Really enjoyed this place. Thought we were going to get a more Indian meal, but just a great meal with unique combinations of flavors and ingredients. Enjoyed the quail appetizer, super moist and well breaded. The savory black rice beignet was more of a squash dish, but very good. Salmon was nice and also had a cod dish that was executed perfectly. Dessert was a kind of heavy chocolate "kulfi" which was nothing like kulfi. Overall, really enjoyed the meal, but not as memorable as we expected from a 1 Michelin star spot. read more

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Came here Friday night for dinner, this place has Modern food with Indian Influences. You have options to do 3, 4, 5 dishes to choose from. The host is the owners wife, she was so nice and very welcoming. The server was also nice and attentive. We were able to dine in the outdoor tent, it was a cute set up. I like the heater lamps to keep us warm. We ordered 4-4 and shared so we can try what we were interested in. All the dishes were different and had its own unique flavors. All the appetizers we ordered was great I highly recommend. The main entrees were just ok the steak was a bit dry, it wasn't overcooked but it lacked something. The salmon good and the desserts however were way to sweet for me. However, I am glad I came to try this place it's the first "fancy Indian" restaurant I have tried. If you didn't read the article and are interested in coming you should before they are gone!! read more

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Interesting Indian fusion meal that combines artistic presentation and fusion of different spices. I thought that I would not be full with the 3-course meal but surprisingly it was enough. Though the men in our party probably would have had more. The presentation I would rate a 5. The food, 4 which is a high rating from me. It was not a extraordinary. The ambiance is quaint; it's a tiny house with three dining rooms with the first one with a fire place. I didn't notice if it was a real wood-burning fire. Probably not, otherwise we'd hear the wood crackle. Service is friendly but not super attentive. They have one main server with a couple of helpers for the entire restaurant which could seat ~ 34 people. The weeknight we were there, there were about 28 people at any given time we were there. I recommend you at least give this a place a try. Presentation - 5 Food - 4 Service - 3.50 Ambience - 3.50 They have some unique artwork. But the place is basic and clean bathrooms. read more

Still trying to make up my mind here. Its gotten great reviews and we went in with high expectations. The pictures sure looked great. We had reservations for 6:30 on a Thursday and we were the only ones there at first. Eventually about 1/3 of the place was full. They have outdoor seating right now though we sat inside by the fireplace. We wanted to order five dishes and share them but that's not allowed so we had to order one more so that they fulfill the requirement of 3 dishes each. The one dish could only come from the appetizer or desert men so we added a desert to take home. Seemed silly to have such strict rules so that they can charge more for the same food. Got some nice wine to go with the meal including some champagne and then a carafe of red which was quite nice. I'm not sure what it was but likely a blend with light smoky hint. Had several dishes and the ones that stood out were the octopus and also the scallop appetizer. The octopus was served on a creamy chickpea mash. Would get those two anytime. The mains were steak and also squab...aka pigeon...which is a rare treat. Both were good dishes. The Hawaiian dream desert was also ok. If you like the combination of something really sweet and tart at the same time, you'll like this. We took home the cheesecake though its teeny tiny in case you are expecting an actual piece of cheesecake. Bottom line is that I was glad to try it but its not a place I'd run back to. For an over $300 meal for two, I really expected something a bit different. read more

We wanted to love this place , but we landed with mixed reviews. The waitstaff was excellent, attentive and courteous. The cozy, shabby chic interior has its charm, warmly lit by candles on the mantle. Beautifully plated dishes (although 2 of our plates were badly chipped). The truffled mushroom soup with maitake was delicious, albeit the crostini served with it was a bit tough. The hipster tomato soup was very good, with an innovative blend of flavors, but the bread croutons just would not soften. We enjoyed the matar paneer. The olive oil poached halibut had a very good texture, but was somehow lacking in flavor balance. The duck confit...perhaps it was an off day, but both of us had the duck and it was tough and overly salted. Neither of us really ate it. It was unfortunate. The server did offer to bring me another plate, but we kindly declined. The panna cotta was good, but the cheesecake had a fairly grainy texture. Overall ok/good experience. Fun, innovative flavors with Indian spices for punctuation. read more

