Flea Street — Restaurant in Atherton

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Flea Street in Menlo Park, and it was a truly memorable experience. From the thoughtfully curated dishes to the warm ambiance, Flea Street delivered on all fronts, showcasing the best of California’s farm-to-table dining.

We started with a selection of small bites, beautifully presented on a wooden board. The whipped butter, arranged in delicate rosettes, was almost too pretty to eat, while the house-made bread and savory bites set a delightful tone for the meal.

The next dish was a crispy arancini served atop a creamy sauce, garnished with pomegranate seeds that added a pop of color and a hint of sweetness to balance the savory flavors. Each bite was rich and comforting, with a perfect contrast of textures.

Another highlight was a beautifully plated poached egg over a flaky pastry, a simple yet satisfying dish that emphasized fresh ingredients and skillful execution. The egg was cooked to perfection, adding a silky richness to the flaky base.

For the mains, we enjoyed a seared fish fillet atop a bed of orzo and fresh vegetables. The fish was cooked just right, with a crispy herb crust that added an aromatic layer to the dish. The balance of flavors and the quality of ingredients were evident in every bite.

The braised beef with roasted carrots was another standout, tender and flavorful, with a rich sauce that complemented the sweetness of the carrots. It was a comforting, hearty dish that felt both rustic and refined.

We also ordered two drinks: the Modern Old Fashion (yes, it sounds funny—Modern yet Old!) and a Dirty Martini. The Modern Old Fashion was fantastic and clearly a specialty of the restaurant, with a perfect blend of flavors that elevated the classic cocktail. However, on the downside, the Dirty Martini was quite disappointing. Not only was the flavor way off, but they also served it with unpitted olives, which felt like an odd choice for a cocktail. While the olives weren’t the issue, we ended up returning the drink due to its overall taste.

Finally, we ended with a dessert that brought the meal to a satisfying close—a creamy, textured dish topped with crunchy chocolate bits, providing a lovely mix of flavors and textures.

Overall, Flea Street offers a wonderful dining experience with a focus on sustainability and local ingredients. Each dish felt thoughtful and well-executed, and the service was attentive and friendly. While the Dirty Martini fell short, the Modern Old Fashion and the exceptional food more than made up for it. It’s a perfect spot for those looking to enjoy innovative, seasonal cuisine in a cozy and elegant setting....

My wife and I came to Flea Street for our Valentine's dinner this year. We drive by the restaurant often and finally decided to go check it out! We made our reservation a couple weeks in advance. They had a special menu for the week of Valentine's Day that looked really nice. When we arrived we were seated promptly, browsed the drink menu and put in a couple cocktail orders, then looked for our food selections. When we tried to order the first item, our server told us they were unfortunately out of that item, plus four other items on a menu that was maybe 15-20 items total. To make matters worse, three of the missing items were entrees. To make matters worse still, the missing entrees included both dishes my wife and I were hoping to order, plus one of our back ups! None of the items had any indication they were in limited supply. Our server explained the "earlier seating" had wiped out some of the menu, however our reservation was 7:15pm so it's not like we were coming in unexpectedly or close to closing. We were disappointed, and a little taken aback that there was no offer of anything to make up for not being able to serve a significant portion of the menu, but we did the mental work of forgetting the dishes that could have been. We really enjoyed the food we did end up getting and had a nice celebratory dinner. When the check came we were again let down. We thought perhaps something might be comped as a token of apology. But everything was fully charged, plus they had already added a 20% service charge. Rather than sour our experience by getting into a dispute over the bill, we paid up without comment. But in the couple of months since, this experience still gives us a bit of a poor taste in our mouths! Flea Street seems like a really nice place, as evidenced by its largely stellar ratings, but our experience sadly...

I recently ate at Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park. It has been many years since I last ate there (before pandemic) and I was looking forward to a good meal, since my experience in the past has been very good at this restaurant. I had previously appreciated the quality of the food and the attention to detail in each of the preparations.

This time I was very disappointed. I had ordered the Ciopinno dish hoping to have a wonderful fish stew full of tasty shellfish. The problem with the dish was that the clams which were a key part of the dish were all still full of sand, which when eaten resulted in a gritty sensation in my mouth which did not go away. It was not just one clam but all 5 or 6 of the clams.

When the waiter asked “how was the food” I told him I was surprised to have sand in the clams. He said, “I will tell the chef about that”. There however was nothing about the dish I ordered and I did not get a response from the chef. On the way out, the waiter said he took a small discount out of my bill. In most other restaurants, they will try to do something to correct the dish they served, not expecting the customer to accept it as is. I have eaten clams in many restaurants before and never had the experience of having sand still left in the clams.

With the reputation this restaurant has, I would have expected the chef to make sure the shellfish were properly rinsed and cleaned before cooking and serving. I am hoping next time more care is given to preparation of this dish to ensure the quality remains and other customers don’t have the same...