Came during COVID and they had a nice outdoor space with space heaters to keep you warm. They offer options for 3-5 courses. For 3 courses, you can choose 1 appetizer, entree, and dessert; or substitute the dessert for another appetizer. For 4-5 courses, you can choose 2 entrees and customize the rest of the meal based on your preference. Menu changes regularly so probably won't be too helpful to describe particular dishes. One thing that sometimes felt a little bit off was trying to figure out their specific approach when designing recipes. Many of the dishes felt true to the name and I could really appreciate all the spices and Indian influence that I expected. Other dishes felt much more Western and the taste profile was bit unexpected. It isn't too say that the flavors were bad, but the entire meal didn't always feel cohesive. We got the Mediterranean style cured scallops and Black Rice arancini for starters. Both were excellent and we enjoyed them much more than the main courses. Portions for the entrees were definitely on the smaller side and I left still feeling a bit hungry (we got the 3-course), which is unfortunate given the prices. We even paid the extra supplement for the quail. I have to say what I enjoyed the most was the innovative ways they incorporated all the different spices in their sauces. I actually enjoyed those more than the protein itself. I'm not usually a dessert fan, but enjoyed both the caramelized blood orange cheesecake and mint chocolate budina (almost like a pudding). Overall, like it's name, their spice game is where they shined. The flavor development of the meat could be improved. For the price, I would like to see them increase the size of their protein in the main courses. read more

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Literally my new favorite restaurant! I can't say enough great things about this place. It's totally unpretentious yet elegant. Modern touches of Indian cuisine in ways that will blow your mind (and taste buds)! The service is impeccable and the ambiance ideal for a romantic vibe. The Pineapple Panna Cotta dessert is forever stuck in my mind. I've already asked my boyfriend to bring me here for ALL date nights! Thank you All Spice! PS Highly recommend doing the prix fix sampling of dishes and get the option with the most options - you'll be blown away by each one! read more

It was simply a delight to dine at All Spice. My wife and I came to celebrate her birthday and the restaurant did not disappoint. From start to finish, every dish was brimming with unique flavors, served promptly, and beautifully presented. The warm sumac-honey chickpeas and hermit's nest salad were the perfect starters, setting the bar high for the main course. For the mains, I had the Rajasthani chicken and my wife had the local halibut. The chicken has a unique smoky flavor which meshed wonderfully with the butteriness of the cashew sauce and kitchari. We had the malted buckwheat and carrot cake for dessert, which was just excellent - awesome balance of the carrot cake flavor with tangy passionfruit and the slightly umami miso vanilla ice cream. The service was prompt and our waiter was super friendly and helpful. We also ate outside -- while All Spice perhaps doesn't have the most refined outdoor area, it still made for a comfortable atmosphere (and they have plenty of heat lamps). We'll definitely be back! read more

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Super cute place that you can't see from El Camino if you're going the speed limit. It's a house turned into an upscale restaurant. It's really dark inside. Really cozy. Food was delicious. I have no clue what I had, but it was good. hahahaha. Service was awesome and he did tell us what we were having but still no clue. hahahaha. Parking is a bit sketch. We parked on the back streets. They have a tiny lot but spaces were filled. Not ideal for a truck or big SUV. You need at least 2 hours to enjoy. read more

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Very excited to try this place and I'm glad I did! The menu is super creative and intriguing. Service was attentive and informative. We ordered mushroom soup, salmon for appetizers. They were amazing! I love the taste, texture and plating of everything. It was inspirational to say the least. entrees were not as impressive. I had duck confit and hen. Duck confit was lacking depth, I could only taste salt on the duck. Then we have the hen which is quite similar. The sauce for the hen was really good, but the saltiness of the meat was overpowering. Then finally the dessert. I love the plating, it looked beautiful. But unfortunately I'm not a big fan of berries. So it wasn't enjoyable for me? read more

All Spice - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Fantastic food and service every time we've visited. Good sized portions and great presentation. read more

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My sister was in town so I wanted to take her to one of many Michelin restaurant in the bay. Allspice met all my Expectations...it's a nice and intimate setting. The building is a Victorian house. So when you walk in it's like walking into a home. The servers were very knowledgeable of the foods they brought out. I am a local chef in the Bay Area so I was really impressed with everything. Fresh ingredients all served very well. I will return on another visit. Loved it! read more

