Paradise Beach Grille

Any idea when they might reopen after the storms?

They're open.

Are there any birthday specials?

Yes. Chocolate mousse for the birthday person upon request

View 1 more answer

What time does the kitchen close?

The kitchen closes at 9:00

Do they have a place for a private banquet?

No they don't.

View All 7 Questions

You might also consider

Pete's Capitola

4.4

(98 reviews)

0.0 mi

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!

Pete's is in Capitola Village and can be easy to miss because it's right at the curve of Esplanade,…read moreand you need to look up and step up into the entrance. (I have, no joke, walked by it dozens of times without realizing it!) I found it from seeing it on a list of restaurant participants for Burger Week. Overall, I give Pete's 3.5 stars, and here's why... **Ambiance: 5 stars** With the bright and tastefully-decorated dining room along with the multiple windows overlooking the spectacular beach, you really can't beat this ambiance! Pete's has the fine-dining vibe that's perfect for that first date, anniversary or other special dining occasion when you want some quiet and mood lighting. **Service: 4 stars** We were seated right away, even without reservations. It was a Sunday, and there was no wait or crowd. Service was quick and friendly. Mid-dinner, a server broke some glassware right behind my seat and needed us to move so they could sweep under our table and feet. They ended up moving us to a better table (next to the window) instead of having us stand there to watch them sweep. Accidents happen, and I felt they handled that well. **Food: 3 stars** Every item we ordered was delicious and fresh, and all arrived quickly. However, the menu was fairly compact, and the amount of food is even more compact. I was excited Pete's had lobster rolls (one of my all-time favorite food items EVER; $28) on their menu, so I didn't hesitate to order that along with a lychee martini. My partner ordered the bolognese ($30) and an old fashioned. We ordered the polenta as an appetizer. All of it was tasty, but oh-so-small. The cheddar polenta was like a taste test size (maybe 4 TBs), and the lobster roll was the smallest I had ever seen in my life. I didn't want to be rude, but I wanted to laugh when it arrived at our table! The lobster roll was smaller than my hand. It looked like circus food with all super tiny sizes. **Price/Value: 2 stars** You don't come to Pete's for the value because the portions are.... micro. TIP: If you have a big appetite or skipped a meal that day, I suggest going elsewhere or be ready to turn over a paycheck because you'll need to order a lot to fill up. It is worth it, however, if you fancy a light-filled room with views of the sparkling ocean and sounds of the waves crashing on the golden sands of Capitola!

The main dining room is full of light and doors and windows to the beach and ocean

Tiramisu

See all

Nice view!

Shadowbrook

The best truffle gnocchi I've had in my life…read more Very soft and pillowy! I also added steak to be included, which I thought did lack a bit of salt. We also ordered calamari, super flavorful and crunchy! Brie cheese was a bit too sweet for me! I would pass on this if you do not crave anything sweet! My boyfriend order the pork with palenta! It tasted very savory, and I thought it would have tasted even better with rice. What's cool about this place is how theres a cable cart :) you can use it but you can also skip that and take the stairs.

Definitely worth coming - and make sure you come a little bit early to ride the trolley as well!…read moreFood portions are huge, and we were very impressed by how good the food was. Would definitely visit again!! FOOD: Blackened Prime Rib (7/10) - Blackened (recommended by the waiter) was definitely the way to go! Huge portions with solid sides. Try it! Charred Peach Salad (8/10) - Loved this! Peaches and ricotta paired perfectly together. Caesar Salad (7/10) - Solid and wroth getting as an appetizer Scallops (9/10) - Our favorite! Was extremely pleasantly surprised by how many scallops came with it. Cooked really really well!

See all

Margaritaville

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!

I came here to on a weekend with my family and some friends. I like that they have outdoor seating,…read morehowever, that works better for smaller group. We had a pretty large group - not particular big (but close to 10 people) but we had to be split up in 2 booth tables. They do have a kid's menu which is great for family with kids. It does come with a drink, we got milk for our kids. Surprisingly, the portion is really good for the kiddos! We got a quesadilla for them and it was definitely more than enough food for 1 kid. We should have just had the kid share 1 item. The cost of the food all felt a little pricier than I hope, but the food wasn't bad. I got the bajo tacos and it was a good size. It had deep fried fish in them. I felt the dipping sauce that came with it was pretty good too. My husband got the quesabirria tacos which I thought was pretty good. However, I felt the dipping sauce that came with it was a little saltier than I like. I thought the service was good too. The wait staff did a good job in making sure we had what we needed. We also had the ceviche as a starter and I enjoyed it as well. We had a positive experience here. We would probably return. Parking here is also very busy and hard to get.

