Madera

We had a birthday lunch here and it was amazing. The location is beautiful, the decor is soothing and the service was impeccable. It was too cold to sit on the patio but we went outside after the meal to take sone pictures of the hillside. The food was excellent across all three courses with the savory puffs being everyone’s favorite fish.

Lovely Atmosphere, Cozy Lighting accentuated by dark wood paneling and tan leather seating creates a gorgeous ambiance with Mountain Views. It was a Magnificent setting for a romantic rendezvous and she loved the creative cocktails complimented by attentive and unhurried service at the bar. A Fabulous Holiday Jazz soundtrack made the whole experience over the top while sitting by the crackling fireplace. One of my favorite places. Cheers.

Madara Restaurant is such a great spot! The views are absolutely beautiful and make the whole experience even better. The staff is super friendly and welcoming, and the service was excellent from start to finish. The food was delicious—every dish felt fresh and well-prepared. Definitely a place I’d recommend if you’re looking for a treat and a memorable meal.

Been here a ton for work and it actually surprises me to the upside more than not. Prices are fine for a Michelin star restaurant, service is excellent (albeit a bit slow, may be good to order quickly if you’re in a rush).

Went for some drinks after work with my friend and had a great time. Jason and Lauren at the bar were very warm and made us some yummy petite cocktails then recommended some tasty appetizers to pair with. Vitsu, Guillerme and Leo were very attentive and checked in on us a few times, which we greatly appreciated that! The atmosphere was very nice and cozy, I really liked the fireplace lit as it was quite chilly in the evening. Definitely a nice relaxing girls catch-up time after a long day of work!!

This is our favorite restaurant, and we come here often. The food is delicious, the staff is friendly, the restrooms are clean, and parking is convenient. It's a perfect restaurant.

We've dined here on several occasions and always experience excellent service and delicious meals. Located in the Rosewood hotel near Stanford University, the atmosphere is calm and cozy. The menu changes often, offering a mix of seafood and comfort foods. We actually prefer ordering several appetizers and share an entree. Wine list is extensive. This is certainly one of our go to places.

For the $108 price each, I’d say the experience was just OK overall. It felt like most of what we were paying for was the ambience. We got the first sandwich plate, then had to wait nearly an hour for the second afternoon tea tray - and only got it after asking when it’s gonna be ready. I was expecting something a bit more special from the Dandelion collaboration, but aside from a chocolate canelé and a marshmallow dessert, that was pretty much it.

I came here for afternoon tea and thoroughly enjoyed it! It definitely was on the pricy side so be aware of that. Of the sandwiches, I think my favorite was the smoked salmon. The scone was really delicious with the clotted cream. The cacao fruit jelly was delicious, a little citrusy, but the color left a little to be desired. Of the desserts I loved the chocolate cannele and of course their signature smore. Dandelion chocolate is always so delicious, so you have to get a cup of their drinking chocolate too! This place feels very tucked away even though it's right off of 280. The view is nice but can get really windy outside. I'd probably come back here for a special occasion.

My mom, brother, and I came for afternoon tea yesterday and we had a great experience! We were in Lauren's section and she was very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. The collab with Dandelion Chocolate was amazing! We really enjoyed everything, and we didn't leave hungry. They were also very accommodating as my mom is allergic to salmon, so they were able to swap out the smoked salmon sandwich for another sandwich of her choice. All of the teas, desserts, sandwiches, and scones were delicious, but our favorites were the panna cotta and the chocolate carrot cake! The ambiance was very cozy, especially since it was a rainy day! We also loved the gift of hot chocolate mix to take home at the end- what a great touch! We want to start coming here as a Christmas tradition after this great experience. Thank you Lauren and team!

5 star for decor and service. 4 star for drinks and food Easy 4.5 for people looking for a great place to grab drinks and food in a swanky resort in Palo Alto.

