Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola - Capitola, CA

Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola

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Address:
1750 Wharf Rd.
Capitola, CA 95010

Neighborhood:
Capitola

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Cuisine:
American

Price: $30 and under

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Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.shadowbrook-capitola.com
Phone: (831) 475-1511
Hours of Operation: Winter Dining Hours: Mon-Fri 5:00pm-8:45pm Sat 4:30pm-9:30pm Sun 4:30pm-8:45pm Winter Rockroom Bar Menu Available: Mon-Sat 4:00pm-10:00pm Sunday 2:30pm-10:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: American, Steak, Seafood
Executive Chef: Anthony Kresge
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Entertainment, Fireplace, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: The Shadowbrook has an in-house pastry department for banquet, wedding, or special occasion needs. For more information please call Allyson at 831-475-1222.
Private Party Facilities: Shadowbrook's four private dining rooms are the perfect location for evening special events, receptions, and weddings for groups of 10 to 100.
Private Party Contact: Allyson (831) 475-1222
Entertainment: Live music in the Rock Room Lounge Friday and Saturday nights.
Special Events & Promotions: Mention to us that it is your birthday and receive a complimentary ice cream sundae.

Getting there

Cross Street: Capitola Rd.
Parking: Private Lot
Parking Details: Three private lots with complimentary parking for guests; disabled parking spaces available.

A word from Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola

In Capitola-by-the-Sea, beside lush Soquel Creek just before it empties into the Monterey bay, Shadowbrook is best reached by its own quaint, hillside 'cable car' or the meandering garden path alongside waterfalls, ferns and flowers. For over 60 years, Shadowbrook has been famous its for fine food,… wine and liqueurs served in an atmosphere of Old World charm and grace. Now, better then ever, Shadowbrook is perfect for any special occasion...or for no occasion at all.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food

Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola - Best Restaurants in Capitola

