about wine 3x and when we ordered and asked that it be decanted the waiter said fine, and poured it straight into our glasses. Did she not know what «decant» means?
Wine was not the one ordered, a year later and not as good quality. Not pointed out to us before opened and tasted. When i pointed this out, there was no hesitation, she said «it’ll be fine». It wasn’t.

A local favorite of ours. They usually have fantastic specials so eating here regularly will always be pleasant. However the specials are usually fresh and limited in quantity so order early.
The bartender does a fine job, but we’d like to see a larger selection of boutique/​artisan gin. We’d also like to see longer hours, but that has more to do with the early hours of the people of the town.

Been coming here several times a year for a decade. Know the place and the area well. Finally felt I had to speak up after suffering through dinner here this week. The results were consistent with prior visits, only worse. The place has gone downhill and we won’t be back after this… really.
Food: good but not anything special.
Service: Consistently lazy. Took 10 min for a waiter to greet us, then another 10+ for a simple glass of wine. No apology (much less a smile) and then had to literally wave him down to get the check/​pay.
Atmosphere: So noisy on a modestly busy weeknight that we couldn’t have a conversation. Yet we heard every.single.word of the table next door. Really awful.
Value: check for 2 entrees, 1 wine, no apps or dessert =$ 80 + tip. Just not worth it for mediocre food and downright inattentive service in a noisy room. Yuck.

Ambiance is a 5. This place is beautiful.
Service is also a 5.
Food was ok. Maybe a 3.5
Prices are a little high.
Overall, an ok experience but not amazing.

Solid 4.5 stars. I consider this place the lesser known version of Village Pub: it’s embedded inside the wooded area west of Stanford and its clientele mostly are rich old white people who probably made their money on tech ;). We ordered 4 – 5 different entrees and each of them were hits. I really enjoyed their brussel sprouts as well: they were sauteed and had great flavor (I usually see baked or grilled brussel sprouts).

Brought my Mom and kids here on a Friday night, kids had just finished camp nearby. I have said this before-​we take our kids to nice places and they know how to behave. Some restaurants panic, give you a horrible table and ignore you. I like to give props to the ones that don’t! Antonio was out waiter and he was awesome! All of the staff was friendly, kind, smiled and the service was timely.
Bill, the manager, was delightful! I thanked him for making us feel so welcome.
The Moscow mule was perfect, and in a proper copper cup!
Everything we ordered was perfect. Lamb, halibut, pizza, baked goat cheese and the grilled artichoke!
Can’t wait to go back!!!

Wow, those drinks are strong!
I came to the Parkside with a friend for a drink on a busy Friday night. The owner was so gracious and since there were no seats at the bar, he had us seated at a 2 top in the dining room.
The drinks specials were celebrating the warm weather and focused on Ginger beer. I had a Dark and Stormy and my friend enjoyed the Moscow Mule. I haven’t had a drink that strong in a long time!!!
We also shared a few apps, the Calamari and the apple pizzette. Both with delicious. I can;t wait to come back.

I know the locals like this place but …
My pizza was good but about average for a pizza along with the lofty price. I thought the quality, taste etc. should have been better.
We tried the Cesar salad. We both thought the dressing was bland.
Service was so-​so.
Overall I was disappointed but maybe compared to the other restaurants in the area this is good.

This is a hidden gem in the SF Bay Area. What a gorgeous location underneath all of the Redwood trees and every once in a while you can spot customers’ horses in front of the restaurant.
We have come here several times for my aunt’s birthday as a group of 5, once sitting outdoors and once indoors. I recommend the baked organic goat cheese for a starter to share. It is the perfect combination of olives, garlic, cheese, and bread. Someone at our table tried the special soup of the night, Cauliflower, and it was really tasty. I have had the greek pizza here as well as the spaghetti with roasted chicken. Both have great flavor and I would get either of them again. The only thing I did not like from here was their Moscow Mule. Maybe their bartender was having an off night, but there was hardly a drop of vodka in the drink. The ginger beer overpowered all of the other flavors. Still cool that they continue to serve them in copper mugs though.
This place is an ideal spot for both small parties and large parties. Major drawback is the prices… it is definitely overpriced. My family has also come here for Christmas Eve and they do a wonderful job with classy decorations and a pre-​fixe menu.

As you enter from a redwood park-​like surroundings there is a bar on your right with an antique look dark wood bar-​back and mirror reflecting a warm and inviting restaurant interior. The designer has given you the feeling of being in Monterey/​Carmel with cottage paneling and half window curtains, upscale furniture, white table clothes and appropriate artwork. Sitting in the dining room you face the redwoods and greenery or an open kitchen wafting aromas of freshly baked bread and culinary delights. The stage is set for a wonderful meal.
Bob and I had lunch and it was delicious. It is not everywhere in the countryside that you can order inventive entrees cooked to perfection. We both ordered a cleverly orchestrated burger combination; that’s right, no red meet combo. For me it was an oyster burger with aioli, sides of shoestring fries and snow pea slaw. The oysters were fried, crisp and bountiful with just the right touch of the mayo and garlic combination to bring out the shell fish essence. Bob, my weekly lunch buddy, ordered the seared ahi with thick slices of bacon, avocado and wasabi-​soy mayo and a side of fries. Both of these sandwiches were on freshly baked whole wheat buns topped with oatmeal flakes. Good job Chef.
From the hostess and waiter to the busboy the service was impeccable. It was also fun to watch the professions in the kitchen.
If you are looking for ambiance as well as really good food then the Grille might be just what you’re seeking.