The pastrami was one of the most tender and flavorful I've ever had! The fries and the slice of pickle were a perfect addition - the pastrami is the star of the show. 5 stars. I am definitely coming back again. read more

The Refuge - Pastrami #19 - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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It was so good!! Honestly, this was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had! I don't even eat pastrami normally, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm so glad I decided to try it. The pastrami was cut perfectly and had so much flavor. It was tender, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The bread was also so good and really brought everything together. Every bite was packed with flavor! I also thought it was really cool seeing that Guy Fieri has been here. After trying the food for myself, I can definitely see why this place has gotten the recognition it has. I was honestly surprised by how much I loved the pastrami, especially since I normally don't eat it. This is definitely a place I would come back to, and I highly recommend trying the sandwich. read more

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The Rueben was very well Balanced. It came with half a pickle. Super crunchy. It really hit the spot. This is the only location left. The Menlo Park and San Mateo locations have closed. There's street parking around. Service is prompt. Was in a hurry, so the server was able to put in a rush order. I saw they also do party trays. Will be back for more. read more

The Menlo Park location was really good but closed down so I decided to try the one in San Carlos. Luckily we found street parking close by. The sandwiches were really tiny and expensive. It came to $60 not including the 3% credit card charge for 2 sandwiches. I got a cheese steak that was ok with chimichurri & bell peppers. My husband got the fried chicken with hot honey that was so tiny. It was also $6 extra to upgrade to onion rings. Nice outdoor seating and service but not worth the money when you could go to Ike's for half the price. read more

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It has been a while since we last dined here and the overall experience is much improved. The fries were served hot and crispy. The Spring Salad was presented well and dressed just right. I enjoyed the mint-lemon vinaigrette, feta cheese, and strawberry combination plus the crunchy effect of the chickpeas. The pastrami burger was also great. The burger was a perfect medium, charred in the outside and pink in the middle. The pastrami was seasoned right and the fat just melted in my mouth. For dessert, we had the Bread Pudding with whipped cream, but we opted to ad a scoop of vanilla ice cream to top it off! Of course, the meal would not have been perfect without our beers; Duvel 666 and Pojala Tiramisu Banger. read more

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My bf saw a reel about this place having the best pastrami sandwiches in the bay so we came to try it. The pastrami are slick slices and it's a decent amount of meat on the sandwiches. The meat was tender and had ok flavor. My bf tried the 963 which had an apple slaw and was refreshing. I tried the Reuben. I don't like dressing on my sandwiches so I got mustard instead. We both enjoyed our sandwiches and service was decent but for the $27 price, I would have expected that the sandwich would have included some type of side or at least some fries. read more

The Refuge - The 963 - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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A friend mentioned this one to try out and I must say.. you have to try it too! This restaurant is nestled on a quiet street with makes the outdoor seating perfect. We shared the reuban sandwhich and I paired it with the refuge pils beer. The kids shared the chicken nuggets plate with fries. This plate had me licking my fingers after; the sandwich was flavorful, tender, and extra juicy. The Staff was nice and came out at the right time if you know what I mean, you could tell it was a family friendly spot too at least when we came in. Will for sure be back To try more read more

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We were tryjng to find a comfortable lunch spot to eat and came to this place based on the high reviews. Seating was super easy either indoor or outside. We ordered: -Onion rings: Super crispy and the onion didn't fall out with each bite. The ranch also was very tasty! -the Reuben: Crispy bread that paired perfectly with the pastrami meat. The Swiss cheese added even more flavor to the sandwich. -Philly cheesesteak: PASS. The meat tasted super stinky and paired with the melted cheese made it even worse. Will not order this ever again. Overall, this place is ok for a quick lunch. They have a wide variety of beers which is nice. I'd only return if I was desperate for a pastrami sandwich in this specific area. read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Love this place! They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, which is a huge plus since the inside can get pretty loud and crowded during busy times. The pastrami is hands down the best thing on the menu--I highly recommend ordering it with either the mac and cheese or the Brussels sprouts. The regular fries are good but fairly basic, so if you're craving something more flavorful, go for the garlic fries or Goofy Fries instead. They also have a great selection of beers, ciders, and sours, making it easy to find something that pairs well with your meal. Definitely one of my favorite spots, and I'll keep coming back! read more