If you are looking for a out of the ordinary Country Club type of eatery, then Madera might be your place. You have a choice of indoor or terrace dining. The views from the terrace is over the swimming pool below with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the background. There is ample parking and a roundabout drop off. There is a sense of exclusivity as you enter but not snobby in any sense. Service is impeccable and friendly. Quality of the food is very good but presentation is poor. Specially, for the cost. I have seen much better plating for far less of the cost of their menu items. Thus, the 4 Star Rating. Not a fan of their bottled organic ketchup too. Maybe, because I prefer a little sugar in my ketchup to offset the tartness !? Portions are also on the smaller side so don't think on the dish will filling you up if you are really hungry. You might want to order an appetizer or two. Would I go back ? Absolutely ! But, my reason would be more for the Country Club feel and relaxation. Kudos for the quality food, service, and privacy ! Value and plating are subpar which I hope improves because I do like this place. Note: Some items are not on the online menu so I'm assuming it is subject to change or it might be the dinner menu. Went there for lunch only.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and the four of us were fortunate to join the good staff at Madera for dinner. Publicized as a four course menu ($198 each, not including taxes, gratuity, 5% Fair Wage tax) the menu we actually ate was actually different than posted. I don't know why ( they ran out?) but it was still excellent. One nit, when seated the server noticed us the meal was "family style." For the price being charged and the fact we were dressed up none of us wanted to be dishing out our own food. We asked politely if the Chef would be kind enough to serve each course. Server says, "I'll ask"--- nothing happens for a while and then course 1 arrives. Awesome. Classy way to operate. We enjoyed every course and at our own pace. Had a Grenache from Santa Inez that went well with the turkey offering and sides. Food was epic, pictures included. Restaurant was full and ran like a Swiss Watch. Was lovely and will do again. One nice last touch-- when we arrived they told us they would seat us at the quoted reservation time. We went in the lounge to wait the 10 minutes--15 min went by and no big deal especially on a holiday-- and server comes in and says the table still isn't clear. And, we'd like to but you a cocktail while you're waiting. Pretty cool huh? After dropping off the drinks he showed up 10 minutes later and said table was ready. Amazing way to start a great evening. To be clear the total for four was $1200. Not chump change but I guarantee it was worth it.

Great food, elegant restaurant! The restaurant is on the first floor of the Rosewood hotel. Went on a Sunday night and there are a lot empty tables - great for having a group convo! Everything is delicious - Sunday roast is $80 that comes with bread, salad, and a large slice of meat. Definitely more than enough for 1 person. The meat is so tender and flavorful! Scallop crudo is very fresh, and surprisingly goes well with passionfruit (?) sauce. The sweet-sour tastes opens up appetite and taste palette. Summer risotto tastes super good as well, and very filling. It was just a little over $100 pp post tax and tip. With this quality of food and environment, definitely not bad at all!

Yelpers: Great Service & Great Offerings! Have been there a few times & VERY happy each time. First the service, impeccable. Second the food, incredible, even if you are just having Oatmeal for breakfast, they make it a special treat. For dinners their fish & beef are off the charts! I could go on & on like the butter for the bread is the perfect temperatue, making for a delightful add to the overall experience. My suggestion, "get" over there & try it & the have valet parking.

Dined here for a special occasion. I'm a steak lover so I was drawn to the Tomahawk pictured on many Yelp reviews. Unfortunately the experience was a mixed bag primarily because the quality of the steak I eagerly anticipated was a big disappointment. But the evening wasn't a total loss, in fact it was made much more enjoyable thanks to our very professional, pleasant & helpful server Nancy. Nancy is easily one of the best servers I've come across in a very long time. She delivered a first class experience from her wine recommendations, tasting opportunities, menu choices and was also a wealth of information about the Menlo Park property as well as their other locations! The ambiance of the dining room is very nice thanks to the panoramic view of the Santa Cruz mountains and setting Sun. We were told that the medium rare tomahawk would take about 45 minutes to prepare so we started our meal with a small bite that was easily and quickly delivered. The deviled eggs weren't special but served the purpose of getting a quick bite to hold us for a bit. Along with our steak we chose the daily special polenta and a simple side of squash. Both of the sides were delicious. The squash with a surprisingly slight kick and the polenta with a heavier creamy earthiness that didn't clash with the steak. But the main dish was the the tomahawk and that's where it didn't measure up. Not because of how the meat was prepared. The light horseradish and morel mushroom sauce was very very good and the chef cooked the steak to a perfect medium rare temperature. My disappointment was that the cut had far too much fat (large chunks vs marbling) and the meat had an unusual amount of fibrous tendon. Despite the overall size of the cut the amount of edible meat was a big disappointment. Especially for a $198 price tag.

It's spendy! But a lovely experience in a beautiful ambiance. Food is excellent and you'll get a complimentary dessert if you're celebrating something. Views are outstanding and service is very professional.

