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    Dad's Luncheonette

    4.4 (888 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Dad's Luncheonette Photos

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    DAD'S LUNCHEONETTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Dad's Luncheonette

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    Menu
    Cody T.

    Swung by Saturday afternoon to a relatively long line to what looks like a retired train cart, very cool! Despite the long line, we were about 10-15 minutes to order. After ordering, there was another 10-15 minutes to receive our food. There is maybe 5-6 seats available inside the train cart to sit and dine. Outside seating is much more preferred for us as it offered more space and the weather was great. We ordered the happy meal, which is essentially one of everything. What it came with was one hamburger, one mushroom burger, home made chips, Mac and cheese, soup of the day (artichoke and mushroom), salad, and a dessert (panna cotta). The best thing hands down is definitely the mushroom burger. Every bite was super meaty and fresh. Everything else however seemed to miss the mark for us. The hamburger was quite basic. With it being one patty, the egg being less runny than the mushroom burger we had, and the sauce being skimped on; it was less desirable than the mushroom burger by far. The Mac and cheese seemed baked and had some crunchy toppings that were a nice miss, but it lacked in the cheese that I typically crave for. The artichoke soup was just not for me. It tasted very fresh and creamy, but it missed for me in lack of savoriness. The salad was fine, but I didn't quite like the nutty granola bits. Finally, the panna cotta arrived melted and was overly sour. We also ordered the leek chili crisp they had on the side, which my gf thoroughly enjoyed. However, at $18 a jar, it was one of those things that we would try once and only once on occasion because of price. Overall, the meal itself was great. Half moon bay being so close to the coast brings a natural vibe that allows us to enjoy our food easily. But since the food we ordered didn't really hit the mark, we're giving it 4/5. Definitely sticking to the mushroom burger next time!

    Mushroom burger
    Kyla A.

    For a fun family friendly lunch in Half Moon Bay, try Dads Luncheonette! Everything is good and this is a place where it can be a struggle to decide. Sharing food might be helpful here! We ordered the mushroom burger, potato chips, salad, and grilled cheese. It all rocks and it all just went with the seaside PCH vibes! I recommend this super cool Cali joint!!!

    Herb Salad
    William S.

    Great spot--the vibes are excellent and everyone is super friendly. You can tell each order is prepared with care; they even come out to hand you your food, which is a nice touch. It's a pretty unique setup--the kitchen is inside a train car, tucked into the corner of a parking lot, which adds to the charm. The mushroom sandwich was my favorite. The texture was great and it wasn't over-seasoned, letting the ingredients shine. Really liked the pickled red onions, the egg, and just enough sauce to tie everything together while keeping all the textures intact. The herb salad had great textures--light, crunchy, and well balanced. The nuts didn't add much for me and could've been left out. The mac and cheese was okay. The wild rice added an interesting texture, but I could also do without it. Flavor-wise, it was a bit underwhelming and didn't have much going on. Dessert that day was really good. Overall, it's on the more expensive side, but worth trying and a nice bite to grab when you're in Half Moon Bay. I'd definitely come back.

    Anthony G.

    It was a chilly, foggy afternoon in Half Moon Bay. My partner and I were gonna go hike but wanted to grab a bite to eat before we started, so we stopped by Dad's Luncheonette. This spot, built from an old train caboose is led by a former 3 Michelin star chef, so you know it must be good and good it was. Their offerings showcase a fun casual take on good take out burgers and food. We ordered the hamburger and the mushroom sandwich to try out. The hamburger was really delicious and the flavors were super satisfying. The mushroom sandwich was essentially the same as the burger but with a mushroom instead. It was also good but I would definitely choose the beef patty over the mushroom any day. It had so much more flavor and depth. Regardless, everything we tried was awesome and I will definitely go back to try more menu items. It is a little on the pricey side, but it's a quality burger with a clear mission.

    Burger + Mushrooms. House potato chips. Both are a must!!! One of my faves that keeps me coming back every week
    Shanna J.

    Food and service are always love yall! Thank u for keeping our tummies happy and our hearts full! Also go buy the Coastal Book.

    Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding
    Allie G.

