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Name: Viognier
Address: 222 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA, 94401
Telephone: (650) 685-3727
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.93

Viognier

222 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA, 94401

(650) 685-3727
Store is closed

Viognier Menu

Dinner Menu

Dinner Menu

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Citrus Cured Steelhead Trout

Roasted Beet Salad

Zuckerman's Farm Grilled Asparagus

Citrus Medley Salad

Salad of Garden Lettuces

Artichoke Raviolo

Grilled Local Quail

Veal Sweetbreads

Slow Cooked Pork Belly

Sweet Potato Boulangere

Seared Gulf Red Snapper

Seared Day Boat Scallops

Seared New York Steak

Spring Vegetable Ragout

Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses

Beignets

Snickers

Creme Caramel

Strawberry Shortcake

Selection Of House Made Ice Creams Or Sorbets

Dinner Menu

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Citrus Cured Steelhead Trout

Roasted Beet Salad

Zuckerman's Farm Grilled Asparagus

Citrus Medley Salad

Salad of Garden Lettuces

Artichoke Raviolo

Grilled Local Quail

Veal Sweetbreads

Slow Cooked Pork Belly

Sweet Potato Boulangere

Seared Gulf Red Snapper

Seared Day Boat Scallops

Seared New York Steak

Spring Vegetable Ragout

Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses

Beignets

Snickers

Creme Caramel

Strawberry Shortcake

Selection Of House Made Ice Creams Or Sorbets
Lounge Menu

Charcuterie Platter

Chef's Selection Of 1/2 Dozen Oysters

Mushroom And Chorizo Flatbread

Smoked Salmon Flatbread

Niman Ranch Burger

American Kobe Pastrami

Bacon Bratwurst

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses

Charcuterie Platter

Chef's Selection Of 1/2 Dozen Oysters

Mushroom And Chorizo Flatbread

Smoked Salmon Flatbread

Niman Ranch Burger

American Kobe Pastrami

Bacon Bratwurst

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses
Chef's Seasonal Selection Of Cheeses

Brillat Savarin

Redwood Hills Camellia

Truffle Tremor

Bethmale - Tome De Chevre

Ossau Iraty

Pleasant Ridge Reserve

Barely Buzzed Cheddar

Five Year Vintage Gouda

Great Hill Blue

Epoisses

Roaring 40's

Brillat Savarin

Redwood Hills Camellia

Truffle Tremor

Bethmale - Tome De Chevre

Ossau Iraty

Pleasant Ridge Reserve

Barely Buzzed Cheddar

Five Year Vintage Gouda

Great Hill Blue

Epoisses

Roaring 40's

Healthy Meal suggestions for Viognier

Dinner Menu

Dinner Menu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Cauliflower Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citrus Cured Steelhead Trout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuckerman's Farm Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citrus Medley Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad of Garden Lettuces [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Artichoke Raviolo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Local Quail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Sweetbreads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Slow Cooked Pork Belly [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Boulangere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Gulf Red Snapper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Day Boat Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared New York Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Vegetable Ragout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beignets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creme Caramel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Shortcake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selection Of House Made Ice Creams Or Sorbets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dinner Menu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Cauliflower Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citrus Cured Steelhead Trout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuckerman's Farm Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citrus Medley Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad of Garden Lettuces [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Artichoke Raviolo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Local Quail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Sweetbreads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Slow Cooked Pork Belly [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Boulangere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Gulf Red Snapper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Day Boat Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared New York Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Vegetable Ragout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beignets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snickers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creme Caramel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Shortcake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selection Of House Made Ice Creams Or Sorbets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Lounge Menu

Charcuterie Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef's Selection Of 1/2 Dozen Oysters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom And Chorizo Flatbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Flatbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Niman Ranch Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

American Kobe Pastrami [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon Bratwurst [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charcuterie Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef's Selection Of 1/2 Dozen Oysters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom And Chorizo Flatbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Flatbread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Niman Ranch Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

American Kobe Pastrami [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon Bratwurst [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selection Of Artisanal And Farmstead Cheeses [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chef's Seasonal Selection Of Cheeses

Brillat Savarin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Redwood Hills Camellia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Tremor [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bethmale - Tome De Chevre [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ossau Iraty [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pleasant Ridge Reserve [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barely Buzzed Cheddar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Five Year Vintage Gouda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Great Hill Blue [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Epoisses [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roaring 40's [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brillat Savarin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Redwood Hills Camellia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Tremor [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bethmale - Tome De Chevre [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ossau Iraty [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pleasant Ridge Reserve [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barely Buzzed Cheddar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Five Year Vintage Gouda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Great Hill Blue [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Epoisses [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roaring 40's [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Valeen R.

I've been here a few times, the latest in December for my birthday. The food is excellent and so is the service. The last time I went there I had braised ribs and I swear they were the best I have ever had. So tender that they literally fell off the bone. Dessert was actually two-fold because they brought me a chocolate cake since it was my birthday, and I had also ordered apple crisp. Both were amazing. Hubby had lamb, one of his favorite dishes at any restaurant. He was in heaven. For dessert he had a trio of sorbet and all 3 flavors were so good. If you are looking for excellent fine dining with excellent service and a nice atmosphere, then Viognier is where you should go.
(5)
Donna C.

It's after work on a Friday with no plans for the evening. I was heading back up to San Francisco and didn't want to dine downtown and San Mateo was the perfect medium - fine dining with easy parking. I really wanted some wine and Viognier does wine pairings with your dinner should you choose a 3, 4 or 5 course meal. I had the 3 course meal and that was very satisfying. Service was fair and easy going. I ordered one cocktail drink and really dislike it - too much hard liquor to simple syrup not balanced. Stick with the wine and the food. I would definitely come back for the ambiance, good food, and wine of course.
(3)
Chary P.

Service was great. Food choices and flavors...ok. Were here 15 years ago.. Is no different. We'll try again in 15.
(3)
Ward W.

Meh, my wife and I went here for our wedding anniversary and they just didn't connect with us at all. I get the ideas of the dishes, and the preparation techniques are first rate, but the result was curiously lacking in passion. I wound up wishing they would just leave the amazingly fresh ingredients they started with alone and let them shine. All of their fiddling seemed an intellectual exercise that didn't add much. Service was efficient but distant. At this point, we've done a lot of fine dining and know that you can have great ingredients, great preparation, AND flavors that really pop and work together along with an unpretentious, friendly atmosphere. For these prices, we more or less demand that. Unfortunately, Viognier is only hitting on a few of these cylinders. As Gordon Ramsay says, "What a shame."
(2)
Barry G.

My previous dining experiences here were underwhelming and I have not been here in years.. My wife and I received a gift card for Viognier so we ate there last night.We enjoyed a great bottle of wine and shared starters for our dinner. The salads ,soups,and pizza were excellent. The oysters were very fresh and tasty.The service was very good. Their wine list is amazing. We will return.
(4)
Selah M.

Last week I went to Viognier, and I thought the food was really really good. I had the heirloom tomato salad and the risotto. My boyfriend had the crab cake and pork chop. For dessert we shared the pumpkin cheesecake. All of it was delicious, and I thought the food seemed worth the price. Plus I like how they use local organic ingredients. I do have to agree with the last reviewer on the wine selection. Although there was a large selection, it was all really expensive (although we did get a pinot for $60, if I recall correctly). I will most likely go back, since I did like the food, and it's close to home. But next time I go there, I think I would bring my own bottle and pay the $25 corkage fee.
(4)
John S.

I decided to take my girlfriend, our daughter's (23 & 8) and her BF to Viognier as we had made reservations for her birthday at 7pm which did not work out to say the least!!! We arrived promptly at 7pm and were told by the manager that he did not have a table planned for 5 (Due to the 8 year old) as they plan their table seating at the beginning of the day and he planned only for 4 adults I asked the manager if we could put 2 tables together since there was only 4 other tables dining but he said very matter of fact that he could not do that and that we were welcome to wait in the bar which we did. The manager kept returning periodically to inform us that we would get a table shortly but that never happened and we decided to finally leave under the contestment of the manager who again reassured us that a table would be open shortly. This was at 9:15 when our reservations were at 7pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just to clarify that when we left, there were still only 4 tables eating, a kitchen staff staring blankly out at an empty restaurant and an incompetent manager behaving as if this was his first day on the job and the restaurant police were going to cite him if he made "ANY" attempt at accommodating us! What was truly bothersome and quite annoying is that the manager challenged me on when I made my reservations???? Since I had made them on "Open Table" I explained that I had made them on Wednesday and that today was Friday and that they were made on-line. The manager asked if anyone had called to confirm the reservations from the restaurant which I said they had not. The manager then said that it looked like I had just made the reservations that Friday Morning. At this point we were done and walking out and I very nicely asked the manager what difference would it make if I made the reservations on Wednesday or today as you insinuate you're not accommodating our party regardless!!! We won't be back as this place has taken the big nose dive and does not live up to its reputation of the past of when it was a sought out place to have a magnificent dining experience which is truly sad!
(1)
Wes M.

City snob that I am, when I was invited to a birthday dinner in San Mateo I thought, "sweet, time to slum it in the suburbs". Little did I know this would be the fanciest and most expensive dinner I have yet eaten in the Bay Area. Food did not disappoint, even for the price (I had the lamb dish), and since there were 13 of us here we got to sample from the mouth-watering cheese and duck platters and a host of wines. Also, the servers managed our party very deftly. In fact, I was quite impressed at the confidence and effortless elegance of this restaurant--some of these fancy places in the suburbs always feel like they're trying to prove something.
(4)
David R.

Culinary Vision at Viognier Okay, so I'm a bit biased because I know Scott G., their former Executive Chef. His creations are amazing and I am hoping that who ever took over from him is remaining true to his vision and legacy. Viognier is a wonderful place for a romantic dinner. The tasting menu is as good as anything you're going to have in a 5 star SF resaturant. Yes, it may be a bit out of the way for SF residents, but it is well worth the trek. I plan on going back soon to see if the quality of the cuisine is on par with what Scott used to create.
(5)
F G.

Service was great! They got us a very nice seat next to the fireplace. Food- I got the five course tasting menu. 1)Dungeness Crab appetizer was refreshing. I'm not a fan of crab, probably because I had too much when I was little. The mixture of the celery n the crab meat along side with other veggies was very appetizing! Wake u up for the next course 2) scallops n cuttlefish. Scallops were perfect! The moist locked inside but not all raw. You can taste the sweetness very well from the light seasoning. Cuttlefish was grilled. It's not as amazing as the scallops, but I think the cuttlefish shouldn't be the focus. 3) slow cooked pork belly. Among all out courses, yes I was not there alone, this is the least favorite. Maybe the pork is not really my food in general. Eating individual meat pieces it's very ordinary and on the salty side, however when you eat with the condiment fruit it balance out great! Not too salty nor too sweet. Also they seem to choose the less fatty piece of pork belly. I had much greasier n fatty pork belly in other Asian cuisine. 4) NY rib eye n tortellini. 3 tortellini I got. First two was a bit salty, the last one was just right! The inside was rib eye meat and it was melty in my mouth. I actually like this a lot just hope they can keep the consistent on the saltiness. The steak itself I didn't eat much. Though I like mixing the grits sauce with the meat to give a smooth texture. If u like beef this is pretty good. 5) chocolate tart n citrus salad. The tart was very very rich and smooth but not very sweet. I tasted a little bitterness from the chocolate. Mix with candid citrus pieces and candied citrus peels actually covered the bitterness. I also ate half of an apple pie. I couldn't resist that because of the smell and look! The apple used for the pie was well picked. You can tell from the apple fragrance and the sweetness ! Also there was a scoop of butter squash ice cream on top added a lot of richness to the pie. I want to recommend this pie!! [sorry for the long post]
(4)
cecille p.

Another fine dining to try and suited my taste. What can u asked more in san mateo..I find it so quiet located in the 2nd floor of a fancy grocery store so enclosed n got no view.
(4)
Chris A.

Great food! Crazy wine list - although, you might want to carry in as it's hard to find a bottle that costs less than $80... Great desert!
(5)
Tom P.

We had Christmas Eve dinner here and it was great. The food was great as well as the service. For Christmas Eve they had a special three course menu but this is for special occassions only. We enjoyed ourselves and had a great meal.
(5)
Candice H.

This restaurant is not that good for the price they charge on each entree. I had ordered the ahi tuna and I've gone to other upscale restaurants that make better ahi.
(2)
James G.

Happy 20th Anniversary Lynette! 5 Star All The Way! My wonderful wife, partner, and best friend and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary Dinner here on the 17th of February 2010. What do I value? *Food Quality *Service *Presentation/Ambiance *Wine Viognier excels in all 4 categories and is well deserving of 4 STARS. The EXTRA STAR comes for being a hidden gem in San Mateo (+1 STAR)! No need to venture to far-off lands like San Francisco in search of fine dining opportunities, it's right here in my backyard of San Mateo. What do I love about Viognier? The menu is easy to understand and accessible. Some haute cuisine restaurants make things too complicated for a simpleton diner like myself to understand. We shared the Smoked Salmon Pizzeta with Creme Fraische and Caviar ($16+). This was amazingly good. I would return here just to nosh on this and pair with one of their fantastic selection of white wines. My wife and I both got the 3 course menu ($55/pp) and wine pairing ($30/pp). Lynette had the Roasted Quail, Rib Eye, and Chocolate Mousse. I had the Capalletti pasta with spinach cream, Roast Duck with pureed yams and chard, and a cheese selectioin for my final course. Overall a great evening with great wines and service. Ambiance is a big plus. Viognier is perfect for a quiet romantic dinner such as ours or small business meeting. The space can easily accomodate 30+ for large groups too. Lighting is great and we sat between the gas fireplace and woodburning oven. Full bar available too. Service was excellent. Thanks to Matthew for his incredibly attentive service, description of the various entrees and their preparation, and his knowledge and descriptions of the numerous wines (and cheeses) we ate that evening. I would certainly return! More later...
(5)
Ennie L.

Friends told us there was a new chef, so we decided to give Viognier a try, 3 courses for $55, you can even choose 2 entrees. The restaurant is very spacious, service is really friendly. We ordered: Appetizers: - Roasted beets with goat cheese: I thought it was really good, the beets were really soft & flavorful - Quail salad: farro were ridiculously undercooked, it was actually crunchy. - Foie gras: delicious! Main: - Lobster Risotto: very good, worth a try. - Short Rib: very tender & juicy. - Roasted Duck Breast: cooked perfectly, very tender, alot of flavor. Dessert: - Apple turnover: I love everything apple, so I thought it was excellent. - Lemon Parfait: The sour cream cake w the lemon parfait was a great combination. Overall, the menu was good & reasonably priced. Worth a try.
(4)
Tomas P.

Well worth the price. Good portions and a ton of thought put into every detail. The Rice Krispies Treat was whimsical.
(5)
Justin I.

great service
(4)
Command C.

In the Peninsula one of the best places to have a proper meal and excellent service.
(4)
The T.

A wonderful local find which delivered above and beyond what we could have expected. My wife tells me I should be a foodie as I love my food, the experience and I have an opinion on everything ;) I booked a table for our anniversary for a Thursday evening. I was disappointed that Viognier closed at 9pm for dinner, I wish it had been later, but we booked a table for 6.45pm and we were seated when we arrived. The staff were very knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. The food was amazing and we opted for the wine pairing. They even went as far as to serve an extra dessert on a decorated plate for our anniversary. All I ask is that they improve their seating as whicker chairs are not comfortable at all, and they stay open later.
(5)
Stephen R.

A true dining experience, imaginative menu, great tastes, nice ambience, pleasant room. Yes, it's expensive, so think special occasion, not neighborhood hangout.
(5)
Lynn C.

This restaurant was highly recommended to me by fellow San Mateo-ers. It's a beautiful restaurant right above the high-end grocery store, Draeger's Market, so I thought it was going to be absolutely fantastic. Maybe it was because we had a set menu, but I didn't find the food to be fantastic. I had the butternut squash soup, the slow cooked short rib, and the apple tart for my meal, and everything kind of lacked flavor. The squash soup had a beautiful presentation with the creme fraiche and all, but the bright orange color just didn't make up for the lack of taste. The slow roasted short rib did melt in my mouth, but again, it wasn't flavorful, and the dish didn't come with any sauce... it was just... short rib with some veggies. The dessert was not worth mentioning... Something was just off. I might come back on another night to give it a shot. On the upside, the private dining room was beautiful and quiet, perfect for our event. But a beautiful room is just a beautiful room. Let's work on the food people!
(3)
claudia y.

this place was half full on a wednesday night, the day after the big stock market crash. not bad. we came here for my moms bday on a recommendation from her friends. the host brought us to our table. my mom wanted to sit near the window and he gladly obliged. the waiter was pretty busy. it looked like it was just him and one other. so service was a bit slow. the chef seems to like to add something sweet to every one of his dishes. the magherita pizzeta had the sweetness of the balsamic vinegarette. scallops had raisins. ahi had currants. the dishes were all also pretty busy. with a lot of ingredients. the scallops came with stringed zuchinni i think it was and almonds and raisins and some kind of puree under it. the ahi had kale i think with something that i thought was a cucumber but wasnt, currants. the pork loin had a succotash which itself has a lot of ingredients in it. we also got a clam appetizer that had a great sauce. overall the dishes were all prepared nicely. a bit pricey. dessert was just ok. the almond sorbet that came with the pear grape tart was good. but the tart itself wasnt that spectacular. overall a pretty good meal.
(4)
R L.

We live in San Jose but stopped at Viognier last night after spending a couple of hours admiring the animals at the San Mateo County Fair. I think we've eaten at every high-end restaurant in the San Jose metropolitan area over the last 30 years, and a lot of low-end ones as well, and Viognier beats them all, for food, value and service. Both of us ordered the $55 prix fixe meal, which allowed us to choose any 6 items from the menu. (It is also possible to order a la carte.) There were so many vegetarian choices (which I prefer) that it was difficult to decide what to order. We got the red snapper, an asparagus salad, a beet salad, something involving green peas and bacon, a spring vegetable ragout, and creme caramel for dessert. Everything was delicious and delicate. The portion sizes were perfect. Unfortunately for our wallets, we also had 4 glasses of good wine and a pot of coffee, for which we were charged $10-13 apiece, so the final bill came to $181 before tip. Still that's a lot less than we would have paid at a place like Manresa here in the south Bay. We will be looking for excuses to drive back north to eat at Viognier whenever possible.
(5)
Michelle T.

My family always goes to Viognier to celebrate special occasions. It is a special treat for us! Everything there is delicious. The atmosphere is relaxing. Occasionally you get a glimpse of a cooking class in progress in the teaching kitchen adjacent to the restaurant.
(5)
Sherri C.

Had a business lunch here back in 2000 and it was a wonderful experience. Nicely prepared food, quiet atmosphere. Visited again for a birthday lunch, and then for a couple of intimate dinners. What the chef can do with vegetables and carbs! His talent lies in the salads, soups and rice/pasta dishes, although everything we've ever tried has been quite good. I would dock a half star if I could for the service, though. Customers are not treated in a consistent manner, but I have not been here enough times to be able to determine what the restaurant's (or perhaps the manager's) bias might be. If it wasn't for this concern (and the high prices), I would think of taking special clients to Viognier more often.
(4)
Derek N.

Had dinner at Viognier along with some co-workers during a meeting last week. I haven't ate here in years. I chose the 4-course offering and was pleased with the meal. The restaurant continues to have a nice atmosphere and carefully prepared food. I had the (1) Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, (2) Lobster Risotto, (3) Roasted Pork Loin, and (4) Apple Tarts with Caramel sauce (on the side). Prices are reasonable. Wine selection was nice. I would eat here again.
(4)
MaMa Spatula H.

It's good, but a little pricey without the company's expense account. Tip, instead of ordering the wine... simply head downstairs and purchase a wine of your choosing and pay the $15 corkage fee. Soups are fantastic as are the brunches. My sister-in-law threw me a small brunch bridal shower here and a merry time was had by all. It was truly fabulous and I love my sis-in-law for it! ...on another occasion, my hubs and I went for a late night sundae session. I was a few months pregnant and had to curb my craving somehow... yum! Four spatulas for being the reliably classy place in San Mateo.
(4)
John F.

I ended up eating here 2 times in one week. The first time was a business diner. We did the 3 item sampler and a couple bottles of wine. The $55 a person for the 3 item was fair. At first the dishes seemed a bit small, but by the end of the meal I was quite full. The best part of the meal was the bread basket. They were all delicious. The cranberry bread was the best. I was quietly ferreting away pieces so I could enjoy it throughout my meal. After my first meal I though the food was excellent, but I had two concerns. I feel the ambiance is a little lacking. To be honest, with all the booths in floral patterns it felt like a glorified Flames (For those that have never visited the south bay.... Flames is a Glorified Denny's.... So to be short I could have just said a REALLY Glorified Denny's...) Also the service was a bit slow for dinner. However, I chalked this up to the fact that we were having a lot of conversation and people were eating at different speeds..... Saturday my wife and I along with another friend went back for lunch. My wife had read a review that this place had the best Philly Cheesesteak... as you can tell by most of my reviews I have been in pursuit of this for many years! We sat down and looked at the Menu.... $20 for a Cheesesteak and Fries... if my family back in PA finds out I spent this much on a Cheesesteak... they may just have me committed. My wife and friend had the $21 Burger.....WAIT.... $21 Kobe Burger... At $20 you have to mention the Kobe or it is just ludicrous! So I have to say the Cheesesteak was pretty good. It was not worth anything close to $20, but it was good. If was $12 to $14... I would get it again, but there was nothing amazing about it. While there I was able to try my wife's Kobe Burger, this was much better then the Cheesesteak. Not worth $20, but still very good! So why only 4 stars... the service! Once again I felt the service was lacking. It took an inordinate amount of time to get our drinks and to place our order. Also I took quite a while to get our check. When 3 people go to lunch for Burgers, fries, and a coke... and the bill is $70... I expect the service to be flawless!
(4)
Ruth C.

Decent upscale restaurant with tasty food and cute waiters. (What? They are!!) Their bread basket is yum (I love carbs!). Lobster bisque isn't the best I've had, but their risotto is always good. I had a butternut squash risotto here once and that was very very memorable. I came here today for Mother's Day brunch with my mother and my best friend and her mother. We had watercress salad, salmon, and I had a wild mushroom fettuccine with truffle havings. Everyone enjoyed their dishes. Dessert was pretty blah. The service like most people have said can be quite slow, but it might just be the kitchen since the waiters are very attentive. Oh, and it's nice that you can make reservations with OpenTable for this joint so make sure to look there before you call.
(3)
Katharine A.

I meet my sister here for dinner sometimes. It is located pretty much in the middle of our 2 houses, so it is a convenient and nice place for us to catch up. I ALWAYS get soup here. No matter what kind the chef is serving, it is always incredible....and extra points for good presentation. Even better, it is located inside of Draeger's market....and I love to just browse in this locations upstairs. All sorts of great knickknacks and great cooking supplies.
(4)
Em S.

My husband and I went here to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. I made a reservation for 7:30, but the hostess seemed quite frazzled that we showed up 5 minutes early. She ushered us to the bar and akwardly suggested that we "buy yourseves a drink while you wait." The restaurant was half empty (this was a Sunday evening), so I was a bit annoyed that we weren't seated until 10 minutes later. Upon being seated, we each ordered a glass of wine, guessing that things were moving slowly and we might not get another chance to order as soon as we'd like. When the server came, we chose to order the wine pairing 3- and 4-course options. We were a bit confused that we were brought proseco with our oysters, instead of the chablis that was on the menu, and when we asked about it, the server said, "Oh - I thought I was doing you a favor - most people like the proseco." The server kindly brought us the chablis after we told her we did not want the proseco. The rest of the meal went nicely, until the server tried to take my half-empty wine away from me after the entree was cleared. She seemed confused that I would want to keep it. All-in-all a pleasant experience, but I don't like having to defend my wine from ambitious servers.
(3)
Ed L.

My, this place has come along way from my first, rather disastrous experience. Now, it's a very good, solid restaurant to go to. Our party of three throughly enjoyed our dishes of butternut squash soup arugla salad lobster pasta scallops rib-eye medallion beef tenderloin passion-fruit souffle Thumbs up!
(4)
MICHAEL P.

My 1st date and I were headed to B street and unfortunately they were closed for the holidays. Pulled up google map and hit "food" and she had heard of this restaurant from friends. Why not? So we take a short walk to Viognier and it much fancier than I had planned but they made us feel at ease right away. A lot of attention but they are just super accommodating and let us have our space too. Great!!! So the menu looked very good and I decided on the trout with avocado and shiitake. It was off the charts good. And I am very picky about quality food. My date had a pastrami or something salad and I am not sure if she liked it so much. Could have just been the company =) Anyway, it was a very nice restaurant experience for about $70 (you could spend a lot more with orderves, drinks, desert so pack your wallet if you are going all out). I look forward to going back.
(5)
Jay B.

I dined here last weekend. I was impressed with what Chef Chis Aquino put together, especially the fish / tomato consomee. There was a nice by surprise in the form of some deep fried quinoa in the dish! I was pleased with the wine pairing, and service was just fine.
(5)
Martin C.

The decor and service were good, but I didn't enjoy the food. My guest had a cold pea soup which lacked flavor and mussels that were overcooked. I had an arugla/fennel salad which had an odd combo of flavors that fought each other and the dressing was overpowering. I also had sweetbreads for my entre which did not have a pleasing texture -- it was dense and cheesy and rather than light and delicate in texture as I prefer, but the porcini mushroom sauce was very good. My guest and I also shared a chocolate/raspberry desert which was architecturally interesting, but did not thrill the palate. I would not go here again. Open Table Review: 06/28/08
(2)
Eve K.

