Best wine selection of any restaurant in the Monterey Bay. Best Thai food in the bay as well. The books make me want to pick one up. Go there. Total date spot. Go there.
Tali Schulman
Incredibly delicious, fun, light Thai meal with super fun wines. Highly recommended!
Mike Delorme
Great food, very cool atmosphere.
K L
Dope spot. One of the most enjoyable dining experiences I’ve had in Santa Cruz. It’s a hybrid bookstore, bar, and restaurant—and the concept actually delivers.
The rotating chefs keep the menu fresh and the flavors dynamic. I caught Chef Lailita Kaewsawang’s Thai menu (Summer 2025), and it was easily some of the best Thai I’ve had in a minute. Bold, balanced, and deeply flavorful.
The menu small but intentional selection. You can revisit and try everything without getting overwhelmed. Operationally smart and encourages repeat visits (in my opinion).
I enjoyed their wine— which they sourced from small production estates. It’s thoughtfully curated and designed to complement the rotating cuisine.
The book store vibe was impressive within itself. Definitely an added layer of intellectual texture to the space. If you’re not into books - their selections will catch your eye.
Overall: Bad Animal isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a whole mood. The rotating chef model keeps things fresh, the bookstore adds depth, and the food delivers. Thai night was a standout. Would absolutely return to see what’s next on the culinary rotation—and maybe grab a bottle and a book while I’m at it. The staff was warm, knowledgeable, and on point. Indoor and outdoor seating available—both cozy, both functional.
Perry Raleigh
Small menu but great food and cocktails. Incredible selection of used books, focusing on academic and artsy.
Tamara Flosse
The food was delicious and the bookstore vibes really added to the experience, but we went in with our toddler for a group dinner and they refused to bring out a plate for the kid. For the first 30min our hungry kid begged for food while they served oysters and leafy appetizers… when they finally agreed to bring part of our meal out for him, it was plain white rice although we had ordered pork belly and tofu dishes also. I’d never been to a place so unwilling to accommodate.
Joe Leeds
So here’s the thing: I went to Bad Animal, which, despite its slightly alarming name, is in fact a Thai restaurant and not, as I briefly feared, a petting zoo with a kitchen attached. From the moment I walked in, I wasn’t sure if I had made the best decision of the week or the worst decision of my life, and honestly, I’m still not sure even as I type this.
The atmosphere was… eclectic. There are books, there’s art, there’s this vibe that says “we are simultaneously very serious about food but also not taking anything seriously at all.” I felt like I should have brushed up on my philosophy before ordering a curry.
Now, the food. My pad thai arrived and immediately threw me into an existential spiral. Was it the best pad thai I’ve ever had? Maybe. Was it slightly too sweet? Also maybe. Did I eat the entire plate anyway while debating these questions with myself? Absolutely. The green curry was another puzzle: the spice level hovered between “pleasantly warming” and “why are my ancestors suddenly speaking to me,” depending on which bite I happened to take. Consistency? I don’t know. Adventure? Definitely.
Service was both extremely attentive and vaguely mysterious. My server appeared the exact moment I needed water, which was impressive, but when I asked if the massaman curry was good, they paused, looked into the middle distance like they were considering the nature of goodness itself, and replied: “It depends what you mean by good.” Which, to be fair, is not wrong, but also left me no closer to knowing what to order.
Prices? Reasonable, I think. Not cheap enough to brag about, not expensive enough to complain about. It’s in that uncanny middle zone where you leave thinking: “Was that a deal? Was that a splurge? Was that just… dinner?”
Would I go back? See, that’s the real question, isn’t it? Part of me says yes, because I enjoyed being confused while eating delicious food. Part of me says no, because life is short and clarity is rare. But then again, maybe the point of Bad Animal is that you never really know how you feel—you just keep circling back until confusion becomes comfort.
So here’s my rating: 4 stars. Or maybe 3. Or maybe 5 if I think about it long enough. For now, let’s call it 2 and agree that numbers are arbitrary anyway.
Arielle Kincaid
Great book selection, awesome food, and ambience. Still unsure why there’s a disco ball and no one is dancing but me though. See you soon- hope to see some more variety in sweet moves.
Incredible atmosphere & service. The food is even better. Get a reservation but if you don’t you can wait with a drink and browse the books for as long as it takes to get a seat.
