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My sister & I came here last week to eat at The Refuge. Very inconvenient with parking as it is located at the mall so you won't have any issues with that. We got seated right away, and they gave us a cute little kids menu for my daughter. What we ordered: Reuben sandwich: We shared this one with my sister and I. It's a pretty heavy meal so it's nice to be able to share. The pastrami was delicious! Super flavorful. Cheese quesadillas: We got this for my daughter. She actually ate about half of it. I wish there was veggies in it as it is super plain. Fries: You can't go wrong ordering these on the side. The sauce that came with it were delicious! Overall food was decent, service was good! Would love to come back for something different next time!
Stopped by The Refuge for dinner and left very impressed with both the food and the service. The menu is extensive, but they're especially known for their signature pastrami dishes. I ordered the Chopped Salad, which came loaded with warm pastrami, lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, avocado, and more. The honey mustard dressing tied everything together perfectly, and the two slices of rye toast on the side were a nice touch. The portion was very generous. My partner went with the Impossible Burger, which had all the fixings he loves--especially avocado, which is often an extra charge at other places. It came with fries that were hot and perfectly crispy. There was also a specialty sandwich on the menu at the time, similar to a Chicago-style Italian beef, served with hot giardiniera peppers, their rich beef gravy, and fries. Everything we ordered was delicious, and we cleared our plates. We'll definitely be coming back to try more of the menu!
Family friendly burger/pub style restaurant tucked in the back corner of Hillsdale mall. I really like that they offered indoor and outdoor seating. Servers were all very nice and food came out quick. They have a huge selection for drinks! Almost overwhelming but I liked trying all new drinks I've never had before. I only got the pulled pork nachos to snack on. I wish they did have other protein options. It wasn't my favorite as it was a bit sour tasting and there was a pool of juices on the bottom of the plate (probably from pork) which made the nachos soggy. The plate was a bit small so it was hard to disperse it around. I would come back to try other items though.
The reuben - oh my god, the most expensive sandwich I ever paid for but I crave their pastrami. It really should come with fries or coleslaw at the price BUT the pastrami is incredible. I usually like a salty and tart sauerkraut, it is not too salty or sour. Spinach & Artichoke Dip - The dip is pretty good, lightly seasoned. The chips are a bit thicker but maybe it would break too easily if they have thinner ones. His fish and chips look overdone but he prefers it that way.
My first time here, highly recommended by my companions. I asked them how's the pastrami and they said their specialties are that and cheeseburger. Like comparable to Katz Deli in NY? Maybe. But I ordered the cheeseburger instead. $17.95 for a cheeseburger? Yes it was tender and juicy but I didn't dream about it that night. I could get a cheeseburger with mushrooms at Five Guys cheaper and great flavor. For 3 people, 2 burgers, 1 pastrami burger, fries, beer and ice teas came out to $104. They charged $4 extra to grill my onions. Nothing is cheap anymore.
Who would order a salad at a brewery known for its famous Reuben sandwiches? Well, thanks to my friend, I'm now a believer. We had lunch there yesterday, and as always, I was ready to order my usual--soup and a half Reuben. But my friend swears by their chopped salad and insisted it's her go-to. So, I decided to live a little and give it a shot. And guess what? That salad was phenomenal! I'll absolutely be ordering it again.
Got the Reuben sandwich and salad - Both came with a generous amount of tender and delicious pastrami. It's a pretty chill spot with indoor and patio seating, and lots of alcohol options as well; a little more expensive than your average sandwich spot, but if you're craving pastrami in the peninsula I'm not sure where else does it better
I give the Reuben by the Refuge establishment (whether San Mateo, San Carlos, or the former Mountain View location) a solid 5 out of 5 stars, every time. The flavor profile compliments the pastrami so well, I will always order it over any other food item on the menu. (My family lived off of mouth-watering pastrami sandwiches from NYC delis in the 80s, and this is honestly the closest and the best of what we can get in the Bay! The Pastrami sando on its own somehow doesn't do it for me.) I'm picky about my fries so I skip the fried items here. Besides, I enjoy every morsel of the Reuben I can't think about or fit anything else! I got the Half Soup/Half Reuben and the Coleslaw to share, which I love. The Hibiscus Punch was refreshing and not too sweet ;) I devoured them and was happily full to the brim. Service was courteous and prompt. This Hillsdale location is spacious, gets great natural light, has a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. Convenient to access from the parking structure nearby. There are booths and tables that accommodate smaller and larger parties. I'd definitely come again when I'm in the area.
