Porta Blu — Restaurant in Menlo Park

It’s pretty below average taste to be honest.

I stayed at Nia for 4 days due to it being close to campus. With that being said it’s near nothing but just that for food. I came in on a Sunday so nothing on campus was open. I walked over a mile to get to the nearest gas station for snacks and drinks for the days since there is nothing here.

The first day I got in I had lunch here and it was sooo good, a club sandwich and fries. While everyone ordered a Caesar salad. The rest of the menu I cannot speak for. I was eager to come back for dinner and get pasta that night. I had pasta last time I was here and it was horrible (stroganoff?). No longer on the menu.

I ordered the black squid ink pasta to my room and somehow it came out to $54? With only that and an iced tea… but that tasted bland even with everything they give you to spice it up- parmesan, salt & pepper, and red pepper flakes.

I still at this point have 3 more days left. I’ve tried various things: flatbread (it was decent), steak frites (dry, not cooked well, and hard crust to chew through) and it was all just not good, I didn’t want to try again.

I’ve heard raves about this place but I think it must just be to eat a salad and get drinks because as I witness that’s all people order.

It’s a really nice environment, I wish for the sake that you have nothing else nearby unless you DoorDash or Uber everywhere. That the food would meet up to the expectations of the rest of the experience.

Moral of the story, get the salad.

** verve is...

Total train wreck. Seated at filthy table. 15 minutes before anyone approached us. Ordered food and drip coffee, requested table be cleaned and for silverware.

15 more minutes, no coffee, no silverware and still have a filthy table. 5 mins later my wife gets up, grabs napkins from the bar and starts wiping the table. Bus boy arrived minutes later and again cleaned the table... Keep in mind this is nearly 40 minutes since we were seated.

I asked for silverware, our coffee, water and a manager.

10 minutes pass.

Our drip coffee finally arrives. I request cream and sugar, it isn't offered.

5 minutes later part of our food arrives. Of the 3 meals ordered, one was wrong and one never came. I again asked for a manager.

Cream and sugar comes.

The $8 drip coffee is terrible.

My wife gets up and finds salt and pepper. The pepper grinder is filthy.

10 more minutes pass.

No 3rd meal, no reworked 2nd meal and no manager.

It was obvious other patrons were frustrated.

There were two visible servers, about 7 active tables and clearly no manager.

Avoid...

Beautiful restaurant inside Hotel NIA. Aside from top-notch service (we felt like royalty...!), the best part of this restaurant is its atmosphere. There is a wide variety of spaces, seating, and vistas available for dining. The semi-outdoor dining area facing the inner courtyard is one of the nicest in the bay, especially on a warm summer day. The indoor spaces are cozy and luxurious. We were pleasantly surprised by the food too. Came in expecting an overpriced hotel dinner but this place is worthy of standing on its own as a restaurant. Good portions and seasonal offerings. It turned out to be a good place to bring our young kids too. There was plenty of space in the restaurant, so we could enjoy a fine meal without feeling self-conscious about our children being disruptive. There were kids menus too; kids pasta was a huge hit.

Tips: Parking isn't ideal here. $30 for hotel valet and no hotel self parking is available. Second, there's few veggies on the main dishes so I'd recommend getting a salad...