Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies 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!

Sugo Italian Pasta Bar

4.8

4.8 (277)

$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

Renee

Dined on Jan 12, 2025

Sugo continues to be an outstanding dining experience. My seafood stew was delicious - generous servings of shrimp, scallops, calamari in a delicious red sauce with just enough kick. lovely. Bread was delicious too. Good value; we have had too many expensive unsatisfying dishes at other restaurants. Sugo is our top dining choice. And we love the Italian staff!

Gabriella Cafe

4.7

4.7 (979)

$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

RoyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

The food is great and the staff was super nice and helpful and even stepped over our dogs (who took up way to much space on the patio)

Laili

4.7

4.7 (2868)

$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

Ethan

Dined 3 days ago

Service was excellent. We trusted the waiters opinion and he did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the noise was a bit distracting. The food was exiting- new flavor combination, almost a fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (657)

$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

Robin

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic creativity, attention to detail and interesting preparations.

Discover more

Popular dish

Steak Tartare

Oswald

4.6

4.6 (1616)

$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

Peter

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Always above average food and excellent service. Always our go to for a date night.

Chocolate the Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (91)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

EddieVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We make a 75 mile round-trip from San Jose to Santa Cruz to eat dinner every Friday night. Been doing weekly since 2018 (pandemic disrupted the frequency but still did take out during that time). Our focus is on the desserts and our favorites are great - chocolate fantasy sundae, warm brownie, sin cake, truffles, Victoria hot chocolate with oat milk - these are chocolate artisan designs with more cacao emphasis than sugar and chocolate aficionados like us really enjoy it. Dinners are great as well - my longest go-to dish was Oaxaqueño Mo'le chicken plate - literally ate that dish for YEARS from 2018 to 2023. Then I 'discovered' their hand-rolled fettucine and salmon dishes - those are my new go-to dishes for 2023 onward. We are not drinkers so can't comment on the choices involving alcohol. Lastly, I read some of the more negative reviews here and respectfully disagree with most of them. The puzzling one is the recurring mention of 'dry' focaccia bread. We get that every week AND we were one of first to enjoy their switch to house-made focaccia bread. I do not find this to be dry at all - for me it's fresh and has just the right amount of moist texture. However, I understand others have different thresholds of dry. Regardless, this restaurant clearly is our favorite as we vote with our frequency of visits from San Jose for years.

Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen | Westside

4.5

4.5 (630)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Savor our handcrafted cocktails and flavorful dishes right beside the distillery where our premium spirits are crafted. Whether you prefer indoor dining, a lively bar atmosphere, or our covered heated patio, we provide a variety of seating options to enhance your experience.

HOURS:
Monday - Thursday // 5pm - 9pm
Friday // 4pm - 9pm
Saturday - Sunday // 11:30am - 9pm

Top review

SusanneVIP

Dined 2 days ago

I love Venus and try to go there as often as possible. Love the drinks. Focaccia bread took forever. At first it was supposed to be to be 5 minutes & I was asked if that was okay and I said yes and then the server moved it to 15 min. After 25 min he came to the table and said it had to be”cooled”. He came 10 more minutes and said it was still cooling. I asked “what is the real story?”. My recommendation would be to just tell the truth from the start!!! I have no idea what was going on but I didn’t like how it was handled… I had ordered a Caesar salad with chicken for my main dish just because I saw focaccia bread on the menu & bread is my weakness. The bread finally came out after we had finished up. I really liked the lady that seated us…she said she was the general manager. We felt so welcomed to Venus when she greeted us.

Discover more

Experience

Celebrate your birthday with us!

Experience

Daily Happy Hour

Pete's Capitola

4.5

4.5 (43)

$31 to $50

Californian

Capitola

About the restaurant

A culinary celebration of California's coastal offerings, and a heartfelt tribute to the late Peter Orr. Founded by Sarah Orr and her mother Mary Ann Orr of Sunset Hospitality Group, Pete's Fish House embodies a deep-rooted passion for community and culinary excellence.

Named in honor of Sarah's father and mentor, this restaurant is more than just a dining experience—it's a reflection of cherished memories and Peter’s larger than life legacy. Sarah explains, "I have been looking for a way to honor him, and this feels like the right way to do that."

At Pete's Fish House, expect a menu that is inspired by the coastal waters and the bountiful local agriculture that Peter was deeply committed to, ensuring a true representation of our region's culinary heritage.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 4 days ago

Our first visit but will not be our last! Warm and welcoming staff and decor. The food was amazing!! From the Dungeness crab tempura and salmon rillets to the Caesar Salad, everything delicious AND beautifully plated. A must visit in Capitola

Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen | Beachside

4.4

4.4 (347)

$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.

HOURS:
Wednesday - Thursday // 5pm - 9pm
Friday // 4pm - 9pm
Saturday - Sunday // 12pm - 9pm

Top review

Michael

Dined 2 days ago

We were quickly seated for our 5:30 reservation, from a friendly person. From attentive wait staff refilling water glasses continuously to a server who checked in frequently enough, but not too much we appreciated the great service. To this point, I believe whoever is training the team they are consistent and effective- since every person we interacted with was friendly and willing to help. Cocktails were memorable and our Pinot was a great outing for the meal. All of the entrees had great flavor and were served timely; temp was perfect and at the same time. Always wonderful to enjoy professional service and exceptional food!

Discover more

Popular dish

Brussels Sprouts

Experience

Celebrate your birthday with Venus!

Experience

Daily Happy Hour

The View, a Treeside Restaurant

4.2

4.2 (1206)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Set high on a hilltop with breathtaking panoramic views of the Monterey Bay, The View Restaurant & Bar at Chaminade offers a unique dining experience. Indoor and outdoor seating allows guests to enjoy the naturally beautiful scenery which compliments the contemporary California Cuisine. Whether it’s sustainable seafood or locally grown produce, The View emphasizes natural ingredients while providing four-diamond service. A 4% surcharge will be added to all guest checks to help cover increases in labor costs and to support a higher minimum wage.

***Please note that our kitchen closes from 1:30pm-2:00pm to prepare for dinner service. Our bar and restaurant remain open during that time, offering a fine selection of local wines, craft beers, signature cocktails, and non-alcoholic refreshments to enjoy.

Top review

Jerry

Dined on Jan 13, 2025

What a beautiful day all around. Had Katcha as a server and we were greeted by Abram. It was very good and the food was super. We can’t wait to come back for the food and the view.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

Explore more Diners' Choice lists