Outstanding restaurant run with a very good looking owner. Extra points for decor and ambiance. Hope this becomes brunch + speakeasy! read more

Johnny's has that classic old school diner charm that's becoming harder and harder to find. My friends and I stopped in on a Sunday for brunch, and from the nostalgic atmosphere to the friendly, prompt service, it felt like the kind of place that's been a neighborhood staple for years. Since there were a few of us, we ended up trying a variety of dishes. The iced coffee was unfortunately the biggest letdown of the meal. It was extremely watery, lacked any real coffee flavor, and is something I'd definitely skip on my next visit. The garlic bread grilled cheese was decent, but fairly average overall. The garlic bread added a little extra flavor, though the tomato soup tasted like it came straight from a can and didn't do much to elevate the dish. The fish and chips were excellent. The batter was light and wonderfully crispy while the fish inside remained flaky and moist. It was easily one of the best dishes we ordered. The pastrami melt had plenty of flavorful pastrami, but the sandwich was overloaded with mustard, which unfortunately overpowered everything else. With a lighter hand on the mustard, I think this could have been a standout. Another favorite was the Queen B Belgian waffle. The light dusting of cinnamon added a warm, comforting flavor that made every bite enjoyable. The fried chicken was a touch overcooked despite being a chicken thigh, but it was still a very satisfying combination overall. The crispy fish sandwich was another pleasant surprise. The best way I can describe it is an elevated Filet O Fish, and I mean that as a compliment. The crispy panko coating paired perfectly with the soft, pillowy brioche bun, creating a sandwich that was both comforting and well executed. Overall, Johnny's offers a welcoming atmosphere, attentive service, generous portions, and prices that feel fair for the quality and quantity of food you receive. Not every dish was a home run, but there were enough standouts that I'd gladly come back and continue exploring the menu. If you're looking for a classic diner style brunch on the Peninsula, Johnny's is definitely worth adding to your list. read more

See all

Johnny's is such a cute breakfast and brunch spot and would be perfect for a girls' outing. The interior is bright, fun, and whimsical, which makes the whole experience feel especially cheerful. I started with a mimosa, which came with its own miniature bottle of sparkling wine. It was good, although I wish the frozen orange juice sphere were available with the single mimosa instead of only with the Dolce Far Niente set of four. I'm usually not a sweet-breakfast person, but the lemon ricotta pancakes were amazing. They somehow reminded me of cereal in the best way, and I loved them. Unfortunately, The Junior was underwhelming. I'd probably skip it next time, as it didn't feel particularly special and the individual ingredients seemed lower quality. On the other hand, the Sister's Omelette and the chilaquiles were both satisfying. Overall, Johnny's is worth visiting for the fun atmosphere and a few standout dishes. I'd happily come back for the lemon ricotta pancakes and to try more of the brunch menu. read more

See all

It's a new brunch spot in downtown San Mateo and I really enjoyed the short rib eggs Benedict and the lemon blueberry pancake. Both are very delicious and I also love the potatoes that came with the eggs Benedict. However I was very disappointed that the server forgot to put in our order and we had to wait for over 30 minutes before our server realized he forgot to put in the order. But overall I really enjoyed the food and I really like the decoration and the vibe of the restaurant a lot! read more

Johnny’s - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

New restaurant with a fresh, colorful retro diner decor. Our waitress was so friendly and nice and people came by to refill our coffee and water. My friend and I shared the salmon Benedict and lemon ricotta pancakes. Both dishes looked and tasted amazing. I also enjoyed their drip coffee. Love Johnny's, it might become my favorite breakfast place as there were 2 other dishes I want to try. read more

See all

they serve typical brunch food items in a retro style diner. Food was good, but the service was not great and they can't handle full capacity well. tldr order was given wrong, took around 25-30 minutes to get served food each time, waitlist system is weird, popular items are sold out early, which didn't make for the best experience. Got- - My cousin Vinny sandwich: exactly what it sounds like, pesto focaccia bread with lots of buttery cheese and thin sliced sausage like pieces of ham, it was well flavored. fries were a little too seasoned so it was really salty - queen b Belgian waffle with chicken: waffles were really good, had a hint of cinnamon and texture was super soft and buttery rather than crispy, there was no extra syrup with this, but the whipped honey butter they added was enough to sweeten the waffles. Chicken was nice and crispy but didn't come with a sauce - short rib eggs benny: this was fine, the short ribs tasted like stew beef, which we felt like kind of conflicted with the flavors of eggs Benedict the service was not a good experience though. one friend got on the waitlist 20 min early, and we didn't know their policy is everyone had to be there to get seated. our table was given away, which was on us. After everyone arrived, they said we were the next to get seated, and then proceeded to seat another party of same size first which I thought was strange. we ordered quickly but they told us popular items like the pancakes sold out. it took pretty long for the food to come out and one ended up being incorrect. they did correct and acknowledge they sent in the wrong order, but it took another 25 min to come out and by then others were close to finishing their food. unfortunately it seems like other google and Yelp reviewers have experienced similar things. hope they work through this because the food is very promising! read more

