San Benito Deli

Great sandwiches. We are vegetarian and there were 3 options ! Bread baked fresh every morning. Wonderful outdoor seating areas. When we went it was cold. There are overhead heaters at the tables and a fire pit with seating. There is also a grassy area with tables as well. Really cute!

Excellent sandwich. I come here at least twice a week! Definitely get pastrami on the marble rye bread. Their house made bread Is fantastic. So simple yet delicious. Make sure to get added with that they melt on with extra pastrami! The consistency is very good too quality never changes.

The food atmosphere is amazing with live music and beautiful outdoor patio! We ordered the pastrami sandwich with Olive Walnut specialty bread! We will definitely be returning.

My wife and I were in the area and heard that this place was highly recommended by everyone. We decided to stop by and get a few items before leaving HMB. And let me just say: WOW. I love sandwiches but this place was FANTASTIC. We got the following: two egg and avocados on wheat and olive/walnut, one pastrami on marbled rye, and one hummus on wheat. Also a side of Mac salad and a side of potato salad. The egg and avocado sandwiches were amazing. We especially loved how you can taste the actual egg and it wasn't drowned in mayo - eventhough we love mayo - and the freshness of the breads was incredible. My pastrami and rye was delicious with a thick slab of Swiss cheese and it was toasted. The only thing that would have make it better would have been Russian dressing but zero complaints. My wife also really loved the hummus and could tell that they made their own in house. The Mac salad was good and creamy though a little heavy on the olive side, if you like that. Potato salad was good though I wouldn't say it was my favorite thing but still highly recommend. Overall I am not exaggerating when I say it might be hands down the best deli I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. Believe the hype.

I’ve been a customer at San Benito Deli for the past 12 years, and it’s still the only place I go when I’m craving a really good sandwich. As a vegetarian, I appreciate that they have a couple of great options — their olive walnut bread is hands down my favorite and my go-to every time. I’m honestly obsessed with this place. They bake their bread fresh daily, and you can taste the difference — everything feels so fresh and homemade. Don’t miss out on their chocolate or lemon pie either; I always grab one (or two!) to take home. You can enjoy your sandwich on their patio or take it with you to the beach just a few minutes away. Definitely recommend and will keep coming back for many more years!

This is our go-to spot for a fantastic sandwich in Half Moon Bay. They bake their bread daily, and my personal favorite is the marble rye bread paired with the roast beef. The line moves swiftly, and there are plenty of seating options to enjoy your sandwich.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the San Benito House Garden Café in Half Moon Bay, and it was an absolutely delightful experience! 🌸 From the moment I walked in, I was charmed by the cozy and inviting atmosphere. The garden setting is simply beautiful, with lush greenery and vibrant flowers creating a serene and relaxing environment. It's the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a meal. The food was fantastic! I ordered the roasted beef sandwich on olive walnut bread, and it was absolutely mouthwatering. The beef was tender and flavorful, perfectly complemented by the unique and tasty bread. We also ordered a hazy IPA, which was the perfect refreshing accompaniment to our meal. The ingredients tasted incredibly fresh. Overall, the San Benito House Garden Café is a gem in Half Moon Bay. Whether you're looking for a peaceful place to enjoy a meal or a charming spot to catch up with friends, this café is a must-visit. I can't wait to return and try more of their delicious offerings!

Really delicious sandwiches. Super quick service, and a friendly atmosphere. The perfect stop on a road trip down the coast!

This spot had been on my "to try" list for several months after moving to the area based on the very promising looking Yelp reviews. Our first visit we were absolutely amazed at the quality of the sandwiches. Since then, we have been here many many times. It is just that good. We crave it all the time. I've tried both the wheat and French bread and they are both fantastic. I usually go with the egg and avocado sandwich and it's delicious. Really fresh veggies as well. They do not hold back on toppings and often a half sandwich is enough for lunch, but I can for sure devour a whole one when I'm really hungry. Their chips and soda collection is also top notch. Their potato salad is the only thing that I didn't adore straight away but that's because the one they have at Spangler's in EG is even better. Friendly service. Line can be long sometimes but definitely worth it. We usually eat in the nice seating area outside and they tend to always pack it to go.

