Wow, we tried this restaurant the night before a 10K race that we were running and we were completely blown away. We live in San Jose, but we go to Santa Cruz and Capitola a lot and never knew anything about this true hidden gem. All of the food is locally sourced and thoughtfully prepared. The menus change weekly with a few things that always stay. I completely missed out on taking photos of the food because it all was such a sensory experience of smell and beauty we had to dig in right away! We tried the Snap peas, the gem salad, and the amazing gnoccho. For our entrées, we tried a pasta and a pizza and then saved room for four different desserts. But I think the thing that was most special about this place was the service. Our server Erica spent so much time with us, and her partner who was also working the patio did the same with each table. She got to know us and talked to us about our food preferences and desires, and we ended up with what had to be a near perfect meal. Planning to come back for my birthday and bring more of our families. Definitely five stars! read more

La Posta - Delectable desserts - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Dinner at La Posta was a wonderful transport back to Italy with *chef's kiss* 5 star customer service! This is how it's done, people! We sat in the best table in the restaurant: the window booth at the front of the space. It felt like we had every person who worked there (shall we call them "consultants" or "experts"?) visit our table as if we were VIPs. Two of us didn't know which wine we wanted so one of the wait staff explained them to us in such vibrant detail and hand gestures just before letting us taste several of them. The dishes came out quickly, yet timed, and hot. Four of us shared 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 side, 2 desserts, and 4 glasses of wine... and the total was about $140. The service was attentive and entertaining. We loved their quick wit and expertise. Everything was so wonderful here that when we got the check, for the first time EVER, we actually expected a larger bill than it was! Thank you, La Posta. You made our special night even more memorable! [Tip: Order the calamari! It isn't the fried American style greasiness. It's this beautiful delicate dance of tart and salty flavors, reminiscent of a ceviche.] read more

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Fabulous find! Great Italian bistro with fresh ingredients & amazing wine list. Staff were very friendly & attentive. Definitely will go back when we're in Santa Cruz read more

I have been coming here for many years and had another very tasty delightful experience. The quality of the food is just so top-notch and flavorful. Tonight they had many fresh vegetables that had just come into season and amazing raviolis made from short rib. read more

Outstanding food, wine, & service! The ambiance was casual-elegant & inviting. The all Italian wine list was paired well to the food, offered well-known wines & some very ecclectic offerings at very reasonable prices. The bottle list had opportunities to spend a lot but also some hidden values. Both the bartender/sommelier, Gavin, and our server, Aidan, were extremely knowledgeable, charming, & attentive. We had a table of 5 people at 5:30pm tonight & we will definitely be back! read more

A little while ago I visited my most favorite restaurant in town after spending over $1,400.00 over a 18 month period since I moved to Santa Cruz. I surprisingly was KICKED OUT of the restaurant because the manager said my last dinner guests called and told them a few lies about me. I've never written a review like this before and I'm not trying to start anything dramatic but I have to say I'm an older black man and the young lady who reported the lies was a white lady. I must confess the food is outstanding but the staff unfortunately must be racist. read more

My husband made a reservation for Valentine's Day a month in advance. We drove over an hour to get there and even called ahead to let them know we'd be about 15 minutes late -- the hostess assured us that was completely fine. When we arrived, the restaurant wasn't packed. It was busy, but there were clearly open tables inside. Despite that, we were seated outside in the cold. Yes, we're from California, but mid-50s with strong wind is still uncomfortable for a romantic dinner. They had outdoor heaters, but it just wasn't the atmosphere we had reserved or expected. I politely asked if we could move inside, and our waitress said they were fully booked -- even though we had just walked past several empty tables indoors. As we were leaving, another host offered to seat us at the crowded bar. The bar was packed, and considering we had made reservations a month in advance, we would have appreciated an actual table rather than spending our Valentine's dinner eating at the bar. Unfortunately, we decided to leave. The overall experience felt unwelcoming, and as a young Latino couple, it was hard not to feel uncomfortable about how we were treated. We were really looking forward to this special night, and it was deeply disappointing. read more

