Bay Meadows

San Mateo continues to lead the Peninsula as a foodie haven – a destination worth the visit, and a place where cultural options abound. Our hometown clearly has ‘something for everyone’ and is dedicated to providing its patrons with the best. In fact, Michelin recently announced its annual list of San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country Bib Gourmand restaurants and of the 83 Bay Area nominations, several are located on the Peninsula – with 2 in our backyard of San Mateo!

This list of “value” spots doubles as a precursor to the Michelin stars announcement. Restaurants that qualify as Bib Gourmands are required to serve two courses and a glass of wine (or dessert) for $40 or less, before tax and tip.

Meet Bib Gourmands of San Mateo: Osteria Coppa and Happy Noodles
Osteria Coppa was voted ‘Best Italian restaurant in the Bay Area2011, 2012 and 2013’. And….once again, the restaurant won a position in the prestigious Michelin 2014 Bay Area Bib Gourmand selections! Known for using local, sustainable ingredients and for their handmade pastas that the San Francisco Examiner says is ‘simply to die for’, we also recommend you hit the weekly Happy Hour 5-7 Monday through Friday for half off well drinks, beer and select wines-by-the-glass.

If you haven’t visited Happy Noodles in San Mateo, run don’t walk! CHOW.com says, “Order the satisfying Yibin fried rice with ya cai (Sichuan preserved mustard greens) or dan dan mian with pea shoots….but rumor has it that this 2014 Michelin Bib Gourmand is soon to become a Bambu dessert house!

Meet Michelin Starred Restaurants of San Mateo: All Spice and Wakuriya
Located in a beautiful 1906 Victorian House, Chef Sachin Chopra and his wife, Shoshana Wolff, have created a wonderful exception with All Spice in San Mateo.  Ranked on Zagat 26 for food and service, and 24 for décor and among OpenTable’s top 100 “Fit for Foodies” restaurants across the country. – All Spice lives up to the hype. We recommend trying the Cashew-coconut braised beef short ribs: root vegetables, charred carrot, smoked garlic cream, cashew coconut yogurt reduction. See what the Mercury News says: Review: All Spice — delightful San Mateo original

“Everyone talks about how difficult it is to get a reservation at the French Laundry, but getting in to Wakuriya in San Mateo can be just as challenging.” But according to a review by Michael Bauer, the eighteen-seat, Michelin-starred restaurant is well worth the wait. Hint: Dinner consists of pre-fixed course with nine dishes. Reservations are taken a month in advance, and you can make reservations for up to 8 – so plan on grabbing a few friends to experience Chef Katsuhiro’s culinary skills, such as, cutting sashimi and decorating sakizuke. With nearly 300 reviews on Yelp and close to 5 stars as the overall rating, Wakuriya definitely places fine dining in San Mateo on the map.

Do you have a San Mateo food tip? Good with the camera? Share with our community at Bay Meadows. Use #TasteSanMateo on Instagram or Twitter and share your recommendations with neighbors.

As we develop community, we want to see how you live or play at Bay Meadows. Share your fun lifestyle photos with our community by using #baymeadowslife. You could WIN $50 or our Grand Prize of $500 at the end of 2014 and be featured in a live pop-up gallery exhibit event.

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