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Bittersweet Bistro

3.1 (585 reviews)
Closed 3:00 pm - 9:00 PM

Bittersweet Bistro Photos

Business Info

BITTERSWEET BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Bittersweet Bistro

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Outdoor seating
Tamara P.

While visiting Aptos we found this gem of a restaurant and I am so happy we did. It was a weeknight so it was not super busy. The service was fantastic! We were greeted right when we arrived and seated in a window seat that was somewhat private. We ordered the Housemade Focaccia Bread to start that was topped with sea salt & extra virgin olive oil; whipped butter and the roasted beet salad with feta cheese, pickled bermuda onion, candied walnut, organic mesclun greens & honey-dijon vinaigrette. For entrees we ordered the Pan Seared Sand Dabs cooked in white wine, lemon, caper beurre blanc; seasonal vegetables & mélange of rice. This dish was so flavorful and would absolutely order again. We also ordered the Halibut en Papillote which is baked in parchment paper over a bed of spinach, tomato, zucchini, yellow squash, kalamata olives, roasted bell pepper, exotic mushrooms, artichoke, fresh herbs, garlic, shallots & EV olive oil. The presentation alone is worth the order but the flavors of the halibut combined with the perfectly cooked vegetables made the dish my favorite. We absolutely ate every single bite. To finish we had the Lemon Tiramisu which is Lady fingers soaked in housemade limoncello, lemon mascarpone mousse, topped with lemon curd, crème anglaise & amarena cherry sorbet. The presentation was almost too beautiful to eat but alas we dove right in and finished it all. It had the perfect balance of sweet but not overwhelmingly sweet. The sorbet was the perfect compliment to the lemon. Overall we had a wonderful dinner and would visit again if we came back to the area.

Dexter F.

It's been a long time since I have dined at the Bittersweet Bistro. On this visit, my Company held their annual dinner. They held it in a private back room with a full bar setup with wine service too. Three course dinner featuring a Garden Salad, filet mignon and crème brûlée. The service was impeccable and friendly.

Vibrant fishes in the pond outside! @Bittersweet Bistro Aptos CA Fri 12/27/24
Grey R.

Bittersweet Bistro Aptos CA Fri 12/27/24 On Rio Del Mar Blvd! One very bright Friday in December! Sunny & warm at the coast! Several of us stopped by for drinks! © Here with friends after taking care of some business in the area! You can't help it but feel celebratory in the beautiful Santa Cruz area, Capitola, Aptos, coastal Rio Del Mar, where ocean proximity offers the best of the sea-meets-relaxed-lifestyle! In comparison to Silicon Valley's stresses, it feels almost remote here, yet it's only a hillside away from the valley's intensity! In a beautiful koi pond, just outside of your stone and stucco building, the happiest vibrant fishes sparkle & dance in the water, displaying bright red and yellow! You wanna join the human size teddy bear Santa by the bar? You can do it here! Straight to the bar counter we go, spacious and inviting to relax and quench that thirst! Classy Mahogany bar is hard to pass by. Let's go! My rye whiskey, but of course! We ordered several cocktails, one of those was French Lemon Drop! Chitchat with the bartender Cliff! Excellent service! Bittersweet Bistro is a staple recognized by locals, one of top spots in Santa Cruz County & in Aptos's Rio Del Mar enclave. It's a New American classic with Mediterranean twist! I savored my rye! Overall the WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye 6 Years has a nice sweet profile! It complements the dominant rustic and spicey notes. Good all around, it's a versatile whiskey! Works equally well in cocktails or in a glass by itself, just like I have enjoyed it! It features a 100% rye mashbill, a solid 96.56 proof. Delicious Lemon Drop, made to order, I carry a recipe given to me years ago, by a true professional. It comes out strong & citrusy refreshing! Very good. Time flew fast with a great conversation! On to the next stop! Arrivederci Bittersweet! Until we meet again! * Cocktails and dreams give them to me I said, oh, oh, oh I'm begging you please Give them to me Cocktails and dreams Cocktails and dreams give them to me [ Review #817 w 4 pics Jan 21, 2025 ] Vibrant fishes in the pond outside! Santa's waiting to make U company! My WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye 6 Years! Exceptional French Lemon Drop! @Bittersweet Bistro Aptos CA Fri 12/27/24

Pizza and friends are all we need in life!
Lauren T.

I'm so fortunate that I was able to travel to Aptos and try Bittersweet Bistro! A family owned restaurant with amazing owners. Elizabeth is the BEST! Thank you for your hospitality, the servers were attentive and Cliff is an amazing bartender. We were a big group and we felt right at home. The pizzas made fresh every day were delicious (and the Togo boxes are so cute). Now for the best part, the DESSERTS oh my goodness, all super yummy. My favorite was the lemon tiramisu yum yum yum, the berries add a nice touch. I really can't wait to come back. Thank you all for everything.

Chocolate mousse  Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse

Bittersweet isn't just the best restaurant in Santa Cruz, it feels like family! The food here rivals (and honestly beats) some of the top spots I've tried in Vegas. The chef is always rotating the menu with the seasons while still keeping the classics we love. And let me just say--this is the only place in town that can make a proper martini. The energy and ambiance are unmatched. We love grabbing the seats at the end of the bar where you're right in the middle of all the action. The owners truly care about their customers and their staff, and it shows in every detail. Don't miss the oversized mousses (big enough for 3+ people), and some of my go-to dishes: the spaghetti and meatballs, the burger, caviar bumps, arancini, and honestly almost every salad they serve. I've never once left this place hungry! Santa Cruz is lucky to have a gem like this. PS Say hi to Cliffy the bartender when you are there!