The Refuge - Swiss and mustard, ruben, French fries, beef, and cider! - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Well where does one go to find a solid pastrami sandwich on the Peninsula? Well, why The Refuge of course as this is the OG as the other locations that the owners used to have are no more. This was my second visit as my brother loves pastrami and we decided to drive to have lunch and snagged a seat outdoors at 12:15 on a Friday. Initially was going to have the traditional pastrami sandwich until I spotted the tabletop advertising the Patty Melt and the description of the ingredients. My mouth started to salivate like Pavlova's Dog but was tempered with a cold bottle of Belgium Chimay. Upped the order with garlic fries and everything was so good. Slight deduction as my brother felt the pastrami sandwich was not as memorable as the last two times that he visited but I really loved my Tuna Melt. Beautiful sunny day with great service and will try to remember to come here the next time I'm in the Redwood City area since San Carlos is next door! read more

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Had to try their Reuben sandwich and goofy fries (garlic fries with pastrami)--and it definitely hit the spot. The pastrami was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, layered generously in the sandwich. Every bite was rich and satisfying without feeling too heavy. The garlic fries topped with pastrami were just as good--crispy fries loaded with savory, flavorful meat and just the right amount of garlic. Super indulgent and perfect for sharing (or not). You can tell this is a popular, staple spot--there's a reason people keep coming back. Overall, a solid choice if you're craving something hearty and flavorful. Would come back to try more off the menu. read more

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I have been coming to the Refuge for many years. It has been a favorite of mine since 2013. I have always loved its beer hall ambiance and their corned beef and pastrami. It truly is the best you can find in the Bay Area. I watched the episode of DDD where Guy Fieri came here and learned the process of how they make their pastrami. It's pretty incredible and it shows when you eat it. Their Reuben is my favorite, but I also enjoy several of their other dishes. My friends and I almost always get the Goofy Fries when we come here. They are the best garlic fries covered in cheese sauce and pieces of corned beef. It's consistently amazing. On my most recent visit I had their Reuben which has the best ratio of corned beef, sauerkraut and Russian dressing, plus that delicious rye bread. It does feel pricy for a sandwich, but it's definitely worth it. The pickled onions on the side help to cut all the fatty meat. I was sad to hear that their other locations closed recently. I hope the OG location never closes. It is such a great place! read more

The Refuge - Reuben - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Really enjoyed the Reuben sandwich from Refuge. The flavor was on point and everything came together really well. I ordered it for takeout and was honestly impressed with how good it was even after getting it home. The sandwich was tasty, filling, and definitely hit the spot. I'd order it again for sure. read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

We've been meaning to try The Refuge and finally visited this past week. Unfortunately, their Menlo Park and San Mateo locations are permanently closed. So I knew I had to try their San Carlos location. I just hope they keep this one open, because it satisfied my pastrami cravings, for sure! It was a nice, sunny day around 12:30 pm on a weekday, with tables still available inside and outside. So we decided to go with an outside table to enjoy the weather. It actually felt like spring on a winter's day in January. I guess all that rain last week gave us some sunshine to enjoy the sandwiches under the sun. Service was efficient, but not memorable. ***OUR PICKS*** THE REUBEN ~ Pastrami, sauerkraut, melted swiss, crazy Russian dressing, and toasted rye. ($26.95). Crispy, buttery toasted rye with maybe 3-4 slices of pastrami. Though I felt the plate looked bare with just a dill pickle and some pickled onions. Maybe it just needed fries to look complete. And it wasn't a huge, piled-high sandwich, but it was tasty nonetheless! 4/5 REFUGE COMBO MEAL ~ HALF pastrami sandwich of your choice (Half Plain, Half Reuben, Half toasted slaw #19, Half 963, Half swiss and mustard), fries, and an ice-cold Lager or Pale Ale (40cl Pour). ($27.95) We chose the lager and half 963 (pastrami, apple slaw, (dijonnaise, fuji apple, jalapeno, red onion, walnuts, and celery), melted American cheese, and toasted rye. We enjoyed this a little more than The Reuben because of the sweet and tart apple slaw, which offset the salty pastrami, giving it balance. It was good, but still pricey for what we got. Fries and beer were standard and nothing worth noting. 4/5 We've been searching for pastrami like Katz in NY and we found The Refuge to be similar. The thing about east coast pastrami, it's not that salty like packaged deli meat from the supermarket. Katz is known to give a lot of that yummy pastrami, however, I love toasted bread! It's so much better than 2 pieces of plain rye, which tends to get smushed down and fall apart while holding your sandwich. It may be the OG way of making a pastrami sandwich, but I feel toasted bread just up the notch 10 fold! If only the pastrami was piled-high on buttery toasted rye, I'd be in heaven!!! This wasn't quite there, but it was a good pastrami sandwich. Just wish it was bigger. read more

