Ate here 2 days in a row! Delicious shrimp cocktail and it was enough for 2 people. First day I had sole that was very tasty! Husband had Halibut that was moist and delicious! Second day had a prawn cocktail that was soooo good! Huge serving as well. Tried the bass and was not disappointed.. Husband has Ernesto's pasta that was delicious. Would return if in the area!! read more

Nice indoor seating, great food, but best thing here today was our waitress. She was very cool, she checked in with us and took her time to be friendly. The place is still nice to eat at, even though the view is weird now because of the (waves vaguely at the missing piece of wharf) situations. I had the classic chowder in a sourdough bowl, because sometimes you just have to eat chowder in a sourdough bowl, and it was really good, especially with a good shot of fresh ground pepper on it, Partner had the crab salad sandwich and a cosmo. He wa very happy with both. read more

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Was down in Santa Cruz for an event and had a day to spare to go do something fun. I'd always liked restaurants with good food, in a great location, with amazing views. Unfortunately, you don't always get all there together. Sure, this place is obviously very touristy, the prices are quite up there, but we figured that with so many good reviews we'd go try it out. Parking on the Wharf was not too bad. You pick up a parking ticket at the entrance, pay $1 for about each 20 minutes, and then pay the attendant in the booth as you exit. So, this restaurant is situated at the very end of the wharf... easy to find, and great place to take photos. The inside reminds me of a 60/70s diner with lots of big windows and great water views..... pleasant, nostalgic, and casual. The menu is quite extensive with lots of delicious classic seafood favorites... fried seafood, sandwiches, salads, pastas, and a few specialty dishes. I read that their clam chowder was also very good, so of course we had to try it. Anyway, we ordered a cup of clam chowder and coconut prawns to start off, followed by the fish and chips dinner, and Ernesto's fisherman's pasta. The clam chowder tasted good, had lots of potatoes and clams, chowder was thick and creamy, but it was ruined by arriving at our table luke warm at best.... very disappointing. We wanted to send it back, but couldn't find our server anywhere, so we decided to just eat it as is. The coconut shrimp wasn't bad, bury unfortunately, the coconut shavings on they're outside were slightly fried too long, but yet again, we couldn't find our server you send it back. Then came the fish and chips and pasta. The fish was perfectly coated and fried, the fish was nice and flaky, moist, and delicious... without being oily on the outside. However, the fries were not hot at all. Fortunately, this time we managed to spot our server, called her over, and explained that we'd like to exchange Pete luke warm fries for a fresh batch of hot ones. Our server was very nice about it and gladly went to get is some fresh, hot out ogg the fryer fries, and this time, they were just perfect! However, by the time they came out, we had almost finished the fish. Lastly, the fisherman's pasta actually saved the whole very mediocre food experience so far. It was warm, but not hot, but at least it was cooked well, and tasted really delicious! The sauce was just yummy, without being salty tasting. Overall, our dining experience here was ok... needs a lot of improvement in many areas, but at least the view of the water was a good distraction. Would we come back here again? Probably not. read more

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This is our first time over at Stagnaro Brothers. It was pretty crowded but the service was great! They got us in and out really fast. The food though, was just mediocre at best. I ordered a fish sandwich and honestly, I probably could have gotten it anywhere. But, what you are paying for is the view right off the wharf. Yes, it was a tourist trap and we did get trapped but the views made up for it. Lol. read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Fish Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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They have a take out counter for some of their seafood in the glass case. We decided to order takeout from their restaurant side and eat at some of the outside tables on the wharf. Staff was nice and made sure we had everything in our order when picking up. Plenty of parking on that end of the wharf. Fish tacos were great and were pretty big. The order came with 3 tacos. The clam chowder was good and came with oyster crackers. Kids butter and cheese noodles were simple but perfect for my daughter. She almost finished the whole thing. Calamari had the tentacles and strips. It was fried well and came with tartar and cocktail sauce. read more

Decided to eat here on the way home after spending some time in Salinas California and all they can say is that it was OK. I wish the food was more fresh and tastier but like I said it was OK. It wasn't horrible or anything like that but I just felt like we could've had a better experience with our meal. I had the fried fish and shrimp. My husband also had fish and my father-in-law as well. The restaurant was decent. Maybe it could've been a little bit cleaner but definitely won't probably visit this restaurant again only because it was just OK. I'd rather try another place that's better. read more

