I can't believe I have not reviewed this place before. We have been going to this restaurant decades and thank goodness it survived the pandemic. It's a great place to go for a date , special occasion or for lunch. They have a great lunch special which is three courses for either $37 or $38 . For dinner I suggest sharing the best Caesar salad you will ever have in your life. My mom says they make the best Martini . They also have a huge bar area far away from the restaurant area and have bands and dancing on the weekends. This is place that is full service and brings back customer service. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Came here a few years ago with a group of friends from work as part of an informal "vintage Peninsula restaurant tour." We were not disappointed. We had drinks at the bar and headed to a semi-private alcove-type rink which had a large table to accommodate our group of 14 as well as the other tables where other diners were seated. I ordered the Steak Diane while my wife ordered the Shrimp & Scallops. We also ordered a Grand Marnier souffle (which you have to order at the beginning of your meal). We ended the night with this coffee and liquor drink that was SO strong and also involved fire. Basically, it was awesome. The Iron Gate harkens back to the days where waiters were, in part, professional entertainers, making food table-side. I'm so glad this place survived the pandemic. It's an institution! read more

The Iron Gate - Coffee on fire! - French Near Me - Belmont, California

This use to be our favorite restaurant but that ended last summer. We had a lot of flambé food and it was all cooked to death. Spinach salad was cooked to a wilted mess, saltimbocca was tasteless and over cooked, even the chocolate soufflé was over cooked and was a cupcake! we brought friends who expected better food. it was embarrassing. The wait service was great with the exception of the flambé chef. And to top it all they did not respond at all to the letter of complaint I sent. Sad to say, we won't be returning. read more

We've been coming to the iron gate for the past 6 years. Their service and food quality has always remained amazing and consistent. The gate has such a nostalgic vibe of old world dining with shrimp cocktails and soufflés highlighting the menu. We're so lucky to have this gem still around while the restaurant industry in recent years has seemingly been taken over by non memorable food like "deconstructed margarita sprinkled with edible glitter"... But a meal at the iron gate, you will definitely remember each course. read more

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We love this place! Everyone is always wonderful to deal with. The owners are absolute gems! The staff is exceptional. The food is delicious. We have been a number of times and I always enjoy it so much but never take any photos. My favorites so far Caesar salad - made in front of you and divine! The zucchini blossom stuffed with crab is amazing Sole absolutely the best, fresh, full of flavor, beautiful sauce Closely followed by the lamb and the Calamari steak The best tiramisu I've ever had But I sampled the soufflé today and its definitely a must do experience! All around fabulous! Thank you! read more

I did not intend to write a review. I honestly wanted to just forget this entire experience. However, I have not been able to let go of how poorly my son and I were treated by Tanner the night we were there in February of 2026. My son and I share the same birthday. I took him to the Iron Gate for our birthday back in 2023. It was AMAZING! We wanted to relive that experience again this year. to begin, our scallop appetizer was undercooked, but we ate them anyway. Everything else seemed to be going well even though our waiter, who was new, was unable to answer several questions about the wine and menu without having to leave to get advice. He was sweet, but it was a bit disappointing that he hadn't been better trained. The real problem began when we received our main entrees (Filet Mignon & Prawns and just Filet Mignon). One steak was overcooked while one was perfectly cooked. The issue: they were extremely tough. When I say these steaks were tough, I mean that both of us chewed our first bites forever and still were unable to chew through the meat to properly swallow them. We were so disappointed and immediately called for our waiter to return the steaks. This is when Tanner came to us and began questioning us. I am an experienced five star customer, and I was appalled at Tanner's behavior towards us. Rather than simply, and immediately, taking our uneaten entrees and removing them from our tab, he insisted on being defensive and a bit combative with us. It was as though we were being accused of trying to get a free meal. Seriously? We had literally taken one bite of our food. In addition, he actually accused my son of threatening him because my son had his steak knife in his hand as he was motioning on the plate about how tough the steaks were!! Omg, that was horrendous and embarrassing and really upset my son. Tanner offered no apology and no offer to order something different. I would not even care if this wasn't supposed to be a top tier establishment with a top tier price. Tanner needs to seriously check himself and get remedial customer service training. And, if he is responsible for training new employees, add remedial training education to the list. Unfortunately, this establishment is crossed off of my 'go to' list for myself or any possible recommendations. I will give kudos to the bartender, Larry, for how well he treated my son!! Go Larry! read more

