Great drip and greek coffee and at an underrated plaza. The breakfast burrito and sandwiches are also very tasty. The inside is clean, spacious and I love visiting here when I charge my car or pass by. I even take my friends here because we can just grab a quick brunch here without super long lines and deal with difficult parking! read more

Oh it's so clean and nice in here - the employees are so friendly - and the food came out quickly and it was hot and tasty - I had a breakfast burrito and my friend had the breakfast sandwich - I was very happy with my food and my friend and I had a nice time eating here. My lavender latte was just fantastic! Also I want to add that the bathrooms were immaculate - I will be returning to this enjoyable lovely place for breakfast with anyone that will join me! Looking forward to tasting the whole menu! read more

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Newest location which just recently opened. It is very nice and bright inside and It was busy when we arrived. I love the interior which roomy and plenty of tables for seating. They also roast the coffee in the store. We ordered match mojito , Lilian lattee, almond croissant and chocolate donut. The donut and croissant are good. The Lilian latte eventhough itbis half sweet , it is still very sweet for me. Same for the matcha mojito. Both are nice though. One thing we notice is our shirt smell greasy food once we left the shop. We sat in front of the waffle and coffee maker area by the wall with penelope sign. I think it needs more ventilation. read more

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3-3.5 stars for food and value but bumped up to 4 stars for overall experience Attended their grand opening where they were giving away one food item + one drink from 10am-2pm! It's located in a little plaza so finding parking wasn't an issue. Got there around 9:30, and there were already a handful of people in line. Some people from the restaurant started passing around a QR code of their menu (from what I could tell, the menu from the QR code was the same as the one from the website with slightly different formatting/spacing). I also appreciated that they gave suggestions of what to order based on your taste preferences. Decent amount of seating inside! Ordered at the counter and picked up orders at the smaller adjacent counter. I was recommended the Lillian Womelette by one of the staff, so I ordered that, but another worker informed me that they didn't have it, so I decided on the Popeye's instead. Got utensils/napkins/condiments toward the back and there was also a tub to place plates/utensils once you were done eating. - Lavender Matcha - heavily sweetened culinary matcha with the tiniest hint of lavender (my dining companion who does not like lavender liked this because you could barely taste it haha). You can get a matcha latte made with high-quality matcha elsewhere for a similar price, so for the value, I personally wouldn't recommend this. - Banana Latte - one of their newer drinks! My dining companion ordered this and neither of us tasted any banana, so it was more like your standard sweetened latte. Still enjoyable! - Popeye's Womelette with Buttered Sourdough - first time having a waffle-shaped omelette with tater tots in the middle, so I thought this was a fun take! Pretty parmesan cheese-heavy, but didn't mind that. I was pleasantly surprised to find olives in mine, since they weren't listed in the description on the menu, but I love olives so I'm definitely not complaining (I thought it was a great addition). I'm polishing off the leftover of my Popeye's as I'm writing this, and I'm now thinking they may have accidentally made both of ours Veggie-style, since the ingredients listed in the Veggie one are currently the ones in my womelette lol. Still enjoyable! - Veggie Womelette with Buttered Sourdough - had a bite of my dining companion's order, and to be quite honest, the taste profile seemed identical to mine (and from my comment above, you can likely see why this was the case). tldr friendly staff and clean and spacious dining area! I also really liked that their cups/straws/lids were all compostable (PLA 7 as far as I could tell but did not see a disposal area explicitly for compost). Wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but if you live in the neighborhood, this is a nice casual breakfast/brunch spot to eat and chat! read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Bottom: Popeye's Womelette / Top: Veggie Womelette / Drinks: Iced Banana Latte + Lavender Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The vibrant blue color really catches your eye and it's honestly beautiful and gives off a vintage café vibe with a modern twist. I noticed a lot of their menu seems waffle-inspired, which I thought was really fun & creative. For the first time in a VERY long time, I ordered an avocado toast, and honestly, it wasn't bad. My friend ordered the chicken apple sausage, and it had a ton of flavor but still felt light, so nothing too heavy. My friend had the matcha mojito, which she said it was mediocre. I had the wild berry latte which I thought was delicious. I would get the drink again if I'm ever in the area. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Chicken Apple Sausage Womelettes & Avocado Toast Delight - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Went here for their grand opening. It was really good. I love how they handled the line. They stopped you at the door until the cashier was ready. And the cashier was only ready when the kitchen is good. They also kept you well informed and had someone coming around answering questions. They gave out free drink and food per person. I was expecting a pastry but it was a full blown meal. Ordered the cookie monster drink and the french berry toast. The toast threw me off cuz it looked like a waffle but was really good. The drink was amazing in itself as well. Friend got a lillian latte and roast beef pannini and i must say this is even better. This place is down the street from college of san mateo and is very open and bright. Good for studying but I'm not sure about the noise level once its not grand opening. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - French Berry Toast and cookie monster - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The establishment is pretty clean and spotless with nice decor. I was surprised they offered food - small burritos and breakfast sandwiches - they aren't very big but snack sized. They also have lunch sandwiches and a host of other morsels. The coffee and tea is standard but refreshing. Green tea is served here which is a must for me. The two staff workers were polite and cheerful. read more