5 stars for gluten free tea. 4 for regular tea. The seating is casual-- low chairs and couches at low tables. That's not horrible but it was awkward at times and became uncomfortable. My food is veeeerrrrrry far away and I have to get up and down. The savory sandos were excellent. The fillings were all delicious. The scones were quite dry and crumbly. They came with clotted cream and an interesting compote. Sweets: I didn't really love any of them but neither were they horrible. They all looked pretty but the taste was such I only finished one. Also, some items had wet frosting and as there are no forks or serving utensils it was an unpleasant and messy experience to move it to plate. Then it needed the teaspoon to assist with eating which again is odd to have the one utensil doing all jobs. Tea: a small variety but good enough. They are served in a glass pot with removable tea strainer. They also give extra hot water to brew yourself more which we liked Each pot came partially filled with water but still it was more than could be poured into our rather small teacups so there is an issue with tea leaves becoming bitter. This was especially a problem with the jasmine. We removed the strainer as soon as it was served but still too bitter for a second brew. They serve honey, which is fine, and we asked for sugar. They have many dairy and non dairy milk choices The gluten free version was one of the best in the Bay. The desserts actually looked better than the regular tea offerings. The service was careful about keeping the gluten and gluten free separate Our servers were nice and tried hard. Bathrooms are upscale and clean-- 2 genders only Parking easy and free I don't think I'd go out of my way to come again but if I lived on the peninsula and needed gf I'd go again.

Overpriced on the whole. Portions too small. Average presentation. Dated aesthetics. Good service.

Love Madera's new emphasis on "healthy" grain-free fresh and local foods. Beautiful outdoor dining patio. Must haves: Ora king tartare, lemon ricotta brioche French toast, burrata tomato peach salad, and summer corn risotto!

One word: meh. The food was alright, seems like most people come here for the ambiance. The service was also kind of lacking which was disappointing from a restaurant at this price point. Our server was pretty slow and did not ask about our party's food allergies which could have been bad if we didn't remember to ask. The best dish here is definitely the grilled octopus and smashed potatoes. I'd honestly skip the rest of the menu. All of the dishes we ordered were cooked almost perfectly, but unfortunately under seasoned. So the NY strip, pork chop, and fish were all lacking flavor. The broccolini was pretty greasy too. Overall, a quite mediocre experience. I probably wouldn't come back but I guess it was worth trying.

We have family dinner at Madera and everyone enjoyed the food here and served Nancy is very good service she is awesome restaurant is nice and clean we will be back again make sure you have to order their organic chicken

We had afternoon tea for four here with their Christmas menu. LOCATION, PARKING, VIBES Easy to access, and lots of free self parking around the area. There are many electric car charging stations in the lot. The restaurant itself is easy to find and has a nice vibe. It's decorated prettily and the staff is all wearing nice clothes. It's well lit but not harshly lit. The tearoom itself had a large Christmas tree, a fireplace, and mood lighting. We were sat in cushy chairs with low coffee tables-- the tables were small, so it was hard to manage the cups, plates, saucers, teapots, and food dishes on such a small surface. SERVICE My one qualm with this experience is that when we arrived, my service dog was apparently an issue. What happened is first they asked "is that a service dog?" I told them yes. It didn't seem to be an issue. They informed us they needed a few extra minutes to set up a table. Well, it turns out they were setting up a new table for us outside. They told me they were going to seat us outside because I brought a pet. I said "this is not a pet. He's a service dog". They said "yes, I'm sorry, I misspoke. What I meant to say is that you need to sit outside because you are dining with an animal, and they can't dine indoors". Now keep in mind that though their outdoors dining space was covered, it was 50° and raining out, and also I'd reserved an inside table. Those of you who know service dog laws already see what's happening here. I wanted to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding, so I said "just to be clear, you are aware that this is a service dog, and you are telling us that we are required to sit outside because he is an animal?" I said it just like that. They said, "yes, our manager told us that's the case for our restaurant". At this point I was like dang, now I have to fight for my basic rights to be treated like other customers! I informed them that under the ADA they're not permitted to discriminate against me for using a service dog by restricting the area in which we can eat. I asked are you aware of this law? They seemed very uncomfortable. Then one of the staff said, "if you'd prefer to sit inside we can seat you inside. We were just offering another option". Now this was a bananas thing to say because, as youve just read, I CONFIRMED that they were saying we HAD to sit outside. But whatever, it seems like they got the message as they were now deeming it acceptable for us to sit at our original table. After this a server brought my dog water. That was nice of them. FOOD The food was great! As a Celiac I was very impressed. I got all the same sandwiches, just served on fluffy white bread rather than the variety that the gluten ones were on. When dessert came, I got the same number of desserts with great substitutions-- chocolate cake, carrot cake, a chocolate tart, mango sorbet, and a significantly sized bowl of fresh fruit. I also received the same scones, just gluten free. Something unique that I really liked here is that they give you a big jug of hot water so that you can keep refilling your teapot at the table. I've never seen that before at a high tea place. WORTH IT? It's important to note that my gluten free meal was at no extra charge! $85 per person, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The service was very friendly (aside from our service dog/ADA non compliance fiasco at the beginning) and though there weren't many tea options, the tea was good.

