I literally wept the first time coming here as we were coming out of the pandemic weirdness. The…read morefood is imply beyond good. I can't rave enough!! The spot is lovely, surrounded by trees and a nice bar attached. Definitely a nice hang out spot. We did come once and they had closed early for the day (might have been the 5th of July or something) which is understandable, but it would be great to have a way to know that before the drive (update the hours on the various apps I guess?) But then the owner apologized and invited us to his holiday party for a bbq as a consolation. We didn't go, but it's pretty damn hard to complain about that level of care:-) Thanks!!!!

Emerald Mallard is the kitchen part next to Humble Sea's Taproom in mountain town Felton. It is a…read moreseparate business. There's a few tables out on their raised wooden porch and none inside. But Humble Sea next door has indoor tables and patio seating. If lounging there and enjoying a drink (which is ideal) food will be brought to you there. But you will still have to order and pay at Emerald Mallard's side. Only tried 1 thing here. I was going to come back the following day to do a burger but didn't make their hours. Their menu is small but impressive. Quite foodie in rhythm with Euro flairs. They'll do American smash burgers, fried chicken sandos and sometimes pastrami. But you can also run into steak tartare, frites, duck confit or caviar adds. Menu changes weekly so adventurous palates are to be rewarded. Tortilla Española ($15/4*) This throws a lot of Americans off. Cuz Americans mostly know of the Mexican definition of tortilla which is a starch flat disk made either of corn or flour. A Spanish tortilla is a thick potato omelette/frittata often found at a tapas bar. The version here did sound impressive. The Spanish omelette consist of potatoes and onions fried in beef tallow until both get soft and sweet. Then scrambled eggs are poured in to bind everything to form a thick potato omelette of sorts. It is sliced and served room temp. But here they bump this further by slathering on a healthy dose of Crème fraiche, chopped chives and an impressive dollop of kaluga caviar. Served on an old timey grandma type of plate, this was an elevated appetizer that seemed too fancy for a rugged beer bar with no table service. Lol. I did find the omelette to be too potato dominant as the good ones I've had, had a nicer balance of egg to make the texture more silky and soft. I also found the amount of cremé fraiche to be too much as well as it drowned out the delicate caviar. But we sipped on a couple of well crafted brews and savored this thoughtful tapa with tiny yet deliberate bites. We were going to have dinner in a few hours so we didn't explore the menu any further. But now that I know what this place is bringing, I'm gonna bring my happy ass down for more exploration in their changing and unique menus. RSVP...count me in.

Stopped by here with my family after a 2 hr hike at big basin. It was almost 1p on a Saturday &…read morewasn't busy. There was 1 server/host. She was so nice. We ordered the onion tower, cheese curds, cheesesteak, smash burger, & French dip. Everything we ordered tasted great. My favorite were the cheesesteak curds. So good! Pricing was also decent. For 3 entrees, 3 drinks, & 2 apps, we paid about $130 & that included tip. They also have a beer list since they are an ale house but we didn't try any. Next tine we definitely will. Recommend trying this place if you're in the area. It won't disappoint.

On my drive to hike to the redwoods, was a bit hungry and came across this place that seem to have…read morea lot more reasonable food prices compared in the general area. Service: great, servers were funny and lots of personality Ambiance: felt like a small town type of restaurant with sport flair. Located middle of the woods 1/2 lb patty $7 (5/5): as strange it was ordering from the K9 menu, it sounded like a good cheap protein snack for the hike. Asked to season it since dog version came with no seasoning for dog-safe consumption. This came out to be a huge patty added grilled onions and so well seasoned surprisingly! Would definitely come again before or after a hike by the redwoods.

Burgers were delicious, fries were very good as well. Little tough to find a table on a Saturday…read morebut the live music and overall vibe are solid. Slightly overpriced since there is no table service. Parking is less than ideal as well since it's central to Santa Cruz but that's expected. Maybe the best part is the fact that everyone in your group can find something to eat (even if it's not Belly Goat) since there are several options in Abbott Square. This is what the US should look like. People of all ethnicities enjoying food from all over the world (I know, I know, I got a burger lol). But everyone just chillin', enjoying great weather and good food. Highly recommend a stop here

If you're a cow eater, this is your place. My husband devoured his Cowboy Burger ($18.00). He…read morethought the burger was juicy and prepared perfectly with paired toppings. The Lost Boys ($6.75)(garlic fries) were perfection. The fries are separate from the garlic confit and herbs provided in an Individual container. The garlic was well balanced in flavor, far from being overwhelming, fresh and so satisfying when paired with the fries. The Ahi Burger ($15) was not my favorite. The brioche bun was soft and toasted slightly, the slaw was crunchy and flavorful, the burger itself needed flavor. It felt like an afterthought rather than a main highlight of this dish. If we return, I would try the Forager ($14) a portobello, avocado mash burger I missed on the menu.

the mozz burger is a must!! its half mozzerella sticks and half burger. its a 2 in one. save money…read moredont order an appetizer ever again! all you need is one mozz burger and you're all set!! super yummy. definitely would reccomend to my grandma.

