I wasn't planning to stop here but happy I did! I got their house chai and it was delicious. The gentleman that helped me was super friendly and had such a warm smile. I will definitely come back! read more

it's a must a must stop for me every time I dropped of my son to UCSC they have good coffee and the vegan momo os so good wish they have it here in Los Angeles so when in Santa Cruz check it it's deffo worth Besides small Business make everything good and with passion and love read more

If I could give 10 stars I would! I cannot describe how good this place is and this was such an accidental discovery. This is an unassuming Tibetan restaurant which makes incredibly delicious momos and coffee amongst other things! The owner was genuinely kind hearted to give us more amounts of food and beverages than we had paid for. Plus the sitting area makes the food even more worth it eating there. Can't recommend highly enough. read more

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Coffee shop had no pastries at 9:50am. Leftover cookies and dirty pastry display from yesterday. All windows in the coffee shop are dirty and flies flying on our food. The floors are stained dirty as well. They don't provide any receipts but they can email you one if request. I order the Yogurt $9 served with granola and seasonal fruit. What I received was completely different than the picture provided. On the picture it was showing a beautiful bowl of granola and fruit. What I received was a sag cup of nasty looking room temperature yogurt and some blueberries. I took a spoonful and It was completely disgusting and I almost vomit. The yogurt wasn't fresh or cold. I had 3 spoonfuls and couldn't force myself to finish. It had tons of syrup and it ruin the appetite. Never again! I hate lazy owners not taking pride on their place. Clean windows, tables, floors are just essentials. read more

Very nice little cafe with great service and even better food. Perfect for any time of day.

Ok I have mixed feelings about this place. The food always looks delicious though I've only ordered the avocado toast. You get a a lot of avocado for your money but it's avo on sourdough bread. It was the plainest avocado toast I've ever had. They should do some salt & pepper with olive oil or something. Orders the Cali greens juice which is absolutely delicious. Service is not they friendly. They aren't flat out rude but kind of snobby "hippies" which I find contradicting for what Santa Cruz is supposed to represent. And keep in mind... this is coming from a life long local. ANYWAYS, will keep coming here for the juice and that's about it. read more

River Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

If you find yourself in Santa Cruz, this cute little cafe owned by the nicest Tibetan gentleman is a must try. Noodles, ham/apple panini and dumplings...yes, please! read more

Such delicious momos and the nicest staff! Was shocked the reviews were so low, I keep coming back and no matter how busy they are I always have excellent service :) read more

We have come here often and love the food and nice strong coffee! The owner is kind and friendly and we loved the burrito which is crispy on the outside and delicious inside. The Momos and salad are delicious...a wonderful place to support in Santa Cruz! You feel good being there. read more

Wonderful food! Staff is terrific and friendly. We ordered a veggie burrito and dumplings. Beautiful and tasty! read more

River Cafe - Veggie dumplings are beautiful as they are tasty! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Absolutely love this place! I've been coming here for years & am never disappointed. The food always taste very fresh, a bit pricey but worth it. Even the simple menu of drinks, still perfectly made & tasty! I would assume is the owner of the cafe, is very sweet & always up for a good short conversation to make it feel even more cozy! read more

River Cafe - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Went there today after a Patagonia stop. In fact, helpers at Patagonia recommended them...Delicious, absolutely delicious!!! Plus the owners were very friendly...Coming from high priced Monterey, the prices seemed reasonable. Now, whenever we go to Patagonia or Specialized, we'll be going there too! read more

Delicious and Rabjee the chef is delightful! My new favorite place with hefty portions of healthy on each plate. read more

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I like everything about this café the people are nice food is good I like sitting outside on the deck I definitely recommend this café.

