“I love olive garden. I have been coming here for years. Today I got my favorite lunch special.The spaghetti with meat sauce.And it came with the bottomless salad bowl with ranch dressing and their very yummy and heavily addicting breadsticks .Plus a diet coke Everything was very good.The service was awesome I recommend this place..“
“The staff really make the spot. They clearly care about the job which speaks volumes to the quality of the restaurant. This is one of the hidden gems of Santa Cruz as far as high quality food, but expect to pay accordingly. Staff is there every day prepping even in their days closed and they receive fresh local ingredient deliveries daily.“
“We LOVE this place, one of our go to's for a luscious Italian meal. We can almost imagine we're in Italy. The staff is stellar too; it was packed and they kept their cool and delivered. ♥️ I can't recommend a favorite dish as everything I've ever had is so good.“
“If you know what's good for you, you'll get the gnocchi. Wonderful, pillowy texture. Service was standard! Waitress was nice. No complaints.Ambiance was a little awkward only because my friend and I were the only ones in the restaurant for our whole dinner and they weren't playing any music. Granted it was a Tuesday, so wasn't expecting weekend crowds!“
“Scrumptious Italian deli with delicious sandwiches made to order in Santa Cruz. Awesome selection of Monin syrups also, in addition to ready made salads, sauces, and pastas. The sandwiches were delicious. I really enjoyed my Castroville Italian sandwich and my husband scarfed down his Eggplant Parmesan sandwich. My kids had the cranberry turkey sandwich. They also had the voodoo chips I rarely see and love.“
“Husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner and brought our 10 month old daughter along. Cannot say enough good things! It's always nerve racking bringing a baby to a nice restaurant but the staff were so sweet and accommodating and interacted with our daughter often. The food is out of this world. Got the Sunday gravy with their house made fettuccine and the short rib ragu with house made fettuccine. Easily the best pasta I've ever had in my life. Short rib is so flavorful and tender, sauce has a really deep flavor profile, and the pasta so tender. The atmosphere is what you'd expect for a bustling authentic Italian restaurant. Loud, low lighting, and high spirits.“
“I'm not exactly sure what the restaurant industry would consider a 'destination restaurant' but for me it's someplace I will drive out of my way to get something I love to eat. Tramonti is one of those places, except it's not out of the way for me! The reason I love this place is the Prawns Diaviola. These things are amazing and better still, very consistent. Every time I order them they are fantastic. The ingredients are very simple, it's basically bacon wrapped prawns but they use a spicy Italian salami and Parmesan cheese. The secret is the brick oven! You get a great texture without over cooking the prawns. They serve other Italian favorites and they make a mean pizza too. Local beer on draft and a good wine selection complete the menu. They also make dessert in the brick oven, try the banana w chocolate! It's also a great atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor dining.“
“Pretty darn solid brewery in Soquel/Santa Cruz area. More inland, so more locals than tourist. Looks like they invested and built the facility for themselves with a metal barn-like building for the tap room and brewery, equipt with solar energy to power their operations. Their outdoor area is much more impressive than their indoors and seems 85% of the action happens out there. There's table seating, counter seating and communal benches, most are under a cover. Lots of dogs and locals, you can just feel the buzz of the community here. I only did a quick sampling of several beers here as I had plans to eat in the neighborhood for dinner. But they do have a small menu with appetizers and sandwiches that looked really promising, and the pics prove that I'm going to have to try some on my next visit for sure. I loved their website before I even ventured in. It has their story in a concise manner and the way they describe their beers are very entertaining if not poetic and creative, which I have to pound my chest and nod to. Like they describe their Shimmer Pils as having "a shimmery depth, like light on a fathomless sea.' Lol. And their Ten Million Flower's Kolsh is called so because it took ten million flowers for bees to make the honey that goes into this brew. If James Joyce and/or Walt Whitman lived in this town, I could see them being patrons here. Their beer flight you can choose up to six from their current tap selection, which I think was around 16 taps. That's a lot, like it was hard in making a decision and it would probably take me at least 6 visits to get a full grasp/opinion on their body of work. They also have brews in cans in a fridge that may not necessarily be on tap. I went last summer and their current line up is much different than what was being offered on my visit. So FYI things are in a constant state of flow here, hope you're flexible and adventurous. If you get cans to-go, you can mix and match whatever flavors you want, which I thought was a nice bonus. I really liked 2 light brews I tried. The above Pils and Kolsh were remarkably light and crisp and clean. I liked the Kolsh a tad more, had more depth and uniqueness. Liked their Mosaic hopped Pale Ale as I like a strong hop presence, but I often don't want the malt and gravity of IPA's. I did try a couple of IPA's as well as most of my buddies are into them, and I had to bring something back. Also tried a Black Lager and that was pretty much true to style. I also bet that my tasting would have evolved and been more complete with some bites of food, but that'll just have to wait for the next out. Digging their style and their efforts, so an inevitable return is on queue.“
