10/5 stars Everything - from the cool deco interior, to the attentive, detailed, yet unobtrusive service, to the inventive and accessible menus - was exquisite. End to end an incredible experience. These wonderful humans care deeply about flavor and dining and it shows! If you have not discovered this Santa Cruz gem yet, then you're in for a lovely surprise. Go before morels are out of season!!! We went big to celebrate a belated birthday. Our first course - Mocktail for my friend, and the Midnight Oil for me. It was like the elegant older sister of a Manhattan. Spirit forward but also subdued. The seasonal salad: OMG the wasabi peas + the green olives + the goat cheese balls? F*N BRILLIANT! Maybe the best salad I've ever had at a restaurant. Top 3 of all time minimum. Morel fettuccine: Mmmmm! Homemade pasta that reminded me of spatzle with morel and truffle toma. Salsa verde plus fried basil and sage for garnish. Delicious!! The toma and morels together gave this faint smokiness that layered beautifully with the verde. For mains- my friend raved about the Yuzu Glazed Chicken, and I had the Celeriac Branzino which was perfection. The fish was cooked exactly right - crispy skin, flaky flesh. The dish as a whole was delightfully creamy, bright, crispy and grounded with a little hint of savory fresh dill. The lotus root chip garnish was a wonderful repetition of the crunchy texture. Loved it! Dessert - There's no way we were leaving without dessert, and the lemon blueberry cheesecake did not disappoint! Pecan crumble crust, hidden whole bloobs in the seemingly whipped cheesecake, topped with lemon curd and blueberry preserves. And the toasted meringue garnish? Yes, yes please. How this was as light as air but so richly decadent is pure magic Thank you to everyone at VIM read more

See all

We went to VIM for the first time last night and it was amazing!! The menu, while small, offered enough variety that there were enough options to choose from. What had enticed us to go to VIM was the creativity of the menu. There were combinations I hadn't seen before and it seemed that the chef was bouncing around the globe choosing ingredients to combine. The result? Every bite is a sensation in your mouth! Different spices, flavors and textures combined to make you slow down and savor the experience. We shared a salad and two entrees (pork and filet) and tried to make sure we saved room for dessert since I had read that the owner was master. Every dish we had we enjoyed from the first bite to the last! And the desserts? Holy smokes! The chef is known for the chocolate cake (which was divine and very rich) but the cheesecake was another level! It was like eating creamy clouds of deliciousness. The service was spectacular! In a world where customer service is sometimes hard to come by, VIM knocks it out of the park. Our waiter, Cole, was incredibly knowledgeable, personable and attentive. I have read a couple reviews knocking the ambiance or configuration of the restaurant . There are limited tables and a lot of space between them. The ceilings are high, also giving a lot of space to the restaurant. It definitely has a different feel, but what it does is allow is for you to talk to and actually hear your dinner companions!! That is nearly unheard of in restaurants now, where they are optimizing every square space by cramming tables so close to each other that you can barely hear yourself think. I appreciated that as an additional part of the wonderful dining experience. You are best to get a reservation. There is a bar that I believe takes walk-ins, but when we got there at 6:30 it was full. We will definitely be coming back! read more

I've had many meals here, the best food in Santa Cruz. Everything VIM serves is surprising, complex, and extremely delicious. Their chef is a food genius, serving up the most appealing meals, time after time. The desserts are completely fabulous! I've never been disappointed at this place, and can't wait for the next visit! read more

Came here for my father's birthday and I have to say I was absolutely blown away. Everyone was very welcoming and the custom menus were a very nice touch to celebrate the occasion. The food was delicious, great flavors and unique combinations that excite the palette, the watermelon was a big highlight for me. In addition the desserts are amazing, the head chef was a pastry chef I am not mistaken and it really showed! Everything was so tasty and well made. This will not be my last visit, I look forward to coming back hungry for more! read more

