Cetrella Bistro and Cafe
Half Moon Bay Wedding Location845 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: 650/726-4090
www.cetrella.com
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Description
The name of this enticing venue, Cetrella, is taken from a lush green valley on Italy’s famed isle of Capri. And when you cross Cetrella’s stylish threshold, the Italian influences are palpable as you enter this seductive Mediterranean bistro.
Cetrella’s vaulted lobby is topped with rough-hewn wooden beams, and light from a long row of skylights makes the rich Brazilian cherrywood floors gleam. The plaster walls were painted while wet in pleasing earthtones, reminiscent of seaside fishing cottages of the Old Country. Yet this spacious venue is decidedly upscale, and is sparingly peppered with exquisite design elements that artfully capture European chic. Here a metal sculpture tops a stone mantel; there soft lighting bathes a painting in a dramatic glow. (Even the restrooms are luxurious, with artsy water basins, tumbled marble tiles, and tiny lit alcoves housing sprays of orchids!)
Guests may first want to meet up at Cetrella’s bar and café, which opens to a covered indoor/outdoor terrace with cozy stone fireplaces. The mood is at once languorous and lively; and as you relax under the spell of superb food, drink and live jazz, you are also inspired to celebrate heartily.
The main restaurant area spans three large dining rooms; the first adjoins the exciting exhibition kitchen complete with wood-burning oven, a glass-walled cheese cellar, a red enameled French rotisserie, and a mesquite grill. The culinary action and the piquant aroma of roasted garlic and tangy marinades may make you want to plop right down and order something immediately, but there are more spaces to explore. Two other dining areas share a double-sided stone hearth, which diners admire from the comfort of upholstered booths or elegantly dressed tables. As an added bonus, both these rooms also adjoin the terrace.
If you’re reserving the entire restaurant for a lavish gala, you’ll have access to all of the dining rooms. More than likely, however, your event will be held in one of three private banquet spaces. The largest is the upscale Provence Room, which overlooks a petite herb garden. Plush floral carpeting cloaks the floor, and an antique hutch displays sparkling crystal stemware. Sliding doors from a 150-year-old French monastery are a refined way to partition off the Provence from the rest of Cetrella. A swath of the sun-drenched terrace adds more flexible event space, and is a wonderful setting for an al fresco wedding shower or other festive occasion. Finally, rehearsal dinners take on an air of grandeur in the intimate Wine Cellar Room. Windows look out towards the mountains, and guests gather around a 17-foot walnut dining table imported from Italy. Two glass walls showcase the handcrafted wine cellar, which boasts a 3,500-bottle collection. In 2004, their wine list received a Wine Spectator award of excellence.
Chic surroundings are all very nice, but the main reason to have a celebration at Cetrella is the delicious food, which was featured in the February 2004 issue of Gourmet Magazine. The menu is inspired by the lusty cuisine of Mediterranean coastal villages and created with the freshest produce and seafood from local growers and fishermen. Cetrella offers traditional banquet options, but specializes in family-style dining, an informal and interactive way to enjoy their abundant, robust dishes. Courses are served on large platters at the center of each tableSpanish tapas, house-made ravioli, rotisseried meats, mesquite-grilled whole fish and many other seafood selections your guests share an array of mouthwatering choices that certainly transcend ordinary banquet fare!
Cetrella goes beyond the ordinary in other ways, too. Every reception is treated to personalized printed menus, candles and wine consultation. With its variety of striking event spaces and exceptional cuisine, Cetrella will bring distinction and hospitality to any and all celebrations.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
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Max. Seated Indoors: 225 Max. Seated Outdoors: 20 |
Max. Seated Indoors: 225 Max. Seated Outdoors: 20 Max. Standing Indoors: 250 Max. Standing Outdoors: 30 |
Max. Seated: 225 |
|
CEREMONY, EVENT/RECEPTION & MEETING CAPACITY: Indoors, Cetrella holds 225 seated or 250 standing guests; outdoors, 20 seated or 30 standing guests. The Wine Cellar Room holds up to 20 seated guests. |
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Fees & Deposits
50% of the estimated event total and a signed contract are required to reserve your date, the balance is due on the day of the event. Food and beverage minimums apply and vary depending on space rented. Luncheons range $30–40/person, and dinners $50–80/person. Tax, alcohol and a 20% service charge are additional.
Availability
Year-round, daily, 6am–midnight.
CateringProvidedAlcoholProvidedSites UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/AmenitiesCatering: providedKitchen Facilities: n/a Tables & Chairs: provided Linens, Silver, etc.: provided Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: portable Bride's & Groom's Dressing Area: yes Meeting Equipment: CBA, extra charge Parking: on-site Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: pay phones Outdoor Night Lighting: yes Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no Cleanup: provided View: historic Main Street Other: cakes, flowers, music CBA, grand piano |
MusicIndoorsOutdoors Wheelchair AccessWheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsCityscapeRestrictionsAlcohol: providedSmoking: outside only Music: amplified OK Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: not required |
Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
650/726-4090
www.cetrella.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from Cetrella Bistro and Cafe
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Our Managing Director Meredith Monday Schwartz recently dined at Cetrella and reports, “Cetrella is a wonderful place for a rehearsal dinner or any intimate celebration. The gorgeous interior and stylish décor set just the right note of casual elegance…”[read more].