Spotted a sign that boasted about the pastrami sandwich here so I had to try it. Ordered the "963" pastrami sandwich with apple slaw and it was so tasty. Tender, right amount of flavor. Just the best. Also ordered a beer flight and was satisfied as well. Excellent and attentive service. We were well fed and well taken care of!
It's a great place for pastrami sandwiches. Thank god we ordered many dishes. The fried chichen and waffles was not good at all. But the other two sandwiches ( Ruben and 31) were delicious. The beers were amazing but expensive too! I give 4 stars because the price is very expensive. We ordered 2 sandwiches, one fried chicken , two beers and an onion ring. The bill came to be near 150 including tax and tip! This is so crazy for sandwiches!
I was in the area for work and decided to grab a quick lunch since it's been a couple years. It was a nice day out, so grabbed a table on their outdoor patio. I've had the pastrami and burgers before, both are good, but I decided to go with their tuna melt. I dunno what it is but whenever I see Tuna melts on the menu, I gotta try it. It's one of the most affordable entrees on the menus and I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was! Good amount of tuna, toasted sourdough bread, and fries. It was definitely enough to make me feel full but not too full. The fries were unseasoned so added table salt and pepper. A little medium well done on the fries but average tasting. Overall, great to see Refuge doing well in this location, it's a solid sit down option at Hillsdale mall and great spot to watch a sports game.
Lunch review. American/Pastrami. Poutine Legendary Canadian street food. French fries with cheese curd and brown gravy. (Add Bacon or Pastrami) Swiss & Mustard Pastrami, swiss, toasted rye and Gulden's mustard Pastrami Burger Beef burger, sliced pastrami, melted swiss, sauerkraut and russian dressing served on a burger bun Onion Rings (San Mateo Only) Served with a side of house-made ranch ++Beer selection +Dog friendly Overall, "as good as it gets."
5 years ago
First went to the original Refuge in San Carlos after seeing it featured on DDD on Food Network. Have been a few times since and always enjoyed the food, so was excited to drive by and see this one was opening up. Decided to take some friends to this new location who were visiting from out of town. They had never heard of it, but are big beer fans and we were able to talk up the extensive selection on the way as a selling point. We chose to try this location for a few reasons...one being it was the closest to their hotel, but also because it looked to have the biggest/best outdoor dining option. Even though it is part of the Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo, it's basically its own full separate restaurant. There are 20+ tables outside plus heaters hanging above for when it gets cold. We went on a Thursday evening and it was busy, but not packed. There were a few outdoor tables available when we arrived, though most of them were taken. Everything was spread apart far enough to feel comfortable, and all staff were masked. *DRINKS* The beer selection is AWESOME! They have dozens of beers, ciders, seltzers, and wines from all over the world. They feature a lot of local breweries and wineries which is really cool. Definitely worth trying out something you've never had before! *FOOD* The food is all really tasty! It is a little pricey, however the quality is really solid and there is lots of good flavor in each bite! Most recently we got: -Hot Wings ($10.50) - meaty and delicious! Ordered them well-done with an extra side of the "Tapatio-butter hot wing sauce". Side of ranch, good not great. -Goofy Fries ($10.50) - How can you go wrong with garlic fries covered in cheese and chunks of pastrami... (I feel the quality of the pastrami in the sandwich is better than on the Goofy Fries) -Reuben ($19.95) - Really good, but pricey. $20 for a sandwich is not cheap. -OG Cheesesteak ($15.50) - Good flavor, could have used more meat, little too much bun. -Aged Gouda Mac & Cheese ($9.50) (Bacon +$2.50) - Creamy and good texture. Was kind of a cheesy sauce - the breadcrumbs and bacon were a nice contrast. Overall it was a good experience. The servers were all nice and seemed to work together to make sure you're all good/move you along. Not sure if I felt rushed as we were checked on often, but it's definitely better than never seeing your server! We for sure plan to come back here again. It's a good place to split a few things and have a drink or two. Glad this newer, closer location opened up! read more
Business owner information
Brenda G.
