Mezza Luna Restaurant

This is my family and I favorite Italian restaurant. The food is authentic, delicious, and fresh, plus the staff is extremely attentive. I even had my wedding reception in their ballroom and they did an amazing job. They provided various appetizers for the cocktail hour and a three course meal for dinner, all in which was extremely organized. Every time we want a reliable dining experience by the water, we go to mezzaluna!

The food and service were disappointing on multiple levels. Before dinner, our party of five ordered the antipasti (a mix of meats and cheeses) and garlic bread, followed by our main courses. The restaurant proudly presents itself as authentically Italian, with references to regions like Calabria and a photo near the entrance commemorating Italy’s last World Cup win. Unfortunately, the antipasti fell far short of expectations. Portions were sparse, consisting of only a few slices of mediocre cured meats and even fewer, unimpressive cheeses. The presentation lacked creativity and felt more like a high school project than a thoughtfully prepared appetizer. The garlic bread offered nothing beyond what one could easily make at home—soggy, yellow, and drenched in overly aggressive garlic oil. Of the five main dishes, one stood out for the wrong reasons: a mixed salad with “grilled” chicken. The chicken appeared to be pre-cooked or frozen, complete with artificial-looking grill marks, clearly not fresh or grilled to order. The lack of freshness was evident in both texture and flavor, to the point that the diner questioned whether the meal might cause digestive issues. Ironically, the most enjoyable aspect of the evening was the water service—we drank plenty of it just to get through the long meal. Overall, the restaurant felt like an upscale chain leaning heavily on Italian imagery rather than delivering authentic Italian cuisine. We certainly wouldn’t bring any of our friends from Italy here.

The vegetarian pasta is really good. It has mixed vegetables and good flavor even though it is vegetarian. Pizza is also tasteful. Good ambience and good services with several servers walking around if need anything. Restaurant is large so also good for special event or family gathering. One recommendation is to have kids menu so kids can stay.

The overall restaurant had a fun family style retro vibe. The service was very warm and friendly (though I think it was busy and our food took a long time to come out). The food however was pretty disappointing. Two of us had fish which was overly soft and still swimming in a puddle of oil on the plate. And the prices are quite high. I would not recommend it.

Oct 2025. Good service and ambience. Homemade bread was great and special tartufo pizza were good, however angel hair pasta dish was bland and very underseasoned.

One our favorite stops when we're in Half Moon Bay. Food is always top notch. Calamari steak is always tender and flavorful...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an incredible experience at Mezza Luna! From start to finish, the team was so easy to work with and went above and beyond to make our event perfect. We booked a private room, and they were extremely accommodating and flexible with all of our requests. The menu was fantastic — everyone loved the food! The appetizers were a hit, the drink options were great, and every dish was delicious. The staff was attentive and kind, and the entire experience, from the service to the space, was flawless. We’re already planning to book again for our next dinner in October 2026. Highly recommend this restaurant for any special event or group gathering — they truly deliver an exceptional experience.

This was my first visit to Half Moon Bay beyond eating at The Ritz. I went on a second date and a long beach walk. After the beach and the trail we ended up here. I was not disappointed. I find it interesting that this is yet another Italian restaurant that serves the off-menu item of Chicken Parmigiana. It was fresh. It was tasty but it was far from the best parm ever. Please don't think I did not enjoy it. It just wasn't anything that 'wowed me'. The service was fine and the restrooms were spotless. I would return and loved the views at sunset.

The grandson selected this place for his Birthday dinner. He is 3, so I was very impressed with his choice. The service was impressively great. The server was friendly and knowledgeable and attentive. The menu is manageable but complete. We had meatballs, and pizza and salads. Everything was scrumptious. The bread was warm and crusty and authenticity delicious. The pizza was not too cheesy and perfect. The pasta arrabbiata was was creamy and luxurious. The parking is a little tricky but we had a great party. The highlight was when we sung "Happy Birthday" with the staff! The birthday boy was beaming. It is his Nanny's favorite as well. She is going tomorrow for "Her" birthday!

