My 1st time here and it may just be my last. I would come back for the clam chowder but not for the famous well-known lobster roll sandwich. I didn't find nothing special about it. If anything, I found it to be bland tasting, boring to my taste buds and high in price. Therefore, will I go back? I don't know, but it won't be for the lobster roll Sandwich. Also, the Keylime pie on the other hand is a thumbs up.
(3)
Chin T.
This is my first time at Sam's. We were sat at the patio in the back with a great view. The service was great, the waitress was very polite and offered to turn on the heater if we felt cold. We order a bowl of claim chowder, seafood spaghetti, steam clams and a glass of albarino. Their bowl of chowder is big and it is ideal to share if you are ordering other foods. You can tell they used quality ingredients on all of the foods. The seafood spaghetti tasted fresh with lots of scallops, fish, clams and mussels. Albarino pairs well with the steam clams. The overall experience is awesome. Will definitely come back
(5)
Shianne D.
I had heard about this place through the grapevine and was so excited to try it out on date night. After my bf and I got off of work on Saturday they weren't accepting reservations but we decided to make the trek out and hope for the best. Luck was on our side that night because when we arrived we got a parking spot right near the entrance, and we were seated in under 10 minutes. We really liked the vibe of the place: touristy enough, but had a grungey-sailorman feel too. I should get it off my chest right now that we had a pretty bad waitress (hence the minus 2 stars). She made several errors and all around seemed uninterested in work, and generally annoyed with us. Blonde hair in a messy bun working the tall table tops near the bar on saturday night: -We did not receive any bread while we were waiting for drinks/meals. Isn't that the first thing you do after you take a drink order? We appeared to be the only people in the entire place (including the people elbow's length away) that didn't receive any bread & butter that night. -I politely asked for no coleslaw with my meal & wanted to substitute it instead for mashed potatoes. I asked specifically to not bring out any coleslaw because it'll go to waste and I really don't like it.... keep in mind I think she's worked there a long time because she doesn't write anything down, just has it "memorized".. What happens when the food comes out? There is a big pile of cole slaw, and no chips. So I got mashed potatoes and coleslaw, which is the complete opposite of what I asked. The hostess had brought our food so I was waiting awhile before she came over to check on us, and had it corrected. There was no apology. She said the expediter "always does this." -She gave my boyfriend plain club soda instead of sprite. Well, I will give her the benefit of a doubt, she said the Sprite tap must have run low or something? It was literally like seltzer water and it seemed like she didn't believe us because this was the third thing we complained about. She said "REALLY? Ok...." Bad service aside- My Bloody Mary was perfect! Really peppery and spiced just right. I highly recommend it! And I gotta give it to them- The Main Lobster Roll *really* is just as good as the reviews say it is! Buttery, perfect bread, and just the right amount of onions! It wasn't piping hot, but lukewarm, and I still enjoyed it. I also really liked the crab cakes! That was a nice surprise as usually crab is hit or miss. That is something I'd get next time! I think we def. will be back for the environment and the Lobster Roll but hopefully the service will be a lot better next time!
(3)
Dora B.
I love this place! Anytime I am up in the bay area, I have to stop by this place. They have really good clam chowder. Also, the lobster roll is a MUST try. Also, the view is amazing! This would be a great 1st date to impress that special someone. The seafood here taste fresh and tasty. I found out about this place when I watched a show on TLC-best restaurants to try or something in that nature and that's when I had to try it. This place did not disappoint me.
(5)
E F.
The food is quite good and clearly prepared with care. Friendly, hardworking staff. By all means make an advanced reservation. I come from New England and this place is my favorite seafood restaurant near SF. IN fact in many ways it is better. On Cape Cod lobster rolls are mostly some lobster meat, too much mayonnaise and served on a white bread hot dog bun. Here you get what appears to be all the meat from a 1 lb lobster, very little binders, and a terrifically fresh and sweet roll. Maybe they add a little butter too, not a bad thing. If you like a lighter lobster alternative, I recommend the lobster cerviche, served with fresh pineapple, lime juice, and other ingredients. Incredibly fresh tasting, served in a little taco shell, and again, with the better part of a 1 lb lobster. The steamed Manila clams are quite good, steamed with pancetta for flavor. Knockout. My table also ordered some really outstanding salads, such as a Kale, walnut, pear, and cheese salad. Fresh fresh fresh, and yummy. We even tried what must be a seasonal specialty, crispy pumpkin gnocchi . Very refined flavor and precisely prepared. I hear the rest of the extensive menu is also good and I believe them. This all on a extremely busy Saturday night when the staff could have phoned it in. The place is family friendly and of course, offers killer views. It's busy for a reason, folks. But with reservations the throngs are easy to deal with.
(5)
Jennifer S.
We came for the lobster roll, and it lived up to its legend. So did the view. The service was indifferent. Parking is a mess. It would have been a big plus if they had shaded umbrellas on the tables outside. One visit here was sufficient.
(3)
Bre E.
The service was great. But the food was mediocre at best. The clam chowder didn't have much flavor, & the seafood chiveche was in need of garlic & lime juice. I ordered the lobster sandwich which claims to be the top 5 best sandwiches around, and it was terrible. It literally had plain, chewy lobster thrown on top of a toasted roll. No flavor whatsoever. We were extremely disappointed in the food. Luckily our server was really observant and noticed I barely touched it. She gladly took it away and had it removed from our bill. She was really nice & patient. Gave an extra star for her.
(3)
Kimberly R.
Worth the hype and worth the wait. The food is delicious from start to finish. I recommend the spicy popcorn shrimp and crabcakes as starters or even for a meal. I order the local petrale sole with lentils- so fresh and lite. My sister got the rich bacon wrapped prawns served with chard and garlic mashed potatoes. The fish and chips were also tasty, and others my family also recommends the chowder (duh) and the famous lobster roll. The bread pudding is a rich treat too. I'm very glad we ate here! Not only is the food good, but you cannot beat the views, especially on a clear day. Seems to be a good mix of locals and tourists too. My only complaint is that the our server was really slow with our drinks and order, but it was also extremely busy so I can see past it! Try it out!
(4)
Layne K.
This was my second visit to Sam's Chowder House (SCH). I am a minister and was in HMB for a wedding rehearsal. It was raining cats and dogs that day so I allotted ample time to get down Hwy. 92, which is always a travelers challenge. I arrived earlier than expected, so I thought... WTH, let's do lunch! NOT GOOD: One of the more frustrating aspects of SCH is parking. It's a popular place and parking is always at a premium. Ironically, they did have valet service, but it wasn't all that obvious and I missed it. My bad. I park, I walk, I'm wet... what more can I say? VERY GOOD: The restaurant was busy (as usual) but I was able to get seated immediately. Solo seating is not all that profitable for the establishment or the waitstaff. But, this didn't seem to phase anyone at SCH. My waiter was very cordial, helpful and professional. He went over the specials of the day with rapt proficiency. Kudos to him! DISAPPOINTING: I ordered a cup of New England Clam Chowder and a seafood salad from the list of daily specials. The chowder was not exactly "creamy" (although the menu only mentions cream as an ingredient and not as an adjective) and I'd prefer to see more signs of seafood in the bowl; not solely a plethora of porridge. It was pleasant enough and probably meets all the culinary standards for "chowder," but so does Progresso! The seafood salad (only $10) was certainly not an entree size serving. It was more like a "dinner salad" with a sampling of seafood mixed in with the bed of lettuce. There was a nice assortment of various types of lettuce, which I find delightful. (I find it egregious when you're served a salad that consist solely of iceberg lettuce which has absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever!). The seafood mixture was comprised of mussels, scallops, baby shrimp... and maybe some calamari in there as well (the waiter indicated that was part of the seafood mixture) although I couldn't find it. What I did find, however, was a little bit of sand in the mussels which really didn't do anything to improve the flavor of the salad. FABULOUS: The bread and butter. SUMMARY: SCH is a much better restaurant than is reflected in my rating. It may have been an off day in the kitchen, I may have ordered incorrectly for my epicurean expectations. I will definitely go back again when I'm in the HMB area. Next time, however, I'll order something more reflective of the chef's skills. A real fish dinner or lunch plate and not just soup and salad. Although for $26 (soup, salad, ice tea and tip) I will probably have to refinance the rectory in order to afford an actual dinner!
(2)
Alexander E.
Finally! No more chasing down the Sam's Chowdermobile, but an actual visit to their bayside Chowder House. A bit of a drive from the East Bay, so I took advantage on a day trip to the Lemos Farm for their pumpkin patch and lunch at Sam's. I was expecting a long, long wait considering the parking lot was full on this cold and crisp Sunday afternoon. Sure enough there was a wait, but a mere 30 minutes. The house was packed as was their patio, but 30 minutes was completely reasonable. Once our party was seated, our waitress came over and quickly took our drink order and handed us our menus. Bread and butter wasn't offered until our soft drinks hit the table, which felt a little too long. Nevertheless after our order was taken, we snacked on the complimentary bread and soft drinks. Given how packed Sam's was, they did a good job of striving for a 12 minute ticket time. I'd say 15 minutes, maybe 20 tops for a party of 8. I skipped out on ordering any appetizers but rather looked forward to Sam's famous lobster roll. I'm not sure what I was expecting. Perhaps a larger portion? A different taste than the truck version? Delicious sides? Once I actually got the lobster roll, it looked identical to the food truck version. The size was just about the same, yet there was noticeably more lobster in the restaurant version. The toasted roll was stuffed with lobster and served with a side of coleslaw and potato chips. There's nothing to not like about the famous lobster roll. The buttery flavor of the lobster is all there and is accompanied with two sides. However, for the difference in price I would of either liked more coleslaw and rather plain potato chips. I don't know if they chips are made in house but they felt like something I could get out of a Lay's bag. Regardless, the two included sides are the perfect companion to one best seafood sandwiches I've ever had. Sam's was everything I expected. Great views with great food. There was someone even getting married on their bay front property, catered by Sam's, naturally. Service was good all around and I was expecting to pay a bit more than their food truck for the dine-in experience. Parking can be tough in their cramped and very busy lot but it's manageable. As much as I love Sam's, it's a bit too far from me, especially when I have the opportunity to grab the lobster sammy whenever their truck makes an OTG appearance. Ambiance/Decor: 4/5 Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Price: $$ Overall: 4/5 Pros: + Real lobster sammies + Fresh seafood plates + Wide menu selection (lobster, shrimp, clam chowder, fish tacos) + Delicious fish tacos + Full bar + Outdoor patio + Fast and efficient staff Cons: - Small, busy parking lot - Busy on weekends
(4)
Ali M.
My boyfriend and I had an amazing experience here-we sat at the bar for a drink while our table was getting ready (fantastic happy hour specials from 4-7) and were seated within 10 minutes. We enjoyed the live guitarist and were seated outside with beautiful views of the ocean. We ordered the calamari, clam chowder, and crab cakes and all were phenomenal. For our entree we shared the cannelloni stuffed with seafood in a lobster bisque sauce and it was unreal. We aren't dessert people but indulged in the cheesecake and had no regrets! Service, ambience, people....easy 10. Will be back.
(5)
James Q.
