Che Fico Parco Menlo

Fabulous dining experience at Che Fico Parco in Menlo Park. The food was tasty and well-presented, and the staff was super attentive and efficient. Large outdoor dining area as well. Our favorite food items were the focaccia, the pepperoni pizza, the pork chop, and the gelato. Underground parking lot next door was easy to get to with plenty of spaces. Highly recommend it for a special occasion dinner!

The food is not bad , the restaurant looks nice but having a 5% fee added on to already overpriced pastas is insanity. Che Fico seems to really not read the room regarding both economic climate and the fact that if they want their waiters to get 401K(!) that’s on them , not the client. if the waiter is good , they will get a nice tip and use it however they want. i was a waiter and never expected the client to pay for mental (!) and 401k - just insanity. take it out of the price of pasta that starred restaurants don’t charge

The food is really good, the service is good, and the staff is super nice. The calzone with the clams was really delicious. The tree star rating is due to the very high prices to which the restaurant added a 5% fee ( before gratuities) , at the end the dinner became very expensive for a (premium) pizza dinner. But overall we had a great family dinner in this very beautiful place.

I had an amazing experience here! The atmosphere was fantastic, creating a perfect setting for a relaxing evening. The highlight of the visit was undoubtedly the exceptional wine introduction and service provided by Kevin and Rafael. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience truly memorable. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy great wine and superb service!

Can’t wait to return! Absolutely perfect meal from start to finish. Excellent service for having just opened. Tried the chopped salad, vongole en crosta, lasagna, mushroom salsiccia pizza and the octopus. All fantastic. Fun selection of both cocktails and wines. The vibe is lively and warm inside and out. We sat on the patio til after 10pm and never needed a jacket the heaters were so cozy. 100% worth the drive from the city.

The food was delicious, we had a salad, pasta, prosciutto and focaccia. The service was good, but I can't give 5 stars because we asked if we could have the bread and prosciutto before the salad, and that didn't happen. We also asked to take home our leftovers, the server never brought our boxed food back to the table. At times it was difficult to get the server's attention and it appeared chaotic. Perhaps still working out the bugs.

Went to the new Che Fico location in Menlo Park for Valentine’s Day on a rainy night. They had a Prix Fixe menu that was slightly upgraded from their normal menu. The focaccia and marinara was a great starter. Very delicate texture for a rustic bread. The citrus salad, oysters and crab Louie lettuce wedges were all nicely done. The beet fritters were not as big of a hit with either our table or the one next to us. Of the remaining courses, there was a vegetarian lasagna that was comprised of mostly spinach, mushroom and cheese. The duck was seared with a machaca-style duck on the side. I probably enjoyed the lobster agnolotti in crab broth most. The pasta was slippery and really easy to chew. Full of crustaceanic flavor in each bite. The dessert was a flop for me. The chocolate cake had bit of jagged walnuts which were also in the small cookie that was offered as well. The texture of the cake was flat and tasted just like a plain chocolate cake. Don’t know if it was because of the rain, but there were ladybugs crawling all over the seat cushions and water splattering on me after bouncing off the awning. Made it a bit difficult to enjoy. This was after we requested to move from another table because the heat lamps were too high up and angled away from us to keep us warm. Might recommend dining inside to avoid this during the winter and early spring months.

- Outstanding food. - Excellent service, except that sometimes we had to wait too long between things. - One star because the portions are way too small given the very high prices. If I spend $40 on pasta, I expect to get full. Every member of our party (including 2 light eaters) cleaned every last dot on their plate. What does that tell you about portions?

Located within the Springline properties along El Camino is this lovely modern Italian restaurant. Ample parking in the garage and easy to find in the middle. I have been a handful of times and recommend that, if it can be helped, to enjoy a meal inside rather than outside to further enjoy the experience. I felt outside to be a bit distanced and not as fun to sit at. Service has been consistently good especially at the bar regardless of how busy it was. If you wish to wait standing by the bar until your table is ready, that can be an option to enjoy their lovely cocktails ahead of dinner. It is a bit of a weird area to stand around, but can be done just be mindful of the foot traffic around you. It's a great date place or for a meal with friends. The acoustics (inside) are good, noisy enough but you're not yelling across the table. It's tremd And now the best part, the food! It seems that their menu rotates a bit here so being specific would make this review fruitless. I would say their strengths are their cocktails, pizza, some of the pasta, and definitely their dessert (love their soft serve). I would skip most of the appetizers given the pricing and just order an extra entree. Whatever pizza you get-you're bound to discover how SOFT the pizza crust/ dough is. I always salivate thinking about it.

I'm leaving this review after 2 visits. There is free underground parking structure. We were seated outside both times and it was really nice and comfortable. It's very clean and has a great feel. The service was good and so was the food. I just wish they had more options. The cocktails are good, but too bad they don't serve diet soda. Im afraid the prices are very high in my opinion. $36 for a small eggplant dish wasn't worth it. $28 for a Cesar salad, granted it's pretty big. Still the food was good, just too expensive in my opinion.

So I went back to this place to give it a second chance. , my first experience was lackluster at best. And because a friend of mine from out of town wanted to try it. I stick to my original review. The service was off completely and the food was only OK nothing special, especially not for the price and the add-on fees. They really need to get their stuff together.