Went to Half Moon bay to meet up with Family and Friends, decided to try Mezza Luna which is a restaurant by the harbor. Walking in it's hard not to notice the wall art, they have these older pictures that add a nice vibe to the establishment. It's what you would expect a nice seaside Italian place to look like. The wait staff was very nice and helpful with recommendations, The food was good, the sauce on the pasta had a nice sweetness to it but not overly sweet and went well with the pasta. The Pizza's were cooked perfectly as well. Only complaints were the meatballs were subpar and the lettuce on Mezzaluna salad wasn't fresh, very soggy. Would like to come back in the future to try a few different dishes, Also they have a fun looking bar area I would like to try at some point as well.

It's always a special night out when we go to Mezza Luna! Half Moon Bay had a gorgeous sunset and the ambiance is unbeatable. Dinner reservations for 7 were not too hard to get on a Sunday evening and we were seated promptly. I ordered the fish of the day, a petrale sole piccata, and it was excellent. A generous portion of fish with some veggies and delicious russet(?) potatoes. And don't skip out on dessert! Thankfully with a big party you can split many of the desserts amongst yourselves, and we loved the tiramisu, chocolate molten cake, and special dessert: a pear and almond tart with a scoop of vanilla gelato. Service was very friendly and cordial but a little on the slow side -- could have been because there was a party in the private room. But they did replenish our bread basket without prompting which was nice! If I were to make any suggestions for improvement for an above-and-beyond experience, I would recommend that Mezza Luna leave water carafes on the tables for guests; our water glasses were often empty and it was hard to wave someone down and request a refill often enough. And stretch goal -- kind of a luxury, but for an authentic Italian restaurant I wish they had fresh grated Parmesan instead of the powdered kind.

The frittata veggie version with hash browns and toast was great! Tea and biscotti great! Gelato pistachio and Bali's were both amazing. Service was good! Inside and outside sitting options are helpful! Large menu choices nice touch as well!

Beautiful ambiance, service was extraordinary and our orders were so delicious from appetizers (bowl clam chowder & Affettato Misto) to main dish's (Linguine della Baia & Salmone alla Dolores) definitely highly recommended to everyone,

My first journey to Half Moon Bay(I will most definitely be returning) felt like I was the main character. The waterfront looked like it was straight from the set of "Practical Magic"--utterly enchanting. Our Friday evening reservation was at 6:30pm where we were seated promptly to a window-side table, with a view of the water and the lovely trees. The restaurant felt like a quaint, cozy haven. The ambiance was filled with a lot of happy chatter. I chose the Fettuccine Bolognese, a dish of pure delight with a generous serving. But then, a taste of my stepfather's Penne Alla Calabrese--oh, it was even more delectable than my own meal! And even the simple bread and butter made it complete. Our waiter was more on the serious side at first, but following my inquiry about his well-being, his demeanor became notably more down to earth. Oh, how my heart yearned for dessert, but alas, my tummy was simply too full! Next time, though, I shall leave room for a sweet enchantment.

Another trip to HMB and another dinner at Mezza Luna. It's such a great restaurant. We have enjoyed our visit each time. The location is nice, food is amazing and the service staff are so friendly and accommodating. These are all great features that contribute to a lovely dining experience. I highly recommend it. It's a great date night location, or for any sort of special occasion. That being said, it's not ultra high fine dining, so you can feel at home and comfortable and casual. The wait staff and service staff are very professional and so nice. That alone makes the visit worthwhile, not to mention the food! I had a stuffed pork tenderloin meal that was fantastic. It was nearly fork tender and so flavorful. The potatoes were creamy and delicious. The snap peas were some of the sweetest I ever ate. We laughed as we later realized, I was the only one that tried a different dish on this visit. My wife and kids ordered their exact same meal as our prior visit. They loved it so much and wanted to stick with it. We also got the meatball and garlic bread appetizers. We had reservations and we did have to wait a little bit. But the restaurant was absolutely jumping. We came on a Saturday night around 7pm. The dining area was very busy, but the staff was still very attentive and checked in on us often. We had to wait a little bit for some things, but nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say to save some room for dessert and you will not be disappointed. Their dessert menu has some great treats on it. We each ordered an item and all of them were devoured. My wife especially loved the Beignets. As I mentioned in my prior review, Mezza Luna will be on our agenda each visit to HMB. It's quickly become a family favorite. My kids compare other restaurants at home to ML and they don't seem to match up. That says enough for me.

