I know there's a couple other locations on the East Bay but I'm only familiar with the San Carlos location. This is the place for an awesome pastrami sandwich!!! Quality AND quantity. I've also had the garlic fries, and chopped pastrami salad which is also delicious. Definitely worth a trip if you're craving a solid pastrami sandwich. Service is great, everyone's attentive and kind. Good amount of seating, never insanely busy but good crowds. This spot is spacious and welcoming and offers some outdoor seating as well. Lots of street parking available, and I believe there's some lots in the area too. Also, a great variety of beer and wine for anyone interested! read more

The Refuge - Reuben - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Food: Poutine - Ample amount of fries. Not enough cheese or gravy for my liking. It was good though. Pastrami sandwich - Quantity was enough for me. If you don't like fatty or greasy meat, avoid pastrami. It was good but do not think I'd drive all the way up here for it. Bread pudding - The best item of the day. You could taste and feel the alcohol (bourbon or rum?) in the sauce. I would have like more filling in the bread pudding but the pairing of the bread with the sauce and whipped cream satisfied me. Service: Attentive. Server was courteous. Refilled water and checked in on how I was doing. Ambiance: If you like cozier sports bar atmospheres that are not too dark , obnoxiously loud, or lack a substantial menu, this would be a good one to try. TVs were visible from my table. My visit was after lunch and before dinner on a Sunday, so that may have skewed my views. It was about 50% full inside. Tables were set up outside but no takers; it was pretty cool that day. Saw multiple food deliverers pick up orders. Parking is along the street and was easy to find. read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Sandwich (regular with kraut on the side) Pastrami Plain - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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If you want an authentic pastrami sandwich (comparable to Katz deli NY) you've gotta try The Refuge, I ordered the reuben sandwich. The pastrami literally melts in your mouth! So amazing, honestly the best pastrami in the bay area. read more

DRINKS 1.St. Bernardus Abt 12 (draft) - Light, smooth, and amazing. I almost started with this one, but then I tasted... 2.Boulevard BBA Quad (draft) - Absolutely delicious. Rich and flavorful, and ultimately the one I went with. 3.Trinity Brewing Hopped Toddy (bottle) - Mead, I love mead. Definitely different in a good way! Hoppy, not too sweet, and really tasty. FOOD 1.Poutine - As a Canadian, I have to say it wasn't exactly authentic... but it was still incredible in its own way. Comforting, cheesy, and just so satisfying. 2.Brie Burger (medium rare) - Mine leaned more rare than medium (for medium rare), and while it was good, it was the weakest part of the meal for me. It didn't pack as much flavor as I expected, and there were more mushrooms than Brie. BUT the house side salad I ordered with it totally made up for it--seriously, the most flavorful side salad I've ever had. Perfectly dressed with tomatoes, banana peppers, red onions, and whatever magic was in that dressing. I still can't believe I liked it more than the burger! 3.Pastrami Burger - I'm not a pastrami fan (I know, I know), but I tried a bite of my partner's and I've got to admit--it was phenomenal. I still couldn't eat a whole one, but I can fully appreciate how well-executed it was. SERVICE Incredibly quick and attentive. Genuinely impressed and so appreciated. AMBIANCE We sat outside on the front patio--small but with plenty of tables. The interior has more of a dive bar vibe, but in a fun, casual way. MENU The beer menu is extensive--definitely a beer lover's playground. While I'm not a huge beer drinker myself, there were still plenty of options that appealed to even a casual or non-beer enthusiast like me. CONS There is a visible Wi-Fi network, but when I asked, I was told "no Wi-Fi." As someone who loves finding local spots to work from, this was a bit of a letdown. And yes--don't worry--I always order plenty of food and drinks while I work! OVERALL 12/10. Will definitely be back! read more

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Came in "Ser Rodrigo" on Mother's Day for an early lunch, was craving something between burger and Pastrami. Got the 1/2 pastrami combo, and it is a solid bachelor lunch! Kind of expensive, but probably for the younger folks making tech zillionaire money it's OK. TBH the half pastrami was pretty much a full pastrami anywhere else. The fries were fresh and hot, and the house Mexican beer was no worse than a house wine at any good restaurant. Servers were pleasant and peppy, still fresh in the day and not yet slammed by the MoDay crowd, but by the time l left it like floor every table was filled! Ambiance was pleasant gastropub. read more

The Refuge - Pastrami combo with the Reuben, crisp fries, cold Mexican beer. - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Great place to get a huge pastrami sandwich and a beer. The beer list was good and I had a great Belgian (abt 12) with my sandwich. The sandwich is very expensive but it is tasty and you get a lot of quality meat. So if you'd like to spend a bit for a pile o tasty meats in a casual (think bar) setting then this is a good fit. Service was quick and attentive read more

Very good food, very good service, no refills on the lemonade!! I would go back again but the refills on lemonade need to happen!!!