Date of Visit: 5/6/2023 This is my third visit to Madera located in the Rosewood Sand Hill Resort in Menlo Park. Just off Hwy 280, the resort is like a hidden oasis just away from the city. Madera was awarded with Michelin star in the year 2010-2014 and 2017-2021. They just lost a star in the most recent Michelin Guide. The waitress serve two glasses of the Brut Rosé from Schramsberg after we sat down as a welcome drink. Bramble $21 We ordered a cocktail with Junipero Gin as base, and with Lemon and Crème de mûre. Superbowl $25 with Salmon +$24 We got a bowls for brunch. The superbowl has wild rice, baby deep greens, avocado, Persian Cucumber, Daikon Sprout, Furikake, Yuzu Vinaigrette. We add a piece of grilled salmon to go with the bowl. Root Down Farms Roasted Half Chicken $39 I got the roasted half chicken with spring mushroom, and on top with Natural Jus Vinaigrette.

Best food, service, and ambiance in the area! The negative reviews seem to be from snobs who see it as a status symbol to give a great restaurant bad reviews. They deserve their Michelin star!

This was probably one of the most disappointing brunch experiences. The sandwiches were something that anyone could easily make at home, from the quality of the bread to the content of the sandwich. They were served on a plate, not the tower, they were large rectangular plain sandwiches. Same bread type was used for all four types. Cucumber sandwich was primarily cream cheese, the others were dry, like they were sitting out for a while. I am not sure if the reason for a port experience was the late sitting, the weekday or chef's day off, but definitely was very disappointing, considering the price tag for the whole experience.

It was great to be able to eat delicious food on a quiet and fantastic terrace. Service, staff were also friendly and great. It was a perfect dinner!!

My family and I (party of 7) visited Madera for a birthday Afternoon Tea on a weekend. We all were very excited for the experience - unfortunately, our time at Madera severely missed the mark for a restaurant that claims to be a Michelin-grade experience. Upon arrival, we were seated at a low coffee table with couches outside on their patio. The patio itself was beautiful and had great views, but the organization of seating a large party outside felt like it lacked foresight and thought as to how cluttered and cumbersome it would be with 7 teapots and towers. We were constantly moving everything around having to play Tetris throughout our meal, taking us out of the stress-free experience that we expected. Our server was very nice - however, we had a negative experience with management at the restaurant. When we arrived, a couple members of our party were asking if they could order from the lunch menu and split an afternoon tea between the two of them. Our server said that she would check with management. The manager came over and explained to us that we made the booking for 7 teas and that the pastry chefs had been at the restaurant since 6AM and had pre-prepared all the pastries, so we were expected to honor our booking and order 7 afternoon tea experiences. We were fine with this and didn't want to be disrespectful towards the chefs' work, so we ordered the 7 teas at $90 each (without add-ons). For the rest of the 2+ hours that we were at the restaurant, we had to constantly ask people to help us as our server maybe checked in once. Our sandwiches came out first and the scones and pastries come out second on the tower. The sandwiches were served moderately fast. After the sandwiches, we waited over an hour for pastries and scones to be plated and served that were *supposedly* pre-prepared at 6AM for us. The cherry on top of this experience was that after the manager's pressure for us to order the seven tea experiences, they brought us only six pastry servings. Overall, the food was very good. The pastries were very beautiful and delicious, which makes the experience we had with management and the service even more upsetting, as we would have likely returned for the food alone. Once we expressed our disappointment with the experience, the manager offered us free drinks, which we all declined as we really just wanted to leave after being there for over two hours in the baking sun. For comparison, I've had multiple "Afternoon Tea" experiences in New York and San Francisco. The Afternoon Tea at Neiman Marcus in Union Square is the best experience I have had to date, and Madera would by far be the worst. My last complaint is that for a special occasion, this felt very inconsiderate and really upsetting for the entire party. I've had another birthday tea at Neiman Marcus and they had a card printed with my name on my setting upon arrival as well as a free birthday treat at the end of the tea. They felt like they actually wanted us to be there and were grateful that we chose to celebrate with them. At Madera, we felt like we were either an annoyance or forgotten. Overall, I was disappointed with my visit to Madera. I would recommend they focus more on improving their service and less on policing how their guests spend money. One star for the nice patio, one star for the amazing pastry chefs.

