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Crow's Nest Restaurant

3.4 (2.7k reviews)
Closed • 7:30 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago
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CROW'S NEST RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Crow's Nest Restaurant

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Kevin L.

Located right off the docks of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, parking is limited and difficult to find. The ambiance was quite hectic and crowded. The upstairs was a pretty nice area though. I didn't stay long enough but it seemed like there was going to be live music playing too. Food honestly isn't bad. The fries were solid. Cripsy and soft. I really liked the Aloha Palmer. Overall Crow's Nest makes a solid gathering place for a big group of people.

Pear and Gargonzola Salad
Jeff T.

Santa Cruz has many great places to eat a nice dinner. Consider them all then eat at the Crow's Nest, our harbor goto for over 30 years. My partner, J does something similar with her entree selection. The steaks look good, our waitress suggests the Halibut with the Chardonnay Cream sauce served over polenta but after due consideration she orders the Sand Dabs. Again. As she always does. I enjoyed the Halibut and J the sand dabs but we ended up swapping plates to get both of us a bite of each entree. We brought in a Bargetto 2024 Viognier from an earlier in the day tasting which complemented both dishes and finished with a rich Ollaliebery pie slice ala mode. Pro tip: Get a window seat a couple of hours before dusk on a midsummer night and watch the boats entering the harbor at sunset. Who needs variety when the standards are served so well!

Prime rib sandwich
Stacey W.

I enjoyed the all you can eat salad bar while the rest of my family ordered entrees. We sat outside and looked out at the ocean and had a wonderful time. Everyone was happy with the meals. We continue to come here for the views and the salad bar. Bread and butter is also served at the table and the staff is friendly and attentive.

Birthday Mud pie!
Genie O.

5 star service and ambiance. 3-4 star food. They certainly have the location and are an old school marina restaurant. That means heavy woods, typical seafood, steak, crab cakes and salad bar menu. We had their complementary mud pie for a birthday - again good though not great. Ordered the grass fed rib eye burger, medium, but had to send it back for a re-do. Grass fed often comes out dry and this was no exception. But if you're paying $30 for a burger I figured we should be happy with it. Our server Gabriel agreed and the second one was much better. Gabriel was friendly, efficient and we certainly would ask for him in the future. Crab cake was decent, as was the salad bar. My martini was good sized and I made my own bleu cheese olives via the salad bar bleu which was a nice touch. I'd come back again to try out the Happy Hour and upstairs.

Eggs Benedict
Corinne J.

Visited for brunch with a friend around noon on a Sunday and was able to get a table outside on the patio. I want to acknowledge that we showed up during a rush period and it was clear that the servers were being sat multiple tables at the same time, so the service was slow. Typically I would be more critical of that experience because everything was delayed but our server was nice and we weren't in a rush. I love eggs Benedict and order it as much as possible and this one was solid. The eggs were fluffy and the hollandaise was well made. My friend really enjoyed the variety of the salad bar as well. All in all a good experience and I would visit again. I would give the experience a 3.5/5, so I'm rounding up.

Front
Jennifer D.

My boyfriend and I planned a little overnight getaway to Santa Cruz and stumbled upon this cozy hidden gem. The atmosphere was classy, relaxing, and the view was absolutely beautiful. The service was outstanding! I wish I could remember our server's name--she had shoulder-length dark hair and such a bubbly personality. We were there on Thursday evening (7/23/26). I think her name may have been Kaylie. She truly made our experience even better. The food was delicious! We both had the prime rib, and it was cooked perfectly. I'd rate it a 4.8 out 5 (only because a little too much fat)--very flavorful and definitely something I'd order again. Parking was a bit challenging, but that's honestly the only minor downside. If you're planning to visit, I highly recommend requesting a table on the patio. We didn't this time, but after seeing the view, we'll definitely do that on our next visit. Overall, it was a wonderful 5-star experience from start to finish. Thank you for a memorable evening--we'll definitely be back!

Junsheng X.

Came here to check out a well known spot near Santa Cruz. Great views as expected given its location, but it was overall disappointing Salad bar was great! But that's about where the story ends Got the special Prime rib and it was oddly tough and flavorless. Other people at my party for the swordfish, and it was...not great. Pretty expensive too so won't be returning personally

Aloha Palmer
Robert W.

We got there Sunday after 7pm for happy hour. I got an aloha palmer and smoked salmon. If you dont get these appetizers during happy hour you are blatantly getting ripped off. The taste of the smoked salmon was pretty good but it came in cubed pieces instead of the typical slices. The aloha palmer was refreshing and nice and the service was good! I just cannot in my good conscience direct people to this establishment because of its blatant price gouging, no matter how beautiful the view is from the deck.

