Café Vivant — Restaurant in Menlo Park

I have heard that the owners have aspirations of being a 1 star restaurant, and that food is designed to go with more refined and elegant, rather than bold, wines.

What I liked:

A respectable wine by the glass list. It's different from what I've seen elsewhere. The mark-up on the wines seems reasonable, but they are expensive wines. The veggies and mushrooms that accompanied the chicken were tasty, I enjoyed them. *The dessert menu is unique, with five fresh interpretations to choose from. The deserts (I had the baked Alaska, the other three the chocolate mouse) themselves were visually appealing, bordering on being works of art. The dinner was served at a comfortable pace. We got there at 6:30 and left after 10:00. We had not spent that much time in a restaurant in a long time.

What I didn't like: *The chicken is over hyped. In the end chicken is chicken, I didn't find the taste and texture particularly different from what I have had elsewhere. The presentation was interesting with chicken feet included, again that's different. The chicken itself was over brined for my taste - in fact it was the loudest flavor of the night (more below.) Desserts were bland to my taste. I had baked Alaska, I could not tell there was chicken ice cream. The other folks at my table all said that there was not much chocolate taste in the chocolate mouse. Loud. Most new restaurants these days are full of hard surfaces, long gone are the padded walls of restaurants. So I guess I just need to eat outdoors more so I can hear the conversation better.

I would definitely go back for a drink of fine wine at a fair price, and then head to another restaurant for...

If you love great wine or care about amazing food that’s thoughtfully sourced, Café Vivant is a must!

The place is so vibey and welcoming, with intricate, elegant woodwork and soft lighting.

In terms of food, everything was so yummy and I highly recommend trying the Heritage Chicken Nuggets, Hollander Squab and the Whole Heritage Chicken for 2 (you can choose among different breeds they offer!). It’s fascinating to taste the difference of heritage chicken from what we normally get at the market or other restaurants. The chicken was flavorful, crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

You also cannot miss their dessert! We actually went over the top and got every dessert on the menu. The cheesecake, carrot cake and chocolate mousse were to die for!

Last but certainly not the least, their wine list, which has over 3000 bottles, is extraordinary - deep, thoughtful, and clearly curated by sommeliers who live and breathe wine. The selection spans rare vintage bottles, exciting California producers and everything...

Had such an incredible dining experience with my husband, aunt, and uncle — who had been eagerly following this restaurant’s opening for months. The ambiance struck the perfect balance: elevated and intentional, yet warm and unpretentious. It was fascinating to learn about chicken in a completely different context than what we typically associate with it here in the U.S. As a former vegetarian, I’ve long been aware of how most chickens are raised — the overcrowding, the disease, the toll of mass production. But here, the chickens are sourced from a nearby farm, allowed to live double or even triple the lifespan of conventional ones, making them more active, healthier, and in turn, far more nutrient-dense and flavorful. You could truly taste the difference. The sides were creative and beautifully executed without being over the top, and the dessert and wine… don’t even get me started. Every element felt thoughtful and harmonious. A genuine 10/10 experience. Excited to come back...