Beautiful location and ambience. The food is delicious too. Portions are fairly small but I honestly don't see one person ordering 3 different things and finishing them. We made reservations so would recommend the same. We ordered multiple dishes to share amongst our group of 5. I think we could've eaten more but also like the fact that I did not leave the restaurant super full. Among the appetizers and small bites, we got deviled eggs, oysters and tuna Crudo. I think the tuna was the best of the 3. The yolk of deviled eggs was very creamy and delicious. Oysters on the shell aren't exactly my favorite (I prefer the baked version) but they were pretty good too! From the entrees, we got the chicken, lobster frittata and the salmon. The chicken was simply the best. The sauce was amazing. The cook on the chicken was good too! Definitely recommend. The salmon was good but not as good as the chicken. The frittata was a flop. I love frittatas and I love lobster and this dish was just a fail on both - bland, chunky, dry and not much to look at. Do not order this. For dessert, since we couldn't choose, we got the beignets, the poached pears with cheese crumble and the sage ice cream. The sage ice cream was the best of these 3 with the pears a close second. I actually really liked the deconstructed nature of the pears. I just loved the ice cream more because I've never had it before and it really tasted of sage with a background of pistachio. Yummy!! The beignets were not like the OG from NOLA. Much bigger and more oily than what we like. So, not something I would recommend. I also got a green drink with a bunch of greens and it was really good. I don't remember the name though. Now, pricing wise, I don't think the food was worth what we paid. It's good food but that deviled egg dish is $23, which is ridiculous. So you are paying for the name of the restaurant, the experience, the food and that Michelin star which comes and goes. I'm glad I came here once to experience their menu but it's not something that is worth a second look especially if it's your purse that's going to be lighter after the meal.

Decent atmosphere, food was fine, not thrilling, but nice... great wine selections and service was also ok.. the bar charging $30 for a glass of $40/bottle Chard seems a bit excessive, and the by the glass selections not so great...

Fancy restaurant inside the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park. Impeccable service, tasty appetizers and entrees. Had the burrata, scallops, New York strip, and halibut, and they were all delicious. Hope to return soon!

Great ambience and outdoor scenery was beautiful. The food was absolutely delicious and superb service. I love the cocktails and the wine was top notch. Luis was an excellent server and he made our first time a memorable one! The octopus was cooked just right, it definitely was one of my fav. The steak was medium cooked just how we asked. Lastly, the pork chop had a savory juice-y taste to it. Will definitely come back. :)

Really nice bar at the Rosewood hotel on Sand Hill Road. The library is a nice spot but kind of dark. I prefer the bar. Very spacious. Drinks are strong but good, a bit on the pricey end.

When we first arrived, we were quickly seated -- with the option of sitting indoors or outdoors (in which I recommend outside as the view is amazing!) The waiters were all super attentive throughout the service, constantly refilling waters, prompt with clearing the table, ect. The first appetizer we got was the scallops and uni -- uni as in singular, as we only got one piece. It seemed to be the same for the scallop as well, as it was thinly sliced. The dish overall was super salty, dry, and lacked the refreshing taste that I was hoping for. The second appetizer the beef tartare, made up for any sore feelings from the first. It was nicely seasoned and overall delicious! However, for those who expected a crunchy and crisp sourdough bread you will be disappointed. The grill marks are for show, as the bread was not toasted at all. The mushrooms were buttery and delicious, with a nice chew to them. There were also large cloves of garlic that just melted in our mouths -- because it was so well cooked, it did not leave a nasty garlic taste that you might otherwise avoid. And finally the main course. The pork had enough fat to be super tender and delicious, but not enough to make me feel sick -- it was the perfect ratio! The pork was cooked amazingly, it was tender and juicy. However, for the flavor itself, it was the sauce that it came in that stole the show. You must dip each piece you eat into it. The dessert was 10/10 if I had to come again, I'd order this over and over again. It took a bit longer than expected, but it was because they freshly baked the pastry! The ice cream was not too sweet and perfectly balanced the cinnamon apple compote! Overall, I was a bit disappointed, as I knew this place used to have a Michelin Star, so I had high hopes. It was a decent place, and I enjoyed how there was no tasting menu but it was alacarte, but there are better in the area.

Madera is located within the gorgeous Rosewood Hotel property. The hotel itself is quite stunning to all the senses, with beautiful architecture and luxe interiors; the fragrance indoors is intoxicating. The cocktail and wine lists are plentiful, and can accommodate selections outside of the menu. The seating is comfortable, along with allowing for cozy and intimate conversation. This is welcomed when majority of restaurants can be congested and challenging to carry on a conversation. If the weather allows, opt to sit on their outside heated terrace and take in the views, all the while staying cozy.

Gorgeous restaurant. Expensive but food was excellent, service was impeccable. The staff could not have been more accommodating.

3 stars for their afternoon tea Came here with a few friends for their Mother's Day afternoon tea this year and it was just okay. The afternoon tea was reasonably priced and the set came with a good amount of food. However, most of the things tasted mediocre. I didn't really like the bread that they used for the sandwiches. There was too much cream in the sandwiches; it was hard to taste the salmon, for example. The scones tasted good, but they were really dry. Lastly, the desserts were mostly meh. The only thing I liked was the strawberry tart. The service was excellent and the ambiance was nice, but I don't think I'll be coming back for the afternoon tea again. Maybe I'll try lunch or dinner next time.

