Cafe Pro Bono

Name: Cafe Pro Bono
Address: 2437 Birch Street, Palo Alto, CA, United States, 94306
Telephone: (650) 326-1626
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1178 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Top Tags:

Please visit www.cafeprobono.com/menus for our full menu/accurate pricing (OpenTable has not published our current menu).

Cafe Pro Bono is Palo Alto’s crowning jewel for exceptional Italian food. For over 28 years we’ve been serving a wide variety of authentic, reasonably priced Italian and European dishes with a freshness you can see and taste!

As the recipient of Palo Alto Weekly’s ‘Best Italian Restaurant’ in 2021, we’re extremely proud and thankful for our wonderful, loyal clientele - who were especially loyal during the height of the pandemic. Every precaution has been taken at CPB to ensure the safety of our CPB family, including a state of the art in-house filtration system.

Our menu includes delicious, attractively presented appetizers, fresh pastas, fresh fish, steaks, chicken, salads, sandwiches and homemade desserts. We also have a full bar, so enjoy your favorite cocktails or enjoy both domestic and international wines from our extensive wine list.

Buon Appetito!!!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 29, 2022

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(650) 326-1626

Delivery

Order online

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(650) 326-1626
Website
http://www.cafeprobono.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Owned/operated by
Middle Eastern
Executive chef
Ignacio Cortez
Private party facilities
Be sure to call and reserve our private room for your next business meeting or party. We can accommodate up to 35 people and have connections for your laptop should you have a visual presentation. Stop by our web site to view our specially created ‘Events Menus’ (www.cafeprobono.com).
Private party contact
Akif Aydin: (650) 326-1626

Location
2437 Birch Street Palo Alto, CA 94306
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Cross street
California Ave
Parking details
New four-level parking garage directly across the street.
Public transit
Cal Train - California Avenue stop, VTA
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Liquor, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Popular dishes

Sauteed Gulf Prawns$10.95
Parsley, Garlic, Lemon, White Wine
Carpaccio Alla Veneziana$9.95
Thin Sliced Raw Beef, Bermuda Onions, Capers, Parmigiano Reggiano & Drizzled Dijon Mustard Sauce
Grilled Polenta$8.95
Portobello Mushroom Sauce
Susan's Downfall$9.95
Cheese & Herb Ravioli, Gorgonzola Sauce, Toasted Almonds

Starter

Caesar Salad$7.95
Organic Heart of Romaine Lettuce, Caesar Dressing, Shaved Grana Padano Cheese
Organic Baby Spring$5.95
Mixed Greens, Citrus Vinaigrette
Wild Arugula$7.95
Candied Walnuts, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Fresh Goat Cheese

Panino

All Sandwiches Served With Salad

Grilled Portobello$9.95
Mushrooms, Roasted Bell Peppers, Caramelized Onions, Tapanade
La Quercia Prosciutto$12.95
Burata Cheese, Arugula, and Basil Pesto Aioli
Panino Con Pollo Confit$9.95
Mary's Free Range Chicken Confit, Caramelized Onions, Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
Smoked Salmon$12.95
Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Pickled Red Onions, Arugula and Pickled Bermuda Onions

Luncheon Salads

Mediterranean Salad$16.95
Rainbow Trout, Heart of Romain Lettuce, Roasted Red Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Olives, Feta Cheese, Citrus Vinaigrette
Duck Confit Salad$15.95
Organic Baby Spinach, Mushrooms, Dijon Mustard Honey Dressing
Grilled Chicken$12.95
Pro Bono Bistro Salad, Mushrooms, Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pastas

Gluten Free Dishes Upon Request

Cappellini$11.95
Fresh Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Organic Spaghetti Pasta$13.95
Bolognese Sauce
Casareccia$14.95
Organic Whole Grain, Portobello, Green Peas, Sun-dried Tomato, Broccoli Crown, Fresh Herbs
Gnocchi$13.95
Potato Dumpling, Homemade Genovese Basil Pesto, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts
Susan's Downfall$15.95
Cheese & Herb Ravioli, Gorgonzola Sauce, Toasted Almonds
Cannelloni$14.95
Homemade Savory Crepes Filled with Roast Ground Veal, Beef Tenderloin, Provolone Cheese
Rigatoni$14.95
Spicy Italian Sausage, Mushrooms, Tomato, Roasted Red Bell Peppers Sauce
Tagliatelle Alla Pro Bono$14.95
Roasted Mushroom, Light Alfredo and Smoked Chicken
Linguine Alla Vongole$16.95
Fresh Manila Clams, Calabria Pepper, Basil, Lemon, White Wine

