Our first time here, we were pleasantly surprised by the warm friendly service and quality of meals. My 89 year old mother drank the whole bowl of bouillabaisse soup. She loved it. The lobster pasta was very flavorful and the cioppino was also great. Definitely coming back. read more

I was really disappointed by my experience. The food may have been fine, but it was incredibly frustrating to find out that the restaurant doesn't have a single high chair available for families with young children. For a place that welcomes families, this felt like a basic necessity that was completely overlooked. Trying to enjoy a meal while holding a toddler the entire time was inconvenient and took away from the experience. I hope the restaurant considers adding a few high chairs in the future. It's a small investment that would make a huge difference for parents dining with little ones. read more

We came later than expected due to parking issues. We arrive an hour before closing and were turned away because we had no reservation (it was empty except for 1 diner) and it was 2 minutes past 8 when they came to help us. They closed at 9. read more

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The food was amazing and flavourful. I also ordered Caesar salad not pictured but paired my dinner with Sauvignon blanc read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - This crème brûlée was just perfect. Not so sweet but very creamy - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

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The best place in San Bruno! Marcela and JC the owners are amazing! Food is delicious and a great atmosphere always. read more

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Reserved a table for a graduation dinner with no problem . We got what we preordered & EVERYTHING was DELICIOUS. Thank you Marcela for letting me bring my own table decorations too . read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - JC Bruno Restaurant - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

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I am writing to confirm the consistency of the negative experiences reported by other reviewers here. I walked in on a Thursday evening to a nearly empty restaurant--only two tables were occupied. The hostess saw me standing at the entrance looking for assistance, but chose to continue a casual conversation with a seated patron instead of acknowledging me or offering a simple greeting. When we were finally addressed, we were turned away due to restrictive policies that are completely unlisted on both their website and Yelp page: 1. Walk-ins are not accepted. Reservations are required, even when the dining room is empty. 2. They stop seating patrons a full hour before closing, regardless of how slow the evening is. A quick look at the management responses on this page confirms a clear pattern: the owner selectively acknowledges certain reviews while ignoring these recurring operational and service issues. read more

Stopped here after flying into San Fran (it's very close to the airport) without reservations but got seated right away. The burrata salad was outstanding! The calamari was horrible. It was over cooked, dried out and almost uneatable. The filet had good and was cooked to our liking. The mashed potatoes tasted like they were out of a box and overloaded with garlic. I did see people eating a burger and fries that looked good on purpose eat out. The service was good and the ambience is kind of weird. There isn't a set theme to the restaurant. I probably won't be back but it's not a terrible choice for the area. read more

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I cannot in good conscience advise anyone to come here. We attempted to call and make a reservation. No one answered. We walked in all excited. We were immediately met with "Do you have a reservation?" Mind you half the restaurant was EMPTY. I asked "How are we supposed to make a reservation?" She said "By calling for or texting." I replied "we tried both. No one answered." She responded "We're too busy. Sorry." I immediately walked out and will not be returning. Don't waste your time. They clearly don't value customers. read more

Unfortunately, our seafood dishes were disappointing. The crab cakes and lobster pasta had a tough, rubbery texture. We also ordered the French bouillabaisse, and one of the clams contained black sediment and sand, which made the dish unpleasant to finish. The mashed potatoes served with the ribeye had an overpowering artificial truffle flavor and a grainy texture. They reminded me of instant mashed potatoes rather than freshly made ones. Overall, the meal did not reflect the quality and execution I expected, especially with a menu and prices suggesting an elevated dining experience. read more

Not a good experience. 1. Lobster pasta. I've had a lot of lobster pasted before but this place did not taste fresh at all. But they claimed it was. 2. The French dish with clams and bread left a very very fishy taste in my mouth right when I tried the 1st clam. 2nd clam I opened had a bunch of dirt. Like entire clump when I opened it. Tbh not sure how this place is open after this experience 3. The chicharon chicken just tasted like chicken tenders I could make at home from the freezer. read more