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Grateful for this convenient location at Laurelwood shopping center in San Mateo. Good hours and decent service. Lots of coffee & beverage options and a few tea drinks. They offer baked goods/pastries, sandwiches, waffles and other options. Nice and bright with ample seating in a pleasant ambiance. Plenty of free parking in the lot. read more

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Decent coffee, but the food is a disaster. My avocado toast was made up of a slice of supermarket bread, covered with a very thin layer of avocado (and I mean thin), and a few small, thin slices of boiled egg. That's it, no seasoning, no flavor, nada. I was incredulous. My friend's panini/sandwich with ham and pesto looked equally unappetizing (I will post photos) and was equally lacking in flavor and quality. Beats me how this place expects to do business in the Bay Area, where great avocado toast and paninis are widely available. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Is it a waffle? A panini? Either way, it's terrible - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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New coffee shop in the convenient laurelwood shopping center, it's a great location with a lagged shared parking lot. It's a nice bright interior with tables for eating and studying, however they don't have very many outlets. The burrito was kind of a let down, it was pretty bland, however I do appreciate how hot it came out served fresh. Staff was extremely kind and helpful, even bringing the drinks/food to the table. Would definitely come back for coffee and studying, not sure of the food read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Veggie burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Penelope's I want to love you - but after returning a second time post grand opening the inside environment felt too overstimulating. Staff and service is five star. Coffee is four star. But the overhead LED/halogen lighting had me anxious and ready to run out, mixed with loud acoustics. Can you please consider keeping the soft light but shutting off the overhead white/bright light, as the location has a ton of windows and natural lighting? Perhaps consider turning the music down a bit too please? It's a lovely aesthetic and I'd love to be able to dine in more often. read more

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Womlettes are Awesome! Lattes are Fresh Roasted! I'm a big fan of the Fashion Island location. It's great to have the location here on Hillsdale Blvd! Welcome to the Neighborhood! read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Fresh Roasted Lillian Latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Been going to the Penelope's location in Foster City for years and glad they opened up a location where there's plenty of parking. Their new spot on West Hillsdale is bright and clean. Picked up their breakfast sausage sandwich, which is on a really tasty brioche bun. Check out that egg ratio in the picture! They're not skimping here with the eggs. Highly recommend their matcha mojito as well. This is such a great addition to the Laurelwood Shopping Center! read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Sausage breakfast sandwich. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

It was their pre opening event so they had all staff working and service was fast. I'd come back to see if it's the same during regular business hours . Location is convenient if you happen to be in the area . Ample parking . Two sandwiches and two drinks came to $46. read more

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Today my family and I stopped by out the grand opening for Penelope Coffee and Tea. They were having a special from 10-2 where you could get a free meal item and free medium drink per person. The wait was about 20 minutes in line and I would say it was worth the wait. The turquoise sign was very eye catching and the inside of the cafe was clean and modern. We ordered the Samoa latte which was probably the best drink we ordered. It had coconut crisps and whip cream on top and tasted just like the girl scout samoa cookie. My banana latte lacked banana flavor but was tasty. I want to try the avo toast next time. The roast beef panini was yummy and I would recommend. read more

