American Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.476.4560 Steak and seafood restaurant. Ocean view and full bar that's a favorite of locals. $$ Hindquarter 303 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.7770 Americana. Ribs, steaks and burgers are definitely the stars. Full bar. $$. The Portola House 3326 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.476.2733 Steak and seafood. Chock-full of steakhouse classics that satisfy the primal primal food urges in everyone. Dinner nightly from 5:30pm. $$. Walnut Avenue Cafe 106 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.457.2307 American diner. Fresh ingredients, friendly service and a complete lack of trendiness. $$ Zachary's 819 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.0646 American. A breakfast tradition that meets and exceeds expectations. Try the Mike's Mess. $ Bistros Gabriella Cafe 910 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.457.1677 Bistro. Offbeat combinations and superb desserts. $$$. Oswald 1547 E. Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.7427 Bistro.Downtown Santa Cruz' gem of a bistro reinvents the taste of the seasons with all-star menus and fresh inspiration. $$$ Pearl Alley Bistro 110 Pearl Alley, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.8070 Bistro. Unpretentious, tasteful and convivial bistro with seasonal menus. $$$. California / New American Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola, CA California Continental. $$$. Swordfish and other seafood specials. Dinner Mon-Thu 5:30-9:30pm; Fri 5-10pm; Sat 4-10:30pm; Sun 4-9pm; lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am; brunch Sun 10am-2:15pm. Blacks Beach Cafe 2-1490 East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.475.2233 California cuisine. Cafe comfort and nonstereotypical vegetarian-leaning cuisine. $$. Casablanca Restaurant 101 Main St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.9063 California/New American restaurant. Landmark dining room showcases the skills of Chef Scott Cater and company. Classic filet mignon. $$$ Chaminade One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.475.5600 New American restaurant. The seafood buffet hosts salads, cheeses and fresh vegetables, oysters and prawns, and hot entrees. $$$ Clouds 110 Church St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.2000 American, California-style. With a great bar scene, casually glamorous setting and an attentive waitstaff. $$ Peachwood's Grill & Bar 555 Hwy 17, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.6333 California cuisine. Trusty offerings of prime rib, various steaks, seafood and pasta cater to a wide range of taste buds and are served in an attractive dining room. $$ Sea Cloud 49-B Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.9393 Contemporary California, seafood. Freshly grilled seafood, pastas and salads. $$$ Caribbean Rosa's Rosticeria 493 B Lake Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.479.3536 Caribbean, seafood, rotisserie. Cuban, Creole and Caribbean dishes have edged out the formerly Mexican-intensive menu. Beer and wine. $ Chinese Charlie Hong Kong 141 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.5664 Asian street food. Big bowls of rice or noodles stir-fried with veggies and/or meat, Southeast Asian po boy sandwiches and more. $ Dynasty Restaurant 3601 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.479.3388 Chinese restaurant. Full array of stir-fries and sizzling platter dishes. Cantonese dim sum on weekends. $. Mei Garden 533 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.1687 Chinese restaurant. Finessed Szechuan and Cantonese classics at great prices. $$. O'mei 2316 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.8458 Provincial Szechuan restaurant. Chinese favorites with fresh, light presentation. $$ Szechuan Garden 617 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.2574 Szechuan restaurant. A neighborhood Chinese restaurant with a friendly staff. $ Coffee Houses Chill Out 860 41st Avenue, Santa Cruz Ca 95062; Tel. 831.477.0543 Coffee and tea served at this unique coffee shop. Crepes The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.6994 Crepes and more. Featuring the spinach crepe and Tunisian doughnut. Full bar. $$ Greek Vasili's 1501 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.9808 Greek restaurant. Taverna-style specials from horiatiki salad to roast lamb. Plenty of spunk and friendly atmosphere. $$. Indian Royal Taj 270 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.2400 Indian restaurant. Complexly spiced Indian dishes are served in a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere. $$ Irish Rosie McCann's 1220 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.9930 Irish Pub & Restaurant. Informal pub fare with reliable execution. $$ Italian Al Dente 415 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.466.0649 Italian restaurant. Pasta prince Lucio Fanni cooks with a gift for garlic. $$ Caffe Bella Napoli 503 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.7401 Italian restaurant. Fine appetizers, seasonal produce and exceptional pastas. $$$. Carniglia's 49A Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.3600 Italian/seafood restaurant. Provides culinary depth without tourist-fare condescension. $$. Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.0135 Italian restaurant. Always delicious, often inspired Mediterranean cookery. Eclectic wine bar and seasonally inspired menu. Rotating wine-tasting flights every night. Lunch specials Monday-Friday 11:30-2pm. Open Sunday-Thursday until 9pm, Friday and Saturday until 9:30pm. $$ Ristorante Italiano 555 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.2321 Italian-American restaurant. Lasagnas, pastas, scampi in generous portions. Full bar, patio dining. $$ Star Bene 2-1245 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.479.4307 Italian restaurant. The restaurant draws its menu from the owner's and chef's roots in Italy's Calabria. $$ Zoccoli's Pasta House 431 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.1717 Italian restaurant. Zoccoli's provides Santa Cruz with its own Mediterranean mecca. $$ Japanese Benten 1541 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.7079 Japanese sushi bar. Benten delivers the goods without a lot of fuss but with good quality for the price. $$. Mobo Sushi 105 S. River St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.1700 Japanese/California sushi. Straight sushi and tempura combined with California cuisine. Full bar. $$. Shogun 1123 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.469.4477 Sushi. Exceptionally fresh ingredients and large portions. $ Sukeroku Restaurant 1701 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.6660 Japanese restaurant. Dynamite sushi and a substantial listing of Japanese culinary favorites. $$ Mexican Acapulco Restaurant 1116 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.7588 Mexican restaurant. Traditional Mexican favorites like steak piccata and chile relleno suiza. $ El Palomar 1336 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.7575 Mexican restaurant. Consistent authenticity, bold flavors and freshly made dishes--specially the pozole. Lively bar, wide margarita selection. Lunch and dinner daily. $$. La Mission 1719 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.3564 Mexican restaurant. A neighborhood establishment with no gimmicks, on-target cooking and authentic flavors. $. Pizza Engfer Pizza Works 537 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.1856 Pizza. Wood-fired oven produces pizza in two sizes with a wealth of toppings, including 100 percent vegan pies. $. Tony & Alba's 817 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.8669 Pizza. Inventive pizza specials are supplemented by pastas, soups and salads. $ Pubs Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.426.2739 Coastal brewpub. Burgers, clam chowder, grilled eggplant and red pepper sandwiches plus the brewery's assortment of microbrews. $ Seafood Gilbert's Seafood Grill 460 Municipal Wharf. Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.5200 Seafood restaurant. Perfect for dinner dates, Gilbert's specializes in fresh flavors, generous portions of grilled fish and modest prices. $$. Riva Fish House 500 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.429.1223 Seafood restaurant. Riva offers a traditional seafood house menu complete with a sleek interior and terrific view. $$ South American Costa Brava 1222 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.7871 South American restaurant. Costa Brava explores the cuisine of Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and Peru. Full bar. $$ Thai Jitlada 107 Leonard St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.420.1688 Thai restaurant. Nicely made classics include silver noodles and superb satays. $. Real Thai Kitchen 1632 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.427.2559 Thai restaurant. Real Thai does southern Thai curries simply and well. Spicy duck curry is a destination dish. $ Sabieng Thai Cuisine 1218 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.425.1020. Thai restaurant. Frangrant and fiery Thai classics such as Peak Gai Krob, Pla Rad Pik and Pad Thai. $$ Thai House 353 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.458.3546 Thai restaurant. Offering chicken and eggplant, and a spicy prawn salad and more. $$ Wine Bars Soif Wine Bar & Merchants 105 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA Extensive wine bar and gourmet dining. Live jazz Tuesday and Wednesday. Open weekdays until 11pm, bar open as long as customers are still drinking. Wraps Asian Rose 1116 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.7906 Asian restaurant. The emphasis is on inexpensive, vegetarian dishes like Sri Lankan spring rolls, tempeh stir-fry and Gado Malabar. $ Planet Fresh 1003 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, CA; Tel. 831.423.9799 World wraps. No-lard, low-cholesterol, low-fat and low-sodium multicultural burritos, tacos and tostadas stuffed with unique and tasty fillings. $.