NM Cafe — Restaurant in Palo Alto

We've been here and the Rotunda in San Francisco a number of times. Today we sat at the bar for lunch and Atul the bartender was excellent. To start you're given consomme and delicious popovers with strawberry butter. The Holiday special crab pasta was really good. Unfortunately the bread on the tuna melt was slightly soggy. The highlight of our lunch was the person sitting alone at the bar, several seats away from us whom we noticed immediately. We didn't say anything to him until he got up to leave. It was former San Francisco 49er, Hall of Famer, and holder of many NFL records, Jerry Rice. He was so nice, he shook our hands a couple of times, talked to us for awhile and then asked us if we would like to have our picture taken with him which we did. I don't think that I should post the picture. He also walked around the Cafe and talked to customers and some had their pictures taken too. He's...

We'd finished shopping downstairs and went up to the 3rd floor for lunch today without a reservation at around 1:10pm. I would say the restaurant was not busy and plenty of tables were available. The receptionist was great and took us to a table immediately. We then set there for 15 minutes waiting for our waiter. He never came to our table to acknowledge or take our drink order. We flagged down another waitress who told me our table should be handled by the other waiter who heard the conversation standing behind us. Still, he didn't bother to come. We then spoke to the receptionist and told her that we didn't want to have lunch there and walked out. She was apologetic but it wasn't really her fault. The food seemed fine but on the expensive side judging by other tables that were properly served by their waiter or waitress. This is one restaurant that will never get...

Secret cafe @ 3rd floor. Amazingly baked bread served with pink cream is an unexpected and tasty treat! Free tea also tastes like super delicious soup! 🤤

Their special Dungeness crab cake is a standout, packed with fresh crab meat and flavor. The salmon tacos offer a light yet flavorful option, while the fried chicken is crispy and satisfying. The tuna melt sandwich is another highlight, with a perfect balance of flavors. On top of the great food, the friendly waitstaff make the dining experience even better. It's a must-visit for anyone looking for a mix of classic and creative dishes in a welcoming...