All Spice

Fine dining restaurant · San Mateo

All Spice

Fine dining restaurant · San Mateo

3

1602 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402

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All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
All Spice by null
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Highlights

Tucked inside an inviting Victorian on El Camino, All Spice serves up innovative Indian fusion dishes in a cozy setting, perfect for special occasions.  

Featured on Michelin
Featured in Eater

1602 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402 Get directions

allspicerestaurant.com
@allspicerestaurant

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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1602 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94402 Get directions

+1 650 627 4303
allspicerestaurant.com
@allspicerestaurant

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 6, 2025

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@michelinguide

"Like a bracelet glittering with different jewels, All Spice is home to a bevy of vibrant dining rooms, made extra colorful with artwork and sparkling chandeliers. It’s a delightful blend of old-school charm and contemporary verve that appeals to a sophisticated crowd. They’re usually here to catch up with friends or celebrate a birthday. This kitchen offers a variety of creative selections on both the three- and five-course tasting menus, which spin to highlight the seasons. Chilled butternut squash soup in a shot glass makes a soigné amuse-bouche and is a delicious way to start a meal. Then a brick-shaped, perfectly cooked strip loin is accompanied by baby zucchini, pearl onions, confit mushrooms and smoked kale sauce for added enrichment." - Michelin Inspector

All Spice
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@eater

"The couple, Sachin Chopra and Shoshana Wolff, who also own and operate the once-Michelin-starred All Spice in San Mateo, are facing an uncertain future of All Spice as the real estate developer that owns the 116-year-old Victorian the restaurant calls home plans to demolish the building at some point in the future." - Lauren Saria

Owners of San Mateo’s All Spice Open Pilot Light Cafe at Half Moon Bay Airport - Eater SF
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@eater

"Still serving a takeout menu of Cal-Indian fare, including king salmon, saag paneer, and malted chocolate kulfi." - Becky Duffett

Peninsula Restaurants Open for Takeout and Delivery During the Coronavirus Shutdown - Eater SF
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Sankha Hota

Google
I really like this fine dining restaurant. The food presentation, taste and variety does elevate the level of experience. Been to many high end restaurants, but for the price point and service (nothing extravagant but attentive) this restaurant shines. All the dishes were thoughtful and had plenty of umami. Worth going back again when they refresh the menu. The menu is somewhat prefix as you can choose from a few options. Overall a great restaurant to visit.

Wee Khim Lee

Google
Was here for dinner as part of a corporate group. We had a pre fixe dinner and choice of appetizers, entree and dessert. Located in a nondescript portion of el Camino of San Mateo, I was pleasantly surprised at the atmosphere and quality of food at this establishment, which is definitely Michelin worthy. In case there’s any doubt, I would hardly characterize the food as Indian. I went with the seafood route - halibut for appetizer and salmon for main. Artfully presented and full of different flavors, the food was pretty amazing. Will definitely consider coming back. Service was attentive.

Abhilash Ravishankar

Google
Probably had the best meal of the year at All Spice this evening. Phenomenal Vegetarian multi course menu with an equally good wine pairing. Can’t believe I went many years without coming back to this space. Excellent service from Rome too.

Jenn Jiang

Google
Best in San Mateo and the food is at Michelin one star level. Love the aged beef scallops onion soup and black cod. Well we actually liked everything, including the bread and butter. The restaurant is behind other buildings at the main street. Plenty of parking and not too many people there for weekday night. Also very glad to see when the check came, no ridiculous so called employee benefits fee added like many other fine restaurants thought they are entitled to charge their customers. Love everything and will be back.

Tianhui Y

Google
A cozy fine dining restaurant with Indian notes. The courses were delicious. The Crudo was fresh and I like the pineapple accents. The ribeye was also cooked perfectly medium rare. The Lemon posset was also a refreshing way to end the meal. We were also served a complimentary amuse bouche to start the meal, along with bread and shallot butter. You have the flexibility of selecting which dish you want for each course, along with the number of courses you want for your meal. You can also select two appetizers instead of one appetizer + one dessert which I thought was nice. In terms of service, it didn’t really stand out to me. It took a while for the main course to arrive after the appetizer, granted our group was on the larger size. The interior is unique and cozy while being somewhat casual.

Spencer Q

Google
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Overall: A great choice for prefixe. The extended review… Food: 4/5 - The menu set up is great with a bunch of different options depending on how hungry one is. I love that you can choose 2 entrees and 2 desserts if you so desire. Service: 4/5 - Friendly and attentive service. Ambiance: 5/5 - The setting is very nice. It’s a well set up restaurant that isn’t so claustrophobic and it’s definitely quieter so that you can have good conversation over a very well crafted meal.

Alecksandr Kutchma

Google
Wow, I really love this place. World fusion cuisine at its finest. Every dish is a unique adventure of exciting colors, aromas, flavors, and textures. The dining experience is almost like a mini vacation to a new country you have never been to before. Each plate is a beautiful work of art, blending exquisite sights, smells, and tastes. Everything on the menu is fantastic. Cannot wait to go again. Many gluten free options.

Morgan Kelps

Google
Very nicely done, 2 friends and I went and each had the 3 dish option and it was just the right amount. Great ambiance, nice owner and great food!!

Kimberly N.

