OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
cardcrimson - 02-27-2020
My daughter has a couple of athletic events on and around the campus this weekend, and her mom and I are looking for some cheap eats in the area. Any suggestions? We made the mistake of hitting a small sushi place in Menlo Park a couple of weeks ago that was insanely expensive. Pasta/vegetarian is good for the rugrat, healthy is good for the wife, cheap meat is good for me. Thanks for any insights!
PS I've not spent very much time in the area since the 80's and was stunned to see the British Banker's Club is still open. Hazily remember Long Island Ice Teas from there back in the day. . . .
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
Goose - 02-27-2020
(02-27-2020, 07:29 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: PS I've not spent very much time in the area since the 80's and was stunned to see the British Banker's Club is still open. Hazily remember Long Island Ice Teas from there back in the day. . . .
Totally different beast these days. Different owners plowed a lot of cash into the building. Don't know if they are making it back.
TreesAndBirds -
TreesAndBirds - 02-27-2020
not sure what qualifies as cheap any more....but a suggestion on Cal Ave
https://www.kaligreekkitchen.com/menu
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
82lsju - 02-27-2020
a variety of cheap/good value eats in/near Palo Alto
- Oren's Hummus on University
- La Boheme on California
- Chef Chu's on El Camino at San Antonio
- Palo Alto Sol on California
- Zotts on Alpine
- Asian Box in Town & Country
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
PalmTree - 02-27-2020
Sushi House in the corner of Town & Country Village closest to downtown PA is pretty good and reasonable for Bento-style meals and sushi.
Mrs. PT and I also like the sandwiches at Mendocino Farms (167 Hamilton Ave, downtown) - also good quality, tasty, fresh and reasonable.
^^We do also like Oren's^^ - they have a branch next door to Sushi House but the menu is limited compared to the University Ave location (between Ramona and Bryant), so hit the latter if you decide to try it.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
Snorlax94 - 02-27-2020
I wish I had better suggestions but PA is so expensive these days.
For an athlete, presumably you want something reasonably healthy. I was going to recommend Pluto’s, but they closed.
There are a couple of fast casual soup-salad-sandwich shops in the area — Corner Bakery and Specialty’s. they are just ok but they have healthy options, aren’t outrageously-priced, and often have ample seating (some deli options don’t have seating)
Enjoy your trip. at least The weather will hopefully be great.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
oldalum - 02-27-2020
There is nothing cheap in Palo Alto except fast food.
Kirk's or Gott's Roadside for burgers etc., both in Town and Country (Gott's has Impossible Burger for vegetarians).
Zareen's on California Ave is good Indian with vegetarian offerings (their vegetarian Samosa burger is my daughter's favorite food).
We like Peking Duck on California Ave for Chinese.
If warm and sunny, the new Zott's is great but not cheap.
Palo Alto Sol is great Mexican but not cheap.
Izzy's Bagels on California Ave is inexpensive and excellent.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
JJJ - 02-27-2020
I’m going to need refer back to this thread in a few months. Thanks for all the info (and for asking for it in the first place).
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
Crafter Artisan - 02-27-2020
Pizza My Heart is still at its place on University Ave. I found their prices to be very reasonable when I lived there, but it's been 12 or 13 years.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
PAsportsfan - 02-27-2020
Crepevine in downtown PA. Large american menu.
https://crepevine.com/locations/palo-alto/
I think it has the best burger around. Try the "El Baron", add bacon. The other sandwich I like is "Cardinal". Chicken with white cheddar. Each sandwich is served with fries or home potatoes and a side salad. These are big enough that I often split one with my GF. I save Kirk's burger for game day at Stanford. Save Shake Shack at Stanford Shopping Center for a fun treat.
Indian
I've started going to
http://darbar-indian-cuisine-palo-alto.sites.tablehero.com/.
Only had the chicken tikka APPETIZER, it's a good value. GF had chicken tikka masala dinner plate.
Mediterranean
My go to is GYROS GYROS, corner University and Cowper.
Chicken kebab wrap or chicken kebab dinner plate.
Poke House in Town and Country is my meal after hiking the Dish (Stanford)
https://www.yelp.com/biz/poke-house-palo-alto-palo-alto
Sunday morning farmers market on California.
#1 Banh Mi sandwich vendor
#2 Roli Roti rotisseri chicken
https://roliroti.com/
#3 Indian vendor for chicken tikka masala wrap. (this vendor also sells on campus)
#4 Get coffee at Zombie Runner
https://www.zombierunner.com/about/palo_alto_store/
Palo Alto Creamery is good for breakfast, but pricey.
http://www.paloaltocreamery.com/#about
Yes, I forgot to add Pizza MY Heart. Good pizza and value.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
M T - 02-28-2020
Places I eat near Stanford, in Menlo Park, on El Camino, near Ravenswood
(see link for menu & prices. In parentheses are references to 1980s establishments at the location)
Cook's Seafood: Fish & Chips. (next to where Arby's was)
Jeffrey's Hamburgers: 50's style hamburger place (was a pancake house)
Cafe Borrone: California cuisine (next to Kepler's & British Banker's Club)
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
BostonCard - 02-28-2020
(02-27-2020, 09:26 PM)82lsju Wrote: a variety of cheap/good value eats in/near Palo Alto
- Oren's Hummus on University
- La Boheme on California
- Chef Chu's on El Camino at San Antonio
- Palo Alto Sol on California
- Zotts on Alpine
- Asian Box in Town & Country
I second Oren’s hummus. Best hummus in the Bay Area and we will occasionally drive down from Burlingame to get it.
