Whipper Snapper Restaurant

Highly recommend this restaurant. We tried a little bit of everything & absolutely loved it all! Service was great and the chef/​owner was awesome! Very neat spot.

Nice happy hour with drinks and snacks. I always get the sangria picture. They have a back patio and it’s really pleasant to sit out back on a nice day.

We just came from the restaurant. It was a great experience. The service was great. The atmosphere, low key, clean, not too loud and lots to look at. The food was great, We had the fried Calamari, actually 2 plates of the Calamari; it was sooo good. The Sangria was great, with lots of fruit and not too sweet. The Plantains with the Beans, total comfort food! I would definitely recommend it to anyone and yes, the owner said good bye as we left.

LOVELY LITTLE PLACE, YUMMY FOOD, GREAT SERVICE
Had an impromptu weeknight date at Whipper Snapper, and it was just a great little place. It’s on upper 4^th St. in San Rafael.
FOOD: We had a light meal, including a roasted beet salad with hazelnuts and greens and some kind of dressing that totally worked with the other ingredients, and mussels w. white wine, saffron, leeks, tomatoes, and grilled bread. Mmmmm!
SERVICE: Great. Waitress was really friendly and just-​right attentive (i.e., not too), which was great ’cause date and I were busy pawing at each other and making out (inside was empty ‘cept for us; everyone else was sitting out back on the patio). The chef was great, too, thanked us for coming as we left. Very pleasant.
DECOR: Really charming space, painted with festive colors. Very nice ambience.
MUSIC: Cool Spanish guitar (?). I think.
DATE: Gorgeous, beautiful, charming, intelligent. I remember talking, but I’m not sure I made any sense, so love-​struck was I. Take your sweetie to Whipper Snapper. It’s magic!

We have been here a couple of times before … and what I most noticed this time was consistency, in every aspect. The food, the service, the good time … all consistent enough to make this a place to go on a regular basis.
The service is friendly and efficient without being intrusive. Fresh plates and silverware were always at the ready. They had nice wine glasses for our bottle of wine.
We have, over the last visits, sampled a wide array of their menu, and it would be very hard to think of a miss. Among the best… fish tacos, plantains, chicken skewers with peanut sauce, the shrimp appetizer in a creamy sauce (Spicy Cajun Shrimp), ceviche, the Cuban Cigars, and the Cuban Steak. The pitchers of Sangria caused a frenzy at our table. De-​lish, and very much like sangria we had in Spain.
Despite being full, we could not resist the siren call of dessert. The three we shared, were all flawless. My favorite, and hearty enough for a couple or three to share, is the lemon cheesecake. Their flan was light and luscious at the same time. The chocolate mousse was another portion easily shared. Rich yet light and fluffy.
The dining room is cozy yet not crowded, but we love the back deck. I sat facing outward and felt like I was back in the jungles of Costa Rica. The only thing missing was an audio loop of far off jungle bird and animal sounds! :-)

Amazingly beautiful ambience! Wonderful food while being serenaded by a solo guitarist. What more could you ask for after an afternoon hike. Jerk chicken and plantain are the way to go, along with sangria of course. Good job guys.

I had the Tri-​Tip sandwich. It was pretty amazing. My favorite item was the plantain fries! Colorful decos, friendly servers, and tasty sangrias.

Absolutely loved the selection. Stopped by here while visiting the north bay. We only ordered from the tapas menu but 3 tapas was enough to fill up two of us. Would definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys Caribbean type food. The shrimp of course.

Great local joint. Lovely people, awesome fun vibe, fantastic food.
We came here on a Saturday for weekend lunch. Now although these guys serve Tapas, don’t let that fool you. These tapas are HUGE and are well enough as a meal for someone. However whats the fun in that! You got to get a couple of different things to try!
We got the following:
— Butternut Squash soup — Creamy and delicious great to warm you up. But the serving is large, so make sure you share!
— Grown up Mac and Cheese with Lobster. — A little too cheese for me and not enough lobster. But I am lactose intolerant, so realistically I had no business eating this.
— Steamed Mussels. — Delicious, we couldn’t get enough of the broth. Some of the mussels were a little over cooked so they shrunk a bit, but still delicious.
— Skewed Chicken with Coconut peanut sauce with a jicama salad — Amazing. The chicken was soft and tender and juice. The jicama salad was crunchy and added a great fresh bit. The sauce is definitely the star of the show. However the whole dish didn’t really go together really all that well. Individually these were all fantastic. The chicken being on skews made it a bit hard to dip in the sauce. And the beautiful fresh crunch of the salad was so great that you don’t want to mix the over powering flavor of the sauce with it. I think I’d like to get this dish again, but I would ask for the salad to be separate from the sauce. And yes I would still recommend anyone that comes around to get this.
I did also get a red sangria. It wasn’t my cup of tea. I felt like the wine wasn’t very good, lacked flavor and it was just a bit too sour. I would definitely try their white sangria next time and maybe just get some wine from the board. They’ve got a great selection.
All up our bill was no more than $ 70 and we also had drinks! so its supor affordable for a tapas lunch and definitely worth the money spent.
Bring your friends!

