Sam's Chowder House

Sam's is short scoot down from the city to half moon bay, and the restaurant is right next to the water. I would go on a warm-ish day and try to snag a table outside. They have heat lamps and the view is amazing! We came for lunch, and it was very very busy so be ready to order! We started out with a large bowl of the New England clam chowder to share and it was so warm, creamy, and dense. I wish I asked for more oyster crackers for the larger bowl. For the main we got the dressed lobster roll with fries (extra $ for fries) and it was an absolute show stopper! The roll was buttery with a mountain of fresh lobster. I had to take leftovers, can't believe how much lobster they stuffed in roll. I am such a fan of Sam's!!It got super busy during lunch and the servers are always hustling so much sure you are prepared! I was a big fan of the kind service. Plan your trip well bc there's also a small parking lot that fills up so you might have to park on the roadside. After lunch, it's nice to walk on the beach right there and enjoy the day!

We came on a Saturday evening. Although they do not allow pets, they allowed us to sit outdoors with our dog and we also saw other dogs as well. After ordering our server also brought over a bowl of water for our dog, which was so nice!They started us out with some sourdough bread and butter. It was good bread, but I wished the bread would have been slightly heated or toasted because it was kinda hard. We started out by ordering cups of clam chowder that hit the spot on a cold evening. We also ordered some fries and calamari. The fries were delicious and hard to stop eating, but the calamari was a bit bland. I ordered the seafood spaghetti which was delicious and came with lots of seafood. I would come back in the summer when the days are longer and warmer and maybe catch a sunset. It was dark so we didn't get a view of the bay, but the vibes were good.

This is one of our regular stops whenever we are in HMB. Some must try's here are the fresh oysters, fried combo which comes with crab cake (filled with crab meat) calamari, fish, and fried jumbo shrimps, the fish n chips, the seafood cioppino, the gumbo, and the lobster roll. Even the Maine lobster with drawn butter are all winners. Haven't had one bad dish here. The wine options are plentiful and martinis are delicious. Reservations highly recommended but if you must stop in the wait is about 30-hour on the weekends, they even have Happy Hour M-F at the Bar area. Sit outside on a nice day and enjoy the subtle waves and the beautiful patio setting. Our service was much slower than usual, not sure if our server is new but we definitely spent a good 2+ hours there due to majorly of the time was spent waiting for service. Hopefully next visit will be much improved. **Don't forget to follow me on IG and Yelp for more great foodie places to check out Follow...@Only1ChristineLu **

Our server was very polite and came back a few times to check on us. Coffee came with a small pot of extra coffee. Shrimp Scampi was quite salty. Person I was with got the $32 lobster roll that came with coleslaw and chips, and I think that would've been a better deal.

One of my favorite places in HMB - not only because of the food, but also the views and the beach. We are usually here during the September - January months and I honestly can't complain, the weather is always perfect.For a Saturday at 12pm, slight wind but the sun was out, making it super nice to be dining outside. There's quite plenty of seatings outside so if you can, you should ask for outdoor seating (no choice if you have a dog). There are sunny/shaded tables available so depending on when you go and what's available, make sure you let them know.Our waiters/waitresses are always so kind and food is almost always on point. The first time we've been, we were excited to try their ceviche but tbh, it didn't end up being that good.Their lobster roll, mussels, and octopus are to die for! Especially...the octopus. We're on a seafood fix after having delicious octopus in Europe and now we're just on the hunt for it.Would highly recommend getting it. Also, tried out their seasonal pomegranate lemonade which was ok. I wish it had more of the pomegranate flavor but otherwise, it's just any standard lemonade. Parking is a hit or miss but if you arrive by 12pm, chances are that you'll be parking on the streets, alongside the main road. Parking lot is tight and gets filled up quickly but if you don't mind the short/long walk from the main road parking, then the food will be worth it.After you're done, you can take the stairs and stroll down to the beach - talk a walk, let your dog off leash, or just sit on one of the benches available. It's quite a nice place to send a couple of hours at and with the right temperature, I'm sure you'll be there longer

I was craving lobster and oysters Rockefeller for my birthday, so Sam's was the perfect choice--nothing fancy, just pure satisfaction. The food quality and service here are always consistent. The seafood is fresh, flavorful, and always hits the spot. The staff is friendly and attentive, which adds to the experience.I even got to choose a complimentary dessert with a candle, and thankfully, no loud singing from multiple staff members--I like to keep things low-key for my birthday. Thank you, Sam's, for making my day extra special!

We had the popcorn shrimp, clam chowder, crab bisque, and shared both the naked and dressed lobster rolls with a glass of white wine and an espresso martini. I was going to order the clam chowder but the bar tender encouraged me to order the crab bisque because it was their special soup the day. Not only did I not care for it, but the bartender failed to mention it was $10 more than the clam chowder. So when I got the bill I felt like that took away from the experience I was having as I was blind sided by the price of the soup. Aside from that, the lobster rolls were delicious and full of lump size crab meat. I tasted my friends clam chowder and it was delicious and what I wish I had ordered. The espresso martini was divine and the views are gorgeous. The harbor decor is cute and eclectic . I'd definitely come back.

It's was a great rainy day for some clam chowder. The waiter was so kind and helpful. He had the bread warmed up for us as requested. He was very attentive and caring making sure we were enjoying the food and everything. I loved the fish and chips. It was fresh and crunchy. The clam chowder was good if you're a fan of more potatoes. The chowder was not my favorite in comparison to the fish and chips. The place was spacious with a great view of the water.

We came on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and it was 4:20pm. We ordered to go at the window.We got a large clam chowder. It was quick and took it home to enjoy.It came with oyster crackers and bread. The clam chowder was quite good! We liked it alot. Also, the bread was also good! A large (32oz) was $15.95Will come back again if in the area.

Love, driving down to half Moon Bay and visiting this place. Food and drinks are amazing. The staff are very friendly and helpful.