St. Michael's Alley, Palo Alto-7/26/2019

We have been to St. Michael's Alley many times but I never took any pictures so tonight I made sure to take some pictures for posterity.  The first time we ate here, at least 4 to 5 years ago, the most memorable dish was their thick sous vide pork chops.  I have forgotten about this restaurant and since I am always searching for somewhere to eat, I thought we should go back here again. The food is good, service is also good, so why not...

St. Michael's alley is located in Palo Alto. 

Found a bit of history on the restaurant: Opening as a kind of European-favored coffee house in the late 1950s, it just caught the end of the Beats, helped launch Joan Baez when folk took over and became the happening spot in town.  In the mid 60’s it garnered a bad reputation, making police watch lists and drawing the wrath of mainstream Palo Alto.  After closing down in 1966, St. Michael’s Alley reopened 7 years later as a full-menu restaurant with a new location and new credo to serve an upscale audience.  By the 1990s it had become a definitive upscale restaurant and still is.

 

We were seated inside a large room overlooking the street!  Really nice.

 


Hoa brought these two bottles per Phuc's recommendation.

All of us really enjoyed the Margaux and the Canon de La Gaffeliere-excellent wine.  Nothing better than sharing wine with friends over a nice dinner.

 

We ordered 3 appetizers to share between the 4 of us.

 

PROSCIUTTO WITH GRILLED PEACHES & BURRATA,

POMEGRANTE SYRUP, FLAT PARSLEY, EVOO, PISTACHIO

SALT SPRINGS ISLAND MUSSELS & CHORIZO

STEAMED WITH TOMATOES, ONIONS, AND CILANTRO

AHI CRUDO, CHILLED SOBA NOODLES, EDAMAME, WAKAME, MANGO VINAIGRETTE

All the appetizers were delicious!

ROASTED LAMB LOIN, HARISSA VINAIGRETTE, ISRAELI COUCOUS, GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH, FETA & MINT OIL

 

I ordered the Lamb and it is good, nothing extraordinaire but it was cooked to my liking.

 

RED CURRY ROASTED DUCK BREAST, RED CURRY COCONUT SAUCE. ROASTED EGGPLANT, CHINESE MUSTARD GREENS, TOMATO CHUTNEY 

 

Phuc ordered the duck breast.  He liked the duck but did not care for the curry sauce which was a bit on the sweet side.

 

Hoa and Huyen ordered the special which is a rib eye steak. 

 

 

Enjoying our meal!

 

We are now done with our meal and on looking at the dessert menu.

 

PROFITEROLES, WITH BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM,SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE& DARK CHOCOLATE SAUCE

 

PEACH BREAD PUDDING, VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM, HONEY-TUMERIC SYRUP

 

All the desserts were pretty good!  Can't go wrong with the profiteroles and the Peach bread pudding was also delicious with a scoop of ice cream.

Our waiter was also very nice, he saw how much we enjoyed the ice cream so he gave us more ice cream (on the house).

During dinner, we offered him a glass of each wine. He told us he had to go in the back to drink it, and when he got back he was really impressed with both wine.

One more thing... I forgot my glasses and could not see the menu so our waiter brought out a bunch of readers for me to use (pretty cool!).

Good food, very good service in a very nice surrounding, and with a very nice relaxing atmosphere.  We will be back!

 

Filed under: Restaurants


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