Went to dinner here for my husband's birthday. Pricey, but the food was delicious. Our waiter was so nice and attentive. Superb overall. read more

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My fiancée and I recently had dinner here, and I found it a very mixed experience. The service was excellent, the restaurant has a very nice ambiance, and it is always convenient if there is a private parking lot. The Caesar salad was quite tasty, and my fiancée enjoyed her scallops. However, my chicken Dijonnaise basically had no sauce (it was apparently omitted entirely when I said I wanted to avoid lactose), and the chocolate soufflé had no chocolate-the restaurant made some manner of generic soufflé, and just poured a weak chocolate sauce over it. read more

Service was terrific and the food was even better, especially the Bananas Foster(from New Orleans, not Foster City). Oysters were also GREAT! read more

My husband wasn't working so I decided to have him accompany me to The Iron Gate because I've always wanted to go for lunch and have the Monte Christo! Only served for lunch only M-F. It's also very close to our 7th Wedding Anniversary so why not. I made a reservation. He took our beverage order of Budweiser and a Chambord & Soda and let us know Will would be our waiter and would be with us shortly. When Will arrived we greeted him by name and there was an immediate connection of good will if you will. Will is very captivating and a real joy to be around. A great restaurant isn't just about the food it's also the presentation, the ambiance and the characters of the people who you come in contact with during your visit. The Iron Gate is the full experience. Our lunch. We both started with the Minestrone Soup which has so much flavor and I could have licked the bowl clean but I behaved. My husband ordered the Scallops Borelaise. He said the scallops had lots of flavor and were delicate in texture. And as you already know I ordered the Monte Christo which was perfectly golden and crisp on the outside and tender and melty on the inside. I believe it's deep fried. It was also served with a palate cleansing peach half. For dessert we shared a Crème Caramel with strawberries. Lovely! Can't wait to go back in December for the Holiday Dinner. read more

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The owner left a message acknowledging and apologizing for what had happened after he received a letter I wrote about this. I am impressed and grateful that he took the time to respond. According to a friend I spoke with afterwards, if you go there for any kind of celebration, forget about the hostess, let the server know. read more

Being a Belmont native, I can't believe it took me this long to dine at The Iron Gate. Everyone was very pleasant from the hostess at the front to our server Franco (I think that was his name). Definitely had an old school vibe with the decor and type of customer service. Surprisingly it's a very large space too, and on a Wednesday it was surprisingly packed! I was very pleased with my filet mignon. My martini was solid as well. However I was a bit underwhelmed by the Foie Gras. Crab cakes were on point as well! read more

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We were so disappointment with our night at Iron Gate. Maybe 6 -7 tables had guest we ordered drinks, appetizers, salad, main course, and soufflé's for dessert. It was a special night out for us. 6;30pm on a Sunday.... We left at 9:30 ! The food was excellent as expected. This is not about the food. The problem was it took 45 minutes to get our appetizers after appetizer another 1/2 hours + to get our salads. Another 45 minutes for main course. And by the time we left after also waiting for dessert we were there 3 hours! We were the second to last table to leave the restaurant.. at the end of dinner I told the waiter you never brought my salad and you never brought my coffee.! I wasn't able to tell him before hand because he was focused on the table next to us who he was catering to. ...Sadly for a special night out it made for a very stressful evening waiting to be served the next course. I've been coming here for over 40 years ever since when the first owners were running it. Something was very off in the kitchen Sunday night. When you know you're coming to a special place for a special dinner you don't mind spending the $$$$ price. And 3 hours would have been fine if the foods were served on time, but waiting made it stressful. read more

