The Village Pub

“🍷 An Iconic Upscale Dining Experience in Woodside The Village Pub remains one of the premier destinations for fine dining in the Bay Area, and for good reason. It manages to strike a difficult balance: it is undeniably upscale and sophisticated, yet it retains a certain "neighborhood" warmth that makes it feel welcoming rather than stuffy. If you are planning a visit, definitely be prepared for the price, as this is a premium experience, but the quality of the food and the level of execution make it well worth the investment for a special evening. 🍽️ Menu Flexibility: Set Menu vs. A La Carte One of the unique features that I really appreciated about The Village Pub is the variety in dining formats. They cater to different types of evenings perfectly: The Main Dining Room: This area typically offers an exquisite set menu (often a three-course format) that allows the kitchen to showcase seasonal ingredients, many of which are sourced from their own local farm. The Bar and Lounge Area: For those who prefer a bit more control or a slightly more relaxed vibe, they offer an a la carte menu in the bar area. This is a great way to enjoy their world-class culinary standards without committing to a full multi-course tasting. ✨ Attentive Service and Culinary Excellence The service here is exactly what you would expect from a Michelin-starred establishment—it is attentive, professional, and knowledgeable. The staff is well-versed in the extensive wine list and is more than happy to guide you through the menu or offer pairing suggestions. As for the food itself, it is consistently tasty and well-balanced. Whether you are going for a refined entree in the dining room or one of their legendary pub burgers in the lounge, the attention to detail in every dish is evident. Farm-to-Table Focus: They have a unique partnership with SMIP Ranch, ensuring the produce is as fresh and local as possible. Vibe: The decor is "moneyed old-school" with a touch of modern elegance—think dark woods, leather, and soft lighting. Wine Program: They have one of the most celebrated wine lists in the country, which is a major draw for collectors and enthusiasts. Ease of Access: Located right in the heart of Woodside, it's a great stop for locals or those making the drive down from San Francisco for a destination meal. 👍 Final Verdict: A Staple for Refined Dining I am giving The Village Pub 5 stars on Google. While the price reflects its high-end status, the combination of delicious food and impeccable service makes it a standout. It is one of those rare places that feels like a treat every single time you go. Whether you’re sitting down for the full set menu experience or just grabbing a high-quality a la carte meal at the bar, you are in for a top-tier culinary event. I’ll definitely be looking for an excuse to come back soon!”

“The service is always super friendly and attentive. There's a cool window into the kitchen from the dining room that looks through a grill over open fire. The lobster salad and scallops crudo were so delicious and refreshing. Every bite is well worth it!”

“12.25. Sunday Brunch menu was amazing ! Perfect oysters, and the black cod just melts in your mouth - almost the texture of scallop but not. It’s an incredible mouth feel of a Michelin star quality food! The apple tartin was unique and not typical as it had the firm puree apples below and the crisp on the top! First mouthful was a hint of anise which was a lovely surprised! Of course you cannot go wrong with the chocolate soufflé - however I would add real dark chocolate flakes on the top to reach a great notch up’ Taste is everything especially the first mouthful! Service - They forgot my teaspoon to stir my coffee. I think busy or not this is after all a Michelin star standard and such details is expected . Hummm…. Please improve! Anyway the chef is amazing! I would go back again as the quality of food still stands as top notch!”

“For a Michelin star restaurant, it really did not impress us. We made a reservation weeks in advance for lunch on a Saturday. It was not real busy upon arrival and we were seated immediately. Parking lot and main door is behind the restaurant, not along the main road. We opted for the 5 course lunch tasting menu for $85 where you choose an appetizer, main course, and dessert. The meal started off with a glass of complimentary champagne, it wasn't very good though. We had the warm cinnamon rolls (lemony, warm, fresh), Hokkaido scallops (good, small portion), Saint Simon oysters (tiny oysters), roasted black cod (quality, fresh, simple, basic), petit filet (+$10, steak was cooked perfectly, came with hash brown-like side and 2 eggs cooked to your preference), Chai crepe cake (good, pumpkin ice cream was fantastic), chocolate souffle (+$5, good, almost like a molten lava, big portion). They also gave us complimentary small tea cup size of cauliflower soup (very good), and a lemon cake for our anniversary (ok). Overall, the food was pretty forgetful. We both agreed the cauliflower soup was the best item followed by the desserts Service was pretty good, but not as good as other Michelin restaurants though. Staff were kind and polite. They acknowledged our celebratory meal and were attentive, however, my request for no added salt was not accommodated for any dish despite being repeated and acknowledged Ambiance was ok. As soon as we walked in we both thought it smelled like a musty locker room or bathroom. Not very pleasant, but we knew we would get used to it. There is a full bar area that serves a full a la carte menu (same as table seating menu) that can accommodate walk ins Overall, pretty disappointing for a Michelin star restaurant. I would not recommend it”

“The food is average - you would expect this for a Michelin star. Nothing is surprisingly good or degrading. We liked the duck breast and the steak. But the appetizer and the dessert have some room to be improved, especially the dessert. Cinnamon is overpowering the pumpkin in the ice cream, the donut with chocolate is just too plain. The service is not bad, polite but distant. When one of us left for the washroom, someone came to fold the napkin but dropped it from where he stands, making a polping sound, without making any eye contact with us. Possibly laying it on the table with a table with a smile would show a better gesture. The dining room is a bit more noisy than we normally like as well. Overall a mediocre choice for a Michelin star.”