Jerry H

Great, informal place for lunch. Quick and courteous service, and great food. Had the Reuben sandwich and the goofy fries. The pastrami was excellent. The goofy fries were great as well, covered with sauce and included some pastrami chunks. Can get a little loud indoors, but outdoor seating is available. No issues with free street parking on a weekday.

Andrew Nolasco

Best Pastrami Sandwich I’ve ever had!! I’ve eaten pastrami at Katz in New York so I don’t say this lightly. I will be coming back for this exact sandwich very soon. If you haven’t eaten a pastrami sandwich here you are missing out on Life!! The waiters were also very attentive and nice. 10/10 service. 12/10 Pastrami Sandwich.

Wei-Ai Tai

Love the food and the beer here! The goofy fries are soooo good, and the pastrami is a must-try. Amazingly selection of beer, along with fast and friendly service. Both San Carlos and San Mateo locations have outdoor seating, but the parking in San Carlos may be tougher to find on the weekends and some busy week nights. Overall a highly recommended place!

Randal Pettyjohn

Best pastrami sandwich ever, the slaw and mustard sauce just blends perfect. Also had the Garlic fries that were amazing as well as Barbacoa nachos. Service is top notch, never been checked on so many times ever to make sure everything is to your expectations. In town for a jujitsu tournament in Palo Alto and this place was recommended. They feature Belgian beers and have a huge selection. I’m very positive this place was featured on triple DDD. Enjoy the pics and out this on your bucket list of Places to eat! #refugesc

+2

Ken Wong

12-19-21: Love this place! First time trying this place and really enjoyed the pastrami sandwich! Served with a pickle and pickled onions. The pastrami was very tender and spiced perfectly! Will definitely come back for more pastrami! Completed my meal with an order of fries 🍟. Surprised by their extensive 🍺 selection. Got a hoppy taster which included 4 oz of a Revision Brewing IPA, a Barebottle Brewing hazy IPA, and an Alvarado Brewery Double IPA 👍. All 🍻 were really great. Nice job of combining three great 🍻. Will definitely be back again for more delicious food!

+4

J L

The food is well prepared and amazingly delicious! The brussel sprouts were well infused with a smoky bacon flavor. The pastrami burger was juicy and awesome. But the real star was the bead pudding! And they have a great orange cream soda. Best one. I've had in a long time. (Note I only took pics of half a burger. It doesn't come this way).

+1

Raj Dixit

Excellent pastrami sandwiches here - I had the Reuben, and it was the best I have ever tasted. Their cheese fries with diced pastrami was scrumptious. The bread pudding was the best I have had in years. Massive selection of beers and wines, with an emphasis on Belgian style beers. A small, intimate place, but plenty of room at the bar. Absolutely recommended. I enclose photos of my beer and all the delicious food I ate.

Wow! Best pastrami/ and possibly San which I've ever had, usually not one to review sandwich places but this was amazing. Gonna have to start ordering sandwiches now haha .

Met up with some old high school friends for dinner. Great pub feel, beer selection was double in size to the food menu. My buddy said the Reuben sandwich was outstanding. Had a bit of sticker shoc…

Met up with some old high school friends for dinner. Great pub feel, beer selection was double in size to the food menu. My buddy said the Reuben sandwich was outstanding. Had a bit of sticker shoc…

Amazing burger and food! Great service. Cool ambiance. Love this little neighborhood bar/restaurant.\n\nHIGHLY RECOMMEND!

No nonsense. We love the Refuge every time. The pastrami is UHMAZING. Our favorites include the 963 pastrami sandwich, the pastrami chopped salad, and the pastrami steak with fries. We've also dabb…

Pastrami is out of this world good. Service was amazing. Great beer variety of both bottles and draft. Best burger (pastrami burger of course) I have had in a long long time. My wife had the pastrami…

Pastrami is out of this world good. Service was amazing. Great beer variety of both bottles and draft. Best burger (pastrami burger of course) I have had in a long long time. My wife had the past…

Pastrami is out of this world good. service was amazing. Great beer variety of both bottles and draft. Best burger (pastrami burger of course) I have had in a long long time. My wife had the pastra…

