Trader Vic's

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4269 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306

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(650) 849-9800
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Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Trader Vic's - Palo Alto, CA
Reviews
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( 4 )
( 0 )
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( 6 )

Best

I must admit I was aprehensive about going to the Trader Vic's after reading some of the reviews but was in town for business and decided to go for it with the rest of my colleage...

Worst

For the prices on the menu, one expects a certain level of ambience. It was noticably absent from Trader Vic's. Anyone within earshot of the bar (the vast majority of their seatin...

Down the Hill and More! 9/8/2006

It saddens me to have to write this review but buyer beware! Trader Vic's used to be the center for culinary cutting edge and taste. The menu now is overpriced, underportioned and as exciting as a root canal before the Holidays.Must dishes come with the same sides and this sides are horrendous. A crumply rice cake that tasted like cardboard if cardboard could be so insulted. The food presentation is thrown in the plate with the sauce all over the place. Two of my guests had the same dish and they looked different from each other. The other dishes looked and tasted different from the same food we had on our last business trip. Consistency? When we complained to the server we were told the management and the culinary staff had both changed in the past month.Obviously not for the better. We asked to speak to the GM and were told again he was new and never came to the table. Strangely so since there seem to be about five people wearing suits walking around. Again,buyer beware!! Pros: Beautiful restaurant and lively bar Cons: Overpriced, underportioned and under quality more
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inedible 11/21/2005

The food was horrible. The lobster bisque was too salty and too buttery. My chicken was raw. The food came out slowly. You are better off going to one of those fast-food Hawaiian places. Cons: terrible food more
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Memorable Experience 8/25/2005

I must admit I was aprehensive about going to the Trader Vic's after reading some of the reviews but was in town for business and decided to go for it with the rest of my colleages. The gentleman at the door was perhaps the most professional I have ever met in a restaurant. He was calm and friendly even though I could see the level of business in the restaurant was high.I was quoted a wait and was sat before the said time. The waiter was very helpful and friendly. The price was up there for the NY steak but the prime beef made a difference and the BBQ oven really came through in flavor. I had the featured wine and it was on the mark. Every time I come down to the Peninsula now I know where I will go for dinner for business or with my family. Pros: Staff, Food, atmosphere Cons: Big Menu more
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ABYSMAL 7/19/2005

To start the evening, the bartender spilled a mai-tai in my friends lap. She received a new drink, and we ordered a spring roll appetizer. The dish was completely uncooked on the inside - even the dough was raw, aside from the outer-most layer. When it came time for us to leave, we found that we were charged for both the spilled drink and a totally uncooked meal. It took great lengths to have any cost removed from our bill. The food was the only refunded item, and my friend and I were both sick the rest of the evening from the uncooked food. more
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Unhappy dining 2/22/2005

For the prices on the menu, one expects a certain level of ambience. It was noticably absent from Trader Vic's. Anyone within earshot of the bar (the vast majority of their seating) is subject to the loud drunken ramblings of their bar patrons, with no attempt to curb the roar. On selecting what they said was their finest wine, we went through three bottles before we found one that wasn't corked. If you go to this restaurant, DO NOT order wine. They have an open-air basement which they use as a cellar; the temperature swings in this area destroy any wine more than two years old. Overall, a severely disappointing experience and one I will never repeat. Pros: none Cons: Bad value, ambience, wine more
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One of the better restaurants in town 1/28/2003

Top notch decor, excellent food, excellent drinks, friendly but sloooow service. Trader Vic's in Palo Alto is a great place to have a leisurely dinner but I would skip it if I had to be somewhere else at a prescribed time after dinner. The food from appetizers to salads, deserts, and entrées are all top notch and this restaurant is one of the few in the area who know how to properly mix a drink -- not too weak, not too strong - but just the right amount of alcohol to do the drink justice. Highly recommended restaurant for those who are not in a hurry. Those who need faster service should go elsewhere. Pros: Decor, Drinks, Menu Cons: Slow service more
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will never go back 11/24/2002

The service has really gone downhill. Got there for an early dinner, was told we'd be seated right away. Half an hour later they were seating us outside (winter time) even though there were plenty of tables open inside. Food was so-so. The clientele seems to have changed to an older - 50+ crowd. more
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Come for the drinks.. 11/21/2002

Trader Vics is great for a party of 4 or more...the larger the better. The drink menu is a huge booklet, my boyfriend had tons of fun choosing drinks with the other guys at the table. Their drinks are stiff too so you get your money's worth. The food is good, nothing super spectacular, but I haven't had anything BAD. T.V. is great for what it is, a happening place for large groups or people who want to have fun and eat some decent food. The ambiance is great, and its been tons of fun each time! Definitely go if you have not already been. Pros: Ambiance, Cool Fun Crowd, Great Drink Menu! Cons: Food is 'OK', Pricey For Quality more
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Disappointment 11/9/2002

Good ambience/decor but was disappointed with dinner. There are much better restaurants out there at that price. Pros: Ambience/decor, Parking Cons: Food, Not good value more
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Best food in Palo Alto... 11/5/2002

By far the best resturant around and the ambiance was wonderful. The food was beautifullty arranged and was incredible. Try the duck salad - and be sure to have a traditional "Mai Tai"...they were invented there (the waiter will tell you all about it if you ask). The servers were on top of it and very friendly. Make reservations. Pros: Ambiance, Great Drinks, Romantic more
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Not worth the trip 8/23/2002

I was very disappointed in my lunch meal. The atmosphere was nice, so I expected the food to taste much better than it did. The fries were horrible. They tasted like fish, nasty! The menu was overpriced ($13.50 for a caesar salad and $9.50 for a hamburger for lunch!) and did not offer a great selection. Cons: Food, Price, Fries more
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Yuck! 8/4/2002

The food took forever to arrive at our table. And the portion is meager compared to the price. The waiter was unattentive. The hostess refused to seat us (6 people) inside instead on the windy patio. And the main course was avarage altho they have some delicious sauce, drinks, and the atmosphere is nice. But I don't recommend this restaurant to anyone. Pros: Easy to park, Good atmosphere Cons: Expensive, Bad service, Below average food more
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Bad experience 7/8/2002

Cold food followed by poor service followed by lack of concern by onsite management made for a bad experience for what was supposed to be a special night for my wife and I. Tried to reheat the same piece of fish and couldn't do that right. 2nd time going back they brought a new plate then disappeared until we were done. Compt our desert but didn't even ask if we wanted coffee or after dinner drink Pros: Outdoor eating great Cons: Expensive, Very poor service, They just didn't care more
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Excellent 6/18/2002

Everytime I go to Trader Vics, the more I like it. You can never go wrong in their expansive, yet pricey drink selection. Everyone at our table loved their meals: Chicken Curry: tons of yummy condiments to add, Filet Mignon: as good as a top steak house; Seared Ahi: incredibally fresh. Dessert: to die for. As for the service, it was nothing spectacular. The food definitely makes up for any slips in service. Pros: Food, Atmosphere, drinks Cons: Pricey drinks more
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Menu for Trader Vic's


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Editorial

  • More than just pina coladas and pu-pu platters at the Palo Alto outpost of this tropical-themed chain.

  • 7/8/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday To Thursday From 05:00 PM To 10:00 PM Friday To Saturday From 05:00 PM To 11:00 PM Sunday From 04:30 PM To 09:30 PM
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Visa
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