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Definitely a memorable dining experience as the ambiance
Definitely a memorable dining experience as the ambiance was just incredible--the decor hanging from the ceiling and above the front door were so intricate. The service here also surpassed my expectations as they were quick to clear and change plates, the food arrived immediately, and they even took care to wipe down the table in between courses. Walk-in are hard to come by, especially for larger parties, so you'll probably want to make a reservation.We ordered:Monkey Buns (4/5):The bread buns were so much smaller than they appeared on photos but paired so well with the eggplant chutney and housemade butter. They personally aren't something I would consider a must-get because they remind me of brioche buns a sprinkle of seasoning.Tender Jack Vada Pav (5/5):This was probably my favorite dish of the night. I've never been a fan of jackfruit but this was so flavorful and surprisingly crunchy. The jalapeños added a nice kick and the roasted pepper gravy was just so delicious.Kerala Fried Chicken (4.5/5):I loved the subtle heat and how unique the breading was. It was kind of on the smaller side but paired well with the splash of raita. Chicken Biryani (4/5):This was pretty standard chicken biryani and frankly pretty overpriced, but at least it was up to par and had good flavor and a good amount of tender chicken meat.
I always leave 100% content and happy. Everytime I have guests from other state over, I never fail to take them to Ettan.
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It was our 2nd time dining here and the food never
It was our 2nd time dining here and the food never disappoints! Both times our food were delicious and our servers were extremely nice and fast! Ambiance is also really nice even if we got outside seating. The reason why I'm only giving 4/5 is because we had issues getting seated for both times we visited. First time we were here, we checked in, had waited about 15 minutes, only to be asked by another staff if we had already checked in... and that's the only time they got us seated. Second time was faster, we were seated right away, but after about five minutes in our table, we were approached by a staff member and informed us that there was some mix up and asked us to move to a different (smaller) table. Not quite a deal breaker for me but I surely hope it doesn't happen again. All in all a good experience. I can't wait to come back!*Photos were from the 2 times we went
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A place that's difficult to get a reservation, but once you
A place that's difficult to get a reservation, but once you do, oh the excitement. This place is nestled in a bright alley area in downtown Palo Alto, and the decor is as vibrant as the pictures seem. The food was excellent, especially the sesame leaves out of everything we ordered (in the pictures). We were still a bit full from lunch so we didn't order very much. Since we noted in our reservation that it was our anniversary we even got a cute chocolate cake with a candle. The bourbon Bartlett pear was the highlight of everything, with the cold ice cream and warm sugary soaked cake. Everything was very, very cute. One note is that the chutney sampler really only includes two chutneys (not as much of a sampler).
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Unfortunately this place has taken a turn in quality of
Unfortunately this place has taken a turn in quality of service and customer interaction. The host and his helpers seem more interested in goofing off, joking, and not attending to customers waiting at all... where's the warm and professional greetings. Please and thank you and instruction and time estimate data?? The person who seemed to be the floor manager seemed okay with how his host employees were behaving as well and was even in on it showing the hosts something on his phone at one point before I finally walked up to check on our order after nearly an hour, to which I realized had I not done that I would've never been informed my order was already ready.Ordinarily this place is quite classy, superb decor, fabulous servers so our recent experience was quite a surprise to say the least. We were unable to get the online platform to work at all for over an hour in multiple devices as reservations are strongly recommended from past experience and even on their website.. but we really wanted to round out a very long day with a great meal so decided after a long drive back home to pop by one of our formerly favorite places... figuring we could at the very least order to go. We walked up shortly after 7p asked if we could have a table for 2 nothing available until 930p.. okay can we order to go instead. We were handed a regular menu and a paper menu... apparently you're only supposed to use the paper menu.. check boxes, name and phone number and use the regular hardcover menu so you have something to write on, but the host couldn't be bothered to tell us that. Ordered and paid by 730p and then waited on the benches right in front of the entrance in clear line of sight to the host stand, we were both clearly visible to the host stand and the 2+ other employees that kept circling the area to goof and giggle with the host.Also not all items are available to go, like the monkey bread supposedly because it comes out on a cast iron skillet display etc. However if you order it to your table and immediately ask for a to go box to package you can the get around this issue. Not sure why its made to be so complicated for patrons.. but it definitely can be done.We waited for nearly an hour for our to go food and weren't offered even a water or anything. After 50mts, I walked up and asked how much longer since we were clearly the only to go order and only ones waiting and sitting in plain view. There were 4 employees just chatting around the host stand (and plenty of open tables for 2 I might add by that time.. so they could definitely do a better job of turning tables if they were actually paying attention and making their rounds in a timely fashion)...After I asked, we were handed our food which had already been ready and we were never even notified. Not even a text or anything since a mobile number was also written on the to go order form... plus we were clearly waiting and visible. Our food was cold and clearly there is plenty of room for opportunity and improvement.Food flavor was strong and spicy. Not worth ordering to go or for delivery at all. Seems to be smaller portions and you lose bang for your buck even with the price differences. Very unfortunate. I hope they get working pens too, since I was handed two that didn't work so I'm assuming they didn't even toss the pen I said wasn't working the first time.Please get it together. My guest I was treating to this dinner as a first time diner at this restaurant was also not impressed with everything that transpired. Service industry, let's make service a focus.
