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Cafe Gibraltar
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean [Edit]
425 Ave AlhambraEl Granada, CA 94018
(650) 560-9039
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
237 reviews for Cafe Gibraltar
Review Highlights
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"Started with the Mezza platter and it was excellent." In 22 reviews -
"You can't miss this place when you visit Half Moon Bay." In 32 reviews -
"I highly recommend everyone to do the TASTING MENU." In 18 reviews
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237 reviews in English
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Review from eurecurry S.
Santa Clara, CA
2/14/2012
The perfect spot for any special occasion with someone you care about.
My dinner at Cafe Gibraltar was the closest to a "perfect night out" as one can imagine. No single aspect outshined the rest, all the elements of the restaurant came together as one seamless symphony--delicious food, stellar service, a unique and soothing atmosphere...
The sitting booth was an extra special touch, and I loved the excess pillows to lounge around comfortably on. I am also not usually one for desserts, but I was just too eager to sample more on the list. I look forward to going back again just for the chance to try their other delicacies from the menu!
Bringing a bottle and covering the corkage fee may help to lower your final bill a bit~ -
Review from Dave H.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 3/26/2012
I had to move from the Coastside to Chicago about 5 years ago, and just recently moved back west. I really missed Cafe Gibraltar; I was a very early reviewer on Yelp and normally couldn't say enough great things about the place.
This was going to be one of my highlights when I came back.
My dinner was a real disappointment. I got a cold, tough, piece of lamb from an inattentive server. Wow. Just a massive bummer for something I had high hopes for.
I hope it was just an off night.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/13/2006 First to Review
Worship. If you like Mediterranean (Spanish/North African), you'll have a hard time finding a… Read more »
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Review from Ruthie V.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
We've tried off an on to get a reservation here but it was hard because of the popularity this place received after high praises on "Check Please - Bay Area." Well, now that the hype has seemed to calm down, we got a reservation yesterday for 5:30 PM and the place was not full until about 6:30. It's a rather small place, nice location and a good view. It's set back away from the harbor.
As we walked in, I right away loved the ambiance. There are 3 cool lights that look like jellyfish and gold fabric in the middle of the ceiling draped almost dramatically outwards in four directions. We were seated in the corner of an L-shaped sofa-like seat with tables and chairs on the other side. The only thing wrong with that is there are rollers on the bottom and everytime someone sat down or moved in their seat, the whole thing moved around and it was annoying as hell.
We started with the ahi tuna appetizer. It was good but not great. Nice size chunks of tuna, avacado, and thin slices of red onion. The complimentary bread was nice and hot and delish. You could smell it when it came to the table and they give you olive oil and balsamic for dipping. It wasn't chewy but it was quite dense and I tried not to fill up on it.
When our entrees came, I had the farm raised boar. It was super tender but swimming in a couple of different sauces that were okay but didn't seem to compliment the meat too much. There was also wild rice but it was pretty much hidden in all that sauce. And Dale had the filet mignon which I tasted but did not like one bit. Something about meat and blue chesse is not a good pairing for me - yuck!
After all of the hype - the food was a tad disappointing but the lavender creme brulee was not. Not the best I've ever had but the flavor was mild, not intense and the caramelized sugar on top was just okay. The dish was half full so you don't get very much, especially when you share! -
Review from Keri G.
Cleveland, OH
2/22/2012
The food here is spectacular! Very reasonable prices and you can bring your own wine for a 15 corkage fee. The atmosphere was so peaceful and pleasurable. We sat at a table because our little girl was with us but otherwise I would of loved to sit on the floor half moon tables they offered. Our server was pleasant and attentive without being overbearing. There is a cool open kitchen which did make the place a little over heated
We started with the appetizer sampler which was lovely with all different types of dips, olives and roasted garlic. Plenty to share among the 5 of us. I had the pheasant which was absolutely amazing! So tender and well flavored so well balance and the rice croquette was delicious. I could of had a a little bigger portion of the pheasant to be honest. My husband ordered the Entrecote of bison which was also wonderfully cooked with a side of veggies that he stated where some of the best he's ever had. The meat was cooked to a nice medium rare and tender. Our other party were all very pleased with their entrees as well.
For dessert we had a the Churros with mexican hot chocolate...YUM!!! and the quince cobbler, pretty good and the lemon tart which must of been wonderful because it was eaten up by the time I got back from the bathroom:)
Love this place and hopefully will get back to California soon! -
Review from Gregory P.
