Pausa Bar & Cookery

Chef-owner Andrea Giuliani, born and raised in Italy's Veneto region, cooks contemporary Italian from scratch at Pausa in San Mateo, drawing on what the restaurant calls the bounty of Northern California. House-made pasta, house-cured salumi, fresh mozzarella, artisan bread and handcrafted desserts run through the menu. The space holds a lively bar, an ambient dining room, an outdoor parklet and a chef's table. Pausa carries a Michelin Bib Gourmand and has held the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2018.