Best Oysters! Chef Jeffrey has curated a culinary menu utilizing the freshest ingredients. Whether land or sea, you will experience a great meal. Sky and staff cannot be more welcoming and service oriented. Santa Cruz Harbor MUST STOP! read more

Came here with some CO workers right at noon on a Friday. Excellent service and amazing views. Felt very authentic. I grabbed a mai tai IPA which was perfectly chilled and crispy. And for my main course was their lobster roll. Good lobster roll but was missing a nice buttery touch (my preference) otherwise assembled nicely. Would recommend this lunch spot any day read more

Johnny's Harborside - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This place has officially earned a top spot on my list. I hadn't stopped by in years, but after hearing about the new chef and refreshed menu, I figured it was time to give it another try -- and I'm so glad I did. I've already been back twice this week because everything has been consistently excellent. The space is bright and spacious, with a great bar area and plenty of seating. Whether you're there to soak in the Santa Cruz harbor views or catch a game, the atmosphere works for any mood. The staff makes the experience even better -- welcoming, attentive, and genuinely warm. We were lucky enough to have the same server both visits, and she was fantastic. The happy hour is a standout and definitely worth planning around. My personal favorite so far has been the crab sandwich -- packed with flavor and perfectly done. My husband can't stop talking about the house burger from the happy hour menu. The fish tacos are also a must-try. Great selection of local beers on draft, relaxed coastal energy, and overall just a fantastic comeback visit. Highly recommend. read more

High quality seafood restaurant on the water. We visited twice on one trip. I ordered fish tacos the first time (a bit dissatisfied with amount of fish and toppings) and I wanted to get the Shrimp Louis salad with Black Cod my husband ordered the first time. Wow, the cod was cooked to perfection and skin was crispy with a wood smoke flavor. Shrimp was perfect with a hint of lemon. Might be one of the best salads ever. The fish sandwiches looked pretty amazing - might be a third trip in my future! read more

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One of my new favorite spots! I had not been to Johnny's in several years but decided to revisit when I heard there was a new chef and a new menu! I've been twice in the last week, because it's just that good! They have a large open dinning room and bar. Whether you want to appreciate the harbor view or a game on the TV, they have you covered. The hosts and servers are friendly, attentive, and kind. We have had Cameron serve us both times and she is just lovely. The happy hour can't be beat! So far my favorite item has been the crab sandwich (regular menu) and my husband's favorite is the Jeffreys burger ($10 HH). The tacos are also delish! Lots of local beers on tap too. Incredible vibes, well worth the revisit! read more

Johnny's Harborside - Happy Hour Menu, as of Jan 2025 it's offered everyday! - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Showed up at 3 PM for happy hour and we were told to sit anywhere we like. We picked a corner table with views of the harbor. The server dropped off menus, but only for lunch. Once we asked, she gave us happy hour menus. I'd recommend their happy hour. They have well drinks, wine, and what I thought was a decent selection of local beers. Prices will change with time but we paid $2 per fresh oyster, $5 beer and the rest of the menu was also reasonably priced. The calamari was crispy with nice flavoring and not overcooked. I enjoyed the touch of including pieces of fried jalapeños. We weren't sure about Jeffrey's burger, but it exceeded our expectation. Only thing that was a little meh were the fries; they were limpy but we liked the old bay seasoning. Only miss was showing up exactly when happy hour starts, being seated, but not being asked or offered a happy hour menu despite a huge sign outside that says happy hour from 3 to 6 Monday through Friday....lol. read more

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Very disappointed with the Weiner Wednesday hot dog I got. Weiner was not even warm, Mac and cheese that was on top....there was no sign of cheese. It presented as macaroni with mayonnaise or some unknown white minimal sauce on it. Please don't say mac & cheese unless it's really mac & cheese, I was so looking forward to this meal and was very disappointed. I thought this was a top notch chef. If this is how he serves mac & cheese, it's laughable. There is nothing more disappointing than mac & cheese that is not smothered with cheese. read more

