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    Pilot Light

    4.3 (258 reviews)
    Open • 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Pilot Light Photos

    Business Info

    PILOT LIGHT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pilot Light

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ezen C.

    Came for breakfast on Sunday and was able to easily get a table for 6. Place was easy to find and get parking. I loved sitting in front of the large windows and seeing the foggy landscape outside. Service was friendly and attentive. The inside is a little rundown and the restroom could use an update. A unique setting and location. Great place to drop by if you're visiting the area and want familiar food in a quirky setting. Noteworthy dishes: - quinoa power bowl with smoked salmon. Well seasoned, delicious and nutritious - fish and chips was a generous portion, well cooked, and delicious - chocolate pancakes - my kids gobbled it up

    John H.

    Was going to Half Moon Bay to relax after a long week of work. Ambiance feels very welcoming as it was a nice cloudy day. The decoration was nice, homey, and trendy. It was also pretty quiet but we came in as they were opening. Service was nice and welcoming as well. Food was excellent. We ordered a mimosa, shakshuka, latte and chorizo scramble. My shakshuka was delicious and hit the spot. Will definitely come back here versus the old place I used to go to since this place does service substantially better than the other place I'm talking about in Half Moon Bay, lol.

    Menu
    Annabelle R.

    No online ordering system. Tried to make a phone order for takeout, but no answer after several attempts, which was unfortunate with a 45-minute wait on Mother's Day... at least that's what we were quoted after ordering and paying at the cafe counter. It actually took 30 minutes, and by that time some seats had opened up inside, so it worked out as we decided to dine in. There were plenty of picnic tables available in their outdoor patio as well, though it was sprinkling during the lunch hour this past Sunday. The eatery had a beautiful and inviting setting, with gorgeous flowers set up on the tables and window sills, adding a nice touch to this special holiday. Got the pesto chicken sandwich with a salad, and sausage egg and cheese wrap with garlic fries instead of potato hash. These dishes were large in size. The sandwich had layers of deli chicken slices and a unique pesto-sun dried tomato spread, with a fresh and colorful salad on the side. The breakfast burrito was fat and stuffed with gooey melted cheese, scrambled eggs and mild sausage with just a hint of spice, and the pile of fries was thin-cut and loaded with minced garlic. Everything was delish! I do wish they were serving their regular menu on this day instead of a special Mother's Day brunch menu, as some favorites were unavailable. But with a satisfying meal, friendly staff, and a good sized parking lot for convenience, we had a positive experience overall.

    Burrito
    Jed N.

    Rustic cafe connected to the Half Moon Bay airport, which means you can sit outside or by the windows and watch small planes come and go. When we went, they had a dog adoption event. Food from classic toasts to burritos and even shakshuka. The drinks are creative and refreshing. Bathroom has a stall. Recommend coming here to avoid crowds instead of the restaurants by the jetty if you're having a beach day.

    Malcolm H.

    Perfect diner food at the Half Moon Bay airport. Great ambience, indoor and outdoor seating. Fun for small plane enthusiasts or anyone looking for a great vibe. I had the Shatshuka which was great. My wife had the French toast, which was mixed. The flavors and preparation were great but they used a cheap bread so it undercut her meal a bit. Overall a great find.

    Avocado toast with the best potatoes
    Yuliya Y.

    Aspiring pilot so I came here to watch the planes take off and land. Probably the worse day I came, when it was foggy so I only saw one doing a touch and go. But the food made it worth it. The avocado toast was soooo good. The avocado was perfect and everything was seasoned to perfection. I cannot praise this breakfast food more. I don't even like breakfast that much. But this was amazing. I got the kids pancakes for my baby and she loved them. She doesn't eat pancakes at home... the orange juice was fresh squeezed and the iced latte was delicious. I would come here over trying a new spot. It felt very welcoming, family like, and casual. They had an airplane toy outside for the baby to play on. I will come back when I fly in for the $100 burger.

    Stanley R.

    I love a good airport cafe. No not at LAX or SFO. I am talking about the charming little general aviation airports that are scattered around the state. I grew up in a town with one of these diners and one of these airports. The menu is limited but what they have is really good. My smoked salmon toast was delicious. The coffee was excellent and the matcha (if you like that) looked very tasty. Loads of Parking. It was busy or Sunday morning. You have a great view of the runway. The incandescent mustard in full bloom was gorgeous.

    shakshuka
    Catlynn N.

