You guys, the coast is right there. Pacifica is 10 to 15 minutes south on Highway 1, and Half Moon Bay is barely 30 minutes — close enough for a Sunday-after-church drive, far enough to feel like a real day out. Pillar Point Harbor is the last working commercial fishing harbor between San Francisco and Monterey, with more than 50 crab boats based there, so the Dungeness crab and cioppino are the real deal. Bring the whole barkada. Here are six seafood spots that earn that little drive.
1. Sam’s Chowder House (Half Moon Bay).
The lobster roll here was named one of the Top 5 “Best Sandwiches in America” by NBC’s TODAY Show food editor Phil Lempert. Voted #1 Seafood Restaurant in the Half Moon Bay Review Reader’s Choice Awards, plus Food & Wine’s “100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America.” Big oceanfront deck, group seating — perfect for a birthday lunch. 4210 N Cabrillo Hwy.
2. Barbara’s Fishtrap (Half Moon Bay).
A weather-beaten wooden shack that has been feeding Pillar Point Harbor since 1971. The clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl is the headline — one travel feature called it “thick enough to stand a spoon in.” Cash-friendly, dog-friendly outdoor seating, kids welcome. 281 Capistrano Rd.…