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A few of my friends really wanted to try the half crab sando and clam chowder bowl combo here. We met up with a bunch of my other friends and friends of friends here, so we ended up requesting a table for a party of 13. Surprisingly, despite it being the holiday weekend, the restaurant was able to accommodate our entire party at one large table on the upper deck. Shortly after being seated, we were given water and several baskets of sourdough rolls. The rolls were warm and soft upon arrival. As I had not eaten any solid food yet all day, these really hit the spot. A bit after the starter, the waiter came to take our orders. After that, it took a while for the food to arrive in varying intervals. I got the crispy calamari appetizer, not the dinner, as I can't stand coleslaw, and I didn't need the French fries, since the calamari is fried. Suffice it to say, the sourdough rolls were the best it got. My side of the table finished our baskets of rolls and even took some from the other side. As for the main dishes, or in my case, appetizer, the food missed the mark. It was all pretty bland. My other friends we met here were not happy about the choice to go to this restaurant, but it's impossible to find something that will please everyone in such a large group. To be fair, we dined in in the wharf - the most touristy part of Santa Cruz, so I never had high expectations. This is simply your typical seafood restaurant in a coastal college town. read more

Stagnaro Brothers - menu - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Was seated promptly. Service was outstanding. Great veiws.Place was busy yet so attentive. Food was so delicious. Soup bowl was amazing full of flavor.Pasta was amazing full of seafood and great sauce. Huge portions read more

We ordered their award winning calm chowder and it was ok. Lots of seatings and a good view of the ocean.

I was pleasantly surprised by Stagnaro Bros. I expected it to be touristy due to the location, but I think those were some of THE BEST oysters and cucumber gin martinis I've ever had. The Blue Point oysters were so incredibly fresh and pure-tasting and the cucumber gin martini was just so well-balanced. And of course we had to try their clam chowder because it's The Rule. It was good, but nothing special. Current ranking is still: 1. Phil's in Castroville 2. Cadillac Cafe in Watsonville 3. Wooden Nickel in Watsonville Sit upstairs for a beautiful ocean view! read more

My first trip to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk was awesome, and I loved exploring the pier! It has all sorts of restaurants and souvenir shops, which made for a really lively atmosphere. We decided to try Stagnaro's, mainly because I'd heard their clam chowder was incredible. Our waitress was super friendly, which made the experience even better. We also ordered some oysters, which was a first for me. Seeing them served on ice was definitely a unique experience. I enjoyed them, but I could already tell my stomach might protest if I kept going for more. The clam chowder, though, was absolutely amazing. While it didn't quite top the one I had in Monterey, it's definitely a strong contender. Plus, the ocean views from our table were absolutely beautiful. I'm so glad I finally checked it out, and I'm already looking forward to trying some of the other spots on the pier next time! read more

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We had a wonderful time dining with them. The ocean view was Fantastic. Great service and friendly staff. The food was delicious and the drinks menu was great. A lot of choices to choose from. We enjoyed everything... read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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All the way 5star. Stagnora in Santa Cruz board walk is one of a kind to visit. This place is stunning views, incredible friendly service, tasty and delicious food. We order clam chowder, calamari is really fresh. We love the food here is amazing and delicious. Highly recommended to take fast lunch here. We sit outside the restaurant for the stunning views of the place. It really memorable place to take trip for vacations. We really enjoyed the place and over looking of the oceans, the boardwalk and beaches. read more

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It was such a beautiful day to enjoy their delicious and flavorful clam chowder in a bread bowl, they give such a great amount of portion. The bread was soft and fluffy. The crab melt w/ fries that we ordered was very savory and mouth watering. They put a substantial amount of crab they put inside the Crab melt was a lot and was very flavorful. The man at the counter/register that helped me that day was nice and provided great customer service. Overall, I would definitely come back here again and hope to eat inside the restaurant next time. Enjoying great food and nice scenery of the pier was so relaxing. Me and my family enjoyed it! read more

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Beautiful views, good food and friendly service is being served up at Stagnaro Brothers! My family and I can here during a weekend stay and enjoyed some tasty fish dishes while enjoying the views. Our waitress was the sweetest and very attentive to our large party. Their pricing wasn't bad either for the portions that were given. Give them a try if you're wanting a nice dinner. Best part was their vibe is as dressed up or as relaxed as you want it. read more

