Visited Shadowbrook which is a beautiful restaurant in lovely Capitola. It was a very nice and sunny day so we chose to eat outside. Josh was our server, and he was great. Cocktails arrived quickly, and while they are pricey, they are very good. I had one of the lemon martinis that claimed to be a "double" but I did not notice any extra than normal alcohol. French Onion soup was one of their featured soups for the day, and I ordered a steak sandwich, which is probably one of my favorite meals. My spouse had the braised beef lasagna and the prawns for an appetizier. Unfortunately, the soup and prawns arrived with lunch, versus arriving first as an appetizer. The bacon was slightly burnt on the prawns (4), and my $15 onion soup had not even a table spoon of liquid, and could not have been more than a single laddle's worth of onions and topping. I wasn't necessarily expecting a huge bowl, but for $15, it could have been much more than the tiny "pot" container it arrived. The braised beef lasagna had very little braised beef. The steak sandwich was quite hearty, so much so that I couldn't finish it, but not really anything special. Shadowbrook is a beautiful and iconic restaurant that should be experienced for its beauty and little trolley system that takes you down to the restaurant (there are stairs too). The dining room is romantic, and they do have a dress code. Since we ate outside for lunch, this dresscode is not imposed. I was happy to experience this place, but prepare to pay Capitola prices. read more

We went there on May 3rd for our 25th wedding anniversary. We dressed in formal wear. I called well in advance for our occasion. Unfortunately we weren't treated the way we should have been by BriannaT. (Bri). Honestly we had poor service which was not expected considering the reputation the restaurant has. If you decide to visit the restaurant do yourself a favor and request that you Do Not Want Bri based upon our experience and several other peoples same experiences come to find out afterwards. read more

This place has ita own vibe. It kind of has a stuck in the 70's feel in both look and menu. This is not a bad thing. Parked near the entrance and proceeded down about 8 flights of winding stairs to the actual entrance of the restaurant. You enter into a large active room with a bar. Gotta say the drinks were perfectly balanced and delicious. After a short wait ( we were early for our 7:30 reservation) we were led down one flight to a high ceilinged room with a huge stone fireplace. After being seated the service was exceptional and attentive. Overall we had a great time and enjoyed. Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that the food while ok was not stellar. It was OK. If the seasoning had been more on point this would be 5 stars. read more

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

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This is my wife's favorite restaurant and it lived up to the billing. While it has been around since 1947, the menu is that of a great steakhouse that knows its strengths and leans into them. I had a New York Steak cooked to perfection and my wife had a lobster tail with filet medallions. The lobster was huge and my wife said it was the best she ever tasted. The appetizer of calamari and the Crème Brûlée to finish it off was sublime. Service was friendly and informative. There's a reason why they call it one of the most romantic restaurants in CA and it lived up to that reputation. Definitely will be coming back for special occasions since we live a couple hours away. read more

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It's been years since I've been to this restaurant. My girlfriends and I decided to come here to celebrate our friendship. When you arrive at the restaurant, you get to ride on a cable car that fits up to six people. It takes you to the main entrance to the restaurant. It's absolutely beautiful. It's definitely an experience. I love the ambiance, the vibe, the feel, everything about this restaurant. Very vintage like era feel to it. We started with their spinach salad, which was absolutely delish. They added thick pieces of bacon which were so good. For our entree, we ordered their braised angus beef short rib, osso buco, and black truffle gnocchi. All three dishes were delicious but my favorite was the braised angus beef short rib.....YUM! Now, the service....well let's just say it could have been better. It wasn't terrible but our waitress seemed like she wasn't having a good night (not really friendly). I don't normally complain about service because I understand it can be a little overwhelming at times for them, so I won't complain too much, but the service could have been a little more friendly. Would I come back again? Absolutely! read more

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This restaurant offered not only good food but great service and a funicular ride to its entrance. The parking lot is located above the restaurant itself and guests either can take the scenic route down some winding stairs or take the funicular. We took the funicular down and after dinner walked the stairs back up to our car. It was a lot of fun doing both. Onto food, we had the harvest salad with steamed persimmons and Fuji apples and goat cheese. The mixed greens had some very wilted leaves which I pushed aside. Not a fan of steamed persimmons but I did enjoyed the beets. Our mains were beef stroganoff and osso bucco. Both were great! They are heavy dishes but very flavorful and filling. I already recommended this restaurant to family and friends. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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My wife and I have been celebrating our anniversary here for years, and it has truly become one of our favorite traditions. Every time we get a free moment, this is the first place we think to make a reservation and for good reason. From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere is unmatched. It feels like an escape romantic, peaceful, and thoughtfully designed down to every detail. Whether it's the views, the ambiance, or the overall experience, everything just feels special. The service has always been top-tier. The staff consistently goes above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and taken care of, which is a big part of why we keep coming back. And the food always incredible. Every dish we've tried has been full of flavor and beautifully presented. You can tell there's real care put into both the menu and the overall dining experience. This place holds a lot of meaning for us, and it never disappoints. If you're looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion or just want an unforgettable night out this is it. We'll definitely be back again and again. read more