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I grew up in NYC. That means I grew up with great Jewish deli food. Especially my dear pastrami & corned beef. The Refuge is my Bay Area go to for something approximating what I once knew. But distinct in its own right. The poutine was on point: crispy, right amount of curds, & gravy. Generous portion. The Reuben was excellent. Big enough. Every ingredient was well crafted. Rich & earthy cured pastrami. The right fat content, which I love. Kraut was acidic, crunchy, & a complement. Cheese was noticeable but also not overwhelming. The dressing added a nice tang. The bread held together, a nice rye, nice scent too. I should have had a cold beer. But wine sufficed, a nice Spanish red. I'll keep coming back. Gotta try the chopped chicken liver. A lot to explore on this menu. Total was $59.50. I'll gladly pay for this quality. A NYC inspiration, but a Bay Area worthy descendent. Until next time. read more

The Refuge - Poutine! Crispy too! - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Got the classic Pastrami (Reuben) and Chopped Salad. Perfect combo. I don't really like deli meat but this was fantastic. Loved the mustard with the salad. Asked for both to be split so we could share. Really great portions. read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Reuben. Chopped Salad - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

They make their own pastrami onsite! I'm not usually a fan of pastrami, but this was very high quality. They also are known for their varieties and quality beers. The service was fast and friendly and the atmosphere is very pub like and casual. The cheese steak was good but the cheese was a bit different than what my partner prefers read more

Looking for a good lunch place between SFO and San Jose, The Refuge popped up a lot in my searches so I decided to give it a shot. Service was outstanding. I am a reuben fan, but decided to try one of the cheeesteaks for a change. (Admittedly, I thought the price of the reuben was a bit shocking, which steered me elsewhere on the menu). I really enjoyed the De Arbol Cheesesteak. Too many times a restaurant will "warn" patrons of the spice level only to find the item is not very spicy. I am a fan of spice and the De Arbol delivered. My companion got the OG Cheesesteak and enjoyed it as well. Fries were good, too. Decent beer list. Great experience with the added fun of seeing it was featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, one of my favorite shows. read more

The Refuge - Guy was here - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

I'm pretty sad this is their only location as I frequented the Hillsdale location, however, Refuge continues to serve some of the best pastrami in the Bay. Big portion Sandwiches and salads with an extensive selection of brews the original location does not disappoint read more

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Service: great, we were seated quickly with the choice of outside or inside (we chose outside on a beautiful day) Food: we ordered a pastrami sandwich and a burger to share. I really enjoyed the pastrami sandwich, the meat was thick and had lots of flavor even without the sauce. We asked for sauce on the side so that we can really taste the meat. I think everything in the sandwich allowed the pastrami to be the main star of the dish. My partner, on the other hand, wished there was more pizazz to the sandwich. To him, it didn't really pack a punch or hit as hard as other pastrami sandwiches he has tried. He really enjoyed the brie burger. We both wished the brie was a bit more melty in the burger and the burger wasn't as hot as expected. The taste of poutine was good and we enjoyed the brussels sprouts read more