Diner Reviews

"This was a special occasion. I was buying dinner for new In Laws. They picked it. I only go here when others choose. I have found it to be unpredictable. This was the worst. I had to put a mussel back into it's shell on the sly. It was bad. My dish was flavorless. No saffron taste as described. Were it not for my social need to be gracious, it would have been sent back. None of my guests said, nice meal."
Dined on 7/23/2014
"Delightful restaurant rooms, marvelous historic building, romantic atmosphere, good food, attentive server - a banner evening!"
Dined on 7/22/2014
"It was the perfect place to take my mother for her last day visiting us here in CA. The food was really good although I didn't care for the spinach. I actually asked the waiter what it was because it tasted very bitter. Other than the spinanch tasting biiter I can't wait to go back. Both my 4 and 3 year old enjoyed the experience. We had a small wait because we arrived early so we were able to walk around and explore. I do recommend making reservations."
Dined on 7/22/2014
"From being picked up by the Shadowbrook taxi to our last bite of dessert, such a magnificent place to dine! We will drive from Stockton just to have dinner here!"
Dined on 7/22/2014
"The cable car ride to and from the restaurant was the grandkids favorite, along with the extensive kids menu. The view was noteworthy, located on the river by the trestle bridge. Food was superb, filets like butter, homemade bacon salad (yum), lamb and black truffle gnocchi were outstanding! You can count on the staffs attention to detail and service. We had a few miscommunications with the kitchen, ( a "rare" steak request came out over cooked) but the errors were corrected immediately. The award winning gardens are worthy of a stroll through either before or after your meal. Prices are about $30 per person w/o alcohol. Corkage :check policy! Don't miss this award winning restaurant the next time you are in the Capitola area!"
Dined on 7/22/2014
"Beautiful scenery, delicious food from an eclectic menu, excellent wait staff. My only complaint (and why I only give "Service" 3 stars), is because the hostesses were terrible. We had a 7:00 reservation. We arrived on time and were immediately asked to follow the hostess to our table. I was impressed with the promptness until the hostess turned to me and said "this is for Simon, right?" I said "Parker." She turned us around and told us to wait "another minute" while she went to seat someone else. After 20 minutes and many promises of "we'd be next", we finally got seated, after I got angry. The hostess said the problem was they were "short staffed", but all we could see were 3-4 hostesses gathered around their monitor doing nothing."
Dined on 7/21/2014
"My family and I have came to this restaurant for many years. It is the best place for a special occasion such as a graduation. It is also the best place for a romantic date. The scenic elevator ride or the garden trail walk is so beautiful. The river view is stunning is stunning as well. The food can't get any better. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is very memorable for anyone. Don't forget to bring your guest from out of town and amaze them!"
Dined on 7/19/2014
"We arrived 30 minutes early (allowed for traffic) and after waiting only 15 minutes in the area overlooking the creek, we were seated for dinner. All the staff were very pleasant and attentive. The decor is charming and makes me think of Scandinavia. The many different levels and nooks and crannies add much charm to the atmosphere. As always, the food was FABULOUS! The artichoke bisque was especially tasty this visit. I ordered the Filet Mignon and didn't regret a single bite. My sister chose the Beef Brochettes and said they were outstanding. The menu clearly identifies gluten-free items, which is important to me. Once again, Shadowbook Restaurant did not disappoint. I'm looking forward to the next visit!"
Dined on 7/19/2014
"The ambiance is lovely at Shadowbrook. In the past we have been pleased with our food. This time, however, the Bisteca Milanese was greasy and breaded too heavily. The gnocchi was, however, delicious."
Dined on 7/19/2014
"I've been a Shadowbrook regular for years. I love the wintertime Winemaker Wednesdays and other specials. This was my birthday and our reservation was late, after other celebrating elsewhere. Yet they still found prime rib for us. All around us people were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. We had one of our favorite servers: attentive as well as fun on an interpersonal level. Great food, delicious wine, wonderful atmosphere."
Dined on 7/17/2014
"My husband and I first went there for our 2 year anniversary (12 years ago) and loved it. Now 2 kids later we were back in Capitola camping and decided to take our 11 y/o and 6 y/o. The food was amazing and our waiter was the best. He even conducted an impromptu napkin folding class for our girls. They enjoyed the food as well. Will definitely go again."
Dined on 7/17/2014
"A group of 60ish ladies wanted to celebrate a friends birthday I n a lovely setting. We loved the service and each of us enjoyed our chosen dish. Wine and drinks were excellent."
Dined on 7/15/2014
"Go for the beautiful grounds, atmosphere, and personalized service. The food just doesn't match up so know that beforehand so you are not disappointed."
Dined on 7/15/2014
"The perfect restaurant for our family. Had a wonderful menu that had a ton of options and the restaurant itself is an amazing experience in history."
Dined on 7/15/2014
"My wife, two teens and I had dinner at Shadowbrook while visiting Santa Cruz. My son said it was the highlight of the weekend."
Dined on 7/14/2014
"Everything was just as elegant as we had told our 3 grandchildren, 8, 6, and 3 1/2, they all want to return. They will continue this family tradition when they are grown and with their own children"
Dined on 7/13/2014
"Wonderful food and service! The setting is unbeatable - a tropical forest."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"My sisters favorite spot to come fr Connecticutt! Full moon on river, what could be better!"
Dined on 7/12/2014
