I've been here a few times, I can't say everything is great on the menu. The places is a view restaurant so my exceptions on the food are low. I was just hoping there was something decent enough that I could enjoy with the view. One note on the view, the patio was right on a busy beach so not as peacefully as you might think with kids and parents yelling and playing. I ordered: Fried calamari (4 Stars) It came with two sauces red cocktail sauce with a really good kick of horseradish and the other, one was a white tartar sauce, also really good. Cheeseburger (3.5 Stars) I ordered it blackened, with pepper jack cheese, medium. I also add mustard. The burger met my expectations, I would order again. The bun and veggies were all fresh. The meat quality was decent, if they used a little higher quality beef it could really be 4 stars. The fries (3 Stars) were ok nothing special, although they did add some season salt. Until next time... read more

We came to Capitola for the day with my family . We were by the beach and saw this cute patio decided to come in and check it out . We got some drinks and drank them on the outside patio over looking the beach . The inside has a nice bar area and cozy feel . They have clean restrooms and a good vibe . After a while we got hungry so we went inside the restaurant to have a formal sit in lunch . Our waiter Sam was amazing super attentive and friendly. He definitely made sure we were taken care of . The food is a little pricy but it was good . We ordered .. Cobb salad $21 + $2.50 for avocado 2 -Caesar salads $15 + $12 for salmon They had a surcharge on our bill too . So food was pricy but good for the location right by the beach . Overall I would definitely eat there again . The views are amazing very convenient to sit on the patio you are pretty much on the beach . Sam was amazing. Good times . read more

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We both had the fish and chips. $27 ea. got 3 slices of cod which looked like sticks. They were over cooked and dry. Even the tartar sauce was average. Over cooked fish is the worse. No flavor and nothing spectacular here. read more

Zelda's - Fish & Chips - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

I've gone back and forth about writing this review, but when a food allergy isn't taken seriously, that crosses a line. Putting someone's health at risk is absolutely inexcusable. My mom took us to Zelda's for lunch on Friday. Before we even got our meal, hornets were flying around our table, one even landed on my 8-month-old's arm (thank you to the busboy who quickly caught it in a cup). Shortly after, a rat ran up to our table, which was enough for us to move inside to finish our lunch. I informed our server that I have a dairy allergy. Instead of confirming with the chef or checking ingredients, she simply offered to put the tartar sauce on the side. That doesn't help if it's made with dairy, it shouldn't be anywhere near my plate. It felt like my allergy was treated as an inconvenience rather than a serious health concern. When the food arrived, I trusted that my allergy had been taken seriously. Unfortunately, after one bite, I could immediately taste dairy. I asked another server to double-check, and sure enough, the tartar sauce contained sour cream. There was no apology, no attempt to make things right, no comp meal, just indifference. Between the pests and the disregard for food allergies, this was a deeply disappointing and unsafe experience. I will not be returning, which is a shame because I had hoped for better. read more

Steak was too chewy. I looked like the crimson chin afterwards. My jaw still hurts 4 months later.

This is a nice view restaurant right on the beach. We went for brunch, and they have a large menu of both breakfast and lunch items. The Ahi tuna salad was very nice, as was the cream and shrimp melted sandwich with side salad. Calamari was good as well. They have a nice selection of cocktails for those who want to imbibe. Service was good and the atmosphere was casual. Great central location in Capitola. read more

Great spot to grab a drink and some appetizers. Incredible views and a dog friendly patio. I was surprised to see many low ratings for Zelda's as I really enjoyed my time here. While visiting Capitola I went for both dinner and brunch! The specials they had for Valentine's Day weekend were incredible - specifically the mushroom gnocchi. read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Always great food and service at Zelda's. I recommend sitting on the patio- enjoy the sun and the waves crashing nearby. I had the French toast and its chicken tenders. The brioche bread was light and fluffy. I wished it was less buttery and more cinnamon. The chicken tenders have the perfect amount of flavor and breading - not too thick. And the chicken is juicy. I had them make a special drink with pineapple juice and whiskey - yum!! Service is always good- asking if you need anything and refilling the water glass appropriately. read more

Zelda's - French Toast - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Our experience at Zelda's on the beach was just plain wonderful in every way. The food, prices, services, all supurb. I think that in Capitola that it would be hard to top. read more

Nothing beats the outdoor seating with the beach right in front of you. Their staff were great though the food is just average. read more

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The view is the best. Servers are friendly. Food is not great. Chipotle chicken sandwich was bland. Come for the drinks and the view.

