Dear Whisper Manager, I wanted to share feedback regarding our experience at Whisper during our visit on Saturday, June 27. We had a reservation at 1:45 PM for a party of 10 to celebrate a special 50th birthday. We arrived a few minutes early, but our table was not ready until approximately 2:10 PM--about 25 minutes after our reservation time. Because the restaurant closes at 3:00 PM, we expressed our concern about feeling rushed. We were assured that, since we had been seated so late, we would be welcome to stay as long as we needed. Our first disappointment was the seating arrangement. We were placed upstairs in a corner of the room at four small round tables pushed together to accommodate our party. The space was extremely cramped, making it difficult to enjoy our meal comfortably. With so many dishes arriving, there simply wasn't enough table space, and we found ourselves constantly moving plates and rushing to finish food just to make room for the next items. Given that we were celebrating such a milestone birthday, we had hoped to wait for one of the larger tables on the main floor, where the atmosphere is much more inviting. Unfortunately, we were made to feel that this was not an immediate option, given the timing. I do want to acknowledge that our server was friendly and pleasant while she was with us. Around the restaurant's closing time, however, she informed us that she needed to leave because she worked another job after her shift. She said another staff member would take over our table. Unfortunately, no one ever did. From that point forward, our party received virtually no service. No one checked on us, no one informed us that the kitchen was preparing to close or taking last orders, and we were never given an opportunity to order dessert. Had someone simply let us know the kitchen was closing, we certainly would have placed our dessert order before it was too late. Instead, we were left to fend for ourselves. We had to refill our own water glasses using a pitcher left near the staircase, flag someone down to request to-go boxes, and ask for plates so we could serve the birthday cake we had brought. Because service became so limited and we were essentially the last guests remaining, we ultimately decided not to cut the cake at the restaurant. We left and celebrated the birthday elsewhere instead. What made this particularly disappointing was that our bill totaled nearly $600, and an automatic gratuity of approximately $88 was added because of our party size. While we understand and respect automatic gratuities for large groups, it was frustrating to pay a substantial service charge when, after 3:00 PM, we essentially received no service at all. We chose Whisper for a special milestone celebration and were excited to experience your restaurant for the first time. Unfortunately, the combination of the delayed seating, uncomfortable table arrangement, lack of communication regarding the kitchen closing, and complete absence of service after our original server left left us very disappointed. What should have been a memorable birthday lunch ended on a frustrating note. I'm sharing this feedback in hopes that it helps improve the experience for future guests celebrating special occasions. Better communication, a smoother staff handoff, and ensuring that large parties continue to receive attentive service--even after the restaurant closes to new guests--would have made a tremendous difference! read more

Visited today and the overall experience left us feeling uncertain about this place. Don't get me wrong the food was solid, not the best or anything special but still solid nonetheless. What really rubbed us the wrong way though was the absolutely awful service from the servers, they were awful. we were seated fast, we had our drink order taken right away and our drinks came out relatively fast but unfortunately the good service ended there. About 15 minutes after our drinks came out we got restless and decided to order online through the QR code. About 10 minutes later our server finally decided to come take the order but we informed him that we had already placed the order online, not a word from him just a nod and he walked away. About 5 minutes later our food came out, again nothing special. Throughout our meal our server came to check on us once and he failed to bring us our plates that we had asked for. We had to get up and grab our sauces ourselves from the kitchen counter because our server still never went back to check on us. We made a tiny remark to the busser that our server was not the best. To which our server came right away after that remark, he asked if we needed anything else, we requested ice water to which HE FORGOT AGAIN!!!! This place really really needs to consider who they pick as servers. I will say that we will highly highly HIGHLY praise and appreciate the service from the bussers, they were on top of it and towards the end of our visit they were the ones taking care of our table and order. So sad as the restaurant is beautiful and it's 1000% the vibe that we were looking for, we just feel that you would expect such an establishment to have peak service but that is sadly not the case for Whisper. 2 stars just for the bussers but if it weren't for them we'd definitely give only 1. read more

