Special Occasion Restaurants on the SF Peninsula

When it is a birthday, an anniversary or a graduation, these are the places that make a dinner feel like an event, from steakhouses and seafood rooms to teppanyaki tables and polished sushi bars. Most are in San Mateo and Burlingame, with a few in Woodside. Reserve early, mention the occasion when you book, and ask about set menus for larger parties.

Burlingame6 places

Benihana - Burlingame

$$·Japanese

1496 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame

Watch jumbo jets land at SFO from waterfront patio dining.

View details

Broadway Prime

$$$·Steakhouse

1316 Broadway, Burlingame

Prime rib roasted with rock salt and high heat.

View details

Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steakhouse

$$$$·Steakhouse

60 Bay View Pl, Burlingame

Steakhouse overlooking San Francisco bay with quality steaks and fresh seafood.

View details

Winner

New England Lobster Market & Eatery

$$·Seafood

824 Cowan Rd, Burlingame

Largest lobster tank on West Coast with fresh Maine lobster.

View details

SAKAE Sushi

$$$·Japanese

243 California Dr, Burlingame

Fresh fish imported from Japan paired with premium sake.

View details

Stella

$$$·Italian

1448 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame

Alpine recipes from Matteo's Nonna featuring braised meats and housemade gnocchi.

View details

Half Moon Bay1 place

Navio

$$$$·Seafood

1 Miramontes Point Rd, Half Moon Bay

Forbes Four-Star fine dining at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, serving contemporary sustainable California cuisine with panoramic Pacific Ocean views.

View details

Palo Alto1 place

Sushi House

$$·Japanese

855 El Camino Real Ste 158, Palo Alto

Longtime Palo Alto neighborhood sushi restaurant with fresh traditional nigiri, rolls, and Japanese entrees in a welcoming setting.

View details

Redwood City1 place

Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi

$$·Japanese

2198 Broadway, Redwood City

Talented chefs entertain tableside, preparing fresh sushi and hibachi with skill and showmanship.

View details

San Bruno1 place

West Coast Cafe

★ 4.00·$$·Italian

466 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno

Elegant Italian restaurant offering authentic dishes with homemade traditional style and an extensive wine selection.

View details

San Mateo14 places

Benihana

★ 4.49·$$$·Japanese

2204 Bridgepointe Pkwy, San Mateo

Chefs perform the ancient art of Teppanyaki right at your table.

View details

Daeho kalbijjim & beef soup

$$$·Korean

213 2nd Ave, San Mateo

Traditional Korean royal recipes with modern twists for tender Kalbijjim.

View details

Espetus Churrascaria Brazilian BBQ

$$$·Brazilian

710 S B St, San Mateo

Bay Area's first Brazilian Steakhouse with fourteen flame-grilled cuts tableside.

View details

Lobster Chef

$$·Chinese

2948 S Norfolk St, San Mateo

Louisiana Cajun seafood boil with refreshing real fruit smoothies.

View details

Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House

$$$$·Japanese

68 Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo

Premium Wagyu sourced from their own Masami Ranch with umami-rich broth.

View details

OLHSO Korean BBQ House

$$$$·Korean

236 S B St, San Mateo

Dine immersed in ambient projection mapping inspired by Korea's spirit.

View details

Porterhouse

$$$·Steakhouse

164 S B St, San Mateo

Only Peninsula steakhouse dry-aging beef in-house with visible meat locker.

View details

San Mateo Prime

$$$·Steakhouse

174 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo

Dry aged prime rib slowly roasted to perfection since 2007.

View details

Seapot Hot Pot & Korean BBQ

$$·Korean

1952 S El Camino Real, San Mateo

Fresh ingredients delivered by unique conveyor belt for interactive dining.

View details

Sushi Edomata

$$·Japanese

38 E 25th Ave, San Mateo

Fresh high-quality fish imported from Japan with traditional sushi dishes.

View details

Sushi Maruyama

$$$·Japanese

279 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo

Highest grade seasonal fish from Tsukiji with traditional red vinegar.

View details

The Backhouse

$$$·Japanese

66 21st Ave, San Mateo

Chef Ju-i experiments with dry-aging and nontraditional garnishes on sushi.

View details

Wakuriya

$$$$·Japanese

115 De Anza Blvd, San Mateo

San Mateo's Michelin-starred kaiseki counter run by chef Katsuhiro Yamasaki, offering a monthly changing multi-course menu rooted in Japanese tradition and California ingredients.

View details

Yuzu

$$$·Japanese

54 37th Ave, San Mateo

Fresh fish from Japan and large selection of premium sake.

View details

South San Francisco1 place

Andiamo in Banca

$$·Italian

301 Linden Ave, South San Francisco

Housed in a restored 1920s bank building, featuring handmade pasta and an award winning wine program.

View details

Woodside4 places

The Firehouse Bistro

$$$·French

2991 Woodside Rd, Woodside

Intimate French-California bistro in a converted historic firehouse on Woodside Road with seasonal menus and a full bar.

View details

The Mountain House

$$$·Steakhouse

13808 Skyline Blvd, Woodside

Tucked on Skyline Boulevard with sweeping Bay Area views, this American steakhouse is a go-to...

View details

The Mountain Terrace

$$$·American

17285 Skyline Blvd, Woodside

Rustic restaurant and event venue on Skyline Boulevard with a redwood deck, panoramic Bay views, and private dining.

View details

Village Pub

$$$·American

2967 Woodside Rd, Woodside

Michelin one-star Peninsula landmark since 2001 with produce from its own organic farm and a 3,500-label wine list.

View details