Good wine at a reasonable price, delicious food and great service. Atmosphere was very warming.

Last evening we had dinner at The Cask. It was superb. We each ordered the roasted chicken with a risotto which was so full of flavors. The Rombauer Sauvignon was a great accompaniment to these dishes. The waiter was attentive and very upbeat. The place was hopping last night. Can't wait to go again soon. Karen read more

Always exceptional food, always a warm welcoming atmosphere, and always impeccable service, from the staff that have been here over a decade to the ones who just started. This is the real deal. The rest don't come close to comparing. read more

We headed downtown on a lovely, warm October Saturday night looking for a safe spot at which to enjoy an evening meal. This being the first time we'd ventured out to eat since COVID, we were t sure what to expect. As we walked down the street, we browsed menus. Cask's caught our eye because of the delectable sounding pasta dishes and the ample wine selection. The tables were properly spaced, wait staff all wore masks, and it wasn't overly crowded. The service was prompt and excellent - they were there when we needed something, but not overbearing. We started with the Brie flatbread, which was absolutely amazing. The sweetness of the fig jam complements the creamy cheese and tart apple perfectly. And they were not shy on the cheese. I dream about this flatbread! For drinks, I did the Pinot flight and my husband ordered a beer. I loved the glass his beer came in (big and tall) and he said it was a good lager. My wine flight was excellent, each Pinot enjoyable and different, none too dry or too sweet. For entrees, we ordered two types of pasta - one was a Mediterranean with prawns, capers, and kalamata olives and one was a sausage and red sauce pasta. Both were extremely well spiced with good flavor and not too greasy or overly sauced. We would have licked the plates clean if we could! Thanks for a safe and wonderful experience, Cask staff - we can't wait to come back! :) read more

Had an impromptu lunch here and it was delicious. They have lunch specials and wine was on $5 per glass (limit 2). Definitely coming back soon! read more

The Cask - Chicken piccata - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Great service and the owner was walking around checking on our party of 7. Work dinner and they took care of us, making sure we were warm outside and even replacing the propane tanks when they ran low. The food looked good for my team members but my ravioli wasn't the best. Lacked layers of flavor that i would have liked and the ravioli skins were too thick but fresh. The serving sizes though were large. The dessert port was acceptable but I've had way better. The service made the experience great and we had a great experience overall. read more

We went here yesterday hoping for martinis- no full bar as still listed on google. Ordered two entrees. Snapper ( on lunch special menu) awful. Clearly frozen and old. Inedible. Ordered the 1/2 roasted chicken. Rubber skin / dry/ no flavor - also tasted frozen then microwaved. Will never go hack. Upside - waitstaff attentive. read more

