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Fans of French bistro Pastis, a staple of Palo Alto’s Cal Ave for more than a decade before it closed in 2022, can once again enjoy its signature escargot, mussels and pate at The Rendezvous, a new bistro and wine bar on Page Mill Road.
“Half of the menu (at The Rendezvous) is what I used to do at my old restaurant,” chef Maxime Roucoule said. “Usually a wine bar is boring (because there’s) no food. So (we’re) having a lot of food, plus …. every day we have like five, six, seven specials, so the people don’t get bored.”
The Rendezvous is the latest project from restaurateur and Menlo Park resident Giuseppe Carrubba (owner of Palo Alto restaurants Kirk’s Steakburgers, Caffe Riace and Osteria Toscana, as well as San Jose spots La Foret and The GrandView) and Roucoule (whose previous experience includes Joanie’s Cafe, Pastis and La Boheme). Friends for 30 years, the pair teamed up to combine flavors from Carrubba’s Italian upbringing and Roucoule’s French roots, pairing it with a mutual love for wine.
“It took us two years to figure out what we wanted to do (with the space),” Carrubba said. “A lot of it was just wanting to have an environment that was … easier for everybody, like no pressure. You come in, you have a glass of wine, share some (dishes), it’s a comfy couch. We want you to linger, and when you’re done, you’ll leave, and hopefully we’ll see you again soon.”
The name The Rendezvous was selected by Roucoule, who originally wanted to name Pastis “The Rendezvous,” but at the time, the name was already taken by another restaurant in Santa Clara County.
“Rendezvous has three different meanings,” Roucoule said. “Rendezvous can be … ‘Let’s have a date, rendezvous to the restaurant,’ or it can be a business meeting, it can be friends. ‘Oh, let’s rendezvous, let’s meet at that location.’”
The new Palo Alto wine bar carries about 300 wine labels, with about 40% French, 30% Californian and 30% Italian. Eight wine flights are available, including bubbles, whites, Bordeaux and dessert wine flights ($23-$35). Carubba owns a vineyard at The GrandView and partners with winemaker Ryan Beauregard from Beauregard Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains to make GrandView Vineyards wines, available only at Carrubba’s restaurants.
In addition to a wine bar, The Rendezvous is an all-day bistro. In the morning, order an espresso alongside a freshly baked pastry, such as a pistachio croissant or apple turnover ($4-$6).
For lunch, expect sandwiches, quiches and salads ($14-$19). Classic French sandwiches include the croque monsieur (a ham sandwich with Gruyère, Parmesan and béchamel) and rôti de bœuf (a roast beef sandwich with arugula and blue cheese aioli), while Italian favorites include a chicken milanese sandwich stuffed with Caesar salad and a chicken Parmigiana sandwich with mozzarella and marinara.
The dinner menu features French dishes such as mussels, escargot and a duo of duck rillettes and pork-mushroom pate, as well as Italian options including mushroom arancini and a five-cheese flatbread with garlic-Parmesan spread, brie, goat cheese, mozzarella and Gruyère ($10-$21). Charcuterie, cheese and vegetarian boards are also available ($20-$30).
The Rendezvous has the ambiance of a cozy, nonpretentious wine lounge, with humorous signs scattered around displaying phrases such as, “I make wine disappear. What’s your superpower?” and “They say the meaning of life can be discovered in a fine bottle of wine. I haven’t found that bottle yet but I’m enjoying the search!” Large clocks made from wine barrels show the times in California, France and Italy.
“We gotta stop with the tchotchkes,” Carrubba said with a laugh. “I told Roucoule there’s a tchotchke limit. I think we’re already past the tchotchke limit.”
The space seats about 50 inside, with a mix of couch seating, bar stools and tables. TV screens oscillate between showing the process of winemaking and serene scenes of Italy and France, but will be tuned to sports for major games, such as the World Cup. During the day, cheerful French music plays lightly over the speakers, and at night, the vibe switches to Eurodisco. The Rendezvous also has two heated and covered patio spaces for outdoor dining, adding about 80 seats in total.
“We want people to be so comfortable, they don’t want to leave,” Roucoule said. “It feels like they’re at home.”
Opposite the lounge area inside is a large deli case and marketplace section. Both the deli case and marketplace are currently stocked with all the fixings needed to create charcuterie and cheese boards. Carrubba said he plans to eventually turn the deli into a fully functional grab-and-go sandwich concept.
“The plan is (eventually) you’ll come in and you say, ‘I want a mortadella sandwich,’” Carrubba said. “You don’t have to have what’s on the menu, you can have whatever you want.”
A happy hour menu with discounted wines and small bites is under development, and the operating hours may change as Carrubba and Roucoule’s vision for their new wine bar and bistro becomes more finalized.
The Rendezvous, 195 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto; 650-660-0651. Open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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