We haven't been to Lillians in a couple of years, and the quality has declined. We ordered bread…read morewith tapenade to start. While the tapenade was good, the bread seemed like tough grocery store bread. My husband's chicken was so dry, he had trouble chewing it. I ordered the salmon on risotto special. While the salmon was tasty, the risotto was sitting in a pool of olive oil. We were very disappointed.

The food hit the spot. I had the chicken Parmesan on a bed of rigatoni noodles and marinara. It was…read moredelicious. The service was very friendly. I was seated right away. I thought it was going to be a wait because the place was packed. The table service was very friendly and always timely. She checked backed on me more than just taking the initial order. Since the place was packed it was pretty loud inside. You could still hear the piano music in the background. Next time I am back in town, I will definitely recommend Lillian's for a dinner for the team I work with. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.

First off, I've never done a review on yelp but something happened that made me feel like the…read moreowners need to hear about. We came here last night for a big birthday celebration ( party of 9). We had some good things and some things that felt not so good. The good: several dishes were great, short rib raviolis, bolognese pasta, pizza. We appreciated the vegan and gf options which they take seriously since apparently a member of the family has celiac as well. So they understand the seriousness. (unfortunately the muscles were extremely fishy) The frustrating stuff: After we spent over $500, I had a cookie box out because we were going to sing happy birthday and pass out cookies. Waitress informs us there a per person cake cutting fee. I said oh no, I'm just passing out cookies, she say oh there's still a fee. Wow!!!! First of all there's no cake to cut, refrigerate, no extra plates or silverware to wash. It made the closure part of our celebration so awkward. We went into the parking lot, sang and had a cookie. We chose your restaurant to celebrate, spend $500 and you want more money to pass out a cookie that I brought! We sat outside, was hot in the tent, we were sweating. We asked about another fan but were told there was no outlet by our table (another table had a fan). I would suggest a simple extension cord so everyone can feel comfortable.

Ok definitely a date spot. The lights were dimmed, the vibe was very romantic. But definitely still…read morecan take family here as well as bigger groups. We made a reservation ahead of time because we saw that it can get a bit busy for dinner. But as soon as we got there, we were seated immediately. The staff were very knowledgeable and warm to us. We ordered the lasagna and fettuccine and we shared it. The portion sizes are huge! But definitely worth the money. One of my new favorite Italian spots to go to when I'm out in the area.

An amazing hidden GEM!!! I and my husband are locals and gratefully discovered Sugo just a number…read moreof months ago. Everything wev'e had there was so so great!! Veal milanese was exceptional! Recently I had the spinach salad! I could go back there everyday for that salad!!! So delish!! I had the Carbonara and my husband had the Bolognese Pasta! So flavorful!! As a native New Yorker I especially loved their cannolli's. The best I've had here! The owner is the real deal!!! Oh just for you to know.....the portions are extremely huge!! You'll need to take some home! Also enjoy their dog friendly outdoor patio! The only thing I would suggest is that they should fix their website....since you can't log onto it...and allow the newest menu to come up on there!! Oh also...please advertise your wonderful place and meals on sall of ocial media! All the best and thank you for bringing great food into the neighborhood!!!

If you're in Santa Cruz and love authentic Italian food, you have to try Sugo Italian Pasta Bar…read more This place is such a hidden gem. I had the spaghetti carbonara and it was absolutely delicious--rich, flavorful, and clearly made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. They have a lunch special where you can add a salad for just $3 more, and it's so worth it. The cucumbers and tomatoes were incredibly fresh and tasted amazing. To top it off, I had the tiramisu for dessert and it did not disappoint--perfectly balanced and so satisfying. The atmosphere really makes you feel like you've stepped into a true Italian restaurant. When I walked in, I could hear people speaking Italian, which made the whole experience feel even more authentic. The staff were also wonderful--my server was kind, attentive, and gave great recommendations. Overall, everything about this place was amazing. I highly recommend it if you're in the Santa Cruz area!

Lago di Como was a very pleasant surprise. We had high expectations from friends' experiences and…read morereviews and the restaurant did not disappoint. It was a super busy Saturday evening so they're forgiven for a half hour wait for our 7:30 reso. Food was fantastic and the wait staff did their very best to take care of everyone. We'll be back!

We were celebrating two birthdays and the waiter was excellent!…read more The food was perfectly timed and tasted great! Yummy wines too! We sat in the sunroom, which was nice and quiet.

