I've been to the Refuge in San Carlos before but this was my first time at this location. I've driven by it lots of times every time I go to the mall. Since it's at the mall, it's super easy to find parking. This location is bigger than I thought it looked from just the outside. Both indoor sitting and outdoor patio are pretty big. This is in addition to a few bar stools they have. My table ordered the Reuben, Tuna Melt, truffle fries, and onion rings and everything was really good! I also ordered the Cherry Soda which I really liked; I'd maybe come back here for that! Service was really good and food came out pretty fast. They were attentive even though the section we were in was pretty busy for a Saturday at lunch time. Overall I'd come again when I'm craving a pretty savory sandwich and fries! read more

The Refuge - Reuben, Black Cherry Soda, Tuna Melt in the background with a side of truffle fries, and Onion Rings - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

Yummm pastrami! So happy they opened up a location in Hillsdale mall. Heads up that it's not located in the food court. We had a group of 8 people and 2 babies. We came on a Sunday afternoon and thankfully they were able to move tables around for us. The place did fill up quickly though! The staff was accommodating and friendly. I got the half reuben sandwich. The sandwich is very nicely toasted (it may tear up the roof of your mouth like it did for me for the next few days haha). The pastrami itself is so tender and juicy. The pickled onions that it comes with is delicious. My husband got the pastrami burger, which comes with a side of fries. He upgraded to garlic fries. I got a bite of his burger and it was so soft and fluffy. For the garlic fries, although you don't see any garlic bits, you will have stanky breath afterwards! Would definitely recommend this place if you're craving pastrami :) read more

The Refuge - Half Reuben - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wow, really expensive. A medium sized salad and a Diet Coke. $32 dollars. Beware. They raised their prices. They were charging mall prices, but now they are charging sports venue prices, and even higher. The food was mediocre. Not going back. Too many better places to waste money there. read more

I've been here a handful of times and always had a great experience! Parking is easy since it's right by the parking lot at Hillsdale. The service is always fast and the food never disappoints. There's a huge beer list, probably one of the biggest I've seen. They have tons of outdoor seating and I've never had to wait long for a table. Their chopped salad is a favorite of mine, since it comes with tons of pastrami, avocado, a boiled egg, pickled beets, and a delicious honey mustard dressing. My partner's usual order is the Pastrami burger with goofy (with cheese sauce and pastrami) or garlic fries. Honestly you can't go wrong with either of their fry options! I heard recently they do trivia as well, so I'll have to check that out! read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, 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

The first time I came here I ordered the WIT cheesesteak with chicken and the sandwich was absolutely drenched with water or grease? that it instantly fell apart and was so soggy. It was also cold and just unappetizing, I was so disappointed but my husband loved his sandwich (the Ruben) so I decided to give it another try. Today I ordered the western cheesesteak - with chicken and it was slightly wet in the center but not enough to destroy the integrity of the sandwich. This sandwich combo was a whole lot better than the first... cheesy pulls of Swiss (loved it), creamy ranch and some tang from the bbq - a very pleasant combo. I wish the bbq was distributed better as it was only accumulated on either ends with none in the middle. Overall the western cheesesteak is actually very good and I would order this one again! The fries here are my favorite! They're perfectly crispy and seasoned, I can't get enough of them! read more

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My brother recommended this place so I decided to try it and I almost couldn't find the spot since it's a little hidden within the mall haha. I came here by myself so I was seated right away and my food came super quick as well. I loved how they an outdoor and indoor option! I ordered the half sandwich and tomato soup, which was definitely filling for me since a full sandwich would've been too much. I got the REUBEN, which had a lot of pastrami in it, which I absolutely loved. I was super satisfied with my meal and finished everything on my plate. I like how it came with little sides, which made the sandwich more enjoyable. read more

The Refuge - Half Reuben and tomato soup - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We met up with someone on their lunch hour so I appreciate that our server, without being prompted, was quick to take down & bring out both our sandwich & dessert orders. Her speedy service does not mean we felt rushed, quite the opposite; with our orders placed, we could sit back, relax, & not worry about the time. I tried: -- onion rings ($9.95): heavily-breaded sizable rings with a very good ranch dipping sauce. -- Swiss & mustard ($25.45): thinly-sliced pastrami & toasted rye is a classic combo, & I like that the mustard was applied sparingly. Not the very best I've had, but tasty, & worth coming back for. -- churros ($8.95): my fingers were coated in cinnamon sugar, just how I like them to be when eating churros! Great crunch, really enjoyed their homemade chocolate sauce. -- superlative bread pudding ($9.95): I'm not a bread pudding fan so maybe take my assessment with a grain of salt: I didn't like this dessert from the San Carlos location, & I don't like it here. There's nothing superlative about it. The Refuge has a massive menu of offerings that sound up my alley. Cheesesteaks? Ok! Giant pretzel? Don't mind if I do! And is that a quesabirria I spy with my hungry eye? Scrolling through my contact list to see who else can meet me at The Refuge on their lunch break... read more

