Moss Beach Distillery

What can I say? A missed opportunity. Gorgeous location on the beach why majestic views of the Fitzgerald marine reserve and the best crab cakes I have ever eaten. Seriously!!! You can taste the gently stringy flesh of the crab and none of the fillets plus perfect seasoning. The rest is a miss, Starting with a jicama she cucumber salad served with the crab cakes. Care sky cut pieces of vegetables, all in different shapes and sizes. If they were julienned, it could have been a 5 star dish. The beet salad although having delicious beets, oranges, candied walnuts and goat cheese had a dressing without any flavor. The children’s entrees came with an option of carrots did green beans. First of all, what kids like green beans? Broccoli or cucumbers would have been a much better option. The carrots that came with these dishes looked liked they came from the 50s — big carrots cut into circles. Why not we’ve baby carrots? The fish tacos were gigantic but the fish had zero flavor (not even salt), had too much breaking and was dry. The worst offense is their signature desert Distillery Decadence which was supposedly a browny its ice cream and whipped cream. The last two components were just fine but the cake was gross. It was a cheap chocolate spongy dough that was was way too sweet. I would come back for the crab cakes and maybe a drink in the patio overlooking the ocean but no other food.

On a sunny, warm Sunday in February, with clear views of the Pacific from their patio/​deck, my wife and I enjoyed two beers (standard micro-​brews, Blue Moon White, Lagunitas IPA, served in large plastic cups from a tap). clam chowder, and calamari.
That was about $ 42 for essentially an appetizer and a cup of soup with a beer, for two – a bit pricey.
The odd thing is that you were not really guided to where you have to order (there’s no table service). You need to stand at a counter and order your food and drinks, they will give you a number for your table and bring you the food/​drinks; very quickly as it turns out.
Good part: the chowder was large (much larger than a «cup» would have implied) and thick, filled with tender clams and potatoes. Pretty well seasoned as a clam chowder and very hearty. Might have needed some pepper or something to brighten it up a bit, but it really was very good.
Beer was fine but not special.
Calamari was tender, fresh, but the oil it was fried in was off tasting, like fries and an oil that needed changing.
But the location was really great, as well as the outside casual seating.
We understand about the location but the prices for what we had are not quite up to par with the quality of the food.
Would recommend the clam chowder however without hesitation if you just want to chill by the California coast in Moss Beach.

I had the great good fortune to dine at the Moss Beach Distillery on a visit from the East Coast, and I can honestly say that it was one of the most lovely afternoons I’ve spent in a very long time. We went for a late-​ish lunch, and practically had the place to ourselves. The service was superb, and the food was outstanding. Best of all, we got to enjoy it as the gulls and seabirds wheeled and called just outside the large windows overlooking the ocean. This will be on my Must Visit list whenever I am on the West Coast forever more.

Have been there twice. Food not good and drinks not much better. Service good.
First time I had a spinach salad that was too oily and ordered sweet potato fries to go with it. These fries were the same ones I buy at Target. The margarita I ordered was undrinkable and the was a surprise, because it was a pre made drink.
Second time i ordered fried prawns and french fries. The fried prawns were over battered and I finally took the fried part off. French fries were OK. The drink was a mango margarita and it was just OK

Made reservations for Sunday Brunch at the Moss Beach Distillery so I could finally see what the hype is all about on the view and the Blue Lady (resident ghost). The view was spectacular as we were seated by the window. You just cannot beat the views of waves crashing outside, while enjoying your morning spicy Bloody Mary (which was the best part of the meal).
Aside from the view and the mystery and allure of the Blue Lady (we didn’t see her), the food was pretty mediocre and priced on the higher side. My wife and I had cups of clam chowder (packed with clams). My wife had the mussels (pretty good), and I had the crab avocado quesadilla (not good, couldn’t believe how «fishy» the crab smelled. I couldn’t even eat two bites).
Overall, I’m giving this spot 3 stars for the spectacular view, the Blue Lady, and their spicy Bloody Mary… not for the food.

Waterfront restaurant so expecting high prices, but self serve? Not acceptable. Way too pricey of a menu for no service. You have to stand in line to order at the bar and they give you a pager. The bar is upstairs and the patio is downstairs. Once the pager goes off you have to go up to the bar, wait in line again, and bring all the food down yourselves. WTF? I was surprised I didn’t drop any food on my way down.
The food overall was okay, it’s what I would expect from a waterfront restaurant that doesn’t have to try too hard as there will always be people wanting to pay premium for the location. My dish, chicken saltimbocca, was very tasty. The wild mushroom ravioli looked and was confirmed tasty as well. The quesadilla’s could have been a lot better and the rest of the dishes were pretty forgettable.
As for the ambiance, it’s too loud and chaotic to enjoy each others company or the view. Disappointing in that regard as well.
This could really be a special place but not how it is run now. Reservations & full service would justify premium pricing and premium views.

