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    Johnny’s

    4.4 (38 reviews)

    Johnny’s Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant Photos

    JOHNNY’S ATMOSPHERE

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    Unevenly cooked eggs
    Erika C.

    I ordered the biscuits with gravy and a side of the eggs. The biscuits were dry little pucks and there wasn't enough gravy. I got that with a side of eggs over medium. One egg yolk came well done and the other yolk came over easy. These are stuck together so idk how that would even happen. Both disappointing. The lemon ricotta pancake though had an amazing citrusy flavor. Wish you got more blueberry compote and more mascarpone cream with it though. It reminded me of the blueberry pancakes from the now closed Canteen in SF; Canteen did this Vanilla Bean French Toast with Blueberry Sauce that had a dollop of whipped cream cheese on top. I get the restraints and ratios being possibly more tasteful or something... but if I'm eating brunch I was it really hearty. Otherwise I can just fry up some eggs at home. Service is friendly, but seems like they're still ironing out the kinks (was not easy to get their attention on my visit and you get the sense they're trying to find their flow). They just opened though. I would come back and try other dishes tho just bc the interior is super cute.

    Tuna melt
    Ranisha P.

    If you haven't yet been, definitely stop by! Location is kind of hidden but if you're familiar with downtown San Mateo it's where Trags used to be! Such a cute diner vibe and the host was a sweetheart as well as (I'm assuming the owner or manager) didn't get a name since we were too busy chatting. Very welcoming staff though and very attentive! We ordered the avocado toast and the tuna melt which was surprisingly good and we were told it's not canned tuna but fresh tuna so definitely give it a try! The toast was also great and the bread wasn't hard to cut at all! The only thing different that could be done is to add maybe two eggs instead of one. We also ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes to share and wow- it tasted like a pound cake! It was so fluffy and decadent! Such a great brunch spot to visit. I heard they're also working on having dinner soon but for now their hours are 8am-2pm!

    My Cousin Vinny
    Jonathan C.

    Diner vibes Lemon Ricotta Pancakes: 5/5! One of the best pancakes I've had. The pancakes had a great lemon flavor and the berry compote and mascarpone cream were absolutely delicious. Perfect amount of sweetness. Would get this every time. My cousin Vinny: Great sandwich with the mortadella, burrata and pesto. The shoestring fries were nice and crispy. One thing that was noticeable is that it can get very loud inside, almost uncomfortably. If anyone from Johnny's is reading this, I would consider getting some sound dampeners. Overall, a great addition to downtown San Mateo!

    Anthony G.

    It was a beautiful Tuesday morning. My partner and I had arrived to downtown San Mateo excited to try this new brunch spot. First off, the restaurant is stunning. It is a perfect retro recreation, but there are wonderful personal touches all around. The vibe alone I'd give a 10/10. But then, out came the food we ordered. We got the Brunch Mimosas (choice of orange or guava), the Chicken Caesar Wrap and the Shortrib Eggs Benny. The Mimosas had awesome fresh juice and they were served with a whole mini bottle of prosecco. The Chicken Caesar Wrap was a little too dilly for me, because dill is not a usual ingredient in caesar dressing, but it had great texture and crisp. The fries on the side were also really good. The Shortrib Eggs Benny was also a stand out. A touch on the oily side, but the flavor was killer and the dish was scrumptious. Overall, I loved everything about this place. From the food to the aesthetic everything was just amazing. I even love the little touches they do, such as using a Winnie the Pooh book for the checkbook.

    Lemon ricotta pancakes
    MaryJane C.

    Had brunch here for my cousin's birthday. Didn't have to wait too long to be seated because we had a reservation, but there was a lot of people waiting, so I recommend making a reservation, especially if you have a large group like ours. Loved the vibes, definitely old school diner feels. Pretty small space, but clean. Short wait for our food. Servers were nice, they checked on us a bunch and refilled our waters whenever they saw we were running low. And the food was amazing! Everyone in our group were really happy with their food. I got the bruleed french toast and it was delicious! Not too sweet, but perfectly textured, and the strawberries were fresh. I personally didn't even use the syrup, it was sweet enough as is. Definitely would come back here

    Short Rib
    Chris W.

    The atmosphere is very friendly and very clean. The interior gives a vintage 1950s diner five there's wraparound booths with chairs and a diner counter. I feel like I was in the 50s when I walked into this place. The service is very friendly. I ordered biscuits and gravy along with a side of their short rib. My girlfriend ordered the Junior. All I can say is wow!!!! The biscuits and gravy phenomenal was so much flavor. Even their homestyle potatoes which my girlfriend got were divine. The short rib was also so juicy and moist. Ambience: 10/10 Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 We can't wait to come back! The attention to detail is amazing!!!

    Diana M.

    Was super stoked to come here. I understand its busy but we sat for an hour without anyone coming by to check on us. They checked with everyone else constantly. When we stopped a server to ask where our food was we got left over hasbrowns. The pancakes were OK and the cesar salad wrap my BF said was good. Probably won't come back. The waitess ignored us the enitre time and we had to ask the kitchen staff what happened and where our food went. Most likely once in a chance experience here but still wont return. EDIT: Please double check your receipt. Unfortunately we got charged $21 for the wrap when it clearly state $18 on the menu. Had to speak to the manager. Its a bit disappointing experience for a place we heard great reviews about.

