Laili

4.7

2859 Reviews

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 25, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 15 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for outdoor dining
Neighborhood gem
Charming

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.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Afghan
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(831) 423-4545
Website
http://lailirestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Catering
Get Laili’s Food at your location! Call or email us for prices and availability. Parties 50-500
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate gathering, Laili Restaurant can accommodate all your special event needs.
Private party contact
Xander Nicolai: (831) 423-4545

Location
101B Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Cross street
Pacific Avenue
Parking details
Take advantage of free parking located on River Street at Front Street. In addition to metered street parking, there is also a parking lot at Front Street and Soquel and also at Locust Street and Pacific Avenue.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Lunchtime Oasis
Multiple dates available
Come experience lunch time at Laili, the hidden gem of Downtown Santa Cruz! Sit and relax on our gorgeous patio and enjoy the sunshine, the beautiful vines and flowers all around that envelop you with the feel of a secret garden, and of course, our delicious, fresh food! We offer special lunch time combos, an amazing wine list and delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic options like our fresh Ginger Lime Soda. Take some time to slow down and treat yourself.

Popular dishes

Mediterranean plate$15.00
hummus, tabbouleh, babaghanoush, cucumber yogurt
Maush-awa soup$15.00
5 bean soup with braised lamb, qurut yogurt
Vegetarian Maush-awa soup$14.00
5 bean soup, qurut yogurt
Kadoo boranee$16.00
butternut squash, garlic, qurut yogurt, mint
Bolani$15.00
crispy flatbread filled with your choice of spinach or butternut squash

Salads

Add: Chicken $12, Grilled Prawns $14

Mixed greens$11.00
pomegranate seeds, cardamom-herb dressing
- half$11.00
- full$14.00
Moroccan beet salad$16.00
turmeric, coriander, marinated beets, wild arugula, goat cheese
Cilantro caesar salad$12.00
romaine, cilantro, mint, parmesan, house made naan crisps
- Half$12.00
- Full$16.00
Greek salad$13.00
romaine, feta, kalamata, tomato, cucumber, onion, lemon vinaigrette
- Half$13.00
- Full$17.00
Spinach salad$14.00
pickled onion, candied walnuts, seared halloumi, balsamic vinaigrette
- Half$14.00
- Full$18.00

Wraps and Flatbreads*

Veggie wrap$18.00
hummus, wild arugula, cucumbers, tomato, red onion
Saffron chicken wrap$20.00
wild arugula, tomato, red onion
Lamb wrap$20.00
wild arugula, tomato, red onion
Eggplant parmesan flatbread$20.00
caramelized onions, fresh tomato sauce, qurut yogurt, mint
Grilled chicken flatbread$22.00
parmesan, apricot chutney, medjool dates, pomegranate, mint
Pear gorgonzola flatbread$20.00
caramelized onion, balsamic reduction, microgreens

Entrees

Arugula pesto$22.00
house made pasta, sundried tomato, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts
Salmon pasta$29.00
house made fettuccine, creamy tomato basil sauce, capers
Braised lamb pasta$29.00
house made fettuccine, tomato cream sauce, zucchini, green onion
Pomegranate eggplant$25.00
saffron basmati rice, chard, caramelized onion, qurut yogurt
Roasted cauliflower$25.00
chickpeas, tomato ginger sauce, saffron basmati rice, salata
Pomegranate chicken kabob$26.00
saffron basmati rice, arugula
Filet Mignon Kabob$34.00
Filet Mignon with a garlic lime sauce, kabuli rice, mixed vegetables
Lamb kabob$36.00
saffron basmati rice, arugula
Trout$29.00
lemon, parsley, garlic, saffron basmati rice, salata
Lamb Burger$25.00
topped with mint aioli, butternut leaf lettuce, red onion, tomato, and swiss cheese, mix greens: served with roasted paprika potatoes and mix greens salad

Lunch Combo

Two of the following items $22, All three of the following items $29

Bolani
butternut squash or spinach
Maush awa soup
with lamb or vegetarian
Mixed greens

What 2,859 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

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
Innovative
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Good for groups
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Healthy
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Neighborhood gem
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for outdoor dining
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Romantic
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Good for special occasions
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Laili offers a "beautiful outdoor patio" dining experience with "excellent and interesting food," particularly Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Guests rave about the "superb" lamb wraps and "delicious" eggplant dishes. The staff is known for being "friendly and knowledgeable," making it a "favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz." Although some find the prices high, the "unique flavors" and "lovely ambiance" keep patrons returning.