Che Fico Parco Menlo in Menlo Park offers a high-end Italian dining experience with a focus on shared plates and carefully crafted dishes. The ambiance is cozy, particularly in the outdoor seating area, which features stylish décor and thoughtful touches like drop-down awnings. The service is frequently praised for being attentive and knowledgeable, enhancing the overall dining experience. The menu offers a variety of Italian classics, including popular dishes like mushroom pizza, clams in pizza crust, and the unique chocolate budino with hazelnut. However, the restaurant is on the pricier side, with some diners questioning whether the cost is justified by the quality of the food. For instance, a simple spaghetti pomodoro or a margherita pizza might feel a bit overpriced compared to similar offerings at other local Italian eateries. Overall, Che Fico Parco Menlo is well-suited for special occasions or gatherings with friends, especially those who appreciate a good wine pairing. Just be prepared for the premium pricing, and consider sharing dishes to make the most of your experience.

Good drinks, cute ambiance. I came by early afternoon with my friend to have a couple of drinks. The bartender was friendly although the service was considerably slow, even just to order drinks. Their drink menu also included a few non-alcoholic mocktail options which were tasty as well

Pros: management is first class as they checked in when/where their staff was seriously lacking. Nice patio area. Cons: staff is undertrained, you have a 90 min timer to eat and leave, tables are crowded together. Food is expensive and imo not as good as the SF local. IE: 1 qty pizza, tap water and 2 qty glasses of their small pour glasses of their lower priced wine = $90+. Also, please offer ALL 3 options for water---not just the still or flat (which is charged), include the "tap" OR at least alert ppl there is a charge--as we noted, they do the same "trick" at the SF location as well. Had their sausage/pepper pizza which had incredible and delicious flavor, however super soggy crust yet burnt tasting... Would most likely skip if given the opportunity to go again.

Despite the slipped ratings due to cost and service complaints from other Yelpers, the food here is good! I've been to both this and SF locations and always had consistently solid experiences. The first time I came here, it was my birthday and we enjoyed a wonderful meal at the bar, complete with complimentary bubbly. Most recently, I had a late dinner on the patio with an exquisite asparagus and ramp pizza. This was accompanied by a luscious springtime agnolotti with English peas and ricotta. We were also sent home with a little brutti ma buoni cookie each, which had a delightful texture and was delicious with coffee the next morning. The only thing I didn't like was the tonno crudo. It was soooooooo sour that I was puckering and squeezing shut my already small eyes. It was as if 15 lemons jizzed all over some tuna slices and let it marinate for a week. I mentioned the extreme sourness to our server but he didn't have much of a reaction. Welp, we ate all of it anyway.

This Peninsula outpost of a San Francisco restaurant opened approximately 6 months ago. Whether you dine inside or on their patio, the atmosphere/vibe is modern, reminding one of the experience of dining in an European city. The staff here is friendly, very knowledgeable of their offerings, and attentive to your modifications, etc. You can dine here at your own pace, with the staff never rushing you to finish any of your courses. Now, on to the review of their food and the reason for the 3 star rating... - Complimentary/house bread: Not offered. - Focaccia: Not your traditional version. It needed salt and herb (rosemary, etc.). It was more of a toasted loaf. - Tonno Crudo: Very heavy handed with the Meyer Lemon to the point where the tuna got lost. - Agnolotti Dal Plin: Good tasting but a bit small in portion. - Fusilli Lunghi: Good balance of flavors and a generously portioned dish. - Ananas: This was supposed to be their signature dish. This may be true for their San Francisco location, but not here. While the dough was perfectly cooked, the pizza barely had any of the star attraction (pineapple). It tasted more of a spicy cheese pizza. We asked one of the servers if the pizza was missing the pineapple; we were told that it was shaved very thinly. - Melanzana: Good tasting eggplant dish. - Value: IMHO the price of admission was a bit too high for what we ordered.

Cute vibe! It's def a cute place to take your girlfriends or for a date. However I thought the food and service was subpar. It was one of those places that you go for the vibes. Not sure if I would visit again.

Service and ambiance excellent: what you'd expect from this class of Italian restaurant in Menlo Park. Food was very good but the roast chicken white meat was much too dry. Dark meat was AOK, but a significant fail for a kitchen at this price level. We won't be back.

This is a great trendy place to be seen and see who is being seen. Everyone was dressed for the occasion whether that was on a date, with your friends, and/or family. I stayed in the area for the weekend and this was the choice for dinner. I have dined at the one in SF so I knew I was in for a good meal. I did like the decor at this location better but I am going to say that it was unbearably loud at this location. It's almost like everyone wanted you to hear their conversation. The table next to us was ill mannered and the guy wouldn't scoot his chair to sit in front of his table, he was damn near sitting at my table. He never said excuse or acknowledged that he was infringing on my personal space. So I began to stare at the others at the table to be like can you get this guy and tell him to sit up straight at the table. Gawd, I thought my eyes were going to get stuck in the ceiling because I kept rolling them so hard. Lol. The food was good, expensive...really expensive! Cheers!

