One of the best meals we've had in a long time + Armando's service was excellent. Attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm service throughout Food was fantastic; the Beef Spring Rolls are a must-have read more

Best steakhouse i've had in a while. Their cowboy ribeye is excellent. Thania was knowledgeable and her wine pairings were on point.

Have you ever had a steak dinner so good that you didn't take candid pictures ? We celebrated my mother in laws birthday dinner here and it was AMAZING. Our server Oceano was not only attentive but knew the menu very well. Also bonus points for the wine recommendations that would compliment both my husband's dinner plate as well as mine. He was by far the best server! The restaurant itself was pretty chill and had a pleasant atmosphere. From the appetizers to dessert, everything was 5 stars out of 5 stars. We can't wait to come back. read more

Porterhouse - Espresso martini - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

I brought the family here for Father's Day since the guest of honor wanted steak. I loved the old school movie pictures as I used to watch old b&w for fun when I was a kid (loved Bogart!). We were quickly seated by the hostess upon arrival. It was a packed house so tables were quite tight that night. I had a light appetite and went with the small filet which was a perfect size for me. The kids ordered the porterhouse and the pappadelle. We also ordered some crab cakes and the scallop special for appetizers. Everything tasted good, though I would have liked more than two garlic shrimp as an add on. The only thing I wish was different was that our server forgot to give us a heads up about the soufflé for dessert which is a favorite of mine. We weren't able to order it since we didn't order it ahead and they were so busy. She did feel bad about that though. No harm no foul. While I'm not eating as much red meat as I used to, I wouldn't mind dropping in here again. It's a nice place and I can see the owner enjoys his repeat customers the way he chats with them. read more

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In town for work and this place was highly recommended. Glad I went! Megan at the bar was super nice and makes great cocktails. The ambiance is great and the food/drinks & service was excellent. read more

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I had a decent experience here, definitely have had better. It's not a fancy restaurant, you can dress up or dress down. The service was mediocre nothing crazy. We ordered the caesar salad and cowboy ribeye. The salad's presentation was beautiful, decent salad. The cowboy ribeye wasn't anything fancy, just regular. However, the little baked potato and honey glazed carrots were delicious! The cake was okay too, could've been without it. I won't be back. read more

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Spontaneously came here on a Saturday night, was able to get a reservation for 8:30pm on OpenTable. I had never heard of this place before, but I'm always up for trying a new steak spot! The ambiance is low lit and romantic. There's Audrey Hepburn posters throughout the restaurant, my fave had to be the Marilyn Monroe ones though! Tables are spaced fairly far apart for privacy. The restaurant was clean, modern, but still had some old time charm. We started with a glass of wine and a cocktail with the apple salad. The salad was delicious and refreshing. My cocktail was delicious and strong! For our main, we shared the porterhouse which was 30oz. of steak total. This was the perfect serving amount for two people honestly. I had no idea we would be served two different cuts, so we were super happy about that. The steak was absolutely phenomenal. It was served with a baked potato and veggies on the side, which was also delicious. The owner was walking around and chatting with guests (including us) and it felt like such a personal touch to the experience. The wait staff also took time to chat with us and talk food and wine with us! Overall, this was an amazing dining experience. From the service to food, I will 100% be back and recommend this to anyone in search of a good steak in San Mateo! read more

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Old Hollywood ambiance with Humphrey Bogart movie posters around the seating area. Food and drinks were delicious. Service was great and the flambé was a treat. Will definitely visit again. read more

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I came here for a work related presentation in a separate room and the staff is very organized in remembering who ordered what. The food was good I got the 8oz filet and it was tasty. The restaurant looked cozy and people enjoying, also outdoor seating is an option read more

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Food, service, attention to detail, ambiance. Amazing restaurant. The food was excellent, and just delicious excellent prepared to perfection. I have gotten away from my earlier carnivore days but have really been feeling the need for some protein. I have been really craving beef. Not only did they have beef but Escargot and table side crepe Suzette's. Had a special occasions coming so I booked a reservation. It was a perfect evening. I am already looking forward to my next visit and I just got home read more

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The best restaurant and steakhouse in the peninsula. Pricey but worth it. I can cook better steak than pretty much every steakhouse. This place is an exception. Phenomenal attention to detail, consistency, and quality. I've eaten here probably 10 times now, and the steaks consistently cut like soft butter and taste like savory heaven. The other foods are also incredible, such as the mushrooms and re-stuffed potatoes are our favorite. The servers and manager are amazing and a class act group. We drew Oceano last evening, and he was amazing in his table banter, charm, service, and explanations of the menu and specials. I don't have a picture of the food because we didn't think to do that we were in the moment enjoying the evening too much. read more

