Shadowbrook is one of those "must try" restaurants when visiting the Capitola area. Not only do…read morethey have delicious food, but their dining environment/scenery by the riverbanks makes it almost mystical. Service was fantastic. Staff were all friendly and they cross-cover one another to ensure ongoing service is provided to each table. Our main server (Sean) was courteous in explaining menu items to us, humorous, and kind, which really made our overall dining experience pleasurable. 1. Complimentary Appetizer Bread (5/5) The bread was soft and fresh. The butter that came along with it appears to be house-made whipped butter. It was creamy, airy, and not too oily. They are great to eat on their own as an appetizer, but they also pairs well the Artichoke and/or clam chowder soup(s). 2. Artichoke Soup (5/5) Pureed artichokes in chicken stock garnished with Creme Fraiche, leeks, and potatoes. Aesthetically, it's green in color with an "S" insignia from the heavy cream. I'm not really sure how to describe the flavor of this soup other than it had a "familiar taste," a bit vege-like, but not quite like a green pea soup, creamy, yet lightly tangy from the Creme Fraiche. You don't see this soup often, so I'd say, GET IT! 3. Clam Chowder (5/5) This is probably one of the best clam chowder's my family and I have had. The soup was creamy, yet too too salty like a lot of other chowders we've had in the past. The clams were super tender (not rubbery) and fresh (zero "ocean/seafood" taste). It's lightly sweetened by their over-roasted sweet corn, then topped with some fresh rosemary. There is option to add crispy bacon for extra charge, which we did not opt for. 4. Artichoke and Pear Salad (4/5) This is a seasonal/weekly special menu item. It's a really special dish that's not for most people to be honest, especially if you are not use to healthy eating. It's quite literally fresh artichoke with slices of fresh Bartlett pear that's dressed lightly with blood orange flavored vinaigrette to give it a bit of tangy citrusy notes and a generous dollop of whipped goat cheese. The pear was on the hard/crunchy side, was juicy and subtly sweet. 5. Roasted Baby Beetroots (4.5/5) Another wonderful light dish that is not for everybody. If you know the flavor of beets, you'll know that it has a sweet earthy, dirt flavor profile. To cut the earthy-ness, they serve it with 3 generous dollops of goat cheese, which actually does balance out the flavor quite well. They serve 2 types of beets - the traditional red beets, but also yellow beets. Other than the color difference, the flavor is the same. It's topped with pepitas, walnuts, balsamic dressing, and fried mint leaves. We all loved the fried mint leaves, which were crispy, yet not too herbally/minty in flavor. 6. Black Truffle Gnocchi with Filet Medallions (3.5/5) The gnocchi was perfectly soft and pillowy, chewy, but not stick to your teeth. I'd say, the gnocchi was "cooked to perfection." As for the truffle flavor, it was very, very subtle, mostly from the truffle oil. Wish they actually used real truffle slices, especially at the dish's price point. They give the option to add filet mignon, which we did. The filet mignon was just "ok." It was not tender, juicy or seasoned very well. 7. Blackened Lamb (3.5/5) The blackened lamb name comes from the heavily black pepper seasoning on only 1 side of the lamb. The lamb was not tender, nor juicy. The seasoning was subpar. Comes with honey-glazed carrots, parsnip chip, fresh garlic paste and mushroom bread pudding. The highlight of this dish was the mushroom bread - had good mushroom flavor but with the consistency of bread pudding (A+ concept) 8. Lobster Tail (5/5) The lobster tail meat was super fresh and pleasantly sweet. It was poached to perfection - not too rubbery in texture. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and dip it in the melted butter = happy taste buds. Served with sides of house-made whipped (not mashed) potato and broccolini. 9. Beef Wellington (3/5) Beef filet medallion, mushroom duxelles, cooked in puff pastry. Served with sides of garlic-Whipped potato, green beans, Veal demi-grace. 10. Mahi-Mahi Filet (3.5/5) Another weekly special menu item. Mahi filet served on top of a bed of Butternut squash puree, walnut-parsley salsa, lemon oil and topped off with parsnip crisps. The fish was fresh, but was really nothing special in flavor. 11. Creme brulee (5/5) Creme brulee made right. There's a very dense shell of torched brown sugar with a very rich caramelized flavor covering over a bed of smooth, vanilla custard. A+ that their vanilla custard did not have any eggy flavor. 12. Coconut-Lavender Lemonade (5/5) House-made coconut cream and fresh lemon juice. Super tropical in flavor, refreshing and pleasantly enjoyable.

What a magical experience as always! Shadowbrook is hands-down one of the most romantic spots…read morearound. Getting there is half the fun--you can either ride the cute little red cable car down the hill or take the winding stairs through the gorgeous, lush scenery. Inside, the ambiance is perfection with dark wood details, cozy lighting, and an overall super enchanting feel. They have an extensive drink menu, and the French 75 was fantastic. I've been here a few times over the years and usually order the prime rib (which is always excellent), but this time I decided to mix it up and tried the black truffle gnocchi with added filet mignon. It was SO good and incredibly flavorful! The staff here is always so informative, warm, and attentive. Every visit is memorable--I always truly enjoy my time here!

