In town visiting and used trusty Yelp to find a spot to eat in the area. This place did not…read moredisappoint. From the service to the ambiance and not to mention the food. Drool!! I definitely want to come back next time I'm in town. Check this spot out if you like good seafood and a chill vibe. The ceviche had a nice kick to it which made it yummy. Although I think they could have provided more tortillas with it. They only give two halves of a tortilla for a large dish of ceviche. Mussels...just get it. You won't be disappointed.

If you're headed to Santa Cruz and craving a memorable dine,…read moreHook & Line should be first in line. One of the few spots where people actually dress to impress, Perfect for date night or celebrating life's success. The cocktails were stellar, I couldn't resist, The Emerald stole the show and topped my list. Bright, refreshing, with green chile bringing a gentle spicy kiss, Balanced so well, it's hard to miss. Three kinds of oysters, fresh from the sea, Briny, clean, and as fresh as can be. The tomato & pluot salad sourced from the farmers market stand, Summer on a plate, crafted by a thoughtful hand. The Brussels sprouts were among the best I've had anywhere, Every flavor complemented the next with care. The risotto was garden fresh, light, and bright, The kind of summer comfort that gets everything just right. But save room, don't call it a night just yet, The dessert is one you won't forget. Homemade vanilla ice cream with olive oil and sea salt on top, One magical spoonful, and your heart might just stop. A few tips before you make your way: Reserve ahead, tables don't usually stay. They also have a happy hour that's worth checking out too, Whether it's a special occasion or fun with friends, this place delivers through and through.

The restaurant views alone were worth it alone. Nice food, the fish and chips were no way like the…read moreBritish kind and the fish is breaded not fried. Service was slow but would still recommend

The food was as good as I was hoping it would be…read more The Crab Cakes were well seasoned and the sauce was tasty. Zucchini sticks are always good. The cheese didn't have an overpowering salty Parmasianish taste. The batter had flavor. WAIT a few minutes before eating. They WILL be HOT and burn your mouth. Which means they were made fresh.. *Not pictured* The Clam Chowder is good. Not thick but not watery. Very peppery which I like. Had enough seasoning. Had celery in it, which I'm not a fan of but I couldn't taste it so that was nice. I wanted the Mahi Mahi to have more of a charcoal/smoke flavor, but the Mahi Mahi was firm, moist, and didn't need salt. The bacon cheeseburger was a bacon cheeseburger..pretty good from what I was told. I'd eat here again..maybe try the soups or seafood pasta dishes next time? The service was ok, didn't get to order any soda/drinks but was provided glasses of water. The food came out quickly. The bartender could be heard shaking and making mixed drinks and cocktails. I'll order one at the bar next time. We were seated at the end of the restaurant by the Manager's Office near the cashier. It's a nice view.

Staff was friendly, service was great and the food was delicious. I recommend the eggs Benedict.read more

You know the spot is good when it also becomes your family's go-to spot…read more I recommend Harbor Cafe to everyone. Not only does it have my favorite breakfast burrito, but the staff are all so so so nice. It is the perfect ambiance - casual, fun, just incredible vibes. Everything I've ever ordered has been divine. We live about an hour away but always make a trip out for brunch.

My family had dinner here for the 1st time. not only was our food really good but the staff was…read moreextremely nice, attentive & accommodating. We came from San Francisco & spent the day at the boardwalk. It was dinner time & we didn't know where to eat & majority of places closed at 9pm. However, based off good reviews we found this place nearby. We weren't sure if they would allow us to dine in since we arrived pretty late around 8:40pm. Luckily, the waitresses didn't hesitate to seat our party of 6. (3 hungry kids & 3 adults) We ordered the: -Garlic New York Steak- medium rare & it was so good. Cooked perfectly & topped with roasted garlic. Mixed in the garlic herb butter with the mashed potatoes. It was delish! - Mac & cheese: we ordered a large & it was really yummy & enough for all of us to share. - Tiramisu: I was excited to order this and it did not disappoint. I'm always on the hunt for a good piece of tiramisu, as it's hard to find especially infused with rum. Not only was the flavor & texture perfect, it was paired with whip cream sprinkled with cocoa powder & strawberries. Such a tasty combination. Also, I'd like to give a special shout out to our waitress & chef for being so accommodating to us. They stayed open way after closing time & didnt rush us. For one of our entrees, as we cut the steak, we accidentally dropped 1/2 of it. Since it was our fault we weren't going to ask for another steak. However, when our waitress found out, she asked the chef to make another one. Surprisingly, they were very generous to give us an entire new plate. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and will be sure to dine here again during our next visits!