Came here to celebrate our anniversary last month I got the Cowboy which is a 18oz prime rib and he got a Porterhouse which is a 20oz. It comes with some vegetables and a baked potato situation. We ordered a Beets Salad and the Wild Mushroom, supppper good! Service was great and our waitress was really kind & helpful ~ read more

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We made reservations for Valentine's Day dinner at Porterhouse and overall had a great experience. It was pretty obvious the restaurant had added extra seating to accommodate the holiday crowd, so the space felt a bit crammed and walking room was limited. That said, it didn't take away from the evening. The service was immaculate. Our waitress was extremely kind, attentive, and made us feel well taken care of throughout the night. As for the food, the truffle mac and cheese was a pleasant surprise and ended up being the star of the show. The glazed carrots were delicious, and the twice-baked potatoes were perfectly executed. While the cook on our steaks was spot-on, we did feel they were slightly over-seasoned. Still, it wasn't enough to overshadow the overall experience. We would definitely come back and look forward to trying more from the menu. read more

Porterhouse - 18 OZ Dry-Aged Cowboy - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Armonda was a fantastic server, very friendly and the food was delicious! This is our second year coming during a business trip and it was as good as last time, read more

Enjoyable dinner, ambience. Even though my dinner was light - the service was just as attentive and welcoming as would have been expected for a larger party. read more

We went for a late mother's day dinner this past Saturday. Zella, who is amazing, was able to fit us in even though it was a last minute request and was ver accommodating to our requests. When we arrived there was a bit of a wait, however the staff was very friendly and did their best to get us in as quickly as possible. I ordered the 4oz filet with Béarnaise sauce and my boyfriend got the NY strip, and even though it wasn't cooked as medium rare as we would have liked (bordering on rare), it was still delicious. The twice baked potato was a huge favorite. Everyone else around us who ordered the steak got their temperatures correct. The restaurant was very clean and romantic. We would definitely come back to order the Banana's foster as they cook it table side. read more

Porterhouse - 4oz filet with Béarnaise sauce and twice baked potato. - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

We tried their iconic porterhouse steak. It was very flavorful and juicy, but my only complaint with this steak as well as the other steaks that my party got was that they were all overcooked we ordered medium rare for our steaks, and I'd say we got a medium at best Porterhouse staff treated my party very well and even gave my dog a bowl of water, which we really appreciated. read more

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Been wanting to try this place for a long time. It used to be the Vault a long time ago and a bank back in the days I think. There's not a ton of steakhouses in the area. Obviously, good steakhouses are pricey. At least a minimum of $200 a person would be good estimate. They have a good selection of whiskeys at the bar. I tried a bunch of the drinks here. It's ok but very pricey. My portion of the drink tab alone was over a hundred easily. Dinner was ok. They had a special on the Foie Gras appetizer. It was horrible!! Supposed to be lightly seared!! It was over cooked. The oyster was good but they were tiny! Had the Porterhouse for 2. It was cooked med rare and delicious!! But it did not look like the pics on yelp. People had theirs cut for them. Mine was a whole piece. Probably won't be back anytime soon. They did give us a small ice cream scoop since we were celebrating an event. read more

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Had a really excellent experience at Porterhouse in regards to the quality of service and dishes we ordered! I randomly walked in from downtown San Mateo and immediately was seated at a table for two on a weekday night. We ordered the steak tartare, 20 oz porterhouse, Kansas City steak, truffle mac & cheese. Both steaks were done medium rare. A fresh bread basket came out prior to our dishes, The steak tartare was excellent, I was initially apprehensive due to other reviews but this is my favorite part of the meal solely because I could eat a decent portion of it and not get tired of the taste since it's so layered with various acidic flavors. Our server mixed it up while making small talk with us, and my initial impression was that this was a very lemony steak tartare! I enjoyed eating it without the crostini, opting to butter the crostini and eat tartare by the spoonful. However, my boyfriend insists that the crostini and tartare are best enjoyed together due to the combination of texture. The porterhouse was my boyfriend's favorite part of the meal- it was really delicious and had an excellent sear. Each bite was so tender and filling. The Kansas City steak was also delicious, but I preferred the porterhouse to it. Our server informed us that if we wanted to split the steaks, we should inform her next time so that they are able to slice and plate them properly for us- this was so sweet of her! Pairing our orders with the mac and cheese and the baked potato for carbs definitely helped to not get tired of the steak. The mac and cheese was yummy and had a fragrant aroma to it because of the truffle, the pot was decently sized as well. I was ambivalent about the vegetables they provided since I found bok choy to be an interesting choice to be paired with steak? read more

