This one is hard to rate because it is hit or miss. When it is good we really enjoy it - good meat and good French fries. But sometimes it is not good and it is really heavy and greasy and hurts our stomachs after. If they could be consistent we would go here more often. read more

Visited The Refuge and the food definitely delivered. The cheesesteak was excellent -- flavorful, juicy, and the bread held up perfectly. One of the better ones I've had in the area. They also have a kids menu, which was a nice surprise and actually pretty good -- definitely family-friendly. Service was a bit underwhelming. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and wasn't aware there were no refills. When I asked, the server replied with "just this one time," which felt a little condescending. I wasn't trying to get a freebie, just asking -- happy to pay for it. Still, the quality of the food makes it worth coming back. A little more warmth on the service side would easily make this a five-star spot. read more

Wasn't expecting much from a mall restaurant, but I was meeting a friend there, so, I essentially, went for the company. But, I guess what I'd heard about these new restaurants being a far cry from the old mall food courts is absolutely true. This place was amazing. It's very pleasant, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable, and we really enjoyed sitting out in the sunshine. To begin with, I could not believe the amount and variety of drinks. The selection of food was also plentiful and varied. I hadn't had one of my old favorites in awhile and ordered it; not expecting much, to be quite honest. Well, my mind (and palate) were properly blown away with, probably, the most delicious Reuben sandwich I've EVER had. And, it was very generously proportioned. The pastrami was so juicy, thick and flavorful, the sauerkraut and oven baked bread fantastic. Ah! The servers were very nice; courteous, knowledgeable, professional, very helpful and patient (took us awhile to make up our minds) Will go back, definitely, and recommend, definitely! read more

Really enjoyed this place for lunch. They have an extensive beer list and the food was also great. I had a Reuben and shared the pastrami (goofy) fries. The pastrami is really good here I definitely recommend it. I must have missed it on the menu but they had a big banner for tripel karmeliet but I didn't see it on the menu. Didn't see it until walking out of the restaurant so failed to ask. read more

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I've been coming to The Refuge for a long time but my most recent visit was quite the letdown. This location's service needs improvement. We ordered our appetizers about an hour before we ordered our entrees (while waiting for a friend to arrive). The appetizers didn't arrive until one minute before our entrees were served... After our check was delivered we waited over 20 minutes for someone to help us pay our bill. read more

Nice establishment in a quaint little neighborhood. Excellent hard working staff. Great spot to relax for a beer and the pastrami sandwich and beet salad were excellent. Will be back to try more. read more

The Refuge - Burrata salad was a nice portion fresh and tasty yellow and red beets. - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Right here in San Carlos you can find this awesome little gem. We went here last week for a burger and a beer. I must say the other guys that waited on our table that spoke Spanish were great. The girl that waited on our table, was new and apologetic for an over 10 minute waiting at our table to order. We had a few questions, and she had to excuse herself and take another order or two, seriously? As unfortunate as it was, she could not explain to us a few questions we had. She kept apologizing for her lack of knowledge and service. Bad thing here is that I was going to review this place. Now secondly, my cousin is a restaurant and bar owner and was left baffled my her answers. Question, why are your "on tap" pours in these real small glasses, and less than 5 or 6 oz? She said they only filled up to the vendor advertised line on the glass. The glass did not even correspond with the beer we ordered, hello! My cousin was " Ah say What"?! That did not even make sense! I really have never had such a small on tap" pour ever! This was the only negative thing I have to write. However, she really needs to prepare herself better if she is new, this did not answer our question. You will see a pic of the pour. Also my cousins beer had about an inch of foam when it was served to him, really? She had poured this 12 oz bottled beer at the next table in this big glass. So I said to her, well I guess the point here is to not order a glass on tap because you will get about 4-5 oz? It was ridiculous and the picture is shown. This is right after we got it. My cousins 3/4 inch foam had gone down a bit. The burgers and fries cooked to perfection and as we requested. The staff was helpful and friendly, and solely on those three points 5 stars from my vantage point. Would I be back? Well perhaps, but most certainly not for those pours from the beers on tap. That was wasted money in my mind. Oh yes let me drop you 8-12 dollars for each for a few sips, is this a winery? Lol When you are paying well over $57 for 2 hamburgers and 2 beers with tip..it is sort of pricey, don't ya think? read more

