Invited by a friend who said that this is a high-end fun sum restaurant that is very good. Tried their dim sum and was not impressed. Way overpriced by more than double that what you can find at you local dim sum restaurant. Their unagi rice dish was so-so. I have had much fresher tasting unagi at other places. Their shrimp dumpling had an off-putting flavor with the lobster oil. Only for show, taste no go. Service was average. Atmosphere is high-end. You are paying for the high rent and use of expensive order cards for dim sum. I have never seen a dim sum special for four people for lunch at $240.00! I won't be coming back here anytime soon.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Edward Hard
No cart DimSum. Flavor profiles of your regular favorites are great. Creative twists on some dishes give customers nice surprise to satisfy the palette.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephen Liu
Came here for the instagrammable XLBs and left..... whelmed. Everything was delicious, but I just might not be the audience for "elevated" dim sum.The har gow, chicken feet, and peking duck were all pretty standard in preparation and presentation, while the turnip cakes were a little bit more interesting with the garnishes on top. I think I liked the cucumber dish the best, which.... probably says a lot about everything else.We got a black truffle crispy duck fried rice, which was fine; the truffle wasn't overpowering but it wasn't especially remarkable otherwise. We also got a black pepper wagyu bao, and it was also... fine? It would've used more filling. The signature XLBs were also fine; good soup, good flavor, but nothing especially impressive about it.Service could've been better; we ordered a rice crepe but the staff seemed to have missed it completely (there wasn't any verbal confirmation of what we had marked on the menu; they just took it, came back with the order slip, and took it away at some point in time), and we were just given a knife when we asked if they had scissors so that we could cut the crispy curry beef puffs.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
alexus valle
This place will never answer your phone call! They have an automatic text system for missed calls and will never text you back. This place will take your money and not give you your food if you do take out! The food is pretty good I’ll credit that however if you dine in the service is terrible! If you take out the service is terrible and again they’ll take your money make you wait hours for your take out order that you’ve placed 45 min ago. Just go to the lowest reviews on google and you’ll see the service is TRASH
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Richard Bhanap
A good choice for fancy dim sum in the San Mateo area. A quick and convenient hop off the US-101
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum
Andrew Concepcion
Was there while they were hosting a wedding party. Somehow still have very great and attentive service.My GF is vegan, and the staff was helpful in making sure she had some options, ever adjusting the wagyu chowmain dish I ordered so that she could enjoy it (meat on the side).Veggies were amazing. Very different flavors. We had the string beans and the coli flower.Tea was great.The star or the night were their sipping sauces. They say they make them all in house. Cilantro sauce was the best, but they also have coconut + ginger, soy sauce, and of course chili oil.Dim sum was great as well.Ambiance was nice also.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggies clearly labeled vegetarian. I believe most of their vegetarian dishes are actually vegan as well. Great flavor. They also are willing to adjust dishes to fit dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum, Lobster Ha Gow, Wagyu Beef Chow Fun 和牛乾炒牛河
Caron Shahrestani
The best dim sum in San Mateo and I love the chic decor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum, Dumplings
Valerie M.
We came back here to celebrate Chinese New Year on the New Year's Eve. Really couldn't think of a better option. We proudly brought some friends and introduced them this place this time. They were so overwhelmed with all the items on the menu and amazed by everything that came up. Everything was so delicious! With beautiful presentations. The service is always attentive. My only dilemma with this place is, there are so many things we need to try and our go-tos are always there and we have to order every time. What to do.
Potrero H.
The service is top notch and the food is divine, but very noisy! I look forward to returning!
