Protégé

Rating: 5/5

"An exceptional culinary experience at Protégé in Palo Alto. Every dish showcased masterful technique and impeccable flavors. The A5 Japanese Wagyu Ribeye was perfectly marbled and melted effortlessly, while the Crab and Caviar delivered a luxurious balance of brine and sweetness. The lobster toast was crisp, buttery, and indulgent, and the Black Bass—flawless in execution—was the best I’ve encountered. The Ricotta Dumplings , delicate yet deeply flavorful, rounded out an unforgettable meal. The shigoku oysters with whipped ponzu were indescribably fresh and flavorful. The sunflower Caesar, with its preserved tomato jam, was a unique and unforgettable twist on a classic. As for the brick chicken that we took to go, it was so delicious that it barely made it home before being devoured. The experience was elevated even further by the outstanding service—every person was kind, attentive, and genuinely dedicated to creating a memorable evening. A true showcase of precision, creativity, and hospitality"

Rating: 4/5

"We visited this restaurant for Valentine’s Day and had the prix fixe menu paired with wine. It was our first time here, and we wanted to check it off our list. Overall, it was a very nice experience—we enjoyed ourselves, and the food was good. The restaurant is located in an area with plenty of parking, though it can get crowded in the evenings. The ambiance is refined but not pretentious, and the service reflects the same balance of professionalism and warmth. We dine out frequently at high-end restaurants, so we appreciate unique and thoughtfully crafted dishes. While this isn’t an everyday spot, it’s a wonderful choice for special occasions. If you enjoy the artistry of food, this place is definitely worth a visit."

Rating: 5/5

"What a time. We had booked a reservation for 7:45 on a calm Tuesday evening. After being greeted by the host we were walked over to our table for 2 in the lounge area for the a la carte menu. Immediately the attention to detail caught me as the host brought out water and poured some into our glasses. Afterwards, our server Annie greeted us and offered a very detailed description of each dish. She said that normally people order 1 item from each category on their menu: “snack”, “appetizer”, “entree”. I suppose, abnormally, my partner and I opted for 2 snacks, 2 appetizers, and 1 entree. The two snacks we chose were the Lobster Chips and the Crab and Caviar. Lobster Chips were subtle in flavor with really nice balance and texture. The Crab and Caviar, is super hyped up, and it was good, but I think the hype was too much. It was really delicious with really punchy flavors all balanced together nicely, but at the end of the day it is just egg, crab, and caviar for 35 dollars. For appetizers, we chose the Spanish Octopus and the special of the night, the Mochiko Fried Softshell Crab. The Spanish Octopus was by far the best bite we had that night. Incredibly tender, while crispy and charred, the octopus left me confused. I couldn’t understand how it was possible to have octopus be that texture. The Softshell Crab was indeed quite special as well. It had a ton of bright flavors from the subtle spice to the sweet and sour grape tomatoes. Everything in that dish was great, but when compared to the octopus, it simply couldn’t compete. Eventually, our Brick Chicken arrived. With perfectly crispy skin and juicy chicken, this was quite a delightful dish. It left me savoring every bite in awe of everything we had to eat thus far. After the savory items were completed, the server rolled over the dessert display to explain each option. We opted for the Layered Pistachio Cake as it seemed the most complex, and it definitely did not disappoint. The flavors were subtle, but they included wafers to create contrasting textures. The ice cream on top was also perfection. We also received a complimentary Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream which had really nice strong coffee flavor, however the texture was rather ice-y. Beyond the food, the thing that makes this restaurant really special are the people and the service they offer. Whether it is noticing the small details like topping up your water or just crumbing between the dishes, they maintain a very clean aesthetic. The attitude of everyone working there also adds a lot to the experience. During this meal, I actually made plans to ask my partner to be my girlfriend. All I had done was make a short note on the reservation, but they took it and ran. They wrote a little note, and gave us a free dessert. Shortly after, I saw some of the chefs peaking over at our table with a thumbs up. Essentially inquiring whether my question was successful or not. After replying with my own thumbs up, I saw them pumping their fists and cheering for me. The whole experience at Protégé was perfect!"

Rating: 4/5

"I visited to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. Every single menu of the 7-course was really good. My favorite was the Trout dish. The outer layer that looked like the skin of the trout was actually the sauce. The trout was well-cooked, and the sauces and Riesling wine paired with it went really well together. I was a little disappointed that there was no separate wine pairing menu. My boyfriend paired a new wine with every menu. Thanks to that, I paid an additional $400. I supplemented the 14 days aged steak with A5 Japanese wagu, which was really good wagu, but it was too rich when eaten with deep fried mushrooms, so it wasn't that good. And the Tokaji that I had as a dessert wine was also great."

Rating: 5/5

"Husband thought the wagyu was the best he’s had (which is saying a lot). Had an enjoyable birthday 7-course dinner for a friend. We’ve dined here half a dozen times. It’s the first time I’ve had a sunchoke dessert. The wine list is streamlined to be a no-brainer to order anything off of it that will pair nicely with food, not overpower the food, rather complement it. The take home financier was a mouth bomb in the morning, amazing."