Amazing location, very charming and upscale.Perched on the side of a hill, with many different levels and different “rooms” to enjoy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Slow-Roasted Angus Prime Rib
Joan Falleiro
The furuncle ride down thru the garden is beautiful and sets the stage for a relaxing dining experience. Food was great!
Connor and Gianna
We decided to celebrate our 3 year anniversary here at Shadowbrook and we weren’t disappointed. They have a small train car looking transportation to and from the parking lot that was awesome. Also available classic looking taxis that can take you to and from your vehicle. Amazing style and ambiance.Emily was our server for the evening, and she was fairly helpful. It did seem as if she was upselling a bit as all recommendations were the more expensive items however that’s understandable as server income is dependent on how much we spend.Bread and butter for table 5/5Dirty martini 4/5 (first martini we’ve tried)Ahi Poke 5/5Clam Chowder 5/5Butcher’s Filet 4/5 (steak was low on flavor - subbed out the Pomme Purée for potato gratin)Chocolate meltdown 4/5Complementary chocolate ganache for anniversary 5/5Presentation on all items was incredible. Some items feel like they need just slightly more of something or to be modified, but overall very high quality.Forewarning there is a 4% up charge on all items and the menu cites employee healthcare as the reason. There is also an option available when splitting a meal to get equal side amounts for an additional $6.$119.49 after tax and the 4% surcharge for 1 drink, 1 soup, 1 appetizer, 1 meal split w/ $6 for extra sides, and 1 dessert.Will be back and excited to see more of this place!For local reviews or travel content you can find us on Instagram @sunsetourist
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Meltdown
LINDA Burnam
I had scalloped and they were amazing. Everything was top notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Makena Kong
If you find your self in Santa Cruz or Capitola, you must visit this place at least once! The food and drinks were good enough, but you are really there for the ambiance, decor and the cute little cable car. If you want the best bang for your buck, the Osso Bucco was huge and filling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Bucco
Allen Dallas
Decided to finally post this review. The restaurant location and ambience getting into the restaurant are very nice. The gardens and exterior are just so well kept. The interior once we got inside was just ok, but it also might have been because we were seated in a dungeon area (or so it felt) and I will explain later why that matters.We had reservations - sister, mom and partner to celebrate my sister's acceptance into UCSC and decided this would be an awesome place to take my 3 favorite ladies. However because we were placed in a dungeon, the service seemed to forget about us and our food was over an hour late getting to us (on what was not a particularly busy weekday). Then my partner and my mom both got undercooked and cold food when it finally arrived. I don't write reviews lightly, but I had to write this as it struck me as very bad considering the cost of the food. I can see a lot of positive notes about this place and it might have just been our experience, but aside from the exterior - the service and the food was not even mediocre at best. I would hope that it has improved recently.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Adrienne Bernabei
I absolutely love the garden and gondola here. Food and drinks are great as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Talha Javaid
Wonderful
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mae Barlow
Beautiful place. Friendly waiters. The people were sociable and kind. Will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Kay
Came for our Anniversary! It was the best experience imaginable. Beautiful beyond belief! Our waiter, Ethan, was kind, accomadating, and absolutely incredible; and went out of his way to make it a truly memorable a experience!
Somehow our reservation was not in the system. We reserved through yelp so maybe that's why. When we arrived for a 7pm they couldn't seat us. So we decided to seat in the walk in lounge area. Curiously... the host could have just told us to wait until 7:15 as the reservation system showed availability. Small service issue but everyone was really nice. The steak sandwich was great. The brie was also very good. The artichoke hearts however were not very tasty. Didn't expect the inedible leaves to be part of the fried artichoke hearts. Prime rib was incredibly tender and one of the best we've had. The server in the lounge was great and loved his service. Wish I remembered the name.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Slow-Roasted Angus Prime Rib
Daci Beto
Unique experience, good food and good service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Wallace
My daughter's absolute favorite dessert is the blueberry cheesecake. We like to go to the rock room bar and have some appetizers like calamari and enjoy the ambiance. Of course, writing the trolley is a highlight as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
L Chang
food and wine list is priced competitively for the venue. While the menu is maybe somewhat dated, the food is decent. It does not have much on the contemporary side of choices, but that is quite fine - it is “old money dining”, so to speak. Over the years, it has kept well and you can definitely tell this was once a very fancy place to be in its prime. the tram is very cute and picturesque.. great for pics and definitely a place to make an impression for dates and special’er events. the dining room(s) do echo and do get a bit loud when full, yet closes quite early for a full service restaurant. I take issue with the dress code… it is Santa Cruz, thus relaxed/casual. just state “no beach wear” and/or “smart casual”.
Eric Zellhart
Wonderful lunch here at Shadowbrook, it was our first time, and it did not disappoint. The best part is we brought our 4 month old with us and were accommodated easily and she slept comfortably through our long lunch due to the spaciousness of the restaurant. Our waiters were delightful and food was good… but it’s the overall experience people come here for and we had a great time.