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Having only been to the San Carlos location, this was a nice change of scenery. Large patio area for outdoor seating, spacious interior with lots of booths & tables. It's well lit from the large windows. It was a Tuesday evening after 7pm; I was disappointed that when we walked in, it was crowded with people waiting to get seated, at least 4 parties ahead of us. There was no host at the front of the house--the restaurant wasn't busy, evidenced by the many vacant booths. No one was able to get the attention of the staff, including walking to the back of the house. After some time, someone did come out and we were eventually seated. We ordered the brie burger, half & half and the pastrami burger. It was every bit delicious; the fries were fresh, crispy, lightly salted and not greasy. We also ordered garlic fries and it was probably the best tasting garlic fries I've had in a long time. The fries were infused with garlic flavor. Other places will douse your fries with minced garlic, but this was not the case here. We each enjoyed our sandwiches, the pastrami wasn't dry and the burger was juicy and the brie was not overpowering. Despite the lack of service for the front of house, our table service was great, the sandwiches were delicious and I would definitely return. read more

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Back again and the food is still delicious. This time I wanted to try the Philly and so I did. It was yummy! Hit the spot. That servers here are so nice! If you are in the area please check them out. read more

The Refuge - Philly Cheesesteak with Fries - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food is consistently excellent and the portions are huge. The wait staff is excellent!

A great neighborhood restaurant with a relaxed vibe. I've eaten here a few times, inside and outside and enjoyed both experiences! They've got a dog menu which is great for an outdoor lunch with pup. They also rotate menu items out every once in a while, I've tried some previous items and current items like pear salad, shawarma salad, grilled cheese tomato soup, pomme frites, and a variety of beers! They have a PHENOMENAL selection of beers, will definitely continue coming here! read more

The refuge never fails to deliver. Best Reuben sandwich, salads, patio for dogs. Will definitely come back monthly for my pastrami fix.

We have been a fan of Refuge since they only had only one location in San Carlos. Glad to see they have expanded to multiple locations w/a sizable outdoor area in the San Mateo location We've been coming to this location since they opened. Extra points for having a menu item for the pups! While they still have a few Belgium beers on tap (Kwan, Delirium, etc.), most of the beers on draft are American craft beer. Still lots of yummy choices though. The one I had tonight was the Alvarado Street Brewery Mangonada and it was delicious and perfect for a summer night. The reuben tonight tasted a little different but still good overall. The fish & chips though was a huge disappointment. It came with one piece of fish (used to be three! ...and much more affordable) and a plate of fries. That just doesn't feel right, at $19.20 for the dish! read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

Rueben is so goood! Expensive though... the meat is so soft it's almost airy. It's not heavy feeling so you can scarf it down fast and not feel super full. I love the taste but the price gouging is too much I wouldn't get it again. San Mateo location in the mall with a nice outdoor area and parking garage close by. read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The chopped salad here is one of the best salads I've had. Loads of tender pastrami cubes, sliced egg and avocado on top. Yum!

This is our first time to try The Refuge in San Mateo. My cousin and her family introduced this place for us and they had dinner with us there. It's an upscale gastropub and located in the newly renovated Hillsdale Shopping center and it's known for pastrami. They also have one in San Carlos. We had the Reuben, poutine, original pastrami chopped salad, and giant pretzel. The Reuben - it has pastrami, sauerkraut, melted swiss, crazy russian dressing and toasted rye), the pastrami was pretty good and flavorful and perfect with melted cheese. It was a bit heavy but delicious. Poutine (Legendary Canadian street food. French fries with cheese curd and brown gravy. (You can add bacon or pastrami) can't believe that they had poutine there! It was so good. Original Pastrami Chopped Salad Warm pastrami morsels, romaine, avocado, tomatoes, shredded swiss cheese, egg, pickled veggies, warm rye toast and honey mustard dressing served on the side (Veg Option) I like my pastrami chopped salad as well, it was a well balanced meal with pastrami morsels and veggies. Giant pretzel (San Mateo only) Served with a side of house-made beer cheese sauce. I didn't try the giant pretzel but my daughter likes it and of coz she didn't dip the beer cheese sauce. Lol Service was attentive and friendly and the server helped us to take some group photos. We had a great time there. read more