From the owner: With a focus on high-quality ingredients and big, bold flavor combinations, The Burger Den is…read morecookin' up the classics you expect--and the crafty concoctions you don't--and then partnering with your favorite delivery apps, so you never have to leave your couch. And since it's brought to you by Denny's, the people who invented America's diner (and stay up as late as you do), you know you're gonna find the tastes you want when you want it.

I've eaten at this Betty Burgers many times because the food is usually good. It's not the best…read moreburger in Santa Cruz but it's a decent and I want to support the businesses affected by the road closure. This visit was a little disappointing. The burgers seemed sloppier than usual and just weren't as good as they've been in the past. What really bothered me, though, was the 3.95% credit/debit card service charge. I didn't notice it until after I had already paid because the only explanation was printed at the bottom of the receipt. If you're going to charge customers an extra fee for using a card, that should be made very clear before they order so they have the option to pay cash. Between the food that wasn't up to par and an added processing fee, this visit just wasn't worth it. I don't mind paying for good food but I don't like feeling nickel-and-dimed over an extra charge that wasn't obvious before ordering. Transparency goes a long way.

We stopped by for some take-out to bring with us to our beach picnic. They were having a FIFA watch…read moreparty at that time so customers were enjoying their food while watching Spain and Argentina play. I ordered the Point Grinder which is a burger with bacon, sauteed mushrooms, bleu cheese and green onion and it was a great combination! The only reason why I'm giving a 4/5 stars is because my patty was still very red instead of a standard well-done. My friends and I also ordered one side each and tried garlic fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings and all were delicious. Garlic fries were seasoned well and had lots of garlic, sweet potato was slightly thick cut and soft and yummerz and the onion rings wasn't just batter, it had thick slices of onion! Their ranch was also creamy and aromatic! Parking could be difficult on a busy day! 9/10 would recommend!

Open daily through Spring and Summer and on weekends during winter. It's a great pitstop for before…read moreor after the Roaring Camp train ride with food that is quickly turned around. Our kids would not have lasted the drive to Santa Cruz with no lunch so this was very convenient for us. They serve burgers, nuggets, fries, ice cream, chili, and coffee. Cheeseburger, slightly on the smaller size so not so good for sharing. Tasted OK, would be good to pair with fries or chips for a more complete meal. Chicken Nuggets and Fries, these were also OK. Nuggets needed a bit more seasoning but the fries were hot and fresh with a good amount of salt. Extra stars for staff who dealt with a super-rude customer. He was cursing at them for letting someone "cut" in line in front of him literally only taking a minute to order and he was waiting in front of the window instead of to the side like everyone else.

Get the corn dogs and chili cheese fries. Crispy and fried to perfection! Definitely delicious and…read morenecessary before our drive back to Santa Cruz.

10/10 - Our New Favorite Spot!…read more Just had an AMAZING experience at JJ's Burgers in San Juan Bautista, and I'm still blown away by how good everything was! First off, the portion sizes are crazy generous -- seriously, you will NOT leave hungry. A huge shoutout to Roxanna, who gave us some of the best customer service we've ever had. She greeted us the moment we walked in and told us to sit anywhere we liked. Menus were brought out immediately, and when I asked for recommendations, she gave super detailed info about the menu favorites -- including her personal picks. Thanks to her suggestions, I ordered the Mushroom Burger with garlic fries, and WOW... hands down the best garlic fries I've ever had. The burger was insanely delicious and packed with flavor. I tried my best to finish it, but the portions were so big I had to tap out (even after sharing fries!). My son ordered onion rings and a cookies & crème milkshake, and he loved both. We shared the onion rings because he couldn't finish them either -- again, HUGE portions. And according to him, the milkshake is the best ever. Service-wise? Easily a 10-star experience. Roxanna checked on us often, made sure we had everything we needed, and I noticed she treated all the customers with the same level of friendliness and attention. She's patient, personable, and really elevates the whole dining experience. We'll definitely be back -- this just became our new go-to spot!