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Just got to check out the grand opening and overall, the experience was enjoyable. I got a ham panini and the iced caramel banana latte. The panini was 10/10, can't go wrong. The pesto sauce was really well balanced with the ham and swiss cheese. A little disappointed with the banana latte. Not much banana flavor, but I enjoyed the prominent coffee flavor. My friend got their most popular drink which was the Lillian latte and although I'm not a fan of lavender in my drinks, I was pleasantly surprised. Overall, enjoyed my experience and would come back! read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Ham Panini and Caramel Banana Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Stopped by for a quick bite as I had to charge my car and kill some time. Penelope Coffee & Tea is a new addition to the Laurelwood Plaza and I was pleasantly surprised at their menu selection. I wasn't super hungry so I ordered their Fresco Avocado toast and iced Lillian latte half sweet with almond milk for about $20. Service was quick and there weren't that many patrons; the cafe itself is spacious and there was ample seating. The toast itself wasn't a thick slice of bread but I appreciated the fact that it wasn't overly toasted as I've been to other places where the bread ends up being super hard. The latte was fairly good and I was grateful to have ordered half sweet. Overall, this is a good spot to stop by for a quick bite and get a decent cup of coffee or tea. read more

Coffee is delicious! My favorite is the Penelope Samoas! Cafe is clean and spacious as well.

Wonderful customer service, a wide variety of coffee drinks and delicious food options. Ordered a banana latte with an extra shot and the coffee was great! The barista even asked me to taste it before leaving so that he could adjust the sweetness and if needed bc I added the extra shot. So nice! It was perfect as it was. Great that they've teamed up with Four Barrel to roast their own beans. Delicious product and will definitely be returning! read more

I liked my coffee a lot (latte). However, the lights are too bright and when I came home, my husband mentioned to me that I smelled like fried food. This coffee place was the only place I went to on the morning. Service was good. In addition, the music was loud and for a club and not for a coffee place. read more

I was introduced to Penelope's Coffee and Tea when I played golf with a client at the nearby Peninsula Golf & Country Club. Since then, it became a convenient stop whenever I was in the area, especially before hikes at nearby Laurelwood Park--great for incline walks and hitting 10,000 steps. On Sunday, I met two colleagues there before our hike. I convinced them to try the banana latte while I ordered my usual coffee. When I asked for cream at the counter, I overheard the manager loudly yelling at one of the baristas. The voice was so raised that everyone turned to look. When I returned to my colleagues, they were already discussing how uncomfortable the situation felt. We decided to leave, and during our hike, the topic came up again. We compared what we'd witnessed to our own professional standards and agreed that, regardless of the reason, publicly berating an employee shows poor management. As we parted ways, I was surprised when both colleagues said they had tossed their lattes after leaving Penelope's. I hadn't even noticed. Sadly, I don't think I'll be going back either. read more

I love Penelope's! This new location is so pretty and the drinks are delicious as always. Just got the Lillian Latte which has a yummy lavender flavor. Super friendly staff, will definitely come back to try more. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great new spot that was a new find for me! Employees were absolutely lovely and so sweet. We even had a slight spill hat an employee saw, and came by promptly to clean it up for us. Unnecessary but appreciated! And all the menu options were great. Having the vegetarian breakfast burrito was great for a vegetarian, and PLENTY of space in their location as well. Four stars only because the burrito could've been a little bit more full + seasoned. read more

This is always our breakfast stop before heading work. Always delicious. Always great service. Always worth the stop. Best coffee shop on the area! read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Freddo Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Brothers has nothing to worry about. Starting with cheap metal furniture and poor food, I wont be back. I suppose if all you want is foo foo drinks you might like it. read more

My husband and I both love their cold brew coffee. It's a unique and palatable taste compared to say said drink at Starbucks. My husband got the chorizo breakfast burrito and said it was fresh (unlike other places that would just reheat and serve) and that he'd order it again. The decor is very nice and modern and inviting. We'll be back (and will definitely be regulars for their cold brew)! read more

