[[HIGHLIGHT]]The wharf is pretty cool. Lots to see. And a good selection of restaurants there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]And woodies Cafe isn't a bad choice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's got a great atmosphere, but the bathroom is in the restaurant next door and the poopability of that bathroom is like a 3/10. Kind of cramped and the stalls feel open because of the gap between the floor and the stall wall and door.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But you probably don't care about the poopability of the bathrooms. The food was excellent. I opted for the fish and chips, not the halibut but the one just under that. The fish was crisp, hot, and succulent. I just wish for what the cost was that there would have been more to the dish. I also order their onion rings. Or shavings. I'm don't recall what they're called on the menu. But definitely got bang for your buck on that app. The staff and manager were super friendly! All in all it's a great place to stop for a bite while you're visiting. There is a lot of options and this place is a good one. read more

Woodies Cafe - Fish and chips with the onion "rings" - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Stopped in for a sit down option visiting Santa Cruz with the family. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space was clean and had amazing views.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Variety of options to choose from. Prices are high but everywhere in the area is comparable. When it's a tourist town expect to pay more. I think the food was well prepared. Fries were crispy. Prawn tacos hit the spot. prawns portions were good and the flavor. Rice and beans did not look freshly made in house. We got the corn dog. Pricy for a kids item but it did come with fresh fruit and fries. The popcorn shrimp was a little greasy as we got to the end. Kid approved clam chowder. For us and what we were looking for it got the job done. read more

Woodies Cafe - Prawn tacos - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Stopped in yesterday for a meal. Went to the front and a male employee just stared at us. No greeting whatsoever. I then said do we just pick somewhere to sit and he sighed and said "no you order first and then get a seat". Ok got it. We ordered sliders and fish and chips. The fish and chips were bland and very small portioned for the price. Very disappointing. read more

Today's my second time coming here! 1st day we came it was a little colder but beautiful outside. We walked up and down the pier to decide where we were gonna eat. Very happy that we chosen here the young man that helped us was so polite and so nice and helpful . We were hoping we would see him again today . I have to say I've ate clam chowder at many places and this place has so many clams and their clam chowder big pieces and the taste is delicious [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is so much room to sit in here. The view is beautiful, no matter where you're sitting in the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This seems also like a local place that a lot of teens will come to if I lived here I would come here very often Today we're heading back home from out of town and decided to make a stop here in Santa Cruz just to come eat here The prices are great, and the service is amazing . Easy to park close by we paid maybe four dollars for an hour and a half Downloading the park mobile app is the easiest way to go . read more

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Each year in the summer a family member is assigned games to referee in Santa Cruz. The best part of this adventure is going to Woodies! I always get the clam chowder, and a fish sandwich. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant has a great view of the ocean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]I came here and instantly loved the ocean view from inside the restaurant, definitely a highlight of the place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu is on the smaller side, but we ordered the clam strips, a kids' hot dog, and the clam chowder in a bread bowl. The clam strips were just okay, nothing to rave about. But the clam chowder? Incredible. Rich, flavorful, and served in a perfectly crisp bread bowl. I seriously considered ordering another one to go. It's easily the best thing we had. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's plenty of seating, which was a plus.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But a few things did take away from the experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]For one, the bathroom situation isn't ideal, it's located inside the restaurant next door, which is kind of a hassle.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also, the staff at the front and behind the counter didn't seem happy to be there. No smiles, no friendly greetings, it actually made me feel uncomfortable asking for anything. If you're coming for the view and that chowder, it's worth a stop. Just don't expect warm service or a big menu. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Woodies Cafe has a great location right on the Santa Cruz Wharf, and the atmosphere really pulls you in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the fish, and overall the food tasted good and was enjoyable. That said, it did feel like we were charged fresh, wharf-style prices for food that seemed more like frozen, refried fare rather than freshly prepared seafood. The quality didn't quite match the premium pricing you expect in that location. Not bad food by any means, but for the price, I was hoping for something that felt a bit fresher and more worth it. Great spot, decent food -- just room to improve on value and freshness read more

Woodies Cafe - The views! - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This is our absolute favorite & only go-to spot for clam chowder & clam chowder bowls! We drive over from San Jose *just* to grab clam chowder. Other places do not even compare. read more

