Another delightful meal with Henry at number5kitchen. Simple, fresh, and delicious, the true essence of farm-to-table. We started dining here when he first opened in 2019 and are glad to see he has reopened for dine-in. We have enjoyed everything we have had here. The Petrale Sole with Tomato Consomme was especially good tonight, and I still dream of his mushroom pasta. Can't wait till it's mushroom season again! read more

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Decided to come here on a Thursday night to try their pizzas. Little Gem Salad: 4.5/5. Everything was delicious and fresh. They choose a winning combination of ingredients. Pig and Green Pizza: 3.5/5. Really enjoyed the crust, and pretty much everything on the pizza but the pork (the Calabrian chile oil was a nice touch). The meat chucks on the pizza varied from no taste (when I tried just the meat) to a really nice rich taste (mostly the former), it was kind of weird. So I would come back here for the pizza, but try a different one. And maybe try one of their pastas. read more

It is so incredibly good. Food was fantastic and I can't wait to go back. Responsibly sourced and local. So fresh.

Went here for the first time yesterday to get a Margherita pizza for takeout. Got home, ate it cold, and it was still SO GOOD--which, to me, is indicative of fantastic pizza. For Neapolitan-style pizzas, I typically order a Margherita at any new place because the dough itself is so important. And Number5Kitchen gets it right. The dough was perfectly charred and the perfect amount of chewy, and just oh-so-fragrant. While I was waiting for my order, the owner/chef Henry Eng brought me a complimentary strawberry drink, which was greatly appreciated! (It was a hot day.) Locally owned, delicious food, lovely owners--I'm definitely going back and bringing friends! read more

It's really funny that my wife and I just tonight had our first meal at Number5Kitchen. We live four blocks away, have admired the concept and the menu since it opened, have had pizza there (next-level-awesome) several times, but have never--until tonight--gotten it together to have dinner there. We plan to be back...frequently. The experience was every bit as enjoyable as we have long expected. Because we went early on a Thursday night we had a chance to have really interesting conversation with Henry, the owner / chef. I'm not certain about his detailed background, but he CLEARLY is an accomplished chef, and he seems to know everything about the restaurant / foodie scene from the Peninsula to San Francisco, and for all I know, everywhere else. We were in the mood for something "light" and tasty, and the meal we had fit this perfectly. We started by splitting the "seasonal salad". The greens were fresh and perfect, it had fresh Albion strawberries, balanced by pickled green strawberries and had just the perfect amount of a very subtle dressing. My wife had the scallops. I tried just a taste and, yep, I thought it was the most perfectly-prepared scallop I've ever tasted. I had steak au poivre, and it was amazing. I don't know / remember what cut of beef it was, but it was perfectly cooked, cut into single bite-sized slices, served with a subtle au poivre sauce and accompanied by a couple of delicious fingerling potatoes and some of the best french fries I've ever had. And the french fry comment has to be compared with "frites" we just had on our recent vacation in Belgium (where they are justifiably famous). Henry's fries are better than we had in Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp! And, you know, the bill--with a couple of glasses of nice wine, was VERY reasonable. Thanks Henry! We will be back early and often! read more

Guys! This place is FANTASTIC! On a quiet Tuesday night, we dropped in for quick date night. The pizza as an appetizer was awesome: highly quality toppings on a light, perfectly risen crust. The steak was cooked to perfection, the poached tuna was juicy! Unexpectedly, the broccolini was possibly the best part of the meal: charred and seasoned well! Henry, the owner was friendly! You gotta go and check it out! read more

This place is so underrated. It looks kind of quiet and we weren't sure about trying it, but so glad we did!!!! The food is very seasonal and makes perfect use of fresh ingredients. On a recent visit we had an incredible pasta with house made pasta and foraged morel mushrooms, cooked to flawless al dente that wouldn't be out of place in Rome. They source fresh, local seafood. Great service. If you live around here you know, San Carlos can be a desert for truly good restaurants, and this place should have a line out the door. Go there, you won't be sorry! read more

We had 3 different pastas and loved them all! The sauces were all awesome and tasty. If I could only lick the plates... mmmm yummy! The place is nice and simple! Very cozy! The owner, chef, server was very nice and very good at what he does. I love going and supporting small businesses such as this. It's a definite gem! read more

