Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pretty Good Advice

    4.6 (515 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Pretty Good Advice Takeout or Delivery

    Pretty Good Advice Photos

    Business Info

    PRETTY GOOD ADVICE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    More like Pretty Good Advice

    Recommended Reviews - Pretty Good Advice

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Fried Green Tomatoes
    Wen S.

    I'm a first timer going to Pretty Good Advice. They did not disappoint! I ordered The Pesto and also some Fried Green Tomatoes. Both were amazing. I enjoyed my pesto sandwich and it really satisfied. But the Fried Green Tomatoes were over the top delicious and came with a yummy zesty dipping sauce. I can now confidently say eating here is Pretty good advice!

    Brussel sprouts
    Erica S.

    Came for the burger, stayed for the crispy brussel sprouts! Everything was tasty, but the brussel sprouts were especially divine. Easily the best we've ever had.

    Aswathi C.

    this was our stop 2 in Highway 1 roadtrip. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this vegetarian food joint on the way. This place is known for its playful, retro roadside diner vibe, the spot specializes in making incredibly satisfying, affordable vegetarian and vegan versions of classic comfort food. I had the classic cheeseburger, which had a black bean patty, The Absolute best burger I have had in the US. The banh mi we tried was also good; and so was the fries, the coconut caramel coffee and peanut butter ice cream. Pretty Good Advice was founded by chef-owner Matt McNamara, who previously co-owned and was the executive chef of Sons & Daughters, a highly acclaimed fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco that earned a Michelin star in 2012.. After years in the high-end fine dining scene, McNamara chose to step away to live on his family's 83-acre farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He opened Pretty Good Advice with the explicit mission to take that same Michelin-level dedication to flavor, technique, and sourcing, but apply it to affordable, casual, $10-and-under vegetarian comfort food for the whole community. A lot of the seasonal produce, herbs, and citrus used to elevate the flavors in their dishes, sauces, and drinks come directly from his local mountain farm. So while the setting is a relaxed roadside counter, the culinary backbone definitely has a Michelin pedigree! Turns out Soquel is one of its hidden gem locations, and it has branched to Santa Cruz as well.

    Pretty Good Advice in Soquel
    Rachel H.

    Pretty Good Advice in Soquel is a fun, unfussy spot. Think sandwich-shop meets vegetarian cooking. This was our second time here, and it's worth a visit. Located off the freeway in a repurposed fast-food restaurant, all dining here is outdoor only (on picnic tables) so try to visit when the weather is good. Cue up and order the messy vegan delicata squash tostadas with creamy components, a hash brown filled breakfast sandwich, or their vegan burger. We also tried persimmon lemonade. It's quick, funky and laid-back spot.

    The walk up window.
    Ray N.

    " Pretty Good Advice" Soquel is a simple, amazing, dynamite, tasty must stop just 1.4 miles north of the beautiful Capitola village area in Santa Cruz, Ca and 4 hours past Santa Barbara. April - you are a Superstar. You have infinite passion, care, patience, attention to detail and unbelievable multi tasking skills ensuring all 9 customers in line( some with screaming and straying kids) were taken care of in those 5/6 minutes. You came out from behind the counter and viewed the menu board with us making 2 great suggestions. Loved the sunrise tostada and tofu and the spicy boy 2.0 version with the egg. The coffee was lovely. Thank you for making me a fresh special second pot. Love Pretty Good advice. Everyone please make it to this gem any day from 8-6. It is just north of Hwy 1, park your car ( 10 spots) in the private lot; then place your order at the convenient walk up window and pick it up from the other window 5 feet away. Proceed to the lovely patio in the back with seating for 35. Enjoy the lovely fare. Make sure the kids get the fantastic ice cream ( horchata was outstanding) and you finish up with the coconut chia pudding with lemons and strawberries. We will definitely be back on our drive back from San Francisco.

    The High Horse
    Laura L.

    Cute shop with a decently-sized parking lot. There's an outdoor patio to eat your food after you order and pick it up at the counter. No indoor seating! We got a few items to share. The standouts for me were the morning deluxe and cheeseburger, but honestly everything was pretty great. 1. Mike's morning deluxe 5/5 Great tasting sandwich with the egg, hash brown, and house made sauce. 2. High horse 4.5/5 This is a cold sandwich that is packed with veggies. Good flavor and bigger sandwich than the other two! 3. Cheeseburger 5/5 I really liked this one too but it was a tad salty. The party was quite tasty. 4. House fries with garlic rosemary aioli 5/5 The fries had a great seasoning on them. The aioli was the star though! 5. Persimmon lemonade 4.25/5 Very good lemonade but lacking the persimmon flavor! Still a good drink though

