This is my first time dining here, and I heard all the things of "not as good as hopr" or "you come here if you can't get a hopr reservation". Honestly, all true. I would say 3.5 but I'm very generously rounding up. We made a Friday night reservation a week out but honestly I'd say you can very easily walk in. There were only maybe about 6 or 7 tables seated. Service is very attentive and very friendly, no points deducted. Their bar island drinks aren't the best so minus points. They can't make an espresso martini and my friends old fashioned seemed like it was more of a mixed drink made with seltzer? It was good but def not an old fashioned. There wasn't a dedicated bartender, the host made the drinks. To be clear, the prime rib was very good. I think it was really tasty and really tender. I finished my 16oz! The sides are where they are lacking. The salad tasted a little too sweet, the popover was a little too eggy, the creamed corn wasn't creamy enough. The free bread in the beginning was very good tho lol and they kept it coming! If you're craving prime rib last minute I'd say San Mateo prime will die just to scratch the itch. read more

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We had a large celebration dinner with 25 folks and they were able to accommodate us on a few weeks notice, offering the upper private space. Unfortunately the staircase didn't work with the elderly folks so we ate in the main dining room, which was still great. Service was on point! Constantly checking to make sure all our guests had full drinks and that we were happy with the food. Many of our guests complimented the food and were excited to take some home too! The ambiance felt nice/casual and not overly stuffy/formal so that worked really well for our gathering. Would def host another dinner here again! read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Of course I'd have to compare this place to HOPR and San Mateo Prime is not at that high level but it doesn't mean it's not good! Prime rib is good, really juicy. Salad was just okay, nothing special. Popover in my opinion was too eggy for me if that makes sense. The sides portion size is on the smaller size. I ate all my sides and had none to take home with my leftover prime rib so that was sad haha. If you want a basic prime rib, easy to make reservation, easy parking in the nearby structure, then def go here! You will leave full! But if you care about ambiance, good size cocktails, and little more bang for your buck, then go to HOPR. Service I had no complaints. read more

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Always a great time when we visit here! The owner is great and remembers us every time we visit no matter how far apart that is. The petite cut is flavorful and my go to it's the perfect size! For sides I did cream of corn and cream of spinach. Ambiance is nice since it's in downtown San Mateo where the street is closed off so you can walk around and enjoy downtown after. They have a tv at the bar if you want to watch the game too. People compare to HOPR. To me it's a close call! Recommend if you're in town read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Sometimes being a HOPR snob can keep you away from experiencing other prime rib restaurants. Well, I put my snobby self to bed because I didn't want to drive into the city and hunt for parking, nor did I want to wait 6-12 months to get reservations. I'm happy to say, we are glad we came here to get our big slab of meat fix for dinner. We walked right in and got seated right away. The prime rib is a set meal, similar to HOPR, all served with warm bread w/butter, salad w/eggs n' beets, 2 sides, and fresh popover. My medium rare 16oz prime rib was juicy, tender, and it was very satisfying. I always get the biggest slice because I love eating leftovers the next day! I ordered the garlic mash and cream of corn... omg, so, good, so salty, and so I ate a second helping! Service was great. Only 1 server but I guess that's all you needed for a small restaurant w/slow flow of patrons coming in to eat. The owner (I assume), checked on us a few times, in which we told him we were very happy with our meal. I'm sold and you bet I'll be back! Perhaps, I can bring my star rating to a 5 IFF the food is consistent. Consistency is very key to getting that perfect rating. read more

San Mateo Prime - Medium rare 16oz - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

The crab dip is soooooo good. Must get. We went on a Friday night and it was pretty quiet. We didn't need to wait for a table of 6, which was nice. read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Ambiance: we were there early for dinner, the first to be seated. The restaurant is decorated nicely. Service: we were seated right away, and we chose our table, which is always nice. The busser came by with water right away. Hot bread & butter followed promptly. Great sour dough bread! Our drinks arrive timely and our salad came next. We weren't rushed and we enjoyed that. Food: the food was ok, I've had better, the prime rib was cooked perfectly and the portion was generous, the au jus was seasoned to my taste. I had a baked potato, but I think it didn't have real bacon, which was disappointing. The creamed spinach had a tad too much flour and the consistency wasn't right. My drink was not good. I will go back to see if this day was just an off day and hopefully they are better next time. read more

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Wonderful service from Nelson and Josua tonight~ we were delighted with the San Mateo 16 oz cut of prime rib that came with warmly baked sourdough bread, a large salad, fresh popover with two sides (we chose the baked potato w/ all the fixings and cream of spinach.) Beyond our expectations~ We will be back for more~! read more

