My wife and I have been coming to the Moss Beach Distillery for years (we got engaged on the beach just north of the distillery) and have always loved the view, the ghost story, the rockin' cocktails, and snuggling up under the wool blankets on the patio. The romantic granduer of the coastline view at sunset is truly remarkable on a beautiful day. Plus, the history and the slightly old-fashioned charm have always held our interest -- the place used to be a speakeasy and rum-smuggling drop-off in the 20's! After a couple of disappointing visits (food overpriced and lackluster service) last year we stopped coming with any regularity. On a whim last weekend we dropped in to a packed full house! Great, fun, mixed crowd of tourists, locals, European travellers, and a few grizzly bikers! View at sunset was fantastic as always. Service was friendly, efficient, and professional, especially considering how busy it was. Food quality has improved substantially, with some new interesting iternational twists -- greek style grilled salmon was tender and flavorful, halibut dish over apricot couscous was exceptional (although slightly overcooked and a bit dry), grilled New York steak with truffle butter very yummy, and crab cakes some of the very best I've ever tried (and I've had them from Baltimore to Portland), just loaded with three kinds of crab! Chocolate pancakes (WHA?) for dessert with caramel was a killer way to round out the meal. I must say the Distillery is back in the swing of things. We were quite pleased as we've always had a soft spot in our heart for the MBD. The manager on duty (very pleasant and eager to please by the way) said they have a new chef on board. Keep up the good work! Is it my imagination or did prices get more reasonable?

Best Steaks on the Coastside
We had a most enjoyable dining experience at the Moss Beach Distillery last week. Now I realize that it is a favorite for both locals and tourists alike. We had the NY Strip and Porterhouse steaks which were fabulous; just as good as Ruth Chris' in San Francisco. My wife had the oven-roasted Halibut which was very fresh and quite delicious. We all loved the ghost stories of the Blue Lady Ghost and the 1920's ambience and casual dining experience. You cannot beat the blue-water views of the Pacific Ocean. Great food, friendly service will ensure we return to the Distillery one day soon.
Food: 8
Service: 10
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 8