    Lemony artichoke soup and pga salad

    I've been coming here regularly for breakfast and lunch, and it's one of my favorite local spots. The breakfast sandwiches are delicious, the salads with the chicken patty are a go to for me, and the soups, sides, soft serve, and drinks are all consistently great. The only item I'm not a huge fan of is the bean burger, which I find to be on the salty side. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the inconsistency in customer service. Most of the staff are friendly and welcoming, but one dark haired employee with bangs has repeatedly come across as though customers are inconveniencing her just by asking for their food or requesting anything. I always make a point to say "please" and "thank you," but those courtesies are rarely returned. My boyfriend has noticed the same behavior from her as well. There is another dark haired employee who is always kind, approachable, and great to interact with so I don't want to have these two lady's mixed up. I believe the impolite one is older, I don't know their names yet, but I hope management can identify who I'm referring to. I normally wouldn't mention an occasional bad day, but after experiencing this several times, I felt it was worth sharing. As someone who visits multiple times a week and tips regularly, I'd love to see the customer service be as consistently great as the food. If that improved, this would easily be a 5 star place for me. One other suggestion: it would be nice to have a few hot drink options available, especially with the cold summer we've been having.

    Iced Coconut Caramel Coffee
    Anna F.

    What a treat! Might be my new favorite spot in Santa Cruz. Food is Farm to Table and you can taste it. Everything tastes extremely fresh and flavorful. God the California burger not realizing it was a black bean patty and was very pleasantly surprised. So delicious I might not ever eat a beef patty again. The Mikes Deluxe was so yummy, the egg was cooked to perfection. Coconut coffee was amazing. Sweet but not overwhelming. Employees were kind and patient. The place was so adorable and had an outdoor patio to enjoy the food.

    Outside

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kiri U.
    1
    50
    107

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    This is a cool little place. I love there breakfast sandwich. I treat my wife to breakfast there one a week.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Subie C.
    4
    138
    22

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andy N.
    1115
    2662
    7137

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Tasty vegetarian/vegan food, still available at reasonable prices (if you order directly).

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L B.
    0
    65
    3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Big Mac M.

    Big Mac M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    We had brunch here. Food was excellent. Service was good. People were nice. Ambiance was great. Will definitely come back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Edward G.
    52
    75
    72

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen E.
    0
    22
    31

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dee J.
    20
    165
    216

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kayla W.
    200
    29
    26

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kylie C.
    45
    65
    43

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Devi K.
    139
    381
    1807

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Matt M.

    Matt M.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 13

    Ask the Community - Pretty Good Advice

    Is there gluten free bread?

    Yes

    What are the crunchy things in the chopped salad?

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes I believe so

    Anything for the kids, both food wise and in terms of distractions?

    They offered my kids crayons and coloring pages...so you could ask next time!

    What kinds of gluten-free options are available here?

    The Whole Bowl and the Pretty Good Cereal. Sometimes they have a special that is gluten free.

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - Spring Salad and a Cappuccino. Both excellent choices.

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe

    4.2(199 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    I love this place! The sandwiches are seriously affordable in a time where everyone is charging so…read moremuch for so little. The location is convenient, up from the beach. Sandwiches are made in a timely manner. And everything is good! This time I tried the Big Dipper and loved it. I probably could've split it with someone if I got a side, it had some size to it and was well portioned with meat, cheese and fresh veggies. You can eat inside or outside OR you can take it back to the beach and have the best setting possible. I will be back again and again- love this place.

    Food: 5 stars. Service: 3 stars…read more The food was excellent and made the visit worthwhile. The staff, however, came across as a bit cold and unfriendly. I get that it's beach time and things move at a different pace, but being a little nicer to customers and visitors would make a big difference. Hopefully next time the service will be as good as the food. EDITED - Saturday, June 20, 2026 I'm updating my review after reading the owner's response. First, I want to clarify that the response appears to be a copy-and-paste message aimed at people leaving negative reviews. If you had actually read my original review, you would have noticed that I never complained about the food, the wait time, prices, staffing, or anything related to the quality of the business itself. In fact, I enjoyed the food and had no issue waiting. I visited on a Thursday, and the café wasn't packed. The owner was clearly working hard, and I respect that. However, when I walked in and said hello, I was completely ignored. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment, and no sense that my business was appreciated. That was the only reason I left a 3-star review in the first place. The response talks about staffing shortages, minimum wage, food costs, and the challenges of running a small business. I understand all of that. Running a business is difficult. But those challenges don't really address the point I was making. A simple "Hi," "Welcome," or even a quick smile costs nothing and goes a long way. I also don't think customers should be made to feel responsible for business challenges such as labor costs or rent. Those are realities of ownership that every business owner has to navigate. That said, after thinking about it, I'm changing my review from 3 stars to 5 stars because the food was genuinely good, and I do support small businesses. My hope is simply that future customers are greeted with a little more warmth and appreciation when they walk through the door. One final thought: when someone leaves a critical review, it may be worth responding directly to their experience rather than posting a generic response. Sometimes there's valuable feedback hidden inside reviews that aren't really about the food at all. I wish you and your business success, and I genuinely hope you continue serving great food for years to come.