2,859 Reviews

H
Hugh
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was the best we’ve experienced in Santa Cruz. Very well trained staff!
Is this helpful?
S
Sarah
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food is delicious! Service was great. It is noisy. Sometimes hard to hear your table mates.
Is this helpful?
J
Jennifer
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Excellent food! Reservations strongly recommended.
Is this helpful?
L
Lisa
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Another fabulous dinner! Love this place. Prices seem quite a bit higher than last time we were here but every dish was delicious.
Is this helpful?
M
Mike
St. Louis
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous food, service and abience! Best middle eastern food ever. The fresh baked naan were especially yummy as were the dips with the naan. Will definitely return!
Is this helpful?
H
Helen
San Francisco
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food, good service, parking easy at the close-by garage. And right around the corner from the bookstore!
Is this helpful?
M
Mikey
San Francisco
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on November 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always so delicious. Lovely ambiance. Great service . They brought a dessert for my friend’s birthday with a candle even tho I had not asked ahead of time. Wonderful dishes for both omnivores, vegetarians and vegans. Only problem is that everything is so good that it’s hard to choose!!
LailiResponded on November 8, 2024
Hi Mikey, We are happy to hear your experience with our service and food was wonderful! We do have a lot of amazing choices! Come try them all :) We look forward to seeing you again soon! Sincerely, Xander Nicolai General Manager Laili Restaurant
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A
Adrianne
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
If you want an unforgettable flavor palette, this is the place to go. the butternut squash, Bolinis or where it’s at
LailiResponded on November 8, 2024
Hi Adrianne, Thanks for the review! I love the Bolini as well! We hope to see you again soon! Sincerely, Xander Nicolai General Manager Laili Restaurant
Is this helpful?
M
Melinda
San Francisco
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
This is a fantastic restaurant. The food is amazing. Great flavors and spice profiles. The soups were fresh and delicious. The lamb shank pricey but outstanding. Loved the butternut squash appetizer and the salmon with fettuccini. Would be back in a hot minute!!
LailiResponded on November 8, 2024
Hi Melinda, Great to hear you loved the restaurant! We do our best to stay competitive in our prices with other fine dining establishments in our area. We continue to review local market rates and will ensure we are on par! Thanks for the review and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Sincerely, Xander Nicolai General Manager Laili Restaurant
Is this helpful?
P
Pooneh
San Diego
15 reviews
3.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The ambiance was beautiful. The food nothing special. To me it was not worth the price they charged.
LailiResponded on November 8, 2024
Hi Pooneh, I am sorry to hear you were not happy our food or with our prices. A majority of our guests generally love our made-from-scratch dishes! We strive to stay competitive with other fine dining establishments in our area. We hope that you find the perfect fine dining experience soon! Sincerely, Xander Nicolai General Manager Laili Restaurant
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FAQs

Laili offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Laili also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (831) 423-4545.

Laili is rated 4.7 stars by 2859 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 25, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 15 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

101B Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Pacific Avenue
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Hours of operation
Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Afghan
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Take advantage of free parking located on River Street at Front Street. In addition to metered street parking, there is also a parking lot at Front Street and Soquel and also at Locust Street and Pacific Avenue.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://lailirestaurant.com/
Phone number
(831) 423-4545
Catering
Get Laili’s Food at your location! Call or email us for prices and availability. Parties 50-500
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate gathering, Laili Restaurant can accommodate all your special event needs.
Private party contact
Xander Nicolai: (831) 423-4545

Laili

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Lunchtime Oasis

Pomegranate Eggplant

Lamb wrap

Lamb Pasta

Appetizers

Mediterranean plate$15.00

Maush-awa soup$15.00

Vegetarian Maush-awa soup$14.00

Kadoo boranee$16.00

Bolani$15.00

Salads

Mixed greens$11.00

Moroccan beet salad$16.00

Cilantro caesar salad$12.00

Greek salad$13.00

Spinach salad$14.00

Wraps and Flatbreads*

Veggie wrap$18.00

Saffron chicken wrap$20.00

Lamb wrap$20.00

Eggplant parmesan flatbread$20.00

Grilled chicken flatbread$22.00

Pear gorgonzola flatbread$20.00

Entrees

Arugula pesto$22.00

Salmon pasta$29.00

Braised lamb pasta$29.00

Pomegranate eggplant$25.00

Roasted cauliflower$25.00

Pomegranate chicken kabob$26.00

Filet Mignon Kabob$34.00

Lamb kabob$36.00

Trout$29.00

Lamb Burger$25.00

Lunch Combo

Bolani

Maush awa soup

Mixed greens

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Laili offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Laili restaurant rated?

Is Laili currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information