Skirt Steak Plate & Caesar Salad

Midnight Margarita

See all

Quesabirria, Ceviche, Chile Verde Plate

Cafe Cruz

Never judge a book by it's cover. The front looks old and is windowless, but it's a totally…read moredifferent scene once you step inside. It's huge with a lot of seating. It looks like it would be a great place for large groups. We have never been here before and were confused as to where to park. The front area has 2 or 3 spots but I don't know if they're for customers. We found a drive way that led to the back of the restaurant that is shared by several businesses. The service was great. Everyone was very friendly and our server gave us really good feedback on the dishes we asked about. Someone was always walking around filling water glasses. We sat in the back patio. It's very spacious with a lot of umbrellas to keep guests in the shade. My husband had the meatloaf sandwich. He said it was ok, but a little dry. I really enjoyed the roasted mushroom and avocado melt, but it was hard to eat. Every time I took a bit, all the other ingredients would spill out. Lol I took out some of the greens to make it more manageable. The calamari was well seasoned and the Rock Fish Ceviche was our favorite. We'll come back to try their dinner service when we're in the area.

We had a very good meal and absolutely outstanding service which earned Cafe Cruz a solid 4-star…read morerating. I had the spicy Devil's Ginger vodka martini with the calamari appetizer and with dinner, the Lava Top Sauvignon Blanc ($13), a perfect complement to the swordfish. My swordfish was perfectly sautéed in a tapenade beurre blanc sauce ($40) with deliciously creamy and decadent polenta and buttery chopped bok choy. The way they served the bok choy was perfect- never change it. It was artsy, buttery and didn't look wilted. My son had the grilled boneless pork chops (two boneless chops) with fries and smoky beans ($28), loved. He devoured the berry fruit crisp à la mode for dessert ($12) and I had two small bites: It was like granola over compote with ice cream. I didn't complain. The best part was the incredibly flawless service. We could have felt rushed dining since it was towards the end of service. Instead, Genevieve paced the meal perfectly so we felt spoiled and unrushed. Next visit I would love to dine in their "secret garden" courtyard; it was beautiful. Their 'secret garden' would be beautiful for a private party like a birthday or wedding anniversary, bridal or baby shower.

Seafood Bouillabaisse

See all

Patio view

Trestles Restaurant

Trestles is outstanding. The service is quite good and the setting is cozy and modern…read more But the food is outstanding. Everything we had was top notch. We ordered: - The grilled artichoke - local artichokes are great, but this preparation was outstanding. It tasted as though it had been wood roasted, then dressed with citrus and delicious anchovies. This was my wife's favorite dish of the night - The wedge salad - you can get a wedge salad at many places, but theirs is really exceptional. The lettuce is crisp and fresh, the eggs are thinly strained, which make for a wonderful mouthfeel and flavor with the green goddess dressing. The crispy bacon, croutons, and sunflower seeds make for a nice contrast in texture - The brick chicken - this is one of their signature dishes, and for good reason. The chicken is tender and moist (likely brined in advance) and grilled crispy, flattened with a brick. The vegetable and polenta that accompany it are very tasty in their own, and together the rich chicken, slightly bitter green vegetable, and creamy polenta make for a wonderful and deeply flavorful bite. - the smores cup - this was really good. The mousse is a very rich dark chocolate pot de creme and the marshmallow fluff is torched perfectly. The finely ground graham crackers make for an elevated version of the smore in each spoonful - the crème brûlée cheesecake - this was equally excellent. The cheesecake is fluffy and light, the creme brûlée top gives a nice crisp, the crust is crumbly and delicious and there was a fruit sauce on top (maybe rhubarb) that tied the whole dish together

Great service. Food and cocktails 5/10. Cocktails did not…read moretaste so great (we got moscow mules) all it tasted like was ginger beer. Ordered roasted Cauliflower and salmon entree, had a bitter aftertaste and salmon alright. It was an okay ambience. Small space inside.

Crispy pork belly (soy glaze, apple puree, jalapeno - $19)

Open concept kitchen

See all

Halibut with asparagus and fava bean puree (daily special)

Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap

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!

See all

Kalua pig plate

Caruso's Tuscan Cuisine Restaurant

So far so good! Cute…read morelittle place for a quick dinner as we just rolled into town for valentine's weekend. Love the ambiance and the starter bread with the garlic infused olive oil is a killer!!! My wife loved the lemon spritz and we had the truffle ravioli. Hot damn that was GOOD! We will certainly be coming back in the future for the full dinner experience. Service was also spot on with friendly faces and smiles galore.

Champagne AND spaghetti?! I am so happy you can order Caruso's at Vin Vivant. A match made in…read moreHeaven! The Caruso family is so nice and the food is just delicious, pure comfort food. The Gnocchi Al Forno is the best gnocchi I've ever had. Pillowy gnocchi in a hearty, garlicky marinara. It's like eating a WARM HUG. I also love the Fettuccine Vodka and Chicken Parmesan. The complimentary bread with roasted garlic oil is such a nice gift.

