We stopped for lunch and highly recommend Cruz Kitchen. Easy parking in back. Dog friendly outside patio though smallish was great. Music was being played outsideby a DJ on Saturday and Sunday. Service was prompt and friendly. My husband ordered The Palmer and I ordered a glass of house Sauvignon Blanc. We both ordered the Blackened Fish sandwich with fries and it was DELICIOUS! The fish was cooked perfectly still succulent and served on a fresh French baguette. The pickled coleslaw had a hint of pineapple, fresh cilantro and jalapeños were the perfect combination with the zesty sauce. The food was served promptly and was still hot. Fries have a light batter and were crisp. Definitely will come back. Looked like a full bar inside. Ambience reminded me of a 60s restaurant. read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Blackened Fish Sandwiches - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This place is a local gem! It always feels like home when we stop in. Whether it's for drinks and appetizers or a full on dinner they are always accommodating. My wife loves to get the wings with the Mongolian sauce, not technically on the menu but it's a real treat! The chicken skewers with papaya salad is on the menu and the peanut sauce makes it awesome! Tacos are great and you can one or two or three or a dinner version. You can choose from fish or chicken or boneless short ribs, they are all great! They have a great selection of local microbrews to choose from and a chill bar to eat at if that's what you are feeling. On some Friday nights they also have live music! That's a great time so check that out! We love Cruz Kitchen and Taps and you will too, give'em a shot! read more

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Amazing food. Great prices and great service. What a gem, my daughter and I went here for lunch today. Best cocktail I have had in awhile. Also kids plates are all $6-7 and come with fries or veggies. Everything is afforable and super yummy. I am so glad we went here today. I love to support small local business ! I'll def be back soon. read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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"Vengeance is mine," I'm thinking as I'm devouring the most delectable wings in the old vegan hub that was Saturn cafe- now Cruz Kitchen and taps. I really liked our experience here, and, while we ordered small plates to share, the kalbi style teriyaki ribs were on point and my daughter enjoyed her burger. Beer was delicious as well, and the service was attentive. I love the way the midday sun hits the corner of Pacific Ave here - feel so good! This was the first restaurant we went to whilst in town for a few days recently, which signaled to me that something good, and relatively new, was happening foodwise in Santa Cruz. We went on to have some other great meals but I was proud of Cruz's sincerity, ambience and very tasty bites! read more

Came on a Sunday afternoon with a party of 7. Did not have to wait at all for a table as the restaurant was relatively empty. Service was quick and friendly. The breakfast options were tasty and worth the price. I particularly enjoyed the short ribs and eggs. The fried salami sandwich was balanced with a tangy slaw that was tasty but made bottom bun incredibly soggy. A member of our party ordered the Bloody Mary with all the extras and it was definitely a meal on its own. Would come back to try out their beer selection. read more

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We were searching for a not-so-touristy spot to eat lunch after checking out the boardwalk. We walked inland a bit and found this spot. Not a lot on the menu was calling to us but we thought beer, wine and wings would be a good choice. It was an odd time, late lunch (1:45ish) and there were a few parties inside but it didn't look busy. Service was pretty slow from start to finish. I really enjoyed the wings. They were well cooked and deliciously seasoned. Nothing remarkable, but it definitely hit the spot. read more