I came here based on the photos and reviews, but unfortunately my experience was very…read moredisappointing. The bacon cheeseburger I received looked nothing like the advertised photos and came with only one piece of bacon. After asking about it, I waited over 5 minutes for more bacon, which ended up being undercooked. I also ordered garlic fries, but they were cold when served. When I brought it up, I was told it was my fault because I let them sit, even though they were already cold when they arrived. To make matters worse, I had to wait another 10+ minutes while the waitress called the owner because I wasn't satisfied with the food. The milkshake was good, but at $10, the prices overall are very high for the quality and service received. For the cost, I expected much better food, customer service, and consistency with what is advertised. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

The Barn is our favorite lunch spot after spending time at the beach. Order inside, then all…read moreseating is outdoors. Plenty of tables and space for families and pets. I would recommend trying the Mac Attack. They are deep fried mac and cheese cubes and the main reason we keep coming back. Staff is always super kind and helpful. Restroom is smart and clean.

Driving south on Highway 1, this place is pretty easy to miss, which is exactly what we did and had…read moreto backtrack. We arrived around 1 PM on a Saturday, so we fully expected it to be busy. What we didn't expect was a parking lot with only about 10 spaces. You can't park along Highway 1, so if the lot is full, your only real option is finding a spot in the neighborhood or on one of the side streets behind the restaurant. There's no indoor seating, but they do have two separate outdoor seating areas. There's only one register for ordering, and the line was pretty long. It took us about 20 minutes to place our order. They give you your drinks and a buzzer, and then you find a table and wait for your food. We sat in the garden area, which we really liked, but after about 30 minutes I was starting to wonder if our buzzer was even working. Of course, right as I got up to go check on our order, it went off. It's a little difficult to rate the service because there really isn't much service. You place your order at the counter, get your own water and condiments, pick up your food when it's ready, bus your own table and throw away your trash. I also couldn't find silverware anywhere after picking up our food. They were still slammed, so I didn't bother trying to track someone down and we just ate with our hands. The good news is the food was excellent. We both loved what we ordered, and the fresh-cut French fries were especially good. The outdoor setting and garden area also have a really nice atmosphere. The biggest disappointment came when we went to clean up our table. The trash cans were completely overflowing with plates and garbage piled on top, and it looked like nobody had cleaned the area in quite a while. I actually had to push the trash down just to make room for ours. So overall, excellent food and a great outdoor setting, but between the parking, long wait, almost entirely self-service setup and overflowing trash, there's definitely room for improvement.

We had dinner here during our stay. We ordered the okonomiyaki fries and pacific calamari to share…read more I ordered the steamed mussels for my main. The okonomiyaki fries were delicious. The fries with the spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce made the dish. It was very savory. My son enjoyed it. The fried calamari was also good. The calamari and jalapeno peppers were crispy and salted well. The sweet and sour sauce that accompanied it was added a slight heat to the dish. We enjoyed our meal here and would return the next time we are in Santa Cruz.

I returned to West End over a year after my last visit, and so much has changed! They rebranded to…read moreWest End Izakaya and now serve Asian-inspired dishes, rather than their previous American farm-to-table menu. Honestly, I can't say this change is an improvement. My grandma and I visited around dinner on a Saturday and were seated on the (dog-friendly) patio. They did have propane heaters, but not enough of them, so it was quite chilly. For drinks, we both got hot Green Tea to warm up, which was very standard - served in pre-packed tea bags. For food, we ordered the Okonomiyaki Fries and Maitake Mushroom Flatbread to share. The Okonomiyaki Fries were pretty good and I enjoyed all the toppings, especially the spicy pink mayo. I usually prefer thinner fries, but I liked the crispy texture. However, the Maitake Mushroom Flatbread was a bit disappointing. There just wasn't enough bechamel and mozzarella on top and the flavor somewhat bland. Service was friendly, but I miss their old menu offerings, like the Heirloom Tomato Flatbread. Not a huge fan of the rebrand!

This place gave me a soggy thing that they would call a burger i had to throw it away and even the…read morefries were under cooked and kinda soggy it was very bad experience maybe it's cheap prices but I feel like im traumatized now

Bibimbahp made fresh! The two owners do it all and they are very friendly. Perfectly fried egg,…read morefresh veggies, kim chee, and pork was very tasty! I look forward to returning and trying the burgers and sandwiches. The price was very reasonable and the portion was filling. Nice indoor and outdoor seating options, and plentiful parking. You could even get your food to go and walk across the street to eat in the park. They're very proud of their coffee, too. I got an iced mocha and it was smooth with no bitterness.