![At the grab-and-go, healthy restaurant Proper Food, customers are given the option to have their food heated up. Kevin The, a manager at Proper Food, said that the restaurant targets office workers. “They [the owners] wanted something where it’s easy to be grabbed, but still very healthy for people,” The said. “90 % of them [our customers] are people coming down from the office.”](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_0119-1200x800.jpg)
On a brisk Thursday morning, mouth watering aromas fill Proper Foods, a cozy new spot hidden inside an office center in downtown Palo Alto. This modern eatery offers grab-and-go options for busy office workers with shelves filled with boxes, bowls and sandwiches, bringing a breath of freshness to the bustling street outside.
Proper Food opened at 525 University Ave. on Oct. 29. Like its other 12 locations, this branch sits on the ground floor of an office building to target young professionals who need a quick, wholesome meal.
While its interior is simple, with a few small, round tables and chairs, Proper Food emphasizes quality and taste in various prepackaged meals and a selection of baked goods.
Manager Kevin The explained the restaurant’s goal of providing a healthy grab-and-go experience for office workers.
“The restaurant started for young business professionals,” The said. “Something quick and ready, but then still very healthy.”
In addition, the restaurant also has a small selection of coffees, pastries and snacks made by its partners.
The said that these pastries and snacks are from other businesses, to show the restaurant’s support of those businesses.
“We always partner,” The said. “We tend to partner with local businesses around the Bay Area. Both the bakery and the coffee are from San Francisco. … They’re kind of like us. They’re branching out through other locations.”
The owners Dana and Howard Bloom partnered with Executive Chef Juan Muñoz, who previously worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco. The said that this was done to bring Muñoz’s fine-dining expertise to each meal.
According to The, the restaurant’s main kitchen is located in South San Francisco, where fresh meals are made and delivered to locations daily.
“We get it [the meals] shipped to us every day,” The said. “Everything that you see here is made the morning of. … They [the chefs] keep everything made fresh.”
These foods, despite being prepackaged meals, were a pleasant surprise:
Chimichurri Salmon ($16.95)
A bed of crispy, roasted brussels sprouts accompanies half of a perfectly seasoned, moist salmon, with Chimichurri sauce and shaved parmesan on the side. The sprouts paired with tender salmon and zesty Chimichurri made this dish a standout, offering a balance of flavors and textures.
Turkey Avocado Sandwich ($12.90)
This toasted sandwich combines creamy avocado, jack cheese, and lemon aioli with turkey slices, creating a blend of tart and savory. While flavorful, the sandwich could benefit from a crisper texture — the bread was slightly soggy after toasting — and was comparable to a homemade version.
Side of Chicken Tortilla Soup ($4, small)
Warm and inviting, the soup included shredded chicken and tortilla strips that were served on the side to stay crunchy, making the soup a delightful starter. The light but flavorful profile of the soup combined with a satisfying texture contrast makes it a cozy companion on a chilly morning.
Cinnamon Mocha Cold Brew Coffee ($5.75, 16oz)
Proper Food partners with Andytown Coffee Roasters to serve this cold brew blend, which has a nutty, bold taste reminiscent of horchata. While it leans toward the bitter side, it’s an ideal choice for cold brew enthusiasts.
