Hey guys,

Any good places near Santa Cruz with good oysters, or just fine dining recommendations for lunch/diner? Or an oyster bar? Going to the boardwalk and being a beach bum, want to take a friend to get good oysters too.

Thanks!

 

bump for this. i want to know too. everytime go to santa cruz dont know whats there to eat.

 

go to the wharf next to the boardwalk. if your comming from the 17, take the mission exit. then make a right onto mission, then make a left on bay. It should take you thru a long section of residential housing, but you know your going the right way if you hit a dead end wall. Make a left at the wall and go straight. you'll see ticket booths where you can drive in and park for like $3 or something. Theres a fatass line of restruaunts to the right. Pick anyone you want, they all have great oysters.

 

this place is always good:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ristorante-a...7vNUoNBwNarxVA
not sure if they have oysters right now but worth a shot.

There is also soif:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/soif-wine-ba...VpQ/query:soif

Or just search yelp for oysters in santa cruz:
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc...nta+Cruz%2C+Ca

 

i dont know about Oysters but heres a list of where and what i like to get:

Wharf:
Rivas (nice inside) Crab Sandwich Calamari Clam strips mmm and Gelato bar.
Gildas (family dining inside) Good Crab Sandwiches and the one of the best Clam Chowders IMO
Olitas at the end for Mexican food that is pretty good.

Id stay away from Miramar, basically like a seafood Dennys

Santacruz:
Taqueria Vallarta of course (probably the best Burrito, chips and Salsa you will have in the area.
3 locations, Downtown Pacific Ave., Soquel Ave. and Felton at the main intersection on Hwy9 (after a good mtn drive, dont try it before one LOL)

Kiantes Italian Downtown SC has some good modern Italian, world champion pizza dough spinner works there too, good show.

Thats all i can think of. Im at work right now in MV and this heat is making me so jealous of people at the beach GRRRRRRRRRR its like 85 right now!

 

If you havent left yet DONT TAKE 17!!! it might be ok now, but find a different way. It was packed from Lexington all the way into Los Gatos as i came to work today around noon.

Everyone has the same GoToTheBeach ideas, and they cant drive more than 45mph past the turns!

 

http://www.shadowbrook-capitola.com/ FTW!!! (girlfriend's uncle is the head chef )

 

don't forget to ask if they have any "rocky mountain oysters."

 

you dont have to go up to santa cruz for bomb a$$ oysters. if your ever in SF, hit up SWANS oyster bar. I think its on Polk and California street. Its always pretty busy so the best time to go is about 2 pm in the afternoon. Everytime I drive by there, the line is out the door and half way down the block.

 

I was at the boardwalk today, but didn't get to hit up the restaurants on the wharf. But there are several good restaurants out there.

 

I've only been there once. I had the calamari steak with the caper and creme sauce. OH GOD. It was only $14, I think? I just remembered I didn't want to spend that much and that was the cheapest thing on the menu. This one had huge flavor. The tenderness was perfect on that slab of calamari. I've never had calamari in a nice big flat slab.

 

Taqueria Vallarta... I don't know why people are so in to that place. I think it's bland. I'd rather get a burrito and planet fresh. Or head up to any of several better places close by or go to watsonville.


as for oysters. I don't know. Hope you found something.

 

Yeah i agree, I just like it because its consistant and you cant really go wrong. I just hate going somewhere and having to force myself to eat what my $6 turned into.

Planet fresh is great. Morenos ive had hit and miss. also some place on Mission by UCSC looked better than it actually was.

LOL the place by boardwalk bowl facing the volleyball sand and arcade area... You know when they dont sift out the good/bad meat good enough? well...it felt like i had a pigeon toe in my mouth and yeah. It happens

 

haaaaaaa. very true.

Palamar tacos are killer. La Cabanah in soquel is awesome too.

 

Thats right, i forgot about Palamar. Great place to change it up...havent been there since ive been 21, they have the tacos and beer special ive heard on the radio.