We stumbled upon this restaurant while hiking in Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The ocean view in the dining area is stunning! They also have an outdoor patio area to enjoy when the weather is warmer. I ordered the Prohibition Mai Tai. It tasted decent but felt a bit light on the alcohol. I had to drive after heading back to the trailhead so it worked out. For entree I ordered the Pesto stuffed salmon. They gave me a pretty decent sized salmon piece. It was perfectly flaky. The crunchy pesto crust was delicious. It came with a side of a small scoop of wild rice and a few pieces of sautéed vegetables. For the price I felt that the portion of the sides was a bit light. Would I come back? Yes for the view and the vibe. The food was decent but the price was a bit steep for what you get. read more

This hidden gem has such beautiful views of the ocean. Great place to stop on a beautiful day. The food and drink isn't bad either. Looking for a great burger some fried pickles or garlic fries? Yum, best ever! Nice place to stop in, grab a cocktail or appetizer and just chill looking out on the gorgeous view were so blessed to have here in San Mateo county. Cool little spot. Good food with great service. What more can you ask for? read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Lovely sunset... - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

I really enjoyed the food and the setting. Their steak, served with potatoes and onion rings, was really great. Also, location: combine dinner with a visit to the nearby park, where you can find the Cypress Tunnel and watch the seals. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Steak with onion rings - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

My wife and I have been going to the Moss Beach Distillery for over 15 years. Yesterday, it was our 10 year wedding anniversary. So we decided to celebrate at the Moss Beach Distillery. We enjoyed some excellently prepared dishes along with my new favorite the "Smoked Salmon Carpaccio" that was outstanding! The other dishes were great and just one reason we enjoy dinning here. The other reason we love to dine here is the staff. Everyone goes out of their was to make the guests comfortable and happy. This time "Tam", our waiter, excelled with his charm and relaxing way that had both my wife and I enjoying each interface. Again, all of the other members of the team, treated us so nice that we felt wonderful. We will always return for the food, service, and the view! read more

Moss Beach Distillery - My wife Marti with what's left of her seafood "Coast Slidee". - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

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First off Javier, our server was fantastic! Then on to the view, you thought I was going to say the food!!?? The view is outstanding! Love the Pacific Ocean! OK, now the food, it took 5 minutes for our friend to get all the shellfish cleaned in her cioppino! I had the special grilled halibut with an orange per blanc sauce , very good! My wife had the sliders, and enjoyed them! read more

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Happy hour service was friendly and very accommodating. The view of the Pacific was unmatched and the bar area was cozy, yet elevated, and gave a very local vibe. The drinks were made strong, and I have to recommend their warm coffee alcoholic drinks, especially the Nutty Irishman. Particularly for cold, cloudy days, this drink really makes you feel warm and comfortable. The fried calamari was fried well with a crisp crunch, and the surprising highlight was the black sesame seeds on the coleslaw which gave it a nutty taste. Very well-balanced to the fried food. I should come back for a full meal sometime. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Calamari with black sesame coleslaw - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

Fun vibe/environment and excellent food. We had reservations and had a large group service is great.

Came to celebrate our dear friend's birthday. The service and food are ALWAYS spectacular. Fabian was our server and made sure we always had what we needed. The hostess working on 4/4 is SO sweet and professional. This place is always a 10/10!! read more

