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Best Romantic Restaurants in San Mateo

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65 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Pausa Bar & Cookery restaurant
1. Pausa Bar & Cookery
4.7
Exceptional(1882)
Price: Expensive
• Italian • San Mateo
Booked 46 times today
Pausa Bar & Cookery is a romantic spot, often described as perfect for date nights. With its modern Italian cuisine, patrons rave about the high-quality food and attentive service. The ambiance is often praised as sophisticated and trendy, creating an intimate and memorable dining experience. One reviewer even mentioned the restaurant printed 'Happy Anniversary' on their menu, adding a sweet touch to their special occasion.
A photo of Central Park Bistro restaurant
2. Central Park Bistro
4.7
Exceptional(1725)
Price: Expensive
• American • San Mateo
Booked 12 times today
Central Park Bistro is the perfect romantic spot, as reviewers highlight its 'lovely ambience', 'quiet enough for great conversation', and 'beautiful ambience'. Its 'fantastic food' and 'personalized service' make it a top choice for special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays. The 'homey atmosphere' and 'fantastic Valentine's dinner' are also mentioned, making it clear that this is the place to go for a romantic evening.
A photo of Porterhouse restaurant
3. Porterhouse
4.7
Exceptional(1731)
Price: Expensive
• Steakhouse • San Mateo
Booked 18 times today
The renowned art of dry aging finally arrives in San Mateo, as our new dry aging window is now completed. We are proud to be the only restaurant on the Peninsula (In between San Francisco & San Jose) to have an in-house dry aging facility. Our new menu featuring these marvelous cuts of beef is now available.To accompany your steak, our Wine List celebrates the acclaimed wines of Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, France and Italy. In addition to our steak and chop offerings, our Chef provides for a daily selection of fresh fish and seafood.Whether you are having a romantic dinner, entertaining some friends and family, having a business meeting, or hosting a private party, we will provide you with the ideal setting for your next outing.*Please note that we have re-located 2 blocks away to 164 S B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401
A photo of The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar restaurant
4. The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar
4.4
Awesome(397)
Price: Moderate
• French American • San Mateo
Booked 16 times today
The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar welcomes everyone with selective wines selection and many pairings superbly with a wide variety of cuisine. With selective cheeses and charcutiers, hundreds of different wines, seafood,and meats.The Barrel Bistro&Wine Bar attracts colleagues for a drink after work, business dinners, a quick bite or drink before a show, late night revelers, families for Sunday brunch and more.
A photo of Rise Woodfire Pizza & Rotisserie - San Mateo restaurant
5. Rise Woodfire Pizza & Rotisserie - San Mateo
4.4
Awesome(653)
Price: Moderate
• American • San Mateo
Booked 17 times today
Proudly local and family-owned, we serve elevated comfort food including wood-fired pizza and rotisserie fare in the heart of Downtown San Mateo (located inside a historical train station!). Try local favorites like our signature pizzas, prime ribs and roast chickens, as well as many vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes to choose from. Our indoor and outdoor dining are open, so come experience our grand main dining room or dine outside in our state-of-the-art heated covered patio -- kids love watching the trains go by! Takeout service for pickup and delivery are available - Order online through our website www.risewoodfire.com.For table reservations of 13 or more, please contact us directly at info@risewoodfire.com
A photo of Izakaya Ginji restaurant
6. Izakaya Ginji
4.5
Awesome(236)
Price: Expensive
• Japanese • San Mateo
Booked 7 times today
Izakaya Ginji, located in downtown San Mateo, is a Japanese gastropub specializing in Yakitori and tapas style dishes. Izakaya Ginji also has a vast selection of rare Sake and unique Beers. For Japanese spirits, the restaurant also offers a variety of Shochu.We have 10minutes grace period. Please call us if you are running later than 10 minutes after your reservation time.Due to limited seating, dining is limited to 2hours until further notice.Please be sure to include your children or your service animal as a head count for accurate reservation!Also, we are now taking reservations for our INDOOR TABLE ONLY. ***We will NOT accommodate any requests for outdoor patio seating. Reservations are strictly for INDOOR ONLY*** We will be NOT allowing any outside food and drinks. We look forward to providing you with an authentic Japanese dining experience .
A photo of Vespucci Ristorante Italiano restaurant
7. Vespucci Ristorante Italiano
4.9
Exceptional(863)
Price: Expensive
• Italian • San Mateo
Booked 6 times today
Please consider:*Kitchen closes at 8:30pm, we place last order at 8:15pm and we don’t accept any reservation after 8:00pm*Being a small restaurant, it is crucial for us to know in advance if the number of guests in your party changes, or you want to change the time, or you are planning to not come at all. Please avoid to just not show up, but kindly call to inform us, it will be much appreciated. If we don’t hear from you, we will re-assign the table after 15 minutes. If you need to increase the number of guests on a reservation made through Open Table, please call the restaurant.*We don’t take groups larger than 10 people on Fridays and Saturdays. *About birthday celebrations : we don’t have a free dessert policy, if you order one from our dessert chart, we will bring it to the table with the candle. You can also bring your own cake, our cutting fee is $3 per person.*Corkage fee is $25 per bottle.*We don't longer offer outdoor seating, only indoor dining and take out.
A photo of Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas restaurant
8. Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas
4.7
Exceptional(131)
Price: Moderate
• Tapas / Small Plates • San Mateo
Booked 4 times today
Amour Amour celebrates 10 years anniversary with the relaxed lifestyle, where small plates, good drinks and a cozy and tranquil atmosphere are all part of the experience. Guests can start with the sachet de prosciutto wrapped with goat cheese, fig jam, almonds and herbes de Provence for an introduction to Amour Amour’s culinary French and Spanish style. Popular hot tapas options include the Spanish seafood paella and Spanish meatballs in a sauce consisting of tomato, nutmeg and paprika, The roasted patatas bravas with spicy tomato aioli is another favorite. Amour Amour’s cold tapas plates, such as the Oregano octopus, capers , or the burrata capresse , are flavorful and refreshing ,squid ink paella . For a sweet bite, enjoy the tropical coconut panna cotta with mango puree. Be sure to wash your meal down with a house-made sangria. Bon appetit !!!Family owned and operated !
A photo of Twelvemonth restaurant
9. Twelvemonth
4.5
Awesome(629)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Burlingame
Booked 46 times today
Twelvemonth is a romantic restaurant according to multiple reviews. Customers praised its beautiful ambiance and creative, tasty plant-based food. The atmosphere is described as upscale, welcoming yet refined, perfect for a date night or special occasion. Attentive and friendly service adds to the romantic experience.
A photo of Park & Howard Bistro restaurant
10. Park & Howard Bistro
4.7
Exceptional(1343)
Price: Moderate
• Bistro • Burlingame
Booked 19 times today
Park & Howard Bistro is a romantic spot with a cozy, intimate ambience, as noted in multiple reviews. Its understated rustic motif, linen tablecloths, and rich mahogany wood accents create a comfortable and elegant atmosphere. Many reviewers highlighted the restaurant's romantic ambience, perfect for special occasions, date nights, and even wedding rehearsal dinners. The attentive and friendly service also adds to the restaurant's romantic appeal.

