Vault 164

⁵⁄₅ — can’t even think of ONE bad thing to say!
I came here to celebrate my mom’s birthday. I had come for lunch previously a while back, but my parents had never been and were a little skeptical as the feel of this restaurant is not really their scene. The restaurant is located where the old bank used to be so the space is very large and open with a bar area for yuppies getting off work and some booths and tables further away for more sit-​down meals.
We were initially seated near the window and under the vent when my mom had mentioned it was a little bit breezy. I asked the hostess and she moved us without question — we were so much more comfortable towards the center of the restaurant! The waiter was quick to bring us menus, bring us water, take our order, etc. Throughout the meal, he checked in frequently and filled up our water without us asking.
TIP: check in on Facebook and you get a free order of brussel sprouts chips!
We ordered:
— Spicy Tuna Ahi Tower: this is one of the better ahi towers I’ve had! The spicy tuna is not TOO spicy, which is perfect for those who are sensitive to heat, but added extra flavor compared to an ordinary ahi tuna tower. It came with a lot of yummy taro chips too! My biggest pet peeve is when there is too much tower and not enough chips or vice versa, but they got the portions just right!
— Brussel Sprouts Chips (complimentary with check-​in): I’ve ordered this before, and it was yummy as usual! Light and crisp — just simple salt and lemon juice. They give you a lot so this is perfect for splitting!
— My parents ordered the skirt steak and the short rib. Both came in very reasonable portions and the meat was tender and flavorful. Between the two, I had a slight preference for the short rib. It was moist and the meat flaked off easily with a fork. The skirt steak also came with roasted spreadable garlic — my favorite!
— We also ordered the key lime pie — this again, came in a super healthy portion and we couldn’t even finish between the three of us! To be fair, we just had two appetizers and three entrees each so that might be why, but either way it was more than enough to split on an empty stomach. Not too tart and not too sweet with a yummy graham cracker crust. My only comment was this was a little different than other key lime pies I’ve eaten… it was perhaps a key lime cheesecake? Still yummy, but take note if you are not a big cheesecake fan.
I was very pleased with Vault 149 as a restaurant choice to celebrate my mom’s birthday and will be back! Great food, reasonable price, and fantastic service!

This place is great for drinks! Their bartenders are friendly and great at what they do. The mixed drinks are yummy and they have a great wine selection as well. I didn’t have food, but saw others’ food around me and it looked and smelled tasty. Yes, this place is a little expensive. But, you get what you pay for. Upscale environment, hand crafted drinks, and skilled bartenders. I’ll be back soon.

TL;DR: Scallop smelled like ammonia, chef denies and claims they get the scallops shipped in every day fresh, not cool.
Server 4/​5, Overall pretty great
Ordered 2 dishes:
1. Salmon on a cedar, very juicy and tender. The sauce is slightly sweeter than my taste, but overall 4.5÷5 dish.
The problem is on the second dish, scallop with risotto.
The risotto is pretty well done, but the scallops smelled like. I chewed on a piece and spit it out. When I raised the issue to the staff, the staff took my dish to check with chef. Came back to say they get their scallop fresh every day and this is how scallops should smell. They offered to take the dish off the bill, which I accepted.
I think the chef needs to fix his or her sense of smell and find a new source for their scallops.

Was a work farewell dinner and I was surprised to see how busy it was on a weekday.
We did have the Brussel sprout chips which were good but what was great was the mushroom risotto! And the cremebrulee… I wanted to swim in that dessert… Delicious!
The ambiance is great, the food solid, the prices high… Would I be back… Maybe not but wasn’t off putting for sure…
Solid 3.5

I have been here a bunch of times and its been consistently impressive. The wine selection is extensive. There are plenty of food options and also a fair amount of variety, especially for those who avoid red meat. Staff: very friendly and the manager has always swung by the table to either help out or ask how my meal was going. I am very happy to see places like this in downtown San Mateo and will continue to give places like these my business as well as recommend my friends.

