Restaurants in Santa Cruz?
Dwight Hare
I'm moving to the Santa Cruz area (Aptos) in a few weeks and am faced with
learning about restaurants in a totally new area for me. Please send
me the names and locations of your favorite places, I'll summarize for
the news group.
I'd also be interested in the names of any books on Santa Cruz which
would point me to interesting places (as well as restaurants). I'm
also interested in bakeries, cafes, etc.
Dwight
Sharen A. Rund
>
>I'm moving to the Santa Cruz area (Aptos) in a few weeks and am faced with
>learning about restaurants in a totally new area for me. Please send
>me the names and locations of your favorite places, I'll summarize for
>the news group.
there are so many - are you looking at the Aptos area, or the greater
Santa Cruz area, or from Santa Cruz to Monterey???
living in the Monterey bay area there are som many places to go to eat,
for a start
Shadowbrook - Capitola
Zuniga's - Watsonville Airport (best Mexican food)
Central Texas BBQ - Castroville
La Scola - Castroville (Italian)
La Palapas - Seascape (Mexican, 30+ crowd)
Severinos - Seascape
Cafe Rio - Rio Del Mar (seafood)
Oyster Bar - Moss Landing (seafood; Italian style - good)
Kyoto? - Watsonville (Hwy 152 - Nob Hill/Payless shopping center)
Mountain Mike's - Watsonville
Stuft Pizza - same shopping center as Kyoto - also Chinese restaurant in there
I can add more later
oh, yes, Rio Grill too
>
>I'd also be interested in the names of any books on Santa Cruz which
>would point me to interesting places (as well as restaurants). I'm
>also interested in bakeries, cafes, etc.
can't answer this - write to the chamber of commerce and they'll send
you literature
>
>Dwight
>
--
________________ __ ________________ "They that can give up
\_________ \ /_ \ / _________/ essential liberty to
\_________ \_____/ \____/ _________/ obtain temporary safety
\___________________ __________________/ deserve neither liberty
/______\ nor safety."
ALL disclaimers apply .... --Benjamin Franklin
Karl Auerbach
>Subject: Restaurants in Santa Cruz?
>I'm moving to the Santa Cruz area (Aptos) in a few weeks and am faced with
>learning about restaurants in a totally new area for me. Please send
>me the names and locations of your favorite places, I'll summarize for
>the news group.
Add to the lists you have from other people:
India Joze (in Santa Cruz) This is one of my favorite places.
Tyrolean Inn (Ben Lomand)
Sea Cloud (On the Santa Cruz wharf)
Pizza My Heart
Upper Crust Pizza
Tony & Albas (for that Mountain View taste)
...
>I'd also be interested in the names of any books on Santa Cruz which
>would point me to interesting places (as well as restaurants). I'm
>also interested in bakeries, cafes, etc.
Gayle's Bakery in Capitola
Since you are at Sun, contact Doug Landauer and get on the "cruz@morocco"
mailing list.
--karl--
John Fereira
|In article <l0blav...@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> dh...@Eng.Sun.COM (Dwight Hare) writes:
|>
|>I'm moving to the Santa Cruz area (Aptos) in a few weeks and am faced with
|>learning about restaurants in a totally new area for me.
|Shadowbrook - Capitola
The Shadowbrook is reviewed in either the most recent "Metro" or "Eye"
magazine. They raved about it.
|Zuniga's - Watsonville Airport (best Mexican food)
|Central Texas BBQ - Castroville
Generally favorable reviews by the readers of ba.food.
|La Scola - Castroville (Italian)
|La Palapas - Seascape (Mexican, 30+ crowd)
|Severinos - Seascape
|Cafe Rio - Rio Del Mar (seafood)
|Oyster Bar - Moss Landing (seafood; Italian style - good)
|Kyoto? - Watsonville (Hwy 152 - Nob Hill/Payless shopping center)
|Mountain Mike's - Watsonville
|Stuft Pizza - same shopping center as Kyoto - also Chinese restaurant in there
"India Joze" seems to have an excellent reputation around town. I was spending
in Santa Cruz last summer with a friend and we asked quite a few people about
an Indian food restaurant in the area. *Everyone* recommended India Joze.