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Finally got the chance to stop by Porterhouse in San Mateo for pre-Valentine's day dinner. We made a reservation two days before and were able to get a spot at 8:30pm. We were seated right on time but service was a bit slow, obviously because everyone was there to celebrate. I got the refreshing Apple salad and still wish that I ordered more. The cauliflower steak wasn't to my personal liking so we shared the Porterhouse steak with the cauliflower as a side. The steak was incredible, we ordered it medium rare and it came out perfect. The mac n cheese along with the bread and butter were the perfect carbs to eat on the side. We also ordered the Bananas Foster, which gets sautéed right in front of your table. I will definitely be back to have more steak and salad. read more

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First time visit. Enjoyable dinner. Usually get a rib eye, but the waiter suggested the porterhouse. It was really really tender and flavorful and cooked to a perfect medium rare. Started with wings which were decent. Charging for some seriously basic bread and butter was laughable. Service was good when the waiter was actually there. Notably my friend was running quite late so I was ignored at my table for over 20 mins before someone came to offer me a drink! Food came out really quickly and the waiter did drop by to see how the steaks were but waters weren't refilled at that time and no offer to grab more beers which were empty at that point. Some additional attention to detail would've been appreciated. read more

Porterhouse - Porterhouse, medium rare - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

I had the cowboy steak - a bone in ribeye-- tasty but kind of tough-- true dry aged beef would never be tough to chew. With the amount of steak they are selling I'm sure they have to sneak in some fresh meat -- not all those steaks were dry aged- unless they have a cooler as big as my house- to be honest I've had better ribeye at Sizzler. The crab cakes were by far the best I've ever eaten- but for the price? they were too small- I want to eat not just get a taste- the crab cakes were too tiny..-- the beer was great -- lastly the service was premier until time to pay-- I want my tab on the table when the food is served so I can go- after I eat-- oh, oh last lastly,, the restaurant was crowded & so loud you couldn't hear a thing, no place to conduct business. Which I had brought my client to wine & dine & talk business.. But too damn loud--I guess you can't win them all, but I won't be back read more

BEFORE WE GET TO THE DINING PORTION OF OUR REVIEW: While perusing the reviews of Porterhouse, I have to say I found it highly amusing that those who gave Porterhouse one and two stars clearly have little to no experience with fine dining (it's an easy thing to find out: Just look at their profiles to see where they have eaten in the past... many of their reviews for the casual or fast food establishments they frequent are also negative!). For those who don't visit Yelp often for recommendations, know that it's well documented that many will deliberately leave bad reviews with the hope the restaurant will contact them and offer them a free meal to offset their 'alleged' bad experience. Restaurants aren't falling for that scam anymore, as they have learned a diner with a legitimate complaint will voice their concerns while they are there and NOT post hurtful reviews after they've left. NOW ON TO THE FOOD: Having what some have called a 'picky palate', Porterhouse has never failed to meet and exceed my culinary expectations! When I dine here, I am a 'VINO' (vegetarian in name only!) - I won't eat meat anywhere else - full stop! The mouth watering Filet Mignon steak Porterhouse serves is where I abandon my vegetarian oath. Accompanied by flavorful sautéed vegetables and a unique twice baked potato (not ala carte btw: both come with your steak), you are memorably swept into foodie heaven! The salads - they're all perfect - and the table bread... soft and warm from the oven! The environment is very 'upscale old school:' Bruno (Porterhouse's owner) has brought in his own personal collection of 1930's/40's movie poster memorabilia to grace the walls of the restaurant in what can only be described as a homage to a bygone era ...'Casablanca come to life!' Classic crooners sing the standards during happy hour before the vibe changes as the night goes on. Bruno has become renowned for his table-side flambé dessert masterpieces. ... AND WE END OUR PORTERHOUSE ADVENTURE AT THE BAR! (you can also start your adventure here too!) Suzanna and Pepper are without question the BEST MIXOLOGISTS in the Bay Area! A special menu of cocktails has been crafted to satisfy every mood and every palate (in keeping with the 'old school' vibe, the 'Rita Hayworth' is one of my personal faves!). I'm also partial to a really good Grey Goose vodka martini... and no establishment makes them better (the hand stuffed Bleu Cheese olives are just the right touch to set Porterhouse's martinis way above anyone else's). They have a standout selection of top shelf spirits in addition to the standards - and the 'Happy Hour' menu is one of the best I've seen for both cocktails and food. Cheesy Garlic Bread... sliders... Bruno's Tacos for two... (you may never make it to the dining room, which is okay, because you're more than welcome to have your dinner in the bar!) Suzanna... Pepper... Bruno... EVERYONE! Yes everyone working at Porterhouse takes their job seriously and goes above and beyond to make sure your experience there is one you'll remember, and return for. Extended family.... Fun and jokes... laughter... great relaxing vibes... and even HUGS! And let's not forget the FOOD!!! Porterhouse checks every single box for me, and I hope it will for you too! read more