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Same menu and consistency as their San Carlos location but bigger. Clean, relaxing location and clean restrooms. Split a pastrami burger with avo and bacon added, and with goofy fries upgrade. Burger was great and so was the bread pudding. They have the same great brew list here too, but did not partake this time! read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I shared a pastrami sandwich with my friend. It was tasty; I have had good if not better pastrami elsewhere. I was a little disappointed that the sandwich did not come with any side, like fries or mac salad or potato salad. We shared a small salad to start off. Service was fine. We sat outside. Restaurant is part of the Foxhills mall and easy to find. read more

This was my first time at the San Mateo location. It is a nice spot. Service was fine the staff was all friendly when we came in. We wanted to try something different, and I kind of regretted it lol. The pastrami here is the best thing, but today we tried the chicken and waffles and the pastrami burger with garlic fries. The burger patty was too overpowering, so with the pastrami it was just heavy. I wish we just got a pastrami sandwich. But lesson learned for next time. The garlic fries were interesting. I was expecting crushed/chopped garlic and parsley on top of my garlic fries, but it was more like a sauce. It kind of made the fries soggy. The chicken and waffles was ok. Super basic. The chicken was hard to cut, but it wasn't completely dry. I didn't like the tapatio butter or whatever it was. The gravy was fine though. The sauces just didn't seem to go together though. I basically just used the maple syrup. The prices have really gone up. The can of beer was $12. And the first 2 choices my boyfriend had was sold out. Overall, I would only come back for straight pastrami. read more

The Refuge - Fried Chicken & Waffles - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My favorite Pastrami Chopped Salad was almost a complete dud this time. Generous amount of chunks of pastrami but they were dry and tasted if they were cut from day old Pastrami, Nothing really chopped-some strings of carrots and something unidentifiable, a few tiny pieces of tomato skins, and big pieces of Romaine; On the plus side-a beautifully presented and ripe avocado and some hard boiled egg slices. No complaints about the service but not happy to see a 3% service charge if I had aid by credit card. Will probably not go back there any time soon. read more

This was the second time I've been to The Refuge and it did not disappoint. My friend loves pastrami and I came here previously when another friend ordered a pastrami salad and she gave me a bite of pastrami to try. I'm usually not a pastrami fan but I was hooked cuz it was moist and not salty so I wanted to see if it was a fluke or not. We were seated right away and had a nice table outside to enjoy the California sunshine. We ordered the brie burger with upgrade to garlic fries, pastrami sandwich and the chinoise salad to split. (3 gals we didn't want to eat tons of food, although I think I ate most of it!). Brie Burger 3/5: Burger was a good size but I thought the brie would be something special not just a slice of brie on top of my burger. Maybe that's on me. The garlic fries though was da bomb! It had a great explosion of garlic taste and smell but didn't have tons of garlic on it. I wonder if they toss it in garlic oil or something. Truly addicting and my friends commented how it was good that we just upgraded the fries on the burger and didn't order a side of fries...we'll they said that...I could have ate more fries! Pastrami sandwich on rye 4/5: Again, I'm not a pastrami fan but the meat is moist and not salty. Is this how it is supposed to taste? A bit hefty of a price of $22 for a small looking sandwich, definitely Katz's in New York will give you a HUGE sandwich for $25 but maybe it's cuz it's California and we're used to paying crazy prices for food. Im not a rye bread fan either but honestly it didn't taste too seedy to me so it was just a great tasting sandwich. Chinoise salad 3/5: Just a way to get our veggies in, the salad didn't look like anything fancy but the salad dressing had a nice subtle spicy kick which redeemed the salad. Would I order it again? Most likely not. Overall, we had a great time sitting in the sun and having lunch. The wait staff was nice and didn't kick us out and let us chat for a bit. The food was enjoyable and I would stop in again just to get the garlic fries and some pastrami if I was super craving it to justify the price. read more

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At some point it has to stop. Over $80 for my wife and I to have a couple of sandwiches and one beer. I get it. The food is good, but not fine dining priced good. A pickle spear and a glob of Pickled red onion adorn the plate. This isn't Max's Cafe. I love pastrami. But prices are out of hand. Can't wait to hear about the rising costs of doing business.....we all know. read more

Ok when I say efficiency is just part of what they do I mean it's to another level. It was like a well oiled machine! We literally sat down and next thing we knew we were done eating with the table cleared. The service was top notch and the staff super friendly! The food tho!!!!!! Let's just talk about the food... I had the Ruben sandwich... the first half was like meh but all of a sudden the second half completely bamboozled me to the core the flavor hit me like a punch in the pallet. The Poutin fries with bacon was eeeeeeeverything it was gone before I blinked. I love the food and the vibe was prime! read more

Great service and selection. Convient locations. I loved the pastrami sandwich and salad.

