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All Spice
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Asian Fusion Indian, American (New), Asian Fusion [Edit]
1602 S El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 627-4303
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
146 reviews for All Spice
Review Highlights
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"I recommend the Bacon-wrapped Rack of Lamb." In 9 reviews -
"Indian bread fritter with garbanzo beans." In 11 reviews -
"1) Star Anise and Fennel Confit Chicken Wings." In 7 reviews
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146 reviews in English
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Review from Rakesh J.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2012
My wife and I moved from SF to the peninsula about a year ago to be closer to my work, and after discovering it on Yelp, we were hoping All Spice could pass as a suitable substitute for the unique dining adventures we have had in SF. More than a substitute, All Spice is in a class by itself.
Inventive. Flavorful. A feast for every sense. None of these clichés come close to describing Chef Chopra's food. Being Indian- having grown up on home cooked food made lovingly by my mom- I've always held Indian food to a higher standard. Chef Chopra makes food that my mom would make if she was a five-star chef. It's warm and comforting, full of flavor (and yes- spice), and surprising at every turn.
The menu changes with the season, and at first I thought going once a season was enough. But with nightly specials and creative and flavorful amuses that are different every time we dine, I find myself wanting to go back whenever there is an occasion to celebrate over a special meal.
I think what sets All Spice apart from other dining experiences for me is the genuine sense of love and family that fills the restaurant. The menu is colored with personal stories about Chef Chopra and his wife/hostess Shoshanna. It's almost as fun learning about the inspiration for a dish as it is eating it. All in the comfort of a classic Victorian home (with emphasis on 'home').
My wife and I feel so fortunate to have found All Spice. As it happens, we are moving back to SF next month, but I know All Spice will be our go to special dining destination for many years to come. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Rozita N.
5/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Who could think of making a sauce out of blue cheese, Cumin, Saffron, Cardamom for sea-bass!!
Amazing creative foods, gorgeous interior design, and very good wine list -
Review from Mike C.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/2/2012
I'd give All Spice 10 stars if I could. My meal there was phenomenal and I don't use that term lightly. I've become so accustom to high end meals that are good but not amazing that I no longer expected to be wow'ed but All Spice was amazing.
I had the poached lobster tail and it's one of the best things I've ever eaten. The lobster was cooked perfectly and the sauce it was paired with was an ideal match. The walnut date cake I had for dessert was steller too.
I'd literally fly half way around the world for food that good but fortunately it's close by. -
Review from Scott D.
Union City, CA
5/21/2012
Had dinner at All Spice on Saturday with my wife and came away very impressed. You can tell a restaurant is going to be good if everything on the menu looks great and you can't decide what to order. For appetizers we went with the Ma Mere and the Roasted Sunchoke Soup. For our entrees we had the Aab-E-Gosht (a wild boar dish) and the lamb remoulade special. Both were delicious and the portion sizes were just right. My wife and I left feeling very satisfied. We will definitely be going back. This place lives up to its Yelp reviews.
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Review from Matt V.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow. I've found my new favorite Indian fusion restaurant!
And that's really saying something. Go ahead and look through my reviews. You'll find five star reviews for several other Indian fusion restaurants, including Sakoon, Amber Dhara, and Mantra. I love all of these Indian fusion spots, so if I'm saying that this one tops my list, it's really saying something!
The restaurant itself is located in a very small house off of El Camino in San Mateo. There are three rooms in the house, with very limited table space. The house feels modern and fresh, with modern art hanging on the walls and chandeliers from the ceiling. A cozy fireplace is situated in the first room, with live orchids sitting in a vase on its mantle. The walls are painted in bright colors, and the restaurant feels comfortable, yet posh, at the same time.
Servers are extremely friendly. I was greeted by a young man who enthusiastically spoke of items on the menu, and recommended that I bring my girlfriend with me the next time. He promised me a romantic table right next to the fireplace if I did.
When I read the menu, one item stood out above the rest: the short rib vindaloo. The menu's description enticed me with some of my favorite ingredients:
- Ribs. Who doesn't love ribs?
- Vindaloo. My favorite Indian curry!
- Goat cheese. Wha? Never heard of curry combined with goat cheese, but goat cheese is one of my favorite flavors. There's something about its strong, sharp flavor that is just heavenly to me.
The short rib vindaloo had me at hello; how could I possibly go wrong with this menu item?
So, my expectations were high before the dish came out, and when I finally tasted it, it somehow it managed to exceed even my very lofty expectations!
