I see a lot of bad reviews. Personally I loved the Menlo Park location. The food was incredible as well as the service. Our waitress was extremely kind and knowledgeable of the menu. The staff was also very kind. I wish I could remember our waitresses name, definitely would recommend her. My girlfriend and I spent about a hundred and eighty on our dinner here, and it was well worth it.
(5)
David S.
Horrible Service. We arrive and ask at the host(ess) stand about sitting in the bar. We are told to sit wherever we find a table. We find a table. Someone else comes up and tells us that it's reserved seating in the bar and we have to leave. We explain that we were told we could sit wherever we want. We were told that that was incorrect and we needed to leave. No apology, no "I'm sorry". just rude.
Arranged to have late lunch/early dinner with two others. In a word, great! Very good house wine selection with fondue for starters. Fantastic butter lettuce and decent salmon for dinner. Great atmosphere topped off with profiteroles and Porto. Worth a return trip!
(4)
Jenna S.
I love this restaurant:the food, drinks, ambiance, and service are wonderful. They have an upstairs that you can book for parties. We had an event here-it was great but they only gave us 1 server for 20 people so we had to do a lot of the work and it might have been where the kitchen is but it was way too hot up there. We were all sweating! other than that i love this place and location!
(4)
John L.
As occasional visitors to the Bay Area, one of the things we look forward to is dining at Left Bank. The food is always well-prepared and well presented, the wait staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the prices are very reasonable. This time, we followed dinner on Saturday with brunch on Sunday, and were just as pleased with the brunch offerings and service as we've come to expect in the evening.
(5)
Kirsten H.
Great food, awesome service. I will be a return customer.
(5)
Lola Z.
Terribly dissapointed with food and service. The "american breakfast" of eggs, sausage (gamey and gross) and potatoes (mushy and falling apart) was tasteless. Friend asked for eggs over easy and they came sunny side up. Chicken sandwich was on bread that was way too greasy and the chicken was overcooked and tough. Fries were good tho. Friend had an infant and parked the stroller discretely next to the table. One of the waiters obviously did not like the stroller there and had a little tussle with it and gave it a good kick. Had to ask multiple times for water or anything else, and basically, the waiter never did the requisite driveby to ask if everything was ok.
(1)
M K.
Left Bank has been at this MP location for years. The menu is good but doesn't change much. Food is well prepared, portions are small, menu is good but not particularly innovative, and prices are relatively high. Servers are generally excellent; bar is fun, particularly for happy hour when they have some nice appetizers (at reasonable price). They are also open all afternoon, and later in the evening than most restaurants in the area.
(3)
Arnav M.
Shitty service - 40 minutes to bring brunch, no explanation at all for the delay, rude servers, and weaker than piss coffee. The food was decent, but the service killed it
(2)
Al P.
Ok, I know Left Bank is not 'Great'. However, on a warm sunny evening in Menlo Park, a happy hour white burgundy and a calamari and tuna tartare work fabulously. My wife and I enjoyed our evening immensely. So..not bad at all!
(4)
Mark B.
A bit slow and unfriendly on the service. Good lunch place, but not so much for dinner
(3)
Irena W.
Excellent presentation and taste awesome. Thank you.
(5)
Gary K.
While a pleasant space (or so it seemed when walking in), I've rarely been to a restaurant with such inept and uncomfortable service. The waiter spilled water all over my friend (and me), was out of synch in trying to take away food while I was still eating, and forgot to provide a spoon for the soup I ordered. . Several times in the evening things were dropped around us, with the attending noise and chaos. Wait staff was either brand new, not trained, or just not very good at what they were supposed to be doing. Not a very relaxing way to enjoy a meal and the company of a dining companion. The food was adequate, but nothing to write home about. Very disappointing :(
(1)
Mitch T.
We usually just come here and have the pate/mousse with some beer or wine and just sit near the bar. I love the interior decor, makes you feel like you're actually in Paris, haha. The service has never disappointed everytime we go. I'd love to come here in the evening though and try out what the rest of the menu has to offer. I love Santa Cruz Avenue and all it has to offer.
(4)
Olga A.
Having been to restaurants in Paris, and multiple (alleged) French restaurants in the Silicon Valley, I can safely say that this was the worst French cusine I've ever had. The French prize themselves on their sauces, but oh man, Left Bank's sauces were horrible. I ordered the Canard L'Orange and it was tough, bland, and not cooked through all the way - which is the only reason I was willing to believe it hadn't been just defrosted. My dad ordered some kind of beef stew, and they managed to make the meat dry (in a STEW?!). That deserves some type of super-special-awesome award. All in all, my "French 45" (gin) cocktail wasn't as bad as everything else, and my spinich salad was edible. The 'onion soup' should be re-named the 'cheese soup'. All in all? Go next door, there's a cute bistro with a hand-written menu. :)
My order SALADE NIÇOISE was nice and fresh, the drinks are not good. Herbes De Provence was too sweet and the decoration was awful. Moderate French style decoration provided good ambiance for girls' dining. Need to improve delicacy of the food.
(3)
Ken B.
The American burger was excellent. substituted the salad for the fries which worked for me. Like the decor. . Would have been nice if they had some live music, hot club of Paris Django Reinhardt type music. The men's toilets needs work I won't go into details.
Happy hour was good here. I had the burger and the house red wine, and both were quite acceptable. Also dig the ambiance for happy hour - it's cozy, intimate and a little bit refined, which is nice for a friend-date, or a casual date-date.
(4)
brian b.
i live eating here at the bar. the food is ok, the drinks are worthy. while you wouldn't go out of your way, and i find the table service a bit slow and stuffy, the outdoors is also nice.
(4)
koko d.
Really bad cooking. Tasteless overcooked everything. Tonight we gave it last try, will not go again: Somehow onion soup had strange vinegar flavor; fried trout was really dry and oily, also the dish had 3 huge pieces of probably fennel that looked and tasted like a boiled onion. Besides the place is not quite clean - old spider web and dust here and there.
(1)
Margery M.
Hot food needs to be hot. Enough said.
(3)
Brooks N.
The food was very good. Just as I remembered from my last visit. The wait staff was attentive and responsive to the best of their abilities but seemed overworked. It turned out that this was an "special" night with a unique ethnic menu. I highly recommend you avoid at all costs any of these "special" nights. When we arrived we were told our opentable reservation didn't exist. We showed the hostess our confirmation and she told us that she would seat us at the first opening but that it would be at least 20 minutes. Fortunately I texted my son who was our guest to alert him to the delay and he replied that he was already seated. Apparently the hostess couldn't remember our names for 5 minutes.. and that she had seated him only minutes before we arrived. Ok, call me picky, but it seems to me that steak frites and oysters should not take 2 1/2 hours, but yup, that's how long we sat waiting for all of the few things we had ordered. I asked to speak to the manager and informed her of the reservation issue. She blamed it on the computer. Hmmm, in my experience, the machine is only as good or bad as the operator. Left Bank Menlo Park is in dire need of a management shakeup.... The wait staff and cooks are great but the manager and maitress 'd need to be changed.
(3)
Miss G.
Ate brunch outside. Great service and very good food. My only complaint was that my French toast was brought to me cold.
(4)
Valerie D.
The only reason that I would not give this place 5 stars is because most of the employees seem snooty and annoyed that I was even there. The hostess did not smile at all and just wanted me gone quickly. The bartender on the other hand, was amazing! Cesar was polite and quick! The best I've ever seen! I had the Rue Cler and the Siene River Cosmo for happy hour (from 3-5 and 9-close). They were both sooo good but the Rue Cler is the best! It has peach, vodka, apple, lime and basil!! Delicious! I may return soon. Probably only to the bar to see Cesar again. : )
I've gone to Left Bank on several occasions for lunch and dinners, and even for a baby shower brunch. I was never that impressed. It was just ok, but nothing stood out. I ended up there this weekended, for brunch, at the request of one of the women in the group. Since they were serving brunch, I opt'd to go for that menu, than their regular lunch menu. So I ordered GÂTEAU DE CRABE, a crabcake dish, that was very good and filling. Well, actually, it was hearty, but I wasn't stuffed. Four of us went to lunch, 2 of us ordered the same thing, and after we ordered, it took AT LEAST 30 minutes to get served our entrees. It's like they had to go out to the Bay to catch the crabs, before they could make our crabcakes. It was beyond ridiculous! I mean, we had a great time chatting and catching up with one another, but seriously?!?! It should not take that long to be served a meal, especially when the restaurant wasn't completely full. The only thing I did like was that on the dessert menu, there were petit portions, where you could get just one eclair or one profiterole. But is that worth going out of my way, to go back to Left Bank? I don't think so...
(3)
Steven T.
Left Bank either delivers or fails. The past few times they have failed miserably. As a restaurant, Left Bank has a good amount of space and is decorated cleanly. Outside of that, there isn't anything good to say. Food wise it was never that good. Simple dishes like streak strips are easy to do but anything trying to be French isn't and is not really close. Any real French restaurant will taste better. I have never had anything here that impressed me in any way. Bread recently has always been stale and cold. Not sure how hard it is to keep bread warm but for them it must be a hard task. Serving size, dishes seem to get smaller and smaller each time I go. Service wise this place is usually a joke. Out of maybe 15-20 times here, I can only think of maybe one or two times where service was ok. Last trip consisted of our server disappearing for 10-20 minutes at a time and never remembering anything we asked for until we asked a second or third time. (We ate ab about 8pm so not busy at all). Also I was sitting next to the bigger group and the busboys and another waittress constantly bumped into me. The first few times they said sorry but it starting happening every minute or two. After a few minutes of enough bumping and disturbances in my meal, I stood up the next time I was bumped, moved my car over loudly and sat back down. This made little difference as I continued to get bumped while eating. Again, staff couldn't make basic steps to prevent mistakes. In short, mediocre food and terrible service, not a place to go.
(1)
Felice S.
I really liked this place!! It was really good!!!! Steak frites were incredible w the bordelaise sauce was mind blowing! A little taste of France
(4)
Kathy D.
Sunday night at 7:00pm and they have already run out of the trout, rockfish, lamb, etc. Service was very slow. Coq au vin was overcooked and waiter who plated it at table slopped it all over the rim of the bowl. However, pates and salads were delicious, and wine list is excellent.
(2)
Elizabeth S.
The ambiance here is awesome for an intimate, chill dinner. The lighting is comfortable - dim over the bar and some accents over seated tables. The black furniture of the restaurant stood out well with the plethora of Art Noveau/Art Deco artwork throughout. It was a classic yet modern feel. The food is so yummy here. The heirloom beet salad was so pretty and tasty with some fresh arugula and some s Cypress Grove Bermuda Triangle cheese. The butter lettuce salad with fine herbs, shallots, Dijon mustard and champagne vinaigrette was also quite refreshing! The escargot and sauteed mushrooms are addicting yet satisfying. They are not drowning in butter either. I'm not a big dessert person, but I could not pass up the carmelized apple. It's on the lighter side with some cream and mint leaves to compliment the apples. It's a gratifying treat which won't weigh you down. The only gripe I have here (which is pretty standard with many restaurants) is the specialty drinks. I wanted to try the New Style, Old Fashioned. It sounded pretty good until I saw the small "baseball sized" sphere of ice placed in the glass which took up the majority of room the glass. It was not worth it at $9.75 with 4-5 small sips in a straw. You taste more melted ice than cocktail. People were friendly here and the service was good at the bar. I'd just stay away from those fancy cocktails - unless you don't mind some cocktail with your massive ball of ice.
(4)
Ursula M.
What a TREAT! We were in the South Bay and wanted to meet some friends for dinner. They suggested The Left Bank. First of all, the ambiance is lovely. It is a large restaurant, but they have divided it to look smaller and more intimate. The decor is very attractive. Then, the staff is very friendly and helpful. And finally, the food is delicious! Our table had two risottos, which were polished off with much lip-smacking, the appetizer steamed mussels which came with delicious looking French fries in a stand-up container, and the lamb burger, which was beautifully prepared and came with a quinoa arugula salad. The bar was quick and efficient, and the guests at the bar occupied all the seats. Were we to return to the South Bay, The Left Bank would certainly be an option.
(4)
Peter C.
Decent and consistent.
(3)
Pedro Juan G.
Food is always consistent and the menu is refreshed in a timely manner. I wish they would consider bringing back the Viognier wine which I love. Definitely a good place to bring friends and family.
(3)
Elizabeth R.
Great food and wine I would give that five stars - but we were really disappointed with the service. We had to ask for items multiple times, constantly reminding our waiter of what we wanted, when we could find him that is. He seemed distracted and somewhat unprofessional - he didn't really have interpersonal skills. It felt like other servers avoided eye contact - nobody wanted to be flagged down to fix a problem. We ordered wine when we sat down and it didn't come until after appetizers and salads. Who needs an entire carafe of wine with their entree? When the manager finally asked how things were I mentioned that we had to ask for things multiple times and that we would like our dessert menus. He offered us coffee which we thought was a complimentary gesture to apologize for poor service. Of course it showed up on our bill. We paid and I found the manager while my husband found the car and explained our disappointment. He offered to pay for the coffee and other things which was a little insulting at that point - money wasn't the issue, we just wanted a nice date night out. Pretty disappointed at such poor service from a nice restaurant.
(1)
Jennifer C.
I'm updating my older review. We have been back several times and really enjoyed the restaurant. Very pleasant ambiance, reliably good french bistro food. Definitely will stay in the rotatation.
(4)
Shayda A.
I've been coming here since I was very young. While the other locations have been a hit or miss for me, I've only ordered something I disliked here once out of the countless times I've been here. The food here is often delicately prepared and the sauces aren't overwhelming. The cherry clafoutis and beet salad are worth trying when they're on the menu. The waitstaff is usually very friendly and has a great knowledge of the menu. My last waitress suggested I order the Dorade (sea bream) dish which was absolutely exquisite and delicious.
(4)
Eugene D.
We went to Left Bank last night (Friday 8/15/2014) to celebrate our children's major milestones: Continuing and Embarking on Their Higher Educations. It was a joyous, proud, and special event for our children, for us as parents, and for our relatives. We chose Left Bank because we had had good experience with the Menlo Park location. Unfortunately, our waitress, Karina, turned the evening completely upside down. To start with, she brought us a wrong appetizer. When my wife pointed it out to her, Karina checked the order, came back later to admit her fault, and snatched away the dish from the table. During the entire dinner (~ 1.5 hours) Karina only came ONCE, "voluntarily", to check on us. Other times, we had to flag her down or ask others to replenish water and bread for our table. Karina appeared to be very selective as whom she would offer the dessert menu because she did not bother to ask us. Instead, Karina just gave us the bill as she and others took the dishes away. Karina saved the WORST for last. She dropped the credit card receipt on the floor and came to my cousin RUDELY demanded him to give her the signed receipt. My cousin who is a gentleman politely looked through his wallet and could not find HER receipt. Karina still insisted that my cousin had hers!!! He then looked around and help Karina retrieve it from the ground. Karina picked it up, walked away and not even had the courtesy to apologize. We sure hope no one would have the same kind of experience as we did. We may come back to Left Bank in Menlo Park BUT we will walk out right away if Karina is assigned to be our server.
(1)
Liz M.
Came here for Saturday brunch with some friends. Off the bat, bread and butter - pretty darn good bread and butter. The service was a bit slow. It took a good 10 minutes before the waitress came to ask what we wanted to drink. By that time we were ready to order anyways. We got the Steak Tartare, Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon Tart, and the Duck Confit. For drinks, it was Bloody Marys and a Mimosa. First off, the Bloody Mary - weak. tasty. but weak. Steak Tartare I was rather disappointed in. Tasted like they took the skin off of a hot dog, mashed it up, mixed in some relish and called it a day. My friends liked it, so maybe I was just having a picky day. We all shared a bit of what we had, so I got a taste of everything. The Crab Cake was good. Not great, but good. The Duck Confit was good and because that can be messed up horribly, good is a really good thing. The Salmon Tart, killer. I really love smoked salmon to begin with, but the tart shell was crisp and buttery and yum yum yum. I wish they had put capers or lemon on though. I would've liked a little zing with it. Overall, no wow, but good. Probably will pass on the booze next time and sip a nice glass of wine (seems like they have a primo selection for that).
(3)
Kevin H.
It's interesting to consider what a themed-cuisine restaurant gets right and what it gets wrong. For the Leftbank they've mastered the French service style and generous use of butter in their dishes but I can't say much more. A note: English was pretty much everyone's second language here and the words "you're welcome" was lacking from the vacabulary of our waiter. The cuisine had more butter than most folks will like and less taste; it's one of those rare times where I wanted more salt. If only they had salt shakers on their outdoor tables or only if our occasional waiter came back more often to offer such a condiment... Overall, nice ambiance being outside. Food and service are lacking.
(3)
Azizi M.
First time I came I thought the place was just ok. Came back and my opinion of them changed. Both times I came, I came for lunch. Many people seem to come here for business lunches, which works out great for me as well. I read in one of the reviews that the wait staff seems to be snotty, I agreed I got the same impression. The only advice I have for them is to smile more :-) lol I love the oysters here! They are very fresh and tasty, this is why I changed my opinion of them :-) I also had the nicoise salad which was pretty good. It reminded me of a salad I had in St Tropez- very authentic. It came with two anchovies on top, which I don't like so I just set them aside. It had green beans, butter lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, and few pieces of potatoes I believe. This is a cute classy place with reasonable prices.
(4)
R S.
The service here is non-existent. Our party was seated for over an hour and half before lunch was served. Part of the meal was missing, requests for water were ignored & most of what did arrive (finally) was cold. Complaints to the manager went unheeded though she did mention they had problems in the bar area. We were there for lunch but unfortunately our server was "out to lunch" also. Never again.
(1)
Victor M.
Really enjoyed the entire dining experience, from the hostess, wait staff, ambience and of course the dinner as well. Try the excellent, Steak Tartare and Calamari Appetizers. Great to start with and almost a meal in itself. Was too full after that and had to take most of the Butter Nut Squash Ravioli entree home which was also quite good. All in all this was a most enjoyable dining experience and will make it a regular stop when going out to dine. Cheers. Victor
The service here was excellent. The food was good, but didn't knock my socks off. For the price, I was hoping the food to be amazeballs. I had the Salad NiCoise..it was the most unusual, eclectic salad I have ever eaten. There were so many things in there I was surprised in every bite: rare ahi tuna, haricots verts, avocado, fingerling potatoes, hard boiled egg, anchovies, yellow bell peppers, capers, and more (much more). I think the novelty of the salad fared a little better for me than the taste. My date had a burger and said it was good, but for $14, he could get a cheaper burger that was just as good anywhere. I would be willing to try it again to see if another food selection would be better...we will just have to see.
(3)
Jack T.
I want to like this place so much, but it is always a let down, unless I order the steak tartar. I had the butter lettuce salad, and it was pretty boring, no flavor of the herbs, or the red onions, only sour from the overly tart vinaigrette. The cheese fondue was okay, but the bread was not super fresh or toasted so it was kinda of a let down as well. The calamari was the worst I have ever had hand down. The batter was falling off and the calamari was under-cooked in parts, and over cooked in others. It was terrible, although the aioli sauce it came with was very tasty. The creme brulee was fine, nothing crazy good, but a good standard creme brulee. The service was spotty although the bartender was very friendly, it took a long time to get their attention. This place is expensive and beautiful but 90% of their menu just flat out sucks. I love french food, and this place ain't cutting the mustard.
(2)
Tom H.
Good Food; Awful Service. Waited five minutes for someone to pour some water. Waited another five to get some bread. Waited another five for waitress to take our drink order. Went downhill from there. Asked for a "flinty white wine" recommendation. Waitress said she would ask the bartender. Came back with suggestion for a flinty RED wine. Had to ask for more bread. Had to ask for more water. Dumb as a fencepost. Everyone is busy. Busy busy -- too busy to take care care of their diners. Recommendation: Skip it.
(1)
Emily J.
- Service slow (water drinks took a long time) - Out of 2 of the 3 entrees we wanted to order - Bread was stale - Main course came before the appetizer. The waiter sent it back to the kitchen. No surprise that my dinner was room temp by the time we were d
(2)
Judy L.
Delicious! The Alaska True Cod is amazing! Cooked perfectly on a bed of spinach. The scallops are great too, though it does not measure up to the cod. Also on a bed of greens. The mussels with fries were amazing! I though it was unusual to have the two together, but apparently that's quite normal in France. What a great idea! The nice crispy fries dipped in the sauce with the mussels are savory and flavorful. One thing that could have been better: the perfiteroles. They were GIGANTIC and came in threes. If they could shrink those things into 1/5 of the current size it'd be great.
(4)
0 0.
Have been here a few times for drinks and dinner. good to go for a stroll through town also. service is good, friendly Food was great. I have had fish there twice before and one time was great and second not so but worth a visit anyway
(3)
Iron E.
We have been going there almost every other week for the past six months. But tonight, it was our last. Service was extremely slow. Our food wasn't prepared well (my son who used to love their mac n cheese, cried after his first bite). I've asked to speak to the manager when I was ordering the food. But it was only when I was paying the bill and after I told the server AGAIN that I needed to speak to the manager, that he finally came to our table. All he gave us was an apology but very quickly, he turned his back towards us and seemed to be more interested in hearing other customers, who was also complaining about the service tonight. So regrettably we walked out of the restaurant. Very bad service and food tonight.
(1)
Peter I.
unimpressed food was cold food was late server was slow, dull and not engaging drink came with soda water in juice, sent back, was charged for both did I mention the food was cold? maybe due to it taking 30 minutes to get to our table and food wasn't served altogether as mine took another 5 minutes to show up and it was cold one in Santana Row puts this to shame. seriously disappointed
(2)
Kim W.
*Dog friendly outdoor seating!* We came here for a Saturday lunch to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday (it was her pick of restaurant). Service and food was outstanding! Four of us ate outside in the shade during a sunny afternoon and really enjoyed ourselves with wine and full meals...no girly salads here. My steak was perfectly well done and the pomme frites were deliciously crispy. Our waiter was great about filling up our wine glasses, water glasses and bread basket. We laughed and took our time and never felt rushed. After a couple of hours, we unzipped our pants and waddled away with smiles to check out the local thrift stores nearby.
(5)
Greg B.
We had a nice meal here, but it's hard to say much about it either way. The food was good, drinks were good, service was very good, etc. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered the duck starter (Canard Confit Aux Agrumes), which was a bit subpar and not quite crispy like I like it, but it was only $12.25 for a decent amount of meat, so they are forgiven. I made emergency space in my stomach when I saw creme brulee on the menu - my favorite. I admit to have become a bit of a creme brulee snob, though, and this just didn't meet the bar. They did a great job accommodating our large group at the last minute, and adjusting for the last minute cancellations, which I really appreciated. Service was quite friendly, though slow at times. Overall, I'd say 2 or 2.5 stars for food, but 3 to 3.5 stars for the service and atmosphere and reasonable prices and selection of nice appetizers and sandwiches. So I'll go to 3 overall.
(3)
Sam K.
I was here for company Christmas lunch party at the mezzanine floor. It is perfect for a party of 40-50 people. The ambiance and decor is nice. The service was excellent but the fish was too salty. It was very difficult to eat fish with salty sauce. I should have asked the sauce on the side. I am giving them 3 stars for fish and 4 stars for service and decor.
This place should have higher rating then it currently has. It seems a lot of the negative comments are about slow service. I always sit at the bar and it couldn't be a nicer experience. The bartenders are always nice and attentive. The food is good, I'm used to dinning in SF so if they lowered their prices a bit I'd give them the full 5 stars. I'd like to eat the more often but I can't justify it at their current prices. Happy hour is definitely a good deal! So if you want a great first experience go during happy hour, sit at the bar and en
(4)
Girl F.
i love this restaurant - always good food at the bar and great bar tenders. very very comfortable atmosphere too.
(4)
Rosalind S.
Eh, I was not impressed even when we were starving for a very late lunch. It's nice they were open at 3pm but that was pretty much the only nice thing. Calamari was sometimes hard and sometimes chewy, depending on the piece. The rotisserie chicken (breast and thigh w/leg), entree came with some yummy shoe string fries, (my fav), and a small salad. Although the chicken didn't need the sauce it came with the breast meat was a bit dry. Service was slow and it took us a while to flag anyone down to help us. From the point of walking through the door and leaving we were ignored probably 4 times where servers saw us and looked the other way. After flagging the host down successfully we were then reunited with our original server. I've dined at other Left Bank's before and the service wasn't that bad elsewhere.
(3)
Jenn G.
5 woofs for being super dog-friendly!! A girlfriend and I had a Saturday brunch date with our furbabies and it was a success. We requested an outside table and it was a piece of cake getting one (they had about 10 tables total). Immeidately upon arrival, the server brought out a water bowl for the dogs. At this point, anything negative that they do really couldn't be that bad. (yes, I'm bias). We got a pate plate to share and it was scrumptious. My friend got the egg omlet and I got the duck hash. Both portions were large enough for us to take left-overs home. Prices are decent and they do have a good wine list. I wish they had bottomless mimosas! Minus 1 star for the slow service. Not sure if it's the French way, but both Left Bank locations tend to take FOREVER to get the food, the bill, etc.
(4)
Kari M.
This place is awesome! I have no idea why it receives such low reviews! My friend and I had reservations and were seated immediately around noon. We were offered drinks and the menu to look over. Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and suggested a few items off the menu including the Tarte Flambee which was a thin crust pizza with onions, Serrano ham, data puree, some with oregano and goat cheese. It was perhaps one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. The Serrano ham was perfectly matched with the goat cheese and the thin crust. YUM! For the main course, I went with the Prix Fix menu. It started with Asparagus soup, leg of Duck for the main, and finished with a mini creme brulee. The Asparagus soup was incredibly light and creamy. You could definitely taste the asparagus and the bit of cheese that topped it was not overwhelming at all. The duck leg was very tender (fell right off the bone), and risotto pea salad with fresh frisee. All the flavors complimented each other extremely well and did not leave me feeling full. Satiated, but not full. The Creme Brulee for dessert was the perfect size. Topped with a blackberry and mint leaf. Outstanding. I wouldn't say this is the best French food I've ever had, but it's definitely 4.5 stars! I will come back!
(4)
Ross T.
Skiw servuce would have been an improverment over the glacial speed today. Had onion soup and mussels. The onion soup from a can of Campbells would have been an improvement. It was sooo boring. 5 of 17 mussels were tightly closed!! Come on that should not happen. Skip this place. Save your money and time.
(1)
Nets H.
Feel Not too cozy a feel given the high ceilings and large dining area. There is a tv in the bar for those who HAVE to watch the 49ers in action. Love the huge prints on the walls and the place can be a bit echoy and noisy when full but good energy. Food and Drink Had a great Riesling and Pinot. My main course was duck which was okay.My husband loved his housemade sausages and mash and the tarte tatin for dessert was more like a piece of caramelized apple on a cream cracker. Prefer the classic, form myself.
I came here years ago and wasn't impressed. I decided to give it a second chance last night and was equally disappointed. I want to like this place. It has a great interior, very nice atmosphere, the staff are very friendly. The sticking point is that the food is dry and flavorless. I ordered the Grilled Hawaiian Ahi tuna and my girlfriend got the Rotisserie chicken. It was a nice looking tuna steak, grilled rare, but had no flavor and seemed to lack any salt or seasoning. Her chicken had beautifully crispy looking skin but the meat turned out to be dry out. I'm not sure how you can screw up those too dishes so much, especially for the price you pay for them. Usually a good tuna steak is simply delicious all by itself. The one saving grace was with the drink I ordered. I asked for an Old Fashioned and it came with a single perfect ice cube sphere. (the Scotch drinkers out there will know why this is cool) Overall, the drink was very good, but didn't really compensate for the food. :(
(1)
Nicole E.
My review is for happy hour only. This was actually my first time, both to this restaurant, as well as to this quaint little downtown district in Menlo Park. The restaurant itself is relatively small, with a comfortable-yet-classy feel. It's a place that seems to lend itself to good conversation. I had a delicious cocktail which was comprised of sparkling wine, elderflower, and lemon -- I can't remember the name of it -- but it was deliciously tart with just the tiniest hint of sweetness. Attentive and friendly service. Looking over the menu really makes me tempted to return for dinner soon!
(4)
Macke R.
We have always had a fine time at Left Bank, so were surprised and disappointed with our experience last night. They have recently captured a few parking spaces in front and have a street-side set of tables. Baaad choice. It adds another dozen tables to the scene; it became quickly obvious that no additional staff were added. Food was good but poorly staged and the service was God-awful. Appeals to the hostesses for a waiter, water refills, clearing of the appetizer plates left by the busboy after the entrees were delivered and finally -- FINALLY after 30 minutes of being ignored-- a bill, please?!? only produced a nanosecond uptick of attention. It was a sad showing by all the staff, especially after the early requests for fairly standard service. Can't imagine what it would take to get us to return. There are plenty of establishments that understand how good service builds their bottom line. We don't need to spend our leisure time training Left Bank what others already know.
(2)
Aimee R.
It was just okay. The restaurant is nicely decorated and has an open floor plan. They have a lot of seating on two floors. The second floor seems to be reserved for larger parties. The one dish that our party of 6 really did enjoy was the roasted chicken. It was very moist and the au jus was very tasty. Other than that everything else fell short. Actually the roasted chicken was a replacement for my first dish which was scallops. I had to return them because there was an ammonia after taste. The scallops were not fresh, they actually came out rubbery and were really small. The manager was great and replaced my dish right away. Not sure if I'll be coming back anytime soon. Restrooms: On the SECOND FLOOR. They have restrooms for men and women. The women's restroom has 3 stalls. It was clean and stocked.
(2)
Alisa V.
For Menlo Park this is an ok place to hang out. Typical of Menlo Park the place started clearing out around 9:00 PM, which is actually late for people in Menlo Park. I ordered the chicken which had a nice flavor but it was served with bones and yucky stuff like that, not my style. It came with Pommes Frites, which were mushy and not special, most fast food places have better Pommes Frites. If I did a review for drinks alone, I would give 5 stars. I loved the mixed drinks. We tried a variety and they were all wonderful. The staff was very nice and it has a warm cozy atmosphere, but I was not super impressed with the food, I will be back for the drinks though.
(3)
David E.
I don't write many reviews, but I have to take time to appreciate the fantastic job that the staff at Left Bank did for my private party - a wedding rehearsal dinner- this past weekend. We hosted a dinner in the private seating area behind and above the main dining area for about 40 people. It was a comfortable area for the party size, and the staff was attentive but not in the way as we celebrated. The food was consistently good if not great, especially the appetizers and desserts.
(5)
David W.
I used to be a fan of the Left Bank in Menlo Park - in fact, so much so that I even held my wedding reception in their upstairs area years ago. But, I have had two bad experiences in a row at the Left Bank during the last three months. First time: The fries with our dinner were soggy, probably because some time had passed since they came from the fryer. I asked the waiter for fresh, crispy fries and received an order of fries that had been burnt to a crisp instead. Disappointing, but I forgave them. Second time: Today, I had brunch at the Left Bank. We ordered two plates of "Housemade Basque sausage patty, two over easy eggs, breakfast potatoes". The first problem is that the eggs came sunny-side up, not over easy, and were not cooked long enough for the whites to fully set. Second, the sausage patty was raw in the middle. I explained it to the waiter and he handled it graciously. We didn't have time to stay for a second try so we asked for the check. The sausage plates had been credited, but we still had to pay for two coffees and a side of bacon. No big deal (it was $10), but it felt wrong on principle. The entire breakfast had clearly been spoiled, we ran a (small, no doubt) risk of food borne infection, and we still had to pay for the experience. The situation ended with some comic relief. As the waiter brought the check, he commented that the chef was very angry because it was the second time that day that someone had returned the sausage for being undercooked! UPDATE: A few days later, both my wife and my son, who ate a few bites of the raw sausage patties, fell ill with nasty gastrointestinal symptoms. I had only a coffee and had no such problems. A coincidence, perhaps? In any case, I won't be returning to the Left Bank.
(1)
Mark B.
I took my mom, a Franco-phile, here for what I thought would be a nice lunch. We sat outside. The service was disinterested and leisurely. She had the onion soup, while I ordered a croque monsieur. The soup was bland and the croque monsieur was bordering on gross. It was an oily mess with ham that seemed to come from a pre-sliced deli bag. We won't be back.
(2)
Tony Y.
I came here for brunch and it was awesome. I got the skirt steak with an egg on top, fries, salad and some peppercorn sauce to douse it with, medium rare, and it was one of best steaks i've had. maybe it was the cut, maybe it was having such a lean, red, piece at 10 in the morning with a mimosa. maybe it was the price, i mean $12.50 for steak?? but it was truly a great piece of meat. I got to sample the french toast which was also "as thick as a bible" and super good. the crab cake was also delish, but hands down, this brunch skirt steak took my breath away!
(4)
Keeratiya S.
Food was ok. The service was sub-par. The server was slow to start take orders, and rarely checks back. Even the bread, has to be requested. Much better service at other less expensive places
(2)
Grace C.
A group of four of us had dinner here. Sunday night, 6:30pm, there was a 30-min wait to sit in the main dining room, so we took an open table in the bar area instead. The mushroom-pea-asparagus risotto ($14.75) was delicious. My husband really enjoyed the Sunday special, which was bouillabaisse marseillaise (a seafood stew, $24.50). Left Bank is on the pricier end of things, but that's not unusual for Menlo Park. Service was decent. The free bread basket comes with butter & two varieties of crusty bread (white and sourdough wheat).
(4)
Marie Louise H.
Last Sunday I went with two friends for an afternoon brunch. We thought that the Left Bank would be a nice place to visit and enjoy a leisurely meal. We were seated right away, however after a very long wait, our server finally greeted us. I had a few questions over the dishes and our server seemed bother and annoyed. She rudely answered the questions and told us she did not have time to wait for us to order and would return - 10 to 15 minutes later I was finally able to order the "salade nicoise" After another long wait our meals finally arrived... it was the worst "nicoise salad" I have ever eaten and I am over 80 years old. Let us talk about the SALAD. The "Haricots verts" (frozen?) were not even cooked - raw - and deeply cold. Avocado: not even half of one. - it was on the menu as an ingredient but I would say with what they served me it was more of a garnish. Fingerling potatoes: could not be less, a few small fingers -wet, sweet (???) and rosy colored (???)- a left over from a previous salad - perhaps - maybe the potatoes were part of a salad with beets...? Half an egg and two anchovies, but way too many capers. Two crushed pieces of lettuce that I would have throw out for myself and a few mini tomatoes On top, a handful of yellow bell peppers directly out of a can. The salad nicoise should be served with green peppers or red ones freshly cut. To complete this joke of a salad - the whole dish served on a plate deeply cold. It was probably made in advance and stored in the freezer My friend fared no better - one ordered the French onions soup ; very disappointed; Too much cheese. and overcooked. The other ordered mussels and frites. In the plate were mussels with floating lifeless pieces of spinach. Mussels and spinach should not be mixed (I can guarantee that this is not a french or belgian recipe). Fries were lukewarm. That was our experience that I wanted to share!I I will never return to the Left Bank again.
(1)
Pierre L.
We had our rehearsal dinner here and I was disappointed. The service was good and the food tasted fine but the portions were very inconsistent. My wife's salmon was smaller than the kid's meal salmon which doesn't make any sense at all. Our pork chop sizes were all over the place. The soup was luke warm at best. They also said they would give us two long rectangle tables but then it ended up being one long table. Anyway inconsistent and left me disappointed.
(3)
Mari M.
I always see throngs of people dining here especially when the sun is just perfect to dine on the sidewalk. I finally made my way to try out Left Bank as it is conveniently open throughout the day (no lull of usual mid-day 2-5 pm closing times) for lunch. First off, the restaurant is gorgeously spacious with high ceiling and an overlooking dining balcony. But other than the decor, I have little to rave. The service was lackluster: very slow (despite the few customers) and not-so-friendly. As for the food, I was excited as I browsed through the menu as everything sounded enticing, especially so in the alluring tongue of French. I ordered the fondue aux fromages with a trio of brie, blue, and goat cheeses (~$10). I love cheese! but I ended up wanting to hate it after a taste of this fondue. The only redeemable aspect of this appetizer was the crisp toasts. Otherwise, the fondue itself was lumpy, lukewarm, and bland. Not at all appetizing to look at or taste. I also ordered the brasserie steak with frites as a main dish ($20). All I can say is, it was a plopped-on-the-plate piece of meat. All in all, given the lackluster service and food quality, it's not worth the value.
(2)
Trang B.
I met a friend for dinner here on Monday, loved it so much returned with my family for dinner on Wednesday. The summary indicated it wasn't good for kids but I found that not to be the case. They have a kids' menu and the main dining room was well lit, open, warm and inviting. It was was neither too loud nor too quiet. The service was consistently very good. Our servers both nights were very friendly and responsive. I sat at the patio the first night and indoors the second, and from my experience found the service to be a bit more attentive inside. Not sure if my experience is an anomaly or whether the service inside is just better staffed and more organized to manage the higher volume of patrons. Anyway, servers both night were very good and highly recommend the patio if you enjoy al fresco dining. As for the menu, we ordered the cheese fondue from the appetizer menu the first night. Very good! IMO, better than what you'd find at the melting pot. The only regret I have is that I didn't order anything green that night, and left the restaurant feeling bloated from too much bread. Second night, I ordered the rotisserie chicken which was very good! It came with a generous portion of fries and a small green salad. Nice crispy skin and nicely seasoned. My husband and daughter (both vegetarians) ordered the risotto and were both pleased with their meal, though the options for vegetarians are limited at The Left Bank. My son had the calamari and enjoyed that as well. Dessert is not to be missed. We ordered the peach melba, creme brulee, lemon sorbet and the profiteroles (we don't like to share dessert in our family). After lots of oohing and ahhing, it was clear everyone was happy with the item they'd ordered. Total bill first night came out to under $30 with tip for 2 and on the second night, came out to be $150 for 4 - so you can get a really great meal for a little money or a lot here, depending on what you're in the mood for. Highly recommended!
(4)
Tom H.
Excellent attentive waiter and good food. Classy restaurant and great bar with outside seating in the heart of downtown Menlo Park.
(5)
Lori W.
We had a 5:15 early dinner to make sure the kids got into bed on time. There were 7 other tables with kids having dinner at this time so we chose correctly. I ordered steak tartare which I enjoyed and fried calamari which was perfectly done (not chewy in the slightest). Here's why only 3 stars: My husband's duck was very chewy (not good). He ordered it medium rare. They had recommended medium to medium well. Both of us have had duck that rare at other locations that were perfectly tender. They never checked on if we had a problem with the food. The toast that came with my steak tartare was burned. The staff clearly did not know how to handle tables with children. While they have slings for carseats and high chairs for small children and crayons for coloring and a kid's menu, when I was holding my infant son in my arms and the server proceeded to put plates right in front of me within his grasp. I moved the plate quickly out of reach and she came back with my *second* plate and put it right in front of me. Did she think I was making space for her? Also, a second server proceeded to move my carseat when bringing a high chair over and when I protested, he didn't listen to me at all and did not stop what he was doing at all. The water service was abysmal.
(3)
Christine V.
Hmm where do I start. This was our first time here, we had not come before they remodeled. The place looks really great but we had some trouble with the service. Our server was new, he had to read the specials from a piece of paper. They didnt give us bread (we had to ask for it). The servers kept trying to deliver the wrong foods to the tables around us. I think maybe they were confused about the tables. Speaking of the tables, we sat near the kitchen and the tables seem a little to open and close together to me. A couple sat next to us and they were like a foot away. We actually started talking to them about the service because they were not happy with the server either lol. I have to say the food was very good. We had a crab cake app that wasnt on the menu, it was soooo good but $13 for one crab cake? The butter lettuce salad was good but again, $10 for some lettuce and mustard dressing? My bf had a chicken and linguine dish that I just loveeeed. I had the calamari which was 'ok' nothing special. Then we had desert. Oh yeah, the server didnt know anything that was on the menu. He asked if we wanted to see the desert menu and I asked what kinds of things are on there and he couldnt name one. He said something dumb like 'well there are deserts on there'. lmao. I mean really, if you're going to let a server serve, he should at least know ONE thing that's on the menu. :| Anyway we split a cream puff. The smallest cream puff I've ever seen in my life (it was like one bite) for $3.50. LOL oh well we had to come at least once.
(2)
Pablo G.
Somethings never change. Mediocre food, inattentive service, bad value prices. Skip it!
(2)
Elton C.
It's a decent restaurant. It isn't particularly fancy. The decor is borderline casual-nice, on a casual-similarity as the CheeseCake Factory. However, my experience was that the service was disappointing. Though cheerful, the server ignored us for a while. We felt that we waited longer than we need to... probably 20 minutes, for her to take orders. The wait for food was also long. We had the appetizer of calamari and oyster on half-shells. Calamari was nice, but few can screw this up. The oysters though, wasn't as I expected. It was kind of watered (not enough salt). Also, where did the cocktail sauce go?! The rest of the meal wasn't particularly memorable. The steak was ok. Didn't particularly find their portion filling though. The wait was definitely the biggest negative in my experience that evening.
(2)
Lauren Q.
Crab benedict. NOM
(3)
Julie P.
The waiter that ruined our dining experience is no longer at Menlo Park Left Bank. So we have returned as customers. Enjoyable food.
(4)
gwynnie p.
4 stars for the Salade Nicoise alone. Awesome......everything fresh and the tuna was divine. Nice to sit outside for lunch on a hot spring day in ye olde Menlo Park. Our server could use a trip to Server University, but the salad outshined his silliness (like arguing over whether the requested ingredient for a substitution was available....turned out it was, as it had been on prior visits).
I love the onion soup, staff was generally attentive when they're around. it was busy that night so it was hard to flag someone down. the beignets were a let down for me =( I have to admit though ambience is quite lovely.
(3)
Cindy K.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. We had reservations, knowing it would be crowded in the area due to graduations and Father's Day. The minute I walked in the restaurant, I started to sweat. I know that sounds gross, but the place was stuffy and hot. It was uncomfortable. I don't know if this is normal or if the air wasn't working. The food was okay. The waitstaff were very nice and attentive. The prices were mediocre and on the pricey side for the portions. Yes, i get it. It's French. But still, for the size of the skirt steak, it seemed overpriced. The soup was good. The Tuna Nicoise salad was good but the portions were small. No joke, everybody in my party were sweating throughout dinner. It was that hot.
(2)
Eric B.
This is one of the few remaining Left Bank locations that are standing. It's smaller than the old Pleasant Hill location, the bar area is comfortable, and this would be a neat place to go after seeing the latest Woody Allen movie (Midnight in Paris). Also as this one of my ex-wife's previous meeting places with her friend (and emotional affair), I continue to be both conflicted and fascinated the times that I return.
(3)
Michael C.
I had a lunch meeting scheduled in the area and we decided to do it at Left Bank. As the area in general is well-known for good food, I had no concerns. When we arrived at noon, the restaurant was mostly empty, so we sat at a table in the middle of a large room. I didn't really look at the decor, but the color scheme seemed appropriate. From a light survey, the typical patrons were well-to-do in their 50s, huddled in small groups or going solo. I took a chance and ordered the risotto of the day while my partner went with the sole. The items on the menu ranged from $10-30 for lunch, so it's plenty easy to run up a tab. Unfortunately, they didn't even have Diet Coke, so I went with iced tea rather than suffer the indignity of Diet Pepsi's dish water after-taste. My risotto was a surprisingly large portion, almost twice the size of others that I've had in the area. Food was quite good. The lunch was uneventful, which is how I like it. Our waiter was attentive and I have but one quibble, that he kept an uncomfortably aloof distance by not lowering his towering 6'4" body closer to our level as we ordered. Otherwise, we tabbed out at $52 with tax and tip. This place served my purpose for a business lunch but is not as attractive for casual dining. Maybe it's better at night? I'll have to check it out another time.
(3)
Lindsay S.
There seems to be a lot of negative reviews, but understandably with the bad service. Of course it is a stuffy restaurant, it's in Santana Row! That whole strip is stuffy, so people should expect restaurants here to be expensive and pretentious. I think the steaks are very good here. My friend and I ordered the porterhouses, with a side of mac n' cheese and spinach. We ate pretty much all of it without hesitation. This isn't a place I would go to everyday, and yes, there are steak houses better, but it is quite good. Having said that, I would probably choose the LB Brasserie. Their chocolate macaroons are delicious!
(4)
Sasan A.
Tried their Salmon salad, was tasty and ingredients were fresh. Very good coffee as well.
(4)
Jayne W.
We were looking for a light lunch place and this restaurant looked and smelled good from the outside. We were not disappointed. The onion and bisque soups were tastefully and skillfully made, as were the vegetarian sandwich and the lamb hamburger. The option of having good draught beer or wine by the glass was also appreciated.
(4)
Kendall M.
Left Banks are about the same at every location, in my experience, so if you like the Left Bank thing, here is no disappointment. Now, granted, I would never go here if I were footing the bill, but I'm young and a fresh college grad and all that, and I don't really think I'm their target demographic. I went here with my dad for my brother's birthday, and everything was pretty decent. Their fish is always fresh, everyone enjoyed their meal (I had the scallops, dad had casoulet which I'm sure I didn't spell correctly, brother had the steak). Service was excellent. There are a couple things to note that might make this place stand out among other fancy eateries. $15 corkage, which is pretty reasonable at restaurants of that price point Casoulet -- it's rare to find it served anywhere, and it's now a regular on the menu here instead of a weekly special Ample parking in downtown Los Altos RECOMMEND RESERVATIONS. It didn't look busy, but I heard several people being turned away over the phone on a Sat night.
(4)
Kareasa W.
This was by far one of the worst dining experiences that I have ever had. I've been to the Left Bank in San Jose, which has been pretty good, but I was so offended by the ineptitude of the staff at Left Bank Menlo Park that I will NEVER go there again. My boyfriend and I had reservations for 11 a.m., which is apparently when Left Bank opens. We were the first people there, yet when I ordered the Gateau of Crab (a crab cake eggs benedict) the waiter said "Oh, I'm sorry I think we're out of that." What??!! The restaurant just opened--how can you be out of something already??? Anyway, he came back and told me that they "had a few left," so that's what I ordered. While we were waiting for our entrees, he brought us some stale bread--clearly left over from the day before. When we finally received our entrees, the egg on my Crab Gateau and the eggs on my boyfriend's eggs benedict were practically raw. It looked like the cooks had only poached them for about 30 seconds as they were totally jiggly and underdone. When I pointed this out to the waiter, he asked me if I wanted them scrambled. IT'S A FUCKING BENEDICT, NO I DON'T WANT THEM SCRAMBLED!! I want them poached properly, that's all. It doesn't take a fucking rocket scientist to poach an egg correctly--I do it at home all the time. When the waiter brought our food back the eggs were poached to the point of being bullet-proof, not to mention the ham on my boyfriend's eggs benedict looked like it came from an Oscar Meyer sandwich meat package. By the time we got the second round of our breakfast, our kir royals were long finished. The waiter took away our glasses but didn't bother to ask if we wanted more. It's just as well though since I didn't feel like giving another penny to Left Bank after such a horrible experience.
(1)
Brian K.
Disclaimer - only had drinks at the bar Detailed floor tiles, 20 foot tall posters, ceiling lamps that looks stolen from the Bellagio, and French decor all around - adds up to a solid, family-friendly French restaurant. My wife and I sat at the bar and enjoyed several glasses of wine. Friendly service, good wine, and a great menu 'user interface' (whites and reds seperated by glass/half-bottle/bottlel; price (under $20, under $30, etc.). I appreciated the 1 TV which provided me the Giants game, but didn't overwhelm the bar (many bar areas are 'if 1 TV is good, 10 is AWESOME!). Am I right? We'll be back for dinner sometime and will update for food.
(4)
May H.
I've been benefiting from helpful Yelp reviews for years. (Thanks fellow Yelpers!) Time to stop mooching and start giving back, beginning with this review. I hosted a brunch event in Left Bank's private mezzanine and it was a great success, largely due to the wonderful venue, management and staff, and food. In planning for the event, I schlepped to pretty much all of the venues in Palo Alto and Menlo Park for a place that was: 1) elegant, but not stuffy; 2) private so that people could talk and actually hear each other; 3) able to offer a good food selection; 4) at a reasonable price point and minimum; and 5) reliable. While researching venues, I did read the less positive reviews on Yelp before I picked Left Bank. As you would expect, I was looking for the highest rated restaurant with the best deal - the lowest price and greatest experience. (Yeah, who isn't, right?) Based on my experience with this event, I think people have different tastes and it depends on what dish you have and who attends to you. I liked the food and thought the staff did a great job. The experience was perfect from start to finish. Charles Chapman was very organized, extremely responsive, and worked with me to accommodate the needs of my event. The selections I could choose from to create the prix fixe menu were appetizing and included great vegetarian options. On the day of the event, the mezzanine was beautifully set up. The formal white tablecloth setting was nicely laid out and configured as I had specified, the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light, the decor was what I'd call "contemporary French", the staff was attentive and efficient without being intrusive, the food was served at the pace I had instructed, and everyone enjoyed the food. There were also little touches the staff did that I hadn't thought about, but were very helpful. For example, there was a small coffee, tea, and water station set up where people could mingle and chat before sitting down to eat. It's a sign of experienced staff when they know how to anticipate your needs and ask the right questions.
(5)
Samantha C.
This was the first Left Bank restaurant I've been to and the food was great for me (despite the reviews). Must try: Skirt Steak, free range Chicken, Side asparagus. Even their fries were good! Service was attentive and friendly. Too bad downtown Menlo Park needs a bit more nightlife feel to it (even on weekdays), but I'm guessing it's only because the crowd is usually at downtown Palo Alto.
(4)
Thom S.
So as the waitress donned a medieval iron-link glove to cut bread, my waiter complimented my sunglasses at night, the couple to my left couldn't stop staring at people, and the light fixtures had tassels hanging from them, I realized that Left Bank isn't 'just havin an off night.' Its permanently odd. The french cuisine place is characterized by these oddities. -Claim Jumper portions of French food? Bizarre. -Desserts exempt from size rule? Bizarre. -Manager without undershirt and a lot of nipple. Bizarre. -Very shi shi restaurant goal, with paper table cloths -A crowd of alcoholics and geriatrics -Huge steel table expansions for group seating that cause weird construction-like moments throughout dinner -Bread cutting staff wearing medieval chain-link iron mesh gloves ...and I come back to the bizarre lamp tassels on the chandelier... so odd. Overall the food is okay. The service is okay. The vibe is kind of fun, in that people-watch-menlo kind of way.
(3)
Julie S.
My overall review of 3+ stars is based on the following: Food 3.5 Ambience 3.5 Service 3 I feel a bit mixed on Left Bank having been there several times. I find it to be a very convenient "go to" restaurant in Menlo Park. Good for after work happy hour - or cocktails with the girls - or quick date night with the husband - or family dinner - or private function. So, very VERSATILE restaurant. Ambience is fun - nice high ceilings, good bistro vibe, typically pretty good "buzz" without being too loud. Menu is standard French bistro, but pretty good. Nice range of daily specials too. The cheese fondue and onion soup are always yummy. Not so broad on the vegetarian options, but a few salads/etc. I find the place to be very kid friendly. Good selection (burgers, hot dogs, chix fingers) and other foods for the kids - and crayons to draw on the white table covers - and high chairs! I really LOVE their private room upstairs. Great for a private function - one of the better in downtown MP I think. We had a family party there and it was great. They worked with us on the menu/wine, servers were excellent, ambience great, and everyone loved it. I find service to be a bit more hit or miss here. Sometimes it is fine, but other times (like tonight) I get very frustrated by the long waits. Wait to order - wait between courses - wait for the bill - etc. Our "quick" Thursday dinner turned into a 1.75 hour dinner despite our "quick" choosing/ordering due to the waits. If you want a leisurely dinner, that is often fine, but if you're looking for a bit of "speed" it can be frustrating. Overall, Left Bank is a good alternative in downtown MP for a "lively" environment and pretty good food/service. Also a family friendly choice. If you come with your expectations in check, you'll likely have a very pleasant experience, and (like us) find yourself going back, despite not being "wowed".
(3)
Betty N.
One word: Solid. It won't be the greatest meal you've ever had, but it works. If you need to unwind after work and meet some Palo Alto friends, this would be a good spot. The bartender is friendly and can make a REALLY REALLY good vodka martini with a citrus twist. That alone is 2 stars. :) As for food, it is "ok". Nothing stuck out. I ordered the soup of the day (chicken soup) and the steamed mussels. They were both so-so; flavor-wise and whatever else. Nothing was OMG. We liked our cheese plate and the molten lava chocolate cake. That was quite good actually. I would do that next time: order martinis and desserts. They have a happy hour which is great. Reasonably-priced drinks and munchies. I wouldn't mind returning again, just for the martinis alone. RECOMMEND for a Menlo Park happy hour with friends.
(3)
Frequent B.
Come on, really. This is a chain. It's a glorified Applebees with a French theme. This isn't true French cuisine. The bar here is fine, and the outdoors seating is nice, but don't waste your money expecting anything approaching fine dining. This particular location is very poorly run. There is no manager on the floor, so don't expect a friendly greeting or good service. They do the minimum to get by. Seriously, the 5 star reviews must be plugs by their corporate marketing department.
(2)
Becca L.
My review is based on recent experiences, rather than all of my experiences over the past decade. The restaurant and the menu remain lovely, but the kitchen and the service have become extremely lacking. The first time, I had to send my food back twice in a row for the exact same issue. The second time, we ordered, then watched others arrive, order, eat, and finish while we were still waiting! Our waitress kept promising that our food was on its way. When it came, all of the dishes were cold. Those with salad on the plate--completely wilted. I ordered the canard confit hash. The menu did not mention that it had potatoes (although I expected it might). "spinach, duck confit, poached egg, fried onions." Some potatoes would have been ok. However, it was almost entirely potatoes. In fact, there was no duck in it at all. The second one (and the second salad) were fine (if full of potatoes I couldn't eat), but not worth the 100 min wait. I just don't feel like what you get is honestly represented. The drink special board showed a glass of sparkling wine with a slice of peach in it. The caption translated to, "sparkling wine with fresh peach." I got a glass of sparkling wine with peach liqueur in it. Upon asking, I was told they don't have fresh peach. The manager improved our meal, but one woman alone cannot do it all. I saw her waiting lots of tables and felt bad for her. I hope she gets some new staff to help her soon! Many dishes were comped, which was nice, but not enough to make up for brunch taking almost 3 hours for 4 people. I guess I'll just have to give my business to their competitors for a while. I'll retry Left Bank in the future, seriously hoping that they've gotten their act back together. This used to be a great place to go for a special occasion.
(1)
Eric Y.
It was a relief to eat here after nearly a week's worth of Chinese food. I could've had cold pizza and waxed poetically about it. However, this is a French place and the French have their standards, nes pa? The ambience was brasserie-like and bustling. The service was attentive. Kitchen was slow. The wine list adequate. The food? Comme ci, commes ca. The french bistro classic, frisee salad with lardon and poached egg was very good. My steak frites was skirt steak (!), but they wouldn't do it au poivre, only with a peppercorn sauce on the side. Not exactly authentic. Nevertheless it tasted ok. The frites were also good. Ketchup? Not exactly authentic French either but I'm an American so pass the red stuff, ok? Most of us passed on dessert but they have a selection of petite desserts that is welcome even if you've over-indulged on dinner. The trio of almond financier cakes is worth trying. It's three bite sized pieces of delicious almond cake.
(3)
Charles H.
I have had mixed experiences at Left Bank. The atmosphere is lovely. The food has ranged from exceptional to mediocre. Last time, I ordered the lamb burger, which was delicious and filling. The olive bread served with lunch was also devine. The chips, however, were burnt. I asked the waiter to replace the chips with some that weren't burnt. I don't know if he had a chip on his shoulder, but he initially told me that it was "impossible." Miraculously, some not yet incinerated chips arrived a few minutes later. I also had the True Cod Provencal with Pernod Butter Sauce. Sadly, the fish was served extremely under-cooked. As for the accompaniments, the hericots verts were good, but the spinach was inadequately drained prior to serving. As the fish was served atop the spinach and green beans, the whole dish suffered from the watery spinach dribbling all over the plate. Furthermore, I specifically asked for the shallots in the dish to be well cooked, but they were served nearly raw, resulting in a pervasive taste of onion that drowned out the flavor of the Pernod herb butter. I would have sent it back, except that the waiter didn't reappear for over 30 minutes after serving the food. The last time I had this dish, it was cooked perfectly, with a lightly seared crust on the cod, so I assume someone in the kitchen this time was in a hurry or just thought they could get away with serving it under-cooked. But, in no way was this watery, barely cooked cod entree worth $20. The three course prix fixe menu at lunch can be a good value for $19.95. I had clams for the appetizer, a delicious lamb risotto, followed by a lovely fruit tart. Service, as I alluded to early, is a bit spotty. Several servers I've encountered exhibit a certain "aloofness.". Personally, I find it very off-putting when waiters put on airs. This might be forgivable, but the service itself has also been slow and inattentive on several occasions. I've experienced very long waits for the food, and other times where the servers simply ignore you after the food has been served (as mentioned above). Overall, I give Left Bank four stars for atmosphere, three for food, and two for service. What really bothered me was not that the food didn't come out of the kitchen perfectly (mistakes happen, afterall). It's that nobody even bothered to check on my table after it was served, and when they finally did, it was too late to send it back.
(2)
Lis B.
Left Bank used to be one of my go-to lunch places. It's huge with a lovely interior, the staff knows how to get you in and out fast, and the food is generally good. Let's talk decor and service, since both are excellent here. It's a spacious place, and since the renovation, even more so. Reproductions of old-fashioned French adverts hang on the walls, the mirrors are still great, and the new sweeping staircase adds to the ambiance. They've also cut out that weird row of booths directly in front of the open kitchen, which weren't the nicest seats due to the heat and the smoke. The feel of the restaurant is much more cohesive now. Service has always been top-notch. No complaints. The servers are more than competent and are willing to get you anything you need. So why do I say that this "used to" be one of my go-to places for lunch? One reason, and one reason only: they took their old lamb sandwich off the menu. It was gone for a long time, and they've recently reinstated it, but in a different form. Instead of being served on a chewy baguette, it's now served on a softer herb bun without much flavor. In addition, they used to serve it with grilled pepper with optional tapenade (for $1 more). Now it's more expensive, and the tapenade is automatically included. Annoying, since I don't like tapenade. At any rate, the rest of their food is perfectly fine. French bistro standards minus at least some of the butter. I've had the salade nicoise, moules frites, croque jacques pepin, "grandma's" chicken, steak frites, etc., etc. All serviceable, but a few dollars more than what would constitute a "good deal." . Fries are thin and crispy. Quite good. Oh, and the "power elite" of Atherton/Menlo Park/Palo Alto sometimes lunch here.
(3)
Nina B.
I visited Left Bank for a ladies lunch and was pleased. Judging by the reviews it seems pretty hit and miss. The restaurant was full the Sunday we came so thankfully we had reservations. Even with the crowd our waitress was very attentive so 4* for service. I opted for brunch instead of the lunch menu.. it's hard to turn down brunch when given the option. We had calamari for the table and it was okay. Wasn't overly breaded but a couple pieces were chewier than I'd expect. For my brunch entree I had the eggs benedict which is served with mixed greens and potatoes. It was pretty good and not too filling, which I like. There are only a few brunch options but they're good ones - dungeness crab cake w/poached egg & hollandaise (which looked good), duck confit w/poached egg, fried onions & spinach, house made tomato-basil pork sausages & potatoes, etc. If you have room for dessert I'd skip the eclair and try the profiteroles. The chocolate was good on those suckers and there is enough to share with four, yum!
(3)
laura p.
I can only express my disappointment with the Left Bank in the form of a haiku: food was just o.k. waiter was inattentive they should try harder
(2)
Sunil R.
Went there with some colleagues last night and enjoyed the evening. This location has a nice ambiance. Well lit, high vaulted ceilings and good service. I remember going to some of their other locations a long time ago and not liking it too much. I got a Kir Royale just to try something different instead of my regular drinks in spite of getting some strange looks from my table mates. ;-) The food was average to above average. The french onion soup was overwhelmed with cheese. Some might think "what's wrong with that" but I like a little soup along with the cheese as well. The gnocchi was tasty but too rich. The skirt steak was OK, a little too chewy for me. Overall, I would consider this a safety restaurant if I can't get into some of my other favorites in the area.
(3)
A C.
Went for brunch and had some mimosas and the eggs benedict. I like the decor. High ceilings, dark wood, some crazy European artwork posted on the walls. It's a pretty space. The mimosas were delicious. The eggs benedict - well....it was okay. I usually love eggs benedict, but I wouldn't order this again. The eggs were strange. They almost immediately slid off my English muffins and onto the plate in a gelatinous mess. I mostly just ate the muffins, hams, and hollandaise sauce. It came with some potatoes (frozen and reheated) and some lettuce with dressing. I just thought the whole thing could have been much, much better. To be fair, I'm picky with breakfast, eggs especially, but that being said...Left Bank, you could do more with your brunch.
(3)
Scott F.
I had the Croque Monsieur (see my photo). It was OK. The cheese was a little overwhelming, with not enough toasted crust for contrast. But the flavor was very good. Overall, it's not as good as the Croque Monsieur at Sugar Butter Flour in Sunnyvale yelp.com/biz_photos/1wKD… I also tried the pain perdu (french toast). See my photo. It was OK. The outside was not as crispy as I like it, and the inside was a bit too soggy. It also had almost no flavor. It's not nearly as good as the pain perdu at Butler & Chef Bistro in San Francisco.
(4)
Jay B.
I think I had one of those bad timing experiences again. My wife and I went here on her birthday . We had the small table sydrome which they gave to us for free when we walked in. Personally I thought it was overpriced for the quality of food that was served. Nothing wrong with the food (a little slow)but not up to the standard I'd heard about. Recently I heard that the original chef had left ? not my favorite experience but average at best
(2)
Ashley J.
Have had some decent meals here and some terrible ones. The duck was the worst I ever had. Wait staff was great as usual and apologetically took care of it for me.
(3)
Celeste S.