I have been eyeing JC Bruno for years and finally got to check them out on my birthday this year, April 24, 2025. I booked our reservation via text messaging Marcela. The process was easy peasy. I did ask about vegetarian options for DJ, but it wasn't a big deal that she didn't get back to me on the matter since DJ still eats fish and meat on occasion. We arrived on time for our 7 PM reservation, easily finding parking right in front of the restaurant (street parking only, no private lot). JC Bruno's venue is thoughtfully decorated with bright yellow booth seats that pop out in the warm tones of the dining room. The restaurant, which offers indoor and outdoor seating, was very clean and well kept on the night of our visit. Below are what we had for dinner: Bruno House Salad ($11.50) - Mom omitted the Caramelized Onion from her salad which she shared small portions with the boys. Everyone thought that the simple salad was good. Roasted Beet Salad ($13.50) - DJ thought that this bowl of greens with beets and eggs was nice. Chicharron De Pollo ($16.50) - V liked this starter. The pieces of chicken were very tasty. I did wish that they were a bit crispier, though. Lomo Saltado ($34.00) - YUMMY! Z and I split this main for our appetizer. Mom found this dish so delicious that she said that she will order it for her entrée next time. Z agreed. The plate was pretty filling that even with sharing with Mom and V as well, I felt pretty full and could barely touch my main course. Atlantic Salmon ($29.50) - Excellent. DJ said that the fish was moist with a crispy skin. I didn't see any Saffron Roasted Cauliflower as an accompaniment. The salmon was sitting atop THE BEST mashed potatoes I have ever tasted. My immediate reaction to tasting the potatoes was, "Wow!" I was blown away by a single taste of the truffle creaminess. Linguine Lobster Pasta ($34.00) - The boys and I ordered this enjoyable bowl of noodles for our main dishes. The chunks of lobster were substantial in size. The creamy sauce made this dish a bit rich. I did wish that the Truffle Lobster Bisque flavour came through more. Not sure if there was saffron, but that's what I tasted with a tiny bit of heat from the Peruvian spice(s). Special of the Day Black Squid Ink Seafood Pasta ($39.00) - Mom thought that this was a very nice bowl. The portions of seafood were very generous. As a birthday treat, Marcela served to me a complimentary plate of PANNACOTA W/ RASPBERRY COULIS and HOMEMADE BREAD PUDDING WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM, topped with a lit candle, for dessert to share with everyone. What a warm and hospitable way of treating a celebrant. Both of these items are $9.50 each, so the sweet gift was very generous. Marcela served us amiably and warmheartedly. Her reception is like a friendly hug. In fact, I almost hugged her goodbye, but since it was our first time meeting, I didn't want to weird her out. I am so happy that I finally made it to JC Bruno where we had a delightful small family dinner celebration. Even Mom said that she was happy that we went here, already planning to order the Lomo Saltado at her next visit. I think we found our new favourite neighbourhood restaurant. read more

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Food was excellent I would recommend and will return to try other entrees. Single restroom for women and one for men. Dessert- crème brûlée was good Lava cake had sold out so must be popular. Street parking only - meters read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Menu - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

I had an AMAZING dinner here last month ! Everything was DELICIOUS - the fried calamari was CRISP and not oily , and all the dishes had just the right balance of flavors. Plus, the staff were super friendly and service was top-notch! Definitely a must-try spot for foodies !" read more

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This is long and detailed - skip to the bottom for a short recap. JC Bruno has been on my "must try" list since they opened. My husband made a reservation for Valentine's Day weeks ago and placed our order for our entrees over text to the owner. The Valentine's Day menu (attached to this review) was $150 per couple. We ordered the beef tartare, braised short ribs, and grilled fillet mignon. When we arrived at the restaurant at our reservation time, the owner couldn't find our reservation. Each table had customized placards with the names of each couple with reservations, which I thought was a sweet, personalized touch. Staff seemed a bit frantic when the owner Marcella went to the kitchen to ask others if there was a table for us, but Marcella returned to us, seated us in the middle of the restaurant, and placed someone's personalized placard at another table. She also asked my husband to text her to show her that we do have a reservation and for our order. No apologies were given and our complimentary glass of champagne that was apart of the Valentine's Day menu was put at our table by a waitress. The champagne was great, I wish that the waitress poured the glass at our table so we could see the bottle but it was poured in the back. Our amuse bouche and beef tartare was placed at our table a few moments later. The beef tartare was just ok - it seemed like it was prepared in advance since the meat was browned already and didn't taste fresh. After we finished our starters, we waited about 25 minutes and were never checked up on - our water carafe and champagne glasses were empty. A staff member walked by our table and asked if we've had our salad yet. We said no and they brought it over at the same time as our entrees. The braised short ribs were advertised to come with rainbow carrots which is why my partner ordered it over the filet mignon. He enjoyed his dish and loved how hot the short ribs were. My filet mignon was good but it was just warm - as if it were sitting out for a bit under a lamp. I enjoyed the truffle mashed potatoes, I think they went well with the steak and broccolini. I mentioned earlier that our water carafe and champagne glasses were empty. We were never offered to see a beverage menu or given any more water. I noticed other tables were offered wine options but nobody ever stopped by. After waiting another 20-30 minutes after we finished our entrees, someone came by to take our plates and never asked if we needed anything. 10 minutes after that, another server came by and asked if we ever got our entrees. Dessert was brought out - I loved the passion fruit panna cotta but yet again, we waited another 25 minutes for the check while each server had great conversations with other guests. Too many details above? Here's the short version: The service wasn't great, which made it a disappointing experience overall. It became clear to us that regular customers were favored over new customers. At $150, getting checked in rather than just dropping off dishes is expected and our entire dining experience was over 2.5 hours because of how infrequent the service was. We're a quick walk away, so we were excited to come back and make this our go-to spot, but I wouldn't go back or recommend it to others because of our experience. read more

