Santa Cruz Restaurants
From DCWiki
http://www.metroactive.com/dining/santa-cruz/santa-cruz.html
A good summary
Crow's Nest
- 5 recs
- at the santa cruz harbor
- The Crow's Nest is always one of our favorites...looks over the entrance to the harbor, and the food is good.
- Crows Nest Capitola, right on the water and only down the road a bit.
- Crow’s Nest, on the other side of the yacht harbor (depending on what you mean by “Santa Cruz Beach” this may or may not be sufficiently close, but it’s on a beach in Santa Cruz) Fairly nice, standard fare.
Oswald's
- it has great food, great wine list, and a very cute space -- small and intimate. It's downtown.
- Oswald's is small, but excellent. they've got a great wine selection. their menu is pretty small and changes often, so you might want to call first. it's not the best place for a vegetarian if that matters.
Cafe Cruz
- 2 recs
Riva's
- If you want straight seafood (crab sandwiches, crab, etc.) try Riva's, also on the pier. They have very good gelato as well.
- There's a great restaurant on the Wharf. Riva's. Great seafood dishes.
http://www.sestrisantacruz.com/
- nice, new, and quaint
http://www.gabriellacafe.com/
- This is always a winner too
Pearl Alley Bistro
is great too. along with a great wine selection, they've got a full bar. my wife and I just ate there last month. their menu changes often too.
Soif
I've only gone once (and liked it), but it's first (and foremost) a wine bar and second a restaurant.
http://www.seascaperesort.com/
Chaminade
Clouds Downtown
Michael's On Main
Bittersweet Bistro (In Aptos)
Café Sparrow (In Aptos)
http://www.peachwoods.com/peachwoods.html
Avanti
If Wine list is at all a consideration: AVANTI!! It's an italian place on mission west of bay, and their wines are fantastic.
Shadowbrook
Olitas
- If you go down the pier/wharf (to the right of the boardwalk), consider Olitas. My husband and I go there fairly often (or did before we had a kid) and love the lobster tacos and house margaritas (Louis Ritas). The view is excellent and it is a really nice end to a day at the Boardwalk.
Aldo's
- If you're interested in dinner at the Harbor, also with ocean view, try Aldo's
Ideal Fish Co
at the base of the wharf. May actually be called Ideal Bar and Grill these days. Food is good, atmosphere can be a bit noisy with live music.
Casablanca
Between the wharf and the boardwalk. Haven’t been there in years, but it was nice and rather upscale.