Very attentive. They do know how to offer you all the extras on the menu! Be ware! The food was just okay. Lots of butter, or cream or salt. Chowder was too heavy for my taste. Caesar salad had sub par lettuce and very little cheese. Steak was tender and flavorful ... it again lots of butter and in veggies.
Gloria
Service was great! We had views of Santa Cruz wharf and at a distance was the boardwalk. The burger and garden scramble with bacon were really good. Great way to start the day by the beach!
Catherine
Excellent food and service! This is my go to spot in Santa Cruz. Good kids menu and food too.
Joan
We go to the Ideal on holidays and have done for years. Always friendly service, good food and good valiue
Linda
The turkey dish was excellent, the steak dish was also very good as well. We were pleased with the presentation and tastes of our dishes. Thank you.
John Smith
Went in last night with the wife and kids and it seemed really busy due to the World Series being on. The hostess at the front of the restaurant was really accommodating with giving us an estimate on a wait, and offering outdoor seating as an alternative. We opted to wait for a few minutes because it was a little cold outside. We had a nice chat with the hostess and she was able to seat us even quicker than estimated. Service was good and friendly. Our waiter was very nice. Food was good, but nothing to write home about. The Asian chicken salad was my favorite thing we got.
Jess Y
It was the closest place nearby at the time, the menu seemed decent. Service was slow despite being not so busy. The food was not great. Batter was thick and it all tasted bland. The rice was overcooked, and you can just see the texture. I was disappointed and wish we would have drove downtown or somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Scott Wilson
Took my family here two days in a row. Day one around 6:45pm walked up to hostess booth to request a table. Got the stare down from shoes to eyes and was seated, reluctantly. Day two wanted to try their lunch offerings. Again, different hostess was rude giving off negative vibes. Waitstaff was friendly and tentative. Food was flawlessly prepared. Highly recommend getting the ice cream. Shame that the first interaction at the restaurant is negative. Will likely return in the future to see improvements.
Kid-friendliness: The kids menu included a grilled salmon to my daughters delight.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Stuffed Salmon
N. Schram
Food was tasty but way too expensive for the quality! Nice location and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Kenny O
My wife and I both got terrible food poisoning shortly after finishing our meal. We think it was the clam chowder based on the fact that was the only dish we shared.
Ideal Bar & Grill is the perfect spot if you're looking for a great meal with an even better view. Located right at the start of the pier, it's far enough from the seals to enjoy some peaceful ocean sounds but still gives you that stunning waterfront view. The food here is amazing! Their seafood dishes are a must-try—always fresh and full of flavor. Personally, I love their nachos and tacos, both packed with delicious toppings and just the right amount of spice. The drinks are excellent too, making it a great place to relax and unwind. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in Santa Cruz!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Frederic Heckmann
On purpose seats people in the sun even though half the restaurant is empty.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Paul VanDerWalde
great experience, Marisol who helped sit 15 of us was amazing in accommodating us, it’s good to see ideal back to its fun atmosphere and good food.
I was displeased to see that they add a fee to the prices displayed. They should increase their prices by 4% instead of adding it at the end in a semi-hidden way. No need to gaslight consumers with the excuse of paying employees more - they can do that anyways without an extra fee.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Breanna Monke
The location of this place is great, right on the beach. Our server also did a great job. The food was OK, not great, and definitely not worth the price. There is also a 4% surcharge on your bill to cover employee benefits. It is list at the bottom of the menu but neither me husband or I noticed until the bill came. This is absolutely ludicrous to me. The employer should be responsible for any cost like that. Raise your menu prices if you must. Don't make your customers pay for your employees to work at YOUR restaurant. It's not like this is a surprise expense for a restaurant.
Very attentive. They do know how to offer you all the extras on the menu! Be ware! The food was just okay. Lots of butter, or cream or salt. Chowder was too heavy for my taste. Caesar salad had sub par lettuce and very little cheese. Steak was tender and flavorful ... it again lots of butter and in veggies.
Service was great! We had views of Santa Cruz wharf and at a distance was the boardwalk. The burger and garden scramble with bacon were really good. Great way to start the day by the beach!
Excellent food and service! This is my go to spot in Santa Cruz. Good kids menu and food too.
We go to the Ideal on holidays and have done for years. Always friendly service, good food and good valiue
The turkey dish was excellent, the steak dish was also very good as well. We were pleased with the presentation and tastes of our dishes. Thank you.
Went in last night with the wife and kids and it seemed really busy due to the World Series being on. The hostess at the front of the restaurant was really accommodating with giving us an estimate on a wait, and offering outdoor seating as an alternative. We opted to wait for a few minutes because it was a little cold outside. We had a nice chat with the hostess and she was able to seat us even quicker than estimated. Service was good and friendly. Our waiter was very nice. Food was good, but nothing to write home about. The Asian chicken salad was my favorite thing we got.
It was the closest place nearby at the time, the menu seemed decent. Service was slow despite being not so busy. The food was not great. Batter was thick and it all tasted bland. The rice was overcooked, and you can just see the texture. I was disappointed and wish we would have drove downtown or somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Took my family here two days in a row. Day one around 6:45pm walked up to hostess booth to request a table. Got the stare down from shoes to eyes and was seated, reluctantly. Day two wanted to try their lunch offerings. Again, different hostess was rude giving off negative vibes. Waitstaff was friendly and tentative. Food was flawlessly prepared. Highly recommend getting the ice cream. Shame that the first interaction at the restaurant is negative. Will likely return in the future to see improvements.
Kid-friendliness: The kids menu included a grilled salmon to my daughters delight.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Stuffed Salmon
Food was tasty but way too expensive for the quality!
Nice location and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
My wife and I both got terrible food poisoning shortly after finishing our meal. We think it was the clam chowder based on the fact that was the only dish we shared.
Food: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Ideal Bar & Grill is the perfect spot if you're looking for a great meal with an even better view. Located right at the start of the pier, it's far enough from the seals to enjoy some peaceful ocean sounds but still gives you that stunning waterfront view. The food here is amazing! Their seafood dishes are a must-try—always fresh and full of flavor. Personally, I love their nachos and tacos, both packed with delicious toppings and just the right amount of spice. The drinks are excellent too, making it a great place to relax and unwind. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in Santa Cruz!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
On purpose seats people in the sun even though half the restaurant is empty.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
great experience, Marisol who helped sit 15 of us was amazing in accommodating us, it’s good to see ideal back to its fun atmosphere and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Molten Lava Cake, Chowder, Burger
I was displeased to see that they add a fee to the prices displayed. They should increase their prices by 4% instead of adding it at the end in a semi-hidden way. No need to gaslight consumers with the excuse of paying employees more - they can do that anyways without an extra fee.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
The location of this place is great, right on the beach. Our server also did a great job. The food was OK, not great, and definitely not worth the price. There is also a 4% surcharge on your bill to cover employee benefits. It is list at the bottom of the menu but neither me husband or I noticed until the bill came. This is absolutely ludicrous to me. The employer should be responsible for any cost like that. Raise your menu prices if you must. Don't make your customers pay for your employees to work at YOUR restaurant. It's not like this is a surprise expense for a restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
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