How do more people not know about this place? It's crazy that the Paxti's two doors down had so many more people on a Saturday evening when Number5Kitchen is far superior. We sat right in front of the restaurant by a heat lamp. The owner made the pizza and served us. It is a one man show, which usually means the food is delicious. Pizza: The crust was nice and chewy. I love a chewy crust! And I haven't had one in a while that hit the spot like this. The tomato sauce tasted super fresh. The texture of the cheese was perfect and a slight bit stringy. The basil was very fresh. I haven't been pizza connoisseur-ing for awhile, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten my crusty (haha) categories. If you want an intimate, delicious experience - then this is your spot! How did I not know about Number5Kitchen? How did you not know about Number5Kitchen? read more

When I saw these delicious looking puffy, chewy neopolitan pizzas advertised, I knew I had to pay a visit immediately! The pizzas were everything I hoped for - a soft, chewy crust, thin in the middle, and chock full of delicious toppings. They cost around ~$22/pie (6 slices total). The speciale (with pepperoni and mozzarella) was delicious. But I also loved the pork pizza with broccolini. They also sold salads for lunch. Can't wait to return for dinner! Parking: There is a parking lot across the street (I think on Elm?), street parking is limited. Ordering: Seating is outside, and you can order and pay up front via QR code (through toast). read more

Amazing food at this little restaurant. The pasta (I've tried all but one) is of the caliber that reminds me of a family run restaurant in Italy. Consistency and flavor are absolutely spot on, I honestly haven't had pasta this good in the states. Forget everything that you think is good in the bay area. This is top notch. This place is one man show. Literally. Expect to wait a while for your food if they are busy. Come experience this place so you can say "I ate at this place when they only had six tables, before they were big" read more

I echo the review before mine - I feel like we discovered a gem in San Carlos. Definitely do not sleep on this restaurant! My husband and I eloped in October of 2021 and we were lucky enough to have our reception dinner at Number5Kitchen. From planning to hugs after dinner, our experience was exceptional. Henry was incredibly accommodating and crafted a special menu based on the seasonal produce at that time (photos of the menus attached). He also made sure to have a vegan dinner option for 3 of our guests. The day of, the staff was top-notch. They were so thoughtful and even had special champagne glasses for me and my husband. When I tell you that everything was delicious, I mean it was unreal-good. Since the reception dinner took place in the middle of the pandemic, all guests needed to show proof of vaccination, which we anticipated and were happy to oblige. Overall, our experience far surpassed our expectations! read more

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We appreciated Number5Kitchen. We chose this place solely by looking at Yelp stars. None of us had a chance to read the reviews so we didn't know it was a one-man show. We were not only pleasantly surprised but impressed with the quality and flavors of the dishes. We ordered an app, two pastas, and a burger -- the entrees were some of the best I've had in the area If you're good on time and want some great quality food, I'd recommend Number5Kitchen! read more

First time eating at Number5Kitchen for lunch. My wife and I decided to try it since we had met Henry over the weekend at the Farmer's Market. We like the concept of farm to table dining using fresh local ingredients. We ordered: Organic Spring Mix, Fried Chicken Wings, 8-Hour Bolognese and Dungeness Crab tagliatelle. The organic spring mix salad was very fresh tasting and the granola topping complemented the salad. Chicken wings were very tasty. Nice crispy skin. The 8-Hour Bolognese was excellent. From the fresh tasting pappardelle pasta to the bolognese. Same for the Dungeness Crab tagliatelle. Fresh noodles, crab and sauce have a lot of flavor and taste great! Service was very good. Henry the owner was our chef and service staff. Timing of food was good and he came back to check on us regularly. Ambiance is casual. A nice simple setting feels relaxing and enjoyable. We will be back for dinner soon to drink wine with the excellent food. read more

This place opened this past spring. I've been picking up my Fifth Crow Farms CSA box here for the past few weeks, and we came for dinner on Saturday. It's fun for me to figure out which of the produce in the dishes is coming directly from Fifth Crow because it gives me some ideas for what to cook at home. We ordered the kale salad, wild mushroom pasta, Petrale sole, and the pork chop. Everything was delicious, especially the pork - it was thick and juicy with a flavorful sauce and bright red peppers around it. The kids shared bolognese and a bowl of butter pasta. The portions are on the smaller side, but very lovingly prepared. The menu changes frequently based on the season and isn't always up to date on the website, but it is posted outside the restaurant. The owner, Henry, is super nice, even when we mix things up and grab someone else 's CSA box by accident. It's great that San Carlos has a restaurant like this. read more