Brendon, Thank you for the positive review.…
I have been eyeing Refuge for so many years. And finally tried them a couple weekends ago with my family. We lined up a few minutes before opening on a Saturday for lunch service. Everyone eagerly walked single file to the outdoor seating area. The outdoor seating is deceptively large, and a nice area with appropriate spacing between tables. The service here is friendly and they're super kid friendly. While they had a large and intriguing drink selection, I decided to wait to imbibe another time. We ordered a kid's grilled cheese for my son, a kid's cheeseburger for myself and my husband had the OG Cheesesteak and added on caramelized onions. All of our meals came with fries. We also indulged and ordered their Superlative Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream. The kid's cheeseburger was the perfect size and though plain still tasty. Fries were plentiful and well seasoned. The Philly was huge and messy and stuffed my husband, but I convinced him to share a bread pudding with me, especially since he's the bread pudding lover. It was soft and not overly sweet, and I liked how the whipped cream and bourbon caramel sauce are served on the side. Not healthy, but stomach pleasing bar food and a solid kid's menu with friendly service and a nice outdoor seating area. I can't wait to come back to try one of their fruity beers/seltzers on taps and try another dish (this time not from the kid's menu :-) ). read more
I agree with another review who said this place is hard to find. I had to ask customer service where it was, and it is located outside across from CPK. This restaurant is great!! The dining area is awesome, and I love that they have a lot of booth tables. I went for the impossible burger, and every burger comes with fries. I decided to upgrade my fries to poutine, but there were a lot of tempting fries upgrades (like garlic fries!). My burger was HUGE and super delicious! I ate it all! And the service here is outstanding. Every single worker was so friendly and attentive. read more
5 years ago
Now open! I was wondering why I kept seeing these ads throughout Hillsdale mall & shopping center...well that's cause the Refuge is open! lol Looks like some sort of Chain Diner that mainly dabbles in a East Coast style eats. Tons of seating options available inside and outside, this is a big venue! The beverage list is also very extensive. Bring your appetite; while the portions don't look that hearty...they are dense and filling. I think we might have gone a bit overboard here... ~ Poutine - 4/5 Only better Poutine I had was in Vancouver, AY! Looks small, but it's a hearty dish. ~ Goofy Fries - 5/5 Prepare to be stuffed if you are going to eat this as a side along with a main course...you will probably have a food baby! Generous portions with a good Garlic flavor and diced pieces of pastrami. Brilliant! ~ O.G. Cheesesteak w/ Goofy Fries - 4.5/5 I felt like this was not as heavy as a Cheesesteak from Philly, but it's probably a bit healthier. Great representation of something coming out of Philly! ~ Reuben - 5/5 One of the best Ruben Sandwiches I had! Brilliant! Pastrami, sauerkraut, melted swiss on a toasted rye with "crazy russian dressing"...whatever that is...it just works! ~ Pastrami Burger w/ Goofy Fries - 4.5/5 Meat on Meat! The metatarian burger! Bring an appetite for this one! It's hearty...especially if you upgrade to Goofy Fries. ~ Superlative Bread Pudding w/ Vanilla Ice Cream - 5/5 The Pudding is already good enough, the addition of Ice Cream just puts this one over the top. Soft, supple, moist with a tinge of the Bourbon caramel sauce and whipped cream...BTW its heavy. We had no issues with the service here. Staff was very friendly and helpful. I recommend skipping the Goofy Fries as an appetizer and instead adding it as an upgrade to your meal. read more
Tried something new today. The fish and chips are a newer menu item. The fish fillets were solid with flaky white cod, crispy and virtually greaseless The three piece portion will quell the heartiest of appetites . The tarter sauce was so fresh and delicious. Unfortunately i was surprised ny the tastelessness of the french fries today. I love the goofy fries here, but without the decadent garlicky cheese sauce and juicy pastrami, the fries, while well executed and crispy were just ok and the pulverized cole slaw was a disappointment. Service was good as it always is. read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
