Protégé
Welcome to Protégé, a renowned Michelin star restaurant located in Palo Alto, California. This upscale establishment offers a unique dining experience with its blend of Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars, and New American cuisine. Protégé provides a range of utilities including reservation options, delivery, takeout, and a variety of dietary options such as Pescatarian, Vegan, and Vegetarian choices. The restaurant boasts a trendy, intimate, and romantic ambiance, making it ideal for a special dinner or late-night dessert.
Protégé is praised for its exceptional culinary creations that showcase complex flavor profiles and a focus on extracting flavors from vegetables. Customers rave about dishes like the Dungeness crab with caviar, Arancini, Oysters, and Sakura-Smoked Sablefish. The attentive staff and modern yet cozy ambiance add to the overall dining experience. The restaurant offers a pre-fixe menu for those looking for a complete tasting journey or a la carte options for a more casual dining experience.
One standout dish is the Brick Chicken, which might seem humble compared to other luxurious offerings on the menu but surprises diners with its preparation and flavor. The dessert selection, including a Peanut Butter "Bombe" and a range of cheeses for tasting, adds a delightful finish to the meal. Protégé also offers an extensive wine list and full bar service to complement the culinary delights.
Whether you are looking for a memorable celebration or a sophisticated night out, Protégé promises a gastronomic experience that will leave a lasting impression. With impeccable service, exquisite dishes, and a warm ambiance, this Michelin star restaurant is a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts in the Bay Area.
Protégé Menu
Location
Address: 250 S California Ave Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone:
Business info
- Takes ReservationsYes
- By Appointment OnlyYes
- DeliveryNo
- TakeoutNo
- Pescatarian OptionsYes
- Vegan OptionsYes
- Many Vegetarian OptionsYes
- Wheelchair accessibleYes
- Accepts Credit CardsYes
- Accepts Android PayNo
- Accepts Apple PayNo
- Accepts CryptocurrencyNo
- Outdoor SeatingYes
- Trendy, Intimate, Romantic, UpscaleYes
- Moderate NoiseYes
- Casual DressYes
- Good for Dinner, Late Night, DessertYes
- Garage Parking, Street ParkingYes
- Waiter ServiceYes
- Free Wi-FiYes
- Best nights on Wednesday, Friday, SaturdayYes
- Full BarYes
- Dogs AllowedYes
- Heated Outdoor SeatingYes
- Covered Outdoor SeatingYes
- Private DiningYes
- Offers CateringNo
- Not Good For GroupsNo
- Not Good For KidsNo
- Not Good For DancingNo
- Happy HourNo
- SmokingNo
- Drive-ThruNo
- TVNo
- Bike ParkingYes
Last Reviews
-
Author: Sandy W.
This is an outstanding Michelin star restaurant in the Bay Area. They create complex flavor profiles that are absolutely delicious. Their treatment of vegetables and the flavors they are able to extract from them are especially noteworthy. Fantastic cooking, highly recommend.
-
Author: Brandon Y.
The food here is phenomenal. The flavors of each dish had a complexity and approachability to it that was impressive. The Dungeness crab dish with caviar is a bite of a lifetime. The Arancini and Oysters also blew me away. The staff is super warm. Patrick was also gracious enough to share his experiences at French Laundry. The ambiance was modern yet cozy. Overall I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an elevated culinary experience you won't soon forget!
-
Author: Wincy Y.
My second Michelin star experience was at Protege. Located in downtown Palo Alto, parking can be a bit challenging and the restaurant was a bit unassuming on the outside. The dress attire seemed a bit more on the casual side, and I saw a variety of attire from jeans to more business casual looks. As expected from a restaurant of this tier, service was good and the food was unique. Even though I normally don't eat seafood, one of my favorite dishes was the Sakura-Smoked Sablefish. The caviar balanced the smoky sablefish well, and textures of the dish were amazing. The Wolfe Ranch Quail was tender and cooked perfectly, which was also another favorite. Toward the end of the meal, they wheeled over a cheese cart and allowed us to select 2-3 cheeses for tasting. The meal ended with a Peanut Butter "Bombe," which surprisingly was the least spectacular part of the meal. I found the "bombe" shell to be quite thick and a bit hard to break and eat, but the dessert was delicious nevertheless. They also gave us a pastry to take home and savor for the next day, and I couldn't help but remember the delicious meal I had as I was munching on it. A well-deserved Michelin star!
-
Author: Mandi F.
My husband got a babysitter and brought me to Protégé for my birthday celebration. The bar area looked like a great spot for drinks and a more laid back atmosphere. I think you can also order ala carte menu items if you're not in the mood for the full pre-fixe 7 course meal. We chose the pre-fixe menu. We were the only people in the dining room section for a solid hour because we wanted to make it home in time to put our infant son to bed (our babysitter didn't know our routine). So while the time worked for that, it felt a bit empty and a tad awkward as the attentive staff, however, felt overly eager to clear our plates, even when I paused mid-conversation. After being interrupted a few time, I felt I needed to move faster for the courses to come out correctly. I think a later time with a livelier crowd could distract customers from staff checking on the tables progress and the staff would be busier to not come around as often. As for the food, I think they are the first Michelin spot where I really liked every dish. Normally there's one or even two dishes I could do without (that's including my French Laundry visit). So overall, a nice spot to celebrate the end of my 30s.