See all

Color me impressed. If you follow me than you know I have expectations based on price point and this place didn't disappoint. It actually impressed me!!! Great service, wonderful ambiance, well made cocktails and every plate was exceptionally prepared. Now, my usual disclaimer, if you're not a foodie you might not feel the same. I say this as I was talking to someone and he fully acknowledges he eats for survival and isn't a foodie, but came here for his girlfriend. He felt it was okay and would've preferred his usual pizza spot, but his foodie girlfriend loved it. And no matter how full you are order dessert, it's what the chief was trained in and it shows. read more

See all

Best meal we've had in Santa Cruz, and that's over the course of many years and many meals

I am starting by saying, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant. 3/15 was the first time ever we went to Vim to celebrate a birthday. The ambiance is formal casual, very clean, low lighting, can be very romantic, and a great place to celebrate anything and everything. Food was great, everything was so delicious. The menu had great descriptions and also let you know what cocktail or and wine pairs well with your food choice. We ordered the pork tenderloin and the bass, the pork was so tender, great flavor, spiced very well. The bass was buttery melt in your mouth, and cooked so well Service was great, Lisa was attentive, helpful, brought everything on time and made some great suggestions. The service from start to finish was wonderful. I will visit again next time I am in Santa Cruz and recommend this restaurant for anyone who is looking for good food and great service read more

See all

First time here, but have known about it for years. Ended up sitting at the bar since we went last minute and didn't make reservations. Staff friendly and informative. Food was quite good. Sitting at the bar was lively, but not hectic or rushed. We had the watermelon and fried halumi, gespacho soup, the fig chicken, and the cake for dessert. None of it was heavy, which was great for a warm evening. Will be going back. It's probably one of the better restaurants in Santa Cruz county. It's also not insanely expensive, but not cheap either. read more

We went for our Anniversary Dinner and could not have been more pleased. Everything from the personalized menu, the welcoming nature of the venue and the staff, the knowledge and friendliness of our server and most importantly the quality and flavor of the meal was spectacular. We enjoyed complementary sparkling wine to celebrate our Anniversary. We shared an amazing pomegranate lamb meatball appetizer with the most amazing zaatar biscuit. For dinner we fig Marsala chicken - which was perfectly cooked. We also had a vegan spinach stuffed eggplant which was an explosion of flavor but still delicately in balance. The desserts looked amazing but we were too full to partake. read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - Fig Marsala Chicken - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

absolutely outstanding flavors, service, ambiance and cuisine. everything we ordered was so tasty and beautifully plated. such unique dishes with flavors that paired so well together. our waitress, Isa, is so kind, bubbly and knowledgeable about the dishes and restaurant. she really guided us through our experience here and gave amazing recommendations. we look forward to coming back to try other things on their menu :) come check them out!! 10000000/10 read more

See all

Wow all I can say is wow!!! We ordered the Miso pasta and the Branzino dish, both were made to perfection. The flavor is unreal. The. The deserts omg were so good. We ordered the passionfruit cheesecake and is was the best and very unique it had like a marshmallow cream on top with a passion fruit paste on the plate , very flavorful. Then they made my birthday special with an amazing chocolate cupcake that was made to perfection as well. They even had birthday dinner menus that were personalized that added a special touch! Great dinner experience all around also everyone very nice!!! read more

We came here for the first time for the Mother's Day tea. This was the perfect first experience. We didn't initially get a reservation and the day was sold out. But, we asked to be on the waitlist and luckily got a reservation. The restaurant quickly transports you from Mission Street to a beautiful afternoon tea. Although not an inexpensive meal, it was well crafted with beautiful details of edible flowers and vegetarian options. I wish I had tried Vim sooner. When we left we had the pleasure of meeting Chef Jessica. It's fun to support such a talented female chef. It was a true delight and the highlight of my Mother's Day. read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - Scones and cakes for tea brunch - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

The food is excellent and matches the service. Our neighbors recommended this place. My wife had the miso butter pasta, I had the Brazino fish fillet and we shared the seasonal salad. I highly recommend this place! And oh, the passionfruit cheesecake was off the hook good! read more

The only thing better than the staff is the food!. Best restaurant in Santa Cruz!!!!!! read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

