We got ourselves a beachfront hotel for the views and relaxation. Of course, we wanted to have breakfast with a view of the ocean. We first tried the "Ideal Bar & Grill" , but the gal said we couldn't sit outside. So we walked across the street to "The Picnic Basket", best pivot ever. The girls working there were sweet, on there toes and offered excellent service. The place isn't fancy, and the outdoor seating is metal tables and seating, but you can see the ocean, and enjoy the salt air. We were so surprised how good the food was! I'm so glad we ended up here. Sara makes the best food, I went back in after finishing our breakfast to tell her how perfectly she prepared our food. Don't judge a book by it's cover! read more

The Picnic Basket - Avocado Toast w/salmon & Frittata Panini w/bacon totally hit the spot!!! Delicious, a must try. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

It's a nice convenient place to go to for break or snack if you are staying at or close tot eh beach. Coffee and service were good. So issues there. I personally will not be ordering food from there. My wife had a ham and cheese croissant, with tiny tiny piece of cheese and a sliver of ham. The breakfast burrito was not, just not. Never had red cabbage with a breakfast burrito and will never, . Maybe someone will love it, just not for me. Avocado toast was okay. read more

I feel this place counts on non locals to stumble onto it. It's.....mediocre at best. Run by a few high school kids (who were nice) but it's overpriced and literally nothing remotely special. With, maybe the exception of it does offer healthier options. Plus, it was definitely dirty. Like lots of crumbs not swept up and overflowing garbage cans. Pricey, dirty and run down. Spend elsewhere. read more

The Picnic Basket - Uh, gross - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Cute place to grab a bite for the beach. It is busy so it takes awhile for orders to be done. The turkey sandwich was good- Turkey and cheese on sliced sourdough. The grilled cheese was delish - tasted like Mac'n'cheese. read more

The food was good and fresh. We just thought they were priced pretty high, over$17 for a deli sandwich.

The Picnic Basket is a fave spot to visit when we're in Santa Cruz! They're located across from the main beach and boardwalk, so super convenient! And they offer coffee, ice cream, and thoughtful made-to-order food, made with fresh, local ingredients. We were in town recently for the Half Ironman and as expected, they were BUSY!!! We stopped in a few mornings for iced lattes and hot lattes (made with delicious, local Verve coffee)! Go when they open and you'll beat the lines, and you can chat with the super friendly staff. We stopped in again for lunch - grabbed some drinks from the cold case and ordered sandwiches to go. Highly recommend the pressed/grilled sandwiches. We ordered: The Special - Sliced Prosciutto, Softened Brie, Dijon Mustard, Strawberry Preserves and Baby Spinach, Pressed and Served on a toasted Francese Roll *we held the mustard - just a personal preference - but loved all of the other ingredients, and the warm, pressed sandwich was ooey gooey! Smoked Turkey Sandwich - Hobb's smoked turkey, avocado, white cheddar, turmeric pickled onions, mayo, grainy mustard & lettuces on Companion Bakeshop's bread. *this is served room temp (not grilled). delicious and super fresh bread and ingredients; next time I'd remove the mustard (again, personal preference) The Picnic Basket staff is a team of hardworking young folks - they hustle and really care! Fun to see them all in action when the shop was so busy. Thanks for nourishing us! We can't wait to visit again! read more

The Picnic Basket - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Great-tasting food and a solid healthy option. I had the quinoa salad with beets and strawberries--it was fresh and flavorful. The breakfast burrito was just as good, with fluffy eggs and creamy avocado that really hit the spot. The only downside is that it's a bit on the pricey side, but overall a great place to grab a quality meal. read more

