Amazing food & amazing staff! Will definitely be coming back here time and time again

Cavalletta is fantastic! If you are looking to impressed someone, this is the place. It's a cute boho chic vibe inside, fairly large inside and they also had a patio which I loved. We had reservations for 7 pm and upon arrival the restaurant was full - this is how you know it must be good. It remained busy throughout the evening too. They had fun spritzes on the menu, I tried the peach basil one and enjoyed it. It wasn't too sweet at all, was tart and crisp. We started with a special they had running for the evening, it was a halibut carpaccio served with avocado mousse and mandarins. The chef let us know he caught the fish on the beach in Capitola, I thought that was pretty rad. It was super fresh, light and delicious. We also shared the prosciutto pizza as a starter as well, so tasty! Literally everything was so good. The crust was easy to chew and eat, flavors were savory and sweet. For entrees my husband ordered the duck ragu and this was my highlight - wish I ordered this for myself as well! Savory goodness and as the dish cooled down the sauce thickened more. I had the mushroom campanelle because once I read truffle hollandaise I was like I must try this. I love mushrooms so anytime I see a dish with them I'm sold. I wish I could've added steak as a protein with it, but overall a yummy pasta dish as well. read more

See all

That was SO GOOD! Honestly, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. I was going to give them 5 stars... unfortunately we ordered dessert, and the tiramisu was not good at all. It was bland and the mascarpone felt very much like whipped cream. Anyhow, everything else was fantastic and I want to come back to change my review to 5 stars. Can't wait! **** Changed it to 5 stars to compensate for another review I just read. One shouldn't impose their own morality and puritan culture on others. read more

Cavalletta is a hidden gem on Soquel. There are no downsides... other than there will probably be a wait because it is absolutely magnificent. It's the type of place I dream about afterwards... like my mouth waters while I'm thinking about the flavors bursting with each bite. What I love in addition to the food is the impeccable service, which I believe is hard to find these days. I've been to some high-end establishments with tepid service. Cavalletta seems to have hiring down to a Science because we were treated like Kings and Queens from the time we were seated (and were allowed to choose our table and take our time deciding), then were taken the utmost care during ordering and dining while being checked on the perfect amount of times. When I first entered, I thought the decor was a little plain for an upscale Italian cuisine, but once we sat for awhile and got our food, I understood. Everything is plain so the important things can shine: the food and service. Cavalletta doesn't need the extra bells and whistles like some other places. In the end, we got a little cold because we were seated on the patio, so they had no problems moving us indoors to the counter for dessert and coffee. It was perfect. And, again, everyone I interacted with were so incredibly friendly in a genuine way. I loved it. And I loved every bite! The only thing I wished I could change is I wish I wasn't gluten-intolerant!!!! Argh!!! Because EVERYTHING on the menu was delicious, and pretty much everything we ingested had gluten. It was worth all the GI complications (haha), but I honestly wish I could eat there every week! Cavalletta has it all. It's where I'd bring out of town guests, a date, a special group for a celebration, or when I want a fabulous special meal while being treated by excellent staff. read more

See all

Neighborhood feel, delicious beet salad and fresh ricotta! The staff was very friendly !

We had a great visit here on Friday night. Grabbed a reservation around 5:30 and sat on the patio with our dog. We ordered two salads (beet and Cesar) and a bolognese pasta dish. Everything was super tasty! We also got some red wines by the glass which were delightful. The service was efficient and friendly. We left happy and full! Highly recommend the pastas - so fresh and so tasty! Very filling too. Such a great vibe and nice night out. We will be back if we are in town again. read more