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Visited the Refuge for the first time and asked myself how come I didn't pay this place a visit before? The pastrami Reuben was delicious and half was enough. The pastrami was so Smokey and melt in your mouth soft! I did think the smear they used was a bit too much and creamy it overcame the kraut. The pickled red onions and pickle on the side help cut into the fat. Also tried the goofy fries that had chunks of pastrami and melted cheese. Delicious but devilish. The best part of the meal was definitely the bread pudding. It comes with a side of glaze and whip, definitely the most delicious bread pudding I've ever laid my palate on. It's incredibly pillowy and delicious with the right amount of bourbon flavor. I would come here just for that!!! I also saw some pups hanging out inside at the bar with their owner and thought that was so rad they are pet friendly :D read more

Where else can I get a big juicy pastrami sandwich and a Chimay Red? Can't ask for much more than that! (Also: Fantastic service!)

Meh. Their pastrami/corned beef sandwich is WAY overrated or WAY overpriced. Nothing close to Katz or Juniors of NYC, or, Langer's of LA.

Excellent Service, Great Menu!" My favorite bartender recommended this establishment, so of course I had to give it a try. On a mild summer day, parking was a bit tough, but I snagged a spot right across the street from the restaurant. If you can't get a street spot, they have free parking about three blocks away. They have a fantastic menu, and I selected a simple meal--the tuna melt sandwich. Naturally, I had to pair it with a beer, a Pilsner. I recommend sitting outside. They have a huge overhead canopy, as well as lots of umbrellas, so there's plenty of cool shade. It's really pleasant sitting out here on a mild summer afternoon. The meal comes with a huge amount of french fries, and so it's actually a pretty large meal. I only ate about half of it and took the rest home. The service here is outstanding! What a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon after a long run. That's why I live in California. So all in all, a wonderful experience. I think next time I will just get the half size sandwich, but for growing teenagers, go ahead and get the full sandwich. A special shout-out to our efficient, pleasant server, Saul. He really does a fine job. read more

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No nonsense. We love the Refuge every time. The pastrami is UHMAZING. Our favorites include the 963 pastrami sandwich, the pastrami chopped salad, and the pastrami steak with fries. We've also dabbled in other menu items like the hamburger, tilapia sandwich and tuna melt. Basically, this little place never disappoints. Please, come thirsty folks. To say that the beer menu is extensive is a vast understatement. Belgian Trappist Ales, meads, all kinds of esoteric brews... the variety is a wow factor. Same nice guys staffing the place every time. It's a feel good place for us. read more

We saw an episode on triple D that featured this place so we decided to visit. We came here on Saturday around 3 PM and it was pretty slow. Initially we didn't think much about this place but the food and menu variety took us by surprise. We ordered The Champ Philly Cheesesteak with the Brussels Sprouts upgrade, a Reuben, and a root beer float for dessert (honestly this was my favorite part of the meal) We literally waited a few minutes after ordering and the food was already at our table, service was very fast. Overall it's good gastropub food -- we definitely need another time to explore the menu because they have a huge alcohol selection. Only thing is street parking is a little issue to find and they don't do refills on a lot of their beverages. read more

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I really, really wanted to like this place more, but there were some issues. There is free street parking available on the streets adjacent the restaurant. The restaurant has trifecta seating, bar seating, indoor dining area seating and nice patio seating with propane heaters. The bar is a full bar and they have a couple a couple of televisions that you can watch. The staff there is very friendly and nice, but they were not very attentive. That may be because they are understaffed like most restaurants across the country but I still was very noticeable. My entire meal was prepared and brought out without haste. I started off with an order of brussle sprouts. They were ok. They were covered with bacon bits and grilled. They did not have much flavor and I have had much better. I ordered the Pastrami Burger, which came with fries. The fries were overcooked and very crunchy, while the burger just lacked flavor. One cool thing about the restaurant is that you can pay your bill using your cell phone. You just have to scan the QR code on the bottom of your receipt and it will take you to a website that will allow you to pay your bill. It is very simple. As I mentioned, I had high hopes for this place, but they just did not measure up. The food was ok and service was ok. Hopefully it will improve or I just caught them on a down day. read more

Boy do I love pastrami! Bf bought me a Ruben while I waited at Ale Arsenal. We halved it and devoured it! Only reason why I gave it a 4 was because of the price. Almost $30 for a sandwich is pretty ridiculous unless it was STACKED with pastrami but it was a normal size. Bf liked it because he said it wasn't salty. I'm happy he's happy! read more