Fettuccine Vodka with shrimp

See all

Scarpetta, Pinot Grigio.

Miches and Ceviches

I looked up the highest rated mexican food in Santa Cruz and I'm so glad this place popped up and…read morelived up to the hype. I will definitely be hitting this place up post surf when I'm in the area. We got the ceviche in salsa roja. For $25 it fed the two of us perfectly and I have a big appetite. I ordered an extra side of tostada chips for $2. The ceviche was so tasty with crunchy bits of mango, onion, and cucumber. It was super spicy but we love spice. The people next to us ordered shrimp tacos and we're just saying 'damn so good' with each bite so those are a hit too.

Have been here twice and tried their aguachile verde both times. I got their plate which is perfect…read morefor two people. I believe it is made fresh for every order so it can be a bit of a wait, but totally worth it. The aguachile is delicious and you can also choose if you want no spice, mild, or spicy. It comes with a few tostadas, but they charge if you want extra. They make agua fresca as well, but they had ran out this last time. The service is okay, it can definitely be improved. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. There is some street parking available and I believe a parking lot in the back. Definitely worth a try!

Pineapple and hibiscus Agua Fresca with chamoy

Counter and drinks

Fish Ceviche

See all

H&H Fresh Fish

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.

Picked up some rockfish ceviche from the Stonestown Farmer's market. It was good portion. Tasted…read morefresh!

See all

Pacific Oysters

La Jaiba Brava Restaurant

4.3

(51 reviews)

1.4 mi

This is a small restaurant tucked behind the parking lot of Cole's BBQ on Portola Rd…read more They have Great friendly staff. Fast service and the food was excellent. I had a michelada loaded with meaty shrimp with the quesa Birria tacos, order or (3) these are the best quesa Birria in Santa Cruz, area. The other nest quesa Birria tacos is in a restaurant in San Jose. So im thrilled to have discovered this place. They are know for their seafood dishes but I've only had the Birria tacos. Soooo GOOD! Next time I'll be trying a seafood dish... Yum Must try this place

Food was amazing!!! Prices were the best. Staff was on top of it, never went out of anything to…read moredrink. Everyone was super nice. It wasn't loud, we were a party of 12 & the service was amazing all around. Would definitely come back..

Mixto Molcajete, with different Meat is awesome.

Dining area

See all

East End Gastropub

East End Gastropub consistently delivers delicious, solid food…read more Started with Crispy Shrimp Bao Buns which were crispy and tasty! Came for their Burger week Soft Shell Crab Burger !!! Amazing! Soooo Tasty! Get yours before they are gone!

We've visited East End Gastropub several times over the years and have always enjoyed the food and…read moredrinks, which is why this experience was so disappointing. Last Saturday night, my wife and I sat at the bar expecting the same level of service we've received in the past. There appeared to be only one bartender working. While the restaurant was steady, it wasn't overwhelmingly busy. We were served our first round of drinks, but after that we were completely forgotten about. For over 20 minutes, no one checked on us, asked if we'd like another drink, or even offered us water. Sitting directly at the bar, it was frustrating to feel ignored, especially when we were hoping to spend the evening enjoying a few drinks and dinner. Unfortunately, the lack of service left such a poor impression that we decided to leave. We've always enjoyed East End, which makes this review difficult to write, but customer service is a big part of the experience. Hopefully this was just an off night, but it was disappointing enough that we won't be returning anytime soon.

See all

Evarista’s Comal Restaurant

Family-owned & operated

Established in 2020

The Capitola Mall Walkers recently went to Evarista's Comal Restaurant for brunch/lunch. There…read morewere 6 of us. The staff was welcoming and helpful and the restaurant was clean and attractive. Our first time at this restaurant was a pleasant surprise, and we appreciated the attention and the generous servings of our meals. We all agreed that the food was wonderful.The menu offerings were extensive. Something on the menu for everyone. We all decided this cozy, friendly place will be on our list of restaurants to enjoy.

Was so happy to visit them in their new location. Food, service and decor were great!…read more We had 3 different types of Egg Benedict, Salmon, Bacon and Avocado and traditional. All were cooked perfectly. You could choose hash-browns or fruit and both were delicious. We were pleased that they had their cinnamon coffee at the new location too. Our Waiter was incredible. Quick service with a smile. And checked in with us regularly. Excited to go back soon and try more menu items.

Seafood paella, added bacon, yummy!

Wellcome to try our beer and wine!!