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It was my first time trying this place and it did not disappoint. Ordered: The Avenue Cut 12 oz medium The San Mateo Prime Cut 16 oz medium rare Creamed Corn Creamed Spinach Baked Potato House Salad Popover Both cuts of steaks were delicious and cooked perfectly. The knife cut thru flawlessly and the au jus that was poured over was flavored well and not overly salty. I didn't need to add any extra seasonings which is a good thing. The baked potato and creamed corn paired well with my overall dish. I enjoyed the creaminess of the corn and it wasn't too sweet. My fiancé ordered the creamed spinach which he enjoyed as well. Our meal also came with a popover which was nice and airy and complimentary sourdough bread which was warm, had crispy edges, and a soft center. The only thing we didn't really care for was the salad--it was kind of bland. Service was kind of slow since there were multiple parties going on, but other than that--our server and I believe manager who greeted us at the front were both welcoming and friendly. I'd definitely come back here if I'm craving a nice cut of prime rib without having to reserve months in advance. read more

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San Mateo Prime is a ok alternative to House of Prime Rib. You can definitely walk in and get seated. The restaurant is large with plenty of seating. After being seated, it took about 5 minutes for server to come by to take drink orders. Though no one else was in the restaurant. The food came out quickly. I ordered the San Mateo prime 16 oz cut and it was ok. I liked that it was tender but lacked flavor/seasoning. The creamed spinach and mash potatoes were again ok not great. The popover and sourdough bread were really good. The service was not great and definitely not up to HOPR standards. If you're craving prime rib and don't want to wait for HOPR reservations it's an aright alternative. Next time, I'll just wait for reservations to open up at HOPR. read more

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We've been coming here for years. Consistently good food, excellent prime rib, mashed and baked potato, creamed spinach and corn. I've tried other sides and other main courses but I always come back to the prime rib. Excellent service and ambiance. Why deal with parking issues in SF? I always get parking here and C what's get in! My only Wish is that they offered the child's prime rib for seniors. I never finish the smallest cut, bring half my meal home, such a waste read more

I've had better experiences in the past! The cuts of meat were delicious as always, and the atmosphere was comfortable and quiet, but what was different this time was that when we checked the receipt, they had added a 20% tip even though there were only four of us. I thought it was excessive because it's supposed to be voluntary unless it's a service for eight people. I just ask that they be a little more considerate because it didn't seem fair. read more

San Mateo Prime - The San Mateo Prime Cut The San Mateo Prime Cut - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

People will always say this is the alternate place for Prime Rib if you can't get RSVP at HOPR. San Mateo Prime was always operating in the shadow of HOPR but in my opinion, no more! Been here many times over the years, and this place consistently improve and developed it's own personality. Parking in this area is always challenging even with a few public parking lot especially during peak hours so allow yourself ample time. The restaurant itself can seat about 100 people and had a nice bar. It's well lit and the ambiance recreates a nice relaxing atmosphere. In addition to their Prime Rib, they do have other choices, include Filet Mignon, Salmon, Portobello and a Rack of Lamb. We opted for the Prime Rib. The crab dip starters was excellent with garlic-taste toasted bread. Even their starter bread was toasted just right; crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The salad was refreshing and the dressing is not a HOPR copy cat, San Mateo Prime salad dressing has it's own signature taste that pairs equally well with the salad. You get two side (potato, cream of corn and cream spinach), or you can pay extras for the third side. Whichever two of the three, you can't go wrong. The Yorkshire pudding is fairy standard but use it to soak the Au Jus. The temperature (medium rare) was perfect and was glistening in front of our eyes. The seasoning used was exceptional without the typical overpowering of salt. For dessert, the Tiramisu with a cup of coffee was a perfect match. The owners are also the servers and their attention to details only shows their dedication in providing a memorable meal. Price for the meal was extremely reasonable (it's meat), and this place is a definite repeat. read more

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It's been a while since we last hit up San Mateo Prime--so long that the kids claim they were in middle and elementary school. They're probably right. House of Prime Rib is usually our go-to for prime rib, and for steaks, we like to mix it up with spots like Porterhouse and Town. But since it had been ages, and this place serves both steak and prime rib, we figured--why not? Plus, it's close to home and super easy to snag a same-day reservation. In fact, we booked on a Saturday night just two hours beforehand. To our surprise, the place was packed! Service was top-notch--friendly and attentive. We ordered two New York steaks, two filet mignons, and one prime rib, all cooked perfectly to order. Nothing too rare, nothing overdone. The star for me? The popover. Hands down the best I've had--even better than Rotunda's. I wanted a second, but let's be real, I would've exploded. At about $90 per person (without alcohol), it's not cheap--but hey, that's California for you! read more