WOW!! The restaurant downstairs was closed because it was like 3:15 PM and instead of waiting until 4:30 PM when they opened, we came upstairs to the Bar & Grill, checked the menu and decided "OK, well ... let's have a calamari & fries and eat dinner later". We had a window table with a beautiful view of the harbor entrance, and watched all the boats coming and going and took pictures and video as well. Melina our server was incredible. All the other staff are awesome. The food was fantastic, and now we don't even have to eat dinner so five stars thanks to all the Crow's Nest cast and crew and cooks!!! VERY highly recommended!! We will definitely be back and if the restaurant's closed, don't even sweat it. Come upstairs, it was great!! Sincerely, Lary James The Always Outdoorsman Shooting Sports Instructor Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Free Firearms Safety Training Personal Protection Home Security & Defense Member: The NRA & CRPA / CRPA Silicon Valley https://home.nra.org/ https://crpa.org/ https://crpa.org/chapter/siliconvalleychapter-home/ Staff Advisor to: The Golden State Second Amendment Council https://www.gs2ac.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GS2AC See also: Steve Hilton for Governor https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com/ Liberty Forum https://liberty-forum.org/ Silicon Valley Association of Conservative Republicans Conservatives for Action https://www.svacr.com/ Bootstrappers Breakfast https://www.meetup.com/Bootstrappers-Breakfast-SV

Fish and Fries
Sarah G.

Everytime we go to Santa Cruz we stop here. I'm partial to the bar menu which is different than restaurant menu. Food-drinks-views never disappoint.

Chicken Azteca***

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Ask the Community - Crow's Nest Restaurant

Is friendly with service dog?

No it is not

Does the Crow's Nest offer validated parking?

No, they don't own the parking lot.

Does the downstairs dining room have a dress code for dinner?

Semi-Casual is best. I dont think you would be turned away for beach/casual attire but it is a more formal setting so at least semi-casual so you are comfortable

Do I need to make reservation for dinner or walk-in is available?

Walk in is available

During covid do they still have happy hour upstairs?

Yes.

Patio dining available?

They do have an "enclosed" (glass walled) patio to protect from the wind. They did currently seat inside also.… 

Does the Crows Next have an elevator to the second floor?

Yes

Do I need reservations for Sunday brunch? Party of 4...

If you don't have reservations it'll take you a little longer to be seated. But well worth it. But call

What is the difference between upstairs and downstairs and which has the live music?

Upstairs is the bar with live music. You can order and eat upstairs in the bar as well - a bit more casual, as you would imagine. . Downstairs is the "formal" dinning room.… 

Is the patio dog friendly?

No dogs allowed

How often do they have live music, if any?

http://www.crowsnest-santacruz.com/live-entertainment/

Does Crow's Nest have local craft beer on draft?

Yes, they have a decent selection

Are they open Thanksgiving Day?

Yes

Can anyone tell me if I am allowed to bring my dog to this facility?

I echo the prior service animal answer and I also saw a dog on the deck/patio during my visit. In summer months there is a weekly event every Friday with outdoor music and food so presume dogs are permitted on the Beach. Of course, your best and… 

View All 17 Questions

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The Water Street Grill - complimentary fried mash potatoes

The Water Street Grill

4.1(845 reviews)
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We were (desperately) looking for a restaurant to have dinner with our kids & young grandchildren…read morewhile visiting the Santa Cruz area. We were told at a place we had previously chosen it would be an hour wait, I called Water Street Grill and the young woman who answered the phone told us no problem!, we will have your table ready. It's a small place but, oh my gosh, the food and the hospitality were amazing. Our hostess was an absolute gem! Thank you Zayda, for a wonderful dinner. You are a gem! If you're are debating about eating here - have dinner here! It's a cozy, relaxing atmosphere with great food and wonderful hospitality!

The water street grill was a nice little hole in the wall. It is quite small but in a cozy way…read morerather than cramped. The service was excellent and the servers make sure you are well taken care of all the way through. However, some of the food items were hit or miss. We started off with the calamari appetiser which for 18 dollars was a bit disappointing. It was greasy and a bit chewy, lacking flavor as well. Then we ordered our mains which were the garlic steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes and the new york with prawns, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. The new york was beautifully cooked however the garlic steak was slightly overcooked yet still marinated wonderfully. The mashed potatoes were really good but the roasted potatoes were rather gummy and a bit lukewarm. The asparagus were some of the best we've ever had. We also ordered a side of garlic bread with mozzarella but it was more akin to a ciabatta bun with shredded cheese on top. Overall some of the food was incredible, and some was lacking, but the service was amazing.

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Matthew provided outstanding service. Food as always is…read moreexcellent. Whenever we're in the area it's a must stop for dinner. You have to put this on your "TO DO" list.