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Great ambiance, very good food, and a superb experience.
The decoration in the restaurant takes you to a different place, along with the food, but get ready to splurge and empty your pocketbook!
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The food and drinks are (hella) fantastic but honestly
The food and drinks are (hella) fantastic but honestly Sergio made our night. From here on out we will be sitting at the bar.
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I love me some Indian food.
I love me some Ettan. What a gorgeous restaurant with great food and service. You're almost transported to Morocco with the decor. If you know Indian food, you know it can get spicy. Most of Ettan's dishes are on the spicier side, but I love spice so I don't mind it one bit. Here are my recommendations:- Sesame leaf chaat: it has the perfect crunch that *leaves* you wanting more. Did you get that pun?!- Ettan wings: I love wings, so it's natural that I love these. They're spicy though! The yogurt pairs really well and helps to offset the kick a bit. - Seared scallops: perfectly cooked and so succulent. A must try. Disappointed their passion fruit dessert was sold out so I couldn't try it. I also came here when I was doing dry February, so I didn't get to try any of the cocktails. Looks like I'll need to come back soon!
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A little late in writing this review.
That blue door that changed the Indian fine dining scene in the area. Had been trying to get a reservation for a while, finally got lunch reservation on a sunday. Chef Srijith Gopinathan brings his magic that has excelled his Campton Place restaurant to a 2 Michelin star icon in the area. They do not have the full menu available for lunch, but whatever limited options available for lunch, were absolutely amazing. From edmame vada to cheese kulcha to chocolate puck - everything tasted delicious. Coming back soon for dinner.
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Went there for my Bday party with my gfs.
Great ambience and amazing service . Our server was John and he was beyond amazing .. he hosted us very very well . I would go back just for the ambience and service . The food was ok ! Not bad .. not the best either ..
Filling in my review with words because there is a minimum number of words.
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The ambiance of this place is amazing.
And there is only one dish that stood out to me that I would come back for: the Bartlett Pear Cake with Bourbon cream and jaggery pecan ice cream. I am absolutely shocked that I don't see that in the menu anymore, but anyone gets a chance to order that again, that is a must!Now to the other parts of the meal, we were feeling appetizers only because of the unique creations that they had. Plus we couldn't decide on just a couple so went for all the ones we wanted. Jackfruit vada pav was really flavorful and liked their take on jackfruit, but it was definitely on the oily side. The black pepper caulifower was really nice with the right amount of tang, and the cream complemented it very well. The cast iron monkey bread was super soft, and the side curry they gave was interesting and made eating the bread less dry, even though it was pretty dry. The sesame leaf chaat was great except for being too overpowering on the sesame flavor. But loved the chutneys and yogurt they put on it, as well as the presentation. Now the dessert was my love. Barlett pear cake with bourbon cream and jaggery pecan ice cream goodness. I was surprised that the bourbon felt light, the pear was just enough, and the cake was dense which made the cream and ice cream needed. And the ice cream was splendid. The appetizers were good but not amazing, but the dessert was out of this world. I hope they bring this back because I would come back only for this dessert. But definitely worth visiting at least once as they do a good job on presentation and quality of food.
Great ambience. Drinks were good too. Halibut was great but the chicken curry we ordered was the top notch.
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We managed to get a reservation and went here for dinner.
