No plans. Post-high school basketball game. Hungry. American Bull Bar & Grill appeared. Decision…read moremade. Walked into what is clearly a local institution - the kind of place where regulars know the staff's kids' names. Weekday evening crowd skewed silver-haired, which in my experience is always a good omen. These people have been eating out for decades - they know where the bodies are buried and where the good food is. Server was legitimately excellent. Paced the order so apps didn't collide with entrees - a simple move that most places fumble. Checked in without hovering. Knew the menu cold. Then this happened: I asked for a Pliney. He asked, "Elder or Younger?" That's when I had to pause. In all my years of ordering Plineys, no one has ever asked me that. Because no one has ever randomly had Pliney the Younger on tap. These guys did - apparently a locally advertised special that had been going on that day. They had a Keg of this rare stuff, and it was depleting quickly. I got the Younger on repeat till I was barely stumbling out of the place. Life is good. Ordered the Cheesesteak and it was legit - not playing around. The family went burgers, hot dogs, and wings. Zero complaints across the board. Bar fare done right, priced right, with zero pretension. Sometimes the best finds are the ones you didn't plan for.

American Bull is a solid sports bar serving up refreshing drinks and tasty food! This recent trip…read morewas actually my second time here, though the first time feels like forever ago (some time pre-pandemic). LOCATION: Its home is within the Burlingame Plaza, next door to a Lunardi's grocery store. It's located directly across from the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center on the corners of Trousdale and El Camino Real. PARKING: There generally is enough parking, though you may have to walk a bit further depending on the time of day and how busy it is. The lot and area seem safe, even at night when other things in the shopping center have closed down. INSIDE: We went on a Sunday evening, around 6pm to watch the Sunday Night Football game. It was actually pretty busy, though there was some bar and highboy seating as well as a couple tables still available. We went with the traditional table because the older we get, the more we appreciate back support. There are TVs EVERYWHERE. Most of the walls are lined with TVs, playing a variety of sports, but mostly whatever's local or the "main game". It's also pretty loud-you're still able to have a conversation amongst a smaller group of people, but you definitely have to be listening intently. There is a lot of cool, mostly local, sports memorabilia. They have a whole Giants corner, in addition to lots of Niners autographed jerseys, helmets, and footballs. There's also a wall with dozens of autographed baseballs. We took some time to look at the names, and noticed the likes of Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, and plenty of other Hall of Famers! DRINKS: Their drink menu consists of 10+ white wine, 6 red wine, and 2 sparkling wine options available by the glass or the bottle. They have bottled beer (domestic, imports, and microbrew) and cans (White Claw, High Noon, Wyder's Pear Cider, Ace Joker apple cider, and Guinness). They also have a couple non-alcoholic beer options, and other non-alcoholic options (coffee, tea, Pepsi products, juice, and Arnold Palmers). They also have over a dozen beers on tap, as well as a full bar that can provide shots and likely make most cocktails. Prices for most drinks are actually quite reasonable for the area--on par with a sports bar more than a fancy restaurant. FOOD: Their menu is surprisingly big for what seems to be a shopping center sports bar. For apps, they have a lot of typical bar food options (fries, onion rings, potato skins, mozzarella sticks, wings, chicken tenders, sliders, quesadillas, tacos, and even Lumpia). There is a section with half a dozen tasty sounding salads, available in full or half sized portions. There is also a separate section for their chili, which is served in a cup or bowl, with shredded cheese, chopped onion, sour cream, and fresh jalapenos. The sandwich portion of the menu runs 10+ deep with options such as burgers, a patty melt, Philly cheese steak, grilled and Buffalo fried chicken, salmon, BLT, and even a hotdog or polish dog (technically not a sandwich)! The entree section has some bangers too, with items like BBQ ribs, NY steak, grilled or blackened salmon, linguini, chicken parm, ravioli, and meatballs. I love that this section has an Italian flair, and want to come back to try things like the chicken parm! This most recent trip we went with friends and split a few things amongst the groups. I got the patty melt, with a side of chili. The melt was solid, not spectacular. I would have liked the grilled onions cooked a little more. The chili was also good, not great. We got all the accoutrements on the side, which allowed us to try it on its own first, then add as we go. Our friends ordered a Chinese chicken salad, and a burger basket with onion rings. They both finished their meals and noted that they enjoyed them! OVERALL: While this is basically a bar, it's also a restaurant. There were several children under the age of 10 running around screaming that were part of larger groups. Not sure if there's a specific time when minors are no longer allowed? The service was friendly enough, and the bathrooms were clean when we went. This is for sure a great spot to grab a drink, bite to eat, and watch a sports game or 3! IG: @bbnem.eats