Delicious reuben although a bit pricey. The pastrami is tender, smoky, and flavorful. Goes so perfectly with the nice amount of sauerkraut, dill pickle, and pickled onions provided. The fatty pastrami cuts well with the acidic pickles. The rye bread is also nicely toasted and brushed with crazy russian dressing. Good flavor. I enjoyed this rye bread; it tasted pretty mild (usually certain seeds in rye bread give me an irritation). The poutine is awesome. Delicious with lots of savory gravy and melted cheese. Yum. While the reuben was a winner, the goofy fries are sadly not. The garlic fries (very fragrant) come with bits of pastrami, but the quality is depressing. Feels like you're getting the random scraps of unwanted pastrami in this order. It's overly fatty and a bit dry as well. The portion of fries are huge, but unfortunately all taste like old leftover (not fresh) fries, and were room temperature. Bummer as I've had their fries and they're good when properly done. The cheese tasted great. Very heavy meal. Sad that it was like a hot mess of old fries and fatty pastrami bits. The champ cheesesteak was not particularly good either, kind of dry. Not much flavor, I wouldn't recommend it. read more
5 years ago
Came in after my boyfriend, his family, and I did an Escape Room! His parents had made a reservation and they chose outdoor dining. We were there around 730PM or so and it wasn't crowded. The service is definitely something that stood out to me. My boyfriend and I decided to share a burger and goofy fries - which they offered to split the burger in half for us! Their goofy fries were honestly delicious! As someone who isn't a big fan of garlic fries, it says a lot. the melted cheese was probably my favorite! The burger itself delicious as well - they do only serve it medium well. It was quite juicy and I honestly appreciate the fact that they have the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles on the side (my boyfriend doesn't like pickles). I definitely would come back to try the pastrami burger as this is something that is constantly raved about to us! read more
Was excited to finally try this new restaurnt I've seen trending. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and the staff was nice and accomodating. My bf ordered the pastrami burger w/ caramalized onions and goofy fries. It was good. The meat was tender, the bun lightly toasted. The goofy fries were bomb. Loved the pieces of pastrami in there. While everything was pretty good, we both felt like it was a little bland and used the spicy brown mustard condiment on the table to give it a lil umph. I'm not a fan of having to use condiments but the spicy brown mustard went well with everything. I ordered the OG philly cheesesteak and felt generally the same way. It was pretty good, the meat was great quality, juicy, and tender. But it was just a little bland and I ended up using quite a bit of spicy brown mustard which was great. I think I would have enjoyed it more on it's own if it were a bit more toasted. I actually had to take a lot of it home because it was massive! Same w/ my bf's order. Except he was able to finish his lol. The next day I airfried it a little and it was bomb dot com. I feel like the fries need a paragraph of their own. I love love the level of crispiness of their fries. Golden and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. And it was nicely salted. read more
5 years ago
We celebrated the bf's birthday here with a party for 16. We didn't have reservations, so we got there a little earlier. It was 3:30pm on a Saturday, so the wait was expected. We were told 30mins and they'd text when the table is ready. That wait ended up being a little over an hour. Good thing there is a lot to see around there. I also appreciate restaurants that utilize text, instead of carrying a buzzer. The patio was perfect for our group that consisted of adults, toddlers and a Frenchie. We've been to the original one in San Carlos but chose this new location as it seemed more spacious and easier for parking. It sure was. The pastrami, of course, was phenomenal- tender and juicy. I got the half Reuben which is the perfect portion for me. We all shared the goofy fries and mac and cheese, as well. They also have a long list of beers and ciders. Staff that afternoon were all nice and attentive. Pro tip: If you've been to Katz Deli in New York, this is the closest you can get in the Bay Area. read more