Yao Wong
Solid dim sum and excellent Peking Duck. You will pay a premium compared to almost any other place, but the food is definitely higher quality and service is good, so I'd say the price is somewhat justified. I wish they would have a wider selection of dim sum at dinnertime - this has significantly diminished compared to what they used to have.Kid-friendliness: Half the tables usually have kids!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum, Shrimp Corn Cheese & Chive Dumplings 3 粟米韮菜果, half peking duck 北京片皮鴨
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: No
Takeout: Yes
Been here several times and would continue going back here! From the same team of Koi Palace and Dragon Beaux, Palette has a location in SF and they just opened one in Vegas! Not *the* best dim sum out there and on the pricier end but the aesthetic and taste (for quite a few dishes) are there! Everyone gets an art palette plate and the sauce bowls are put together in the shape of a flower! To order, mark the number of items you want on the menu. Favorites that I order every time: - Wagyu & Roasted Garlic - Black Truffle Crispy Duck Fried Rice - Typhoon Dumplings - XO Scallop Dumplings - Baked BBQ Pork Buns (get them in the AM, they tend to be out by dinner, do yourself a favor and get these instead of the steamed ones) - Blueberry Mochi Other solid dishes: - Sweet Onion Pork Cutlets - Sichuan Seafood Dumplings - Crispy Unagi Rice Crepe - Peking Duck (not going to be the best duck out there but good mix of skin and meat, not too fatty) - Custard Dumplings Should try at least once: - Lobster Sticky Rice (may run out later in the night) - Palette Soup Dumplings (very aesthetic but tastes similar to standard Xiao Long Bao) - Lobster Ha Gow (very aesthetic but tastes similar to standard Ha Gow) - Black Swan Taro Puffs (just for the aesthetic, probably better than when it was Durian Puffs lol) Lots of parking since Hillsdale Mall has a parking structure right next to the restaurant. Waiting for a table and service can be slower during peak dinner times (think Saturday night ~7pm). I always recommend making a reservation on Yelp. Great for larger parties since they have the large round tables with a Lazy Susan in the middle. If you're at the big tables near the kitchen, note there's a big screen that may be distracting at times. If you're in a smaller group or just a party of 2, request to sit the tables with the water feature and koi swimming inside!
herman w.
Food was just okay for the price. Presentation was nice but food was not fresh and just tasted so so Spent $400 for 5 people with no alcohol Food came out fast Challenging to get staff attn for water and bill Ambiance is nice but would probably not come back
Mikayla H.
Came here for Valentine's Day and I was pleasantly surprised! Despite the restaurant being pretty packed, we were able to get seated fairly quickly through making an online reservation. I loved that they had separate lines for walk-ins and reservations since it made checking in much more efficient. Though Palette had a set menu option for Valentine's, we opted to pick our own dishes, including the XLB sampler, specialty Char Siu Bao, Peking Duck, and more. Our total was around $150 including tax and tip, which I thought was great considering the amount of food we got (and leftovers we took home). Peking Duck (4.5/5): Loved the crispness of the skin, but meat was a little dry at times. The plum sauce is always sooo good though! XLB sampler (3.5/5): I can't remember what the specific flavors were but they all didn't taste that different to me. I wasn't a huge fan of how big each was only because it changed the texture of a classic XLB. The presentation is nice, though, and their vinegar was made into little popping bobas which was fun LOL. Char siu bao (5/5): SOO good! This was part of their daily specials so if you see it, make sure to get it!! The baos had a savory cookie crust baked on it that gave it a perfect crumbly texture. Char siu inside was so yummy, the perfect balance of that savory sweet flavor. XO fried rice (4.5/5): I loved the flavor of this rice! Had a teeny kick to it that just elevated the umami flavor. I wasn't sure how I felt about the fresh tomatoes since the rice was a more sticky/dry dish but they definitely weren't bad. Seafood fried noodle (4/5): I didn't have too much of this but the noodles were very crispy and there were generous amounts of seafood (shrimp and a little bit of scallop). Pork and shrimp siu mai (4/5): Very classic take on siu mai, not too much to add LOL Overall had a great experience and the staff were so friendly! Parking was easy enough since it was located in a mall. Definitely check them out for your fix of dim sum/Chinese dishes!
Dora H.
Here in pallete tea garden will be scrumptious and reasonably priced. I'm truly at a loss for words because this soup dumpling experience speaks for itself. I think mastering the art of soup dumplings means you've won me over, and my wallet agrees with that. Count on me returning for more, without a doubt!
Michael L.
Palette is quite a ways from us but Caltrain makes it easier to connect the dot. We grab coffee at Philz in Sunnyvale & ride to Hillsdale Mall. And the best part is we don't need to deal with finding parking. A short walk from the Hillsdale Station & we are at Palette. The ambiance is nice. Location is nice and decor is nice. The hostesses are friendly and the service staff is quick & efficient. I do recommend making reservations if you fancy a table for weekend dim sum without having to wait in line. Palette is a good place to meet up with friends to enjoy a nice meal and not feel underserved or rushed. The food is delicious. The lobster har gow, chili crab, blueberry mochi ball and dumplings are some of my favs.
