Hilltop Grocery in HMB Closes (Again); Peruvian Restaurant to Open in Pacifica

CLOSED: Hilltop Grocery, 251 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay

It’s always sad to see the Mom and Pop shops go. A dad and his son ran hilltop Bait Tackle & Deli for years until they shut their doors last February. This is where locals and visitors would stop on their way out of town for a beverage, snack, or sandwich. It’s also where fishermen — and science teachers looking for worms for their class — came to get all kinds of fishing supplies and bait.

Happily new owners — Randy and Deborah Houston — stepped in. Randy has the Purple Heart Association that takes disabled vets hunting and fishing, and Deborah had a BBQ concession at AT&T Park. Renovations were made to the establishment, fresh paint, new signage, and things looked promising. Hot coffee, BBQ sandwiches, fresh brownies and more, yet “we gave it a year and decided that if the community didn’t support the nonprofit and the traffic didn’t support the store then we didn’t need to put all our personal money into it,” said Randy. “We are both retired and the money wasn’t making sense.”

They will continue with the Purple Heart Anglers nonprofit. “We already have some hunting and fishing trips coming up.”

 

OPENING: Puerto 27 Peruvian Kitchen & Pisco Bar, Pacifica

By the end of March a new Peruvian restaurant will be opening its doors to diners. Housed in the Pacifica Beach Hotel, which is under new ownership and management since last October, the 140-seat Puerto 27 will feature family-style Peruvian food.  Everything is meant to be shared. Dishes will be $7 to $17. There will be lots of small plates, seafood, a raw ceviche bar, and a full cocktail bar that will feature the Pismo Sour cocktail, and a menu of pisco-centric cocktails.

“We are ready to open but just waiting for some equipment and some inspections. Nothing major. The menu is done, the staff is hired,” said Jose Calvo-Perez, who owns three Fresca restaurants in San Francisco with his father Julio Calvo-Perez. Jose is also a chef who owns Pasion Modern, a Latin cuisine restaurant on Irving Street in San Francisco.

The restaurant is called Puerto 27 because the location is near the water and the number 27 has a big significance in their family. It is Julio's wedding anniversary, Jose's birthday and the birthday of another son who tragically passed away at age 17.

Puerto 27 will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are plans for a happy hour every day and live music a couple nights a week.

Read more on Patch:

• Barolo Restaurant Shuts Down; T&E Pastorino's is Going Out of Business
• Delicious Mystery: Where Does This Come From?
• Fresh & Easy May Close Stores

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