Tootsies At the Stanford Barn

This breakfast place is great if you visit a friend in the hospital and you want to sit outside. They line can get pretty long but it is so nice to sit outside in the sun and just enjoy your surroundings. There are a lot of families and dogs, so there is always something to see.
The food is good but if you are picky or want a healthy options, this is not really where you want to go. Their salads are overpriced for what they are so you better order something else.
The four stars are mostly for the location/​outside area, I wouldn’t come back for the food to be honest.

Good sandwiches when you get tired of the normal stuff at the hospital cafeteria. Specials can be really good.

For some reason even when I looked at the photos, I thought this would be in the country or something hahah. Well this is smack inside the university. I went here with some coworkers and the pricing is reasonable enough. Unfortunately, no breakfast items were sold during lunch but you have soup, salad, and sandwich options. I opted for the grilled chicken salad with spinach, mushrooms, and cheese. It is a pretty basic salad but I do admit that the mushrooms added a nice touch. My coworker insisted that I do a shout out because she is Vegan and they customized a delicious sandwich for her and let her choose her veggie options. Overall nice place for good bite.

Delicious lunch next to Stanford Hospital. What a great selection of seat — outdoor patio, common table and a few small tables inside. The line gets long as others have commented, so coming off-​peak hours is best if you’re in a rush.
Recommended:
–Cavolini Di Bruxelles 9.75
Proscuitto, Spicy Mustard, Brussel Sprouts with Hard Boiled Eggs and Croutons
It’s called a salad, but think savory pairing of roasted brussel sprouts and bacon (in this case, proscuitto). Served with a fluffy focaccia-​like bread. Scrumptious.
–Tigelle Emiliane 6.00
Italian artisan stamped bread served with salumi and cheese
Tons of options with different meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Fresh and different daily.
–Trota affumicata 11.25
Zucchini fritter, craime fraiche, dill smoked trout and frisee salad
Another savory salad, this time pairing smoked fish, crunchy frisee and zucchini.
–Pollone 10.50
Crispy fried chicken breast on a toasted sfilatino roll, topped with endive slaw
A favorite of many. The slaw is salty, savory, crunchy. Compliments the crispy chicken.
If you’re in the mood, the coffee and pastries are delicious. Super close to Stanford Hospital and Clinics, so whether you work there and have a moment for lunch or there for a visit, try this lovely spot.

For starters, the space inside is very small — it can be hard to find seating, and the ordering process is a little disorganized.
I was a little bit disappointed with the food — I just didn’t find anything to be spectacular. I ordered the frittata del giorno. I believe the ingredients are seasonal — mine was a pretty standard frittata with mushrooms and spinach. I found that my frittata lacked flavor — I found myself adding more salt and pepper than I normally would on other food. My favorite part of the dish was the nutella toast on the side, but that is something I could make on my own.
I had heard great things about this place, so I’m thinking maybe I just came on a bad day.

I has this place on my list for a couple of months and I finally visited last Saturday. I arrived at around 11AM, the place was busy, the line was outside of the door and most of the tables were taken. I ordered one moka all’italiana, one cappuccino, two zeppole, one bombolone, one order of ricotta pancakes with strawberries and two focacce. The moka all’italiana is nothing more than caffelatte (you can easily do it at home with a Bialetti coffee maker). The zeppole, a deep fried dough ball from center/​south of Italy, were neither amazing nor exciting. The bombolone, originally from Tuscany, was nowhere close to the ones they make in Italy (beside, a true bombolone is not filled with Nutella nor lemon … especially lemon). The pancakes made of ricotta were interesting. I’m not a huge fan of pancakes but I tasted them and they were soft and pleasant. The two slices of focaccia were visibly white and underbaked plus, honestly, nowhere close to the ones you will find in Liguria.
When I stopped the place was rather crowded and that was probably what I didn’t like the most. Crowded places are not conducive to a smooth and peaceful breakfast so if you look for a quiet place, this is not really the right place. Also, the waiters dodge people in line which is inconvenient for everybody (dangerous too if you think that somebody’s cappuccino could be landing on your jacket because some dummy in line is not paying attention).
I saw the photos and the review for this place but I’m not impressed and I can only give 3 stars. The dogs in the photo are completely unrelated to the place. This place is highly overrated.

Ah, my lunchtime work indulgence.
Tootsies does classic Italian sandwiches and salads, and it does them well. They also have some pretty legit coffee and espresso that they make themselves, amazing pastries (which will sell out), and a divine looking breakfast menu that I have yet to try (alas, work obligations).
Pro tip: call in your order, walk over 10 – 15 minutes later, then breeze out with your meal. Otherwise you will stand in a (long) line, not have anywhere to sit, and not get your food for, well, 10 – 15 minutes. Tootsies is a popular place, and for good reason.