David Leitch
Quite good to food and quite poor service (for example, my waitress spilled food on me while clearing, and wasn't apologetic; that was the overall tenor and vibe of the waitstaff). Food is pretty good, though. Maybe better for takeout?
James Carbone
I have no knowledge of the food but do have personal knowledge of the bookseller side. I eventually purchased from Andre Strong Bookseller in Blue Hill, Maine, instead and was treated professionally, graciously, and conscientiously from start to finish. In the greatest contrast, the combination of unappreciation and discourtesy experienced by this reviewer during telephone calls with Bad Animal of Santa Cruz, CA, over a period of 12 days was palpable and egregiously unprofessional: the people answering the calls frequently talked over me, interrupted by gaslighting, and sometimes talked back. Due to their condescending attitude, it was necessary to ask them to please clarify what they were telling me concerning the item, thus wasting the time of all concerned. Since you treasure books and are a particular, careful purchaser, perhaps even a collector, you will render yourself a valuable favor and save yourself regret by avoiding Bad Animal. Customer service—from employee to manager—amounted to one of the very worst business affairs I have encountered in the past 10 years from any establishment, either in person, over the phone, or during a live chat, obliterating any sense of trustworthiness. Moreover, and astoundingly, Bad Animal showed no interest in welcoming the business of a former university reference librarian. Most surprisingly, my final call made it clear that management remains aware of a severe customer service problem but allows it to persist. The mixture of rudeness and impatience of the people answering the phone on different days—one man told me his name was Andy and was the manager (!) only after he was asked to please provide his name—was appalling. Although I had already taken care to identify myself, that did not matter to him. No person with whom I spoke knew how to listen closely or could take careful notes, or could say when the manager would be around. This necessitated more calls, more delays, and more disappointments. Furthermore, without my first having to suggest it, no employee was willing to save time by consulting with other Bad Animal workers I had spoken with in prior calls, most likely because they never took notes to begin with and/or never kept track of them, let alone set them aside for examination by the so called “expert—our manager; he will call you back by Thursday afternoon”—but he did not. “Bad Animal” is an appropriate and prophetic name for this bookseller. Again, since you treasure books, and are a particular and careful purchaser and collector who wants things stated clearly and accurately, you render yourself a valuable favor by buying from a different seller.
This was an unique place! You can browse various interesting books that are for purchase as well. Great vibe and the food was delicious!
Incredible food!! Everything exceeded expectations!
Best wine selection of any restaurant in the Monterey Bay. Best Thai food in the bay as well. The books make me want to pick one up. Go there. Total date spot. Go there.
Incredibly delicious, fun, light Thai meal with super fun wines. Highly recommended!
Great food, very cool atmosphere.
Dope spot. One of the most enjoyable dining experiences I’ve had in Santa Cruz. It’s a hybrid bookstore, bar, and restaurant—and the concept actually delivers.
The rotating chefs keep the menu fresh and the flavors dynamic. I caught Chef Lailita Kaewsawang’s Thai menu (Summer 2025), and it was easily some of the best Thai I’ve had in a minute. Bold, balanced, and deeply flavorful.
The menu small but intentional selection. You can revisit and try everything without getting overwhelmed. Operationally smart and encourages repeat visits (in my opinion).
I enjoyed their wine— which they sourced from small production estates. It’s thoughtfully curated and designed to complement the rotating cuisine.
The book store vibe was impressive within itself. Definitely an added layer of intellectual texture to the space. If you’re not into books - their selections will catch your eye.
Overall:
Bad Animal isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a whole mood. The rotating chef model keeps things fresh, the bookstore adds depth, and the food delivers. Thai night was a standout. Would absolutely return to see what’s next on the culinary rotation—and maybe grab a bottle and a book while I’m at it. The staff was warm, knowledgeable, and on point. Indoor and outdoor seating available—both cozy, both functional.
Small menu but great food and cocktails. Incredible selection of used books, focusing on academic and artsy.
The food was delicious and the bookstore vibes really added to the experience, but we went in with our toddler for a group dinner and they refused to bring out a plate for the kid. For the first 30min our hungry kid begged for food while they served oysters and leafy appetizers… when they finally agreed to bring part of our meal out for him, it was plain white rice although we had ordered pork belly and tofu dishes also. I’d never been to a place so unwilling to accommodate.
So here’s the thing: I went to Bad Animal, which, despite its slightly alarming name, is in fact a Thai restaurant and not, as I briefly feared, a petting zoo with a kitchen attached. From the moment I walked in, I wasn’t sure if I had made the best decision of the week or the worst decision of my life, and honestly, I’m still not sure even as I type this.
