la Posta

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Address:
538 Seabright Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Neighborhood:
Santa Cruz

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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la Posta Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://laPostaRestaurant.com
Phone: (831) 457-2782
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Tuesday - Thursday: 5pm - 9:00pm Friday - Saturday: 5pm - 9:30pm Sunday: 5pm - 8:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Executive Chef: Katherine Stern
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, Beer, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Private Party Facilities: la Posta offers special menus for large parties. Please contact the restaurant for parties of more than 12 guests. The entire restaurant can be reserved for seated parties up to 60. Please contact the restaurant for details.
Private Party Contact: Emily Avila (831) 457-2782
Entertainment: Italian music every Tuesday from 7pm until 9pm
Special Events & Promotions: Tuesday is Neighborhood Night - join us for our pizza and pasta specials, enjoy the live Italian folk music and see all of your neighbors! Thursday is Gault School Night - Eat well by doing good. Every Thursday, a percentage of your dining dollar will be donated to Gault School - the elementary school located just down Seabright Avenue!

Getting there

Cross Street: Murray
Parking: Private Lot
Parking Details: The parking lot is located directly behind the restaurant via a driveway on the north side of the building, which includes handicap parking. Wheelchair access is also available via the parking entrance.

A word from la Posta

la Posta serves fresh, seasonal meals with authentic Italian style. Join us for dinner and select from our pan-Italian menu which features fresh, house-made pastas, brick-oven breads, pizzas, and salumi. We strive to present meals that are farmed and harvested sustainably. Because we serve… local and organic ingredients, depending upon the bounty of Santa Cruz' farming community, our menu changes frequently and features an wide array of specials. La Posta’s all-Italian wine list offers a baker’s dozen of wines by the glass or taste, the well informed list includes autochthonous varieties from artisan producers throughout Italy. La Posta adheres to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and is certified in the City of Santa Cruz Green Business Program. Continued