Really enjoyable restaurant. We visited on a weekday for lunch, and it was not too busy. I liked dining in a historical building (you can see a picture of it many years ago next to the restrooms). Alla calabresi pizza: 4/5. For this sans fungi. Crust was very good and the toppings very flavorful.

Stopped in for a casual dinner and really enjoyed the food here. The calamari was nicely fried, crispy without being greasy, and the dipping sauce had a great flavor that paired perfectly. I also had the Alla Calabrese pizza, which was delicious. The sausage was especially good, flavorful and just the right amount of spice. Inside felt very homey and welcoming, with a cozy atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer. Service was friendly and attentive.

Beautiful restaurant, you know you are in an Italian restaurant when you walk in, it's so nice. My friend and I decided to just sit at the bar for lunch and our server was so kind and friendly. The service was impeccable. We both ordered pizza that was the best pizza I've ever had, it was delicious. My friend also ordered a lemon drop cocktail and she really enjoyed that as well. We will definitely be back.

Well it's nice and staff are friendly. The food was alright. Sauce was good. House wine was just that table wine. Good value. The appetizer of meatballs was lackluster. The warm bread was good. The main course I had the top sirloin lasagne. I enjoyed this part of the meal. The wife had her linguine with clams. The beignet dessert, small pieces but delicious.

Five stars on service, location, and of course food. Went for lunch and nice seating and friendly staff. A must go when at Pillar Point. Very close to getting fresh crab off the boats in the harbor!

It was a cozy & delicious meal on a misty day at half moon bay. I rarely get impressed by restaurant pastas because my dear "home chef" does an excellent job; however, this place wowed me. 1. My first visit was in 2020. Five years later, it still has the fluffiest gnocchi I've ever tasted - it was like biting on a cloud! The salmon pasta was also delicious and unique. 2. Service was excellent! In addition, the front of house staff were all nicely dressed in ironed white shirts. 3. The pistachio cream cake was yum

We spent the weekend in Half Moon Bay since my daughter had a soccer tournament. After her last game, we decided to hang out at my favorite distillery, Jettywave, since we had time to kill before dinner. I booked a reservation at Mezza Luna since it was within walking distance. We arrived right on time at 6pm and was surprised how spacious the restaurant was. We were seated promptly by the hostess at a table by the window. Our server took our order and bread and butter was brought to our table right away. We decided to do family style and shared a Cesar salad, Farfalle alla Genovese (bowtie pasta with pesto sauce), Penne Alla Calabrese (tube pasta in a tomato saue with Italian sausage and mushrooms), a white pizza with truffle, prosciutto and arugula, and Calamari Dore (calamari steak). The food came out pretty fast and was delicious! The pizza and the calamari steak were the standouts in my opinion. The pizza dough was nice and chewy and you could really taste the truffle spread. The calamari steak was very tender and served in a perfectly seasoned lemon caper sauce. While the pastas were tasty, I don't believe they were freshly made, which was disappointing. I probably would stick to their housemade pastas next time, like gnocchi and ravioli. We were full so we didn't try any of the desserts. I must say the service was top notch though! I would definitely dine at Mezza Luna again the next time I come to Half Moon Bay!

Great food, great view, excellent service!! I have been waiting more than a year to get this lasagna again since I live far away. The noodles are homemade and the meat sauce is absolutely addictive.

The first two things that stood out to me when dining at Mezza was (1) how attentive and nice the service was and then (2) how carefully The food was crafted. More on (2) later, but the service was very nice and attentive, although we did visit right when the restaurant opened. As for the food, it felt and seemed like quality. The only issue I had with the food was that I felt it was overly salty. To me, this caused the flavors and ingredients put into the food not to shine as well as it could have. But each mouthful, you could taste that it was well made, carefully crafted, just overly seasoned. That said, the restaurant, with great views and large windows, plenty of seating and great hospitality made our trip still memorable.