Yelp
It was a great experience. All spice is a very intimate restaurant within a home. Parking was easy to find since they have their own private loft. Food was delicious, mainly American with Indian influences. Wine - very small selection, and not that great in my opinion. Both our wines were not great. I recommend brining your own bottle and paying the $15 corkage fee. Coffee - got the French pressed decaf, enjoyed it with dessert. Both my partner and I did 3 courses for $85 pp. we chose to do one dish from each category. Appetizers: Smoke black Cod - 4/5 it was more like a potato salad with cod in it. I just felt like it was too heavily dressed. There was a ton of texture though, so it felt light. Persimmon / asparagus salad (seasonal) - 5/5 loved the flavors for this one. Very good starter. Entree: (both of these entrees were an extra $8 supplemental charge) both 5/5 NY strip steak - cooked very well to a medium rare as I requested. The pepito sauce was great and the salad paired well with the dish Lamb loin - I don't even like lamb, but this was well cooked! It paired well with the charred broccolini and sauces. Dessert: impossible layer cake - 4/5. Loved the flavor profile but the texture for the cake itself was off. It tasted slimy.

Quin B.

Yelp
The service was great. The place was hard to find. It's nestled between two commercial buildings. Just a random cottage. There is some Parking. The whole set up is very quaint. This more fusion. The food is overall very good. Portion sizes are small but filling. You can have a three course or four course or five course meal. You'll pick from the appetizer and then entree and dessert. I had two entrees and could not finish the second. I got the new York steak and the gnocchi. I didn't get dessert so can't comment. Overall super cute place and decent food.

Andrew B.

Yelp
This is a very special place for very special evenings. Tucked away in a somewhat peculiar wood-frame house off El Camino, All Spice is nevertheless one of the few truly "fine dining" venues on the Peninsula. New California cuisine with a delightfully successful Indian twist. Napa/Sonoma levels of creativity, local freshness, and sophistication. Intimate yet whimsical ambiance, attentive yet unobtrusive service. Three, four, or five course options. Consider this for a special evening that will be no doubt memorable. With Vognier and 231 Ellsworth gone, and Stella Alpina now a big boisterous bar scene, there are very few places like this on the area, where you can experience this level of artistry in genteel surroundings.

Tianhui Y.

Yelp
A cozy fine dining restaurant with Indian notes. The courses were delicious. The Crudo was fresh and I like the pineapple accents. The ribeye was also cooked perfectly medium rare. The Lemon posset was also a refreshing way to end the meal. We were also served a complimentary amuse bouche to start the meal, along with bread and shallot butter. You have the flexibility of selecting which dish you want for each course, along with the number of courses you want for your meal. You can also select two appetizers instead of one appetizer + one dessert which I thought was nice. In terms of service, it didn't really stand out to me. It took a while for the main course to arrive after the appetizer, granted our group was on the larger size. The interior is unique and cozy while being somewhat casual.

Katrina V.

Yelp
Celebrated my friend's birthday at All Spice. It was both of our first times at the restaurant, and we agreed that we had an overall great experience. All Spice was a cute house in the middle of a residential area that was converted into a restaurant. The place had ample parking on the neighboring streets where I parked, but I did note that it had its own surrounding parking lot when I walked closer to it. The interior was nicely decorated. It felt homey and welcoming. While the experience was certainly more of fine dining, we got the smart casual type of vibe. I made reservations for 5:30pm on a Wednesday. We were the only guests for some time and then a second party came later. We were localized in one main room, but there were multiple rooms in the house to seat more guests. Service was excellent. Food came out in a timely manner, and our server was on it! He was highly attentive and very nice. You can choose a 3-, 4-, or 5- course meal, and you don't have to match the others in your party. We both decided to get the 4-course meal as there were many things off the menu we wanted to try. I got 2 apps, 1 entree, and a dessert for my 4 courses. The food was beautifully presented, and they were flavorful. Complimentary cauliflower soup - This was a cold soup that came out in a small shot glass size of a serving. Great way to whet our appetites. Had some type of distinct spice flavor that I liked, such as cumin. House sourdough bread - Soft crumb with sliced olives. There was also house made butter. Black cod appetizer - This was a cold dish. Liked this one a lot because of the smokiness of the cod. Scallops appetizer - My favorite dish of the night. I ordered 2 scallops (2nd scallop cost extra). The scallops were large, plump, and juicy, which sat on these crispy crusts. Different flavors of sauces on the dish but overall I thought this also had an Indian inspired flavor. New York Strip Steak entree - I tried my friend's venison dish, but I liked mine way better. The steak was tender. Custard cake - Loved the caramel sauce, and the poached pear was the star of this dish moreso than the cake.

Spencer Q.

Yelp
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Overall: A great choice for prefixe. The extended review... Food: 4/5 - The menu set up is great with a bunch of different options depending on how hungry one is. I love that you can choose 2 entrees and 2 desserts if you so desire. Service: 4/5 - Friendly and attentive service. Ambiance: 5/5 - The setting is very nice. It's a well set up restaurant that isn't so claustrophobic and it's definitely quieter so that you can have good conversation over a very well crafted meal.

Avinash V.

Yelp
There is a homestyle restaurant with a perfectly home vibe you feel like you're sitting in a house on a dinner table with your family. We were able to customize the menu and menu for our team because it was a team event that I arranged and they were able to work with us to make it, the food is a fusion of Asian cuisine and I can tell you that they have done a great job in putting together the right kind of stuff in there. The staff was really friendly and made sure that we were taken care of and helped us pick the best things, they were often checking on us to make sure we are comfortable. There's plenty of parking inside so don't worry about that and this is a great place for a family tour with friends, etc.. Have fun.

Q Q.

Yelp
Super cute place that you can't see from El Camino if you're going the speed limit. It's a house turned into an upscale restaurant. It's really dark inside. Really cozy. Food was delicious. I have no clue what I had, but it was good. hahahaha. Service was awesome and he did tell us what we were having but still no clue. hahahaha. Parking is a bit sketch. We parked on the back streets. They have a tiny lot but spaces were filled. Not ideal for a truck or big SUV. You need at least 2 hours to enjoy.