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The food was really good but not mind blowing. Will probably give it another shot. Great service. read more

Expensive so take your time to appreciate the entire experience of the meal. Their menu provides dished ordered by course: appetizers, main dishes and desserts. They will let you order three courses with two apps and skip dessert, which is what we did. The food had what many foods lack today -- taste. Each bite is a combination of multiple flavors, so take a few minutes to savor each one. Again, the price tag is not for the faint of heart, minimum of $80 per person, but have to say it was worth it, maybe just once. read more

Came here yesterday and it was phenomenal!! All the food was perfect and the service was so detailed and sweet! Will definitely be back! read more

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My family and I had a great time eating here. We've never had Indian fusion cuisine and we loved the food here! All the food on the menu was very good, filling, and for a reasonable price! I loved the variety on the menu and fortunately, we were able to get one of each item on the tasting menu to try. My mom loved the fried octopus that we got another order. I am not a big soup person but the butternut squash soup was very delicious and great with the bread! I also thought the scallops were cooked very well. My favorite entree was the beef cheek but they were all very good! For the desserts, my favorite was the warm apple walnut cake which takes awhile to make but is very delicious! I felt extremely full after this meal and I'd love to come back again! The chef also came out to check up on guests if they were satisfied and we were extremely satisfied! I highly recommend coming here and everything on this menu is great! read more

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I am continually amazed at the reviews some people write, I can only imagine it's because they are afraid to be truthful! This is a preposterous restaurant, pretentious, overrated, mediocre quality, extremely over priced, run down atmosphere, and dirty! Let us begin: 1. The entry is battered and we were met by a woman in old woman in faded worn out jeans and a dirty pullover, hobbling around with a cane. 2. Seated at a cramped small table with no place to rest any purse or bag 3. No covering on the table and the table was STICKY! 4. Chairs were uncomfortable beat-up and looked like they had been purchased used from the Goodwill! 5. We chose the 3-course meal as this was our first time here. The food was mediocre at best: splashed with colors and local bought flowers to appear like something that had stepped off the pages of "Gourmet" or the Michelin Guide- which was decent. the food was a mismatch of flavors that collided and had no subtlety of flavor or nuance. Meat was dry, soups were over saturated with cumin, curry, and God knows what else...Fish was over cooked and dry as well! Nothing was distinguishable. The lady with the cane hobbled around constantly and was seen more than the wait staff(she was filling the water containers and looked as though she was about to topple over). Dessert was no different than the rest of the courses... I'm still in shock every time they brought fresh cutlery and placed it on the "Sticky" table top...Actually, my dessert spoon stuck to the wood surface! All this pretentiousness for the grand total of $185.00 then tax and tip= $220.00 RIDICULOUS! read more

All Spice - NO TABLE COVERING, CUTLERY ON THE STICKY SURFACE - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Fabulous. They've erected an outdoor dining space in their parking lot. Even during the heat wave, and in the 90s outside, it was quite comfortable. They are bending over backwards to support distancing including the menu. I fist ate here 18 years ago and it was very special. The food has changed: less Indian, more internationally inspired, but breathtaking in appearance and absolutely delicious. read more

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Cool fusion menu, excellent wine. Cosy dining rooms in a charming old Victorian house. Cool location tucked away from El Camino, not at all the noisy/rushed feel of most places around this area. read more

After hearing so many good things about this place, including from Indian friends, we decided to celebrate the mister's birthday here. We got the tasting menu, and the items didn't sound at all Indian to us - it seemed like Californian fare, perhaps with a hint of spice. Turned out I was quite right - I searched for any sort of familiar Indian flavour in the food, but it didn't really present itself much. The plating was beautiful, what you'd expect at this price point. The highlights of the meal was the squab (so, so tender even when quite rare). Some of the fish plates were a bit over salted, which was a shame. But overall everything was good, as long as you didn't expect much Indian influence. The service was ok. That was the most jarring part of the experience - we are in this beautiful little cottage in San Mateo - and the waiters didn't act like they were. Not that they were rude, but just not the sort of service I've come to expect at restaurants of this caliber, as we have felt ignored a few times. When they did pay attention to us, they were very lovely though. read more