The short rib is boneless, and comes out in a nice, tender cube of meat. The vindaloo wasn't as spicy as a traditional Indian vindaloo would be, but it was very good; it was seasoned with roasted onions, fennel, and ginger. The goat cheese was the most interesting part; it was stuffed inside a paper-thin zucchini package that sat on top of the cube of meat. All of this was served over a bed of baby bok choy.
I have to say, this is one of my favorite dishes I've had anywhere. The spiciness of the vindaloo was tasty, but mild enough that it didn't overpower the flavor from the ribs. The goat cheese offered a sharp flavor that added to the vindaloo, making everything come together nicely. An exceptional dish all around.
So, perhaps I will have to take the young waiter up on his offer, and bring my girlfriend with me the next time around. All Spice strikes me as a perfect date spot. Their amazing, creative fusion menu is all that's needed to get me coming back, although the promise of a romantic table by the fireplace certainly is alluring as well. -
Review from Susan K.
Santa Cruz, CA
5/21/2012
This restaurant is truly a fine dining experience in every sense of the word. Rather than being pretentious as many fancy restaurants are, it is warm and welcoming, both in person and in cuisine offered. The creativity of flavors and beautiful presentation are right up there with the quality of food offered. Questions were answered readily and with enthusiasm, service was great but not overbearing, even the dishes and style of service is unique. It is obvious why All Spice has been so successful in such a short period of time.
-
Review from Afour X.
San Mateo, CA
5/9/2012
This was my first time going. This place was recommended by a close friend.
Pros:
Very nice atmosphere
Excellent service. The server was very friendly and helpful. She was very patient in answering all our questions and she checked up regularly. The hostess also came by a few times to make sure we were enjoying the food.
The food was excellent!! It had great flavors and just enough heat. The presentation was very professional.
Cons:
A little loud
The place was a little small but comfy
Portions were on the smaller side (but I eat alot :)
Would definitely recommend this place to my friends -
Review from Jason W.
San Mateo, CA
3/3/2012
Mrs. Weesner took me out for a late (not her fault) birthday dinner tonight at this neat little Indian restaurant hidden off to the side of El Camino Blvd. From El Camino, there's a driveway that leads to what looks like somebody's house behind a bunch of other stores. The place is beautifully lit and well-decorated with great wooden flooring with a Frank Lloyd Wright style inlaid pattern.
SO, the food is not traditional Indian food. It's more like a global fusion of flavors from India, Thailand, maybe a bit of Peru, French, etc. My wife had the tamarind eggplant dosa which was large enough to feed two people. I'm not a huge fan of eggplant or goat cheese, so I just ate some of the dosa which was savory and very tasty. I got the roasted sea bass which was beautifully presented, but I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce which didn't seem to compliment the fish that well. I ended up not eating much of it because it was impossible to not get sauce with every bite. If I went back in future, I'd probably try the pork belly or lamb. For desert, we had a sample of three different ice creams. One was a watermelon type sorbet (yum) and the other two were more fragrant mixtures that sort of reminded me of incense for some reason! All three were actually delicious.
The service was terrific and it really felt like a special place to eat where we weren't rushed at all. Our waiter even had a great sense of humor which was much appreciated when the giant dosa showed up! Even though I didn't care for my dish that much, I can appreciate the care and craft that went into making it and I'm sure there will be something I will really love on a return visit! -
Review from rosquete b.
Belmont, CA
3/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Stylized Indian food
Set back from the main street is a charming little house converted into a restaurant
Ample parking
Reservations are highly recommended
Wonderful amuse bouche of asparagus soup w/purple corn
Loved the "Ode to Mother" beet cheesecake appetizer
House flat bread ($2 supplement) seems under cooked?
Good vindaloo short ribs
Tasty lamb dish
Very polite food service; very hospitable ambience
Delish French press coffee -
Review from Bebe W.
San Mateo, CA
3/8/2012
All spice is a wonderful special occasion restaurant - great for a date that you are trying to impress OR if you want to treat yourself! I saw a guy dining solo at one of the tables and a large family at another so I thought it was great that they could accomodate various party sizes. The restaurant is in a converted historic home, and there are three rooms to dine in - it's bigger than you might think, but still has a very nice intimate feel. There's a parking lot, so you don't have to worry about parking on el camino.. The decor is lovely, and the service is impeccable. Each dining room has a different color and feel. Our room was a rich red/burgundy type color with silk flowers pinned to the wall - it sounds tacky in my description but is actually very elegant and presentable in person.