LOVE this cute, charming, airy and bright brunch spot! We reserved on Yelp a couple days prior to our Friday brunch. The food was amazingly delicious and the entire team provided us with warm, efficient and fast service! Thank You especially to our Server Blas for making our 1st visit a fantastic one! We look forward to returning soon! :0) We ordered 3 items so we could try a variety from their unique Korean inspired menu. We enjoyed the very tasty Kim Chi carbonara pasta, but wished it had a lot more noodles and more, bigger bits of bulgolgi! Loved the toasted bread and we had to order more bread to enjoy the deliciously plentiful sauce! Would like them to also add more noodles as I was still a little hungry after eating this. The fried chicken was perfectly fried and moist! Presentation was awesome! The biggest issue is that they need to doctor and spice up this item more! It kinda tasted like ketchup and was on the sweet side vs. slightly spicy! I hope they will improve the flavoring on this one as they work on fine tuning the recipes! :0) Can't wait to give it another shot next visit! We also had the egg chicken brunch item which I can't recall the name of. Again, beautiful presentation and soooo... delish! Just say YUM! The egg yolk oozed out perfectly upon breaking the outer surface! If you like this type of egg, this is expressly made for YOU! :0) We were able to get free ice cream for writing a Yelp review! What a cute and fun treat! Thank You for the delicious brunch! We had such a great time relaxing and catching up at your restaurant and trying your delightful food! Thank you also for making us feel welcome and not rushing anyone out! LOVE it! :0) read more

I recently came across Whisper, a newer brunch spot, and decided to check it out with my family. I'm glad we did because it was a great place to spend a relaxing brunch together. The restaurant has a clean, modern interior with a bright and welcoming atmosphere. It feels open without being too loud, making it a nice place to catch up over a meal. The staff were also very friendly and welcoming, and we felt well taken care of throughout our visit. We ordered the Shoyu-Butter Corn Ribs, Crème Brûlée French Toast, and the Miso Ssamjang Bossam. The Shoyu-Butter Corn Ribs were probably the only dish that fell a little short for me. They weren't bad, but they were a bit bland and didn't have as much flavor as I was expecting. I was hoping for a stronger buttery, savory glaze to really make the corn stand out. The Crème Brûlée French Toast, on the other hand, was delicious. The caramelized sugar on top gave it a nice crisp texture, while the inside stayed soft and fluffy without being overly sweet. My favorite dish was definitely the Miso Ssamjang Bossam. The pork belly was tender, flavorful, and paired really well with the rich miso ssamjang sauce. It was savory, well balanced, and easily the standout dish of the meal. I also liked that we ordered both the French toast and the bossam because it gave us the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu. read more

Food was ok. The pictures I took was a birthday brunch with my friend. That day service was disappointing. We got our food in a timely manor. We ordered those 3 openers (pics are the openings) and also 2 entrees (no pics for entrees). We only got 1 entree we were missing mine. They told me they couldn't make it because the kitchen is closed mind you I waited for an hour. Had to tell them to take it off the list. Again this was my birthday brunch. Not a good impression. Also the "Dajuk" was cold when we received it. Over all I was disappointed. Yesterday I went and service was poor. Our waiter greeted us. Sat us. We ordered the sunrise omelette. Which had chorizo. Hardly any chorizo, hardly any cheese. They sprinkled cheese on top which was interesting since it was an omelette. Potatoes were okay,,, very basic. Got toast but the toast was cold and had no butter. No big deal was going to ask for some but no waiter around. He disappeared. Did a full 360. He was sitting at the bar eating. Guess he was off and didn't tell us. So we didn't know who our waiter was. Didn't see anyone for a good 30 mins. We wanted butter, hot sauce and napkins. We gave up and lost our appetite. Won't be coming back. Be better with your customer service and hope the menu gets better. Food isn't anything special. And it's pricey. read more

Finally made it to Whisper for brunch, and it definitely lived up to the hype! We made a reservation, which made everything super easy--we were seated right away with no wait. My friend and I shared the Kimchi Carbonara, Truffle Mushrooms, and Gochujang Fried Chicken. My absolute favorites were the Truffle Mushrooms and the Kimchi Carbonara. Both dishes were SO flavorful, and I loved that each one had its own unique sauce and flavor profile. They also came with bread, which was perfect for soaking up every last bit of sauce (honestly, one of the best parts ). For drinks, I got the Mango Matcha Latte, and it was so yummy--the perfect brunch drink! The restaurant itself was super clean and had such a cute, stylish vibe. Everyone there was dressed so well, and the bar area looked especially beautiful and elevated. On top of that, our servers were incredibly attentive, friendly, and sweet, which made the experience even better. Overall, such a fun brunch spot with amazing food, great service, and a gorgeous atmosphere. I already can't wait to come back! read more

Had the "Sweet & Salt" at Whisper and it was honestly one of those dishes that hits both comfort and creativity at the same time. The combination of crispy fried chicken over a soft, buttery croffle is already a classic, but what really stood out was the balance. The chicken was juicy inside with a perfectly crunchy coating, and the waffle had that light crisp on the outside while staying fluffy. The syrup tied everything together without making it overly sweet, and the fresh fruit added a nice refreshing contrast. The orange slice on top wasn't just for looks--it actually gave a subtle citrus brightness that made the whole dish feel more layered. Every bite had that sweet-savory harmony done right. Presentation was also on point--definitely one of those dishes you want to take a picture of before digging in. If you're into chicken & waffles but want something a little more elevated, this is a must-try. And the service was excellent, the ambiance is amazing!! Definitely gonna come back to try more dishes. read more