    Was driving down half moon bay and saw this cute place where you can dine and watch planes fly by. It was a really homey cute inside and gave proper family diner vibes. Pretty average pricing for bay area ($18-$25pp). I got their breakfast burrito and shakshuka. Their bacon was thiiiiiick, and I loved it. It was served with potatoes and salsa, crisp and clean. Only complaint is I wish the tortilla was a bit more crisp. Shakshuka was okay, a bit sweeter that I am used to but I believe that's due to the corn they put in. Was closer to a tomato chili with eggs on top. It was still good, but not quite for me. Boyfriend liked it though. Very interested in trying their burger and dutch baby next time. Service was good, brought out our food despite having a buzzer and remembered us. TLDR: Great place to soak in some sun, quality food, cool planes.

    Double stacked pancakes with fresh berries
    Leilani V.

    We ordered everything pictures plus a plate of Fish and Chips and a watermelon lemonade that was absolutely refreshing! It's was Mother's Day when we came here and the wait was pretty decent considering how many people were packing every restaurant everywhere. The nearly 40 minute wait was well worth it once we were served our meals. The stack pancakes were thick but very fluffy. So delicious. We loved the fish and chips too. Very crunchy and fresh tasting. My Dutch Baby pancake had a very interesting flavor profile and I would order this again when I come back. I highly recommend this brunch spot if you're ever in the Half Moon Bay Area. There's an outdoor seating where you can see private planes either departing or arriving. Such a treat especially for the kids. The restaurant is also dog friendly for outdoor seating which is nice. My husband has been talking about taking me here but never got around to until last week for Mother's Day and well, I will dare say, it was worth the nearly 6 year wait!

    Huevos Rancheros nachos
    Nicole L.

    I came to Pilot Light for a Sunday brunch around 9:45, they were already quite busy! Back in the day, it used to table service dining. Now there is a counter you order at, and you are given a pager and pick where you would like to sit. They do have outdoor seating right next to the airport, this was pretty cool. We saw two pilots leave out the back gate and head to their planes and prepare for take off. They are also pet friendly, always a plus. I had the huevos rancheros nachos, they were really good! It came with 2 eggs, and I added the chorizo. My friends both ordered the eggs Benedict, one with salmon and one with bacon and avocado. All our plates were large portions, and their potatoes were delicious! So crispy, but needed salt but we grabbed shakers for the table. I also asked for a michelada and although they don't sell them, they accommodated making one on the whim which was awesome. It tasted great too, I had asked them to make it with the lager they have to offer. Overall, next time I'm in town for a hometown tour I'll def check them out again!

    3 egg scramble with chorizo
    Isabella P.

    So cute! Love coming here for just a plain old scramble and watching the planes. Good service, fast, usually not too busy. Worth the drive to have a cozy, unique breakfast

    Eggs Benedict with Bacon and Avocado and Country Potatoes. $17.00 worth the price and a repeat breakfast anytime.
    Jose V.

    Hello Yelpers and Foodies in the Know. We just happened to be at a Hotel in Half Moon Bay and we found this on yelp breakfast close by our hotel. It was at the end of the Airport and also had a gate for pilots of small planes to park and enter through a Security Gate. Really cool. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with bacon and avocado and Kim ordered eggs and bacon and we both had coffee. Both breakfasts came with Country Potatoes. At this restaurant you order at the counter and one of the staff will bring your Food. Coffee is self serve with free refills. I really liked the Breakfast there. Kim and I Recommend this restaurant. The Pilot Light. Thank You for Reading. Reviews help Consumers.

    Outdoor seating. Fresh air ooow

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    15 days ago

    Must be new owners because the food has gone down hill! This used to be our favorite breakfast spot in HMB. Not anymore.

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    Great food, fast service great vibe! I plan to visit real soon. Glad we found a place that we can return to whenever we visit the area.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Pilot Light

    Are your breakfast potatoes gluten free?

    Our potato hash is fried in the same oil as items that contain gluten, but otherwise is made without gluten.

    Do you have gluten free options ? Gf bread and pancakes..?

    We have gluten-free items on our menu, such as huevos rancheros and shakshuka, among others. As a substitute for bread, we offer corn tortillas. Our pancake, waffle and dutch baby batters are made with wheat flour.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The atmosphere was breathtaking, being by the water brings the whole experience together. The food…read morewas well priced and good quality, clam chowder reminds me of my mom's recipe back in Boston! The best part of the whole dining experience was the service. Had a very sweet young lady named Caitlin taking care of me. A few moments I forgot I was in a restaurant, felt like home.. felt like family! I will be back and recommend everyone stop by Friday-Sunday! Cheers!