    Photos
    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - A small area for indoor dining (and waiting!)

    A small area for indoor dining (and waiting!)

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - CLAM CHOWDER Bread Bowl - 4.5/5

    CLAM CHOWDER Bread Bowl - 4.5/5

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - Dining area

    See all

    Dining area

    Pointside Meat Shop - Tri tip sandwhich

    Pointside Meat Shop

    4.6(14 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    This was my first time ever had this particular sandwich spot. I've seen a handful of people sit…read moreoutside or walk along this corner pressure point. I wanted to check out the other stores since they had a little market outside. I ended up ordering the Firebird sandwich with an Izzy and I was surprised on how many different styles of drinks, wine and so does they have inside there? Sandwich shop. They also had deli meat you could buy and stuff you could take home with you. The lady that helped me was incredibly friendly impatient since I had no idea what I wanted to eat. She gave some options since I wanted a hot sandwich and I liked cheese that melts. Lol when I got my fire sandwich, I neglected to ask if there was any condiments or vegetables inside besides the bell peppers. I always like lettuce or something with a crunch. Sandwich was pretty basic, but I think it needed something extra like a spicy aïoli sauce or something added to take it up to a different level of flavor. I usually like different flavors within sandwiches so perhaps I'm just picky. Overall, I thought the sandwich shop itself was incredibly cute and I liked all the drink drinks and glasses or even bottle of wine you could purchase and then walk down the way to the beach! That's exactly what I did after I ate my sandwich.

    We shared both the Tri-Tip & Chimi and the Hot Bird, and the tri-tip really knocked it out of the…read morepark. The arugula and chimichurri packed an exquisite punch, and the meat was thinly cut (but thickly piled on) and soft. The flavor combo of rich steak and intense herbs on top of fresh ciabatta with some sort of subtle creamy garlic sauce? Perfection. The Hot Bird is thermally hot, not spicy, and very rich and creamy. The meat had a subtle smokey flavor and the roasted peppers were almost tangy, but it sort of melted away into the richness of the mayo and turkey. It was tasty, but the chimichurri really "wowed" me. I don't think I'd order the Hot Bird next time, but I'd drop the $14+tip on the chimichurri again in a heartbeat.

    Photos
    Pointside Meat Shop - Ready To Drink Cases and deli meats for purchase

    Ready To Drink Cases and deli meats for purchase

    Pointside Meat Shop - Hot bird - turkey sandwhich

    Hot bird - turkey sandwhich

    Pointside Meat Shop - My Firebird and Izzy lunch

    See all

    My Firebird and Izzy lunch

    Polar Bear Ice Cream - The best hot fudge sundae. Anytime we're in the area, we stop to get this. So yummy! There's so many flavors of ice cream to choose from.

    Polar Bear Ice Cream

    4.5(213 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Oh me, oh my! If you…read morecheck my reviews, you'll find LOTS of ice cream spots in my history. I'm a glutton for a creamy, frozen ball of deliciousness. Polar Bear did not disappoint. Ate lunch in the area but had to grab some scoops from the oval spot. I ordered the thin mint and chocolate/peanut butter double in a waffle cone. It was ice cream perfection! The mint was fresh and tasty with HUGE chunks of chocolate and the peanut butter/chocolate was deep and rich. The waffle cone added a nice crunch overall. The employees were friendly, fast, and helpful in answering questions about ingredients and allowing a few samples. Shop is small but was walk through so the layout works well being on the corner or a busy intersection. Highly recommend Polar Bear Ice Cream - like, seriously, you have to stop here!!

    Great experience at Polar Bear Ice Cream, as the staff were kind, patient and helpful and the…read morelocation is convenient and easy to find. The menu has a good range of flavors and you can sample and try any that you might be interested in. My mom got the lemon sorbet after sampling a blackberry flavor and a honey lavender one. I opted to skip the samples and choose one of my go-to flavors - thin mint, which was delicious. It was such a refreshing treat! The shop also has some seating and chairs where you can sit and enjoy your ice cream. The prices were pretty reasonable and while we ordered junior scoops, the portion size was larger than expected. Definitely recommend!

    Photos
    Polar Bear Ice Cream - "Thin mint"

    "Thin mint"

    Polar Bear Ice Cream - Large Milkshake

    Large Milkshake

    Polar Bear Ice Cream - 2 Scoops - Waffle Cone

    See all

    2 Scoops - Waffle Cone

    Pretty Good Advice - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...