Flea Street Cafe
A notable chef, market-fresh food and welcoming service make this cozy South Bay restaurant a destination.
(650) 521-5094
3607 Alameda de las Pulgas
(at Avy Avenue)
Menlo Park,
CA
94025
37.4317
-122.2013
Neighborhood: University Heights
Hours:
Tue-Sat 5:30pm-9pm
Sun 10am-2pm, 5:30pm-9pm
Price:
$$
Last updated 7.02.09
What People Are Saying About Flea Street Cafe
The Owner
Flea Street Cafe
Owner
For more than 25 years, Flea St. Cafe has been a favorite place to dine with the local community. The warm, inviting atmosphere makes it an ideal location for both business and pleasure. The food and Atmosphere have a European Provencal flair that intertwines casual sophistication with a flavor driven, locally inspired menu. Menus are seasonal and make full use of the nearby Pacific, artisan cheese makers, local produce farmers, ranchers and wineries, weaving an interesting, yet approachable cuisine that uses the very best of the season. Flea St?s full bar is a quiet, yet lively spot for meeting for a cocktail; specializing in martinis and a hand-selected boutique California wine list. Flea St. has received awards with many years of acclaim for its long time commitment to organic, local and sustainable food and practices.
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
The decor is romantic, almost evoking a New England feel with its lace curtains and tablecloths, old photographs and snug nooks for dining. This spot boasts a regular following of high-powered Silicon Valley types as well as local foodies, who come in search of chef-owner Jesse Cool's robust regional California cuisine and warm, welcoming service.
The Food
Cool has been promoting seasonal, organic ingredients for more than 20 years, most of them at this South Bay standby. The menu changes according to what's in the markets, but typically features soup, salads and several small plates such as green onion noodle cake and mini tostados with grilled seafood. Entrees might include locally caught king salmon with smoked baby shrimp, lamb and herb sausage served with minted goat cheese, and Israeli couscous and spiked with tomato-pear chutney. Desserts tend to be homey and comforting.
User Reviews
Anonymous
March 10, 2008
This was a great place to have a romantic meal. But I was not thrilled with my meal it was too organic for me! I dont usually like flowers on my food. It was also expensive.
read full reviewAnonymous
February 21, 2008
Updating my review after going to Flea St. Cafe again last night. Spectacular! Amuse was fresh cherry tomatoes from their garden and super sweet fresh plums. Summery soup (carrot and ginger) was out of this world. Fried Greeen tomatoes with corn, bacon mix was delicious. The short ribs entre was super tender and flavorful. Only required a fork - no knife because braised for so long. Even had a nice table side visit with Jesse Cool - the owner and long time proponent of organic food. This place is continuing to raise the bar. Not a surprise that the Clintons dined there when Chelsea went to Stanford. Flea St. Cafe is a nice spot for a quiet dinner - off the beaten path from the Menlo Park downtown. The all organic menu definitely has different fare than you'll find anywhere else on the peninsula. They're devout - serving even the sparkling water in old-fashioned, recycled pressure bottles. A nice alternative to the normal options.
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tigerfood
September 23, 2007
After all the hype and wanting to go for years I finally made it last night and all I can say is--what's the big deal? Our dinner was rather mediocre given our expectations and the cost. The ingredients were good and each dish had an interesting point but not enough to make up for faults elsewhere. The vegetable fritto misto was tasty and the cornmeal batter was nice but several of the vegetables were far too fibrous and others were overcooked. The 'stacked' beet and goat cheese was also tasty and the citrus zest was a nice touch--not a lot to find fault with here except that it wasn't really a stack so much as three thin presentations of beet-cheese-beet. I had the halibut cheeks. Very interesting texture and good flavor but I could barely taste many of the ingredients for the overpowering and very salty kalamata olives. My friend had the portobello wellington with a beet reduction. Also good, but hardly original (probably stolen from Michel Richard--that's not very 'cool'). Wines were totally unremarkable. The ginger creme brulee was an absolute disaster--it was barely bruleed and full of air bubbles, giving it a texture more like porridge. Yuck. I won't be returning.
read full reviewThe Details on Flea Street Cafe
The Extras:
Stone Free Farm provides the lettuce and greens, but it's not just the greens and spuds that are organic: so are the cheese, milk, oils and meats.
Message from Flea Street Cafe
- 25 years and going
- California cuisine
- Casual setting
For more than 25 years, Flea St. Cafe has been a favorite place to dine with the local community. The warm, inviting atmosphere makes it an ideal location for both business and pleasure. The food and Atmosphere have a European Provencal flair that intertwines casual sophistication with a flavor driven, locally inspired menu. Menus are seasonal and make full use of the nearby Pacific, artisan cheese makers, local produce farmers, ranchers and wineries, weaving an interesting, yet approachable cuisine that uses the very best of the season. Flea St?s full bar is a quiet, yet lively spot for meeting for a cocktail; specializing in martinis and a hand-selected boutique California wine list. Flea St. has received awards with many years of acclaim for its long time commitment to organic, local and sustainable food and practices.