Great place. S/o Fiona and Louisa . They knows how to make people feel welcome. Miss this place.read more

Had a great time with Fiona, she was very knowledgeable and friendly. 10/10 service will come back!read more

Extremely terrible experience and it's only with one simple fixable thing: the bartender. The…read morebartender has a very bad attitude. One of the things that happened when I visited this bar was I asked for a simple lemonade. The reason was because I had a soccer game the next day and I didn't want to drink alcohol and I wanted to get some electrolytes in me. It would have been very simple for the bartender to just say, "I'm sorry we don't serve lemonade." Instead what he did is say I worked here 20 years and he never served lemonade and then kept scoffing at me. He kept saying this three times, walking back and forth, up until the point the patron next to me even said, "Don't worry about him." After that without even me talking to him, he said, "Who orders lemonade at an Irish pub?" Then without me saying anything, he said, "No one orders lemonade at an Irish pub." I was honestly just trying to get a drink and he made me feel very dumb. Overall if a patron asks you for a drink, it's very easy just to say, "I'm sorry we can't do that," but he kept making me feel like an idiot. I was also surprised they did not serve lemonade; that's a very simple request. He didn't offer any alternatives except for 7-Up, which I didn't really want but paid for anyway. I ended up not drinking it even after I paid for it and leaving the bar. I guess the bartender got what he wanted. He gave me a drink that was other than lemonade; he made me pay for it and I just left the bar unhappy. I would highly recommend against visiting this establishment, especially with the grumpy bartender. He is an older white Irish guy. I understand they might have your own customers at the bar but I think it costs nothing to treat patrons with respect and not tell them that they're stupid for asking for a drink. Overall I would not recommend this place at all. Very enforced error. Sad!

In all my days bopping around the Peninsula and especially because I have family in Burlingame.. it…read morewas the first time I had ever stepped foot into Paddy Flynn's. Super impromptu meetup with a girlfriend, I said let's try out Paddy Flynn's. We got a Guiness (duh) and a gin and tonic. Bartender was no-nonsense. I expected it to be crowded due to the 49ers/Seahawks game, but we were able to grab a high top. It served its purpose and we were able to catch up over a drink. Crowd was mixed, and even some of the seemingly-random patrons knew each other. It's what you would expect from a pub. Dark. Lively. Straightforward. Will be back.

Manny is an awsome bartender 5 stars for him, food is great and manny is always on his work always…read moreserving very fast and i am never waiting for a drink.

Sela is a real pro in service. Besure to ask for her when you visit. She's upbeat and…read moreconscientious. She'll give you excellent service.

A quaint Irish pub that I have been to with my friends several times (they are regulars). The lady…read morewho owns the place is really warm and cordial. The selection of beverages at this pub is good not overpriced ! The best part about this place you can bring food and have it there as you enjoy your drink and have a good chat. Definitely going back ! It's what you do for a local business!!

Classic neighborhood pub with a belly-up bar, shuffleboard table, and an outdoor patio with three…read morefire pits to gather around. They've got a fw TVs around the interior for your viewing pleasure. Three Coors Lights and a Bulleit Bourbon neat for $20. It's cash only, so bring your dolla bills. The women's bathroom stall is very tight. If you're over 5'5, your knees are going to touch the door as you squat. This is definitely a local institution in Burlingame.

If you're anywhere near Burlingame and haven't been to Twelve Wood yet, you are seriously missing…read moreout. From the moment we sat down, everything about the experience felt elevated but still welcoming. We ordered the "Burlingame Bombshell," their house-made olives, and the eggplant sliders--and every single bite was outstanding. The flavors were bold, fresh, and clearly crafted with care. The olives alone are worth the visit, and the eggplant sliders were a perfect balance of hearty and refined. What truly made the night unforgettable, though, was our bartender, Oleg. He was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also genuinely warm and engaging--exactly the kind of person who turns a great night into a memorable one. His recommendations were spot-on, and you could tell he takes real pride in what he does. Between the exceptional food, creative drinks, and top-tier service, Twelve Wood absolutely delivers. Can't wait to come back!