    Overall, having dinner at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company was a really good experience…read more The staff at the hostess stand were a little cranky when we asked if we could sit next to the glass overlooking the water. It was early and there were plenty of open tables, so I'm not sure what the issue was. It felt like they weren't particularly interested in being accommodating. They did let us move, and I'm so glad they did because the view was beautiful! Sitting by the water really enhanced the experience. We had a great waiter, and the food was delicious. They were out of the grilled artichoke, which was disappointing, but we ordered the poke instead--and we were so glad we did because it was amazing! We also ordered the truffle fries, which were such a treat. The grilled fish tacos were my favorite. There were two tacos, and they were much larger than expected, with big chunks of fish and excellent flavor. I always order clam chowder when I'm on the coast, and unfortunately, I'm usually disappointed. I decided to order just a cup this time, and I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't the best chowder I've ever had, but it was solid. It had a good ratio of clams, was nice and thick, and had good flavor. I have mixed feelings about the drinks. The Aperol Spritz was really delicious, but the Old Fashioned was extremely strong. Some people may like it that way, but it was too strong for me--and I usually love an Old Fashioned. The drinks also took forever to arrive. I don't think that was our waiter's fault because he was hustling, checking on us regularly, and we didn't have any delays with our food or anything else. It may have been an issue at the bar. Overall, I would highly recommend Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. It's an easy walk from the Oceano, where we were staying, and it has a yummy, relaxed vibe. The beautiful water views, great food, and laid-back atmosphere made it a really enjoyable dinner. I can't believe I forgot to add the flourless chocolate cake, it was amazingly decadent.

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    The Barn - Hot Farmer Burger

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    4.0(945 reviews)
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    We've driven past this spot a dozen times and finally decided to stop, what a little gem…read more Solid burger and fries, excellent shake- and then such a pleasant area to eat and enjoy the Half Moon Bay air. And they really seem to pay attention to little details- like fresh flowers on outdoor tables, that's something I will forgive a lot of negatives for, but there were no negatives to forgive. Price is not cheap, the food is quality, it's also not overly expensive, it's fairly priced. They also have beer and wine. I mentioned the burgers, my partner actually got the vegetarian patty which was really earthy and didn't taste like typical garden burger garbage, not sure if it's made in house, but it was good. Also, the fries were better than average. You place your order at the counter so not too much interaction with staff, I did ask about shake recommendations and my shake was yummy so they knew their stuff- but this isn't a restaurant experience designed around customer service and that's okay. All around good spot. Enjoy.

    I've eaten at The Barn many times over the last couple of years and have always enjoyed it. Today,…read moreunfortunately was very disappointing. The food was good as usual. The service and cleanliness were the issues. I arrived with my wife and our 2 year old grandson for an early lunch and walked in about 11:01. Yelp said they open at 11am so I had no reason to think that would be an issue. The young woman at the register, whose name I did not get, seemed to be somewhat in charge as she was asking other employees to do certain things. I ordered when she was ready and went out to the patio table areas where the kids play area is. My wife asked me to ask them if there was a pooper scooper because there were a couple piles of dog poop on the play area grass. I went back to the register and just let them know there was dog poop out by the tables on the grass. She said she knew and would have someone clean it up soon. I said thanks. As I walked out of the restaurant and past the outdoor pick up window I hear her say to the other workers "you know what I hate is when people get here before we open and start asking me to clean stuff up." First, I wasn't early. You were open. Second, it's a health issue and I felt I was very nice in how I kindly let you know there was an issue that you would probably want to address. So I return to the tables and start to realize how unkept and dirt the whole place really is. Please see the attached photos. Where I probably wouldn't have left a review or photos before, the rude and incorrect comment about me letting them know there was dog poop where kids play before they eat made me decide this deserved a review. Please see the attached photos. The cashier/manager? at the very least deserves significant retraining. Maybe a list needs to be made of specific tasks a staff member is responsible for every day before opening and that staff member would initial that they completed the tasks. You know... 1) check for and clean up all dog poop on site. 2) wipe down all tables and benches. 3) clean up all trash, including all little bits of food, napkins, pens, etc off the ground. 4) check all napkin dispensers that they are full and tops are on and they are in the same place on all tables. The poop photo is the last one listed. I couldn't seem to get it first in the list. I didn't take photos of everything (more poop and trash) because I hadn't yet decided I would write a review. But here it is.

