Ethel's Fancy

This is the third time eating at Ethyl's Fancy and once again did not disappoint. The menu sets you up for a great culinary adventure starting starting with the Morsels...we had the oysters on the half shell (the use of yuzu kosho was brilliant)...we continued with the charred snap peas and the warm sesame pancakes (the smoked fish dip was so layered in flavors, yum!). We finished off the Morsels with, of course, the milk bread (makes my mouth water just thinking about it).Onto the Sharables...the Kampachi Crudo (delicate and oh so tasty) and Crispy Pork Belly (one of my personal favorites) were thought to be our favorites going into the evening (had them both before) but wait just a minute, the Salt & Pepper Octopus and the Grilled 13 Farms Pork Chop blew us away. The Swordfish, Katsu-Style was fabulous and reminiscent of local Hawaiian style katsu.All in all, unbelievable dining experience...the hype is real.Thanks Chef Scott!

We had the pleasure of dining at Ethel's Fancy to celebrate our anniversary, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we walked in, everything exceeded our expectations. I made the reservation months in advance, but due to last-minute changes, I had to adjust the timing and added on to our party size. Little did I know, I was speaking directly with the manager/owner when I called. He was incredibly helpful and pleasant, ensuring every detail was taken care of.When we arrived, we were seated in a private room, away from the main dining area, which set the tone for a truly special evening. As we settled into our table and ordered drinks, the manager personally came into the room to greet us. He introduced himself, said he was the one I spoke with over the phone, thanked us for choosing Ethel's Fancy, and wished us a Happy Anniversary while making sure our night was nothing short of perfect.The presentation of each dish was impeccable, and the staff was courteous and attentive throughout the evening. The food was exquisitely crafted with complex, delightful flavors -- each bite could easily rival Michelin-star quality.As we left, the manager once again shook our hands, and I thanked him for such a memorable evening. Ethel's Fancy made an incredible impression, and because of this experience, it is now a favorite and we'll definitely be returning.

Bay Area is lucky to have a place like this! Hyper seasonal ingredients and ever changing menu makes one go back.Arrived for 5 PM appointment placed on Open Table and were quickly seated at the window overlooking outdoors.Amazing service from Madison, super friendly and knowledgeable. Made sure our first visit was memorable.Cloud of Joy cocktail was visually appealing and delightful to taste. Our favorite shareables were the Crispy Pork Belly, Sesame Pancakes and Rigatoni.Black Sesame soft serve was a unique end to the night.The ambience was cozy and warm, perfect for date nights.

Run, do not walk, to get a reservation here for that special date, event, dinner, time where you just want something fancy ish to grub on. Ethel's Fancy blew me away. The vibe here is warm, fun, and feels like a funky kitchen home. The food was spectacular. We got multiple dishes and each one shined in its own unique way. I won't dive too much into the details, pictures speak for themselves. Overall, great place to treat yourself. It's also not as overly expensive as other places that I've been in the bay when wanting a fancy spot out. Thank you, Ethel's!

Downtown PA hidden gem! Very nice interior design, welcoming and modern.Dishes are Japanese fusion, and service is A+, our server is very attentive and friendly. Our first drink was a little too strong for my taste and she immediately replaced it with something lighter and delicious.It was a rainy night but the restaurant is filled with people at 5pm.Reservation is highly recommended!

We were seated right away and the service here was phenomenal. Our server Madison was so sweet and explained each item on the drink and food menu. I ordered broke da mouth cocktail and I really enjoyed the sweet tropical drink.The food definitely reminded me of State Bird Provisions SF with the small shareable bites. We ordered the Hokkaido scallop tartare, warm sesame pancakes, crispy pork belly, yellowfin tuna on koshihikari rice, rigatoni + mentaiko, chargrilled filet of seabass and dry aged liberty farms duck. All the dishes were delicious and super well balanced .My favorite dish was the yellowfin tuna on koshihikari rice and the 10 day dry aged duck. The yellow fin tuna with the marinated mushrooms and ikura was so tasty. The duck was perfectly cooked medium with the thin crispy skin.For dessert - the black sesame soft serve and hojicha tapioca pudding was the perfect dessert to the end the meal. The ice cream was so smooth but not overpowering and my favorite dessert was the hojicha tapioca pudding. I really enjoyed all the details in every dish and definitely will be coming back in the future!

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a phenomenal experience. Made a reservation via OpenTable and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking was plentiful on the street. Dining is available outdoors, in the dining room, at the bar, or at the chef's counter. There is also a private room in the back.The menu changed drastically since my last visit a couple of years ago. Our waitress was phenomenal in making suggestions and guiding us throughout our dinner.Started off with the bread, seasme pancakes, and charred green beans as our first course and it was world class. The Japanese milkbread was light and the butter was fragrant. The seasme pancakes were delightful, especially the dipping sauce! The charred green beans were also excellent with a vast contrast with the charring of the bean with the aioli.For the savory small plates, the salt and pepper octopus was excellent as this was served with a bunch of super tasty vegetables like hen of the wood mushrooms and tomatoes. The crispy pork belly was a crispy and flavorful small plate!For the larger savory small plates, the rigatoni was made in house and cooked to a perfect al dente. The Brandt Farms sirloin was also cooked to perfection with a crispy char and an interior that was a perfect red! The side of sticky carrot was fantastic too!For the desserts, the soft serve was excellent and so was the hochija tapioca pudding. The caramel tart was decent althoughj I'm not a fan of caramel myself.~$70/head after tax, gratuity and 6% employer mandates.

One of my favorite restaurants in the Peninsula! New American cuisine with Japanese influence. The crispy pork belly was tangy and sweet! Perfect dish to pair with the soft milk bread! The bread was also sweet and definitely fresh out the oven! The yuzu kosho on the oysters added a unique flavor! I enjoyed the kampachi crudo with tomatoes on the yakitori cracker! I've never had something like it! We ended the dinner with a delicious dessert. The raspberry and cookies n' cream blended well with the matcha soft serve! All plates are shareable!Lots of street parking available around downtown Palo Alto. However, it may be more difficult to find parking in the evenings.The atmosphere is cozy and casual. The servers were knowledgeable and attentive. Service was quick while keeping the food fresh. I appreciate the fact that the menu is seasonal! Overall, Ethel's Fancy is a unique restaurant and I would definitely come back!

We had a truly memorable time! Every dish was a delightful new, unexpected, and delicious experience. Servers were super attentive. A new favorite!!!

Have been here a couple of times for dinner. Our latest visit was celebrating our engagement and the food, service and ambiance was oustanding. We ordered a bottle of wine, cocktails and mezcal, had about nine dishes that we shared along with one order of each dessert and left stuffed. We live in LA but this is our favorite restaurant and is a must-visit whenever we're in town. Ethel's Fancy is a true gem!