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Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

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OpenTable
Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of la Posta restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2358)
$30 and under
Italian
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Select from a menu that features dishes composed of locally sourced ingredients as well as house-made pastas, naturally leavened breads and pizzas from our brick oven.

Because we rely on the bounty of the Santa Cruz farming community, our menu changes frequently and features a wide array of specials. La Posta’s all-Italian wine list includes autochthonous varieties from small producers, by-the-glass and by the bottle.

La Posta adheres to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Program and is a certified City of Santa Cruz Green Business.

We are so thankful for the incredible support from our customers and community.

We will continue to adjust our service based upon best practices for keeping our staff and community safe.

Top review
PaulaVIP
Dined 5 days ago
La Posta has been and remains one of the top three restaurants in Santa Cruz and, truly, the whole Bay area. Yes, there are some great places in SF, but La Posta is competitive. Tonight I wasn't terribly hungry but I had the most exquisite baby carrots and crab croquettes. And the service was of course perfect. They're lucky to have such an amazing staff and a phenomenal chef. I do wish the portions were a bit bigger, but in the scheme of things economically speaking, they've managed to keep their prices pretty even. My friends had the most gorgeous Pizza I've seen in a very long time. Same goes for the pasta. They're from New York and they loved it, so that says a lot! I'm bringing another friend on Saturday. What can I say? I love this restaurant and it's in my neighborhood. How lucky am I?
A photo of Sugo Italian Pasta Bar restaurant
4.8
4.8 (284)
$30 and under
Italian
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
A European concept-restaurant of traditional Italian cuisine; a modern and dynamic service, that allows customers to enjoy fresh, organic and authentic italian food through a selection of appetizer, panini, pizza and salads, and obviously our specialty: "Pasta".
Top review
RonVIP
Dined 3 days ago
This place just works, foods excellent and very unique. Check it out.
A photo of Gabriella Cafe restaurant
4.7
4.7 (981)
$50 and over
Italian
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Zagat rated as "OUTSTANDING". Gabriella Cafe is a 50 seat, picturesque and romantic dining experience in downtown Santa Cruz.
Top review
Steve
Dined 3 days ago
Very good food and service. A very nice menu. There is indoor seating in a quaint setting as well as an outdoor courtyard and on the street parklet. We've always had a good experience here and excellent food.
A photo of Suda restaurant
4.8
4.8 (392)
$31 to $50
American
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Pairing seasonal produce from local farmers with line caught fish and lean, hormone-free beef, the menu at Süda stays as fresh as the ingredients. With a variety of inventive dishes, including vegan and gluten free options, there is truly something for everyone.

The atmosphere at the bar is lively, while booths offer diners a more intimate experience making Süda the perfect place for a casual meal with friends or a night out with someone special. We are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can enjoy fresh food whenever your heart desires.



Top review
Suzette
Dined 1 day ago
Our server was PHENOMENAL. SO kind and patient and thoughtful and knowledgeable. Just smiled the whole time and did not appear rushed even though the room was packed. Great suggestions, had apparently tried everything on the menu, and really wanted to make sure we got whatever we wanted /needed out of the evening. Was the food the most amazing thing on the planet? No… but it was straight up, solid. Like 4.75/5. Flavorful, cooked exactly as it should, fresh, and balanced. We would 100% go back. Such a great vibe and experience. Thank you for giving us a wonderful evening out! We needed it.
A photo of Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1990)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Jack O’Neill Restaurant and Lounge is Santa Cruz’s best new destination for coastal California cuisine. The approachable and family-friendly vibe at Jack O’Neill Restaurant and Lounge will welcome hotel guests and locals alike.
Top review
susieVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Overall a nice experience. Burger was very good. Fried chicken sandwich was just ok. Loved our view
A photo of Oblò restaurant
4.7
4.7 (64)
$31 to $50
Italian
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Modern Italian cuisine with Californian influence, sit in our beautiful dining room or enjoy one of our amazing craft drinks in the comfort and cozy lounge bar area.
Our chef Andrea designed an innovative menu that perfect match with the list of cocktails craft from the Bar manager Keith Fox.

