Burlingame Avenue runs west from the Caltrain station through the heart of town, lined with independent restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and a handful of local bars. It is the most pleasant street in Burlingame for walking, with mature street trees and good sidewalks — unusual for suburban California, where the car tends to dominate.
The strip has a neighborhood feel rather than a tourist-district feel, which is part of its appeal. Most of the restaurants serve the local residential population rather than airport travelers, which keeps quality up and prices reasonable. There are several good coffee shops for working during a layover, and the Caltrain station at the eastern end makes it easy to get here from SFO (take the free SFO AirTrain to Millbrae, then Caltrain one stop south to Burlingame — about 20 minutes total).
Broadway, a parallel street a few blocks south, is quieter and slightly more neighborhood-oriented, with a small cluster of restaurants and a Caltrain station of its own.