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The service is top tier, their team definitely makes you feel welcome and taken care of. I chose the four course. My starter, the smoky shrimp with charred watermelon was one of the best things I've had in the world. Simple ingredients but such powerful flavors! Wine selections are great. Also love the charm of the Victorian cottage. Overall had a great experience and will be returning! read more

I need to get back here more regularly. The food and service are consistently great, and their innovative take on Indian fare is outstanding. One of the best restaurants on the peninsula. read more

It's not just that the food is stellar. It's the cute little Victorian house that makes you feel warm and cozy like you're at a guest at someone's else. It's the 5-star service that is just as attentive as the super-fancy places, but less pretentious. I loved the food, as I will discuss, but my favorite thing was how down-to-earth the environment is, while at the same time making diners feeling pampered in the best way. We did the tasting menu. That is 100% the way to go. Loved every single dish. French onion soup (that had foie gras), the grilled octopus, the caviar and lobster toast, etc. The waygu steak was sublime. We tried to resist eating bread (because obviously no one wants to fill up on bread) but we couldn't resist. It was warm. I have no willpower to resist warm bread! Chef is smart enough to know that everyone is stuffed to the gills by the time dessert rolls around, so it was light, some kind of lemon thing. Light, sweet, tart, wonderful. This isn't an everyday place (it's pricey, at least if you drink wine like we do!) but totally worth it for a special occasion. This places deserves accolades. I expect that I won't be able to get a reservation in a year. read more

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I like the old houses turned into restaurants. Having never been to All Spice I drove right past place. Walking up I noticed a sigh that said Indian cuisine (something like that). For some reason I was thinking middle eastern food and the Indian cuisine sign was a bit of a disappointment. I like Indian food but I always have Indian food in the Bay area and this time I was in the mood for something different. Fortunately All Spice didn't disappoint. It's closer to Indian influenced with ingredients from all over the region. The portions were a good size, everything seasoned nicely and service was very good. I like that my choice in alcoholic beverages were from small batch locations. read more

All Spice is a very nice quiet restaurant with friendly staff and excellent food. My wife and I have dined at All Spice several times and the quality of service and food is always excellent. read more

A local gem! Ordered takeout for our anniversary and pleasantly surprised with the plating inside the to go containers as well as the delicious food. Food ordered and ratings: - chilled pea soup ( my favorite course. The almonds and fresh snap peas added great texture) - salt roasted beets ( too salty/smoky for my taste) - sweet potato croquette ( just ok. Probably better in restaurant) - prosciutto and melon ( unique presentation and delicious) - salmon main ( salmon was ok but the pea side was very tasty and unique with the ikura) - steak main ( great and amazing sauces) - chocolate kulfi ( sooo good. The fruit and cookie toppings made it amazing) Would definitely eat here again to try their other courses!! read more

Charming unique restaurant inside a victorian home. Had the pre-fixe lunch menu for $35 which includes tax and tip. Well balanced meal, everything was just perfect. Gem salad, rock cod fish, and home made ice cream with pears. Service was also very warm and welcoming. Would definately recommend this place. read more

Delightful experience at All Spice. It's very easy to miss but once you're there get ready for a treat. My girlfriend and I did the 4course dinner, and were pleased with all our choices. There is indoor and outdoor dining so no compromises need to be made there. At this price point you expect good service, and that you get. If you're looking to treat yourself, it's worth the drive down to San Mateo (if you too are a city dweller) read more

All Spice - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wow! What a dinner. From the food to the service this was a top notch meal. We stumbled on this wonderful establishment looking for a reservation over the holiday week and hit the jackpot. All Spice has a very cool menu with Californian modern American dishes as well as Indian and Asian influenced dishes that are light years away from your standard curries. Our favorite dishes were the mushroom soup starter the halibut main and the panda cotta dessert. One regret was overindulging on the amazing sourdough bread for the table because we got too full by the time dessert came. Also the owner was very sweet about us bringing our 6 year old daughter and was very accommodating by making her a butter pasta dish that my daughter gobbled up. 10 out of 10. read more

