Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Peninsula

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in Peninsula? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Parkside Grille

4.8

4.8 (1827)

$31 to $50

Californian

Portola Valley

About the restaurant

Our cozy, California kitchen, tucked among the towering redwoods of Portola Valley! Enjoy our delicious gastronomy and signature drinks as you create unforgettable moments in our warm and inviting restaurant and bar. Whether you're here for an intimate dinner or a lively celebration with family and friends, we welcome you with open arms.

We proudly use only the highest-quality, organic produce from our local farms to serve you. For a taste of some of our most popular dishes, we recommend our Wood-Oven Baked Goat Cheese and our Asian Angus Skirt Steak.

Family-owned & operated since 2000.

Top review

Bunny

Dined 5 days ago

The service was prompt and personable. Have been there before and is always a delightful expert. Highly recommend.

Cafe Wisteria

4.8

4.8 (546)

$31 to $50

American

Menlo Park

About the restaurant

Classic Ambiance. Savory Fares. Locally Sourced Produce.

Cafe Wisteria is a woman owned & operated restaurant & catering company located on the 3.5 acre blossom-filled grounds of the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. Our ethos include using organic and local produce, supporting our community vendors, and always executing exceptional epicurean experiences—for a table of one to a banquet for all.

We invite you to dine with us in the serene setting of our restaurant, host your special event in our elegant and historic space, or simply use our catering service to bring a customized feast to your next celebration.

Top review

Annavip

Dined 7 days ago

Delicious lunch spot in a delightful garden setting. A wonderful place to take clients and friends. Food is always consistently good and menu has broad range of selections to choose from.

The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar

4.7

4.7 (358)

$30 and under

French American

San Mateo

About the restaurant

The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar welcomes everyone with selective wines selection and many pairings superbly with a wide variety of cuisine. With selective cheeses and charcutiers, hundreds of different wines, seafood,
and meats.The Barrel Bistro&Wine Bar attracts colleagues for a drink after work, business dinners, a quick bite or drink before a show, late night revelers, families for Sunday brunch and more.

Top review

Jodi

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

Outstanding wine list and delicious wines! Out burgers were delicious too! Looking forward to returning!!

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Popular dish

Lobster Risotto

The Refuge - San Mateo

4.7

4.7 (97)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

San Mateo

About the restaurant

As featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, The REFUGE specializes in hand-carved, ultra tender, boldly flavored navel pastrami which is sending shockwaves throughout the gastronomic consciousness of patrons who call it “the greatest this planet will see in some time.” The REFUGE boasts the world’s best Belgian and Craft Beer on draught (24 in San Mateo) in the Bay Area, with many more by bottle.

Since 2008, the REFUGE has been providing protection for many East Coast street food classics especially the hand-carved navel pastrami. But wait, just for good measure, we grind our own blend of hamburger on a daily basis as well as procure our own Ribeye Blend for our Authentic CheeseSteaks.

We also offer honest Old World wine, dazzling salads and eclectic appetizers. Casual connoisseurs unite! This place is the real deal. Whether it’s a quick lunch, a raging evening, a private event, take-out or delivery, the REFUGE experience is unlike any other place at any one time.

Top review

Kevin

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

Always enjoy the Refuge! Great beer and great food.

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Experience

REFUGE San Mateo Bi-Weekly Trivia Night!

Experience

REFUGE San Mateo Bi-Weekly Trivia Night!

Experience

Laurel Elementary Dine N Donate Day!

Dinah's Poolside Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (795)

$30 and under

Californian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant offers indoor and heated outdoor dining in a relaxing environment overlooking the pool. Private dining is also available in our Fireside Room or private Lanai patio.

This casual restaurant is renowned by locals for a hearty breakfast and lunch-time favorites. In the evening, Chef Gerardo Naranjo elevates the experience with steak and seafood classics.

Fresh, seasonal and local. We offer the highest quality cage free eggs, sustainable produce and free range meats sourced locally whenever possible.

For over 55 years we have been serving the Palo Alto area with great service, consistent food, and hand squeezed orange juice!

Top review

Sandra

Dined 2 days ago

There Omelets are perfect. Sandwiches are great too!