Went here for brunch/lunch on Sunday. I hadn't eaten here in years and we were going to a champagne tasting in the afternoon so we felt we should stick with the French theme :) I chose the prix fixe menu as soon as I saw mushroom risotto on it! Salad, risotto and dessert (I chose the chocolate volcano cake) for $35 - quite reasonable. I also added on a mimosa and an order of frites for the table as their fries are very good. Was funny actually - almost every single table had an order. Quite popular. The risotto was good. I make risotto at home on occasion and it is better but I use the Cipriani recipe so there really is no better than that. But this was quite good. A lot of restaurants try to do too much with their risotto - add too many extra things to make it exotic or whatever. All it does it make it over-bearing. This was one was quite simple - risotto and mushrooms. And very good. I did have to add salt but better it needs salt added as it's a personal preference. The waitress didn't offer Parmesan though - found that odd. But I didn't search it out. My husband got the steak and frites and he was very happy with it. Very flavorful meat without any sauces, etc. I had a bite - was very yummy. Our friend ordered the duck hash. He said it was quite good. I don't eat duck so didn't ask for a bite :) The cake was good. Not the best lava cake I've had but good. There were many things on the menu I would try if I went back. Many things sounded good plus I saw some of them going by to other tables and everything looked delicious. This is something coming from me - not a huge fan of French food. The service was great. Our waitress was always around but never in our way. The food came came out at a nice pace - not too rushed and on top of each other (HATE that when trying to have a relaxing meal) but never so long between ordering, bread and then courses. And we always had cold water which I appreciate very much. I hate looking around for a server to get more water. My only real complaint was not really the fault of the restaurant, but at some point they have to be responsible for the experience of all of their customers and say something... They have a 2nd floor with 1 room/balcony for large parties. What was obviously a birthday or some family party was going on there. They had several children who were the most unruly, misbehaved and loud children I have seen in a restaurant - ever. There were a couple of other families on the main floor and those children were fine. But the children upstairs were running around, playing and screaming like they were in a park or at home. And the parents did nothing to calm them down. At all. They just sat there tuning it out and kept chatting and drinking. It was obvious by the faces of other people that I was not the only one bothered by this. You could see many other people looking up there like "would you do something about your heathens?" This did effect the experience of eating here. So this is why I would expect someone in the restaurant to actually say something to them. This was a well-dressed family, children were in their suits and ties as well, so they certainly should have known they were effecting the ambiance of the place for everyone. This is not the McDonald's Play Area. And if I was the restaurant manager, I would have said something as I have an entire floor of tables being bothered by your 1 family. So if you were eating at Left Bank around noon on Sunday 10/18, and you were the family with no respect for others, get a clue. And the manager should learn the art of dealing with this type of situation. You would have gotten 4 stars for food and service if not for this.
(3)
Pavel R.
What happened to Left Bank? They used to have very good food but the experience my wife and I had put the nail in the coffin. We probably won't be going back, at least to this location. So here's a quick recap of our evening out. We sat down and were served the usual bread basket. It was old and hard...I mean, come on, this is a simple thing to get right, isn't it? We both started out with the French onion soup. We both took one spoonful to find it lukewarm. I told our server and he sent it back to be reheated. After it returned, it was fine but still not completely hot. For the main course I had the burger which was okay but the fries were cold. My wife had the beef bourguignon...taste was okay but the noodles were very cold. See the ongoing theme here? We didn't even bother letting the server know since we didn't want to wait around any longer. This simple meal with one glass of beer ended up costing us more than $75 including tip. What a unpleasant experience.
(1)
Amanda H.
I really want to like Left Bank more than I do! I have always had a good time here, but I think that has more come from the company than the bistro itself. On the surface it is adorable, they have been accommodating with gluten-free friends, appreciate our making reservations, have provide adequate food and service, and have a good wine/cocktail list. But there is something that seems a little too forced in the menu, the wait staff, and the decor. Not to mention our romantic date night dinners here have been filled with seemingly endless free-range sprogs. Perhaps that can be circumvented by going later? I will probably go back, but I feel like I will quickly find myself in a rut with the menu/drink options and super curious about the bistro next door...
(3)
John K.
I have been a customer of the Left Bank for 10 years and have never failed to enjoy my meals here. The menu has mostly authentic French dishes which are well prepared and interesting. The dining experience is enjoyable weather you are sitting inside in the grand dining room or out in front at one of the sidewalk tables. Always a pleasure to dine there. Easy John
(4)
Paul R.
This place has a late night happy hour. Okay for a neighborhood bar. Last time I was there...bartender poured me a pretty frickin' stiff drink but is not cheap. I can walk there...that is it's best selling point.
(3)
Vinny L.
Great place to eat. The service was good and the food was delicious. They were also very kid friendly. I was a bit concerned about the average ratings here, but after having a good experience, I'm comfortable giving it a 5 star rating and I'll be back.
(5)
Khanh D.
Decent restaurant. The environment is very nice, but the steak was average. The winner here is the truffled mac and cheese. The mushrooms were good, but I am not really a fan of shrooms so they tasted average. However, the burger was delicious! Forgot which one....
(3)
Jorge P.
Went with a group of my coworkers and a couple of doctors. I ordered the French onion soup and the Nicoise salad. As I was digging into what I thought was a yummy soup, I saw something I thought was an outer skin of an onion. As I pulled it out and tried to remove it, it turned out to be a hunk of clear plastic about the size of my palm. EW. I quietly motioned to the waiter who looked at it and said can I bring you something else. Really? No thanks, lost my appetite. He said he would tell the manager. About 20 minutes later, I asked if he'd let the manager know. She came over stating she had shown the staff and were "discussing" how to prevent further incidents. She seemed more annoyed that I raised my concerns and less on trying to rectify the action with me, she asked me "What else can I do?" At that point I knew it was a lost cause. If you're not interested in return customers, you got it. First time was my last time. Thanks for nothing. Foofoo restaurant without food prep excellence? BLEH!! I hope they didn't charge our host for either the salad OR the soup. I didn't ask as it was not polite.
(1)
F M.
Major disappointment, have been there many times over the years. 1. Waiter was indifferent, always had a pro before. 2. Soft shell crab was not too hot temperature wise & the shell was not crisp, soggy. 3. Beignets for dessert were regular donuts, not the light, puffy, airy delights that melt in your mouth. Yes, the restaurant business is tough, times are tough. When a restaurant fails in so many ways, it's time to take them off of the list. So sad, have enjoyed some of the best meals ever from Left Bank with great staff.
I swung by here again the other day and continue to be disappointed with certain aspects of the menu and the food. First, the absence of daily specials (other than the fixed rotating ones) implies they are not sussing out fresh, local seasonal ingredients and turning them into something wonderful each day -- a lost opportunity in my mind. Second, since it was Sunday, I could order the bouillabaisse -- and it was VILE. I've had the bouillabaisse here before and, trust me, they have changed the recipe. It did not resemble either their previous version nor any version that I've had in France. It was a thick, thick lukewarm red sauce -- nothing brothy about it. Yuck. The cheese fondue was good, the steak/frites were fine, and the mousse pate (but why of chicken liver and not duck or goose) was good, but I didn't enjoy the pate de campagne very much. Overall, the place continues on its course of being decreasingly French.
(3)
Chun L.
Weekend brunch offers wonderful and simple food under reasonable prices. We had crab cake. It was a big crab cake with fresh ingredients. I highly recommend it. The other one we ordered was steak and egg. It is skirt steak. A bit thin but nicely done. The side dish comes with French fries. Price ranges between $10~$14. The place is clean. Ambiance is good. Services were very nice. Also has free wifi.
(4)
Katie Anne N.
We decided to stop by for dinner on a weeknight and opted to sit in the bar area to have dinner. I had never been but am familiar that it is a chain restaurant with a location in San Jose. We were promptly seated and greeted by the waiter. The menu is ridiculously large. I had no idea what half the items listed were and quite frankly was confused for a moment. So I let BF order. We started off with the steamed mussels/fries (yum), a salad and shared the steak. They were nice enough to ask us if we wanted it split on two plates. I really like it when they ask that because its more thoughtful that way. The steak was prepared to our liking and was really really good. We chose the beignets for dessert and they were also fantastic. I highly recommend having a meal here. That is, if you can get through their monster menu. Great selections though, just too many options.
(4)
Jonathan M.
I should state that I have not eaten here yet. However, if you are looking for a good cocktail place in the area, this is the place!
(4)
Ed L.
I got off work relatively early one night, at like 9, and this place was one of the only restaurants open. The hostess was nice enough to keep the door opened long enough for me to drive down and helped me place my order of steak and frittes so by the time I got there the meal was waiting for me to devour. Service is great. The meal was good, nothing spectacular. I feel it's a little overpriced for what you get but the food is good nonetheless. Very nice venue, I think of this as a more sophisticated and refined TGI Fridays.
(3)
Kaila J.
My husband and I went to this place for our anniversary dinner (no reservations were made, we just winged it). When we got there we asked the host if we could get seated at a nice private spot, we were seated right away. He sat us outside under the warm heater in a very private lil corner (felt like we were out on a french lil patio). He congratulated us on our anniversary and quickly came back with some candle lights (to help us set the move). Moments later a waiter came by and asked us if we'd like some sparkling wine on the house, we said sure! I thought he would bring out a small glass instead he filled up our wine glasses to the top and greeted us off with CHEERS! that was very nice of them! We drank our sparkling delicious wine (which later I fould out they were $9 a glass) with some yummy bread, they had both french bagette and a bread that had olives inside...that was my favorite. We started with the CALAMARS FRITS ~ $10.50 (included: fried calamari, crispy onion and fennel, lemon, dijon grain mustard vinaigrette) we were pleased with this selection, simply delicious. My hubby ordered the TILAPIA PROVENÇALE $18.95 (included: peruvian tilapia, niçoise olives, capers, roasted tomato, lemon zest pernod herb butter). He gave me a few bites and both him and I thought this dish was just delicious! I ordered the JARRET D'AGNEAU $23.75 (included: braised domestic lamb shank, ratatouille, polenta fritters, lamb jus) the lamb was so juicy and falling off the bone, just wonderful, the ratatouille was also very good. We loved our dinner! For dessert, since I bake I brought a little cake for us. The waiter told us they would have given us free dessert but she didn't want to compete with mine lol so instead she brought us a delicious glass of dessert wine (on the house) to compliment our cake. We were super impressed at how we were treated from start to finish! We will definitely go back there. The staff was friendly and really paid attention to detail and we thought it was so nice that a restaurant took the time to help us celebrate our special day by treating us so well. We showed our gratitude by tipping our waiter very well! Thanks Left Bank!
(5)
Kim N.
I can't believe I've neglected to review this place. I remember when it opened to massive crowds. The waits were long but it was the place to be in MP for quite a while. They went through a remodeling years ago and I'd not been since. dropped in for a lunch and noticed that both aesthetically and cuisine wise it's changed quite a bit. The floor has been expanded and has a much more Parisian style layout to the dining area. The best part however is that Roland Passot and team have created lots of dishes that cover many regions of France. Got a Pissaladiere and a Tripe stewe Nicoise. Both were solid. I guess for a while they may have had gone by the wayside but the revamping has made them culinarily interesting again.
(4)
Shanna K.
Well, the company was outstanding.. and we brought our own wine so that was outstanding as well... but aside from that I can't say that I was all that impressed. We started with fried calamari which wasn't offensive but just kind of average. Not particularly crispy or tasty, it came with a vinaigrette dipping sauce, which was also just ok. I would have preferred cocktail sauce. We also had the fondue which was fine as far as flavor went, but really disappointing as far as presentation. It came out in a little cast iron pot and, although the cheese was already melted, the whole thing got cold very quickly. Turns out that the pot itself was not warm and it took far too long to heat up with the tiny votive candle underneath. It also took the server 20 minutes to bring some carrot and celery sticks for my friend to dip, since she is allergic to wheat and cannot eat bread. The steak frites I had for my main was tasty enough but extremely difficult to cut. I did enjoy their fries, though.. and the bordelaise sauce was very rich and tasty. We passed on dessert. All in all I would go back or the fries, and maybe a cocktail.. but I don't think I"d make this a destination. There is better food to be had elsewhere..
(2)
Zha L.
Left Bank is a hit & miss restaurant, and my last experience here was horrific and disappointing. You would think they have some great potential for being a beautiful French restaurant in Menlo Park downtown, but they don't... It's THAT shameful. You can't depend on them for a satisfying dinner, and you can't expect nothing will go wrong. The waiter we had was so rude that it ruined our meal! Even though the food was okay.. he just downgraded it! He hardly checked up on us, ignored our requests, AND he didn't even apologize for giving us the wrong bill. I wanted to punch his face. If, without by choice, I do ever come back here.. I would probably order the most American thing in the menu... "Le Burger Americain" with pommes frites.
(1)
K D.
Service is very slow. Waiters forget and mix up orders but food wise tastes good. Be ready for a wait even if it isnt a full or half house. I would't suggest this place as a first choice, do it if you have no more choices, or better yet go home and order in
(1)
Scott W.
There aren't too many brasserie-type restaurants in the area and when my wife and I are craving moule frites, this is our go-to place. The steak with peppercorn sauce also never fails. To top it all off, Menlo Park at dinner time is usually pretty dead so parking is never an issue.
(4)
Manny C.
Excellent Sunday brunch have been here the last 2 Sundays and had Christmas Eve dinner here. Food has always been great. Service was a little messed up on Christmas Eve probably because they were packed. They brought out my appetizer to the table next to me and didn't bring out to the soup until after the appetizer and we had to wait for refills on drinks. The food was still great.
(4)
Ash T.
Brunch here is pretty damn good. Okay, some of the best brunch I've had. I admit, I'm not generally big on brunch. I go to brunch, sure, but i usually get the lunch food. Pancakes, waffles and omelets and bacon seem good to me in theory, but gross in the form of a meal, i.e., I'd get them at a buffet where I could take a few bites of each, but I wouldn't want to have just a plate of any one of those as my meal. But the brunch menu at Left Bank was so much more than the usual suspects. I ended up ordering the brioche french toast, which was crusted in granola and came with honey maple syrup. I'm a fan of french toast as it, but this took it to another level. I think my friend said it best when she said the french toast looked like a piece of steak. This thing was substantial-- about two inches thick. First off, the granola gave it a nice, hefty crunch. The flavor was also more of a subtle sweetness that came from the brioche itself rather than having a lot of cinnamon. They also stuffed it with orange and fromage blanc. Some other items that people ordered at my table were the duck confit hash and tart alsacienne. Both were also terrific. The duck confit hash came with a poached egg and breakfast potatoes. I had thought about getting this myself, but I was afraid it might end up being really salty and greasy. Recall Mary Kitchen corn beef hash in a can. After stealing some from my friends, I kinda wish I had gotten this dish as well. but then again the toast was amazing. Not too salty, not overly greasy, but flavorful with meaty chunks of duck. The tart alsacienne is basically a flat bread with smoked salmon and creme fraiche. Very tasty. The crust was thin and crisp, and the entire thing was covered in salmon. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like most places that serve anything with smoked salmon totally skimp on the smoked salmon. We also got a fondue for the table, which was a blend of three types of cheeses. In retrospect, I wish we had gotten two orders. There were eight of us sharing it, and things were getting a bit tense as the fondue plate kept getting moved from one end of the table to the other. The calamari we ordered along with it provided some distraction at first, but that vanished pretty quickly. Overall, this place has a much more interesting brunch menu than most places, and the food preparation and presentation are well executed. Oh yeah they also have $5 mimosas, though I personally had two glasses of wine, which, in keeping with the rest of the meal, were also fantastic. But perhaps the best part is, being on the peninsula, you can actually get a brunch reservation without selling your firstborn child. And with food like what they have here, I may never get brunch up in the city again.
(4)
Sarah C.
I LOVE Left Bank's happy hours - they have it in their bar twice a day 3-6 then again 9-close. I usually get a cosmo and the lamb burger (for under $15) - not bad!... and I've heard they also have $5 bloody's on the weekends which I have yet to try. I did get a (Sarah's) Crazy Summer drink last time I was there which was delicious! I'm also a fan of their fondue, Salad Nicoise, and their seafood is really good too. You really can't go wrong with their food- just don't expect to get in and get out. They have more of a European style of service - they don't rush you, which I love. My favorite is to grab a table on Santa Cruz for fun people watching on a nice day and just enjoy Menlo. :)
(5)
Robert G.
This place has been around for quite awhile so they must be doing something right. I attend business dinners there frequently but I have never been wowed. Service is definitely 5 star.
(3)
James L.
I'm not sure what's with all the bad reviews I've seen on this place. I've been a few times at it's always solid. A+ on the cocktails and the food is good. Best of all, they're actually open pretty late (compared to other places in Menlo and Palo Alto). For good food after 10pm this place beats pretty much all the diners and gastropubs nearby. I only subtract one star because the prices were probably 3-5 dollars too high on the entrees for the quality/creativity involved with them (compared to other restaurants with similar price ranges in the bay area). But still the food is solid and they have great cocktails and a full bar so it's win-win. PS: The absinthe cocktail will put hair on your chest if you can drink all of it.
(4)
ShuShu M.
A terrible disappointment from the moment our waiter brought the cocktails. There were six of us and all the drinks were watery and pale in color. The men and women BOTH agreed the drinks were terrible. I cannot remember the last time I had a watery drink. The waiter recommended an appetizer that was some kind of cracker/pizza - he called it a "tart" - that had strawberry jam and arugula. It was like something you'd made when you're starving and you find things in the fridge and throw them together and try to convince yourself it all tastes good together. Our entrees were ALL disappointing. My friend had scallops with purple potatoes - THREE small scallops and ONE small purple fingerling potato sliced like thin sausage. My other friend had the cod - she said it was "okay,' and the rest of us had the skirt steak which was unseasoned and tough. We all had different sauces - I sent my bernaise back twice and was told that bernaise could not be warm, it had to be room temperature, or it would separate. I asked the waiter if it was made in a batch earlier in the day and that's why. He said yes. I've had warm bernaise before many times. So I switched to peppercorn sauce that tasted like it came from a powder and there was NOT even one whole peppercorn in the sauce. My other friend didn't have even one peppercorn either. Our bill was $300. We opted to quit while we were ahead and skipped dessert and coffee and port. We went next door to an adorable French restaurant where they comped us one of our desserts after we told them about our horrible experience at Left Bank. I asked them if their bernaise sauce was warm, and he said "absolutely." So I guess they know how to keep it from separating and Left Bank doesn't. None of us will ever go back. It was an absolute rip-off and the manager did not seem remotely interested that we were dissatisfied. I would NOT recommend this restaurant for any reason except that is has a gorgeous tile floor. Go next door to Bistro Vida if you want a delicious meal with an authentic French atmosphere. It is much less expensive and really fabulous!
(1)
Sergei B.
French in name only. French - sounding menu, French restaurant appearance, French restaurant prices but anything but French quality of cooking. Like a Chinese fake Rolex watch :-). Clean, nice and friendly however, if you don't care about taste
(2)
Roni R.
I have been here, what seems like a hundred times. Always great service and tasty foods! I love the duck confit, always extra crispy! Superb!
(4)
Beethoven C.
This French-inspired brasserie is a good choice for late night dining. Having eaten here a number of times, both early and late, we have discovered the quality of the food and service to be very consistent and consistently good, meaning if we are looking for a treat late in the evening, we may head to this place for a nice meal. Our favorites include the burger and fries (ask for medium rare), the steak frites, the coq au vin, the onion soup gratinee, the halibut, the bouillabaisse, and the rotisserie chicken. We have also tried the prix fixe (at $26.50) and found it to be a good deal. We will often finish our meal here with an espresso and one of their desserts. I would not want to eat here too often as the menu does not seem to change. However, what this place lacks in variety it makes up for in reliability and that reliability is comforting when dining late.
(4)
Lauri H.
Remember when this restaurant was called a 'destination restaurant'. Well I can't imagine it is anymore. We had several waiters over the course of our meal...which, of course, means that we did NOT receive adequate service. We ordered drinks. Our meal arrived first. We got no water refills. We got little attention. Actually, we were just about to leave because we'd had to wait so long before anyone coming to our table initially, that we were just about to leave when the waiter working on the order for a large nearby party finished and came over asking if anyone had been by to take our order and helped us out, despite not being assigned to our table. We should have left. Food was fine, but when service is this bad it's hard to really enjoy your meal. Since our experience was consistent with our last two visits, no return imminent.
(2)
Louisa L.
I've always wanted to check out the Left Bank in Santana Row but never got a chance to until we visited a family friend who recommended this place in Menlo Park. French restaurants never seem to disappoint me much, and this place was no exception. The ambiance was nice, could be for both casual and more formal situations, and the service was also pretty good. I must say though, their cups for water are pretty small, I had to keep asking for refills. With the cups so small, I think they should leave the bottle of water on the table...cuz I just felt like I had to wait a long time to ask for more water =/ The food is pretty good though. My mom ordered the green mussels, which was pretty fresh tasting, and I got the duck which is one of the favorites on their menu. I've never been a HUGE fan of raw seafood, so I thought the mussels were just okay. The duck was pretty good though, and pairing it with brown rice was very good. They are also offering a $35 3-course prixe-fix menu right now that includes a salad, steak frites, and vanilla creme brulee, which I think is a pretty good deal and would recommend it. Overall a pretty good experience, although for the same price I would probably prefer trying other French restaurants.
(4)
Laura P.
Tonight was such a disappointment from a place that has been good. Pleasant waits staff but waited more than 20 minutes for meal to arrive. No apologies. No extra bread. Had to request water refill. Tables so close I had to hear about woes from both sides. Could not wait for meal (finally) and check to arrive. Won't return until warm enough for sidewalk seating.
(1)
Auntie D.
This was a disappointing experience, to be sure! This used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but it's off of my list now. We're hoping this was a fluke and will return to great food and service again. We went recently to use a gift card we received as an anniversary present -- went around 8 pm on a weeknight. Almost no one was in the restaurant but service was sparse! Waiters and waitresses were happily chatting near the bar, while leaving us without water, drinks, food. They maybe could have use a manager on hand to make sure staff stayed focused during a slow time. Food was okay -- nothing special and probably still would be under the heat lamps if we hadn't asked about it.
(2)
Helen V.
Fondue. Calamari. Sole. Delish. Delish. Delish.
(4)
natalie s.
Went to this restaurant yesterday to enjoy a Valentines Lunch instead of Dinner. Thought we would have better service, instead it was just the opposite. The service was terrible. We had to ask for bread at our table. The waitress never checked to see if we needed another drink I had to wave down another server.When I got my soup I had to wait for of out of sight waitress Stephanie to bring me parmesan cheese, by the time I got it the soup was cold.This was truely sad that this was the restaurant I picked to enjoy a special lunch. I cant believe out of all the up scale restaurants out here in Silicon Valley this was the one I picked.
(1)
Monkgroupie N.
I have gone to this place many times. Often it is terrific. Just as often it is not. But last night I got really angry. I asked for a glass of wine. The wine was off - turned acid, to vinegar. So I told the waiter and he was really nice about it - or should I say he was pleasant. I ordered a different wine by the glass. He told me there was no problem, and that he would bring me a taste of it first. That was fine, except he only brought a small taste in a glass, which tasted just lovely. Then he told me he would bring me a glass of this "other" wine, the wine I liked, but in fact he brought me the same vinegary acid off wine as before. I didn't confront him about it, I was there for a celebration and did not want to spoil the evening. I simply had my meal without wine, leaving the glass untouched. Interestingly, he did not ask me if there was a problem with the wine. It's shameful. It's trash behavior. This is not the way to run a good quality restaurant in America. The food was lovely, but this dihonesty made me really angry. I will tell all my friends about this and about the waiter: Pedro.
(1)
Jaremy K.
Drink review only. The Cosmopolitan is tasty. Especially for $5 during happy hour. BTW... all Left Bank restaurants have different specialty drinks.
(5)
Shari C.
My husband and I enjoyed our dinner at Left Bank last week and I'd go back again. I had the risotto and he had the salmon and we split the steamed mussels as an appetizer. As some of the reviewers said the service was a little slow but we weren't in a hurry so it worked out for us. Nice decor but our only observation is that the tables seemed too close together and we felt like we were almost sharing in the conversation of the couple next to us.
(4)
Cathleen H.
Went here for dinner with a few friends about a month ago -- and I was grateful to have a server who had some great suggestions about what to get (Becca - she was great). I've heard before that if you stick to the basics, then you will not be led astray. I ordered the croque monsieur -- if you're into something heavy and cheesy, then this is your dish. Only order it if you've got an appetite and don't mind something a little greasier. It so happened that it was exactly what I was looking for. Four stars. Others at the table ordered the lamb burger and had great things to say about it. For dessert: the profiteroles were FANTASTIC as were the beignets -- I definitely recommend both! Five stars for dessert. The other great thing about the above entrees is that they were all very reasonably priced. In all, great experience and fun feel.
(4)
Teresa C.
Delightful retreat reminiscent of France. Slower pace is intentional. Food is good. Decor is beautiful. $$-$$$
(5)
Kevin C.
Last summer, while visiting relatives nearby, my family and I were looking for a place for a light dinner. After walking up and down the adjacent streets, we finally settled on Left Bank. As we had eaten a fairly large lunch earlier in the day, I was looking for a nice light dinner. But when I saw Le Burger D'Agneau Maison (spicy lamb burger, harissa aioli, roasted red bell peppers, herb panini), I knew I just HAD to get it. I mean, who can turn down a lamb burger??? Even if there was little real estate left in my stomach, I was determined to make sure that I could cram in what I anticipated would be a fantastic sandwich. Was my determination rewarded? For the most part, yes, as my overall impression of the lamb burger was mostly positive, and I really enjoyed the burger as a whole. The spices and herbs mixed with the lamb patty gave it a really nice kick, and it reminded me a bit of a really good spicy Italian sausage. The roasted red peppers were flavorful as well. In my opinion, the lamb burger's weak point was its bun, as the herb panini was a bit too soft and spongy for my liking. While the bread did not detract too much from the lamb burger's deliciousness, I would have preferred a bun or roll with some more substance in this particular instance. Another downer was the fact that the lamb burger was accompanied by a rather bland-tasting couscous salad. My dad's hamburger (Le Burger Americain) came with some awesome pommes frites, and I would have much preferred if the lamb burger had come with the fries instead. Having just checked out Left Bank's menu online and comparing it to my description of the burger from the summer, I notice that they have added watercress and replaced the bun, so my review of the burger may be a bit outdated and non-applicable. The restaurant was pretty crowded when I was there (a weeknight in the middle of June), and the service was a bit slow. The waiter wasn't very attentive or timely, but it wasn't too bad. I enjoyed the lamb burger enough to probably make a return trip here the next time I'm in the area. Good food at reasonable prices.
(3)
Andrew G.
I read a bunch of the Yelp reviews on Left Bank and they clearly are all over the map. I like the place for the following reasons: (1) It's consistent--the food and the staff. Many of them have been there for years and years. Good esprit de corps (2) Good for kids--decent kids menu, lots to choose from and crayons when you arrive. (3) The bar area serves the full menu. If you are there alone or want something a little more casual the bar seating works well (4) The cheese plate--the morbier is good ! (5) They rotate the menu every month or so to mix things up with a new seasonal theme. (6) The happy hour--good prices if you want a drink and a snack (7) The risotto--every time they change the menu there's a new risotto dish. It's super rich, best to split with someone else. (8) The salmon--always an interesting preparation (9) Excellent fries (10) Good place to see and be seen What I wish were different (1) Bring back the lemon tart !! (2) Bring back the molten chocolate cake (3) Left Bank is overall good for kids but the staff should be reminded to ask if they should speed things up. We've had several meals there with our kids that took 90-120 minutes. Ours are trained to deal with this but a meltdown is often right around the corner
(4)
John-Michael C.
Happy Hour!!!! 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to 10pm everyday... EVERY DAY!!! I had the salmon creme fraice spread with accompanying trio of toast bread. And a 3oz medium rare burger with fries. And a coke. Yes.. a coke. A coke, a regular coke, a plain coke, a sober coke... a coke minus rum, a coke minus makers... a coke minus my usual. Very filling. Very satisfying. What's there to ask more from a happy hour? Well..... lets just say i just may drop by again when I can drink again. ;D
(3)
Jack R.
Decor is European, service is efficient, the food was very average. Attracts well dressed affluent folks. So the look is good, but the food just doesn't live up to the ambiance.
(3)
Cindy H.
Organic, local food; farm to table concept of dining, great ambiance, overall good food.
(4)
Brittany B.
Left Bank has some of the best cocktails around. The Rue Claire, the Spice Apple Jack, The Lemon Drop...all so good. I've been here quite a few times at all different times of day. Their breakfasts are huge and come with a wide selection of choices. When I came for lunch the salad I ordered was a bit small but I assume that's how the French stay so thin, yes? I came for dinner last week with a party of four and we all got the skirt steak and agreed it was absolutely fantastic. By far one of the best steaks I've ever had.
(5)
hsiao c.
On Christmas Eve 2010, I came to Left Bank in Menlo Park for dinner. When we reached the restaurant, the place was hustling and bustling! Even though I had reservations, we were seating in the bar area, on a table next to the door. The weather was somewhat chilly and the seat was a little cold, especially for my dinner companion. We studied the menu and decided to order the prix fixe Christmas menu. The first course was a roasted cauliflower soup with all spice creme fraiche and curried Bartley pear. When I first digged into the soup, I tasted cauliflower but none of the rawness. There was a hint of curry in the after taste. The diced pear provided a little sweetness and the creme fraiche provided a little creaminess. The soup was pureed but still has a little texture. It was very good. The second dish was sea scallop and salmon mousse with mushrooms and lobster sauce. The mousse was molded and cooked so that it has the texture of a "fish cake", but with more seafood sweetness and goodness. The lobster sauce was a was sweet, and the mushroom provided some earthiness to the dish. Also very good. Both my dinner companion and I opted for the Salmon for the third dish, which was a pan-seared salmon with rainbow chard and pumpkin puree. The salmon was pan seared so that the skin side is very crispy. The fish itself however was overcooked in during the searing process and was dry and hard. The pumpkin puree with the licorice beurre blanc sauce was quite sweet. The rainbow chard was nicely wilted, but was lost on the plate. I was not able to taste the subtle bitterness which could provide a good counterpoint to the pumpkin puree and sauce. The final dish for the night was a traditional yule log cake. This version was moist and soft, but a little too sweet. Overall, there was 2 good dishes and 2 not so successful dishes. Since this restaurant is quite a ways from me, I doubt I will be coming back soon.
(3)
Rachel E.
We ate at the Left Bank for lunch today. The interior has been redone and it's gorgeous! However, it's still quite noisy. We had the french onion soup which was very good. Then we had the salad nicoise which was a small portion for the price and didn't think it was that great. Something was off with the dressing. I wouldn't order it again. We also had the steak salad. The steak was excellent. We ordered it medium and they made it that way which hardly ever happens. We also had the sandwich au poulet which was decent. I've had better. French fries were good, but it's pretty hard to mess those up. All in all it was pretty pricey and the food was pretty good but not great. The only thing that was really good was the steak but at $16.75...well you get the picture.
(3)
Dustin T.
I have been twice (once for brunch, once for dinner) and both times have been a treat. I had the lamb burger with couscous salad which was huge and amazing.For brunch I had the Duck confit hash which was superior. Both times my dining companions had the pear salad and announced it amazing. The wait staff are very attentive; feels like a 5 star restaurant, without the 5-star snootiness. This will be one of my new favorite spots.
(5)
Stephanie W.
You know, I was about to write a good review. I really was. We ate at Left Bank a few weeks ago when my parents were in town with a few other folks, and the experience was fantastic. We had a great table, the service was good, everything we ate was great. My boyfriend and I split the chicken and the steak and loved both. When we ordered a bottle of wine and it was corked, the staff gladly took it off the bill and suggested we try a bottle of the house Bordeaux, which was a very good wine. Had I written my review after that experience, it probably would have been a 5. Unfortunately, I think I would still have come back to update it following this past Thursday's experience. My best friend and I had some extra time for lunch, so we headed over to Left Bank to grab burgers (we've had them before and they're usually really good). But the whole experience just started out wrong. We arrived at 130, and there were signs posted outside that Left Bank would be closing at 2 for a private party. Okay, we think, we can get in and out quickly. Too bad the restaurant didn't agree. We waited almost 5 minutes just for someone to come over to the host stand. We were seated outside, only to have our waiter practically ignore us the whole time. We weren't served water, and our diet cokes came a solid 10 minutes after we ordered them. We asked for bread, which came after our burgers. Our burgers were good, but our fries were cold. This isn't the first time I've had deplorable service at Left Bank, but in the past I wanted to give them a little benefit of the doubt. It's not a bad restaurant, per se, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it.
(3)
P G.
Still pretty good,but prices are edging up quite quickly. Cassolet used to be about $20 bucks and is now at about $30. Enough for 2 people,so why not just give me half for $15?
(3)
Mashimaro M.
The food was okay. But the service was terrible. The waiter obviously didn't know what he was doing, mixing up the orders and then having to re-serve the drinks. He couldn't even explain what the items were on the menu and what the different types of sauces are. Aren't you supposed to know that if it's your job to serve the platters??? He didn't re-fill even the water glasses timely. It's like having to flag someone down for some little thing! Be careful here, all of their soups and salads are a la carte. The a la carte items on bill came out to double our entree items. Now I know why many restaurants want to charge a "service charge" up front: so they can treat you like s**t and over charge, etc. and then stick it to you. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a selfish cheapie. But I do want to feel that if I paid $500.00 for my dinner that it was worth it and not feel taken advantage of. Left bank, you make me feel like I really had "left my bank" there so I am NEVER returning.
(1)
Kate J.
I came here for lunch on a Thursday. Left Bank is a very popular spot for lunch, it was pretty crowded. I ordered the Espadon Grille (swordfish $19.75). It was very good. The sauce was delicious and the "exotic" mushrooms, as it says on the menu, were very good as well. The portion size is perfect. They give you about 4 ounces witch left me full and satisfied. Our waiter was very friendly, too!
(4)
Cindy H.
Went there on Valentine's Day; our 2nd "love dinner" this year. We've been here twice before; decided to give it another try. Our Seat was at 2nd floor, nice and away from crowd. Half dozen oyster....delicious!!! Oyster is always my favorite. My fiance ordered creamy lobster soup and I try..good. Mine is french onion soup; I couldn't finish it all; too salty at the end. Our main course were: steak and scollop....just ok. Steak is tender and cook right, but too many hard parts, lots of tendon. Scollop....just 3pcs and cost over $20..... -_- and also too salty, and smell a little bit "ammonia" .... when I chew... Good dessert..ok coffee and fair service.. Good for business dinner but I won't go there myself again.
(3)
gabriela H.
Really impressed with brunch at Left Bank. Their french toast and bacon was delicious as well as the crab benedict.
(4)
Kirill M.
I would like to recognize Cesar Espidio - manager at Left Bank in Menlo Park. Me and my wife dined at Left Bank and were amazed by the amount of customer care expressed toward us from Cesar and his staff. Small detail of the event - I ordered one item on the menu, but to a simple human error - waitress ordered similar, but NOT the same item. Cesar took time to walk over to our table, brought me a complimentary salad (while I was waiting for my food) and came back several times to make sure that everything was up-to-par. Recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone
(5)
Alissa A.
Don't judge a restaurant by the starch in its white tablecloths. By the looks of the place, you might have high expectations. Don't. "Good." ... "No, just good." My complete monotone response to the manager on duty, upon his inquiry regarding our just-finished meal. It's good. It's that simple and that boring... or did I mistake boring with flavorless? Salad nicoise - a lack of effort or merely a lost cause. Seared tuna - fresh out of the fridge (!?!) - with a gelatinous texture resulting from its too-cool temperature. Boiled potatoes, removed from the water a few minutes to soon and boiled eggs, removed from the water a few minutes too late. The avocado, perhaps for that California twist, was out of place, and clearly so was I. Risotto is a risotto is a risotto. Here, in it's most basic form: short grain rice + creamy sauce. The 'featured' ingredients, peas and pancetta tossed on top, completely lacked flavor. Flavorless pancetta? Yes, it can be done. I'm just glad we didn't show up too hungry, I would have hated us to spend more time and money chewing down more mediocre forkfuls. Oh, and I hate cold hard butter.
(2)
Katelyn M.
I had a great dinner here with a few friends. Service was friendly (a bit absent at times) and gave solid recommendations. Among them: the sea scallops. They were sweet and delicious and came atop a sea of corn and fresh peas and a great red pepper coulis. Loved it!! The strawberry "gratin" dessert was also a hit with the table. We tried to brioche dessert (a "tarte" ??) but it came out quite dry. That didn't stop us from gobbling it up...but I certainly wouldn't order it again. Portion sizes are on the smaller size (except for perhaps the lamb shank which was huge), but Left Bank actually beat my expectations in terms of the quality of food and ingredients.
(4)
Sara C.
We called the restaurant at 6:30 to ask if they had any openings for the night . They told us they did at 7:30. We arrived at 7:15 and the first thing the hostess said to us is "we cannot seat you until after 7:30" in an argumentative tone. We hadn't even asked her to. Then we watched her seat at least 8 other parties as time tucked by and it became 7:45. Then after the whole waiting area was empty she came and asked if we were waiting for a table as though she'd never seen us before. We said yes and she scurried - it was clear she'd forgotten. We waited 5 more minutes and then told the other host that it was unacceptable and that we were leaving. They made no apology or offer to make up for forgetting us. They had our contact info and made no effort to reach out to apologize or make it right. I used to visit every other week or so for lunch or happy hour but I will not be going back.
(1)
Tanya B.
A really cute French place. Whereas other places in Menlo Park seemed empty on a Friday night, this one was fairly busy. The lounge is fairly casual by the bar, the dining room - a bit more formal. We sat at the lounge and the atmosphere was warm and cozy, but hip in a way. Lots of people just chatting in the bar area, but it wasn't too loud.
(5)
mo o.
Poor service. Very pretty French influenced decor. Lots of light and high ceilings. Nice music. OK food. Good for a drink outside on a sunny day if you've got lots of time. This place could be packed if they improved service and food. 'Tis a shame.
(2)
Tri N.
I like the food, the services, and the atmosphere of this place.
(5)
Douglas L.
The salade nicoise is hands down the best thing on the menu. I also like the steamed mussels. Like the salad nicoise, this is almost a light meal in itself. The country pate makes for a nice appetizer. The hanger steak is tough. Coq au vin decent.
(4)
Anne A.
I have been to left bank many times. Unfortunately the service last evening was the worst I have experienced at a restaurant in many years. I ordered gaspacho...after quite a while the waiter informed me they were out of it. I did get another soup. I had to ask for water...beg three times for the bread and we both waited one hour for the entrees. The salmon was so salty it was awful. We then waited a long time for the bill.....I don!t plan to return....too bad because it is a great atmosphere.
(2)
Liz L.
Four stars for the eggs! I don't know why, but it's very hard to get above-average scrambled eggs in restaurants. These were the perfect texture -- just done and seasoned enough. I can't really comment on anything besides the eggs, bacon, and brioche, but definitely no complaints on those.
(4)
Girish B.
Ok food. Restaurant is too noisy.
(3)
pat n.
The food was awful, steak was full of fat, salmon was served with cold vegetables, lentil soup was not good. Then to top it all off, i was charged an extra $3 when I asked for additional sauce for my steak since it came with none on it. My entree was Steak Au peppercorn sauce. I also asked about the cervices and was told it had cilantro ever heard of a French restaurant serving cilantro???? I'm French and that's an herb we don't use. I have no problem paying more money for good food but this was just plain bad. Left Bank will not see us again nor will our money be spent there again. We were a party of 5 which included wine with dinner. It's too bad they didn't seem to care. Also don't tell them you're celebrating a birthday, they'll not even acknowledge it I'm much happier spending my money elsewhere.
(1)
Gabrielle J.
Looking to re-live that "magical dinner in France" you had that one time? Or dying to know what dining in a Brasserie feels like? Left Bank is a solid place to do so. This restaurant has been a staple to my French expatriate family's diet for many years now... Stick to the classics here- Boeuf Bourgignon (Julie and Julia is about to popularize this dish a lot more!), Steak Frites, Moules/Frites, fondant chocolat... Only improvement I would recommend is to have a staff who care a bit more about French Culture...They know very little about the food or wines to pair with it.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
So unbelievable I had to open a Yelp account to vent. Have been here before and been underwhelmed. However, a recent visit was ridiculously poor. The food was fine, in most cases delicious. It was the service and treatment by the employees that was mind boggling - very lacking and even RUDE. After being seated by hostess (party of 7), we were told by waiter that we had to move to a smaller table (for 5). [We had reservation.] We declined. Duh! Our drinks took 30 minutes to arrive, for one of us 45 minutes. (very long story there; waiter and bartender never heard of a Rob Roy, nor did they care to hear. Simply argued about it.) One entree arrived when others were more than half-way finished with theirs. And it was cold. (noticed that it was served at another table and then brought over) White wine was warm. Asked for water three times. Still none. Spoke to manager about issues. She did not seem to care, no apologies, no checking back to see how things were going. Went from bad to worse. Took away bread plates before we were finished with them. A salad arrived with entree instead of before. An entree was removed before being finished; had to ask them to not take it. No tablecloth, although all other tables had them. Got up and went to bar myself to get some ice as I tired of waiting for service. Olive seeds in one of the salads. I could go on......... Do not understand why it was so crowded; that is a mystery.
(1)
John G.
Amazing food. This is definitely one of the best places to eat in Menlo Park. Probably too classy for me. Wait, wait, yup. Definitely too classy for me.
(5)
L C.
The overall experience at this Left Bank location was only a 3-star. Started with the onion soup. It was good. Cheesy and flavorful. The escargot, on the other hand, was fine - a little rubbery. What was disappointing was the service. The soup of the day we were told was seafood soup with chunks of fish. Delicious according to our waiter. So my friend ordered it. When it came out, it was potato leek soup! We flagged our waiter down. Instead of apologizing, he nonchalantly responded, "Oh, the chef told me the seafood soup is gone, and potato soup is what we have now." We said, "we didn't order potato soup" and the waiter followed, "oh, try it." That's ridiculous! First off, he should have told us they ran out of the seafood soup before it came out. Second, he should have apologized for not letting us know before hand and offer to take the soup back instead of saying "try it.". We then told him to take the soup back and we ordered the fondue appetizer instead. The fondue appetizer was not good. It was bitter! Nothing compared to the Melting Pot cheese fondue. My main entree was good -- had the fettucini with shrimp and spicy sausage. Unfortunately, we kept asking the busboy to get our waiter's attention to get another drink and then the check. Bottom line: 3.5 stars for the food and 1.5 stars for the service.
(3)
Sarah L.
Three stars for food. We ordered the croque poulet (the chicken sandwich) and the dry pomegranate soda, which just tasted like italian soda aka carbonated water and syrup. The fries weren't anything special, but the sandwich was pretty good. Herb-y fougasse bread with aioli, sundried tomatoes, and tender chicken. . Plus half a star for the atmosphere. I'm a big fan of the french murals and dark lighting (although it makes photography a pain in the butt.) Booths were comfy, and they have tables too, if that's more of your thing. Plus half a star for the friendly waiter that answered all our questions. You can definitely get away with spending less than $15-$20 for dinner, which is about the average for this area.
(4)
Janice P.
This has become a regular for me. The food is good, especially the Salad Nicoise, steak tartare and their fries. I don't think the egg dishes at Saturday brunch looked very appetizing, but so many of their other offerings and ingredients are local and organic you're bound to find a favorite. The bathrooms are up some serious tile stairs, so if you need an elevator, they have one. Theirs outdoor seating and a nice bar.
(4)
Olivia W.
I've been here 4 times or so. The cocktails are tasty. Their lunch special (salad/soup, entree, desert) was an incredibly good value $12 Nice atmosphere, sometimes the waiters aren't very good.
(4)
Shelley F.
The mezzanine is the best place for private party.
(4)
Sparkely K.
It's been years since I've eaten at the Menlo Park Left Bank, and really do prefer the look and feel of the San Mateo location, but MP is more convenient now. A friend took me to lunch today and I was really looking forward to time together and a good meal. I love that this restaurant is nice and bright inside despite a dreary downtown day outside. The Hostess was very gracious. We wanted a window table and the only one with any semblance of privacy was up by the bar. Once we sat down a very friendly and helpful gentleman came over to take our orders and really took great care of us throughout our meal. We each had the Hamburger Americain. Yes, I know; go to a French restaurant and have a burger, however, their burger with pommes frites is delicious. We also had the Profiteroles for dessert. That is my favorite dessert on Earth and LB is the only place I know of that serves it locally. Everything was quite tasty! The only negative was that I wanted medium rare and my friend wanted medium well. I got the well and she got the rare. (shrug) We're already planning a trip back once it's warm outside for wine and Pate.
(4)
Susan K.
It's so disappointing to see how this place has deteriorated. Having dined here dozens of times in the past, we recently returned for a celebratory luncheon. The service was indifferent, and the food was mediocre. In particular, my friend's salad was gritty, as if not thoroughly washed. Without an apology, it was removed, and another gritty salad brought after a long wait. This was removed from the bill without a problem , but an apology or, better yet, a clean salad would have been appreciated. The other dishes ranged from poor (soggy crusted Tarte Tatin) to good (mushroom bisque and pommes frites). But the poor attitude of the staff and the inedibility of a simple salade verte is the kiss of death. We won't return.
(2)
Anna N.
Fried Calimari is top notch. "Paella" special on Friday nights is a joke. Tasted like a seafood fried rice. Great wine selection.
(3)
Andrea G.
Came here recently on a Saturday afternoon around 2:00 for lunch and sat at a table at the bar. I knew before the waiter arrived that I wanted a burger, so I ordered it right away without looking at the menu. After it arrived, I never saw the waiter again, except for the few times he ran past me so quickly that I couldn't get his attention. I tracked down a busboy and asked him for catsup and mustard. About 5 minutes later, it arrived. The restaurant was not at all crowded, but for some reason, all the wait staff seemed like they were too busy to tend to the few people who were seated. The table next to me was covered with dirty dishes the entire time I was there and numerous employees, including the manager walked by so many times and never bothered to pick any of it up. Finally, my waiter said something about it to the bartender and they began bickering about who was responsible for cleaning it up (loud enough for me to hear and I was sitting about 10 feet away). The waiter never came by to check on me or ask if everything was o.k. Of course, he was really sweet when he dropped my check off : ( I'm really disappointed in this place, they could be doing so much better, but the whole visit was a real downer. Oh, the burger was good.
(2)
Alexander M.
Left Bank is good in theory but I have had a couple of bad experiences there. The decor is very well thought out and is a clean (if a bit kitschy) appropriation of a French restaurant. The menus has everything Americans look for on a French menu - steak au poivre, pommes frites, fondue, etc. And most choices will satisfy. But one time when I ordered the steak, it arrived extremely overcooked, almost burnt. Also my coke tasted very chemical - worse than diet. After I sent it back, it came back very much the same. I have had much better experiences at the location in San Jose, but that is not to say Menlo Park is all bad... It's kind of hit or miss. And as you know, after just one bad experience, ti's hard to return. Not bad... but surrounded by better options.
(3)
Amar K.
Lunch here was ok, it's French so there's nothing on the menu that's vegan~ which is a big bummer. My sandwhich was good, but even though I asked for no cheese ~ hello I am allergic! It still came with some creamy mayo like aoili spread, sigh, I ate it anways. Only half though it was so big! The eggplant was really cooked well and the rosemary bread WaS awesome ~ I'm a sucker for rosemary anything. Service was good. Just wish their was a little more vegan options
(3)
JIm Z.
We have been back a couple of times, their food and service is reliably good, and the wine has been fine. So maybe my last review was an off night.
(4)
marcie v.
Middle of the road French brasserie food. Nice big space where you can generally get a table though.
(2)
Dominique T.
Pretty mediocre cuisine as far as French bistro food is concerned. Compare to Bistro Jeanty in Yountville... Ambiance, service and pace are fine. Cuisine is very dull, lacks imagination and tradition: needs to be fixed, in the desert of good restaurants in Menlo Park.
(2)
Mike P.
Seemed a little Stuffy for a mid week lunch, but I decided to give it a try after looking at the Menu. The wait for my food was longer than I hoped, but the Lamb sandwich was excellent, as well as the Service from the Bartender. Reservations recommended, & if there is a large party putting in an order before yours, expect a delay. Thanks for a good meal, & I shall return!
(4)
Janet H.
This restaurant has sooooo much potential, but it just doesn't get there. They have a great selection of food, all very French. They have lots of seating, I have yet to wait for a table. But they seem understaffed, and although the servers are friendly, they are always spread too thin to be efficient. A few times we have gone in a group, and some dishes were hot at the same time that the others in the same order were cold or lukewarm. I have had some very expensive wine that was "off", and yet the kitchen staff swore it was not and refused to replace it. I would really like to see this place do better, because it is really great to be able to choose from so many regional French dishes and the extensive wine list.
(3)
James K.
NOTE: This review is for the bar area only. The wife and I dropped into Left Bank on a recent Saturday night after our plan to have apps and drinks at Marche was foiled by the tiny bar being fully occupied. There weren't any tables to be had, so we sat at the bar, which ended up working out nicely. I started with the "Paris je t'aime" cocktail and it was a really delicious, with just a hint of licorice flavor from the pastis. The wife had some sort of blackberry mojito or something, and it was a bit too sweet. The food came out promptly, and pretty much all at once. The oysters were fresh and tangy--they tasted to me like they might've come from Tomales Bay. Left Bank's fondue is a mix of cheeses, including some blue, so don't order it unless you're into the stinky stuff. Personally, I think it is delicious! I was literally scraping the pot to get the last bits. The pate was just OK--nothing wrong, but we've spoiled ourselves with yummy things from Fabrique Delices and The Fatted Calf. I had a glass of a nice white Rhone with the oysters and cheese. Not enough places have white Rhone by the glass, so +1 star just for this! We were over-enthusiastic and got two desserts, the chocolate fondant and the vanilla creme brulee. Both were seriously rich and decadent. I really enjoyed the creme brulee... it's always a good sign when you see those tiny vanilla bean seeds sitting at the bottom of your ramekin! As soon as my wife hit the fondant with her spoon, chocolate flowed all over the plate... it was so good, but afterward we wished we had just split one dessert! For an impromptu meal, Left Bank turned out to be a fun and lively spot. There was some interesting people-watching, too--some middle-aged guy who was clearly drunk off his kiester tried to order a whole bottle of tequila. The bartender took it in stride and told the guy he couldn't serve him since he "appeared to be intoxicated". The guy responded by trying to bribe the bartender with a $100 bill. Those gentrified Menlo Parkians sure do get wacky when drunk!
(4)
Nick L.
Had a large business dinner there last night. Service was great. Food was great - those who complain about portion size must be new to French Restaurants - this isn't Dennys. Service was prompt, polite and unobtrusive. Had the sturgeon - a nice pice cooked perfectly. Restaurant was packed, but not noisy. Not as expensive as I had thought.
(5)
Mark L.
Came here for my birthday this year, and ordered the coq au vin... Actually twas all very good, with a great sauce that went down well with the bread and a nice glass of Beaujolais.. the creme brule is excellent, and indeed, a trifle filling, so if you are going to make that the ceterpiece of your dessert, perhaps best to consider before filling yourself on the entree. I could but barely manage it to my bike to pedal away when all was done. A nice experience, you can eat indoors or out here and they give you curbside service which of itself is an interesting touch. I may come back to try a few other dishes, though it's in the "double your usual idea of an easy restaurant dinner" expensive.
(4)
Nancy B.
It took a bit to convence my husband to take me to Left Bank because he had a mediocer experiance at the Left Bank in San Mateo before it closed. My husband and I made an early reservation, 6:30 pm, because he was traveling the next day. When we arrived there were 2 young girls standing at the hostess table, but it took them a few minutes to look up to great us. Very unfriendly. We were seated at a table wedged between 2 others. At 6:30 there were not many people dinning, except a few families with kidos. We asked kindly to be moved to another table and they told us that everything was reserved. With half the restaurant empty, you would thing that they would try to accomodate us. We told them we could not eat comfortably at that table and they told us that was it. We left and before we could write our review on Open Table, our reservation was canceled. What do you think our recommendation would be on the Left Bank?
(1)
Brenda C.
Oui, oui, oui! (ok, sorry for the cheesy French pun). What I'm trying to say is that I had a great experience! Our server, Michael, was fun and efficient, as all should be. We started with oysters on the half shell, which were reasonable priced and yummy. I had a super tender rotisserie chicken, and my friend had a Boeuf Bourguignon that packed a lot of flavor. Chocolately deliciousness for dessert. Oh, and a really tasty Pinot Noir. I appreciated that the manager came by and made sure we were happy with everything...always a sign of a good restro. Go and enjoy!
(5)
Carol S.
I've been going to the Left Bank since it opened. I enjoy the feeling of being in a French Bistro right here at home only the US waiters are usually a lot friendlier than those in France! Try the mussels or the French onion soup. Delish.
(4)
T W.
The last time I ate here was a few years ago and all I remembered was that the service took forever. I went back to check it out after they remodeled and hoped that the service improved. THE SERVICE STILL SUCKS! (but they did a nice job with the remodel) After we were seated, It took about 10 minutes for someone to come around and serve us water. It took another 10 minutes after that for a waiter to acknowledge us. Then, it took 30 minutes to make three burgers. My friends asked to swap their fries with salads, but do you think they got that right the first time?!? Then, our waiter was nowhere to be found to get our check. The food was mediocre. I think it'll be another few years before I go back...or maybe I'll wait till their next remodel.
(1)
Lu W.
This is the restaurant of choice when 1) I have a visitor from out of town I need to please and 2) I'm too lazy to drive, but not too lazy to walk. This is fine, fine food, and at an unholy price, of course. The Rotesserie chicken was so tender and flavorful you can't help but wonder if the chicken has had a really good life (yeah, it's supposed to be free range). The Beet Salad I had was so so - fresh, but otherwise unimpressive. Then there's the fries - fresh, crispy, flavored fries, that were better than McDonalds' but not by much. Months ago I have also had a pork dish there, and that was fabulous, too. I can't remember the name of it, but there are probably 3 entrees with pork on the entire menu, so go ahead and find the one that comes in a pot. The service was actually pretty good also. I didn't experience any mix-up at least, and the waiter was friendly and timely for the most part. The only issue was - well you should know it by now - price. I'm not saying the food isn't worth it, but worthiness itself isn't enough to earn it a 5 star.
(4)
Karen J.
Great happy hour beautiful outdoor dining Very attentive staff The happy hour has some fun new cocktails
(5)
Angelique L.
After walking by this absolutely adorable restaurant, we cancelled our reservations at a much better rated restaurant. The food here is okay, it's not spectacular, but it feels like being in Paris at a sidewalk cafe. Everything is perfect. The waiter speaks French and it's just lovely. It was a hot summer day so we weren't terribly hungry. My friend got the French Onion soup and enjoyed it though it was super salty (as it tends to be when you get it at a restaurant). If you love this soup, it's really easy to make and Julia Child's recipe is perfection. Buy beef bones and make your own broth for a really perfect cup. I ordered the tuna tartare and it was okay though a little bland. I've had it better at other places with a little avocado and a touch of horseradish. This seemed like a purist version that just didn't taste like much. But it was okay. We ordered a crepe for dessert and it was a soggy mess filled with globs of chocolate and swimming in a disgustingly sweet caramel "sauce" that was hardening like candy and stuck to our teeth. It made us feel a little ill and we didn't finish it. The French would not approve.
(3)
Christina T.
This location is cute for Menlo Park, away from the absurd traffic around University Avenue. Parking here is a plus too! Came here for HH with coworkers ($7 appetizers and drinks run from $6-7). Service is a bit slow... Calamari - super fried, tiny pieces of calamari, barely anything! Comes with butt load of onion strings Oysters - Why bother, its not fresh and smells fishy, not the place for this! Sliders - the best on the HH menu, pretty big portions too, comes with side of fries. I got the trio to try all three verisions; pork sausage, lamb, and American Salmon croquettes - soft fried little balls, they're okay Truffle fries - pretty good, tasty, perfect with a light beer
(2)
Jenny S.
Left Bank was such a let down after i've had a great experience at their sister restaurant LB steak! CUTE restaurant and it seemed like people were taking advantage of their happy hour in the outdoor seating area, but the food didn't justify the prices ---they start you off with complimentary bread ---escargot: a nice appetizer if you like snails! ---summer spinach and stone fruit salad: standard salad, the plums were my favorite part ---french onion soup: TERRIBLE, way too much cheese drowning the soup and the amount of sweetness was not enjoyable ---salmon: didn't get to try the bf's but he said it was a bit overcooked i guess i'll stick to the steak and stay away from the french food
(2)
Karen G.
Charming atmosphere and great outdoor seating area. Good for a romantic date or just a chill evening with friends. Escargot, beet salad and mussels - how can you go wrong? The escargot was tender and garlicky. The beets were delicious. Mussels are always a favorite. Had a nice Pinot Grigio also. Our waiter was very attentive and lively.
(3)
Alice C.
We ordered the La bouillabaisse $29.50 - did tomato broth cream sauce was absolutely amazing. The dish came with rockfish, muscles, and shrimp. The seafood itself was just a tad overcooked and the French bug get crostini's that came with were a big greasy, however the potato sauce that came with the crostini and tomato broth truly were the stars of the dish, Salmon-$24.95 The boyfriend ordered the station and he quite enjoyed it. The salmon was a bit overcooked as well and slightly on the dry end but the dish was nicely put together with a cucumber salad underneath. you can definitely tell it's a high-end restaurant as portions were definitely not generous. The cheese fondue was quite good though I would have liked a bit more than just bread to go with the fondue. Food is alright, I really did enjoy the tomato broth before this price tag I'm taking my dining options elsewhere
(3)
Diane L.
There I was, waiting for my friend to arrive and not knowing that she was already inside! Finally a nice waiter noticed this and showed me someone in the restaurant waiting for a friend to come. Yep, we connected. Hooray I waited outside and noticed the tables lined up ready for diners. The outside was very pleasant but the weather was not as pleasant so we decided to eat inside. Restaurant was clean and neat. Our waiter was attentive and came to our table when needed. We both ordered the croque poulet which was a rosemary chicken breast, carmelized onions, brie, apple chutney and fries. We were offered a basket of delicious breads and butter. Fresh with a crusty outside and soft inside. Very good. Within a decent amount of time our meals came. The sandwiches came on a wonderful onion roll which added to the taste experience. The creme brulee was delicious. The creme was not too soft nor too firm with a delicate firm coating on top, served with one raspberry. Overall the sandwiches were unusual but okay but the dessert was fantastic. Don'know if I'll be back soon but not totally off my list of restaurants to go back to. We could not finish our meals so we asked for take out boxes and they were given prior to leaving.
Slept on this review for a few days and my opinion has not changed. Selected this place based on the sunny outdoor seating only. Ordered the Jacques Pepin sandwich and a bottle of beer. How hard can either be? Well, the beer was lukewarm, so the writing was on the wall at that point. The sandwich was inedible. Could not cut it with the knife. It's eggplant, right? When asked by the waitress was everything alright, I responded with you cannot cut this with a knife. She responds with can I get you a sharper knife? Are you joking... At the end of this debacle of a meal she did in fact take it off the bill. Actually, she took two off because we both ordered the inedible Jacques Pepin! Now, as if this wasn't unbelievable enough, we had to suffer through a conversation going on at the next table. Now, I realize it's Menlo Park and all, but really common sense should prevail. It did not. We were forced to listen to a table of three discussing loudly something that has no place being discussed at a restaurant, especially when there are families within earshot! The torture of animals for the sake of research; the pain and suffering inflicted upon their restrained little bodies, the mention of various types of animals, a tiger? I turned around numerous times and glared at these morons, who apparently were clueless and could not figure out to lower it. Took photographs to post in fact; however, I can assume these sorts of people don't Yelp and therefore would only further anger me. Warm beer, inedible food, crummy clientele. Will never return and would suggest they shutter the doors.
(1)
Laurent D.
Really love this place. Excellent cheese fondue, tartare is great (if you can handle raw meat), escargots bien sur, you can have a pastis. The steak frittes is very good (with the peppercorn sauce) One of my goto places
(4)
Saima M.
It's a decent place for casual drinks and dinner. The food however isn't very flavorful. I was really hoping for great food, but it wasn't what I actually expected. Drinks, cucumber mule is good, very strong Food: Niscoise salad is good, too many green beans, but the Ahi Tuna could have been more tasty. mussels taste fine, but the way it's served, the presentation could have been better. They burger is amazing though, I really liked it. They don't have much option for food, so if you wanna go there, I recommend reading their menu to see if there is something you like.
(4)
felipe r.
2 stars for the service we received after our server Julio left. 5 stars for the service we received from him. We bought 2 bottles of wine + food and we felt nobody cared after Julio left. Good restaurants are Service + Food. I am disappointed....
(2)
Nick W.
Pretty decent meal here. Was surprised by the long time it took for our food to come but at least it was good. A little pricey, even for Menlo Park. They have some things with speed and service they should work on before I plan to come back again.
(3)
Novy D.
We had our office holiday lunch at Left Bank complete with a set menu and wine to boot. The restaurant was dressed beautifully in tasteful, holiday decor that left me wishing I were spending my holidays in Europe instead of plugging away in Silicon Valley. My team occupied the second floor private room overlooking the entire restaurant. It was a nice large space that comfortably accommodated my group of about 20. Though I am sure they could fit up to 30 in that room no problem. We had several entrees to choose from and I chose to go with a delicious butternut squash soup with roasted chestnuts and a drizzling of creme fraiche, a seared skirt steak (medium rare) salad with gem vegetables and for dessert, profiteroles filled with ice cream and a smothering of chocolate sauce. Each course came through timely and wine poured accordingly to meet the courses. Our waitstaff of two was just an amazing pair that really made our group comfortable and well taken care of. No qualms here.
(3)
valerie h.
Based on my experience the waiters were great, the food was good although I almost threw up the crab cake afterwards. The reason for 3 stars was the rudeness, immaturity and unprofessionalism of the hostess. Totally ignoring me while greeting my friend, giving her a brunch menu and not me. She went out of her way to come around the bar passing me to speak to my friend as we left. This is called being slighted and this young lady would do well to improve her customer service skills. The ambiance here is great and I would have given it five stars but for her.
(3)
Amanda G.
After living nearby for almost 4 years, we finally decided to give this place a try. I have heard mixed reviews from people, but they're always busy... Getting seated at 9:00 on a Saturday night was easy, although they were pretty busy. With the amount of people I saw eating dinner at nearly 10:00, there's obviously an audience for late night dining. Apparently, we aren't the only ones having dinner after 9:00 on a weekend night. The service was adequate. Cocktails weren't a winner, stick with beer or wine, (even though they do have full bar.) The bread is awesome. I could have eaten an entire basket myself. but restrained myself to have room for our meal. We shared a burger and mussels. The burger was cooked to our specified temperature. but the bun was awful. It almost seemed stale. I would have much preferred the burger served on the delicious baguette, as I've seen at other places. The mussels were plump and the broth was tasty,. but I've had better. Fries were decent, but needed to be crispier. The prices for our food were VERY reasonable,(except for the cocktail.) If someone wanted to come back, I would, but am not adding this to our neighborhood rotation. Although, their brunch looks great, and they have outdoor seating. The dog needs to get out an mingle more.
(3)
Dave B.
I have been there 3 times in the last month or so. The food has always been good - not exceptional, but above average and consistent. The difference today was the service, which was excellent. The server was prompt and attentive and when my daughter asked for her burger to be cooked a bit more, they responded promptly and the manager gave her a free dessert as well. It made her feel special and I thought it was a nice touch - they certainly did not need to. Keep up the effort guys; good service is hard to find and today turned an average meal into a special one.
This review is for their Happy Hour between 4 and 6pm, and then at 9pm before closing...The bar is gorgeous and when the weather is delicious the patio seating is wonderful. The beers are $2, and their cocktails $6. The bar menu has a fixed price of $7 for some gorgeous burger and fries (lamb, sausage and beef choices), salmon croquette, cheese plates, and avocado creations. This is definitely going to be one of our "go-to" places for Happy Hour from now on.
(4)
Patricia R.
Lovely meal Staff was great.
(4)
Art V.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. The place is clean, service is prompt, food is great and prices are reasonable.
(5)
Lee K.
I love this place if for no other reason than their French onion soup. It's about the best I've had in the Bay Area (though I would modestly say I make better soupe à l'oignon thanks to a college French teacher and her amazing recipes). Zoop aside, I keep coming back for the Nicoise salad and Coq Au Vin... usually tossing a coin to decide between the two. Love the service and the crazy, large posters.
(4)
Kathy M.
Can't wait to return. Three of us ventured in on a busy Saturday and decided to sit at the bar while waiting for a table. We snagged a cute corner spot and loved it, plus we enjoyed the awesome talents of bartender Esau. The food we tried was fresh, colorful & flavorful (seared tuna salad, French onion soup). I also had my first escargot experience. It was a good first time for me; the escargot were slightly chewy, like firm tofu, and tasted like the delicious pesto they came in. From a quick internet search, it seems that escargot adapt the flavor of the sauce, so these were prepared well. If you like colorful, slightly bitter drinks, try the Purple Rain cocktail (listed on the menu in French). Loved the mojitos.
(5)
Dara R.
Pretty bad. Started by asking waiter/bartender if he thinks the chicken sando or steak is better, of course he says steak. Brings out the "steak" or whatever you want to call it, as it was honest to god no bigger than a post it note. For $25. My (little) cousin had to eat half my charcuterie because he was still hungry. To make things worse, he failed to mention the Anchor Steam beer was the "christmas ale" and not the regular anchor steam as it says on the menu. Guy just clearly was worried about making max tips and move on to next customer. Disappointed as I grew up coming here, but I definitely do not recommend it anymore as it has become "franchisey". Definitely better choices for much cheaper in PA or even MP.
A little slice of Paris in downtown Menlo Park. The Croque-Madame I had for lunch was splendid with a fresh little green side salad. Thickly sliced bread perfectly toasted with ooey gooey Emmentaler cheese, ham and a sunny side up egg. At once decadent but not overly filling. Hooray for avoiding the dreaded afternoon food coma! I love the breezy open space inside and the casual little tables outdoors. Our group of 7 sat at a round table inside this time and found our lunch time experience to be a great one. Prompt friendly service from our smiling server. He was new, but is a quick study and hopefully will have a long stay at the Left Bank! The food arrived in a timely manner so we could get on with the day. Great experience!
(4)
Zin M.
You know what, I am fine with this place. I've been here several times within several years and it's never been a disappointment. It's not knock your socks off but the food is solid as is the service. I've done lunches with friends and it takes just enough time to enjoy your lunch and be able to get back to work in time. Also our office hosted many luncheons in the private area on the second floor and again, it was a great experience. They menu selection works perfectly for large groups and they really cater to your group. My favorite of course is the steak and fries (in my french accent). Good place for work lunch for sure. Dinner won't be a bad idea either if you're tired of University Avenue.
(4)
Sean B.
Was here for lunch on Sunday and it was the worst meal. Was with a party of 4 and everybody felt the same. Service was slow and food was horrible. I had the chicken sandwich and it wasn't even worth finishing. I won't be back.
(1)
Kathy S.
I ordered their basic salad with added salmon and a side of kale as well as a small soup of the day (mushroom). Everything was absolutely delicious!! I really enjoyed the bread too! It was exceptional! The kale was a little salty but I'd order it again! Their mustard vinaigrette was also really good. My only problem with the food was that their salmon is farm raised. I would prefer wild alaskan salmon for the price.
(4)
Stephanie A.
I am not a fan of left bank. you can see it in my review of the Santana Raw branch. I don't appreciate the poorly executed French theme, not the decor, and especially not the food. I am clueless regrading why these restaurants are so successful. A group of friends from different bay areas met at Menlo park as the middle point. The organizer made a reservation at the left bank and I thought its a good opportunity to discover the Menlo park branch. We arrived a bit earlier, but didn't have to wait too long since they had our table ready exactly on time. It never happens with the Santana Raw place. I also liked the atmosphere and decoration at the Menlo park location more than the Santana branch, I just didn't get the paper covers above the linen table covers. If they want chic then they must go with linen covers. But to have a linen cover covered by a cheap paper cover... it is ridicules. The food was even worst than what i know from Santana Raw's Left Bank. The tastiest item on the table was the white bread. I usually don't eat white bread, but was forced into eating a whole lot of it, because I was hungry and we had to wait for the food more than 30 minutes. When the food was finally served I found on my plate the most toughest tasteless skirt steak I have ever tried to eat. Not only that, but it arrived COLD. Was it waiting all these 30 minutes on that plate to be served? The side of French fries that came with it was cold as well. The only reason I didn't send it back to the kitchen was the horribly long time I had to wait for it - I was starving, so I ate it and hated it, and hated them for that. You claim to be a french restaurant and you don't even know to marinate a steak properly to soften it and give it some taste? Also the French kitchen is famous for its sauces, but I guess in this restaurant they didn't hear about it. Last but not least my dessert was really bad, even worst than the horrible steak. A stiff and very dense chocolate mousse with an after taste in an ugly glass cup. They tried to give a good service, the two stars are for that and for the ambiance.
(2)
Rich T.
Well this is really a 3.5 star review as the last review said. The ambiance is great. It does feel like a little bit of Paris in Menlo park. The main negative is the speed of service at dinner. We had the lamb shank which was very good and it was great. The problem was that the service was slow. One poor waiter serving 20 tables isn't easy I think. Still the food is decent and I love the atmosphere. We had the beet salad which was good if not really extraordinary.
(3)
Peter M.
I keep going back to see if the food improves. It's the best ambience in town but the food is mediocre. I'll keep trying though because the atmosphere makes up for the average food.
(3)
Maria B.
mmmm.....I dream about their fondue sometimes :-) Seriously, the food here is consistently good - both the entrees and the appetizers (like the aforementioned fondue). My only complaint is that they don't "mix it up" more often, and that the menu hasn't changed in years. They do have nightly specials, though, so I'll give them that. We usually avoid the main dining room and just eat in the bar area. A word of caution, though: this place can get LOUD. Not the place for an intimate dinner or quiet conversation.
(4)
M. L.
Average, mostly French, bistro fare, so no haute cuisine. You'll have a good time if you don't set your expectations too high.
(3)
chris b.
Enough is enough. This place needs a major overhaul. What has happened to this place?? Used to be fun. Went to lunch a couple of days ago and ordered a hamburger. Had to send it back TWICE. It was raw in the middle. Finally got a chicken sandwich. The manager came over and comped it. Thank you, but did not help. Our waiters all but disappeared. The bread basket that was brought to the table had two heels from obviously the remaining ends. - Had to ask for water. - Had to flag down another waiter for catsup - Had to flag down another waiter for more water - Asked for more catsup and it came over in a ramekin with dried mustard on it. - Had to flag down the waiter to bring another one. - Had to get up and find our waiter for our bill. - Had to flag him down AGAIN as he was gazing (yes, our way) into the restaurant and never ONCE came over without a cattle prod. You guessed right. We will NOT be coming back here. Food was mediocore, service downright pathetic.
(1)
Kristina D.
What a fabulous restaurant. Staff were very friendly and attentive. The croque monsieur was very good. I would definitely return to this restaurant. The only thing that was dissappointing was that I ordered the basil mint lemonade and when it came out it had no fresh mint or basil in it. But the manager kindly took it back and had them make it again.
(4)
Mike S.
Five of us went for Sunday brunch. Ordered medium, and arrived well done, the lamb sandwich was nothing but and chewy. The medium hamburger was very well done. The other dishes were OK at best. Better restaurants to choose from in the area!
(2)
T M.
Not impressed. Overpriced menu. Young and nervous server. I really had hoped for a lot more considering how spacious and beautiful the space is. Perhaps its better for a drink at the bar rather than a meal!
(1)
Saul W.
Had a very nice lunch at the Left Bank. The food was creative, quite tasty and reasonably priced for what it was
(4)
Dylan S.
The absolute worst service I've experienced in years. I arrived with business colleagues for lunch. The place was ~ 50-60% full. Waited 10 minutes for someone to come over to take drink orders and then had to call out and wave someone over like I was a delivery guy looking for a signature. Had to do the same thing to get the idiot waiter to come over to take our food order. Refills? Oh, you'd like a refill? With countless nearby alternatives, I'm surprised that this place remains in business. Mourez vite Left Bank. Mourez vite...
(1)
Josiah H.
I am new to the area, and have eaten here 4 times. Every time i go here, something is fundamentally wrong with the food or the service. It once took over an hour to get our entrees. Another time, I got an extremely undercooked steak (they only cooked it on one side!), and I lost my appetite. In general, the food has been mediocre. How hard is it to get French Bistro Fare right? The french bread isn't even very good, and that is a huge issue. It is a pretty location, so I keep giving them another chance at redemption. I really want to like Left Bank, but so far, they have only disappointed me. A lot of other folks I know have had a similar experience as me.
(2)
Emma C.
I'm not an expert at eating French cuisine, but from what I experienced at Left Bank, I wasn't very impressed. Came here with a group of coworkers (total of 8) for our Thanksgiving holiday lunch. Parking was a bit difficult but the wait wasn't too long, thankfully. I ordered the chicken sandwich, which unfortunately wasn't very flavorful. Our waiter was a bit spotty and hard to track down. Meh. 3 stars.
(3)
Durif M.
Left Bank is a pretty good casual restaurant. I've been there a couple of times and overall I'm pretty satisfied. Their Moules Frites (steamed mussle) were great. In one of my visits the waiter forgot to give us the bread. The service overall is kinda slow.
(3)
Pedraum P.
My wife and I used to enjoy coming here but it's gone downhill of late, despite the apparent attempt to revive sales with a remodel. The service was nice (offering our kids a scotch and soda...air guns!) but, sadly, incompetent (wrong dish for my wife, no substitution as I'd asked for). The fries are good and the salad dressing is nice too, but $8.25 for a few leaves of butter lettuce? Really? The rest of the food is fine, but the service sorta made it bleh for us. We won't be going back.
(2)
David S.
After therapy, I always need dinner and a glass of wine. This restaurant was recommended to DH and I, so we went. I am surprised by the poor reviews, but then, we were not there for lunch, but dinner on a Wed. night. As soon as we we walked in, we were greeted by the server, and taken to a great table, even though the restaurant was very busy and full. As soon as I saw the menu, I said to DH "OMG - this is the Il Fornaio of French cookery......". They even had the tacky get six stamps by coming more often menu...but I ignored all of that. And I am glad I did. Escargot, Oysters, Coq au Vin, Cassoulet, all well prepared, presented, pretty standard, and brought in reasonable time. Was going to base it on 3 stars..but... Plus one star for having one of my favorite vintners on the menu "Ancien". Plus one star for the manager "Gerald" introducing himself. Plus one star for the cute waiter "Omar". Minus one star for teaching all of the staff even a few French words...it totally tackifies the place a la Olive Garden. Minus one star for the cheesy six stamps get one free style marketing.
(4)
carol e.
I had dinner here this past week and thought I had a ghost for a server....she showed up once to check on our order shortly after we were seated. We asked for a few more minutes.....a few ended up being closer to 20 minutes! Food was ok. Desserts were outstanding. I had previously been to this restaurant with a similar experience, but dining companions chose it this time. Really overrated and there are many other wonderful choices in the area.
(3)
Shaila B.
I am only giving this restaurant one star because the service was actually quite good. The food, on the other hand, was terrible. I mean, really really just bad. Gross, in fact. I ordered a baby spinach salad with figs to start...the salad was over dressed and I think the figs were hard. And then there was my Croque Monsieur...I'm not even sure you can call it a Croque Monsieur, but that's what the menu said. I had to send it back--TWICE. The first time the chef seemed to have taken two slices of Wonder Bread, stuck some ham and cheese in between, nuked it for 30 seconds, and then doused about 3 cups of this weird cream sauce on top. It was a cold, mushy MESS. I thought maybe some grave mistake had been made, so I asked if they could please perhaps maybe toast the bread and melt the cheese? I also asked if they could hold the sauce. Well, it came back and had been nuked for maybe 1 minute this time, and had about 4 cups of the cream sauce on top. I took two bites and couldn't eat it. I wanted to eat it, because I hate being rude, but it was so bad, I literally couldn't. My boyfriend, who I have politely nicknamed "Trash Compactor", and who can normally take down anything to eat, couldn't even eat it. I sent it back and asked for an order of fries...which they managed not to screw up. All in all, I say go for a drink at the bar and maybe an order of fries, but that's about it!
(1)
Paul T.
Food is decent but not great. I'd call it "Business Grade" perfect for a working lunch with a business partner. I love having lunch business meetings here. Ambiance is good. They waiters are super patient and never rush me even though I often have marathon meetings there. One time I had meeting there from lunch, thru afternoon tea, to dinner time. The waiter come to check on us once in a while and kept feeding us coffee, fruit plates, etc. The final bill is usually totally reasonable and I usually leave a good tip. They are undergoing renovation so I'm going to Buck's for now...
(3)
janine m.
I can now say that I'm a fan of MP's Left Bank. It's great when I experience a turnaround, something that sadly doesn't happen often. I've gotten to know manager, Gerald Murphy who's really doing his best to be a positive part of the local business community, as well as continually work on their restaurant to provide good food and service. My last three meals here have been great and a fun time!
(4)
Rachel T.
This place is classy and I'd say, a more formal dinner. I went here when I was in high school with a bunch of friends and they kind of gave us a cold shoulder because we were young. The hostess was a biatch, get a new attitude or get fired! The food didn't disappoint though. There's another location in Santana row, which I would assume would be a funner experience. I can't wait to go again with my boyfriend. Don't forget to try the escargot! ;)
(4)
Charleen L.
We've been going to Left Bank Menlo Park for years. When they're on, they're really on. i have had a few of the most memorable meals of my life here. I'm sad to say they frequently fall down in service. Shortly after the second floor balcony was completed (and isn't it gorgeous?) we were seated there and forgotten about. What should have been a light and lively meal was a miserable drawn-out wait. Last year on Valentine's Day we had (as usual) forgotten to make reservations anywhere, so we went to Left Bank for lunch. It turned out they were serving the Valentine menu all day. We were seated at the end of a banquette at a tete-a-tete table perfect for two. It was such a delightful experience that we returned this year and even made reservations. What can I say, but our experience last night was just weird. Our server brought menus, smiled and laughed (at nothing). He got my order wrong -- I wanted my filet medium, not medium rare. But no matter. A special menu item was 6 oysters with a glass of sparkling wine. Oysters arrived, wine didn't. We tried to get the server's attention but he was devotedly hovering over larger parties, anticipating no doubt a hefty tip. I was down to the last oyster -- and various staff kept trying to take the plate -- when I pointed out I was supposed to have gotten the wine. Finally the manager brought the wine and comped us an additional bowl of lobster bisque, which was excellent. Every time our waiter returned, which was typically too late to accomplish the needed task, he giggled. I was starting to wonder if he was high on something. Our selected desserts arrived. No forks. Waiter was supposed to have brought them. He arrived, brandished the forks and ... giggled. I don't understand how these people keep their jobs. Are good servers really that hard to find?
(3)
Katharine A.
Not very traditional Not very good. I would skip it.
(2)
Scott P.
I went here once and the food was so mediocre but quite pricey. We also had to wait 45 minutes past our reservation time for a table. I've never given it a second chance. A friend of mine arrived 5 minutes late for his reservation and they gave it away. Not a fan.
(1)
sheila o.
We recently had our Graduation Party for family and friends at the Left Bank! We had a beautiful luncheon upstairs in a nice quiet reserved room! Charles the Banquet Manager was easy to work with and made sure everything was ready to go! He kept us on a schedule so we would be out on time and the food and drinks were excellent! The service--several waiters were attentive and caring and were right on! I highly recommend Left Bank and look forward to our next gathering their again! Cheers!
(5)
David M.
Not a lot to say. I've been here a few times over the years, expensive, the food and drinks are ok. Could be so good. Actually had a good experience once during a street fair, they had an oyster bar that was decent (2 out of 3 of the oysters were really good, the 3rd didn't get me sick, just didn't taste wonderful). I want to like this place, I really do.
(2)
Gordon L.
I ate here this evening, and the food and service were OK, but not worth the $113 (including tip) price tag for the two of us, IMHO. It started out great. The bread was good, and then we ordered some oysters on the half shell and escargot (CASSOLETTE D'ESCARGOTS EN PERSILLADE) as appetizers. Those were great. My companion ordered a roasted duck breast dish (CANARD AUX AGRUMES), which he enjoyed. I got the ribeye steak (ENTRECÔTE GRILLÉE) and it was decent. I know some people frown on putting steak sauce on nice steaks like this, but I would have really liked some. I didn't get a chance to ask, however, since the waiter didn't check in on us once during the dinner. Also, when I asked him the proper way to pronounce my dish, he said that he had no idea. At least he's honest. He said he'd check for me, but never did. The place was a bit loud, but not too bad. It was full of people. My iced tea tasted a bit watered down. I wish I had ordered the basil mint lemonade instead. For desert, we ordered a lemon tarte and some sort of coffee drink with amaretto and some other liquor. The amaretto was so overpowering that I couldn't drink it. The tarte was OK, but I wouldn't order it again.
(3)
Julienne A.
Came here late at night to get some drinks after work. They were closing at 11pm and we got here at 10pm so the place was almost empty. The waiter and host were nice and we didn't feel rushed at all. Needless to say, it satisfied our after hours craving. I'd like to come back here for lunch or dinner to actually try out the menu.
(3)
Nyyca M.
This is a solid restaurant. One of the best in Menlo Park. Its not earth shattering but when we are looking for predictably good food we go here. They have a nice kids menu (the kids LOVE their hamburgers). Crayons and coloring pages for the kids are a nice touch. Good food options for the adults too. Somewhat pricy.
(4)
eric k.
yeah... ya know.. this place is ok.... not great. I have actually been here on 2 occasions. One was a going-away dinner for a friend on his way back east to Haw-vudd for his MBA.. and most recently was a couple months ago for a work/business lunch. The dinner... not so memorable from the food standpoint.... The lunch... amusing because of the discussions during lunch, the food was a little better than average... and I don't remember the prices so I can't say if it was worthwhile or not. Its a place.. it has nice seating outside... Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park has some nice scenery(soccer moms and such). the service was actually quite good... Go back? nothing compelling to me, but I don't frequently go to those places or pay that much for lunch on a regular basis.
(3)
Hubert H.
Fairly decent restaurant, though I don't know if it's really French food. The onion soup appetizer was laden with a thick layer of cheese (why so thick, I don't know) with only a bit of onion underneath. The salmon with a side of spinach was really well composed
(4)
Pumpkin K.
One star for yummy mussels. One star for a fantastic bloody mary prepared by a great bartender. Everything else was a total and complete nightmare. Not only did my experience here make me want to avoid this place in the future but it even made me want to avoid other Left Banks... just in case. When we arrived at 1pm with three out of our party of five (no reservation but happy to wait) the hostess was basically like, "Um, nope. I can't help you." Um, what? Looks of confusion all around. "I don't have anything for five people." she prepares to walk away. My friend says, "Ever?" "Not for a long time." We should have just left but we were too lazy to find another place and tell the other 2 people so instead we say, "Well, we're still waiting for two more people. We can wait in the bar. When do you think you might be able to seat five people?" "Oh....well... gee.... maybe half an hour?" Ok, we arrived at a busy restaurant on a Sunday afternoon with a party of five. We've been to restaurants before. We're prepared to wait. Why not just say, "It will be a half hour wait" instead of just "You're out of luck, sunshine." So we waited in the bar with the afore-mentioned friendly and talented bartender soothing our ruffled feathers with alcohol.In about 20 minutes the other 2 people arrived and about 10 minutes later they had a table ready for us. See? No problem. In retrospect, we should have left after that initial interaction, because the hostess was charming compared to the obnoxious waiter who forgot not one but two items and never took our drink order. We had to flag him down to ask for drinks and he left after getting three of the five orders. He just walked away. I had already drank all my water and it was never refilled. EVER. Despite asking twice. I would have liked a beer but apparently that was out of the question. The waiter acted like our existence was a MAJOR INCONVENIENCE for him. Ok, so in that respect it kind of was like being in France. Is this an effort at authenticity? When the busboys came to clear away the dishes they reached right in front of our faces and if I hadn't leaned back one of them would have elbowed me in the nose. So it went from being dismissive (hostess), to being rude (waiter) to being downright physically abusive (busboy). Thank God for my funny and charming friends, we still had an enjoyable meal because we are all such good sports that we didn't let it ruin our chance to catch up with each other. And the food was good. But I will never spend another dime at Left Bank.
(2)
Jessy B.
I don't know - its not that I don't like this place, its just with all the other restaurants around, I don't think it holds up. The bar is always slow - it takes forever to get a drink. As for the food, its a mixed bag. Order the onion soup and the salad nicoise and you'll be happy. The hubby says he likes the steak frites here. The rest is inconsistent. I used to go for the mouilles but one time I got a bad batch (ooh they smelled rancid). Not the kind of thing you want wth seafood.
(2)
Asinia A.
For some reason I prefer this Left Bank to all the other ones in their "chain" I usually go here to meet friends for dinner to catch up. It is a bit overpriced. I do like this place for group lunches - not dinners - it gets too loud and crowded.
(3)
Katherine H.
Love the vibe, love the decor and enjoy the food. Sitting in the bar area or outside and looking onto Santa Cruz Ave. make you feel as though you are in France. The food is authentic tasting and I have not had an item that I havent enjoyed.
(5)
Scott C.
I have been to the Menlo Park location several times over the past 2 years. The first time I had an outstanding meal. The times since, the food has been undistinguished at best and trending toward marginal. My last visit, a few weeks back, I had the mussels which were of questionable freshness (yes dear, if they were that bad I should have sent them back. rather than just complain) Time before, I had the duck a l'orange which was tough and the sauce was so sweet that it could have passed for desert. Oh yeah, they need to figure out how to pour a drink too.... So why the 3 stars and why do I go back? What Left Bank has figured out is that if you welcome kids and a good kid menu at a fair price, folks like me will come in. I really do appreciate the fact that you can get a kid's meal at a nicer restaurant that isn't simply chicken nuggets, hot dog, or grilled cheese thrown on a plate with stale french fries. My son loves the place because he can get order off the kids menu and still feel like he is "grown-up." And, at $5, their hamburger or salmon is simply a smaller sized version of what is off the adult menu. And their pomme frites are pretty damn good too. The second reason I give it 3 stars is the service which I've always found to be very kid friendly and pretty good in general. Case in point. On my last visit, a young couple next to us had ordered some of the aforementioned frites and calamari. before the food arrived, the guy had to step away to take a call (actually excused himself and went out side to take the call-- which was damn considerate for this day and age. Not so considerate was that he left his date sitting there for about 15-20 minutes with the food getting cold.) She was polite enough to wait, and the waiter with out prompting came over and took the cold food away and said he would bring fresh orders out upon the guy's return. And he did. Maybe it was the waiters non-verbal way of telling the guy he was a jerk for leaving the lady waiting there. Regardless, it was an act beyond what I would have expected from this place.
(3)
Stacy L.
This is a great restaurant for nights when I just want a light meal and a drink while people watching. The food is usually good (they make excellent French onion soup and moules frites), but it can be crowded and very loud inside. If you go with a big group, that doesn't matter so much, but the 2-seater tables are way too close to each other. Because of that, on warm nights I prefer to sit outside and on colder nights I prefer elsewhere unless it's after 9pm. The bar is able to make just about any drink you can describe, and make it well.
(4)
Dan G.
It was never great, but now it's mediocre, with the exception of the french fries, which are still excellent. The roast chicken was plainly pre-cooked and then semi-warmed up (there's no way to roast chicken that quickly), and wasn't fully hot, but was quite dried out, when it arrived. Bouillabaisse was somewhat watery. Grilled asparagus was a good appetiser, as was the calamari, though. Service was friendly, but our waiter apparently had too many tables. Our shared appetisers arrived, but no plates. We waited, and finally I went to the nearby waiter station and just grabbed small plates myself. We were with great friends, so the experience was actually fine...
(2)
Angela Q.
i love french bistro food. i love the eccentric host. i love the wide open space. the perfect spot for a work lunch. and you get desserts too!
(4)
Melinda D.
The French brasserie setting and good food makes this a great place to meet a friend for a casual meal and drinks. I particularly like the Salad Nicoise, Bouillabaisse and the fantastic Pommes Frites. Also, the restaurant din is loud enough to mask the occasional squeals coming from my children so it becomes a good option for a tasty meal out with the little ones. The location is spacious so reservations aren't usually necessary.
(4)
Karin S.
Over the past couple of years, we have noted a distinct decline in the consistency and quality of food as well as the service. The food is often over-cooked and over-seasoned. While their french fries previously induced awe and a feeding-frenzy, lately they have been overcooked or cold. The service has taken a big drop, particularly if dining outside or in the bar. We had four different waiters try to take our drink order when sitting at a table in the bar - it became a joke it was so ridiculous. We no longer dine here, and tend to go to Bistro Vida for slightly better food and more friendly service. I add that I once got sick after eating at L.B. - not sure if the food was to blame but made me phobic about returning.
(2)
BChizzle C.
Great fondue, but it's got little else going for it. Some of the tables are so close to each other that a waiter needs to come by to pick up the table so that guests can get in and out of their seats. Lackluster service and unimpressive entrees. I'd go again for the fondue, though.
(2)
Mishee D.
Good French brasserie. Love the decor. The Steak and Frites are awesome. The desserts are worth ordering.
(4)
Adrienne B.
I dined at the Left Bank, with a party of 21, for a holiday luncheon yesterday. The first word that comes to mind is "underwhelmed." With a party of our size, we should have been one of the restaurant's top priorities. I don't need to hear the excuse that the restaurant was packed - a good restaurant doesn't make excuses for any part of a meal. Since we ordered wine, and that's where a restaurant makes a big profit, it was pouring freely without us being asked if we even wanted more. The time lapse from when we sat down to when we were served our salad, a choice of either romaine or spinach, was between 45-60 minutes. So, we were drinking a lot of wine without anything to eat. I never noticed the bread being replenished. Our salads were nothing exciting and definitely lacked something - flavor. Strangely, the plates served all had different portions. Now, on to the main courses. I chose the chicken which was bland and served with what was called Jus de Poulet. Trust me, it didn't taste as if any of the chicken's natural juice was used. The chicken was overcooked and the sauce was thick and dried out. The additional items on my plate were kale and fingerling potatoes which were both served cold. After sending the plate back, I was given lukewarm kale and potatoes atop an obviously hot plate. My co-workers ordered either steak or salmon. I heard no complaints about the salmon, but there were numerous problems with the steaks. No one was asked how they wanted their meat prepared, so about four people sent the steak back to be cooked correctly. Part of the meat dish included risotto which was not plated. Instead, after being brought to the server's attention, it was served about 15 minutes after everyone started eating. It was terrible and undercooked. Again, the serving size for all plates varied with no consistency whatsoever. For desert we had two options: crème brulee and molten chocolate cake with vanilla whipped cream. Okay, so the deserts were good. The molten cake was excellent although the streak of very thick sauce on the side in no way resembled whipped cream. I will forgive that misstep since the cake was really tasty. Several people wanted coffee, but had to ask for it instead of being asked before dessert was served. Overall, I am giving the Left Bank two big thumbs down and will be vetoing it as an option for next year's luncheon.
(2)
Sharon M.
I went here for lunch and all I have to say is yum. But don't come here if you're a penny pincher. The food and drinks are pricey but worth it. I had a light lunch and one cocktail, it was a little over 25 with tip. The dish I had was their smoked salmon torte with creme freche and leeks. Yum! I was like a smoked salmon pizza and the portion was a lot more than I was expecting. The cocktail was good but hardly work 10 dollars. I think this would be a great place to take a date, for drinks and a snack before heading to the city or something of that nature. It's classy and fun but won't give you wallet the complete beat down. I have also had dinner here with my family but it was a while back. I can't give much of a description on the dinner except that i remembered that I wanted to come back. When it comes to categorizing fine dining experiences in my mind there are only two fields. God why can't I eat here everyday and We should have gone to In n Out. But being a fan of French fare its hard for me to not love this place. The french have a way of making every bite full of flavor and when is comes to Left Bank, they got it right.
(4)
Tyler H.
Overrated. French brasserie food is not rocket science, but somehow the food always misses a beat. On the positive side, the room is great, and this is one of the few places on the Peninsula with a late kitchen. Too bad the food is so-so.
(2)
David H.
This place is not any more French than I am Hulk Hogan. It is a fraud, and one of a chain. We went there some months back, on a busy night. The receptionist had no idea how to handle a busy situation with many people waiting. The interior table area was very very loud, tables crowded together too closely. The wait staff was obviously overwrought with so many customers, unable to provide nice service. But the food - ah the food - tasted like it came from the freezer aisle at Safeway. The French onion soup was very weak, the torte was bland, and one plate had food served cold. I and my French companion were dismayed and got out of there as quickly as possible. I must add that the bar is very good, so that is to be recommended. But despite the French come-on, this place is generally fake. I think people go there because they really don't know great French food and are fooled by the slick exterior presentation; it is usually packed on weekends.
(1)
Ina S.
We had dinner at left bank. For a chain restaurant its not bad. We were looking for something more adventurous in Menlo Park but the weather was so windy we decided Left Bank was good. Their premade drinks are not that good, i would stick with the standard cosmos. Mussels and oysters where good, but in actuality its kind of hard to screw those things up. Overall the food was not bad so was the atmosphere. Its a great back up restaurant if you are going to be somewhere around. I definitely would not make an effort to go there just to eat.
(3)
cynthia l.
Environment-wise, i still like the Santana Row location. Menu is about the same. We ordered the lobster bisque, which was on the specials for V-day. That was great. I could smell it before the server placed it on the table. The salmon & scallop mousse was great especially with the lobster sauce. The rib eye and lamb chops were ok. Fries coming with the steak were kind of disappointing though. We didn't have chance to try their desserts this time after we were stuffed with the appetizers & entrees. Overall, I could grade it with 4 stars because on such a crowded day, they still could deliver food with such quality.
(4)
Superduperpooperscooper T.
good crab cakes and creme brulee trio....
(3)
Kevin S.
See my review for the San Mateo location. This one is busier, and a little more attitudinal, considering it's a suburban chain.
(3)
A D.
I like the atmosphere at lot but the food is average. It is good for a quick drink but they don't offer many appetizers. I was not impressed.
(3)
Benjamin L.
I used to be reluctant to go to the Left Bank, but having been there a few times now, I realize the error of my thinking. Left Bank's entrees are good (a bit pricey) but where they really shine is for desert and drinks. Definitely try the Fondant au Chocolat!!! The Pear Tartin is worth a taste as well. In short, I wouldn't turn down any of the deserts. Also, be sure to check out the drink menu. They have a selection of great dessert drinks, including a couple of ports well worth their $20 per glass price tag.
(4)
Su L.
Update: Two other visits brought the rating down a little bit - lunch service was very slow. But the food is still good (probably not genuine French food, but prepared well with fresh ingredients). ******************* I had an excellent lunch at the Left Bank in Menlo Park with my co-worker. The ambiance is very nice - high ceilings, tall windows, lots of light & space, tasteful understated artwork & decor. The lunch was very reasonably priced and it was delicious: a grilled chicken breast sandwich with olive-tomato tapenade, mozarella, and basil on good crusty bread. The sandwich came with a real side salad (nutritious greens and not iceberg lettuce) and a small paper cone of hot just-right-crispy fries. The desserts come in regular and petite sizes (yay!), which is very sensible since many people want just a small portion. The petite cream puff with vanilla ice cream had me scooping out every bit of the dessert and the wonderful dark chocolate sauce over it. Service was attentive and timely without crowding the diners. I hope this restaurant continues to maintain this quality level consistently.
(4)
Katharine K.
We ordered takeout from this restaurant - the American burger, the Brussels sprouts and root vegetables. The burger was well done, nicely cooked and the root vegetables were tasty! The Brussels sprouts weren't great but that may have been a consequence of take out vs. dining in!
(4)
Aysha P.
Yelp says one star is "Eek! Methinks not" and two is "Meh I've experienced better." Based off this, I'd have to say two stars for Left Bank's food-quality/price ratio, and one star for the service. Weird bad service was more memorable than the food, so ONE STAR it is. Food/price ratio: Yes it's a French restaurant and they do that whole small portion thing. But for a restaurant to get away with that, each little bite should be flipping exquisite. Entrees are in the $25 range and skew up to the thirties for dishes like red meat. Our breakdown: - Mussels appetizer: Yum! Seriously if you go, get this and maybe a drink, then fill up on bread and PEACE OUT. - Scallops (three of them): tender but too salty. - Skirt steak: bizarrely tiny! Fatty, tasty, good-not-great. I swapped out the fries for the brussel sprouts, which were okay and cooked with big dry pork chunks I wasn't into. Service: This is where the whole thing fell apart. We told our server coming in that we were a group of six who would like separate bills if possible. Wasn't possible, which is pretty normal. So when the bill rolled around, we specified what amounts should be charged to what credit card. No joke, we literally spent another hour at the restaurant trying to sort this out with the waiter. Waiter said that we had to divide the bill up -- PRE-tip -- and then write in the tip once she swiped our cards. She seemed to think that otherwise the credit card machine would just stop working as soon as it reached the full amount of our bill. She kept offering to "add 20%" to inflate the bill and then have us split that amount. We felt weird about that. It came off as awkwardly tip-grubbing, especially for such a fancy place and a big fat bill. Also confused us because surely this wasn't the first time a group tried to split a check? The manager later tracked us down to ask about the hold-up and was bewildered, saying there's no such limitation on the credit card machine. So no idea what happened there. TL;DR Was underwhelmed and annoyed and I more than once wished I instead went to the cheap dumpling place near my house.
(1)
rona h.
Always a seat somewhere near the bar for happy hour. Good prices for great appetizers and drinks of the day. Food very good. Sliders outstanding. Wish we could go here more often!
(5)
Bob N.
Walking in to Left Bank is like being transformed to your best dining experience in France, only with superb personalized service. The food preparation and plate presentation was awesome. Our knowledgeable waiter guided us through the menu, introducing us to some very tasty dishes we would have overlooked and pared us with some delicious Rhone Valley wines.The table side visit from Chef Brendy was a highlight. You just got the feeling everyone cared that we were there and having a good time. Our friends from Portland were blown away.
(5)
Roy S.
Left Bank has been our consistent home "Bistro" since it opened 15 years ago. It's seasonal menu is peppered with our favorite bistro dishes....Their Steak Tartare is the PERFECT texture and flavor (my favorite dish on the menu) Benby the chef claims it's the high quality skirt steak they use. The quail egg on top makes the dish. Their Steak Frite is Classic, and their daily specials are always perfect. My wife LOVES their cod provencale. The service consistency and great food brings us back time and time again.
(5)
Lynne L.
Great lamb sandwich. Couscous was pretty good on first day. Eating left overs on day 2, it was gummy, but not sure there's a way to eat left over couscous that would make it better --- not that experienced with couscous. Herbs were fresh. GREAT sandwich both on first day and on 2nd. bread in bread basket was good. Glass of wine was fine. Waiter was snooty but he did his job, so how can one complain? I'd go again anytime. Been there several times and can't recall it being disappointing on the food side. It's comfortable and not horribly noisy. Never had trouble getting a table. Tables aren't too cluttered. Nice dining room.
(3)
Andreas Z.
Came here for graduation dinner with a party of seven with a reservation. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived. Service was mediocre: Server didn't mention that they were out of two of the more popular dishes until after we had ordered the wine. So much for the planned food wine pairing. After the initial pour we had to refill our wine glasses ourselves. Towards the end of the dinner he also missed to refill the water. The food: The bread wasn't impressive at all, so it didn't matter that it was I short supply for a party that size. The New York strip steak was hardly a half inch thick, came with bone in and without steak knives. The salmon was good, so was the salad and dessert. I won't come back here.
(2)
Stephanie K.
After having not been there for several years, met a friend for dinner to catch up. The place hasn't changed much, but I'd forgotten how LOUD it is in there. Those high ceilings and hard surfaces don't lend themselves well to conversation. But dinner was good. We had a cheese plate appetizer with 2 cheeses that comes with sides of grapes, chutney, and some greens. Two of the cheeses, blue and goat, where excellent. I order the Provencal cod entree, which was excellent. Perfectly cooked and very tasty. My dinner companion had the skirt steak. It came with pomme frites, which were excellent while hot. The steak was not bad, although I've had better. But the sauce we ordered (you can select from one of 2), was excellent. We ordered the Bordelaise, a wine reduction with bone marrow, butter, shallots and demi-glace. Not something I'm going to make at home anytime soon. Desert was lemon tart. Good but not outstanding. Coffee drinks were good and came with little packets of chocolate. Service was good overall, but got a bit slow toward the end when they got busier (~8 pm on a Friday evening). I think our waiter got in the weeds a bit, but another server stepped in to help out for a bit. Then we definitely got the feeling they wanted us to leave so they could turn the table. So we did.
(4)
Tara H.
I was recently here for a company party. Fortunately, we found parking across the street behind Chase bank. Things I Didn't Care For: The room upstairs was ridiculously warm, even after we asked them to adjust the thermostat. The drinks were very slow in coming (if they had to come from the bar downstairs). The steak was NOT good. It seemed like an inferior cut of steak that had been overcooked. The waiters got the salad and soup orders wrong. Things I Liked: The atmosphere was nice and relaxing. Once we were seated the courses came at a good pace.
(3)
Emre V.
They serve the smallest skirt steak I've ever seen for nearly $25. A normal person can eat 3 of those pieces. Epic disappointment.
(1)
Gerald R.
GIFT CARDS AND BEST FISH EVER (TAKE NOTE CATHOLICS) I went to the Santana Row location on Christmas Eve for purchase gift cards. The receptionist stated they were all out of gift cards. She said the Menlo Park location has gift cards. I drove there and purchased the gift cards. Initially I wasn't planning to eat here but since I drove from Union City to San Jose then to Menlo Park I decided to eat here. The waiter recommended the pan seared Loch Duart salmon. The salmon is by far the best fish I've ever had. The skin was crispy yet the meat was moist. If Catholics could cook fish like this everyone in the world would be Catholic. The price you pay for the salmon is worth it. I would pay more here for fish then going to Claim Jumper, Market Broiler, or Red Lobster. You rarely get a fish this great - crispy skin and moist meat. My rating is based upon the gift cards and the dish, which was a great Christmas gift to myself.
(4)
Anuj C.
went here for happy hour. the drinks are pretty good and pretty strong for the price. the lamb slider were good but not great. the people there were very nice and service was great. food-wise, it wouldn't be my top spot, hangout wise yeap. I actually really liked their bread, esp the olive bread. and the ambiance is great.
(3)
Ming Z.
I'm surprised that that Left Bank is only getting 3 stars. The food choices and quality were good. It had the atmosphere of a $$$ place rather than $$. The interior had a lot of character - kind of old-school French - or at least my idea of it. We ordered the risotto and steak, and both were good choices. Also, the alcohols were surprisingly cheap. I got a pastis - sort of like absinthe - and I think it was only $7. Our waiter was very friendly and the service was fast. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Tom E.
What's going on Menlo Park people. How are you getting such bad service at Left Bank? I've been there about 10 times so I can safely say it's you, really, it's you. The food is generally solid. They have their highlights and their less than stellar things. I agree the bread could be warn, but on the other hand, it's quite tasty. The steak is great, but at times other dishes are just good, not out of this world. The cheese plate, however, delivers every time. We come here often and never leave unhappy. I don't think their desserts are awesome, and that's why I'm at about 4 stars right now. But we go here often, and avoid the dessert - usually we're full by the wonderful dinner courses. Service each and every time has been great.
(4)
Nathan R.
Spent Valentines Day with my wife in this restaurant, and that was a very good choice! Food was fantastic and service was the best. Matthew, our waiter, was very friendly and very accommodating. Chef even came to tables to greet customers--that was awesome! I'll definitely come back to this restaurant and even recommend to friends and relatives.
(5)
Brittany B.
Stopped here for a drink and snack before a movie. Really enjoyed the decor and the ambiance. We had the tuna tartare and it was also fantastic. So, no complaints about the food or decor. However, the bar tender was kind of snide. We specifically said that we only wanted a drink, but he made kept making pointed remarks about how we were ONLY ordering an appetizer and we WEREN'T having dinner - even though it was only 4:15 and there was hardly anyone else in the place. I would have understood to a point if we were hogging valuable dinner time real estate, but there was no reason for him to be so aggressive. So, food and drink was pleasant. Take your chances on the bar tender.
(3)
VB L.
Hubby and I have been here many times. We have found the food and service to be consistent. We stopped in this visit after having hours of fun over at LB Steakhouse. Our visit was short. We chatted a bit with the other patrons, ate a few mussels and shuffled off to home. The mussels were tasty, Hubby enjoyed his drink and my water was cold like it's supposed to be. Not much else to say because our visit was uneventful.
(4)
Nancy N.
Other than the fact that our reservation through Open Table was not acknowledged by Left Bank, and we were reprimanded by Open Table even though we were there on time, we were able to clear up the misunderstanding. We love and ordered the French Onion Soup and after I told the waiter, Joe, that it was my husband's birthday, he brought us a beautiful dessert which was big enough for all four of us to share. The music seemed a little loud inside, so we ate outside and it was great. Will probably come to this location in the future as it seems less crowded than Santana Row. Nancy N.
(4)
Kelli A.
This place is terrible. For Mother's Day my family spent quite a bit of money, only to have a waitress ask us to leave. I was outraged!! It was completely classless-- Waiters don't even do that at the Olive Garden.
(1)
Steve B.
Several other reviewers have mentioned the Salde Nicoise, which is definitely my favorite thing on the menu and I have actually had multiple times now (it is always good). They also make a mean hamburger and their french fries make even a carbophobe change their habits for the day. All their fish dishes are excellent, too, and they have a genuine commitment to sustainably raised fish and meat. Added to which, they have a great wine selection and excellent service, so definitely my favorite lunch venue downtown.
(4)
Ralph L.
We just came from there and it was the worst lunch we ever had....The chicken was awful the reduction sauce was chemical like.....My wife had the tuna sandwich which was inedible...truly awful.....
Spinach salad for lunch ($9) had literally 20 pieces of spinach in it ... I had a bowl of soup as well and I left the restaurant hungrier than I was when I entered. Bad ordering on my part but seriously ..?? Overall taste is always consistent but portions are inconsistent. Great service though.
(2)
Bob C.
We just got a couple drinks in the bar. Warm beer and 2/3rd full martini. Slow table service and a bar tender who seemed overwhelmed. The wifi is slow too.
(2)
Rene B.
The reviews about poor and slow service are true. I was meeting a friend for lunch because she was fiending for steak tar tare. I don't like the food here but it's the year of compromise so I decided to eat first and just have a drink or 2. I arrive a little late and there is no one but us at the bar. What a shocker. Here it is a beautiful Sunday afternoon and very empty. I wanted to try Fleming's but they don't open until 4 or 5. I order a bloody mary. It was horrible but whatever. She orders her tar tare. The bartender never brought me my own menu so I guess we had to share. I looked at the reviews for croque monsieur and it was just average so I didn't order anything. They gave her 3 pieces of crostini so she had to order more. In the meantime bartender is sooooo slow, sleepy and never comes back to see if I wanted to order food or another drink. Keep in mind that we were there for 2 hours. Finally he comes back and asks us if we wanted to order dessert? Are you serious dude?? It's like 67 degrees and gorgeous outside and around 2 pm. No I don't want freaking dessert...after not eating any lunch because you never came back to ask....I want another watered down bloody mary for goodness sake! What is it with people in the restaurant biz sometimes? You are suppose to SELL FOOD and DRINKS! He could have easily convinced me to order lunch had I had my own menu and some suggestions about what's good or popular or something and about 3 bloody mary's just on my end AND THEN I would have totally ordered dessert and probably an espresso. instead he got $9. Do the math.....3 bloody mary's $27, lunch about $18, dessert $8 to $10 and a double espresso $4. Including tax and tip about $76!!!! And I'm sure my friend would have split a salad so it would have been closer to $90. Not smart and working in the restaurant as a bartender is not your cup of tea! NEVER Going back and neither is my friend. You can't have bad service and bad food. There's a reason why you guys are not as busy as you should be. TOWN restaurant on a SUNDAY is flipping PACKED!!! Restaurant and the bar.
(1)
J. R.
Very tasty food with quality ingredients, the charcuterie plates are especially good.
(4)
Brittany E.
great food and great bar! I love going here for happy hour but they are normally packed for HH. Good selection on their happy hour menu for food and drinks. they have outdoor seating so it's nice to sit outside on a nice day and people watch!
(4)
Meera K.
awesome food. Sloppy service
(3)
Alisha M.
It is truly unfortunate to read the other reviews considering I had such a positive and great dining experience. I had an early dinner last night with a friend and upon entering the restaurant we were promptly greeted by the host. We were quickly seated at our table and told our server would be right with us. Carlos, our server greeted us and served us water immediately and inquired if we would like something else to drink. He recommended a few specialty drinks and my friend ultimately ordered a Moscow Mule and I (being pregnant) stuck to water. Her drink came pretty quickly and she was overly satisfied. We decided to have the fried calamari which was amazing and the portion was just right. For dinner I ordered the Rocky Jr. half boned chicken with Happy Boy Farm organic mixed greens, savory chicken jus, and pommes frites. If you really like some well seasoned chicken which you can dip in a sweet/salty chicken jus then this is the dish for you. Make sure to dip the pommes frites in the jus too! Yum! My friend ordered the natural skirt steak and pommes frites. It also included a side of sauce and she went with the peppercorn sauce. Let me tell you, the sauce definitely loved the sauce... She was scrapping the sauce dish with bread when she devoured her steak. Carlos was a terrific, attentive server and periodically checked on us throughout the meal. Like I said at the beginning, it is unfortunate to read the other reviews that didn't have a similar experience to me. Perhaps you can make suggestions on what you think should be improved as restaurants will listen. I can't wait to try brunch here! Thank you Left Bank for a wonderful experience, I will be back soon!
(5)
Christie F.
We walked in last Thursday night for dinner, and there was a big YELP event banner on the 2nd floor balcony, which was humming with people. And my invite was... in the mail? Ummm, awkward! Just kidding. :) This is one of my new favorites. Lovely decor - mosaic tile floor, dark wood, crisp white tablecloths with butcher paper on top for that whole elegant-but-so-good-they-know-you're-going-to-be-Âmessy bistro thing, great art and a Julia Child quote above the door to the kitchen. Tres charming. Fresh chewy sourdough bread - check. Lemon drop martini - check. Earthy red - check. Emmental, Goat and Bleu cheese fondue - whaaaa? Then cassoulet, with big chucks of duck leg and sausage and topped with heavenly crispy breadcrumbs, served tableside and they left the serving platter which had another two servings' worth - which was good because the samplers at the table left no quarter. But I gave right back - the beef bourg was amazing, onion soup oozy and cheesy and the bf's burger was, well, I don't know. Who orders a burger at this place!? We managed to squeeze in a couple of profiteroles, which I almost stole off the table next to me when we first sat down. Luckily it was just slightly too far away for my reach. Perfect atmosphere for chit-chatting over fantastic food; the full house added to the ambience but didn't impact conversation. 3 hours later we rolled out of there sideways. After most of the Yelpers, as a matter of fact. It was... so very French.
(4)
Katie B.
I couldn't review this place fast enough and say how much I loathed it. I'm giving it really low stars mostly because of pretentious prices for substandard food. For these prices, you should be loving each bite and constantly saying, "mmmm." I could have made better food myself, and actually have. My risotto was bland, the salmon was overcooked, and my husband's sausage and French fries were tasteless. Our cheese fondue was fine, the escargot was so-so. I was in such shock at the banality of the food, I didn't make a peep the whole dinner. I'm really into food, and it's not a-typical for me to be ohhing and ahhing over a good dish. As it was my birthday dinner, and they knew it, and though it shouldn't be expected, I find it classless that they didn't offer dessert on the house. I don't think I've been anywhere that didn't do that. That was just the icing on the cake, no pun intended, to make this one of the most overpriced disappointing meals I've ever had.
(2)
Lu D.
Went back to Left Bank earlier this week with a friend. We sat at the bar and the service was much better. The bartender was attentive and quick. We were there early (before 6 pm), which luckily counted as happy hour. I ordered a cosmo and it only cost me $5. We then ordered some food off the happy hour menu, which had several options for $6 each. We ordered three dishes (burger, croque monsieur and pizza) thinking the portions would be small, but it was more than we could finish. And both sandwiches came with fries -- a great deal. Oh, and I didn't see the surly waitress around...maybe she got axed or left to pursue her real calling in life!
(3)
Tinna H.
Came here for lunch with my cousin. I don't see her often, so when I found myself on a client down the Peninsula, I had to get a lunch date with her. We got there early - around opening time. Ordered the french onion soup, croque madame, and mussels. We weren't particularly impressed with the french onion soup. Wasn't as flavorful as I'd have liked. Perhaps I'm just used to the stuff at Outback. Maybe I don't know what it SHOULD taste like! The croque madame was yummy - portions a little on the smaller side. Or maybe I just eat a lot... The mussels were quite tasty! And the dish was HUGE - we didn't even have room for the delicious fries that came with it. Getting the Specials for the day is like watching television with close captioning. The server brought the list to us on a chalkboard and basically read each item to us, line by line. Watch out for the hot towel at the end... It is "BURN YOUR HANDS" HOT. My hands were quite red... Try airing it out a little bit, but use it while warm. It cools off pretty quickly.
(3)
Chris M.
Delicious. Ate here with some authentic french colleagues, who, in an authentic french manner took nearly an hour to decide what wine to get, and less than 10 minutes on what to eat. : ) It's no problem in the "laissez-faire" atmosphere though. High ceilings, excellent lighting create an ambiance of a relaxing lunch in the French countryside. The kind that can take hours and hours just chatting, drinking and laughing. I recommend the croque-madame finished with a cup of espresso.
(5)
Angela L.
ATMOSPHERE: Super cute atmosphere. Entrance welcomed by a dazzling bar. Beyond, an opened up dining area with a window to the back kitchen and a mezzanine balcony. Nice place for a date, I'd say. In a very tiny Menlo Park downtown. Not much happening there. But around the corner or so, there's that Guild theatre that I found so charming this one time. Sooo if you were to perchance think to take a lady out on a dinner & movie date, then Left Bank + Guild Theatre would do the trick! FOOD: *Went here for a Yelp event, & I don't really remembered what food I sampled. But I liked the steak from their sister store in Santana Row. So basing off that, I'm presuming their food is just as good.
(4)
lily n.
If you are looking for some good French Food and moderate price. This is the place for you!
(4)
Nicole S.
Pricey for what it is. Food is OK. Don't expect real French food (I'm French and love cuisine so I know).
(2)
Margaret T.
The salmon was really delicious. I loved the waitress. She was so enthusiastic about the food.
(4)
Shannon B.
Enjoyed a nice lunch here at one of the outside tables in front. The chicken breast sandwich was amazing. The fries were really good too. The service was also really good.
(4)
Molly W.
I love this restaurant! We come here at least twice a month. They have the best croque monsieurs in the Bay Area. Very kid friendly, but still able to keep the high end feel. The steak frites is great, my husband orders it every time. Staff are super friendly and very attentive.
(5)
John D.
Extremely disappointing. Bland lamb, frozen (yes, frozen) steak, rushed service (bringing entrees out while we were still eating salads), incorrect dessert order. We won't be going back.
(1)
Silky P.
I brought a group of friends from work a while ago and a waiter threw an entire glass of ice and water over one of my friend's back by accident. Worst of all, it was sad that we had to make the manager comp her meal because of the embarrassment. He did not understand why he should give her the meal for free and kept arguing about it. I then decided to try them again, and unfortunately my meal then came out cold, I give up.
(2)
Leslie H.
I really enjoyed my visit to this place. It was a Friday afternoon and I had stopped by with a bunch of coworkers to get a drink after a long week. We ordered drinks and appetizers and were not disappointed. I especially recommend the Perigord duck confit and Basque with shrimp + chorizo, which are two of their tartes flambees. Also, the Seafood Platter Pour Deux was more than sufficient to satisfy a group of 8. Service was kind of slow, but we also had around 15 people in our party. The servers kept the bread coming while we waited for our drinks and brought all of our food at once, which may have contributed to the wait. All in all, definitely a good way to end a long week.
(4)
Jason H.
We used to love going to this restaurant in Menlo Park. The food was good and it had a (nearly-) unique benefit of being open after 9 in this dreary town. The biggest reason that we liked to go, however, was the staff and service. We went at least one a week (seriously). Sometime in the Spring/Summer of 2009 that all changed. They replaced some of the fantastic tried and true staff with a couple real poor selections. It surprised me how much this changed things. Also, we got on their email list and now they refused to stop spamming us, which is totally irritating. Two alternatives: First, for a great equal-quality experience, try Bistro Vida, which is practically next door. Not open late, but otherwise, it is of comparible/better quality. Second, if it is late, the BBC is a few doors down and open even later. The service there is great.
(2)
David G.
Sad, we visited again and wished we had not! The smell of business death was all too apparent! Menu seemed smaller and less adventurous. Staff were demotivated and the place decidedly empty. We asked about the Steak Tartare and were given some weird story about too much preparation time? The general feel was that from hostess to staff, no-one really gave a rats ass. We arrived way before closing time but just felt in the way. The best service seemed to happen when the staff sat down to their meal a few tables away from us. We regretted the whole experience, some places you should just leave on a dying note rather then trying again.
(1)
ED T.
The restaurant at this particular location has gone DOWNHILL BIG TIME!!! Food doesn't taste as close to quality a decade ago. Tasteless!!! My family and I went there around NY's day. Service was extremely SLOW, they said because a server just walked out so they were short-handed. Took our appetizers about 1 hour to come out, another 1 and a half hour for the main course to come. The only good thing was the French Onion Soup. This place has gone down to an over-priced "Coffee Shop" category. Very ... very ... disappointing. We were so hungry that when our entree finally came out, we finished it, but when we told our server that the flavor was disappointing, she laughed and made a comment "and yet you FINISHED your plate!" In my opinion, this place DOESN'T DESERVE ANY STAR!! My husband is a Head Chef at a high end restaurant. He asked the waitress if the chef was working that night. She told him that he was in the backroom doing inventory. Imagine that...doing inventory when the place was busy. So, who cooked our food? Our youngest daughter's steak gravy sauce taste burnt, because it was burnt on the bottom. And yet, they serve it anyhow, instead of making a new one. OOh, don't make comments, because the servers and the restaurant manager would laugh behind your back on your comment you make about the food or the service (yes, I witness this myself, because right after my husband said something, our server - flipped between a woman and a man, went to the manager behind the curtain and laughed!!). For a restaurant that used to be excellent, this is very disappointing. I don't think we want to go back to this location. We might try other location, maybe.
(1)
Carol T.
For my daughter in law's birthday we had made reservations for five at Left Bank in Menlo park, (her favourite restaurant) 1/25/13 Friday @ 8pm. Our table was ready and we were seated. The server dutifully came over and asked us if we wanted something to drink but at the time of being seated I noticed my small plate was very greasy and politely asked if I could have a clean one. She was very sweet and replaced it immediately. My daughter in law ordered the onion soup and the rest of us placed our orders. Her onion soup was served almost immediately (the cheese was burned) but it was several minutes before we received ours (supposedly preparing fresh for everyone) and we told her to begin without us and ours came eventually. As my daughter in law began to probe her side salad for the goodies a small creature ambled slowly out. (the salads would have been nicer if there had been a simple balsamic dressing as Arugela is quite bitter). And of course the poor server had to remove it and bring another dinner. We could see how disappointed the server looked when again she had to return to our table for yet another insult from the kitchen. My son and I order the spicy lamb burger, that ,when it came had the sad, tired look of having sun bathed under a "sun lamp":)for awhile, blacked around the edges with the texture of a cement brick. I ate only three bites and didn't touch the salad at all. But we took it all with good grace understanding that whatever was happening in the kitchen was not her fault. Either the dish washer was overfull, or the person wasn't too careful, and the prep chef had not washed the salad greens properly. Of course, my daughter-in-law's dinner was gratis and despite the food we made sure we tipped our server well hoping she would know we understood it was not her fault. Since servers usually give kitchen staff a percentage of their tips I hope she took the issue to the manager. There is another reviewer comment here from a visit on the same date who was well please with their experience so I guess we were just unlucky or in a different restaurant. I'd previously been to the Left Bank on Santana Row for lunch and was again extremely unimpressed by the food, and kitchen errors, especially since the lunch rush had abated and it was pretty empty. Since it was my daughter-in-law's birthday and her favourite restaurant "I kept mum. " I don't know whether she will choose that restaurant again because she is more forgiving but if so I'd have to make up a story of having a dreadful migraine to avoid going. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh and over critical but I'm fortunate to have a 5* French chef as a friend and my standards are high and this was a chain restaurant and things are definitely different with chains. His restaurant seats only 35 people and no matter what day of the week is always full and he varies the menu frequently. I would never go back to a Left Bank restaurant and the wonderful server should find a better restaurant.
(1)
Shilpi D.
Right from the name, promises of the allure of skinny French people, skinny French portions and the chance to say: yeah, I've been there. I've been here many times, but after going there for lunch today with a friend (we needed wine and lots of it), finally decided to yelp about it. Food's alright - nothing special: a trip to the farmer's market will get you the same for less than half the price. But then again, its all worth it for that special afternoon lunch, right? Sandwiches leave much to be desired. I'd stick with the wines, cheese platter (without the fondue) and the salads. Service and seating are all right. Seating gets a little too close for comfort at lunch though......
(3)
Katie T.
I really liked this place. It's not quite Balthazar's in Manhattan, which we frequented when we were on the East Coast. But, it was still pretty good. We like their steak frites and often order this dish. However, I did enjoy their coq au vin VERY much! I think about it every so often... YUM. We have brought our kids there and so far, no hum and glums from the wait-staff when they see us approach the door. I will say they don't get 5 stars, because well, #1 they aren't Balthazar's and #2 there was a time we brought some friends here for dinner and their fish special was full of bones! He barely ate it and it was actually really disappointing for us as hosts to bring our friends to a place that was recommended, but turned out to be quite death defying in a sense. So, if you have a hankering for fish and you go there, please please let them know you'd like to spare your life, therefore, leave out the bones.
(4)
Jeff W.
they must be doing "something" right, this place was overflowing during a Tuesday lunch hour. Certain little touches were missing that left me wishing for better attention to detail. like the cold plate that my very pricey steak and pommes frites was served on. or the fact that the pommes frites were not fresh from the fryer. (even Mickey Dees serves HOT fries!). the French onion soup was savory but not quite as flavorful as I had hoped for. The fondue is a nice starter served with both bread pieces and garlic toast pieces. The cheese in the fondue consisted of brie and gruyere. very nice with a glass of wine. back to the steak for a moment - the Creekstone skirt steak had good flavor and was tender. not an easy task for skirt steak which if not cooked properly can be rubbery. skip the optional bordelaise sauce which was bland and lacked seasoning and flavor. hard to believe that this is a Roland Passot restaurant (La Folie in SF- which is a solid 5-stars IMHO). There are also 5 Left Banks throughout the Bay Area. a little more focus on quality vs. quantity will go a long way here.
(3)
Ashley C.
OK, so, I've never sat down and ate at a table, but I been at the bar quite a few times to eat. The food is always fabulous! The restaurant is almost always full. It is pricey, especially if you drink and eat like I do, but well worth it! My friend had a work Christmas party. Fun times! It was a combo of the food, drinks, music and people that made the event wonderful. If I was rich I would totally close the place to have a party there too! And lastly it's super close to my house which is a major plus!
(4)
L T.
I have been to Left Bank three times and plan to return soon. They have an amazing menu with something for everyone. I particularly enjoy their brunch menu which is creative and easily one of the best in the area. The only reason I am giving four out of five stars is that it has been inconsistent. The first time we went our food was cold and the service slow, but there were enough positives to go back and we're glad we did. The two subsequent experiences have been wonderful. Try the escargot and duck hash!
This saddens me to post this review - but Left Bank is now out of rotation for me after years of being a place I loved to go. My husband and I went to celebrate his birthday recently and had a thoroughly underwhelming experience. It was sad because LB looks so much better after its remodel and yet the service and the food were at odds with each other. What happened with the uber experienced wait staff? I only recognized one prior server and sadly, we weren't in her section. The issue began when we waited about 10 minutes to be greeted by our server at our table. She took our cocktail orders, which then took ages to get to us. We had to ask for water and bread arrived after our appetizer. We ordered a dozen oysters, followed by a salad to split. 20 minutes after that a half dozen oysters were delivered along with our salad (not split) and someone else's salad - delivered by the manager. We let him know we had not ordered those salads and he looked perplexed. When our server noticed we only had a half dozen oysters as the busboy was clearing them, she then got us another 1/2 dozen (instead of asking if she should bring them). The oysters weren't as fabulously fresh as they have been in the past, either. As she was delivering wine to the table, after what seemed like a long wait, both our salad and entrees arrived at the same time. Both my husband's and my entree were delicious, but at this point, the meal was a goner. We tend to be accomodating and in the past, have seen servers rally, but it was not to be this time. It seems as though the kitchen has really worked on what they're sending out (with the exception of the freshness of the oysters), but the service really did us in. I wish it were otherwise, but we won't be spending here again.
