We went for my friend’s retirement. They were so sweet, they put a special menu out for us that congratulated her on her retirement. We also gave her a free glass of champagne. I thought that was really a nice touch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Colleen Sullivan
We arrived 35 minutes before closing time and were told that they couldn’t accommodate us. They had at least 4 open tables and 35 minutes to closing time and still turned us away. We will not return to a place that does not care about its customers. We are local.
Service: 1
joel reyes
We went there last week and it was a great experience. We came in just in time because it wasn’t busy yet. We got the only table by the window and it made it special for our occasion. The drink I had ordered wasn’t available so they suggested another one which was ginger beer and I liked it! It was a refreshing drink. The charcuterie board was delicious too! Everything was amazing. My girl and I had a great time and the waitress gave us a complimentary drink with our dinner. Thank you. We will surely go back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maeve Holden
Wowie wow. Everything tasted better than it needed to be or looked. Little extra details everywhere-the unremarkable looking carmel drizzle on the cake was mind-blowing. I can still taste it. The home-made marshmallow cream surprise in the center of the otherwise plain looking choc cupcake-my husband, no stranger to cupcakes, said it was THE best cupcake he has had. My pork loin so tender, with the perfect amount of stuffing, sauce, purree, and meat. How many times have I run out of 1 before the last bite?? Not here. My sons french onion mac and cheese-crispy on the outside, strangely not heavy-HOW did they do that?-with wonderful rich flavors that melted in your mouth. Not to be missed spot. We were on the patio-plenty of warmers, but still, its a patio with traffic noise next to a busy street. They made it as cute as they could given that. Make reservations to be assured a spot inside.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roya MJ
Color me impressed. If you follow me than you know I have expectations based on price point and this place didn't disappoint. It actually impressed me!!! Great service, wonderful ambiance, well made cocktails and every plate was exceptionally prepared.
Now, my usual disclaimer, if you're not a foodie you might not feel the same. I say this as I was talking to someone and he fully acknowledges he eats for survival and isn't a foodie, but came here for his girlfriend. He felt it was okay and would've preferred his usual pizza spot, but his foodie girlfriend loved it.
And no matter how full you are order dessert, it's what the chief was trained in and it show
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dave Okun
We had the most amazing food and dining experience. I felt like we were in a Michelin starred restaurant. The appetizers and main courses were unique and so well executed. Loved to Brussels sprouts and Butter Charcuterie Board. Our table had pork tenderloin, chicken and sea bass. Everyone couldn’t believe how good their dish was!
The food here is unbeatable—sophisticated, creative, and truly exceptional. However, the interior feels basic and doesn't quite live up to the standard of the cuisine. We had a 7:00 reservation for a party of four, and the young man who seated us was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer our questions about the sous vide steak we enjoyed on a previous visit when the two of us sat at the bar. It was delicious then, and we were excited for this return visit.
When we and our friends were seated, our waitress hurried over, speaking to us before she even reached the table, interrupting our conversation with a rushed tone. It was uncomfortable, especially given that the restaurant was only half full. We laughed awkwardly and ordered cocktails, which required a few questions due to their elaborate nature—cocktails here are fantastic, but some of the ingredients and techniques needed clarification. However, our inquiries seemed to test her patience, as she abruptly asked if she should come back once we’d made up our minds. "No!" we replied in near unison, and placed our order. She was already inching away from our table as the last order was placed. Despite the awkward interaction, the cocktails, as last time, were exceptional.
When it came time to order food, the rushing continued. Again, we felt hurried, though we were fully ready to order. It was so blatant, that my friend asked, "Just asking... are we in a hurry?" She shook her head no, but the rushed feeling continued throughout the rest of our stay.
Our appetizers included the Za'atar potatoes and tomato bisque, both delicious, but the standout was the Gouda Crème Brûlée, served with roasted grapes in rosemary, marinated olives, Spanish chorizo, and light, crisp crackers—an absolutely surprising and extraordinary dish.
Unfortunately, the waitress tried to clear our plates before we were finished. It was only 7:30 and their last seating is at 8:00, so we weren’t sure why there was such a sense of urgency.
Once our appetizers were cleared, the mains arrived, and again, the food was exceptional—this is why we came back. We shared a beautifully prepared sea bass with crispy skin, served on a bed of couscous with a refreshing and complex pomegranate relish, a perfect balance of flavors and textures. I can’t recall exactly what our companions ordered (the menu on the website isn’t up to date), but we played musical entrees, and every dish was a hit.
The young man who had seated us checked in, and we expressed our appreciation for the meal, ordering wine to pair with the mains. Meanwhile, the waitress zipped by a couple times, eager to clear plates. By 8:30, we started wondering—was that really too long?
We know we're in sleepy Santa Cruz and not San Francisco, so we understand that things wrap up a little earlier here, but the rushed service still felt excessive.