Love this place! It’s a beautiful big place off a small road overlooking a beautiful hidden cove. Very romantic in good or bad weather.
The food was great. We each got a cup of the chowder and split the coastal slider plate. Definitely upgrade to the garlic fries if you even like garlic just a little. We came for brunch but would love to try a dinner sometime as well as trying it during the spring or summer. Fair price and the service was great too.

Came here earlier today for lunch with a few friends. Took a while to order since three of us had never been there before so it was a great experience. The view was great from where we were seated (we think the Blue Lady’s favorite spot was either the table behind us or two tables behind us).
Anyways the servers were really nice and friendly. We each had order a cup of their clam chowder and it was delicious! We had order the beer battered artichoke and dip and that was pretty good. I had order the chicken saltimbocca and man it was delicious. I couldn’t finish all of it since I had the chowder but the chicken was cooked just right. The prosciutto wasn’t too salty so that was a plus! For desert we all decided to share the lemon ricotta cheesecake. The texture was very interesting and different from the usual New York cheesecake. We all loved the grand mariner citrus sauce!
After lunch we decided to take a look at the outdoor seating with the fireplace. The view was great and the outdoor seating was perfect to watch the sunset. Despite it being windy I would love to come back and bring my dog next time since it’s a dog friendly place.

Amazing ocean views and quality food makes this an ideal place for special moments! Seafood is the theme and they deliver. Thee crab/​avocado quesadillas are excellent. Also had the linguini Del mar which was delicious. They have an outdoor patio with fire pits blazing that looks like fun too!

Here’s full disclosure: This is not my first time at the Distillery (or the second or probably even the twentieth) — we live within walking distance, not sure why I haven’t reviewed before…
Anyways, the Distillery is great for a variety of things: everything from first dates to a random after work happy hour — here are my favorites.
The outdoor patio is probably the best on the coast — the views and sunsets are forever out there. If you aren’t fortunate enough to get close enough to the fire they have blankets; however, hard telling when they’ve last been clean — so bring a coat. The patio is also dog friendly — so your furry friends can enjoy as well.
The happy hour is probably the best on the coast — ½ off food and drinks. HALF OFF!!!
If you’re not a fan of the outdoor seating the indoor views from the dining room are equally as good. If you like hanging out in the bar, you can eat there as well — it has a comfortable «local» feel.
So enough of the ambience — this place has that covered.
The food is solid, just have the proper expectations that you’re not getting Michelin starred fare here. We had burgers this weekend and I will say that they were every bit as good as any other burger I’ve had on the coast (the fries were top notch also).
They have a kid menu as well as a dog menu as well — so everyone is a winner!
At the end of the day, the views, the story of the Blue Lady and the happy hour are what you’re coming here for — enjoy…

We decided to try a different restaurant in Half Moon Bay and glad we found this restaurant.
The view is Magnificent! Such a romantic place (even in daylight). There is a patio downstairs but it is a self service. There is a fire pit and bench and some blankets on chilly day/​night. This would be perfect during summer nights.
We were about 30 mins early from our original reservation so we got a table with an unobstructed view. I think we saw a whale too but definitely there is something. lol
When they hand you the menu, they provided a little reading about the historic blue lady. I was freaking out and glad it was daylight; if it was night time, damn! I will be needing a strong alcohol! lol
We ordered Calamari and it was delicious! Fish and chips had 2 fish and battered wasn’t too thick and oily. Coastal trio is heavenly it consists of Salmon, Tuna and Crab. All 3 was cooked perfectly. Though the Tuna was a bit soggy on the bottom… maybe because of the ginger? So next time eat the tuna first. It is pricey but it’s a historic place with a view so you pay for that too.
The reason I’m giving 4 stars only is because the restroom is at lower level (where the patio is) only. This is a big concern for older folks such as my mom who has difficulty going up and down the stairs. She isn’t with us but I plan on bringing her here.

I decided to be adventerous and try the famos moss beach distillery. Conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood in moss beach, the distillery offers great food and amazing views of the cliffs and beach.
The food is very delicious and made with quality ingredients. The price is reasonably affordable average price is around $ 15 per person. The story behind the blue lady and her ghost really make this restaurant an interesting place to visit. The staff are very friendly generous and provide great customer service to all patrons.

