Yelp Elite Review: A Santa Cruz Classic One of my favorite places to eat in Santa Cruz, and I've been coming here since my college days--which means I've had plenty of opportunities to verify that this place is the real deal! The hamburger on a sourdough roll is legendary. It's so big that my wife and I split one, and there's still enough left to make you question your life choices. The French fries are excellent, the salad bar is fantastic, and the milkshakes are among the best in the region. As someone who is lactose intolerant, I'm happy to report that their shakes and my stomach have apparently negotiated a peace treaty. And save room for dessert! The selection is incredible, with bread pudding being one of my personal favorites. The atmosphere has that classic Santa Cruz beach-town vibe--people walk in relaxed, friendly, and completely chill. The staff is always helpful and welcoming. The only downside? Parking can be a challenge. But honestly, that's a small price to pay for great food, great people, and a place that feels like Santa Cruz. Big burgers. Great shakes. Awesome fries. Beach-town vibes. What's not to love? Yelp Elite-approved and college-days tested! #SantaCruz #SantaCruzEats #YelpElite #SantaCruzFood #BestBurgers #SourdoughBurger #Milkshakes #BeachTownVibes #Foodie #CaliforniaEats read more

I've heard so much about this place and was finally able to go. You order at the counter and receive a buzzer to alert you when your order is ready. We tried their grilled cheese, burger, a side of fries, and a blackberry shake. Everything was delicious, their burger is on a sandwich bread which makes it a little bit bigger and different. I wish the fries came with the entree, but everything is well priced. There is some parking available, and service was pretty quick that today. There's also a salad bar available. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and you sit where you would like. I can't wait to go back and try more from their menu. read more

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We actually went to the beer garden next door but since they don't have their own kitchen they use Carpo's. To order you can do it online and they deliver to a window in the garden. I was ordering for 6 people and my total was coming out to about $80. The online ordering wouldn't let me complete my order because the total was too high. So I went inside Carpo's to order. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time. It was all delicious. Most of us had burgers. There was a tritip sandwich and a grilled cheese, French fries and onion rings. Everything was great and there was an abundance of food. In fact I needed a to go box. There were none at the window, so I called to see if they could drop some there. They were busy though. I waited a bit but was ready to go so I went into the restaurant to get a couple boxes. I know it was.lunch time but it seems that it would have taken half a minute to just drop off some boxes. For that alone I'm dropping from a 5 star to 4 for the service. read more

Dog friendly trip down old Americana Road. This place has something for everyone. We wanted a close place to go to dinner after puppy training class. Low and behold this place is a stone m's throw from the training area. We had 3 kinds of burgers (beef, turkey and veggie), fries (potato and sweet potato), cantaloupe slices, a baked potato, and pie (blackberry). We loved that there is a condiment station and a salad bar. They do good quick service and everyone was so very nice. We sat out on the patio with our pup and she was able to be out of the way and with us which is always a bonus for us. The patio is clean with lots of well tended plants. What a gem for this community to have such a place to come for a hearty meal. read more

Loved Carpos before, love Carpos now. The restaurant was packed to capacity with happy customers at 1 PM on a Sunday afternoon... This place is a Santa Cruz legend. It is really popular place and for a good reason. Recommendations: seafood kabob stuffed chicken breast soups (the soups are amazing here!) and chili This is one of those places that never disappoints. For decades it s a favorite. read more

This is not the Carpos it used to be. Same name, but that's it. Recently placed a large order and had multiple items messed up and missing. Sent an email hoping they could revolve the issue but never received a response. Very disappointing that they don't care about their customers. I've been coming here since I was a kid and used to love this restaurant! Unfortunately it's changed, for the worse. Prices are ridiculously high for bad service and messed up food. read more

Such a great find traveling on Memorial Day and looking for a dog friendly restaurant and discovered the cutest, nicest and yummiest place. read more

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Huge dropoff in quality in the past three years. Carpo's used to serve some of the best fish you could get in the area. Now it's all unseasoned and tastes old. The tables are covered with dirty dishes, we were there an hour and never saw any tables cleared. The fish took about 35 minutes to come out, even though there were only a few other patrons. They add a junk 3.5% fee to the bill for operational costs, which should be built into the prices instead. I've been coming here a decade, but I won't be back, read more

Excellent crispy tasty fries, yummy moist perfectly cooked chicken sandwich and the carrot cake is so good! read more

Carpo's Restaurant - American Near Me - Soquel, California

A spot we come to when we visit the in laws for a solid burger, a great salad bar and other family favorites. This is a spot all 3 of my boys can find something as can my wife and I. read more

