LailiOutstanding food, superb serviceAnother fantastic dinner! Service was undoubtedly the best you'll find at any restaurant. Food was innovative and tasty. Special salad with strawberries and goat cheese was large, very lightly dressed and outstanding. Pumpkin Buranee and flat bread is always good. Tried menu item: arugula pesto pasta - wow that was good! Another menu item: trout, my wife had it last time and raved. Same this time. That's what you'd expect from a very good restaurant, same great menu item every time. Warm Chai and lime-mint soda (a 'nojito': sans booze) were both very good. And did I say the service staff was right there when you needed, not there when you didn't need them. Can you say 'repeat customer' + 'take your friends'?5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurantI picked this restaurant randomly from a google maps search, with my only criteria being a high zagat score. It certainly lived up to its score!! Excellent food. It's hard to get big chunks of kabob meat to cook evenly and remain tender and flavorful. The most amazing side dishes and appetizers. Beautiful outdoor setting and wonderful waitstaff. On top of it, the prices were great. We couldn't have been more pleased with the whole experience.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting menu and goodInteresting menu and good presentation made dining good. It's a bit noisy with high ceiling and getting seated a bit chaotic.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMSaturday OutingGrand time out~! Mat, our waiter was terrific, very helpful, very nice and big smiles - we had a great lunch. Thank you once again for all your greatness, we will be back soon. Gail Porter & Co. big smiles5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is delicious- theThe food is delicious- the outdoor dining is fantastic- beautiful plants- lights.The indoor setting is beautiful as well. There wasn't anything that we ordered that we didn't like. Looking forward to returning soon.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMDowntown doesn't mean big and noisyThis is one of the best restaurants I have ever visited. We ate outside and our server, Matt, was exceptional. The food was good, service was good and the garden courtyard was beautifully planted with tropical plants and grapevines. Outdoor heaters were there for those chilly nights, as well.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great experience. itHad a great experience. it was VERY busy, and had to wait. Our server was kind of slow. But we totally forgave him, because he was moving at full speed the whole time. I think they just had an unexpectedly large crowd. Food was incredibly tasty.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have been several timesWe have been several times and often bring out of town friends. They always love it!
The flatbreads are delicious especially the one with apricot, dates and cheese. The lamb kebabs are always divine. We'll be back again.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSwordfish was excellent asSwordfish was excellent as was the lamb kabobs made from tenderloin. The outside dining added a special visual quality to the evening.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed a fantastic dinnerWe enjoyed a fantastic dinner with our two teenagers and they enjoyed the food and the atmosphere very much.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAll around very positive experienceI was down in Santa Cruz on business and discovered this gem. The service was right on the mark. The outside courtyard is amazing, vines all over the walls, birds signing, designed very tastefully, you feel like you disappeared to Europe. The wine, Chardonnay, was nicely chilled, very tasty. The appetizer dumplings were not what I had in mind, but that said, I did not really use the greek flavored yogurt that was paired with it (I avoid dairy). I had the trout, beyond delicious, with lemon/herbs, and saffron rice, delicious! I highly recommend and will return when back in the area.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFood, wine, service was allFood, wine, service was all great! and the outside seating was like being in Europe! Go!4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have been to Laili severalWe have been to Laili several times and are always pleased. Although it was a bit too chilly to eat outside, the outdoor dining area is beautiful. The food was great and the service was terrific. We had a lovely evening and will be back!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is different and wonderful.Food is different and wonderful. Service people attentive and helpful.Cuisine is equisite. Service was excellent. Ambiance is very nice.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant we have experiencedBest restaurant we have experienced in a long time. Great, unusual food and service! Excellent lunch on the patio. A popular pumpkin and yogurt appetizer with freshly baked, delicious nan bread, followed by excellent lamb burger or entree spinach salad with strawberries and tender, exotically seasoned chicken chunks. Service was helpful, efficient and friendly. Would highly recommend this place to anyone!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMLaili is a great spot--romantic.Laili is a great spot--romantic. slightly exotic ambience. The outdoor patio is stunnung. Food is mostly Mediterranean/Middle Eastern, done in a "clean", simple California style. Good wine list. with some wines you don't find everywhere (gruner vetliner, e.g.). Prices are fairly reasonable.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FoodWe really enjoyed our dishes. Everything we got was good. Service was prompt and very attentive. Ambience was great.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGailIt was a grand afternoon out - the food, the service, not to mention the waiter were simply divine, thank you kindly. Gail & team3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have had several lunches,We have had several lunches, and now dinner at Laili's and have enjoyed them all. The room is very well designed, comfortable seating, tables not overly close, and the food is always good. We had lamb shanks, and beet salad, and with a couple of glasses of wine, followed by cardamom coffee, and pomegranite icecream, just what we wanted.3/3/2013 12:00:00 AMWho knew such a good restaurantWho knew such a good restaurant existed in Santa Cruz! It's been a long time since I visited (coming from SF) so I was surprised at how nice Downtown SC was and to find this restaurant. Though a bit pricey, the food is amazing. We had vegetarian dumplings to start. For entrees we had the chicken and lamb kebabs which we loved. We of course got the baklava to end the meal. Also, loved their lemon ginger soda!!3/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, ambiance, andGreat food, ambiance, and service. Time and time again, this restaurant delivers a consistent, delicious Middle Eastern fare.2/17/2013 12:00:00 AMTop RateAlways great! The setting and quality of food is top rate.2/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat bang for your buckAll in all, this was a great find last minute while spending the weekend in Santa Cruz. The outside patio has a great ambiance. The food was very good/great. We had an appetizer and each had an entree and we were stuffed. Our waitress was the worst part of the experience. She wasn't rude or anything, she was just a person that stopped by our table 3 times (drink order, food order, check) and spoke very monotone with little to no emotion at all. She just needs a different job, one that isn't centered around personality. The runners and buser's were 10 times more helpful and freindly. Its a shame the tip goes to her. Otherwise, very nice presentation and details, and surprisingly cheaper than I would have expected for the overall experience.2/15/2013 12:00:00 AMNew Favorite!This is my new favorite restaurant in town! The food was outrageously delicious. Our staff were incredibly attentive (thank you, Stacey!), knew the menu well, were able to answer all of my questions, and they even cleared crumbs between courses. Our meals arrived hot and in perfect timing. The wine list even carried my new favorite Cima Colina from Paso Robles. I found the pricing to be more than reasonable for the quality of food and the service received, and I will absolutely be returning here.2/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat foodWe have been here twice and both times had great meals and great service. This is a beautiful restaurant and we can hardly wait to get some warm weather so we can sit outside on their beautiful patio. Our servers have always been very friendly and helpful but it is really all about the food. I love their lamb dishes but my daughtr had their Mahimahi fish special and it was superb. My husband had the chicken with pomegranet sauce which was so tender and delicious.2/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGive your review a title (optional)Excellent food quality, selection, presentation. Service was fantastic, if you want the personalized touch, sit at the bar ask for Damion. Wine was paired well with the dishes ordered.12/29/2012 12:00:00 AM