This place is fantastic! So authentic and the food is to die for. Rich sauces, pillow pasta and perfect pizza. A little gem.
Roxanne D.
This place is wonderful! We both enjoyed the friendly hostess and server. Our appetizer and both entrees were perfect! One was ordered "spicy" and turned out to be the perfect amount of spiciness. This was a special night and we were grateful for the sweet, quiet ambiance.
Kiese H.
So fresh. Amazing flavors. Best Italian food I have ever had. The passion fruit was from the hostesses yard. Absolutely worth the wait. Put your name in and then walk to the beach and enjoy the waves. Gnocchi was lick pillows of happiness. Everything we ordered was fantastic. Italian gnocchi with 3 sauces, verde pizza with fresh artichoke, fettuccine pollo, and asparagus wrapped with prosciutto for an appetizer. I am so full, but I wish we had ordered the tiramisu to try. Thank you!! We will be back!
Hayley D.
Came here on a weekend without a reservation. Took about 45 minutes to be seated. Don't mind waiting to be seated but after we ordered it took about an hour and a half to receive our meals. It was ridiculous. It was a full restaurant but also only about 5 tables in there so I'm not sure how it could ever possibly take this long. We did see them taking care of a bunch of To go/ door dash orders before we got our food. I think a business should always prioritize people in the restaurant over to gos. It was just very very rude to keep us waiting that long. The water tasted like a toilet bowl. Caesar salad was decent, nothing to rave about. I got the gnocchi Italia and keeping two stars because the dish was really good. Just not worth the wait ever again. The prices were really high as well. Someone I was with got ravioli and it literally came with like 5 - which I thought was just sad. Really wanted to love this place as we are locals to capitola. Looks like we will skip it next time. The waitress also didn't acknowledge the wait at all, she did let us know our food was coming soon and then it came out like 30 minutes later. At the end of the meal she said "Glad we were busy tonight" instead of saying so sorry for the wait or anything along those lines.
Lori P.
Best Italian food in the Village. Great prices and wonderful service. Small and intimate setting
Shane W.
Best food I've had in any restaurant in Capitola or Santa Cruz. It is a small dining room, but the staff is amazing and it is a great experience! Any wait - we will often put our names in and then head down the street to Zelda's or another bar - is well worth it.
Francisco Z.
Amazing food and service. Got the chicken Parmesan and GF got a pasta and she said it was the best she had ever had. More people should check it out
Jen Y.
Ordered dinner through door dash and was so pleased with how delicious and authentic the food was. Next time going to the actual restaurant to enjoy it in person!
Bianca M.
Simply the best food, atmosphere and service. Consistently delicious dishes, like seafood risotto.
Brad Baker
Can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Insalata Mista, Bufala Caprese, Dischetti Ai Tartufo
Caruso's Tuscan Cuisine offers an authentic taste of Italy with delectable dishes, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service.
Matt Ragsdale
We have some heavy hitters for good Italian food here in Santa cruz. So it's hard to judge one as my favorite. But honestly, the combination of the friendly at home feeling of this cozy little resturaunt, combined with its authentic Italian dishes, make it my number one spot.You might have to wait if you don't get there early, but the capitola wine bar next door makes that very easy, they will even let you take your unfinished glass of wine next door!Everyone who I have ever brought here has loved it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrata, Special Request Spaghetti with Clam in White Wine, Spaghetti Carbonara, Spaghetti Bolognese
Shawn K.
My favorite restaurant of ALL TIME. This place beats Michelin Star restaurants. Keep doing what your doing and don't change, PLEASE!
Lucas Swanson
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING WOULD 1000000% EAT AGAIN. The pasta was to die for and the service was amazing, waiter was super kind. This place is a family owned restaurant and everything tasted home-made. Recommended it ti all my friends and I will definitely be eating here again!!!!Dietary restrictions: They were very good about accommodating for my nut allergies
This place is fantastic! So authentic and the food is to die for. Rich sauces, pillow pasta and perfect pizza. A little gem.
