The best experience I've ever had! From the moment I arrived, everything was absolutely…read moreexceptional. The bartender was phenomenal--friendly, knowledgeable, and crafted some of the best drinks I've ever had. The oysters were unbelievably fresh and absolutely to die for. Every member of the staff provided outstanding service, making me feel genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. To top it all off, the view was absolutely breathtaking. It truly doesn't get any better than this. I can't wait to come back!

Service A+! Larry was attentive and warm…read more I had the branzino which was grilled perfectly! Accompanied by the best grits and veggies. A++! My husband had the pasta and clams and raved about the sauce!

This was our third visit to Shadowbrook, and every time has been an amazing experience…read more The atmosphere is one of a kind. It somehow manages to feel quaint, elegant, and homey all at the same time. The service is consistently excellent, and we honestly haven't ordered anything here that we didn't like. Even the calamari deserves a special mention. Calamari feels like such a staple appetizer at so many restaurants that it's hard for one to really stand out, but somehow Shadowbrook does it. Their calamari is absolutely amazing. The beef Wellington, lobster tail with filet medallions, New York steak, and lamb have all been fantastic as well. One thing we especially appreciate is how family-friendly Shadowbrook is despite being such a fine establishment. They have coloring pages for kids, a varied children's menu, and even a little hat filled with toys that kids can choose from. Those small touches make it much easier to enjoy a special meal as a family. Without a doubt, Shadowbrook has become one of our favorite places for special occasions. And, of course, you can't talk about Shadowbrook without mentioning the iconic hillside cable car. It's the cherry on top and worth the ride every single time.

We came here this past Monday with my wife, daughters, and nephew. My wife and daughters had never…read morebeen before. It had been many years since my last visit, and my nephew had most recently visited in December, so our prior experiences were quite varied. The restaurant's location and grounds are beautiful, and the food was good overall. Here are some specific highlights and areas for improvement: Upsides: We increased our party size from four to five earlier in the day, and the restaurant was able to accommodate the change. We were seated in the Greenhouse Room, which was lovely and offered great views. The appetizers and cocktails were very good. The prime rib and pork chop were particularly excellent, and I would definitely order either again. Downsides: The service left a lot to be desired. Our reservation was for 6:30 p.m., but we weren't seated until well after 7:00 p.m. Once seated, we waited about 20 minutes before our server came to the table. After taking our drink orders, were immediately asked if we were ready to order our entrées.  My wife and daughters ordered the Steak au Poivre. The steaks were under-seasoned and were not cooked to the requested temperatures. There seemed to be more emphasis on achieving prominent grill marks than developing a proper crust. Additionally, a staff member cleared my nephew's plate before he had finished eating. He's younger and didn't feel comfortable speaking up at the time, but he later told us he was still working on his meal. Given that this is not an inexpensive restaurant, I expected a higher level of service and more attentive staff training. That said, even with these shortcomings, I will definitely return. The restaurant itself and the surrounding grounds are truly remarkable and worth a visit on their own. I trust the food and service issues we experienced were outliers. Even great restaurants have an off night.

Super cute spot right off the beach. We also got a view of the colorful houses from our table. We…read morechose outdoor seating where our table was close to a lil pond and ducks were swimming up to us! We also saw someone stand-up-paddleboarding in there as we were eating! Happy hour is M-F 3:30-5:30pm but I heard they may be discontinuing it soon :( We got the Happy Hour Cucumber Margarita + Chicken Taco Combo, Lagunitas IPA Draft Beer + Shrimp Taco, Calamari, and Loaded Nachos. Happy hour plating size is smaller than the full menu size but the amount of food was perfect for my group of 3. They gave a generous amount of chicken+shrimp on the tacos so we put the extra meat on the nachos! The shrimps are grilled with a smoky charred flavor and the chicken is so juicy and flavorful, almost having a curry/tumeric taste. So delish. Staff is super nice and our waiter was super helpful. Vibes are immaculate and I'm sure food would hit even better after a warm summer swim!