Even though we are almost an hour away (across the Bay in Eastbay), we go to the Coast for Chowder and Seafood a few times every year. We've always had good meals, albeit light and very casual. Part of this is due to the wonderful outdoor patio that is walled in by glass partitions to ward off the coastal wind. We do this whenever my wife has a hankering for Steamed Clams. Only this time, it was also our 55th Anniversary. So, instead of just Lobster Roll and Chowder, we went 'whole hog' and it was wonderful! We started off with drinks - a glass of Pinot Gris for my wife and I had a Wyder Pear Hard Cider. Then I had one my favorites, New England Clam Chowder. This was followed by a stunning pasta dish as an appetizer - a wide pasta in a luscious cream sauce with big chunks of fresh crab. Even though it was an entree item, we thought we would have just part of it as an appetizer and take the rest home. It was so good, we couldn't leave it alone and ate it all! Then our entrees - Steamed Manilla Clams for her and Grilled Local Rock Cod in another marvelously light cream sauce, arrived. We also had ordered a Beet Salad that were going to share. But, because we had such a hefty appetizer, we were too full so we had the salad boxed up to take home. But, because of the special occasion we decided to have their special Basil Cake with Fresh Berries and Heavy Cream coffee. It was a beautiful evening and we were seated outside on a little terrace with a terrific view of the harbor and the Pacific Ocean. It was really idyllic and we truly enjoyed our special time together over a marvelous meal. The outside veranda is a great place to be seated. The view is fantastic! and our experience was enhanced even further by chatting with the table next to us - a couple from Memphis! And, to add to our enjoyment, we had a terrific server, Samantha, that took exceptional care of us. It's very obvious to us that she enjoys working with the public and is highly experienced in serving. She's smart and spirited. She knew the menu extremely well and it was her recommendations (Special Pasta in Cream Sauce w/Crab and the Special Basil Cake Dessert) that provided us such a successful dinner. We were really lucky to have her for our server. Outdoor service is not easy and she did it beautifully! I know about this because in another lifetime, ago, I waited tables while working my way through school and beyond! And, just one more point - that Special Crab Pasta that we had as an appetizer was so good that at the end of our meal, we ordered one "to go!" Yup, it was that good. Who every is running that kitchen really knows how to make tremendously good sauces! Bottom line, that was one of the best meals we've had in recent memory and we eat out a lot! And, the Special Dessert was 'comped' as an Anniversary favor. Samantha took care of that little detail! Jim
(5)
Marevie T.
It is with sadness that... I DIDNT TAKE A PICTURE OF MY LOBSTER ROLL! OMG WHAT WAS THAT?! IT WAS AMAZING! As soon as my BF and I got our food, we chowed down! He had prawns wrapped with bacon and it looked SO delish! But... I must say .... my lobster roll was the best thing I've ever had! They made the bread with garlic and it tasted EXACTLY how my Dad made it when I was a kid. OMG. It was awesome. I totally would come here again! But I have to say .... I didn't really like the chowder. Hate me now. I said it. Lol
(5)
Leina K.
I've passed this place so many times and the parking lot has always been ridiculously busy and scared me off. Over the weekend we had some time to kill and wanted something light so we stopped in for a cup of their oh so famous soup. My friend got the clam chowder so I went for something different and got the NY clam chowder. I've had NY style before when in Seattle but this time around, what I got pretty much resembled minestrone soup. It had the same thin consistency and veggies galore. Don't get me wrong, I do like my minestrone soup when that's what I actually ordered. I don't think I'll be back if I didn't even enjoy what they're most known for.
(3)
Amy M.
Food was absolutely to DIE for! If it wasn't for the terrible service, I would have given them a better rating! Our waitress, Alexa had a sour attitude and didn't even attempt to redeem herself. I will definitely be returning, regardless of our poor service.
(2)
Wallace W.
Looking for oysters on the half shell we asked a nice local jeweler where we could get some. We were directed to Sam's, 3 miles north of Half Moon Bay. Parking was tough due to the large number of patrons but I found a spot after 5 minutes or so. The others in my party put our name in on the waiting list which was anticipated at 30 minutes. The online reservation system seemed not to work. We spent our wait walking along the coast trail, enjoying the seaside view and watching the locals ride the surf. After about 40 minutes we were seated outside where quarters were tight but the view was nice. Our pleasant server was very attentive and prompt despite the crowd. We had a sampling of ten oysters on the shell, two of each on the menu. They were fresh and delicious. My wife ordered a bowl of clam chowder which was excellent (I had to ask for a bite). For a main course I ordered the local rock cod which was served on lentils with pan braised Brussel sprouts. The cod was a large thick fillet and super fresh. I think this might have been the best dish among those tried by our group. My wife had the seafood salad which I tried. It was ok but I wouldn't recommend it. She liked it though. My son in law had the seafood pasta which looked pretty good and my daughter had sardines, two large fish which she enjoyed. I personally am not a fan of such large ones and they tasted a bit like mackerel. But they were a unique item. The Bloody Marys were very good and the Guinness was perfect. All in all a great place for local seafood while we were on our trip to the California coast. I wouldn't hesitate to return when we are in the area again.
(4)
Patrick Gabriel L.
In between the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley and San Francisco lies another bay that some don't venture or recognize as a tourist destination unless Ritz Carlton is your standard hotel stay or you love seeing the biggest pumpkin in the world. Half Moon Bay is a place to explore in the bay area whether you are a local resident or an out of town visitor. Tucked a few miles away from downtown Half Moon Bay is this fine seaside eatery. Recognized for it's outstanding lobster roll, you will also find their clam chowder and other fried underwater fare to be stellar. Price would be its only downfall then again, it's the Bay Area where a tasty spread of culinary goodies, especially of the coastline variety will not be cheap. Besides Monterey, you won't find another seafood destination between San Francisco and Monterey of the upper echelon grade.
(5)
Dorothygale T.
ehh. not as bad as the other prime location restaurants, but not great either. i've done the patio for lunch...NE chowder, not great, not authentic. a lobster roll on a stale bun, which just kills a lobster roll. went for dinner the other night, a TUESDAY...it was dead. the wait for our food was ridiculous. my dad tried blaming the kitchen, but it shouldn't take 30 minutes for a waitress to throw some gumbo (the worst attempt at gumbo west of LA I've ever had) in a cup and get 6 oysters shucked. everyone was reasonably happy with the entrees, but there was some poor attempt at chorizo on my plate and the fish on all of our plates just seemed too perfectly portioned for me to believe it was local and not bought at some fish wholesaler. and a tip...when 2 different people on opposite sides of a large table order oysters, serve them separately, not thrown on the same plate. they weren't labeled and i have no idea which ones i ate and the other diner had to wait for me to eat mine, so he could then eat his. lame. 2 of the 3 of us had to send back our wine glasses bc they were filthy...dried food inside the glass filthy. and seriously...rename your gumbo, while it may be tasty soup, it sure as hell isn't gumbo.
(2)
Jasmine P.
Lives up to its rating and we return specifically for their DELICIOUS Sam's lobster roll!
(5)
Akash K.
It's that age old question: why did two people who don't eat crustaceans and mollusks go to the Sam's Chowder House? To have some Hoegaarden, silly. That and have a great view of the ocean while drinking some Hoegaarden.
(3)
Kenji Y.
It's a little bit overhyped. You can skip their clam chowder despite their store being called a "Chowder House." Expect a terrible parking situation. Just park on the street and walk over. They have plenty of seatings so waiting is a hit or miss. Their salmon burger was pricey but delicious. Service is VERY friendly and the view is great. It's a nice play, just a little overhyped and overpriced.
(3)
Edward W.
I came on a Friday afternoon around 5pm and we were immediately seated. Apparently, ordering togo and eating in are treated the same by the kitchen so it isn't any faster to order togo. We shared the new england clam chowder among six people since I just wanted to taste it. The bowl would have been perfect to share among five people because each person would get one full cup. I thought the clam chowder was pretty decent since it wasn't too salty although it was a bit watery. The lobster roll was amazing! There was so much lobster in each bite and the bread was really buttery. I thought the coleslaw didn't have too much mayo, but the chips were really oily. The lobster roll was a bit pricey, but definitely worth a try. Make sure to grab a window seat because the view is amazing!
(4)
Frank C.
Lot of enery, lot of fun. Great food, service and cocktails. Staying at The Beach House right next door this weekend and lunch at Sams is a must. Lobster Roll Sandwich is off the hook and better than most in the country. So good my girl ( Melissa) would only let me have one bite the last and first time we were here. 5'3" 119LBs and can eat like a linebacker. The Ahi Poke ( Hawaiian Chunky Sashmi mix) was major Ono as us Hawaiian Bruddas would say. Seafood Pasta was killer. Clam Chowder was Bomb. This time my own Lobster Roll Sandwich for Damn sure. All good things are worth a Lil wait. So just Chill and get ready to Grind. Frankie C. Professional Entertainer
(4)
Darlene M.
Good food with a beautiful view. I'd like to come back on a warm summer day and eat outside. I sampled everything at our table. I liked the Maryland Blue Crab Cake and the Shrimp Scampi the most. Seafood spaghetti was good but a tad too spicy for my liking. I ordered the Lobster Roll but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. There was a hefty portion of lobster which was great, but it seemed dry & cold. Maybe a nice sauce and a warm, toasted bun would have been nice. Otherwise, it's overpriced for what you get. I'll pass on this next time.
(4)
Tumay A.
We went to Gilroy Garlic festival today and had to leave pretty quickly due to the excessive heat. On our way back we pulled over to eat at the Sam's chowder house! As San Francisco residents we are spoiled with such a good food I know that. But this place was way too over priced for what they got. The food isn't bad at all but it also not that impressive. I ordered a margarita hoping it wouldn't taste like a sugary margarita mix; it did. Just an around of drinks for 4 cost us 70 bucks.. I don't mind paying that kind of money for quality cocktails but for some cheap beers / house margarita and a Jameson shot? I am still giving 3 stars for the service ( great waitress ), the view , and fairly good food.
(3)
Tony C.
I've heard and read a lot of great things about Sam's Chowder House, especially their Lobster Roll. We decided to take a gander at their establishment, my advice, if you go on a weekend, you'll definitely need reservations. We made our reservations and when we arrived, we were seated quickly. Service was adequate and timely, nothing special. We started off with a bowl of clam chowder, it's not thick like most chowders but it really lacked taste, we had to season it with some pretty heavy pepper. We split the Lobster Roll as it is a good sized portion, you have been warned. Now they advertise this to be one of the 5 best sandwiches in America. I'm not really sure who did the voting because this sandwich sucked! The bread was buttered but very dry, the lobster was chewy and almost tasted like it was imitation lobster and even that had no taste. They advertise how they smother it in butter...this was so dry that I had to drink water a few times just to get it down. For the price, definitely not worth it, many other establishments around that are better....I've tasted 10x better sandy's for $8.....a waste of $23 that's for sure!
(2)
Melissa M.
Felt that the food was not perfectly explained in the menu, but tasted fairly decent considering. We felt incredibly rushed even though we went for dinner hour. Had to ask our server Emily to come back a few times to take our order after we had already ordered the appetizers; but then she left us for a very long time. It kind of felt like punishment. Oh well. We enjoyed being together since it was a special date for us. After we ordered, come to find out that the "light touch" of peppers was really "covered in" peppers on the special corn chowder of the day. I was nervous to say anything to Emily, but she happily exchanged it for clam chowder for me. That was nice of her. Overall, an odd visit to a new location stop for us.
(3)
Hungry Man M.
I had the fish and chips with an Anchor Steam beer to wash it all down. The meal was well seasoned and went down easy. I was really hungry and this dish hit the spot. I really liked the fries because they too were seasoned. Prices were what to expect when eating at a seafood restaurant. Including tip I spent $27 and some change.
(4)
Vanessa P.
