The Refuge

I was gonna say it's a 4 but then when I thought about food,service, and atmosphere, I had no reason to say it's not a 5!Pastrami sandwiches and pastrami steak... Excellent! Tilapia fish sandwich... very good. Grilled cheese awesome. Tomato soup was very, very tasty. And garlic fries were perfectly made!We had a dog so we sat outside on the cupboard patio with heated lamps. It was perfect. Pleasant view of the street. Service was just as good outside as inside. Very friendly and quick. And we got some fresh air.They're 49er fans and have a big banner inside that bumps them one star my book. Casual bar atmosphere inside.I definitely wanna come back again.

We asked to be sited at a booth that was not occupied & the employee said it was not available, but there was no one sitting there so I don't understand why he would say that to me & my wife. He gave us a table & later ON he sat someone else on that booth we asked for, the worse part is that no one ever came to our table to take our orderMy wife & I walked out, the worst part is that I don't think anyone was aware of my & my wife ever been there. So here is a post for my experience.Please Do Not be deceived by my post: I am not saying this is a horrible place to visit, I'm just stating the facts of my visit on that specific day, perhaps the owner or the manager was not onsite & things were running different.I believe in second chances, so yes I would visit this place again & perhaps have a second opinion..

Not too crowded on a thursday night around 630pm. Parking can be tricky but there are side streets available to park at. The reuben was good, toasty bread with melted cheese and a side of pickle and pickled red onions. The poutine was ok, the gravy and cheese was concentrated in one area. Lots of different drinks (3/4 of the menu) but didn't try any tonight. Servers were friendly and nice! Lots of decor for christmas, brewery emblems, and beer handles hanging on the walls

First visit to this great spot and wow, definitely returning. I read other reviews and had to find out for myself. Started off arriving around noon on a Saturday with the place about half full. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. With a casual type of vibe. A full bar with a large selection of IPA beers is offered. For lunch I ordered the 963 Pastrami sandwich, while the drink order was placed I also ordered a pretzel. The pretzel was served hot and delicious. When the sandwich arrived it was very visually impressive. Loaded up with plenty of meat, this sandwich doesn't disappoint. One of the best Pastrami sandwiches I've had in a long time. The side of coleslaw was a great addition. Had to try the bread pudding for dessert and I have to say if you like bread pudding you will love this one.

Saw an episode of Diners Drives and Dives that highlighted this restaurant. I love good pastrami and corn beef and this place delivers! I had a Reuben with pastrami and it was one of the best Rubens I've had in quite a while! Wonderful smoked flavor and fresh rye bread. Coleslaw with excellent and delicious dressing Enhance the flavor of the sandwich! I will be going back here very soon. Also, the weight staff was excellent and gave wonderful recommendations for drinks and other food..

Definitely hands down some of the best pastrami sandwiches we've ever had!We came in for dinner with no reservations and were sat down right away in a cozy both on a Friday. The beer was excellent. We love the casual, bar vibe. The sandwiches were out of this word!!! Highly recommend and we'd totally come back when we're in this area!

I know there's a couple other locations on the East Bay but I'm only familiar with the San Carlos location. This is the place for an awesome pastrami sandwich!!! Quality AND quantity. I've also had the garlic fries, and chopped pastrami salad which is also delicious. Definitely worth a trip if you're craving a solid pastrami sandwich.Service is great, everyone's attentive and kind. Good amount of seating, never insanely busy but good crowds. This spot is spacious and welcoming and offers some outdoor seating as well. Lots of street parking available, and I believe there's some lots in the area too. Also, a great variety of beer and wine for anyone interested!

What an underrated place!I just came here for the first time and I cannot stop eating their pastrami sandwich. The pastrami is so soft and tender with a lot of flavor and finishing off the meal with bread pudding is a must!Also, the server for my table was so sweet and definitely made the experience so much better. Recommend this spot 10/10!

Awesome spot for the best Reuben in the Bay. I don't how they get their pastrami to taste like that, but wow ! I also got the blue cheese burger it was just okay, but don't skip on the Rueben or the chicken liver. Order the bread for dessert and finish it with the underberg shot.

The Refuge is one of our most-frequented San Carlos establishments. We learned about it from the sales agent when we were purchasing our condo, and I have since consumed a large volume of pastrami. This place attracts everyone from children to seniors, and the vibes are casual.Food highlights:- Barbacoa nachos - the perfect mix of chips and toppings- Reuben - I always eat one half at the restaurant and one half for lunch the next day. It heats up wonderfully in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.- Goofy fries - their fries are nice and thick. Who can resist a little cheese and pastrami on top?I like the mix of indoor and outdoor seating, the rotating selection of beers, the Tuesday trivia, and the special events (like St. Patrick's day or Pliny the Younger release). My only two complaints (which aren't enough to justify less than a 5 star rating):- There is only one bathroom for the entire restaurant. A line forms during busy times.- Sometimes things get funky with the ordering system (like a drink being forgotten, a wrong item on the bill, or loyalty credits not loading).