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Best Restaurants for Creative Cuisine in San Mateo

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15 restaurants available nearby

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A photo of Twelvemonth restaurant
1. Twelvemonth
4.6
Exceptional(872)
$$$$
• Global, International • Burlingame
Booked 16 times today
Twelvemonth offers a creative spin on Californian cuisine, focusing on plant-based dishes that are both delicious and sustainable. The restaurant's menu changes with the seasons, and reviewers rave about the 'interesting culinary creations', 'creative and wonderful dishes', and 'fresh new concepts'. One reviewer even noted that it's 'Top Tier Plant Based Cuisine', while another praised the 'innovative vegan cuisine'. The innovative approach to plant-based dining, combined with the restaurant's passion for sustainability and its 'beautiful, fresh and energetic' ambiance, sets Twelvemonth apart as a creative cuisine destination.
A photo of Eylan restaurant
2. Eylan
4.6
Exceptional(518)
$$$$
• Indian • Menlo Park
Booked 46 times today
From Chef Srijith Gopinathan and restaurateur Ayesha Thapar, the creators of Ettan, Copra and Little Blue Door, Eylan offers seasonally-driven Cal-Indian cuisine centered around a wood-fired grill, with thoughtfully sourced produce and a variety of proteins cooked over the embers and served alongside clever riffs on traditional breads from different regions of India. The bar program by West-Bev and Christopher Longoria draws upon the kaleidoscope of ingredients and techniques that make up global cocktail culture, while also taking inspiration from the culinary traditions of India. Wine director Andre Sydnor's program offers depth in classic regions like Burgundy, Champagne, Piedmont, and California, offering a variety of options for casual wine lovers while including more exclusive selections for serious oenophiles.
A photo of Ettan - Palo Alto restaurant
3. Ettan - Palo Alto
4.5
Awesome(2044)
$$$$
• Indian • Palo Alto
Booked 66 times today
With highly personal, vibrant dishes from the country’s most decorated Cal-Indian chef, the rustic chic ambiance at Ettan is simultaneously warm, magical and glamorous; without being intimidating. Located in the heart of downtown, every detail from our craft cocktails and wine list to our lush courtyard patio and private dining mezzanine are designed to appeal to a diverse audience whether you are on an intimate date or entertaining for business.
A photo of Wildseed Palo Alto restaurant
4. Wildseed Palo Alto
4.7
Exceptional(334)
$$$$
• Vegetarian / Vegan • Palo Alto
Booked 49 times today
At Wildseed, a plant-based restaurant and bar by Adriano Paganini, we believe that eating seasonally is the right thing to do because it makes a difference in the way your food tastes and how you feel. Working exclusively with N California’s freshest and most seasonal produce, Wildseed serves up hearty, healthy and satisfying meals that pull in global flavors and techniques alongside creative cocktails, local beer, and local, vegan, organic and biodynamic wines.Wildseed offers guests a chance to make a better choice – a place where you can feel good about the decisions you are making. With a full-bar that is also driven by the philosophy of using fresh, sustainable and seasonal ingredients in its cocktails, Wildseed is well suited for hosting groups large and small for snacks and drinks at happy hour, or a full meal throughout the day.A 4% surcharge is added to all orders to support Employee Benefits.
A photo of 3SIXTY Bar / Bistro / Market restaurant
5. 3SIXTY Bar / Bistro / Market
3.9
Excellent(306)
$$$$
• Californian • Burlingame
Booked 1 time today
Join us at 3SIXTY for an all-in-one dining experience! Food Thoughtfully Sourced, Carefully Served is Chef Michael Cantin's philosophy behind our seasonal menu which supports our local purveyors here in Northern California. We are inspired by the culture and diversity the Bay area represents, as well as you, our well-traveled guests. What may be comfort food for some will be new and enticing for others. Sharing this experience with guests from all over the world is our story.We are located on the Atrium level of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport - come join us!(Complimentary self parking)
A photo of Birdsong restaurant
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6. Birdsong
4.8
Exceptional(62)
$$$$
• American • SOMA
Booked 8 times today
Birdsong is a two Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco that honors local, seasonal ingredients through refined, fire-driven tasting menus. Rooted in whole-animal butchery & peak-season produce, Birdsong reflects a deep respect for craft, place & the natural world.A live wood-fired hearth anchors the kitchen, where fire & smoke are treated as essential ingredients—transforming humble elements into something quietly profound. Cooking here is an act of acknowledgment: of the hands that harvest, the traditions that guide, & the community that gathers.Menus are paired with a wine program that balances classic expressions with underrepresented producers, selected to echo the restaurant’s grounded, expressive philosophy.Whether seeking discovery or reflection, guests leave Birdsong feeling lighter in spirit, more connected, & deeply nourished.
