One of my favorite places to eat at UCSC! The restaurant offers delicious and unique entrees. They are seasonal so it is always a pleasant surprise to get to try new things. Highly recommend both the restaurant for sit-down meals and the coffee bar for something on the go.
Andy N.
My supervisor took me to Terra Fresca for my first meal here at UCSC. I love the concept of an American restaurant featuring wait staff service situated above College 9/10. The student-service friendly restaurant really was a good introduction to the food quality here on campus. The ambiance was lovely and it felt like there were staff and faculty members dining inside the entire time. I reckon administration also take clients here as it's one of the nicer dining spots on campus. My Zucchini Noodles w/ Steak was pretty good. The noodles were amazing and helped me feel better about not indulging in simply more carbs for once. The steak I ordered was meant to be medium-rare but it was definitely more on the cooked side. Go one level lower if you want your meat to taste like how you ordered. While my meal was nearly $17, they do not accept tips here so what you see is what you pay. They take reservations so definitely consider making one during the academic year since it likely gets busy overtime. Because the menu changes so frequently, I look forward to coming back and trying out more of its delectable offerings.
Jasmine L.
The menu changes every quarter! If you have a 55 day meal plan, you can use your meals as money ($8/meal). And if you're a student, your bill is tax-exempt. This is hands down the best place to eat on campus. However, as it's a sit down restaurant, it's also the priciest. I come here occasionally. I got the turkey pesto provolone sandwich with sweet potato fries. That item has been consistently on the menu for the last few quarters. It's pretty good and it's only $8.50. Their spinach artichoke dip focaccia is so good; I get it every time I come here. They usually change their entrees; they have ranch steak this quarter. The servers are students so it's unfortunate that they don't accept tips here! I see a lot of administration and people who are having business meetings eat here, as it is the fanciest sit-down restaurant on campus. (3.5/5)
David G.
Nice restaurant on campus at College 9 & 10. Selection is limited, but what they have is very good. I'm not a student but a volunteer so it's nice to have this additional option. Chicken sandwich was good and the tomato coconut vegan soup was excellent. Nice second-story view of the redwoods.
Amy Z.
They messed up on our order by giving half a meal and the next table over. They cut the price in half and promised free dessert but they did not give free dessert even though they promised 3 apple crisps (it was on the receipt too) and they never gave us that.
Catherine V.
This is probably one of the nicest resteraunts on campus. It's usually pretty busy, so if your under a time constraint, I highly suggest you make a reservation. They are only open from 1130-2, which is kind of restrictive. The food here is def fresh and from local sources. However, I feel it's a bit pricey for the amount they actually give you. Nevertheless, have come here on numerous occasions for lunch. I like that their menu changes every quarter.
Eric C.
Located above College 9/10 dining hall. Restaurant style! I got the House Burger and thought it was good. I was satisfied. Definitely the best place to get a fancier meal on campus.
Aaron D.
Restaurant only functions when they have barely anyone in it. Today they told us they are not taking orders because "the kitchen is really busy." Only in a place like this will people turn down business because they are doing well.
Soren B.
Great ambience, high quality food. If you are you student it's a good change from the dining hall. They also have a lot of interesting drinks. Their specials change every week and their menu changes every quarter so make sure to check back in to see what they have. The only thing I don't agree with is that their employees are not allowed to accept tips. That's not exactly fair.
Tuyen H.
It's a nice place to grab lunch if you don't want to eat at the dining hall. Service can be a bit slow and the food can either be a hit or miss. As for the drinks, I love their passion fruit mojito and for dessert their house cheesecake is to die for. Perfect place if you have a 55 day meal plan and want to get rid of some but otherwise it's not that great of a restaurant to spend your own money. It's just ok imo. I would definitely recommend the roasted vegetable ravioli. It's really good! Oh, and their menu changes every quarter btw!
This is the tldr version of Cindy's review. Terra Fresca is a great place to blow your meals/flexis if you have em. And if you don't, become friends with someone who does.
Tanusree M.
Nice place to grab lunch rather than going to the dining hall. Service is usually slow and the food is often hit or miss. As for drinks, I love the lime fauxjito! So yummy. I've come here countless times and the experience varies per visit. When going with a larger group, expect a long wait.
Eddie S.
