We've tried Ketch a handful of times and each time left a bit disappointed. Service and ambiance is great but the food is subpar for its prices. As locals, we know how challenging it can be to maintain reasonable prices with such high rent and costs. However, the food portions and quality you get do not justify the price. read more

Well this was mostly a bummer. Me and the hubby were big fans of Ketch Joannes (RIP) when they were open, always brought people there and they were always blown away by the tasty food and generous portions whether it was breakfast or lunch. Friends of ours came to visit from the east bay so we decided to try this new incarnation and while the service was fine (a tad slow on water/tea refills but super friendly), the ambiance had the same feel as before and the food tasted pretty good, my $30 crab sandwich was really a joke; if the top & bottom pieces of bread are touching on a sandwich, you have not put enough things in between said pieces of bread and if you are charging $30 for a crab sandwich in the middle of crab season, you best make a decent sandwich out of the crab pulled off the boats probably less than 100 yards from the restaurant. Also, my fries were cold, c'mon now people, serving warm fries alongside a sandwich that is served at room temp should be SUPER easy, right...RIGHT? Anyway, our friend's food was fine, a tad oily on the fried seafood platter but hey, it's fried seafood, it will be a tad oily. The hubby had the crab/shrimp Louie salad and even those little cheap shrimp were not in proper attendance for a salad at $28, let alone the crab. They should really drop the "Ketch" from their name, it's killing a great legacy. read more

Came here on a sunny MLK Day. It was popular. Front desk lady was new, but someone seasoned came out to keep things moving. After waiting in line for 3-5mins, we were seated inside. The waitress tracked down a menu for us. This is a beach shack feel kind of place. It's right off the piers where you can come to get fresh, live crabs and fish off the fishing boats! We had picked up a crab so kiddo could experience getting a crab off a boat. The food is simple, fresh and good. We got the crab sandwich, which was Yom! The mixed fried seafood which had two pieces each of fish, prawns and scallop -- well done and better than the fish and chips at Waterbar. And clam chowder, which is a bit bacon forward and much tastier once we added some pepper. Overall, simple, fresh food at a lovely location which makes for a great outing to the HMB pier! read more

Soft opening for counter take out Took 25 min to order then waited 45 min for food someone in kitchen saw me standing there and finally took my receipt and returned with my food Clam chowder a little watered down To my liking. Fish and chips how can that go wrong fries cold yes cold and fish soggy not crispy :( . Asked for sourdough slices for chowder cost an extra $1 hmm very hard and dry seemed like old bread. I'm sad to say I was disappointed might give them another try but don't think so. read more

It's a shame. I wanted to like this place. So the good, the Cioppino tasted good as well as the fish tacos, but everything else was a disaster. The bad, 30+ minute wait to get seated, then another hour to get food. We had to order bread because the kids were starving. The crab sandwich came out and it had pieces of crab shell on it. The garlic shrimp was trash and should not be on the menu. Six shrimp and mostly bell peppers. Our server, was mostly missing. When done we had to wait forever to get a box. No one checked on us for our bill. I'd been done eating for about 30 minutes before someone came by. Even though they were nice enough to not charge for bread and for my son's shrimp, my time is valuable and I will not eat here again. Instead, go up the street to Barbara's, at least it's worth the wait. I feel that they are understaffed so to be clear, I don't think it's the server's fault. But still, not a good experience and will not be going again. read more

The good: The food was delicious. Linguine sauce was creamy and rich and the prawns were huge and cooked well. My wife had a fried seafood platter which was very generously portioned and tasty. Her gin cocktail was also great. No complaints about the food or drinks. Also a great spot right by the harbor. The not so good: staff here were hit and miss. We waited a long time just for drinks and then a while again for food order. Nobody except the main server was particularly welcoming and when the food did come the waitress just abruptly plopped it on the table and ran. Our main server was great but maybe overstretched. The other staff seemed put out that we were there. It doesn't cost anything to smile, ya know? Also, the bathrooms were nasty. It's not their fault that men can't hit the target, but it is their fault if it's not clean, or the trash can is overflowing and there's tissues across the floor. For the price this place should be offering a little more on a Saturday night. read more