“What an extraordinary experience! Without a doubt, this establishment stands out as one of the best Italian restaurants in the Bay Area. From the moment we stepped in, the chef's warm welcome set the tone, as they graciously guided us through the evening's specials and highlighted their signature dishes. Our server mirrored this exceptional hospitality, ensuring every detail of our dining experience was flawlessly attended to. The commitment to quality shines through in every bite, with impeccably fresh ingredients sourced for each dish, including imported Italian wheat for their pasta--a testament to their dedication to authenticity. We began with the Culatello, which was the finest proscuitto of Italy, served with truffle "Carasau" cracker bread & rich straciatella cheese. From the first taste of the Carbonara to the rich flavors of the Parpadelle Ragu, featuring a sumptuous lamb-based sauce, every dish was a symphony of taste and texture, with the pasta cooked to a faultless al dente perfection. This dining experience immerses you in an ambiance that transports you to the heart of Italy. And to cap off this unforgettable experience, the special dessert, reminiscent of an Italian wedding cake, provided a sweet finale that left us longing for more. If you're seeking an unparalleled Italian dining experience, this is the place to be. Buon appetito!“
“?⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve found my new favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz. When you walk in, you’re greeted by friendly faces, soft music, mood lighting, and beautiful live flowers on every table. It feels classy and tasteful with modern European vibes. But I think what makes it special is that it retains the coziness and charm of a local hangout spot too. I would happily book one of their tables for a romantic evening out, but I’d just as quickly meet a friend at the bar for a spontaneous glass of wine. It’s clear how much thoughtfulness and TLC has gone into creating the lovely ambiance that keeps me coming back (though I like to pick a day earlier in the week, as it tends to be a bit quieter). The Brussel Sprouts are an absolute MUST-TRY (hands down the best I’ve ever had) and the Chicken Piccata is gorgeously plated and *chefs kiss* just perfect. Their wine and beer list is great too, and I love how they go out of their way to showcase local breweries and vineyards. You should definitely give them a try if you haven’t already…This hidden gem deserves to become a local landmark. ?“
“Stopped by at 7:55pm on a Saturday night, and got a table right away. We picked it because it was open and one person wanted pasta, another wanted a salad. The host says, "Just in time for the show." We had no idea what a treat we were in for! Moments later, what seemed to be a majority of the staff donned hats and boas and burst into a dance routine that lasted for 15 minutes! It was hilarious and fun and energetic - I didn't know where to look! I have no idea if this dance show is scheduled or we were just super lucky, but it made our night. The staff appeared to be enjoying themselves, which made it even more fun for us to watch. The food was just fine - we were all happy with our meals. But it was the dance show that prompted me to give the 5 stars! Hard to find dinner and show these days!“
“I had the Pesto Gnocchi. Now I know why people like gnocchi. Amazing! They were so light, little clouds of potato and ricotta in a cream sauce. The sauce was delicious and not too heavy. I also got their simple green salad. It was very simple but the olive oil in the dressing was very nice. Whenever I eat something rich I like the freshness of something green and this worked perfectly! I will be back!“
“Couldn't reserve on Valentine's day, so we ate there on the 15th. The Val-day menu was still available, so we shared the last black truffle pizza, w. a cheese base flecked with small bits of truffle. Then the server shredded truffle slices over the top--OMG--$65 and worth every penny! (Regular pizzas range from $17 to $26.) For starters, we split an arugula salad and a vegetable side (brown butter braised cabbage--even if you hate cabbage, you'll love this). For dessert, we shared the affogato. The chocolate was molded and formed against the side and bottom of the cup, then they poured espresso into the cup. Superb. I said to my husband, "This tastes like Valrhona." You know you have an outstanding server when you ask which brand of chocolate was used. Zach answered, "Valrhona." I use this superb variety for every chocolate dessert I make.“
“Real hit or miss depending on what you get. Sicilian Square - Solid pizza. Better that most chain pizza shops. Decent rise on the dough/crust. Acceptable for price. Thin Crust - Worth avoiding. On par with red baron or other store bought frozen pizzas. No rise or color on the crust/dough. Not sure if it's the oven or the proofing time but they just can't seem to make a crispy thin crust. Not at all worth price. Service - friendly and quick“
“After Whale Watching, we stopped by Aldo's because I wanted to try the Clam Chowder, which was just okay for me. We also had Calamri, it was fresh and cooked perfectly, the zesty white sauce it comes with was really good, also comes with cocktail sauce. The Dungeness Crab Cocktail was really good, crab was so fresh and tasted sweet and delicous. Was pleasantly surprised to see Guy Fieri's photo next to the menu. Because we used to watch his show "Diners, Dives, & Drive-Ins" a lot when we lived in Las Vegas, and whenever we traveled we tried to check out the places in the show. We ate at the park benches close-by, because we had brought our own food for the Whale Watching, and eating near the docks on a nice sunny day in Santa Cruz was such an excellent experience.“
“Excellent food, amazing service. The duck served three ways was the light bulb and the accompanying salad was the perfect counter to the richness of the duck. The fried chicken as always was amazing with a wonderful stack of fluffy potatoes.The only challenge is parking, however, the service from walking in the door through the entire meal will make you come back just to say hi“
“First time at the Scott's valley location. I love Casa Nostra!! It's never disappointed me. The Bolognese is my dinner favorite and this Italian Sausage and Spinach Panini Sandwich on the lunch menu is awesome! They have a really awesome pink haired busser working too. She's really sweet. Our waitress Makayla is another awesomeness!“
“The Open Table process was easy and simple. I received both a confirmation and reminder of the date and time of my reservation. Gabriella Cafe continues to provide excellent meals. Their menu is not static. It's always interesting to see what changes they've made to their menu. I've been here for both lunches and dinners unless than 5 times. They've never disappointed me. Try it if you've not had the opportunity.“
“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.“