Super awesome that this place just opened! It took me a little to find it because the directory said coming soon so it wasn't really labeled on the map, but you just have to walk towards the main mall and it's sort of around the corner to the right. I wish I could rate this 4.5 because the pastrami was really good, service was great but there were just some things that were a little lackluster from what I had expected from both the hype from friends and price point. The beer selection here is pretty great - the first time I went to the refuge in menlo park it was actually just for the beer and not the pastrami lol. 5 stars for that. The pastrami sandwich was absolutely delicious. I got the half sandwich and it was plenty - kind of like having a regular (better) sandwich and that's how I justified the price point in my head too. Especially since I also got the garlic fries. The garlic fries were the part that was a little disappointing. They were garlicky - the sticky kind of garlicky - no actual pieces of garlic, which was fine. But they were a little on the cold side which made them just sort of ok. And for like, $7, I think next time I'll pass and use that money to just get the whole sandwich, cause that was better. It just feels a little incomplete without some sort of side or chips or fries or something. But ~30 for lunch felt too expensive. For a damn good sandwich, but still a sandwich. Will definitely still come back cause the pastrami is amazing and their beers are great, i just don't know how willing I am to pay for a sandwich at the end of the day. read more
5 years ago
My birthday club members are scattered throughout the Bay Area. We're always looking for a centralized location to meet up at. Someone suggested The Refuge. Known for their pastrami sandwiches. Great. Let's meet here for lunch. The five of us got together this past Monday for lunch. Initially we sat at one of their outdoor tables. They've got the huge patio heaters but too breezy so we scooted indoors. Up to now I've never had their Reuben. So that's what I had to order. $20.95 for a sandwich? Went for it. Nowadays I can only eat half of anything I order so I knew I was going to take half home. The pastrami was sliced thin and very moist. Generous slices stacked between two slices of rye. I'm not a huge fan of rye but this was a great sandwich. The rye was very subtle. We shared an order of goofy french fries. Reminded me of poutine fries. Pieces of pastrami scattered. A couple friends shared the chopped salad. Also pieces of pastrami scattered. The kitchen will spilt your order if you're sharing. The menu offers plenty of half orders too. Unless you are a huge pastrami lover I'd probably just order one item with pastrami. Next time I'd like to return with hubby who is a huge pastrami lover. The Refuge is located across from Nordstrom. Lots of parking. read more
5 years ago
Check out all the pictures -- they say a lot! The first time I enjoyed The Refuge was at San Carlos. I was an idiot that day and only ordered a half pastrami. Now that they've opened this second location at the Hillsdale Mall, visiting them just got a whole lot easier! Saturday around 1:45pm -- parking was super easy in the nearby garage, they seated us right away inside in a booth. Service was very prompt and food came out almost instantly after placing our order. #19 Pastrami Coleslaw $19.95 Regular Reuben $19.95 Pastrami Burger $18.95 Goofy fries $10 I don't even like coleslaw but something about this particular version paired with their pastrami is out of this world. The pastrami burger is interesting but the burger patty is thicker and more dominating. I also much prefer the rye bread contrast to the pastrami as opposed to a bun texture. Maybe they could do a patty melt pastrami!!! I would not recommend the goofy fries unless you like your fries soft and soggy. The regular fries that come with the pastrami burger was way better! All in all, this was a solid satisfying meal with great customer service. The price point is kinda expensive. There is also a 2% wellness fee. Total bill $76.99 In summary, The Refuge has amazing pastrami that every fan should try. I'm not sure if it's just my imagination but I felt like the pastrami from San Carlos location tasted better read more