We usually order from here while having beers at Beer Thirty next door. The Carpo's window is right in the beer garden, so you can order online and pick up the food inside Beer Thirty. We usually get the fish and chips, which is excellent and comes with tons of fries and a little dish of coleslaw. The fish and chips never disappoint. The service is fast - we rarely have to wait very long. Our only complaint is that Carpo's used to have a special "beer garden" menu with amazing salads, sandwiches, and tacos. The menu was a lot more creative than the Carpo's regular menu and we loved it. But we also love the fish and chips, so we'll be back soon! read more

The food has always been greasy and sub-par. But we have used this business annually (for birthdays) just for their spectacular carrot cake. That ends today. They no longer will sell you half a sheet cake. A 20+ year tradition down the drain. New ownership should catch a clue. Almost nobody needs a full sheet of cake and you will lose a lot of customers by no longer providing half sheets. read more

This is exactly what you want if you want good classic American Dining. The burger is delicious, the chicken sandwich is juicy, the fisherman's basket finger licking, the cod was yummy, the fries are crispy, and the pasta is worth dreaming about! I also want to shout out a restaurant that doesn't butter their veggies and makes sure you can still taste the flavors of the food! The servers were nice we had a mistake in our order and they were quick to polite about getting us the right food. Ordered a local beer and it was just the right amount of fruity, managed to brew out most of the usual bitterness. read more

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If it's not broken, don't fix it! We've been coming at least a few times a month for so many years. I've always loved carpos for their consistency. Since the ownership change, we keep trying to come in, but there have been some very obvious changes in recipes/ products being used. The quality went way down overnight. What's up with the salad bar pasta salad - it was so good as is?! And so many little details just making for not great food anymore read more

Delicious chicken strips, baked potatoes, and nice selection of vegetables in the salad bar and steamed. We have also really enjoyed the pesto pasta side and you get a big portion for your money. Carpo's is a must any time we are in the Santa Cruz area, and I have never been disappointed with my food. As others have mentioned, you can enjoy a great meal from Carpo's when you are getting drinks at Beer Thirty next door. My boyfriend gets the burger, and while he likes it, he claims it is also not the most noteworthy he has ever tried. Anyway, I love this place! I dream of their chicken tenders, so much that I wish there was a Carpo's closer to my home. read more

It was just alright as far as the food. I think they use mostly frozen. The coleslaw tastes like ceviche. The salad bar looked well stocked. And the prices are just too high for a counter order and pick up yourself. The parking lot was full, so I expected the restaurant to be full. Nope. I think the bar next door parks there. I had to find street parking. The cashier was pleasant. read more

Salad Bar 8/10 - The salad bar has been a staple constant for many years. Seafood can be underwhelming. Overall, decent lunch place.

Tri-tip sandwich is good and filling but only thing that it's missing is some sauce other than that it's good! read more

Carpo's Restaurant - Tri-Tip Steak Sandwich is good and filling but only thing that is missing is some sauce other than that it's good! - American Near Me - Soquel, California

I came today with my boyfriend, I was craving fish and chips. At first I was excited, but once the food came we were underwhelmed. My boyfriend got the seafood skewer, he did not have a good time. It lacked ALOT of flavor and so did my fish n chips. The salad bar was nice that's why this gets two stars. I wouldn't come again. It also made me a bit nauseous on the way home. read more

Carpos is the salad bar. That's it, that's what I recommend. The salad bar, and fries. Just trust me. Also I recommend going to beer thirty and getting a beer and ordering your fries at the window. Only problem is you do have to walk inside of carpos to get the salad bar. read more

Well, I thought I'd give Carpos another chance, so about 10 days ago I went back for dinner, I ordered a steak sandwich,french fries and a beverage, I left a two dollar tip. It was $29, a little pricey I must saybut everything was really good until I got down to the last bite of my sandwich and I looked on my plate and there was a small black hair I went up to the counter and I said everything was delicious except for this and I pointed at the hair on my plate, they just looked at me and said "Oh" and then I walked away, not sure if I'm gonna give them a third try, it has not been the same since the new owners took over‍‍!! One more thing I just read a bunch of reviews. It appears that a lot of people are complaining about Carpos, not being the same as it was with the previous owner. Quality of the food, fish dishes, etc. even the salad bar not the same. Also I just found out about the 3.5% service charge and I've known that I wouldn't have tipped note to the new owner. You better get it back to the way Todd did it before it's too late.!!!! read more