See all

Cork and Fork Capitola

Cork and Fork I had a wonderful time last night with my…read morefriends having a glass of wine and dancing to the cool tunes of the Beach Cowboys at Cork and Fork at their new location on 41st Avenue, around the corner from the Starbucks-Chipotle-Ross building complex. Cathy Bentley was the barista and she is also the very friendly and knowledgeable owner of their thriving business. They have excellent wines from prominent wineries in California. I liked the "Cheers" feel good vibe at the venue. They have big storefront windows and an outside patio. Yes, the dance floor and the patio are relatively small, so come early! I had a glass of the Hatcher, Murphys, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc. It was crisp, light to medium-body, and tasted fresh with a hint of almost green apples. As you can see on their menu they also serve craft beer and food. Something for everyone! So, on your next night out, come for the fun and enjoy the friendly atmosphere, live music, and your preference of beverage. Mine, obviously is white wine. See you on the dance floor. -Susan in Santa Cruz

Cork and Fork is a cute wine bar with periodic live music in a fantastic part of Capitola with an…read moreoutdoor fire pit patio. The best part is that they seem to have really cool regulars who are chill and welcoming. I love that vibe! Tips if you visit: - Check the website and go when there's a band. It's 'dead' when there isn't a band. - There's no entrance fee when there's a band. Yippee ki-yay! - Skip the wine flight. The pours are pretty meager. You'd get a better "bang for your buck" if you get a glass of wine that you know you'd like. - Be ready to be social (at least a little) because you may need to share a table when there's a band. - As for food, tots are tasty, but portions are tiny. - Pizzas are your best bet if you're hungry. - Skip the paninis. See photo. - Feel free to dance if the vibe takes you there! Cork and Fork is a fun place to check out.

Fabulous Patio where the fun people gather

Panini looked sad and smashed with a side of Chex mix?!

See all

Nicknacks & stocking stuffers.

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

36 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

FM W.

14 years ago

Deducting stars for slow bar service, and a server that went ok to bad. I came here on Sunday, and it was a beautiful day in Capitola. It was really busy because of the weather, so I put my name in for a table on the patio with the hostess, who was very friendly. I proceeded to the bar to get a drink. There were no stools available, so I stood to wait for service. I worked as a bartender for six years in a high volume restaurant, so I understand the signs of when the bar staff is slammed. However, I stood for several minutes without any acknowledgment from the female or male behind the bar. The female seemed to be consumed with just cleaning glassware and refilling fruits/juices. The male seemed to be handling the service well and bartop. They were clearly under staffed for such a busy day. What bothered me was that neither stopped to say that they would be right with me. As a customer, all we want is acknowledgement when you are busy. The nice gentleman sitting in front of me at the bar kindly grabbed the bartender so that I could get some service. After receiving the wine list, it took several more minutes to order a drink. I'd say from the moment I arrived at the bar, to eventually getting a drink, it took about 15 minutes. I would suggest that the bar back be trained to acknowledge guests and let them know that someone will be helping them shortly, especially if her counterpart is slammed with 20 tickets in the service well. The male blonde bartender was friendly once I could get his attention. The pluses about this place is seating on the patio as well as the Hawaiian band that was playing. It was very relaxing to sit in the sun by the water, with the ukelele in the background, allowing me to teleport back to the islands. If I was rating this restaurant just on the patio and band, it would have gotten five stars. The food was decent, but nothing to write home about. However one of my friends did devour her fish tacos and said they were delicious. We had a female server and she started out really good. She did get part of the food order wrong, but she fixed it immediately. We had another person join our party towards to end. After she brought the menu for our additional member, we would have ordered another round of drinks, but the server never came back to check on us. It took so long that by the time she came by we just decided to close out. Too bad, since we were in a Sunday Funday drinking mood and could have raised her sales a bit more. I would come back here for the ambience and Hawaiian band. read more

Chris W.

17 years ago

Visited yesterday (March 30)....took the family here since it boasted "Best of 2007 & 2008" signs in entry. The decor inside seemed nice enough and there were only a few tables, but on a Monday I figured that to be normal out of season. The wait staff seemed to be prepared in the beginning, but the locals sitting at the bar kept the entire staffs attention for our entire meal. I actually had to get up and ask for my check by walking to the bar. This being after our food was dropped off and that was the last of our server we had for our late lunch service. NO REFILLS offered obviously. My wife ordered the coconut shrimp which had a nice side of blanched asparagus. The shrimp were "blackened coconut", so aside from the poor cooking she managed to scrape off the black and enjoy the rubbery shrimp. I had the Kona Style "Fire Roasted" chicken club with "caramelized pineapple" and mozzarella cheese. Sounds super delicious and if my memory serves me correctly the sandwich was between $13-16. when it arrived it certainly looked good. However, I discovered the chicken to taste as if it were microwaved and the "caramelized" pineapple that I was anticipating came hiding under the mozzarella and soon discovered that this pineapple came straight from a can. NO TASTE! Not only do they false advertise, they don't even have a grill apparently. Fire roasted means "Fire" has to touch the chicken at some point. Caramelized pineapple also means some type of reduction. Fresh pineapple would have been the proper touch and at the price of the plate should have been the proper presentation of this sandwich...but lacked horribly. The best part of this meal was the fries and that's sad to say when you have two lunch plates and two drinks and walk out spending over $50. Stick with "Pizza My Heart"......you will be more satisfied and your pockets will have more money to pay for the parking situation to spend a day in this tiny town. My wife loves Capitola...but I think its a beach town "wanna-be". I suspect that this restaurant provides 95% of its dishes from frozen bags and cans supplied by Sysco Foods. The owner obviously thinks that people "like Myself" will be enticed by the pricey menu as the draw for this restaurant when it should clearly be the quality of food. Don't be fooled! read more

Jack M.

