When you need a quick and easy day trip to satisfy your need for fresh air, coastal views, and some excellent food, this is it! There are many other ways to enjoy the San Mateo Coast, and you’ll find them in my other posts, but the star here is the Lobster Roll and a great place for lunch or dinner. I love this spot so much, when my wife says “Hey, maybe we should go get a lobst…”, I’m already warming up the car before she can finish her sentence.
The Road to Take: Find your way to San Mateo and start your journey where either Highway 101 or Interstate 280 meets Highway 92. Take Highway 92 West towards Half Moon Bay and enjoy the road even if it can get a bit crowded on weekends. When you reach Highway 1, turn North towards San Francisco. It’s about 3.5 miles to the town of Princeton, Pillar Point Harbor, Maverick’s Beach, and Sam’s Chowder house. Total time from the Hwy 101/ Hwy 92 interchange is about a half an hour. On weekends, that could be an hour with traffic over the hill between Crystal Springs Reservoir and Hwy 1.
What To Eat: Sams Chowder House (4210 North Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay) is known for a great back patio, terrific views of the Pacific Ocean and Princeton Harbor, and a sometimes overcrowded parking lot. But more importantly, it is renowned far and wide for its delicious Lobster Roll. Served on a lightly toasted split bun (the only way it should be), you can have it “dressed” (with mayo and salt) or “naked” (with drawn butter). I’m a “dressed” guy, mainly because that is more true to a proper New England Lobster Roll. Served with kettle chips and slaw, I can’t think of a better way to stave off your hunger and fuel yourself for whatever other adventure you plan for your day. Get seating on the back patio if you can, as the views will make everything taste even better.
What to Do and See: In the Pillar Point Harbor, stop in and see the nice people at Maverick’s Surf shop, maybe buy a T-shirt to commemorate your trip, find a new wetsuit, or just check out some good photos of the local surf. For a nice short hike, try out the easy hike to Maverick’s Beach lookout or the trail above Ross’s Cove. You can walk half a mile to 2-3 miles on these trails, with great overlooks of Pillar Point and Maverick’s Beach. To get there, find the Parking lot on W. Point Avenue by going through Princeton via Capistrano Rd and Harvard Avenue.
Adult beverage options: In addition to Sam’s Chowder House, there are other great local options, including the nice wind-protected patio of Half Moon Bay Brewing Company in Princeton with welcoming fire pits and Adirondack chairs. That happens to be across the street from Barbara’s Fish Trap, another great food option in Princeton.
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