My fiancee and I went here on Valentine's Day. We looked online at the menu and everything sounded wonderful, the food, the view, the atmosphere. We made the reservation online and it stated that we would be seated near a window, we were not. We were seated at a tiny table 2ft away from another couple. We also found out that it was a fixed menu, 3 courses, $65 dollars per person. I guess our thing is...we liked the menu online and were not going to pay $65 for food we didn't want. We were very upset and ended up having to get fast food on Valentine's Day because we couldn't get in to any other places. Went to Red Lobster the next day. I will not be going back to the Moss Beach Distillery....ever. read more

When I had the menu, I had a mini heart attack over the high prices. The prices were more consistent with what you would expect to pay at dinner, not at lunch. I got the fish and chips which were freshly cooked and tasted amazing, but were also one of the only options on the menu that was reasonably priced. My boyfriend got the seafood platter which was tasty, but was pushing $30. The drinks were on the high end as well at $6.75 a beer and starting at $11 a cocktail. I understand expecting these prices at a high end place in the city or Carmel, but this location was rather rundown and isolated. For being a landmark, you would expect more restoration and upkeep of the building. The view of the water was beautiful, but it was hard for me to relax with the prices because it was my turn to get the bill at $60 for two drinks and entrees. Great food, but it will be hard for me to justify coming back at these prices. read more

This place is kinda pricey and I don't really get any haunted vibes off this place, even though it's supposed to be. Aside from that, the view of this place is killer and the food is YUUMMAY. It's the kind of place you go to when you're getting together with family or old friends to just sit back, catch up and enjoy the sunset. Service is pretty decent and you can get away with casual wear or fancy clothes. read more

Moss Beach DIstillery is a really fun restaurant to have a drink and spend some time outside of San Francisco. I absolutely love sitting outside on the deck when the fire pit is lit, there are blankets for guests to use and the view is spectacular. Great place for a date! read more

One of our favorite places to eat when visiting the coast! Celebrating wife's birthday this time. Another great experience here, food was great, we also really enjoyed oyster shooters (with vodka ofcourse)! Beautiful view and great service, server always had a smile on his face when he was at our table, food was delivered on time ambiance was very relaxing. They stayed open late so we can finish our meal, there was no rush at all.. When we left one of the servers caught up to us on the bike, he was bringing a room key for the nearby seal cove Inn hotel! I accidentally dropped at the restaurant! Now thats customer service! Is it pricy...Yes.. Is it worth every dime? Absolutely! read more

Talk about ocean views! BAM! Go at sunset for the best. Foods great too. Fish tacos and pulled pork tacos are a win. Our server was awesome. Portions were bigger than expected too. read more

Excellent view of the ocean. This place is perfect for any date at anytime of the year. You should show up an hour before your reservation so you can take your love one outside and sit in a love chair with a blanket (yeah they have blankets) and share an appetizer or even have some drinks. It's pretty expensive and the portions are pretty small. But the view makes up for it. read more

We stopped at Moss Beach Distillery on the way back into SF from Half Moon Bay for brunch. The menu is varied and has something for everyone. The food was so so but it is the ambiance that we went for and were not disappointed. I would try it again, this time for dinner. read more

This place is way too expensive for what it is. The food is mediocre. The service is pretty bad. The view is nice I guess. I just don't understand how they justify to thenselves charging so much for such non exceptional food. read more

The food was excellent. Clam chowder was the best I have ever eaten! The steamers were an excellent choice as well. Look forward to eating here again. read more

Fish taco's so succulent. Beautiful sunset from our table. What a great way to end this beautiful day. We'll be back. Alaine read more

We came by to have lunch a few weeks ago b/c the wait in pacifica was too long. The food was overpriced i thought. I ordered the seafood sliders, 3 small mini-sandwiches, $25. It came with alot of veggies, which i appreciated. (i opted for that instead of fries). They didnt' have much choice for lunch i thought. The food is casual. We got a window seat and the day was so beautiful. I think it'd be nice to come back to view the sunset on a nice, calm not too cold/windy/foggy day. read more

If it was not for the outstanding view I would give this restaurant just two stars. Way overpriced for very average food. The whole place needs a cleaning including the restrooms. Service was good other than the server served my food before my wife's. I would not go back. read more

I went here last week and really enjoyed this place. The food was good, and the customer service was outstanding. It was somewhere different which is always nice and the waiter who answered all our questions on about the menu was fantastic! Salads are large (ended up sharing it) and the garlic fries are soooo good. View is nice, especially around sunset time. They also have great wheat beer!! read more

Good food, but great service, great story and great view! We had a great time and our server, Joey, was awesome; he cared about our experience there and often enough, that's what makes the difference. Again, the food was just good, but everything else was made the trek there well worth it. read more