Tucked away along El Camino is this quaint and lovely place that serves Modern Californian Cuisine. You can select 3, 4 or 5 plates from their tasting menu. But whatever you decide to order, expect to have a delicious and satisfying meal. Highlights were the Yuzu-cured salmon crudo, Crispy Thai-style chicken wings, and Iberico presa acorn-fed pork steak. The desserts were equally sumptuous. The staff is friendly and not overbearing. One of the better meals I've had as of late. read more

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This is a very special place for very special evenings. Tucked away in a somewhat peculiar wood-frame house off El Camino, All Spice is nevertheless one of the few truly "fine dining" venues on the Peninsula. New California cuisine with a delightfully successful Indian twist. Napa/Sonoma levels of creativity, local freshness, and sophistication. Intimate yet whimsical ambiance, attentive yet unobtrusive service. Three, four, or five course options. Consider this for a special evening that will be no doubt memorable. With Vognier and 231 Ellsworth gone, and Stella Alpina now a big boisterous bar scene, there are very few places like this on the area, where you can experience this level of artistry in genteel surroundings. read more

Came here for dinner with my husband and totally loved it. The service, ambiance, and presentation of the food blew us away! Super romantic and lovely vibes. Perfect for date night with your special someone It's a bit pricey but when you get there you'll understand why! We got the chicken, halibut, carrot cake, shrimp mousse, and the chickpea salad. Everything was delicious and beautifullyyyyy presented The outdoor patio is cute and feels pretty private which is nice. The restaurant itself is off the beaten path in a residential area and made the vibe all the more intimate. read more

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I've been wanting to try this cozy, well-regarded restaurant for years and finally tried their Sunday brunch! Their location is a bit tucked away from the Main Street and the restaurant is inside a Victorian house. Due to COVID, we dined outside this visit and appreciated they did a nice job trying to make outside dining cozy, quaint and safe. They had a tent set up - there was good air flow and tables were distant. We hate enclosed outside tents (what's the point?!) so we always appreciate good COVID setups! They even set up a sink outside so you can wash your hands without going indoors (win!). They had heaters as well for the weather (and actually even little hooks for purses! Love the attention to detail!) About the food, I had THE BEST avocado toast ever!!!! Upon on arrival, it doesn't look like your usual smashed Avocado toast so I wasn't sure what to expect but wow, THE DEPTH OF FLAVORS!!!!! It's strange to be this excited about avocado toast but I'm still thinking about it. Get this item! The Shakshuka similarly had an interesting taste profile and was presented beautifully. Easy, plentiful parking. Reservations on open table and tock! We found out they do themed dinners as well so will plan to check those out next time around! read more

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Hidden gem in San Mateo. Food is terrific. Funky spot with great service. They make you feel at home.

Genuinely one of the best meals in all of the Bay. This is our second time coming and every bite was bliss just as we remembered. Each dish is incredibly well thought out, full of flavor, and uses super fresh ingredients. You'll walk away feeling so satisfied. This place is an absolute must, you have to experience it! read more

