Sam's Chowder House

4.7

5510 Reviews

$30 and under

Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

Great for outdoor dining
Great for scenic views
Good for special occasions

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Sam's is open for indoor & outdoor dining, and takeout. Serving lunch through dinner seven days a week. Award-winning, fresh New England style seafood, in a casual setting overlooking the ocean. Live Maine lobster, fresh local crab (in season), fish and chips, fried calamari, delicious clam chowder, award-winning lobster rolls, farm fresh salads, Cioppino and more! Gluten-free, kids menu, and vegetarian available.

Reservations are for inside the restaurant - please note that we can't hold tables in the bar area or outside patio. Walk-ins are also welcome! Featured on NBC’s The Today Show, named “Best Outdoor Dining in the Bay Area” by SF Magazine, and “Best Seafood Restaurant in San Mateo County” by San Jose Magazine.

We look forward to seeing you!

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Seafood, American
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:30 am–8:30 pm Fri 11:30 am–9:00 pm Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–8:30 pm
Phone number
(650) 712-0245 ext. 1
Website
http://www.samschowderhouse.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Lewis Rossman
Catering
Already found the perfect spot for your corporate event, graduation party or family reunion? Sam's ChowderMobile will bring its award-winning seafood to the location of your choice! Order Sam's famous Lobster Rolls, New England Clam Chowder, Fried Calamari and more, off the traditional menu — or have the ChowderMobile arrive fully equipped to prepare an authentic Lobster Clambake for your special event. For more information, contact Sam's Catering Manager: (650) 712-1766 or events@samschowderhouse.com
Private party facilities
Amazing sunsets, award-winning seafood and spectacular oceanfront dining. Perfect for family gatherings, business events, weddings, receptions, and rehearsal dinners. Oceanfront private & semi-private spots for your special event. Oceanfront beach weddings. Full restaurant buyout available.
Private party contact
Mary Ratkovic: (650) 712-0245 ext. 4

Location
4210 Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Neighborhood
Half Moon Bay
Parking details
There are two lots available, and there is also parking on the street and in the harbor.
Entertainment
Enjoy live music from blues to jazz! May - October: Every Friday night from 5:30-8:30pm (inside bar) and Saturdays & Sundays from 1-4pm (outside bar, weather permitting). November - April: Every Friday & Saturday night from 5:30-8:30pm (inside bar)
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 5,510 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Peninsula
Great for outdoor dining
Peninsula
Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sam's Chowder House offers "amazing fresh seafood" with a beautiful ocean view. Guests rave about the "lobster rolls and clam chowder," along with attentive service and lively atmosphere featuring live music. Perfect for special occasions, it's praised for its "fantastic location" and consistently "excellent service and food."

5,510 Reviews

T
Teresa
San Francisco
38 reviews
5.0
38 reviews
Dined on February 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Love to go to Sam’s for a relaxed night out. The food is consistently good. We watched the sun set as the waves crashed ashore. The setting helps you feel you’re far away- who needs a vacation with Sam’s around? We started with oysters-none fresher. Then we both had the fish & chips- large, tender pieces of white fish, battered and fried to perfection. The fries were seasoned perfectly. The only (small) criticism is that the Cole slaw has too much onion in it. We were too full for dessert but enjoyed a cafe mocha. All in all a great place to celebrate our anniversary.
Is this helpful?
N
Nanu
VIP
Greater Boston
92 reviews
4.0
92 reviews
Dined on February 2, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed our meal very much. The grilled octopus was terrific as well as the fish we ordered: Halibut and sole. The upside down blood orange cake was very good too. Hope to be back again one day.
Is this helpful?
s
sandy
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was our Anniversary so we were given a great window table and the view was wonderful. They wished us happy anniversary as we were seated. We had the lobster roll with fries and coleslaw and it was so delicious . Lobster was so plentiful it could of fed two people. At the end of meal they brought us a large piece of cake that was so delicious for our anniversary . What a wonderful surprise. The whole evening was made special by Sam’s chowder house.
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D
Diane
Jackson Hole
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing fresh fish of all varieties- the crab cakes are well worth the price and are purely crab with no fillers. Our terrific server Jacques, helped my Husband decide on the Halibut which was so fresh and well prepared- and yes the soft serve lives up to its advertising is worth it !
Is this helpful?
p
pritee
Jackson Hole
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of our favorite places to eat when in half moon bay
Is this helpful?
j
jims1001
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The foods taste good but a little pricey compared to same level of other restaurants. Will definitely go back once awhile.
Is this helpful?
c
carol
VIP
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 23, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ive been coming here weekly for several years. Excelent food, service and view !!
Is this helpful?
L
Lewis
VIP
San Francisco
56 reviews
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great services free.birthdaybdessert for niece 33 came from nyc whole family. Great gumbo best since New Orleans where I went to med school. Servers all great
Is this helpful?
EM
ErmelindaM
VIP
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really good experience from arrival. Seated prompty (with reservations on open table), good food and friendly service. Views are great also.
Is this helpful?
M
Mary
Sacramento
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on January 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We went to dinner for New Years Day. The staff was great, the food was incredible!! Loved everything about this place!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Sam's Chowder House offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 712-0245 ext. 1.

Sam's Chowder House is rated 4.7 stars by 5510 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

Order delivery or takeout

4210 Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Additional information

Neighborhood
Half Moon Bay
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:30 am–8:30 pm Fri 11:30 am–9:00 pm Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–8:30 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Seafood, American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
There are two lots available, and there is also parking on the street and in the harbor.
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Lewis Rossman
Entertainment
Enjoy live music from blues to jazz! May - October: Every Friday night from 5:30-8:30pm (inside bar) and Saturdays & Sundays from 1-4pm (outside bar, weather permitting). November - April: Every Friday & Saturday night from 5:30-8:30pm (inside bar)
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.samschowderhouse.com/
Phone number
(650) 712-0245 ext. 1
Catering
Already found the perfect spot for your corporate event, graduation party or family reunion? Sam's ChowderMobile will bring its award-winning seafood to the location of your choice! Order Sam's famous Lobster Rolls, New England Clam Chowder, Fried Calamari and more, off the traditional menu — or have the ChowderMobile arrive fully equipped to prepare an authentic Lobster Clambake for your special event. For more information, contact Sam's Catering Manager: (650) 712-1766 or events@samschowderhouse.com
Private party facilities
Amazing sunsets, award-winning seafood and spectacular oceanfront dining. Perfect for family gatherings, business events, weddings, receptions, and rehearsal dinners. Oceanfront private & semi-private spots for your special event. Oceanfront beach weddings. Full restaurant buyout available.
Private party contact
Mary Ratkovic: (650) 712-0245 ext. 4

Sam's Chowder House

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Menu

What 5,510 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Sam's Chowder House offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Sam's Chowder House restaurant rated?

Is Sam's Chowder House currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information