Yummy awesome, been a dozen times, always great. Wait staff really on the ball, knowledgeable and helpful. Cocktails are imaginative and very good. Appetizer we almost always have the Calamari super good. Steak, salad, sandwich or seafood always fresh and best quality. Big selection of local wines, we have been to most, all delicious. This place always delivers a great experience and the price is right.Rotisserie Skirt Steak SaladShort Ribs. Seat several choices, bar area, inside, garden room or outdoor patio. read more

Awesome Always!!!!love love love Service is supreme!!! Feels like dinner with family!!! read more

Love this place for the atmosphere, the excellent food, and the attentive service. I always get the same thing, the Aji tuna sandwich which comes with a pile of excellent fries. My husband has had various dishes but I think nothing compares to the Perfectly prepared and beautifully presentedAhi sandwich.My only complaint, and the restaurant can do nothing about this is that they're always seem to be tables of wild children and families nearby us in the courtyard. read more

Had to update my review. Been coming here my entire life and had a bad experience this time. We come inside and a server, Joshua, tell us the tables were only for people having dinner - so we left because we only wanted drinks and there was no room at the bar. We decided to go ask the hostess and she ended up seating us immediately right near the bar... Then awkwardly Joshua was our server.. It seemed like he was trying to get us to leave almost- very weird and rude in my opinion. We're trying to give this business money for drinks- which are usually more expensive then dinner anyways.. and he's saying we can't just get a drink and appetizers.. made us feel unwelcome. So we get seated and get our drinks, bread and a few appetizers. The two amazing things about cafe cruz is their drinks and bread with garlic/olive oil/balsamic!! THE MIDNIGHT ON THE LANAI!!!! Still my favorite drink in this world which is the only reason why I will come back. We got calamari, pesto bruschetta, and the heirloom tomato stack. Everything was decent except the heirloom tomato stack was so bland and the tomatoes were flavorless... like don't serve this if the tomatoes are not in season or just flat out not tasty. Note to chef** taste before you serve! So we're done eating, wanted dessert but our server didn't bother asking- so we paid the bill and didn't get dessert. We give a 15% tip- pretty normal considering we didn't get dinner and we're very quick. I look over at Joshua and he's counting up the tip, bangs the black check holder, and shakes his head with a pouty look on his face, LOOKS OVER AT US AFTER! He legit had a hissy fit... first of all, I've never seen a server count up the tip when I was there. Last time I checked 15% tip was normal?? Unless your fine dining or it was the best service ever? He was rude the moment we stepped inside- we honestly shouldn't of tipped at all. Never had this bad of service ANYWHERE!! Will be back for the midnight on lanai and bread- other then that the food is meh- and don't get Joshua as your server- I will make sure I never do again. Always have a great experience here sitting at the bar- guess I won't go unless there is spots at bar. Couldn't believe this happened. read more

Great food, atmosphere, service. Also kid friendly. Fresh seafood specials and decent wine selection. Great for casual dinner!

Nice place. The beet salad is so good. It has a nice cream cheese on the side with walnuts. The crab cake was delightful. Great place, great food and great service (Michelle was my server). read more

Cafe Cruz - Outdoor patio - Seafood Near Me - Soquel, California

I've never had a bad meal here. Lunch or dinner is great. Wonderful ambiance and great service. And the Mud Pie is worth saving room for

We had an excellent server she had a long braided pony tail(sorry forgot her name) I loved the corn and we enjoyed our meals. Looking forward to returning in the future. read more