(1)
Warren K.
LB in Menlo is wicked over priced for sub par food. Maybe i just have a bad taste in my mouth about the stuffy french atmosphere but for the amount of cash you drop on this this place, it should be called left broke. I ordered the pork chop which actually was pretty good. However my wife and father both ordered the sole which looked and tasted as if it were caught 4 months ago. I never seen such a sorry withered piece of fish. No flavor and seemed almost rotten. neither of them ate it, rather they picked off my pork chop and mashed ppotatoes. My mother got that french caserole thing with the big ham bone in it. It looked and tasted like something my dog would love. A complete goulish mix of baked beans, random meat chunks over loaded with salt. We only got the doggy bag literally because it was going straight to my old man's two black labs at home who would think it was the greatest meal ever. Side note and it may be unrelated but I had the worst gas of my life after eating there. My wife wanted me to go see a doctor. I told her, "no. It was the pork chops and capers." The waiter was nice but took his job at a french restaurant a little too seriously. This place was stuffy as hell with all the WASP's on the Penninsula jam packed in there like spray foam insulation. the only way I would go back there is if I was were to give the bar a shot. The bartenders seemed frisky and entertaining. Hard to screw up beer and wine.
(1)
Fabianna B.
Great service. Really made the date. Atmosphere set mood perfectly. Fondue was a hit! And our server was fun- I can't remember his name, but he indulged our requests and giddy states. Will come back again.
(4)
Nancy C.
Three of us for lunch - food is quite good (we had the spinach salad, mushroom soup, grilled chicken breast salad, and pissaladiere cote d'azur - ham pizza appetizer), service is ok. This place is often packed, so plan on having a reservation, but it is worth the trip if you enjoy French food. The menu is outstanding, SO many choices...
(4)
D. Mark H.
My wife and I hosted a rehearsal dinner for our son here in July 2012. The banquet manager, Charles Chapman, was very helpful and accommodating (we asked for some menu modifications). The room is above the general dining area, large enough for our 45 guests and then some. On the appointed day, we went in and decorated the room and set up our wine. (Only cloud - and not a huge one - is that the wine list is pricey. We opted to pay the corkage on some fine wines we bought at BevMo during the 5 cent sale.) The atmosphere was perfect, and our guests raved about the food. We had three entree choices - a roast chicken, pork tenderloin and a Meyer lemon risotto. Everyone thought theirs was the best! The service was excellent - hats off to Steven and his crew for being attentive and efficient without making us feel hurried. My son's new in-laws are very knowledgeable about food and wine, so we wanted to make a good impression. Thanks to the Left Bank, we succeeded.I have been here for business lunches in the past, so I knew it was a good place. But it was superb for our event. HIghly recommended.
(4)
Brent A.
Never again will Menlo Park's Left Bank be graced with my presence. I'm sorry, but when you mess up and don't offer to fix something then you'll never have a good review with me ever again. If you're looking for "French" food, I highly recommend the one on Santana Row. Sure the staff there can be a bit quirky, but the food is great (especially the tartines!). Let me explain my reasoning. My friend and I arrive and were quickly seated. The menu was different from Santana Row's, but it's a different restaurant. The clientele here is much older and not nearly as chic. Our server didn't really stick around that much. We only saw him a handful of times and he basically messed up everything. I allowed him several chances to redeem himself, but he missed every opportunity. He should have checked on us more often and offered to fix what was wrong. For starters he never cleared our plates, but that's because he didn't show up. The food runner who brought out our entrees also had the opportunity to clear our tart dish, but he didn't. I got up and put the dirty plate on a perfectly clean table. It was later cleared away, but that table wasn't cleaned up afterwards. The food we ordered was burned. A croque madame is not meant to be served with charcoaled edges on both the ham and bread. The server merely said, "Oh" and blankly looked at me when I informed him of this. Fail! Later, I found the manager and told her, but she didn't offer to take it off our bill, nor offer us anything else to replace it. Fail. Dishes weren't cleared away. Fail. I had to flag the hostess to bring us our check. Fail. Left Bank, you disappointed me. So, please don't expect any referrals from me for quite some time. That day probably won't ever come until the manager at Santana Row steps in to clean up your act. Au revoir! ... errr... since I won't be seeing you again, "Good bye!"
(1)
Margie C.
Frequent this restaurant every 2-3 months. Came here last night and again, never disspoints! One of my all time favorite restaurants food is usually not over salted and cooked to perfection every time. Drinks: Good wine list and drinks. Got the Basil Mint Lemonade but too sweet had to ask for more sparking water to top if off- but the water they added tasted flat... Appetizers: Calamari is ok but the thing you MUST have: the cheese FONDUE.. this is the most amazing brie/goatcheese/gruyere fondue you'll EVER have.. and the candle below keeps the cheese creamy and warm. The bread they provide is usually sufficient to use up the cheese. SOOOO goood ! I'd come here just for that... Entrees: Last night I got the duck breast.. cooked well and very tender. side items were tasty as well. a bit pricey but delicious. Hubby had the rotisserie chicken with pomme frites. Also very juicy meat and outside of chicken was crispy and seasoned just right. His meal came with pomme frites.. the thing I love about frites at a french place.. always tastes freshly fried.. very hot and light .. u know its not sitting in a hot oven all day. Previously I've also tried some of their special soup of the days, and fish dishes. All light and fresh tasting. Will come for HH next time to get the truffle fries and crab cakes. =)
(4)
Kevin C.
I have been to The Left Bank both in San Mateo and also Santana Row. Although reasonable, the food was nothing special at either venue and I have consequently thought of the Left Bank as fairly average. Then we joined some friends at The Left Bank in Menlo Park. I found the venue strikingly more appealing than the other locations. It's bright and open, and seems generally more inviting. Also in its favour is the actual physical location of the restaurant, which is along Santa Cruz Avenue - Menlo Park's classy high street in the center of downtown. We were seated at a very comfortable and plush half-moon booth, which was perfect for four people and made the entire evening seem relaxed and easy. The food was excellent and the service was competent. I enjoyed an asparagus starter and a main course of salmon with stir-fried veggies. My wife decided on steak and our friends kept it straightforward with the American Hamburger. Everyone enjoyed their helpings. The salmon was cooked perfectly and was delicious. The only let-down was the creme brulee, which was too dense and should have been a lot more fluffy and light. Nonetheless, a well-made espresso topped a very satisfying meal.
(4)
Mohammad S.
Nice steak tartare.
(3)
Michel A.
Had a delicious dinner there tonight. Started with Escargot and finished with a delicious fish "Daurade". Other people had the beet salad and mushroom risotto and both were excellent too. Service was good too.
(5)
Ketch M.
This restaurant has really gotten better. Our server tonight was attentive, nice and really seemed to like his job. Food was good and the place was packed! As we were leaving we found out that they have a late night happy hour, good to know. Looking forward to my next visit.
(4)
j. k.
After spending a whole month in Paris and Provence, at the best restaurants the locals told us about... I was sad to be back in the US. I was craving French. I have tried a few in SF, but I wasn't quite happy... Tried Left Bank twice so far. First time was excellent, second time, I was confused. How can one restaurant rate so high one day and so low on another? Friendly staff. I didn't know this was a chain til recently!
(3)
nakiesha k.
Sophisticated, scrumptious food in an elegant but airy environment. I had trout... I can't think of any other way to describe the dish than to say it tasted like summer. Exceptional! The general manager, Khephra, was very friendly and accommodating. We felt very well taken care of.
(5)
Albert W.
We went there after going to a dr. appt. I first thought this restaurant was fancier and more expensive but it's more like casual dining with decent price. The restaurant has high ceilings and looks pretty nice. We ordered two fromage (cheese), pate, trout with reduced cream sauce, side veg, and cocktail drink. The bread was cold and hard. Both of the cheeses that I ordered are from France. The goat cheese was good but the cow's milk cheese was ok. They came with toasted bread, apple, and glazed walnuts. Interesting combination. The pate was average and it came with toasted bread, sour pickle, and side potato. The side order of roasted garlic and spinach was a bit salty. The trout looks nice with the head being served at the same time. Cocktail drink (peach infused vodka) was average.
(3)
Catherine G.
I went here for lunch and had the french onion soup and the nicoise salad. Best damn soup ever. The cheese was sooo thick and the soup was delicious without being too oily like some places make it. The salad was also great. It seemed like a busy place, but the service was excellent (could have been due to the high muckety-mucks that I was lunching with). Note to self: don't eat french onion soup at a business lunch again. So not graceful. I just can't wait to go back and get...the soup...yummmm.
(4)
Cynthia C.
Pretty good. WAY better than the Santana Row location. Clean spacious interior. Friendly and competant staff. Bread not so good, like really dry, foccacia, w/o the grease. Salad Verte had a wonderfully light dressing on butterleaf. Steak tartare, mild, not overly oiled. Salmon cooked RARE, just the way I like it. The skirt steak was tender and lean. Chocolate cake, good, it was comped, FREE always tastes better.
(3)
Fancypants J.
I guess I should not be shocked that Left Bank in San Mateo closed. I expected better from the Menlo Park location. We had brunch here on a Sunday. It was not crowded. Hostess and server(?) were arguing about where to seat another party before seating us. Should have been a red flag. We were able to order our food within about 10 minutes but our entrees did not arrive until we had been there about 45 mins. Not acceptable imo. Mr Q ordered eggs benedict & I had a salad with lardons and a cup of French onion soup. The soup was decent but a small portion and too sweet. The salad had frisee lettuce and a poached egg-not sure who thought it would be good to put a poached egg on a salad. No one came to really check on us during the meal. As I told Mr Q, I probably would not run back to eat here again.
(2)
Shannon N.
Contrary to another review I saw here, I dislike this location more than their other locations. We were seated in a crappy table about four inches from another table - ew. I didn't need to hear all the details of this woman's divorce and her date's children. Blergh. Why must restaurants force people to sit so darn close? Feh. Fondue Savoyarde (cheese) = good Profiteroles = good I think they've got some happy hour specials here too, but I haven't confirmed.
(2)
ClosetDork ..
I really wanted to like Left Bank. And tried not to be prejudicial after visiting the one in Santana Row and deciding that, if I were to spend my own money, Left Bank would never be in my list. Not in this lifetime. Alas, the Menlo Park version of Left Bank is even more immemorable and pathetic (in a trying-too-hard-to-be-French way) as the one in Santana Row. The person who waited our table was expressionless throughout the entire lunch, citing specials of the day using his boring, monotonous and slightly nasal voice we might as well listen to a recording and going through the motion of taking our order, serving the food, taking the plates, and putting down the dessert menu in a mechanical, almost comical way. The bread was stale, the mussels dry and the bread burnt beyond recognition. The pomme frites were awesome, but for the price, I'd rather have mine animal style at the Mountain View In-N-Out. And oh... sitting in a table next to us were four girls who could not be more than 12, fully dolled up in tight-fitting clothes. When the time came for them to pay up, one of them took out a thick wad of cash from what appears to be a Louis Vuitton monogram multicolore wallet which was previously sitting in a Louis Vuitton limited edition Theda bag in monogram canvas. The total value of the wallet, bag, and the cash that she had must have been more than what my administrative assistant earns in a month. But oh well, it was, after all, spring break. And it was, after all, Menlo Park.
(2)
Yb W.
Left Bank describes itself as an authentic French Brasserie. Not being of French descent and never even having been to France, I have no idea if that's true or not. I also don't understand why brasseries and bistros, which are supposed to be modest establishments in France, become so expensive when transplanted into America?! I do, however, really like the food here. I love their onion soup ($6.75), their duck breast and confit ($20.50), as well as their Coq Au Vin ($18.50). Their Au Gratin potato ($4.95) side dish is especially good. For dessert, they serve a lovely molten chocolate cake with espresso ice cream ($6.75). My own position is that food doesn't have to be strictly authentic to be tasty or enjoyable (case in point: orange chicken at Panda Express; in fact, the last time I looked into their kitchen, the person stir frying the chicken wasn't even Chinese). This is the first tastefully decorated restaurant I've ever been to where I've seen families with children (maybe because they offer hamburgers and fries). I thought that that this aspect of the restaurant was very progressive.
(4)
Franz H.
Classy and delicious. Several trips here and nothing but good times and tasty food. Definitely a little schnazzy, but not over the top.
(5)
Catherine L.
I've been to Left Bank many times over the past ten years, and always had a great experience. The food is authentic and consistently good, and one couldn't ask for more regarding their service: they are attentive and welcoming, and have been very accommodating when a few of my business dinners lasted longer than the average, rushed American dining experience. It's so refreshing to have a reliably good restaurant!
(5)
Origami Z.
This place was a great place and I especially loved the escargot. It is a beautiful restaurant, but from San Mateo it was a long drive.
(5)
hunter w.
it's got space for large groups and a nice cocktail menu but the service takes it down a notch or two. Let's just say it's leisurely.... also, sides of frites served without ketchup or mayo - be gone! but between the appetizers, salads and entrees, you can put together a pretty good meal or snack
(3)
Hugh B.
My first UFO sighting ever turned out to be a flying credit card, launched by a disgruntled diner at an adjoining table at Left Bank. There he sat by himself, stewing like a pot of Left Bank's fabled bouillabaisse, his wife and kids long gone, likely off to buy some ice cream, while he waited and waited for the check to arrive. When the waiter finally approached -swooosh -- the diner flung his silver MasterCard, and it flew by in a shimmering arc, landing on the floor beside my left foot. Mon dieu! If it's not clear from other Left Bank reviews, service is a real hit and miss affair. I really appreciate a restaurant where the staff work in concert with diners to achieve the right pacing, allowing lively parties to talk and linger, but also responding more swiftly to diners who aren't interested in spending their entire evening at a restaurant. Left Bank seems to have this reversed, and the hit and miss staff appear to set their own pace, and let the diners be damned. Our server was intent upon doing things his way, stopping us mid-conversation to address the evening's specials, which he did by dropping a signboard on the table and declaring that now we were all going to spend some time talking with him about the specials. The food at Left Bank is also hit and miss. I really enjoyed the roast lamb with asparagus and fava beans, but the accompanying polenta toast was bland and tasteless. My wife's trout was similarly slightly off, and was more of a trout hash than the expected fillet. That said, the starter spinach salad with chevre was delightful, as was the meyer lemon tart for dessert. I have a hard time understanding the inconsistencies in both Left Bank's spotty service and up and down food, and am left to speculate that there must be some serious overall issues between staff and owners, or just simply lousy management. The owner stopped by our table during a high point of the evening, which was fine, but many of his conversations with other diners appeared on the order of apologies, and one wonders how a restaurant can stay in business with a significant percentage of diners in open rebellion.
(3)
Armanius M.
Orange duck was good and so was the tuna salad. The stuffed quail ... pass on it. Our waiter seemed a bit forgetful. The restaurant is clean and well decorated. Bathroom was clean too. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but nothing to rave about.
(3)
Jennifer T.
I am so so sorry to have to give a bad review, because I have come here before for *dinner* and it was fine..maybe the lunch staff just isn't as great... I just got finished here with my girlfriend for lunch. Our waiter was a disaster, even more, our food was a disaster! She ordered the grilled eggplant sandwich which was rubbery. This was after our waiter took 45 minutes to take our order...and when my friend asked if it was good he said, yes it is grilled veggies...duh, that's what it says on the menu, thanks for the input... I had a chicken sandwich, it was pretty blah, no flavor. Needed something more... Then we decided to order the molten lava cake for dessert because my ass was just craving more dimples,...it came cold...the point of the molten lava cake is for it to be hot with "lava" like chocoloate flow.. Anyhow we talked to the manager, Terrell, he took everything off the bill and it wasn't like he was giving us any weird looks or something like some managers do when you tell them the food was gross, b/c they think you're just trying to get out of paying for it. Lastly, the espresso machine was broken so after waiting another 15 mins for our lattes, we finally just left, thank God there was a Peets down the street.
(2)
John N.
I've eaten at Left Bank several times over the last five years. They've gone downhill. They've substituted french fries for mashed potatoes, and the fries are below the Burger King level. The chicken was adequate, but not great. The bread was some awful flavored abomination. It's one of the few French restaurants in Palo Alto/Menlo Park, an area oversupplied with pasta outlets. I'm sad to see it tank. I won't be back.
(2)
Ayelet B.
Although I should cut down on pop, they only get 3 starts for having diet pepsi and not diet coke. I had a sparking water, which was probably better for me. I haven't been to Menlo Park in years and this is where I met a friend for dinner. It was ok as all the other ones but the waiter was really irritating. He really did his best but he went over the top and became really obnoxious. The food is always predictable and you will get a decent meal.
(3)
Yoddha Y.
Nice ambiance. Food was only good (not great) for the price. The Tour de France menu is pretty good. Service was very good, very accommodating. I would recommend the fish entrees. The bread could have been better or at least warm. I can't put the finger on exactly what was missing!!!
(3)
Jaymes H.
Nice atmosphere. open late. loooooooved the cassoulet. could not get enough.
(4)
Dan G.
This place has really gone down hill. The bar is great, but the restaurant is mediocre at best. Food has gotten lazy, and the service is abominable. I'm never going back.
(1)
mar m.
overpriced. unmemorable. plain. the decor is nice and service is great, but i'm into the food. grant it, i've never tried their dessert and i've only been here once, so maybe i should give it another chance. there's just so many other options in this area that i won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(2)
Jennifer S.
I haven't been here since the remodel, and thought it looked wonderful. I still wish, however, the tables would have just a few more inches between them. We had the burger, the french onion soup and the butter lettuce salad....burger good, salad good, french fries fabulous! On the soup, I love this soup, however, (and this is going to sound very strange), there was too much cheese (see what I mean on sounding strange? who doesn't love a lot of gooey, yummy cheese?)....it was virtually impossible to eat without involving my fingers to stretch the cheese and break from my spoon. I know swiss and emmantaler cheese is like this, but it just wasn't working! I felt like the only way to manage it would be to use a knife. Anyway, besides this minor complaint, I thought it was a nice meal.
(3)
Be H.
I had sturgeon here, and it was great! Very nice restaurant, great service.
(5)
Cynthia G.
I didn't like it, but my co-eaters did, hence the three stars. First, the appetizer. We got two cheeses, and not really enough for three people - not enough bread, and the bread wasn't paired well (it was herbed and seasoned and oiled and overwhelmed the cheese). Next, the entrees. My boyfriend got the steak and pronounced it well done. Our friend got the burger and said it was solid, but not $12 solid. I got the sandwich rive gauche - roasted vegetables - and it was horrible. We'll leave aside that I became a veggie for health reasons, and so am confused by vegetarian dishes that are dripping in oil AND mayo (called aeoli when something is blended into it). Not healthy. But this sandwich tasted like it had been brushed with fish oil. I was hungry, and I couldn't finish half. The fries were good. Finally, the service. Spotty. The staff was either hovering in a group and overly obsequeous or nowhere to be found. Not to mention that we sat outside and the tables were crowded really close together. The price and the atmosphere means that it has pretensions of being a fine restaurant, but the staff kept doing things such as leaning over the table and food (and patrons! I pity my friend who was close to their entry path) to pour the water, leaving the used appetizer dishes to crowd out our lunch for a while after bringing the entree, bringing out some new forks and knives while leaving other used utensils... it was just weird. They were trying, and were nice, but with the sub-par sandwich and the mixed service, I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Brian T.
packed on a Friday night, but the atmosphere was really friendly. The waiter was slow, but we weren't in a rush. Funny though, everything on the menu sounded midwestern, except the oysters. My roast beef was hearty and tasty and the fries and oysters were good.
(4)
Angie Y.
Only decor fares with its name. Food is just ok. Service is really unpredictable. Still, I'm going to have lunch here with my girlfriends, when food doesn't matter but the decor does.
(3)
Hoa N.
I went here for dinner with a group of friend's friends and the experience was about average. I ordered the free-range chicken with red-wine sauce. The sauce does not have the red-wine flavor *not very obvious*. The chicken though does have a little bit of flavoring but I think it was way way way way overcook that the meat was kind of dry and not juicy anymore. It loses its original tastes. I ordered it without lardons (bacons), so the taste was little bit of off. Bacons I think will make it a little bit saltier, so the chef did not compensate for that in the dish so the noodles and everything was a little bit under season. The salad was okie. Dressing was about average. They put tons of oil in the dressing though. The soup was actually good. The bread was decent as well. I didn't have any drink but did get their desserts. And it's really yummy. I had their mini-cheese cake. The size is really small but since I am not hungry, it is perfect for tasting. I thought the kumquat will be included in the cheese cake production, but no, it's only for decoration. But the taste was very good though. And most of the people who had desserts commented on how good they were. Service was only okie. I don't think our waitress was very professional. She basically interrupted the conversation to get the unwanted wine glasses on the table. I found it quite unprofessional at a place like this. The atmosphere was really nice. They have high ceiling and lots of light inside which I really like. It's good if you have a good group of people coming. So overall, I only give this three stars because of the food, price, and service but I really like the atmosphere.
(3)
Diane J.
Just had lunch at Left Bank on St. Paddy's day. Not much revelry -- restaurant was pretty quiet. Having said that, experienced TERRIBLE service. Waited over 30 minutes for first course to arrive. Had to ask for water -- glasses never refilled. Food was ok - just ok. This is not the first time we've had a bad experience. Last time, ordered the quiche -- had to send it back THREE times because it was not done. No thank you -- don't want to eat undercooked quiche. Much better places to go for lunch - this is a "has been".
(1)
Joe L.
I have been to dinner at this place couple of times. I have only been to brunch and lunch at the Santana Row location. So I cannot compare this location with the other. My friends told me the food is better at the Menlo Park location, but the Santana Row location is more crowded. The food portion is quite big. The price is not outrageously high neither. That makes it feel more like an American restaurant than a French restaurant. The dishes we ordered were delicious. The kid's meals were a good deal too, good portion and delicious for around $5~$6. Though I like their food, I didn't give them 5 stars because service was not very good. We were confused when we discussed the menu choices among ourselves. We later found out that the waiter gave us half dinner menus and half lunch menus. The tables were so close together that the waiters couldn't squeeze in, and we had to pass the dishes for the waiter. The waiter disappeared after the dishes were put down. We had to wait a long time to get our needs attended to. I cannot tolerate bad food but I can tolerate bad service. So I will still go back as long as the dishes taste great. I can always tip less when the service is not good.
(4)
Samantha R.
It's raining. My kids are making me crazy. My sympathetic husband has taken them to the library, and I am eating at Left Bank with no other company than an issue of the New Yorker that I've been trying to read for the past 2 weeks. Bliss. I order a latte, which comes in a nice ceramic bowl. I order the Quenelle, which is creamy, rich, laden with all kinds of arteriosclerosis-producing ingredients, and makes me feel all warm and comfy inside. Yes, the restaurant is pricey, the clientele is, um, of a certain age. But damn, this is pretty decent French food for being in downtown Menlo. I feel reinvigorated and self-indulgent and who cares about those last 10 pounds . . . ------------------------------ Update: So they have a new chef and the food is now terrible! Dommage! Everything we had tasted old or too overpowering. I hope the lattes there are still good but I'm readying myself for disappointment. My new rating is ONE STAR. Left Bank, hire your old chef back!!! Please!
(1)
Rachel S.
Had a nice lunch here today w/ the ladies. A live jazz band played Sinatra for the duration of our time there (i swoon for the stand-up bass; such a classy instrument). We sat outside in breezy shade and ate a lovely starter: tart w/ heirloom tomatoes and pesto. I went on to the Nicioise salad, which was notable for its addition of avocado (nice upgrade!) but didn't find the seared ahi particularly inspired (a long stretch to presume it cooked at the time of my order). Cocktail menu was inventive. Ice tea was unique with what i'm guessing is a mango ceylon base. Service solid. I'll be back, but probably not for the tuna.
(4)
Peter G.
This place used to be great, amazing fries and great steak. The menu was changed a while ago with a new head chef , and it really wasn't an improvement. If you love French cuisine, then I would recommend Left Bank. Otherwise, it might be best to look somewhere else.
(3)
Laurel L.
I've been to Left Bank several times, but last night they really SHINED! My aunt & uncle had chosen this spot to celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary. We dropped off flowers & cake in advance as a surprise. The flowers were there on the table as we arrived, and the cake was brought out for dessert at just the right moment (only a per-person cutting fee applied, very reasonable!). The service was genuinely friendly and warm, perfect for the occasion. My cousin had called in a credit card to pay for the meal, there was a confusion about the number, and our waiter discreetly called my cellphone (which they had as I'd reserved via Open Table), so I could take care of the problem totally discreetly, without my aunt, uncle or even husband realizing there was any problem! The restaurant did everything possible to make the occasion feel special.
(4)
John J.
My wife and I had enjoyed the Menlo Park Left Bank in the past but we would probably not go back. Ever. Our past experiences led us to return but the place has gone south. The food was acceptable but the service was so indifferent, so casual, so disinterested and so amateurish that I did something I have only done two or three times in my life, having dined out worldwide for many years: I reported our waitperson to the manager. At the end of my brief comment about the waiter's ineptness, I said: "He should not be waiting on tables. He should be parking cars. But not my car, please. And it's an old Honda Civic." Need I say more?
(2)
Angie R.
My sis is currently homeless (she's moving to Colorado soon) and couch surfing with her friend Brooke in Menlo Park. This weekend, Brooke was out of town and sis was watching Brooke's dog Oliver (a.k.a. The Big Jeans) and she called me all pathetic and bored and lonely Saturday morning, so I hopped in the Yaris and drove down there to hang out with her. Not only to hang out with her, but to go jogging. For two miles. I haven't been jogging for at least a year. Let me tell you , there are muscles in my inner thighs that I forgot about. And they hurt now. After the jog, I was hungry. Really hungry. Like, large pizza with everything hungry. Sis suggested that we go to The Left Bank and get a beet salad. I probably don't have to tell you that a beet salad was not what my empty post-jogging stomach had in mind. I was prepared to argue for heartier fare, and then she said that they also had wine there, and I decided I better humor her. The beet salad turned out to be surprisingly filling and delicious. The beets were roasted to the perfect consistency, and the salad was served with a crostini that had a giant glob of creamy goat cheese crusted with toasted hazelnuts. Paired with a glass of cold rose, it was a lovely little lunch. The service left something to be desired. We waited for a long time before someone came and took our order, and things were pretty slow even though the place was only about half full. Judging from the other reviews of this place on Yelp, service is a challenge for The Left Bank.
(3)
Tony L.
I thought this restaurant was alright. The tall windows lit the dining room nicely. The service was friendly. I knock off the stars when it comes to the price. While the food is alright, I had salmon with rice pilaf--nothing remarkable--and it doesn't come cheap either. I see this place as a casual destination for with their McLaren and Bugaboo strollers to sit around and talk about important things like linens and yoga. If you fit that description, congratulations! You have arrived.
(3)
alli h.
I want to like this place. I've been over a dozen times--it ranks high on my firm's "somewhat fancy lunch spot" list. The problem is that the service is so uneven. The food is always good--you can't go wrong with their steak frites, and last time I was there, the pureed parsnips were like heaven (and a heart attack) on a plate--so creamlicious. But for some reason, it's tough to get a waiter when you need one. For instance, last dinner, my dining companion ordered French Onion Soup, and it was delivered by a bus boy, who promptly ran away. My friend waited almost five minutes before we could catch ANYONE'S ATTENTION for a spoon. I mean--serving soup with spoon--that's not asking for a lot. Still, I keep going back because the wine is fab and the prices reasonable (though more reasonable at lunch than dinner). Left Bank--if you're reading this--please hire some waitstaff that are attentive. Just a little, "How's everything?" check in now and again would be such a step up....
(3)
Paul G.
This is easy: Make a reservation and order a glass of Chote de Rhone. This is the only place that has it by the glass. The atmosphere is fantastic and food is just as good. Left bank is prolly the only chain restaurant that hasn't yet lost the feeling of owner operated places. I applaud them for that. You can order anything you like, they definetly have talented chef's and can produce high quality dishes consistently.
(5)
X E.
Service: Quelle horreur! The lowest class of paradoxically snobby yet subpar service for a mostly high class (or at least high-falutin') clientele. It is a bit of mystery how this staple Peninsula establishment manages to attract and keep the business of its frequent old school and nouveau riche diners when the service is absolutely horrendous. Each of the dozen occasions I've dined at Left Bank, I find that the hostesses and servers wear attitudes well beyond laissez-faire and into plain lazy...euh, how do you say...less of the intriguing French je ne sais quoi, and more of the irritating je ne sais quoi I'm doing. Food: The Service factor aside, you can enjoy a nice meal of moules frites here (the frites of the long, skinny variety). The charcuterie and fromages plates have been consistently tasty, as well as the hamburger, the onion soup and the trout almondine. Ambiance: Always noisy, with high ceilings and tinny acoustics, the restaurant feels more bustling bistro than intimate cafe. Some of the tables are quite close to one another, so don't plan on any private conversations here. Good for first-ish dates, casual business meetings, "lunching," and the bar. Survey Says: For a much more enjoyable experience, go to Bistro Vida down the street! (Caveat: the two are totally different in terms of atmosphere, so technically speaking, you can't conduct a fair comparison. Besides, Bistro Vida is much better.)
(3)
theresa j.
I got to have my first experience not to long ago here for a work get together! It was a great atmosphere and i would love to come back more often with others! Omg, i got the chicken sanwich! Yumm-o!!! The chickpeas, cheese and tomato skins complimented my sammie so well, i know all be back for more! Oh and the mini cream puffs are to die for!
(4)
Sara H.
Decent French food, although as a general rule French food is not my favorite. This location (compared to the Pleasant Hill location) is disappointing. The room is a box, with no dividers, and tables packed in like sardines. Dessert alone might have been worth it, however.
(4)
Sophia Y.
minus 1 star for pricey... but the food here is great! take out is great too. just have to find parking to pick it up spinach salad with pears and walnuts - how could you go wrong coq qu vin - lots of noodles, good for kids, salmon - healthy and yummy desserts - tart tartin delicious chocolate cake -
(4)
Connie C.
If you like Fromage, then you'll probably like Left Bank for brunch. They pile it on! My chicken and spinach crepe looked more like an enchilada, and my friends all had the spinach and mushroom omlette that came out in a blanket of bright orange cheese. It was tasty, but there is such a thing as too much cheese that early in the day. We didn't have to wait at all for our table, unlike those crazy people who actually wait an hour to have breakfast at Stacks. It's breakfast, for crying out loud! Service was nice and dishes were decently priced at around $10.
(3)
Judy D.
Left Bank could be a good, everyday French place. The quality of service and food, however, run hot-and-cold. When the kitchen and waitstaff are on the ball, I have a fantastic experience. When one or both break down, I wonder why I ever came.
(3)
Art L.
It is a bistro restaurant. The food is presentable and average. But, where else can you enjoy beef tartar in the bay area for reasonable price? I do find that the Santana Row's Left Bank chef do a better job at food preparation. Try their tri-tip beef sandwich for lunch or lamb shank for dinner. These are quite good.
(3)
Sandra C.
We had a lovely lunch (the lamb burger was delicious) and the service was excellant.
(5)
Rebecca S.
Good food, attentive service. One guest in our party requested special preparation and chef came out to make sure he understood what she wanted. Very nicely done. Food good, but restaurant is very noisy.
(4)
Adam G.
I've been here probably half a dozen times now. It's a great place to go for a nice casual dinner with friends or for a low-key date (although it's pretty loud, making some kinds of conversation difficult). The food has always been quite tasty, the portions nicely sized overall. The pommes frites are excellent, some of the best I've had outside of France. And their garlic mashed potatoes are also mouth watering. I've had the duck a l'orange, seared sea scallops, steak, braised lamb, coq au vin, and several of the appetizers and desserts. All have been good, admittedly not exceptional, but consistently tasty and good. The prices are reasonable for what you get (on the Palo Alto/Menlo Park scale, that is), and the wine list is pretty extensive. The tables can be kind of close together depending on where you sit. Last time I was there, two of us Canadians happened to be talking about poutine (one of the tastiest heart attacks on a plate you can find), and the woman next to us happened to be from Montreal, so we got to talking about poutine and smoked meat. Excellent. I like the ambiance there - it does subtly remind me of a real French bistro in France. This is a great stand-by place, and I'll probably keep coming back.
(4)
Helen H.
The mussels we got were barely cooked. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be... but I really don't like the fleshy seafoody taste. However, the entries here were suburb. The waitresses here were nice. The fish was nicely cooked. Cheese fondue was a blast but I guess you can't really mess that up huh. Anyway, overall, not a bad experience. It's a good place to take your parents. Conservative and safe.
(3)
Debbie H.
I had the BEST Trout Almondine here recently! Julia Child would have approved. The staff and general manager, Pat McElroy, are personable and bend over backwards to make sure you enjoy your meal. And here's extra incentive reason to dine here: on Sat., Oct. 17th, manager Pat McElroy is donating a portion of their revenue to Village Enterprise Fund. Left Bank (in Menlo Park) is part of a "Shop and Dine Out" event for World Anti-Poverty Day. So come on Oct. 17th to help our local economy while starting small businesses for the poor in East Africa through Village Enterprise Fund.
(5)
Jeff W.
A chain of French restaurants with a great concept delivers decidedly unevenly, so if you know the menu, c'est bon. Left bank is principally traditional French Brasserie food: steak frites, onion soup, salad Nicoise, etc. High points: fried calamari appetizer is very good, French onion soup is reasonable, the salad Nicoise is prepared well with very fresh ingredients including seared Ahi -- one of my favorites, the steak is very good, and the hamburger is a cheap date and just fine. The atmosphere is great as well. The wine list, however, is a sin: overpriced average wine. One of my dreams is that the moron who designed this wine list will decide to shop at K&L Wines right down the road and stop serving average crap and keep the markup reasonable. The bar is fun in spite of tiny Martinis. But there is some extremely average food on this menu so beware. Venture out with caution, and see if your waitress really does know the menu. Set your expectation very low for the wine list, and you're all set. Great place to stop by and have a drink and an appetizer. This is a chain after all.
(2)
G J J.
Leaves much to be desired.
(1)
Orie M.
As many people write, I am not sure if this restaurant really serves French food, but I like the food quality and service here. The portion is not large by any means, and although I usually don't finish all my restaurant entrees, I can finish everything from here. The atmosphere is not super casual, but not ritzy or pompous. This is a nice restaurant for a business lunch or dinner with friends. It seems they are going to be closed soon for a period of 2 months for remodeling :(.
(4)
Mary K.
3.5 stars, Yeah, I know it's a chain restaurant and yes, it caters to a rather long-in-the-tooth crowd. BUT......I have been there a couple times for lunch and enjoyed it. I ordered their fish special which was a branzino fish flown in from Greece (so they told me). Guess what - excellent! Also had a beet salad that was very good. On my last trip there they had Fanny Bay osyters and those are excellent and sometimes hard to come by. I was loving it. Don't order the Jacques Pepin sandwich, it's heavy. This place is not cheap but the service was good, the food was good and the maitre d' took a lot of care to come over and ask our opinions of the food. The restaurant is light and bright and the tables are nicely spaced. No sitting in your neighbor's lap here.
(4)
Caroline L.
Had Left Bank for brunch today for the second time in these past couple months. I always come out feeling greasy and oily inside. I had the croque monsieur w/egg today. It was pretty good, but kinda greasy. The pomme frites are not bad. I don't think I'll return for a long time. Not my idea of a great meal. Their lemonade w/lime and sprite was the best part of the meal. Their cream puff pastry was ok. The ice cream and chocolate syrup was the good party, but um, how can anyone mess up ice cream and chocolate syrup?
(3)
Lindsey S.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. It is very clean and the wait staff was very nice, but the decor is so cliche with the blown up vintage posters. Very poor beer selection for a brasserie. The $10 glass of Bordeaux I ordered was awful. Completely tasteless. It was like the bottle had been watered down. Our green salad was also very bland and the lettuce was wet, like it had been rinsed and not dried. My ravioli was okay, not great. My husband's steak was a little chewy and the fries were good. Overall, we were pretty disappointed. It looks so nice and inviting from the outside, but the food was like something from a large chain. I realize that Left Bank is part of a chain, but I just expected better.
(2)
Patrisha B.
Sadly the service and the management are a horrible combination that holds the french dining experience at a very low expectation! I was greeted politely and was hoping to give some french relatives the best service I could, sadly mistaken! While non of the staff spoke french, when I use to order directly from Brian, was not there to offer a helping hand to my out of town guest. I have been a loyal customer to Left Bank for over 5 years & will never return due to the poor service offered by Nikki the manager who repeatedly disrespected the quality of the french cuisine I miss from my childhood in France. This Menlo Park favorite of mine has now become a disaster.
(1)
Elizabeth P.
Bleech. This place is a hooty-tooty, over-priced, over-rated, high-end-chain-type of establishment. A rich man's Red Lobster. I do like their fries.
(2)
Kristin O.
I came here with a lady that I used to tutor. We were there for brunch, so she got a soup and I got fries. I thought the place looked very nice! There was tons of natural light everywhere and the seating was cramped but cozy. I'd like to dine in a place with such high ceilings all the time! The service was great and the place was clean. It's a little pricey, but I'm going to come back sometime to get an actual meal.
(4)
Impress Me N.
My husband and I went on a Friday night (with reservations). We were seated promptly, but very close to another couple. It wouldn't have been so bad except that the male half was wearing a gallon of cologne...bleh. Our waitress was TERRIBLE. She was very slow to come and take our drink order and I was badly in need of a martini. If I had known it would take her 15+ minutes to return, I would have ordered my dinner at the same time. She disappeared after the appetizer and did not turn up until we were well into our dinner. The restaurant must also have some sort of water shortage because it seemed difficult to get. I had the fondue appetizer which was ok, but salty. I also had the halibut and it was so-so...and also salty. The food was forgettable. I should have just ordered more martinis and asked for extra olives. However, the people watching factor was "interesting". Left Bank's customers are a cross between Chili's and McDonalds. There were a lot of very loud people in their twenties who were sloppily dressed and had bad manners. They were mixed with young parents who were perfectly happy to let their children run wild and use the coat hooks on the wall as a climbing gym. I swear, I'm not making that up. It was apalling. In the future, I will be avoiding this place. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was for the martini, and the amusement factor provided by other people.
(2)
Ricshocka R.
My first time at a French place. Overall I liked it but of course I went safe and just had a burger. Service was good I really liked our waiter he was nice and had a outgoing personality. Very good french fries. I would go back.
(3)
Jo Ann P.
For small town Menlo Park and nearby Palo Alto, this restaurant is right on the mark. Fresh ingredients, pate and tartare were excellent. By the time we devoured the fresh oysters and a salad we could not continue. But, we will be back for more. Needless to say, we are very happy to have found this place. One of us is a chef trained at Arzak and the rest are world travellers.
(5)
Jan C.
I love Left Bank even as I recognize the uneveness of my experiences here. Sometimes the service is awesome, sometimes it sucks. Same with the fish dishes: I had an amazing white fish special with a leek sauce one day and a barely edible piece of bass one week later. Solid favorites: the duck a l'orange, the moules frites, the chicken grand mere and the steak. I also quite like the creme brulee. When Left Bank is good, it's really good, but unfortunately, sometimes it's just... not good.
(3)
Mai A.
Food: It is a lovely French Brasserie. Lots of seasonal dishes. I say go for the mussels and pommes frites. Don't miss out on their wine collection Vibe: Loud! It's a place for the power lunch. However I don't suggest going there if you want to take someone on a date. Treat it like a french brasserie, order little snacks and enjoy with a friend or a laid back afternoon. Parking: Parking lot. However quite compact. Scoring : My yearly patronage for the Office Xmas Lunch. I love French Brasseries. However, sometimes I wish they offered more, and it was less deafening. Lasting thought/suggestion: Go for lunch or the afternoon. You'll enjoy it more, since it does tend to get a sleepy vibe at dinner. Don't miss out on the wine list. Tons of yummy, exotic wines!
(3)
TJ D.
My review is definitely limited, so don't let it weigh too much on your decision. I've only been here for drinks at the bar and haven't tasted any food. I've had good experiences at the bar, so I felt compelled to at least write something about that. The bartenders are good (friendly, attentive, competent drink-makers) and the cost to size ratio is great relative to the high cost of everything around the Bay Area.
(3)
Stephen H.
Boullabaise and Pork Belly One winter I ate here every week due to an addiction with their boullabaise that still hasn't worn off. An expensive addiction, so I quit going. I'm not a big fan of their quiche dishes, but the pork belly and lamb rack have always been above average quality. They would do well to heat their bread (a pet peeve of mine). The onion soup is scrumptious. Nice assortment of wines and full bar complete the experience. Outside best in summer, inside I like to sit where I can watch the cooks in action.
(4)
Marshall M.
Left Bank is one of my favorate restaurants. I love the burgers and the nicise salad. It's also great for Thanksgiving Dinner. Enjoy.
(5)
Matt M.
Left Bank is one of my favorite restaurants in Menlo Park. The food is always superb and the atmosphere is relaxed. The steak frites and fondu are both a must!
(5)
elaine c.
unfortunately the service was terrible and the food fair. Nice new interior. We won't be going back until they get better service!!!
(1)
Kevin F.
This restaurant has recovered nicely since my last review. The quality and service have been consistently good over a few visits. However, I agree with the reviews that note their prices have "edged up."
(4)
Lauren V.
One of the best nicoise salads I have ever consumed was at this restaurant. great service. nothing on the menu is like a specialty, but everything here is done very well. So well I don't mind that I'm in menlo park which let's face it , is about as fun as a root canal.
(4)
Jeremy P.
Any place that you call up at 9.30 and say you are bringing 10 people for dinner ... and they close at 10.00 ... and they seat you and get you a pretty darn good meal is an okay place with me. The atmosphere isn't too bad, if a little too large and spartan feeling. Giselle, the hostess, was charming and did a great job. The food was pretty good, the steak and pomme frittes I had was tasty. While the price was a little pricey, look at the neighborhood. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinners, though.
(3)
Jim T.
I am not a French food eater, but have had lunch with a colleague here several times. He loves it and they recently remodeled the interior.
(3)
Gabriel D.
yeah, three stars is about right. a whole lot of ordinaire here. - Moules Frites were generally boring - Croque-Madame was fine I wasn't even expecting the place to get me excited...and it didn't...
(3)
Sumit S.
I remember this restaurant being better and better value in the past. I went a few weeks ago and while the food was ok, it was not particularly French nor very flavorful. Many of us had the lamb shank which was very tender but its sauce lacked depth. The vegetables on the side also needed more flavor. We did have a tasty Oregon pinot noir to go with the meal. My dessert (clafoutis) was too creamy and had too much pastry to be what it claimed to be.
(2)
Mimi K.
The food was just ok. I do not think I could ever become a regular here, though I love French food.
We ate here tonight and it was awful. I ordered the rotisserie chicken and it arrived undercooked. The mashed potatoes were cold and tasted like they came from a box. And the service was terrible. We waited forever to get our water glasses refilled. On the plus side, the bread was good, and the green salad was good and the manager did not charge me for my meal. Nonetheless. I would not come here again.
(1)
Parvin P.
I was incredibly disappointed by Left Bank. We went here for a family dinner and ordered a lot of food. Not one person in our party ended up with anything worth mentioning. My risotto was practically unedible (it was hard and looked like it was out of box with frozen peas & carrots), my husband's salmon was average, the lentils were smothered in cream sauce which had zero flavor. My brother-in-laws hamburger was burnt. All the portions were very small and everything was way overpriced. I would hardly call this place a "french" restaurant. Huge letdown.
(2)
Ty K.
Yeah, this place just isn't good, and its expensive = bad combo. The drinks sound interesting in the descriptions but they are decidedly boring and over priced! There are a lot of better places to spend your money on a nice dinner.
(1)
Katie F.
Great food. Amazing place to try something new or have the best gourmet burger of your life. Good date place, because it's usually busy so you feel like you're "in the know." Great lunch place. You can sit outside and watch the scintillating Menlo Park pedestrians walk by. Great for large groups. If you want a really private dinner, they can serve you in a private upstairs room that makes you feel like you're a movie star.
(4)
AZAM A.
Good French Brasserie very pleasent and delighful food comfortable atmosphere sip and drink wine Moules with some great bread
(4)
Ashley O.
After a great experience at Left Bank with a friend couple years ago, I decided to try it out with my family. Unfortunately the experience wasn't up to par. I was very disappointed with the food this time around. Other than fondue, most of the other food was a disappointment. Salmon was not appealing to my palate and the steak was more like well done when we requested medium. Initially before tasting the food, we thought the prices were really good for the atmosphere and the food. Unfortunately, the quality/taste didn't match the price. I was very disappointed with three out of the four entrees we ordered. The only one that was decent was the lamb. This experience has left my family members disappointed in French food overall, which is a shame.
(1)
John C.
I have dined at all three Left Banks now after last night (April 18th, 2010). All satified. Had the Salade Verte (excellent), Canard de l'orange (beautiful vegitable and fruit under duck breast, and the creme brule. All in all a great meal and excellent service.
(4)
Valyn S.
For the price, this place is a rip-off. A friend recommended this restaurant to me...unfortunately. I DID like the dressing on the spinach salad (only thing I ordered because if the spinach salad is $12 everything else is insanely over-priced!) but here's the deal: there were about 15 leaves of spinach if even, a few paper-thin slices of some kind of fruit, 3 or 4 blue cheese crumbles, and 1 or 2 nuts. Seriously? I felt like I hadn't eaten anything. If you're going to charge me $12 for leaves, there had better be a LOT of them! I don't mind paying for good food, but I could have made that salad for probably $2. The service was VERY slow -- really? It takes THAT long to slap some spinach together? Wow. Wouldn't recommend unless you're filthy rich and have money (and time) to burn. The ambiance was nice though, but that's about all the place had going for it. All the dishes I saw looked VERY petite, and you can bet they were over-priced.
(1)
and y.
well, if this place has improved, i am glad i have not experienced it before. i have had some of the most awkward, surreal service experiences at left bank. a waiter putting on some truly odd accent -- who, when asked about his french-y inflection by an older lady, explained that it only came on at work, but it was a consequence of some months in south africa. another who put a dish on a spare chair - because they messed up and brought everything out at once. another who answered a question as to whether a dish was good with "it's a top seller". three of us managed to blow $180 for lunch one time and come away dissatisfied. a special of calamari stuffed with ham was the most inedible thing i have tried in a while, with the calamari mysteriously managing to be chewy and hard at the same time. a rillette seemed to come straight out of a supermarket box. a risotto was an offense to generations of rice pickers who did not break their back so that such a flavorless concoction could be served. it feels kinda sad, really, like a vision born of a business plan that went horribly awry in the execution. the space is great. let's hope someone buys them out soon.
(1)
Jonathan S.
Mussels and frites, salad nicoise were both awesome.
(4)
Samantha R.
I have always been a fan of Left Banks from the Marin location, as well as, their Menlo Park location which is a frequent dinner place since my work is located in Menlo Park. The food is always on point and delicious. I am especially a fan of the salad nicoise and the fromage plate- tres bonne! The only things that can be slightly hit or miss is the service. Some nights it is excellent and the wait staff is beyond attentive and kind. Other nights it isn't good and it can take them 15-20 minutes to come by to even take a drink order.
(4)
Kim C.
The fries were tasty, but it pretty much stops there. We tried it for dinner on a Friday night and we left wishing we had picked somewhere else. My ribeye was a bit tough and tasteless. I added $3 for their bourdelaise sauce which was far from worth it and now that I'm thinking about it, $3 for a sauce addition is A LOT! Overall, the food isnt great and DEFINITELY not worth the prices.
(2)
Jeff F.
We've been there several times in recent months and it is very consistent. Food: always excellent. Service: always appalling. So bad and confused as to be laughable. You could run a book on who's going to come up to you next and ask you if anybody is taking care of you. The waiters and waitresses have their hearts in the right place but nobody seems to know who is responsible for what. Like China in the Cultural Revolution. Weird thing is many other reviewers on this page have also noticed this, and yet there's no sign management is aware. I see they have a new CEO. Maybe he hasn't made it to the Menlo branch yet. One other comment: some of the hostesses look like they tumbled out of bed or rushed in from the beach to come to work. Why do such a nice remodel on the restaurant and spoil it by having the hostesses greet you like you are at a Santa Cruz hippie beach party? On top of that (personal peeve) they say "bonjour" in that slack-jawed Californian way that only an unshaven French lothario would like. Utterly cringe-tastic. Any chef who can make steak-frites like that could teach them to say "bonjour" correctly. If it was me I'd make them practice in front of a mirror.
(3)
Jane D.
The atmosphere is okay here. I'll give you that. I went here for lunch and came out still hungry. The prices are okay, northing to write home to anyone about. I ordered the salade Nicoise. Only because it was cool to say and it made me feel posh saying it. It contained ahi tuna seared lightly on a couple of leaves of lettuce. Perhaps, I should have ordered the burger instead. Our waiter, goofed up the bill and charged us for an extra table. So we got the bill for our table and the ladies next too us. It was $90 for three people. That didn't seem right. So we sent the bill back and the guy scratched his head and spent about 10 minutes recalculating it. Our bill was about 40 after the recalculation. I guess thats decent....I don't think I'll frequent this place as often. I just didn't leave with the desire to come back right a way.
(3)
Rob C.
loud. chain french, so keep a "chain" mindset. decent canard aux cerises and salad lyonnaise. also have a private room upstairs. had a salade verte, saumon au beurre d'agrume with blood orange beurre blanc (for color), butternut squash puree was very sweet. poulet roti was ok. desserts were executed well: chocolate fondant and creme brulee.
(3)
Madalina C.
We went here for dinner in January this year. I didn't like it that much. The food was not that great, it was just ok. I do not think I could ever become a regular here...but I could eat here from time to time...The restaurant looks good and the way you're treated there, it feels like you're in an upscale place...The service is really good...But the food wasn't great.
(3)
Christine P.
Left Bank is fairly standard. You can count on a decent ambiance, service, and French food selection. My favorite is the Salad Verte made out of butter lettuce, but as a vegetarian, the options are fairly limited here. I also had the soup of the day-corn chowder. This place is a safe bet for a business meeting, but otherwise it's feels very plain vanilla since all of the Left Banks look and feel the same. I wish they could add more vegetarian entrees that are lighter, and not just pasta.
(3)
vafer t.
no more. I use to really like LB in santana row. NO more. the food has declined and the service is unacceptable. not sure what changed but someone's not doing their job. With so many choices, why put up with their $%#. We haven't gone back in 6 months. Was it just us? Had this same conversation with 2 other friends and they felt the same way. Too bad. :( the LB in menlo park is still great.
(1)
B J.
there's really not much good to say here. 3 friends and i went on a sunday night. the waiter took forever to take our drink orders, then forever again to take our dinner orders. people on adjacent tables who arrived after us were ordering at eating before us. the waiter was inattentive throughout the meal. a few desserts were ordered, and he completely forgot my cheese plate until i reminded him when he brought the check. of course i had him remove it, but he didn't even apologize. needless to say, i won't be going back. maybe it's better on friday/saturday, i'm sure sunday isn't exactly the 'A' team working.
(1)
Melody D.
I've been to Left Bank six times over the course of three years or so and I've always had great service and great food (with one startlingly bad exception! hence one less star). For the aperitif I would recommend their French Onion Soup, the Fondue Savoyard, and the Steak Tartar, and for the entree, the Coq au Vin or Raviolis au Chevre. I have it on good word that "ze" hamburger is also pretty decent, if you've dragged along a pesky kid who will only eat American. It is a little pricey, but it's Parisian bistro ambiance and choice selections more than justify the price.
(3)
marianne j.
We have eaten at Left bank more times than I can count over the past 5 years. We went there over the weekend to check out their new remodel...the last time we'd eaten there was over a year ago and we were both disappointed with the service and the food. I have to say that I think they are back on track to the old Left Bank I know and love. The new restaurant looks great, the service was terrific and our food was terrific. We were happy to see many of the same faces working there--definitely give this place a try.
(4)
L G.
We went for lunch and are not going back. My friend and I both had the Seafood Risotto. Not much seafood, and the risotto was swimming in butter. The butter sat in my stomach all day and nauseated me. My husband had the chicken sandwich, which was very oily. He got sick afterward. Waiter was friendly and welcoming, but MIA after he took our order. Had to run him down to give me the dessert menu. The fruit tart was just OK.
(1)
Bridget L.
I'm always disappointed with dinner here. Granted, it is one of the few places open late, but the food is sort of ovepriced and salty, the service feels kind of snobby at times, and the atmosphere is a little cold (both literally and figuratively).
(2)
a r.
Have eaten at the left bank since the late 90s... I remember January 2003, when I ate there 22 times in one month, so you know I liked the place a lot. But the last couple of years things have gone downhill, in my experience. Oddly, the food recently is better than it has been in a while, but they have taken the absurd and insulting idea into their heads that "Let's French" is somehow a cute catch-phrase or slogan (why do they need a slogan at all?). And the menus that offer "Ze Lunch" or "Ze Dinner" and the servers trying to fake up French accents are just insulting. (Sorry, I come from a family of some French background, grew up with the language, etc..) So... enough. Good food or no, it's off my list, once and for all. All the more painful because it was a favorite of mine once, but can't be helped.
(2)
Helen W.
this is my favorite left bank. i want to give this place 3.5 stars just for the pomme frites and the great big bowls of mussels. but i dont want to because this place has asshole waiters. they used to have a great brunch menu with a big bowl of tomato sausage stew type thing with fried eggs. im not too big a fan oftheir sandwiches, but dinner is really good. good duck. i love duck. anyways, i used to go here once a month and stare the waiters down. [edit] the waiters are much nicer now.
(3)
Lauren W.
Service is great, the food is nice, and the wine list is good. This is a great spot for a nice business lunch, or a happy hour after work (the cocktails are good, too).
(4)
Sally T.
The service here is not great. We had to prompt our waiter to list the specials, clear our table, bring our check, etc. Everything service-wise was a bit too slow. My friend and I both had the special of the night, flank steak, sauteed greens, and mashed potatoes, all of which was quite good. Decent wine and apperitif selection and nice atmosphere so good for meeting someone for drinks. I have little patience for bad service though.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Adrian A.
I see a lot of bad reviews. Personally I loved the Menlo Park location. The food was incredible as well as the service. Our waitress was extremely kind and knowledgeable of the menu. The staff was also very kind. I wish I could remember our waitresses name, definitely would recommend her. My girlfriend and I spent about a hundred and eighty on our dinner here, and it was well worth it.
(5)David S.
Horrible Service. We arrive and ask at the host(ess) stand about sitting in the bar. We are told to sit wherever we find a table. We find a table. Someone else comes up and tells us that it's reserved seating in the bar and we have to leave. We explain that we were told we could sit wherever we want. We were told that that was incorrect and we needed to leave. No apology, no "I'm sorry". just rude.
(1)Laurelle H.
Classical French cooking isn't actually something I can find in the Bay Area too easily. I aim to try a different entrée whenever I'm here, and I've never had a bad experience. The sweet pea ravioli is seasonal, so it's not always on the menu, but when it is I highly recommend ordering it. The fondue is always a huge temptation, but it's also rather heavy so I don't always order it. We don't go very often, but it's always an amazing meal when we do. The service is friendly and informative and have good wine pairing suggestions.
(5)Karl C.
Arranged to have late lunch/early dinner with two others. In a word, great! Very good house wine selection with fondue for starters. Fantastic butter lettuce and decent salmon for dinner. Great atmosphere topped off with profiteroles and Porto. Worth a return trip!
(4)Jenna S.
I love this restaurant:the food, drinks, ambiance, and service are wonderful. They have an upstairs that you can book for parties. We had an event here-it was great but they only gave us 1 server for 20 people so we had to do a lot of the work and it might have been where the kitchen is but it was way too hot up there. We were all sweating! other than that i love this place and location!
(4)John L.
As occasional visitors to the Bay Area, one of the things we look forward to is dining at Left Bank. The food is always well-prepared and well presented, the wait staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the prices are very reasonable. This time, we followed dinner on Saturday with brunch on Sunday, and were just as pleased with the brunch offerings and service as we've come to expect in the evening.
(5)Kirsten H.
Great food, awesome service. I will be a return customer.
(5)Lola Z.
Terribly dissapointed with food and service. The "american breakfast" of eggs, sausage (gamey and gross) and potatoes (mushy and falling apart) was tasteless. Friend asked for eggs over easy and they came sunny side up. Chicken sandwich was on bread that was way too greasy and the chicken was overcooked and tough. Fries were good tho. Friend had an infant and parked the stroller discretely next to the table. One of the waiters obviously did not like the stroller there and had a little tussle with it and gave it a good kick. Had to ask multiple times for water or anything else, and basically, the waiter never did the requisite driveby to ask if everything was ok.
(1)M K.
Left Bank has been at this MP location for years. The menu is good but doesn't change much. Food is well prepared, portions are small, menu is good but not particularly innovative, and prices are relatively high. Servers are generally excellent; bar is fun, particularly for happy hour when they have some nice appetizers (at reasonable price). They are also open all afternoon, and later in the evening than most restaurants in the area.
(3)Arnav M.
Shitty service - 40 minutes to bring brunch, no explanation at all for the delay, rude servers, and weaker than piss coffee. The food was decent, but the service killed it
(2)Al P.
Ok, I know Left Bank is not 'Great'. However, on a warm sunny evening in Menlo Park, a happy hour white burgundy and a calamari and tuna tartare work fabulously. My wife and I enjoyed our evening immensely. So..not bad at all!
(4)Mark B.
A bit slow and unfriendly on the service. Good lunch place, but not so much for dinner
(3)Irena W.
Excellent presentation and taste awesome. Thank you.
(5)Gary K.
While a pleasant space (or so it seemed when walking in), I've rarely been to a restaurant with such inept and uncomfortable service. The waiter spilled water all over my friend (and me), was out of synch in trying to take away food while I was still eating, and forgot to provide a spoon for the soup I ordered. . Several times in the evening things were dropped around us, with the attending noise and chaos. Wait staff was either brand new, not trained, or just not very good at what they were supposed to be doing. Not a very relaxing way to enjoy a meal and the company of a dining companion. The food was adequate, but nothing to write home about. Very disappointing :(
(1)Mitch T.
We usually just come here and have the pate/mousse with some beer or wine and just sit near the bar. I love the interior decor, makes you feel like you're actually in Paris, haha. The service has never disappointed everytime we go. I'd love to come here in the evening though and try out what the rest of the menu has to offer. I love Santa Cruz Avenue and all it has to offer.
(4)Olga A.
Having been to restaurants in Paris, and multiple (alleged) French restaurants in the Silicon Valley, I can safely say that this was the worst French cusine I've ever had. The French prize themselves on their sauces, but oh man, Left Bank's sauces were horrible. I ordered the Canard L'Orange and it was tough, bland, and not cooked through all the way - which is the only reason I was willing to believe it hadn't been just defrosted. My dad ordered some kind of beef stew, and they managed to make the meat dry (in a STEW?!). That deserves some type of super-special-awesome award. All in all, my "French 45" (gin) cocktail wasn't as bad as everything else, and my spinich salad was edible. The 'onion soup' should be re-named the 'cheese soup'. All in all? Go next door, there's a cute bistro with a hand-written menu. :)
(1)Bryce A.
3.5 stars but i'm rounding up to 4. Despite the other reviews i had a pretty good experience. The service was slightly slower than i would have liked, but the place was packed, so they actually did a pretty good job. For an appetizer we ordered the calamari, fresh tasting and not tough. It came with a spicy garlic aioli which was a bit heavy, but went well. For dinner I ordered the seared sea bream with sautéed brocollini and cauliflower. The fish was perfectly seared so that it was moist yet had a crispy, golden skin. The vegetables were flavorful and crunchy. My only complaint was that it came with this rather strange roasted tomato ginger puree. I don't think it worked with the rest of the dish, but there wasn't much and it was easy to avoid. The other members of my party ordered the steak frites and the whole sea bass which they were both happy with. I hear that this restaurant is often hit or miss, but it was definitely a good night. I'd say it's worth trying out!
(4)H Y.
My order SALADE NIÇOISE was nice and fresh, the drinks are not good. Herbes De Provence was too sweet and the decoration was awful. Moderate French style decoration provided good ambiance for girls' dining. Need to improve delicacy of the food.
(3)Ken B.
The American burger was excellent. substituted the salad for the fries which worked for me. Like the decor. . Would have been nice if they had some live music, hot club of Paris Django Reinhardt type music. The men's toilets needs work I won't go into details.
(3)Perla N.
We come here often for brunch or drinks. It's got a great atmosphere - it's classy, relaxed and airy. The salmon is crispy and tasty. The trout is delicate and moist. Oysters, fries, and sautéed spinach is great. Great drinks, friendly waiters and bartender. Friendly for kids too and a great kids menu.
(4)Nadia H.
Happy hour was good here. I had the burger and the house red wine, and both were quite acceptable. Also dig the ambiance for happy hour - it's cozy, intimate and a little bit refined, which is nice for a friend-date, or a casual date-date.
(4)brian b.
i live eating here at the bar. the food is ok, the drinks are worthy. while you wouldn't go out of your way, and i find the table service a bit slow and stuffy, the outdoors is also nice.
(4)koko d.
Really bad cooking. Tasteless overcooked everything. Tonight we gave it last try, will not go again: Somehow onion soup had strange vinegar flavor; fried trout was really dry and oily, also the dish had 3 huge pieces of probably fennel that looked and tasted like a boiled onion. Besides the place is not quite clean - old spider web and dust here and there.
(1)Margery M.
Hot food needs to be hot. Enough said.
(3)Brooks N.
