MacArthur Park Restaurant: History and Finery in Palo Alto

It's always sublime, when you can step back in time, and usher in some history to augment a delicious dining experience. Such is the case with MacArthur Park in Palo Alto, whose structure dates back to 1918.

For those of you who have been to the Hearst Castle, you may remember that the architecture was partially due to the finesse of Julia Morgan, who put her stamp on many of the buildings on the property. Julia's expertise threads throughout the skeleton of MacArthur Park.  Simply look up at the rafters and you'll be taken way back in time.

MacArthur Park was once a Hostess House for visiting families of servicemen during World War 1. Since then, the building has had a few incarnations, but from 1981, it's operated as a restaurant, reclaimed by it's original owner, Chuck Frank and the original chef, Faz Poursohi, showcasing his refurbished menu.

Our group of fifteen foodie enthusiasts sat down, eager to sample some of the newer offerings available. As there were several of us, we opted to enjoy most of the appetizers family style so we could sample a wider spectrum of dishes.

A must was their Baby Artichokes-Mesquite Grilled & Served on a Bed of Watercress ($7). It was hard not to hog these little cuties, but share I did, reluctantly passing the plate to my compadres.

Fried Calamari with Spicy Tomato Herb Sauce ($9) also won my heart, the zingy rings dancing in circles on my tongue.

Groups will appreciate the Combination Platter #2, with House Smoked Salmon, Sashimi Style Ahi Tuna, Crab  Cake & Calamari Salad  ($8/P). I really enjoyed the diversity on this one. I particularly favored the Ahi.

Meat, poultry and fish dishes followed for our main courses, with my preference for salmon ($22) winning over the other selections available on the menu. My pal's Hanger Steak-Marinated & Grilled over mesquite with Roasted Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables ($18) was also tempting, but I decided to have some restraint and stick with the fish.

From the nodding at the table, I could see that everyone seemed equally satisfied with their dishes as well with many swapping tastes with their neighbors.

Traditional New York Style Cheesecake topped off my adventure ($7), coupled with Candied Orange Peel & Cherry Burgundy Sauce.  Down the table someone was deeply immersed in their Mud Pie, with a rich blend of chocolate and coffee ice cream with espresso in a cookie crust. ($7) Dial 911 on that one, or simply get out the paddles-it looked that decadent.

This place is a sprawling expanse of a restaurant. Peeking around the corner, I discovered another room, that looked nearly identical to the one in which we were dining, and I imagined what it must have been like in 1918 when Julia envisioned its wonderful creation.

MacArthur Park Restaurant

27 University Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94301-2324

(650) 321-9990

http://www.macarthurparkpaloalto.com/