Love Che Fico! Expensive but delicious. Service was prompt but honestly could've been more friendly. Very disappointing about the 10% required surcharge on your bill which they don't even give you a heads up about. Next time will stick with the pasta/pizzas. * Tajarin ($44) - 5 stars: My FAVE noodle. One that is impossible to come by. So buttery and delicious and comes with truffles. On the small side. * Che Fico Chopped Salad ($26) - 3.5 stars: A great starter but I find overdressed and too salty - lots of cubed cheese, olives, etc. * Truffle Gnocchi ($68) - 3.5 stars: I'm not a big gnocchi fan. Not on the menu anymore, but they have a gnochetti and gnochi now. * Calabrese Pizza ($29?) - 3.5 stars: Love their pizza but this one needed more toppings and was too spicy. Their pizzas are thin crust with a fluffy crust which is light, a bit oily, and chewy. * Branzino ($60) - 3.5 stars: Solid, but nothing too special. No longer on the menu. * Niman Ranch Bavette Steak ($48) - 3.5 stars: Tender but on the small side for the price (comes with no sides).

Went to the new Che Fico location in Menlo Park for Valentine's Day on a rainy night. They had a Prix Fixe menu that was slightly upgraded from their normal menu. The focaccia and marinara was a great starter. Very delicate texture for a rustic bread. The citrus salad, oysters and crab Louie lettuce wedges were all nicely done. The beet fritters were not as big of a hit with either our table or the friendly diners at the table next to us. Of the remaining courses, there was a vegetarian lasagna that was comprised of mostly spinach, mushroom and cheese. The duck was seared with a machaca-style duck on the side. I probably enjoyed the lobster agnolotti in crab broth most. The pasta was slippery and really easy to chew. Full of crustaceanic flavor in each bite. The dessert was a flop for me. The chocolate cake had bit of jagged walnuts which were also in the small cookie that was offered as well. They did a number on my gums. The texture of the cake was flat and tasted just like a plain chocolate cake. I would say that the value of the meal at $195 per person wasn't worth the price. It was hard not to feel a little remorse about spending as much as we would have at the excellent omakase at Robin around the block. I would, however, like to return to try their regular menu of pizzas and pastas and will update my review once I get to try it. Perhaps there will be some redemption then. Don't know if it was because of the rain, but there were ladybugs crawling all over the seat cushions and water splattering on me after bouncing off the awning. Made it a bit difficult to enjoy. This was after we requested to move from another table because the heat lamps were too high up and angled away from us to keep us warm. Might recommend dining inside to avoid this during the winter and early spring months.

Some of the best ambiance around. The food was fantastic. Love the sour dough pizza, and the zero proof cocktails were extra special. We sat at the bar and had exceptional service & attention from our bartender Raphael. A great server always makes the experience. We'll be back!

One of our favorite new spots in the peninsula. Make sure to ask for a warm table outside during the winter. Beautiful ambiance. Fantastic to be able to dine outside in the winter in the peninsula. The food is excellent. We really like the mushroom salsiccia pizza. The mushrooms are thinly sliced raw and delicious. The steak tartar/carne crudo was pretty good. We love the bread that comes with it but on the smaller sides. Additional bread costs over $10. Desserts are excellent! We love the fior de latte ice cream was olive oil and salt and the hazelnut chocolate mousse. Excellent selection of wines by the glass. Love the bubbly from Lombardi, le marchesine, which paired excellent with the food.

Overall just OK food - ordered many things from the menu based on the waiters recommendations. The food was good but not worth the price. Unfortunately the prices were outrageous compare to the quality of food, and wasn't "wow'd".

4.5 rounding to 5. Friendly service, swanky location (though tables a bit small imo) and pretty tasty food - pizza: $29 5/5, loved the dough. Amitriciana was excellent slightly spicy and perfectly sauced - pasta: $29 4/5, good al dente pasta, would've just preferred something other than pomodoro next time - octopus: $43 3/5, a bit too chewy IMO but a hefty portion with tasty roasted potatoes I'll definitely be back in the future! I made a reservation ahead, not sure what the sit down wait would be.

Decided to celebrate my birthday last night with friends and we all were not amused by our experience. Service (0/5): Our server Rapha had a super weird vibe to him. - did not ask if we were celebrating anything - we felt rushed order -he not was not clear about items we asked about on the menu - did not bother to check on us throughout our meal - it took us to ask three different servers to get my fiancé a separate plate for the pizza that we had originally asked him to get. by the time we finally got the pizza, it had already gotten cold. - was not given our complimentary cookies at the end of our meal. Food: (2/5) One thing my group can all agree on is the fact that the pizza filled us up more than the pasta did. If we could go back in time, we would've only ordered the pizza because the portions for pasta is ridiculously small for the price. Spaghetti Pomodoro (1/5): - The pasta was super tough to chew. - Barely any sauce - Sauce was salty and tasted like it came out of a jar - tint portions Tortelloni Di Zucca (3/5): - my friend was not a fan of the sage and balsamic - the butternut and brown butter part of it was not bad - it was overall hard to eat - did not look appetizing - tiny portions Salami Pizza with Hot Honey & Mushroom/Sausage Pizza (4/5): Highlight of the night was their pizza. We all enjoyed the flavor and the crust! So soft and chewy! Pomegranate Spritz (0/5): Was nowhere near refreshing, tasted like juice and was way too sour to enjoy. Decor (5/5): Loved the decor! So fun,cute and cozy! From the mediocre food and service received to the mandatory 10% dine in charge added on top of the bill--- I don't see ourselves returning to Che Fico.

