Ara-Tai Café

We come here often as we have a boat that is berthed at Halfmoon Bay Marina. This being the closest coffee in walking distance, which also has a great looking cabinet of sweet morning/​afternoon tea plates.
Sadly more often than not, the cabinet ready desserts are much better looking than tasting. On many occasions meringues are dry and bland, the crème fillings are mock and the pastry is flaky and tastes like fatty cardboard.
The coffee is often average at best, served warm instead of hot.
Service is slick and fast but seldom comes with a smile or with any warmness.
The cooked breakfast is a sure skip, the bread is of the $ 1.50 gas station style bags of sandwich slice variety. Bacon is dry and way overcooked with little or no flavor and the portions are so small you would be forgiven thinking you are served the kids portions.
Seriously next time I contemplate this I will weigh up if I have the energy to go to fresh choice next door and buy the ingredients and cook it on the boat myself instead.

Good view. Great food. Great Service.
I often come here in the weekends to just sit and chat with friends and family. The café is just big enough to have some privacy yet not so big that it feels like a big empty restaurant. There is semi outdoor seating with protective cover on windy days with a great view overlooking the water.
The counter has a huge selection of mouth watering dishes from pastries to salads. It has all the staples of a typical café menu to everything in between.

Excellent pizza. All the food looks great.
Seems popular. We were just in for a quick bite while waiting to get the car on the ferry.
This place was perfect for a quick stop in to kill some time.

Lots of selection and never had a bad choice yet. Always busy but service in always been efficient and friendly

I took my sister here for brunch on her birthday. The whole place feels like you’re underwater, with its strong blue, wavy décor. Even the lights are curved like waves on the sea. And the best part is you can look out onto Half Moon Bay and watch the sail boats lap against the dock. It’s really a breath of fresh air!
Really nice coffee and I indulged in an almond croissant, which was quite delish. It was hard to choose though, as the cabinet was filled with things that would make anyone’s mouth water! The service was good too, and I observed some very impressive looking breakfasts arriving at other tables. Must go back for one of those!

Last Sunday, as I waited in the queue to order my regular iced coffee and fruit salad, I overheard a woman behind me saying «There’s so much choice you don’t know what to have», and her friend replied «And it all looks so good». And its true.
Ara-​Tai café has a mouth-​watering selection of counter food (try the giant iced cookies or a blueberry bran muffin), as well as breakfast and lunch menus featuring the classics like eggs Benedict and more specialty seafood dishes. I’ve never had a bad food experience here, and perhaps that’s why whenever it’s open, it’s heaving.
Airy, clean and fresh inside, you get a cheerful view of the marina through the big windows, and it’s totally family-​friendly. They also have a generous amount of outdoor seating if you want to bring you dog. Well worth the wait in the queue.