In half moon bay? Looking for Italian food? I got you. Mezza Luna: - great food - fast and friendly service - lots of seating inside, like a lot seriously - nice view of the water and docks - very quiet It's down the road a bit from the docks, but you won't regret it! read more

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The food looked excellent, which is the only reason this is not a one-star review. We arrived before opening and were first in line. When the restaurant opened, there was no greeting or welcome. The door was simply unlocked, and we had to figure out ourselves that it was time to come in. We were seated first and given menus right away. After that, we were basically ignored. Other tables that came in after us had their orders taken, received bread, and were brought drinks while we still had not even been acknowledged for an order. We even told staff we were ready to order, but when our server came near our area, he went straight to a larger party seated after us and began taking their drink orders instead. He then walked right past us without saying anything. At that point, we left. I wanted to try the food because it genuinely looked good, but the service experience was frustrating and unacceptable, especially after being the first customers seated. Two stars because the food may be good, but the service made it impossible to stay. read more

We love coming here and it's such a perfect spot after a day on the coast. Cozy, relaxed, and always a good vibe. We had the crab cakes and beef carpaccio to start. Both were great. The crab cakes were fresh and crispy, and the carpaccio was super light and flavorful with just the right amount of lemon and parmesan. For mains, we did the veal piccata and lasagna. The veal was tender with a nice bright lemon caper sauce, and the lasagna was classic, rich, and really satisfying.Heads up, the lasagna takes about 20 minutes to prepare, so order it when you place your appetizers or drinks if you're planning on getting it. It's definitely worth the wait. Service was warm and attentive without hovering .One of our go to spots for a reason. Great for a date night, a cozy dinner, or just ending a day by the water. We will definitely keep coming back. read more

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We always come here for special occasions, so for my birthday I was craving either seafood or steak and my husband made sure we came back here. I ordered the calamari fritti and the NYC steak, while he went with the fettuccine Alfredo. The steak was tender and topped with a delicious herb sauce: solid 4/5. But honestly, the real surprise was his dish. I tried the fettuccine Alfredo and WOW... I already know what I'm ordering next time. It's light, flavorful, and perfectly cooked with chewy noodles, not overly rich, just incredibly satisfying. I'm genuinely impressed this dish turned me into a pasta girl We sat at a table with a view. What a chill vibe to enjoy pasta! Service was also phenomenal. read more

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We were craving some good tasting pasta and seafood and remembered that we had a good experience here twice in the past. Parking was packed both on their lot and across the street. After a couple of rounds, we found street parking. It was an hour before they close for lunch and the hostess sat us promptly at a table by a window. Israel, our server, was very pleasant. He greeted us with glasses of water which was much appreciated on this very warm afternoon. He also brought us a basket of bread and some butter. We enjoyed their Calamari Fritti as we did before. It's this lightly battered and seasoned squid rings and tentacles that has a delicate taste of the sea. They serve it with their own tartar sauce and a lemon wedge. We shared the following dishes: Salmone alla Dolores which was this delicious tender and flaky salmon fillet without the skin served with a light cream brandy sauce and green peppercorns. It was served with mashed potatoes and sauteed greens. Linguine dela Baia which means linguini of the bay. It's this generous portion of al dente linguine tossed with clams, calamari, scallops, and shrimp, in this light tomato sauce. We were pleasantly full from our meal and had some room to share their light and creamy Tiramisu which was perfect with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. The place was bustling with guests. There was a party of women celebrating a birthday and a group of servers sang happy birthday for her. However, the restaurant still has this intimate feel that allows private conversation and comfortable seating for each guest. This is definitely a great place to savor coastal Italian dishes. It's no surprise they've been around for over thirty years! read more

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This place is much bigger than it seems! Almost like 2 separate sides to the restaurant. The staff is very attentive and nice. The food is delicious! We tried a pepperoni pizza and their homemade salmon ravioli. Unfortunately no views of the water from this restaurant but it's within walking distance from the marina. I highly recommend a reservation especially for weekend dinners as it was super busy and seems like a place where people celebrate birthdays with big groups. read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Homemade Salmon Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Went to Half Moon bay to meet up with Family and Friends, decided to try Mezza Luna which is a restaurant by the harbor. Walking in it's hard not to notice the wall art, they have these older pictures that add a nice vibe to the establishment. It's what you would expect a nice seaside Italian place to look like. The wait staff was very nice and helpful with recommendations, The food was good, the sauce on the pasta had a nice sweetness to it but not overly sweet and went well with the pasta. The Pizza's were cooked perfectly as well. Only complaints were the meatballs were subpar and the lettuce on Mezzaluna salad wasn't fresh, very soggy. Would like to come back in the future to try a few different dishes, Also they have a fun looking bar area I would like to try at some point as well. read more

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The frittata veggie version with hash browns and toast was great! Tea and biscotti great! Gelato pistachio and Bali's were both amazing. Service was good! Inside and outside sitting options are helpful! Large menu choices nice touch as well! read more

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The grandson selected this place for his Birthday dinner. He is 3, so I was very impressed with his choice. The service was impressively great. The server was friendly and knowledgeable and attentive. The menu is manageable but complete. We had meatballs, and pizza and salads. Everything was scrumptious. The bread was warm and crusty and authenticity delicious. The pizza was not too cheesy and perfect. The pasta arrabbiata was was creamy and luxurious. The parking is a little tricky but we had a great party. The highlight was when we sung "Happy Birthday" with the staff! The birthday boy was beaming. It is his Nanny's favorite as well. She is going tomorrow for "Her" birthday! read more

My first journey to Half Moon Bay(I will most definitely be returning) felt like I was the main character. The waterfront looked like it was straight from the set of "Practical Magic"--utterly enchanting. Our Friday evening reservation was at 6:30pm where we were seated promptly to a window-side table, with a view of the water and the lovely trees. The restaurant felt like a quaint, cozy haven. The ambiance was filled with a lot of happy chatter. I chose the Fettuccine Bolognese, a dish of pure delight with a generous serving. But then, a taste of my stepfather's Penne Alla Calabrese--oh, it was even more delectable than my own meal! And even the simple bread and butter made it complete. Our waiter was more on the serious side at first, but following my inquiry about his well-being, his demeanor became notably more down to earth. Oh, how my heart yearned for dessert, but alas, my tummy was simply too full! Next time, though, I shall leave room for a sweet enchantment. read more

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It's always a special night out when we go to Mezza Luna! Half Moon Bay had a gorgeous sunset and the ambiance is unbeatable. Dinner reservations for 7 were not too hard to get on a Sunday evening and we were seated promptly. I ordered the fish of the day, a petrale sole piccata, and it was excellent. A generous portion of fish with some veggies and delicious russet(?) potatoes. And don't skip out on dessert! Thankfully with a big party you can split many of the desserts amongst yourselves, and we loved the tiramisu, chocolate molten cake, and special dessert: a pear and almond tart with a scoop of vanilla gelato. Service was very friendly and cordial but a little on the slow side -- could have been because there was a party in the private room. But they did replenish our bread basket without prompting which was nice! If I were to make any suggestions for improvement for an above-and-beyond experience, I would recommend that Mezza Luna leave water carafes on the tables for guests; our water glasses were often empty and it was hard to wave someone down and request a refill often enough. And stretch goal -- kind of a luxury, but for an authentic Italian restaurant I wish they had fresh grated Parmesan instead of the powdered kind. read more

