Oak + Violet

Great food and courtyard is perfect for a nightcap! Came here for an event but will definitely be back.

This is a hidden gem! The food was amazingly flavorful and totally delish. The Brussels sprouts was grilled to perfection. I highly recommend you try the braised lamb and hummus. Sara was wonderful in taking care of us.

Every dish was delicious, including possibly the best steak we've ever had. The service was excellent, and the live music was wonderful. As good as it gets.

🍸 Relaxed, refined, and great ambience. We were outside in the patio lounge area and the service was excellent and friendly. Great place to sit and relax on the oversized couches. Food choices are of the finger variety - mini lobster tacos and baked oysters were both delicious. Cocktails were on point. A classy oasis and go-to place for after work, date nights or just hanging with friends.

Lovely unexpected courtyard. We sat by the fountain on a very warm evening and it was perfect. Cocktails, wine and food were all delicious! We thought it was hilarious that a dish with prosciutto in it is considered vegetarian, just like in Italy 😆Valet parking was a huge bonus. Service was great.

Good food, service and live music! Such a pleasant place. However our appetizers were brought together the the main dish ☹️ I will ignore this small inconvenience because food was delicious. They also have a very convenient Valet parking while you are enjoying your time at the restaurant

Yes!! This place is spendy, but that's not a surprise given the location. Great outdoor patio. Delish good and top notch, professional service. Great cocktails. We had a salad, sea bass and charcuterie board, with paper plane cocktail and Aperol spritz. Lovely dinner.

+1

Ambience was fantastic, we had some live jazz music that mixed well with the lovely garden like setting. The food was fantastic - we shared the bone in ribeye that was perfectly cooked medium rare and carrots as well as a great bottle of wine.

+1

An under-stated spot for great food complemented by an equally great wine list. Music nights add another great layer to the experience. Most tender and moist chicken I've had. Well worth the visit!

Was here for Dad’s birthday. There was light live music .. delicious food. Peaceful atmosphere. Perfect for date night, birthday or any special occasion..

Amazing staff as soon as we valet the guys greeted us with a smile and adored our 🐶 🐶 Loved the open concept and casual style of restaurant. Drinks 🍸 were smooth and refreshing. The chef 👨‍🍳 made everything on point, appetizers delicioso 😋 and each main dish was perfect serving!👌 we even got special visits from chef 👨‍🍳 w/furbabies 🐕 🐕 We recommend & will be going back before we leave the Bay Area!

Wonderful meal with amazing presentations and flavors. The beef tartare starter was delicious, and the pecans gave it a great texture. The tuna crudo starter was just really pretty and so tasty, with a bacon twist in the flavor that I've never had with tuna before. We both had fish entrees, halibut with fennel and a miso glazed black cod. Both were delectable but the cod was the winner there. The wine list was great, many good choices; we had a Bordeaux. Finally for dessert I had a cinnamon roll sundae which was a sundae on top of a cinnamon roll, which was at least as good as it sounds (and looks!) We will definitely visit again. There were several other items on the menu which look good, and the menu was clearly very seasonal as well.

I went to Oak + Violet for my mom’s birthday dinner, and overall, we had a really lovely time. The ambiance is beautiful and the service was attentive throughout the night. As a vegetarian, I did find the menu to be a bit limited. There was only one vegetarian entrée option, and while it was tasty (the gnocchi in particular was great), it would’ve been nice to see a few more creative or plant-forward dishes on the menu. That said, the staff was really accommodating, and the dishes I did try were fresh and well-prepared. My mom felt celebrated, which was the most important part, and I’d still come back for the vibe and the service.

This place is ON POINT. Surprisingly elevated menu for a restaurant at a boutique hotel and the service was top notch. Brought some friends from a Ferrari unveiling event down the street and we were not disappointed!

Beautiful place, excellent service. Our server was so polite and friendly. Eveyone was very helpful. My mom and I did outdoor dining at Oak + Violet for Thanksgiving. They had a special 4 course meal with all the bells and whistles. The main course was FANTASTIC. I swear I've never had brussel sprouts that good in my life!!

Delicious food and drink options. Outdoor dining is beautiful for both hanging out and dinner. A bit expensive depending on your budget but the food is quite well done. Gets busy sometimes especially on the weekends so you might want to book in advance. Great service too.

