I tried getting a same day reservation multiple times in the past but without luck. We were celebrating a birthday in the family this week so I made my move a few days before and finally got a spot. We got a table bang in the center of the dining room. We ordered: Kerala fried chicken: (3/5) I saw this on several reviews and knew I had to get it. The fried chicken was topped by some crispy fried onions which weren't very crispy and came with a side of white sauce which had dairy in it. Good stuff first: the sauce was delicious and I cleaned up the plate later with a kulcha as well. The fried chicken was extremely underwhelming. Though the first bite felt suspiciously soft and possibly undercooked, it got better on the thinner cuts. There was no flavor to speak of and the sauce provided some redemption to the dish. The "crispy" fried onions were drab and sorry little pieces. The ghee rice that came later with our large plates had better crispy onions than this. Burrata kulcha: (2/5) I read in some reviews that they run out of this pretty fast so I was excited when I learned it was available. The dish essentially is a single small kulcha topped with burrata cheese. They threw on some raw sliced radishes and jalapeños as well. The cheese was not treated or seasoned in any way, just a lump on top of the bread. Without any flavor to lean on, it was difficult to have it just by itself. I recommend getting some kind of a chutney if you order this. Sesame leaf chaat (4/5): it was fascinating to see a perfectly fried crispy leaf serving as a carrier for the usual chaat toppings like chutneys, sev etc. the fried leaf held onto its shape while we chowed our way through it. Having said that, the toppings were typical and nothing stood out other than the base. Vellore chicken curry (4/5): unlike butter chicken this came with a green curry base. Flavors were mild and reminded me of the chicken curry I make at home with a base of greens like cilantro, mint. The curry came with two crispy flaky parathas. Kabocha and green mango curry (5/5): this is a vegetarian curry with kabocha and green mangos in a coconut based gravy. They took the flavor of coconut further by using coconut oil. I enjoyed this dish the most. It came with a side of ghee rice. The redolent flavor of ghee coated each grain and it was delicious. Fried rice (2/5): we got this for the kids. Description said it came with seasonal vegetables and egg. I might have eaten egg fried rice in every restaurant I visited over the past few decades and the version here was the most disappointing. Even if exotic ingredients are not used, the simple combination of salt, pepper and egg is enough to make a delicious plate of fried rice. But the version here was severely lacking. I was excited when I walked in as I expected to eat something that would awaken my senses. Something unique or flavor combinations I never had in the past, after all this showed up on Michelin guide. But, I was unfortunately disappointed. If it were not for the mango curry, I would have rated them at 3.

Beautifully crafted dishes! Dishes at Ettan are worth the price and hype. All the dishes are very beautifully crafted, unique and have really good taste and texture. I loved all of the appetizers we ordered which included the Jack fruit vada pav, kale chaat, monkey buns and burrata naan as well as the kofta which we ordered for main course. Would love to try more items from this place next time. Highly recommend checking it out, the ambiance is great and the service is also top notch. They also serve delicious mocktails.

Wow. Amazing Indian food with a fun modern twist. The dishes tasted and looked amazing. The staff is friendly and the restaurant ambiance was spectacular. Would highly recommend this gem in downtown Palo Alto. My fav dish was the sesame leaf. Perfect balance of flavors with amazing texture. Could eat a plate of those myself!

Get ready for an unparalleled dining adventure that will transport you to another part of the world! Picture this: stunning main courses and delectable desserts that are practically works of art. Look no further for the most incredible dining experience of the year! This restaurant absolutely lives up to its Michelin star reputation, and I'll never forget the experience. The entrance to this hidden gem is tucked away in a charming alleyway, giving the sense of discovering a true culinary treasure. The vibrant and inviting outdoor patio, adorned with a variety of colorful umbrellas, sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Once seated, the attentive staff provided excellent guidance as we dived into the family-style dining experience to savor every delicious dish. Their recommendations were spot on, ensuring we enjoyed every mouthwatering bite. What we ordered - Small plates: Signature Chutney Sampler 10/10 (Kale and Eggplant Chutney) Burrata Kulcha 10/10 (Basil, green chilies, mint) Cauliflower 10/10 (Cauliflower Leaf, Green Onions, Black Mustard and Curry Leaves) Octopus 8/10 (Slow cooked with Coconut Crumble, Curry Leaf, Chili Aioli) Kerala Fried Chicken 10/10 (Roasted Coconut Milk, Green Apple, Lime, Buttermilk) Butter chicken 10/10 (Smoked Chicken Thighs, Fenugreek, Tomatoes Served with Butter Naan) The dinner options we went with were perfect for us, just the right amount. Highly recommend each dish. Presentation, flavor, and quantity were exceptional. Desserts: Passion fruit edible art! 100/10 This was hands down the most amazing dessert experience we've ever had. The ice, the creamy passion fruit, with the crunchy shell. Wow! What an experience!! A MUST ORDER! Bruleed Mango Yogurt 100/10 Melt in your mouth silky mango sweetness. 100/10

The honeydew drop is by far one of my favorite cocktails I tried in the bay! We ended up ordering a second glass right after the first order. Interior of the building is gorgeous with both indoor and outdoor dining. We passed by Ettan after dinner and decided to try few drinks at the bar. I recommend the honeydew drop, the sesame leaf appetizer and also the passion fruit dessert(dessert presentation is clever and looks like a runny egg!). Probably won't order the jackfruit vada again tho. Will be back to explore other menu options for a full dining services!