In reference to available food on campus, and really in the surrounding area, this place is as good as it gets. What's not to like? The food is great, fresh, tasty, and cheap! And not to sound cheap, but the wait staff doesn't accept tip, so you can dine here and eat great food while still not hurting your wallet. If you join the lunch club, you get 5% off. Make a reservation on the lunch club and get 10% off. And with a lunch club card, you'll be invited every quarter to their menu tasting event, which is entirely free. All you can eat/drink of their delicious food. Free. I can't say I've ever been disappointed in the many times I've eaten here. Maybe one time they burned my pizza crust and it was obvious they tried to scrape off the burn marks on the crust, but whatever, it was still okay. Every other time I'm really happy, whether it's pizza, a sandwich, burger, entree, appetizer. My only wish is that they served beer and liquor, i.e. that some of their faux-jitos were really mojitos. But then I remember that I go here only when I'm at work, working, and I realize it probably wouldn't be a good idea anyways :)
Cindy M.
Oh Terra Fresca... The perfect way to describe this place is that it's nice to try once but you wouldn't want to come back. Here's why... a) if you come at a random peak hour (which sometimes does happen) you'll end up waiting much too long standing up to get a table where you'll wait too long sitting down. Honestly, if you're going to come and eat here, at least give yourself a good two hours. b) the price is an arm and a leg, but it's not that bad if you're on the 55 meal plan and are trying to waste them before the quarter is over. I would never spend actual cash here because the food and service is not worth it. c) The service isn't professional by any means. The waiters/waitresses are students who were hired as dining hall workers, they are not properly trained and aren't under the same pressures of other staff at off campus restaurants. d) Expect to get below average food. It'll either come overcooked or undercooked (or just bland in general) The only good thing they serve are french fries and sweet potato fries. Oh, and a few people mentioned complimentary bread but they no longer have that. e) And since we're talking about food, there's not very many options to choose from. Their menu is one sided, one page and it changes yearly (like a few items, not the whole menu). Expect about 5 options for appetizers, 4 for salads, 1 for soup, 5 for burgers/sandwiches, and about six for the main course. f) They have terrible hours The one nice thing about this place is that a) a lot of their green stuff is organic! :) b) happy hour (which is actually only half an hour twice a day) gets you a free drink with your meal c) The location/view is beautiful d) lot's of provosts, professors, and just "important" people in general eat here (because they can afford to) so if you want to...why not try and sit close to someone and rub elbows? College is supposed to be time to network right?
Marsea C.
I love going to restaurants, being seated, and waiting for my food. You don't get that at any of the places on campus except Terra Fresca. It's another reason why I really enjoy it here. I would say it's 4 stars for on campus dining. But as a foodie, this place is 2-3 stars. They should serve stuff like this in the dining hall and then upscale this place. 1 star for their time. 11-2 is ridiculous to me because I, like most, have classes during this time. I come here as much as I can because they accept the 55 meal plan and flexis. Most the time the items I have ordered are fairly good. Here is a list of the things I've had: The Korean Short Ribs really aren't that bad, I was very skeptical in ordering them, but when there is no KBBQ around and no car to drive to San Jose, this will fulfill the craving. They did a great job marinating it and the ribs were full of flavor. The vegetables on the rice were okay, way too salty. Caprese Salad. Tomatoes were very nice heirlooms, but they weren't very generous on the mozzarella. It was a nice refreshing appetizer. I'd say their balsamic reduction is too sweet too. California Club Pie: It's a lot in one dish. The idea of a salad on top of the pizza is interesting. I don't think they needed to put a salad (like actually mixed ceaser dressing in it) on top. Maybe a small handful of just arugula on the pizza would be nice, not a salad. Tri Tip Sandwich- Hesitant on ordering this, but it wasn't bad at all (for ucsc dining run place). I would order it again but it was a special for that week. I would prefer them to use a cheese rather than a cheesy creamy concoction. But really this sandwich was just mediocre compared to all the tri-tip sandwiches I've had. Deep Fried Artichoke Hearts- I love marinated artichokes. This was pretty tasty and very crisp. Baked Brie En Croute- This was fascinating. It came out and looked like a pastry. Inside was the baked brie and apples. The bread served on the side with it was okay, could have been way better if the bread was better. Muffaletta- An alright sandwich. It's been a while since I've had it, plus it's no longer on the menu. If they were trying to make it a panini, it definitely wasn't not panini. Not a bad sandwich, I liked the different meats they put it in. There is a lot of other stuff I tried, but I can't really remember since it's from previous quarters. But that shows, the food is just mediocre. A great restaurant, I will never forget what I have eaten. Cheers
One of my favorite places to eat at UCSC! The restaurant offers delicious and unique entrees. They are seasonal so it is always a pleasant surprise to get to try new things. Highly recommend both the restaurant for sit-down meals and the coffee bar for something on the go.