Dined here a few years ago for my birthday and had a stellar all around experience: food, wine, service, and ambiance. Now, not so much. It's downgraded to a wanna-be fine dining restaurant with decent food overshadowed by the sub-par service. 2.5 stars. Cost to worth it ratio: 2.6 (food itself was quite reasonable at 3 courses for $55, but wine pairing were a bit much at $36 and the service made it all less worth it for what ended up around 100/person) Highlights: - Menu: since my last visit, they went the new trendy fine dining gary danko style I'm seeing more often of letting you pick 3, 4, or 5 courses. Portions were small, so you could easily go over 3, but I was coming off of some fantastic full size 3 course meals, so I went 3 and was left a bit hungry. It is seasonal which I appreciate but was bummed some items I was looking forward to on the website menu were not offered, as I imagine that was a fall menu. - Wine pairings: love that this was an option as well as the paired wines being noted below each item on the menu. Pours were generous as well. - Striped bass: nicely cooked and delicately seasoned, pieces easily flaked off. Presentation was elegant, as 2 pieces of fish were elevated in a nice bed of leeks in a bit creamy but light sauce, with a few oysters tossed in there for good measure. Midlights: - Atmosphere: large open space, comfortable, not stuffy, but almost cafe-ish with the super bright lighting. - Amuse: piece of seared and spiced ahi topped with a small piece of avocado. Simple and tasted fine as a one large bite of a standard tartar, but not the impressive start I like the have that showcases a chef's talents. More like a mid-placed quickfire challenge contestant on Top Chef. - Foie gras: I should've know when there wasn't the typical supplement to have that maybe it wasn't the best cut. The piece was seared nicely on top, but an overall slimy moosh inside. I did like the sweet purpleish red accompaniment by it but the salad to the left of that was unnecessary and made it more amateurish. Lowlights: - Service: for the quality of what the establishment was trying to be, it was pretty bad. Service should either be transparent or add to the dining experience--not take away from it. The staff seemed so inexperienced it made me nervous for them. I understand mistakes here or there--no big deal--but every course they gave the wine to the wrong person while they were staring awkwardly at the notes on the tray. They were trying so hard, I felt like I was in a restaurant service training school or dress rehearsal or something--nothing was natural or fluid. From the start, we asked for menus and bread and only got the menus--and had to wait another 10-15 minutes for the bread. At the end, our desserts came and then we got asked if we wanted coffee--and when it came we had to wait for it to brew for a few minutes as well as wait for our cups to show up. So disappointing as my prior visit years ago I remember the service and treatment to be top notch and the reason I would return. Disappointed in my return this visit, however it should be noted that my dining companions were happy with their dishes, notably the steak and the shellfish soup. To me, the food was fine, but nothing wowed me and the service tipped over the scales. Even though the company was the best and I'll dine with them for 8+ more years to come, I don't think I'll be returning again.
(3)
David D.

Viognier is on the second floor of Draeger's Market in San Mateo. The space is large, what might be called neo-Draeger's mediterranean. But that allows the tables to be well spaced from each other. First a gripe. As I started my meal my waiter asked whether I would like sparking water or flat. I opted for flat to avoid an unnecessary charge. Imagine my surprise to find that flat was not tap but bottled water at a charge of eight dollars. This seems like a trap as I wasn't asked whether I would like tap, flat, or sparkling water. To the meal itself, I opted for four courses. First, heirloom tomato salad with some burrata cheese. The cheese was nice, the greens on the plate fresh, the heirlooms pretty enough but oddly lacking in distinctive flavor. An OK start to the meal. Next scallops over some asparagus in a cream sauce. The first thing you notice about the plate is that it is composed of three very large scallops. They don't downsize portions here. The scallops were fresh, properly seared, but of no particular taste. The same might also be said for the halibut that followed. An ample serving of somewhat overcooked fish. The sweet corn and fava beans beneath the halibut were the stars of this plate. Finally lamb chops. Two thick, absolutely beautiful chops. Picture perfect. Tender and of very good quality. The meat had all the taste that you usually find in good lamb these days, faint, a memory of what used to be. The chops came with some more fava beans and roasted peppers. On this plate the meat was the star and deservedly so. My impression overall is that with some tweaking the food could be very much better. Certainly the portions are generously sized and composed of quality ingredients. Unfortunately, due to the water charge alluded to above I left with a bad taste in my mouth. On reflection, I think that this was an unfortunate misunderstanding rather than venal behavior on the part of the place. But a restaurant should never want a guest to leave unhappy. And I did.
(2)
Augie R.

We really only had a cheese plate and enjoyed wine, but it was a great experience. The cheese course is quite the experience--a huge selection is rolled to your table so you can select the ones you'd like. We loved the cheeses the waiter recommended, including some fairly unusual ones. As for the wine, they had a fine selection and we found the wine steward informed, helpful, and attentive. We'll definitely return and try an entire meal.
(4)
Tiffany C.

Eh.. wasn't impressed with the wine pairings but the food was decent. We ordered the scallops, gnocchi, pork, quail and Baked Alaska (my husband and I each got several courses). Those are the dishes I remember anyways and they were good. The dessert was actually the highlight. It was a nice date night, but if you're looking for something really special my husband says save your money and go to Chez TJ
(3)
Ed P.

Came here for brunch with a group of 5 and we were all fairly disappointed with the experience we had especially after reading everyone's reviews. It took more than 40 minutes for them to get our meals to us (after waiting 15 min to order) and the explanation was that they were 'trying out a new menu' (?) Um, sorry, but try out a new menu on your time not mine it's just unprofessional to do that. I sampled a bit of what everyone ordered: the brunch combo, seafood omelet, soupa (a French concoction I think), and the bacon omelet. I thought the omelet's were bland and devoid of any flavor. The rest of what we had was forgettable. Doubt I'll ever be back.
(1)
Dan M.

OCCASION I think it's best to have one here, and for a non "foodie." Like my Mom. We went here for her birthday and she loved it. Some free "poopy" champagne, acknowledgment (thankfully not singing) by the staff. FOOD Foodies beware... it's good, not great. Best part for me was the blue cheese bread pudding and the home made ice creams and sorbets. Those were very tasty... but still not tops for what they were. My main dish was the rib eye. What a sorry cut of meat... but it's okay for a $30 cut. I know... why did I order that? Nothing else looked so hot. I think the best dish at the table was the quail. Not stellar, just the best at the table. Soups are good and decent portions (though super over priced). The cheese boards looked good but didn't try. WINE Lets see... how about taking some very basic wine and marking up the cost three times more than the average mark up? Oh, then we will make sure we serve about 1/2 a proper portion... Yeah...that's the ticket! It's like buying soda at the ball game. PARKING Free parking underground! Nice! ATMO Dame... this place must be empty feeling most of the time. I think my grandpa would have called this place "fancy." STAFF Our server was nice. The rest seemed like they just got forced a suppository but were trying to be pleasant regardless. COST They charge too much for the food they deliver. They don't charge enough to deliver better food. They really have themselves in a bind. I predict a new business here in 3 years at the latest.
(3)
RT C.

So I went to Viognier for the first time yesterday as it was my birthday. It was a special treat from my wife. You see I'm a sous vide aficionado and she scoured the peninsula to find a restaurant and chef that did sous vide. It was with great expectation and anticipation that we entered the restaurant. The decor was fine, we were early (5:30) so we sat at the bar. Interestingly, we didn't get addressed immediately even though we were the only ones there. After a nice drink, we were taken to our table which was nice, right in front of a fireplace. The head waiter even brought out the sous chef to visit since my wife had prepped them regarding my home chef endeavors. We ordered from the menu and got the wine pairing as well. Our appetizers were great. I had the tuna tartar and my wife had the salad. Well presented and well executed. The wine pairing was excellent as well. The second course was sweetbread for me and foie gras for my wife. The foie gras was very good and so was the sweetbread. So far so good! The main course came next. I had the duck, which unfortunately wasn't sous vide! Not sure why. The chef said he just hadn't done duck sous vide?? Duck is incredible and duck sous vide is very incredible! I wanted duck so I ordered the duck. When it came, it was cooked nicely for a pan cooked duck. Not as consistent in doneness as sous vide, but certainly acceptable. What was a surprise was that it was EXTREMELY salty. I've had duck and cooked duck many many times and never has it been this salty. It was disappointing. I ate it, but I don't think I would have ordered it again. My wife ordered steel head trout and that was supposedly sous vide. When it came, it looked, smelled and tasted like salmon. Of course steel head can look, smell and taste like salmon, but my wife was surprised. I should also note that they brought us some sous vide pork belly (complimentary and a complete surprise) which was very very good! Again, sous vide can create such an incredibly wonderful texture in foods. So all in all, I gave the visit 3 stars. I would have given it 4 stars on the appetizer and second course. If I had to rate the duck itself, it would have gotten only 2 stars (it was cooked). The real bottom line is "Would I go back?" and unfortunately, the answer is "no".
(3)
Johnny C.

This place was good, but not quite good enough for me to want to drive all the way to San Mateo on a regular basis. I opted for the three course tasting menu. (FYI Part One: If you're in the mood for a lighter meal (even though it's not noted on the menu), I was told you can opt to order items a la carte.) (FYI Part Two: The portions for each course are pretty decently sized. If you pace yourself the stretchy waist pants can stay at home. They aren't like Cheesecake Factory large, but they're also aren't one bite snacks. As Goldilocks would say, "They're juuuust right.") -Amuse Bouch: Crostini topped with a soft cheese and a strand (or two) of roasted red pepper. Just ok. -The Bread Basket: Soft croissant roll, Cranberry roll, Cheese Roll, every possible roll you could imagine AND MORE! This part of the meal was delumptious. + The room temperature butter = heaven. -First Course: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Arugula and Ricotta Cheese, drizzled with EVOO. The tomatoes were so sweet. A good seasonal offering and a refreshing way to start off my meal. -Second Course: Lobster with Fresh Pasta. Also pretty good. The most impressive part of this dish was the perfectly cooked lobster - not an easy feat. -Third Course: (I was in a savory mood so dessert was skipped.) Pork Tenderloin on a bed of Hominy Grits. While the pork (like the lobster) was perfectly cooked, the grits were not. I know the protein should be the focus, but I place equal balance on both the protein and the carb combination. I'm also a fan of al dente, but these grits were just plain crunchy and under cooked. So disappointing! -French Pressed Coffee was a nice end to the meal, warm and fuzzy. -Complimentary Dessert: French Macarons in two flavors, Raspberry and Hazelnut. These were like pillows of air with a slight eggshell thin crunch filled with the respective cream flavors. It almost made up for my pork :) Overall, the meal was an ok one. The highs and lows balance my overall rating to three stars. There's a classroom for cooking school if you are feeling academic and if you need groceries the restaurant is also connected to a really nice grocery store. Side observation, there were a handful of empty Far Niente bottles placed around the restaurant for decoration. Not quite sure what to make of that one. For a restaurant titled Viognier, why do they feature bottles of really expensive Cabs?
(3)
V J.

Though it's a bit pricey, the food is exquisite. I've only been here for lunch years ago and for many Thanksgivings and Christmases with the fam. The lobster bisque and pumpkin bisque are my favs. You have to at least try it once!
(5)
Jackie D.

Sublime. We went there a few months ago for our anniversary and I forgot to review it so I'm tad murky on all the culinary details. Best dish was a pork something with chorizo over hominy...omg. A salad with figs? Oh yes butternut squash soup... Anyway it was all divine. They doted on us knowing it was our anniversary dinner. Passion fruit souffle!!!
(5)
Andrew O.

This review is written with the price point in mind, so bear that in mind when reading this... One good thing up-front, they accommodated us with our one-year old daughter without a problem and received zero attitude from the staff. While Viognier is not kid friendly, we were ok on this particular occasion. So kudos to them on that one... I went for the tasting menu with the wine pairing. First course was butternut squash soup paired with a beautiful and unique Riesling - it was quite nice! Second course was scalops paired with an unfiltered California chard. Either was fine by itself, but the pairing was a big miss for me. The waiter asked me my thoughts and I mentioned it and the sommelier came and provided other options. The alternative they brought (another Riesling) didn't go much better, but the effort was very much appreciated. Third course was pork belly paired with a lovely Pinot. This course was terrific, both together and paired... Course #4 was venison paired with a lighter California Cabernet. Again, either alone or paired, this was quite good. All together, the food was cooked perfectly and the wine pairings were mostly solid (except for the scalop and chard pairing). However, for this price point (~120) I would begin to expect some major fireworks, but these were unfortunately missing for me. I expect that they are trying to get into that Michelin range and on this front I have mixed feelings (better value than both The Plumed Horse and Baume considering price point, but still a looong way off from other serious restaurants like Manresa). Overall a very enjoyable dining experience and look forward to returning.
(4)
Roger N.

This is where you go on "date night" or if you want to get written into somebody's will. Really awesome food. Yeah, it's pricy but "brace for impact" and you will have a great time. IMHO: Branch out and try new things. I have never been disappointed.
(5)
alvaro v.

Good place to eat for a business dinner Wish they served lunch again
(4)
Mami T.

Head to the city, if you could, for a splurge dinner. Even after significant substitutions in my tasting menu, food was way too rich for me, leaving 2/3 of my food on plate. There was no dish that I said "wow". Bottled wines are expensive here...which made wine pairing a wise option for us. One extra star for a nice sommelier.
(3)
Marco C.

The last time I ate here was more than 10 years ago, while Danko still had something to do with this establishment. Over the years, I stopped by often to check out the menus, and they seemed to be, well, glorified country club cuisine. It was one of those Monday nights that all the good restaurants in the area were closed, so fate brought us to Viognier again, more than 10 years later. Happily, the menu looked promising, so the wife and I decided to give it a shot. As we were both very casually attired and without a reservation, the maitre d' looked at us suspiciously and made us wait at the host stand to get us seated at a half empty dining room. I don't blame him, we looked like a couple of starving college students out on a date in a fancy place to share a pizza, but still... Service was a bit slow, but we were not in a hurry. We decided to do the 3 course prix fixe for $55 a pop. This was when the evening took a positive turn. First course: The wife had corn soup with roasted corn, shrooms and huitlacoche cream. The soup was presented and poured table-side; the flavor was good but the texture of the soup was a little too thin, and the sweetness of the corn did not really come through. If I had to be overly critical, the huitlacoche cream was lost somewhere. It was, we believe, over powered by the shrooms, which were pleasant enough without the help of huitlacoche. I, on the other hand, had foie brulee with brioche pain perdue and compressed stone fruit. It was a very clever way to using an expansive ingredient subtly. By pureeing foie gras with spices, eggs and cream and baking it like a custard, the chef was able to stretch a lobe of foie gras a lot further than serving it seared or into a terrine. The coating of burnt sugar on the brulee also added a nice flavor and textural contrast to the rich custard. The brioche French toast was lightly flavored with (cinnamon and nutmeg??), and it provided a nice vehicle to dip into and mop up the custard. The compressed stone fruit acted as a nice palate cleaner to an otherwise very rich dish. Entree The wife had olive oil poached walu with quinoa, beans and tomato consomme. It was a very cleverly designed dish. The fish itself was rich, luscious was was cooked perfectly sous vide. The problem with cooking fish sous vide was chefs tend to way under cook fish, and sometimes it felt like we could be eating lukewarm sashimi. Not in this case, and with such a rich fish, the quinoa provided texture , and the tomato water provided acidity and lightness. The beans (was it yellow wax and haricots verts?) and pear tomato (although a bit sad looking) acted again as a nice vegetable counterbalance to a super rich fish. I had roasted pork loin with smoked pork belly that came with squash, Brussels sprouts and capers. It was a very heavy dish, in fact, I thought the portion was too big for its own good, but very tasty otherwise. Pork loin was nice cooked, again, en sous vide, and the belly was smoky, tender and crispy. The superstar of this dish, however, were the capers. This dish would have been over the top rich without the acidic sharpness of the capers. The only downfall of this dish was the squash. It was also cooked, I believe, sous vide, but it was so undercooked that the natural sugar of the squash was not able to come out through caramelization say from roasting the squash in the oven. The blend and al dente squash almost proved a point that some things were just better cooking the old fashion way (please correct me if I was wrong about the cooking method of the squash). Dessert The wife opted for the raspberry souffle with white chocolate sauce. The flavor was excellet, and chocolate sauce was on point, and when digging into the center of the souffle, the aroma of raspberry filled the air with excitment. However, the souffle was also a touch underdone that everything turned soggy after couple bites. I choosed lemon panna cotta that came with lemon curd and some more compressed fruit. At this point, because of the super rich and large pork entree, I was hurting, but I still managed to finished the panna cotta. It was also excellent, the panna cotta had a great texture, and the fruit, curd, and tuile provided nice accents to the dish. Oh I have to mention the coffe was served in a French press; at $7.50 it was well worth it. But speaking of over priced, I ordered the 2008 Martinelli Pinot Noir by the glass, and I thought the mark up was a little steep giving each bottle is around $40 retail, and they charged $13 (or $18) by the glass. Overall it was a good dining experience, and if the restaurant fine tunes some detail, I am sure 1 Michelin star is not too far away!
(4)
Geoff D.

I can't decide if the location of this upscale restaurant inside a major supermarket is euro-department-store-chic or just weird. I just had dinner at Viognier for the 2nd time and quite enjoyed food both times. Tonight my sesame-crusted ahi and apple tartlettes were excellent. Overall I come away thinking this is a 3.5 star experience: the food is actually quite good, but between the somewhat predictable menu and only so-so ambiance, it's only middle of the pack among high-end Peninsula restaurants.
(4)
Julie G.

The place is hit or miss. Some dishes are fabulous (qual salad), others are not - sea bass dinner (dry). Also had the salmon dinner one time and that was prepared nicely. Somewhat on the expensive side so be prepared.
(4)
Travis D.

Sitting tucked away above Draegers in San Mateo, i had no idea this place even existed until i went there with my GF's family. Supposedly, they have a seasonal tasting menu in the summer that is really good, but they had just ended it for the year when we went there. I started with the heirloom tomato salad, which was really incredible. It seems like such a simple dish: tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, some fresh basil, salt, pepper, oil, and vinegar, but they knocked this one out of the park. The balsamic vinegar they used was just incredible. All of the ingredients were incredible, thats what made the dish so good, but the vinegar really stood out. For an entre i had the crunchy veal sweet breads with mushrooms and corn pudding in some sort of reduction sauce. It was just a complete, perfectly executed dish that worked. The sweetbreads had a crunchy exterior (that dare i say slightly reminded me the exterior of the chicken mcnuggets i loved so much as a kid), but were soft and delicious on the inside, indicating perfect cleaning. It sat on top of a dollop of slightly sweet corn pudding that had the texture of grits, and some chantrelle (sp?) mushrooms that were perfectly cooked. The whole thing was covered in sauce that was rich, earthy, and slightly sweet. It really brought everything together. One of those dishes where you want to make sure every bite has parts of every component. My girlfriend had the field green salad, which was good, but a little pedestrian and the quail, which was great. Another person at the table got the duck, which was served with cherries and just as good as my sweetbreads. I really liked that the chef wasn't afraid to flirt with some sweet flavors when inclined. My only two complaints are pretty minor. The first is that the place was eerily uncrowded. Like, for the two hours we spent there, there were only 2 or 3 other tables occupied. I get the impression that they do much better business in the spring and summer. Also, the waiter insisted on pouring our wine. This trend really bugs me, but i was out with the girlfriend's family and didn't feel comfortable asking the guy to stop like i do with my family or when its just the two of us. It just seems like the restaurant is trying to get you to drink your wine as quickly as possible so that you can order another bottle, and i don't appreciate that. The only place i have seen it work well in Manresa. Other than that, pleas stop. Dinner was great though, i thoroughly enjoyed myself. Finding out about a new (to me) place that i previously didn't even know existed was just icing on the cake.
(5)
Michael F.

I'm only going on my single experience here, so I can't necessarily say I'm an expert.. but I was pretty disappointed. We had our work holiday party last year at viognier, and I was excited to try the restaurant. After appropriate pre-medication (a couple of delirium tremens beers) to make me a little more enthusiastic about hanging with the work folks, we found our way through the market in to the restaurant. Yeah, I know, it's inside/upstairs from a market... interesting setup. We had a few choices on the menu, which might have limited us from choosing that "one dish", which would have blown me away... but of all the things we had, everything was just okay, nothing exciting. I guess, the food was all just kind of bland... I expected so much more from this place. Keep in mind... I didn't even have to plop down my credit card at the end of this dinner... I would have been semi-pissed if I had to pay for it myself. I think there's too many other really good restaurants in downtown san mateo to try before this place....
(3)
Zee X.

I had the pleasure of dining at Viognier recently. The wine list is impressive. Fellow juice lovers, you will enjoy. They have a monthly wine dinner that looks very interesting. I may have to go back for that. They also have a tasting menu that looked beyond delicious. The service was a solid A+. The atmosphere is a bit sedate and low key, so I'd recommend it for romantic or serious nights, not for festive occasions (per se). But that could have just been the Sunday night vibe. Here's what I had: Organic baby field greens with farmhouse cheddar dressing. (A very yummy functional salad, but nothing to die for.) Braised beef short rib, with roasted garlic polenta, honey glazed carrots and pearl onions, in a balsamic-red wine sauce. (The meat was melt-in-your-mouth-amazing. We shared this and there definitely wasn't enough to go around. It was the hit of the night.) Vegetarian Butternut Squash Risotto with chanterelle Mushrooms, toasted pine nuts, sage, and aged balsamic-reduction. (So well done but still kinda single-noted in that risotto way.) The Viognier Sundae, with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice creams, a trio of sauces (caramel, chocolate, and berry), whipped cream, (real) brandied cherries, and caramelized nuts. (This was probably the best sundae I've had in years. The table was abuzz with the elegant presentation and the excellent simple-but-superb perfection.) Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Russian River, California 2005. Smooth, spicey, and full of character. Go to this restaurant. That's all I have to say.
(5)
Winnie B.

I really should know better than to jump on the first thing the waiter recommends, but sometimes I really can't decide on my own. This is how I ended up with a crab pasta as opposed to the salmon pizzetta, which I think I would have enjoyed much more. The crab pasta was definitely good, but much too oily and heavy for my taste. The main course was halibut (I didn't go for the recommended beef), and I was very happy that I stuck with my gut this time. The fish was just a little seared, giving it a light flavorful crust, and the mushroom sauce and asparagus were delicious and went nicely with the dish. And finally, the desserts were surprisingly good. They were all pretty elaborately arranged and well thought-out. I had something that involved lemon custard, sorbet, and meringue that had a nice balance of sweet, sour, and a little bit of a crunch. Service was inexplicably slow (and absent most of the time), and although they said they couldn't give us a reservation for 7:30, we arrived early for our 7:45 reservation and found the restaurant mostly empty. Strange.
(4)
James W.

Great food, very fresh and very well prepared. The fish was perfectly prepared (tough to do!), they have a very unusual champagne selection (champagne often makes a great pairing with fish, in lieu of still white wine). They tolerated our little two-year-old just fine during dinner and she loved watching the cooking class going on in a separate room next to the restaurant. Of course, prices are high, about $250 for 2, with wine.
(4)
Sean M.

I'll just post the letter I wrote to the GM this morning... To whom it may concern, Approximately two months ago, while driving north with my girlfriend from San Mateo to San Francisco, I had an epiphany. Having waited until the last second to make Valentine's Day reservations for the last few years, it occurred to me that now was just as good a time as any to make them. The first restaurant that came to mind was Viognier. My girlfriend has been coming to your restaurant since she was nine years old - celebrating birthdays and other important occasions at your restaurant. She holds your restaurant in high regard and I knew she would love the idea of dining there for V-day. Without delay, I pulled your number and made what I believe to be your first reservation for this year's Valentine's Day. I would like to take this time to congratulate you for ruining that day. I have spent my whole, albeit short, life around restaurants. My mother was a restaurant owner and chef. From serving bread and water as a busboy to prepping various stations and working the line, I have had stints in both the front and back of the house. I have seen what happens to kitchens when orders start coming out late and watched in amazement as time and time again, waiters, managers and cooks would come together to get the job done, and keep customers happy. This has given me a deep appreciation and understanding of the restaurant world. Perhaps this was why I was shocked by what took place at your restaurant last night... After arriving promptly at 7:30pm, your host seated us comfortably and handed us menus. Given how long we had been looking forward to this meal, we had already surveyed your menu online and were ready to order both our food and wine. Your waiter took our order and the meal was off to a strong start. Your twist on the kir royale was enjoyable. I was pleased with the half bottle of Sancerre we ordered as well as the lobster bisque and mushroom soup. As we were enjoying these dishes, another couple was seated across from us and began making their order. I distinctly remember them asking questions about the cream content of the lobster bisque as I took spoonful after spoonful of that same dish. Once finished, our plates were cleared and we began anticipating the next course: seared scallops for me and the foie gras for my girlfriend. And so we waited....and waited...and waited...we watched the nearby couple receive their soup...eat their soup...and have their plates cleared and still, no 2nd course. Meanwhile, my last glass of Sancerre was warming up as I waited to enjoy it with what expected to be a delicious scallop. Unfortunately, things didn't turn out as I expected. For over twenty minutes we waited, only to see this same couple receive their second course BEFORE us - a cardinal sin in any restaurant, more so when offering a fixed menu. Once we finally received our next course I asked to speak to one of the managers (which may very well be the person reading this right now). I conveyed to him my displeasure with the situation - making it clear that had I not had a credit card on file and feared I would be charged for the entirety of the meal - I would have walked out. Plain and simple. Now, I may not seem like a the most distinguished restaurant goer. I am only twenty five and perhaps this gave your manager the impetus to blow me off. I wasn't looking for a handout. Though I think some concession would have been appropriate - perhaps an amuse or a cocktail, the LEAST I expected was an apology and an explanation. But no, this was not the case. Your manager curtly replied that, if I so desired, I could leave, paying only for the wine and aperitif. He told me he did not want me to feel obligated to stay. Again...no apology, no explanation. I was blown away. Never in my life had I heard such a response. Whether in a top-notch establishment like the French Laundry or a run of the mill bistro in France, I have NEVER been so insulted. Given my experience with restaurants, I understand that sometimes things don't go perfectly. Waiting for the food was not enjoyable in the least but your manager's response was appalling. To add insult to injury, I'd like to point out that while we were patiently waiting for our second course, your executive chef was busy schmoozing with acquaintances at another near by table, further calling into questions just how far behind your kitchen was if he was free to room the floor. All in all, the night was ruined. After regaining my composure, I chose to take your manager up on his offer and leave. What was supposed to be an enchanting, romantic evening out to one of our favorite restaurants turned into a complete utter disaster. Your manager's behavior was simply unacceptable. You've lost a customer for life.
(1)
Al G.

