Fogbird is easily one of the best spots around for a mid- to late-night drink after dinner. The…read morespace is extremely clean, cute, and comfortable, creating the perfect ambiance to wind down your evening. The Highlights: Food & Drinks: They have a great selection of classic cocktails and an approachable menu of bar bites that pair effortlessly with the drinks. Perfect for a late-night snack! Just keep in mind that while they're open until midnight, last call for food is before 9 PM. Pricing: Very reasonable for the quality. Their Happy Hour is a stellar deal, with drinks ranging from $9-$13 and bites between $7-$14. Service: The staff is wonderfully kind and hard-working. With a small team (typically two servers and one bartender), service can run a bit on the slower side when it's busy, but the personal touch--like the bartender personally bringing drinks over to our table--makes a big difference. Seating & Group Size: Walk-Ins: You can easily walk in most days with a small party, though making a reservation in advance never hurts if you want to guarantee a spot. Party Size: Stick to smaller groups. We've tried coming with a party larger than 10 before, but it gets busy and is much better suited for small, intimate gatherings. Overall, a lovely spot with great vibes and sweet service. Will definitely keep coming back!

Fogbird is definitely worth a visit if you're in downtown San Mateo. Their cocktails are creative,…read morewell-balanced, and full of flavor, making each sip enjoyable. The ambiance is just as impressive, stylish, cozy, and perfect for a date night, a night out with friends, or simply unwinding after a long day. If you're exploring downtown San Mateo, I highly recommend stopping by and giving Fogbird a try.

The drinks were great and Bryan was so friendly and awesome! Definitely worth checking out.read more

Mortar & Pestle is such a hidden gem in downtown San Mateo, tucked behind Curry Up Now (go through…read morethe alley, it's worth finding). The Indian-inspired cocktails are always a hit, but this last visit was next level thanks to our bartender, Lee. We stopped in just to catch a vibe and ended up staying way longer than planned because every drink he made was better than the last. He really worked his magic behind the bar. I've been here quite a few times, and while the service hasn't always stood out, Lee completely changed that. He was welcoming, personable, and made the entire experience memorable. We came too late for the kitchen this time, but the food has always been great on past visits. Lee is the reason I finally felt compelled to leave a 5-star review. We'll definitely be back!

Came in around Thursday evening around 6pm. The staff is strict that everyone must be present to be…read moreseated. We were able to get in before the rush and got seated. We each ordered a pho: brisket pho and chubby pho, and then the banh cuon plate to share. The food was really good and honestly no complaints but just a note for myself and anyone who can relate, next time I will try not to pick a pho without marrow because it made the broth really fatty near the end and I didn't care for it. The beef quality was tender and good. The broth was tasty and clear besides the marrow which cause some oil rings spotting on top. The bang cuon was pretty good and I love nem chao tom. Not sure if it is nem but very similar.

The food was good, but overpriced. The service was extremely offputting. I checked in and my party…read moremembers went to the bathroom after a long 2 hour drive. The host told us to go upstairs, where multiple servers asked where my party was and if they were here before seating me. I told them they were in the bathroom, and they didn't believe me and checked in with the host. Right after being seated, the server immediately said there's a 90 minute time limit and asked if we were ready to order. But, she didn't tell that to any other parties seated afterwards. Felt extremely unwelcome and rushed compared to other tables.

The best restaurante i have Ever been I love the ambience. It's the best restaurant for dating.read more

Figen was a fantastic server and made the whole experience memorable. The sea bass and short ribs…read morewere amazing.

It was not busy at all on a Monday around 8:45pm. Parking found within half a block…read more I was pleasantly surprised to find out they have the same owners as Persona in SF! And they both have a matcha drink on the menu. I ended up getting the Horse trainer's daughter. It was refreshing and tasty.

Mario greeted my party and the staff really took care of us. Went on a Thursday and it wasn't too…read morebusy until after 6:30pm. The empanadas were phenomenal and the drinks were so so good! I liked Passion punch the most. We're definitely coming back for happy hour. FYI - They don't have a large menu of food.

