Customer service was amazing!! Great communication and they would correct their estimate times, if they accidentally stated a shorter wait time.
However, the food was mediocre and I would not come here again. Pizza was the main problem, which is their main dish - funny enough. Consistent issue was that all 3 pizzas ordered here were really soupy aka the toppings would fall off really easily. There was essentially no undercarriage in the crust and it would fall apart.
We ordered the Endive, pepperoni, and sausage. The endive was not good and the whole lettuce chunk would be difficult to bite into, so you'd end up eating massive lettuce chunks and leaving just bread left on the second bites. Flavor wise - I do not recommend.
Pepperoni was OK flavor, not my personal favorite. I've had significantly better from other places like A Mano in SF, but this pizza was the most structurally strong crust. The toppings did not threaten to slip when you pulled the slice.
The sausage tasted the best out of the three options ordered, but nothing mind blowing. I've definitely had better flavors elsewhere and the crust had the same issue as the others.
Dessert was decent. I think the blood orange ice cream itself was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Shayna B
TLDR: overpriced, better places to spend your evening in Santa Cruz. Hostess was very nice, seated us quickly. The bartender refused to make a negroni with lillet: I was told it was “not possible” even though lillet WAS on the menu and there were 2 Negroni variations on the menu. The Caesar salad was DROWNED in dressing to the point where you could taste nothing except for the dressing. It was made with radicchio (not listed on description) impractically sized breadcrumbs. We took our pizza to go, only to discover it was slightly burnt.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
paul morrison
This is one of my favorite spots in Santa Cruz. I usually stick with the sausage pizza, which is always great, and the cocktails never disappoint. The Caesar salad isn’t good—maybe even bad (minus one star for messing up caesar salad).
I recommend sticking to the classic pizzas and enjoying the excellent cocktails. The atmosphere is open, casual, and warm, making it a great place to hang out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sausage
Toun Ray
My second visit to Bantam and the food was exceptional as was the first time. Sorry forgot to take pictures because we dug right into the food! ?
I highly recommend if you are looking for something different from the norm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eyal Cidon
Solid place and creative pizza (we really liked the Napoli one), but the pizzas were a bit overcooked (too much burn on the pizza and dough was over done). The cocktails were really good were the highlight!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Wil Gibb
Fun take on fried chicken & one of the best arugula prosciutto pizzas we’ve had
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reed Hastings
Clams were great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Raven
Great food & excellent service! Staff is super friendly & very helpful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sopressata Pizza
Lisa Olsen 999
Sooty pizzas! We ordered 2 margherita pizzas and the "lettuces" salad, and the prices were on the expensive side, but not unusual for brick oven pizza. The salad was fresh and delicious, but the pizzas were so burned and sooty on the bottom that they were barely edible (by eating the toppings and isolating the small bits of unburned crust). Since we were traveling from another town, we couldn't return the burnt pies. I should have opened the boxes and looked before driving away with our takeout order, but verifying the quality should be part of their service.
I typically am a meat and potatoes guy. Ordered the chicken and was a little apprehensive when it came. Everything piled up, but then I began eating and was blown away. Food was great. By the way this is coming from a guy from Detroit, in town for work.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
Aishwarya Rajguru
Really unique pizza toppings and always delicious! They have a rotating menu so there’s always something new to try. Great desserts as well! Pizza + fine dining + Santa Cruz beaches. ❤️We’ve been here 3 times and will visit again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza
Undramaa Bat-Erdene
One of my favorite places i frequent. They have amazing pizzas. I highly recommend the sopressata pizza. And, you won't go wrong with their fried chicken too.
The chef here knows what they are doing, for sure. Well-trained staff will host you (even the seats at the bar are hosted, so don't cruise past the host station). The gem Caesar salad is soooo good. Sometimes I'll just get that at the bar and it's dinner. Pizzas are great. Place is consistently packed on many nights, so make a reservation or show up right at 5pm for best experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kim
Amazing wood fire pizza. Inside seating a little crowded akward. Outside long wait, at least 45 min usually. Service can be exceptional. Love the westside.
