Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar

Palo Alto, United States

3.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 650-327-3161
Website:
www.gravitywinebar.com
Address:
544 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
810 ftPalo Alto Transit Center
900 ftPalo Alto
0.5 miStanford
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
No
Take-out
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Good For
Dinner
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Trendy
Noise Level
Average
Music
Background
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
No

Today

Today 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Closed now
Local time (Palo Alto) 11:16 Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Tuesday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Wednesday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Thursday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Friday 11:30 am – 2:00 am
Saturday 4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday 4:00 pm – 12:00 am

Description

Specialties

Gravity is wine and much more. It starts with the grape and continues with the crush and flows to the cellar with the wine rests until it arrives in its entire splendor on your palate.

Chef de Cuisine Andrew Phillips capitalizes on French and Italian influences with a wine country touch of simplicity to create fresh classic fare. Our staff is eager to share their knowledge and passion to assist you with your selections and questions.

History

Established in 2010.

Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar is the newest addition to the «Restaurants From Scratch» group offering an extensive international beer and wine list with great food to complement your memorable experience.

Whether an impromptu light bite and beverage in our wine bar downstairs, a group of friends at one of our community tables, or a cozy table upstairs, let Gravity take you away to the wine and beer regions of the world.

We look forward to you joining us on any evening. Or plan to visit on Cabernet Sunday or during a winemaker event.

*Now open for lunch Mon-​Fri!*

Look out for the launch of our business catering!

Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar also recommends

Palo Alto Creamery

981

reviews

Diners

,

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

,

Breakfast & Brunch

Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar says,

«Time honored classic since 1923. Fun for all members of the family! Don’t even think about skipping dessert.»

Palo Alto Creamery — CLOSED

297

reviews

Diners

,

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

,

American (Traditional)

Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar says,

«Second location of the original Palo Alto favorite. Something soul warming for everyone. Save room for dessert!»

Reposado

1007

reviews

Mexican

,

Vegetarian

Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar says,

«Eat, Drink, Relax. Delicious traditional Mexican dishes with modern influence. Vast tequila bar.»

Scratch

984

reviews

American (New)

,

Beer, Wine & Spirits

Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar says,

«Tasty New American cookery in an elegant setting. Draws from classics reflecting today’s influences and bounty of ingredients.»

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20 reviews of Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar

No registration required
Place rating: 2
San Jose, CA
Service and food were both below average, I don’t plan on going back.
I recently made reservations for a group of 7 at 5pm when the restaurant was empty. When we got to the restaurant we realized we were being seated at bar tables with high chairs. One of the people in our group has mobility issues so we requested a low table, but they said they couldn’t give us a low table, so we sat at a bar table. When we sat down the manager came over to us and told us that we would have to be finished by 6:30, which is a short time for such a large group.
When the runner brought out our food he said «I have some food» we asked him what it was and he said «I don’t know, it looks like something with vegetables.» Haha, we figured out whose it was on our own.
We ordered apps and entrees, three of them were the scallops. Two of the scallops came out with the other food, but the 3rd scallops took 25 minutes more, they said they were «making sure they were delicious».
We finished our meals and paid by 6:30pm, there was still no one in the restaurant, including at the low tables.
Overall the food was fine, but not great, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Place rating: 3
San Jose, CA
Good for Happy Hour. Environment is nice at times. Some nights it is crowded and super loud that I have to shout in order to have a normal conversation. But some nights it is like a romantic evening spent at the place. Bartender is great. Definitely hit during happy hour. Their regular menu I had not try. So review is only for visitation during Happy Hour
Place rating: 5
Stanford, CA
With all the hustle and bustle in the University Ave area, Gravity is a simply pleasant place. The waiters are constantly making sure you have everything you need and usually there is a main server and a another server who comes by to make sure the plates are cleared, water is poured, etc.
I came with a friend and we ordered:
–olives: the olives were really nice and simple. I like how they had a variety of types of olives with the same dressing.
— bruschetta 3 ways: The bruschetta 3 ways was great. My favorite was the mozzarella balsamic vinegar, but the orange and avocado was tasty too.
–cheese: nothing too memorable
–a bottle of 2011 woodside vineyard kings mountain cabernet. this wine is seriously amazing. It is so smooth and full. I didn’t want to stop drinking it. $ 65 a bottle for this bad boy.
Other notes… the inside is so calming. I like how it has a modern yet home/​welcoming feel because the tables are high, the seats are black and modern shaped, yet there is one large wall that is all old school brick. The music isn’t too loud but not too soft to where you feel like you can hear crickets. Since I came on a Monday, it was pretty dead… especially when I went upstairs to use the bathroom, there was literally no one up there.
Overall, if you have the means to come here then do. You’ll have a really enjoyable time with some great food and appetizers.
Place rating: 1
Burlingame, CA
Really really bad service. All the waiters were very pushy for us on ordering food. We told them many times that all we want is drinks!!!
They kept on moving us from one table to another. Will never go back ever again :)
Place rating: 1
Los Angeles, CA
Just awful…
If you plan on coming here pick a time that is not prime. Service was just sub par. We had a fairly large group and inquired with the restaurant about times and best ways. It was so overcrowded the experience was like being at a bar and crammed. Two servers for upstairs clearly is a mistake. Kept asking for water, utensils, condiments… She couldn’t even take all of our orders so she treated us individuals. Why am I paying 18% grat? Food was sloppy as Heck! Bus boys were flying the plates and in wrong order. Ok top of that, the bill we got and what we needed to sign was off. She took the card and then came back with a higher total. No apologies. Just scoffed… Man. We should’ve just went down to Biersch place on Emerson. This place SUCKS! What a waste of several hundred $$$. Is the repostrado ran the same way?!
Place rating: 5
Dublin, Republic of Ireland
This place is lovely. The food was great, the cocktails and drinks were amazing, and the service was friendly. The waiter was really nice and had great recommendations.
We had the sauteed prawns, the oysters and bruschetta to start. They were really good. Then I had the lamb shank, which comes with rice and a delicious sauce. Super good!
We had more cocktails than we can count, most of which were recommended by the waiter and did not disappoint. Super good!
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
I love this little hidden treasure in Palo Alto. A friend of mine and I went Sat and were pleasantly surprised. We both ordered wine and dinner and fully enjoyed our selections: I had the bubbly flight and the risotto, she had a red and the braised short ribs. The oil I had there was truly the best olive oil I’ve had in years. The server told me that they soak the actual olives in the oil before they remove the oil to use with the yummy, homemade tasting bread they serve.
It went perfectly with the simply salad I special ordered to make since they didn’t have a simply insalata mista, but it turned out great. The only thing I didn’t like was that we were not able to sit downstairs in the bar area where we had wanted to be. They had rented that space out downstairs, forcing walkins to use the dining room upstairs. That was annoying on a Sat night, meaning, I think they should have had the upstairs rented for parties since it was setup with a separate bar there and it would have prevented everyone else from changing their plans.
~Ms. Ali
Place rating: 4
Redwood City, CA
Had some meatballs and a cheese plate with a Paul Hobbs Cab decanted and served properly. The staff was very friendly and attentive especially our Bartender Arminino (sp?). Great place for drinks and an appetizer and to hang out with a few friends.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