Blanche Devereaux, are you here?   Che Fico Parco Menlo's tropical patio vibes made me think of the saucy temptress...bringing all her suitors here for dinner...before a late-night rendezvous. The spacious patio can certainly fit ALL of them. Gotta love Blanche!   I always thought of Menlo Park as a sleepy town. And, then Springline was built and popular SF based restos (Burma Love and Robin) moved in...and seems to be slowly changing that.   The third SF transplant to make its way to Springline is Che Fico Parco Menlo. If you've been to their SF location, you know their pineapple pizza is everything (even if you're not a fan of pineapple on pizza).   They're currently open for indoor and patio dining. Dog-friendly.   Rezzies on Opentable but they're pretty booked out for the next couple of weeks. Walk-ins accepted.   M E N U Cal-Italian with seasonally driven menu: Bar/small bites, apps, handmade salumi + pastas + pizzas, entrees, and desserts. Aside from several popular items on their SF menu (i.e. pineapple pizza), the MP menu is different with some creative and luxe additions. $78 caviar filled mozzarella, anyone? In-person menu is different than the online menu. Full bar.   ***10% Dine-In Charge*** added to the bill (doesn't count as gratuity). Same fee in SF. Mixed feelings but at least they're transparent about it when making rezzies and it's also stated on the menu/bill.   D R I N K S * Vesper Martini ($18 x3): https://tinyurl.com/3s4mw9ty Smooth and pleasantly stiff with a kiss of sweet citrus. I requested any top shelf liquor and was surprised it was grey goose which I usually find a bit harsh. Two more rounds, please.   F O O D * Fritella Al Tartufo Nero: Perigord Black Truffle Fritter w/ fontina fonduta ($18): https://tinyurl.com/yumpm5yb Plain fritters (no filling) dipped in cheese sauce and crowned with truffle shavings. It was fine but skippable if you're ordering pizza. * Carne Cruda: Dry-Aged Flannery Beef w/ parmigiano reggiano, burgundy truffle ($38): https://tinyurl.com/msxtza32 One of our favs, the beef tartar was deliciously beefy and buttery with a luxe, aromatic earthiness from the shower of truffles + parm. Served with gnocco fritto (?), crispy pillows of savory dough that you cut open and stuff with the tartare: https://tinyurl.com/ycx2jzwb.   * Vongole En Crosta w/ Washington manila clams, 'nduja butter, pizza crust ($36): https://tinyurl.com/yx8nj6wf As the chef cuts the stuffed calzone tableside, it exposes a beautiful layer of clams that's drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. The clams, tho small were fresh and chewy with a meaty umami from the 'nduja. We tore off pieces of the crust to sop up all the buttery seafoody broth. So good. Fav dish of the night! Get this.   * Salsiccia E Funghi w/ san marzano, cremini mushrooms, sausage, calabrian chili bomba, mozzarella ($30): https://tinyurl.com/mtep9mn2 Parm sprinkled, chewy crust with savory morsels of sausage, melty cheese, tangy tomato sauce, and earthy shavings of mushrooms. Well-balanced flavors with a sturdy base, not floppy. While good, I prefer their pineapple pizza. If you like more heat, add a side of calabrian chili bomba (+$2).   * Polpo Arrosto: Wood-Fire Roasted Octopus w/ tomatillo salsa verde, yukon gold potato, mint, basil, marjoram ($43): https://tinyurl.com/yyzjkwzf They didn't have the pork jowl from their online menu so we went with this. Fav part were the soft, creamy baby yukon potatoes. The octopus was tender but quite dry and bland.   * Panino Gelato w/ pizzelle, fior di latte gelato, pistachios (2 pc - $14): https://tinyurl.com/2f942kdm The Italian ice cream sandwich was ok. I liked the crunchy waffle cookies but the gelato flavor and texture was more like froyo, not as rich and milky as expected. * Complimentary Hazelnut Cookies Low key reminds of Tara's Mediterranean Cookies, good chew with crunchy roasty nuts. Not sugary or overly sweet.   S E R V I C E Service is friendly, personable, and attentive. Prompt food service and well-paced courses for 5 pm dinner service.   A M B I A N C E They spared no expense because it's a vibe here - spacious and hella colorful with plants, lush greenery, and intricate hand-blown chandeliers. The festive, tropical patio is mostly protected from the elements (sides are open) with overhead heat lamps. 90s rap + r&b that transitioned to oldies music.   P A R K I N G Springline has an underground parking garage. BUT, after 6 pm, the doors to the elevators were locked. Those with mobility issues beware, you'll have to go to the center courtyard and go down two flights of stairs.   Overall, I'm happy to see a SF caliber Cal-Italian resto like Che Fico make their way down south. They're off to a good start and I'm looking forward to seeing how they evolve in the coming months.