San Ramon, CA
5/16/2012
Cozy, exotic surroundings. Tremendous food and well conceived wine list. Attentive and informed servers. Bustling vibe. Oh yes, family owned. What is not to love? Can't wait to return to this little pearl on the San Mateo coast.
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Review from Alina D.
Belmont, CA
5/12/2012
So yummy. We came here 2 years ago and again tonight. It was like coming back to see old friends, and the food was as delicious as I remember. The ambiance is incredibly warm, the staff are very welcoming and the food is out of this world. The bread is warm and soft and we couldn't stop eating it. We had their vegan soup special -- we are not vegans at all, but I couldn't stop thinking of how I could make this at home. Our entrees were excellent: my salmon was perfectly cooked and the pairing with curry was unusual and fabulous. My DH enjoyed with boar tenderloin. The sauces and sides balanced and complemented the meat wonderfully.
Can't wait to come here again! -
Review from Karrot L.
Cupertino, CA
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great food and nice ambiance. We made reservations for 6:00 but arrived an hour early. We were given a ratty table right next to the bar, and when I asked the host for another table he declined saying they were all reserved. Well, when our waitress came to great us, I asked if we could have a different table, and she helped us move to a much better table - so now we are off to a much better start!
We got the prix fix menu and it was excellent. Had the seafood and lamb and we really enjoyed the mains. I should also mention that the dipping oil is delicious - some concoction of oil + vinegar + dried fruit we were told.
The service is very good, but the host was not the best.
We will come back! -
Review from Brandon W.
San Leandro, CA
12/12/2011
We came for the prix-fixe dinner. I had the soup of the day which was celery and squash, which was very good. I had a taste of the roasted chestnut and pumpkin bisque was excellent, too bad it was not part of the prix-fixe.
I ordered the entree "PINTADA CON MEMBRILLO" which is pheasant with a quince and onion chutney and a rice puff. The pheasant was juicy and the chutney had a nice strong tartness. I have never tasted a combination like this. I have ordered many poultry dishes here, and this one was quite unique. I hope they still have it when I come by again.
Finally rounded out the dinner with a nice sorbet.
Excellent dinner. The staff was very prompt, courteous and answered our many questions about the menu.
My only challenge is the driving time and distance from the east bay, else I would stop by more often! -
Review from Steve R.
Menlo Park, CA
4/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Liked the low tables with cushions. Food was very well done, service friendly. Definitely coming back.
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Review from Emory W.
Santa Clara, CA
4/12/2012
Food is wonderful. I've had many sweet personal experiences here. It's a favorite. I'm not a fan of sitting on the ground with the pillows and such. Maybe if I was younger. Still, it's romantic to sit in one of the alcoves with your special someone.
Right up there in the top few of my favorite restaraunts. And definitely in the top 2 for HMB. -
Review from Dorothy L.
Belmont, CA
5/4/2012
We were disappointed with the food. The food is heavily coated with thick and strong sauces which takes away from the natural flavor of the meats and fish. The service and atmosphere were nice. Probably will not be back.
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Review from Patrick S.
Oceanside, CA
3/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Great food. Great service. A little bit pricy, but I left happy.
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Review from Lu E.
11/4/2011
After all the hype with the reviews on here, I was expecting a lot more. Unfortunately, I was not impressed.
The decor was cute, and the restaurant itself was cozy but that's where my love affair ends.
Initially we had great service...except for when we got seated in the smallest booth of the bunch and our party of 4 was crammed together. Our server was sweet and we had someone come over and talk to us about our first time being at the restaurant.
We ended up ordering 3 appetizers: 1) the mezza platter...good but not phenomenal 2) the baked goat cheese...good, but the tomato "jam" was not my favorite flavor and 3) the crudo, which sadly we had to return because it was too fishy.
For our entrees, we each got a different entree:
1) fish of the day--that was a highlight--it was a hearty piece of fish and the flavor was great.
2) the seafood stew--large portion, which looked to be enjoyed by our friend that ordered it.
3) pheasant--which our friend said was pleasant and flavorful
and I had the 4) vegetarian manti. The flavors were good, but the dumplings were way too gummy for my taste. I would not choose to order that again.
The reason that this place gets two stars and not three, is because we had horrendous service. After our entrees arrived our server went into hiding--we made numerous attempts to flag someone down and no one could be bothered.
I would prefer not to spend my hard earned cash on an establishment that could not be bothered by having me there.
I won't be returning. -
Review from Jane K.
Hillsborough, CA
1/5/2012
We had to changed our reservation to an earlier time and an extra guest on Wednesday night and they were accommodating. For a Wednesday night it was pretty busy so make reservations.