Great sandwich - made with simple yet, very fresh ingredients. They have a nice outdoor patio that you could eat at or take it to-go and eat it on the beach! There was a wait even though I reached at 3pm, but it was worth it.

Summary: Came here looking for convenient grab and go option for nearby Poplar Beach. Delicious and large sandwiches and cookies! They also have a huge outdoor seating area if you're looking for a sit down option on Main Street. Food: Sandwiches made to order, garden salad, two soups of the day; cookies and pie slices, chips, and a few deli sides (macaroni salad, potato salad) Prices: About $11-12 for a full sandwich; you can also purchase half $3.50 for large cookies $2.50 for bag of chips Seating: There's no indoor seating, but a huge outdoor patio. Order in a small storefront - lines can get long during peak hours - and take to go or eat outside Parking: Plenty of street parking nearby Would definitely come back!

We arrived around noon and there was a line of about 5 people. The line went by super quick as they make the sandwich as you are pretty much ordering. I ordered the olive and walnut bread with basic ingredients of turkey and their sandwich toppings. The bread was very spongy, but flavor was overall okay. I don't think the bread needed the walnuts but that's just my opinion. Loved the outdoor space for seating and folk music playing.

Came here for lunch. Ordered the beef and vegetable soup which came with fresh homemade bread. The soup was delicious. Some of the best beef and vegetable soup I have ever had. The bread was also outstanding. The soup of the day rotates. If they have the beef and vegetable soup on the list of soups of the day I recommend ordering it.

10/10 would recommend this place! This was my first time, and the pastrami sandwich was immaculate -- the pie topped it all off. Service was great super friendly and fast. I can't wait to go back!!

Quick, healthy sandwiches with great outdoor seating! It is grab and go only, but the setup is perfect right in the heart of downtown Half Moon Bay, which is so cute and walkable. There is plenty of street parking and many adorable shops nearby to explore. I loved the olive walnut bread, which was so moist and fresh and paired perfectly with all the ingredients. I highly recommend this spot for a quick and delicious sandwich!

Good quality but simple sandwiches, I would come back here. We just got turkey and cheddar on french bread. Would be good if they had oil and vinegar etc but still great food. Service was fast and friendly. Outdoor seating only but a very nice patio.

This place definitely lives up to the high expectations! Very clean inside, placed our order grabbed some chips, drinks, by the time we paid our sandwich was done! I appreciated the fast and friendly service.There is a large patio area to sit down and enjoy your food. We got a full ham & swiss on rye, macaroni salad, chips, and, it was plenty to share. Everything was so fresh the bread was delicious! It's no wonder why this place is a favorite in HMB.

We went back to Garden Deli Cafe on 4th of July. We didn't realize there was gong to be a parade but it was still something we wanted to eat. We thought our timing was good but we got to the deli right when the parade got out. The line was starting to get a little long, but it progressed quickly. My friends and I ordered 3 sandwiches, shared a potato salad and chips. Everything was amazing! I ordered a hot pastrami sandwich no pickles, my friend ordered a roast beef sandwich and my other friend ordered a salami and turkey sandwich. We shared the potato salad and we swear whoever came up with this potato salad recipe tailored it to compliment each sandwich. Definitely have to go back and try other menu items.

I will gladly drive 500 miles to get a bite of the most amazing olive walnut bread with avocado & cheese . The service has always been amazing & the ambiance is incredible.

We were in HMB to visit the beach and needed to pick up a quick lunch on the way. I remembered visiting a deli in HMB for a Yelp event years back, so after a quick search on Yelp, I came across Garden Deli Cafe. The pictures featured the same square pizza pies that were at the Yelp event, so I was convinced it was the same spot, but noticed that pizzas were nowhere on their menu. Long story short, it was the same deli, but different location and no more pizzas! Regardless, we ordered two excellently prepared sandwiches and a chocolate creme pie to go. The sandwich was good, but the freshness of the ingredients and taste of homemade bread made it stand out among the rest. There was enough for leftovers, and the second half of the sandwich stayed sturdy until I was able to get to it the next day. Highly recommend this spot for a quick and healthy-ish lunch!

