Shop Talk: Bill's Cafe opens in Palo Alto

"Months of delays" sadly defines trying to start just about anything in Palo Alto. Bill's deserves our business just for sticking with it.

I plan to visit soon.

Is in the Middlefield-Charleston area or Middlfiefd -Colorado Ave.????? Looking forward to it. Never go to downtown Palo Alto anymore.

I thought there was a move against chains in Palo Alto.

Lost opportunity for many, we were hoping for an evening eatery that would enable a glass of wine and walking home.

Mike's is no longer attractive since it reduced its menu and put in the tvs.

Its great to have a place like Bills added into the midtown area. They have a wide range of options on their menu and serving breakfast and lunch seems like a logical decision. We went there for lunch and the food was good. I hope the local community supports them and they are successful.

We used to go to MIke's regularly. This was always a neighborly meeting place, lots of happy people.It was well patronized with families and seniors. The prices have gone up. And since TV's were added, it feels like a 'bar'. It has a 'bar". If there is anything I HATE in a restaurant it is TV's. The old warm atmosphere is gone. The lighting is harsh. Mike - you are there frequently. Surely you see this. Six dollars for soup????? $14.00 for pasta? Not in our senior budget

Haven't been to Bill's yet, but will try it soon. I might wait for the Yelpers to chime in first tho.

I've tried many breakfast places in the area. Dinah's Poolside Cafe is very good (and quiet). Joanie's on California Ave is also very good but not so quiet. Hobee's is just so-so.

The other closest one to me until Bill's opened up is Palo Alto Breakfast House, in Midtown. I love that place even tho there is nothing attractive about it except for the menu and great food. That's all I need. It's just a big bare unadorned room full of tables and chairs, no fancy artworks or planters, etc. But the staff is wonderful and they have a big menu. I always sit so I can look into the kitchen to see those great cooks working away on my breakfast. I've tried several things on the menu...eggs benedicts are great with several ones to choose from. But my favorite is their corned beef hash, and 'no' it's not out of a can...it's the real thing. A big plateful...more than I can eat in one meal...so I do the box deal and get a second meal out of it.

Great news!

Does anyone know when Ike's will open in Palo Alto? I haven't heard any date yet.

Mike's used to be the place to go but it has been going downhill for over five years at least, which is a shame because at one time if was a great family place with good food. So on that note I welcome anything new in Midtown that will actually serve good fresh food at a reasonable price, if that is at all possible now in Palo Alto. Good luck!

@andy: The delay was the result of Bill's starting to remodel without a permit.
That's a no-no in most jurisdictions.

How is this affecting parking in that intersection?

@Kate, if $16.00 for an entree is too much for your budget, where do you eat? What do you consider affordable?

/marc

The only mailbox for blocks around is right in front of Bill's. It is scheduled for imminent removal. Apparently nobody mails letters here anymore.

While Philz had a line of 8 people out the door, Bill's looked pretty empty this morning. Yeah, take-out coffee is a different market from sit-down breakfast.

@Permit - Bill's delays may have been for the reason you state, but there is an overabundance of lengthy delays here; maybe PA just attracts permit violators. PA has a reputation for its permitting and inspection process among contractors, architects and business/home owners looking to start a project I've spoken to, so perhaps getting caught is a risk business owners feel is worth taking. I don't remember that from other cities I've lived in.

Anyway, I went to Bill's for lunch today, and it was OK. I just had a club sandwich - neither bad nor exceptional; just a club. The guy next to me at the counter had one of the several eggs benedict dishes on the menu - it looked good, and that enormous dish disappeared pretty quickly. If consumption speed correlates to taste...

I went at 12.30 or so. Parking was achievable (one spot in the little lot on the north side of the building). The line wasn't out the door, but it was full - one couple ahead of me waiting for a table to open; I took an open seat at the counter.

While the server was johnny-on-the-spot with my drink refills, it seems there's some gel-time needed with the staff remembering orders. At least 3 errors in my area alone - wrong dishes delivered; wrong sides... These are fairly minor/easily corrected, and the place/staff is new; I'll go back to try one of the benedicts.

Finally - several comments about Mike's here. Mike's was one of the first places I ate after moving to PA 7 years ago. I liked it at first, but quit going after a couple years as the food became just a little less desirable with each visit.