Woodies Cafe - View from outside table - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a small spot along the boardwalk. Nice seating and views as you eat but a bit cramped.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is really clean and they're on top of getting tables ready for use.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was only 3 stars because the food was alright. The burger was good but the shrimp and chips was quite oily. Ended up getting a stomach ache afterwards. For the price, the food was mid. read more

Woodies Cafe - Shrimp & Chips California Burger - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I've been coming here since I was a kid. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As is the case with most of the wharf restaurants, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Of course the coveted window seats are the best, but with floor to ceiling windows along the whole side of the restaurant, all tables have an ocean view![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Growing up this was probably my favorite spot on the wharf. But as I've gotten older and my taste for fried food has shifted to fresh seafood, I don't come here all that often. The menu has a mix of mostly burgers and sandwiches or fried seafood options - a great spot for people that aren't necessarily huge on seafood. On a recent wharf visit, I noticed a special of the day sign that boasted a half crab bake and a cup of chowder, my eyes lit up and my stomach began to rumble, so here we are! You order at the counter and seat yourself, then pick your food up when the buzzer goes off. My food came up super quickly, however my mom's took about 20 minutes until it was ready. A little inconsistent and a bummer since my food got a little cold as I waited for her. We still both enjoyed our meals and of course enjoyed the fantastic view. read more

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Organized, clean, and quick service. I appreciated the customer service and while I've heard it can get busy when there's lots of tourist, I was seated and enjoying my meal quickly. The prices were a lot higher considering there are other locations nearby that serve similar items. I probably would not go back, but I would recommend stopping by if you're in the mood for burgers and fries. read more

Woodies Cafe - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We stopped for a quick takeout order on our way home from the beach. Clam chowder was disappointing. The bread bowl was only half filled with soup. It was watery and had a strange flavor. We also got the chicken sandwich. It was and flavorless. Don't bother going here. read more

Great classic American beach food restaurant. It's a casual eatery with good quality food and service. Everyone there was very helpful and went out of their way to give us a great experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also have a great window seating so you can look out at the water.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered a lot of things so there's pictures of the garlic fries, onion rings, fish n chips, buffalo chicken wings, chicken sandwiches, and shrimp poppers. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the onion rings. It wasn't wrong, but to me they tasted like crispy oil and nothing else. read more

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Having been in the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk repeatedly when bringing visitors to this part of the California coastline, this was our first time traversing the Municipal wharf. It was always a backdrop for our photos and I was eager to discover what this wooden structure had to offer. Tourist trap, maybe, but our group was hungry and this was our consensus for lunch. Skipped the bread bowl clam chowder this time, but one of our friends ordered some, so I snapped a quick photo before they partook with it. I got the Fish and Chips substituted with Garlic Fries while my wife had the Crab Melt and Clam Chowder combo. We washed these down with bottled sodas of ginger ale and Coke. Food and drinks hit the spot and the view was a nice panorama of the Monterey Bay with eased sails populating the windy and sunny afternoon. This counter service cafe is connected to the Firefish Grill (same ownership) and they share cleaner restrooms than at the Boardwalk. read more

Before we could even place our order, the young male cashier told my sister that she wasn't allowed inside because she was wearing jean shorts and a bikini top. We respected what we believed was the establishment's dress code and she put her shirt on. Mind you she was not revealing just a normal bikini top and jean shorts that were covering everything.About 40 minutes later, another young woman walked in wearing exact same outfit, yet she was allowed to enter without anyone saying a word. That was completely unacceptable.I went back to the cashier and asked why my sister was denied entry while someone else dressed the same was allowed in. There was no reasonable explanation--just a weak apology. Rules should be enforced fairly and consistently for everyone, not selectively based on who walks through the door. The unequal treatment was frustrating, upsetting, and left a very negative impression of this establishment.They need to hire adults and not young men that clearly pick and choose which women they don't mind seeing in bikini tops!! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great views from the pier[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], friendly staff and terrific Fish and Chips. Wifey had the Clam Strips which reminded us of the Old Howard Johnson's always was a treat Fish was really fresh. read more

