Oak + Violet Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where California's Seasons Meet the Table

Oak + Violet sits inside the Park James Hotel on El Camino Real in Menlo Park, serving as the dining heart of what guests have called the number-one hotel in the area. The restaurant draws from the full range of the California table — locally sourced ingredients, produce tied to the season, and a kitchen guided by Michelin-recognized Chef Joseph Humphrey.

The cooking is rooted in Californian cuisine but reaches wider. Hawaiian influences surface in the "Aloha Friday" happy hour, a weekly ritual every Friday from 3 to 6 PM, where the patio fills with craft cocktails and small plates that lean into the Pacific: grilled shrimp tacos with chipotle aioli, pork belly steam buns with gochujang aioli and pickled red onion, and salmon Hawaiian sliders. Alongside them, drinks like the Mai Tai and Li Hing Mui Margarita set an easy, unhurried tone.

A Kitchen That Marks the Calendar

Special occasion menus show the kitchen's range. A Christmas dinner menu has featured whole roasted herb-crusted beef tenderloin with old-school red wine sauce, pasture-raised Petaluma chicken roasted with black truffle butter, and warm acme sourdough with whipped ricotta and wildflower honey — dishes that speak to both comfort and care. Sides like shaved Half Moon Bay Brussels sprout salad with Fuyu persimmons and Satsuma mandarins, and creamed Bloomsdale spinach with crispy shallots, show how thoroughly local sourcing shapes every plate.

The Wine Program

The restaurant's wine list earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025 — recognition that reflects a program built with the same intention as the food. Craft cocktails and a full bar round out the offering, making Oak + Violet equally suited to a relaxed lunch on the outdoor patio or a considered dinner with a well-chosen bottle.

The Setting

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with outdoor seating, a bar, and space for private events. Pets are welcome, and the atmosphere — warm, airy, and unhurried — carries the same character as the boutique hotel around it. For anyone eating in the heart of Silicon Valley, it's a room that takes the food seriously without taking itself too seriously.