Top review
PatriciaVIP
Dined 3 days ago
We went there for a Valentine's Day dinner and it was wonderful.Service was friendly and professional. Food was excellent.The seafood pasta was delicious- good variety of seafood cooked perfectly. Generous portion. Also recommended is the bruschetta and the chocolate fantasy dessert. Ambiance was great. Care was taken with the acoustics so you could actually converse without raising your voice. Highly recommend this restaurant, especially for special occasions.
A photo of Laili restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2878)
$30 and under
Mediterranean
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Laili is our expression of love through food and service. We offer a unique menu made up of fusion Afghani Mediterranean items that include kabobs, wraps, flatbreads, pastas, and spiced lamb and chicken dishes as well as delicious vegetarian options.

Laili Restaurant "BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT", Good Times 2023, Voted #1

Rich Mediterranean Flavors with a Unique Afghan Twist in the Heart of Downtown Santa Cruz.
Currently taking reservations for lunch and dinner, walk-ins welcome too.

Dine in our elegant, secluded, off street patio. Visit our website for event information.

Top review
XavierVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Great food, amazing service. Highly recommend . What a treat
A photo of Mozaic - Santa Cruz restaurant
4.6
4.6 (478)
$30 and under
Mediterranean
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
We named our restaurant Mozaic because we wanted to capture the diversity of flavors and culmination of authentic Mediterranean dishes that we offer. We bring together the best of Mediterranean recipes from Greece, Lebanon, Turkey and Sicily, emphasizing Middle Eastern influence.

Our menu is hand-crafted after years of experience in the restaurant business knowing what people like. We make every dish completely authentic, utilizing 100 years old techniques that have been passed down through generations to bring you incredible flavor. COME AND TASTE THE DIFFERENCE We seek only the best, local ingredients. We use high-quality meats, like our Australian lamb tenderloin and select only sustainable seafood. Our lavash comes from an authentic Persian bakery.

Everyone wants family. Mozaic is a warm and inviting atmosphere where everyone can feel at home. Come enjoy our incredible and lush atmosphere.

Top review
Ken
Dined 7 days ago
Food is great and variety on the menu is perfect.
A photo of Cafe Cruz Rosticceria & Bar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2073)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Soquel
About the restaurant
Cafe Cruz is a popular and lively local restaurant. We offer casual/fine dining with a full bar, indoor and heated patio dining. Guests enjoy watching the "magic" created in our open copper-backed kitchen each night by our talented team of chefs. Notable features include many locally sourced foods, nightly sustainable seafood specials, and many creative salad and vegetable options. Our innovative pastas and sandwiches are always a hit.
Spit-Roasted meats are featured each night, cooked on a french Rotisol rotisserie. The lush garden room can seat larger parties of up to 35. Guests enjoy our warm friendly service, our many seating options, and exceptionally delicious food.

Top review
Alison
Dined 2 days ago
This is our favorite restaurant and we always return for important celebratory events. Last night, every single food item we ordered was off the charts delicious. Nancy was a lovely waitress who was also enjoyable to chat with. The only wrinkle in our experience was that our table was not ready for us despite having a reservation, so we had to wait. But it is Valentine's Day weekend and was a busy evening at Cafe Cruz. We had a lovely evening and a fabulous meal!
A photo of Oswald restaurant
4.5
4.5 (1618)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Santa Cruz
About the restaurant
Oswald is a contemporary American restaurant and bar that focuses on the abundance of delicious ingredients found on the central coast of California. Oswald features an eclectic, international wine list and an exciting, seasonal bar program. While the decor is spare and modern, the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. Oswald features new art shows every two months.

We do have first come tables available in the lounge as well as bar seats.
Come by and see if there is a table or seat for you.

Top review
Jenny
Dined 2 days ago
My husband and I had a lovely dinner! He had the lasagna and I had the skirt steak. Both were great and we would definitely get it again! The servers were friendly and attentive. The cocktails were excellent!
Explore Diners' Choice best of Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
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