Menu
State of the Sandwich
We’re excited to introduce our new State of the Sandwich Monthly Series. The folks at Refuge San Mateo are hitting the road and going on tour with the best America has to offer. Every month, we will feature a different signature U.S. state sandwich
Blackened Catfish Sandwich (SAN MATEO ONLY)
Apple cabbage slaw*(contains walnuts*), cajun-spiced catfish filet, and remoulade dressing. Served on a world famous Liscio’s roll w/ a side of fries. This sandwich hails from Louisiana and will be here for the month of April! The cajun spice brings a medium level of heat!
The blackened catfish sandwich hails from Louisiana. If you're familiar with the big easy and want a little slice of the bayou--come down and enjoy this stellar sandwich.
Keep a look out for our monthly sandwich tour dates. We can't wait for you to try them out! There will be a new addition every month.
Soups, Salads and Appetizers
Original Pastrami Chopped Salad
Warm pastrami morsels, romaine, avocado, tomatoes, shredded swiss cheese, egg, pickled veggies, warm rye toast and honey mustard dressing served on the side (Veg Option)
Chinoise Salad (San Mateo Only)
Diced fried chicken, sliced cucumber, green onion, orange segments, napa cabbage, mixed greens, sesame seeds, cilantro, fried wonton strips, and tahini dressing served on the side.
Fried Chicken Caesar Salad (San Carlos Only)
Deep-fried chicken thighs, Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, Oregano garlic croutons, tomatoes & Anchovies garlic dressing.
Burrata & Prosciutto Plate (San Mateo only)
Cherry compote, candied pecans, caraway mustard, nicoise olives, orange gastric, chives, seared baguette, and artisan crackers.
Onion Rings
Served with a side of ranch
Tomato Soup
(Contains Dairy)
Chicken Sausage & Lentils Soup (San Mateo Only)
Chicken stock, house ground chicken sausage, lentils, green zucchini, green beans, celery, carrots, onions, garnish with lime and cilantro.
Chicken Tortilla Soup (San Carlos Style)
(Garnished with Sour Cream, Tortilla Strips, Cilantro and Lime)
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Creamy parmesan and pepper jack béchamel sauce, gratinated golden brown with panko bread crumbs. Served w/ chips.
Hot Wings
Tossed in a tapatio-butter hot wing sauce; served with ranch, carrots and celery sticks
House Side Salad
Mixed greens, tomatoes, red bell peppers, pepperoncini, shallots, shredded parmesan cheese, garlic croutons and Italian vinaigrette.
Grilled Cheese & Soup
Melted provolone on sourdough bread served with a side of fries and a cup of soup.
Kyiv Style Chopped Chicken Liver (San Carlos Only)
Chopped chicken liver pate, toasted rye bread, White pickled pearl onions, pickled red onions, whole grain mustard, cornichons, & fried chicken skin.
Braised Angus Beef Barbacoa Nachos
Tender-braised Angus Beef, cheddar, queso fresco, tomatillo avocado sauce, sour cream, cilantro, pico de gallo
Poutine
Legendary Canadian street food. French fries with cheese curd and brown gravy. (Add Bacon or Pastrami)
Shrimp Tacos(San Mateo Only)
3 tacos with griddled shrimp, roasted pineapple salsa roja, and chipotle cabbage. Served on corn tortillas.
Pastrami Tacos (San Carlos Only)
Our amazingly delicious pastrami served on corn tortillas with queso fresco, chipotle mayo, pico de gallo and pickled onions on the side.
Roasted Vegetables (San Mateo Only)
Roasted cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots, with maitake & Gambone mushrooms tossed in soy oil and topped with salt and pepper.
PASTRAMI PATHOS
Custom-trimmed, by hand, from the ‘heart of the navel’. Served seductively warm on toasted rye bread with pickles and pickled onions
Refuge Family Meal (To Go Only)
2 Pounds of our famous Refuge navel pastrami [served hot and sliced or unsliced slab(Please specify)], Side of Russian Dressing and Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard, Pint of Cole Slaw and Sour Kraut, One Whole loaf of Rye Bread, 6 slices of Swiss Cheese
Refuge Combo Meal
HALF pastrami sandwich of your choice (Half Plain, Half Reuben, Half Toasted Slaw #19, or Half Swiss & Mustard), fries, and an ice-cold pilsner or our House IPA! (40cl Pour)
Reuben
Pastrami, sauerkraut, melted swiss, crazy russian dressing and toasted rye
The Toasted Slaw #19
Pastrami, coleslaw, swiss (not melted), crazy russian dressing and toasted rye
The 963 (San Carlos Only)
Pastrami, apple slaw, (dijonnaise, fuji apple, jalapeno, red onion, walnuts, and celery), melted American cheese and toasted rye.