Shadowbrook - American Near Me - Capitola, California

Shadowbrook is such a beautiful and unique dining experience. The restaurant is surrounded by nature, and walking down the scenic path to the restaurant is part of the experience. After dinner, you can ride the little cable car back up to the parking lot, which is a fun touch and makes the visit feel even more memorable. We ordered the blackened prime rib, blackened lamb, calamari, and a Caesar salad with anchovies, along with a couple of cocktails. The calamari was really good, while the rest of the food was just okay. Nothing bad, but the setting and atmosphere definitely stand out more than the food. Service was great and the overall atmosphere makes the place feel special without being overly formal. Prices were reasonable for the overall experience read more

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The Shadowbrook is truly an amazing restaurant with a cool history. It sits right on the Soquel Creek and was originally a log cabin turned summer home before it became a restaurant. It has a bunch of different rooms to sit in and very cool style. The shadowbrook embraces nature with its garden room and rooms with trees growing through them. They have the CUTEST funicular (cable car) you can ride up and down to the restaurant. They also have stairs that go through the gardens. My dad recommends taking the stairs down and the cable car up. They also have some cool old taxes that will pick you up and drive you there if you are close enough. The number is on the website. Our server Andrew was incredible. He went above and beyond at each step and truly embodies hospitality. He gave thoughtful recommendations and sold the items without it feeling pushy. I started with the Shadowbrook House salad (recommended by Andrew), and it was amazing. The flavors combined really well. My husband enjoyed the clam chowder, and my dad and his friend said the wedge salad was great. The salads are great to split as a starter. We didn't get them this time, but I do recommend the bacon wrapped prawns as well. For my entree, I got the lobster tail. I wanted it to melt in my mouth a little more than it did, but I still really liked it. Their mashed potatoes are incred. My husband got the black truffle gnocchi and added the filet mignon brochettes. My personal opinion is that this is the best item on the menu. The goat cheese bechamel is wildly good. My dad got the scallops as usual and enjoyed them. His friend got the salmon and said it was great. The Shadowbrook is a really cool restaurant, and I highly recommend checking it out. It is definitely upscale and the prices reflect that. For the dining areas I would recommend a reservation. They also have a great bar area that is first come first serve with a pizza oven. Super fun spot!! read more

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I had seen so many Instagram reels about the historic tram ride that brings you from the top of the hill where parking is to the restaurant, and finally had a chance to dine here recently. The pictures of the inside of the restaurant make it seem a little stuffy, but it's really hard to do justice to how beautiful the restaurant is in photos. It's multitiered with numerous rooms and most have a lovely view of the greenery and water outside. Ambience is vibrant, social, and can be romantic as well. I assume they almost always have a full house. I think I didn't have high expectations for the food since I thought the main draw was the tram ride and ambience but we enjoyed everything that we ate. Our server seemed busy but he gave us really good recommendations about both food, entrées and wine. I don't always enjoy the wine that is recommended to me but both of the rats that he advised me to order for both perfect. We started off with the cream of artichoke soup. It was a vegetable forward flavor, personally we appreciated that it wasn't very creamy. Also had their refreshing fall harvest salad seems like they usually have specials. I had the sole fish which was pretty thick and very tender came on a small bed as sautéed spinach and a side of rice. My husband got the Lamb -it was a loin cut not chops and ate like a steak. We also liked that it came with the mushroom bread pudding since that seemed interesting and was very very good. I definitely recommend ordering the mushroom bread pudding as aside if it doesn't come with your entrée. We ended with a molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, hard to go wrong with that choice. It was great. They do have some basic dress code rules, such as not wearing flip-flops. There's a pretty decent kids menu, but there's also signage about making sure your kids are well behaved which personally I found too intimidating to bring my kids. Haha. Overall, had a delicious meal and a fun time read more