We stopped at this deli on our way up the coast to grab a sandwich.  I ordered roast beef on olive walnut bread and added alfalfa sprouts.  My husband ordered pastrami on a French roll.  Both of the sandwiches were really good!  If I lived in the area, I'm sure I'd visit often to try everything on their menu!

This is a really nice place to grab a sandwich. I especially enjoy the salami and the BLT--both are always fresh and tasty. One of the best things is that you can customize the bread and toppings to your liking, which makes every sandwich just the way you want it. Friendly service and solid options.

I think about their olive walnut bread often. It is spongy and satisfying. You got to pre- order. It's huge. I freeze it. People working there are super nice. We got the pastrami sandwich, pastrami must be home cooked from scratch. Perfect on an olive walnut bread. Enjoyed their outdoor eating area. We got there early and got the whole place to ourselves. We were surrounded by some pretty flowers and very cute wooden tables and chairs and wooden sculptures of parrots. Who was the artist?

Simple sandwiches but good quality and the homemade bread is delicious. Service was fast and friendly and there is outdoor seating. Would try them again.

Breads really are good. Generous portions. I had a half turkey sandwich with cheddar plus a delicious cream of artichoke soup which also came with a big hunk of honey wheat bread. Hubs had a whole tuna sandwich with swiss. There were outdoor and indoor spaces to sit. We were so full! Recommended.

Decided to eat here after spending hours at the sunflower field and pumpkin patch today. We wanted a bite to eat before driving back to the East Bay. Parking was a bit difficult. We had to park about 6 blocks down. This is located on a downtown street with many stores/restaurants. The line was quite long and they moved pretty slow. Took maybe 20mins till we got to order. We got the Roast Beef on Olive-Walnut bread and Pastrami on Marbled Rye. The rye was a lot tastier. I thought the olive-walnut was a bit too doughy. Overall, the pastrami was tastier than the roast beef as well. Roast beef was slightly dry. I was a bit annoyed that we have to pay extra for cheese. A lot of out door sitting so I got to bring my dog! There were shaded tables as well as sunny ones. My brother and sister-in-law got the ham on french and egg&avocado on french. They said they would rate it between a 3 or a 4 star. Overall, I would go here again if I was in the area.

Garden deli cafe--- located downtown half moon bay! Came here after a long day at the beach! It's a little confusing because I thought it was called San Benito house. It's also connected to a Mexican cantina. Nevertheless-- the food was good! You go inside to order-- they had a wide variety of drinks, chips, and desserts. I got a turkey sandwich, chips, a soda and a brownie. Everything was delicious. I had my yellow lab with me so we had to sit outside. I really liked the fact that they let me come in with her to order, as I was alone and didn't have anyone to watch her outside. The food was really good! The outdoor patio is beautiful! Would totally come back! Also the staff was very nice and respectful!

3pm on a Saturday afternoon, I found the water with the most stars on yelp and the all the tourists lined up outside, the line would out the door to the patio seating. 10 minutes later it was our turn to order. The menu was simple. We were drawn in by the lentil and ham soup: they almost ran out, but in think the bottom. It didn't taste quite right. Super thick and maybe overcooked. The staff was towards the end of the day. You could tell they were tired. No eye contact, and they had to pause a couple moments doing nothing, before getting to you. Anyways, the sandwich was great. Roast beef with everything. The "French" bread was actually a sliced sourdough thing, not a French roll. But it was so soft and fresh. Roast beef was thick enough, fresh veggies mayo and mustard. Super worth it. They had some nice selection of chips, and a really good crazy chocolate chip cookie. Good stuff. No indoor seating. The patio was great! Some picnic tables, a cool bench around a tree stump, and little tables. Some nice shady spots, not too crowded, and dog friendly. I'll be back, but earlier in the day when they're not crabby, and when the soup is fresh.

This is a great place to stop by to pick up lunch before you hit the beach. The sandwiches are to die for using high quality ingredients. Everything from the bread to all of the fixings were really good. I highly recommend if you're looking for a good place to stop by for lunch or grab takeout.