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Pretty bummed how the once Saturn Cafe with all of its veggie friendly options is now a spot with some pretty passable but not tasty vegan options. From the apps, I went with their vegan poke which turned out to be pretty bland if not for the incredibly salty ponzu sauce that they used. A mix of raw onions, cilantro, lettuce, spring mic, and avocado made up the dish - along with some wonton chips. I asked for some fried tofu to put on top which did elevate the meal but overall the sauce was incredibly salty and I didn't end up finishing. Additionally, I wish there was something else on the side to cut the acidity such as rice or toast. Food aside - the service was incredibly friendly and they were very hospitable. I just wish the food was better because this dish really doesn't give 'vegan food' a great impression in my opinion. Hopefully they'll think about including some more substantial vegan friendly options in the future. read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Vegan Poke with Fried Tofu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Great staff, great vibes, amazing happy hour menu, dope bathrooms. I stayed here for hours enjoying delicious food and I want rushed at all. Everyone was super nice and friendly. I'm super impressed with their menu and this brussel sprouts salad was one of the best I ever had. They did a great job with the flavor profiles, pickled onions, how it's seasoned and dressed. It's bomb and I've never had anything like it. read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Roasted Brussels Sprout - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Don't let the name of this place fool you, this is the place to get great food! They do craft food, yes I said it, craft food! It's great asian fusion, all fresh and amazing! One more time, amazing! I love, love this spot. They have an interesting wine list full of artisan local selections, as well as an extensive tap list, AND... drum roll, craft cocktails like their amazing grandiose Bloody Mary with all the fixings. I highly recommend this place if you're a foodie and into creative culinary delights. Cruz Kitchen & Taos for the win! read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Amazing fish with a side miso salad- life changing! Lol - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Okay is how I would describe it. The tap list has a good selection of local beers, but is not extensive. The cruz wings were decent - not blown away by their flavor, but still tasty. The ginger wings were pretty bland and uninteresting, would not order again. Boneless Short ribs were also decent - although a small portion. I definitely enjoyed the loaded fries. The pulled pork was tasty. Also, came with good ranch - good ranch is important. We just got apps because the mains just didn't look very interesting. Relatively small menu. (not that this is necessarily a bad thing). Kid friendly. Kids menu with the standards. Although I will say that the kids chicken nuggies were not good. My daughter wouldn't eat them and I tried one and they were very blah. I think they are just the Costco Dino Nuggets (which I will full admit to having at home), but maybe they just microwaved them instead of toasting them or frying them? Cause they were particularly sad. Happy hour on weekdays. Only a couple bucks off of some apps and beer, but always good to have a happy hour. Not very busy at 6 on a Wednesday... Although it does look like they have trivia on Wednesdays! read more

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Visiting the area and we loved the vibes, service, & especially the food! Went during HH 3-6 M-F & everything we ordered hot the spot. Definitely recommend this cool local gem! read more

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Yikes I want to love this place. My son ordered his burger medium well... it came with no meat!. They remade the burger. We were already done eating so we got it in a togo container. My daughters pork fries were less than appealing. We paid, tipped 20% and left. Got to the parking lot realized we forgot the burger! Ran back in and got a "sorry we threw it away". That fast?!?! I work in the service industry and this just sucks. 60$ for a dinner none of us were happy with. We will now doordash. Never visiting this eatablisment again! read more

Absolutely delicious papaya salad. Equally delicious short rib and shredded beef tacos for my spouse. Delightful server. Fun room, great location. Love this place. We are only here in Santa Cruz for two nights but may very well go back for dinner again tomorrow night. BRAVO!!!! read more

A La Carte Short Rib Taco Gave me extremely bad food positioning. Literally never been so sick in my life. Never ever ever again, save yourself the hospital trip read more

Made a reservation easily for a party of 20 give-and-take, it was super busy. Our reservation was at 5:30 there was a Warriors basketball game so the restaurant seem to be extra full we didn't get out of there till like 710 the game started at seven was a bit of a bummer. Drinks came out, but took a while because possibly how busy they were and how our table was all and tray's came out timely the brussels sprouts were my favorite the hamburger had jalapeños on it, and a different taste to it, but it was excellent, if it wasn't for being late to our game, I would give it more. We were there for an hour and a half. read more

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There weren't a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, however with the vegan poke, Brussels sprouts and leafy green salad we had a very tasty and filling lunch for two. The hot chocolate was good too. The service was also good. As a vegetarian, I'd love to see tofu as an add-on option along with the meat and fish. read more