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Located in San Mateo, All Spice provides quality Indian-inspired French Californian cuisine. After the meal that I experienced with a friend I could see why they were celebrated with a prestigious Michelin star. I have wanted to come to All Spice for years now, especially since they received their much ballyhooed stars, I can honestly say that after the meal and service that I experienced with a friend, All Spice should be given serious consideration to receive that Michelin star once again. Much praise goes to husband-and-wife team Sachin Chopra and Shoshana Wolff who founded All Spice in 2010 when they discovered and transformed a former gatehouse for a huge country estate that once existed behind their current home. After a lot of sweat equity was put into their home, they turned this first level of one time very old home into a restaurant with a beautiful bright interior with three separate dining areas. Reservations via the All Spice website were super easy to make via the Tock website and the fact that you did not have to leave a credit card number, which was nice. They do say they have outdoor dining, but we couldn't find any al fresco dining, and when we arrived at 6 p.m. we were the only diners inside their dining room, and it was like that for quite some time. All Spice is known for their multicourse prefix menu, in which diners can select three, four or five courses for 75, 95 or 105 dollars respectively. Many of their courses tended to be vegetarian and seafood focused, with a handful of meat courses that they do have, they charge with supplemental pricing. For my first course, I opted for their Seared Scallop which was served with sourdough crisps, pickled winter crucifiers, romanesco fonduta and a mustard-yuzu yogurt, which was sold for an additional 5 dollars. For her first course my friend ordered their Butter Bean Croquette, which was a warm chickpea mash served with cardamom and coconut milk, endive, jicama, carrot and peanut dressing. For my main course, I ordered their Mishima Reserve New York strip steak served with black trumpet potatoes, mushroom jam, mushroom chips, and winter pickles which was sold for an additional 7 dollar supplement. For her main course, my friend ordered their Pan Seared Salmon which was served with a crispy sunchoke, a crab ginger salad, broccoli-chive cala, creamed corn, and yuzu-dill beurre blanc. For our dessert course, I ordered their Warm apple-walnut cake, as it was served with honey meringue, rum caramel and butter brown raisins. My friend opted to order their Yuzu-white chocolate ganache which was served with roasted and pickled pineapple, blueberry compote and brioche croutons. Our meal began with an amuse bouche that was a small almond croquette and this was served with their Housemade Bread served with a side of cultured butter on a bed of berry compote topped with fresh herbs and lemon zest. We loved every bite of this starter, and it only made us anticipate the remainder of our meal. When my seared scallop was presented at our table, it was as if it was a piece of beautiful artwork with all of the colors and ingredients beautifully composed so much that I didn't want to touch it as if I would ruin my plate's beauty. But once I did, I was so glad, as every bite came alive with such freshness and delightful prose. We then were presented with our entrées, and I loved my strip steak as our meat was prepared sous vide style whereas each piece of meat was evenly cooked medium rare and when combined with the mushrooms and potatoes and when paired with a carafe of "Shoshana's Blend" from Wolff & Father Wines, we were in culinary joy. The good news is my friend also loved both her croquette appetizer and salmon entrée. She too was quite famished once our firs two courses were completed. Which only prepared us for our desert course, and I cannot describe how enriching my apple-walnut cake was, as it wasn't too overly sweet but filled with an abundance of ingredients that I simply could not get enough. But thankfully we weren't done, as the staff presented us with two small bites of chocolate cake to finish our meal on just the right note. When all was said and done, we had a wonderful time at All Spice and when we split our final bill, it was about 105 dollars per person before tip, which wasn't too bad considering the amount and quality of our multiple courses, the stand out service, and overall experience of dining in the homey restaurant that represents the time and energy of its ownership. They recently announced that their lease renewal for All Spice will last two more years at this location, as the food at All Spice can be best described as a mixture of flavors that are acting as best friends just hanging out together on a plate, and here's to hoping that they find a permanent future home in San Mateo, where more people can experience a meal that I will remember for quite some time. read more

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Great service and the food was absolutely amazing. Everything on the menu, so unique, so delicious. I highly recommend.

Excellent food and amazing service. Enjoyed our meal all around. From the moment we checked in for our reservations, the service was warm and welcoming. We shared bites from most of the menu and the highlights were the salmon crudo, the mater paneer, all the entrees were excellent as were the deserts. Great attention to detail and the flavors, textures and presentation were all excellent. read more

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All Spice is truly a hidden gem. If you drive just a little too quick, you'll miss it. Plenty of parking once you find it though. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We chose the outdoor seating and it was very nicely set up and plenty warm as we went beginning of January when it was cold. There were 5 of us, so we each got 3 courses ($75) and were basically able to get everything on the menu except a couple desserts. 4 courses is $95, 5 is $105, so it is on the higher priced side, but in my opinion, really worth it. You can also add wine pairing for $10! Just going to mention the absolute standouts, which I believe stay on the menu (they do change the menu seasonally): - the complimentary soup and bread: That soup they give out in the beginning is SO GOOD!! I don't even like soup that much but it was really tasty, slightly sweet but savory. The bread was nice and thick, and they give it with this really nice berry butter. Really nice texture on the bread too. - Seared scallops ($5 supplement): The scallops were perfectly cooked, and it was a really nice blend of flavors! -The absolute favorite, the crispy fried octopus ($5 supplement): the octopus was so tender and delicious, with such a nice crispy layer around it. Possibly the best octopus we've all ever had. It was so good, my mom asked for another octopus add on. Must get this one!!! - The steak ($7 supplement) and the beef cheek main courses: These two were super delicious too! Perfectly cooked and tender. - For desserts, our favorite was the caramelized orange cheesecake and the Hawaiian Dreams: Nice and fruity with great flavors and multiple different textures Overall, we absolutely loved this place. The family could not stop raving about this place! It's definitely pricey, so come for special occasions! Fun fact: the chef/ husband owner was a celebrity judge on one of Chef Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen's episodes! read more