The food is also very tasty. I ordered a dosa, and it was gigantic! The edges went past the plate, and it made for a really nice presentation. My first dosa experience was at Dosas on Fillmore earlier this year and All Spice's was on par and did not disappoint. The red dipping sauce complemented the dish really well and the flavors were not salty at all. The homemade ice cream trio was a nice way to end the meal. i didn't care for the bali beach flavor, and thought the watermelon was OKAY, but the rosemary ginger on the end was pretty good. The compote on the ice cream was delicious. I look forward to my next meal here. -
Review from Taiiii A.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
HIDDEN GEM. A very innovative menu, wonderful flavor combinations, and a home-cooked feel.
Warm Mirchi Salad - was thrown off by a heated salad, but have been craving once since then
Ravioli - veggies were cooked just right and bursting with flavor. green lentils and yogurt were delish.
Lassi - very authentic style, highly recommended -
Review from Dale B.
San Jose, CA
4/16/2012
We have been to All Spice several times,. Sat. night was the latest. Like it a lots...really good food and Super service.
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Review from Mansi A.
2/16/2012
A hidden gem. Literally. Located in an old converted Victorian home, the restaurant sits back on El Camino and can be easily missed.
I had been dying to try All Spice, and was lucky enough to be surprised with Valentine's Day dinner there. The menu was four-course prix fixe, so definitely a departure from the usual, more approachable menu that you'll find on the website.
While the food was beautifully presented, a wide array of flavors individually represented and well put together in every dish, it was apparent that much attention had been paid to every single detail -- the food, the impeccable service, the elegantly ornate decor -- all fun to marvel at while your taste buds jumped for joy!
Bonus: Chef Sachin Chopra came out to greet us after the meal, which was wonderful! I'm a huge fan of his menus at other renowned Indian restaurants in the Bay Area (Amber India, Sakoon, Mantra), and this just topped off the evening!
I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying the regular menu! -
Review from James D.
San Mateo, CA
4/14/2012
This place is fantastic. My wife is Indian, I am san fransiscan. The food and decor/atmosphere fit us perfectly. The food is fantastic and owner charming.
Yummy. -
Review from Ginny L.
Wales, WI
1/24/2012
A nice, romantic little spot. We celebrated our anniversary there recently. Service and food were excellent.
What is "contemporary Indian" you ask? Well I'd say it is contemporary cuisine using more of the usual ingredients found in traditional Indian food like eggplant, lentils, rice and potatoes, but given a new twist.
I try to eat mostly vegan, so I ordered accordingly. When it came to dessert, they all contained some dairy. So our server suggested something off the menu: berries--and brought me a dish of mixed berries topped with a dusting of sugar and a small piece of nut brittle stuck in the middle. Perfect finish to a great meal.
Note: you will not be able to see the building easily at night from El Camino Real. It's tucked back in the middle of the block. Go around to the other side of the block (Jasmine St. I think it was) and enter the parking lot that way. -
Review from Irene C.
1/15/2012
WOW, this place is a great addition to San Mateo.
I figured I should be adventurous and try out All Spice especially since it was noted by Michael Bauer of the SF Chronicle.
I easily made reservations on Open Table via Yelp.
If you're not familiar w/ the area, the restaurant can be hard to see from El Camino, but its a house located in what looks like a parking lot from ELR.
As expected, since I briefly looked at the website before going, Shoshana (the chef's wife), greeted us upon arrival. I actually had mentioned how "Freaking cold" it was outside, and she sat us at a table for two right next to the fire place. So if you make reservations on the phone, request the spot next to the fireplace!
This restaurant is so cool, b/c its in a house that's been converted into a restaurant.
Anyways, the FOOD!
Amuse Bouche - parsnip soup w/ creme fraiche. It was good, creamy, but didn't blow me away. it's just soup...
Appetizer - lavender and cumin scallops w/ bacon and potato sauce. Didn't taste too much lavender, I know a lot of people get kind of freaked out about flowery tasting food, but it was really good, perfectly seared, but my favorite part was actually the sauce. BACON and POTATO = yum
Entrees - Bergamot Halibut Infused with spring onion, with lemongrass-scented risotto and white asparagus. the risotto was cooked perfectly, halibut might have been SLIGHTLY more cooked that I usually want, but flavor wise, it was great.
Coconut Pork Belly, Thai-inspired, with basil, peanut and kaffir lime jasmine rice and lemongrass-coconut jus. So this was probably the only dish I ate at this "indian/asian fusion" restaurant that i thought was "indian influenced" but its actually Thai inspired, so got me there... the pork belly was melt in your mouth good. nice and tender, cut it w/ a fork tender! It was covered in a curry, which I didn't expect b/c the menu had no mention of curry... as a person who doesn't like curry, it was still good. So i think that has to stand for something!
Dessert - yuzu creme brulee. Favor is amazing. get it.