It seems like many restaurants close very early in Palo Alto, so I was happy to see that Gravity Bistro was open late. The service was good and the ambiance was lovely. I enjoyed the wine (we had a South African white wine). The food was good but nothing special. I had the ravioli and my boyfriend had the burger. The price tag was hefty… but I have come to notice that dining anywhere in Palo Alto is very expensive.
Place rating: 1
Hanover, NH
Do you, or a loved one, suffer from a severe allergy?
Do you, or a loved one, want to keep them alive?
If so, go ANYWHERE but here!
If you believe in going to restaurants that have 3.5 star Unilocal ratings, it’s time to raise your standards! I, despite my own better judgment, chose to go to Gravity for a special occasion. Everything was going fine. I got a nice glass of wine, my friend and I perused the menu, and we ordered.
Then, to our surprise, a waiter (different from our primary waiter) brought us some nice crostini with pesto, casually stating that it was complementary.
Fact#1: I have a peanut allergy.
Fact#2: Pesto traditionally has nuts in it.
Fact#3: This is pretty damn common knowledge.
Long story short: I asked two separate waiters to confirm whether the pesto had nuts in it or not. Both checked with the chefs and both said no. I’m not religious, but I decided to have a little faith.
About one minute later my throat started to feel itchy.
One half mile run home, three advils, another half mile run back to the restaurant clutching an epi pen, one stomach ache, one half-​assed apology from our waiter, and three subpar dishes later, our waiter decided, out of the unparalleled kindness of his heart, to give us dessert for free.
JUST DESSERT.
And I’m such a foodie that I would have been willing to overlook all this unpleasantness if either they had comped the whole meal or the food had not tasted like glorified cardboard (relative to the price range, of course – no need to be dramatic).
Sadly, miracles do not happen in privileged suburban restaurants like this one.
In fact, what appeared to be a miracle (in the form of a complementary starter) turned out to be the thing that destroyed the experience.
Just goes to show, no good deed goes unpunished. My good deed was giving this place a try.
Place rating: 4
Redwood City, CA
We stumbled across this place on a Sunday night and it was pretty busy.
At first the service was slow, but then we got really attentive service and that really made the experience. I had a very good pasta and we had a great Merlot wine (Yes Merlot!) and some very tasty starters.
I would happily go again.
Place rating: 5
Silicon Valley, CA
Came to Gravity for dinner after grabbing a glass of wine at The Wine Room with my friends. We were a smaller group of 3, and did not have to wait on a busy Friday night when we sat at the bar upstairs.
Everybody was very polite and service-​oriented during our entire experience! 5 stars to the staff and our bartender, Aureliano was the star of our night. He was VERY generous with us and really helped my friend and me pick out the exact wine we wanted to enjoy. I did not like the Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz (AUS) As a wino and person in the industry, I loved their wide selection of wines and Aureliano’s graciousness, and settled down with a Pinot… which embarrassingly enough I do not remember the winery. I guess that means I’ll have to go back ;)
The portions for our dinner were extremely small. Think Palo Alto lifestyle – but our service and the cleanliness of the restaurant was glowing, very respectful, and always attentive at the right times. There were a few vegetarian selections (I would love to see more with seasonal veggies like yams, squash, wintermelon, etc.), and was able to enjoy their veggie ravioli. Their food is very thick and creamy, but it’s full of flavor versus overloaded butter/​fattening oils. I thought I was going to be hungry after I ate my 4 pieces of ravioli, but surprisingly the creams and fillings were quite heavy enough so I could continue my food outing and grab one last dessert to satisfy my stomach after I left Gravity.
I would come back to Gravity for a special occasion or for date night, but this place is pretty pricey for the small size of food. Wine wasn’t enough to break the bank… but Palo Alto diners really know how to enjoy life and food. I wish I could be on their level, but I’ll take what I can get at the moment.
Fantastic wine selection, shoutouts to an on-​point and far from snobby staff, and yay for a clean restroom. I will be back some time again!
Place rating: 5
Millbrae, CA
If you’re looking for a romantic date night or wanting to go somewhere to spend quality time with close friends over some good food and wine, this gem in Palo Alto is the place to be. The ambiance is chic with just the right amount of low lighting. After unsuccessfully getting seats at a nearby wine bar, my friend and I decided to go somewhere else and stumbled into Gravity Bistro. On a busy Saturday night, we were able to get a table upstairs without reservations after a 10 minute wait. We both ordered some wine and the duck confit with brussel sprouts. The waiter was attentive and the dish tasted great. I had a fantastic night at Gravity, and I’m really looking forward to my next visit!
Place rating: 5
San Ramon, CA
I have heard many great things about Gravity and I must agree it is a cute and quaint Palo Alto Wine Bar. The wine selection was diversed and had a good selection suited for various palates. The Chacuterie Board meats were served with sweet oat bread and creamy cheeses. The Ravioli Pasta was in a Pesto sauce that was delicious and the Burger was also cooked to perfection. The small cut fries were tasty and crisp. The wines paired nicely with each entrée and the flavors were to the right levels. Thank you Gravity for a fun afternoon lunch experience