The way this food had me ascending. My school was having a fundraiser at the Refuge location in the Hillsdale mall, so, obviously, I showed up. When am I going to turn down the chance to eat some delicious food? The ambiance of the restaurant was lively and inviting, and was the perfect place to seek refuge from the cold weather outside. The service was good: our servers were attentive and kind. My brother, dad, and I ordered waaay too much food: I got the Toasted Slaw #19, and wings, pickled veggies, fries, a brownie, and bread pudding to share. A lot, I know. In hindsight, this wasn't the best idea, but good ideas never are. The Toasted Slaw #19 was phenomenal. The pastrami was salty and melted in my mouth. It felt like it was fatty, given how easily it could be broken apart, but it wasn't. The toasted rye kept crispy throughout the meal. The wings were okay, seeing as they weren't very crispy, but had decent size. The sauces saved them: the hot sauce on the wings had a substantial kick and a heat that reminded me of pickled jalapeños. The ranch was creamy and zesty. The pickled veggies were solid. They had a diverse assortment and came with this cheesy mustard sauce. My favorites were the gherkins, cabbage, and pepperoncinis. The fries were perfect: salty, warm, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Now for the desserts. We didn't need any dessert, let alone two, but since it was for a good cause, we got the brownie and the bread pudding. The brownie was pure decadence, topped with ice cream and a generous amount of caramel sauce on the side. If you want something rich, get this. If you want something slightly more reasonable, get the bread pudding. The whipped cream and caramel came on the side, and honestly, it was just as enjoyable with them; the pudding was mildly sweet, fluffy, and the filling at the bottom tasted like custard. We left stuffed, but content. If you're ever at the Hillsdale mall wandering around in search of a filling meal, go to the Refuge! read more

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I love the drink selections here (so many) and the burgers are solid. Our server was p funny too. Overall feels lively, so not really for something too intimate. read more

I'm a sucker for duck. These tacos hit the spot! I've been craving spicy foods lately and these tacos came with sliced jalapeños in em. So yummy! Recommend this spot for sure! read more

The Refuge - Duck Confit Tacos - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great family style restaurant, loved the setting and ambiance, service was great, they were patient with us until we decided what to order which took us a while, and they accommodate us so we could watch the game. They have a big selection of beers, ciders and wines which it's great for the grownups, the meals were a little more fast- food style, delivered super quick to your table. We ordered: Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, ribs nachos, onion rings and a combo with half pastrami sandwich and an IPA. The nachos were a little bit underwhelming, they were covered only on top and as you dig in you'll get less of the toppings and the "ribs" were just a drizzle. The pastrami (meat) was great; tasty and juicy but the sandwich it self was messy and hard to eat, the bread broke apart while holding it by the amount of grease on it, we left it on the side and ate only the meat & coleslaw with the fries, which were good as well as the onion rings. The thing we enjoyed the most was the hibiscus cider, I will recommend it if you are planning on visiting. We enjoyed our drinks better than the food, I think it's a great spot if you want to enjoy a good beer in the middle of the day while running errands with the fam or want to have a drink after dinner. read more

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Checked out this new location and left very satisfied. I had the Reuben version with a slaw on top. The combination of the apples and jalapenos made it a fresh take on a classic sandwich. It did seem a bit pricey for a sandwich and beer, but the quality can't be beaten. read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

The best pastrami I've had on the West Coast. Better than Saul's, Wise Sons, Langer's, Canter's, Wexler's, etc. As you might guess, I consider myself a connoisseur lol. We had a Reuben as a random, mid-afternoon snack. My only regret is not asking for lean meat. The meat was really tender and juicy in the sandwich. Also, the sandwich was well composed, with great bread, melted cheese, and kraut. It was well seasoned with the corning/brining spices, but I thought I could have a bit more smoke and pepper. That said, I'm just nitpicking. I could have eaten two sandwiches in the spot, along with bringing home a takeout order. Exceptional pastrami. I'll be back! read more