It's funny to me that people rate a restaurant based on a one time lunch or dinner. How about rating it after dining there for both? Frankly I would not take the recommendation of people that dine out only on special occasions. It's like listening to rookie recommendations especially when it comes to nicer establishments. Bottom line, Viognier is very good to great for lunch, and much less expensive than their dinners, having dined here for lunch 3 times and dinner twice. Keep in mind, that this restaurant does use fresh local ingredients. Because the lunch crowd is not packed on most days, the service is actually exceptional. Dinner is pricey and may not be worth the hype. Since this restaurant is in San Mateo, there is plenty of parking.
(4)
Matthew S.

Ate at Viognier last night. The food and wine were excellent, but the place was fairly dead and the service had some problems. First the food. You can choose a 3-, 4, or 5-course meal with 4-5 options for each course. I went with three courses (not including dessert), and also selected the wine pairing. The corn soup was rich and delicious (with champagne). Herb/parmesan gnocchi (with Chardonay/Viognier blend). Followed by grilled trout (with pinot). All three dishes were fantastic and the somalier matched the wines excellently (he came over to discuss our preferences -- new world vs. old. Was a light red OK with us for the trout, etc.) As for being dead, there were only 4 or 5 tables filled on Saturday night at 7pm. I hope by writing this review more people will come (rather than scaring even more people away!) Service was courteous, but with several glaring mistakes for an otherwise excellent restaurant. After discussing which options would work best for my gluten-free wife and settling on the halibut without the couscous, the fish arrived over a bed of couscous and had to be redone. Later they offered us a free dessert, but I was full and asked for a cappuccino instead. The coffee was excellent, but it appeared on the bill, which I hadn't expected. And they also brought us the bill from another table at first, which added to the confusion over what we were being charged for. Despite the gaffs, the food was delicious (one of the best on the Peninsula) and the tables for two in front of the fireplace are intimate. It's definitely worth trying! P.S. After writing this review I got a nice follow-up call from Viognier apologizing for the service and saying they had discussed the issues with the staff. I appreciate this, since I always hope that Yelp reviews can help restaurants improve!
(4)
Durif M.

This is probably one of the finest restaurants in downtown San Mateo. A nice place for a fine dinner, great for special occasions. This place is pricey. I'm not sure if the food here is worth the extra price, but if you're looking for a fine restaurant for a special occasion, this place should be on the top of your list.
(3)
Richard L.

Amazing restaurant. The service was excellent, the food was knock-your-socks-off good, and the wine list is solid. This is basically a top-notch fine dining type of experience at a slightly cheaper price and in a slightly more casual environment. This may be one of the best restaurants on the Peninsula.
(5)
Rio Y.

I've organized a large group Christmas Eve dinner here and had lunch here on several occasions. Each experience has been positive in terms of service and food...very dependable fare with plenty of parking to boot. What I want to write about is that this is one of those restaurants that actually keeps track of important notes regarding clientele. I was having lunch with my cousins today and the server asks, "Does someone here have a dairy allergy?" Kind of random...until my cousin later recalls her last visit here. She had asked the server if there was any cream in a dish because she's lactose intolerant. They actually made note of that. So when she made reservations again with her OpenTable account, the note popped up regarding her lactose intolerance. There was cheese in the risotto she ordered and they wanted to be sure she was aware of that. That's pretty cool :)
(4)
Winnie C.

Decor: Nice, modern, comfy seats,dimly lit. Food: Good. Not great ... just good. Service: A bit snobby. They'll serve you, and serve you well ... but there's that hint of an attitude. Price: Overprice for what they are and what they have to offer. No matter how nice it is ... it's still just a restaurant on top of a grocery store.
(3)
Lisa C.

i have been to Viognier a few times over the years and love it every time. the decor is nice and classy and the service is great. to top it off, u get to shop at Draeger's while waiting for your party to arrive. they used to have an a la carte menu, but they seem to only offer tasting menus now. Hits: * Grilled Quail - tasty, juicy and tender Good: * Foie Gras Torchon Brulee - it is hard to go wrong with Foie Gras. i like the sweet sauce * Roasted Duck Breast - the duck breast was cooked just right medium rare, but the swiss chard was a bit too salty * Pacific King Salmon - cooked just right, but a bit lacking in salmon taste as a lot of salmon are these days So-so: * Granny Smith Apple Tart - sadly, this is the best dessert among the three we tried and it was nothing special * Ricotta Cavatelli - nothing special Misses: * Slow Braised Beef Short Rib - dry * Valhrona Chocolate Dome - very dense and gives me no desire to have more than one bite * Apricot Souffle - never had souffles that taste this bad p.s. they offer cooking classes here
(5)
Dorothy L.

After a long day hiking (The Dish - Palo Alto) and working, plus being shaken up by high winds and threatened by storm clouds, and lots of driving, we arrived at Viognier tired. The occasion was an alumni gathering for my high school (The Cambridge School of Weston) and we planned to just pop in, say "hi", chat for a couple minutes, then head back to Marin. But, something about the atmosphere relaxed us and made us want to stay. Lighting is subtle, music is soft, and the service is phenomenal. Really, I don't say that often, but the staff is very, very professional. Appetizers, entree's, and dessert were all simple, fresh, nicely presented, and tasty. There's also a cooking school, market, and bookstore in this space and all looked worth checking out. If we find ourselves back in San Mateo, we'll visit again.
(4)
Dave F.

Delicious! Out for a leisurely dinner with my GF, we ate at the bar, on an empty monday night... We had essentially the undivided attention of the bartender, Ghislaine. Our intention was to hit the bar for a drink, but we ended up having a couple of glasses of wine, two appetizers and sharing a main. Ghislaine even talked us into a dessert, made by the oh-so-fantastic pastry chef, May (sp?). TRY THE CLAMS! CLAMS CLAMS CLAMS! Who could resist a saffron-based paprika vinaigrette done with chorizo, shallots, garlic and cherry tomatoes? SOOOOO GOOD. Honestly, the highlight of my meal. We also had the sweetbreads, which were fantastic, and an heirloom tomato salad. Heirloom tomatoes done with a bocconcini and fresh sliced basil, with a balsalmic vinaigrette - not stand out, but yummy enough... We were also talked into a bread pudding, which was so unlike any other bread pudding I've ever had. It was absolutely delicious. In my opinion, for a restaurant named after a grape varietal, the wines by the glass menu is a little weak, but overall was an excellent experience.
(4)
Charmaine L.

if i didn't know any better, i'd thought that the chefs of viognier were rookie line cooks. the presentation was okay, but the food had no taste or anything deserving of association to "gourmet cuisine". however, the service is excellent. soups are creatively poured simultaneously for every person on the table from a small pitcher into a low bowl with a scoop of fresh flavored cream. this is one of those she-she, bougie, fancy smanshy restaurants that poses to be great but delivers far less. viognier has a culinary classroom next to the dining room where people can sign up for culinary lessons. sorry to say, but i wouldn't take cooking lessons from them. customer service classes, perhaps. i think the restaurant poses a certain uniqueness as it sits on top of draeger's market. i like strolling through a specialty foods market before and after i eat, it keeps the inspiration flowing...especially with such fresh and beautiful ingredients that draeger's carries. ok so back to the restaurant viognier...tasteless food, great service.
(3)
Charles C.

BEST. DUCK. EVAR. i'm willing to drive an hour from work to come here for an appetizer. that's how good the duck confit salad is. then there's the duck board. then there's everything else. in that order. because there's really nothing like having the most awesomest perfect appetizer before having a not-quite-as-awesome-but-still-awesomer-than-most entree. and dessert. the prices are staggering. for fuck's sake, you're eating in a restaurant connected to a supermarket, albeit one that smells of martha stewart the moment you walk in. you even have to go into the store just to go to the bathroom, behind the kid's puzzles section. it's bizarre. but, seeing as how i didn't have to pay for anything, or drive, i was under no duress. i was perfectly comfortable because the median age of the crowd there was, oh, about 72, which meant i could completely ignore them. and concentrate on my food. especially the duck. holy shit, the duck...
(5)
Tom S.

We went here for Valentine's Day -- it was an enjoyable meal, but nothing above ordinary, which made it disappointing given the prices. Maybe we're tainted by the recent meals we had at Manresa and Fleur de Lys, which were only a bit more expensive and *way* better food. The lobster bisque and a mushroom soup were about average. The foie gras was awful; the scallop appetizer and poached lobster main course were a little above average. The rack of lamb was pretty tasty and the reason they're getting 2 stars instead of 1. The dessert were (not to over use the word) about average. The service was rushed, inattentive, and forgetful. Of course, it was Valentine's Day, so we made a determined effort to make the best of it in spite of the mediocre food and poor service.
(2)
Mary K.

3.5 stars. We went for Brunch and ordered the three course fixed price menu. Service is extremely professional and the room is quite beautiful. Started with gazpacho which was superb and beautifully served. My Vegetarian Crepe entree did leave something to be desired. Dish was rather greasy and avocado mousse did not work well. Seafood omlette was deconstructed and contained excellent sea scallops and prawns. Chocolate hazelnut crepe dessert was very rich and very flavorful. Definitely a lot to eat at brunch but so tasty. Would recommend this oasis in San Mateo based on decor and service. Food was slighly inconsistent, some very good, some not as wonderful. I liked them well enough to consider giving them a second chance. We'll be back.
(4)
Terra T.

I'm going to go against the grain and say I just didn't like this place. Mostly, I know, that it's just not my cup of tea. I felt the prices were too high, the atmosphere a little too quiet/stuffy, and the menu too limiting. Not only that my date asked me what something was on the menu and when I expressed confusion we asked the waiter who was similarly uninformed. I mean, I don't blame him, but here's the thing, I don't really like menus where I need a translator. Ha, you caught me, I'm not 'upscale' enough for this restaurant. My date really wanted to try the truffles, but was put off by the price. Which was pretty high. All in all, I find that I'm getting sick of chain restaurants too, but when I think of restaurants that I would like to frequent they're usually pretty packed. The table are too close together, there are women wearing shiny shirts, dangling earings, and waving manicured hands around while clutching wine glasses. If I laugh or my date tells a slightly colored joke and I lean in to hear it, it's not a big deal. Here? I felt like I could barely speak. It was so quiet everyone would overhear. Plus the crowd seemed substantially older than us. And also, I'm not especially impressed of having to walk through a grocery store after having seen the amount of the bill. I won't be going back.
(2)
Nancy M.

Our experience at Viognier was mediocre, at best. Started with the house charcuterie plate. For $25 (the "medium" size), we got tiny portions of a few different kinds of sausage, etc. I had the ahi & DH had the short rib. They were okay. The service was inattentive - we had to fill our own wine glasses. I don't expect to have to do that for a $200 dinner for two. My husband and I both wished we'd gone some place else - just about anything else would have left us much happier and less price-gouged.
(1)
Zia M.

Over priced and overrated. The atmosphere is nice and cozy looking but the restaurant itself was cold and stuffy. When it's cold outside, I expect to come in and feel a comfy blast of warmth. The waiter seemed to have an attitude the moment we sat down. He interrupted our conversations and didn't crack a smile during our entire meal. Zero personality but I have to give him credit for getting all of our orders correct and when he noticed one of our diners was missing in action, he took his uneaten plate and brought it back to the kitchen to be kept warm. That is deserving of one star. This was the third year we had our company holiday luncheon here. We all started with soup, french onion wasn't as good as last year but I was told the spicey pumpkin was very good. I had the warm scallops and prawn salad (2 scallops, 2 prawns) with spinach, pine nuts, fuji apple slivers and bacon with a champagne dressing. It was WAAAY too sweet. I kept reaching over to my friend's plate for his extra salty fries in an attempt to cut the sweetness. There was a pecan tart that got passed around for dessert. I should have made a meal out of that and called it a day. That was excellent. But not enough to bring us back. We'll be looking for a new restaurant for our holiday party next year.
(2)
Lauren V.

this place is not that good. and i'm not even willing to pretend it's "good for san mateo" because the truth is San Mateo has a lot of really nice and top notch restaurants(hello sm is not south central,anything that borders hillsborough is bound to have some upscaleness to it). Ive had pretty decent meals here ,but nothing that I left being like DAMN. We had our office holiday party here recently because our usual choice chantilly in redwood city was closed this day. Nothing was spectacular. my kobe beef tri tip was AIGHT, but paired with this truffle mac and cheese that i found odd. i actually enjoyed my salad better than my entree . nobody at the table was like YOU HAVE TO TRY MY DISH.that to me marks a subpar meal. i had lunch earlier in the day at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, and let me just tell you that was awesome.
(2)
Carla T.

Carla's Take: I too give it 4 1/2 stars. The food was delicious and the service was great. Our waiter was very knowledgable about wine and the proper food pairings to go with. He made some wonderful recommendations. We tried the wine flight and that was superb as well. My favorite dish was the Walnut crusted Ahi Tuna.
(4)
Mare C.

Should've ordered the duck board as my main entree. Odd how it's located above Draegers. Was it me or was the elevator hard to find? 3.5 stars
(3)
Rachel C.

I've been here about 3-4 times already. Very good food, but some dishes can be salty. I've had their duck confit and smoked salmon pizzettas, and their Black Pepper Crusted Ahi Tuna and Seared Foie Gras with Napa Cabbage, Blood Orange, and Pinot Noir-Beet Sauce. YUM! The service is always excellent. Also, be sure to check out the nice market downstairs and the bakery! Love their tarts and breads!
(4)
Andrea G.

If I could give it zero stars, I would. For a place that tries to be "fine dining", they sure employ some classless staff. Please see Sean M.'s Review (his letter to the GM is far more eloquent than mine). Here is my letter: "My family has been a patron of your restaurant for over ten years and has always enjoyed our dining experience. So two months ago, when my boyfriend told me he had made reservations for Valentine's Day dinner, I was very pleased and could not wait. Last night's experience, however, was far from spectacular. It was atrocious and I have never experienced such disrespectful service in a restaurant before. Our evening started out pleasantly enough, but really hit a downward spiral after our first course. We were more than halfway through our first course when a new couple sat across from us. They had just finished ordering when we finished up our soup. We waited... and waited for our second course to arrive. After half an hour, the couple next to us (who arrived well after us) was served their second course! We were served our second course about a minute later. My boyfriend called the manager over to point out the delay to him and that the couple next to us was served before us. The manager simply looked at us, and with no apology, said "I don't want you to feel trapped at this restaurant so if you'd like to leave - leave. We will just charge you for the wine, but feel free to go." I have never been so appalled and insulted before. All we wanted was to reasonably point out their mistake, yet I felt like his response was a giant slap in our faces. Honestly, we were only expecting a simple apology or an explanation. His was a highly offensive response. I don't know if he was being rude because we are a young couple, but I have been a customer here for many many years and am no stranger to fine restaurants. Never have I been treated with such poor and highly offensive customer service, especially from a manager on a special holiday. We were so insulted that we paid the wine bill and left. I sincerely hope that this is not the kind of attitude and service that you want representing your business. I enjoy your food, but your manager's poor attitude left a bad taste in our mouths and completely ruined our evening. It makes me very sad that after so many years I have to take my business elsewhere. "
(1)
Conrad C.

I ate here a couple of months ago for a birthday. Made reservations through Open Table. We came and they were already expecting us. We were seated next to the fireplace and right off the bat, they gave us complimentary champagne. They were very attentive to our needs. Food was good and the portion was reasonable. I would have given this place 5 stars but the price has to go down a little.
(4)
Chris A.

UPDATE: 11/26/07 - I came here for brunch yesterday (Sunday) and was not impressed with food. I'd say come to Viognier only for dinner but skip brunch or lunch. Not as many selctions and not really that great and very overpriced for brunch. --------------------------- My previous review: I've been to Viognier a number of times and each time I go, it is always a great experience. I'm going to keep this short... Place is quite expensive but Food is GREAT! Service is top notch, ambiance is wonderful. They have a parking garage in the basement, so not quite sure what else you could ask for. I recommend this place to everyone!!!
(4)
Perci N.

Fine dining atop a supermarket? Who knew. I sure didn't, and I've lunched in the neighborhood regularly for years. Calling Draeger's a supermarket is like calling Paris just another blonde bimbo... maybe true, but they're both so much more. ;) You'll have no problems finding parking in the concrete basement garage, and Viognier's atop the supermarket. You can make reservations, and when I showed up, they asked for one -- even though more than half the booths were empty at noon. The decor seems very hotel to me. Definitely not upscale -- the seats are wicker... It's good enough for a business lunch, however, and that's why I went this afternoon. I chose onion soup, one of my standards for French restos, and the walnut crusted seared ahi tuna. My friend went for a big Philly cheese steak with fries. They serve an interesting combo of French and American -- not French-American -- at least for lunch. I've had lots of seared ahi crusty dishes. It's like a California fusion staple. Their interpretation, with foie mousse and blackberry choron sauce, is like a completely different dish entirely. It's good. It's damn good. This ahi is firm and fresh. Some might prefer fattier -- this ahi was very lean (my personal preference). The walnut crust was atypical: not sweet, overly nutty, or overly crunchy. The overall impression is of eating a firm, yet light tasting, steak. The sauce helps you balance savory and sweet with every bite. Yes, it's tuna, but it's so much more. As for the Philly cheese steak: my friend grew up near Philly, and he says it's the most authentic tasting cheese steak he's ever had outside of Philly. 'Nuff said. My only culinary criticism: worst onion soup ever. Simultaneously too sweet and too sour, and their combination of soup spoon and bowl makes it impossible for you to consume more than 1/3 of the soup without having to pick up the bowl like a cup. Don't touch this stuff. It's a pricey lunch, and not a date place, but I'm fairly sure you couldn't go wrong with any main course. I'll definitely come back for more business lunches.
(4)
Matthias H.

Update March 2009: Wanted to go for brunch there and found out that they no longer have Sunday brunches. Since I have never had lunch or dinner here, I am not sure whether my rating is still accurate. Original review: I've never had dinner at Viognier, but I love the place for its Sunday brunch. It must be the best kept secret, because the place is always almost empty, yet the 3 course prix fixe brunch is very tasty, and a steal at $30, I think. For that amount, you get a starter, main course and desert, with fresh squeezed orange juice and various freshly baked breads, muffins and scones. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Jonathan L.

Excellent atmosphere. My girlfriend and I loved the ambiance and the overall decor. I had the smoke salmon pizzereta and the apple custard tart which were both excellent. The prime rib, however, was nothing special. In fact, it was a bit too burnt for my taste. The seared scallops were great with a very buttery cream sauce. The duck pate, on the other hand, was decent. Also, it took a long time for the entrees to arrive. Overall, the food and service was good but it wasn't anything memorable especially for the price we paid.
(3)
Jessica S.

After living in the beautiful town of St Helena in the Napa Valley, I have no problem paying a high price for great food. So I didn't think twice about trying this restaurant out for 65$ a person for Thanksgiving dinner. However, I must have spoiled my palate in the wine country because the food didn't really match the price. Other than that mismatch, everything was great, which is why I am giving 4-stars. The service was very attentive. My first course was a boring pumpkin soup- didn't finish it. Second was a salmon blini which was good sans the blini. Thus, it was devoured in 2 bites. I decided to forego the turkey and order the new york strip to go with the Silver Oak Cab we brought. It was definately delicious and probably added that 4th star to my rating. The desert was a sort of fruit cobbler that reminded me of cereal. After writing this review I have decided that it is probably more correct to go with 3 stars. Sorry Viognier! I would go with this restaurant for a more casual lunch, but not somewhere to take someone you are trying to over-the-top-impress. Oh and I MUST add, the worst part was the WICKER CHAIRS! Even after quite a few glasses of wine, my bootie was killing me and I skipped the espresso and headed for the car. Also quite uncomfortable that there is no restroom in the restaurant. A+ Service B- Food C- Quality for Price F bootie comfort P.S. Corkage is 25$
(3)
David O.

Took my wife here for birthday last week, atmosphere is very nice, wait staff was pleasant and food was delicious, although pricy dining it was very nice dinner. We have the 4 item each for almost $70.00 each.. had raw oysters, arugula salad with procutio, hand made pasta with lobster bites, filet Minong, sea bass and desert with 2 glasses of champagne with tax and tip diner was $230.00! My wife loved it so that's all that maters... be sure to make a reservation, they stop seating after 7:30 so be on time...
(5)
J S.

We had a business dinner here too. Maybe it was the same night as Ali G's visit. I agree with Ali, the halibut was surprisingly great. I've had one or two better pieces of fish, but this one was definitely in the top ten. My only criticism is that is was a bit salty. I had a piece of my colleagues steak (can't remember which kind). It was delicious too. My gf's truffle pasta was ok, but not exceptional. The big disappointment was dessert. I ordered the fig and raspberries in parchment. There wasn't much flavor to this dessert. I was very unimpressed. My gf got the blueberry and peach thingy. She too was very disappointed. If the dessert had been better, I'd give the place 5 stars. Since it was business, I didn't pay. So I have no idea what the bill was. I remember the halibut being priced in the high 20s. I guess that is standard for a high-class place like this, but it's a bit high. The bathrooms were adequate. You have to exit the restaurant and enter the 2nd floor of Draegger's supermarket to get to them.
(4)
Vivian L.

This is a great place for business lunches.The pricing is on the more high end side. The atmosphere and service are perfect. My only thing is since it has a french influence, I often find the food more on the salty side. The french onion soup is good but it is also a bit salty for my palette. The presentation is very good though and the food is all fresh. I just wish it was a little less salty and I could add salt if I wanted to.
(3)
Chris C.

I've only tried lunch here so far so the service was friendly, prompt but very attentive. It's really earned a 4 and a half star so I'm rounding up until I try a dinner experience here. By all indications, it should easily keep the final star even after my next visit. I thought I went mundane when I went with a medium-rare burger but being (supposedly) Kobe beef, the burger was all but mundane. The meat was almost too juicy and cooked to perfection. The condiments were of the highest quality (god is in the details) and the fries were dangerously delicious. My eating party also had the walnut encrusted ahi tuna and the seafood and chicken stew. Both were sublimely marvelous. I really wanted to sample the duck platter as well as samplings from the truffle menu but through an unfortunately accident of birth, I was only born with a single stomach. Overall, this is definitely a high end restaurant in quality, service and price but without the pomp and ceremony of some places I've tried. A very relaxed but refined place for a romantic dinner date or a power lunch. EDIT: I went back for dinner and this place exceeded my expectations. The service was friendly and formal but I really only wanted to rave about an appetizer: The duck board. Awesome, awesome dish. The foie gras wasn't the best but blended in with all the other tasty bites, it worked in my book.
(5)
Jeff P.

I've patronized Viognier for years, and have rarely been disappointed. While the both the food and the service are top notch, it is the room, one of the best in the Bay Area, that is for me its best feature. Highly recommended.
(4)
Kim N.

The restaurant above the San Mateo Draeger's, like the supermarket's image, it's an upscale restaurant serving French meet California cuisine. I've only been here for lunch but the prices were reflective of fine dining dinner. I had met a friend from out of town here and definitely spent a pretty penny. Service was a bit too formal but considering the clientelle maybe it was just me. I'll have to return for dinner and see how that experience compares.
(4)
Euge C.

Hey, this is Gary Danko's old place. I ate here when he was still in the kitchen and I can honestly say that he was a part of my epicurean awakening. I've been here several times over the years. Shortly after Gary left, the restaurant seemed to flounder but I'm happy to say it's back on track. The food is reasonably priced for San Mateo, instead of Nob Hill. But you would have a hard time telling the food apart. 65 dollars for 5 courses. And it's less oppressive. No need to go home and change out of the jeans - you're welcome here. But more importantly, you must come here because it's inside Draeger's. While expensive, Draegers is a really nice market to visit, even if just to browse. In addition to fine pastries, candies, produce, flowers, wine and other things you would find at a grocery store, upstairs includes cookbooks and tools of the trade. You can spend nearly an hour there [good third date place].
(4)
Adrian L.

OK, when I spend $28 on a piece of halibut (to be honest, the fish was free, courtesey of my benefactor, nonwithstanding, it was a $28 menu item) I kinda expect something palatable. Why, oh why, is it so hard for people to cook fish? Why do I always test the waters (no pun intended) and see if someone can do seafood right? So, the fish in question appeared to be seared on the outside and overcooked everywhere else. Someone else in my party had trouble cutting hers, her table knife just about bounced off. Fish are delicate little creatures, and should be cooked so. Lighty, gently, sweetly. But 9-out of-10 times fish come out overcooked. Come on, it's not the dirty bird (chicken). Maybe I should just stick to raw fish from now on. Other things: For desert, my bread pudding was more of a custard???? The waitress described one item as so full of berries that it buckeled. Ohhhh man, were we rolling after we got that one. Viognier looks like a high class chain restaurant, nice but plastic in a way that made me feel like were at cheesecake factory. Yucky cheese bread. They did have good cheese and charcuterie boards (though I really wanted the duck board) and the service was fine.
(2)
Derek C.