Barbara R.

Yelp
I picked up a several-course meal for a birthday dinner at home, and it was fabulous. Even as a takeout, the presentation was impressive, making it feel like a fancy dinner party. The food was top-notch, and I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who appreciates a fine dining experience and good food.

VB L.

Yelp
Who knew there was a chic, little restaurant hidden away off of El Camino and 92? Certainly not me. Looking for a unique and delicious night out for a celebration, stumbled upon All Spice. It lived up to the unique and was a perfect place for a fancy celebration. The menu is a mix and match for a pre-set price. Yes, it's not cheap but the courses offered are luxurious, well presented and quite delicious. You probably don't want to come here every night, but it's perfect for that one special event. I'd love to say that I remember the details of everything we ate, but that didn't happen simply because we were enjoying the experience instead of taking Yelp notes. Honestly, everything in the photos was a good as it looks. The wine list was decent. Unusually, there were a few wines and cider that were made by the owners. Being new to winemaking, don't expect the wines to be outstanding. But given some time and experience, they could have a hand in the game. Parking is a private lot or plenty of street parking, but finding it can be a challenge. It's easier to drive around looking for the entrance on the back streets than El Camino. The building is an old, Victorian home, so dress accordingly. If it's hot outside, it'll be hotter inside. If it's cold outside, it'll be colder inside. They don't have a bar, but they do have a strange patio area that was locked up, so don't count on outdoor seating. Have fun, eat and drink, celebrate your special occasion!

Kylie H.

Yelp
So good. SO good. Segmented in case one thing matters most to you: Ease of access It's right off El Camino. Super close to the freeway (but not so close you'd hear it). Plenty of parking in the lot that surrounds it. Ambiance There's always something nice about walking into an old home that's been converted. But I think what makes this space so welcoming are the decorative touches that they chose. Beautiful paint and fabric and lighting and plants. It feels very comforting but elegant. Great date night spot. Great special occasion vibes. Service We were greeted by one of the owners upon our arrival and noted there was a pair of regulars greeted by name. How nice is that these days? Everyone we interacted with was so present, kind, and knowledgeable. Food Unreal. Absolutely unreal how good every single thing we got was. We opted for the wine pairing which I highly recommend as I feel it added something to the "story" the chef was telling. I can't wait to find an excuse to go back.

Ike R.

Yelp
Great service and the food was absolutely amazing. Everything on the menu, so unique, so delicious. I highly recommend.

steph c.

Yelp
I had heard about this restaurant and its chef for a few years, but didn't get a chance to eat here until this past weekend. The location isn't quite what you'd expect, a house off El Camino Real. Inside they've transformed the living/dining rooms to a cozy dining space. The 3 course menu is a great value at $80; we had the option to choose 2 starters and a main or the usual starter-main-dessert. I didn't photograph every course, but each was done so well- flavorful and not overly salty, as some places tend to be. We really enjoyed the wine pairings and recommendations from our server Julio. Looking forward to dining here again!

Angel H.

Yelp
We had a reservation here on a Saturday night. The restaurant itself is very cozy. Although the restaurant is pretty small but the atmosphere is intimate and elegant. It is a great place for date or small gathering. Their menu changes seasonally, and they offers 3-5 course tasting menu. Service was attentive and outstanding. The server was very friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed talking to him and asking him for recommendations. Food Each of us had our 4 course tasting menu. I have to say I'm happy everything. The food was exceptional and all dishes were beautifully presented. Flavors were well balanced (some were a bit salty but overall it's above my expectations) Here's what I have for my 4 course menu: Brown butter glazed king Salmon semi-crudo (5/5) Everything goes so well together and I'm not even a salmon person. Truffle-chill shrimp mousse (3/5) Not a fan of this dish, it's not what I expected. Shrimp mousse was a bit salty. Slow-roasted squab (5/5) I'd say this is a MUST HAVE dish! It is really tender with amazing flavors. You won't regret it! Dessert: Jasmine butternut squash panna cotta (5/5) I'm amazed by how smooth it tastes and how well the texture was.

Tiffany A.

Yelp
Literally my new favorite restaurant! I can't say enough great things about this place. It's totally unpretentious yet elegant. Modern touches of Indian cuisine in ways that will blow your mind (and taste buds)! The service is impeccable and the ambiance ideal for a romantic vibe. The Pineapple Panna Cotta dessert is forever stuck in my mind. I've already asked my boyfriend to bring me here for ALL date nights! Thank you All Spice! PS Highly recommend doing the prix fix sampling of dishes and get the option with the most options - you'll be blown away by each one!

Amrita S.

Yelp
Came here for dinner with my husband and totally loved it. The service, ambiance, and presentation of the food blew us away! Super romantic and lovely vibes. Perfect for date night with your special someone It's a bit pricey but when you get there you'll understand why! We got the chicken, halibut, carrot cake, shrimp mousse, and the chickpea salad. Everything was delicious and beautifullyyyyy presented The outdoor patio is cute and feels pretty private which is nice. The restaurant itself is off the beaten path in a residential area and made the vibe all the more intimate.

Josephine B.

Yelp
My sister was in town so I wanted to take her to one of many Michelin restaurant in the bay. Allspice met all my Expectations...it's a nice and intimate setting. The building is a Victorian house. So when you walk in it's like walking into a home. The servers were very knowledgeable of the foods they brought out. I am a local chef in the Bay Area so I was really impressed with everything. Fresh ingredients all served very well. I will return on another visit. Loved it!

Derek S.