    Breakfast menu
    Jess S.

    After what fees like AGES, Johnny's has finally opened in downtown San Mateo! The inside is super cute, with a dinner vibe, and everyone was really friendly. Plenty of counter space, but overall not a ton of tables - like maybe only 4 tables that can accommodate more than 4, 4 booth, and a bunch of two seaters that can probably be combined (most of them anyways) for larger groups. But definitely not the kind of place you'll be able to bring a huge crowd. Johnny's serves breakfast and brunch - it reminds me of a slightly upscale breakfast diner. Sort of like Snooze AM from San Diego. Since the first location is Half Moon Bay, they use Rosalind's bread - which is amazing if you're ever in the half moon bay/pacifica area. I got the garlic bread grilled cheese - it comes with three different types of cheeses and daaaamn. It is delicious. It also comes with tomato soup, which is nice but it's a little too sweet for my tastes. Tasty, but it reminds me of spaghetti-o's. The garlic bread though? Chefs kiss. And the feta makes it feel light and adds a nice saltiness while the other cheeses make it super cheesy for that nice cheese pull. Super excited to try everything else on the menu, especially since I was staring at all the food as it was coming out of the kitchen lol. Love that the receipts come in books. They have a QR code to pay if you don't have a card or were going to pay by apple pay, or you can pay by card with the wait staff.

    Benjamin S.

    Great lively brunch or breakfast atmosphere on the weekend. Food came out super fast and was very high-quality. I would highly recommend this place for any family or friend gathering.

    Blackened Salmon
    Edward S.

    We went to Johnny's for lunch. They are still in soft opening so still working some kinks out. It was a really nice atmosphere like an upscale diner. We had the Salmon and the burger. The burger was recommended by our server. The blackened Salmon was excellent and surprisingly fresh. I asked for the burger to be cooked medium rare and unfortunately it was medium well and dry. The fries with the burger were cold. The server replaced the fries with hot ones. In N Out can at least not overcook their burger but they don't charger $22 for it! The water glasses were small and we were constantly out of water. They either need larger glasses, leave a pitcher on the table or have service that is constantly filling water glasses. Other than the water issues the service was very pleasant. They close at 2pm and exactly at 2pm the bus boy came and removed the flower from our table!! Really?? Overall this will be a nice addition to downtown San Mateo and provide food diversity to the existing scene. It felt a bit overpriced for upscale diner food and they certainly have a lot of kinks to work out.

    French omelette
    Analyst C.

    We stopped here to try their food On Saturday lunch. Nice old fashion decor. Ordered and shared a French omelette that came with potatoes and 2 pieces of lettuce leaf.

    Hershey C.

    What an incredible place , service is top notch food is amazing and the place is adorable , my first time there. 9am Saturday a good crowd but no wait which is nice

    Richard L.

    Nice little Old school cafe with a hint of contemporary style, But the Foods Kind of in the light side & there service got to pick up a notch other then our waitress I didn't really feel welcoming in this joint My wife & I was standing in front with no body waiting but 2 front desk person just talking away for minutes

    Lemon Ricotta Pancakes W/ Blueberry Compote & Whipped Cream

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    12 days ago

    The decor, the breakfast, so tasty and great service! Will be back!! 8-2 daily. San Mateo yes!

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    Apple Fritter - The whole shabang

    Apple Fritter

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$
    Hipster vibe
    Vegetarian friendly

    We visited Apple Fritter on Easter Sunday on a whim, and it was SO WELL WORTH IT! This stop was…read moreabout halfway between SF and where we were staying in Cupertino, so it was perfect before our long SF exploration day! We stood in line to order for about 20 min, and everyone told us it was worth waiting on! It turned out to be VERY true! The food was out of this world, the donuts were SUPER yummy and we the service was wonderful! I can only speak for my plate, but I ordered the "Amazing Breakfast Sandwich" and it was DELICIOUS!!! Let me break it down for you: 1. The bread was sourdough - but it was SO MOIST and SQUISHY! Unlike your harder, toastier sourdough bread. 2. the turkey bacon and cheese were tasty and hearty on this sandwich 3. the arugula was fresh and added a clean taste to the bite 4. The garlic aioli was the PERFECT sauce to go on this sandwich. It gave it the aromatic flavor it needed! (I took off the fresh tomato due to allergy!) I still think about this sandwich!!! The hashbrowns were good, they were a solid choice. They make it on the crunchier side which I LOVE! Pictured there are the cinnamon bun and the maple cake donut, which both were SO GOOD - especially the cinnamon bun. The bun was a perfect balance of the cinnamon, glaze, brown sugar and dough. The maple donut was comparable to some of my favorites! The donut dough was not my favorite, but the maple glaze made up for it! I topped off my meal with an iced tea! :) I want to go back to San Francisco JUST for this breakfast again! Highly!!! Recommend!!!