My mom and I stayed at the Casablanca inn for a week and came here everyday. This is one of the only spots on the main strip that is open early for coffee and breakfast to go which is why we came here so much. The prices are expensive! Sandwiches are around $16-$18+ and there is really nothing fancy about them. Are they good? Yes. Are they worth the price? Not so much. I don't know if it was just me and my mom but we thought the main strip of the Santa Cruz beach/ boardwalk was run down. Lot of businesses closed, the only places to get coffee/ food was this place and Ideals across the street. The service was always fast and nice, the seating was plenty, it was never too busy when we went around 730-8 in the morning. Music played throughout and it was a great 'beach cafe' with good beach vibes. You can sit outside or inside and look at the beach, but premade stuff to go. But again expensive, there was a little container of tuna salad for like $8 maybe more. All in all, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the food , just the price. Also my mom and I ordered the same thing every day, (iced coffee / cappuccino) and depending on who was working, the price would always be different, not sure what was up with that. The beet sandwich- super tasty and love the almond butter on it! - I will be recreating this at home The frittata panini- basic good sandwich, I saw other reviews about these sandwiches and expected something mind blowing, but it was just a good decent sandwich that sparked my wanting to buy a panini machine so I can make these at home! The iced coffee is from verve and it was my fav that I tried between here, ideals, and another cafe attached to a hotel as you walk towards the boardwalk. read more

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This was a great Yelp find on a trip through Santa Cruz. We stopped here for lunch on the way down the coast and LOVED our sandwiches. Super-casual spot across the street from the ocean. Pesto chicken, the special sandwich of the day, the fancy grilled cheese & mediterranean salad were all SO good. Each basket came with a piece of pickled carrot & some salt/pepper chips. Your order at the counter & they'll bring out the sandwiches. Finish our your lunch with some ice cream - lots of unique flavors. This is a must-stop if you are in Santa Cruz. read more

Good food. Friendly service. Amazing views of the beach, lots of seating. Pet friendly read more

DO NOT GET THE BREAKFAST BURRITO!!! * We waited 20 minutes for 2 breakfast burritos * why does it says "eggs" and it only has egg whites? Did they really charged me for that bullshit? I'm not a body builder I want the yoke * we add avocado and bacon and that thing was genuinely awful * we used hot sauce to make it taste good and that didn't help a bit * please if you are going to make a breakfast burrito at least watch a YouTube video, is free! From the gentleness of my heart and the disappointment of my taste buds read more

We stopped off here for a late afternoon snack. It is right by the beach and has some awesome sandwiches and other bites. I got the awesome meatloaf sandwich. read more

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this place is just amazing. my absolute fave is the hot dog. they have great coffee and ice cream as well. they recently upgraded their technology in there and it's so easy now to order and earn loyalty points. best spot by the beach for sure. their staff are all so helpful read more

I odered avocado toast with smoked salmon. It's a perfect Sunday breakfast. The pickled onions were a great addition. The salmon was phenomenal. It's a must order. The view and the food. Perfect spot! read more

The Picnic Basket - Avocado toast with smoked salmon. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The Picnic Basket is a beachfront restaurant that is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch. I came in on a chilly Saturday morning for some coffee because it was next door to my hotel. It's a strange little place that feels a bit run down, but since I was only there for coffee, I really didn't care. The service at the coffee counter was quite mediocre...actually, unfriendly. I don't know if they were short-handed that morning, but it seemed that the barista had other duties in between customers and it wasn't that early or even busy. The coffee drink was okay. I ordered the a large latte and was given what, to me was a small. (Think "Tall" at the place with the green logo.) It's a one and done for me for The Picnic Basket. read more

The Picnic Basket - Good morning! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

4 different hairs amongst me and my friends food. Mac and cheese was cold and soupy. And overall food didn't meet any expectations we all threw out more than half of our food. Wouldn't recommend especially for the price. read more

Summary: Great location, decent sandwiches, Pennys ice cream Situation) You're at the boardwalk, hanging out on the wharf, or just wandering around west cliff and want decent food without crazy prices. Solution) the picnic basket Chicken Salad & Avo: chicken salad has a little too much mayo for me. Hearty mustard helps balance it out. Francese bread seems like ciabatta to me. Generous portion, middle of the road sando. Turkey, Avo, & Cheese: white cheddar is nice touch. Companion bread. This sando works. Fancy Pants Grilled Cheese: not fancy. Dripped on my pants. That's a no, Chuck. Decent selection of cold drinks and verve coffee. 6 flavors or Penny's ice cream if you have room. Some Yelpers complain about service but all have been polite when I was there. Eat outside if it's a nice day. Inside is a bit cramped: read more