A Culinary Gem: Simply Authentic ​If you are looking for a…read moredining experience that feels like a warm embrace from an Italian grandmother, this charming spot is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you walk through the door, the intimate atmosphere sets the stage for a meal that is clearly crafted with love and tradition. ​The commitment to quality here is unmistakable. Because everything is cooked from scratch, the flavors have a vibrancy that you simply won't find in larger, commercial establishments. ​You can taste the freshness of the ingredients in every sauce and handmade pasta. The seasonings are spot-on--bold enough to be memorable, yet refined enough to let the natural ingredients shine. The food is simply ah-mazing! ​What truly elevates this restaurant is the attentive and friendly service. The staff treats every guest with a level of care that makes you feel like a regular on your very first visit. If you are craving authentic Italian, look no further. This isn't just a meal; it's a reminder of why we fall in love with great food in the first place. Highly recommended!

Our best kept secret. Such an underrated gem that I feel no one knows about! The calamari is always…read morea hit. My two favorite dishes are the spaghetti alla carbonara and carbonara lasagna! Their portions are easily shareable between 2. Both times I've been here, the restaurant has been empty! Service is great. I love grabbing a seat on the patio and enjoying the lovely Santa Cruz air.

We had a wonderful time. It's a beautiful restaurant, we loved the cable car, and the staff was…read morevery responsive. We had a party of 5 including 2 teens and one kid. We were able to find vegetarian dishes easily and loved the desserts! It was very special!

Shadowbrook is one of those "must try" restaurants when visiting the Capitola area. Not only do…read morethey have delicious food, but their dining environment/scenery by the riverbanks makes it almost mystical. Service was fantastic. Staff were all friendly and they cross-cover one another to ensure ongoing service is provided to each table. Our main server (Sean) was courteous in explaining menu items to us, humorous, and kind, which really made our overall dining experience pleasurable. 1. Complimentary Appetizer Bread (5/5) The bread was soft and fresh. The butter that came along with it appears to be house-made whipped butter. It was creamy, airy, and not too oily. They are great to eat on their own as an appetizer, but they also pairs well the Artichoke and/or clam chowder soup(s). 2. Artichoke Soup (5/5) Pureed artichokes in chicken stock garnished with Creme Fraiche, leeks, and potatoes. Aesthetically, it's green in color with an "S" insignia from the heavy cream. I'm not really sure how to describe the flavor of this soup other than it had a "familiar taste," a bit vege-like, but not quite like a green pea soup, creamy, yet lightly tangy from the Creme Fraiche. You don't see this soup often, so I'd say, GET IT! 3. Clam Chowder (5/5) This is probably one of the best clam chowder's my family and I have had. The soup was creamy, yet too too salty like a lot of other chowders we've had in the past. The clams were super tender (not rubbery) and fresh (zero "ocean/seafood" taste). It's lightly sweetened by their over-roasted sweet corn, then topped with some fresh rosemary. There is option to add crispy bacon for extra charge, which we did not opt for. 4. Artichoke and Pear Salad (4/5) This is a seasonal/weekly special menu item. It's a really special dish that's not for most people to be honest, especially if you are not use to healthy eating. It's quite literally fresh artichoke with slices of fresh Bartlett pear that's dressed lightly with blood orange flavored vinaigrette to give it a bit of tangy citrusy notes and a generous dollop of whipped goat cheese. The pear was on the hard/crunchy side, was juicy and subtly sweet. 5. Roasted Baby Beetroots (4.5/5) Another wonderful light dish that is not for everybody. If you know the flavor of beets, you'll know that it has a sweet earthy, dirt flavor profile. To cut the earthy-ness, they serve it with 3 generous dollops of goat cheese, which actually does balance out the flavor quite well. They serve 2 types of beets - the traditional red beets, but also yellow beets. Other than the color difference, the flavor is the same. It's topped with pepitas, walnuts, balsamic dressing, and fried mint leaves. We all loved the fried mint leaves, which were crispy, yet not too herbally/minty in flavor. 6. Black Truffle Gnocchi with Filet Medallions (3.5/5) The gnocchi was perfectly soft and pillowy, chewy, but not stick to your teeth. I'd say, the gnocchi was "cooked to perfection." As for the truffle flavor, it was very, very subtle, mostly from the truffle oil. Wish they actually used real truffle slices, especially at the dish's price point. They give the option to add filet mignon, which we did. The filet mignon was just "ok." It was not tender, juicy or seasoned very well. 7. Blackened Lamb (3.5/5) The blackened lamb name comes from the heavily black pepper seasoning on only 1 side of the lamb. The lamb was not tender, nor juicy. The seasoning was subpar. Comes with honey-glazed carrots, parsnip chip, fresh garlic paste and mushroom bread pudding. The highlight of this dish was the mushroom bread - had good mushroom flavor but with the consistency of bread pudding (A+ concept) 8. Lobster Tail (5/5) The lobster tail meat was super fresh and pleasantly sweet. It was poached to perfection - not too rubbery in texture. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and dip it in the melted butter = happy taste buds. Served with sides of house-made whipped (not mashed) potato and broccolini. 9. Beef Wellington (3/5) Beef filet medallion, mushroom duxelles, cooked in puff pastry. Served with sides of garlic-Whipped potato, green beans, Veal demi-grace. 10. Mahi-Mahi Filet (3.5/5) Another weekly special menu item. Mahi filet served on top of a bed of Butternut squash puree, walnut-parsley salsa, lemon oil and topped off with parsnip crisps. The fish was fresh, but was really nothing special in flavor. 11. Creme brulee (5/5) Creme brulee made right. There's a very dense shell of torched brown sugar with a very rich caramelized flavor covering over a bed of smooth, vanilla custard. A+ that their vanilla custard did not have any eggy flavor. 12. Coconut-Lavender Lemonade (5/5) House-made coconut cream and fresh lemon juice. Super tropical in flavor, refreshing and pleasantly enjoyable.

