This is great news! I doubt many folks down here know about the Refuge, but the pastrami they serve is on a par or better than the best that NY delis have to offer - it is completely amazing. And the Belgian beers are terrific too. It's a gourmet deli/bar disguised as a plain neighborhood hangout. I predict and hope they will be successful here.

Right on, can't wait to have Goofy Fries and great beers close to home!!!

Great pastrami sandwiches and beer in walking distance - I can't wait! Will need to start exercising in preparation.

Yippee! I love the Refuge. I've been a regular in SC for about 4 years. Best pastrami, ever!

Too bad no one ever wants to open a restaurant in Menlo Park that serves "healthy" food. This restaurant that is opening sounds like it should be named something like "Heart Attack Bistro."

I'm not a big fan of pastrami, but a local place that serves Belgian and Belgian-style beers? Oh, yes, please! For home consumption, Beltramos has an excellent selection of these beers as well.

I haven't tried the Refuge yet but I love a good Noo Yawk pastrami sandwich on rye with just plain brown deli mustard, a half sour dill pickle, a potato knish, some chopped liver, and an egg cream with a side of omeprazole.

Places that offer swiss cheese on the pastrami are not authentic Jewish delis. But the Carnegie isn't either and it is one of my favorites.

Max's at the Stanford Sho[ping Center makes a decent pastrami but it is not New York. Katz's Cohen's and the Carnegie have set the gold standard for Roumanian hot pastrami. We will see if the Refuge matches up. I hope it offers a plain authentic New York hot pastrami on rye with brown deli mustard along with its non-New York versions of the pastrami sandwich.

Now if it can only import some Junior's cheesecake.

BTW, Amici's serves the best cheesecake west of the Hudson River.

I am a fish eater that likes the scallops at Refuge, just hope for more veggie and fish options!!

Always happy for new restaurants in town. Also for existing places to mix up the menu one in a while!! Fox example, love Shiok, but the fish dishes haven't changed in years. Please??

Best to NOT assume that it will match Katz's. happens too often around here and east coasters wind up disappointed. Ahhhh, New England Lobster shack? Better to expect less and be surprised. Downtown is awful for restaurants, especially casual so let's help make it a success and get more good options to consider MP

Went yesterday and the place is a winner. we are hardly big pastrami eaters but the menu has other options and clearly they know what they are doing. Note to Refuge: More non meat options will do well down here......

Expect this to get a good buzz and that it will become a staple of downtown eating. Welcome to Menlo Park.

Let's hope that this is a signal to others to consider our town and a message to other restaurants to up their game! Same for shops/boutiques -- so little to choose from here but perhaps competition will change the landscape and the offerings we have downtown.

Go Refuge