Asked Reddit where east-coast-quality pastrami could be found in the bay area. This place was the answer. It did not disappoint! It's been 2 weeks and my mouth still waters whenever I think of it. Even the onion rings were the best I've ever had. Can you guys open up a location in Mountain View pretty please? read more

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What an underrated place! I just came here for the first time and I cannot stop eating their pastrami sandwich. The pastrami is so soft and tender with a lot of flavor and finishing off the meal with bread pudding is a must! Also, the server for my table was so sweet and definitely made the experience so much better. Recommend this spot 10/10! read more

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boyfriend said they had the best cheesesteak he's had - better than bradley cooper's in nyc! the reuben especially the pastrami was 10/10. read more

The Refuge - cheesesteak, Reuben - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

First visit to this great spot and wow, definitely returning. I read other reviews and had to find out for myself. Started off arriving around noon on a Saturday with the place about half full. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. With a casual type of vibe. A full bar with a large selection of IPA beers is offered. For lunch I ordered the 963 Pastrami sandwich, while the drink order was placed I also ordered a pretzel. The pretzel was served hot and delicious. When the sandwich arrived it was very visually impressive. Loaded up with plenty of meat, this sandwich doesn't disappoint. One of the best Pastrami sandwiches I've had in a long time. The side of coleslaw was a great addition. Had to try the bread pudding for dessert and I have to say if you like bread pudding you will love this one. read more

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Solid 4.5 stars. I came here for one thing: hot pastrami sando. The meat is tender and juicy. Best in the Bay Area. Too bad they closed the Menlo Park location. read more

Not too crowded on a thursday night around 630pm. Parking can be tricky but there are side streets available to park at. The reuben was good, toasty bread with melted cheese and a side of pickle and pickled red onions. The poutine was ok, the gravy and cheese was concentrated in one area. Lots of different drinks (3/4 of the menu) but didn't try any tonight. Servers were friendly and nice! Lots of decor for christmas, brewery emblems, and beer handles hanging on the walls read more

Amazing pastrami sandwich!! Plus don't leave without having the bread pudding!! And Duvel on tap!!

The rain was starting to get to me so I picked up my brother and we took a drive to The Refuge for lunch. I'd been here once before but this was my brother's first time. Parking on a weekend can be a little challenging and this visit was no exception. I had to circle the neighborhood a few times before we found a spot but thankfully it wasn't too far since the weather was a little drizzly. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Surprisingly the patio was full despite the wet windy afternoon. Inside was warm and a few folks were eating at tables but we opted to sit at the bar. The bartender was friendly and handed us two menus. I had to flag him down once we decided what to order. He just didn't seem engaged in the customers at the bar which was disappointing. I typically opt to sit at the bar just because bartenders can be a lot of fun and the customers that sit at the bar tend to be entertaining. None of that goin on here. Okay, here's what we ordered: MAC-N-CHEESE - this was warm and creamy and the noodles were perfectly cooked. I'd order this again. TILAPIA SANDWICH - the buttery toasted bread was really the best part of this sandwich. It also had nice, crisp lettuce and ripe tomatoes. The tilapia though was absolutely forgettable. The piece of fish was so thin that we had a hard time even seeing it. I'm slightly shocked that they were charging over $20 for this and I paid it! If you're gonna charge this much for a fish sandwich, you better make darn sure it's substantial which this wasn't. It did come with a side of fries and we opted for garlic fries. They were fine. Nothing spectacular. RUBEN - winner winner Ruben dinner!! This was hands down the best thing we ate. The pastrami literally melted in your mouth. Outstanding. Like legit outstanding! These folks know their pastrami and it shows. The one thing that was a miss was the bread. It kinda fell apart because of the meat juices but overall this was a 10 outa 10 for flavor, texture and juiciness. Next time I come back, it'll be pastrami only for me cuz it's THAT good! read more

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Food was ok i got a cheesesteak sandwich after finding out jersey joes closed and i seen a tic tok video saying these were good. Just ok. The service was superb and the ambiance is very nice. I will probably be back in the future. The menu looked appetizing. read more