    Apple Fritter is such a whimsical brunch vibe! Their donuts…read moreare fresh, and the apple fritter itself is well portioned and sweet. Some favorites included their ultimate pancakes, granola parfait and egg scramble, but the coffee is delightful. I preferred the cocoa puff cold brew over the carbonated coffee (vietnamese coffee with sparkling water). They have a private parking lot and offer both indoor or outdoor patio seating. The staff is friendly and will take care of clearing tables afterwards.

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    Cookie butter coffee

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    Truffle Burger

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    Fiero Caffe - spaghetti with meatballs

    Fiero Caffe

    4.5(517 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Fiero Caffe is a unique place where you see regulars who have their daily coffee/espresso and chat…read morewith the owner- a little community. Then you see others who are sitting down for hearty meal (omelette, pasta, sandwich). All of the food is good there. We have had practically everything on the menu, whether it is one of their pastas, an entree like salmon or chicken, and even the pizzas, which as of this writing, they no longer offer. Oh, and of course, great espresso drinks. You walk up to the counter and order, they give you a number and you sit down. Food is delivered to you cooked to order. This is a place where you understand that you enjoy your meal and espresso, not that you are in a hurry to work and need to use a mobile app. Seating both inside and outside. Generally well maintained as they turn over tables. One of my favorite places in the peninsula. Only wished they open for dinner but then that could change everything. Owner is great!

    A small chill cafe with indoor and outdoor seating....feels like the menu is more of a Italian…read morerestaurant....but a great place for breakfast.... People go there talk, relax, bring their kids, dogs, etc..... Seating is first come first serve....but they weren't overly packed for a Saturday about 10AM. I got the Vegetarian Omelette with no cheese.... It was pretty tasty and the latte was really good as well....Nothing to complain about... I'd come back

    Photos
    Fiero Caffe - Counter area

    Counter area

    Fiero Caffe - Rigatoni

    Rigatoni

    Fiero Caffe - He is the best I come for his hospitality been here for years

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    Backhaus - Beautiful morning at this cute yard. My favorite "little dudes"

    Backhaus

    4.4(906 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Backhaus has been on my radar for forever, so I was so excited to finally try them on a Sunday…read moremorning. I came in around 9am and they were already sold out of some items, but I did manage to get my hands on one of their famous croissants! I ended up getting the Pistachio Raspberry Croissant and Chocolate Chip Cookie. Both pastries are PHENOMENAL. The Bay Area truly does have a fantastic pastry (especially croissant) scene, but Backhaus is definitely up there. I loved how well the flavors came through in both, and the textures were great. They were also baked perfectly. I definitely want to try more of their offerings in the future! In general, this place well deserves the hype.

    The bakes here was some of the top ones I have had. I tried a couple of bakeries on my road trip up…read morethe Pacific Northwest and this was one of my favorites! I tried the cheesy twist, morning bun, and the ham and cheese croissant. I am pretty sure I tried other things but I can't remember exactly what but these were the stars. The cheesy twist kind of tasted like there was an Alfredo type sauce along with the cheese. It was delicious. One thing I wish I would have done is ask for it heated because I saw some other people doing that and it looked delicious. The morning bun was so good. It had a beautiful medley of spices that truly brightened your morning. The flavors were so balanced. As for the ham and cheese croissant, the star was the ham. The flavor of the ham reminded me of a thanksgiving ham. It was amazing! Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. I regret not getting a full loaf of bread to take home with me.

    Photos
    Backhaus - Indoor order line

    Indoor order line

    Backhaus - Cardamom swirl and Cortado. Pumpkin bread.

    Cardamom swirl and Cortado. Pumpkin bread.

    Backhaus - Everything croissant w/ cream cheese

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    Everything croissant w/ cream cheese

    Drakes - Crab Benedict

    Drakes

    4.0(581 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    Went here for brunch and it did not disappoint…read more Service was great and fast. They sat us upstairs since there was a few boys soccer teams that were there with their coaches and parents. The honey mint mojito came in a cute bear glass and was just the right amount of rum, a little tarty but once watered down was good. Had the biscuit and bacon board (lots of bacon and the biscuits were warm and fluffy). The French toast was just right and the berries were sweet. The crab Benedict was made of real Dungeness crab and the muffin was still crispy. Honestly, the biscuit and bacon board would have been enough. 4 stars because it was $$$ but would def go back again

    Out server was fantastic, very nice, capable and sweet. The ambience was fun too, they had live…read moremusic on Thursday night so that was great! However, the food was very disappointing. We went there because they had gluten free options and I have celiacs. When we got there I asked about the gf options labeled on the menu and the server said that those items were not really gluten free... So, I asked what my options were and it ended up being salad or surf and turf. My husband and I decided to share the $60 surf and turf and it was okay, but I wouldn't order it again. The one thing that was the most disappointing was the $12 Italian soda. It was just not good... Maybe some of the other non gluten free items are better, but not suitable for a person that needs gluten free options unless you want to eat a salad.

    Photos
    Drakes - Cool place - first time.

    Cool place - first time.

    Drakes - Berries, burrata, egg, Canadian bacon, and English muffins

    Berries, burrata, egg, Canadian bacon, and English muffins

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    Johnny’s - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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