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Reserve a table
2
Tue, 19/03
20:00
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours
CUISINES
American, International
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service, Highchairs Available
Reviews (280)
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276 results
Traveller rating
134
102
31
7
2
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
134
102
31
7
2
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All reviews rotisserie chicken crab cakes onion rings garden room two sides wonderful dinner plenty of parking
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Reviewed 5 January 2024 via mobile

Lots of menu choices and good portions. We enjoyed taco salad, lobster bisque was uninspiring. Service attentive and good bar.

Date of visit: January 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 30 November 2023 via mobile

My family of 5 had the greatest lunch in years. All 5 of us loved our meals. My wife had a mushroom burger and my son and I had calamari sandwiches. So good. Our daughter in law and close friend had shrimp and beet salads....A very memorable lunch in Soquel.More

Date of visit: November 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 6 September 2023

Quite a poor experience. Despite having an outdoor patio, the restaurant does not allow dogs outside. One of our party is gluten-intolerant and we had to ask for a special gluten-free menu in order to figure out what dishes she could have. I got the...roast chicken - it was bone dry and the outer layer of meat was crisped to a jerky. The mashed potatoes were lumpy and sticky and the fresh vegetables were almost crudite tough. I ordered a sauvignon blanc, but I could have sworn they gave me a chardonnay.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 12 July 2023 via mobile

I live in Palo Alto and I am frequentmy in pajaro dunes in Watsonville. This restaurant is what every restaurant should be. It is just well cooked, fresh ingredients, cooked well. It’s it my favorite restaurant outside of San Francisco by far. It has seasonal...fresh ingredients. It is Consistent. The menu is straightforward and there are always at least 10 things I want to order. It’s efficient. Friendly. The cocktails are good and on the cheaper side. Wine list is perfect with lots or local picks. They KEEP IT SIMPLE. They care. Every single restaurant should be like this. Its on a busy street across from a strip mall and looks like it could be closed from the outside but inside it has a terrace and and lively warm atmosphere. Go out of your way. To eat here. I do every time I am on the coast. You feel like you are at home.More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 28 February 2023

...and the headline is about the size of the dining area, both inside and outside. Generally plenty of parking. The menu is interesting and we enjoyed crab cakes, a blackened chicken sandwich, and fish of the day, all graciously served.

Date of visit: February 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 February 2023 via mobile

I chose this restaurant because it has a large outdoor patio but when I arrived, I was told that my dogs were not welcome. What a travesty in a town that prides itself in being dog friendly

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 August 2022

We went here for the first time last night. The patio dining has a lovely atmosphere and there are plenty of heaters if you get bit chilly. Our waitress was OUTSTANDING! Such good service, spot-on recommendations, and so friendly. We shared the shaved Brussel sprouts...for an appetizer - yummy! My husband and I had the halibut special and it was delicious. Our friend had the rotisserie chicken - it's a half chicken! And very delicious. It comes with two sides and is quite a good value. We also shared a couple of desserts which were very good. We are new to the area but will definitely be returning to Cafe Cruz!More

Date of visit: August 2022
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Reviewed 22 July 2022 via mobile

This restaurant has an amazing atmosphere. The food was very good but not great. I do recommend the onion rings…phenomenal!

Date of visit: July 2022
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Reviewed 21 April 2022

We sat in the garden room that was delightful! I had the filet which was excellent. The service started out good, but slipped as they got busier, but I would certainly return. They served bread with oil and vinegar which was a great way to...start the meal.More

Date of visit: April 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 26 April 2021

