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About State of Mind Slice House
State of Mind Slice House is a family-run pizza shop at 3850 El Camino Real in south Palo Alto. It is the second restaurant from a family that opened State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria in Los Altos in 2018. The family says its roots in California go back to the 1800s. The Slice House is in the neighborhood where they grew up.
The name comes from the family's view of their home state. As they put it, California is more than a place on a map; it is a state of mind. The menu follows that idea, built around local and seasonal ingredients and the farm produce of the Golden State.
The pizza
Pizza is the specialty. The family has a competition record to back it up. The restaurant says it won World's Best Non-traditional Pizza at the 2017 International Pizza Expo. Since then it has kept competing in the US and in Italy. Its more recent wins include the U.S. Pizza Team's Virtual Pizza Cup and two categories in the Real California Pizza Contest sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board.
The dough is slow proofed and made from 100 percent natural flour. Each pizza is hand stretched and baked in a high-heat electric oven. Toppings start with California cheese and organic Bianco DiNapoli tomato sauce. Pizzas come in three styles: round, pan and gluten-free. You can walk in for a slice or order a whole pie online.
Beyond pizza, the menu includes fresh salads made from scratch and It's-It ice cream sandwiches for dessert. The full menu is posted on the restaurant's website.
Beer and drinks
The family takes its beer seriously. They point out that California has more than 1,000 breweries and say they have sampled hundreds of them. From that, they curate a can and bottle list of favorite California craft breweries, covering IPAs, pale ales, lagers, stouts, sours, brown ales and saisons. There is also a small list of wines from independent California wineries. For non-drinkers, the shop carries craft ciders, organic juices, artisan sodas, local root beer and ginger beer.
Ingredients and approach
The family says it makes its food from scratch and features local and seasonal ingredients, the way it eats at home. When it explains what makes its pizza different, it points to the same few things each time: slow-proofed dough, California cheese and organic tomato sauce. The menu, it says, is inspired by the farm bounty and diversity of the state, which is also where the restaurant's name comes from. The shop invites customers to come in and grab a slice or order a whole pie online. It says it has something for everyone.
How to order
Order whole pies online through the Toast link on the restaurant's website, or call 650-384-6369. The shop also handles catering for groups through a request on its website. For a quick lunch, walking in for a slice is the fastest option.
Who it suits
The Slice House suits a quick lunch, a casual family dinner or picking up pies for a party. The slice counter makes it easy to feed one person fast. The gluten-free style means a mixed group can usually order together. The family's first restaurant, State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria in Los Altos, is the sister spot to know if you are in Los Altos.
Tips for visiting
The shop opens at 11 a.m. every day and closes at 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It sits on El Camino Real, so it is an easy stop on a drive between Palo Alto and Mountain View. If you have celiac disease, ask how the gluten-free pizza is handled, since the shop also bakes wheat dough.
For more pizza options, see our Italian food and pizza guide. Our cheap eats guide covers other quick meals. If you are visiting Los Altos, our Los Altos food guide covers the town where State of Mind began.
Location and getting there
State of Mind Slice House is at 3850 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the Barron Park area of Palo Alto. Our Barron Park guide covers what else is around.
The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 1.0 miles away. That is roughly a 25 minute walk or a short bike ride.
Parking: street spaces or a small lot nearby; check posted limits.
Hours
| Sunday to Thursday | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Friday and Saturday | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 30, 2026.
What is nearby
- Ernie's Liquors, food shop, under 0.1 mi
- Starbucks 3885 El Camino Real, cafe, under 0.1 mi
- Papa John's, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
- Veterinary Emergency Group, service business, 0.1 mi
- VCA Palo Alto Animal Hospital, service business, 0.1 mi
- Boulware Park, 0.3 mi
- Robles Park, 0.5 mi
- Bol Park and its bike path, 0.6 mi
Other restaurants nearby: Celia's Mexican Restaurant (under 0.1 mi); HolyShred (0.1 mi); Tie Mu Zhen (0.3 mi); Fuki Sushi (0.4 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 30, 2026 against State of Mind Slice House official website; State of Mind Slice House: Our story. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is State of Mind Slice House in Palo Alto?
State of Mind Slice House is at 3850 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the Barron Park area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 1.0 miles away.
Does State of Mind Slice House sell pizza by the slice?
Yes. You can stop in for a slice or order a whole pie online. The shop makes pizza in three styles: round, pan and gluten-free.
Does State of Mind Slice House have gluten-free pizza?
Yes. Gluten-free is one of its three pizza styles. Ask about kitchen handling if you have celiac disease, since the shop also makes wheat dough.
Is State of Mind Slice House related to State of Mind Public House?
Yes. The same family opened State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria in Los Altos in 2018 and later opened the Slice House in Palo Alto, in the neighborhood where they grew up.
What are State of Mind Slice House's hours?
Sunday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m..