Really great spot in San Carlos for meeting up with friends or a date. I enjoyed the salmon waffle and the black cod, and my husband enjoyed the asparagus appetizer and the bolognese. Loved the ambiance here. It's stylish yet homey. I love all the plants. Great service too. read more

Number5 Kitchen is a no-frills farm-to-table restaurant. Food is fresh and delicious, and service is good considering it is a one man show. Henry, the owner, was very open to explain his procurement process and cooking techniques which we appreciated. Will be back to try his other offerings. read more

See all

Had a Thursday date night here and will definitely be back! We started with the anchovy appetizer, which had the perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and salty. For our entrées, we both ordered the steak with potatoes, squash, black garlic, and broccolini. Everything was fresh and clearly made to order. The seasoning and flavors were incredible, and the portions were well worth the price. The owner, Henry, was our server -- attentive, kind, and very knowledgeable. We had such a lovely evening and can't wait to return! read more

Number5 Kitchen - Flat iron steak with broccoli di ciccio, marble potatoes, squash and black garlic. - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

See all

Best burger in San Carlos. I wish I snapped a photo but I was too eager to eat it. Go visit Henry at Number 5 Kitchen, you will not be sad you did. read more

Wow amazing food such a pleasant and super nice service owner is the nicest person. Outstanding highly highly recommended

Absolutely delicious. Lots of restaurants have miso black cod on the menu, but nobody makes it better than Henry. His marinade is divine. The eggplant and oyster mushrooms were both perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chanterelle pasta with mixed brassicas also blew us away. Overall, number5 kitchen is absurdly underpriced for the quality of the ingredients and skillful preparation. Chill ambience, perfect for a date night. If you're in San Carlos and haven't been, you are missing out. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Miso black cod with eggplant and oyster mushrooms - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

I came here with a friend since they loved the chef, Henry! Good: - Henry was so fun to chat with! He gave us recommendations and also was just a personable person - The food came out quickly - The caprese squash salad was so good! I loved how the burrata was flavored with olive oil and squash had texture and crunch - The breakfast pizza dish was amazing, huge portion sizes and also had so much on them - The dessert tart was so good too - small but was just what hit the spot for me - Cute outdoor vibe, we had a nice view of the street and it was a great sunny day Bad: - I thought that the bolognese dish was the least unique since it tasted good, but it tasted like what I could get at a high end Italian restaurant Overall the experience was so fun! I like supporting local restaurants too read more

See all

The place had one other party so it was quite. I really wanted to try this place as it was described as farm-to-table. I have to say that the experience could have been better. The server, owner or not, was very dry bordering rude. It was a 2 course menu for 25.00. When he served our salad, he pretty much throw the plates on the table that the lettuce fell off the plate. He didn't apologize or anything. The salad itself was okay, I had the squash salad and it was a bit too hard for my taste. Maybe it would have been better without the skin. I had the pasta and that was very good. It was wine tasting day and the owner of the winery was there. He was very nice but he was not the server and it almost felt like it was two separate events/restaurants. I don't know if I would try it again. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Lettuce that fell from plate when he brought to our table - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Kitchen5 in San Carlos is such a cozy little spot! You can really feel the personal touch because the owner is hands-on in the kitchen, which makes the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. I ordered the steak & mushrooms pasta and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were rich and perfectly balanced, and the dish was truly mouth-watering. You can tell the food is made with care and quality ingredients. If you're looking for a cozy place with amazing homemade food and a friendly atmosphere, I definitely recommend Kitchen5! read more

Found this amazing little place that's just delicious. They source locally and do farm-to-table. The prix fixe menu changes seasonally, and usually the Chef also does the serving. The steak was perfectly done, and the scallops were so yummy. Highly recommend for a cozy date night or special occasion. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Delicious steak and broccolini - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Needed a spot for dinner near my hotel on a business trip and found Number5 Kitchen in the fun downtown San Carlos area. Henry cooked me an amazing burger! This place needs to be more popular! Quality ingredients and people! Go check it out if you're looking for a good dinner in San Carlos! read more

Our kids just proclaimed this as their most favorite restaurant ever and wanted to give it a thousand stars if they could! True story! Henry does it all, as some of the other reviews have said. While service can be slow sometimes, good things come to those who wait because the food in fact is amazing - super fresh and seasonal and expertly cooked by someone who must have a fine dining background, but wanted to open a humble spot where locals can go and enjoy an excellent meal without breaking the bank. They have a beautiful, intimate-feeling space with high ceilings and some outdoor seating. Another benefit to a chef/owner running the place by himself is openness to menu changes/adjustments. Henry was incredibly accommodating and made a butter pasta for my daughter when she didn't see it on the menu and asked for it. Highly recommend for date nights, family nights, or nights where you just want to catch up with a friend! read more

We got the nduja pizza, which was thin crust. It was okay; definitely a fork and knife pizza, as everything would slide off the bread immediately when picked up by hand. The crust was burnt, but the pizza was lukewarm by the time it reached us. The flavors were nice: savory, meaty taste with tomato and cheese, and a light warmth from the chili. Very sauce-heavy, but bottom of the bread was not soggy at all. Lunch menu was minimalistic and interior was simple and had nice natural light. Not busy at all, so service was quick. read more

Number5 Kitchen - nduja pizza - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

My wife and I found this special place last night. Farm to Table food was incredibly well crafted and delicious. And it was paired with a very good wine. Henry definitely offers a person touch, and there was a special appearance by his son, Cedar, who is a very bright and creative boy. We loved our time there and will definitely return! read more

Such a quaint restaurant ran by Henry. He does it ALL! From greeting guests to cooking, serving, and bussing. He's very passionate about his dishes and explains each one if asked. The menu changes seasonally to incorporate the freshest ingredients the season has to offer. Been twice now with different friends and all of them enjoyed the dishes. We did family style so that we can get a taste of many different dishes. I'll definitely come back again with more friends and try other items from the menu. Please help support this small business! The food and service is great! read more

See all

Honestly, our experience warrants 2 stars, but I feel bad giving a low rating to a local small business run by just 1 person. We've been wanting to try number5 Kitchen for a long time, but every previous time we've stopped by they were closed. Finally, on a Thursday afternoon, we saw they were open and stopped in for lunch. Let me start by saying the food here is good. We enjoyed every dish we tried, though prices are on the higher side. We saw that every dish was cooked fresh, made to order, and served immediately. Unfortunately, too many things went wrong with our experience. When we first walked in, no one greeted us, so we sat ourselves. Completely fine, but once we sat down, we made eye contact with the owner, who proceeded to just look away - no "welcome" or "I'll be right with you" or really any acknowledgment -- we would've even accepted a head nod. We ordered off the QR code, and it wasn't until we'd be sitting at our table for about 15 minutes before the owner came by to give us waters, which he did with, again, zero greeting, zero attempt at small talk, zero smile, etc. Keep in mind, during those 15 minutes, he walked past our table several times to serve other tables and just ignored us. Again, we can understand things are hectic when running a restaurant as a single-person operation, so we were willing to overlook the lack of service. Unfortunately, the misses didn't stop there. We ordered Brussels sprouts, which we were subsequently informed are out. I ordered a bolognese pasta but was served a crab pasta. My partner ordered a burger that literally just never came. Ultimately, we were at number5 kitchen for over an hour and my partner literally never got to eat and I ate something I didn't order. I'm all for supporting local small businesses, and I think it's very impressive for one person to run the entire restaurant, but we just didn't enjoy our experience at all. read more

See all

I was referred to Number5 Kitchen for hosting a dinner party for 14 people. Working with the owner, Henry Eng is a host's dream! In advance Henry inquired about food preferences and allergies, and he prepared a special menu for the occasion. We started with a beautiful Little Gem salad and this was followed by a vodka pasta, scallops and flat iron steak. Service is family style, and guests who had special requirements were served separately. Food is fresh and absolutely delicious. Henry does it all - from greeting, cooking, and serving and one might expect a frenetic pace. However, Henry's warm demeanor and great attention to the overall dining experience produce a wonderful and memorable evening. read more

I came here twice on Saturday, but both times the restaurant was closed even though Yelp lists the hours as 11 AM-2 PM. I also tried calling, but no one answered the phone. Really disappointed -- please update your hours so customers don't waste a trip. read more

Really good, the owner serves as host, server and chef. Excellent flavors, we had a steak and was one of the best steaks I've had. Better than many fancier steakhouses. They are offering a brunch/lunch menu too will definitely go again to try more. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Brunch lunch menu - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Went here for dinner and wasn't disappointed. Had the salmon and margerite pizza and both were good. The pizza was my fave! You can taste how fresh the home made sauce was. The owner, Henry, was superb. Friendly and happy to answer questions. Would def come back again. read more

