Neat local flavor to take a look out…read more It's actually someone's house that they live in, so make sure to be mindful and polite when visiting (because I can't imagine how annoyed the neighbors would be with randos going in and out as well as just thinking this place is an eyesore with how rich and pretentious the neighborhood already seems). There are statues of the saber tooth there and Fred, some dinos. Lots of purple and orange colors. It's not only just Flintstones theme as there are bunnies, aliens, Terracotta warriors and an eclectic mix of decor. Neat, fun and interesting stop if you're nearby and on the way somewhere else.

Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 ©…read moreLet me start by saying, this quirky house is not a tourist destination! For decades, this prominent feature in Hillsborough hills just off the scenic route Hwy 280 brought happy feelings to passers by! Of course it's been a curiosity for decades in existence... but wait! All it is, a wonderful single family residence, with a twist in a story full of intrigue & litigation! And it has its own Wikipedia page! I've told myself, Grey, you live close by, you've got to write about the Flintstones House! It's a curiosity worth noted, yet a source of controversy to its neighbors! A colorful authentically looking residence in the affluent Hillsborough community uniquely affected the inner moods within the neighborhood, while much of the story remained hidden from public eye. The listing wasn't on the Yelp maps until recently, a yelper put it on during the pandemic, the house itself has been gracing the hill for decades in existence. The Flintstones house has been renovated & changed hands some years ago... I believe it used to sport an off white stucco, at some point it got repainted bright orange & purple... sold in 2017 & that's when complaints began. As the storytelling goes, the original Flintstones suburban sprawl developed in real life! Much controversy to it in the recent years due to the current owner coloring it even brighter burnt color resembling the cave & decorating the yard even more...beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Neighbors considered yard decorations an eye sore! So they brought forth the law suits. The installations of dinosaurs became a point of contention. Maybe historic inaccuracies were getting on their nerves? :-) After all, all we know is that Fred & Wilma enjoyed the company of their pet dinosaur Dino, but were there many others in the Stone Age? What about a Giraffe, a woolly mammoth, and a Fred Flintstone himself?! I understand neighbors didn't want any attention in the affluent town they reside in. Well, the owner won the law suit! She gets to keep her dinosaurs! Not only that, but also $125K from the city for originating the architectural review in the first place! And we the public got to enjoy this amazing architectural creation for years to come! *Well, he packed his guitar and his bar-room tan, Gotta get some miles behind him as fast as he can, Another destination, some place else to play. *But as the night approaches, a change is in the air His heart is pumping fast, he's got no cares The music befriends him, it can take him anywhere It's a honky-tonk engagement But there's no better place to play His mind feels like crazy pavement He's getting crazed out every day [ Review #766 w 2 pix on May 2, 2023 ] Flintstones House! Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 Yabba Dabba Doo! @Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/19/23

Unadorned, unsigned, and unmissable, this collection of wood sculpture is a gem. Lozada not only…read morecreates these artistic, contemplative pieces, but he also maintains the grounds--I met him when he was raking wild grass, and we chatted while watching a trio of adorable kittens playing among the art. The sculpture garden appears to be in the parking lot next to a day spa and across the street from a coffee shop. It's on the north side of the bridge (the oldest concrete bridge in San Mateo County, build around 1900) and is a nice place to take a break from your touristing.

This garden is an extension of Ken and everyone he has touched. He is a seer and it's very well…read moreworth the time to stop by, if you can manage.

San Mateo Treasure! Not too many people know about this place. Great pizza! Even better pasta! Huge…read moreportions.

I mostly came for the soup. I had the lemon soup which was good. I was able to work on my laptop at…read morethe patio area. The server was welcoming and served me right away. I like that I was able to pay up front so I didn't have to go back in or wait for her to come by to pay. I didn't need much service, but I saw her serving the other customers and regularly cleaning up trash in the patio area that had blown over from the Starbucks. A friend recently traveled to Europe and lamented that there isn't enough outdoor cafe/patio culture in America and I used to go to restaurants more and just relax outside, but I haven't gone back to my old ways since Covid. So it was nice hanging out for about an hour and just relaxing. I saw that they had a comic coming over and I wish I didn't already have plans. I'll be interested in returning to try out some of that pizza!

