After a long afternoon of drinking at the Capitola Sip & Stroll we mosied into Margaritaville with high hopes and empty bellies. Lucky for us, we were seated almost immediately out on the patio which typically has a water view, but it was already nighttime so all we could see was the reflection of the moon on the water. Not complaining though because, I do love Mr. Moon! Our server brought us water and butter with bread, which I thought was a bit odd being that it's a Mexican restaurant (I was expecting chips and salsa) but, my stomach didn't care, it was growling for me to put literally anything in there. We were able to order quickly and our food came out within a reasonable time even though the place was pretty packed (major points for that!). It was everyone's first time at Margaritaville and we weren't sure what to expect however, the food was actually pretty good. truth be told, I always judge Mexican restaurants based off of their rice and if it is as legit as my grandmas. A lot of Mexican restaurants just don't have a clue how to actually make the rice correctly and it's bland AF but! I give Margaritaville an 8 out of 10, meaning their rice was pretty good, not chef's kiss good but definitely good enough. I ordered the green chili Verde enchilada plate, because I'm a sucker for any kind of enchilada and I would have to give those a 7 out of 10. They were tasty, but I wish that they had more cheese inside. Our server came back and checked on us a few times and after we finished eating, we didn't linger long but we definitely enjoyed the fast service and decent food. I might have to go back sometime when I haven't had, two bottles of wine prior, lol. I'd also like to go back in the daytime to enjoy the beautiful water view so... here's to another trip to Capitola and another trip to Margaritaville! Ariba! read more

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Excellent service and great food and really nice outdoor area. Food is expensive though it's listed as "$$." Plus mandatory 22% gratuity on parties of 6+. read more

First time at Margaritaville, and would not return. We waited at least 20 minutes for margaritas and our server did not check in to let us know that there would be a longer wait. Despite there only being 2 other tables dining inside who sat down after us and being serviced more attentively by our same server. When I mentioned to the restaurant managers that we were leaving the restaurant because of the inattentive service, the woman chose to ignore my comment. read more

I want to start by saying the food we had was amazing, as well as the ambiance. But the thing that struck me as a very negative experience was the way one of the employees was speaking and behaving, a man who is on the heavier side, who is bald, I didn't get his name but he was very erratic and speaking aggressively to his fellow team members and staff and it just made the experience negative. I understand having a bad shift but it shouldn't be heard by guests eating and enjoying their evening. read more

Blackened Shrimp enchiladas were amazing! Service was excellent! I went with a group of 30+ I was not disappointed! read more

Margaritaville - Blackened Shrimp Enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Margaritaville exceeded all of our expectations. First of all - Donyl was amazing, she was so attentive and anticipated our every need. Our food was delicious, we ordered the quesadillas and the skirt steak tacos. I wish I took a pic, but they were so tasty that we devoured them immediately. Not the mention the waterside views.... We will absolutely be back, thank you Donyl for the fantastic service and the Margaritaville team for a wonderful dinner experience! read more

Margaritaville - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Service was fast and food was great! My 2 friends and I made a last Knute decision to grab lunch in capitola, I wanted ceviche and they wanted margs, so we decided to go to Margaritaville! We got ceviche, oysters and a birria quesadilla, all of it was delicious. I also had the mostly alcohol free marg because I was driving and it was also very yummy. It was also a nice day so I was worried the wait for an outside table would take a while, but we literally waited 2 minutes. Parking can get packed in that area, but if you send good vibes you should be ok. Will definitely go again! read more

Margaritaville - Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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The bartenders on a Friday night were very accommodating and checking up on us a lot. It's a pretty laid back but also an intimate atmosphere too. There's outside seating RIGHT by the water with heat lamps. Dress is casual but dressing up is also normal too. You can't go wrong either way. Early evening is definitely a date night mood. Parking can be difficult but around 6-8 on a Friday night it wasn't bad. We didn't have to drive around at all. If you see a spot just take it. It does get noisy close to 10PM until closing. Their cocktails are all good, the ones that we tried. The tequila flight for 25ish (can't remember) is a good starting point for the night. I noticed a mostly 30-50 year old crowd. I can't recommend their food as we didn't order anything but from what I saw the food looked good quality and there was thought into presentation from their chefs. Customer service is on point and aside being by the water the service was the highlight. We will definitely be back, but as I'm finishing up... the wife and I are headed to Chaminade for a drink and the view. Visit and enjoy! ***** five easy stars. Oh, the place is clean, immaculate. Modern and inviting.. let's go Warriors! read more

