Comments on: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company: Reviews

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:12:55 +0000

I go often go on Sunday afternoons for the setting, music and beer. The food is mediocre at best and the service has been pathetic for years. The place is a goldmine due to the location, and the owners don't simply don't care enough to make it a good restaurant. Eat at Barbara's across the street, and come to the HMB Brewery for the music and beer!

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:24:47 +0000

The review of Zee about the crappy service at HMB brewing were right on. It's funny because we had the exact same experience of the catty hostesses/waitresses hanging outside the women's bathroom making snide comments about the customers (rather than actually providing service). It could be a great spot since the beer is good, the food is decent and the location is fantastic, but the service is such a turn off I never bother going anymore.

By: John H Gruver

John H Gruver — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:44:37 +0000

Go for the beer, not the food. I love the beer at HMB Brewing Co. I had one the first day it opened, before they were actually brewing their own beer. Now they brew their own, the IPA is even better. The food, however, has been less-than spotty, very much Dennys-quality. Occasionally the fried squid can be stellar as long as it is delivered immediately upon removal from the fat. If, as frequently happens, the waitperson is busy doing whatever it is they do instead of their job, and it sits around for 5-to-10 minutes, it's a soggy mess. I have not eaten there since Mark Hamilton took over as executive chef, so YMMV.
Outside suds-sipping is great on any day (sunny, foggy, whatever), except if you are, like me, unhappy about cigarette smoke while you drink/eat. The restaurant allows smoking on the patio, and many locals and tourists are there every day drinking and smoking. Upwind is OK, downwind is unbearable.
In short, unless the food & service has appreciably improved since Mark Hamilton took over, go to HMB Brewing Co., get a pint (or 2 ;-}) of IPA from the bartender (don't wait for wait staff), enjoy it upwind from the smokers, and hustle over to Cafe Gibralter (walking distance across Hwy 1) for your dinner.

By: Elizabeth Berl

Elizabeth Berl — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:02:44 +0000

Half Moon Bay Brew Company is one of my favorite restaurants in the South Bay. I love to sit out on the patio on a sunny day or in the evening and enjoy one of their excellent beers around the fire pit. I prefer a light brew and usually go for the Harbor Light or the Sandy beach Blonde Hefeweizen. As for the food… i like the nachos and Beer Battered Artichoke Hearts for apps and the Burger with the saute'ed mushrooms and onions for the entree. I have always had good service there, especially outside on the patio and at the bar.
Also…a sidenote, I think Ryan is adorable and wonder if he is single? That scruffy five o'clock shawdow he had going on is hot!

By: Ellen Gibran-Hesse

Ellen Gibran-Hesse — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:26:23 +0000

I just went to Half Moon Bay Brewing Company last week for the first time. It was a Thursday and quiet, so my nephew and I ate at a table in the bar. We waited a long time and finally grabbed the bus boy who was the only wait staff present most of the time. He went to find us a waiter and we waited. Finally he showed up. There were only 5 tables with people so I don't know what he was doing as he wasn't waiting on any of us most of the time. I tried the Pumpkin ale and found it disappointing as did my nephew. We waited a lot. My nephew had to go to the bar to get a drink. The food was good but I noticed the best service was sitting at the bar. The bar tender brought people their drinks and food promptly. If I go back, I'd definitely sit at the bar which was crowded. Obviously locals have figured out that is the way to get service. Management needs to fix this problem.