Straits Restaurant

The Food is outstanding. The ambiance is hip. Not a place for a family dinner, but definitely a good choice for a date.

Straits Cafe in Palo Alto is a hip yet quiet dinner spot, perfect for a business lunch or romantic dinner. At Santana Row, the owner went for the trendier atmosphere playing loud music to support a large bar. I wouldn't criticize so much but the food suffers; to be fair, I shouldn't draw a conclusion that different atmosphere = worse food but that's the case. If you've been to Sino, just down the street at Santana Row, you'd swear Straits was trying to compete. The live music is a nice touch but I really wish they'd stick with the style that works up the peninsula.