Pinstripes - San Mateo (CA)

5 /5 Rhett Burden: This morning, I took my daughter to Pinstripes at Hillsdale Mall for their “Brunch with Santa” event, and it exceeded every expectation. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and festive the perfect blend of elegant and family-friendly that made the experience feel truly special. The food was genuinely good not just “event food,” but the kind of quality brunch you’d seek out on any weekend. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared, with enough variety to please both kids and adults. But what really made the morning unforgettable was how they handled Santa’s visits. Rather than the typical long line approach, Santa made his way to each table, giving every child unhurried, personal attention. My daughter’s face lit up, and I loved that we could enjoy our meal while Santa took the time to really connect with her. You could tell the staff had put real thought into creating an experience that felt magical without feeling rushed or transactional. The team at Pinstripes clearly understands that these moments matter they’re creating memories families will treasure. If you’re looking for a holiday experience that combines excellent food, a beautiful setting, and genuine care for making children feel special, I can’t recommend this highly enough. We’ll definitely be back next year!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

4 /5 bartika dutta: This buzzing spot is wonderfully spacious, and the servers are fantastic. The chicken and goat cheese pasta was out of this world - the rosemary and black pepper lingered beautifully with each bite. The chicken wings were juicy, crisp, and just the way they should be. I held back a fifth star only because the warm brownie arrived not-so-warm and had to be sent back.

5 /5 Gionna: I came for dinner with a coworker and I enjoyed the atmosphere and food. The cobb salad was delicious and the brownies actually feel like a sin. If youre in the mall area this is a nice spot for lunch or dinner. I highly recommend this establishment.

5 /5 Matthew Young: Had dinner here for the first time. The service was top notch and the food was good. The best was the chopped salad. I should have ordered this for my entree but we got a family size to share. Highly recommend the chopped salad!

5 /5 Tammy: Bottomless spaghetti Mondays are back at Pinstripes! This review is specifically for this special. We used to go semi-frequently before they took it off their weekly specials, but we recently checked their website and saw that it was back! It’s great value (or am I Bay Area-jaded?) for the amount of food you get, even if you don’t get any refills. The spaghetti sauce is reaaally good (even my mom likes it!) and they cook the pasta to a perfect al dente. The meatballs aren’t too dense or greasy. It takes some time to get a refill, so I’d recommend asking for your next plate when you’re still working on your current one if you’re trying to maximize appetite. We had Patrick as our server today and he was great! He checked on our table frequently and was friendly and attentive. He also informed us that they just updated the menus, so there are new items on the list. We’ve been to Pinstripes for regular brunch and dinner a couple of times, and it’s always a great stop. We’ll be back for another Mama Mia Monday soon!