Smyrna - Palo Alto

Smyrna is a true gem on Cal Ave, and they serve the best lamb chops in Palo Alto!

The lamb chops and lamb burger were both outstanding. The service was also very good.

I want to give a big shout out to the hostess, who ended up acting as our waitress since the actual waiter only checked on us once we were already three-quarters of the way through our meal. We waited 30 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. To be fair, it was Valentine’s Day, and I understand they were busy. Eventually, the hostess came over with some wine glasses and offered to open the bottle we brought, despite admitting she wasn’t very experienced at it. With the lack of attention we were receiving, she took it upon herself to take our order. If it hadn’t been for her initiative and friendly demeanor, we probably would have left. I really hope the wait staff shared their tips with her, as they certainly didn’t deserve anything. The food was good, but the service was a complete disaster.

Overall it was an okay place. Not great but not bad either. The service was a bit slow for Valentines Day, as in I had to keep grabbing the waiter and ask for stuff. Food was good but not great as they shortened the menu for Valentine’s Day and this was not visible at the time of reservation.

Smyrna is one of our new favorites. The food is delicious, the service is friendly and the location is ideal. There is plenty of outdoor seating for people who enjoy that, but we prefer to eat inside, as the dining room is pretty. Our favorite starters are the calamari and the tzatziki.