I was happy to see them open another location outside of San Carlos. We came in for lunch on a Saturday and there was no wait. Refuge combo meal - Rueben, garlic fries (+$2.75), and 25cl Acme Lager. The garlic fries upgrade was not worth it at all. The fries were super hard and didn't have any garlic flavor at all. You could tell the fries were not fresh. Rueben - the pastrami was super super tender and flavorful. Their Rueben never disappoints. read more
I came for dinner with a friend on a Friday night. It was fairly busy but we were able to get a table for 2. They have plenty of outdoor and indoor seating and plenty of parking in the mall lot. I ordered the Refuge Nachos ($14.50) with braised chicken. The nachos come with either chicken or beef, and I wasn't sure which to get so I asked the waiter and he recommended the chicken. I felt like the nachos were a little dry. The presentation wasn't bad, but I needed more salsa or the green guac sauce on it since there seemed to be a ton of chips without additional flavors. The meat was flavorful and not dry which was a plus. Looking at what was considered "popular" on yelp, I knew I was taking a chance with this since it seems to be known for their pastrami. I also got the Hard Seltzer: Untitled Art Tropical Smoothie V2. It had hints of pineapple, mango, guava and apple ($7). I really enjoyed this seltzer. I am not the hugest fan of beers/ alcohol in general but this one hit the spot because of the fruitiness of it. I would recommend this if you're into fruity drinks or things that taste less like that beer like aftertaste. Overall, it was a nice chill restaurant with lots of seating and good parking. The food was just okay in my opinion. There were plenty of drink choices though so if I was looking for a place to grab a drink with some friends or mood to have some pastrami, this would definitely be an option. read more
After a long gymnastics meet we needed to eat before heading home in the traffic. Hubs had pointed this place out to me and it ended up being less than a mile away! We were seated right away when we arrived around 4:30 on a Friday. It is a small, quaint, casual place with big screen tvs on. We ordered the mac and cheese with added bacon, the soft pretzel, the reuben, and garlic fries. The food came in record time and hot! The garlic fries were crispy, garlicky, delicious! The best garlic fries I've had. The dipping sauce was great too. The reuben was delicious! Packed full of tender pastrami, it lived up to the hype. The soft pretzel and brussel sprouts was pretty good too. Not the best I've had, but good. My son said his mac and cheese was tasty too, and the bacon was crispy just as we requested. Service was spot on and attentive. If we are in the area again we will definitely stop by again. The menu has a little bit of everything which is nice but the pastrami is where it's at. Such a great meal, we were very satisfied. read more
Business owner information
Adam R.
Hey Jules,…
Came here for lunch on Sunday and had a great experience. We were seated right away when we arrived shortly after they opened at 1130, and luckily they still had outdoor tables open. We ordered and the food arrived super fast, it seemed like only five minutes. Rueben - the pastrami is thick and juicy and satisfying. The only drawback is the price - $20 for a sandwich is definitely a treat. Champ cheesesteak - I like the squishy bun and juicy mushrooms. I really appreciate that they have a chicken option, although I wish they were able to make the meat itself a little more moist and delicious. Goofy fries - be prepared for garlic breath! There's a good hit of raw garlic. As with any cheese sauce, eat these quick before the sauce gets cold, but they are delicious. read more
Business owner information
Brenda G.
