Looking for an unforgettable Italian restaurant in San Mateo, CA? Pausa Bar & Cookery is a top-rated destination for guests who want authentic Italian flavors, warm hospitality, and a dining experience that feels both elevated and welcoming.
With a 4.50-star reputation, Pausa Bar & Cookery brings together carefully crafted dishes, quality ingredients, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes every visit memorable.
Whether you’re planning a date night, celebrating with friends, or simply craving exceptional Italian cuisine in San Mateo, this is the kind of place that delivers comfort, flavor, and consistency in every bite.
To learn more about Pausa Bar & Cookery’s Italian restaurant experience in San Mateo, CA, explore why locals and visitors alike choose it for standout meals and a refined yet inviting dining experience.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Pausa Bar & Cookery
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
House Selection, served with cunza, pickles, mustard & tigella (please inform us of allergies, some of these items contain garlic & nuts, cross contamination with nuts on all salumi).
House Selection, served with cunza, pickles, mustard & tigella (please inform us of allergies, some of these items contain garlic & nuts, cross contamination with nuts on all salumi)
30 month Prosciutto di Parma. Served with tigella, cunza, pickles, and mustard.
Chef's Selection, served with seasonal compote, truffle honey, oat crackers & grilled bread (please inform us of allergies, some of these items contain nuts).
Chef's Selection, served with seasonal compote, truffle honey, oat crackers & grilled bread (please inform us of allergies, some of these items contain nuts).
House-made focaccia, 72 hour dough maturation.
butcher’s croquettes, purple broccoli, egg yolk gel, preserved meyer lemon vinaigrette
amarosa potato, basil vinaigrette, radish, blu di capra
beets, strawberries, poppy seed dressing, pickled green strawberry puree
black garlic puree, pea tendrils, guanciale vinaigrette, english peas, saffron oil
garbanzo bean puree, swiss chard, cherry mostarda, chicharrones, pork demi
tomatoes, house made mozzarella, basil, olive oil. (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
tomatoes, house made pork sausage, house made mozzarella, basil, olive oil. (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
house made mozzarella, stracchino, polpette, green garlic, morel mushrooms, bone marrow demi (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
house made mozzarella, sheep ricotta, pea tendril pesto, english peas, fava beans, spring onion, grana padano (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
house made mozzarella, re’ delle dolomiti, gorgonzola dolce, taleggio, prosciutto cotto, crispy sage (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
house made mozzarella, corbarino tomato, wild boar sausage, artichokes, cerignola olives, spring onion-goat cheeese (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
tomatoes, mixed seasonal vegetables. (Pizzas are not sliced, please specify if preferred sliced. Re-heating instructions: pre-heat oven to 425 cook for 4 minutes.)
porcini ragu, shaved porcini, grana padano, truffle “caviar”
lobster sausage, english pea puree, fava beans, parsley
green garlic purée, pancetta, fiddlehead fern, saffron egg gel
braised pork sausage ragu, crispy sage, grana padano
lamb bolognese ragu, pecorino romano, crispy rosemary
house made pasta, seasonal vegetables, w/ sauce options
penne pasta, made with quinoa, rice, and corn. Choice of sauce option.
purple cabbage, celery root puree, cauliflower, brown butter & sage foam
brussels sprouts, cicerchia beans, carrot puree, carrots, maple gastrique, pork demi
fava bean puree, aritchokes, fava bean mash, mint salsa verde, sheep ricotta foam, lamb demi
braised leek, king trumpet mushroom, truffle duck liver potato foam, blackberry duck demi
anchovy vinaigrette, maché, prosciutto & poppy seed crumble, watercress, radishes
fried yukon gold potatoes, house made garlic butter (can be made dairy, garlic or gluten free upon request)
Hear from our valued guests
The chef board was a great way to start the dinner. If you're looking for an app, wine and chit-chat before dinner, it's perfect. We enjoyed the pizza's thin chewy crust and interesting toppings. This is definitely a modern Italian fusion cuisine, not traditional. The pasta was very savory although portion was on the smaller side. I didn't love the risotto but I'm super picky with risottos in general. Staff was awesome. Our server was on point with her knowledge of the menu as well as the drinks offerings. She was ready with recommendations and were able to steer us to order enough for the table without over doing it.