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We love Number 5 Kitchen and came back to try the new weekend dinner menu. We ordered the sangria and Yuzu drink and they were fresh and really delicious. They are handcrafted and you can taste the difference. We ordered the olives for an appetizer and they were so fresh and warm. It reminded us of our time in Spain. For entree, we had the skirt steak and clam pasta. They were both incredible. My husband and I enjoy fresh and local food cooked right. This is not Town where you go to drink and eat a crap ton of food and get distracted by a pretty loud ambiance. This is an intimate dining experience where you taste food the way it should be and you can even bring you kids! The homemade strawberry cheesecake was probably the best I've had. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Sangria and Herbed Sake Cocktail - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Rude owner accepted a reservation then when the party arrived claimed he had no tables. He obviously doesn't care at all. Avoid this place .

We came here for dinner hoping to order some items we saw on the Yelp page but they only had pizza and salad! The bread was decent but cheese and sauce lacked depth. I wish it was more soft and crispy; most pizzas we had in Europe were too salty and we liked how this one wasn't as much but felt like it was missing some quality ingredients. The salad was not great; nothing tasted fresh. It felt pretty marked up for what you paid for. The service was also a bit slow but I think it was just the owner and chef working inside. He was pretty friendly and very open to taking our feedback. Interior is pretty cute. I wouldn't come to San Carlos for this spot but think it's a good, quiet space for an intimate chat. Wish I enjoyed the food a bit more; might try again with a new menu! read more

Number5 Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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This small spot in San Carlos reminded me of something I would see in SF or Oakland. Great use of seasonal, local produce and a highly focused menu. I went here for dinner, and they had an a la carte menu with 4 options each for apps and mains. Caesar Salad - I liked the 63C egg, and thought the larger anchovy pieces balanced the creamy dressing well. The croutons were a little too hard to bite into. Prosciutto Americano - The presentation was lovely and highlighted stonefruit season. The peaches weren't the ripest, but overall it worked well with the prosciutto. Sea Scallop Crudo - Another eye catching dish with vibrant colors. I enjoyed the combo of sea bean, olive, and strawberry which didn't overpower the delicate scallop. Wild Mushroom Pasta - Morels and pasta are usually a must order for me. The fresh noodles had nice chew, and the sauce was creamy, yet reserved. I could have licked the plate. Overall I liked the thoughtful and ingredient driven menu. Flavors were on the lighter side. I would go back to try the brunch! read more

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I had an absolutely lovely experience dining at this cozy, beautiful restaurant. I loved the wooden tables, stylish and sturdy utensils (unlike most places that have flimsy cheap ones), beautiful plates, delicious food, and wonderful service. We ordered pasta bolognese, seasonal autumn vegetable pasta, and a seasonal salad. Each item was delicious, tasted fresh, high quality, and homey. The serving size was perfect, not too much not too little. This is the place where you will peacefully enjoy every bite of your meal and leave feeling happy and satisfied - my kind of place! The chef & the owner of the place is very nice to talk to. He was also patient and friendly with our 3 year old son who threw a tantrum, and even offered him to play with the toy trucks We are definitely coming back, and hoping to have a dessert with some tea or coffee next time read more