Fantastic experience. We had martinis in the bar before moving into the dining room. Our waiter was wonderful; he made the best table side Caesar ever, and the whole vibe was very special and old school. My date and I had the Châteaubriand for two, and brought home enough leftovers for dinner the next night. The Iron Gate is a Peninsula institution, and I hope it remains so for years to come. read more

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Our recent trip to the Iron Gate was a memorable one, once we entered we were greeted by a gracious hostess that gave us seating options with recommendations , once seated the waiter was efficient gave us recommendations and most importantly time without being pushed. The ambiance was old school. The food was spot on, hearty and delicious, we had the steak Diane and the Caesar salad, which they are known for. Would go back again for our next special occasion. read more

One of the worst, if not the worst, dining experiences of my life. This restaurant ruined my mom's birthday dinner. The main dining room is packed to the point that all of our chairs were knocked into multiple times by servers and other diners. We couldn't hear each other speak due to the proximity to the other tables. We weren't offered menus for over half an hour after we sat. They forgot that it was my mother's birthday and did nothing to acknowledge it despite the fact that I told multiple people at the restaurant, on the phone before we arrived, and on OpenTable. The food was fine, but a bit on the 1950's side. One course took 2.5 hours. We will not be back. read more

A one of a kind experience! The definition of fine dining from remarkable food to excellent service all in a unique atmosphere you don't see very often anymore. Tanner ensures you have the best experience from the moment you walk in the door. Thank you and look forward to coming back for the lamb chops. read more

4.5 stars Came here in Nov 2020 for gf's birthday + last day to be out before 2nd lockdown. Made an easy reservation by phone. They had indoor and outdoor dining at the time with space between tables. I got the earliest reservation possible so that we would meet the least amount of people. By the time we left at around 7pm, there were quite a few patrons AND a lot of them looked older than 50. Surprising, but I guess in a semi-upscale community they just don't care about covid. We were a little scared cause so many people, but we were leaving by then. Fried calamari 3/5 I always order fried calamari as a judge of food quality as I hold it as a barometer of whether they put care into it as much as the main food. Well ironically, the fried calamari was the worst dish while everything else was awesome lol. This calamari the batter was overly fried and not light tasting. Oh well. Scallops 5/5 Delicious and very very tender. Rack of lamb 5/5 I ordered this dish and the lamb was very tender. Mash potatoes were super buttery/soft. Parmesan tomoto was unique. The sauce under the lamb was yummy Steak and lobster 5/5 Gf ordered this. Steak was cooked correctly. Lobster was soft and delicious. The sauce under the lobster was even more delicious than the sauce under the lamb cause I was wiping it up with the table bread :D Souffle 5/5 Takes about 20+ mins. Soft and we had mixed berries. Delicious but I'm not really a dessert person. Price was fairly expensive at $200+, but its a very nice date night place. Service was great. Staff wore masks. Bathrooms clean. Parking easy (but it was early) Definitely seems to be a very well established local restaurant. Should try at least once! read more

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Welcoming service, steak aromas in the air and laughing patrons eating at their tables. So it's a classic steakhouse. Caesar salad prepared at table side. Attentive service. Lots of parking spaces in lot. Looks like they have an overflow banquet tent next to their parking lot. Not stuffy but a dressy outfit is appropriate. The way the staff communicate with each other sounds like they are happy and work well together. read more

The Iron Gate - New York steak - French Near Me - Belmont, California

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We have been here 2 times, and each time is amazing. Consistency, class, and classic cuisine is what you should expect from this restaurant. The service is always on point. It was my birthday celebration last night and I am so glad no one sang happy birthday! I witnessed others' birthday songs, but our server definitely read the room and only mentioned it. It is a hidden gem. read more