We dined at Che Fico last night and sat on their cute patio (which had ample heaters). All of the food we ordered was delicious, my husband enjoyed his cocktails, and I was very satisfied with the wine selection. Service was also on point. The lasagna was my favorite dish, and I also really loved the beef tartare because of the lovely pizza pillows that accompany it. The reason why this isn't a 5 star review is that the prices are high and then the 10% dine in fee on top makes it astronomical. Our bill (with tip) for two people came out to $300 and we didn't even order any of the super high end items.

Soooo happy Che Fico has made it down the peninsula! I've had the SF location bookmarked for years and never made a trip up but now that Parco Menlo is here, no need to :) Such a cute ambiance for dates, dinners, birthdays, or even just a solo meal at the bar. Came here on a Friday night and made a reservation on OpenTable. They open up resys I believe 14 days in advance. I initially booked the bar seating but was hoping for a table seat when we arrived which to my surprise, they gave us a choice! Thankfully, we stuck with the bar seating because it's an open kitchen and you could see the magic happen before your eyes :) Got the clams, the truffle pasta, the broccoli, and the margherita pizza and everything was delicious! I kept thinking to myself, I'd love to host my birthday dinner here and I just might. Service was friendly, they even give you a complimentary cookie at the end of your meal. Portions are good, and average bill if you don't get the truffle pasta is around $120 with drinks. Will be back forsure!

I have been anticipating the opening of Che Fico Menlo since they announced that they'd be opening a restaurant in town. With so much build up, my expectations were pretty high, and Che Fico did not disappoint whatsoever!!! This is truly one of the best restaurants I have been to-- EVER. First off, the ambiance is gorgeous. Most of the seating is outside, which might worry some during the cold season, but they have heaters strategically placed throughout, and I was perfectly comfortable and cozy throughout the entire meal. Our server was so attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. He had some great recommendations that we took him up on, and absolutely loved. We ordered the salad and the carne crudo to start. Both were out of this world. The portions were both generous, and the carne crudo was like nothing I've ever tasted. It blew my mind. Also, the bread that comes with it is such an interesting texture. I've never had anything like it. We also ordered the white truffle pasta which was phenomenal. The pizza was also outstanding, but the pasta was my overall favorite dish. The martinis are great-- I also tried the gin fizz cocktail which I loved. I cannot express how much I love this new spot. I know a restaurant is spectacular when I pause multiple times throughout the meal, wondering how in the world they came up with the flavors and textures. The carne crudo (and the bread that came with it), the truffle pasta, as well as the pizza crust had me wondering. Overall a fun and unique dinner, and I can't wait to come back. I already have my meal picked out for next time!!

Love the atmosphere of the restaurant. We sat outside and was warmed by the heat lamps. The pizza was very thin with a fluffy crust. The thinly sliced raw mushrooms was very tasty. We also ordered fresh pasta with shaved white truffles! It was so good! The halibut was a bit dry and very salty. We were told by the waiter that it was new on the menu. He said he'll share the feedback with the chef. Overall experience was great! Highly recommend if you're in the mood for Italian.

Amazing service! Don't sleep on this hidden gem. We were pleased to taste what was obviously very fresh ingredients! The decor is extremely relaxing and added to our meal experience. We have already made plans to take some visiting east coast friends next week.

We came here for a friend's birthday party and had such fun! The food was great. Special call outs: - While both pizzas were good, with a chewy texture, the amatriciana pizza was especially good and had a nice crisp to it. Very tasty! - Both pastas we had were good. The thinnest pasta sheets on the lasagna (yummm) and the gnocchi were nice & chewy. The wait staff were friendly and kept the dining party moving along at a comfortable pace. We had a wonderful evening!

If you're wondering whether the new Italian restaurant in downtown Menlo Park is worth the hype--it definitely is. TL;DR: this place has great pasta, pizza, and people. I walked in with a party of three on its official opening night, so it was understandably packed. We were surprised to get off the waitlist in around 45 minutes, which felt fast given how popular this spot was for dinner. This experience was well worth the wait. The food (pictures attached) was incredible. All three items (Gnocchetti, Garganelli, and Ananas, the pineapple pizza) were delicious. I'd suggest ordering at least one main pasta dish or pizza per adult member of your party and sharing family style. The serving sizes were relatively modest, so don't hesitate to order that extra dish. Finally, everyone we interacted with seemed genuinely excited for us to be there. This could be the extra passion felt during opening night; regardless, it felt great to be treated like a special guest, even though I was just one of hundreds of customers that night. Che Fico, please keep up the good work!

This spot is fairly new to the area, so always busy and hard to get a reservation. More seating outside than inside, beautiful interior and exterior- bright and comfy type vibe. Very sort of comfy chic. The service is where the star falls- it took awhile to get drinks, and took forever to have our waiter check in on us, for more drinks. I think my personal pet peeve is waiting on a beverage after sitting with an empty cup for so long while trying to enjoy your company and food. Once we ordered our appetizers, it took about 20 minutes for them to come to the table. They definitely didn't disappoint. All three were delicious, I'd order the focaccia in a heart beat! Fluffy, crunchy, moist, and the most delicious bread. Their take on the arancini is amazing, two in an order. I personally could do without the crispy parm- it was good, texturally but a bit dry and very heavy. After the appetizers came we placed our mains order, it took about 35 minutes to get food to the table once it was placed. We weren't in a rush- timing wasn't a huge deal, we got to enjoy our appetizers and that was nice, but I feel like too much time passed and when my meal came, the food had settled and I was so full. I took two bites of my gnocchi and asked for a box. Everyone enjoyed their food. Homemade pasta, super fresh and well made. I'd go again and order in a heartbeat. By the end it took us about 20 minutes to flag down our server to grab the check, and and so when everything was said and done we had been there for 1 hour and 45 minutes. So overall, great date night spot or catch up meal- but not a week day meal out just to enjoy good food.