Invited by a friend who said that this is a high-end fun sum restaurant that is very good. Tried their dim sum and was not impressed. Way overpriced by more than double that what you can find at you local dim sum restaurant. Their unagi rice dish was so-so. I have had much fresher tasting unagi at other places. Their shrimp dumpling had an off-putting flavor with the lobster oil. Only for show, taste no go. Service was average. Atmosphere is high-end. You are paying for the high rent and use of expensive order cards for dim sum. I have never seen a dim sum special for four people for lunch at $240.00! I won't be coming back here anytime soon.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
No cart DimSum. Flavor profiles of your regular favorites are great. Creative twists on some dishes give customers nice surprise to satisfy the palette.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for the instagrammable XLBs and left..... whelmed. Everything was delicious, but I just might not be the audience for "elevated" dim sum.The har gow, chicken feet, and peking duck were all pretty standard in preparation and presentation, while the turnip cakes were a little bit more interesting with the garnishes on top. I think I liked the cucumber dish the best, which.... probably says a lot about everything else.We got a black truffle crispy duck fried rice, which was fine; the truffle wasn't overpowering but it wasn't especially remarkable otherwise. We also got a black pepper wagyu bao, and it was also... fine? It would've used more filling. The signature XLBs were also fine; good soup, good flavor, but nothing especially impressive about it.Service could've been better; we ordered a rice crepe but the staff seemed to have missed it completely (there wasn't any verbal confirmation of what we had marked on the menu; they just took it, came back with the order slip, and took it away at some point in time), and we were just given a knife when we asked if they had scissors so that we could cut the crispy curry beef puffs.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
This place will never answer your phone call! They have an automatic text system for missed calls and will never text you back. This place will take your money and not give you your food if you do take out! The food is pretty good I’ll credit that however if you dine in the service is terrible! If you take out the service is terrible and again they’ll take your money make you wait hours for your take out order that you’ve placed 45 min ago. Just go to the lowest reviews on google and you’ll see the service is TRASH
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
A good choice for fancy dim sum in the San Mateo area. A quick and convenient hop off the US-101
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum
Was there while they were hosting a wedding party. Somehow still have very great and attentive service.My GF is vegan, and the staff was helpful in making sure she had some options, ever adjusting the wagyu chowmain dish I ordered so that she could enjoy it (meat on the side).Veggies were amazing. Very different flavors. We had the string beans and the coli flower.Tea was great.The star or the night were their sipping sauces. They say they make them all in house. Cilantro sauce was the best, but they also have coconut + ginger, soy sauce, and of course chili oil.Dim sum was great as well.Ambiance was nice also.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggies clearly labeled vegetarian. I believe most of their vegetarian dishes are actually vegan as well. Great flavor. They also are willing to adjust dishes to fit dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum, Lobster Ha Gow, Wagyu Beef Chow Fun 和牛乾炒牛河
The best dim sum in San Mateo and I love the chic decor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum, Dumplings
We came back here to celebrate Chinese New Year on the New Year's Eve. Really couldn't think of a better option. We proudly brought some friends and introduced them this place this time. They were so overwhelmed with all the items on the menu and amazed by everything that came up. Everything was so delicious! With beautiful presentations. The service is always attentive. My only dilemma with this place is, there are so many things we need to try and our go-tos are always there and we have to order every time. What to do.
The service is top notch and the food is divine, but very noisy! I look forward to returning!
