Cafe GibraltarNot Your Usual MediterraneanMany of the ingredients you find in Italo-Greco Mediterranean food but a bit modern and edgy. Quite interesting combinations (check out their menu) with a slight emphasis on game. Very good local restaurant; not pretentious....casual and relaxed. Very respectable wine list, too.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMpleasant supriseYou could tell that thought went into preparation of every dish. This is not your average same old, same old standby food. Quite refreshing for a change. Items were uniquely prepared with wonderfully seasoned ingredients. Will definitely be back the next time we are in the area.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMA winner every timeWe love Cafe Gibraltar. It has a warm, inviting feel, good service, and excellent food. We now prefer vegan and vegetarian options and C.G. seems to be moving in that direction since they have added a couple more entrees that suit us. I had salmon which was slightly undercooked but a treat nonetheless--soups and salads are wonderful. The food is beautifully served and it is a place that is comfortable for good conversation.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMTry it for brunch!We went twice in one weekend. Friday night was a quiet and lovely date. Our leftovers were the basis for breakfast. The real surprise was the wonderful brunch menu on Sunday. This is apparently new for this great restaurant, and the restaurant could use your support for this new venture.
The food is an eclectic fusion of Middle Eastern, California style, and locavore.
Go!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch = Yum!Having been to dinner at this magnificent establishment several times, we decided to take out of town guests here for the restaurants newly established Sunday brunch. Everyone loved it. We had a vegetarian, two eight year olds and a teenage male among us and everyone had something they enjoyed. If you are looking for a delicious meal on the beautiful Coast, look no further!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMJose Luis never dissapointsWith the chefs ever changing and inspired combinations, the food was mouthwatering; form appetizers to dessert – A very pleasant evening.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMYummy Bruncheveryone in our party had something different - everyone enjoyed the brunch. The coffee was rich to compliment the dishes. The Pancakes were light and flavorful making the maple syrup unnecessary. The Brioch french toast was very custard-y. The Huevos Rancheros flavorful with out being tooooo spicey. The soup filling. The eggs just perfect. The chorizo - a masterpiece of flavor.
Need to come back to try more dishes.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA must go!Fantastic experience. The food was delicious, from starter to dessert. Server was attentive and friendly. We spent a few hours relaxing and enjoying a very unique wine selection. Will definitely come again.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMHalf Moon Bay GemJose Luis and Liam have created a gem of a restaurant. It has a view of Pillar Point Harbor. Jose Luis continually creates flavorful and unique dishes with fresh local ingredients. The fresh bake bread is also delicious!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat stop-over point on Hwy 1Definitely a unique place with character and great food. Try the Boar.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDeserved the praise, and more!Early in our dining experience we saw one of the main reasons for the excellence of this restaurant: the staff work well together, and seem to be having almost as good a time as the diners. We were seated in full view of the three chefs, and their interactions among themselves and the servers were comforting to watch. Our server explained the more unusual dishes, recommended appropriate wines (their by the glass prices are very reasonable), and made sure we were happy at all times. We had a superb time. The flavors from each component of the entree kept improving to the last mouthful.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth a long driveBest restaurant on the Coastside, hands down. Consistently one of the top restaurants in the Bay Area. Organic pan-Mediterranean food with rich flavors: cumin, garlic, ginger, saffron, citrus.... A wide variety of choices: lamb, beef, boar, rabbit, pheasant, duck, several options of fresh fish, vegetarian, vegan... they grow their own vegetables in the organic garden in back. My favorite: lamb shank slow braised w/ tomatoes, artichokes, onion, garlic, saffron & dried apricots, served on house-rolled whole wheat couscous. Ask for it on the bone.
Desserts are outstanding. Nice selection of wines by glass or bottle.
Make sure you're hungry when you arrive, the protions are large.
Prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall plates are the starsThe variety of quality ingredients and the subtle preparations make a table of small plates a culinary delight. By comparison the main dishes seem large and somewhat one dimensional. The desserts are overly sweet - but delicious.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMBEST RESTAURANT ON THE COASTI LOVE THIS RESTAURANT. THEY CATER TO YOUR NEEDS AND THE FOOD IS OUTSTANDING. EVERYONE MAKES SURE YOU HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE. I WILL RETURN!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways GreatUnusual food menu with great variety. Want to go back and pick up the options I missed5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMstill greatOne of our favorite places to go for special occasions ... is still great. This was our 1st time for brunch. Awesome! The crab benedict and tortas zendajas were both delicious. The bean soups was hearty but not too filling.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMCafe Gibraltar is one ourCafe Gibraltar is one our finest neighborhood restaurants. If you you're looking for something fresh, a bit different and love good food, this is the place.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful and DeliciousThat says it all! Even a Vegan specialty was full of nuanced flavored and arranged with care. This is my favorite restaurant. If you don't live on the coast, it is worth the drive.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMCute restaurant (it's moreCute restaurant (it's more formal than a cafe) tucked away across the street from the ocean. The decor is whimsical but well thought out, where every table is a great seat. The service was excellent;. The menu had a lot of choices, and the quality of fish was extremely high. I gave the food a 4/5 just because some of the food was a little salty, a small thing but enough to keep it from perfect.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFor years Gibraltar has beenFor years Gibraltar has been producing the most exciting food combinations on the coast and our most recent visit confirmed that belief. Almost every dish we had at the table involved interesting combinations and bold flavors, all well-prepared: sea bass crudo, salad with rillette of rabbit wrapped in pancetta, fresh crab "balls" (as opposed to meat balls), and duck two ways. Only the artichocke/chard soup fell a bit flat, but fine for what it was. I really like their wine list, well-chosen, off the beaten track and reasonable quality-price ratio (QPR).5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSomething for everyone!Cafe GIbraltar is wonderful! You can be Vegan, Vegetarian, or a meat eater. Something for everyone. The flavors are all outstanding! We'll be back!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMBetter than everWe had the pork filet and the pheasant as our main dishes, both new on the menu since we last visited. Both were excellent, and nicely presented. I am impressed by the high quality and innovation Mr. Ugalde, chef and owner, maintains in his operation. This little restaurant is a hidden gem on the coast that can easily compete with the best in the Bay Area.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious authentic MediterraneanSuperb cooking in a pleasant ambience with a great view of Princeton harbor and Half Moon Bay. Peri-Mediterranean cuisine, mixing Moroccan, Spanish, and Italian influences. Very friendly staff.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMNow open for brunch!Gibraltar just instituted weekend brunch and it was GREAT! We had pancackes with wild berries and the fruit was bursting with flavor. Eggs cooked exactly to order (mine over medium, guest's scrambled). Can't wait to go back and try some of the other menu items! We are big fans of the dinner menu already, so brunch is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I haven't eatenMy wife and I haven't eaten here for quite some time and we left vowing to return more frequently. The setting and service was excellent. The food was outstanding. Standouts were the ravioii filled with short ribs and the pheasant.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAmple servings of deliciousAmple servings of delicious and unusual dishes with sumptuous sauces, an interesting ambiance, and attentive waitstaff. A great find.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMLucky find! Highly recommended!We found Cafe Gibraltar on opentable as we were driving through Half Moon Bay and needed a place to eat. What a lucky find! We did not know this restaurant is highly rated (28 in food in latest Zagat survey) and well deserved! Food was delicious, very nice unusual combinations, service was top notch, very friendly, and restaurant was beautifully decorated. And all this at a very reasonable price (dinner for 2 with an appetizer and a bottle of wine for $100)
We hope to be back on our next trip through Half Moon Bay.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was good and the serviceFood was good and the service was excellent. We'd come back. We were surprised about the Japanese style seating. That didn't seem to fit4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMRestaurant is in a good locationRestaurant is in a good location and has an ocean view. The kitchen is open and food was very tasty and nicely presented