Cafe Cruz - Grilled corn - Seafood Near Me - Soquel, California

Don't usually right reviews unless needed. This was a horrible experience. Definitely one of our regulars and a staple to Santa Cruz but tonight we were very disappointed with the service. After going to the pumpkin batch we decided to stop by Cafe Cruz for a late bite. The server asked for my girlfriend and sisters (older sister of 3.5yrs) IDs. Girlfriend promptly shows I'd and my sister forgot her purse and showed the front and back of her I'd off of her telephone ... not sufficient to the manager KEN... for some Odd reason KEN doesn't ask for mine but goes ahead and pours the 70 Dollar bottle of Pinot without asking if we would like to taste it and says that they can only except a physical I'd, and walks off without taking our order. SUPER UNPROFESSIONAL. Our initial server finally comes back and gives us the standard run down on IDs, our nice dinner becomes into a debate over IDS. The manager (KEN) decides to watch our table like a hawk and waits for her to have a sip of wine and walks over and basically Scolds her and then goes to every server and hostess and is pointing at us causing a scene, it made me feel very uncomfortable as every table is now staring at us and he's pointing. It felt like we were in elementary school and we got caught smoking pot behind the backstop. The server comes back to take our order with the wrong appetizers, we go ahead and order three $40+ entrees and salads, our dinner is pushing over 200 dollars, and the manager (KEN) to make us feel very inferior. I told the girls let's go and we walked away from the table. The server also told us the fish was locally caught.... I didn't know Mahi mahi was caught in the harbor. I recommend LILLIANS, VENUS, SUDA, ALDERWOOD, TRESTLES, & MENTONE... as I am treated like an adult with respect. I take out my company and family frequently and would like to enjoy myself. CAFE CRUZ (KEN) YOU WERE VOTED OFF THE ISLAND read more

Great Costumer Service and fenomenal Food. All my fama were super happy with the environment,food,and Super Nice Service. read more

Who serves Sole buried under mashed potatoes and vegetables? But on another note the pork chop was good... When I go back? No!! I was so distracted by the presentation I totally forgot to take photos! read more

First time here. It was a nice place, comfortable atmosphere . Variety of food. The Gorgonzola dip and wings were delicious!! The fried calamari was just ok. It could've used a bit more flavor. Salad was delicious! My turkey melt was very good too! read more

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The service was amazing and the food was out of this world! It has great outdoor dining and great indoor dining .

Holy moly! I had the BEST Ahi tuna sandwich on the planet! Service was awesome, I'll definitely be back!! WOW! UPDATE: Went back again!!! And again!! And agin!! I'm goi g to go back again! Best sandwich of all time! read more

Service was quick and friendly. The calamari was fresh and tasty. The chopped salad was so delicious and the steaks were perfect. Great evening with wonderful food and service. read more

This place is mediocre. But it isn't bad. Which is saying that you can try it and make your own decision, but don't come with high expectations. read more

Overall horrible service. Didn't stay long enough to eat as I was frustrated before I even see a menu.

Came here for a date night dinner last week. Got a reservation for the patio (that doesn't allow dogs FYI). The night was kind of a big "miss" for us unfortunately. When we were seated, the table was tippy and no one came by for a LONG time. My bf dropped some silverware due to the tippiness of the table. I tried to grab the waiter's attention a few times. Then I got one of the bussers to light the patio heater. It was tough to light--he spent about 8 minutes trying and finally got it. Once the waiter came after he waited on a couple seated after us, he was very rushed. Didn't really want to tell us much about the menu, etc. When the bread came, the server rushed off so we didn't have olive oil or vinegar on our table and my bf didn't get his replacement silverware right away so we just helped ourselves to these things from another vacant table. The food was so so. Standard fare, good portion size, kind of bland. Disappointing overall. read more

Yikes! We so wanted to love this place. We made reservations in advance because we had heard so many great things. Sadly, everything we got was average at best. We got the burger (no seasoning and way over cooked), pork chop was dry and needed salt, Mahi special had too much sauce on top and no real seasoning, the chicken burger was so dry and no seasoning. The place was packed and the service was great so they I gave two stars, but the food was truly underwhelming. All items were sent over cooked and seriously under seasoned. read more