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The Refuge has some of the best comfort food/pub food available in the Bay Area. The best pastrami in Northern California. Sure the prices are premium, but for the quality and portion sizes, it's worth it! I got quite a few items to try: Number 19 Pastrami: 9.5/10 Goofy Fries: 9.6/10 Pastrami Burger 9.3/10 Wings: 8.5/10 Champ Cheesesteak: 8.9/10 The ambiance, decor, and vibe is great for eating comfort food and casual dining. Service is top notch and they are very nice. The Refuge will be a regular spot for me to stop by and eat delicious comfort food. read more

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We got takeout from the refuge and we really enjoyed everything we got from the pretzels, the hamburger, the salads they tilapia burger, the chicken sandwich. The fries were delicious. Everything was packed nicely and accurately great experience. We didn't eat at the restaurant, but it seemed to have a good ambience. read more

The Refuge - Lots of yummy food - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Pastrami, Pastrami, and did I say Pastrami. I would still rate the Pastrami best in the area. The sandwiches are great and they have a decent rotating beer selection. Been coming here for a while now - ever since they opened on Laurel. TBH - have not tried any of their other locations as this is so close to home. I think they have one in Menlo and had opened one in Hillsdale (but not sure if it's still there). Great for lunch or dinner (where you can consume a few more beers) Taking off a star for two things - the prices have gone up a lot for the Pastrami sandwiches, and I feel they are carrying fewer of the Belgian beers that they originally started with. I am not a big west coast IPA fan - still prefer the old school European style beers. Please bring the broader selection back Service is always fast and friendly, and they maintain that home town vibe at this particular location, with an interior that matches. read more

The Refuge - My go to - Kwok. Comes in a cool glass - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

I've had The Refuge bookmarked for years and it lived up to the hype. Service was good, portions are huge, pastrami is delicious. What more could you want?? The beer menu is huge if that interests you. They give you enough food that two average people can absolutely share something, especially if you order appetizers. I was unsure about the poutine but I ended up liking it more than the Goofy fries, even though they're both awesome. I appreciated that the server worked with me to put together my sandwich, since I love pastrami but don't like all of the ingredients of a typical Reuben. I wish I lived closer so I could get a sandwich more often! read more

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Wonderful service, impressive beer menu, and decent food. This place is popular. We arrived for an early dinner on a Saturday night and we had our choice of where to sit (we chose outside) but by the time we were wrapping up, maybe less than an hour later, people were waiting for tables to open up. Pastrami is their flagship item from what I understand but I'm not big on pastrami so I went for the chicken sandwich (which didn't blow my mind, but it was pretty good). My brother who DID have the pastrami however, enjoyed it. My kid had a burger but the meat was overly cooked for his taste. Very relaxed bar and grill atmosphere, sure we would give it another shot. Especially if we were jonesin for a beer. I give the Refuge a 3.5, with some room to grow. read more

So we came here because a friend referred us to this place as their go to place for pastrami. Let me tell yall: this place should be known for so much more than just their pastrami!! It's so good and we did try a variety of different items on the menu but in my opinion all of them were just as good as the pastrami so don't feel locked into that specific dish!! For example I tried the Tilapia sandwich and it was great!! With that, the food, vibes and overall environment was super yummy and the service was just as great ! I think this is a go to spot for every now and then ( please note: it can get pretty pricey but if you're able too I say rock it) read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Burger - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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We stopped by The Refuge and tried the Reuben, the 963, and the Goofy fries. We ended up sitting outside on a sunny day, so it was really nice. The staff were very friendly and checked on us multiple times. My wife and I got a Black Cherry soda to share, and it was excellent. It had a very bold, strong black cherry flavor and was not watered down at all. A great start to the meal. The 963 was easily the standout. It had a really nice creamy texture and balance of flavors, and it came together better than anything else we ordered. The Reuben was solid and pretty much exactly what you'd expect. Nothing bad about it, but nothing that really surprised me either. The Goofy fries were delicious! They were cheesy, garlicky, and indulgent. The addition of pastrami was a nice touch and definitely elevated the fries. That said, while pastrami is clearly the highlight here, I personally wasn't completely sold on it. The flavor was good, but the texture felt a bit off to me. I've had pastrami at Langer's Delicatessen and Katz's Delicatessen, and I preferred the texture at those spots. Since most of what we ordered featured pastrami, it slightly lowered our overall enjoyment, even though everything was still very palatable. Overall, a solid experience with some real highlights, especially the 963 and the Goofy fries. My wife and I did enjoy the food, we just weren't crazy about the texture of the pastrami! read more