I wish I could rate this place Higher!! We've (as a family and individual) been coming here for over 15 years and this place never fails to disappoint the customer service is the best and they always make sure your satisfied with your order and you get what you need, we were having problems with are order and gave us full coverage for our issue and a slice of cake thank you so much!! read more

Great Food! Best burger (Carpo Burger)!!! Nice place , easy access, enough parking and next to the beer farm. read more

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Carpos is a true favorite of mine and I've been going my whole life. The soup is always incredible. Creamy and delicious clam chowder. I love the chili. Bomb turkey burgers. Epic carrot cake. Amazing salad bar. Overall just so good. I would cry if they went out of business. read more

You really just can't beat the price and quality you can get here at Carpos. They deliver this quality day Inn and day out. And have a true following. I go as much as three times a week. Very affordable. Fantastic quality and great customer service good job guys!! read more

Carpos what happened?! I am so sad. The food quality dropped significantly. This place was one of our family favorites. The Seafood kabobs used to be one of Santa Cruz's hidden gems. Now the fish is barely even there. The kabobs are tiny and even the tartar sauce tastes cheap. Please bring back the quality. I will pay more. read more

I went in for a quick bite and was happy it was still open for business. It had been my favorite Burger joint way back in the day. I had kept it simple and ordered a Carpo burger and a side of onion rings. I had also ordered a Carrot cake and a soda. The soda fountain had almost most of the syrups out, including the lemonades. It was not a big deal and my order was ready in a matter of minutes. I had gotten a nice seat inside and was able to serve my own condiments on my burger. It too was a good sized burger and I only ate 1/2 and took the rest home. The carrot cake was so good and the cream cheese frosting was very tasty. I will be back for the Fish and chips and the Black berry pie next time I'm in the area. read more

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Ordered the veggie burger. barely any onions or pickles. a singular slice of lettuce. no sauce. what the hell is this sad burger ?? what a disappointing birthday dinner :/ i've grew up in santa cruz and loved coming here. it's been such a sad difference ever since covid hit. read more

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Food is great, getting very expensive though. Quick heads up to all our Carpo's new owner has instituted a 3.5% surcharge on all orders. He doesn't say what it is for or if it is temporary. I am guessing we are paying the debt he took to buy the business. This is in addition to the price increases instituted after the minimum wage went up and again after he bought the business. read more

Yikes! I've been a Carpos fan since the day they opened. Tonight we decided to get take-out but there's no menu on line anymore. I tried calling 6 times and it rings and rings and goes to voicemail. Nobody answers. I sure hope these new owners aren't the beginning of the end. read more

Absolutely horrible. I used to love coming to this place. We spent $60 on food that was terrible. It took over 30 minutes for the food and the portions were small. Very disappointed. read more

I used to be a regular at this restaurant and always recommended it to friends and family. Sadly, since the new owners took over, it's become a completely different place and not in a good way. First off, the prices have gone up significantly. I wouldn't mind paying more if the food matched the increase, but unfortunately, the quality has taken a steep dive. cheaper ingredients, smaller portions, and a clear lack of care in preparation. I really wanted to give the new management a chance, but after a couple of disappointing visits, I won't be returning. It's a shame to see such a great local spot fall so far. Hopefully they listen to feedback and make some serious changes but until then, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. Only thing that has not changed is the amazing staff. I did notice they record phone calls now? Instead of focusing on customer service, focus on quality of your food. read more

We just discovered Carpos and will be back. My wife had the burger which was wonderful, big, hot and fresh. I had the seafood sandwich, shrimp and crab with jack cheese, so so so good. Loved being able to pick our condiments from the condiment bar, all very fresh, The pickles were outstanding! read more

Clean, friendly, fast service. My husband ordered The Fisherman's Basket as usual. The calamari was like jerky. We were too embarrassed to return it because of all the customers in line. Hopefully staff will see this customer experience and work on the calamari preparation and cooking. Thank you read more

