We went out to eat with friends at Lago Di Como Ristorante in Santa Cruz. It's a nice Italian place that serves really good food, including pasta they make right there. We started with polenta sticks for an appetizer, and they were really tasty and super crispy. For our main dishes, we had steak cooked medium-rare, which was done just right, and grilled fish that was very fresh and delicious. Everything we had was great, and we enjoyed our dinner.Vegetarian options: Also few good vegan options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Sauce
Jan B.
Escape to Italy at this cozy, lively spot with friendly and attentive service and flavorful food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Mousse Bomb, Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese
Craig Jones
Excellent meal with a personal touch. Servers were all attentive and thoughtful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jake Rocchi
A hidden gem of an Italian place near Santa Cruz. One of the better Italian meals I’ve had on the west coast. The Chef (who I was told is from Lake Como) was incredibly friendly and came to our table multiple times to check on our meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Fritto Misto
Bill Duran
Excellent pasta, Caesar Salad is fantastic, good wines. Best restaurant in Santa Cruz, no doubt!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Soup, Casoncelli Butternut
C & B
Everyone ate every drop of the very delicious
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Molly Thompson
Dinner with family... food and wine were amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Wolfli
"Buona Sera"There is a passion here that cannot be understated. From the moment I walked in I felt a welcome and warmth that felt like home. But not my home. Like a home tucked away in an Italian countryside bursting with laughter wine and happiness. We were greeted in a casual warmth by nearly everyone that worked their. The setting is very intimate and cozy. Ideal for a romantic date night with my husband.The food not only looks like it could be on the pages of bon appetit magazine, but tastes incredible. We had the scallops for an appetizer. Presentation was adorably placed in the middle of our tiny two person table. Scallops often fall short for me, but my persistence and optimism paid off in this case. They were perfect. For our entree we ordered the show stopping porterhouse as well as the gnocchi. This was intentionally too much food for two. Driven by our incapability to deny ourselves of either of these inticing dishes, and our desire for leftovers, it was the best decision we could have made. The steak was exactly what is should have been, finished with sprinkles of aptly sized salt crystals. But the dish that stopped me in my tracks was the gnocchi. Never have I experienced such a delicate richness. This is a bucket list food that must be tried by any food enthusiast.I highly recommend this restaurant, and will be returning as soon as possible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurie Niiyama
A delicious dinner with wonderful service!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jane Grundstrom
Awesome.Great food. Great Cheesecake. Beautiful atmosphere.
We really wanted to love this place. Walked in at 5:45 and the place was so cold everyone was wearing their jackets. The server agreed and said they turned up the heat. We wore our jackets the entire dinner. So 2 pts for atmosphere because it was too cold, otherwise the upgraded decor and table settings are very nice. The owner Mateo was very friendly and informative. Our server although new, was good. My wife enjoyed a spritz and I enjoyed the Italian red by the glass (Monferrato Rosso). The prosciutto appetizer was excellent. I made the mistake of ordering the special which was a pasta with sword fish cubes and a light marinara sauce. The small amount of fish was dry and the pasta and sauce did nothing to improve the dish. My wife had the veal which was rather tough and had a old meat flavor to it. Since we did not enjoy our mains, we passed on the dessert, which I hear are excellent. Although I would be willing to try this place again, my wife does not want to so we will be making the rounds to the many other Italian restaurants here in Santa Cruz to find our favorite one.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
michele swanson
From beginning to end, our experience was superb. Service was excellent, and the staff actually engaged us. My pasta carbanara was the best I have had outside Italy. Authentic, delicious and clearly they took pride in thier ingredients. I recommend that you try Lago di Como. CiaoWheelchair accessibility: Easy & accomodating ..
Leslie B
Sat at bar. Server was friendly and consistent. 5 stars for her. Would have rated overall service experience a 5 except that one person who appeared to be an owner or manager (based the role they demonstrated with staff) walked up and stood in front of us at the bar on two separate occasions and cough several times without covering his mouth.Artichoke appetizer so over salted that it was not edible. Clam pasta dish also very salty. Polenta excellent except about a 3/4 cup of olive oil sat at bottomof the dish. Mista salad was nice.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
mike wahl
Terrible service for takeout orders. Put on hold for 5 minutes and never picked up. Called back twice and no answer.
Service: 1
Abby Garner
We had the best dining experience in Santa Cruz—impeccable service and the highest quality food. Our server, Andrea, was both formal, sophisticated and extremely friendly and warm. He graciously introduced us to the owner, and we were treated to delicious samples while waiting for our entrees. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, and the atmosphere was simply divine. Without a doubt, it was a perfect restaurant experience.
