..........first of all........... no mimosa guys This is the second weekend after the soft opening so expect the long wait plus they are still short staffed. You can order through QR code and pay by yourself. Presentation of food is lovely. Although they are really busy, everyone is still smiling and being so apologetic. I love the decoration and their furniture. One thing that I would like to give compliment the most is ' poached eggs'. They cooked them perfect! No runny egg white but yolk is still a bit soft AND no vinegar smell at all! love it Tip for parking.... There is a paid garage parking next block and it's cheap ($1.25/hour) so don't waste your time looking for parking on street read more

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I was up on the peninsula to take a class at SFBI, so I took the opportunity to meet a friend and check this place out on an extremely rainy Sunday afternoon. I felt like the food was just alright for the amount of hype this place has been getting. The dishes are fairly unique, being Korean-American brunch fusion, but the execution is pretty standard. We got the creme brulee french toast and corn ribs to share, and I got the chicken and croffle while my friend got the rib-eye. I would say everything tasted pretty good and was executed fine, but not to the level that I'd expect a 5 star restaurant to be. Service was friendly but slow. It was really crowded when we went so they could have been understaffed. Speaking of crowded, it was REALLY crowded in there. It was very loud and hard to hear, and I constantly felt like I was going to accidentally touch the person next to me. Plus, for a restaurant where you'd probably want to try and share a lot of dishes, the tables are really small and cramped. I might come back someday when the crowds have died down to try something else, as I think their quality is not bad, but at present it's just a bit too chaotic for me as a place to have a relaxed meal. read more

I would rate this place a solid 3.5 stars currently! Whisper's interior and design is vibey and bright for brunch. Love the seating arrangement and color theme of green and black. First thing I noticed with the menu is that there's so many options. I was surprised since it was soft opening. The lunch items looked more appealing to me to be honest. The breakfast was also cool but very new concepts so I wasn't sure if I should order them or not. I ultimately chose the congee and I'm glad I did! It was flavorful and had a good amount of food. It was extremely weird that it wasn't in a bowl...but a plate. I also had to ask for a spoon too. If I went back I'd want to try this again but the price was def expensive for what it was. The cast iron stone axe seemed to be a nice fancy option to splurge a bit. My friends red dawn was good but one of the eggs was basically hard boiled! The staff gave a very very tiny discount after it was pointed out. Overall I'd try this place again when the opening hype dies down. But I'll come for a special occasion. read more

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Customer service was great, food was amazing. I had the fluffy mango pancakes! It's definitely a must have!

New Korean fusion brunch spot that just opened a few days ago! Came during their soft opening on Saturday around 11 am and wasn't surprised that it was already busy. Their waitlist consisted of pen and paper: write down your name, # of people in your party, as well as your number (which was irrelevant as they don't call the number listed, only calling out the name for the party. This made it difficult as you can't wander off too far and this made many others stand around near the entrance. Waited about 30-40 minutes, which was understandable, since the waiters were waiting for open tables and there were other parties ahead of us. Once we got seated, we were given waters right away. We did take a bit to figure out what we wanted, but waited a few more minutes until we had to notify someone that we were ready to order. Luckily we didn't wait too long for the food to be served, but amid the time we arrived, waited, sat down, our food didn't come until around 12:30 pm. First order was the Morning Edition. For this meal you get to choose what kind of egg you'd like, your protein, side, and bread. In the picture, we opted for Eggs (sunny side up), Steak, fries, and ciabatta. Steak tasted amazing and was cooked perfectly! We did ask for butter and condiments, though we only got the condiments and didnt care to wait longer for the one missing item. Also ordered the Seafood Bibimbap. Wasn't sure what to expect as no one had reviewed this yet. But this entree was delicious! Had a variety of seafood like shrimp, squid, mussels, and scallop. The gochujang gave it flavor and was surprised with the size of the meal. Was only able to eat half and took it to-go. Loved how modern the establishment was. Cute decor, plants and greenery around. As good as the food was, the service doesn't come close. There were times that aside from us, others were also asked if they've ordered drinks, which we didn't. I've also noticed that others around us were having a hard time as well. A couple next to us asked for the bill and had to wait about 20 minutes until asking again. Another couple behind us sent their food back 3 times. I understand that this was their 3rd day open at the time. Definitely lots of improvement to work on. I'd want to come back but would wait a while until things are in order and organized. read more