I had heard so much about Tootsies so work lunch catering FTW in finally trying it out.
Menu:
–Sammies (salami, spinach, tuna, more salami)
They had much fancier names. The focaccia was certainly fresh and a highlight so I wasn’t mad that the bread to inside ratio was skewed.
–Salads: Baby spinach (with chicky so not veg) and arugula with parm
Using the term «salad» to describe the arugula and parm is kind of a crime against salads. The ingredients were certainly fresh, but only cheese and lettuce is not a salad.
–Risotto balls — interesting looking…
–Dessert — biscotti, chocolate chips, coconut cookies
There was a reference to the coconut cookies being «the best coconut cookie» someone has tasted. Chocolate chip cookie was pretty good. Soft and chewy and buttery YUM. Definitely high quality chocolate. Did I mention buttery? The cookie stayed soft for hours.
Overall, while I nicknamed the fancier termed menu items, this is one of those fancy places that I could see being beloved in Palo Alto.
Great fresh ingredients, high quality, and a nice lunch.
#youfancy

I could sneeze from my building and be at Tootsie’s. It’s convenient, it’s cute, but most importantly it’s delicious. Those qualities make it a magnet for lunch, so come early or come late because Tootsie’s is also the size of a shoe (read: limited seating). I can’t stop getting the trota affumicata salad; you get a frisee salad topped with smoked trout, and a citrusy vinaigrette on top. Then, SURPRISE! There’s also a lovely zucchini fritter with crème fraîche hiding underneath. It’s really as good as it sounds – in fact, it’s better. The salad is pretty sizeable as well. I’ve also tried the breakfast panino which is MASSIVE. It has crispy pancetta, cheese, arugula, and a fried egg. It ALSO comes with a side salad – I was full for the rest of the day. My bestie got the arancini salad once, unfortunately the arancini is quite bland.

Nice view & good food
I used to have Tootsies several times a week when I used to work in the area after a coworker discovered this secret spot. The owner and his wife are super sweet, as is the rest of the team.
My favorite lunch item is the Pollone, a fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw. (The capers inside the slaw are my favorite!) It came with a side of salad or chips. It does come with a tougher bread which can scrape the top of your mouth, if you know what I mean– so I ask to have it on a ciabatta roll. The Genoa is another favorite which is already prepared for a quick lunch.
Brunch on the weekend was also a favorite. I don’t normally eat pancakes for breakfast but the ricotta pancakes are delicious!
Heads up! — The place gets really packed on weekends during brunch & lunch. It is rather hard to find a seat when you come during peek times. But I’ve avoided the rush by getting my order to go– and ate outside the Nordstrom e-​Bar; plenty of tables and chairs.
Everything is around $ 10 which may sound like a lot for some– but you get what you pay for. The food is made fresh when you order, tastes good, and doesn’t make you feel heavy like some Italian food does.
+ Try the tiramisu which is found in the refrigerator with the bottled/​canned drinks. It’s super light and airy– and it’s the perfect portion!

I didn’t expect to dislike this experience as much as I did. Tootsies looked like a very cool, classy brunch location at Stanford, with many Italian entrees and pastries.
The panino I ordered was pretty good, aside from the bread, which was either stale or dried out from the heat of the rest of the sandwich. The mixed greens were okay, but I was mostly disappointed with their potato.
One of the reasons I was excited to come here was because I saw that the entrée I wanted came with roasted potatoes, or a roasted potato, cut up. Instead, I got a very odd potato that had been sliced ¾ of the way through, about 20 times down the potato. I know, weird right? Then the outsides of the slices seemed to have been fried or burned to simulate potato chips. You can’t cut the potato, you have to pull the «chips» out with your fingers.
It was a very strange and unpleasant experience, mostly because I was very excited for normal roasted potatoes, but also because the experience of eating half soft and half ridiculously crunchy potato is unbelievably similar to eating pasta that has a few pieces that are undercooked, completely.
Unfortunately, I won’t be back. Nothing I had here justifies spending the money.

All I wanted was a cup of coffee. I came here at 1pm on a Thursday. The outside was cute and intimate so I was excited to try this highly reviewed place. But what I got was very unsatisfactory. There wasn’t a rush whatsoever, but I stood awkwardly at the counter for at least 5 minutes with no one in sight to come and take my order. There were at least 5 guys working in the open kitchen next to the register and saw me waiting, but no one came over to even try to help me get an order in.
In 5 minutes time, I should’ve been able to get a cup of coffee, but all I got was a frustrated, lack-​of-​caffeine feeling.
Maybe I’ll try them again sometime, but that might be a very long time coming.

This place is so cute! It’s tucked away from the hustle and bustle, where you’ll feel transported to a countryside café. During certain times of the year, the nearby mini lavender field blooms and it’s quite pretty.
There’s plenty of parking nearby as well. The patio seating gets full fast, and the indoor seating is just a couple of small tables with a communal table. Try to get there early before 11am for better chances of finding a table. You’ll order food first inside, find a table (if you’re lucky), and your order will be brought out to you.
We ordered:
— Ricotta Pancake — with fresh sliced peaches. Perfect balance of sweet and slightly tart. Light and fluffy. Order it for yourself or share family style with your table.
— Poached Eggs — with pancetta, greens, potato, and toast. It’s a little bit salty for me and the potatoes were bland. I probably wouldn’t order this again.
Free wifi if you select «Stanford Visitor».