Love this place - one of the best in town. Vegetables are amazing; chicken is the wonderful; steak is good; fish is so so. One thing don’t like about this place: they put the tips in my bill without telling me (it’s on the detailed price list which is a separate piece of paper) - hate this type of behavior, suggest stop doing this

Amazing atmosphere very open and bright with fresh air for outside seating. This restaurant bar is in a upscale hotel and all the drinks were balanced and tasty. Our bartender was Ed and really made our experience excellent. He made specialty cocktails based on our preference and each one exceeded expectations. Thanks Ed!

Sandeep Bhalla

Was here for Dad’s birthday. There was light live music .. delicious food. Peaceful atmosphere. Perfect for date night, birthday or any special occasion..

Mike Harms

Wonderful meal with amazing presentations and flavors. The beef tartare starter was delicious, and the pecans gave it a great texture. The tuna crudo starter was just really pretty and so tasty, with a bacon twist in the flavor that I've never had with tuna before. We both had fish entrees, halibut with fennel and a miso glazed black cod. Both were delectable but the cod was the winner there. The wine list was great, many good choices; we had a Bordeaux. Finally for dessert I had a cinnamon roll sundae which was a sundae on top of a cinnamon roll, which was at least as good as it sounds (and looks!) We will definitely visit again. There were several other items on the menu which look good, and the menu was clearly very seasonal as well.

Lala Romero

Amazing staff as soon as we valet the guys greeted us with a smile and adored our 🐶 🐶 Loved the open concept and casual style of restaurant. Drinks 🍸 were smooth and refreshing. The chef 👨‍🍳 made everything on point, appetizers delicioso 😋 and each main dish was perfect serving!👌 we even got special visits from chef 👨‍🍳 w/furbabies 🐕 🐕 We recommend & will be going back before we leave the Bay Area!

Serena Pinatelli

I went to Oak + Violet for my mom’s birthday dinner, and overall, we had a really lovely time. The ambiance is beautiful and the service was attentive throughout the night. As a vegetarian, I did find the menu to be a bit limited. There was only one vegetarian entrée option, and while it was tasty (the gnocchi in particular was great), it would’ve been nice to see a few more creative or plant-forward dishes on the menu. That said, the staff was really accommodating, and the dishes I did try were fresh and well-prepared. My mom felt celebrated, which was the most important part, and I’d still come back for the vibe and the service.

Matthew Mountford

This place is ON POINT. Surprisingly elevated menu for a restaurant at a boutique hotel and the service was top notch. Brought some friends from a Ferrari unveiling event down the street and we were not disappointed!

mmaier58

An under-stated spot for great food complemented by an equally great wine list. Music nights add another great layer to the experience. Most tender and moist chicken I've had. Well worth the visit!

Roxanne Morales

Beautiful place, excellent service. Our server was so polite and friendly. Eveyone was very helpful. My mom and I did outdoor dining at Oak + Violet for Thanksgiving. They had a special 4 course meal with all the bells and whistles. The main course was FANTASTIC. I swear I've never had brussel sprouts that good in my life!!

Jehad Affoneh

Delicious food and drink options. Outdoor dining is beautiful for both hanging out and dinner. A bit expensive depending on your budget but the food is quite well done. Gets busy sometimes especially on the weekends so you might want to book in advance. Great service too.

Yusi

Love this place - one of the best in town. Vegetables are amazing; chicken is the wonderful; steak is good; fish is so so. One thing don’t like about this place: they put the tips in my bill without telling me (it’s on the detailed price list which is a separate piece of paper) - hate this type of behavior, suggest stop doing this

Tiffany Phu

Amazing atmosphere very open and bright with fresh air for outside seating. This restaurant bar is in a upscale hotel and all the drinks were balanced and tasty. Our bartender was Ed and really made our experience excellent. He made specialty cocktails based on our preference and each one exceeded expectations. Thanks Ed!

This restaurant is phenomenal. The service is fantastic as is the food. They have an impressive wine list and the prices are very reasonable. The chef was super accommodating.

The food is GREAT!!! The drinks tasted good but didn't give us a buzz, even after 3 drinks. Basically not enough booze for the price of the drinks 🍸 $20/drink.