I love this place in general, but I went to have some drinks at the bar a couple of weeks ago with…read morea girlfriend. Our bartender William made us the best French 75's I have ever had! He was so super sweet and attentive and all the cocktails he made us were absolutely amazing! I love this bar, particularly the bartenders! William took care of us the whole time and was super amazing! Def my fave bar in Burlingame!

Treasure found, what a great find. My sisters and I were there last night and it was awesome!…read more Everything was perfect, the location, parking, the decor, the service, the drinks, the food , the Irish bread and the dessert. We started off with drinks, shots, Irish coffee, happy drink and other suggestion by our friendly server, all were good. We had the sampler appetizer platter, wings, Veggies,potato skins, onion rings, cheese quesadilla and the best sausage rolls I've had in a while. We ordered entrees to share, we had the Cobb salad, fish &chips and bangers & mash, WOW, JUST WOW. We ended with the lemon tart, it made my mouth pucker is a good way. The Irish was so tasty we look home a loaf. So glad my sister found it and suggested we come, we will definitely return and enjoy this establishment for years to come. the service was top notch, all the servers were excellent, friendly and we received the best service. I am sorry we didn't get too many pics, these were just 2 of the many things we had. We recommend you come and enjoy this p,ace, you'll be happy you did.

Service was excellent and the atmosphere is fun and lively. It was packed on a Friday night, with a…read moregood family-style vibe--felt like the kind of place you could grab a bite and a beer with your parents, even though I didn't see many kids. I only had the fries, but they were fire--definitely a good sign for the rest of the menu. They also nailed the Guinness pour--clean lines, creamy, and really good. I'll definitely be back to try more of the food.

I usually never write reviews but I came here with my family and we had a great experience, and a…read morebig part of that was our server Sahil. He was super attentive and checked in at the right times. He had a really positive attitude and made the whole experience a lot more fun. Even when it got busy, he stayed organized and handled everything smoothly. Our food and drinks came out quickly, nothing to complain about at all. Definitely one of the best experiences I've had here.

Topgolf is basically like a fancy bowling alley, but for golf. It's fun for adults, kids, families,…read moreand even people who have never played golf before. They also provide children's clubs if you ask. The setup is simple: everyone takes turns hitting balls at targets. When it's not your turn, you're just hanging out on the couch, snacking, sipping drinks, chatting, or watching everyone else play. The food is mostly shareable bar-style food -- nothing particularly amazing, but it fits the vibe well. There are also a few indoor games to keep people entertained while waiting around. We usually go with family or friends, though I've also seen a lot of company team-building events hosted here. The main downside is the cost. The hourly bay rates can get pretty expensive during peak hours, and once you add food and drinks, a visit can easily become pricey. We sometimes buy the gift cards from Costco, which basically works out to about 20% off. We've also purchased the summer pass the last two years, which gives unlimited visits for the pass holder and guests. That said, on weekends you still need to arrive early to grab one of the bays reserved for summer pass holders.

Haven't been to Max's in at least 20 years! Was happy to find Jazz night which was phenomenal and…read moreperfect for a meal in the bar! Rueben with pastrami dry grilled was perfection perfect with addition of some of their fun mustards! Side was a Cesar salad and loved every bite! Had to get the chocolate macaroon to go for desert and that was perfect too! The service is top notch and made me feel welcome and let me relax while enjoying my dinner and music! Well done Max's thank you for the consistency!

earns a star for: 1. great cakes…read more2. good portion sizes 3. changing table in restrooms 4. plenty of parking loses a star for: 1. restaurant was very stuffy/warm 2. bathrooms were sticky and very smelly 3. waiter wasn't friendly - messed up our order and blamed me, very pushy about ordering drinks and seemed bothered when asking for condiments with our fries.

The restaurant was full tonight!…read more Great lighting and decoration in the restaurant, friendly service and delicious food. Everything we ordered... we ate and no food was left on the plate. Parking on the street wasn't too difficult at 5:15pm on a Saturday evening.

Decent Italian place for a celebration. Came here in a big group for a work event…read more - appetizers - good garlic bread, burrata was great - very creamy cheese. - squid ink pasta - fantastic flavour, I had them do a custom one with pesto just to try. - Petrale sole - very good, though there were bits of bone that I did not expect. - creme brûlée - decent Good place to celebrate. Food is a bit $ for the quality.