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

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Most restaurants that my family and I visit still serve the guest if they show up before closing time. This place unfortunately does not. We showed up at 7:57 PM and closing is at 8 PM on Sunday. When we came in they told up they had turned off the kitchen 5 minutes prior to us coming in... Just let down, we love this place and live far away. We were regulars at the San Carlos location and they for sure would have never done that. Maybe say you close at 7:50PM so there is no confusion? read more

Still loving The Refuge and their pastrami sandwiches and soup. I've even signed up for their Refuge rewards because I seem to spend hundreds of dollars here which is easy to do at about $30 for a sandwich and bread pudding each time week after week. Something about their flavorful pastrami and I don't even like pickles but I find myself asking for more pickles here. Their pickles are so good, not too sour amd just enough sweet. Their burgers and their Philly is okay, more 3 stars, so come for their signature pastrami and you won't be dissapointed. Save room for their amazing bread pudding. I think it's the best bread pudding in the Bay Area! read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

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While in San Francisco we made another stop at one of my all-time favorite spots, Refuge! This visit, I ventured into new territory with the Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos and a side of Garlic Fries. The Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos were a revelation. Picture this: three perfectly warmed corn tortillas, generously filled with tender, braised short rib, melting cheddar, and crumbly queso fresco. They were drizzled with a luscious tomatillo avocado sauce and sour cream, finished with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and vibrant pico de gallo. Each bite was a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, a true testament to culinary craftsmanship. And let's not forget the Garlic Fries. These golden, crispy fries were coated in just the right amount of garlic to make them utterly irresistible. Sharing them was a challenge-one taste and you'll want the whole serving to yourself. Refuge never fails to impress, whether it's with the food, service, or atmosphere, and this experience was no exception. If you haven't been yet, it's an absolute must-visit! -Jen disadventures.com read more

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This review is after 3 lunch visits. We really enjoy eating at The Refuge. The food and service has been excellent: They have great menu choices. We like the additional chicken option for a cheesesteak. We like to sit in the patio area and on our 3rd visit we just realized there's a sign posted that they will serve your dog a doggie bowl for $7. What a great concept and bonus. We look forward to our next family visit with our dog. read more

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First - the outdoor setup is ON POINT. Second - the Service -- yes - service with a capital S - on the account of excellence... And finally the food - as delicious as mayor of flavortown says it is. Oh yeah -- great selection of beers and other drinks like ciders and seltzers. read more

The Refuge - Rueben and cheese steak - Burgers Near Me - San Mateo, California

Reliable and comfy place to rest and recharge when shopping at Hillcrest. Original location is a super cute shop in downtown San Carlos. This location is more spacious and corporate, but the pastrami is still thick and tasty. I don't know that the food will knock your socks off but if you are looking for some tasty American comfort foods and an excellent beer menu, would recommend. Service was also top knotch and there's a good size outdoor patio diner area for dogs/active kids. read more

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My husband and I shared a pastrami sandwich and Champe Cheesesteak sandwich with poutine fries. Very good pastrami! The pastrami was very tender and not too fatty. I ordered it on sourdough bread instead of the rye. The cheesesteak was ok, it needed some pickled jalapeños and onions. The poutine was ok too, it's definitely better in Canada. My older son ordered the pastrami burger and he loved it. My younger son ordered a kids burger and the family had a big laugh on how tiny it was . It was so cute, it was smaller than a slider. The pickle it came with was bigger than the burger. We will definitely come back for the pastrami. read more

The best pastrami sandwich I have eaten. I've been to the one in Menlo Park and was happy to know it moved to Hillsdale. Of course I ordered my Reuben pastrami with a side of liver (you must try!). The flavors are addicting. We also ordered the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, fried included it was so good and cheesy. The goofy fries had pastrami and cheese, a great starter. The brisket nachos are a must! Portion sizes are huge so come with a big appetite. We ate out in the spacious patio because we had our fur baby. They also have a puppy bowl for $7, ours had the beef (no pics because he ate it so quick lol). The service was quick, friendly and attentive. read more

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This is a cool restaurant. They specialize in beer and beef brisket. I'd never heard of this place, i happened upon it. They have a humongous selection of beer. I'm a sour beer gal and was so happy that they had a generous selection to choose from. In fact, I was told by our server that they carry a wide amount of beer that other local bars/restaurants don't carry. Which is what makes The Refuge unique. The menu is basic, not overwhelming. Which is a good thing in my opinion. I got half of a pastrami sandwich, garlic fries and sour beer. Delicious! And I've already decided on my menu choice for our next visit. Our table also ordered a burger with a side of Mac n cheese. There is inside and outside dining, plus seating at the bar. read more

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