It feels like eating at someone's patio. There were no seats inside so we opted outside at the high tables for two. I saw people walking by, little toddlers, dogs with their owner's, and happy people. Two big outdoor sofas for people waiting in the sun. One party just ate and drank their wine in the sun. They had long tables with a fire place in the middle. We had hot lamp behind us. Tiny chilly sitting outside. There was a breeze. We enjoyed the slow pace of life. We had a salad (slivers of green apple, light vinaigrette, walnuts, mandarin orange, very light and greens were great) and cauliflower (slightly grilled, white sauce, with dried cranberries) starters. Pescatore linguine, 3 shrimps, 1 scallops, fresh local cod, crab, 2 tiny garlic bread. Very fresh. It needed some ground pepper but they only had table pepper. This was delicious all the dishes were seasoned right for me. I'm sure people would complain underseasoned. I can taste the fresh shrimp. Our last fun favorite, dessert. Some desserts made by the Fishwife Sweets on HMB main st. Ours were house made. Espresso creme brulee and carrot cake without raisins and walnuts. Both were delicious. Not overpowering sweet. It was just lovely to sit and enjoy company. It was away from the touristiness. Quiet. They give 4.999% back to the harbor. Their seating arrangements is super unique. After eating, you can use your receipt to get 10% off the Pelagic fish market next door. This morning we saw the salmon trucks dump baby salmon into the water. Even the two truck drivers from Mokelumne Fish Hatchery ate here. The fried calamari looked yummy with the rings. Shoutout to the staff working together. Different staff took our empty plates and filled our water. read more

See all

Went today and ordered from their breakfast menu. A cup of clam chowder is priced at $5.95 and they billed me for $9.95. I brought it up to their attention and one server said I ordered 2 cups and at $5.95 each plus tax it would come out to $19.95, girl didn't know how to compute and didn't know how to explain it was a printing error on the breakfast menu. The manager finally owned up that the menu had the incorrect price and said they are updating the menu. They wouldn't stand by their mistake and didn't not want to give me the price of $5.95. Our bill came out to $225+ which included a Harbor Fee not sure why we are paying that and it wasn't stated anywhere we are paying a harbor fee plus tip. We used to go to this restaurant a lot but with what they did about not honoring the price they had on the menu even if it was wrong, they could have easily updated the price on the menu by crossing it out before they gave it to the customers before customers used it to order, it is a bait and switch which is illegal and wrong. I will never support a company that does not honor their advertised price and argue with their customer that it was wrong and they are having it fixed and still not give me the measly $8 credit for the difference in price! We paid $225 and $8 wouldn't have made a difference but it is the principle that I am after and I am fighting for. Their seat cushions outside are dirty and their indoor dining is riddled with many flies especially at the bar area going to the restrooms. Beware of this restaurant and make sure you check your bill versus the price on the menu. read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - Receipt with wrong charge. - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Surprised that we were able to be seated right away on Memorial Day at 11am. Staff is super friendly and even though busy, did not rush us. Sat inside as it was a little cool still on the harbor. While we waited for others in our party to arrive, we decided to try the oysters and have a glass of wine before breakfast. Why not? It's a holiday and we were on a mini-vacation. Love trying the local oysters and these did not disappoint. Nice to have an unusual mignonette on the oysters - very good. I loved the Crab Benedict - perfect egg, loads of crab, and a nice hollandaise. Hash browns are nothing special, but they were crisp and a nice contrast to the benedict. Others in our party enjoyed the Crab Omelettes and the Corned Beef Hash bowl looked pretty good. We remember the old Ketch Joannes from years ago and are happy to have this option available again in Half Moon Bay. We will return! Be sure to stop in the attached fish market on your way out. We grabbed some very good salmon and rockfish for dinner that night. read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - Local oysters to start - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