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Prime rib was very tough to eat. The calamari was different with garlic. The salad was average and the filet looked like a hockey puck. Everything was over priced. read more

A solid place for a group dinner. The place was easy to get reservations and parking was fast and easy. The service here was attentive and good. The food was excellent. The salad, sides, and prime rib were all good. its not hopr in sf but its damn close and easy to access so i will definitely be back and would recommend this place. read more

We went to SMP last night for a birthday dinner.. The service was excellent and the foods were delicious. Everything is great and we have a wonderful time with friends and families. We definitely will come back again. read more

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I came here with a reservation and got seated right away. My partner and I already knew what we wanted to order since we looked at the menu prior to coming to this place. Once I made the order the food took a while to come out. The server realized that it's been about 15 to 20 minutes since we ordered. Eventually, the food came out and it was phenomenal. I thought a petite cut made me pretty full since it comes with a side of salad and bread. read more

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Whoever said this place is on par or better than House of Prime Rib simply does not have patience to wait for a table. They are delulu. San Mateo Prime is incomparable to House of Prime Rib. If you come here, don't try to compare this with house of prime rib. If you want a good overall prime rib experience, go to house of prime rib. If you just want a nice dinner with prime rib, no wait, and okay sides, this is the spot for you. Let's start with the good stuff. What was decent here was the prime rib, garlic mash potato, and creamed corn. The crème brûlée dessert was also good. Overall, nothing to brag about, but it was decent. Now what makes me not want to come back would be the salad and popover. The salad was served poorly. It's tasted like lettuce drowned in heavy thousand island dressing, all made in bulk in the morning. What we got was a sad soggy salad. The popover tasted like undercooked pound cake. Crispy on the outside, mushy and raw in the inside. Creamed spinach was too heavy for me, but I'd say this is an acquired taste and I'm not going to neg on it. But it was not for me. I also got the garlic noodle and it was good, but nothing to go crazy over. Overall, the meal was okay, service was attentive, and the atmosphere was good for a nice date. read more

Definitely comparable to HOPR, really no need to drive all the way up there now that I've discovered this spot. Ordered the medium sized prime rib and it was delicious. The sides were great too. I finished everything even though I thought I wouldn't be able to - it was a lot of food. Lastly, service was great and very attentive. Easy 5 stars. read more

My friends and I made a reservation to come here for a birthday dinner, we were a group of 17. The restaurant was able to get us in for 7pm on a weekend EASILY. The staff there were very attentive and checked on us often. When ordering, all of our food came out JUST AS WE ORDERED, no confusion about who ordered what or anything. It was great. Each dish comes with a salad, a popover (similar to a Yorkshire pudding) and 2 dinner sides. They come out with the salad to start off with which was a lettuce salad mix with creamy egg sauce and topped with beets (I think). It was tasty. I ordered the avenue cut which is the prime rib cut 12oz with my 2 dinner sides - roasted garlic mashed potatoes & creamed spinach. I got my meat cooked to medium. It was super juicy & tender, the creamed spinach was good and the roasted garlic mashed potatoes had tons of garlic flavor which I looooove. The popover was okay for me. Overall great meal! My boyfriend got the San Mateo prime cut with creamed corn & a baked potato, he also loved his. Super tender & juicy. It's a big cut so you can always take the leftovers home for a second meal! 10/10 would come back for dinner, it was definitely a good date night spot or to come out with a group of friends! read more

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This place is awesome! The food, the ambience, the quality of service! You will enjoy this place! Every employee, every inch of this place, every bite you take screams 5 Star! You won't regret it! If you're looking for an amazing experience with excellent food, this is the place to be!!!! read more

San Mateo Prime - San Mateo Prime Cut!!! - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here with a party of 11. Good location on San Mateo's restaurant row with a city parking lot 1 block away. Made reservations months ago - the owner was real nice as I made changes along the away. We reserved a "private room" which is kind of an upstairs storage room. No decorations but was very private and perfect for our party. Despite being upstairs from the main floor and kitchen the service was spot on. Very nice and efficient servers. Most people ordered the prime rib (of course). Prime rib was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful. The sides (creamed corn and creamed spinach), salad and baked potato were just OK. The popover and sourdough bread were good. Overall, a great experience and would recommend the private room for a large party. Service was great, prices very reasonable on the food was very good. Would definitely return, especially for a large party. read more

