Welcome to Brothers Cafe San Mateo
Brothers Cafe San Mateo, nestled at 1338 W Hillsdale Blvd, offers a delightful brunch experience with a focus on quality and flavor. Proudly serving classic breakfast and lunch items, the cafe becomes a local favorite with its creative menu featured on large chalkboards, ensuring an inviting atmosphere. Signature dishes like the Country Fried Steak and the Gilroy Benedict stand out for their rich flavors and perfect presentations. The attentive service and warm ambiance make it an ideal spot to enjoy hearty meals and freshly squeezed juices. Brothers Cafe invites guests to savor familiar comfort food in a homey setting, cultivating a loyal community of food lovers.
- 1338 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94403 Hotline: (650) 389-7263
Nestled in the heart of San Mateo, Brothers Cafe San Mateo offers a delightful getaway for breakfast and lunch enthusiasts. Located at 1338 W Hillsdale Blvd, this lively café is a haven for those craving classic and hearty brunch fare. With its inviting ambiance and friendly service, it's no wonder patrons flock to indulge in its extensive menu that proudly showcases an array of mouthwatering dishes.
The charm of Brothers Cafe lies in its diverse offerings, ranging from scrumptious breakfast plates to savory sandwiches. One standout feature is the Egg..Cellence menu, available until 3 PM, where you can indulge in dishes like the Platanos Fritos, a delicious combination of fried plantains, scrambled eggs, and black beans, or the hearty Huevos Rancheros, which pairs corn tortillas with black beans, eggs, and fresh toppings including avocado and queso fresco. Each dish is prepared with care and passion, ensuring a delightful experience.
Reviews from satisfied customers reflect a strong commitment to quality. Diana T. mentions the Gilroy Benedict, featuring artichokes and creamed spinach—“not too rich,” allowing for a perfect balance of flavors. Meanwhile, Michelle P. appreciates the swift service and consistent quality, saying, “It never disappoints.” There’s something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for the traditional Country Fried Steak or a comforting Swedish Pancakes, praised by others for their light and fluffy texture.
- Unique Experience: The self-service model allows guests to order at the counter and choose their seats, creating an informal and relaxed dining atmosphere.
- Location: Situated inside the Laurelwood Shopping Center, it combines convenience with a cozy vibe perfect for casual gatherings.
- Quality Drinks: Freshly squeezed juices are a highlight, with patrons noting their vibrant flavors that refresh and invigorate—perfect companions to any meal.
Although some have mentioned it can feel slightly pricey for café food, the high-quality ingredients and generous portions deliver value. With friendly staff who are attentive and eager to help, every visit promises efficient service paired with a genuine smile. For a café that balances tradition with a touch of creativity, Brothers Cafe San Mateo stands out as a must-visit spot for breakfast and brunch lovers.

We met friends for breakfast/brunch. They have a wide selection of classic breakfast and lunch items that are displayed on a huge chalkboard. (They have normal menus too.) You order at the counter and then seat yourself so it could get tricky if you have a big party. We had six in our group and I was the first to arrive. I did let them know that others would be joining. They will not seat until everyone in your party is present. We came on a rainy Sunday afternoon (12:30pm) and the wait wasn't too long. (~15 minutes) I could see this place getting crowded though depending on the day and time of day. It was my first visit and had a hard time deciding. The front person who took my order was patient and was very helpful in explaining their menu items and making recommendations. Once we ordered, service was fast and efficient. My go to breakfast is usually some sort dish that is a pain to make at home. I decided on the Gilroy Benedict which comprised of artichokes and creamed spinach. It came with hash browns. I really liked the creamed spinach and artichoke...not too rich. Hubby had the Corned Beef Hash & Eggs. He let me try some and it was delicious as well. Not overly salty and seasoned, just well balanced and tasty. The hash browns were crisp and a perfect complement to the main dish. They have 2 other locations on the peninsula (Millbrae and South SF)...wish they were in the East Bay. I would love to come back and try their other menu items.

Still loving this place - I come about once a month with family or friends and it never disappoints - quick efficient service with a smile and tasty food, water refills just everything great - thought I'd let you know!

Great food. Great service. And cute place. We ordered the country fried steak, chicken and waffles, and Swedish pancakes. The country fried steak and chicken waffles come with this fantastic gravy that I wanted to eat with everything. The Swedish pancake was so light and fluffy. I wanted to wrap myself in it. You order before you sit but you're still waiting for a table to open up before you order.

Tried their country fried steak and really loved how thick the gravy was. Would come back for it! You have to order and then be seated. Several seatings inside and some outdoor seating as well. Located inside Laurelwood Shopping center.

The place wasn't as busy when we walked in, and then BAM it got busy. The food was really good. We ordered the Santa Fe scramble and pancakes and eggs. I loved the chorizo in the scramble. And the sour cream and avocado was the perfect topping for it. The kids loved the pancakes and eggs and bacon. You can't really go wrong with some bacon in your life. The place had a great vibe to it. Very homey and welcoming. A great brunch spot for sure!

Food: The Gobbler.4/5 It's a Benedict with turkey and sautéed mushroom. The turkey is a bit dry but mushrooms cooked perfectly and the eggs are perfectly runny! Benedict sauce isn't heavy so it compliments the turkey well. While under seasoned, the texture of the hash browns are crispy- the texture is the most important part because salt can always be added later. Freshly squeezed orange juice 5/5 Tastes like you just plucked the orange from the tree. Absolutely amazing. Service: fast! Ambiance: Standard brunch vibes. Casual dining.

The Brothers Cafe was tasty! I think it was unique how I asked for a pancake with strawberries and bananas, and they literally created a pancake with those fruits embedded inside. I also ordered fresh apple juice and that was delicious :) If you're looking for something quick and good, I'd go to Brother's Cafe. The service was attentive and the food came out within 15 minutes, if even. It's a restaurant where you order up front, they hand you a number, then you go and find your own seat. I will say this cafe is a bit expensive for breakfast / cafe food with an "on the go" vibe. I think this could be due to the cafe's lack of unique features? The branding could be beefed up a bit to scream something more original-- even the menu item names. But maybe I'll swing by again and have another meal and my mind can be changed!

Here at Brothers Cafe, you have to order first and then seat yourself anywhere you'd like. I went on a Monday morning and it was fairly busy (every other table was filled and there was a line) but the drinks and food came out pretty quickly! I ordered the country fried steak and it was cooked perfectly. Unlike other restaurants, the amount of gravy on top was the perfect ratio for each bite as it was still crunchy and warm, rather than soggy and drenched. I asked for fried over easy eggs but they came out a bit more on the medium side, however, it was still pretty good. The hashbrown was fluffy yet super crispy at the same time. I enjoyed eating it with ketchup or with a piece of the eggs to balance out the textures. I also ordered the freshly squeezed orange juice and had no regrets - absolutely refreshing. My friend ordered the banana foster and she said it was good and that she really enjoyed the cinnamon butter they added.

Loved my breakfast here. Nice servers, extensive menu. Not too crowded, but almost full. Walk up to order, get a number (put it on display stand,), sit down. Your server will find you. Fast service. Great full breakfast. Lunches look good. Big selection of drinks. Ordered iced tea, it was being brewed... 15 minutes later, they forgot me, but I asked and they brought it right over- of course it was good and fresh! Hubby gave me a taste of his pancakes (only one taste) yum it was good!