The food was very good. Just as I remembered from my last visit. The wait staff was attentive and responsive to the best of their abilities but seemed overworked. It turned out that this was an "special" night with a unique ethnic menu. I highly recommend you avoid at all costs any of these "special" nights. When we arrived we were told our opentable reservation didn't exist. We showed the hostess our confirmation and she told us that she would seat us at the first opening but that it would be at least 20 minutes. Fortunately I texted my son who was our guest to alert him to the delay and he replied that he was already seated. Apparently the hostess couldn't remember our names for 5 minutes.. and that she had seated him only minutes before we arrived. Ok, call me picky, but it seems to me that steak frites and oysters should not take 2 1/2 hours, but yup, that's how long we sat waiting for all of the few things we had ordered. I asked to speak to the manager and informed her of the reservation issue. She blamed it on the computer. Hmmm, in my experience, the machine is only as good or bad as the operator. Left Bank Menlo Park is in dire need of a management shakeup.... The wait staff and cooks are great but the manager and maitress 'd need to be changed.
(3)Miss G.
Ate brunch outside. Great service and very good food. My only complaint was that my French toast was brought to me cold.
(4)Valerie D.
The only reason that I would not give this place 5 stars is because most of the employees seem snooty and annoyed that I was even there. The hostess did not smile at all and just wanted me gone quickly. The bartender on the other hand, was amazing! Cesar was polite and quick! The best I've ever seen! I had the Rue Cler and the Siene River Cosmo for happy hour (from 3-5 and 9-close). They were both sooo good but the Rue Cler is the best! It has peach, vodka, apple, lime and basil!! Delicious! I may return soon. Probably only to the bar to see Cesar again. : )
(4)Holly L.
It was perfect! We had escargot, and split the frisee salad and the burger and crème brulée for dessert.
(5)Audrey C.
I've gone to Left Bank on several occasions for lunch and dinners, and even for a baby shower brunch. I was never that impressed. It was just ok, but nothing stood out. I ended up there this weekended, for brunch, at the request of one of the women in the group. Since they were serving brunch, I opt'd to go for that menu, than their regular lunch menu. So I ordered GÂTEAU DE CRABE, a crabcake dish, that was very good and filling. Well, actually, it was hearty, but I wasn't stuffed. Four of us went to lunch, 2 of us ordered the same thing, and after we ordered, it took AT LEAST 30 minutes to get served our entrees. It's like they had to go out to the Bay to catch the crabs, before they could make our crabcakes. It was beyond ridiculous! I mean, we had a great time chatting and catching up with one another, but seriously?!?! It should not take that long to be served a meal, especially when the restaurant wasn't completely full. The only thing I did like was that on the dessert menu, there were petit portions, where you could get just one eclair or one profiterole. But is that worth going out of my way, to go back to Left Bank? I don't think so...
(3)Steven T.
Left Bank either delivers or fails. The past few times they have failed miserably. As a restaurant, Left Bank has a good amount of space and is decorated cleanly. Outside of that, there isn't anything good to say. Food wise it was never that good. Simple dishes like streak strips are easy to do but anything trying to be French isn't and is not really close. Any real French restaurant will taste better. I have never had anything here that impressed me in any way. Bread recently has always been stale and cold. Not sure how hard it is to keep bread warm but for them it must be a hard task. Serving size, dishes seem to get smaller and smaller each time I go. Service wise this place is usually a joke. Out of maybe 15-20 times here, I can only think of maybe one or two times where service was ok. Last trip consisted of our server disappearing for 10-20 minutes at a time and never remembering anything we asked for until we asked a second or third time. (We ate ab about 8pm so not busy at all). Also I was sitting next to the bigger group and the busboys and another waittress constantly bumped into me. The first few times they said sorry but it starting happening every minute or two. After a few minutes of enough bumping and disturbances in my meal, I stood up the next time I was bumped, moved my car over loudly and sat back down. This made little difference as I continued to get bumped while eating. Again, staff couldn't make basic steps to prevent mistakes. In short, mediocre food and terrible service, not a place to go.
(1)Felice S.
I really liked this place!! It was really good!!!! Steak frites were incredible w the bordelaise sauce was mind blowing! A little taste of France
(4)Kathy D.
Sunday night at 7:00pm and they have already run out of the trout, rockfish, lamb, etc. Service was very slow. Coq au vin was overcooked and waiter who plated it at table slopped it all over the rim of the bowl. However, pates and salads were delicious, and wine list is excellent.
(2)Elizabeth S.
The ambiance here is awesome for an intimate, chill dinner. The lighting is comfortable - dim over the bar and some accents over seated tables. The black furniture of the restaurant stood out well with the plethora of Art Noveau/Art Deco artwork throughout. It was a classic yet modern feel. The food is so yummy here. The heirloom beet salad was so pretty and tasty with some fresh arugula and some s Cypress Grove Bermuda Triangle cheese. The butter lettuce salad with fine herbs, shallots, Dijon mustard and champagne vinaigrette was also quite refreshing! The escargot and sauteed mushrooms are addicting yet satisfying. They are not drowning in butter either. I'm not a big dessert person, but I could not pass up the carmelized apple. It's on the lighter side with some cream and mint leaves to compliment the apples. It's a gratifying treat which won't weigh you down. The only gripe I have here (which is pretty standard with many restaurants) is the specialty drinks. I wanted to try the New Style, Old Fashioned. It sounded pretty good until I saw the small "baseball sized" sphere of ice placed in the glass which took up the majority of room the glass. It was not worth it at $9.75 with 4-5 small sips in a straw. You taste more melted ice than cocktail. People were friendly here and the service was good at the bar. I'd just stay away from those fancy cocktails - unless you don't mind some cocktail with your massive ball of ice.
(4)Ursula M.
What a TREAT! We were in the South Bay and wanted to meet some friends for dinner. They suggested The Left Bank. First of all, the ambiance is lovely. It is a large restaurant, but they have divided it to look smaller and more intimate. The decor is very attractive. Then, the staff is very friendly and helpful. And finally, the food is delicious! Our table had two risottos, which were polished off with much lip-smacking, the appetizer steamed mussels which came with delicious looking French fries in a stand-up container, and the lamb burger, which was beautifully prepared and came with a quinoa arugula salad. The bar was quick and efficient, and the guests at the bar occupied all the seats. Were we to return to the South Bay, The Left Bank would certainly be an option.
(4)Peter C.
Decent and consistent.
(3)Pedro Juan G.
Food is always consistent and the menu is refreshed in a timely manner. I wish they would consider bringing back the Viognier wine which I love. Definitely a good place to bring friends and family.
(3)Elizabeth R.
Great food and wine I would give that five stars - but we were really disappointed with the service. We had to ask for items multiple times, constantly reminding our waiter of what we wanted, when we could find him that is. He seemed distracted and somewhat unprofessional - he didn't really have interpersonal skills. It felt like other servers avoided eye contact - nobody wanted to be flagged down to fix a problem. We ordered wine when we sat down and it didn't come until after appetizers and salads. Who needs an entire carafe of wine with their entree? When the manager finally asked how things were I mentioned that we had to ask for things multiple times and that we would like our dessert menus. He offered us coffee which we thought was a complimentary gesture to apologize for poor service. Of course it showed up on our bill. We paid and I found the manager while my husband found the car and explained our disappointment. He offered to pay for the coffee and other things which was a little insulting at that point - money wasn't the issue, we just wanted a nice date night out. Pretty disappointed at such poor service from a nice restaurant.
(1)Jennifer C.
I'm updating my older review. We have been back several times and really enjoyed the restaurant. Very pleasant ambiance, reliably good french bistro food. Definitely will stay in the rotatation.
(4)Shayda A.
I've been coming here since I was very young. While the other locations have been a hit or miss for me, I've only ordered something I disliked here once out of the countless times I've been here. The food here is often delicately prepared and the sauces aren't overwhelming. The cherry clafoutis and beet salad are worth trying when they're on the menu. The waitstaff is usually very friendly and has a great knowledge of the menu. My last waitress suggested I order the Dorade (sea bream) dish which was absolutely exquisite and delicious.
(4)Eugene D.
We went to Left Bank last night (Friday 8/15/2014) to celebrate our children's major milestones: Continuing and Embarking on Their Higher Educations. It was a joyous, proud, and special event for our children, for us as parents, and for our relatives. We chose Left Bank because we had had good experience with the Menlo Park location. Unfortunately, our waitress, Karina, turned the evening completely upside down. To start with, she brought us a wrong appetizer. When my wife pointed it out to her, Karina checked the order, came back later to admit her fault, and snatched away the dish from the table. During the entire dinner (~ 1.5 hours) Karina only came ONCE, "voluntarily", to check on us. Other times, we had to flag her down or ask others to replenish water and bread for our table. Karina appeared to be very selective as whom she would offer the dessert menu because she did not bother to ask us. Instead, Karina just gave us the bill as she and others took the dishes away. Karina saved the WORST for last. She dropped the credit card receipt on the floor and came to my cousin RUDELY demanded him to give her the signed receipt. My cousin who is a gentleman politely looked through his wallet and could not find HER receipt. Karina still insisted that my cousin had hers!!! He then looked around and help Karina retrieve it from the ground. Karina picked it up, walked away and not even had the courtesy to apologize. We sure hope no one would have the same kind of experience as we did. We may come back to Left Bank in Menlo Park BUT we will walk out right away if Karina is assigned to be our server.
(1)Liz M.
Came here for Saturday brunch with some friends. Off the bat, bread and butter - pretty darn good bread and butter. The service was a bit slow. It took a good 10 minutes before the waitress came to ask what we wanted to drink. By that time we were ready to order anyways. We got the Steak Tartare, Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon Tart, and the Duck Confit. For drinks, it was Bloody Marys and a Mimosa. First off, the Bloody Mary - weak. tasty. but weak. Steak Tartare I was rather disappointed in. Tasted like they took the skin off of a hot dog, mashed it up, mixed in some relish and called it a day. My friends liked it, so maybe I was just having a picky day. We all shared a bit of what we had, so I got a taste of everything. The Crab Cake was good. Not great, but good. The Duck Confit was good and because that can be messed up horribly, good is a really good thing. The Salmon Tart, killer. I really love smoked salmon to begin with, but the tart shell was crisp and buttery and yum yum yum. I wish they had put capers or lemon on though. I would've liked a little zing with it. Overall, no wow, but good. Probably will pass on the booze next time and sip a nice glass of wine (seems like they have a primo selection for that).
(3)Kevin H.
It's interesting to consider what a themed-cuisine restaurant gets right and what it gets wrong. For the Leftbank they've mastered the French service style and generous use of butter in their dishes but I can't say much more. A note: English was pretty much everyone's second language here and the words "you're welcome" was lacking from the vacabulary of our waiter. The cuisine had more butter than most folks will like and less taste; it's one of those rare times where I wanted more salt. If only they had salt shakers on their outdoor tables or only if our occasional waiter came back more often to offer such a condiment... Overall, nice ambiance being outside. Food and service are lacking.
(3)Azizi M.
First time I came I thought the place was just ok. Came back and my opinion of them changed. Both times I came, I came for lunch. Many people seem to come here for business lunches, which works out great for me as well. I read in one of the reviews that the wait staff seems to be snotty, I agreed I got the same impression. The only advice I have for them is to smile more :-) lol I love the oysters here! They are very fresh and tasty, this is why I changed my opinion of them :-) I also had the nicoise salad which was pretty good. It reminded me of a salad I had in St Tropez- very authentic. It came with two anchovies on top, which I don't like so I just set them aside. It had green beans, butter lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, and few pieces of potatoes I believe. This is a cute classy place with reasonable prices.
(4)R S.
The service here is non-existent. Our party was seated for over an hour and half before lunch was served. Part of the meal was missing, requests for water were ignored & most of what did arrive (finally) was cold. Complaints to the manager went unheeded though she did mention they had problems in the bar area. We were there for lunch but unfortunately our server was "out to lunch" also. Never again.
(1)Victor M.
Really enjoyed the entire dining experience, from the hostess, wait staff, ambience and of course the dinner as well. Try the excellent, Steak Tartare and Calamari Appetizers. Great to start with and almost a meal in itself. Was too full after that and had to take most of the Butter Nut Squash Ravioli entree home which was also quite good. All in all this was a most enjoyable dining experience and will make it a regular stop when going out to dine. Cheers. Victor
(5)Matt V.
One fun thing about Left Bank is how they have special events that temporarily add new menu items to their French fare! This review update covers one such event, the week long "La Fête du Cochon" (literally translated: The Festival of the Pig!) Left Bank's La Fête du Cochon is an homage to the festival of the same name held in August in the Southwestern French town of Trie-sur-Baïse. Whereas the French festival honors the pig in all forms, Left Bank merely offers some wonderful pork dishes for you to sample! There are four new additions to the menu, two of which are appetizers and the other two are entrees. I opted to try one of the appetizers, the Tarte Flambée à la Confiture de Figues (flambéed tarte in fig jam). The tarte itself was excellent, with the perfect blend of slight sweetness and saltiness. In shape, the tarte was circular and sliced like a pizza or a pie. It was topped with pulled pork, bacon, fig jam, roasted almonds, micro arugula, and shavings of an Ossau Iraty (a sheep cheese from the Basque region of France). It had an excellent, crisp, mild flavor to it. The sweetness of the jam paired well with the saltiness of the bacon. The flambéed tarte was crispy and thin, like a flat bread, and the almonds also added a nice crispiness to the toppings as well. Overall, it was very good, such as you can expect from Left Bank's special promotions. It was a wonderful homage to the French Fête du Cochon! Kudos to Left Bank!
(5)Shannah S.
The service here was excellent. The food was good, but didn't knock my socks off. For the price, I was hoping the food to be amazeballs. I had the Salad NiCoise..it was the most unusual, eclectic salad I have ever eaten. There were so many things in there I was surprised in every bite: rare ahi tuna, haricots verts, avocado, fingerling potatoes, hard boiled egg, anchovies, yellow bell peppers, capers, and more (much more). I think the novelty of the salad fared a little better for me than the taste. My date had a burger and said it was good, but for $14, he could get a cheaper burger that was just as good anywhere. I would be willing to try it again to see if another food selection would be better...we will just have to see.
(3)Jack T.
I want to like this place so much, but it is always a let down, unless I order the steak tartar. I had the butter lettuce salad, and it was pretty boring, no flavor of the herbs, or the red onions, only sour from the overly tart vinaigrette. The cheese fondue was okay, but the bread was not super fresh or toasted so it was kinda of a let down as well. The calamari was the worst I have ever had hand down. The batter was falling off and the calamari was under-cooked in parts, and over cooked in others. It was terrible, although the aioli sauce it came with was very tasty. The creme brulee was fine, nothing crazy good, but a good standard creme brulee. The service was spotty although the bartender was very friendly, it took a long time to get their attention. This place is expensive and beautiful but 90% of their menu just flat out sucks. I love french food, and this place ain't cutting the mustard.
(2)Tom H.
Good Food; Awful Service. Waited five minutes for someone to pour some water. Waited another five to get some bread. Waited another five for waitress to take our drink order. Went downhill from there. Asked for a "flinty white wine" recommendation. Waitress said she would ask the bartender. Came back with suggestion for a flinty RED wine. Had to ask for more bread. Had to ask for more water. Dumb as a fencepost. Everyone is busy. Busy busy -- too busy to take care care of their diners. Recommendation: Skip it.
(1)Emily J.
- Service slow (water drinks took a long time) - Out of 2 of the 3 entrees we wanted to order - Bread was stale - Main course came before the appetizer. The waiter sent it back to the kitchen. No surprise that my dinner was room temp by the time we were d
(2)Judy L.
Delicious! The Alaska True Cod is amazing! Cooked perfectly on a bed of spinach. The scallops are great too, though it does not measure up to the cod. Also on a bed of greens. The mussels with fries were amazing! I though it was unusual to have the two together, but apparently that's quite normal in France. What a great idea! The nice crispy fries dipped in the sauce with the mussels are savory and flavorful. One thing that could have been better: the perfiteroles. They were GIGANTIC and came in threes. If they could shrink those things into 1/5 of the current size it'd be great.
(4)0 0.
Have been here a few times for drinks and dinner. good to go for a stroll through town also. service is good, friendly Food was great. I have had fish there twice before and one time was great and second not so but worth a visit anyway
(3)Iron E.
We have been going there almost every other week for the past six months. But tonight, it was our last. Service was extremely slow. Our food wasn't prepared well (my son who used to love their mac n cheese, cried after his first bite). I've asked to speak to the manager when I was ordering the food. But it was only when I was paying the bill and after I told the server AGAIN that I needed to speak to the manager, that he finally came to our table. All he gave us was an apology but very quickly, he turned his back towards us and seemed to be more interested in hearing other customers, who was also complaining about the service tonight. So regrettably we walked out of the restaurant. Very bad service and food tonight.
(1)Peter I.
unimpressed food was cold food was late server was slow, dull and not engaging drink came with soda water in juice, sent back, was charged for both did I mention the food was cold? maybe due to it taking 30 minutes to get to our table and food wasn't served altogether as mine took another 5 minutes to show up and it was cold one in Santana Row puts this to shame. seriously disappointed
(2)Kim W.
*Dog friendly outdoor seating!* We came here for a Saturday lunch to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday (it was her pick of restaurant). Service and food was outstanding! Four of us ate outside in the shade during a sunny afternoon and really enjoyed ourselves with wine and full meals...no girly salads here. My steak was perfectly well done and the pomme frites were deliciously crispy. Our waiter was great about filling up our wine glasses, water glasses and bread basket. We laughed and took our time and never felt rushed. After a couple of hours, we unzipped our pants and waddled away with smiles to check out the local thrift stores nearby.
(5)Greg B.
We had a nice meal here, but it's hard to say much about it either way. The food was good, drinks were good, service was very good, etc. I wasn't too hungry so I ordered the duck starter (Canard Confit Aux Agrumes), which was a bit subpar and not quite crispy like I like it, but it was only $12.25 for a decent amount of meat, so they are forgiven. I made emergency space in my stomach when I saw creme brulee on the menu - my favorite. I admit to have become a bit of a creme brulee snob, though, and this just didn't meet the bar. They did a great job accommodating our large group at the last minute, and adjusting for the last minute cancellations, which I really appreciated. Service was quite friendly, though slow at times. Overall, I'd say 2 or 2.5 stars for food, but 3 to 3.5 stars for the service and atmosphere and reasonable prices and selection of nice appetizers and sandwiches. So I'll go to 3 overall.
(3)Sam K.
I was here for company Christmas lunch party at the mezzanine floor. It is perfect for a party of 40-50 people. The ambiance and decor is nice. The service was excellent but the fish was too salty. It was very difficult to eat fish with salty sauce. I should have asked the sauce on the side. I am giving them 3 stars for fish and 4 stars for service and decor.
(4)Adorable T.
My sister and I came here one Friday night (with reservations) for 6pm. It got really busy really fast. There were a few groups of high schoolers who came for their pre-winter ball, so it's a given that this place has a romantic atmosphere. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful. We ordered we had the truffle fries. They were very aromatic and delicious skinny fries. However, this is the first place I've ever eaten truffle fries, so there may be better ones out there (like at Alexander's) We shared the canard aux agrumes (salad) which had delicious duck leg. The kumquat was too citrus-y for my liking, so we didn't finish them. The croutons were home-made and fresh. My sister ordered the coquilles saint jacques (3 day boat scallops) with the champagne cosmopolitan (tastes more like vodka than champagne). Scallops were delicious! Extremely sweet and smooth. I ordered the basil mint lemonade (I've had beter) and a lamb stew. The lamb was delicious, and I had a lot of leftover; however, I am not a big fan of quinoa.... which was the starch base for the stew. For dessert, we had a crème brûlée which was creamy and not too sweet. It had a good amount of vanilla bean taste (yum). I would've wished for less creamy inside and more crunchy top layer... but what can you do :T We ordered a cup of cappuccino on the side with the dessert and it was very smooth, not too sweet. It came with a yummy piece of chocolate. The bill came out to be about $100. A bit pricey, but we seriously over ordered. I would wanna come again and try the other desserts and duck confit and pâté!
(4)Dave S.
This place should have higher rating then it currently has. It seems a lot of the negative comments are about slow service. I always sit at the bar and it couldn't be a nicer experience. The bartenders are always nice and attentive. The food is good, I'm used to dinning in SF so if they lowered their prices a bit I'd give them the full 5 stars. I'd like to eat the more often but I can't justify it at their current prices. Happy hour is definitely a good deal! So if you want a great first experience go during happy hour, sit at the bar and en
(4)Girl F.
i love this restaurant - always good food at the bar and great bar tenders. very very comfortable atmosphere too.
(4)Rosalind S.
Eh, I was not impressed even when we were starving for a very late lunch. It's nice they were open at 3pm but that was pretty much the only nice thing. Calamari was sometimes hard and sometimes chewy, depending on the piece. The rotisserie chicken (breast and thigh w/leg), entree came with some yummy shoe string fries, (my fav), and a small salad. Although the chicken didn't need the sauce it came with the breast meat was a bit dry. Service was slow and it took us a while to flag anyone down to help us. From the point of walking through the door and leaving we were ignored probably 4 times where servers saw us and looked the other way. After flagging the host down successfully we were then reunited with our original server. I've dined at other Left Bank's before and the service wasn't that bad elsewhere.
(3)Jenn G.
5 woofs for being super dog-friendly!! A girlfriend and I had a Saturday brunch date with our furbabies and it was a success. We requested an outside table and it was a piece of cake getting one (they had about 10 tables total). Immeidately upon arrival, the server brought out a water bowl for the dogs. At this point, anything negative that they do really couldn't be that bad. (yes, I'm bias). We got a pate plate to share and it was scrumptious. My friend got the egg omlet and I got the duck hash. Both portions were large enough for us to take left-overs home. Prices are decent and they do have a good wine list. I wish they had bottomless mimosas! Minus 1 star for the slow service. Not sure if it's the French way, but both Left Bank locations tend to take FOREVER to get the food, the bill, etc.
(4)Kari M.
This place is awesome! I have no idea why it receives such low reviews! My friend and I had reservations and were seated immediately around noon. We were offered drinks and the menu to look over. Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and suggested a few items off the menu including the Tarte Flambee which was a thin crust pizza with onions, Serrano ham, data puree, some with oregano and goat cheese. It was perhaps one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. The Serrano ham was perfectly matched with the goat cheese and the thin crust. YUM! For the main course, I went with the Prix Fix menu. It started with Asparagus soup, leg of Duck for the main, and finished with a mini creme brulee. The Asparagus soup was incredibly light and creamy. You could definitely taste the asparagus and the bit of cheese that topped it was not overwhelming at all. The duck leg was very tender (fell right off the bone), and risotto pea salad with fresh frisee. All the flavors complimented each other extremely well and did not leave me feeling full. Satiated, but not full. The Creme Brulee for dessert was the perfect size. Topped with a blackberry and mint leaf. Outstanding. I wouldn't say this is the best French food I've ever had, but it's definitely 4.5 stars! I will come back!
(4)Ross T.
Skiw servuce would have been an improverment over the glacial speed today. Had onion soup and mussels. The onion soup from a can of Campbells would have been an improvement. It was sooo boring. 5 of 17 mussels were tightly closed!! Come on that should not happen. Skip this place. Save your money and time.
(1)Nets H.
Feel Not too cozy a feel given the high ceilings and large dining area. There is a tv in the bar for those who HAVE to watch the 49ers in action. Love the huge prints on the walls and the place can be a bit echoy and noisy when full but good energy. Food and Drink Had a great Riesling and Pinot. My main course was duck which was okay.My husband loved his housemade sausages and mash and the tarte tatin for dessert was more like a piece of caramelized apple on a cream cracker. Prefer the classic, form myself.
(3)Walter P.
I just came back from our company holiday luncheon here at Left Bank. We celebrated early because we had an awesome year for growth and major revenue for 2010. Thank you to our CFO for taking care of us. And when you're the fourth largest software company in the world, we had to shut down the entire restaurant and party! And you best believe the service today was five stars! So here's my recap from today's experience.... (bare with me because I had a "few" drinks) Wild Mushroom Bisque Truffle Oil & emmental cheese are part of the key ingredients that made this opening dish a success. Creamy yet pleasing as the wild mushroom danced well with the oil and cheese. You gotta love the French for inventing this soup dish! The serving was light but don't hold back on sponging the bowl with the complimentary French bread baguettes. Loch Duaart Salmon Listen up all you seafood lovers! If you're wondering what type of fish you can eat without worrying if it was farm raised or wild caught, I suggest you opt for Loch Duarrt Salmon seattlefish.com/featured… . Left Bank serves the best Loch Duaart Salmon! My entrée was cooked to perfection (fresh, moist, easy to divide each layer of the salmon meat, baked in Beurre Blanc, and seasoned well for the win). The salmon was then embedded on a delicious squash puree, rainbow chard, and topped with roasted pistachios. This is definitely a romantic dish to please your significant other. Foundant au Chocolate A grand finale and perfect finish served with fresh vanilla ice cream and streaks of strawberry sauce. The perfect molten chocolate tempted me so I asked for a second serving! I know... I'm so bad! I have no discipline when it comes to perfect chocolate! Notes: -Perfect for romantic dinners and intimate celebrations. -Heavy on the wallet $$$. -Parking does suck so watch out if you're parking at the 2 hour lots. -Menlo Park parking patrols are in full force! -Reservations has highly suggested. -Dress up. -And Bon Mange!
(4)Jeremy G.
I came here years ago and wasn't impressed. I decided to give it a second chance last night and was equally disappointed. I want to like this place. It has a great interior, very nice atmosphere, the staff are very friendly. The sticking point is that the food is dry and flavorless. I ordered the Grilled Hawaiian Ahi tuna and my girlfriend got the Rotisserie chicken. It was a nice looking tuna steak, grilled rare, but had no flavor and seemed to lack any salt or seasoning. Her chicken had beautifully crispy looking skin but the meat turned out to be dry out. I'm not sure how you can screw up those too dishes so much, especially for the price you pay for them. Usually a good tuna steak is simply delicious all by itself. The one saving grace was with the drink I ordered. I asked for an Old Fashioned and it came with a single perfect ice cube sphere. (the Scotch drinkers out there will know why this is cool) Overall, the drink was very good, but didn't really compensate for the food. :(
(1)Nicole E.
My review is for happy hour only. This was actually my first time, both to this restaurant, as well as to this quaint little downtown district in Menlo Park. The restaurant itself is relatively small, with a comfortable-yet-classy feel. It's a place that seems to lend itself to good conversation. I had a delicious cocktail which was comprised of sparkling wine, elderflower, and lemon -- I can't remember the name of it -- but it was deliciously tart with just the tiniest hint of sweetness. Attentive and friendly service. Looking over the menu really makes me tempted to return for dinner soon!
(4)Macke R.
We have always had a fine time at Left Bank, so were surprised and disappointed with our experience last night. They have recently captured a few parking spaces in front and have a street-side set of tables. Baaad choice. It adds another dozen tables to the scene; it became quickly obvious that no additional staff were added. Food was good but poorly staged and the service was God-awful. Appeals to the hostesses for a waiter, water refills, clearing of the appetizer plates left by the busboy after the entrees were delivered and finally -- FINALLY after 30 minutes of being ignored-- a bill, please?!? only produced a nanosecond uptick of attention. It was a sad showing by all the staff, especially after the early requests for fairly standard service. Can't imagine what it would take to get us to return. There are plenty of establishments that understand how good service builds their bottom line. We don't need to spend our leisure time training Left Bank what others already know.
(2)Aimee R.
It was just okay. The restaurant is nicely decorated and has an open floor plan. They have a lot of seating on two floors. The second floor seems to be reserved for larger parties. The one dish that our party of 6 really did enjoy was the roasted chicken. It was very moist and the au jus was very tasty. Other than that everything else fell short. Actually the roasted chicken was a replacement for my first dish which was scallops. I had to return them because there was an ammonia after taste. The scallops were not fresh, they actually came out rubbery and were really small. The manager was great and replaced my dish right away. Not sure if I'll be coming back anytime soon. Restrooms: On the SECOND FLOOR. They have restrooms for men and women. The women's restroom has 3 stalls. It was clean and stocked.
(2)Alisa V.
For Menlo Park this is an ok place to hang out. Typical of Menlo Park the place started clearing out around 9:00 PM, which is actually late for people in Menlo Park. I ordered the chicken which had a nice flavor but it was served with bones and yucky stuff like that, not my style. It came with Pommes Frites, which were mushy and not special, most fast food places have better Pommes Frites. If I did a review for drinks alone, I would give 5 stars. I loved the mixed drinks. We tried a variety and they were all wonderful. The staff was very nice and it has a warm cozy atmosphere, but I was not super impressed with the food, I will be back for the drinks though.
(3)David E.
I don't write many reviews, but I have to take time to appreciate the fantastic job that the staff at Left Bank did for my private party - a wedding rehearsal dinner- this past weekend. We hosted a dinner in the private seating area behind and above the main dining area for about 40 people. It was a comfortable area for the party size, and the staff was attentive but not in the way as we celebrated. The food was consistently good if not great, especially the appetizers and desserts.
(5)David W.
I used to be a fan of the Left Bank in Menlo Park - in fact, so much so that I even held my wedding reception in their upstairs area years ago. But, I have had two bad experiences in a row at the Left Bank during the last three months. First time: The fries with our dinner were soggy, probably because some time had passed since they came from the fryer. I asked the waiter for fresh, crispy fries and received an order of fries that had been burnt to a crisp instead. Disappointing, but I forgave them. Second time: Today, I had brunch at the Left Bank. We ordered two plates of "Housemade Basque sausage patty, two over easy eggs, breakfast potatoes". The first problem is that the eggs came sunny-side up, not over easy, and were not cooked long enough for the whites to fully set. Second, the sausage patty was raw in the middle. I explained it to the waiter and he handled it graciously. We didn't have time to stay for a second try so we asked for the check. The sausage plates had been credited, but we still had to pay for two coffees and a side of bacon. No big deal (it was $10), but it felt wrong on principle. The entire breakfast had clearly been spoiled, we ran a (small, no doubt) risk of food borne infection, and we still had to pay for the experience. The situation ended with some comic relief. As the waiter brought the check, he commented that the chef was very angry because it was the second time that day that someone had returned the sausage for being undercooked! UPDATE: A few days later, both my wife and my son, who ate a few bites of the raw sausage patties, fell ill with nasty gastrointestinal symptoms. I had only a coffee and had no such problems. A coincidence, perhaps? In any case, I won't be returning to the Left Bank.
(1)Mark B.
I took my mom, a Franco-phile, here for what I thought would be a nice lunch. We sat outside. The service was disinterested and leisurely. She had the onion soup, while I ordered a croque monsieur. The soup was bland and the croque monsieur was bordering on gross. It was an oily mess with ham that seemed to come from a pre-sliced deli bag. We won't be back.
(2)Tony Y.
I came here for brunch and it was awesome. I got the skirt steak with an egg on top, fries, salad and some peppercorn sauce to douse it with, medium rare, and it was one of best steaks i've had. maybe it was the cut, maybe it was having such a lean, red, piece at 10 in the morning with a mimosa. maybe it was the price, i mean $12.50 for steak?? but it was truly a great piece of meat. I got to sample the french toast which was also "as thick as a bible" and super good. the crab cake was also delish, but hands down, this brunch skirt steak took my breath away!
(4)Keeratiya S.
Food was ok. The service was sub-par. The server was slow to start take orders, and rarely checks back. Even the bread, has to be requested. Much better service at other less expensive places
(2)Grace C.
A group of four of us had dinner here. Sunday night, 6:30pm, there was a 30-min wait to sit in the main dining room, so we took an open table in the bar area instead. The mushroom-pea-asparagus risotto ($14.75) was delicious. My husband really enjoyed the Sunday special, which was bouillabaisse marseillaise (a seafood stew, $24.50). Left Bank is on the pricier end of things, but that's not unusual for Menlo Park. Service was decent. The free bread basket comes with butter & two varieties of crusty bread (white and sourdough wheat).
(4)Marie Louise H.
Last Sunday I went with two friends for an afternoon brunch. We thought that the Left Bank would be a nice place to visit and enjoy a leisurely meal. We were seated right away, however after a very long wait, our server finally greeted us. I had a few questions over the dishes and our server seemed bother and annoyed. She rudely answered the questions and told us she did not have time to wait for us to order and would return - 10 to 15 minutes later I was finally able to order the "salade nicoise" After another long wait our meals finally arrived... it was the worst "nicoise salad" I have ever eaten and I am over 80 years old. Let us talk about the SALAD. The "Haricots verts" (frozen?) were not even cooked - raw - and deeply cold. Avocado: not even half of one. - it was on the menu as an ingredient but I would say with what they served me it was more of a garnish. Fingerling potatoes: could not be less, a few small fingers -wet, sweet (???) and rosy colored (???)- a left over from a previous salad - perhaps - maybe the potatoes were part of a salad with beets...? Half an egg and two anchovies, but way too many capers. Two crushed pieces of lettuce that I would have throw out for myself and a few mini tomatoes On top, a handful of yellow bell peppers directly out of a can. The salad nicoise should be served with green peppers or red ones freshly cut. To complete this joke of a salad - the whole dish served on a plate deeply cold. It was probably made in advance and stored in the freezer My friend fared no better - one ordered the French onions soup ; very disappointed; Too much cheese. and overcooked. The other ordered mussels and frites. In the plate were mussels with floating lifeless pieces of spinach. Mussels and spinach should not be mixed (I can guarantee that this is not a french or belgian recipe). Fries were lukewarm. That was our experience that I wanted to share!I I will never return to the Left Bank again.
(1)Pierre L.
We had our rehearsal dinner here and I was disappointed. The service was good and the food tasted fine but the portions were very inconsistent. My wife's salmon was smaller than the kid's meal salmon which doesn't make any sense at all. Our pork chop sizes were all over the place. The soup was luke warm at best. They also said they would give us two long rectangle tables but then it ended up being one long table. Anyway inconsistent and left me disappointed.
(3)Mari M.
I always see throngs of people dining here especially when the sun is just perfect to dine on the sidewalk. I finally made my way to try out Left Bank as it is conveniently open throughout the day (no lull of usual mid-day 2-5 pm closing times) for lunch. First off, the restaurant is gorgeously spacious with high ceiling and an overlooking dining balcony. But other than the decor, I have little to rave. The service was lackluster: very slow (despite the few customers) and not-so-friendly. As for the food, I was excited as I browsed through the menu as everything sounded enticing, especially so in the alluring tongue of French. I ordered the fondue aux fromages with a trio of brie, blue, and goat cheeses (~$10). I love cheese! but I ended up wanting to hate it after a taste of this fondue. The only redeemable aspect of this appetizer was the crisp toasts. Otherwise, the fondue itself was lumpy, lukewarm, and bland. Not at all appetizing to look at or taste. I also ordered the brasserie steak with frites as a main dish ($20). All I can say is, it was a plopped-on-the-plate piece of meat. All in all, given the lackluster service and food quality, it's not worth the value.
(2)Trang B.
I met a friend for dinner here on Monday, loved it so much returned with my family for dinner on Wednesday. The summary indicated it wasn't good for kids but I found that not to be the case. They have a kids' menu and the main dining room was well lit, open, warm and inviting. It was was neither too loud nor too quiet. The service was consistently very good. Our servers both nights were very friendly and responsive. I sat at the patio the first night and indoors the second, and from my experience found the service to be a bit more attentive inside. Not sure if my experience is an anomaly or whether the service inside is just better staffed and more organized to manage the higher volume of patrons. Anyway, servers both night were very good and highly recommend the patio if you enjoy al fresco dining. As for the menu, we ordered the cheese fondue from the appetizer menu the first night. Very good! IMO, better than what you'd find at the melting pot. The only regret I have is that I didn't order anything green that night, and left the restaurant feeling bloated from too much bread. Second night, I ordered the rotisserie chicken which was very good! It came with a generous portion of fries and a small green salad. Nice crispy skin and nicely seasoned. My husband and daughter (both vegetarians) ordered the risotto and were both pleased with their meal, though the options for vegetarians are limited at The Left Bank. My son had the calamari and enjoyed that as well. Dessert is not to be missed. We ordered the peach melba, creme brulee, lemon sorbet and the profiteroles (we don't like to share dessert in our family). After lots of oohing and ahhing, it was clear everyone was happy with the item they'd ordered. Total bill first night came out to under $30 with tip for 2 and on the second night, came out to be $150 for 4 - so you can get a really great meal for a little money or a lot here, depending on what you're in the mood for. Highly recommended!
(4)Tom H.
Excellent attentive waiter and good food. Classy restaurant and great bar with outside seating in the heart of downtown Menlo Park.
(5)Lori W.
We had a 5:15 early dinner to make sure the kids got into bed on time. There were 7 other tables with kids having dinner at this time so we chose correctly. I ordered steak tartare which I enjoyed and fried calamari which was perfectly done (not chewy in the slightest). Here's why only 3 stars: My husband's duck was very chewy (not good). He ordered it medium rare. They had recommended medium to medium well. Both of us have had duck that rare at other locations that were perfectly tender. They never checked on if we had a problem with the food. The toast that came with my steak tartare was burned. The staff clearly did not know how to handle tables with children. While they have slings for carseats and high chairs for small children and crayons for coloring and a kid's menu, when I was holding my infant son in my arms and the server proceeded to put plates right in front of me within his grasp. I moved the plate quickly out of reach and she came back with my *second* plate and put it right in front of me. Did she think I was making space for her? Also, a second server proceeded to move my carseat when bringing a high chair over and when I protested, he didn't listen to me at all and did not stop what he was doing at all. The water service was abysmal.
(3)Christine V.
Hmm where do I start. This was our first time here, we had not come before they remodeled. The place looks really great but we had some trouble with the service. Our server was new, he had to read the specials from a piece of paper. They didnt give us bread (we had to ask for it). The servers kept trying to deliver the wrong foods to the tables around us. I think maybe they were confused about the tables. Speaking of the tables, we sat near the kitchen and the tables seem a little to open and close together to me. A couple sat next to us and they were like a foot away. We actually started talking to them about the service because they were not happy with the server either lol. I have to say the food was very good. We had a crab cake app that wasnt on the menu, it was soooo good but $13 for one crab cake? The butter lettuce salad was good but again, $10 for some lettuce and mustard dressing? My bf had a chicken and linguine dish that I just loveeeed. I had the calamari which was 'ok' nothing special. Then we had desert. Oh yeah, the server didnt know anything that was on the menu. He asked if we wanted to see the desert menu and I asked what kinds of things are on there and he couldnt name one. He said something dumb like 'well there are deserts on there'. lmao. I mean really, if you're going to let a server serve, he should at least know ONE thing that's on the menu. :| Anyway we split a cream puff. The smallest cream puff I've ever seen in my life (it was like one bite) for $3.50. LOL oh well we had to come at least once.
(2)Pablo G.
Somethings never change. Mediocre food, inattentive service, bad value prices. Skip it!
(2)Elton C.
It's a decent restaurant. It isn't particularly fancy. The decor is borderline casual-nice, on a casual-similarity as the CheeseCake Factory. However, my experience was that the service was disappointing. Though cheerful, the server ignored us for a while. We felt that we waited longer than we need to... probably 20 minutes, for her to take orders. The wait for food was also long. We had the appetizer of calamari and oyster on half-shells. Calamari was nice, but few can screw this up. The oysters though, wasn't as I expected. It was kind of watered (not enough salt). Also, where did the cocktail sauce go?! The rest of the meal wasn't particularly memorable. The steak was ok. Didn't particularly find their portion filling though. The wait was definitely the biggest negative in my experience that evening.
(2)Lauren Q.
Crab benedict. NOM
(3)Julie P.
The waiter that ruined our dining experience is no longer at Menlo Park Left Bank. So we have returned as customers. Enjoyable food.
(4)gwynnie p.
4 stars for the Salade Nicoise alone. Awesome......everything fresh and the tuna was divine. Nice to sit outside for lunch on a hot spring day in ye olde Menlo Park. Our server could use a trip to Server University, but the salad outshined his silliness (like arguing over whether the requested ingredient for a substitution was available....turned out it was, as it had been on prior visits).
(4)Bradley N.
My basic opinion of Left Bank has not changed since I last ate here, but I have come to appreciate how the capacious interior of this restaurant is perfect for accommodating medium to large-sized parties, for whom the chef will prepare a special prix fixe menu. Ours included a winter salad with shaved fennel, hearty mixed greens, and heirloom cherry tomatoes, a choice of either baked red snapper w/ Israeli couscous, roasted pork loin w/ chard and Yukon Gold fingerlings, or Meyer lemon risotto with oyster mushrooms and spinach, and for desert either a crème brûlée or a selection of sorbet. This time around, I paid more attention to details not related to the food: the larger-than-life posters adorning the walls; the superb wine service; the lovely tile-work on floors and ceiling; the stylish interior and bar; the fact that the sound level was moderate and allowed for cross-table conversations without shouting. All these little details did not add up to a transcendental sort of dining experience, to be sure. But that's not what Left Bank is about. It's a brasserie with a relaxed, upscale setting that has a seasonally-adjusted menu and consistently good service and food. It's dependable and friendly and well located on Santa Cruz Ave., the main drag in downtown Menlo Park where you can window-shop before or after the meal. Sometimes Yelp reviewers expect too much of a restaurant and come away disappointed because the food, service, or atmosphere did not live up to their stratospheric expectations. My advice here is to expect decent food classically prepared and served by a professional wait staff who also know their wines. In the end, that should be enough, no?
(4)Tiff W.
I love the onion soup, staff was generally attentive when they're around. it was busy that night so it was hard to flag someone down. the beignets were a let down for me =( I have to admit though ambience is quite lovely.
(3)Cindy K.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. We had reservations, knowing it would be crowded in the area due to graduations and Father's Day. The minute I walked in the restaurant, I started to sweat. I know that sounds gross, but the place was stuffy and hot. It was uncomfortable. I don't know if this is normal or if the air wasn't working. The food was okay. The waitstaff were very nice and attentive. The prices were mediocre and on the pricey side for the portions. Yes, i get it. It's French. But still, for the size of the skirt steak, it seemed overpriced. The soup was good. The Tuna Nicoise salad was good but the portions were small. No joke, everybody in my party were sweating throughout dinner. It was that hot.
(2)Eric B.
This is one of the few remaining Left Bank locations that are standing. It's smaller than the old Pleasant Hill location, the bar area is comfortable, and this would be a neat place to go after seeing the latest Woody Allen movie (Midnight in Paris). Also as this one of my ex-wife's previous meeting places with her friend (and emotional affair), I continue to be both conflicted and fascinated the times that I return.
(3)Michael C.
I had a lunch meeting scheduled in the area and we decided to do it at Left Bank. As the area in general is well-known for good food, I had no concerns. When we arrived at noon, the restaurant was mostly empty, so we sat at a table in the middle of a large room. I didn't really look at the decor, but the color scheme seemed appropriate. From a light survey, the typical patrons were well-to-do in their 50s, huddled in small groups or going solo. I took a chance and ordered the risotto of the day while my partner went with the sole. The items on the menu ranged from $10-30 for lunch, so it's plenty easy to run up a tab. Unfortunately, they didn't even have Diet Coke, so I went with iced tea rather than suffer the indignity of Diet Pepsi's dish water after-taste. My risotto was a surprisingly large portion, almost twice the size of others that I've had in the area. Food was quite good. The lunch was uneventful, which is how I like it. Our waiter was attentive and I have but one quibble, that he kept an uncomfortably aloof distance by not lowering his towering 6'4" body closer to our level as we ordered. Otherwise, we tabbed out at $52 with tax and tip. This place served my purpose for a business lunch but is not as attractive for casual dining. Maybe it's better at night? I'll have to check it out another time.
(3)Lindsay S.
There seems to be a lot of negative reviews, but understandably with the bad service. Of course it is a stuffy restaurant, it's in Santana Row! That whole strip is stuffy, so people should expect restaurants here to be expensive and pretentious. I think the steaks are very good here. My friend and I ordered the porterhouses, with a side of mac n' cheese and spinach. We ate pretty much all of it without hesitation. This isn't a place I would go to everyday, and yes, there are steak houses better, but it is quite good. Having said that, I would probably choose the LB Brasserie. Their chocolate macaroons are delicious!
(4)Sasan A.
Tried their Salmon salad, was tasty and ingredients were fresh. Very good coffee as well.
(4)Jayne W.
We were looking for a light lunch place and this restaurant looked and smelled good from the outside. We were not disappointed. The onion and bisque soups were tastefully and skillfully made, as were the vegetarian sandwich and the lamb hamburger. The option of having good draught beer or wine by the glass was also appreciated.
(4)Kendall M.
Left Banks are about the same at every location, in my experience, so if you like the Left Bank thing, here is no disappointment. Now, granted, I would never go here if I were footing the bill, but I'm young and a fresh college grad and all that, and I don't really think I'm their target demographic. I went here with my dad for my brother's birthday, and everything was pretty decent. Their fish is always fresh, everyone enjoyed their meal (I had the scallops, dad had casoulet which I'm sure I didn't spell correctly, brother had the steak). Service was excellent. There are a couple things to note that might make this place stand out among other fancy eateries. $15 corkage, which is pretty reasonable at restaurants of that price point Casoulet -- it's rare to find it served anywhere, and it's now a regular on the menu here instead of a weekly special Ample parking in downtown Los Altos RECOMMEND RESERVATIONS. It didn't look busy, but I heard several people being turned away over the phone on a Sat night.
(4)Kareasa W.
This was by far one of the worst dining experiences that I have ever had. I've been to the Left Bank in San Jose, which has been pretty good, but I was so offended by the ineptitude of the staff at Left Bank Menlo Park that I will NEVER go there again. My boyfriend and I had reservations for 11 a.m., which is apparently when Left Bank opens. We were the first people there, yet when I ordered the Gateau of Crab (a crab cake eggs benedict) the waiter said "Oh, I'm sorry I think we're out of that." What??!! The restaurant just opened--how can you be out of something already??? Anyway, he came back and told me that they "had a few left," so that's what I ordered. While we were waiting for our entrees, he brought us some stale bread--clearly left over from the day before. When we finally received our entrees, the egg on my Crab Gateau and the eggs on my boyfriend's eggs benedict were practically raw. It looked like the cooks had only poached them for about 30 seconds as they were totally jiggly and underdone. When I pointed this out to the waiter, he asked me if I wanted them scrambled. IT'S A FUCKING BENEDICT, NO I DON'T WANT THEM SCRAMBLED!! I want them poached properly, that's all. It doesn't take a fucking rocket scientist to poach an egg correctly--I do it at home all the time. When the waiter brought our food back the eggs were poached to the point of being bullet-proof, not to mention the ham on my boyfriend's eggs benedict looked like it came from an Oscar Meyer sandwich meat package. By the time we got the second round of our breakfast, our kir royals were long finished. The waiter took away our glasses but didn't bother to ask if we wanted more. It's just as well though since I didn't feel like giving another penny to Left Bank after such a horrible experience.
(1)Brian K.
Disclaimer - only had drinks at the bar Detailed floor tiles, 20 foot tall posters, ceiling lamps that looks stolen from the Bellagio, and French decor all around - adds up to a solid, family-friendly French restaurant. My wife and I sat at the bar and enjoyed several glasses of wine. Friendly service, good wine, and a great menu 'user interface' (whites and reds seperated by glass/half-bottle/bottlel; price (under $20, under $30, etc.). I appreciated the 1 TV which provided me the Giants game, but didn't overwhelm the bar (many bar areas are 'if 1 TV is good, 10 is AWESOME!). Am I right? We'll be back for dinner sometime and will update for food.
(4)May H.
I've been benefiting from helpful Yelp reviews for years. (Thanks fellow Yelpers!) Time to stop mooching and start giving back, beginning with this review. I hosted a brunch event in Left Bank's private mezzanine and it was a great success, largely due to the wonderful venue, management and staff, and food. In planning for the event, I schlepped to pretty much all of the venues in Palo Alto and Menlo Park for a place that was: 1) elegant, but not stuffy; 2) private so that people could talk and actually hear each other; 3) able to offer a good food selection; 4) at a reasonable price point and minimum; and 5) reliable. While researching venues, I did read the less positive reviews on Yelp before I picked Left Bank. As you would expect, I was looking for the highest rated restaurant with the best deal - the lowest price and greatest experience. (Yeah, who isn't, right?) Based on my experience with this event, I think people have different tastes and it depends on what dish you have and who attends to you. I liked the food and thought the staff did a great job. The experience was perfect from start to finish. Charles Chapman was very organized, extremely responsive, and worked with me to accommodate the needs of my event. The selections I could choose from to create the prix fixe menu were appetizing and included great vegetarian options. On the day of the event, the mezzanine was beautifully set up. The formal white tablecloth setting was nicely laid out and configured as I had specified, the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light, the decor was what I'd call "contemporary French", the staff was attentive and efficient without being intrusive, the food was served at the pace I had instructed, and everyone enjoyed the food. There were also little touches the staff did that I hadn't thought about, but were very helpful. For example, there was a small coffee, tea, and water station set up where people could mingle and chat before sitting down to eat. It's a sign of experienced staff when they know how to anticipate your needs and ask the right questions.
(5)Samantha C.
This was the first Left Bank restaurant I've been to and the food was great for me (despite the reviews). Must try: Skirt Steak, free range Chicken, Side asparagus. Even their fries were good! Service was attentive and friendly. Too bad downtown Menlo Park needs a bit more nightlife feel to it (even on weekdays), but I'm guessing it's only because the crowd is usually at downtown Palo Alto.
(4)Thom S.
So as the waitress donned a medieval iron-link glove to cut bread, my waiter complimented my sunglasses at night, the couple to my left couldn't stop staring at people, and the light fixtures had tassels hanging from them, I realized that Left Bank isn't 'just havin an off night.' Its permanently odd. The french cuisine place is characterized by these oddities. -Claim Jumper portions of French food? Bizarre. -Desserts exempt from size rule? Bizarre. -Manager without undershirt and a lot of nipple. Bizarre. -Very shi shi restaurant goal, with paper table cloths -A crowd of alcoholics and geriatrics -Huge steel table expansions for group seating that cause weird construction-like moments throughout dinner -Bread cutting staff wearing medieval chain-link iron mesh gloves ...and I come back to the bizarre lamp tassels on the chandelier... so odd. Overall the food is okay. The service is okay. The vibe is kind of fun, in that people-watch-menlo kind of way.
(3)Julie S.
My overall review of 3+ stars is based on the following: Food 3.5 Ambience 3.5 Service 3 I feel a bit mixed on Left Bank having been there several times. I find it to be a very convenient "go to" restaurant in Menlo Park. Good for after work happy hour - or cocktails with the girls - or quick date night with the husband - or family dinner - or private function. So, very VERSATILE restaurant. Ambience is fun - nice high ceilings, good bistro vibe, typically pretty good "buzz" without being too loud. Menu is standard French bistro, but pretty good. Nice range of daily specials too. The cheese fondue and onion soup are always yummy. Not so broad on the vegetarian options, but a few salads/etc. I find the place to be very kid friendly. Good selection (burgers, hot dogs, chix fingers) and other foods for the kids - and crayons to draw on the white table covers - and high chairs! I really LOVE their private room upstairs. Great for a private function - one of the better in downtown MP I think. We had a family party there and it was great. They worked with us on the menu/wine, servers were excellent, ambience great, and everyone loved it. I find service to be a bit more hit or miss here. Sometimes it is fine, but other times (like tonight) I get very frustrated by the long waits. Wait to order - wait between courses - wait for the bill - etc. Our "quick" Thursday dinner turned into a 1.75 hour dinner despite our "quick" choosing/ordering due to the waits. If you want a leisurely dinner, that is often fine, but if you're looking for a bit of "speed" it can be frustrating. Overall, Left Bank is a good alternative in downtown MP for a "lively" environment and pretty good food/service. Also a family friendly choice. If you come with your expectations in check, you'll likely have a very pleasant experience, and (like us) find yourself going back, despite not being "wowed".
(3)Betty N.
One word: Solid. It won't be the greatest meal you've ever had, but it works. If you need to unwind after work and meet some Palo Alto friends, this would be a good spot. The bartender is friendly and can make a REALLY REALLY good vodka martini with a citrus twist. That alone is 2 stars. :) As for food, it is "ok". Nothing stuck out. I ordered the soup of the day (chicken soup) and the steamed mussels. They were both so-so; flavor-wise and whatever else. Nothing was OMG. We liked our cheese plate and the molten lava chocolate cake. That was quite good actually. I would do that next time: order martinis and desserts. They have a happy hour which is great. Reasonably-priced drinks and munchies. I wouldn't mind returning again, just for the martinis alone. RECOMMEND for a Menlo Park happy hour with friends.
(3)Frequent B.
Come on, really. This is a chain. It's a glorified Applebees with a French theme. This isn't true French cuisine. The bar here is fine, and the outdoors seating is nice, but don't waste your money expecting anything approaching fine dining. This particular location is very poorly run. There is no manager on the floor, so don't expect a friendly greeting or good service. They do the minimum to get by. Seriously, the 5 star reviews must be plugs by their corporate marketing department.
(2)Becca L.
My review is based on recent experiences, rather than all of my experiences over the past decade. The restaurant and the menu remain lovely, but the kitchen and the service have become extremely lacking. The first time, I had to send my food back twice in a row for the exact same issue. The second time, we ordered, then watched others arrive, order, eat, and finish while we were still waiting! Our waitress kept promising that our food was on its way. When it came, all of the dishes were cold. Those with salad on the plate--completely wilted. I ordered the canard confit hash. The menu did not mention that it had potatoes (although I expected it might). "spinach, duck confit, poached egg, fried onions." Some potatoes would have been ok. However, it was almost entirely potatoes. In fact, there was no duck in it at all. The second one (and the second salad) were fine (if full of potatoes I couldn't eat), but not worth the 100 min wait. I just don't feel like what you get is honestly represented. The drink special board showed a glass of sparkling wine with a slice of peach in it. The caption translated to, "sparkling wine with fresh peach." I got a glass of sparkling wine with peach liqueur in it. Upon asking, I was told they don't have fresh peach. The manager improved our meal, but one woman alone cannot do it all. I saw her waiting lots of tables and felt bad for her. I hope she gets some new staff to help her soon! Many dishes were comped, which was nice, but not enough to make up for brunch taking almost 3 hours for 4 people. I guess I'll just have to give my business to their competitors for a while. I'll retry Left Bank in the future, seriously hoping that they've gotten their act back together. This used to be a great place to go for a special occasion.
(1)Eric Y.
It was a relief to eat here after nearly a week's worth of Chinese food. I could've had cold pizza and waxed poetically about it. However, this is a French place and the French have their standards, nes pa? The ambience was brasserie-like and bustling. The service was attentive. Kitchen was slow. The wine list adequate. The food? Comme ci, commes ca. The french bistro classic, frisee salad with lardon and poached egg was very good. My steak frites was skirt steak (!), but they wouldn't do it au poivre, only with a peppercorn sauce on the side. Not exactly authentic. Nevertheless it tasted ok. The frites were also good. Ketchup? Not exactly authentic French either but I'm an American so pass the red stuff, ok? Most of us passed on dessert but they have a selection of petite desserts that is welcome even if you've over-indulged on dinner. The trio of almond financier cakes is worth trying. It's three bite sized pieces of delicious almond cake.
(3)Charles H.
I have had mixed experiences at Left Bank. The atmosphere is lovely. The food has ranged from exceptional to mediocre. Last time, I ordered the lamb burger, which was delicious and filling. The olive bread served with lunch was also devine. The chips, however, were burnt. I asked the waiter to replace the chips with some that weren't burnt. I don't know if he had a chip on his shoulder, but he initially told me that it was "impossible." Miraculously, some not yet incinerated chips arrived a few minutes later. I also had the True Cod Provencal with Pernod Butter Sauce. Sadly, the fish was served extremely under-cooked. As for the accompaniments, the hericots verts were good, but the spinach was inadequately drained prior to serving. As the fish was served atop the spinach and green beans, the whole dish suffered from the watery spinach dribbling all over the plate. Furthermore, I specifically asked for the shallots in the dish to be well cooked, but they were served nearly raw, resulting in a pervasive taste of onion that drowned out the flavor of the Pernod herb butter. I would have sent it back, except that the waiter didn't reappear for over 30 minutes after serving the food. The last time I had this dish, it was cooked perfectly, with a lightly seared crust on the cod, so I assume someone in the kitchen this time was in a hurry or just thought they could get away with serving it under-cooked. But, in no way was this watery, barely cooked cod entree worth $20. The three course prix fixe menu at lunch can be a good value for $19.95. I had clams for the appetizer, a delicious lamb risotto, followed by a lovely fruit tart. Service, as I alluded to early, is a bit spotty. Several servers I've encountered exhibit a certain "aloofness.". Personally, I find it very off-putting when waiters put on airs. This might be forgivable, but the service itself has also been slow and inattentive on several occasions. I've experienced very long waits for the food, and other times where the servers simply ignore you after the food has been served (as mentioned above). Overall, I give Left Bank four stars for atmosphere, three for food, and two for service. What really bothered me was not that the food didn't come out of the kitchen perfectly (mistakes happen, afterall). It's that nobody even bothered to check on my table after it was served, and when they finally did, it was too late to send it back.
(2)Lis B.
Left Bank used to be one of my go-to lunch places. It's huge with a lovely interior, the staff knows how to get you in and out fast, and the food is generally good. Let's talk decor and service, since both are excellent here. It's a spacious place, and since the renovation, even more so. Reproductions of old-fashioned French adverts hang on the walls, the mirrors are still great, and the new sweeping staircase adds to the ambiance. They've also cut out that weird row of booths directly in front of the open kitchen, which weren't the nicest seats due to the heat and the smoke. The feel of the restaurant is much more cohesive now. Service has always been top-notch. No complaints. The servers are more than competent and are willing to get you anything you need. So why do I say that this "used to" be one of my go-to places for lunch? One reason, and one reason only: they took their old lamb sandwich off the menu. It was gone for a long time, and they've recently reinstated it, but in a different form. Instead of being served on a chewy baguette, it's now served on a softer herb bun without much flavor. In addition, they used to serve it with grilled pepper with optional tapenade (for $1 more). Now it's more expensive, and the tapenade is automatically included. Annoying, since I don't like tapenade. At any rate, the rest of their food is perfectly fine. French bistro standards minus at least some of the butter. I've had the salade nicoise, moules frites, croque jacques pepin, "grandma's" chicken, steak frites, etc., etc. All serviceable, but a few dollars more than what would constitute a "good deal." . Fries are thin and crispy. Quite good. Oh, and the "power elite" of Atherton/Menlo Park/Palo Alto sometimes lunch here.
(3)Nina B.
I visited Left Bank for a ladies lunch and was pleased. Judging by the reviews it seems pretty hit and miss. The restaurant was full the Sunday we came so thankfully we had reservations. Even with the crowd our waitress was very attentive so 4* for service. I opted for brunch instead of the lunch menu.. it's hard to turn down brunch when given the option. We had calamari for the table and it was okay. Wasn't overly breaded but a couple pieces were chewier than I'd expect. For my brunch entree I had the eggs benedict which is served with mixed greens and potatoes. It was pretty good and not too filling, which I like. There are only a few brunch options but they're good ones - dungeness crab cake w/poached egg & hollandaise (which looked good), duck confit w/poached egg, fried onions & spinach, house made tomato-basil pork sausages & potatoes, etc. If you have room for dessert I'd skip the eclair and try the profiteroles. The chocolate was good on those suckers and there is enough to share with four, yum!
(3)laura p.
I can only express my disappointment with the Left Bank in the form of a haiku: food was just o.k. waiter was inattentive they should try harder
(2)Sunil R.
Went there with some colleagues last night and enjoyed the evening. This location has a nice ambiance. Well lit, high vaulted ceilings and good service. I remember going to some of their other locations a long time ago and not liking it too much. I got a Kir Royale just to try something different instead of my regular drinks in spite of getting some strange looks from my table mates. ;-) The food was average to above average. The french onion soup was overwhelmed with cheese. Some might think "what's wrong with that" but I like a little soup along with the cheese as well. The gnocchi was tasty but too rich. The skirt steak was OK, a little too chewy for me. Overall, I would consider this a safety restaurant if I can't get into some of my other favorites in the area.
(3)A C.
Went for brunch and had some mimosas and the eggs benedict. I like the decor. High ceilings, dark wood, some crazy European artwork posted on the walls. It's a pretty space. The mimosas were delicious. The eggs benedict - well....it was okay. I usually love eggs benedict, but I wouldn't order this again. The eggs were strange. They almost immediately slid off my English muffins and onto the plate in a gelatinous mess. I mostly just ate the muffins, hams, and hollandaise sauce. It came with some potatoes (frozen and reheated) and some lettuce with dressing. I just thought the whole thing could have been much, much better. To be fair, I'm picky with breakfast, eggs especially, but that being said...Left Bank, you could do more with your brunch.
(3)Scott F.
I had the Croque Monsieur (see my photo). It was OK. The cheese was a little overwhelming, with not enough toasted crust for contrast. But the flavor was very good. Overall, it's not as good as the Croque Monsieur at Sugar Butter Flour in Sunnyvale yelp.com/biz_photos/1wKD… I also tried the pain perdu (french toast). See my photo. It was OK. The outside was not as crispy as I like it, and the inside was a bit too soggy. It also had almost no flavor. It's not nearly as good as the pain perdu at Butler & Chef Bistro in San Francisco.
(4)Jay B.
I think I had one of those bad timing experiences again. My wife and I went here on her birthday . We had the small table sydrome which they gave to us for free when we walked in. Personally I thought it was overpriced for the quality of food that was served. Nothing wrong with the food (a little slow)but not up to the standard I'd heard about. Recently I heard that the original chef had left ? not my favorite experience but average at best
(2)Ashley J.
Have had some decent meals here and some terrible ones. The duck was the worst I ever had. Wait staff was great as usual and apologetically took care of it for me.
(3)Celeste S.