We checked it out but didn't care for the ambience and ended up driving back
over the hill and going to our favorite (Tandoor).
I recently mentioned "The Library", the continental restaurant at
"Chaminade". Again, it's got a great reputation around town.
I`ve heard good things about the "Sea Cloud" on the Santa Cruz pier. A friend
of mine raves about it.
Best Fast Food Mexican that I know of is "Tico`s Taco's" on the left side
of the main drag as you come into town. HUGE burritos, real jalepeno's
in a jar that you can add to your food (or eat whole), some great combo
plates and you can wash it all down with a beer. I think they even carry
Dos Equis. And it really is basically a fast food place (read: no ambience)
--
+=============================================================================+
| John Fereira Al Bundy for President
| jo...@auspex.com "He's as good as the next guy" |
+=============================================================================+
Ted Lemon
>"India Joze" seems to have an excellent reputation around town. I
>was spending in Santa Cruz last summer with a friend and we asked
>quite a few people about an Indian food restaurant in the area.
>*Everyone* recommended India Joze. We checked it out but didn't care
>for the ambience and ended up driving back over the hill and going to
>our favorite (Tandoor).
You missed some of the best food in the Bay Area. I don't understand
why people recommended India Joze when you asked for Indian food,
though - it's not an Indian restaurant by any stretch of the
imagination. Yes, they do have some Indian food, but that's not the
same thing.
India Joze is one of those places where the cooks are truly creative.
They have a few "standards", but the menu is most notable for its
variety, and for the fact that everything on it (that I've had,
anyway) is fabulously wonderful, and often different from anything
you've had before.
They also have a really good, fairly eclectic wine list, wonderful
desserts, and an espresso bar so that you can have real coffee-like
substances with your dessert.
If it weren't for the fact that I've only been to one other restaurant
in Santa Cruz, I'd recommend India Joze as the all-around best
restaurant in that area. While it's possible that there's a better
one (and probable, if you have something specific like Indian in
mind), I'd have to eat there to believe it.
_MelloN_
James D. Jones
>
>You missed some of the best food in the Bay Area. I don't understand
>why people recommended India Joze when you asked for Indian food,
>though - it's not an Indian restaurant by any stretch of the
>imagination. Yes, they do have some Indian food, but that's not the
>same thing.
>
>India Joze is one of those places where the cooks are truly creative.
>They have a few "standards", but the menu is most notable for its
>variety, and for the fact that everything on it (that I've had,
>anyway) is fabulously wonderful, and often different from anything
>you've had before.
One of Joze' former cooks opened a very good vegetarian/Indian/Sri Lankan
restaurant called the Malabar Cafe (or the Cafe Malabar, I can never get it
straight) on Soquel Avenue over on the east side of Santa Cruz (near the
Rio Theater). The cooking at Malabar's is similar to Joze, in that it
specializes in creative versions of Indian and Sri Lankan food (plus
some pasta) -- although as the previous poster says, Joze offers much besides
Indian-inspired dishes.
At any rate, Malabar offers food much in the spirit of Joze, and is worth
a look if you like Joze. Much the same trendy crowd stops at Malabar as at
Joze. And although it's a hole-in-the-wall storefront (the former Tapu's
Breakfast Hut, if anybody remembers that), it's very niceless decorated.
Oh yeah -- prices are extremely reasonable -- one big difference from Joze.
Ray Trent
>India Joze is one of those places where the cooks are truly creative.
>They have a few "standards", but the menu is most notable for its
>variety, and for the fact that everything on it (that I've had,
>anyway) is fabulously wonderful, and often different from anything
>you've had before.
I agree completely with this sentiment. The food is awesome.