The Refuge is one of our most-frequented San Carlos establishments. We learned about it from the sales agent when we were purchasing our condo, and I have since consumed a large volume of pastrami. This place attracts everyone from children to seniors, and the vibes are casual. Food highlights: - Barbacoa nachos - the perfect mix of chips and toppings - Reuben - I always eat one half at the restaurant and one half for lunch the next day. It heats up wonderfully in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. - Goofy fries - their fries are nice and thick. Who can resist a little cheese and pastrami on top? I like the mix of indoor and outdoor seating, the rotating selection of beers, the Tuesday trivia, and the special events (like St. Patrick's day or Pliny the Younger release). My only two complaints (which aren't enough to justify less than a 5 star rating): - There is only one bathroom for the entire restaurant. A line forms during busy times. - Sometimes things get funky with the ordering system (like a drink being forgotten, a wrong item on the bill, or loyalty credits not loading). read more

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I didn't discover my love for chopped liver until a few years ago. While there is a place closer to my home that serves this dish, it doesn't come even close to the Refuge's option. The chopped liver, which is on the appetizer menu, has a rich liver taste and not much of filler so you get the full flavor experience. They serve it with plenty of crispy toasted bread, deli-style mustard, pickled red onions/cornishons/cocktail onions, and crispy chicken skin. When you load all of the things up you get a perfect texture/flavor bomb. The folks working at this location were very friendly and helpful with my to-go order, in spite of being jam-packed for lunch. I highly recommend this location and look forward to the Menlo Park one reopening soon. read more

The Refuge - Get your beer on - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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If I pass thorugh this area I gotta stop at the Refuge for their chopped salad and pastrami or rueben sandwich. I love the freshness of the salad, pieces of pastrami, rye bread, avocado and honey mustard dressing. It's so flavorful and keeps me coming back. I can go either way with the sandwiches between the pastrami or rueben but since the salad has pastrami we have opted for other items on the menu such as the cheesesteak. There's an extensive drink menu if you choose to dine in the staff is attentive and friendly. I also appreciate that their online menu has pictures for the win. Metered parking and unmetered if you're willing to walk a little. Definitely a gem on Laurel Street surrounded by other shops for window shopping afterwards if you feel so inclined. read more

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Loads of ways to eat pastrami and a big beer selection! Came for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon post 6 mile hike and was ready to feast. With the price of those sandwiches ($25 when we visited) we knew we'd be sharing one, so we ordered a ruben, a chopped salad, and of course some fries because what is a warm sandwich without fries to accompany it? The ruben was absolutely fantastic, I mean warm pastrami piled high between bread with swiss and sauerkraut, as long as you've got good meat it's gonna be a good sandwich. As to be expected, the meat was damn good, it's what they're known for afterall. The sandwich was pretty rich, so the side of pickled onions was the perfect cut of acidity. Fries were also fantastic, nice and crispy with the perfect amount of salt. The chopped salad was nice and big and came piled with a good portion of pastrami, no skimping on the avo either so points there. My boyfriend really liked it and said he'd get it again, I wasn't a huge fan of the dressing though, it was a little sweet for my taste. I think I'd order it again with a different dressing. The beer list was pretty expansive with a lot of local beers and European beers on draft. We came right before Halloween so they were offering two different "spooky beer flights" for the holiday. I went one of the spooky beers, a sour to be exact, and enjoyed drinking it with our food. Overall it's a good spot if you want a hearty sandwich with a beer and don't mind spending a pretty penny. read more

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Awesome spot for the best Reuben in the Bay. I don't how they get their pastrami to taste like that, but wow ! I also got the blue cheese burger it was just okay, but don't skip on the Rueben or the chicken liver. Order the bread for dessert and finish it with the underberg shot. read more

The Refuge - Outside - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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THE BEST PASTRAMI SANDWICH I'VE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!! IYKYK. Where have I been in my life? Our first time trying their pastrami sandwich and it BLEW our mind away! We knew this place is good when we met a celebrity eating here so casually with her friends. Not gonna mention her name though since she politely refused to get her picture taken, so I'm respecting her privacy. Back to what I'm recommending from The Refuge: 1. SHORT RIB NACHOS. THE BEST NACHOS I EVER HAD!! TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!! 2. POUTINE. You might think hey it's just gravy over fries. But it's not, it's more than just that. The gravy was soo umami and it made you eating non stop like addicted. Not good. In a good way. 3. GIANT PRETZEL. My kids love this. They share their pretzel dipped with honey mustard. Awesome for appetizers. 4. Double Decker Burger. I might be wrong with the name of the menu, but it's double patty. SO GOOD. SO JUICY. SO BIG. YET SO FLAVORFUL. 5. The BREAD PUDDING. You MUST GET THIS. We were so full eating all the dishes from The Refuge, but the bread pudding was the perfect closing for all the entrees we had. It was so smooth, and you cannot only get one scoop and done. We ended finishing the whole thing. Try also their beer selections!! It's like beer library in here! I've never seen beer collections like them! Definitely coming back in the future! read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