Bread is outstanding. I got a sandwich and it was delicious even tho they put mustard on it when I specifically asked them not to. Lentil and Ham soup was amazing! Cute little outside area. Only downside is wooden spoons are gross. Buy real spoons. Also they don't have any way to wrap sandwiches to go which is weird.

The food was amazing. Service was fast and the environment is very welcoming. It's open pretty late.

The Garden Deli Cafe on Main Street in Half Moon Bay has been a locals favorite for years. The sandwiches made on house baked bread are award winning, the Olive Walnut is my favorite. Arrive early to avoid waiting in a line that is often out on the door. On a sunny coastal afternoon have lunch on the deck with live music. .

Great sandwiches and the ambience is wonderful. You know it's a good spot when there's a line out the door

My family and I eat vegan and this seemed like our best option in the area. My main issues were lacking customer service, unimpressive food, and a confusing layout for ordering. We went in the evening, so it was not busy. There was an order window and a pay window. I had a few questions since their vegan option (hummus) did not seem substantial compared to the meat/vegetarian options despite same price. I approached the order window to no greeting. In fact, it felt like almost a minute straight of silence from all 3 staff as I awkwardly looked around wondering if I was in the wrong spot. When the woman taking orders finally looked up, I attempted to ask one question. She just stared at me until the cashier walked over to tell me about additional charges. That interaction was confusing so I gave up on asking further questions and ordered the vegan option as is. When I got my food, the sandwich had a thin layer of vegetables, a bit of mustard, and the other ninety percent of it was a humongous glob of hummus right in the middle. I guess it was substantial but who wants to bite into a sandwich with an inch and a half layer of hummus? Even when I spread it out, it was really an absurd amount. It looked house-made but didn't taste like much. The pickles, onions, and tasty mustard were nearly overtaken by the blandness. I'm sure the staff were tired as it was a Saturday evening. But a little bit of communication really goes a long way. I am not sure if the woman taking orders spoke English fluently, so this is no dig at her. But the barrier made it difficult and I'm not sure why taking orders was made her responsibility. Perhaps the vegetarian/vegan section on the menu could be pick 2 instead of having set combinations. I wanted cucumbers, but the only cucumber option came with cottage cheese. It would've been great to have some cucumbers and maybe half the amount of hummus instead. I left confused, a bit frustrated, and definitely disappointed by my food. I can't see myself coming back, but I do commend the business for making many of their components in-house even if I wasn't a fan of the hummus.

I can't say enough about the quality of this sandwich! All the breads are made in house... The marble rye is fantastic!

Sandwiches are great, the bread slices are just a tad bit too thick but if you love bread it is for you. I love the walnut bread recommend as a sandwich and it is next to the ocean it's great for a destination to be.

Best sandwiches in HMB. The bread is amazing. Don't be scared off by the line. It moves fast. Our families favorite place to eat. The outside seating is wonderful. Family friendly & dog friendly. And sometimes there is live music. My egg avocado sandwich was amazing. Staff was very friendly and welcoming.

Was down in Half Moon Bay, and needed a quick snack. I walked by garden deli, and remembered they got some really fresh bread. I didn't want to overdue it so I decided to go with a half tuna sandwich, which was surprisingly pretty big on its own. I feel like if you don't have a huge appetite, this is a pretty solid option for under $8. A full sandwich is $10.95 and a half is $7.50 Now back to the sandwich, the bread is so fresh and doesn't need to be toasted at all. I went with the French sliced bread, which was pillowy soft. They gave a good amount of tuna. Although I wish it had a little bit more mayonnaise on the bread. It was around 3:45pm and I was in and out of here within 10 minutes. They have plenty of outdoor seating and a dog friendly patio. Definitely recommend for a quick bite and a solid sandwich that won't break the bank.

Food was good but SERVICE was a disgrace!! Sunday 8/25 around 4pm, the girl at the counter was sweet, and helpful the man was rude, condescending and thinking we were ignorant started speaking Spanish and laughing about us (I guess he thought we wouldn't understood what he was saying!!) he insulted us basically to our face. I will never come here ever again. I'd rate zero stars if I could.

They have the best sandwiches with home made bread for decades. The service is quick and the staff is so very nice. Great places out and in to sit.