This evening, I dined at Cask Wine Bar in San Carlos with a dear friend, a longtime San Mateo resident whom I hadn't seen in over a year. We began our meal with a delightful half-bottle of J Pinot Noir. My companion ordered the linguini primavera, while I opted for the filet mignon, requesting it cooked to medium. Unfortunately, the filet arrived medium-well. Upon expressing this to our waiter, he acknowledged the discrepancy, and the chef, seemingly taking umbrage, returned the dish, this time pan-seared. The waiter himself was taken aback by the second attempt and offered to prepare an entirely different entrée, which I declined. While my friend enjoyed her pasta, my meal consisted of two slices of bread and my share of the wine. My companion, recognizing the situation, then ordered a second half-bottle of J Pinot Noir and requested that the owner, who was aware of the culinary mishaps, offer it as a gesture of goodwill. He initially agreed. However, upon finishing our meal, we were presented with the full bill. When my friend reminded the waiter of his earlier assurance, he claimed to have no recollection of the conversation with the owner. To our astonishment, the owner then approached our table, his demeanor radiating displeasure, and addressed me directly (a minority), pointedly ignoring my friend's presence. He proceeded to declare that I had cost him over $80 due to the returned filet mignon. I expressed my confusion, emphasizing that the chef had errored in preparing the dish not once, but twice, and that I had not requested any compensation. Undeterred, he reiterated his financial loss, even taking a step forward with a pointed finger toward me that drew the attention of nearby patrons. My friend, unaccustomed to such blatant displays of hostility, was initially unaware that his ire was directed solely at me. I inquired as to why he was singling me out, especially given that I had not sought any adjustment to the bill. He repeated his accusations, culminating in a demand that I leave his establishment and never return. I was utterly humiliated by this public censure, particularly given my professional standing and social position. Such treatment is entirely unacceptable, and I left the restaurant in disbelief, acutely aware of the judgmental gazes of the surrounding diners who had witnessed this unwarranted confrontation. A successful business owner of any kind should understand the experience from a customer experience to learn what happened holistically before making judgment. His chef attempted to save his job, meanwhile a customer took to down fall for his incompetency. Shame on the owner for not taking the liberty to accept all sides. Clearly, the restaurant is not doing so well OR in this case the owner clearly exercises prejudice on the basis of one's appearance and not her wallet (as she is a well paid employee for a Fortune 100 high tech company). A discerning business owner, particularly in the hospitality industry, should prioritize a comprehensive understanding of the customer experience before arriving at any conclusions. In this instance, it appears the chef, perhaps fearing repercussions, attempted to rectify a culinary error, while the customer bore the brunt of his initial misstep. It is regrettable that the owner neglected to gather a holistic account of the situation. This failure to consider all perspectives suggests either a lack of managerial acumen or, more troublingly, a bias that influenced his interaction with a patron. Such conduct, especially towards a potential long-term customer with significant professional standing, reflects poorly on the establishment. This incident raises concerns about the restaurant's operational practices and its commitment to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patrons. In an increasingly diverse and discerning market, such behavior can have significant reputational and financial consequences. This incident was not merely unsatisfactory; it was a profound transgression against basic standards of hospitality and respect. It underscores a critical point: every patron, regardless of outward appearance, deserves to be treated with dignity and courtesy. In an era where a single social media post can make or break a business, discriminating against any customer is not just ethically wrong, it's commercially disastrous. You never know when an aggrieved diner might wield the power of online platforms to expose prejudice and poor practices. This blatant display of disrespect towards a customer, particularly one who holds a prominent position in the community, reveals a deeply flawed business model. Such behavior is a liability in today's marketplace, where reputation and inclusivity are paramount. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here after spending some time visiting wineries in San Carlos. We sat outside and the heaters made for a cozy experience. The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and took great care of us. The food was very tasty as well. We had a group of 5. We shared several appetizers: calamari, flat bread, and bruschetta. All very good. One person had the artichoke soup and liked it a lot. Another had the filet which was done to perfection. The other three, all vegetarian, had the eggplant parmesan. All three said it was excellent. We look forward to returning here in the future! read more

The food is delicious. We can recommend the salads, flatbread and pasta. Wine selection is good. The service is excellent. We had Luciano waiting on us twice in the past couple of weeks. He has always a nice smile and is so friendly. The ambiance is nice, too, both inside and outside. It feels very cozy. We'll go back soon. read more

Went to the Cask for a special dinner with friends and received nothing but great service, Great wine selection and great food. It was my first time but my friend recommended. Thank you Kemal for the great hospitality and service. Thank you also for all the things you do behind the scenes to support the community and people around you. Big hearts never go unnoticed ! read more

Great place, great atmosphere, great food, great wine,great people, great everything this is the place to go ,I've been coming here for years and food is so delicious, I love this place the owner is amazing he is the only one that I know that on Thanksgiving he feeds over 500 homeless ,this is a great gesture we should all support this place he has a wonderful heart. read more