I struggled to choose between 4 and 5 stars for an overall rating. The only ding in my review was due to a frustrating lack of nearby parking. I went with 5 stars only because the stunningly high quality of the dining experience made up...for the parking situation. The atmosphere is lovely both indoors and outdoors. We ate in a garden-themed patio with plenty of overhead heaters to keep us comfortable on a slightly chilly afternoon. Note that social distancing, mask-wearing, and other safety practices are handled expertly by the staff. Everyone in our party of four (2 adults, 2 teens) felt safe at Cafe Cruz. My fried calamari steak sandwich was spectacularly good. The calamari was meltingly tender and fried to golden perfection, served crispy and hot atop a bed of fresh vegetables, creamy avocado slices, a tasty tartar sauce, and a soft, fresh brioche bun that kept structural integrity after each bite. The hand-cut, well-seasoned french fries were made from unpeeled potatoes and double-fried at progressively higher temperatures to ensure a creamy interior and shatteringly crisp exterior. Others in our party marveled at the crispy housemade potato chips, which arrived warm and free of grease. The chicken-pesto and grilled fish sandwiches were also big hits. As a final note on this restaurant, the service was friendly and efficient. One sign of a great eatery is when the servers talk enthusiastically about the dishes and the cooking techniques used to prepare them. We enjoyed our experience thoroughly because of this, despite the problematic lack of parking.More

Date of visit: April 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 12 April 2021

Don't get me wrong! I love Cafe Cruz! The staff has always been accommodating and it has one of the nicest patios to dine on. With the pandemic, all of these lovely restaurants have been struggling and so thankful this one was able to open...again recently. Now to the complaint...we dined there Friday night and by chance, we were seated at the best spot on the patio-in front of the fireplace! Very romantic. We immediately recognized our waiter as we have been dining here for several years. We ordered one of our favorite appetizers, the calamari, and were very disappointed with it's flavor and texture-limp and mushy. We have always considered Cafe Cruz to have some of the best prepared calamari. We also noticed that their entree menu has been downsized. Two of us ordered steak and both were over-cooked, although they were both order medium rare. Also, no one came around to refill our water glasses...we were there for awhile. Again, I emphasize, I love this place! Perhaps they are cutting back on the menu due recovering from the pandemic? Just curious if anyone else has noticed changes there?More

Date of visit: April 2021
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Reviewed 9 April 2021

The parking was quite limited as the next door businesses have signs-no parking for Cafe Cruz. Some had to park across the 41st avenue in the Home Depot parking lot. We had reservations at 1pm. We had to wait for at least 15 min and...had our lunch at 2pm. My blacken chicken sandwich was excellent. Our table server did an great job. I gave the lower score due to the parking situation and the wait despite having reservations.More

Date of visit: April 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 March 2021

We came here for a bd celebration. We ate on the patio and it was a perfect day to sit outside. The salads and burgers are great. The server was excellent and food is superb! I normally come for dinner, but we came here for...lunch. The bd surprise was delicious. They brought 2 spoons for my friend and I!More

Date of visit: February 2021
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 6 March 2021 via mobile

The food and drink is superb. However be aware they are now seating some folks behind the restaurant in a very cheaply encircled bit of former parking lot on cheap metal chairs. We have been living in Oregon for a few years now but used...to live in Santa Cruz and always loved Cafe Cruz. And decided to finally take a road trip ! decided on Cafe Cruz for our 17th anniversary dinner as we passed thru this area. Booked a table for ‘courtyard’ and told them it was an anniversary... but on arrival they wished us happy anniversary and then we got shown to the parking lot. ! I got mad and went back to protest I did not want to have my anniversary meal in a parking lot. Asked why my ‘courtyard’ reservation was not honored. Was told ‘we can’t guarantee seating’... I stood there until the gal sheepishly said she could offer their ‘garden room’. Which we accepted. Meal and service was fine after that but beware !More

Date of visit: March 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 October 2020 via mobile

Superb dinners, went for Moms 86th birthday, and had a separated table due to Covid and a limited menu but wow.... really great food and a good meal and dessert. Great service dispute the Covid restrictions

Date of visit: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Cafe Cruz, Soquel - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Cafe Cruz

Yes, Cafe Cruz offers takeaway services.

Cafe Cruz is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4