    So glad I finally got to try Dad's Luncheonette! This iconic train caboose on highway 1 is hard to miss, but often sells out of its popular items early in the day. We got lucky though, and most items were available on a Friday afternoon. My boyfriend and I both got the Hamburger Sandwich and I couldn't resist the sweet of the day - the Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding. Service was friendly and quick, and they had a small outdoor seating area. The Hamburger Sandwich was simple but so tasty! I wasn't sure I'd like a burger on sliced bread, but they managed to pull it off. The Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding was insane. I loved the creamy but light texture, crunchy coconut flakes, and whole pieces of cherry. Would happily return for more!

    Potato artichoke soup
    Renee C.

    I've been going to Dad's for some time- always a delightful experience with great staff and thoughtfully conceived and prepared food. After a recent excursion to the beach, hunger struck - too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Dad's to the rescue, with a 5 star restaurant quality cup of potato artichoke soup and "lime marshmallow" dessert that was nothing short of revelatory. The flavors and presentation were beyond beyond. It's been a few days and my mouth waters just thinking about them. Thank you Dad's!!

    Sandwich
    Amanda H.

    Wow! This place is crowded. Sandwich is bomb as usual, but I'm not quite sure I'll line up for it again on a weekend. Took about an hour! I think there was some farmers market in the back of the lot. But other than that there's not much to do in the lot while waiting for the sandwiches.

    Menu
    Brenda K.

    This place is clearly popular--the line can get pretty long, so be prepared to wait during peak hours. The mac and cheese was decent, though I wish it were a bit cheesier and more flavorful. The sauce and pickled onions of the sandwiches were a flavorful combo, but the price felt slightly steep for what you get. Seating is limited indoors, with just a couple of small areas that can feel cramped, especially with the crowd waiting to order. Most of the seating is outdoors at picnic tables, which works fine on a nice day. The bathroom situation is a bit inconvenient--you need a key and a code to access it through what seems like a leasing office. It was clean, though, so can't complain. Just hope that the key is available when you need it! Looking forward to coming back and trying the soup and chips next time.

    Gabrielle B.

    This is a cute and quaint eatery in half moon bay. I've passed by it so many times before finally stopping by to eat here. I love the unique look and feel of the restaurant. There is a very small menu but they do have a mushroom sandwich and I appreciate the plant based option. It was very good, but the mushrooms made the bread very soggy with a gooey texture. There is lots of outdoor seating, but not much of an indoor option so coming here is best for a nice day.

    The train exterior
    Victoria Z.

    Such a cool gem! We stopped by on the drive to Half Moon Bay and ordered the regular hamburger and a mushroom burger - both were delicious. The homemade chips were super unique, it had a umami flavor and a bit of a dusty texture from the seasoning. I've never had chips like it but loved it! Inside seating is pretty limited but they do have a couple picnic tables outside.

    mushroom sandwich
    Anna H.

    I came to Dad's Luncheonette with my dad The mushrooms were juicy -- they were more like beech or oyster mushrooms than the portabella that frequently comes in mushroom sandwiches or burgers. We thought the hamburger sandwich was more flavorful overall; the sauce definitely shines in it. The egg in both sandwiches carried because it smoothed out the different textures. The bread was a little bit dry, though. The herb salad was very ... herby ... for lack of a better word, and was very unique. The various herb flavors were very strong and you probably either love it or hate it. We did feel like we should've mixed it since it was oily on top and more lemony on the bottom.

    mac and cheese
    Anna P.

    We heard about this place from the Michelin Guide and came for a late lunch/ quick bit to eat. The place is off the side of the highway but they have little picnic tables and seating. The whole vibe was very cute. For food we got the mac and cheese, which was so cheesy and the crispy rice was amazing! We also tried their burger, it was pretty good and I loved the fried egg on it. Overall it was really good, and I can definitely see us coming back to pick up a snack to bring on the beach next time!

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    Dad's Luncheonette Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dad's Luncheonette

    Want to try Dad's for my birthday. But I can't get there until 1:30 pm on a Saturday. Saw a few reviews say that they tend to run out of menu items later. What tends to be out by around 1:30 pm?

    Do they give you the option to keep the sandwich whole or have it cut in half? I notice that some of the pictures show whole sandwiches, while other pictures show sandwiches that seem to have been cut in half by the staff.