Shadowbrook - American Near Me - Capitola, California

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I want to start by saying Bo hopefully spelled correctly was training and fantastic! We loved his energy and for him alone I'd give a five star review. We arrived and I wanted to ride down but the trolley wasn't coming. I called to double check if it would be ok to wait for it. No answer. I'm happy we walked down loved the walk it is very pretty and nice. If you're going to book and really want photos or videos I'd say go in the day time. It's very dark and romantic look inside. We made reservations in Pacifica the night before and these reservations at shadowbrook were for our actual anniversary. If I had to do it over again I would've switch the reservations out and did Shadowbrook the day before or even Saturday for lunch.. When we arrived, we checked in the gal that went to seat us didn't really greet us or say hello and where she sat us; I was immediately not thrilled because I had wanted to sit next to the water. I said this for my call. I called exactly 30 days before to make these reservations because you can only make them 30 days in advance . My other reservations, I made them about 45 days in advance. When you call to make reservations, the way they tell you about the cancellation fee is a little off putting. I ate many places where they have the cancellation fee, however it is said a little bit more tactful. From the very beginning when we were asked about the wine list and I said we do not drink my husband said he felt uncomfortable because Dimitri made him feel like he thought he was broke . We just choose not to drink and drive and our faith and relationship it's been a beautiful choice for us and it was our anniversary so that was offputting in the very beginning We didn't let that bother us too much, but Bo was extremely nice and checked on us constantly filling our drinks and asking if we needed anything. He smiled and was happy. There was a point when my husband asked for a different straw Dimitri the way he told my husband that the straw he had which was kind of a mixer. I traded my husband a straw I had however once in my life, I did waitressing and I would've just traded it out, especially for the entire experience They do offer photos for birthdays. It is complementary. My husband wanted one which I thought was sweet. The cost is two dollars. Very minimal. I did notice that after I gave my American Express card. It seemed things change. You never know who you're serving. Let me skip to the food if you come here, please get the bacon wrap shrimp It is so good. The photos definitely don't do it justice. It was both our favorites. We skipped soup and salad because I really wanted dessert. Bacon wrap shrimp 5-5 My husband ordered the chipotle Alfredo. He said the sauce was really really good with the chicken breast. He said the chicken breast was amazing. 5-5 I ordered the scallops. They were delicious. 5-5 I've been to many restaurants over the years everything from the low end to the very high end this one for me I would say is a 3.5 and honestly with Bo it became a five but I do have to include all the other stuff for future guest. For something romantic and more secluded, I would choose somewhere else. These tables are a little close together. It is a great experience. Would I eat here again? Yes, definitely, I would come here in the daytime with the girls or something. I would not come here for my anniversary again or my birthday. For two entrees one appetizer, one dessert one soda, one iced tea. The cost was $160 gave a $30 tip and hope Bo received it as he did the work. We did ride the trolley back up the best thing about it was the couple that rode with us. They were super sweet. They come here often and we actually walked down the stairs with them too sweet warm couple. If I brought my granddaughter here, I would definitely only want to do it in the daytime so that way she could view everything and see it. You don't truly get the experience at night time, read more

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Food : 8/10 . Ambience : 11/10 Service :10 / 10 I mean the place has a funicular!! There is no place like Shadowbrook in the Bay Area. A historic business built into the side of a cliff going down to a creek / river. The food has always been solid and consistent. they do standard American fare and do it well. Their steak specials are always great. Where they shine the most is the location. Suggest walking through all the rooms to pick where you want to sit ( you will need to call ) . We hope to keep coming back ! read more

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Starting to the drive up there is stunning driving through the tall redwoods. There is a dress code and you need reservations to sit in the main rooms. Arrive the walk down is pretty see some small waterfalls enjoy the walk take some pictures enjoy the moment.. take the cable car up or down cool get some smooches in here nice and cozy. Romantic lighting Andrew took care of us greets you right away bring the drinks and spaces himself out to take order and bring food also take pictures for you as well. We ordered the spinach salad suggested we split it is big enough of course a small charge to split. Everything has fee even the menu you small print at bottom 4%. An amazing experience prime rib 8oz is perfect size mashed potatoes are creamy buttery spinach I really liked it it's an earthy taste with a hint of rosemary I enjoyed them husband didn't like it. Prime rib was good and the horseradish complement the prime rib. We came from out of town to try this and it did not disappoint. read more

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Always a five star experience here! This is my 4th or 5th time and it is always wonderful. We had a later evening reservation and it was still really busy! We of course took the cable car at the entry down to dinner which is such a cool experience and necessary when dining here. Founded in 1947, Shadowbrook has been known for "romance in dining". Beginning with the atmosphere, the amazing food, and considering fantastic service, it is a must have experience and we highly recommend trying it at least once. However once you do, I am confident you will be back. The short ribs were so tender, full of deep full bodied flavor and the salmon was cooked perfectly. The mud pie was delightful- the only regret is only ordering one to share instead of two! read more

