Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Refuge

    4.1 (2.4k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order The Refuge Takeout or Delivery

    The Refuge Photos

    Business Info

    THE REFUGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Refuge

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Swiss and mustard, ruben, French fries, beef, and cider!
    Alyssa M.

    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!

    Reuben
    Savannah Z.

    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

    Jane S.

    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.

    Reuben
    Shellaine G.

    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.

    Reuben
    William O.

    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!

    Guy was here
    Kelly K.

    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.

    Reuben
    Ted C.

    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

    Menu 1/2026
    Allena C.

    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.

    Poutine! Crispy too!
    Mate R.

    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.

    Lots of yummy food
    Cat N.

    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.

    Reuben
    Rona C.

    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

    The 963 on sourdough
    Cathy J.

    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!

    Hot Wings
    Michael L.

    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.

    My go to - Kwok. Comes in a cool glass

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carol L.
    58
    62
    51

    15 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    14 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    The pastrami burger is worth the drive! Pastrami is so juicy. Great selections of beers & bread pudding is a delicious if you have room!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 6
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Loi N.
    2
    128
    313

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David T.
    95
    61
    14

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S S.
    3
    53
    0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric A.
    0
    19
    99

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt L.

    Matt L.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Adam R.

    Adam R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 62

    The Refuge Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Refuge

    For the Pastrami, do they have other bread options besides Rye?

    Correcting my earlier response - the menu says they are all on rye, I didn't realize. It's definitely not an overpowering rye.

    Wine isn't really their thing, beer is. But beer isn't my thing, wine is! Can I bring a bottle or two? What is the corkage fee?

    Is a Reuben really $30?

    No, it is $22.45 and I drive a hour drive each way for it.

    Are dogs really not allowed?

    There is plenty of seating outside with nice heaters. I saw quite a few tables with dogs there - no problems at all.

    Do they have a kids menu?

    Yeah, it's got stuff like a hot dog, max & cheese, etc. The other food is pretty kid-friendly too.

    Does this place have halal options?

    Hi. Sorry I believe they do not.

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Sal's Burgers

    Sal's Burgers

    4.6
    (309 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Overall My wife and I stopped by for lunch and were…read morethoroughly impressed. Friendly staff, good basic menu, and everything exceeded our expectations. The Good We shared a patty melt with onion rings. The burger was cooked to perfection. It was juicy and flavorful. The grilled onions were perfect, the bread was toasted exactly right, and the grilled onions made it exceptional. The onion rings were crispy and flavorful. The ranch dressing for dipping was yummy. My wife is a Diet Coke aficionado, but they don't carry it. She gave the Salaam Cola a try and was blown away, saying it was better than Diet Coke. I tried it and don't think I could distinguish it from Diet Coke in a blind taste test. I got the berry hibiscus tea which was exactly what I needed on a warm day. The Bad The juicy, saucy burger was so good that we each needed more than one napkin each. It was that good. Total minor point. Summary You need to get in here to try them out. It was our first visit and will definitely not be our last. Support this local business because these are the kind, passionate, life giving business owners that put out exceptional products all of us should support.

    Terrible quality. I dont understand how anyone can cook those french fries and feel OK about…read moreserving that to a paying customer. The chicken is bland. Straight to the dumpster. Maybe the squirrels will like it. They used to have better fries like the ones they feature in their pictures on Doordash. I have tried their burgers and other items in the past and it was about 3/5. So today's 1/5, leaves me to give a 2/5 overall.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Fries, tasted ok, like larger McDonald's fries
    Fries, tasted ok, like larger McDonald's fries
    Kids cheeseburger, these are sized for kids and not massive

    See all

    Kids cheeseburger, these are sized for kids and not massive
    Woodside Roadhouse

    Woodside Roadhouse

    4.3
    (178 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    I want to amend my last review ! You all Stepped it back up…read moreon my last order through Uber Eats . Pizza came out as pictured and the chicken tenders were on point ! Please please keep this up you are my fave comfort food place and I am trying to support my neighborhood businesses thank you so much