Service - i have no complaints! Attentive, food was timed very very well, bathrooms were clean, parking is easy, I was toasty warm next to the fireplace, what more could i ask for?
And your bill comes in this ornate cute little box and if you pay w/ a credit card, you get to sign w/ this mosaic pen. NICE TOUCH!
All spice, i'm SO glad you're in San Mateo and I hope you're here to stay! -
Review from Frances G.
South San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012 15 photos
A hidden gem tucked away along El Camino in San Mateo. If you missed the sign and had to take a second look, welcome to the club! However, it is worth the find.
It's a quaint house that's been turned into a romantic intimate getaway. The staff were warm, friendly, and helpful. The chef's wife herself greets you as you enter the door.
We had the lobster tail and Ode to my Wife part II for starters. They were a slammin' way to start a meal! The lobster tail was flavorful and succulent. Ode to my wife II was a riot of flavors: beets with ricotta cheesecake, surprisingly went well together - a party in my mouth!
I also tried the passionfruit lime lassi - a wonderful non alcoholic beverage!
For the main course, I had the Hamachi and Pork Belly Duet in lobster caviar broth. The hamachi was perfect in flavor and texture and i could not get enough of it specially soaked in the broth. The Pork belly was a bit disappointing in the flavor department, like it needed some salt. My partner had the Venison special and it was cooked just right - medium rare and delectable!
For dessert we had the Kulfi - chocolate goodness on a whole new level!, and the Yuzu creme brulee - delightful as creme brulee can only be, although i found myself wondering if it would be better had the lime flavor been stronger.
Overall, i was impressed with the atmosphere and service, as well as the brilliance of the combination of flavors :)
I would definitely strongly encourage you to try this place with a close friend or intimate partner! -
Review from Sam L.
Stanford, CA
1/28/2012
All Spice is a fine addition to the Peninsula restaurant scene. We were able to get an early dinner reservation on a Saturday night on short notice. On arrival we were warmly greeted and led to a cozy table in one of the three dining areas. This restaurant has a great atmosphere; as the place filled up it felt lively without being over-loud.
I wasn't too impressed with the wine list -- next time I'll probably go for beer, which might be more compatible with the cuisine anyway. I can vouch for the passionfruit mint lassi, though, among the nonalcoholic options.
On to the food. As an amuse we were served a rather tasty (turmeric infused?) carrot soup with a largely superfluous garnish of dill flavored whipped cream. This was yummy without being mind blowing.
Appetizers: the best dish of the evening (and best on the menu?) was the cured hamachi app. This fish was delectable and far outshone the slightly rubbery lobster tail special. While the lobster was well sauced and served with delicious mushrooms, the dish never overcame, for me, the burden of the health-food style "risotto" (made with farro or quinoa or some such crap) with which it was served.
As we were finishing our apps the "vanilla-flavored" flatbread arrived. This was perfectly fine (denser and more oily than a naan-type bread, but lightened by being thin and crisp). It is strongly cardamom scented, with not a trace of vanilla. I'm glad we got it because our entrees -- see below -- were not served with starch.
Entrees: my girlfriend was less than impressed with her sea bass, which she found a bit dry. I enjoyed the Brussels sprouts served with the fish. We both preferred my shortrib "vindaloo" which had a lovely texture. It was only slightly spicy but otherwise quite authentic to its namesake vinegar-based braise. Portions were generous.
For dessert we tried the walnut date bread, which was a sweet tasty cake with walnuts sprinkled on top and only dates inside, I think. The ice cream it was served with tasted, once again, much more of cardamom/kulfi than of its advertised brown butter. French press coffee was serviceable.
Overall I would happily return for the hamachi and I am eager to try more of the menu. With most entrees $20-$25 and generally good flavors and fresh ingredients, I'd say all spice offers pretty good value for money. There were some missteps with the execution, but on the whole the meal was pleasant. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. -
Review from Cindy C.
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Tiny little house tucked away on the back side of El Camino houses one of the best Indian fusion restaurant I've been to.
The house, I mean restaurant, is divided into 3 separate rooms of seating, and each room is decorated nicely yet differently. I had the pleasure of sitting near a fireplace on a cold day so it was really just perfect.
The food... The food is delicious. Everything is done just right. They pay attention to all the senses -- making sure the food looks amazing on the plate and tastes and smells equally amazing.
I'll be back for sure. -
Review from David R.
Pacifica, CA
1/11/2012
All Spice is a welcome addition to San Mateo. Great ambiance, wonderful service, and creative Indian fusion. My wife and I have been coming here since it opened and I since had my holiday party at All Spice!