Truly excellent service and food! The standout dishes for us were pizza and dessert. Who knew soft serve gelato was so decadent? The polenta was also great with the flavor surprisingly rich from the generous amount of parmesan. For the most part I found the pricing fair but some things were more expensive than anticipated (e.g., $36 for eight raviolis, $20 for a standard cocktail). Plan ahead and make a reservation or you will be disappointed!

Holy crap. I don't know how I never went to the Che Fico in SF. But EVERYONE was talking about how excited they were for it to come to Menlo Park. I nabbed an opening week reso and took some girlfriends. I always over order but I REALLY over ordered. Do I regret it? Nah. Everything was fantastic. I can't wait to go back!!

Here's a tip: You can avoid the 10% "dine in" surcharge by ordering to go, and then eating at the tables outside the coffee place. 5/5: Margherita pizza $28. It was excellent! you can tell the dough is fermented a long time. soft and airy on the inside, crispy on the outside. So why the 3 stars? I had to eat at random tables next to the coffee joint.

This location and its staff are horrible. Save your time and money and find a far superior alternative in the area. Unless you appreciate snobs, high prices, and not getting what you ordered. Avoid this disaster of the chain at all costs. 2 stars because at least they offered to hold my umbrella for me at the host stand. That was the only polite thing about this experience.

Had dinner here for the first time on Friday and had a wonderful experience. The waiter and staff were very friendly. The waiter took time to explain the menu and made some wonderful suggestions. The food was delicious and will definitely will be back.

I went to Che Fico for a work dinner (hence I don't have pictures on this review). I would like to offer a frank and objective review here so please bear with me. Food: The food at Che Fico was outstanding. We ordered family style so everything that came was really tasty and the presentation was off the charts. Service: The service was over the top. Our server went through EACH and every section of the menu and highlighted items based on his taste and he even asked us what we prefer (since we were in a big group - 10-ish people) it was good to hear his perspective. Price: This is where the biggest shortfall is of Che. This place is EXPENSIVE and honestly while the food and service was great I would say there are other restaurants that are better value for money. Ambiance: Just be aware that the inside of the restaurant is small and you will likely sit outside for a big party. In the winter time this is not optimal. Big parties/special events: Separately from my work dinner I wanted to reserve this spot for my wife's birthday two weeks ago and I was told that the only way to do so for 9 people was to reserve the family table in the restaurant which had a minimum of ~$2000! I was not signing up for that and honestly goes back to my comment about cost. This place is expensive...I would pick others over this restaurant.

2 stars Underwhelmed 30 dollar pizza not any better than Delfina or the other classy joints in the area Pasta is good but portions are so absurdly small Points for a few interesting items on the menu No beers on tap and wine by the glass menu is meh Typical of the area - set up a place with nice ambience and go for trendy in a mixed use retail/living space - then overcharge for small portions but people have enough money they dont really notice Slip in a 5% mandatory charge on top of a 30 dollar pizza and 30 dollar mini pasta dish and I left wondering, why would I come back when there are other places with nice staff, nice ambience, equal food and none of the pretentious menlo park pricing?

Si nice to have a good Italian restaurant in Menlo Park! The outside patio is super cute and weather doesn't seem to make as big a difference as one may imagine. They have a covered area and big heaters throughout. The staff is friendly and the servers quite knowledgeable and offer suggestions for your meal. They do recommend family style (sharing) but we also got a couple of individual items. The pizza is probably my favorite part - it's a sourdough crust, which is probably why it's a close second only to the pizza I've had in Rome. Plenty of options for vegetarian/pescatarian folks, which we appreciated! Pictured are the octopus w tomatillo salsa verde and potato, and the vongole en crosta, which were killer! They are clams steamed INSIDE calzone-like pocket of love. Vongole is served table side where they add olive oil and fresh lemon juice. So good!

The truffle gnocchi was the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life and I dream about these little pillows. They were so light and fluffy and decadent. The truffle aroma wafted around the table as the dish was brought out. The chopped salad was a great size, and dusted with Parmesan cheese. The pizza was outstanding as well. I usually don't love to eat the crust, but this pizza had such a delicious crust I could not stop eating it - we got basic margherita. We shared octopus for the main entrée, and it was a good sized portion, and perfectly cooked, meaty, yet tender. The little fried round of Parmesan was also amazing. I can't wait to come back!

Glad we were able to get a walk in table on a weekend dinner early before 5pm since the reservations were all booked up. It's such a gorgeous restaurant with a beautiful bar, that I just wanted to take pictures everywhere. I'd say one of the best things about this place is the service. Everyone is so welcoming and attentive throughout the entire meal. I don't think 10 minutes would go by without one of the wait staff smiling at us, asking us how we were doing. Food was excellent as well, though definitely the most hefty bill we've seen in a while... Chopped Salad was pretty generous and great way to start off the meal. I enjoyed our Tortellini with butternut squash dish, along with the Octopus entree. I'm not the hugest octopus fan, but my husband felt it was one of the best octopus dishes he's had. Wine was equisite- I enjoyed my red wine that was recommended by the waiter The only thing I'd even complain about was the dessert, definitely seemed like an afterthought. The soft serve gelato wasn't much better than McDonald's. Wish they had more dessert options.

