Dessert Restaurants near San Mateo, CA

“This place doesn’t look like a place trying to impress anyone. It looks like a shop that has been doing one thing long enough to know what shortcuts ruin. The counter is small, the room unadorned, the kind of space where quality hides in plain sight because the people making it assume you’ll figure it out on your own.

Cannoli demand precision. If the shell softens, you failed. If the filling weeps, you rushed. If the ricotta is grainy or heavy or over-sugared, you didn’t understand its behavior under temperature and time. Romolo’s gets all of this right.

The shells are made the way people make things they intend to stand behind. Not brittle, not oily, not collapsing under pressure. They have that snap you only get when dough has been rolled to the correct thickness and fried at the right temperature, long enough to blister but not blister apart. You can tell someone here still listens to the sound of the shell when it cools.

The filling is clean, balanced, and confident. No perfumed overcompensation. No reckless sweetness meant to distract from inferior ricotta. This is filling made by people who understand ratio and restraint. The texture stays smooth because the ricotta was drained properly, not hurried. There’s discipline in that step alone. Most places skip it. Romolo’s doesn’t.

What impressed me most is how the cannoli hold structure on the way home. Ricotta interacts with pastry the way moisture interacts with almost anything that should remain crisp: it wants to weaken it. But Romolo’s fills to order, and they fill with judgment. Enough to satisfy, not enough to compromise the shell before you get to experience the contrast that makes cannoli worth eating in the first place.

The people behind the counter treat you the way good shops do. Direct, warm in a grounded way, the kind of friendliness that seems rooted in pride more than choreography. They hand over the box carefully, as if they know what they made can survive the trip but also know that respect is part of the craft.

This place doesn’t rely on nostalgia or theatrics. It relies on technique. On the quiet confidence of a place that has figured out what works and kept doing it. You taste repetition, patience, and the refusal to let a simple dessert become sloppy.

If you want a cannoli that proves why the thing exists at all, this is the place“

“Must try Affogato!! Espresso poured over Vanilla ice cream or over your favorite ice cream. Delicious 😋“

“Amazing! I will definitely be going back again soon“

“Cute little shop, super decorated with murals with HK streets vibes. Super long, authentic Chinese menu for both dessert and street eats like noodles and rice platters. Also has basic american dessert like cheesecake. Got their grass jelly fruit bowl, a bit small for 2 to share but the others like banana split or sweet crepe is a lot.

Kid-friendliness: Dessert“

“Sweet moment is some of the best desert I've had.
First of all, I LOVE their snowflake series and egg puff. Everything there is so amazing, and everything comes so quickly. Like the name says, it's sweet, and wonderful. The drinks are also so good, and I love the handmade momoko ball and grass jelly toppings. Something else so good about it is that there are so many other good places around it, which means you can get a good lunch and then come right to it. There is also a movie theatre, (Cinemark), quite close to it. It is a little far from my house, but it's definitely worth coming. It fills me up all the time, and is totally my type of desert. At the time of this review there is a little leak in the roof, but that's fine and they've got that under control. There is no doubt that this is one of my favorite places, and it deserves more than five stars.“

“yummy desserts n friendly staffs in a nice setting . :)“

“I love Tong Sui!! Glad there's one near where I usually get my car serviced. Stopped by for the first time and they got A LOTTA flavors to try!! I love jasmine flavors and this summer they have it as a Jasmine Coconut Pudding!! Hope it'll stick around all-season instead!! Servicer is super nice and attentive as well!! Will come back!!“

“Crumbl cookies are famously large and incredibly sweet. While many of their flavors are enticing, I'd love to see some less sweet options introduced to balance the richness.

Peanut Butter Crisp featuring Butterfinger (4.5/5): This cookie delivered on its promise with a great peanut butter flavor and a satisfying crunch from the Butterfinger pieces. A truly enjoyable fusion.

Cake Batter (4/5): This was less a cookie and more a mini cake! The confetti cookie base was delightful, and the cream cheese-like frosting added a nice touch, but it was exceptionally sweet.“

“yo comiendo con un servicio para este cliente por sus seguidores y un servicio“

“Traveled from Texas and loved my experience . Enjoyed the customer service and of course enjoyed my Sandia Agua and freshly cut fruit… highly recommend 🤩 🍉!!!“

“Refreshing place 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻“

“I try to come here every Saturday before pickleball. Very flavorful cakes and rolls. I definitely recommend this place to everyone Cakes and Rolls are not too sweet. It's Perfect! Drinks are delicious too. The atmosphere is nice with nice music. Cute place for dates“

“just like the old Bambu Desserts! #Avocado with boba and color jelly!! easy parking they increase prices tho'“

“I absolutely love this place! my go to is the Oreo milkshake with a chocolate/banana crepe on the side.. everyone is always so kind as soon as you walk through the door :) Would recommend this place to anyone who’s looking for a sweet delicious snack near Menlo Park. The best thing is that they have two locations!“

“Love the soft serve ice cream!!! Tea is great as well!!!“

“Sweets, cakes and unique deinks“

“Chè ngon , ngọt vừa phải , giá ok . Nhất định có dịp sẽ trở lại thưởng thức thêm các món chè khác .“

“Tasty vietnamese desserts. Staff are knowledgeable about how to make items vegan and many things are automatically vegan. Got the red bean trio which was really tasty, liked the different textures. The pandan jelly was good and not artificial tasting at all. The taro in it added a nice creaminess. Also got the choco banana smoothie with soymilk which was good.“

“Sweethoney Dessert in Foster City offers a sweet retreat for fans of Asian-style confections, especially those drawn to Hong Kong-style recipes. The menu leans heavily into fruit-forward creations like mango pomelo sago and coconut milk pudding, with textures ranging from chilled jelly to smooth herbal soups. Many of the desserts are freshly made in-store, and presentation is thoughtful—perfect for sharing or photo-worthy moments. The café feels cozy but modern, with seating best suited for small groups or solo visits. Peak hours can get busy, especially after dinner, so ordering ahead or visiting mid-afternoon tends to be easier.

While service is usually efficient, staff interaction is minimal and seating turnover happens fast. Parking is shared with neighboring businesses, and restrooms are available only outside the café in the plaza. Pets aren’t allowed indoors due to health codes, but leashed dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables. If you’re looking to enjoy the desserts picnic-style, nearby parks like Marlin or Boothbay are within a short drive. Overall, Sweethoney strikes a nice balance between traditional flavors and clean, accessible presentation—earning a solid 4/5 rating.“