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I feel like Moss Beach Distillery is one of those "if you know, you know" places. After watching a special about this spot, we immediately knew while being in Pacifica we had to check it out. Moss Beach Distillery is definitely an off the beaten path type restaurant, full of rich history. (I'll let you do your research on the blue lady!) We pulled up with some time to spare, fyi they don't open until noon and reservations are strongly suggested..especially for the outdoor patio. So, if planning a trip, I would recommend sitting outside to take in the coastal views. We didn't have reservations but were second in line when doors opened at noon and sat indoors because we had the baby with us. Still great views, probably not a bad seat in the house! We ordered the Distillery Signature French Onion Soup, Distillery Clam Chowder, and the Caesar Salad. Warm bread with butter was served as well. Because this was just the first stop of many, we wanted to save room but still get a nice taste of the restaurant. We also ordered drinks and an avocado for the babe! The service was quick, efficient, and friendly. We made great conversation with others while standing in line, both locals and new comers like us, who were conveniently all seated around us. The food was honestly delicious ~ we're a family that loves our soup, and this didn't disappoint. It's a tough choice finding the perfect spot to get chowder on the coast, but this one did the trick. Hearty and creamy, with the French onion rich and of course, full of table side cheese pulls. Caesar crisp and packed with flavor. All in all, we would come back and make reservations when weather permits to sit outside! We want to make this Pacifica drive an annual trip, so Moss Beach Distillery is officially on our list. Looks like great menu to continue to chip away at, with something for everyone at great value pricing. When you're done with your meal and want to take a walk, head to the right of the restaurant to find a trail/steps that lead down to the water. Great way to walk off the meal, grab a few photos, and take in the coastal air. read more

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Views were so nice outside and weather was amazing. Ordered a burger and it was so good! Staff was so friendly and attentive! Would definitely come back ! read more

I was only there for drinks but the vibe is so comfy and the view is priceless. Drinks were perfect, dirty vodka martini!! Bartender was attentive and friendly. I'm ready to head back for food !! read more

Our friend took us here for dinner and it was such an amazing experience. Just sitting on the patio with the ocean breeze and enjoying fantastic seafood hit all the things on my list! Would definitely recommend going if you are ever out this way :) read more

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Been going to Moss Beach Distillery since I was a kid... The food has always been delicious and the people have always been super friendly. This time around, I brought my son. As always, the food was delicious and my 12 year old son absolutely loved the restaurant's history; including their resident Blue Lady. Plus, with a dog in tow, we couldn't resist their dog friendly patio, overlooking the ocean. Need a relaxing spot in Half Moon Bay for a lunch, a dinner and a gorgeous view?! Moss Beach Distillery is your spot. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - The view from Moss Beach's patio - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

This was an incredible dining experience. This historic restaurant had a cozy atmosphere, with nautical aesthetics and large windows to enjoy the ocean view. We arrived shortly after they opened. When we witnessed the long line of hungry patrons, we knew we were in for a treat. Service was friendly and surprisingly quick given how busy they were. The clam chowder was delicate yet hearty, full of clams! Try it with the malt vinegar. The seafood platter is a fantastic choice for trying all their seafood at once. The beer battered cod, prawns and calamari were all wonderfully crisp and paired well with the most incredible tartar sauce. The cole slaw was some of the best I've had, the notes of sesame seed made it more savory than sweet. We will definitely be back! read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Clam chowder (bowl) - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

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I've visited Moss Beach Distillery many times--it's one of my favorite spots whenever I head to the coast. On my most recent visit, I sat at the bar and was served by Tan, whose customer service was exceptional. He has a great sense of humor, an easygoing personality, and made conversation a real pleasure. I look forward to coming back again soon. Thank you! -- Ramon read more

This restaurant is a great destination, great food selection with wonderful flavors, good service & awesome ambiance. The dining selection of inside window seatings overlooks the Pacific Ocean (one might see a breaching whale or other aquatic life). Outside seating allows for the ocean breeze and smell. There are patio heaters if the weather becomes a little cool. read more

Had a wonderful time here for my birthday! Big shoutout to Rosey she was such a great host, very attentive and also sang a beautiful happy birthday song for me. Food was amazing, loved my birthday cake and the Shirley temple was the cherry on top! Will definitely return! Also try the fried artichoke read more

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Hidden gem! Customer service was fantastic! We felt very welcomed and not rushed. The cioppino is excellent! Very flavorful, with plenty of seafood. The weather was nice enough to walk over to the nature preserve to look at the seals, from the restaurant. It was the perfect way to end the afternoon. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Cioppino & Fish Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