Tasha,…
This place is delicious!!! They're known for their pastrami however their menu has a wide variety of Sandwiches, burgers, salads & other dishes. They have a huge selection of beer as well. Outside seating has heaters so no worries. The customer service was even better! This place just opened last week. I had the Brie cheeseburger & it was perfection. The Brie cheeseburger made every bite so creamy. The Gouda Mac n cheese was good, honestly I can go without it. Although, I loved the the crust on top of the Mac n cheese. I highly recommend this place! Next time I will try the pastrami sandwich read more
Great place for families! A challenge to find at first, but you're rewarded with spacious outdoor seating. We saw many families with young children. Sunday morning lunch with 5 adults and 1 infant. We arrived soon after they opened at 11:30 AM and got a seat outside, in the corner. Overall we felt very safe and comfortable given the ongoing pandemic. The service was phenomenal. Everyone we engaged with was attentive and helpful. They accommodated our request to have the outdoor heaters on, promptly refilled hot and cold waters, made sure we didn't forget anything as we were leaving, and overhead us needing a bag to carry the leftovers and kindly offered to bring us a couple. Portions were great. Food came out quick! The restaurant is in great condition, clean tables, chairs, and bathroom. Stand out dishes, I would recommend: - goofy fries: the cheese sauce is insanely garlicky - Reuben sandwich: meat is tender and sandwich is perfectly balanced - Mac and cheese read more
Drinks: (+) extensive beer selection. The menu is pretty much 1 page of food and 4 pages of alcohol (+) I ordered the Anderson which was fruity with a slight sourness Pastrami sandwich combo (4/5): (+) pastrami had great flavor, wasn't too dry, and a good amount of fat (+) Despite the size of the half sandwich, you do get a good amount of pastrami (-) The strips were thicker than I'd prefer, and when I took a bite, it was hard to bite off the meat at times because of the thickness. (-) The bottom part of the bread was pretty soggy (-) The sandwich was a lot smaller than I was expecting. I'd recommend getting the full size and adding on fries or getting an appetizer for a more filling meal! My bf ordered the WIT cheesesteak (3/5). It was pretty average and didn't really stand out. The meat also tasted burnt and slightly dry. Plenty of parking since it's located at the mall (right next to Palette Tea Garden) I'll definitely be coming back to try the other pastrami sandwiches and check out their other beers read more
3 years ago
I used to go to the Refuge restaurant in Menlo park but it ended up closing but Found there are few left and one is in the Hillsdale shopping center in San Mateo .I really love their pastrami sandwiches which there are many to choose from but today I decided I wanted to try their fish and chips.Yummy breaded fish with fries and creamy coleslaw.Their homemade tartar sauce is very good as well The employee's here are all really nice and on point.The decor inside the restaurant is well done and I love their patio.I recommend this place read more
3 years ago
We started coming here due to their pleasant outdoor tables - their food and beer selection is nice - there's something for everyone. Add to that, the atmosphere is relaxing and fun. We've come in groups or as is the case today, just two with a friend. My girlfriend went for the soup and half sandwich combo and I wanted to go light so ordered their Cobb salad. The specialty here is gigantic pastrami sandwiches so we were rebels? lol here. The cob salad comes with pastrami normally but I asked if that could be substituted with grilled chicken- the waiter checked with the kitchen that day and said if shredded chicken breast they can - sounded good enough so - yes, a go. The salad was just what I wanted with dressing on the side and half an avocado I love. We were very happy with the service and the food, and we intend to come back again. read more
11 months ago
Business owner information
Adam R.
Mouna,…
4 years ago
1 year ago
Business owner information
Adam R.
Hi Anthony,…
This is my first time at this location located at the Hillsdale Shopping Center. It's a nice restaurant with plenty of room inside or outside. I've always enjoyed the food at the Refuge and their pastrami is just outstandingly consistently good. And that's over a period of several years. There's definitely something to be said about consistence. Good job guys and keep up the good work. read more
The Reuben gets 5 stars, OMG it was delicious. LOVE the pastrami. Unfortunately, the roasted root vegetables were terrible: soggy and flavorless. And the bread pudding was not great either (almost tasted stale?) Will definitely come back for the pastrami but will try other sides and a different dessert. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Adam R.
Hi Pradeep,…
Quality burgers and sandwiches + extensive beer selections + casual and not overly noisy dining vibe + friendly service. I can see why the Refuge has gained its popularity! The price seemed a little deep when I first checked online, but after the visit, the food quality and the overall experience made it reasonable. We ordered the famous Reuben and the mushroom and Brie burger, with upgraded garlic fries. Everything was tasty (but didn't have a wow factor) and it was more filling than I imagined. My friends enjoyed their sandwiches as well. We came on a sunny day for lunch, and outdoor patio was very cozy - spacious, and with options under the sun or in the shade. read more
2 years ago
Enjoyed a fantastic late Sunday lunch at the Refuge. We were lucky enough to find a seat on a packed house with no reservations. I suggest making one, if you plan to come during peak lunch hours. Enjoyed both the pastrami sandwich and salad pastrami. Great regular and craft beer selections , plenty of choices. Perfect place to hang out with friends and family as they can accommodate large groups and has a decent patio seating as well w/ heat lamps , on days when you need it the most. read more
Business owner information
Adam R.
