San Mateo Restaurants

Updated on 6/5/2025

Diners’ Choice Awards are based on where your fellow diners book, dine, and review. Only verified diners get to review restaurants on OpenTable, so our data doesn’t lie.

La Lanterna Ristorante

Diners’ top pick

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$$$$Price: Moderate

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Italian

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4.8

(1,025)

Open since 2001, La Lanterna is a family-owned business with Ramon Lopez as Executive Chef and Jennifer Villa-McGuffin service as manager. Prior to opening, Ramon and Jennifer were employed at various fine dining restaurants in the San Francisco Peninsula. With his own signature style, Chef Ramon has received numerous accolades and is honored to serve you at La Lanterna.

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1. 

   Vespucci Ristorante Italiano

   $$$$Price: Expensive

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   Italian

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   4.8

   (875)

   Please consider:
   *Kitchen closes at 8:30pm, we place last order at 8:15pm and we don’t accept any reservation after 8:00pm
   *Being a small restaurant, it is crucial for us to know in advance if the number of guests in your party changes, or you want to change the time, or you are planning to not come at all. Please avoid to just not show up, but kindly call to inform us, it will be much appreciated. If we don’t hear from you, we will re-assign the table after 15 minutes. If you need to increase the number of guests on a reservation made through Open Table, please call the restaurant.
   *We don’t take groups larger than 10 people on Fridays and Saturdays.
   *About birthday celebrations : we don’t have a free dessert policy, if you order one from our dessert chart, we will bring it to the table with the candle. You can also bring your own cake, our cutting fee is $3 per person.
   *Corkage fee is $25 per bottle.
   *We don't longer offer outdoor seating, only indoor dining and take out.
   
2. 

   Luceti's on 25th Avenue

   $$$$Price: Expensive

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   Italian

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   4.7

   (956)

   A taste of Tuscany and local treasure that is simply delicious. For over three decades, Luceti's has served Italian cuisine created by world class chef and awarded San Franciscan, Roger Bertola. Founder of the legendary Doro's, Ruggero's and master chef of Fior and the Iron Horse. Mr. Bertola was also the personal chef to generals Eisenhower and Paton. Today, Luceti's owners carry on the same tradition and cuisine that was started by Dr. Ron Luceti in 1984. Luceti's is a great place for private parties and business meetings.

Avenida

Top-rated food

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$$$$Price: Expensive

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Filipino

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4.8

(305)

Avenida Modern Filipino Restaurant and Bar was inspired by the dynamic lifestyle of Avenida Rizal, one of the main thoroughfares in the Old Manila during the pre and post World War II era. It was named after the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal.
For decades, Avenida Rizal was a melting pot as well as the mecca for entertainment and dining in the Philippines.
Being the center of Old Manila’s social life, Avenida Rizal was also famous for its Art Deco as well as its theaters and opera house where performing arts lovers came to watch zarzuelas, vaudeville acts and stage plays. The theaters were designed by very well respected architects who were later honored as National Artists.
Avenida Restaurant would like to pay homage to the glory days of the Old Manila.

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1. 

   Pausa Bar & Cookery

   $$$$Price: Expensive

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   Italian

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   4.7

   (1,930)

   Pausa, a bar and cookery in San Mateo, calls for guests to take a recess from life and enjoy a dining experience that transports them to a place of leisure. With a strong focus on modern Italian, our menu will consist of house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, wood-fired grill, and house-cured meats. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will ensure your pause is a memorable one.
   We are now taking reservations for our patio tables, bar, and indoor tables. As we practice social distancing with our new limited floor plan, we ask that you and your guests limit your dining to 2 hours to accommodate all reservations.
   When checking table availability, if outdoor seating is not an option to select, then your reservation will be for an indoor table as the outdoor may be booked.
   Thank you for understanding.
2. 

   Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Mateo, CA | Downtown (Central Park)

   $$$$Price: Expensive

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   Japanese

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   4.6

   (768)

   Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.
   Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!
   Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas

Top-rated hospitality

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$$$$Price: Moderate

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Tapas / Small Plates

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4.7

(133)

Amour Amour celebrates 10 years anniversary with the relaxed lifestyle, where small plates, good drinks and a cozy and tranquil atmosphere are all part of the experience. Guests can start with the sachet de prosciutto wrapped with goat cheese, fig jam, almonds and herbes de Provence for an introduction to Amour Amour’s culinary French and Spanish style. Popular hot tapas options include the Spanish seafood paella and Spanish meatballs in a sauce consisting of tomato, nutmeg and paprika, The roasted patatas bravas with spicy tomato aioli is another favorite. Amour Amour’s cold tapas plates, such as the Oregano octopus, capers , or the burrata capresse , are flavorful and refreshing ,squid ink paella .
For a sweet bite, enjoy the tropical coconut panna cotta with mango puree. Be sure to wash your meal down with a house-made sangria. Bon appetit !!!
Family owned and operated !

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1. 

