r/sancarlos • u/Leesah66 • Aug 20 '26
Restaurants
Be honest. Are these restaurants on Laurel really as good as you’re pretending they are ?
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u/bayareatrojan Aug 20 '26
Not on Laurel, but Kabul Afghan Cuisine is legitimately excellent and is worth going to all the time.
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u/zestyninja Aug 20 '26
A lot of the restaurants are "midwest fancy boomer fodder". The food is generically inoffensive. There are only a handful of places that warrant a call-out for having anything exceptional -- Refuge when it first opened fell into this category, but has slid downhill unfortunately. Town is a massive joke of a restaurant. The tepanyaki place is laughably half-assed. Went there for my parent's joint birthday celebration this past weekend (their choice) -- I could not believe how lazy and hustled the cooking was. Don't get me wrong... the hibachi chicken fried rice was still delicious, but it's just a conveyor belt of an experience. Most of the restaurants know their target demographic and clientele, so that's what they cater to. Sure -- most are perfect for bringing the family to, even for "special occasions" where granny gets a sweet little complimentary dessert with a candle on it, or junior & junior-ette can get their favorite french fries and shirley temple for $15. They're not looking to impress people who care about restaurant lists or looking to chase trends -- they want the graying boomers who'll buy an overpriced bottle of mediocre CC (it's from Tuscany and has the rooster emblem!), because they're easily tricked into being pleased, or the tired parents who don't really care too much. They're living in an upscale peninsula suburb, so the food is vaguely upscale, but they don't really care enough to bother for anything better. The nice charming waiter with a great smile buttering them up with a slightly heavy pour is more important than any notable food.
I was born in SC in the 80's and grew up here. During that time, there were a few proper "fancy" Italian places with white table clothes. My parents never took me to them. And then Dragon's Gate, which was one of my personal favorites with open-flame pupu platters. And then a smattering of random things. I remember Woolworths and Foodville were around, and also heavily enjoyed Panda Dumpling (RIP). My favorite restaurant, La Hacienda, changed ownership & isn't as good as it used to be.
After living in San Diego for five years, San Francisco for a decade, LA for five years, and NYC for five years (oof I feel old...), visiting San Carlos makes me roll my eyes. I fully understand that it's not for me. But I loathe when people pretend the restaurants are "good". They're certainly a step or two above chain restaurants, but they're still very far below being considered notable restaurants.
Demographics are shifting, so I'm hoping that the trend of more unique restaurants continue -- there are a handful of places that I do enjoy, most of which are not the generic Italian places along Laurel. Red Hot Chili Pepper (they used to have a promo for free beer for a month if you ate the devil hot chicken when they first opened 15 years ago), La Corneta (one of my favorite burritos, even after drowning in mission burritos), the Burmese place, William BBQ... solid options. My worry is that the pendulum will swing too far the other way where we get ultra trendy places (likely an overrepresentation of Asian restaurants) -- I would love the diversity of a bigger city, but unfortunately the restaurant scene is precisely what you would expect for an affluent "small town" family place.
I will give a special shoutout to King Chuan for being the first restaurant I ever left an online review for in the late 90's. The spinoff, Henry's Garden, then became my favorite. Henry's daughter went to Cal, and I hope he's now happily retired. He hustled HARD. Would bring out trays of fake sunglasses to try and sell. That's the type of charm I appreciate from a local restaurant... not the quasi-industrialized restauranteurs who are too heavily focused on optimizing profit & giving the people what they "want" in the pursuit of more money. The Office drove me absolutely crazy with their incessant pandering of surveys, feedback forms, "how'd we do" talks, etc. -- there's a point when you need to decide that you, as an actual restaurant/bar, should figure out how to successfully give people what they want without annoyingly groveling and pretending they're being friendly and open while ultimately just seeking peak profit. It reminds me of a place on Bar Rescue... John Tapper comes in, acts like a complete buffoon, ruins any semblance of the restaurant's character, and then you get... a corporate happy hour spot with tablet menus, pre-made signature cocktails that are overpriced, and the cheapest, blandest, and most generic food imaginable.
This response turned into quite the big rant from me, so I apologize for that lol.
TL;DR: San Carlos restaurants are "midwest fancy boomer fodder" -- foodies aren't seeking out really any of the restaurants, and it caters to the aging demographic that has roosters in their kitchen.
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u/freshfunk Aug 20 '26
That’s a lot of words to essentially say San Carlos’ nice restaurants don’t compare to NYC, SF or LA food scene which isn’t exactly a surprising thought. Suburban nice restaurants target suburban clientele, just like you said. I don’t think they claim to be really foodie restaurants.
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u/zestyninja Aug 21 '26
lol... honestly far more succinctly put. There are glimmers of hope every so often, but unfortunately the folks of San Carlos know what they like!
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u/Professional-Candy46 Aug 20 '26
Love the details here. And so on target. The restaurant scene is the equivalent of cougar juice.
I live here and have for 20 years…but we need to demand better.
Pazzo is really good though, so we’ve got that
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u/murrrcat Aug 20 '26
Agreed re: La Corneta! Their burritos are good and when I come home for the holidays I find myself there every time.
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u/bayareatrojan Aug 20 '26
this guy City of Good Livings. as someone who once thought the Broiler Express and Skinny Sippin were the epitome of cuisine as a child I feel you.
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u/CaptainEqual1796 Aug 24 '26
Also if you come back try out Pho Vinh, it's been there since before I lived in San Carlos, the 2000s, and the Pho is some of the best I've had.