First impressions: it's an odd room setup. A hip looking bar separated to the left and a pony wall dividing the dining room into two parts. We sat in the smaller section which is more private but no real ambiance beyond the funky checkerboard floor. There's an outdoor patio too. We started with the cherry burrata. What a burst of flavors! Curry in the biscuits and chili in the jam kick up the pork belly. In. My. Belly. We each got the 6oz filet with mushroom gravy, and loved it. Doesn't seem like big portion but it was plenty filling. The Vim chocolate cake was outstanding. It's been a month and I can still remember the peanut butter frosting and toffee crunch. Very rich, so plenty big to share. If you're celebrating a birthday, they give you a complimentary cupcake. Ours knocked our flavor socks off - a rich caramel chocolate cupcake with decadent cream cheese frosting. We were told the birthday cupcake flavor changes daily. The food all seemed fresh and seasonal. The cocktails were strong. For a fine dining place, they don't have many wines by the glass (a common issue in Santa Cruz). It's a well run restaurant. The staff are knowledgeable and there's a good pace to the service. Reservations are usually needed but bar looks like first-come, first-serve. read more

See all

We have had several friends recommend this restaurant over the past year, and we are just sorry that we didn't take their advice sooner and find this treasure before now. The menu is ever changing and the dishes are packed with flavor. The fresh ingredients do not go unnoticed. Our table ordered the creamy tomato bisque soup to start. It was amazing. And the garlic bread to go with it was even better ! We raved! Our table ordered the apple pork tenderloin, the zucchini fettuccine, the orange fennel striped bass and the seasonal salad. Everything was prepared to mouth watering perfection. The only criticism I could find with the restaurant, is the unwillingness to change the orders or menu items in anyway. In the age of overflowing food allergies, a little flexibility would be welcomed. Overall, the chef is hitting the target with an elevated restaurant in Santa Cruz. They have created and crafted some delightful dishes and an appealing atmosphere. read more

Interesting place but I wasn't really impressed. Food was good but not great. Lacking in ambience. Service was good. Cocktails were nice. Not sure I'd go back. read more

VIM is an EXCEPTIONAL restaurant that executes on all fronts. We've been here over the years for dinner, and also for their monthly tea (which might be one of the best value for money treats you'll find anywhere in the Bay Area + adjacent counties). The chef executes an ever changing menu, and what puts VIM in truly rarified air is the stunning desserts. Especially for their monthly tea. Super cool decor, and very friendly staff as well. One of our favorites. We drive down from San Jose to eat here. read more

Great food, service, and ambiance. We had the pork tenderloin and filet mignon. Both were super tender. And fried potatoes (aside the filet) were yummy. I also had the chamomile lemondrop cocktail, which was really good. My husband had the seasonal lemonade, which was a pineapple limeade which he loved. He got the carrot cake and I got the mocha creme de pot. Both also very good. Will be coming back again soon! read more

See all

I took my niece and nephew for dinner and we were super impressed. I'm very confident that this is one of the BEST restaurants in all of Santa Cruz. It's got an old-school art deco look from the 20s. Service is stellar and the menu rotates every season. The main dishes they match with a cocktail and the desserts are amazing. Chef does all of it! She's extremely talented. Am looking to possibly come every season to try the seasonal menus. Only complaint is the place is not heated so it got a little chilly on a winter evening. read more

Sis-in-law is from the Santa Cruz area and recommended this place for dinner with the family. What a great place. From the hostess, to the servers, to the food....I can see why this place has FIVE stars. Isa and Colin were our servers, and they were both super friendly, very attentive and man do they know their food. We asked Colin what was on top of the pasta, and he went into full detail on each item we ordered. Food was very tasty from the salad to the apps, to the entrees. Portions are pretty big, so sharing is definitely an option. We didn't have any cocktails as we opted to pay the corkage fee was $15 per bottle. I will be sure to try the cocktails at the cute bar next time. Dessert was sooo good. There were just too many options, but we were so full from dinner, we ordered just two to share. I haven't been to a restaurant lately that offers good quality food, great service and at pretty decent prices. These days, eating out is a treat and you will find this place is worth every penny. read more

