Cetrella
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: (650) 726-4090
Fax: (650) 726-4291
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Spruce Street
- Hours:
- Tue-Thu 5:30pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10pm, Sun 10:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm, Monday by appointment only
Message from Cetrella
Elegant and Newly Remodeled Dining Experience
- Award Winning Wine Collection
- Private Dining & Banquets
- Live Jazz Friday and Saturday
Paid advertisement by Cetrella.
Editorial Review for Cetrella – by Laura Reiley
The Scene
This vast, warehouse-sized space was used for processing and shipping artichokes and Brussels sprouts, but all that really remains of the original structure (besides the veggies on the menu) are the rustic wood trusses and some industrial-looking ventilators on the roof. The rest is natural stone, rich wood and warm colors, plus a big fireplace and a luscious exhibition kitchen.
The Food
With more than 16 years of culinary experience from the East Coast to the West, Robert Holt serves as Executive Chef where he prides himself in using local seasonal ingredients in his Mediterranean-influenced, daily-changing menu. From artichoke and chanterelle fritto misto and Catalonian shellfish "zarzuela" to a hearth-braised vegetable stew with chickpea socca, it's all good. Pay special attention to the whole fish of the day--order it with a buddy, along with sides of crispy Brussels sprouts and perfect fries.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasPrivate dining rooms are available for parties from 20 to 120 and Live jazz offered on Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm to 11:30pm.
User Reviews for Cetrella
08/05/2008 Posted by frangooch
Ate here last Saturday night and won't be back. Our clueless, deer-in-the-headlights server took 5 minutes to bring us water (which arrived with no ice), 10 minutes more to bring bread, and (after several requests) another 5 or 10 to bring oil and vinegar for the bread. We had an early reservation, so there were not many people in the restaurant when we ordered. Ordering was interesting. We asked for meat cooked medium rare and were told that the place cooked on the rare side, so that if we ordered medium rare we would probably get rare, so if we wanted medium rare we should really order medium. Huh? We said, "just bring it when it's pink". Our wine was brought to us promptly, but it took another 15 minutes to get the salad. The restaurant was filling up by this time, and I noticed than no one around us had any food on the table. I had a good view of the open kitchen and also noticed that no orders were being put up for serving. What were they doing back there? Our server was nowhere. Long after we had finished our salads and nearly finished the bottle of wine, she made a rare appearance and I asked for the check and told her to forget our main courses (it had been more than an hour since we'd been seated!). She came back and said the food would be a few minutes--they were "a bit backed up in the kitchen" and that the manager had said they would be on the house. I appreciated the gesture, so we foolishly stayed. We were served a full hour and 15 minutes after we'd been seated. The duck was undercooked. The lamb was overcooked. We left. As we did, I saw the kitchen staff hurriedly dishing up order after order for serving, seemingly all at once. Don't eat here. The room is beautiful and the wine list is excellent, but these folks don't know how to run a restaurant. Unless they trotted out a whole new crew, I wouldn't trust 'em to make me a taco.
Pros: wine list, nice dining room
Cons: terrible service, lousy cook
05/18/2008 Posted by hkeck
Service was really gruff a not effecient. Not enough servers. Food was OK, nothing special. We were there several years ago and the food was better and the ambience much different ( and better!) They remodeled and it's not as warm and comfortable as before. Prices are high.I would not recommend this place.
Pros: good parking; live music on weekends;
Cons: too pricey for what it is; poor service
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