Stumbled upon this place after looking on Unilocal for something different to try. What a pleasant surprise!!!
Super funky, colorful décor that ultimately matched the vibrant flavors in the dishes.
House specials are the chicken skewers with coconut peanut sauce and Bill’s Zarzuella. They make a house sangria which my friend tried, but I settled on the Moonlight Death and Taxes on draft. One of the winning notes for this place for me is almost all of the menu is gluten free naturally and them having Moonlight on tap only adds to this notion.
We left with full bellies and happy hearts after this meal. I ordered brussel sprouts almost everywhere and this was not a let down. The lemon, anchovies and almonds round out the flavors to the perfectly pan roasted sprouts.
Everything shined in its own light; all three dishes we tried were outstanding and service matched the overall experience. Full vibrant flavors, enough spice to keep the heat in your mouth but not take over the flavors.

My mouth is exploding and I am HAPPY! SO MANY FLAVORS! Bill and Marianna serve with warmth and efficiency! We love it here!
Award winning all natural chicken skewers with jicama salad and spicy peanut coconut sauce! Ppppfffffaww!
Organic mixed green salad w coconut vinagtrette… and then fish tacos with fresh grilled lime and caggage bedecked fish. Oh my! The artistic food has dancing pieces of artwork and interesting light fixtures surrounding it all. Treat yourself. Really!

I really, really like this place, the food is great and the servers are nice and I don’t have a valid reason as to why I don’t come here more often!
The food is hearty — the soups are always amazing, the white bean with ham hocks is truly a standout special — and the guacamole is super fresh, full of avocado chunkiness and flavor. I love going here on a warm day and sitting outside in the back. It’s private, relaxing and fun. It’s a great place to share food with friends — the tapas is the focus here. Great beers on tap and decent wine list as well.
The only reason I don’t give this five stars is because it’s just a little expensive for me. It’s more homey and comfort food than fancy but the main entrée prices are a little fancy/​high. I really wish they had a happy hour — I would definitely come here more often! I will be back again soon to share the smaller plates though; they’re so excellent. Damn budget always bringing me down.
Really delicious food — you will not be disappointed! Check it out!

The place was wonderful. Warm comfortable and greeted at the door. We were taken to a receipt almost immediately. Everyone look very happy in festive. It was decorated for the new year with balloons and music coming from the corner where they had a musician playing tunes that people loved. A little dancing was going on impromptu on the floor. The food is always is exquisite what can you say about a restaurant that nails that every time. Bill in the kitchen is a magician with everything that he touches. And his staff in the kitchen make it happen with him. The decorations were new years invested in he decided not to stay open as he has in the past 2 midnight he closed at 9. But we watch the ball in New York drop and when it dropped they went around and they gave everyone party hats noise makers and necklaces to ring in the New Year with and so there was music being played know little dancing going on and people were just really enjoying the moment at 9 p.m. California time. Though it was early it was perfect and we all got home we relaxed set for myself and my girlfriend. We went down to the bay under the moonlight and the stroke of midnight i turn on some music with my iTunes and we danced in the moonlight. Oh trust me I got my New Years kiss.

We ducked into this cheerful café on a rainy day while waiting for our car to be services nearby. The moment we walked in we were welcomed by the owner/​chef and the server who were both incredibly friendly.
The décor is fun & festive. The sangria was superb– fruity yet not too sweet. We loved the chicken kabobs and the flan was creamy and tasteful. The only miss for me was the fried plantains. They are one of my favorite things so I always order them when I see them on a menu. The plantains were just not my cup of tea– I like the sweet sticky version and these were a bit dry and not as flavorful.
Our server was absolutely wonderful and so accommodating especially with my one year old granddaughter. Remember to ask for the kid’s menu as there are some nice options.
I will definitely return to this nice little spot next time I’m in town and will just forgo the plantains.