If I could give a negative rating, I would...we have patronized MBD regularly over the years. My parents used to go here when they were dating. In any case, we celebrated my mother's birthday here a few months back and it was horrible. The service was lackluster - and that's being generous - and the food was definitely overpriced. While we never really went there for the food - it's always been "pretty good" at best - the views are spectacular and when it was a smaller place, the service was a lot more personal and thoughtful. Maybe it helped that the waitresses used to be "of a certain age," as well, and the young replacements just aren't up to being hospitable when they're rushing around trying to take care of (perhaps) too many tables (or, at least, too many for them). Would not recommend except to stop for a drink, take in the view, and then mosey up/down Hiway 1 'til you either get to San Francisco or Santa Cruz...grab a sandwich at one of the stops in town (just up the road) if you're starving, and have a beer/cocktails at MBD. read more

Nice views if you happen to get a table on the edge and if you go to a restaurant for that reason, this place is OK but the food overpriced and mediocre. Service is fine. If you sit outside, it can very very cold--they provide blankets. The patio is fine for a drink on a clear day, but you come here for the views not the food. read more

My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday dinner. It was a little overcast so pretty slow. I have been here on nice days and seen the view so it wasn't a big deal. The server was so sweet ad helpful and it really made the difference. The food was great! Best clams I've ever ha with tons of garlic and tomatoes in the broth. Bloody Mary oyster shooters... yum. The beet salad was just right. I had the crab and avocado quesadilla with corn tortillas, which wasn't a problem for the kitchen to accommodate, turned out so good. And our server took a Polaroid and put it in a card for people who come for a certain occasion. It made me feel all warm and gushy inside. It was a perfect romantic birthday dinner. read more

I came here for lunch on a weekday after exploring the nearby beaches. It was certainly expensive, but the view was incredible and service was great. I got the fish tacos which were good. read more

On an over-casted Saturday afternoon, i decided to try Moss Beach Distillery and ordered their distillery berger with garlic fries and bowl of clam chowder to go. The 16-oz clam chowder had tons of chunks but it lacked the wonderful clam chowder smell which I experienced from some other restaurants. I asked for medium cooked berger patty and it came out well done. The garlic fries came in very big portion, but soggy instead of crispy. Overall I think the food was decent and not superior. View from the patio was not that awesome as some trees were blocking the view. Probably a better choice to sit by the window in the main dinning room. read more

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Absolutely stupid that they don't have heat lamps outside in addition to the weak fire pits. The patio is underequipped for its size and the weather. I wouldn't care so much except for the fact that we had to serve ourselves for two people for an overpriced meal. So, they can afford a few heaters with propane tanks. Do not think for a moment its romantic based on the photos you may have seen. However, bonus points for being dog friendly. Sorry, you dont get to charge $90 for two people...coffee, a coke, two dishes and an appetizer and then NOT have a waiter serve you. WTF? read more

Value for money is questionable at best at The Distillery in Moss Beach. Don't go hungry! I had the Seafood Platter that consisted of one planko piece of fish (almost comparable to the Filet of Fish at McD's), two skimpy shrimp, five (5) miniscule calamari rings, and three (3) dried calamari (seaweed??) tentacles for $26. My wife had the fish tacos and she reported that they were good but not terribly filling. Bar service was very good, and the cherubic waiter was very good and knowledgeable. All in all, better choices exist in the Pacifica-Moss Beach area! read more

This is the second time I have eaten at the Moss Beach Distillery. I really, really want to like it. We saw dolphins out the window! But, frankly, the food is only so-so for the price. In fact, it was so-so for a step down in price. Service was OK, we had a snippish waiter, the other wait staff were attentive and pleasant. read more

Great view, good service, OK food, and a ho-hum menu. Way over priced for what you get, and being kicked out before 9 pm by the manager because the bar is "closing" is pretty lame. I live 5 minutes from this place but I won't be going back anytime soon. Spend your money at La Costenera, Sam's, or the HMB Brew Co., they'll appreciate you much more. read more

I'm a Bay Area local and have been here several times over the years, first with my girl friend (who is now my wife) and most recently on MLK day with the wife and kids. The first couple of times we visited I'd give it a 4 or 5 stars, mainly because of the location and novelty. But now I can't rate it very high. The location is still nice but the the inside didn't seem as fresh as we remembered, like it hadn't been cleaned up in many years. We had lunch, simple fare: Salmon sandwich, fish tacos no sides, two kids meals, no drinks. The food was ok but the price was much too high at $82. I could justify paying that much for a special occasion but not for a local out for a holiday drive, not in this economy. My wife said she is not interested in coming back. Normally this place is busy on weekends and I expected to have to wait to be seated but there was no wait. It was maybe 1/3 full. Perhaps many others are feeling the pinch in their wallets too. If you have never been here it is worth a visit, especially if you are bring guests from out of town but for locals, it has "little replay value". read more

I've been a customer since 1979. Great views, great food, good memories. Last time I had the steamers - awesome.