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TLDR: Worth your time if you love Asian inspired breakfast joints, like I do. If you've been looking for a reason to go to San Mateo, I'd say it's worth it, particularly since it's downtown. Overall, my first experience and the extensive menu will have me coming back. Ambiance (4/5): * Contemporary, newly renovated, huge dining space with outdoor dining options and what appeared to be a full bar or at least one in the making. * I didn't see any heaters for the outdoor tables. * Spacing of the tables is a bit tight and some of the two person tables looked uncomfortably small. * Location is great, being downtown so you can go for a stroll and a boba after. Service (5/5): * Our server was super friendly, welcoming and attentive. * Who appeared to be a head chef, came over to welcome us and gave our daughter some cut fruit while we waited without us asking. Menu (5/5): * Killed it with the number of Korean/Asian inspired breakfast items and dishes in general. I could come here many times and try something new I'd look forward to. * I didn't order it, but one of the fried chicken dishes and the French toast looked dynamite. Mango Pancakes (5/5): * Lighter and airier than your usual American style pancake. * Mango sauce is plentiful (which I almost never find), flavorful and not too sweet. * Comes with a few nice ripe mango pieces, but wish it came with more. Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms (4/5): * Delicious, balanced flavor, not too rich, just right crispy toast * Truffle was MIA. I wished I sensed it, but if they left it off the title, I would have given it a 5. Sunday Chronicle Omelette (3/5): * I'm not a big omelette fan and this one did nothing to change my mind. * It's exactly like every other solid omelette you've had everywhere. * Some kind of unique Asian inspired sauce would be great. read more

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Came here for Friday lunch and it was surprisingly packed! The line went fast though and we got seats in 10 mins. The food was amazing! Tried the corn ribs (6/10), pork belly Benedict (8.5/10), Mediterranean omelet (6/10), crème brûlée French toast (8/10, but very sweet). The best dish was the truffle oyster mushroom appetizer. I had to stop my friend from licking the plate! Definitely will come back! read more

AMAZING! First time and wont be the last. Flavors were layered and every bite brought something new. Absolutely delicious! The juk was definitely elevated both in flavor pallet and texture. The truffle cream mushrooms were heavenly (order extra bread as you wont want to waste a single drop). The building is light and bright creating the perfect ambiance for brunch with friends and great conversation. read more

The space is very cool! High ceiling, very cozy and comfortable! The food is awesome! Kimchi carbonara is a must have! Will definitely come by and try different things. read more

