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Our Delicious Lamb Chop - Central Park Bistro, San Mateo, CA

Central Park Bistro

4.7
4.7
1725 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

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2 people
19:00
Booked 17 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
Central Park Bistro is a 100 seat contemporary restaurant in downtown San Mateo featuring fresh seasonal American cuisine by Chef Ricardo Garcia, in the $15-$45 range. We offer a carefully chosen eclectic Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Central Park Bistro is an affordable sophisticated, fun dining experience. Relax and unwind with a house specialty cocktail at our wonderful Martini Bar. We also have several intimate private dining rooms perfect for that corporate presentation business meeting, wedding rehearsal dinner,
retirement/anniversary dinner, or any special function you may have in mind. Check out our private wine cellar room which seats up to 8 people for that extra special dining experience.


For reservations larger than 12 or for private functions please contact the restaurant directly.
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Bistro
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30–14:15 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–21:45
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Metered parking on street and large lot in back of restaurant.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ricardo Garcia

What 1,725 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Peninsula

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Central Park Bistro in San Mateo is a neighborhood gem known for its "delicious food" and "wonderful service." The menu offers "creative and tasty dishes" with standout items like lamb chops, scallops, and calamari. Diners appreciate the "friendly and attentive staff," the elegant ambiance, and the excellent wine selection. Perfect for any occasion, it consistently delivers a top-notch dining experience.

1,725 Reviews
  1. Lylliam

    San Francisco115 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I recently had the pleasure of dining at Central Park Bistro for a birthday celebration, and it was an all around great experience. The restaurant went above and beyond to accommodate our large group, making sure every detail was taken care of. From the moment we arrived, the ambiance set the perfect tone for a relaxed yet elegant evening. The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring we were all comfortable and well taken care of throughout the night. As for the food, everything was absolutely delicious. Each dish was showcased with fresh ingredients and rich flavors. Whether it was the appetizers, main courses, or desserts, everything impressed. Overall, Central Park Bistro provided the ideal setting for a celebration. The service, food, and atmosphere made it a memorable evening for all of us. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to host a special event or just enjoy a delightful meal.

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  2. Cali

    San Francisco4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 2 March 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    We had a 9:00 pm reservation on a Saturday night. At 9:35 pm, we were told that we would need to leave the restaurant by 9:45 pm so they could close up for the night. We should have been told when we entered the restaurant that we only had 45 minutes for dinner, so we could have decided whether to stay.

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  3. Ruth VIP

    San Francisco49 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 22 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A wonderful destination for dinner in downtown San Mateo. Food and service are excellent. The staff are warm and friendly. A favorite to keep going back to.

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  4. Roger VIP

    San Francisco65 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Very strange experience. Explicitly told the maitre d'hotel and waiter that one of us (two people) had a corn allergy--both assured us they could work around it. Menu choice of the scallops on risotto doesn't mention corn. When the non-allergy diner popped up with corn kernels, we called the waiter over--and they were horrified. But--that's still quite the moment. Then, at dessert, we ordered two desserts--discussed that the crust of the key lime pie-and asked if the crust had any corn meal in it, or used corn syrup sweeteners--and they said no. And then--two deserts appeared on the table--but no key lime pie; instead--beignets and bread pudding. So: food is good! Service is chaotic. And they are NOT listening to you. Careful if you have food allergies. Be really careful.

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  5. Janis

    Connecticut1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dining experience at Central Park Bistro was very lovely. The food and it presentation were great. We really enjoyed the ambiance, and our waiters name was Oz, and he recommended my wine which was very nice, and helped me choose between 2 entrees, and I loved his choice. Can not wait to go back. Janis Hennessy

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  6. Irene

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had two exceptionally original entrees which were beautifully presented. The vegetable accompaniment was perfect as was the key lime pie dessert.

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  7. Susan VIP

    New York City33 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 6 February 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Very disappointing experience. The wait staff are attentive but the food quality has deteriorated so much.

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  8. Steven

    San Francisco42 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 6 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our food was extraordinary and the service was excellent.

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  9. Pablo

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 5 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our birthday was acknowledged which is not as common as you would think. Presumably the manager and the bartender both took their rounds at the bar taking care of us. It is not very often multiple people are involved in making sure service goes well. No complaints!

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  10. Sandi or Richard

    San Francisco49 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 2 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Enjoyed our repeat visit to Central Park Bistro. Will definitely visit again!

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FAQs

Central Park Bistro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 558-8401.

Central Park Bistro is rated 4.7 stars by 1725 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 17 times today
Google Map for Central Park Bistro

181 East 4th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Bistro
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30–14:15 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–21:45
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Metered parking on street and large lot in back of restaurant.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ricardo Garcia
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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