See all

This place is fantastic, and the staff is terrific. It has excellent food! Amazing and super friendly staff! And can't forget about the cocktails!!! By far the best place in town! Come down and treat yourself! read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - The dessert was so good that I couldn't wait to start eating before taking a picture! - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

An outstanding meal, such flavor and quality! Best dinner we've had in years! The pork tenderloin melted in my mouth, such amazing interesting flavors too! The seasonal salad was delicious! Such creative dishes! Colin was a fantastic waiter, so attentive and helpful, a real pleasure! read more

This place was delicious! I would highly recommend! I'm usually skeptical of pork tenderloin being dry and over cooked, but these are sous vide and we're perfect! The short rib was amazing and both had great sides and sauces! The desserts were amazing! read more

See all

I've come here on several occasions and every time it is delicious. They change their menu often which keeps it exciting; I love all the flavor combinations! The service is great too. One time, we came there for a special occasion and they printed menus just for us with the title, "congratulations, Mikala!". It was a small touch but definitely something I will never forget. I highly recommend Vim! read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

Ahhh-mazing from start to finish! Cocktails, food, desserts & service... perfection! Best dining experience in Santa Cruz hands down. read more

See all

VIM was an absolute treat. I haven't experienced a 5-star dining outing in some time and this was an easy 5-star. From the moment we walked inside to the moment the bill was payed, the service was on point. Our waitress was charming, friendly, and very skilled at her job. The food and drink was delectable and the decor/aesthetic was elegant. If you are celebrating something, they will go out of their way to print individualized menus for you and I found that to be super thoughtful. My only feedback is that we were pretty chilly the entire meal. It was a rainy night and we were seated close to a door so perhaps that was just a one-off. I cannot wait to go back one day! read more

See all

My husband and I loooooove Vim! It has become our favorite place to eat when celebrating a special occasion. The service is impeccable; they make you feel truly special. The food is delicious and faultless. The custom cocktails are also really great. The atmosphere inside (we've never eaten outside) is beautiful and classy, we don't feel out of place getting dressed up, but it's your typical CA scene where everyone is wearing what they want. Last year we went for our anniversary and they surprised us with custom printed menus congratulating us. It was unexpected and an above and beyond touch. They have two customers for life!! :) read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - Anniversary dinner - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Went for a last minute bite and sat at the bar since we didn't have a reservation. Place was well kept and aesthetically pleasing. Great food, vibes, and bartender was excellent. We had a lot of apps, a few cocktails, and dessert. Looking forward to going back and trying more menu items. read more

Food looked nice but way overpriced and not very tasty. They had good service but I wished that the food tasted better. It's a shame that such a nice establishment would come to such low taste standards. Would not recommend. read more

We were visiting Santa Cruz and our hosts, who are regulars here, invited us for a nice dinner of "New American" cuisine. I must say that the whole experience was just wonderful.....the servers were so nice, friendly, and gave us great service throughout our entire dinner. The restaurant's interior is very nice, but dining on the outdoor patio was just the best.....felt like we were dining on the patio at home....not too large of a patio, but cozy and intimate....great for small groups or couples on a date. Heat lamps were also available on cold nights. My only issue is that the fenced patio is right next to the main road and you will hear crazy drivers with very loud engines, which can be pretty annoying. The menu has a very refined selection of delicious sounding dinner items prepared fresh, with fresh ingredients, and which changes according to the season. We wanted to share some appetizers with a perfectly paired bottle of wine, so we ordered the Sweet Potato Fritters and Honey Nduja Brussels Sprouts.......both were absolutely delicious and so well presented. For mains, we ordered the Pork Tenderloin, Mushroom Meatball Pasta, Baked Steelhead (fish....not sure if salmon or trout), and Ginger Soy Steak. Everything was very well prepared, hot and fresh, and was fantastically delicious with an excellently prepared sauces that went so well with each of the proteins. My favorite had to be the mushroom meatball pasta.....you'd be shocked at how much they taste like a real MEAT meatball! Yum! Our only complaint would be that the steak, although cooked perfectly as ordered on the inside, was a bit salty even though we requested no added salt. For dessert, we ordered the Pumpkin Cheesecake......oh so good!...and not too sweet, and were given a complimentary birthday Caramel Cupcake with a candle on top. Great service....excellent food.....wonderful little outdoor patio......if you can tune out the noise from the traffic. read more

