Dad's Luncheonette — Restaurant in Half Moon Bay

My partner and I took a day trip from SF to Half Moon Bay (typical, right?). She made it a point to mention this nook along the sandy coast. This reminded me of my cousin who often says that she's willing to drive two hours for some good food. Luckily, I only had to drive out under an hour.

We had just made it on time before close since I had the bright idea of having French Toast and Greek coffee right before. (This is a habit I picked up from the aforementioned cousin). From sweet, we made our way to savory.

I'm not fond of cow burgers, so I opted for the mushroom sandwich and cucumber soup. I asked for coffee but they had begun their cleaning process and coffee was already out. "No problem. I know you're about to close", I said.

[Side note: Don't be the jerk who insists on having coffee less than 10 minutes before close. Three bros that popped in after us did so. This is someone who likely has never worked in the service industry. I would have chargned them for the entire pot and poured cups for the other clients on his tab. But that's just me. Scott Clark was much more gracious about it. Anyway, back to the food.]

Pro Tip: DO NOT UNWRAP THE SANDWICH! The best part is at the bottom wherein all the juices have concentrated and make for a mouthwatering last bite.

As a newb, I undid the wrap and had to eat it like a caveman. Though, I left no drop or crumb behind. The tang, the texture, the sweetness of the cucumber soup felt like a breezy beach volleyball game on my pallet. Moreover, a spike of flavor hit as I bit into a leaf of fresh basil served with the soup. (Cavemen wished they could eat like this!)

On top of this Scott came out and served us with the biggest smile this side of Half Moon Bay. I suppose having worked at Saison makes him jaded when it comes to handling douchey bros. But I would have loved to sip that cup of joe on...

The whole experience was ok. Nothing was "bad," but nothing was "great" either. The fact that it's in an old train caboose is cute, different, and a nice experience. The caboose is, in my view, the only real differentiating factor for Dad's Luncheonette. The hamburger sandwiches are just ok. There's nothing wrong with them, but there is nothing about them that would drive me to return. It's a fairly small and insufficiently seasoned beef patty on bread that's too big for the beef with a fried egg, sauce, and some veggies. It was just unremarkable, and I've made similar sandwiches at home. Dad's Luncheonette only serves two sandwiches on its regular menu, so I was expecting the hamburger sandwich to be exceptional. Unfortunately, it's just mediocre, and I do think the price is quite high for one of these hamburger sandwiches at $14.50. We also got chips and mac & cheese. The chips were pretty good! They use nutritional yeast on them as a seasoning. I liked it, especially because it's not really a seasoning or flavoring agent I've used before. Good job on the chips. The Mac & cheese- I'll be fully honest here. At first, I didn't like it that much, but after a few bites, I started liking it more. The sauce is quite thin and they added toasted rice and chives, which is why I think it went from "not good" to "it's ok." The noodles were way overdone and that made the entire dish flop. In summary, it's pricey, not memorable, and overhyped, which is unfortunate. We took a drive down the coast with this place being a big reason for taking the trip from San Francisco. I'm glad it was a beautiful and sunny day because otherwise, I'd say Dad's Luncheonette ruined the day. I'm just not impressed, given the hype and the $65 price tag for two. It's yet another place that fails to substantiate its fairly high price. I...

I had the pleasure of visiting this lovely place recently, and it truly has a unique and charming character of its own. Conveniently located just after the exit from the 92 freeway, it immediately caught my attention. During my visit, I decided to try two of their sandwiches: the mushroom and the hamburger. Both sandwiches were absolutely delightful, but I must admit that the mushroom sandwich stole the show for me. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the combination of ingredients made each bite a true pleasure. What sets this place apart is its ambiance. The rustic and slightly weathered appearance adds to its charm, and the fact that it's designed as a train is simply fantastic. I have a great appreciation for unique and interesting venues, and this place certainly fits the bill. It captures the imagination and transports you to a different world. One aspect that I felt was missing from the experience was the availability of coffee. It would have been wonderful to enjoy a hot cup of coffee alongside the delicious sandwiches. Perhaps this is something that could be considered as an addition to their menu. In summary, this place is a hidden gem with its own special spirit. The mushroom and hamburger sandwiches were both delicious, with the mushroom sandwich being my personal favorite. The ambience of the restaurant, with its rustic and train-themed decor, adds to the overall appeal. I highly recommend visiting this unique and interesting establishment, and perhaps a cup of coffee could be a delightful addition to enhance the experience...