Roja Los Altos

4.5

4.5 (844)

$31 to $50

American

Los Altos

About the restaurant

An American Restaurant House with influences derived from generations of Spanish and Italian heritage.

Our dedication to sourcing the highest quality, farm-to-table ingredients is the guiding force that our restaurants are built upon. We believe that local, sustainable, organic, heirloom and free-range products nourish the body and soul. Our devotion to providing an impeccable experience is made possible by our collective decades of experience in cuisine, wine, spirits and best-in-class hospitality. Our hand-curated wine selections reflect a life-long love affair with travel and unforgettable culinary experiences.

Top review

Markvip

Dined 1 day ago

We have eaten at Roja several times since the new owners are in place. The food has been excellent. We experienced balanced and big flavors in all the dishes. The staff has been friendly and easy to work with and they paid attention to our table as needed. This is now my favorite restaurant in Los Altos.

Tacolicious - Palo Alto

4.5

4.5 (202)

$30 and under

Mexican

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Tacolicious is a casual, modern Mexican restaurant with locations in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Manhattan Beach (LA). We source our ingredients responsibly, take our tacos as seriously as our cocktails, and offer a fun sit-down, full-service experience.

Large party of 12 +? Email us at palo_alto_management@tacolicious.com and we'll fit you in. We have outdoor dining, a great private room and do off-site catering. Go to tacolicious.com for more information; catering requests can be sent to events@tacolicious.com.

Top review

Letty

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

Lovely place with delicious food ! My favorite is chicken lime soup , carnitas tacos and the churros

Caffe Riace

4.5

4.5 (253)

$30 and under

Italian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Established in 1997, Caffe Riace, a robust Palo Alto trattoria, offers conviviality, homemade specialties and family-style warmth. Caffe Riace, one of many fine restaurants in the California Avenue area, is family owned and operated and features outdoor dining on it's spacious private piazza. Every dish is made with honest expertise. Caffe Riace is also a popular venue for wedding receptions, business meetings, graduations and other special events. If you’re looking for an intimate dining experience, we offer private dining rooms accommodating up to 40 guests. Our patio can host up to 200 guests and is a wonderful venue for dining experience.

Top review

Alanvip

Dined on Sep 4, 2024

Try the Bolognese. It's terrific. The service is great and we're a huge fan of Brenda and Giuseppe.

ROOH Palo Alto

4.2

4.2 (242)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Indian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

ROOH Palo Alto explores open fire cooking in combination with regional flavors. A style of cooking that lends incredible complexity to the simplest of flavors.Wood fired cooking is a cornerstone of Indian food preparations and Chef Sujan Sarkar delves into the exploration of what is already well known, familiar but bringing it into the contemporary world. Offering a taste and appreciation for India, all of India, capturing the beautiful intricacies of its diversity for a unique communal dining experience.
ROOH’s mixology team has created 9 brand new seasonal cocktails based on Ayurveda and its six tastes, or rasas The conceptual cocktails infuse the signature smokiness of the wood fired grill and the story telling culture of India. Californian ingredients shine through, as the cocktails evoke the spirit of different Indian cities with their regional inspired names

Top review

Olgavip

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Good food. Would love if they had a proper tea service

Pompeii Ristorante

4.2

4.2 (12)

$30 and under

Italian

Los Altos

About the restaurant

Delicious Italian food and chef inspired dishes in beautiful Downtown Los Altos

Top review

Catherine

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

We were going to try out a newer restaurant to celebrate a milestone event, however, decided to dine at Pompeii. Why? Because it is our favorite Italian restaurant and we can always depend on outstanding food and service. In fact it is our favorite Los Altos restaurant. One of us had the Daily Special, Osso Bucco that was absolutely so tender and served hot. And the other had their Veal Parmesan which is not always listed on the menu but if you ask for it they will serve it. If I am not getting seafood I many times will opt for the veal parmesan as it is so tender and a very generous serving. Having food allergies I find they are so very accommodating and willing to substitute side dishes or adjust the main course. Their calamari as an appetizer never disappoints - always tender and delicious. We were too full for dessert however their Tiramisu is one of THE BEST! We also like their selection of wine by the glass.

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