I'm looking forward to checking this place out. The places in the area
are all good in their own way, but I don't end up going there too often
for various reasons.

I looked at the generic online menu for Bill's and I was surprised to
see so many drink-drinks. is this place a cafe or a bar? I guess there
are enough coffee places now, and we have to migrate back to
alcohol, and then what we do have to look forward to when pot is
legal.

How are their BLT's? Currently my goto BLT place is Joanies who
makes a mean BLT, but though they will make it and it is fabulous,
they don't have it on the menu anymore I think. The one time this
almost vegan will resort to eating bacon! mmmmmmm!

Since everyone is reviewing other places at the same time as commenting
on Bill's, the reason I want to see something new in this area is that over
time I've noticed that places rise and fall. They get better and worse and
sometimes better again, and even worse again over time.

My goto place for a long time was Palo Alto Breakfast Cafe, when they
opened, and then for about a year after that. Then the most awesome
energetic server quit and left and the place started sliding. It is still
good, but they get sloppy when they are busy and have never done
anything about the hard bare walls so it has a roar of noise in it that
is unbearable, and no internet. The last time I was there they just about
kicked me when I came in near closing time and asked them if I had time
to eat and they said yes. So that place is on hiatus for me.

Mike's I've always thought was expensive, average and crowded, but the
last two times I've been there (instead of going to the Palo Alto Breakfast
Cafe) they were great and the price seemed reasonable, and the service was
good. Yea! Mikes. Mikes is doing something right.

So. the addition of a new place I really hope will be a reminder to all of
these places that they have to think about the customer if they want us
to spend out money there. Think about the customer experience or we
will go across the street.

A few more comments.

Their outside patio dining is not under the vines but on tables in a fenced area near the main door. Looks very pleasant.

The menu is varied, particularly for breakfast, with some sandwiches for lunchtime. For those on a budget, there is a mini breakfast section for M - F 7 - 11. I expect seniors will enjoy doing this and probably can stretch their time chatting until the lunchtime crowd. There is also a classic sandwich section which is also very affordable. The prices for other items are more expensive, but probably not outrageously so.

There are also signs outside Philz for 10 minute parking. I wonder how long it takes to stand in the line at Philz to get a coffee?

The customers of Philz long ago claimed that outdoor dining area ( originally belonging to Deli Pommard) as their own. It rightfully belongs to Bill's now, but just try to claim a table as a Bill's customer! Philz has led their own customers to believe that area belonged to Philz, to make up for the lack of indoor seating.

I see a turf war in the future.....

Did Mikes get a new chef ? Have not been there in a while but I see a lot of concerns regarding price and atmosphere. The food has always been great there and the location is nice since it is set back off Middlefield. Enjoy the patio on a nice day. Will try Bills and like the counter attraction. Do they serve spirits ?

We tried out Bill's for lunch today.

Pleasant surroundings, nicest of the local spots on Middlefield.
I am reticient to rate this place on a scale of 1 to 5 because
when I do things will change, but if I had to I'd give them a
4+/5. The test will come over time.

Nice booths, and not loud or glaring light or noise ... a very
pleasant atmosphere, and it was not crowded together like
many places where you feel you are jammed up against
other people. It felt relaxed.

The food was fresh, well made, no mistakes. I think the service
was still getting into a routine, but we got adequate attention
and service. I will go there again. I recommend giving it a try.

Prices ... reasonable for Palo Alto.

Oh, and we did try those mimosas ... watch out, they are strong.

( yes, they serve drinks ) As it says up there which we did not know
at the time ... 17 ounces, with fresh orange juice. I'd say unless you
want to get tipsy, they ought to put a bit more orange juice and a
bit less champagne. That's just me a lightweight drinker though.

Bills needs wifi

Nothing like Wifi to make a place more sociable ...

You had me at booths . . . I love booths! Oh, and strong mimosas? Yes please!

Looking forward to giving Bill's a try soon.

We tried Bill's Cafe today, margarine is what they use on their toast. Yak. Hash browns are mooshy boiled potatoes smashed and fried on each side. Yak. Fresh OJ is poured out of Sysco plastic gallon bottle. We sat at the bar and yet could not get attention from a server. Not coming back.

