A Palo Alto landmark since 1923, family-owned and operated for over 100 years, serving scratch-made breakfast, lunch, and the best milkshakes on the Peninsula.
Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store and Grill at 900 High Street in Palo Alto is one of the most storied restaurants on the Peninsula, founded in 1923 by John Santana II and J.B. Howell. For decades the company operated nearly 60 milk delivery trucks across the region and served as the sole dairy and ice cream supplier for Stanford University, local high schools, and numerous businesses. The Santana family has owned it exclusively since 1936, and four generations later, John Santana III at age 81 remains involved alongside his son James, who runs daily operations. The original location also operated a second 50s-style soda fountain and grill at the corner of Emerson and Hamilton just blocks away. The Santana family still owns that land today, and the Palo Alto Creamery now operates there under a lease that contractually requires it to remain a 50s-style soda fountain and to mix its shakes the old-fashioned way in metal cans. Today the High Street Dairy Store and Grill is a no-frills breakfast and lunch spot open Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays from 8 AM to 3 PM. The menu covers eggs, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, sandwiches on sourdough and wheat, a classic meatloaf plate, and a Reuben, with housemade milkshakes and malts as the perennial draw. Ice cream, donuts, and candy are also available. Outdoor seating is offered. For anyone who loves Palo Alto history, the Pen is a mandatory stop.
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Diner Notes
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