Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
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
Booked 3 times today

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

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 is a charming, historic spot known for its "fantastic dinner and experience" and "excellent food and service," with standout dishes like the prawn salad and BBQ meal for two. The venue offers a peaceful dining atmosphere, great value, and accommodating staff, making it worth your visit.
1,688 Reviews
  1. DarylC

    San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 2, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The patio was lovely, and we enjoyed the live music that was at the right volume so we could enjoy it as well as our dinner conversation. Our food was excellent!

    Is this helpful?

  2. HenWeigh VIP

    New York City14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 26, 2021

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall very good. Great service. Nice, quiet, COVID safe indoor ambiance. Fried chicken and burger were excellent. French fries were soggy and disappointing which is why I didn’t give food 5 stars.

    Is this helpful?

  3. LauraC

    San Francisco Bay Area6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on September 25, 2021

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We reserved outdoor seating and were told it was unavailable when we arrived. I don't understand the point of reserving, especially during a pandemic. The manager did not care at all. The food was excellent and the server was excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  4. KarinF

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 22, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved eating on the patio!

    Is this helpful?

  5. elaineKOA VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area213 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 18, 2021

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely atmosphere whether dining inside or in the garden. The food is very good, the portions are extremely generous and the cost is surprising low for such quality. We will return again and again. The Friday night clam chowder was served in a large bowel. We had an over sized wedge salad with blue cheese crumble large enough to share, and spinach and cheese raviolis (8 pockets) with a delicate sauce including tomato piece; we shared that as well. We met the chef/owner named Faz and congratulated him on the menu and the endurance to stay open in such difficult times. It was surprising to see s few people dinning there. Have they forgotten this wonderful place.

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area12 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on September 11, 2021

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Horrendously bad service. We arrived on time for a 7:30 pm reservation. Although there were plenty of empty tables, it took them 10 minutes to seat us. We had to ask twice to get water. We each ordered an appetizer. Mine arrived, but my husband’s had still not arrived by 8:30 pm. Nor had they opened the bottle of wine that we brought. The “musician” was a joke and was both annoying and too loud. We will never go there again. We paid for what we did receive (2 mixed drinks and my appetizer) and left.

    Is this helpful?

  7. MaryM

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 8, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice outdoor setting with friendly serving. Great for happy hour!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Peter

    San Francisco Bay Area24 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on September 4, 2021

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service. Sitting in the back patio, it was quiet enough for conversations even with the live music going. The food is average. I had the full rack of baby back ribs, tasty, but a bit dry and does have the fall-off-the-bones feel.

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area259 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on August 28, 2021

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    MacArthur Park has deteriorated since our last visit awhile ago.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Matt VIP

    Los Angeles30 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 25, 2021

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved it! I had the ribs and my buddy had the shrimp pasta. We both started with the tortilla soup. Everything was amazing. The host was so gracious and kind, the serving staff was top notch and so friendly. It really was a great experience. I will be back!

    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
Booked 3 times today
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
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant Management Solutions
  • Restaurant Reservation Software
  • Restaurant Marketing Software
  • Restaurant Event Software
  • OpenTable For Restaurants
  • OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
  • Restaurant Resources
  • OpenTable Pricing & Plans
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo