MacArthur Park - Palo Alto

Pros: Only the building and the fact that it has private rooms.
Cons: The service (terrible), the food (mediocre to bad), the menu (limited and unimaginative).

Because we had enjoyed some wonderful family celebrations at MacArthur Park in the 80's and 90's, we thought it would be the perfect place for a family Christmas Eve dinner. What a huge mistake! The service was slow, distracted, unfriendly, ...

Pros: You can say you've been there
Cons: Not good for large parties-limited selection

MacArthur Park is touted as an exclusive, fancy-schmancy restaurant.
But the question is-is the food worth the price? In my estimation, no!

The company I used to work for had a small staff of 12. We had made reservations for 24 at...

Pros: Excellent, professional service, at times rushed.
Cons: Prices are high, value mediocre.

Beautifully appointed, airy in its historical Red Cross Building, MacArthur Park sadly disappointed me. The menu features a good cross section of meats, chicken, fish, salads and pasta, but just didn't measure up to the high price.

I happened...

Pros: Great Food, Service
Cons: Location, Prices

MacArthur Park is famous for its package dinners, which caters to large groups of people, mostly corporates.

I've been to this place twice, courtesy Microsoft. The last time I went there, was in a bigger group of almost 30 people. They have 2...

Pros: Good gourmet food; nice atmosphere
Cons: HORRIBLE Customer Service; rude waiters/waitresses

Where can I begin? I went to MacArthur Park with very high expectations because all of my colleagues and friends had recommended it to me. In short, I was sorely disappointed. The food was not bad, but something they don't seem to understand at this...

Pros: GREAT RIBS
Cons: Service can be mediocre

Having gone to MacArthur Park in San Francisco for years and years, I figured that the restaurant had probably started to fade in its appeal and cuisine. Now that I spend my time taking care of large client groups in Palo Alto, I've found that not only...

Pros: valet parking (only one that comes to mind)
Cons: mediocre food, bad service, overcharged dinners

MacArthur Park is the most overrated dining experience in Palo Alto. First of all, the service is extremely bad. I went with a group of friends, and we had to flag down the waitress every time we needed more water. They made us order from a preset menu...

Pros: Ribs, dessert
Cons: Too much meat?

I am a huge ribs fan and this is probably my favorite restaurant. These are the best ribs going. Baby back, tender, good sauce, lean. The best. They come with good, crispy fries. I don't like coleslaw, but you might.
The rest of the menu is...

Pros: staff is professional, friendly and service is quite good. The food is FANTASTIC!
Cons: Ordering and food service delays during peak business hours

MacArthur Park is a Palo Alto institution. I've been going there for years. I've been there as a small party and up to 20 people. I have always found the servers to be friendly, professional and prompt. Although certain days of the week & holidays are crowded and (a diner should expect service to be slow during peak hours).
The baby back ribs are AWESOME! As are their fish dishes. Prices are compatible to other restaurants in the area. I've never had a bad experience there and intend on going there for many years to come.

Pros: nice ambiance, good location
Cons: rude waiter service, no free parking, mediocre food

Eating at MacArthur Park in Palo Alto was one of the worse dining experiences I've ever had. Our waiter was arrogant and rude, and talked down to us while we were ordering. It was clear that they cared very little about customer service, or making sure that their diners were happy. I think I've had better service at my local fast food drive through.
The ambiance is nice, and it's a beautiful building, but that is the only positive thing. The food is mediocre at best, and the menu is limited. If you are looking for original cuisine - this is not the place to visit. For the prices they charge, I'd expect something better then what was served.
Overall, I do NOT recommend this place to anyone. It was a sore disappointment and I never plan on eating here again.

Pros: Building was designed by world renowned architect Julia Morgan. Outdoor patio.
Cons: Iceberg lettuce. Minimal parking if you don't do valet.

Beware of the overpriced house salad. Can you say 99.9% profit margin? It was a pale wilted, translucent and the dressing's sole purpose was to add sheen to the shriveled bits. Maybe the economic meltdown hit MacArthur Park as much as a fledgling dot com stock.

Pros: Food is tasty and service was fine (champagne and coffee servers).
Cons: Too expensive for what you get. Charging for coffee!!!

Very disappointed in their Sunday Brunch. Way overpriced for what you get. I think you should be able to order an omelet of your choice made while you wait. They have the usual Roast Beef, Ham, scrambled eggs, bacon, etc etc. Don't ask for tomato juice instead of orange juice (included in price) because it will cost you $3.50 extra. Also, a cup of coffee will cost you $2.95!! Only 5 desserts to choose from. Won't go back. Brunch for two of us $64.19. Too much!!