"Sam's eco-friendly menu includes the same fresh daily seafood that has won Sam's Chowder House numerous awards, such as Top five "Best Sandwiches in America" by NBC's The Today Show for the restaurants Maine Lobster Roll" We came here to celebrate my mom's birthday! We started off with the Captain's Platter (4 Oysters, 4 Cherrystone Clams, 4 Chilled Shrimp, Ahi tuna poke, Seafood ceviche). The Ahi tuna poke was by far the BEST thing on the platter!!! It was seasoned perfectly and was left wanting more!!! Because we were at a chowder house, I felt it was fitting to get clam chowder! And all I can say is that it was heaven in a bowl! I've been slumming it for so long that I'm used to Progresso's canned clam chowder and Sam's chowder was probably the best fresh clam chowder I've EVER had!!! For entrees, I had the cioppino and my boyfriend and my mom had the lobster roll. The cioppino had lots and lots of fresh seafood! The portion was sooooo big that I ate this for 3 separate meals!!! Although I was happy with my cioppino, I was a little sad that I didn't order the lobster roll - it was simply AMAZING! Huge chunks of lobster (that weren't doused in mayo! yay!!) on a perfectly crisp bun! Everything was absolutely amazing! If it wasnt' soooooo far away from Sacramento, I would frequent this place more often! Believe the hype - it's real!! P.S. Park on the main road for easier exit
(5)
Pauline D.
Having experienced a stellar meal here over two years ago, we were pretty excited to finally stop in for lunch again. It was New Year's Day, and the wait was an expected 45-60 min. They've adopted buzzers so views of the ocean are a great distraction, and there's an outdoor bar for those inclined. Coming from a hike with our pooch, we opted to sit on the patio. Service was excruciatingly slow (again, expected given the holiday). Ok, one thing that bugs me, having spent a number of years in the industry myself, is not being asked how the meal is and if anything else is needed. I get it, you're in the weeds, but don't come by and plop food in front of me without a single word, especially if you are our primary server! The ultimate zinger: standing by our table and fishing for our check in her apron while asking the table NEXT to us how their meal was. Sigh. Definitely try: - Any of the daily fresh catches. Ask what just came in and get it. On the pricier side but well-executed. - The lobster roll, of course. Splurge a little for this one, it's way better than the crab sandwich. Skip: - Ahi tuna poke. Nothing good or bad to say about the flavor, but smallest portion ever. - Clam chowder, both New England and Manhattan. I know everyone's gonna try one or the other anyway, but here's your warning: they're not particularly clammy or bursting with great seafood flavor. Quite your average soup. Thick and creamy or canned tomato lacking in fresh tomato flavor. - House smoked salmon salad. Interesting flavor combo, though not one I want to come across again. - Bread. I know it's complimentary, and I usually can't resist sourdough, but it sucks. A bit of time warmed in the oven really wouldn't hurt, because spreading chilled butter on cold bread requires skills I just don't possess. Stop by on an off-time or day, order the right thing, and enjoy.
(3)
Yuka R.
The best Lobster rolls? I liked it but little bit pricy for the portion. I think Sam's chowder is the best at the restaurant. You must try it. Very nice service and atmosphere is relaxing. Kids friendly!
(4)
Vivian L.
I came here on a Saturday night with a friend when we were crazy hungry for some food after a nice hike. I ordered the New England Clam Chowder and he ordered the lobster roll, with a calamari to share. Most of the food was pretty good, except for the fact that one side of the bread on the lobster roll had some weird burnt stinging taste that wasn't burnt. So one star off for the food... I mean it's a $23 dollar sandwich so he was expecting much better. Now my biggest gripe was the service. Our waiter was very attentive in taking our order and it seemed like he knew he was doing. He came to our table 2-3 times in the beginning: one to take our order, one to give us our food, and three to refill our waters. My friend ordered a beer, and when the waiter came to fill our waters, the waiter asked him if he wanted a refill of the beer. The answer was yes. We're eating our food and a very long while later, the refill beer still hadn't arrived. That's when things started getting irritating- we could see the beer on the counter, and it had just been sitting out for a really long time. Our waiter had clearly forgotten the beer, and so my friend ended up going up to the counter and getting the beer himself. To make matters worse, our waiter never came back after the waters. We watched him as he went to every single table around where we were sitting- I even made eye contact with him and he still never showed up to our table. It was incredibly frustrating, and after a while we decided to estimate how much the bill would be, so we could just leave the money on the table and go. Right as we left our money on the table, the waiter walks by and goes, "Oh, did I give you your receipt yet?" We said that the receipt wasn't necessary, since we had overestimated the pricing of some items. Our waiter told us that by law he had to give us our receipt, so we waited. When he printed the receipt out, we found out that we were off by 33 cents, so we ended up leaving money in the front and left. Clearly the waiter hadn't seen the money because he ran out after us and went "Oh, I don't mean to be picky but you're off by 33 cents." We told him we left the money on the table, and then the waiter proceeded to ask if anything went wrong. We told him our situation and said that it was totally fine. But he insisted that we talk to his manager, he wanted us to leave as happy customers, and the usual stuff. So we waited for him to get his manager, even though we really didn't want to. He brought his manager to us and she was totally confused at what was going on. It was super awkward because they did absolutely nothing- the manager basically listened to a rendition of our story and summarized how we felt. Uh, what?! Then we left. Now, I know that this was just one experience out of thousands of people eating here, but it certainly was an experience. I'm not saying I wouldn't come back here- it's not like I would remember which waiter or anything but still.
(1)
Carla B.
How do you ruin a lobster roll? The chef at Sam's has the answer. Was served a large mess of overcooked, warm lobster with no dressing or celery or any of the usual lobster roll accoutrements. The lobster was pretty tasteless. So sad. I know you're paying for the view and the food is secondary, but it still should be edible! Anyone truly wanting a lobster roll in the area that is delicious, should head to the Old Port Lobster House in Redwood City.
(2)
James D.
Let me preface this by saying, I am a longtime Sam's customer/supporter, but after today's experience, I don't know if I will be returning. I had a reservation for 4 and was promptly sat with my lady, sister and mother. We were greeted by our server (who I won't identify by name since she was very pleasant) promptly and drink order taken. However, for long durations of the meal, our server would go missing and drinks would go empty and used dishes cluttering the table. I usually give servers the benefit of the doubt, since I too worked in the customer service industry, but even as the meal progressed and the restaurant got less crowded, she would still be no where to be found for long periods of time and drinks gone unfilled. The food was on par with past experiences, with the exception of my mother's steak which came out well done as opposed to the medium rare she ordered. The straw that broke the camel's back was the fact the bathrooms were not in service, with the exception of a single-stall bathroom. Without going into details, my mother is disabled, which requires her to have constant access to a restroom. When you have a restaurant full of people and only a single-stall bathroom, that's just unacceptable. My mother had to stand in a line for nearly 20 mins in the middle of our meal. Having to wait that long is bad enough. But because my mother's health condition, she was also waiting in a lot of pain.....unacceptable. One star for this experience is being generous.
(1)
Fabian F.
Nice food and great view. Both the lobster roll and the crab cakes were very good. Without a reservation, you will face a very long wait though. Parking is easy if you park on the street before their lot.
(5)
Nicole M.
This place has aaaaaamazing food! The seafood is so great, I have not had anything bad here. The service is really good, they let me bring my dog onto the outside patio, and they are very attentive. The lobster roll is great, the chowder is the best, the appetizers are all so good. The service that I've gotten has always been really good. There is usually a wait but they never make you feel rushed once you sit down. This place is worth the wait. If you are going to go all the way over to Half Moon Bay then plan to wait but the food and atmosphere is well worth it.
(5)
Merecedes J.
Services: excellent !! 5 stars. My server is kinda cute and he took care my drinks Food: 3 stars. I dunno wassup with all the hype about the lobster roll... My mama could of take out the boiling meats from dat lobster, add some mayo, and stick it into them bread for me I waited for 30mins... Why da f*** dey need 4 bitxhes to get fools to the table... Dey got this vibrating shit to let u know when ur table is rdy... I be back if I am around... Is alright .. Peace bitxhes !
(3)
Corey T.
Decided I wanted some good clam chowder on A Friday. So we went all the way to Half Moon Bay from Hayward to find out that Sam's is a sell out. Someone bought them out for Friday night for a special event. So no customers allowed. The Least they could have done is updated their Yelp for hours of service for they day. Will not be going back there because they don't seem to care about their customers.
(1)
Kelly D.
I was visiting Half Moon Bay with my boyfriend and we asked around our hotel for the best place we could grab a nice seafood dinner. After receiving a couple recommendations, we settled on Sam's Chowder House. The place was pretty crowded for a mid-week evening and given it was near closing hours. The atmosphere left a lot to be desired as it looked like a typical Joe's Crab Shack. We ordered the Manila clams, lobster roll and halibut. The Manila clams were decent and fresh, but it wasn't mind blowing that I would go back for more. The lobster roll was quite a disappointment. Acclaimed as one of the best in the US, I was beyond excited to try it, but was left confused as to how this accolade was given. However, if this review was solely based on our order of halibut, I would give this place 5 stars. It was absolutely the perfect blend of spice and sweetness. The fish was perfectly cooked with a perfectly crispy outer layer. I would order the halibut any given day. Overall service was good. The only reason I would go back to Sam's Chowder House is for the halibut.
(3)
Sindie Y.
My friend bragged about this place before I even got to HMB! She was right about the lobster roll and calamari, the rest was just average. Lobster roll - did not have too much mayo, or fillers, the bread was toasted, it was actually excellent. This is 5 stars for me. Calamari - I like the batter they use for this, it was not too think and it didn't taste greasy. 4 stars. Salad - I can't remember the name of it. It was good except for the beet root. A little bit "earthy" for my taste. (Yes, I had better!) 3 stars. Clam chowder - it was just ok, nothing special; I had better. 3 stars. Gumbo - it was ok - they make it non- spicy. But then again, I never had the "real" gumbo so didn't know what to expect. 3 stars. Fried oyster - excellent. 4 stars The service was good both time.
(3)
Carol W.
ALWAYS a great experience! Lobster roll exc...even their albacore tuna sandwich is better than average. Key lime pie...umumgood! Great views; exc service... our waiter this time was Brian Ely...outstanding!
(4)
Charlene S.
I wanted to LOVE this place. It's a beautiful location and has the makings of a really great seafood place. Unfortunately, I felt like the food was subpar and overpriced. Clam chowder is still better at fisherman's warf in SF, the lobster rolls has no comparison to Luke's in NY, fish and chips were good, ceviche was mediocre. I won't be coming back as it's not worth the drive to pay so much money for food that is only ok. On the bright side, come early or make a reservation to get outside seating on a good weather day. They also have live music during the day on weekends.
(2)
Heidi M.
I recommend this place to friends and visiting guests. Terrific clam chowder and seafood, good service, and an overall good time! Only issue is that because they're insanely busy, parking is limited--especially Friday-Sunday, so make reservations if possible or dine there during the week.
(4)
Shirley V.
Battled hours of traffic on a beautiful Sunday noon just to get here and wait an additional 50 minutes, so I was expecting great things. At least the weather and the view were enjoyable during the wait. The chowder was pretty good. It was on the watery side, as a lot of reviewers mentioned, but I was okay with that since I don't need soup ladened with thickeners. I found clams and potatoes a plenty. Shrimp scampi on linguine was on the bland side. Smoked salmon salad was satisfactory; my parents seemed to enjoy it. Lobster roll. At $21, I expected some kind of amazing, unforgettable lobster experience, but the most I remember was dry bread (yes, even despite the butter) and dry/overcooked lobster. It was so massive, I couldn't effectively shove it into my mouth so I had to fork&knife it. Flavor was mostly dry bread and dry lobster and butter, which could have used some salt or citrus to cut through it. Not worth the title of being one of America's top 5 sandwiches. Overall, wouldn't make my way here again to wait for so long for expensive and so-so food and service.
(3)
John P.
Always love coming here. Fast friendly service unless they are packed, which happens. Still friendly,, but not as fast. Best clam chowder. Excellent oysters Rockefeller. Super ocean view. Stop off on your way up or down Hwy-1. Try it . . . You'll like it
(5)
Darlene M.