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We hosted a very fun rehearsal dinner at Cruz this last weekend. Mia is a great person to plan with. You couldn't ask for a nicer person to work with! Her partner is a dynamite chef and there are NO bad dishes here at Cruz. All the entrees and appetizers are top notch. Take a look at our photos. The food tastes as good as it looks. :-) There's plenty of parking in back, as they share a lot with the local Ace Hardware and the Santa Cruz Warriors arena. There's an outdoor area that seats about 12 or so people. The majority of seating is at booths inside though. Each table has unique art and I love the way they've decorated the place! read more

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My husband and I Just dined at Cruz Kitchen & Taps last night. Food was great, so healthy and generous portions love the Brussel Sprouts since we are the world capital of Brussels Sprouts, It's a standard dish I like to compare that local restaurants cruises version of brussels sprouts was really nice with the Asian miso accent and additional greens flavor was very well done and big portions. Likewise on the whitefish appetizer just those two were almost enough for a full meal, but we added on the rice bowls which were adventuring themselves multi layers and corners of flavors all of it tasty and healthy so much food. We brought home a big ocean, so it ended up being two meals for both of us. The staff were friendly. I love the cool design of the place formerly the Saturn Café founded by a previous mayor of Santa Cruz,. It still has the epic SC quirkiness plus being so close to KP Arena. It's a great downtown go to hangout for a good time. I plan to invite friends there. And it's so Santa Cruz hometown read more

Delicious food served up with a lotta heart. First tried it on DoorDash. I ordered the fish sando and the peanut butter cake with cream cheese frosting. Cream cheese frosting on cake is like heroin to me so I couldn't pass that up lol. The order exceeded my expectations. I'm a fish sandwich connoisseur, this one was creatively done bahn mi style with jalapenos, cilantro, and pickled cabbage and spicy aioli. The blackened fish was expertly seasoned and had a nice texture, great interplay of flavors on soft bread, very satisfying. The peanut butter cake was outrageous, so peanutty and rich. The tastes lingered in my mind and I craved more but I was hesitant to dine in at the restaurant itself. I used to have an aversion to the space when it was Saturn Cafe. The cartoon alien pictures they had on the bathrooms creeped me out, in general I felt it was a chaotic scene. However one evening I was finishing an appointment on the West Side and thinking about dinner. I realized Cruz Kitchen and Taps was directly on my way home and I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did as I got to feel the warm fun, vibe of the place. The owner was very sweet and welcoming, my server was delightful. Loved the artwork on the tables. I'm not sure what you call the aesthetic of the restaurant -- it's sort of pinup vintage skater punk, like Suicide Girls or something, I think it's neat, I like the whole style and concept. I had the smoked whitefish appetizer which was super yummy, I loved the crispy wonton chips that came with it. My main was the blackened basa, accompanied by grilled asparagus and rice. It was mouthwatering. The chef clearly has a deft hand with fish. I look forward to trying the salmon another time. There is a wine list and they have a full bar with a cocktail menu in the works. I sat in a booth by the window which was cozy enough, but unfortunately the dining room space still feels clunky and weird like Saturn did, with the circular wall wrapped around the tables in the middle. I hope they'll be able to change this with time, and open up the dining room, as it feels like all this great food and cool vibes deserve a more elevated space. read more

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if Kendrick ate here he'd be like "Ewwww, that poki good why don't you sit it on my taste buds? " seriously: If your drifting along highway 1, stop by for some appetizers‼ there's a vegan poke that must be tried. For din-din there's a veggie dish on the menu that claims to be vegan i'll be trying soon and will update the review. As always, add jalapeño forever appropriate to make these Om nom nom Chomskys pop #vegan #OneLove #vegetarian read more

We went here for our post wedding rehearsal and had a fairly big group. The food was REALLY good. My favorite , id have to say we're the mash potatoes. Alone without gravy it was so good! Then it's the sliders, the salad and then the steak was OK. It was chewy, not a melt in your mouth steak. But the chicken was SO GOOD also! I do have to say, I did see one of the workers take cake from our table however little did I know my family was being goofballs and said it was someone's birthday so that the crowd could sing happy birthday to him and give him a cake!--it was no one's birthday lol! But the staff did such a good job. They were very patient with us. They even allowed us to take alllll of our food to go! We didn't want it to go to waste so we packed everything lmao. The desserts were good also. I definitely recommend this place! read more