Five stars simply isn’t enough to describe our exceptional experience at Pausa Bar & Cookery. From the moment we walked in, the staff’s warm hospitality stood out: we arrived on Valentine’s Day only to discover our reservation was set for the following evening, yet they graciously accommodated us without hesitation. This thoughtful flexibility on a busy night instantly made us feel welcome and set the tone for a remarkable meal. The restaurant itself is bright and modern, with a chic bar that displays an exquisite range of wines and liquors. There’s a certain laid-back sophistication in the air, underscored by tasteful music that complements the inviting setting. We started with the burrata, which truly lived up to its reputation. Handmade and plated with colorful, fresh ingredients, it delivered a light, creamy texture that was both refreshing and indulgent. Next came the real showstoppers: two of their Michelin-recognized pizzas—Romana and Margherita. The Romana was genuinely one of a kind, featuring a thin, blistered crust and toppings that harmonized perfectly to create a balanced, flavorful bite. The Margherita, on the other hand, demonstrated just how enchanting simple ingredients can be when handled with skill: sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil came together in classic Italian fashion. We continued with the Butcher’s Cappelletti, which showcased Pausa’s dedication to handmade pasta. The delicate yet satisfying texture of the cappelletti, paired with a savory filling, highlighted the depth of flavor that keeps this spot at the forefront of Italian dining in the area. As delightful as everything was up to that point, the true pièce de résistance arrived with dessert: bomboloni served warm, dusted with sugar, and accompanied by a sublime blackberry chocolate sauce. These pillowy Italian doughnuts were exquisitely plated, turning a sweet treat into a work of art and leaving us in awe of both the presentation and the taste. To top it off, th
My friend and I reserved bar seats during happy hour and ordered margarita pizza, squid ink linguine & truffle gnocchi. Not only the food was delicious but also the waiters were extremely friendly. They noticed my birthday is coming this week when checking the ID, and served a small cake surprisingly at the end of the meal. I’d like to recommend the overall great experience to future visitors.
One of the best real (i.e., Neapolitan!) pizza places in the area. There's been growing competition in recent years, but questi ragazzi are still the best, to my taste, and I have pretty high standards. Outdoor seating is a little close to traffic, but it's nice that they have it. I'd love to have a little more emphasis on sustainability on the menu, in the Italian Slow Food tradition, but for straight-up deliciousness, this place is hard to beat.
Had a nice dinner at the Italian restaurant Pausa Bar in downtown San Mateo. Interesting, innovative and different menu options.
Delicious and authentic Italian food. The charcuterie boards, margherita pizza, two pastas (one with bone marrow, another spinach), and steak were all perfection! Thank you to Andrea and the rest of the incredible team!
Second visit in May 2026 was mixed. Grilled prawns while fresh didn’t make too much sense with the sweetish vinaigrette like sauce, squid ink pasta with lobster sausage pasta would have been great if only they did not add the broad beans (neither texture or taste matched, tiramisu was acceptable and nothing to shout about. —- first visit in May/June 2025—- Their pizzas dough with 72 hours maturation is good as they described, hard to choose so I had to make do with one, Pomodoro, with smoked stracciatella and pork pancetta. The scallop crudos was sweet and the prawn bisque added the umami that completed the dish. Absolutely loved the ricotta cheesecake, wasn’t too sweet so I can taste the cheese, peach compote. Warm service by Nick at the bar made it 10/10
We had dinner at Pausa last night and the food was outstanding. Our server went above and beyond to make recommendations from the menu based on our preferences. He arranged a few menu items into “courses” for us, which turned our dinner into a culinary experience! We enjoyed a white pizza, a red sauce pizza, the 48-hour braised lamb, and the chestnut risotto. The cocktails and desserts were delicious as well. The warm ricotta doughnuts and Pausa cake (pictured) were the perfect way to end our amazing meal. Can’t wait to go back!
This might be my 10th time coming back here. We started with a couple of drinks, then small bites, then dinner date, then Chinese New Year celebration… This place keeps leveling up. Every time there is something new. The menu is creative, thoughtful, and beautifully presented as always. Highly recommend the the pistachio cake with cranberry sauce. And the signature grilled bone marrow totally lived up to the hype (rich, indulgent, and perfect with bread). Crafted cocktails are super creative and delicious, and the service is genuinely attentive — our server walked us through every dish and checked in on our drinks. Pausa has officially become one of our go-to spots in downtown San Mateo. You really can’t go wrong here. Oh if anything, I’d highly recommend you make a reservation this place is ALWAYS packed.
Came to celebrate a birthday and had a really enjoyable experience. Service was impeccable! Our server was very attentive, friendly, and paid attention to our needs. Food was delicious and beautifully plated. The bolognese was so good we ordered two of them!Birthday boy even got a small complimentary piece of cake at the end. I would definitely come back again.
Common questions about Pausa Bar & Cookery
Pausa Bar & Cookery is located at 223 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States, San Mateo, CA, United States.
You can reach Pausa Bar & Cookery by calling +1 650-375-0818.
Pausa Bar & Cookery has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 1288 customer reviews.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following service options: Outdoor seating, No-contact delivery, Delivery, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following highlights: Fast service, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Great wine list.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Late-night food, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following atmosphere: Cozy, Romantic, Trendy, Upmarket.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following planning: Lunch reservations recommended, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following children: High chairs.
Pausa Bar & Cookery features the following parking: Paid parking garage, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