    You get the option!

    Is there a gluten/dairy free option? We will be in this area but sons girlfriend has gluten and dairy allergies.

    Both sandwiches have cheese and bread. But I'm sure you can ask for gluten free.

    View All 5 Questions

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    4.0(939 reviews)
    2.3 mi
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    I celebrated a friend's birthday here with Sunday brunch. The food was yummy. Service as very…read moregood. Overall a really great experience. You are allowed to order two items at a time during the 90 minute brunch portion. You then have 30 minutes for the dessert items, though the waiter did say we could order more brunch items during that time too. I maxed out during round 5. Round 1: The MARIN COUNTY CHEESE TASTING and the PAN SEARED SCALLOP. There were three types of cheese on the plate with some fig jam and some raisin bread. Everything was super tasty. Loved the fig jam. The scallop was very nicely cooked. Loved the truffle foam. It was supposedly polenta foam but it was very smooth and not grainy at all. Round 2: CAVATELLI and CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES. I think the pasta was my favorite meal of the day. It had a great truffle and parmesan flavor. Soft pasta. Yum. The pancakes were also delicious. Nice and fluffy with melted chocolate chips. I did hold the ricotta cream from it as I know I don't like it. Round 3: LOBSTER ROLL and WAGYU BEEF SLIDER. The lobster roll was tasty but messy. I don't like caviar so I had that held. The slider was very tasty. The sauce on it was a bit too BBQ-sauce flavor for me but overall not a bad bite. Round 4: I did the ORGANIC MAITAKE MUSHROOM and another scallop. The mushrooms were super flavorful. Loved the crispy rice puffs on them. Round 5: I just did on plate - the BELGIAN WAFFLES. I loved the waffles. Crispy outside, soft inside. Warm apples on top and a big dollop of whipped cream. Yum! Dessert: There were carrot cakes, coconut macaroons, strawberry shortcakes and a chocolate pistachio balls. I only add the carrot cake there and took the rest home for later. The staff was very good. Always taking away empty plates and refilling drinks and water. A splurge of a meal but worth it for good food and service.

    Hands down, a must experience! Came for a celebration and the Ritz absolutely delivered. We were…read moreseated by the window (per reservation request), which is probably one of the highlights, watching the waves during the course of the meal. At almost $200 pp, we went in wanting to make sure we could order as much as we could during the time limit of the unlimited brunch. However, we didn't have to worry - the service was so fast, that by the end we were well stuffed that the time restraint was moot. Each person can order 2 dishes at a time, and we had the chance to cover everything we wanted to try off the menu and order our favorites multiple times. Some highlights were definitely the scallop and lamb (even as non-lamb lover). The salad also surprisingly stood out, it was really great to eat this paired with the seafood/meats especially towards the end of the meal. I also really enjoyed trying the different caviars, and always love a solid wagyu slider. Only wished they had cornichons to pair with the slider, but appreciate that the staff tried to find pickles for us in the kitchen. The meal ended with a afternoon tea tower of pastries, which we were at that point way too stuffed to take in. The one pastry I tried though, was really delicious, not too sweet. All in all, 10/10 experience. The cherry on top was the complimentary champagne for our celebration! Truly a splendid experience.

    Photos
    Navio - Semi private room

    Semi private room

    Navio - S L I D E R  +  L A M B  +  S T E A K  | ig: thesimplefoodlife

    S L I D E R + L A M B + S T E A K | ig: thesimplefoodlife

    Navio - Large table

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    Large table

    Ocean Terrace

    Ocean Terrace

    3.0(123 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$

    I came here for drinks right when I arrived to the Ritz, then returned for lunch after taking a…read moretour around the property. This was my favorite spot to relax on the property to have a drink or two. I also want to give a shoutout to AJ for being so sweet and welcoming. I was very happy to see that the menu had Poke. I try my best to watch what I eat, and this dish fit my diet perfectly. I accidentally ordered raw salmon in addition to my raw tuna; I never order raw salmon anywhere because it's too chewy for me. BUT, this salmon was perfect. The whole dish was so refreshing and filling. In addition, my partner ordered the clam chowder: I personally don't like clam chowder, but I have to say I enjoyed this one. I will definitely be back to try more dishes!