Overall for the ambiance, price point, service, and food I would say 6.7/10. Definitely space for improvement. The ambiance is solid with the interior design and space. Came in on a Saturday waited for about 45 minutes, there was a lot of people in line, but by the time we returned lots of people in front of us had left. When we first arrived I heard the server tell someone the wait would be about 2 hrs. Their Yelp waitlist system wasn't working yet so everything was handwritten with names, party size, and phone number. The price point is high relative for the service and flavor of the food. Our bill was $77.82 for two main entrees and one appetizer with tax, before tip. When we went there we interacted with about four or more of the servers when dining. When Whisper is more established having one or two servers /busboy assigned to each table would make things more seamless. We didn't receive a menu and I noticed quite a few tables also didn't receive a menu for more than 10 minutes. We just looked at the menu on Yelp photos. The food we ordered was pretty average aside from one appetizer. Overall, the flavor was lacking in depth, more sugar and salt would help. I eat relatively clean when it comes to seasoning not heavy, but the food really lacked depth. Triangle Melt $16 - 8.2/10: panko tortilla stuffed with shrimp, cream cheese, egg, melted cheese, sweet & spicy sauce. The flavors really showed up in this dish. Good as is. Nori Pasta $26 - 6.6 /10: nori pasta, bulgogi, egg, green leaf lettuce, daikon radish sprouts, red onions, soy sauce, and sesame oil Really skeptical, felt like there was barely 2.5 oz of beef bulgogi in the dish. The flavor was lacking depth and could use some kind of sauce that melts the ingredients all together. The spicy peppers gave a nice kick, I wish they put more in the dish. I didn't taste the soy sauce or the sesame oil which is interesting since soy sauce is usually pretty salty and the sesame oil was so light I didn't taste the typical strong punch of sesame flavor in Asian cooking. (Portions look bigger in photo than in real life.) Jjampong Pasta $29 - 6.6/ 10: shrimp, squid, black mussels, scallops, spinach, onion, mushroom, green onion, grana padano (cheese) The "soup" more like sauce due to the little amount in the cast iron lacked the depth of when seafood flavor really seeps into the soup. I think the soup needs to be cooked for a longer length of time for the flavors to seep out. The noodles and the soup hadn't marinated together long enough for the flavors to really kick into the noodles more. The seafood was lacking in amount and size, but there's a decent amount of tiny scallops. I wish they put in cabbage, zucchini and not red bell peppers. The cheese was lightly sprinkled I didn't taste or notice it. I only could verify the cheese through my photos. We were full in the general sense having ordered for two adult, but not satiated since the protein portions were severely lacking in size. The main entrees were overpriced due to the small portions of protein relative to the price. It's a nice place to go for a group gathering for vibes, but I wouldn't go there for the flavor of the dishes we tried. It has potential to be better once everything is streamlined and their cooks are more familiarized with cooking the dishes. read more

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Overall, my friends and I had a terrible experience (2.2/5), but when Whisper figures out all of these issues, they'll likely become a brunch staple in San Mateo. To preface, it is their official third day of opening. Understanding that, and it being a Saturday, I reached out to the restaurant on Yelp to make a reservation for 3 at 12PM the night before, which the Owner had agreed. Upon arrival, the employee then tells me they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more because they didn't think the weekend opening would be so busy. They could have told me ahead of time as they had my phone number, but didn't. They were full and had 8 parties already waiting when we arrived, so they offered to seat us outside. I had assumed they had an outside patio since they offered, but it was just two circle tables put together. **I would NOT recommend this unless you don't mind being neglected. After seating, we got our water and immediately ordered. 15 minutes later the worker came out to tell us the order wasn't inputted into their system (they have paper menus, so I assume a mishap happened somewhere inside). We gave them our order again... but received our food at staggering times with one arriving 10 mins later, another 10 mins later, and the last order forgotten again arriving 30 mins after the last one. Given that it's brunch, a staggered food arrival time, is a bad look for any brunch facility. At the very least, they did not charge us for the item that arrived 30-40 mins after the first two, but at that point, we were already ready to leave. Food: 3/5 Standard brunch, creative fusion options, fair pricing, aesthetically plated, good to eat overall. My chicken and waffles were on the dry side, no syrup was provided. Ambience: Can't say. Looked nice inside. Outside was dreadful. Service: 1.5/5 You can tell they're still learning how to service customers. Maybe it's due to the ramp up that they weren't sure what to do. However, didn't check on us after ordering, missed the orders, staggered delivery making it unpleasant for everyone, no water refill, no seasoning. Brunch is busy on Saturdays and on opening but when the other reviews said the service was amazing, I was hoping for something average at minimum. read more

Whisper - Sweet and Salty - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food was decent Service was okay. Our plates came out dirty with food stuck to it. Ambiance was a bit loud like any other brunch places. Would I come back ? May be not. read more