The Cask - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I was super disappointed in cask not only because is this a great location, but I've heard great things about it. First, let's talk about the service. Our waiter was brand-new, how do I know this? Well he told us this was his second week on the job. He was unattentive, and by that I mean it was impossible to get a refill of water, he didn't bring the pepper grinder to our table, but would for the older couple behind us. Same thing with offering a to-go box, he offered it to an older couple at a different table, but not to us, or two some young friends who were eating at the bar. He seemed ageist. Now on to the disappointing food. Duck pate was gosh awful and tasted like cat food out of a can that was diced up, you could see the picture. Truffle slider was horrible, and horribly overpriced. The Truffle sauce tasted like some cheap truffle product that one would expect from going onto QVC, the temperature shrimp was way over battered and the batter had 0 flavor to it, and the only saving grace was at the meet had a okay seasoning to it. Lamb burger also was seasoned okay, but the temperature at medium rare was more on the well-done side, the bun was super dry, and the fries were not fresh, and were quite cold. When our waiter asked us about the food we told him exactly what was wrong with it, and he said that usually people like the food, and he did not offer to remake it, nor did he offer any other suggestions to how they could fix it. There was a lead on site who I commented to that the food wasn't very good, and that the fries were cold, but he didn't seem to care either. If they don't care---I won't care and I won't be back. read more

The Cask - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

Absolutely amazing service sweetest owner ever good food good drinks amazing everything 10/10

We had a great time at this place - wine everywhere and great service. We had a reservation, so the 6 of us were seated right away. We shared two flatbreads - one Mushroom, and the other had Brie, apples and honey - both were really good, with crispy crusts. Three of my friends had the special Adobo Pork Tacos, which were apparently quite spicy (but the one ordered without the avocado sauce was not, so that's where it is) but tasty. One person had a salad with salmon added to it that looked very good. And two of us had their special Bucatini with Crispy Prosciutto and Chicken - which I think should've been called chicken with bucatini - way too much chicken and not enough pasta, and actually kind of greasy, to be honest, so I wouldn't recommend that. read more

The Cask - Wine wall - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Great food, great wine. Went here with friends. I chose the white wine tasting flight which were three generous pours of Sauvignon bland, Riesling and Viognier. Most of our table had the fish special and the portions were good sized and delicious. Their Napa valley warm salad was delicious and easily split between two people. I found the bruschetta to be underwhelming. Needed a bit more flavor/punch but the serving size was perfect foe four people. Dessert was delicious! I'd definitely go back and try another entree as I was entirely pleased with what I tried during this visit. read more

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I was hosted by friends on a Tuesday night. We sat outside with their dog. I had spare rib tacos from the special menu and they each had seafood items off the main menu. We shared gelato and a bottle of wine. Everything was DELICIOUS (capital letters all the way through!) Franklin was efficient and exceptionally kind. I highly recommend! read more

The best french fries in San Carlos (they taste like McDonalds). I have been coming here for years and absolutly love this place. Another notable highlight is that their specials are actually specials. They change them! read more

Amazing Amazing Amazing Amazing. The CASK never fails to satisfy. Great vibe, good service, and excellent food..... read more

The Cask - Beef Lasagna - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

Among the heavily populated restaurants aligning Laurel Street in San Carlos...the Cask is a happy place to grab some bites and sip the wines. A nicely appointed environment draws you in to belly up to the bar or grab a table(outdoor seating is Available). An ample menu for beverages as well as food items. Service is always prompt and friendly and timing is well presented. Have retuned many times to grab a glass or have a little meal. read more

We came for dinner on an early Saturday and were seated immediately. The food: Mexican ceviche special with the right amount of shrimp, avocado and salsa. Slightly on the tomato sauce side, but good and served with chips. Flank steak with veggies was well prepared Crab patty was so good. I think it was prepared on-site and grilled to perfection served with sweet potatoes fries. Drinks: the wine display was nicely assorted on the wall and had a wide variety. Ambience: the outside seating was nice and there was a tv! Some smaller restaurants do not have TVs due to customers staying too long, but there were 3 additional TVs inside that had the games on. read more