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Ordered the kids chicken strips and cheese burger and the food was good. All the workers are helpful and nice & welcoming . The got seating with panoramic views of the ocean which is fantastic read more

The food was very good and super fresh, plus the view of the water from the pier was perfect! A special shout out to our server Cameron who really went above and beyond for me and my family. He was super patient, kind and attentive throughout the entire time we were there. The service he gave was outstanding and made the whole experience memorable! read more

Came here for lunch and, honestly, it was pretty underwhelming. Their clam chowder is supposedly "award-winning," but to me it tasted only a step up from canned soup. The oysters didn't taste fresh, which was really disappointing, and the fish and chips were just fine. It would've been better if it didn't have a hair in it... Slightly better than average, but nothing that would make me want to come back unfortunately. The service was great though - our server was a sweetheart! read more

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My mom was visiting from Colorado and wanted to see the beach again so we took her to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. We decided to walk along the pier and the wife had heard good things about Stagnaro Brothers so we stopped in for lunch. The restaurant was pretty full but we got seated almost immediately. My mom ordered the crab salad sandwich, the wife got the fried Red Snapper sandwich and I got the Halibut fish tacos. The wife liked her fish sandwich. My mother ended up just picking the crab out of her sandwich and leaving the bread and everything. My fish tacos were completely overcooked. The pieces of fish were dry and pretty much burned. Our server was friendly but not overly attentive. Overall the experience was pretty "meh". But I've eaten at boardwalk restaurants many times and the food has never been very good. I guess you're just paying for the view and not the quality of the food. read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Red Snapper sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Look, I understand the general guidance that restaurants in touristy areas are generally not very good but Stagnaro's has a solid reputation of supplying seafood to area restaurants so I expected a bit more... A couple of trips, all with essentially the same result. The food isn't bad -- it's just unremarkable and wharf expensive. As an example, consider the $25 crab sandwich. It's shredded crab like you would expect on a salad rather than chunks. Ok amount of crab but no flavor. The supposedly sourdough bread was more like wonder bread, not even toasted. A few pieces of lettuce, tomatoes, and red onion -- no condiments. The fries were... hot. Similar results with fish and chips, I mean fries. Where the vinegar? More crunch on the fish. So where do you get food on the wharf? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

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I've been here a few times over the years seems like the food and service declines every time. The last time I went here the food was ok and the service was non existent had to wave a guy down just to get the bill. There's better options read more

Waited 10 mins each side of the windows and no one took our order. They made eye contact but yet didn't even bother to get our order, and instead ignored us and helped other people first. Bad customer service. read more

Fresh and friendly service! I was drooling over the other dishes that came out but enjoyed my fish and chips! They have great options for kiddos and there is a great view of the ocean since you are right on the wharf. My husband god the Ernesto pasta and friend got the cioppino and I was seriously wishing I had order the rigatoni bc their dishes were full of flavors and fresh! I had fish and chips but the batter was a bland and needed a TON of lemon and hot sauce to add some flavor. The highlight was the clam chowder it was hearty and so good! I would definitely comeback again just to get some other dishes but a great option! It is the very last spot on the wharf so it's a great way to build up the hunger and then walk it walk and enjoy the cool ocean breeze at night! read more

Nice old fashioned seafood restaurant on the wharf so beautiful and so many good memories. Great views of the Santa Cruz bay! Great service, our server was so sweet. That being said, our order was 2 calamari sandwiches with fries. Absolutely no flavor and rubbery. The calamari was plentiful on the ciabatta roll, but no flavor and the fries were hot and crispy but had no seasoning/salt? I tried to add salt from the table and nothing? The salt shaker holes were really too small for the salt to come out. I really tried to like this place from past visits, a sad sign of the times. I'd still hope for improvements because it's such an experience to be had. read more