I enjoy this restaurant. It has this really neat vibe to it. Everyone there seems to be having a great time! I have sat inside and outside, both experiences are slightly different.
When the weather is nice and you want to enjoy yummy food with an INCREDIBLE view and bring your puppy along, sitting outside is a great option. You have to order your food inside from the bar counter, they give you a number and you head outside to select either a table or chairs around large stone fireplaces. My only complaint with sitting outside is, when you order drinks they are served in plastic cups, no biggie, but… sometimes a beer is so much better in a glass.
Off to inside! I would say that I enjoy coming for lunch over dinner for the food, but I enjoy coming for dinner over lunch for the view. (Have a I lost you yet?) I feel like their lunch menu items are across the board a solid choice for having great food every time, whereas some of the dinner selections were not my favorite. This place is slightly pricey, but overall a wonderful place to visit and relax.
As far as details on dishes, I LOVE the seafood sliders! Oysters on the half are fresh and delicious; beer is spot on every time. Dinner options, their baked fettuccini was my favorite, I had their chicken dish with melted cheese on top with tomatoes… not a huge fan of that one. All their seafood dishes are yummy.
The ambiance is nice, the whole place has a historic feel to it, the lighting is soft and romantic, but the VIEW! Oy vey! The VIEW!

Read off the interwebs that Moss Beach Distillery has a pretty decent dog menu so decided to come check it out. Add to HMB sunsets + fire pits it sounded like a winning combo.
The best food we ate tonight was off the dog menu. Yup. Seriously. The grilled chicken on the dog menu was pretty tasty. Much better than the over-​battered fish and chips and the not-​at-​all-​interesting crab cakes. At least the fire pits were as advertised though about half the spot have an obstructed or no view of the sunset.
While the name of this place has a bit of history behind it, I was expecting them to at least distill some form of alcohol. They do have a full bar, but nothing made on site.

We came here per a friend’s recommendation on where to celebrate a friend’s birthday. I easily made reservations via OpenTable and noted the table I wanted to sit at plus that it was my friend’s birthday. Both were accommodated and we had a lovely table right by the window, albeit we couldn’t see much because of the June clouds. I’m glad we sat outside since it was a cool rainy day!
I really can’t remember what I had here — I know I had the spinach salad, which was a HUGE portion that I should have split with my hubby… it was really good though. I may have just gotten that because looking at the rest of the menu, nothing else really jogs my memory. I guess the moral of the story is to come here for the views and drinks; not necessarily for the food…
I enjoyed reading about the blue ghost — what an interesting story! Our waitress was also a hoot and really lovely.

I really enjoyed Moss Beach Distillery. Everything about it was on point! (Late post: 6÷28÷15)
For appetizers:
Coastside Crab Cakes — Two pan-​seared crab cakes served atop a refreshing jicama-​cucumber salad with a bay spice aioli and a drizzle of herb oil. This can actually be an entrée!
Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip — Topped with Parmesan and baked until bubbly, served with garlic crostinis. Omg to die for!
Main course:
Had the Panko-​Crusted Sole Almondine — Crispy panko flakes, parmesan and herb crusted petrale sole, topped with a white wine butter sauce, topped with roasted almond slices. served with wild rice and sautéed seasonal vegetables. Perfecto!
Will definitely come back here. It was a divine and yummy experience!!!

