Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Peninsula

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Peninsula? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Velvet 48 Wine Bar

5.0

5 (76)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Burlingame

About the restaurant

Velvet 48 is a premium wine bar in downtown Burlingame started by 20-year wine industry veteran, Jason Cooper. We offer over 40 wines by the glass, 1100 wines by the bottle, a cultivated beer selection, and a variety of delicious savory and sweet small plates.

We have wines across every price point so there is something for everyone, from the casual wine drinker to the wine aficionado, who will be impressed by a wine collection that houses some of the finest wines in the world. We aim to cultivate an experience for our guests that starts with a complimentary splash of our house label, Velvet 48 Sparkling wine, followed by outstanding service from our Wine Specialists to guide you through our expansive list. We offer a discount of 25% off bottles purchased TO GO.

Due to the nature of our alcoholic license, we are unable to allow anyone under 21 on the premises, including infants.

Thank your for your understanding.

Top review

StacyVIP

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

One of our favorite spots in Burlingame. The flights change frequently and are always innovated. The staff is fantastic- all are friendly and knowledgeable. We only have have small plates and everything we’ve eaten has been great. We can’t recommend Velvet 48 enough!

Ethel's Fancy

4.9

4.9 (514)

$50 and over

Californian

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

A hip and fun restaurant with chef's counter dining, serving thoughtful American cuisine, with an emphasis on local seasonal products.

Ethel's Fancy is open at 5 PM Tuesday - Saturday.

We have a small dining room with a limited amount of reservable tables. We do keep our Bar seats and a table in the restaurant open for people to walk-ins. Walk-ins are on a first come basis.

Please do not make multiple reservations with the intention of combining reservations to increase party size.

All guests must be present before your party will be seated.

To help provide a seamless experience for all our guests, we have allocated 2-hours for your group of 2 to 4 people.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Diane is just the best! Makes the best beverages & is so hospitable & warm. I go there often & highly recommend!

808 Zone

4.9

4.9 (15)

$50 and over

Japanese

Foster City

About the restaurant

Getting tired of the same omakase experience? Too intimidated to even go to our first one? 808 Zone may be the perfect place for you!
With a contemporary kaiseki meets omakase fused with western inspiration and unexpected flavor combinations experience, your taste buds are surely to thank you for delighting them with something unique and different. Every dish aims to bring something innovative to the table while highlighting the freshness and beauty of the ingredients themselves.

Top review

lingyun

Dined 5 days ago

Interesting fusion food and super friendly service

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Mateo, CA | Downtown (Central Park)

4.7

4.7 (757)

$31 to $50

Japanese

San Mateo

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Yoali

Dined 3 days ago

Everything is delicious, and the service is outstanding! We've been a handful of times and haven't ordered anything yet that we didn't like :D

Discover more

Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Jin Sho

4.6

4.6 (68)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Feast on artfully prepared Japanese cuisine at Jin Sho. Its contemporary setting features an open kitchen and sushi bar for guests to watch the skillful chefs prepare their meals. Jin Sho owners and Executive Chefs Ichiro Takahashi and Noriomi Kaneko bring a fusion of flavor to creative dishes using fresh, quality ingredients.

Guests can start their dining experience with a Yellowtail Jalapeño or Miso Black Cod Appetizer marinated for 3 days. They can then enjoy an entrée of an array of seasonal fish or enjoy a higher quality of common nigiri such as Blue Fin Tuna from Japan. We are excited to serve you many different kinds of fish beyond what you may find at other establishments. The chefs work tirelessly with distributors to bring the best and most unique fish & sake.

Established in 2007, Jin Sho has reviews in San Francisco Magazine and San Jose Mercury News. Prior to opening JIN SHO, the chefs mastered their craft at Nobu NY.

Top review

Yeuen

Dined on Dec 19, 2024

Consistently excellent, no fuss, superb sushi and chirashi. We are v picky. Really.

San Agus Cocina Urbana & Cocktails

4.6

4.6 (103)

$30 and under

Mexican

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Discover San Agus Cocina Urbana & Cocktails, a neighborhood hangout in Palo Alto where friends and strangers come together to enjoy crafted urban street bites, beers, and cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a casual spot to unwind or a vibrant place to connect, our welcoming atmosphere and creative menu make every visit memorable. Don’t forget to ask about our artisanal selection of agave spirits.