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The food was actually incredible, the salmon, salad, and the lava cake were comparable to some Michelin restaurants I've been to. read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

Best kept secret ! Was there last Saturday. Sadly there was a few tables of people. The food, service and ambiance was far too good not to be packed every night! For appetizer, I had the octopus. It was by full of flavor and tender! It came with beautifully sautéed veggies - it was delicious !! For he main course I had the scallops with lobster raviolis - the scallops were perfectly cooked and the raviolis were tasty. We shared a couple of deserts - the bread pudding was awesome- great flavor and warm with a nice scoop of ice cream and crème brûlée which was smooth creamy deliciousness. Portions were generous and the corkage fee was super reasonable! Highly recommended!! Go and give it a try you won't be disappointed!! read more

I recently found myself planning a last- minute work-related celebration for my husband, with just more than a week to get it set. We were expecting about 45 or 50 friends and colleagues to join us in a comfortable, nearby, intimate place with appetizers and drinks where folks could circulate and socialize. I called around to a number of places in or near San Bruno, and either they were booked, their menus/structures were rigid, they were too pricey or the atmosphere was loud, with no private space. But JC Bruno turned out to be a great match! Marcela, co-owner, and wife of the chef, answered the phone directly, and was super helpful. She made her restaurant privately available on the date, a Monday, when they are typically closed. She helped walk me through establishing a budget that worked for us, created a menu with a perfect variety of appetizers and salads, and was willing to provide drinks on a consumption basis to help us with our expenses. She rented some cocktail tables and used her regular tables to create the perfect space on their private patio for guests of all needs - older folks he needed to sit, and younger folks who would rather stand and walk around. She even let me do the floral to help us save a little. Marcela and her husband were very welcoming, the buffet was beautiful, the wine and beers were great quality, and the space was intimate and classy. All of our guests had a wonderful time, and still talk about what a lovely event it was. Afterwards we even had leftovers they thoughtfully packaged, and sent home with us. I highly recommend JC Bruno for private events, and I learned that they cater as well. Based on the service and flexibility, I would absolutely use them again in the future. I also enjoyed dining there once in the past and look forward to going there again for another nice meal in the future. read more

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Cozy restaurant with really good food. The space feels warm and relaxed, and you can tell there's real skill behind the dishes, no surprise, since the chef has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens. The menu is thoughtful without feeling pretentious, and the overall experience is comfortable and well put together. Definitely a place worth trying if you appreciate quality cooking. read more

This restaurant was everything and more than what we were expecting. The owner and her staff do an amazing job of greeting, seating customers, running the floor and getting the food to table while it's hot! The dining area is nice and welcoming. We will definitely visit again whenever we are departing or arriving in SFO airport since they're looking less than 10 mins from it. read more

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Came for a birthday dinner party. Was excited to try it after reading about JC the local chef/entrepreneur with solid chef experience & training. The meal did not disappoint. I went simple, ordering the Caesar salad with a side of filet mignon for my entrée. My one knock: too much dressing on the salad. But my steak was cooked exactly how I ordered it. And the lobster bisque on the side was outstanding. There was not a large wine selection, but the cab I enjoyed with my meal was excellent. Everyone loved their entrées, in particular the salmon, (which half of our party ordered) . I skipped dessert, but the lava cake (kids) and bread pudding (adults) got rave reviews. The ambience was nice. The service was friendly and attentive. read more

