It was cozy and really nice for quiet conversation-conversation being very difficult in most Palo Alto restaurants! Gracious and professional. We were seated in a little alcove just off the bar area. I took my husband here (to the Lounge) as a thank you gift. Overall, a fantastic experience (apart from that merely very good kampachi), not at all cheap, but at least you do not get the traditional Palo Alto experience of paying way too much for way too little. Service was very attentive, though the kaleidoscope of people serving you does make your head spin a little. I am not sure I would have been brave enough to declare it corked to a sommelier of such high standing, so I was very thankful. On the second visit, the sommelier brought the bottle, poured it into the carafe, smelled it, declared it corked, and came back with another bottle.
It is not often that you get a bottle that is actually ready to drink, and we appreciated that. As for the wine list, it is not cheap - we had the same $85 half-bottle of Bordeaux from 2000 on both occasions - obviously, we have enjoyed it if we ordered it the second time. The espresso was very solid, not bitter at all but a tiny bit weak, the Darjeeeling tea was excellent. I have not tried the tart, the donuts were heavenly. For the dessert we had the fig tart and also some donuts that were not on the menu. The veal as the main dish was cooked perfectly but by then the bar was extremely high, and it did not cross it. Incredibly, the strong flavours at Protege never cross the line - nothing (apart from that kampachi) is bland but nothing is killed by one flavour. Then came a surprise from the chef: cheese ravioli, with a very strong and fantastic flavour. The sablefish as the first course was a pure delight, with a beatifully executed fish, and the leek combing together for another level of perfection. Kampachi was very good but nothing like the foie gras and ultimately utterly forgettable.
Very soft, flavourful and the tiny bite size sides complemented it perfectly, Quite incredible you can get this in Palo Alto. The better half's curiosity prevailed this time, so we tried both the kampachi and the foie gras. I am lucky to have been sufficiently many times to the Southwest of France to know better than order foie gras anywhere more than, say, 100 kilometers away from Albi. The appetizers are kampachi and a terrine of foie gras. The menu is small: two choices per course, with just the veal as the main course - you can up the game with the vagyu beef as a $75 supplement, but we did not go down the road. which is a good thing as that keeps you from coming too often and blowing too much money. The prix fixe at $120 a head is not cheap but their menu seems to be fairly stable. We have been twice to Protege: once to the lounge, and now to the main dining room, or the prix fixe room, whatever you would call it. Protege is certainly a worthy dinner destination. With the wooden service aside, the evening was enjoyable, the food was delicious, the wine and drinks were on the mark. Whoever manages the 'front of house' needs to inspire some interest and passion that'll match what the kitchen produces. They are helpful, but aloof, and their commentary is canned. They do the correct things, but their timing is off. The service is efficient and staff is clearly well trained, but their guest interaction comes off being perfunctory and bureaucratic. The menu changes seasonally so the awesome Crab & Caviar will likely be gone soon, but something equally wonderful will replace it. They have an impressive wine list and their cocktails have the same creative passion that inspires their food. The presentation is also creative and sometimes can verge on oddly whimsical. Each dish is inventive, interesting, and impeccably crafted. The inside is understated and casually elegant. They have a number of outdoor dining tables - all pleasant even if on an active sidewalk. There's lots of easy parking nearby, and the street is vibrant without being busy. Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Palo Alto.Restaurants for Special Occasions in Palo Alto.Restaurants for Group Dining in Palo Alto.Italian Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Palo Alto.Italian Restaurants for Large Groups in Palo Alto.Greek Restaurants for Families in Palo Alto.Hotels near (OAK) Metropolitan Oakland Intl Airport.Hotels near (SJC) Mineta San Jose Intl Airport.Hotels near Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center.
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