10 Half Moon Bay Restaurants You Must Try | Top Half Moon Bay Coastside Restaurants

Most people associate Half Moon Bay with the California seaside hamlet 30 miles south of San Francisco.

Half Moon Bay Coastside is another name for the area (HMBC). HMBC encompasses the North Coast, Half Moon Bay, the South Coast, and the Redwood Area. This lovely California location has lots to offer everyone.

As one of California’s top vacation, staycation, workcation, and learncation locations, HMBC includes a commercial fishing harbor, beaches, hotels, stores, and all manner of adventure and water sports.

Let’s go eat!

As you would expect, HMBC is the place to go for mouth-watering seafood. It’s fantastic.

But, this region is also noted for its high-quality vegetables and meat from the many farms and ranches that surround Half Moon Bay and Coastside. Year-round mild weather allows for extended growth seasons for fruits and vegetables. Cattle, pigs, goats, and hens provide some of the best quality meat and dairy in the state.

It is difficult to go wrong with any restaurant in this area, but here are 10 Half Moon Bay Coastside Restaurants. If you want to walk off some of that hard-earned food, take a look at some of the greatest things to do in Half Moon Bay.

Not in the mood to dine out tonight? Click here to have Grubhub deliver right to your door from the greatest restaurants in town.

Visiting other places in California? Check out our other tasty guides:

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Half Moon Bay’s Top 10 Coastside Restaurants

Chowder House Sam’s

+1 165071202454210 North Cabrillo Highway

Sams Chowder House dishes fresh seafood and a vista that will set your mood to California Casual. Request a deck or window table to enjoy the seaside atmosphere. The restaurant is located above the beach and offers views of Coastside, the Ocean, and people enjoying the sea, sand, and the California Coastal Trail.

Sams is famous for its New England-style chowder and lobster rolls, but there are also plenty of California favorites to try. On my first visit, I went New England all the way with chowder and a lobster roll.

Lobster rolls may be served bare or dressed. Naked is served heated with butter. With lemon aioli, celery, and chives, Dressing is served cold. Both are served on a toasted bun with coleslaw and fries on the side. Both are fantastic.

Steamed, fried, sautéed, and in Ceviche, seafood is served in a variety of ways. Pasta enthusiasts, sandwich lovers, and meat eaters all have options.

The best place to begin is with the beverages menu. The Moscow Mule, with its ginger beer, went well with my appetizer of Ahi Tuna Poke. Ginger and soy sauce are two of my favorite ingredients. Cocktails, local wine, and beer are available in the full-service bar. This is without a doubt one of my favorite Half Moon Bay Coastside eateries.

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is a brewery in Half Moon Bay, California.

Capistrano Rd., +16507282739390 Capistrano Rd.

The terrace at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is the spot to be for sunset in Coastside. Find out what time the sun will set and plan to arrive an hour before it does.

This locally owned and managed brewery first opened its doors in 2000. Since then, the award-winning brewmasters have created beer in a variety of genres. Kolsch, Saison, Amber Ale, IPA, Coffee Milk Stout, Belgian Blonde, or one of many additional types are available. Beer is available in 16-ounce cups, 32-ounce Crowlers, and 2-liter Growlers.

The menu is ideal for drinking and snacking while the sun sets. My favorite plates were the little ones. Dinner consisted of grilled artichoke hearts and calamari. Taste the clams steamed in beer. The Kolsch lager and garlic were ideal for dipping the garlic bread in.

Soups, salads, and sandwiches are excellent lunch options. Beer-battered fish and chips, Portuguese Fisherman’s stew, Flat Iron steak, a seafood sampler, fish tacos, and other dishes are available.

If you don’t like beer, HMB Brewery features a full-service bar that serves spirits and California wine. As the sun had dropped beyond the horizon and the air had cooled, I had a Hot Buttered Rum for dessert. It should be known as a cool chaser.

Mezza Luna Cafe

650-728-8080240 Capistrano Rd

Mezza Coffee Shop Luna reminded me of a tiny café in Florence that I used to visit. Everything is homemade and amazing, and it is operated by a family.

Breakfast, lunch, and supper are available at Mezza Luna. I got the finest ham and cheese omelet I’d ever eaten, even in Paris, for breakfast in the morning. Crisp hash browns, sourdough bread, and fresh-squeezed orange juice made for a delicious way to start the day.

Don’t overlook Mezza Luna. The cuisine is of great quality. The service is kind and attentive. Crepes, panini, piadina (Italian flatbread), frittatas, quiche, pizzette, and gelato created to order.

The beverage bar serves a large selection of coffee, tea, local wine, and beer. Mezza Luna is a family-friendly restaurant. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available. On the terrace, dogs are welcome.

Goat Dairy and Harley Farms

205 North St, Pescadero

Prepare to meet some goats. Pescadero, along the coast, is home to the Harley Farm and Goat Dairy. The goats are the main attraction here. Take a tour; it’s gorgeous, educational, and filled with young goats in the spring.

After your tour, there is a little store where you may purchase snacks for a picnic on the grounds. Seasonal variations in cheese are available. There is chevre, feta, and spreadable fromage available. I was obsessed with the Herbs de Provence Log.

Choose crackers, sandwiches, jams, spreads, and fruit nectars to complement your cheese. The farm raises and produces everything. Locals come here for bath and body items made from cheese and goat milk.

Bring your treats to one of the farm’s picnic tables. Some are located around a pond, which attracts birds and other animals. Farm-to-table meals and other gatherings are held in a private dining area in the barn’s loft.