Yum! Had the fresh made beef and chicken Tibetan Momo's and they were delicious. Came with a great side salad and house hot sauce. Nice outdoor dog friendly patio. The owner is awesome, he makes food with love and you can feel it! read more

River Cafe - Homemade Tibetan Momo's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

On our way home, it's lunchtime, we're hungry, and there on our right is River Cafe. It's been a while since I'd been here. We ordered a large salad, iced teas and chicken momo's. We sat at a small table outside, under a shade tree, sipping tea while lunch was prepared. A very sweet woman cheerfully brought our lunch with napkins & forks after about 10 minutes, and we opened those containers to see a very fresh green salad with garbanzo beans, fennel, shredded carrots, chopped apple, and pickled beets on top of perfect baby spring greens. The dressing was deliciously seasoned. Ok, now about those dumplings My eyes are tearing up- the outer dumpling is so tenderand inside, the chicken with ginger and garlic and cilantro (yum) is somehow surrounded in broth, all kept inside that dumpling! It's outstandingly good! read more

River Cafe - Chicken momo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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River cafe was incredible! The staff was so kind and made helpful menu suggestions. The food we ordered was DELICIOUS. Truly one of the best vegetarian breakfast burritos I've had. The vibes at the cafe are the best. I love the plants the fill the cafe and the abundance of natural light inside. Such a great experience!! read more

River Cafe - Vegetarian breakfast burrito and avocado toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

48 bucks for 2 spritzers, 2 paninis and a salad... meh. Be prepared to wait a minute for freshly squeezed juice and meal. Mini spot with some outdoor furniture. As a plus the cheese is amazing. Next time I will stick to the fancy toast and cinnamon rolls.. read more

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The momo is amazing, so is the hot sauce that comes with. Service is always timely and the owner is super friendly and accommodating.

I love their fresh coffee and momo. Owner is so friendly and nice. I will highly recommend.

Stopped here for a quick bite. The chicken dumplings and lentil soup were delicious! We would come here again. Also, they are dog friendly. read more

River Cafe - Chicken dumplings. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This place is delightful. I'm gonna pull the "I've had momos in Nepal" card, and these are an excellent example of this Himalayan dumpling. The proprietor is friendly and there have top notch house made teas (we had hibiscus). Combine it all with a serene outdoor eating area and walking distance to a variety of shopping options, and it's a no-brainer for a lunch about town. I look forward to returning in the evening for the momo soup (served 3pm to close). read more

Sweet little cafe with shady outdoor seating right off hwy 1. Welcoming cafe staff, simple and yummy menu.

Vegan momos are delicious! Friendly owner and staff. It is like dining in a greenhouse. And it is next to a Patagonia outlet

The chicken momo at this place is so amazing. The cafe is super cute, with a very nice deck, or indoor seating. The food is amazing and the service is good. I love this place. Also, they serve beer. read more

Under new ownership this place is amazing. Great choice on dumplings, chicken, beef and veg. ...yum. Tri tip sandwich was amazing with fresh salad. Happy and kind owner.. thank you for bringing new flavor in Santa Cruz... I believe this place will be the jewel of Santa Cruz.. Nima read more

We came here based on the fact they have a pet friendly patio, since we had our 2 little dogs with us. The food was so fresh and delicious with several vegan options, which has been surprisingly hard to find in Santa Cruz. The patio is comfortable and cute with friendly and efficient people working there. The mimosas were delicious, OJ was so fresh! We will definitely be coming back. Picture is avocado toast and the delicious spinach (maybe some basil) local tomatoes, green beans, avocados, balsamic dressing. So good! I put in on my avocado toast and it was very filling! Thank you for making our visit relaxing and enjoyable! read more

River Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I'm not sure why there has been so much hate. I have always gotten my food in 5-10 minutes and I often come in here multiple times per week. The paninis are really flavorful and the options here are healthier than most cafes. It's nice being able to get a juice with my meal. Everyone has always been nice to me. Yes it is expensive but such is life in Santa Cruz. read more

Went for lunch there today. Took over 20mins standing in line behind just 3 people. Ordered their Panini Pastrami sandwich with chips totalling to about $15 after tax. At that price I was expecting a decent sandwich. Sat outside waiting for 30mins for it. It took so long that I went inside and asked them to make it ToGo since I was running late. When they finished the sandwich they hand a a poorly wrapped sandwich with a avocado remnants and oil all over the outer packaging. What's worse is my sandwich didn't even come with avocado....the spread got all over my hand and they didn't even apologise. To top it off he sandwich might was not even the length of my hand and with the amount of ingredients they usedl read more

River Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I came here for lunch today and was interested in getting a sandwich. When asked if they had gluten free bread the man at the counter responded by saying it's too expensive to keep that bread around for a population of less than 1% that has a "legitimate need". Clearly he was not aware of the myriad other health reasons why one may prefer a gluten free bread option. And that a large proportion of the population in Santa Cruz actually prefers gluten free breads. It doesn't cost more to keep it, throw a loaf in the freezer and toast it as needed. And don't make people feel bad for having a reasonable and common preference. The food is quite good in general but the review reflects the service as well. read more

Rob G. & his staff at River Cafe are some of the kindest, most genuine, hard working individuals I've ever met. I am a former employee at the Patagonia Outlet next door, and regularly spent my lunchtimes eating delicious food and hanging out at River. The Momo's, breakfast burritos, paninis, and noodle variations are all incredible! Coffee, matcha, and baked goods as well. A lovely deck outside and Tibetan history and culture present inside. Ask Rob G. about his story (he loves to talk), tell him your name once and he'll remember forever. I have never known someone so happy, and the positivity in this place has turned MANY of my bad days into good ones. River Cafe is affordable, consistent, and truly became quite special to me during my time in Santa Cruz. I'll miss it so much! read more

Iced mocha with oat milk 10/10 recommend sooo good! Amamzing service ! Love the aesthetic sitting area they have felt very welcomed. read more

River Cafe - Iced mocha sooo good!! 10/10 recommend. Amazing service never have felt more welcomed in Santa Cruz than here! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The dumplings are excellent, definitely some of the best in town. Owners/staff are so friendly and welcoming. Prices are fair and affordable. The location is clean and a nice place to sit and eat under the maple trees. We also got matcha lattes that hit the spot. We'll definitely keep coming here. It's a perfect way to get a quick bite and a drink on a busy day. read more

I don't leave yelp reviews unless I feel really strongly about a place, and the service here is so amazing. They are so eager to help and so friendly, especially when dealing with picky older generations found in Santa Cruz. They are so helpful and so happy to be there it seems that it really made my day when I stumbled upon this place. The food was great and the price was impressive for how much food it was. read more

Really friendly owner and delicious food! Stop by here if you can, it is a gem. I got the veggie panini and it was fresh and super good.

Highly recommend this cute, welcoming spot! Veggie momos are absolutely delicious, and the staff is super friendly. Their sandwiches are good as well! read more

River Cafe - Veggie momos - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Great food, great coffee and great service! Super friendly! Coming back for Momo Dumplings!! Outdoor seating, sanitizer everywhere, covid-friendly. read more

Wow! What a sweet place! I'm enjoying a very generous portion of exquisite organic French lentil soup with five toasty pieces of Kelly's bread with butter on a rocking chair in the shade ; service charming to fall in love with ; this place is a jewel; a hidden treasure in Santa Cruz. They recommended their own Dandy Lion juice that is nutricious delicious beyond belief. And all at give away prices! Truly they knock my former favorite, the Delmarette into a cocked hat as we Brits say. With, of course, free parking right there. And sometimes, if you're lucky, a little live jazz band! Spoils you rotten for everywhere else! Hopefully this is the future of Café life! Quiet for intimate conversation or a place to work on your novel! Hallelujah Definitely a five star café. read more

The veggie panini was delicious and was made from fresh ingredients and the customer service was excellent! I recommend checking this place out. read more

I don't go to River Cafe often but when I do , it's for their paninis and side dishes. Their baked goods are delicious as well, and you can find them at the Santa Cruz Farmers' Market both Downtown on Wednesdays and at Westside on Saturdays. I tried the Lavender Butter Cookie today and it was quite decadent- light, crisp, and buttery with a touch of fresh lavender. Their pulled pork sandwich was brilliant, stuffed with cheese, fresh strawberries, and of course pulled pork, which was cooked to perfection. I believe their side dishes vary daily, as today River Cafe had lentils, carrots, sweet potatoes, and asparagus. Unfortunately we arrived later in the day so while we were waiting for our order we were told that there was no longer asparagus nor roasted carrots left. We decided to order the sweet potato side instead and it was absolutely delish! Garnished with brown sugar and definitely fresh out the oven! There is also a Groupon going on for River Cafe right now- $9 for $15 or $15 for $25 (for a table of two). Great deal for the sustainable, fresh, and healthy food that is served to you! There's also day old baked goodies that are 50% off the original price . read more

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