I already knew what I was getting myself into…
Waterfront restaurant usually means overpriced, mediocre food which is fine by me… as long as I get to bring Tater Tot.
But, what I didn’t anticipate was this:
*Walks into restaurant*
Me: «Hi, how are you? We have reservations for two at 12 pm. We have our dog with us so my bf is already in the outdoor patio with him.»
One of two hostesses: «It’s self-​service. Order at the bar. Menus are over there.»
Of course my resting b*tch face made a rare appearance because of all the restaurants I’ve been to, I’ve never had to bus my own table at a place that charges $$$: $ 12 for onion rings, $ 13 for garlic bread or $ 20 for a quesadilla.
After driving 40 minutes from SF, all I wanted was a relaxing, anniversary lunch with Mr. NSS and Tater Tot. And there’s nothing relaxing about having to fetch your own menus (hostess should provide this to you), go down two flights of stairs to the outdoor patio, peruse the menu, walk back up two flights of stairs to order at the bar, make two trips up and down two flights of stairs because the food tray is too small to carry a bowl a soup and drinks, then when your buzzer buzzes, walk back up two flights of stairs to grab your food, and then down again before chowing down. Don’t forget to ask about the dog menu like us because we had to go back up again to order for Tater Tot:
.
At this point, I was hella annoyed.
Ok, just enjoy your meal and the wonderful view, I told myself. Little did I know once you sit down in the outdoor patio, your view of the ocean is obstructed by bushes like an 80s porn movie:
.
Anyhow, on to the food. The Clam Chowder ($ 11) was rich, thick, and full of clams but with all the going back and forth, it was cold by the time we were eating it:
.
After perusing the overpriced menu, $ 13 for a burger never looked so good (cheapest entrée) so I went with that:
. I requested it cooked medium rare but it was more medium well but still very juicy since it was an angus burger. Bun needed to be toasted longer because it fell apart mid-​way from all the beef juices. Fries were plentiful and very crunchy.
Mr. NSS’ Seafood Platter ($ 26) reminded me of a glorified Red Lobster seafood platter:
. You get one piece of pollack, two shrimps, calamari, and fries. He said, it was «ok». I had once piece of calamari which was fine. However, at this price point, you should be using cod not pollack which is normally used to make fake crab sticks and filet-​o-​fish.
An $ 85 lunch for two that we had to bus our own table is unheard of in the restaurant industry. We should of eaten at Taco Bell in Pacifica: $ 15 lunch for two and we would have gotten the SAME view. *Le Sigh*
Management:
(1) Please consider offering a patio menu with reduced prices because it’s not fair for customers to pay white linen cloth prices and have to bus their own tables just because they choose to dine outside.
(2) If you can afford to have two hostesses, then you can afford to hire a food runner OR better yet, implement waiter service for the patio.
And geesus christ, why are cocktails served in Solo plastic cups and condiments in packets (ketchup, mustard, tabasco, malt vinegar, salt, and pepper) at a $$$ restaurant? Ratchet.

Had a brunch reservation here with his family (group of 12) the other month for Sunday. We were seated late though, I guess because it was so packed? I went here years ago for a Unilocal Elite Party and loved the views. None the less, it’s still all about the views. On a rare warm Half Moon Bay day the seats outside by the fire would be the best.
The brunch set comes with your choice from the brunch entrée list served with a bottomless champagne or mimosa, or coffee or juice and some pastries and fruit. The fruit were diced up small and not sweet, pastries were smaller sized and nothing special. I got the crab cake benedict and he got the bananas foster pancakes. My benny was a big portion served with diced home style potatoes. The crab cake was fine but had a decent amount of filler. We agreed that his banana pancakes were the winner. They were nice and fluffy and weren’t too sweet. It was served with eggs and crispy bacon.
Waitstaff was attentive but food was average. I saw a lot of people getting the artichoke hearts. I’m thinking it may be best to go with appetizers and lunch items instead of the brunch. Rounded up to 3.

wunderbarer Laden — tolles Essen, herzliche schnelle Bedienung, mit unfassbar schönem Ausblick auf den Pazifik — Aussenterrasse mit Feuerstelle! Die Burger und der fisch sind definitiv SEHR empfehlenswert

5 stars easy.
World class view of the ocean, both inside & outside on the patio.
That view is just stunning. And at sunset? It’s a moment. Life affirming even.
Fire pits on the patio.
Just picture it…
You, your significant other, (&/​or your peeps), a glass of wine in your hand, your feet up, sitting at your own fire pit… the smell of the fire intermingling w the smell of the sea, all while the sun is setting.
It is dreamy.
Now add some oysters, sliders, quesadillas, maybe some garlic fries…
Bliss.
You can bring your dogs.
The bartender (Joey is his name), is a genuine rock star. Personable, knowledgable, genuine.
MBD is just truly an all around great place.
You may even see the Blue Lady.
5 stars easy.

Very sweet spot with a breathtaking view of the bay. We had a corner table with a perfect view of the ocean and the fire pits below. Yes, there were fire pits with seats looking out into the bay. The sun also decided to come out, which was a welcome surprise. We had expected it to be cloudy and foggy, as it often is in this area.
No sightings of the legendary Blue Lady ghost (fortunately?), but it’s a neat story that definitely adds character to the restaurant.
: Beer-​battered artichoke hearts — one of their signature dishes! almost every table had an order of this, and I’d recommend the same. Light, fluffy batter with moist, juicy artichoke hearts. So delish!
: Kale and quinoa salad — would have preferred dino kale to be used in the salad, but it was pretty good nonetheless.
: Burger with garlic fries — Burger was well cooked, but the fries were a bit over-​fried so they were a little too crispy if you know what I mean. There was a hefty amount of garlic though (yay). The spicy chipotle ketchup also gave it a nice kick.
: Garlic pesto bread — More pesto and lighter on the garlic, but still tasty! Not a «must-​order» dish, but it was good.
Definitely drop by here if you’re in the area — if not for the food, then just to chill by the fire pit with a blanket and a glass of wine :)