Went here for brunch/lunch on Sunday. I hadn't eaten here in years and we were going to a champagne tasting in the afternoon so we felt we should stick with the French theme :) I chose the prix fixe menu as soon as I saw mushroom risotto on it! Salad, risotto and dessert (I chose the chocolate volcano cake) for $35 - quite reasonable. I also added on a mimosa and an order of frites for the table as their fries are very good. Was funny actually - almost every single table had an order. Quite popular. The risotto was good. I make risotto at home on occasion and it is better but I use the Cipriani recipe so there really is no better than that. But this was quite good. A lot of restaurants try to do too much with their risotto - add too many extra things to make it exotic or whatever. All it does it make it over-bearing. This was one was quite simple - risotto and mushrooms. And very good. I did have to add salt but better it needs salt added as it's a personal preference. The waitress didn't offer Parmesan though - found that odd. But I didn't search it out. My husband got the steak and frites and he was very happy with it. Very flavorful meat without any sauces, etc. I had a bite - was very yummy. Our friend ordered the duck hash. He said it was quite good. I don't eat duck so didn't ask for a bite :) The cake was good. Not the best lava cake I've had but good. There were many things on the menu I would try if I went back. Many things sounded good plus I saw some of them going by to other tables and everything looked delicious. This is something coming from me - not a huge fan of French food. The service was great. Our waitress was always around but never in our way. The food came came out at a nice pace - not too rushed and on top of each other (HATE that when trying to have a relaxing meal) but never so long between ordering, bread and then courses. And we always had cold water which I appreciate very much. I hate looking around for a server to get more water. My only real complaint was not really the fault of the restaurant, but at some point they have to be responsible for the experience of all of their customers and say something... They have a 2nd floor with 1 room/balcony for large parties. What was obviously a birthday or some family party was going on there. They had several children who were the most unruly, misbehaved and loud children I have seen in a restaurant - ever. There were a couple of other families on the main floor and those children were fine. But the children upstairs were running around, playing and screaming like they were in a park or at home. And the parents did nothing to calm them down. At all. They just sat there tuning it out and kept chatting and drinking. It was obvious by the faces of other people that I was not the only one bothered by this. You could see many other people looking up there like "would you do something about your heathens?" This did effect the experience of eating here. So this is why I would expect someone in the restaurant to actually say something to them. This was a well-dressed family, children were in their suits and ties as well, so they certainly should have known they were effecting the ambiance of the place for everyone. This is not the McDonald's Play Area. And if I was the restaurant manager, I would have said something as I have an entire floor of tables being bothered by your 1 family. So if you were eating at Left Bank around noon on Sunday 10/18, and you were the family with no respect for others, get a clue. And the manager should learn the art of dealing with this type of situation. You would have gotten 4 stars for food and service if not for this.
(3)Pavel R.
What happened to Left Bank? They used to have very good food but the experience my wife and I had put the nail in the coffin. We probably won't be going back, at least to this location. So here's a quick recap of our evening out. We sat down and were served the usual bread basket. It was old and hard...I mean, come on, this is a simple thing to get right, isn't it? We both started out with the French onion soup. We both took one spoonful to find it lukewarm. I told our server and he sent it back to be reheated. After it returned, it was fine but still not completely hot. For the main course I had the burger which was okay but the fries were cold. My wife had the beef bourguignon...taste was okay but the noodles were very cold. See the ongoing theme here? We didn't even bother letting the server know since we didn't want to wait around any longer. This simple meal with one glass of beer ended up costing us more than $75 including tip. What a unpleasant experience.
(1)Amanda H.
I really want to like Left Bank more than I do! I have always had a good time here, but I think that has more come from the company than the bistro itself. On the surface it is adorable, they have been accommodating with gluten-free friends, appreciate our making reservations, have provide adequate food and service, and have a good wine/cocktail list. But there is something that seems a little too forced in the menu, the wait staff, and the decor. Not to mention our romantic date night dinners here have been filled with seemingly endless free-range sprogs. Perhaps that can be circumvented by going later? I will probably go back, but I feel like I will quickly find myself in a rut with the menu/drink options and super curious about the bistro next door...
(3)John K.
I have been a customer of the Left Bank for 10 years and have never failed to enjoy my meals here. The menu has mostly authentic French dishes which are well prepared and interesting. The dining experience is enjoyable weather you are sitting inside in the grand dining room or out in front at one of the sidewalk tables. Always a pleasure to dine there. Easy John
(4)Paul R.
This place has a late night happy hour. Okay for a neighborhood bar. Last time I was there...bartender poured me a pretty frickin' stiff drink but is not cheap. I can walk there...that is it's best selling point.
(3)Vinny L.
Great place to eat. The service was good and the food was delicious. They were also very kid friendly. I was a bit concerned about the average ratings here, but after having a good experience, I'm comfortable giving it a 5 star rating and I'll be back.
(5)Khanh D.
Decent restaurant. The environment is very nice, but the steak was average. The winner here is the truffled mac and cheese. The mushrooms were good, but I am not really a fan of shrooms so they tasted average. However, the burger was delicious! Forgot which one....
(3)Jorge P.
Went with a group of my coworkers and a couple of doctors. I ordered the French onion soup and the Nicoise salad. As I was digging into what I thought was a yummy soup, I saw something I thought was an outer skin of an onion. As I pulled it out and tried to remove it, it turned out to be a hunk of clear plastic about the size of my palm. EW. I quietly motioned to the waiter who looked at it and said can I bring you something else. Really? No thanks, lost my appetite. He said he would tell the manager. About 20 minutes later, I asked if he'd let the manager know. She came over stating she had shown the staff and were "discussing" how to prevent further incidents. She seemed more annoyed that I raised my concerns and less on trying to rectify the action with me, she asked me "What else can I do?" At that point I knew it was a lost cause. If you're not interested in return customers, you got it. First time was my last time. Thanks for nothing. Foofoo restaurant without food prep excellence? BLEH!! I hope they didn't charge our host for either the salad OR the soup. I didn't ask as it was not polite.
(1)F M.
Major disappointment, have been there many times over the years. 1. Waiter was indifferent, always had a pro before. 2. Soft shell crab was not too hot temperature wise & the shell was not crisp, soggy. 3. Beignets for dessert were regular donuts, not the light, puffy, airy delights that melt in your mouth. Yes, the restaurant business is tough, times are tough. When a restaurant fails in so many ways, it's time to take them off of the list. So sad, have enjoyed some of the best meals ever from Left Bank with great staff.
(1)Albert H.
Came here rather late in the evening on Bastille day, so expectations were adjusted accordingly. The place was definitely slammed even at 9pm. Despite this, my companion managed to snag a seat at the bar, and I stood behind until another adjacent seat opened up. They offered several specials in honor of the day. We shared a ribeye steak with marrow flan and foie gras sauce. It was a thin cut, with a little round of somewhat greasy flan and a dark sauce detectably flavored of foie. Certainly not a bad steak, and cooked more-or-less to the medium rare we ordered. Apparently it was their last one. We also ordered the clafouti at the beginning of the meal, and were disappointed to be told at the end of the meal that they were out of it ( though it is on their regular menu as well, I guess). They have four beer taps - The pilsner and a seasonal from Gordon Biersch, Stella, and Lost Coast's Great White. They were out of the seasonal by the time we arrived. Their normal dual happy hour, though still advertised on a chalkboard outside, was somewhat understandably suspended. We've been going to Left Bank at this location and others for a long time. Their great contraction of a few years ago where several locations closed seems to have been accompanied by a move away from more ambitious offerings toward simpler, less challenging preparations ... and a reduction in quality. For instance, they used to have some of the most well-prepared fish dishes we've had anywhere, but recent offerings have fallen flat. It's kind of sad, really. That said, bar service was friendly and generally competent, despite the crowding. Our steak was good and our beer was cold. "Vive la République!", I guess.
(3)Dennis C.
Steak frie tastes great.
(4)Dave K.
I swung by here again the other day and continue to be disappointed with certain aspects of the menu and the food. First, the absence of daily specials (other than the fixed rotating ones) implies they are not sussing out fresh, local seasonal ingredients and turning them into something wonderful each day -- a lost opportunity in my mind. Second, since it was Sunday, I could order the bouillabaisse -- and it was VILE. I've had the bouillabaisse here before and, trust me, they have changed the recipe. It did not resemble either their previous version nor any version that I've had in France. It was a thick, thick lukewarm red sauce -- nothing brothy about it. Yuck. The cheese fondue was good, the steak/frites were fine, and the mousse pate (but why of chicken liver and not duck or goose) was good, but I didn't enjoy the pate de campagne very much. Overall, the place continues on its course of being decreasingly French.
(3)Chun L.
Weekend brunch offers wonderful and simple food under reasonable prices. We had crab cake. It was a big crab cake with fresh ingredients. I highly recommend it. The other one we ordered was steak and egg. It is skirt steak. A bit thin but nicely done. The side dish comes with French fries. Price ranges between $10~$14. The place is clean. Ambiance is good. Services were very nice. Also has free wifi.
(4)Katie Anne N.
We decided to stop by for dinner on a weeknight and opted to sit in the bar area to have dinner. I had never been but am familiar that it is a chain restaurant with a location in San Jose. We were promptly seated and greeted by the waiter. The menu is ridiculously large. I had no idea what half the items listed were and quite frankly was confused for a moment. So I let BF order. We started off with the steamed mussels/fries (yum), a salad and shared the steak. They were nice enough to ask us if we wanted it split on two plates. I really like it when they ask that because its more thoughtful that way. The steak was prepared to our liking and was really really good. We chose the beignets for dessert and they were also fantastic. I highly recommend having a meal here. That is, if you can get through their monster menu. Great selections though, just too many options.
(4)Jonathan M.
I should state that I have not eaten here yet. However, if you are looking for a good cocktail place in the area, this is the place!
(4)Ed L.
I got off work relatively early one night, at like 9, and this place was one of the only restaurants open. The hostess was nice enough to keep the door opened long enough for me to drive down and helped me place my order of steak and frittes so by the time I got there the meal was waiting for me to devour. Service is great. The meal was good, nothing spectacular. I feel it's a little overpriced for what you get but the food is good nonetheless. Very nice venue, I think of this as a more sophisticated and refined TGI Fridays.
(3)Kaila J.
My husband and I went to this place for our anniversary dinner (no reservations were made, we just winged it). When we got there we asked the host if we could get seated at a nice private spot, we were seated right away. He sat us outside under the warm heater in a very private lil corner (felt like we were out on a french lil patio). He congratulated us on our anniversary and quickly came back with some candle lights (to help us set the move). Moments later a waiter came by and asked us if we'd like some sparkling wine on the house, we said sure! I thought he would bring out a small glass instead he filled up our wine glasses to the top and greeted us off with CHEERS! that was very nice of them! We drank our sparkling delicious wine (which later I fould out they were $9 a glass) with some yummy bread, they had both french bagette and a bread that had olives inside...that was my favorite. We started with the CALAMARS FRITS ~ $10.50 (included: fried calamari, crispy onion and fennel, lemon, dijon grain mustard vinaigrette) we were pleased with this selection, simply delicious. My hubby ordered the TILAPIA PROVENÇALE $18.95 (included: peruvian tilapia, niçoise olives, capers, roasted tomato, lemon zest pernod herb butter). He gave me a few bites and both him and I thought this dish was just delicious! I ordered the JARRET D'AGNEAU $23.75 (included: braised domestic lamb shank, ratatouille, polenta fritters, lamb jus) the lamb was so juicy and falling off the bone, just wonderful, the ratatouille was also very good. We loved our dinner! For dessert, since I bake I brought a little cake for us. The waiter told us they would have given us free dessert but she didn't want to compete with mine lol so instead she brought us a delicious glass of dessert wine (on the house) to compliment our cake. We were super impressed at how we were treated from start to finish! We will definitely go back there. The staff was friendly and really paid attention to detail and we thought it was so nice that a restaurant took the time to help us celebrate our special day by treating us so well. We showed our gratitude by tipping our waiter very well! Thanks Left Bank!
(5)Kim N.
I can't believe I've neglected to review this place. I remember when it opened to massive crowds. The waits were long but it was the place to be in MP for quite a while. They went through a remodeling years ago and I'd not been since. dropped in for a lunch and noticed that both aesthetically and cuisine wise it's changed quite a bit. The floor has been expanded and has a much more Parisian style layout to the dining area. The best part however is that Roland Passot and team have created lots of dishes that cover many regions of France. Got a Pissaladiere and a Tripe stewe Nicoise. Both were solid. I guess for a while they may have had gone by the wayside but the revamping has made them culinarily interesting again.
(4)Shanna K.
Well, the company was outstanding.. and we brought our own wine so that was outstanding as well... but aside from that I can't say that I was all that impressed. We started with fried calamari which wasn't offensive but just kind of average. Not particularly crispy or tasty, it came with a vinaigrette dipping sauce, which was also just ok. I would have preferred cocktail sauce. We also had the fondue which was fine as far as flavor went, but really disappointing as far as presentation. It came out in a little cast iron pot and, although the cheese was already melted, the whole thing got cold very quickly. Turns out that the pot itself was not warm and it took far too long to heat up with the tiny votive candle underneath. It also took the server 20 minutes to bring some carrot and celery sticks for my friend to dip, since she is allergic to wheat and cannot eat bread. The steak frites I had for my main was tasty enough but extremely difficult to cut. I did enjoy their fries, though.. and the bordelaise sauce was very rich and tasty. We passed on dessert. All in all I would go back or the fries, and maybe a cocktail.. but I don't think I"d make this a destination. There is better food to be had elsewhere..
(2)Zha L.
Left Bank is a hit & miss restaurant, and my last experience here was horrific and disappointing. You would think they have some great potential for being a beautiful French restaurant in Menlo Park downtown, but they don't... It's THAT shameful. You can't depend on them for a satisfying dinner, and you can't expect nothing will go wrong. The waiter we had was so rude that it ruined our meal! Even though the food was okay.. he just downgraded it! He hardly checked up on us, ignored our requests, AND he didn't even apologize for giving us the wrong bill. I wanted to punch his face. If, without by choice, I do ever come back here.. I would probably order the most American thing in the menu... "Le Burger Americain" with pommes frites.
(1)K D.
Service is very slow. Waiters forget and mix up orders but food wise tastes good. Be ready for a wait even if it isnt a full or half house. I would't suggest this place as a first choice, do it if you have no more choices, or better yet go home and order in
(1)Scott W.
There aren't too many brasserie-type restaurants in the area and when my wife and I are craving moule frites, this is our go-to place. The steak with peppercorn sauce also never fails. To top it all off, Menlo Park at dinner time is usually pretty dead so parking is never an issue.
(4)Manny C.
Excellent Sunday brunch have been here the last 2 Sundays and had Christmas Eve dinner here. Food has always been great. Service was a little messed up on Christmas Eve probably because they were packed. They brought out my appetizer to the table next to me and didn't bring out to the soup until after the appetizer and we had to wait for refills on drinks. The food was still great.
(4)Ash T.
Brunch here is pretty damn good. Okay, some of the best brunch I've had. I admit, I'm not generally big on brunch. I go to brunch, sure, but i usually get the lunch food. Pancakes, waffles and omelets and bacon seem good to me in theory, but gross in the form of a meal, i.e., I'd get them at a buffet where I could take a few bites of each, but I wouldn't want to have just a plate of any one of those as my meal. But the brunch menu at Left Bank was so much more than the usual suspects. I ended up ordering the brioche french toast, which was crusted in granola and came with honey maple syrup. I'm a fan of french toast as it, but this took it to another level. I think my friend said it best when she said the french toast looked like a piece of steak. This thing was substantial-- about two inches thick. First off, the granola gave it a nice, hefty crunch. The flavor was also more of a subtle sweetness that came from the brioche itself rather than having a lot of cinnamon. They also stuffed it with orange and fromage blanc. Some other items that people ordered at my table were the duck confit hash and tart alsacienne. Both were also terrific. The duck confit hash came with a poached egg and breakfast potatoes. I had thought about getting this myself, but I was afraid it might end up being really salty and greasy. Recall Mary Kitchen corn beef hash in a can. After stealing some from my friends, I kinda wish I had gotten this dish as well. but then again the toast was amazing. Not too salty, not overly greasy, but flavorful with meaty chunks of duck. The tart alsacienne is basically a flat bread with smoked salmon and creme fraiche. Very tasty. The crust was thin and crisp, and the entire thing was covered in salmon. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like most places that serve anything with smoked salmon totally skimp on the smoked salmon. We also got a fondue for the table, which was a blend of three types of cheeses. In retrospect, I wish we had gotten two orders. There were eight of us sharing it, and things were getting a bit tense as the fondue plate kept getting moved from one end of the table to the other. The calamari we ordered along with it provided some distraction at first, but that vanished pretty quickly. Overall, this place has a much more interesting brunch menu than most places, and the food preparation and presentation are well executed. Oh yeah they also have $5 mimosas, though I personally had two glasses of wine, which, in keeping with the rest of the meal, were also fantastic. But perhaps the best part is, being on the peninsula, you can actually get a brunch reservation without selling your firstborn child. And with food like what they have here, I may never get brunch up in the city again.
(4)Sarah C.
I LOVE Left Bank's happy hours - they have it in their bar twice a day 3-6 then again 9-close. I usually get a cosmo and the lamb burger (for under $15) - not bad!... and I've heard they also have $5 bloody's on the weekends which I have yet to try. I did get a (Sarah's) Crazy Summer drink last time I was there which was delicious! I'm also a fan of their fondue, Salad Nicoise, and their seafood is really good too. You really can't go wrong with their food- just don't expect to get in and get out. They have more of a European style of service - they don't rush you, which I love. My favorite is to grab a table on Santa Cruz for fun people watching on a nice day and just enjoy Menlo. :)
(5)Robert G.
This place has been around for quite awhile so they must be doing something right. I attend business dinners there frequently but I have never been wowed. Service is definitely 5 star.
(3)James L.
I'm not sure what's with all the bad reviews I've seen on this place. I've been a few times at it's always solid. A+ on the cocktails and the food is good. Best of all, they're actually open pretty late (compared to other places in Menlo and Palo Alto). For good food after 10pm this place beats pretty much all the diners and gastropubs nearby. I only subtract one star because the prices were probably 3-5 dollars too high on the entrees for the quality/creativity involved with them (compared to other restaurants with similar price ranges in the bay area). But still the food is solid and they have great cocktails and a full bar so it's win-win. PS: The absinthe cocktail will put hair on your chest if you can drink all of it.
(4)ShuShu M.
A terrible disappointment from the moment our waiter brought the cocktails. There were six of us and all the drinks were watery and pale in color. The men and women BOTH agreed the drinks were terrible. I cannot remember the last time I had a watery drink. The waiter recommended an appetizer that was some kind of cracker/pizza - he called it a "tart" - that had strawberry jam and arugula. It was like something you'd made when you're starving and you find things in the fridge and throw them together and try to convince yourself it all tastes good together. Our entrees were ALL disappointing. My friend had scallops with purple potatoes - THREE small scallops and ONE small purple fingerling potato sliced like thin sausage. My other friend had the cod - she said it was "okay,' and the rest of us had the skirt steak which was unseasoned and tough. We all had different sauces - I sent my bernaise back twice and was told that bernaise could not be warm, it had to be room temperature, or it would separate. I asked the waiter if it was made in a batch earlier in the day and that's why. He said yes. I've had warm bernaise before many times. So I switched to peppercorn sauce that tasted like it came from a powder and there was NOT even one whole peppercorn in the sauce. My other friend didn't have even one peppercorn either. Our bill was $300. We opted to quit while we were ahead and skipped dessert and coffee and port. We went next door to an adorable French restaurant where they comped us one of our desserts after we told them about our horrible experience at Left Bank. I asked them if their bernaise sauce was warm, and he said "absolutely." So I guess they know how to keep it from separating and Left Bank doesn't. None of us will ever go back. It was an absolute rip-off and the manager did not seem remotely interested that we were dissatisfied. I would NOT recommend this restaurant for any reason except that is has a gorgeous tile floor. Go next door to Bistro Vida if you want a delicious meal with an authentic French atmosphere. It is much less expensive and really fabulous!
(1)Sergei B.
French in name only. French - sounding menu, French restaurant appearance, French restaurant prices but anything but French quality of cooking. Like a Chinese fake Rolex watch :-). Clean, nice and friendly however, if you don't care about taste
(2)Roni R.
I have been here, what seems like a hundred times. Always great service and tasty foods! I love the duck confit, always extra crispy! Superb!
(4)Beethoven C.
This French-inspired brasserie is a good choice for late night dining. Having eaten here a number of times, both early and late, we have discovered the quality of the food and service to be very consistent and consistently good, meaning if we are looking for a treat late in the evening, we may head to this place for a nice meal. Our favorites include the burger and fries (ask for medium rare), the steak frites, the coq au vin, the onion soup gratinee, the halibut, the bouillabaisse, and the rotisserie chicken. We have also tried the prix fixe (at $26.50) and found it to be a good deal. We will often finish our meal here with an espresso and one of their desserts. I would not want to eat here too often as the menu does not seem to change. However, what this place lacks in variety it makes up for in reliability and that reliability is comforting when dining late.
(4)Lauri H.
Remember when this restaurant was called a 'destination restaurant'. Well I can't imagine it is anymore. We had several waiters over the course of our meal...which, of course, means that we did NOT receive adequate service. We ordered drinks. Our meal arrived first. We got no water refills. We got little attention. Actually, we were just about to leave because we'd had to wait so long before anyone coming to our table initially, that we were just about to leave when the waiter working on the order for a large nearby party finished and came over asking if anyone had been by to take our order and helped us out, despite not being assigned to our table. We should have left. Food was fine, but when service is this bad it's hard to really enjoy your meal. Since our experience was consistent with our last two visits, no return imminent.
(2)Louisa L.
I've always wanted to check out the Left Bank in Santana Row but never got a chance to until we visited a family friend who recommended this place in Menlo Park. French restaurants never seem to disappoint me much, and this place was no exception. The ambiance was nice, could be for both casual and more formal situations, and the service was also pretty good. I must say though, their cups for water are pretty small, I had to keep asking for refills. With the cups so small, I think they should leave the bottle of water on the table...cuz I just felt like I had to wait a long time to ask for more water =/ The food is pretty good though. My mom ordered the green mussels, which was pretty fresh tasting, and I got the duck which is one of the favorites on their menu. I've never been a HUGE fan of raw seafood, so I thought the mussels were just okay. The duck was pretty good though, and pairing it with brown rice was very good. They are also offering a $35 3-course prixe-fix menu right now that includes a salad, steak frites, and vanilla creme brulee, which I think is a pretty good deal and would recommend it. Overall a pretty good experience, although for the same price I would probably prefer trying other French restaurants.
(4)Laura P.
Tonight was such a disappointment from a place that has been good. Pleasant waits staff but waited more than 20 minutes for meal to arrive. No apologies. No extra bread. Had to request water refill. Tables so close I had to hear about woes from both sides. Could not wait for meal (finally) and check to arrive. Won't return until warm enough for sidewalk seating.
(1)Auntie D.
This was a disappointing experience, to be sure! This used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but it's off of my list now. We're hoping this was a fluke and will return to great food and service again. We went recently to use a gift card we received as an anniversary present -- went around 8 pm on a weeknight. Almost no one was in the restaurant but service was sparse! Waiters and waitresses were happily chatting near the bar, while leaving us without water, drinks, food. They maybe could have use a manager on hand to make sure staff stayed focused during a slow time. Food was okay -- nothing special and probably still would be under the heat lamps if we hadn't asked about it.
(2)Helen V.
Fondue. Calamari. Sole. Delish. Delish. Delish.
(4)natalie s.
Went to this restaurant yesterday to enjoy a Valentines Lunch instead of Dinner. Thought we would have better service, instead it was just the opposite. The service was terrible. We had to ask for bread at our table. The waitress never checked to see if we needed another drink I had to wave down another server.When I got my soup I had to wait for of out of sight waitress Stephanie to bring me parmesan cheese, by the time I got it the soup was cold.This was truely sad that this was the restaurant I picked to enjoy a special lunch. I cant believe out of all the up scale restaurants out here in Silicon Valley this was the one I picked.
(1)Monkgroupie N.
I have gone to this place many times. Often it is terrific. Just as often it is not. But last night I got really angry. I asked for a glass of wine. The wine was off - turned acid, to vinegar. So I told the waiter and he was really nice about it - or should I say he was pleasant. I ordered a different wine by the glass. He told me there was no problem, and that he would bring me a taste of it first. That was fine, except he only brought a small taste in a glass, which tasted just lovely. Then he told me he would bring me a glass of this "other" wine, the wine I liked, but in fact he brought me the same vinegary acid off wine as before. I didn't confront him about it, I was there for a celebration and did not want to spoil the evening. I simply had my meal without wine, leaving the glass untouched. Interestingly, he did not ask me if there was a problem with the wine. It's shameful. It's trash behavior. This is not the way to run a good quality restaurant in America. The food was lovely, but this dihonesty made me really angry. I will tell all my friends about this and about the waiter: Pedro.
(1)Jaremy K.
Drink review only. The Cosmopolitan is tasty. Especially for $5 during happy hour. BTW... all Left Bank restaurants have different specialty drinks.
(5)Shari C.
My husband and I enjoyed our dinner at Left Bank last week and I'd go back again. I had the risotto and he had the salmon and we split the steamed mussels as an appetizer. As some of the reviewers said the service was a little slow but we weren't in a hurry so it worked out for us. Nice decor but our only observation is that the tables seemed too close together and we felt like we were almost sharing in the conversation of the couple next to us.
(4)Cathleen H.
Went here for dinner with a few friends about a month ago -- and I was grateful to have a server who had some great suggestions about what to get (Becca - she was great). I've heard before that if you stick to the basics, then you will not be led astray. I ordered the croque monsieur -- if you're into something heavy and cheesy, then this is your dish. Only order it if you've got an appetite and don't mind something a little greasier. It so happened that it was exactly what I was looking for. Four stars. Others at the table ordered the lamb burger and had great things to say about it. For dessert: the profiteroles were FANTASTIC as were the beignets -- I definitely recommend both! Five stars for dessert. The other great thing about the above entrees is that they were all very reasonably priced. In all, great experience and fun feel.
(4)Teresa C.
Delightful retreat reminiscent of France. Slower pace is intentional. Food is good. Decor is beautiful. $$-$$$
(5)Kevin C.
Last summer, while visiting relatives nearby, my family and I were looking for a place for a light dinner. After walking up and down the adjacent streets, we finally settled on Left Bank. As we had eaten a fairly large lunch earlier in the day, I was looking for a nice light dinner. But when I saw Le Burger D'Agneau Maison (spicy lamb burger, harissa aioli, roasted red bell peppers, herb panini), I knew I just HAD to get it. I mean, who can turn down a lamb burger??? Even if there was little real estate left in my stomach, I was determined to make sure that I could cram in what I anticipated would be a fantastic sandwich. Was my determination rewarded? For the most part, yes, as my overall impression of the lamb burger was mostly positive, and I really enjoyed the burger as a whole. The spices and herbs mixed with the lamb patty gave it a really nice kick, and it reminded me a bit of a really good spicy Italian sausage. The roasted red peppers were flavorful as well. In my opinion, the lamb burger's weak point was its bun, as the herb panini was a bit too soft and spongy for my liking. While the bread did not detract too much from the lamb burger's deliciousness, I would have preferred a bun or roll with some more substance in this particular instance. Another downer was the fact that the lamb burger was accompanied by a rather bland-tasting couscous salad. My dad's hamburger (Le Burger Americain) came with some awesome pommes frites, and I would have much preferred if the lamb burger had come with the fries instead. Having just checked out Left Bank's menu online and comparing it to my description of the burger from the summer, I notice that they have added watercress and replaced the bun, so my review of the burger may be a bit outdated and non-applicable. The restaurant was pretty crowded when I was there (a weeknight in the middle of June), and the service was a bit slow. The waiter wasn't very attentive or timely, but it wasn't too bad. I enjoyed the lamb burger enough to probably make a return trip here the next time I'm in the area. Good food at reasonable prices.
(3)Andrew G.
I read a bunch of the Yelp reviews on Left Bank and they clearly are all over the map. I like the place for the following reasons: (1) It's consistent--the food and the staff. Many of them have been there for years and years. Good esprit de corps (2) Good for kids--decent kids menu, lots to choose from and crayons when you arrive. (3) The bar area serves the full menu. If you are there alone or want something a little more casual the bar seating works well (4) The cheese plate--the morbier is good ! (5) They rotate the menu every month or so to mix things up with a new seasonal theme. (6) The happy hour--good prices if you want a drink and a snack (7) The risotto--every time they change the menu there's a new risotto dish. It's super rich, best to split with someone else. (8) The salmon--always an interesting preparation (9) Excellent fries (10) Good place to see and be seen What I wish were different (1) Bring back the lemon tart !! (2) Bring back the molten chocolate cake (3) Left Bank is overall good for kids but the staff should be reminded to ask if they should speed things up. We've had several meals there with our kids that took 90-120 minutes. Ours are trained to deal with this but a meltdown is often right around the corner
(4)John-Michael C.
Happy Hour!!!! 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to 10pm everyday... EVERY DAY!!! I had the salmon creme fraice spread with accompanying trio of toast bread. And a 3oz medium rare burger with fries. And a coke. Yes.. a coke. A coke, a regular coke, a plain coke, a sober coke... a coke minus rum, a coke minus makers... a coke minus my usual. Very filling. Very satisfying. What's there to ask more from a happy hour? Well..... lets just say i just may drop by again when I can drink again. ;D
(3)Jack R.
Decor is European, service is efficient, the food was very average. Attracts well dressed affluent folks. So the look is good, but the food just doesn't live up to the ambiance.
(3)Cindy H.
Organic, local food; farm to table concept of dining, great ambiance, overall good food.
(4)Brittany B.
Left Bank has some of the best cocktails around. The Rue Claire, the Spice Apple Jack, The Lemon Drop...all so good. I've been here quite a few times at all different times of day. Their breakfasts are huge and come with a wide selection of choices. When I came for lunch the salad I ordered was a bit small but I assume that's how the French stay so thin, yes? I came for dinner last week with a party of four and we all got the skirt steak and agreed it was absolutely fantastic. By far one of the best steaks I've ever had.
(5)hsiao c.
On Christmas Eve 2010, I came to Left Bank in Menlo Park for dinner. When we reached the restaurant, the place was hustling and bustling! Even though I had reservations, we were seating in the bar area, on a table next to the door. The weather was somewhat chilly and the seat was a little cold, especially for my dinner companion. We studied the menu and decided to order the prix fixe Christmas menu. The first course was a roasted cauliflower soup with all spice creme fraiche and curried Bartley pear. When I first digged into the soup, I tasted cauliflower but none of the rawness. There was a hint of curry in the after taste. The diced pear provided a little sweetness and the creme fraiche provided a little creaminess. The soup was pureed but still has a little texture. It was very good. The second dish was sea scallop and salmon mousse with mushrooms and lobster sauce. The mousse was molded and cooked so that it has the texture of a "fish cake", but with more seafood sweetness and goodness. The lobster sauce was a was sweet, and the mushroom provided some earthiness to the dish. Also very good. Both my dinner companion and I opted for the Salmon for the third dish, which was a pan-seared salmon with rainbow chard and pumpkin puree. The salmon was pan seared so that the skin side is very crispy. The fish itself however was overcooked in during the searing process and was dry and hard. The pumpkin puree with the licorice beurre blanc sauce was quite sweet. The rainbow chard was nicely wilted, but was lost on the plate. I was not able to taste the subtle bitterness which could provide a good counterpoint to the pumpkin puree and sauce. The final dish for the night was a traditional yule log cake. This version was moist and soft, but a little too sweet. Overall, there was 2 good dishes and 2 not so successful dishes. Since this restaurant is quite a ways from me, I doubt I will be coming back soon.
(3)Rachel E.
We ate at the Left Bank for lunch today. The interior has been redone and it's gorgeous! However, it's still quite noisy. We had the french onion soup which was very good. Then we had the salad nicoise which was a small portion for the price and didn't think it was that great. Something was off with the dressing. I wouldn't order it again. We also had the steak salad. The steak was excellent. We ordered it medium and they made it that way which hardly ever happens. We also had the sandwich au poulet which was decent. I've had better. French fries were good, but it's pretty hard to mess those up. All in all it was pretty pricey and the food was pretty good but not great. The only thing that was really good was the steak but at $16.75...well you get the picture.
(3)Dustin T.
I have been twice (once for brunch, once for dinner) and both times have been a treat. I had the lamb burger with couscous salad which was huge and amazing.For brunch I had the Duck confit hash which was superior. Both times my dining companions had the pear salad and announced it amazing. The wait staff are very attentive; feels like a 5 star restaurant, without the 5-star snootiness. This will be one of my new favorite spots.
(5)Stephanie W.
You know, I was about to write a good review. I really was. We ate at Left Bank a few weeks ago when my parents were in town with a few other folks, and the experience was fantastic. We had a great table, the service was good, everything we ate was great. My boyfriend and I split the chicken and the steak and loved both. When we ordered a bottle of wine and it was corked, the staff gladly took it off the bill and suggested we try a bottle of the house Bordeaux, which was a very good wine. Had I written my review after that experience, it probably would have been a 5. Unfortunately, I think I would still have come back to update it following this past Thursday's experience. My best friend and I had some extra time for lunch, so we headed over to Left Bank to grab burgers (we've had them before and they're usually really good). But the whole experience just started out wrong. We arrived at 130, and there were signs posted outside that Left Bank would be closing at 2 for a private party. Okay, we think, we can get in and out quickly. Too bad the restaurant didn't agree. We waited almost 5 minutes just for someone to come over to the host stand. We were seated outside, only to have our waiter practically ignore us the whole time. We weren't served water, and our diet cokes came a solid 10 minutes after we ordered them. We asked for bread, which came after our burgers. Our burgers were good, but our fries were cold. This isn't the first time I've had deplorable service at Left Bank, but in the past I wanted to give them a little benefit of the doubt. It's not a bad restaurant, per se, but I wouldn't exactly recommend it.
(3)P G.
Still pretty good,but prices are edging up quite quickly. Cassolet used to be about $20 bucks and is now at about $30. Enough for 2 people,so why not just give me half for $15?
(3)Mashimaro M.
The food was okay. But the service was terrible. The waiter obviously didn't know what he was doing, mixing up the orders and then having to re-serve the drinks. He couldn't even explain what the items were on the menu and what the different types of sauces are. Aren't you supposed to know that if it's your job to serve the platters??? He didn't re-fill even the water glasses timely. It's like having to flag someone down for some little thing! Be careful here, all of their soups and salads are a la carte. The a la carte items on bill came out to double our entree items. Now I know why many restaurants want to charge a "service charge" up front: so they can treat you like s**t and over charge, etc. and then stick it to you. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a selfish cheapie. But I do want to feel that if I paid $500.00 for my dinner that it was worth it and not feel taken advantage of. Left bank, you make me feel like I really had "left my bank" there so I am NEVER returning.
(1)Kate J.
I came here for lunch on a Thursday. Left Bank is a very popular spot for lunch, it was pretty crowded. I ordered the Espadon Grille (swordfish $19.75). It was very good. The sauce was delicious and the "exotic" mushrooms, as it says on the menu, were very good as well. The portion size is perfect. They give you about 4 ounces witch left me full and satisfied. Our waiter was very friendly, too!
(4)Cindy H.
Went there on Valentine's Day; our 2nd "love dinner" this year. We've been here twice before; decided to give it another try. Our Seat was at 2nd floor, nice and away from crowd. Half dozen oyster....delicious!!! Oyster is always my favorite. My fiance ordered creamy lobster soup and I try..good. Mine is french onion soup; I couldn't finish it all; too salty at the end. Our main course were: steak and scollop....just ok. Steak is tender and cook right, but too many hard parts, lots of tendon. Scollop....just 3pcs and cost over $20..... -_- and also too salty, and smell a little bit "ammonia" .... when I chew... Good dessert..ok coffee and fair service.. Good for business dinner but I won't go there myself again.
(3)gabriela H.
Really impressed with brunch at Left Bank. Their french toast and bacon was delicious as well as the crab benedict.
(4)Kirill M.
I would like to recognize Cesar Espidio - manager at Left Bank in Menlo Park. Me and my wife dined at Left Bank and were amazed by the amount of customer care expressed toward us from Cesar and his staff. Small detail of the event - I ordered one item on the menu, but to a simple human error - waitress ordered similar, but NOT the same item. Cesar took time to walk over to our table, brought me a complimentary salad (while I was waiting for my food) and came back several times to make sure that everything was up-to-par. Recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone
(5)Alissa A.
Don't judge a restaurant by the starch in its white tablecloths. By the looks of the place, you might have high expectations. Don't. "Good." ... "No, just good." My complete monotone response to the manager on duty, upon his inquiry regarding our just-finished meal. It's good. It's that simple and that boring... or did I mistake boring with flavorless? Salad nicoise - a lack of effort or merely a lost cause. Seared tuna - fresh out of the fridge (!?!) - with a gelatinous texture resulting from its too-cool temperature. Boiled potatoes, removed from the water a few minutes to soon and boiled eggs, removed from the water a few minutes too late. The avocado, perhaps for that California twist, was out of place, and clearly so was I. Risotto is a risotto is a risotto. Here, in it's most basic form: short grain rice + creamy sauce. The 'featured' ingredients, peas and pancetta tossed on top, completely lacked flavor. Flavorless pancetta? Yes, it can be done. I'm just glad we didn't show up too hungry, I would have hated us to spend more time and money chewing down more mediocre forkfuls. Oh, and I hate cold hard butter.
(2)Katelyn M.
I had a great dinner here with a few friends. Service was friendly (a bit absent at times) and gave solid recommendations. Among them: the sea scallops. They were sweet and delicious and came atop a sea of corn and fresh peas and a great red pepper coulis. Loved it!! The strawberry "gratin" dessert was also a hit with the table. We tried to brioche dessert (a "tarte" ??) but it came out quite dry. That didn't stop us from gobbling it up...but I certainly wouldn't order it again. Portion sizes are on the smaller size (except for perhaps the lamb shank which was huge), but Left Bank actually beat my expectations in terms of the quality of food and ingredients.
(4)Sara C.
We called the restaurant at 6:30 to ask if they had any openings for the night . They told us they did at 7:30. We arrived at 7:15 and the first thing the hostess said to us is "we cannot seat you until after 7:30" in an argumentative tone. We hadn't even asked her to. Then we watched her seat at least 8 other parties as time tucked by and it became 7:45. Then after the whole waiting area was empty she came and asked if we were waiting for a table as though she'd never seen us before. We said yes and she scurried - it was clear she'd forgotten. We waited 5 more minutes and then told the other host that it was unacceptable and that we were leaving. They made no apology or offer to make up for forgetting us. They had our contact info and made no effort to reach out to apologize or make it right. I used to visit every other week or so for lunch or happy hour but I will not be going back.
(1)Tanya B.
A really cute French place. Whereas other places in Menlo Park seemed empty on a Friday night, this one was fairly busy. The lounge is fairly casual by the bar, the dining room - a bit more formal. We sat at the lounge and the atmosphere was warm and cozy, but hip in a way. Lots of people just chatting in the bar area, but it wasn't too loud.
(5)mo o.
Poor service. Very pretty French influenced decor. Lots of light and high ceilings. Nice music. OK food. Good for a drink outside on a sunny day if you've got lots of time. This place could be packed if they improved service and food. 'Tis a shame.
(2)Tri N.
I like the food, the services, and the atmosphere of this place.
(5)Douglas L.
The salade nicoise is hands down the best thing on the menu. I also like the steamed mussels. Like the salad nicoise, this is almost a light meal in itself. The country pate makes for a nice appetizer. The hanger steak is tough. Coq au vin decent.
(4)Anne A.
I have been to left bank many times. Unfortunately the service last evening was the worst I have experienced at a restaurant in many years. I ordered gaspacho...after quite a while the waiter informed me they were out of it. I did get another soup. I had to ask for water...beg three times for the bread and we both waited one hour for the entrees. The salmon was so salty it was awful. We then waited a long time for the bill.....I don!t plan to return....too bad because it is a great atmosphere.
(2)Liz L.
Four stars for the eggs! I don't know why, but it's very hard to get above-average scrambled eggs in restaurants. These were the perfect texture -- just done and seasoned enough. I can't really comment on anything besides the eggs, bacon, and brioche, but definitely no complaints on those.
(4)Girish B.
Ok food. Restaurant is too noisy.
(3)pat n.
The food was awful, steak was full of fat, salmon was served with cold vegetables, lentil soup was not good. Then to top it all off, i was charged an extra $3 when I asked for additional sauce for my steak since it came with none on it. My entree was Steak Au peppercorn sauce. I also asked about the cervices and was told it had cilantro ever heard of a French restaurant serving cilantro???? I'm French and that's an herb we don't use. I have no problem paying more money for good food but this was just plain bad. Left Bank will not see us again nor will our money be spent there again. We were a party of 5 which included wine with dinner. It's too bad they didn't seem to care. Also don't tell them you're celebrating a birthday, they'll not even acknowledge it I'm much happier spending my money elsewhere.
(1)Gabrielle J.
Looking to re-live that "magical dinner in France" you had that one time? Or dying to know what dining in a Brasserie feels like? Left Bank is a solid place to do so. This restaurant has been a staple to my French expatriate family's diet for many years now... Stick to the classics here- Boeuf Bourgignon (Julie and Julia is about to popularize this dish a lot more!), Steak Frites, Moules/Frites, fondant chocolat... Only improvement I would recommend is to have a staff who care a bit more about French Culture...They know very little about the food or wines to pair with it.
(4)Elizabeth G.
So unbelievable I had to open a Yelp account to vent. Have been here before and been underwhelmed. However, a recent visit was ridiculously poor. The food was fine, in most cases delicious. It was the service and treatment by the employees that was mind boggling - very lacking and even RUDE. After being seated by hostess (party of 7), we were told by waiter that we had to move to a smaller table (for 5). [We had reservation.] We declined. Duh! Our drinks took 30 minutes to arrive, for one of us 45 minutes. (very long story there; waiter and bartender never heard of a Rob Roy, nor did they care to hear. Simply argued about it.) One entree arrived when others were more than half-way finished with theirs. And it was cold. (noticed that it was served at another table and then brought over) White wine was warm. Asked for water three times. Still none. Spoke to manager about issues. She did not seem to care, no apologies, no checking back to see how things were going. Went from bad to worse. Took away bread plates before we were finished with them. A salad arrived with entree instead of before. An entree was removed before being finished; had to ask them to not take it. No tablecloth, although all other tables had them. Got up and went to bar myself to get some ice as I tired of waiting for service. Olive seeds in one of the salads. I could go on......... Do not understand why it was so crowded; that is a mystery.
(1)John G.
Amazing food. This is definitely one of the best places to eat in Menlo Park. Probably too classy for me. Wait, wait, yup. Definitely too classy for me.
(5)L C.
The overall experience at this Left Bank location was only a 3-star. Started with the onion soup. It was good. Cheesy and flavorful. The escargot, on the other hand, was fine - a little rubbery. What was disappointing was the service. The soup of the day we were told was seafood soup with chunks of fish. Delicious according to our waiter. So my friend ordered it. When it came out, it was potato leek soup! We flagged our waiter down. Instead of apologizing, he nonchalantly responded, "Oh, the chef told me the seafood soup is gone, and potato soup is what we have now." We said, "we didn't order potato soup" and the waiter followed, "oh, try it." That's ridiculous! First off, he should have told us they ran out of the seafood soup before it came out. Second, he should have apologized for not letting us know before hand and offer to take the soup back instead of saying "try it.". We then told him to take the soup back and we ordered the fondue appetizer instead. The fondue appetizer was not good. It was bitter! Nothing compared to the Melting Pot cheese fondue. My main entree was good -- had the fettucini with shrimp and spicy sausage. Unfortunately, we kept asking the busboy to get our waiter's attention to get another drink and then the check. Bottom line: 3.5 stars for the food and 1.5 stars for the service.
(3)Sarah L.
Three stars for food. We ordered the croque poulet (the chicken sandwich) and the dry pomegranate soda, which just tasted like italian soda aka carbonated water and syrup. The fries weren't anything special, but the sandwich was pretty good. Herb-y fougasse bread with aioli, sundried tomatoes, and tender chicken. . Plus half a star for the atmosphere. I'm a big fan of the french murals and dark lighting (although it makes photography a pain in the butt.) Booths were comfy, and they have tables too, if that's more of your thing. Plus half a star for the friendly waiter that answered all our questions. You can definitely get away with spending less than $15-$20 for dinner, which is about the average for this area.
(4)Janice P.
This has become a regular for me. The food is good, especially the Salad Nicoise, steak tartare and their fries. I don't think the egg dishes at Saturday brunch looked very appetizing, but so many of their other offerings and ingredients are local and organic you're bound to find a favorite. The bathrooms are up some serious tile stairs, so if you need an elevator, they have one. Theirs outdoor seating and a nice bar.
(4)Olivia W.
I've been here 4 times or so. The cocktails are tasty. Their lunch special (salad/soup, entree, desert) was an incredibly good value $12 Nice atmosphere, sometimes the waiters aren't very good.
(4)Shelley F.
The mezzanine is the best place for private party.
(4)Sparkely K.
It's been years since I've eaten at the Menlo Park Left Bank, and really do prefer the look and feel of the San Mateo location, but MP is more convenient now. A friend took me to lunch today and I was really looking forward to time together and a good meal. I love that this restaurant is nice and bright inside despite a dreary downtown day outside. The Hostess was very gracious. We wanted a window table and the only one with any semblance of privacy was up by the bar. Once we sat down a very friendly and helpful gentleman came over to take our orders and really took great care of us throughout our meal. We each had the Hamburger Americain. Yes, I know; go to a French restaurant and have a burger, however, their burger with pommes frites is delicious. We also had the Profiteroles for dessert. That is my favorite dessert on Earth and LB is the only place I know of that serves it locally. Everything was quite tasty! The only negative was that I wanted medium rare and my friend wanted medium well. I got the well and she got the rare. (shrug) We're already planning a trip back once it's warm outside for wine and Pate.
(4)Susan K.
It's so disappointing to see how this place has deteriorated. Having dined here dozens of times in the past, we recently returned for a celebratory luncheon. The service was indifferent, and the food was mediocre. In particular, my friend's salad was gritty, as if not thoroughly washed. Without an apology, it was removed, and another gritty salad brought after a long wait. This was removed from the bill without a problem , but an apology or, better yet, a clean salad would have been appreciated. The other dishes ranged from poor (soggy crusted Tarte Tatin) to good (mushroom bisque and pommes frites). But the poor attitude of the staff and the inedibility of a simple salade verte is the kiss of death. We won't return.
(2)Anna N.
Fried Calimari is top notch. "Paella" special on Friday nights is a joke. Tasted like a seafood fried rice. Great wine selection.
(3)Andrea G.
Came here recently on a Saturday afternoon around 2:00 for lunch and sat at a table at the bar. I knew before the waiter arrived that I wanted a burger, so I ordered it right away without looking at the menu. After it arrived, I never saw the waiter again, except for the few times he ran past me so quickly that I couldn't get his attention. I tracked down a busboy and asked him for catsup and mustard. About 5 minutes later, it arrived. The restaurant was not at all crowded, but for some reason, all the wait staff seemed like they were too busy to tend to the few people who were seated. The table next to me was covered with dirty dishes the entire time I was there and numerous employees, including the manager walked by so many times and never bothered to pick any of it up. Finally, my waiter said something about it to the bartender and they began bickering about who was responsible for cleaning it up (loud enough for me to hear and I was sitting about 10 feet away). The waiter never came by to check on me or ask if everything was o.k. Of course, he was really sweet when he dropped my check off : ( I'm really disappointed in this place, they could be doing so much better, but the whole visit was a real downer. Oh, the burger was good.
(2)Alexander M.
Left Bank is good in theory but I have had a couple of bad experiences there. The decor is very well thought out and is a clean (if a bit kitschy) appropriation of a French restaurant. The menus has everything Americans look for on a French menu - steak au poivre, pommes frites, fondue, etc. And most choices will satisfy. But one time when I ordered the steak, it arrived extremely overcooked, almost burnt. Also my coke tasted very chemical - worse than diet. After I sent it back, it came back very much the same. I have had much better experiences at the location in San Jose, but that is not to say Menlo Park is all bad... It's kind of hit or miss. And as you know, after just one bad experience, ti's hard to return. Not bad... but surrounded by better options.
(3)Amar K.
Lunch here was ok, it's French so there's nothing on the menu that's vegan~ which is a big bummer. My sandwhich was good, but even though I asked for no cheese ~ hello I am allergic! It still came with some creamy mayo like aoili spread, sigh, I ate it anways. Only half though it was so big! The eggplant was really cooked well and the rosemary bread WaS awesome ~ I'm a sucker for rosemary anything. Service was good. Just wish their was a little more vegan options
(3)JIm Z.
We have been back a couple of times, their food and service is reliably good, and the wine has been fine. So maybe my last review was an off night.
(4)marcie v.
Middle of the road French brasserie food. Nice big space where you can generally get a table though.
(2)Dominique T.
Pretty mediocre cuisine as far as French bistro food is concerned. Compare to Bistro Jeanty in Yountville... Ambiance, service and pace are fine. Cuisine is very dull, lacks imagination and tradition: needs to be fixed, in the desert of good restaurants in Menlo Park.
(2)Mike P.
Seemed a little Stuffy for a mid week lunch, but I decided to give it a try after looking at the Menu. The wait for my food was longer than I hoped, but the Lamb sandwich was excellent, as well as the Service from the Bartender. Reservations recommended, & if there is a large party putting in an order before yours, expect a delay. Thanks for a good meal, & I shall return!
(4)Janet H.
This restaurant has sooooo much potential, but it just doesn't get there. They have a great selection of food, all very French. They have lots of seating, I have yet to wait for a table. But they seem understaffed, and although the servers are friendly, they are always spread too thin to be efficient. A few times we have gone in a group, and some dishes were hot at the same time that the others in the same order were cold or lukewarm. I have had some very expensive wine that was "off", and yet the kitchen staff swore it was not and refused to replace it. I would really like to see this place do better, because it is really great to be able to choose from so many regional French dishes and the extensive wine list.
(3)James K.
NOTE: This review is for the bar area only. The wife and I dropped into Left Bank on a recent Saturday night after our plan to have apps and drinks at Marche was foiled by the tiny bar being fully occupied. There weren't any tables to be had, so we sat at the bar, which ended up working out nicely. I started with the "Paris je t'aime" cocktail and it was a really delicious, with just a hint of licorice flavor from the pastis. The wife had some sort of blackberry mojito or something, and it was a bit too sweet. The food came out promptly, and pretty much all at once. The oysters were fresh and tangy--they tasted to me like they might've come from Tomales Bay. Left Bank's fondue is a mix of cheeses, including some blue, so don't order it unless you're into the stinky stuff. Personally, I think it is delicious! I was literally scraping the pot to get the last bits. The pate was just OK--nothing wrong, but we've spoiled ourselves with yummy things from Fabrique Delices and The Fatted Calf. I had a glass of a nice white Rhone with the oysters and cheese. Not enough places have white Rhone by the glass, so +1 star just for this! We were over-enthusiastic and got two desserts, the chocolate fondant and the vanilla creme brulee. Both were seriously rich and decadent. I really enjoyed the creme brulee... it's always a good sign when you see those tiny vanilla bean seeds sitting at the bottom of your ramekin! As soon as my wife hit the fondant with her spoon, chocolate flowed all over the plate... it was so good, but afterward we wished we had just split one dessert! For an impromptu meal, Left Bank turned out to be a fun and lively spot. There was some interesting people-watching, too--some middle-aged guy who was clearly drunk off his kiester tried to order a whole bottle of tequila. The bartender took it in stride and told the guy he couldn't serve him since he "appeared to be intoxicated". The guy responded by trying to bribe the bartender with a $100 bill. Those gentrified Menlo Parkians sure do get wacky when drunk!
(4)Nick L.
Had a large business dinner there last night. Service was great. Food was great - those who complain about portion size must be new to French Restaurants - this isn't Dennys. Service was prompt, polite and unobtrusive. Had the sturgeon - a nice pice cooked perfectly. Restaurant was packed, but not noisy. Not as expensive as I had thought.
(5)Mark L.
Came here for my birthday this year, and ordered the coq au vin... Actually twas all very good, with a great sauce that went down well with the bread and a nice glass of Beaujolais.. the creme brule is excellent, and indeed, a trifle filling, so if you are going to make that the ceterpiece of your dessert, perhaps best to consider before filling yourself on the entree. I could but barely manage it to my bike to pedal away when all was done. A nice experience, you can eat indoors or out here and they give you curbside service which of itself is an interesting touch. I may come back to try a few other dishes, though it's in the "double your usual idea of an easy restaurant dinner" expensive.
(4)Nancy B.
It took a bit to convence my husband to take me to Left Bank because he had a mediocer experiance at the Left Bank in San Mateo before it closed. My husband and I made an early reservation, 6:30 pm, because he was traveling the next day. When we arrived there were 2 young girls standing at the hostess table, but it took them a few minutes to look up to great us. Very unfriendly. We were seated at a table wedged between 2 others. At 6:30 there were not many people dinning, except a few families with kidos. We asked kindly to be moved to another table and they told us that everything was reserved. With half the restaurant empty, you would thing that they would try to accomodate us. We told them we could not eat comfortably at that table and they told us that was it. We left and before we could write our review on Open Table, our reservation was canceled. What do you think our recommendation would be on the Left Bank?
(1)Brenda C.
Oui, oui, oui! (ok, sorry for the cheesy French pun). What I'm trying to say is that I had a great experience! Our server, Michael, was fun and efficient, as all should be. We started with oysters on the half shell, which were reasonable priced and yummy. I had a super tender rotisserie chicken, and my friend had a Boeuf Bourguignon that packed a lot of flavor. Chocolately deliciousness for dessert. Oh, and a really tasty Pinot Noir. I appreciated that the manager came by and made sure we were happy with everything...always a sign of a good restro. Go and enjoy!
(5)Carol S.
I've been going to the Left Bank since it opened. I enjoy the feeling of being in a French Bistro right here at home only the US waiters are usually a lot friendlier than those in France! Try the mussels or the French onion soup. Delish.
(4)T W.
The last time I ate here was a few years ago and all I remembered was that the service took forever. I went back to check it out after they remodeled and hoped that the service improved. THE SERVICE STILL SUCKS! (but they did a nice job with the remodel) After we were seated, It took about 10 minutes for someone to come around and serve us water. It took another 10 minutes after that for a waiter to acknowledge us. Then, it took 30 minutes to make three burgers. My friends asked to swap their fries with salads, but do you think they got that right the first time?!? Then, our waiter was nowhere to be found to get our check. The food was mediocre. I think it'll be another few years before I go back...or maybe I'll wait till their next remodel.
(1)Lu W.
This is the restaurant of choice when 1) I have a visitor from out of town I need to please and 2) I'm too lazy to drive, but not too lazy to walk. This is fine, fine food, and at an unholy price, of course. The Rotesserie chicken was so tender and flavorful you can't help but wonder if the chicken has had a really good life (yeah, it's supposed to be free range). The Beet Salad I had was so so - fresh, but otherwise unimpressive. Then there's the fries - fresh, crispy, flavored fries, that were better than McDonalds' but not by much. Months ago I have also had a pork dish there, and that was fabulous, too. I can't remember the name of it, but there are probably 3 entrees with pork on the entire menu, so go ahead and find the one that comes in a pot. The service was actually pretty good also. I didn't experience any mix-up at least, and the waiter was friendly and timely for the most part. The only issue was - well you should know it by now - price. I'm not saying the food isn't worth it, but worthiness itself isn't enough to earn it a 5 star.
(4)Karen J.
Great happy hour beautiful outdoor dining Very attentive staff The happy hour has some fun new cocktails
(5)Angelique L.
After walking by this absolutely adorable restaurant, we cancelled our reservations at a much better rated restaurant. The food here is okay, it's not spectacular, but it feels like being in Paris at a sidewalk cafe. Everything is perfect. The waiter speaks French and it's just lovely. It was a hot summer day so we weren't terribly hungry. My friend got the French Onion soup and enjoyed it though it was super salty (as it tends to be when you get it at a restaurant). If you love this soup, it's really easy to make and Julia Child's recipe is perfection. Buy beef bones and make your own broth for a really perfect cup. I ordered the tuna tartare and it was okay though a little bland. I've had it better at other places with a little avocado and a touch of horseradish. This seemed like a purist version that just didn't taste like much. But it was okay. We ordered a crepe for dessert and it was a soggy mess filled with globs of chocolate and swimming in a disgustingly sweet caramel "sauce" that was hardening like candy and stuck to our teeth. It made us feel a little ill and we didn't finish it. The French would not approve.
(3)Christina T.
This location is cute for Menlo Park, away from the absurd traffic around University Avenue. Parking here is a plus too! Came here for HH with coworkers ($7 appetizers and drinks run from $6-7). Service is a bit slow... Calamari - super fried, tiny pieces of calamari, barely anything! Comes with butt load of onion strings Oysters - Why bother, its not fresh and smells fishy, not the place for this! Sliders - the best on the HH menu, pretty big portions too, comes with side of fries. I got the trio to try all three verisions; pork sausage, lamb, and American Salmon croquettes - soft fried little balls, they're okay Truffle fries - pretty good, tasty, perfect with a light beer
(2)Jenny S.
Left Bank was such a let down after i've had a great experience at their sister restaurant LB steak! CUTE restaurant and it seemed like people were taking advantage of their happy hour in the outdoor seating area, but the food didn't justify the prices ---they start you off with complimentary bread ---escargot: a nice appetizer if you like snails! ---summer spinach and stone fruit salad: standard salad, the plums were my favorite part ---french onion soup: TERRIBLE, way too much cheese drowning the soup and the amount of sweetness was not enjoyable ---salmon: didn't get to try the bf's but he said it was a bit overcooked i guess i'll stick to the steak and stay away from the french food
(2)Karen G.
Charming atmosphere and great outdoor seating area. Good for a romantic date or just a chill evening with friends. Escargot, beet salad and mussels - how can you go wrong? The escargot was tender and garlicky. The beets were delicious. Mussels are always a favorite. Had a nice Pinot Grigio also. Our waiter was very attentive and lively.
(3)Alice C.
We ordered the La bouillabaisse $29.50 - did tomato broth cream sauce was absolutely amazing. The dish came with rockfish, muscles, and shrimp. The seafood itself was just a tad overcooked and the French bug get crostini's that came with were a big greasy, however the potato sauce that came with the crostini and tomato broth truly were the stars of the dish, Salmon-$24.95 The boyfriend ordered the station and he quite enjoyed it. The salmon was a bit overcooked as well and slightly on the dry end but the dish was nicely put together with a cucumber salad underneath. you can definitely tell it's a high-end restaurant as portions were definitely not generous. The cheese fondue was quite good though I would have liked a bit more than just bread to go with the fondue. Food is alright, I really did enjoy the tomato broth before this price tag I'm taking my dining options elsewhere
(3)Diane L.
There I was, waiting for my friend to arrive and not knowing that she was already inside! Finally a nice waiter noticed this and showed me someone in the restaurant waiting for a friend to come. Yep, we connected. Hooray I waited outside and noticed the tables lined up ready for diners. The outside was very pleasant but the weather was not as pleasant so we decided to eat inside. Restaurant was clean and neat. Our waiter was attentive and came to our table when needed. We both ordered the croque poulet which was a rosemary chicken breast, carmelized onions, brie, apple chutney and fries. We were offered a basket of delicious breads and butter. Fresh with a crusty outside and soft inside. Very good. Within a decent amount of time our meals came. The sandwiches came on a wonderful onion roll which added to the taste experience. The creme brulee was delicious. The creme was not too soft nor too firm with a delicate firm coating on top, served with one raspberry. Overall the sandwiches were unusual but okay but the dessert was fantastic. Don'know if I'll be back soon but not totally off my list of restaurants to go back to. We could not finish our meals so we asked for take out boxes and they were given prior to leaving.
(3)Local S.
Background: Left Bank is a unique small Bay-Area chain, started by a Frenchman in the 1990s, that approximates the bustling brasseries (casual food/drink cafés) very familiar in France. A Left-Bank expansion effort in the early 00s didn't work: other than Santana Row, the newer locations closed, so it's now 3 sites, down from a peak of six or so. Unlike many Yelpers who express strong opinions from just ONE experience trying a few things, my comments below collect impressions from many diverse meals at Menlo Park and other Left Banks. Incidentally the menu concept isn't what earlier US generations perceived as "French cooking" (i.e. High Cuisine, right out of Escoffier's "Guide Culinaire"), but rather French folk cooking, what people in France often eat: grilled steaks or steamed mussels with fries, Alsatian onion-cheese tarts, Niçoise salads (dishes Escoffier mostly omitted from his book, but ate at home). In the Bay Area, rare independent émigré-owned casual-French restaurants do such cooking better, with more soul (my local favorite is Le Petit Bistro, Mountain View: yelp.com/biz/le-petit-bi… ). But Left Bank has established some house recipe formulas, and often executes them competently. Of dishes I've had at various locations, I especially remember: a superb batch of mussels steamed with Pernod and citrus zest; a main-course-style French onion soup that however tends to be very sweet; and several times, hedonistic over-the-top apple tarte Tatin for dessert (I don't even eat desserts much, but this was the Real McCoy). Tarte Tatin isn't currently offered in Menlo Park; maybe after apple season starts? I've had multiple meals each at Menlo Park, at the promising but doomed San Mateo site, and at the maddeningly uneven Santana Row location in San José. The different Left Bank locations are NOT equivalent! Their teams, local market expectations, and evolved styles differ enough that you shouldn't estimate one from another. That's typical of upscale chains, by the way. At Santana Row I experienced many meals, some large private food-and-wine events, and that restaurant's sometimes strangely inept handling of all those, leaving me unenthusiastic about that location. Santana Row's is the only restaurant I've seen where menu items were in French, yet servers weren't trained, at all, to pronounce them, and stumbled awkwardly -- tarring the whole enterprise with the pigment of pretension. (Just French! Not some uncommon tongue like Finnish or Basque.) Further: if it ever became public which food-world personality a Santana-Row manager was talking to (the manager himself clearly had no idea) when he tried, wrongly, amazingly, to insist that a hollandaise sauce was a Béarnaise, there'd be red faces in the Left Bank organization, and public jokes. The joke is pretty good even when private! (Even *I* can distinguished those two related sauces correctly at a glance or sniff -- ever since I was 20 -- and I'm not a restaurant professional.) Those incidents (and there are others) speak volumes about Left Bank's organizational culture, at least at Santana Row. But enough on the clumsy Santana-Row location. Menlo Park is the solidest Left Bank of my experience (about 8 visits) -- and elegantly laid out, with high ceilings, good lighting, classy bar area. Decent values with reasonably executed casual French standards. It's not a real Paris brasserie, but the travel time is less. A recent lunch had fancy salads and lingered afterwards for coffee and the current dessert menu. An interesting, satisfying current dessert is the lemon tart in the photo, whose meringue topping was so finely decorated my companion had to take a picture -- almost too cute to eat. Under those toasted filigrees lay a thin layer of intense lemon curd on short pastry. A small intense dessert, good to share. There's also an impressive cheeses menu, individual or assorted -- if we'd known that in advance, we might have chosen it instead of this tart, but then would have missed the cute sight.