Service is atrocious, especially considering the high price point and the hidden 10% dine-in charge. I arrived late to a group dinner and sat down as my group was wrapping up their order. I asked if I could put my drink order in (not "can I see a drinks menu?", but "I'm ready to put my order in"). The server said no to this 20-second request; that my group took too long to order (who says that to customers btw?) and he absolutely had to go to another table. So he made a pregnant woman wait another 15 minutes just to get a drink. To further demonstrate his cannot-give-a-s*** attitude, he set down my non-alcoholic drink with cocktails that looked similar and left without making sure that I receive the right drink.

I loved the ambience, the style & the decoration here. The outdoor area is also very fun & nice. The service was great. The host was very nice & helpful. We just walked in and she explained what our options are. She put our name on waiting list for bar and called us before her estimated time. Our server was also very nice and explained the dishes well. - pasta with white truffles: it was so simple yet so delicious. The chef came and shaved the truffle fresh at our table. Great aroma! I'm glad we tried it but we probably won't order it again soon considering it's the most experience pasta on the menu. - mushroom & sausage pizza: with $5 added arugula. They're definitely generous with their toppings. The dough was very tasty, a thin nice sour dough crust - crispy yet fluffy. The pizza was definitely on the spicy side. $35 for a pizza is a lot though. - Vanilla gelato sandwich with pistachios: so yum! Absolutely loved it. It was a bit messy to eat but sooo worth it. Cookie was fresh and ice cream was tasty & creamy. - complimentary cookies: they were yummy, came with our bill. - wine: ordered a glass of wine, $17 - felt like a small pour. Will definitely go back and take friends to try other items. It is not a cheap meal though. Out bill was over $200. They add a 10% fee to all bills, FYI.

Delicious food, great ambience, and excellent service. A little pricey, but such a good addition to Menlo Park.

Dined at Che Fico tonight and was so impressed that I wanted to come home and immediately leave them a review while it's fresh it's fresh in my mind. There's ample free parking in Springline parking lot. Upon arriving I was greeted by one of the managers, Alexandra, who was completely hands on throughout my dining experience, checking in to see how everything was and was the one that brought the delicious complementary cookies at the end. Our server was Hardin, he offered great recommendations and I went with his recommendations. I explained how sweet I like my cocktails and he recommended the blood orange spritz, which was delicious. We had the pizza margarita and that was also quite nice, I didn't feel heavy after consuming it. We also had the Oil and Vinegar Cured Market Vegetable which was absolutely fantastic, I could eat my vegetables everyday if they were prepared like this. For dessert we had the soft serve Fior Di Latte Mandarin Orange Swirl. Overall a great ambience and service. Felix was so awesome and friendly, he kept our water glasses filled and kept the smiles coming. I look forward to going back and trying out some other items on the menu.

Went to Che Fico for my dad's bday since he's been wanting to try it due to David Chang's recs. We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 pizzas to share. My dad ordered the lasagna as well but I guess our waiter didn't hear him or something so it never came (oh well). He was quite bummed about it but we did really enjoy the suppli. I personally have had suppli when I was in Rome but Che Fico's is on another level. The suppli I had in Italy was off the streets for only a euro and although Che Fico's is 5-6 times the price, I think it's justified for how good it was. If you have never tried suppli before, this is the place. Both pizzas were decent and we really enjoyed the sourdough crust. It's a very unique texture that I've never had anywhere else and I really enjoy the smoked chewy consistency. Our least favorite thing we got was the Zeppole Al Tartufo Nero. It just had a very weird texture and was way too truffle tasting. That's just my personal opinion but I'm sure many other people enjoy it.

Che Fico has realized that their 10% surcharge was excessive and now has changed their business practices

This restaurant is a breath of fresh air and was instantly one of our new favorites. I only hesitate to review it highly because it will be more difficult to get a table. Yes, it is a bit pricey. But it is not a casual place. The pasta and pizza are our favorite dishes. The fish I recently had was also good, but a little bit too salty.

NOTE: Che Fico charges a 10% dine-in fee that makes no sense. They say it is to "pay a living wage" to their employees. I'm fine with that but I don't understand why it's 10% of your bill. It should be a flat fee instead of varying based on what you order. Also, why not just pad this into your prices? They are already extremely high, raising them by 10% isn't going to make any difference. A restaurant that prioritizes vibes over everything. Pizza crust was great, but flavors of pizza were not great. Michelin star prices without delivering Michelin star taste. Come once to try but not again IMO. I'm very unhappy with my Che Fico experience. Feels like I paid a bunch of money just to experience a falsely hyped restaurant.