My first time here after getting two recommendations. Came in for Mother's Day and they were able to fit in my party of 8, which was awesome. We got there around 4:30 and were told we'd need to leave by 7, which was completely fair. Our waiter was really nice and attentive, and the food came out pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the food itself was just mid and didn't really impress me. I also ordered the hibiscus tea with a double shot and it honestly tasted like medicine. I might give this place another shot and with a smaller group, but overall it just wasn't the experience or food I was hoping for. read more

First time dining at Johnny's Harborside on a Sunday and visited for the cioppino. My friend raves they have some of the best and visits often to dine and place an order to go. Ordered the fried calamari and cioppino to share but told they were out of the calamari...hmmm it's Sunday lunch and seemed odd so went with our 2nd choice of crab cakes. Panko crusted with a crispy exterior (not greasy) flavorful, but a tad salty. What I thought was interesting was each crab cake was presented split in half...hmm, as if checking to see if it was cooked all the way through? Looking at other Yelp pics, it seems that way! We were a party of 2 and never had crab cakes halved. The cioppino was not the best I've had and lacked flavor, tangy and mainly of stewed tomatoes...squid was rubbery and overcooked but all other ingredients of fish, mussel, clams, shrimp were fine. Friend said this was the first time she was disappointed so either a new chef or off day. Overall, a ***3.5 stars *** Staff friendly, welcoming and attentive but the food was just "ok" this visit but open to trying again. read more

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This place the most friendly and helpful servers 5/5 for service! It had a beautiful view of the Santa Cruz harbor with all the boats. The decor was eclectic. The best dish was the scallops with polenta and grilled onions and carrots 5/5 The shrimp scampi had way too much pasta and not enough flavor 2.5/5 The beet salad was also plenty full but the beets were too tart or pickled - I was underwhelmed with the poppyseed vinaigrette 2.5/5 Not many people were eating here, so it was easy to get a spot. read more

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Came here today for lunch, food was great as always. We were served by Cambell and she was wonderful, attentive, and provided great customer service. read more

A fantastic spot. Oysters were delicious, calamari had a good taste and texture, and clam chowder was light with small chunks of potatoes and clams. I was delighted by the food and friendly service. Lil pricey, but the view is worth it. The atmosphere this restaurant creates feels very "by the sea" and I adore this establishment. Even my margarita was good! Don't skip out on the warm bread and butter. read more

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Chef Jeffrey Wall, formerly at Alderwood, is crushing it again at Johnny's! You can tell when you walk into a full restaurant at 4:30 PM for HH & Taco Tuesday!!! Solid Baja style fish taco & Fillet Mignon + Bone Marrow Taco were excellent!! read more

Johnny's Harborside - Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish! - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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First time at this restaurant. I made a reservation for four (we had out-of-town guests visiting), but it wasn't necessary. The place wasn't busy when we came for a late lunch. Our server was friendly and eager, though sometimes a little slow to notice when we needed something. The vibes were "elevated fish shack" with awesome views of the harbor and all the boats. The crispy fish tacos were delicious with grilled pineapple in each taco. They didn't come with tortilla chips, though (chips were shown in a lot of Yelp pics). Other people in our group had the Dungeness crab sandwich, which was a hit. The only downside was that the already pricey sandwich didn't come with fries or a salad. That was $6 extra. Seemed steep for fries. Overall, the beer selection is great, the service was friendly, and parking was plentiful at the harbor. read more

Another fun meal and this time for Weiner Wednesday. Didn't take pictures but had fun hot dog creatively made. It was huge with many levels of flavors. Ended up splitting it and a salad. We love taco Tuesday too. Service was great. If you haven't been check it out. read more

Location is lovely, great harbor views. Really kind and attentive staff, enjoyed the fantastic service. New menu. Got the mussels and fish & chips. Delicious. 10/10 would recommend. Park in lot and pay or free parking on street. Full bar. Honestly great. read more

