Dinah's Poolside Restaurant — Restaurant in Palo Alto

5 stars for the hotel 2 stars for restaurant service

My family and I love so much about Dinahs. Booking the hotel and check in has always been easy and I havent had any issues. It's a very charming boutique hotel with beautifully done landscaping. The garden areas are absolutely gorgeous with stunning water fountains, flowers and plants everywhere.

It's a huge treat for my kids and I to come to this hotel and swim all day long and stay overnight. We always finish our stay by visiting the ducks and coi fish, and its such a nice touch that the front desk gives guests duck and fish food. Children love this part!

The hotel conveniently has a restaurant. The food is average however it's always presented well. Since I have been coming to Dinahs, for about 6 years, I unfortunately have not had a very good experience ordering food. Whether I order from the pool, which usually looks like me standing there in my bathing suit, menu in hand, looking for someone to order from, or if I'm at a table, I often get overlooked and mostly ignored. The staff seems overwhelmed and unwilling to stop to take your order. I always feel like I am interrupting them when i get someonein front of me.

Perhaps, they need a better way to serve the restaurant and the pool-side guests differently? Maybe offer a walk up order window?? Maybe a different pool menu? I'm not sure what the answer is but I know there's a solution that can get customers better service and even help their staff with a revised plan.

*All in all we will keep going, we still enjoy...

Restaurant review only as we stopped by to have a cocktail and Dinah's salad w/chicken as we were going to The Sea later for dinner. The service was good except for they forgot to give us silverware. The Mimosa and Mai Tai were very good and so was the salad. We split the salad and it was a generous portion. The eating area was nice and relaxing as the weather was sunny. The dining area is next to the pool. If it gets cold they have heat lamps. We've been back a couple of times, and our server Oscar is excellent! We've eaten the Baby back ribs, Claudia cob salad, Dinah's salad, fish & chips, Wagyu burger. All were very good, but the Baby back ribs, Wagyu burger, and fish & chips were delicious! There's also a lagoon in the back with koi fish. We went to eat, drink and relax again on Sunday. Fortunately, Oscar was working and was our server again. We arrived during the limited dinner menu, so we had a cocktail and wine with the delicious baby back ribs! At 4:00 we were able to order from the dinner menu. Oscar gave us these really good garlic rolls with parmesan. For dinner we ate the Spaghetti all’ Arrabbiata and meatloaf. Both were really delicious. One thing to mention is that the Spaghetti is a little spicy. Another really good time...

Literally, a pool-side restaurant inside a hotel complex. No fence between tables and the pool. Tables were partially under sun umbrellas. Heat lamps are available for cooler days and evenings. Food options for a Sunday brunch is an upscale diner-style: wings, chips & salsa, salads, omelettes, sandwiches with shoestring fries. Decent, but not spectacular. Service was mediocre - we couldn't find anyone nearby for water, coffee, or iced tea refills for the longest time.

Photos:

1. vegetarian omelette with spinach and mushrooms + very dark hash browns and already-buttered toast
2. Californian omelette with bacon, avocado, and creme fraiche drizzle + lightly toasted hash browns plus buttered toast

Other members of my group ordered the Turkey sandwich with shoestring fries, Wagyu burger, and corned beef (on a roll instead of rye). Amount of fries with the meals came very inconsistent. One sandwich arrived with more than double the amount of fries that the burger accompanied.

My group rated the food 'pretty good' around. I was mostly focused on inhaling the crispy shoestring fries (that I stole off my neighbor's plate).

Cute place, good for outdoor, casual brunch if you don't mind kids jumping in the pool about 8 feet...