Decided to drop in after BMW test-drive event and walked right over. The upscale restaurant is equipped with luxury hotel vibes... also because it is part of a luxury hotel. We brought our furry friend so we requested to sit outside in the shade. They sat us in the bar area and made an exception to also serve lunch on that side as well. Super appreciate their accommodations. We ordered a fried chicken sandwich with fries, salmon Benedict, and also a watermelon heirloom tomatoes. I loved how our server brought our fur baby with some ice in it. SHOUT OUT TO SANDRO! He made the experience that much better. Provided exceptional customer service and was very sweet :) The food is delicious. A little on the expensive side, but the ambiance and vibes were amazing. One of those "I can sit here for several hours" kind of places. We will be back!

Made ther reservation for 5 people for my birthday dinner on saturday night. It's fairly easy to make online reservation 2 days before and there were plenty of available time slot when i made the reservation. The restaurant located inside a beautiful and elegant rosewood sandhill hotel, Parking is really easy as they have a big free parking lot. They have options to do indoor and outdoor dining but since the weather was chilly we decided to do indoor dining. We are pleased with the food they served. These are the items we ordered: 1. midwife and the baker sourdough - first we thought this was complimentary bread but turns out they charged us $9 for the bread and butter 2. Ora King Salmon Tartare - good 3. Risotto squash - good 4. Root down farms roasted chicken (half) - good 5. Lamb chop - Very Good!! was the highlight of all the dishes we ordered 6. Crispy potato - Good 7. Wood oven roasted carrot - Good 8. Cheese burger and fries - kids menu. It was good gourmet burger!! 9. Peach tart with pistachio ice cream- Not for me, it has stong almond flavor in it 10. Cheese cake made with lamb milk - Good The reason for missing one star is the service. I think the restaurant do not have enough number of server to attend to the number of guest they book for the night, it was really hard to find the server to order more items/ request any condiment/ get a refill of our water/ ask for check.

4.5 stars. We sat inside for dinner on a hot day. Excellent food. The ambience inside was more casual. Branzino was super flavorful. I had plenty of branzino in Greek and Mediterranean restaurants. It's usually pretty good but bland. This one tasted vibrant on the palette with sufficient salt level, with moist tender fish in texture. Phenomenal dish and the best one I had in the Peninsula. I also like the octopus dish (beautifully presented and crispy on the outside. Exactly how octopus dish should come together) and the chicken tender dish on the kids menu (surprisingly delicious for kids meal. Lightly battered exterior and excellent meat quality, which is not an afterthought to the adult dishes to appease the ones). Asparagus was solid but not a standout. The food has significantly improved in the last 3-4 years. Worthy of its Michelin star.

Food is good, but a bit pricy Service is excellent Overall good dining experience Minus 1 star for scratched plate

Awesome Sunday Brunch today at Madera! Exceptional greeting and service as well as a great table overlooking the pool and cabanas. The gazpacho with lobster was amazing and a very nice portion with beautiful presentation. They have a Rosé from France , made by 'Organic French Bloom' that is so good, I bought a bottle to take home, and the kicker with this French Rosé is ... it is 0% alcohol. All the great taste and experience, but no headache. It was real good, and I've been to the south of France. Anyway, great place to take a big group or an intimate group, knowing that the food is great, drinks are innovative, and the staff friendly and thrilled to work at Madera, you could just tell!!

This review is based on the Madera bar! I'm frequent here. They've changed a lot as far as the menu goes. I have to say, I do miss their old menu. Sunday fun day, My sister and I ordered their dozen oysters, a bottle of their wine, 2 of their crab croquettes, and 3 of their burger as my fiancee joined us around closing time We also had 2 more glasses of wine later that evening. It all came up to almost 600, including tip! We left extremely disappointed. Bc none of us liked their burger. It was extremely sloppy. It came on a kaiser roll with grilled onions and some kind of white sauce for the price tag we were expecting a lot more. I love hamburgers, but I got to tell you that was so, so unappetizing. I was so hungry that I was picking on it and left the rest behind as the kitchen had already closed. We left very disappointed! Our server was a nice guy his tip was well deserved, but the food was not so much. It's unfortunate bc they don't have too many options to choose from. I will say their selection of wines and Cocktails are very good. I wish they had better food to pair it with. They also have great atmosphere, especially sitting by the fireplace. That's our usual spot or outside facing the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains.