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I came here for my birthday and had a wonderful dining experience. Pardon my delayed review as my menu items might vary from what they are serving now, but regardless, it's still delicious! O R D E R E D - Scallop Crudo - Squid Two Way - Potato croquette - Salmon - Quail - Pineapple Dessert V E R D I C T My favorite is the scallop crudo, i haven't had scallop crudo elsewhere that tasted as good as it did at All Spice. If i could just eat that, I would! haha My next favorite was the salmon, it was super smooth, soft and flavorful. When I have quail, I usually have it by itself, so their version had something else stuffed with it, which was a new tasting experience for me. Wasn't bad, just new and different than what I'm used to. The pineapple dessert made me think of shaved ice, delicious as always! read more

Just going to start off by saying that we had a reservation at 8pm and were seated at 8:20pm. This wasn't an issue at all because the host came to us and sincerely apologized and even offered a glass a wine to my girlfriend and I. Winning. Once we sat down, we were immediately greeted by our server and he gave us a quick run down of what our evening was going to be like. The food... oh my gosh, the food! I was overwhelmed by it. The taste, the presentation, everything! And by the end of the night I was so full(could of been the wine pairing but it went so well with the courses) that I passed out on our drive home. Favorite course of the night, the New York steak with fondant potato. The steak melted in your mouth good and the potato paired it perfectly.(you can tell I'm not a foodie by how well I described the food) Overall, it was by far the best experience we had. And from what my girlfriend said, "this restaurant is so cute and so well decorated!" Made our valentines that much more special. Thank you guys! read more

All Spice - Australian Wagyu New York Strip Steak - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

So my husband took me to this restaurant on a date night. We called for the tasting menu. It was a while back so I don't really remember names of the dishes Everything was delicious but my fav dishes were the mushroom soup and some dish with sweet potato. I mean it is one of the underrated Indian restaurant in Bay Area. It is a family run business and to my surprise an old establishment too. You can meet the husband wife duo when you visit. They are the sweetest. Their service is Faaaayyynn. Ample amount of parking, seemed safe at night too. The setup is basically a house turned into a restaurant. I loved how they had done the place. It's cozy, not too crowded and I even saw a bunch of people who were regular. As much as it is a date appropriate restaurant, there were reserved tables for a larger group too. I guess you just have to reserve in advance. If I have sum up my experience in short: It is an expensive place since it's a formal setup. It does pass my vibe check. I've definitely had better food Indian food in Bay Area but their curated menu was beautifully presented and more so we went in for the experience. Overall it was amazing. We really had a lovely time and see ourselves visiting again with friends/family on a special occasion. Thank you very much for a lovely time. See you'll soon. read more

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Very pricy; the kind of restaurant where I'm glad my husband paid the bill and I didn't have to see the total. Both my husband and I agreed that, while we enjoyed the experience at All Spice, we preferred the food at the much less expensive restaurant we ate at the night before. My favorite dish was the butternut squash soup. My second favorite was the compressed pear salad. My third favorite was the salmon entree. All were well prepared, well seasoned and included many creative elements. Service was superb and the tables were well spaced so that we could enjoy our conversation. read more

Our second visit and another fantastic experience. We enjoyed the Valentine's Day dinner with our good friends who have been here many times. The food, service, plating, and the wine pairings were wonderful. We'll definitely be back and highly recommend. read more

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All Spice is within walking distance in the Borel neighborhood, located in a charming Victorian home. The menu offers various delicious dishes! The prices are not moderate however it is worth it! The service in the past has been impeccable , ambience and cuisine makes All Spice a perfect choice for a special occasion with friends or a romantic evening out with your significant other. read more

Six of us dined at All Spice this week. The food is eclectic, delicious and very well-prepared. The small room in which we were seated help keep the noise to a minimum, which made it a very pleasant experience for our group. I particularly enjoyed my salmon and my partner enjoyed his lamb. The prices are high but that's what you have to expect for a high quality dinner. read more

We came here for our first time a couple of weeks ago for a birthday celebration. We had such a great time with the myriad of yummy food options and wonderful service that we completely forgot to take any photos! We will definitely be back! read more

Modern Indian food. Wonderful service. We were able to make reservation on the same day. The restaurant was half fool. read more

