We drove to Capitola for the beach but we needed coffee and brunch and decided on Zelda's because you just can't beat that view from the tables outside. I ordered a coffee and the eggs Benedict and it was great! Delicious breakfast that tasted so good even though it got cold outside before I could even get halfway through it. My coffee was decent and the waitress did give me a couple refills which was very necessary! The view is wonderful and I went and sat by the water afterwards which rejuvenated me! I will absolutely come back to Zelda's for more breakfast next time!! read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

It's Oct slow locals month The drinks were great the tables outside were filthy and empty plates, glasses and trash everywhere I cleaned it up. The Ladies bathroom had wet paper towels all over the floor. I love this place and will keep coming back but someone needs to clean up outside or tell the customers to bus their own tables pack your frocking trash! Cheers read more

This used to be my boyfriend and I's go-to breakfast spot; However, there was a cloud of bugs swarming the inside of the building during our meal. The inside of the reaturaunt in general felt a little unclean, but the swarm of bugs really did it for me. Also, we both orded the simple breakfast (eggs, bacon, country potatoes), and the food was served cold. We will likely not be coming back. Our waiter was nice at least read more

While visiting the beautiful town of Capitola this past weekend to celebrate my wife's birthday with two other couples, we decided to have lunch at this restaurant. Unfortunately, I chose the ceviche, which was a major letdown--$15.99 for what seemed like no more than two ounces of food. The real issue came later. About six hours after eating, while waiting for a table at Shadowbrook, I suddenly started feeling ill--chills, sweating, and nausea hit all at once. Within minutes, I was rushing to the restroom, where I experienced severe vomiting and ongoing diarrhea. The timing and symptoms made it clear: food poisoning from the ceviche. The rest of the night was completely ruined, and I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone. The lack of proper food handling and safety protocols at this venue is incredibly concerning and deeply disappointing. read more

Sat on the outside patio, it was very nice! Had spicy Bloody Mary and a cup of chowder, both excellent! Bar was slow, but it was on a Saturday afternoon, won't hold that against them. Worth the wait! Will come back when it town again. read more

I love Zelda's! I always have to have to clam chowder, it's amazing! You should also try the calamari, and the fish and chips. Service is always fast and friendly. Love that you can sit outside near the beach, it's very relaxing. Give yourself some extra time to find parking if you make reservations. read more

Zelda's - New England Clam Chowder - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Meh. Shitty eggs on shitty tortillas with shitty service. This mail was truly pathetic. It was outrageously overpriced.

Wrong orders Burnt hamburgers and buns Lackluster flavor Had to clean own tables Price does not match quality read more

Rude manager, filthy kitchen and bathrooms. Cool deck outside. So much potential but poorlu managed.

Man,.it is sad how lousy this place has become. Rude staff, overpriced, and lousy food. Go somewhere else.

We ordered the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, pancakes and Huevos Rancheros. They were delicious.

Another opportunity after five years from my last visit arose. Walking into a newly renovated shop meets you with a fresh coastal feel and looks. The feeling might have been the greeting and smiles. The design looks fresh and friendly, from the restroom to the front of the house. The service and dining experience surpassed my last visit and exceeded my best expectations. The menu items ordered were tasty and fresh. It was a cold fall day with steady rain; at best, the place was 3/4 full. Seeing and reading many of Yelper's reviews shows there is still a reputation for recovery. It is up to the leads and team; hospitality was evident that day. The challenge among many, I assume, is when that mighty patio is open. read more

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So I grew up here and loved the food..... And now I live in San Francisco and I would drive all the way down to have the Calamari..... It was so delicious and amazing and I'd refer people here and show them the pics of all my favorites like the Calamari coconut shrimp and bread bowl full of Clam Chower.... What I had tonight was horrible.... they changed the recipe of the Calamari... its no longer the same and after craving it and driving all the way down it was such a disappointment.... Ill never order it again... or refer people to have it.... the clam chowder and coconut shrimps was still the same and delicious..... But utterly upset with the Calamari read more