Yelp
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Made a reservation online a few days in advance and our table was ready upon arrival. All Spice is located in a 100+ year old house with plenty of parking in the private parking lot or on the street. The restaurant is air conditioned and the staff were all wearing a mask covering their mouth and nose. They are also featured in the Michelin guide. The menu is broken out by 3, 4, or 5 courses with the option of doubling up on appetizers if the dessert course is opted out. Meal started off with a coconut cream soup as an amuse bouche which had Thai influences. The amuse bouche was very flavorful and strong with flavors. The sourdough bread was also tasty with butter. The wild mushroom soup was excellent. There was a sourdough crouton along with super flavorful and fragrant mushrooms. The actual soup was poured tableside and it was excellent and super rich. The Thai style chicken wings were also tasty being super fresh. It was interesting to see the entire chicken wing being presented. Portions were generous as 2 full wings were included in this course with the lightly fried wings. The duck confit was a huge portion. The meat fell off the bone and again, the flavors were bold. The side vegetables were more on the raw side and could have been cooked a tad longer. The NY steak course had a supplement and was decent. Despite being a domestic wagyu, the marbling was on the light side. Requested medium rare and the steak was cooked towards a medium. The vegetables were also on the raw side... Opted for the panna cotta for dessert and it was a light and refreshing way to end dinner. Service throughout the meal was attentive and cordial with the staff going over each course and removing plates at the end of each course. ~$160/head after tax and service for dinner.

Monica C.

Yelp
3.5 Yelp Stars*** If I am being very honest about this establishment, I would have to say first of all, the posting on Yelp is very misleading! It is not a NEW American fine dining. Looking back at the reviews, it goes back as early as nine years ago. Upon arrival and trying to find this restaurant, the sign literally says Indian Cuisine. It is inside a house on the middle of a block and can easily be missed when driving on El Camino. As for prices, it is definitely not $$$$, but more like $$. Gary Danko is $$$$ and much more expensive and fancier than this place. Personally, I thought the dishes were only ok. My husband loves sauce so he enjoyed it a bit more than I did which was great since I booked this restaurant for his birthday. To be quite frank, this restaurant did not feel like a fine dining experience. My husband and I had been to a lot of fine dining restaurants ranging from less than $100 to almost $300/person. Of course, my taste for fine dining would be a bit more biased when compared to All Spices. We went to Chez TJ in Mountain View before which was also a fine dining inside a home. I was expecting this place to be similar where they grew their own organic vegetables from their garden and gave customers a garden tour after their meal or something. Nothing! The lady who seemed to be a co-owner did not even acknowledge my husband's birthday. I know she read the message because I wrote that we were coming for my husband's birthday celebration and requested a space for my baby's stroller. Right away, she said oh, yes, you were the one requesting for the stroller space. I did not expect anything extra but just a simple acknowledgement by saying happy birthday would have been nice. I asked our waiter for a birthday candle to place on the dessert. Even though we only ordered one dessert since my husband opted to get two appetizers instead, the waiter still managed to mess up our order. We ordered the creme brûlée and he gave us the pineapple cheesecake. We for sure did not order the cheesecake because I bought my husband a very fancy cheesecake for his birthday at home. It was fine since they made it pretty but what if we had allergies to pineapples or something in that dessert? That would have been bad! Plus, they charged us an extra $3 for it. Truthfully, I could not name a dish I truly enjoyed here except maybe the dessert. Even with that, I would not order that again if I had a choice. The hanger steak (supposedly a tasty cut with lots of meat flavor) gave me a very unpleasant taste. I felt shivers down my body trying to force eat it so my husband finished it for me. They charge an extra $7 for it too. So many extra fees for each item including a $5 charge for the hamachi crudo. What should had been $100 per person quickly became more because of the extra fees we got charged to get certain proteins or dessert. If they were going to charge that, then just change the prices on the menu. It seems more like a ripe-off way to charge people because the other available options were inexpensive. I mean, $3 extra for pineapple cheesecake seems ridiculous. The only reason why I gave them a 3.5 stars was because the waiters were attentive and they granted my request for a stroller space for my baby. They were also very quick. Too bad this place was very crowded, tiny, and the bathroom and interior looked run-down. Overall, I was not satisfied with my experience here. So glad it did not ruin my husband's birthday. It was definitely a record to finish four courses in about an hour with our baby sleeping through the entire meal. The food actually came out before we finished the other plates making it feel more like a casual outing than fine dining with the exception of nice plating.

Fiza 5.

Yelp
Ambiance: nice, little cozy place. Service was great, and our waiter answered all our questions. The crispy smoked potatoes (5/5) were my favorite. It was full of flavor, which keeps you wanting more. I enjoyed the salmon as well. Perfectly cooked and also full of flavor. (4/5) I had the carrot cake dessert (4/5) My husband had the pineapple express cheesecake , which he said was ok. His rating for the cheese cake (3/5)

Tasha H.

Yelp
I had a great dinner here. Good, tasty food and professional service. The dishes are all well-composed and plated beautifully. I appreciated that every savory plate included some kind of fresh veggie component. Bread - dense style of bread with a tight crumb. comes with very flavorful compound butter. Nice start the the meal. Nashville hot matar paneer - this is one of the most unique dishes on the menu in my opinion and it was very tasty! Almost like a sandwich of paneer over a bed of fresh beans and a only slightly spicy hot sauce. Octopus - this seemed deep fried with a very crispy crunchy exterior. The octopus had good texture and went well with the sauces Salmon crudo - this could be a whole meal and was one of my favorites. Salmon texture was on point, and loved all the little pickles pieces of fruit and veg that went with it. It's a hearty dish with all the couscous! Squab - squab is one of my favorite things and this dish was prepared very well! The sauces were spiced with what tasted like classic combinations for squab, and were excellent. Strawberry mousse - this was the most disappointing dish of the night. The mousse was quite a lurid pink color and the texture was a bit off - not quite set. The pistachios on top had gone a bit soft so didn't provide the crunch I was looking for. The green frosting probably could have been left off as well - the bright color and very sweet buttercream flavor didn't add the the dish. The cake was very dense as well. Despite the dessert not hitting the mark, I really enjoyed the dinner and the food here is just tasty! I would stick with the savory dishes and enjoy the great flavors. Definitely a higher price point, but nice for a special occasion.