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the food: I love the food here. Caesar's salad is perfectly dressed! and they make it table side. I get the chicken piccata, yum! parents love the french onion soup. Minestrone was well liked by the kids. Steak was yummy. LOVE the table side desserts: bananas foster and cherries jubilee (though often the ice cream is completely melted) The chocolate soufflé didn't seem to be made of chocolate but rather a white base with chocolate sauce. but perhaps that's what it is supposed to be? It was delicious regardless. minus 1.5 stars b/c Magdy pushed minestrone soup on all the kids at $14 per bowl! 1 kid barely touched hers. You don't ask the the kid if he wants soup. you ask the parent who is paying. When my brother asked for what would be a good serving of steak for the kids? Magdy answered 8 oz. "it's small" the kids were 10, 8, 6, and 5 years old. I'd say that at least 50% of each steak was left over. again that's $44/ kid!!! Then there was 20% gratuity for the large group. We were NOT informed of this when we made the reservation. and It's ok. but usually 18% and then if the service is good I add 2% or more. minus star fraction for above and the rest, for not listing anywhere an email or please to comment. I wanted to provide comment NOT on yelp but you gave me no other option. I'm not going to call during business hours to give you feedback to make your company better. I love this restaurant for the food but am disappointed in the waiter for pushing adult portions/costs on children. Don't take advantage of people. read more

Very good ambiance and quality food. Their portions can be a little bigger and the prices cheaper but they have great linch pre fix menu.

Service was so bad I can't even begin to type. Manager is super rude and condescending. Now I remember why the last time I came was a decade ago. And the next one will be at least that again. Waiter made a few snarky comments while making many mistakes (forgetting numerous orders). But the real icing is the managers attitude when we told him we couldn't eat the bacon salad bc it was so bad (I later found out he was the one that made it). He refused to take any feedback. We also asked the hostess to help us take a picture n she told us to ask someone else. Food is above average overall but the service is very disappointing read more

Food is always great but staff and mgt is so rude since reopened after Covid. They seem to not want to be nice, pleasant servers for your expensive dinner. It makes a nice evening very disappointing because owner and Nicole that check you in are so rude. Won't be back anymore which is too bad as I've been coming there for 40 + years! Owner should retire and sell to someone who wants to own a great restaurant with good food. When we received our bill the waiter added a 20% tip hand written on our total for 4 people!! read more

The Iron Gate - Really we waited 1 hour for our table that was reserved a month in advance! - French Near Me - Belmont, California

We celebrated our anniversary here. Loved the over the top service and the cozy ambience. We ordered some appetizers and the veal. The veal Jerusalem was awesome as was the veal flambé cooked tableside. Soufflé was decadent (I tried the berry one). Overall, I am so glad we live in the vicinity of such a great restaurant.Again, shoutout for the excellent service!! read more

There was a group of us enjoying lunch for a monthly gathering. This is the spot of choice because they consistently deliver a nice table ready for our group, good service, and of course a lovely lunch. We usually hang around a bit after eating, and some of us grab a cocktail, so I appreciate never feeling rushed. Note to budget-conscious folk, this ain't the spot if you're tight on your pennies right now. But when you've got a little extra to spare, check them out, they are worth the splurge. read more

This place is very special and always provides superior food and service. From the waiters creating special dishes at the table to the fantastic deserts created every time we visit. The ambiance is special and the entire staff makes you feel like you're the most important person in the room. Whether it's just the two of us or a party of many, it's always an awesome experience. read more

Ahh - idk why it took me a while to write this, but my first time trying the Iron Gate was actually in the beginning of 2021 and they had outdoor seating under a tent. There were heaters and it was lit up very nicely - so even though you were outside, you still got the ambiance of romance. The service was attentive and professional, with the staff being knowledgeable about the menu and providing great recommendations. We actually ordered dessert right when our entrees arrived as our server let us know that the Mixed Berry Soufflé would take some time. OMG it was SOO delicious! The food was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The wine list was extensive and the server helped us choose a great bottle to pair with our meal. Overall, I had a wonderful time at this French restaurant and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic French dining experience. read more