Upscale-​looking steak shop.
We came here during happy hour, which was nice. The calamari was cooked well, with just the right amount of crisp. The fries were also pretty well made. Everything is served hot so you can tell it just came out of the pan.
The drinks are nice as well. The bartender knew what he was doing. The manhattans tasted nice.
Overall, a good place to stop by.

Great Happy Hour! 3:30 — 6:30 M-​F
All beer, wine, liquor and cocktails are 2 bucks off. The beer selection is decent. They have several apps well priced ranging from 5 to 12 bucks! I tried the Brussels sprout chips and they’re pretty good. I’d go back :)

This restaurant is nestled in the heart of downtown, in what used to be a bank — hence «vault». I recently came here for dinner with a friend and was blown away. I’ve been a few times before, but the service was outstanding and the food was delicious.
We started with the brussel sprout chips for an appetizer, which you HAVE to try if you come here. Unlike any other «chips» out there. We had the chipotle and peppercorn steak for entrées and they were fantastic as well. They come with fries and brussel sprouts, but I subbed my fries for mashed potatoes. Everything was absolutely amazing. Best steak I’ve had in a while to be completely honest. For desert — was Baked Alaska! So yummy! If anything, this place would be great date night spot with your significant other or even girlfriends!
In addition, our server provided us with the best service. He was knowledgeable, friendly and understanding when I had to pause to move my car (see below). I wish I had remembered his name. But I’m sure everyone here is great as well. They emphasis quality and don’t miss the mark.
Note: Do NOT park in the lot connected to the building if you’re enjoying a late dinner. They close at 9 and shut the garage, therefore you will not be able to get your car out. Park down the street at the Public garage (free after 6 pm!) or valet at the Vault.

My family and I came in on a Saturday night at 6pm and the restaurant was empty! But within a matter of minutes it began to fill up FAST and I can see why.
For appetizers we had the infamous Brussel sprout chips, the fried calamari, and the bacon wrapped figs. I thought the Brussel sprout chips were great, not too oily, the calamari came with two dipping sauces (a chipotle and a horseradish) and it also had fried green beans thrown into the mix. I didn’t try the bacon wrapped figs because I’m not a fan of goat cheese, but my dad and sister seemed to enjoy it.
For the entrée I ordered the seared ahi tuna which came on a bed of greens, a little bit of rice noodles, and a mango sauce. It was delicious, the tuna just melted in my mouth! I would’ve liked more noodles tho. My sisters got the scallop risotto, the branzino, and the bacon mac and cheese. I thought the scallops were really good (and I’m not even a fan of scallops) but the risotto was a little on the salty side. The branzino (white fish) was delicious as well my sister finished the entire plate! She wiped it CLEAN! The Mac and cheese was just ok, the noodles were a little hard. My moms maple cedar plank salmon was so flavorful and cooked to perfection, and came with carrots, fingerling potatoes, and broccolini. My dad had the filet mignon, I didn’t try it but he finished his entire plate as well.
For dessert we had the baked Alaska, the kahlua crème brûlée, and the apple crisp. The baked Alaska came to the table in flames which was cool, but after it wore off the meringue was a bit burnt. It was filled with coffee ice cream and had a brownie layer at the bottom surrounded by bittersweet chocolate. The warm apple crisp was good, had a nice granola like crust and came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. My favorite was the Kahlua crème brûlée! Love the crispy sugar layer on top.
Overall we had a great dinner, would love to come back to try more!

I’m giving four stars because I dislike the dining arrangements especially in upscale restaurants that take away the privacy of an individual table by placing one long booth across a wall and several small tables in front of it with a single chair opposite.
Otherwise we had excellent service. Was seated quickly and easily on a busy weekend night without reservations! We were going to catch a movie later in the evening and I’m so glad we decided to stop in by chance to see if a table was available. We had the vault roasted herb chicken with root vegetables and applewood smoked bacon macaroni and cheese. The chicken was tender, fragrant, and flavorful. Mac n cheese was RICH but deliciously creamy, excellent small dish. For dessert we had the Baked Alaska which was torched right at our table! Can’t beat this place for casual yet upscale dining with creative menu options and beautifully converted historic bank building.