We have been coming to this restaurant for well over 15 years and this may have been our last visit. The ambience continues to be quaint and lovely. We pre- made reservations weeks in advance for a nice outside table, we sat down to a corner cramped table. We immediately requested a bucket of ice for our Chardonnay, 10 minutes later we re- requested the bucket of ice. Finally 3rd times a charm, and Chardonnay is getting re-chilled in a bucket. We ordered an appetizer and asked her to slow the meal, within 7 min and we had appetizers. Then soup and salads were delivered before we even finished our appetizers. Creamy corn soup was a recommendation and good. Because we didn't want to leave within 30 minutes of arriving we waited to place our dinner order. Our waitresses experience in serving was fairly junior. Unfortunately when dinner arrived, it went downhill quickly. The skirt steak with fettuccine was runny and the meat was tough. All 3 of the same orders from our table were not consistent and not good. The pork chops were smothered in apple sauce and over cooked. The winner at the table were the ribs and the side of polenta was delicious. The bacon wrapped filet was not good nor worth the price. In general, we were used to enjoying great food here and we had just the opposite experience, all bland and poor presentation. We felt the restaurant has past "Fonz jumping the shark tank" Sadly, this was a annual tradition and we have decided to try a new restaurant in town for future get togethers. We fel read more

The food is great . They have a variety of selections. They gather an over 30 group ambiance is lowered lights at night music is pleasant. Not distracting. Thumbs up. Take me there on a dinner date. The drinks are delicious. read more

We decided to try this restaurant again. They have changed their menu . We had their steaks and I was disappointed in the quality of the steak and the strange gravy they had poured on the filet mignon. The steak usually come with two sides and all the choices were just okay. Service was not attentive. Sadly , this place was disappointing. read more

The ambiance, food, service, and prices here make this hidden gem a fantastic find. We held our rehearsal dinner there in early July and excellence abounded. From the outside, I would have driven right past it as it is fairly non-descript and easy to miss. I'm so glad it was recommended to us and can't wait to eat there again! I had the skirt steak entree, delicious Cabernet, and a mudslide dessert. Amazing. The peach cobbler was also beyond delicious. What a great dining find all around!! read more

Always good service and can count on a good meal. Only problem for me is they have really raised their dinner prices.

Ordered take-out (#covid) and it was delicious! We ordered and paid by phone, the food was presented nicely in take-out containers, the food was still warm when we got to our destination, and they sent plenty of bread and dips on the side, as well as utensils! I had the grilled pork chop (huge portion) and my hubby had the grilled sea bass (smaller portion). Both tastes yummy and fresh. Go check them out! read more

Last night I ate @ Cafe Cruz in person for the first time and it was such a good meal! We ordered the Sea Bass, the Salmon and the Filet Mignon. All 3 dishes were excellent. Fish and steak cooked to perfection. The outside patio is relaxing and COVID friendly. The mocktails were lovely. The waitstaff is professional and accommodating. We also ordered take out from Cafe Cruz 2X during the pandemic and it was the best tasting take out culinary experience we had the entire lock down. This place is so good. I will return to Cafe Cruz every time I come to Capitola. (Also, make a reservation) read more

FIRST time here called in a phone order for pick up . Large order literally we tried EVERYTHING lol . So let me start with . Short rib YES , shrimp Fettuccine YES PLEASE , but I'm not sure that item is on the menu because they offered to make my kid something other than the steak pasta option . They were very kind and special Order for her . Now don't go in there getting on people's nerves requesting some ridiculousness ."eye roll" Anyways back to my review. chicken & fries sure ok why not . The pork chops I didn't try personally but my bestie did . She was happy and quote " they are NOT dry ". Now that was impressive given they are very thick . Well the beach was fun back to social distance be safe out there . Enjoy ! read more

My husband and I have come here off and on for 15 years with satisfactory to very good experiences. We were here just a couple of months ago and had a great lunch. Tonight's dinner was DISAPPOINTING to say the least. The crab cakes were flat and dry and full of fillers. The beurre sauce tasteless. My cesaer salad was dull. The odor in the restaurant itself was ghastly. Even the cocktails were bad. Sunday night staff, perhaps? IDK but I will not be coming back any time soon. read more

What Do You Do When Power Goes out in Monterey and Most Restaurants are without Electricity. Go to Cafe Cruz for the BEST SMOKED Meats and Desserts. I went Got seated Ordered My Coke then The BEST Baby Back Ribs ever, Hickory Smoked Apricot Glazed, Tender Fall off the Bone with Polenta and Mashed Potatoes. For Dessert Of Course Mud Pie. They do Make the BEST BREAD PUDDINGS I ever Had. Since My Regular Server KATHERINE was a Manager, My Server tonight 1/19/2020 Was Erin She was Sweet tho Not Attentive as I expected tho it was Busy. I will be Back hopefully Next Week read more

