Restaurants
Fine dining

Make like it's 1999

Tamarine
546 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA
94301
Tel: +1 (650) 325-8500
Website

The buzz that has surrounded Tamarine since its opening in 2003 has reached a pitch that recalls the valley's IPO halcyon days. Like Slanted Door in San Francisco, Tamarine superbly reimagines Vietnamese cuisine in a swank setting. Green papaya salad has an authentic kick and unusual finesse. The roasted chinese eggplant, peeled to reveal creamy white flesh, is subtle and smokey. The crowd is a prime cross-section of Silicon Valley: smartly-dressed Gen-Xers sit elbow to elbow with suited patricians at the handsome bar or in the tightly spaced dining room.

The friendly staff are able guides through the menu and wine list. (German whites are a perfect match for the cuisine.) The innovative cocktails are also worth trying, particularly the excellent cucumber martini.