$31 chicken meal for this???
Customer service was amazing!! Great communication and they would correct their estimate times, if they accidentally stated a shorter wait time.
However, the food was mediocre and I would not come here again. Pizza was the main problem, which is their main dish - funny enough. Consistent issue was that all 3 pizzas ordered here were really soupy aka the toppings would fall off really easily. There was essentially no undercarriage in the crust and it would fall apart.
We ordered the Endive, pepperoni, and sausage. The endive was not good and the whole lettuce chunk would be difficult to bite into, so you'd end up eating massive lettuce chunks and leaving just bread left on the second bites. Flavor wise - I do not recommend.
Pepperoni was OK flavor, not my personal favorite. I've had significantly better from other places like A Mano in SF, but this pizza was the most structurally strong crust. The toppings did not threaten to slip when you pulled the slice.
The sausage tasted the best out of the three options ordered, but nothing mind blowing. I've definitely had better flavors elsewhere and the crust had the same issue as the others.
Dessert was decent. I think the blood orange ice cream itself was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
TLDR: overpriced, better places to spend your evening in Santa Cruz.
Hostess was very nice, seated us quickly. The bartender refused to make a negroni with lillet: I was told it was “not possible” even though lillet WAS on the menu and there were 2 Negroni variations on the menu.
The Caesar salad was DROWNED in dressing to the point where you could taste nothing except for the dressing. It was made with radicchio (not listed on description) impractically sized breadcrumbs. We took our pizza to go, only to discover it was slightly burnt.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
This is one of my favorite spots in Santa Cruz. I usually stick with the sausage pizza, which is always great, and the cocktails never disappoint. The Caesar salad isn’t good—maybe even bad (minus one star for messing up caesar salad).
I recommend sticking to the classic pizzas and enjoying the excellent cocktails. The atmosphere is open, casual, and warm, making it a great place to hang out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sausage
My second visit to Bantam and the food was exceptional as was the first time. Sorry forgot to take pictures because we dug right into the food! ?
I highly recommend if you are looking for something different from the norm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Solid place and creative pizza (we really liked the Napoli one), but the pizzas were a bit overcooked (too much burn on the pizza and dough was over done). The cocktails were really good were the highlight!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Fun take on fried chicken & one of the best arugula prosciutto pizzas we’ve had
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Clams were great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food & excellent service! Staff is super friendly & very helpful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sopressata Pizza
Sooty pizzas! We ordered 2 margherita pizzas and the "lettuces" salad, and the prices were on the expensive side, but not unusual for brick oven pizza. The salad was fresh and delicious, but the pizzas were so burned and sooty on the bottom that they were barely edible (by eating the toppings and isolating the small bits of unburned crust). Since we were traveling from another town, we couldn't return the burnt pies. I should have opened the boxes and looked before driving away with our takeout order, but verifying the quality should be part of their service.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Sopressata Pizza
Restaurantji Recommends
I typically am a meat and potatoes guy. Ordered the chicken and was a little apprehensive when it came. Everything piled up, but then I began eating and was blown away. Food was great. By the way this is coming from a guy from Detroit, in town for work.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
Really unique pizza toppings and always delicious! They have a rotating menu so there’s always something new to try. Great desserts as well!
Pizza + fine dining + Santa Cruz beaches. ❤️We’ve been here 3 times and will visit again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza
One of my favorite places i frequent. They have amazing pizzas. I highly recommend the sopressata pizza. And, you won't go wrong with their fried chicken too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza, Fried Chicken Breast, Sausage, Fried Chicken
The chef here knows what they are doing, for sure. Well-trained staff will host you (even the seats at the bar are hosted, so don't cruise past the host station). The gem Caesar salad is soooo good. Sometimes I'll just get that at the bar and it's dinner. Pizzas are great. Place is consistently packed on many nights, so make a reservation or show up right at 5pm for best experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing wood fire pizza. Inside seating a little crowded akward. Outside long wait, at least 45 min usually. Service can be exceptional. Love the westside.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
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