Fiine dining is alive in San Mateo. Most of the really nice restaurants in San Mateo have closed i.e. 231 Ellsworth. However, thanks to All Spice, at least one remains. Shosdhana runs the front of the house with skill and professionalism. Sachin runs the kitchen and is always coming up with new and exciting menu additions. For example on our most recent visit, he came up with an amuse-bouche that was an amazing burst of flavor. The scallops appetizer was wonderful as was the carmelizec onion soup. We both had venison and it was cooked to perfectioin. The burnt cheescake was melt in your mouth. The service was impeccable - thank you Johnny! This restaurant is not cheap, but is worth every penny. For a memorable night out, give it a try! read more

A bit spendy but what a mind-blowing experience! Innovative and creative (hey, we're in Silicon Valley at the of the day!) Californian cuisine. What is Californian cuisine? Subtle flavors, lots of vegetables and fruits, low on sugar/carbs/meat, high on creativity, and all the lovely West Coast ingredients: wild Pacific salmon, grapes, sourdough bread, artichokes, lots of citrus (yuzu is very fashionable these days), avocados, etc. The creative and innovative chef is of Indian origin, so you'll see the occasional Indian entree (Madras curry) and some amazing Indo-Californian fusion but thankfully, nothing is overwhelmingly spicy. I got the Hipster toast for $17 (the most I've ever spent on toast is 12 bucks for avocado toast, so I was truly skeptical about spending so much on toast) but it was very cool...cooked vegetables (corn, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes), grapes and microgreens on sourdough - yes, please!! The orange ricotta cheesecake was also very California! Not your traditional enormous slice of overpoweringly sweet NY cheesecake (so gross!). A tiny piece of ricotta cheesecake which is just barely sweet, topped with fruit juice and with lots of fresh berries! Perfect! This place reminds me of Orchard City Kitchen and Rose's Luxury! Creative and innovative dishes that you won't get any place else. All Spice and OCK are recommended by Michelin. Rose's Luxury has a star (I discovered RL before it got a Michelin star!). I can't wait to come back!! Here are the descriptions: HIPSTER TOAST Our housemade sourdough topped with coriander-garlic cheese spread, summer vegetables and herbs CARAMELIZED ORANGE CHEESECAKE Classic ricotta cheesecake, stewed summer fruit, nut tuille, fresh berries read more

All Spice - Hipster toast - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I cannot recommend any restaurant in SFBA higher than All Spice. It is excellent from any view - quality, creativity, service and ambience. Living in Europe I have the pleasure of wonderful restaurants but the minute I return to SFBA it is ALL SPICE where I wish to enjoy their outstanding cuisine. Thank you, All Spice! read more

I took my friend to All Spice for his birthday because this was a restaurant he's been wanting to try. We dined outdoor and it was a pleasant experience. The food was good here, but I don't think I would come back considering the limited options for the prix fixe menu. I struggled to find items that I wanted to try (I'm not vegetarian, so the meatless options didn't appeal to me). The portion sizes were decent and the service was good. I just think it wasn't the right restaurant for me. read more

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I need more stars! Lame -- I never took pictures -- we were too busy enjoying the experience. Most amazing dining experience ever! I celebrated my 62nd birthday with at All Spice, well unbeknownst to them (didn't tell them) and it was absolutely out of this world. Three of my best girl friends and I went. One girl knew all about it, but had never gone before. We were all blown away by the amazing food, presentation, services, ambiance -- just everything, but again --- OMG the food! We are already planning (though have to schedule) our next dinner there and thinking that all of our birthdays may need to be celebrated at All Spice. By the way, only one girl is from San Mateo, one from San Jose, one from Clayton (by Concord), and I'm from a small town outside of Stockton. So three of us drove a ways to get there and it was worth the distance times 10 :) Thank you!! Kudos to the Chef! read more

