Ethel’s Fancy, located in downtown Palo Alto, offers high-end Japanese- and Californian-influenced cuisine. The restaurant has a warm ambiance, featuring gentle lighting, lush plant decorations, and hip-hop music playing softly in the background.
Duck Tsukune Skewer: 5/10 ($8)
The duck skewers have an interesting texture, but fail to impress beyond that. The duck is perfectly cooked and melts in your mouth, but lacks flavor. For the lofty price, one would expect a complex, tasty dish, instead of just a nicely-cooked meatball. The egg yolk tare, which comes on the side, is the saving grace. This plate would benefit from substituting the salt for more spices and natural seasoning.
Coconut Fritter: 8/10 ($8)
The coconut fritters redeemed the restaurant after the duck. Served like traditional Japanese salmon nigiri, the dish provides a nice surprise when biting into the fluffy fritter. The wild king salmon goes hand-in-hand with the fritter, providing a fresh fish flavor. However, the spicy-sour relish sprinkled on top distracts from the other stellar flavors of the dish. Overall, the appetizer leaves a refreshing coconut taste lingering in your mouth.
Kampachi Crudo: 10/10 ($26)
From the buttery crunch of the yakitori cracker base to the delicate kampachi fish, everything about the crudo is perfect. This dish has a nice textural balance, unrivaled by any other of the plates. The radishes and vegetables elevate the flavor, resulting in a remarkably appetizing plate. The crudo is a must-try and a personal favorite of the meal.
Salt and Pepper Spanish Octopus: 8/10 ($29)
This dish is plated very simply, beautifully showcasing the main ingredient: the Spanish octopus. The octopus comes hot, covered in a thin, crispy layer that provides a nice contrast to the perfectly chewy meat. The tomatoes and white asparagus wonderfully complement the octopus, and a delicious vinaigrette adds the perfect finishing touch. The dish’s only fault is the vinaigrette’s excessive sweetness. It was a delicious plate, however slightly too expensive for the size of the dish.
Pork Collar, “Kakuni-Style”: 8/10 ($32)
Served as an entree, the dish presents tender seared pork with flavorful mustard greens. The large beans have an appealing grainy texture that nicely contrasts with the pork. The dish is topped off with a sweet glaze—the sunchoke puree helps bring the whole dish together. For $32, the dish is well-priced considering the quality of the ingredients.