Entrees

All Entrees Served With Starch and Vegetables

Pollo Alla Pro Bono$14.95
Free Range Chicken Breast, La Quercia Prosciutto, Provolone Cheese and Sage Sauce
Loch Duart Salmon$18.95
Orzo Pasta, Sun-dried Tomato, Chardonnay Sauce
Vetellino Limone$22.95
Veal Scalopine with Mushroom Marsala Wine Sauce
Lamb Ribs$17.95
Niman Ranch Lamb Rib Over Flagiolets, Sauteed Spinach, Polenta Cake and Port Wine Sauce

What 1,178 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.5Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

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Filters

L
Ladera1
Sacramento
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always our go to restaurant when we come to Palo Alto. Never disappoints!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Seven of us celebrated my mother’s birthday here, and everything was wonderful. The wait staff were attentive, friendly, and fun. The food was delicious (Susan’s Downfall is worth returning for alone!), and the ambience was warm and energetic. The noise level was high enough that we weren’t self-conscious about anyone hearing our own lively conversation, but not so loud we couldn’t hear each other around our large round table. This was our first time here, being chosen for its central location, and I can see it becoming our regular family meeting place. We all loved it!
MF
MikeF
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Consistently pleasing, once again gave us pleasure, especially the gazpacho!
I
Itiswhatitis
Central Coast
33 reviews
vip
5.0
33 reviews
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, service and ambiance!
CS
ChristineS
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We have never been disappointed in either the food or service at this wonderful restaurant. It is our go to place where we take family ad friends
BD
BarbaraD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was excellent. The staff was attentive but not interfering. Food was amazing. We loved every minute.
O
Otterfamily
Central Coast
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Delicious food and always good service!
M
Marielena
San Francisco
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Father’s Day dinner was great! The Veal Marsala was delicious and so was the Bolognese.
j
jenmat
San Francisco
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a lovely table outside. Food was delicious, service friendly and efficient but not too efficient! A regular stop for us.
m
maryhmb
San Francisco
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Consistently excellent through the many years I have come here. Great smoked salmon panini yummy!
DW
DianaW
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service is great. Owner very hospitable. Highly recommend
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!!!!!
BC
BobC
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Passing through, we found this restaurant. It was really excellent. My wife had the risotto from daily special menu and I had rigatoni with spicy sausage. Both were exceptional. Highly recommended.
i
ianlynn
San Francisco
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great service and food. We have been going to Cafe Pro Bono for over 20 years. We moved away from the area a number of years ago and this is still our go to restaurant every time we are in town.
SS
SusanS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic anniversary dinner out. Mahi Mahi, prawns and pasta dishes all delicious. The service and food is always excellent and special care was given us regarding our anniversary. You can not go wrong with this wonderful restaurant!
AP
AgapitoP
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Mother’s Day.
M
Marielena
San Francisco
43 reviews
vip
5.0
43 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food here is always delicious and the service is great.
BA
BuddyAJ
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
Good outdoor seating with heaters. Excellent food.
PA
PaloAltoTman
San Francisco
118 reviews
vip
5.0
118 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Caesar salad was overdressed but the dressing was excellent and the croutons properly made. The wild boar sausage may be the best I've ever had although the flageolets were a bit firm for my taste. The ravioli with gorgonzola appetizer portion was excellent and definitely enough -- it would be hard to eat a larger portion of such a rich dish. The tagliatelle with smoked chicken was excellent -- the chicken just smoky enough and not too much of the sauce and fresh tagliatelle. But the highlight was the zabaglione for two -- berries in the bottom of the parfait glass, then vanilla ice cream to cut the richness, then a generous portion of warm zabaglione over everything.
RA
RichardAlexander
San Francisco
34 reviews
vip
4.0
34 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience4
When ordering the branzino be sure to request it be prepared to be soft and flaky and I would recommend declining the butter.
f
fun2dine
San Francisco
30 reviews
vip
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience4
Nice venue. Service attentive in beginning but was slow when restaurant became busy. Was brought soup not ordered as printed menu specials had not been updated and was not told in advance, they just brought out a different soup. This was comp'd, which was nice but disappointed soup on daily menu was not available. Food was good.
LN
LoreneN
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Superb food and excellent waiting staff. Wonderful all around.
B
Betty
San Francisco
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
Great lunch spot. Food is consistently good. Highly recommend it.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and ambiance
S
Smith
San Francisco
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was perfect: the friendly reception we received upon arrival, the service and the food/wine made for a delightful evening. Even the rain couldn’t dampen our experience. Thanks to everyone at Cafe Pro Bono for taking such good care of us!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I really enjoyed the food and the service was excellent!
AA
ArmarA
San Francisco
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 19, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Extensive list of wine by the glass options. No pressure from servers to finish dishes quickly. A dependable Italian, that has survived so many years for a reason.
ST
SteveT
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is truly one of our favorite restaurants. We expect to come back many times!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on April 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic as always!
A
Aallyish
London
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience3
Very busy service is good but food food quality is poor
H
Historian
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
A fantastic outdoor dining option in a quiet street off of California Ave. Food, service, and ambience--everything was exactly what we had hoped for a party of four entertaining an out-of-town guest.
SK
SKdiner
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, great friendly service as always. One of our favorite spots.
IW
IreneW
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was my first visit to Pro Bono. We arrived early but that wasn't a problem for them. We were seated and promptly waited on, and the service was great!
S
Scotty
San Francisco
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 30, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
As always, Cafe Pro Bono has wonderful food and personable servers. The only problem was that I had reserved an outside table. When we arrived, they had not noted that. They had to put two tables together -- at the far end of the outdoor dining area. This meant that we were far away from the best seats that were more protected from the cold wind. They lit one heater which helped one side of the table, but not mine. It was my husband's 70th birthday, which I also noted on the reservation. No one seemed to know that either. They did take candles that I brought and did a nice placement on my husband's dessert. A lovely night with friends, but cold. It too me a few hours after I got home to get warm.
P
Pretheaterdiner
San Francisco
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
I ate outside on the patio for an early dinner - very pleasant meal.
KO
elaineKOA
San Francisco
184 reviews
vip
5.0
184 reviews
Dined on March 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
A lovely evening was had taking special friends from Hawaii to dinner at the cafe. Susan's Downfall entree we shared as a starter, the veal piccata, lamb shank special, and seafood risotta. The cocktails were well done and fairly priced. This is one of the very places where you can get a warm zabilogne and spumoni ice cream for dessert. The menu is so varied that we could eat her every week. The service was efficient and pacing of courses perfect.
C
Chazbo
San Francisco
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on March 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Can’t wait to go back for when I can take my time and savor every bite!!
PS
PhilipS
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really enjoyed our first visit! Our son had taken his girlfriend here for Valentines Day and said we should try it - and very happy with his recommendation. Very attentive service from everyone, excellent food, a nicely priced wine by the glass and very nice ambiance. We'll be back!
T
Traveler
San Francisco
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. They adjusted my entrée for my gluten free needs. Our waiter, Andy, was awesome.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff temperature check required