This place has an amazing view of the waterfront and the colorful Capitola buildings while you dine…read moreon their outside patio. We went on a Monday for lunch, and there was no wait; we were seated immediately. Our waiter, Josiah, took good care of us throughout, and a manager also checked on us while we were eating to make sure everything was good. I had a mai tai that was amazing with fresh pineapple taste. I also ordered the Baja fish tacos. The fish was cooked just right with great toppings, including large pieces of avocado and a Chipotle sauce. My friend ordered chips and salsa and the clam chowder. The chowder was good, and the chips were fresh, but the red salsa was very bland. Not just mild with no spice, but bland, like not even any flavor. The green salsa was slightly better. Even so, we both enjoyed our meals and drinks and thoroughly enjoyed the view. I would definitely come back here for drinks and food! Main reason I didn't give 5 stars was because of the salsa, but everything else 5 stars.

This place is very dog friendly and such a cute little patio in the back! We saw the sunset here…read moreafter a full day at the beach with our two doggies. There's a lot of parking in the area but I'm a busy day it would be difficult to find a spot. The service was a little slow but nothing extreme, they only had one waiter for the whole patio. We would come back here but would try other spots first!

My family and I stopped by Paradise Beach Grille during our trip and, unfortunately, left a bit…read moredisappointed. The best part of the experience was easily the location. We sat outside and had an incredible view of Capitola Beach. The service was slow throughout the meal, and one thing that stood out was that I never received a water refill the entire time we were there. It wasn't terrible service, but it definitely felt inattentive. I ordered the Seafood Fettuccine because I wanted something a little more filling. In hindsight, that's partly on me since seafood fettuccine isn't exactly a dish I usually expect to be exceptional anywhere. The Alfredo sauce was bland and needed a lot of pepper to bring some life to it. Most of the seafood was overcooked and chewy, particularly the fish. The clams were probably the best part of the dish and were cooked reasonably well. Overall, the view was fantastic, but beyond that, the meal didn't do much for me. Between the slow service and underwhelming food, this ended up being one of the worst meals I had on my trip.

I stopped by Caffe Cruise and had a half roasted chicken with black rice and black beans, along…read morewith a separate dish called Linguine Cruise, which I added "prawns" to. Now, I say "prawns" because apparently there was a little seafood identity crisis happening -- they were actually shrimp! Outside of that little prawn/shrimp confusion, everything was exceptionally good. The roasted chicken was delicious, the black rice was really good, but those black beans were FIIIIRRREEE! They had this amazing smoky flavor that I absolutely loved. Seriously, those beans were ridiculously good. The Linguine Cruise was also excellent, and even though my "prawns" turned out to be shrimp, they were still damn good! The restaurant itself is huge, clean, and has plenty of seating, with a killer bar that I really liked. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming, and the staff were super friendly, funny, and genuinely enjoyable to deal with. Overall, I really liked this place. Great food, good portions, cool atmosphere, friendly people, and some seriously fire black beans. I'd absolutely go back!

We visited with family, a group of eight, and had a reservation. Even though the restaurant was…read morepacked and lively, it never felt overly loud, making it easy to enjoy conversation. The exterior doesn't do the restaurant justice. Inside, the dining room and patios are beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. There's plenty of space for both small and mid-sized groups. The food was fabulous! We started with the calamari, which was honestly some of the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We also ordered the seasonal Caprese (tomato stack) salad, which was incredibly fresh with a wonderful combination of flavors. Even the complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar stood out. The balsamic was so good I forgot to ask what brand they use so I could buy some for home! Our server was friendly, attentive, and helpful. When I ordered the fettuccine with steak, she thoughtfully confirmed whether I wanted the Gorgonzola Alfredo or the traditional Alfredo sauce. I chose the traditional Alfredo, and it was absolutely perfect. I shared it with my daughter, so the photo shows about half of the original portion. Everyone at our table loved their meals. The rotisserie chicken received rave reviews as well, although I forgot to take a photo. If the weather is nice, don't miss the outdoor patios. There's a table for six near the fireplace that looked especially inviting. I wanted to take a picture, but I couldn't get the angle without including other diners in the frame. I also tried the watermelon martini, which was refreshing and delicious, and the wine pours were generous. If you're in Aptos, this restaurant is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

the food was so yummy and the menu was small and simple, the chef did such a great job!! the…read moreservice was great and the waiter was so kind, he made sure that the food was seed oil free for me and made a lot of accommodations for my friend and i it's perfect if u want a more elevated restaurant experience compared to the other places near capitola beach! the vibes r perfect for a romantic night out or taking urself out for a beautiful dinner 10/10!!! i want to come back already x3