Looking for brunch with a group of 5 on a Sunday morning. This newly opened spot is located in downtown San Carlos. Found parking in a free lot a block away. Stepped inside and they immediately sat us. It's a quiet, small little spot, but perfect for what we were looking for. Menu is seasonal and ingredients locally sourced. I started with a mimosa. As for food, I went on the light side: Potato & Leek soup-delicious Bread-kneaded bakery bread and it's fresh Bacon-Bassian Farms and salty and savory. Everyone was happy with their selections. Easily could be a 5, I just need to return and try more of the menu. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Potato & Leek soup - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Decent meal at a new-ish spot in San Carlos. Unique flavor combinations and local sourcing make this a good departure from San Carlos sameness. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Strawberry and burrata. - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Yay! Finally delicious brunch in San Carlos! Great decor and excellent food at this new restaurant in San Carlos run by a pedigree chef-husband and wife team. We were able to try four different dishes with generous advice from the chef and left fully satisfied. Our salad was fresh and well balanced. The crab/eggs were fluffy with generously portioned. Even my classic eggs/bacon/potatoes dish was well executed with the best vegetable-hashbrown I've ever had! I loved how the hash brown incorporated cauliflower, beets and various root vegetables giving it different textures and flavors. I'm a huge vegetable and potato fan so that hash brown was the dream team for me! We ended with the sweet citrus pancakes that were fluffy and topped with an amazing chantilly cream. On our way out, we saw the dinner menu and can't wait to come back soon. Thanks Chef #5! read more

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Previous reviews set high expectations but the husband (chef) and wife duo that make up Number5Kitchen are a powerful team and our new farm-to-table super heroes! The frequently changing menu is all about showcasing the best of what's in season. The menu is original without feeling too risky and includes apt descriptions. Our table of three shared two appetizers and three mains and everything was exceptional. The small CA-based wine list was a pleasant surprise too. Each was a new discovery (not common among this group) that impressed and paired well with our food. You can BYOB but we plan to continue sipping their wine finds. In summary, Number5Kitchen gained 3 big fans that can't wait to return. A place this special won't be a secret for long so go now while you can still get a reservation! (Convenient parking lot behind restaurant.) read more

This is a family owned and operated restaurant with a cute little kid who kept our 13-month old entertained. The place is full of plants leaving you with a sense of tranquility and the food is delectable! The quality of ingredients is great and you can taste the same in the dishes. The chef is very passionate and creative about his work and it shows! Highly recommend the cocktails too. We tried the fried chicken, brussel sprouts and a pizza. Everything was ridiculously good. read more

I've been wanting to come here and finally did with some friends. We didn't have a reservation, but a 25 minute wait on a Friday night is no big deal- plenty of things to do during that wait. Very casual and comfortable atmosphere since it's a small sized restaurant. I was surprised that there was only one person working- he's the waiter, bartender, cook, dishwasher -- you get the picture. A one-man act. But wow was the food amazing (get the spinach savoy). I knew their concept was farm to table, and this knocked it out of the park. My only complaint is that I wish the wine was served to us sooner. Breadsticks or bread might be a good touch if guests will have a longer than normal wait for food. Recommend for date night or going out with a few friends -- part of 4 or less. read more

Do yourself a favor and come grab a leisurely meal here! The food here is mouthwateringly delicious. The salad, the pizzas, the pastas, oh my! The owner, Henry, runs the kitchen and front of house. He is incredibly lovely, welcoming, and dedicated. However, if there are multiple tables seated, don't expect fast service. read more

We drove out from out of town to eat here but it's closed.....even though it states outside their restaurant that they're supposed to be open at 11:30am on a Sunday. We showed up at 11:40am on a Sunday and no one is there. Their restaurant isn't even taking calls. This doesn't seem be an isolated incident since I see other reviewers who has had this happen to them too. This is highly unprofessional as a business and false advertisement. Even if they are away for the day, at least have the courtesy to leave a sign up stating that. read more

I never had a strong urge to write reviews on Yelp. But this place deserves all the reviews it can get. I was in the neighborhood looking for places to eat and found this place on Yelp. I walked in and then ordered a mushroom pizza. And that is the best pizza I had as far as I can remember! This place makes you fall in love with its food. Henry owns the place and does all the cooking. And omg what a chef! This place should deserve a Michelin star. Everything is so fresh!! If you are reading this review, just go for it and you will thank yourself later. read more

The food was fresh and tasty. I had the spring salad and spicy ricotta pasta. The service was great and the vibe was chill.