My large party and I had a dinner rehearsal at their banquet area this past Friday evening. I would have given 5 stars but minus one for the savage, short, purple-haired employee who happily helped herself to our dessert table and went to the back to eat lol Turns out, this girl is the Manager who replied to my original review before I edited this one!Lmao She definitely was not helping us "pack to go food at the end" because I actually watched her walk to the back and never came back. Actually, "towards the end" (as she mentions), I actually had to ask the servers for take-out boxes, and we packed food OURSELVES. Our 2 servers (didn't get their names) were a tall, dirty-blonde hair girl and a guy with a beanie and mustache. Both did an exceptional job; especially the beanie-wearing guy. He was professional and had a very nice attitude. My party did a buffet style meal. We had: burgers (didn't try b/c ran out), veggie meatloaf (I think/ didn't try), steak, chicken (teriyaki sauce on side), white rice, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, miso vinaigrette salad, and mini taquitos (didn't try/ ran out) For dessert: flourless chocolate cake and peanut butter cake. My personal fave: the chocolate cake! I did not try the veggie meatloaf, but everything else was great! I am NOT upset that the food that I didn't get to try/ ran out didn't get refilled. Fair price for the taste. read more

Great dinner spot for casual meals. We had a large group (kids, dogs) which they accommodated easily. Online reservations were easy. Food was good -- lots of options for different tastes. It wasn't just bar food -- it was actually tasty. read more

The salami sandwich was incredible! Wow! The flavors are just one for the books! Highly recommend it. It is not so much about the salami as it is everything else that compliments it in the sandwich. I had half at Cruz, and the other half cold out of the fridge, and surprisingly, cold from the fridge was also incredible! The crux burger is also so bomb! I highly recommend this restaurant! Roll the dice and give it a try if your seeking exceptional flavor and service! read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - The salami sandwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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My new favorite spot downtown! The main thing to know about this place is that the food is packed with flavor and they have a unique offering to the Santa Cruz food scene. I love starting with the Smoked Whitefish w/ Wontons. The dish is full of flavor, while being only mildly smoky, which I like. The wings are so, so, so good. The burger is delicious--it has the flavors of a banh mi sandwich. The quinoa salad is a yummy yet hearty option if you want something light. For brunch, the Breakfast Sando and the Biscuits and Gravy are a must. Service is welcoming and very sweet. I definitely recommend this place! read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Brussels Sprouts and Smoked Whitefish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We found this place in a quick search on Yelp for lunch places near us, and it was a good find! The food was good, beer was great, bathrooms were clean, and service was great! It's a great place to stop if you're near downtown Santa Cruz but don't want to eat on the boardwalk. I'd definitely recommend it. The Asian Salad was awesome and the tacos were good too. I was very impressed by their tortillas because the tacos were stuffed with so much food and not one of our taco shells ripped! Random, but impressive! read more

There are some staples that are ridiculously amazing. But if you're lucky on Sundays, Kylie will be making frozen margaritas, and though they are not on the menu yet, I guarantee it's the best margarita in town. Come through Sundays after 3 pm and you won't be disappointed. Hands down best, Margarita. You can tell her, but she's just like whatever.... ahaha. Not that she doesn't care! She's a real deal bartender and like "yeah I know it's good I made it." Haha, but trust me, the best!! read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Best Margarita in town hands down. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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So I got there and waited for a long time to get seated. I told them like 4 times not at the bar. Still they tried to put me at the bar I was like no. Then I got a table and sat and sat and sat no server not even an acknowledgment. I left after about 15 min with zero servers even bothering to say hi. So never going here again they don't seem interested in actually being a restaurant and serving customers. Terrible service. read more

Food, service and vibe were amazing, locally owned & operated- highly recommend! I would kill a man for their bread pudding, they use Hawaiian bread & caramel sauce, literally drooling as I write this... read more