Trestles has been the first $$$ restaurant in the Monterey Bay region that I have enjoyed and…read morethought was worth spending my money at. Don't get me wrong, it is pricy, but the food is good, creative, and memorable. They also brought out the starters one by one in a great order that I really appreciated. (1)Ceviche 2) pork belly 3) squash blossom 4) toast) 10/10 for: -squash blossom stuffed with crab: this was fried. loved that it was. Nice light batter that was crunchy. Crab was so good and fresh. I wish there was more than just 2 blossoms because we definitely could have just kept going. -pork chop entree special: so juicy!! the variety of flavors were so good. The corn mousse was delicious and not too sweet. If you wanted more sweetness, the au jus tasted almost like honey on the plate. Squashes were perfectly cooked and light to balance the flavors of everything else. Great grilled taste too. -peach toast: just great!! Sweet and a little savory from the buttered toast. Nice palette cleanser almost before our entrees 9/10 for the creme brulee: solid. Fun creme brulee top but very thin layer. The sauce was like a tart apple caramel that nicely balanced the sweet and creamy cake. 8/10 for: -pasta entree: fresh pasta was soo perfectly bouncy and soft. Sauce was balanced and light. Nothing crazy but I liked it. Partner thought it was a bit normal -pork belly starter: very flavorful and yummy but can be a bit salty on its own. Partner and I wish we could have had some mashed potatoes, bread, or white rice with it but then it would probably be more of an entree very good though! Eggplant sauce was lovely even for those who don't like eggplant normally. This also had mushrooms. 4-5/10 for the tuna ceviche because it mostly just tasted sour. I liked the cherry tomato and basil addition, but it needed some spice or more tomato and basil to balance out the sourness of the lime. this was the only dish I wish we didn't get I'd recommend this place for a nice date night! There is a small patio outside. I think they MIGHT accommodate pets out there. There is also a small elevator lift for those who need an accessible way up. Otherwise, you'll have to walk up a few steps. Kitchen is in the back but in an opened lay out. You can see them cooking everything if you sit at the bar or facing that way. Probably better for small groups or couples rather than a large party. We made a reservation at 7 and were seated promptly. Seemed like a full house all night. May need to wait a bit for walk in parties.

Came here with a big group but was no problem finding seats. We thoroughly enjoyed our food and…read moreeverything was great, and staff was friendly. Parking can be a real pain is my only complaint

We were in the mood for some poke and decided to give this spot a try! They have a parking lot in…read morethe back and also an outdoor patio, which was perfect for us since we had our dog with us. I ordered Da Kine Poke Bowl and it was a tasty poke bowl, just what I was craving! The portions were great and I liked that it included some of my favorite toppings like edamame, avocado, and seaweed salad. The spicy aioli drizzle also added a good spicy kick to the bowl. Overall, Pono was a good find and we were satisfied with our poke bowls!

I love this small family-friendly restaurant. we come here every year to enjoy their delicious…read moregnocchi. The staff is always speedy and friendly. Always a treat and now a family tradition when we're in town!

Excellent service, outstanding Italian food, cute little tiny restaurant. But SLOW! They were very…read morebusy, and we didn't know until after dinner, but they were also cooking food for the bar next door. We waited way too long for food, but it was delicious.

Wow! Fantastic fresh seafood, and fish! Friendly staff and a great location. Highly recommended!read more

We have been conscious of trying to patronize harbor businesses since the bridge debacle…read more Double checked their website to make sure they were open and saw that halibut was on sale- this in itself motivated me to navigate my way there. Upon arrival, the price in the case did not reflect the sale price mentioned on their website. When I mentioned this to the guy helping me, he shrugged. Then another guy came out from the back (he must have heard the conversation) and said that the prices online were from yesterday (!) For the $5 off a pound that these two were unwilling to honor or even apologize about, they lost a customer. Good thing Shoppers Corner has great fish at better prices.