Lure+Till, the shiny dining arm of the $600/night (weekdays) Hotel Epiphany, brought two new things to downtown Palo Alto when it arrived three years ago: kale and cougars. Never stepping gingerly, the restaurant included kale in nearly every dish on the menu its first year. Apparently this was not what diners wanted. The kale component diminished over time, but nothing in the food department made a name for the place. Then the bar took over, and was taken over by a younger (and less car-dependent) cougar crowd a bit less serious about mating a rich VC than that at the Rosewood out on Sand Hill Road at 280. The furnishings and appointments were pleasing, but when the bar was busy you could not hear yourself think. After a waiter ignorant about wine service swirled and smelled the tasting glass himself instead of permitting me to do it I never brought a serious colleague (or decent bottle of wine) there again.

Now Lure+Till is closed, “for renovation”. The space is indeed being renovated, but not Lure+Till. The interior is being expanded, to the extent of consuming three sleeping rooms, which means the loss of overnight-guest revenue will have to be made up by the restaurant. And that restaurant is Nobu, of Las Vegas (and 32 other locations all over the planet) fame. It is slated to open by June, and hopefully earlier. I would say so, given the need to return some serious capital to the Epiphany. Bring your bankroll when you dine.