David L.

Yelp
This is my second time here and forgot to write a review last time. After hearing that they might soon close, I came here to celebrate my wife's birthday. Luckily after talking with the owner and staff, they will stay open for another 2 years on a new lease. Whew! This place is such a hidden gem on the peninsula! And it is a bit hidden because the restaurant is within a house that is tucked into the street and not totally visible until you get into the driveway. The house is quite unique and seems to have a lot of history. Parking is super easy in their parking lot. The service and staff here are fantastic! Super friendly, accommodating and informative. I sent a question via email and got a prompt response from the owner. The dining area is not super big but the tables are spaced out nicely. They also sanitize the tables and seats after each party is done. There's an outdoor seating area as well but it is not heated at this time. We came on a Friday evening and were able to get a 6pm table 2 days ahead of time. The food was fantastic and it is not surprising why they had gotten Michelin stars before. The Indian inspired French California dishes are unique and oh sooo yummy! I ordered the 3 course menu and my wife got the 4 because she was starving when we got there. We got the following and each were deelish with the octopus (best and most tender I have ever had) and short rib (super juicy and tender) especially standing out. It would be great if they made the octopus an entree in the future. Starter: octopus Mains: short ribs and mahi mahi Dessert: panacota and olive oil cake We were stuffed by the time we were done. We took the cake to eat at home. The entree portions are bigger than expected and the chef's soup, bread (so warm and soft!) and small bites of cake at the end just added to this great culinary experience. They also gave my wife Earl Grey ice cream with fruits for her birthday. We will definitely be back again to celebrate more special occasions. What a fantastic culinary option to have on the peninsula without going into SF and dealing with traffic and parking issues there.

Kimberly C.

Yelp
Came here again, and still hits the stomach so well. The menu was different than last I went. It was amazing and had more refreshing flavors to it since it was summer time. I enjoyed the duck dish especially. Still highly recommend going to this place!

Jason P.

Yelp
What a treasure. This restaurant is a welcome find. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary house. The food was superb, and each plate was a piece of art. Everything was so carefully arranged to maximize the beauty and flavors of the dish. We each had the 3 course meal, and it was plenty of food. I noticed that you could also choose 4 or 5 courses. The wine pairings were reasonably priced. First course, we chose the Nashville hot "matar paneer". This was a vegetarian dish. Buttermilk-brined paneer layered with nuts and apricots, creole sauce, pole beans and crisp bread. It was absolutely delicious, and only made me want more. For the second course, we chose the Braised shortrib: coffee maple sauce, confit pearl onions, salsify cream, and goat cheese rice grits. It was the absolute perfect amount. Though I would have wanted more, this was the portion I should have had. It was just right. For the third course, we chose the Carmelized orange cheese cake: berry compote, passion fruit curd, nut tuille, and fresh berries. It was delicious, of course, and so beautiful. Worth noting, there is a parking lot around the house, so you don't have to look for parking on El Camino Real.

Kenneth L.

Yelp
A great dining experience if youre looking for something special, but not crazily expensive. I recently got into the tasting menu kick and found this small gem in San Mateo. The restaurant is located in an old victorian-sque home. Each room in the house is a seating area, which was interesting. Parking is easy but the entrance can easily be missed off on El Camino Real. The parking lot has enough spaces for the restaurant so there is no parking anxiety here! I opted for the 4 course meal ($100) and did not add supplementals or wine. Four courses provides 1 app, 2 mains and 1 dessert. The meal was quite filling and they also provide complimentary bread and a small dessert at the end. I really enjoyed the red snapper main and the creme brulee dessert. For someone that cannot handle their spicy food, I was able to eat a majority of the Indian inspired food without breaking a sweat! The duck main was a tad spicy but everything else was fine. Service was pretty good. Polite, attentive and welcoming. The only thing I found wrong were some dirty utensils. Not a big deal, but still something that I wouldnt expect from a restaurant like this. Overall, I'd recommend this place to friends/family who want a more special dining experience.

Stephanie C.

Yelp
All Spice is truly a hidden gem. If you drive just a little too quick, you'll miss it. Plenty of parking once you find it though. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We chose the outdoor seating and it was very nicely set up and plenty warm as we went beginning of January when it was cold. There were 5 of us, so we each got 3 courses ($75) and were basically able to get everything on the menu except a couple desserts. 4 courses is $95, 5 is $105, so it is on the higher priced side, but in my opinion, really worth it. You can also add wine pairing for $10! Just going to mention the absolute standouts, which I believe stay on the menu (they do change the menu seasonally): - the complimentary soup and bread: That soup they give out in the beginning is SO GOOD!! I don't even like soup that much but it was really tasty, slightly sweet but savory. The bread was nice and thick, and they give it with this really nice berry butter. Really nice texture on the bread too. - Seared scallops ($5 supplement): The scallops were perfectly cooked, and it was a really nice blend of flavors! -The absolute favorite, the crispy fried octopus ($5 supplement): the octopus was so tender and delicious, with such a nice crispy layer around it. Possibly the best octopus we've all ever had. It was so good, my mom asked for another octopus add on. Must get this one!!! - The steak ($7 supplement) and the beef cheek main courses: These two were super delicious too! Perfectly cooked and tender. - For desserts, our favorite was the caramelized orange cheesecake and the Hawaiian Dreams: Nice and fruity with great flavors and multiple different textures Overall, we absolutely loved this place. The family could not stop raving about this place! It's definitely pricey, so come for special occasions! Fun fact: the chef/ husband owner was a celebrity judge on one of Chef Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen's episodes!