Shout out to Dylan for the best cheese pizza. I always get it. Modified with light cheese extra…read moresauce well done.. And I know they're sick of me because I called it in because DoorDash doesn't allow you to modify the order so thanks team great pizza

I've had great food here. A few months ago I came in with a business acquaintance, tipped well, and…read morecomplimented the bartender on her tattoos. We had a good night. Later I learned Hannah had spoken badly about me to that same acquaintance on a night I wasn't there, made it clear I wasn't welcome at "her" bar, and said the owners would back her if I complained. That is bizarre and unprofessional toward someone she does not know. One good night was rewritten as a bad one after the fact. My acquaintance still goes occasionally because she loves the food, but has received continual dismissive looks and snarky comments from the same bartender. Great vibe and delicious food, but the bartender has forgotten she works in hospitality. I won't spend money where the service is unprofessional and hostile. After reading other reviews, I'm not the only one who's seen this.

I stopped by Caffe Cruise and had a half roasted chicken with black rice and black beans, along…read morewith a separate dish called Linguine Cruise, which I added "prawns" to. Now, I say "prawns" because apparently there was a little seafood identity crisis happening -- they were actually shrimp! Outside of that little prawn/shrimp confusion, everything was exceptionally good. The roasted chicken was delicious, the black rice was really good, but those black beans were FIIIIRRREEE! They had this amazing smoky flavor that I absolutely loved. Seriously, those beans were ridiculously good. The Linguine Cruise was also excellent, and even though my "prawns" turned out to be shrimp, they were still damn good! The restaurant itself is huge, clean, and has plenty of seating, with a killer bar that I really liked. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming, and the staff were super friendly, funny, and genuinely enjoyable to deal with. Overall, I really liked this place. Great food, good portions, cool atmosphere, friendly people, and some seriously fire black beans. I'd absolutely go back!

We visited with family, a group of eight, and had a reservation. Even though the restaurant was…read morepacked and lively, it never felt overly loud, making it easy to enjoy conversation. The exterior doesn't do the restaurant justice. Inside, the dining room and patios are beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. There's plenty of space for both small and mid-sized groups. The food was fabulous! We started with the calamari, which was honestly some of the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We also ordered the seasonal Caprese (tomato stack) salad, which was incredibly fresh with a wonderful combination of flavors. Even the complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar stood out. The balsamic was so good I forgot to ask what brand they use so I could buy some for home! Our server was friendly, attentive, and helpful. When I ordered the fettuccine with steak, she thoughtfully confirmed whether I wanted the Gorgonzola Alfredo or the traditional Alfredo sauce. I chose the traditional Alfredo, and it was absolutely perfect. I shared it with my daughter, so the photo shows about half of the original portion. Everyone at our table loved their meals. The rotisserie chicken received rave reviews as well, although I forgot to take a photo. If the weather is nice, don't miss the outdoor patios. There's a table for six near the fireplace that looked especially inviting. I wanted to take a picture, but I couldn't get the angle without including other diners in the frame. I also tried the watermelon martini, which was refreshing and delicious, and the wine pours were generous. If you're in Aptos, this restaurant is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

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.

Live music 3rd sat is great: Ashley Lloyd 5:30-7:30. Good acoustic…read more Honestly, I did not like any of the 6 beers that I tasted in the sampler flight. But there are about 6 more that I will try later. And the live music was good. Parking is OK; they have a lot of spaces in the back.

Location is secluded but it's at your Discretion, . Once you enter the parking lot entrance for the…read morestreet keep your eyes to the right and look for the tall red Barn wall, you can't miss the sign. We were kindly greeted by Rochelle who helped up with our desired libation. I loved the ambiance and am so happy the day was shiny and pleasant because we sat outside to take in the fresh air. Of course there's overflow seating here because they also have a plentiful menu and kitchen to cater to your culinary appitite. We ordered the Uncle David RIPA, which went don't smoothly, is all I can say. Take a load off, kick your feet up, and grab a book (they have a cute Book Nook inside) and relax and grab a bite and a brew. CHEERS!!

If you don't already know... you need to know... this place is so bomb. You need to give it a try…read moreregardless if you are a carnivore or not. I always get the tofu bahn mi cause that's my jam. I've never strayed. Then I might get the Brussels sides or any one of the their delicious salads. However TODAY I was convinced by the lovely gentleman at the counter to get the heirloom tomato peach sandwich. His reasoning? It's all fresh in season produce that comes from the owners farm. What's a girl suppose to do with all that knowledge? Well, I caved. And happy camper I was. Ingredients are so fresh and juicy- tomatoes and peaches go together like bread and butter. Only word of caution, don't get this on a first day. I had whipped goat cheese up to my cheeks by the time I gobbled down my sand which. Thanks for the rec and the delicious fresh food!