I love this brunch spot, my bff and I tried the coffee and the French toast which was spectacular! (Not too sweet) the service was very good as they want to be super efficient with their tables. This places gets packed but definitely recommend hopping on the waitlist earlier. The place is very pretty and there is a lot of noise so be aware in case you bring an additional person. read more

Put your name down on the waitlist on Yelp before heading over! It'll save a lot of time! We got our text that our table was ready and were seated right away after checking in. Ordering was via qr code on the table. The food came out quickly. All the food was delicious! We definitely over ordered, and the portions sizes were generous! Loved everything from the savory to sweet dishes. Doesn't seem like you can order wrong here, can't wait to come back to try more. read more

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Visited for brunch recently and came away with mixed feelings. The atmosphere was definitely the highlight of the experience--comfortable, stylish, and a great place to relax and catch up with friends. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and our drinks and food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. There was about a 30-minute wait when we arrived, though they do offer a waitlist, which helped make the process a bit more manageable. The food itself was just okay. The menu leans toward Korean fusion, which sounded interesting, but the execution didn't quite live up to expectations. The carbonara was noticeably watery and lacked the richness I was hoping for. The omelette was fine but fairly standard and nothing particularly memorable. I also ordered a latte, and while presentation isn't everything, the latte art was underwhelming and the coffee itself was average. Prices were a bit higher than what I'd normally expect for the overall quality of the food and drinks. While the atmosphere and service were strong points, I'd probably come back more for the ambiance than for the menu. read more

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Had an amazing breakfast at Whisper in San Mateo! The staff was incredibly accommodating, attentive, and gave us great recommendations. The restaurant is clean, spacious, and has a welcoming atmosphere. We tried the Japanese latte, and it was fantastic, not too sweet, with a perfectly balanced tea flavor. The matcha latte with mango was also excellent. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the combination of matcha and mango worked surprisingly well. For food, I ordered the Sweet & Salt, which comes with crispy fried chicken, waffles, and syrup. It was absolutely delicious! The chicken was stacked in three generous layers over the waffle, making it a very filling meal. Personally, I found it to be a bit too much chicken for breakfast, but that's just my preference. The quality and flavor were excellent. We also ordered the Mango Pancakes, but I didn't even get a chance to take a picture because I ate them right away. Surprisingly they were that good! The cream filling on top, paired with the fresh mango, was absolutely spot on. The pancakes were fluffy, flavorful, and honestly, you don't even need the syrup because they're already perfect on their own. Overall, I highly recommend Whisper for breakfast or brunch. Great food, wonderful service, and a comfortable dining experience. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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The food was all right. It was pretty poorly thought out. The jalapenos on the dark choke was a very distracting addition, otherwise a decent dish. The service could have been better. The coffee was burnt, the barista needs to fix their heat setting read more

I came here for brunch on a Friday, and there was no wait. I really liked my experience here! We sat at a booth, and it was as comfy as it was beautiful. I had the mango matcha latte, and it was so fresh! I really loved it! For my starter, I had the shoyu butter corn ribs, and these were packed full of flavor. For my main, I had the dak juk. This was ok - I wasn't expecting it to be so spicy. For this reason, I couldn't share it with my baby. The porridge consistency was great, though. Service was awesome! read more