Cavalletta Restaurant - Beet salad - New American Near Me - Aptos, California

See all

The food is simply devine! And superb wine list. Cavalletta is relatively a new comer to the Aptos dining scene. However, it has landed with a boom. The atmosphere is classy relaxed. The service is definitely high end. The food is, well, as I stated above... upscale, creative and delicious! Located on busy Soquel Avenue... parking can be tricky. There are a few parking places in front of the restaurant. If it is a first time visit you may want to call ahead for assistance. Some of the neighboring businesses allow Cavalletta parking after they close. The outside of the restaurant is understated with a simple, classy entrance as you walk in. But inside it is anything but simple. You are immediately welcomed by friendly staff. The large dining room has an open kitchen and feels cozy, warm and intimate. I love it. There is a small, inviting outdoor patio. A reservation will secure your spot wherever you want to eat. I have had the absolute pleasure of dining at Cavelletta on three separate occasions during the past six months. Once eating on the beautiful patio and twice inside in the most comfortable cozy atmosphere. Fun! Appetizers rule here. House focaccia, burrata, sea salt and preserved lemon or a wood fire cauliflower dish... TDF. Both eaten to the last morsel. Best caesar salad with killer croutons. Delectable pizzas and pastas. Main entrèes... many choices. I enjoyed a most succulent halibut. You cannot go wrong. Lastly, a big shout out to Katie our energetic waitperson who made the dining experiences so enjoyable. What a Pro! I can hardly wait to return. Cheers! read more

See all

Outstanding food. Some of the best Italian in our area. Made reservation stating, it was our 40th wedding anniversary. Unlike most restaurants, there was no acknowledgment or mentioned by our server who could have been much more friendly. read more

Cavalletta Restaurant - Cavaletta Restaurant - New American Near Me - Aptos, California

So I've eaten here more than a half a dozen times. It's always fun to sit at the bar and interact with all the hard-working staff. Their menu choices are delightful particularly their specials, handmade, fresh pizzas, and other pasta dishes. One of my favorites is the Bolognese pasta. However, tonight, with Evanda's suggestion, I had the bucatini pasta special with shrimp in an herb butter sauce, along with some beautiful sweet tomatoes. This special was singularly the most tasty dish I've eaten there!! The perfectly prepared pasta with delightful and attentive service by Evanda made it a perfect dinner. Many thanks to Chef and the kitchen and the rest of the staff for a wonderful experience. My big hope is that they make this special a regular dish on their menu. I look forward to coming back and sampling more of their menu. Thanks again Evanda for this fabulous recommendation. Molto bene! Grazie! read more

Cavalletta Restaurant - Pasta special of bucatini with shrimp - New American Near Me - Aptos, California

This is my second time here! We ordered the seafood risotto and the special of the day, a short rib ragú, along with calamari as the appetizer. The food is delicious and the wine the others got at the table was very good. Service was prompt and attentive. read more

What a lovely place for a delicious meal! Stopped in while in town visiting my daughter. Service was excellent and the food even better! The chicken piccata was delightfully flavorful and the pizza was very robust. The setting is a large open room with tables and an open kitchen off to the side. read more

See all

Have been here twice now, when they first opened, and again recently. Tried their Margherita pizza and Caesar salad both times. They add what I believe is a broccolini sauce to their pizza, which I haven't seen done anywhere else. Both dishes are very good. Their croutons are delicious, and their pizza crust is very crispy. The croutons were huge during our second visit though, which made them a bit hard to eat. They have a small patio in the back for outdoor seating. Perfect for the warmer weather! Parking is very limited. Service was good, would definitely go back. read more

See all

Cavalryman doesn't disappoint. The food is great. Delicious Cesear Salad, yummy pastas and outstanding tiramisu and I do not usually like tiramisu. Relaxed advice that gives just the right vibe. Good wine list and lovely spritzes. My only complaint is that it is exceedingly loud. Wish it was just a tad less. read more

Food is outstanding and the service was great It was nice to sit out on the patio and enjoy our fabulous dinner read more