I don't normally write reviews, but when things don't go well I feel people need to know what…read moretranspired here. My girlfriend ordered a breakfast sandwich a that we were going to share. The counter service female was very nice and helpful. The sandwich was very good and we've eaten there many times in the past. When we both sat down to eat we noticed that our sandwich hadn't been cut in half. My girlfriend went back to the counter and asked a male kitchen employee behind the counter if he could cut our sandwich in half. The sandwich was completely wrapped in paper and we did not unwrap it at all prior to asking for it to be cut. His response was extremely rude and nasty. He claimed that it was already contaminated despite the fact that it was still completely wrapped in paper. He acted like we were putting him out by us asking him to simply cut the sandwich in half. He accused my girlfriend of "contaminating" the sandwich (in his words) just by touching it despite the fact that it was handled by 2 people before we even touched it. Basically, it was his scolding condescending tone that totally turned us off to ever visiting this place again. It only takes one lazy a--hole employee to ruin a great dining experience.

We haven't been to Lillians in a couple of years, and the quality has declined. We ordered bread…read morewith tapenade to start. While the tapenade was good, the bread seemed like tough grocery store bread. My husband's chicken was so dry, he had trouble chewing it. I ordered the salmon on risotto special. While the salmon was tasty, the risotto was sitting in a pool of olive oil. We were very disappointed.

The food hit the spot. I had the chicken Parmesan on a bed of rigatoni noodles and marinara. It was…read moredelicious. The service was very friendly. I was seated right away. I thought it was going to be a wait because the place was packed. The table service was very friendly and always timely. She checked backed on me more than just taking the initial order. Since the place was packed it was pretty loud inside. You could still hear the piano music in the background. Next time I am back in town, I will definitely recommend Lillian's for a dinner for the team I work with. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.

Great Food, Great Service & a Manager Who Actually Says Hello!…read more Loved this place! My bride and I had a fantastic experience from the moment we walked in. This restaurant has an incredible indoor and outdoor space, a great menu, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to be both chill and professional. You'll find a wonderfully diverse crowd here, and everyone seems to fit right in. Now, let's talk about the food! I highly recommend the meatballs--they were fantastic! And the garlic bread? Fabulous. Honestly, I could have made a meal out of the bread alone, but I exercised some restraint...because I'm an adult. My bride ordered the hamburger, and she loved it. The salads were excellent, the bread was outstanding, and the dessert selection was enough to make someone suddenly forget they were "too full for dessert." Our server was incredible--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. And then, as if the experience couldn't get any better, the manager actually came out and welcomed us! You don't find that everywhere. That personal touch says a lot about how this place approaches hospitality. Everything was clean, the service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the ambiance made us want to hang around longer than we probably should have. One warning: Parking can be a bit of a challenge. But trust me, this is one of those places where you circle the parking lot a few times and say, "Lord, give me a parking space!" Yelp Elite verdict: Absolutely worth the hassle! Great food. Great people. Great atmosphere. Great service. And apparently, great managers who actually come out to meet their guests. My bride and I will definitely be back! #YelpElite #FoodieFind #DateNight #GreatFood #GreatService #Meatballs #GarlicBread #DessertLovers #RestaurantReview #WorthTheHassle #FoodAndFun #FiveStars

Really enjoyed our first visit to The Hideout! We had the fried chicken sandwich with sweet potato…read morefries and the prime rib. The sandwich was delicious, and the chipotle aioli was especially good--creamy, flavorful, and one of the better ones I've had. The sweet potato fries were crispy. My partner really enjoyed the prime rib, and the portion was large enough for leftovers. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly. We sat outside with our pups, which we appreciated. The only suggestion would be to update the patio layout a bit. Our table was directly across from the waiting area, so it felt like we had very little privacy while people waited. Other than that, we had a great experience and would definitely come back.

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!

Food service outdoor patio... ePic!! Good to know we can get…read moresome decent food -&-warm up in the sun after a good surf ... The strawberry salad so sweet and fresh..... Cauliflower bites crispy -n- scrumptious .....

Against my better judgment I feel I must leave this review. Just had the best brunch ever! Rolled…read morein at 10am on a Saturday. Got a table right away. This is why I didn't want to leave a review, because I hate waiting for breakfast. I'm not eating pork these days and their menu had plenty of options. Had the Harvest Benny. Perfectly balanced flavors, rich and satisfying but not too heavy. We are making Suda brunch a regular weekend stop now. Zealand, our server was exceptional. Great smile and knowledgeable about the menu. Even upsold me in the Irish coffee which was excellent. Thank you!