3 years ago

Title: Decent Experience, Room for Improvement I recently visited Paradise Beach Grille and had a mixed experience. While there were some positive aspects, there were also areas where improvement is needed. Let's start with the positives. The location of the restaurant is fantastic, right by the beach, providing a great atmosphere and beautiful views. The outdoor seating area is quite pleasant, especially during sunny days. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which added to the overall experience. In terms of the food itself, it was decent but not exceptional. The menu had a good variety of options, but the execution fell a bit short. Some dishes lacked flavor and could have been more carefully prepared. While the portion sizes were decent, the prices seemed par for the quality provided. Overall, my experience at Paradise Beach Grille was average. With some improvements in food quality, it could certainly become a more appealing dining destination. read more

Peter R.

13 years ago

Walked in, plenty of tables available to be seated. 10min wait, WHY? 3 people walked in after got seated. Sorry but i do not play the game. Rude! Check your staff and hostess to be trained properly to work with the public.Service and respect to customers is key to success and can be a quick failure in the business if this is not good. For this reason I left and found another good restaurant with great service and good food right around the corner called Stockton Bridge Grille. read more

Ann O.

13 years ago

Amazing Food and Fun Location I know it's a tourist destination but the food is really good. We have eaten here at least five times this year and have never had a bad meal. There's always four of us and we each get something different every time, so we've tried almost the entire menu. We all sample each other's meals and the ribs have got to be our favorite. Looking forward to eating there again soon. Only drawback is that it is a little expensive. read more

Henry M.

13 years ago

Can't ask for much more as far as outdoor seating, but can ask for a little more as far as food. Ordered the fried calamari as a starter, which was pretty good. Comes with nice aioli sauce, and some other red sauce that is definitely unnecessary. However, The skirt steak was cooked poorly. Had to fight with for a few minutes to cut a piece of it, just to realize it has no taste at all. Drinks are decent, so overall a 3 stars experience. read more

Deborah R.

7 years ago

OMG there was hardly one anyone in the restaurant had to get our drinks at bar 40 min later. Waitresses disappeared..after ordered our food 1:45 min later ...we Walked out.. GOOD LUCK GETTING FED OR ANY SERVICE! WE LEFT HUNGRY AFTER REPEATED PROMISES OUR FOOD being on its way.... WHEN I said to the so called manager how really bad things were going..She replied...LOOK HUN!! REALLY?@#%* Do no go to this really badly run restaurant !! read more

Renee K.

Elite 25

103

2 years ago

Over time, my go-to spot for pasta has lost some of its charm. However, one thing that still hits the spot is their baked brie--it's consistently delicious. The ambiance is relaxed and perfect for kicking back, especially with its beachside view. The staff are friendly and always make you feel at home. While the pasta might not be as impressive as it used to be, this place remains a cozy spot to unwind and enjoy some comfort food. read more

Susan M.

11 years ago

I take friends and visitors here regularly. Despite a wide variety of likes, from meat-lovers to vegetarians, everyone finds something yummy for themselves. The Ahi portions are the most generous I've seen for the price and very good. The patio is wonderful with a great view. I would like them to add some pillows to the tables that have deep seats over the water. Not comfy but most seating is good. Enjoy your meal and the view! read more

Bev H.

12 years ago

This is the best place in Capitola to go have a drink, an appetizier, or a full on dinner! The food is great & if you try the Beach Blanket Breadalon you're bound to make it a tradition when visiting the area!!!! It is soooooo good! The wait staff is friendly & on top of things, the view is beautiful should you choose the patio seating but inside is nice too, and the prices can't be beat. I love this place! ENJOY! read more

Marge C.

13 years ago

I go here mostly for lunch. I love sitting out on the deck, looking at the ocean, Capitola river and those darling, colorful beach houses along the beach. The food is outstanding. I love their apple, walnut salad, and have a piece of Ahi put on top of it. Their fish tacos are awesome too! I've never had anything there that wasn't absolutely delicious. I haighly recommend Paradise Grill! read more

Tanya B.