Fantastic, fresh food. We got the little gem salad, which came with those long grapes (not sure what they're called) and persimmons, amazing blend of flavors. My husband got 1 of their house cocktails that smelled and tasted of grapefruit, super refreshing. We ordered 3 pizzas: margherita without basil (for the kids), mushrooms, and nduja. Nduja was by far my favorite in terms of flavors: spicy sausage mixed with honey. Kids loved theirs as well. Excited to try pasta next time. Come support this family run business! We came around noon on Sunday and Henry was running both front and back of house. read more

Fresh, seasonal, sooo flavorful. Tried this restaurant for the first time. The firefly squid was so incredible, please try it you won't regret it! Pizza Napolitana was sooo good with the yummiest tomato sauce. Tagliatelle with Dungeness crab was incredible. Thank you!! read more

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I was really looking forward to trying the restaurant with my family from our of town. We live in the South Bay. My family was staying temporarily in SF and we planned on meeting mid-way based on reviews. We intended on visiting with two kids under 5. I tried calling the number several times to inquire about bringing our kids. Their number takes you to a Google number. I left a VM twice but never heard received a call back. The owner texted and asked me to text him back which I did, but we still did not receive a response. We also tried texting them via their Instagram page but did not hear back. Hopefully we get the chance to visit the restaurant sometime soon when we're in San Carlos! read more

Ordered the 8 hour Bolognese pasta and it did not disappoint! Handmade pappardelle noodles with a savory meat sauce- tastes like a dish Italian grandma made with love. Worth ordering this dish and it paired nicely with a the red wine. Happy to have stumbled across this local spot. read more

First time trying this place. Make sure you come when you're not in a rush because this is a one-man show, at least when we came it was. However, it was a relaxing experience and most importantly the food was excellent! I will be coming back to try other dishes! read more

Yummy pizzas! Loved both the Margherita and Funghi pizza. The egg-free dough is phenomenal. Fluffy and cooked perfectly. Loved the freshness of all the ingredients, and the tomato sauce was so yummy! On the tartier side, which is why I loved it. But if it's not your cup of coffee, then add a pinch of salt to it. Definitely the best pizza I've had on this side of town. Would order this again for sure! read more

Number5 Kitchen - Margherita pizza - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Our first time dining here and it was over the top good!!! Husband and I started our dinner with their Autumn's Best salad (pink lady apple, black mission figs, moon drop grapes, finger lime, pea shoots, crème fraîche). it was a very refreshing salad; farm-to-table ingredients of what's in season; topped with their homemade dressing. I ordered the STEAK AU POIVRE (prime skirt steak, n5k special sauce, fries, organic baby greens) and the sauce alone was so delicious that i soaked every bit of the fries in it. The steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare as I requested and a good cut). Every bite was heavenly! My husband ordered their PORK SAUSAGE & BROCCOLI DI CICCIO (cavatelli, green garlic, chili, cream) and all he could say after each bite was "This is so good!" We ended with their cheesecake which I loved. not too sweet and topped with figs and persimmons. great ending. We were both impressed. This restaurant offers farm-to-table seasonal dishes but also offers staples (burgers, bolognese pasta, steak,fish). The chef/owner does everything so don't expect it to be a quick in&out dining. Just enjoy the experience and their high-quality food. We hope they do well in the competitive restaurant business in downtown San Carlos. I can honestly say the quality of the food we had that night beats the quality of the bigger name restaurant on the same block. The chef/owner was also very nice and welcoming. I highly recommend. read more

We just sampled the new pizza menu at Number5Kitchen. It was delicious! We even ended up fighting over the last piece! The base/crust had a nice flavor and was the perfect balance of crispy and chewy. The toppings tasted nice and fresh, with just the right amount of cheese not to drown out the flavor of the other toppings. We'll be back soon! read more

We walk downtown with our dog and always pass number5kitchen. We had been meaning to try this place for sometime and it did not disappoint!! The food was great, the ambiance was great. I have only compliments for this place. The chef even took the time to chat with us after. We ordered the Shells and the Pappardelle with sides of Asparagus and Broccoli. I wish I took a picture but it completely slipped my mind. It was delicious. Simple meal but elevated. We will definitely be returning and look forward to seeing him at the San Carlos Farmers Market as well. SUMMARY: If you've been looking for a new place downtown, please give this place a try. I have never wanted to spread the word about a restaurant more. I'd give it more stars if I could! read more

I need more of the Pizza Wild Mushroom!! So good. The added dried oregano made it that extra special. Definitely coming back for that and the soup -- whatever is the daily soup is delicious. Can't wait for you to be able to host inside again. Love hosting guests there. Would add a pic, but forgot and I ate it too fast. read more