Contemporary Indian Fusion Fare served in a Victorian House?!?!? GENIUS CONCEPT! *Clap Clap* Walking into All Spice is like walking into someone's humble abode w/ aromatic spices subtly permeating into the air giving you that warm, comforting feeling all over... On Sunday, 5.1.11, my friend and I arrived at All Spice for our 7:30 PM reservations and were promptly seated. WINE: All Spice NOW has their liquor license w/ a small wine selection. I opted for a glass of the 2007 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon ($16/glass) which has been one of my fav reds for years. It's seemingly smooth and rich w/ prominent berry flavors and a slight spiciness. FOOD: *AMUSE-BOUCHE - Oyster Mushroom Salad: GOOD! The mushroom was silky w/ a nice meatiness and the vinaigrette added a bright acidic punch to it w/out hindering the mushroom's earthy flavor. *ODE TO MY WIFE - Roasted Beets w/ Fresh Dill Goat Cheese Ice Cream ($8): TO DIE FOR (sans the beets)! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kw56QsM9NM2X6ETm_migyQ?select=jaxtpoFxqM3MKS4cC5fhzg In general, I'm not a fan of beets because they tend to taste like dirt to me, but the ones at All Spice was cooked to a sweet and earthy tenderness. Nonetheless, it's still something I don't care much for. BUT, the goat cheese Ice Cream...OH MY!!! *DROOLS* It was decadently rich and savory w/ a touch of sweetness. It was like eating a soft frozen cheesecake. I had to stop myself because I wanted to able to savor my other dishes too. *ROASTED EGGPLANT DOSA ($12): BEST DOSA EVER!!! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kw56QsM9NM2X6ETm_migyQ?select=69ivLjs-6EZN7_mpRz1FOA Dosa is a South Indian crepe that's normally filled w/ savory fillings. The crispy crepe was filled w/ tender, smoky eggplant, goat cheese, peanuts and tamarind. Along w/ the fiery garlic tomato chutney was an EXPLOSION of flavors: salty, savory, smoky, sweet, sour, spicy and nutty!!! *BACON WRAPPED RACK OF LAMB w/ Sundried Tomato Chili Sauce & Mushroom Marmalade ($25): GOOD! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kw56QsM9NM2X6ETm_migyQ?select=Zt0vAldLYjn9epOKdLW7gw As per Yelpers' recommendations, we both ordered the Bacon Wrapped Rack of Lamb requested medium rare. Although it was good, I was a little disappointed in the preparation. My lamb was overcooked to almost a medium-well and unlike the pictures on Yelp it was drenched in the mushroom marmalade sauce. The lamb was very tender though w/ a slight gaminess and a subtle smokiness from the bacon. However, the abundance amount and the sweetness from the marmalade took away from the lamb's natural flavors. The accompanying sundried tomato chili sauce did a nice job of adding a kick and acidity to help balance the rich flavors of the dish. *VANILLA SCENTED ROTI ($2): DISAPPOINTING! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kw56QsM9NM2X6ETm_migyQ?select=q645dPW7uxAAZVVP9wehJA The roti, an Indian flatbread was hard and had no aroma or taste of fragrant vanilla. We actually held the roti up to our noses several times while taking a big whiff and nothing. *SELECTION OF HOMEMADE ICE CREAMS ($7): REFRESHINGLY GOOD! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/kw56QsM9NM2X6ETm_migyQ?select=q645dPW7uxAAZVVP9wehJA 1) WHITE CHOCOLATE: Rich and creamy but tasted like plain vanilla. 2) ALMOND CARDAMOM: Rich, creamy and nutty w/ a hint of exotic spiciness from the cardamom. I wish the almonds were toasted which would have intensified the nuttiness and given the ice cream a crisp texture contrast. 3) PRESERVED ROSE: OUR FAV!!! The rich, creamy ice cream was intertwined w/ pieces of rose petals which had a light, sweet floral taste to it. It was like picking up bouquet of roses and the aroma lightly infusing into your mouth instead of your nose. SERVICE: Professional and attentive, although our waiter was a bit too serious. It took less than 10 mins to get our apps, but our entrees took awhile; approx.35-40 mins later. Before leaving, we heard two of the wait staff talking about a customer who had just left which left us w/ a sour taste in our mouths. Having worked in retail during my college years, I would have had enough common decency to wait until there were no customers around before bad-mouthing one. AMBIANCE/DÉCOR: LOVED IT!!! It's classy and romantic w/ the utmost homey charm; shiny hardwood floors, neutral and turquoise interior design, crisp white linens, a cozy fireplace, paintings and live orchids. There are 3 separate dining rooms each accommodating 10 people. Noise level is low and tables are well-spaced out which makes it a perfect place for a date. PARKING: Small parking lot. All Spice is on a class of its own; the Contemporary Indian Fare is refined and packed w/ bold, exotic flavors and the charming atmosphere is truly unique. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at All Spice, I think they need to have all their "I's" dotted and their "T's" crossed before they can earn that much coveted Michelin Star. read more