The best pastrami sandwich I've ever had with pretty good crispy fries as well. We stopped by because we had heard about this place on Triple D and we were not disappointed. Came for lunch on a Saturday afternoon to downtown San Carlos. Nice outdoor area to sit and bring your dog and have a great lunch. read more

Just some darn good pastrami! No frills no thrills! Not over the top, so much that you can't eat it all. That meat is soooo tender and the flavor was superb. Well worth the drive! read more

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Best Pastrami Sandwich I've ever had!! I've eaten pastrami at Katz in New York so I don't say this lightly! I will be coming back for this exact sandwich very soon. If you haven't eaten a pastrami sandwich here you are missing out on Life!! The waiters were also very attentive and nice. 10/10 service. 12/10 Pastrami Sandwich. read more

The Refuge - 963 Pastrami Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Tried the Chicago Beef Dip special sandwich. Not the best. Beef was chopped (Chicago beef is sliced). Bread was too soft to take in the jus and not fall apart (Chicago beef sandwich's bread hold up to a very wet jus dip and doesn't fall apart). The jus was brown and salty but had no beef flavor. If you're looking for a "Chicago Beef" sandwich that somehow resembles the authentic ones, order a Pastrami sandwich instead. Their Pastrami never disappoints. YMMV read more

My first time here on a team lunch and believe me it's a cool place to hangout with friends. They are famous for pastrami. I ordered a rye pastrami sandwich but a half and they have half sandwich in their menu with a drink cucumber and agave which is sweet and refreshing. Their pastrami sandwich is awesome, I just loved it. They have indoor and outdoor sitting area. For the first time I felt we are pre-covid times because there was music, soccer game on tv, staff is extremely helpful and it's made to order everything. read more

The Refuge - Rye Pastrami sandwich - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Terrible service! We came a little before opening and the guy setting up outside was flat-out rude. He slammed the menus and dropped the condiments caddy on the table so loud it felt aggressive. Zero welcome, zero professionalism. The food was just okay, but with service this bad, it's not worth it. We only went because we had our dog and wanted to sit outside -- never coming back and don't recommend. read more

My boyfriend and I went to Refuge for the famous pastrami. I was pleased with the overall experience and would definitely come back again. We went to Refuge on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. It wasn't super busy, so we were able to grab an outdoor table without a wait. Service was exceptional. Our server was attentive and very helpful, and the food came out quickly. I appreciate that you can order half sandwiches at Refuge, but I thought it was unreasonably expensive for only a half and without sides. I got the classic Reuben sandwich, which was delicious. People weren't kidding that Refuge's pastrami was amazing. It was tender, flaky, and fatty. I also loved how the slices of pastrami were thick cuts. My boyfriend got the pastrami burger, which wasn't up to par unfortunately. The pastrami was fine, but the burger patty was dry and overcooked. He ended up picking off the pastrami. I enjoyed the garlic fries he got as the sides. "Austere," an adjective directly off the menu, was exactly how I would describe the pack of garlic flavor! read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Refuge has been a favorite for me for so long that I didn't even realize that I haven't reviewed it yet! When I worked in the area, I'd come here for lunch almost once a week. With that said, this is the first time I've taken the kids and they were almost MAD at me for not taking them here sooner! Everything is awesome here. Our favorite is anything with pastrami in it. Highlights: Goofy Fries {5/5} crisp on the outside, with chunks of pastrami throughout. What's not to like?? I think Baby Bear ate half an order by himself. Reuben {5/5} I'm one who needs a good ratio of meat to bread. The Reuben here is beyond-perfect. The kids said this might be the best sandwich they've ever had. I think I screwed myself when it comes to making school lunches! Beers {5/5} Papa Bear and I are Belgian beer fans and this place has always been a favorite of ours for their selection. I got a flight. Hubs has something I can no longer remember (maybe it was all the beers that got to me LOL), it we loved them all. Hangry Bears left Refuge as the happiest full-bellied bears on earth. read more

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Delicious pastrami sandwiches and outdoor seating with heating - you CAN'T go wrong here!! We tried the Reuben and the Swiss & Mustard. If you're a sauce lovin' sauce #boss like myself, definitely go with the Reuben! It was saucy and delicious. If you're a mustard lover, go with the Swiss & Mustard. Both were excellent and will have you droolin thinking about them the next day lol. We also got some beers, but they were a bit pricey - ranging from $8-$13. Overall, the service was really nice. They brought the to-go containers to our table, with mustard packets and cutlery/napkins. Pro tip: The tables closer to the restaurant with the hanging heat lamps are warmer than those on the sidewalk with the tall standing heat lamps. Also, they let us use the restroom inside. Appreciate!!! read more