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Went there for Burger Week. Arrived around 5.45. The place was not busy, I counted 7 tables occupied. The table we choose at the window was dirty and had to be wiped down. (no big deal). We ordered 2 beers (one of them in a bottle) which took 15 Min to arrive. Cooking and waitressing staff was ample and gathered around the bar area. The Burger (!) came 20 Min later, while my husbands fish tacos took 15 Min. The waitress did not know the price of the burgers featured, not was the price displayed on the flyer on the table. 70 bucks we left laughing, but will never return. read more

My wife and I stopped in here for lunch today. Everything was so freaking good! We started with clam chowder, Garlic bread and fried calamari. The chowder was so rich and delicious. Amazing. The bread was fresh and delicious as well. Fried calamari were perfect. Next she had the Fettuccine Alfredo and I had the fish tacos. The fish tacos were the best fish tacos I've ever had. I'll definitely order them again. The fettuccine was fresh and satisfying. So lovely. Our waiter was on it. He never let my glasses sit empty. I wish I asked for his name, but I have a feeling everyone who works there rocks. I highly recommend! read more

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The food was decent. Salads were very good. Service was very nice and quick Location was great right in the middle of the harbor and the actual restaurant building was beautiful read more

We were craving fresh oysters and decided to try our luck at Johnny's. The oysters we ordered were fresh and delicious! We also ordered fried calamari and the batter was rather salty, but we were able to mitigate the saltiness with lemons. Our server was attentive and the food came quickly. It's a pretty spacious restaurant with tables that had window seats to look out to the water, so that was nice. read more

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We ordered the daily special of raw oysters--absolutely delicious! We also tried the fresh halibut, brought in straight from the boat; it was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. Their appetizers are always creative, and while the execution sometimes varies, they get high marks for originality. We don't frequent places that feel redundant, so this spot keeps us coming back. Service is consistently good, and the view of the harbor is spectacular, making it a fun place to enjoy beautiful summer days. The vibe is casual, with a lively bar full of regulars. For parking, there's a paid meter conveniently near the restaurant, with an additional machine at the far end of the larger lot. If you have some extra time, walk down the harbor on the other side to visit the lighthouse (see photos). read more

Johnny's Harborside - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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OK, so I stumbled on this restaurant while looking for fresh fish while work traveling. It totally reminds me of a restaurant out of a movie. I walked upstairs and you could tell there were locals frequenting, which is awesome just to see as part of the ambience. The bartender came and greeted me as it looked like he was working The tables and the bar since I was only one of two groups at a table. He explained and described the fresh fish, which I had. It was a fresh snapper with a peppercorn cream sauce. It was amazing! The view was awesome. I would totally recommend this for a fun lunch with a group, happy hour, casual dinner. Great job guys I took a picture of my meal and I didn't save it and I'm so bummed because it would've been the best to add to this review. read more

Amazing! The new menu is so good and we love the happy hour food when we can get there. Taco Tuesday is a must!!

Love the friendly feel of Johnny's and the food is fantastic! It's great that they have happy hour even on the weekends. The host, the servers, the bartender, everyone is so welcoming. read more

Okay Johnnys has totally revamped itself and now has my favorite burger in town. The cheese and onion jam on it sheeeeesh it's so good. According to a little birdie, the old Alderwood chef is now at johnnys and so the burger is basically the same SO GET IT!everything else was really good too. Need to try the chicken sandwich but it was sold out. read more

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The perfect Bayside restaurant for a special night out. The food is always excellent as is the service. No complaints whatsoever. Highly recommended. read more

Taco Tuesday is a Must! The Classic Marg, well that's something else! Delicious! We enjoyed our rainy day Tuesday at this lovely location! The perfect place for a rain storm! read more