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The chicken wings are always on point, grilled cheese is another favorite as is the shrimp salad, the ranch is perfect. Staff is friendly

Our experience at Woodies Cafe on the Santa Cruz wharf was excellent from start to finish. Beginning with the best clam chowder in the area, followed by an exceptional crab melt special, and concluded with attentive and efficient service. Highly recommend dining here during your next visit. Restaurant is always clean and inviting and we never have an issue getting seated even on the busiest of day. read more

Woodies Cafe - Crab bake sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Employees were friendly. Food was mediocre for its price. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Location was nice as it has seating with nice views.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I do like that it was clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As i was eating employees picked plates up quickly once people were done and wiped down tables. It was a little pricey but nice for a for a quick bite. We ordered fish and chips, Fiesta chicken for reference. read more

My Fiancé and I came upon this place while on vacation. We shared an order of Fish&Chips. The quality was equal to the frozen aisle at Safeway for 4x the price. The staff were nice but the food was embarrassing for the inflated touristy price point. Do better. People deserve better. read more

Always on the hunt for delicious clam chowder and this one hit the spot! Tasty and thick, not watery! We will be back.

Someone recommended Woodies as a quick option to grab food to go. I rarely eat on the wharf and the place I had in mind, The Dolphin, is condemned at the moment due to weather damage. Woodies is reportedly owned by the same people, so we figured this was a good bet. Originally, I asked my husband to order salmon sliders for me, but when I found out they had fish tacos, I went with that. The fish was a bit bland and presented in small pieces instead of a whole filet. The coating was weird (even though I love panko on fish) - crumbly and kind of like fish sticks from the freezer. The tacos in general could've used some acid (like lime - anything to squeeze on there), but they didn't come with any. However, the sides were tasty. The refried beans were well-seasoned, and the rice had a nice flavor. My husband got the salmon sliders, and while he enjoyed them, he thought they might benefit from bolder toppings, not the cucumber it came with. Maybe coleslaw? Or pickled onion and pineapple? I thought they tasted a lot like the salmon patties my grandma used to make from canned salmon, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I can't comment on ambiance because it was a pick-up order and I didn't go inside. read more

Subpar food & the staff isn't very helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The view is nice however I won't be getting the clam chowder there again.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Just walk down further and you'll find many other places to try. read more

Loved the food it's a taste u won't forget It's so fresh and tasty u won't want to miss this place read more

Woodies Cafe - Beautiful view. First time coming let u know soon - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]My family and I enjoyed the view, but that was it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is not good all frozen food. We ordered the seafood omelet omg so gross right out of a can for sure. My husband had the steak burrito which had small slivers of flank steak and hard beans. Not good at all If your hungry pass it up. read more

Omg, the crab and shrimp melt is over the top delicious! I highly recommend. I'll be back.

This has become one of my favorite stops in Santa Cruz. The chowder and bread bowl are always delicious. Burger was a bit over priced, but my sin enjoyed it. Service was decent and friendly. The views ate outstanding! read more

Woodies Cafe - Garlic fries - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

If you're going to pay pier prices, this place is as good as any. The staff was friendly. Service quick enough for fresh cooked fried fish. The halibut was a bit overdone, and not flaky, but tasted good. The fries are a battered type, and stay warm for quite a while. Husband tried the clam strips and he said they were good. Great views, decent food, and I would try the chowder next time. read more

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Yum!! Stopped in for a late lunch. I had the calamari and fries. Everything was super fresh, the calamari were super tender and not chewy at all. Highly recommend this place for a quick lunch on the wharf. read more

Located right on Santa Cruz Wharf. There are a handful of restaurants! My kids saw their big sign for French Fries and they wanted a snack. So 3 fries. One order for kid. One was still hungry and asked for a burger.. So he had a burger. I had a Blue Moon, a cup clam chowder, Caesar salad and a Seafood Platter. Not the healthiest choice. All deep fried. Fries were crispy. Comparable to McDonald's. Burger was big - my kid ate half. Clam Chowder- basic nothing to really write about. There are clams in it but it had more potatoes than clams. Ceazar Salad - good. Well dressed. Seafood Platter- 2 shrimps; 2 small fried battered fish, and a nice serving of calamari. Side of fries, slaw, cocktail sauce, and tartar sauce. It's expensive. Not a cheap place but you are paying for a beautiful view! Enjoy the view of the waves, lighthouse, the paddle boarders, surfers, and just the beauty of Santa Cruz! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Clam shower, fish and chips, a Frisbee for the kids/dog and a view for the great meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] #winning without the tigers blood. read more

