“Not your average beach grill. This place is a culinary adventure. I went for the fish and chips (which were superb) but everything we had (coconut prawns, clam chowder, breadalon) was outstanding in flavor and presentation! I saw a lot of people clean their plates, which is always a good sign lol pricy, yes but what waterfront isn't? Worth it in my opinion if you don't mind a splurge on great quality food.“
“My last meal in California was at my absolutely favorite spot for cioppino, Zelda's! And just days before the flooding. It breaks my heart to know there's more damage to repair, but I'll be back every time I come "home" to Capitola!“
“Thank you for the great service rendered from the receptionist to the manager. I was very humbled by your hospitality and for giving me a free dinner. Thank God I leaned on my medical knowledge to assist a customer choking. The staff stepped up and were very sympathetic and empathetic to this customer. You guys are the best and the Ribeye I ate was the best Ever!!“
“Have you tried the blackened chicken burger/sandwich? If not, run, don't walk to get yourself one. Life changing. Amazing. This thing is massive and so delicious. Can't wait to have it again for lunch . Worth every penny . I'd give it more stars if it was possible“
“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.“
“They have a good thing going on here. Don't let the chef leave, they are good. Came with my family. Our server was a kind woman who went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of and brought coloring supplies for our girls (not just a sheet but full coloring books). The food was outstanding. The kids meny food was so good, they aren't dumbing it down or cutting corners, instead exposing children to great technique. They brought us little freebie appetizers which is always a nice touch. We sat on the patio on a nice day and I couldn't have asked for more.“
“The overall experience was good. The place could use a little sprucing up, some new ceiling tiles. The food was really good! Very fresh and yummy. Friendly and kind staff. Would recommend and will go again. Their orange chicken is the best I've ever had.Vegetarian options: You can order any dish with or without meat.Dietary restrictions: They will easily accommodate as needed.“
“One of the best burritos and tacos that I've ever eaten there the flavor is good, but what really stands out is the tenderness of the chicken meat that they serve so good so juicyVegetarian options: All items can be modified so there's no meat in it just need to ask“
“This is a beautiful place. Wait staff is freindly, knowledgable, and on point. The space is well maintained and has an excellent views of the ocean. The food is delicious and served in a timely manare. I really loved their fresh bread!I had the salmon with an orange rosemary sauce, very delicious. The other person had fish and chips with fries, beautiful big prawns batter was flavorful and fish was good.The price is about $20 per person for entrees.Parking: Lots of spots, mostly full but there is usually a place to park.Wheelchair accessibility: Plenty of ranp to go onto the sidewalk and into the restaurant.“
“Probably my fave Mexican place in Santa Cruz. Lots of indoor seating options, and it seems clean and maintained. The prices are pretty good! Our worker was nice and the food came out quickly, we were impressed. Everything seemed so fresh and they don't skimp on the meat. The super burrito is delicious, and definitely order their crispy tacos! The chips are thick, salty, and amazinggg with their house made guac (literally served on a huge plate). So so worth it.“
“Firefish Grill, located on the Santa Cruz Wharf, offers delightful seafood dishes. The teriyaki salmon with vegetables is particularly delicious, showcasing fresh flavors and perfect grilling. An excellent choice for seafood lovers seeking a satisfying dining experience by the sea.“
“excellent service. excellent food. Must try the whole fried fish. The sopita de res was yummy , I just missed the cabbage. Y'all Californians love y'alls ceviche all chopped up to tiny pieces and I for one do not, BUT it was still good and I ate it. We didn't try the pupusas as it was our first time here but so help me god it wont be my last. Ill stop on my way out of Santa Cruz.“
“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.“
“I love this place. The food is amazing, extremely tasteful, and seasoned perfectly. They have never gotten my order wrong. They're on top of everything, they don't play around haha. I usually do take out, but I dined in on my birthday a couple months ago and their service was amazing. The atmosphere was nice too. If you want authentic Thai food with great service, you should definitely try this place. I almost want to gatekeep because it's so good, but they deserve the business.“
Seafood • $$
“Our visit to seaside fish&chowder was a delightful treat. The fish was cooked to perfection with bomb tartar sauce to match. Also, we pleasantly surprised about the quality of the French fries tasted was like they were freshly peeled potatoes. The service was excellent; our waitress was very attentive. The decor matched the beach boardwalk theme, especially since we were on the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk with sand just a few feet away. You can easily make your meal a beachfront dining experience! 5-Star rating on experience, taste, and service. Thank you, seaside fish&chowder!“
Fine Dining • $$
“Pino Alto is a hidden treasure. The restaurant doesn't have a professional staff. Instead, all the staff are students of the Cabrillo College culinary program, so they really care about doing the best possible job. They are on top of it - from sanitation to serving. We've eaten there several times. It has been excellent. Tuesday we had: roasted red pepper soup which was a perfect balance of creamy and pepper flavor, we also had shrimp on polenta. It was the best shrimp I've ever tasted in my long years. They make everything, including the bread served with lunch, which was better than bread served at other restaurants. The students rotate within the staff jobs to get the full experience. The waiters are careful and accommodating. The prices are reasonable and the environment (in the Session House) is open, uncrowded and visually pleasing. I highly recommend it.“
“My wife, son and I came here for New Year's eve. I ordered the filet and it was solid. My son really enjoyed his fish and chips. My wife ordered the Seafood Fettucine and it was not good. I tried it, and it truly had very little flavor. The sauce was very plain, and dish was dominated by the zucchini, which was flavorless. Of course the place was packed, but our waitress did her best, we had to wait about 30 minutes for our table, but our bartender was on top of it. In some other reviews, people complained about the prices being high. When I first came here in 1987, the prices seemed high, every restaurant near the ocean in Santa Cruz has high prices.“
“The most recommended: seared black cod. The seared black cod I had was nothing short of spectacular. Cod remained wonderfully moist and flaky. Each bite melted in my mouth, releasing layers of subtle, buttery flavors that cod is renowned for. Accompanying the black cod was a serving of polenta, which was a delightful new experience for me. The polenta was incredibly soft and creamy, with bits of corn kernels that intriguingly resembled the texture of fish roe. Its gentle, comforting flavor balanced beautifully with the fish. Alongside, the spinach was prepared to juicy perfection, maintaining a vibrant green color and a fresh, slightly earthy taste that paired excellently with the rest of the dish. This combination not only highlighted the seafood's freshness but also brought a satisfying richness to the meal.“
“Nice place in Santa Cruz. Food was good, around $20 per bowl, beer $6 draft. Nothing is cheap anymore but the food looked fresh and tasty, the service was good and the the vibe was fine. No frills casual fast food joint that is probably one of the cheapest places you can find in Dec 2023. The crowd is mostly young.“
“Went here for my birthday with some friends and was pleasantly surprised! Ordered the guacamole and chips which were so delicious, I couldn't stop eating! Also ordered a frozen strawberry marg and it was so refreshing~ The tacos were to die for though, I didn't feel heavy after eating them so definitely recommend! The service was fantastic and since it was my birthday, our waitress gave us the option between a free dessert or free birthday shot which I thought was so awesome. The restaurant was clean and I loved the ambiance, would definitely eat here again (:“