Top review

Carol

Dined 3 days ago

Love this restaurant- servers and the bartender are the best!!!

Discover more

Experience

Happy Hour: A Taste of Mexico City

The Refuge - San Mateo

4.6

4.6 (111)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

San Mateo

About the restaurant

As featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, The REFUGE specializes in hand-carved, ultra tender, boldly flavored navel pastrami which is sending shockwaves throughout the gastronomic consciousness of patrons who call it “the greatest this planet will see in some time.” The REFUGE boasts the world’s best Belgian and Craft Beer on draught (24 in San Mateo) in the Bay Area, with many more by bottle.

Since 2008, the REFUGE has been providing protection for many East Coast street food classics especially the hand-carved navel pastrami. But wait, just for good measure, we grind our own blend of hamburger on a daily basis as well as procure our own Ribeye Blend for our Authentic CheeseSteaks.

We also offer honest Old World wine, dazzling salads and eclectic appetizers. Casual connoisseurs unite! This place is the real deal. Whether it’s a quick lunch, a raging evening, a private event, take-out or delivery, the REFUGE experience is unlike any other place at any one time.

Top review

Jonathan

Dined on Dec 24, 2024

Our pastrami salads were fantastic, and the selection of beers on tap is unmatched!

Twelvemonth

4.6

4.6 (594)

$31 to $50

Californian

Burlingame

About the restaurant

At Twelvemonth, our approach begins with passion and respect for people and the planet.

Everyone can play a part in imagining a healthier, more sustainable world. Our role is to bring people together with delicious, 100% plant-based food.

Our passion and respect have driven us to craft a culinary destination to suit every occasion: from your morning coffee to a happy hour beer at the bar to an eight-course tasting menu.

We source from local farmers, champion waste reduction, and push the boundaries of vegetable-first
creativity.

Twelvemonth exists to foster genuine connections. It’s a place where we share compelling stories and aim
to build a better future together—one that works in closer, tastier harmony with the environment.

Top review

Venkat

Dined 4 days ago

we had a wonderful experience with the Chef’s Tasting Menu. you get the best seats to watch chefs while they prepare the amazing dish. we were family of four. The dishes were excellent, offering a perfect pairing with wine. The staff were incredibly accommodating to our kids, especially when some dishes were marinated in wine they provided a substitute. Everyone was exceptionally friendly and took the time to explain each dish in detail, making the evening even more special.

Discover more

Experience

Chef's Counter - 7 Course Tasting Menu

Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine - Menlo Park

4.5

4.5 (204)

$31 to $50

Thai

Menlo Park

About the restaurant

“My goal is to make sure people get enough spice”
says owner Kasem “Pop” Saengsawang. It is all about the spice. The spice extends life, and we strive to provide the freshest pure ingredients in everything we serve, from our Thai street food to our fancier entrees. “We believe that Thai cuisine will never die. We believe the spiciness will last long, forever.”

We invite you to come and be transported to the streets of Thailand. Experience all we have to offer — our zesty food, our elegantly adored walls, and even our heartwarming smiles. The Best Thai Restaurant. San Francisco, Oakland, Menlo Park, and Portland.

We refuse to compromise on quality in our restaurant. That's why we source our fresh ingredients from local farmers' markets. No matter what time of year, you can be sure you're eating the best of the season.

Top review

HeidiVIP

Dined 3 days ago

A hidden gem! Delicious food, fun cocktails served in cool ways and great desserts. One of our go-to favorites.

Show de Carnes Brazilian Steakhouse - Palo Alto

4.4

4.4 (20)

$50 and over

Brazilian Steakhouse

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

"Craving an unforgettable dining experience? Join us at Show de Carnes in Palo Alto for the finest Brazilian steakhouse experience! Savor perfectly grilled meats, enjoy refreshing drinks, and immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors of Brazil. Your table awaits!

Top review

ElizabethVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The food and staff were concert. We absolutely loved the food and drinks.

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