Posted by PaloAlto a resident of Midtown
>> Hash browns are mooshy boiled potatoes smashed and fried on each side.

Who makes good hash browns consistently? I have been all over the area.
Every time I get hash browns I request that they be cooked crispy, yet very
rarely are they cooked well, and when I go get the occasional hash browns
crispy and cooked right, the next time I might return they are not cooked
well even if I ask again and again for the cook to make them well-done.

Who around the area actually does make consistent really good hash brown potatos?

Jason's Cafe
Address: 1246 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone:(650) 321-3300

Always excellent crispy hash browns. Inexpensive ($2.50 as a side or included with meal)) no frills place. Bill's Cafe flattens and fries boiled potatoes, probably using margarine that they use on toast.

My wife and I had breakfast at BIll's for the first time a week ago. Never going back. Blah buckwheat pancakes, grey sausage, no flavor potatoes. No redeeming features.

Joanies's I will not forsake you again.

/marc

Absolutely rotten service, mediocre food.

Won't return.

This place will not last much longer in Palo Alto.

So disappointed-- had high hopes for this place.

I have been there several times and have not been disappointed. I am not a connoisseur of hashbrowns so can't comment. Their service is dependent on the number of people present. If all the tables are full the wait staff are run off their feet. When it is quieter, service is better. I get the impression they are finding it hard to keep the right number of staff as I heard a couple of times that staff are new.

As for their food, the portions are huge. The eggs have always been cooked perfectly. The skillet selection is what I go for and have never found fault with what I order. The number of different options is huge and takes a first timer quite a while to read the menu. I suggest if you are asked to wait to ask for a menu so that you can read then and have your decisions ready by the time you are seated.

It is a shame that they do not do evening dinners as that would make a nice alternative to the dining options locally.

I agree with Resident, when I have been there Bill's has been
above average. I really do not get the animus directed at
Bill's in a few of the last posts. One thing might be that they are
taking away business from nearby restaurants, particularly one
nearby that started out very nice and has declined in food and
service recently. Maybe some are trying to badmouth the place.

Bill's is above average based on just the site and interior, how
comfortable and generally quiet it is. When I have been there
the food, while not perfect has been reasonably priced and
above average. I eat a lot of salads and Bill's salads are kind
of simple, without a lot of ingredients. That is about the only
thing I think they do do better with, but they are still good.

The bottom line for me is that Bill's, every time I have been
there, has given every local restaurant in the area some real
competition, and in my mind comes out near or at the top
of most comparisons.

Bill's Cafe is less than average compared to other PA, MP, LA breakfast places - mashed potatoes fried and called hash browns is deceiving and lazy, margarine on toast is cheap, and the service is poor. Only The Original Pancake House in LA has worse service. Very disappointing.

"Palo Alto," you are repeating yourself here. (That does not make the message more persuasive.)

@Marc, Joanie's is number one for me too. Prices went up recently, I believe due more to their food costs than their service costs. Gotta get there early on Sundays to beat the farmers market rush.

Bill's is much closer for me and I tried them twice soon after they opened. Nothing wrong I could put my finger on, but somehow I just haven't been back. Went out of my way to try Baji's around that time, sort of comparison shopping, and I wasn't impressed, though I know Baji's has diehard fans. Hobee's on ECR near Arastradero was a long time favorite of mine, but traffic on El Camino has worsened, and the view out the window has changed from trees and the low slung Rickey's Hyatt to a solid wall of townhouses blotting out the sky.

>> Hobee's on ECR near Arastradero was a long time favorite of mine, but traffic on El Camino has worsened,

Ain't it the truth? Hobee's used to be my goto local place for fresh food. Sadly the Town & Country Hobee's closed, and little by little the quality and service at Palo Alto ECR or Rengstorff in Mtn. View have been going downhill. Who can guess why this is, but I no longer go to either location any longer.

BUT ... if you care to drive to Mathilda in Sunnyvale over by where Lockheed used to be, that Hobees is the best of all of the ones in the area I have been to. Once about a year ago I went there just to see if there was a difference, and it blew my mind. Same menu, much better execution. The view may not be any better, but for me it is worth it.

Truthfully, I'd rather go there for a big salad than Bill's because Bill's salad are kind of ho-hum. Good, but not as good or with as much ingredients as Hobee's in Sunnyvale.