Need a new place to try on your next trip to Stanford Mall? The Tootsie’s Barn at Stanford is the place for you!

Eliza Crowder | Copy Editor 

With the semi fast approaching, there’s no doubt that you will be making a trip or two over to the mall in the coming weeks. Going to the mall often feels like a chore, like something you’re dreading to do but something that needs to be checked off of your “to-do list.” However, if you carve enough amount of time out of your busy schedule, you can make your shopping a fun outing – accompanied by some delicious food.

Tootsie’s Barn right by Stanford mall is a charming Italian restaurant that serves elegant yet comfort-food-esque breakfast and lunch options. Tootsie’s lies hidden between the east side of Stanford mall, in between Nordstrom and the Stanford hospital. The serene setting and outdoor seating make for a very pleasant dining experience. Tootsie’s is a wait at the counter, find your own table, and wait for your food to come kind of restaurant, making it a casual place to grab a bite with some friends.

When I decided to try out Tootsie’s for the first time with my mom, she went down the breakfast route with poached eggs and bacon, while I stuck with a chicken and arugula salad (see picture below). My mom was so generous as to let me have a couple bites of her dish and the poached eggs were cooked to perfection. The soft texture of the eggs blended perfectly with the crunchy baking – making for the perfect bite. She also allowed me to snag a bite of the uniquely cooked potatoes on her dish. The potato was sliced very thinly and then baked to the point where you could rip off a piece of the potato and eat it just like a french fry. As for my dish, it was a bit on the lighter side, yet it was delicious nonetheless. If you’re not too hungry and craving something clean and healthy, then go for a salad. But if you’re in the mood for something that will stick to your ribs and get you to the next meal without snacking, maybe try ordering off the breakfast menu.

The setting of Tootsie’s was definitely my favorite part of the whole dining experience. The restaurant is close enough to the mall that it is not out of the way, but it still feels like you are dining in a hidden cottage, tucked away from any nearby roads or buildings. The service at Tootsie’s was somewhat slow – but that could be due to us dining at the very busy lunch hour on a Saturday.

As far as prices go, Tootsie’s is definitely on the pricier side – with dishes ranging from $9 salads to $15 pasta dishes. If you’re a fan of Italian food and if you’re in the Stanford area, try Tootsie’s out for an enjoyable dining experience and some taste-bud satisfying food.