Santa Cruz Travel Forum

We are spending a week in the Carmel/Monterey area and have allocated a day in Santa Cruz to see the boardwalk and other local attractions. If you were asked to nominate your favourite restaurant for us to eat at, where would you recommend. Cheers Matt

In Santa Cruz would be Shadowbrook. However, in Aptos is a place called Theo's where we had a great meal. Shadowbrook has a good view and good food. Theo's is a converted house with no view, but great food. If you don't feel like leaving the boardwalk try Stagnaro's on the pier just down from the boardwalk. We had a great breakfast there, but haven't tried anything else. It is pretty much an institution for the boardwalk. I think it has been there since the 1930's.

Stagnaro Brothers on the Santa Cruz pier. Good fish dinners, good views, see the seals and pelicans as you walk down the pier. I like the smoked fish plate appetizer.

Shadowbrook, as stated earlier, is always a good bet.
Downtown you could try Gabriella Cafe on Cedar Street. www.gabriellacafe.com This is perhaps the best quality in town.
The best new restaurant in Santa Cruz is the Hula Grill. It is not very expensive, but very good.