On this page
San Carlos calls itself the City of Good Living. Its downtown is built for an easy dinner. Laurel Street runs parallel to El Camino Real one block to the west, lined with restaurants, cafes, salons and small shops under street trees. The Caltrain station is a short walk east, so you can leave the car at home.
Laurel Street changes often. Several restaurants have closed and reopened under new names in the past few years. A new breakfast restaurant filed paperwork in 2026 to open on the street. This guide names only places confirmed on their own websites in late October 2026. Descriptions are factual: what each place serves, where it is and what its website says about hours. For the Hiller museum, parks and events, see our San Carlos town guide.
How downtown is laid out
The heart of downtown is Laurel Street between Cherry Street and San Carlos Avenue, a few blocks long with Harrington Park and the "Balancing Act" sculpture along the way. Restaurants continue south along Laurel past San Carlos Avenue. The Toss sits in the 1600 block. San Carlos Avenue, which crosses Laurel and runs to the train station, holds a few more. El Camino Real has chains and family restaurants with their own parking lots.
| Place | Address | What it serves |
|---|---|---|
| Elia | 727 Laurel St. | Greek and Aegean dining |
| Bistro Mitte | 749 Laurel Street | German |
| The Refuge | 963 Laurel St. | Pastrami, sandwiches, beer |
| Stamp Bar & Grill | Laurel Street | American with global flavors |
| The Toss | 1673 Laurel St. | Salads, warm bowls, paninis |
| Esnaf | 1105 San Carlos Avenue | Turkish |
| Blue Line Pizza | 1201 San Carlos Ave. | Chicago-style deep dish |
| Mountain Mike's Pizza | 774 El Camino Real | Family pizza |
A Laurel Street classic
The Refuge at 963 Laurel Street opened on March 4, 2008. Owners Matt Levin and Melanie Roth worked in Paris for two years, including in Michelin-starred kitchens. They named the restaurant after a wine bistro near their old Montmartre metro stop. The menu centers on pastrami, which the restaurant calls its specialty, with sandwiches, comfort plates and a separate beer list. Its website lists weekday lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m., with all-day service on weekends until 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant also sells take-home items with heating instructions. Our sandwich guide covers Palo Alto delis.
Dinner out
Bistro Mitte
Bistro Mitte at 749 Laurel Street calls itself an authentic German restaurant. It takes online reservations, caters and books holiday parties. Its website lists hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. the rest of the week. Our German and European food guide covers schnitzel closer to home.
Elia
Elia lists its San Carlos restaurant at 727 Laurel Street. The small group draws on Greek and Aegean cooking with mezze and seafood. It runs live music on weeknights and DJ sets on weekends. The San Carlos branch has its own private dining menu. The group asks guests to dress for fine dining and to skip sportswear, shorts and hats. Our Greek food guide has Palo Alto options.
Stamp Bar & Grill
Stamp Bar & Grill on Laurel Street has served since 2019. Its menu pairs modern American dishes with flavors it describes as reaching from Toluca to Tokyo, Tuscany and New Delhi. It also offers banquet menus and private dining. The website lists service from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Esnaf
Esnaf at 1105 San Carlos Avenue serves Turkish food just off Laurel Street. Its website lists lunch and dinner every day, opening at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and serving dinner until 9 or 9:30 p.m. It also takes reservations and posts events. Our Turkish food guide covers Palo Alto.
Casual lunch and family pizza
The Toss
The Toss at 1673 Laurel Street, farther south on Laurel, tosses salads to order and also serves warm bowls, paninis, scratch-made soups and sweet treats. It is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it suits a weekday lunch. It caters office orders too.
Blue Line Pizza
Blue Line Pizza at 1201 San Carlos Avenue serves Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Its page mentions a dog-friendly outdoor patio and curbside pickup, where staff walk the order out to your car. Hours run from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is the chain's San Carlos location. Its Mountain View branch is on Castro Street.
Mountain Mike's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza at 774 El Camino Real is the family pizza option, with dine-in, carryout and delivery. The chain's location page lists 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. It is useful after games at the parks or a visit to the Hiller Aviation Museum. Our pizza guide compares styles around Palo Alto.
Coffee, bakeries and the Sunday market
Laurel Street has its own coffee shops and bakeries, but we could not confirm current hours on their websites in late October 2026, so we left them off this list. The easiest morning food stop is the Sunday farmers market, which the city lists from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Laurel Street between Cherry Street and San Carlos Avenue. It brings bread, pastries and prepared food to the same blocks as the restaurants. For coffee closer to home, see our Palo Alto coffee guide.
Planning your visit
- By train: The San Carlos Caltrain station is a short walk east of Laurel Street. The trip from Palo Alto is a two-zone fare.
- By car: Downtown has public lots behind the Laurel Street storefronts and street parking. El Camino Real restaurants have their own lots.
- Weekday lunch: The Toss and the Refuge serve weekday lunch. Some dinner places open later in the day.
- Outdoor walks: Pair lunch with spring wildflowers at Edgewood Park, just across the city line.
- Stay nearby: San Carlos has few hotels. You can compare mid-Peninsula hotels in San Carlos, Redwood City and San Mateo.
What's changing on Laurel Street
Laurel Street turns over regularly. In August 2026 a state alcohol license filing reported by WhatNow showed that Casa Mia, a breakfast and Mexican-inspired restaurant from San Jose, planned a new location at 677 Laurel Street. No opening date had been announced. Before a special trip, open the restaurant's website and look for a closing or moving notice on the home page.
Good to know
- We list only places confirmed on their own websites or location pages in late October 2026.
- Absence from this list does not mean a place has closed. Several Laurel Street cafes did not post current hours online.
- Hours come from business websites and can change without notice.
- Check menus online for allergens and dietary options.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the restaurant street in San Carlos?
Laurel Street, one block west of El Camino Real. The main stretch runs between Cherry Street and San Carlos Avenue, with more restaurants farther south on Laurel and on San Carlos Avenue. The San Carlos Caltrain station is a short walk east.
What is the Refuge in San Carlos known for?
The Refuge at 963 Laurel Street is known for pastrami and a long beer list. It opened on March 4, 2008. Its owners worked in Paris kitchens before opening it. Its website lists lunch and dinner every day, with a break between lunch and dinner on weekdays.
Is there German food in San Carlos?
Yes. Bistro Mitte at 749 Laurel Street describes itself as an authentic German restaurant. Its website lists hours from 11 a.m. daily, until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. on other days. It takes reservations and hosts parties.
Is there a Greek restaurant on Laurel Street?
Elia, a small Bay Area group serving Greek and Aegean food, lists a San Carlos restaurant at 727 Laurel Street with private dining. The group also runs Elia in downtown Campbell plus restaurants in Pleasanton and Walnut Creek.
Can I take Caltrain to San Carlos restaurants?
Yes. The San Carlos station sits a few minutes' walk east of Laurel Street. The ride from Palo Alto crosses two fare zones. Check the timetable for your return, since evening trains are less frequent.