Ettan

About Ettan

Ettan is an upscale Indian restaurant at 518 Bryant Street in downtown Palo Alto. It calls its cooking Cal-Indian: Indian flavors and spices applied to California produce and Bay Area meat and seafood. It opened in February 2020, according to the Architectural Digest feature quoted on its website.

The executive chef is Srijith Gopinathan, who signs the menu simply as Srijith. On OpenTable the restaurant describes his food as highly personal dishes from the country's most decorated Cal-Indian chef. Ettan is listed in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide without a star. Its own site points to a San Francisco Chronicle list of the Bay Area's top 25 restaurants. Architectural Digest has also written about the restaurant and its design, as the about page notes.

The food

Ettan says it blends flavors of the East and West. The kitchen builds dishes around peak-season produce and adds its own spice blends and seasonings. Ingredients come from Bay Area farms, fisheries and ranches. In practice that means the menu moves with the seasons, so the dishes you read about online may not be the dishes on the table. The about page frames the goal as presenting Indian flavors in a fresh, healthy way that mixes Eastern and Western influences.

Ettan serves weekday lunch and weekend brunch as well as dinner, which gives you a daytime way to try the cooking. Our vegetarian and vegan guide includes Ettan for meat-free diners. Check the current menu for exact dishes and ask staff about dietary needs.

The room

On OpenTable the restaurant describes the ambiance as rustic chic, warm and glamorous. Its about page talks about an international design aesthetic. The space includes a courtyard patio and a mezzanine used for private dining. The listed dress code is smart casual, which is the norm for upscale dining in downtown Palo Alto.

Reservations and groups

Ettan books through OpenTable. Tables for 1 to 12 people can be reserved directly online. For groups of 13 to 20, the restaurant asks you to email [email protected] or call 650-752-6281. Private and semi-private bookings go through [email protected]. With a mezzanine and a patio, it can handle a sizable celebration. Plan well ahead.

The OpenTable listing shows these service periods: lunch Monday to Friday, brunch on Saturday and Sunday and dinner every night. Dinner runs a little later on Friday and Saturday. Times can change, so check the listing when you book.

Ettan among Palo Alto's guide-listed restaurants

Palo Alto has a short list of restaurants in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide. Protégé on California Avenue holds the city's only star. Ettan, Evvia, Zola, Ethel's Fancy and Vina Enoteca are listed without a star. Of that group, Ettan is the one to choose for Indian flavors. Evvia is the Greek option a short walk away on Emerson Street, which makes the two an easy pair to weigh when you plan a special dinner downtown.

Being listed is not the same as holding a star, but it does mean the guide's inspectors chose to include the restaurant. For a weekend dinner, book on OpenTable as early as you can rather than counting on a walk-in table.

Who it suits

Ettan suits a birthday, an anniversary, a business dinner or a visit from family who want a memorable meal. It is a good introduction to modern Indian cooking for diners who know only takeout curries. It is less suited to a fast or low-cost meal. For quick Indian food downtown, Curry Up Now on Hamilton Avenue serves burritos and bowls at the counter.

Tips for visiting

• Book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner and around Stanford events such as commencement.
• Try lunch or weekend brunch if you want the cooking at a slower pace.
• Ask for the patio on a warm evening.
• Bryant Street is a short walk from University Avenue and the Caltrain station. Our fine dining guide covers Ettan alongside the city's other MICHELIN-listed restaurants. Our downtown guide covers the area.

Location and getting there

Ettan is at 518 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

What is nearby

• Alegio Chocolate, bakery or dessert shop, under 0.1 mi
• Bryant Street Gallery, shop, under 0.1 mi
• DUXIANA, store, under 0.1 mi
• Citibank University Avenue, service business, under 0.1 mi
• Marvel Cake, bakery or dessert shop, under 0.1 mi
• University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
• Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi
• Cogswell Plaza, 0.1 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Nola (under 0.1 mi); Ramen Nagi (under 0.1 mi); Bistro Maxine (under 0.1 mi); Local Union 271 (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.

Before you go

• Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
• Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
• If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against Ettan official website; Ettan menu page; Ettan about page; Ettan on OpenTable. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions