Banana Leaf, an Asian-fusion restaurant in Milpitas, has snagged the former Menlo Hub spot in Menlo Park for a second location.
The owners of Banana Leaf did not respond to requests for comment, but City of Menlo Park Economic Development Manager Jim Cogan confirmed the restaurant is moving in to 1029 El Camino Real. The space, next door to Su Hong’s former sit-down restaurant, has been vacant for more than a year after Menlo Hub’s owner fell behind on rent and was eventually evicted.
Banana Leaf’s website describes its “heritage” as a “delightful” mix of Malaysian, Thai, Indian and Chinese. A large menu ranges from roti prata and tuna sashimi to curry dishes, banana leaf-wrapped seabass, 10 kinds of noodle dishes and Singaporean black pepper crab (for a cool $38.50).
According to a Mercury News review by now-Palo Alto Weekly reviewer Sheila Himmel, owner Kay Yim is a Malaysian of ethnic Chinese descent who left a career in high-tech sales and marketing to open the restaurant.
Stay tuned for more details and an opening date.
