At Mantra, they understand the importance of each customer and strive to meet all their needs. They are committed to making each event perfect by ensuring elegant, flavorful food and matching impeccable service in a beautiful dining room.  Despite all the South Asian trappings, this handsome restaurant is really a bastion of California cuisine with mild Indian influences. The kitchen experiments with French techniques and unexpected combinations of ingredients from around the world.  This is an absolutely lovely, elegant restaurant with scrumptious food. It's absolutely gorgeous inside, with wonderful art on the walls and an exciting, sophisticated weaving of color and texture.  The short ribs are amazing, as are the tuna ribbons, the scallops and the trio of lamb kabobs.  More info at http://www.mantrapaloalto.com/