Portola Valley mainstay closes after 20 years of business

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Portola Kitchen, an Italian restaurant that lived at 3130 Alpine Road in Ladera Country Shopper — formerly Mike’s Cafe, closed its doors on Monday, March 4, after 20 years of business, owner Mike Wallau announced the same day.  

Wallau and his family made the decision to not renew the lease for the Portola Valley eatery and instead focus his energy on his other business, Mike’s Diner Bar in Palo Alto. He stated in a press release that he hopes to “focus all his culinary and creative efforts” and bring menu and operational changes to Mike’s.

“I really love it in Portola Valley and it was a bittersweet decision,” said Wallau, who only made the difficult decision to close his business recently. “I didn’t know until right at the end. My heart was telling me to stay but logic was telling me otherwise.”

‘I really love it in Portola Valley and it was a bittersweet decision.’

Portola Kitchen owner Mike Wallau

At 66 years old, he is paving his way to semi-retire after selling a location in Menlo Park in 2012 and now closing Portola Kitchen. For the past 29 years, Wallau has been busy managing multiple restaurants, seven days a week and felt that it was time for a break. 

“I wish to thank all my loyal Portola Kitchen customers for their support over the last 20 years, and I invite everyone to come to Mike’s in Palo Alto for a fine meal and a hearty hello,” wrote Wallau in the press release. 

Wallau expressed gratitude toward his staff, the customers, tenants at Ladera Shopping Center and the property owners. 

As a Palo Alto native, Wallau is making a full circle journey back to his first location at 2680 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, which was renovated in 2019 and has expanded to twice the size after taking over an adjacent space in 2017. Last year, he faced eviction at the Middlefield location after being one day late for his rent payment, but received an eventh-hour reprieve.