Local Halibut Crudo. AMAZING.

Our experience here was wonderful. Yes it is pricey, but the food and drinks are exceptional! Worth it for a nice meal if you're in the area.

My 40 dollar scallops
Lindsay C.

My bittersweet bill. The place had a nice ambiance, but they seem to be aiming for an upscale vibe with upscale prices, yet they have plastic chairs outside, which felt out of place. When we walked in, one waitress was arguing with another, saying, "Well, I have the most tables right now," which created a contentious environment. We ordered two appetizers, including a Burrata salad that was essentially just a whole Burrata with a bit of cucumber and lettuce underneath. For $20, the four of us each got barely a bite. The clams were okay, but nothing to write home about. My husband got an $11 mocktail, which was pricier than the $8.50 beer. For the main course, my friend ordered the piccata, and another friend had the short rib. Both dishes had the same sauce, which was basically a pool of sauce with a side of meat. It was unappetizing. My husband and I both ordered a $40 entrée, which consisted of three small scallops and a tiny portion of potatoes and spinach. We finished our meal in maybe five bites. The portion sizes were tiny for the high prices. Our total bill was $240. Next time, I'm going to Shadowbrook, where I can pay the same prices but actually have an upscale experience. Overall, I was extremely unimpressed with this place and won't be coming back.

Happy Hour

Good service, ok drinks, great desert, good entrees, expensive, also hood appetizers.

Menu
Jonathan B.

Summary: wide range of entrees, quality ingredients, pricey, large outdoor patio Details: Bittersweet has a gigantic outdoor covered patio; in fact, there are two. During summer 2022, almost everybody was eating outside -- it's loud! If you comfortable with it, you'll have a better experience inside. Cornbread: special starter. Filled with candied jalapeño, sweet pepper, and roasted corn. I enjoyed it but it's messy to eat. Cod: blackened with a hint of ginger. Served with sautéed spinach & au gratin potatoes. Light so perfect for a warm summer eve (which occasionally happens in Aptos). Solid dish worth getting again. Gnocchi: pesto truffle gnocchi with chicken, served with zucchini & squash. Can drop the chicken to make it vegetarian. Just the right amount of garlic. Seafood Puttanesca : a slew of seafood with fettuccini. The chili and anchovies gives it a good kick. Generous portion. Blackberry cobbler: special dessert. Very fresh. Large enough to share. One word: delicious. Another word: disappeared. The chef apparently used to be a pastry chef so the desserts might reason enough to try Bittersweet. Raspberry lime aid: a substitute for the normal strawberry lime aid and I think it might be even better. There's a wide variety of interesting mixed drinks and a solid wine list. Our server, Jacob, was helpful and engaging. When one of our dining party was worried about food allergies, he did the research. My chief complaint: price. Things in CA have gotten expensive but Bittersweet seems over the top. It's not for me to judge but it does keep me coming back as often as I might otherwise.

Pan Seared Scallops and Prosecco

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1 month ago

Great spot, fantastic bar. Love bringing the dogs and sitting in the patio. Blue cheese olives are hand stuffed.

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7 months ago

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8 months ago

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3 months ago

Meh - nice patio. Dogs allowed. Noticeably Weird vibe between owner and staff. Pretentious:

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7 months ago

We hosted my daughter's rehearsal dinner. The food was outstanding. The service was excellent. We were very pleased with the experience.

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2 years ago

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Business owner information

Photo of Elizabeth V.

Elizabeth V.

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1 year ago

Good food, but ridiculously expensive. Market price for skirt steak at $59!! Yikes. 2.5 stars from me.

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7 months ago

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9 months ago

The food was great, served at an appropriate pace and the bar tender (Cliff) is awesome!

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Ask the Community - Bittersweet Bistro

Some one rumored that Bittersweet has or is about to close. Is that true?

No this is not true. We are OPEN. Hope to see you soon.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Mentone - Pizza

Mentone

(411 reviews)

Took my mother here years ago; the restaurant has been consistently on-point (i.e. great food,…read morecustomer service, etc.) Always a must if you seldom visit Aptos Village.

Lovely restaurant with fabulous service. Homey and comfortable yet still a little fancy. Open…read morekitchen, high ceilings and an Italy-meets-France vibe. I loved it. Offerings were diverse and plentiful. Once again, I was struck with wanting all of the things. My server was accommodating with my request to taste two different white wines and two different reds throughout my meal. I opted for the Chardonnay to go with the special halibut crudo, which was outstandingly prepared. The fish itself was a bit on the fishy side (especially for halibut) but I don't fault the restaurant. The treatment of the fish was perfection. I'm a bit of a Caesar salad aficionado and considered skipping Mentone's mostly because I'd just enjoyed one the night before. But I just had to try it and I'm glad I did. It was certainly not traditional but it was very well made, even better with the added anchovies ~ although I did suffer some sticker shock when I got the bill and found that those little fish were $2 each. Ooof. Switched gears to some Pinot Noir and went for the ricotta sage browned butter ravioli, which were fabulous. I probably should have stopped there but ordered the tiramisu and it was a miss for me. Just way (way) too boozy and totally lacked balance, although it was pretty. All in all, a very nice experience ~ although very pricey for a single diner. Appetizer, salad (with the pricey little fishies), entree, dessert and two 5-ounce pours of wine left my wallet $185 lighter (with tax, tip and 4% kitchen wages surcharge). I know everything is very expensive these days, but whoa. Definitely a special occasion kind of place!

Bittersweet Bistro - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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