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If Kendrick Lamar ate here he'd be like "Ewwwww, dat taco good, why don't you sit it on my taste buds?" I said the same damn thing myself! I was pleasantly surprised because the reviews that mention vegan options were all hinged on a server who no longer works there. But Good news! One of the head chefs that works weeknights himself if vegan. A fine meal was had. Now... if you like really spicey you may need to ask for a special sauce. IN fact they should probably change the name to Gringo-ville cause this is some tex-mex mild vittles here. The red sauce and green sauces that come with the chips are good but with a little added salt they become delicious nonetheless. Easier to add salt than remove it mmmmmm-kay? Oh and the guac does NOT have chicken stock in it like somebody said in one of the reviews. It's vegetarian straight out of the shell. Anyway, just order the soft tacos, and tell 'em. your plant-based type. Their fajitas filling is smokey AF. Also, Tty those sauces on their vegan burrito which they will make custom. Your tum-tum gonna feel gooooood. My only complaint: i do wish they had a specialized vegan menu with faux meat proteins (vegetarian mock meat) read more

Margaritaville - big birthday/retirement party for gayle - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

The service was great, and the view was stunning. I found the drink options to be a bit underwhelming, and the food choices felt limited. That said, it was a nice change of pace coming from San Francisco, and I enjoyed the experience overall. I'd recommend it if you're looking to try something different! read more

Michael was an amazing server, took care of us for my wife's birthday! He's only been there for six months and made sure we had everything we needed. It's been years since I've had this level of service. read more

We live about 4 miles from Margaritaville and have not eaten there for years, but decided to try it for lunch. Extremely disappointed. Had to wait about 5 minutes for the hostess to show up to seat us and they were not busy. The waiter was nice when he appeared. BUT, the menu showed limited options and prices soooooo high that we considered leaving, but decided to stay and give it a try. BTW, chips and salsa are $10!!!! That's ridiculous! And they were NOT worth $10. We ordered the chips & salsa, a cup of soup, tacos & a soda. Our bill was $70!!!!!! And remember, this was lunch and NO alcohol. We will NEVER go back. This is a complete tourist trap and that's so wrong. read more

Amazing views on the water especially when tide is high. Blackened shrimp tacos and the spicy margarita transported me on a mini vaca. Can't wait to go back. Brought my dog and we were able to sit on the patio. read more

Always a great location for a meal, especially out on the patio. The food is always well arranged and high-quality and the service has always been outstanding. Our experience this week was exactly what we wanted. Thank you Margaritaville! read more

Margaritaville - Patio view - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

We went here for a birthday dinner. The food was good but way overpriced. The service was horrible! Server never came back to our table after our food was delivered. He only came back with the check and when my daughter asked hey I talked to the bartender about the 2 birthdays we were celebrating and he said you would bring ice cream? He suggested we go to Polar bear ice cream because it was really good read more

Stumbled upon this place while walking through Santa Cruz. I loved how they had both an outdoor and indoor seating. We chose to sit outdoors and the view of the beach and city was nice. They also have a wide variety of items on their menu which I appreciate! So many good looking items on the menu but went with the ceviche and Dungeness crab tacos! The food and prices here and pretty mid. I really liked how refreshing the ceviche was though. It was very flavorful and tangy. I really wanted to like the crab tacos because they sounded good and were different from what I usually get but the flavors of the avacado and crab just did not blend well together. I hardly could even taste the pieces of crab even though there was tons of meat on it because the guac was just so overpowering. This place is known for margaritas so we gave the cucumber one a try and it really was so good and refreshing. We also decided to try the flan but it was just way too sweet. Overall, the service was great. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. I would definitely come back again for margaritas or maybe even try some of the other items on their menu! read more

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We were visiting the area and were looking for some delicious seafood. We came across this restaurant decided to give it a try. We were seated right away in this casual fish house style dining area. The service was great and the food was super fresh and delicious! read more

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"The food was okay, but the service was outstanding. I believe our server's name was Nora, and she was incredible--attentive, friendly, and on top of everything we needed. It was one of the best service experiences I've had in years. Plus a nice view. Definitely the kind of visit that makes you want to come back." read more