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San Mateo Prime delivered a classic steakhouse experience with solid flavors and great service. I ordered the San Mateo Prime Cut (16oz bone-in), and it came out beautifully cooked. Tender, juicy, and full of that rich, beefy flavor you want from a proper prime rib. The loaded baked potato was hearty and satisfying, and the creamed corn added a nice touch of sweetness to the plate. The meal starts off strong with a house salad with their house dressing, fresh and simple, and the warm baked popover is a fun, delicious touch you don't get everywhere. Overall, a dependable and enjoyable dinner. A great spot when you're craving a classic steakhouse meal in San Mateo. read more

The prime rib was superb. Other restaurants' prime rib was apparently roasted to a too rare stage and then reheated in a steam table tray with a 1/4" of bouillon-based "au jus". Yuck! Service friendly attentive prompt. Pleasant ambience but not as first class as it could be for whom a prime rib dinner is a special occasion. read more

You can't come here without making the comparison to House of Prime Rib. The menu is very similar. The food is good. Great for a special occasion. If you're a carnivore, this is the place for you. You will not leave hungry. Finished your slice of prime rib and still hungry? They'll hook you up with another slice until you're full. read more

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Our 1st time here. My San Mateo Prime cut was good but lacked flavor. The pop over and creamed corn was ok. My baked potato was served warm. I have had better tasting Prime Rib. Our friend ordered lamb and it was quite tasty. The pre-made salad was ok did not care for dressing. The service was a bit slow. Nicely decorated in doors. Quite expensive. read more

For the nearby restaurants that consistently serve prime rib (not as a special), I've tried Kincaid's, San Mateo Prime, and Broadway Prime. FOOD I think San Mateo Prime and Broadway Prime taste pretty much the same, including sides. Their creamed spinach is really weird - like cream cheese goop with spinach, and both places taste the same. The baked potato at San Mateo Prime slightly edged out Broadway's because it came nice and hot. Overall, for both prime rib and sides, I prefer Kincaid's (but no popover at Kincaid's). SERVICE Broadway Prime had hands down the best service. Probably the best service I've had in awhile. The server was attentive and helpful, offering things before I could even vocalize the request, and never took long to return with whatever I needed. I was really impressed. San Mateo Prime was OK, I have no complaints. Kincaid's had pretty slow service, we had to hunt for our server multiple times and it also took forever and multiple asks to get whatever was requested. AMBIANCE Kincaid's had the best vibe and you get a view. It's a large restaurant and feels contemporary. Broadway Prime has an old school steakhouse vibe, and worn in - in a good way, like a neighborhood mainstay. San Mateo felt like a slightly more formal steakhouse than Broadway. TL;DR I wouldn't go back because the prime rib is so so. You're better off going to Kincaid's nearby (ish). read more

San Mateo Prime - Prime rib - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Almost as good as House of Prime Rib! I was able to make reservations with no issues and no wait. The restaurant is located in downtown San Mateo. Parking can be difficult depending on timing of the evening. I think it was the Owner that constantly checked on us during dinner. He was very friendly. It was my birthday and they offered a complimentary tiramisu. My husband and I enjoyed the food. The only difference between this place and HOPR is the entertainment from servers mixing salad and etc. Overall I will definitely come back! read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great place for prime rib for the holidays outside of San Francisco. Nothing can beat house of prime rib though. But this will be the second best option. The salad is identical to house of prime rib. The bread pop over was perfect and actually the best one I had at San Mateo prime was this year where I had to ask for seconds. The prime rib was a nice thick cut which was perfect. But i noticed that it was a little tough in certain parts as that area was medium well. But the top half was medium rare as I asked and like. The bake potato is delicious. The cream of spinach could use a little less salt. The service was great. The team took care of us for the holiday. Easy to find parking and you don't need to worry about all those sf junk fees in your bill. Truth this place for holiday parties. Come hungry leave rolling out the door. read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Still my favorite location to eat prime rib. Service is awesome as usual. We ordered: San Mateo prime and sides : linguine and cream of corn.. I couldn't finish my prime rib. I was already full from salad, linguine, cream of corn and their pop over.i only ate a little bit of my prime rib. read more

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We had reservations for a party of 4 at 5pm on a Saturday evening right when they opened. Parking on 3rd Ave is typically hit or miss as there is only street parking. There are many similarities with Broadway Prime and the House of Prime here, however, I feel as if San Mateo Prime is a bit more casual and better well-lit. Our server was very friendly and provided us awesome service. My new York steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare. The loaded baked potato came out piping hot and delicious. The pop bread was so so good that I had to order 8 pieces togo to take home. We will definitely be back in the near future!!! read more