Cavalletta is the second restaurant owned by Nick Sherman, whose other restaurant, Trestles, in Capitola, is also a must-visit. Service here was top-notch. From the moment we stepped in, we were treated with kindness and smiles. We were offered different table options, and we opted to sit outside. It was a cold evening, and the hostess maneuvered the heat warmer next to our table to make sure our dining experience would be warm and comfortable. Throughout the night, our server would always ask if we were warm enough. Ambiance - The indoor dining space is open and spacious. On this Friday night, it was packed, bustling with the sounds of friends and family conversing and laughing over their meals. If this night is any indication of other nights - make sure to make reservations, it is deservedly popular! Food - What can I say - immaculate, fresh, savory and delicious! We had: (1) wood fire cauliflower tahini, pistachio, caper salsa verde, raisins GF/VQ (2) short rib rigatoni creme fraiche, horseradish, carrots, tomatoes, pecorino (3) mushroom pizza arugula, mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano V All 3 dishes are memorable. The tahini pistachio sauce for the cauliflower was so good that we were compelled to order bread, so that none of the sauce went to waste ;) The rigatoni pasta was rich, homemade, and perfectly cooked, and the short rib complemented the red sauce with carrots. The mushroom pizza from their wood fire oven was one of the best pizzas I have ever had. The crust was nice and crispy, the fresh arugula topping made the pizza look like an art project, and the centerpiece ingredient - mushrooms were so fresh and flavorful. Every bite was bursting with mushroom yumminess. If you are a mushroom fan, don't pass this one up! Needless to say, we cannot wait to go back to try the rest of the menu! Go now! read more

See all

The food is amazing specials are always delicious. Service is friendly and highly attentive! Restaurants ambiance is laid back and inviting. Great place to wine and dine. read more

Amazing food and great service, every time! Ps. The Cesar salad with this croutons is delicious.

Cavaletta Restaurant in Aptos delivers every time. The food is excellent, and the pasta stands out as the best on the menu--and honestly the best we've had in a long while. The ambience is warm and inviting, making the whole experience even better with amazing service. Strongly recommended. read more

I came to this restaurant because of the great reviews and I heard that this is the sister restaurant to trestles which is one my favorite restaurants (it is one of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz). I'd like to start with the fact I had such high expectations because of that, but unfortunately it wasn't matched. The food isn't bad, it's decent. I'd say that for the price especially it is not worth it. We got cauliflower for the table and it was pretty bland. It lacked flavor and wasn't that great. I personally got bolognese which also sadly lacked flavor. After adding salt and chili flakes, it tasted a lot better. The Cesar salad was pretty good. I personally didn't try the pizza, however, my sister really liked it! She said it came out cold but the dough was amazing. The service was pretty decent, except they didn't come around to refill waters but did come check once or twice. The overall ambiance is beautiful. We sat outdoors which was incredibly warm. We were surrounded by lights and greenery, which was very enjoyable. Overall, I'd say that if you are looking for a good place to eat, their sister restaurant is a better choice. read more

See all

We ate at Cavaletta tonight for the second time in a few months. Delicious! We don't often think Italian restaurants are outstanding, compared to what we make at home, but this one is. Caesar salad can be very run of the mill, but this one was outstanding. Hubby had Malfadine Bolognese and he gave it a big thumbs up. I had Mushroom Campanelle with chicken added and it was fab! Such a great meal. We will keep coming back! read more

Been wanting to try this place FOREVER. Although it was a great experience (server was Katie and she was AMAZING and on top of her game), I'd say the food was just ok-good. Don't get me wrong, there were some dishes that were super yummy, but some were just disappointing. Focaccia - soooo good and one order can easily serve 4-5 people. Caesar Salad - prob one of the best I've ever had. I can easily have that as an entrée, with a side of chicken breast or salmon for protein. This can also easily serve 4-5 people. Cauliflower App - SOOO good. If you don't like your veggies, you will now. One of the more flavorful dishes. Bolognese - shockingly bland. Even I had to salt the dish, and I am generally not a salt shaker. Special Fusilli Pasta - I think this one was vegetarian or vegan and was the highlight of the two pastas we shared. Very tasty.... NY Streak - decent, but note to self, don't order steak when you have options for fresh made pasta. Can't put my finger on what it was, but I just didn't think it was great. Charcuterie Pizza - this was by far the most disappointing of the order. Maybe it was just this particular pizza, but it was nothing short of a pizza you get from a school cafeteria. The crust was not what I expected, the ingredients just seemed to flop like the crust itself. Some side notes: Corkage is $30 (kinda on the high side for this area) Parking can be hard to find, so give yourself some time. There are lots of small businesses that are closed so you can park there at your own risk; lots of signs that warn of a towaway. I would go back just to give it another try. read more

See all

Food and atmosphere were wonderful! Server was very attentive and made the dining experience enjoyable. Also, really fantastic cocktails!