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Was staying in Santa Cruz 3 nights and ate here for breakfast- EVERY DAY! It was delicious. My favorite thing- the frittata panini (add bacon) I dont know what there secret is to those eggs but they are light and fluffy and full of feta cheese and that jam is fantastic. My only critic is the bread needs to be a bit more toasted. Great coffee too! Its a cute place to sit across from the waves and have a wonderful start to your day- thanks THE PICNIC BASKET! I will be back. read more

The Picnic Basket - Breakfast burrito and frittata panini - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Great little sandwich and coffee shop right at the opening of the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Really healthy options my wife and I both loved. Grab a seat outside and people watch. read more

Opens bright and early with quick service, making it a great morning stop. Parking is mostly street-side, and if you're lucky, you'll find a spot close by. While it's not directly on the beach, just cross the road and you're there. They also offer healthier vegetarian options, which is a big plus! read more

We arrived on a Thursday noon. The reviews are considerably better than neighbor restaurants, si we went there. They have indoor sitting and outdoor as well. The chairs are comfortable, and the indoor area is pretty nice. The sandwiches are tasty, and delicious. The bread is crispy and everything tasted fresh. The mac and cheese that we got for our toddler was not that good. If it wasn't because of that I should have given them 5 stars read more

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I heard about this place from Santa Cruz Eater a few years ago, and was eager to try it, as the owners are the same as Penny Ice Creamery. It looked like a really cute spot next to the Boardwalk! The menu was a little disappointing. It was a short list of unexciting breakfast items and sandwiches, neither of which seemed super enticing. It's also a to-go shop with pre-made ready to go salads, beverages, etc. I ended up getting the made to order Roasted Chicken Sandwich, the Roasted Turkey Sandwich, and the Avocado Toast to share. I thought the sandwiches were decent, but nothing special or worth returning for. The bread wasn't even toasted. However, the quality of the meats was good. Avocado toast was okay, but it was the same bread as the sandwiches, so it basically tasted like an open faced sandwich minus the meats. Also there were more toppings on the avocado than the avocado itself. This place seems very kid friendly, but at the same time they were not. They didn't have any high chairs, which was a little annoying. Service was very friendly though. Ambiance was charming with a diner set up, picnic tables, and one booth. Some of the bar seating is facing the Boardwalk too, with great lighting. There's also outdoor seating, which was not covered, and looked hot and too sunny. Just invest in some umbrellas or an awning? Easy metered parking in the area. I did appreciate that at least they had Penny's ice cream right in the same shop, which was a perfect lead in to dessert. I definitely won't return, nor would I recommend this to any friends. I was a bit disappointed too that our one meal in Santa Cruz was at a mediocre place like this. read more

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Jumping on the bandwagon here. Super fresh and delicious. I sometimes avoid pretty places like this because they can be overpriced and not that great, but this place delivered! I actually saved the second half of my huge breakfast burrito and ate it later cold. It was still soo good! My friends loved their fritatta and salads. Very friendly staff. Perfect location across from the beach. Can't wait to visit again next time I'm in the area. read more

I was up in Santa Cruz to visit the college. We went to the boardwalk and dropped into this business to get a snack. I paid with a $20 and bought something for $6.50. The cashier gave me $7 in change and quickly walked away. I called her back because she gave me the wrong change. She gave me a $5 and walked away again. I was still short and she was nowhere in sight. Was this a ploy to tip herself? I suggest you give your employees a calculator or a real register instead of a cash box if they don't know how to give correct change. read more