Porterhouse - The Rita Hayworth cocktail at Porterhouse - adorned with a real and beautiful orchid. - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

When the best thing about a steakhouse is the twice baked potato and the bread with butter AND NOT the porterhouse steak -- which is the signature/namesake of the restaurant is below SUBPAR = NOT recommended. We ordered the porterhouse steak for 2, medium and it came out rare. The meat was so tasteless, tough, stringy with an off-flavor fake like liquid smoke essence. We started at the bar for a glass of wine and I inquired with the hostess if I could transfer the bill over to our dinner and she stated of course no problem. However when I requested this from the bartender, she BARKED No! You need to pay here. Then it took her 10 min to run the cc. Our server never inquired or asked how our meal was so we never had a chance to say anything. Also, I notified them when I both made the rsvp and when checking in that it was a bday celebration, they mentioned a free scoop of ice cream with a candle would be provided. After the check was paid--they brought a non-descript golf ball size of sorbet that we had to actually ask what flavor it was because it tasted like plain shaved ice. Not the restaurants fault, however note parking is a nightmare. Brought the leftovers home for the dog and he would not even eat it...! What a waste of time, calories and $$$$$. Could be coincidence, however we doubt it--we both experienced acute gastroenteritis and I checked with my chef friend at Bob's Chop house the image in the photo is rare--not medium cooked. Also, muscle fibers in better cuts of meat indicator was not dry aged. Could never recommend.... read more

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We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary last night at Porterhouse. The food was fantastic and Oceano was the best server we have ever had! My husband had the Porterhouse Steak and I had the Beef Wellington. Both were beyond excellent. Both dishes came with twice baked potatoes, carrots and broccoli. For dessert, we ordered the Cherries Jubilee. It was absolutely delicious. Our server Oceano, was fabulous! His suggestions for wines and other spirits as well as helping us decide which appetizer to have knowing that we're having a large meal afterwards. I have to say that he probably was the best server I've ever experienced at a restaurant. Kudos to you Oceano! read more

I went to Porterhouse to celebrate my birthday with my family. We had an Italian gentleman as our server; he was very friendly and humorous. I had the lamb chops for dinner; they were delicious and very tender. Many people were celebrating Christmas and having a grand time. The atmosphere is cozy and warm; the walls are filled with old time Hollywood celebrities and classic movie posters. Overall an excellent steakhouse! read more

Porterhouse - Tasty Lamb Chops - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My family loves Porterhouse. The owners and staff have always been extremely courteous and accommodating. I've been to many Steakhouses in SF and the Bay Area, imho Porterhouse steaks and menu comes out on top! Mouth watering flame grilled steak is why we keep coming back! San Mateo is LUCKY to have this fine steakhouse! read more

Very happy to share a review about a great steakhouse in San Mateo, CA - Porterhouse. Have visited this restaurant several times over the past year and have always had a great experience. All staff from the hostess, Zelal, to the bartenders to all of the servers, everything is always top notch. Most recently went to celebrate Mother's Day and had the pleasure of being served by Cassius. Cassius made the meal and absolute pleasure and we appreciated his attentive service. Have had several items on the menu and everything has always been fantastic. Always look forward to dining at Porterhouse. read more

We came to porterhouse to celebrate a bday and Mother's Day. Our server Cassius was wonderful and took really good care of us. He went out of his way to take care of our every need. We will be back and we will ask for him to be our server. From start to finish everything was superb. read more

Been here a few times. Food is always good. Service is excellent and the ambiance is exactly what it should be A steak house vibe :) read more

Porterhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Went here for my birthday while in San Mateo and had a pretty good dinner. The service itself was great and they gave me a birthday desert. The food was hit or miss. Mostly a hit though. Their dry aged porterhouse and ribeye tasted great but their filet was underwhelming and didn't have much flavor. Their pork belly appetizer was good but for $16 for a single piece of meat, it wasn't worth the price. Lobster tasted fresh and the best part of the meal (funny enough) was the twice baked potato. read more