Eliad G.

Yelp
It was what I consider my first "fine dining " experience and I absolutely loved it. I wanted to come back ever since and really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Your choice of 3,4 or 5 courses with some options to choose from. Each dish looks and tastes amazing. I can't say enough good things about this place. Great for special occasion, romantic dinner or when you reach an important milestone with your startup.

Mavie M.

Yelp
If you don't know what to do with your money, go to this restaurant! You will pay hundreds of dollars for one pea

Vishesh K.

Yelp
It was simply a delight to dine at All Spice. My wife and I came to celebrate her birthday and the restaurant did not disappoint. From start to finish, every dish was brimming with unique flavors, served promptly, and beautifully presented. The warm sumac-honey chickpeas and hermit's nest salad were the perfect starters, setting the bar high for the main course. For the mains, I had the Rajasthani chicken and my wife had the local halibut. The chicken has a unique smoky flavor which meshed wonderfully with the butteriness of the cashew sauce and kitchari. We had the malted buckwheat and carrot cake for dessert, which was just excellent - awesome balance of the carrot cake flavor with tangy passionfruit and the slightly umami miso vanilla ice cream. The service was prompt and our waiter was super friendly and helpful. We also ate outside -- while All Spice perhaps doesn't have the most refined outdoor area, it still made for a comfortable atmosphere (and they have plenty of heat lamps). We'll definitely be back!

aditi g.

Yelp
Went there for a birthday dinner two weeks ago. We chose all the apps , 1 entry (all vegetarian) and 1 dessert each - by the end of it, we were really full ! The food was really good - and the presentation great. The wait time between dishes was not a lot either and the wait staff was attentive enough to keep tabs on us to make sure the table was promptly cleared when we were done with a dish. They also acknowledged the birthday with a small dessert on the house .. Overall, solid great food, it was a lovely evening. We will definitely visit again .

Wing C.

Yelp
Very excited to try this place and I'm glad I did! The menu is super creative and intriguing. Service was attentive and informative. We ordered mushroom soup, salmon for appetizers. They were amazing! I love the taste, texture and plating of everything. It was inspirational to say the least. entrees were not as impressive. I had duck confit and hen. Duck confit was lacking depth, I could only taste salt on the duck. Then we have the hen which is quite similar. The sauce for the hen was really good, but the saltiness of the meat was overpowering. Then finally the dessert. I love the plating, it looked beautiful. But unfortunately I'm not a big fan of berries. So it wasn't enjoyable for me?

Ellen H.

Yelp
This was my second time visiting All Spice and twice I had a great experience. The first time was a few years back when I believe they had a Michelin star. Michelin star or not, their service is spot on. They provide you with a very personal experience. You'll get a detailed description with every meal or wine and you'll be treated with the utmost care throughout. It's clear that they want you to feel comfortable and have a good time. When our waiter sensed from our orders that myself and my partner are both vegetarian, they immediately suggested sharing some plates at no extra cost. It was nice to have that acknowledged without having to explicitly state it. Their food is well though out. The layers of flavors and variety of textures, create a unique experience. - The butternut squash soup was the winner of the night. The velvety, smooth feel contrasted perfectly with the garnish. It had a very wholesome, cozy flavor to it. Highly recommend. - The cauliflower with heirloom barbecue sauce tasted better than it sounded I guess. I've eaten many renditions of cauliflower steak that where bland or lackluster. Not this one. The "barbecue" sauce complimented it well without being overpowering. - I picked the dessert that mentioned "warm apple" because well warm apple and was a tad disappointed. My expectation was apple pie while reality was more like a sticky pudding. Tasty but there was not much relief from the overly sweet taste. While I know that unfortunately this restaurant might not be able to remain in its current location, I do want to point out how unique of an experience the old Victorian house makes it. It's like you are eating in someone's fancy living room and gives it a cozy almost intimate atmosphere.

Owen K.

Yelp
Fantastic food and service every time we've visited. Good sized portions and great presentation.

Aditi S.

Yelp
So my husband took me to this restaurant on a date night. We called for the tasting menu. It was a while back so I don't really remember names of the dishes Everything was delicious but my fav dishes were the mushroom soup and some dish with sweet potato. I mean it is one of the underrated Indian restaurant in Bay Area. It is a family run business and to my surprise an old establishment too. You can meet the husband wife duo when you visit. They are the sweetest. Their service is Faaaayyynn. Ample amount of parking, seemed safe at night too. The setup is basically a house turned into a restaurant. I loved how they had done the place. It's cozy, not too crowded and I even saw a bunch of people who were regular. As much as it is a date appropriate restaurant, there were reserved tables for a larger group too. I guess you just have to reserve in advance. If I have sum up my experience in short: It is an expensive place since it's a formal setup. It does pass my vibe check. I've definitely had better food Indian food in Bay Area but their curated menu was beautifully presented and more so we went in for the experience. Overall it was amazing. We really had a lovely time and see ourselves visiting again with friends/family on a special occasion. Thank you very much for a lovely time. See you'll soon.

Jay F.