This is such a cute little place to grab a quick lunch if you are at the boardwalk and don't want to pay for overpriced food. Everything is reasonably priced and portioned, and the area is clean, welcoming, and vibrant. The staff is also very friendly, and will deliver your food to your table after you have ordered at the counter. I tried one of their ready made Mediterranean Bowls ($14) and it was really good. There were a lot of toppings and I felt like the size was enough to make quite a filling salad. The flavors blended really well together, and the ratio of each topping was just right. My friends got the turkey, avocado and cheese sandwich ($14.50) and they all loved it. They all liked the freshness of the ingredients and the amazing flavor. We all finished our meals and walked out of the restaurant feeling good. I really appreciate how they have good food with quality ingredients for a reasonable price. I recommend coming here if you want a quick light lunch with quality and great taste without having to spend an absurd amount of money at the boardwalk and still get mediocre greasy food. read more

I reeeeeally wanted to like this place, but my overall experience just wasn't worth the time and money spent here. I loved the layout of the place and liked that they had cold, ready-made food items available for grab and go, but the hot food is where it was disappointing along with one staff member in the front who didn't seem to be interested in interacting with anyone. It was a slow morning, the place had one other person sitting outside but we weren't greeted and when we asked questions, the response was so vague. The menu doesn't have descriptions of what is included in the food items but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and ordered what I was already very familiar with; a breakfast burrito with bacon and avocado with a hot chai. Also got a smoothie of the day to share, but again, I had no idea what that was going to consist of. Getting my burrito, I was surprised by how it looked. There was mainly red cabbage, beans and I'm assuming it was egg whites? Maybe it was a type of cheese, I honestly couldn't tell and, of course, the added bacon and avocado. It was different but I kept an open mind and tried it. I unfortunately just didn't care much for it. There wasn't much taste and the texture of it just wasn't very pleasant for me. The salsa helped a bit but again, not much flavor there either. The chai was spicyyyyy lol I grew up drinking chai and there just wasn't a balanced taste but maybe others like that extra kick from the spices. The smoothie tasted very chalky and I was expecting to taste something more refreshing. Overall, I think this is a place for someone who might be more interested in health and diet concerns towards food. For the price and taste, I personally wouldn't come here again, maybe for the ready-made food but nothing from their actual menu, unfortunately. read more

The Picnic Basket - Breakfast burrito with bacon and avocado added along with chia seed pudding from the fridge area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Really cute location and great food and service! The vegan lentil soup is really hearty and delicious!

Not terrible but kind of emblematic of the worst aspects of Santa Cruz food culture. Baby spinach and grated carrots on a Reuben? And two very thin slices of supermarket pastrami for $20? Just too damn precious and pretentious. read more

I don't give reviews often but this place deserves a 5 star. We ordered the turkey avo, chicken salad, grilled cheese, and mac & cheese. Everything was amazing. Best sandwiches we've had in a long time. High quality ingredients and full of flavor. Would highly recommend! read more

The sandwiches are delicious and taste very healthy. They are not your typical sandwich but instead they are creatively put together with ingredients that provide a very pleasant surprise that works very well! They also sell ready made salads and other healthy options that look very delicious but I have not had them yet. Located across the street from the beach so it's a great place to stop by if you are already in the area. Parking might be a bit tricky on busy days. They place is clean with indoor and out door seating. Clean bathroom is available as well! read more

Breakfast burrito with avocado was pretty good. Staff hella friendly. Food takes a little bit to come out but be patient it's worth it. It gets busy with tourists but it's a good spot. Sandwiches sound hella good too. Next time I'll try one. read more

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Ordered the chicken salad sandwich. The focaccia roll was burnt and there was practically no chicken salad on it. It was basically burnt bread, avocado, and greens. Service was pleasant enough but too expensive for what I received. read more

Not Kid-Friendly and Overpriced We visited this restaurant recently and had a very disappointing experience. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich, and it was far from enjoyable--the bread was ridiculously thick, completely overpowering the sparse filling. For the price, I expected much better, but I suppose that's what you get for being on the Santa Cruz boardwalk. What really soured the experience was the manager's attitude. My son, who hadn't napped, was understandably a bit loud while we were sitting outside to avoid disturbing anyone inside. Instead of showing any understanding or compassion, the manager came out and rudely told us our child was "ruining everyone's vibe." It was completely uncalled for and made us feel very unwelcome. If you have children, be aware that this place is NOT kid-friendly. It seems they expect perfect silence at all times, which is unrealistic for families. Combine that with overpriced, mediocre food, and I can't recommend this place at all. read more

