Santa Cruz Restaurants

We stopped at the Santa Cruz Diner one morning while driving from Monterey to San Francisco. This busy and rather large restaurant had some good service and above average food. We had omelets with hasbrowns and toast along with coffee, and our three meals ran about $27 together.

The Santa Cruz diner is open 24/7 and seems to have a big late night following, especially among the local university students. Their unique menu includes a variety of seafood, sandwiches, appetizers, and non-diner food such as Vietnamese dishes. Probably their most unique feature is the variety of unique antique signs around the dining room.

Metroactive.com named this diner one of Santa Cruz's best places for late night dining.

Costa Brava has great service, but recently when I ate dinner with my wife and niece, I came to understand how friendly service can turn into a joke at the customer's expense. The wine list is average--nothing special--and the food too imaginatively described. For example, a large plate described as a Venezuelan prawn pasta, turns out to be nothing more than a modest bowl of rigatoni with a few shrimp sprinkled with parmesan cheeze. The dish was priced at $16-, but really such a meal could be had anywhere else in the country for about half that price. My Ahi with Pengang salsa, turned out to be basically overly cooked tuna (it might as well have been albacore from a can) on a few leaves of lettuce and some kind of red tinted salad dressing. For this I paid the outrageous sum of $16.50, for a very modest portion of tuna and lettuce. So all told, we ended up paying double what the meal was worth even in the high rent district of Santa Cruz. I can't complain about the service at Costa Brava, but the management needs to find a fairer deal for the customer in terms of food value.

Update--I've been informed that this restaurant has closed down. No doubt another trendy restaurant will fill this void on the main drag of Santa Cruz.

Favorite Dish: I can't knock the basically good wine list, a glass from which I manage to drown my sorrows for having been conned by fancy language and small portions. I realize that this review counters what other's have said here, but really there are a lot of better deals in town. For one, the trendy downtown district overprices itself relative to the long established and tradition bound restaurants on the pier, but if Costa Brava represents downtown, I'd definitely head for the pier.

Who would believe in Hippy central there would be a good ole fashioned steakhouse, and this is it!!! Great NY strips, ribs and chicken in a very friendly atmosphere. I always sit at the bar, where if you did not come in knowing anybody, you will when you leave. Great pub atmosphere.

Santa Cruz is a town with many good restaurants. Aquarius is newer, and may be the best. First, the food is top quality and creative. This is a big step up from the several seafood restaurants located nearby on the wharf. Here you won't find the typical meat/fish, veggie and potato sides. The menu here is fresh and inspiring, with thoughtful items well presented.
Aquarius may have the best view in Santa Cruz too. Located on a corner that directly overlooks the ocean, wharf and beach on two sides, every table has a view. The interior is contemporary and tastefully decorated.
From 3 - 6 pm they have happy hour, with drink and appetizers at reduced rates. Considering the fantastic view from the bar, there is no better place to have a drink at sunset.

If you like Thai food, you must stop at Sabieng. The food is absolutely delicious. The savory ethnic flavors are present in every one of their dishes. I recommend the coconut milk soup and a curry. The service is great, fast and friendly. They also have great lunch specials.

Favorite Dish: The coconut milk soup is definitely the best dish. Its a great way to start the meal. Its light, but tasty with a good amount of chicken too.

Aldo's is an institution in Santa Cruz, going of 50 years now. The restaurant is located right on the harbor with views from its outside deck facing the ocean. On a sunny day you can't do much better. Just steps away is Seabright Beach, one of the best in Santa Cruz.

The atmosphere is completely informal and casual. The food is good, but for me the main appeal is the location and authenticity. It is a locals' hangout, and not a tourist trap.

The Crow's Nest is one of those places that could be a tourist rip-off, but it isn't. It has an excellent location right where the harbor meets the beach, but doesn't just rely on this. It's been in business for almost 40 years and continues to be a locals' favorite because of the good food and evening entertainment. The waterfront views of the beach and Monterey Bay are a bonus.

They serve lunches and dinners in a dining room downstairs, and upstairs there's the Breakwater Bar and Grill that is a good place to hang our for drinks, appetizers and lunches. It is also quite popular at night when there is music - know as somewhat of a pick up place.

This restaurant is very cozy and is decorated with a lot of Japanese stuffs on it. It is very welcoming. We were shopping across the street and looking at the pottery shop when we saw this restaurant.

The ambience of the restaurant is more of a student-type, kind of restaurant and caters both to the local students. The food prices are very affordable.

My husband and I went to have lunch here and ordered Teriyaki.

Favorite Dish: Chicken Teriyaki