Omg yum! Ive been here a few times now and I can't wait to go back. The pizza is so soooo good. Do yourself a favor and order one for yourself and don't share :-). The salty crust is amazing and I don't even like crust. Really fun to watch the kitchen staff, they are a well oiled machine. Super busy every time I've gone for dinner so make a reservation for sure! read more

See all

Cavalletta Aptos CA Mon 2/17/25 Friends on the quest for great taste! Coastal Aptos & Rio Del Mar! © On the prowl for good eats! California influenced Italian dishes! They call it Italian inspired New American cuisine! Locally sourced! Bistro style array of delicious eats that will leave you wanting to come again, for sure! A wood-fired pizza oven is a center piece in the open kitchen! If you sit at the long wooden bar, you can't miss it! And so we did! Let's do the drinks & light eats! Let's share the bites & admire the tastes! Cavalletta creates a relaxed ambiance & subdued celebratory mood by giving you a modern renovated interior & communal vibe! Come alone, socialize with other patrons, or bring your friends or family, you're met with a smile & welcomed in! We begin with a taste of vino, to decide on a bottle of sparks! Gracious Katie H is pouring Red Sparkling Brut! It's a good unpretentious & unfussy young bubbly Rosé! Silvia Zucchi in Purezza Lambrusco di Sorbara Brut! Denominazione di Origine Protetta Vendemmia 2023 San Prospero Italia Cocktails in my party included a taste of Espresso Martini & refreshing Hugo Spritz! These are special offerings not yet on the menu LOLz. Each is deeply refreshing with dignifying taste! Focaccia to accompany first sips: Stracciatella, Sea Salt, Chives. It's lightly toasted. Stracciatella is like the insides of a Burrata, the milder, cottage cheesey or ricotta-like substance, it's so yummy! Washington oysters special, off the menu, a platter of smaller sized deeper seated in its shell mollusks, with milder softer taste, you've got to give them a try! Here's our thin crust Mushroom Pizza, a simple creation of arugula, mozzarella & Parmigiano Reggiano. Chef Nick Sherman experimented a lot before developing the pizza pie from the dough made with extra fine Italian double zero flour Tipo 00! Wood Fired Cauliflower looks like an elaborate dessert! It's coated in tahini, pistachio, caper salsa verde, raisins, and probably a bunch of secret ingredients I'm not aware of! That Cauliflower dish carried flavor like nobody's business! I honestly thought it was a dessert, a cake of some sort or a torte, when it first came out! I'd say that its main ingredient is not Cauliflower but rather a concoction of sauces it comes covered with! Outstanding! Cavalletta is Chef Nick Sherman's newer creation that was once a pop-up at his Capitola's Trestles, back in 2023, on a Monday night when Trestles is usually closed. Cavalletta, a Grasshopper in Italian, quickly became a staple in Aptos' vibrant cuisine scene! Located on Soquel Dr at a space formerly occupied by Restaurant Malik Williams. Special thank you to Chefs & owners, Nick Sherman & Shawn Ryberg! Nick comes from Napa Valley Cooking School via Napa's Basalt! As well as an array of Wine Country esteemed restaurants like The Farm at Carneros, Redd, St Francis Winery, El Dorado Kitchen, Martini House! Shawn comes from decades as Head Chef at iconic Haleiwa Joe's & most recently, Roy's Beach House at Turtle Bay Resort! And to the entire tram! Gracious Katie H is epitome of smiles! Mille Grazie, Sydney! *A glass of wine, so smooth, so fine, It sparkles bright, like stars that shine! A sip, a swirl, a taste divine, In every drop, a little time! [ Review #830 w 9 pic Mar 4, 2025 ] ~Silvia Zucchi Lambrusco di Sorbara Brut! 49 ~Washington oysters! 21 ~Focaccia: Stracciatella~Sea Salt~Chives! 12 ~Mushroom Pizza! Arugula~Mozz~Parmigiano Reggiano 24 ~Wood Fire Cauliflower: Tahini~Pustachio~Caper Salsa Verde~Raisins 16 ~Refreshing Hugo Spritz! 13 ~Espresso Martini off the menu! 14 ~Fruition Citrosa 9 ~ Facciamo un brindisi! Silvia Zucchi Lambrusco di Sorbara Brut! ~Gracious Katie H is pouring! @Cavalletta Aptos CA Mon 2/17/25 read more