I usually only post places I love, this is my first non 5 star review!! But it was just such a blah experience, I wanted to redeem myself with another dinner after going here. I came to the ordering window next to the restaurant. My mom and I came on a Tuesday evening around 5. No one in line, we ordered right away and went to sit down at the outside tables which were dirty. My mom asked for a napkin to clean them off and was given one tiny napkin (?!?!?) which did nothing. The couple next to use was feeding the pigeons and if it's one thing I despise, it's people feeding birds in a public space esp while eating. Birds flying everywhere was not the dinner vibe I was going for. Now on to the food, we split the cold crab sandwich(25$) and each had a cup of clam chowder (8$) and two fountain drinks (4$). The food was lackluster. I had clam chowder at Ideal then night before and thought that was much better. The sandwich was sloppily thrown together and fell apart while eating it. It was almost like the Panera of sea food spots. I feel like the food was just thrown together without time care or effort. No napkins came with the meal so we asked for more and got one each. Overall, this was an offputting experience and I have no desire to go back here. The crab sandwich at Oracle park is a million times better than this. If you're looking for dinner, I would not choose this spot on the wharf. read more

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Clam bowl had almost all potatoes, my drinks were mid (not worth 12$) & not only was the cashier chit chatting while helping me & a friend... I tried sitting inside after purchasing food and drinks outside when we walked inside the young lady in front told us "we don't allow outside food" Even though it was purchased with them! Quality & service of the place is declining. It used to be amazing... sucks read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Emma was a great bartender great communication great service The food the crab sandwich was worth it get the full one not half sandwich and a small bowl of clam chowder The fish and chips were not as good as I remember overall the fish and chips 6.5/10 for price point and everything the crab sandwich 9.5/10 read more

Chowder was not good and was Luke warm. Had to send back the coconut shrimp because several were not cooked through. One was very raw inside. They brought a new one and they were good but it was too late in the meal for them and they didn't even credit us at all. Was mis quoted the price for the crab cocktail and it was $10 more after I'd already ordered it. It wasn't that great and wasn't worth the price I paid. It was too cold upstairs with the doors cracked open. Wished we would have just gone to the boardwalk and got fired artichoke. Would not recommend this place at all. Over priced and nope. read more

I was excited to try this restaurant because the reviews said that the clam chowder was the best, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. The food was underwhelming and lacked the flavor I was hoping for. Some dishes tasted bland, while others seemed like they had been sitting out for a while. The portions were decent, but the quality just wasn't there. We told the server the fries weren't good and very soggy and she was like, oh really and she walked away! This place was not good at all! Don't let the review fool you! read more

The Great: Location, inside and out is gorgeous and lovingly maintained. Also Great: The Caesar Salad -- adding Chicken. The lettuce, croutons, dressing just fine. The chicken was prepared to order. This was a fantastic effort and a welcome surprise. Moist, warm from being cooked, and flavorful. I thought our server was great, too. Nice attitude, helpful, and visible. The OK: Clam Chowder had a good thickness, decent clam-to-potato quotient, not too much celery, no bacon. The issue: Bland. The chowder here is like a blank canvas to pep up yourself. IMO, it needed salt, it needed pepper, and eventually, I threw in bottled hot sauce from the table. The Really Bad: The Host came by to run my card for the bill, and then got distracted. He disappeared. He placed it on the host station table by the front door and then poof, he was gone. I didn't see the Host for over five minutes after he took my bill and card. Finally, he returned to the Host Station, I waved at him and got his attention. Only then did it appear that he realized he never closed out my check. He returned with my card and the bill, apologized, but gave no explanation. Later, I called the restaurant to talk to a manager, but the host was the manager. Again, he apologized, without much explanation. I told him that this made me uneasy and just not good. He took my name and number, told me the GM would contact me. P.S. No GM nor anyone else at Stagnaros has followed up. While I recognize that 'things happen', the episode left a bad aftertaste. read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Lovely restaurant with an incredible view!! Oysters Rockefeller was not on the menu but the made it for us anyway! Clam chowder was delish - crab sandwich had too much water in it but I dumped it into the chowder and it was delish. Calamari was great! read more

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After spending all day with the family at Santa Cruz board walk , Here for dinner & some clam chowder before our long drive home. Service, food was excellent. I recommend their clam chowder its thick, rich and full of flavor. read more

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Took my wifey here today for her birthday trip to Monterey. Little did we know that they're close on tuesday...but ROB let us sit inside the restaurant because its raining outside. Bless your heart ROB & thank you for everything! read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Wifey enjoying her clam chowder on bread & deep fried calamari - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The positive first. The service was decent. The food was subpar. Pretty sure the clam chowder came from a can. It had very little flavor. I thought I was eating bland potato soup until I got a clam. The sourdough bread bowl was good. I expect more when ordering seafood on a wharf read more