The service was good and the restaurant was busy. The portion sizes were large, but over all the contents of each food was relatively healthy . Our food took 15-25 minutes to come out. You order at the cash register then a server brings out your food. Overall a good experience In total the order was 2 breakfast burritos+ avocado, avocado toast, a cappuccino, and earl grey tea. Nothing fancy just a good place to stop in for a quick bite. read more

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What a vibe this place was today. Thank you guys for the great service. Honestly did not disappoint at all. Worth every dollar. Definitely wish to come back one day hopefully read more

Food average, chicken pesto sandwich has more cheese than chicken. Chocolate shake was worst I have ever had. Didn't drink it. Left it at the bar Like most restaurants today, you are asked to tip when you order. Glad I only tipped 2.00, service was none existent. read more

The Picnic Basket - Chicken pesto sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The setting at this cafe is awesome, it has cute indoor and outdoor seating, and the beach is right across the street. Although, as a result, parking is almost impossible, or expensive, especially on a busy weekend. We ordered food to go, so that we could have a picnic on the beach, and it was perfect. The cafe serves a whole bunch of delectable breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts, all so tempting that it was hard for me to choose what to get. And they serve the breakfast items in the afternoon as well. They were out of the ham and cheese croissant, so I ordered the fancy pants grilled cheese with added bacon (it was pretty much 3 types of cheese on sourdough). I had to ask what came with a lot of these burritos and sandwiches, because it's not listed on the menu. But the worker was patient and super friendly in explaining and answering our questions and customizing our order as needed. The taste of everything was amazing. The grilled cheese was so flavorful (yes, the perfect combination of cheeses), and the cuts of bacon were thick and crispy with just the right amount of saltiness. It was so satisfying! My friend got the smoked turkey sandwich and the chicken salad sandwich, and those were served with quality ingredients, and phenomenal taste as well.  I would definitely return to try more items on their menu. They put a lot of energy and effort into creating a great experience for customers, and the food we got was top notch. I was really impressed. What a great find! read more

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OK spot for breakfast, the best thing is convenient location and early hours. They are open at 7 am and I arrived around 7:14, they were still setting up so if I would wait until 7:20 when they are more prepped and ready to go. House Chai: House made from ingredients from Penny Ice Creamery. Had a rich, impactful flavor. I want to say there was a nice heavy hit of cloves. I'm not sure what options I didn't click on right but the drink I got didn't have the nice appearance that matched the menu picture. Roasted chicken sandwich: Roasted chicken salad, avocado, turmeric pickled onions, homemade mayo, grainy dijon, dressed lettuces and toasted Companion Bakeshop bread. My wife loved this, she likes a lot of vegetables and this was packed. My critique is it was so big you couldn't eat it properly, you either have to smash it and get soggy bread or bite into it and have half of it fall out. Tasted good but eat it with a fork and knife. Almond Butter and Jelly sandwich: For the kids, may have read the menu wrong but it was almond butter mostly, didn't taste any jelly with it. My wife also enjoyed this but my kids weren't used to the taste and we had to force them to eat it. We had a yogurt parfait as well that wasn't included, my wife was upset I didn't check the bag before I left but it was stapled shut and felt heavy enough to have all of our items. read more

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I experienced poor service -- or rather, no service at all -- as the female employee chose to prioritize a personal conversation over assisting me. read more

A very nice option near the boardwalk, with unique offerings. I have been here a few times and am a little surprised that I have not reviewed it yet. Roasted beet sandwich: 4/5. The last time I was here was pre-pandemic, and this sando was consistently 5/5. It is still very good, just not excellent like it was the last several times. But as with any restaurant the end result can vary based upon who happens to be making it. read more