See all

I so want to love this place. Sadly,it missed the mark for us. The ambiance and service were excellent. Restaurant was clean down to the gender neutral rest room. Upon arrival. We were greeted by a lovely host and was quickly seated in the back outdoor patio. It's a quaint patio with a view of the beautiful forest. The patio is outfitted with plenty of heat lamps so there was no concern for being cold. Water was promptly served and we were left to study the menu. The restaurant menu does change depending on what can be sourced so we were disappointed the vegetables primavera we saw on a prior was not offered this evening. However. The chef was very accommodating to one of us who didn't care for mushrooms to make a special campanelle dish instead. We were very excited. So we decided on focaccia and honey burrata, a vegetarian Cesar salad, a broccolini w/ garlic minus the anchovies, a mushroom and a vegetable campanella pasta. This is where they missed the mark. Focaccia arrived. The outside had a nice crust and the flavor was on point, but the center was really soggy. The honey burrata and the Cesar salad was delicious. Now the focaccia croutons weren't too bad in the Cesar because they were harder. Moving on to the two campanelles. Simply put, the pasta was over cooked. See photo. Again, we really wanted to love this place but in the end the food has to be the focus. read more

See all

Nice neighborhood Italian Restaurant featuring wood fired pizzas, pasta and other specialties. Here's what we tried... * Wood fire Cauliflower Appetizer - Whole head of cauliflower roasted in the wood fire oven, dressed with tahini, pistachio, caper salsa Verde & raisins. Great share dish. Unusual and good flavor. * Beet & Citrus Salad - Red beets, citrus, arugula & goat cheese. If you like red beets, this is a decent salad. * Malfadine Bolognese - Wide linguine style pasta with beef & pork Bolognese sauce and cheese. Probably our favorite dish of the evening. Good sized portion, hearty and tasty. * Chicken Picata - A chicken breast & drummette with lemon sauce, served over polenta and broccolini. Good flavor, tender juicy chicken, perfectly cooked broccolini and polenta. (Just be aware it's not really a half chicken as it said on the menu.) Friendly service, including some dishes served by one of the owners, Sean, who was a pleasure to meet. Decent selection of wine and beer, although we happily paid the $30 corkage to enjoy a nice bottle we brought with us. read more

See all

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. And finally made reservations for Valentine's Day weekend! Making the reservations was smooth and easy. We arrived early and were able to be seated right away! The restaurant is an intimate setting. Clean and simple but cozy. Our server was really sweet and helpful choosing items to try. Now to the important part of this review; the food. The food was SO GOOD!! They did have a 5 course Valentine's Day special that looked good but we opted for the regular menu. We started out with the house focaccia and the wood fire cauliflower! Wow. The focaccia was amazing! But the real star was that cauliflower! It was easily the best thing I've tried! Highly recommend!! Main course was the prime New York steak and the bucatini cioppino. I had the cioppino and it was phenomenal! Had a good little spice to it and was loaded with seafood! The bucatini tasted fresh like it was house made! I was stuffed but once our server told us the dessert options we made room! We got a berry cobbler with an oat topping. I forgot what it was called but it was so cozy and comforting! Yum! Everything was great! Food, service, ambiance. 10/10 Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!! read more

