Ocean Terrace

We stayed at the Ritz for an art auction event (shout out to Park West). We had a couple hours to kill so we decided to grab a quick bite for a late lunch. First off, you should wait to get seated. Some people were just making themselves comfortable in front of the fireplace. We ordered:- Crab and artichoke dip with sourdough instead of chips. Very generous amount of crab however, the dip itself tasted bland. - clam chowder - decent bowl of clam chowder- kids grilled salmon - it was cooked fine but could you use a lemon wedge or some sauce. Chips were good The oyster bar looked good and so did the hot chocolate that many other people were ordering. Service: I asked for fresh ground pepper for the clam chowder, and they just handed me grounded pepper from a different table. Though I understand that it could be a distance to the kitchen, but for the amount that you're paying, they need to add more staff. Our server was nice but the service was extremely slow. My son did didn't get his chocolate milk that came with the kids meal until he was finished with his meal. Obviously the view was amazing, but considering that it was December, it was quite windy and cold and there weren't any heat lamps available near us either. I can imagine a better experience in the spring or summer.

We came here for lunch on a really beautiful Saturday! Service was pretty good/prompt, and the view was absolutely spectacular. The food was pretty average, especially for the price. I got a glass of prosecco while my husband got a beer. We shared the soft pretzel and king salmon poke bowl and both were ok. The pretzel was good, but neither of us liked the mustard on the side. The king salmon poke bowl was very average, definitely wouldn't return for it. Really, the view makes the experience here! When they found out we were celebrating my birthday, they were so kind to bring out a beautiful complementary pumpkin tart dessert which was delicious!

Expensive menu to be frank, but the ambiance on a sunny day can't be beat. We ordered the seafood tower and shared it amongst 3 of us as a pre-dinner bite. We also got some beers, cocktails, and Diet Coke. It's a lovely time eating fresh seafood and watching the golfers finish their 18th hole. I'm longing to return!

Great place to eat lobster roll and clam chowder overlooking the golf course with an ocean view! Service was efficient, friendly and very personable.

I have mixed feelings about this place (as seen by my individual ratings below). As a whole, that atmosphere is lovely and is a MUST EXPERIENCE. This is a great place for a date or to celebrate an anniversary, a place to bring your parents, or a nice place to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery. This is the type of place you MUST TRY ONCE, or come back once a year and is definitely not your everyday type of place; here is why:Scenery: 10/5 if possible. Even when gloomy, the sounds of the waves and the cool ocean breeze is amazing. You get to overlook the 18th green and see golfers finish. If you come at the right time, you will hear someone playing the bagpipes, giving it the highlands feel.Food: 4/5. Taking price out of consideration, the food here is good. The crab and artichoke dip is a must have, the oysters were surprisingly fresh and cleaned well. I would pass on the clam chowder. The drinks are also amazing but the hot chocolate is definitely the way to go (not on the menu when we went). They have a great selection of wines by the glass and bottle and a great selection of cocktails.Service: 3/5. The staff are SUPER friendly. Just as you would expect at a Ritz. However, it is a bit slow, either due to being understaffed or just the sheer distance between all the different outdoor table areas. If you are patient and not in a hurry, this won't be a problem. Just make sure to flag down your waiter when you are ready to order anything!PRICE: 2/5. This is where the near 3 star rating probably comes from. You pay an arm, leg, and maybe a liver to eat here. You are essentially paying for the view and atmosphere. The food and service itself at any other establishment would not be worth it.Note: make a reservation online! When we arrived on a Saturday afternoon, the wait was approx. 40 minutes. With the online reservation, they do take a deposit, but that is returned to your credit card upon checkin.TLDR: I would HIGHLY recommend if visiting the area. This, to me, is a place that people must experience at least once! If price is a factor, order a couple of apps and drinks during the middle of the day (i.e. don't eat a full meal) just to enjoy the scenery. If you are lucky, experiencing the sunset here would be amazing!!

Service was good, they prioritize folks who are staying at the hotel which is understandable. The burger was a bit dry, not worth the high price tag. The lobster roll was tasty! Could eat the homemade chips and ketchup any day. 2 draft beers + 2 sandwiches ~ $115 (before tip)

The ambiance here was nothing short of amazing. However, the food was disappointing. Maybe my expectations were set too high but the food seemed mediocre, especially for the price. Service here was average. Meh.

I heard my brother and his wife had a great experience at this place so I was excited to try this place while visiting. First of all the location is fabulous. However, the food was my biggest disappointment. We ordered the clam Chowder, and it was way too salty, almost to the point of being inedible. When we pointed it out to the server, all she said was that "yes it was too salty." It did have a lot of clams in it, but the saltiness of the dish ruined it for us. We ordered a few other things and decided on the Lobster rolls as our main dish. The roll had a lightly toasted texture, and we were told it would be cold lobster not warm. There was a healthy amount of Lobster in each sandwich, but unfortunately, the flavor was very bland. Not what we expected for the price of $39 per sandwich. We also ordered dessert. We ordered the Lime tart and mocha chocolate mousse. Both were very good and was the high point of the meal. Service was good and leisurely paced. While this place obviously has served exceptional food, our visit experienced an inconsistency which could not be ignored. We are glad to have gone to this place for the view and the service, but probably won't be returning. I hope they can fix whatever problems they are having in the kitchen soon.

If you want an amazing view and good service, Ocean Terrace at the Ritz is the place to go. If you want a knock your socks off meal, go somewhere else. Both my husband and I found or meals to be lackluster. Neither were terrible but not what you want when you're paying $150 for your meal. The chips and guacamole were quite good, but I would stay away from anything with a bun. The people were lovely and the experience made it all worth it. You can beat the sunset view and a seat by the fire once it gets dark. Definitely a place to try once!

Because I like the vistas to be had on the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail (review: https://bit.ly/3UUfEgo), I've walked many times on the paved walkway that separates the ritzy Ritz Carlton from the crashing waves of the Pacific. It's the only part of the trail where I feel somewhat underdressed. Just because I was feeling peckish, I decided to give their outdoor cafe a try even though the menu prices made me feel underdressed, too.When I sat down, the server asked me if I was a hotel guest to which I said no. She immediately asked for my credit card and held it hostage. I felt I was downgraded to economy class and required to make a down payment on my meal. As I was reviewing the menu, I was struck at not only the prices but by how many typos there were (photo: https://bit.ly/3VA9aEa). I just didn't think they reflected the standards of a first-class hotel.I settled on the $29 Farmer 'Havest' Bowl, which I assumed was meant to be the Farmer's Harvest Bowl. It was the cheapest entree on the menu. It was a simple mix of fresh strawberries, 'gilled 'peaches (as opposed to grilled), and local greens doused with fig vinaigrette (photo: https://bit.ly/3O57Cic). It was good, and I was hoping the server would come back in the foreseeable future so I could let her know.Actually I just wanted the check...and my credit card. I was experiencing withdrawal and imagining all sorts of security fraud. After waiting a suitable time, I got up and found her chatting away with other staff members. Meanwhile, the sun was setting, and I had steps to go on the coastal trail. But I will never forget the Farmer Havest Bowl with grilled peaches. How could I? Wait a sec, have I got my credit card?FOOD - 3 stars...good salad, severely overpriced but the saving grace of this experienceAMBIANCE - 3 stars...nice spot in the land of privilege SERVICE - 1 stars...I was expecting a pic of my credit card with a gun aimed at itTOTAL - 2 stars...non-guests have feelings, tooRELATED - Exploring Half Moon Bay? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/3aiDR9I