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Santa Cruz News | Dining | Attractions | Golf Courses

Ocean-fresh seafood, an emphasis on natural ingredients, casual atmosphere and an eclectic mix of ethnic cuisines characterize Santa Cruz's culinary culture. This Santa Cruz dining guide is based upon visits to these restaurants by dining reviewers for the Metro Santa Cruz weekly newspaper.

Acapulco Restaurant
1116 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.7588.
Mexican restaurant. Traditional Mexican favorites like steak piccata and chile relleno suiza. $

Al Dente
415 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.466.0649
Italian restaurant. Pasta prince Lucio Fanni cooks with a gift for garlic. $$

Asian Rose
1116 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423-7906
Asian restaurant. The emphasis is on inexpensive, vegetarian dishes like Sri Lankan spring rolls, tempeh stir-fry and Gado Malabar. $

Benten
1541 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.7079
Japanese sushi bar. Benten delivers the goods without a lot of fuss but with good quality for the price. $$.

Blacks Beach Cafe
2-1490 East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.475.2233
California cuisine. Cafe comfort and nonstereotypical vegetarian-leaning cuisine. $$.

Caffe Bella Napoli
503 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.7401
Italian restaurant. Fine appetizers, seasonal produce and exceptional pastas. $$$.

Carniglia's
49A Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.3600
Italian/seafood restaurant. Provides culinary depth without tourist-fare condescension. $$.

Casablanca Restaurant
101 Main St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.9063
California/New American restaurant. Landmark dining room showcases the skills of Chef Scott Cater and company. Classic filet mignon. $$$

Chaminade
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.475.5600
New American restaurant. The seafood buffet hosts salads, cheeses and fresh vegetables, oysters and prawns, and hot entrees. $$$

Charlie Hong Kong
141 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.5664
Asian street food. Big bowls of rice or noodles stir-fried with veggies and/or meat, Southeast Asian po boy sandwiches and more. $

Clouds
110 Church St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.2000
American, California-style. With a great bar scene, casually glamorous setting and an attentive waitstaff. $$

Costa Brava
1222 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425-7871
South American restaurant. Costa Brava explores the cuisine of Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and Peru. Full bar. $$

The Crepe Place
1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.6994
Crepes and more. Featuring the spinach crepe and Tunisian doughnut. Full bar. $$

Crow's Nest
2218 East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.476.4560
Steak and seafood restaurant. Ocean view and full bar that's a favorite of locals. $$

Dynasty Restaurant
3601 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.479.3388
Chinese restaurant. Full array of stir-fries and sizzling platter dishes. Cantonese dim sum on weekends. $.

Engfer Pizza Works
537 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.1856
Pizza. Wood-fired oven produces pizza in two sizes with a wealth of toppings, including 100 percent vegan pies. $.

Gabriella Cafe
910 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.457.1677
Bistro. Offbeat combinations and superb desserts. $$$.

Gilbert's Seafood Grill
460 Municipal Wharf. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.5200
Seafood restaurant. Perfect for dinner dates, Gilbert's specializes in fresh flavors, generous portions of grilled fish and modest prices. $$.

Hindquarter
303 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.7770
Americana. Ribs, steaks and burgers are definitely the stars. Full bar. $$.

Jitlada
107 Leonard St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.420.1688
Thai restaurant. Nicely made classics include silver noodles and superb satays. $.

Mei Garden
533 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.1687
Chinese restaurant. Finessed Szechuan and Cantonese classics at great prices. $$.

La Mission
1719 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.3564
Mexican restaurant. A neighborhood establishment with no gimmicks, on-target cooking and authentic flavors. $.

Mobo Sushi
105 S. River St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.1700
Japanese/California sushi. Straight sushi and tempura combined with California cuisine. Full bar. $$.

