Best Family Style Restaurants in Newark

Ana was great nice ambience with the cozy fireplace

We're longtime residents of the area but only discovered Cafe Riace last night. What a delightful experience. The menu is not fancy, but the selections we had (dishes of eggplant, caprese, canneloni and salmon) were all delicious. Fine professional service. We met the owners, who own four other respected restaurants, including the better known and much loved Osteria Toscana in downtown Palo Alto. Cafe Riace's location a few blocks south of the busy restaurant district on California Ave. is off the beaten track, but that makes parking super easy. It's also a spacious restaurant (but still with a cozy feel), including a lovely outdoor eating area (replete with statues of Roman gods and goddesses) which means a quieter atmosphere .

We had a very pleasant experience at Il Fornaio during Valentine’s Day. The staff was very respectful and kind towards us. We made a reservation two weeks in advance for 5:30 and was seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was very enthusiastic in greeting us and checking up on us. The food was amazing! They had a special menu for Valentine’s Day and we had a ravioli with lobster bisque that my partner and I both absolutely loved. The steak was also cooked perfectly medium rare and tasted delicious. We also got their Valentine’s Day dessert that was prepared beautifully with a chocolate cake that melted in your mouth. Loved the whole experience and can’t wait to go back to try the other pastas on their menu!

We recently dined at this wonderful gem in Palo Alto and had an unforgettable experience! As a party of two, we kicked off our evening with the Xinomavro wine and a refreshing Kickstarter cocktail. To our delight, the chef sent out a small corn soup as a complimentary starter, which was absolutely delightful. For appetizers, we ordered the tarama and keftedakia. Each bite was perfect, and we were happily enjoying them alongside our drinks. We also had the Greek salad and saganaki, the latter of which was flamed right at our table — a fun and impressive touch! The staff was friendly, professional, and very meticulous, taking the time to explain the ingredients of each dish. Our server, Andres, took exceptional care of us and ensured our experience was nothing short of perfect. A big thank you to him for making our evening special! For the main course, I opted for the Psaraki whole fish, and my guest had the Mousakka. Both dishes were exceptional and absolutely worth trying! The portion sizes are thoughtfully designed so you can enjoy a variety of flavors from the menu. This restaurant provides a top-tier dining experience that suits any budget. It’s truly a hidden gem in Palo Alto, and we can’t recommend it enough. We will definitely be back!

Awesome experience! The venue is fantastic, great service and delicious food!