The good: The service is excellent. The outdoor setup - is pretty nice, well designed considering the prevailing weather conditions. The indoor design is likewise really well done. The bad: Menu was a bit vague - "crispy" when it meant - deep fried. Drinks priced premium but taste like mid-range at best. The ugly: Price -- we get it inflation is hard and everything's expensive but $6 carbonated water - lol. Ultimately -- we tried just a few items because we weren't too hungry, admittedly that may have been the error -- and maybe there's way better items on the menu -- but when a few apps and drinks are $100 -- the expectation for quality rises. read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - Shrimp ceviche, cauliflower and fried artichoke - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Food was great nice presentation. Service was great. Plenty of parking right in front. Decor matches the name. The music was fun happy sounds for the morning our server was nice and attentive. read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - Crab and Spinach Omelet house potatoes and sourdough toast. Breakfast Buritto with a little crunch added. Lastly a Mimosa Flight. - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Solid 3 stars. Location is good and has a pretty view. Menu is not that impressive for being a seafood spot - nothing really caught our eye. The clam chowder appetizer was nothing to brag about. The fish and chips were alright, and the tacos were decent. Service was amazing - loved our server! I just don't think the food was good enough for me to come back - especially at the price point read more

First time I've been here since the remodel and name change. Seems pretty much the same, though they now have a lot of outdoor seating which will be great on warm days. Inside seems similar to before, and they still have the bar which is great. Pretty pricey -- fish & chips is $22, a coke is $6. read more

Excellent food! Excellent service! Crab boil was exceptional! Right from the ocean at amazing price! Some of the best seafood imaginable! Go! You will not be disappointed! Half the price of San Francisco and excellent!!!! read more

I've been going to Ketch Joanne for years, especially when my boys are in town visiting their grandparents. So I was sorry the restaurant closed and excited it reopened as The Ketch. This makes reviewing the restaurant a bit challenging because it's not purely new, but probably not fair to review as an existing restaurant since they are still working out some kinks. Coming in the door, the interior has been redone and it is attractive. I'm not sure who made the decision to include so many high top tables. I am 5'9" and I do not like sitting in those. I saw a woman sitting in one and her legs were dangling. My mom and her older friends cannot sit at a high top. Perhaps there's a restaurant reason I'm not aware of. Service and hospitality was excellent. My one son likes breakfast and my other one loves fish and chips. We were there at 10:45am so they were only serving breakfast until 11:45am and then only lunch from then on. Our conundrum was solved by a manager who said she would ask the kitchen if they could make a fish and chips before lunch. Answer: Yes. Problem: Solved. The fish and chips were excellent. I asked our server what he liked and he said the flank steak, chilaquiles, and eggs with the steak medium rare and the eggs over easy. I ordered it and the food was good but the steak was at least medium and the eggs over medium. We also ordered the biscuit basket. They turned out to be cheddar and chive muffin looking things or some such. Being from the South, we expected something different. No big deal, but the menu could be more specific about what the biscuits are. We will definitely continue to visit The Ketch when we visit and looking forward to adding that 5th star as they work out the kinks. read more

See all

Came in for a late lunch and visit with a friend. The restaurant was clean, including the bathroom. Ordered the calamari appetizer, which was soft and flavorful. Also ordered the ciopino... the fish was fresh and tasty, the broth was ok. Now the odd...I've never had so many check-ins. Not sure why, but we had so many people check on us... it became a bit odd. I'm talking like 5 checks in 10 min. ‍This happened the whole meal...I kinda felt like they wanted us to leave, since we didn't complain about anything... we were just talking and eating. ‍ read more