We had an incredible experience at Mezza Luna! From start to finish, the team was so easy to work with and went above and beyond to make our event perfect. We booked a private room, and they were extremely accommodating and flexible with all of our requests. The menu was fantastic -- everyone loved the food! The appetizers were a hit, the drink options were great, and every dish was delicious. The staff was attentive and kind, and the entire experience, from the service to the space, was flawless. We're already planning to book again for our next dinner in October 2026. Highly recommend this restaurant for any special event or group gathering -- they truly deliver an exceptional experience.

My sole was prepared very well and everyone enjoyed their meals...all twelve of us! Everyone had something a little different. For appetizers we had calamari and bruschetta.

mezza luna is great. all of the ingredients are clearly fresh, making the food taste delicious. the service was fast, and the atmosphere is relaxing especially on a nice clear day where you can see the view of the water. would definitely come back

Food was excellent! Staff was attentive and friendly. We didn't have reservations and it was busy but we only waited maybe 15 minutes. Overall GREAT experience! Will definitely go again.

Went for the first time, let's just say not the best experience.. I get it was Valentine's Day but even the desert which was tiramisu and the gelato shouldn't have taken 20 minutes to get to us. Got to the reservations on time and in total spent 3 1/2 hours there just waiting on someone to serve us. I had 3 different waiters and the person who was supposedly our waiter passed by us multiple times and ignored us. All we wanted to do at that point was pay and leave. The food was bland over cooked and everything needed salt.. for a 3 course meal I was very disappointed considering I've had better Italian for way cheaper. I've seen the bad reviews on here and the replies they've gotten by the owner but I see that nothing has changed.

Stopped in on Thursday night for a quick bite! So delicious, I had the tortellini and my husband had the angel hair pasta and added chicken to it. Great service, great food.

We came on a Saturday, so parking was scarce. The wait staff was attentive. The calamari was pretty good. The Cesar salad was nothing special. The salmon that my friend added to it was overcooked. The seafood pasta was bland. The wild salmon special with lemon and capers was nothing overcooked, but it also lacked any flavor other than lemon.

Classic Italian. Food simple but delicious. A bit expensive for pasta but in line with other area restaurants. 2 large parties going on in different rooms, waiter was distracted

A staff retreat the restaurant handled well, accommodating numerous preferences. Nothing stood out, but it was all pretty good, and the fish (mine) was excellent.

I've been here a few times, and I'm not a fan, but I can't leave a bad review. Maybe it's just me. Everyone I know loves it, so I'll rate it based on that. Food 4.5/5 Service 4.5/5 Staff 4.5/5 Parking 4.5/5 Overall 4.7/5

This restaurant is in a good location with its own parking lot. I expected more of the food, and it was just okay. The prosciutto on their pizza is low quality and tasted like regular sandwich ham. Our group also had a variety of pasta dishes which were just okay - they could do with more flavor and fresher tasting ingredients. This area of Half Moon Bay is always so busy, but this restaurant is dependable for having reservations available... Just really not one of the top Italian food experiences. The interior of the restaurant is nice - lots of light and views of the water from one corner. I wouldn't exactly recommend this restaurant to people, but will keep it in mind for a place that has tables and reservations available.

The food was spectacular! The service awesome! We started with the homemade garlic bread and calamari which was perfect. I had the Linguine Della Baia, my wife had Salmone allá Dolores. Both were delicious and the portions were very generous. The ambiance was warm and refreshing. We will be back!!!

This is one of my go-to spots whenever we drive up to Half Moon Bay. The restaurant has plenty of seating for both small and large groups, and we always choose to sit inside to escape the wind. We've tried their coffee, tea, and snacks like bagels, and everything has been delicious. The servers are always warm and friendly, making it a great experience every time.

I would highly recommend this Italian spot! It's a nice looking restaurant inside and they have cool view of the ocean. It was a very busy Saturday evening. Had a large-party reservation here and our service was awesome and organized. We had a custom menu for our table and everything was great. Starters: Calamari, Ceasar Salad Entrees: 1st dish Ravioli Mezza Luna stuff w/ Salmon & 2nd dish: out of 3 dishes, I chose the Pesce del Giorno (sea bass). What stood out was both the sauces on each pasta dish. Both tasted delicious! Dessert: Bigne Mezza Luna (custard filled pastry drizzled with dark chocolate). I also ordered a Mocha Latte & an Affogato (a whole lot of sugar but so worth it). Definitely would come back!

