Last updated: 2025-05-06
San Mateo’s culinary landscape offers a refined dining experience that blends Silicon Valley sophistication with Bay Area creativity. From intimate wine bars to innovative restaurants, the city’s dining scene reflects its cosmopolitan character and diverse culinary influences.
Local restaurants like Pausa Bar & Cookery and Aventra showcase the region’s commitment to exceptional cuisine, featuring locally sourced ingredients and expertly crafted dishes that capture the essence of San Mateo’s vibrant food culture.
Discover San Mateo’s most exquisite dining destinations now!
Featured Fine Dining Spots in San Mateo
- Porterhouse
- Pausa Bar & Cookery
- Central Park Bistro
- Iron Gate (Belmont)
- Avenida
- Selby's (Menlo Park)
- Izakaya Ginji
- The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar
- Vespucci Ristorante Italiano
- All Spice
All Spice
What to Expect
Seasonal Modern Californian cuisine in a converted cottage
Description
Nestled in a charming cottage, All Spice offers an intimate Modern Californian dining experience featuring seasonally curated menus. The restaurant provides an elegant, boutique atmosphere with carefully crafted three-course dining experiences served Tuesday through Saturday evenings in a cozy, personalized setting.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: All Spice
Avenida
What to Expect
Modern Filipino cuisine inspired by historic Manila streetscape
Description
Avenida offers an authentic modern Filipino bar and grill experience, drawing inspiration from the vibrant Avenida Rizal in Old Manila. The restaurant celebrates Philippine culinary heritage through a contemporary lens, featuring Art Deco-influenced design and a menu that reimagines traditional flavors with sophisticated urban flair.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: Avenida
Central Park Bistro
What to Expect
Impressive wine cellar with curated wine selection
Description
Central Park Bistro offers an elegant dining experience in downtown San Mateo, featuring contemporary American cuisine with sophisticated seasonal dishes. The restaurant boasts an impressive wine cellar and an intimate atmosphere, serving carefully crafted entrées like grilled Australian lamb chops and lobster linguini alongside signature items such as warm toffee bread pudding.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: Central Park Bistro
Iron Gate (Belmont)
What to Expect
Extensive wine cellar with award-winning international selections
Description
Nestled along El Camino Real, Iron Gate offers an intimate French Continental dining experience in a historic Peninsula restaurant. The candlelit dining rooms showcase carefully curated wines from France, Italy, and California, paired meticulously with sophisticated continental cuisine crafted by owners Dimitrios and Kaveh over three decades.
Where: Belmont | More Info: Iron Gate
Izakaya Ginji
What to Expect
Tableside QR code menu and ordering system
Description
A contemporary Japanese izakaya featuring globally inspired dishes and modern culinary techniques. The restaurant offers an innovative dining experience with tableside QR code ordering, signature items like Mentaiko Carbonara and Ginji Lion King Roll, and a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere blending traditional Japanese comfort cooking with creative interpretations.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: Izakaya Ginji
Pausa Bar & Cookery
What to Expect
Handcrafted Italian small plates with California ingredient focus
Description
Nestled in downtown San Mateo, Pausa Bar & Cookery offers an intimate Italian-inspired dining experience with an open kitchen and craft cocktail bar. Seasonal California ingredients transform into sophisticated small plates and handmade pastas, served in a warmly lit, contemporary space with wood accents and an inviting chef's counter.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: Pausa Bar & Cookery
Porterhouse
What to Expect
Visible meat locker with in-house dry-aging process
Description
Housed in a historic 1924 bank building, Porterhouse offers an elevated steakhouse experience with dry-aged Midwest beef, tableside French-inspired preparations like Bananas Foster, and an acclaimed wine list featuring Napa Valley and international selections. High-ceilinged dining rooms adorned with Golden Age Hollywood memorabilia create an inviting atmosphere for romantic dinners and special occasions.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: Porterhouse
Selby's (Menlo Park)
What to Expect
Art deco-inspired fine dining with seasonal California cuisine
Description
Nestled in downtown Menlo Park, Selby's offers an intimate fine dining experience with an elegant art deco-inspired dining room. The restaurant features seasonal California cuisine prepared with meticulous precision, served in a sophisticated setting with white-glove service and an extensive wine selection curated by expert sommeliers.
Where: Menlo Park | More Info: Selby's
The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar
What to Expect
Weekend bottomless mimosa brunch with live classic rock music
Description
Nestled in downtown San Mateo, this sophisticated wine bar and bistro offers an intimate dining experience with an extensive wine selection, craft cocktails, and a seasonal menu featuring seafood and charcuterie. The restaurant boasts an inviting interior and a festive outdoor patio with live music on weekends, creating a vibrant atmosphere for dining and socializing.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar
Vespucci Ristorante Italiano
What to Expect
Family recipes from Calabrian and Neapolitan culinary traditions
Description
A family-owned Italian restaurant in San Mateo celebrating authentic regional cuisine from Calabria and Naples. Intimate dining room features traditional recipes passed down through generations, with ingredients imported directly from Italy and a menu highlighting fresh, seasonal specialties crafted by owners Francesco and Manuela.
Where: San Mateo | More Info: Vespucci Ristorante Italiano
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