Another trip to HMB and another dinner at Mezza Luna. It's such a great restaurant. We have enjoyed our visit each time. The location is nice, food is amazing and the service staff are so friendly and accommodating. These are all great features that contribute to a lovely dining experience. I highly recommend it. It's a great date night location, or for any sort of special occasion. That being said, it's not ultra high fine dining, so you can feel at home and comfortable and casual. The wait staff and service staff are very professional and so nice. That alone makes the visit worthwhile, not to mention the food! I had a stuffed pork tenderloin meal that was fantastic. It was nearly fork tender and so flavorful. The potatoes were creamy and delicious. The snap peas were some of the sweetest I ever ate. We laughed as we later realized, I was the only one that tried a different dish on this visit. My wife and kids ordered their exact same meal as our prior visit. They loved it so much and wanted to stick with it. We also got the meatball and garlic bread appetizers. We had reservations and we did have to wait a little bit. But the restaurant was absolutely jumping. We came on a Saturday night around 7pm. The dining area was very busy, but the staff was still very attentive and checked in on us often. We had to wait a little bit for some things, but nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say to save some room for dessert and you will not be disappointed. Their dessert menu has some great treats on it. We each ordered an item and all of them were devoured. My wife especially loved the Beignets. As I mentioned in my prior review, Mezza Luna will be on our agenda each visit to HMB. It's quickly become a family favorite. My kids compare other restaurants at home to ML and they don't seem to match up. That says enough for me. read more

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Really enjoyable restaurant. We visited on a weekday for lunch, and it was not too busy. I liked dining in a historical building (you can see a picture of it many years ago next to the restrooms). Alla calabresi pizza: 4/5. For this sans fungi. Crust was very good and the toppings very flavorful. read more

Well it's nice and staff are friendly. The food was alright. Sauce was good. House wine was just that table wine. Good value. The appetizer of meatballs was lackluster. The warm bread was good. The main course I had the top sirloin lasagne. I enjoyed this part of the meal. The wife had her linguine with clams. The beignet dessert, small pieces but delicious. read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Top sirloin lasagna - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Stopped in for a casual dinner and really enjoyed the food here. The calamari was nicely fried, crispy without being greasy, and the dipping sauce had a great flavor that paired perfectly. I also had the Alla Calabrese pizza, which was delicious. The sausage was especially good, flavorful and just the right amount of spice. Inside felt very homey and welcoming, with a cozy atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

Beautiful ambiance, service was extraordinary and our orders were so delicious from appetizers (bowl clam chowder & Affettato Misto) to main dish's (Linguine della Baia & Salmone alla Dolores) definitely highly recommended to everyone, read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - My husband and I enjoying the most delicious dinner, on our 4 day getaway. - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Beautiful restaurant, you know you are in an Italian restaurant when you walk in, it's so nice. My friend and I decided to just sit at the bar for lunch and our server was so kind and friendly. The service was impeccable. We both ordered pizza that was the best pizza I've ever had, it was delicious. My friend also ordered a lemon drop cocktail and she really enjoyed that as well. We will definitely be back. read more

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It was a cozy & delicious meal on a misty day at half moon bay. I rarely get impressed by restaurant pastas because my dear "home chef" does an excellent job; however, this place wowed me. 1. My first visit was in 2020. Five years later, it still has the fluffiest gnocchi I've ever tasted - it was like biting on a cloud! The salmon pasta was also delicious and unique. 2. Service was excellent! In addition, the front of house staff were all nicely dressed in ironed white shirts. 3. The pistachio cream cake was yum read more

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Five stars on service, location, and of course food. Went for lunch and nice seating and friendly staff. A must go when at Pillar Point. Very close to getting fresh crab off the boats in the harbor! read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Split this with wife, calamari breaded delight - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Great food great service I love this restaurant. Had the lasagna and it was delicious. Nice bay views. Friendly staff.

Great food, great view, excellent service!! I have been waiting more than a year to get this lasagna again since I live far away. The noodles are homemade and the meat sauce is absolutely addictive. read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We spent the weekend in Half Moon Bay since my daughter had a soccer tournament. After her last game, we decided to hang out at my favorite distillery, Jettywave, since we had time to kill before dinner. I booked a reservation at Mezza Luna since it was within walking distance. We arrived right on time at 6pm and was surprised how spacious the restaurant was. We were seated promptly by the hostess at a table by the window. Our server took our order and bread and butter was brought to our table right away. We decided to do family style and shared a Cesar salad, Farfalle alla Genovese (bowtie pasta with pesto sauce), Penne Alla Calabrese (tube pasta in a tomato saue with Italian sausage and mushrooms), a white pizza with truffle, prosciutto and arugula, and Calamari Dore (calamari steak). The food came out pretty fast and was delicious! The pizza and the calamari steak were the standouts in my opinion. The pizza dough was nice and chewy and you could really taste the truffle spread. The calamari steak was very tender and served in a perfectly seasoned lemon caper sauce. While the pastas were tasty, I don't believe they were freshly made, which was disappointing. I probably would stick to their housemade pastas next time, like gnocchi and ravioli. We were full so we didn't try any of the desserts. I must say the service was top notch though! I would definitely dine at Mezza Luna again the next time I come to Half Moon Bay! read more

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The first two things that stood out to me when dining at Mezza was (1) how attentive and nice the service was and then (2) how carefully The food was crafted. More on (2) later, but the service was very nice and attentive, although we did visit right when the restaurant opened. As for the food, it felt and seemed like quality. The only issue I had with the food was that I felt it was overly salty. To me, this caused the flavors and ingredients put into the food not to shine as well as it could have. But each mouthful, you could taste that it was well made, carefully crafted, just overly seasoned. That said, the restaurant, with great views and large windows, plenty of seating and great hospitality made our trip still memorable. read more

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mezza luna is great. all of the ingredients are clearly fresh, making the food taste delicious. the service was fast, and the atmosphere is relaxing especially on a nice clear day where you can see the view of the water. would definitely come back read more

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Food was excellent! Staff was attentive and friendly. We didn't have reservations and it was busy but we only waited maybe 15 minutes. Overall GREAT experience! Will definitely go again. read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Agnello Scottadito (Lamb Chops) - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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We came on a Saturday, so parking was scarce. The wait staff was attentive. The calamari was pretty good. The Cesar salad was nothing special. The salmon that my friend added to it was overcooked. The seafood pasta was bland. The wild salmon special with lemon and capers was nothing overcooked, but it also lacked any flavor other than lemon. read more

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A staff retreat the restaurant handled well, accommodating numerous preferences. Nothing stood out, but it was all pretty good, and the fish (mine) was excellent. read more

I dislike leaving bad reviews, but this one is definitely well deserved. My wife has been going to Mezza Luna for 25 years, and likes their food. So we decided to go there for dinner, food was good and service was also good... until my wife forgot her phone on the window sill by our table, within seconds of getting in the car we realized it was missing so she ran back inside and all the waiters denied seeing a phone (in a weird way and an off vibe), she came back outside I tracked her phone and it was 100% inside, she ran back inside and they still said it wasn't there, however the moment she said that we just tracked it and it's definitely in here. The manager was like ohh maybe it's in the table cloth inside (LOL OKAY) so the waiter cleared the table, grabbed the phone from the window sill and put it inside the table cloth, sounds VERY logical! Anyway he disappears inside and comes out with the phone in his hand. Very shady, and I'm pretty sure this is not the first time they pull something like this off. Very disappointing and I'm never stepping food in there again. read more

I've been here a few times, and I'm not a fan, but I can't leave a bad review. Maybe it's just me. Everyone I know loves it, so I'll rate it based on that. Food 4.5/5 Service 4.5/5 Staff 4.5/5 Parking 4.5/5 Overall 4.7/5 read more

This restaurant is in a good location with its own parking lot. I expected more of the food, and it was just okay. The prosciutto on their pizza is low quality and tasted like regular sandwich ham. Our group also had a variety of pasta dishes which were just okay - they could do with more flavor and fresher tasting ingredients. This area of Half Moon Bay is always so busy, but this restaurant is dependable for having reservations available... Just really not one of the top Italian food experiences. The interior of the restaurant is nice - lots of light and views of the water from one corner. I wouldn't exactly recommend this restaurant to people, but will keep it in mind for a place that has tables and reservations available. read more