I've lived two streets away from this little creek and park for six years and never realized it,…read morebut this year during quarantine I noticed it on Maps and had to check it out. The first time I came here I was actually a little scared! It's a legit woodsy area right next to a neighborhood, with a small babbling (or maybe trickling) creek. The mallard ducks like to call this place their home, mostly visible in early morning or evening (you can sometimes catch them sleeping!). After you get used to the insular quietness of this park, you come to really appreciate it! It's a very short path (I think my Fitbit logs it as about 200-300 steps across), but it's very peaceful. You can listen to the birds chirp, the squirrels rush about, and the water and gentle rustling of leaves. I also found it funny to catch the squirrels yelling their heads off more than once. It's located between two streets, so you can clearly see houses on both sides, and it's pretty safe. I'd recommend taking a stroll! But not too many so I can keep the quietness to myself :)

Arroyo Park is probably one of the honey's favorite parks in the area due to the mallard ducko…read morefamily that is in residence in the stream. We originally thought it was just the drake and his two ladies, but it turns out there's at least two drakes and three hens, though we don't usually see them all together. The park is open during daylight hours and is usually pretty quiet, surprising for being not that far from the bustling El Camino street. You can hear the brook babbling and birds, and it's really quite a lovely stop.

The Shaggy Dog Statue, located in Central Park in San Mateo!!…read more It's located on the southern end of the park, right when the paved path forms a Y split. He's obviously very sturdy, kids can't walk by him without jumping on him. Even adults can't just walk by without stopping and staring, or taking a picture. He stands upright, as if he's alerted to something. And he seems very well maintained, cool local flavor in San Mateo!!

Central Park has a statue of an exotic animal with it's Leon the Giraffe statue by the Fifth Street…read moreentrance. So why not a statue of one of the planet's most common domesticated and beloved animals? No worries, the park's got that covered too. You'll find it near the 9th Street entrance, near the gazebo and rose garden. The cast-iron dog statue is standing and looks alert, staring straight at you. He is somewhat shaggy and looks a little like a Labrador. The top of his head is worn smooth, the result of thousands of people petting his head. The dog was imported from Italy in the 1870's by William Kohl who once owned the property that is now Central Park. I wonder how many photos of people posing with the dog have been taken over the years?

Located on the north side, near Pinstripes and the Hillsdale Dining Terrace, this lovely…read moreinstallation is a wonderful centerpiece for this peaceful and charming outdoor space at Hillsdale mall. Lots of tables and seating available in the plaza, mainly at the border of this work of art. And relaxing music playing in the background along with the sounds of water splashing from the fountain. The fountain light show is listed as happening every hour, on the hour, 12-7pm. But the show seemed to be ongoing during my time here on a Tuesday, water gushing from the fountain jets somewhat randomly, with color-changing lights, on-and-off, underwater. Weird that this daily "light show" only takes place during the daytime, as it probably would look better after dark. Regardless, it was still beautiful and engaging. The flower beds in the exhibit are gorgeous in spring, too. A great spot to have a meal or sip on yumny dessert drinks or refreshing beverages from businesses on site, and definitely worth checking out even if just doing some shopping at the mall.

If there's one thing I love to do is walking! It's great for the soul, clears the mind, awakens…read moreyour creativity, and best of all, it's free!! No need to pay a gym membership. We are so lucky to live in downtown San Mateo, where we can pretty much walk our dogs anywhere downtown, go shopping, pick-up to go food, or hangout at B Street Coffee and chill with our dogs. Downtown San Mateo have grown. Everyone all over the Bay Area flocks to taste ramen house, sushi, Taiwanese dim sum, and the ever growing Boba dessert drinks in every block is just mind boggling. Don't forget, we now have Brazilian steak house along with a growing Korean and Hot Pot too!! If you do come for a visit, especially during the weekend, know ahead that parking is tough. The streets are narrow, but don't be discourage, use the parking garages. They are all over downtown. There's also parking and spaces for EV & PHEV vehicles. However, if you are local like me, and only live a few miles away, during the weekend, I recommend taking your dogs for a walk. It will be less stressful, and you don't have to deal with traffic, and you get a good workout too. Until then, please be kind to one another! Cheers!

I have not been to Downtown San Mateo for years. I believe the last time I went is when my family…read moreand I decided to go to a high-ended Filipino restaurant. Also, this is my first time visiting here by myself. It's really quiet here just like other downtowns I visited in the Bay Area. It's expected since probably most people come here to shop and dine at restaurants. Very peaceful here which I like, but at the same time, I wish it's a bit crowded whenever I walk in downtown. It's really cheap coming here since many parking areas offer fair prices. However, it doesn't really seem like a place where I can mostly hangout at. I would still come here for eateries and explore around though.