Yelp
Tucked away along El Camino is this quaint and lovely place that serves Modern Californian Cuisine. You can select 3, 4 or 5 plates from their tasting menu. But whatever you decide to order, expect to have a delicious and satisfying meal. Highlights were the Yuzu-cured salmon crudo, Crispy Thai-style chicken wings, and Iberico presa acorn-fed pork steak. The desserts were equally sumptuous. The staff is friendly and not overbearing. One of the better meals I've had as of late.

Gabrielle P.

Yelp
Really cute location and very nice staff but the food was lacking. Especially for the high price. Poorly seasoned and puzzling flavors in each course. They seemed to be throwing too much into each dish so it was hard to pick out flavors of the individual parts of it. Of the 6 courses we had between us, the lamb osso bucco and the smoked potatoes were the best tasting. Wine pairings were ok but they never told us the vineyards or what region they were from, just the type of wine which was odd. Glad we finally tried it but with all of the amazing restaurants in the Bay Area that do tasting menus better, we sadly won't be back.

Jeannette S.

Yelp
All Spice is within walking distance in the Borel neighborhood, located in a charming Victorian home. The menu offers various delicious dishes! The prices are not moderate however it is worth it! The service in the past has been impeccable , ambience and cuisine makes All Spice a perfect choice for a special occasion with friends or a romantic evening out with your significant other.

Riley S.

Yelp
Genuinely one of the best meals in all of the Bay. This is our second time coming and every bite was bliss just as we remembered. Each dish is incredibly well thought out, full of flavor, and uses super fresh ingredients. You'll walk away feeling so satisfied. This place is an absolute must, you have to experience it!

Jonathan C.

Yelp
Came during COVID and they had a nice outdoor space with space heaters to keep you warm. They offer options for 3-5 courses. For 3 courses, you can choose 1 appetizer, entree, and dessert; or substitute the dessert for another appetizer. For 4-5 courses, you can choose 2 entrees and customize the rest of the meal based on your preference. Menu changes regularly so probably won't be too helpful to describe particular dishes. One thing that sometimes felt a little bit off was trying to figure out their specific approach when designing recipes. Many of the dishes felt true to the name and I could really appreciate all the spices and Indian influence that I expected. Other dishes felt much more Western and the taste profile was bit unexpected. It isn't too say that the flavors were bad, but the entire meal didn't always feel cohesive. We got the Mediterranean style cured scallops and Black Rice arancini for starters. Both were excellent and we enjoyed them much more than the main courses. Portions for the entrees were definitely on the smaller side and I left still feeling a bit hungry (we got the 3-course), which is unfortunate given the prices. We even paid the extra supplement for the quail. I have to say what I enjoyed the most was the innovative ways they incorporated all the different spices in their sauces. I actually enjoyed those more than the protein itself. I'm not usually a dessert fan, but enjoyed both the caramelized blood orange cheesecake and mint chocolate budina (almost like a pudding). Overall, like it's name, their spice game is where they shined. The flavor development of the meat could be improved. For the price, I would like to see them increase the size of their protein in the main courses.

Jairo L.

Yelp
Just going to start off by saying that we had a reservation at 8pm and were seated at 8:20pm. This wasn't an issue at all because the host came to us and sincerely apologized and even offered a glass a wine to my girlfriend and I. Winning. Once we sat down, we were immediately greeted by our server and he gave us a quick run down of what our evening was going to be like. The food... oh my gosh, the food! I was overwhelmed by it. The taste, the presentation, everything! And by the end of the night I was so full(could of been the wine pairing but it went so well with the courses) that I passed out on our drive home. Favorite course of the night, the New York steak with fondant potato. The steak melted in your mouth good and the potato paired it perfectly.(you can tell I'm not a foodie by how well I described the food) Overall, it was by far the best experience we had. And from what my girlfriend said, "this restaurant is so cute and so well decorated!" Made our valentines that much more special. Thank you guys!

Jeremy K.

Yelp
Excellent food and amazing service. Enjoyed our meal all around. From the moment we checked in for our reservations, the service was warm and welcoming. We shared bites from most of the menu and the highlights were the salmon crudo, the mater paneer, all the entrees were excellent as were the deserts. Great attention to detail and the flavors, textures and presentation were all excellent.

Janice J.

Yelp
I'm giving All Spice a 3.5/5, rounding up to a 4. FOOD I got the three course dinner, which came with some complimentary treats (broccoli cream soup and bubblegum Victorian sponge cake and bread & butter). For my first course I got the beet salad. I was really surprised by the texture of the beets. It seems like mashed beets but shaped like cut up beets on the plate. There was a natural sweetness there but it didn't taste like they added anything to it. The dollops of spiced dressing and yoghurt with the beets tasted great though! A little more dressing would've been great. My main was the mushroom quinoa risotto with crispy cauliflower gnocchi. You need to be a fan of mushroom to like this dish. It was good, lots of umami flavor. The texture of the crispy gnocchi was interesting.. almost like fried spongy tofu. The quinoa risotto was flavorful but not the creamy texture I was hoping for. My dessert was the banana walnut cake. It was a little too sweet and dense for my liking but the couple bites I had were tasty. The complimentary bread was delicious! It was a rustic rosemary loaf. Overall, great strong flavors but a lot going on, and desserts were too sweet and dense. Good but not mind blowing considering the price. ATMOSPHERE Dinner was a little chilly (it was early April) so they had heating lamps outside. They have a little set up for outdoor seating in their parking lot. They also offered limited indoor dining.

Jason F.

