Peninsula native Lars Smith is co-owner of State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria, which is adding a third outpost in Redwood City to its Los Altos and Palo Alto locations. (Photos by Magali Gauthier)
By Julia Brown
With the Instagram announcement that “Christmas came early,” State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria soft-opened in Redwood City’s Marsh Manor shopping center Dec. 23.
The restaurant team is aiming to be open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, but they are still training staff members and may have limited menu offerings during the soft opening, according to co-owner Lars Smith.
"It's a challenge to open during the holidays," he says.
Smith, a Palo Alto native, and his family opened the first State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria in Los Altos in 2018, followed by the Slice House in Palo Alto in 2020.
The third restaurant now open in Redwood City is closer in concept to the Los Altos location, with pinball machines and full pizzas available alongside salads, wings and appetizers. The new location also has extra fryers for making the "Almost Famous” fried chicken sandwich, a cult favorite that had only been offered during less busy hours because staff didn’t have enough room in their fryers to keep up with demand.
The menu includes four different types of chicken sandwiches, including a plant-based option. Drink offerings include draft and canned beers, wine and a low-proof cocktail menu.
The “Almost Famous” fried chicken sandwich is made with gluten-free flour for the breading on the chicken and comes with pickled Fresno peppers and black garlic coleslaw. (Photo courtesy State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria)
The State of Mind team includes co-owner and executive chef Lars, Lars' brother Andrew, wife Cristina and father Jim, as well as business partners Amy Alcantar and Victor Beccera. The business only serves beer, wine and soda from California, and its menu highlights seasonal California produce and cheeses.
State of Mind joins patisserie Lavender ‘n Cream in opening at Marsh Manor this year, a shopping center that’s also home to Los Gallos Taqueria and Freewheel Brewing.
State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria, 3710 Florence St., Redwood City. Instagram: @stateofmindpub.