We went out to eat with friends at Lago Di Como Ristorante in Santa Cruz. It's a nice Italian place that serves really good food, including pasta they make right there. We started with polenta sticks for an appetizer, and they were really tasty and super crispy. For our main dishes, we had steak cooked medium-rare, which was done just right, and grilled fish that was very fresh and delicious. Everything we had was great, and we enjoyed our dinner.Vegetarian options: Also few good vegan options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Sauce
Escape to Italy at this cozy, lively spot with friendly and attentive service and flavorful food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Mousse Bomb, Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese
Excellent meal with a personal touch. Servers were all attentive and thoughtful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A hidden gem of an Italian place near Santa Cruz. One of the better Italian meals I’ve had on the west coast. The Chef (who I was told is from Lake Como) was incredibly friendly and came to our table multiple times to check on our meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Fritto Misto
Excellent pasta, Caesar Salad is fantastic, good wines. Best restaurant in Santa Cruz, no doubt!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Soup, Casoncelli Butternut
Everyone ate every drop of the very delicious
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner with family... food and wine were amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
"Buona Sera"There is a passion here that cannot be understated. From the moment I walked in I felt a welcome and warmth that felt like home. But not my home. Like a home tucked away in an Italian countryside bursting with laughter wine and happiness. We were greeted in a casual warmth by nearly everyone that worked their. The setting is very intimate and cozy. Ideal for a romantic date night with my husband.The food not only looks like it could be on the pages of bon appetit magazine, but tastes incredible. We had the scallops for an appetizer. Presentation was adorably placed in the middle of our tiny two person table. Scallops often fall short for me, but my persistence and optimism paid off in this case. They were perfect. For our entree we ordered the show stopping porterhouse as well as the gnocchi. This was intentionally too much food for two. Driven by our incapability to deny ourselves of either of these inticing dishes, and our desire for leftovers, it was the best decision we could have made. The steak was exactly what is should have been, finished with sprinkles of aptly sized salt crystals. But the dish that stopped me in my tracks was the gnocchi. Never have I experienced such a delicate richness. This is a bucket list food that must be tried by any food enthusiast.I highly recommend this restaurant, and will be returning as soon as possible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A delicious dinner with wonderful service!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome.Great food. Great Cheesecake. Beautiful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese
Restaurantji Recommends
We really wanted to love this place. Walked in at 5:45 and the place was so cold everyone was wearing their jackets. The server agreed and said they turned up the heat. We wore our jackets the entire dinner. So 2 pts for atmosphere because it was too cold, otherwise the upgraded decor and table settings are very nice. The owner Mateo was very friendly and informative. Our server although new, was good. My wife enjoyed a spritz and I enjoyed the Italian red by the glass (Monferrato Rosso). The prosciutto appetizer was excellent. I made the mistake of ordering the special which was a pasta with sword fish cubes and a light marinara sauce. The small amount of fish was dry and the pasta and sauce did nothing to improve the dish. My wife had the veal which was rather tough and had a old meat flavor to it. Since we did not enjoy our mains, we passed on the dessert, which I hear are excellent. Although I would be willing to try this place again, my wife does not want to so we will be making the rounds to the many other Italian restaurants here in Santa Cruz to find our favorite one.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
From beginning to end, our experience was superb. Service was excellent, and the staff actually engaged us. My pasta carbanara was the best I have had outside Italy. Authentic, delicious and clearly they took pride in thier ingredients. I recommend that you try Lago di Como. CiaoWheelchair accessibility: Easy & accomodating ..
Sat at bar. Server was friendly and consistent. 5 stars for her. Would have rated overall service experience a 5 except that one person who appeared to be an owner or manager (based the role they demonstrated with staff) walked up and stood in front of us at the bar on two separate occasions and cough several times without covering his mouth.Artichoke appetizer so over salted that it was not edible. Clam pasta dish also very salty. Polenta excellent except about a 3/4 cup of olive oil sat at bottomof the dish. Mista salad was nice.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Terrible service for takeout orders. Put on hold for 5 minutes and never picked up. Called back twice and no answer.
Service: 1
We had the best dining experience in Santa Cruz—impeccable service and the highest quality food. Our server, Andrea, was both formal, sophisticated and extremely friendly and warm. He graciously introduced us to the owner, and we were treated to delicious samples while waiting for our entrees. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, and the atmosphere was simply divine. Without a doubt, it was a perfect restaurant experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5