For starters we had the hummus plate and eggplant with goat cheese. These were both very nicely presented and tasty but coming from a Middle Easter background I needed more kick in the flavor. We also ordered the fillet Mignon stater and we were disappointed; the meat was tough and some of the ingredients looked like they came from a can. please read on...
I had the mushroom bisque for starter and it was excellent. Not too heavy and perfect touch of truffle oil on top. The soup was filled to the top of the bowl; this could have been my dinner.
I tasted my husband's beet salad. Let me start off by saying this restaurant is not cheap on the portions; the beets were wedged and filled the plate.
For dinner I had the white fish. It was mouth watering and perfectly cooked. The sauces were incredible! My husband ordered the pheasant and it was amazing, my son ordered the rabbit and it was very good, and one daughter ordered the lamb shank and she cleaned the plate.
One of my daughters is a vegetarian and she really appreciated the menu and the denotations. She also enjoyed her gnocchi dinner and had to take some home!
Last, dessert; definitely save room for dessert the special pomegranate gelato and molten chocolate cake were delicious.
Service was fantastic! This definitely a repeat. -
Review from Julie S.
El Granada, CA
11/15/2011
Gibraltar is our 'go to' place when we want to treat ourselves to a nice night out. We have been coming here for 15 years and have never had a bad experience. (Of course, being regulars does improve server interaction). There are a core group of servers who are great - occasional turnover but less than you would expect.
Sometimes we bring our children with us (1 & 7) and they are treated well. There's a few items on the menu for them - pasta, couscous and pizza - at a very reasonable price. We always go early in the evening if they are with us and have a really nice time.
My husband always has the amazing (& vegan) soup. The bread basket is too yummy... I love the calamari starter and the beet salad. The manti are so good! I'm a bit of a regular in my tastes so my husband tries all the specials. Occasionally, if something tastes off to him, he discusses with the server and chef and they fix it.
Wonderful desserts - maple-pecan tart is my fave. Lavender creme brulee usually ends up in front of my husband. There's a good wine selection but we usually only do a glass each.
I've always loved the decor/ambience/open kitchen and it's just a pleasure to find a local place that feels so comfortable and friendly. Make a reservation, enjoy the prix-fixe and have a great evening. -
Review from Jodi B.
Livermore, CA
8/31/2011
Great night at Cafe Gibraltar after a day of HMB frozen beach dwelling!
We showed up with no reservation, and the hostess accomodated us by giving us two of the booths where you sit on cushions. We were with our two tallest friends (6'7' and 6'3") so it made for good fun as we tried to squeeze all that leg under the table!
Our server was very hospitable and we were welcomed warmly. We started with hummus and calamari. Hummus was a bit bland but went well with our sweeter-than-I-usually-like-it white wine selection.
For our dinner selection, most of us ordered a salmon special that was similar to the one offered on their menu. One ordered the Pot-au-feu de poisson (sea food stew) and the kids ordered the cream of Mushroom soup (Creme de Champgnons).
Overall the salmon dish was nice, very delicious, although a little unsatisfying. We froze our tookus's off all day and worked up an appetite! The piece of salmon was small and there was no rice or accompaniment.
The Pot-au-feu de poisson was well liked and cooked to perfection.
The mushroom soup was very generously truffled and the kids were not into it....so the adults got to enjoy this too. Yum!
We saw lots of steaming lidded pots leaving the kitchen and I think I want to order something next time that comes in one of these. How's that for a detailed recommendation? I asked our server and he let us know that was the KHORESH~E BADEMJAN...which I will definitely try next time. Based on several Yelp reviews, that looks like a winner.
Would I drive to HMB area to eat here? Nope. But I will definitely be back when we make our frigid summer trek to the beach there! -
Review from Mr. and Mrs. Foodie S.
San Francisco, CA
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is absolutely our favorite restaurant in the Bay Area, perhaps even our all-time favorite. Just north of Half Moon Bay on the PCH, set amidst the fog (at least on some evenings, and only adding to the ambiance) lies the most romantic restaurant serving amazing dishes representative of the flavors found in different regions of the Mediterranean. Mr. Foodie and I make the trek from SF as often as we can, and the scenic drive here is always well worth it. (Now that we have moved to DC, we definitely miss this place.)
The food here constantly amazes me. During a recent trip back to SF, I brought my mom here (who loved it btw), and we discovered a new dish (Entrecote de bison) that made me love Cafe Gibraltar even more. If only Mr. Foodie was on this trip to try it. The bison was cooked perfectly, amazingly tender, succulent, and flavorful. One of the many great things about Cafe Gibraltar is that we always leave feeling full and satisfied, unlike at other restaurants of similar quality but who serve tiny portions. I would also recommend getting the pot-au-feu de poisson, an indulgent seafood stew filled to the brim with scallops, fish, and calamari in a savory tomato saffron broth.