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What a beautiful restaurant. Food and service and ambiance everything was top notch Every food item we ordered was delicious from the salmon, filet mignon truffle Gnocchi, prime rib. read more

Shadowbrook is such a charming spot! We rode the cute cable car-style hillside tram from the top down to the restaurant--so fun and unique. We went for our anniversary and everything was amazing: attentive service, delicious food with generous portions (we even took home what we couldn't finish!), and a cozy window seat. Definitely making this our yearly anniversary spot! read more

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Wow! I already want to go back. The prime rib was so tasty, perfectly cooked. The ambience is very romantic and pretty, by far the most beautiful restaurant I've been to ever. Service was excellent, the servers are personable and I felt they really do their best to ensure you have the best dining experience. read more

Shadowbrook - American Near Me - Capitola, California

I've been coming here for years. The ambiance is amazing, all the rooms have their own theme and the architecture of the building is gorgeous! If you ever come here take the time to just walk around the restaurant and look at everything. We came here for my girlfriend's birthday and were treated so well! Our servers were so wonderful and attentive it really made the experience! Only downside was that the food wasn't very hot when it came out, but they were pretty busy so I can't hold it against them. Overall I love this restaurant! read more

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We had a five star experience at Shadowbrook restaurant. I went for my birthday celebration and it did not disappoint. It was extremely whimsical and classy. The food was delicious as well as the presentation and our waiter. Andrew was incredible. Really wonderful From start to finish and can't wait to go back for another event. I definitely felt super honored and like we got incredible treatment. We never felt rushed and had a wonderful evening. read more

The food was okay, nothing particularly special--but the views and atmosphere definitely boosted the overall experience for me which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. Shadowbrook is a very romantic restaurant from the beautiful garden to the fun cable-car you can ride! I was very happy with our table and where we got seated as it was a corner table in the room, overlooking the river. Highly recommend making reservations in advance as it is a very busy spot. Depending on the time you arrive, parking can be a little tough but there are a couple parking lots specific to the restaurant you can check out. The service was great, our server was very attentive. She answered any questions we had and provided recommendations. For the appetizer, my husband and I thought the Bacon-Wrapped Prawns were better than the Seared Ahi. For entree, the Butchers Filet was better than the Blackened Ribeye Steak. If you have a special occasion or going on a date, definitely worth checking out if you appreciate a nice view. read more

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Wow, I can't rave enough about this place!! I made a reservation for 8 of us to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday, and I already can't wait to hopefully come back again. The ambience and experience here was magical, and although the food could've been a bit better, everything else made up for it. It was very easy to make a reservation through Yelp, and they placed us in a private dining room (without me asking!) That was so nice because we could intimately celebrate my dad's birthday. You can also call the number to order a free ride (with recommended tips) from a vintage taxi that will pick you up anywhere within 3 miles. The car we ended up riding in was really cool and from NYC, and our driver, Greg, was also very friendly and prompt. When we arrived, we lined up to take the red tram down to the restaurant, which was also so unique! I would recommend getting there early if you have a reservation, since the line for the tram can take a while, and there is only one. Each tram fits 6 people, so we had to wait for the tram for our entire party. There were multiple different dining areas, and each was unique and beautiful. I would love to be seated in different rooms moving forward. There is so much beautiful greenery as well as natural light. We ordered the blackened ribeye steak which was juicy and delicious, and the baked Brie had a unique jalapeño jelly which was interesting. The other items were good but not amazing, which were the scallops, shrimp scampi, calamari, and clam chowder. The shrimp scampi was the one we were most disappointed with; it did not even look like a classic shrimp scampi. However, it was all over a great experience, and we had a great server, who made my dad's birthday better. The creme brulee was also absolutely delicious! Can't wait to come back. read more

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From stepping my first foot in the door I knew I was in for a lovely night. We came to Shadowbrook for a company event, and while we were a rowdy bunch and brought a high volume of folks, the staff saw to our every need efficiently and with gusto. They had us set up near the water in an enclosed balcony allowing privacy without taking away from the ambiance. The baked Brie and fried artichoke starters were delicious and paired well with the assorted wine and cocktail selections. The meal itself was excellent but it truly was the service that brought this experience home for me. Constantly ready with new drinks, extra napkins, recommendations, and even answers to silly questions. Highly recommend for a corporate event or an intimate date night, you'll have a great time. read more

