A Culinary Gem: Simply Authentic ​If you are looking for a dining experience that feels like a warm embrace from an Italian grandmother, this charming spot is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you walk through the door, the intimate atmosphere sets the stage for a meal that is clearly crafted with love and tradition. ​The commitment to quality here is unmistakable. Because everything is cooked from scratch, the flavors have a vibrancy that you simply won't find in larger, commercial establishments. ​You can taste the freshness of the ingredients in every sauce and handmade pasta. The seasonings are spot-on--bold enough to be memorable, yet refined enough to let the natural ingredients shine. The food is simply ah-mazing! ​What truly elevates this restaurant is the attentive and friendly service. The staff treats every guest with a level of care that makes you feel like a regular on your very first visit. If you are craving authentic Italian, look no further. This isn't just a meal; it's a reminder of why we fall in love with great food in the first place. Highly recommended! read more

Our best kept secret. Such an underrated gem that I feel no one knows about! The calamari is always a hit. My two favorite dishes are the spaghetti alla carbonara and carbonara lasagna! Their portions are easily shareable between 2. Both times I've been here, the restaurant has been empty! Service is great. I love grabbing a seat on the patio and enjoying the lovely Santa Cruz air. read more

Bedda Mia - Fried Calamari, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Carbonara lasagna :) - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I ordered to-go i was looking for some bomb ass pasta. The place seemed sketchy, kind of like they looked at us weird or gave us a weird vibe but they served us sparkling water while we waited which was nice. Also a lot of people came after we ordered (5:30) so sad to see that they've closed down :/ i got a carbonara pasta and it was a 10/10 The food was AMAZING!!!! read more

I had never heard of this place before, but happened to come across it when looking for a place to have dinner. The food looked amazing and the reviews were also pretty good so we decided to give it a try. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. The outdoor seating is covered and heaters are available. We sat indoors since it was pretty cold. We were immediately seated and greeted by multiple of their staff that night. I tried their fettuccine Alfredo and I believe it was their spaghetti and meatballs as well? We were also provided with bread while we waited for our food. Everything was really good. Our food was ready pretty fast and our server was very attentive. There's parking available, they offer dessert, but they are also right next to a frozen yogurt shop! read more

Bedda Mia - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Food: we were looking for a quick bite and found this place. Surprisingly, the pasta and seafood are fresh and the sauce is pretty good. The gelato was okay. The portion is pretty good for the price. Service: the staff were very welcoming and helpful. However, he gave us a feeling of rushing everything...from orders to desserts and getting the bill. Ambiance: there was basically no one on the weekends and we sat down in the patio area. It was not too shabby and quiet to have some nice conversations. read more

Bedda Mia - Gelato - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Food was very delicious and fresh! Excellent service! The restaurant is small so make sure to make a reservation. This is the best Italian restaurant I've ever been in the city of Santa Cruz. read more

We stopped here on Easter Sunday, otw to Santa Cruz. Wow, honestly I can't believe this isn't a Michelin star restaurant. From service to entree, to desserts, everything was absolutely divine. To be quite frank: this place is way better than Eataly. Easily, hands down. It's a spacious place, both inside and out. They're dog friendly so that's an extra plus. We're very particular with places we go to, especially if it's a cuisine that we like to eat. Ever since we learned how to make pasta from scratch, we refuse to eat at places that use box pasta (and believe me, you can definitely taste the difference). Parking lot is also big enough, so you don't have to worry about that. Only thing is that they don't have any visible sign as you're driving by, but if you just put in the address, it'll direct you there. I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the menu so I can't really label it exactly BUT trust me, their pastas are delicious. I mean, we ate as if we're hungry hippos. We can't wait to be back and we will be, very soon! PS: we didn't get the gentleman's name who was so kind to us, and stopped by every 10 mins or so to chit chat. It was also very special that we also get to meet the owner of the place and to all the staff who made our lunch so special - grazie! read more

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Arrived for lunch at 3:15 and was told that I could not stay because they were closing at 3:30.... and reopening at 4? Too bad, I was curious to give it a try, but after a wasted trip, I doubt I'll be back.... to some customers, it's important that you live up to your posted hours. read more

We were here right when they opened, and we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Super nice folks, and the pizzas were very good. I forgot my card there, and the guy came running out to flag us vigorously after we had made a U-turn and were going the other way, which was super nice. read more