BC
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
81alum - 02-28-2020
Nothing is cheap here. My wife and I almost never go to anything on University Avenue.
California Avenue has a lot of choices that are one tier down in expense from University. On California Avenue you have Izzy's Bagels, Kali Greek Kitchen is pretty good and healthy, Palo Alto Sol has been mentioned but is not cheap, probably the most popular on California Avenue now is Zareens--a Desi fast food place that often has a line out the door, and just off the main street is Anatolian Kitchen where a meat lover can get decent kabobs. Mediterarrean Wraps is near Izzy's and I think does qualify as the one cheap eats on the street--pretty decent Swarma wraps.
If you like Thai there is Siam on El Camino which is sort of a family run hole-in-the-wall.
If you like somewhat authentic northern Chinese food Chef Zhao in Edgewood Plaza is your best bet.
I second Sushi House in Town and Country, although its prices have gone up in the last few years. I bumped into David Shaw with one of his kids picking up take-out there a couple of years ago.
There IS one cheap eats in Town and Country--that is the Asian Box which is part of a chain. Popular with Paly kids, for $8 you get a box of Asian themed food with vegetable, rice, meat, etc. I don't think it is too bad. Beats hot dogs at Maples.
Finally, there is always Jimmy Vs if you catch it at a time it is actually open--and you can often rub shoulders with Stanford athletes while you eat.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
SpokaneLee - 02-28-2020
Locals, what's the current status of the old Cheese House in Town and Country Village? Tears coming down my cheeks......
https://tandcvillage.com/tenant/village-cheese-house/
RE: TreesAndBirds -
cardcrimson - 02-28-2020
(02-27-2020, 09:17 PM)TreesAndBirds Wrote: not sure what qualifies as cheap any more....but a suggestion on Cal Ave
https://www.kaligreekkitchen.com/menu
Not sure either, though $15 for a large thimble of saki certainly isn't. . . .
Kali greek looks good. Thanks!
Not coming that far, just from the slums in the East Bay. Not quite an "athlete" yet, but our daughter has a couple of scrimmages at Avery and some clinics at Menlo that may be ongoing--but healthy and carb loaded is good.
PA has changed a lot since the early 80s! Thanks for the help!
(02-27-2020, 09:34 PM)Snorlax94 Wrote: I wish I had better suggestions but PA is so expensive these days.
For an athlete, presumably you want something reasonably healthy. I was going to recommend Pluto’s, but they closed.
There are a couple of fast casual soup-salad-sandwich shops in the area — Corner Bakery and Specialty’s. they are just ok but they have healthy options, aren’t outrageously-priced, and often have ample seating (some deli options don’t have seating)
Enjoy your trip. at least The weather will hopefully be great.
(02-28-2020, 06:35 AM)81alum Wrote: If you like somewhat authentic northern Chinese food Chef Zhao in Edgewood Plaza is your best bet.
After reading the other thread, might be shying away from Chinese food. Looks good though. . . .
Siam sounds good, btw. Wife and daughter love Thai. . .
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
teejers1 - 02-28-2020
(02-28-2020, 06:35 AM)81alum Wrote: Nothing is cheap here. My wife and I almost never go to anything on University Avenue.
California Avenue has a lot of choices that are one tier down in expense from University. On California Avenue you have Izzy's Bagels, Kali Greek Kitchen is pretty good and healthy, Palo Alto Sol has been mentioned but is not cheap, probably the most popular on California Avenue now is Zareens--a Desi fast food place that often has a line out the door, and just off the main street is Anatolian Kitchen where a meat lover can get decent kabobs. Mediterarrean Wraps is near Izzy's and I think does qualify as the one cheap eats on the street--pretty decent Swarma wraps.
If you like Thai there is Siam on El Camino which is sort of a family run hole-in-the-wall.
If you like somewhat authentic northern Chinese food Chef Zhao in Edgewood Plaza is your best bet.
I second Sushi House in Town and Country, although its prices have gone up in the last few years. I bumped into David Shaw with one of his kids picking up take-out there a couple of years ago.
There IS one cheap eats in Town and Country--that is the Asian Box which is part of a chain. Popular with Paly kids, for $8 you get a box of Asian themed food with vegetable, rice, meat, etc. I don't think it is too bad. Beats hot dogs at Maples.
Finally, there is always Jimmy Vs if you catch it at a time it is actually open--and you can often rub shoulders with Stanford athletes while you eat.
What, no love for Joanie's Cafe on California Avenue?
And Jimmy V.'s is a good call. A group of us periodically meets there to discuss Stanford sports and get fired up for goings-on (hope on hoops, and softball, though baseball is looking bleak).
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
cardcrimson - 02-28-2020
Jimmy V's looks perfect for a team of girls between games at Avery. However, it appears to be closed on the weekends, is that accurate?
Thanks again for all the suggestions. Looks like some great choices!
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
BobK - 02-28-2020
Jimmy Vs is also a training table for athletes so often closed to athletes only
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
BrevinsBest - 02-28-2020
El Jefe or death. For good, cheap, hot sandwiches try the Dairy Store, the storefront to what I believe to be the original Peninsula Creamery. It's located on High St and is not to be confused with the Peninsula Creamery on Hamilton. Get the Jefe or the Bada Bing.
RE: OT: Cheap Eats around Stanford -
martyup - 02-28-2020
You might try Whole Foods Market. They have hot and cold food with lots of choices, especially in the meat category. You can sit at a table in their dining area and enjoy a great meal for far less than a restaurant. There is one at
774 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301.