USRG Santa Cruz, CA

United States Restaurant Guide www.usrg.com / CA / Santa_Cruz

[Best] [Cuisine] [Recipes] [Restaurants A-Z] [Santa Cruz Map] [Nearby Cities]

Best in Santa Cruz
A Oswald's
B Hollins House Restaurant
C Pearl Alley Bistro & Wine Bar
D Chaminade In Santa Cruz
E Casablanca Restaurant
F Carniglia's
G O'mei
H El Palomar on Pacific
I Peachwood's Grill & Bar
See best of 274 restaurants. . .

BEST around Santa Cruz
1 Theo's, Soquel
2 The Plumed Horse, Saratoga
3 Manresa, Los Gatos
4 Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola, Capitola
5 Sanderlings, Aptos
6 Gervais Francais, Saratoga
7 Oswald's
8 Hollins House Restaurant
9 Forbes Mill Steakhouse, Los Gatos

About the Guide
The USRG rates and reviews all restaurants. Qualified volunteers provide the base of this information. See the Best lists for recommendations, and
Read more . . .

C a l i f o r n i a
Santa Cruz

verall, the restaurant experience in Santa Cruz is very casual and relaxed. Monterey Bay's sea air fresh off the Pacific is reinvigorating with the many pine and redwood trees in the hills surrounding the city. If you are visiting, buy the incredibly fresh local salmon and dungeness crab from markets like the Staff of Life. Oddly enough, this fresh seafood is rarely served in restaurants probably because all the locals cook it so often at home.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

The most typical food is served to people comfortable in shorts and flip-flops. Great views of the harbor can be found at the restaurants on Municipal Wharf with finer dining over looking it all at Casa Blanca. Another good ocean setting is in Capitola fifteen minutes south. There you will find the upscale and fun: Caffe Lido run by the former owners of Stockton Bridge. The best cafe on the beach experience for Santa Cruz is actually in Capitola at Zelda's.

Julia Child's USRG Review of Oswalds

Yes, Julia Child says "I appreciate your guide and will you use it any time I visit the Monterey Bay area." See the full review.

Theo's of Soquel

Food lovers, Theo's, ten minutes south of Santa Cruz, is becoming one of the greatest culinery destinations in Northern California.

Restaurants
We are very excited about the dishes our diners have had at Parwana an authentic family-run splendid one room Afghan restaurant. Cafe Brasil, is an authentic Brazilian restaurant in Santa Cruz appealing to all kinds of people. Near the ocean almost in Capitola is the grand multilevel restaurant on the creek Shadowbrook also in Capitola. But do not miss an exceptional regional Chinese restaurant Omei on the very west end of Santa Cruz. The culturally endowed Bella Napoli is an authentic European-style Italian restaurant. Downtown Santa Cruz has many restaurants, but do not overlook two fine restaurants, the refined Oswald's and the lively Pearl Alley Bistro. A fun place to go, but in need of kitchen improvement the Omei-run Almar_Grill.

Closings
Azur was the great 2001 star Santa Cruz restaurant. The sophisticated French Mediterranean restaurant at the former India Joze location will be missed. Convivio, was a fun upscale Italian Contemporary restaurant serving inventive dishes.

People
Local reviewers for this area are Joanna and Mark Beaulieu who like to cook and travel as well as dine out. Mark likes authentic cuisine such as Cafe Brasil, Bella Napoli and Omei. Joanna specializes in Caribbean cooking and is looking for Santa Cruz to open a great Caribbean restaurant someday. They save their sheckles for Theo's.

Joanna Beaulieu 9/30/2003 8:14:00 PM

Foodie Values of Note
1 Fleur de Cocoa Soliel & Fine Bakery Desserts
2 Mariannes Ice Cream Ice Cream
3 Original Sin Best Santa Cruz Desserts

Recipes in area
1 Banana Guava Sauce
2 Benghan Bharta from Royal Taj

Santa Cruz Area Cities
Aptos
Ben Lomond
Boulder Creek
Brookdale
Capitola
Corralitos
Davenport
Felton
Scotts Valley
Soquel

Features

Santa Cruz is a vacation destination for folks of all ages. Its miles of gorgeous beaches and ideal surfing conditions has earned it the nickname of Surf City, attracting surfers from all over the world. Families come to enjoy the only operating Boardwalk on the California coast. Just south of Santa Cruz is the quaint village of Capitola, home of the colorful beachside hotel, The Venetian.

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