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Nice food and ambiance, but main things are expensive nowadays. $120 per person later and we were not even full. Excellent service though. read more

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A Michelin star winner (in 2013-2016) that serves Indian-inspired farm-to-table cuisine; the price is fair for the quality of the food, and the service is unintrusive. I was most impressed with the beef cheek and the kebab appetizer. The scallops were beautiful (but not as warm as they could be). Given the restaurant will likely close in the next year (landlord issues, as described in the Chronicle), I strongly recommend a visit to taste something unique. read more

All Spice - Beef cheek - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This is my second time coming here so of course it is sooo good! This second time was just as great as the first time. We were seated promptly, given a menu via a QR code and able to choose what we wanted. Well my husband and I chose the 3 course meal and it was plenty of food. I thought I wouldn't be full to be honest but I was stuffed. The flavors were great as was the presentation of food. I loved the staff and how friendly and welcoming everyone was. I will always come back here because the ambiance is on point as is the food! read more

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This place is true to it's name! All the spices are there and so delicious! It appealed to our pallet. We got a 3 course dinner ( 3 starters , 1 entree and 1 dessert, everything to share) and a bottle of Spanish 2014 Tempranillo. Wine was a bit dry but complimented well once the food began arriving. Every dish was a play with ingredients and it was a success. We were constantly wondering with each dish what's bringing the flavor out so well. I have my respect for this chef. Service was great! Place was cozy. Overall we had a perfect dinner date! Definitely going back again. read more

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I'm giving All Spice a 3.5/5, rounding up to a 4. FOOD I got the three course dinner, which came with some complimentary treats (broccoli cream soup and bubblegum Victorian sponge cake and bread & butter). For my first course I got the beet salad. I was really surprised by the texture of the beets. It seems like mashed beets but shaped like cut up beets on the plate. There was a natural sweetness there but it didn't taste like they added anything to it. The dollops of spiced dressing and yoghurt with the beets tasted great though! A little more dressing would've been great. My main was the mushroom quinoa risotto with crispy cauliflower gnocchi. You need to be a fan of mushroom to like this dish. It was good, lots of umami flavor. The texture of the crispy gnocchi was interesting.. almost like fried spongy tofu. The quinoa risotto was flavorful but not the creamy texture I was hoping for. My dessert was the banana walnut cake. It was a little too sweet and dense for my liking but the couple bites I had were tasty. The complimentary bread was delicious! It was a rustic rosemary loaf. Overall, great strong flavors but a lot going on, and desserts were too sweet and dense. Good but not mind blowing considering the price. ATMOSPHERE Dinner was a little chilly (it was early April) so they had heating lamps outside. They have a little set up for outdoor seating in their parking lot. They also offered limited indoor dining. read more

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We came to "All Spice" to celebrate our special event in our life. We passed by here many times and we only recently learned about their Michelin award. Lunch was great because they provided their PreFix menu. The cost was very reasonable for only $35 which includes tax and gratuity. They offered two options for each course of their prefix. We both shared the salad and mushroom soup. For the main course, I had the cod, while my Sweetie had black rice vegetarian sandwich. And for dessert, their homemade ice cream hit home run. Very delicious! I like their decor. Reminded me of Moulin Rouge. A bit hippy, a bit bohemian, with a twist of East Asian and Modern Indian theme! Their service here was excellent. Very attentive. We're going to have to come back for more and explore their dinner menu. I was told that their lamb is fantastic. Cheers! read more

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I had a celebration dinner at All Spice this past weekend and had a fantastic experience. To start, the restaurant itself is very cute: it's a Victorian home transformed into a restaurant. If you're not careful driving by, the restaurant is very easy to miss. Also, to get it out of the way, service here is top notch. Though the restaurant writes that the entire table needs to participate in either the 3 or the 5 course menu (in order to keep the pacing right for all diners), they were flexible for our party who had members that wanted the 5 course when most wanted 3. We brought a bottle of champagne in as well and our server was kind enough to help us chill it in the fridge. I had the 3 course menu and ordered the hamachi, Chilean sea bass, and slow-roasted duck, opting to skip dessert. Though the hamachi appetizer was good, I actually enjoyed the pan seared scallops appetizer that my girlfriend ordered more. The glazed pork belly that comes with the scallop was delicious. The sea bass is served with a beautiful cream based sauce and the fish flakes apart and just melts in your mouth. The duck is served with a curry based sauce and I loved the sauce so much, I was sad I didn't have more to drench my duck in. Overall, the cook on everything was amazing and the plates are presented beautifully here. I would come back to All Spice in a heartbeat for any special occasion. read more