3.5 - I, like I assume many other customers do, chose this restaurant for the views. It's a tie between the beauty of nature and the crab cakes for best part of the experience. Overall the food was good, service was mediocre (they didn't seem to have enough staff working), and omg it was so overstimulating for me because the dining room was so incredibly loud the whole time it was busy. I could hear the entire conversations of the tables in my vicinity as if i was sitting right next to them. Maybe outdoor seating is better if the weather allows for it read more

Moss Beach Distillery - View - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

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Came here to celebrate my birthday and had an amazing experience, the food and ambiance and the oceanview couldn'tbe beat. Our waitress Brenda, went above and beyond. Been years since we've been here and we will definitely be back soon! Props to this amazing staff who made our experience truly unforgettable! read more

It's been years(perhaps a decade) since I've been to moss beach distillery. Our host, Tan- wait staff and the fresh and delicious food made me realize I need to include this in my repertoire of go to restaurants on the coast. The views, ambiance were something we enjoyed during a clear winter day. Thank you. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

We saw the sign out on the highway and were thrilled to find a hidden distillery! Ooops, it's not actually a distillery! It was time for lunch and a break from the road so it was well worth the stop even without the craft spirits!! The view is spectacular and the history is a fun addition to our travels. It was raining so no outside seating, we enjoyed everything from the dry warmth inside. The staff was very subdued, not really friendly, just going through the motions and providing basic service. The chowder tasted like a cream of something soup with clams in it so I wasn't impressed! However, the grilled fish tacos were wonderful with plenty of fish and a super tasty and spicy sauce that was amazing! The soft corn tortillas mad them perfect! Hubby's burger was just okay, some seasoning definitely would have helped and the bacon needed to be cooked a bit longer. All in all, a nice experience and would return for those views any time! read more

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This place is off the beaten path, but what a nice ocean view. We were greeted promptly and I had reservations but the time we arrived we didn't really need them. We were shown to a nice window seat so we could view the ocean. Our server was Melissa. She was so sweet very helpful. Kept checking on us. Couldn't say enough about what a great server she was. My husband and I each had two gin and tonics with Hendrix Gin and we shared a beet salad Yum Yum. One of the specials was halibut. It was excellent and it came with vegetables and delicious rice pilaf. We also got some bread and of course we ate that. No room for dessert. Everyone who worked there was so personable. Also pricing was read more

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Best garlic fries of my life!!! (And the coolest bathrooms!) My boss took me here for first time there last week and we had the best food, ambiance & service! Pedro was such an attentive waiter and went above and beyond with every step of our service. And then on our way out, Rosie was super helpful teaching us how we could shout him out properly. (Sorry this review took so long to write.) We can't wait to come back! Highly recommend. :) read more

We always go here for Christmas Eve dinner. Unfortunately right when we sat down the power went out. They serve us water. They offered to call other restaurants that had power for us. The hostess quickly got our large party mother table at another restaurant. Thank you Distillery for saving our Christmas Eve. Sorry we had to leave, we will be back for your tasty food. read more

Stopped by and was impressed right away by how pretty the place is. Great atmosphere! I tried an Elysian beer that was really good, then had a few glasses of white wine. The food was pretty good too. We had the fried artichoke hearts and onion rings. Both were nicely fried, though I wish the artichokes had a bit more seasoning. I also had the chicken sandwich, which was solid. Crispy chicken with a little heat and a really good bun. Overall, a great spot to relax with good drinks and tasty bites. read more

The views were amazing. The food was very good and tasty. The Waite staff was attentive of all our needs

Everything went well, but best of all was the service. I cannot say enough good things about our server, Pedro. I'm a fussy eater, my friend is on a restricted diet. Pedro was attentive, knowledgeable, and just generally the all around perfect server The food was delicious. The scenery can't be beat. Also worth mentioning is the hostess Rosie. Friendly and informative. You have two great employees. read more