For appetizers, amongst our must-get items are the Mezza Platter and the chipporones al ajillo. The latter takes calamari to a whole new level, and is so soft it practically melts in your mouth. Pair the dips in the mezza platter with Cafe Gibraltar's signature bread brought fresh from the wood-burning oven straight to your table, and you won't be sorry.
A big plus: our waitress (during this most recent trip to the restaurant in July) was genuinely pleasant and always had a smile on her face. -
Review from Jason W.
San Mateo, CA
8/6/2011
My wife doesn't like surprises. Well, she does, but only as long as she knows what they are! This weekend is both her birthday and our wedding anniversary and it's been really tough to keep things fun and secret about any aspect of the celebration! There's this show Check Please Bay Area which we like to watch on weekends. The host, Leslie Sbrocco, gets three kind of fussy, picky people together and each one recommends a restaurant they like which the other ones go visit. It's a great show for finding little gems in the Bay Area (although they did include Buca Di Beppo one time) and I'm desperately trying to convince my wife to be on the show!
Anyway, this is how I came across Cafe Gibraltar. The restaurant is a little off the beaten path (it's kind of in a residential area), but it's a glowing, warm beacon in the foggy night air along the coast. We made reservations for 8:30, but showed up about a half hour early when the usual Half Moon bay traffic didn't happen. The uber-nice hostess said not to worry or wait because they already had our table ready for us! How cool is that?
They started us off with a basket of fresh bread with some extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread was warm, crusty, and awesome! We then had a hummus appetizer which was a tiny bit bland, but offset by some nice, salty olives and garlic. I ordered a special soup which was a vegan puree of peas, artichokes, and curry. VERY yummy! For the entree, the wife had the gnocchi which she really loved. It was vegetarian with a good variety of veggies in a pesto sauce. I had the fish of the day which was a generous piece of grilled tuna on top of a vegetable puree with some tomato sauce around it. Everything was very flavorful and well-presented.
The restaurant is lively and clean with great atmosphere and has either regular tables to sit at or cushioned booths where you sit on the floor at low tables. The wait staff is incredibly nice and attentive and the service is quick. I can't wait to bring some of my other friends here! -
Review from matt s.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2011
Tricked into going here due to a glowing Check Please Bay Area review. Beautiful drive down and lovely sunset. However, despite a reservation we were stalled for 20 minutes while several parties were seated ahead of us - and weren't offered a seat at the bar by the cold hostess.
During that interval, a friend txted about an impromptu pizza party, and I'm kicking myself that we didn't go.
Eventually we landed. The waiter vigorously tried to steer our order several times. Now I like a good recommendation as much as the next guy, but not a demand - and this felt like Guantanamo. The shrimp tasted like it should be accompanied by Chinese food - soaked in sauce, no natural flavors, chewy. The tomato bisque, on special, was heavy and unremarkable. The waiter accidentally gave us a tomato salad which he'd put in by accident - to their credit, on the house - but it was annihilated in sauce. It could have been a pineapple salad for all I knew.
For the main course we went for the highly touted dumplings and osso bucco ravioli. The same problem: drowning by sauce overload. Can't really remember anything else.
The bread was gooey and dense, like a Fig Newton, but we needed something to mop up that sauce.
Went about 45 minutes before we had a water refresh. Weren't asked about a second glass of wine, but that's a good thing considering the fog-smacked curvaceous drive back. No espresso or Greek coffee on the menu. At that point, it was easy to skip dessert.
This place was packed full of Peninsula Parents lugging their own bottles of wine, which gave it a friendly, homey feel. But it does not meet San Francisco standards on food or service, and ain't worth the drive.
You can do better at any restaurant in the Mission. -
Review from Eating and living well U.
Mountain View, CA
8/20/2011
We saw check please bayarea and was in the neighborhood so we stopped by. First off, we had no reservation and it was Saturday night around 5:30 and we were nicely seated immediately so that was VERY nice since I heard since they were on TV the place has been jumping and busy.
Next the service was top notch. The servers were VERY friendly and nice and very attentive. I liked that their kitchen was outside and viewable so they obviously have nothing to hide and want customers to know that they practice GREAT hygiene and only have the best to give. I love the decor and the orchids. I am a sucker for the orchids and actually LOVE LOVE LOVE the orchid farm off high way 1 near where the nurseries were and actually bought one on this particular trip.