Get the crispy brussel sprouts. They are to die for and the reason I come back repeatedly. Crisp, tangy and sweet, just perfect. Other dishes great to and service is good

The outdoor seating is very airy and pleasant. We sat at the couches and had the firepit going. Went on a Tuesday and they had live music going! The dinner menu was okay and good was just medicore. The drinks are what stood here. Highly recommend the cucumber gimlet! The customer service was good. The staff is friendly and welcoming. Beware parking sucks and Valet is $30.

Love the vibe there! The food was good and would definitely be back. Great place for a date! Pricey but not too bad.

The food and ambiance here was excellent. No doubt about that! I highly recommend the mini lobster tacos and the chicken wing lollipops. Those were both amazing, and my favorites of the night. I also enjoyed a delicious mocktail, which was appreciated. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars was because of the service. While it was professional and courteous, I felt it was quite slow. That's fine if you're on a long date night, but not great for a more casual dinner. That being said, I would definitely eat here again!

We decided to go back to this place for lunch. The food is delicious and service is good. It still took a while to get our appetizer. The place was not even busy at lunch. First time we reserved for dinner we waited for 1 1/2hr and ended up leaving after being told our table was not going to be ready for another 30mins for the 3rd time. It is a popular hangout place so people tend to stay and linger even after dessert.

+5

We came early to celebrate a couple of birthdays and had a choice of tables. The restaurant was very accommodating and service was prompt. It was nice because we could have a kids table as well as an adult table. The oenophiles in our group were not enamored of the wine list but were able to find a decent Pinot. I was happy with my lager and red beer. The truffle fries were tasty but you could also taste the salt. The brussels sprouts were especially good and crispy and I would get those again. The salad was also very good. The chicken was crispy but also a little dry and the waygu was not the quality we expected. It was a little tough. The chocolate cake was very good as well as the lemon tart.

+1

Cute boutique restaurant in the Park James hotel. We were setup in the bar in the back and selected apps. French onion soup did not have much gruyere but the flavor was otherwise on point. Service made up for the food options which themselves were tasty but did not meet the expectation set by the price points. I did not find a signature dish that would make the foodie in me want to come back for more. Good service and atmosphere are what make this place shine.

Oak and Violet's New Years Eve dining experience was divine. Three courses of delicious food, drinks and fantastic service. Super friendly staff. Shout out to Valeria! The restaurant manager, bartender and servers were so incredibly kind, going above and beyond to make our dinner a memorable one.

Part of the Park James Hotel food service that extends to their bar while the dining space also has the options for the indoor resto, outdoor courtyard and bar seating. The food is modern updated with the usual Cali-American fare. Service and waiters are very attentive. The bar selection is the main strength of the resto with a good selection of crafted cocktails and beers. The food is generally casual especially at the courtyard that can also be an events place or where they often have musical offerings.

The outdoor setting is very nice, we sat by the fire pit, which had a nice atmosphere to it. There was a live band playing (were told it plays always on Wednesday and few more days a week). Staff was very nice and attending, above and beyond. Food was reasonably priced for the location. Food was creatively prepared and nicely presented, a bit too complex taste combination for me though, but thats my personal taste.

Jason Foard

Oak and Violet's New Years Eve dining experience was divine. Three courses of delicious food, drinks and fantastic service. Super friendly staff. Shout out to Valeria! The restaurant manager, bartender and servers were so incredibly kind, going above and beyond to make our dinner a memorable one.

Oliver Pe

Part of the Park James Hotel food service that extends to their bar while the dining space also has the options for the indoor resto, outdoor courtyard and bar seating. The food is modern updated with the usual Cali-American fare. Service and waiters are very attentive. The bar selection is the main strength of the resto with a good selection of crafted cocktails and beers. The food is generally casual especially at the courtyard that can also be an events place or where they often have musical offerings.

Yan Karasik

The outdoor setting is very nice, we sat by the fire pit, which had a nice atmosphere to it. There was a live band playing (were told it plays always on Wednesday and few more days a week). Staff was very nice and attending, above and beyond. Food was reasonably priced for the location. Food was creatively prepared and nicely presented, a bit too complex taste combination for me though, but thats my personal taste.

