Dutch Goose — Restaurant in Atherton

After ordering, went back 25 minutes later to check on food. Food wasn't ready, and when the employee read back the order it was wrong. 10 minutes after that we finally got our food. Somehow my burger's avocados ended up on my wife's meal that already had guacamole. I only received a pinch of chips with my burger and went back and had to ask for more. Food was good and decently priced, but not worth a 35 minute wait and terrible service. Anytime you tried to ask an employee a question about your meal, you were speaking to someone who stood 10 feet behind the glass and spoke softer than a wind's whisper.

The layout of the entire restaurant is just not conducive to the type of restaurant it's trying to be. There are three awkwardly crowded rooms with small entrances that force you to become uncomfortably close with other restaurant patrons who are trying to go in or get out. I really like the family atmosphere, the TVs that play sports games and the game idea, but it's just too cramped of a space to do it all—and do it well.

Also as a note to the manager, during dinner there were a group of young gentlemen playing pool. One young man started screaming at the top of his lungs for about ten seconds like he had just won the APA National Championship. It was uncomfortably loud and everyone, including all of the employees, watched him as he jumped up and down and barged through customers waiting in line to order.

It's hard to be a bar, family restaurant and...

I first started going to the Dutch Goose over 25 years ago, and it used to be a regular hangout spot when I had friends living nearby. So I was excited to meet up with some people there recently to catch a game.

I’ve always loved the laid-back, no-frills vibe at the Dutch Goose—it’s a classic spot and a bit of a hidden gem in Menlo Park. It’s the kind of place that’s perfect for grabbing a drink, catching up with friends, and watching a game in a casual, nostalgic setting.

That said, I was disappointed with the food during this visit, especially considering the prices. I wasn’t expecting gourmet fare, but it fell short even of basic expectations. The place was busy as it was a Friday night, and I didn’t mind waiting about 50–55 minutes for our food order. The bigger issue was that we weren’t notified until all of our food was ready. By the time we picked up the food from the heat lamp area, it was clear that some of it—like the pizza and salad—had been sitting there for quite a while, waiting on the burger to be finished. As a result, the Caesar salad was actually warm—hotter than the pizza—and as you can imagine, a warm Caesar salad doesn’t quite hit the mark.

I’ll definitely be back, but next time I’ll keep it simple with just drinks and fries—which are...

Historic and well known local restaurant and bar located in Menlo Park. If visiting the area it's worth checking this spot out, as it has a lot of history in Menlo Park, it's well regarded by locals, and the food/beer is great. Plenty of outdoor seating, food consists of hamburgers, fries, and other similar items.

[The Food and Drink] The food here is great. It mainly consists of American food like hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, etc - but it tastes good! It's decently fast too, especially how busy this spot gets. It's nice that you can actually watch the staff cooking the food as well. They also sell alcohol as well. There is a bar that is a little away from the food area that sells mixed drinks and beer. You can also buy food in the restaurant area.

[The Location] The location here is great, right off of Alameda. Parking can be pretty difficult at times so be prepared for that. Otherwise, it's a nice location in a little less traveled area of Menlo Park, mostly known to locals. Many people come here after their kid's sports games or other school events. Plenty parties are hosted here as well as events.

Definitely worth visiting if you are in the area and interested in the history...