Carolyn,…
We came here on a recommendation from a friend. We found this to be a nice casual place to grab some good pub food. My husband had the blue cheese burger which came on a brioche bun along with arugula and a tomato marmalade. He loved it. He said he wished there was more burger, less fries. I even took a small bite from the end (not a fan of blue cheese) and have to admit, it was a great burger. The patty was juicy and it had a nice crust to it. I had the Champ Cheesesteak which was generously filled with grilled beef and mushrooms. Can't attest how authentic they are (had Jim's in Philly many years ago) but the sandwich was tasty. My son had the Reuben which was good too but he would have preferred more sauerkraut. Wished fries were included but they are extra with the pastrami sandwiches. He ordered a side of the Garlic Fries which I thought were better than the regular fries. Next time I would upgrade to the garlic fries. They also have a nice array of beer, wine, & cider selection. We had a party of 9. I made reservations via Open Table. Service was great. Definitely will come back to try their other dishes. read more
Lord this one is hard for me, cause I'm a New Yorker and when your as New Yorker and that pastrami craving hits you we go to one place. When ever I try someplace else it leaves me feeling like I'm cheating on my wife with a 5 dollar hooker. So I'm bout to catch a flight haven't eaten all day and needed some thing after the gym and before take off, hopped on Yelp and seen refuge read the reviews about the pastrami and couldn't decide between the pastrami burger or the sandwich itself. I decided and ordered the pastrami sandwich at almost 30 bucks, in my mind I'm like really I'm pay This it betta be good. Picked up my order and the bag felt light as I'm walking to my car, in my mind I'm already. Saying I'm not going like this, why jahmal you need to stop it. Got in the car couldn't wait to unwrap and open up. Visually this sandwich we appealing it not huge but it's wide and there might not be a mountain of meat but there is a hill of it. You know when someone remakes a classic song and tries to sound exactly like the original singer your left feeling like whyyy, but every now and again someone comes along and adds their own touch to a song and your left saying damn yes you did it. That's refuge, the pastrami didn't remind me or try to reminded me of any others it wasn't overwhelming salty or fatty. It was cooked when I say tender, When I say moist I mean I have had cakes that were not as moist as this. That slaw that they top it off with just bag that up now it was. Creamy rich and not hard and dry. It paired so well with the sandwich it's a marriage made in food heaven. I was left feeling not like I went to see a cheap hooker but I found me my sister wife. Thanks refuge! read more
Had a good dinner at Refuge and landed on this spot for burgers. Plenty of seating on a weeknight. There's a parking garage located nearby for a short, walkable distance. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, but we went with indoor. The dark ambiance was really pleasant and made the meal even better. Order: -Bleu cheese burger: This is a beef burger with melted bleu cheese, mayonnaise, wild arugula, tomato marmalade, on a brioche burger bun. I took a gamble with this as I'm not the biggest bleu cheese fan, but it was well worth it. The bleu cheese complimented the burger well, not overpowering. The tomato marmalade provided a subtle sweetness. The burger was juicy. The fries however were probably more memorable than the burger. They were really good fries-- crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. The menu is simple, yet provides sufficient options for all taste buds. read more
More info about The Refuge
66 31st Ave
San Mateo, CA 94403
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(650) 458-3044
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http://www.refugesc.com
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Ask the Community - The Refuge
Is the cheddar burger made with grass fed beef if not what type of beef is used?
We use angus beef for all of our burgers. It is not grass fed.
Do u take apple pay or is there a QR pay option?
We do take apple pay. We don't currently have a QR code option for pay.
Do you have potato salad and coca cola?
Hi Anthony, We do offer Coca Cola; however, we do not have a Potato Salad. You can enjoy a side of…
What gluten-free options do they have?
They have a lettuce-wrapped burger available
When are you opening?
Hi R I, we will be Opening on Tuesday June 29, from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm. We hope to see you there.…
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11 reviews that are not currently recommended
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The Refuge - burgers - Updated August 2026
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