La Costanera

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Address:
8150 Cabrillo Highway
Montara, CA 94037

Neighborhood:
Half Moon Bay

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Cuisine:
Peruvian

Price: $31 to $50

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La Costanera Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.lacostanerarestaurant.com
Email: info@lacostanerarestaurant.com
Phone: (650) 728-1600
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Tuesday - Sunday: Open at 5:00pm
Bar and Lounge Happy Hour (no reservations) Tuesday-Friday 5-7pm
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Peruvian, Latin / Spanish
Executive Chef: Carlos Altamirano
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Fireplace, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Smoking Area (patio only), Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Please contact Eric Canupp for more details.
Entertainment: New Events Coming Soon.... Please Check Back
Special Events & Promotions: Please contact Eric Canupp for more details.

Getting there

Parking: Private Lot
Parking Details: We offer 55 Free Parking Spaces.

A word from La Costanera

Experience the culinary richness of Peru at La Costanera, a modern Peruvian fusion restaurant opened its doors October 2, 2009. The scenic California coast in Montara, overlooks the Pacific, just a short, beautiful drive from San Francisco (21 miles). The space is grand, with floor to ceiling… windows, three stories, and 10,000 square feet of oceanfront space, beach views and sea breeze every dinner is garanteed an ocean view.

We also offer a full bar, domestic and imported Peruvian beers and a hand selected wine list. Come try our Pisco Sour – a classic Peruvian cocktail – and experience all that La Costanera has to offer... Continued

Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food

Diner Reviews

"The offerings were extensive. We found and everything to extremely flavorful and delicious."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"Took our dog this time to the outdoor patio dining area and loved it! Be sure to take jacket, scarf, blanket and wear warm clothes for the outside area. It is worth it to sit within view of the gorgeous beach and ocean. Wish they would repair the glass door so that it closed properly as we had to keep getting up to shut it to stop the wind from blowing in to the patio. Food, SANGRIA and setting are all well worth the visit."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"The piped in music from the bar was way too loud, making people shout to be heard by their table mates, but the food was fabulous!!!"
Dined on 4/8/2014
"The dishes here are fresh and flavorful. It gets very busy in the evening as it is right above a lovely public beach, so people take families to the beach and then come up for dinner and the sunset. If you do not want your dishes served in random order, then be sure to tell the waitron that, else the entire order is put in all together and brought out as cooked. Our fried calamari appetizer was the last item served!"
Dined on 4/6/2014
"Highly recommend for a romantic dinner date. Fantastic ocean views. Amazing food and great service!"
Dined on 4/5/2014
"totally delightful, specifically went for a sunset dinner, loved the unique menu and will return to sample other items, excellent"
Dined on 4/3/2014
"Excellent food and service. Pricey, but you're paying for a nice view. Chairs are horribly uncomfortable. Tables a bit crowded as well."
Dined on 3/30/2014
"Love the interior and the location can not be beat. I requested a table with a nice view and sure enough we were sat overlooking the ocean. The back of the restaurant is entirely glass making for some breathtaking views of the water. The service was spot on, our server provided many ( maybe too many?) recommendations. Food is great, tuna tartar especially was delicious. Not a restaurant you want to visit if you don't take kindly to spicy food. It is difficult to tell which dishes are and are not heavily spiced. Not a deal breaker. Also there is very easy beach access for a walk on the beach following dinner. Perfect date restaurant, and lastly, they have excellent non alcoholic drinks for those who will be getting back behind the wheel."
Dined on 3/23/2014
"I heartily recommend the restaurant. Outstanding views, and the food is terrific. Been there three times - each time was better than the first time, and the first time was terrific!"
Dined on 3/13/2014
"Terrific food. My wife had not had several of these dishes since she left Peru as a child."
Dined on 3/16/2014
"Start to finish, an impressive welcome, dining experience and ambiance. Attention to detail in food and service was appreciated. And, the sunset over the ocean took you for a magic moment, a million miles away from realities of life."
Dined on 3/16/2014
"Ambiance immediately put us at ease. Service was brisk and friendly. The food was tasty, exotic and memorable. A great way to spend a Thursday evening!"
Dined on 3/13/2014
"We came to La Costanera to celebrate my sister's birthday. Once again, the food was excellent. Everything was prepared perfectly and tasty. We just love coming here because the view is amazing and the food is exceptional. This time we tried a few dishes that we didn't try the first time. We had the Cebiche Chino - Peruano, Corazon, Costanera Caesar Salad, Pulpo a la Parilla, Lobster Paella. Everything was incredibly delicious and we can not wait to come back again!"
Dined on 3/15/2014
"Went here for the first time for my anniversary. I like the fact that it's not your typical outdated 80s menu/shoreline restaurant.The service from the bus boy was exceptional. So much so I tipped him on the side. I wish I could say the same for our server. He could take a lesson on hard work from the rest of the staff. I will say if you want a quiet romantic beach setting this is not the place for you. It is one large open room with lots of noise and kids. If you want fun food, great views, and a little higher energy then this is the spot. Would recommend for groups of friends wanting to have some drinks and bites. Not what I expected (romantic) but overall a good experience."
Dined on 3/15/2014
"This has been one of my favorite restaurants. The food is absolutely delicious and unique. But the last few times I have come here it has been extremely loud. I think it might have to do with the acoustics of the room. I could not enjoy a conversation because we could not hear each other. We had to yell which was not enjoyable at all. It was extremely frustrating. Even though I love the food, I do not think I will be coming back. I like to be able to talk to my fiance while we dine on a great meal."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"I'd heard great things, and it mostly lived up to the hype. Our server was Peruvian and had a great knowledge of all the dishes and excellent recommendations. We realized the next day we never received the Cebiche we ordered, but everything else was delicious. The chicken empanada & sauce were better than the seafood option. The Pollo Salvaje was ok, but not great. The drinks were delicious. The noise was extreme; I could hardly hear the waiter or my date. Gorgeous oceanside location and view, but only if you get there before sunset. The bar is downstairs and has fire pits that look out on the water, which was nice, even late, because you could hear the waves on the sand. I will definitely return."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We had a number of smaller plates and came to the conclusion we ordered 1 too many. Well seasoned, very well prepared, and nicely served. Calamari pieces a little to big; very nicely prepared and very tender. Crab cakes were fresh and lots of crab. The Tiger prawns in curry were the best thing we had - wonderfully prepared and just the right amount of spice. We also had a salad and a special that were quite good. The potato soufflé (part of the special) was very light and tasty."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"Wow! This place is fantastic! The ahi in their Cebiche was exceptionally fresh and of the highest quality. The Lomo Saltado was fantastic and I consider myself an expert on this having been a ravenous Peruvian diner for the past five years exploring Peruvian restaurants all over the US. Highly recommended this place to anyone and I can't wait to go back soon!"
Dined on 2/28/2014
"Outstanding food and service. Well prepared and excellent variety in choice, texture and presentation. Well done overall!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"There are so many good things to say about La Costanera! Peruvian food is so flavorful and delicious. What makes La Costanera even more special is it's location and the staff. The combination of food, location, and staff makes it a definite must location when anyone is in the Half Moon Bay area. Get there for the sunset and have an exceptional time!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"We went for Valentine's Day. Pretty disappointing. The food was OK, but not worth the trip. The place was packed and noisy. The entire experience was just OK, but prompted my wife to say let's not ever go out again on Valentine's Day, it's just not worth it. We'll try again some other time maybe, but not on my gotta get there list right now."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We have had two wonderful dinners at La Costanera before, so we were anticipating another great experience. The food was fresh, delicious and attractively presented. Different paellas, gnocchi, were all excellent. Roasted fish perfectly done, large tasty camarones, tangy cebiches. But on a Tuesday, service was abysmal. It seemed like there was only one waitperson for the upstairs who seemed to try but was overwhelmed. We were neglected for long periods. Never got bread until asked for ( after appetizers arrived ).... then bread but no butter... plates were taken away seemingly at random. Must be hard to get a pool of competent staff in Montara."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"There is wide variety of dishes to choose, from tapas, small plates and entrees. The food was delicious and our waitress was very informative and helpful in guiding us through the menu. This particular night was foggy but the view of the ocean on a clear night would be spectacular. We noticed people eating on the outdoor patio with heaters. I look forward to going back."