My supervisor took me to Terra Fresca for my first meal here at UCSC. I love the concept of an American restaurant featuring wait staff service situated above College 9/10. The student-service friendly restaurant really was a good introduction to the food quality here on campus. The ambiance was lovely and it felt like there were staff and faculty members dining inside the entire time. I reckon administration also take clients here as it's one of the nicer dining spots on campus. My Zucchini Noodles w/ Steak was pretty good. The noodles were amazing and helped me feel better about not indulging in simply more carbs for once. The steak I ordered was meant to be medium-rare but it was definitely more on the cooked side. Go one level lower if you want your meat to taste like how you ordered. While my meal was nearly $17, they do not accept tips here so what you see is what you pay. They take reservations so definitely consider making one during the academic year since it likely gets busy overtime. Because the menu changes so frequently, I look forward to coming back and trying out more of its delectable offerings.
The menu changes every quarter! If you have a 55 day meal plan, you can use your meals as money ($8/meal). And if you're a student, your bill is tax-exempt. This is hands down the best place to eat on campus. However, as it's a sit down restaurant, it's also the priciest. I come here occasionally. I got the turkey pesto provolone sandwich with sweet potato fries. That item has been consistently on the menu for the last few quarters. It's pretty good and it's only $8.50. Their spinach artichoke dip focaccia is so good; I get it every time I come here. They usually change their entrees; they have ranch steak this quarter. The servers are students so it's unfortunate that they don't accept tips here! I see a lot of administration and people who are having business meetings eat here, as it is the fanciest sit-down restaurant on campus. (3.5/5)
Nice restaurant on campus at College 9 & 10. Selection is limited, but what they have is very good. I'm not a student but a volunteer so it's nice to have this additional option. Chicken sandwich was good and the tomato coconut vegan soup was excellent. Nice second-story view of the redwoods.
They messed up on our order by giving half a meal and the next table over. They cut the price in half and promised free dessert but they did not give free dessert even though they promised 3 apple crisps (it was on the receipt too) and they never gave us that.
This is probably one of the nicest resteraunts on campus. It's usually pretty busy, so if your under a time constraint, I highly suggest you make a reservation. They are only open from 1130-2, which is kind of restrictive. The food here is def fresh and from local sources. However, I feel it's a bit pricey for the amount they actually give you. Nevertheless, have come here on numerous occasions for lunch. I like that their menu changes every quarter.
Located above College 9/10 dining hall. Restaurant style! I got the House Burger and thought it was good. I was satisfied. Definitely the best place to get a fancier meal on campus.
Restaurant only functions when they have barely anyone in it. Today they told us they are not taking orders because "the kitchen is really busy." Only in a place like this will people turn down business because they are doing well.
Great ambience, high quality food. If you are you student it's a good change from the dining hall. They also have a lot of interesting drinks. Their specials change every week and their menu changes every quarter so make sure to check back in to see what they have. The only thing I don't agree with is that their employees are not allowed to accept tips. That's not exactly fair.
It's a nice place to grab lunch if you don't want to eat at the dining hall. Service can be a bit slow and the food can either be a hit or miss. As for the drinks, I love their passion fruit mojito and for dessert their house cheesecake is to die for. Perfect place if you have a 55 day meal plan and want to get rid of some but otherwise it's not that great of a restaurant to spend your own money. It's just ok imo. I would definitely recommend the roasted vegetable ravioli. It's really good! Oh, and their menu changes every quarter btw!
Restaurantji Recommends
This is the tldr version of Cindy's review. Terra Fresca is a great place to blow your meals/flexis if you have em. And if you don't, become friends with someone who does.
Nice place to grab lunch rather than going to the dining hall. Service is usually slow and the food is often hit or miss. As for drinks, I love the lime fauxjito! So yummy. I've come here countless times and the experience varies per visit. When going with a larger group, expect a long wait.