With less than 36 hours in Half Moon Bay, my friend Aimee and I had to be selective on where we went for our meals... How horrible would it be if we wasted a meal on sub par food? That being said, we were on the hunt for a late lunch on a Sunday and this place was one of our options. As soon as I saw the Yelp reviews (600+) and photos (365+) that came before this one, I knew this was our place! I glanced at a few reviews from friends and strangers and took the advice from many who said that the "sandwiches are huge." They were not kidding... A half sandwich is very filling although had I ordered a full, I may have finished it just because it was so delicious! Aimee and I decided to split a turkey sandwich with Jack cheese and avocado on Walnut Olive bread. We also had some chips and a drink.... We sat outside where there was some sunshine and live music nearby and it was perfect! I would definitely return to dine in or take out for a picnic if in the area. I am sure their salads and soups are great too, but you cannot go wrong with a sandwich, and there are so many to choose from. Highly recommend!

Ordered tuna on marble rye (made in house) and it did not disappoint! Bread was soft, perfect bread:tuna ratio and the cutest seating area outdoors! Long line to order but that's always a good sign!

Tasty sandwich, good drink selection. Food ready even before picked a drink! AND... musical serenade for lunch, very nice! -1star for prices (higher than website).

Have been coming here for years. Simply a great sandwich! I highly recommend the olive walnut bread. Their drink selection is good too. If you call a day ahead, you can pick up a loaf of it too. The people working there are friendly and very efficient. There's usually a line out the door, but it moves pretty quickly. My go-to is turkey and avocado on the olive walnut bread! The ingredients are all quality and I especially love the pickles too lol

I ordered a whole turkey sandwich with all the fixings on their homemade olive walnut bread! DELICIOUS! Service was friendly and fast. The prices were reasonable. We also got a chocolate chip and maple pecan white chocolate cookies, walnut brownie and they were awesome!

If you get here for lunch... get here early and get in line. Good sandwiches. The pastrami is served hot and its really tender. What is good is the bread... the bread is made fresh and it taste that way. Crust is crusty and the middlenis light and airy. The wheat bread has a very bold crust.

This place is AMAZING. Small unassuming spot in downtown Half Moon Bay which I read can get very busy. We visited at 11:00 on a Wednesday morning so walked right in and ordered at the counter. They wrap everything perfectly for take out and also have outdoor tables if you want to eat there. The menu is simple but the sandwiches are bomb. It's really all about that fresh baked bread. There are a few breads to choose from like marble rye, olive walnut and the French loaf. Read a lot of reviews about the olive walnut but opted for the French loaf since I got a cheese and avocado sammy with all the fixings. We wanted to get a loaf to go but the walnut/olive is only available by pre-ordering a day in advance. The portions are large. I ate half then finished the other half for dinner and it was just as delicious. I am still thinking about that beautiful sandwich with it's perfect bread.

The perfect little sandwich shop to grab something for a day at or after the beach! The sandwiches aren't anything fancy but just perfect for a picnic on the beach. The portion is large, and everything is so fresh! They make the bread on-site and both our sandwiches had plenty of meat. It's a small shop but service was quick. We are from out of town but hope to find our way here again!

Every time I go to half Moon Bay I have to go to this place love their sandwiches. They have all they have good Mexican food too. The people are really friendly and very courteous. The bathrooms were spectacular clean very clean and recommend it for sure.

It's such a long wait for such a mediocre sandwich. The line is out the door and moved incredibly slow. It's also confusing. Sometimes, there are two lines, sometimes just one. When you get to the front, you order your sandwich, yelling it to the server over the plexiglass screen. When it is all said and done, you get a sandwich that you can make at home for a fraction of the price and tastes better, too. If you're a local, I guess the place might have some nostalgic gravitational pull, but if you're out on the coast spending the day, I'd skip this place. There are better options.