The Cask - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

I thoroughly enjoyed the cask. I was wondering the cute San Carlos streets looking for a place to eat and I saw a woman eating this pasta and I knew I had to stop in and try it. It was fantastic! My first pasta experience that had cilantro in it and boy was it amazing. The wine selection was amazing I ordered the bartenders recommendation and it paired perfectly with my pasta. I'd stop in if your looking for a cute local spot with great pasta and an enjoyable atmosphere! read more

The Cask - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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The Cask is a really fun wine bar. I love the heated front patio. The charcuterie options are really fun and tasty. The service is thoughtful and quick. read more

Such a cute place downtown. They have a great variety of wines from across the globe. The food is delicious and made fresh. The servers are attentive and knowledgeable. I can't wait to come back. read more

We had the best dinner at Cask tonight. Avocado with crab appetizer was unbelievably smooth and tasty. Rib Eye Steak was so delicious. Definitely will come again. read more

Been here a few times now and I really need to adjust my mental model because every time my wife suggests it I feel unenthused for some reason, but we always have a great meal. They're located on the busy part of Laurel Street in San Carlos. They have a beautiful inside as well as a very nice outdoor setup. Their wine flights are so great for those of us who like variety and can't make a decision... All the food we've had here has been excellent. The warm cabbage salad has just the right amount of mushrooms, bacon, and blue cheese to give it a very rich and fulfilling flavor, with a nice crunchy texture. The small salad is a great size for sharing. Their skirt steak is outstanding. Tender and sweet. Served with a perfectly reasonable garlic mash (it's good, but it's not something I would rave about) and a beautifully cooked and seasoned side of broccoli and Brussels. Their flat breads are great for sharing or as a main course. My friends enjoyed the taco special and their sausage pasta as well. Service was very good, too. You should definitely give it a try. read more

The ravioli tasted like something out of a box at the supermarket. Had to finish my girlfriend's skirt steak. I'll eat anything and even this was difficult for me. Steak tasted sour, gummy and overall just bad flavor. Sorry, never again. Two stars because the service was good, friendly staff otherwise it would've been a 1-star read more

The Cask - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

This is the best place around!! Great foood! Great service! And they are open all day. We usually take late lunch at 2pm and so many restaurants close at 2pm. read more

The Cask - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Had the pleasure to try out The Cask today. I tried several dishes and all of them were EXTREMELY delicious. They are very consistent with their quality and I HIGHLY recommend visiting them. They have a great selection of Wines as well. Great food, Great Business, Great Owner! read more

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It's been over 8 years since I reviewed Cask, and 8 years later, we are still regular customers. I'm so happy that the food and the vibe have remained top notch all these years. The service continues to be friendly and attentive. One of the new (ish) things we love is the addition of their outdoor parklet. It's built well and has really nice feel. The Cask is remains one of our favorite places in San Carlos. read more

We ended up eating here last night for a quick dinner. For your standard American/Italian fare, this place is definitely hitting doubles. The food here is very solid, and the wine selection is impressive. The flatbreads had some classic combinations which were well executed, and the sliders were everything you would hope a slider could be. The ambiance is both trendy and cozy with a neat outdoor section. This place is perfect for a date night or to just hang out with some friends over a glass of wine or two. read more

Our first time here. We were strolling and decided to stop here for food because the outdoor space looked inviting. We were not disappointed. Food oysters special, BBQ flat bread, prosciutto flat bread, lava cake, Mer Sol Chardonnay, and Trumer Pils. All delish! Portions were large. Food came out fast. Staff Our host let us pick our table. Another staff offered to turn on the gas lamp. Our server was attentive. Overall great experience! We will definitely return. read more

The Cask - Lava Cake - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California

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4* The Cask San Carlos Delicious warm cabbage salad, added chicken Great lunch specials: salad or soup, 2 sliders, gelato Toffee pudding was good Good food service Reasonable pricess read more

Prosciutto and Arugula flatbread - Yum! Love this. Definitely recommended. Portions are big for a "small plate" though. Barbeque prawn - Delicious and full of flavor. The sauce goes super well with bread. Charcuterie plate - We had the duck pate, prosciutto and spicy coppa. It was okay.. nothing too fancy. Service was decent. We came for dinner on a Friday night and were seated right away. It got pretty busy and slightly loud but nothing too crazy. Overall decent place for dinner! read more

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Sat outside for lunch on a nice day. Waiter was good, the food was very good. I would definitely return to this restaurant.

