I've been here twice for our "dating anniversary" One was when my boyfriend and I were both underage and young and the other one was she we were older. We were treated the same both times. Glad to see that both adults and so called "kids" are treated thw same no matter what :) Vibe 10/10: It's so pretty!!! The first time I learned about this place, I wanted to go for the pictures. There's a little trolley that you can ride down to the front of the door, or you can walk the stairs. It's somewhat hidden, so it feels so... I don't know how to explain it. The restaurant is below where the parking lot it. I honestly can go on and on about the vibes of this place. The lighting is warm, so many plants too!! Service 10/10: As someone who has worked in the food industry, you always have a line that you say to every single customer. My boyfriend and I joked about jow the server was going down every new table saying the same thing. It was definitely a treat to hear. After the servers gets to know us, I notice that they definitely starts talking on a more personal level. My boyfriend is also on his little "wine craze" so he asked the server to recommend something. He loved what was recommended. Food 9/10: Personally for me, the food wasn't something to go crazy for. It's definitely more of a place where you can talk to each other and sit for dates. Food was still so good though! I can eat that damn mashed potatoes forever though! read more

See all

Shadowbrook was absolutely amazing! From the moment we arrived, the whole experience felt special. The beautiful setting, lush gardens, charming cable-car ride down to the restaurant, and gorgeous creekside atmosphere make this place so unique. It honestly feels like you've stepped into a little hidden fairytale. The ambiance was romantic, cozy and elegant, and the food was delicious. The service was wonderful as well friendly, attentive and made the evening even more enjoyable. What I loved most is that Shadowbrook isn't just somewhere you go for dinner it's an entire experience. Perfect for a date night, birthday, anniversary or simply a special evening in Capitola. We had such a memorable time and would absolutely come back again. Highly recommend! read more

Shadowbrook - American Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Oh no! This used to be one of our absolute favorite places to eat, which makes this review especially difficult to write. After more than 20 years of visiting this magical place, something has definitely changed. New chef? New menu? Whatever the reason, the food is simply not what it used to be. The atmosphere is still wonderful, and the employees remain fantastic. Unfortunately, our food was undercooked, lacked flavor, and was very disappointing. We actually left hungry, and honestly a little sad, because we have so many great memories of dining here over the years. The restaurant also seems busier than we have ever seen it, which is great for business, but I can't help wondering whether the quality and freshness of the food have suffered as a result. This was once a place we could count on for consistently fresh, high-quality meals. We truly hope this was just an off night and that the food returns to the standard that made this place so special for so many years. For longtime customers like us, this was such a disappointment. read more

Shadowbrook - Split fee for a salad. We didn't ask for it to be split. It was offered to be done by our waiter. Why is there a 4% tax on the bill? - American Near Me - Capitola, California

We had a fantastic time at this historic restaurant! The entrance is so unique; you can ride a small cable car down to the building or take a lovely walk through their herb gardens and past a small waterfall. The restaurant itself is very well-maintained with many different dining rooms that have a very cute, rustic setting. The food is reasonably priced with good portions. The Prime Rib was delicious and moist, and the Lamb was incredibly tender and packed with flavor. The mud pie was super delicious. Our server was high-energy and gave us helpful recommendations throughout the night. With the beautiful river view and the great atmosphere, we highly recommend this spot! read more

See all

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

See all

The location of the restaurant was in the side of a cliff which was pretty interesting. They have a lift system if you prefer or cannot take the stairs to the dining levels from the street. Our salad and chowder actually came to the table before our drinks which should have been a sign the timing would be off. When the food arrived, my pot pie came out 45 minutes BEFORE my husband's steak. While talking with the manager, the server justified the lack of timing because the food came from two different kitchens, however, he never tried to manage expectations. It was extremely disappointed that he felt it was acceptable to serve our main courses this far apart from each other. The best part of our experience was the setting of the patio/outdoor dining area. I am not sure we will be back to this location, as it seemed every table experienced the same mismanaged food serving. I will leave a positive note that the manager seemed understanding of our frustration and did not try to make excuses for the service. read more

See all

We made reservations for 4 online for an early dinner so we could enjoy the tram ride down to the restaurant. We were able to do same day on a Friday. We were able to get dressed a bit since there is a dress code. We were seated right away and had a great view next to a window. The staff was great, our server was very friendly and helpful. Food was amazing - we ordered the baked Brie, oysters, a Cesar salad we all shared, I had the beef bolognese, others ordered the prime rib, gnocchi, and sirloin. We had some drinks - wine, lemon drop, sidecars were all great. Great night of dinner for my bday w/ the family. read more