    3.5 stars for this burger spot, came here and sampled their burgers, let me breakdown what was…read moresampled and how it all faired. Brought the family with me to sample their options here is what everyone had I sampled the roadhouse burger and added mushrooms and made it a double, sadly this was not my favorite that I sample minus the mushrooms would have been a better take on this burger, also added the chilli cheese fries those were delicious would have been better with more meat in the chilli but everyone has their own preference Son ordered the nashville chicken sandwich - taste was perfect but my son mentioned it was way to messy to eat again delicious but way to messy to eat, crunch on each bite, seasoned and flavored well just allot to bite down on Daughter ordered roadhouse burger just cheese and meat with side of fries, even though it was smashed she finished most of it she left 1/4 of the burger and bread she stated it was delicious with side of piping hot fries she would order it again Wife had the roadhouse cobb and added nashville chicken she stated it was heavy for a salad allot of greens and heavy slices of crunchy nashville fried chicken In total all of the food was good, there were several other options to choose from, i will have to come back and sample a different burger Food **** for everyone elses burger 3.5 for my burger should have not added the mushrooms Price $$$ Service **** helpful, friendly Ambiance **** clean, open, not loud

    Photos
    The kitchen
    The kitchen
    Pepperoni French Bread Pizza
    Pepperoni French Bread Pizza
    Nashville Chicken Sandwhich

    See all

    Nashville Chicken Sandwhich
    Molly Os

    Molly Os

    4.5
    (121 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    There's a reason people from all over the Peninsula make the trip to this Irish pub on weekend…read morenights. it's become one of the few places in San Carlos that truly feels like nightlife. By day, it's warm, welcoming, and family-friendly. You'll see families enjoying dinner, friends catching up over drinks, and locals stopping in for great food and hospitality. But once Friday night hits, the entire atmosphere transforms. The lights dim, the music turns up, the dance floor fills, and the energy becomes something you'd expect to find in a much bigger city. Friday nights bring a fun mix of crowds; from younger groups looking for DJs, dancing, cocktails, and nightlife energy, to older guests enjoying the live music, atmosphere, and social vibe. Honestly, I'm a little older myself and still absolutely love the younger, high-energy scene here. It's fun, welcoming, and never feels out of place no matter your age. That's what makes this place so unique. Everyone fits in and everyone has a great time. Then Saturdays bring a completely different experience with live artists and an incredible variety of music. One weekend you'll hear young country performers getting the crowd singing along, and the next you'll find authentic Irish fiddlers creating that classic pub atmosphere everyone loves. That variety is what keeps people coming back..every weekend offers something different and memorable. The food is outstanding, the beer and cocktail selection is excellent, and the hospitality is second to none. I finally had the chance to meet Molly, the owner, and it's easy to see why this place has built such a loyal following. Her passion for creating a place where everyone feels welcome shows in every detail. From the amazing service to the live entertainment and unforgettable atmosphere, this isn't just another local pub. It's become a destination spot and one of the true nightlife gems in San Carlos. Highly recommend checking it out, especially on the weekends.

    I can't believe I haven't been to MollyO's before. They've been open about 3 years. I feel like I…read morecan really celebrate my Irish heritage here. I like the dark, green colors and of course they were playing some fun Irish pub music. The service was great, but we were also the only people in the pub besides the two people who were working. Today, I came in to try their Irish Breakfast and watch some Rugby! A traditional Irish breakfast must contain Black and White pudding (a ground sausage, oatmeal and spices), Irish sausage (tastes like a banger), Irish bacon (more like thinly sliced ham), eggs. and tomato baked beans. It's delicious! I hope they get more business though! I really like this place!

    Photos
    Pull up a stool and let the good times flow at our lively bar - where every drink tells a story!
    Pull up a stool and let the good times flow at our lively bar - where every drink tells a story!
    Our mouthwatering Irish Nachos - a crowd-pleasing favorite!
    Our mouthwatering Irish Nachos - a crowd-pleasing favorite!
    Weekend bliss: Brunch vibes and bottomless mimosas!

    See all

    Weekend bliss: Brunch vibes and bottomless mimosas!

    The Refuge - burgers - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...