"I hadn't been to Shadowbrook since I was a child and it is better than I had remembered! The cable car ride to & from the restaurant was fun."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"Great scallops! Plenty of food, and hot bread with soft butter; one of life's little gems. Nice wait staff. Fun place to go to!"
Dined on 7/12/2014
"I had been there as a teenager and it was even better than I remembered! The food was amazing and my boyfriend complimented me for finding such a great restaurant for a romantic evening on our trip."
Dined on 7/11/2014
"What a great evening, the best service! The food came out hot, the wait staff was excellent and they were so attentive and wanted to make sure everything was perfect...Thank you!"
Dined on 7/11/2014
"too expensive and portions are very tiny - $28 for lamb shish kibob, and only got 5 1" squares of lamb! side dishes are very tiny too"
Dined on 7/11/2014
"When on vacation over last 30 years, always save a "treat" night for Shadowbrook. Never disappoints; this time was one of best yet."
Dined on 7/11/2014
"What else can I say! Just a fabulous, delicious, and fun evening. Great spot! Take the tram up and down, or walk and listen to nature~"
Dined on 7/10/2014
"Best restaurant I've visited in a long time. Elegant, relaxing atmosphere. Excellent & friendly service; food was amazing! I will definitely return (soon)."
Dined on 7/9/2014
"The most memorable part of the restaurant is the enterance, definitely unique. Food, wine list, and atmosphere all amazing. Shadowbrook is a perfect place for a special occasion, especially witg your significant other. A few times, I noticed that dishes were served male first then female. I feel that it should always be female first. I also noticed a few times that dishes were cleared male first and females last. This happened few times, it wasn't a serious issue. Other than that, the service is very good."
Dined on 7/8/2014
"Shadowbrook was recommended to me from 3 different clients of mine. I definitely had high expectations, and those expectations were met and exceeded! This place is amazing. Beautiful from any angle you look, food was delicious, and service was the best I could ask for. Also, extremely romantic. :)"
Dined on 7/7/2014
"This restaurant never disappoints! The menu selections are just unusual enough to be memorable. The wait staff are immaculate."
Dined on 7/6/2014
"Recommended by a friend, what a pleasant suprise. Will return next time we are in the area."
Dined on 7/6/2014
"We celebrated two birthdays in our group of four women. We represented varying ages and our waiter, Chris, was delightful. He made great recommendations and fit right in with our personalities. The food exceeded our expectations. We were seated right on time. The reservation process was smooth. We had a reminder of our reservation the day before the actual date."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"I love the Shadowbrook! It's charming, unique, has excellent service and food. It holds a special place in my heart."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"We had dinner with our two sons and this is now one of our favorite places for a great dinner in Santa Cruz. You can’t beat the entrance to the restaurant, the view, service or the food."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"Pleasantly suprised by the walk/ride to eating spot! Food was perfect, service wonderful. It was our one year wedding anniversary and our experience at Shadowbrook was tremendous! We decided this is where we will dine EVERY year for our special occasion (and then some)!!!"
Dined on 7/5/2014
"They seated us right on time...at 8:30 on 7-3-2014.The food was awesome. I would go again"
Dined on 7/3/2014
"Shadowbrook is perfect in every way. It's beautiful, rich atmosphere tickles you gently as you walk down the winding stairs, plants of all kinds surround you with a dreamlike jungle atmosphere. The restaurant itself is made of dark, amber wood - bringing the most soft, whiskey warm energy all around. The food is prepared with care and explodes like 4th of july fireworks in your mouth. The servers were kind and thoughtful, greeting us for our Anniversary and giving us the most quiet, private table with a beautiful view. It was perfect, we will be coming back :)"
Dined on 7/3/2014
"I first dined here almost 40 years ago, returned with a new love. Shadowbrook is none the worse for wear. We arrived early, enjoyed a live guitarist in the bar, and were seated precisely at our reserved time. When we indicated a preference for another table, the hostess graciously acquiesced and advised us we'd have to wait just a bit; this turned out to be only 2-3 minutes and we then sat next to the window at river level. Beautiful. I remembered the food being only good, but our meal was delicious throughout. The only (slight) disappointment: gnocchi with truffle had barely any truffle flavor. Still good, but not great. It's a great place for celebrations, but parents, PLEASE leave children home if they're of crying age."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"I've been to Shadowbrook many times and will probably choose to go there many times more in the future, but July 3 was a magical evening. I bought friends from out of state and our waiter, Andrew S, and the rest of the staff as well, provided the best service I've ever had-anywhere. Food was fabulous and atmosphere wonderful...as always."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"It was my birthday and it was an awesome experience. The setting is so peaceful. We totally enjoyed our dining experience and will come again. Our server was very friendly and responsive."
Dined on 7/3/2014
"We had dinner on the back patio overlooking a river, and the beautiful woodsy setting would be hard to beat. The picture-perfect view was amazing. We enjoyed our entrees of flank steak and prime rib, however the soups (artichoke and also clam chowder) were lackluster. The desserts we sampled were just okay. However, I would return simply because both the quiet outdoor setting & the bustling indoor scene are quite enjoyable. The building and landscape were awesome, but the food needs seasoning. Next time, will try the bar menu since those specials looked tasty. The workers were all knowledgeable and attentive."
Dined on 7/3/2014

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Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola Details

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