The bread they served was MAGNIFICANTLY Fresh and piping hot so that is great to know that their bread was fresh. We ordered the MEZZA platter with different dips: Tyrosalata, hummus, tzatziki, savory tomato jam, nazuktan, ensaladilla de piquillos, roasted garlic cloves and house marinated olives, served with flatbread. All the sauces were great save for the goat cheese pesto one that was over the topped cheesed but nonetheless enjoyed it very much. They know their dipping sauces.
Next onto the entrees. I ordered the OT-AU-FEU DE POISSON which has:
Fresh scallops, shrimp, seasonal white fish, calamari and mussles simmered in a tomato, saffron white wine and herb broth, garnished with a rouille topeed crouton. As other reviewers noted, it was VERY HEAVY on the salt and came with nothing but ONE small piece of crouton like bread. Where was the rice or something to dull the saltiness of the dish? I have to say that the scallops and calamari were very well done and not rubber tasting at all.
My hubby ordered the HORESH~E BADEMJAN
An eggplant, chickpea, tomato, roasted seasonal baby vegetable and garlic mélange, seasoned with cumin seed, mustard seed and pomegranate syrup, baked in a tajin in the wood oven and served with a side of house rolled couscous. He loved his meal.
This is a place that is definitely on the right track to better food and I may return if i were in the area. -
Review from Jimbo S.
Mountain View, CA
8/20/2011
This is pretty decent, solid food. Not among the best Mediterranean food I've had, but pretty good still. To borrow a common quip from "Check Please Bay Area", I would eat here again if I was in Half Moon Bay, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.
Food:
- Mezza platter = yummy. Lots of really good stuff here. It's hummus and hummus-like things.
- Pot-au-feu de poisson = okay. The mixed seafood was cooked very very well, but the sauce was too salty. Least favorite of our dishes.
- Khoresh-e- bademanjan = delicious! Chickpea, eggplant and lots of seasonal vegetables. It's a little bit of vegetarian heaven in my mouth.
Other highlights:
- service is nice and friendly.
- great view of the ocean
- ambiance and interior of restaurant is wonderful.
Lowlights:
- it is relatively pricey. If you're familiar with "Dish Dash" in the South Bay, it is of similar quality but less expensive. -
Review from Cat C.
San Francisco, CA
"Check Please Bay Area" reminded me of how good I thought this place was on my first visit a few years ago that I booked a reservation to refresh my memory of the great food they had.
Husband and I started with the squash blossom appetizer special, fried and stuffed with cheese, and we cleaned the plates (if he could've licked the sauce dish clean, he would have done that too). I followed it with the Ravioli di Osso Bucco and he had the Tavuk Manti (chicken dumplings) and we were both blown away at the intense flavors in every bite. For dessert, I ordered the Brioche Bread Pudding and I forget what he had because mine was WAAAAAY BETTER.
Our server was on it. The food was amazing. Definitely going back. -
Review from Jenny Z.
Montara, CA
Updated - 1/14/2012 6 Check-ins Here
I've been back a few times since my previous visit. They do seem to be more consistent these days! I do wish they had an open bar, but the food is very tasty. Bring a jacket in case you get sat by the door. :)
Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2010
I live in HMB and this is my favorite restaurant on the coast, but it's really hit or miss. I would… Read more »
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Review from Amanda D.
El Granada, CA
10/11/2011
Our favorite place to eat, such wonderful food, service and atmosphere.
We can even walk to our favorite coastside cafe! -
Review from Paige B.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012
My family has been coming here for years. Even when they were in their old location in Montara and it was BYOB. (That's so hipster of me. You've probably never heard of it.*shrug*)
It's our go to place for family celebrations. I can't say I'm a fan of the tables where you sit on the floor with pillows (my parents just aren't bendy enough) but, I do appreciate the aesthetic.
The soups are amazing. The octopus salad is awesome. I always try a new entree as the selection always varies and is interesting. -
Review from Julie W.
San Carlos, CA
11/3/2011
Disappointing experience, not a repeat...
Tonight was an overdue together with friends and the service (or lack thereof) at Cafe Gibraltar was nearly bad enough to ruin the night. Not one of the three appetizers we ordered was good, had to return the halibut service for fear of food poisoning, and picked at the remaining 2 - a sampler plate and baked cheese (honestly, how do you mess that up?)
The pheasant entree was quite good, and if not for the nonexistent help may have saved the night but after being ignored for the 2 hours we lasted there (felt like a lot longer) we left not want to prolong our stay there any longer. -
Review from Jeanne C.