Came for the outdoor seating right on the beach and wasn't disappointed. We arrived on a Saturday at about noon and were seated right away. Cocktails were delicious (I had a Peach Pounder with an extra shot) and the food was good quality and the portions were generous. I had a chicken sandwich and shared some of my son's ceviche. No problems or complaints, and the view was wonderful. read more

Been going to Zelda's for years. Recently had a very bad experience due to the manager. I was with a party of seven on the fireworks night. We had a great dinner and spent several hundred dollars on great food and drinks. Five minutes before the fireworks the manager wanted us to leave. We had exceeded their 90 minute table limit. There was no one waiting for the table so it was a total power play by the manager. I would understand if people were waiting for the table, but they weren't. Pictures of our unoccupied table ten minutes later and thirty minutes later are attached. Creating a scene and burning years of good feelings about the place. We weren't rowdy, just a party of middle aged diners booted because of a time limit rule! read more

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

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We came here early one morning for a family brunch. We were immediately greeted by kind people and got to pick a table right near the heater (it was cold outside). The service was great, with our orders being taken quickly and our food coming out within a few minutes nice and warm. We ordered the breakfast burrito, eggs benedict, and spinach mushroom scramble. The breakfast burrito was absolutely huge, and super tasty. Definitely need a knife and fork to eat it. The eggs benedict has a super crunchy English muffin and a delicious homemade sauce, plus the poached eggs were cooked perfectly. As the for scramble, I decided to sub in egg whites and they cooked it very well. I wish there was a little more spinach and a hint more mushroom flavor, but other than that the filling was cooked very well and the scramble as a whole was very good. And the side of fruit was super fresh and perfectly sweet. The price was a little expensive at about $17 a person, and they charged +$2 for subbed egg whites and +$3 for subbed side of fruit over home fries. Cute little place, and a great beach view. They also have a coffee bar with a bunch of pastries you can order either at the outdoor to-go window or inside the restaurant. read more

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Had a crab and shrimp sandwich. Thomas our server gave solid opinions about is good. Love that in a server. read more

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I visited for breakfast and it was such a beautiful view of the ocean! Luckily I went on a sunny day with some girlfriends. We ordered the chilaquiles with avocado and my other friend ordered the basic breakfast. The waiter was really helpful and attentive. I would say to be careful of the birds as they are flying by, they didn't try to take our food but they were awfully close to us as we ate. It was a bit on the pricier side, but that's to be expected with a beautiful view. Other than that I had a great time here :) read more

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Always a great spot to grab some brunch before the sand. Such a local gem. The past few experiences with service have fell short. I'm not speaking about weekends. This is a weekday, fair weather to nice weather mornings with Limited crowds. Servers are still kind, but lack table service. It's not uncommon to wait 10 minutes for water and acknowledgment. Kind though. The hostess....maybe a smile. How about a thank you or any version of the English language. Not a sound. Not for me or anyone else. read more

This is for happy hour only. $5 drink menu for happy hour only--no food. Outside in the deck is beachfront so great ambiance. Drinks meh, food meh. read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

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bleh. View was great if you just wanna hang and people watch, but the drinks were SO AWFUL. Unfortunately it was just a heavy hand of frat house vibes read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

Cioppino was disappointing, served on a plate rather than a bowl and very small amount of seafood. The clams and mussels were tiny and only 4 shrimp. One of the most expensive dishes at $32 was a lunch portion and should be priced much less for what you get. Service was ok, but only 1 server for everyone? Too noisy, not fun for any of us, we ate, paid begrudgingly, and left in a hurry. read more

Amazing experience at Zelda's! The food was delicious, the service was attentive, and the bartender made incredible drinks especially the Lava Flows and the Al Moretto Sour. We had the perfect dinner spot by the window, with the fresh ocean breeze and the sound of waves crashing while still being able to catch the game on TV. The atmosphere was the perfect balance of relaxing and fun. Highly recommend! - The salads we ended up making into a Shrimp Louie's, And the kitchen understood the assignment! It was amazing! read more