In reference to available food on campus, and really in the surrounding area, this place is as good as it gets. What's not to like? The food is great, fresh, tasty, and cheap! And not to sound cheap, but the wait staff doesn't accept tip, so you can dine here and eat great food while still not hurting your wallet. If you join the lunch club, you get 5% off. Make a reservation on the lunch club and get 10% off. And with a lunch club card, you'll be invited every quarter to their menu tasting event, which is entirely free. All you can eat/drink of their delicious food. Free. I can't say I've ever been disappointed in the many times I've eaten here. Maybe one time they burned my pizza crust and it was obvious they tried to scrape off the burn marks on the crust, but whatever, it was still okay. Every other time I'm really happy, whether it's pizza, a sandwich, burger, entree, appetizer. My only wish is that they served beer and liquor, i.e. that some of their faux-jitos were really mojitos. But then I remember that I go here only when I'm at work, working, and I realize it probably wouldn't be a good idea anyways :)
Oh Terra Fresca... The perfect way to describe this place is that it's nice to try once but you wouldn't want to come back. Here's why... a) if you come at a random peak hour (which sometimes does happen) you'll end up waiting much too long standing up to get a table where you'll wait too long sitting down. Honestly, if you're going to come and eat here, at least give yourself a good two hours. b) the price is an arm and a leg, but it's not that bad if you're on the 55 meal plan and are trying to waste them before the quarter is over. I would never spend actual cash here because the food and service is not worth it. c) The service isn't professional by any means. The waiters/waitresses are students who were hired as dining hall workers, they are not properly trained and aren't under the same pressures of other staff at off campus restaurants. d) Expect to get below average food. It'll either come overcooked or undercooked (or just bland in general) The only good thing they serve are french fries and sweet potato fries. Oh, and a few people mentioned complimentary bread but they no longer have that. e) And since we're talking about food, there's not very many options to choose from. Their menu is one sided, one page and it changes yearly (like a few items, not the whole menu). Expect about 5 options for appetizers, 4 for salads, 1 for soup, 5 for burgers/sandwiches, and about six for the main course. f) They have terrible hours The one nice thing about this place is that a) a lot of their green stuff is organic! :) b) happy hour (which is actually only half an hour twice a day) gets you a free drink with your meal c) The location/view is beautiful d) lot's of provosts, professors, and just "important" people in general eat here (because they can afford to) so if you want to...why not try and sit close to someone and rub elbows? College is supposed to be time to network right?
I love going to restaurants, being seated, and waiting for my food. You don't get that at any of the places on campus except Terra Fresca. It's another reason why I really enjoy it here. I would say it's 4 stars for on campus dining. But as a foodie, this place is 2-3 stars. They should serve stuff like this in the dining hall and then upscale this place. 1 star for their time. 11-2 is ridiculous to me because I, like most, have classes during this time. I come here as much as I can because they accept the 55 meal plan and flexis. Most the time the items I have ordered are fairly good. Here is a list of the things I've had: The Korean Short Ribs really aren't that bad, I was very skeptical in ordering them, but when there is no KBBQ around and no car to drive to San Jose, this will fulfill the craving. They did a great job marinating it and the ribs were full of flavor. The vegetables on the rice were okay, way too salty. Caprese Salad. Tomatoes were very nice heirlooms, but they weren't very generous on the mozzarella. It was a nice refreshing appetizer. I'd say their balsamic reduction is too sweet too. California Club Pie: It's a lot in one dish. The idea of a salad on top of the pizza is interesting. I don't think they needed to put a salad (like actually mixed ceaser dressing in it) on top. Maybe a small handful of just arugula on the pizza would be nice, not a salad. Tri Tip Sandwich- Hesitant on ordering this, but it wasn't bad at all (for ucsc dining run place). I would order it again but it was a special for that week. I would prefer them to use a cheese rather than a cheesy creamy concoction. But really this sandwich was just mediocre compared to all the tri-tip sandwiches I've had. Deep Fried Artichoke Hearts- I love marinated artichokes. This was pretty tasty and very crisp. Baked Brie En Croute- This was fascinating. It came out and looked like a pastry. Inside was the baked brie and apples. The bread served on the side with it was okay, could have been way better if the bread was better. Muffaletta- An alright sandwich. It's been a while since I've had it, plus it's no longer on the menu. If they were trying to make it a panini, it definitely wasn't not panini. Not a bad sandwich, I liked the different meats they put it in. There is a lot of other stuff I tried, but I can't really remember since it's from previous quarters. But that shows, the food is just mediocre. A great restaurant, I will never forget what I have eaten. Cheers