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Restaurant was a little hole in the wall, cute and charming. Nice for a date night. Javi and Haseeb were amazing hosts , extremely attentive and friendly. The food 12/10. Salad when you combined all the ingredients was yummy! The gnocchi well that was the star of the show - so freaking good !! Small portions of bread, but will bring you more when asked. Overheard they are moving locations so just be aware of that. Thanks again, we will return for the crème brûlée, we were too full to get. read more

The food was delicious, even though it was delivered to the wrong house. Made my daughter go on a hike up and down the street looking for where her dinner might be. I realize it's not the restaurants fault but she finally found it and loved it. However, delivered it needs to look a little harder at the addresses. read more

An interesting Italian spot tucked in eastern Santa Cruz, you wouldn't really think of great Italian food when you initially walk through the parking lot and inside the restaurant. We were greeted with a kind and boisterous waiter who sat us right away and was very attentive to our party. The menu was very extensive, with many pastas and meats to choose from. I ordered a Gnocchi del Capitano and I found it to be rich and delicious. My parents had an Osso Buco which they found to be underwhelming for the price, they mentioned the flavor being lacking and after sharing a bite I agreed with their sentiment. However it was very tender and I still enjoyed the bite I had. Overall we had a good experience here and my dish was very good, but there may be some inconsistency with some of the food based upon our visit. read more

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Five of us had lunch today. We were greeted warmly and immediately seated. The atmosphere was very pleasant and comfortable. Each one of us ordered a different entree. From bolognese to lasagna. Our orders came out promptly and we were served warm bread with a plate of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Very well balanced Our server, Gabriel gave us excellent service. All of us enjoyed our delicious meals. We look forward to having lunches here. Portions were generous read more

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Fresh salad, service is awesome food is fantastic. It's a neighborhood Italian Restaurant. Love it!!! read more

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Very awesome wonderful food.First time here . My friend and I came here n we both ordered Ravioli al salmon which has smoked n fresh salmon, capers, red onion n a cream sauce.very yummy.Also we got complimentary bread n we both shared tiramisu.I love this place. The waiter was wonderful.The restaurant is clean has a small parking lot read more

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Mateo was charismatic and made the experience delightful. When it comes to service, he was smooth and moved around the place like butter. The restaurant is older, but quaint and cute. Unfortunately the food was hit or miss. The gnocchi and pastas were good but the osso buco, calamari and crème brûlée were subpar. The Oso Boco was very tender, but lacked flavoring. The calamari was soggy and warm. Would've preferred it crispy and hot. They make their own sauce for the calamari, which was not my favorite. Either the crème brûlée was again lukewarm and tasted like it was sitting in the refrigerator, semi heated with some glaze sugar on top. Based on the reviews I was really looking forward to eating here. Unfortunately found it disappointing for this price point, especially comparing it to other Italian restaurants in the area. read more

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Everyone will agree there are many excellent Italian establishments in Santa Cruz. While I have dined at some excellent ones in town, I just say that Bedda Mia is THE best I've had in SC, and possibly even the best outside of Italy. Matteo is the ultimate host. Immediately attentive, friendly, and genuinely concerned to serve. He represents pride in ownership, and it certainly shows in the high quality dishes from the kitchen . The orrechiette with sausage cream is authentic like from Puglia Italy. The fettuccine with Dungeness crab is simply Devine. A unique dish you will not find anywhere. The linguine with squid ink - amazing. Equally delish is the rigatoni bolognese. For dessert, homemade pistachio sorbetto, tiramisu, and lemon cake - all home made and simply delicious. You must try this place. Top notch. Great job Matteo and family. It's like being in Italy. read more

Bedda Mia - Prescient - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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So, went here for a friends birthday party and had high hopes due to the reviews here. Nope, don't bother. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and it was soo bland especially for $22. My husband had the risotto and they did not use arborio rice. I know there are other varieties but this had no creaminess to it, it was like regular rice loaded with garlic. The best thing was the Tiramisu, do not bother with the Creme brulee, blech! As to ambience, the silverware is school cafeteria level. Seriously? Please upgrade this. Service was fine although we watched one of the Gen z workers on his phone all evening. It wasn't busy but seriously unprofessional. Go to Lillian's. read more