This restaurant is one of the worst I have ever experienced. This is worse than a tourist trap. Service: The service was laughably terrible. For $35 a dish, the service should be unbelievably good. 2 persons in our 3 group did not receive their food until 30 minutes after one person got their main, even after asking the waiter every 10 minutes. The drinks were filled so far on the top, that when they were handed to us they spilled all over. The food: The food was absolutely subpar at best. I would have expected this food to be in a restaurant that charges $7 a dish. But, it's not, this is a $35 per dish place. The seafood was subpar at best. The ambiance however, is a great location, if you could actually see over the high hedges that are placed outlining the outside area. If you are inside you should be fine. Absolutely steer CLEAR of this sad restaurant. For its history, I would have guessed it would be better. Sad! read more

Today wasn't breakfast--it was a lunch date with my husband, and it turned into one of those meals you remember. It's crab season, and my husband absolutely loves crab, so we decided to make the drive. It's not close, but the drive itself is part of the experience--ocean on one side, mountains on the other. By the time we arrived, it already felt special. The restaurant is tucked away in a quiet, remote spot, and it honestly feels like being at a peaceful ocean cottage. Calm, beautiful, and unhurried. And the crab--wow. Exceptionally fresh, high quality, and perfectly prepared. My husband chose the garlic sauce, and I went with the cioppino sauce. The cioppino was absolutely perfect--rich and flavorful without being overly spicy, and it complemented the freshness of the crab beautifully. We actually came last week hoping for crab, but it wasn't available, so we tried other dishes. They were fine, but nothing memorable. That's why I hesitated a bit before coming again today--but I'm so glad we did. Today was on a completely different level. The service deserves special mention as well--attentive, warm, and genuinely kind, without ever feeling rushed. It made the entire experience even more relaxing and enjoyable. A sweet little bonus: there's a tiny, adorable dog (a toy poodle, I think?) who kept smiling and following me around. We have three dogs at home, so maybe it recognized the scent--but it was incredibly charming and added a personal, welcoming touch. I came in today feeling a bit down, but this meal, the atmosphere, the view, and the service--everything came together and lifted my spirit. Food like this reminds you to be grateful. Perfect food, beautiful scenery, peaceful vibes, and wonderful service, with a touch of unexpected warmth. We'll definitely be back--especially during crab season. read more

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Excellent Service! Great sliders and crab cakes. The seafood quesadilla is 100% kid approved. The coffee is robust and hot (I should have asked for a refill). So glad that we came here - didn't see any ghosts this time but maybe next time. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

This restaurant was recommended by my bestie who, I kid you not, goes here every year on her anniversary, and then some in between for the past almost 20 years. We just happened to be in the neighborhood for a wedding and thought why not have Sunday brunch. We got there on the earlier side as we had to check out of our Airbnb. A line was forming at 11:30. We had reservations so we weren't too worried and just enjoyed the breathtaking view. I went up ahead of my hubby and read the history plaque as it is a historical landmark and just being outside the restaurant, I definitely felt it. Inside was just as beautiful and they sat us next to the window overlooking the ocean waves along the cliff side. Our server, Laura, was absolutely amazing. Me and my husband had the champagne brunch. First the bread came out with butter and then their flakey pastries with a fruit filling. Both were out of this world good. Then out came my crab cakes with poached eggs on top and his omelette. Both were delicious. Mine with the most delicious mimosa too. My son has some sliders which he inhaled as well. I'd say it was good since it was gone in 60 seconds. My friend was on point for sure. This is a must do. read more