Margaritaville - Nice view - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Stopped by for an afternoon appetizer with my daughter and ordered her the kids meal. For $14 I accepted this fact but then it came out and well the picture speaks for itself. This is ridiculous presentation size and everything. I get it restaurants costs have gone up but this felt like robbery. Sad to say we will not be coming back. On a positive note my server was great! read more

Margaritaville - $14 children's bean burrito. Does the picture make the point? - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

A great spot to eat at if you are in Capitola! We grabbed a few drinks and the nachos and loved enjoying the view at Margaritaville. read more

Margaritaville - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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I honestly wish i could give this place 0 stars. We walked in and there was no one in the restaurant we got sat by the host and she told us a server will be with us soon. we sat there for 25 minutes and we were not greeted once. We didn't get water or anything. We looked through the windows since we were on the patio and we saw 4 severs/bartenders just chatting as we were ignored. Working in the service industry myself, I know how it can be tough but it was not busy at all and it was a let down. read more

Good food, great location. The skirt steak is grilled to perfection, tender and juicy (not dry and chewy). Parking is a challenge, but there's a hidden parking lot behind the Capitola Police station that has a lot of available spots. read more

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Visited this location with my family and it took 20 minutes to be acknowledged by our server. When food came out, it was not good in flavor. When I asked for my check to pay, it took 20 minutes to get it because our server was busy trying to light a heater. To top it off, when I got my check they gave me a leaky pen and got stains all over my hands. It was a bad experience and won't be returning. read more

Today was HOT in Santa Cruz, and by hot, I mean it didn't cool down very quickly around 5pm like it normally does. And I was having a rough day. So I took myself out to Margaritaville on a Monday evening, and a) there were lots of spots to sit, including outside overlooking the ocean and the show the birds were putting on, and b) it was MUCH cooler, and c) the food was good as always and the drinks even better (I LOVED the Italian Margarita). It's not quite Copal-level with the heirloom corn/beans and Oaxacan specialties, but it's super fresh and seems like the ingredients are high quality. and d) Danielle, my waitress, was so great. Like, not only was she great, period, but in Santa Cruz, especially at a more touristy restaurant, to have someone be genuinely kind and attentive is SO RARE. If you're a local, you 100% know this. And we learn to live with it, because yes it's expensive to live here, and no, you don't need to pretend to be nice or to care, but tonight Danielle took such good care of this tired, sad mama bear. She kept my drinks coming, and got me my decaf coffee and some ice cream to go with it, and I feel so much better. Her name is pronounced differently than the typical pronunciation, and if you can get seated in her section, do it! I've always been happy with the level of service I get here, but tonight was extra special. read more

Its been years since I've been to margaritaville, i had fish tacos, my friend had shrimp tacos, i had a mai tai, he had a pain killer, our waitress was so sweet, my drink didn't taste right & she brought me a new 1, it was so much better, our tacos were fresh & delicious, service was quite fast, the sun was shining & it was beautiful sitting outside read more

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Fantastic food, drinks, everything was fantastic! The margaritas are amazing and represent the restaurant name well. Don't leave margaritaville without a margarita! Our server was super sweet and attentive. Clam chowder was pretty good! Quesadilla was basic but still tasty. Arrive EARLY to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful view, it is the best part of the experience by far. read more

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My partner and I were happy hour hopping and decided to stop in for a margarita. Happy hour is from 3-5:30 Monday through Friday. We ordered: - house margarita ($8) Classic margarita with a salted rim. I think I have to say that this may have been the best margarita I've ever had. I have 0 complaints. It was perfect. -pomegranate margarita ($9) I LOVED this margarita. It came with a sugar rim which perfectly complimented the pomegranate flavor. Despite being a foggy day we opted to sit outside. They have plenty of heaters that make it easier if you are not local and used to the fog. The service was great and the restaurant itself is very nice on the inside. It's located right on the water overlooking capitola beach and the infamous VenetianHotel. Overall, I had a great time here and can't wait to come back to try some food and have another Margarita. read more

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Amazing food and drinks! The service is always laid back and friendly. The tacos are so good! And the view is always beautiful so I always try to sit outside. The happy hour has some good options! I like the flavored margaritas, but they even offer a skinny margarita. Ive never had a long wait time to be seated, they're always pretty good about timing. read more