O'mei
2316 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.8458
Provincial Szechuan restaurant. Chinese favorites with fresh, light presentation. $$

Oswald
1547 E. Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.7427
Bistro.Downtown Santa Cruz' gem of a bistro reinvents the taste of the seasons with all-star menus and fresh inspiration. $$$

El Palomar
1336 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.7575
Mexican restaurant. Consistent authenticity, bold flavors and freshly made dishes--specially the pozole. Lively bar, wide margarita selection. Lunch and dinner daily. $$.

Peachwood's Grill & Bar
555 Hwy 17, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.6333
California cuisine. Trusty offerings of prime rib, various steaks, seafood and pasta cater to a wide range of taste buds and are served in an attractive dining room. $$

Pearl Alley Bistro
110 Pearl Alley, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.8070
Bistro. Unpretentious, tasteful and convivial bistro with seasonal menus. $$$.

Planet Fresh
1003 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.9799
World wraps. No-lard, low-cholesterol, low-fat and low-sodium multicultural burritos, tacos and tostadas stuffed with unique and tasty fillings. $.

The Portola House
3326 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.476.2733
Steak and seafood. Chock-full of steakhouse classics that satisfy the primal primal food urges in everyone. Dinner nightly from 5:30pm. $$.

Real Thai Kitchen
1632 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.2559
Thai restaurant. Real Thai does southern Thai curries simply and well. Spicy duck curry is a destination dish. $

Ristorante Avanti
1711 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.0135
Italian restaurant. Always delicious, often inspired Mediterranean cookery. Wine bar. $$

Ristorante Italiano
555 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.2321
Italian-American restaurant. Lasagnas, pastas, scampi in generous portions. Full bar, patio dining. $$

Riva Fish House
500 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.1223
Seafood restaurant. Riva offers a traditional seafood house menu complete with a sleek interior and terrific view. $$

Rosa's Rosticeria
493 B Lake Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.479.3536
Caribbean, seafood, rotisserie. Cuban, Creole and Caribbean dishes have edged out the formerly Mexican-intensive menu. Beer and wine. $

Rosie McCann's
1220 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.9930
Irish Pub & Restaurant. Informal pub fare with reliable execution. $$

Royal Taj
270 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.2400
Indian restaurant. Complexly spiced Indian dishes are served in a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere.$$

Sabieng Thai Cuisine
1218 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.1020.
Thai restaurant. Frangrant and fiery Thai classics such as Peak Gai Krob, Pla Rad Pik and Pad Thai. $$

Sea Cloud
49-B Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.9393
Contemporary California, seafood. Freshly grilled seafood, pastas and salads. $$$

Seabright Brewery
519 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.2739
Coastal brewpub. Burgers, clam chowder, grilled eggplant and red pepper sandwiches plus the brewery's assortment of microbrews. $

Shogun
1123 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.469.4477
Sushi. Exceptionally fresh ingredients and large portions .$

Sukeroku Restaurant
1701 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.6660
Japanese restaurant. Dynamite sushi and a substantial listing of Japanese culinary favorites. $$

Star Bene
2-1245 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.479.4307
Italian restaurant. The restaurant draws its menu from the owner's and chef's roots in Italy's Calabria. $$

Szechuan Garden
617 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.2574
Szechuan restaurant. A neighborhood Chinese restaurant with a friendly staff. $

Thai House
353 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.3546
Thai restaurant. Offering chicken and eggplant, and a spicy prawn salad and more. $$

Tony & Alba's
817 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.8669
Pizza. Inventive pizza specials are supplemented by pastas, soups and salads. $

Vasili's
1501 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.9808
Greek restaurant. Taverna-style specials from horiatiki salad to roast lamb. Plenty of spunk and friendly atmosphere. $$.

Walnut Avenue Cafe
106 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.457.2307
American diner. Fresh ingredients, friendly service and a complete lack of trendiness. $$

Zachary's
819 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.0646
American. A breakfast tradition that meets and exceeds expectations. Try the Mike's Mess. $

Zoccoli's Pasta House
431 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.1717
Italian restaurant. Zoccoli's provides Santa Cruz with its own Mediterranean mecca. $$

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