Visit Date: 8/30/21 I've been coming to Carpo's since the 90's when I was a kid. This place is mostly the same as far as the inside, as well as some of their signature items (oval vs. circular burgers). I have only been here a couple times over the last decade plus since I moved away from Santa Cruz, and not since COVID. My mom came here with a friend recently and had a really good experience, so we decided to go back when I was in town visiting. This is an order-at-the-counter type of place. They give you a pager that alerts you to come back to pickup your food when it's ready. As you walk in the main door, there are restrooms and booths to the right, and everything else to the left. There is a giant menu on the wall above the area where you order and pick-up your food. All in that open area is also the salad bar (active) and the drinks/condiments area. Beyond that there is lots of indoor dining, mostly booths with some areas for larger groups. There were plenty of seats available, however I can see how things might fill up during "normal times". They also have a nice, closed off back patio that snakes around the back and side with a good amount of seats including umbrellas to protect from the sun. There are lots of plants and greenery around as well as a fountain or two for added ambiance. *FOOD* Came here with the family so ordered a few things to share. -Teriyaki Chicken Kabob ($12.50) - Very good! The chicken was in large chunks, was cooked well, and the sauce was delicious. There was a good charbroiled taste on the chicken as well as the pineapple and onions/peppers. It came with pasta and steamed veggies. We ordered an extra side of the teriyaki sauce for dipping, it was that yummy. The pasta was also really good and meshed well with the sauce that dripped from the kabobs. Only thing: I wish there was more than one piece of pineapple per kabob since it's such a nice sweet contrast. -Seafood Kabob ($14.99) "Combo of fresh snapper, prawns and salmon" - The fish tasted fresh and some of the pieces were a little more grilled than others, which gave them a really nice char taste. The pasta and veggies were the same as the Teriyaki Chicken Kabob. I believe they said after a certain time they switch the pasta to rice during dinner hours. -Tri-Tip Steak Sandwich ($10.50) - "Our version of a Philly Steak Sandwich. Thinly sliced tri-tip, carmelized onions and Swiss cheese served on a francese roll." - This was REALLY good, the roll was coated with what seemed like a garlic-butter spread, and the contents melted in your mouth. The flavors of the onions, cheese, garlic, and meat all blended perfectly together. There were extra grilled pieces hanging off the sides, which is exactly what you want! The BBQ is also very good and makes for a good dip or pour-over for bites. Overall I was very pleased with my return here after so many years, and would definitely come back again. The salad bar looked clean and well kept, and I would feel comfortable using it if I were in the mood for salad. The staff was all very friendly and masked-up which made for a very clean and comfortable dining experience! read more

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I'd love to review Carpo's food, but I've been here for well over an hour waiting for my order. I've asked multiple times for them to look into why it's taking this long and the staff seems to have no idea what's going on. This is the single worst customer experience I've ever dealt with. It's actually shocking . read more

Decent fare and reasonable portions at a price that won't break the bank. This year marks Carpo's 30th birthday, and I'm sure this is not how they expected to be celebrating with the pandemic cramping their style, but here we are. Fortunately, Carpo's has gotten the whole covid dining thing figured out with both indoor and outdoor seating options. Indoors, every other booth is marked off as unusable, and plexiglass between booths provides an extra layer of protection. The salad bar is on hiatus, but diners can serve themselves from the garnish/condiment station (after donning the provided gloves). Kudos for keeping people safe during these weird times. The wife and I ordered the following: * Fish & Chips ($12.50): Beer-battered cod, lightly breaded and deep fried to a nice crisp! Served with cocktail and tartar sauces; the spicy mustard from the garnish bar was equally as good for dipping. * Grilled Chicken Breast ($11.99): A good sized piece and decent as far as chicken breast goes (it's hard to make amazing chicken breast). The condiments went nicely with this. Each regular entree comes with two sides. The wife enjoyed her pasta side that had a splash of pesto, and I'd asked for rice to be substituted in as one of my sides. The rice was seasoned well and had bits of onion in it - delicious! We each got steamed vegetables for our other side and found the veggies to be cooked just right. This was particularly important for the broccoli since it's easy to undercook or overcook that. Kudos to the chefs who are paying attention in the kitchen! Carpo's also sells homemade pies and other desserts. Other reviewers rave about the pie here, so I regret that we didn't try any! read more

Carpo's Restaurant - Fish & Chips and Grilled Chicken Breast - American Near Me - Soquel, California

The salads are wonderful here, fresh and stocked with all the options. I'm glad to be back here.

Carpo's is a great local staple. Not fancy or fussy or expensive, but great diner type food. Good attention to detail, salad bar is varied and fresh. Nightly specials are always great. New owners have the good sense to not mess with a great menu and quality. Discount for cash payment. read more

Consistently very high quality food with reasonable prices (in a town where reasonable prices are no longer common), excellent variety of choices (we especially like the seafood kebab, chili, Carpo burger sandwich), generous portions Friendly and responsive staff Delightful ambience of heated dog-friendly walled outside patio with beautiful plantings Yes! read more