As soon as we entered we were impressed by the decor. We opted for dine in but even the outdoor seating was nice and warm. Hospitality is spot on. Coming to the food we tried the jackfruit vadapav, kerala fried chicken and seasame leaves for starters . All three dishes were amazing. Jackfruit vadapav was a surprise and we loved how they managed to make as close to normal vadapav as possible without a hint of jackfruit taste. Seasame leaves had a nice chaat flavor to it. Kerala chicken was very well marinated and tasted too good. For mains we had roasted romanesco. It was served with nice soft roti with pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top. The curry had a red apple base which gave the tangy flavor of makhni gravy and they had smoked cauliflower with fresh paneer scrumble on top. I just loved the smoky touch alot which gave the dish an amazing flavor. Overall we had a lovely experience! Definitely a must fine dine india restaurant in the bay!
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I was able to get a opportunity to explore their brunch
I was able to get a opportunity to explore their brunch menu and I must say, it was a great experience, food and ambience to explore. The food was really good and enjoyed all the dishes, being a vegetarian they have really good options as well. I tried their virgin mojito which was really good as well. The green pea kulcha and the Mysore dosa was really yummy. The desert Saffron slice was really unique and very delicious. Great experience, food and amazing ambience. Dont think just go and have their yummy food.
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As a true blue Malayalee, I felt great pride in seeing my
As a true blue Malayalee, I felt great pride in seeing my traditional cuisine re-thought into such fine dishes! ... for the very first time! !! I was being treated by my boss, and I got to feed them silly nuggets of information about noolappam/ rice noodles, chakka/ jackfruit and show 'em how coconut oil/coconut milk has made their way into each dish . Or how 'Ettan' means big brother in Malayalam. And this was easier to do since all the flavors of these dishes were incredible! We had the jackfruit vada pavs, mushroom pot, truffle kulchas, KFC(Kerala fried chicken) and chocolate with pineapple sorbet for dessert. Could do better with the drinks menu though.. do I dare suggest, make it more Mallu? ;)
Ambience could be much upscale, but the food is great. I loved all different twists they have given to many traditional Indian dishes. Some dishes are actually pretty basic and could use some improvement. Hence 4 stars.Pretty pricey for regular dineouts, but if you crave something fancy, this place is a must try.
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I have loved visiting to this place.
i have visited on Saturday. my most favorite dish is saffron slice and this full filled my cravings.
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I've been trying to get a reservation here for a while and
I've been trying to get a reservation here for a while and finally scored one last Saturday. I was waiting outside for them to open, and watching the staff setup the outside area and get ready for service. When the big blue doors finally opened at 5pm, the space looked bright and airy and so inviting.We were seated upstairs at a fairly large table that allowed two of us to sit side by side, which was a perfect setup for a bunch of plates meant to be shared. I really liked the fact that the tables were spaced out quite a bit, so that you could have an intimate conversation and while the restaurant is rather lively on the weekend you're not struggling to hear each other.I ordered a red turban, and my wife ordered a lemon drop. It is nice that they have a full bar and can make pretty much anything that you want to drink. The red turban was definitely a good value, as I only needed one of these very strong drinks. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and would order again. The lemon drop was thoughtfully presented as well. As appetizers we ordered the oysters, edamame vada, sesame leaf, black pepper cauliflower, and kerala fried chicken.The oysters came with a chili sauce and curry leaf ponzu. The chili sauce definitely brings the heat, and left my mouth slightly on fire. The curry leaf ponzu was light and a good follow up to the heat from the fermented chilis, and worked well with the super fresh tasting oysters. The black pepper cauliflower was super flavorful and crispy, and came with a nice yogurt to kind of cool things down a bit. Overall, a very good appetizer.The Kerala fried chicken was stunning. Absolutely the best dish of the night for me, and one that I will be thinking about for a long time. There were fried onions, fried curry leaves and little slivers of green apple on the plate of perfectly seasoned and fried chicken. The balance of flavors and perfect execution from visual to taste was impressive. This is signature dish worthy.The sesame leaf was incredibly crispy. I was surprised at how crisp the leaf itself was, and it contrasted well with the soft and creamy sauces that sat on top of it. I wanted to like this dish, but it was a bit one dimensional flavor wise. It was very sweet, and I think some heat on this one would have counteracted the sweetness.The edamame vada was doughy and lacked quite a bit of flavor. The sauce that it came with helped a bit to liven it up, but it was a bit too heavy to really enjoy. We shared a lentil dish from the large plate menu that came with idli as our main dish. It seems that they change the selection on their menu rather frequently, so when I went to lookup the name of this dish I couldn't find it as it was no longer on the menu. It was very good however. It had a rich tomato based sauce with roasted chilis, roasted peanuts which added a nice texture and a few different types of lentils and beans. This was like comfort food with a slight twist. The idli that it came with reminded me of a cornbread, and was a bit thick and heavy for this dish I think. I ended up eating the lentils with some garlic naan which was great. For dessert we shared the saffron slice. I didn't really taste much saffron and was expecting to see some saffron color in this dish which I didn't really get, but this still ended up being an excellent dessert. It was light and creamy, with strawberries on the side that reminded me of eating strawberry shortcake as a kid. The dessert looked beautiful, and was a subtly sweet ending to an excellent meal.This is a great place for a date night, with an excellent ambiance and wonderful flavors.