Aptos, CA
6/28/2011
Worth the Trip!
We traveled 1 hour or so from the Santa Cruz area, and we're happy we did. Also glad we made reservations - the place was full on a foggy Tuesday night at 7PM. Service was friendly and well-timed; servers from other tables pitched in if necessary. We started with a sauteed calamari appetizer served over garlicky mashed potato puree, more than enough for two. My husband had salmon a la naranja,fresh and served with vegetable croquettes and a tangy seville orange glaze. I had the pot au feu de poisson, in a light tomato broth with an assortment of shellfish and delicious fresh halibut. They were complimented by delicious house made bread and quality olive oil for dipping. Delicious and hearty! The wine list had something for everyone, and prices seemed reasonable for the quality. -
Review from Christopher C.
Santa Clara, CA
7/17/2011
Sitting just above the northeast end of Pillar Point Harbor, Cafe Gibraltar is secreted in a beach house neighborhood. Even so, from what I understand it can be difficult to get a last-minute reservation. And I can understand why.
The food was phenomenal. I had the Conejo a la Valenciana (yes, I ate Thumper). It was fricasseed with Spanish olives, house cured bacon, sweet peas, green beans and roasted sweet peppers in a tomato confit. The meat was tender and flavorful without being gamey.
The highlight of the night, though, was the Crème de Champignons. I'm not sure what to say except it must be tried.
This will definitely become one of my regular HMB haunts. -
Review from Mui Mui K.
Foster City, CA
9/15/2011
My husband and I decided to go 'all the way' to Half Moon Bay for dinner last Friday. We decided on Cafe Gibraltar since it has really good reviews. If you arrive at the restaurant before 6pm, the Prix Fixe is a great deal. You get a 3 course dinner for $25. They don't have this listed on their menu, so be sure to ask the waitress about the Prix Fixe.
For my dinner, I had the Gibraltar salad, SALMON A LA Manzana, and Lavender Creme Brulee. The salmon was amazing, and the creme brulee was delicious. My husband had the Ravioli di Osso Bucco. There were only 3 raviolis. So for $24, though delicious, this was a fairly pricey dish.
The wines are very reasonable. We ordered the Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2005 for $32. It was smooth and definitely a good value.
Overall, the food was wonderful, service was fabulous, and ocean view is included. I highly recommend the Prix Fixe. You can't beat this great deal!!! -
Review from Q A.
San Francisco, CA
8/1/2011 9 photos
hmmm....This is great to try JUST TO SAY you tried it....I'm mixed with this review...We had to wait about 20 minutes before we got our order but that's after I spoke to the hostess, we got our food and great service right away.
Ambiance: Beautiful, Quaint, Romantic and Unique 5 Stars (see picture)
(It has unique farallon like lamps and tents in the back which makes the restaurant look like its a "Moroccon hookah type under the sea" place)
Dress Attire: anything from Jeans, hoodies and a casual shirt to Ann Taylor pencil skirt and cardigan.
Price: Great Value for $60 per person for the tasting menu
Food: It was OK... But Unique in flavor and presentation for Half Moon Bay...
We got the tasting menu...You are able to order any 5 things on the menu, whether it be all starters/appetizers, etc.
I got alot of seafood dishes while my other half got all meat dishes (pheasant, osso bucco ravioli, etc.)
I thought the best was the ravioli but If I were to eat that only as a main dish, I think I would need to cleanse my palate with another flavor.
The food was Rich in flavor, RICH in flavor, including the oysters that had wasabi pearls, avocado, etc. (It is not comparable to the Hamachi Shot in Alexanders but it was still ok)---I would not order it again though...
Hmmm...Great place for a First Date...It has a mix of casual, gourmet, quaint, high end, unique all in one.
Best Foods: Churro Dessert and Waygu Ravioli. Pheasant was also good.
I only give it three stars bc if its not a restaurant I would go to again, then its a three star for me. If I were to travel in that area...I would rather go to Navio at the Ritz. -
Review from Mihir M.
Fremont, CA
1/5/2012
Perfect service. Perfect sunset views. Many vegetarian & vegan options. Choice of sitting on floor with low tables or regular tables. Some of the good items were great & others were very good - not great because they were bland. The menu changes often, so will be back. TIAN DE FROMAGE DE CHEVRE - an incredibly creative, nicely textured, & slightly sweet dish with bread that was my favorite. POLENTA CON FUNGHI - nicely done, but bland in taste. SICAK HUMUS - nicely done, creative, but bland. Soup of the day was butternut squash which was great - slight spice to it but not overwhelming the squash's slight sweetness. MISHWI SHAMANDAR SALAD - very nice salad.
