Chef Srijith Gopinathan is an acclaimed chef known for pioneering Cal-Indian cuisine, a unique blend of Californian and Indian culinary traditions. He has held two Michelin stars and is a James Beard Award nominee....
Ettan, meaning 'breath' in Sanskrit, offers a unique Cal-Indian dining experience in Palo Alto. It blends traditional Indian culinary techniques with fresh, vibrant California ingredients. The restaurant features an eclectic global aesthetic, designed to be casually chic by day and sophisticated by night, making it suitable for both professional gatherings and intimate evenings.
Customers generally praise Ettan for its sophisticated atmosphere, attentive and professional service, and beautiful setting, making it a popular choice for corporate events and special occasions. While many appreciate the variety and thoughtful preparation of dishes, some reviews indicate inconsistency in food quality, particularly for certain main courses and desserts, with some finding the value for money lacking compared to other fine-dining establishments. Dishes like Asparagus Kofta and Kerala Fried Chicken often receive positive mentions, while others like Butter Chicken and certain desserts have been described as mediocre or disappointing.
Additional Details
Ettan is a sister restaurant to Copra Restaurant. The concept emphasizes a 'deconstructed elegance' and a 'unique confluence of the Indian culinary palette and California fresh ingredients.'
Ettan is open for lunch on weekdays (11:30 am - 2:00 pm) and dinner daily (starting at 5:00 pm). Weekend brunch/lunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays (11:00 am - 1:30 pm). It is ideal for professional gatherings during weekday lunch and for a sophisticated dinner or weekend brunch.
Awards & Recognition
New Discovery • 2021
Michelin Guide California Listing • 2025
5
If you’re looking for a reliable spot for a professional gathering in Palo Alto, Ettan is a standout choice. The team and I had a meal here, and the experience was seamless from start to finish. The restaurant strikes a great balance between a sophisticated atmosphere and a welcoming vibe, making it ideal for both focused discussions and casual team bonding.
The menu is a major draw, offering a fantastic variety of dishes that hit the mark for everyone at the table. We explored a range of flavors, and the quality across the board was consistently high. Each dish felt thoughtfully prepared, using fresh ingredients that truly elevated the meal. It’s rare to find a place where every person in a large group walks away genuinely impressed by the food, but Ettan managed to do exactly that.
The service played a huge role in making the evening a success. The staff was exceptionally attentive and professional, ensuring our needs were met without being intrusive. They kept the pace of the meal moving perfectly, which is crucial when you’re trying to balance conversation with dining. We never had to ask for refills or wait long for the next course; the team handled everything with impressive efficiency.
Overall, the combination of excellent food and top-tier service makes this a highly recommended destination for any corporate event. It provided the perfect backdrop for our team to connect and enjoy a high-quality meal together in a beautiful setting.
Great food selection, amazing drinks and top notch service with very indian vibes ambiance! Overall a great Indian restaurant. We tried the panipuri, asparagus kofta, lamb kebab and paneer dish. We also got garlic naan and parotha. The asparagus kofta was the most interesting dish in that day's menu. Overall everything tasted great.
Review is for a weekday lunch prix fixe. We got the jackfruit sliders and grilled shrimp for appetizers- good! Our mains were butter chicken and paneer Kali mirch- the butter chicken was mediocre at best! The sauce for the paneer was the saving grace here. We were given complimentary sides of tandoori roti and coconut rice which was nice. Lastly for dessert, we picked the chocolate mousse and carrot malai kulfi, the latter being a total miss for me- it tasted heavily of milk powder and too dense and cakey to be called a kulfi. For a place listed on the Michelin guide 2025, some of the dishes were truly disappointing.
Overall the experience was lacking for a fine-dining restaurant. I think the starters need a revamp. They felt bland to me especially the methi matar kebab. For the price point the food wasn’t good overall. The main course paneer dish was tasty gravy wise but I felt the paneer to be stiff and hard . Overall I believe that for fine dining the restaurant need to upgrade the food. For a bill of $150 I didn’t like the food to taste good. I felt other economical restaurants have better tasting food. The dessert(Bartlet pear) was not good. The icecream proportion was very small and the ghee cake was bitter. Vibe wise the tables didn’t have the table cloth. Overall, the food was not tasty for a $150 bill.
Went with a few friends for dinner, here's a few takeaways:
1. We ordered Ananas Pani Puri and Sesame Leaf for snacks, Mangalore Bun and Kerala Fried Chicken for starters and Homemade Paneer Kalimirch, Red Chard Patra, Chicken Tikka & Kale for mains: (i) Sesame Leaf, Ananas Pani Puri, Kerala Fried Chicken and Red Chard Patra were good overall, all of the rest was honestly just decent (not worth the price). (ii) Food quality was good. (iii) Food quantity was very much on the low end. (iv) Quality of paneer could have been better.
2. Service was good and timely.
3. Ambiance was good, as expected from a place like Ettan.
4. Lots of street parking and public parking garages around.
5. We had a reservation but it wasn't required.