The atmosphere was… eclectic. There are books, there’s art, there’s this vibe that says “we are simultaneously very serious about food but also not taking anything seriously at all.” I felt like I should have brushed up on my philosophy before ordering a curry.
Now, the food. My pad thai arrived and immediately threw me into an existential spiral. Was it the best pad thai I’ve ever had? Maybe. Was it slightly too sweet? Also maybe. Did I eat the entire plate anyway while debating these questions with myself? Absolutely. The green curry was another puzzle: the spice level hovered between “pleasantly warming” and “why are my ancestors suddenly speaking to me,” depending on which bite I happened to take. Consistency? I don’t know. Adventure? Definitely.
Service was both extremely attentive and vaguely mysterious. My server appeared the exact moment I needed water, which was impressive, but when I asked if the massaman curry was good, they paused, looked into the middle distance like they were considering the nature of goodness itself, and replied: “It depends what you mean by good.” Which, to be fair, is not wrong, but also left me no closer to knowing what to order.
Prices? Reasonable, I think. Not cheap enough to brag about, not expensive enough to complain about. It’s in that uncanny middle zone where you leave thinking: “Was that a deal? Was that a splurge? Was that just… dinner?”
Would I go back? See, that’s the real question, isn’t it? Part of me says yes, because I enjoyed being confused while eating delicious food. Part of me says no, because life is short and clarity is rare. But then again, maybe the point of Bad Animal is that you never really know how you feel—you just keep circling back until confusion becomes comfort.
So here’s my rating: 4 stars. Or maybe 3. Or maybe 5 if I think about it long enough. For now, let’s call it 2 and agree that numbers are arbitrary anyway.
Great book selection, awesome food, and ambience. Still unsure why there’s a disco ball and no one is dancing but me though. See you soon- hope to see some more variety in sweet moves.
Restaurantji Recommends
Incredible atmosphere & service. The food is even better. Get a reservation but if you don’t you can wait with a drink and browse the books for as long as it takes to get a seat.
Quite good to food and quite poor service (for example, my waitress spilled food on me while clearing, and wasn't apologetic; that was the overall tenor and vibe of the waitstaff). Food is pretty good, though. Maybe better for takeout?
I have no knowledge of the food but do have personal knowledge of the bookseller side. I eventually purchased from Andre Strong Bookseller in Blue Hill, Maine, instead and was treated professionally, graciously, and conscientiously from start to finish. In the greatest contrast, the combination of unappreciation and discourtesy experienced by this reviewer during telephone calls with Bad Animal of Santa Cruz, CA, over a period of 12 days was palpable and egregiously unprofessional: the people answering the calls frequently talked over me, interrupted by gaslighting, and sometimes talked back. Due to their condescending attitude, it was necessary to ask them to please clarify what they were telling me concerning the item, thus wasting the time of all concerned.
Since you treasure books and are a particular, careful purchaser, perhaps even a collector, you will render yourself a valuable favor and save yourself regret by avoiding Bad Animal.
Customer service—from employee to manager—amounted to one of the very worst business affairs I have encountered in the past 10 years from any establishment, either in person, over the phone, or during a live chat, obliterating any sense of trustworthiness. Moreover, and astoundingly, Bad Animal showed no interest in welcoming the business of a former university reference librarian. Most surprisingly, my final call made it clear that management remains aware of a severe customer service problem but allows it to persist. The mixture of rudeness and impatience of the people answering the phone on different days—one man told me his name was Andy and was the manager (!) only after he was asked to please provide his name—was appalling. Although I had already taken care to identify myself, that did not matter to him.
No person with whom I spoke knew how to listen closely or could take careful notes, or could say when the manager would be around. This necessitated more calls, more delays, and more disappointments. Furthermore, without my first having to suggest it, no employee was willing to save time by consulting with other Bad Animal workers I had spoken with in prior calls, most likely because they never took notes to begin with and/or never kept track of them, let alone set them aside for examination by the so called “expert—our manager; he will call you back by Thursday afternoon”—but he did not.
“Bad Animal” is an appropriate and prophetic name for this bookseller. Again, since you treasure books, and are a particular and careful purchaser and collector who wants things stated clearly and accurately, you render yourself a valuable favor by buying from a different seller.
Great food and excellent book selection
Amazing food and atmosphere.
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