Pausa Bar & Cookery — Restaurant in San Mateo

A decent offering, not amazing, but for the price, not terrible either.

Came here for Friday night date night. We had an 8:30 reservation but arrived early, closer to 8:15. We were encouraged to grab drinks at the bar, which we did. I found it annoying, though not unusual these days, that we had to close out our bar tab before being seated, instead of transferring the tab to the table. I started with the padrino cocktail, which was smoky though a bit sweeter than hoped for. The bf asked for a whiskey recommendation and got a generally confused response, but eventually settled on the Lagavulin. Once seated we ordered a bunch of dishes to share:

Salmon “finto crudo” - 5 stars. A super tender slice of salmon, topped with a single king trumpet mushroom, horseradish cream, and salmon caviar. I was bummed about sharing this dish, the portion was small and I wanted it all to myself. The salmon was fresh and fatty and melted in my mouth. I didn't really taste the horseradish, but I wasn't missing it. The caviar added a pop of texture, and the bf doesn't like mushrooms so that guy was all mine. I'd definitely order this again.

Pork belly - 4 stars. A thick, fatty piece of pork served with roasted apples, celery root puree, chopped hazelnut, and crispy parmigiano reggiano. Each individual element was really tasty... the pork was tender, the apples with sweet, the hazelnut added some depth to the apples, and the crispy parm was creamy. That said, when grabbing all those flavors in a single bite, it was a somewhat weird combination. I might order again, though it was overpriced for the portion size.

Roasted bone marrow - 3 stars. Easily served from the bone, topped with caramelized onions, blue fin tuna heart, and micro parsley. This dish was nothing to write home about. I primarily tasted the fatty marrow, I didn't really pick up on the tuna heart. It was served with two grilled pieces of bread, though I found it to be too much bread for the marrow portion. I wouldn't order this again.

Grilled lamb top sirloin - 4 stars. Served on top of barley, wild mushrooms, cipollini onions, and mint pistachio pesto. The lamb was tender and rare and the mint pistachio pesto was fantastic but the dish needed more of it. The onions were caramelized but the mushrooms and barley were a bit slimy. Overall, solid dish. I'd order again.

Butcher’s sausages - 3 stars. 2 sausages, one rabbit & one pork, served over braised red cabbage with a chestnut and ricotta tirtlen. The sausages were ok, one was definitely better than the other, I think it was the pork one. It had more flavor, more fennel seeds and pepper, while the rabbit sausage was primarily just salty. The entire dish was really salty, I could actually taste salt crystals on top of the cabbage, and the dish really didn't need it. The cabbage was lacking in flavor, which was disappointing, and the tirtlen wasn't good at all. It was mostly dough, almost no filling, and the filling that was there had a weird, overcooked consistency. It was cold and the entire thing had a soggy/mushy consistency. I wouldn't order this again.

About halfway through the meal we asked for some wine recommendations. The wines we got were ok, one definitely better than the other. Overall, I was hoping for better recommendations from the staff, as between the wine and whiskey we weren't thrilled, but that's ok, I'm sure it'll come with time. The food was way too salty and I wasn't completely satisfied at the end of the meal, though there were some high points, and we were pleasantly surprised that the bill wasn't outrageous. Overall, I likely wouldn't run back here, but if a friend suggested it, I'd be interested to try some of the other items (pizza,...

My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner here and see great potential for Pausa to stick around for a long time. There is no restaurant in Downtown San Mateo that is at the same level as Pausa. We walked in and we were welcomed by a long bright beautiful white bar occupied by many guests and to the back of that you can see the open kitchen where the staff was busy cooking up some great rustic Italian fare. We had a reservation for 8:00 pm and the hostess kindly asked as if we would like to sit at the bar while our table was prepared. For a Tuesday night, the tabletops were all occupied, as well as, the bar. The bartender was very helpful in selecting a sweeter white wine for me and let me taste the wine to make sure I was happy with what he selected for me. Jack, the bartender, as well picked out a nice red wine for my husband. We closed out our tab at the bar, which is a must, and then the hostess led us to our table after a few minutes at the bar. Staff is super helpful and friendly; great customer service for them being busy and new. Our waitress was very friendly and helped us in deciding our dinner items with recommendations and descriptions of the dishes we asked about. We had the salmon crudo to start and the salmon was so fresh and like butter, it just melted in your mouth and you wanted to have more after each bite. The caviar that accompanied the salmon was a perfect touch to the perfect bite. The portion for the crudo was a good size and it really was a great starting dish. My husband ordered the lamb loin entree and I ordered the stuffed squail. We then decided to order the linguini with manila clams and borlotti beans, I believe. The pasta, in house made, was perfectly cooked and you could tell that it was made in house. They have a dough room with a glass window, where you can watch the pasta being made. The lamb loin and stuffed quail were terrific. Both proteins were perfectly cooked, super tender and moist, melt in your mouth proteins. The portion size for both dishes left both my husband and I satisfied. The best part of our meal was dessert. We were a bit stuffed when it came time to dessert, but we decided that we had to go the whole nine yards and have dessert. We decided for the bomboloni. They are fried round puffy donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar that were accompanied by three sauces; lemon, raspberry and vanilla. On the side, was a mini espresso hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. It was to die for. Next time I'm getting my own. We devoured the dessert in a matter of seconds and that completed a fabulous meal at Pausa. We can't wait to visit Pausa...

Five stars simply isn’t enough to describe our exceptional experience at Pausa Bar & Cookery. From the moment we walked in, the staff’s warm hospitality stood out: we arrived on Valentine’s Day only to discover our reservation was set for the following evening, yet they graciously accommodated us without hesitation. This thoughtful flexibility on a busy night instantly made us feel welcome and set the tone for a remarkable meal.

The restaurant itself is bright and modern, with a chic bar that displays an exquisite range of wines and liquors. There’s a certain laid-back sophistication in the air, underscored by tasteful music that complements the inviting setting. We started with the burrata, which truly lived up to its reputation. Handmade and plated with colorful, fresh ingredients, it delivered a light, creamy texture that was both refreshing and indulgent.

Next came the real showstoppers: two of their Michelin-recognized pizzas—Romana and Margherita. The Romana was genuinely one of a kind, featuring a thin, blistered crust and toppings that harmonized perfectly to create a balanced, flavorful bite. The Margherita, on the other hand, demonstrated just how enchanting simple ingredients can be when handled with skill: sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil came together in classic Italian fashion. We continued with the Butcher’s Cappelletti, which showcased Pausa’s dedication to handmade pasta. The delicate yet satisfying texture of the cappelletti, paired with a savory filling, highlighted the depth of flavor that keeps this spot at the forefront of Italian dining in the area.

As delightful as everything was up to that point, the true pièce de résistance arrived with dessert: bomboloni served warm, dusted with sugar, and accompanied by a sublime blackberry chocolate sauce. These pillowy Italian doughnuts were exquisitely plated, turning a sweet treat into a work of art and leaving us in awe of both the presentation and the taste. To top it off, the kitchen surprised us with an additional fluffy almond treat that wasn’t on the menu—a cute and thoughtful gesture that added another layer of sweetness to our evening.

From start to finish, Pausa Bar & Cookery excels in every aspect—attentive service, vibrant ambience, and a menu that strikes the ideal balance between high-quality comfort and upscale Italian fare. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking an outstanding dining experience in San Mateo, Pausa deserves your highest consideration. We cannot wait for...