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Returned here for a date night because the steaks were so amazing the first time we came here. You are immediately greeted by the friendly staff and prompted for reservations. Not sure what the walk-in policy is like since we didn't see many open seats. The wait staff were attentive and we started with a glass of Pinot and ordered oysters and shrimp for starters. I got the porterhouse and my wife got the Kansas City. Both were cooked to perfection, paired with a twice baked potato. We stopped half way to make room for dessert. Crème brûlée and chocolate lava cake! This place never disappoints and looking forward to coming back! read more

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Lovely steakhouse tucked in downtown San Mateo. a beautiful cozy ambiance that plays jazz music and is romantically lit. They are best known for their steaks obviously - we had the porterhouse and cowboy ribeye both cooked exactly how we requested. Their other dishes too were amazing: crab cakes, seafood linguine, mahi-mahi, and of course their truffle Mac and cheese! On the pricier side but you definitely get your money's worth. Our server was also excellent and was attentive all throughout our service, read more

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Came here for a family Thanksgiving dinner, the night before actual holiday. Place is dimly lit. Staff are attentive and considerate. The pork belly appetizer was not a favorite. The patty cut was not preferred and unusual. It also was too sweet. The crab cakes were interesting as they were shaped like scallops. In fact, I think one of the existing pics is mislabeled as scallops because when we asked our waiter, he said they don't serve scallops, haha! Even though our waiter warned us ahead of time, I ordered medium rare and had to send it back to get it cooked a little more. The side potato is a twice baked potato and shaped like a cyclinder. It was yummy. The seafood linguine was a hit until my partner bit into a pebble. We brought it up and the waiter explained it was because the clams are so fresh *eye roll* they comped the meal. It's too bad we didn't stay for dessert (we had 6 restless kids), but the options looked good. It was a great family Thanksgiving dinner. It's definitely a special occasion type of spot. read more

Connected with some of my Bay Area friends on a recent trip back and we grabbed dinner at Porthouse. It was a recommendation from one of my friends that had seen a review on Check Please Bay Area (one of my favorite PBS shows when we lived there). I was not that hungry so I kept it light with a salad and French Onion soup. I have to admit that it was the best French Onion soup that I have ever had. Everyone else got steaks which they really loved. Now the best part was the dessert. We had Bananas Foster and Cherry Jubilee. The owner made it by our table and he shared stories about how he learned to make it and the history of the restaurant and stories about being a restaurant owner. I would rate the desserts as some of the best that I have had in my life. I would recommend going to the restaurant for the dessert alone. Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend. read more

Porterhouse - Bananas Foster - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I ordered thw cowboy steak, well we all did, the veggies on the sides were blanched i think too much that it took out the crunch texture, carrots were sweet, like sweet potato sweet, the bakes potato it came with was decent. Now the steak, it was disappointing to have your first bite and have the steaks underseasoned, what's terrible was I bit into a few pieces of salt that didnt dissolve or they sprinkled it with salt as it sat after cooking on the pan, either way I bit into a few salty pieces, wasnt the best experience. The meat was tender enough, not the most tender but decent and decent size. I say overall its a place I've tasted and probaby won't come back, nothing wrong just wasnt blown away, for the price, read more

Porterhouse - Cowboy steak - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Excellent service. The Cowboy Ribeye was the best steak I've had in the U.S. Special thanks to our server for the recommendation! read more

Porterhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is my favorite steak restaurant in SF! The owner and the team of the restaurant always provide the best service. The quality of the food was excellent. Aged beef was my favorite. The flame banana dessert will make a fantastic end of the meal . I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves aged steak. read more

Porterhouse - The whiskey flamed banana dessert - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here with some coworkers and had a great time! For appetizers we ordered the crab cakes and the escargot. The crab cakes were DELICIOUS!! One coworker said they were the best crab cakes she's ever had, and I agree they were very tasty. The escargot was super garlicky which I like but may not be for everyone. Didn't get a picture, but I enjoyed the serving dish it came in, super cute individual dips for each piece. The only thing I would have wanted was more toasted bread, but the bread basket we got upon arrival was good for dipping in the remaining spread. Four of us ordered the beef wellington, this special is only served on Wednesdays and sounded delicious so we had to try. The 8oz filet wrapped in puff pastry was super tender and melt in your mouth. One person ordered the 20oz Porterhouse steak, it was HUGE and he couldn't finish, but still very good. We were all too full for dessert but there were lots of options that sounded very good. read more

Porterhouse - beef wellington - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

My experience here really exceeded expectations, I've had this place bookmarked for a while but just never got around to trying it. Recently noticed a huge change in the mastro's crowd being a lot more rowdy so we decided to try a new steak place and I'm really glad I did. I got the porterhouse and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly, I loved the twice baked potato as well, absolutely delicious, will definitely return read more