Is over rated one word or two? Oh well, that's what this came out to be! Overrated! I'm starting to think it's two words or maybe one. The best lobster roll according to NBC? We probably went there during an off day. We ditched our Saturday plans of working out because the weather was so beautiful that my fiance suggested we go and try this place. We had to park off the road on the side of the street because there was a ton of people. When we got there, the hostess said it would be an hour wait. It was a little over an hour, but whos counting? Oh yea, ME! I was hungry and I couldn't wait to try the BEST lobster roll ever! Oh please.. The lobster roll did have a lot of meat, but the flavor was missing. The bread was a little too soft for us. We like our bread with a little crunch and there was a ton if chopped celery. It did come with a side of chips which tasted a bit like Lays Potato chips. Nothing special. The Clam Chowder was good, but a little bit watery. There were huge pieces of potatoes and few clams. On the menu, it said the Clam Chowder came with bacon, but I didn't see any. I added the oyster crackers they give you in my soup which tasted good. My fiance LOVED this dessert they had. It was an Italian Style Affogato, which I forgoto and had to look up online. It was two small scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream with a shot of Expresso. I didn't know what it was at first, so I asked the server if it has any peanut products and he said, he doesn't know because he has NEVER tried it and walked away. Didn't even bother checking for me since I'm allergic to peanuts. The best thing about this place is the view. We had a table next to a window and the day was absolutley gorgeous. Will I come back? Maybe.. From all the reviews that are on here, I think we did come on a bad day. Not soon, maybe later...
(3)
Kristina W.
My parents & I came at 2pm on a Saturday with no reservation - they estimated a 45 min wait, but it ended up only being 35 - plus, you can walk along the beach while waiting for your pager to ring. (We literally sprinted back to the restaurant from the beach because we didn't want them to give away our seats). We ordered: Sam's Lobster Roll - It was undoubtedly good, but I don't think it's worthy of the "Top 5 Sandwiches in the US" title... also $21?! This is something that you should just try once in your life - I don't think I'd come back for it. Captain's Platter (4 oysters, 4 cherrystone clams, 4 chilled shrimp, Ahi tuna poke, Seafood ceviche) - the oysters were especially fresh and delicious, and I also liked the ahi tuna poke. The others were pretty good, but not outstanding. New Orleans Style Gumbo, Manhattan Clam Chowder, New England Clam Chowder - my favorite of the 3 was the New England, and they were very generous with the clams and other ingredients. WARNING: the cup is actually the size of a bowl, and the bowl is the size of.. a Pho bowl (basically 3-normal sized bowls)... so order the cup unless you're sharing! OVERALL: This restaurant definitely caters to tourists, so it is extremely overpriced (our meal for 3 ended up being $100+). However, the lobster roll, raw oysters, and New England Clam Chowder are worth trying and the restaurant's view is beautiful. Go once for the experience.
(3)
Heather K.
Wholly LOBSTER ROLL Batman!!! For starters, we had the Ahi Poke, which was yummy and had a nice little spicy kick. It was a nice, lite starter that allowed us room in our tummies to enjoy the "main event" - the lobster roll. As other Yelpers have stated the lobster roll is phenomenal. We both got the lobster roll and both were overflowing with, plump, red, warm, succulent lobster. In fact, our sandwiches were so loaded it was a little difficult to pick up and eat - but no complaints here, I certainly managed. Not only is the lobster something to brag about, the roll that it's served in is a golden, buttery lobster pillow that allows you to truly enjoy the flavor of the lobster. I should mention the parking - upon our arrival the parking lot was packed, not a empty spot in the house, people were parking this way and that in spaces that weren't even spaces and people were parked along Cabrillo Highway. Our initial thought was this place it going to be crazy busy inside and a super long wait - but it wasn't! Don't let the parking situation deter you!!! We only waited about 20 minutes for an outside table. Not only was our food out of this world deliciousness, the weather was beautiful and the views spectacular. If you get a chance, sit outside, it will only add to your dinning experience!
(5)
Leslie C.
The view from this place is amazing, but the food was ok not impressed at all with their ceviche was bland with no flavor, and the popcorn shirmp was soggie and had no flavor what so ever so was very disappointed. Our waitress was not very attentive and so it seemed like our bus boy was our waiter :((((.
(2)
Melissa R.
Nothing worse than a place being known for something and neglecting the rest of the menu. Not here! I had perfectly seasoned and cooked Grilled Fish Sandwich. It had garlic aioli, grilled peppers and greens, on a soft brioche bun. A side that I particularly enjoyed was the coleslaw. It had balanced sweet and savory flavors with crisp cabbage and carrots. Others at my table ooohed and awed over their fried oysters and lobster rolls and for once I was able to enjoy a meal that was not a "claim to fame". Five stars for a restaurant being friendly to the anaphylacticlly prone customer!
(5)
Sarah G.
Always had the best Cioppino. Today... Yuck! $27.95 for a bowl of old and dry seafood. This dish must be a money maker for the restaurant as it is just a diluted, flavorless stock with a little of the "getting old", overcooked, dry, leftover, seafood. So sad. How you dare to serve this?
(1)
Athena L.
Named in the Top Five Sandwiches in America by NBC's The Today Show, I someday, would have to try Sam's famous Lobster Roll. Today was the day!! It was an impromptu decision, and I'm glad I made it. Everything about the drive to Half Moon Bay, the seating, food, atmosphere and even weather, was so perfect.. like a [super] well planned date! We started off with a drinks--I had a Bellini which was delicious and went great with my food. Then the two of us shared: Captain's Platter which is a sampler consisting of 4 clams, 4 oysters, 4 chilled shrimps, tuna poki and seafood ceviche. The oysters were my favorite and clams least cause I had to drown it in sauce to cover the fishy flavor. We each had a chowder; one New England and one Manhattan. They were both tasty but the New England had waaaay more clams and Manhattan was more broth and potatoes. Then last but not least, we shared the famous Lobster Roll and it had chunks of lobster tumbling out from the sides. There was so much lobster we didn't even have to fight for the ones that fell! The bun was light and toasted with butter --SO GOOD, and the lobster was also tossed with butter and topped with some celery. After finishing every last piece of lobster on our plates, the bill came and it was a few dollars shy of a hundred. Although this was an expensive lunch, we loved every bit of it and may "randomly" stumble upon here again next weekend! :P
(4)
David W.
Best clam chowder ever! For me personally the lobster sandwich was flat in taste no flavor and it breaks the bank at $27 for a small amount of lobster, coleslaw, French fries and a bun.
(3)
Valeria R.
Beautiful view. Came to half moon bay for a mid-week work trip-- was surprised that a lot of places were closed for dinner. Found Sam's Chowder House on yelp-- short wait, staff was friendly, food was tasty. The presentation of the food could be nicer given the prices. Highly recommend the lobster roll!
(3)
Yuriy K.
The all famous lobster roll is overrated... tasted like caned lobster roll. My wife ordered the cured salmon, everyone at the table tried and liked. The New Orleans gumbo is good, but needs a kick. Local salmon was well prepared and delicious.
(3)
Wyndon P.
Went with my wife and her grandmother on a Saturday, making sure we got there before they opened. This place is ridiculously crowded on weekends, and if you show up mid-service, it's going to be a long wait. Additionally, the parking is INSANE. If you get there late, there will be zero spots next to the restaurant and you will have to park across the highway, where you'll be sharing parking along the road with surfers and fishers and have to watch out crossing the two lanes. Coming out of the restaurant's lot after our meal was nuts as you are at the mercy of people letting you into the flow of traffic. Now that they have a branch in Palo Alto, I wouldn't really go out of my way. I ordered chowder as a starter, and it's bacony and oniony, with good fresh-tasting clams, and the soup is more brothy than creamy. It's really rather good but no so much so that I'd drive all the way from Sunnyvale on a regular basis to have it, especially if I had to wait for it. We also shared an order of the calamari appetizer, but in my opinion it showed up a bit cold and a little flavorless and a tad overly oily. Definitely needed salt and the cocktail sauce wasn't much of a help, as it tasted bottled. We also ordered the seafood bruschetta with shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, avocado and tomato. I sampled one of the scallops and it was okay. The marinade was fine, but nothing spectacular. Looking over the menu, we all passed on the lobster roll. It's always tough to justify something that's so insubstantial with a price tag north of 20 bucks. I mean, I've had good ones at Lobster Shack and other places, but I always end up casting my eyes about for more food when I get one because they're generally so small in comparison to the price you pay. I'm aware this is Sam's flagship item, and perhaps I erred in not ordering it. One day if I'm back in the neighborhood and it's not busy, maybe I'll take the plunge. Our mains this day consisted of the fish and chips, the grilled sardines and the swordfish. Like the calamari, the fried fish seemed under-seasoned and the fries were mostly overdone- very tough on the outside and somewhat hollow. Maybe half of them were passable, which ended up being fine because there were a lot of them. They do give plenty of fish, but there wasn't a lot of wow factor to it. They were moist and cooked well, however. Maybe Old Bay or something other than the somewhat plain tartar sauce could've made it better. A squeeze of lemon definitely helped. The swordfish didn't impress my wife's grandmother. I tried a small bite. It was good if a bit dry. I generally wrap swordfish or shark in foil and steam it in the pouch, so maybe grilling it dried it out excessively. Sundried tomatoes are personal avoidance item for me, so I can't talk about the side dish it came with. I loved the sardines, even if they were a bit overcooked. There were dry bits, especially at the tail and along the spine, but the meat was generally not too dry. The crispy grilled skins were fantastic, though, and the fishes were seasoned perfectly. I really wished it had been my dish, so I ended up trading my wife my fish and chips. The fact the sardines came whole on the bone threw my wife off, so she was happy to get rid of them. Her loss. Neither of us cared for the vegetables that were the side; roasted cauliflower, leeks, golden raisins and olive tapenade. It was overly sweet due to the raisins and for me and my wife it just wasn't something we enjoyed. The bread was quite good and we refilled more than once. I'd like to get the chowder bread bowl if that's the bread that it's served in. The service was solid. Our guy (don't remember his name, but a young guy with a beard, super friendly and gregarious) was on it most of service and was super capable, filling beverages and bread before we even asked for it. At one point we had a water spill and he was kind and patient. As it happened, the table next to ours had a spill of their own within minutes and he was just as cool and calm there. No hint of irritation or condescension. Nice guy. They had a LOT of servers on hand in anticipation of the rush to come. As we were wrapping up our meal, the restaurant was indeed filling up and by the time we went out, there were people sitting in the waiting area awaiting their turn. In short: very good chowder and the sardines were great, good, efficient service. I probably won't make the drive to Half Moon Bay specifically for the experience in the future, though, mostly due to the incredible wait times and traffic if you're not early.
(3)
Linna S.
I've been to Sam's for 4times already. I love their food, the steam clams with wine and pancetta, cioppino, the key lime pie. They all amazing. The only thing that I dont like about this place is the service. 4 times I came here, I always having a problem with my drink. I have to keep asking for my drink maybe 2-5times every visit. The server having this attitude like I dont care, I dont have to serve you good. You will come here anyway. Well.. U guys are wrong, eventhough I like the food but it doesnt mean you should give your bad service and there is a lot of places that serve a good food with good service.
(2)
Jaine W.
I don't normally give 5 stars but this place is really good. Note: Make a reservation, this place is always packed. Service: Our waitress was very attentive and always smiling. View: Beautiful view of the ocean Food: Delicious --Clam chowder - super good with lots of clams and not super starchy. Note: their cup can feed 2. Their bowl size can feed 4. --Steamed Clams - Deliciously tasty. If u are not into salty food, u might not like it but that wasn't an issue with me. --Lobster Roll - chunks of lobster on a buttery roll. Very very good.