So, my family and I have been coming here for over twenty years and this is the first time we've ever had a shitty service experience. Here's how it went: Mom and I show up at opening time to grab sandwiches to go for our day's road trip. While I place our order, Mom tries to go use the restroom. The hallway door no longer offers access, and after she went and tried to enter from the bar/restaurant side of the building instead, she came back and told me it was locked. Maybe we're too early? No problem, I can check with the folks behind the counter. Me: Hey are your restrooms open yet? Cashier: you can enter in from the side door outside. Me: okay, but my mom just tried that, and she says that way is locked. Can someone let her in? Cashier and others behind the counter: go completely silent and start frowning real hard like they didn't hear me Mom: goes to wait by the bar/restaurant door Me: waits for order to be completed and for the cashier to ring me up to try again Me: soooo... can someone open the door for us so we can use the bathroom? Cashier: I already told you it's open Me: ... and I told you my mom went that way, tried it, and found the door locked? Cashier: tch heavy sigh etc. okay I'll CHECK IT but it's open Cashier: that will be $20.43 Me: Flicks a $20 and $5 her way because I'm annoyed at the eye rolling at this point Cashier: flicks back $0.17 and starts to walk away Me: wait, is that all my change? Cashier: yes Me: what was my total? (Up to this point I had no visual confirmation of my total) Cashier: prints out receipt which said $24.83 Me: oh ok--you told me $20.43 so I was expecting more change back Cashier: no I didn't Me: lol ok Cashier: goes outside to check restaurant side door Me: follows Cashier: points to door that is now open and standing open Cashier: see told you it was OPEN Me: uhhh my mom was waiting here for the bathroom and you can clearly see she's not here anymore. Obviously someone else let her in--do you really think we'd go to this much trouble to talk to you if the door was literally hanging open like this? Cashier: ignores everything I'm saying, walks away Me: confirms later with my mom that someone else let her in while she was standing waiting outside the locked entrance. In honor of our cashier, I rate this visit one eyeroll out of five stars. Anyway! Our sandwiches were just fine as usual. I'm just glad the person I interacted with had nothing to do with putting our sandwiches together.

We LOVE a good sandwich shop and this is exactly what it is. Simple menu, fresh ingredients, fresh bread, and great patio. Highly recommend.

Good sandwiches and usually friendly staff. However after visiting on the afternoon of Friday Sept 6th 2024 we've changed our minds regarding the staff. The young female preparing our sandwiches had a negative attitude towards us for no apparent reason whatsoever. We were friendly and respectful but she rolled her eyes and acted impatient taking our order, as if we were being difficult. Unfortunately her poor attitude made us feel unwelcome and put a negative spin on an otherwise wonderful visit to Half Moon Bay. Incredibly rude and disrespectful attitude, she needs an attitude adjustment and some customer service training if you plan on continuing to employ her.

This is the best deli with the best staff. The sandwiches are delicious., I love the olive walnut bread! Their homemade soups are the best. Cookies the size of your face! We have been coming here for about 18 years and have never been disappointed. The staff are the same and the hardest workers. You need to wait in line and novices may be a bit put off or impatient. It's worth it.

Oh my god. Yes, yes, yes. $10.50 for a whole sandwich that leaves you soooooo satisfied. Is there a huge line? Yes. Is it worth the wait? Absolutely. Once you get to ordering, it doesn't take too long before you get your sandwich. They give you a good amount of protein, the homemade bread is springy and soft, and top it off with a huge slab of cheese. What more could you ever ask for? We got a tuna sandwich on french bread with cheddar and pro tip -- get a bag of chips of your choice and stuff them into the sammy. It's life changing. I think of this sandwich often. Cute little spot with indoor and outdoor seating. If I'm ever in Half Moon Bay again, I know that this will be the first place I stop for food.

Amazingly tasty sandwiches at a great price! I came here during the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival and got a turkey sandwich on French bread. I was blown away by how good it was! The French bread was recommended to me by a friend, and I later learned that it's freshly baked in house every day (another customer nearby who was raving about the sandwiches told me this). The bread had such a nice and bouncy texture, and it really tied the whole sandwich together. There was just the right amount of toppings (tomato, lettuce, onions) as well. The sandwich was also a reasonable price. I'll definitely be stopping by again next time I'm nearby!

Fresh ingredients with a GREAT selection of adds...but most of all, the staff is VERY friendly and efficient. The home made wheat bread is quite YUMMY!! We like to sit in the patio, enjoy the eats and chat a bit under the trees. Thank you!