Very nice atmosphere and I had a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWORTH GOING OUT OF YOUR WAY TO DINEFood is something special. There's a Middle Eastern theme to the decoration, sitting in a booth means on pillows on a raised floor. Overall, the setting is not as luxurious as the food; it's basically a large room with plate glass windows. Cloth napkins, but no table cloth, if I remember correctly. A fine acoustic guitar player provided pleasant music at our Wednesday evening dinner.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous food. Jose Luis putsFabulous food. Jose Luis puts together wonderful flavors from all around the Mediterranean. Can't remember having something we didn't enjoy.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant never disappoints.This restaurant never disappoints. Jose Luis is a phenomenal chef and we'd eat here every day if we could!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is the second visit toThis is the second visit to Cafe Gibraltar. When I was speaking to the bar tender at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, I mentioned I was going there and she said it was one of their hidden gems. Funnily enough, it is not one of the restaurants that is first suggested by the hotel or written about in the local guides - I guess supporting the hidden gem comment made by the bar tender. Cafe Gibraltar's menu changes regularly, so it was different than my visit two years ago, but just as delicious. Very good selection of starters and entrees, with Mediterranean influence. The wine list is very good too and priced fairly. Shannon, our waitress, was excellent and she was very knowledgeable of the specials as well as the regular menu.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome experience.Well, this is a dilemma. If I write a good review, this place will get mobbed. And, if I don't give some kudos, they won't survive. Restaurant business is tough. But, I'll just have to take that chance. Outstanding menu and they have a pre-fix menu too which includes soup or salad, any of the menu items (except the very first item) and dessert is either creme burlee or strawberry sorbet. As soon as I saw the boar loin, I was 'in'. Salad was large, soup was great, and the main course was not at all skimpy (as I thought it might be because of a fixed price) and then there were the desserts - awesome. Because we sat 'next to the kitchen' we watched them prepare the meals and talk to the chef. This might be our next regular restaurant.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGenerally Cafe Gibraltar neverGenerally Cafe Gibraltar never disappoints. The artichoke soup was excellent. The pheasant was tasty. The vegetarian artichoke heart with potato and olive stew was very salty. The quince wild berry cobbler was wonderful. We always have a great time.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent! The Wild Boar andExcellent! The Wild Boar and the Rabbit were delicious. The Calamari Octopus Salad, baked Calamari, and Osso Bucco Ravioli appetizers were also delicious. We will definitely go back. It's a little spendy but worth it. My only hold back was the mixed seafood entre because the scallops were overcooked. It is hard to time a dish like that. Get the Pine Nut desert and the Cobbler.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMMy Favorite on the CoastFor 13 years, Cafe Gibraltar has been tops for excellent dining, myriads of flavors, surprising combinations and the most delectable food! It is my favoerite on the coast!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMthe vegan puree soup was unbelievabthe vegan puree soup was unbelievably delicious for the tunnel opening special. I can't believe it didn't have any cream in it!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is great for aThis place is great for a romantic date or a dinner with your best girlfriend. The food and wine are delicious. You can watch the masterful chef cooking in the open kitchen. Worth the price for for these very special dishes.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMOasis in El GranadaCafe Gibraltar has an eclectic menu and an excellent wine list. The sipices in the food are mouth watering. We've been to this restaurant many times over the years and it never disappoints. The atmosphere is delightful with touches of middle eastern decor. Don't miss this hidden oasis just off highway 1.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMChef Jose Luis and his staffChef Jose Luis and his staff made us feel welcome and served wonderful food in a warm and professional way.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMBeautiful Drive and Good FoodWe had not been to Café Gibraltar for many years and I was anxious to return. I love the ambiance and the food. The food was very good and the service was excellent. Our friends were there for the first time and rated the experience a 10 out of 10.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMA Terrific Discovery!Cafe Gibraltar is an amazing find! The menu is intriguing, with many offerings and combinations unusual, to say the least. The chef is clearly interested in creativity and excellence. The cuisine is definitely Mediterranean and healthy. Our server went "above and beyond" in assisting us with wine selection, help we asked for because of some of the unusual ingredient pairings. Ricardo brought us tastes of two wines he thought would both work with our meals, and personally agreed with our final selection. The food/wine combo was a happy marriage indeed! Somehow, ambiance manages to be both romantic and kid-friendly. We noticed how many guests greeted the maitre d' like old friends. Prices are very fair, esp. in light of their 28 Zagat Rtg.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant was a veryThis restaurant was a very pleasant surprise - it is located off the main track and looks like an oddly eclectic blend of styles when you enter. The food, also eclectic, was excellent and each of the four entrees that we ordered were top notch. The restaurant name is from the street it is on not the country. There are casbah style (sit on cushion) booths to lounge in as a dining alternative. My kids would have loved them, but my knees wouldn't take it so we sat at conventional tables. The kitchen is open which I always feel adds to the ambiance of a restaurant because you can see the 'action'. Our waitress was very attentive and provided very good (and accurate) information2/19/2013 12:00:00 AM