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Osteria
- Italian
- Palo Alto, CA
About this business
Crowds of college students, professors and upscale professional types make getting a table at this cozy corner restaurant difficult on Friday and Saturday nights, but the wait is worth it. The fare at Osteria is not fussy and beautifully prepared to meet Italian standards. Only the freshest ingredients are used for the house-made minestrone, eggplant Parmesan and delicious pasta dishes served here. Exuberant good cheer by the efficient staff add a sparkle to every meal. Do not miss the desserts, especially the decadently ric... read more
Location details
247 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
Get directions| Weekday | Schedule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Tue | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Wed | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Thu | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Fri | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
| Sat | Closed | |
| Sun | Closed |
Rude staff – When I called to make a reservation, the man answering the phone answered by saying, "Get to it!" I asked him if he was talking to me and he responded rudely, "Yes, how can I help you?" I called back to tell him that he lost a customer in Palo Alto and he responded, "Fine with me." I have been to the restaurant once before and the food is only mediocre. I would not recommed waiting or putting up with their rude staff to anyone.
Osteria--Don't Bother! – After reading several reviews from diners that related their experiences with lost or un-honored reservations at Osteria, I boldlyor perhaps foolishlywent ahead and called to reserve a table for a Saturday evening. The man who answered the phone was brusque and my suspicion was that he never even bothered to write down the reservation. This was substantiated when I called to confirm and was told that no reservations under my name existed. The man who answered didnt offer to do a thing about replacing... read more
Great food, gracious service – We love this restaurant, and apparently many others do as well since Osteria has been voted the best Italian Restaurant in Palo Alto 5 years in row. The food is exceptional and the wait staff and hostess go out of their way to accommodate extra people and special requests. A few months ago we had 2 additional people show up for a table of 6 reservation. The hostess made it work. You will need a reservation even during the week. And any amount of wait is truly worth it.
Some tips for eating at Osteria – I eat there as often as I can, but I also agree that service can definitely be better. Besides the hostess, there's also another grumpy waiter. The other thing that I have trouble with is the crowded seating - not very comfy. My recommendation, as someone who has had plenty of experiences with the place, is to make a reservation a day in advance, and also pick an earlier time. If you wait till the peak of the dinner hour you are going to be left waiting. Other than that, I still think it's o... read more
beware of the HOSTESS! – I have been coming here for years and had recommended it to my boyfriend's mom when she visited from Canada. I was so embarrassed with the way we were treated. Not only was she rude when we first checked in, but she was rude when she sat us and finally at the end of the evening to ask for our payment. She is clearly an unhappy person and almost ruined the great evening I was having. Thankfully for the company I was with and the much smarter waiter who listened and apologized for her actions saved it ... read more
"friends of rest" seated before reserv. – I had a first date there with reservations. We waited 45 minutes...I kid you not before they seated us. And, and, I add, that was after we asked angrily about it. They didn't apologize. I asked around and found out that they seat people they know over reservations. My recommendation to the restaurant...quit taking reservations. Oh and the food was just average.
While trendy restaurants come and go in downtown Palo Alto, this lovely place remains a favorite corner trattoria. –
amazing food! – Me and some friends ate at the Osteria. We shared a few amazing dishes Caroaccio, scampi, ling vongle', saltimboca and Calmari steak each dish was amazing! now I understand why this restaurant is very popular.
TERRIBLE SERVICE---LEFT IN STEAM OF ANGER – My husband and I wanted a romantic evening out. But Osteria has just absolutely DESTROYED it. We made a reservation, which didn't mean anything. We waited over 30 minutes while other people who came in after us got seated (I could see that people with names written down after us for the same number of seats got seated first). Then the best part:when I asked the OWNER about other people cutting in, he told me that IF I WERE YOU, I WOULDN'T BE SAYING THAT. Come on, even Gary Danko wi... read more
Frequently asked questions about Osteria
How is Osteria rated?
Osteria has a 4.2 star rating with 878 reviews.
When is Osteria open?
Osteria is open now. It will close at 6:00 p.m.
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