Finding the restaurant can be a big challenge - it is set back from El Camino considerably.
Also, because the restaurant is small, reservations are strongly recommended (Open Table - get the points!) -
Review from Gina R.
San Carlos, CA
12/19/2011
This place is great. I've been here twice. The food has always been amazing, as well as the ambiance. It's definitely a favorite of mine, a real gem nestled away just off El Camino Real.
I absolutely loved it when I went with just my boyfriend. Our server was friendly, the food and service was great, and it was absolutely romantic. I went here to celebrate moving to Japan.
The only reason this place gets docked a start is two things. I went recently with a fair sized party (8) to celebrate my return fro the holidays and we experienced a couple issues that I'll list.
1.) Our first server, a young Asian guy, was flaky. He vanished in the middle of dinner service, never had a smile, and disappeared when we said we wanted to order. He also always wore a scowl.
2.) Splitting the bill took nothing short of 20+ minutes. Even after we explained it, they made a mistake in the division that took at least another 10 to fix. People were getting really impatient and a few of the party that managed to pay first left. It was a real mood killer.
3.) One of our party got food poisoning later in the night unfortunately. =(
It might have been that we had a large party, or that we were all young and casually dressed, but I don't recommend taking a group larger than 4. -
Review from Sarah K.
San Mateo, CA
4/2/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I never noticed this quaint house on El Camino although I pass by this restaurant quite often until I went on Yelp and decided to take my clients for dinner on a Thursday night.
First the ambiance: It's a beautiful, romantic home setting with a fireplace that creates an intimate feel to the restaurant.
Quality of Service: The servers are extremely attentive and polite which is always a plus to a dining experience but one of the things that bothered me the most was how the busser came by our table multiples of times checking to see if we're done so he can clear the dishes. I personally like to take my time, enjoy the conversation and the dishes without being pressured to finish too fast. Another quick plus.. my client brought me wine as a gift and they offered to chill the wine and offer it to us which I really appreciated.
Deliciousness: The food was not out of the ordinary but had some unique dishes that I appreciated. I had the scallops which were perfectly cooked, the hamachi was not the best I've had, but was pleasing. For the entree we had seabass, pork belly and the shortribs which made a positive conversation at the table with its unique spices and flavors. However the dessert was not something I would rave about although it had a very nice presentation.
Bang for Your Buck: It was worth the tab I picked up with everything I've described. -
Review from Jamie L.
San Mateo, CA
3/17/2012
Delicious food, delightfully intelligent and pleasant service, cozy-yet-classy atmosphere. I loved it here and will absolutely come back. We loved the bubble rose wine. It took me a couple minutes to find the place as it's set back in from the street in an adorable converted home.
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Review from Darbie D.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is fantastic! It was cozy and intimate, perfect for a romantic first date. Service was impeccable, and the food was really good too. It's not your typical Indian restaurant--you won't find any chicken tikka masala here, and the entrees aren't family style but instead they are elegantly plated dishes good for one person.
My fiancé had the Lamb Sona Chandi, which is basically a lamb stew served with some pita bread. I'm not a fan of lamb myself but he really liked it. I had incredibly tender Coconut Pork Belly served over this amazing Jasmine rice flavored with basil, kaffir lime, lemongrass and coconut. Yummy in my tummy. For dessert, if you're a fan of coffee ice cream then you have to try the ice cream trio purely because the vietnamese coffee scoop was amazing!
We will definitely be back. Yay for great finds like this in my neighborhood! -
Review from Roy R.
Brisbane, CA
10/11/2011
I went to dinner at All Spice tonight (October 11th, 2011).
The first thing that struck me was the tiny two-room dining area. This appears to have previously been a home, perhaps, and the dining area was formerly a living room and dining room. Fighting the urge to stuff as many tables as they could, the proprietors actually made it so that the space felt intimate and cozy, but not at all cramped -- it was easy to forget there were other tables and diners around us.
The wait staff was super-friendly, yet unobtrusive. It was the sort of environment where it was clear they were happy to carry a conversation with you, but nobody was going to start talking about that time they went on vacation with their husband, blah, blah, blah while you waited to order your food.
As for the food ... breathtaking. A new interpretation of Indian food. Portions were reasonably-sized (so not cheap-Indian-huge, but not froofy-tiny). I had the Indian Bread Fritter "Ma Mere," which was slightly crunchy with perfectly cooked chickpeas, and then the Lamb Sona Chandi.