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I was in town visiting my recently UCSB graduate daughter and she told me about this one-of-a-kind establishment. I took her and her room mates her for a Saturday evening dinner and it couldn't have been better. Definitely ride the car down the incline on your way to the entrance. We were graciously shown to our table. The service was professional, timely, and friendly. The menu included classics and innovative dishes and everyone, from steak eaters to vegetarians, found something to love. read more

Loved my experience here! The restaurant is so cute and romantic. When I mentioned my vegan diet and allium allergy, they said it was no problem at all--and even pulled out a book listing every ingredient in every dish so we could double-check. I had the tofu, vegetable, and coconut rice dish made allium-free, along with a salad also made allium-free. Our server made me feel so well accommodated. Definitely take the gondola down to the restaurant--it's worth it! read more

Shadowbrook - Tofu, coconut rice & vegetables. Vegan. - American Near Me - Capitola, California

Nestled on a hill along side the river, this once home turned into local iconic romantic dining restaurant. Take the hillavator down or the beautiful landscaped stairs to main entrance. There are numerous rooms to dine in, for our first time here we were in the garden room. Early evening reservation with a view of the water, and paired with an October rain storm was the idillilic experience. We started with the calamari appetizer. The sweet chili dipping size was my favorite. Shared a Cesar salad to try their famous croutons, they were cheesy and flavorful. Romain lettuce was crisp and dressing was enjoyable. I tried the ribeye special for the night and it was delicious perfectly cooked medium, tender. My husband opted for the blackened prime rib and he really enjoyed it, said it was the best prime rib he has tried in a long time. For dessert with finished off with the molten cake topped with Marriane's vanilla bean ice cream. Overall this was an amazing dining experience highly recommended making the reservation and celebrating your special occasion here. If no reservation may dine in the rock room which we will try next time. read more

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Came here on a Sunday a few weeks ago, party of 2, with reservations for 2pm. My friend and I shared the appetizers (got the baked brie, ahi tuna), we got a cocktail each (I got the pear pleasure, $15), and I got the scallops entree. We got out of there for around $87 per person and I ended up taking half my entree home because I was so full. Pros: - Very beautiful ambiance, with a fun "trolley" ride down to the restaurant (I think this part is overhyped on social media because you do have to wait in a line and it's not the most comfortable ride if there's 6 people in it at capacity, but overall worth the experience once). We ended up just taking the stairs back up to our car when we were done. - Pretty organized restaurant with excellent service - I can see the effort put into making sure people are called in on time (you check in at the hostess station and they'll give you one of those vibrating timer things for when they're ready to seat you). - We had an excellent table view by the window, overlooking the river outside. Was very entertaining to wave to paddle boarders and see the sky while we ate. - Some of the food was VERY unique and delicious - the baked brie was definitely the star of the show and I would come back just for this dish - the brie make look small when it comes, but it's deliciously baked inside this croissant, and it comes with a jalapeno jelly that may look suspicious when it first comes, but it is very delicious and I had never tasted anything like that before. It had a small kick but wasn't overly spicy, and was really yummy when you spread it over the cracker that comes with the brie. My friend and I agreed this was definitely our favorite. I also liked the pear pleasure cocktail with the sugar rim! - Designated parking lot a minute walk from the restaurant, was not crowded when we came on a Sunday afternoon. - The interior of the restaurant is fun to explore while you're waiting for your table, they have an old menu displayed, little merch to look at, etc. - All the workers we encountered were super professional and nice, including the hostess, the server, and the people bussing our plates. They also box your food for you after. - The dress code doesn't seem to be overly fancy or strictly enforced in the afternoon - I came in jeans, a nice jacket, and slim sneakers and I did not feel out of place. I think for lunch hours it's similar to resort attire. - Entree portions are pretty large, so I think you're getting your money's worth. - For a restaurant that I thought would be exorbitantly expensive, I actually think the price matched the quantity and quality of food we got. Not bad for American food, and I would consider this 1 step down from "fine dining" - the garden area around the restaurant is fun to walk around, very romantic - fun 70s-80s theming, so if you're not into this, you might not see the hype Cons: - I think I expected more flavor from the scallop dish, and it came with an overabundance of mashed potatoes. I think after hearing people rave about the food on social media, I was expecting way more (which might not be the restaurant's fault actually) - Can be tough to navigate the restaurant if you have mobility disabilities - lots of stairs to get to some parts of the dining area, so I would definitely specify on your reservation if you have any needs they could accommodate Overall, I liked that Shadowbrook was kind of its own excursion in addition to a nice meal. I think that the service was exceptional and it's not SO fancy that you would feel out of place being a middle class person. I can see why people love it for special occasions since it does feel very romantic (probably more so at dinner than at lunch). I wouldn't drive from the East Bay just for this, but it was a lovely experience since we happened to be in the Santa Cruz area already. Highly recommend to try it out! If the entree and ahi tuna appetizer were a little bit tastier, I would have given it a solid 5. Come for the brie and jalapeno jelly!!! read more