(4)Michelle Y.
I came for my team's end of season banquet. We got the party space upstairs. I really just found the good adequate. Each time they brought us bread, it was different. Olive bread, French?, and cheese breads. I was pretty confused. We had a set menu to choose from, so limited options and it was $40.00 each. Appetizer: salad or butternut squash soup. Main dish: vegetarian ravioli, chicken, and red snapper. Dessert: sorbet or creme brulee. Soup looked good. Presentation was nice. Salad was good, but very small. I ate so much bread because I was so hungry. The dish ware was random for our main dishes. Some green, some peach colored, and some white plates for the main dish. Only tried the red snapper and it was just okay. It had a very strong smell of the ocean, but I don't think it was particularly tasty until after I squeezed a lemon over it. The topping was good though. I think it was sun dried tomatoes. The sorbet and creme brulé were pretty big. Two huge scoops of sorbet, passion fruit.... And... Something else. Both delicious. But they didn't have enough wide ramekins for the creme brulé. So two people got small mini ones while others got a big one :( Its not a place that thrills me. Other than the dessert, nothing was particularly amazing
(3)Elizabeth Q.
Slept on this review for a few days and my opinion has not changed. Selected this place based on the sunny outdoor seating only. Ordered the Jacques Pepin sandwich and a bottle of beer. How hard can either be? Well, the beer was lukewarm, so the writing was on the wall at that point. The sandwich was inedible. Could not cut it with the knife. It's eggplant, right? When asked by the waitress was everything alright, I responded with you cannot cut this with a knife. She responds with can I get you a sharper knife? Are you joking... At the end of this debacle of a meal she did in fact take it off the bill. Actually, she took two off because we both ordered the inedible Jacques Pepin! Now, as if this wasn't unbelievable enough, we had to suffer through a conversation going on at the next table. Now, I realize it's Menlo Park and all, but really common sense should prevail. It did not. We were forced to listen to a table of three discussing loudly something that has no place being discussed at a restaurant, especially when there are families within earshot! The torture of animals for the sake of research; the pain and suffering inflicted upon their restrained little bodies, the mention of various types of animals, a tiger? I turned around numerous times and glared at these morons, who apparently were clueless and could not figure out to lower it. Took photographs to post in fact; however, I can assume these sorts of people don't Yelp and therefore would only further anger me. Warm beer, inedible food, crummy clientele. Will never return and would suggest they shutter the doors.
(1)Laurent D.
Really love this place. Excellent cheese fondue, tartare is great (if you can handle raw meat), escargots bien sur, you can have a pastis. The steak frittes is very good (with the peppercorn sauce) One of my goto places
(4)Saima M.
It's a decent place for casual drinks and dinner. The food however isn't very flavorful. I was really hoping for great food, but it wasn't what I actually expected. Drinks, cucumber mule is good, very strong Food: Niscoise salad is good, too many green beans, but the Ahi Tuna could have been more tasty. mussels taste fine, but the way it's served, the presentation could have been better. They burger is amazing though, I really liked it. They don't have much option for food, so if you wanna go there, I recommend reading their menu to see if there is something you like.
(4)felipe r.
2 stars for the service we received after our server Julio left. 5 stars for the service we received from him. We bought 2 bottles of wine + food and we felt nobody cared after Julio left. Good restaurants are Service + Food. I am disappointed....
(2)Nick W.
Pretty decent meal here. Was surprised by the long time it took for our food to come but at least it was good. A little pricey, even for Menlo Park. They have some things with speed and service they should work on before I plan to come back again.
(3)Novy D.
We had our office holiday lunch at Left Bank complete with a set menu and wine to boot. The restaurant was dressed beautifully in tasteful, holiday decor that left me wishing I were spending my holidays in Europe instead of plugging away in Silicon Valley. My team occupied the second floor private room overlooking the entire restaurant. It was a nice large space that comfortably accommodated my group of about 20. Though I am sure they could fit up to 30 in that room no problem. We had several entrees to choose from and I chose to go with a delicious butternut squash soup with roasted chestnuts and a drizzling of creme fraiche, a seared skirt steak (medium rare) salad with gem vegetables and for dessert, profiteroles filled with ice cream and a smothering of chocolate sauce. Each course came through timely and wine poured accordingly to meet the courses. Our waitstaff of two was just an amazing pair that really made our group comfortable and well taken care of. No qualms here.
(3)valerie h.
Based on my experience the waiters were great, the food was good although I almost threw up the crab cake afterwards. The reason for 3 stars was the rudeness, immaturity and unprofessionalism of the hostess. Totally ignoring me while greeting my friend, giving her a brunch menu and not me. She went out of her way to come around the bar passing me to speak to my friend as we left. This is called being slighted and this young lady would do well to improve her customer service skills. The ambiance here is great and I would have given it five stars but for her.
(3)Amanda G.
After living nearby for almost 4 years, we finally decided to give this place a try. I have heard mixed reviews from people, but they're always busy... Getting seated at 9:00 on a Saturday night was easy, although they were pretty busy. With the amount of people I saw eating dinner at nearly 10:00, there's obviously an audience for late night dining. Apparently, we aren't the only ones having dinner after 9:00 on a weekend night. The service was adequate. Cocktails weren't a winner, stick with beer or wine, (even though they do have full bar.) The bread is awesome. I could have eaten an entire basket myself. but restrained myself to have room for our meal. We shared a burger and mussels. The burger was cooked to our specified temperature. but the bun was awful. It almost seemed stale. I would have much preferred the burger served on the delicious baguette, as I've seen at other places. The mussels were plump and the broth was tasty,. but I've had better. Fries were decent, but needed to be crispier. The prices for our food were VERY reasonable,(except for the cocktail.) If someone wanted to come back, I would, but am not adding this to our neighborhood rotation. Although, their brunch looks great, and they have outdoor seating. The dog needs to get out an mingle more.
(3)Dave B.
I have been there 3 times in the last month or so. The food has always been good - not exceptional, but above average and consistent. The difference today was the service, which was excellent. The server was prompt and attentive and when my daughter asked for her burger to be cooked a bit more, they responded promptly and the manager gave her a free dessert as well. It made her feel special and I thought it was a nice touch - they certainly did not need to. Keep up the effort guys; good service is hard to find and today turned an average meal into a special one.
(4)Stan L.
I used to dine at the Left Bank in San Mateo quite frequently before it closed its door. Feeling nostalgic, I decided to go to this location hoping to satisfy my cravings. Boy was I disappointed. The décor is less elegant than the former San Mateo and the Santana Row location. Lighting is bright. It is basically downscaled. Service, this place has one of the slowest service I have ever seen. The server was polite and didn't show any enthusiasm. Felt like he just couldn't wait to get out of there. It took a good 15-20 minutes between each of my orders. The onion soup was ok. Nothing special. A little over salty for my taste. Duck breast was rather disappointing. Taking about 20 minutes to get this order, I had some high expectation. Although I ordered it medium rare, it came out rather cold. Barely even warm. The dessert was the worse. It took forever to get and when it did it was actually cold! Ok, so they probably didn't cooked it and had it in the fridge. But at least microwave it before taking it out to the tables. You are better off going to the Santana Row location where the food is a lot better. They do, however, have a different menu. But both places do have happy hours near closing time. I would just stick with that with quick small portions and prompt service from the bartender than sitting at a table with mediocre main courses and slow service.
(2)Ang P.
This review is for their Happy Hour between 4 and 6pm, and then at 9pm before closing...The bar is gorgeous and when the weather is delicious the patio seating is wonderful. The beers are $2, and their cocktails $6. The bar menu has a fixed price of $7 for some gorgeous burger and fries (lamb, sausage and beef choices), salmon croquette, cheese plates, and avocado creations. This is definitely going to be one of our "go-to" places for Happy Hour from now on.
(4)Patricia R.
Lovely meal Staff was great.
(4)Art V.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. The place is clean, service is prompt, food is great and prices are reasonable.
(5)Lee K.
I love this place if for no other reason than their French onion soup. It's about the best I've had in the Bay Area (though I would modestly say I make better soupe à l'oignon thanks to a college French teacher and her amazing recipes). Zoop aside, I keep coming back for the Nicoise salad and Coq Au Vin... usually tossing a coin to decide between the two. Love the service and the crazy, large posters.
(4)Kathy M.
Can't wait to return. Three of us ventured in on a busy Saturday and decided to sit at the bar while waiting for a table. We snagged a cute corner spot and loved it, plus we enjoyed the awesome talents of bartender Esau. The food we tried was fresh, colorful & flavorful (seared tuna salad, French onion soup). I also had my first escargot experience. It was a good first time for me; the escargot were slightly chewy, like firm tofu, and tasted like the delicious pesto they came in. From a quick internet search, it seems that escargot adapt the flavor of the sauce, so these were prepared well. If you like colorful, slightly bitter drinks, try the Purple Rain cocktail (listed on the menu in French). Loved the mojitos.
(5)Dara R.
Pretty bad. Started by asking waiter/bartender if he thinks the chicken sando or steak is better, of course he says steak. Brings out the "steak" or whatever you want to call it, as it was honest to god no bigger than a post it note. For $25. My (little) cousin had to eat half my charcuterie because he was still hungry. To make things worse, he failed to mention the Anchor Steam beer was the "christmas ale" and not the regular anchor steam as it says on the menu. Guy just clearly was worried about making max tips and move on to next customer. Disappointed as I grew up coming here, but I definitely do not recommend it anymore as it has become "franchisey". Definitely better choices for much cheaper in PA or even MP.
(1)Rosquete B.
3 1/2* Left Bank Brasserie Menlo Park Weekend brunch until 3 pm César was an excellent food server (and bar tender) Nice house bread Steak & eggs were good Homemade sausage was just okay Wine by glass was good; as was the beer on tap Full bar, including Pastis Nice atmosphere Good food at reasonable prices
(3)Dawn C.
A little slice of Paris in downtown Menlo Park. The Croque-Madame I had for lunch was splendid with a fresh little green side salad. Thickly sliced bread perfectly toasted with ooey gooey Emmentaler cheese, ham and a sunny side up egg. At once decadent but not overly filling. Hooray for avoiding the dreaded afternoon food coma! I love the breezy open space inside and the casual little tables outdoors. Our group of 7 sat at a round table inside this time and found our lunch time experience to be a great one. Prompt friendly service from our smiling server. He was new, but is a quick study and hopefully will have a long stay at the Left Bank! The food arrived in a timely manner so we could get on with the day. Great experience!
(4)Zin M.
You know what, I am fine with this place. I've been here several times within several years and it's never been a disappointment. It's not knock your socks off but the food is solid as is the service. I've done lunches with friends and it takes just enough time to enjoy your lunch and be able to get back to work in time. Also our office hosted many luncheons in the private area on the second floor and again, it was a great experience. They menu selection works perfectly for large groups and they really cater to your group. My favorite of course is the steak and fries (in my french accent). Good place for work lunch for sure. Dinner won't be a bad idea either if you're tired of University Avenue.
(4)Sean B.
Was here for lunch on Sunday and it was the worst meal. Was with a party of 4 and everybody felt the same. Service was slow and food was horrible. I had the chicken sandwich and it wasn't even worth finishing. I won't be back.
(1)Kathy S.
I ordered their basic salad with added salmon and a side of kale as well as a small soup of the day (mushroom). Everything was absolutely delicious!! I really enjoyed the bread too! It was exceptional! The kale was a little salty but I'd order it again! Their mustard vinaigrette was also really good. My only problem with the food was that their salmon is farm raised. I would prefer wild alaskan salmon for the price.
(4)Stephanie A.
I am not a fan of left bank. you can see it in my review of the Santana Raw branch. I don't appreciate the poorly executed French theme, not the decor, and especially not the food. I am clueless regrading why these restaurants are so successful. A group of friends from different bay areas met at Menlo park as the middle point. The organizer made a reservation at the left bank and I thought its a good opportunity to discover the Menlo park branch. We arrived a bit earlier, but didn't have to wait too long since they had our table ready exactly on time. It never happens with the Santana Raw place. I also liked the atmosphere and decoration at the Menlo park location more than the Santana branch, I just didn't get the paper covers above the linen table covers. If they want chic then they must go with linen covers. But to have a linen cover covered by a cheap paper cover... it is ridicules. The food was even worst than what i know from Santana Raw's Left Bank. The tastiest item on the table was the white bread. I usually don't eat white bread, but was forced into eating a whole lot of it, because I was hungry and we had to wait for the food more than 30 minutes. When the food was finally served I found on my plate the most toughest tasteless skirt steak I have ever tried to eat. Not only that, but it arrived COLD. Was it waiting all these 30 minutes on that plate to be served? The side of French fries that came with it was cold as well. The only reason I didn't send it back to the kitchen was the horribly long time I had to wait for it - I was starving, so I ate it and hated it, and hated them for that. You claim to be a french restaurant and you don't even know to marinate a steak properly to soften it and give it some taste? Also the French kitchen is famous for its sauces, but I guess in this restaurant they didn't hear about it. Last but not least my dessert was really bad, even worst than the horrible steak. A stiff and very dense chocolate mousse with an after taste in an ugly glass cup. They tried to give a good service, the two stars are for that and for the ambiance.
(2)Rich T.
Well this is really a 3.5 star review as the last review said. The ambiance is great. It does feel like a little bit of Paris in Menlo park. The main negative is the speed of service at dinner. We had the lamb shank which was very good and it was great. The problem was that the service was slow. One poor waiter serving 20 tables isn't easy I think. Still the food is decent and I love the atmosphere. We had the beet salad which was good if not really extraordinary.
(3)Peter M.
I keep going back to see if the food improves. It's the best ambience in town but the food is mediocre. I'll keep trying though because the atmosphere makes up for the average food.
(3)Maria B.
mmmm.....I dream about their fondue sometimes :-) Seriously, the food here is consistently good - both the entrees and the appetizers (like the aforementioned fondue). My only complaint is that they don't "mix it up" more often, and that the menu hasn't changed in years. They do have nightly specials, though, so I'll give them that. We usually avoid the main dining room and just eat in the bar area. A word of caution, though: this place can get LOUD. Not the place for an intimate dinner or quiet conversation.
(4)M. L.
Average, mostly French, bistro fare, so no haute cuisine. You'll have a good time if you don't set your expectations too high.
(3)chris b.
Enough is enough. This place needs a major overhaul. What has happened to this place?? Used to be fun. Went to lunch a couple of days ago and ordered a hamburger. Had to send it back TWICE. It was raw in the middle. Finally got a chicken sandwich. The manager came over and comped it. Thank you, but did not help. Our waiters all but disappeared. The bread basket that was brought to the table had two heels from obviously the remaining ends. - Had to ask for water. - Had to flag down another waiter for catsup - Had to flag down another waiter for more water - Asked for more catsup and it came over in a ramekin with dried mustard on it. - Had to flag down the waiter to bring another one. - Had to get up and find our waiter for our bill. - Had to flag him down AGAIN as he was gazing (yes, our way) into the restaurant and never ONCE came over without a cattle prod. You guessed right. We will NOT be coming back here. Food was mediocore, service downright pathetic.
(1)Kristina D.
What a fabulous restaurant. Staff were very friendly and attentive. The croque monsieur was very good. I would definitely return to this restaurant. The only thing that was dissappointing was that I ordered the basil mint lemonade and when it came out it had no fresh mint or basil in it. But the manager kindly took it back and had them make it again.
(4)Mike S.
Five of us went for Sunday brunch. Ordered medium, and arrived well done, the lamb sandwich was nothing but and chewy. The medium hamburger was very well done. The other dishes were OK at best. Better restaurants to choose from in the area!
(2)T M.
Not impressed. Overpriced menu. Young and nervous server. I really had hoped for a lot more considering how spacious and beautiful the space is. Perhaps its better for a drink at the bar rather than a meal!
(1)Saul W.
Had a very nice lunch at the Left Bank. The food was creative, quite tasty and reasonably priced for what it was
(4)Dylan S.
The absolute worst service I've experienced in years. I arrived with business colleagues for lunch. The place was ~ 50-60% full. Waited 10 minutes for someone to come over to take drink orders and then had to call out and wave someone over like I was a delivery guy looking for a signature. Had to do the same thing to get the idiot waiter to come over to take our food order. Refills? Oh, you'd like a refill? With countless nearby alternatives, I'm surprised that this place remains in business. Mourez vite Left Bank. Mourez vite...
(1)Josiah H.
I am new to the area, and have eaten here 4 times. Every time i go here, something is fundamentally wrong with the food or the service. It once took over an hour to get our entrees. Another time, I got an extremely undercooked steak (they only cooked it on one side!), and I lost my appetite. In general, the food has been mediocre. How hard is it to get French Bistro Fare right? The french bread isn't even very good, and that is a huge issue. It is a pretty location, so I keep giving them another chance at redemption. I really want to like Left Bank, but so far, they have only disappointed me. A lot of other folks I know have had a similar experience as me.
(2)Emma C.
I'm not an expert at eating French cuisine, but from what I experienced at Left Bank, I wasn't very impressed. Came here with a group of coworkers (total of 8) for our Thanksgiving holiday lunch. Parking was a bit difficult but the wait wasn't too long, thankfully. I ordered the chicken sandwich, which unfortunately wasn't very flavorful. Our waiter was a bit spotty and hard to track down. Meh. 3 stars.
(3)Durif M.
Left Bank is a pretty good casual restaurant. I've been there a couple of times and overall I'm pretty satisfied. Their Moules Frites (steamed mussle) were great. In one of my visits the waiter forgot to give us the bread. The service overall is kinda slow.
(3)Pedraum P.
My wife and I used to enjoy coming here but it's gone downhill of late, despite the apparent attempt to revive sales with a remodel. The service was nice (offering our kids a scotch and soda...air guns!) but, sadly, incompetent (wrong dish for my wife, no substitution as I'd asked for). The fries are good and the salad dressing is nice too, but $8.25 for a few leaves of butter lettuce? Really? The rest of the food is fine, but the service sorta made it bleh for us. We won't be going back.
(2)David S.
After therapy, I always need dinner and a glass of wine. This restaurant was recommended to DH and I, so we went. I am surprised by the poor reviews, but then, we were not there for lunch, but dinner on a Wed. night. As soon as we we walked in, we were greeted by the server, and taken to a great table, even though the restaurant was very busy and full. As soon as I saw the menu, I said to DH "OMG - this is the Il Fornaio of French cookery......". They even had the tacky get six stamps by coming more often menu...but I ignored all of that. And I am glad I did. Escargot, Oysters, Coq au Vin, Cassoulet, all well prepared, presented, pretty standard, and brought in reasonable time. Was going to base it on 3 stars..but... Plus one star for having one of my favorite vintners on the menu "Ancien". Plus one star for the manager "Gerald" introducing himself. Plus one star for the cute waiter "Omar". Minus one star for teaching all of the staff even a few French words...it totally tackifies the place a la Olive Garden. Minus one star for the cheesy six stamps get one free style marketing.
(4)carol e.
I had dinner here this past week and thought I had a ghost for a server....she showed up once to check on our order shortly after we were seated. We asked for a few more minutes.....a few ended up being closer to 20 minutes! Food was ok. Desserts were outstanding. I had previously been to this restaurant with a similar experience, but dining companions chose it this time. Really overrated and there are many other wonderful choices in the area.
(3)Shaila B.
I am only giving this restaurant one star because the service was actually quite good. The food, on the other hand, was terrible. I mean, really really just bad. Gross, in fact. I ordered a baby spinach salad with figs to start...the salad was over dressed and I think the figs were hard. And then there was my Croque Monsieur...I'm not even sure you can call it a Croque Monsieur, but that's what the menu said. I had to send it back--TWICE. The first time the chef seemed to have taken two slices of Wonder Bread, stuck some ham and cheese in between, nuked it for 30 seconds, and then doused about 3 cups of this weird cream sauce on top. It was a cold, mushy MESS. I thought maybe some grave mistake had been made, so I asked if they could please perhaps maybe toast the bread and melt the cheese? I also asked if they could hold the sauce. Well, it came back and had been nuked for maybe 1 minute this time, and had about 4 cups of the cream sauce on top. I took two bites and couldn't eat it. I wanted to eat it, because I hate being rude, but it was so bad, I literally couldn't. My boyfriend, who I have politely nicknamed "Trash Compactor", and who can normally take down anything to eat, couldn't even eat it. I sent it back and asked for an order of fries...which they managed not to screw up. All in all, I say go for a drink at the bar and maybe an order of fries, but that's about it!
(1)Paul T.
Food is decent but not great. I'd call it "Business Grade" perfect for a working lunch with a business partner. I love having lunch business meetings here. Ambiance is good. They waiters are super patient and never rush me even though I often have marathon meetings there. One time I had meeting there from lunch, thru afternoon tea, to dinner time. The waiter come to check on us once in a while and kept feeding us coffee, fruit plates, etc. The final bill is usually totally reasonable and I usually leave a good tip. They are undergoing renovation so I'm going to Buck's for now...
(3)janine m.
I can now say that I'm a fan of MP's Left Bank. It's great when I experience a turnaround, something that sadly doesn't happen often. I've gotten to know manager, Gerald Murphy who's really doing his best to be a positive part of the local business community, as well as continually work on their restaurant to provide good food and service. My last three meals here have been great and a fun time!
(4)Rachel T.
This place is classy and I'd say, a more formal dinner. I went here when I was in high school with a bunch of friends and they kind of gave us a cold shoulder because we were young. The hostess was a biatch, get a new attitude or get fired! The food didn't disappoint though. There's another location in Santana row, which I would assume would be a funner experience. I can't wait to go again with my boyfriend. Don't forget to try the escargot! ;)
(4)Charleen L.
We've been going to Left Bank Menlo Park for years. When they're on, they're really on. i have had a few of the most memorable meals of my life here. I'm sad to say they frequently fall down in service. Shortly after the second floor balcony was completed (and isn't it gorgeous?) we were seated there and forgotten about. What should have been a light and lively meal was a miserable drawn-out wait. Last year on Valentine's Day we had (as usual) forgotten to make reservations anywhere, so we went to Left Bank for lunch. It turned out they were serving the Valentine menu all day. We were seated at the end of a banquette at a tete-a-tete table perfect for two. It was such a delightful experience that we returned this year and even made reservations. What can I say, but our experience last night was just weird. Our server brought menus, smiled and laughed (at nothing). He got my order wrong -- I wanted my filet medium, not medium rare. But no matter. A special menu item was 6 oysters with a glass of sparkling wine. Oysters arrived, wine didn't. We tried to get the server's attention but he was devotedly hovering over larger parties, anticipating no doubt a hefty tip. I was down to the last oyster -- and various staff kept trying to take the plate -- when I pointed out I was supposed to have gotten the wine. Finally the manager brought the wine and comped us an additional bowl of lobster bisque, which was excellent. Every time our waiter returned, which was typically too late to accomplish the needed task, he giggled. I was starting to wonder if he was high on something. Our selected desserts arrived. No forks. Waiter was supposed to have brought them. He arrived, brandished the forks and ... giggled. I don't understand how these people keep their jobs. Are good servers really that hard to find?
(3)Katharine A.
Not very traditional Not very good. I would skip it.
(2)Scott P.
I went here once and the food was so mediocre but quite pricey. We also had to wait 45 minutes past our reservation time for a table. I've never given it a second chance. A friend of mine arrived 5 minutes late for his reservation and they gave it away. Not a fan.
(1)sheila o.
We recently had our Graduation Party for family and friends at the Left Bank! We had a beautiful luncheon upstairs in a nice quiet reserved room! Charles the Banquet Manager was easy to work with and made sure everything was ready to go! He kept us on a schedule so we would be out on time and the food and drinks were excellent! The service--several waiters were attentive and caring and were right on! I highly recommend Left Bank and look forward to our next gathering their again! Cheers!
(5)David M.
Not a lot to say. I've been here a few times over the years, expensive, the food and drinks are ok. Could be so good. Actually had a good experience once during a street fair, they had an oyster bar that was decent (2 out of 3 of the oysters were really good, the 3rd didn't get me sick, just didn't taste wonderful). I want to like this place, I really do.
(2)Gordon L.
I ate here this evening, and the food and service were OK, but not worth the $113 (including tip) price tag for the two of us, IMHO. It started out great. The bread was good, and then we ordered some oysters on the half shell and escargot (CASSOLETTE D'ESCARGOTS EN PERSILLADE) as appetizers. Those were great. My companion ordered a roasted duck breast dish (CANARD AUX AGRUMES), which he enjoyed. I got the ribeye steak (ENTRECÔTE GRILLÉE) and it was decent. I know some people frown on putting steak sauce on nice steaks like this, but I would have really liked some. I didn't get a chance to ask, however, since the waiter didn't check in on us once during the dinner. Also, when I asked him the proper way to pronounce my dish, he said that he had no idea. At least he's honest. He said he'd check for me, but never did. The place was a bit loud, but not too bad. It was full of people. My iced tea tasted a bit watered down. I wish I had ordered the basil mint lemonade instead. For desert, we ordered a lemon tarte and some sort of coffee drink with amaretto and some other liquor. The amaretto was so overpowering that I couldn't drink it. The tarte was OK, but I wouldn't order it again.
(3)Julienne A.
Came here late at night to get some drinks after work. They were closing at 11pm and we got here at 10pm so the place was almost empty. The waiter and host were nice and we didn't feel rushed at all. Needless to say, it satisfied our after hours craving. I'd like to come back here for lunch or dinner to actually try out the menu.
(3)Nyyca M.
This is a solid restaurant. One of the best in Menlo Park. Its not earth shattering but when we are looking for predictably good food we go here. They have a nice kids menu (the kids LOVE their hamburgers). Crayons and coloring pages for the kids are a nice touch. Good food options for the adults too. Somewhat pricy.
(4)eric k.
yeah... ya know.. this place is ok.... not great. I have actually been here on 2 occasions. One was a going-away dinner for a friend on his way back east to Haw-vudd for his MBA.. and most recently was a couple months ago for a work/business lunch. The dinner... not so memorable from the food standpoint.... The lunch... amusing because of the discussions during lunch, the food was a little better than average... and I don't remember the prices so I can't say if it was worthwhile or not. Its a place.. it has nice seating outside... Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park has some nice scenery(soccer moms and such). the service was actually quite good... Go back? nothing compelling to me, but I don't frequently go to those places or pay that much for lunch on a regular basis.
(3)Hubert H.
Fairly decent restaurant, though I don't know if it's really French food. The onion soup appetizer was laden with a thick layer of cheese (why so thick, I don't know) with only a bit of onion underneath. The salmon with a side of spinach was really well composed
(4)Pumpkin K.
One star for yummy mussels. One star for a fantastic bloody mary prepared by a great bartender. Everything else was a total and complete nightmare. Not only did my experience here make me want to avoid this place in the future but it even made me want to avoid other Left Banks... just in case. When we arrived at 1pm with three out of our party of five (no reservation but happy to wait) the hostess was basically like, "Um, nope. I can't help you." Um, what? Looks of confusion all around. "I don't have anything for five people." she prepares to walk away. My friend says, "Ever?" "Not for a long time." We should have just left but we were too lazy to find another place and tell the other 2 people so instead we say, "Well, we're still waiting for two more people. We can wait in the bar. When do you think you might be able to seat five people?" "Oh....well... gee.... maybe half an hour?" Ok, we arrived at a busy restaurant on a Sunday afternoon with a party of five. We've been to restaurants before. We're prepared to wait. Why not just say, "It will be a half hour wait" instead of just "You're out of luck, sunshine." So we waited in the bar with the afore-mentioned friendly and talented bartender soothing our ruffled feathers with alcohol.In about 20 minutes the other 2 people arrived and about 10 minutes later they had a table ready for us. See? No problem. In retrospect, we should have left after that initial interaction, because the hostess was charming compared to the obnoxious waiter who forgot not one but two items and never took our drink order. We had to flag him down to ask for drinks and he left after getting three of the five orders. He just walked away. I had already drank all my water and it was never refilled. EVER. Despite asking twice. I would have liked a beer but apparently that was out of the question. The waiter acted like our existence was a MAJOR INCONVENIENCE for him. Ok, so in that respect it kind of was like being in France. Is this an effort at authenticity? When the busboys came to clear away the dishes they reached right in front of our faces and if I hadn't leaned back one of them would have elbowed me in the nose. So it went from being dismissive (hostess), to being rude (waiter) to being downright physically abusive (busboy). Thank God for my funny and charming friends, we still had an enjoyable meal because we are all such good sports that we didn't let it ruin our chance to catch up with each other. And the food was good. But I will never spend another dime at Left Bank.
(2)Jessy B.
I don't know - its not that I don't like this place, its just with all the other restaurants around, I don't think it holds up. The bar is always slow - it takes forever to get a drink. As for the food, its a mixed bag. Order the onion soup and the salad nicoise and you'll be happy. The hubby says he likes the steak frites here. The rest is inconsistent. I used to go for the mouilles but one time I got a bad batch (ooh they smelled rancid). Not the kind of thing you want wth seafood.
(2)Asinia A.
For some reason I prefer this Left Bank to all the other ones in their "chain" I usually go here to meet friends for dinner to catch up. It is a bit overpriced. I do like this place for group lunches - not dinners - it gets too loud and crowded.
(3)Katherine H.
Love the vibe, love the decor and enjoy the food. Sitting in the bar area or outside and looking onto Santa Cruz Ave. make you feel as though you are in France. The food is authentic tasting and I have not had an item that I havent enjoyed.
(5)Scott C.
I have been to the Menlo Park location several times over the past 2 years. The first time I had an outstanding meal. The times since, the food has been undistinguished at best and trending toward marginal. My last visit, a few weeks back, I had the mussels which were of questionable freshness (yes dear, if they were that bad I should have sent them back. rather than just complain) Time before, I had the duck a l'orange which was tough and the sauce was so sweet that it could have passed for desert. Oh yeah, they need to figure out how to pour a drink too.... So why the 3 stars and why do I go back? What Left Bank has figured out is that if you welcome kids and a good kid menu at a fair price, folks like me will come in. I really do appreciate the fact that you can get a kid's meal at a nicer restaurant that isn't simply chicken nuggets, hot dog, or grilled cheese thrown on a plate with stale french fries. My son loves the place because he can get order off the kids menu and still feel like he is "grown-up." And, at $5, their hamburger or salmon is simply a smaller sized version of what is off the adult menu. And their pomme frites are pretty damn good too. The second reason I give it 3 stars is the service which I've always found to be very kid friendly and pretty good in general. Case in point. On my last visit, a young couple next to us had ordered some of the aforementioned frites and calamari. before the food arrived, the guy had to step away to take a call (actually excused himself and went out side to take the call-- which was damn considerate for this day and age. Not so considerate was that he left his date sitting there for about 15-20 minutes with the food getting cold.) She was polite enough to wait, and the waiter with out prompting came over and took the cold food away and said he would bring fresh orders out upon the guy's return. And he did. Maybe it was the waiters non-verbal way of telling the guy he was a jerk for leaving the lady waiting there. Regardless, it was an act beyond what I would have expected from this place.
(3)Stacy L.
This is a great restaurant for nights when I just want a light meal and a drink while people watching. The food is usually good (they make excellent French onion soup and moules frites), but it can be crowded and very loud inside. If you go with a big group, that doesn't matter so much, but the 2-seater tables are way too close to each other. Because of that, on warm nights I prefer to sit outside and on colder nights I prefer elsewhere unless it's after 9pm. The bar is able to make just about any drink you can describe, and make it well.
(4)Dan G.
It was never great, but now it's mediocre, with the exception of the french fries, which are still excellent. The roast chicken was plainly pre-cooked and then semi-warmed up (there's no way to roast chicken that quickly), and wasn't fully hot, but was quite dried out, when it arrived. Bouillabaisse was somewhat watery. Grilled asparagus was a good appetiser, as was the calamari, though. Service was friendly, but our waiter apparently had too many tables. Our shared appetisers arrived, but no plates. We waited, and finally I went to the nearby waiter station and just grabbed small plates myself. We were with great friends, so the experience was actually fine...
(2)Angela Q.
i love french bistro food. i love the eccentric host. i love the wide open space. the perfect spot for a work lunch. and you get desserts too!
(4)Melinda D.
The French brasserie setting and good food makes this a great place to meet a friend for a casual meal and drinks. I particularly like the Salad Nicoise, Bouillabaisse and the fantastic Pommes Frites. Also, the restaurant din is loud enough to mask the occasional squeals coming from my children so it becomes a good option for a tasty meal out with the little ones. The location is spacious so reservations aren't usually necessary.
(4)Karin S.
Over the past couple of years, we have noted a distinct decline in the consistency and quality of food as well as the service. The food is often over-cooked and over-seasoned. While their french fries previously induced awe and a feeding-frenzy, lately they have been overcooked or cold. The service has taken a big drop, particularly if dining outside or in the bar. We had four different waiters try to take our drink order when sitting at a table in the bar - it became a joke it was so ridiculous. We no longer dine here, and tend to go to Bistro Vida for slightly better food and more friendly service. I add that I once got sick after eating at L.B. - not sure if the food was to blame but made me phobic about returning.
(2)BChizzle C.
Great fondue, but it's got little else going for it. Some of the tables are so close to each other that a waiter needs to come by to pick up the table so that guests can get in and out of their seats. Lackluster service and unimpressive entrees. I'd go again for the fondue, though.
(2)Mishee D.
Good French brasserie. Love the decor. The Steak and Frites are awesome. The desserts are worth ordering.
(4)Adrienne B.
I dined at the Left Bank, with a party of 21, for a holiday luncheon yesterday. The first word that comes to mind is "underwhelmed." With a party of our size, we should have been one of the restaurant's top priorities. I don't need to hear the excuse that the restaurant was packed - a good restaurant doesn't make excuses for any part of a meal. Since we ordered wine, and that's where a restaurant makes a big profit, it was pouring freely without us being asked if we even wanted more. The time lapse from when we sat down to when we were served our salad, a choice of either romaine or spinach, was between 45-60 minutes. So, we were drinking a lot of wine without anything to eat. I never noticed the bread being replenished. Our salads were nothing exciting and definitely lacked something - flavor. Strangely, the plates served all had different portions. Now, on to the main courses. I chose the chicken which was bland and served with what was called Jus de Poulet. Trust me, it didn't taste as if any of the chicken's natural juice was used. The chicken was overcooked and the sauce was thick and dried out. The additional items on my plate were kale and fingerling potatoes which were both served cold. After sending the plate back, I was given lukewarm kale and potatoes atop an obviously hot plate. My co-workers ordered either steak or salmon. I heard no complaints about the salmon, but there were numerous problems with the steaks. No one was asked how they wanted their meat prepared, so about four people sent the steak back to be cooked correctly. Part of the meat dish included risotto which was not plated. Instead, after being brought to the server's attention, it was served about 15 minutes after everyone started eating. It was terrible and undercooked. Again, the serving size for all plates varied with no consistency whatsoever. For desert we had two options: crème brulee and molten chocolate cake with vanilla whipped cream. Okay, so the deserts were good. The molten cake was excellent although the streak of very thick sauce on the side in no way resembled whipped cream. I will forgive that misstep since the cake was really tasty. Several people wanted coffee, but had to ask for it instead of being asked before dessert was served. Overall, I am giving the Left Bank two big thumbs down and will be vetoing it as an option for next year's luncheon.
(2)Sharon M.
I went here for lunch and all I have to say is yum. But don't come here if you're a penny pincher. The food and drinks are pricey but worth it. I had a light lunch and one cocktail, it was a little over 25 with tip. The dish I had was their smoked salmon torte with creme freche and leeks. Yum! I was like a smoked salmon pizza and the portion was a lot more than I was expecting. The cocktail was good but hardly work 10 dollars. I think this would be a great place to take a date, for drinks and a snack before heading to the city or something of that nature. It's classy and fun but won't give you wallet the complete beat down. I have also had dinner here with my family but it was a while back. I can't give much of a description on the dinner except that i remembered that I wanted to come back. When it comes to categorizing fine dining experiences in my mind there are only two fields. God why can't I eat here everyday and We should have gone to In n Out. But being a fan of French fare its hard for me to not love this place. The french have a way of making every bite full of flavor and when is comes to Left Bank, they got it right.
(4)Tyler H.
Overrated. French brasserie food is not rocket science, but somehow the food always misses a beat. On the positive side, the room is great, and this is one of the few places on the Peninsula with a late kitchen. Too bad the food is so-so.
(2)David H.
This place is not any more French than I am Hulk Hogan. It is a fraud, and one of a chain. We went there some months back, on a busy night. The receptionist had no idea how to handle a busy situation with many people waiting. The interior table area was very very loud, tables crowded together too closely. The wait staff was obviously overwrought with so many customers, unable to provide nice service. But the food - ah the food - tasted like it came from the freezer aisle at Safeway. The French onion soup was very weak, the torte was bland, and one plate had food served cold. I and my French companion were dismayed and got out of there as quickly as possible. I must add that the bar is very good, so that is to be recommended. But despite the French come-on, this place is generally fake. I think people go there because they really don't know great French food and are fooled by the slick exterior presentation; it is usually packed on weekends.
(1)Ina S.
We had dinner at left bank. For a chain restaurant its not bad. We were looking for something more adventurous in Menlo Park but the weather was so windy we decided Left Bank was good. Their premade drinks are not that good, i would stick with the standard cosmos. Mussels and oysters where good, but in actuality its kind of hard to screw those things up. Overall the food was not bad so was the atmosphere. Its a great back up restaurant if you are going to be somewhere around. I definitely would not make an effort to go there just to eat.
(3)cynthia l.
Environment-wise, i still like the Santana Row location. Menu is about the same. We ordered the lobster bisque, which was on the specials for V-day. That was great. I could smell it before the server placed it on the table. The salmon & scallop mousse was great especially with the lobster sauce. The rib eye and lamb chops were ok. Fries coming with the steak were kind of disappointing though. We didn't have chance to try their desserts this time after we were stuffed with the appetizers & entrees. Overall, I could grade it with 4 stars because on such a crowded day, they still could deliver food with such quality.
(4)Superduperpooperscooper T.
good crab cakes and creme brulee trio....
(3)Kevin S.
See my review for the San Mateo location. This one is busier, and a little more attitudinal, considering it's a suburban chain.
(3)A D.
I like the atmosphere at lot but the food is average. It is good for a quick drink but they don't offer many appetizers. I was not impressed.
(3)Benjamin L.
I used to be reluctant to go to the Left Bank, but having been there a few times now, I realize the error of my thinking. Left Bank's entrees are good (a bit pricey) but where they really shine is for desert and drinks. Definitely try the Fondant au Chocolat!!! The Pear Tartin is worth a taste as well. In short, I wouldn't turn down any of the deserts. Also, be sure to check out the drink menu. They have a selection of great dessert drinks, including a couple of ports well worth their $20 per glass price tag.
(4)Su L.
Update: Two other visits brought the rating down a little bit - lunch service was very slow. But the food is still good (probably not genuine French food, but prepared well with fresh ingredients). ******************* I had an excellent lunch at the Left Bank in Menlo Park with my co-worker. The ambiance is very nice - high ceilings, tall windows, lots of light & space, tasteful understated artwork & decor. The lunch was very reasonably priced and it was delicious: a grilled chicken breast sandwich with olive-tomato tapenade, mozarella, and basil on good crusty bread. The sandwich came with a real side salad (nutritious greens and not iceberg lettuce) and a small paper cone of hot just-right-crispy fries. The desserts come in regular and petite sizes (yay!), which is very sensible since many people want just a small portion. The petite cream puff with vanilla ice cream had me scooping out every bit of the dessert and the wonderful dark chocolate sauce over it. Service was attentive and timely without crowding the diners. I hope this restaurant continues to maintain this quality level consistently.
(4)Katharine K.
We ordered takeout from this restaurant - the American burger, the Brussels sprouts and root vegetables. The burger was well done, nicely cooked and the root vegetables were tasty! The Brussels sprouts weren't great but that may have been a consequence of take out vs. dining in!
(4)Aysha P.
Yelp says one star is "Eek! Methinks not" and two is "Meh I've experienced better." Based off this, I'd have to say two stars for Left Bank's food-quality/price ratio, and one star for the service. Weird bad service was more memorable than the food, so ONE STAR it is. Food/price ratio: Yes it's a French restaurant and they do that whole small portion thing. But for a restaurant to get away with that, each little bite should be flipping exquisite. Entrees are in the $25 range and skew up to the thirties for dishes like red meat. Our breakdown: - Mussels appetizer: Yum! Seriously if you go, get this and maybe a drink, then fill up on bread and PEACE OUT. - Scallops (three of them): tender but too salty. - Skirt steak: bizarrely tiny! Fatty, tasty, good-not-great. I swapped out the fries for the brussel sprouts, which were okay and cooked with big dry pork chunks I wasn't into. Service: This is where the whole thing fell apart. We told our server coming in that we were a group of six who would like separate bills if possible. Wasn't possible, which is pretty normal. So when the bill rolled around, we specified what amounts should be charged to what credit card. No joke, we literally spent another hour at the restaurant trying to sort this out with the waiter. Waiter said that we had to divide the bill up -- PRE-tip -- and then write in the tip once she swiped our cards. She seemed to think that otherwise the credit card machine would just stop working as soon as it reached the full amount of our bill. She kept offering to "add 20%" to inflate the bill and then have us split that amount. We felt weird about that. It came off as awkwardly tip-grubbing, especially for such a fancy place and a big fat bill. Also confused us because surely this wasn't the first time a group tried to split a check? The manager later tracked us down to ask about the hold-up and was bewildered, saying there's no such limitation on the credit card machine. So no idea what happened there. TL;DR Was underwhelmed and annoyed and I more than once wished I instead went to the cheap dumpling place near my house.
(1)rona h.
Always a seat somewhere near the bar for happy hour. Good prices for great appetizers and drinks of the day. Food very good. Sliders outstanding. Wish we could go here more often!
(5)Bob N.
Walking in to Left Bank is like being transformed to your best dining experience in France, only with superb personalized service. The food preparation and plate presentation was awesome. Our knowledgeable waiter guided us through the menu, introducing us to some very tasty dishes we would have overlooked and pared us with some delicious Rhone Valley wines.The table side visit from Chef Brendy was a highlight. You just got the feeling everyone cared that we were there and having a good time. Our friends from Portland were blown away.
(5)Roy S.
Left Bank has been our consistent home "Bistro" since it opened 15 years ago. It's seasonal menu is peppered with our favorite bistro dishes....Their Steak Tartare is the PERFECT texture and flavor (my favorite dish on the menu) Benby the chef claims it's the high quality skirt steak they use. The quail egg on top makes the dish. Their Steak Frite is Classic, and their daily specials are always perfect. My wife LOVES their cod provencale. The service consistency and great food brings us back time and time again.
(5)Lynne L.
Great lamb sandwich. Couscous was pretty good on first day. Eating left overs on day 2, it was gummy, but not sure there's a way to eat left over couscous that would make it better --- not that experienced with couscous. Herbs were fresh. GREAT sandwich both on first day and on 2nd. bread in bread basket was good. Glass of wine was fine. Waiter was snooty but he did his job, so how can one complain? I'd go again anytime. Been there several times and can't recall it being disappointing on the food side. It's comfortable and not horribly noisy. Never had trouble getting a table. Tables aren't too cluttered. Nice dining room.
(3)Andreas Z.
Came here for graduation dinner with a party of seven with a reservation. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived. Service was mediocre: Server didn't mention that they were out of two of the more popular dishes until after we had ordered the wine. So much for the planned food wine pairing. After the initial pour we had to refill our wine glasses ourselves. Towards the end of the dinner he also missed to refill the water. The food: The bread wasn't impressive at all, so it didn't matter that it was I short supply for a party that size. The New York strip steak was hardly a half inch thick, came with bone in and without steak knives. The salmon was good, so was the salad and dessert. I won't come back here.
(2)Stephanie K.
After having not been there for several years, met a friend for dinner to catch up. The place hasn't changed much, but I'd forgotten how LOUD it is in there. Those high ceilings and hard surfaces don't lend themselves well to conversation. But dinner was good. We had a cheese plate appetizer with 2 cheeses that comes with sides of grapes, chutney, and some greens. Two of the cheeses, blue and goat, where excellent. I order the Provencal cod entree, which was excellent. Perfectly cooked and very tasty. My dinner companion had the skirt steak. It came with pomme frites, which were excellent while hot. The steak was not bad, although I've had better. But the sauce we ordered (you can select from one of 2), was excellent. We ordered the Bordelaise, a wine reduction with bone marrow, butter, shallots and demi-glace. Not something I'm going to make at home anytime soon. Desert was lemon tart. Good but not outstanding. Coffee drinks were good and came with little packets of chocolate. Service was good overall, but got a bit slow toward the end when they got busier (~8 pm on a Friday evening). I think our waiter got in the weeds a bit, but another server stepped in to help out for a bit. Then we definitely got the feeling they wanted us to leave so they could turn the table. So we did.
(4)Tara H.
I was recently here for a company party. Fortunately, we found parking across the street behind Chase bank. Things I Didn't Care For: The room upstairs was ridiculously warm, even after we asked them to adjust the thermostat. The drinks were very slow in coming (if they had to come from the bar downstairs). The steak was NOT good. It seemed like an inferior cut of steak that had been overcooked. The waiters got the salad and soup orders wrong. Things I Liked: The atmosphere was nice and relaxing. Once we were seated the courses came at a good pace.
(3)Emre V.
They serve the smallest skirt steak I've ever seen for nearly $25. A normal person can eat 3 of those pieces. Epic disappointment.
(1)Gerald R.
GIFT CARDS AND BEST FISH EVER (TAKE NOTE CATHOLICS) I went to the Santana Row location on Christmas Eve for purchase gift cards. The receptionist stated they were all out of gift cards. She said the Menlo Park location has gift cards. I drove there and purchased the gift cards. Initially I wasn't planning to eat here but since I drove from Union City to San Jose then to Menlo Park I decided to eat here. The waiter recommended the pan seared Loch Duart salmon. The salmon is by far the best fish I've ever had. The skin was crispy yet the meat was moist. If Catholics could cook fish like this everyone in the world would be Catholic. The price you pay for the salmon is worth it. I would pay more here for fish then going to Claim Jumper, Market Broiler, or Red Lobster. You rarely get a fish this great - crispy skin and moist meat. My rating is based upon the gift cards and the dish, which was a great Christmas gift to myself.
(4)Anuj C.
went here for happy hour. the drinks are pretty good and pretty strong for the price. the lamb slider were good but not great. the people there were very nice and service was great. food-wise, it wouldn't be my top spot, hangout wise yeap. I actually really liked their bread, esp the olive bread. and the ambiance is great.
(3)Ming Z.
I'm surprised that that Left Bank is only getting 3 stars. The food choices and quality were good. It had the atmosphere of a $$$ place rather than $$. The interior had a lot of character - kind of old-school French - or at least my idea of it. We ordered the risotto and steak, and both were good choices. Also, the alcohols were surprisingly cheap. I got a pastis - sort of like absinthe - and I think it was only $7. Our waiter was very friendly and the service was fast. We'll definitely be back.
(5)Tom E.
What's going on Menlo Park people. How are you getting such bad service at Left Bank? I've been there about 10 times so I can safely say it's you, really, it's you. The food is generally solid. They have their highlights and their less than stellar things. I agree the bread could be warn, but on the other hand, it's quite tasty. The steak is great, but at times other dishes are just good, not out of this world. The cheese plate, however, delivers every time. We come here often and never leave unhappy. I don't think their desserts are awesome, and that's why I'm at about 4 stars right now. But we go here often, and avoid the dessert - usually we're full by the wonderful dinner courses. Service each and every time has been great.
(4)Nathan R.
Spent Valentines Day with my wife in this restaurant, and that was a very good choice! Food was fantastic and service was the best. Matthew, our waiter, was very friendly and very accommodating. Chef even came to tables to greet customers--that was awesome! I'll definitely come back to this restaurant and even recommend to friends and relatives.
(5)Brittany B.
Stopped here for a drink and snack before a movie. Really enjoyed the decor and the ambiance. We had the tuna tartare and it was also fantastic. So, no complaints about the food or decor. However, the bar tender was kind of snide. We specifically said that we only wanted a drink, but he made kept making pointed remarks about how we were ONLY ordering an appetizer and we WEREN'T having dinner - even though it was only 4:15 and there was hardly anyone else in the place. I would have understood to a point if we were hogging valuable dinner time real estate, but there was no reason for him to be so aggressive. So, food and drink was pleasant. Take your chances on the bar tender.
(3)VB L.
Hubby and I have been here many times. We have found the food and service to be consistent. We stopped in this visit after having hours of fun over at LB Steakhouse. Our visit was short. We chatted a bit with the other patrons, ate a few mussels and shuffled off to home. The mussels were tasty, Hubby enjoyed his drink and my water was cold like it's supposed to be. Not much else to say because our visit was uneventful.
(4)Nancy N.
Other than the fact that our reservation through Open Table was not acknowledged by Left Bank, and we were reprimanded by Open Table even though we were there on time, we were able to clear up the misunderstanding. We love and ordered the French Onion Soup and after I told the waiter, Joe, that it was my husband's birthday, he brought us a beautiful dessert which was big enough for all four of us to share. The music seemed a little loud inside, so we ate outside and it was great. Will probably come to this location in the future as it seems less crowded than Santana Row. Nancy N.
(4)Kelli A.
This place is terrible. For Mother's Day my family spent quite a bit of money, only to have a waitress ask us to leave. I was outraged!! It was completely classless-- Waiters don't even do that at the Olive Garden.
(1)Steve B.
Several other reviewers have mentioned the Salde Nicoise, which is definitely my favorite thing on the menu and I have actually had multiple times now (it is always good). They also make a mean hamburger and their french fries make even a carbophobe change their habits for the day. All their fish dishes are excellent, too, and they have a genuine commitment to sustainably raised fish and meat. Added to which, they have a great wine selection and excellent service, so definitely my favorite lunch venue downtown.
(4)Ralph L.
We just came from there and it was the worst lunch we ever had....The chicken was awful the reduction sauce was chemical like.....My wife had the tuna sandwich which was inedible...truly awful.....
(1)John P.
The ambience and setting were very nice, and the place was pretty bustling for a Monday. However, the friendliness of our waiter left a bit to be desired. We ordered the steak tartare (very good), french onion soup (very good), rainbow trout (okay), lamb shank (okay), and seared duck breast. To me, the duck was not very flavorful, albeit it was tender. I think it was under seasoned and the pomegranate sauce was not very complex at all. Definitely have made better duck myself. The creme brûlée, however, was perfect. Overall, not sure if I would come back as it was a little pricey too.
(3)DK K.
Spinach salad for lunch ($9) had literally 20 pieces of spinach in it ... I had a bowl of soup as well and I left the restaurant hungrier than I was when I entered. Bad ordering on my part but seriously ..?? Overall taste is always consistent but portions are inconsistent. Great service though.
(2)Bob C.
We just got a couple drinks in the bar. Warm beer and 2/3rd full martini. Slow table service and a bar tender who seemed overwhelmed. The wifi is slow too.
(2)Rene B.
The reviews about poor and slow service are true. I was meeting a friend for lunch because she was fiending for steak tar tare. I don't like the food here but it's the year of compromise so I decided to eat first and just have a drink or 2. I arrive a little late and there is no one but us at the bar. What a shocker. Here it is a beautiful Sunday afternoon and very empty. I wanted to try Fleming's but they don't open until 4 or 5. I order a bloody mary. It was horrible but whatever. She orders her tar tare. The bartender never brought me my own menu so I guess we had to share. I looked at the reviews for croque monsieur and it was just average so I didn't order anything. They gave her 3 pieces of crostini so she had to order more. In the meantime bartender is sooooo slow, sleepy and never comes back to see if I wanted to order food or another drink. Keep in mind that we were there for 2 hours. Finally he comes back and asks us if we wanted to order dessert? Are you serious dude?? It's like 67 degrees and gorgeous outside and around 2 pm. No I don't want freaking dessert...after not eating any lunch because you never came back to ask....I want another watered down bloody mary for goodness sake! What is it with people in the restaurant biz sometimes? You are suppose to SELL FOOD and DRINKS! He could have easily convinced me to order lunch had I had my own menu and some suggestions about what's good or popular or something and about 3 bloody mary's just on my end AND THEN I would have totally ordered dessert and probably an espresso. instead he got $9. Do the math.....3 bloody mary's $27, lunch about $18, dessert $8 to $10 and a double espresso $4. Including tax and tip about $76!!!! And I'm sure my friend would have split a salad so it would have been closer to $90. Not smart and working in the restaurant as a bartender is not your cup of tea! NEVER Going back and neither is my friend. You can't have bad service and bad food. There's a reason why you guys are not as busy as you should be. TOWN restaurant on a SUNDAY is flipping PACKED!!! Restaurant and the bar.
(1)J. R.
Very tasty food with quality ingredients, the charcuterie plates are especially good.
(4)Brittany E.
great food and great bar! I love going here for happy hour but they are normally packed for HH. Good selection on their happy hour menu for food and drinks. they have outdoor seating so it's nice to sit outside on a nice day and people watch!
(4)Meera K.
awesome food. Sloppy service
(3)Alisha M.
It is truly unfortunate to read the other reviews considering I had such a positive and great dining experience. I had an early dinner last night with a friend and upon entering the restaurant we were promptly greeted by the host. We were quickly seated at our table and told our server would be right with us. Carlos, our server greeted us and served us water immediately and inquired if we would like something else to drink. He recommended a few specialty drinks and my friend ultimately ordered a Moscow Mule and I (being pregnant) stuck to water. Her drink came pretty quickly and she was overly satisfied. We decided to have the fried calamari which was amazing and the portion was just right. For dinner I ordered the Rocky Jr. half boned chicken with Happy Boy Farm organic mixed greens, savory chicken jus, and pommes frites. If you really like some well seasoned chicken which you can dip in a sweet/salty chicken jus then this is the dish for you. Make sure to dip the pommes frites in the jus too! Yum! My friend ordered the natural skirt steak and pommes frites. It also included a side of sauce and she went with the peppercorn sauce. Let me tell you, the sauce definitely loved the sauce... She was scrapping the sauce dish with bread when she devoured her steak. Carlos was a terrific, attentive server and periodically checked on us throughout the meal. Like I said at the beginning, it is unfortunate to read the other reviews that didn't have a similar experience to me. Perhaps you can make suggestions on what you think should be improved as restaurants will listen. I can't wait to try brunch here! Thank you Left Bank for a wonderful experience, I will be back soon!
(5)Christie F.
We walked in last Thursday night for dinner, and there was a big YELP event banner on the 2nd floor balcony, which was humming with people. And my invite was... in the mail? Ummm, awkward! Just kidding. :) This is one of my new favorites. Lovely decor - mosaic tile floor, dark wood, crisp white tablecloths with butcher paper on top for that whole elegant-but-so-good-they-know-you're-going-to-be-Âmessy bistro thing, great art and a Julia Child quote above the door to the kitchen. Tres charming. Fresh chewy sourdough bread - check. Lemon drop martini - check. Earthy red - check. Emmental, Goat and Bleu cheese fondue - whaaaa? Then cassoulet, with big chucks of duck leg and sausage and topped with heavenly crispy breadcrumbs, served tableside and they left the serving platter which had another two servings' worth - which was good because the samplers at the table left no quarter. But I gave right back - the beef bourg was amazing, onion soup oozy and cheesy and the bf's burger was, well, I don't know. Who orders a burger at this place!? We managed to squeeze in a couple of profiteroles, which I almost stole off the table next to me when we first sat down. Luckily it was just slightly too far away for my reach. Perfect atmosphere for chit-chatting over fantastic food; the full house added to the ambience but didn't impact conversation. 3 hours later we rolled out of there sideways. After most of the Yelpers, as a matter of fact. It was... so very French.
(4)Katie B.
I couldn't review this place fast enough and say how much I loathed it. I'm giving it really low stars mostly because of pretentious prices for substandard food. For these prices, you should be loving each bite and constantly saying, "mmmm." I could have made better food myself, and actually have. My risotto was bland, the salmon was overcooked, and my husband's sausage and French fries were tasteless. Our cheese fondue was fine, the escargot was so-so. I was in such shock at the banality of the food, I didn't make a peep the whole dinner. I'm really into food, and it's not a-typical for me to be ohhing and ahhing over a good dish. As it was my birthday dinner, and they knew it, and though it shouldn't be expected, I find it classless that they didn't offer dessert on the house. I don't think I've been anywhere that didn't do that. That was just the icing on the cake, no pun intended, to make this one of the most overpriced disappointing meals I've ever had.
(2)Lu D.
Went back to Left Bank earlier this week with a friend. We sat at the bar and the service was much better. The bartender was attentive and quick. We were there early (before 6 pm), which luckily counted as happy hour. I ordered a cosmo and it only cost me $5. We then ordered some food off the happy hour menu, which had several options for $6 each. We ordered three dishes (burger, croque monsieur and pizza) thinking the portions would be small, but it was more than we could finish. And both sandwiches came with fries -- a great deal. Oh, and I didn't see the surly waitress around...maybe she got axed or left to pursue her real calling in life!
(3)Tinna H.
Came here for lunch with my cousin. I don't see her often, so when I found myself on a client down the Peninsula, I had to get a lunch date with her. We got there early - around opening time. Ordered the french onion soup, croque madame, and mussels. We weren't particularly impressed with the french onion soup. Wasn't as flavorful as I'd have liked. Perhaps I'm just used to the stuff at Outback. Maybe I don't know what it SHOULD taste like! The croque madame was yummy - portions a little on the smaller side. Or maybe I just eat a lot... The mussels were quite tasty! And the dish was HUGE - we didn't even have room for the delicious fries that came with it. Getting the Specials for the day is like watching television with close captioning. The server brought the list to us on a chalkboard and basically read each item to us, line by line. Watch out for the hot towel at the end... It is "BURN YOUR HANDS" HOT. My hands were quite red... Try airing it out a little bit, but use it while warm. It cools off pretty quickly.
(3)Chris M.
Delicious. Ate here with some authentic french colleagues, who, in an authentic french manner took nearly an hour to decide what wine to get, and less than 10 minutes on what to eat. : ) It's no problem in the "laissez-faire" atmosphere though. High ceilings, excellent lighting create an ambiance of a relaxing lunch in the French countryside. The kind that can take hours and hours just chatting, drinking and laughing. I recommend the croque-madame finished with a cup of espresso.
(5)Angela L.
ATMOSPHERE: Super cute atmosphere. Entrance welcomed by a dazzling bar. Beyond, an opened up dining area with a window to the back kitchen and a mezzanine balcony. Nice place for a date, I'd say. In a very tiny Menlo Park downtown. Not much happening there. But around the corner or so, there's that Guild theatre that I found so charming this one time. Sooo if you were to perchance think to take a lady out on a dinner & movie date, then Left Bank + Guild Theatre would do the trick! FOOD: *Went here for a Yelp event, & I don't really remembered what food I sampled. But I liked the steak from their sister store in Santana Row. So basing off that, I'm presuming their food is just as good.
(4)lily n.
If you are looking for some good French Food and moderate price. This is the place for you!
(4)Nicole S.
Pricey for what it is. Food is OK. Don't expect real French food (I'm French and love cuisine so I know).
(2)Margaret T.
The salmon was really delicious. I loved the waitress. She was so enthusiastic about the food.
(4)Shannon B.
Enjoyed a nice lunch here at one of the outside tables in front. The chicken breast sandwich was amazing. The fries were really good too. The service was also really good.
(4)Molly W.
I love this restaurant! We come here at least twice a month. They have the best croque monsieurs in the Bay Area. Very kid friendly, but still able to keep the high end feel. The steak frites is great, my husband orders it every time. Staff are super friendly and very attentive.
(5)John D.
Extremely disappointing. Bland lamb, frozen (yes, frozen) steak, rushed service (bringing entrees out while we were still eating salads), incorrect dessert order. We won't be going back.
(1)Silky P.
I brought a group of friends from work a while ago and a waiter threw an entire glass of ice and water over one of my friend's back by accident. Worst of all, it was sad that we had to make the manager comp her meal because of the embarrassment. He did not understand why he should give her the meal for free and kept arguing about it. I then decided to try them again, and unfortunately my meal then came out cold, I give up.
(2)Leslie H.
I really enjoyed my visit to this place. It was a Friday afternoon and I had stopped by with a bunch of coworkers to get a drink after a long week. We ordered drinks and appetizers and were not disappointed. I especially recommend the Perigord duck confit and Basque with shrimp + chorizo, which are two of their tartes flambees. Also, the Seafood Platter Pour Deux was more than sufficient to satisfy a group of 8. Service was kind of slow, but we also had around 15 people in our party. The servers kept the bread coming while we waited for our drinks and brought all of our food at once, which may have contributed to the wait. All in all, definitely a good way to end a long week.
(4)Jason H.
We used to love going to this restaurant in Menlo Park. The food was good and it had a (nearly-) unique benefit of being open after 9 in this dreary town. The biggest reason that we liked to go, however, was the staff and service. We went at least one a week (seriously). Sometime in the Spring/Summer of 2009 that all changed. They replaced some of the fantastic tried and true staff with a couple real poor selections. It surprised me how much this changed things. Also, we got on their email list and now they refused to stop spamming us, which is totally irritating. Two alternatives: First, for a great equal-quality experience, try Bistro Vida, which is practically next door. Not open late, but otherwise, it is of comparible/better quality. Second, if it is late, the BBC is a few doors down and open even later. The service there is great.
(2)David G.
Sad, we visited again and wished we had not! The smell of business death was all too apparent! Menu seemed smaller and less adventurous. Staff were demotivated and the place decidedly empty. We asked about the Steak Tartare and were given some weird story about too much preparation time? The general feel was that from hostess to staff, no-one really gave a rats ass. We arrived way before closing time but just felt in the way. The best service seemed to happen when the staff sat down to their meal a few tables away from us. We regretted the whole experience, some places you should just leave on a dying note rather then trying again.
(1)ED T.