We finally went to Che Fico Huge shout out to gentlemen who came by and the lead sommelier however our waiter dropped the ball and our experience ended up being very subpar for a restaurant of this level. I discussed recommendation for the pasta course and we had a conversation about what was better and my favorite pasta that usually wasn't done as well. He was excited to tell me it was the first night on the menu and recommended it over another dish. Salad and he apologized for not pouring our bottle of wine. My husband's pasta dish came and half hour later I asked where my arrabbita pasta was and was told 4 minutes. 10 Minutes later ai was told it wasn't placed because he thought I didn't order it and was confused and it was our entree. Awful dining experience - no accountability and I understand why a place that serves such good food is struggling with reviews. Wish we had gone to other date night restaurants where service makes the experience such a wonderful time out.

I used to adore the original outpost in San Francisco. It was fun to jam in and sit at whatever bar seat was open and enjoy a drink and fresh pizza and pie in a bustling restaurant. But over time, the chef owner has decided to over price everything and slap on predatory surcharges that make the entire experience upsetting and not worth it. I had to unfollow him on social media because he is constantly on one soap box or another and it's obnoxious. Everyone agrees that people should be paid a living wage. But trying to charge $38 for a tiny portion of pasta to save on food cost, while providing rude service and adding more fees on top to add more profits plus expecting tips, is straight up the wrong way to go about it. This MPK location is nice looking as a space. But the food is not as good at the SF location was in its heyday and the service is uneven. The desserts are terrible which is so sad because I've had some of the best desserts of my life in their SF restaurant when it first opened. They used to hand make berry crostatas that were to die for. Here, they have boring soft serve they try to charge $10-12 for? Bizarre. No thank you. I had also tried to organize a small birthday party here for 12 people and the insane minimums they required were pathetic. The person who runs events for them was all over the place, offering dates that she then said were not available and refusing to allow us to have a more reasonable minimum spend. There are plenty of wonderful restaurants in our area that provide a living wage, good food, warm service, all without the airs of this place.

Several months ago when they opened you couldn't get a reservation! Now it's like candy, and we snagged one, and unfortunately see why. Nothing special, and menu is quite overpriced for what you get at comparable Italian restaurants in Menlo Park and Palo Alto. I don't think I'll be back unless something drastically changes.

TLDR: Truffle is highly disappointing; you will pay truffle price for no truffle taste. Honestly it was all terribly overpriced and disappointing. All vibes for the gram and nothing more. Better food exists literally at the Costco food court. Service: 4.5/5. Servers are attentive, refilled waters quickly and checked on us appropriately. Orders were taken in a timely manner. We were seated quickly. We were seated outdoors in December so it was quite cold, heat lamps were set to minimum which were turned up upon our request. There was another table a bit more inward that we requested to move to however we were told another party was already about to be seated there. Interestingly, we finished our entire meal and left and no other party was ever seated there in that time. I wish they would have told us that the table needed to be vacated by 8:30 for example which we would have been able to do and still be moved there. -0.5 for that. Ambiance: 5/5 inside with gorgeous decor and lighting, very vibey. For outdoors, not enclosed and heat lamps are set very low so it is incredibly cold. They do turn it up if you request though, but overall it is not comfortable to sit outdoors during this time. This is my fault for booking an outdoor table, so no issues with the restaurant itself Food: we did not order drinks or apps, but upon a review of the menu and looking at other tables the portion sizes are quite small and the prices are steep. The cocktails are $20 each and are not speciality cocktails, they are standard cocktails like a martini, aeperol spritz etc which I feel is steep for a standard cocktail. For mains we ordered the anana pizza and the truffle Nero pizza. The anana was tasty, the pineapple and onion are very thinly sliced and each bite was even and you could taste all the flavors. This was good but not $30 good. The chili bomba is also tasty and breaks up the sweetness. Now, the truffle pizza. This was highly disappointing, unfortunately. If you love truffle, this pizza is not for you. It arrives with freshly shaved black truffles on top, however, I could not smell any truffle whatsoever. No truffle taste at all either. If I closed my eyes and took a bite, I would have guessed it was a cheese pizza. What's worse, you are paying market price for the truffle so this pizza is EXPENSIVE, yet, there is no truffle quality to it. Paying $40 for cheese pizza is absurd. In its defense, the crust is fantastic. But overall, a massive let down. Portions are also small-ish, especially considering the price. Our bill came to $97, with one sparkling water and 2 pizzas. I personally could have gotten way more for my money elsewhere and had a more satisfying meal. I also take issue with the 10% dine in fee. Hear me out. The fee is 10% of your total bill. Why? It should be a flat rate. If I order an expensive entree and an expensive glass of wine versus a cheaper entree and cheaper glass of wine, the number of dishes are EXACTLY THE SAME. The cleaning/clearing of the table and its contents does not vary. So why should the fee I'm charged be vastly different? Further, I noticed that they spend considerable money on branding EVERYTHING with Che Fico. For example, the napkins are embroidered, the take out boxes, the stickers, the toilet paper (I'm exaggerating on this last one, I didn't actually check and it might be for all I know) are all custom branded and made with Che Fico stamped across it. If I have gone out to eat at Che Fico, I know where I am. Except maybe when I have dementia and return to this place because that's the only case I'd return. But that aside, perhaps they could spend less money on all this Etsy branding and put that money towards paying their employees a living wage. Or just pay your employees properly anyways since you charge the price of gold for everything on your menu?