Viognier is a mix of Mediterranean and Californian with French style presentation in the heart of all that's San Mateo and apparently has been there for nine years. It has big fish in a small tank all over it. The food is complex in taste, texture, and presentation, but like a supermodel, it's also kind of bland and not very satisfying. Selections are quirky ranging from cheesesteak sandwiches and fries to a vegan risotto. I had a walnut-crusted seared ahi tuna which was a little uneven (raw on some ends, too well done on others, instead of that nice well-planned magma-plus-core look. We also ordered a cheese platter appetizer and Charcuterie (a selection of homemade prosciuttos, salamis, pates, and chutneys) laid out like an artist's palette. They were good, but for a table of 10, probably not enough, and a more attuned waiter might have suggested a larger portion. The wine list is impressive, though kind of pricey, but this is a four-$ sign restaurant day or night so you kind of expect it. Again, think "supermodel." Expect also to block out a few hours to eat because service is a lot like frozen molasses in Moscow. Everything from appetizers, bread, entrees and wine were slow to arrive. The wait staff was nice, but I can't say they were that knowledgeable. I believe I asked openly when he asked what kind of beverages would we like, "Well... what kind of restaurant are you?" and he couldn't give even an elevator pitch. Maybe that's an unfair question, but the kind of wine or beer or soda or sparkling water we'd want would probably be determined by the kind of food we're getting served. I will say their bread basket (when if finally decides to show up to the party) is completely awesome in taste and variety. If you ever abided by, "don't fill up on the bread," this place is a definite exception to that rule.
(2)
Ali G.

I have eaten here a handful of times. Half the time the food is amazing (5 stars), half the time it is dissapointing (2 stars). The great dishes I remember eating include: - asparagus salad - caezar salad - vegetable risotto w/ truffles - halibut - lamb chops - YUM! - pear tart dessert The dissapointing dishes I remember eating include: - pear/fennel/blue cheese salad - butternut squash soup - way too sweet! - cod - any chocolate and/or coffee flavored desserts Staff has consistently been professional and nice, but never friendly, personable, or passionate/excited.
(3)
sarah l.

Ok. i generally hate to give out fives. i tend to over-exaggerate in real life, so i like to keep it real on yelp. but i work in san mateo, and i have to tell you, there are very very few decent places to eat. so if there's a place i actually crave, when not in san mateo-- it's getting a five. i'm not a speaking as a big food snob at all. i think 70% of the places i go in the city are good. but something happens on that 20 minute drive down 101. somehow you enter middle america applebees territory. if you've been to the red robin next to target-- you know what i'm saying. if you need to have a good meal and/or impress someone and HAVE to do so on the peninsula--north of menlo park--viognier is really your only choice. it's classy without being pretentious, parking is easy etc. but seriously, all that aside-- the food is just really good. i went there for lunch once STARVING, and got the fillet mignon burger. omfg. it was like butter. and speaking of butter-- i think the bread was brushed with some sort of heavenly garlicy butter making it extra good. i suggest with blue cheese. i'm glad my lunch appointment had nothing interesting to say, because i don't think i could pay attention. (fair disclosure-- i am actually very hard on places that purport to have "the most amazing burgers" so this is high praise for me) UPDATE: I went there today and had a burger. so not as good. made me very sad. still better than most san mateo fare, and i won't decrease my stars in case it's a fluke. sob. still faaaaaaaaaaaaar better than taylor's -- o. ver. ra. ted.
(5)
Darin D.

Had dinner here with local friends and had a great time. Started of with the duck sampler board, which had all different types of duck, and had the ahi tuna with foie gras as my main course. Tuna was seared perfectly and the plate had a brilliant red sauce made with red wine and beets. I had the house made ice cream for dessert, WOW the almond ice cream is to die for. They have a very extensive wine list, and the service was both attentive and knowledgeable about the food and wine. I would definately dine here again.
(5)
Julie D.

I'm a city dweller that has had many fine dining experiences at many fine dining establishments in the City. With that said, I don't often leave the city if I want a great dinner. Viognier is one of the few places I'll make a special trip for outside SF. I love everything about this restaurant ... the food, the atmosphere, the service and the wine! I especially love the sommelier (they may have more than one but we have gotten the same guy the past four times we've been there). He is very knowledgeable and considers what meal you're having, your personal taste in wine and your price range. He never disappoints! We chatted a bit and I even got good suggestions from him on what wines to buy at Trader Joe's. The last time we were at Viognier, we were seated at a table where we could look in on a cooking class that was being taught by Joey Altman!
(5)
Carson H.

For a restaurant that is INSIDE a grocery store, the atmosphere is surprisingly good! The food is really fresh (it should be, they are inside Draegers!!) and they change the menu frequently. I think the current chef is a protege of Gary Danko's? (fact check...) OK just looked on their website, he worked extensively under the chef @ Boulevard (in SF).
(4)
caroline b.

This place is schizophrenic...we went last night and had a delicious meal which would have been perfect except: -The manager loudly berated several employees, I guess he thought we couldn't hear him? I know other diners heard as well. I thought there was going to be fight! -The Pate was served without bread or toast...we had to ask -I ordered the chicken and seafood stew and the base broth must have had 5 tablespoons of SALT in it and the little potatoes were almost raw! I almost sent it back The good was very good, my seawater like broth was covered with two GIANT scallops, beautiful shrimp, mussels and clams; each cooked perfectly...so go figure. Our wonderful server recommended a fantastic Zin and my companion enjoyed the vegetarian crepes which were exceptional. I may go back with for the crepes, but I'm sitting FAR from the bar!
(4)
Diane M.

This place is pretty nice and the service was excellent. We had a seafood appetizer which was around $50 which was excellent. It had scallops, prawns, raw oysters and other things which I don't remember. The oysters were so good! I have no idea what kind of sauce they put on them but I can't stop thinking about it. We also had the duck board which was OK. We didn't finish it. The entrees were pretty good as well, I had a sea bass and the other two had some kind of steak. At the end my mother had a Jamaican coffee which she can't stop talking about as well as a couple of desserts. They were good but nothing really stood out. Minus one star because I think this place is over priced for what you get. The three of us spent $400 including tax and tip.
(4)
Adam S.

My wife and I have generally been disappointed by restaurants on the Peninsula. But last night we had dinner at Viognier and loved it. Food was superb, service was polished and the Sommelier produced outstanding wine pairings (for the cheese course he came by to see which cheeses we had selected and choose a Sherry to go with it...perfect). We'll be going back and highly recommend it to you.
(5)
Tess G.

UPDATE: FEB. 15, 2008 After hearing the experience of Andrea T. & Sean M last night for the Valentine's day dinner, This restaurant lost another customer. I have rated this restaurant 4 stars before and specifically mentioned the very good service. They now should have ZERO star for service. It must be the new manager/general manager. This is one of my favorite restaurant in San Mateo. We've had a many wonderful dinners here and celebs. I especially love their pizzettas: hmm smoked salmon, can't wait to go there again. Service has always been excellent.
(1)
Josh B.

We came in here just for dessert, underdressed, and didn't spend very much money. And yet the staff treated us like we were famous dot-com millionaires they were trying to impress. If you really want the full linen-tablecloth experience but can't make it to Chapeau! in the city, then come here. Oh, and I think the restaurant is owned by Draegers.
(5)
Paul C.

We both had the 3 course meal. We had the short rib, bass. The nice thing is that you can actually order 2 entrees or 3, or 3 desserts. The service was good, a bit quiet for a Friday night.
(4)
Lalu B.

If you want a nice meal in a nice setting and don't want to drive to SF/SJ this is a good choice. It's not cheap, the portions are small, and you'll find some glitches in the service but it is far better than most of the fancier restaurants on the peninsula. The food tastes very good. Plus it's lovely and cozy inside. Pros: nice menu with lots of choices, they do a good job of customizing the entrees to your taste, food is nicely prepared and tastes great, excellent dessert, beautiful setting, you can watch a Draegers cooking class while you eat, very nice waitstaff & hosts. Cons: very small portions for the price, long pauses between getting a menu, ordering, getting drinks, etc, pricey. We'll definitely come back here again when we want a nice meal.
(4)
Jen E.

You can't beat Viognier's reputation or location - above Draegers (the most amazing market ever). It is probably one of only 3 restaurants in San Mateo that I would take a serious foodie I needed to impress. The food rarely misses and the atmosphere is wonderful. It's also a GREAT spot for a small private function - they've got a lovely room and fantastic food. Very pricey.
(4)
Christopher D.

Took a close friend out for dinner here before I left for LA. It is a nice and quiet place. Reservations were easy and it was not crowded at all. The service was prompt and the people were polite. It is a pretty nice date place, because of it's quiet and classy setting. The food overall was pretty good. I definitely recommend the duck board, although it sits really heavy. The wine selection is quite large and parking was a breeze. Pricey, but worth a try.
(4)
Cherylynn N.

Planning is NOT Mr. NSS' forte. The handful of times he's planned things, I've always guessed where we're going down to the exact restaurant and hotel we're staying at. The power of a woman's intuition aka awesome snooping skills! Believe it or not, I think home cooked meals are the best meals especially when it's cooked with heart and soul. However, his idea of "cooking" is microwaving Egg Beaters, so he made reservations for Valentine's Day dinner and said, "You'll never guess where I'm taking you." *Drives into Draeger's parking lot* Me: "Ummm, are we eating Valentine's Day dinner in a market?" Mr. NSS: "Yes." *Enters Draeger's, went up the escalator and into Viognier* Me: "WTF, are we at the Olive Garden?!?...Those booths remind me of the human sofa dress Kim K. wore: nydn.us/1FyjORf!!!&#34 ; Mr. NSS: "Can you please trust me for once?" Me *thinking*: Yah, you're definitely not getting laid tonight! Hmmph. Obviously, I'm not a fan of the dated grandma panties dÃ©cor at Viognier but if you can overlook this, you're in for a real treat (good job, Mr. NSS)! All the New American restaurants I've been to in San Mateo have been super disappointing...until now. The food at Viognier is bold, creative, and for the most part, well executed. Similar to Gary Danko and La Folie, you create your own tasting menu: 3 courses - $58, 4 courses - $73, and 5 courses - $88 ($$$$ not a $$$ place). On Valentine's Day, a 5 course tasting menu was the only option for $95. Portions are very generous and we were stuffed by the third course. V A L E N T I N E ' S D A Y T A S T I N G M E N U *Amuse Bouche: Grilled Cheese Sammie topped w/ paddlefish caviar: bit.ly/1Fynjav *Seared Foie Gras (+$20 supplement): bit.ly/17vg0l1 *Course 1 - Spiced Carrot Soup: bit.ly/17vghEF *Course 2 - Beef Tartare: bit.ly/1w1aXVj *Course 3 - Duo of Baby Octopus & Gulf Shrimp: bit.ly/1EXcFpW *Course 4 - Masami Kobe Beef Crudo, Bone Marrow, Short Rib Panade: bit.ly/19CIJWI *Intermezzo - Grapefruit Sorbet w/ mint granita: bit.ly/1EXd6Ax *Course 5 - White Chocolate Cheesecake: bit.ly/1FyoCGh *Complimentary Mignardises: bit.ly/1CNntVo Just when I thought celebrity chef Chris Cosentino's grilled cheese with shaved black truffles was luxuriously indulgent, Viognier's rendition of a fancy grilled cheese came along. I couldn't get enough of this crispy, buttery, and oooey goooey deliciousness. The seared foie just effortlessly melted on my tongue and made me see hearts! More please? The velvety smooth carrot soup had a great kick of spice. I had no problem finishing Mr. NSS' share since he can't handle spicy. I have had some really bad tartares lately (w/ horseradish) but luckily the chef here kept it simple with just mustard, quail yolk, and some cranberries for a touch of tart sweetness. The duo of octopus and shrimp were nicely grilled and tender but the potato gratin was overly salty. Thoroughly bursting at the seams by now, it was hard for me to enjoy the bone marrow stuffed with short ribs that was then topped with masami kobe beef crudo. I like rich foods but even this was overkill for me. I didn't care for my devil's food cake for dessert so I dug into Mr. NSS' white chocolate cheese cake which was beautifully presented with marshmallow fluff, salted almond brittle, and baby macarons. It was nicely creamy with just a touch of sweetness to curb my baby sweet tooth. Service was professional, friendly, and timely but lacked refinement and was on the stiff side. Our bottle of water was empty and no one asked if we wanted to order another or offered tap water. On the kitchen side, all courses were perfectly courses out and we weren't left waiting long between courses. With the beautifully presented dishes, the ambiance and dÃ©cor just didn't feel conducive to a "fine dining" restaurant. Mr. NSS requested a "romantic table". We were seated in a corner booth towards the front of the restaurant and it felt like we were at the Olive Garden with the dated floral booths and cartoon paintings with buckteeth characters. And, why is the hostess stand towards the back of the restaurant? Since Viognier is located inside Draeger's Market, you can park in their lot to avoid the hassle of finding street parking. I rarely make return visits to restaurants but I was so pleasantly surprised with the food at Viognier that I would love to return to try their regular menu and for more of that amazingly delicious grilled cheese sammie! Did I mention I am lactose intolerant? Yep, that made for one "interesting" night.... =X
(4)
Charlie B.

Prix fixe lunch is the way to go here. You can eat beautifully and not over spend! Pass on the Lounge menu but go for the lunch!
(4)
Gary O.

Found this place on yelp takes open table and read reviews about this place that basically fascinated me!!! Hands down some of the best customer service you will find anywhere in the industry! Staff is very knowledgeable and have great personalities. Lots of open spaces and tables. Requested for a nice table with view or nice booth had access to both!!! Food was amazing lots of dynamic tastes from the first course to the last! We had the pre fixed menu that had most of the top items and added on appetizer for the main course! Duck liver and salad was the most memorable. Don't know what to choose ask wait staff!!!! Super romantic spot nice and quiet good interaction with staff for a very sweet and unparalleled experience in San Mateo! Downside they hardly answer phone calls and utilize a call back service or number Park underneath in parking garage and make sure to wear non formal clothes just dressy!
(5)
M D.

Things have certainly changed at Viognier! We went in this week to sample their new Tasting Menu (we love tasting menus). Everything was terrific! The service, the wine and the food - AMAZING! You can tell they have a new Chef (maybe not "new" -- but new to us) and a new Sommelier! Specifics.. the amuse bouche was a thin wafer with pate - and it was just the thing to get us ready to dine. Our first course was the Apple Salad -- watercress, feta, and apples several ways I've never loved apples so much in my life! Our second course (we share everything, so we both tried all the dishes) - I had the Burrata -- so garlicy and creamy and delightful; he had the Charred Fennel and Tomato Soup. OMG.. I love that soup! Third course - the halibut for me and the skirt steak for him. Both were prepared perfectly - the steak was med/rare as requested and the halibut had a crispy skin with a flakey meaty texture. The bacon in the hash on the side for the halibut was a nice surprise. Dessert... We had the lava cake and the semifreddo. Even though we were stuffed, we finished every morsel - especially the homemade marshmallow! Again, the service was perfect. The Somm came by frequently to provide matching wines for each course and describe his choices and his reasoning. This was enjoyable and very educational for me. Our server was darling! Helpful and sweet and allowed us to have date night without being too close. We closed the place - and never felt like they were pushing us out. Thanks for that! I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Amy O.

Prix fix menu with choices. Was pretty good. Service impeccable. Bread choices in the bread basket were all sweet. Would be nice to have a nice SF sourdough with the beautiful butter provided. The restaurant is beautiful. It was a nice meal...expect to spend a little. Was a little dismayed when my friend asked for a house red, and the check was $18 for one glass. That should have been shared with her when she ordered it. Here's what I had: -Beat Salad (B - slightly skimpy) -Asparagus with Egg (A - nice!) -Steak (A - nice!)
(4)
Wendy X.

Arrived on a weekday at 6pm or so. Dinner was sponsored and banquet style with a pre fixe menu so my choices were limited. Service was on point as our server was attentive with our beverages and continued to fill up the water and the wine. We started off with the presentations right after our orders were placed. We each got to choose from 2 salads, 3 entrees, and 2 desserts. I chose farmers greens as opposed to beet salad. Braised short ribs instead of swordfish and I forgot the other choice. For dessert, coffee mousse cake with decaf coffee and declined on the carrot cake. The salad was pretty lackluster and under dressed. Kind of tasted like grass. Braised short ribs had me at first bite. The tenderness, the perfect amount of fat, the sauce, and those grilled mushrooms. Portion was just right as I was able to kill my dish(eating for 2). Dessert was on point! The mousse was so smooth and the coffee flavor was just the perfect hint of sweet. I had the decaf coffee and it married perfectly with the coffee mousse. My water glass was never empty and the server was able to crack a few jokes with us. Will definitely be back to try the other dishes! Btw, Viogniers' entrance is on the corner at B street. The restaurant is connected to Draegers market.
(5)
Kanoa U.

Top notch! As a wine geek they had quite an extensive wine menu. My favorite Riesling (in bang for its buck) Gunderloch was there. Upon walking in you can almost miss it from the street. The sign isn't big and bright, it's kind of in this nice market/shopping center looking thing. You walk up a few flights of stairs and see some magnums, double magnums, and I think I saw a jeroboam sized wines that are guiding you to your restaurant. We walked in and the place was fairly quiet on a Tuesday night. The host came over to check on me And see if I was needing any assistance with the wine menu... As the waiter offered us 3 different types of waters to drink. We order our bottle and then chose to go with the chef's tasting menu (since it was going to be about the same to buy it a la carte). From start to finish the meal was spectacular. We actually chose this place based on the yelp photos. There were about a dozen and a half other really nice places to eat around the area but the food seemed to have the best presentation here. For me Presentation is part of food prep, especially now with so many foodies out here in the bay, plating meals that are $40 and above to me tells a bit about the care taken and the chef. Each plate was delicately presented and the service matched the food. The server was nice, my water was never empty, the bus boy would come by and replace silverware after each meal. The host checked in on us, and really if you think about it... This might sound cumbersome, but actually they did it without being distracting from our conversation. The ability for a team to do something where you don't have to think about it is usually an indicator for top notch service. As for the atmosphere in the place that was the last part of what made this place great. We sat near the fire, and it was a chilly evening. There wasn't noisy music that was unnecessary white noise. There was adequate spacing between each table and it didn't feel cramped. The lights were dimmed but not too dark to where you had to squint at a menu. These are the small things that tend to go unrecognized. Most of the time you're not thinking about the environment until it's a distraction, or stands out. These are the things that I recognize when I go into a fine dinning restaurant that I'm expecting: great food, great service, and an atmosphere that balances both. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to take a friend here for something nice again sometime.
(5)
Andrea S.

I have been walking passed this place on occasion and decided yesterday was the day to stop by. I perused the menu outside. Lots of yummy things on Lounge Menu but most are on bread and two remaining are cheese sample and $45 charcuterie platter and I was avoiding bread (leaving for beach vacation in 4 days). Noticed things on menu listed under Mids on line. I opened the door and was greeted by a long staircase. Upon ascending, I was met by the host stand and greeted warmly. When I asked if the Mids were available in the lounge area, he referred to someone else. Hmmm....(Item #1-when the first point of contact, have basic answers). He said "yes" and told me I could sit anywhere. I sat behind him. Waiting for menu (item #2-give diners a menu). Upon receiving menu, I asked about the charred octopus and another item I saw online. The waiter explained these were probably on an past menu. No harm/no foul. He asked if I was hungry. Not very, I was looking for a starter or "Mid". He proceeded to walk through his recommended items which were the fish entrÃ©e and another item, also entrÃ©e (item #3-importance of listening). Ok, so I order the "Charred Fennel and Tomato Soup with popped rice and avocado butter" and a glass of wine. I'll cut to the soup. It was pretty spicy. I asked the host what kind of pepper and he (after conferring with kitchen) said black pepper and crushed red pepper). At the end, the waiter took it off the bill (thank you) but it was surprising that the menu omitted that and the waiter, in assisting me in the decision, didn't either. Would I go back? Maybe. I think they try and the menu is interesting but I won't go hungry and I will ask lots of questions about how the dish is prepared. PROs Nice space, interesting menu CONs Service is somewhat distracted/hasn't studied up on menu
(2)
Fred S.

Excellent steak tartare! The ambiance and the service are first class! You feel like you are on vacation at a 5 star resort. Definitely going back, even nicer than Porterhouse....
(5)
Tina C.

Excellent food and great service. The grilled octopus was my favorite, tender and smokey, served with a tasty basil purÃ©e sauce. The foie gras was also amazing. This place has a great ambiance for a nice quiet dinner. For dessert, I recommend the beignets. It was different from the traditional ones. They were little fluffy balls the size of a donut hole, super yummy.
(3)
De G.

Friday night date night: The food was good but the service marred the evening. It's difficult to enjoy the food with the lackluster and awkward service. Two stars for the food and the server's earnest attempts. The server seemed overwhelmed and was MIA for parts of the meal. The bartender was busy with his own guests at the bar so the server decided to make our cocktails for us. That's great except we waited so long for the cocktails, he was now serving us cocktails with our salad. Interesting pairing. "A" for effort but at that point he may have offered us a glass of wine instead. After we asked our server for wine pairings for our remaining courses, the sommelier came over to our table and his introduction was "Yes?" as though we were bothering him. He returned with pairings for each course but never returned to ask whether we enjoyed the pairings. The manager (? - blond woman in her 40's-50's) came by a couple of times to help clear our plates and each time, she commented on my husband's near empty plate with "should I pack the rest for you to take home. Haha, it's a joke." That's inappropriate and it wasn't funny the first time so why repeat it again.
(2)
Helen T.

We had such a great time coming here last Christmas Eve, that we decided to come here all over again! I think we need to come back here a third time next Christmas Eve for it to start becoming an official tradition for our family... The menu was completely different but we had the same great service and delicious foods. Appetizers: We got the crispy skin pork bell with lentils, clams, white bean puree, and chicharron and the Dungeness crab salad. The crab salad was refreshing while the pork belly was perfect cooked and topped with delicious sauces. Main Dishes: Black truffle and potato pave and the roasted niman ribeye. I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoyed the black truffle and potato pave more than the ribeye! The flavors were amazing and I could not get enough of it. My husband enjoyed the ribeye, but could not stop raving about the creamed brussel sprouts that accompanied it. Dessert: Apple frangipane tart and house selection of cheeses. The sommelier was very helpful and she let us taste different wines/ports with the cheeses since some of the ports were too sweet for our taste. She ended up bringing us a couple different options and gave us background on which cheeses paired with them. She was very helpful, spent a lot of time at our table, and best of all... she seemed to enjoy her job! We were stuffed, but they brought out a plate of Christmas cookies and treats at the end of the night to box up and take home. What a great way to celebrate Christmas Eve!
(5)
Matthew L.

Came here last month with my sister and her boyfriend to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant was a perfect spot for an intimate birthday celebration. Inside the restaurant, there were quite a number of tables filled up with small groups (2-3 people) of all age groups, although based on observation, there seemed to be more older people than younger folk. Our server was very sweet and provided excellent attentive service. We had ordered various dishes to share (tapas style) including the bone marrow, squid ink risotto, shrimp & grits, seared cod, and the pear flatbread. In general, the flavors of the food were rich, warm, and mouthwateringly good. All the dishes were perfect for sharing as well. The only complaint I had was that the shrimp wasn't all that fresh, as the meat was very adhesive to the shell and had a texture that was mushier than I would've liked. But other than that the rest of the food was great. Like I said before the service was attentive and personal. I mentioned in passing to the waitress about the birthday, and she was able to execute the request -- offering a piece of cake with a candle plated on a plate with the words "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate. Definitely was a nice personal touch! I wouldn't mind coming back here and trying the other dishes. I had a great first time here and hope to come back again in the near future.
(4)
Clodagh O.

I had a main course meal last night with my husband for the first time at this restaurant and it was excellent. The veggies were perfectly cooked, just like the french do theirs!There were ample choices of dishes and every thing tasted yummy. Surita our server had an elegant intuition in the way that she navigated around our conversation, appearing when appropriate and intuiting our needs, and still giving us ample privacy. The setting is lovely, the acoustics in the room grounding and overall and warming and delightful experience.
(5)
Sophia H.

What a gem find! We came here to celebrate our third anniversary and were blown away by the food. This definitely ranks amongst the best restaurants I've ever eaten at. For starters we ordered the bone marrow and the shrimp avocado salad. Both were solid dishes and very good. What really amazed us were the main entrees and dessert. The braised ribs were the best my boyfriend and I have ever had. The meat was fatty, extremely tender, and infused with an unbelievable amount of flavor. I was pretty much in heaven with every bite that I took. We also ordered the BBQ shrimp with grits, which was delicious as well. The shrimp was cooked perfectly. Since it was our anniversary, we got a free pana cotta dessert. This was not sweet at all and a great finish to our meal. We also received free chocolate macarons and coconut macaroons. As a macaron lover, the macarons here were hands down the best I've ever had! It was so good that I decided to ask for more and they happily obliged. :) Overall I highly recommend eating here and will be back for sure!
(5)
PLJAWU W.

We went there for our anniversary. The service was really good. It was not a very busy night for them because it was a Tuesday night. We sat by the fireplace and the environment was very romantic, just what we wanted! My husband chose the 72h braised beef and I had their special - braised rabbit with mushroom. The rabbit meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the earthiness of the mushroom made the dish sooo flavorful. Overall we love this place and plan to visit again on another special occasion.
(5)
Carlos R.

My wife and I spent our 9th anniversary at Viognier and not only was the food off the charts but the service was equally matched. Our server Jenny and the General manager Jennifer we out of there way for us and treated us like royalty. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to enjoy a great night out.
(5)
Kell M.

