Half Moon Bay Joe's — Restaurant in Half Moon Bay

Walking in, it feels like a diner which was not a problem. Some attempt at decor had been attempted with painted walls which I assume was supposed to offer an Italian feel. We were sat quickly with the hostess dropping menus off and walking away before we even reached the table which felt like she didnt care we were there and didn't have time for such things. Bread and an oily pesto were deposited on the table.

Still, that would not have been so bad, however, we proceeded to sit for over 10 minutes with no greeting from anyone while we watched two hostesses clean off a dirty table among several open booths. No one looked our way to reassure we would be taken care of or at least offered drinks.

Our server approached and he was friendly. We had decided our meal by that point so he took our order. One of the hostesses came back with our drinks which drove home the point they could have done so earlier were they motivated by customer service.

I want to mention the menu. It ranged from breakfast to dinner, all relatively low priced items in accordance with their diner ambience. Inserted into the center was a loose, bent and wrinkled paper which listed their "Dinner Specials" which were ridiculously priced at the level of a fine dining restaurant.

At this point, highly suspicious and leery of their idea of quality, I ordered a grilled cheese for $7 and my son got the tortellini in pesto sauce for $15. The grilled cheese arrived on plain toasted bread that didnt look like it had seen any butter with American cheese inside. I can make a better grilled cheese than that. The French fries were very good. I tasted the tortellini, it was oily, bland, and the pesto had probably been back there for a while.

While we sat there I looked up the grilled cheese at Starbucks which I had earlier that week. It boasted parmesan and butter crusted sourdough, 3 cheeses, and a garlic butter, priced at $5.75. It was fantastic. In my opinion, any restaurant that serves American cheese to an adult just doesn't care about food.

Our server was adequate and friendly. I think he was one of two servers on the floor which may explain his delay in getting to us. He was attentive to our requests and the only reason this place got...

Amazing experience! I recently had the pleasure of dining at Joe’s Half Moon Bay, and I must say, it was a fantastic experience from start to finish.

I ordered the “3/4 Broiled Hamburger” medium rare, with American Cheese, and it was cooked to perfection. The cheese was slightly melted just right, and it was served on toasted French bread, cut at an angle – a nice touch in presentation. The plate was beautifully arranged with sliced tomatoes and leafy lettuce, accompanied by golden, lightly salted country style fries. Yum! It doesn’t get much better than this.

For dessert, I had coffee and German chocolate cake, and both were excellent! The cake was rich and delicious, and I would definitely order it again.

The service was exceptional. The staff were very attentive and friendly, some of the best I’ve encountered. The atmosphere was comfortable with light brown decor, featuring both tables and booths that added to the tasteful ambiance.

A standout moment was when the owner took the time to visit a familiar patron, which showed the personal touch and care they put into their service. My highlight was being overall impressed with the entire experience. Having dined at many restaurants in and around Half Moon Bay, Joe’s is located a bit further south by two miles, but it’s definitely worth the drive.

I highly recommend Joe’s Half Moon Bay and would rate it in my top five places in Half Moon Bay. I look forward to returning!

Return Visit Burger: five stars-Half Moon Bay Joe’s exceeded my expectations! The half-pound burger, priced at just $10, was perfectly charred with a juicy medium-pink interior. The fresh toppings and toasted bun made every bite delightful. The fries were unexpectedly crispy and flavorful. The service was top-notch, making the experience even better. I can’t wait to return for another delicious meal!

Return Visit Desert - five stars, The flan at Half Moon Bay Joe’s is a must-try! This homemade dessert features a silky texture and a perfectly caramelized sauce that’s both rich and addictive. Each bite melts in your mouth, leaving you craving more. It’s rare to find such quality in a casual setting, and I can’t recommend it enough. I’ll definitely be...

We saw Joe's while driving along the coast and decided to stop. There were only 2 other couples there, which should've been an indicator that it wasn't great since it's peak season in half moon bay, and there were tons of people out.

The waitress was really nice. I ordered clam chowder, the grilled salmon with lemon caper sauce,mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies.

My fiance ordered minestrone soup, grilled salmon with lemon caper sauce, and spaghetti with marinara sauce. The soup tasted canned, and then when they brought out our plates, we were shocked. The salmon was in this uniform shape; like the actual shape of a fish and the same thickness for both of us. I don't even know if it was real salmon. It had no flavor, and the lemon caper sauce didn't have capers and tasted packaged or from a jar. The mashed potatoes were instant potatoes, and the veggies were frozen and then boiled. I took a couple of bites and didn't eat anymore.

My fiancé's fish was the EXACT size and shape. How??? It was clearly manufactured. His spaghetti was overcooked and soggy with what tasted like canned stewed tomatoes on top with some parsley.

Being along the CA coast and based on the menu description and price, we thought we were going to get something top of the line!

The waitress noticed that we didn't eat and asked if everything was OK. We said we didn't like the food. She then offered something else, but we kindly declined.

She brought the bill; it was $88.00 for this T.V. dinner quality, factory manufactured "food." We asked for at least a discount, and the manager took off one plate.

The waitress felt horrible and thought we should've gotten a full refund, but we took the lump and left peacefully.

We have NEVER gone to a restaurant and not eaten the food, even if it wasn't the best. This food was not edible at all. The worst meal by far I've ever had, and the price was wild!

Needless to say, we will...