I like this place for breakfast. But, not for lunch at least on a busy Sunday. It took an hour to get our meal for four adults. No bread provided as most local restaurants provide as part of the meal. The food was fair, the price above average per harbor location. The staff was disorganized or new. Had to ask for water, had to follow up on our drinks, and ask for small plates for our appetizer. No one came to refill our water glasses. The music is on too loud in the back room, which was nice, where we were seated. Definitely music not for ambiance which hindered talking. Disappointing visit for our out of town guests. read more

See all

rebranded and new menu! I have been coming here over the years and noticed some changes in the past few months and now i see why! I came in for some clams only to find out there are no steamed clams on the menu!! For a HMB restaurant, I was SHOCKED! I did get oysters that were dressed (mignonette, and cucumbers) which was pretty good but I would rather dress them myself. I like what they did with the inside as it is not as divey as it used to be, I can see how locals don't like this but it is the perfect place for tourists so I think it was a good choice. The outside patio is redone and really nice and they had heaters. The service was very good! our server was attentive and told us about the makeover and he only started a couple months ago but he seemed happy to be working there and it worked for me. I will come back...but not for clams I guess read more

See all

Meeeh, I'll skip it next time. The crab Benedict was $30 with just a few tiny flecks of crab scattered around. Service could have been better too. The only thing I liked was the outdoor seating--especially in the morning. It's the only spot with the right vibe by the pier, and parking's free and plentiful then. read more

Clam chowder sucked. Coffee was weak and burnt. Place looks like a has been. Setting is a parking lot. You can't see the water. A dump.

I loved everything about the new and improved Ketch. It's just too bad I forgot to take any photos of the food! If you have been here before the remodel, then you know the original Ketch Joanne's was a local favorite. The owners sold the restaurant to a local investor and he completely transformed the site. Before there was hardly a bathroom to speak of. A dingy room next to the bar that had a leaking toilet and could barely fit a single person. It was disgusting and certainly not fit for a restaurant. Now the bathrooms are huge and so clean. The walls were repainted, so now the restaurant looks bright versus the aged look of before. There is new furniture and my favorite feature are roll up large windows that are garage-door style. Perfect to have open on sunny days and awesome to easily close them on our cold, foggy days. One of the owners, Mishelle, often works at the restaurant, bussing tables and helping out staff. She greets people when they come in and chats with them before they leave. It's a nice touch having the owners there on-site to meet with customers. I highly recommend the chicken fried chicken (sooo good!), and the ahi tuna salad, if you want something healthy. The salad was spicy, due to sliced jalapenos in the mix, but it was really well presented and I am sure you can request no jalapenos, if heat isn't your thing. This is a great date night spot and if you're a local, you get 20% off your bill on Mondays. Lastly, I was worried the prices would be high due to the remodel. I was pleasantly surprised to find everything was affordable and reasonable. I didn't see anything I would label as too expensive. I highly recommend Ketch. It is a gorgeous new/old establishment and the cute details are what got me. The tabs come in actual novels by local authors. You can't beat that! read more

See all

Had a really nice meal at Ketch on a blustery day with my wife and good friends. Catch of the Day on a tostada : Salmon, tender and juicy and crispy delicious. Chicken fried chicken, cheddar potatoes, asparagus was spot on. Chicken was tender. Crispy exterior and potatoes, creamy. Tasty gravy Cioppino, delicious Shrimp Louie, tasty. Could have used a few more shrimp Great cocktails to boot. And the service was excellent including a little kid who opened the door for me on the way out as I am on crutches. Overall, great experience read more

I had dinner with a friend there on Saturday. We loved the fresh sea food and friendly servers. Their clam chowder was perfect. It had perfect amount of creaminess. Tip: if they do not have table available, check the bar. They have full service extended bar which is similar to a table. Please see the photo from my review read more