This place! The owners are lovely and they pulled off an impromptu dinner party for our group of 15 on short notice. The ambience on the patio was charming, the food was delicious and the service was gracious (if a little slow at times but they get a pass given how responsive they were to our late-made plans.) I would go here again for sure. read more

Everything here was awesome! My plate was amazing. Chicken parm was amazing. Fettuccine was amazing. And their plate I'm so sorry I forget the name! Fried beef was amazing. And then, the bread and oil. The best, ever. Will 100% be coming back here, best and most authentic Italian food in Santa Cruz. I mean they were literally Italian. Service was exceptional (we came during their break time 3:30-4 and still were heavily heavily accommodated and food came out fast). Nice clean ambiance and fun. Loved this place! read more

Bedda Mia - Cacio E Pepe - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

"A cozy hidden gem! Loved the warm service, delicious food, and inviting ambience. Shawn was fantastic--attentive and friendly. Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious." read more

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Absolutely amazing service, ambiance, and food I've ever had. I had the fettuccine with red sauce, and the texture of the pasta with the sauce complimented each other perfectly. I also ordered the calimari, and the breading and sauce was amazing. The waiter was extremely funny and kind. Just the look the the restaurant goes for makes you feel like your going to a authentic Italian restaurant, which you are. read more

Stopped by since we were visiting NorCal from SoCal. This place has impeccable, class A+ customer service, authentic Italian cuisine and we had an AMAZING server; Mateo. Mateo was super busy yet VERY entertaining, efficient and accommodating. The food was OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD AMAZING, AUTHENTIC, FRESH, HOT, GENEROUSLY PORTIONED AND VERY FLAVORFUL! We ordered: 1. Chicken Parmigiana: 10+. I would have included pics of our plates, but the aroma was too tempting to wait! Chicken was moist, tender & juicy! 2. Pepperoni Pizza: 10+. Crust was cooked with just the right amount of dough and quality, fresh ingredients! This was BEYOND SUPERB! LOVE THEIR CRUST! PIZZA SAUCE ON-POINT! 3. FETTUCCINE ALFREDO: 10. I highly recommend ADDING chicken. May be a little more $, but you won't regret it! The pasta is very fresh, tastes fresh and homemade, NOT the kind that's out-of-the-box, either! The sauce is the REAL HERO! SO FLAVORFUL AND EXCITING! NOT an average sauce, or from the bottle! The Alfredo sauce is something unique, like that you would expect from a 5-Star, Michelin List restaurant dining experience. NO LIE!!! What made it an AMAZING and UNFORGETTABLE experience was our server, MATEO! VERY accommodating, accessible and always made sure if we had any questions or how our food was! And all this while being the ONLY SERVER tonight! MATEO has a great personality and definitely gave great food recommendations! We were so GRATEFUL because of him! To sum it all: Class A+ in service, food and a nice menu selection and salacious looking DESSERTS! We were sooo STUFT with our main courses that we did not have enough space for a delectable Italian dessert! ALL I CAN SAY: NEXT TIME! read more

Bedda Mia - Best ITALIAN cuisine and server; MATEO, this side of the West! - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Pizza was bunz, pasta overpriced, EVERYTHING overpriced, waiter gave us some crazyyyy attitude, place was okay i guess except for the spider on my face. read more

Heard from a local this place was great and it was amazing! Everything was phenomenal. I'd argue I had the BEST gnocchi I've ever had here. The appetizer was tasty and the cacio e pepe sauce was to die for. This is family ran and Gabe, the owners son, was checking in on everyone constantly. Wonderful service all around. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Getting a reservation would be smart as it was very busy (but luckily we didn't have to wait as the outdoor was open). Cute spot and great for a date night. Would def return! read more

Bedda Mia - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The best gnocchi I've ever had. We also tried the vongole. Genuine home cooked Italian food. We took spaghetti and meatballs to go but I didn't capture a good photo. Everything was excellent along with our server, Mateo. Can't wait to sample more dishes. Cheers! read more

We love this place. The owner greets you at the door, seats you at your table and is involved in every aspect of your visit. The food is delicious. The wine selection is great! I wish more people would give it a try. I think the location makes it a challenge for some to trust the quality of the food but I promise it's there. Give it a try! You won't regret it and you'll be back time and time again. read more

Always one of my favorite places. Mateo is always charming & fun. The food is amazing and save room for dessert! We definitely need to come more often. Heck, I'll get a 2nd job! Although not cheap, please remember you get what you pay for read more

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Phenomenal fettuccini Alfredo! It tastes great, and kind service. Would definitely recommend.