Alright guys, I gave you a year and I came back around– Impressive!
I ordered my usual trota salad, my friend had a sandwich, and we split a side of fries.
Management seems a little different than what I was used to, one very dismal man was actually quite cheerful to me (but a smidge rude to my colleague), they have upgraded a bit of their seating to include more chairs and tables, changed where the line goes (it does get long), and they changed their water procedure.
All the changes they made, at least to my knowledge, are for the better. Although pretty much every item went up by a dollar– my mouth confirmed it’s worthiness. My salad was perfect, the frittata wasn’t too soggy, the trout was cooked perfectly, the bread was as I recalled (delicious), and the french fries were still the bomb.
I totally recommend this venue for both breakfast catering and the casual lunch, if you plan to bring visiting doctors or fellows try to order ahead. Regarding catering, they are always on time and have never made a mistake on my order. The other thing about catering is that you must order a week in advance and for a $ 10.00 delivery fee you could have it delivered (on foot) anywhere off Welch Road/​SUHC.
Overall, go for it. Maybe their practices changed or perhaps they just weren’t too busy when I was there regardless, they stepped up their game both in service and in continuity.

One of the best meals I’ve had on Stanford campus– minus one star for the wait– they should really have a better system to move through orders faster. This is an Italian style restaurant. I had the equivalent of a caprese salad (I forget what it was called here) and it was amazing. My friends had the risotto balls and burger and everyone enjoyed it. Big portions! Might be too time
Consuming for the average lunch break– though I want to come back to try the ricotta pancakes at breakfast time!

This is located near Stanford Shopping center and the atmosphere is very quaint. There is outdoor seating facing the barn and some lavender field, it really is a nice place to catch up with friends over brunch or lunch!
Delicious pastries! I loved their almond croissant. I tried the bombolini-it’s delicious but a bit too sweet and rich for me. If that is your thing, definitely try it out! Their coffee is freshly brewed, and the mocha is VERY rich and chocolatey.
The prices are more on the higher side but since it’s located next to Stanford shopping center, I guess that’s to be expected. I’ll definitely be back if meeting friends in the Palo Alto area.

Tootsie’s really doesn’t need another 5-​star review, but I’ve frequented them for over a decade, so I think it’s high-​time to finally write one. To picture Tootsie’s, imagine a classic Italian café nestled inside a barn. Full of charm. The food is fresh, light, and flavorful, and unlike many things in Italy, the line moves fast. This is a favorite destination of Stanford hospital personnel to grab a quick and tasty bite for lunch.
I come here often for breakfast, and my favorite item is the breakfast panini which features a freshly cooked sunny-​side up egg, spinach, and strips of bacon on ciabatta. The ciabatta bread is thick and delicate with a crumbly crust, and probably rivals the best ciabatta I’ve ever had. The accompanying side salad is tossed with salt, cracked black pepper, and a light vinaigrette. The drip coffee is smooth, balanced, and hits the spot. I personally avoid the ricotta pancakes which are less memorable, perhaps because the rest of the food is off-​the-​charts.
Ambience-​wise, Tootsie’s at the Stanford Barn is aptly named; you will enjoy the rustic décor and exposed brick walls and might even imagine that you are housed in a barn surrounded by local hospital employees as your fellow fauna. However, seating is sparse, as the barn has been partitioned into various offices and conference rooms for Stanford/​Lucile Packard Hospital. Be prepared to take your food to-​go, pull up a chair at one of the nearby tables, and bask in the warm and radiant California sunshine instead.

OK, so this isn’t really the sit-​down fancy restaurant I expected. It’s really just a quick pick-​up place where they have limited indoor seating, and a pretty good handful of outdoor seating. Service was relatively friendly, but food was delicious.
How to Order:
— Wait in line (Menu on board inside only, limited but delicious options)
— Pay at counter and wait for food to be brought to your table. (The food took a while, but was quite delicious.)
Food:
— Mozzarella Tomato salad with added chicken — freshly pulled chicken, colorful tomatoes marinated in balsamic and olive oil. Best part was the crispy croutons that were still juicily dunked in balsamic and olive oil. All so tasty and fresh!
— Fries: fresh, thinly cut and home-​made but weren’t anything out of the ordinary.
Tip:
— Come early to: avoid lines, get a seat/​table, get a Bombolini (they ran out by 12pm when we got there)
— DoorDash delivers Tootsies :)

Tootsies is a standby when I can’t make it to the hospital for my morning cup of coffee. I’m so glad they’re nearby our administrative offices.
The morning crew is great and their croissants are solid. The space is cozy with a single communal table and a couple of two tops dotted. The outdoor seating is lovely positioned alongside fragrant lavender. I highly recommend enjoying your mornings there.

Our lab had catered this morning. I had breakfast panini and chocolate croissant, and coffee.
I didn’t have a high expectation, because all American breakfast places were similar to me. Unexpectedly, it was plesantly different. Panini was really good. Eggs inside and the bread had a perfect match. Croissant and coffee was tasty, too. Next time I want to go and dine there.