“ If I could rate this place 100 stars out of 5 I would. Bar Zola is quite possibly my favorite restaurant ever, I've been coming here for almost 3 years. After moving to Palo Alto I have been able to come here more frequently and because of this I have become friends with a few of the staff. Nathan, AJ, and Josepho are so kind and always go above and beyond. The food is always amazing, the atmosphere is super fun and best of all they have an amazing staff. If you're looking for a fun place to have drinks or get dinner, look no further than bar Zola :) ”

“ I had a mixed experience. The indoor ambiance was inviting, with ample seating both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor area was thoughtfully equipped with heaters and shaded spots, making it a more comfortable space to relax and enjoy a meal. The oysters were fresh and delicious, and the standout dish for me was the chickpea panisse--it was truly impressive and left a lasting impression. While most of the staff interactions were pleasant, the main waitress was noticeably inattentive. I felt rushed (we left about 30 minutes earlier than planned to go have snacks & dessert somewhere else because it felt so uncomfortable) & she didn't seem particularly concerned and failed to clearly communicate the ingredients in the dishes I inquired about. This lack of care made the dining experience less comfortable than it could have been. Although I'm uncertain if I'll return (the food was very good & impressive), I wouldn't discourage anyone from giving Zola a try. ”

“ Wow! What a great dining experience. The service was great and the food was fantastic. We shared an appetizer, salad & the monk fish dish. It was all delicious! I had a bees knees cocktail and it was very refreshing. We did ask to have our dessert to go and it was 10/10. We didn't have a reservation but they were able to seat us outside under the heaters which was great. Can't wait to come back again next time we're in town. ”

“ I reached out to this place for a company team event for about 15 people and they were very accommodating. Most of the places I reached out to in Palo Alto required a very high minimum and signed contract but Guillaume from Bar Zola was very helpful and didn't require this which we appreciated. We reserved the side room for a stand up cocktail style event and it was perfect for our group that ended up being about 12, with standing tables and some high bar stools. The place is dimly lit for a more intimate ambiance and decorated for the holidays. We saw that there was another hidden room for a private sit down dinner that another group had occupied. Because there was a door to separate our groups there wasn't an issue of invading our spaces. We ordered a bunch of food ahead of time so that they were prepared for our arrival and the food was great! * artichoke lettuce cups - these were okay, we had a couple vegan guests so these worked for them but we had a surplus of these left over. * stuffed mushrooms - cute little mushroom caps with more mushrooms inside. These were the perfect little bite * crab cakes - these were so cute and easy to pop into your mouth, these were probably my favorite * steak poivre brochette - steak on a skewer, and these were definitely the group fave. Tender and good flavor! * crispy pork belly - not very crispy unfortunately. * truffle truffle grilled cheese - I was afraid these would be too rich with the truffle but it was the perfect balance, it was delicious! * seasoned olives - I liked these but some people in my groups didn't like that it was warm instead of cold. * chocolate mousse was delicious not too sweet! * lemon tart - wow this was tasty, from the meringue on top to the lemon custard and then the crust. Wow! Drinks were also great! Along with attentive service! All guests in our group were very pleased with everything from the drinks, to the service, to the food! I will definitely be back! ”

“ We dropped by here before dinner for some drinks without reservation around 4:30. The bar was already full. They were graceful enough to give us a small table for an hour. I got a glass of champagne and my friend ordered a glass of rose. My champagne was crisp, fresh and dry. It was wonderful. My friend loved her rose and wouldn't stop talking about it. We shared a tuna tartar. It was super fresh and the flavor was spot on. Very nice bar and good decoration throughout. One side note that I didn't get any signals around here. Took me some time to walk around looking like a tourist to find it. But it was worth the effort. ”

“ I went out with a girlfriend on a Saturday night to celebrate her first mom's night out. This was the first time I have been after their renovations this summer. The ambiance was a bit upscale - perfect opportunity to get dressed up and go out in the Bay. In light of their 10 year anniversary at the original location, they had a special menu: french onion soup, braised short ribs, and a peach dessert. It was good. My short ribs were a bit too fatty for my taste, but I think that depends on what cut of meat you get. We enjoyed the potato side that came with the main the most. Service was fine. They left us alone most of the night (but was attentive) as I think they felt we were deep in conversation. Drinks came incredibly fast. We felt the restaurant was quite busy being a Saturday night. I didn't particularly enjoy the interaction with the host. We had a "misunderstanding" and were seated at 7:30 pm for our 7:15 pm reservation. But I liked it enough to try it again maybe with my husband for a future date night. ”

“ Great menu selection. Our server was extremely patient in explaining the entire menu to us. We had someone who was gluten free in our party and our server marked the entire menu with what they could/ couldn't have. We sat outside and service was pretty quick and attentive. Great ambiance for a medium sized group dinner. Food was decently delicious as well. The gnocchi was a true standout and I'd opt for the steak instead of the fish for entree. ”