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Yay... a lovely dog-friendly patio for dining and enjoying the beautiful view. Thank You so much! the food is delicious. We enjoyed fresh hot coffee, and a hot cinnamon roll followed by eggs benedict. Breakfast is served till 2:00 PM, so there is time to enjoy the ukulele gathering on the esplanade and then head to Zelda' for brunch. The restaurant is clean as are the restrooms. Our server was outstanting... prompt, friendly and efficient. There is a small fee for meal splitting; but if you order a side there is no fee. We got the cinnamon roll. YUM. Parking can be remarkably challenging, so we usually just head straight to the public parking lot and walk a bit. read more

My partner and I are suckers for happy hour. Stopped by for some small bites and drinks. Happy hour is Monday- Friday 3:30-5:30 and on Wednesdays it's from 3:30-close What we ordered: -Margarita ($5) - Mai Tai ($5) - Pulled pork sliders ($10) -Ceviche ($10) add avocado ($2.50) The margarita was meh, it tasted watered down. The Mai Tai was better but still just average. As for the pulled pork sliders, those were soooo good. The ceviche was good but overpriced and $2.50 to add a half of an avocado seems overpriced. Service was quick and friendly. Cleanliness was lacking. Our silverware was visibility dirty and had to be sent back. The location is in downtown capitola overlooking the beach. Overall, this place has good prices and great views but the quality of the drinks could use some work. read more

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** Overall 3.5 stars ** Ambiance: 4 stars It's spacious and has a fun vibe. Location: 5 stars It's right on the beach! It doesn't get better than this. Food: 3.5 stars We only got appetizers and drinks. They were decent, but not spectacular or memorable. Well the Cheez-Whiz on the nachos was kinda funny and therefore "memorable", but not in a good way. Price: 3.5 stars They were a little high, but that's to be expected for a restaurant at a prime location. Parking: 3 stars It's downtown Capitola, so it's difficult-to-find street parking with either meters that don't take credit cards or a digital meter box that is worn down so you can't read the instructions. Tip: There are parking lots just outside of downtown that will be cheaper and less of a headache, if you are there on a weekend afternoon or evening. You go to Zelda's not for the food, but for the ambiance, the view, the closeness to the beach, and the vibe. read more

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Visited Zelda's and was highly disappointed with food and service. My Meal came incorrect and then had to wait to be re-made. Daughters fries came cold with sandwich. Was charged 4% fee on check. Also charged for Soda water. Server was kind but completely distracted. Staff was too busy socializing with one another rather then focused on dining experience. On cell phones and chit chatting with one another. I had really high expectations for this establishment being on the beach in Capitola village. I will not be returning or recommending this place. read more

The ginger bartender was incredibly vulgar and loud taking to the other employees, repeatedly cussing loudly for the restaurant to hear and taking about "hotboxing" the place after close. Every time we come she is always running her mouth, socially unaware, and impolite. read more

Zelda's is right on the beach with fantastic views. The outdoor patio is great for the scenery and the sounds of the waves. My wife and I had lunch here on a Tuesday afternoon in the first week of November. While overall it was a nice "warmish" day, it was a bit cold on the outdoor patio. They had outdoor heaters but they were not in operation. Still the setting was great, so we stayed cold to enjoy the location. As it was a Tuesday in Autumn, there were plenty of empty tables, outside and inside. One hazard of the outdoor seating is that there is evidence of lots of birds (leaving their calling cards on the tables). We had to ask the waiter to clean the table (that should have been done before seating us there). I had the Seared Ahi Salad ($24) which consisted of 4 pieces of Ahi (cooked perfectly just on the edges, with the centers like sashimi) over a large salad. It had a tasty ginger based dressing that added perfectly to the overall flavor. Drawbacks: there could have been more fish and the cooked edges of the fish was rubbed with some spices that were slightly on the harsh side. My wife had the Seafood Melt Sandwich ($21) which she enjoyed. I had a taste and it was a nice blend of flavors. She also had a drink of Hot Tea ($4). Note: As disclosed on the menu, there is 4% surcharge added to the total bill. This is a practice that should be stopped. The restaurant should pay their employees enough (raising the menu prices accordingly to cover it) and not bill customers separately for this. It is deceptive and the disclosure on the menu is small and out of the way. It would be more honest to raise the item prices by 4% to cover it and have honest pricing on the menu. The service was good and attentive. read more