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Review from Chelsea L.
Half Moon Bay, CA
6/6/2011
From about the age of 10, when people would ask me "What's your favorite restaurant?" I'd say "this little place on the coast called "Gibraltar". This place has always left my family and I feeling so good!
It saddens me that I live so close but so rarely get out to El Granada to visit Gibraltar. I'd go 3 times a week if I could.
I love bringing visiting family and friends here for dinner. It's just so fun. Their booths that you sit on the floor (with pillows) for are fun and the lighting in this place adds to the enchanted feeling.
The menu changes with the seasons so I can't name any one thing but I can say that I have NEVER had a bad meal here. I've dined here more than 30 times so I'd say that's pretty good. -
Review from Enoch S.
Fremont, CA
3/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Nice ambience and good food. So I made a reservation for 6:00pm and had a last minute change for 7:30pm and the hostess was able to accomodate us despite the fact that they were very full. The service was outstanding. I had the duck 2 ways and it was very good. Also, complementary cake for the birthday girl. Nice touch.
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Review from Jack S.
Palo Alto, CA
1/8/2012
Gibraltar has excelent, innovative food with an excellent atmosphere.
The food is a combination of Middle Eastern, Moroccan, and Spanish.
There are many great vegetarian options, as well as others. We had the paprika hummus, the exotic mushroom polenta, and the eggplant curry. Each dish was exquisite and unique, unlike any dishes I've had before. -
Review from Daniel W.
San Jose, CA
2/20/2011
We made early bird reservations for a romantic dinner for two. At 5pm, the restaurant was empty and we were the first there. After a delay in which the host was tied up talking to a passer by, we were seated. Our waiter informed us/insisted that our reserved table was the only available after we requested a change away from the chilly air of the front door. A few more couples arrived without reservations(we were in earshot of the host) and were seated in better locations in the restaurant. These actions were a sign of disrespect for us as patrons and we decided to leave. Its too bad, I hear the food is great but we'll never know. I'd rather have good food with respect than great food with disrespect.
Pros: ???
Cons: Elitism Service with no respect for the patronListed in: Places you shouldn't eat
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Review from Celeste S.
El Granada, CA
4/21/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I have eaten here before but not for several years. I remembered the entrees being very gamey/meaty, which I am not typically a fan of, but loving the appetizers and soups and desserts! Plus I got the noodles and cheese off the kids menu before and it was very tasty.
Last night we got the Mezza Platter which is a must. The homemade hummus and the other jellies and spreads are soooo yummy. I love this platter and ALWAYS get it to share with the table as a starter. The warm basket of bread served with it is so soft and yummy on its own, but with the spreads = double YUM.
Last night I got the mushroom soup. To die for. Frankly, I could just eat a bowl of it and the Mezza platter and be full. But I went ahead and got the Osso Bucco Ravioli. Very good. There were 3 very large raviolis filled with beef with a very light/mild red sauce and cheese. I could only eat 2 and brought the 3rd home for my dogs as wasting it was a crime (or me - whoever gets it first!)
My husband got the bison and said it was delicious. It came with this yummy potato pancake which was a stack of potato slices with cheese in between and crispy on the outside. It looks like a teeny stack of pancakes :) I had a bite and it was very tasty.
We were too stuffed for dessert this time. We did enjoy a nice bottle of wine. They have a nice wine list to choose from. I also appreciate that they serve Gloria Ferrer bubbly by the glass. For next time!
They had a live musician last night and it was nice - not to loud like most live music is. Just nice background sound.
The service was good. I think our waitress was a bit overwhelmed but for a Wednesday night, it got packed fast after we arrived. So perhaps they weren't prepared for that. But she was good - we didn't wait for anything until we wanted the check. No big deal. And she was always on the ball to re-pour our wine and check in with us.
It's silly I don't eat here more often since it is within walking distance of my house. Perfect for apps and bubbly at their bar :) I think I shall start! -
Review from Diane B.
8/16/2011
I hadn't been here in ages. My husband isn't really a fan, so had to wait until I had dinner planned with someone else. I often go to lunch alone or with women friends, but dinner not so much. My sis and I came here a little on the late side for me, 7:45 on a Thursday. It was hummin'! I heard they're looking to sell. I don't think it's for lack of business.
Starters:
we shared 2. First the mushroom soup, which was luscious, perfect creamy texture, and best of all totally mushroomy, ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Then we shared a salad that had calamari, octopus, greens, onions and a vinaigrette. It was very good, but a bit more food than we had in mind for a first. Incidentally, I took it home and ate it for lunch the next day, and it was almost as good a fresh.