Madera is in such a nice hotel and the view from the restaurant is spectacular. The food and the ambiance was good, but the service was not up to par. The waiters did not know the menu well, they had miscommunication with each other, and just not very nice or attentive in general. When I asked them to take a picture of us, they muttered something under the breath and rolled their eyes... It was to the point where it was bothersome. Such a bummer because the food tasted really good. The oysters were excellent, and I ordered the crab tartine which was also delicious. Their chocolate cake was also really good. Good ambiance, good food, terrible service. So much potential with a lot of room for improvement on customer service.

To be honest, I was feeling kind of down coming here initially as it was only rated 3.5 stars on Yelp (at the time of writing). I was worried that the service/food has degraded even though it still maintained a 1 Michelin star rating. I'm very glad I came here with low expectations since the experience was definitely 1 Michelin star worthy and we had a great time. [[ LOCATION ]] This is probably one of the biggest pro's of the place. It is situated near the 280 freeway which overlooks beautiful tall green trees / hills. The restaurant is also inside a 5-star hotel (Rosewood San Hill) so the ambiance is very nice. We came here for dinner when the sun was already gone but I would love to come again during lunch/brunch so I can enjoy the view outside. Also there is plenty of free parking here so no stress in that area as well. [[ SERVICE ]] As expected of a 1-star Michelin, service was very good. The main waiter was always attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and was making sure our water was filled and we were taken care of. They will clean off the table each time they replace your dishes so there is no crumbs or sauce. They also pack your food for you if you have leftovers. Overall great service and no issues here. [[ FOOD ]] I'm not sure if this is their normal thing but for dinner, they had set menu for $89 which includes a starter, main, and a dessert. I thought this was a very fair price. I'll mark items with a [[ * ]] if its included in the $89 price and will mention the the dishes I really liked separately. Snacks: Midwife and the Baker Sourdough Deviled Eggs Starters: Grilled Octopus* Beef Tartare* Mains with Sides: 24oz Dry Aged Rib Eye For Two (extra $20 per person)* Celeriac Purée* Wood Oven Roasted Spiced Carrots. Whipped Labne* Pan Roasted Wild Mushrooms* Potatoes* Desserts: Warm Chocolate Cake* White Chocolate Bread Pudding* Special shoutout to both the snacks. I really enjoyed the 4 pieces of bread with the creamy/zesty butter. It was surprisingly very good and was a great star to the meal. The Deviled Eggs were also very flavorful and soft/creamy. I wish they gave more than 3 halves of an egg for the price though. For the main, the 24oz Rib Eye was cooked medium-rare and was very tender and enjoyable as well. If you get the grilled octopus, I thought it was a small piece and over-grilled. You really have to like the charred/grilled taste if you get this starter. The Beef tartare was very generous but I thought it was too much for one person. Luckily I could share it with my wife. [[ CONCLUSION ]] I'll definitely be back to try out their other menu's for brunch/lunch.

It was a fun night there. The setting was perfect for a dressed up night out. The service was awesome. Food and drinks are classic and delicious. Everything was presented so beautifully. Would definitely go again.

This review is a little late but specifically this is for their valentine's menu. Not sure if any of these items are on their regular menu. It was a fixed shareable menu at 170 per person and selective drink menu for 25 a piece. I usually avoid eating out on actual valentine's day but since this is also my birthday, I wanted to try a Michelin restaurant and this was closest to me. The restaurant itself was beautiful at night, plenty of parking and had a romantic feel when you stepped in. Food: The menu started with a dozen oysters with caviar on top. Those were some of the best oysters I have had, definitely worth it for us. Appetizer was scallops and a artichoke salad. The scallops were great but they only gave you 3 to share and the artichoke salad was very underwhelming. It was cabbage, grapefruit, artichoke and I believe onions but the flavor was terrible. The entree we went with was the steak and it was accompanied with carrots and potatoes. The steak was tender and cooked to our liking but I wouldn't say it was the best steak I ever had. The sides were perfectly cooked though. For dessert we each got our own. It was a red velvet cake with chocolate creme brûlée on top. It was the best thing on the menu. I am a sweets girl and could have had 3 of those! Drinks were average for 25 a piece, It was alittle steep but at least they weren't too sweet. Overall, for the price of $450, it was not worth it to us. There was nothing really special about the menu. I have been to better steakhouse's and wish the regular menu was offered on valentine's day. Confirms that I will never actually go out to eat on my birthday because everything is way overpriced and always a fixed menu. I will go back so I can try their regular menu and give them a second chance.

SERVICE was average at best. Server had no personality and not engaging. HOWEVER, everything else was excellent. Great ambiance. Beautiful property. Our party of four shared three appetizers and each had an entree. We also shared three desserts and everyone enjoyed their meal. Would love to go back and hopefully find ourselves with a better server because everything else was on point!