We ended with a sophisticated chocolate bread pudding for dessert, wrapping up just before 9:00, to find half the chairs already stacked on tables, as if signaling that we’d overstayed our welcome.
It's too bad. The chef here is phenomenal and deserves a staff that matches the quality of the food. For the price we paid, so do the diners. Hopefully, this rushed vibe was just a one-time occurrence—our experience at the bar was far more relaxed. We’ll give it another shot, but it’s hard to ignore the feeling that we were being hurried out the door.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Colca
Sea bass is best of the night. Chocolate cake is not on a good balance so will skip next time.
Outdoor seating is next to street so not so quiet with car noise. Service is good though.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monica Ifland
We went to celebrate a birthday and Eric and Colin both made our whole group feel special. We sat outside on the covered patio that was perfectly warmed with heat lamps. I don’t usually ever describe food as phenomenal but we were all in heaven with each of our dishes. The pasta was so good that I don’t even want to make pasta at home ever again. We had drinks, appetizers, dinner and dessert. All were unforgettable. We decided we will be returning for each of our birthdays, it was that special! Thank you Eric & Colin for your wonderful hospitality.
Vegetarian options: Menu changes often but on this night, there was appetizers of potatoes and a tomato bisque. Dinner entrees of pasta dish as well as tamarind glazed vegetables. Miso cookie pie for dessert
Dietary restrictions: Gluten free dishes marked on menu
Parking: Spots shared with next door hotel, marked which are for restaurant
Came with a group of friends and tried everything on the menu.
I went to culinary school and would say I know food well. Humbly.
This place blew my mind. Flavor wise and service wise.
The steak and pork was sous vide and cooked to perfection. The flavors were creative, yet tasted like comfort. Santa Cruz dining elevated. The desserts were every flavor you crave. The peach churro doughnut was god like.
The food and service are both fantastic. If you love relaxed fine dining with unique dishes, Vim does not disappoint. Each flavor and texture is perfect.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Zimmer
Vim is amazing. My girlfriend and I have been several times and it's always phenomenal. The menu is creative and the flavors are always incredible. Keep it up chefs!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Cowan
The food was sublime. Our service was gracious without being intrusive. I wish I had saved room for dessert. Sorry/not sorry. Also the cocktails were elevated.
One of the best meals of my life! Creative combinations, so flavorful, so light. Great cocktails, great service. Desserts? OMG ... LOVED it all - you need to get to Vim!
We went for my friend’s retirement. They were so sweet, they put a special menu out for us that congratulated her on her retirement. We also gave her a free glass of champagne. I thought that was really a nice touch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We arrived 35 minutes before closing time and were told that they couldn’t accommodate us. They had at least 4 open tables and 35 minutes to closing time and still turned us away. We will not return to a place that does not care about its customers. We are local.
Service: 1
We went there last week and it was a great experience. We came in just in time because it wasn’t busy yet. We got the only table by the window and it made it special for our occasion. The drink I had ordered wasn’t available so they suggested another one which was ginger beer and I liked it! It was a refreshing drink. The charcuterie board was delicious too! Everything was amazing. My girl and I had a great time and the waitress gave us a complimentary drink with our dinner. Thank you. We will surely go back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wowie wow. Everything tasted better than it needed to be or looked. Little extra details everywhere-the unremarkable looking carmel drizzle on the cake was mind-blowing. I can still taste it. The home-made marshmallow cream surprise in the center of the otherwise plain looking choc cupcake-my husband, no stranger to cupcakes, said it was THE best cupcake he has had. My pork loin so tender, with the perfect amount of stuffing, sauce, purree, and meat. How many times have I run out of 1 before the last bite?? Not here. My sons french onion mac and cheese-crispy on the outside, strangely not heavy-HOW did they do that?-with wonderful rich flavors that melted in your mouth. Not to be missed spot. We were on the patio-plenty of warmers, but still, its a patio with traffic noise next to a busy street. They made it as cute as they could given that. Make reservations to be assured a spot inside.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Color me impressed. If you follow me than you know I have expectations based on price point and this place didn't disappoint. It actually impressed me!!! Great service, wonderful ambiance, well made cocktails and every plate was exceptionally prepared.
Now, my usual disclaimer, if you're not a foodie you might not feel the same. I say this as I was talking to someone and he fully acknowledges he eats for survival and isn't a foodie, but came here for his girlfriend. He felt it was okay and would've preferred his usual pizza spot, but his foodie girlfriend loved it.
And no matter how full you are order dessert, it's what the chief was trained in and it show
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had the most amazing food and dining experience. I felt like we were in a Michelin starred restaurant.
The appetizers and main courses were unique and so well executed.
Loved to Brussels sprouts and Butter Charcuterie Board. Our table had pork tenderloin, chicken and sea bass.