We used to like to come here but quality has slipped. My Caesar salad tastes like they squeezed on some fake lemon juice. Fish and chips were not much better. Small amount of fish not much batter. Fries were oily. On the way out used the restroom and there were no hand towels to dry my hands off. Young man waiting on us did a good job but most of the staff not friendly. Will not return. read more

13 years ago I gave them a great review but this time not so good. We walked in for dinner around 5. Seated right away. First thing the waitress came over and gave us our menus. We ordered an appitiser. Later she came back with no food. She took out dinner order really talking fast. The....nothing. We waited for the appitiser, we waited for dinner...nothing. Then saw her tending bar. She never came back. Nobody checked on us and It was stuffy and hot. So, we Walked out. It has a veiw but it is stuffy. The menu is over priced and the service is a joke. It's a no for me. We walked down to the crow's nest. Much better there. read more

Great food and harbor views! I've been there a few times and the food is always fresh and prepared perfectly. The waitress is very efficient and direct, so know what you want to order. If your entire group is not ready ask for more time. We ordered: Fresh Oysters (4 stars) I always ask if the oysters are small, the large briney ones are not for me, but fortunately they had the small ones. They were very fresh, sweet, chilled and separated from the shell making them very easy to eat. The menu says they serve it with horseradish & their house mignonette, but I only saw lemon & the mignonette. The mignonette (3 Stars) was ok, it didn't have any finely chopped shallots or other stuff, just the flavored vinegar. A little room for improvement. Fried Calamari (4 Stars) The calamari was perfectly fried along with fried jalapeno slices, nice touch. They serve a good amount of bodies and tentacles. I love when they have the tentacles. They served it with some lime and a poblano chili sauce which was really good. Fish and Chips (5 Stars) The fish was so fresh then battered and perfectly fried. They also let the oil drain off then served on top of chips. The chips/fries were really good, crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Their home made tarter sauce was really good. Loved the combination of malt vinegar, tater sauce and the fish, what a great bite! Until next time... read more

My Wife & I have been to Johnnys two times now & we have had the best experience both times. Cam are waitress was sweet & professional, the manager was very outgoing & the chef came to the table to explain his inspiration for the entrees. The restaurant vibe was just perfect. The fact that are meals got caught hours before serving was amazing. I could keep going on & on. As we are not local my only complaint would be that it's so far away but one thing for sure is every-time we visit anywhere with in a 100 miles we will visit Johnny Harborside. read more

The new chef and owner are doing a fabulous job! Food was delicious snd our server Lyle was so attentive and enthusiatic! We shared the caesar salad(very nice) and the grill avocado (yummy!). My husband had the tempura dungeness crab sandwich and added fries. I ordered the double burger without the aioli. We both agreed they were really tasty but very rich! Fries were great too. Lyle told us about 2 other menus: happy hour Tues-friday 3-5 pm; and Taco Tuesday. Both should be posted on their website because everyone should know about them! Happy hour had some amazing deals on food and drinks and taco tuesday features a whole bunch of different tacos which all sounded so good! We're so happy to have gone back to Johnnys and will definitely be regulars! read more

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The food was the most spectacular ever!!! So much flavor and so fresh!!! I may never go to another restaurant in Santa Cruz again!

This is a cozy neighbourhood kind of place. Sit at the bar, have a drink. Service is great. People are really nice. The food is very expensive. A non starter for us. But still, come for a drink. read more