The Iron Gate - Mixed Berry Soufflé - French Near Me - Belmont, California

My mother and I had a standing lunch date each Friday at The Iron Gate. We came from San Francisco and knew fine dining we currently lived on the peninsula. It was the end of our busy week. She was a nurse and I was in business. And we deserved a nice lunch in a beautiful environment. I cherish those memories. Thank you the staff of The Iron Gate. read more

The Iron Gate - French Near Me - Belmont, California

I've been The Iron Gate several times and have always had good experiences, but on this visit I was very disappointed. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo as an app, it was tasty but there was some conflict with my waiter Arturo and his boss about offering fresh ground pepper which Arturo did, but his boss was riding him. Not a good look. As an entree I ordered Veal Oscar it arrived the Veal looked tired and grey with a single small piece of crab on top of what appeared to be congealed Hollandaise sauce. It came with some vegetables that looked like they were made in the 70's and some rice swimming in a pool of I could not figure out. All on all a very unappealing plate that was $60.00 the veal was bland and was not enhanced with the single piece of crab. The vegetables were bland and tasteless. A very disappointing experience expect for my waiter Arturo. May not visit again. read more

Old school French Continental. It is a legacy restaurant and came recommended. Located in the burbs and frequented by an older crowd. I had a vision in my mind of the classics from my youth. But you know, I was just a little bored all around. They have a lot of table-side prepared dishes, but personally I'd rather it come out of the kitchen done perfect. But if you must, go and experience those dishes here. Now the food our party of 6 enjoyed. Cocktails: Manhattans - ok Espresso martinis - good Old fashion - horrible. Tried twice, couldn't get it. Apps: Scallops - great Stuffed zucchini flowers - great Crab cakes - good Mains : Veal, some flambé - pretty and pretty tasteless Ribeye special - good More veal - good I had a steak Diane, and it was a lovely butterflied filet cooked table-side in a pan, so it had no sear or texture. It was swimming in a brandy sauce, which is all you could taste. I've outgrown such a concoction. And for $75, I could have had the best steak at Harris. The ambiance is mid 70's, the waiters are pros and know there clientele. I may have squeezed another half star here, but our waiter oversold us at the end and kinda pissed me off. There was 3 dessert soufflés on the menu. We were trying to decide which one to split and was asking some questions. He gave the table the "don't worry, I know what you guys want, and I will take care of you". Danger. Yep he brought all three and charged for all three. $60. That was an crooked move. Party of 6, mandatory 20% gratuity. Total bill, $350 a couple, you do math. I would only recommend this restaurant for folks over 60, who want to relive food from the 60s and 70s, and don't remember it was pretty boring. read more

Beautiful night with my date , first time at the Iron Gate , how did I ever miss this gem , I'm planning another dinner for this Friday, so looking forward to being spoiled read more

The wait staff is INCREDIBLE but the food is overpriced and not tasty. The vegetables taste like they were heated up in the microwave. Also the dining space is super tight so you end up having extra guests adjacent to your table! read more

What a wonderful dining experience. Special dinner with Jeanne & Jenni before picking up our pilgrims at the airport. We started off with zucchini blossoms stuffed with crab, shrimp, & ricotta cheese served on a delicious wine sauce. Second course French cheese soup for Jeanne and I and a salad prepared table side for Jenni. Main courses were also incredible: filet of sole almandine for me, sea bass for Jeanne, and chicken in mustard sauce fir Jenni. We all saved half our dinners so we could have dessert: chocolate soufflé served warm. Our waiter Frank was great. Definitely would love to come again! read more

