Breakwater Barbecue

Michelin-Approved Burgers From Breakwater Barbecue Are Set to Take Over a Very Visible Highway 1 Space | Eater SF

"Relocating into the long-dormant Monster Chef space on Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and San Francisco, this Michelin Guide–approved Texas-style barbecue outfit is moving from an iconic yellow building a few blocks away where it has operated for the same five years the Highway 1 space has stayed quiet. In that half-decade, Breakwater was listed as one of six barbecue destinations in California by Michelin as well as one of the best hamburgers in the state, and the move brings those semi-smashed brisket burgers closer to the highway; the grand opening for the butcher counter and restaurant is Thursday, May 8 with rolling soft hours in the meantime. “Barbecue by the beach,” Fields says, “and bringing it for the hometown.” The larger location will operate with two menus—smoked meat market (butcher, barbecue favorites) and coastal country kitchen (tacos, sandwiches, just-baked cornbread, salads, and sides)—so the operation can pivot to the latter exclusively until closing at 8 p.m. New items and rotations include a foray into smoked fish: Fields says he’s been on a “deep dive” into local black cod from the boats in the harbor lately; a smoked salmon, sold as a tray with appetizers, from Hidden Fjord joins the offerings; smoked turkey, beef ribs, and handmade flour tortillas will appear more consistently. There’s a beer and wine license for the space, too, meaning local pours on tap. Fields grew up on the Peninsula, launched Native Catering in 2014 after stints at Pacific Coast Meat Company, 15 Romolo, Pacific Union Club SF, and now-closed John Collins, and says that after he took a barbecue course at Berkeley’s Kitchen on Fire everything changed. The original operation began in 2020 in a former brewery (the name a nod to the Princeton Jetty surf spot), pivoted to to-go butchered meats and house-made sausages when COVID shut down dine-in, and now also serves at Levi’s Stadium; the new Highway 1 space aims for a “coastal country” feel as a historical homage to the Ocean Shore Railroad station that once sat on the lot. Previous tenants of the Highway 1 location included Chef Danny Li’s El Granada all-you-can-eat sushi buffet (closed in 2020) and an Outback Steakhouse-ish Flavor before that. Opening hours at launch: Thursday, May 8, 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m., Thursday–Sunday; the smoked-meat menu will remain Thursday through Sunday with the hope of running seven days a week down the road." - Paolo Bicchieri