Shadowbrook - Beef bolognese - American Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Wasn't sure what to expect going here but it was phenomenal. Had to reserve about a month out, service was great but could've been better if the servers communicated with each other better. Food was near perfect, thought it was strange (borderline criminal) to put gravy on a prime steak but the wife liked it and I assumed they were bringing whipped potatoes out with that but it turned out to be French fries (also borderline criminal for such an esteemed restaurant) but that's my fault for not reading close enough, no hate as I'm sure some people love that style but it doesn't personally sit right with me. Blackberry pie was amazing. Will definitely come back here everytime we are in town, want to try seafood next time! read more

See all

Got to finally ride their famous little cart up and down! Went during lunch so their menu is limited, there's no dress code during this time. Cocktails were just okay I got a guavapolitan 6/10 Baby octopus with baby potatoes 7/10 Ahi carpaccio 8/10 6 oz sirloin steak dish 6/10 Server: 10/10 super friendly and nice his name starts with an M, very helpful and kind. read more

See all

This was my first time at this charming restaurant near the coast in Capitola. It is known for their trolley that takes you down the hill to their restaurant and back up to the parking lot. There are also stairs that lead down to the restaurant with beautiful falls and garden views. I made a reservation for an early dinner on a Monday and thought it would be no problem to get a table with a view of the river, but alas we were told at checkin they would try but it was a no go, and we ended up sitting inside with a view of the fireplace, which wasn't bad, but disappointing because that was the whole reason I booked the reservation. Lesson learned. Request in advance. Our waiter seemed to be pretty busy, but he took great care of us, and service was excellent. He even took our picture with the house camera and printed it out for us. My friend and I ordered the clam chowder and a filet mignon special to share. The chowder was good, but we thought the filet stole the show. It came with white asparagus that had a smokey flavor from the grill. It was still a little bit crispy but very flavorful as well as the filet had just the right amount of seasoning and smoky flavor with a mushroom gravy on top of the meat and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were just ok and actually slightly cool already on arrival. I would definitely come again and try something else. I would just make sure I requested specific seating at the time of reservation. read more

See all

Great restaurant and experience! Love taking the funicular down (but there are stairs in case you dont want to wait). The staff is so friendly and helpful... in helping decide what to order, in celebrating big moments, in managing allergies. Food was good. The steaks are great and juicy! Pasta was decent and filling. Overall good food, good vibes and great service. Plenty of parking, which is a plus! Would definitely recommend! Stay Cheerful read more

See all

Took my family here for a treat to see the cable car and get drinks and apps. It's a cool and beautiful place. We each ordered over priced cocktails and shared prawns and pizza in the bar. The waiter wasn't friendly at all even when we mentioned that we were celebrating my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. He barely said anything. The drinks were good but they were small and overpriced. The pizza was really good and so were the prawns. Lately I've been disappointed in shadowbrook customer service. No one is really friendly or over the top like they were before. read more

See all

The best truffle gnocchi I've had in my life. 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. read more

Shadowbrook - Black Truffle Gnocchi - American Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Finally had the opportunity to go to Shadowbrook. The grounds are beautiful. Great landscaping, beautiful building with stained dark oak and a lot of large glass windows. There are a lot of stairs but there is an option to ride down to the restaurant and back up in a cable car that runs diagonally from the street level to the restaurant. The menu has good variety. We had the baked Brie and calamari appetizer. Both were delicious. My entree was the Pacific Coast salmon that was served over a coconut rice and wakame salad. The plate was decorated with swirls of two sauces, a wasabi sauce and a ponzu sauce. The rice tasted like it had sushi rice seasonings. So good! I was so stuffed that I only had the. Two chocolate truffle dessert. They had many other choices that I wanted but was just too full. Next time, I want to ry the cheesecake, the molten lava cake, or another of their many choices. I'm already planning my next trip to Shadowbrook! read more

Shadowbrook - Pacific Coast Salmon - American Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Definitely worth coming - and make sure you come a little bit early to ride the trolley as well! Food 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! read more