The lamb .. look, I've had OK lamb, and I've had good lamb, but fantastic lamb? That's rare. They said it had a little bit of spice and I asked for it extra spicy. Here's a hint: This is the rare place that takes your request for extra spicy seriously. It was far from inedible -- I'd say it was really wonderful, but quite delightfully spicy. It made me sweat. I loved it.
My dinner mate and I were full and took a look at the dessert menu mostly out of curiosity. This was a terrible idea, as we ended up being seduced by the Dark Chocolate Kufti -- a very dense ice cream with tandoori-spiced macadamia nut brittle. The ice cream had some ground nuts in it, leading to a really great, interesting, nutty taste and unusual texture.
Total bill was about $135 for two people including tax and tip and one alcoholic drink. That can be a little expensive, of course, but I've got to say I've had many meals at pretty much every price point, and this place was deeply, deeply satisfying and really really wonderful. Saying "I'd come here again" is an understatement -- I can't wait to go here again with my wife. -
Review from Stephanie p.
San Carlos, CA
11/15/2011
Talk about a hidden gem. I was delighted with the atmosphere. The owners have made a house into a restaurant fit to be photographed. In fact, I found myself counting the chairs... somewhere around 34 in the entire restaurant...small enough to consider renting the whole place for a private party!
The Indian bread fritter appetizer was ridiculously delicious. I had the shortrib Vindaloo- 5 star food. My girlfriend had the Sona Chandi and was disappointed in the over abundance of cardamom (including in the "vanilla scented bread") and said it needed a little salt. The shortrib was definitely the winner at the table.
We also enjoyed the date and walnut cake and french press coffee.
Service was professional and friendly.
I will definitely be a return customer. -
Review from Chorty P.
Belmont, CA
11/22/2011
I ate here a few weeks ago.
When you walk in the restaurant, you already know you are in for a different experience. This is an old house that was turned into a restaurant. They kept the styling of the restaurant true to its house design and didn't try to make it look like something that it's not.
All in all, the service was great and the food had sooo much flavor! I wasn't disappointed with anything I ordered, even the wine was delicious and perfectly chilled.
I ordered the mustard-dill seabass. The mustard-dill had very rich flavors and the vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked (not too hard, not too soft).
This is a must try! Only warning is that you want to make sure to have reservations because I tried walking in a few times and they were booked. I also recommend knowing exactly where the restaurant is before you drive there the first time. The only thing you see from el camino is a small driveway.
Enjoy! -
Review from Diane B.
1/8/2012
Okay, so we finally scheduled my much belated birthday dinner. Those of you who have December birthdays probably understand some of my birthday brattiness. There's just never a good time for your birthday celebration - with shopping and prepping for holidays, parties, holidays themselves, restaurants being booked up with company parties. I've pretty much resigned myself to alway celebrating in January. Oh poor me, and all that. All right, I got it out of my system.
We had three places we were picking from, but by the time we finallly settled on a date, only one, All Spice, was left. Oh I forgot, I was supposed to stop complaining now. All Spice is a little tricky to get into, because it's set back from the street between two larger buildings, but I'd been by here on walks previously, so I knew to keep a keen eye. It's an old victorian house that was converted some time ago into a restaurant, I think originally The Dining Room, and it suits the quirky sort of personal cuisine offered here. I think they could benefit from making some minor changes in door and wall configurations to make it feel less tight, but the original architecture is kind of fun.
They have a good selection of wines by the glass which was great for us, since we wanted more than one variety, but not more than one bottle. I started with a glass of the cava and T. had a sauvignon blanc (sorry don't remember what kind) to go with our first course. Mine was the lavendar and cumin scallops. The little mollusks were perfectly cooked, but a bit too much salt seemed to overpower both of the advertised spices. I will confess, though, that I sopped up all the extra bits and sauce, so it couldn't have been too bad. T. originally planned to get the Indian bread fritter, which sounded great, but we saw the table next to us getting naan, and he thought it might be bread and more bread, so opted for the warm winter vegetable salad instead. It wasn't until the server had taken our order that she mentioned that we might want to order the vanilla scented naan as well. it was an additional ordered item, which is often the case in traditional Indian restaurants, but since it wasn't listed on the menu, we had no way of knowing. The salad turned out to be good, if a bit boring and it included roasted root veggies (turnips, carrot, potatoes) on lentils, pretty starchy.
The vegetables looked perfectly fresh; if there had been a little less of an overall brown color, it might have felt lighter.
