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About Sundance The Steakhouse
Sundance The Steakhouse is a classic American steakhouse on El Camino Real near the California Avenue district. It has been in Palo Alto since 1974 and has stayed in the same family the whole time.
The restaurant tells its story on its website. In 1973 Bob Fletcher bought what it calls a greasy spoon restaurant near Stanford University. With a business partner he opened the original Sundance Mine Company in December 1974. His sons later took over. Galen Fletcher started at the restaurant as a dishwasher in the summer of 1980, spent time at Ernst & Young's Palo Alto office and joined his father at Sundance in early 1991. He is now the owner and CEO. His brother Aron took over the front of the house in 1996 and later became a silent partner. Over the years the family remodeled several times and rebranded the restaurant under its current name. The website now speaks of a 50 year history.
Milestones
The restaurant's own timeline shows how a small family business carried on across two generations:
- 1973. Bob Fletcher buys a small restaurant near Stanford.
- December 1974. Sundance Mine Company opens with a business partner.
- Summer 1980. Galen Fletcher starts as a dishwasher.
- Early 1991. Galen leaves Ernst & Young to join his father.
- Valentine's Day 1992. Galen works his first shift as a manager.
- Summer 1996. Aron Fletcher takes over front of house operations.
- The following decades. Remodels and a rebrand as Sundance The Steakhouse.
What is on the menu
Sundance says it lets its prime beef, its atmosphere and its wine list do the talking. The kitchen features prime graded beef, fresh seafood and local organic produce.
- Beef. Specially aged prime steaks and slow roasted prime rib, which the restaurant bills as famous.
- Seafood. Pacific swordfish, Scottish salmon, Northern Alaskan halibut, Chilean sea bass, a Western Australian lobster tail and New England diver scallops.
- Poultry. Free range organic poultry from Petaluma.
The menus page also lists a separate lunch menu, a happy hour menu, a takeout and delivery menu, signature cocktails, single malt Scotch and bourbon, after dinner drinks such as port and cognac and a full wine list. Sundance describes the wine list as world class. The website does not detail vegetarian dishes, so call ahead if you need a meat free main.
Semi-private dining
The restaurant pitches its rooms for corporate events and milestone celebrations. It has three semi-private rooms, each named for a wine region:
| Room | Best for |
|---|---|
| Stag's Leap Room | 8 to 12 guests |
| Silverado Trail Room | 13 to 16 guests |
| Alexander Valley Room | 17 to 28 guests |
The rooms are strictly for dining, so there are no screens, podiums or audio visual setups. The restaurant offers a banquet packet to download and takes event inquiries by phone or email.
Who it suits
Sundance suits a celebration, a client dinner or a visit from family who want a traditional steak dinner. The weekday lunch makes it a practical choice for a business meal. It is less suited to diners who avoid meat, since beef and seafood are the core of the menu. The website also displays a DiRoNA award badge and says the restaurant regularly wins local honors.
Tips for visiting
Book ahead, especially for weekend dinners and during Stanford events. The weekday happy hour from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. is a lower key way to try the bar. The restaurant also offers online ordering for takeout and sells gift cards. The website does not post a dress code. If you are planning a group dinner, download the banquet packet from the private dining page before you call so you know which room fits your headcount.
The restaurant sits on El Camino Real, less than half a mile from the California Avenue Caltrain station. Our fine dining guide lists other special occasion restaurants. The California Avenue guide covers the nearby district. Visiting for a game or graduation? See our guide to visiting Stanford.
Location and getting there
Sundance The Steakhouse is at 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.
The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.4 miles away. That is roughly a 10 minute walk.
Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).
Hours
| Monday to Thursday | 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Friday | 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 4:30 to 9 p.m. |
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.
What is nearby
- Cardinal Bike Shop, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- Silicon Valley Orthodontics, practice, under 0.1 mi
- The Bike Connection, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- Lux Eyewear, practice, under 0.1 mi
- Radhika Beauty Salon, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
- Peers Park, 0.3 mi
- College Terrace Library, 0.4 mi
- Bowden Park, 0.5 mi
Other restaurants nearby: Naschmarkt Palo Alto (0.3 mi); Terún Pizzeria (0.3 mi); Jin Sho (0.3 mi); Palo Alto Sol (0.3 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 Sundance The Steakhouse official website; Our Story; Menus; Semi-private dining. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sundance The Steakhouse in Palo Alto?
Sundance The Steakhouse is at 1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, in the California Avenue area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.4 miles away.
Does Sundance The Steakhouse take reservations?
Yes. The restaurant says reservations are highly recommended. Book through OpenTable from its website or call 650-321-6798.
Does Sundance serve lunch?
Yes. Lunch runs Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is served every night, from 4:30 p.m.. There is a weekday happy hour from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Can Sundance host a private dinner?
Sundance has three semi-private rooms: the Stag's Leap Room for 8 to 12 guests, the Silverado Trail Room for 13 to 16 and the Alexander Valley Room for 17 to 28. The rooms are for dining only, with no audio visual equipment. Contact the restaurant for its banquet packet.
What are Sundance The Steakhouse's hours?
Monday to Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday: 4:30 to 9 p.m..