These are the 10 best restaurants in Palo Alto

Take in 360-degree views at Palo Alto's only rooftop bar, perched atop the Graduate Hotel. Take the old-school elevator up while you enjoy the furnishings of this 1929 beauty. The intimate bar honors the building’s Spanish-colonial roots with wicker furniture, muted tile and ornate light fixtures. Cozy up to the roaring fire and enjoy a drink from the cocktail menu dreamed up by notable mixologist Bad Birdy or a glass of natural wine. The small menu is seafood forward and incorporates inventive California fare. The kitchen closes at 8pm (while the bar stays open until 11pm), so don’t venture out too late. If you get chilly, a blanket will be draped over your shoulders.

In the middle of the shopping mall blandness near the Stanford campus, Vina Enoteca is a respite of Italian authenticity housed in a striking, brick-walled 1800s barn. The menus feature wood-fired pizzas and handmade pasta like cacio e pepe and lasagna verde. The bar serves up elegant, Italian-influenced cocktails featuring local ingredients.

The sister restaurant to SF’s Kokkari, Greek restaurant Evvia Estiatorio dishes out juicy lamb chops, whole grilled fish, spanakotiropita (phyllo stuffed with spinach, leeks, feta and dill) and plump gigantes (wood oven-baked giant beans with tomato, leeks, herbed feta and pesto) in a rustic, hearth fire-warmed dining room.

Chef Zareen Khan calls on her Pakistani and Indian roots for this order-at-the-counter restaurant featuring family recipes like masala fries, creamy curries and aloo samosa burgers (a smashed potato samosa layered with cheese and chutneys on a toasted bun). Don’t miss the chicken memoni samosas, made with a secret recipe known only to 23 Memoni grandmothers worldwide.

Modern Vietnamese dishes are the focus here at Tamarine, like the taro root rolls, crab and glass noodles, claypot cod and soy, garlic and onion-seared shaking beef. Executive chef Tammy Huynh follows in her mother’s culinary footsteps and offers a prix fixe menu for parties of eight or more. Eat traditionally or at communal tables on the bar side. While you wait for your order, feast your eyes: an in-restaurant art gallery features the work of emerging Vietnamese artists.

The original location of this Bay Area mini-chain opened in 2011. The affordable, order-at-the-counter cafe offers Israeli and Middle Eastern fare like shakshuka in both traditional tomato sauce or green kale and spinach sauce. Hummus comes in a number of different varieties, of course. Pita and hummus are prepared fresh throughout the day.

Bevri delights khachapuri fans who now have a local source for the traditional Georgian dish (a “boat” of bread filled with cheese and egg). Bevri, which is Georgian for “a lot,” also serves other Eastern European and Georgian dishes like kalmakhi (whole rainbow trout stuffed with spinach and walnuts), ajapsandali vegetable stew and khinakli soup dumplings. Don’t forget to pair with Georgia’s other great export: fascinating, funky and elegant natural wines.

Indian-born chef Pratik Mungre was part of the team at San Francisco’s O’ by Claude Le Tohic when it won its Michelin star. Today he helms this seafood-centric steakhouse with Japanese sensibilities. Try wild Maine grilled lobster with white cabbage fondue, romanesco, maitake and a madras curry sauce or the John Dory with Moroccan zaalouk salad. Beef lovers will become fans of the memorable Wagyu trio from Japan, Australia and the U.S. with different salts and sauces.

A crisp white French-inspired interior greets you at this charming Parisian-style bakery where you’ll stare longingly at the pastries in the glass case. The pain au chocolat is incredible with multilayers, while you can also order savory items like quiche and croque monsieur. The Parisian Breakfast is half of a baguette with imported French butter and Alain Milliat jam.

This tiny winebar plopped down in a residential neighborhood feels like your neighbor set up tables in the front yard and invited you over. During happy hour (daily 3–5:30pm), eight different varietals are poured and the bites include accompaniments like chipotle samosas, a cheese flight and a tzatziki platter. Dinner options are ever-changing tapas and entrees like lobster ravioli and swordfish kabobs. Best of all, order two pieces of doggie bacon and a doggie kabob for your four-legged friend. When the front patio is full, you can go inside or sit in the back garden.