(5)
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Address :4210 N Cabrillo Hwy
Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Magen Q.
My 1st time here and it may just be my last. I would come back for the clam chowder but not for the famous well-known lobster roll sandwich. I didn't find nothing special about it. If anything, I found it to be bland tasting, boring to my taste buds and high in price. Therefore, will I go back? I don't know, but it won't be for the lobster roll Sandwich. Also, the Keylime pie on the other hand is a thumbs up.
(3)Chin T.
This is my first time at Sam's. We were sat at the patio in the back with a great view. The service was great, the waitress was very polite and offered to turn on the heater if we felt cold. We order a bowl of claim chowder, seafood spaghetti, steam clams and a glass of albarino. Their bowl of chowder is big and it is ideal to share if you are ordering other foods. You can tell they used quality ingredients on all of the foods. The seafood spaghetti tasted fresh with lots of scallops, fish, clams and mussels. Albarino pairs well with the steam clams. The overall experience is awesome. Will definitely come back
(5)Shianne D.
I had heard about this place through the grapevine and was so excited to try it out on date night. After my bf and I got off of work on Saturday they weren't accepting reservations but we decided to make the trek out and hope for the best. Luck was on our side that night because when we arrived we got a parking spot right near the entrance, and we were seated in under 10 minutes. We really liked the vibe of the place: touristy enough, but had a grungey-sailorman feel too. I should get it off my chest right now that we had a pretty bad waitress (hence the minus 2 stars). She made several errors and all around seemed uninterested in work, and generally annoyed with us. Blonde hair in a messy bun working the tall table tops near the bar on saturday night: -We did not receive any bread while we were waiting for drinks/meals. Isn't that the first thing you do after you take a drink order? We appeared to be the only people in the entire place (including the people elbow's length away) that didn't receive any bread & butter that night. -I politely asked for no coleslaw with my meal & wanted to substitute it instead for mashed potatoes. I asked specifically to not bring out any coleslaw because it'll go to waste and I really don't like it.... keep in mind I think she's worked there a long time because she doesn't write anything down, just has it "memorized".. What happens when the food comes out? There is a big pile of cole slaw, and no chips. So I got mashed potatoes and coleslaw, which is the complete opposite of what I asked. The hostess had brought our food so I was waiting awhile before she came over to check on us, and had it corrected. There was no apology. She said the expediter "always does this." -She gave my boyfriend plain club soda instead of sprite. Well, I will give her the benefit of a doubt, she said the Sprite tap must have run low or something? It was literally like seltzer water and it seemed like she didn't believe us because this was the third thing we complained about. She said "REALLY? Ok...." Bad service aside- My Bloody Mary was perfect! Really peppery and spiced just right. I highly recommend it! And I gotta give it to them- The Main Lobster Roll *really* is just as good as the reviews say it is! Buttery, perfect bread, and just the right amount of onions! It wasn't piping hot, but lukewarm, and I still enjoyed it. I also really liked the crab cakes! That was a nice surprise as usually crab is hit or miss. That is something I'd get next time! I think we def. will be back for the environment and the Lobster Roll but hopefully the service will be a lot better next time!
(3)Dora B.
I love this place! Anytime I am up in the bay area, I have to stop by this place. They have really good clam chowder. Also, the lobster roll is a MUST try. Also, the view is amazing! This would be a great 1st date to impress that special someone. The seafood here taste fresh and tasty. I found out about this place when I watched a show on TLC-best restaurants to try or something in that nature and that's when I had to try it. This place did not disappoint me.
(5)E F.
The food is quite good and clearly prepared with care. Friendly, hardworking staff. By all means make an advanced reservation. I come from New England and this place is my favorite seafood restaurant near SF. IN fact in many ways it is better. On Cape Cod lobster rolls are mostly some lobster meat, too much mayonnaise and served on a white bread hot dog bun. Here you get what appears to be all the meat from a 1 lb lobster, very little binders, and a terrifically fresh and sweet roll. Maybe they add a little butter too, not a bad thing. If you like a lighter lobster alternative, I recommend the lobster cerviche, served with fresh pineapple, lime juice, and other ingredients. Incredibly fresh tasting, served in a little taco shell, and again, with the better part of a 1 lb lobster. The steamed Manila clams are quite good, steamed with pancetta for flavor. Knockout. My table also ordered some really outstanding salads, such as a Kale, walnut, pear, and cheese salad. Fresh fresh fresh, and yummy. We even tried what must be a seasonal specialty, crispy pumpkin gnocchi . Very refined flavor and precisely prepared. I hear the rest of the extensive menu is also good and I believe them. This all on a extremely busy Saturday night when the staff could have phoned it in. The place is family friendly and of course, offers killer views. It's busy for a reason, folks. But with reservations the throngs are easy to deal with.
(5)Jennifer S.
We came for the lobster roll, and it lived up to its legend. So did the view. The service was indifferent. Parking is a mess. It would have been a big plus if they had shaded umbrellas on the tables outside. One visit here was sufficient.
(3)Bre E.
The service was great. But the food was mediocre at best. The clam chowder didn't have much flavor, & the seafood chiveche was in need of garlic & lime juice. I ordered the lobster sandwich which claims to be the top 5 best sandwiches around, and it was terrible. It literally had plain, chewy lobster thrown on top of a toasted roll. No flavor whatsoever. We were extremely disappointed in the food. Luckily our server was really observant and noticed I barely touched it. She gladly took it away and had it removed from our bill. She was really nice & patient. Gave an extra star for her.
(3)Kimberly R.
Worth the hype and worth the wait. The food is delicious from start to finish. I recommend the spicy popcorn shrimp and crabcakes as starters or even for a meal. I order the local petrale sole with lentils- so fresh and lite. My sister got the rich bacon wrapped prawns served with chard and garlic mashed potatoes. The fish and chips were also tasty, and others my family also recommends the chowder (duh) and the famous lobster roll. The bread pudding is a rich treat too. I'm very glad we ate here! Not only is the food good, but you cannot beat the views, especially on a clear day. Seems to be a good mix of locals and tourists too. My only complaint is that the our server was really slow with our drinks and order, but it was also extremely busy so I can see past it! Try it out!
(4)Layne K.
This was my second visit to Sam's Chowder House (SCH). I am a minister and was in HMB for a wedding rehearsal. It was raining cats and dogs that day so I allotted ample time to get down Hwy. 92, which is always a travelers challenge. I arrived earlier than expected, so I thought... WTH, let's do lunch! NOT GOOD: One of the more frustrating aspects of SCH is parking. It's a popular place and parking is always at a premium. Ironically, they did have valet service, but it wasn't all that obvious and I missed it. My bad. I park, I walk, I'm wet... what more can I say? VERY GOOD: The restaurant was busy (as usual) but I was able to get seated immediately. Solo seating is not all that profitable for the establishment or the waitstaff. But, this didn't seem to phase anyone at SCH. My waiter was very cordial, helpful and professional. He went over the specials of the day with rapt proficiency. Kudos to him! DISAPPOINTING: I ordered a cup of New England Clam Chowder and a seafood salad from the list of daily specials. The chowder was not exactly "creamy" (although the menu only mentions cream as an ingredient and not as an adjective) and I'd prefer to see more signs of seafood in the bowl; not solely a plethora of porridge. It was pleasant enough and probably meets all the culinary standards for "chowder," but so does Progresso! The seafood salad (only $10) was certainly not an entree size serving. It was more like a "dinner salad" with a sampling of seafood mixed in with the bed of lettuce. There was a nice assortment of various types of lettuce, which I find delightful. (I find it egregious when you're served a salad that consist solely of iceberg lettuce which has absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever!). The seafood mixture was comprised of mussels, scallops, baby shrimp... and maybe some calamari in there as well (the waiter indicated that was part of the seafood mixture) although I couldn't find it. What I did find, however, was a little bit of sand in the mussels which really didn't do anything to improve the flavor of the salad. FABULOUS: The bread and butter. SUMMARY: SCH is a much better restaurant than is reflected in my rating. It may have been an off day in the kitchen, I may have ordered incorrectly for my epicurean expectations. I will definitely go back again when I'm in the HMB area. Next time, however, I'll order something more reflective of the chef's skills. A real fish dinner or lunch plate and not just soup and salad. Although for $26 (soup, salad, ice tea and tip) I will probably have to refinance the rectory in order to afford an actual dinner!
(2)Alexander E.
Finally! No more chasing down the Sam's Chowdermobile, but an actual visit to their bayside Chowder House. A bit of a drive from the East Bay, so I took advantage on a day trip to the Lemos Farm for their pumpkin patch and lunch at Sam's. I was expecting a long, long wait considering the parking lot was full on this cold and crisp Sunday afternoon. Sure enough there was a wait, but a mere 30 minutes. The house was packed as was their patio, but 30 minutes was completely reasonable. Once our party was seated, our waitress came over and quickly took our drink order and handed us our menus. Bread and butter wasn't offered until our soft drinks hit the table, which felt a little too long. Nevertheless after our order was taken, we snacked on the complimentary bread and soft drinks. Given how packed Sam's was, they did a good job of striving for a 12 minute ticket time. I'd say 15 minutes, maybe 20 tops for a party of 8. I skipped out on ordering any appetizers but rather looked forward to Sam's famous lobster roll. I'm not sure what I was expecting. Perhaps a larger portion? A different taste than the truck version? Delicious sides? Once I actually got the lobster roll, it looked identical to the food truck version. The size was just about the same, yet there was noticeably more lobster in the restaurant version. The toasted roll was stuffed with lobster and served with a side of coleslaw and potato chips. There's nothing to not like about the famous lobster roll. The buttery flavor of the lobster is all there and is accompanied with two sides. However, for the difference in price I would of either liked more coleslaw and rather plain potato chips. I don't know if they chips are made in house but they felt like something I could get out of a Lay's bag. Regardless, the two included sides are the perfect companion to one best seafood sandwiches I've ever had. Sam's was everything I expected. Great views with great food. There was someone even getting married on their bay front property, catered by Sam's, naturally. Service was good all around and I was expecting to pay a bit more than their food truck for the dine-in experience. Parking can be tough in their cramped and very busy lot but it's manageable. As much as I love Sam's, it's a bit too far from me, especially when I have the opportunity to grab the lobster sammy whenever their truck makes an OTG appearance. Ambiance/Decor: 4/5 Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Price: $$ Overall: 4/5 Pros: + Real lobster sammies + Fresh seafood plates + Wide menu selection (lobster, shrimp, clam chowder, fish tacos) + Delicious fish tacos + Full bar + Outdoor patio + Fast and efficient staff Cons: - Small, busy parking lot - Busy on weekends
(4)Ali M.
My boyfriend and I had an amazing experience here-we sat at the bar for a drink while our table was getting ready (fantastic happy hour specials from 4-7) and were seated within 10 minutes. We enjoyed the live guitarist and were seated outside with beautiful views of the ocean. We ordered the calamari, clam chowder, and crab cakes and all were phenomenal. For our entree we shared the cannelloni stuffed with seafood in a lobster bisque sauce and it was unreal. We aren't dessert people but indulged in the cheesecake and had no regrets! Service, ambience, people....easy 10. Will be back.
(5)James Q.