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Fancy dinner in a classy Victorian house? IM SOLD! Le BF surprised me after my summer class final and I was ECSTATIC! .::Service::. Absolutely top notch from reception to waiter! Stellar! They were attentive, mannerly, and knew their stuff! My cup was always filled with water as soon as it reached halfway, they asked us if we wanted to bring one dish after another or both entrees at the same time, they gave their honest recommendations on the menu, and everything was just perfect! .::Ambiance::. Beautiful decor! Literally inside a Victorian house with wallpapers over neutral wall colors. Butterfly displays and paintings everywhere! Semi casual or semi formal! I literally came in a tank and jeggings though... But no one judged me haha! I think... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/all-spice-san-mateo-2?select=N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w#N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/all-spice-san-mateo-2?select=N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w#IZhXOqOZERIHuLZBdEd9gQ .::Food::. Day boat scallops, two way $20: pan seared scallops, scallop foam, pickled green strawberries, scallop mousse, caviar, and raisin caper emulsion. Delicious dish as I do love scallops. Beautiful presentation and great combination of everything. Very unique if I may add! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/all-spice-san-mateo-2?select=N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w#caXluy0pFaepZtecdCr5Kg Aab-e-gosht $23: wild boar with saffron bread on the side. The boar was cooked in a sauce of ginger, fennel, and "noble elements".. Whatever that means it was delicious nonetheless. It was a somewhat curry dish. How does wild boar taste you ask? Well something like regular pork but a little more tough. I dipped the bread in the curry like dish and scooped some boar on top to eat together. The chef was friendly enough to divide this dish into to so it was easier to share! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/all-spice-san-mateo-2?select=N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w#F91M5gwoXQBhHES3gSp2pQ Special sole fish for two $43: the waiter said this was a special they were having where it's a whole fish served with couscous salad, and it usually sells out fast. Since it was only a seasonal thing we decided to give it a try! I felt like I did not enjoy this dish as much. The flavors were a bit off to me and the fish was somewhat on the less cooked side because that's how it's supposed to be served. Whoops did not know. And since I'm ms. I-dislike-raw-fish I only took two bites and we stopped eating after that. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/all-spice-san-mateo-2?select=N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w#eGO72EQLU4vB0VPHU82RZA Chocolate terrarium $9: a stunning presentation! Pink peppercorn chocolate mousse layered with calamansi curd, almond chocolate soil, dark chocolate chip, and white chocolate hazelnut bark. A combination that tastes heavenly! It was not too sweet and had a hint of saltiness to it that amplified the flavors! I wish it was a bigger proportion though, but we can't be too greedy in life now can we? http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/all-spice-san-mateo-2?select=N4r05vvyE0nBSyx8QaRC3w#nScb9CgNv_qzyaLleK580Q Everything was mostly good flavors that were like none ever tasted before. The food excited my palate! And the bonus was that everything had a nice presentation so it was delicious to the eyes as well! Prices weren't too overpriced! I will definitely be back to try all the desserts! read more

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I've eaten at all Chef Chopra's restaurants. Iwas particularly impressed with Sakoon even on opening day. SO there was no way I was going to miss opening night here. The old Dollie Marie's space is now a modern twist on Indian cuisine. Chatted with the chef and his wife throug out the night while we had the following: -Ode to My Wife - Roasted red and golden beets served with frisee and fresh dill goat cheese ice cream -Smoked Lavender and Cumin Scallops - With bacon and black cardamom potato sauce -Bacon-wrapped Rack of Lamb - Sundried tomato red chili sauce -Lamb "Sona Chandi" - Traditional Kashmiri sauce of cashews, noble elements and saffron served with vanilla-scented bread -Chili bread pudding -honey/lavender, black pepper, mint ice creams Everything is as good as I remember from all the other places. the bonus here? the chef gets his own vision and will change the menus as he sees fit.Congrats to the team on their opening and we look forward to trying the many dishes down the road... read more