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Fine dining with my sisters for my birthday and our first time at Iron Gate. We sat in one of smaller dining rooms and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the other two parties. We ordered the Caesar salad for two, loving the table side presentation and the dressing was superlative ,but we like our salads dressed a bit lighter. I got the Steak Au Poivre medium rare. The flambé was awesome and the steak was perfectly cooked.We all agreed that the steamed veggies ( broccoli, cauliflower and carrot were bland and mushy, but the potatoes were delicious especially with the peppery mustardy sauce. I had a bite of my sisters' sea bass and scallops which were decidedly delicious. We had debated the soufflé at the beginning of dinner, but decided against it. The family next to us got the cherries jubilee, which looked and smelled amazing, but we opted for the Bananas Foster, which was a special combo of caramelized bananas ( butter, brown sugar and LOTS of different kinds of alcohol- add fire and spoon over vanilla ice cream- The people watching was great. We felt young, very festive and left with extremely full stomachs. read more

The Iron Gate - My Steak Au Poivre Flambe - French Near Me - Belmont, California

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This is fine dining at its best! We go every year for our birthdays. The soufflé is to die for! Really, pick anything on the menu and you'll be impressed. read more

Went to the Iron Gate Restaurant for Mother's day and they hit it out of the park with excellent service and delicious food! Let's start with the service. From the moment we walked into the restaurant until the time we left we received non-stop service. Our waiter was very attentive and checked on us frequently. One of the owners of the restaurant came by to say hello. Now that's good business! Now let's get to the food. We ordered individual plates of veal parmigiana, veal piccata, along with prawns and scallops and they were all delicious! Along with our food, we were served french bread with butter from Raymond's. You have to taste this french bread, it is really tasty! As for desert, see the below pics! Ok now that the food part is covered, let's talk about the cocktails. I had my usual Margarita with Cazadores and a little on the sweet side. The bartender nailed my order and I can't begin to tell you how good it was! If you're a margarita drinker, this place has your cocktail at heart! Would I recommend this place to family and or friends? Absolutely! Great customer service and delicious food and excellent cocktails! I will be back! read more

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Vintage, fine dining and relaxed dining. Enjoyed the Caesar salad prepared table side. Pieces of mild anchovies can be seen. I enjoyed the creamy calamari plate. I had bites of the New York steak and it was perfect. Feels like an old-school classic steakhouse. read more

The Iron Gate - Caesar salad prepared at table! - French Near Me - Belmont, California

This restaurant has been a staple in the area for years and I've been eating there with my family since I was a kid. So if I'm looking for a bit of nostalgia, this is where I come since a lot of the old school restaurants I use to go to with my family are now mostly gone. Also, this place does not disappoint when it comes to ambiance, service or food if you are looking for traditional. I don't think they've ever changed the menu and I hope they never do. Table side Caesar Salad, Peppercorn Steak, Soufflé - to me those are the must have when you dine at the Iron Gate. This place will always have a special place in my heart and stomach. read more

The Iron Gate is a fanciful, hidden gem located right on El Camino. For what you get, the prices are fair. I got to try many different dishes and they were all so delicious! Now let's get down to it: Zucchini Blossom - Crispy on the outside and delectably creamy on the inside. It is slightly overpriced for the two small pieces but understandably so due to the crab meat inside. Calamari - Crispy and crunchy. The squid was not gummy at all which happens more commonly than you think. This location nailed it. Escagarots - So, so good. It wasn't greasy or overly garlicky. Plus, they provide the mini tongs and fork to grab the meat out. New York Steak - OMG. Absolutely divine. I ordered medium rare and the steak was cooked wonderfully. It was a hefty slice and can easily be shared between two people if you so wish. It was also paired with steamed assorted veggies and potato slices. Soufflé - Yum, yum, yum! I got to try the Grand Marnier, chocolate, and classic, which was garnished with assorted berries. They're all super delicious and our waiter asked at the beginning of the meal if we'd like to order as it takes about an hour to prepare. The servers and employees here are so charismatic, helpful, and respectful. I truly enjoyed the level of care they put into their work in making the experience great for their customers. Coat check is available and there is also a bar area where you can grab a drink and watch a game. P.S. The flambé dishes are cooked right at your table so its a great dinner and mini-show experience. read more