This place has a nice welcoming environment when you walk in. We placed our orders. I asked for coffee with cream and sugar or honey. They forgot the sugar. I ordered the red dawn Benedict plate with a salad. The salad had ripped paper folded in it. I told the waitress what I seen and asked if I could get a replacement with potatoes and she looked at me like I should have just settled for the paper salad. The chicken with the Benedict was ok and maybe the salad rounded the breakfast all together, As I paid the guy asked how it was and I told him what I found; he said "you should have told me before you paid so I could give you a discount". We said we told the waitress and I guess these things are swept under the rug. It was a first and last unfortunately. Quality control and communication appears to be an opportunity for this place. On to the next spot.... read more

Just tried Whisper, a newly opened brunch spot in San Mateo, and it was such a pleasant surprise. The dish I ordered was beautifully plated and packed with flavor -- crispy roasted potatoes, perfectly toasted bread, and a savory main topped with fresh herbs, microgreens, and a light, creamy sauce that tied everything together. You can tell a lot of care went into both the presentation and the balance of flavors. The vibe is calm and modern, perfect for a relaxed brunch, and the service was friendly and welcoming without being overbearing. Everything felt fresh, thoughtful, and well-executed -- especially impressive for a new opening. Definitely a great addition to the neighborhood. I'll be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quality brunch spot in the area! read more

We had a big group gathering at Whisper in San Mateo and it was an amazing time. The table was filled with so many beautiful dishes, everything came out looking great and tasting even better. Sharing food, laughing, and enjoying the moment together made it feel like a real celebration. The vibe was perfect for a party -- lively, welcoming, and comfortable. Everyone was having a great time, taking photos, and enjoying the food without feeling rushed. What really made the experience stand out was the service. The staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic, which made our group feel well taken care of from start to finish. Such a fun place to gather with friends. We had an incredible time and will definitely be back again for another party soon! read more

For Valentine's Day brunch we decided to try Whisper. It was very popular this morning, many people had the same idea. We sat at the bar and John served us delicious coffees and answered all our questions about the other pretty drinks he was making. We ordered two different types of Eggs Benedict, the portions were generous and the side choices of potato medley and salad were both tasty. We had excellent and attentive service from Aaliyah. Love the decor and furniture, as well. It's nice to have a new restaurant in San Mateo that makes you want to come in and sit down instead of the sterile grab-and-go options that are popping up all over SM. We look forward to returning again soon. read more

We recently visited this fairly new café and were excited to give it a try. I ordered a hamburger and fries, and my friend had an omelette. While everything looked good, the food arrived a bit lukewarm and didn't quite have the flavor we were hoping for. The service was a little slow during our visit, although the staff was polite. As it got busier, we did feel a bit rushed with a few check-ins at our table. It was also quite noisy, which made it a bit difficult to hear our conversation. Overall, it may just be that they're still finding their rhythm as a new spot. We hope things improve over time, but this visit didn't fully meet our expectations. read more

Loved this brunch spot! The hostess seated us right away, the servers kept our coffee topped off, and every dish came out hot, fresh, and beautifully plated. The huevos rancheros were flavorful without being too spicy, the pancakes were perfectly fluffy, and the crispy bacon had just the right amount of chew. The space feels bright and cozy, with plenty of natural light and just enough background music to chat comfortably. Prices were reasonable for the portion sizes, and we never felt rushed even though it was busy. I'd absolutely come back for another relaxed weekend brunch with friends. read more

Linh made our experience at Whisper absolutely wonderful. From the moment we sat down, she was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. She made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal without ever making us feel rushed. Her recommendations were great, she checked on us at just the right times, and her positive energy really made the whole experience feel special. Great service can truly make a meal memorable, and Linh did exactly that. If you're lucky enough to have her as your server, you're in excellent hands. Thank you, Linh, for the outstanding service -- we'll definitely be back! read more

We got the Kimchi Carbonara, Mango Pancakes, and Gogi Morning! First time trying this restaurant and we were pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. Usually asian fusion restaurants are a hit or miss but the combination actually complimented each other and tasted really good. Kimchi Carbonara will 10000% be coming back for that dish the meat was marinated so well and the sauce was lwkey addicting to dip the bread into. Overall The food looks as good as the photos would highly recommend for a girls day brunch or showing visiting family downtown San Mateo! read more