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    Inside

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    Moss Beach Distillery - The view.. impeccable

    Moss Beach Distillery

    3.9(2k reviews)
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    We walked in to Moss Beach distillery around 2:30 p.m. on Labor Day and we were surprised that we…read moregot a table immediately. They were very busy but extremely friendly! My fiance was not a fan of the table that they sat me at while he parked the car so when he came in he asked if we could switch. They were more than happy to accommodate and we got a new table facing the ocean view window, but not next to it, because those are reservation only, completely understandable. Our server came by and was very friendly and took our order immediately. We decided to start with the poached shrimp cocktail and for our mains we ordered the pesto stuffed salmon with wild rice and the citrus beet salad with chicken added. After we finished our appetizer the hostess came by to kindly request we switch tables as they had a large party coming in. She took us over to a beautiful table right next to the window with an amazing view of the ocean! We were super thrilled! Our food came shortly after and I have to say the salmon was impeccably delicious. The assortment of fresh vegetables was wonderful, artichoke hearts, string beans, carrots and more cooked beautifully. My fiance really enjoyed his grilled chicken over the top of his beet and citrus salad. We actually switched plates for a bit because we wanted to enjoy each other's meals. We ended the meal with a cup of coffee that was strong bold and just my type. We also had the mango coconut a top buttery biscuit dessert and it was the perfect sweetness to end our meal. We had an unbelievable experience on a super busy holiday and everyone was so kind. The whole team worked together flawlessly. Thank you for the unforgettable experience!

    Surprisingly spot on and well prepared food. Great staff who…read moreare both attentive and very accommodating. Everything is fresh made down to the tortillas. It a touristy area this was a welcome respite.

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    Miramar Beach Restaurant - Clam Chowder

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    Over the years I've had intermittent visits to this establishment, some that were good and some,…read moredisappointing. Today was the first time I've been here in quite a few years. I typically avoid these coastal restaurants that cater to a lot of tourists which can often compromise quality and service. Today everything was almost spot on. It was a perfect, beautiful, coastal day. Although the restaurant was very busy, we were seated almost immediately at table with a spectacular ocean view. Our server Juan couldn't have been more personable and attentive. He was right on time from our first cocktail to the delivery of the check. Juan checked on us multiple times to make sure we had everything we needed and were content. Our orders were delivered promptly by multiple servers who were all proficient and friendly. The oysters we ordered were served cold and fresh with all the appropriate condiments. The seafood chowder was very good but me, personally, a thick, creamy, soup base is not my preference. Originally, we really wanted to get fish & chips at Barbra's Fishtrap but predictably, on a perfect weather holiday weekend, the line was intimidatingly long. Nevertheless, the Miramar fish & chips did not disappoint! Today, I rate our overall experience as excellent. I hope anyone choosing this establishment will enjoy a similar visit.

    We come from Santa Cruz and I always tell people this is my favorite restaurant in the world!…read more My mother loves this restaurant too. She said she will loan it to us as a joke because she says it's "My favorite restaurant." We've been coming here for very special occasions, like our anniversary or birthdays. My mom's name is Frances and one time on her birthday we came. It was one of the waitresses birthday too 8/22. We enjoyed the food so much we spoke with Francisco the chef. He was very nice! We even come here before big trips when we fly out of SF airport. To start our vacation right. We had dinner here in Friday 9/11/26 as we came into town to celebrate my husband's birthday and we stayed two nights. On Friday we loved the food, the service and our waiter Luis was so good, fun and an all around excellent waiter. I even took a photo. I got the grilled salmon and instead of rice I got fries. I'm gluten free for an allergy, NOT preference. Fries are the one thing I can eat. In fact the reason I love your restaurant so much is I can have a dessert here that is gluten free, dairy free. Every time I come I have that flourless cake. This is the only restaurant that offers a dessert that I can have. Every time we come it's usually 4-5 stars. We went there again on Sat. Our waitress, Maria was so nice and helpful. The fries today were different and are obviously dipped in flour. I asked Maria can I get the fries that I had just last night? She said that's the only fries they have. I asked to talk to the manager and Salvador came up to our table, no smile, no apology. He was rude and said these are the only fries they have. He was obviously bothered by having to come over. Maria was very apologetic and very sweet (though it was not her doing) and offered a baked potato and I said yes. Then she came back and apologized again they are not available until after 3. Why do you RUIN perfectly good fries with gluten that some people are allergic to? Fries are awesome all by themselves. No need to overdue it by dipping them in gluten. Why do you ruin the one thing that I can usually count on? GET REGULAR FRIES. damn. Is it the same owner as before? We like to go to hindquarter restaurant in our native Santa Cruz and was there for my birthday two years ago. My best friend Kim knew the owner as she is in the restaurant business. He was one of the owners of Miramar beach restaurant and he was wearing the shirt from Miramar. I said I LOVE THAT RESTAURANT! And he gave me the shirt off his back literally then and there. Now that's above and beyond! So sweet. Salvador ~ if you're so unhappy (seems very unhappy) then move on. Give the management job to someone who is kind and proud of where their work. Someone who cares. I was extremely disappointed today at the fries, then at how they treated my complaint. They did give us a 10% discount, however I'm still very disappointed.

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    Pilot Light - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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