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Food was tasty. Drinks were okay, nice variety on the menu. The Hojicha latte had a lot of powder tea residue so it wasn't fully mixed. It was okay. I assume it was because the restaurant was super busy. All the drinks that were ordered on the QR menu came after all the food came and when we had to ask staff if the order went through or not. Not a lot of sweetness added which is nice for my partner and I. The pasta was flavorful and thick so it filled us up pretty good. Perfect size for the pasta. Good amount of meat. Good seasoning and presentation. The matcha pancake was super thick. It was tasty and the cream was tasty. I'm not sure if the cream needs to be whipped more but it was presented well and the cream was enough to cover all 3 pancakes. The seafood bibimbap was okay. Good amount of seafood but it wasn't as flavorful as I thought it would be. But still good. My partner enjoyed the food. I knew MOST places charges for gratuity for 6 or more people. We didn't know that it was charged at the end. The staff waitress Aaliyah was nice, she checked in now and then. She did not inform us about the auto gratuity tip of 20% added to the ended of the bill. I don't know if it's because it was really loud and busy that it was assumed we would know. We didn't see a notice on the QR menu app or menu. My partner just assumed he had to tip after the card was charged on the tablet when it flips to him the total of our bill. Once we got our paper receipt, we noticed we double tipped. Some places charges automatically and some places doesn't charge the big group fee. I only ask to please have staff remind big groups it's added cause all my companions and I didn't hear it was added. In the end, I would try the place again on a non super busy holiday day. It has a lot of potential. read more

My partner and I went here for breakfast today and were underwhelmed given the price. They have a cute aesthetic and some unique dishes. He got the bulgolgi benedict and I got the fried chicken Benedict. We also got the shrimp scampi avocado toast. The latte I got was nice. Avocado toast - the bread wasn't even toasted and only contained a very thin layer of avocado The breakfast potatoes on both of our dishes were barely toasted. Total with tip came to $85 for two people. There are better breakfast spots for that same price or less such as Jack's, Johnny's and Taste and Glory. read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Saw Whisper when I was strolling through San Mateo the other day and knew I had to try it! Loved their concept of a Korean fusion brunch and their menu looked delicious. Came back two days later and glad that I did. First thing to know is that you'll probably have to wait, as it's fairly popular. Luckily there's a lot to do in that area. My friend and I put our names down and then walked over to Philz to caffeneite a little and then came back to Whisper 30 minutes later. Still had about 15 minutes to wait, so 45 minutes total on a Sunday afternoon. Second thing to know is that their menu spans the range of Korean to American. There's more Korean dishes like dakjuk, there's more American dishes like scrambles, and then there's dishes in between like kimchi carbonera. Nice selection and something for everybody if you're looking for something between American and Korean. I'm personally a congee kind of guy so I got the dakjuk and really enjoyed it! We got the kimchi as a side-dish and enjoyed that as well. Our Korean friend had recommended it before we came, saying it's better than most store bought kimchi you can get in the area. Glad Whisper is here in San Mateo and definitely will be coming back. read more

Food here was AMAZING! Korean fusion with a twist. So many things i wanted to try. The portions were large enough to share. Bonus points for the kids menu! We were worried about the long wait time but luckily they had an online waitlist so we put ourselves in before heading over from Top Golf. When we arrived, we waited 5 minutes and were seated. Loved the atmosphere and decor. read more

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Such large portions and very flavorful!! Love the interior so much too! Came back a few months after this for their dinner as well and it was just as good as the first time (: read more

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So nice to have a great new brunch spot downtown. This place is pretty huge, but it was absolutely packed on our first visit. But nonetheless, the service was always prompt and attentive. They really seemed to have the place dialed in already. Also, the food was great! I was in the mood for a traditional breakfast, so that's what I focused on. But the menu had a lot of interesting stuff on it - worth exploring next time! And there will definitely be a next time... read more

Very cute place for a brunch date. Lots of food to share. Should find street parking before. Ordered the Sunday Chronicle omelette and it's solid. Didn't have to wait but there is a long wait for the Labor Day holiday. read more

My experience at Whisper was excellent. Our server Donnie Mya provided great service and was friendly. All of the food was good and unique. I especially liked the kimchi pasta. read more

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My family's first time at Whispers. The food and service was amazing and we got our food quickly. We are already planning our next trip back. I got the croffle and fried chicken, my dad had the vanilla ice French toast and my mom had the bossman Benedict. Great flavors overall. The location is large, and everyone looks ao happy. Our waitress Brianna was extremely nice. read more

Great food! I wish they had more vegetarian options, but the ones that they do are really tasty. I may have even discovered a speakeasy here... read more