Place rating: 3
Palo Alto, CA
So I like the direction they are going, but for the quality of food I find their biggest flaw to be the prices. For me, I’m underwhelmed and feel the prices are far too high for the taste!!! It’s a little TOO cozy on a busy night as well. Upstairs with a reservation is always a must for me on a busy night. So just ok overall!
Place rating: 3
Sunnyvale, CA
Stumbled upon this place while strolling down downtown with my bestie. Cute, intimate place with excellent service BUT the food just didn’t do it for us.
What we ordered:
Truffle fries — a little soggy :(
Bruschetta Trio (house-​made ricotta with roasted peppers and tomatoes, tuna conserva, grilled pear with balsamic mint reduction) — I don’t like my bruschetta with super soft bread, but this is exactly how I got it. They put a tablespoon of topping on each 3 cm bread too so not much bite to this appetizer.
Ravioli Pasta (house-​made ricotta cheese, porcini mushrooms, sautèed vegetables, basil pesto) — a little bland for my liking… andddddd it only came with three large raviolis which probably wouldn’t have stuffed even a mouse. Eh.
Also had a white wine flight and a sparkling wine flight. I get that flights are just tastings of different wines, but these pours were TERRIBLE. All 6 glasses combined probably made for one full glass…
OK for the ambiance, but the food is really just meh.
Place rating: 3
Palo Alto, CA
This place is confusing… one night I go and it’s so good that I can’t wait to come back… the next time it is so disappointing, feeling it’s my last time. Don’t order the pasta unless u r NOT hungry. The dish is so small, I almost cried.
Options in PA are limited, so I am sure I will go back to Gravity, hopefully leaving with a good experience.
Place rating: 4
Redwood City, CA
This was my first time here, arriving at 4:30 intentionally to avoid the Friday after work crowd. I was looking for a good glass of wine and an hors d’œuvre. We found it; and more.
It was a Friday, and it was happy hour. Happy hour is a good deal for the easy-​to-​please patron. I am for some things, but not for wine. I ordered an *off* the happy hour menu Woodside Vineyards King’s Mountain Cabernet. It was outstanding. Every sip wonderful. I relished it sip-​for-​sip for over an hour. Even at $ 15, I’d have to say it was worth it. For an hors d’œuvre, I ordered the cheese plate, which is served with raisin and nut toast, walnuts, a blackberry, and several jams. From the happy hour menu, you get three out-​of-​six dinner menu cheeses. One was excellent, creamy and flavorful, the other two were just OK.
The service was great until 6, when it became busy. The noise level on the first floor rose to a din (a level at which I could not hear the conversation any more). We paid, and left for the street, where we could continue it.
The vibe at Gravity Bistro & Wine Bar is good. The staff friendly and good until the place gets busy, when they become overcome by events. Tables were being ignored and not revisited often enough.
If I owned this restaurant, I would have one more server on the floor and another bus person. I would also invest in some sound management equipment and software to diminish the din. When at capacity, you cannot hear due to the sound level. Unless you are there just to dine, you cannot talk and hear. Not good.
Enjoy the happy hour menu… and the discounted cheese plate. They have oysters, which I din not try, but may venture into next time. Also, if you like great cabernets, I do recommend the Woodside Cab. Come early for happy hour, they open at 11:30 and stay open until 1 am. Saturday and Sunday, they open at 4:00. Or, come for a late dinner after 10 p.m. It should have quieted down by then, and you can «hear yourself THINK!».
Place rating: 3
San Mateo, CA
Coming in, we asked if we could use a gift card from PA Creamery (who are owned by the same owners) and I immediately felt the drop in attentiveness and service as soon as they saw that. We were lead to our table and throughout the night, I felt that our service was kind of spotty even though we tipped in cash which I’m sure was their biggest concern anyways (Sorry — apparently I’m pretty bitter about this).
Anyways, for dinner:
— I started with a Raspberry beer, which was really good and my sister got their non-​alcoholic cocktail (bartender’s choice) and it literally tasted like a can of Dole pineapple juice poured into a glass. Totally not worth it.
— For appetizers, we got the mussels which were really good. The tomato broth that it was cooked in was spot on and give me a side of bread and I could have had that as my entrée.
— For my main course, I got the Radiatori which was beef ragu, with truffle oil. There’s probably a reason why I don’t usually order pastas when I eat out. The pasta was ok and the sauce was just okay and the only thing that helped the meal was the truffle oil and the small amount of shredded beef on top of the pasta which was really tender. knowing that, I would have chosen something else.
— My sister got the Duck Confit as her main course and while the flavor was good, it was really dry and overcooked. The side of mushrooms, spinach, and beans was okay.
Overall, the service wasn’t that great and most of the food was just okay. For the prices that this place charge, I don’t know if I would come back… without my gift card!
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
We were looking for a place to eat as after our flight I was feeling a bit hungry. We stop by a pub first n since the beer didn’t satisfy my hunger we walked across the street to find this place still serving food. It’s a wine bar which is shocking to hear the kitchen closes late. Oddly I was craving fries and so that’s what I ordered on the side. I had a salad.
Overall not too bad. Filled me up.