Number5Kitchen is the quintessential small local business ran as basically a one man show by Henry, using local and seasonal ingredients to bring quality options in a cozy restaurant. The service was top notch and obviously had that personal touch that usually lacks in the typical fast pace, chain style establishment. If you want to support a local small business, look no further than Henry's place. From cooking to serving, he does it all and quite fast at that. He also checks on you and asks for feedback and suggestions in order to further improve the experience. He's also just very thoughtful. The food is honest, simple, and delicious. The ingredients are local and high quality; no processed stuff here. Because of that, the menu changes often so don't be surprised when you go. The little gem salad was lightly and perfectly seasoned, letting the fresh and seasonal ingredients speak. The strawberries that are now in season were the perfect touch to bring out the freshness and delight. The fries were high quality - nice and crunchy on the outside and tasty and mushy on the inside. The aioli was the perfect compliment and helped elevate the simple flavor to something a bit more gourmet. Similarly, the crab pasta was top notch. The basics were on point - the pasta was nice and creamy. The topping of high quality crab elevated the basic flavors and made it a memorable dish. Lastly, the basque cake was light and not too sweet. You can taste that it was made with love and care rather than simply being stuffed with sugar and sweetness to try to make up for any shortcomings. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone looking for honest and simple food that highlights the quality and freshness of the seasonal ingredients while simultaneously enjoying the fact that you are directly supporting a small, local business. read more

See all

This place is a one man culinary symphony which achieves the rare feat of offering both consistency and discovery with each visit. It's our favorite restaurant in San Carlos, where each dish is a labor of love. The seasonal firefly squid dish is a particular highlight with its delicate brininess and perfect texture, but kitchen staples like the pasta bolognese is also comforting and hearty, a classic crowd pleaser even for the fussiest of palates. Here, the pace is deliberate, and the food can take its time, but the anticipation is well worth the wait. PS. If the fries ever make it back on the menu - order them immediately. They are absolutely not to be missed!! read more

Really good dishes, primarily the pizza. The owner is amazing, super friendly, and hustles, however, the service can be a bit slow since it's just him; the place can benefit from just one more additional person to help in the front of house. The pizza is refreshing and light, but it may be a little too thin; holding up a slice, it does have the saggy bend to it, so it could use a little more cook or a tad more thickness, but again, it is light. Easy to eat more, which is dangerous ;) . The bolognese is flavorful, but it didn't seem the pasta is fresh or handmade. Although I'm not considering that a negative, but it would elevate the dish to another level. Nice cook on it though. Great location in downtown San Carlos, so there's ample parking in the area, and nice decor; clean and pleasing to the eye. Highly recommended, but a few tweaks can make it perfect. read more

I rarely write reviews yet I just had to tonight. Wednesday Night is burger night at Number5 Kitchen. And I had one of the best cheeseburgers I've had in years - simple, fresh, carefully selected ingredients PERFECTLY cooked - delicious! And we started off with a delectable seasonal melon salad and a to die for gazpacho. The ambiance and service complimented the food. read more

The bolognese here is next level. My husband loved his burger too. I'm not certain, but it seemed like a one man show: cooking, bar tending, and serving. That makes it even more impressive! Sangria was on point as well. It looks like they have some high chairs and kids books available if you are wondering about whether it is family friendly. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Bolognese - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Tiny mom+pop shop -- high-quality ingredients, evident attention to detail in food prep. I waltzed in at 6p on a Friday and was greeted + seated promptly. They served the best bolognese sauce I've ever had in the Bay, and the pasta was perfectly al dente -- photo attached. Tip: Order via QR code at your table (don't wait around expecting a human or else you'll be waiting a long time) and set expectations for longer wait time for them to cook your food given it's a very small family shop. I promise the wait IS worth it -- very few restaurants put in this much care and effort into their food, and it truly was like a home-cooked meal. I had the pleasure of meeting the owners who are a lovely couple w/ a very cute and energetic kiddo -- they opened right before the pandemic hit and are working hard on their personable small business despite tough timing and circumstances. I highly recommend and will happily return, it was so memorable! read more

Number5 Kitchen - $25 Pappardelle: 8-hr bolognese (beef, pork, veal in organic tomato sauce), Bianco Dinapoli tomato, grano padano (extra cheese) - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Unique restaurant with nice owner/chef. Needs time to wait for the foods. Portions are small.