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Service was cold, bored, and the employees seemed sad. Interior was small but they made the COVID restrictions work. The restaurant did feel empty inside. Pacing of the food was very good. Overall, we were hoping that the food would have much more diverse flavors given its name, but overall was creamy and milky. Soft-shell crab (black tempura, red lava emulsion, spiced soft taco, pickled persimmon) - Thich, rich, delicious taco. Very good. Carrot-orange soup (crispy gnocchi, curried cashew, pickled carrot, smoked cream) - Milky, heavy, overwhelming. Pan-seared salmon (asparagus, green beans, cider-poached radishes, seaweed-dill emulsion, yuzu espuma, pistachio crust) - Creamy, nice contrast of flavors. Thick-cut imperial strip loin steak (potato roesti, watermelon radish, turnip, sunchoke, citrus gastrique, seasame-eggplant condiment) - Beautiful to look at. Eggplant was the show stealer. Caramelized coconut cheesecake (berry compote, mango curd, nut tuille, fresh berries) - Thick, chunky, and heavy. The cream holding the berries together had incredible flavor. read more

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Went there for a birthday dinner two weeks ago. We chose all the apps , 1 entry (all vegetarian) and 1 dessert each - by the end of it, we were really full ! The food was really good - and the presentation great. The wait time between dishes was not a lot either and the wait staff was attentive enough to keep tabs on us to make sure the table was promptly cleared when we were done with a dish. They also acknowledged the birthday with a small dessert on the house .. Overall, solid great food, it was a lovely evening. We will definitely visit again . read more

Great food and great service. We asked the staff for recommendations and every dish they recommended was delicious. We ordered "Garmet yam and citrus soup" and "Warm sumac-honey chickpeas" from the current menu and both were delicious as well. read more

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Really cute location and very nice staff but the food was lacking. Especially for the high price. Poorly seasoned and puzzling flavors in each course. They seemed to be throwing too much into each dish so it was hard to pick out flavors of the individual parts of it. Of the 6 courses we had between us, the lamb osso bucco and the smoked potatoes were the best tasting. Wine pairings were ok but they never told us the vineyards or what region they were from, just the type of wine which was odd. Glad we finally tried it but with all of the amazing restaurants in the Bay Area that do tasting menus better, we sadly won't be back. read more