Trestles has been the first $$$ restaurant in the Monterey Bay region that I have enjoyed and…read morethought was worth spending my money at. Don't get me wrong, it is pricy, but the food is good, creative, and memorable. They also brought out the starters one by one in a great order that I really appreciated. (1)Ceviche 2) pork belly 3) squash blossom 4) toast) 10/10 for: -squash blossom stuffed with crab: this was fried. loved that it was. Nice light batter that was crunchy. Crab was so good and fresh. I wish there was more than just 2 blossoms because we definitely could have just kept going. -pork chop entree special: so juicy!! the variety of flavors were so good. The corn mousse was delicious and not too sweet. If you wanted more sweetness, the au jus tasted almost like honey on the plate. Squashes were perfectly cooked and light to balance the flavors of everything else. Great grilled taste too. -peach toast: just great!! Sweet and a little savory from the buttered toast. Nice palette cleanser almost before our entrees 9/10 for the creme brulee: solid. Fun creme brulee top but very thin layer. The sauce was like a tart apple caramel that nicely balanced the sweet and creamy cake. 8/10 for: -pasta entree: fresh pasta was soo perfectly bouncy and soft. Sauce was balanced and light. Nothing crazy but I liked it. Partner thought it was a bit normal -pork belly starter: very flavorful and yummy but can be a bit salty on its own. Partner and I wish we could have had some mashed potatoes, bread, or white rice with it but then it would probably be more of an entree very good though! Eggplant sauce was lovely even for those who don't like eggplant normally. This also had mushrooms. 4-5/10 for the tuna ceviche because it mostly just tasted sour. I liked the cherry tomato and basil addition, but it needed some spice or more tomato and basil to balance out the sourness of the lime. this was the only dish I wish we didn't get I'd recommend this place for a nice date night! There is a small patio outside. I think they MIGHT accommodate pets out there. There is also a small elevator lift for those who need an accessible way up. Otherwise, you'll have to walk up a few steps. Kitchen is in the back but in an opened lay out. You can see them cooking everything if you sit at the bar or facing that way. Probably better for small groups or couples rather than a large party. We made a reservation at 7 and were seated promptly. Seemed like a full house all night. May need to wait a bit for walk in parties.

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There was a short line when we arrived, but they do a great job of keeping things moving and…read moregetting people seated quickly, which we really appreciated. The food here is always fun, fresh, and consistently good. We shared the carnitas omelette with sourdough toast, and it was excellent--lots of flavor and a perfect start to the morning. We also had a couple of Irish coffees, and the homemade whipped cream definitely put them over the top. Another huge plus is the dog-friendly patio. Our little guy Milo was very happy to join us for breakfast--and maybe even happier when some bacon came his way. Great food, friendly vibe, efficient service, and a patio where we can bring the pup. We'll definitely keep coming back!

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4.0(150 reviews)
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i've lived in santa cruz for four years now and this has been my absolute favorite restaurant…read moreduring this time. as this chapter of my life is closing, and i'm getting ready to start the next, i just knew i had to come again and bring my partner who has never been in before. for starters, all of the staff we interacted with were very kind. the host sat us promptly and handed us over to our server, cassandra, who thoroughly impressed us with her impeccable memory of all the specials, provided great suggestions, and gave us even greater service throughout the evening, and also enzo who kept our table so nice & clean! the weather was so perfect, we just had to sit outside! it was nice to see the restaurant so full and lively on a weeknight. the flow of business was so consistent, you just know something is being done right here! now, the service & ambience were great but we really came here for the food and the kitchen staff did not hold back. i felt like i was living through an episode of chef's table. while i always switch up my entree, my go to's at avanti are the olives & focaccia paired with an espresso martini. i've had an embarrassing amount of espresso martinis but this is still the best i've ever had. the bread and olives were divine, but so too were the salmon cakes we ordered on a whim. they were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside! next, we shared the new york steak and ricotta ravioli. the steak was wonderfully tender and the potatoes that came with it were truly nature's gift to humanity. the ravioli were also so tasty my partner had to physically restrain me from licking the plate clean but the final boss was really the dessert. i've actually never had dessert from avanti but i was feeling especially glutinous and ordered two -- the lemon tart and the butterscotch budino. the lemon tart was subtly sweet and effortlessly zesty and i'm so glad we tried it, however, the butterscotch dessert truly sent me to flavortown and i'm not coming back! (i'm probably coming back) thanks avanti!!

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Avanti Restaurant
Avanti Restaurant - My delicious cucumber strawberry margarita that wasn't too sweet and had so much flavor!

My delicious cucumber strawberry margarita that wasn't too sweet and had so much flavor!

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Crow's Nest Restaurant - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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