The San Francisco Bay Area is globally renowned for its outstanding culinary scene, and Burlingame’s collection of eateries amplifies this. Take the city’s New England Lobster Market & Eatery, for example. Perennially abuzz with a spirited mix of locals and residents, this iconic spot plates out some of the freshest and most delicious seafood on the Peninsula, including wild white Mexican shrimp, live Maine lobsters, Mediterranean mussels, Cherrystone clams, Dungeness crab, and Fanny Bay oysters. Whether you’re stocking up on seafood for a backyard clambake or enjoying a weekend lunch on their sun-splashed patio, you’re bound to be amazed by the quality of their fare.

Mingalaba Restaurant is just as enticing. Specializing in Mandarin and Burmese cuisine, this is the ideal place to satisfy your cravings for samosas, spring rolls, wonton soup, spicy basil eggplant, and more. Meanwhile, special occasions are best celebrated at Espetus in nearby San Mateo. The remarkable waitstaff and chefs at this high-end Brazilian steakhouse offer tableside carvings and fantastic cocktails to evoke the South American concept of Rodizio.

B Street & Vine is equally memorable. In a bright, welcoming setting, this intimate and beloved San Mateo venue serves expertly-crafted Italian-American fare, like bruschetta, paninis, and chocolate ganache. Indeed, whether you’d like to warm up with a steaming bowl of noodles at Ramen Dojo or sip on an artisan beer while gazing out at the waterfront, Burlingame and its nearby towns surpass expectations.

Newcomers to Burlingame often want to get the lay of the retail land, and they start at Burlingame Avenue, where some of the nation’s most recognizable brands have set up shop. You can outfit your iPhone and get the latest technology at the local Apple Store. Across the street is lululemon. Sephora is up the road, and Pottery Barn is neighbors with the local Banana Republic..