It's been a minute since I've been to the OG Refuge location, and since I was in the area for in errand, I decided to stop by with my dad to grab some lunch. It's located around a block away from the busy part of Laurel Street, San Carlos's downtown. Given the nice weather, we sat outside and immediately put in our orders for lunch; I had skipped breakfast, so I was ready to eat. I ordered the Pastrami Burger and added avocado to it (+$3.50). They must run a tight ship in that kitchen, because our food was out within minutes, coming before we even got our drinks. My burger was quite hunky, with the amount of pastrami being equal to that of the burger patty. Additionally, the avocado added at least half an inch to its height. The main flavor was the pastrami, which was salty, smooth, and easily broke apart with each bite. The sauerkraut on top provided some nice acidity that cut through the richness of the pastrami. The side of fries that came with were thin and crispy, very crushable. Order this and you'll leave full. I know I did. If you do stop by the Refuge, make sure to try their pastrami. It's phenomenal. read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Burger (add avocado) - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Awesome venue. Menu is primarily variations of three tasty items: 1/ pastrami, 2/ cheesesteak, 3/ burgers. Food was delicious with a special shout out to the chopped salad which has a load of fresh vegetables, avocado, snd cubed warm pastrami on the side. Great beer selection on tap and in cans. Go during trivia night and you'll have a blast. read more

I'm so glad I discovered this amazing sandwich spot in the Peninsula. Unlike other sandwich places, they don't have sandwiches with excessive sauce dripping from them. The sandwiches are perfectly balanced with just the right amount of meat, cheese, and condiments. On my most recent visit, I decided to try their enormous Cobb salad, which was absolutely delicious. The salad was packed with fresh avocado, eggs, cheese, and the pièce de résistance, huge chunks of scrumptious cured pastrami. I cannot stop thinking about how delicious the salad was and I ate it for several days. I'm excited to go back and have more of their world-class pastrami. read more

The Refuge - Cobb salad with pastrami cubes. - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Fantastic food. Food came out quick and staff was very friendly. Great choices of beers on tap and bread pudding was amazing! Would recommend and visit again! read more

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Family pub style place with great ambiance and a large selection of beers, including Belgian beers. Small outdoor area and nice indoor area with comfy booths, some table and a bar service was very good as a Some mixed feelings on the food. They are well known for their pastramis, however I didn't get as I'm not big on pastrami. I thought $26 was pricey tho. Maybe something I don't understand about the quality of meat? I had a Philly steak sandwich which was excellent ( and cost far less than pastrami). Everything was just right with balanced flavors. Hubby had meatball sandwich. It was scant on marinara sauce-- bit dry. Our waiter was happy to bring more sauce and the sandwich was then very good. The fries came with the meal and were hot and perfectly cooked. We got a house salad with ranch and it was odd. A very watered down ranch was on the dressed salad but also it tasted like Italian was also on the salad. Just didn't care for it and we barely ate In a nutshell, a great place if u get the right dish and wonderful ambiance read more

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I had a hankering for some East Coast-style classics, so finally gave this restaurant a try, and it satisfied all my cravings! Particularly I wanted a steak and cheese sub, and a pastrami sandwich- and I can tell you that both lived up to the hype! We got the O.G. Cheese Steak, that is covered in provolone, and a Rueban with its traditional sauerkraut on rye. As it turns out, The Refuge isn't just about amazing pastrami; they also have an impressive selection of beers, including multiple Belgian-style ales, so we ordered a couple of flights. Whenever I see poutine on a menu I order it, because I'm obsessed with this Canadian comfort food with melted cheese! We also ordered a pear salad and root vegetables to cut all the greasy foods we were eating that day. Finally we tried their Superlative Bread Pudding that comes with whipped cream and caramel sauce which was such a perfect ending to our meal! The Refuge undeniably won me over with their deli-style food, and top-notch service. read more

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OMG, the best Pastrami Sandwich on marbled rye with lots of mustard. Thick juicy pieces of pastrami on toasty rye. This was a to go order so I can't speak about the ambiance. Some people love the fat on pastrami but I like it neatly trimmed and this fit my expectations. The side of Cole slaw was perfectly delicious. The pate with chicken liver and chicken was outstanding!!! My cardiologist would cringe but I managed to rein in my desire to eat the whole serving! I could only eat half my sandwich so when I ate the other half the next day, it was just as yummy! read more