Came here for the grand opening event. The food was very delicious. I ordered the turkey and bacon panini and an iced matcha lavender drink. The line moved pretty quickly and I got my food in 15 minutes. Service was amazing and they had a DJ revving music outside while you wait in line. My son got the hot chocolate drink. It tasted a bit syrupy. Overall I would come back again. read more

The place was nice & clean since it's new. It was also spacious & airy. The London Fog tea was good but expensive like everything else here. There weren't a lot of menu choices food wise that I like & wish they had bagels. Everyone loves bagels! Since they don't have much that I like, I probably won't be back. read more

Servers are friendly, food and drinks are great. However, they play club music which isn't really comforting or relaxing. If they'd play Greek music or jazz I think it would be 5 stars. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I love that this new location opened close to my house! They brew the coffee on sight unlike large chain locations and has a warm, welcoming ambiance inside the store. My family and I come here weekly for the womlettes and always am greeted by amazing staff. Management here really knows what they're doing!! I've been obsessed with the freddo cappucino (just like in Greece!) and when I want a treat always get a Cookie Monster latte! Perfect place to get some work done or meet a friend for some coffee. I love Penelope's! read more

To be completely honest the food is not good at all I got 3 food items and 2 drinks I got a bacon egg and cheese burrito it was flavor less and didn't sit well in my stomach I was honestly excited for a new cafe shop with verity of drinks and food opening nearby but it was not worth the 56 dollars I spent I did enjoy my iced latte I would definitely try more drinks their but not food I do think they need to improve on that but other the. That the drink was amazing read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - The iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Lovely coffee shop with tasty coffee and matcha latte. We came here after we went to a different location in foster city the day before and were not disappointed:-) very nice place and great customer service read more

Beautiful coffee shop in the Laurelwood Shopping Center. Conveniently located near the EV charging station stations, this shop will be my go to coffee shop for years to come. Plenty of coffee and healthy quick bites to choose from. Nice to have an exciting family owned coffee shop in the area versus the boring starbucks chain that lacks the quality and care. Their pour over roasts are my favorite thus far. The interior is spacious, lit nicely, and well air conditioned. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Exterior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Incredible coffee and very nice buildout. Will definitely come back for my morning cup of coffee. read more

Penelope Coffee & Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Comment referencing ventilation. Food review to come. Outside temperature was in the low 70's but upon entry felt heat coming out from underneath the counter service area and the rest of seating area was stuffy and uncomfortable. The front door was open. Hopefully this is unusual and for only that one day. Otherwise, this type of dining experience is long overdue. read more

First time going to Penelopes. One of my colleagues recommended me to come try it out. During my visit this morning I witnessed the manager loudly berating an employee near the pick up area. I was shocked how he was mistreating the young barista. The standard greek coffee was decent unfortunately won't be coming back. read more

It pains me to share this first impression, but I feel compelled to do so after longing for a new tea/coffee shop in this neighborhood for many years. I walked in, looked around, and did my best to read the menu board. It was busy, with many employees behind the counter. I wanted to see their list of "milk types" . . . . specifically plant-based milks. No such list, from what I could see. I found their menu online and searched. No mention at all of non-dairy milks such as soy or almond. I noticed many unhealthy food items. "Different strokes for different folks," but I was hoping for something/anything on the healthier side: maybe an oatmeal bowl or vegan whole grain muffin. Correction: I later found an oatmeal option online, but overall, I'm very disappointed. Surprising in these times, especially in the SF Bay Area. read more

Work close to this location. The coffee is the best drip around. I was starving this morning and ordered their vegetarian breakfast burrito. It was inedible. The chopped up what seems an entire raw onion and put it inside. Had to throw it away. No one wants to hear "Happy Holidays" and be knocked over by raw onion breath. read more

went to their grand opening event and really enjoyed the chorizo breakfast burrito. comes with a chipotle aioli and is a little spicy. service was great and friendly. also got the salted caramel coffee which is solid - they froth the milk really well so it has a nice creamy and frothy texture. read more

I've been in about 4 times now. The service is incredibly friendly. I order an iced mocha and have been really happy with the quality and consistency. I ordered a chorizo breakfast burrito today and it's really good and hitting the spot. I'm really happy with this addition to the shopping center and look forward to trying more menu items. Service is also very quick and the quality is great. read more