Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen | Westside

Great place for date nite or lunch. Had a great time with some amazing friends here. Didn’t feel rushed and service was on point. The salad with salmon was amazing- burger was ok. Good beer selection and cocktails were delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a disappointment. We chose this place because we have dogs and they have a patio. We ordered food and it took and hour for it to be served to our table- and we were the second table seated behind a 2 top. I ordered the pulled pork with was mostly coleslaw with very little pulled pork. The fries were good but don’t ask for ranch because they don’t have it but they will bring you mayo and then add it to your tab. We also ordered burgers which were just ok, again the fries were good but we were charged extra for pickles. And it really is not kid friendly- we ordered the kids chicken strips (2) and fries which was $14, not worth it at all. The groups overall review was the only good thing was the alcohol. So if you want to drink, give it a try but for food go somewhere else.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 4

Amazing and fun cocktails! Barrel aged gin was the best!!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

We had a larger group and our server was helpful and sweet and patient. I wish they offered half salads, because the Caesar salad was too big for me, but it was good. Would also love more on the bar menu that's not fried.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Brussel sprouts are to die for, portions are massive, drinks are cute and delicious. Staff is super attentive and friendly

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Banh MI

Wonderful lunch on the patio. Cocktails top notch. I did not like gin before trying Venus Spirits years ago. Now theirs is my favorite. Our lunch portions were huge and our server was fast, attentive and friendly. We look forward to returning again for more menu items. Our group had the Banh mi, pulled pork and fried chicken sandwiches. Fries and house made potato chips were also great!

Vegetarian options: Salads, sandwiches and appetizers

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken, Laura Palmer

ALWAYS a pleasant experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Good times. Good food 😋

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is our favorite place in Santa Cruz. Admittedly, we are there for the cocktails as much as the food. They make their own bourbon, rye, vodka, gin, single malt, tequila, and more.
The food selection is not huge, but it is excellent. I often have a couple of appetizers instead of an entrée.
The staff are delightful, and the overall ambiance is part of the fun.

Vegetarian options: My wife is a vegetarian and it is her favorite place. There is not a big selection, but the food is excellent.

Kid-friendliness: It is a distillery and bar that serves food and not for kids.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken

The service here was a tad slow but only because the server seemed to be by themselves, but their attitude was happy and welcoming. Besides that, the food was delicious and the drinks were amazing.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I've been to Venus quite a few times and have always felt like it was good, not great. I like their spirits and think they're worth it but the food is expensive and good but could be better. They have some gems like the crispy Brussels sprouts, although last night they did not hit the mark like they usually do. And they have other things like the mole ribs which are just fine. I think it's a great place for drinks and small bites but maybe not a full meal.

Venus Venus Spirits and Kitchens left me feeling utterly disappointed. I hoped for a delightful dining experience but experienced a lackluster one instead.
The smash burger special, a classic beef patty, was dry and flavorless. It lacked the juicy, savory qualities one would expect from such a dish, and none of the flavors mentioned in the special description were present. Similarly, the macaroni and cheese fell flat, featuring overcooked pasta and a distinct lack of seasoning. To add to the disappointment, the eagerly awaited pork and Cambria chili, meant to be in the macaroni and cheese, arrived separately and proved to be a waste of both money and taste buds, as it was dry and uninspiring.

The wedge salad, another underwhelming offering, desperately needed additional blue cheese to bring it to life. It also was missing the egg and bacon, which were supposed to be present. The lone glimmer of hope in this culinary experience was the brussel sprouts, which boasted good flavor. However, their saving grace was overshadowed by an overabundance of sauce that rendered them disappointingly mushy, removing the satisfying crunch one would expect from brussel sprouts.
Thankfully, the cocktails proved to be a redeeming. They were well-crafted and enjoyable. If your primary objective is to indulge in expertly prepared cocktails and are content with subpar appetizers, Venus Spirits and Kitchens might suffice. However, if you seek a memorable meal experience, it is best to look elsewhere.

Overall, my visit to Venus Spirits and Kitchens was a regrettable one. The lackluster food made it a dining experience I won't soon forget, though not for positive reasons. While the cocktails were enjoyable, they weren't enough to salvage a disappointing and costly venture.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 3

Venus Spirits impresses with its amazing food and drinks. The menu features fresh, high-quality ingredients, while the craft cocktails offer unique and delightful combinations. The inviting ambiance makes it perfect for any occasion. Highly recommend for a great culinary experience!

The cocktails were fine but I wouldn’t go back here. It was not very busy and the service was bad/inattentive. We were just two low maintenance guests who ordered straightforwardly from the cocktail menu, not like we had food or a bunch of modifications or anything, and he acted put out by us. When the drinks are $18 each I expect a little more attention.

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 1

We had a wonderful time celebrating a dear friend and her bachelorette here. The staff were so kind and helped to make the experience special. There was also an error on our end when we made reservations, and the manager was quick to help us resolve this issue. I personally live out of state, but if I ever hear of anyone visiting Santa Cruz, I'll make sure to recommend Venus for sure! The food was superb, and if there wasn't so many people within watching distance, our group would have licked the plate clean just to get every last flavor crystal of the sauce served with the brussel sprout dish.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Frozen Paloma Libre