Service is very slow and disorganized. They just don't care. Good view, I'd suggest to get drinks but have food somewhere else. read more

Disappointed with overall customer service, times have definitely changed. Zeldas has always been my go to when visiting Capitola. Our recent visit celebrating my sons birthday. Proved to be anything but a wonderful experience, our meals lacked flavor, our server provided my toddler grandson -water in a 16 oz plastic cup with no lid and a straw, of course did not go well, leaving my grandson a bit wet and cold. This is how our meal began. After several requests for a replacement napkin, which we were never provided with, we had to get up and help ourselves to one. No acknowledgement of my sons birthday, I had shared that it was his birthday. We had gift in bag clearly displaying Happy Birthday. Overall customer service and meals were unsatisfactory.. Surprised to see a surcharge of $4.00 aside from the suggested tip. We will not be returning!! read more

I've always wanted to try this place because the patio is right on the beach. We met with some friends who were having lunch so we decided to join them. I ordered The lobster eggs Benedict because it was a special. The Eggs Benedict were nice in consistency and the Hollandaise sauce had a nice kick of spice. However, while I was eating, I almost forgot it was supposed to be a lobster eggs Benedict! I found tiny pieces of lobster chopped up in the mixture of bell peppers. I don't think there was even an ounce of lobster in there. So this place was not good value. read more

Zelda's - Lobster eggs Benedict - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

I came to this place many years ago, this may be the second time after almost 10 years!? I am a little bit worry as the rating is not as good, but we need a place with outdoor seating so we can watch over our bikes, so that's why we were here. Thank god! It was a great choice! Weather is so nice, not chilly, sun with wind, very nice weather to sit outside actually. The food was great, I ordered the daily special Lobster Benedict, my friend ordered Seafood Melt, both are good, I love the Lobster Benedict more. My other friends ordered a salad and Mahi Mahi Sandwich - nothing special - my friend doesn't like cheese so she didn't order the Seafood Melt - she regretted that.....I feel bad that I didn't share our food with her....I didn't have time to think cause I was so hungry lol Sorry my friend, next time. read more

Zelda's - Lobster Benedict - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

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This was our first time in Capitola. We were concerned about the low rating, But heard the view was excellent - so we figured we'd go and get a drink and an appetizer and find out for ourselves. Boy, were we glad we did! Make sure you come to Zelda's when you're in Capitola! Apparently, they had been closed since January 5th due to the restaurant suffering MAJOR damage as it was hit by a large piece of the nearby pier that collapsed. The have only been opened for about two weeks. Rachel was the waiter and the bartender. She was busy but still provided excellent service. The Calamari was excellent. not greasy or rubbery. Tartar and cocktail sauces were both really good. The French fries were AWESOME! Some of the best we've EVER HAD! Hot, and crispy outside but not too crispy- EXCELLENT. The Margarita was the BOMB! The restaurant was very clean, restrooms included. The ambiance was great, the service was great. The food was excellent. The view was great. I am so glad that we disregarded the rating and came anyway. read more

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We accidentally sat at the restaurant wondering if it was another place we were thinking and it surely was a happy accident! The view from the deck is stunning. They offered shade or sun and we thought that generous. Our hostess loved on Daisy (always appreciated), our server was kind and helpful, and we had others who dropped food and drinks. It's a team environment and they work very well together. It's a comfortable and relaxed spot to spend time, we'd love to go back one day! read more

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Beautiful beach from dining patio has a calming and vacationy vibe. Food is on the decent side but wouldn't say it's fabulous. Clam chowder was good. I think you're coming here for ambiance. Located right next to the 'famous' colorful rentals by the pier. Service was slow but it's pretty busy. Nice way to have lunch on a beautiful, sunny weekend. read more