See all

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

We (group of 5) went to the Lounge Area for dinner that doesn't take reservations. It's a super weird way for seating. First come first serve. We had to linger by a table and ask for permission from the table before us if it's cool we take their table after them. We also had a standoff with another group who got upset and thinking they should have dibs on the table because they eyed it first..buts it's like same protocol as the gym (?) Thankfully the family we asked backed us up. Ambiance: cute for dates. Food: The bite of prime rib I tried was tasty. Shared items like baked brie, calamari, Caesar salad, and prosciutto di parma pizza were good, with no complaints, especially about the baked brie. However, I felt the Rock Room burger was dry. Three of us ordered that burger, and we all agreed that our friend who requested grilled onions made a smart choice compared to the raw onions we received. It seems to be missing a sauce to buffer the bun, the burger patty was juicy enough. I do not recommend the blackened shrimp Mac & cheese It lacks flavor. It tasted A LOT better the next day microwaved topped with hot sauce. Flavor improved sitting out longer.. We all got drinks. I enjoyed my Bloody Mary. Two friends has their Expresso martini and enjoyed them enough to reorder second. read more

While spending the day in Santa Cruz for my birthday, we ended up at Shadowbrook. Nestled in a hill with a steep grade that's swallowed by the lush landscape, Shadowbrook has a magical ambiance that draws you in, as though you're crossing into a different dimension. This waterfront restaurant offers a more formal dining experience on the lower level, with a more casual dining room above. We ordered: - Baby Zucchini - loved the caramelized onions. - Baba Ganoush - This was seriously delicious! Bright and creamy and served with a soft flat bread with roasted garlic spread on top. - Blackened Shrimp Mac & Cheese was off the hook! The leftovers were even better the next day. Plus, I had a little of the zucchini leftover that I added to the pasta. They were meant to be together! - Beef Wellington - Every morsel was gone before we left the table. The meat was rare, tender and oh so mouthwatering! If you're looking for a quiet place to get some great food and wonderful service in the most beautiful setting, then I definitely recommend Shadowbrook! read more

See all

Celebrated my birthday here and had a wonderful experience overall! The restaurant has a beautiful view that made the meal even more enjoyable, especially around sunset. I also enjoyed the cable car ride down to the restaurant, which was a unique experience. The fried calamari was decent but the standout appetizer was definitely the ahi carpaccio. It was really fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I would absolutely order it again. We got the prime rib and ordered it medium rare. It came out slightly more undercooked than expected, but the flavor was still good and the meat was tender. We also ordered the beef Wellington. It wasn't bad by any means, but I felt that it was just missing a little flavor. I was hoping to taste more of the classic components that make a beef Wellington special, like the mushroom duxelles and prosciutto, but those flavors didn't really come through. Lastly, the black truffle gnocchi had a strong truffle flavor which I absolutely loved. I would definitely get that again if I were to come back. read more

See all

The food here tasted really good. I only got a picture of the prime rib. The horseradish cream was really good with the prime rib. The whipped potatoes were also delicious. Our server was very attentive and they made sure to keep our beverages filled. The ambiance was so great. Beautiful restaurant and beautiful sights. Only reason I gave a 4 is because my Medium rare prime rib was a done a little more than medium rare. They offered to get another, but I was too hungry to wait any longer. read more

Shadowbrook - Prime rib - American Near Me - Capitola, California

Everything was great. Andrew our waiter was incredible. But the table next to us was absolutely obnoxious and saying really inappropriate comments while we were trying to enjoy our 2nd yr anniversary. I would have preferred to move or have something rearranged because I just kept having to deflect and distract their comments from ruining our first time experience. They clearly have been there before and ruined it for three other tables and we felt a huge relief when they paid their bill and left. I wish there was more than an apology at the end (by their server) to suffer from their behavior. read more

Shadowbrook - Just from our view in the garden room - American Near Me - Capitola, California

We decided to celebrate our 2nd anniversary at Shadowbrook, and honestly, I deeply regret switching from our original plans. The only exciting part of the entire experience was the novelty of the little tram that takes you down to the restaurant. Safe to say, we won't be returning. The restaurant is nearly 80 years old, and the furniture surely shows it. The chairs and tables are incredibly outdated; while some people might argue that this is what gives the place its "charm," I beg to differ. It just feels tired. Our reservation was at 6:15 PM, and to the restaurant's credit, we were seated almost immediately. However, things went downhill from there. It took nearly 40 minutes just for our food to arrive, and when it did, both of our sirloin steaks; which we had ordered medium-well; were completely overcooked. Because we had already waited so long, neither of us had the energy to send them back and wait all over again. The pacing of the service was incredibly frustrating. Multiple couples who were seated after us were served their meals and finished eating well before we did. To make matters worse, the couple seated directly behind us was also celebrating an anniversary. While we understand that our 2 years isn't anywhere near their 28 years, the contrast in how we were treated made us feel entirely outshined and unimportant. They were seated after us and left before us simply because they received their food so much faster. Our server was lovely and attentive, so this isn't a reflection on them, but the kitchen management and overall pacing were unacceptable. Given how almost impossible it is to secure a reservation here, the hype is absolutely not real. It is a massive hassle for a mildly okay dinner in an outdated room. read more