13 years ago

The new management is HORRIBLE! Paradise used to be one of my favorite places to go to eat lunch or dinner. But the new manager is a piece of work. He acted rude, tasteless and flat out unacceptable. If they treat patrons of their restaurant like this I can't imagine how they treat visitors! I will NEVER COME HERE AGAIN! read more

Renee R.

7 years ago

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Capitola Village! The manager is so kind. She has a little treasure box so the kids can choose a gift after the meal. The kids meals come on frisbees. Delicious food, delightful ambiance, & they treat families with kids very kindly. We especially enjoy their lunch menu. Yum! read more

Ma P.

16 years ago

Been to Paradise Beach Grille four times now and they have consistently delivered. It really is the best place (food quality, ocean view, atmosphere) to eat on the water in Capitola in comparison to the rest. Four stars because the food is good value for money when it could be exceptional! read more

Eric B.

13 years ago

Has to be the BEST New York Steak Ive had in Santa Cruz...it seems such a simple thing to make...meat + fire= goodness, but so many places around here have absolutly no clue how to do it. So heres to Paradise, the only place around here to get a perfectly cooked steak! read more

Sherpa F.

15 years ago

I love lunch here. Great way to break the day up or spend a long afternoon by the water. Food is consistently good, I love the steak salad. The staff always takes care of me; Eve, Lauren, Anne-Elyse are delightful. read more

Wendy J.

15 years ago

AMAZING!! The food, the service, the atmosphere! This is my new favorite restaurant when my husband and I can get a sitter for the kids and sneak out for a date night! read more

Nicole D.

303

7 years ago

This is the best appetizer I have ever had. Seriously amazing. Went with 4 family members and every dish was amazing and everyone loved there food. View was amazing read more

Audrey L.

16 years ago

This is my favorite Capitola eatery! I have never been there when the service hasn't been awesome and the food great. Coconut Prawns and Mussels are fabulous! read more

Michael J.

3 years ago

Not so sure what happened to this place I remember couple years ago it was really good. Service can be better and maybe the food needs a little more love. read more

See more unrecommended reviews

Paradise Beach Grille - newamerican - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Paradise Beach Grille also viewed

Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen - Beachside

3.7

(191 reviews)

Update. So sad. The lobster roll is no longer offered anymorwith just butter. Big disappointment…read more Tried to reach out to Venus but no contact info on their website. .

Loved the bright windows, open concept, clean aesthetic with seaside color vibe, and the VIEW!…read moreThere is a reason half the walls are glass: so you get a view of the beach and, depending on when you're there, the sunset. Venus is a fine dining establishment but the wait times for service once we were seated and cold service were unexpected at such a nice place. This was our first time here, so hopefully we caught this server on a bad day. She also brought out our appetizers and entree at the same time, which was shocking. Due to this, we felt like we had to eat quickly so the entree didn't get cold. We often order several plates and share all the time, and never has any other restaurant brought every dish out at once before! This was the first. **THE DETAILS** Venue: 5 stars The venue is quite beautiful. You can't beat a place that is on the same street as a beach! Location: 5 stars It is literally AT Rio Del Mar Beach! Parking wasn't terrible, but the lot is tiny, so I can see it becoming difficult to park at certain times. Crab coquettes: 1 star It was so dry, I couldn't even finish one of them. It was hard to eat. Also, you can smell the crab, but you don't taste it. I did appreciate that our server gave us a heads up that these coquettes are not made like crab cakes, but we still didn't know this was a red flag warning to not get them. (Consider this a warning, my friends!) Instruction for eating: each bite must be followed by 3 gulps of beverage. Calamari: 2 stars I looooove calamari, but the ratio of squid-to-batter was off. There was too much batter, and it was thick and over-fried that with each bite, you don't get to enjoy the squid. If you want something crunchy and salty though, this appetizer is it. Miso salmon over coconut rice: 3 stars The salmon was tender and flaky, and cooked well. The skin was crunchy and flavorful. The coconut rice, however, was very mushy, like it was cooked with too much liquid. This was a disappointment because we ordered the miso flavors of the salmon knowing it would pair well with the coconut rice, but the texture of the rice was that of baby food. The bok choy was fresh and added a brightness to the dish. All in all, it was an okay dish, but not for something costing over $30. Cocktails: 5 stars All were delicious. (Venus makes their own gin!) Service: 1 star Slowwwww like molasses. Other than seating us, which was an our fault for not having reservations, we had to wait over 15 mins for a server to acknowledge we existed, then another 15 mins to get water after she said she was going to bring us water. It was a hot day, and there was no breeze or air conditioning in the restaurant, so I mentioned to our server that I was very thirsty, but we sat there for 30 minutes at an empty table with just our menus. It was perplexing. Like I mentioned earlier, the appetizers and entree were all brought out together, which made us feel rushed to eat faster so the food wouldn't get cold. (The server should have asked if that's how we'd prefer to be served and not assume this.) Different people, not only our server, would place items on our table, like drinks, and each person did it without saying anything and without smiling. They also placed items down on the table startlingly hard. (I made a joke to my friend that they don't like us here the first time it happened, but when this happened multiple times, it was no longer funny.) **OVERALL** I think the scene is great (venue/location) and drinks are great. The food items can be hit or miss. The vibe, however, is what YOU make of it because the service is lacking. Table service needs re-training. I think Venus is a good place to go for the bar and maybe some bar food only.

