Ethel's Fancy

A cozy upscale neighborhood restaurant in downtown Palo Alto focused on locally sourced seasonal ingredients and a thoughtfully curated wine list.

Ethel's Fancy opened on Waverley Street in Palo Alto in September 2022. Chef Scott Nishiyama named it for Ethel, a Nisei Japanese American in his family remembered as a gracious host and a fabulous cook. Nishiyama grew up on Maui, studied chemistry at MIT, then attended the Culinary Institute of America and worked for Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller before becoming executive chef of Chez TJ in Mountain View, where he earned a Michelin star in 2010. The restaurant serves dinner and keeps separate wine and dessert lists.