We have been coming here once or twice a year for years. I must say tonight was better than it has been for long time. The foie gras was a good size portion and perfectly done with a great cooked fresh fruit accompaniment along with a marmalade. Their house charcuterie was one of the best selections we have had. Really good and lots of it. I could eat their mustard by itself. I had the Seared Southern California Halibut with buttered English peas, bacon potato hash, fines herbes $36 which was really good. My husband had the Charred Spanish Octopus with vadouvan carrots, couscous, mint coriander chutney $35 and the octopus was so tender. He was impressed. We will back soon!
(4)
Mushroom K.

It's a fantastic and romantic place to celebrate birthday/anniversary. Good food and excellent service.
(5)
Jimmy L.

OK so took my cousin out for this birthday, and this is the place he selected. Located in downtown San Mateo, which is an awesome location; located on top of Draeger's which, to me, could work in their favor, or not. Frankly, I it's kind of interesting to be able to gift-shop while on your bathroom break at the supermarket next door. I could very well have left my dinner companions hanging! On the other hand, there could also be a subconscious stigma for a highly-rated restaurant to be located on top of a supermarket. You kind of have to wonder if people are less or more apt to venture to a place that really isn't most visible/accessible unless you're in the supermarket during open hours. For instance, I accessed the restaurant during Draeger's open hours, and yet, the entrance is too discreet as a restaurant when the entrance for Draegers ends up being so all-encompassing - esp when I don't need to shop at Draegers. Also, the marketing for the Draegers, as a result, would prob end up overshadowing the marketing/ad campaign for Viognier, and this is reflected in the physical entrance. Had I not known that I was looking for a restaurant there, I most definitely would have missed that it even existed. So, upon entering, there was a sign to Viognier pointing upstairs, but as a passer-by, couldn't have recognized it otherwise. We ordered drinks from the bar, and they were all good, and well-balanced. Not too weak; not too strong; but just-right. We also decided on the Tasting Menu, but also livened it up with additional entrees. Here's the rundown. Chef's Tasting Menu - $85 per person. Entire table only, please. 1st course - Pasta Carbonara, house pancetta, quail egg This was super good, super smooth, and super fresh. The pasta had that nice gummy texture that you get from homemade noodles, and went efforlessly down my throat. The quail egg was like icing on the cake! 2nd - Seared Scallop, zucchini, raisins, cauliflower The one giant scallop was good, and was not over-cooked, which could be easy to do with scallops. It was seared golden-brown, and moist. The sauce though, was too salty. 3rd - Duck Board for Two - Confit, Pate, Foie, Sausage and Bacon The sausage here was the best; I probably could have done without the rest. Bacon tasted like bacon, Foie was OK and tasted like a rich cream laden duck liver 4th - Crispy Veal Sweetbreads, Fresh Peas and Favas, Porcini, Kumquat With all due respect, but out of personal preference, I did not like this. That's not to say that it wasn't prepped well, or that it doesn't work for everyone, but for me - not my style. I'm OK with gizzards, feet, etc. but the very subtle chewiness and aftertaste of sweetbreads reminded me of other organs like the liver that I don't particular care for... 5th - Trio of Desserts - this would be some sort of mini sundae; Creme Brulee, and Chocolate Souffle. The Creme Brulee was the best; The Chocolate Souffle had a really great airiness/lightness about it, but was too unbalanced in flavor, and too sweet. I didn't particularly care for the mini-sundae, either, because of the fruit preserved on the bottom. There were a coupla other we tried - Bone Marrow Meatballs - preserved meyer lemon, english peas, romesco $15 These things were SUPER DUPER EXCELLENT and my favorite here. Almost like butter! Pork Skirt Steak - perfectly cooked and pink on the inside, which is the way it SHOULD be done; the grits or sauce that they served it with, though, was too salty. Service was good, and wait staff was knowledgeable. For four drinks, Chef's Tasting Menu (table of three), two additional entrees, and a coffee - with tax and tip - came out to appr. $470.00 Were they good? YES Was it worth my money? Personally, I'm 50-50 on this, since I pretty much expect everything to be spot-on for the high price point; they only get a 3-rating since I felt like 1/3 of the dishes were really excellent and over the top, whereas the rest of the dishes were really good, but not spot-on to my liking. Would I come here again? Probably not. Was a great experience with no regrets? Yes
(3)
Mindi G.

I have dined at Viognier for the last 15 years and always found it to be a reliable source of quality ingredients, well-prepared. Something has changed. I chose Viognier for a small gathering (6 people) for my husband's 60th birthday. In both service and food preparation, it thoroughly disappointed. I ordered a bottle of champagne, and brought a bottle of birth year wine (1955) to open. There was no sommelier, and it was clear that the server had not been trained to decant wine--she opened the bottle and basically "glug, glug, glugged" it into a decanter. She was not pouring slowly and carefully, watching for sediment, and carefully aerating the wine. This isn't the server's fault. If Viognier is going to have an expensive wine list that includes older vintages, which they do, it should be fair for diners to assume they have a sommelier who is expert in discussing, opening, and pouring these wines, or they have trained all of the servers. This was clearly not the case. Our table also sat for long lengths of time with empty glasses. More than once, I almost jumped up to go over to the little table where our wines were sitting, so I could refill my guests' glasses myself. Again, this didn't seem to be the server's fault. She had a lot of tables to tend. It appeared to me that there were only two servers and one busboy working. I expect more of a fine-dining establishment. I expect them to have enough staff that we aren't left sitting and waiting, commenting about slow service. This was never the norm in the past. Our starters came, and eventually the entrees. Four of us ordered halibut. It was badly overcooked. There was absolutely no moisture left in the fish. It was dry and hard. The flavor combinations in the dish were appealing, but the fish was not handled properly. If I want badly overcooked fish, I can eat at home! I had pre-arranged a cake for my husband's birthday with Viognier (this was an ordeal in itself, but I don't want to create the longest Yelp review ever by going into that back story). After our entrees were cleared, our server came to the table and said that she would bring dessert menus, but she wanted to let us know about one option that takes extra time to prepare. I had to interrupt and tell her, "I pre-ordered a cake." She flipped through a handful of papers and said, "Oh, so you did." So much for that surprise for my husband and my guests! It was incredibly disappointing that the server wasn't made aware or did not remember. In a harried manner, she brought out the cake, plopped it in front of my husband, lit the one candle with her Bic lighter, and stood there. No "Happy birthday," no "Congratulations." Nothing. It was an incredibly awkward moment. My husband looked at me, blew out the candle, and the server whisked the cake away. When slices of cake came back for everyone, I wished that I had not ordered it. It was the worst cake I have ever had--dry and heavy. I wondered if it had been made several days before, but I think it is just the recipe they are using. It was terrible. Sawdust and heavy as a brick are words that come to mind. The server later told me there was half a cake left, but she only had small boxes. I told her it didn't matter; the cake was terrible and I didn't want to take the rest home. But, really? If I had wanted it they have no way to box it for me? I will mention two other things not because they were the most important issues of the night, but because they reflect changes from the past. Honestly, my suspicion is that Viognier has a corporate overseer who is making changes to try to boost profit at the expense of past quality. One change is in bread service. They do not provide a complimentary bread basket. I asked the server if the bread service available on the menu for $5 would be enough for 6 people? She said she recommended two orders, so that's what I did. It turns out that one order of bread includes two biscuits and some small pieces of lavash. So, for 6 people, I now had four biscuits. We all sat there not wanting to take one, because there wasn't enough for everyone (I then ordered two more biscuits). But, do I really have to pay $15 for 6 people to have a biscuit each? The other change is to the corkage policy. It used to be that they allowed corkage for up to two bottles, but if you bought a bottle, they waived a corkage fee. I bought a bottle and was charged corkage on the one I brought. No more buy one/waive one. If there was a trained sommelier decanting my bottle properly, I could understand that the corkage fee is somewhat covering costs, but to have an untrained server handle my bottle poorly and be charged for the privilege...pathetic. There are so many good restaurants on the peninsula, and in San Mateo itself. There is no reason to go to Viognier. I am sad to say that. I have many happy memories of family dinners and celebrations, there. I won't be back, and I suggest that you go elsewhere, too.
(2)
Farnaz A.

NY strip stake was too bad. The halibut was delicious but too small. Literally one bite. In general too overpriced. They even charged us for the bread and butter. Wouldn't go there if you are hungry.
(3)
Doug B.

Our visit to Viognier for a special occasion (birthday) was the nicest dining experience we've had in this part of the Peninsula. The food was excellent (4 people, no misses on any of the dishes), and the service was terrific. Plenty of small 'extras' that made it a special dining experience. There are many wonderful restaurants in this area, but Viognier got absolutely everything right. Terrific total experience. I don't even have particular tips on the food, since it was all outstanding. The portions were right, too: not overly tiny, but reasonable enough so we could enjoy first and second courses plus dessert. [actually if each of us had ordered this much it would have been slightly too much] It's pricey, but definitely worth it for special occasions even if you don't normally go out for fine dining. We are very much looking forward to going back.
(5)
Somesh D.

Had lunch at Viognier - the Burrata and Halibut were just excellent! Had a nice Chardonnay to accompany it. My server Jenn was so considerate and welcoming. Highly recommend the lunch here for anyone looking for true high quality food and wine in the Peninsula!
(5)
Bruce C.

I'm very impressed with Viognier. Everything from the service to the food was excellent. The only thing I didn't appreciate was the hefty tab at the end of our meal, but other than that, our dining experience was absolutely rad. My gf just got a new job so I wanted to celebrate. After reading Cherrylynn N's review on Viognier (Thanks Cherry!), I knew this place's menu was made to impress my girl. ATMOSPHERE: The decor, as Cherrylynn puts it, looks a lot like Olive Garden. It's not that impressive and it doesn't paint a good picture of what to expect. It looks dull, almost like a typical hotel lounge restaurant. There are three tables that sit above the rest. These tables are situated right next to the center fireplace. If you can score one of these seats, it'll provide a much better experience. SERVICE: Excellent. Amazing. Fantastic. When I called to make reservations a little more than two weeks ago, I was greeted by Mike. He was awesome. I told him about the occasion we're celebrating and he told us he'd book a table for us right by the fireplace I previously mentioned. When we arrived, we got the table right in front of the fireplace... I scored one point with Sandy... Our server was awesome. She was so welcoming and took her time explaining the wine and dinner menu. Sandy was given the chance to sample two different bottles of wine before making her decision. Another awesome touch was how Viognier printed custom menus for our occasion, congratulating Sandy on her new job. Halfway through our dinner, they rolled up the menus, tied a bow around it and gave it to us to take home. Not necessary but it was cool. Their excellent service continued throughout dinner. The head chef even came out to congratulate Sandy at the end and give us some details on the dishes we had. Loved it. At Viognier you can choose a Three Course ($58), Four Course ($73) or Five Course ($88) meal. If you want to add a wine pairing with each course, it's an additional $29, $38 or $47. If you choose one of these options, you're forced to use your last course on a desert item. Sandy decided to go with the three course and since I'm not a fan of desert, I decided to order a la carte, like a beast. Here's a list of everything we sampled: CHICHARRONES ~ 3.5 stars SEARED FOIE GRAS ~ 4.5 stars: If you add this to your fixed course meals, it's a $20 supplemental. SCOTCH EGG ~ 5 stars PORK FLANK STEAK ~ 4 stars 72HR BRAISED SHORT RIBS ~ 5 stars MOCHA CREME BRULEE ~ 3 stars The chicharrones were typical. Nothing special, although a bit liter than the ones you can get at the store. The foie gras was great. Excellent sear on the outside and very buttery interior. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of the cranberry & kumquat salad on the side. It did not go well with the foie gras. Whatever alcohol they tried reducing didn't reduce enough and it felt like I was eating a heavily poured cocktail. The star of our night was absolutely the Scotch Egg! It was Sandy's first time diving into this UK ball of goodness. Crunchy on the outside, fragrant sausage and a very gooey soft boiled egg. I wish I ordered three of these and called it a night. It was THAT good! If you've never had a Scotch Egg, Viognier's rendition is a great one to try first. Sandy ordered the special of the night which was the Pork Flank Steak. I had no idea pigs could produce flank steaks but it was awesome. Tender, fatty and full of flavor. Served with grilled asparagus and black pepper grits, this dish was great. I ordered the 72hr Braised Short Ribs and it didn't disappoint. The short ribs were tender, tender, tender! Sandy thought it was a bit dry, I had to disagree. I thought it was perfect. The smoked onion puree and jus it was served with totally heightened the flavor. This is an excellent dish. I highly recommend it. The mocha creme brulee was the last course in Sandy's meal. Look, I'm the last person to listen to when it comes to desert. I'm not a fan of sweets so I naturally gave this 3 stars. At the end of the meal, the chef came out and spoke to us for a few minutes. Sandy was curious how they're able to keep the egg so gooey in their Scotch Egg. The chef gave us the rundown and it was very technical. Apparently they can only prep about 10 Scotch Eggs per hour! That's a little insane. He also told us about upcoming specials. Things like bringing in a whole goat and breaking it down for a future dinner service. Our dining experience was awesome. With a glass of wine and two cocktails, our tab came out to $215 pre-tip. Yes, it's pricey. No, it's not a place you could dine at all the time unless you have deep pockets or want to go broke. However, Viognier provides excellent service and awesome food. It's a place I recommend going when you want to treat yourself or someone you love, because it's really just that - a treat!
(4)
Avina S.

Had a dinner with my father and our partners here. Absolutely had some good experience. The food was well prepared, beautifully plated. Our waiter is very good in manner. My favorite is the scollap, cannot have enough. I know there are lots of good restaurants in SF, but if you want an upscale place in the San Mateo area, this is somewhere I recommend. My only problem is that they share the restroom with the grocery store nearby, feeling kinda strange for a restaurant like this
(4)
Lian L.

My husband and I had a beautiful dinner at Viognier for our anniversary. This is a great place for a romantic date. I got the three course and my husband got the four course. They gave us a small complimentary appetizer and a special brownie dessert that said Happy anniversary as well. All in all it was a lot of food. I walked out so round-bellied that I could have been rolled home. I had the seared octopus to start, which was delicious. For main course, I got the hanger steak. The steak and vegetables were cooked perfectly, and went very well together with the green cilantro based sauce. I tried husband's bone marrow appetizer and spare rib. Those were pretty good, but not exceptional. I got the melon-collie (lol punz) cocktail, and really liked it. It had fresh grapefruit juice in it. I was a tad disappointed at my dessert. I got the deconstructed pineapple upside down cake. The small cake bites were a little dry, and the accompanying fruits were too sweet. The presentation was beautiful though. I had a bite of my husband's tiramisu cheesecake and regretted my own choice. They printed a special happy anniversary menu for us with the date on it and wrapped it up so we could take home as a souvenir. I thought that was a really sweet touch. Our server was so nice, and even offered to take a photo of us. I'm pretty sure he thought that it was our first anniversary because we look young (he carded us, haha). It's really our seventh!
(4)
Nick D.

We had dinner at Viognier last week and did the three-course dinner with a few apps to start. Charcuterie Board (Half) - This is enough for two to share, it came with a variety of six meats. It was good and the seeded mustard enhanced the flavors. Cheese Board - Only came with three wedges; bleu, brie, and I forgot the other one. I'm a fool for cheese so I digged it! I just wish though that each cheese had their individual accompaniments vs. one pile of nuts and jam. But, I still enjoyed it! Chicharrones - IDK why the s/o insisted we order this. Please don't make the same mistake!!! Get the $0.99 bag at 7-Eleven, put it in a white bowl; it'll save you from paying $9 here! First course, Asparagus w/proscuitto, etc - Good, nice presentation, came with lots of greenery that I've never eaten in my life, as well as flowers. Second course, Short ribs - The outer crust was a little salty but once you got into the meat, especially the middle, it was totally delicious! Third course, Tres leches cake, etc. - Nothing like your Tia's tres leches cake! It's totally deconstructed, which I loved! Double thumbs up! Service was friendly, but not intrusive. We were surprised that the resto was practically empty for a Friday night, which we didn't mind, as it was nice to have a quiet dinner. But there were quite a few people in the lounge for Happy Hour. Overall, it was a nice experience. Viognier is one of those places I can say I'm glad that I've tried, but probably wouldn't go back to. Therefore if you've bookmarked this spot on Yelp, give it a shot, it's worth a try! #FirstTimeEatingFlowers
(4)
Kristin C.

[3.5 stars, not 4] Came here for my dad's birthday. The food is good, but nothing different and spectacular for the price. For some reason, the atmosphere of this place doesn't match the food that they serve to me. It feels like an Italian Restaurant...but they serve American bistro food. The seats are a little casual - it's mostly booths everywhere. We each got the 3 course dinner and my parents got the wine pairing sample. We got: Foie Gras appetizer Fried Oyster Cheese Plate (shared) Sword Fish Short Ribs Squash Ravioli Banana Split Deconstructed Dessert Passion Fruit Cheesecake The Foie Gras appetizer was more like a pate than what you think of when you get Froie Gras. It's LITERALLY like eating a fat piece of butter on bread. I wasn't a fan. The Squash Ravioli was the best dish because it was light and true to the ingredients. The Short Ribs were a little heavy with seasoning. The Deconstructed Banana Split was okay - It was so small! There were barely any bananas, and it seemed like the restaurant was trying too hard to make it different.
(4)
Jonathan L.

Took my GF here for dinner a couple of weeks back after seeing some good reviews. I knew it was going to be a little on the expensive side but didn't mind. I had the Painted Hills Rib-Eye Steak and she had the Seared Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast. We both ordered a glass of wine that was recommended for the plate. I thought the ribeye was on the good side and she really liked the duck. Overall, the food was good and the restaurant very nice. Parking was very easy but I lucked out since I found street parking steps away from the entrance. I plan on coming back to try lunch or dinner again.
(4)
Michael H.

Okay, for those of you that don't know about Viognier it's one of the better restaurants on he peninsula. Yes, it is upstairs from a fancy grocery store, is that weird? I don't know, not to me? And yes, much of the clientele are wealthy people that live in Hillsborough and other places on the peninsula. And finally, yes it is expensive, hell yeah. But it's worth it. The service is always excellent and never rushed. Very nice calm and beautiful environment to eat dinner. If you're there for romantic dinner, you can even get a seat in front of the fireplace. I'm sure some people argue with me, but I believe this restaurant is comparable to many high end restaurants in San Francisco. And I should know I've certainly eaten at many of them in SF. Added bonus, no healthy SF tax and free parking. I'm a wine guy, and the wine list at this place is fantastic. Yes it's expensive, but there are modestly priced wines on the menu as well. My experience is if it's on their wine menu, it's pretty damn good. So pick a night that you want to go out and have a romantic dinner and give Viognier a try. Oh yeah, order the soup du jour no matter how weird it sounds. You're welcome.
(5)
Grace L.

I never new this place existed! Tucked away at the corner on the second level of the grocery store! I only found out about this place because of the Yelp reviews. Great find! My fiance and I got the 4 course selection so I got to taste a lot of dishes! Appetizers - Heirloom Tomato Tartine - Didn't care for this one so much. Tomato, salami on a thin slice of bread. Presentation was nice though. - Smoked Niman Pork Belly on Steam Bun - There was a lot of salty pork and not enough bun to balance the flavors. But it was definitely interesting to try. - Duck Liver "Faux" Gras - First bite doesn't taste like the real thing, but give it a second and it will! - Brokaw Avocado (salad) - This was probably my favorite! With a poached egg and fresh avocados.. mm so good! Main - Corn & Farro Risotto - Didn't taste like anything to me. Mush food. - Seared Angus Hanger Steak - Steak was good, fingerling half of a potato was nicely seasoned (who gets the other half?!) and mini carrots were so cute (and sweet and delicious) Dessert - Selection of seasonal sorbets (peach, apricot, strawberry) - Tastes really fresh! Loved the apricot one. - "Peaches and Cream" semifreddo - I don't think I'm a fan of semifreddo. But if you like this stuff it might be to die for! If/when I come back next time I think I'll just stick to the appetizer menu. The servings were generous for the appetizers and the presentation on all of the plates is amazingly creative!
(4)
Jerry C.

Great service and ambiance overall. The bread basket is excellent with soft and spreadable butter on the side. The courses are nicely done. Good presentations and flavor. The sorbets for dessert was very good too. Each flavor was well-rounded. And the petit four was even better.
(4)
Wendy K.

Very pleasant place. I came here for a business dinner, which usually ends very early because no one wants to hang out more than necessary. But this time we actually hung out there for a while and chatted. So I consider this place to have great, cheerful ambiance. I think I ordered poorly. I think I could have ordered better and given it a better review. So this review is only for my one time experience. I ordered the 3 course selection with - faux gras - this was very tasty, but the big portion of faux gras was making me a bit sick of it at the end of the plate. Also I felt guilty that I should be eating a salad instead. - corn and farro risotto - I love risotto, but farro risotto just doesn't have that beautiful starchy texture of rice risotto so it became a bit "too healthy" for me to finish the whole thing. - Hazelnut Gateau - this was great. I sneakily ordered from the chef's tasting menu because I didn't like any of the other desserts from the 3/4/5 course menu. And it was so good, so smooth, and so rich. Everyone (including my boss's boss's boss) took a bite of my dessert and called it the winner. Overall, I liked the ambiance of this place. I think I would have liked it better if I had gotten a salad for appetizer, and a steak or something for entree.
(3)
Elizabeth T.

LOVE IT!! I've known of Viognier and passed by it several times in the last 3 years but always skipped on dining there. I'm really not sure why I ever did that because I was very impressed with their food. You have the option to select a 3, 4, or 5 course meal with or without paired wines. I went with 4 but soon found the portions to be so hefty that I had to take my entire 3rd course to go! For someone who has been searching for a good "faux gras" now that foie is banned, Viognier served up an alternative that was almost as good as the real thing. Every one of the dishes I tried was delicious and the sommelier, Hailee has some great wines picked out. She even recommended a couple places to try in Napa (Arroyo and Von Strasser) and she was spot on with what I would like! They also have quite an extended list of wine options for your to peruse over. Viognier is now one of my favorites along the Peninsula and new favorite fine dining restaurant in San Mateo (sorry All Spice!).
(5)
Alex K.

Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday. It was an amazing dinner. We both got the three course dinner (which was plenty). The food was to die for and the service was perfect. I was very please with how everything turned out and it was a perfect and romantic birthday dinner! Definitely looking forward to going back. It's our new secret spot! (Since it's so difficult to find on the top floor of Draegers)
(5)
Jacob D.

Food and service were excellent. I had beef tartare, duck confit and "citron" dessert. Tartare was really interesting, and is probably the best I've ever tried. The duck was good too, but the only strange thing is that it comes with mustard sauce, which doesn't seem to be a perfect match to me. And the dessert was just awesome.
(5)
Steve L.

It's been many years since I've dined here. The last time I was here it was with my wife, before we had kids. It was the first year they opened on top of Draeger's. Gary Danko was the opening executive chef, before he opened his namesake restaurant in North Beach San Francisco. For one reason or another, never had the chance or occasion to return. On one mild early Saturday evening, our youngest daughter had an overnight with a friend, so it was just my wife, oldest daughter, and I for dinner. Since we didn't have to limit ourselves to places that had French Fries, pasta, or udon on their menus, we had an opportunity to "upgrade" our dinner. This was a last minute opportunity, so while searching around, we found available reservations at Viognier. Our reservations was at the first seating at 5:30PM, but we arrived at 5:15, so the entire restaurant staff for that shift were not all there. However, the host was there, seated us, and served us water until our waiter arrived. A few minutes later our waiter with our menus. While at our table, oriented us through the menu, and shared with us the specials of the day. After he took our drink orders, he came back later to take our orders. One can choose courses for a 3, 4, or 5 course dinner, or choose a 5 course chef's menu. My wife and daughter each chose a 3 course, while I chose a 4 course with wine pairing. For an amuse bouche, we were served: -House Ginger Soda with candied ginger ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): Refreshing, without being overly sweet. Cool, clean, a nice palate cleanser before the arrival of the rest of the courses. -Smoked Salmon Flatbread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): We ordered this for the table. Warmed flatbread, topped with CrÃ¨me Fraiche, Chives, and Roe. Flatbread had nice soft, yet firm and nicely chewy texture. Quite tasty, very filling. -Heirloom Tomato Salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): this consisted off house mozzarella, candied bacon, basil, olives. Sweet tomatoes, and very fresh choice vegetables. -Slow Cooked Pork Belly ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): topped with broccoli , chicharrons, with a smoked beet puree. Fatty pork decadence! -Sweet Corn Soup ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): garlic confit, shallots, topped with trout roe. Fresh kernels of corn throughout the soup. Savory, but slightly sweet and creamy. -Roasted Bone Marrow ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): A lot of stuff on top, with pickled mushrooms, served with toast points. Greens nicely contrasted the hot and creamy bone marrow. -Seared Angus Hanger Steak ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): served with roasted turnips and baby carrots, potato, and a chimichurri, natural jus. Cooked as ordered at the right temperature. Nicely marinated steak, and the vegetables were also cooked just right. -Seared Day Boat Scallops ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): sweet corn succotash, sauce nero, topped with caviar. This was pretty generous for an appetizer portion. Scallops were cooked just right, not chewy tender with each bite. -Lamb Chops, with ground lamb ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): One of the specials of the day. -Cheese Plate ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): A selection of three (can't remember what they were), with toast, fruit and nuts. -Sorbet Selection( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): Sorbet selection of the day. Kiwi, mango, and raspberry. Very refreshing -Lemon White Chocolate Tart ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): A little marshmallow fluff, streusel, and little macaroni -"Stone Fruit Melba"( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): caramelized puff, raspberry ice cream, lemon pound cake. Very artistic. -White Chocolate Cookie Crumble Cake ( yelp.com/biz_photos/viogâ€¦ ): A special touch from the restaurant, since it was a late birthday celebration for my wife. With all we had, we didn't eat it, had to take it home. Overall, we were quite pleased with everything. Worth another visit!
(5)
Marianna K.

"It's like we are in Sonoma" said my husband as we entered through the door. Located on the 2nd floor of the supermarket and with its own cooking school, Viognier had my hope and expectations very high up. May that's why only three stars... They have a 3,4, or 5 course menus. We went for three, picking an appetizer, an entree and a dessert, and just two glasses of wine to come with. Now, complaints: I felt that our server was half asleep, I expected some recommendations and enthusiasm about the menu! Come on, sell me that super good looking dish! I want to feel special eating it, right? If I destroy the art on my plate... Anyways, moving on... what's up with not filling up the water and the bread basket? Food, overall, was pretty average. I think the highlight was the leek soup my husband ordered. The presentation was beautiful and the taste was just right. Also I felt that sides were much stronger than their proteins. I don't know, may be I will give this place another try - all the reviews are so good!!! and they have been open longer than I have been alive!
(3)
Dave F.

My Oh My, this was a great meal. This place was discovered using Yelp and what a great find. Hidden in a market, upstairs, at 4th and B in San Mateo is Viognier next to Draeger's market which is also an interesting find! Parking on the street was available after 6PM and because I arrived a bit earlier that our reservation, Happy Hour became worth trying. I was good and only ordered wine v food as we were up for dinner. The dinner menu is a choice of a la carte or 3/4/5 course meals. I tried the 3 course meal with scallops (Seared Day Boat Scallops roasted sunchokes and cauliflower, local citrus, sambal, sauce nero ). Incredible scallops! This was followed by an incredible presentation and entree of shrimp and grits, (BBQ'd Gulf White Shrimp and Grits house chorizo, kale, pickled peppers, rye bourbon hot sauce). The last course was an awesome artisan cheese plate with house accompaniments. The food is wonderful, but 3 courses was pushing my personal limits. Our service was incredible! We ordered a wine and were not exactly happy (too light) and it was replaced with a better choice. The sommoilier was really sharp and knew her wine list, host hostesses were wonderful and our server did a tremendous job! Definitely will be back.
(5)
Jeff L.

Very good place I found while in town. Great selection, added the wines to each course as well, the Chef's menu was the bomb. Really enjoyed the cognac and brandy selection with a nice French Press. I'd give it 4 1/2 stars really.
(4)
Dank G.

if i pay premium prices, i expect the best; and this place falls short of that. generally overrated and overpriced. their food is good, but that's just it - good. the service is less than what i expect for the image and prices. one waitperson and i had to ask for more water in my glass. they also didn't make it around to pour my wine from the decanter. i hate that. what bothers me is - the owners must not care. i was there on saturday night at 7:30 and including my table, there were only five tables seated. the bar was empty. hmmmm, someone needs to figure it out. but even going back to when g danko was there - it was more marketing than substance.
(3)
Evita-Marie R.

Mag-nif-icent. My boyfriend & my best friend surprised me with a dinner here for my 25th birthday. Boy, was I spoiled. I can't even just call it a dinner, because it was an experience all in its own. They called in advance and planned this special night for me. The Chef-- Bobby prepared a remarkable 11 course dinner for the 3 of us. & Hallie our Wine Sommelier kept our wine glasses full with wonderful paired wines to go with our courses. My senses were on overdrive the entire evening. My tastebuds couldn't even comprehend what hit them. The evening was nothing short of amazing. This restaurant is tucked away in a corner next to a market. But do not be fooled, by its modest outward appearance. Does this place have a view? No. Does it boast of some "house speciality?" Everything served in this house in my opinion is special. Does it have some super elegant decor or gimmick to get people in the door? No at all. This is a no mess, no fuss place. It is purely, a simple restaurant with fresh amazing impressive food. Would I come back? In a heartbeat. Compliments to chef bobby & all the wonderful staff of Viognier that took care of us that night and made my birthday so memorable!
(5)
Sharie T.

We came here without a reservation on Saturday night and surprisingly they were able to accommodate us right away. Our server was very nice and very knowledgeable with the wine selections well as the menu. The decor inside was dated but elegant and comfortable. The food is really good! We started with complimentary appetizer which is an interpretation of green eggs and ham. It was yummy and very unique. We ordered bone marrow meatballs - delicious and has great flavor. We also had clams and chorizo as appetizer - i honestly did not taste the chorizo but the clams were good. For entree: I had the octopus and it was cooked perfectly and garnished with some caviar. So good! My husband had the NY steak and he said it was flavorful and cooked to his liking. He also loved the gravy that came with it. Dessert: Strawberry pavlova - very interesting but very light and great ending to a meal. I was so stuffed after dinner everything was great! Maybe next time we might try the tasting menu.
(5)
eileen m.

I am surprised that people are reticent to give 5 stars to this lovely and classy restaurant that is well within the hub of gastronomical excellence in the Bay Area. Situated above Draeger's Market on 5th Ave in downtown San Mateo, we made reservations online. We received excellent service and the food was superbly delicious. We chose the 3 course meal and it was the perfect amount. The quality of the food and the flavors were absolutely delicious and made for an extremely luxurious and celebratory evening for us. We will definitely come back next time we want to treat ourselves to a delicious and decadent experience.
(5)
Steve J.

Excellent service, a friendly & knowledgeable sommelier whose recommendation was spot-on, and well-executed New American cuisine featuring Mary's chicken, locally caught swordfish, and a pork chop that was impossibly moist, tender, and flavorful. Desserts showed an equal amount of flair and attention to detail. Viognier is a gem.
(5)
Tess C.

This place is an absolute gem. Make sure you check it out at least once! I literally cannot think of a single thing I dislike about this place other than sometimes I want something that they've taken off the menu. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME, CHEF. Atmosphere is so comfortable and welcoming. Food is delicious and beautifully prepared. Staff here are so warm and wonderful. We have been regulars for over 2 yrs now - whether it's just to see what's new or to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries - and always have just the most wonderful time. If it's just two of you and it's a special occasion, try requesting the booth in front of the fireplace! Always impressed by Chef's ability to change up the menu with new and exciting dishes! Desserts here are absolutely to die for - the black forest cake here is probably one of the most amazing things I've ever put in my mouth - and I die a little inside every time I don't see it on the menu (which changes about every month or so, I think), but there's always something also incredible to take its place, so I'll live. I also recommend the salmon flatbread appetizer, which is great for sharing. If you're into soup, definitely try whatever soup they've got going at the time and prepare to be blown away. I don't do wine but my partner does - they have a large wine list and she always finds something good. They also have booze, cocktails, soft drinks, teas, etc. Coffee here is good (and you can get their blend downstairs at Draeger's). Parking is available in the street, and we've also never had a problem parking in the Draeger's lot. They do have a coat check. Also a bar area if you'd prefer that sort of setting. You can go directly to Draeger's from the restaurant by exiting near the cooking class area (which is also where you'll head towards for the restrooms). There is no formal dress code that I'm aware of, but it's always nice to dress it up a little bit :)
(5)
Marie F.

Viognier is probably the best fine dining establishment in San Mateo. Located above Draeger's grocery market, and served by a small lot (or street parking), stepping into the restaurant is like another world. The private room in particular is great for groups celebrating special occasions. The food is very good, almost on par with fine dining in San Francisco. The wine selection is well edited and impressive. My only criticism is that they used to be open for lunch and now appear to only serve dinner.
(4)
Charmaine C.

Came here for a quiet, romantic dinner to celebrate an anniversary. It was an early dinner so there wasn't a lot of people there but it soon got busy. The ambiance is romantic and very classy. Our waiter was courteous, and very attentive. The food was amazing!!! I ordered the seared hanger steak and it was so tender and flavorful!! My boyfriend had the nut-crusted flounder and it had an amazing flavor. We each ordered a dessert, and they came out with a white chocolate mousse that had "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on the plate. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Kevin F.

Out-of-sight! Spectacular service, great salmon flatbread, potato pave, wine selection and above all, service and ambience. Parking is brutal, though
(5)
Rita Y.

The restaurant is very nice with great ambiance. A group of us met for dinner and throughout the evening, it was not crowded at all. It was nice to dine out of the city for a change where there were not crowds and no hipsters. This is not a hipster kind of place, thank goodness. Everyone could hear the others talking at the round table. The chef is a San Mateo local, who uses good ingredients. You can taste it in the food. A few ordered the 3 course and others the 4 course prix fixe menu. I made the mistake of thinking that like most places, the servings would be smaller and got the 4 course. What a mistake. We all shared a square of the salmon flatbread, $15. It was delicious. A nice crispy flatbread with tasty lox, dotted with capers and blk caviar. Iced tea came in bottles ($4.50 each) with a tiny glass flask of sugar syrup for you to add to your glass of tea to taste. A bottle of Coke, $3.25, lemonade $3.50 also came in bottles. I tried a glass of Cab Franc $12 and Hubby had a glass of Cab $14. My appetizer course of bone marrow was very good - served with crispy toast rounds. The bread basket was also good - slices of French bread with foccacia. We got to try a tiny shot of strawberry soda (amuse bouche) - a hint of strawberry. What was shocking was a huge slice of pork belly for the 2nd appetizer. It was 5 inches long and very good. A dark blk colored sauce (a tad too salty) came with it. Hubby had the tomato bisque with a hearty tomato flavor. His "faux gras" duck was really a duck liver pate' and also tasty. Sadly, my cod (which looked great) was fishy smelling, as was my BFF's, who sat next to me. By the 3rd course, I could not take more than a couple of bites. I took the cod leftovers home and when I opened the box the next day, you could really smell how fishy it was. When I buy fresh cod in the supermarket, it doesn't smell that way. I finished with the choc mousse which was also good and came with a sliced macaroon topped with cream. I tried a bite of Hubby's strawberry and cream dessert which had a strawberry sorbet. BFF's hubby and I both thought that sorbet was too sour/tart tasting. The wait staff kept our glasses filled with water (good service) and we got more food at the end of the meal - peanut butter macaroons and tiny jelly squares of fruit with was a bit too tart for me. The restaurant received Zagat ratings in 2013 and Michelin recommended for 2014. I think the food (bill came to about $100/per person including the tip) is quite good and servings are generous but I shouldn't be such a pig and stick with 3 courses next time.
(4)
Tony H.

Wow what a great meal and experience tonight you certainly notice the vast difference in the US vs dining out in NZ the moment you walked in and sat down we could tell this was level up. Very professional and knowledgeable wait staff and with such a large wine list the somlier had an amazing knowledge of wines and after a few questions and discussions we settled on a Santa Cruz Pinot Noir as we wanted to try local and it was a great recommendation. We went the 3 course option and was glad we did as it was plenty to satisfy most appetites and the food was great from Foie Gras to oysters and Creme Brule. Definitely recommend if you are in the area.
(5)
Michelle A.

We had the chefs tasting menu and it was deliciously perfect. A very nice meal for foodies. It's a treat to have a restaurant like this on the peninsula.
(5)
Kitty M.

Incredible! I have eaten at french laundry and Manresa and I think this chef is just as talented. (I also think they must have turned it up a notch recently because everything was outstanding). The sommelier was very knowledgeable and we asked him to pick a Cab. He chose a 2002 Origin Cab and it was so smooth. We expressed interest in wine and he even brought out a small taste of a Sangiovese and we walked through the steps of how to taste and identify the wine. The waiter was 100% attentive. Wow. He made sure we were waited on hand and foot. We ordered a carrot soup that was absolutely delicious. A hint of spice and ginger with a kick. It was amazing. Probably the best carrot soup I have tasted. We then ordered the NY strip steak and the Swordfish. Both were excellent. My plate of swordfish came with homemade chorizo sausage which absolutely out of this world. In fact I think it stole the show for the night. The chef then came out and talked with us to see how our meal was. We loved our experience and would eat here again for every special occasion. They treated us like royalty. We rarely get that kind of service on the peninsula unless it's a fancy restaurant in SF
(5)
Shirley H.

I'd give Viognier a 4.5 stars. Ordered the 5 course $95 chef tasting menu and all the dishes were excellent except the pork belly was too fatty, therefore, the half star deduction. Friendly wait service and great food with fresh ingredients, I wonder why Viognier doesn't get as much traffic as other restaurants. On a Sat., it's only half full but then it's great that it isn't crowded nor noisy. Highly recommended.
(4)
Theresa B.

Ah, the heated cup. I am *not* overly generous with five star ratings, but Viognier nailed it, right down to the coffee service at the end of the meal. I was served a french press, a heated cup, and delightful aprÃ¨s dÃ®ner petit fours/PÃ¢te de Fruits. It is this level of attention to detail that distinguishes Viognier from so many other fine restaurants. Each and every offering, from the amuse-bouche onward demonstrated true artisan craft. I don't know how they managed to present a dish so perfectly that an edible flower, half the size of the nail on my little finger, could sit on top without even the slightest bruising of the delicate petals. Not to be missed: the presentation on the charred leek soup. Be sure to squish each and every one of the little smoked trout roe - they lend a tiny burst of salt to the sweet that propels the soup to exquisite levels of flavor. Between two diners, we shared 7 different offerings, each perfectly prepared. Hats off to Chef and team - Kudos also to the sommelier for pairing each with unusual wines that worked perfectly with the meal. This was artistry.
(5)
Mystical G.

The service here was out standing. Truly was. A beautiful place, very classic style. Bit dated for me but i could appreciate that some (like my husband) love that feel. The food was amazing. I had the hanger steak and my husband has the prawns. Meat was cooked perfectly and the flavors were all working so well together. And who would have thought grits could be made I to tasty fine dining?! Presentation was stunning and on that note the highlight of the evening was definitely my dessert "peaches & cream". Hands down best dessert I've ever had. So beautiful to look at and an amazing balance of different flavors. If go back just to have that again!
(5)
Anthea S.

Been coming here off and on since it opened going back to when Gary Danko was head chef and following that, Scott Giambastiani took over before leaving to chef at Google. It survived several chefs after and the 2009 great recession, has gone from pre-fix only menus, and awkward phases of mini-me sized cocktails and we have come and gone (sometimes gone) for periods of time while they worked thru their phases. We went last night after maybe a year and were pleasantly surprised that they dropped the clunky menu set up which offered 2, 3, or 4 course meals and you could pick any courses you wanted for a set price. This time the menu was back to normal and the choices were amazing. The food was delicious and our waiter was super attentive. The cocktails were delicious and everything we had was really enjoyable in a long leisurely evening which was really a lot of fun. We had the melon and cucumber salad which was fresh, crunchy and delicious with the right balance of ingredients and portion. I had the pork belly appetizer with greens and egg which was amazing. Ample portion and well plated and tasty. Hubby's tartare was really awkward portioned. It was the only 'off thing' of the evening. My appetizer came out on a beautiful plate, it was full and abundant. With it came a tiny bowl of tartare that looked like the size of a large silver dollar and you could barely find it. I was a tiny tiny portion in a tiny bowl with two spears of rye toast and it was just awkward. He totally got the short end of the stick on portions and flavor compared to mine and the tartare was good but not great. That was totally off. Halibut with spring peas, hash and greens was AMAZING. Octopus main course was tender, smokey and also well done. The peach tart dessert was fresh with a combination of 'crumble' on top that made it really decadent but not too sweet or heavy. Fresh peaches and plums were on several of our courses and they were sweet, juicy and perfect for the season. Our dinner came to $225+ including tip and we didn't order wine. It's on the pricy side so be prepared to splurge. We had one shared salad, two main courses, one shared dessert, two cocktails and pellegrino. It's not the place you'll drop in for a weeknight light bite unless you want a glass of wine and their pizzetta's which are delicious. But if you want a normal dinner experience be prepared to invest. It's not out of bounds or over the top - it's a good solid dining experience on the peninsula which are few and far between. The Village Pub and Flea Street Cafe are the closest they have to a competitor; Madera is always hit or miss. So if you want anything on the northern peninsula along these lines Viognier is it. I'd recommend it but it wouldn't be the type of place I'd drop in for a weekly or every other week go after work type meal. It's an evening out.
(4)
Gigi M.

Went there yesterday to celebrate my brother in laws birthday (party of 7). The place was nice and the service (a very friendly Asian guy was our server) was impeccable and superb! The food was delicious too. I had the grilled octopus and my husband had the steak; both dishes were great. For wine we had a bottle of Merlot from Napa (Clous du Vals I think was the name or something close) and it was one of the best Merlot's I ever had. Will definitely go back! The desserts were good but nothing memorable, but because of the professional/awesome SERVICE they deserved 5 stars! Cheers!
(5)
Julieann T.

I wined and dined here and it was quite spectacular! It was difficult finding, but definitely a hidden gem! Found this restaurant on yelp and it exceeded my expectations! I chose the three course meal! The chef complimented us with a soup shooter which was supposed to liven our palette. I started off with the sweet cakes (veal), then for my entree I chose the bacon wrapped lamb, and for dessert I had the deconstructed rocky road. After each course was served, the waitress that delivered the course explained the dish to us (where and what things were). It was an exquisite presentation with delectable flavors that will leave a lasting impression on my palette. The service was wonderful with no complaints! Definitely thinking of coming to this restaurant monthly!
(5)
Farrah N.

I've lived in the area all my life, and before downtown San Mateo became a haven of delicious foods and eats, Viognier was one of the only true fine dining establishments in the area. Heads up. This place is very very pricey $$$$ and located on the top floor of a supermarket (Draegers), but once you get your food... you will be amazed and happy! I myself enjoy their steak and veal selections, but I'm not going to lie... I could come here soley for their dessert menu. TRY EVERYTHING. Their appetizers are great to share if you come in a group, which I rarely do. From service to food, there isn't anything I haven't liked in the past decade I've dined here. Once I found a blonde hair in my food that was embedded in the sauce. JACKPOT! Extra flavor! Jk... They immediately replaced it free of charge and delivered two desserts of choice on the house. :) Very classy establishment! Enjoy!
(5)
Steven L.

Remember going to here for Mother's Day earlier in 2014. This was one of the greatest services I had ever experienced. Everything from the hors d'oeuvres to the main course to even the dessert was excellent. I recommend this banquet for anyone for special occasions in a classy yet festive manner.
(5)
Terel B.

What a surprise! A restaurant upstairs from Draeger's? A little tough to find, but well worth it. I was surprised to see the restaurant not very full. I thought the food was outstanding, and the service was well above average. Order a 3, 4 or 5 course meal. I was there for a business dinner, but I'd love to take my wife there.
(4)
Mike T.

Don't go here unless you have a very refined palate. Otherwise the nuance and symphony will be lost on you.
(5)
Stephanie T.

Viognier is the kind of restaurant that's becoming more and more scarce in this modern foodie culture of ours. So I was thrilled to find a place offering just the kind of good ol' fashioned fine-dining indulgence I was in the mood for...an incredible menu of classic French-influenced dishes with a phenomenal wine list to match. We each ordered the four-course prix fixe menu with a three-course wine pairing (wines were brilliantly selected). The staff was friendly & attentive, and our server was spot-on. Wish I remembered his name so I could give him a proper shout out on here (pero gracias por tomando nuestro foto, y por la noche magnÃfico tambiÃ©n). Thanks to everyone at Viognier!
(5)
A Q.

****THIS REVIEW IS FOR GLUTEN-FREE DINING EXPERIENCE ONLY**** I'm having a really hard time deciding whether or not to give 3 or 4 stars. My family came here yesterday for my mother-in-law's birthday. The ambience is comfortable - warm colors and wood create a nice touch. My brother-in-law called the restaurant ahead of time to confirm that Viognier would be able to cater to GF patrons - which they do. As we were seated, our main host explained the menu to us and that we could order prix fixe items or a la carte. The menu is relatively small - but all the ingredients sounded amazing and many locally sourced. I ended up choosing a three item prix fixe, the leek soup, shrimp and grits, and I hadn't totally decided on the dessert yet because sorbet is a bit boring but I wasn't sure that I would be able to have the smores because of the graham cracker crumble. The host was very helpful making sure that nothing with gluten would come in to contact with my food and that ingredients may be substituted or omitted based upon my needs. I thought that was really cool....until I started getting the food!!! The leek soup was quite good actually. Lots of different flavors mingling together - the leek, salmon roe, and fennel marmalade really looked like they would not mesh well but it was amazing. Things were going pretty well for me so far. My husband chose the 4 course meal and his leek soup was brought out after mine. HIs was different! (This makes sense given what the host said, but it seemed that his flavors and colors on the plate were much more delectable.) Also, in exchange for the fried kale I think my soup had small pieces of romaine lettuce - which seemed ok when I first got the dish but a comparative look left a lot to be desired. The second course was by far the weirdest experience. Grits are corn....as far as I know...which is why I thought it was a "safe" dish to order. When my plate was brought to me, the presentation of shrimp was amazing. Six huge prawns were rotated standing around each other on an awesome bed of dark greens. Wait....where's my GRITS!!!!!?!?!?!? My husband just says "oh they are probably under the shrimp mountain. Nope! I have to say those 6 shrimp were freaking amazing but I was so sad that I didn't get my grits with hot bourbon BBQ sauce!!!! So disappointing. My sister-in-law said they probably gave me extra shrimp. But still... Before the desserts came out the host went around the table asking how our experience had been so far. I explained to the host that given the title of the dish it would have been courteous of them to explain to me that grits would not be served and given me an opportunity to change my dish. I really wanted the grits more than the shrimp. So remember how I was unsure about my dessert selection? Well cue 25 minutes later when all our desserts were being brought out! The first thing I thought was that I was supposed to have another consult about which dessert I could have. Turns out that I didn't have to worry - they modified the smores dessert and omitted the graham crumble. It was amazing, and decorated amazingly. I guess, for me, it just boils down to communication. I cannot compain much because it was a safe dining experience and they did go out of their way for that. But no grits...........?? I'll be sad about this for a while. Time to learn how to make them at home! Another point: My brother-in-law specifically told the host that it was my mother-in-law's birthday. Nothing was done for this. She doesn't like to be embarrassed so she said it was okay - but I'm not sure it is.
(3)
Hannah L.

Celebrated a quiet and romantic birthday dinner thanks to the bf! Viognier is definitely a gem! The ambiance is classy and it has a romantic feel to the place. It's located on top of a market in downtown San Mateo. The service is impeccable and the food was delicious! We had the three course meal and ordered the California King Salmon Tartare, Roasted Forest Mushroom Salad, Seared Mt. Lassen Trout, Angus Hanger Steak, White Chocolate Cheesecake, and the Five Artisan Cheeses. The food was all spectacular and prepared nicely. I enjoyed every piece of the three course meal and would definitely come here again to wine and dine. Great place for a date, a special occasion, or just to wine and dine. It seems Viognier hosts cooking classes which seems like a lot of fun! A classy restaurant with delectable food.
(5)
Bradford R.

love this restaurant. whenever we want a luxurious meal but don't want to deal with the hassle of driving to and parking in San Francisco, this is our go to meal. The food and service are both reliably outstanding!
(5)
LJ G.

Lowered to 3 stars because cuisine not quite as special as last time. I wanted to lower to 3 1/2 but YELP doesn't let you give half stars. We shared the flatbread with caramelized onions and that was really tastey...but expensive at $15. We both had the three course, at $55 each. I should have bought a bottle of wine because by the glass it was $18. I had gone on line before we made the reservation and saw that they offered happy hour pricing on drinks and bottles of wine before 7pm, but when we were seated, were told that only applies in the lounge. Leek soup was bland. I wanted to add salt but of course there was none on the table and I didn't want to ask. The bus person who took my bowl could easily see I had barely touched it but didn't say a word. I half expected the waiter to catch that but also did not. My skirt steak was good, but tougher than expected. I thought the knife would slide through like butter, but I actually had to struggle a bit with it. Dessert of ice cream boring, but my husband enjoyed the mango cheesecake. Total bill was $235 before tip. I would rather go to Town in San Carlos for half the price.
(3)
Melody T.

WOW. A bit odd that this amazing french gem sits on top of a fancy gourmet market. 3 courses for $55, but every course is delicious! Well worth a trip to the peninsula if you are a city dweller. We will be returning, thanks for an amazing Christmas eve dinner! Warm decor and friendly staff. Everyone was pleased - from the oysters, to the soup, to the salad, quail, and even the wagyu beef. THANK YOU. YUM
(5)
Carol T.

We really enjoyed this dinner-excellent service and fabulous food. We had the three course dinner with wine pairings. I had the cod for my main course and my husband had the short ribs--both were delicious. The menu is very inventive and the wine pairings enabled us to try different wines. It wasn't an inexpensive meal but well worth the price.
(4)
Rene C.

If you love fine dining, but are on a tight budget this might be the option you are looking for. The bar area offers a smaller "lounge menu" that includes some easy on the wallet comfort bites. The burger here is one of the best I have had in recent memory. Quality beef served on a house baked brioche bun is simply mouthwatering. The accompanying truffle fries are also excellent, but careful here as they are addicting. On our last visit my wife and I also sampled the kobe pastrami sandwich which was outstanding delicious. It's not quite up to Refuge (in San Carlos) standards, but certainly freaking phenomenal. The wine list here is consistently one of the better you will find. Plenty of excellent options in all price ranges, and trust me when I tell you that you need not spend a gazillion dollars to land a decent bottle of wine. On our last visit, we snagged a bottle of Bradford Mountain zinfandel (Sonoma County) for around $40. Even though you are sitting in the bar, you will still get the same refined service as you would get in the main dining room. The cheese and dessert courses can all be had as well. Don't skip out without sampling the cheese! Dinner for 3 (two burgers, 3 cocktails, 1 bottle of wine, cheese) $170.00
(5)
Harris W.

Selected Viognier solely on yelp reviews. We arrived for a reunion dinner to a nearly vacant dining room on a Friday evening. Very concerning! Nice ambiance though, - warm, relaxing but bright lighting reminded me of a department store. Suggest softer lighting to compliment the experience. Food quality and presentation superior (four star) but not memorable. Portions woefully understated. Wait staff was attentive. Had difficulty making out hostess rushed delivery of wine suggestions. Seemed anxious and tentative. No need though, her recommendations were sound. Simply needs more confidence. Reason for the three star rating was price. Menu is ala carte and pricing was inflated without merit. For the most part all entrees are priced similarly. Wine menu also suffers from price arrogance. I wanted to give this restaurant a higher rating but held back by poor price modeling. Look at your competitors $$$ and I be back:)
(3)
Paul B.

