Tortellini Originali

Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Cuisine type: Italian
Atmosphere: deli store, a few small wooden tables
Meal: dinner
Overall score: 6.5

Nina

This was a pretty straight-forward eatery, so not too much to say. After an over two hour long class of exhausting English-style horseback riding (meaning smaller, less comfortable saddle than they have in Texas and US ranches in general), we wanted something quick and effective to give us some energy back.

This small family owned shop is located directly along Highway 1, and sells very authentic Italian (and mediterranean more broadly) groceries and prepared foods. It seems like they cater and sell food to-go, while their dining area is more of an afterthought, something that happened just because a few customers asked if they could just eat the food there.

We sat at one of their small wooden tables, surrounded by the shelves of imported olive oil, roasted pepper jars and olives. The shop attendant (who seemed to be one of the family) served us a basket of crusty freshly baked bread, which had a perfect balance of tenderness and crunch. We had to ask for butter (how could we not) since it didn’t come with the bread, and we got a little bowl with a few dabs of butter cut directly from a larger block - another reminder that table service is not their main business. I ordered the porcini ravioli with rose sauce (part cream sauce, part tomato sauce, mixed together), since I can never resist mushrooms on a menu. It was served in a styrofoam microwave plate and with plastic utensils, that gave the sad first impression of frozen TV dinner. The flavor was intense, balanced and the dish had an overall authentic feel, which redeemed the food in my mind even though the portion size was pretty small for the price. We left the shop still somewhat hungry, but with a roll of pancetta and a tub of tiramisu ice cream to extend our Italian food experience later, at home.

Food 9
Drinks 5
Atmosphere 5
Service 8
Value 6

Ben

A small, family owned deli/catering business in Half Moon Bay. The woman who was working there was friendly and accommodating, we started by buying a couple of cheeses, sausages, and gelato to bring home. We saw they offered sit-down meals, and we each ordered a ravioli. I ordered the "Cajun Crab" with rose sauce. This deli was so pleasant, with a rustic european feel and, in my mind, setting up to be a home-run. But the food that was served was for me very disappointing. It may be hard to fault that they are clearly deli first, but someone from the back did come to serve us, and there was a menu (this is a restaurant review after all, so I'll review the restaurant!). The ravioli was mediocre, very small portion with uninspired flavor, and felt like the dish had just been microwaved (our best guess was that the small raviolis were flash boiled from frozen, with a microwaved sauce poured over the top), at a cost of about $10. They were served in little plastic trays which we threw away. I'd recommend checking the place for the deli, but skip on the restaurant aspect.

Food 5
Drinks 5
Atmosphere 6
Service 8
Value 7

Sam's Chowder House

Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Cuisine type: New England Style Seafood
Atmosphere: bistro style seating, sweeping ocean views
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$20-$30/entree
Overall grade: 8.8

Ben

A famous place near Half Moon Bay on the road to San Francisco, with a seemingly cult following and constantly packed crowds due to the heavy traffic and perfect beachside location. The restaurant does not disappoint – we found a table in the back of the restaurant next to a window of the coast – a beautiful view including beach, boats, and even a lighthouse. The menu features but does not emphasize chowders –actually only offering a few selections as starters. As we were called by some of the entrees and weren’t looking for a heavy appetizer, we went with raw oysters (served with cocktail, red wine vinaigrette, and garlic white wine sauces) instead – which were fantastic. I ordered the award-winning lobster roll – a generous portion of Maine lobster on fresh roll, which was incredibly soft and buttery, living up to the rolls we had in Portland, Maine. The sides were an afterthought of potato chips and a simple slaw, most of which were left on the plates when the waiter picked them up (every crumb of the lobster roll itself was thoroughly polished by all three people who ordered it). The desert (a chocolate crème brulee) was a great finish to the meal. The atmosphere is very relaxing and fun, everyone’s mood enhanced by the great view and food. The drink menu had a decent selection of beers and wines, and the service was fast and efficient.  In our first trip to Half Moon Bay, Sam’s Chowder House lived up to its reputation and has added a couple more loyal fans to its giant base (there is even a well stocked gift shop in the front selling Sam’s Chowder House memorabilia).

Food          9

Drinks       7
Atmosphere 10
Service      8
Value        8

Nina

From various announcements in local media, it sounded like the pumpkin festival in Half Moon Bay was a big deal, so we decided to check it out. It was a large street fair with various crafts and pumpkin-centered foods served throughout the downtown area. At the suggestions of some friends, we decided to have dinner with them at a well known place in this coastal area - Sam's Chowder House. From the highway it looked like an unassuming place, pretty modest building placed in a parking lot just off the road. What might have given it away as a special place was the abundance of cars overflowing from the parking lot and onto both sides of the road; what makes it even better is the breathtaking view of the ocean from the window tables inside and the outdoor patio seating. This restaurant is well known for its seafood dishes made with fresh catches both local and flown in from other parts of the country, and of course the chowder, as its name implies.

I opted for a single Oyster from Washington as an appetizer. It was quite possibly the most delicious oyster I've ever eaten - fresh, tender, juicy and light at the same time. A few drops of lemon juice and mignonette sauce really put it over the top.
For my entree, I had wild caught pacific salmon, grilled and served on top of a lentil and chanterelle mushroom stew. This dish did not disappoint - the salmon was perfectly cooked and moist, and the side complemented it very well. I don't often eat lentils, but these were cooked just right, a bit al dente but not undercooked, and paired with just the right amount of chanterelles and bacon to enhance the flavor profile without overwhelming the legumes.

Since the food was so good, I couldn't pass on the dessert, I just had to try what they had to offer. I went for a chocolate creme brulee served with a piece of biscotti and blackberries. It was delicious, of course (it had sugar and chocolate after all, how would I not like it?), though I would dare complain that for a creme brulee it was almost too rich, the flavor of the chocolate overwhelmed the delicate custard and detracted from the light texture that I like to see in this type of dessert.

Even though this place is famous enough on its own, I would still enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking for fresh, delicious seafood and stunning views of the ocean and sunset in the Half Moon Bay Area.

Food          10

Drinks         9
Atmosphere 9
Service        9
Value          8