I love this place! Went there for happy hour the Bruschetta plate was delicious and drinks were so…read moregood. The service is great and everyone was so friendly they treat their regulars well! I can't wait to go back :) Service: Fantastic super friendly and attentive Taste: delicious I was there for a while Ambience: it was lovely for a date or a get together or just to go solo and make a new friend Highlights: loved happy hour! Thanks for being great!

Look, I'll be honest, if you're coming here for seamless, polished service, you might be…read moredisappointed. We went on a slow night and still dealt with a total "slow turnaround" and some classic operational gaffes. They couldn't find the bottle of wine we actually wanted and then spent way too much time trying to sell us on a different bottle we had zero interest in. It was a bit of a circus just to get the basics situated. But then the food arrived, and that's where the magic happened. I've seen reviews complaining about a "lack of flavor," but that was not our experience at all. We started with the beet salad--the honey-lemon notes were nice, though nothing to write home about. But once the mains hit, everything changed. The Carpaccio was spot on, the Ribeye (prepared perfectly to medium) was delicious, and the Branzino special was fantastic. And the Rigatoni Rustica? Believe the hype. It's a classic for a reason. Bottom line: The service is definitely sloppy, but I wouldn't dismiss this place because of it. The food is genuinely good Italian and the prices are reasonable for Burlingame. My advice? Skip the salads, ignore the service "monkey dance," and go straight for the classics. I'd definitely go back just for the steak and the Rigatoni alone. Highly recommended if you actually care about what's on your plate. An A++ local find.

We were here to celebrate the life and times of my wife's cousin who passed recently. His wife…read morebought out the restaurant for the evening and let the chef make us an outstanding meal from anitpasti to dessert. It's a quaint restaurant with an awesome owner and staff. The food is very authentic and tasty.

Attended a private party here and didn't get picture until it was way way too late BUT the food…read morehere is awesome! It's been a long time since I've been so impressed with an Italian buffet ! We stared with a huge spread of anti pasta dishes - the rolled eggplant was amazing - the caprese salad was so fresh and amazing -pesto on toast was also a hit - the fresh mozzarella and prosciutto was amazing everything we had was excellent! The pasta course another hit - they make their own spinach ravioli and you can tell - I'm not usually a fan of ravioli but I had 3 beautiful plump raviolis - the marinara sauce yummy! Gnocchi my favorite- soft tender pillows with a beautiful cream sauce excellent! At this point I was FULL yet we still had the entree course - had a very small taste of the veal which would have been top on my list if I hadn't been so full - love the capers in this dish! Oh I had head about their Tiramisu! And guess what we had for dessert! Yes this is made in house too - very light yet full body flavored! Next time I'm going direct to dessert! I can't say enough positive things about the service here! These people are amazing - they were always clearing plates- offering refills of water or drinks- helping parents with children for food! If you're going to entertain a group this is the place! Yes parking can be intimidating as there is only street parking but at some point you will find a space. Great people with awesome food!

Product Vendors - DO NOT WASTE TIME/$. Not a shopping event. Celebs never even show. We sold 1 item…read moreto another vendor. Vendors only sold 0-5 items over 2 days and no vendor was a repeat vendor. We were all promised "14,000 women shoppers" and celebrity appearances and told to bring "significant inventory". Only 2 of the 5 celebs advertised actually showed. Wifi didn't work on Day 2. At max 1,000 people showed over 2 days but they only were there for free food/alcohol tastings, free beauty services, and free music. The artists giving free art lessons sold ZERO art. Food vendors stopped offering samples because people were just eating and not buying (people waited 30+ minutes for a free goya bean sample in a mini paper cup). We asked for a refund and the organization got extremely nasty. AVOID AVOID AVOID TOTAL SCAM of SMALL BUSiNESS VENDORS

SCAM SCAM SCAM!!! They overpromise and criminally underdeliver! I pre-paid for a Fall 2025 event, I…read morehave a signed contract and they CHANGED THE DATE AND NEVER TOLD ME!!! I found out about the change when I attended an event last month, as a result of the date change I cannot make this event, this is an obvious breach of contract and they absolutely will not refund me, constant run around, we've called them about a dozen of times demanded a refund. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BEWARE!!!!​ Spend your hard earned business income literally anywhere else!!!