See all

We have been to Wim several times and were always very impressed. Yesterday, however, we were disappointed. Although this review is based on only a single visit we are concerned that the quality of the food has gone down. The Peruvian Pepper steak had no traces of pepper. Although the meat was good the dish was unexciting and suorisingky bland. The dish had too much heavy souce, which caused everything other than be too bland. It more of less killed the other ingridients. The service was very good and friendly. We hope that this was just a bad day for the chef. Santa Cruz does not ahve many good restaurants and we need Vim to regain its usual level of excellence so that we can continue to enjoy their food. For a dish costing $60 we expect something better. Per G. read more

VIM is one of Santa Cruz's best treats. Their menu is seasonal and often changes. I went the other night and enjoyed the delicious potato croquettes, salad, pork with a bacon gravy and grits, as well as their chocolate cake and apple cheddar galette. Service and drinks are always spot on. The best date night restaurant and elevated food experience in Santa Cruz! read more

See all

The food here is unbeatable--sophisticated, creative, and truly exceptional. However, the interior feels basic and doesn't quite live up to the standard of the cuisine. October 11th we had a 7:00 reservation for a party of four, and the young man who seated us was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer our questions about the sous vide steak we enjoyed on a previous visit when the two of us sat at the bar. It was delicious then, and we were excited for this return visit. When we and our friends were seated, our waitress hurried over, speaking to us before she even reached the table, interrupting our conversation with a rushed tone. It was uncomfortable, especially given that the restaurant was only half full. We laughed awkwardly and ordered cocktails, which required a few questions due to their elaborate nature--cocktails here are fantastic, but some of the ingredients and techniques needed clarification. However, our inquiries seemed to test her patience, as she abruptly asked if she should come back once we'd made up our minds. "No!" we replied in near unison, and placed our order. She was already inching away from our table as the last order was placed. Despite the awkward interaction, the cocktails, as last time, were exceptional. When it came time to order food, the rushing continued. Again, we felt hurried, though we were fully ready to order. It was so blatant, that my friend asked, "Just asking... are we in a hurry?" She shook her head no, but the rushed feeling continued throughout the rest of our stay. Our appetizers included the Za'atar potatoes and tomato bisque, both delicious, but the standout was the Gouda Crème Brûlée, served with roasted grapes in rosemary, marinated olives, Spanish chorizo, and light, crisp crackers--an absolutely surprising and extraordinary dish. Unfortunately, the waitress tried to clear our plates before we were finished. It was only 7:30 and their last seating is at 8:00, so we weren't sure why there was such a sense of urgency. Once our appetizers were cleared, the mains arrived, and again, the food was exceptional--this is why we came back. We shared a beautifully prepared sea bass with crispy skin, served on a bed of couscous with a refreshing and complex pomegranate relish, a perfect balance of flavors and textures. I can't recall exactly what our companions ordered (the menu on the website isn't up to date), but we played musical entrees, and every dish was a hit. The young man who had seated us checked in, and we expressed our appreciation for the meal, ordering wine to pair with the mains. Meanwhile, the waitress zipped by a couple times, eager to clear plates. By 8:30, we started wondering--was that really too long? We know we're in sleepy Santa Cruz and not San Francisco, so we understand that things wrap up a little earlier here, but the rushed service still felt excessive. We ended with a sophisticated chocolate bread pudding for dessert, wrapping up just before 9:00, to find half the chairs already stacked on tables, as if signaling that we'd overstayed our welcome. It's too bad. The chef here is phenomenal and deserves a staff that matches the quality of the food. For the price we paid, so do the diners. Hopefully, this rushed vibe was just a one-time occurrence--our experience at the bar was far more relaxed. We'll give it another shot, but it's hard to ignore the feeling that we were being hurried out the door. read more

