Howie's Artisan Pizza

About Howie's Artisan Pizza

Howie's Artisan Pizza is a neighborhood pizza restaurant at Town & Country Village, the shopping center at 855 El Camino Real across from Stanford University. Chef and proprietor Howie Bulka runs it. The restaurant recently marked its fifteenth anniversary and has always been based at Town & Country. It once had a second location in Redwood City, which has since closed.

The restaurant explains its founding goals plainly. The idea was a high-quality artisan pizza with nearly everything made in house, including the sausage, ricotta and salad dressings, from top-quality ingredients. The menu was meant to stay simple and wholesome. In the restaurant's words, "We made a conscious decision to under-promise and over-deliver."

What is on the menu

The pizzas are hand-tossed. Named pies include a Margherita, Prosciutto and Arugula, Baked Potato, Sausage and Roasted Red Onion, a Pesto Pie, Veggie Works and The Works. A build-your-own option is called "Pizza, as You Like It." Handmade pastas include fettuccine Bolognese, bucatini carbonara, rigatoni alla vodka and spaghetti and meatballs. A fettuccine with mushrooms and red chard covers the meatless side.

Starters cover garlic bread, arancini, hummus with tahini and spicy meatballs. Salads include a Caesar, mixed greens, a chopped salad, a Greek salad and Howie's chicken salad. Sandwiches come on house focaccia, among them a chicken parm, an Italian club, the Meatball 3.0, a tuna melt and a four cheese. For dessert there are "Those" Cookies, almond cake and gingerbread.

Howie's also sells food to cook at home, which is handy for a busy weeknight. Frozen meals such as baked ziti, lasagna Bolognese and cauliflower gratin each serve two. Pizza kits, a cookie dough kit, pint containers of pasta sauce, salad dressings and fresh pasta round out the take-home side.

Dietary notes

The restaurant answers common questions on its FAQ page. The pizza dough is made of flour, water and starter, which makes it vegan. Plant-based toppings include peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms, broccoli and arugula. The pasta dough contains egg. Vegetarian sauces include alla vodka, pesto and marinara. Howie's is not a gluten-free kitchen. Its bread, pizza and pasta doughs all contain gluten, though some starters and salads are gluten-free or can be modified.

The room and drinks

The dining room has freestanding tables and leather banquettes at the back. The bar serves the full menu and is open to diners of all ages. Howie's lists room for about 60 people inside, including bar seats. Its heated patio holds about 30 more. The common area on either side of the patio can also be used. Drinks include beer in bottles, cans and on tap, wine by the glass, bottle or carafe and prosecco. There are no cocktails.

Who it suits

Howie's is an easy choice for families, since pizza, pasta and simple sandwiches cover most tastes and the bar welcomes diners of all ages. It also works for a casual meal with visiting Stanford students or a team lunch on the patio. Vegans and vegetarians have real options thanks to the vegan pizza dough and meatless sauces. People who need a strictly gluten-free meal should look elsewhere, as the restaurant itself says its kitchen is not gluten-free.

Tips for visiting

Howie's does not take reservations, so arrive early for weekend dinners. Large groups can send one person ahead to get seated. A service charge applies to parties of eight or more. You can also buy out the patio or the dining room for a private lunch or dinner by emailing the restaurant through its website. The website also posts a recipe of the month for home cooks. For takeout, order pickup through the Howie's website or by phone to avoid delivery app fees. DoorDash and Uber Eats handle delivery.

Parking is in the shared Town & Country Village lot. Accessible spaces sit on both sides of the patio. Valet parking is offered on some occasions in the rear lot, about a three-minute walk away. Before or after your meal, Boba Guys is in the same center. For breakfast the next morning, Boichik Bagels is there too. Our Town & Country Village guide covers the rest of the center. See Palo Alto with kids for more family ideas.

Location and getting there

Howie's Artisan Pizza is at 855 El Camino Real, Suite 60, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Town & Country Village area of Palo Alto. Our Town & Country Village guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.5 miles away. That is roughly a 12 minute walk.

Parking: the center's own free surface lots.

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Everything But Water, store, under 0.1 mi
• Johnny Was, store, under 0.1 mi
• Paper Source, shop, under 0.1 mi
• Gott's Roadside, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
• Sur La Table, store, under 0.1 mi
• Town & Country Village, under 0.1 mi
• Stanford Stadium, 0.3 mi
• Pacific Art League, 0.4 mi

Other restaurants nearby: Wildseed (under 0.1 mi); Telefèric Barcelona (under 0.1 mi); Sushi House (0.1 mi); Hatched (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 Howie's Artisan Pizza official website; Howie's story; Howie's FAQ. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Frequently asked questions