Swiss & Mustard
Pastrami, swiss, toasted rye and Gulden’s mustard
The 31 (San Mateo Only)
Pastrami, pickled curtido(cabbage, carrot & jalapeno), melted pepperjack cheese and toasted rye.
Soup & Sandwich
HALF pastrami sandwich of your choice (Half Plain, Half Reuben, Half Toasted Slaw #19, or Half Swiss & Mustard,) and a cup of our tomato Soup. Sorry, no substitutions for soup.
FRESH GROUND CHUCK BURGERS
Natural Certified Angus Beef, flattop-seared, (~7oz). Served with a side of fries.
Lettuce Wrap
American cheese, beef patty, vine-ripened tomatoes, and red onions wrapped in butter lettuce. Served with side salad with side of Italian dressing.
Cheese Burger
American cheese, tomatoes, romaine, and red onions
Pastrami Burger
Beef burger, sliced pastrami, melted swiss, sauerkraut and russian dressing served on a burger bun
Brie Burger
Brie cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, oregano, and aioli.
Bleu Cheese Burger (San Carlos Only)
Beef burger patty, crumbled blue cheese, tomatoes, crispy fried onions, and ranch.
Mole Burger (San Carlos Only)
Authentic mole sauce (Contains Peanuts), bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapeños, red onions, cilantro, sliced pickles
Impossible Burger (San Carlos Style)
Seared plant-based burger, melted provolone, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion and romesco sauce. (served with fries)(*Romesco Contains Nuts)
Impossible Burger(*Genoise has pistachio/almond)(San Mateo Style)
Plant-based impossible burger patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and genoise sauce. Served on a brioche burger bun with a side of fries. (can sub fries for side salad)
PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS
Our steaks are custom-made, straight outta Philly. Served on the famous Liscio’s roll and served with a side of fries --CHOICE OF CHICKEN OR BEEF
O.G. Cheesesteak
Just provolone cheese and our delicious sliced rib-eye
Wit Cheesesteak
WIT Caramelized onions, WIT cherry peppers, WIT Refuge cheese sauce
The Champ Cheesesteak
Mushrooms, roasted red bell peppers, provolone
Western Cheesesteak
Bacon, fried onions, provolone cheese, BBQ sauce, cilantro, and ranch
Cheesesteak De Arbol
Avocado sauce, de arbol extra spicy sauce, sour cream, red onion, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, and cheddar cheese.
Specialties & Favorites
Tuna Melt
Albacore Tuna, onion, celery, dill, mayo and American cheese served on sourdough bread. Served with fries.
Italian Meatball Sandwich (San Carlos Only)
Served on the world Famous Liscio’s roll with pork meatballs, marinara sauce, provolone, parmesan cheese, and oregano, served with fries.
Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich (San Mateo Style)
Garlic and spiced marinated deep-fried chicken, Refuge tapatio-butter sauce, Provolone, ranch, lettuce, and pickles. Served on a brioche burger bun with side of fries. (Medium spicy)
Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich (San Carlos Style)
Deep-fried chicken thighs, Refuge Tapatio-butter hot sauce, Provolone, ranch, lettuce, and pickles. Served on a burger bun with side of fries.
Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich (San Carlos Only)
On a burger bun with kimchi, crispy fried onions, and cilantro. Served with fries.
Wild Pacific Cod Fish N Chips (San Mateo Only)
Filets of battered & fried wild Pacific cod—served with small side of cole slaw, French fries, and house-made tartar sauce.
Seared Tilapia Sandwich (San Carlos Only)
Spiced seared Tilapia filet, tartar sauce, fried onions, romaine, vine-ripened tomatoes, salsa verde, avocado sauce, and side of fries
Chicken BLT Club (San Mateo Only)
Griddled chicken breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, melted swiss cheese, avocado, basil aioli, on toasted sourdough. Served with a side of fries.
BITES & SIDES
French Fries
Garlic Fries
Perplexingly Austere
Onion Rings (San Mateo Only)
Served with a side of house-made ranch
Side of Chicken Liver
Giant Pretzel
Served with a side of house-made beer cheese sauce.
Goofy Fries
Garlic fries with Refuge cheese sauce & pastrami
Classic Coleslaw
Aged Gouda Mac N Cheese
Garnished with finely diced parsley
Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
(roasted with bacon fat)
DESSERT
Vanilla Ice Cream
Superlative Bread Pudding
Bourbon caramel sauce, and whipped cream
Chocolate Pot de Creme (San Carlos Only)
Churros
Served with house-made chocolate sauce
Underberg
44% ABV, Premium quality digestive, made with select herbs from over 43 countries, gluten free, kosher