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MacArthur Park - Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto

4.2
4.2
1664 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 13 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
MacArthur Park - An American Experience
For decades, MacArthur Park has been about bringing people together around outstanding California BBQ and comfort food in a casual yet elegant setting.
You’ll find us nestled in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, and walk back in time in to the simple elegance of a bygone era in a dining room designed by Julia Morgan in 1918.
We take traditional BBQ on a ride with the richness of California’s bounty, offering our signature Baby Back Ribs, fresh fish, meats and chicken, steak, unique salads and comfort food using local farm fresh produce. Portions are large, and there is something for every taste including vegan and vegetarian choices. Join us for cocktails and dining on our garden patio, nightly.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Barbecue, Comfort Food
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (650) 321-9990
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Faz Poursohi
  • Catering
    Our Catering Department offers you a wide selection of services and menus with a focus ranging from functionality to elegance to fit your event's needs. Choose from our catering packages available or request a customized menu by contacting mitzie@macpark.com or call 650.291.0306
  • Private party facilities
    MacArthur Parks private dining facilities were specially designed for parties, cocktail receptions, business meetings, anniversaries, weddings, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations. We offer distinctive rooms that can accommodate a variety of events.
  • Private party contact
    Mitzie Tiu: (650) 291-0306
  • Neighbourhood
    Palo Alto
  • Cross Street
    El Camino; adjacent to Palo Alto Train Station
  • Parking details
    We have ample public parking behind and in front of the restaurant. No valet parking currently available.
  • Public transit
    Located right next to the Cal Train Station and Bus Stop.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,664 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2
4.2 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
MacArthur Park in Palo Alto is a charming dining destination known for "excellent food" and "generous portions." Guests rave about the ribs and "superb truffled mashed potatoes." The atmosphere is often described as "lovely and historical," with attentive service. Ideal for group gatherings, it remains a "local treasure" despite occasional staffing challenges.

1,664 Reviews
  1. Lou

    VIP

    San Francisco

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The grilled chicken was cooked to perfection and paired nicely with a glass of Zin. The atmosphere with the huge Christmas tree in the open area was delightful. Overall, a wonderful dinner with friends for a very reasonable price. This place has never failed to please over the past forty years.

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  2. Elan

    San Francisco

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on December 12, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Went for my birthday with my brother and friends. Server was excellent.. friendly, fun, informative! Loved her. Food is consistently very good. We had salmon, scallops, and 2 different kinds of chicken. Everything was well done.

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  3. RODNEY

    VIP

    San Francisco

    207 reviews

    4.0

    207 reviews

    Dined on December 11, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    MacArthur Park is always reliably good for food and service. It is a pleasure to dine in this historical building. During the holiday season it is beautifully decorated with lights and a giant Xmas tree. We make a special effort to enjoy a holiday evening with them.

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  4. MarianH

    San Francisco

    62 reviews

    4.0

    62 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We totally enjoyed the very comfortable table in front of the fireplace, very good food and service, and on-site parking. We'll be back.

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  5. Aaron

    San Francisco

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    The meats and seafood was cooked and seasoned well. The side dishes were less impressive. Yams were over puréed and a bit soupy, the mac and cheese had too much cream and not enough cheese, the stuffing was dry, and they ran out of pumpkin pie. The other desserts were not great. I’ve always loved MacArthur Park but this was very disappointing and expensive.

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  6. KarinF

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    A fabulous spread!! Everything I tried was tasty.

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  7. Robert

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great experience! Our go-to restaurant for over 4p years!

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  8. Anthony

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We really enjoyed our dining experience. It took a while before water was brought to the table and we could order our drinks. But we just went to the buffet and began dinner. There were so many appetizers and entrees. All were delicious: prime rib, salmon, turkey, ribs, and chicken were amazing. The sides and appetizers were numerous and delicious. And it was a great value. There was something for everyone. As we finished, we agreed to repeat the experience.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    VIP

    Pittsburgh

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had excellent service. The food was wonderful and there was something for everyone. We had someone with a disability and the staff was very accommodating to us.

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  10. Patrick

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It has plenty of parking out front, my party arrived early and decided to have a cocktail at the bar as happy hour was running $8 cocktails. It was Thursday and the restaurant was only 20% full. Initially seated under a flickering light, but was moved upon request. The food order was taken promptly and the steak was excellent and cooked to order. I would go again, plenty of spacing, lovely ambience, excellent food, quiet and service was excellent.

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FAQs

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto offers delivery in partnership with Postmates. MacArthur Park - Palo Alto also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 321-9990.

MacArthur Park - Palo Alto is rated 4.2 stars by 1664 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 13 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for MacArthur Park - Palo Alto

27 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    El Camino; adjacent to Palo Alto Train Station
  • Neighbourhood
    Palo Alto
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Barbecue, Comfort Food
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    We have ample public parking behind and in front of the restaurant. No valet parking currently available.
  • Public transit
    Located right next to the Cal Train Station and Bus Stop.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Faz Poursohi
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (650) 321-9990
  • Catering
    Our Catering Department offers you a wide selection of services and menus with a focus ranging from functionality to elegance to fit your event's needs. Choose from our catering packages available or request a customized menu by contacting mitzie@macpark.com or call 650.291.0306
  • Private party facilities
    MacArthur Parks private dining facilities were specially designed for parties, cocktail receptions, business meetings, anniversaries, weddings, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations. We offer distinctive rooms that can accommodate a variety of events.
  • Private party contact
    Mitzie Tiu: (650) 291-0306
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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