We went for Thanksgiving dinner, the place and the service was excellent, the starters were very good, our favorite was the heirloom salad, the other one was very simple with less ingridients, the main course was amazing! We loved every single dish, only the meat I felt was to rare for me, everything was going great we had very high expectations for the dessets after the amazing dishes we had, but was very disappointing, plain colors, very simple, the lime cake extremely sweet, and the pumpkin pie with no flavor. Still overall good experience but need change of desserts

Ximena Joshi

We went for Thanksgiving dinner, the place and the service was excellent, the starters were very good, our favorite was the heirloom salad, the other one was very simple with less ingridients, the main course was amazing! We loved every single dish, only the meat I felt was to rare for me, everything was going great we had very high expectations for the dessets after the amazing dishes we had, but was very disappointing, plain colors, very simple, the lime cake extremely sweet, and the pumpkin pie with no flavor. Still overall good experience but need change of desserts

Went for brunch, kinda ok place, imagine they didn’t have their side of potato to serve us, instead offered us fries with truffle oil, guess the truffle oil never made it to the fries, and it kinda took forever to get our food to the table.

+6

Fairly disappointing. Food quality was average at best. Service was slow and well below grade -- which of course is happening with staff shortages but in that case lower the prices which were way too high for this grade of food and service. Example, many of us found some of the dishes low in flavour and asked for salt and pepper (something you rarely would do in a good restaurant) and it came too late to do anything. Also refused to take more than 4 credit cards even to split a bill over $700.

I partecipate a company event and the food was very poor and low quality and qualtity , free bar was good but basic cocktails. I don't recommend it for a drink.

The atmosphere was great and the staff were attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to expectations. The gnocchi I tried was bland, and the dark chocolate mousse tart was just average.

Oak + Violet in Menlo Park has a lot of potential, but my recent solo dining experience fell a bit short. The atmosphere is fantastic - beautiful indoor and outdoor seating with live jazz music creates a truly relaxing and cozy vibe. The outdoor area can get chilly around sunset, but they thoughtfully offer heated lamps to keep diners comfortable. The staff was undeniably friendly. The host was very accommodating, especially since I was dining solo on a night with mostly larger tables. I offered to sit at the bar to make it easy, but the host told me that he could definitely honor my preference if I wanted to sit outside and that it wouldn't be a problem at all. I really appreciated that. Unfortunately, communication with my server could have been much better. After a long day, I was craving gnocchi and saw it listed on their menu. Here's where things went awry: Menu Miscommunication: The gnocchi dish was described as "Pan Seared Gnocchi | Arugula, Pesto, Cherry Tomato, Mushrooms, Ricotta Salata." The comma between "arugula" and "pesto" made it seem like they were separate ingredients. I requested the gnocchi without arugula, which the server initially confirmed was possible. Missed Communication: What wasn't clear on the menu, and unfortunately not communicated by the server, was that the pesto sauce itself contained arugula. This resulted in my gnocchi arriving plain, with no sauce at all. Only after it was already cooked and served did the server explain the situation. I did try the gnocchi but I dont want to review it By the time the miscommunication was addressed, my appetite had waned. While the server apologized and offered solutions, I opted to skip the meal altogether and leave. Overall, Oak + Violet gets 3 stars from me. The ambiance is lovely, the staff is friendly, and the live music adds a special touch. However, the menu could be clearer, and communication between staff and customers needs improvement. If they address these areas, they could be a great option for a relaxing and enjoyable meal.

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh but there really isn't anything special about Oak+Violet. The food is okay at best. Nothing screams freshness or character. They're all down the middle, and it is passable food. But then one wonders about the mid-high price point and whether it is worth it. The atmosphere is "happening" and feels like a modern industrial yet cozy garden. I really wanted the food to be at the same level of vibe. But again it just feel flat. Go to this place for a date night, for the mood, and to liven up your evening. Just don't expect magic. Wagyu steak was bland. Pulled lamb had zero character. Beef tartar... just mushy. Strawberry salad was quite good but couldn't save the day.

Not bad for a hotel restaurant, Oak + Violet has a nice outdoor patio and they also had live music on a weekday evening. Some dishes were better than others, overall the service was not bad but our dinner took quite a while. I came here with a large group of coworkers and we ended up getting seated at a tall table (which wouldn't have been my preference since I'm petite, so my feet dangled a bit). I really enjoyed the salad with burrata cheese and fresh tomatoes. The brussels sprouts and shishito peppers were about average. We also shared the charcuterie board - the jam was the most interesting part with something surprising about the flavor. I wish the salmon entree had a little more spice to it, the fish was cooked well but a little bland. The New York cheesecake slice with mango was a nice finish to the meal with a super creamy texture.

