Top 5 Woodside Restaurants

Rolling hills and rural beauty define the charming equestrian enclave of Woodside. Nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Woodside is an affluent town coveted as much for its stunning real estate market as for its spectacular backdrop of vineyards and picturesque vistas.

A commitment to locally sourced fare and sustainable farms has created the solid culinary foundation on which Woodside has built its sterling reputation as a bastion of stylish bistros and epicurean standouts. Woodside restaurants are known as some of the best in the Bay Area and highlight the neighborhood’s rich collection of wineries and regional flavors. Of all the things to do in Woodside, fine dining remains a favorite pastime, and with chef-driven menus and an abundance of Michelin Guide recommendations, it is easy to see why.

Known for unparalleled hospitality and expertly crafted, award-winning cuisine, The Village Pub is a culinary treasure and boasts the great distinction of receiving a Michelin star for 12 consecutive years. This Woodside landmark features an exquisite New American menu and an exceptional wine and spirits program, as well as ingredients sourced from nearby SMIP Ranch, a private 17-acre organic farm nestled in the hills above Woodside. This farm grows produce exclusively for Woodside’s famed chefs and tailors each ingredient specifically to the chefs’ vision.

The foundation of French and Mediterranean flavors fuses with classic coastal California tastes to create a sumptuous menu of artful dishes. The rotating menu highlights the freshest ingredients that capture the essence of each season, delighting guests and dazzling the palate in innovative new ways. From the rich osetra caviar service and Maine lobster spaghetti to local Dungeness crab ravioli and wood-grilled wagyu ribeye, the Village Pub offers the height of gastronomic luxury. Brunch is also outstanding, with indulgent dishes like lobster Benedict, a white truffle French omelet, and freshly baked pastries.

Canyon Ranch has long enjoyed a reputation as a sophisticated wellness retreat complete with treatments for the mind, body, and palate. The celebrated resort’s in-house Hearth Restaurant embodies this commitment to health and well-being with artisan fare and locally sourced ingredients. With a breakfast through dinner menu, guests can always access fresh flavors and nourishing meals.

The breakfast menu is ideal for a post-yoga refuel, with light plates like acai smoothie bowls and chai spice porridge, as well as freshly squeezed juices. Lunch is hearty and healthy, with choices like spinach salad dressed in goat chevre and horseradish and the daily fish tostada with avocado. Dinner delights with bold flavors and stunning artisan creations like the Parisian gnocchi with toasted barley and porcini sauce. Vegan cuisine reaches new levels of sophistication with the mushroom frittata, which features tomatoes and basil, as well as tofu ricotta and hemp seeds.

Classic French comfort fare gets a modern makeover at The Firehouse Bistro. Chef Jesus Chuy selects seasonal ingredients and the freshest seafood for his elevated California fusion menu. The bistro’s quaint setting embraces the countryside atmosphere and small-town tranquility for which Woodside is lauded, and the hospitality is unrivaled. Chef Chuy creates a warm, welcoming dining room and offers a beautiful patio for alfresco dining.

The ahi tuna tartare with wasabi cream is an excellent way to begin dinner, while the cheese plate and prawn cocktail with spicy chili sauce rank as guest favorites. The main course dishes are a lesson in upscale seafood artistry, with standouts like the seafood risotto with scallops, prawns, and mushroom garlic sauce and the Dungeness crab cioppino which features salmon, mussels, sea bass, and clams.

Just a few minutes away, in Menlo Park, Madera redefines wood-grilled cuisine. The market-driven menu at this elegant spot celebrates bold flavors, sustainably harvested seafood, and an abundance of vibrant vegetables from local farms. Dinner at Madera is a work of art, and each plate is more creatively crafted than the last. The lovely locale adds to the enjoyment. Madera is housed in the five-star Rosewood Sand Hill hotel, and the rich interior is the perfect blend of rustic wine country elegance and relaxed resort style.

Stop in for a luxurious breakfast of smoked salmon Benedict with caviar and a lobster frittata with braised greens and avocado, or infuse global tastes into your morning with the Moroccan spiced farro and fried eggs with feta and harissa. Dinner brings a heightened sense of pampering, with caviar hors d'oeuvres, salmon tartare, and pan-roasted scallops, as well as delicacies like the grilled lemon whole branzino and kuri squash risotto with sage and aged balsamic.

The vibrant colors and fresh local ingredients at Flea Street exemplify classic coastal Californian cuisine. This Menlo Park mainstay eschews pretension and focuses on culinary excellence with a market-driven menu, local Pacific seafood, and organic ingredients. A celebration of Northern California farm-to-table culture, Flea Street has been a Bay Area landmark since 1980. Each season brings a new lineup of exquisite dishes based on that season’s harvest, making every visit a culinary adventure.

Here you might begin with black sturgeon caviar or Soleil oysters before moving on to a first course of beets with goat chevre, fennel, and citrus or a Dungeness crab cake with caper tartar sauce and watermelon radishes. Black truffles grace the wild mushroom ravioli for dinner, while chive bearnaise perfectly complements the filet mignon.

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