See all

We enjoyed a lunch here with our 2 year old on Saturday after a morning at Fitzgerald Marine Preserve. We were seated immediately and given a kids menu with crayons which our daughter immediately enjoyed as we waited for our food. We did have to flag down our server but she was very attentive and the food came quickly after ordering. Not pictured is the clam chowder (husband's) but I'm sure you'll see plenty pics of that in other reviews. We also shared the calamari, and I ordered a crab sandwich. All were delicious and not too heavy. A bonus that we were able to sit on the outdoor patio since the weather was so nice today, and there was a man playing live music (Spanish guitar) - my daughter loves live music! Good vibes and good food. Would recommend as a family friendly place! We didn't try their drinks today but the selection looked great, and they even had "mocktails" for kids! read more

See all

This was our first time back at Ketch after their revamp/remodel. Let me start with the service. Everyone was super super nice. Granted we went around 7:45PM on a Saturday so it wasn't as busy. The place itself was strange, especially if you were a frequent guest at the original Ketch. It's pretty, but we missed the rustic feeling the previous place had. We even missed the big ole fish tank. Strange, I know. As for the food, it was good, but far from great. Like they were trying too hard. Not as many options that's for sure. No more Manhattan clam chowder, no more grilled seafood combo....it wasn't the same. Plus the prices were a bit much. Probably won't be back. read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - The bourbon bread pudding. For $13, the portion wasn't even enough to share. Taste was 5/10. - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

No problem with the wait. We had a 20 minute wait, and got a table right on time. The food was fine-We had the Marcodero Tacos and Fish & Chips, with two cups of clam chowder and ordered two sodas over having alcohol. I can't complain about the service, either. Our server, Alexander, was attentive. (The server for the table on my left- not so much. I watched the group getting annoyed that he forgot about them. I did let our server know his coworker dropped the ball-he handled it like a pro.) This is where I just was annoyed with Ketch Harbor, and, it's strictly on management. From now on, it's not just cocktails and beer that are the expensive add-on items on a restaurant (besides dessert). Our two diet sodas were 5.95 each. Maybe that's no big deal to some, but you're approaching movie theatre prices at that price point. Next time, I'll order water. It's better for you than soda, right? I will not bring the big soda cup from Easy Mart over here. That's a line I won't cross. I still have some class. The clam chowder was excellent, but, it was 9.99 for a cup, not a bowl. It was truly better than the last time I had clam chowder nearby, at Sam's Chowder House, and got the last bit in the pot, which was more like the main ingredient for building a sand castle over good chowder. My hubby received the chowder from the new batch. Oh well. So much for your advertising of being on the Today show, Sam. Ketch Harbor did a great job on the remodel from the Joanne Ketch and Harbor Pub remodel. I will definitely give them credit. I liked the furniture outside for waiting customers. I also liked the fact that they had a working restroom, too (As opposed to Joanne's). At the same time, I know I'm in a tourist trap with the prices on the side menu items. It's still not as outrageous as going to Vegas, plus, you have a nicer view of the harbor and coastline over a gaudy casino. read more

Great coastal pub experience. We shared the Dungeness crab sandwich and fried calamari with a cold 805 draft--everything hit the spot. The food was fresh, full of flavor, and just what we needed after a walk by the coast. The staff was warm and welcoming, making up for a great experience. A perfect stop if you're near the harbor! read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - Dungeness crab sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

It's been a while since I was here but the shrimp and chips are still a memorable favorite. Every time I'm in HMB I need to stop by and order my usual. Discovered this place during c-19 shutdown when you could only dine outdoors, but the makeshift patio served its purpose even though it was full. My aunt and I ate our lunch in the car and looked out onto the marina while the breeze blew through the car. It's a fond memory. I hope to return soon now that the inside is open again. read more

The food there definitely makes up for the lack of ambience of the restaurant. I had the most wonderful wild caught fresh specific salmon tostada on chorizo, refried beans with feta cream, and Julian mangoes on top. My friends had fish tacos, and my other friend had the crab Louie. We will all be back soon! read more