Zero stars-- FRAUD AND THEFT Took, my wife to Moss Beach Distillery on August 23, 2013. All drinks and food ordered at happy hour except several deserts at the end of the evening. Signed off on the check, which could have been no more than $120 WORST POSSIBLE CASE. Charge on credit card? $200.00 This is simple theft. read more

Had brunch there this past wknd, 6/1/2014 - it was Absolutely Terrible.. Didn't know you could screw up pancakes and eggs that badly... And the pancake/2 egg combo was $35.00 to boot. Insult to injury. Mimosa was really watery - but at least it didn't make me feel sick. Service was great, no issues there. BK drive thru would have been a better choice.. read more

Moss Beach Distillery is held in high regard because of its views, but I don't think it has much on other Half Moon Bay coastal restaurants. The food and drinks were all of mediocre quality and were expensive. The calamari was meh, the mimosas weak, the clam chowder bland. Again, you are paying for the view. I'll pass. read more

Great place for dog owners. the outside area makes you feel like you're on a getaway, but you're so close to the city. Love the fact they give blankets to sit outside and cozy up to the big fire pits. Also love the dog menus read more

Very romantic place to visit! The GOOD: The patio outside is great, the view is fantastic. The appetizers and drinks are good. We've ordered Clam Chowder to start and it was one of the best clam chowders I had in the long time. The BAD: There is no service on the outside patio. We were told that up front as soon as we walked in.Not sure if it is seasonal, but we were given a pager for whenever our food is ready, and had to go up/down each time I needed to get a drink. Because it is a self service type of deal on the patio, I actually had to carry someone else's dishes back in to make room for our plates. Between two people, couple of drinks and food our bill came out to little over 100$. Not a deal braker but for this much expected a little more. read more

We had a fun Oceanside birthday dinner. Lots of good food (steamers, garlic fries, fried artichoke hearts, beet and mandarin orange salad, calamari). Our waitress Kim was exceptional and even served us a birthday cake with a candle and gave us a photo of our table! Walked out onto a bluff over the beach and enjoyed the views. The patio with the fire pits was lovely. Food isn't gourmet, but it was fine and fun to share, fun to eat and watch the ocean and the birds. Do come! read more

My first time at Moss Beach Distillery and have to say that I was very impressed. We celebrated Fathers Day here and had an incredible brunch which included unlimited champagne. Would highly recommend the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict. The views are fantastic and the staff was great. read more

This place got 5 stars because our waitress Jeanne was so great! made our experience fun combined with great service. so nice to have a waitperson who has a bit of cosmic giggle. She made up for the artichoke hearts, which if you have had around Monterey, you know how delicioius they can be, but Jeannie explained it might have been a bit of an off day with batter. But gorgeous view on any kind of day, excellent kale/quinoa salad and out of ths world bread pudding. but without Jeannie, the militant reservation arrival time emailed to me ( with terrible traffic in Pacifica ) made me have to leave SF an hour early and surly bartender downstairs...aren't all bartenders smiley and welcoming? apparently not....but Jeannie made up for it all with her sunny disposition....definitely am going to bring daughter back for her bday.... read more

Wait staff was pleasant, food was okay. My main objection is each day the Moss Beach Distillery serves a hefty bit of seafood. But when asked where or how the seafood was caught, not one person knew or seemed to care. It appeared as if no one there had ever heard of the word sustainable. Get a grip people. Our oceans are over- fished and in trouble. Don't be part of the problem.. Please serve sustainable seafood. My family won't return until you do. read more

Great happy hour drinks on patio with warm fires. This is our favorite clam chowder on the coast, it now it might also be my favorite French onion soup! Everything was outstanding. read more

We really loved the view/location! The staff were very attentive and helpful. They have a kids menu and crayons for kids. Overall, most of the people at out table enjoyed their food! read more

The views continue to be breathtaking but the food paled in comparison.

The view the staff and the view were all excellent! Special props out to Susan who was our server! Great recommendations and accommodating!! Thank you!! read more

Come here for the views and perhaps a drink, but there's nothing more to write home about. The food is decent, American cuisine, but their overpriced tags don't make this "Distillery" worth a second trip. (Note, it hasn't been an active distillery since the 20s when it was a popular speakeasy.) This historical landmark is situated right above a cliff with breathtaking views of the pacific ocean, and the tide pools below. *Tip: order drinks and maybe an appetizer from the bar and then catch the view at the Seal Cove patio on the second floor below the restaurant. Don't forget extra layers! read more