See all

Came here with some gfs cuz we were craving mimosas with brunch. Friend found this cute spot. Loved the retro dinner feel and the place was bright and airy. Loved the menu selection that was small but varied enough that everyone could find something to eat. Friends had the old fashion scramble and I had the lemon ricotta pancakes and we ordered a bottle to make the mimosas. The mimosas were cute cuz them came with a "globe" of frozen orange juice and asked if we could have the dribble of guava on top. The menu said it would make roughly 4 mimosas but really it was more than that. The only thing I didn't like was that when we "cheered" the glasses didn't clink but made a clunk hahahah. Minor point. Friends said they liked the old fashioned scramble and I loved the lemon ricotta pancakes. For some reason the first bite was amazing but after that it was just good. Did my tastes buds get used to it? Definitely a fun spot and I plan to come back with friends! read more

See all

Birthday celebration for my bestie. Decided to try out Johnny's. So glad we did. We got the same dish. Well, the tale of two bennies. Mine was without eggs and avocado added. This place should definitely be on everyone's list. Great ambiance, great music, great food. read more

Johnny’s - Shortrib Eggs Benny- this is a must have! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Been wanting to try this new diner. How cute is this place. It's located in downtown San Mateo near the Cal-Train parking lot. It can be tough to find parking so plan ahead. I love the decor and the color scheme as well. Perfect place for brunch. My cousin and I went on Memorial weekend and we didn't have to wait since there was just two of us. Service was wonderful and super fast. I ordered The Junior which was 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, I had bacon and potatoes which I substituted for hash browns. The hash browns were super thin and crispy. Never had them like that before. A little oily for how thin they were but still good. They asked if I wanted an English muffin or sourdough toast and I opted for sourdough toast. We also had the orange and guava juice mimosa and a Diet Coke. Everything comes in its own bottle. Really cute. The tiny glass bottles of Diet Coke are $5 though which is a lot for a small drink with no refills. Overall, good place for brunch. I really want to try the lemon ricotta pancakes w blueberry compote and fried chicken on the side. That's what my neighbor at the table next to me had. Will I come back? Yes. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

Not only is the food great, and the space charming but the staff are truly outstanding. Genuinely nice, want their customers to be happy, do not rush you, and provide great service. Had lunch with a friend and manager/owner(?) went out of his way accommodate her dessert request. He didn't have to be so wonderful but he was and I'm now even more of a fan of this place than I was before. Thank you! read more

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! read more

Johnny’s - My Cousin Vinny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Great decor, service and food. Brûlée French toast was so good - not too sweet. Would love to come back for lunch! read more

See all

Great food, great atmosphere, and great service! A group of 6 ladies who lunch together regularly came here for lunch. Everyone was pleased with the selection and everyone wanted to come back. Highlighted meals were the eggs Benedict the lemon ricotta pancakes and the beet salad! read more

Really cute new diner in San Mateo with a 1950's vibe, friendly service and delicious food. I loved the decor with the black and white checkered floors, yellow chairs and accents and bunny decor. It was bright and welcoming. Our waitress was friendly and thanks to the kitchen we were able to order from both the breakfast and brunch menu because it was close to 11. I really enjoyed my Tweetie Bowl with spinach, mushrooms, poached eggs and potatoes over quinoa. My only complaint was there was too much quinoa. My favorite was the lemon blueberry ricotta pancake. They were fluffy and delicious! I'd love to come back to try more dishes. read more

See all

Came in for brunch and loved it - will definitely be back. The French omelette was excellent, and the potatoes were a standout and not greasy like many brunch spots tend to do. Service was warm and attentive, and the decor is gorgeous, with a fun, dressy brunch crowd that gives the room great energy. read more

Johnny’s - French omelette - good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

First time at this place invited from my family,Food was delicious, at first was a little worried on the size of the coffee cup about 8oz cup, but the server was very frequently asking if they can refill it. Servers were very nice and often asking if we need anything else. Great ambiance!! read more