Crow's Nest Restaurant

3.4

(2.7k reviews)

•$$$

Santa Cruz has many great places to eat a nice dinner. Consider them all then eat at the Crow's…read moreNest, our harbor goto for over 30 years. My partner, J does something similar with her entree selection. The steaks look good, our waitress suggests the Halibut with the Chardonnay Cream sauce served over polenta but after due consideration she orders the Sand Dabs. Again. As she always does. I enjoyed the Halibut and J the sand dabs but we ended up swapping plates to get both of us a bite of each entree. We brought in a Bargetto 2024 Viognier from an earlier in the day tasting which complemented both dishes and finished with a rich Ollaliebery pie slice ala mode. Pro tip: Get a window seat a couple of hours before dusk on a midsummer night and watch the boats entering the harbor at sunset. Who needs variety when the standards are served so well!

5 star service and ambiance. 3-4 star food. They certainly have the location and are an old school…read moremarina restaurant. That means heavy woods, typical seafood, steak, crab cakes and salad bar menu. We had their complementary mud pie for a birthday - again good though not great. Ordered the grass fed rib eye burger, medium, but had to send it back for a re-do. Grass fed often comes out dry and this was no exception. But if you're paying $30 for a burger I figured we should be happy with it. Our server Gabriel agreed and the second one was much better. Gabriel was friendly, efficient and we certainly would ask for him in the future. Crab cake was decent, as was the salad bar. My martini was good sized and I made my own bleu cheese olives via the salad bar bleu which was a nice touch. I'd come back again to try out the Happy Hour and upstairs.

Venus Spirits Cocktails And Kitchen - Westside

4.0

(196 reviews)

We came here for dinner to celebrate my wife's birthday. I just wanted to shout out our waitress,…read moreHelen! Both of my sons have food allergies and she was super helpful and accommodating to their needs. She would double check everything with the chef to make sure they were safe with what was on the menu. Food wise, everything we ordered was delicious and my wife said her martini was strong but very good. Thanks again Helen!

3% fee for credit cards…read more I highly recommend the distillery tour. Book it in advance. It's super informative and fun. Afterward, there is a tasting of each spirit; however, the pours are very small; about 1/4 ounce of each spirit. It's such a small taste that it's not much more than "smelling" the gin. Which is fine. They make a total of 21 spirits, including 7 whiskeys. Highlights: For their gin, they use Lambic potstills; they have no column stills with baskets. Since they only use potstills, they macerate all the botanicals; it's a "wet" gin. Gin 01 is the flagship, and loaded with lavender. They sell 10000 cases per year. It's available at Whole Foods state-wide, and at the Santa Cruz Costco. Costo sells Gin 01 for $28, a significant discount from the $34 price at the distillery. Gin 01 works best with floral and citrusy cocktails like a corpse reviver #2. Gin 02 is a lightly barrel aged gin. It's aged for 2 months, and each barrel gets used twice. The gin is infused with bay leaf, sage, and fennel: it's more savory. They use bay leaf foraged at Delaveaga park, and they get sage and fennel from a farm nearby. I detected a cedar flavor. It's better with heavier cocktails, like a Paper Plane. They do seasonal gins: One for each season. For gin and tonics served at the distillery, they make their own tonic: it has a lavender note. It also uses chinchona, bitter orange, grapefruit, and elderflower. They have blue agave spirits. They get agave from farms in Yolo county. The farms do the pit roasting for them. The blanco tequila uses champagne yeast. The reposado spirit is aged for 11 months. Their mezcal is more peppery, less smokey. For whiskey: - They have a Port barrel finished whiskey that is really tasty. - I thought the rye was very sweet. - For their peated whiskey, they use malted barley imported from Scotland. Their single malt uses a crystal malt. Overall, it was a very fun visit.

Hula's Island Grill - Santa Cruz

3.9

(2.7k reviews)

My friend was raving about this place for happy hour because all the drinks and pupils are only $8…read moreeach! It's everyday from 4-6 PM so we had just made it at the tail end and sat at the bar. The Kona style wings were my favorite, but the spicy edamame and sweet potato fries really hit the spot. I also got a double martini cocktail ($16) and it tasted so fun and tropical. I would definitely recommend for happy hour if you're in the Santa Cruz area!

