Pinstripes offers bowling, bocce, comfort food
Italian eatery and entertainment venue opens in San Mateo
Pinstripes — an Italianinspired bowling-bocce-bistro hybrid with locations in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Houston and Cleveland — has arrived on the West Coast at last. The concept: Create a space with good food and a common activity to bring people together. The Pinstripes launch at San Mateo’s Hillsdale Mall last month has added some bustle at the popular shopping center. Here’s what we found on our first visit.
THE VIBE » This is a large complex — multileveled and vast. It contains an entire bowling alley, bocce courts, a restaurant, two bars and a huge event space. It’s easy to get a little lost. But the place is pleasantly decorated and well lit and there are friendly staff members to guide your way.
THE FOOD » The menu is all about Italian-American comfort food, with some American classics thrown in as well. Sundays are all about the lavish brunch buffet ($35 for adults, $15 for kids), complete with chocolate fountain, madeto-order omelets and carving stations. The rest of the week, expect a variety of wood-fired pizzas and oblong flatbreads, from a classic margherita ($17) to a chicken and avocado club ($18) that includes bacon, ranch dressing, roasted onion, tomato and mozzarella. Soups ($5-$8) range from the luxe lobster bisque on Fridays and Saturdays to a daily chicken Italian dumpling. And you’ll find salads, sandwiches, pastas and entrees,
too.
DON’T MISS » The signature chop salad ($16) is an unexpected, delicious combination of tomato, Gorgonzola, dates, corn, olives, burrata and white balsamic. Pinstripes calls its prime rib dip sandwich ($20) “famous,”
which it may or may not be, but it’s delicious, served on a pretzel bun with provolone, horseradish cream and au jus.
THE DRINKS » The main bar — which greets patrons right at the entrance — displays top-shelf spirits
on vertical towers, and a classic cocktail is a good way to go. The Manhattan ($15) features Breckenridge Bourbon, amaro, bitters, Italian cherry juice, a cherry and an orange twist.
PERFECT FOR ... » Families and groups of friends looking
for a fun time — and the Sunday brunch crowd.
GOOD TO KNOW » The full bistro menu is available at the bowling alley and bocce courts, too. The lanes and courts fill up quickly, so it’s best to make reservations for the activities ahead of
time.
DETAILS » Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays, until midnight Fridays, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays at 36 Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo; www. pinstripes.com.