Even though we are almost an hour away (across the Bay in Eastbay), we go to the Coast for Chowder and Seafood a few times every year. We've always had good meals, albeit light and very casual. Part of this is due to the wonderful outdoor patio that is walled in by glass partitions to ward off the coastal wind. We do this whenever my wife has a hankering for Steamed Clams. Only this time, it was also our 55th Anniversary. So, instead of just Lobster Roll and Chowder, we went 'whole hog' and it was wonderful! We started off with drinks - a glass of Pinot Gris for my wife and I had a Wyder Pear Hard Cider. Then I had one my favorites, New England Clam Chowder. This was followed by a stunning pasta dish as an appetizer - a wide pasta in a luscious cream sauce with big chunks of fresh crab. Even though it was an entree item, we thought we would have just part of it as an appetizer and take the rest home. It was so good, we couldn't leave it alone and ate it all! Then our entrees - Steamed Manilla Clams for her and Grilled Local Rock Cod in another marvelously light cream sauce, arrived. We also had ordered a Beet Salad that were going to share. But, because we had such a hefty appetizer, we were too full so we had the salad boxed up to take home. But, because of the special occasion we decided to have their special Basil Cake with Fresh Berries and Heavy Cream coffee. It was a beautiful evening and we were seated outside on a little terrace with a terrific view of the harbor and the Pacific Ocean. It was really idyllic and we truly enjoyed our special time together over a marvelous meal. The outside veranda is a great place to be seated. The view is fantastic! and our experience was enhanced even further by chatting with the table next to us - a couple from Memphis! And, to add to our enjoyment, we had a terrific server, Samantha, that took exceptional care of us. It's very obvious to us that she enjoys working with the public and is highly experienced in serving. She's smart and spirited. She knew the menu extremely well and it was her recommendations (Special Pasta in Cream Sauce w/Crab and the Special Basil Cake Dessert) that provided us such a successful dinner. We were really lucky to have her for our server. Outdoor service is not easy and she did it beautifully! I know about this because in another lifetime, ago, I waited tables while working my way through school and beyond! And, just one more point - that Special Crab Pasta that we had as an appetizer was so good that at the end of our meal, we ordered one "to go!" Yup, it was that good. Who every is running that kitchen really knows how to make tremendously good sauces! Bottom line, that was one of the best meals we've had in recent memory and we eat out a lot! And, the Special Dessert was 'comped' as an Anniversary favor. Samantha took care of that little detail! Jim
(5)Marevie T.
It is with sadness that... I DIDNT TAKE A PICTURE OF MY LOBSTER ROLL! OMG WHAT WAS THAT?! IT WAS AMAZING! As soon as my BF and I got our food, we chowed down! He had prawns wrapped with bacon and it looked SO delish! But... I must say .... my lobster roll was the best thing I've ever had! They made the bread with garlic and it tasted EXACTLY how my Dad made it when I was a kid. OMG. It was awesome. I totally would come here again! But I have to say .... I didn't really like the chowder. Hate me now. I said it. Lol
(5)Leina K.
I've passed this place so many times and the parking lot has always been ridiculously busy and scared me off. Over the weekend we had some time to kill and wanted something light so we stopped in for a cup of their oh so famous soup. My friend got the clam chowder so I went for something different and got the NY clam chowder. I've had NY style before when in Seattle but this time around, what I got pretty much resembled minestrone soup. It had the same thin consistency and veggies galore. Don't get me wrong, I do like my minestrone soup when that's what I actually ordered. I don't think I'll be back if I didn't even enjoy what they're most known for.
(3)Amy M.
Food was absolutely to DIE for! If it wasn't for the terrible service, I would have given them a better rating! Our waitress, Alexa had a sour attitude and didn't even attempt to redeem herself. I will definitely be returning, regardless of our poor service.
(2)Wallace W.
Looking for oysters on the half shell we asked a nice local jeweler where we could get some. We were directed to Sam's, 3 miles north of Half Moon Bay. Parking was tough due to the large number of patrons but I found a spot after 5 minutes or so. The others in my party put our name in on the waiting list which was anticipated at 30 minutes. The online reservation system seemed not to work. We spent our wait walking along the coast trail, enjoying the seaside view and watching the locals ride the surf. After about 40 minutes we were seated outside where quarters were tight but the view was nice. Our pleasant server was very attentive and prompt despite the crowd. We had a sampling of ten oysters on the shell, two of each on the menu. They were fresh and delicious. My wife ordered a bowl of clam chowder which was excellent (I had to ask for a bite). For a main course I ordered the local rock cod which was served on lentils with pan braised Brussel sprouts. The cod was a large thick fillet and super fresh. I think this might have been the best dish among those tried by our group. My wife had the seafood salad which I tried. It was ok but I wouldn't recommend it. She liked it though. My son in law had the seafood pasta which looked pretty good and my daughter had sardines, two large fish which she enjoyed. I personally am not a fan of such large ones and they tasted a bit like mackerel. But they were a unique item. The Bloody Marys were very good and the Guinness was perfect. All in all a great place for local seafood while we were on our trip to the California coast. I wouldn't hesitate to return when we are in the area again.
(4)Patrick Gabriel L.
In between the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley and San Francisco lies another bay that some don't venture or recognize as a tourist destination unless Ritz Carlton is your standard hotel stay or you love seeing the biggest pumpkin in the world. Half Moon Bay is a place to explore in the bay area whether you are a local resident or an out of town visitor. Tucked a few miles away from downtown Half Moon Bay is this fine seaside eatery. Recognized for it's outstanding lobster roll, you will also find their clam chowder and other fried underwater fare to be stellar. Price would be its only downfall then again, it's the Bay Area where a tasty spread of culinary goodies, especially of the coastline variety will not be cheap. Besides Monterey, you won't find another seafood destination between San Francisco and Monterey of the upper echelon grade.
(5)Dorothygale T.
ehh. not as bad as the other prime location restaurants, but not great either. i've done the patio for lunch...NE chowder, not great, not authentic. a lobster roll on a stale bun, which just kills a lobster roll. went for dinner the other night, a TUESDAY...it was dead. the wait for our food was ridiculous. my dad tried blaming the kitchen, but it shouldn't take 30 minutes for a waitress to throw some gumbo (the worst attempt at gumbo west of LA I've ever had) in a cup and get 6 oysters shucked. everyone was reasonably happy with the entrees, but there was some poor attempt at chorizo on my plate and the fish on all of our plates just seemed too perfectly portioned for me to believe it was local and not bought at some fish wholesaler. and a tip...when 2 different people on opposite sides of a large table order oysters, serve them separately, not thrown on the same plate. they weren't labeled and i have no idea which ones i ate and the other diner had to wait for me to eat mine, so he could then eat his. lame. 2 of the 3 of us had to send back our wine glasses bc they were filthy...dried food inside the glass filthy. and seriously...rename your gumbo, while it may be tasty soup, it sure as hell isn't gumbo.
(2)Jasmine P.
Lives up to its rating and we return specifically for their DELICIOUS Sam's lobster roll!
(5)Akash K.
It's that age old question: why did two people who don't eat crustaceans and mollusks go to the Sam's Chowder House? To have some Hoegaarden, silly. That and have a great view of the ocean while drinking some Hoegaarden.
(3)Kenji Y.
It's a little bit overhyped. You can skip their clam chowder despite their store being called a "Chowder House." Expect a terrible parking situation. Just park on the street and walk over. They have plenty of seatings so waiting is a hit or miss. Their salmon burger was pricey but delicious. Service is VERY friendly and the view is great. It's a nice play, just a little overhyped and overpriced.
(3)Edward W.
I came on a Friday afternoon around 5pm and we were immediately seated. Apparently, ordering togo and eating in are treated the same by the kitchen so it isn't any faster to order togo. We shared the new england clam chowder among six people since I just wanted to taste it. The bowl would have been perfect to share among five people because each person would get one full cup. I thought the clam chowder was pretty decent since it wasn't too salty although it was a bit watery. The lobster roll was amazing! There was so much lobster in each bite and the bread was really buttery. I thought the coleslaw didn't have too much mayo, but the chips were really oily. The lobster roll was a bit pricey, but definitely worth a try. Make sure to grab a window seat because the view is amazing!
(4)Frank C.
Lot of enery, lot of fun. Great food, service and cocktails. Staying at The Beach House right next door this weekend and lunch at Sams is a must. Lobster Roll Sandwich is off the hook and better than most in the country. So good my girl ( Melissa) would only let me have one bite the last and first time we were here. 5'3" 119LBs and can eat like a linebacker. The Ahi Poke ( Hawaiian Chunky Sashmi mix) was major Ono as us Hawaiian Bruddas would say. Seafood Pasta was killer. Clam Chowder was Bomb. This time my own Lobster Roll Sandwich for Damn sure. All good things are worth a Lil wait. So just Chill and get ready to Grind. Frankie C. Professional Entertainer
(4)Darlene M.
Good food with a beautiful view. I'd like to come back on a warm summer day and eat outside. I sampled everything at our table. I liked the Maryland Blue Crab Cake and the Shrimp Scampi the most. Seafood spaghetti was good but a tad too spicy for my liking. I ordered the Lobster Roll but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. There was a hefty portion of lobster which was great, but it seemed dry & cold. Maybe a nice sauce and a warm, toasted bun would have been nice. Otherwise, it's overpriced for what you get. I'll pass on this next time.
(4)Tumay A.
We went to Gilroy Garlic festival today and had to leave pretty quickly due to the excessive heat. On our way back we pulled over to eat at the Sam's chowder house! As San Francisco residents we are spoiled with such a good food I know that. But this place was way too over priced for what they got. The food isn't bad at all but it also not that impressive. I ordered a margarita hoping it wouldn't taste like a sugary margarita mix; it did. Just an around of drinks for 4 cost us 70 bucks.. I don't mind paying that kind of money for quality cocktails but for some cheap beers / house margarita and a Jameson shot? I am still giving 3 stars for the service ( great waitress ), the view , and fairly good food.
(3)Tony C.
I've heard and read a lot of great things about Sam's Chowder House, especially their Lobster Roll. We decided to take a gander at their establishment, my advice, if you go on a weekend, you'll definitely need reservations. We made our reservations and when we arrived, we were seated quickly. Service was adequate and timely, nothing special. We started off with a bowl of clam chowder, it's not thick like most chowders but it really lacked taste, we had to season it with some pretty heavy pepper. We split the Lobster Roll as it is a good sized portion, you have been warned. Now they advertise this to be one of the 5 best sandwiches in America. I'm not really sure who did the voting because this sandwich sucked! The bread was buttered but very dry, the lobster was chewy and almost tasted like it was imitation lobster and even that had no taste. They advertise how they smother it in butter...this was so dry that I had to drink water a few times just to get it down. For the price, definitely not worth it, many other establishments around that are better....I've tasted 10x better sandy's for $8.....a waste of $23 that's for sure!
(2)Melissa M.
Felt that the food was not perfectly explained in the menu, but tasted fairly decent considering. We felt incredibly rushed even though we went for dinner hour. Had to ask our server Emily to come back a few times to take our order after we had already ordered the appetizers; but then she left us for a very long time. It kind of felt like punishment. Oh well. We enjoyed being together since it was a special date for us. After we ordered, come to find out that the "light touch" of peppers was really "covered in" peppers on the special corn chowder of the day. I was nervous to say anything to Emily, but she happily exchanged it for clam chowder for me. That was nice of her. Overall, an odd visit to a new location stop for us.
(3)Hungry Man M.
I had the fish and chips with an Anchor Steam beer to wash it all down. The meal was well seasoned and went down easy. I was really hungry and this dish hit the spot. I really liked the fries because they too were seasoned. Prices were what to expect when eating at a seafood restaurant. Including tip I spent $27 and some change.
(4)Vanessa P.