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Came here after a veteran surf program. It has a really nice location with ocean views, parking was spotty. You just have to be lucky. I circled a few times before finding one. I ordered nachos and my friend ordered fried calamari and fish & chips. Nothing to rave about, you're really paying for the view and ambiance of outdoor dining. I think nachos at sports game tasted better, the friend calamari was overly battered and oily. Not sure about his fish & chips, but he couldn't even finish it. Not coming back for sure. read more

Zelda's - Nachos - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Nothing changed except maybe the prices SO glad they didn't get ruined with that storm that crashed in read more

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Great Ambiance right on the Beach! Very friendly and chill atmosphere!you are right on the beach! read more

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Stopped by Zelda in Capitola and had a great time overall. The drinks were strong (in a good way), and both the food and service were solid. We got the calamari which was seasoned really well. Definitely a spot where they pay attention to quality. That said, it was really cold outside when we were there--so maybe not the best place for outdoor seating unless you're bundled up. Prices were on the higher side, but kind of expected for the location. Worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

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There was wonderful service! The bar people were so nice and welcoming. The food was delicious and it had a beautiful view of the beach.The wait wasn't that long! definitely want to come back again. read more

Beautiful Thanksgiving afternoon on the deck with my pup and one of Zelda's Spicy Bloody Mary's..... Actually 2 as hung out awhile due to the excellent service provided by Sam. Ambience ,chowder, drinks paired with great service from Sam. read more

Excellent food, and service. Right on the beach with nice ocean views... the new remodeling looks great.

First and foremost, can you beat that view? I was so blessed to come on a day with spectacular weather. It was also during the week so it wasn't crowded at all. The staff was very friendly and attentive and the food was decent. My husband really liked the clam chowder, and the drinks were really good with an extra shot. I had to laugh though when my poke served with chips came with just four little chips. Really? That would stop me from ordering that again but not from going there. If you are looking for a beautiful view next to the beach then this is a great place to go. read more

Zelda's - View from the patio. - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

10/09/21 Brunch We were suppose to be in Seattle this weekend but our flight was cancelled along with 2000 other Southwest flights. My husband knew I was upset (this was our 3rd attempt at going to Seattle) and he decided to drive us out to Capitola for brunch. We first had a lovely walk along the beachfront and pier before we deciding on Zelda's. We ordered ceviche, their "famous" calamari and fries, and a shrimp Louis salad. Service was outstanding, but the meal itself was not. The "mangoes" in the ceviche were nonexistent and there was nothing outstanding about their "famous" calamari. It was pretty damn average. The shrimp Louis salad was large but plain. No wonder yelpers were underwhelmed here...I was too. read more

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Nice view, and the ciopino was good, but outside of that, I would steer clear of this place 2.5 stars out of almost 1300 reviews is accurate. Jason is the manager and should be fired. He doesn't know the first thing about customer service. I ordered the ribeye steak and asked for medium. I received it well done. When I asked for a refire, Jason thr manager came over and proceeded to tell me that since they cooked a steak and that's how they cook medium steaks, I was to either eat it as is or not, but wasn't getting a new one. NEVER have I been treated like that as a patron. Unless you want bad food and are treated poorly. Go somewhere else that appreciates their customers. read more

Zelda's - Zeldas so called "medium" cooked ribeye steak. What a joke - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Good food, good service and great location on the beach in Capitola. Outdoor deck and indoor seating available. The sunshine is great outside on the deck but can be pretty windy at times. read more

The hostess seemed to be bothered that we had to take up some of her time to be seated and toss the menus and silverware down on the table in front of us and walked away. We asked for well-done potatoes with our breakfast, our server, who was very nice and polite and professional informed us that she could not satisfy our request and could not provide any good reason except that she could not do it, the breakfast was excellent! read more

Visited Zelda's with a group and it was awesome. I had the salmon with steamed veggies and island rice. Oh man, it was so good! Then, I had the Mile High Mud Pie dessert and it was superb. If you are in the area, this is a definite must stop! read more