See all

Excellent food with perfect portioning. I had a grilled calamari salad that had all the right textures and balanced brightness. Focaccia was dense but airy, super with the luscious burratta. It's a sexy space, accessible with different seating options. My only complaint was that inside is loud with hard surfaces, so challenging for our older hearing impaired companions. read more

Ambience: upscale casual -- you can wear jeans. A main dining room, open kitchen and a few bar seats, and a cool outdoor patio with heaters when needed. After three visits, I'm comfortable giving 5 stars. Standouts: meticulous wood fired pizza, pastas, vegetables. Don't miss the Brussels sprouts if they're on the menu. Start with a good cocktail. Service is friendly and fast. Took friends twice and everyone was happy! read more

Caveletta was a pleasant surprise and a genuinely good restaurant. The standout dish was the Bolognese pasta, which was absolutely top notch--rich, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. It was the kind of dish that sticks with you after the meal. While everything we tried was solid, the Bolognese alone is reason enough to come back. It clearly shows the care and quality coming out of the kitchen. Definitely a place worth returning to, especially if you appreciate well-executed Italian food. read more

If you happen to be in the mood for a nice dinner after surf fishing for strippers, halibut or surf perch off Sunset or Manresa beaches consider this little place in Aptos. Very efficient and attentive wait staff. Menu is a little limited but it. But it covers all the bases the dishes are done to perfection. The house focaccia was great, probably some of the best I've had. I had the Caesar salad and it was hands down the best I've ever had. Wine list is extensive and honest. There was a great selection with some nice local wines and some fun Italian varietals from Piedmont, Tuscany and Sicily. I had the Windy Oaks Pinot Blanc at $12 a glass and it was perfect with the prawns diavolo. Hard to find a good Pinot Blanc in California but this local winery does a great job with it. As good or better than the Oregon varietals that make up most of the market. Corkage at $30 is too high but I guess that is a personal gripe of mine. Just say keep your own damn wine at home. We're going to charge you $50 to $75 a bottle for a $20 to $30 bottle of wine whether you like it or not! Will be looking forward to going back maybe when Salmon season opens back up in September for a few days. read more

Cozy and lovely outdoor setup with great service and delicious food. I definitely recommend this place We had margaritas pizza very delicious, Malfatti bolognese very delicious, Ceases salad very delicious and wood fire cauliflower was missing salt and sauce. read more

See all

Surprising Gem hidden on Soquel. Get reservations. It was Busy (on Monday night) We had the fresh catch - which was halibut. Cooked to perfection and steamed vegetables and sauces were subtle, tasty and unique. Bolognese was really good as well. Sauce was excellent flavor. Closer to what you would get in Italy. Pork and Beef. Also had the beet salad. Big serving, but small to share. We saw Ceaser salads being shared, those looked larger. One of the specials was a one layer Lasagna. we did no get it (thought it was wierd), but other tables did and I personally regretted not getting it. It looked amazing. read more

We had the cauliflower salad. It was amazing. We then shared a pizza and it was delicious. My husband had wine that he stated was excellent. It was our first time there and we will definitely go back. The service and ambiance were perfect! read more

See all

The service is excellent The different piazza's & salads are delicious Do give them a try , you will not be disappointed read more

Fabulous Service! Appetizers, entrees, drinks and desserts were great. Ambience was nice but very noisy hard to have a conversation, so you enjoy the food and happy patrons and staff read more

The food, the service and the ambiance is spot on! Sit at the bar and watch the chefs do their magic!

I've dined here half a dozen times over the past few years, and the food and service has been exceptional every time. Growing up in an Italian family on the East Coast, my wife and I don't often go out for Italian--since I frequently cook gourmet Italian meals for friends and family--but Santa Cruz County has plenty of options, and I still find myself coming back to Cavaletta. read more

Best Pizza in the AREA Quality service and location. We enjoyed the atmosphere and price point. Give this place a chance and enjoy!! read more

Cavalletta is a great place for a cozy dinner. The margarita pizza is amazing! All the food is incredible and really fresh tasting. Good cocktails too! read more