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$33.00 for a Reuben?! Another place that's still here, true, but for how long? I guess as long as the "well to do" locals support it. I tried it, it was OK, not as good as Katz. It's not worth $33.00 (just my opinion. Isn't that what Yelp's for?) Want a beer or a soda? Anything else? Got yourself a $50.00 lunch. For one. Just how it is now I guess...all that being said I couldn't imagine trying to run a restaurant these days as expensive as everything is. read more

Wow. The pastrami here is really good. I mean, good food at a gastropub is rare. Good food you want to write home about is rare. This place is better than Katz Deli in New York (popular pastrami joint). I got the 963 and it was yum. Go here for pastrami. read more

Wow! Best pastrami/ and possibly San which I've ever had, usually not one to review sandwich places but this was amazing. Gonna have to start ordering sandwiches now haha . read more

The Refuge - Reuben - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

A boutique little cozy restaurant in San Carlos very charming atmosphere with some delicious food n a variety of good beers to boot definitely a place to hit for a delicious Ruben sandwich and an IPA highly recommended read more

The Refuge - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

The Refuge still has the best pastrami and Reuben's in this area IMO. For me, I get the Reuben with sliced sourdough instead of rye. I just like it like that. And I like the slaw inside whereas some like it on the side. To each their own. Service was pretty quick. That's good cuz we like our sandwiches fresh and hot. But alt he sports stuff was taken down from inside. What gives??! read more

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I am a sucker for pastrami sandwiches everytime I see them on a menu. So when my sister took me to Refuge, I had no idea what I was going to experience. I was completely blown away with the flavor and tenderness of the rich pastrami. I couldn't stop eating it directly out of the sandwich. It allowed me to taste the meat just on its own and it was soooo good. My sister ordered the pastrami burger so I got to taste that and it was also just as amazing and a combo that I've never had before. My mouth is watering just writing this and I can't wait until I'm back down on the peninsula to go and get more of that pastrami. It was quite pricey for a sandwich, I'll be honest, but now I can understand why. The quality and the quantity was really worth that price. It is unlike any other pastrami I've had before and I've had a lot! I'll be back, for sure! read more

The Refuge - Pastrami Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Great place to meet your friends for a casual dinner, watch a Seahawks game (Thursday night football) and enjoy great food and beer! Came here for the first time to meet coworkers for dinner. When I got there they had ordered nachos and OMG so perfect! Just look at the photo. You know what I mean! Perfect amount of cheese, crispy hot chips, guacamole, and jelapenos. I ordered a dark ale on tap which was a paired well to the nachos. Garlic fries came next. Yes they were crisp, hot and perfect amount of garlic. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. It was really tasty and the roll was tasty, pork generous and the right amount of bbq sauce. Not soggy you could pick it up and eat without it disintegrating. It came with Cole slaw but I also asked for a pile of perfect crisp fries. I had a hot fudge sundae after I shared with my friends. Perfect. And the Seahawks won! read more

The Refuge - My team! - Burgers Near Me - San Carlos, California

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The Reuben sandwich here is absolutely delicious--elegant, sophisticated, and packed with incredible flavor. At close to $30, it's definitely an investment, but worth every single penny. Treat yourself, don't cheat yourself! read more