No one came to serve me. Waited a long time just to get my waiter. I paid first because I know they will be very slow. My waiter charged me double the amount I ordered (he hand me the device to sign, only total amount, no breakdown of items)! I questioned it. He went to make a correction, came back with another paper bill and he doubled my order of Tuesday special tacos! I am glad I caught that. At this time, it feels like either extremely sloppy work or he was trying to scam me. I did get to sit outdoors with a view of the ocean. Very nice and relaxing. I would only go back if I had a lot of time to wait around and be very careful with my bill. The food was decent - clam chowder and fish tacos. Hard to get this wrong. read more

We always go to Zelda's at least twice when we visit Capitola Beach - when we arrive, for a snack and to use the facilities, and when we leave, to get coffee and cookies for the drive back home to Pleasanton. We visited with extended family last month and also ate dinner on their outdoor patio. The location is hard to beat - right on the sand with views of the entire beach. Service is quick, and while the prices are not too wallet friendly, we find their appetizers (especially the fried calamari) and drinks (the hot chocolate is divine!) to be worth it. During our last trip our family also ordered a few other items (fish and chips, nachos, club sandwich...) and seemed to enjoy them, so maybe the food has improved as well. We'll be back next time we're in Capitola. read more

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You must go to Zelda's now! They are fully open and they look beautiful-totally rebuilt, re-decorated and very clean. Of course, you have to check out the beam from the wharf that is mounted on the ceiling now--Very cool. Patio doesn't open until about 9:30 so we ate inside. Still an amazing view. Went for breakfast the other day , pretty basic stuff. The very yummy egg, sausages and potatoes. No toast, of course, they don't serve it. Don't even ask. We also had the spinach and mushroom scramble. Very tasty. Service was amazing and everybody was so friendly. They were just so glad to have some customers. So go to Zelda's now. read more

Clam chowder here is legit. Creamy, well seasoned, and very clammy tasting. Aside from that, the rest of the food here is really awful. Don't come here for the food. Come here to hang out by the beach and soak in some rays having drinks and appetizers. We've come here on each of our trips to Santa Cruz and we know the food sucks but yet we keep returning for the cool vibes. Fish and chips are not your normal crispy deep fried ones. These are just seasoned and then baked. Bland. Sea bass is the same seasoning then drenched in some garlic sauce then covered in overcooked boiled veggies. Mahi mahi is a mess. Hard to describe but some sort of stir fry veggie mess with artichokes. Calamari is large pieces that are cut up and dredged in the same awful seasoning. No small tentacle pieces. Maybe it's not fresh squid? Burger patty tasted like it was from Costco but dressed up so they can charge you $16. The menu here should be a prime takeover target for Kitchen Nightmares. Maybe Gordon Ramsay can fix this place. That being said though, they always have a good crowd, and we keep returning despite the bad food - but only because it's such a cool place to hangout. read more

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Came here early on a hot weekend to beat the crowd for breakfast. We were able to get a seat overlooking the beach which was nice and they had a heater going. I ordered a latte which was amazing, they had a lot of great coffee options with milk substitutes and different syrups. Also ordered the basic breakfast and subbed in fruit for the meat. Food was okay, potatoes were a little cold and chewy, but eggs were great. It's a little pricey for what you get, but it is a prime beach spot, so to be expected. If you want a standard American meal or a drink on the beach, I recommend! read more

Zelda's - The basic breakfast with a sub of fruit and an almond milk latte - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Food is decent. The servers are super friendly and it's dog friendly. The location is right on the beach. BEACH VIBES read more

Zelda's - My dog and I having a good time - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

We felt unwelcome and rushed. The restaurant was busy as it was a beautiful fall day and the patio overlooking the water was a popular spot.. The hostess was clearly irritated with the customers and kept scolding them for being in her way. Our waiter was also annoyed by the customers, telling us in an angry tone that we needed to hurry up and order. We had just got our drinks and appetizers and needed a few more minutes, which upset him. The food was okay and better than our last visit, but we left regretting our decision to eat at Zelda's due to feeling unwelcome, except for our money. read more