Bar Underdog

Underdog is a new cocktail bar from the owners of Protégé in Palo Alto. There is no sign on the outside and with the tinted windows so you can’t see how many people are inside. The waitresses were attentive and seated us right away. There’s an assortment of booths and high tops along with the central bar. I was a bit surprised at how cheap and flimsy looking the backless stools at the bar were. There is a savory menu of appetizers and entrees. We ordered a tuna tartare with crisp onion chips and a burdock and carrot dip with sprouted lentils, togarashi and two pieces of buttered sesame toast. For my first cocktail I tried a Suntory Toki Whisky Highball. I couldn’t see the actual Toki Highball tower machine because someone was sitting right in front of it. Normally highball machines provide carbonation with finer bubbles than you’d get from a conventional soda machine. It was nice and chilled with a clear Collins-style ice cube. The flavor was exactly how you’d expect a Toki Highball to taste. For my second cocktail, I ordered a Fru-Ti Punch. It came in a highball glass and Collins ice cube wrapped in a thin ribbon of papaya leaf. I expected something a bit more colorful with papaya and lychee but it was completely clear. The first sip was unexpectedly earthy. Later, Chris the head bartender at Protégé told me that it was the Beerenauslese, a type of wine from Germany. This is a definition that I found online: ‘Beerenauslese (literally "individual berry selection") is a wine made from hand-selected individual grapes that have been affected by botrytis cinerea or ‘noble rot’, a fungus that dehydrates the berries and adds a unique honeyed flavor to the wines. This rare condition in the vineyard allows for the extraction of very concentrated flavors and sugars in the tiny amount of dehydrated juice of the affected grapes. The resulting wine is extremely rich, dense and viscous with a unique profile." After the startling initial sip, I settled into the flavor and was able to finish the remainder. We ended up crossing the street to sit at the bar of Protégé’ where we ordered rosé oysters and milk bread. I was also glad to see one of my all-time favorite cocktails "Goose Got Me Loose" still on their cocktail menu. I look forward to returning to Underdog to try some of the mezcal and tequila cocktails. It’s nice to have another creative cocktail bar on the Peninsula, joining the recently opened Horsefeather and Eylan.

Bar Underdog was a great stop in Palo Alto. The team from Protoge created a wonderful place for elevated craft cocktails and food with a whimsical feel. Danny was our bartender and helped us find the best cocktails for our tasting preference. I started with a "Not Your Grandmother's" which stunning in the glass, and delivered great savory flavors. The high balls are a must try as a great throwback, their carbonation machine (I forget the name) delivers great bubbles to pair with classic liquors and a super cool "bar" of ice. The bites on the food menu are a great pairing for the cocktail menu. The burdock carrot dip was fantastic, and I'm a sucker for root vegetable used in an inventive way. The tuna tartare with avocado was a classic but elevated with the savory onion chips. And of course the wings, all great bars from a dive to five star need a great wing that matches the feel of the place and Chef delivers once again. Finally, I love the subtle artwork including a wall of "underdogs" with images of pop culture underdogs brings the whole joint together.

Fantastic new bar downtown Palo Alto. Cocktails are very well balanced and flavorful. Bartenders gave great recommendations when I couldn't decide. Portion sizes of the food were perfect for sharing. Can't wait to go back!

Bar Underdog just opened in Palo Alto from the owner of Protégé—and it’s a hit. The food is fantastic, and the cocktails are pure art: creative, beautiful, and delicious. Elevated vibe, warm service—this place is already a must-visit.

This is such a great addition to Cal Ave. I love the creative cocktails. The folks creating and serving the beverages are so kind. I love the attention to detail, the fun theme and lively ambiance.

New cocktail spot by the Protege crew which is upscale yet fun and has a great HH weekdays. Great option for pre or post dinner when in the area. Highlights: - Happy hour: 4-5:30 weekdays--including Fridays. Includes a set of $10 drinks which is a steal for the bay area. Includes one of my fave cocktails (vesper) so I was super excited about that. - Cocktails: quality and a choice between classic like the vesper or high balls and special ones like the XXX and a bunch of others. - Sodas: they make their own which I think is super cool - Vibe: energetic and classy--not stuffy. Nice staff. - Nuts: tasty warm snack while you enjoy your beverage. 4 stars - Raw fish tostada: complex but fresh mix of flavors and texture. 4 stars - Mochiko chicken: standard flavors and textures was fine. 3.5 stars - Cocktail option on California: not too many but more opening up lately. And open later than most places in the area (11pm on Wed/Thurs, 12am Fri/Sat) - No reservations needed - Trainable: only few blocks away from the California Caltrain station Midlights: - A5 wagyu shu mai: was super excited at the sound of this but was just ok. 3 stars Lowlights: - Unpredictable when it'll be busy. Came early on a Wednesday once and it was packed.

Bar Underdog in Palo Alto impresses with creative, delicious food and cocktails. The vibe is stylish yet welcoming, and the attentive service makes it a spot you’ll want to visit again.