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I go here for the pastrami sandwich and this time it wasn't as good as before. A lot more chewy like you can get just about anywhere without the sharp peppery flavor. All the rest seemed similar, good drinks and sides. Will have to try again. read more

*Note: this is a COVID review.* I really miss the Refuge and it's delectable pastrami. During the lockdown, I haven't crossed the bridge from the East Bay, especially without outdoor dining available. But when the strictest orders were lifted recently, I knew my first outdoor meal of 2021 would be here. My wife & I arrived Saturday just after they opened at noon, finding parking right on the street a couple of doors down. There were already several parties seated in the parklet, but we found a small table along the building. Instead of walking up to the window, we used the QR code at our table to order and pay through our phones. Very simple and safe. Our drinks came pretty quickly, and in less than 10 minutes after that, our food came. My wife ordered the Reuben sandwich, I ordered the Pastrami #19, and we shared the Goofy Fries. Even though we were dining in, our food came in to-go containers. (This must be their standard practice, as all the other customers received their food in the same way.) But the food was as I always remember: hot and delicious. The pastrami was on point and heaping off my sandwich. Instead of pickle spears, each sandwich came with an entire dill pickle with the pickled onions. And the goofy fries were cheesy and meaty, too. We finished all of our food and were definitely stuffed. The only piece of feedback was I wished they had either a hand-washing station or some wet wipes available. The bathrooms were not open to customers (understandably), but I wanted to wash my hands, since they were greasy from the food (I wasn't going to knife-and-fork this meal). Overall 5 stars for the food, 5 stars for the service, and 5 stars for all the COVID precautions. All the staff were wearing masks, enforcing social distancing, and sanitizing the tables in between customers. Be aware that the menu is pared down, but the quality has not been sacrificed. I'm looking forward to going back to their full menu and eating indoors here! read more

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Started our meal with poutine and barbacoa nachos; the fries in the poutine looked like sad lunchtime school fries and the nachos had too many olives. Moved onto the reuben; good tasting meat, but I prefer my pastrami to be thinly sliced. Finished the meal off with bread pudding-- this was highlight of my visit here! Overall, the meal was good, but I don't know if I'd go out my way to go here again. read more

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We went here for lunch and it did not disappoint. My SIL always talks about the pastrami so we finally went so we could try it. They have a beer there my boyfriend was super excited to see as they don't carry it many places around the country. For lunch I ordered the grilled cheese and soup and he ordered the Rueben. Both of our sandwiches were delicious and we didn't leave a single bite on the plate. The grilled cheese came with soup and fries which was perfect. The meat on the Rueben was hardy and there was a lot of it. We were both very satisfied. It is a great place to go when you are hungry and are wanting that greasy bar-type good. Our waiter was also really nice. He was quick to fill our waters and to take our order. We would go back for sure the next time we are in San Carlos. read more

I cannot fault this place. Damn I love this place! You MUST get pastrami ANYTHING! I always get the Reuben and I'm not apologizing! Try whatever you want but that is what I will ALWAYS order! Goddamn the Pastrami! Don't order beef ffs this place is about the pastrami! Ok end of rant. Any beer will do because it is fresh and good - but PLEASE PLEASE order the pastrami Anything or don't bother coming here lol - pic from San Mateo location but San Carlos is nice and Meno Park is as well - but we can walk home from the SM location... read more

The Refuge - Me and my half sister half drunk lol - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Wife wanted to go do something. Wanted to try someplace different. We found it. It's like a pub. Drink menu was bigger than food. But what food they do was great. I'm not a big pastrami fan, nor slaw. Had them both on a sandwich. I would drive there again. We can over from Dublin. Well worth it!!!! read more

Really good sandwich. The tomato soup was just okay, seems like it needed something to add flavor? If you have room, the bread pudding was surprisingly good. read more

The Refuge - Bread pudding with caramel dipping sauce. - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

You can't succeed forever just because you were on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I don't live in the Bay Area but whenever my wife and I visit friends in Redwood City we make it a tradition to eat at the Refuge. Past experience has been great. Our most recent experience a few nights ago was so disappointing. The pastrami in my sandwich was so fatty that when I took a bite the fat I was biting into managed to pull half of the pastrami from my sandwich. My wife had the same thing happen to her. The side of coleslaw was saturated with mayonnaise. If your specialty is pastrami it would probably be a good idea to get it right. read more

Love, pastrami sandwiches. I wish there was one closer to me. I would go there more often.