However, I've been to few restarants with service as lackluster as
India Joze.
Don't go there unless you *expect* to spend 2+ hours eating, at least
not for dinner.
Having said that: I go there fairly often (relative to the number of
times I'm in Santa Cruz, that is...), and I rarely regret it.
--
"When you're down, it's a long way up
When you're up, it's a long way down
It's all the same thing
And it's no new tale to tell" ../ray\..
Ted Lemon
>Don't go there unless you *expect* to spend 2+ hours eating, at least
>not for dinner.
Interestingly enough, I've heard this complaint many times, but never
experienced the alleged slow service. Kharma, I guess...
_MelloN_
Eric Griswold
] The Shadowbrook is reviewed in either the most recent "Metro" or "Eye"
] magazine. They raved about it.
I'd second the rave with one caveat -- Shadowbrook succeeds marvelously
at what it tries to be: heavy on the ambiance, but with predictable, though
perfectly good, food. Great place to take a first date when you don't
know his/her tastes.
] "India Joze" seems to have an excellent reputation around town. I was spending
] in Santa Cruz last summer with a friend and we asked quite a few people about
] an Indian food restaurant in the area. *Everyone* recommended India Joze.
] We checked it out but didn't care for the ambience and ended up driving back
] over the hill and going to our favorite (Tandoor).
Well, India Joze really isn't an "Indian" restaurant, although many of
their dishes are influenced by Indian cuisine. This place is uniquely
Santa Cruz and I heartily recommend it for those with adventurous palates
and/or asthetic sense.
]
] Best Fast Food Mexican that I know of is "Tico`s Taco's" on the left side
] of the main drag as you come into town. HUGE burritos, real jalepeno's
] in a jar that you can add to your food (or eat whole), some great combo
] plates and you can wash it all down with a beer. I think they even carry
] Dos Equis. And it really is basically a fast food place (read: no ambience)
] --
Do NOT forget Tacos Morenos, on Water if I remember correctly. I used
to have lunch there regularly. Great, fast, burritos for next to nothing.
Eric Griswold
e...@btr.com
Sharen A. Rund
Bangkok - Capitola - Thai
Krazy's - Aptos
Crow's Nest - Santa Cruz wharf area
Seafood Mama's - Capitola (a lot like Fish Market)
almost any restaurant in Capitola - Margueritaville, etc
Seascape Country Club restaurant
B. Baggins, at your service.
>|In article <l0blav...@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> dh...@Eng.Sun.COM (Dwight Hare) writes:
>|>
>|>I'm moving to the Santa Cruz area (Aptos) in a few weeks and am faced with
>|>learning about restaurants in a totally new area for me.
>
>|Shadowbrook - Capitola
>
>The Shadowbrook is reviewed in either the most recent "Metro" or "Eye"
>magazine. They raved about it.
>
>|Zuniga's - Watsonville Airport (best Mexican food)
>|Central Texas BBQ - Castroville
>
>Generally favorable reviews by the readers of ba.food.
>
>|La Scola - Castroville (Italian)
>|La Palapas - Seascape (Mexican, 30+ crowd)
>|Severinos - Seascape
>|Cafe Rio - Rio Del Mar (seafood)
>|Oyster Bar - Moss Landing (seafood; Italian style - good)
>|Kyoto? - Watsonville (Hwy 152 - Nob Hill/Payless shopping center)
>|Mountain Mike's - Watsonville
>|Stuft Pizza - same shopping center as Kyoto - also Chinese restaurant in there
Pizza My Heart - in santa cruz and capitola
Omei - wonderful Korean restaurant, downtown santa cruz (upstairs in the old
Santa Cruz Hotel)
The Heavenly Swan - one of many chinese restaurants in santa cruz, they make
the best sizzling rice soup. Downtown santa cruz (downstairs in the
old Santa Cruz Hotel)
The Crepe Place (near Seabright on Soquel, in Santa Cruz) - Crepe entres,
crepe deserts. Open late.