Pastrami is out of this world good. Service was amazing. Great beer variety of both bottles and draft. Best burger (pastrami burger of course) I have had in a long long time. My wife had the pastra…

We waited about 20 minutes on a Thursday night. Great food, great beer. Gathering place for locals—Big tables full of friends and families with kids. Pastrami Sandwich with Brussels sprouts and a…

We waited about 20 minutes on a Thursday night. Great food, great beer. Gathering place for locals—Big tables full of friends and families with kids. Pastrami Sandwich with Brussels sprouts and a…

I’ve been to the San Carlos location, which is the OG, and I didn’t even realize they had opened a new spot in San Mateo near the Hillsdale Caltrain station. The only downside is that the San Mateo location doesn’t have the Kyiv Style Chopped Chicken Liver Pâté on the menu, which was always my go-to at the San Carlos spot. It’s been many moons since I last had it. I’m a big fan of their sour beers and their pastrami. And I can’t forget the bread pudding. It’s seriously to die for.

I recently stopped by The Refuge while visiting San Carlos along the Peninsula, and it quickly became clear why the restaurant has developed a strong local following. Located on Laurel Street, the main dining corridor in the city, the restaurant blends the atmosphere of a casual beer hall with a menu centered around hearty comfort food. The atmosphere strikes a balance between lively and relaxed. The interior has a rustic, industrial feel with wood accents, communal tables, and a bar area that highlights the beer selection. It feels like a place designed for social dining rather than quiet, formal meals. The energy of Laurel Street also contributes to the experience, especially in the evenings when the area becomes more active with diners and visitors. The food is clearly the main draw. The Refuge is particularly known for its specialty sandwiches, especially its pastrami, which is prepared in-house and served in generous portions. The meat is tender, flavorful, and clearly crafted with care. Other menu items lean toward hearty comfort fare, often paired with a wide selection of craft beers that complement the richness of the dishes. Service felt efficient and friendly, which is important given how busy the restaurant can become during peak hours. Staff moved quickly while still maintaining a welcoming and approachable tone. From a global travel perspective, The Refuge reminded me of modern beer halls and sandwich-focused eateries I have visited in cities like Berlin, Chicago, and Montreal where strong flavors, good beer, and a social atmosphere come together to create a memorable dining experience.

Jeff S

I want to love the food but it felt very extreme. Goofy fries was a bit on the warm side. The cheese sauce was piping hot which made the fries seem even colder. Pastrami chunks was amazing. The cheese steak was underwhelming & a bit dry. But the fries that came with the sandwich was amazing. The staff were awesome. They kept my glass filled. They also seem very close with the other patrons.

Jeff B

Pastrami…very flavorful, could use maybe a tad bit more salt for my taste. Price is a bit high, but I understand the labor and time that goes into this dish. It’s not something you can easily recreate home which makes it sought after. Pastrami - mustard and Swiss, was pretty good. Tomato soup is also worth a mention here, it was delicious!!

Mark S

We had a great experience dining at The Refuge with a group. The atmosphere was lively and well-suited for larger parties. While the pastrami isn’t traditional New York style (it’s chopped instead of sliced), it was still very flavorful and satisfying. The staff was exceptionally attentive and made sure everything ran smoothly. Overall, a solid dining experience and worth a visit.

I grew up in NYC. That means I grew up with great Jewish deli food. Especially my dear pastrami & corned beef.\n\nThe Refuge is my Bay Area go to for something approximating what I once knew. But dis…

We stopped by The Refuge and tried the Reuben, the 963, and the Goofy fries.\n\nWe ended up sitting outside on a sunny day, so it was really nice. The staff were very friendly and checked on us mul…

We stopped by The Refuge and tried the Reuben, the 963, and the Goofy fries.\n\nWe ended up sitting outside on a sunny day, so it was really nice. The staff were very friendly and checked on us mul…

We stopped by The Refuge and tried the Reuben, the 963, and the Goofy fries.\n\nWe ended up sitting outside on a sunny day, so it was really nice. The staff were very friendly and checked on us mul…

Wonderful service, impressive beer menu, and decent food. This place is popular. We arrived for an early dinner on a Saturday night and we had our choice of where to sit (we chose outside) but by t…