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies

la Posta - Best Restaurants in Santa Cruz

Diner Reviews

"We are regular diners at La Posta and have never been disappointed. The homemade bread is so good you could make a meal out of it. Their daily specials are not to be missed and the homemade pasta is out of this world."
Dined on 7/22/2014
"The food is healthy and fresh and you can tell they scour the local produce for good finds. I had the lasagnetta and it was very good, but not fantastic. The grilled little gem salad, however, was fantastic. That was a home run. The wine list is Italian and pretty extensive."
Dined on 7/18/2014
"We came up from the other end of the bay and were glad we did. Everything was outstanding - appetizers, entrees, service, ...We'll be back soon."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"This is a beautiful restaurant with a wonderful old-world ambience. The service is unfailingly pleasant and friendly. The wine list is difficult to decipher unless one is an expert on Italian wines, but the servers are very familiar with the wines and are always able to make an appropriate recommendation. We have found the food to be inventive, and on most visits, quite wonderfully prepared, but recently, the execution has been spotty: at our last visit, a house-cured salmon appetizer was far too salty for all three of us at the table, and the chicken saltimboca was almost too dry to eat. Perhaps an off night for the chef."
Dined on 7/10/2014
"My dear cousin and I just enjoyed another fabulous Neighborhood Night at La Posta. Upon entering, we were instantly transported to an Italy of yore by the romantic musical stylings of guitar-and-mandolin duo The Rhythm Rangellers, who roved around the restaurant serenade-style as we ate. My cousin and I each ordered a pasta dish and glass of house wine (the $15 Neighborhood Night special) and we swooned over the savory breadcrumbs, locally caught shrimp, and buttery leeks gracing our scrumptious meal. For dessert we shared an affogato, which fueled our subsequent dance floor mania at 7 Come 11 at the Crepe Place. I'd recommend this evening to anyone--and it happens every Tuesday in Santa Cruz! How much better can it get?"
Dined on 7/8/2014
"Brought guests from Phoenix for your special Neighbors nite. We were not disappointed! Pizza, salad and wine were delicious, as ususal. Great place to bring vistors."
Dined on 7/8/2014
"I love the house made bread, pizza is excellent, recently had a great pea risotto. They use best ingredients. It's always good."
Dined on 7/6/2014
"Is pretty good consider in a small town like Santa Cruz"
Dined on 7/5/2014
"Another great meal at la posta. Certainly one of, if not THE best restaurant in town. Service was pleasant- attentive but not overbearing. The food was delightful, and the space is comfortable. Always a treat."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"I had wanted to eat here for years as this is in my neighborhood. While I would suggest a few minor changes overall, it was a memorable dining experience. The establishment is very welcoming and they go to great lengths to have fresh, homemade, delicious food."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"I love the wood oven-baked bread, the menu, and the waitstaff that is friendly and help with decision regarding wine."
Dined on 6/26/2014
"The ambiance was great, the waitstaff was professional and friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! I would recommend this hidden Santa Cruz gem to anyone!"
Dined on 6/24/2014
"The service was great. Wonderful staff, including (in order encountered) hostess, bartender and waiter. The two musicians added a lot to the wonderful ambiance. Looking forward to our next visit."
Dined on 6/24/2014
"Another great dinner at la Posta. Enjoyed the special beet salad, the pasta with summer squash and green beans and the snap peas and spinach with pancetta. Wonderful desserts."
Dined on 6/20/2014
"Had we not been recommended to try la Posta, we wouldn't have gone there based on the simple exterior. But, fortunately a friend said to go, and to make reservations. The menu items were really different and each one had something that was interesting. I had a pizza with nettle pesto, ricotta, capers and some nice heat from chile peppers. It was gorgeous and burst with flavor. My husband had the roast pork which was tender, moist and topped with cherries. My daughter had the fig and prosciuotto pizza which was a little too rich and sweet for me, but she loved it. Our assistant waiter was wonderfully fun and professional. The vibe was lively and it seemed that many people were familiar to the staff."
Dined on 6/14/2014
"My husband and i came to La Posta for the first time June14, 2014. Friends recommended it. The food was really wonderful. I had the chicken and it was superb and my husband said his pork tenderloin was the best he ever had. The only critical thing we have to say is that both of the dishes we had were heavier on the salt than we like. My husband salts everything but his dish had too much salt. Chef maybe consider lessening the salting."
Dined on 6/14/2014
"We have eaten at La Posta at least five times, and have never been disappointed by the food. The dishes are both imaginative and delicious. Highly recommended."
Dined on 6/13/2014
"I loved this restaurant. Everything was so good!!!!"
Dined on 6/6/2014
"la Posta is my favourite place for dinner in Santa Cruz. The food is very good, the service is professional. The wine list (and glassware) is one of the best in Santa Cruz. The focus of the wine list is Italian wines and they are well curated. The food is California/fresh/modern with a rustic element. "
Dined on 6/4/2014
"We've been to La Posta a few times and always had a good meal. We have now had the same server the last 2 times (coincidence) and both times been underwhelmed by his wine selections / suggestions. He always recommends only the most expensive wines on the menu. Both times we have gotten someone else (bartender the first time and hostess the second time) to give us ideas - which were all great."
Dined on 5/31/2014
"Tried LaPosta for the very first time. Great food, nice neighborhood, however, service was fine, but bland. Restaurant could have been a bit more upbeat with nice music, instead, rather quite and lacked personality. "
Dined on 5/28/2014