See all

My second time visiting Shadowbrook! I live in LA so this was part of my birthday trip. I will say I was a bit disappointed in the service this time around, I did mention we were celebrating my birthday and that it was my partner's 1st time visiting as well but it wasn't really acknowledged. Nonetheless the food was delicious per usual, and the drinks were great. Always fun to take the cable car back to the top and see the cute little ponds on the way down. read more

It's not a culinary marvel, more of an institution. I think you can tell going in. Such a special restaurant. They have a funicular and shuttle service via vintage taxicabs. We didn't have reservations, so we walked in for our dinner in the super cozy lounge with a wood fire oven. The lounge menu is different from the dining room menu. We got the pretzel, clam chowder, Caesar with anchovies, and two 12 oz prime ribs. I liked that you get two small pretzels instead of one giant one. Easier to share. You get cheese and mustard sauces. Cheese was okay, mustard was pretty good. Would get again. Clam chowder was okay. Caesar with anchovies was good, not overly salty which I worried about with the anchovies. The prime ribs both came cooked to order - perfect medium rare, surprisingly tender. I wish it had a better bark (and more of it) and was a little more seasoned. We asked for more au jus and it came in a little sauce container with a spout. Garlic mashed potatoes were great. Very minor complaint, I was not into the piped out mash plating. Creamed spinach was a bit dry on top since they baked it to get that effect. Service was really good. Cody was friendly and attentive but not too overly present. Things came out quickly. Overall a great meal. Wished we had room for dessert, the coffee crunch mud pie looked good. Hope to return for the beef Wellington in the dining room. read more

See all

We've always wanted to dine at this restaurant and let me just say clearly, we should've been here 10 years ago and continued to dine here at least once a year! From honoring our request for a view of the river and a quiet location to the staff, especially Brandon And Jacob... Superior treatment! Also the recommendations for food selection, wine cocktails... Can't say enough great things ... 100% you must go read more

See all

This place was on my list for sometime and this time decided yo not miss it during my visit to Santacruz and absolutely loved the experience. Even though it was a quick visit for a quick drink and a bite the service, serene interiors and ambiance and stellar service made it an wholesome experience. We ordered pimms Lemonade and another cocktail on their menu along with the pretzels to go along and absolutely fell in love with my drink, it brought back memories from my summers in UK when we used to lounge around in the backyard enjoying pimms with friends all day long. I highly recommend this restaurant and will be back again! read more

See all

My blackened prime rib was just oh okay. The seasoning was off, the potatoes were good the spinach was okay. My wife's shrimp mac and cheese was pretty good heavy on the breadcrumbs. The calamari and bacon prawns were good. My daughter's Pizza underwhelming is what she said. Would I come back??? I'm not to sure about that. Service was great though!! read more

See all

At Shadowbrook the restaurant itself is nice, we sat on the patio which was nice as well. The trolly was a cute little ride and there is also stairs if you don't want to wait for the trolly. We were a walk in table of 2 and waiting only about 15-20 minutes, now the service it's self was a bit slow and definitely different, we were not shown to our table by staff we were told to go to the "only empty table on the patio" which was definitely different, and we weren't given menus we had to wait for menus for when our server greeted us. Now the food itself I personally was a bit disappointed as I expected more considering prices of these plates, in my opinion the food was very basic and had nothing really that made it stand out and there was no flavors that stood out. We got a shrimp scampi, octopus, and beef Wellington, the octopus was well cleaned however there was no flavor there, the scampi was good just nothing special, the beef Wellington was good but nothing special. We ordered a blood orange Italian soda and it tasted like soda water with syrup and was definitely not our favorite. Overall it's a 3/5 for us because it was basic and not bad enough to give a 2 read more