Hedieh Elyasi

The atmosphere was great and the staff were attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to expectations. The gnocchi I tried was bland, and the dark chocolate mousse tart was just average.

ayush kalani

Oak + Violet in Menlo Park has a lot of potential, but my recent solo dining experience fell a bit short. The atmosphere is fantastic - beautiful indoor and outdoor seating with live jazz music creates a truly relaxing and cozy vibe. The outdoor area can get chilly around sunset, but they thoughtfully offer heated lamps to keep diners comfortable. The staff was undeniably friendly. The host was very accommodating, especially since I was dining solo on a night with mostly larger tables. I offered to sit at the bar to make it easy, but the host told me that he could definitely honor my preference if I wanted to sit outside and that it wouldn't be a problem at all. I really appreciated that. Unfortunately, communication with my server could have been much better. After a long day, I was craving gnocchi and saw it listed on their menu. Here's where things went awry: Menu Miscommunication: The gnocchi dish was described as "Pan Seared Gnocchi | Arugula, Pesto, Cherry Tomato, Mushrooms, Ricotta Salata." The comma between "arugula" and "pesto" made it seem like they were separate ingredients. I requested the gnocchi without arugula, which the server initially confirmed was possible. Missed Communication: What wasn't clear on the menu, and unfortunately not communicated by the server, was that the pesto sauce itself contained arugula. This resulted in my gnocchi arriving plain, with no sauce at all. Only after it was already cooked and served did the server explain the situation. I did try the gnocchi but I dont want to review it By the time the miscommunication was addressed, my appetite had waned. While the server apologized and offered solutions, I opted to skip the meal altogether and leave. Overall, Oak + Violet gets 3 stars from me. The ambiance is lovely, the staff is friendly, and the live music adds a special touch. However, the menu could be clearer, and communication between staff and customers needs improvement. If they address these areas, they could be a great option for a relaxing and enjoyable meal.

Fabio Borsoi

I partecipate a company event and the food was very poor and low quality and qualtity , free bar was good but basic cocktails. I don't recommend it for a drink.

Wook Chung

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh but there really isn't anything special about Oak+Violet. The food is okay at best. Nothing screams freshness or character. They're all down the middle, and it is passable food. But then one wonders about the mid-high price point and whether it is worth it. The atmosphere is "happening" and feels like a modern industrial yet cozy garden. I really wanted the food to be at the same level of vibe. But again it just feel flat. Go to this place for a date night, for the mood, and to liven up your evening. Just don't expect magic. Wagyu steak was bland. Pulled lamb had zero character. Beef tartar... just mushy. Strawberry salad was quite good but couldn't save the day.

Jing Li

Not bad for a hotel restaurant, Oak + Violet has a nice outdoor patio and they also had live music on a weekday evening. Some dishes were better than others, overall the service was not bad but our dinner took quite a while. I came here with a large group of coworkers and we ended up getting seated at a tall table (which wouldn't have been my preference since I'm petite, so my feet dangled a bit). I really enjoyed the salad with burrata cheese and fresh tomatoes. The brussels sprouts and shishito peppers were about average. We also shared the charcuterie board - the jam was the most interesting part with something surprising about the flavor. I wish the salmon entree had a little more spice to it, the fish was cooked well but a little bland. The New York cheesecake slice with mango was a nice finish to the meal with a super creamy texture.

Recently, a group of us dined at Oak+Violet in the Park James. While the food quality ranged from satisfactory to good, the pricing was unusually steep compared to similar establishments in the area. The wine pours were notably small, and the pace of service was unexpectedly slow, even though the restaurant was nearly empty at the time. For dessert, we ordered cheesecake, which unfortunately was served with shaved ice that melted and left the crust soggy—a disappointing finish, especially considering the premium prices. Overall, the experience fell short of expectations for both value and service.

We tried Oak and Violet the other night as a treat and were disappointed. Both salads were excessively salted, and the steak I had was not nearly as good as the one I cooked at home the previous weekend. The service and atmosphere were fine but at this price point, the service, atmosphere, and food should’ve all been much better.

Rob M

We tried Oak and Violet the other night as a treat and were disappointed. Both salads were excessively salted, and the steak I had was not nearly as good as the one I cooked at home the previous weekend. The service and atmosphere were fine but at this price point, the service, atmosphere, and food should’ve all been much better.