Food is amazing, service is by far great very interactive with staff , and the ambiance the this joint is awesome nothing but good things to say here. read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Awesome loaded Bloody Mary - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Server was lovely but the food was terrible, super oily and just didn't sit nicely, real shame

This has just become my favorite restaurant in town. My family has been there twice in the last week because we liked it so much the first time! Both times it has been an excellent experience with great food and service. We've had the burger, the fantastic pulled pork tacos with the salad (with a very light and tasty citrus dressing), Brussel sprouts, and the fries. We tried all of the desserts and loved them all. We ordered some of the same things the second time because it was hard to forget them. Let me say that mine is a family of foodies, so this is high praise for Cruz Kitchen. Can't wait to go again. We want to give the Brunch a try, introduce more family and friends to this place, and take our company there next time they are in town. read more

I always stop here when we're in town. The food is amazing, whether it's the Brussels, burger or tacos... My family is always amazed at the yum factor and consistent quality. Trivia nights and live music are always a bonus. And the service is attentive and friendly. read more

I recently ordered catering from Cruz Kitchen & Taps for an office lunch for 36 people. The chicken, steak and fish dishes were deliciously paired with rice and fresh vegetables. All the dishes were amazingly appetizing and large-sized portions for all to enjoy. The peanut butter cake dessert was also heavenly! Everyone greatly enjoyed Chef Daemon's creations, and Mia provided superior service! I highly recommend ordering catering from Mia and her team, and I will be stopping into the restaurant soon for a delightful meal! read more

Pleasant surprise. Our first time having Cruz Kitchen. We ordered through DoorDash. My son loves salmon and this was one of his fave salmon dishes he's had in awhile. It had like a chipotle avocado sauce on top (that's his guess). And sticky rice with wilted kale in a vinaigrette. It smelled so good. Not cheap but high quality and good portion. I had the short rib taco. It's only $9 which is the cheapest, best tasting thing I've had recently. Keep in mind this is only one taco, but they use two bigger corn tortillas and a lot of slaw. it was enough for me but next time I'd get two. The rib was so tender and flavorful. It reminded me of marinated skirt steak. The slaw and vinaigrette has some heat and asian flavors. Highly recommended. And the Peanut Butter cake! Who wouldn't like this? It tasted like a creamy Reese's peanut butter cup. Try it. read more

Wow! Does this place have great service! Goddesses led by Jess, actually an angel! Food and drink are precisely what the doctor ordered; delicious, nutritious, auspicious. You'll walk out ten feet tall. Lucky ole Santa Cruz to have places like this. Drop in for fries and chicken salad and try the addictive peanut cake and cream cheese frosting! read more

Yuck, wouldn't recommend. The place was empty. The food was over seasoned. The fries we coated in salt & pepper so much, how can you mess up fries. The music was way too loud and one point violent inappropriate music. read more

Party of 6. We ordered 2 rib eyes. Those were tough and salty, mashed potatoes tasted like they came from a box. 2 burgers, tasted like vegan meat (barf). Kids pasta, that was good. 1 star for presentation, that was superior. Drinks: Margarita was the worst I ever had! I literally left it full. When I mentioned that it was gross there was no offer to make something else or take it off the bill. My husband order a Boardwalk Blonde and he said it was super sweet. A "girl drink" as he put it. Oh and there's a 20% service fee including. I don't mind tipping at all. I usually tip 20% but I like to chose that according to the service I received. read more

Cruz Kitchen & Taps - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The food is amazing. They have a limited menu and the chef is amazing. He previously owned a restaurant and a food truck. The salmon is always perfect, the chicken teriyaki is always delicious, and all of the deserts are to die for! The atmosphere is laid back and friendly. They have a great bar and sometimes they have live music too! read more

Stopped in for appetizers and a beer a month or so back. The wings were bland but on happy hour so didn't make a big deal. The wait staff was tentative but also kinda bad, brought wrong beer, screwed up our check, etc. I think they gotta get the kinks worked out! Finally the atmosphere feels kitschy and it would do some good to give it a more updated look and feel, rather than reuse the Saturn cafe style. read more