Gabriella Cafe

4.7

978 Reviews

$50 and over

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 24, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 2 times today

Good for special occasions
Charming
Romantic

Zagat rated as "OUTSTANDING". Gabriella Cafe is a 50 seat, picturesque and romantic dining experience in downtown Santa Cruz.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian, Californian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:30 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:15 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(831) 457-1677
Website
http://gabriellacafe.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Gema Cruz

Location
910 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Cross street
Church Street
Parking details
Parking Garages are very close
Entertainment
Come listen to the acoustic jazz guitar on Thursdays and jazz vocals (no amp) on Fridays.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

House Marinated Olives$7.00
Pan Amore$9.00
goat cheese, arugula pesto & roasted garlic
Crispy Rodoni Farms Brussel Sprouts$9.00
apple gastrique & toasted hazelnuts
Rodoni Farms Grilled Artichoke$9.00
lemon aioli
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus$15.00
tallegio & balsamic reduction
Quesadillas$9.00
oaxaca queso fresca & epazotas

Salad

Roast Beets$12.00
honey pistachio puree, arugula, candied citrus & goat cheese
Gabriella Caesar$11.00
lemon boquerones emulsion, croutons & reggiano
Farmers Market Lettuces$10.00
balsamic vinaigrette, red onions, carrots & avocado

Pasta

Housemade Pappardelle$17.00
rustic bolognese & reggiano
Porcini Gnocchi$18.00
cream sauce, carrots, spinach, asparagus & reggiano
Butternut Squash Ravioli$18.00
truffle honey, kale, apples, walnuts & goat cheese
Tagliatelle$18.00
tomato sauce, calabrese sausage, cabbage, leeks, chili flakes & reggiano

Entrees

California Sea Bass$27.00
cream pipian sauce, carrots, romanesco & polenta
Grilled Sonoma Quail$19.00
market vegetables, mashed potatoes & romesco sauce
Organic Duck Confit$19.00
apple gastrique, kale, carrots & mashed potatoes
All Natural Pork Mole$21.00
cabbage, carrots & potato croquets
California Lamb Shank$24.00
herb chimichurri, cabbage, carrots & potato croquettes
Allen Bros Angus New York Steak$32.00
porcini cream sauce, grilled asparagus, carrots & mashed potatoes

What 978 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
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

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
Healthy
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Neighborhood gem
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for fine wines
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Romantic
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Gabriella Cafe in Santa Cruz is a charming spot with "delicious food" and a "lovely atmosphere." Ideal for brunch, lunch, or dinner, it offers a menu of fresh, thoughtfully crafted dishes inspired by local ingredients. While service is generally "attentive and joyful," some guests noted occasional delays.

978 Reviews

B
Beth
VIP
San Francisco
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food and service were great! We shared the focaccia bread, the arugula salad and the mushroom ravioli with chicken apple sausage. All were excellent. I recommend this restaurant.
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L
Liz
Portland
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on December 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful meal. Each dish was delicious and nicely presented. Service was good and the atmosphere is lovely, good for groups or a romantic evening. Standouts are the roasted cauliflower and the salads. Fish and meat perfectly cooked. Highly recommended.
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M
Melinda
Palm Springs
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our whole dinner was delicious from the appetizers to the dessert.
Is this helpful?
S
Stacey
San Francisco
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Arrived a few minutes early for our Thanksgiving reservation and were finally seated at a "temporary table" 30 minutes after our reservation time. Twenty minutes later moved to another table. Our requests from the prix fixe menu were taken and drinks were served. Thirty minutes later, our entrees (course 3) were brought out. We explained we had not yet received our 1st or 2nd courses. They apologized and 15 minutes later we received courses 1 and 2 together. The entrees they brought out were the originals they had tried to serve us earlier so dried out on top on scalding hot plates. First two course tasted great. Entrees and desserts were not great. An 18% tip was automatically added and no apologies provided. We so wanted to love this experience but it was definitely subpar. At least those 3 hours were spent with people we love.
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a
adrianna
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service and outstanding food! I also love the ambience. I highly a recommend Gabrielle café.
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R
Robert
Central Coast
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I recently dined at Gabriella Cafe in Santa Cruz and was impressed. The gnocchi, served with a spicy tomato sauce, sweet autumn squash, and generous slices of Parmigiano Reggiano, was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. The roasted Brussels sprouts with apple gastrique were crisp and caramelized, with just the right hint of sweetness. Gabriella Cafe nails locally inspired, thoughtfully crafted dishes—highly recommend!
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S
Sandra
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Gabriella Cafe never disappoints! The food was excellent as always. I rarely go out for dinner, but if I do, Gabriella Cafe is the best and maybe only restaurant in Santa Cruz and maybe beyond.
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S
Sandi
VIP
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Visited during Restaurant Week. My duck confit was fantastic and my friend's risotto w/kombucha and veggies was perfect. Dessert of flourless chocolate cake and apple crisp were the also very good. We will return!
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D
Dogan
VIP
San Francisco
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on October 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food and service (despite it being restaurant week and therefore quite busy at prime time on a Saturday night): OpenTable reservation I had made somehow didn't take, but the hostess found us a table for two anyway! Food was great as ever (beat salads for both, pork shoulder, yellowfin tuna, choc torte and apple cobbler). We've been going to Gabriella for years and top quality has never wavered. Way to go, Paul and staff!
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t
tricia
Central Coast
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on October 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food was excellent, of the highest quality and cooked to perfection.
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FAQs

Gabriella Cafe offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (831) 457-1677.

Gabriella Cafe is rated 4.7 stars by 978 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 24, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

910 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Church Street
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:30 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–2:15 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian, Californian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Parking Garages are very close
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Gema Cruz
Entertainment
Come listen to the acoustic jazz guitar on Thursdays and jazz vocals (no amp) on Fridays.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://gabriellacafe.com/
Phone number
(831) 457-1677

Gabriella Cafe

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Starters

House Marinated Olives$7.00

Pan Amore$9.00

Crispy Rodoni Farms Brussel Sprouts$9.00

Rodoni Farms Grilled Artichoke$9.00

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus$15.00

Quesadillas$9.00

Salad

Roast Beets$12.00

Gabriella Caesar$11.00

Farmers Market Lettuces$10.00

Pasta

Housemade Pappardelle$17.00

Porcini Gnocchi$18.00

Butternut Squash Ravioli$18.00

Tagliatelle$18.00

Entrees

California Sea Bass$27.00

Grilled Sonoma Quail$19.00

Organic Duck Confit$19.00

All Natural Pork Mole$21.00

California Lamb Shank$24.00

Allen Bros Angus New York Steak$32.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Gabriella Cafe offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Gabriella Cafe restaurant rated?

Is Gabriella Cafe currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information