See all

Shadowbrook was such a beautiful and unique restaurant experience that lived up to the hype! After reading all the reviews and photos, I was expecting a truly magical night and they definitely delivered on all counts. We came here to celebrate the anniversary of my furbaby's passing (not your typical anniversary celebratory dinner, but def still an anniversary!) and I was very satisfied with my choice. Parking was super easy. The entrance was already beautiful enough, and the tram was such a unique highlight experience. We got some great videos! I wasn't sure how our timing would be this night so I didn't make a reservation, but we called ahead and arrived a little before 7pm. We inquired about seating in the dining room area and got a drink at the bar and were thankfully squeezed in for a table (due to a cancellation). All of the staff were extremely courteous and attentive. The restaurant itself is an aesthetic rustic garden experience from beginning to end. So many floors to explore and lovely plants to enjoy. Its also right by the water, so sitting outside is also another experience in itself. Perfect for date nights! The food was excellent and surprisingly just as good as the view. The Ahi Carpaccio was sliced perfectly thin and just melted in my mouth. I wasn't expecting to devour the whole thing but i'm glad this dinner was my first meal of the day. The scallops were also divine, loved the mashed potatoes along with it, and the sauce. Also completely finished my entree. My vegetarian date enjoyed the beet salad and the nightly noodle special, which he also thoroughly enjoyed. The drinks we ordered were quite standard (nothing innovative) but still made well. And the mudpie dessert we ordered was also good. The crust was quite crispy. Since we were celebrating an anniversary (though not ours), our server helped us to take a photo which they printed out for us immediately. This was definitely a great touch and rare to find at a restaurant (especially complimentary). I would love to come back and introduce more people to this lovely restaurant!! read more

See all

Overall such a great experience. Our waiter was super friendly and accommodating. The ambiance and experience was wonderful however I would suggest adding light music in the main dining room - or the room the host stand is located in. In terms of food I personally had the prime rib and it was well flavored and the drinks were great! However, the shrimp scampi lacked sauce and seasoning although it was still edible. Very romantic and fun place to visit! Must take the funicular down!! Great stop for a casual date night or traveling through. read more

See all

Such a great restaurant, we were very happy with the service, food and atmosphere. We've been to Capitola about 4 times in the last few years. We've had Shadowbrook on our list, but just never got around to going. We made it a priority to try on this trip. We had an evening reservation on a weekday and it was still pretty busy. The replica cable car was a hoot and my kids had a great time riding that up and down in our visit. The interior of the restaurant was very nicely appointed. The ambience was very classy without feeling too stuffy. The views of the river/creek were also very nice. Our server and waitstaff were very accommodating and so very kind. The food was fantastic. I tried the Black Truffle gnocchi with sliced filet medallions. My wife had the lobster tail, my kids had the Prime Sirloin and Honey Glazed Porkchop. Everyone loved their meals. Prior to dinner, we shared prawn appetizers and fried artichokes. Both of which were delicious. For dessert my wife and kids shared the Chocolate Meltdown while I opted for a Keoke Coffee. All in all we had a fantastic experience. We Ubered there from our VRBO. Luckily we were able tog eat a ride back in the taxi. This was a lot of fun for my girls, as they had never been in an old fashioned taxi. We wanted every bit of our evening and look forward to future visits in our next Capitola trips! read more

See all

Recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint! It was the cutest place, perfect for a date night. Our server was so sweet and made our experience great. Started with the ceasar salad & baked brie.. I'm still thinking about the brie! Then had the surf and turf which was also really good. Loved this spot! read more

Shadowbrook - Surf and Turf - American Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

We had an amazing experience here and would recommend this for folks who like some nostalgia, good food, great service, and a special place to celebrate any occasion! The old taxis in the parking lot perks your interest as you park your car. The lush gardens, the old menu from the 1950s, the trolley ride down the hill to the restaurant makes one anticipate what could be waiting at the Swiss chalet-like restaurant. Reservations are recommended. The Coconut Lavender Lemonade was a refreshing non-alcoholic drink we enjoyed. The rest of our party had wine and beer. Our server, Shawn, was kind, patient, and helpful. For appetizers we had the Fried Calamari and the Ahi Carpaccio. I love the Scampi Style Linguine with Filet Medallions which I had medium well. The noodles were al dente and although they were thick it was not heavy. There was a generous portion of shrimps in the dish and the filet was tasty and buttery melt in your mouth tender. They had a special which was this Alaskan Halibut with celery puree and it was fresh and delicious. The Lobster Tail was succulent and the Pan-Seared Sea Scallops were perfectly seared and delicate. We had to try their House Specialty which is the Prime Grade Prime Rib. Thanks to Shawn who recommended the blackened version as he learned we preferred it cooked a bit more. For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Meltdown and a slice of Berry Pie served with Vanilla Ice Cream. A perfect ending to a sumptuous lunch and a great start to a splendid day with family! read more

