Chocolate the Restaurant

Name: Chocolate the Restaurant
Address: 1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, United States, 95060
Telephone: (831) 427-9900
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8 (122)

$31 to $50

Californian

1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 28, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

About this restaurant

Good for business meals
Great for creative cocktails
Neighborhood gem

Now celebrating 25 years, Chocolate the Restaurant provides an attractive dining environment for couples on dates, friendly meetings, and special occasion meals. Dine outside on the heated garden patio. Celebrate special occasions with up to 25 guests in the private street-side party room. Maybe start with a Chocolate Martini or a Passion Fruit Margarita. Chef David Jackman's fresh baked pasta rosettes, slow-roasted meats, and delicious seasonal organic vegetable dishes are all a prelude to our many chocolaty desserts. Our wine list focuses on local and on Italian wines. Our cocktails are all made from scratch; often using locally distilled spirits, and always using fresh house-made mixers. We are at your service for dinner every night! Afternoon walk-up cafe' service Friday thru Sunday. . We are open for dinner every holiday except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Californian, Mediterranean, Dessert
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(831) 427-9900
Website
http://www.chocolatesantacruz.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
David Jackman
Catering
Offsite catering for up to 150 guests. Weddings, or any other kind of occasion. Wedding cakes, or other special desserts. Chocolate mousse truffles. We can work with you to design a custom menu, based on your comfortable budget parameters.
Private party facilities
Rehearsal Dinners, Graduation Parties, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties are our specialty

Location
1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Cross street
Cooper Street
Parking details
Large multi-level public lot one half block away. Also, several parking spaces in front of restaurant on the street.
Public transit
Metro bus station with links to San Jose, three blocks away.
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 122 people are saying

Chocolate the Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.8Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Healthy
San Francisco Bay Area
Great for fine wines
San Francisco Bay Area
Great for outdoor dining
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Overall
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Food
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Service
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Ambiance
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Value
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Healthy
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Neighborhood gem
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for fine wines
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for outdoor dining
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Good for special occasions
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Chocolate the Restaurant delights with its "great food," "excellent service," and a remarkable selection of "gluten-free options." Frequent visitors rave about the "chocolate ecstasy sundae" and "Victoria hot chocolate." The restaurant's standout dishes include "Oaxacan chicken mole" and "hand-rolled fettuccine." Desserts are a highlight, especially for chocolate aficionados. Reservations are recommended.

305 Reviews

M
Mohammad VIP
San Francisco Bay Area16 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
New menu with lots of varieties including many vegan and gluten free options. Moderately priced
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P
Phil
San Francisco Bay Area11 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great experience we visit about once a year on return travel to the area. The chocolate drinks and specialty cocktails are superb. Service is the best and ingredients fresh and prepared quickly to order. The desert sampler is awesome. Highly recommend.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco Bay Area34 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
6/19/25 - have holiday off from work so here Thursday instead of usual Friday. 1 mini loaf - hot and fresh as usual, 2x Oaxacan chicken mole, 2x chocolate ectasy sundae
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P
Pamela VIP
Sacramento / Sacramento Valley38 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Charming downtown Santa Cruz restaurant with excellent staff. Enjoyed our chicken mole dishes which come with salad and corn pie slice!
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco Bay Area34 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
6/13/25 weekly visit from San Jose. Pesto pasta rossettess and chicken pie/ salad. Dessert is chocolate ecstasy sundae, chocolate cream pie and Victoria hot chocolate
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco Bay Area34 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
6/6/25. Weekly visit. We had 2x chicken parmesan with usual desserts. Started with hot mini loaf. Always great food and service
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco Bay Area34 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
05/30/25 weekly dinner. Oaxacan chicken mole and for a change I got the chicken pie with gravy and salad. The pie slice was huge! So full that aI had the chocolate mousse layer cake but not my usual Victoria hot chocolate. Wife had her chocolate ectasy sundae
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco Bay Area34 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
5/23/25. Missed last week due to attending EDC 2025 Las Vegas. Pasta rossettes and fresh fettuccini with pesto. Followed by usual great chocolate ectasy sundae, Victoria hot chocolate, and banana cream pie.
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J
Janette
San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Arrived on time and seated quickly. The highlight of evening was alcoholic Martinis and yummy Shareable desserts. Entrees were large enough to share with daughter & had leftovers still.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco Bay Area34 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
05/09/25 weekly outing. Usual mini loaf hot and fresh as always. Oaxacan Mole chicken and also the usual chocolate desserts - chocolate ectasy sundae, chocolate cream pie, Victoria hot chocolate
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FAQs

Chocolate the Restaurant is rated 4.8 stars by 122 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 28, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Additional information

Cross street
Cooper Street
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Californian, Mediterranean, Dessert
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Large multi-level public lot one half block away. Also, several parking spaces in front of restaurant on the street.
Public transit
Metro bus station with links to San Jose, three blocks away.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
David Jackman
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.chocolatesantacruz.com/
Phone number
(831) 427-9900
Catering
Offsite catering for up to 150 guests. Weddings, or any other kind of occasion. Wedding cakes, or other special desserts. Chocolate mousse truffles. We can work with you to design a custom menu, based on your comfortable budget parameters.
Private party facilities
Rehearsal Dinners, Graduation Parties, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties are our specialty

Chocolate the Restaurant

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Menu

What 122 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Chocolate the Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is Chocolate the Restaurant currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information