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Restaurant Feature
Pausa Bar & Cookery
When I sat down with Chef-Owner Andrea Giuliani at Pausa Bar & Cookery, I asked him the question every first-time visitor should ask: what do I order? Without hesitation, he said the charcuterie board and the margherita pizza — and after trying both, I completely understand why.
Pausa — Italian for "pause" — is Andrea's invitation to step away from the pace of daily life and settle into something genuinely special. Born in the Veneto region of Italy and cooking professionally for more than 30 years, Andrea opened Pausa on E. 4th Avenue in San Mateo after leading kitchens at some of the Bay Area's best Italian restaurants. Every element of the menu — the house-made pasta, the artisan bread, the fresh mozzarella, the hand-crafted desserts — reflects that depth of experience.
The charcuterie board is a window into Andrea's craft: all house-cured salumi, made entirely from scratch in-house. The margherita pizza, meanwhile, earned Pausa a spot in the Michelin Guide's roundup of the best pizzas in and around San Francisco — a recognition that's hard to argue with once you've had a slice. These are the two dishes Andrea would put in front of any first-timer, and they make an ideal introduction to everything the restaurant does well.
Pausa has also been recognised by the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce as the best Italian restaurant in the San Mateo area — a local nod that sits alongside its Michelin Bib Gourmand designation (held for multiple consecutive years) and Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence every year since 2018. Whether you're there for Spritz Hour in the outdoor parklet, a date night in the dining room, or a seat at the Chef's Table, the kitchen delivers.
PhotoPausa Bar & CookeryItalian · San Mateo · $$$
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Outside Eats is your local guide to the best restaurants, food, and things to eat across the San Francisco Peninsula. Discover top-rated restaurants in San Mateo, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Burlingame, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and surrounding Peninsula communities, with listings organized by city, cuisine, price, and distance. Whether you’re looking for a casual neighborhood spot, a special-occasion restaurant, Michelin-recognized dining, or somewhere new to try, Outside Eats makes it easy to find your next meal.
Beyond restaurants, Outside Eats keeps you connected to the Peninsula food scene with upcoming food events, pop-ups, festivals, farmers markets, and the latest restaurant openings. Explore curated restaurant recommendations, local food editorials, restaurant review videos, and guides to the best places to eat throughout the Peninsula—all in one place.