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Pilot Light

4.3 (238 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

Pilot Light Photos

Business Info

PILOT LIGHT ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Pilot Light

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Reviews With Photos

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.

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!

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.

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
Bri W.

Pilot Light Cafe is OUTSTANDING! I saw a fenced off gate and drove right past it so I drove down tourist central but it was an easy turnaround. I had the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and avocado. It was sooooo goood!!! The cutest little cafe around! Beautiful scenic view of the airway! Fast service. Went during late morning around 9:30am and my food appeared in front of me before I was even ready to comprehend and absorb the calming and peaceful ambiance. Such an amazing experience:-))

I just found out about this place after driving past it back-and-forth for years! Whoever knew this place existed? I had a late breakfast and sat at the window, watching the planes take off and land. Good breakfast, great coffee, and friendly, smiling service. I can't wait to come back here again!

Celia C.

Love this place. I'm not from the area and this place to me is a hidden gem. I like that we can eat and watch the airplanes take off. The food is amazing for a great price. The staff is friendly. I would definitely come back next time I'm in town

Back patio views
Binh P.

Interesting spot with a very hit or miss menu. You place your order at the counter, get your buzzer, and wait for the staff to bring out your order. Shakshuka was the most watery version I've ever had. It honestly could've just been salsa, but I think salsa might be thicker. The hot chocolate wasn't hot, but the whipped cream was good. My friends enjoyed their Dutch pancake though, so just order that to be safe. I probably wouldn't want to come back, but they did make excellent fries and the service was friendly.

Dutch baby and breakfast burrito
Colleen M.

Such a great spot! The food is amazing - I was so pleased, everything we got was 10/10! The Dutch baby is delicious and the breakfast burrito also amazing. My husband raved about the coffee and the fresh OJ was lovely! On top of great food - the coolest views of landings/take offs! Must go! Great for kids!

Huevos Rancheros & the Sweet Baby Dutch Pancake
Susan L.

Cute little brunch place with a small airplane takeoff/landing area. You find an open table and order and pay at the register, and you get a buzzer. When the buzzer goes off, they bring you your food and take your buzzer back. Service was quick and helpful. You might have to wave someone down if you have a question/request but overall happy with their service. Food was on point! I ordered the huevos rancheros which reminds me of a chilaquiles that came with a delicious sauce, flavorful black beans (I'm very picky about beans), avocados, and eggs over easy, and I added chorizo for $2 more. Dare I say that this was probably the best "chilaquiles" that I have ever had??? My husband ordered the Dutch baby and it was also very good!!! Light and airy at the edges with a light homemade butter or cream, sweet berries, and syrup. Tasted fresh and not too sweet..just right! Great spot to grab brunch or even some drinks or coffee and enjoy.

Coconut drink

Great drinks and an amazing happy hour menu. The atmosphere and staff were really amazing. Everyone seemed happy, and they really made our day. Thank you

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2 years ago

Everything is great about this place! Adorable cafe, great food, wonderful service. Waitstaff went out of his way to be helpful.

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2 years ago

Amazing service amazing food amazing staff. Me and my family had a great experience here. Thank you!

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3 years ago

The salad we had was great . Stop in for some light food and order there only salad . Boy was it good !! Great service !!

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2 years ago

Amazing food, ambience & the fun of watching flights take off! I would recommend doing this with kids

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3 years ago

The food looks great from appearance, tastes ok but definitely doesn't deserve the high price. The food quantity is also not much

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Page 5 of 6

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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Such a great spot to check out! This was our second time here, my kids wanted to come back again…read more That says a lot, as they usually never agree on any one place. Great food, great service staff and great little arcade. The food is far better than you might expect. Burgers are juicy and flavorful. Pizza is solid. Chicken tenders are even presented to look nice. Who does that at an arcade?! A place that values its customers, that's who! They have a large and varied menu with something for everyone. The staff were great on each visit. Super friendly, answered any questions we had. They bring the food to you, even checked on us and asked what else we might need. Honestly, just really great service. There is indoor seating, but the outside courtyard area is very nice. The tables have umbrellas and plenty of seats. There are a fair amount of tables and with nice weather it's the ideal option. The arcade was a lot of fun. It's small, but has a little of everything including classic pinball etc. I told my kids this is kinda what arcades were like when I was a kid. I love the little bit of nostalgia. This is a great spot to bring your family or friends. Hang out, eat some good grub, drink a few brews and enjoy yourselves. We look forward to future visits.

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Barbara's Fishtrap - fish 'n' chips

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I always love a good seafood place, on the water and with history!…read more It's a small(er) place but the menu is great! They close mid day for an hour or two but it's a causal, cute spot to grab some seafood and feel like you're at the beach! The have specials and some specials on beer too. It can get crowded fast but I think the service is pretty quick.

We were in Half Moon Bay recently and, like most people do when you're near the coast, we were…read morecraving seafood. I found Barbara's on Yelp--solid 4-star rating, good reviews, so we decided to give it a try. We arrived and were told there was about a 20-minute wait, which felt reasonable for a weekend seafood spot. Once we were seated, things started off fine, but the experience quickly became a bit frustrating. There seemed to be a breakdown in communication with our server regarding our order. We placed everything clearly, but when the food came out, it wasn't what we had ordered. Instead of just clarifying or correcting it, we were told the order had been placed incorrectly on our side and were asked to reorder. Unfortunately, we were also still charged for the original order, which made the situation feel even more confusing. We also ordered the clam chowder, which was honestly disappointing. From the very first spoonful to the last, there was a consistent gritty, sandy texture that made it difficult to enjoy at all. It took away from what is usually a comfort dish, especially in a coastal town where you expect it to shine. On a positive note, our timing coincided with sunset, and the view from the window was absolutely stunning. Watching the sun dip over the water while dining added a really beautiful moment to the experience, and the scenery itself was honestly the highlight of the visit. The setting itself is nice and the location is convenient if you're exploring Half Moon Bay, but based on our experience, the execution on both service and food quality didn't match the expectations set by the rating. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity. With a bit more attention to order accuracy and consistency in the kitchen, this place could easily live up to its Yelp reputation--but unfortunately, that wasn't our experience that day.

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Pilot Light - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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