My sole was prepared very well and everyone enjoyed their meals...all twelve of us! Everyone had something a little different. For appetizers we had calamari and bruschetta. read more

The food was spectacular! The service awesome! We started with the homemade garlic bread and calamari which was perfect. I had the Linguine Della Baia, my wife had Salmone allá Dolores. Both were delicious and the portions were very generous. The ambiance was warm and refreshing. We will be back!!! read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Linguine della Baia - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Stopped in on Thursday night for a quick bite! So delicious, I had the tortellini and my husband had the angel hair pasta and added chicken to it. Great service, great food. read more

This is one of my go-to spots whenever we drive up to Half Moon Bay. The restaurant has plenty of seating for both small and large groups, and we always choose to sit inside to escape the wind. We've tried their coffee, tea, and snacks like bagels, and everything has been delicious. The servers are always warm and friendly, making it a great experience every time. read more

I would highly recommend this Italian spot! It's a nice looking restaurant inside and they have cool view of the ocean. It was a very busy Saturday evening. Had a large-party reservation here and our service was awesome and organized. We had a custom menu for our table and everything was great. Starters: Calamari, Ceasar Salad Entrees: 1st dish Ravioli Mezza Luna stuff w/ Salmon & 2nd dish: out of 3 dishes, I chose the Pesce del Giorno (sea bass). What stood out was both the sauces on each pasta dish. Both tasted delicious! Dessert: Bigne Mezza Luna (custard filled pastry drizzled with dark chocolate). I also ordered a Mocha Latte & an Affogato (a whole lot of sugar but so worth it). Definitely would come back! read more

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Mezza Luna Restaurant was within walking distance of our hotel, so we decided to have dinner here on our first night in town. Naturally I looked up the Yelp rating and several reviews prior to our visit, hoping to decide what to order in advance. We ordered the Mista and Caprese Salads and calamari to share, all were delicious. Our group ordered the Salmon alla Dolores, the fish (halibut) piccata, the calamari steak, and the Pasta con Gamberoni. Everyone raved about their meals. I will say the Gamberoni did not have a lot of sauce and was on the dry side. I ended up Just eating the shrimp out of it. I would definitely come back again and try something else off the menu, but I wouldn't go for the Gamberoni again. This place has such great reviews, it must have been an off night in the kitchen. Next time we're in town we will try again! read more

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First time here. We biked up from HMBb Fresh ingredients, Expertly prepared. Even the plain water was tasty. (Probably filtered instead of tap). Great calm attentive service. Ambience a delight. We ordered off the daily menu today. Petals sole and I had the pizza. Crust was the best since Italy. Thin, crisp tasty. Not over burnt. Deli did. Fair prices.a winner in all ways. read more

Never been a pasta guy. Pasta is Noodles is noodles I always say . WRONG OH BONGO. We stopped in and shared their Pasta Pomodoro dish and over a week later I almost have tears in my eyes as I reminisce on the beautiful serving lovingly split in two for us. The sauce tasted of fresh tomato sunshine. First time in my life I have praised a dish to a waiter. Now the beer was definitely overpriced so I skipped that. But that pasta! Quick give me a tissue to dab away the tears of joy before my wife laughs at me. read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Hot dish - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We went to Mezza Luna for our Thanksgiving dinner and did not have a reservation. Staff made sure we got a seating and from there on out it was continued perfect service from everyone! They could not have been more attentive and the restaurant was packed with holiday diners. The food was excellent, fresh and served with a lot of attention to detail. We've been before and will continue you bring them our business. Wanted to say Thank You to the entire staff. P.s. photo is the "face" of the back of their building. Made me chuckle. read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

The food here is fantastic! So delicious with lots of flavor. Very authentic Italian restaurant. The service was fast and the waiter was kind and helpful. The place is very well decorated with tons of pictures and has a good vibe. Recommend!!! read more

Mezza Luna Restaurant - Fried calamari - Italian Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California