The water street grill was a nice little hole in the wall. It is quite small but in a cozy way…read morerather than cramped. The service was excellent and the servers make sure you are well taken care of all the way through. However, some of the food items were hit or miss. We started off with the calamari appetiser which for 18 dollars was a bit disappointing. It was greasy and a bit chewy, lacking flavor as well. Then we ordered our mains which were the garlic steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes and the new york with prawns, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. The new york was beautifully cooked however the garlic steak was slightly overcooked yet still marinated wonderfully. The mashed potatoes were really good but the roasted potatoes were rather gummy and a bit lukewarm. The asparagus were some of the best we've ever had. We also ordered a side of garlic bread with mozzarella but it was more akin to a ciabatta bun with shredded cheese on top. Overall some of the food was incredible, and some was lacking, but the service was amazing.

I will give this great place a 5 star rating is because the food is amazing! I stopped in to get…read moresome great food. I asked for a burger (they are amazing) and a side of fries. I asked to get a small portion of fries and salad like I usually do (they would split the portion so it's smaller for each) and the chef/manager denied it. I spoke to him mentioning how this has not been an issue over the past year I have been coming here. The guy asked me to sit down at a table with him to explain portion sizes and the guy had slurred speech and an extremely strong smear of liquor radiating from him. I asked if he is on the clock and he said I will be in a few minutes. Doesn't seem like a good idea to be wasted at work. This guy has created some very good tasting foods (hence why I like to return) and the prices are reasonable. The owner is a super sweet gal and you can tell she's pouring her heart and soul into this spot. It has a perfect view of the harbor while you enjoy some good eats. Even though this guy was wasted today, it won't detour me from returning for the 5 star food flavors! He later came to my table as I am indulging in a burger that explodes with flavor and apologized for being brash. I shook his hand and told him there are no hard feelings. I complimented him on his menu, flavors of the foods, and told him we will still be coming in. Do come check this place out as you'll will leave impressed by the food if you know what good food tastes like.

We had a staycation in Scotts Valley, found this place and made my trip fantastic! We ordered 6…read moreoysters, Pan-roasted halibut, and Dungeness Crab Bucatini. All are above expectations. Price is affordable and it's the best value with great service and food. Ambiance is great it's playing World Cup and my dog enjoys seeing other dogs, they allow interior seating with dog too! If I have to pick one, I highly recommend Dungeness Crab Bucatini, they are generous with the crab meat. I'll definitely come again when I'm in the area :)

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

I had never heard of this place before, but happened to come across it when looking for a place to…read morehave dinner. The food looked amazing and the reviews were also pretty good so we decided to give it a try. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. The outdoor seating is covered and heaters are available. We sat indoors since it was pretty cold. We were immediately seated and greeted by multiple of their staff that night. I tried their fettuccine Alfredo and I believe it was their spaghetti and meatballs as well? We were also provided with bread while we waited for our food. Everything was really good. Our food was ready pretty fast and our server was very attentive. There's parking available, they offer dessert, but they are also right next to a frozen yogurt shop!

The best experience I've ever had! From the moment I arrived, everything was absolutely…read moreexceptional. The bartender was phenomenal--friendly, knowledgeable, and crafted some of the best drinks I've ever had. The oysters were unbelievably fresh and absolutely to die for. Every member of the staff provided outstanding service, making me feel genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. To top it all off, the view was absolutely breathtaking. It truly doesn't get any better than this. I can't wait to come back!

Service A+! Larry was attentive and warm…read more I had the branzino which was grilled perfectly! Accompanied by the best grits and veggies. A++! My husband had the pasta and clams and raved about the sauce!

Great times, good vibes! I forgot to take a pic of my Mr.Makai drink but it was delicious, strong…read morebut flavorful. The servers were very nice, just a bit busy with all the tables so it did take a little while for service but nothing unreasonable. Loved the loco moco I would say it was a little hot for medium well perhaps the toppings made it cook a little more after plating but it was proper juicy and seasoned. The bbq plate was great, the flavors were pretty much the same but different textures depending on what meat you were trying. The kalbi was really thick! Would definitely stop by again to see what's going on with the food or drink menu.

Makai is located almost at the end of the Santa Cruz pier. It's a cute tiki themed restaurant with…read morea revolving bar and a small outdoor patio. The drinks here are very eye catching and palate pleasing too! I got the mahamellow (non alcoholic) and my fiancé got the Mr Makai. For lunch, I ordered the Hawaiian fried chicken and he got the loco moco. Both meats were severely under-seasoned, like zero seasoning. That was sad. The Mac salad hit though. Super creamy, just the way I like it! Our server was Liam and he was excellent. He checked on us just enough and was nice too. It was a bit off putting there were bunches of flies congregating in parts of the restaurant. $3 per 20 minutes of parking but I think it maxes out at $24/day. I'd come back for the drinks and would dabble apps in the future.