ZAO Noodle Bar

261 University Avenue, Palo Alto

(650) 328-1988

Entrees from $7.99-$10.99

This casual, contemporary and cheap noodle bar is exactly the kind of place you wish you could find all over Palo Alto. Its unassuming front makes the place easy to walk right by, so you feel extra privileged to discover it yourself.

The decor is minimalist and clean, with red floors livening up the dining experience. Rice paper light fixtures illuminate the diners, while wine-bottle lanterns hang over the bar. On the wall are Warhol-esque shadowboxes with rows of aluminum cans, rice bags, decorative fans and Pokemon figures. Jars of colored chopsticks brighten the tables, and artists like Jack Johnson sing through the speakers.

Service is friendly if not speedy. ZAO boasts all fresh ingredients and no MSG. The menu has different symbols next to the entree titles to clearly mark vegan, vegetarian, low-carb or extra-spicy dishes.

ZAO serves many varieties of beer and sake. Those under 21 should try the thai iced tea: black tea with spices and a splash of cream. For an appetizer, try the edamame or chicken satay with peanut sauce. There are pan-seared noodle dishes like pad thai and black bean chicken stir fry. There are also noodles in broth dishes like chicken pho and ZAO’s special chicken in lemongrass coconut For dessert, I recommend the mochi ice cream, a dish made up of three flavors of ice cream balled-up in gooey rice paper. Or try the banana spring roll with chocolate sauce.

The Verdict: ZAO Noodle Bar is the perfect place for lunch or dinner with friends. It’s classy enough to make you feel like you’ve actually ?gone out? to eat, but its prices are student-friendly.

Max’s Opera Cafe

711 Stanford Shopping Center

(650) 323-6297

Entrees from $8.95-$22.95

Max’s Opera Cafe is a classy delicatessen with an overwhelming 10-page menu. There are over a dozen Max’s diners across the Bay Area. This one, in the Stanford Shopping Center, is just a stone’s throw away from campus.

Diners are greeted by an inviting art deco interior. Lampposts and artistic light fixtures softly illuminate the dark wood booths. Background music is more reminiscent of a jazz piano bar than an opera house. While we were there, two servers sang numbers from Broadway musicals and a six-year-old patron sang “Under the Sea.” Max’s service is friendly and attentive, and you’ll never be left with an empty water glass.

The extensive menu has something for everyone. For starters, I recommend the barbecue pork quesadillas. Max’s is known for its Reuben sandwich (“so juicy, it drips,” according to the menu), and other generous sandwiches with names like “The Painkiller” and “The Italian Outlaw.” There are also burgers, pasta dishes, steak and seafood. Try the teriyaki chicken sandwich (complete with pineapple slice) or the penne with brie and tomato cream sauce.

One of “Max’s Laws” printed on the menu is, “This is a bad place for a diet and a good place for a diet.” For calorie-counters, the menu contains over a dozen low-carb entrees, salads with no-oil dressing and vegetarian options. Dessert, however, is where Max’s becomes a snare for the sweet tooth. The restaurant offers a selection including triple chocolate mousse cake, peanut butter crunch cheesecake and ice cream with sauces “made by a certified chocoholic who refuses therapy.” Try the macaroon crumble: ice cream with marshmallow fudge and bits of macaroon.

The Verdict: The wide selection and good service make Max’s a solid bet. (It’s also one of the few places where servers will sing “Happy Birthday” to you and sound good.) Max’s is interesting but not quite unique enough for the prices. I plan to go back — but just for dessert.