Fogbird Lounge balances popular trends with unique flavors 

“We play around with the trends. We’ve been trying to put matcha on the menu in some sort of way for about a year, and we didn't get it until now,” said David Hunsaker, who owns Fogbird with his wife Susan. “A lot of times we try stuff and we’re like, ‘that's not working’ and reevaluate it again in six months.” 

It also took some time to develop a chartreuse-flavored drink, but the Bourbon in Bloom — with chamomile-infused bourbon, amaro, curacao, lemon and yellow chartreuse  — eventually came to fruition and remains a popular choice. 

The couple credits the menu in large part to their team’s creative process. Almost every server and bartender has come up with at least one drink that’s on the menu, which changes seasonally. During the menu development process, David Hunsaker solicits drink ideas from staff, followed by in-person brainstorming and of course, taste testing. 

“It’s fun to make sure that everyone's voices are heard, but I’m pretty fortunate the creative aspect of my staff comes through and makes it a pretty easy transition from menu to menu,” he said. 

Fogbird, located off the pedestrian mall on B Street, opened its doors in January 2022, hoping to capture customers who were ready to enjoy a chic but charming space to gather for a drink and small bites, especially after nearly two years of social distancing and restaurant closures. Previously, the couple ran 31st Union on South Ellsworth Avenue, a full-service restaurant that shut down after nearly 10 years, in large part due to the pandemic. 

But instead of replicating 31st Union’s model, the couple decided to pivot from a full-service restaurant to “beverage hospitality,” Susan Hunsaker said, not just due to the lighter operational load but also to reflect post-COVID demand, especially in downtown San Mateo. When the couple came across the old downtown building, with its high ceilings and brick walls, they knew it was a spot that matched the type of ambiance they wanted to create. 

“We wanted to make the space feel bright and airy, which is why we chose the floral wallpaper and the lively plants,” Susan Hunsaker said. “We are inspired by the Northern California coast and its beauty so we wanted to bring that inside.”

And with the focus on drinks — including an extensive list of nonalcoholic cocktails — the couple has not only doubled down on the creative process but also the types of events and classes it can host, such as popular mixology classes and whiskey and tequila tasting sessions.

“We’ve just been excited to build a cocktail program and give people a really beautiful place where they could sit and enjoy each other’s company,” Susan Hunsaker said. “That’s really what it’s about — creating that space for people to enjoy one another and to create community.”