Solid dim sum and excellent Peking Duck. You will pay a premium compared to almost any other place, but the food is definitely higher quality and service is good, so I'd say the price is somewhat justified. I wish they would have a wider selection of dim sum at dinnertime - this has significantly diminished compared to what they used to have.Kid-friendliness: Half the tables usually have kids!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum, Shrimp Corn Cheese & Chive Dumplings 3 粟米韮菜果, half peking duck 北京片皮鴨 Dine in: Yes Outdoor seating: No Takeout: Yes
Restaurantji Recommends
Been here several times and would continue going back here! From the same team of Koi Palace and Dragon Beaux, Palette has a location in SF and they just opened one in Vegas! Not *the* best dim sum out there and on the pricier end but the aesthetic and taste (for quite a few dishes) are there! Everyone gets an art palette plate and the sauce bowls are put together in the shape of a flower! To order, mark the number of items you want on the menu. Favorites that I order every time: - Wagyu & Roasted Garlic - Black Truffle Crispy Duck Fried Rice - Typhoon Dumplings - XO Scallop Dumplings - Baked BBQ Pork Buns (get them in the AM, they tend to be out by dinner, do yourself a favor and get these instead of the steamed ones) - Blueberry Mochi Other solid dishes: - Sweet Onion Pork Cutlets - Sichuan Seafood Dumplings - Crispy Unagi Rice Crepe - Peking Duck (not going to be the best duck out there but good mix of skin and meat, not too fatty) - Custard Dumplings Should try at least once: - Lobster Sticky Rice (may run out later in the night) - Palette Soup Dumplings (very aesthetic but tastes similar to standard Xiao Long Bao) - Lobster Ha Gow (very aesthetic but tastes similar to standard Ha Gow) - Black Swan Taro Puffs (just for the aesthetic, probably better than when it was Durian Puffs lol) Lots of parking since Hillsdale Mall has a parking structure right next to the restaurant. Waiting for a table and service can be slower during peak dinner times (think Saturday night ~7pm). I always recommend making a reservation on Yelp. Great for larger parties since they have the large round tables with a Lazy Susan in the middle. If you're at the big tables near the kitchen, note there's a big screen that may be distracting at times. If you're in a smaller group or just a party of 2, request to sit the tables with the water feature and koi swimming inside!
Food was just okay for the price. Presentation was nice but food was not fresh and just tasted so so Spent $400 for 5 people with no alcohol Food came out fast Challenging to get staff attn for water and bill Ambiance is nice but would probably not come back
Came here for Valentine's Day and I was pleasantly surprised! Despite the restaurant being pretty packed, we were able to get seated fairly quickly through making an online reservation. I loved that they had separate lines for walk-ins and reservations since it made checking in much more efficient. Though Palette had a set menu option for Valentine's, we opted to pick our own dishes, including the XLB sampler, specialty Char Siu Bao, Peking Duck, and more. Our total was around $150 including tax and tip, which I thought was great considering the amount of food we got (and leftovers we took home). Peking Duck (4.5/5): Loved the crispness of the skin, but meat was a little dry at times. The plum sauce is always sooo good though! XLB sampler (3.5/5): I can't remember what the specific flavors were but they all didn't taste that different to me. I wasn't a huge fan of how big each was only because it changed the texture of a classic XLB. The presentation is nice, though, and their vinegar was made into little popping bobas which was fun LOL. Char siu bao (5/5): SOO good! This was part of their daily specials so if you see it, make sure to get it!! The baos had a savory cookie crust baked on it that gave it a perfect crumbly texture. Char siu inside was so yummy, the perfect balance of that savory sweet flavor. XO fried rice (4.5/5): I loved the flavor of this rice! Had a teeny kick to it that just elevated the umami flavor. I wasn't sure how I felt about the fresh tomatoes since the rice was a more sticky/dry dish but they definitely weren't bad. Seafood fried noodle (4/5): I didn't have too much of this but the noodles were very crispy and there were generous amounts of seafood (shrimp and a little bit of scallop). Pork and shrimp siu mai (4/5): Very classic take on siu mai, not too much to add LOL Overall had a great experience and the staff were so friendly! Parking was easy enough since it was located in a mall. Definitely check them out for your fix of dim sum/Chinese dishes!
Here in pallete tea garden will be scrumptious and reasonably priced. I'm truly at a loss for words because this soup dumpling experience speaks for itself. I think mastering the art of soup dumplings means you've won me over, and my wallet agrees with that. Count on me returning for more, without a doubt!
Palette is quite a ways from us but Caltrain makes it easier to connect the dot. We grab coffee at Philz in Sunnyvale & ride to Hillsdale Mall. And the best part is we don't need to deal with finding parking. A short walk from the Hillsdale Station & we are at Palette. The ambiance is nice. Location is nice and decor is nice. The hostesses are friendly and the service staff is quick & efficient. I do recommend making reservations if you fancy a table for weekend dim sum without having to wait in line. Palette is a good place to meet up with friends to enjoy a nice meal and not feel underserved or rushed. The food is delicious. The lobster har gow, chili crab, blueberry mochi ball and dumplings are some of my favs.