Yelp
Located in San Mateo, All Spice provides quality Indian-inspired French Californian cuisine. After the meal that I experienced with a friend I could see why they were celebrated with a prestigious Michelin star. I have wanted to come to All Spice for years now, especially since they received their much ballyhooed stars, I can honestly say that after the meal and service that I experienced with a friend, All Spice should be given serious consideration to receive that Michelin star once again. Much praise goes to husband-and-wife team Sachin Chopra and Shoshana Wolff who founded All Spice in 2010 when they discovered and transformed a former gatehouse for a huge country estate that once existed behind their current home. After a lot of sweat equity was put into their home, they turned this first level of one time very old home into a restaurant with a beautiful bright interior with three separate dining areas. Reservations via the All Spice website were super easy to make via the Tock website and the fact that you did not have to leave a credit card number, which was nice. They do say they have outdoor dining, but we couldn't find any al fresco dining, and when we arrived at 6 p.m. we were the only diners inside their dining room, and it was like that for quite some time. All Spice is known for their multicourse prefix menu, in which diners can select three, four or five courses for 75, 95 or 105 dollars respectively. Many of their courses tended to be vegetarian and seafood focused, with a handful of meat courses that they do have, they charge with supplemental pricing. For my first course, I opted for their Seared Scallop which was served with sourdough crisps, pickled winter crucifiers, romanesco fonduta and a mustard-yuzu yogurt, which was sold for an additional 5 dollars. For her first course my friend ordered their Butter Bean Croquette, which was a warm chickpea mash served with cardamom and coconut milk, endive, jicama, carrot and peanut dressing. For my main course, I ordered their Mishima Reserve New York strip steak served with black trumpet potatoes, mushroom jam, mushroom chips, and winter pickles which was sold for an additional 7 dollar supplement. For her main course, my friend ordered their Pan Seared Salmon which was served with a crispy sunchoke, a crab ginger salad, broccoli-chive cala, creamed corn, and yuzu-dill beurre blanc. For our dessert course, I ordered their Warm apple-walnut cake, as it was served with honey meringue, rum caramel and butter brown raisins. My friend opted to order their Yuzu-white chocolate ganache which was served with roasted and pickled pineapple, blueberry compote and brioche croutons. Our meal began with an amuse bouche that was a small almond croquette and this was served with their Housemade Bread served with a side of cultured butter on a bed of berry compote topped with fresh herbs and lemon zest. We loved every bite of this starter, and it only made us anticipate the remainder of our meal. When my seared scallop was presented at our table, it was as if it was a piece of beautiful artwork with all of the colors and ingredients beautifully composed so much that I didn't want to touch it as if I would ruin my plate's beauty. But once I did, I was so glad, as every bite came alive with such freshness and delightful prose. We then were presented with our entrées, and I loved my strip steak as our meat was prepared sous vide style whereas each piece of meat was evenly cooked medium rare and when combined with the mushrooms and potatoes and when paired with a carafe of "Shoshana's Blend" from Wolff & Father Wines, we were in culinary joy. The good news is my friend also loved both her croquette appetizer and salmon entrée. She too was quite famished once our firs two courses were completed. Which only prepared us for our desert course, and I cannot describe how enriching my apple-walnut cake was, as it wasn't too overly sweet but filled with an abundance of ingredients that I simply could not get enough. But thankfully we weren't done, as the staff presented us with two small bites of chocolate cake to finish our meal on just the right note. When all was said and done, we had a wonderful time at All Spice and when we split our final bill, it was about 105 dollars per person before tip, which wasn't too bad considering the amount and quality of our multiple courses, the stand out service, and overall experience of dining in the homey restaurant that represents the time and energy of its ownership. They recently announced that their lease renewal for All Spice will last two more years at this location, as the food at All Spice can be best described as a mixture of flavors that are acting as best friends just hanging out together on a plate, and here's to hoping that they find a permanent future home in San Mateo, where more people can experience a meal that I will remember for quite some time.

L S.

Yelp
Nice food and ambiance, but main things are expensive nowadays. $120 per person later and we were not even full. Excellent service though.

Gerry T.

Yelp
Our second visit and another fantastic experience. We enjoyed the Valentine's Day dinner with our good friends who have been here many times. The food, service, plating, and the wine pairings were wonderful. We'll definitely be back and highly recommend.

William S.

Yelp
All Spice is a very nice quiet restaurant with friendly staff and excellent food. My wife and I have dined at All Spice several times and the quality of service and food is always excellent.

Eva O.

Yelp
I came here for my birthday and had a wonderful dining experience. Pardon my delayed review as my menu items might vary from what they are serving now, but regardless, it's still delicious! O R D E R E D - Scallop Crudo - Squid Two Way - Potato croquette - Salmon - Quail - Pineapple Dessert V E R D I C T My favorite is the scallop crudo, i haven't had scallop crudo elsewhere that tasted as good as it did at All Spice. If i could just eat that, I would! haha My next favorite was the salmon, it was super smooth, soft and flavorful. When I have quail, I usually have it by itself, so their version had something else stuffed with it, which was a new tasting experience for me. Wasn't bad, just new and different than what I'm used to. The pineapple dessert made me think of shaved ice, delicious as always!

James B.

Yelp
Fiine dining is alive in San Mateo. Most of the really nice restaurants in San Mateo have closed i.e. 231 Ellsworth. However, thanks to All Spice, at least one remains. Shosdhana runs the front of the house with skill and professionalism. Sachin runs the kitchen and is always coming up with new and exciting menu additions. For example on our most recent visit, he came up with an amuse-bouche that was an amazing burst of flavor. The scallops appetizer was wonderful as was the carmelizec onion soup. We both had venison and it was cooked to perfectioin. The burnt cheescake was melt in your mouth. The service was impeccable - thank you Johnny! This restaurant is not cheap, but is worth every penny. For a memorable night out, give it a try!

Larion L.

Yelp
Modern Indian food. Wonderful service. We were able to make reservation on the same day. The restaurant was half fool.