There are several good entree options, two different lamb preps, and I love lamb. I opted for the roasted lamb loin. It was perfectly roasted, a little more pink than red, just as I'd requested. When it arrived, I thought the portion seemed a bit small, but as I tucked my way through it, it turned out to be the perfect amount. I was a little disappointed with the wild mushroom polenta. The texture was off and for a fungiphile like me, it was barely reminiscent of anything mushroomy. The chutney, however made up for it with great mushroom presence and dried cherries which were a surprise I bristled at at first, but ended up liking. T. got the goat cheese short rib everyone seems to rave about, and really enjoyed it. I'm not a big goat cheese fan. It's... well... too goaty for me, but I tasted his, and it was subtle enough with the rest of the slow-cooked savoriness to bring just the right tang, if a tad rich.
I'm not usually dessert person, but thought I really must have some to fit in with my birthday brattiness, and surprise- it was great! I got the dark chocolate kulfi which included nut brittle which our server pointed out was topped with some silver foil "for the energy". Well I can alway use more energy. The kulfi is kind of like a slightly denser version of gelatto, which we were told works well in the heat of India because it melts more slowly. Wonderful texture, great chocolate intensity, and the brittle was cinnamon, ummmmmm. Oh and I forgot to mention I got a glass of pinot noir with my entree which lasted through dessert. They do a very generous pour.
2 appetizers, naan, 2 entrees, 1 dessert and 3 glasses of wine and the bill came in at around $140. Seemed very reasonable to us. I liked it and would like to go back and try some of the other options.
Food: 36/40
Service: 18/20
atmosphere/intangibles: 17/20
value: 18/20
89=B+=4 stars (very nearly 5) -
Review from Susan Y.
8/26/2011 1 photo
As one who is happy with dive-y joints I'm not normally one to comment on decor, but I have to say that the minute I walked in the door at All Spice I was quite taken by the vibrant hues ... and excited to see if the cuisine was a match for the space.
My friend and I started with the Star Anise and Fennel Confit Chicken Wings -- the sauce was so delicious that we wanted to lick the bowl. Our server saved us that embarrassment by suggesting an order of the Vanilla-Scented Flatbread. The bread itself was a revelation -- perfumed just enough to be pleasant and a little surprising, but not so much as to be cloying.
For entrees, I stuck with an Indian classic -- the Lamb Sona Chandi -- while my friend ordered the Thai-inspired Coconut Pork Belly. I regretted my conservatism; my Sona Chandi wasn't quite the tender, flavorful chunks of lamb I had hoped it would be. Meanwhile my little taste of my friend's pork belly was just exploding with flavor.
We shared an order of the Balsamic Blackberry Brulee for dessert. Made with yogurt, the custard had a pleasant tang and a wonderful creamy texture. Delicious!
All in all, a beautiful space with some wonderful, creative food. I think the fusion dishes are the way to go, if you are seeking flavors to match the vibrancy of the decor. -
Review from Shen J.
Mountain View, CA
9/3/2011
I want to give All Spice 5 stars, I really do, but I just cant do it. We went as a party of four, finding the restaurant isn't easy if you're arriving from the 92. Once there though it's a really charming place. Set away from El Camino so that it's quiet.
I had the mint-passionfruit lassi, simply delicious. The amuse bouche was polenta with a Peruvian potato chip. The chip was great, the polenta not so much. I had a taste of 3 apps, the hamachi crudo, the scallops and the bread fritter. The bread fritter was just ok, but the other 2 was really tasty. The sauce for the scallops was crazy good.
I had the bacon wrapped lamb and sampled my wife's shortrib vindaloo. Here's where the evening took a turn. The vindaloo was good, not spicy at all but quite tasty. My first bite of lamb was delicious, but when I cut the second piece I noticed that it was raw, not rare folks, it was raw (I ordered it medium). Same with another person at my table. I have never sent something back in a restaurant, but the server took one look and took the dishes back. Mine came back med-rare, but the other one was still a bit raw. Our companion took hers to go so that she could finish cooking it herself.
The desserts sounded better than they tasted, foie gras/citrus ice cream and a blackberry greek yogurt brulee. They were ok, but nothing to write home about.
The undercooked meat put a damper on the meal for sure, we were given a free dessert as an apology. This place has a great menu, everything sounds delicious but they need to execute better. The price is great for the inventive food that you get. The service is good. I'll give them 6 months to get their act together and then I might come back to see if the cooking matches the menu. -
Review from Maggie B.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2012
I've eaten here twice now and have been impressed both times by the quality of the food and the excellent service. The menu is not extensive, but the food is flavorful and really unique. I love the living room atmosphere and lovely decor. Great place for a romantic dinner!
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Review from Patrick S.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2012
Gasp. So amazing and delightful. Just go. Not perfect, but very interesting and well executed. Gracious service, beautiful setting and some really impressive food made my night (and meal) memorable.