One man show as many have mentioned. He is pretty efficient though. Placed my to go order in person and was ready in 20 mins. It's a small place but plenty of tables. Parking is plentiful on the street. Nearby residential area is free.  8 hour beef wagyu bolognese $25: Decent. Nothing extraordinary. Not ribbon pasta as advertised, actually got some really large rigatoni pasta. Didn't seem house made either. The bolognese was good though. Decent portion 7 oz house blend burger $23: Very good. Might be one of the best burgers I've had. Quality brioche bun and patty. Cheese, sauce, fresh greens and tomatoes. Everything complimented each other perfectly. I did notice the patty was kinda charred, not sure if on purpose, but inside was pink. Normal size burger. Comes with your choice of mixed greens and dressing or fries Overall, food is good and made with high quality ingredients at reasonable prices and portions. Most men will likely need to order more than just 1 entree to be full though. Menu is constantly changing so it's definitely worth revisiting every so often read more

I love this place. Everything I have tried here has been awesome. The pizza is incredible. The breakfast pizza I had tonight was the best pizza I have ever had. The last time I came in he had a summer squash pizza that was also amazing. Henry is so friendly and such a talented and creative chef. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Breakfast pizza. Potato, pancetta, rosemary, spinach, egg. Amazing. This was the best pizza I have ever had. - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Great restaurant! Henry's service was personal and food was awesome! Thanks for hosting us!

Henry is an amazing host. We had a board dinner at the restaurant. Henry made it so easy to have our dinner there and was so considerate of allergies and preferences. The Gem Salad, Scallops and Flank Steak were all delicious! So enjoyed the evening. read more

I have no shame in saying we came to Number5Kitchen for a second dinner and then went across the street for gelato afterwards... I mean if you're going to be in the area anyways, might as well support as many small businesses as you can. Plus, with fall coming up, it's the perfect time to get back in shape...ROUND shape that is! In February, I drove all the way from the city to Number5Kitchen to find they were closed for vacation but their online ordering platform was accepting orders. Doesn't seem like an isolated experience, as the reviewer below tried to visit last month to also find Number5Kitchen closed. Last month, after hitting up a new Japanese restaurant on Laurel, we passed by Number5Kitchen to find them open so dinner #2 was in order. They're open for takeout, indoor dining, and outdoor dining. Dog-friendly. M E N U New American Fare made with local, seasonal ingredients. However, they're currently serving a limited menu of salads, two pastas, and neapolitan pizzas. Wine and beer available. For takeout and dine-in, ordering is done via QR code. F O O D * Pizza Speciale w/ organic tomato, house sausage, Ezzo's pepperoni, mozzarella, fennel pollen ($25): https://bit.ly/3DKsHLU Solid Neapolitan pizza with a chewy leopard spotted crust and slightly soupy center with rich, stretchy cheese balanced by the bright, acidic tomato sauce. As someone who favors sausage and would pick pepperoni off pizza to toss, Ezzo's pepperoni totally made me a convert. While the sausage was dry (from the dusting of fennel pollen), the pepperoni was well-spiced and smoky with light crisp edges on the cup. Not overly salty or oily like the typical commercial pepperoni. Wished they had hot honey for a drizzle because that would be bomb with this combo. S E R V I C E One man-show; the owner ran the entire FOH and BOH by himself so come with patience. A M B I A N C E Cozy minimalist and modern indoor dining area with mini bar. There's five outdoor tables. P A R K I N G Not so easy to find street parking during prime time but there's a lot in back. Overall, solid Neapolitan pizza in the Peninsula. It's incredibly difficult to run a restaurant alone/understaffed and things happen but going forward, I hope the owner considers communicating when they're closed on various platforms and updating their hours on yelp so people don't make the trek there just to be disappointed. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Pizza Speciale w/ organic tomato, house sausage, Ezzo's pepperoni, mozzarella, fennel pollen | $25 (five dog-friendly outdoor tables) - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Came for dinner on Thursday. Nice outdoor table for our service dog. We had the Morel mushroom Tagliatelle which was fresh and excellent taste. The 5 beef Pho was 4 beef but the meat was great with a giant rib bone on top. Tasty broth. Henry stopped to chat with us and share dog stories. Very enjoyable experience. Local, fresh, chef-owner, unique. A+ read more

Number5 Kitchen - Morel mushroom Tagliatelle - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

See all

Once again, Henry never misses! My fiance and I have made it a mission to come by every season to try Henry's new creations. We are so blown away every time. We came last Wednesday (January 24) for date night. His citrus appetizer quickly became my favorite - burrata with local, in-season citrus - what an incredible blend! We could not stop talking about it afterwards. Also featured for in-season was the new gnocchi pasta and the n5k crushed tomato pasta - both of which we were obsessed with. The gnocchi was cooked to perfection, with brussel sprouts, parmesan, and mushrooms, and the n5k tomato pasta - how did he manage to make normal pasta tubes taste so damn good?! Henry, you are such a magical chef. We will continue to come back for as long as we live in the Bay Area and recommend this place to all the people we love! read more