Came here for my birthday and was super excited to try since seeing this restaurant on Check Please. Service was excellent; however, food was just ok. I supposed the price was to make up for awesome dishes? The best part of the meal was the scallop appetizers, but the shrimp dumpling didn't taste anything like shrimp. For the entrees, my friend had the duck but came out a little undercooked. I had the chicken, it was good but not sure it was worth the $30+ per entree. My other friend had the sea bass. It was not as buttery as we would have liked it. For each dish at least $30, we expected our pants to be knocked off..they were kept on. For dessert, we shared the Snow Globe. That was worth trying. The hot espresso was poured over a slab of chocolate melting it into the ice cream and other goodies. Lastly, my friend had the passion fruit drink, it was nothing we expected..tasted like yogurt and cream cheese--would not recommend. read more

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Delicious in every bite. Nice service, attentive. Will go back to try different items on the menu. This time the scallop and beet were so tasty as the 1st course ossa boca and salmon for 2nd course was delightful as well. . read more

We've been following Chef Sachin Chopra's restaurants for several years now, and have always relished his modern take on combining Indian flavors with fine western cuisine. He repeated this feat at various Bay Area restaurants such as - Amber in Santa Row, Mantra in Palo Alto and Sakoon in Mountain View. When we heard that he was going to open his own restaurant in our own neighborhood - right here in San Mateo - we had to be there on the first day. I must say - this is his best restaurant in the Bay Area yet. Starting from the romantic setup in a Victorian house, to the decor, to the food and presentation of the food - everything is just marvelous. In my opinion, this restaurant is headed to become a premier fine dining spot in the peninsula. We got here for our 7:30pm reservation, and the place was bustling. We were seated in one of the 3 dining rooms - each with its own name: You must ask your hostess what the names are Our appetizers included - The Ahi Tuna, The Butternut Squash/Carrot Soup and the Star Anise and Fennel Confit Chicken Wings. The mixing of the watermelon with the Ahi along with the pickled radish and mint/cilantro chutney explodes in your mouth with flavors that we had never experience before. The soup was just divine, and the flavor of fennel in the chicken wings gave it just enough edge to make you want to keep having more. Our main course consisted of the Hara Kebab and the Roasted Sturgeon A La Plancha. The Sturgeon came with a 10 spice humus that could be a whole appetizer in itself and it really compliments the delicate flavor of the fish. Finally for dessert, we had the dark chocolate kulfi and the spiced ice creams. My wife who is a fan of dark chocolate, could keep coming back every day just for that kulfi. The spiced ice creams have 3 flavors - honey lavendar, black pepper and mint. To say that I finished off three scoops of ice cream after a full meal is a statement to how good it was. Looks like we will keep coming back to this restaurant. Since the menu is seasonal - we are already looking forward to what the winter menu will look like. read more

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Came here with the family. Parents very rarely go for food that makes you think, so we were gonna be fighting an uphill battle from the start. That said, dinner started with my favorite dish, the carrot fritter. Such an interesting concept and done so well. Top notch blend of different textures and flavors and not at all what I expected. The quail was very good too, juicy and crispy. My brother and I both got the venison which was stellar, especially the mushrooms that came alongside assorted veg garnishes. Sauce was delicious, the venison was just the right amount of gamey, so you knew you were eating venison, and was cooked perfectly. Tasted just as venison should. Dad got the sturgeon which was among the best fish I've ever had. Clear, strong flavors that made me very happy. Mom got the cauliflower steak which had these little green spheres that were a little creamy and surprisingly spicy and had a lovely texture. Very impressed with the amount of flavor packed in there. Desserts were excellent as well, though the clear winner for me was the panna cotta that came with some phenomenal candied lemon curls. Fucking great meal. read more