See all

Service was satisfactory. My good was meh. Went for lunch with my mother. She had the fish and chips with fries - no salt. This is her usual order when she comes to this spot. Today, she said the fish was delicious but the slaw was not good- it had red onions in it. I had the fried chicken sandwich with side salad. The salad was drenched in dressing. So much so that the lettuce was limp. Instead of butter lettuce, they put some of the drenched salad in my sandwich. We ate outside. The best part was the music playing. Overall: disappointing. read more

My wife and I drove over to half moon Bay to shop and get some chowder. As usual the area was packed and all the known restaurants were busy with extreme lines and of course no parking. We decided to go the old faithful Ketches and were not disappointed. She got a cup of chowder ( Clam and I got the Shrimp in garlic butter. Excellent food. Chowder was the Boston type with bacon and not too thin or thick. My shrimp was fresh and very flavorful with the mashed potatoes. Parking is easy and was never rushed. 4 stars because of the service. It was not bad but lacked sincerity. I would avoid the lines and fighting to park and get the same good seafood at Ketches read more

We've been here three times in the last two months thought I'd finally write a review! My husband and I love it here. The food and drinks are delicious! Our server was Jerry, our bartender Emily, they are super friendly and attentive! We will definitely make it a point to stop by whenever we are in town! read more

See all

I had a pretty good crab & shrimp louie salad and a good glass of wine. I was happy with the ambiance and the price point was relatively reasonable. Service was lacking. Waiter took forever to bring the food and didn't even bother asking if I needed anything when I actually did want a lemon. I had to ask another server for a shaker of pepper. My waiter was brusque, and I felt annoyed that the bill prompt started at 18% when I barely wanted to give 15. Not sure I will come back here again. read more

Ketch Harbor Pub - Crab & Shrimp Louie - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

The oysters and the crab sandwich. Wash them down with a spicy Bloody Mary. You're welcome!

They have an awesome menu and a great kids menu. Their orange juice was incredible and it was the best French toast I have ever had. My cousin got pancakes that were superb. There is outdoor seating and easy parking. I highly recommend! read more

See all

I will change to 5 stars if Ketch offers more grilled fillet catch of the day options. 50 yards from the restaraunt are fishing boats with fresh Black Cod & Halibut priced at $7/lbs & $10/lbs being sold to the general public. Yet the only grilled option at Ketch is Salmon which isn't local. Would recommend too with the grilled catches to have a Cajun / blackened option too and mix and match sides. We want to support this local business but please also support the local fishers. PS I'm totally unrelated to the fisherman but my wife and I just got back from Hawaii too where there were few to no local fish options. Just tired of seeing salmon on every single menu. read more

Local place for great tasting fresh seafood. My favorite is the seafood pasta with an assortment of local seafood. The service is fantastic and whether you are eating inside on a chilly day or outside on the patio with heaters, it's comfy and cozy for a great meal. read more

45 minutes for a clam chowder to be served and it's very bland. same for the fish and chips. i guess they haven't discovered seasoning yet. don't waste your money here and go to sam's instead read more

Went for the last time yesterday. Party of 2, sat at a table against a wall which is no big deal except the walkway between us and the next table over was quite narrow resulting in a few near miss collisions between patrons getting up from the tables and wait staff rushing by carrying empty dishes (wait staff didn't stop and allow patrons to finish getting up etc). We ordered the fried artichoke appetizer which was heavily battered and tasted like fried in old oil. The clam chowder was ok. The bill came and coke was $5.95 as was the iced tea, ridiculously high. Lastly, be aware that you will pay a Harbor Facility Fee which was explained to me by our server it is to help pay for the maintenance of the parking lot and shared bathrooms etc. read more

Ketch has been a staple at pillar point for a while. I went a couple of times back when it was the old ketch and still had a very divey feel. It now is very clean and elegant inside but they made sure to keep the old sign and some remnants of the old spot. This place holds a special place in my heart. My dad used to go here all the time. The food is much better! The calamari sandwich is to die for and the clam chowder is delicious! I will definitely be coming back often for the food and the memories. read more

See all