See all

Number5kitchen is truly an incredible one man operation. Imagine that you have a friend who is an experienced chef and they invite you to their house to eat. They've carefully selected all of the freshest seasonal produce, seafood, and meat to craft unique meals just for you. Dining here is an experience, where food, family, and friends are the focus. It reminds me of a casual European style meal. Meaning, if you have tickets to a play and need to eat on a tight schedule, choose another night. Not that service is slow, understand that chef Henry does it all. Everything - by himself. We tried to imagine the planning and efficiency required to pull that off. Not sure how he does it. Your patience will be rewarded with an amazing meal that is on par with any big city Michelin star restaurant, except the prices here are very reasonable. I've been here a few times for dinner and went today for lunch. Lunch was fast and delicious. There was a really reasonable two course lunch option today that included soup or salad plus an entree (only $23!). I had the salad with organic little gem lettuce, Shinko pear, housemade honey dijon vinaigrette. For the entree, I had the cavatelli pasta with pork sausage, broccoli di ciccio, garlic confit, and chili flakes. There are a lot of great pasta choices plus Dungeness crab ($28)! As I ate the salad, I noticed that every single green was perfect as if it was hand selected and cut one-by-one. Such attention to detail - perfection. The cavatelli was creamy and slightly nutty. I chatted with Henry after the meal and was surprised to learn that the technique he used to cook the broccoli creates the nutty flavor. The house burger is also an option for lunch and dinner. Do NOT think the burger is simply a budget menu option. Hands down, it is truly one of the best burgers I've ever had - anywhere! Chef Henry uses a blend of sirloin, short rib, and brisket to create a steak knife worthy burger. It's juicy with layers of flavor from the beef, fresh produce, and house made aioli. Just try it already. It's really easy to order here. When you arrive at your table, scan the QR code, pick your items, and then pay. You can add items if you want. When you're done, you can pick up and leave. I love that. The menu is seasonal, just like the ingredients. It's fun to come back and see what is available. Number5Kitchen isn't open every day, so check the hours before going. read more

Number5 Kitchen - Salad of organic little gem lettuce, Shinko pear, housemade honey dijon vinaigrette - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

See all

Each dish is a surprise & highly beyond expectation. And you should not miss the ribeye, highly recommended!

This place is cute. It's a little on the smaller intimate side. The menu is not overly large, but the food here seems high quality. I would say this is a little on the expensive side given the portion sizes but still solid food. We shared the chicken wings. The flavors were quite good but the chicken wings were extremely small. Although there was 6, each one was like a baby wing and half the size of a normal wing. I probably could just eat the dish myself. The chili condiment on the side was also very delicious. You can buy a jar to bring it home too. I tried the house burger and thought it was rather tasty. I love aioli and thought whatever they used was great. The cheese they used gave a sharp bite that I'm not used to getting from burgers (either that or it was the sauce but I think it was the cheddar cheese). I did like how strong the flavor was and would get again. The burger is however on the smaller side so if you don't eat a lot great but if you do you might still be hungry. The chef also gave us some ribs to try since he was experimenting with a new recipe. I actually don't like ribs that much due to how annoying they are to eat off the bone but I thought this one didn't have much bone if at all which made it a lot easier to eat. Flavor was good, I think it was coffee or chocolate rub. read more

We stopped Number5 Kitchen tonight and really enjoyed the outside dining. The owner/chef was so pleasant and accommodating. We were fortunate that it wasn't too busy and he was able to accommodate us. We had a two clam pastas and 3 pizzas, margherita , mushroom and prosciutto. The clam pasta was so delicious! Noodles cooked perfectly Al dents and the sauce had a nice smooth buttery flavor, lots of clams and I thin Pea shoots. There was also a side of co sauce (I think) which was so good! The pizzas were light with just enough chew, cheese and toppings. The prosciutto was especially delightful. It was a new flavor to me... and I highly recommend it. If you haven't been here yet, definitely go! You will not be disappointed! read more

See all

If you eat out a lot and appreciate great food experiences with no b.s. -- this is your place. It's similar to eating in a bistro in europe and you need to come here when you are not in a rush! My hubby recently started a new job in the area and we've been here twice because it's that good. We felt right at home---it's kind of cool to be greeted by the owner/chef Henry who is also the busboy, bartender and head chef. When you arrive you can scan the QR code and order /relax. We have tried and enjoyed most of the menu including: gazpacho, chicken wings (both flavors are awesome) , the 8 hour Bolognese papperdelle,, pork sausage broccolini di ciccio, cavatelli pasta, steak au poiuvre, and my personal favorite his house blend burger blend with aioli fries. Everything is made to order with farm fresh ingredients --and I appreciate his sangria! Love Henry and this place--can't wait to get back soon!! read more

It is so incredibly good. Food was fantastic and I can't wait to go back. Responsibly sourced and local. So fresh.