Everyone couldn’t believe how good their dish was!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallops, Butter Charcuterie Board
the food is okay.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
The food here is unbeatable—sophisticated, creative, and truly exceptional. However, the interior feels basic and doesn't quite live up to the standard of the cuisine. We had a 7:00 reservation for a party of four, and the young man who seated us was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer our questions about the sous vide steak we enjoyed on a previous visit when the two of us sat at the bar. It was delicious then, and we were excited for this return visit.
When we and our friends were seated, our waitress hurried over, speaking to us before she even reached the table, interrupting our conversation with a rushed tone. It was uncomfortable, especially given that the restaurant was only half full. We laughed awkwardly and ordered cocktails, which required a few questions due to their elaborate nature—cocktails here are fantastic, but some of the ingredients and techniques needed clarification. However, our inquiries seemed to test her patience, as she abruptly asked if she should come back once we’d made up our minds. "No!" we replied in near unison, and placed our order. She was already inching away from our table as the last order was placed. Despite the awkward interaction, the cocktails, as last time, were exceptional.
When it came time to order food, the rushing continued. Again, we felt hurried, though we were fully ready to order. It was so blatant, that my friend asked, "Just asking... are we in a hurry?" She shook her head no, but the rushed feeling continued throughout the rest of our stay.
Our appetizers included the Za'atar potatoes and tomato bisque, both delicious, but the standout was the Gouda Crème Brûlée, served with roasted grapes in rosemary, marinated olives, Spanish chorizo, and light, crisp crackers—an absolutely surprising and extraordinary dish.
Unfortunately, the waitress tried to clear our plates before we were finished. It was only 7:30 and their last seating is at 8:00, so we weren’t sure why there was such a sense of urgency.
Once our appetizers were cleared, the mains arrived, and again, the food was exceptional—this is why we came back. We shared a beautifully prepared sea bass with crispy skin, served on a bed of couscous with a refreshing and complex pomegranate relish, a perfect balance of flavors and textures. I can’t recall exactly what our companions ordered (the menu on the website isn’t up to date), but we played musical entrees, and every dish was a hit.
The young man who had seated us checked in, and we expressed our appreciation for the meal, ordering wine to pair with the mains. Meanwhile, the waitress zipped by a couple times, eager to clear plates. By 8:30, we started wondering—was that really too long?
We know we're in sleepy Santa Cruz and not San Francisco, so we understand that things wrap up a little earlier here, but the rushed service still felt excessive.
We ended with a sophisticated chocolate bread pudding for dessert, wrapping up just before 9:00, to find half the chairs already stacked on tables, as if signaling that we’d overstayed our welcome.
It's too bad. The chef here is phenomenal and deserves a staff that matches the quality of the food. For the price we paid, so do the diners. Hopefully, this rushed vibe was just a one-time occurrence—our experience at the bar was far more relaxed. We’ll give it another shot, but it’s hard to ignore the feeling that we were being hurried out the door.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Sea bass is best of the night. Chocolate cake is not on a good balance so will skip next time.
Outdoor seating is next to street so not so quiet with car noise. Service is good though.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went to celebrate a birthday and Eric and Colin both made our whole group feel special. We sat outside on the covered patio that was perfectly warmed with heat lamps. I don’t usually ever describe food as phenomenal but we were all in heaven with each of our dishes. The pasta was so good that I don’t even want to make pasta at home ever again. We had drinks, appetizers, dinner and dessert. All were unforgettable. We decided we will be returning for each of our birthdays, it was that special! Thank you Eric & Colin for your wonderful hospitality.
Vegetarian options: Menu changes often but on this night, there was appetizers of potatoes and a tomato bisque. Dinner entrees of pasta dish as well as tamarind glazed vegetables. Miso cookie pie for dessert
Dietary restrictions: Gluten free dishes marked on menu
Parking: Spots shared with next door hotel, marked which are for restaurant
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Came with a group of friends and tried everything on the menu.
I went to culinary school and would say I know food well. Humbly.
This place blew my mind. Flavor wise and service wise.
The steak and pork was sous vide and cooked to perfection. The flavors were creative, yet tasted like comfort. Santa Cruz dining elevated. The desserts were every flavor you crave. The peach churro doughnut was god like.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butter Charcuterie Board, Cucumber Lemonade, Strawberry Churro, Balsamic Steak, Baked Steelhead
The food and service are both fantastic. If you love relaxed fine dining with unique dishes, Vim does not disappoint. Each flavor and texture is perfect.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vim is amazing. My girlfriend and I have been several times and it's always phenomenal. The menu is creative and the flavors are always incredible. Keep it up chefs!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was sublime. Our service was gracious without being intrusive. I wish I had saved room for dessert. Sorry/not sorry. Also the cocktails were elevated.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butter Charcuterie Board, Lamb Meatballs
One of the best meals of my life! Creative combinations, so flavorful, so light. Great cocktails, great service. Desserts? OMG ... LOVED it all - you need to get to Vim!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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