I enjoyed their chowder and fries. The chowder was hot, creamy and full of veggies and clams and the fries were crispy and seasoned well. I would pass on the fish. We had one piece that tasted amazing and one piece that tasted like why people don't like fish. The staff there were friendly and if I didn't have my dog I would have eaten there to enjoy the view they have. read more

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Attracted by the restaurant's nice windows seat view as result to visit it for lunch . LOCATION : In the middle of municipal wharf, limited parking space but i prefer to walk along the wharf INSIDE : tons of tables including windows seat . You would definitely enjoy the view with lunch or dinner there . SERVICE : good and friendly , the waiter took initiative to cleanup the table again after we sit down . Good FOOD : Ordered California burger which came with fries , calamari with fries , and clam chowder for lunch . Since we had windows seats , all the food turn out to be looking good LOL. The clam chowder was creamy and I could taste the chowder full of clams inside , taste balanced but not salty , good . The calamari was just average , as the size was kind of tiny . The fries was definitely below average, it looks like cooked for long time and re-heated again. Regarding the California burger , it definitely nice color lol , and taste pretty good , what a huge burger that made me so full after read more

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I ordered the fish and chips. Portion was EXTREMELY small. For 25 dollars I expect more. Even if it had been more fries. Pretty bummed I drove 3 hours away and ended up choosing this location to eat. read more

Woodies Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Do not order the popcorn, shrimp and fries. All it was was cornmeal deep fried no shrimp to be found. Do not order it. It was awful and the fries were not good. My daughter is not picky and she is autistic and she did not like it and she usually eats what we order. read more

This is one of the restaurants located on the wharf itself, though the menu for most of these locations all looked exactly the same (we checked) so just pick whichever has less of a line. They all have burgers, and fried foods. They had seating indoors and outdoors, but the service and food both left much to be desired. It took a ridiculous amount of time for food to come out (one party in group got their food within 5 minutes and then the rest of us waited 20 minutes for food even though we all ordered consecutively...). One of these orders was a salad, which literally did not require any cooking. The food itself was okay. I ordered the seafood combo which was $18.50 before tax, and came with a tiny piece of fried fish, two fried shrimp, some calamari and fries. Thankfully they gave me both tartar sauce and cocktail sauce, as some others in our group didn't get the sauces their entrees were supposed to come with, and the line to order was massive so it wasn't even worth going back in to ask for it. IMO, the best part of this dish was the fries, which makes the price a bit too steep for me. For a cheaper price, I could've gotten a burger (which also comes with fries). The seafood itself was fine, though a bit dry, so overall not spectacular, so don't come for the seafood specifically. read more

Woodies Cafe - seafood combo (fried fish, fried shrimp, calamari and fries) - $18.50 - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Best burger I've ever had! The view was a plus & service was excellent! Will definitely be returning! read more

Woodies Cafe - Hawaiian burger - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Staff was nice. The food not so good. Very dry chicken and fish. Th clam chowder was decent. I get meals are expensive. But the food has to be tasteful and worth the price. read more

I've been a few times so far. So far, I've gotten the hawaiian burger, fish and chips, and chicken sandwich. All were super delicious and crispy. I especially like the thin, flat cut if their fries. Unfortunately, I felt that the fish and chips were lacking in flavor, but everything else tasted great to me. They offer a discount for paying in cash, which is really nice. It can get a bit crowded, so sometimes the wait gets pretty long, but the food hits after a hot day at the beach. I never eat inside as I prefer to eat on the beach, but inside is pretty spacious with lots of seating with a view of the ocean. read more

We have eaten here before and decided to stop in for a quick Boston clam chowder bread bowl. It was fantastic and fresh. If you are near here at the boardwalk, stop in. read more

Woodies Cafe - Clam chowder bread bowl - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California