My daughter and I came to Santa Cruz for the day. Had lunch at the end of what is the end of the pier now. Pino was delicious waitress was nice. The view spectacular! I had the cioppino and it was delicious! read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Cioppino and a glass of Pinot! Perfection - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This place was really nice! It's located right at the end of the pier, which made for such a great atmosphere. The menu had a good variety, the service was friendly and attentive, and the prices felt very fair for the quality. Portion sizes were decent too--not too small, not overwhelming. Overall, I was happy with the experience and would definitely come back. read more

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We ordered at the outdoor counter and sat at the tables to eat. It was $17 for 2 fish tacos. They are made with two corn soft shell tortillas that are super fresh and topped with strips of grilled red snapper fillet and Cole slaw and salsa. They were excellent. Fast service. read more

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Happy to see the roof deck is FINALLY open! Sad,y, the menu up there has changed. Of course it's more expensive, what isn't? But they don't have as many lunch style entrees. My favorite was the seared ahi sandwich. It's gone. The menu leans more towards heavy, dinner type entrees vs. lighter lunch items. Could you please bring back the seared ahi with fries? The other thing that was a bummer is no more outside seating. They used to have outdoor tables on either side of the deck. That was my favorite thing to do, sit on the deck and have a cold beer and a sandwich. The view inside is still great, but, it's inside.... It's definitely still nicer and better food than other places on the wharf, and the view is great. read more

This is my cousin's favorite place to eat. We come here every time im in town. We had a clam chowder bread bowl & and order of fried calamari & fries. They have outdoor tables which is great, but since it's on the wharf/pier you have to dress accordingly. Service is always good. I always annoy my cousin as I feed the seagulls and pigeons. I didn't take pictures, but I will next time, LOL! read more

This might sound a bit odd, but if not for the sea lions, I'm not sure that I ever would have discovered Stagnaro Bros. Despite how many times I've made my way down to Santa Cruz, I had never taken the time to check out the wharf until this most recent trip. No particular reason as to why, other than we would always head straight to the beach and the Boardwalk. However, after hearing about how the sea lions like to congregate here, much like they do at Pier 39 in SF, we came here to look for them! Which, quite fortuitously, brought us here, as i had quite the hankering for some fried seafood! Now, this feels awkward to say, given how the portion of this end of the wharf that recently collapsed into the water is so close by, but Stagnaro's location is pretty nice. Not only are they right on top of where a lot of the sea lions gather, but, by virtue of being further out on the water, they have a terrific view that stretches from the Boardwalk to the Pacific Ocean. All together, it made for a perfect spot for us to grab a bite. However, since we weren't that hungry, we opted to get something small from their outside counter rather than dine inside. Little did we know, though, that the menu is almost just as extensive, stretching from fried seafood baskets, hot and cold sandwiches, clam chowder, and tacos to cocktail shrimp, ceviche, raw oysters, and cups of Dungeness crab meat. What's more, they also have counter to pick up fresh seafood, too. -- STAGNARO SUNSET - Pina Colada with Mango on the Bottom and Strawberry on Top Hard to argue with a fruit and tropical drink, especially when the weather is so nice! While it's definitely sweet, it's not intensely sweet or sugary. Also, I liked how you it starts with a lot of strawberry flavor, blends, and then ends with more of the mango. -- COMBO FRIED SEAFOOD BASKET - Fried Calamari and Fried Fish with Fries Not as amazing as I had hoped for, but still pretty solid. The portion size was decently generous, the strips of calamari were quite meaty (wish there had been some leg pieces), and the fish was nice and moist. That said, I didn't love the batter on the fish some parts were really thin) and the fries were just okay. Even though we weren't overwhelmed by our basket of seafood, it was nowhere close to being "bad" and far better than what I got from one of the stands at Fisherman's Wharf in SF. Still, I'm not sure I would go out of my way to come back again. If anything, I'd probably opt for one of their many options in their cold seafood case, like their fresh Dungeness crab meat, or actually look to dine-in to try their regular menu, which looked pretty decent. Given their location towards the end of the wharf, I can only imagine how nice it would be to try something like their cioppino while getting to watch the sunset! THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down. read more

Stagnaro Brothers - Combo Fried Seafood Basket - Fried Calamari and Fried Fish with Fries - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California