5/23/20 During these #Covid19 #CoronaVirus times I've already posted quite a few reviews of Michelin Starred restaurants, and the scores have been all over the spectrum from worse-than-you-could-imagine 3-star Manresa to pretty good from 1-star Nico (and shhhhhh... I haven't posted it yet, but 3-star Benu's gonna get a perfect 5/5 score!)... So again, here is my critique simply in terms of food quality and creativity relative to peers costing the same. As you can see, this restaurant normally is a 4 $$$$ restaurant, so you know, hundreds of dollars for you and your date. But today they will be competing against the upper-end of Indian family restaurants. Let me simply say this, if All Spice is yearning for that Michelin Star stamp of success, this is not the way to do it. 1. Ginger-Chili-Peanut Slaw $8 "bright, crunchy, piquant coleslaw with roasted peanuts and black and white sesame seeds": I don't know what crack the owners are smoking here, but let me rephrase their description as, "coleslaw purchased in bulk from the supermarket, with just a bit of dressing and plenty of water. And peanuts." Ginger? Chili? Piquant-WHAT? 1/10 2. Aab-E-Gosht Dinner $30 "rich lamb curry served with studded rice pilaf and eggplant fritters": Yes, $30 would put it against probably the most expensive non-fancy-schmancy Indian restaurants around here, sooo.... 2a. Eggplant Fritters: You get 6 tiny (1" diameter) fried balls of eggplant. They're quite crunchy on the outside, but the insides are moist and tasty. I estimate that these are $10ish if the curry were $20ish, so, not that impressive for the price. I think if they made the balls larger but kept all else the same, they would taste so much better as you could taste more of the moist innards. 5/10 2b. Studded Rice Pilaf: Mmm, kinda hard to say here. The thing is we had to reheat this, and I found it to taste a bit soggy. Normally rice doesn't develop this type of feeling after microwaving, but it's possible that the "studded" vegetables brought in too much moisture. I will say the flavor isn't bad, although again, not particularly special either. No rating cause I can't judge how it would be fresh. 2c. Lamb Curry: The lamb itself wasn't particularly interesting. Smaller pieces. Pretty lean, which is a bad thing in my book, cause most pieces were a bit dry though not horribly so. The sauce is really the star here. Not super spicy or hot, but very creamy and good balance of flavor. Overall though, for $20ish, yeah, it ain't as good as others. I'd say your average Indian mom (and definitely my Chinese gf) would make as good or better. For 1/3rd the price. 5/10 3. Pan-Seared Rock Cod Dinner $25 "served with a kaffir lime-lemongrass emulsion, a thick slice of sourdough toast and a brussels sprout couscous salad": I cannot fathom how they thought this should be on their menu AT ALL! Whoever designed this item should be straight up fired. I'm serious. It doesn't take a world-class chef to know that putting fish and vegetables on top of TOAST will result in soggy craptastic yuckiness when you get it home. Firstly, the toast crust was so hard I couldn't cut it without holding the fork and knife in two tight fists. Secondly, using sourdough did keep the bread from becoming oatmeal, but there definitely was no sign left of being toast except the char lines... And the biggest sin?--you guessed it. Fish turned to jerky. Complete joke. Cooks that make $100 meals shouldn't be producing fish this badly cooked. No excuses. Fire them. Oh... and yeah, the sprinkling of wilted, rotting-looking greens on top? This ain't halloween, chef. 1/10 4. Malted Chocolate Kulfi $12 "our family rich frozen chocolate dessert, topped with salted lemon caramel and macadamia nut struesel and accompanied by nut tuille bits": By this point I was pretty steaming cause the $$$ food was mostly horrible, and the baby got diarrhea for the first time ever (hence the pics with mommy bathing him, thank God we have some pretty fancy-high-end clothes washers right)... but gawd, this dessert was the pure essence of happiness and satisfaction! I think this might be one of the best chocolate desserts I've ever had. I ain't a chocolate head--so typically a bigass molten chocolate cake, or those ganache/mousse cakes, even well made would be too much for me. But here the chocolate is crazy rich, with tons of bitter chocolate flavor, yet somehow it's creamy enough to go down well, especially balanced with the deliciously savory caramel. They even managed to keep the cookies on top crunchy and crisp! I think it's a combo of the savoriness, the juxtaposition of 2 types of goo, and some secret awesomeness, that makes this so spectacular. 10/10 Fire the executive chef. Fire the other food chefs / cooks. Keep the pastry chef. 1/5 #sanmateo #star #notable #indianfusion #chocolatedessert #indiancuisine #fancyindian #indianfood #babyoverload read more

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I highly recommend All Spice. The setting of the place is very quaint and intimate. Great for a date night! The staffs are very pleasant, helpful, and superb service, as well as the owners. The menu is a prefix style. You can select from 3, 4, or 5 courses, and the price is very reasonable. As for the food and presentation, everything were remarkable. Thank you for a great experience! I will definitely come back! read more

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I read some nice reviews on Yelp and decided to go to this restaurant for dinner with my husband. My experience was kind of mixed. We ordered the following items: Starters: Asparagus and Almond Soup, Nashville hot matar paneer. Entree: Smoked Heirloom Cauliflower Desert: Orange Cheesecake and Strawberry rose mousse. They first started us with an Amuse Bouche which was made of cream, apple, fennel and ginger I think with blended spices. It tasted so refreshing, I totally loved it. They also gave us some fresh delicious sourdough bread with butter on the side. Then came the starters, both tasted really good and they have given a good twist to the traditional dishes. I was very disappointed with the cauliflower entree, first of all they don't have any other option for vegetarians and secondly it didn't taste that good. The title of the dish says it's smoked but nothing in the flavor tasted smoked and it was pretty bland just filled with too much boondi on the side. When you are paying so much for an experience, you expect to have certain level of taste and burst of flavors, for me that was the saddest dish I have had in a while, although the presentation was nice. Then, came the deserts, hmm what should is say, there presentation was great but the taste was just banal for both. I was very disappointed there as well. Overall the service was very nice, the decor is also pretty but just didn't meet my expectation. I have had much better food at relatively cheaper price in Bay Area. read more

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