See all

Overall we had a good experience at Shadowbrook, great ambience and good service & food. The star of the entrees was the Chilean sea bass. The Pacific Rim salmon was good, but a tad overcooked and ginger wasabi sauce was overpowering. Both meats, the prime top sirloin and prime rib were okay, too much fat/gristle. For dessert had the chocolate meltdown and Jack Daniel's mud pie. Both were delicious, but both were small servings especially considering mud pies elsewhere are huge and tall slices. read more

See all

Shadowbrook has to be one of my favorite restaurants of all time. They get a 10/10 from me in every single aspect: the atmosphere, staff, and food! It's definitely popular for a reason. Upon arriving, we took the cable car down to the restaurant, which was a short but lovely trip. They had indoor and outdoor seating, but we requested to sit outside since it was so beautiful. Our server, and just the staff overall, were so kind of accommodating. Our server helped us pick out our dishes and recommended we take a walk around the garden while we waited. The outdoor area was truly so serene and peaceful. Once we got our food, it didn't disappoint. I got scallops, while my boyfriend got the steak. We also got the caesar salad and poke nachos. Everything was delicious and we were stuffed by the end. I truly recommend everyone try this place at least once. It checked all my boxes and I can't wait to be back again! read more

See all

Came in with expectation of an overhyped touristy place but was impressed by the food, service & of course the ambiance. $25 corkage fee for 1st bottle. Great: sirloin, baked brie, bacon wrapped prawn, choc lava cake Acceptable: lamb, scampi Ambiance was lovely even though we were in the dark Vault room. Love the tram ride experience. Would be back read more

See all

Shadowbrook is absolutely beautiful and completely lived up to the hype! We actually came here without reservations for our anniversary dinner and were able to seat ourselves in the Rock room area, which still had a fantastic atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious, and our server was incredibly attentive throughout the entire night. To top off an already amazing evening, the staff gifted us a framed photo of us taken at the restaurant, complete with the signature Shadowbrook logo. It was such a thoughtful, classy touch for our anniversary. Between the stunning riverside views, the cable car ride, and the top-tier hospitality, it was an unforgettable night. Highly recommend! read more

Shadowbrook - VANILLA BEAN CRÈME BRÛLÉE - American Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Shadowbrook- long standing historical spot. I loved reading its history on the menu. The restaurant is very large. Dinner was okay, not great or outstanding- good. Nice portions. Lava cake was overdone so there was no lava. The baker brie could do without the bread encasing. The jalapeño jam was delish. Drinks were okay. Ambience 100%. Service great. Staff nice. Front host desk- on my way out I wanted to purchase a couple of souvenir items- there were about 5-6 girls gathered at the booth, all on their phones, looked up at me while I stood there, back to their phones to finish their text, then to ask how they could help me. This was a bummer. Other than that, you don't have to get dressed up to sit in the main areas- no real casual wear like beach wear. read more

See all

Every had to take a funicular to dinner? Well now you can say you have here at Shadowbrook! A historic restaurant great for special occasions. We came here for a birthday and had fun getting a little dressed up to both adhere to and take advantage of the dress code. I ordered the oso busso which was braised pork so tender it literally fell off the bone between leaving the kitchen and reaching the table. The pork sat atop a block of crispy polenta and was garnished with a herby preserved lemon topping. We really wanted to try dessert but were so full that we could only opt for the order of two house made truffles which were rich and delicious. More places should offer bite sized dessert when you just need a little sweet treat. Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating - Moderate amount of parking - 3 or 4 flights of outdoor stairs available for those too claustrophobic for the funicular - Vegetarian options (pasta) - Mocktail options read more

Shadowbrook - Osso Bucco - American Near Me - Capitola, California

What a gorgeous restaurant! The highlight is the cable car that takes you down to restaurant, the ambiance and the views. Had a family birthday celebration , sat at the lower section corner table next to the window - best table in the house! Starters were carpaccio and calamari. Entrees from steak, pork chop, salmon, and kids pasta. Corkage fee was $25 and the desserts were a delight. Had the mudpie and creme brulee. 4% tagged on. This is one of those places you'd want to try once and happy you did. Supposedly one of the most romantic restos in the country and I can see why. The day could not have been nicer and sunny in Capitola to celebrate a milestone birthday with the clan. read more

See all