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Reserved a table here for our family to celebrate hubby's birthday. I made the reservation on open table and noted it was my husband's birthday. Then I saw you need to call to reserve the complementary taxi so I called and the gentleman who answered saw the note on the reservation and said how they bring out a dessert, sing happy birthday, and take a Polaroid photo as a souvenir then said he will make another note to make sure our server knows when we get there. The start of the evening was perfect. We got picked up by the old school taxi on time, setting was beautiful, we were seated timely for our reservation. When the server came with menus (yes the hostess didn't give menus, the server comes later with it) I snuck in that we were there for hubby's bday. Food was nothing extraordinary. We ordered fried artichokes and baked brie. The baked brie was good with the jalapeño jelly. For entrees we ordered: New York strip (special of the night 12 oz for $60)- although the sauce it was smothered in was good, I regretted ordering this. The steak was chewy and the asparagus overcooked. I thought it was supposed to be garlic potatoes but tasted just like regular fries. Lamb- probably the best entree- flavorful without being smothered in sauce and the mushroom type cake and caramelized onion puree complemented it well. Chicken parmigiana: nothing special Pork chop: pork chop had good flavor but the sides were not good (sweet potato mash that tasted like baby food and boiled purple cabbage that lacked flavor- they changed out the Brussel sprouts which they let us know in advance but didn't give a reason why) Reason for the lack of stars: at the end, I had gone to the restroom and during that time my husband and kids declined the dessert menu. Upon my return, they were boxing up the left overs and the bill came. I was under the impression they would still bring some complementary something heck even just a candle and sing happy birthday and take a photo. Nothing... Maybe they don't do anything to celebrate bdays but then why make a big deal about it over the phone when I made the reservations? Or if I had to order a dessert let me know when I made the reservation that was required for me to get the bday photo. Anyways, we left disappointed. We needed a taxi back to our hotel so we informed the hostess. They told us there was a 25 min back up and we can go back up the tram and wait upstairs. Well there was no system in place for this so when the taxi arrived there were various groups waiting and no one knew who was supposed to be next to be taken home. Nice start to a crappy finish... would not celebrate another occasion here. read more

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The venue, ambiance, and service were top tier here. I highly recommend taking the trolley down. When you get there there are multiple rooms with different themes (randomized seating). Favorites are the greenhouse and main room. Food was good but not amazing. I had the puff pastry, clam chowder, and black truffle gnocchi. Clam chowder 10/10 perfect Puff pastry 8/10 sauce was ok Gnocchi 7/10 could use more flavor in the cream and gnocchi texture wasn't my favorite GOOD FOR: dates, group outing, family, views (river and interior views) read more

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Did you really go to Capitola if you did not visit Shadowbrook?!?! My daughter insisted that I take my wife here, so here we are. Quality/Quantity - We got the following specials: Watermelon-Prosciutto Salad - Not bad. Well my wife really liked it. Refreshing. Decent portions (for one person) and we are light eaters. Creamy Salmon Pappardelle - Sadly, VERY disappointed. I felt the salmon was over cooked. And the noodles were definitely NOT pappardelle pasta! The noodles looked identical to my wife's tagliatelle pasta. See pictures. At best, this was a 3 star dish. I should have gotten my ribeye... Beef Stroganoff - The better of the two dishes. Probably a solid 4 stars. The complimentary bread was SO good!! Hearty! I actually asked for a second roll. As a light eater, I was able to finish my entree and two bread rolls, plus a sample tasting of my wife's salad. This might give you an idea for portions, plus my pictures. Oh, and prior to dinner, I visited two breweries... 3 pints, snacks, etc. Again, gives you an idea of the quantity of food served. Lastly, complimentary chocolates. Atmosphere - Interesting. A must visit. Small 6 person tram or a maze of a walk through the garden. We did both. During peak hours, there can be a wait for the tram. Plus, the inside is like a maze; my pictures do NOT do it justice. We came back the second day with our daughter, so she could also see and experience the above. Plenty of parking, they also have an overflow lot. Service - 5 Stars. Very professional. Very accommodating. Price - $84 + tip; includes a 4% surcharge. We felt expensive for what we got. I felt that we were paying more for the atmosphere and service rather than the actual food. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1947. 1958 - Cable car added. 1972 - New owners. Added a cupola entry and a deck by the river. 1978 - New owners and current owners = Ted Burke and his partner Bob Munsey. 1980 - Wine cellar added. 1992 - New landscaping and paths. read more

