Sekoya Lounge & Kitchen

"Chef Jason Johnson leads the kitchen at Sekoya, which focuses on French and Mediterranean cuisines. Try the popcorn with beef chicharron and Calabrian chile butter; the dry-aged smash burger, which comes with two patties and smoked Gouda on a house-made sesame bun; or the tomahawk pork chop with roasted peaches and cipollini onions." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri, Becky Duffett

"Steve Ugur’s newest restaurant is part lounge, part fine dining outfit, and part late-night destination, and looks to bring a sense of familiarity and a sense of class to Palo Alto’s California Avenue. Ugur comes from Pausa in San Mateo, a meat-centric restaurant on the Michelin Guide, whereas Sekoya is the go-to place for butterflied sea bream, inventive cocktails, and handsome wood furniture courtesy of Nashville furniture maker Sawdust & Whiskey." - Octavio Pena, Cathy Park

"Palo Alto doesn’t have many sceney restaurants, and that’s where Sekoya comes in. But this seasonal American spot is more than just a place with tons of cute couches, bespoke light fixtures, tech execs, and the occasional Stanford student pretending they’re in Lower Manhattan for the night. Sekoya is a trendy spot where the food is quite good. The parker house rolls with mascarpone are fluffy, the zesty lamb tartare gets the balance of citrus just right, and the chicken thigh topped with cara cara is about as juicy as the orange. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"Palo Alto doesn’t have many sceney restaurants. Expensive restaurants sure, but restaurants that feel of the moment? Not really. That’s where Sekoya comes in. But this American spot with seasonal dishes is more than just a place with tons of cute couches, bespoke light fixtures, tech execs, and the occasional Stanford student pretending they’re in Lower Manhattan for the night. Sekoya is a trendy spot where the food is quite good. The parker house rolls with mascarpone are fluffy, the zesty lamb tartare served with a crispy lavash cracker gets the balance of citrus just right, and the chicken thigh topped with cara cara is about as juicy as the orange. photo credit: Hardy Wilson photo credit: Hardy Wilson photo credit: Hardy Wilson photo credit: Hardy Wilson photo credit: Hardy Wilson" - Ricky Rodriguez

"A moody yet vibrant restaurant debuts today in Palo Alto with hopes of earning both top-tier accolades and cred from neighbors. Sekoya Lounge & Kitchen opens for business on Tuesday, August 15, making it both the latest addition to the California Avenue corridor and a much-needed late-night restaurant option in the area." - Paolo Bicchieri