Ethel's Fancy

4.9

495 Reviews

$50 and over

Californian

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

Innovative
Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails

A hip and fun restaurant with chef's counter dining, serving thoughtful American cuisine, with an emphasis on local seasonal products.

Ethel's Fancy is open at 5 PM Tuesday - Saturday.

We have a small dining room with a limited amount of reservable tables. We do keep our Bar seats and a table in the restaurant open for people to walk-ins. Walk-ins are on a first come basis.

Please do not make multiple reservations with the intention of combining reservations to increase party size.

All guests must be present before your party will be seated.

To help provide a seamless experience for all our guests, we have allocated 2-hours for your group of 2 to 4 people.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Californian, Japanese, Contemporary French / American
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(650) 561-4860
Website
http://www.ethelsfancypa.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Scott Nishiyama

Location
550 Waverley St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1720
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Cross street
University Avenue & Waverley Street<br />Hamilton Avenue & Waverley
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 495 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Innovative
San Francisco Bay Area
Californian
Peninsula
Innovative
Peninsula
Hot spot
Peninsula
Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ethel's Fancy offers an exceptional dining experience with "incredible food, service, and atmosphere." Chef Scott's inventive dishes blend Japanese and American flavors, captivating diners with their unique combinations. The "pork belly and milk bread are to die for," while the "charming and appealing" ambiance ensures a memorable evening. Perfect for special occasions, this Palo Alto gem is a must-visit.

495 Reviews

D
Dana
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ethel’s never disappoints! Still our favorite spot in the Bay Area. Perfection- service, food, ambiance, attention to detail. Food is creative and delicious. Can’t wait for our next visit!
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M
Mahesh
San Francisco
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was amazing. Chef Scott has a special touch. Each dish was a masterpiece by itself. Service was beyond good. Garret was super attentive and caring. GM was very gracious. One of the best places in S Bay.
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MK
MargieK
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The most flavorful, unique food and dining experience on the peninsula. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this restaurant.
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G
Gypsy
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All of the dishes we were ordered were delicious, combining interesting flavors and textures. A few highlights were fuyu persimmons with a scrumptious tahini dressing; sesame pancakes with a spectacular white fish dip; perfectly cooked "salt and pepper" octopus with blistered cherry tomatoes; crispy pork belly; and an exquisite halibut. The wine list included a diverse selection from California, France and Italy without being overwhelming. Pricing was reasonable given quality. Staff were knowledgeable about wines, friendly and attentive. We sat outdoors, so noise was not an issue. We'll certainly we back!
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J
Jennifer
San Francisco
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our favorite place for family celebrations. It’s creative, flavorful California cuisine with a non-stuffy ambience.
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C
Cheryl
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Surprising , delicious, unique food. The chef is incredible talented and creative with ingredients and flavors. A Bay Area hidden gem.
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A
Andy
Hong Kong
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We chose Ethel's Fancy for our 18th anniversary celebration and they did not disappoint. The restaurant is fairly new (opened in 2022) and the ambiance is modern, energetic and vibrant. We sat at the Chef's Counter to watch them prepare and serve all the dishes, which was a very special experience especially you're into cooking. Every dish was fresh, creative, delicious and healthy-tasting, exemplifying the best of California cuisine. The service was attentive and friendly, and everyone including the chefs knew it was our anniversary and made us feel very special. We're definitely going back again before our next anniversary.
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I
Inge622
San Francisco
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Since their opening in October 2022, Ethel's Fancy has been one of our favorite restaurants. Chef Scott continues to impress me with his unique blend of Japanese and American ingredients and tastes. The service is impeccable with staff providing their insights about the menu and recommendations. Reservations are highly recommended as they fill up quickly!!
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e
eddie
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing local restaurant serving up delicious and creative dishes. Well worth a try for anyone who’s been thinking about trying a new place. You won’t be disappointed!
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S
Savannah
Orlando
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 1, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I ate here on my last night in the Bay Area and it was fantastic. The restaurant is well located and the food was delicious. I had the milk bread, pork belly, and blue fin tuna. The cocktails were also very well done. I would absolutely come back!
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FAQs

Ethel's Fancy is rated 4.9 stars by 495 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

550 Waverley St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1720

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
University Avenue & Waverley Street<br />Hamilton Avenue & Waverley
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Californian, Japanese, Contemporary French / American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Scott Nishiyama
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.ethelsfancypa.com/
Phone number
(650) 561-4860

Ethel's Fancy

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 495 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Ethel's Fancy restaurant rated?

Is Ethel's Fancy currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information