First time here. We biked up from HMBb Fresh ingredients, Expertly prepared. Even the plain water was tasty. (Probably filtered instead of tap). Great calm attentive service. Ambience a delight. We ordered off the daily menu today. Petals sole and I had the pizza. Crust was the best since Italy. Thin, crisp tasty. Not over burnt. Deli did. Fair prices.a winner in all ways.

We went to Mezza Luna for our Thanksgiving dinner and did not have a reservation. Staff made sure we got a seating and from there on out it was continued perfect service from everyone! They could not have been more attentive and the restaurant was packed with holiday diners. The food was excellent, fresh and served with a lot of attention to detail. We've been before and will continue you bring them our business. Wanted to say Thank You to the entire staff. P.s. photo is the "face" of the back of their building. Made me chuckle.

The food here is fantastic! So delicious with lots of flavor. Very authentic Italian restaurant. The service was fast and the waiter was kind and helpful. The place is very well decorated with tons of pictures and has a good vibe. Recommend!!!

Mezza Luna Restaurant was within walking distance of our hotel, so we decided to have dinner here on our first night in town. Naturally I looked up the Yelp rating and several reviews prior to our visit, hoping to decide what to order in advance. We ordered the Mista and Caprese Salads and calamari to share, all were delicious. Our group ordered the Salmon alla Dolores, the fish (halibut) piccata, the calamari steak, and the Pasta con Gamberoni. Everyone raved about their meals. I will say the Gamberoni did not have a lot of sauce and was on the dry side. I ended up Just eating the shrimp out of it. I would definitely come back again and try something else off the menu, but I wouldn't go for the Gamberoni again. This place has such great reviews, it must have been an off night in the kitchen. Next time we're in town we will try again!

If we only had the lasagna special, this would have been a 5+ star review. "Homemade pasta sheets layered with artichoke, spinach and ricotta cheese, served with tomato becamel sauce." It was beautifully presented, delicate, filling and beyond delicious! I think I said "mmmm" after every single bite. The ambiance is lovely, we had a view of the harbor, service was very good, feels like an upscale dining experience. The pricing was surprisingly reasonable, with good quantities of food. All of that said, the Caesar salad was shockingly disappointing. As though someone took a bland pre-made Caesar dressing and watered it down. My husband had the swordfish special (not pictured on the board because it sold out after we ordered), which we were both excited for, and it was just okay. The cut was rather thin, which neither of us expected. In our experience, swordfish steaks are usually quite thick. We also ordered calamari, which was average. I wish I could do 5 stars just for the lasagna! But alas, I must be honest.

Never been a pasta guy. Pasta is Noodles is noodles I always say . WRONG OH BONGO. We stopped in and shared their Pasta Pomodoro dish and over a week later I almost have tears in my eyes as I reminisce on the beautiful serving lovingly split in two for us. The sauce tasted of fresh tomato sunshine. First time in my life I have praised a dish to a waiter. Now the beer was definitely overpriced so I skipped that. But that pasta! Quick give me a tissue to dab away the tears of joy before my wife laughs at me.

Absolutely amazing. The salmon is as perfect! The Farfalle Salmone was perfectly cooked. The salmon served at it peak temperature. Not over done. Not underdone. The pasta was also ideal just at al dente and bit past. I should have taken a photo but my heart was captured at the first bit

Food was decent. Enjoyed the gnocchi quite a bit. Salad was nice. Pleasant experience for my first time here.

Food was good, and I know Italian. Didn't even know the place was there until we wanted something other then seafood. Bolongese was a little bland, but good. The Calabese was really good. Also good was the calamari. Will go again.