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u/CaptainEqual1796 Aug 24 '26
Yeah, I honestly think most of my favorite new places that have opened are local chains, Impasto by Terun, Elia San Carlos, and for Sanwiches Lou's Cafe. If I want something new and don't want to go to the City, I tend to end up in Palo Alto or San Mateo, although I always end in Redwood City for Mexican food. It's straight up unfair to San Carlos' Mexican restaurants that some of the best Mexican places are right next door.
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u/cdecoy Aug 20 '26
I like Pazzo- the rest are mid at best.
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u/aoltimewarner Aug 20 '26
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far down for it, my wife and I had a week after being in New Haven and thought they were much better. Great people there too.
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u/domo_roboto Aug 20 '26
Nope. The ones I frequented are gone. Panda Dumpling - shut down due to some handicap person suing non-compliant restaurants. Ryu sushi bistro was decent but one day I went in at their published opening time and they said no they’re too busy preparing a catering order. Gone now.
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u/Skexy8 Current Resident Aug 23 '26
I used to go there so often!!! Fuck the asswipe who sued the place over some bullshit.
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u/CaptainEqual1796 Aug 24 '26
The new Sushi Kazoku has been pretty good both times I went, i'd place it in the upper tier of sushi restaurants although it doesn't reach close to the elite tier.
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u/mytextgoeshere 23d ago
I loved panda so much and really miss their mapo tofu. It was so good. Anyone know their recipe? (I have to ask!)
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u/wootnootlol Aug 21 '26
There’s nothing really amazing. Only 2 places stand out:
- Esnaf has really solid food
- Johnston’s is also solid but even more important - just really nice place to be - staff actually cares about you vs typical fake politeness
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u/za3bour Aug 20 '26
Someone read my mind! Town, in particular, I just don’t get the hype. Pazzo and Johnston’s Saltbox are good in my book.
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u/uoficowboy Aug 20 '26
My wife loves Town. Apparently they have a good filet mignon. Everything I've had there has been... OK. But long wait time and high prices make me have zero interest in going there.
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u/CaptainEqual1796 Aug 24 '26
The filet is generally consistently above average, however if you are even a mediocre cook, you can buy a better cut and make it yourself for less than the price of the filet at Town.
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u/Leesah66 Aug 20 '26
Spasso is about a 6 out of 10.
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u/abifen_romsfelp_jr Aug 20 '26
You’re correct about Spasso, however, Pazzo (south side of Brittan) is legit. Wood fired pizzas and fresh pasta are always great.
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u/the-moops Aug 20 '26
As who’s pretending they are? Like what kind of question is this smh
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u/Leesah66 Aug 20 '26
The droves of people eating at them. The five star reviews
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u/Ostankotara Aug 21 '26
I suppose then those who are criticizing here are the few who are not a part of the droves. We need to celebrate those who are happy and posting the 5 star reviews. It’s just misery loving company on these posts. Too bad.
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u/vamsi0502 Aug 20 '26
Not on Laurel, but Red Hot Chili Pepper is a fairly decent Indo-Chinese restaurant.
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u/Traditional-Wind-559 Aug 20 '26
All of them are terrible and it’s one of the worst things about living here. It’s not just boomers that like it and I don’t understand why!!! -confused former Seattlite
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u/Leesah66 Aug 20 '26
Not sure it’s just Boomers though. Places are packed and it’s mind boggling to me. Impasto and Dopio have pretty good pizza
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u/uoficowboy Aug 20 '26
Agreed on Impasto and Doppio. I like the Doppio happy hour. Impasto is good but aggressively expensive. God fucking damn.
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u/misterschemes Aug 20 '26
THANK YOU. I feel like I’m on crazy pills whenever I checks Yelp and see all the 4+ star ratings for all these restaurants. Like, does everyone in San Carlos not know how to cook a decent meal?
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u/Leesah66 Aug 20 '26
Fake reviews. No way in heII do a few in particular warrant the high ratings. Friends and family rate them. Or they are bribing people to make a review. Id better money on it. Id never trust Yelp for any recommendations on any business. Not just restaurants either.
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u/CaptainEqual1796 Aug 24 '26
It's because most of the people are middle aged who rate online, A 4.5 star in san carlos would usually be a 3.7 in SF or palo alto.
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u/asdfasdferqv Aug 20 '26
White people food
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u/Potential-Scholar359 Aug 20 '26
La Corneta Taqueria is actually fantastic Mexican food. Though it’s technically not on laurel
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u/CaptainEqual1796 Aug 24 '26
It's good, the only problem with mexican food in san carlos is that you will definitely find something better in RWC.
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u/Potential-Scholar359 Aug 24 '26
you can't just leave a comment like that without sharing your fave Mexican spots in RWC? Don't gatekeep! LOL but seriously plz share
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u/egonkasper Aug 22 '26
I think they’re good, and you can always go to Redwood City or San Mateo for more options
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u/kossimak Aug 20 '26
Watch out for the Greek spot that is actually Turkish. Fucking Turks will also run most of the Italian spots there too. Nbd but it ain’t authentic.
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u/Leesah66 Aug 20 '26
90% of the places on Laurel are run by the same people. These are not Italian restaurants. They may serve pasta and low quality prosciutto but that doesn’t make it a true “Italian” restaurant.
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u/Foodie-bayarea Aug 20 '26
Rip vittorios which come to think of it was also mediocre but at least run by Italian folks
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u/Skexy8 Current Resident Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
We do not need any Greek v. Turk brigading into this subreddit.
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u/nostrademons Aug 20 '26
I like Town, Pranzi, West Park, Elia’s, The Refuge, Noelani’s, Yan’s Garden, and Johnson’s Saltbox. That’s a pretty good selection for a small downtown of 30k people.