Wonderful service, impressive beer menu, and decent food. This place is popular. We arrived for an early dinner on a Saturday night and we had our choice of where to sit (we chose outside) but by t…

Pastrami, Pastrami, and did I say Pastrami. I would still rate the Pastrami best in the area. The sandwiches are great and they have a decent rotating beer selection. Been coming here for a while n…

Service: great, we were seated quickly with the choice of outside or inside (we chose outside on a beautiful day)\n\nFood: we ordered a pastrami sandwich and a burger to share. I really enjoyed the…

Came in "Ser Rodrigo" on Mother's Day for an early lunch, was craving something between burger and Pastrami. Got the 1/2 pastrami combo, and it is a solid bachelor lunch! Kind of expensive, but pro…

Family pub style place with great ambiance and a large selection of beers, including Belgian beers. Small outdoor area and nice indoor area with comfy booths, some table and a bar service was very …

2nd time, much better than the first time in Menlo Park, outdoor seating helps those with hearing problems, Cheese Steak & fries were fantastic more than I could eat. A little pricey but I would go …

2nd time, much better than the first time in Menlo Park, outdoor seating helps those with hearing problems, cheese steak & fries were fantastic more than I could eat. A little pricey but I wou…

2nd time, much better than the first time in Menlo Park, outdoor seating helps those with hearing problems, Cheese Steak & fries were fantastic more than I could eat. A little pricey but I would g…

The burgers are like better restaurant versions of In n Out Burgers! Really good burgers and fries as well as the pastrami that they are so known for. Also amazing beer selection.

The burgers are like better restaurant versions of In n Out burgers! Really good burgers and fries as well as the pastrami that they are so known for. Also amazing beer selection.

The burgers are like better restaurant versions of In n Out Burgers! Really good burgers and fries as well as the pastrami that they are so known for. Also amazing beer selection.

Eidmone Tagaca

I was kinda disappointed of how the pastrami sandwich tasted, it was greasy and didn’t have flavor to it. It was the same with the bri burger that we had. The tuna melt was kinda good but it was still super greasy.

Ira Y

The staff were very polite and the pastrami sandwich was solid, albeit rather skimpy on the meat for $25. Unfortunately, decided to try their Buffalo wings. 5 wings for $14 dollars ($2.80 per wing). They were advertised as buffalo and butter. While they looked good, they only tasted like fried greasy butter wings. I forced myself to eat three to try to get my money's worth. Awful, especially for the price. I would avoid them until they change their recipe and price point.

Upgrading my review after ownership response and as it relates to customer service. That is exactly how to do it.\n\nI can't imagine how difficult it is to maintain a thriving restaurant business the…

Upgrading my review after ownership response and as it relates to customer service. That is exactly how to do it.\n\nI can't imagine how difficult it is to maintain a thriving restaurant business t…

Food:\n\nPoutine - Ample amount of fries. Not enough cheese or gravy for my liking. It was good though.\n\nPastrami sandwich - Quantity was enough for me. If you don't like fatty or greasy meat, avoi…

food:\n\nPoutine - Ample amount of fries. Not enough cheese or gravy for my liking. It was good though.\n\nPastrami sandwich - Quantity was enough for me. If you don't like fatty or greasy mea…

Food:\n\nPoutine - Ample amount of fries. Not enough cheese or gravy for my liking. It was good though.\n\nPastrami sandwich - Quantity was enough for me. If you don't like fatty or greasy meat, av…

Food:\n\nPoutine - Ample amount of fries. Not enough cheese or gravy for my liking. It was good though.\n\nPastrami sandwich - Quantity was enough for me. If you don't like fatty or greasy meat, av…

I was complaining to a freind about the lack of Montreal style smoked meat sandwiches in the bay area and he recommended this place. So we went for dinner. We bought the pastrami because we did not s…

I was complaining to a freind about the lack of Montreal style smoked meat sandwiches in the bay area and he recommended this place. So we went for dinner. We bought the pastrami because we did n…

Ordered a philly cheesesteak and it was very dry tasting and the meat was of bad quality probably old and left out bc I felt super ill after