Opening hours
Closed · opens Wednesday 11:30 AM
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Local time in Palo Alto: 12:09 PM (PST). Holiday hours may differ – call (650) 327-0284 to confirm.
Location & directions
2363 Birch StPalo Alto, CA 94306
About Bistro Elan
Bistro Elan is a Californian restaurant located at 2363 Birch St in Palo Alto, California. It's part of our guide to 193 restaurants, cafes and bars in Palo Alto.
Bistro Elan is open 4 days a week, usually 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday). Note that it closes between lunch and dinner service on 3 days of the week.
The menu we have on file lists 24 items across 6 sections, including First Course, This Week's Special, Entrees, Sides, and Dessert. Listed prices range from $9.75 to $65.00, with a typical item around $32.00. You will find options like Pink Lady Apple Salad, Niman Ranch Lamb & Pork Meatballs, and Pan-Seared ME Sea Scallops.
You can visit for outdoor seating, takeout, dine-in, and delivery. Visitors describe the atmosphere as cozy, romantic, and upscale. The place is LGBTQ+ friendly. It is especially popular for lunch, dinner, and solo dining. Offerings include alcohol, beer, coffee, organic dishes, and wine.
Accessibility features: wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible parking lot, wheelchair accessible restroom, and wheelchair accessible seating. Payment methods accepted: credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Parking: free parking lot and free street parking. Reservations are accepted; call (650) 327-0284 to book a table.
Quick facts
- Category
- Californian Restaurant
- Address
- 2363 Birch St, Palo Alto, CA 94306
- Phone
- (650) 327-0284
- Price range
- $50 to $100 per person
- Hours
- Open 4 days a week, usually 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday)
- Menu
- 24 items · $9.75–$65.00
- Listing updated
- · Suggest an edit
Popular times
Usually busiest around 6 PM on Fridays; one of the quieter times is around 12 PM on weekdays.
Based on typical visit patterns for Californian restaurants and this venue’s opening hours.
How the hours compare
We compared Bistro Elan’s weekday schedule with 30 other Californian restaurants in California. On a typical weekday it opens at 11:30 AM, close to the local norm of 11:30 AM and closes at 8:00 PM, earlier than most (typical closing time: 9:00 PM).
In total it is open about 19.5 hours a week, 25 hours fewer than the local median of 45. 80% of Californian restaurants in California open on Sundays; Bistro Elan does not.
Compared with 30 other Californian restaurants in California that list their hours in our guide.
Typical prices for Californian restaurants in California
Based on 25 menus with 1,328 priced items from Californian restaurants in California, the median menu item costs $15.99, and half of all items are priced between $9.60 and $23.99.
At Bistro Elan the median listed price is $32.00, higher than the typical $15.99 for Californian restaurants in California.
| Item | On menus | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Chicken Salad | 16% | $19.00 |
| French Fries | 16% | $9.00 |
| Avocado Toast | 12% | $18.00 |
| Brussels Sprouts | 12% | $14.00 |
| Huevos Rancheros | 12% | $20.00 |
Calculated from 25 menus in our guide. Prices vary by location and change over time.
Photos
All photos (5)
Features & amenities
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Highlights
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Coffee
- Organic dishes
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Romantic
- Upscale
Crowd
- LGBTQ+ friendly
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
- Usually a wait
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
The neighborhood
Within a 10-minute walk (half a mile) of Bistro Elan there are 41 other places to eat and drink in our guide, and 58 within one mile. By type, the places within a mile include Cafes & Coffee (11), Chinese (5), Mexican & Tex-Mex (5), and Japanese & Sushi (4).
16 places within a mile stay open until 10 PM or later on at least one night a week.
Nearest places of other kinds
- Japanese & SushiDaigo< 0.1 mi
- EuropeanNaschmarkt< 0.1 mi
- Asian & PacificAnatolian Kitchen< 0.1 mi
- Cafes & CoffeeZombierunner Coffee< 0.1 mi
- ItalianiTalico< 0.1 mi
What to expect at a Californian restaurant
American restaurants cover a lot of ground: the neighborhood diner with a counter and bottomless coffee, the family restaurant with a long laminated menu, the gastropub doing elevated comfort food, and the “New American” kitchen that builds a short seasonal menu around local farms. What ties them together is a menu built on familiar staples – burgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, fried chicken and pasta – plus regional favorites that change as you cross the country.
What to order
- Cheeseburger – the benchmark dish; a good one tells you how seriously the kitchen takes its basics
- Chicken-fried steak or fried chicken – a comfort classic, especially in the South and Midwest
- Mac and cheese – often a house side that doubles as a main
- A regional specialty – look for anything named after the town or state on the menu
Good to know
- Portions are generous; sharing a starter or ordering a half portion is common and rarely frowned upon.
- Weekday lunch specials and early-bird dinners often cost noticeably less than the regular menu.
- Tipping 18–20% on table service is standard across the US.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What are Bistro Elan's opening hours?
Open 4 days a week, usually 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday). Monday: Closed; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Saturday: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Sunday: Closed.
Is Bistro Elan open on Sunday?
No, Bistro Elan is closed on Sundays.
Where is Bistro Elan located?
Bistro Elan is located at 2363 Birch St, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
What is the phone number of Bistro Elan?
You can call Bistro Elan at (650) 327-0284.
Does Bistro Elan offer delivery or takeout?
Yes, Bistro Elan offers delivery, and takeout is available. Listed service options: outdoor seating, takeout, dine-in, and delivery.
How much does it cost to eat at Bistro Elan?
The typical price range at Bistro Elan is $50 to $100 per person. Menu prices range from $9.75 to $65.00.
Does Bistro Elan take reservations?
Yes, Bistro Elan accepts reservations.
Is Bistro Elan wheelchair accessible?
Listed accessibility features: wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible parking lot, wheelchair accessible restroom, and wheelchair accessible seating.
Is Bistro Elan open late?
No, Bistro Elan usually closes before 10 PM.
What else is near Bistro Elan?
There are 58 other places to eat and drink within a mile of Bistro Elan. Nearby options include Daigo (< 0.1 mi), Naschmarkt (< 0.1 mi), and Anatolian Kitchen (< 0.1 mi).
How much do Californian restaurants in California cost?
Based on 25 menus with 1,328 priced items from Californian restaurants in California, the median menu item costs $15.99, and half of all items are priced between $9.60 and $23.99.