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See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • RUSS
    California Central Coast •11 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    We had a reservation for 6 pm on a Tuesday. Go early. Parking is challenging. We were seated right away. The place was packed for a Tuesday night. It’s a relatively small place. Several large groups brought the noise level up to an excessive level. The menu is big. Lots of choices and lot of unusual options to choose from. Service was friendly, efficient and professional without being over bearing. The food was delicious with large portions. We enjoyed our first visit. Will probably visit again in the future.
    More info
    The Barrel Bistro & Wine BarPrice: Moderate• French American• San Mateo
    •
    4.4
  • Abayer415
    San Francisco Bay Area •2 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    We were looking for a steak house and found Porterhouse. What a find, fantastic food, nice ambiance, attentive waitstaff, great drinks, great ue whole nine. I will definitely be going back and want to say it is worth a try.
    More info
    PorterhousePrice: Expensive• Steakhouse• San Mateo
    •
    4.7
  • Lylliam
    San Francisco Bay Area •115 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    I recently had the pleasure of dining at Central Park Bistro for a birthday celebration, and it was an all around great experience. The restaurant went above and beyond to accommodate our large group, making sure every detail was taken care of. From the moment we arrived, the ambiance set the perfect tone for a relaxed yet elegant evening. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring we were all comfortable and well taken care of throughout the night. As for the food, everything was absolutely delicious. Each dish was showcased with fresh ingredients and rich flavors. Whether it was the appetizers, main courses, or desserts, everything impressed. Overall, Central Park Bistro provided the ideal setting for a celebration. The service, food, and atmosphere made it a memorable evening for all of us. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to host a special event or just enjoy a delightful meal.
    More info
    Central Park BistroPrice: Expensive• American• San Mateo
    •
    4.7
  • AlinaVIP
    San Francisco Bay Area •17 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    Delicious food, great service and atmosphere! Cannot wait to come back.
    More info
    Pausa Bar & CookeryPrice: Expensive• Italian• San Mateo
    •
    4.7
  • BethVIP
    San Francisco Bay Area •15 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Feb 18, 2025
    Brilliant menu, especially the special menu for Valentine's Day and the weekend. Service was spectacular, and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend the Moroccan carrots!
    More info
    Rise Woodfire Pizza & Rotisserie - San MateoPrice: Moderate• American• San Mateo
    •
    4.4

Discover best romantic restaurants in San Mateo

Discover the perfect romantic dining experience in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically in the Peninsula region of San Mateo. Renowned for its diverse and vibrant dining scene, this area offers a variety of restaurants that cater to those special, intimate moments. Each establishment boasts unique features such as cozy ambiances, sophisticated decor, and exceptional service, ideal for making any evening memorable. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, planning a date night, or just looking for a place to enjoy a beautiful meal with your loved one, San Mateo has something to offer. The restaurants here are known for their meticulous attention to detail, from beautifully prepared dishes to personalized touches that enhance the romantic atmosphere. Enjoy authentic, beautifully presented cuisine in settings that range from modern elegance to charming and quaint. Embark on a culinary journey that promises not just a meal, but a truly enchantive experience.

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