I ordered the Petra Sole w/Sicilian sauce (tomatoes, garlic, onion-based, not spicy) lunch special and it was even more delicious than I expected! I don't typically eat marinara or tomatoes with my fish unless I'm eating cioppino and this was a game-changer, will be definitely preparing my homemade sole this way. While not cheap (welcome to Laurel Street, standard) there were two good-sized fish filets that came with the order, as well as some perfect mashed potatoes and julienned veggies (carrots, zucchini) which I thought was so darn clever compared to the standard sliced veggies we've all had 100 times. Julienne is the way to go for veggies. More people should do this! Everything complemented one another quite well, I was beyond pleased with my order. Everybody else at my table had burgers and that sounded so good I almost ordered one and was almost kicking myself for ordering something "healthier", but when the waiter dropped this dish in front of me, I knew I ordered just right. This was my first meal at Cask, can't wait to come back! read more

This is a good wine bar with a nice amount of wines on their menu. They're cheese plates are just decent. The decor of this wine bar has a great rustic winery atmosphere. I love their bar seating because the counter top is almost like marble texture and the there's plenty of seating space in the living area. Their service is great and super friendly. There's a lot of regulars who come after work to wine down. I wasn't pleased with their one cheese platter with crumby 5 pieces of crackers, two small pieces of cow milk cheese, and a small cup of strawberry jam. It's nothing really special. I thought they'd plate better, serve more, and provide more of a quality cheese platter. I'd probably come back if I'm in the area! I'd still recommend people to stop in for a glass or two. read more

Do yourself a favor and go here. Quality food! Impeccable service! We had made reservations at a nearby place but it was a $75 pre-fixed menu. So we went NextDoor, on Valentines Days it was busy but they seated us. We got the Surf and Turf, Hummus and pita, the minestrone was so good! My in-laws got the chicken pasta dish and it was amazing! I met the owner afterwards and he was so kind and personable! I love that he shook my hand! This is big since everyone's scared of germs. On our way out I saw a couple looking at the menu and prompted them to go. It's that good. We will definitely be back. read more

I'm sure this is a repeat of my past reviews of the Cask. It's a lovely place to take friends for a nicer lunch than, maybe, a sandwich place. I always try to dress nicer, too, when we go. The food is consistently good. There's a variety of burgers and pasta, and meats and salads to choose from. We've just discovered the weekday prix fix lunch menu for $15/pp. There are about 4-5 entree choices and either a salad or soup and gelato or sorbet dessert. How can you go wrong?? AND, it's much quieter at lunchtime to have conversations. This is my San Carlos favorite. read more

Another update as the wine and menu keep getting better! Now its our go-to spot on Laurel Street! The wine selection is great and I feel like they are really matured in selection and flavor. Plus I think who ever is running that kitchen is a rock star! The menu is great,plus they do a specials menu every week so thats always fun to try new things! We either like sitting at the bar (has multiple TVs) or sitting outside on the patio (TV on the patio too) Ambiance is warm and inviting,much like their staff! Highly recommend! My fav dishes are: *Skirt Steak with mashed potatoes and grilled onion rings has a yummy demi glaz sauce * lasagna * Italian sausage pasta * gnocci * cheese plate read more

The Cask - Champagne flight and Red Wine Flight! Yummm! - Wine Bars Near Me - San Carlos, California