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Parking is availalbe on the street or in the city owned underground garage a block away. Made a reservation for indoor dining and our table was ready upon arrival. Dining is available indoors, on both the street level or upper level. In addition, there is plenty of dining outoors on the heated patio too. Staff were cordial with some opting to wear a mask. Our waiter did their best to upsell, suggesting 5 savory dishes for a party of 3. Started off with the seasme leaf which came out cold. The leaf was lightly fried, like a tempura, and topped with some indian spices. The squash cutlet was tasty, breaded and lightly fried. This was complemented with some dipping aioli along with some mangos. The pork belly small plate was newer on the menu and was well cooked. The black truffle Kulcha was heavenly with the fresh and fluffy Kulcha topped with super fragrant black truffles The Sea bass collar came as 2 huge pieces over a bed of curry with vegetables. The collars were super fatty. This came with a side of green beans, coconut rice, along with some crispy cherrio-like sides. The large plate was definitely good for sharing. Finished off the meal with the passion fruit dessert which was a unique mix and contrast of flavors. $68/head after tax, gratuity and 3% employer health mandates for dinner. Can't wait for their flagship Menlo Park restaurant opening this fall!

With unique cultural decorations and a warm and welcoming environment, Ettan is a upscale indian restaurant that offers not only good food, but also a relaxed yet vibrant ambiance. We came on a monday night at 8pm to celebrate my roommate's birthday and the whole restaurant was still quite packed. The servers were friendly and took care to explain the menu and give recommendations. We each got cocktails, and while they're creatively named, and mixed with some unique ingredients, they werent exceptional. However, that cannot be said for the food. The blend of spices were very balanced for each dish, and everything tasted refined , as you would expect from a high end restaurant. The monkey bread was very soft and flavourful and the friend chicken and branzino had just the right amount of crispiness with a good amount of flavour that doesnt overpower the original taste of the raw ingredients. Overall , ettan's quality reflected how thoughtfully each dish was made. This is a restaurant that wouldnt disappoint anyone wanting to try out a goood restaurant that's just under 100$ per person

If you want to go to fine dinings restaurant for Indian food , definitely can't go wrong with this place. It's got great interior, and the ambience is pretty for nice occasions. We got a reservation through Resy. As vegetarians we tried the following: Burrata Kulcha : 3/5. This could have been better. The kulcha didn't seem that fresh. Jackfruit Slider : 5/5. This was really good. Would order it again. Squash Cutlets : 5/5. Like the filling for this one , and the salad on the side was tasty as well. Mango curry : 3/5. This was just okay. The curry was quite thick , had more of a South Indian influence with the coconut in it. As for drinks we ordered the following Amrud Paloma - 2/5. Can definitely skip this one. Was just a really sweet syrup , nothing great about it. Melon drops : 4/5. This was definitely a better drink among the two.

I recently visited Ettan with my team and was blown away by the beautiful decor! We opted to sit outside, which I highly recommend if the weather permits. We started with a variety of appetizers, including: Cast Iron "Monkey Buns": Piping hot, buttery, and served with a delicious eggplant chutney. A must-try! Sesame Leaf: A unique and interesting appetizer that's a standout on Ettan's menu. Kerala Fried Chicken: Crunchy and spicy, this dish did not disappoint! Slow Cooked Octopus: While prepared well, this was my least favorite of the appetizers. I prefer my octopus with a bit more char and smokiness. For my main course, I ordered the Spice-Roasted Seabass Collar, which was generous in portion size and bursting with flavor. The Goan curry added a rich and buttery element to the dish, and the snap peas provided a welcome respite from the spices. Be warned: the appetizers are filling, so pace yourself! Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with Ettan. Service was attentive and I and would definitely return to try more of their delicious mains. Highly recommend!

*Parking: Located in downtown Palo Alto, street parking may be difficult but there's a lot of garage parking options nearby. *Experience: The aesthetic and ambiance of this restaurant is top-notch! You'll feel as if you've been transported to a different country when you dine here. The server was super friendly and patient in answering any questions my group had regarding dietary restrictions. Definitely make reservations at least 30 days in advance as this restaurant is very popular, even on a Thursday! *Food: For appetizers, we started out with - Kerala Fried Chicken: this had a surprising spicy kick to it, so be warned if you can't handle any spice! - Monkey Buns: The monkey buns were solid & can't go wrong - Sesame Leaf Chaat: very unique and great combinations of flavor. Definitely get this if you're feeling adventurous and want to try something new. - Black Pepper Cauliflower: very standard - Red Chili Octopus: surprisingly soft and tender! For the main, we each ordered our own plate and all packed some to go. They plates are honestly big enough to be shared among two people. I got the butter chicken that game with garlic naan and I ordered an extra side of rice. The butter chicken was good but not as thick & creamy as I liked and lacked a little more spice. But this is totally a personal preference. Overall I would definitely come back for the ambiance, great service, and solid food!