The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar

  4.6 – 773 reviews   • Bistro

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Located in the heart of downtown San Mateo, the Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar offers an appealing selection of seafood, meats, charcuterie, plus hundreds of wines and cocktails. We welcome your next outing with colleagues, come for a quick bite before a show, bring on the late night revelling, invite the family for Sunday brunch.

✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar 94401

Hours

Friday11 AM–11 PM
Saturday11 AM–11 PM
Sunday11 AM–10 PM
Monday11 AM–10 PM
Tuesday11 AM–10 PM
Wednesday11 AM–10 PM
Thursday11 AM–10 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 246 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401

Phone: (650) 445-7250

Website: https://www.thebarrelbistrowinebar.com/

Menu Photos

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Related Web Results

The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar

246 SOUTH B STREET IN DOWNTOWN SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA. Located in the heart of downtown San Mateo, the Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar offers an appealing selection …

The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar Restaurant – San Mateo, CA – OpenTable

The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar in San Mateo delights with “incredible and flavorful” food and “world class” service in a cozy, lively atmosphere. Guests praise …

The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar (@thebarrelbistrowinebar) – Instagram

Exceptional wines & delicious bites ️ Brunch, dinner, & everything in between 246 South B Street, San Mateo, CA Sip. Savor. Repeat.

Reviews

Phil De La Cruz
Date Night Delight: A Review
If you’re looking for a spot that strikes the perfect balance between “charming atmosphere” and “culinary excellence,” this is it. My wife and I stopped in for date night and were blown away by the quality of the meal.

The Standout Dishes

Appetizer: We started by sharing the Octopus Dolce Mare. It was perfectly prepared—tender, flavorful, and the ideal way to kick off the evening.

The Mains: My wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass, which was buttery and cooked to perfection. I went with the Filet Mignon Flatbread, a sophisticated take on a classic that felt both indulgent and light enough for a night out.

The Drink: To round it all out, I had an Espresso Martini. It was expertly balanced—not too sweet, with a great foam and a solid caffeine kick to keep the night going.

The Verdict

The ambiance was cute and intimate, making it the perfect backdrop for a meaningful conversation. We left feeling full, relaxed, and already planning our next visit.
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Mustafa Dilmac
The lunch at Barrel Bistro Wine Bar with my wife and best friend was exceptionally memorable. We savoured dishes such as the Chilean sea bass, lobster risotto, tenderloin, and goat cheese salad. Each entrée was meticulously prepared and distinguished by its rich flavour.

The quality of service significantly enhanced our overall impression. Cleo, the manager, personally checked on us to ensure a welcoming experience. Our server, Ibo, demonstrated attentiveness, courtesy, and promptness in addressing our needs.

In summary, it was an outstanding dining experience. I would confidently recommend Barrel Bistro Wine Bar to individuals seeking high-quality cuisine, attentive service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. We are already looking forward to our next visit.
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Mehmet Şadinoğlu
The moment we walked through the door, we were greeted by warm smiles and the comforting aroma of fresh, beautifully seasoned dishes. The ambience feels like a rustic European bistro—dim lighting, wood accents, and soft music. The pasta special was outstanding, and the dessert—a rich chocolate torte—was absolute heaven. Service was attentive without being overbearing. A must-visit spot. Please go ask for Cleo She’s the best
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Alisha Dunn
Fantastic meal. We had the risotto with lobster – delicious. The lobster was removed from the tail so super easy to eat. The risotto with osso luck was also fabulous – so tender. Patatas bravos – amazing!!! Delicious sauce with a spicy kick. Espresso martini and whisky sour were delicious and lived up to the hype.
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Daena
Thank you Fetti for the awesome service and lunch! It was a beautiful birthday celebration. The staff was attentive and gave me some extra treats for my birthday.
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Molly Herzig
Incredible service and food! Fetit was the bartender/server…he was wonderful! Best espresso martini I’ve ever had. We had mussels/clams, wild boar goulash, and a cesar salad (with bacon)! Everything was delicious. The chef came out to talk to us, very friendly and kind. Wonderful experience all around!
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Samuel Dativo
I had a great experience at Barrel Bistro. The food was delicious, the meat was juicy, and everything was full of flavor. The drinks were awesome — well-made and balanced.

I also want to highlight the service. Barham Woman, Cleoma, and Giovanna were amazing from start to finish. Friendly, attentive, and fast they really made the visit even better.

Highly recommend this place. I’ll definitely be back. Fav drink margarita Passion fruit
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Walter Koch
Eduardo our server was perfect! The meal was delicious from start to finish. If you like wine they have an enormous wine list to chose from. Highly recommend that you try this restaurant if you have not already done so.
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Cony Hui
Serpil was great, super friendly and attentive the whole time. She checked in just enough and made sure everything was taken care of. The food was really good too, everything came out tasting amazing. Overall, great food and solid service, we had a really nice experience.
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Justin Hernandez
I ordered a lobster risotto priced at $42 and a chicken parm at $38. For those prices, I expected a higher level of execution, balance, and refinement. Unfortunately, the dishes did not justify the cost.

The lobster risotto in particular was a major letdown. The lobster was significantly overcooked, and the dish itself did not resemble a traditional risotto in texture or preparation. It was overwhelmingly heavy—approximately 95% cheese—with little balance, depth, or rice integrity. At $42, this felt especially misaligned with both quality and value expectations.

I don’t mind paying higher prices when the food, technique, and experience support it. In this case, the pricing suggests a level of culinary care and precision that simply wasn’t reflected on the plate.

I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as there is potential here, but the execution and pricing need to be better aligned to meet guest expectations
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