Madera used to be my family's go-to 1-star Michelin star restaurant: local, easy parking, fast-paced meal, great food. We returned recently for dinner and it was incredibly disappointing. Bread used to be complimentary, now it's an extra $9. Also, it used to be a bread basket with an assortment of breads. Now it's just one slice per person. With the normal $85 dinner, you have your choice of an appetizer, entree, and a dessert. In the past, you would be able to become decently full after the three course meal (plus the previously complimentary bread), but this time I was left a little hungry to be honest. The portion sizes seem to be smaller than in the past, which is curious because there are a lot more supplement options on the menu now...it's almost as if management knows that people will be hungry if they only limit themselves to the dinner package...sad :/ Small portions aside, the appetizers and entrees tasted good. Dessert, on the other hand, was the worst. I firmly believe that dessert is the most important part of a Michelin restaurant experience because it's the last chance to impact my impression of the establishment. The homemade beignets are basically just two doughnuts served with a caramel (slightly alcoholic) sauce and the almond tart and cheesecake were just okay. I was not blown away with the presentation of dessert, nor the taste. My family and I collectively agreed that the quality of dining at Madera has gone downhill (down Sand Hill if you will, har har) since the pandemic. It's just not worth the money anymore. I only gave them 2 stars instead of 1 because the food is fine if you have lots of money to blow.

Pretentious, bad food and service. Several of us at the table said we make better brussel sprouts than we got here. No good options for vegetarians. Heaters for patio seating were broken and staff made excuses about umbrellas being in the way. They could have folded the umbrella in a few seconds. Drink order required reminders several times and staff said it is someone else's job and that they will relay the message View from patio was good and was the saving grace

We've been here a few times before for brunch and have always had a great experience, but today we decided to come for a nice dinner. We got seated by the fireplace which felt really cozy and warm. The waiters were very friendly and service was excellent. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share together. The food was all so delicious, unique, and rich! Great to share with family and the atmosphere was so relaxing and nice. This was a great experience and can't wait to try again!

Excellent fine dining in a beautiful setting. I came with my family for Christmas Eve dinner and we were definitely satisfied! We had a 3 course menu. I personally got the pork loin and it was delicious and filling. It had a reduction sauce and was paired with a Granny Smith apple + beets side. The service was wonderful and I love how they explained each dish as they presented it. This restaurant is located within a 5 star hotel in the hills of Menlo Park/ Woodside. Parking is easy on the property. Vaccine / Covid test not required.

I scheduled a private event with Lisa for the Orange Room for a brunch; the restaurant is beautiful & the private terrace in conjunction had a really nice view. In regards to the food, the Benedict had an extremely hard biscuit - no one in the party could eat it. The short rib wasn't that much better, so I definitely wouldn't recommend those two dishes. We also had fresh fruit, pastries, caviar, crispy pork belly, Kumamoto oysters, and fries that were all delicious. The sides included bacon and sausage, which were both pretty good as well. The service was great, Erik was our server & attended to everything. We did have many cocktails as well - the mimosa was made with freshly squeezed orange juice & the rest of the cocktails were strong but still nice to sip on.

The food was excellent and the service was amazing! They pass on their operating expenses in the form of a "5% Living Wage" mandatory fee on your restaurant bill. They also ask for a "Tip" AND "Gratuity" in two separate places on the bill. I'm not sure what the difference is between "Tip" and "Gratuity".

I LOVE Madera SO MUCH! The food is SO DELICIOUS ALL THE TIME! I have yet to have any food disappointments eating at the restaurant or in the nearby bar/lounge. Outstanding service a Madera, they welcome you and even greet you by your name. I highly recommend Madera, it's an incredible experience to dine here and a sommelier there in event you have any wine questions or need recommendations. Love love this place!

Madera delivers a really unique experience. For starters, they let you share dietary restrictions at the time of reservation. Ambiance is polished and cozy. Service was impeccable from the moment I stepped in. Front of the house walks you to your table. And a server brings you a drink shortly after. Every one in the staff was very respectful and delivered a spectacular service experience. I ordered a risotto - hands down, this was the best risotto I've ever had. I got a jasmine tea after the meal - loved it. It was really fragrant and had an immediate soothing effect - really nice and strong. I would definitely visit again!

The heritage pork chop was out of this world. I thought about the tomahawk but the server Jordan (I would request him by name) made the recommendation and he was spot on. The server Jordan was friendly knowledgeable and had great recommendations with food and wine pairings. If would recommend this if you are celebrating a special occasion. Side note Jordan was able to help us get a table at the bar after our meal which was kind of him.