"Sam's eco-friendly menu includes the same fresh daily seafood that has won Sam's Chowder House numerous awards, such as Top five "Best Sandwiches in America" by NBC's The Today Show for the restaurants Maine Lobster Roll" We came here to celebrate my mom's birthday! We started off with the Captain's Platter (4 Oysters, 4 Cherrystone Clams, 4 Chilled Shrimp, Ahi tuna poke, Seafood ceviche). The Ahi tuna poke was by far the BEST thing on the platter!!! It was seasoned perfectly and was left wanting more!!! Because we were at a chowder house, I felt it was fitting to get clam chowder! And all I can say is that it was heaven in a bowl! I've been slumming it for so long that I'm used to Progresso's canned clam chowder and Sam's chowder was probably the best fresh clam chowder I've EVER had!!! For entrees, I had the cioppino and my boyfriend and my mom had the lobster roll. The cioppino had lots and lots of fresh seafood! The portion was sooooo big that I ate this for 3 separate meals!!! Although I was happy with my cioppino, I was a little sad that I didn't order the lobster roll - it was simply AMAZING! Huge chunks of lobster (that weren't doused in mayo! yay!!) on a perfectly crisp bun! Everything was absolutely amazing! If it wasnt' soooooo far away from Sacramento, I would frequent this place more often! Believe the hype - it's real!! P.S. Park on the main road for easier exit
(5)Pauline D.
Having experienced a stellar meal here over two years ago, we were pretty excited to finally stop in for lunch again. It was New Year's Day, and the wait was an expected 45-60 min. They've adopted buzzers so views of the ocean are a great distraction, and there's an outdoor bar for those inclined. Coming from a hike with our pooch, we opted to sit on the patio. Service was excruciatingly slow (again, expected given the holiday). Ok, one thing that bugs me, having spent a number of years in the industry myself, is not being asked how the meal is and if anything else is needed. I get it, you're in the weeds, but don't come by and plop food in front of me without a single word, especially if you are our primary server! The ultimate zinger: standing by our table and fishing for our check in her apron while asking the table NEXT to us how their meal was. Sigh. Definitely try: - Any of the daily fresh catches. Ask what just came in and get it. On the pricier side but well-executed. - The lobster roll, of course. Splurge a little for this one, it's way better than the crab sandwich. Skip: - Ahi tuna poke. Nothing good or bad to say about the flavor, but smallest portion ever. - Clam chowder, both New England and Manhattan. I know everyone's gonna try one or the other anyway, but here's your warning: they're not particularly clammy or bursting with great seafood flavor. Quite your average soup. Thick and creamy or canned tomato lacking in fresh tomato flavor. - House smoked salmon salad. Interesting flavor combo, though not one I want to come across again. - Bread. I know it's complimentary, and I usually can't resist sourdough, but it sucks. A bit of time warmed in the oven really wouldn't hurt, because spreading chilled butter on cold bread requires skills I just don't possess. Stop by on an off-time or day, order the right thing, and enjoy.
(3)Yuka R.
The best Lobster rolls? I liked it but little bit pricy for the portion. I think Sam's chowder is the best at the restaurant. You must try it. Very nice service and atmosphere is relaxing. Kids friendly!
(4)Vivian L.
I came here on a Saturday night with a friend when we were crazy hungry for some food after a nice hike. I ordered the New England Clam Chowder and he ordered the lobster roll, with a calamari to share. Most of the food was pretty good, except for the fact that one side of the bread on the lobster roll had some weird burnt stinging taste that wasn't burnt. So one star off for the food... I mean it's a $23 dollar sandwich so he was expecting much better. Now my biggest gripe was the service. Our waiter was very attentive in taking our order and it seemed like he knew he was doing. He came to our table 2-3 times in the beginning: one to take our order, one to give us our food, and three to refill our waters. My friend ordered a beer, and when the waiter came to fill our waters, the waiter asked him if he wanted a refill of the beer. The answer was yes. We're eating our food and a very long while later, the refill beer still hadn't arrived. That's when things started getting irritating- we could see the beer on the counter, and it had just been sitting out for a really long time. Our waiter had clearly forgotten the beer, and so my friend ended up going up to the counter and getting the beer himself. To make matters worse, our waiter never came back after the waters. We watched him as he went to every single table around where we were sitting- I even made eye contact with him and he still never showed up to our table. It was incredibly frustrating, and after a while we decided to estimate how much the bill would be, so we could just leave the money on the table and go. Right as we left our money on the table, the waiter walks by and goes, "Oh, did I give you your receipt yet?" We said that the receipt wasn't necessary, since we had overestimated the pricing of some items. Our waiter told us that by law he had to give us our receipt, so we waited. When he printed the receipt out, we found out that we were off by 33 cents, so we ended up leaving money in the front and left. Clearly the waiter hadn't seen the money because he ran out after us and went "Oh, I don't mean to be picky but you're off by 33 cents." We told him we left the money on the table, and then the waiter proceeded to ask if anything went wrong. We told him our situation and said that it was totally fine. But he insisted that we talk to his manager, he wanted us to leave as happy customers, and the usual stuff. So we waited for him to get his manager, even though we really didn't want to. He brought his manager to us and she was totally confused at what was going on. It was super awkward because they did absolutely nothing- the manager basically listened to a rendition of our story and summarized how we felt. Uh, what?! Then we left. Now, I know that this was just one experience out of thousands of people eating here, but it certainly was an experience. I'm not saying I wouldn't come back here- it's not like I would remember which waiter or anything but still.
(1)Carla B.
How do you ruin a lobster roll? The chef at Sam's has the answer. Was served a large mess of overcooked, warm lobster with no dressing or celery or any of the usual lobster roll accoutrements. The lobster was pretty tasteless. So sad. I know you're paying for the view and the food is secondary, but it still should be edible! Anyone truly wanting a lobster roll in the area that is delicious, should head to the Old Port Lobster House in Redwood City.
(2)James D.
Let me preface this by saying, I am a longtime Sam's customer/supporter, but after today's experience, I don't know if I will be returning. I had a reservation for 4 and was promptly sat with my lady, sister and mother. We were greeted by our server (who I won't identify by name since she was very pleasant) promptly and drink order taken. However, for long durations of the meal, our server would go missing and drinks would go empty and used dishes cluttering the table. I usually give servers the benefit of the doubt, since I too worked in the customer service industry, but even as the meal progressed and the restaurant got less crowded, she would still be no where to be found for long periods of time and drinks gone unfilled. The food was on par with past experiences, with the exception of my mother's steak which came out well done as opposed to the medium rare she ordered. The straw that broke the camel's back was the fact the bathrooms were not in service, with the exception of a single-stall bathroom. Without going into details, my mother is disabled, which requires her to have constant access to a restroom. When you have a restaurant full of people and only a single-stall bathroom, that's just unacceptable. My mother had to stand in a line for nearly 20 mins in the middle of our meal. Having to wait that long is bad enough. But because my mother's health condition, she was also waiting in a lot of pain.....unacceptable. One star for this experience is being generous.
(1)Fabian F.
Nice food and great view. Both the lobster roll and the crab cakes were very good. Without a reservation, you will face a very long wait though. Parking is easy if you park on the street before their lot.
(5)Nicole M.
This place has aaaaaamazing food! The seafood is so great, I have not had anything bad here. The service is really good, they let me bring my dog onto the outside patio, and they are very attentive. The lobster roll is great, the chowder is the best, the appetizers are all so good. The service that I've gotten has always been really good. There is usually a wait but they never make you feel rushed once you sit down. This place is worth the wait. If you are going to go all the way over to Half Moon Bay then plan to wait but the food and atmosphere is well worth it.
(5)Merecedes J.
Services: excellent !! 5 stars. My server is kinda cute and he took care my drinks Food: 3 stars. I dunno wassup with all the hype about the lobster roll... My mama could of take out the boiling meats from dat lobster, add some mayo, and stick it into them bread for me I waited for 30mins... Why da f*** dey need 4 bitxhes to get fools to the table... Dey got this vibrating shit to let u know when ur table is rdy... I be back if I am around... Is alright .. Peace bitxhes !
(3)Corey T.
Decided I wanted some good clam chowder on A Friday. So we went all the way to Half Moon Bay from Hayward to find out that Sam's is a sell out. Someone bought them out for Friday night for a special event. So no customers allowed. The Least they could have done is updated their Yelp for hours of service for they day. Will not be going back there because they don't seem to care about their customers.
(1)Kelly D.
I was visiting Half Moon Bay with my boyfriend and we asked around our hotel for the best place we could grab a nice seafood dinner. After receiving a couple recommendations, we settled on Sam's Chowder House. The place was pretty crowded for a mid-week evening and given it was near closing hours. The atmosphere left a lot to be desired as it looked like a typical Joe's Crab Shack. We ordered the Manila clams, lobster roll and halibut. The Manila clams were decent and fresh, but it wasn't mind blowing that I would go back for more. The lobster roll was quite a disappointment. Acclaimed as one of the best in the US, I was beyond excited to try it, but was left confused as to how this accolade was given. However, if this review was solely based on our order of halibut, I would give this place 5 stars. It was absolutely the perfect blend of spice and sweetness. The fish was perfectly cooked with a perfectly crispy outer layer. I would order the halibut any given day. Overall service was good. The only reason I would go back to Sam's Chowder House is for the halibut.
(3)Sindie Y.
My friend bragged about this place before I even got to HMB! She was right about the lobster roll and calamari, the rest was just average. Lobster roll - did not have too much mayo, or fillers, the bread was toasted, it was actually excellent. This is 5 stars for me. Calamari - I like the batter they use for this, it was not too think and it didn't taste greasy. 4 stars. Salad - I can't remember the name of it. It was good except for the beet root. A little bit "earthy" for my taste. (Yes, I had better!) 3 stars. Clam chowder - it was just ok, nothing special; I had better. 3 stars. Gumbo - it was ok - they make it non- spicy. But then again, I never had the "real" gumbo so didn't know what to expect. 3 stars. Fried oyster - excellent. 4 stars The service was good both time.
(3)Carol W.
ALWAYS a great experience! Lobster roll exc...even their albacore tuna sandwich is better than average. Key lime pie...umumgood! Great views; exc service... our waiter this time was Brian Ely...outstanding!
(4)Charlene S.
I wanted to LOVE this place. It's a beautiful location and has the makings of a really great seafood place. Unfortunately, I felt like the food was subpar and overpriced. Clam chowder is still better at fisherman's warf in SF, the lobster rolls has no comparison to Luke's in NY, fish and chips were good, ceviche was mediocre. I won't be coming back as it's not worth the drive to pay so much money for food that is only ok. On the bright side, come early or make a reservation to get outside seating on a good weather day. They also have live music during the day on weekends.
(2)Heidi M.
I recommend this place to friends and visiting guests. Terrific clam chowder and seafood, good service, and an overall good time! Only issue is that because they're insanely busy, parking is limited--especially Friday-Sunday, so make reservations if possible or dine there during the week.
(4)Shirley V.
Battled hours of traffic on a beautiful Sunday noon just to get here and wait an additional 50 minutes, so I was expecting great things. At least the weather and the view were enjoyable during the wait. The chowder was pretty good. It was on the watery side, as a lot of reviewers mentioned, but I was okay with that since I don't need soup ladened with thickeners. I found clams and potatoes a plenty. Shrimp scampi on linguine was on the bland side. Smoked salmon salad was satisfactory; my parents seemed to enjoy it. Lobster roll. At $21, I expected some kind of amazing, unforgettable lobster experience, but the most I remember was dry bread (yes, even despite the butter) and dry/overcooked lobster. It was so massive, I couldn't effectively shove it into my mouth so I had to fork&knife it. Flavor was mostly dry bread and dry lobster and butter, which could have used some salt or citrus to cut through it. Not worth the title of being one of America's top 5 sandwiches. Overall, wouldn't make my way here again to wait for so long for expensive and so-so food and service.
(3)John P.
Always love coming here. Fast friendly service unless they are packed, which happens. Still friendly,, but not as fast. Best clam chowder. Excellent oysters Rockefeller. Super ocean view. Stop off on your way up or down Hwy-1. Try it . . . You'll like it
(5)Darlene M.