Johnny’s - Short rib benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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!!! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

This was our first time visiting Johnny's and it reminiscent of a charming 1950's diner. The hummingbird wallpaper and menu adorned with hummingbird was a nice touch. Our server Riley was very helpful and recommended the Tuna Melt which I loved! My mom ordered the Sister's omelette and side of braised short rib. I would definitely return soon. The checkbook resembled a winnie the pooh book. read more

See all

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! read more

Johnny’s - Tuna melt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

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 read more

Johnny’s - Lemon ricotta pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Wife had been wanting to try this spot and found out when we arrived that we love their Half Moon Bay location for years. This location just opened back in April. Cool vibe, music a little weird and loud, could do without...acoustics are not great but the food makes up for it. Had the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and side of bacon, truly one of the best we had. Also ordered their pastrami sandwich and that too did not dissapoint. Requested crispy fries and came out just as I asked. I saw the reviews for service and yes, I agree although not horrible, could be slightly more attentive. If you go, ask for Betsy and say Benverly sent You! read more

Popped by for lunch on a weekday. New interior, bright decor, and friendly service. Food takes a while to come out but it was tasty for the most part. We ordered a side of fries that were disappointing because they were flavorless, oily, and soggy. read more

Food was great! Service was friendly and helpful. Atmosphere is upscale diner and very cute! read more

Johnny’s - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

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. read more

See all

my 2nd time here at HMB. A little disappointed coz they ran out of the blueberry pancakes (i ordered it on my first visit and it was SO delicious) but the french toast was an excellent 2nd runner up . It was crispy on the edges and caramelized on the top. My hubby got the ribs benny and my girlfriend got the salmon benny and i got the OG benny (which I think was just OK). Next time i will try the french omelet at their new place in San Mateo. The coffee was $6.00 a cup (for me its a little pricey taste is just ok could be stronger) but they do give refills. Overall I will come back again and again LOL. Verdict is still out on the newest branch in SM read more

See all

Johnny's in San Mateo is a fantastic addition to the area! We stopped by for lunch shortly after they opened, and even during the lunch rush there was no wait to be seated. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. The restaurant is spotless, newly furnished, and has a bright, beautiful atmosphere. The décor is modern, welcoming, and makes for a great dining experience. We ordered the Brûlée French Toast, and it easily ranks in my top three favorite French toast dishes. The caramelized brûlée topping had the perfect crisp, and the toast itself was thick, fluffy, and not overly sweet, which I absolutely loved. We also tried the Mr. Big Stuff sandwich, and it was incredible. The bread was fresh, the veggies were crisp, the turkey was delicious, and whatever is in that secret sauce is amazing! The shoestring fries were perfectly crispy and a great complement to the sandwich. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the service and atmosphere made the experience even better. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and would definitely recommend giving Johnny's a try. 10/10 read more

See all

Good coffee, lots of smiling faces, food came out cold and after an extended wait. 1x coffee, 1 single Belgian waffle, side of ham, and original eggs Benny for 60$ good place to take your worst friend read more

Service was good. I ordered the eggs Benedict the hollandaise sauce was very good but the poached egg was hard. I like a runny yolk. My daughter had the Caesar salad wrap and fries. The fries were perfectly done and tasty. read more

Johnny’s - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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. read more

Johnny’s - French omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great atmosphere, service, and food. Tye steak& eggs with potatoes and chimichurri tasted great. I also tried the creme brulle French toast, wow!!!! Thank you, Cameron for great service. read more

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. read more

See all

Cute little restraunt with great decor the ambiance of the place was definitely a vibe, fresh cut flowers at each table, decor was pleasing to the eye a very charming little restaurant. Food was ok, service ok, I really think this restaurant could work very well and turn into a gem, just a couple of kinks they need to work out but I would definitely give them a try! I would say probably go during a week day I am not to sure how they would handle a weekend rush the place is pretty small I could imagine it getting pretty loud and hectic in there on a high traffic weekend. Nice to see another breakfast spot in town! read more

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 read more

Johnny’s - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Had a delicious short rib Benedict. And had crème brûlée french toast for the table. The fresh whipped cream was delicious. The crispy potatoes served with the Benedict were perfect. read more

Super good food here. From the Mac and cheese to any of the smoked meat. Tacos are great, paella is an amazing option as well. Keep up the good work. read more

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. read more

Johnny’s - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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 read more

Johnny’s - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California