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Praise this place for holding our reservation for 45 minutes as we were stuck in traffic. The food is so amazing. The baked Brie was incredible with the bread toast perfect and the lime like sauce tasty. The clam chowder was a little salty for my taste. The prime rib I shared with my daughter. Drinks were good too. Had a Tito dry martini. Daughter had French 75. Ended with outstanding crème brûlée and mango sherbet. Everything tasted like homemade. Atmosphere and service is beyond comprehension. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend. read more

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First time dining here and been wanting to for a long time. Place is gorgeous and extremely well kept. Staff were attentive and very kind. Very impressed by them. Food was mediocre at best and not very impressive. Wife and I shared a wedge salad that was great except the rock hard, overcooked and tasteless cubes of pork belly. Should replace with what a traditional wedge salad comes with, quality smoked bacon. My wife ordered one of the special's which was a Chilean sea bass. Very dry, overcooked and tasteless for such a delicate and moist white fish. The sweet plum sauce was too sweet and did not go with the rest of that dish. I ordered the blackened prime rib. I had the better of the two meals, but again it was nothing extraordinary. Glad we went and experienced such a pretty and special place. If we go again, it's not for the food. read more

Beautiful restaurant, must experience it. It took us too long to sit us, so we had drinks and those ruined my teens appetite and I was way too hungry... end up with a tummy ache. Appetizers were delicious but heavy, clam chowder uneventful. Other dishes were good. read more

My girlfriend and I chose Shadowbrook for our 1-year anniversary based on its reputation as one of the most romantic restaurants in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, the experience did not come close to expectations. We booked weeks in advance and arrived early, but were left waiting because the "seating director" was unavailable. During that time, multiple staff members stood around chatting or on their phones while guests accumulated at the front. I observed a group of employees standing by the bar, also just chatting about non-work related things. After about ten minutes, we were finally seated by someone who had been idle the entire time. Yes, that's right. The person who was "unavailable" had been sitting there the entire time. We were seated in a humid room, despite many open tables, and uncomfortably close to another couple. We were so close to them it felt like we were there *with* them! Our server was friendly and professional, which was the one bright spot of the evening. The food, however, was consistently deeply disappointing. Aside from the clam chowder, everything arrived lukewarm at best. The bacon-wrapped prawns were tough and barely warm. My Beef Wellington was particularly poor and overcooked to the point of being rubbery, with only the pastry redeeming it slightly. Even the mashed potatoes were cold. When I raised the issue, the server handled it appropriately and offered a replacement. I ordered a filet mignon, but it took roughly 20 minutes to arrive. By that point, my girlfriend had already finished her meal, leaving us to eat separately on what was supposed to be a special occasion. Despite the issues, the bill arrived with no adjustments. On the way out, I spoke with the manager, who apologized and promised to follow up the following Tuesday. That call never came. For a $250 dinner, this experience fell far short of the restaurant's reputation. Between the disorganized service, poor execution in the kitchen, and lack of follow-through from management, this was not a romantic or memorable evening for the right reasons. Based on this visit, the value is nowhere near the price point, and I would not return. read more

I felt like I had to do a bit of research to understand that they only served a smaller menu at lunch time and that it was considered the "Rockroom lounge". Having understood that, we knew what we wanted to order when we arrived at around 12:30pm. Parking was plentiful on a Monday. As we strolled our way to the actual entrance down the street, there was a slight doubt at first as we approached the trolley. But we pushed the button for down and it was exactly like an elevator. The trolley made its way up and we made our way into a slightly crammed space, 2 of us and a stroller. When we arrived we were given a choice to dine inside or outside, and due to the beautiful weather, outside it was. Surprisingly, the heat lamps were on, so it was actually a little too warm, and the serving staff said they were unable to turn off the lamps. We shared a clam chowder, the shadowbrook house salad, and the sirloin steak. All the food was good. I appreciated the herbs (thyme especially) in the clam chowder; I felt that gave an edge to other clam chowders. I wouldn't say the house salad was anything crazy, but it was refreshing, and maybe just slightly overdressed. We did end up bringing this one home and added some more mixed greens to it. And finally, the steak was nicely cooked. The fingerling potatoes had a nice crisp to them, and the salad was also refreshing and added a different flavor than the house salad. Service was pleasant, although at times a bit slow until our food started to come out. Overall a nice meal out on a pleasant day in Capitola. Not sure how often I would make a special trip out here, but it was certainly a cute atmosphere for a nice quiet lunch with a lovely view and trolley ride. read more