The ambience and the staff were both good. We ordered Ruben and roasted coleslaw sandwiches and fries. I liked the roasted coleslaw sandwich over Ruben. It was super delicious. Fries were also crispy and yummy. I enjoyed my lunch. read more

The Refuge - Sandwiches and fries - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Always a 5 star! Been to The Refuge about 5 times. 2 times during covid. Nothing has changed! Food is amazing! Get the: Pastrami burger (my favorite) Pastrami sandwich Garlic fries Pastrami salad- dressing is bomb read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Burger Garlic Fries Original Pastrami Chopped Salad - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Excellent food! Excellent! Lean meats. Huge portions. Nice selections of beers. Expensive!! So just be aware. read more

I have nothing but love for refuge and especially Oscar and company but this place has went completely downhill over the past year. Beers are foamy and pastrami taste like rubber. Beware!!! read more

Met up with some old high school friends for dinner. Great pub feel, beer selection was double in size to the food menu. My buddy said the Reuben sandwich was outstanding. Had a bit of sticker shock on the pricing, we chose to share poutine and wings and washed it down with a few beers. Forget the names of the beers I had. One was a dark, smooth brew. 10% alcohol and the 2nd was a Pilsner. Both tasty and smooth! The appetizers were on point as well. Our server had the patience of a saint because we were a bit loud catching up. He made the beer suggestions for me and really appreciated his help. We all decided on getting the pastrami burger and upgraded to the garlic fries. . Burger on its own was outstanding, but they added a generous layer of pastrami with it! Thick slices, flavorful and juicy. The garlic fries just made this a very memorable meal. I was soo impressed with the pastrami that I bought a pound of it to go to share with my family. Worth the drive from Elk Grove, thank you! read more

Do not call in Togo orders. Got a text it's ready, showed up, asked 3 people, waited 10 minutes, and left. Appreciate the Managers Comments, but don't see any chance of process. If you would check orders by phone number, I could have had my order. It wasn't busy, I think I was the only to go order, but they got my name wrong, and no one seemed to try to spend more than 10 seconds checking Will stick to when I can eat in, save take out to a place set up for it. read more

Literal pastrami heaven! Ordered via ChowNow for pickup shortly after opening. While we originally thought to sit at the outdoor seating area outside the restaurant, it filled up rather quickly and we opted to drive a short distance to Burton Park. It turned out to be the perfect picnicking spot on this sunny Friday afternoon. We ordered 4 dishes to share and found them all delicious! Let's break them down: 1. Original Pastrami Chopped Salad - delicious! I thought it combined the best of so many elements from the crisp/crunchy chopped romaine, to the creamy avocado, savory cubed pastrami, salty cheese...well, you get the idea and then they tied it all together with a sweet honey-mustard dressing. So good. This salad is a very good size and is great for sharing. 2. Original Reuben - of course we had to try the OG famous sandwich and it totally lived up to its hype. The best part of this sandwich, in my opinion, was how balanced it was. I love reubens, but I've found that lately many places just completely overdo one element or another which takes away from the whole experience. At The Refuge, they do it right. You can still pick up the sandwich without elements falling everywhere. The pastrami is thick sliced and meaty but neither too salty nor too greasy. The HUGE dill pickle was also super awesome! It was really extremely comical how juicy this dill pickle was, but it was the perfect accompaniment to cut the richness of the pastrami. 3. Pastrami Burger - cause why the hell not? As if you couldn't bear to get more extra, the pastrami burger basically will call for you from the pages of the menu like "EAAAAAT ME" (a very persuasive argument). Although I thought it would be a little too rich, I was honestly amazed by how well the pastrami paired with a perfectly charred burger and a nice fluffy burger. With our burger, we also opted to upgrade to goofy fries because we just wanted to try more of the menu. Cheese fries with pastrami and cilantro? Yes, a million times over. 4. Brussel Sprouts - cause, healthy. Kind of. Maybe. They were very good but they didn't stand out at all. It's alright though. Service: Our order was ready right on time and when I asked if they could help provide some utensils, I was really impressed that the staff member assembled a full little baggie of utensils, dressings, and napkins. He also took time to ask how many people were in my party. All the little things were accounted for and I was very grateful. Overall, you should definitely do yourself a favor and come to experience The Refuge if you haven't already. Definitely a meal worth having! read more

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