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    Dad's Luncheonette

    4.4 (887 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Dad's Luncheonette Photos

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    DAD'S LUNCHEONETTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Dad's Luncheonette

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    Menu
    Cody T.

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

    Mushroom burger
    Kyla A.

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

    Herb Salad
    William S.

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

    Anthony G.

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

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

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

    Potato artichoke soup
    Renee C.

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

    Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding
    Allie G.

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

    Sandwich
    Amanda H.

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

    Menu
    Brenda K.

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

    Gabrielle B.

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

    BedirXan U.

    Great spot. Service was chill. Cool vibes with the architecture. Shared one burger sandwich and one mushroom sandwich. Both were fantastic. My partner loves a good sunny side up egg so it was perfect for their taste. Nice day to hit the beach. Oh and man that root beer is splendid you have to get it. It's the Devils Canyon one. I'm considered a root beer connoisseur and it already made my top 5. On the menu, that 60 dollar try one of everything item... is calling our name... till next time thanks for the bites! Ciao

    The train exterior
    Victoria Z.

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

    mushroom sandwich
    Anna H.

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

    mac and cheese

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    Dad's Luncheonette Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dad's Luncheonette

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

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

    You get the option!

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

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

    View All 5 Questions

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