Entrees:
Sis had a lamb tagine with lots of different veggies, some couscous and harissa on the side. She really enjoyed the dish - slow cooked lamb lusciousness, onions, spices, etc. The waittress really stressed how spicy the harissa was. It was a good mix, but hardly the blowout she warned of.
I had the pheasant, which is a a breast stuffed with forcemeat and other savory flavoring with a "chutney" with sherry reduction, ginger, and other yummy flavors. Perfect texture, delicious, and not too large a portion served with a veg and rice cake that sort of blended into the background, but almost anything would have tasted great sopping up that jus.
We had a malbec with it which turned out to be the perfect accompaniment.
Passed on dessert and coffee - too full. I hope the restaurant doesn't change hands. It would be hard to retain the quality and creativity with someone else. -
Review from Daniel W.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Just plain bad.
I'm sorry, but for those who think this is a culinary mecca, you are way off. I am by no means a foodie, but I know good food, and I made the decision to take my wife there last night after reading the reviews I read on Yelp. The service was good, the waitress spoke with such delight about the intricacies of their dishes, and it encouraged us to order a starter and a salad along with our main dishes.
I ordered a Panzanella salad to start...i love this salad, and I was thinking fresh tomatoes, oven baked, seasoned croutons, cucumber, olives, etc. WRONG, what came out was a grey pile of clumps of feta, avocado, olives and onions on top of deep fried sweet dough (reminiscent of french toast sticks or something from Burger King), with Green Goddess dressing from a jar on top. It was straight up nasty. Also ordered 6 French Kiss oyesters that were dressed up with avocado pieces and chunks of frozen cocktail sauce...why decorate the dish up with these random elements? Starters: FAIL.
Next up were the entrees: my osso bucco ravioli was so rich and swimming in several tablespoons of oil. I couldn't tell where the oil stopped and the pasta began, and i could get only halfway through it. My wife ordered the Alaskan Steelhead, and I've caught and eaten this fish before, it's delicate & meaty and doesn't need a lot of fluff around it. What came out looked deep fried and "candy coated" in a layer of dark brown/red sweet stuff. It was so overcooked we thought it was beef honestly, and it was so sweet and rich, my wife could only pick at and nibble on the strange vegetables around it. Both entrees: FAIL.
And finally...the desert. At this point we were chuckling to ourselves how bad we were duped, and decided to get something small and sweet to kill the flavor in our mouths and end the night on a positive note. All the deserts sounded rather large and overly sweet, so our waitress assured us that the subtle meyer lemon infused curds in the Lemon Tart would be just what we needed. Sounds like a simple dish right? Wrong. What came out was this: a store bought bland, thick flour pie shell with what tasted like powdered store bought lemon filling on the inside with a MASSIVE chunk of orange sherbert on top, all sitting on top of some bizarre brown relish of candied fruit. It was so laughably bad that we wouldn't know where to begin if we had to tell the chef, the waitress or the owner that this shouldn't be sold period and especially not for $9 a pop. Desert: MAJOR FAIL.
In the end, it was $104 (including 3 glasses of wine) which is the worst hundred dollars I think I've ever spent. I would recommend people driving to SF or SJ if they want to spend this money on a decent meal. -
Review from Erin B.
Moss Beach, CA
8/4/2011
This is my number one favorite restaurant on the coast. The menu is fantastic and unique. My husband and I both ordered from the tasting menu, which is a great way to try everything that looks good. My favorite menu item was the watermelon salad. The flavor combination was amazing, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about how good it was! Its got a very cozy atmosphere, and the service was perfect. I recommend Cafe Gibraltar to everyone I know.
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Review from Heather L.
Pacifica, CA
Updated - 8/30/2010
If you get a chance, take one of Chef Ugalde's cooking classes. It's not a one on one class and you don't get too cook yourself - however it's a splendid evening nonetheless. It's $75/pp + tip for a five course meal, a cookbook of the items you watch being made, and pretty much all the wine you can drink (paired with each dish). It's an extraordinary value and a hell of a time!
I learned the secret to uber-creamy vegan soup....I won't tell though! Watch their website and/or sign up for their mailing list and they'll email you when they plan to have another cooking class. Chef only does them (apparently) at his wonderful wife's urging....and he normally doesn't hold them during the summer b/c of his busy schedule.
See you at the next one in the fall though! It's SO worth every penny!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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8/20/2009
This place is my favorite restaurant in the world. Everyone I have ever taken with me to this… Read more »
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