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On Saturday night we had a large party of 14. There was a short wait for our reserved table as they were waiting for one table to finish. No problem with the wait as outside there is a beautiful ocean view to enjoy. After about a 10 minute wait we were seated and promptly greeted by our server, Tan. Tan really made us feel welcomed and had great drink and food recommendations. Our group can be very lively and chatty, Tan did a great job entertaining and serving our group. Would go back for his impeccable service alone. The food was very good! For appetizers we had the artichoke hearts (the overall winner), crab cakes (very flavorful), fried pickles (just okay, maybe thicker pickle chips), and the sesame ahi tuna (second favorite overall). The appetizers came out hot and fresh. They also served us warm rolls with butter that were delicious. For dinner I had the Pork Chops, and I must say, these were the best pork chops I have ever had! So flavorful and tender! The garlic mashed potatoes were buttery and garlic, so yummy! And the green beans were crisp and added a nice crunch and freshness to the meal. Overall our experience was great! Would definitely come back again to explore more of the menu and to say hi to our new favorite server, Tan! Thank you, Tan and all the wonderful staff at Moss Beach Distillery! See you soon, hopefully! read more

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Our waiter, Chris made the whole lunch experience fantastic! Crab cakes and artichoke hearts deep fried were amazing appetizers and potrale sole and fish tacos were excellent. The beef sliders were delicious too! Highly recommend for food, service and amazing ocean views! read more

Amazing distillery tucked away in moss beach. When I think of distilleries, I imagine spirits and a heavy alcohol emphasis. That was not the case here. They do have an alcohol and wine menu, but also an excellent variety of food. They have several plant based options and I loved the kale and quinoa salad. I could tell that the kale had been massaged and I loved the addition of macadamia nuts to add some crunch. The cheesecake was also incredible- the whole desert menu looked amazing. Our server was so attentive and friendly. It's also cute that they have a dog menu! The ambiance is amazing. The outdoor patio had a lovely view of the ocean. read more

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Lovely place, good food, service so-so. It used to be great in all dimensions. Declined. It needs its charm back.

Really nice staff and barely any wait on a Wednesday afternoon! We got the: Clam Chowder: must try jam packed with clams and flavor for a hot treat next to the sea Calamari: Light but dense batter with a side of coleslaw. Hit or miss Linguini Al Mare: Skip, the peas and sauce did not mesh well with the noodles Oysters Half Shell: on the smaller side but we requested some oysters with bigger meat and they were very nice to switch them out Fish and Chips: Named after the founder of the distillery, a get if you're a fish and chip fan -- skip if not Bathrooms were a little scary, I heard a loud thump as I was about to leave and thought the blue lady paid me a visit! Other than that, no paranormal activity according to the staff. Seating is either outside or in! Lots of dogs on the patio which was cute! They would all raise their heads when a new dog came in! The staff also refill water bowls for dogs which was nice! Great ocean view too! Inside was also nice looking. read more

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Such an interesting spot to stop for a cocktail. Its rich history and beautiful scenery are certainly worth a visit. Menu could use a little love though. read more

We were satisfied with the large servings that can be shared. We Started with a beet, mandarin and candied walnut salad, with small pieces of blue cheese. The salad had a light slightly sweet vinegrette. It is big enough to share with another. I ordered fish and chips- tons of fries, coleslaw and 2 large delicious pieces of fish. My sister ordered grilled fish tacos that had a good dressing on the lettuce and fish. The corn tortilla was thick , she thought maybe fresh, but it's not a taco you you can hold in your hands, it was starting to fall apart so use your fork and knife. Very delicious . For dessert we had an Apple Tart , again can be shared. Comes with 2 tarts and whipped cream . Great dessert. The view of the ocean is magnificent and would make a romantic getaway.. this restaurant has a full bar, a big plus. read more

Moss Beach Distillery - Apple tart - Seafood Near Me - Moss Beach, California

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We went after visiting the pumpkin patch and happened to stumble upon this gem. The ambiance is amazing and so is the food! We ended up eating in the bar area and talked to many locals and had such a memorable experience! We cannot wait to go back! read more