Steph C.
Yelp
Matt B. and I went for an after-dinner walk in San Carlos a few weeks back, and Town was by far the most happening place on Laurel at 9:30 on a Friday night. It looked vaguely familiar, but I figured it just looked like any number of spots in cute neighborhood downtowns up and down California. We walked in for a drink and sat on the patio, which was airy and pleasantly bustling. Service was friendly, and we enjoyed our visit.
It was only once we sat down that I realized we'd been there before, per my Yelp review in 2013. That was a brunch visit, and I had a great experience. I was less charmed this time around. Town felt like the kind of small town restaurant that fills so many roles it can't possibly do them all well. The menu was enormous and all over the place. Bowls and burgers, meatloaf and enchiladas; dedicated sections for both sushi and steak.
We were just there for a nightcap, and the cocktail list felt decidedly suburban, heavy on sweet drinks with tons of ingredients. Matt got a beer, the Hoptinez IPA, and I had the barrel-aged Manhattan. It is honestly hard to screw up a Manhattan, but this one was pretty bad, made with Dickel 12 whisky, Cinzano sweet vermouth, Carpano Antica vermouth, Punt e Mes, Angostura bitters, and Amarena cherries. I don't know if it was the whisky or the unnecessary layering of vermouths or what, but this tasted harsh and medicinal.
Drink aside, though, this was a nice enough stop, and I did apparently like my brunch over a decade ago. We also realized while we were there that a friend had just recommended this place as a meeting spot for the following day (though we'd already decided to go elsewhere). If you're hanging out near San Carlos, all roads kind of lead to Town.