First time in the Santa Cruz area as well as the West Coast, and I generally try to experience the local fare as much as possible so ordered the Swordfish. Wow! Without a doubt the best fish entree I have ever had. My wife had the pork chops as she regrettable is not a big fan of fish and was a little disappointed in that though I smoke a lot of pork being from the south so that is understandable. Bread was phenomenal and I highly recommend any of the fish entrees. Would definitely try the salmon were I to return. Cool vibe inside with many and varying areas to dine but pretty loud. Probably should have requested the patio but low 60's seemed pretty cold to us having driven through from Palm Springs which was 117 degrees that very day. :-) Hostess took care of us without reservations as we had just arrived from our days' travel. Don't let the outside ambiance in the front or the location dissuade from dinning here. You won't be disappointed. read more

A fabulous option for dining. The ambiance in the outdoor space is wonderful they have several heat lamps and they even have a gorgeous outdoor fireplace surrounded by sunflowers. The food was good and the service was wonderful too. We had the linguine add prawns and were happy with the order. Definitely would suggest for good atmosphere and food! read more

Cafe Cruz consistently delivers on taste and presentation. The ambiance is another highlight, with a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere that makes it equally suitable for a special celebration or a casual night out. The outdoor fireplace adds cozy charm, creating a space where you can unwind and enjoy your meal. My favorite dining destination in Santa Cruz! read more

Had a great time here here the other night. The vegan vegetarian options are very much appreciated. The linguini Puttanesca was a hit. The blackened rockfish salad was very interesting and tasty. The best dish was the special gnocchi served with pesto baked with cheese. It was amazing! One minor complaint and we told him about it was that the glasses of wine we were served were too warm. Both Pinot Noirs were room temperature and should've been about 20° cooler for our taste. Overall this was our 2nd time here and the service and food were great. read more

Delicious dinner with friends. I had salmon, daughter had steak and friend had skirt steak salad. Everyone raves about their individual fare. The service was top notch. I watched our server attend to several tables at the same time with the same attention to detail. Wonderful experience. We'll be back! read more

Weather your eating in or eating out, cafe Cruz has a great menu. The dining inside of patio outside is great. Either way. You'll love the place and have a great meal. read more

good service, hostess was so pleasant and helpful. crab cakes were delish! disappointed in the fried calamari. not very much calamari compared to breading. outdoor patio is lovely but we sat inside since it was a bit noisy for us outside. read more

My first visit to Café Cruz was an Enjoyable one. We enjoyed the decor of the intimate little restaurant. We enjoyed the food, and we enjoyed very good service throughout our meal. Our opening round of cocktails of dirty martinis with blue cheese olives was delectable. It is always a plus for me when establishment has blue cheese olives! Michele and I started off our meals with two salads, hers a beet salad and mine the hearts of Romain salad. I love my dressing, and I love the salad. It was huge. We also ordered a broccolini appetizer with aoli sauce that was very good. We both had vegetarian pasta options, mine was just a little bland. We ended our meals by sharing a large piece of polar bear cake between the four of us, and I finished also with a delicious little Glass of white dessert wine. The final bit of good news came with the check. For the four of us it was about $60 each, which was very good for the amount of food and drinks that we got. We would definitely return for another round of dinner at Café Cruz. read more

Cafe Cruz never disappoints. Hands down best service and the food is always off the charts.

As always, amazing food. For two friends' birthdays, we were a party of 12 for patio dining. The table was ready right on time. Our server LIZ was so friendly and accommodating and very efficient. I'd recommend Cafe Cruz for a special occasion. read more

As always, amazing food. For two friends' birthdays, we were a party of 12 for patio dining. The table was ready right on time. Our server LIZ was so friendly and accommodating and very efficient. I'd recommend Cafe Cruz for a special occasion. read more