Always love everything at this place! Pizzas are perfectly cooked, not greasy, toppings are…read morearranged to perfection. The apple fennel salad is to die for- Meatballs are delicious in a thick tomato gravy. Mmmm. Wine list needs some work! I just drink water when I'm here - missed opportunity. Overall, the food is very good.

Buzzos is an absolute staple. If you haven't eaten here…read morePLEASE DO. My husband and I eat here weekly. Appetizers are a must! I say with my whole chest that their Caesar is the best I've ever had. EVER. Cauliflower AMAZING and potato pizza... idk what they put in that but we crave it everyday. Best pizza in Santa Cruz- best restaurant in town!!

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!

We took my parents to eat here for their 50th anniversary. We didn't make reservations but we were…read moreable to come right before they opened and wait for a table no problem. We ordered a bottle of wine and four different pasta dishes. Everyone was very happy with all of their meals and at the end of the meal we ordered tiramisu. The tiramisu was delicious. I had carbonara which I was excited about trying because I just came back from Italy a few months back. It didn't taste exactly like what I ate in Italy, but it was good. It's a small restaurant with maybe a handful of tables, but the service was very friendly and warm and I would definitely come back again.

Inviting atmosphere, good service, and fresh excellent food. A farm to table comfort experience is…read moreon display here. Parking can be found across the street in the church parking lot. Ordered a charcuterie starter, carbonara seasonal, and beef cheek for dinner with the panna cotta and strawberry rubarb. The charcuterie was well done for sure. According to the menu the ham is cured in house. Carbonara-- gave it a shot but really it could and should just be regular carbonara. Pecorino sardo was an alright twist but the uni butter I just set to the side. Also didnt care for the parsley or breadcrumbs. Beef cheek was very very excellent. Also, the desserts are great. I would go just for the pannacotta alone.

Super atmosphere and great service…read more We got the beef cheek, which seems to be aiming to be one of the stars of the menu, and it's close. Braised beef + gnocchi + mushrooms + pine nuts + corn is basically all sweet, earthy, rich, and soft. The corn adds more sweetness that the dish doesn't need, while what's really missing is acidity and something green or herbal to cut through all that richness. The Gorgonzola sauce ends up weighing the whole dish down rather than bringing it together. There's a really good dish in there, it just needs contrast.

Everything was simply amazing! From the service, the comfortable atmosphere, to the incredible…read morefood. We indulged in delicious cocktails, 2 delicious appetizers: the stracciatella and foccia, and the peaches with prosciutto and Parmesan. They had the best Caesar salad we've ever had (better than the Zuni cafe even). We also enjoyed a pasta dish (beef dumplings in tomato sauce) and a Genovese and pistachio pesto pizza. We didn't really have room for dessert but had to try them anyway. The lemon curd with pistachio was divine as was the affogato. We will be back next time we are in Santa Cruz!

Good: - marg pizza -…read moretrenette bolognese - ravioli (wouldn't get it again cuz not my palate) - strachiatella Meh: - root vegetables Black cod was weird, like it seemed nice but we all thought the fish was too slimy, too...alive? Too recently slaughtered? But I mean, maybe we're just not cool enough to appreciate it lol.