Chef Bill is passionate about his recipes. This explains why my experiences at Cha Cha Cha have gone down hill. I no longer have an urge to go there, and parking is always difficult in the city. We’re so lucky to have Whipper Snapper in Marin County. My friends and I always have a great time here, as we share pitchers of sangria, laughter, and reminisce about good times.
I brought hubby here for a brief date night, as we had to get back home since our teenager charges to babysit. I refuse to get a nanny cuz it’s hard to find unattractive ones these days HA! Sunday Sangrias hit the spot for me, and the Cajun shrimp satisfied our craving after all the weekend festivities. Our waitress Maureen was kind enough to replenish the scrumptious bread after we devoured the shrimp. I was over all the BBQ from Labor Day weekend, can’t wait to return to this quaint and vibrant restaurant to enjoy more delicious sangria, Cuban cigars, and plantains. Love their outdoor patio space ~ score!

The food was very good. I got the ceviche and it was as close to «real» ceviche I’ve had in a long while. The only thing that was a negative about the food/​service is that we were a party of four in the back patio area and one our friends food came almost when the rest of us were done eating. He had ordered the mussels and cajun shrimp. I just thought that was poor timing on the server.
However…the sangria is EPIC. So good and all the fruit in it is amazing. Easy to get «fruit drunk.» A pitcher was a good amount for four people but if you need a little bit more get a small pitcher extra.

If Unilocal gave each user one opportunity to give a six-​star review, this would be the business I would cash it in on.
When I graduated college, I was desperately looking for a great venue for my graduation party– something that was fun, laid back, festive, and affordable. Knowing I would be finishing finals two days prior and would have very limited time to dedicate to party planning, I needed a place that was going to help me from start to finish.
I initially looked at a few other restaurants, and got some (ridiculously high) price quotes. Sitting on my sofa in despair, wondering if I should bite the bullet and try to host a BBQ in the courtyard of my apartment complex, I remembered Whipper Snapper. I called the restaurant, explained my dilemma to the friendly hostess, and she immediately gave me the personal cell phone number of the owner, Bill.
I called Bill, and by the time I got off the phone I knew that I had found the perfect venue. Bill was professional, friendly, trustworthy, and totally accommodating. He realized that it was an important occasion for my family, answered all my questions, and didn’t pressure me. He was happy to let me use the entire restaurant, which was a refreshing response because other venues I called wanted to stuff my family in a banquet room in the back. He emailed me a rough idea of the menu (which looked totally delicious), and I was able to concentrate on my finals knowing he was going to handle everything else.
With a minimal amount of work on my end, Bill and his staff helped me throw the perfect graduation party. Parking was easy, and they decorated the chalkboard outside for the event, so guests were able to find the venue easily. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and festive (I brought a few balloons, but it was awesome without them), and you could really tell how much the staff loved working there. It was the perfect place for a party– the restaurant has huge windows, bright walls, and a gorgeous patio area in the back. The walls are covered in beautiful art and mosaics, the tablecloths are bright, and the bathrooms are clean!
The best part? THE FOOD. My family was stuffed full of chips, guacamole, cajun shrimp, plantains, fish tacos, jerk chicken, rice, and beans. Bill uses local and organic ingredients in his food, and you can just tell it’s cooked with love! As if the food wasn’t enough, there were also huge pitchers of sangria (two kinds!) on the bar and conveniently placed around the restaurant for everyone to enjoy, and the staff graciously provided sodas, waters, and endless refills for almost 50 people. All I had to do was bring a few sheet cakes, which they happily cut and plated for me. Instead of rushing around frantically, I was really able to enjoy the party knowing that Bill and his team were making sure everyone was beyond happy.
A few days after the party, the calls started rolling in. People weren’t calling about my graduation– they were calling to talk about the Whipper Snapper (which was more than okay with me). Everyone wanted to express just how much fun they had, say how great the food was, how much they were still craving the shrimp, how delicious the sangria was, how pretty the restaurant was, and how it was the best graduation party they had ever been to. Some people drove across the state to attend, and called to say that if we ever had another party at the Whipper Snapper that they would gladly make the drive again.
I can’t thank Bill and his team enough. I know if I had planned this by myself, it would never have been as wonderful as it was with their help. If you’re looking for a place to host a party, this is it. It was delicious, affordable, stress-​free, and SO MUCH FUN. My family and I are already planning the next one!

