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About Bistro Maxine
Bistro Maxine is a small French creperie at 548 Ramona Street, between Hamilton and University avenues in downtown Palo Alto. Its website says it opened in June 2006, which makes it one of the longer-running small cafes on this stretch of Ramona. The focus is narrow and clear: thin French crepes, both savory and sweet, plus coffee and a short list of wine and beer.
The creperie takes the French details seriously. It says its crepe griddles and equipment were imported from France. So is the batter mix. The room is set up like a French cafe, with bistro tables and rattan chairs. According to its OpenTable listing, there is sidewalk seating too, which suits Ramona Street's Spanish Revival storefronts on a sunny day.
Crepes and the rest of the menu
Savory crepes are the main event. You can choose a regular wheat batter or a buckwheat batter, known in France as a galette au sarrasin. Fillings named on the website include:
- Complete: egg, ham and Swiss cheese.
- Champignon a la creme: mushrooms in creme fraiche.
- Maxine: the house crepe, with egg, spinach, mushrooms and Swiss cheese.
- Cevenole: goat cheese, mushrooms and spinach.
- Saumon: smoked salmon with lemon and capers, with creme fraiche on the side.
Sweet crepes cover the French cafe standards: lemon with honey or sugar, banana with Nutella, sauteed apples with cinnamon and caramel, a Suzette with butter, sugar and orange juice. Dulce de leche is on the list too. The online menu also lists breakfast, sandwiches, lunch specials and hot and cold drinks. Lattes come in a bowl, the way many French cafes serve cafe au lait. Menus change, so check the current list before you go.
Bistro Maxine's OpenTable listing adds a few details that the website leaves out. It mentions French onion soup, a prix fixe dinner menu and a list of wine and beer, which points to evening service on some days. The listing calls the place a casual French creperie. If you plan to come for dinner, call first to confirm the kitchen is open that night.
Ordering and hotel breakfast
The website links to an online ordering site on Square, where you can browse the menu and order ahead for pickup. The creperie also lists phone and email contacts for orders and general questions. A QR code on its website links to the complete menu. You can follow it on Facebook and Instagram for updates. OpenTable carries a listing for Bistro Maxine, but it does not take OpenTable reservations, so call if you want to check on a table for a group.
One local detail: the Square menu includes a set of breakfast options for guests of the Cardinal Hotel, which stands around the corner at 235 Hamilton Avenue. If you are staying there, ask at the front desk how the arrangement works. Our Cardinal Hotel guide has more on the hotel.
Who Bistro Maxine suits
A crepe is a quick, light meal, so Bistro Maxine works well for breakfast, a weekday lunch or an afternoon snack between errands downtown. Sweet crepes make it an easy stop with children. Several savory crepes are meatless, such as the Maxine and the Cevenole, though the website does not label vegetarian dishes. It also does not say whether the buckwheat batter is free of wheat, so people who avoid gluten should ask before ordering.
Tips for visiting
Hours at small cafes change with the seasons. The times listed on outside sites do not always agree, so call ahead before a special trip, especially in the evening. A quick call also lets you ask about seating for a larger group. Ramona Street is a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station and the downtown parking garages. The block is part of the Ramona Street architectural district, worth a slow look on the way in. Our downtown guide covers the area. For more morning ideas, see our breakfast guide and our bakeries and desserts guide.
Location and getting there
Bistro Maxine is at 548 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.
The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.
Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).
What is nearby
- Tea Time, food shop, under 0.1 mi
- Coupa Cafe, cafe, under 0.1 mi
- Warby Parker, practice, under 0.1 mi
- Lee Optometrics, practice, under 0.1 mi
- Sweetgreen, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
- University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
- Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi
- Pacific Art League, under 0.1 mi
Other restaurants nearby: Osteria (under 0.1 mi); Nola (under 0.1 mi); Thaiphoon (under 0.1 mi); Reposado (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.
Before you go
- Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
- Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
- If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.
About this listing
Checked October 30, 2026 against Bistro Maxine official website; Online menu and ordering; OpenTable listing. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bistro Maxine in Palo Alto?
Bistro Maxine is at 548 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA, in the Downtown area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.2 miles away.
When did Bistro Maxine open?
The creperie's website says it opened in June 2006. It has stayed at 548 Ramona Street in downtown Palo Alto, near the corner of Hamilton Avenue.
Does Bistro Maxine make buckwheat crepes?
Yes. Savory crepes can be made with a buckwheat batter, the galette au sarrasin of Brittany. The restaurant says its crepe batter mix comes from France.
Can I order Bistro Maxine online?
Yes. The website links to an online menu on Square for pickup orders. You can also email or call the creperie at 650-323-1815 with questions about an order.