Amazing location, very charming and upscale.Perched on the side of a hill, with many different levels and different “rooms” to enjoy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Slow-Roasted Angus Prime Rib
The furuncle ride down thru the garden is beautiful and sets the stage for a relaxing dining experience. Food was great!
We decided to celebrate our 3 year anniversary here at Shadowbrook and we weren’t disappointed. They have a small train car looking transportation to and from the parking lot that was awesome. Also available classic looking taxis that can take you to and from your vehicle. Amazing style and ambiance.Emily was our server for the evening, and she was fairly helpful. It did seem as if she was upselling a bit as all recommendations were the more expensive items however that’s understandable as server income is dependent on how much we spend.Bread and butter for table 5/5Dirty martini 4/5 (first martini we’ve tried)Ahi Poke 5/5Clam Chowder 5/5Butcher’s Filet 4/5 (steak was low on flavor - subbed out the Pomme Purée for potato gratin)Chocolate meltdown 4/5Complementary chocolate ganache for anniversary 5/5Presentation on all items was incredible. Some items feel like they need just slightly more of something or to be modified, but overall very high quality.Forewarning there is a 4% up charge on all items and the menu cites employee healthcare as the reason. There is also an option available when splitting a meal to get equal side amounts for an additional $6.$119.49 after tax and the 4% surcharge for 1 drink, 1 soup, 1 appetizer, 1 meal split w/ $6 for extra sides, and 1 dessert.Will be back and excited to see more of this place!For local reviews or travel content you can find us on Instagram @sunsetourist
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Meltdown
I had scalloped and they were amazing. Everything was top notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you find your self in Santa Cruz or Capitola, you must visit this place at least once! The food and drinks were good enough, but you are really there for the ambiance, decor and the cute little cable car. If you want the best bang for your buck, the Osso Bucco was huge and filling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Bucco
Decided to finally post this review. The restaurant location and ambience getting into the restaurant are very nice. The gardens and exterior are just so well kept. The interior once we got inside was just ok, but it also might have been because we were seated in a dungeon area (or so it felt) and I will explain later why that matters.We had reservations - sister, mom and partner to celebrate my sister's acceptance into UCSC and decided this would be an awesome place to take my 3 favorite ladies. However because we were placed in a dungeon, the service seemed to forget about us and our food was over an hour late getting to us (on what was not a particularly busy weekday). Then my partner and my mom both got undercooked and cold food when it finally arrived. I don't write reviews lightly, but I had to write this as it struck me as very bad considering the cost of the food. I can see a lot of positive notes about this place and it might have just been our experience, but aside from the exterior - the service and the food was not even mediocre at best. I would hope that it has improved recently.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
I absolutely love the garden and gondola here. Food and drinks are great as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Wonderful
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful place. Friendly waiters. The people were sociable and kind. Will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came for our Anniversary! It was the best experience imaginable. Beautiful beyond belief! Our waiter, Ethan, was kind, accomadating, and absolutely incredible; and went out of his way to make it a truly memorable a experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Somehow our reservation was not in the system. We reserved through yelp so maybe that's why. When we arrived for a 7pm they couldn't seat us. So we decided to seat in the walk in lounge area. Curiously... the host could have just told us to wait until 7:15 as the reservation system showed availability. Small service issue but everyone was really nice. The steak sandwich was great. The brie was also very good. The artichoke hearts however were not very tasty. Didn't expect the inedible leaves to be part of the fried artichoke hearts. Prime rib was incredibly tender and one of the best we've had. The server in the lounge was great and loved his service. Wish I remembered the name.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Slow-Roasted Angus Prime Rib
Unique experience, good food and good service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My daughter's absolute favorite dessert is the blueberry cheesecake. We like to go to the rock room bar and have some appetizers like calamari and enjoy the ambiance. Of course, writing the trolley is a highlight as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
food and wine list is priced competitively for the venue. While the menu is maybe somewhat dated, the food is decent. It does not have much on the contemporary side of choices, but that is quite fine - it is “old money dining”, so to speak. Over the years, it has kept well and you can definitely tell this was once a very fancy place to be in its prime. the tram is very cute and picturesque.. great for pics and definitely a place to make an impression for dates and special’er events. the dining room(s) do echo and do get a bit loud when full, yet closes quite early for a full service restaurant. I take issue with the dress code… it is Santa Cruz, thus relaxed/casual. just state “no beach wear” and/or “smart casual”.
Wonderful lunch here at Shadowbrook, it was our first time, and it did not disappoint. The best part is we brought our 4 month old with us and were accommodated easily and she slept comfortably through our long lunch due to the spaciousness of the restaurant. Our waiters were delightful and food was good… but it’s the overall experience people come here for and we had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5