Wine, Ceasar Salad and The Lasagna! Probably the best I ever had. So good. Warm, cozy, comfortable and the service was outstanding. Loved the place. read more

I met a friend here to catch up, and it turned out to be the perfect place for a long conversation over great food and wine. The atmosphere was warm, relaxing, and comfortable. It wasn't crowded during our visit, which made it even more enjoyable, but the restaurant is spacious enough that I think it would still feel comfortable even on a busier day. We ordered pizza, and it was absolutely delicious. The crust was perfectly crispy, the toppings were generous, and every bite was full of flavor. I also loved that they brought us hot sauce to enjoy with the pizza - it was a nice touch. The staff was attentive throughout our meal, checking in regularly and offering more bread and butter, which made us feel very well taken care of. The wine was excellent as well and paired perfectly with the meal. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I would happily come back. I definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

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

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Mezza Luna has been around for many years. It has always had such a warm, cozy, and romantic place. Overall, the food is great quality, and I absolutely love all of their pastas! The service is generally good, though it can depend a bit on who your server is. I highly recommend checking it out if you happen to be around the area. For a perfect date night, I definitely recommend a weekday foggy evening. Just saying.... 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

Nice restaurant very close to where we stayed. A few little shops around, but it's among the walking path by the beach. Very busy on a Friday night and luckily we made reservations. Friendly staff and kept up with us even as they had two large parties reserved in other dining rooms. Started with the homemade garlic bread (so yum), Cesar salads, white bean soup, and salmon carpaccio. Entrees were fish of the day (petrale sole), calamari steak, seafood pasta, and fettuccine bolognese. Enjoyed all of them. Dessert ordered was strawberry cheesecake, passion fruit sorbet, and beignets. Very tasty and perfect end to the meals. Had to roll us out of there! Would recommend. read more

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Traditional Italian old school ambience and menu. A bit of a time warp in a good way. read more

Always loved this place but since we moved out of town it is now our Thanksgiving dinner place. We camp at harbor village and walk over to mezza Luna, it is now our new tradition. 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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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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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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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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After nearly 20 years of being regular customers at Mezza Luna, we won't be back. I recently ordered a steak to go and requested medium-rare. After paying about $50 with a 20% tip, I got home to find the steak nowhere near medium-rare. The center was medium-plus, and the outer portions were so overcooked they were almost like leather and inedible. The potato portion was also surprisingly small--about half the size of a deck of cards. I ate what I could, but the more I thought about what I had paid, the more disappointed I became. I contacted the manager, Omar, hoping they would offer some reasonable way to make things right. Instead, they told me that unless I brought the steak back that night, nothing could be done. Plus, the hostility and how this was handled were completely unprofessional and offensive. That was the most disappointing part. We weren't first-time customers looking for a free meal. We've been coming to Mezza Luna for close to 20 years. A little customer service and an attempt to make things right would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, the food has also been lackluster the last few times we've eaten there, which makes this even more disappointing. We genuinely used to love the food, atmosphere, and neighborhood feel. Having worked for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants for more than 20 years, I know what good customer service looks like. Taking care of a longtime customer over one poorly prepared meal wouldn't have been a big deal. Instead, the way you handled it made us realize it's time to move on. So long, Mezza Luna. After nearly 20 years, you've lost us. Very disappointing. read more

Brought our friends from Japan and they loved their food. Seafood dishes were great. Service was excellent. Menu had great choices. My wife loved her chicken piccata and I thought my crab pesto pasta was wonderful. Drinks were unique, tasty and potent. We will be back. read more

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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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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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

the menu is wonderful with many choices. the preparation was done well and was delicious. my comment would be that we were rushed which always interferes with a positive dining experience. we hadn't had a sip of wine prior to the waiter asking for our dinner choices. I would return but would choose to eat in the bar. read more

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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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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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

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

They were nice enough to let us slip in before closing at lunch and it was amazing. The food, lamb with the Italian seasoning and the amazing penne with the most delicious red sauce with the most delectable creme brulee . The wonderful wine had us enjoying the afternoon sun while the staff was kind and so enjoyable to speak with. Everything was fresh and enjoyable. read more

Been here over 50 times over the years. Food was good but service hasn't been attentive lately. The server never checked in to see if we wanted a drink refill. He kind of disappeared for a long amount of time. Thank goodness for the water guy who at least came by to fill our glasses. Appetizer and entrees took longer than usual to arrive. Overall we left without our usual dessert. By the end we were pretty disappointed and just wanted to leave. Maybe it was an off day. read more

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

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

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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Consistently great - I have never had a bad or even close to not good meal here. The cappellini pomodoro is my favorite, and is back on the regular menu. The gnocchi is spectacular. The service is great and the ambiance is wonderful. The lamb chops are the best on the coast - less garlic than Nicks and cooked perfectly. Family owned and consistently full of locals. Always a treat. read more

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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Great service and food. Atmosphere is nice and homey. My wife is gluten free and had good options here. Will definitely be back when we return to Half Moon Bay! read more

The food and the service is excellent! Plus a very good, different menu. We love their appetizers and pizza which is so different from any place else. Trust me. You will love it! read more

Service was great and very friendly. Food was beyond disappointing. Meatballs tasted like they were from Costco. You got 5 tiny meatballs for $18. Minestrone soup tasted like canned soup. This use to be my favorite place in Half moon bay. Sad to say I won't be back. 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

Food was great, atmosphere was awesome, service was outstanding. Would definitely recommend!

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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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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We planned a party to celebrate Mom's 90th birthday here - and the event was outstanding! Danette was helpful in working through menu options for our 20 guests, and accommodating some special requests. Our waiter, Israel delivered exceptional service, and was sensitive to the timing of courses as speeches were made, etc. As always, the food was delicious - even to a group of fussy paisanos! From the generous bruschetta to the caesar salad and then a choice of 4 entrees - everyone was impressed with the authentic flavor of each dish. We'll all certainly be back for more. Grazie mille! read more

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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