Cafe Pro Bono Menu (2025 Update)
Cafe Pro Bono, a popular Italian venue in Palo Alto, CA, offers a range of lunch options including grilled polenta, carpaccio, sauteed gulf prawns, and cheese & herb ravioli. Their lunch starters feature organic salads and arugula with unique toppings. The lunch panini choices include grilled portobello, steak, and chicken confit options. Customers rave about the staff, service, and food quality at Cafe Pro Bono. With a knowledgeable sommelier and friendly servers, the atmosphere is welcoming. Dishes like halibut risotto, linguini with vongole, and a delicious cheesecake receive high praise. While some mention slightly slow service, the overall dining experience is highly enjoyable. So, if you're looking for a delicious Italian meal with excellent wine selection and a cozy ambiance, Cafe Pro Bono is the place to be.
Lunch Appetizers
Grilled Polenta Lunch
Roasted portobello mushroom sauce.
Carpaccio Lunch
Thin sliced raw beef, Bermuda onions, capers, parmigiano reggiano, drizzled Dijon mustard truffle oil.
Sauteed Gulf Prawns Lunch
Parsley, garlic, lemon, white wine.
Susans Downfall Lunch
Cheese & herb ravioli, Gorgonzola sauce, toasted almonds.
Caesar Salad Lunch
Organic heart of romaine lettuce, shaved parmigiano cheese. Add chicken or prawns for an additional charge.
Organic Baby Spring Lunch
Mixed greens, Roma tomatoes, cucumber and fresh citrus vinaigrette.
Wild Arugula
Candied walnuts, fresh goat cheese and balsamic dressing
Lunch Starters
Lunch Panini
Grilled Portobello Panini
Mushrooms, roasted bell peppers, caramelized onions, tapenade. (served with a small salad)
Steak Panini
filet mignon, mushrooms, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms and gorgonzola cheese. (served with a small salad)
Chicken Confit Panini
Marys free range chicken confit, mushrooms, caramelized onions, mushrooms, roasted garlic aioli, provolone cheese. (served with a small salad)
Smoked Salmon Panini
Norwegian smoked salmon, Bermuda onions, arugula, lemon caper aioli. (served with a small salad)
Yabo's Mediterranean Salad
Hearts of Romaine Lettuce with Loch Duarte Salmon, Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Olives, Feta Cheese and Citrus Vinaigrette.
Duck Confit Salad
Organic baby spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried cranberries, granny smith apple.
Grilled Chicken Salad
Pro Bono bistro salad, mushrooms, roma tomato, citrus fresh herbs.
Luncheon Salads
Lunch Pastas
Cappellini
Angel hair pasta with fresh Roma tomatoes, garlic, basil, extra virgin olive oil.
Spaghetti Bolognese (homemade)
Beef and Veal Top Sirloin in a Rich Bolognese Sauce.
Tortiglione Pasta (gluten free)
Organic whole grain buckwheat pasta, portobello, green peas, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli crown, fresh herbs in a light marinara sauce.
Gnocchi (homemade)
Potato dumplings in a homemade Genovese basil pesto sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts.
'Susan's Downfall'
Our Signature Dish! Homemade cheese and herb ravioli in a gorgonzola cheese sauce - topped with toasted almonds.
Spaghetti alla Diavola (homemade squid pasta)
Fresh Salmon, Gulf Prawns, Fresh Dill, English Peas, Lemon Vodka and Cream.
Rigatoni (homemade)
Spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, roasted red bell peppers sauce.
Tagliatelle alla Pro Bono
Homemade pasta with smoked free-range chicken, roasted shitake mushrooms in a light Alfredo sauce.
Linguini alla Vongole
Fresh manila clams, calabria pepper, basil, lemon, vermentino wine sauce.
Pollo alla Pro Bono (served with starch & vegetables)
Free range chicken breast, pine nuts, sun-dried tomato sauce.
Loch Duarte Salmon (served with vegetables)
served with orzo pasta - dill, lemon chardonnay sauce.
Veal Scaloppine
With Lemon Capers Sauce
Lunch Entrees
Dinner Appetizers
Wild Boar Sausage
Organic flageolets, roasted bell pepper & au jus.
Grilled Polenta
Portobello mushroom, Roma tomato, fresh herbs, marinara
Carpaccio
Thin sliced raw beef, Bermuda onions, capers, parmigiano reggiano and drizzled Dijon mustard sauce, truffle oil.
Sauteed Gulf Prawns
Parsley, garlic, lemon, white wine.
Burata Cheese
Green peas, shaved parmigiano reggiano, truffle oil
Soup of the Day
Our soups are made fresh daily - call us to see what the day's offering is.
Caesar Salad
Organic heart of romaine lettuce, shaved parmigiano cheese, caesar dressing
Organic Baby Spring
Mixed greens, fresh citrus vinaigrette.
Butter Lettuce Salad
Hydro butter lettuce, Fuji apple. warm goat cheese and champagne dressing.
Spinach Salad
Poached Bosc pear, gorgonzola cheese, dijon mustard honey dressing.
Dinner Salads
Dinner Pastas
Spaghetti alla Diavola
Squid Pasta, Maine Lobster Meat, Gulf Prawns, Fresh Dill, Lemon Vodka and Cream.
Whole Grain Buckwheat Pasta (gluten free)
Buckwheat pasta with Portobello mushrooms, broccoli crown, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, light marinara and fresh herbs.
Linguini Vongole
Manila clams, basil, parsley, garlic, lemon and Pinot Grigio wine.
Grilled Chicken
Grilled 1/2 Mary's free range chicken in a fresh citrus oregano sauce.
Grilled Scottish Loch Salmon
Horseradish herb crust - served with vegetables and orzo pasta
Veal Piccata
Veal Scaloppine with lemon caper sauce - includes starch and vegetables.
Veal Marsala
Veal scallopine in a mushroom-Marsala wine sauce.
Duck Breast
Maple Leaf duck breast, Grand Marnier balsamic sauce. Served with starch and vegetables.
Gulf Prawns
Charbroiled with polenta cake, tomato, herbs, lemon sauce.
Rack of Lamb
served with a pomegranate ruby port wine sauce, starch and vegetables.
Niman Ranch Filet Mignon
Niman Ranch filet served with a green peppercorn brandy sauce, starch and vegetables.
Dinner Entrees
Desserts
Tiramisu
Lady fingers, espresso, rum, sambuca, mascarpone cheese.
Chocolate Decadence
Flourless chocolate cake, whipped cream, fresh raspberry sauce.
Pistachio-Apple Tort (warm)
Served with caramel sauce.
Vin Santo & Biscotti
Almond biscottis with vin santo.
Panna Cotta
Italian style custard with fresh berry compo.