I sat inside. I was tempted to sit outside and enjoy the sun and ocean breeze, but there was a little seaweed stench and the breeze was freezing. The food was good, I ordered the clam chowder and salad and I had the Paloma cocktail. Our server had to handle the entire inside area by herself, and she did a great job. read more

The service and food were great. The decor made me feel like I was in an IKEA store, the vinyl flooring is tacky and the metal chairs are awful and cold. It looks like a confusing and a hot mess. read more

The Chilaquiles were a bit soggy but the chicken was good and the egg was so- so. The service was friendly and fast, the ambiance is open , clean, overlooks the ocean, the prices were reasonable. The only thing I would recommend turning down is the music, it was a bit loud. read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

The atmosphere was great. Great friendly staff. Walking distance. The food was good but my bf and I both got a stomach virus/food poisoning. I called the restaurant manager and she said to see a Md. I was giving her a friendly call. I won't eat here again. read more

Found myself in Capitola due to a sudden appointment. Excellent nosh, I had the calamari and fries, and paired it with a virgin piña colada. Easily the best piña colada I've ever had outside of Hawaii. Service was great. I sat on the bar outside, you order with the bartender and they bring your food out to you. Peaceful, serene, and very little interference from birds trying to steal your food. Overall, I'm quite happy. Thanks again. read more

Bartender and servers are so accommodating and friendly. Done days I'm dressed like I just came off the beach and other days I'm coming to with With my laptop. They provide the same great service. I order off menu Spicy mocha ( non alcoholic) Pancakes are my fav item in the menu ! I get kids size and order kids eggs , so I get a lot of variety Can't beat the view and the vibe ! read more

Zelda's - Spicy mocha - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

I ordered the calamari and fries and it was great! Food is excellent and service is always friendly. Very nice atmosphere. read more

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

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This is my second try for brunch. Food at best, is unremarkable, service is very laid back, but a window seat on the beach is a very pleasant place to linger. read more

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

2 stars only for the beautiful Capitola beach views and the location of the cafe. My husband and I had brunch at Zelda's recently. We loved the location as it's right on the beach and we are suckers for great views. After we walked in and got seated outside as we requested, but it was too cold so we went back inside. We ordered eggs Benedict : not good at all. Very mediocre. Sad looking bread and gravy, egg was not well cooked nor runny. Potatoes was not seasoned well. Hubs ordered avacado turkey omlet which was just ok. We got French toast for our sweet craving, was just ok tasting bread and super dry. Even the syrup did not help. His coffee was cold too to our horror. They immediately replaced with a hot cup later. Seemed pricy too. Go there for views and maybe a speciality coffee but avoid the breakfast/brunch menu. Can't comment on the lunch. read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

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

First of all, to all those negative reviews, they aren't accurate. I grew up in Santa Cruz, have been visiting here every year, lived in LA with the best of restaurants, travelled the world eating at 5 star restaurants everywhere, and the food & service here are great for what it is. I'm a foodie and this is decent brunch food for what it is -- a touristy beach town. We have never had the 5 star bougie food that the swanky places in Silicon Valley or LA have so it is what it is. Food was served quickly, was hot and tasty and the service was perfect. read more

Zelda's - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California

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We decided to eat here after passing by and seeing all the outdoor seating, despite the low reviews. We were seated quickly, attended to with silverware and waters, and ordered everything quickly as well. However, as we waited for the food, we realized why Zelda's only has a 2 1/2 star average rating. We had a good view of the kitchen doors, so we could see all the food going out. We waited over an hour for our food, which ended up being just standard. Since it was clear my dish had been finished first, it had sat under a food warmer for quite a while while my partner's food was being prepared. By the time it got to my table, the pasta (I ordered the risotto) had crusted over and the fish was dry. The artichoke hearts we ordered were extremely delicious and are a highly-recommend from us, but the remainder of the food was nothing special. This situation is not the fault of any of the working employees, but rather management or perhaps shift leaders - due to the large size of the restaurant (lots of seating on the patio), the kitchen staff needs to have the capacity to serve that many people. It was clear that the kitchen was making orders, but that they were overwhelmed. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, and she did her best to reassure both us and surrounding tables throughout the night, so I'm giving three stars for her alone. read more

Zelda's - Halibut & Meyer lemon risotto, and the Grilled Salmon - Bars Near Me - Capitola, California