Arcangeli Grocery Store

Stage Rd., +16508790147287

Don’t be fooled by the name; Arcangeli Grocery Company, often known as Norms Market by locals, is a veritable treasure trove of locally created cuisine. Sante Arcangeli founded the bakery in 1929, and his family continues to bake their Garlic Herb Artichoke Bread to this day.

Shop for in-room snacks and picnic cuisine. French and Italian bread, house-made pies, made-to-order sandwiches, house-smoked meats (the smoked duck breast is a must-try), and house-made sauces, jams, and jellies are all available.

Don’t forget to try the local wine and beer, as well as the locally produced fruits and vegetables, at one of the greatest Half Moon Bay Coastside Restaurants.

The Duartes Tavern

Stage Rd, +16508790464202

Are you ready to go back a few decades? Duartes Tavern is your entry point. This classic roadhouse and diner first opened its doors in 1894. The dish is defined as American country cooking with Portuguese influences from the Duarte family. This Pescadero landmark has received the James Beard American Classic Restaurant Award.

Artichokes, onions, leeks, beans, peas, lettuce, squash, chard, fennel, herbs, olallieberries, and strawberries are grown in the restaurant’s vegetable garden. Frank Duarte introduced the pole beans and rhubarb from his native Azores.

The artichoke soup at Duartes is renowned. Locals purchase it by the quart and arrive early for lunch so they don’t miss out. On the menu, you’ll discover fish, beef, and lamb, all of which are obtained locally within 10-miles. Veggies and berries are grown in the backyard and purchased from local farmers.

I saw the Cowboy cut 16 ounce bone-in rib eye making its way to a table. Wow. That was outstanding. When I asked Alice, my server, What are the favorites? Osso Buco, Pan-Seared Calamari Steak, Chanterelle Pappardelle, and House Rolled Gnocchi, she replied.

Cocktails, highballs, beer, and wine are available in a full-service bar. Most importantly, this is the place to meet locals and learn more about the region’s delectable cuisine. Undoubtedly one of the best of the Half Moon Bay Coastside Restaurants.

It is Italy.

Main Street +16507264444401

I fantasize about the braised beef ribs and polenta. One lovely evening, I dined in Its Italia’s private illuminated patio. For hours, succulent, juicy meat was simmered in red wine, garlic, onions, and carrots. The sauce is sweet, tangy, and quite tasty.

A Red Light Negroni, a combination of gin, vermouth, Galliano red amaro, lime, grapefruit, and soda, put me in an Italian mood. It is served in the shape of a lightbulb. Brilliant!

A beginning large enough for two was grilled octopus. My dining buddy and I began with Burrata Bruschetta, which we, of course, shared.

The cuisine is excellent, the service is excellent, and the setting is wonderful. The food is seasonal and includes locally produced fruit, meat, dairy, and wine. If you’re wondering which Half Moon Bay Coastside Restaurants to try first, this one should be at the top of your list.

San Benito House Garden Deli Café

Main Street +16507269507356

This place, known as San Benito Deli in the neighborhood, is great for a quick lunch. I recommend phoning ahead of time or buying online. The queue for their massive sandwiches will extend all the way down the block.

Sandwiches are provided full or half deli-style on house-made whole wheat, French, or olive-walnut bread. The loaves of bread are available for purchase, but they are said to sell out rapidly. Soup, salads, and cookies are available as side dishes.

Restaurant on the Beach in Miramar

Mirada Rd., +16507269053131

The Miramar Beach Restaurant has a superb reputation for delectable cuisine and kind service. Nonetheless, Miramar’s reputation was a little shaky in the past. Originally, a speakeasy, Maymie Cowley, a redheaded madam, dealt with rum-runners and controlled the legendary roadhouse.

Nowadays, there is no need to be concerned about illicit liquor; Miramar boasts a large selection of legal libations with an ocean view from every seat.

Dishes are inspired by world cuisine and served for lunch and supper using surf, turf, and garden vegetables. Internationally influenced delicacies include Cajun Seafood Boil, Prawn Carbonara, Seafood Paella, Scottish Salmon, and an all-American Roadhouse Burger.

California, France, Spain, and Argentina are all represented on the large wine selection. This is one of the best Half Moon Bay Coastside Restaurants.

Barbara’s Catch

Capistrano Rd.

Barbara’s Fishtrap is a Coastside landmark. The owner, Barbara Walsh, has been servicing Coastside since 1971. The fish and shellfish are caught just outside the door in the Ocean.

The Fishtrap is a traditional fish shack that serves fresh seasonal seafood, spaghetti, sandwiches, chowder, and salads. Don’t feel like eating fish? They provide the greatest beef burger in town, as well as chicken and vegetable options.

For dessert, you must try the Key Lime Pie. It’s genuine.

Barbara offers both beer and wine. Insider tip: There is a $2.50 canned beer offer every day.

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The Half Moon Bay Coastside Eateries should not be missed. From upscale restaurants to walk-away shrimp cocktails on the pier, there is something for every budget and taste.

If you have limited time for your visit, I recommend a dine-around. There are various restaurants in the walkable fishing town. Pop in for a snack and a beverage at the first location. Continue to a different place for an appetizer, then to a third for after dinner, coffee, and dessert. Make one final stop for a nightcap and a glimpse of the moonlight harbor.

Whatever you eat at Half Moon Bay Coastside, you’ll get a flavor of the Ocean in relaxed California settings.

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