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As one who is happy with dive-y joints I'm not normally one to comment on decor, but I have to say that the minute I walked in the door at All Spice I was quite taken by the vibrant hues ... and excited to see if the cuisine was a match for the space. My friend and I started with the Star Anise and Fennel Confit Chicken Wings -- the sauce was so delicious that we wanted to lick the bowl. Our server saved us that embarrassment by suggesting an order of the Vanilla-Scented Flatbread. The bread itself was a revelation -- perfumed just enough to be pleasant and a little surprising, but not so much as to be cloying. For entrees, I stuck with an Indian classic -- the Lamb Sona Chandi -- while my friend ordered the Thai-inspired Coconut Pork Belly. I regretted my conservatism; my Sona Chandi wasn't quite the tender, flavorful chunks of lamb I had hoped it would be. Meanwhile my little taste of my friend's pork belly was just exploding with flavor. We shared an order of the Balsamic Blackberry Brulee for dessert. Made with yogurt, the custard had a pleasant tang and a wonderful creamy texture. Delicious! All in all, a beautiful space with some wonderful, creative food. I think the fusion dishes are the way to go, if you are seeking flavors to match the vibrancy of the decor. read more

All Spice - Balsamic Blackberry Brulee - Indian Near Me - San Mateo, California

Post Vday dinner, hubby picked here for a nice dinner and we definitely had a nice one. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Restaurant is located in a old Victorian style house. There different rooms so it doesn't seem too noisy even when the whole place was full. Service was terrific from the moment we sat down to the moment we left, very attentive service staff. Even when he went to the restroom, a staff member came by in moments end folded his napkin right away and cleaned his side of the dining table before he came back and sat down. He didn't like the duck and we had it swapped with the wagyu confit. We swapped the swordfish with scallops. It was so good! And we were not charged extra, that's service! The wine pours were not cheap so we had good servings of the wine with our food. Most memorable dishes - duck, scallops, mushroom. All perfected prepared, presentation was on point and flavors were out of this world. Soo good and perfectly cooked. Definitely recommend this restaurant for a terrific dinner. read more

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Cute neighborhood resto with an interesting twist on Indian eats. Enjoyed most of the food: *definitely order the ode to my wife, part II, my favorite dish, lightly dressed bitterness of the greens was a nice contrast to the sweetness of the beets, texturally perfect with the nutty crust *good scallops, could have had a better sear, flavor spot on *skip the gnocchi, not traditional, super dry *tender venison, pungent miso eggplant *order the pearl barley pilaf, super fragrant *desserts and French pressed coffee were a perfect way to cap off the meal Reservations are a must for a Saturday. Book on Open Table two weeks prior to get a decent time. Wines by the glass are cheap cheap: most less than $10. Those who want to beat the heat probably best stay away from AS, old house, HVAC system is not advanced. They do have some oscillating fans positioned throughout to assist. Nice variety and quality for the prices charged. 3 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 2 glasses of wine and coffee for less than $160. Overall good value and loved all the veg components. I spied some planter boxes in the parking lot, perhaps they grow their own ingredients? read more

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All Spice is our family's favorite special occasion restaurant. The food is so beautiful and delicious and you can tell with every bite that the food was created with skill and TLC. The service is exceptional too - from the time that you're greeted warmly by the host and the wait staff. You can tell they love to be there. The ambiance is awesome as well. It's so unique, warm, and cozy. All of our out of town family whom we bring always comment on that as well. Every meal at All Spice has been a treasured memory. read more

Never disappoints. A fantastic selection and very tasty. Set in a charming house in a convenient location off El Camino

A friend of mine recommended this place to me, so I decided to give it a try. Overall the experience was great! 1. The scallops were seared nice, little crunch on the outside and tender inside. Let's be real, it's hard to find restaurants nowadays that know how to cook the scallops properly..... 2. Octopus, the owner was very accommodating about ordering just this dish from the tasting menu. Oh my, the octopus was so tender, probably the best one yet 3. Fried quail was tender, and they used Louisiana style hot sauce to spice it up a bit which was much needed! 4. Gnocchi, it wasn't like a typical gnocchi you'd find at an Italian restaurant, the chef paired it with some beans, the kale added some refreshing touches so it wasn't as heavy 5. Wagyu confit, here's where the Asian fusion comes in with the daikon and bokchoy, hmm not too crazy about this one though... but don't get me wrong. It was tender, just not sure if everything went together as a whole.... Before I forget, the only thing I don't like was the butter for the bread....just because I don't eat onions, and it lacked some salt read more

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