Do you like a dive bar? Do you like to watch the game…read morewithout others blocking the TV? Do you like to find a seat at the bar or near it? Do you like when your shoes don't stick to the floor bc it's actually clean? How about bartenders being friendly and responsive - like that? I do. That's why I keep coming back to bucks. I love the comfort in here. It's never so packed I can't move. It's not so empty I feel weird. I do wish the second room had a pool table and there was food here (pizza, wings, dive bar food) or even a taco truck outside. Otherwise I could easily be here more often. Lol... my liver said that's a bad idea anyways. Im also 99% of the way towards buying a neon sign reading "i don't give a buck" to hang next to the deer head. Tho... my husband has run this past the owner and he didnt seem enthused lol. See you soon, Bucky's!

I am torn with this review because I used to go here when Kelly owned this place and it was super…read morenostalgic with its old school vibes and it was just cool!! And now it's still super cool but now it's all new and still a nice place to go to and super friendly service. But if I had a choice i would most definitely want the old school place back lol

Everything about our experience at this restaurant was amazing!!! From the service to the food,…read moreeverything was amazing!! Specifically appreciated the attention from Andrew and our server Seymus! Definitely recommend to anyone visiting Bay Area

We came here to celebrate my birthday, and from the moment we walked in, we were greeted so warmly…read more My son especially loved the beef tongue and said, "It was so delicious--it's a must-try!" My favorite was the pork collar. It was flavorful and very tender. Our server, Fiona, was amazing! She was incredibly interactive, funny, and made us feel so welcome throughout our meal. The atmosphere was nice, relaxing, and comfortable, with very few interruptions while we enjoyed our food. Everything we ordered was delicious, and Fiona really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. One of the biggest pros was how attentive and engaging Fiona was. She was also fantastic at cooking and made the experience even more enjoyable. The only con was that it got a little noisy at times, but honestly, that didn't take away from how awesome our overall experience was. I really hope Fiona gets to see this review!

Avenida is truly an excellent Filipino restaurant, perfect for taking the family or celebrating…read morewith friends the portions are big and the food is tasty! Also the cocktails are really yummy!!!

We had the BEST experience! The food and drinks were delicious, and the service made it even…read morebetter. Ken was fantastic and gave us excellent recommendations. You have to try the octopus and crispy pata (pork). We'll definitely be back!

Braulio Andrés made our experience enjoyable, what service (he deserves a raise)! It is nice to be…read moregreeted with a friendly smile and helpful suggestions. Our tacos and nachos were delicious. We will certainly be back.

Lovely spot for a laidback baby shower for my coworker! Easy to make reservations online and staff…read morewas very accommodating with seating for 8 people for lunch on a Friday. Location was in Hillsdale Mall and parking was pretty easy and free with a garage nearby. Vibrant inviting interior and a menu with a good variety of grub and beverages. Shoutout to Juliano who was an excellent server. Cuisine was more upscale Mexican which was a little more expensive. Chips, guac, cauliflower, chicken enchiladas and carne asada bowl had fresh quality ingredients and were pretty tasty. Didn't have room for dessert but will have to try it next time!

I think it's kind of funny that there is such a discourse amongst other reviews about whether or…read morenot this place is a speakeasy. As a speakeasy enthusiast myself I definitely agree to the fact that it is "hidden" but also it does kinda give corporate vibes a little bit - maybe we can say they "gentrified" the speakeasy experience which is honestly so funny for Palo Alto. But anyways I don't think a classification should stop you from visiting it. The food is actually surprisingly really good. We came with a pescatarian and honestly while the offerings for snacks were a bit slim, every option was really good. I feel like this was the first time where I understood the price even the the quantity is no where close to be desired. One shrimp is like $6 and I was like whoah. Service is definitely more laid back and it's overall just like a more chill atmosphere. I'm fortunate to work nearby so I'll definitely visit this place a few times after work to blow off some steam... And the drinks! Yes they are good! They are also quite strong! Would come back again but also if you're conscious of budget then I'm not sure if you'll find the same value proposition.

Note: I believe the menu has changed since my last visit…read more Stopped by Bar Underdog for a quick drink and was recommended their take on a martini from the "Traditional" section. It came out quickly, crisp, and as cold as it gets. I also tried a shrimp dish from the "Steamed" section, and it was delicious. Their chicken was also larger than I expected, making it a good bang for your buck, especially if you plan on grabbing a few drinks. Excited to come back and try more of their cocktails!