Well I expected too much. The place is clean and nice. The food is alright. Not that I expected. The pasta is a little watery . The flavor is there, but it didn't satisfy my palate. Too little portion for the price you pay. Maybe I will try one more time next tine and I hope I will change my review after. read more

It's been far too long since me and the wife have had dinner here. Certainly a place where you call to make sure they have seats. More than once we have come in only to be turned away because they didn't have any seats left . So call and make reservations. We started off with an appetizer of escargot and wonderful escargot in dipping sauce. I also had a glass of house Merlot. The house special was squid in pasta with seafood. Oh this is very yummy. I got the seafood bouillabaisse. For dessert we had the chocolate lava cake with ice cream. This is a must come to a restaurant just come enjoy the music, the food and the company. Perfect. read more

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Really pretty venue. Staff were friendly. Came here for an event and they ran out of steaks. I know it's not the restaurant's fault bc it's based off what was ordered for catering. My steak came out pretty well done. As much as I hate well done steak the flavor wasn't too bad. It was just dry. I was offered a chicken, or should I say baby chicken based off the size. I'm guessing maybe it was a game hen? Tried to ask for more bread which was not available. The best thing here I would say was the bread. Butter was not room temp or warmed which was disappointing. read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Well done ribeye - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Soo good Diamond in the rufffff Escargot the best I've ever had. Duck, and Lomo amazing read more

A hidden gem! We had an amazing experience at JC Bruno, from the moment that we walked in until the moment that we walked out. The owners welcomed us in as if we were guests in their home. The octopus appetizer was tender and flavorful. A must during any visit. The entrees were enjoyed by everyone in our party. Nothing but clean plates. Oh, and the deserts left us wanting more. The bread pudding and crème brûlée were delicious. Already planning my next visit to the Bay Area, which will include another visit to JC Bruno. read more

You take one bite and go HOLY SH*T thats the best food i ever ate The rack of lamb was so GOOD it makes you thrilled that your not a vegan ‍ I SWEAR BOBBY FLAY‍ was back their cooking because that food tasted like I was eating at a Michelin Star restaurant the best food i've ever had the place is family owned and they take the best care of their customers try the rack of lamb try the whole damn menu the pasta is homemade the seafood is incredible the bread is homemade this place is so underrated its a bart ride from the san francisco airport its right next to the bart station you can walk there !!!! the best restaurant ive ate at in the bay they chefs and staff are amazing and the ambiance is great and really quaint read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Rack of lamb and Seafood special - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

First time visit here and gonna be last. Only 1 lady as server. Sat for almost 10 mins and waited to order. Only ordered the crab cake to try and beer. All menu are so pricey. So decided to try just that. 20 mins passed No water serve until I had to ask when she dropped the beer. Then the crab cake came $17.50 for 2 little pieces that smaller than the forks!!! I never ever seen crab cake this small. Thought for the price will be in good size. Inside has many stuffing in it so not all crab. Then another lady from the kitchen came out to serve the bread and butter, she had 2 baskets, she was walking to my table to serve but the server lady yelling at her in other language that not English , I think Spanish. Then that lady walked back to serve another table and looked at me and walked back to the kitchen. That is super rude!!! I'm not sure what she said but can tell she said don't serve my table! One star for the decoration looks nice. read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Many stuffing in there. - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

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We came here on a rainy February Saturday night. There was literally no parking for blocks. The covered and climate controlled outside seating was cozy and intimate. The server and hostess Marcela was super friendly and graceful. The appetizers and entrees were well prepared and savory. My wife loved the bouillabaisse and I devoured my lomo saltado. My 14 year old son's burger was not that good unfortunately. I told him to expand his horizons and stop ordering burgers at fine restaurants. Overall a great experience! read more

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We've been trying to check out JC Bruno for years but never had a chance until recently. The ambiance was cozy and charming and the service was attentive. And most importantly, the food was delicious and unique. It wasn't your standard dishes which we liked. Highly recommend the Patatas Bravas (it has octopus), the seafood pasta with squid ink pasta (the special at the time) and the rack of lamb. Bread pudding topped it off. Prices were on the higher side but the portions were good. And these days, things are expensive anyways. read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

