Evangeline Cuisine

I've been on a quest for the best Paella that I can find. During a weekend trip to our favorite hotel in Half Moon Bay a Yelp search brought us to Evangeline Cuisine. My wife and I arrived at 2PM and were the only customers in the restaurant. Our waiter, Adolfo was personable and helpful. We ordered the Lobster Bisque as a starter and the Seafood Paella for our main course. The Lobster Bisque consisted of a split lobster tail in a richly flavored creamy broth. It was so delicious that it set the standards high for our expectations of the Paella. We were not disappointed. The Paella was constructed with perfectly seasoned Bomba rice, soft shelled crab, squid, baby octopus, scallops and prawns. I've had good Paella but Evangeline's set a new standard of excellence for us. The only thing I felt was lacking was the crispy layer of soccorat at the bottom of the pan. Adolfo mentioned we could request that element should we visit again. Knowing that we will visit them again before we return home. Regardless we have found a new favorite restaurant and will recommend Evangeline's to all our family and friends.

Evangeline Cuisine in Half Moon Bay is a bit of a hidden gem. It's not super crowded, which makes for a more relaxed dining experience. The ambiance is nice, with plenty of natural light and a classic Latino-inspired decor that adds to the charm.Food-wise, it's a bit of a mix. The chips and fries were disappointing--just not great. The fries have that coated texture some people like for extra crispiness, but I prefer a more natural crunch. The fish was a huge portion, which was nice, but the batter had more flavor than the fish itself. They should cut it smaller for a better bite-to-batter ratio.The scallops, on the other hand, were really well done--great sear, good flavor. They could've been a little rarer for my taste, but overall, they were solid.The paella was easily the best part of the meal. The flavors were on point, and the addition of soft-shell crab was an unexpected but amazing touch. I wish they can make it crispy, but this is ok since it kept the seafood from being overcooked.Service was great. The waiter was super attentive--maybe a little overly enthusiastic, but I'd rather have that than be ignored.Price-wise, it leans on the expensive side, but for the quality (especially the paella), it's worth it. If you're in the area and craving seafood, this spot is definitely worth checking out.

Christmas Day lunch at Evangeline Cuisine...wonderful. We've had dinner here before and absolutely loved the quality of the food. The wait staff/host recognized our (local) son even thought he had not been in for a while. Such great, attentive service!Appetizers to share and then w feasted on an assortment of dishes - everyone loved and complemented the food: Piquillo and Croquettes, then Gambas al Ajillo (2 of us); Fish and Chips (2 of us), Lobster Bisque (huge pieces of lobster!), and Crab Cakes (excellent sauces!). Try the Peach Soju!

We had the pleasure of dining here a few weekends ago while we were staying in Half Moon Bay. They do not take reservations here so we made sure to arrive early.Once we were seated we were immediately informed that the paella will take about 30 minutes to prepare, and we should outset that first so they get that started. We decided to try the tiger shrimp paella. While we waited we were brought their house bread with two different dipping oils. The inside was very nice and spacious. We were the first guest for the evening so we got to choose where we sat. The service was excellent and the staff were very friendly.Our paella was delicious. We absolutely loved it. Our owner issue was the price they charged for the amount we got. Each order is to serve two people. The amount of food was not very much. It looks deceiving because it arrives in a large round paella dish but it is really shallow. We were still hungry after we finished it. Other than that it was very good and a pleasant experience.

We went here for dinner and the food and service were amazing! We ordered the paella, fish and chips, and the seafood platter. All were flavored so well and the fish and chips was crispy and soooo good. Totally will be back again!!

I've been to Half Moon Bay more than a few times but this was my first time here so being the adventurous guy I am and using Yelp it was time to give it a try.On the coast I believe that seafood is the ticket to a cultural experience and this restaurant filled the bill. I love spicy and combination of local seafood and Spanish flare seemed appropriate, to start was some French fries which had a splendid snap to them really top notch the Lobster bisque actually had a split lobster tail in it adding texture to a very smooth blend, the main course did not disappoint me and I'm sure any seafood lover would agree, clams (two kinds) mussels, calamari, shrimp and scallops on a bed of seasoned rice. The service was very professional and projected small town charm that was appreciated, for me I like restaurants that are friendly and people minded as opposed to so formal you can't blink kinda of thing (smirking) the decor was elegant but simple and very I'm sure a late evening here would be intimate especially if a musician was play the baby grand piano that's next to the bar (yes a baby grand piano) All and all a fabulous dining experience for me.

Second time going and the food wasn't as great as when I had gone a couple years back. I wanted to like it but the food was bland

We went to Half Moon bay for sunset but it was extremely foggy, so instead we just went straight to dinner. Found this place nearby and it seemed be available. Lots of great reviews as well.So, we decided to give it a try.Let's start with drinks. We went with a glass of Albarino (white wine, $15.95 a glass) and a glass of Pinot Noir ($25.95 a glass). Frankly, Pinot Noir was decent, but not worth that price tag. Albarino tasted like fruit juice and definitely not worth the price tag, not even at a 1 michelin restaurant. I guess this was all the "location" tax haha. Food wise, we ordered crab cakes, scallops, and fish and chips. Crab cakes were ok, pretty heavy in ginger! Scallop was well cooked, and the cauliflower with it was nice. Fish and chips - fish's batter was not as you would think fully coating the fish.. it was all open and broken, although pretty crispy, so that was ok. Fish was alright. Service was good as we were the only guests in the restaurant. And, our server came like 6 times to ask how's everything.. lol.. he was enthusiastic but that seemed a bit much!

I ate at Evangeline Cuisine for the first time. I had been interested and excited to try the gluten free fish and chips. I was one of two people eating at the restaurant late afternoon. The restaurant seems like its trying hard to be "fancy" which feels like too much. I want to provide feedback to not call customers "m'lady" its gendered and weird...and felt a little over the top. In terms of the food, I was impressed with the cook of the fish. However, it wasn't super crispy and the fish really needed seasoning. Please add salt before frying and perhaps add seasoning to the batter? I had to ask for some hot sauce to add a bit more flavor. The fries were super tasty and crispy!I think the price for this dish is a bit bloated, $25 for fish and chips is a lot. I won't come back again for this but glad I tried it.

Only for those who eat shellfish. Very limited menu options and hardly a vegetable to be found. Not a good value.