Dinner here on June 29th was great. We made it in time for Happy Hour and ordered some apps and…read moredrinks. Both flavors of wings were excellent and their Mai Tai was one of the best I've had in a while. I've been here a handful of times over the years and I almost always order the Spicy Thai Chicken Bowl. This time, it was a bit bland and seemed like it was missing an ingredient in the sauce. The plantains that came with it were amazing though. I'll have to try a different menu item next time. Service was good and everyone was friendly and helpful. Ambience was nice and islandy. We had no problem finding parking on a weekday. There is street parking and a couple of parking garages nearby.

Pete's Capitola

4.4

(98 reviews)

Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery

3.9

(1k reviews)

Amazing drinks and vibes. Get a reservation to ensure no wait time. Rotating bar is amazing as…read morewell. I come here every time I visit SC. 10/10

The rotating bar & all the tiki decor are nice. We were disappointed to see that the Mr. McKay…read more drink came in the zombie cup, not the one pictured, since we ordered based on the picture. The AC was super cold (had to go get a jacket). It's very nice on the water side of the rotation, but dark on the other side. The Drinks were slow coming out. The crab dip was amazing. The chips that came were super crispy and delicious. The triumph and disaster cocktail was good and strong. Overall decent experience, but need more light on the back side of the rotation and need to serve drinks in tiki cups, as pictured on the menu. I've been to tiki bars all over the US, and proper tiki cups can add to aesthetics/experience

Solaire Restaurant + Bar

3.6

(239 reviews)

Solaire review My…read morewife and I started dining at Solaire restaurant located in the Paradox hotel in Santa Cruz, California from its original opening in 2012. At first, we were very pleased with the high-quality of the food and the service. 13 years ago, I gave it a five star review. However in later years both deteriorated and we stopped dining there over two years ago. Yesterday, we were looking for a restaurant that we hadn't been for a while and decided to check out the restaurant at the hotel after looking at the new menu. It seemed to be completely revamped and had lots of choices. So, last night we ate dinner there. The lobby and the restaurant was completely renovated with a whole new look. The restaurant had inside and outside sections. The outside section was mostly indoors with the pool side area completely open to the outside. It had infrared ceiling heaters. Very nice. We chose to eat on the inside, where the tables were on both sides of a new large center bar which also juts in to the outside area. We found the food to be excellent and at somewhat reasonable prices in comparison to the old Solaire restaurant. My wife had the tomato basil bisque, and I had the French onion soup. My wife loved the bisque and I thought the onion soup was very good. It had loads of cheese and the onions and had a delicious flavor - not too salty. For our courses, my wife ordered the fresh catch with risotto. The catch was miso black cod , and the risotto had mushrooms and other veggies. She loved it! I had the flat iron steak with fries and herb butter. It was very tender and delicious. The service was outstanding. Our server, whose name is Shirlyn, was terrific! She was very knowledgeable of the dishes and guided us to the ones that we chose. She was pleasant, efficient and had a very positive attitude. The food was served in a prompt manner. And we were attended with water, drinks, and whatever we ask for quickly. You may see some of the old reviews with not such stellar comments. However, if you haven't been there in a while since the remodel which occurred about two years ago, I recommend you give it a try.

I was looking forward to a great lunch, but I was disappointed. First there were very few options…read morefor vegetarians, other than salads. I ordered the fish tacos, because a friend said they were really good. I found them to be almost tasteless, just batter fried logs of bland fish, with a bit of shredded cabbage. The container of "salsa" on the side tasted like Campbells tomato soup fresh out of the can, completely boring and flavor-free. There wasn't a hint of spice or tanginess or contrasting flavors. Nada. The place has a nice atmosphere, but I won't be coming back.

Hook & Line

4.2

(128 reviews)

Perfect night out!…read more Seated right away at the bar on a friday night and enjoyed the mussels and fries (in the most decadent coconut lemongrass broth that blew my mind), the cesar (good!), and the tinned fish plate (tuna belly, to die for, sooo buttery and rich). The staff was nice and service was prtty quick. We also got martinis which were pretty good, but one of the weaker elements of an overall fantastic meal. So excited to come back next time I have somethign to celebrate :)

Visiting family in Santa Cruz and in search of a seafood dinner, I found Hook & Line on Yelp…read more We walked in without a reservation around 6:30pm and were able to be seated at a "quieter" table, which meant the room adjacent to the main seating area. The acoustics in the restaurant aren't great so the music was loud and people had to speak loudly. It was kinda loud, which is why I took off a star. We ordered King Salmon and Halibut. Both fish were cooked perfectly with the skin nice and crispy. Both came with the olive oil potatoes, served mashed with lots of garlic. They were delicious! My halibut was also served with some type of tempera, all I could taste was the batter though. I have no idea what was inside, haha. The restaurant itself is nice. Looks like a great date night venue, with the bar in the center. They serve a great Manhattan ;)

The Point Kitchen and Bar

4.1

(91 reviews)