The Courtyard Long Bistro - Los Altos

We tried the spicy mac and cheese, the cheesy garlic bread (which was neither cheesy nor flavorful), and the New England clam chowder (which was also disappointing). For wine, we chose Montepulciano (a solid choice) and Malbec (just average). Overall, the experience was decent. Food Rating: 3/5.

This place consistently has some of the worst service I've ever had. We were in town for work and ate there 4 nights, every night was the same. Wasn't ever very busy but we could not get service. One night we (3 men) sat for about 15 minutes waiting and watched a table of women come in and get served immediately by the guy who always wears a vest. When he walked away from the women and by us I asked if we could get service and he said he would have to come back to us. He was clearly two busy helping the females. He never came back. I finally got help from a waitress who was walking by our table and was not assigned to our section. Anytime we needed anything I had to flag her down. The vest guy only came back to bring us our check. The next day I sat for 15 minutes before I could get anyone to help me, again it was not busy at all. After 20 minutes I finally got a drink and asked for a menu. No one came back to even take my order until I was there for over a half hour. It was then I had to ask for chips, which they bring to everybody. I noted again that the vest guy was there and appeared to have no clue about what was going on with his patrons. I was always respectful and very thankful to the waitresses who did help. When the food finally did come it was pretty good, and the chips they bring are very addicting. I believe the management needs lessons in customer service.Unfortunately we are stuck staying in this area and there is not a lot of options in walking distance.

This is an excellent restaurant with American fare. The menu has so many great choices that are hard to choose among. Also, a great selection of wines by the glass. It is a go-to place for me when I stay at one of the nearby hotels. Highly recommend.Food: 5/5

The French onion soup is, without a doubt, the best I've ever tasted anywhere. It comes topped with a generous layer of cheese and perfectly cooked onions, always served at the ideal temperature. The steak frites features beautifully cooked steak that’s incredibly tender and juicy. The cheeseburger is always fresh, juicy, and cooked just right. The meatloaf is soft, tender, and packed with flavor. The fish and chips adhere to classic recipes, with the fish cooked to perfection—soft and not rubbery at all. The French dip is consistently fresh, and I particularly enjoy the horseradish served alongside it. To top it all off, they offer complimentary homemade potato chips, which alone make this place worth a visit. The outdoor seating is lovely, boasting beautiful garden views and plenty of heaters to keep everyone warm. You can choose to sit outside in the front facing El Camino or in the back through the indoor dining area. During these challenging times, like many places, they may be short-staffed, but the service remains outstanding. Our usual server is Yolanda, and she is sharp as a tack!

My family and I live in Los Altos/Palo Alto and are weekly customers at the Long Bar. Great food, particularly the French onion soup best I've ever had. Love the free potato chip appetizers and great mousse dessert. My kids also love the popcorn (the hotel provides) on the way in. Initially the service was hit or miss with some bad experiences but we kept coming back for the amazing food. I provided some feedback about the service directly to the general manager Nader and he and his team went above and beyond to address it. Now the service is impeccable and it's great to see that there are many patrons that enjoy going to the restaurant on any given night. It is a rare treasure to find amazing restaurants at an unassuming Courtyard by Marriott catering primarily to an eclectic mishmash of business travelers, college sports teams, and senior home residents from down the street but this is definitely a treasure and one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area.Kid friendliness: I frequent here with my 1 year old and 3 year old boys. Always very friendly staff.