A photo of Okane restaurant
7. Okane
4.7
Exceptional(535)
$$$$
• Japanese • SOMA
Booked 16 times today
Okane offers an authentic Japanese dining experience in San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood. Known for its fresh ingredients, daily specials, and a menu that's interesting and varied. One reviewer noted the 'creative dishes', indicating Okane's innovative approach to traditional Japanese cuisine.
A photo of Donato Enoteca restaurant
8. Donato Enoteca
4.5
Awesome(2836)
$$$$
• Italian • Redwood City
Booked 8 times today
Set in the heart of downtown Redwood City, Donato Enoteca offers true and honest contemporary Italian cuisine from Executive Chef Donato Scotti that changes weekly determined by the freshest available seasonal produce. Homemade pastas, wood-burning oven pizzas, meat and fish courses are available, executed in an authentic yet modern way. The menu spans every region of Italy and incorporates artisanal products, such as fresh imported burrata, prosciutto, grappa and olive oil. Other in-house specialties include sausages, mostarda and lamb prosciutto. The wine list focuses on smaller-production boutique wineries from Italy, California and France.
A photo of St. Michael's Alley restaurant
9. St. Michael's Alley
4.8
Exceptional(945)
$$$$
• American • Palo Alto
Booked 13 times today
Established in 1959, owners Jenny Youll and Mike Sabina expanded the once small coffeehouse of St. Michaels Alley into this intimate dining establishment in 2009. The restaurant provides three comfortable spaces for a dinner out with friends, date night, or a complete private event. The main dining room is wood paneled and intimate. The front room / bar area is more casual and social, yet still offers tables with linens and the full menu. The solid wood bar is a favorite dining spot for many of the regulars and locals. A beautiful outdoor patio is most enjoyable on warm summer days and nights as it open to the sky. Enjoy a cocktail at the full bar before venturing into one of the upscale and relaxed dining spaces of St. Michael's Alley.The restaurant is currently offering the Autumn Menu on the Patio as well as takeout, Tuesday through Sunday starting at 5pm.
A photo of O' by Claude Le Tohic restaurant
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10. O' by Claude Le Tohic
4.7
Exceptional(593)
$$$$
• Contemporary French • Downtown / Union Square
Booked 13 times today
Located on the 5th floor of ONE65 San Francisco, O' is Chef Claude Le Tohic's inaugural solo venture after earning Meilleur Ouvrier de France, winning the James Beard Award for Best Chef in America and carrying the coveted 3-Michelin star rating at Joël Robuchon Las Vegas. Luxurious but not pretentious, O’ offers modern French cuisine with elegant and attentive service. O' offers a 5-course Tasting Menu for $210, and a 9-course Grand Tasting Menu for $295. Optional wine pairings are available, along with a wine list of 1000+ selections from the USA and France. Please note that 20% service charge (which includes gratuity) and 3% San Francisco Health Mandate is added onto every check.Though dinner attire is always encouraged, we ask our guests to abide by "smart casual" dress code; no shorts, t-shirts, or sandals.
‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Ted
    San Francisco Bay Area •15 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    Love the new menu and its organization. Great food
    More info
    Donato Enoteca$$$$• Italian• Redwood City
    •
    4.5
  • NaeemGold
    San Francisco Bay Area •36 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    Delicious food, great service, and creative presentation
    More info
    Ettan - Palo Alto$$$$• Indian• Palo Alto
    •
    4.5
  • Janet
    San Francisco Bay Area •25 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Jun 17, 2026
    Sumptious, complex dishes and drinks. Gorgeous space with a variety of seating options. Perfect service; helpful, efficient, thoughtful.
    More info
    Twelvemonth$$$$• Global, International• Burlingame
    •
    4.6
  • ramzi
    San Francisco Bay Area •7 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Jun 17, 2026
    Great restaurant with great food. This is a high end and well designed restaurant where the food is beautifully presented and sharing plates is the only way to go. The service is also very good! Do not expect a butter chicken or a Tikka masala to be on the menu, but a highly curated menu with a good number of dishes that are beautifully presented and the flavors are fabulous. Eylan is an all around great experience that is highly enjoyable whether you go on date night or in a larger group.
    More info
    Eylan$$$$• Indian• Menlo Park
    •
    4.6
  • Robin
    San Francisco Bay Area •22 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on Jun 8, 2026
    Great pizza, wine and bolognese . Nice atrium views
    More info
    3SIXTY Bar / Bistro / Market$$$$• Californian• Burlingame
    •
    3.9

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