Food was great! It was the right flavor; not overpowered by sauce and salt. We tasted the freshness of the ingredients. I will return and try different food on the menu. read more

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Great food, and attentive service. We had the Patatas Bravas with Octopus which was fantastic! The atmosphere both in the dining room and patio area is very nice. read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Crab Cakes - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

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This place is definitely a hidden gem! Honestly driving by it, you wouldn't know it's a restaurant from the outside. It's such a cute place inside, especially when they open up the outdoor seating area. Parking could be a bit difficult since there's no parking lot & it's just street parking. We ordered the Linguini Lobster Pasta, French Bouillabaisse, Atlantic Salmon, Rack of Lamb & Filet Mignon and they were all delicious! Their service was great - we had a larger party & the servers were very friendly &attentive. I would definitely recommend checking this place out :) read more

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Every course was delicious. We ordered the Roasted Beet Salad, Atlantic Salmon, Air Line Chicken Breast, and Lava Cake. The owners were also very nice and welcoming! read more

We came on a slow night, and had fantastic service! It was very quiet, but we still could not hear the other couple of tables. You could absolutely tell that everything is homemade. The noodles were thick and fresh and Al dente. The lobster bisque was not too heavy. The lobster and scallops were extremely fresh. The sea bass was phenomenal! So tender. The mash potatoes were average, but the presentation, fish, and spinach were incredible. So impressed! read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Scallops - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Second time to this amazing restaurant! The food is absolutely divine with generous portions. Hubby and I had the rib eye steak (aged in-house over 21 days) and the cioppino w/pasta. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and had leftovers to take home. Marcela manages the front end with class and JC cooks on another level!!! We've been raving about this restaurant to our family and friends so a yelp review was in order! read more

5 outta 5 for EVERYTHING! Food - 5 Stars Service - 5 Stars Ambiance - 5 Stars Service - 5 Stars Wonderful Human Beings - 5 Stars I came to JC Bruno a long time ago for a wedding and the food blew me away! My friend, Maria, treated me for my bday and it's just as amazing and spectacular as I remember it! I've been to tons of weddings and Michelin Star restaurants and the quality and taste can't compare to JC Bruno! Everything here is homemade from scratch and Chef JC is an unbelievable Chef! JC Bruno is a hidden gem that will go viral! They have a chic patio and live music on Friday nights! They do corporate catering for Google and tech companies as well! They also do tons of weddings! Gonna tell all my friends and family about JC Bruno! Five outta Five! read more

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Hidden gem! Really homey feel but with high level cuisine. Best escargot I've had. Excellent lobster ravioli, rack of lamb, and sea bass.

Been meaning to try this place for awhile now and not disappointed. Good choices across the entire menu from American, French and Peruvian dishes. We started with a tuna tartare that used a bit too much soy but was otherwise tasty and a pretty good size appetizer. Recommend you ask for dressing on the side with salads that my wife and I ordered (burrata and beet salads) as they put more than light amount which is what I prefer. They were good salads with generous amount of greens for bedding. We went with mains that we don't usually see and they were very tasty. The Arroz Con Mariscos reminded me of a seafood paella and the Lomo Saltado feels like Peruvian fused with Chinese using sliced filet mignon with onions, tomatoes and soy sauce and a side of rice. Marcela recommended the bread pudding to complete our meal, which was very nice but we were too full by then to finish! Last tip, to make reservations it's best to text Marcela or use Google Reservations Assistant as I tried calling before and her Voicemail is usually full! Will definitely come back to try other items that looked really good, too. read more

JC Bruno Restaurant - Arroz Con Marisco...enjoying a nice Saturday dinner! - New American Near Me - San Bruno, California

Treated myself to a delicious tasty dinner at JC Bruno! Chef JC always deliver amazing tasty delicious food! Jazzy classy modern ambiance! Hidden gem 5 star restaurant that you'll have to try! Perfect for birthday celebrations, weddings, corporate catering, business dinners, and events! There were tons of festive groups celebrating their birthday! JC Bruno has cute intimate patio was packed with Filipino family gathering! Laughter, positivity, wine, and tasty food! Classy vibes to treat yourself, your date, your family, your client for dinner! One of the best local San Francisco Bay Area restaurants hands down! You'll keep coming back to try all their amazing dishes! read more

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