   The Refuge - San Mateo

   $$$$Price: Moderate

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   Gastro Pub

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   4.6

   (132)

   As featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, The REFUGE specializes in hand-carved, ultra tender, boldly flavored navel pastrami which is sending shockwaves throughout the gastronomic consciousness of patrons who call it “the greatest this planet will see in some time.” The REFUGE boasts the world’s best Belgian and Craft Beer on draught (24 in San Mateo) in the Bay Area, with many more by bottle.
   Since 2008, the REFUGE has been providing protection for many East Coast street food classics especially the hand-carved navel pastrami. But wait, just for good measure, we grind our own blend of hamburger on a daily basis as well as procure our own Ribeye Blend for our Authentic CheeseSteaks.
   We also offer honest Old World wine, dazzling salads and eclectic appetizers. Casual connoisseurs unite! This place is the real deal. Whether it’s a quick lunch, a raging evening, a private event, take-out or delivery, the REFUGE experience is unlike any other place at any one time.
2. 

   Porterhouse

   $$$$Price: Expensive

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   Steakhouse

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   4.7

   (1,765)

   The renowned art of dry aging finally arrives in San Mateo, as our new dry aging window is now completed. We are proud to be the only restaurant on the Peninsula (In between San Francisco & San Jose) to have an in-house dry aging facility. Our new menu featuring these marvelous cuts of beef is now available.
   To accompany your steak, our Wine List celebrates the acclaimed wines of Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, France and Italy. In addition to our steak and chop offerings, our Chef provides for a daily selection of fresh fish and seafood.
   Whether you are having a romantic dinner, entertaining some friends and family, having a business meeting, or hosting a private party, we will provide you with the ideal setting for your next outing.
   *Please note that we have re-located 2 blocks away to 164 S B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
   

Izakaya Ginji

Great vibe

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$$$$Price: Expensive

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Japanese

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4.6

(236)

Izakaya Ginji, located in downtown San Mateo, is a Japanese gastropub specializing in Yakitori and tapas style dishes. Izakaya Ginji also has a vast selection of rare Sake and unique Beers. For Japanese spirits, the restaurant also offers a variety of Shochu.
We have 10minutes grace period. Please call us if you are running later than 10 minutes after your reservation time.
Due to limited seating, dining is limited to 2hours until further notice.
Please be sure to include your children or your service animal as a head count for accurate reservation!
Also, we are now taking reservations for our INDOOR TABLE ONLY.
***We will NOT accommodate any requests for outdoor patio seating. Reservations are strictly for INDOOR ONLY***
We will be NOT allowing any outside food and drinks.
We look forward to providing you with an authentic Japanese dining experience .

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1. 

   Espetus Brazilian Steakhouse - San Mateo

   $$$$Price: Very Expensive

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   Brazilian Steakhouse

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   4.7

   (1,459)

   Espetus Churrascaria is a Brazilian steakhouse. This restaurant began in 2003, as an homage to the Brazilian cowboys who would cook each night by roasting meat over an open flame. Today, this form of dining has evolved to a totally unique culinary experience. Guests at Espetus are seated with a red and green painted wood block on the center of the table. If the diners are hungry, they place the green side face up and servers will come by with a wide array of grilled dishes on skewers. Whenever they are hungry, they simply flip the block to red.
   Espetus has an extremely large and varied menu for guests to enjoy. Guests can enjoy items like sirloin steak, top sirloin, filet mignon, flap steak, grilled chicken, marinated shrimp, rum-soaked pineapple, pork belly, flame-grilled bison and many more. Espetus also has a cold bar with items like rolls and pasta.
   
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   Central Park Bistro

   $$$$Price: Expensive

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   American

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   4.7

   (1,744)

   Central Park Bistro is a 100 seat contemporary restaurant in downtown San Mateo featuring fresh seasonal American cuisine by Chef Ricardo Garcia, in the $15-$45 range. We offer a carefully chosen eclectic Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Central Park Bistro is an affordable sophisticated, fun dining experience. Relax and unwind with a house specialty cocktail at our wonderful Martini Bar. We also have several intimate private dining rooms perfect for that corporate presentation business meeting, wedding rehearsal dinner,
   retirement/anniversary dinner, or any special function you may have in mind. Check out our private wine cellar room which seats up to 8 people for that extra special dining experience.
   For reservations larger than 12 or for private functions please contact the restaurant directly.

Pacific Catch San Mateo

Great budget-friendly spot

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$$$$Price: Moderate

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Seafood

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4.5

(1,474)

Pacific Catch is a WestCoast Fish House dedicated to delivering high quality sustainable seafood with a unique perspective. From the day we opened we've been mindful about where our ingredients come from and how to bring to life the vibrant flavors and feeling of the Pacific. It's our commitment to our guests to keep things interesting, innovative, wholesome and thoughtfully sourced. That's why we've formalized our relationship with the Monterey Bay Seafood Aquarium's Seafood Watch, James Beard Foundation's Smart Catch and the Surfrider Foundation by becoming a partner and bringing on a director of sustainability to help steward these efforts.
We will be following the most stringent protocols on cleaning, sanitization, social distancing, and protections for employee health including temperature taking and the use of protective masks and gloves.

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   BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - San Mateo

   $$$$Price: Moderate

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   American

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   4.7

   (60)

   Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.