"We arrived late because of a traffic jam (we called to say we'd be 15-30 minutes late) and it was no problem. My spouse had the fish stew for the second time in the last 10 days because he enjoyed it so much last time. I had the special pizza and the farm salad. While I like many of the menu choices, I think you will always enjoy the specials: fresh, inventive dishes."
Dined on 5/23/2014
"The bread is fantastic but it was downhill from there. The ravs with fava beans and mint were ok but not as creative as I had hoped. My husband's seafood stew, though expensive, had little seafood and an insipid, thin sauce. My salmon, although fresh, had some unidentified white stuff glopped on which they didn't know what it was until checking (greek yogurt they said) but it tasted like supermarket mayo. Under the salmon was a mix of lentils and other ingredients which was nothing to write home about. We chose not to have dessert because the menu was uninspired. I put that it was our 39th anniversary on the open table form and no one even acknowledged that!"
Dined on 5/23/2014
"Small menu but excellent food, great wine list, great food for the price! Attentive service. Unpretentious. I like it even better than its sister restaurant (Soif)."
Dined on 5/23/2014
"I'd been hearing nothing but good stuff about La Posta. It was all true. The staff was friendly and very professional. I had a zillion questions and our waiter had all the answers. The dining room is inviting, clean and casual. The food is beautiful. There is a tremendous amount of thought, skill and work put into each dish but the plate is unpretentious. Every bite absolutely delicious. Real food prepared with respect."
Dined on 5/20/2014
"The fresh ingredients and thoughtful preparations make the specials a great meal; never a risk to try them. "
Dined on 5/17/2014
"Can't beat the Tuesday night specials! Specialty pizzas-so many to choose from. Had the artichoke, fava bean, caper and it was fabulous! Bartender very friendly and knowledgeable."
Dined on 5/13/2014
"This is not a fancy place but a very good place. Each dish was thoughtfully and carefully prepared. Clearly a place for locals but we were made to feel at home right away. It appears that everything is prepared in-house: bread,pasta etc. If you found this in Italy you would be smug. A good solid restaurant with earned self confidence."
Dined on 5/13/2014
"Wife and I dined at 8pm on a Saturday, had a wonderful full course meal. Antipasti were spectacular, epecially smoked duck breast with kumquat/shaved fennel. The earthy lamb shank pasta and patata pizza were loaded with unexpected contrasts. The Sardinian-style seafood stew was beautifully composed, although a few of the mussels and clams were unopened. A slighly lighter touch with the sea-salt would be appreciated by some diners -- we were noticeably thirsty when we got back to our hotel. The special dessert, a light almond-lemon cake with pine nuts and rosemary, accompanied by creamy espresso, was a hit at our table. Definitely worth a return visit and a detour."
Dined on 5/9/2014
"We live within walking distance of La Posta. Lucky for us because it's a stand out in Santa Cruz. The food equals any big city restaurant and surpasses most. We enjoyed the house made charcuterie, saffron infused lamb cannelloni and house made sausages. Truly everything was perfection. "
Dined on 5/8/2014
"I don't think of Santa Cruz as a foodie mecca, so had limited expectations. SF Chron had given La Posta a great review, so that elevated expectations somewhat. La Posta wildly exceeded expectations in food and service categories. The ambiance was fine, but not memorable. All our dishes from salad to pasta to dessert were outstanding. Very fresh ingredients, thoughtfully combined. Also it was a Tuesday night. There was a fun duo that started playing at 7. And you get a free glass of wine with a pasta dish, which seemed very generous. For the cost of the meal, this place was incredible."
Dined on 5/6/2014
"A favorite in Santa Cruz! Great food, great wine list, great neighborhood!"
Dined on 5/4/2014
"We had a wonderful meal at La Posta. Dined at the bar. The service was friendly and helpful. Food was seasonal and delicious. Terrific! "
Dined on 5/2/2014
"Great little restaurant with creative combinations of seasonal ingredients. Loved the beef brisket that melts in your mouth. The home made breads are always a treat and available for sale on the weekends. It's also nice that they have creative deserts made on site as well. A must try if you are in Santa cruz!"
Dined on 5/1/2014
"Delicious homemade bread, homemade pasta that was the most beautiful green color,tender and tasty. Tuesday night special included a glass of house white wine that paired well with my meal. Tangerine pound cake with strawberry sorbet and matscarpone was great too. I'll go back "
Dined on 4/29/2014
"For the longest time Roy and I have said that we wanted to try this restaurant. We finally did and brought a friend from out of town. Before going, I visited the website and saw the pictures of the space and the dishes and the homemade bread - TO DIE FOR (they sell it on Friday and Saturday)!!! When we arrived, the space was small and warm and intimate. The staff was friendly and made us feel very welcome. After choosing a very nice wine, we started to decide on the menu. Everything we chose was cooked perfectly. This restaurant is a definite GO BACK TO!!!!! The owner and hostess was absolutely delightful and we expressed our delight. We'll be back."
Dined on 4/27/2014
"We went with a couple of friends and really enjoyed the food and wine at La Posta. Service was a bit slow but we had plenty of delicious bread and butter to hold us to the main course."
Dined on 4/26/2014
"Although the food is consistently good to very good at this Seabright neighborhood restaurant, sometimes the portion sizes are rather small. Otherwise, the restaurant is sure to please. Additionally, unlike many restaurants, they often have more variety for vegetarians other than the standard vegetarian pasta dish. "
Dined on 4/26/2014
"Had dinner with our daughter and her partner. As always, the food and wine were excellent and good value."
Dined on 4/26/2014
"I thought it was an Italian restaurant and, as a result, was a bit disappointed that it did not have "tradition" Italian foods on the menu. Some taste was lost with too many flourishes of ingredients. One large and somewhat dark room for dining."
Dined on 4/20/2014

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