La Costanera

"It’s hard to have a bad night at this Peruvian restaurant with harbor views, especially if you sit outside on their patio on a Sunday afternoon when there’s live music. The menu is ideal for groups, with everything from good mushroom empanadas and ceviche to zero-proof cocktails. In case you overdo it on icy-cold, cloud-like pisco sours, you can always come back the next day for smoky anticuchos and their kabocha squash and rice noodle “hangover soup,” which we can confirm is aptly titled." - Gabi Moskowitz

"La Costanera, the Michelin Guide-listed Peruvian restaurant from prolific chef Carlos Altamirano, reopened in a new location overlooking Pillar Point Harbor in June 2020 (it spent 10 years in Montara before closing in March 2020). The two-story, 10,000-square-foot restaurant offers floor-to-ceiling views and a large side patio, serving Altamirano’s menu of famous cebiches, lomo saltado, empanadas, and pollo salvaje. Dessert is a highlight here, with shareable options like mini churros and hot chocolate and alfajores filled with dulce de leche, so save room." - Dianne de Guzman, Momo Chang

"La Costanera is a beloved contemporary Peruvian restaurant with a stunning oceanfront location just north of Half Moon Bay. Featuring decor that incorporates thoughtful nods to Peruvian culture, La Costanera blends a breadth of Indigenous, African, European, and Asian influences. Chef Carlos Altamirano, who was raised in southern Peru, marries native Peruvian produce, like choclo and aji panca, with Californian flare to create dishes like pulpo a la parrilla and Scallops Carlitos, a dish made with fresh East Coast scallops topped with corn, nori, and togarashi. Lomo saltado is another wok-fired staple, and the cebiche tasting features a trio of fresh fish." - Cathy Park

"Chef Carlos Altamirano is known for his Michelin-starred Costanera in Half Moon Bay and a litany of other Peruvian restaurants throughout the Bay Area." - Paolo Bicchieri

"Where else can you stroll in after a day at the beach and get a delicious Peruvian meal? La Costanera, nestled within the darling coastal town of Half Moon Bay, of course! Traditional and modern art abound, but it's the boldly flavored plates from Chef Carlos Altamirano and his team that garner attention. Palta rellena, which fills half an avocado with roasted chicken chicharrones and lime-infused mayonnaise, is a fun and light-hearted interpretation of the dish. Cebice pescado marinated in aji rocoto leche de tigre is both tangy and kicky, while arroz con mariscos is a savory and satisfying dish tucked with plenty of seafood. Be sure to sample the creative cocktails. Alternatively, try a delicious and refreshing chicha morada." - Michelin Inspector