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My companion loves the prime rib so we frequently eat here. My only criticism is the cream spinach- uck! Tastes like wall Paper paste. I see they use to offer sauté Spinach, please go back to offering this read more

Great Service In a Friendly Atmosphere. The food was cooked perfectly and the servings were more than adequate cooked as requested. The crab artichoke appetizer went well with our beverages. Highly recommended even with no reservations, the owners will try to accommodate you if possible. read more

Very nice good quality of beef. , ok service ! Looking forward to for an excellent service in the future !

Ambiance - Quiet, with a variety of tables. Our booth was comfortable. Service was very good. Waiter was attentive and professional. Wine List - Extensive selection with some good quality wines. Something for everyone. Prime rib - Just ok. I had the mid-size cut, medium. It wasn't melt-in-your-mouth tender, but adequate. I was a bit disappointed in the flavoring as it needed more seasoning. Sides - I liked the creamed spinach, which had a good consistency and taste. Unfortunately, the fries were thin sliced, similar to McD's. Steak fries would have been a much better choice as a side for prime rib. Popover - Very good. It was nice and hot right out of the oven. Light and fluffy. Overall, 3.5 stars. read more

This is a nice restaurant. I was able to call a month ahead and make reservations for a Saturday night, no problem. A few couples came the same night and were able to be seated quickly. We were lucky and found street parking really close. I would come early to look for street parking. Two of our family members were running late and the servers were fine. We ordered sodas and calamari as we waited. Calamari was good. The six of us ordered the San Mateo Prime Cut, 16 ounces, medium rare was super good. It came with a house salad that they made in the back and brought out to us. It came with a fresh popover. Fresh is great! The baked potatoes were fully cooked and they gave us a generous amount of butter, sour cream, and chives. I use to love creamed spinach but lately everyone's creamed spinach is too salty for me. The food is close to that of House of Prime Rib, it's prime rib, but it's a totally different experience. The salad and the potato aren't made in front of you. The plates came out two at a time, not all at once. The waiters have different personalities and the ambiance is different. read more

San Mateo Prime - The San Mateo Prime Cut - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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service was good but food is just ok. in no way does it compare with HPR except prices. portions are good size. creamed spinach tasted pasty. salmon was dry. popover was too mushy. read more

We've been here a couple times for special occasions since my husband really likes prime rib. This is the next best option to going all the way up to SF for HOPR. This place is relatively quiet on most days and can get busier for special occasions like Father's Day but the venue is very large and even then never gets filled up. Parking is a little annoying but you just have to find a garage or street parking. It is run by Asians and I don't know if it's for that reason but most of the customers are also Asians. They also employ mostly Asians. The waitstaff we had was a little on the arrogant side but anytime we asked him for something he was still very obliging. I was starving that day and was very happy to order the 12oz and inhaled all my food. I ordered medium well only because I knew my toddler would want to try some or else I definitely would have gone for a medium which the waiter seemed a bit exasperated that I would even dare to ask for medium well, (which I kind of understand but trust that the customer has their reasons too). Because the meat came out drier I really soaked up the sauce they provided and wished they could have given even more, although they probably would have provided more if I asked. My son loved the sauce and was basically trying to drink it lol. My husband had the same oz cut but medium and could barely finish so they definitely are generous in their food portions. Go hungry. We'll definitely be back for more special occasions! read more

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Absolutely amazing time here! We made a reservation for my dad's birthday and the owner Steve not only so kind to help us surprise him, he also made it a fun and special night we won't forget! We were able to have the space upstairs that could fit our party of 22 and all of the servers were very quick and kind to be checking often if we needed more water or more napkins when a few wine glasses spilled. I ordered the Rack of Lamb with sides of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and cream corn which were all great! The lamb was so flavorful, and I got to try my siblings' prime rib cuts which were super tender and had rich au jus to go with it. Their crab toastini dip is the perfect warm appetizer before your entre comes, and They have a bathroom for men and one for women that they keep clean and stocked with paper towels and seat covers. Their spot in downtown San Mateo means there are several spaces or garages for parking and plenty of dessert options if you don't grab a treat here after your meal or just want to walk around the area too! Along with the attitude of their servers, the warm lighting sets the atmosphere for a very kind, heartwarming dinner experience! Can't wait to come by and say hi again! read more