Good surprise. We enjoyed the chef menu very much. The room and decor are not as nice as it could be though.
(4)
Dee C.

all in all as expected. the service was excellent - possibly over attending. the food was wonderful. i have a hard time looking at a $9 bottle of pelligrino and keeping a straight face - but that's part of the experience (spending money). the chef has laid the courses out in an unusual way. we chose one of five entrees, one of about the same main courses, and one of five or so deserts. that is a little different. we let our wait person go wild with wine pairing and found it agreeable. friendly, quiet, intimate, california neuvo cuisine - small portions. i'm not sure that we will return but it was one of the nicer dining experience of the year.
(5)
Ashley C.

I remember I liked it, but just don't remember what i ordered LOL
(3)
Marc K.

I agree with the other reviews that the cuisine is great (though the menu stays identical for months in a row) and the wine list superb (though pricey). The service is the issue for a restaurant of that potential as the waiters can be amateurish - note the sommelier himself is excellent - and the reception a disaster as it happened to us last Monday. My visiting friend and I went to have dinner on Monday around 7:15pm and showed at the restaurant without reservation. It was a quiet night with 3 tables of customers attended by 3 waiters (plus the manager herself). We were told we couldn't be sit immediately at one of the many empty tables as other customers with reservations would show up and should be served in priority over us. I replied we understood and could wait at a table with an order of a glass of wine while waiting to be attended for dinner. The receptionist said it was impossible to sit us immediately. Upon my insistence, she offered we talk to her manager. Unfortunately, the manager herself was not any more customer-oriented and refused our simple request to wait for service sitting at a dinner table rather than at the bar in a restaurant that was nearly empty. Unbelievable! With such a stubbornness, we left the place and walked a couple of blocks away to another local restaurant with a great cuisine. It seems inflexible procedures were more important than minimum customer satisfaction. BAD concept for a restaurant...
(2)
Shawn C.

A gem in San Mateo, but feels out of place in that town. Price point is appropriately high on par with the quality (should be $$$$, not $$$). Prix fixe dinner menu with 3 levels starting at $55pp, wine pairing extra. Based on our experience on a quiet Weds night we felt the food was really excellent (as good as the best of SF and Napa) and the service courteous but perhaps a tad slower than we'd prefer. We had the 3 course and waddled out stuffed. Nice bar area at the front and happy hour from 5-7. Great wine list (US & French focus) and obviously a decent selection of viogniers. Probably a bit much for an average weeknight dinner out (came to about $100pp including a $41 bottle and tax/tip) but we'll definitely be back soon. Also, there were three large tables of business diners. Great place to impress clients on the Peninsula.
(5)
Phoebe T.

Had the Valentine's day $95 5-course menu. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The ambience in the restaurant was very classy and suitable for couples.
(5)
Carrie-C N.

Was pretty worried, when we walked in, and the place was practically empty. But foodwise, I like this place. Only disappointment that night was that they ran out of several food items. It's okay, as the food was quite good for the area. We probably won't come back because ti's out of the way for us, but you should try it!
(4)
Heather K.

Holy. Crap. What an amazing restaurant!!! We came in a few nights ago to celebrate our wedding anniversary with a special dinner....the place came highly recommended by both my husband's coworkers and my own, so we were very excited to check it out. The restaurant is in downtown San Mateo and is situated above the Draeger's supermarket. Parking is everywhere -- street parking, the Draeger's lot, the San Mateo Central Parking Garage -- so you shouldn't have any trouble there. An elegant softly-lit staircase leads up to the restaurant from the street entrance. We were seated at a cute table next to a cozy fireplace. The decor inside is classy and warm, with lots of wood and some really interesting paintings. Our server, Liam, was awesome -- right on point and incredibly polite. He had some excellent recommendations as well, especially when it came time to choose cheeses for the cheese plate my husband ordered, so if you meet him, definitely tap into that resource! We both went with the three-course dinner option; my husband added the sommelier's wine pairing to his ($55 for a 3-course meal and only another $29 to add the wine pairing -- hell yeah!). Now, before I go all ape-shit about the wine, let me get the food out of the way. Holy ass, this is one of the best meals I think I've ever had. I went with the butternut squash bisque as my first course. A nice big portion was served, poured out into the bowl at the table over a scoop of Greek yogurt; crunchy onions for added flavor. It was decadent. My next course was Parisian gnocchi with Maine lobster dumplings - amazing flavor, cooked perfectly, I almost died. I think I shared one little piece with my husband and would have bitten his arm off if he tried to grab another! And for my last course, I chose the seared day boat scallops. These were served with a curried parsnip puree, cauliflower, and the cutest little mushroom caps on the planet. I have never eaten cauliflower with so much flavor before. Everything was such a perfect compliment for each other and the presentation was just beautiful as well. And the scallops themselves -- ZOMG -- I don't think Gordon Ramsay could have done a better job with those. I took tiny little bites trying to make it all last! Total perfection. And the portion sizes were just right. I ate a little too much bread at the beginning of the meal thinking that they'd be really dinky and I'd need some extra bulk in my tummy, but I was wrong. Ended up feeling quite full! Ok, now on to the wine. I almost had a stroke when I spied my absolute all-time favorite on the wine list....Weingut Baumann Oppenheimer Sacktrager Riesling Auslese. It's a mouthful but well worth remembering! Not only did they have it, but they had TWO vintages -- the 1983 and the 1989!! GAHHH!!!! I went with the '89 just in the interest of cost, but it was fucking spectacular. I seriously have been scouring the Internet looking for bottles of this stuff for the last 3 freaking years, and here it was right under my nose the whole time. So yes, we ordered a bottle of it, and I could have died happy right then and there. They even let me take the empty bottle home with me. :D Food, wine, and then service...the trifecta....our service was right on point. Like I said, Liam was an awesome server -- attentive, helpful, and quite entertaining. I didn't catch the sommelier's name, but he was great as well. The wines he paired with my husband's dishes were excellent, including the port he selected to pair with Liam's cheese recommendations. He even went the extra mile for me with my wine....I guess the cork was so old, he had to use extreme measures to open the bottle and then to retrieve the cork once it fell down inside! Ha. At the end of our meal, we weren't rushed out even though it was a little past closing time. With our check, Liam brought us some cute and delicious little truffles & macarons. We left feeling like kids in a candy store -- I seriously cannot wait to come back again. 5 stars isn't nearly enough.
(5)
Jenn K.

very good food and great service. its pricey but worth it
(4)
Eric W.

Great service, very good food and wine. Went for my wife's birthday and they provided a nice complimentary "surprise" dessert. Just wish there were more people. The vibe was a little too dead.
(4)
David W.

A hidden gem tucked above a supermarket, with a hard-to-find (and hard-to-open!) door, as you walk up the obscure, curving steps to nowhere you'd really have no idea whatsoever you were climbing to arguably the Bay Area's finest secret gem of a restaurant. The ambiance is classy - sit by the booth or sit by the curtains to let the sun add dappling accents to your food and date. The service is top-notch: kind, humorous, and attentive without being demanding. If you order a pairing, the bartender (also sommelier) offers each pour and explains the wine. If you didn't like it, new and amazing alternates will show up without comment. The prix fixe is usually pretty much just a combination of courses from the "a la carte", which (a little oddly) is itself just a choice of 3, 4, or 5 courses. It's a lot more fun to just pick your own five course meal (and the sommelier will offer excellent pairings), though there's no amuse bouche if you do. It's reasonably priced for Very Very Good Food. Expect to spend about $80-120/pp with pairings. I've eaten here five times, and I've never once been disappointed with the quality of the dishes themselves. Exquisitely prepared, surprising flavor combinations, delightful textures, fresh ingredients...everything that you love to love about Food Done Awesome is here every time. And the menu changes around frequently enough to keep you coming back for more. Some highlights: foie gras mocha espresso mousse, white corn risotto, duck with sour cherry, and a vanilla malt dessert that will make you melt faster than the ice cream. So take your lover here and fan the flames of romance with a truly astoundingly good little local gem. [hearts]
(5)
Chris K.

Expensive, but great service and good food.
(4)
Mot Y.

It was good. Actually real good. I like frenchie food, but not in France. People are mean in that country. :/
(5)
Steven W.

Mainly Prix Fixe and fancy.
(4)
Leonela S.

Great intimate setting and best duck dish!
(5)
a z.

Great service and beautiful presentation of food. If only the taste could match. Of the 9 different items we tried from the tasting menu, I can only recommend the risotto.
(3)
Cheryl M.

Still one of my favorite places to dine! Friendly wait staff, good food, great ambiance...Enough said!
(4)
Naomi A.

We've been wanting to try this place for a while and finally had the chance to pop in, and it just so happened to be happy hour (M-F, 5:00-7:00)! I tried the IcyCool cocktail, which was yummy but you have to really like cucumbers, husband with with house red which he enjoyed (both $7 each). We also tried the flatbread and house made kobe pastrami on rye, both quite tasty. We'll definitely be back for happy hour and a full dinner soon!
(4)
Chris S.

A very nice dinner. Tried a total of about nine dishes, all of which were very enjoyable, particularly the charcuterie.
(4)
Curtis L.

Fine dining with an extra half star for value! Ok, so 55 bucks for three courses per person is not cheap. But with the right strategy, you can really get your feedbag on here! One can order any three items on the menu for 55 dollars! What! This means that I can order three entrees for the price of a traditional salad, entree and dessert? The mind reels at the thought of the combinations! Date night with "She who must be obeyed." My fantastic wife of over 24 years!( she is a saint!) turned out terrific with shared courses(no extra charge)! Charcuterie- house smoked prosciutto, and other brined, smoked meats with wonderful pickled veggies was really too much for a first course! This blows my mind on how much food they presented! It was so yummy we took it home and made gourmet grilled sandwiches out of them the next day! Short Ribs-Great smoked, tender hunk of meat that was fantastic but not what was expected because there was no gravy to sop up. ( I reccommend passing on this and going for the quale, or squab that the other table raved about). Scallops- beautiful large succulent carmalized outside with moist, sweet, and firm meat with wonderful sauce and grits was almost too much for my senses as I had to slow down my eating to truly savor the experience! We splurged and ordered decaf coffee with our wonderful deconstructed cheese cake dessert. Out came two personal pressed coffee pots for us! I have gone to other restaurants and have spent twice as much per person and did not come out any more satisfied and full than this wonderful restaurant. Special bonus goes to the free parking downstairs that if it rains, you can go upstairs without a jacket! Considering the quality and quantity of the food and the wonderful service, it blows my mind why this place is not crowded everynight!
(4)
Adam K.

An awesome restaurant for a special occasion. My wife and I have been here on two occasions, once for our anniversary and once for My Wife's Birthday, all I can say is the evenings were both fantastic. On the occasion of my wife's birthday, I had them reserve a couple of bottles of her favorite wine. It is a very hard to find German Riesling that she is utterly nuts about. They not only kept their last two bottles based solely on an email from me, but they made the whole affair absolutely unforgettable for my wife. We had Liam as our server on both occasions, I have to love this guy, he has the balance of humor, quiet sophistication and sheer timing down to an art form. At a place like the the server can make or break an ambiance and Liam is a pro. The menu is set up to allow you to try a number of plates, I would go for 3, since the portions seem to be set for about that many, if you like wine, try the sommeliers wine pairing, they are always wonderfully complimentary to the meal, they don't overwhelm the flavors, but are not lost either, often they bring out a subtle tone that wasn't their in the meal alone. Frankly I could eat here everyday if my wallet could handle it, however, I am yet to join the ranks of the super rich so this will continue to be a treat my wife and I look forward to.
(5)
Eric H.

Seems Very nice. The ambiance was nice, not too much light not too little, there is a fireplace by all the 2 people only tables, reservations only, greeted as soon as you walk in, and seated right away, nice. That's where is ends. There is a $25 corkage fee, a little high even for up scale but I wanted we wanted our own wine, so we brought a red and a white. Now I have brought wine before to fancy places and usually they as right away if you want it uncorked, especially red, to have it ready to drink, not here. It took three attempts to get them to finally uncork the wine and let it breath. So right off the bat service is a tick down. Then no drink explanations or appetizer explanations, just here is a menu look for yourself and when asked, yes its good was the only answer we received. Service overall was very lacking for the night, especially at such a nice looking place. Then the food, very creative, and well presented, but mediocre taste at best. The tuna tartar should have been called a beet tartar, because that is all it tasted like, beets, beets, beets. I tried another dish from someone at the table a sausage something that tasted like wet dog, literally like licking a wet dog without the texture. Still, I was hoping maybe my taste buds were not up to the challenge and moved on to the main course, which was Hawaiian Walu. This was good, not outstanding to the point the rest of the meal is forgiven good, but good as in nothing was the matter with it. And dessert followed the main courses lead and was good by all regular standards. Very lack luster performance for such a nice looking place. All in all I do not recommend this place.
(2)
Emre S.

We don't go to "fancy" restaurants too often so reader beware. We spent $180 for a three course meal with a glass each. The ambiance, food, and especially the service were great. Okay, my toast was burnt, but I substituted it for the fabulous bread in the basket so I'm not complaining. The customers are generally over forty, and well behaved. I left full, and my wallet left empty.
(4)
Abe L.

Not a fan anymore. When they first opened, years ago, it was a place to go in dtsm, but now they are outdated and overpriced for what they offer. You are better off with vault
(3)
michelle l.

We've been here twice, and both times we had wonderful service. I love how quiet and intimate the place is. The wine list is phenomenal. The first time we went with our own bottle (I had been saving a very nice Burgundy for a special occasion), and it was treated with complete care and respect. However, we were so impressed by the wine list that we decided to return to try out Viognier's cellar. We were very satisfied by the selection and price (and by the way the staff poured). Food is a little spotty. I think they do appetizers and shared plates really well. The last time we were there, my husband did not enjoy his pork at all, and I wasn't crazy about my Mediterranean sea bass (just a little too fishy). Desserts aren't that great either, although I am a fan of the cheese cart. All in all, I'd probably return, but I think I'll have to move around which three courses I choose.
(4)
Glen S.

Incredibly poor service. We only had an hour for a meal which we told our server on arrival. The server said that was fine. As such, we only ordered two courses -- a soup and a salad to start and then a fish and a vegetarian dish for the second courses. The salad with persimmons and pomegranate was good but miniscule. The squash soup was fine, but had an over dose of cream. No subtlety for this dish. We waited for a period for the entrees and reminded our server of our deadline. She said fine - "they are plating it". We waited. Tick tick tick... We told her once again that we had to leave and if the food wasn't served, we would have to bail. No dinner and we had to leave hungry and disappointed. Adding insult to injury, we got the bill -- $39 for a tiny salad and bowl of creamed soup.
(1)
Bernard N.

Good people. good food. Lamb is the best.
(5)
Ananda C.

The most mediocre meal I've ever spent $200 for. Everything seemed a bit off. From the outdated supermarket feel of the decor, to the sour cream in my squash soup, to the hard garbanzo beans accompanying my duck, to the un-identifiable spongy thing on my lemon mousse... If the prices were 60% of what they are, I wouldn't complain. But for those prices I expect finesse I didn't experience there. The service was good though.
(2)
Craig S.

My review is for the private room dining. I have done about 10 private events here in the past 7 years. The food is usually very good as is the service. The last 2 events I have held here I can't say the same. I hosted 15 guests in October. The service was very good but the food was marginal at best. Bland salads, extremely under cooked hangar steak and average desert. I had an event for 13 guests in December and was very disappointed in the service. There were lots of problems mostly with the room and the logistics and frankly Michael the banquet manager acted like he was doing me a favor and came off as rude and unconcerned about our problems. As far as the food goes the salad was bland and the beef short rib needed to be cooked longer to render out all the fat. The desert was good. It's kind of a shame because the location and space are very nice but it's never a good thing when you spend most of your time resolving their problems instead of tending to my guests.
(2)
Lynne R.

My husband and I went last night for our Anniversary. We have been before and Viognier never fails to please. We ordered the 4 course dinner and each course was plentiful and beautifully presented. It makes you want to take a photo of each dish they look so nice. Between the 2 of us, we had the Squash blossom and duck confit flatbread, Heirloom tomato salad, Gazpacho, NY Steak, seared Scallops, Scalloped Potatoes (I forget the fancy name for them), Monterey squid, Peach crumble and white chocolate cheesecake. In addition, they presented us with a Happy Anniversary "snickers in a jar" dessert that was fabulous. With your check, you are also presented with 4 little cookies. Our server was the best. Very attentive and friendly, but not overly so as some can be. It's a little weird that they are located above Draegers grocery store, but once you are upstairs in the restaurant, you do not even realize you are even in the store. Parking in their garage is free for patrons. Will continue to return again and again.
(5)
Roland D.

Disappointed. Some and and low moments, but just generally a meh experience with a high price. We've been here a few times before and had better experiences. The first thing we noticed was that on a Saturday night, prime time, the place is at most half full. Service ranges from leisurely to slow. In a dinner party, there is often the "basic" person who wants chicken or a recognizable cut of beef - something familiar, done nicely. The menu really doesn't accommodate that person very well. The menu is NOT what is on the website dinner menu. The flatbreads are good. Salmon flatbread very nice, and the oysters were perfectly fresh. Cocktails were perfectly executed and presented. For main courses, we each selected two items, and sampled from each others' plates. The "trotter" was a spring roll sized and shaped item composed of mildly seasoned pork. Potato leek soup was a nice, but plain. Rabbit terrine was nice, but unremarkable. Trout was a bit over-seasoned and over-cooked while a nut crusted fish (flounder?) was very nice. Wine selection is extensive, as it the mark-up, making it a challenge to find a nice pairing that doesn't double the bill. Desserts, including cheeses, are served with a flourish. All in all, a B to B- experience and the tab was 115/person, including inexpensive wine. That makes for an expensive just nice meal.
(2)
Joy L.

This place is so hidden. It's located on top of a grocery store (Draeger's). Their food was divine and their service was impeccable! Not to mention, they have a huge selection of wines, and they're all really good ones. I'm so glad we have such a lovely restaurant here in San Mateo. Now we don't have to drive all the way to SF for great food and wine! :)
(5)
Sandy L.

Viognier is located inside a nice grocery store and there is a cooking school in the building as well. I had a very good dinner and would definitely come back. Here's what I had: - Beet Salad with goat cheese - Foie gras - Skate Wing - Beignet The food was tasty and the service was excellent! I am excited to look into the cooking class!
(4)
Dave N.

We've eaten here several times now, though it really is more of a special occasion sort of place. This sort of rich, prix fixe, multi-course, wine-pairing, 3 hour, three-figure meal has its place, but it isn't my favorite type of food. That said, Viognier is the best in downtown SM and appreciably better than 231 Ellsworth. You can mitigate damage to your pocketbook and the clock by eating at the bar during happy hour. We had the sliders (bar menu only) and they are truly the best in town and worth the extra dough. The booze selection is truly top notch and the best in town. This place is in keeping with the delightful, extraordinary Draeger's Market below.
(4)
Lorna J.

What is it that keeps me coming back to Viognier? It's in my neighborhood, the food is always good, the service is great and it's fun to be recognized now. But the real reason...? the hamburgers here are the best, served on a brioche bun, meat grilled perfectly and great French fries served with ketchup with a bit of truffle oil. Can't say that I have had a better burger in this town!
(5)
Kenn E.

Good food. Good ambient. We use this restaurant for a little special occasions.
(4)
Randy F.

What a pleasant surprise... Like a few people, I happened to have a business dinner here in one of the private rooms (actually outside the main restaurant and in the midst of Draeger's). Having been to many of these type of meals, I expected a decent talk and a decent meal. Service from the get go though was quite attentive. We had quite a few appetizers and each item was tasty, albeit the usual items (bruschetta, satay). Where this restaurant really hit a home run though was the main entrees. I had grown skeptical of really great fare from the usual business prix fixe menu. The two stars were the rib eye and the halibut. I don't have any idea of the price (since I did not see the regular menu), but without price bias, I can confidently say that the rib eye was one of the top 3 I've had in my life. It easily beats the majority of steakhouses I've been to. Why so good? First off, it was cooked to perfection. While the waiter wouldn't take a cooked setting, he did say at large dinners like these they were all cooked medium rare to medium. Mine was medium rare and tender, but also slightly salty and crusty on the outside. It was topped with a great, but not overwhelming sauce of mushrooms and itself was on a mixed bed of garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. In all honesty, our entire table was completely mesmerized away from the speaker as we all proceeded to slowly devour our main entrees. The halibut elicited a similar reaction in those that ordered it. Bread (w/ garlic and cheese) was also wonderful. The only downer of the entire meal was dessert, which from the other reviews, must not be this places strong suit. We had a chocolate mousse that was dense and ultra sweet. No one took more than 2 bites. Overall, quite impressed. For San Mateo, this is quite a gem. I plan on going again and might even use my own credit card...
(3)
Ro C.

Great experience ever. Made a reservation and mentioned that it was for our wedding anniversary. They sat us at the best table of the house, in front of the fireplace for the right mood complete with privacy. Service was impeccable and we even got special desert with a candle to commemorate that evening and an added small desert for that special touch. Food was delicious paired with wine. My best dish was the Roasted Muscovy duck breast, delicious and sooo moist. The amount of food is just perfect, not too little and not too much. It even satisfied my husband who is a big eater. But you need to have a full course though. You can even come here for just a 1 course meal and save yourself some $ and still experience good food. We dined there on July 19, 2012.
(5)
Yunmi B.

I'm writing this review a bit late but was thinking about all the fine dining restaurants I've been to over the years and of all of them, I think this is the top one on my list. Here's what I loved: -The food was creative and delicious. Foie gras creme brulee anyone? -They have a sommelier that knows his wine and offered excellent wine pairings. -Ambiance was perfect. Not too loud, not too stiff or quiet. -Excellent wait staff. Always timed the food so we weren't hungry or too full at any given time. -Great location. We walked from our house! If you want a memorable culinary experience, try this restaurant. It is pricey but worth every penny!
(5)
Greg S.

Exquisite food, perfect service, warm atmosphere, and the price is very reasonable considering all of those! Not cheap, but just wonderful experience, and thoughtful staff.
(5)
Lira K.

Our waiter and the rest of the staff could not have been nicer. The restaurant is quiet, and the music is audible but subdued. The vibe is serene and sophisticated and soothing, one of the few restaurants I know of that could make that claim. However, this was due in part to the fact that the restaurant was almost deserted when we went. When we left close to 8:00 p.m., there were only a couple of tables occupied. The restaurant did one thing I give it high marks for. Halfway through our dinner, some people came in with kids. (Why anyone would take kids to a place where the minimum tab is $55 is beyond me, but to each his own). Thankfully, they did not put the kids right next to us, so they could scream, whine, beat the table with their forks, and do singsong and ruin our meal. (I do in fact love children, but some of them should not be allowed in nice restaurants until they learn basic manners). They put the kids at the other end of the restaurant, which was easy to do since there were almost no patrons. Also, the location above Draeger's is lovely, particularly during the holidays, when it gets dark early and all the Christmas decorations are up. I would return just for the ambiance. However, prices are ferociously high, given the variable quality of the food. The customer has no choice but to get the fixed price dinner , which starts at $55; sorry, but you have to be Chez Panisse quality to succeed with that. If I returned, I would have a drink and a burger in the lounge, but even that would set me back $30. The soup course was quite good, and so was the salad. The dessert was decent, but nothing remarkable. I had beignets, which are done better at Pican, and my friend had baked Alaska, which was just not that good. For the entree, we got the slow cooked short ribs, which I have had elsewhere and loved. These were literally half fat and we almost sent them back. No matter how well cooked they were, you had to work like a dog to tease a few pieces of meat loose from the fatty mass. The waiter said they were fatty because they were Kobe beef, but in that case, the restaurant should have chosen something else as one of the dinner entrees. Our bill came to $90 each including a 20% tip. The restaurant did write off our wine and cocktails, so that eased the pain. But in the end, I was sorry I had not saved the money for a Monday trip to Chez Panisse. Nice place, but it really needs work. I've had memorable fixed price meals at Chez Panisse and Manresa, and this was not of comparable quality. I really had my hopes up because of some glowing 5-star reviews here on Yelp, but unfortunately we did not catch the restaurant on a 5-star night.
(2)
Abhi L.

Awesome place ! Great for special occasions ! Awesome food, great service and ambiance. Lots of great vegetarian options as well.
(5)
Sarah B.

If you're hungry for brunch, come and get 2 things because this place has some small ass portions. Their waffle was like a pretty flower pancake. I would go back because the food was good but maybe I would eat first. That doesn't seem right.
(4)
Kristina L.

Duck me! Start off with the Duck Board to share: a huge platter of with tastings of anything duck, the seared foie gras was my fav. Order the Chef's Truffle menu for sprinkling of the daily goodies and if you wanna live it up; have it with the wine pairings to complement each course. Smooth off your palette with their Trio of fresh sorbets.
(3)
Selene L.