Is over rated one word or two? Oh well, that's what this came out to be! Overrated! I'm starting to think it's two words or maybe one. The best lobster roll according to NBC? We probably went there during an off day. We ditched our Saturday plans of working out because the weather was so beautiful that my fiance suggested we go and try this place. We had to park off the road on the side of the street because there was a ton of people. When we got there, the hostess said it would be an hour wait. It was a little over an hour, but whos counting? Oh yea, ME! I was hungry and I couldn't wait to try the BEST lobster roll ever! Oh please.. The lobster roll did have a lot of meat, but the flavor was missing. The bread was a little too soft for us. We like our bread with a little crunch and there was a ton if chopped celery. It did come with a side of chips which tasted a bit like Lays Potato chips. Nothing special. The Clam Chowder was good, but a little bit watery. There were huge pieces of potatoes and few clams. On the menu, it said the Clam Chowder came with bacon, but I didn't see any. I added the oyster crackers they give you in my soup which tasted good. My fiance LOVED this dessert they had. It was an Italian Style Affogato, which I forgoto and had to look up online. It was two small scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream with a shot of Expresso. I didn't know what it was at first, so I asked the server if it has any peanut products and he said, he doesn't know because he has NEVER tried it and walked away. Didn't even bother checking for me since I'm allergic to peanuts. The best thing about this place is the view. We had a table next to a window and the day was absolutley gorgeous. Will I come back? Maybe.. From all the reviews that are on here, I think we did come on a bad day. Not soon, maybe later...
(3)Kristina W.
My parents & I came at 2pm on a Saturday with no reservation - they estimated a 45 min wait, but it ended up only being 35 - plus, you can walk along the beach while waiting for your pager to ring. (We literally sprinted back to the restaurant from the beach because we didn't want them to give away our seats). We ordered: Sam's Lobster Roll - It was undoubtedly good, but I don't think it's worthy of the "Top 5 Sandwiches in the US" title... also $21?! This is something that you should just try once in your life - I don't think I'd come back for it. Captain's Platter (4 oysters, 4 cherrystone clams, 4 chilled shrimp, Ahi tuna poke, Seafood ceviche) - the oysters were especially fresh and delicious, and I also liked the ahi tuna poke. The others were pretty good, but not outstanding. New Orleans Style Gumbo, Manhattan Clam Chowder, New England Clam Chowder - my favorite of the 3 was the New England, and they were very generous with the clams and other ingredients. WARNING: the cup is actually the size of a bowl, and the bowl is the size of.. a Pho bowl (basically 3-normal sized bowls)... so order the cup unless you're sharing! OVERALL: This restaurant definitely caters to tourists, so it is extremely overpriced (our meal for 3 ended up being $100+). However, the lobster roll, raw oysters, and New England Clam Chowder are worth trying and the restaurant's view is beautiful. Go once for the experience.
(3)Heather K.
Wholly LOBSTER ROLL Batman!!! For starters, we had the Ahi Poke, which was yummy and had a nice little spicy kick. It was a nice, lite starter that allowed us room in our tummies to enjoy the "main event" - the lobster roll. As other Yelpers have stated the lobster roll is phenomenal. We both got the lobster roll and both were overflowing with, plump, red, warm, succulent lobster. In fact, our sandwiches were so loaded it was a little difficult to pick up and eat - but no complaints here, I certainly managed. Not only is the lobster something to brag about, the roll that it's served in is a golden, buttery lobster pillow that allows you to truly enjoy the flavor of the lobster. I should mention the parking - upon our arrival the parking lot was packed, not a empty spot in the house, people were parking this way and that in spaces that weren't even spaces and people were parked along Cabrillo Highway. Our initial thought was this place it going to be crazy busy inside and a super long wait - but it wasn't! Don't let the parking situation deter you!!! We only waited about 20 minutes for an outside table. Not only was our food out of this world deliciousness, the weather was beautiful and the views spectacular. If you get a chance, sit outside, it will only add to your dinning experience!
(5)Leslie C.
The view from this place is amazing, but the food was ok not impressed at all with their ceviche was bland with no flavor, and the popcorn shirmp was soggie and had no flavor what so ever so was very disappointed. Our waitress was not very attentive and so it seemed like our bus boy was our waiter :((((.
(2)Melissa R.
Nothing worse than a place being known for something and neglecting the rest of the menu. Not here! I had perfectly seasoned and cooked Grilled Fish Sandwich. It had garlic aioli, grilled peppers and greens, on a soft brioche bun. A side that I particularly enjoyed was the coleslaw. It had balanced sweet and savory flavors with crisp cabbage and carrots. Others at my table ooohed and awed over their fried oysters and lobster rolls and for once I was able to enjoy a meal that was not a "claim to fame". Five stars for a restaurant being friendly to the anaphylacticlly prone customer!
(5)Sarah G.
Always had the best Cioppino. Today... Yuck! $27.95 for a bowl of old and dry seafood. This dish must be a money maker for the restaurant as it is just a diluted, flavorless stock with a little of the "getting old", overcooked, dry, leftover, seafood. So sad. How you dare to serve this?
(1)Athena L.
Named in the Top Five Sandwiches in America by NBC's The Today Show, I someday, would have to try Sam's famous Lobster Roll. Today was the day!! It was an impromptu decision, and I'm glad I made it. Everything about the drive to Half Moon Bay, the seating, food, atmosphere and even weather, was so perfect.. like a [super] well planned date! We started off with a drinks--I had a Bellini which was delicious and went great with my food. Then the two of us shared: Captain's Platter which is a sampler consisting of 4 clams, 4 oysters, 4 chilled shrimps, tuna poki and seafood ceviche. The oysters were my favorite and clams least cause I had to drown it in sauce to cover the fishy flavor. We each had a chowder; one New England and one Manhattan. They were both tasty but the New England had waaaay more clams and Manhattan was more broth and potatoes. Then last but not least, we shared the famous Lobster Roll and it had chunks of lobster tumbling out from the sides. There was so much lobster we didn't even have to fight for the ones that fell! The bun was light and toasted with butter --SO GOOD, and the lobster was also tossed with butter and topped with some celery. After finishing every last piece of lobster on our plates, the bill came and it was a few dollars shy of a hundred. Although this was an expensive lunch, we loved every bit of it and may "randomly" stumble upon here again next weekend! :P
(4)David W.
Best clam chowder ever! For me personally the lobster sandwich was flat in taste no flavor and it breaks the bank at $27 for a small amount of lobster, coleslaw, French fries and a bun.
(3)Valeria R.
Beautiful view. Came to half moon bay for a mid-week work trip-- was surprised that a lot of places were closed for dinner. Found Sam's Chowder House on yelp-- short wait, staff was friendly, food was tasty. The presentation of the food could be nicer given the prices. Highly recommend the lobster roll!
(3)Yuriy K.
The all famous lobster roll is overrated... tasted like caned lobster roll. My wife ordered the cured salmon, everyone at the table tried and liked. The New Orleans gumbo is good, but needs a kick. Local salmon was well prepared and delicious.
(3)Wyndon P.
Went with my wife and her grandmother on a Saturday, making sure we got there before they opened. This place is ridiculously crowded on weekends, and if you show up mid-service, it's going to be a long wait. Additionally, the parking is INSANE. If you get there late, there will be zero spots next to the restaurant and you will have to park across the highway, where you'll be sharing parking along the road with surfers and fishers and have to watch out crossing the two lanes. Coming out of the restaurant's lot after our meal was nuts as you are at the mercy of people letting you into the flow of traffic. Now that they have a branch in Palo Alto, I wouldn't really go out of my way. I ordered chowder as a starter, and it's bacony and oniony, with good fresh-tasting clams, and the soup is more brothy than creamy. It's really rather good but no so much so that I'd drive all the way from Sunnyvale on a regular basis to have it, especially if I had to wait for it. We also shared an order of the calamari appetizer, but in my opinion it showed up a bit cold and a little flavorless and a tad overly oily. Definitely needed salt and the cocktail sauce wasn't much of a help, as it tasted bottled. We also ordered the seafood bruschetta with shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, avocado and tomato. I sampled one of the scallops and it was okay. The marinade was fine, but nothing spectacular. Looking over the menu, we all passed on the lobster roll. It's always tough to justify something that's so insubstantial with a price tag north of 20 bucks. I mean, I've had good ones at Lobster Shack and other places, but I always end up casting my eyes about for more food when I get one because they're generally so small in comparison to the price you pay. I'm aware this is Sam's flagship item, and perhaps I erred in not ordering it. One day if I'm back in the neighborhood and it's not busy, maybe I'll take the plunge. Our mains this day consisted of the fish and chips, the grilled sardines and the swordfish. Like the calamari, the fried fish seemed under-seasoned and the fries were mostly overdone- very tough on the outside and somewhat hollow. Maybe half of them were passable, which ended up being fine because there were a lot of them. They do give plenty of fish, but there wasn't a lot of wow factor to it. They were moist and cooked well, however. Maybe Old Bay or something other than the somewhat plain tartar sauce could've made it better. A squeeze of lemon definitely helped. The swordfish didn't impress my wife's grandmother. I tried a small bite. It was good if a bit dry. I generally wrap swordfish or shark in foil and steam it in the pouch, so maybe grilling it dried it out excessively. Sundried tomatoes are personal avoidance item for me, so I can't talk about the side dish it came with. I loved the sardines, even if they were a bit overcooked. There were dry bits, especially at the tail and along the spine, but the meat was generally not too dry. The crispy grilled skins were fantastic, though, and the fishes were seasoned perfectly. I really wished it had been my dish, so I ended up trading my wife my fish and chips. The fact the sardines came whole on the bone threw my wife off, so she was happy to get rid of them. Her loss. Neither of us cared for the vegetables that were the side; roasted cauliflower, leeks, golden raisins and olive tapenade. It was overly sweet due to the raisins and for me and my wife it just wasn't something we enjoyed. The bread was quite good and we refilled more than once. I'd like to get the chowder bread bowl if that's the bread that it's served in. The service was solid. Our guy (don't remember his name, but a young guy with a beard, super friendly and gregarious) was on it most of service and was super capable, filling beverages and bread before we even asked for it. At one point we had a water spill and he was kind and patient. As it happened, the table next to ours had a spill of their own within minutes and he was just as cool and calm there. No hint of irritation or condescension. Nice guy. They had a LOT of servers on hand in anticipation of the rush to come. As we were wrapping up our meal, the restaurant was indeed filling up and by the time we went out, there were people sitting in the waiting area awaiting their turn. In short: very good chowder and the sardines were great, good, efficient service. I probably won't make the drive to Half Moon Bay specifically for the experience in the future, though, mostly due to the incredible wait times and traffic if you're not early.
(3)Linna S.
I've been to Sam's for 4times already. I love their food, the steam clams with wine and pancetta, cioppino, the key lime pie. They all amazing. The only thing that I dont like about this place is the service. 4 times I came here, I always having a problem with my drink. I have to keep asking for my drink maybe 2-5times every visit. The server having this attitude like I dont care, I dont have to serve you good. You will come here anyway. Well.. U guys are wrong, eventhough I like the food but it doesnt mean you should give your bad service and there is a lot of places that serve a good food with good service.
(2)Jaine W.
I don't normally give 5 stars but this place is really good. Note: Make a reservation, this place is always packed. Service: Our waitress was very attentive and always smiling. View: Beautiful view of the ocean Food: Delicious --Clam chowder - super good with lots of clams and not super starchy. Note: their cup can feed 2. Their bowl size can feed 4. --Steamed Clams - Deliciously tasty. If u are not into salty food, u might not like it but that wasn't an issue with me. --Lobster Roll - chunks of lobster on a buttery roll. Very very good.
(5)