An expensive, semi fancy American restaurant.
This place can get packed during busy nights so make reservation if you have a large party.
Things I get here:
–Fig and Prosciutto flat bread: Yes! This dish is the highlight whenever I go to Vault 164. I have not yet had better.
–Brussel Sprouts: So good and oily and salty. I always want more.
–Flank steak: The meat is good, fries are a bit random. The sauce is sort of like a salty au jus with mushrooms and garlic. I think they could have put a little less and have the flank meat shine.
–Seared Sesame Ahi Tuna: This one was alright. It might look and sound fancy but its just literally sushi great tuna that’s crusted by sesame seeds and seared.
The drinks here are expensive, as is the food, but if you need a place to hold special occasion dinners, this place is a good option.

I took my mom here for her birthday dinner. I recommend making a reservation to avoid the wait! I hear many good things about Vault 164, it looks super fancy from the outside, it’s reminds me of a roman white house. Inside is very nice, dim lights and great environment.
We sat near the back, unfortunately our table was pretty squished to the table next to us (which they were on their first date). It was kind of hard not to listen to their conversation, it was quiet and awkward then the girl said «I’m really glad were doing this» haha but that was our entertainment.
Anyways, we ordered the Ahi Tuna Tower, Figs & Prosciutto flat beard for appetizers. Ahi Tuna was pretty decent, I really enjoyed the flat beard, it was a pretty interesting combination, recommend trying. For entrée, my mom got they special of the day, it was New York Steak and I got the Lamb Spaghetti meatballs which was a special also. My mom enjoyed her steak, it was cooked perfectly and my lamb was pretty good also, I thought it could of had more sauce.
Overall, this is a good place for dinner and lunch. I really enjoyed the great customer service and environment. I look forward coming back again for happy hour.

We LOVE!
Truth be told, the experience started out awesomely simply because i walked in and saw one of my favorite faces who was visiting from San Diego. We were planning to get together the next day since I was out with family that night and she was with other friends. surprise!
From there, okay– I’m from Hawaii. We have a big family. And we travel in packs– especially when food is involved. ;) Good food and it came out fast– double win.
Them brussel sprout chips are sinful– reminds me of the Zucca chips at North in Scottsdale. I HATE brussel sprouts but I won’t deny getting my ‘veggie fix’ for the night! ;)
The ambiance was great, food was fantastic and everyone was just happy.
Top it all off, the Warriors game was on and — WIN! :)
«Two, very enthusiastic thumbs up».

This is yet another place where Unilocal has gotten our hopes up because it had great rating/​reviews…
The calamari was VERY bland and partially raw and crispy… we actually had to return it to the kitchen for a second round of frying.
Mushroom risotto was not al dente and tasted really heavy and was soaked in a lot of oil. The scallop entrée was NOT fresh and very chewy (we didn’t get sick, thank goodness) and was over-​dressed with a lot of sides. It felt like the main star was the veggie vs. the scallops.
We asked for medium on the mushroom and gruyère burger but the meat was definitely burt and tasted very bitter.
I do have to say that their bread was very delicious and warm with soft butter served upon request. Their brussels sprout chips were also SUPER delicious and not too oily while very crispy! Other than that, everything else was not really up to par.

Happy hours are the best hours!
Came by on Friday with 3 colleagues and while there weren’t enough seats at the bar (²⁄₄ of us stood the whole time), the drinks and food kept on coming.
If you’re into some quality, tasty cocktails and yummy bar food — this is the place to go. Super dug the mangorita (mango purée margarita) and the blackberry mojito.
Come earlier for a seat at the bar, next time I’m trying the dinner options!