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From the ambiance, to food and the brilliant hospitality,
From the ambiance, to food and the brilliant hospitality, Ettan checks all the points! Went there for brunch with a bunch of friends and I've not had so much fun in a long time. The regular menu is slightly pricier but worth it, the brunch menu is more affordable. Progressive Indian cuisine, the stuffed kulcha and beef bao won my heart. Saffron dessert was something I've never tasted before and I couldn't stop at one. Definitely going back for many more!
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Special brunch at the "2021 New Discovery" Michelin Guide
Special brunch at the "2021 New Discovery" Michelin Guide Californian restaurant @ettanrestaurant I am in love with the ambience and the vibrant brunch menu Have to mention the amazing cocktails and mocktails made the brunch so excitingEveryone was in absolute awe with the desserts at #ettanrestaurant What we DrankCosmokingVirgin MojitoSpritz venezianoSevilla groveWhat we ateEttan SaladGreen pea KulchaEdamame VadaFrench toastJackfruit Vada pavBeef baoMysore dosaSamosa piePaneer makhaniPindi CholeDessertChocolate OblongSaffron SliceWinter Fruit Cake#michelinguiderestaurant #calindian #indianrestaurantcalifornia #womensday2022 #womenbrunch #bayareabrunch #bayareavisits #shiulichakravorty
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Amazing decor, beautiful plating and good service - all in
Amazing decor, beautiful plating and good service - all in one place. Otherwise, the food was good tasting. For me the stuffed kulcha was too spongy and we got it twice - once with appetizers and another time with Pindi chole. There were not many vegetarian saucy dishes to pair with bread. But there are lots of small bites that will get you full. The food and drinks were amazing! Highly recommended! Everything we tried was delicious and def will come again!
The atmosphere is somewhat attracts the place particularly their table arrangements - able to see the entire restaurant while enjoying the food was an amazing experience.The sesame leaf was my favorite and would definitely even come back for those.
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Ambience and setup is amazing, food is flavorful and does
Ambience and setup is amazing, food is flavorful and does have a healthy vibe to some of the food. We liked sesame chaat, stuffed kulcha and cauliflower. But ginger cocktail was bland and bitter. Roasted romanesco description didn't mentioned anything related to broccoli but we got a big broccoli dipped in paneer makhani sauce.. it was hard and hot easy to eat and cut. Could've been cooked more
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Came yesterday with my girlfriend for dinner and drinks .
We sat at the bar and had an Amazing experience. We walked in and was able to sit at the bar . The Bartenders were GREAT !! So friendly had a great conversation about differs alcohol and was educated while I was waiting for my friends. Massimo made the most incredible drinks !! You all are lucky to have a bartender like him! Sergio too was very friendly and accommodating as well as the other bartender!! Will DEFINITELY come back! Food was good given I am from Indian heritage .
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One of the best services, super kool desserts and drinks.
4/5 by
M E. on 03/03/2022
It "slightly" misses the mark on food where there is so much of hype and expectations. Food wasn't bad, it was really good BUT was not as good as Rooh SF or Aurum. Its still a 4 star as its worth going there for special occasions and I bet this place will make an unforgettable and memorable experience for sure.
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Love the beautiful decor and ambiance of this restaurant.
5/5 by
Jo S. on 03/03/2022
Nice outdoor patio with ample space and heat lamps. Everything we tried was delicious. Especially loved the sesame leaf dish and passion fruit dessert!
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