Very amazing server and food is so delicious! Gonna go back more to try something new in the menu. Seth is the best server super nice and friendly read more

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Briana was so sweet! Love love love the food! Had the coastal green and was so fresh. My girl had the Layered Architecture and she loved it too! A must restaurant to try. read more

We ve been here at least 6 times. Foods are very delicious. Like the idea of korean/asian fusion read more

Whisper - Bibimbap - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

been wanting to try this brunch spot. joined the line before arriving which helped, place was already pretty busy before 11am but we got seated right away. then it got packed real quick after, came in waves. menu's got a lot going on; korean fusion brunch vibes. got the gentle melt (tuna melt) + the layered architecture burger. portions were huge. fries were sooo good. flavors overall were solid and tasted fresh too. would come back to try more stuff. read more

Whisper - gentle melt, layered architecture - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

My husband and I got there when they opened and there were already a few people waiting. The restaurant is pretty large and I loved the vibes. Very clean and modern. Fina served us and she was amazing! She had a huge smile and was very friendly. She went over her recommendations and gave us time to figure out what we wanted. The food came fast and was hot as well as aesthetically pleasing. As an appetizer, we ordered the Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms. It was creamy and savory and I would go back just for that dish alone. I ordered the Coastal Green omelette and my husband ordered the Latin Sunrise omelette. Both of our dishes were good! Great place for a brunch date or an early meet up with friends! They are not serving alcohol yet though but are working on their liquor license. read more

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Got the truffle tartar, kimchi carbonara, and the mentaiko cream jjamppong. They were all delicious. Wish they gave us a little more than 4 tortilla chips for the tartar though. Decor was very nice. Long waits for brunch read more

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Food was great!!! Our server Mya and the rest of the crew were fantastic! They are all very friendly and accommodating! And did i mention the Food was great! Clean flavor with great balance of savory and spice! The ambiance is vibing!! Clean esthetic with a touch of glamour we will definitely be back!!!! read more

Whisper - Jjamppong pasta, Cast iron stone axe & truffle cream oyster mushroom with Mango matcha latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

I like the chips. Fancy spoons. I enjoyed the food and the ambiance. And the service. The green accents are nice. read more

Whisper - The green accents are nice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

3.75 stars rounded up. The chef who put Sweet Maple on the map has opened a new Korean-fusion eatery; chic & modern Whisper is located in the space formerly occupied by Wursthall. My group had initially planned on ordering a sweet capper to end brunch, however, Whisper's generous portions left us too stuffed to tackle dessert. We ordered: -- Dakjuk ($20): Korean congee topped with chicken breast, scallion, bacon, & a perfectly-poached egg. My favorite dish of the meal. Loved the mélange of toppings & creamy porridge. -- Sweet & Salt ($23): Korean fried chicken stacked impressively high atop a croissant-waffle hybrid. The fact that I'm not typically a fan of chicken thigh might give me pause before ordering this dish again; that said, the breading had a satisfying crunch & was well seasoned. -- Cast Iron Stone Axe ($29): abundant portion of Australian wagyu finger rib; unfortunately, the thick, chunky pieces were extremely tough & chewy. Both the accompanying rice & potato medley were flavored just right. I appreciate that our dishes were brought out in courses so we could fully enjoy each creation. Because we were seated near the kitchen, there was always a staff member in our vicinity to flag down for anything we needed. read more

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I had such a wonderful experience at Whisper in San Mateo during a special mother-daughter date with my 9-year-old daughter. Even as a walk-in, we only waited about 5 minutes, which was amazing. The service was outstanding--everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. It was the perfect place to enjoy quality time together, and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Whisper to anyone looking for great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Bossam was well executed!!!!! I appreciate our server Victoria's hustle!!!!!!! Enjoyed the croffle too read more

Had such a great experience at Whisper in San Mateo! Our server, Mickey, was amazing--very friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome.