“Nobody at the Dutch Goose is a stranger. They’re just friends who have not met,” Gregory Stern, owner of the Dutch Goose, said.
Located on Alameda de las Pulgas, the Dutch Goose has been a staple in Menlo Park since 1966. Recognizable for its signature neon signs, TVs streaming live sports, and welcoming atmosphere, it is a popular space for Bay Area sports fans, families, and students.
For Stern, who has managed the Dutch Goose for nearly 20 years, the restaurant feels like home. “My favorite part is that it doesn’t really feel like work,” Stern said. “I come in here and see family and friends. I love cooking and managing.”
Serving up classic American cuisine, the Dutch Goose’s vast menu ranges from smoked brisket and tuna melts to burgers, wings, and pizza. The restaurant’s specialty—its deviled eggs—creates the perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and smooth, ensuring customers come back for more. Its recipe has remained unchanged since the restaurant’s opening. “It’s a funny thing to be kind of known for, but people swerve on it,” Stern said. The recipe belonged to the original owner, Pete Eckels, and remains a secret today.
Eckels opened the establishment after moving to Menlo Park from Kansas City. “[Eckels] went to military school with my father in the ’40s,” Stern said, creating a connection that eventually gave him an opportunity. “I always wanted to own a business like this,” Stern said. “And my dad was like, ‘Why don’t you make an offer?’” At the time, the Dutch Goose had multiple owners, but through seller financing and negotiating a lease with the landlord, Stern was able to make the purchase. Ever since, he has overseen the growth of the business.
The Dutch Goose faced difficulties during the pandemic which forced it to close, but remained afloat thanks to the federal Paycheck Protection Program’s funding. “We were shut down for almost nine months,” Stern said. “That’s hard [with] 50 employees you’re responsible for, and they have bills to pay.” As the restaurant made its comeback, Stern added an outdoor deck, now one of their most popular features, where hearty laughter and sounds of celebration can be heard from blocks away.
Community has always been the most important part of the Dutch Goose. There are more than 30 schools within just a few miles, making the establishment the perfect gathering place for students. On any given day, customers from firefighters and plumbers to celebrities and business professionals drop in for a meal. Jerry Rice, Al Gore, and Mark Zuckerberg have all stopped by.
“It’s this melting pot of diversity, which is what we love here,” Stern said. “You can come in, and you’re always going to see someone you know, or meet someone new.”
Beyond being a community cornerstone, the Dutch Goose also sponsors youth sports teams, including baseball, soccer, and football, as well as providing mentorship, counseling, and job opportunities for M-A students. “Our wheelhouse is sports and education,” Stern said. Aside from sponsorships, Stern coaches football, often utilizing M-A’s Coach Parks Field.
Nearly 60 years later, the Dutch Goose remains a center of community in Menlo Park. When asked to describe his restaurant with one word, Stern said, “Home.”