Amazing!!! My husband and I made reservations for our anniversary. As soon as we walked in, I loved VIM. It's beautifully decorated and everyone is welcoming. They even printed Happy Anniversary on the menu for us We ordered the butter charcuterie board to start. It was delicious and I could have eaten a pound of the butter. Our cocktails were great and we had seconds. I had the bass and my husband had the pork and we left no crumbs! We also got the chocolate cake and the pumpkin cheesecake to go, and those were fabulous. Everything was fabulous and we will absolutely be back! read more

See all

Vim is absolutely one of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz. Each dish is carefully crafted and you can tell with every bite. They use local seasonally sourced ingredients. The service is always impeccable. We popped in the other night with no reservation & they accommodated us immediately. The art new vous ambiance is right up my alley too. Never disappoints! read more

See all

Solid 4.5 rating! Vim is on Mission Street. There is a vacant lot on one side and a motel on the other. As first-time diners, we were confused about where to park; apparently either side is okay. From the moment we entered the restaurant, all of the staff were incredibly friendly. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat indoors. The tables were well-distanced. The patio looked cute, too. Our server brought water as well as popcorn. Popcorn was a fun nibble instead of bread. We ordered the brussel sprout appetizer to share. I had the pasta with mushroom "meatballs" and my husband had the pork loin. I struggled a bit with my order because each dish had something that I wasn't sure about or don't care for. As it turned out, I think you can have faith and trust the chef as everything was really good. The brussel sprouts come with goat cheese, a prosciutto sauce, and puffed rice. The sprouts were very firm. I could not cut them with my knife. I like brussel sprouts with a bit more char and crisp. This was a rich dish with the cheese and sauce, but it was tasty. The puffed rice added a nice textural contrast. The mushroom "meatballs" had an excellent texture and rich, earthy flavor. They come with truffle butter pasta. The pasta was tender and the sauce wasn't overly truffled. There was a butternut squash purée on the dish as well as broccolini on the side. The dish was quite filling. Everything was very flavorful. My husband had the pork, which had a parsnip purée and chips as well as mini bacon and cheese biscuits. It was also very filling, but tasty. We had planned on ordering dessert, but we were absolutely stuffed. Vim is a real gem on the West side. The food trends to the richer side and portions are large. Sharing may be in order. Definitely worth a visit. read more

See all

If you are looking for innovative dishes and a not run of the mill dining experience, this is the place to go! Fresh, flavorful and satisfying dishes that you won't find anywhere else. Save room for desert. Not to be missed! read more

The food the food the food! The chef is amazing and each course was as good as the last. The craft cocktails are complex and innovative (albeit inscrutable from the menu) ... try some! We started with the maitake mushrooms and burrata dishes and each was delicious. My wife is vegetarian and chose the pasta which was rich and fabulous. I had the curried chicken which was love on a plate We ordered dessert and took it home as we knew it would be hours before we could do it justice The service was attentive ... although perhaps bordering on brisk. We were in and out in 75 minutes with our take home dessert. So certainly on the quicker side. The ambiance doesn't match the food. The food is amazing and the decor/ambiance is mezze-metz. Did I mention the food? It's amazing! I think this is now the best restaurant in Santa Cruz ... the kitchen has nailed it and front of house is close ... but the food is so good, you will forgive instantly any issues you have with the rest. read more

This was a great dining experience! I thought the menu had some really interesting, vegetarian-forward dishes. I really like the crispy chickpea main, I don't know how they get them so crispy and flavorful, but I was certainly impressed. We enjoyed the cocktail menu as well. For me, the standout was really the dessert! The chocolate cake was to die for, probably one of the top 5 desserts of my life. read more

VIM Dining & Desserts - Chocolate cake - New American Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all