Went here for a dinner while on a business trip.
This place is a classy steakhouse good for families, business, or just casual dining.
I got the skirt steak which was cooked perfectly.
My friend got the Chicken which was good but had a tough time cutting up the meat to eat.
Lastly, if you check in on facebook, they give you a free brussell sprout chips which went well with out dishes.
Great place to try in San Mateo!

This was a solid spot to grab drinks. We had about 6 people in our party and the hostess refused to seat us at a table for drinks. She said we had to sit at the bar– which was full and didn’t allow everyone to sit– but there was PLENTY of open tables. If ordering food was required we could have done that. I’ll get some apps– whatever, just seat us. We had a drink at the bar and left. Crap experience aside– the bartender was very sweet and made us delicious cocktails!!!

This was my first visit to Vault 164 for happy hour and I was pleasantly surprised by this local gem. I was surprised not because I expected something just okay, I was surprised because it was so good and I didn’t know about it! Ambiance was really nice and the food was great. I love the interior of the building, the décor and the menu is so vast, there is something for everyone. This restaurant has interesting specialty drinks, nice beer and extensive wine list. We ordered three appetizers — spicy ahi tuna tower, fish & chip poppers and fried jerk chicken, all of which were delicious. Our server was perfect, not to overwhelming but always there if we needed something. Overall a great experience. I cannot wait to go back.
Happy hour menu
Monday — Friday 3:30−6:30
–in the bar only–
All wines by the glass — $ 2 off
All specialty cocktails — $ 2 off
All beers — $ 2 off
Well liquors — $ 2 off
Fresh muddled lemon drop $ 5
Cancun breeze margarita $ 5
Brussels sprout chips $ 5
Crispy calamari $ 7
Deviled bacon & eggs $ 5
Bacon wrapped dates $ 7
Fish & chip poppers $ 8
Spicy ahi tuna tower $ 12
Blackened cod tacos $ 6
3 way grilled cheese sandwich $ 5
White cheddar burger sliders & fresh cut fries $ 9

Excellent place for business lunch or formal family dinner, vast wine card and intricate menu.
The agency I work for was celebrating a great contract completion with hosting some guests from the East coast, and Valut 164 was a place to have a lunch at.
The wine selection card is pretty good and well balanced; we’ve moved forward with a white local, originated Napa Valley wine, which unfortunately wasn’t available. Then, the restaurant manager suggested a different local wine instead and we did not regret. Its light and slightly fruity taste complemented well with dishes we had.
I had Risotto with wild mushrooms and truffle oil. The dish tasted great, but there was a little too much acidity in risotto which was a bit odd in the beginning but made sense as the meal grew on on the second and third bite.
Overall great experience, we’ll be back!

Apparently Vault 164 used to be a real bank? It did have bank elements inside, which I thought was cool. I liked the high ceilings and the overall chill ambiance.
First things first: if you check in on Facebook, you get free Brussels chips! That sounds super weird, but they were delicious. Tasted kind of like kale chips, if you’re into that sort of thing. And it’s a very generous bowl of them, too! Why not, right? If you’re looking for another appetizer to snack on, I highly recommend the calamari as well. Wonderfully crispy on the outside, and the wasabi aioli was bomb. The flatbread was also SO good — topped with figs, prosciutto, arugula, manchego, and balsamic glaze. A+ on the appetizers!
Unfortunately, I can’t really say the same about the entrees. Don’t get me wrong, everything tasted okay, but the meal sort of fell flat after the appetizers. I ordered the branzino, which tasted a little burnt in some places and really dry, maybe overcooked. It was served on a bed of kale and Israeli couscous that tasted lukewarm, bordering on straight-​up cold. Two of my friends ordered the risotto, which was pretty standard. Another friend ordered the fish and chips, which he thought was amazing.
Service was great. The waiter recommended several options for food and drinks. He was also very attentive to our table and made the overall experience a positive one. This was a nice, post-​work restaurant, and it’s conveniently located downtown (the trade-​off is, of course, parking may be difficult). There are a couple of nearby garages that are free after 6pm I think, or you can hunt around for street parking.