The restaurant at this particular location has gone DOWNHILL BIG TIME!!! Food doesn't taste as close to quality a decade ago. Tasteless!!! My family and I went there around NY's day. Service was extremely SLOW, they said because a server just walked out so they were short-handed. Took our appetizers about 1 hour to come out, another 1 and a half hour for the main course to come. The only good thing was the French Onion Soup. This place has gone down to an over-priced "Coffee Shop" category. Very ... very ... disappointing. We were so hungry that when our entree finally came out, we finished it, but when we told our server that the flavor was disappointing, she laughed and made a comment "and yet you FINISHED your plate!" In my opinion, this place DOESN'T DESERVE ANY STAR!! My husband is a Head Chef at a high end restaurant. He asked the waitress if the chef was working that night. She told him that he was in the backroom doing inventory. Imagine that...doing inventory when the place was busy. So, who cooked our food? Our youngest daughter's steak gravy sauce taste burnt, because it was burnt on the bottom. And yet, they serve it anyhow, instead of making a new one. OOh, don't make comments, because the servers and the restaurant manager would laugh behind your back on your comment you make about the food or the service (yes, I witness this myself, because right after my husband said something, our server - flipped between a woman and a man, went to the manager behind the curtain and laughed!!). For a restaurant that used to be excellent, this is very disappointing. I don't think we want to go back to this location. We might try other location, maybe.
(1)Carol T.
For my daughter in law's birthday we had made reservations for five at Left Bank in Menlo park, (her favourite restaurant) 1/25/13 Friday @ 8pm. Our table was ready and we were seated. The server dutifully came over and asked us if we wanted something to drink but at the time of being seated I noticed my small plate was very greasy and politely asked if I could have a clean one. She was very sweet and replaced it immediately. My daughter in law ordered the onion soup and the rest of us placed our orders. Her onion soup was served almost immediately (the cheese was burned) but it was several minutes before we received ours (supposedly preparing fresh for everyone) and we told her to begin without us and ours came eventually. As my daughter in law began to probe her side salad for the goodies a small creature ambled slowly out. (the salads would have been nicer if there had been a simple balsamic dressing as Arugela is quite bitter). And of course the poor server had to remove it and bring another dinner. We could see how disappointed the server looked when again she had to return to our table for yet another insult from the kitchen. My son and I order the spicy lamb burger, that ,when it came had the sad, tired look of having sun bathed under a "sun lamp":)for awhile, blacked around the edges with the texture of a cement brick. I ate only three bites and didn't touch the salad at all. But we took it all with good grace understanding that whatever was happening in the kitchen was not her fault. Either the dish washer was overfull, or the person wasn't too careful, and the prep chef had not washed the salad greens properly. Of course, my daughter-in-law's dinner was gratis and despite the food we made sure we tipped our server well hoping she would know we understood it was not her fault. Since servers usually give kitchen staff a percentage of their tips I hope she took the issue to the manager. There is another reviewer comment here from a visit on the same date who was well please with their experience so I guess we were just unlucky or in a different restaurant. I'd previously been to the Left Bank on Santana Row for lunch and was again extremely unimpressed by the food, and kitchen errors, especially since the lunch rush had abated and it was pretty empty. Since it was my daughter-in-law's birthday and her favourite restaurant "I kept mum. " I don't know whether she will choose that restaurant again because she is more forgiving but if so I'd have to make up a story of having a dreadful migraine to avoid going. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh and over critical but I'm fortunate to have a 5* French chef as a friend and my standards are high and this was a chain restaurant and things are definitely different with chains. His restaurant seats only 35 people and no matter what day of the week is always full and he varies the menu frequently. I would never go back to a Left Bank restaurant and the wonderful server should find a better restaurant.
(1)Shilpi D.
Right from the name, promises of the allure of skinny French people, skinny French portions and the chance to say: yeah, I've been there. I've been here many times, but after going there for lunch today with a friend (we needed wine and lots of it), finally decided to yelp about it. Food's alright - nothing special: a trip to the farmer's market will get you the same for less than half the price. But then again, its all worth it for that special afternoon lunch, right? Sandwiches leave much to be desired. I'd stick with the wines, cheese platter (without the fondue) and the salads. Service and seating are all right. Seating gets a little too close for comfort at lunch though......
(3)Katie T.
I really liked this place. It's not quite Balthazar's in Manhattan, which we frequented when we were on the East Coast. But, it was still pretty good. We like their steak frites and often order this dish. However, I did enjoy their coq au vin VERY much! I think about it every so often... YUM. We have brought our kids there and so far, no hum and glums from the wait-staff when they see us approach the door. I will say they don't get 5 stars, because well, #1 they aren't Balthazar's and #2 there was a time we brought some friends here for dinner and their fish special was full of bones! He barely ate it and it was actually really disappointing for us as hosts to bring our friends to a place that was recommended, but turned out to be quite death defying in a sense. So, if you have a hankering for fish and you go there, please please let them know you'd like to spare your life, therefore, leave out the bones.
(4)Jeff W.
they must be doing "something" right, this place was overflowing during a Tuesday lunch hour. Certain little touches were missing that left me wishing for better attention to detail. like the cold plate that my very pricey steak and pommes frites was served on. or the fact that the pommes frites were not fresh from the fryer. (even Mickey Dees serves HOT fries!). the French onion soup was savory but not quite as flavorful as I had hoped for. The fondue is a nice starter served with both bread pieces and garlic toast pieces. The cheese in the fondue consisted of brie and gruyere. very nice with a glass of wine. back to the steak for a moment - the Creekstone skirt steak had good flavor and was tender. not an easy task for skirt steak which if not cooked properly can be rubbery. skip the optional bordelaise sauce which was bland and lacked seasoning and flavor. hard to believe that this is a Roland Passot restaurant (La Folie in SF- which is a solid 5-stars IMHO). There are also 5 Left Banks throughout the Bay Area. a little more focus on quality vs. quantity will go a long way here.
(3)Ashley C.
OK, so, I've never sat down and ate at a table, but I been at the bar quite a few times to eat. The food is always fabulous! The restaurant is almost always full. It is pricey, especially if you drink and eat like I do, but well worth it! My friend had a work Christmas party. Fun times! It was a combo of the food, drinks, music and people that made the event wonderful. If I was rich I would totally close the place to have a party there too! And lastly it's super close to my house which is a major plus!
(4)L T.
I have been to Left Bank three times and plan to return soon. They have an amazing menu with something for everyone. I particularly enjoy their brunch menu which is creative and easily one of the best in the area. The only reason I am giving four out of five stars is that it has been inconsistent. The first time we went our food was cold and the service slow, but there were enough positives to go back and we're glad we did. The two subsequent experiences have been wonderful. Try the escargot and duck hash!
(4)Nicole Rynee B.
Slightly sad puppy dog face ... Left Bank is closing for 2 months'ish for major renovations. They say the new interior is going to rock the house. Well, that's my terminology - but you feel me ... I have to admit I kinda got addicted to their Bizou cocktail. Sinful. I mean it. Bizou("a kiss"): Fresh muddled watermelon, Don Julio tequila and lime juice shaken and served up in a martini glass . . . délicieux!
(4)Cynthia S.
This saddens me to post this review - but Left Bank is now out of rotation for me after years of being a place I loved to go. My husband and I went to celebrate his birthday recently and had a thoroughly underwhelming experience. It was sad because LB looks so much better after its remodel and yet the service and the food were at odds with each other. What happened with the uber experienced wait staff? I only recognized one prior server and sadly, we weren't in her section. The issue began when we waited about 10 minutes to be greeted by our server at our table. She took our cocktail orders, which then took ages to get to us. We had to ask for water and bread arrived after our appetizer. We ordered a dozen oysters, followed by a salad to split. 20 minutes after that a half dozen oysters were delivered along with our salad (not split) and someone else's salad - delivered by the manager. We let him know we had not ordered those salads and he looked perplexed. When our server noticed we only had a half dozen oysters as the busboy was clearing them, she then got us another 1/2 dozen (instead of asking if she should bring them). The oysters weren't as fabulously fresh as they have been in the past, either. As she was delivering wine to the table, after what seemed like a long wait, both our salad and entrees arrived at the same time. Both my husband's and my entree were delicious, but at this point, the meal was a goner. We tend to be accomodating and in the past, have seen servers rally, but it was not to be this time. It seems as though the kitchen has really worked on what they're sending out (with the exception of the freshness of the oysters), but the service really did us in. I wish it were otherwise, but we won't be spending here again.
(1)Warren K.
LB in Menlo is wicked over priced for sub par food. Maybe i just have a bad taste in my mouth about the stuffy french atmosphere but for the amount of cash you drop on this this place, it should be called left broke. I ordered the pork chop which actually was pretty good. However my wife and father both ordered the sole which looked and tasted as if it were caught 4 months ago. I never seen such a sorry withered piece of fish. No flavor and seemed almost rotten. neither of them ate it, rather they picked off my pork chop and mashed ppotatoes. My mother got that french caserole thing with the big ham bone in it. It looked and tasted like something my dog would love. A complete goulish mix of baked beans, random meat chunks over loaded with salt. We only got the doggy bag literally because it was going straight to my old man's two black labs at home who would think it was the greatest meal ever. Side note and it may be unrelated but I had the worst gas of my life after eating there. My wife wanted me to go see a doctor. I told her, "no. It was the pork chops and capers." The waiter was nice but took his job at a french restaurant a little too seriously. This place was stuffy as hell with all the WASP's on the Penninsula jam packed in there like spray foam insulation. the only way I would go back there is if I was were to give the bar a shot. The bartenders seemed frisky and entertaining. Hard to screw up beer and wine.
(1)Fabianna B.
Great service. Really made the date. Atmosphere set mood perfectly. Fondue was a hit! And our server was fun- I can't remember his name, but he indulged our requests and giddy states. Will come back again.
(4)Nancy C.
Three of us for lunch - food is quite good (we had the spinach salad, mushroom soup, grilled chicken breast salad, and pissaladiere cote d'azur - ham pizza appetizer), service is ok. This place is often packed, so plan on having a reservation, but it is worth the trip if you enjoy French food. The menu is outstanding, SO many choices...
(4)D. Mark H.
My wife and I hosted a rehearsal dinner for our son here in July 2012. The banquet manager, Charles Chapman, was very helpful and accommodating (we asked for some menu modifications). The room is above the general dining area, large enough for our 45 guests and then some. On the appointed day, we went in and decorated the room and set up our wine. (Only cloud - and not a huge one - is that the wine list is pricey. We opted to pay the corkage on some fine wines we bought at BevMo during the 5 cent sale.) The atmosphere was perfect, and our guests raved about the food. We had three entree choices - a roast chicken, pork tenderloin and a Meyer lemon risotto. Everyone thought theirs was the best! The service was excellent - hats off to Steven and his crew for being attentive and efficient without making us feel hurried. My son's new in-laws are very knowledgeable about food and wine, so we wanted to make a good impression. Thanks to the Left Bank, we succeeded.I have been here for business lunches in the past, so I knew it was a good place. But it was superb for our event. HIghly recommended.
(4)Brent A.
Never again will Menlo Park's Left Bank be graced with my presence. I'm sorry, but when you mess up and don't offer to fix something then you'll never have a good review with me ever again. If you're looking for "French" food, I highly recommend the one on Santana Row. Sure the staff there can be a bit quirky, but the food is great (especially the tartines!). Let me explain my reasoning. My friend and I arrive and were quickly seated. The menu was different from Santana Row's, but it's a different restaurant. The clientele here is much older and not nearly as chic. Our server didn't really stick around that much. We only saw him a handful of times and he basically messed up everything. I allowed him several chances to redeem himself, but he missed every opportunity. He should have checked on us more often and offered to fix what was wrong. For starters he never cleared our plates, but that's because he didn't show up. The food runner who brought out our entrees also had the opportunity to clear our tart dish, but he didn't. I got up and put the dirty plate on a perfectly clean table. It was later cleared away, but that table wasn't cleaned up afterwards. The food we ordered was burned. A croque madame is not meant to be served with charcoaled edges on both the ham and bread. The server merely said, "Oh" and blankly looked at me when I informed him of this. Fail! Later, I found the manager and told her, but she didn't offer to take it off our bill, nor offer us anything else to replace it. Fail. Dishes weren't cleared away. Fail. I had to flag the hostess to bring us our check. Fail. Left Bank, you disappointed me. So, please don't expect any referrals from me for quite some time. That day probably won't ever come until the manager at Santana Row steps in to clean up your act. Au revoir! ... errr... since I won't be seeing you again, "Good bye!"
(1)Margie C.
Frequent this restaurant every 2-3 months. Came here last night and again, never disspoints! One of my all time favorite restaurants food is usually not over salted and cooked to perfection every time. Drinks: Good wine list and drinks. Got the Basil Mint Lemonade but too sweet had to ask for more sparking water to top if off- but the water they added tasted flat... Appetizers: Calamari is ok but the thing you MUST have: the cheese FONDUE.. this is the most amazing brie/goatcheese/gruyere fondue you'll EVER have.. and the candle below keeps the cheese creamy and warm. The bread they provide is usually sufficient to use up the cheese. SOOOO goood ! I'd come here just for that... Entrees: Last night I got the duck breast.. cooked well and very tender. side items were tasty as well. a bit pricey but delicious. Hubby had the rotisserie chicken with pomme frites. Also very juicy meat and outside of chicken was crispy and seasoned just right. His meal came with pomme frites.. the thing I love about frites at a french place.. always tastes freshly fried.. very hot and light .. u know its not sitting in a hot oven all day. Previously I've also tried some of their special soup of the days, and fish dishes. All light and fresh tasting. Will come for HH next time to get the truffle fries and crab cakes. =)
(4)Kevin C.
I have been to The Left Bank both in San Mateo and also Santana Row. Although reasonable, the food was nothing special at either venue and I have consequently thought of the Left Bank as fairly average. Then we joined some friends at The Left Bank in Menlo Park. I found the venue strikingly more appealing than the other locations. It's bright and open, and seems generally more inviting. Also in its favour is the actual physical location of the restaurant, which is along Santa Cruz Avenue - Menlo Park's classy high street in the center of downtown. We were seated at a very comfortable and plush half-moon booth, which was perfect for four people and made the entire evening seem relaxed and easy. The food was excellent and the service was competent. I enjoyed an asparagus starter and a main course of salmon with stir-fried veggies. My wife decided on steak and our friends kept it straightforward with the American Hamburger. Everyone enjoyed their helpings. The salmon was cooked perfectly and was delicious. The only let-down was the creme brulee, which was too dense and should have been a lot more fluffy and light. Nonetheless, a well-made espresso topped a very satisfying meal.
(4)Mohammad S.
Nice steak tartare.
(3)Michel A.
Had a delicious dinner there tonight. Started with Escargot and finished with a delicious fish "Daurade". Other people had the beet salad and mushroom risotto and both were excellent too. Service was good too.
(5)Ketch M.
This restaurant has really gotten better. Our server tonight was attentive, nice and really seemed to like his job. Food was good and the place was packed! As we were leaving we found out that they have a late night happy hour, good to know. Looking forward to my next visit.
(4)j. k.
After spending a whole month in Paris and Provence, at the best restaurants the locals told us about... I was sad to be back in the US. I was craving French. I have tried a few in SF, but I wasn't quite happy... Tried Left Bank twice so far. First time was excellent, second time, I was confused. How can one restaurant rate so high one day and so low on another? Friendly staff. I didn't know this was a chain til recently!
(3)nakiesha k.
Sophisticated, scrumptious food in an elegant but airy environment. I had trout... I can't think of any other way to describe the dish than to say it tasted like summer. Exceptional! The general manager, Khephra, was very friendly and accommodating. We felt very well taken care of.
(5)Albert W.
We went there after going to a dr. appt. I first thought this restaurant was fancier and more expensive but it's more like casual dining with decent price. The restaurant has high ceilings and looks pretty nice. We ordered two fromage (cheese), pate, trout with reduced cream sauce, side veg, and cocktail drink. The bread was cold and hard. Both of the cheeses that I ordered are from France. The goat cheese was good but the cow's milk cheese was ok. They came with toasted bread, apple, and glazed walnuts. Interesting combination. The pate was average and it came with toasted bread, sour pickle, and side potato. The side order of roasted garlic and spinach was a bit salty. The trout looks nice with the head being served at the same time. Cocktail drink (peach infused vodka) was average.
(3)Catherine G.
I went here for lunch and had the french onion soup and the nicoise salad. Best damn soup ever. The cheese was sooo thick and the soup was delicious without being too oily like some places make it. The salad was also great. It seemed like a busy place, but the service was excellent (could have been due to the high muckety-mucks that I was lunching with). Note to self: don't eat french onion soup at a business lunch again. So not graceful. I just can't wait to go back and get...the soup...yummmm.
(4)Cynthia C.
Pretty good. WAY better than the Santana Row location. Clean spacious interior. Friendly and competant staff. Bread not so good, like really dry, foccacia, w/o the grease. Salad Verte had a wonderfully light dressing on butterleaf. Steak tartare, mild, not overly oiled. Salmon cooked RARE, just the way I like it. The skirt steak was tender and lean. Chocolate cake, good, it was comped, FREE always tastes better.
(3)Fancypants J.
I guess I should not be shocked that Left Bank in San Mateo closed. I expected better from the Menlo Park location. We had brunch here on a Sunday. It was not crowded. Hostess and server(?) were arguing about where to seat another party before seating us. Should have been a red flag. We were able to order our food within about 10 minutes but our entrees did not arrive until we had been there about 45 mins. Not acceptable imo. Mr Q ordered eggs benedict & I had a salad with lardons and a cup of French onion soup. The soup was decent but a small portion and too sweet. The salad had frisee lettuce and a poached egg-not sure who thought it would be good to put a poached egg on a salad. No one came to really check on us during the meal. As I told Mr Q, I probably would not run back to eat here again.
(2)Shannon N.
Contrary to another review I saw here, I dislike this location more than their other locations. We were seated in a crappy table about four inches from another table - ew. I didn't need to hear all the details of this woman's divorce and her date's children. Blergh. Why must restaurants force people to sit so darn close? Feh. Fondue Savoyarde (cheese) = good Profiteroles = good I think they've got some happy hour specials here too, but I haven't confirmed.
(2)ClosetDork ..
I really wanted to like Left Bank. And tried not to be prejudicial after visiting the one in Santana Row and deciding that, if I were to spend my own money, Left Bank would never be in my list. Not in this lifetime. Alas, the Menlo Park version of Left Bank is even more immemorable and pathetic (in a trying-too-hard-to-be-French way) as the one in Santana Row. The person who waited our table was expressionless throughout the entire lunch, citing specials of the day using his boring, monotonous and slightly nasal voice we might as well listen to a recording and going through the motion of taking our order, serving the food, taking the plates, and putting down the dessert menu in a mechanical, almost comical way. The bread was stale, the mussels dry and the bread burnt beyond recognition. The pomme frites were awesome, but for the price, I'd rather have mine animal style at the Mountain View In-N-Out. And oh... sitting in a table next to us were four girls who could not be more than 12, fully dolled up in tight-fitting clothes. When the time came for them to pay up, one of them took out a thick wad of cash from what appears to be a Louis Vuitton monogram multicolore wallet which was previously sitting in a Louis Vuitton limited edition Theda bag in monogram canvas. The total value of the wallet, bag, and the cash that she had must have been more than what my administrative assistant earns in a month. But oh well, it was, after all, spring break. And it was, after all, Menlo Park.
(2)Yb W.
Left Bank describes itself as an authentic French Brasserie. Not being of French descent and never even having been to France, I have no idea if that's true or not. I also don't understand why brasseries and bistros, which are supposed to be modest establishments in France, become so expensive when transplanted into America?! I do, however, really like the food here. I love their onion soup ($6.75), their duck breast and confit ($20.50), as well as their Coq Au Vin ($18.50). Their Au Gratin potato ($4.95) side dish is especially good. For dessert, they serve a lovely molten chocolate cake with espresso ice cream ($6.75). My own position is that food doesn't have to be strictly authentic to be tasty or enjoyable (case in point: orange chicken at Panda Express; in fact, the last time I looked into their kitchen, the person stir frying the chicken wasn't even Chinese). This is the first tastefully decorated restaurant I've ever been to where I've seen families with children (maybe because they offer hamburgers and fries). I thought that that this aspect of the restaurant was very progressive.
(4)Franz H.
Classy and delicious. Several trips here and nothing but good times and tasty food. Definitely a little schnazzy, but not over the top.
(5)Catherine L.
I've been to Left Bank many times over the past ten years, and always had a great experience. The food is authentic and consistently good, and one couldn't ask for more regarding their service: they are attentive and welcoming, and have been very accommodating when a few of my business dinners lasted longer than the average, rushed American dining experience. It's so refreshing to have a reliably good restaurant!
(5)Origami Z.
This place was a great place and I especially loved the escargot. It is a beautiful restaurant, but from San Mateo it was a long drive.
(5)hunter w.
it's got space for large groups and a nice cocktail menu but the service takes it down a notch or two. Let's just say it's leisurely.... also, sides of frites served without ketchup or mayo - be gone! but between the appetizers, salads and entrees, you can put together a pretty good meal or snack
(3)Hugh B.
My first UFO sighting ever turned out to be a flying credit card, launched by a disgruntled diner at an adjoining table at Left Bank. There he sat by himself, stewing like a pot of Left Bank's fabled bouillabaisse, his wife and kids long gone, likely off to buy some ice cream, while he waited and waited for the check to arrive. When the waiter finally approached -swooosh -- the diner flung his silver MasterCard, and it flew by in a shimmering arc, landing on the floor beside my left foot. Mon dieu! If it's not clear from other Left Bank reviews, service is a real hit and miss affair. I really appreciate a restaurant where the staff work in concert with diners to achieve the right pacing, allowing lively parties to talk and linger, but also responding more swiftly to diners who aren't interested in spending their entire evening at a restaurant. Left Bank seems to have this reversed, and the hit and miss staff appear to set their own pace, and let the diners be damned. Our server was intent upon doing things his way, stopping us mid-conversation to address the evening's specials, which he did by dropping a signboard on the table and declaring that now we were all going to spend some time talking with him about the specials. The food at Left Bank is also hit and miss. I really enjoyed the roast lamb with asparagus and fava beans, but the accompanying polenta toast was bland and tasteless. My wife's trout was similarly slightly off, and was more of a trout hash than the expected fillet. That said, the starter spinach salad with chevre was delightful, as was the meyer lemon tart for dessert. I have a hard time understanding the inconsistencies in both Left Bank's spotty service and up and down food, and am left to speculate that there must be some serious overall issues between staff and owners, or just simply lousy management. The owner stopped by our table during a high point of the evening, which was fine, but many of his conversations with other diners appeared on the order of apologies, and one wonders how a restaurant can stay in business with a significant percentage of diners in open rebellion.
(3)Armanius M.
Orange duck was good and so was the tuna salad. The stuffed quail ... pass on it. Our waiter seemed a bit forgetful. The restaurant is clean and well decorated. Bathroom was clean too. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but nothing to rave about.
(3)Jennifer T.
I am so so sorry to have to give a bad review, because I have come here before for *dinner* and it was fine..maybe the lunch staff just isn't as great... I just got finished here with my girlfriend for lunch. Our waiter was a disaster, even more, our food was a disaster! She ordered the grilled eggplant sandwich which was rubbery. This was after our waiter took 45 minutes to take our order...and when my friend asked if it was good he said, yes it is grilled veggies...duh, that's what it says on the menu, thanks for the input... I had a chicken sandwich, it was pretty blah, no flavor. Needed something more... Then we decided to order the molten lava cake for dessert because my ass was just craving more dimples,...it came cold...the point of the molten lava cake is for it to be hot with "lava" like chocoloate flow.. Anyhow we talked to the manager, Terrell, he took everything off the bill and it wasn't like he was giving us any weird looks or something like some managers do when you tell them the food was gross, b/c they think you're just trying to get out of paying for it. Lastly, the espresso machine was broken so after waiting another 15 mins for our lattes, we finally just left, thank God there was a Peets down the street.
(2)John N.
I've eaten at Left Bank several times over the last five years. They've gone downhill. They've substituted french fries for mashed potatoes, and the fries are below the Burger King level. The chicken was adequate, but not great. The bread was some awful flavored abomination. It's one of the few French restaurants in Palo Alto/Menlo Park, an area oversupplied with pasta outlets. I'm sad to see it tank. I won't be back.
(2)Ayelet B.
Although I should cut down on pop, they only get 3 starts for having diet pepsi and not diet coke. I had a sparking water, which was probably better for me. I haven't been to Menlo Park in years and this is where I met a friend for dinner. It was ok as all the other ones but the waiter was really irritating. He really did his best but he went over the top and became really obnoxious. The food is always predictable and you will get a decent meal.
(3)Yoddha Y.
Nice ambiance. Food was only good (not great) for the price. The Tour de France menu is pretty good. Service was very good, very accommodating. I would recommend the fish entrees. The bread could have been better or at least warm. I can't put the finger on exactly what was missing!!!
(3)Jaymes H.
Nice atmosphere. open late. loooooooved the cassoulet. could not get enough.
(4)Dan G.
This place has really gone down hill. The bar is great, but the restaurant is mediocre at best. Food has gotten lazy, and the service is abominable. I'm never going back.
(1)mar m.
overpriced. unmemorable. plain. the decor is nice and service is great, but i'm into the food. grant it, i've never tried their dessert and i've only been here once, so maybe i should give it another chance. there's just so many other options in this area that i won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(2)Jennifer S.
I haven't been here since the remodel, and thought it looked wonderful. I still wish, however, the tables would have just a few more inches between them. We had the burger, the french onion soup and the butter lettuce salad....burger good, salad good, french fries fabulous! On the soup, I love this soup, however, (and this is going to sound very strange), there was too much cheese (see what I mean on sounding strange? who doesn't love a lot of gooey, yummy cheese?)....it was virtually impossible to eat without involving my fingers to stretch the cheese and break from my spoon. I know swiss and emmantaler cheese is like this, but it just wasn't working! I felt like the only way to manage it would be to use a knife. Anyway, besides this minor complaint, I thought it was a nice meal.
(3)Be H.
I had sturgeon here, and it was great! Very nice restaurant, great service.
(5)Cynthia G.
I didn't like it, but my co-eaters did, hence the three stars. First, the appetizer. We got two cheeses, and not really enough for three people - not enough bread, and the bread wasn't paired well (it was herbed and seasoned and oiled and overwhelmed the cheese). Next, the entrees. My boyfriend got the steak and pronounced it well done. Our friend got the burger and said it was solid, but not $12 solid. I got the sandwich rive gauche - roasted vegetables - and it was horrible. We'll leave aside that I became a veggie for health reasons, and so am confused by vegetarian dishes that are dripping in oil AND mayo (called aeoli when something is blended into it). Not healthy. But this sandwich tasted like it had been brushed with fish oil. I was hungry, and I couldn't finish half. The fries were good. Finally, the service. Spotty. The staff was either hovering in a group and overly obsequeous or nowhere to be found. Not to mention that we sat outside and the tables were crowded really close together. The price and the atmosphere means that it has pretensions of being a fine restaurant, but the staff kept doing things such as leaning over the table and food (and patrons! I pity my friend who was close to their entry path) to pour the water, leaving the used appetizer dishes to crowd out our lunch for a while after bringing the entree, bringing out some new forks and knives while leaving other used utensils... it was just weird. They were trying, and were nice, but with the sub-par sandwich and the mixed service, I wouldn't go back.
(3)Brian T.
packed on a Friday night, but the atmosphere was really friendly. The waiter was slow, but we weren't in a rush. Funny though, everything on the menu sounded midwestern, except the oysters. My roast beef was hearty and tasty and the fries and oysters were good.
(4)Angie Y.
Only decor fares with its name. Food is just ok. Service is really unpredictable. Still, I'm going to have lunch here with my girlfriends, when food doesn't matter but the decor does.
(3)Hoa N.
I went here for dinner with a group of friend's friends and the experience was about average. I ordered the free-range chicken with red-wine sauce. The sauce does not have the red-wine flavor *not very obvious*. The chicken though does have a little bit of flavoring but I think it was way way way way overcook that the meat was kind of dry and not juicy anymore. It loses its original tastes. I ordered it without lardons (bacons), so the taste was little bit of off. Bacons I think will make it a little bit saltier, so the chef did not compensate for that in the dish so the noodles and everything was a little bit under season. The salad was okie. Dressing was about average. They put tons of oil in the dressing though. The soup was actually good. The bread was decent as well. I didn't have any drink but did get their desserts. And it's really yummy. I had their mini-cheese cake. The size is really small but since I am not hungry, it is perfect for tasting. I thought the kumquat will be included in the cheese cake production, but no, it's only for decoration. But the taste was very good though. And most of the people who had desserts commented on how good they were. Service was only okie. I don't think our waitress was very professional. She basically interrupted the conversation to get the unwanted wine glasses on the table. I found it quite unprofessional at a place like this. The atmosphere was really nice. They have high ceiling and lots of light inside which I really like. It's good if you have a good group of people coming. So overall, I only give this three stars because of the food, price, and service but I really like the atmosphere.
(3)Diane J.
Just had lunch at Left Bank on St. Paddy's day. Not much revelry -- restaurant was pretty quiet. Having said that, experienced TERRIBLE service. Waited over 30 minutes for first course to arrive. Had to ask for water -- glasses never refilled. Food was ok - just ok. This is not the first time we've had a bad experience. Last time, ordered the quiche -- had to send it back THREE times because it was not done. No thank you -- don't want to eat undercooked quiche. Much better places to go for lunch - this is a "has been".
(1)Joe L.
I have been to dinner at this place couple of times. I have only been to brunch and lunch at the Santana Row location. So I cannot compare this location with the other. My friends told me the food is better at the Menlo Park location, but the Santana Row location is more crowded. The food portion is quite big. The price is not outrageously high neither. That makes it feel more like an American restaurant than a French restaurant. The dishes we ordered were delicious. The kid's meals were a good deal too, good portion and delicious for around $5~$6. Though I like their food, I didn't give them 5 stars because service was not very good. We were confused when we discussed the menu choices among ourselves. We later found out that the waiter gave us half dinner menus and half lunch menus. The tables were so close together that the waiters couldn't squeeze in, and we had to pass the dishes for the waiter. The waiter disappeared after the dishes were put down. We had to wait a long time to get our needs attended to. I cannot tolerate bad food but I can tolerate bad service. So I will still go back as long as the dishes taste great. I can always tip less when the service is not good.
(4)Samantha R.
It's raining. My kids are making me crazy. My sympathetic husband has taken them to the library, and I am eating at Left Bank with no other company than an issue of the New Yorker that I've been trying to read for the past 2 weeks. Bliss. I order a latte, which comes in a nice ceramic bowl. I order the Quenelle, which is creamy, rich, laden with all kinds of arteriosclerosis-producing ingredients, and makes me feel all warm and comfy inside. Yes, the restaurant is pricey, the clientele is, um, of a certain age. But damn, this is pretty decent French food for being in downtown Menlo. I feel reinvigorated and self-indulgent and who cares about those last 10 pounds . . . ------------------------------ Update: So they have a new chef and the food is now terrible! Dommage! Everything we had tasted old or too overpowering. I hope the lattes there are still good but I'm readying myself for disappointment. My new rating is ONE STAR. Left Bank, hire your old chef back!!! Please!
(1)Rachel S.
Had a nice lunch here today w/ the ladies. A live jazz band played Sinatra for the duration of our time there (i swoon for the stand-up bass; such a classy instrument). We sat outside in breezy shade and ate a lovely starter: tart w/ heirloom tomatoes and pesto. I went on to the Nicioise salad, which was notable for its addition of avocado (nice upgrade!) but didn't find the seared ahi particularly inspired (a long stretch to presume it cooked at the time of my order). Cocktail menu was inventive. Ice tea was unique with what i'm guessing is a mango ceylon base. Service solid. I'll be back, but probably not for the tuna.
(4)Peter G.
This place used to be great, amazing fries and great steak. The menu was changed a while ago with a new head chef , and it really wasn't an improvement. If you love French cuisine, then I would recommend Left Bank. Otherwise, it might be best to look somewhere else.
(3)Laurel L.
I've been to Left Bank several times, but last night they really SHINED! My aunt & uncle had chosen this spot to celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary. We dropped off flowers & cake in advance as a surprise. The flowers were there on the table as we arrived, and the cake was brought out for dessert at just the right moment (only a per-person cutting fee applied, very reasonable!). The service was genuinely friendly and warm, perfect for the occasion. My cousin had called in a credit card to pay for the meal, there was a confusion about the number, and our waiter discreetly called my cellphone (which they had as I'd reserved via Open Table), so I could take care of the problem totally discreetly, without my aunt, uncle or even husband realizing there was any problem! The restaurant did everything possible to make the occasion feel special.
(4)John J.
My wife and I had enjoyed the Menlo Park Left Bank in the past but we would probably not go back. Ever. Our past experiences led us to return but the place has gone south. The food was acceptable but the service was so indifferent, so casual, so disinterested and so amateurish that I did something I have only done two or three times in my life, having dined out worldwide for many years: I reported our waitperson to the manager. At the end of my brief comment about the waiter's ineptness, I said: "He should not be waiting on tables. He should be parking cars. But not my car, please. And it's an old Honda Civic." Need I say more?
(2)Angie R.
My sis is currently homeless (she's moving to Colorado soon) and couch surfing with her friend Brooke in Menlo Park. This weekend, Brooke was out of town and sis was watching Brooke's dog Oliver (a.k.a. The Big Jeans) and she called me all pathetic and bored and lonely Saturday morning, so I hopped in the Yaris and drove down there to hang out with her. Not only to hang out with her, but to go jogging. For two miles. I haven't been jogging for at least a year. Let me tell you , there are muscles in my inner thighs that I forgot about. And they hurt now. After the jog, I was hungry. Really hungry. Like, large pizza with everything hungry. Sis suggested that we go to The Left Bank and get a beet salad. I probably don't have to tell you that a beet salad was not what my empty post-jogging stomach had in mind. I was prepared to argue for heartier fare, and then she said that they also had wine there, and I decided I better humor her. The beet salad turned out to be surprisingly filling and delicious. The beets were roasted to the perfect consistency, and the salad was served with a crostini that had a giant glob of creamy goat cheese crusted with toasted hazelnuts. Paired with a glass of cold rose, it was a lovely little lunch. The service left something to be desired. We waited for a long time before someone came and took our order, and things were pretty slow even though the place was only about half full. Judging from the other reviews of this place on Yelp, service is a challenge for The Left Bank.
(3)Tony L.
I thought this restaurant was alright. The tall windows lit the dining room nicely. The service was friendly. I knock off the stars when it comes to the price. While the food is alright, I had salmon with rice pilaf--nothing remarkable--and it doesn't come cheap either. I see this place as a casual destination for with their McLaren and Bugaboo strollers to sit around and talk about important things like linens and yoga. If you fit that description, congratulations! You have arrived.
(3)alli h.
I want to like this place. I've been over a dozen times--it ranks high on my firm's "somewhat fancy lunch spot" list. The problem is that the service is so uneven. The food is always good--you can't go wrong with their steak frites, and last time I was there, the pureed parsnips were like heaven (and a heart attack) on a plate--so creamlicious. But for some reason, it's tough to get a waiter when you need one. For instance, last dinner, my dining companion ordered French Onion Soup, and it was delivered by a bus boy, who promptly ran away. My friend waited almost five minutes before we could catch ANYONE'S ATTENTION for a spoon. I mean--serving soup with spoon--that's not asking for a lot. Still, I keep going back because the wine is fab and the prices reasonable (though more reasonable at lunch than dinner). Left Bank--if you're reading this--please hire some waitstaff that are attentive. Just a little, "How's everything?" check in now and again would be such a step up....
(3)Paul G.
This is easy: Make a reservation and order a glass of Chote de Rhone. This is the only place that has it by the glass. The atmosphere is fantastic and food is just as good. Left bank is prolly the only chain restaurant that hasn't yet lost the feeling of owner operated places. I applaud them for that. You can order anything you like, they definetly have talented chef's and can produce high quality dishes consistently.
(5)X E.
Service: Quelle horreur! The lowest class of paradoxically snobby yet subpar service for a mostly high class (or at least high-falutin') clientele. It is a bit of mystery how this staple Peninsula establishment manages to attract and keep the business of its frequent old school and nouveau riche diners when the service is absolutely horrendous. Each of the dozen occasions I've dined at Left Bank, I find that the hostesses and servers wear attitudes well beyond laissez-faire and into plain lazy...euh, how do you say...less of the intriguing French je ne sais quoi, and more of the irritating je ne sais quoi I'm doing. Food: The Service factor aside, you can enjoy a nice meal of moules frites here (the frites of the long, skinny variety). The charcuterie and fromages plates have been consistently tasty, as well as the hamburger, the onion soup and the trout almondine. Ambiance: Always noisy, with high ceilings and tinny acoustics, the restaurant feels more bustling bistro than intimate cafe. Some of the tables are quite close to one another, so don't plan on any private conversations here. Good for first-ish dates, casual business meetings, "lunching," and the bar. Survey Says: For a much more enjoyable experience, go to Bistro Vida down the street! (Caveat: the two are totally different in terms of atmosphere, so technically speaking, you can't conduct a fair comparison. Besides, Bistro Vida is much better.)
(3)theresa j.
I got to have my first experience not to long ago here for a work get together! It was a great atmosphere and i would love to come back more often with others! Omg, i got the chicken sanwich! Yumm-o!!! The chickpeas, cheese and tomato skins complimented my sammie so well, i know all be back for more! Oh and the mini cream puffs are to die for!
(4)Sara H.
Decent French food, although as a general rule French food is not my favorite. This location (compared to the Pleasant Hill location) is disappointing. The room is a box, with no dividers, and tables packed in like sardines. Dessert alone might have been worth it, however.
(4)Sophia Y.
minus 1 star for pricey... but the food here is great! take out is great too. just have to find parking to pick it up spinach salad with pears and walnuts - how could you go wrong coq qu vin - lots of noodles, good for kids, salmon - healthy and yummy desserts - tart tartin delicious chocolate cake -
(4)Connie C.
If you like Fromage, then you'll probably like Left Bank for brunch. They pile it on! My chicken and spinach crepe looked more like an enchilada, and my friends all had the spinach and mushroom omlette that came out in a blanket of bright orange cheese. It was tasty, but there is such a thing as too much cheese that early in the day. We didn't have to wait at all for our table, unlike those crazy people who actually wait an hour to have breakfast at Stacks. It's breakfast, for crying out loud! Service was nice and dishes were decently priced at around $10.
(3)Judy D.
Left Bank could be a good, everyday French place. The quality of service and food, however, run hot-and-cold. When the kitchen and waitstaff are on the ball, I have a fantastic experience. When one or both break down, I wonder why I ever came.
(3)Art L.
It is a bistro restaurant. The food is presentable and average. But, where else can you enjoy beef tartar in the bay area for reasonable price? I do find that the Santana Row's Left Bank chef do a better job at food preparation. Try their tri-tip beef sandwich for lunch or lamb shank for dinner. These are quite good.
(3)Sandra C.
We had a lovely lunch (the lamb burger was delicious) and the service was excellant.
(5)Rebecca S.
Good food, attentive service. One guest in our party requested special preparation and chef came out to make sure he understood what she wanted. Very nicely done. Food good, but restaurant is very noisy.
(4)Adam G.
I've been here probably half a dozen times now. It's a great place to go for a nice casual dinner with friends or for a low-key date (although it's pretty loud, making some kinds of conversation difficult). The food has always been quite tasty, the portions nicely sized overall. The pommes frites are excellent, some of the best I've had outside of France. And their garlic mashed potatoes are also mouth watering. I've had the duck a l'orange, seared sea scallops, steak, braised lamb, coq au vin, and several of the appetizers and desserts. All have been good, admittedly not exceptional, but consistently tasty and good. The prices are reasonable for what you get (on the Palo Alto/Menlo Park scale, that is), and the wine list is pretty extensive. The tables can be kind of close together depending on where you sit. Last time I was there, two of us Canadians happened to be talking about poutine (one of the tastiest heart attacks on a plate you can find), and the woman next to us happened to be from Montreal, so we got to talking about poutine and smoked meat. Excellent. I like the ambiance there - it does subtly remind me of a real French bistro in France. This is a great stand-by place, and I'll probably keep coming back.
(4)Helen H.
The mussels we got were barely cooked. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be... but I really don't like the fleshy seafoody taste. However, the entries here were suburb. The waitresses here were nice. The fish was nicely cooked. Cheese fondue was a blast but I guess you can't really mess that up huh. Anyway, overall, not a bad experience. It's a good place to take your parents. Conservative and safe.
(3)Debbie H.
I had the BEST Trout Almondine here recently! Julia Child would have approved. The staff and general manager, Pat McElroy, are personable and bend over backwards to make sure you enjoy your meal. And here's extra incentive reason to dine here: on Sat., Oct. 17th, manager Pat McElroy is donating a portion of their revenue to Village Enterprise Fund. Left Bank (in Menlo Park) is part of a "Shop and Dine Out" event for World Anti-Poverty Day. So come on Oct. 17th to help our local economy while starting small businesses for the poor in East Africa through Village Enterprise Fund.
(5)Jeff W.
A chain of French restaurants with a great concept delivers decidedly unevenly, so if you know the menu, c'est bon. Left bank is principally traditional French Brasserie food: steak frites, onion soup, salad Nicoise, etc. High points: fried calamari appetizer is very good, French onion soup is reasonable, the salad Nicoise is prepared well with very fresh ingredients including seared Ahi -- one of my favorites, the steak is very good, and the hamburger is a cheap date and just fine. The atmosphere is great as well. The wine list, however, is a sin: overpriced average wine. One of my dreams is that the moron who designed this wine list will decide to shop at K&L Wines right down the road and stop serving average crap and keep the markup reasonable. The bar is fun in spite of tiny Martinis. But there is some extremely average food on this menu so beware. Venture out with caution, and see if your waitress really does know the menu. Set your expectation very low for the wine list, and you're all set. Great place to stop by and have a drink and an appetizer. This is a chain after all.
(2)G J J.
Leaves much to be desired.
(1)Orie M.
As many people write, I am not sure if this restaurant really serves French food, but I like the food quality and service here. The portion is not large by any means, and although I usually don't finish all my restaurant entrees, I can finish everything from here. The atmosphere is not super casual, but not ritzy or pompous. This is a nice restaurant for a business lunch or dinner with friends. It seems they are going to be closed soon for a period of 2 months for remodeling :(.
(4)Mary K.
3.5 stars, Yeah, I know it's a chain restaurant and yes, it caters to a rather long-in-the-tooth crowd. BUT......I have been there a couple times for lunch and enjoyed it. I ordered their fish special which was a branzino fish flown in from Greece (so they told me). Guess what - excellent! Also had a beet salad that was very good. On my last trip there they had Fanny Bay osyters and those are excellent and sometimes hard to come by. I was loving it. Don't order the Jacques Pepin sandwich, it's heavy. This place is not cheap but the service was good, the food was good and the maitre d' took a lot of care to come over and ask our opinions of the food. The restaurant is light and bright and the tables are nicely spaced. No sitting in your neighbor's lap here.
(4)Caroline L.
Had Left Bank for brunch today for the second time in these past couple months. I always come out feeling greasy and oily inside. I had the croque monsieur w/egg today. It was pretty good, but kinda greasy. The pomme frites are not bad. I don't think I'll return for a long time. Not my idea of a great meal. Their lemonade w/lime and sprite was the best part of the meal. Their cream puff pastry was ok. The ice cream and chocolate syrup was the good party, but um, how can anyone mess up ice cream and chocolate syrup?
(3)Lindsey S.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. It is very clean and the wait staff was very nice, but the decor is so cliche with the blown up vintage posters. Very poor beer selection for a brasserie. The $10 glass of Bordeaux I ordered was awful. Completely tasteless. It was like the bottle had been watered down. Our green salad was also very bland and the lettuce was wet, like it had been rinsed and not dried. My ravioli was okay, not great. My husband's steak was a little chewy and the fries were good. Overall, we were pretty disappointed. It looks so nice and inviting from the outside, but the food was like something from a large chain. I realize that Left Bank is part of a chain, but I just expected better.
(2)Patrisha B.
Sadly the service and the management are a horrible combination that holds the french dining experience at a very low expectation! I was greeted politely and was hoping to give some french relatives the best service I could, sadly mistaken! While non of the staff spoke french, when I use to order directly from Brian, was not there to offer a helping hand to my out of town guest. I have been a loyal customer to Left Bank for over 5 years & will never return due to the poor service offered by Nikki the manager who repeatedly disrespected the quality of the french cuisine I miss from my childhood in France. This Menlo Park favorite of mine has now become a disaster.
(1)Elizabeth P.
Bleech. This place is a hooty-tooty, over-priced, over-rated, high-end-chain-type of establishment. A rich man's Red Lobster. I do like their fries.
(2)Kristin O.
I came here with a lady that I used to tutor. We were there for brunch, so she got a soup and I got fries. I thought the place looked very nice! There was tons of natural light everywhere and the seating was cramped but cozy. I'd like to dine in a place with such high ceilings all the time! The service was great and the place was clean. It's a little pricey, but I'm going to come back sometime to get an actual meal.
(4)Impress Me N.
My husband and I went on a Friday night (with reservations). We were seated promptly, but very close to another couple. It wouldn't have been so bad except that the male half was wearing a gallon of cologne...bleh. Our waitress was TERRIBLE. She was very slow to come and take our drink order and I was badly in need of a martini. If I had known it would take her 15+ minutes to return, I would have ordered my dinner at the same time. She disappeared after the appetizer and did not turn up until we were well into our dinner. The restaurant must also have some sort of water shortage because it seemed difficult to get. I had the fondue appetizer which was ok, but salty. I also had the halibut and it was so-so...and also salty. The food was forgettable. I should have just ordered more martinis and asked for extra olives. However, the people watching factor was "interesting". Left Bank's customers are a cross between Chili's and McDonalds. There were a lot of very loud people in their twenties who were sloppily dressed and had bad manners. They were mixed with young parents who were perfectly happy to let their children run wild and use the coat hooks on the wall as a climbing gym. I swear, I'm not making that up. It was apalling. In the future, I will be avoiding this place. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was for the martini, and the amusement factor provided by other people.
(2)Ricshocka R.
My first time at a French place. Overall I liked it but of course I went safe and just had a burger. Service was good I really liked our waiter he was nice and had a outgoing personality. Very good french fries. I would go back.
(3)Jo Ann P.
For small town Menlo Park and nearby Palo Alto, this restaurant is right on the mark. Fresh ingredients, pate and tartare were excellent. By the time we devoured the fresh oysters and a salad we could not continue. But, we will be back for more. Needless to say, we are very happy to have found this place. One of us is a chef trained at Arzak and the rest are world travellers.
(5)Jan C.
I love Left Bank even as I recognize the uneveness of my experiences here. Sometimes the service is awesome, sometimes it sucks. Same with the fish dishes: I had an amazing white fish special with a leek sauce one day and a barely edible piece of bass one week later. Solid favorites: the duck a l'orange, the moules frites, the chicken grand mere and the steak. I also quite like the creme brulee. When Left Bank is good, it's really good, but unfortunately, sometimes it's just... not good.
(3)Mai A.
Food: It is a lovely French Brasserie. Lots of seasonal dishes. I say go for the mussels and pommes frites. Don't miss out on their wine collection Vibe: Loud! It's a place for the power lunch. However I don't suggest going there if you want to take someone on a date. Treat it like a french brasserie, order little snacks and enjoy with a friend or a laid back afternoon. Parking: Parking lot. However quite compact. Scoring : My yearly patronage for the Office Xmas Lunch. I love French Brasseries. However, sometimes I wish they offered more, and it was less deafening. Lasting thought/suggestion: Go for lunch or the afternoon. You'll enjoy it more, since it does tend to get a sleepy vibe at dinner. Don't miss out on the wine list. Tons of yummy, exotic wines!
(3)TJ D.
My review is definitely limited, so don't let it weigh too much on your decision. I've only been here for drinks at the bar and haven't tasted any food. I've had good experiences at the bar, so I felt compelled to at least write something about that. The bartenders are good (friendly, attentive, competent drink-makers) and the cost to size ratio is great relative to the high cost of everything around the Bay Area.
(3)Stephen H.
Boullabaise and Pork Belly One winter I ate here every week due to an addiction with their boullabaise that still hasn't worn off. An expensive addiction, so I quit going. I'm not a big fan of their quiche dishes, but the pork belly and lamb rack have always been above average quality. They would do well to heat their bread (a pet peeve of mine). The onion soup is scrumptious. Nice assortment of wines and full bar complete the experience. Outside best in summer, inside I like to sit where I can watch the cooks in action.
(4)Marshall M.
Left Bank is one of my favorate restaurants. I love the burgers and the nicise salad. It's also great for Thanksgiving Dinner. Enjoy.
(5)Matt M.
Left Bank is one of my favorite restaurants in Menlo Park. The food is always superb and the atmosphere is relaxed. The steak frites and fondu are both a must!
(5)elaine c.
unfortunately the service was terrible and the food fair. Nice new interior. We won't be going back until they get better service!!!
(1)Kevin F.
This restaurant has recovered nicely since my last review. The quality and service have been consistently good over a few visits. However, I agree with the reviews that note their prices have "edged up."
(4)Lauren V.
One of the best nicoise salads I have ever consumed was at this restaurant. great service. nothing on the menu is like a specialty, but everything here is done very well. So well I don't mind that I'm in menlo park which let's face it , is about as fun as a root canal.
(4)Jeremy P.
Any place that you call up at 9.30 and say you are bringing 10 people for dinner ... and they close at 10.00 ... and they seat you and get you a pretty darn good meal is an okay place with me. The atmosphere isn't too bad, if a little too large and spartan feeling. Giselle, the hostess, was charming and did a great job. The food was pretty good, the steak and pomme frittes I had was tasty. While the price was a little pricey, look at the neighborhood. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinners, though.
(3)Jim T.
I am not a French food eater, but have had lunch with a colleague here several times. He loves it and they recently remodeled the interior.
(3)Gabriel D.
yeah, three stars is about right. a whole lot of ordinaire here. - Moules Frites were generally boring - Croque-Madame was fine I wasn't even expecting the place to get me excited...and it didn't...
(3)Sumit S.
I remember this restaurant being better and better value in the past. I went a few weeks ago and while the food was ok, it was not particularly French nor very flavorful. Many of us had the lamb shank which was very tender but its sauce lacked depth. The vegetables on the side also needed more flavor. We did have a tasty Oregon pinot noir to go with the meal. My dessert (clafoutis) was too creamy and had too much pastry to be what it claimed to be.
(2)Mimi K.
The food was just ok. I do not think I could ever become a regular here, though I love French food.
(4)Aubert D.
Three star French bistro food--on par with an average Paris bistro, i.e. somethings done well, others... While French bistro food is certainly not exotic, this genre is rare all the same; Left Bank admirably attempts to maintain authenticity avoiding the ubiquitous mediocre, modern California reinterpretations of classics. Tarte Flambée was a highlight. Request it without the crème fraîche dolloped on top. Share a few appetizers, split an entrée and enjoy a bottle of wine with friends. Not a bad afternoon or evening. Note: if it's a good bottle of wine, bring your own glasses. while the wine list has $150 wines, the sub $2/stem glasses are not suitable for anything other than table wine.
(3)brenda m.
We ate here tonight and it was awful. I ordered the rotisserie chicken and it arrived undercooked. The mashed potatoes were cold and tasted like they came from a box. And the service was terrible. We waited forever to get our water glasses refilled. On the plus side, the bread was good, and the green salad was good and the manager did not charge me for my meal. Nonetheless. I would not come here again.
(1)Parvin P.
I was incredibly disappointed by Left Bank. We went here for a family dinner and ordered a lot of food. Not one person in our party ended up with anything worth mentioning. My risotto was practically unedible (it was hard and looked like it was out of box with frozen peas & carrots), my husband's salmon was average, the lentils were smothered in cream sauce which had zero flavor. My brother-in-laws hamburger was burnt. All the portions were very small and everything was way overpriced. I would hardly call this place a "french" restaurant. Huge letdown.
(2)Ty K.
Yeah, this place just isn't good, and its expensive = bad combo. The drinks sound interesting in the descriptions but they are decidedly boring and over priced! There are a lot of better places to spend your money on a nice dinner.
(1)Katie F.
Great food. Amazing place to try something new or have the best gourmet burger of your life. Good date place, because it's usually busy so you feel like you're "in the know." Great lunch place. You can sit outside and watch the scintillating Menlo Park pedestrians walk by. Great for large groups. If you want a really private dinner, they can serve you in a private upstairs room that makes you feel like you're a movie star.
(4)AZAM A.
Good French Brasserie very pleasent and delighful food comfortable atmosphere sip and drink wine Moules with some great bread
(4)Ashley O.
After a great experience at Left Bank with a friend couple years ago, I decided to try it out with my family. Unfortunately the experience wasn't up to par. I was very disappointed with the food this time around. Other than fondue, most of the other food was a disappointment. Salmon was not appealing to my palate and the steak was more like well done when we requested medium. Initially before tasting the food, we thought the prices were really good for the atmosphere and the food. Unfortunately, the quality/taste didn't match the price. I was very disappointed with three out of the four entrees we ordered. The only one that was decent was the lamb. This experience has left my family members disappointed in French food overall, which is a shame.
(1)John C.
I have dined at all three Left Banks now after last night (April 18th, 2010). All satified. Had the Salade Verte (excellent), Canard de l'orange (beautiful vegitable and fruit under duck breast, and the creme brule. All in all a great meal and excellent service.
(4)Valyn S.
For the price, this place is a rip-off. A friend recommended this restaurant to me...unfortunately. I DID like the dressing on the spinach salad (only thing I ordered because if the spinach salad is $12 everything else is insanely over-priced!) but here's the deal: there were about 15 leaves of spinach if even, a few paper-thin slices of some kind of fruit, 3 or 4 blue cheese crumbles, and 1 or 2 nuts. Seriously? I felt like I hadn't eaten anything. If you're going to charge me $12 for leaves, there had better be a LOT of them! I don't mind paying for good food, but I could have made that salad for probably $2. The service was VERY slow -- really? It takes THAT long to slap some spinach together? Wow. Wouldn't recommend unless you're filthy rich and have money (and time) to burn. The ambiance was nice though, but that's about all the place had going for it. All the dishes I saw looked VERY petite, and you can bet they were over-priced.
(1)and y.
well, if this place has improved, i am glad i have not experienced it before. i have had some of the most awkward, surreal service experiences at left bank. a waiter putting on some truly odd accent -- who, when asked about his french-y inflection by an older lady, explained that it only came on at work, but it was a consequence of some months in south africa. another who put a dish on a spare chair - because they messed up and brought everything out at once. another who answered a question as to whether a dish was good with "it's a top seller". three of us managed to blow $180 for lunch one time and come away dissatisfied. a special of calamari stuffed with ham was the most inedible thing i have tried in a while, with the calamari mysteriously managing to be chewy and hard at the same time. a rillette seemed to come straight out of a supermarket box. a risotto was an offense to generations of rice pickers who did not break their back so that such a flavorless concoction could be served. it feels kinda sad, really, like a vision born of a business plan that went horribly awry in the execution. the space is great. let's hope someone buys them out soon.
(1)Jonathan S.
Mussels and frites, salad nicoise were both awesome.
(4)Samantha R.
I have always been a fan of Left Banks from the Marin location, as well as, their Menlo Park location which is a frequent dinner place since my work is located in Menlo Park. The food is always on point and delicious. I am especially a fan of the salad nicoise and the fromage plate- tres bonne! The only things that can be slightly hit or miss is the service. Some nights it is excellent and the wait staff is beyond attentive and kind. Other nights it isn't good and it can take them 15-20 minutes to come by to even take a drink order.
(4)Kim C.
The fries were tasty, but it pretty much stops there. We tried it for dinner on a Friday night and we left wishing we had picked somewhere else. My ribeye was a bit tough and tasteless. I added $3 for their bourdelaise sauce which was far from worth it and now that I'm thinking about it, $3 for a sauce addition is A LOT! Overall, the food isnt great and DEFINITELY not worth the prices.
(2)Jeff F.
We've been there several times in recent months and it is very consistent. Food: always excellent. Service: always appalling. So bad and confused as to be laughable. You could run a book on who's going to come up to you next and ask you if anybody is taking care of you. The waiters and waitresses have their hearts in the right place but nobody seems to know who is responsible for what. Like China in the Cultural Revolution. Weird thing is many other reviewers on this page have also noticed this, and yet there's no sign management is aware. I see they have a new CEO. Maybe he hasn't made it to the Menlo branch yet. One other comment: some of the hostesses look like they tumbled out of bed or rushed in from the beach to come to work. Why do such a nice remodel on the restaurant and spoil it by having the hostesses greet you like you are at a Santa Cruz hippie beach party? On top of that (personal peeve) they say "bonjour" in that slack-jawed Californian way that only an unshaven French lothario would like. Utterly cringe-tastic. Any chef who can make steak-frites like that could teach them to say "bonjour" correctly. If it was me I'd make them practice in front of a mirror.
(3)Jane D.
The atmosphere is okay here. I'll give you that. I went here for lunch and came out still hungry. The prices are okay, northing to write home to anyone about. I ordered the salade Nicoise. Only because it was cool to say and it made me feel posh saying it. It contained ahi tuna seared lightly on a couple of leaves of lettuce. Perhaps, I should have ordered the burger instead. Our waiter, goofed up the bill and charged us for an extra table. So we got the bill for our table and the ladies next too us. It was $90 for three people. That didn't seem right. So we sent the bill back and the guy scratched his head and spent about 10 minutes recalculating it. Our bill was about 40 after the recalculation. I guess thats decent....I don't think I'll frequent this place as often. I just didn't leave with the desire to come back right a way.
(3)Rob C.
loud. chain french, so keep a "chain" mindset. decent canard aux cerises and salad lyonnaise. also have a private room upstairs. had a salade verte, saumon au beurre d'agrume with blood orange beurre blanc (for color), butternut squash puree was very sweet. poulet roti was ok. desserts were executed well: chocolate fondant and creme brulee.
(3)Madalina C.
We went here for dinner in January this year. I didn't like it that much. The food was not that great, it was just ok. I do not think I could ever become a regular here...but I could eat here from time to time...The restaurant looks good and the way you're treated there, it feels like you're in an upscale place...The service is really good...But the food wasn't great.
(3)Christine P.
Left Bank is fairly standard. You can count on a decent ambiance, service, and French food selection. My favorite is the Salad Verte made out of butter lettuce, but as a vegetarian, the options are fairly limited here. I also had the soup of the day-corn chowder. This place is a safe bet for a business meeting, but otherwise it's feels very plain vanilla since all of the Left Banks look and feel the same. I wish they could add more vegetarian entrees that are lighter, and not just pasta.
(3)vafer t.
no more. I use to really like LB in santana row. NO more. the food has declined and the service is unacceptable. not sure what changed but someone's not doing their job. With so many choices, why put up with their $%#. We haven't gone back in 6 months. Was it just us? Had this same conversation with 2 other friends and they felt the same way. Too bad. :( the LB in menlo park is still great.
(1)B J.
there's really not much good to say here. 3 friends and i went on a sunday night. the waiter took forever to take our drink orders, then forever again to take our dinner orders. people on adjacent tables who arrived after us were ordering at eating before us. the waiter was inattentive throughout the meal. a few desserts were ordered, and he completely forgot my cheese plate until i reminded him when he brought the check. of course i had him remove it, but he didn't even apologize. needless to say, i won't be going back. maybe it's better on friday/saturday, i'm sure sunday isn't exactly the 'A' team working.
(1)Melody D.
I've been to Left Bank six times over the course of three years or so and I've always had great service and great food (with one startlingly bad exception! hence one less star). For the aperitif I would recommend their French Onion Soup, the Fondue Savoyard, and the Steak Tartar, and for the entree, the Coq au Vin or Raviolis au Chevre. I have it on good word that "ze" hamburger is also pretty decent, if you've dragged along a pesky kid who will only eat American. It is a little pricey, but it's Parisian bistro ambiance and choice selections more than justify the price.
(3)marianne j.
We have eaten at Left bank more times than I can count over the past 5 years. We went there over the weekend to check out their new remodel...the last time we'd eaten there was over a year ago and we were both disappointed with the service and the food. I have to say that I think they are back on track to the old Left Bank I know and love. The new restaurant looks great, the service was terrific and our food was terrific. We were happy to see many of the same faces working there--definitely give this place a try.
(4)L G.
We went for lunch and are not going back. My friend and I both had the Seafood Risotto. Not much seafood, and the risotto was swimming in butter. The butter sat in my stomach all day and nauseated me. My husband had the chicken sandwich, which was very oily. He got sick afterward. Waiter was friendly and welcoming, but MIA after he took our order. Had to run him down to give me the dessert menu. The fruit tart was just OK.
(1)Bridget L.
I'm always disappointed with dinner here. Granted, it is one of the few places open late, but the food is sort of ovepriced and salty, the service feels kind of snobby at times, and the atmosphere is a little cold (both literally and figuratively).
(2)a r.
Have eaten at the left bank since the late 90s... I remember January 2003, when I ate there 22 times in one month, so you know I liked the place a lot. But the last couple of years things have gone downhill, in my experience. Oddly, the food recently is better than it has been in a while, but they have taken the absurd and insulting idea into their heads that "Let's French" is somehow a cute catch-phrase or slogan (why do they need a slogan at all?). And the menus that offer "Ze Lunch" or "Ze Dinner" and the servers trying to fake up French accents are just insulting. (Sorry, I come from a family of some French background, grew up with the language, etc..) So... enough. Good food or no, it's off my list, once and for all. All the more painful because it was a favorite of mine once, but can't be helped.
(2)Helen W.
this is my favorite left bank. i want to give this place 3.5 stars just for the pomme frites and the great big bowls of mussels. but i dont want to because this place has asshole waiters. they used to have a great brunch menu with a big bowl of tomato sausage stew type thing with fried eggs. im not too big a fan oftheir sandwiches, but dinner is really good. good duck. i love duck. anyways, i used to go here once a month and stare the waiters down. [edit] the waiters are much nicer now.
(3)Lauren W.
Service is great, the food is nice, and the wine list is good. This is a great spot for a nice business lunch, or a happy hour after work (the cocktails are good, too).
(4)Sally T.
The service here is not great. We had to prompt our waiter to list the specials, clear our table, bring our check, etc. Everything service-wise was a bit too slow. My friend and I both had the special of the night, flank steak, sauteed greens, and mashed potatoes, all of which was quite good. Decent wine and apperitif selection and nice atmosphere so good for meeting someone for drinks. I have little patience for bad service though.
(2)