Dined on 2/23/2014
"La Constanera met our expectations to every extent! I dine out a lot but yes, this restaurant was a whole package with great frills! The food was delectable, the ambiance just so perfect, and the service impeccable! I think chef Carlos Altamirano, is a chef extraordinaire his presentation beautifully handcrafted to satiate every palate! The Tapas, Entree, Dessert all was devoured in no time! The setting is just breathtaking with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean enough to satisfy ones soul and mind! The Manager and staff extremely courteous but one must book here because you can absorb the beautiful scenic view without being pressurized to leave! The restaurant was completely packed to capacity! Hidden gem!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"the food was excellent, the service was excellent, but the kitchen was slammed so food took a while to get to the table. However it was so excellent, that we didn't notice. The ceviche tasting and the cuasa tasting are to die for! Our server was Alex - and he was great! We live across the street and come here all the time - this night we brought our foodie friends from the city and they gave it two thumbs up!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"The menu is expensive for what you get. Portion sizes miniscule, and I do mean miniscule. Beautiful view of the ocean however."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Beautiful views from every table. Great menu and food. The wine list is OK as long as you are only looking for medium and low end wines. The level of service is very low for this type of restaurant. We had to wait a long time for everything including the check."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"We stayed and Half Moon Bay and went to the La Costanera as a recommendation from a friend. The restaurant is just north of Half Moon Bay and only 8 miles south of Pacific making it easy and fast to get to from San Francisco. The view of the ocean is incredible. The food is out of this world and the service was unmatched. I will definitely be going back and would highly recommend this to my friends. My only complaint would be that I wish they were open for lunch."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"La Costenera has yet to disappoint. The food is out of the ordinary,excellent and the portions are just right. The servers are attentive without being annoying. The view is beautiful and we always seem to get a nice table. The restaurant was very busy and we had an early reservation, I imagine it would be difficult to get a a table without calling ahead. Parking was the only issue, we ended up parking a couple of blocks away as all the lots were full."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"the service was slow and our second course came out before the first. I knew it would be busy because of valentine's day , but we had been there for new years eve and had much better service and food. the manager had knocked the price down because of the long wait. this was done without complaining (very nice) the staff was busy and friendly my wife's seafood was overcooked. and the appetizers were cold. we would go back on a regular night."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We've dined here many times for special occasions, this was our first experimenting with their Prix Fixe menu for Valentine's Day. I would have rather ordered like we usually do, many small things to share, rather than be a little boxed in by the dinner selections, but it was still very good."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Food and service were excellent especially considering we went the day after Valentines day. Our waitress was great."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"We had a nice romantic dinner to celebrate Valentine's. The food was great, location is amazing, and our server was very attentive. Only things I would recommend on improving: portions were on the small side so making them at tad bigger would be nice considering the prices; waiting staff was passing very close to our table as they move through the floor - make the aisle ways wider or have wait staff go around the table as opposed to in between tables."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Creative, delicious, beautiful food. A romantic setting overlooking Montara beach. Attentive, friendly service (graçias Alex!). Delicious and unique cocktails. A really fun lounge downstairs and cool fire pits outside. Why haven't you already tried this place?"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Worth a drive for their very well executed food and service"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We've been to La Costanera several times. On this visit, it seemed as if extra tables had been crammed into the dining room, making the room feel crowded. Although we'd mentioned it was a birthday when booking, they seemed unaware & I had to mention it again to the server. The food was very good, but the portion sizes for some things have gotten smaller. We ordered a Caesar salad to split, but when they brought it, it was barely enough for one person. The entrees were excellent (we both had the Criollo de Atun) & those portion sizes were good. A free dessert is provided for the birthday person & it is literally about 2 bites. Very pretty presentation, but substantially smaller than for the birthday celebration last year."
Dined on 2/13/2014
"Lovely dinner out with the girls from work. Ambiance and view are great. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered a few small plates for our group and entrees for each of us. Plenty of delicious food.. I had the special--swordfish with other seafood in a tasty sauce with coconut rice. Very yummy. Plentiful wine list, but I enjoyed a Pisco Sour.. OUr water glasses were always filled, a must for spicy food.. a great evening with friends, and delcious food in a lovely restaurant."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"Two couples celebrated their anniversaries together at La Costanera on a rainy Saturday. No view due to rain, but could tell it would be wonderful..... It was very noisy for the first hour but as people left it became very comfortable. Not enough parking with a wedding party downstairs, so used the State Park parking right next door, but even it was full. So give yourself time to find a spot. We loved the food; it was delicious and beautifully presented. Our server was attentive and very nice. We were given glasses of champagne and a nice card for our anniversary. We enjoyed ourselves and will return to see the view and enjoy the food. Still wish the noise level could be dealt with..... probably impossible due to the amazing architecture."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. The food and the service were top notch. The cebiche was incredible."
Dined on 8/30/2013
"Ate here w/ my husband over the weekend...We were very impressed! The food is SO flavorful and delicious! Its very hip and trendy looking inside -felt like we were in an SF city hot spot without all the loud city noise. The view here is amazing since you can see the ocean from just about every seat in the house! Service was very friendly! Lilyan gave us great advice on drinks & after we sat down we were helped by Janice who was always checking in to see if we needed anything & it was a busy night! We haven't had a server that attentive in years, especially on a weekend! She knew so much about the menu too and she even helped me with the proper annunciation of the peruvian dishes. Her recommendations were super yummy! We will be back!"
Dined on 2/1/2014

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