I came here for work dinner with a table of 15 or so, and boy, were they on it! They did such an amazing job with the service.We always had a full glass of water and drinks. Everything was quick to come out, from bread service, appetizer, drinks, dinner, and desserts. With my dairy allergy, our server was able to help accommodate my order for their new York strip steak and substitute with a side of pasta tossed in garlic and olive oils. The steak was amazing, full of flavor, and topped off with a chimmchurrie sauce. I'd fly there again just for the steak alone! I also ordered their seafood salad, and that was decent. For dessert, I ordered a whiskey, which was on standard ice. I would recommend ice molds, just so the whiskey doesn't get watered down too fast. But that's my recommendation to take up the spirits at another level. If you're looking for a nice restaurant, great service, amazing food...here's your place!

Food waa wonderful! Service and homemade bread the best! Have not had such absolutely delicious bread since SF Alioto closed. Kudos to chef.

Fabulous restaurant with delicious food and fantastic service! The bar area was cozy and welcoming. We hosted our holiday party there for 60 people and the experience was flawless. Everything from the initial planning to the day of the event was delivered with professional service and great care. Everyone loved their meal and bar service! We had a wonderful time!

Came here on a date and had the following: Bruschetta Campagnola = 8/10 Spaghetti con Polpette = 10/10 Pesce del Giorno = 10/10 Affogato all Caffe = 10/10 Bigne Mezza Luna = 10/10 The food was delicious! The ambiance was nice and romantic. Great place for a date! The service was stellar. Our waiter couldn't have done a better job. He was very friendly and attentive. I look forward to returning and trying more dishes. Plenty of parking!

Love this restaurant, all the food is so carefully prepared and I always order the soup, delicious

Came here for Easter Lunch around 2pm with reservation. They gave us a table in the room with lots of windows and a view of the bay which i loved! Alot of the waiters r burly italian men loll! With younger bussing staff as well. I enjoyed the leisurely timing of our serving coming to take our order, bread and waters being dropped off as well. We ordered the organic mixed greens salad & calamari to start, and chianti and the white wine the waiter suggested which was really smooth and delicious! Mains we ordered the fettuccine bolognese and baby goat dish. The bolognese was delicious with what looked like homemade noodles? First time trying baby goat and it was tender and a little gamey and good with the sauce and potatoes. For dessert we got the lattes and it was so good. The thick foam on top was enjoyable to drink. The airflow and space in this restaurant feels very nice and not stuffy and the view is great along with the delicious food and service. I def want to come back!!

Really enjoyed this place!! Food was amazing! The fettuccine tasted so fresh. The gnocchi was also amazing. Service was attentive but not bugging you every 5 minutes, which I like. Definitely will be back when we're back in the area.

Love the food and ambiance. Not loud there for lunch - big dining rooms . It's a pleasant experience. Service is great. Highly recommend.

Consistently high quality on all levels. A go to choice in our area. The weekly take out meals are great choice for a good meal at home

For my birthday, we escaped to Half Moon Bay for the weekend, and we kicked it off with an outstanding dinner at Mezza Luna, a large white linen eatery with great ambiance. We had salmon carpaccio for an appetizer, thin strips of beautiful, chilled salmon, with a hint of olive oil and some dill sprinkled over it. The dish itself did not come with any bread, which was curious, but we had bread on the table of course, so we used that. It was a wonderful start to our dinner. We split a Caesar salad, which was refreshing, and then we did something we hardly ever do -- we both had the same main dish: linguine with clams in white sauce. This dish, simple as it may be, was perfectly executed. The house made pasta was hot and al dente, the clams were steaming in their shells, the seasoning in the broth was briny and peppery. A little parmesan over the top, and we were all set. We selected a really good Pinot Noir (MacMurray Vineyards, Russian River, 2021 for $56) and enjoyed fun conversation reflecting on the last four months, and marveled at the whole meal -- the setting, the food, the wine, and most of all, the fun of being together and away from other pressing responsibilities. We ordered a dessert of beignets, but before it arrived, our waiter and the hostess who had seated us and another busboy came over with a scoop of ice cream with a candle and sang Happy Birthday. It was very nice, and I went in for a taste of what I figured was vanilla ice cream only to find that it was the most delicious gelato I have ever tasted. What was that flavor, I asked? It was passion fruit. A little sweetness with a fruity bite, it was delish. The beignets were nice too, but that gelato was the taste I'm going to remember.