Zachary's - this is primarily a breakfast place (no one can beat them for
breakfast, IMHO), although they do _great_ burgers and salads.
Very low-key student-type hangout, often with long waits
(especially on weekends). Downtown santa cruz.
>"India Joze" seems to have an excellent reputation around town. I was spending
>in Santa Cruz last summer with a friend and we asked quite a few people about
>an Indian food restaurant in the area. *Everyone* recommended India Joze.
>We checked it out but didn't care for the ambience and ended up driving back
>over the hill and going to our favorite (Tandoor).
India Joze is not primarily an Indian resaurant, although they do serve indian
like cuisine. I've seen them advertised as a Mediteranean restaurant. One of
their chefs recently spun off his own restaurant, which serves his own brand
of middle eastern food (I believe he's from Sri Lanka). The name is the
Malabar Cafe and they're a couple doors down from the Crepe Place. He also
has a lunch place in the Food Tents downtown, same basic menu (to go only).
>I recently mentioned "The Library", the continental restaurant at
>"Chaminade". Again, it's got a great reputation around town.
>
>I`ve heard good things about the "Sea Cloud" on the Santa Cruz pier. A friend
>of mine raves about it.
>
>Best Fast Food Mexican that I know of is "Tico`s Taco's" on the left side
>of the main drag as you come into town. HUGE burritos, real jalepeno's
>in a jar that you can add to your food (or eat whole), some great combo
>plates and you can wash it all down with a beer. I think they even carry
>Dos Equis. And it really is basically a fast food place (read: no ambience)
I must object. The Best Fast Food Mexican (TM) is definately Tacos Morenos
on Water St. They make a slightly different style of burrito, though. Also
a good one is Adelita's on River St.
Karl Auerbach
>Subject: Re: Restaurants in Santa Cruz?
I forgot one more place --
Hollins House -- this is a *great* place for a business lunch plus the
food's very good, prices (at lunch anyway) are reasonable,
and the view is amazing (both day and night.) It's
rarely crowded, but it is hard to find -- being in the
middle of the Pasatiempo golf course.
--karl--
Ed Miller
is was good food at mostly reasonable prices. However, it is
a stand-in-line-to-order and bus-your-own-table sort of place.
Ed
John G. Thomas
>learning about restaurants in a totally new area for me. Please send
>me the names and locations of your favorite places, I'll summarize for
>the news group.
>
A few more to add to what others have said.
Ranjeets in Soquel - Good ambiance and excellent food.
My overall favorite.
Bayview Hotel in Aptos - Very good but a bit expensive.
Also across the street from the Bayview Hotel is
a small place that has great breakfasts. I have forgotten
the name.
Balsac's Bistro in Capitola - Good food and excellent wine list
The downstairs is a bit smokey but the upstairs is all
non smoking so don't be turned off when you first enter.
Chaminade Library was already mentioned. Excellent but expensive.
Star of Siam in Soquel is our favorite Thai place.
Anna Maria's on 7th is our favorite Italian place.
Ever since Tampico Kitchens changed hands (and menu/chef?) we don't
have a favorite Mexican food restaurant. There is a little place
by the clock tower in Santa Cruz that we have been to twice and
loved it once and were disappointed once. There are a number of
other Mexican restaurants that we go to that are OK but not worth mentioning.
Oh, except the Coyote Cafe on the beach in Capitola has a great
Chicken-itza(sp?) burrito.
There is a Greek restaurant on Mission that is fairly good. Fairly new and
they still don't have a beer wine license. Their food would be better
washed down with some red wine.
Carpo's in Capitola near the freeway is a good place to go to get
good food for a very reasonable price.
There are so many good restaurants there and so little time!
