Crystal Springs Tavern

4.8 (39)

$30 and under

American

742 Polhemus Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402

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Crystal Springs Tavern

4.8

$30 and under

American

San Mateo

Make a booking

2 people

25 Oct 2026

19:00

Booked 2 times today

About this restaurant

Good for groups
Great for happy hour
Neighbourhood gem

Discover Crystal Springs Tavern, your premier destination for a sophisticated yet welcoming New American bistro experience in San Mateo, California. Located on Polhemus Rd, we specialize in gourmet comfort fare, from our highly-praised dry-aged tavern burger to signature house-made pastas like the bucatini cacio e pepe. Our full bar features a selection of premium spirits, microbrews, and perfectly handcrafted cocktails, making us the ideal spot for dinner or after-work drinks. Whether you're craving a satisfying steak-frites or a cozy night out, join us for an inviting ambiance and exceptional dining in the heart of San Mateo.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
American, Bistro, Cocktail Bar
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
Phone number
(650) 865-3660
Website
https://crystalspringstavern.com/
Dress Code
Business Casual

Location
742 Polhemus Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402
Area
San Mateo
Parking Details
None

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Crystal Springs Tavern.

4.8

(39)

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Peninsula
Neighbourhood gem
Peninsula
Lively
Peninsula
American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Crystal Springs Tavern is a "hidden gem" offering "unbelievable next level food" in a cozy and beautiful setting. Guests rave about the "perfect extra dirty martini" and "absolutely delicious" dishes like wedge salad and homemade pasta. The service is "fantastic," and owners Max and Matt are applauded for their "attentiveness and kindness."

39 Reviews

K
Ken
San Francisco Bay Area10 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Good food, especially the pork chop! The service was good.
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M
Michelle
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
So amazing! Perfect extra dirty martini. Absolutely delicious wedge salad, homemade pasta, burger and fries. We ordered dessert too, affogato and cookies and they were the perfect ending to a perfect meal! Will be returning. The restaurant itself was beautiful as well and great service.
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B
BRUCE
San Francisco Bay Area9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 4 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Crystal Springs Tavern continues to delight and amaze. I was happy to see a new fresh corn pasta, and new desserts on the menu. Max and Matt are doing a great job and we’ll keep on coming back.
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S
Sarah
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
5.0
Dined on 2 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time at the Tavern and everyone in my party enjoyed their cocktails and food. We’ll be back!
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L
Lucas
San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 2 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Unbelievable next level food hidden in a neighborhood strip mall.
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J
Julie Gold
San Francisco Bay Area16 reviews
5.0
Dined on 23 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We celebrated my mother's birthday at Crystal Springs Tavern, and all had an excellent time - the food was superb, the service was friendly and welcoming and the ambiance energetic - will definitely return!
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J
JACLYN Gold
San Francisco Bay Area23 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love this restaurant! The food is delicious, everyone very attentive and it’s a great atmosphere! Max and Matt, the owners, deserve a huge applause!
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B
BRUCE
San Francisco Bay Area9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 2 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is a hidden gem of a restaurant tucked into a corner of suburbia. Max and Chef have put together a menu of both beautifully done traditional delights like burgers and fresh cut fries as well as modern takes on things like achingly fresh and delicious kampachi. This restaurant is definitely the most exciting thing to hit the San Mateo restaurant scene in a while.
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K
Keren
San Francisco Bay Area25 reviews
4.0
Dined on 19 July 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Gabe was our server and he offered great suggestions from the menu. He was attentive during our dinner and provided excellent service. Food was very good and prices for food and wine were reasonable. Great local restaurant - I highly recommend trying it out.
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A
Andrew Gold
San Francisco Bay Area14 reviews
5.0
Dined on 21 June 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, ambience and service. A true neighborhood gem
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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
American, Bistro, Cocktail Bar
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
Phone number
(650) 865-3660
Website
https://crystalspringstavern.com/
Dress Code
Business Casual

Location
742 Polhemus Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402
Area
San Mateo
Parking Details
None

FAQs

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished clothes without being formal; it fits well for dinner or after-work drinks at the Tavern.

Yes, Crystal Springs Tavern is family-friendly: children dine there, enjoy menu items, and staff have accommodated picky kids with simple requests like plain pasta.

Crystal Springs Tavern feels like a warm neighborhood tavern with a cozy dining room and a stylish bar; the updated interior and inviting ambiance make it a welcoming spot, though it can be energetic and on the louder side when full.

Yes, Crystal Springs Tavern's cozy dining room and welcoming ambiance make it a popular choice for a date night, with several guests recommending it for special evenings.

Guests commonly describe portions as generous, reviews call out big, shareable fries and entrées that can even leave you enough for a second meal.

For a calmer visit, Sunday evenings are your best bet, one guest reported the dining room was very quiet with only four tables; if you prefer a livelier scene, Friday nights often fill up and can be loud and busy.

For a quieter visit, choose Sunday evening, one guest noted a relaxed dinner with only a few tables; expect busier, livelier nights on Friday and Saturday.

Yes, the outdoor patio at Crystal Springs Tavern welcomes dogs, offering a dog-friendly spot to dine al fresco.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a booking

Crystal Springs Tavern

4.8

$30 and under

American

San Mateo

Make a booking

2 people

25 Oct 2026

19:00

Booked 2 times today

Crystal Springs Tavern

Make a booking

Crystal Springs Tavern

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Additional information

Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

Reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

Additional information

FAQs

What is the dress code for Crystal Springs Tavern?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

Is this a good pick for date night?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

When is the best time to go to Crystal Springs Tavern?

What is the best day to go to Crystal Springs Tavern?

Is this restaurant dog-friendly?

Make a booking

Crystal Springs Tavern

Make a booking