Margaritaville - House Margarita Pomegranate Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

I have been to Margaritaville a few times and this was on my last trip. I came with a group of friends and one is in a wheelchair. The location has a wheelchair ramp (we did not use the restroom to know the wheelchair accommodations for the restroom) and was accommodating in getting us to a table with a beautiful view. Our food was good, drinks were strong, service was great, the establishment is very clean and our view was beautiful. read more

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Nope. Only because you are next to beach doesn't mean you serve very average margaritas with not so average price tag. Specially if you call yourself Margaritaville. Only thing that comes to my mind when I think about the food in this place is portion. Portion was big but just like their margarita read more

Walked into Margaritaville and immediately loved the atmosphere, fun, welcoming, and family-friendly. We sat inside where our server Donyl greeted us right away and got drinks and appetizers started. The nachos were absolutely incredible, we added chicken on top and honestly, it was enough to be a full meal on its own. The kids' chicken quesadilla was the perfect portion, and the Chili Verde plate was amazing as well. To top it off, we were able to catch the sunset during dinner, which made the view just perfect. Great food, great service, and such a nice spot to enjoy a family meal! read more

Margaritaville - Nachos with chicken - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Rowdy was an amazing bartender for us, excellent service. Delicious food and great views. Ambiance was great! Highly recommend read more

Margaritaville - Views for days - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

We came here at sunset as part of our 25th wedding anniversary trip! First, our server, Dylan (Dillon?) was one of the best servers we had across the several restaurants we visited during our 4 day stay in Capitola. He was just absolutely wonderful! Second, the birria tacos and the Ultima margarita was amazing! So was the house margaritas. Thanks to Dylan's suggestion, I had them add fresh watermelon to the house margarita and it was delicious! read more

Margaritaville - Birria tacos - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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Jimmy Buffett had just passed away so we thought we'd finally try his Margaritaville. Except this wasn't a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville! Story is that Mr. Buffett actually let them keep their restaurant name, which is cool! It's in a touristy location, right across from the water and those iconic Capitola colored houses. So we were so surprised to find that the margaritas were super solid, the service was great, and the fish tacos were delicious! I'd stay away from the too-salty clam chowder though. Phil's in Castroville has the best clam chowder. We'll definitely come back to enjoy the sun and the gorgeous view from the patio and the margaritas again! read more

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Sat outside on the patio with views of the ocean and the cute colorful homes of Capitola. Some of the tables have umbrellas to block the sun so that's nice. We ordered a cup of chowder, ceviche, and calamari. We enjoyed all our food! Ceviche seemed fresh. Calamari was crispy and well-seasoned. It comes with two types of sauces, both are delicious. There's even pieces of fried jalapenos for a spicy kick. The chowder was nice and thick and I enjoyed the flavor! I will say it is a bit pricey. Servers were friendly and attentive. read more

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Go try happy hour the drink and small plate prices are great! Tried a strawberry margarita nachos and calamari-- everything was tasty and filling read more

Margaritaville - Nachos calamari and strawberry margaritas - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

Everything rolled into one!! Food, service and atmosphere. I would bring family (kids) early.

Drinks with a view of the Venetian Court!! We passed by and decided that we NEEDED to try their margaritas on their patio. With lots of variety, we decided to just get a Strawberry Margarita and Cucumber Margarita. We were going to share an appetizer, but everything was $18+ so it wasn't necessarily affordable... As the name implies, the margaritas were really good! The tequila wasn't too strong and the drinks were very sweet. The strawberry and cucumber flavors were great. Didn't taste too artificial and had a very refreshing aspect to them. These were perfect by the beach. KEEP IN MIND: This is not the same as Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville! Expect a completely different menu and interior in comparison. read more

Margaritaville - Cucumber & Strawberry Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Capitola, California

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Went to Margaritaville on a weekday this summer and I was very surprised to see that it wasn't very busy. Food was just okay but service was great it was very chill and laid back ambiance. read more

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My husband and I went In to grab some drinks in this place on Saturday since it was our anniversary. We were greeted by this nice gentleman I forgot his name but he had snake tattoos,he was very attentive, and kind and sweet to us and to the other customers around us as well. We had mango margaritas it was very delicious. We definitely felt welcome. We will be back soon. read more