Years later and I still love this spot. I always recommend it to everyone. The pastrami sandwiches are still good like the first time I tried them. Prices are still roughly the same. Best pastrami sandwiches in the bay no doubt. read more

Pastrami sandwich not nearly as good as it used to be ...yesterday the "meat" was about 1/3 fat. The beer selection is much poorer than a few years ago ...my two favorite Belgian beers were no longer available. Overall big disappointment yesterday... read more

I came on 5/8 in the afternoon. Wasn't too busy but it was a nice day so we sat outside. I ordered the Ruben Sandwich to share and this is probably one of the best Ruben sandwiches I've ever had! The meat was soft and had a heft amount. $26 is pretty steep but you definitely have to try it! read more

The Refuge - Ruben Sandwich & Pacific Coast Mango and Muscat Cider - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

I went pretty simple with it. I ordered the "Swiss and Mustard". I felt the quality of the pastrami is great. Perfect fatty, peppery, thickness. All of it was great. Not a fan of rye but the rye of the sandwich was great. read more

I've enjoyed The Refuge for many years. I hadn't been there for several months and was shocked by the price for lunch. I ordered a Reuben, fries and a beer. With tax and tip my lunch was $62.00. When I got the bill I thought they must have made a mistake. They didn't. I won't be going back. They priced me out. The Reuben and beer were good, but not for that price. read more

Saw an episode of Diners Drives and Dives that highlighted this restaurant. I love good pastrami and corn beef and this place delivers! I had a Reuben with pastrami and it was one of the best Rubens I've had in quite a while! Wonderful smoked flavor and fresh rye bread. Coleslaw with excellent and delicious dressing Enhance the flavor of the sandwich! I will be going back here very soon. Also, the weight staff was excellent and gave wonderful recommendations for drinks and other food.. read more

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Okay, okay, okay, you're going to ask me how in the world I can compare this pastrami to Katz Deli in New York, but here we go.... I was expecting a mediocre sandwich, after all everyone including my own grandma can cook pastrami, but when I took a bite of this pastrami sandwich my tastebuds were hit with a "wow" punch. This pastrami sandwich was expensive and hyped up, but man, did it pack that Tyson Fury punch of goodness. A blend of fat, spices, and lean meat all at once. This sandwich was a knock out and we'll worth it. It reminded me of those great New York delis like Katz that I tried and loved during my travels. The fries were hot, the service was on point and that bread pudding was legit 5 stars delicious. This place literally won me over. read more

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Ordered a Philly cheesesteak and it was very dry tasting and the meat was of bad quality probably old and left out bc I felt super ill after

Food was delicious. I had something basic: grilled cheese (it was ok), creamy tomato soup(that was so yummy),& cole slaw (it was ok). My cousin & me(we were on vacation in San Francisco) were 1st outside next to a nice fire pit. It got too cold so we moved inside. The waiter was so nice & attentive. It was a chill vibe. I would go back if I'm in San Francisco. read more

The Refuge - Grilled cheese, tomato soup, & cole slaw - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

A takeout staple in our household. My husband always gets the reuben. I hate sauerkraut, so at first I got the Pastrami #19. If you're feeling something a bit lighter but still containing their famous pastrami, I'd highly recommend the chopped salad. HOWEVER, without fail, my go-to order for the past 2 years has been the de arbol cheesesteak. At one point, I went to the one in San Mateo and didn't see it on the menu and asked for it (and fortunately they still made it for me, no problem!). It's huge and stuffed full of cheesy, meaty goodness. I love that you can choose beef or chicken. I will say that on average it's pretty spicy yet tolerable, but during our most recent visit, it just about burnt my lips right off my face :') I do think the food is a little pricey, especially the full pastrami sandwiches. They are decently sized but don't include a side. My husband usually limits himself to half to feel "full not stuffed"... but only after stealing a good handful of my fries :( read more

We asked to be sited at a booth that was not occupied & the employee said it was not available, but there was no one sitting there so I don't understand why he would say that to me & my wife. He gave us a table & later ON he sat someone else on that booth we asked for, the worse part is that no one ever came to our table to take our order My wife & I walked out, the worst part is that I don't think anyone was aware of my & my wife ever been there. So here is a post for my experience. Please Do Not be deceived by my post: I am not saying this is a horrible place to visit, I'm just stating the facts of my visit on that specific day, perhaps the owner or the manager was not onsite & things were running different. I believe in second chances, so yes I would visit this place again & perhaps have a second opinion.. read more