I came here for a party of about 20 people for a 50th birthday. The staff was very accommodating. The ambiance is very "bar" feel. The poutine was incredible. My husband said he had the best pastrami sandwich of his life. I split the pastrami salad with a friend and got a cup of the tomato soup. It was very filling. All in all, a good visit! read more

For DJ's birthday dinner on Thursday, March 13, 2025, he opted to go to The Refuge again, but at the San Carlos location. I easily made reservations via OpenTable for 7:30 PM. After quickly finding a space to park just a few feet away from the front entrance (Like most establishments on the street, The Refuge does not have a private lot), we arrived between 7:35 and 7:40 and were seated immediately at the corner table in the back, right by the bar. Once one of the booths freed, up, we were quickly moved, per our request. The restaurant offers patio, table, booth, and bar seating. Inside, red walls pop out in the dining room of brown flooring and wooden table and chairs. The walls are adorned with Belgian posters and sports regalia. On the night of our visit, the dining room appeared clean and tidy. When asked about the unisex restroom, though, I was advised that I probably would not want to go there. The Refuge's four-page menu has three pages of drinks, mostly of BEER, so this is a great place for beer aficionados like DJ. They also specialize in pastrami, which DJ also digs...even though he is mainly a vegetarian. Below are what we ordered: Delirium Black Beer ($13) - "It was good, I wasn't blown away by it," per DJ. "New" Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich with upgraded Goofy Fries ($17.45 + $10.95 for Goofy Fries Upgrade) - I was concerned that V might find fat in the deep-fried chicken thighs and get turned off, but he ate every morsel of his sandwich with enjoyment. He liked the Goofy Fries, but, WOW! A $10.95 upcharge for the upgrade is pretty steep. Pastrami Burger with upgraded Goofy Fries ($23.45 + $10.95 for Goofy Fries Upgrade) - Z said that his plate was good. DJ and he guessed that the upgrade price for Goofy Fries was only $5. When I revealed the true amount, they both nearly choked. Those fries are EXPENSIVE! The 963 ($26.95) - If anyone watched DJ eat this, they probably wouldn't believe that he is mainly a vegetarian. But he is and he loved every bite. The Champ Cheesesteak ($18.45) - Good, but DJ and I agreed that the sandwich was dry enough that I had to ask for some mayonnaise to put on the bread. CHURROS with Vanilla Ice Cream ($8.95 + $3 for added Vanilla Ice Cream) - V also enjoyed this very much. CHOCOLATE POT DE CREME ($5.95) - YUMMY! BREAD PUDDING ($9.95) - DJ loved this dessert. Service was quick, friendly and accommodating. To treat him for his birthday, The Refuge served a complimentary bowl of VANILLA ICE CREAM, topped with a lit candle, with DJ's BREAD PUDDING as well as a free taste pour of the Humble Forager Sequoia Anniversary Special Beer. Small gestures like that show that the staff is thoughtful and warm. We had a nice time at the Refuge. Below are the individual star ratings from everyone, resulting in a 4.5 star average. Z: 5 V: 5 DJ: 5 M: 3 read more

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I was super excited to finally eat at this fine establishment. I saw the tv show on the food channel that showed how the restaurant prepares its wonderful pastrami. I ordered the rye pastrami sandwich and it was delicious I was loving the flavors. The service was excellent. The ambiance was really cool. Lots of nostalgia and I loved it. I had to drive for a meal well worth our trip. read more

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We came on a Friday around noon. No wait to be seated. We ordered the Belgium flight, the Reuben and the steak & fries. Everything was delicious! The pastrami is as advertised: flavorful, tender and delicious. We loved both the sandwich and the hunk of pastrami! The fries were super satisfying: crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Soooooo good. Our fav pastrami in the Bay Area. We'll be back! read more

Unfortunately the quality has substantially declined. Previously I would have rated 4 or 5 stars. Ordered the pastrami and Swiss's with mustard and rye. I like thin sliced very tender. This had very thick but short slices were very difficult to chew. Ie also very dry, not moist. I hope they improve it. read more