Edit: They contacted me and offered to refund us for the two crab meals we did not order. Glad they stepped up! Lied to at Johnny's!! Went to Johnny's Saturday night to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. We both ordered the Caesar salad and a beer with a baguette on the side. We asked if we could add a small side of crab on the salads. Crab was listed as a special, so it sounded yummy. Our waitperson, Robin, said sure, but she would have the crab put on a separate plate as it had a little liquid in it and she didn't want it to get too much on the salads. We said thanks! We received our beers, then salads and the salads did not have any crab on them. Then we received two orders of baguette delivered by a different person-- we asked why two orders and she said that Robin told her bring them. After ten minutes or so no crab had been delivered, so I asked a different waitress again (Robin was bartending at this point) and she said the crab would be delivered soon. Well~~ it was! Two orders of the $50 special crab dinner was soon delivered! Two orders!!! $100 dollars worth of crab dinner that we did not order!!! I told the waitresses who delivered the crab dinners that we did not order this. They just shrugged their shoulders, put the food on the table and walked away. It was absolutely astounding! Because my friend used to work in restaurants she is much more forgiving than me about being lied to at a restaurant~ this was entirely our original waitress' fault! She should have explicitly verified what she was selling us..... what we ordered is not what we got! And to think they sold us two orders of the crab dinner was shocking! She even apparently apologized to my friend~ sort of..... not actually for overselling us something we did not order, but because I got mad about. Just a bunch of bull..... read more

Johnny's Harborside - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We were warmly welcomed to a table offered lunch menus but not the happy hour nor the Tuesday taco menu. That's the only reason why we gave a 4. The food on the other hand was excellent! We had the halibut tacos, a couple of the happy hour oysters, and the calamari. The oysters were ok. They were small and a bit dried out. The tacos were perfect! They were just made and the slaw was fresh-delicious! We were curious about the calamari with the poblano sauce. Cambell, our waiter mentioned them and also that they have a new chef, Jeffrey and a new sous chef, Gerardo that is putting new items on the menu, We are so glad we did! They were delicious! We thought they might be unbearably spicy but it was all well balanced and so tasty! The calamari was fried with slices of jalapeños and they were delicious without being too hot. We plan to go back soon! read more

My son and I usually go to taco Tuesdays and it's always been great. Tonight was a different story though 3-21-26. The waitress was great and very attentive but the kitchen staff was laughable. We were served slightly above room temp calamari with a third of it missing the breading, I ordered fries with my tempura crab sandwich. The fries were cold and soggy. I shared them with my son since they weren't able to get his clam chowder out at the same time. When the soup did arrive is was the smallest portion I've ever seen. Its advertised as a bowl but I don't think it would've filled a cup. I was so bummed out I didn't even eat my sandwich luckily my son was still hungry so he ate it for me. On a positive note he throughly enjoyed the sandwich and our server was nice enough to remove the soup from our bill, which I truly appreciate!! We'll still drop in for tacos but I'm even nervous about that after this experience. And sorry to our server, I usually tip in 22-23% range but I couldn't bring myself to do that and it was no fault or yours. read more

We've been coming to Johnny's Harborside for 15 years and for the first time, a rare miss. My son loved his steak sandwich; it was full of flavor ($19). My scallop main had too much going on with root vegetables including the eggplant that overwhelmed the dish ($39). The saddest part was the scallops were overcooked. If my son weren't devouring it- he's named The Incinerator for a reason- I would've sent the crème brûlée dessert back: The sugar was burnt to the consistency of a roof tile and the crème was goopy, nearly liquid ($14). It wasn't set up correctly. Everyone deserves a mulligan and this meal at Johnny's Harborside was a rare miss. read more

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Amazing calamari. One of the best I've ever had. Basically licked the plate. Our server was Rosemary, and she was excellent! She even wiped up after my son, when he spilled his water!! Happy hour sliders and tacos are also great! The view was amazing - pelicans and sea lions swimming all around! Only complaint is, it's an upstairs restaurant, but the elevator is broken, and my husband is disabled - very disappointing. Will definitely return next time I'm in town. I'm surprised the reviews are under 4 stars. I hope this helps bump them up! read more

The main courses were amazing! Ernesto's Fisherman's Pasta: Clams, prawns, calamari, and bay scallops sauteed in a red sauce. Scallop and Prawn Rigatoni: Red onions, mushrooms, spinach, diced tomatoes, fresh oregano, and garlic then tossed in a porcini mushroom cream sauce and topped with parm. Amazing!! read more

Johnny's Harborside - Calamari-very tender. - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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