This place is wonderful! We both enjoyed the friendly hostess and server. Our appetizer and both entrees were perfect! One was ordered "spicy" and turned out to be the perfect amount of spiciness. This was a special night and we were grateful for the sweet, quiet ambiance.
So fresh. Amazing flavors. Best Italian food I have ever had. The passion fruit was from the hostesses yard. Absolutely worth the wait. Put your name in and then walk to the beach and enjoy the waves. Gnocchi was lick pillows of happiness. Everything we ordered was fantastic. Italian gnocchi with 3 sauces, verde pizza with fresh artichoke, fettuccine pollo, and asparagus wrapped with prosciutto for an appetizer. I am so full, but I wish we had ordered the tiramisu to try. Thank you!! We will be back!
Came here on a weekend without a reservation. Took about 45 minutes to be seated. Don't mind waiting to be seated but after we ordered it took about an hour and a half to receive our meals. It was ridiculous. It was a full restaurant but also only about 5 tables in there so I'm not sure how it could ever possibly take this long. We did see them taking care of a bunch of To go/ door dash orders before we got our food. I think a business should always prioritize people in the restaurant over to gos. It was just very very rude to keep us waiting that long. The water tasted like a toilet bowl. Caesar salad was decent, nothing to rave about. I got the gnocchi Italia and keeping two stars because the dish was really good. Just not worth the wait ever again. The prices were really high as well. Someone I was with got ravioli and it literally came with like 5 - which I thought was just sad. Really wanted to love this place as we are locals to capitola. Looks like we will skip it next time. The waitress also didn't acknowledge the wait at all, she did let us know our food was coming soon and then it came out like 30 minutes later. At the end of the meal she said "Glad we were busy tonight" instead of saying so sorry for the wait or anything along those lines.
Best Italian food in the Village. Great prices and wonderful service. Small and intimate setting
Best food I've had in any restaurant in Capitola or Santa Cruz. It is a small dining room, but the staff is amazing and it is a great experience! Any wait - we will often put our names in and then head down the street to Zelda's or another bar - is well worth it.
Amazing food and service. Got the chicken Parmesan and GF got a pasta and she said it was the best she had ever had. More people should check it out
Ordered dinner through door dash and was so pleased with how delicious and authentic the food was. Next time going to the actual restaurant to enjoy it in person!
Simply the best food, atmosphere and service. Consistently delicious dishes, like seafood risotto.
Can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu, Insalata Mista, Bufala Caprese, Dischetti Ai Tartufo
Restaurantji Recommends
Caruso's Tuscan Cuisine offers an authentic taste of Italy with delectable dishes, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service.
We have some heavy hitters for good Italian food here in Santa cruz. So it's hard to judge one as my favorite. But honestly, the combination of the friendly at home feeling of this cozy little resturaunt, combined with its authentic Italian dishes, make it my number one spot.You might have to wait if you don't get there early, but the capitola wine bar next door makes that very easy, they will even let you take your unfinished glass of wine next door!Everyone who I have ever brought here has loved it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burrata, Special Request Spaghetti with Clam in White Wine, Spaghetti Carbonara, Spaghetti Bolognese
My favorite restaurant of ALL TIME. This place beats Michelin Star restaurants. Keep doing what your doing and don't change, PLEASE!
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING WOULD 1000000% EAT AGAIN. The pasta was to die for and the service was amazing, waiter was super kind. This place is a family owned restaurant and everything tasted home-made. Recommended it ti all my friends and I will definitely be eating here again!!!!Dietary restrictions: They were very good about accommodating for my nut allergies
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Fettuccine, Burrata, Gnocchi Bolognese, Tiramisu, Spaghetti Carbonara, Spaghetti Pollo, Spaghetti Bolognese, Spaghetti Marinara
Always a great meal and a friendly atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5