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Cafe Pro Bono using the Order Online button. Cafe Pro Bono also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 326-1626.

Cafe Pro Bono is rated 4.7 stars by 1178 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 29, 2022

7:00 PM

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(650) 326-1626

Delivery

Order online

2437 Birch Street Palo Alto, CA 94306

Additional information

Cross street
California Ave
Neighborhood
Palo Alto
Hours of operation
Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
New four-level parking garage directly across the street.
Public transit
Cal Train - California Avenue stop, VTA
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Middle Eastern
Executive chef
Ignacio Cortez
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Liquor, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.cafeprobono.com/
Phone number
(650) 326-1626
Private party facilities
Be sure to call and reserve our private room for your next business meeting or party. We can accommodate up to 35 people and have connections for your laptop should you have a visual presentation. Stop by our web site to view our specially created ‘Events Menus’ (www.cafeprobono.com).
Private party contact
Akif Aydin: (650) 326-1626

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Cafe Pro Bono

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Delivery

Additional information

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Veal Picatta

Rigatoni

Caesar Salad

Appetizers

Sauteed Gulf Prawns$10.95

Carpaccio Alla Veneziana$9.95

Grilled Polenta$8.95

Susan's Downfall$9.95

Starter

Caesar Salad$7.95

Organic Baby Spring$5.95

Wild Arugula$7.95

Panino

Grilled Portobello$9.95

La Quercia Prosciutto$12.95

Panino Con Pollo Confit$9.95

Smoked Salmon$12.95

Luncheon Salads

Mediterranean Salad$16.95

Duck Confit Salad$15.95

Grilled Chicken$12.95

Pastas

Cappellini$11.95

Organic Spaghetti Pasta$13.95

Casareccia$14.95

Gnocchi$13.95

Susan's Downfall$15.95

Cannelloni$14.95

Rigatoni$14.95

Tagliatelle Alla Pro Bono$14.95

Linguine Alla Vongole$16.95

Entrees

Pollo Alla Pro Bono$14.95

Loch Duart Salmon$18.95

Vetellino Limone$22.95

Lamb Ribs$17.95

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Cafe Pro Bono offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Cafe Pro Bono restaurant rated?

Is Cafe Pro Bono currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Delivery

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day