Vacillating between 3.5 and 4 stars. The food was very good, but seemed a bit pricey. So Viognier is located above Draeger's grocery store and is also apparently incorporates a cooking school. I made reservations for 4 on a Saturday night through Open Table a few days in advance. There were several tables of diners, but I wouldn't consider it busy. Most of the diners were in the 40+ age range. As for atmosphere, the lighting was dim, and the decor was simple - one review described the decor as "corporate" which is not far off the mark. Volume: low. I think being located above a grocery store took away from the fine dining experience for me. I came through the grocery store entrance where you have to go up the escalator and wind through the store. I advise going in through the street entrance instead, so you don't get the grocery store effect. Overall the wait staff was attentive and pleasant, though we did have to wait quite awhile after being seated for someone to come around and acknowledge us. So, the food. I will say, $55 for a three course prix fixe seems a little steep to me, BUT you can choose ANY three items...meaning if you wanted to, you could get three mains! And you can choose from anything on the menu including the Chef's tasting menu. Plus, the portions are generous. No one walked away hungry at our table. So perhaps $55 isn't bad after all. I got the Fig and Watermelon Salad with Prosciutto, Feta and Candied Pralines; the Grilled Short Rib with peppers and chimichurri; and the Pear Pain (oh, I forget what it is called) for desert. Everything was very good. The salad had more food than expected, and the meat dish was especially generously sized. The desert was different. The waiter described it as "a big crouton" which wasn't too far off. I probably would describe it as almost like a sweet polenta cake with a crispy exterior and soft interior with pears, and ice cream. Delicious. My dining companions also had the gazpacho, grilled squid, deep fried trotter, layered potatoes, quail, gnocchi, and another dessert. Everything was very good. Also, we were celebrating a birthday, and the waiter brought us a delicious parfait with a candle. I think I liked it better than my pear desert! Overall, I would recommend Viognier because the food is solid. But be prepared to shell out some dough. Upscale, but not hip, atmosphere leaves a little to be desired. Some might say that you can get better value elsewhere, which i don't disagree with, but in the end I was happy with my experience and with the delicious food I had, bottom line. Great night with great friends!
(4)
Dena M.

I was at Viognier for the first time last night celebrating an anniversary. What an amazing little gem this restaurant is. Wonderful variety of menu selections and options and fantastic food. I choose a 3 course meal for $55, giving me the choice of selecting any 3 menu items. I started with a lobster and mushroom risotto that was rich and delicate and truly amazing. The rest of the meal did not disappoint, but I'd rather not give too much away. Go check it out for yourselves and have a great meal at wonderful price. Every dish is a masterpiece.
(5)
Jennifer F.

Lovely, simply lovely! The food was decadent, but served in small enough portions that I could eat my entire 4 courses. The ingredients were fresh, ripe, picked with the utmost care and prepared wonderfully. I'd go back for the bread basket alone...miniature loaves of parmesean encrusted sourdough, brioche, brown bread with pecans and cranberry stuffed ciabatta rolls. We ate two baskets full! The sommalier is expert at suggesting a wine pairing (if you don't do the entire pairing menu and merely want a glass, or two). The waitstaff was knowledgable, professional, swift and extremely friendly (in the, "not over the top, overtly chatty," sort of way). They knew to bring us more bread even when we declined (we'd obviously eaten the entire basket and were staring longingly at the crumbs collected in the linen) and they made us a special dessert for our anniversary. I went here on a gift card, but I'd save up my money and go again. Four courses, complete with three desserts (the ones we ordered, the surprise dessert and miniatures brought with our bill) is perfect to stuff you but not make you sick. I'm not sure I could eat five without a marathon beforehand.
(5)
Malison M.

I love this place! It's pricey but well worth the price. The menu changes seasonally so you want to make sure to come back to try awesome new things each time. I love the dessert cheeses. The restaurant is california food with french flair. Everything has always been really great here. However... I miss the duck platter! Bring the duck platter back!!!
(5)
Jaime L.

Despite not seating past 730 last night, they called around to several different restaurants to see if they were open, AND made a reservation at Spiedo for us. Seriously, people. Stop being so damn awesome. I'm coming back for dinner soon.
(5)
Bunny H.

I was taking my sister and brother-in-law out for dinner. I also brought with me 2 bottles of wine. One white and one red to pair with our dinner. Any fancy restaurant would know to ask if I wanted my red to be opened so that it can breathe. Not here....so much for fancy schmancy, it ain't. It was not busy either so there was no excuse for not asking. We had RSVP, so we sat right down. Our butts have not warmed up, the waiter handed us the cocktail/wine menu and asked if we would like something to drink............uh!!! Hello!!! Duh!!! I looked at him like...we haven't even opened up the list yet....Sheesh!!! Yet, he didn't ask if I would like my wine opened. So I asked him to open up both bottles of my wine, especially the red...so by the time I get my apps and first course the wine would be perfect. But no!!!! I then asked the waiter a second time. He said sure okay. Still he didn't open my wine. After 5 minutes, I grabbed another waiter and said, " Look here, this is the 3rd time that I have to ask for my red wine to be opened. " After all $25 corkage fee per bottle folks. If you're gonna charge me, you might as well do as I say. DEEEEEEEEEEE-YAMMMMMMMMMM!!! The food was not all that. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. Nothing on the menu that was spectacular. I would not go back again....and trust me I am not sorry either!
(3)
M.P R.

Great food. Nice to kids. Great service. Fine dining restaurant. We often take our kids out dining be it casual or fine dining. We went w/3 kids 10, 7, 4. They sent our table complimentary dessert for our children. It is atop of Dreagers Supermarket. but there is no mistake, it is fine dining. Great waitstaff very knowledgeable waiter, re: wine cheese etc.
(4)
emily k.

The food is AMAZING. I've eaten here several times years ago; but this is my first visit with the current chef and menu The menu is inventive and different, and the food tonight was incredible, memorable. The sauces and flavor of the food really stood out. Three of us dined; I don't like gnocchi but was intrigued and ordered the Parmesan gnocchi which is the best dish I've eaten in a long time, and I recently dined at Benu in the City. I'm not a fan of risotto but I tasted my friend's dish and would definitely order the Corn Risotto when I return. My guests raved about their Ratatouille and Halibut, and my Trout with savoy cabbage was so perfectly cooked--the skin crispy and salty and the fish perfectly tender and flavorful. The desserts were also excellent--the white chocolate mousse creamy and delicious with a raspberry sorbet and red velvet cake chunks, and the peach tart so flaky and flavorful. They have fixed prices for 3, 4 and 5 courses. our tab for 3 people, 2 glasses of wine (total, not each) and non alcoholic beverages was $200 not including tip. I've eaten many average to good meals in a lot of SF and Peninsula restaurants, and the food tonight Really Stands Out. I'll be back soon!
(5)
Ailene E.

Everything I have tried at Viognier is always so good, fresh and tasty. The service is outstanding. It is a great place for business lunches, but also for friends and family. Maybe not little kids, but I don't know since I don't have little kids. It's a definite "Must Taste" if you're in San Mateo.
(5)
Mel S.

I love this place! I had the Foie Gras for the 1st course. YUMMY, if you're a foie lover like me. The 2nd course was the slow braised beef short rib. Usually i can't eat a whole short rib to myself, but i finished it up!!!! The 3rd course which was dessert, was something of chocolate? I can't remember, but it was good because i was on a food high at that point. My husband had the same except for the 3rd course he chose the cheese platter! Overall, the whole experience was excellent and we found it quite affordable.
(5)
Marina N.

Maybe a 4-star in San Mateo but nowhere near a 4-star in San Francisco. Loved the major truffle flavor in the risotto but the dish was drown in oil and bland. The fois gras with plum on a corn blini was nice. Wine selection is good. Service is fine. Casual dress is fine.
(3)
Cliff C.

If it wasn't for Yelp, I probably would've never found this place- I walk past Draeger's all the time and never noticed it until I read about it here. Took my family here for my mom's birthday, the food and the service was great. Superb attention to detail- my grandma accidentally knocked over her 3 onion soup and everything was promptly and quietly cleaned up and replaced; mom got a dark chocolate brownie with a candle on top; waitress was friendly and informative. Dinner was relaxed and really enjoyable...I'd go here again.
(4)
Manic Beagle M.

Had dinner there last night with Husband. We had the following: Food: 1. Duckboard: meatloaf, sausage, green salad with bacon (from breast meat) and truffle oil, leg confit and foie gras. This was by far the best of the evening in terms of presentation, savoriness, and deal. 2. Foie Gras: seared perfectly and placed atop a slice of brioche - much like the one on the duckboard, except better because the brioche was thinner and didn't overpower the subtle foie flavor. 3. Seared Scallop: What can $18 get you here? One scallop. It wasn't very fresh too. 4. Veal Sweetbread: tasty, but admitedly, we'er not connoisseurs. Anything fried is tasty. This was also the first time that I had seen sweetbread offered as a main course. 5. Grilled Quail: This was my least favorite, and unfortunately, I was the one to pick this dish. Two quails with legs pointing to the ceiling in synchronized swimming position. Kind of dry, not very fresh, and too salty. 6. Chocolate Cream Cannolis: plain fried casing (no sugar), chocolate cream, and unexciting berry and choco sauces. Not very cannolis-ish. 7. Cheese plate: it's cheese - not much to say here for taste. Presentation of the 3-cheese selection was awkward - small board filled with the cheeses, two kinds of fruit and honey. Difficult to manoeuvre around and... cut the cheese. (I just made a funny.) Wine: We started with the 3 oz pouring of a couple of the premium aromatic whites (which, by the way, were the best two wines of the evening). Husband got his usual glass of Sauternes w/his foie. And the rest of the wines were just dead on arrival: 1 glass of Viognier, 2 glasses of different types of Pinot Noir. (Sidenote: Each time we have a Pinot Noir, we're disappointed. The best one I had was at Chez Panisse (a Burgundy) and even then I was thinking that I'd rather be drinking something else. Can anyone recommend a really good PN for us to try?) Service: Was a bit amateur. When pouring our water, instead of coming over to my side of the table, the waiter reached across and dripped water onto my opened menu. I asked for lime/lemon for my water and was brought both - which is great, except the lime had brown edges. Our waiter had trouble with a couple of the names of our wines. Timing was less than perfect - Husband had almost finished his first wine before the first course was brought out. This restaurant is neither here nor there. It tries to be upscale (yet casual), but the freshness of the food is questionable and service is definitely not up to par with other upscale establishments. But they certainly charge you the full upscale prices. I would return for the duckboard... and maybe another order of the foie. But I can leave the rest of the meal. At $300 (gratuity included) for two people, there are much better options elsewhere.
(3)
Pachirisu P.

This is a high end restaurant. I went there for lunch about a month ago. The service was below my expectation. The food was good and is on par with what they charge for. I found nothing extraordinary so far in the menu, but nothing was under my expectation. The squash soup was very good and so was the fish. Great for business lunches if you have 1.5 hours for lunch.
(3)
Lucy K.

Had one of the best first dates of my life there. The food was incredible, and they gave us a gorgeous window table. The wait staff was perfect--they did everything right. Service was leisurely, but not too slow or too fast for a dinner of that quality. Totally shocking to find a restaurant of this excellence in suburbia... on top of a grocery store at that!
(5)
Joyce T.

Went here with some friends a few weeks back, and we all ordered the chef's testing menu (the only drawback to this was that I was not able to try the duck board). The highlight of the tasting menu, flavor-wise, was the foie gras (much better than at John Bentley's) and the sweet corn risotto (savory and light, respectively). The crab cakes and steak were both fine, but not very memorable. I love N.Y. steaks, but this one was neither particularly tender nor particularly flavorful. But I have to say the biggest disappointment, given the overall pretty good quality of the food, was the dessert. It's not that it didn't taste good--it's that at the end of a chef's tasting menu, you're hoping for something better than lemon yogurt with frozen berries. I don't want to leave too bad of an impression, because the service was pretty good and it's a nice place, and we had a good time there (of course, good company doesn't hurt that!), but it seems sort of generic, like it doesn't have much personality, you know? It doesn't make you feel like the chef has really left his/her imprint on it. I still might be willing to go back to try that duck board though...it's like someone read my mind and came up with the world' most intriguing appetizer...
(3)
Jennee D.

The food was phenomenal. I saw the other posts on Yelp and had to try it out. The peppered NY steak was so yummy and you must try Malm's new Syrah and Pinot Noir! I will definitely eat here again.
(5)
Robert H.

Had lunch and dinner here a number of times. The food is always well prepared and presented. It's a place for foodies and when you want a high class dinning experience. I enjoy trying out new dishes and see what's new on the menu. Good ambiance for business lunches as well as romantic dinners - though typically not with the same person, of course... ;-p
(5)
Alex C.

I have had wonderful meals here. The room can be very romantic and the service feels polished and professional. The food is generally excellent. However, the real reason I love this place is brunch. They have an awesome brunch. It is a fixed price with several breakfast and several lunch selections. It is a great place to bring your sweetheart and the paper or family from out of town. It is very relaxed and elegant and not likely to break the bank!
(4)
lulu p.

Try the Duck Board.
(3)
Peter C.

We were surprised, honestly, to find a Peninsula restaurant with food of the caliber we typically find only in SF. (Prices were on par with SF, too, unfortunately.) The menu wasn't extensive, but the "duck plate" demonstrated that the chef knows his way around a kitchen, so we felt confident that anything we ordered would be good. The service could have been friendlier, considering the restaurant's less than impressive location above a grocery store. (Lose the attitude, garcon, you work in San Mateo...) UPDATE: We went back and had another really nice meal. Again, it was expensive, but we were not disappointed by the food.
(4)
Jennifer L.

Take about beautiful plating displays! Every dish we ordered was an absolute work of art, which may explain the ridiculous wait time between courses! At least we had a lovely Pinot Noir to keep us company. No one dared to do dessert, but here's my take: Cheese platter --- a perfect mix of cheeses, displayed with crackers, nuts & fruit. How can you go wrong? Heirloom tomato salad --- done caprese style flavor wise, but looks wise? Square tomatoes (!) served with a sprig of lavender that delightfully infused the tomatoes nearest it. The lamb with lavender was delish, if a little rare. I had the pork loin wrapped in bacon with a fruit chutney. It was okay. Beautiful, but just okay. The pork was a little dry, and the salty of the bacon and sweet of the chutney were a little overpowering. Definitely a voyeuristic eater's delight however. **Update** I'm taking a star back. The service is mind numbingly slow, and seeing as that's what I remembered most about the place on my second trip, that's not a good sign. I had lunch with coworkers here and I only give it two stars for that. Our server was strange and slow and clumsy, the food was incredibly mediocre, as was the wine, and it took us just under two hours for salads. SALADS.
(3)
May A.

Excellent place to go to if you want excellent service, awesome food and excellent wine choices. Our waiter chose a wine for us that went well with our appetizer and main course.
(4)
Greg O.

Had a banquet here in their separate meeting room here. It's true about everyone's review about things taking time here. Huge wine selection, but watch the price. Ouch!!! Food is excellent. I had the halibut and a friend had the Rib Eye Steak. Both were excellent (fresh and good cuts). Don't expect your dinner to be the 3 squares...meat, vegtable, and potato. Meal presentation is nice. It's on the pricey side. It's one of the few upscale restaurants in San Mateo. Doesn't really compare to the high end ones in SF, but for this area it's pretty good.
(4)
Shai G.

Good food and very nice place overall. Probably one of the most expensive restaurants in downtown San Mateo, so make sure you have sufficient availability on your credit card. I went their for a business lunch and was surprised that the restaurant was not too busy and there was no wait to sit. Upon sitting down they arrive with some wonderful warm bread to tame your hunger. I ordered the salmon pizza, yes, salmon pizza. The surprise was that it was really a lox pizza, which is something I've never had before. It was good, but would try something different next time I go. My colleagues had the tuna steak, which looked really good and they indicated it tasted great and was seared perfectly. Overall a good place, but a little pricey for me.
(4)
Connie C.

If you're looking for an excellent upscale restaurant on the Peninsula, Viognier is it. It may be easy to miss, because it's located on top of the big Draeger's market in downtown San Mateo. The food, wine, and dessert selections are amazing. The chef also prepares tasting menus that allow you to try 5 courses for a fixed price. The only drawback is that the food comes out extremely slow. Don't come starving and expect to be at the restaurant for 2 hours.
(4)
QQ D.

Look no further for fans of General's Daughter, Chef Preston Dishman took over as the head chef at Viognier. Thoughts on the new menu and 8 dishes: Excellent!! Generous portions and very tasty. -Autumn Squash Soup - very flavorful and a nice ginger kick to it -Baby Beet Salad - perfect blend of beets and greens and not overpowering -Seared Yellowfin Tuna - a bit bland for my taste due to the farro, wish it had a spicy taste or crunchier texture to go with it. Removing the farro would be an easy fix for this dish -Pozzi Farms Lamb Ragu -if you like lamb, it's delicious. If you're expecting a lite dish, this is not it. -Line-caught Halibut - everything just worked so well together, especially the lemon brown butter emulsion. Fish was not over cooked, nothing bad to say about this dish. -Wild California Hamachi -just delicious. Love the bacon bits with brussel sprouts. Reminds me of Thanksgiving already... -Seared Duck Breast - juicy & tender. Huckleberry was a perfect compliment to this dish. Yummm... -SoufflÃ©ed Pumpkin Cheesecake -MUST TRY!! A lovely seasonal dish, not too sweet and not too heavy. We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Dishman personally and took home an autographed menu. Sounds lame but I don't care. To improve to a 5star rating -service was friendly but a bit too slow. Giving them the benefit of working out the kinks with the new chef on board. I'll definitely be eating at Viognier more often and spreading the word.
(4)
Mama L.

I didn't know what to expect because the restaurant is located on top of a gourmet grocery store. But this place is pretty amazing. The salad selection is wonderful-- both creative and very tasty. The chef also sent over various complimentary tastings of soups that were all yummy. I had the grilled ahi tuna that was so fresh and tender. I skipped the dessert, but other folks had ice cream sundaes that looked fun. The best part is after a big meal you can look around the Dreager store! Dreager has super fun party favors and house ware. Love that place and restaurant! 3/2007 UPDATE: Just celebrated my birthday here. My ahi tuna tartar salad was huge and can almost double for an entree! It was good, but the flavors were kinda muted and needed a little more kick. My seafood and chicken stew entree was also very bland. The best dish was the caviar blinni. It was interesting with the perfect flavors and textures.
(4)
Puchu ..

This place used to be fantastic when they first opened with Gary Danko as their chef. It's still somewhat decent, but not as good as when Gary was the head chef. Don't come here often anymore as i think there are other places that provide better value for money.
(3)
Mark G.

Quick and easy on all the stuff we did here. The food is good. Service exceptional. The atmosphere is great, upscale and relaxed. However, this is one really really pricey place. We dropped 150$ for two people, which included one apetizer, one starter plate, two entres and a single bottle of wine. - The salmon apetizer is good. almost really good. - The apple tart with cheese is OK. I would not get it again though. - The seafood soup thing (I forget the name) is amazing. I would highly recomend it to anyone. - The Ahi Tuna is ok. My gf really loved it though. So I attribute my indifference to personal preferences. We will be back next time there is a special occasion.
(4)
art m.

Dissappointed! We splurged with the 5 course price fixed with wine parings. Expensive and not worth it. Food was pretty good. But service was bad.
(2)
Stevie G.

Have truly enjoyed every meal here. Awesome bisques, interesting specials, even the old standbys are delicious here. Great service, too. Very pricey, but worth it. Go downstairs to Draeger's after dinner and check it out!
(4)
Kit E.

I want to give this place 3.5 stars so I'll round up. The food is generally good, I especially love their cheese and charcuterie plates for appetizers. However, I ordered one of their seafood stews for an entree, it was so BLAND. I recommend their salads, big portions and tasty. My coworkers have gotten the steaks there and they love it.
(4)
Freddie G.

This was way too expensive for what it was. We should have known when the place was nearly empty on a Saturday night. The least expensive prix fixe dinner was $55 and they don't make it easy to order a la carte. This was the most expensive wine list I've ever seen. I ordered the pan seared apricot dessert ($15) which came with two small apricot halves plus cold blintz-likecrepes which after a few bites I decided weren't worth bothering with. We've had good experiences there in the past, but we won't be back.
(2)
John S.

Went there for new years eve. Easily the best meal that we have had in the bay area. Service - Perfect Atmosphere - Perfect. Food - Perfect. It was $65, and I would consider that very good for a new years meal including: Chestnut and foi gras soup Ahi Tuna salad Lobster tail and scallop entree Cannoli desert. Will definitely be back for another special occasion, this is a very special restaurant.
(5)
A B.

Been here twice and had solid experiences both times. Yes, it is pricey, but I don't mind as both times I was on the company dime. Yes, the service is a bit slow, but also don't mind because both times I was with people I wanted to catch up with, and was ready for a nice leisurely meal. Now, to the food. Started with the charcuterie and cheese platter and the grilled chicken caesar salad, both great. My friend and I both had the ribeye, and it was very, very good. I love the 'bread pudding' they served it with - yummy stuffing baked in the shape of a muffin. The dessert was NOT GOOD - some cherry custard cake. This is a shame because the rest of the meal was so good; I think they need a new pastry chef! And I am not even picky about dessert.... oh well, it was saved by the fact that they have Dolce dessert wine by the glass, which is rare and which I love! I will be back anytime I need a nice meal on the Penninsula!
(4)
SF Gal ..

Food was pretty good. Wish I tried it when I didn't have to order from a prix fix menu but it was still good. The restaurant is nice but I would have loved it if the lights were a little bit dimmer. I think it could be a little bit more romantic. In my opinion the ambiance needs a little bit spicing up.
(4)
Marguerite G.

I had dinner at Viogner. We had no reservations and there was no one in the restaurant but we were seated in an obscure booth near the entrance. We asked the manager to be reseated. Then it went more downhill. I ordered what I thought would be a great salad instead of this what I got was almost all salad dressing pured over what they called pears - I could not locate them - and of course a lot of some type of cheese which again I could not identify. I did not eat it. Then came the salmon. First of all the portion was so small that it could be put in a spoon. It was also frozen and very salty. I asked the waiter about this and he sent the manager. She said that they did not serve frozen salmon, but that it was farm raised and to take away the odor they put 'special oil' and perhaps that what I was tasting. This was not mentioned on the menu. She also said that it was from British Columbia as if that could make it better. I have been there and they do not serve that type of salmon. With the salmon came a tablespoon of some unidentifiable lettuce with of course a lot of dressing poured on so that one could not tell what it was. And then there are the prices which are astounding for what they serve. So needless to say I will no longer go there. I had not been for 2 years and thought it might have improved.
(1)
melita s.

decent but overpriced food in a nice setting in san mateo. which is about the same as i have to say about the draeger's in which it is housed. might be a good choice on an expense account when you are confined to options in the san mateo area.
(3)
J C.

Have eaten here twice. Both times for special occassions. Both times with the check over $1,000.00 Snobbish staff that is inattentive and not well trained. On both occassions had to chase down a waiter for food, water or bread. This is not a restaurant to go to if you are really looking to enjoy the food, but instead are only into self abuse. Both Bogies and Capellini's are far better for food and service.
(1)
G. I.

I went to check out the desserts with a group of friends who wanted to see how pastry chef May Yee's cooking has evolved since she left Philadelphia. Everything that we tried was delicious! My personal favorite was the scoop of fresh cherry ice cream next to the black forest chocolate crepes, though our table was also floored by the blackberry bread pudding with slices of peaches soaked in something that made them taste like lychee. All of the ingredients are fresh and local, and paired beautifully! Definitely well worth the trip!
(5)
Angie Y.

used to be one of my favorite restaurant in bay area. it's a shame they lost their chef to Google cafeteria.
(3)
A D.

Quality ingredients apparent in this local restaurant situated at the top of the neighborhood Draegers, the menu has changed but the food remains good and well attended by a friendly staff. I typically lunch here when I come but have had the opportunity to dine for dinner as well. All menu items tend to be good. I have to admit though, I order the kobe beef burger more than occasionally because it is very good (but heavy). Portions would dictate a full course at times (not a bad thing) as I've been out where colleagues were surprised at how much (little) they got. Always enjoyable.
(4)
H T.

i went for father's day brunch today, and it was great. we had a 3-course prix fixe meal w/ your choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert. the amazing bread basket filled w/ scones, corn muffins, brioche, and french bread was a carb lover's dream come true. my fave dish was my mom's veggie crepes and the vanilla bean panna cotta for dessert. yum...
(4)
l c.

Eh, I went to Viognier for a Mother's Day Brunch and didn't think it was all that. I guess it's hard for the fixed-price holiday menus to wow you, but there were only a few dishes that I thought I'd want to eat again. There were three in our party, and the fixed-price got you juice, coffee or tea, appetizer, entree, and dessert. I had a duck confit salad to start, which was very tasty with generous portions of duck and blue cheese, and then eggs benedict with wilted greens, which was probably one of the worst eggs benedict I'd ever had. The greens were so wilted they were brown and looked more like seaweed. The other appetizer worth mentioning was the corn soup, which was intensely flavored without being too creamy. Everything else was forgettable - halibut, chilled pea soup, and grilled filet with the same unappetizing wilted greens. Maybe it's worth a trip when the entire menu is available, but I won't be going back to find out.
(3)
David T.

Over-rated. Maybe its just not my scene. If you are in the market for a really nice place to eat and stay for a few hours this may be the spot for you. Definitely pretentious a'la 231 Ellsworth. On the other hand I love draegers so maybe I'm a bit conflicted.
(3)

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Address : 222 E 4th Ave
San Mateo, CA, 94401
Phone (650) 685-3727
Website https://www.viognierrestaurant.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:30 pm - 9:00pm
Mon : 5:30 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Viognier

222 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA, 94401

Viognier Menu

Dinner Menu

Lounge Menu

Chef's Seasonal Selection Of Cheeses

Healthy Meal suggestions for Viognier

Dinner Menu

Lounge Menu

Chef's Seasonal Selection Of Cheeses

Valeen R.

Donna C.

Chary P.

Ward W.

Barry G.

Selah M.

John S.

Wes M.

David R.

F G.

cecille p.

Chris A.

Tom P.

Candice H.

James G.

Ennie L.

Tomas P.

Justin I.

Command C.

The T.

Stephen R.

Lynn C.

claudia y.

R L.

Michelle T.

Sherri C.

Derek N.

MaMa Spatula H.

John F.

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