John
John Thomas Almaden Research Center K55/801
jth...@almaden.ibm.com (408)927-2668 650 Harry Road
(Fax)927-4002 San Jose, CA 95120
Sharen A. Rund
>>
>> Ever since Tampico Kitchens changed hands (and menu/chef?) we don't
>> have a favorite Mexican food restaurant. There is a little place
>> by the clock tower in Santa Cruz that we have been to twice and
>> loved it once and were disappointed once. There are a number of
>> other Mexican restaurants that we go to that are OK but not worth mentioning.
>> Oh, except the Coyote Cafe on the beach in Capitola has a great
>> Chicken-itza(sp?) burrito.
>>
>downtown Santa Cruz has reopened and is as good as ever. Their
>Mexican seafood dishes are excellent. They also run Jose's Cantina on
>Washington St near the beach(has a great taco bar on weekend afternoons.)
>I believe that they also have a restaurant in Aptos.
>
speaking of the palomar - one of the chefs from there is the head chef
at (la) palapas in seascape - they serve traditional mexican plus fancier
mexican foods such as grilled tuna (ahi) with salsa fresca served with
rice and refried black beans
James D. Jones
>> other Mexican restaurants that we go to that are OK but not worth mentioning.
than most of the rest.
>I also should have mentioned Aragona's on Main St in Soquel. Probably the
>best Italian food in Santa Cruz. The only reaon that we don't go often is
>that it is usually a very long wait for a table on the weekend.
Agreed. Also, I stopped going there when their prices got so high. There's
a limit to what I'll pay for a plate of fettucini Alredo, even if it's
good Alfredo. (Yeah, I'm cheap.)
Unfortunately, Santa Cruz doesn't have nearly the stock of Italian
restaurants that the Bay Area has. Zoccolli's Pasta House in Santa
Cruz and Zannoto's Pasta And More in Scotts Valley are okay, but they
don't knock me out. Does anyone have any other suggestions? We've been
reduced to eating our pasta at Tony and Alba's in Santa Cruz -- which is
great stuff, by the way (excellent pasta with pesto and pasta with oil
and dried tomatoes) -- but doesn't offer much variety.
Lois White
Egyptian cuisine, using copious amounts of fresh veggies, grains, etc.
Both vegetarian and meat entrees are served.
Very reasonable prices, generous portions, friendly people, and
belly dancers on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays(!)
Larry Blair
=Unfortunately, Santa Cruz doesn't have nearly the stock of Italian
=restaurants that the Bay Area has. Zoccolli's Pasta House in Santa
=Cruz and Zannoto's Pasta And More in Scotts Valley are okay, but they
=don't knock me out. Does anyone have any other suggestions? We've been
=reduced to eating our pasta at Tony and Alba's in Santa Cruz -- which is
=great stuff, by the way (excellent pasta with pesto and pasta with oil
=and dried tomatoes) -- but doesn't offer much variety.
I have to disagree. Zanottos sucks, but Mama Mia's in Felton is excellent.
Ristorante Italiano is pretty good, as is Paolo's in Aptos.
--
Larry Blair l...@netcom.com Glenwood Consulting 408-438-6386
James C. Bohem
My two favorites, unmentioned so far:
Ristorante Avanti, Mission St., S. C. - very good, my #1 choice
Fiorella's, in Capitola (expensive, reservations advised)
Also worthy of mention is Cafe Lido in Capitola Village
(tourists: go here, since it's in a major tourist destination
anyway, and leave the minorly-out-of-the-way places for us locals ;-)
--
James C. Bohem +1 408 458 5358 fax: +1 408 423 6519
ja...@cats.ucsc.edu (or preferably) ja...@holycow.santa-cruz.ca.us
John G. Thomas
Boulder Creek is a great place to go for that special romantic dinner.
I have only been once but it was great. One of their specialties is
Oso Bucco (sp?) and it lived up to its reputation.
Another nice touch at Squisi's is that they bring the wine list,
you pick out 3 or 4 wines that you are interested in and they then
bring out a bottle of each for a wine tasting. You then buy
a bottle of the one you like best. A very intelligent way to handle
choosing a wine.