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MacArthur Park - Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto

3.9 (1688)
$30 and under
American
27 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for groups
  • Neighborhood gem
MacArthur Park - An American Experience
For decades, MacArthur Park has been about bringing people together around outstanding California BBQ and comfort food in a casual yet elegant setting.
You’ll find us nestled in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, and walk back in time in to the simple elegance of a bygone era in a dining room designed by Julia Morgan in 1918.
We take traditional BBQ on a ride with the richness of California’s bounty, offering our signature Baby Back Ribs, fresh fish, meats and chicken, steak, unique salads and comfort food using local farm fresh produce. Portions are large, and there is something for every taste including vegan and vegetarian choices. Join us for cocktails and dining on our garden patio, nightly.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Barbecue, Comfort Food
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Faz Poursohi
  • Catering
    Our Catering Department offers you a wide selection of services and menus with a focus ranging from functionality to elegance to fit your event's needs. Choose from our catering packages available or request a customized menu by contacting mitzie@macpark.com or call 650.291.0306
  • Private party facilities
    MacArthur Parks private dining facilities were specially designed for parties, cocktail receptions, business meetings, anniversaries, weddings, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations. We offer distinctive rooms that can accommodate a variety of events.
  • Private party contact
    Mitzie Tiu: (650) 291-0306
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Cross street
    El Camino; adjacent to Palo Alto Train Station
  • Parking details
    We have ample public parking behind and in front of the restaurant. No valet parking currently available.
  • Public transit
    Located right next to the Cal Train Station and Bus Stop.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Private dining

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What 1,688 people are saying

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

3.9
3.9 based on recent ratings
  • 3.9Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 3.9Ambience
  • 3.7Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
MacArthur Park in Palo Alto offers a charming dining experience with a historic ambiance and friendly service. The restaurant is known for its "excellent food and service" and "great value" buffets. Guests appreciate the "warm ambiance" and "large portions," making it a popular spot for celebrations and gatherings.
1,688 Reviews
  1. Andy VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    MacArthur Park is a quiet, somewhat forgotten gem in the heart of Palo Alto. Probably more popular in its prime, but still full of charm. Firstly, ignore the old reviews. Despite holding an event on a Friday evening, the dining room was peaceful and uncrowded. There was a summer breeze drifting in, which was perfect for a quiet evening night out. Our server was kind, ensuring we had a good time and even made sure we enjoyed every last drop of wine. We started with the onion strings, fried fresh, generously portioned, and only $10 for two. A basket of crusty bread with butter came out on the house, also solid. For mains, the half chicken ($28) was incredibly juicy, bright with zesty flavor, and served with beautifully charred vegetables. I typically never order poultry (almost always dry every-time), but I was glad I did. The prawn salad was also a highlight. The shrimp came skewered, hot off the grill, and full of fresh, smoky flavor. Altogether, dinner for two came out to just $80, a rare value in the center of venture capital-run Palo Alto, where most meals these days feel overpriced. No complaints. Just a quality meal in a lovely setting with an even more lovely fiancee. A solid 10/10. MacArthur Park is worth your time.

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  2. Dave

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic dinner and experience! Will come back again for sure.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Anamalia

    Las Vegas3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Staff was great but unfortunately the food was nothing special. Meat was dry and not many variety that would be worth the $75 per person.

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  4. Anthony

    San Francisco Bay Area11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were excellent. The buffet choices were many and varied: one of us is a vegetarian and was pleased with the choices. It was a good value considering the quality of food choices.

    Is this helpful?

  5. karen VIP

    Tahoe / Reno Area10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed having brunch for Father's Day at MacArthur Park. The venue is very nice and the food and service were great. Always a fun place to go.

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  6. Alison

    San Francisco Bay Area19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Happy hour here was very pleasant with tasty bites. We enjoyed the ahi tuna tacos and the fish tacoes followed by mud pie. Great value for money

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 11, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I have been coming here for years. The calamari seems to have changed over the years but is still fairly good. Service was excellent. Tyler made sure were had everything we needed and kept on checking on us if we needed anything else. The Manager, Mitzi is always so accomodating and friendly. I bring a work group group often for happy hour.

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  8. Stephen VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area38 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It has been years since I last visited MacArthur Park in Palo Alto. I was surprised that it was relatively uncrowded for an early Friday night. We had 6 PM reservations, but I wouldn't have needed them; we had our pick of tables. The historic atmosphere, open bar area, and outdoor seating made it an attractive place to dine. The food was excellent, and the service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. My wife and I ordered the two-person barbecue dinner, which was way more than we could eat, featuring ribs, chicken, and sausage links with a tasty barbecue sauce, accompanied by coleslaw and French fries. It also included a delicious tossed Caesar salad and mud pie for dessert. I would recommend it and plan to return next month when I am in the area again

    Is this helpful?

  9. Peter

    Los Angeles13 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice Saturday night dinner with the folks. Great cheesecake and turtle pie for desert!
    MacArthur Park - Palo AltoResponded on June 3, 2025
    Hi Peter, We really appreciate the review, thank you! Our desserts are certainly delicious. Have you tried the mud pie? It’s always a joy to know our guests enjoyed their time with us, and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you folks soon.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Kristen VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful evening at MacArthur Park! It was our first time, and we were celebrating our anniversary. Food was wonderful, ambiance felt upscale yet casual, and Chef Faz came out and greeted us warmly. It was a lovely evening, we'll definitely be back!
    MacArthur Park - Palo AltoResponded on June 3, 2025
    Hi Kristen, Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're honored to hear that you chose us for your anniversary celebration💐 at MacArthur Park. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another memorable meal! 😍

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 321-9990.

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto is rated 3.9 stars by 1688 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Peninsula
  5. Palo Alto

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Google Map for MacArthur Park - Palo Alto

27 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    El Camino; adjacent to Palo Alto Train Station
  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Barbecue, Comfort Food
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    We have ample public parking behind and in front of the restaurant. No valet parking currently available.
  • Public transit
    Located right next to the Cal Train Station and Bus Stop.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Faz Poursohi
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Our Catering Department offers you a wide selection of services and menus with a focus ranging from functionality to elegance to fit your event's needs. Choose from our catering packages available or request a customized menu by contacting mitzie@macpark.com or call 650.291.0306
  • Private party facilities
    MacArthur Parks private dining facilities were specially designed for parties, cocktail receptions, business meetings, anniversaries, weddings, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations. We offer distinctive rooms that can accommodate a variety of events.
  • Private party contact
    Mitzie Tiu: (650) 291-0306
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