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Review from Natalie S.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2011
What a treat! This is truly a hidden gem inside a Victoria set back from the hustle and bustle of El Camino. I love the decor and choices of paint colors and wall papers.
The food is simply delicious. There are very few restaurants that can do Indian fusion. All Spice does it right. Western food with Indian spices and flavors = YUMMINESS!
I had the seabass which was so tasty. I think it had dill inside and it was fantastic. I also had the spinach dumpling entree dish as an appetizer and I loved the delicate flavors.
Highly recommended! -
Review from Timan G.
Redwood City, CA
8/26/2011
All Spice never fails to disappoint. The lamb dishes are always delicious, but what really keeps us coming back is the Indian Bread Fritter, the vanilla flatbread and the mint passion fruit lassi. All I can say is wow. I think what I love most about All Spice is the eclectic mix of ingredients that would normally be unexpected, like the saffron horchata and the rosemary ice cream. Surprisingly pleasant!
Added pluses are the ambiance and service are impeccable. -
Review from erika r.
San Jose, CA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
for all the 5 star reviews, i think this place was WAAAY too hyped. it's true, this place was a little tricky to find, tucked in an alley behind businesses. this was my first time trying any type of indian food.
from my experience:
-i felt that the room we were seated in was crowded enough to hear other peoples conversations
-i was confused to why our waiter told us about the unlisted special entree AFTER we placed our orders
-i felt like i couldn't really enjoy my meal because i was checked on frequently (if that makes sense), i.e.: server asked me how i liked the wine before i even sipped it
food:
-complimentary: the chef provided an amuse bouche, really creamy and had (what i thought) hints of cinnamon-- i thought it was ok
-for an appetizer, we had the ode to my wife, part II, which i enjoyed. it was like creamy (goat cheese) and fresh at the same time. it looked like a mini layered cake.
-entree: i ordered the coconut pork belly. the meat itself was really tender, but as for flavor i thought it was more bland and tasted a lot like peanut instead of coconut. i didn't get to finish it, the meat portion seemed generous which came with rice.
drinks:
-i had the opportunity to sample the passion fruit-mint lassi. to me it tasted like a mango smoothie, it was a mixture of passion fruit and mint leaves with yogurt.
-i ended up opting for the 09 riesling
overall:
-i didn't think it was worth the drive from san jose. -
Review from Veronica M.
San Mateo, CA
Updated - 8/3/2011
We just came back from a wonderful dinner and I have to say, this is the best restaurant in San Mateo!
Everything was just perfect: the beet salad (Ode to my wife), the lamb "Sona Chandi" and the amazing roasted walu: with sauces that complemented each other, so delicious!
I would love to come back again and try other dishes!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/26/2011
What a wonderful surprise, this restaurant is really an amazing place.
The Ode to My Wife beet salad… Read more »
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Review from Andy H.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everything is so different and well thought out. The service is great.
If going with a group I would suggest family style so you don't have to make tough choices and miss out on anything.
It was my second visit which was as good as my first, although this time I dod not get hit by a car walking over. -
Review from Drew H.
Burlingame, CA
10/9/2011
All Spice has become one of my two favorite Peninsula restaurants. The first time I went, I noticed the uniqueness of the amuse bouche, appetizers, entrees, and creative lassis and beers on hand. While the entree I got the first time wasn't amazing, the rest of the meal was enough to bring me back.
Since then, every meal I've had has been wonderful and different, creatively blending american and Indian cuisine, and although the prices have crept up with its popularity, I plan to make it here montly at the very least. The renovated house is intimate and the wait staff are really talented. -
Review from John M.
San Mateo, CA
10/7/2011
Great food, was a bit worried about the smaller menu at first but after sampling the 2 specials, and the delicious appetizer of scallops, cant wait to try the rest of the menu. Portions a bit small for myself but awesome presentation, and unique taste to every dish.
A great choice for an anniversary, intimate date type restaruant! -
Review from Steven D.
This is one of my first reviews I've written having just returned from dining there. Let me tell you, this place is amazing. First, when you enter you are greeted by a really sweet girl (lady) who then escorts you into the 'home'. Literally, it feels like you're walking into someone's home. There's a fireplace blazing and the atmosphere is very cozy and intimate. I came here with work colleagues to celebrate the holidays (yes, another work celebration!) I will say that the service is bar-none, some of the best I've experienced; attentive and professional. While I would like to highlight all that I sampled (we did family style) I would say that the pork belly stood out the most. The coffee at the end of the meal was also strong and good. Overall, its not your typical Indian food. Its a giant step above and well worth it. I'm definitely coming back with the wife!