I definitely am a fan! And it’s a travesty that they happen to be located on the less happening end of 4^th St, in downtown San Rafael.
The habanero glazed grilled chicken wings came flying in with a whiff of the habanero kick in the air as the aroma hits your olfactory glands. Thankfully (for most, at least), the kick was more bark than bite. The essence of habanero was very much present in the sauce but thankfully didn’t serve to light a fire in your mouth. The plump wings were nicely grilled with a good char, yet juicy.
Next up was the Cajun shrimp in a buttery creamy sauce. This was the mildest dish I’ve had thus far. The aroma, essence of herbs, and the creaminess of the sauce were all there but it seemed like it could have used a little more salt to «embolden» the flavours and really put on a show, so to speak. I did go a little crazy soaking up that creamy sauce with the complimentary bread.
The Jamaican jerk chicken was fantastic! It was a very generous plate of two juicy (probably) grilled chicken thighs in the delicious jerk sauce with a side of herbed rice and a side of black beans. The sauce was bold and was a great match for the chicken. The rice was delicious with the olives adding a new dimension to it.
Lastly, the Zarzuella was fantastic. It is akin to a cioppino (or a bouillabaisse) served on a bed of rice. The tomato broth was bright and the mussels, calamari, white fish fillets, and shrimp each played their part to perfection, not the least bit because they seemed very fresh. A squeeze of the accompanying lemon raises the dish even higher.
All in all, you can’t go wrong here with Whipper Snapper’s menu!
$ 67 + tips for a dinner for two (including an appetizer each).

On a craigslist mission, needed to stop for fuel, thought we would try this place.
Not to many people in here on a week night so we were seated immediately.
Based on Unilocal tips tried the cigars and fish tacos. The fish was actually cooked perfectly and well flavored. As for the rest of it, just ok. Disappointed in the cigars as the beef was mushy.
Overall the food was ok. The service was pretty slow as there was only one wait staff. I found this place to be a bit on the pricey side based on the quality and plate size. Street parking was easy to find.

With its orange and blue color scheme, craftily eclectic wall art, and menu which pulls from many origins, Whipper Snapper is a Putamayo World Music CD come to life. It seems a very personal statement, not highly sophisticated, but from the heart. Like a place you would come across on your travels and decide, impromptu, to dine at even though (as was the case here) the chalkboard tapas menu out front misspelled «mussels».
Inside, at the «bar» during happy hour (Tuesday — Friday 5 — 6 p.m.), you can experience the best deal that Whipper Snapper has to offer: a handful of tapas priced at a ridiculously reasonable $ 3 each. I had them all:
* Petite fish tacos vibrantly adorned with fresh cabbage, avocado, onion, and cilantro;
* Organic fingerling potatoes served in a small crock with a large dollop of chili pasilla aioli;
* Fried sweet plantains topped with a perfectly apt swirl of sour cream; and (saving the best for last)
* Grilled chicken wings in a habanero chili glaze which caused one person at my table to remark that «these are the best chicken wings I’ve ever had». I seconded this opinion; another round was ordered up and devoured.
My party of three supplemented the happy hour offerings with the regular, full-​priced menu fare which caused my son to remark that Whipper Snapper is «pricey». I’ll admit, I thought the same thing for a weeknight meal (tapas $ 8 — $ 14, entrees $ 15 — $ 21) and was happy to have dollar cost averaged our dinner by interspersing it with the happy hour fare. Fried Calamari ($ 11), Bill’s Zarzuela ($ 21, a tomato-​based mélange of shrimp, calamari, mussels, and seasonal fish over rice), a Passion Fruit Mousse ($ 8), beer ($ 6), and sangria ($ 5) finished us off.
A very nice meal can be enjoyed here, from the creative menu which defies origin and samples widely from many countries. It could probably best be understood by meeting the friendly owner, Bill, a former Executive Chef at San Francisco’s Cha Cha Cha. Bill’s vision is in play here, influenced by his past experience, his heart, and his suburban location. Even if every item sampled didn’t wow me, I like that there’s a little slice of Cha Cha Cha here in suburbia. Even more though, I liked how Bill’s welcome energy greeted us and how he continued to engage with us throughout our meal. He seemed tickled that we were finally getting around to trying his place (Whipper Snapper has been open 6+ years) and that spirit elevated my enjoyment.
Whipper Snapper is unique in its offerings and chances of a return visit, even if only for more chicken wings, are running very high.