These are places I’ve been to and have an opinion about from eating locally for over 20 years.
- Moss Beach Distillary – Moss Beach (for the experience; ocean views; perhaps a “Blue Lady” visit)
- Cafe Gibralter – Lower El Granada (for the extraordinarily prepared and presented food; intimate setting; some harbor views)
- Cetrella Restaurant – 845 Main Street, Half Moon Bay – I haven’t been here since it reopened in May 2009
- Chez-Shea (for the food & private patio in back; same owners as Café Gibralter; ideal for lunch or weekend brunch; downtown Main St.)
- Half Moon Bay Inn – closed as a restaurant. Half Moon Bay Inn is still a beautiful B&B in the upper level of the building. (See Inns below). Some people still look for this place. It’s gone. Moving into this ground floor space is It’s Italia.
- It’s Italia – terrific pizzas, great crust. They offer other menu items also, but I’ve always gotten the pizza. Then they moved to Main St (where the HMB Inn used to be) and I started branching out on the menu. Salmon Ceasar Salad for lunch is fabulous. Full Bar. Private outdoor patio with heat lamps!
- Cameron’s Inn Restaurant – british pub just south of downtown on Hwy 1. Fun family place; good burgers. Game room. Full bar.
- Mezza Luna Restaurant – Princeton (for the food; nice ambiance; some harbor views)
- Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. – Princeton (for the outdoor patio, live music); very community oriented.
- Pasta Moon Ristorante – Main Street, Half Moon Bay (delicious italian food)
- March 2008 update: Rogue Chefs Restaurant – Just left Half Moon Bay to relocate in Santa Cruz. If you’re down that way, look them up. Kevin, the owner/chef is a gifted chef and also what I would call a “food designer”. I’m sorry to see them leave HMB!
- Sam’s Chowder House – Lower El Granada/Princeton (for the experience; ocean and harbor views; great outdoor seating options including firepit seating, full bar). Banquet dining available.
- San Benito House/Garden Deli & Cafe – 356 Main Street, Half Moon Bay (great front & back patio dining). Since ownership changed, bread is still great, but something changed, including the name. Still good but not out of this world as it once was (my opinion only).
- Flying Fish Grill – at 92 & Main; Yum! Delicious fish tacos and sweet potato fries. May 2011 update: they will soon be moving locations to about a block down Highway 92 to the east side of Main Street in a larger space.
- Sushi Main Street – is actually at 696 Mill St.; Cozy and charming. Expanded in 2009 to include the Sushi Main Street Lounge with a separate entrance on Main St.
- Taqueria Tres Amigos. The local kids call it “Tres”. This local favorite was rebuilt a few years ago to expand for more indoor seating. It used to be one of those dive joints that when you ate the food it became clear that they knew what they were doing. Since the remodel, it’s more mainstream with mixed reviews on the food.
- Happy Taco Taqueria, 184 San Mateo Rd, HMB – An unassuming local taqueria with really good food. In the Rite Aid/New Leaf shopping Center off Hwy 92 or Main St.
- Shiki Japanese Restaurant (1 of 3 in San Mateo County)
- Crab Landing Seafood & Steakhouse – at Harbor Village next to Oceano Hotel in Princeton. Go for the views and the drinks. Expensive. Opened Q4 2008. May 2011 Update: Closed for renovations; don’t know when it will open again.
- Mezza Luna Caffe – Same owners as the more well known Mezza Luna Restaurant in Princeton. This one is more casual with delicious breakfast and lunch less than a mile away.
- Cafe Classique – in El Granada across from the Harbor. Fabulous breakfasts; great patio dining; sometimes will have a musician playing music on a weekend morning. The local flavor doesn’t get any stronger. I will have business meetings here as well as family brunch.
- Three Zero Cafe – a fun casual restaurant at the Half Moon Bay Airport. The kids like to watch planes come and go, but it’s not a very busy airport. Small planes only. Good home cooking type food.
- La Costanera – an exciting Peruvian restaurant with the best open ocean views on the Coastside. Bar tables & couches downstairs; outdoor patio with large fire pit; main level has full dinners. Upstairs can get a bit loud, so could be a little difficult for hearing challenged or large parties where you want to talk to someone across the table or a couple seats away without raising your voice, especially during peak hours. Happy hour available. Fabulous pisco sours! One of my favorites.
- Flavor – They opened in late 2010 serving “comfort food” in a warm environment. Across from the Harbor with easy access. I’ve been once and they may have been still getting their feet wet. I will go back again for a more seasoned review.