A rather unassuming restaurant location on Water Street between Market and N Branciforte. Comfortable and pet friendly outdoor patio with heaters for the colder weather. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. We were promptly presented with water and bread with olive oil and balsamic after being seated. Here's what we tried... * CAPRESE E CARCIOFI - Tomato mozzarella and artichoke salad. A good sized appetizer to share. The grilled baby artichokes we're a nice touch! * RAVIOLI DEL DOGE - short rib ravioli with a light sage butter sauce. The pasta was as good as home made...perfectly cooked, tasty and fresh. Very authentic and traditional Italian. * SALMONE ALLA GRIGLIA - Grilled Salmon with a side of peperonata (stewed peppers), crispy potato cubes and a small mixed green salad. Salmon was a good sized portion and nicely grilled. Peperonata was yummy. Potatoes were perfectly crisp. Nice selection and range of wines. Restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived at 5:30 pm on a Saturday night, but was buzzing by the time we left around 7 pm. We look forward to coming back to try more dishes. read more

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The appetizer platter on the specials menu was delicious! It included arancini, mozzarella and chickpea flatbread. I also loved the homemade pasta with red sauce. As a vegetarian it was nice to have so many options. The slushy alcoholic drink was fruity and refreshing. We will definitely go back! The service was top notch and friendly. Mateo was awesome and made the experience extra special. read more

Bedda Mia - Caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Hidden Santa Cruz gem. Hidden off the beaten path, this restaurant is one of the best Italian food places in the area.

For the record. My first visit to this restaurant was excellent, both the food and service were wonderful. My second visit was unfortunately highly dissatisfying. Both times I ordered the gnocchi al pomodoro. Since trying this dish for the first time around the end of October I had been dying to enjoy it again and finally had an opportunity this evening to place an order for pickup. I live in the apartment building literally next door so I wasn't worried about my food getting cold. Well.... I guess I should have been worried about worse... talk about utter disappointment. The gnocchi, completely uncooked. Every single gnocchi was literally a squishy lump of like warm raw dough, with the consistency of raw cookie dough when it gets warm. I honestly I can't even stomach eating any more of it.. Additionally I feel like I just got robbed for $30. Make sure that if you eat here in the evening you make your reservations arrive waaaaay before they close, because whoever the cook/chef was tonight, it is obvious that they had no interest in actually cooking any food past 8:30 read more

Great food and this small cute restaurant. The desserts are good and lots of options. The service is good too.

Even simple things, like their tomato bruschetta, were distinctively tasty. It's a family affair.

Excellent food and service! Our dishes were outstanding--the best Italian food that I have had in Santa Cruz--and our waiter, Sam, was amazing. The menu was fairly extensive and diverse, with options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. In addition, they were very happy to "remove" meat from some of the meat dishes for the vegetarians in our party. A wonderful birthday dinner for me! We will certainly go again! read more

The best gnocchi I've ever had. We also ordered the vongole. Authentic home cooked Italian food. We got spaghetti and meatballs to go but I didn't get a good photo. Everything was amazing along with our server, Mateo. Can't wait to try more dishes. Cheers! read more

Please don't get fooled by the reviews. A lot of them are fake! Can't trust yelp reviews as well nowadays. Although the service was great and quick the food and the ambiance was quite underwhelming considering the steep price. We ordered calamari and crab cake along with gnocchi with salmon. The Salmon felt old and uncooked along with foul odor! Gnocchi had flour taste. Calamari was edible. read more

Fantastic dining experience! The staff was very friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. Went there with the family and want more people to try out this place! The specials were very high quality and had a delicious lemon sorbet for dessert. read more

We got take out and I wasn't very impressed with the food. Fettuccine Alfredo was VERY bland..: there just wasn't much flavor. Fresh pasta itself was good though. Caponata was decent I just prefer the one from Sugo (at discretion), as I feel like it's less sweet and packs more of a punch. read more

Bedda Mia - Fettuccine Alfredo & caponata - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California