Best Open Kitchen Restaurants in Aptos

Never disappointed when dining at Cafe Cruz…we were celebrating our anniversary and were offered a complimentary glass of bubbly…the mahi mahi was cooked to perfection and I think they have the best salad menu in Santa Cruz.

A very solid/reliable spot. My fries were fantastic. Sounds basic but a well executed french fry served in the right way is remarkably uncommon. My burger could have use a bit more mass on the patty and less on the bun but was overall good. My date had the scallops and she seemed to quite enjoy them. Cocktails here are solidly above average. We sat away from the bar and enjoyed a pleasant ambience; lively but not loud, so that we were able to have a conversation easily. For whatever accidental reason we just hadn't been there in a while. We'll be back.

A truly memorable experience with a delicious unique menu. The entire staff was top notch. The bolognese and pineapple panna cotta were some of the most flavorful items I can recall ever eating but everything was great. Definitely recommend, especially compared to any other places in the area. And sit at the chef’s counter!