Shadowbrook - Top sirloin steak with fingerling potatoes and salad (lunch) - American Near Me - Capitola, California

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Really cool spot--probably the most unique restaurant I've been to in terms of location and atmosphere. You actually take a cable car down to the restaurant (or stairs if you don't want to wait). The place is huge, with lots of little rooms to explore, and I like how they space guests out so even though they can accommodate a lot of people, you still get some privacy. It's built on a steep slope next to a creek, and they've made great use of the space. Parking is decent, and they even offer a cab service if you're within a certain radius. Service was good. They start you off with warm bread and whipped butter, which was tasty. The Caesar salad was excellent--well tossed and dressed. My prime rib (I went with the blackened option) was solid, with a thick, flavorful crust of seasoning that I enjoyed. The shrimp scampi, however, was bland overall, and the shrimp themselves were overcooked and rubbery--probably frozen. The Calabrian chilies in the dish were a nice touch, though. read more

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Spectacular ambiance, stunning beauty, excellent service, reasonable prices considering the touristy location, but mediocre food. I had the Beef Wellington, which was shaped into individual pot pies. The beef was a bit overcooked, not great quality, and lacked flavor. The sauce was excellent. It was served with excellent whipped potatoes and nicely crunchy and buttered green beans, but some of which were rotten and should never have been plated. A bottle of OK Pinot Gris was only $30. Husband had the baked rainbow trout in a meuniere (buttery) sauce with trout roe. It was baked, not fried. Very nice. But it was served on top of extremely bitter sauteed greens, maybe Swiss Chard, not sure. But horribly bitter. Do the cooks not taste their own creations? The fingerling potatoes were under cooked and inedible. Had an outdoor view table on the water. I used to live right across the river in the early 1980s, so returning here was delightful. Nothing has changed. Service could not have been more perfect. The menu and kitchen execution needs a bit of editing and tweaking. Dinning at The Shadowbrook is always magical. Would definitely return, but order other items. read more

This is a restaurant you have to go to at least once in your life. Can't recommend enough! We got a steak and the pork chop. Both of us agreed it was the best we have ever had, along with their clam chowder also being the best we've tried. The service was excellent, never left unattended glasses always full, every want/need met. Deserts were amazing. Definitely worth the price for the experience. The ambiance is so pretty, and fun (the kart that takes you down to the restaurant) amazing place for a good occasion or date night! read more

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Been here a handful of times for special events like birthdays. It has an intimate and cozy feel to it. It is definitely an overall experience you should try whether you're a local or not. Food is good, staff is attentive/friendly, the only real tip I can give is to try and get a table in the larger open sections so you don't feel crammed or forced to listen to the conversation next to you. Time of day you visit also changes the experience, aim to arrive before sunset. Cheers. read more

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Shadowbrook is incredible! we began by waiting at the top of the entrance, in order to ride the vintage cable car down the slope (cliff? mountain? I'm from Florida lol). So cool - like descending through time into a paradise. This was so fun and novel in itself, all before even seeing the restaurant itself! Exiting the cable car and walking in, it was difficult to discern if this was an outdoor or indoor restaurant, because the interior is filled with plants and fountains and the outdoor spaces peek in and out of all the indoor spaces. I loved taking in this plant-filled paradise of rambling rooms with spectacular views, looking up to the top in spots and looking down over the water in others, enjoying the ambient, classy, yet aptly quirky vibe. We sat in a nook in the middle of it all. I enjoyed the braised angus beef short rib, which came with mashed potatoes, carrots, turnips, and pine nut gremolata. The short rib was so good, and the vegetables were flavorful and complemented each bite of tender short rib. I savored this wonderful meal in a wonderful place with wonderful company. Thanks, Shadowbrook, for a meal to remmember! read more

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Took my husband here for his birthday! The ambiance deserves a 5 ! The drinks very good- service - we had clam chowder, Cesar salad to start off with. They were very good. I ordered the shrimp scampi with linguine and it needed some flavor - my husband had the NY steak with fries and asparagus and the steak was a disappointment- a bit overcooked and lacking taste - the asparagus were very good ! We also ordered a side of smoked Gouda potatoes au gratin and that was by far super yummy!! Definitely worth going but next time we'll have to try something different! read more

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