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

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants 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!

la Posta

4.8

4.8 (2299)

$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

Steven

Dined 1 day ago

Steve, the waiter, was great. The food was very fresh and tasty, with some interesting offerings. The Gnocco Fritti was outstanding.

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Experience

Cantina del Pino Cru Night

Gabriella Cafe

4.8

4.8 (957)

$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

Maxwell

Dined 3 days ago

The ambiance at Gabriella Cafe is amazing! The food is great and the service fantastic.

Laili

4.7

4.7 (2827)

$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

Eric

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding service and food. One of our favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz and our latest visit was no exception.

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Sugo Italian Pasta Bar

4.7

4.7 (248)

$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

Mike

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

Excellent and fresh Italian food in Santa Cruz. Second time here and had a great experience. Just wish Santa Cruz streets were cleaned up a little bit more.

Alderwood Santa Cruz

4.7

4.7 (623)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Alderwood, under the culinary leadership of Executive Chef Mikey Adams, is dedicated to providing a dining experience that strikes a delicate balance between the comfort and warmth of home and the vibrancy of the downtown dining scene. Our mission is to offer our guests an exceptional and memorable meal that is deeply rooted in our commitment to fostering a genuine connection between our open kitchen and the local community. We welcome you to join us for an unforgettable culinary journey that celebrates the essence of togetherness and exceptional cuisine.

Top review

martyvip

Dined 2 days ago

This is our second visit in two weeks since we discovered this great restaurant. Our first experience was at the chef’s table, and I highly recommend this experience. Mikey is friendly and engaging if you get there early before it gets busy. The service is superb at the chef’s table. Last night we invited a friend to join us at a very comfortable booth, and we shared all the dishes. I prefer to create 4 - 5 course dinners and it was easy at Alderwood. We started with each of us ordering a different cocktail. These are all delicious and creative – characteristic of all the dishes. I suggested that we not finish this drink and save some to sip in between courses as a palate cleanser. I brought a very nice French red wine to enhance the meal. The corkage fee is on the high side ($40), but they will decant and provide very nice glasses. First course: Kale salad paired with Heirloom Tomatoes. The Kale salad has creamy Manchego custard that is perfectly balanced with the tartness of the kale. The toasted pumpkin seeds provide an almost bacon-like smokiness. Absolutely delicious way to start the meal. The tomatoes are on a bed of cream corn and the flavors pop. Nice to have with the more subdued kale salad. Second course: Roasted potato paired with the Brussels sprouts. As usual, the sprouts are intensely flavored which is balanced with the potato. But the surprise is how the potatoes are prepared. The are baked then fried three times to create an amazing texture and flavor. Third course: At this point, we are no longer eating because we need nourishment, it is all for the enjoyable experience. We had the roasted squash entrée. The texture is very firm and the flavor is intense. This is accomplished by slowly cooking the squash over 5 days so it becomes compact and chewy. This careful preparation results in amazing flavor and texture. Fourth course: The Santa Cruz greens are a mix of flavors from fresh greens that are perfect including mint and also what I think was

Cafe Cruz Rosticceria & Bar

4.6

4.6 (2009)

$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

Gailvip

Dined 6 days ago

My favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz County came through again!

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Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge

4.7

4.7 (1929)

$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

Denis

Dined 1 day ago

Went there for our anniversary, the staff was remarkable, excellent, friendly, and totally accommodating , we weren’t sure of the wine choice, they offered a wonderful selection and it was spot on. This is our go to place and love it every time. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!

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4.8

4.8 (373)

$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

Peter

Dined on Aug 11, 2024

Great dinner, as we’ve come to expect. Attentive staff. No one trying to rush us. A great Old Fashioned. Wonderful hummus. Fresh halibut. Delightful chocolate shell sundae. All on a beautiful summer evening

Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen | Beachside

4.5

4.5 (312)

$31 to $50

Californian

Aptos

About the restaurant

Newly renovated beachside restaurant, located in Aptos, CA. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails with locally distilled Venus Spirits and a menu featuring local seafood, produce, and Venus favorites. Indoor, bar, and patio seating available.

Dinner Hours:
Wednesday - Thursday // 5pm - 9pm
Friday - Sunday // 4pm - 9pm

Lunch Hours:
Friday - Sunday // 12pm - 3pm

Top review

Lonna

Dined 6 days ago

Terrific food. We sat outside, so I can't comment much on the indoor ambiance and noise level. This place is known for their cocktails and they were indeed excellent. The appetizer was an amazing burrata with scrumptious tomatoes and peaches. Unique and tasty. I had salmon with gnocchi in a creamy sauce and my date had steak. All quite excellent. I'll definitely go back.

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Experience

Celebrate your birthday with us!

Experience

Daily Happy Hour

Oblò

4.5

4.5 (40)

$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

Goharvip

Dined 6 days ago

Madeleine was our server. Highly professional and dedicated to making our dinner experience as wonderful as possible. She went above and beyond to show is unreasonable hospitality. Food was great as well

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