    Two day prior - reservation set for outdoor seating. The…read morephone communication - accommodating and flexible, even with my requests for slight micro adjustments / changes to lunch schedule. I was told the weekend gets full, so that is good to know for a future visit. The golf course trails, lobster lunch menu, fire pit, wine / coffees, desserts / teas inside the conservatory were magnificent. What a beautiful day to celebrate my mother's 85th birthday and to enjoy the scenery at the halfmoon bay ritz carlton. The spa space is gorgeous - the same entry way to the dining room and (fireside) lounge. A lot of fond memories here with 'girls day' visits - or [wellness day] visits on previous occasions. Thanks again for the hospitality! The welcome is crystal clear.

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    Ocean Terrace
    Ocean Terrace - Lobster roll with Lamb Weston chips

    Lobster roll with Lamb Weston chips

    Ocean Terrace - Espresso Martini

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    Ketch Harbor Pub - Not the best pic of outside area which was a good size. Jim

    Ketch Harbor Pub

    4.0(313 reviews)
    3.7 mi
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    We are locals, love breakfast and brunch and are fans of the original Ketch Joanne's. We're also…read morefans of the current owners of Jetty Wave, who are presenting a new incarnation of Joanne's under the name Ketch Harbor Pub. Curious about what the new/old place is like, our three-person family went there for a late breakfast today. Walking up to the front doors, the original inset stained glass remains. Walking in, the cool wood paneling and nautical decor remains in place with a couple of new touches. The fully appointed bar also remains, now with a more streamlined look with subtle lighting changes. We were greeted pleasantly and seated inside the dining room immediately; it was moderately busy and buzzing, not too loud. Our server was quick to our table, menu-knowledgeable and consistent in his attention to us. We had a Denver omelette, a couple of bennies and lemon ricotta pancakes to share. My omelette had particularly fresh and al fresca peppers and onions - wonderful. The lemon ricotta pancakes were sufficiently saturated and fluffy(hard to pull off)and came with fresh cream. The prices were at about the same level as the local competition, which pleasantly surprised us. It appears that the folks who did this breakfast/lunch reboot were shrewd in pricing their dishes. Jetty Wave, a drinks and appetizers adventure(which I heartily recommend as well for different reasons)in the northwestern part of Princeton, is not for the fiscally faint hearted. The only element that makes our experience short of a 5 is that we were not given a farewell when we left, though I was able to find our friendly server and thanked him. In all, the Joanne's legacy is intact - the old carved wood Ketch Joanne sign still hangs inside - literally and figuratively a homage to its legacy while bringing a new energy to this space. Recommended.

    Ketch Harbor Pub (often just called Ketch) is a fantastic spot right on Pillar Point Harbor in Half…read moreMoon Bay. We stopped by for lunch on a crisp day, and it completely captured that perfect coastal vibe--think fresh seafood, laid-back atmosphere, and killer views of the boats and water. We started with the calamari, which was hands-down some of the best I've ever had: tender, not rubbery at all, perfectly seasoned and fried, melting in your mouth. The New England-style clam chowder was rich, creamy, with just the right subtle smokiness and balanced seasoning--definitely lives up to Half Moon Bay's chowder reputation. For mains, the Dungeness crab sandwich was the star: generous lumps of sweet local crab, minimal sauce (just how I like it), on toasted sourdough with fries on the side. My partner went with the fish and chips, and the cod was crispy, flaky, and not greasy at all--classic done right. The outdoor patio with fire pits was cozy even in cooler weather, and our server was super friendly, attentive, and full of local recommendations. The place feels welcoming, whether you're a regular from the Coastside or just passing through after a beach walk or harbor stroll. Prices are fair for the fresh, quality ingredients and location--definitely worth it. We've already added it to our list for the next trip to Half Moon Bay. Highly recommend if you're craving solid seafood in a charming harborside setting! 5/5 stars.

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    Ketch Harbor Pub - The sundae. Yum.

    The sundae. Yum.

    Ketch Harbor Pub - Sorry took pics after we started eating. Meatloaf. A little dry.

    Sorry took pics after we started eating. Meatloaf. A little dry.

    Ketch Harbor Pub - Would order again.

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    Would order again.

    Dad's Luncheonette - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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