Had a wonderful time celebrating Valentine's Day at La Posta. The staff handled a full house with ease and the atmosphere still felt intimate. The food was delicious. My favorite was the polenta, it was so smooth and creamy. Everything was really excellent, though. I highly recommend La Posta. read more

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I was shocked that they charged me $35 for a wine corkage fee! WTF The service was good. The pizza was mediocre. read more

Just had a wonderful experience dining at La Posta on Seabright. I'm sorry I didn't think to take photos. It was local night - complimentary wine when we ordered pizza. Both the fungi pizza and the lemon pasta dish were amazing. Flavorful. The wait staff were knowledgeable, friendly and dedicated. The outside seating was pleasant and the heaters were fired up. Go visit! read more

Sooo good! Our waiter was super sweet and accommodating, explaining each item on the menu to us to help us pick through all the options! We settled with these items and of course lemon cake (not photographed). Was a great date night with a warm ambiance. read more

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We have dined at La Posta several times and have always had a splendid experience. It starts with the professional, friendly waitstaff, followed by wonderful food and drink. The menu reflects local and seasonal ingredients. The wine list contains some unusual Italian varieties and we appreciate that the waitstaff is eager to help us select the perfect bottle of wine to complement our meal. The restuarant ambiance is warm and inviting. read more

The building holds on to the charm that I wish Santa Cruz had more of, and the interior is just right, good lighting and very welcoming. We had reservations and our table ready. Waitstaff is professional and you can see some busy work in the kitchen which I love. We shared a salad with green apples, walnuts... I don't know what all, but it was one of the best salads I've ever eaten. We shared the sausage pizza with kale- just finished the other 1/2 for lunch. Every bite of this is so good! There's heat in the sauce-mmm. Red wine by the glass with dinner was a perfect pairing. Gelato and a cookie for me, my husband had gelato with a pastry and quince swirl of sauce he said was delicious. I cannot wait to go back. This is the experience you want to have when you go out, also you can visit at your table nicely- it's not noisy. Do yourself a favor and have a great dining experience here. read more

The place gets creative with their food...in a good way. I had the fungi pizza and it had great flavor. I saw other peoples dishes and wanted to try them all. The menu items and the specials all sounded like something I wanted to try. read more

Food was great - wine was okay - The charge for parmesan cheese was completely unexpected. 4.00 for a small serving. Children bouncing at the table next to us and no discussion of asking them to settle down. read more

Delicious food. Menu changes seasonally, which keeps things interesting. Can't express enough how much I adore the staff here. So warm and friendly. read more

We sat outside at La Posta. Their outside seating is a transformed parking area. It isn't fancy, but is comfortable. All of the dishes we tried were fresh and perfectly prepared. The service was pleasant and prompt. As a starter, we shared market greens with a sherry-shallot vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan. The greens were fresh and the dressing was light but flavorful. We also had an order of the homemade sourdough bread, which had a perfect crust. For main courses, we ordered the halibut and the lamb chops, sharing back and forth. The proteins were perfectly cooked. Both had a nice sear and were still moist. The halibut was served with pole beans and fingerling potatoes; both were delicious. The lamb chops were served with small beans and tomatoes. Also delicious. We ended our meal with the chocolate panna cotta with cherries. It was light, but flavorful. All of the food was so good that my husband ordered a pizza to go for the next day! La Posta is a casual Santa Cruz spot that is using the freshest ingredients and perfectly preparing them. The setting isn't glamorous, but the food is better than you find at some of the fancier places. read more

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We decided to meet a friend in Santa Cruz and because of their dog we chose this restaurant that offers outdoor seating restaurant is Quaintance small but the backyard is pretty large parking can be somewhat of a challenge, but we manage to find the location quickly. The selection is entirely Italian wines so if you're looking for the New World wines, you're gonna have a hard time finding anything, they have a large selection of Italian wines depending on your budget you can spend over several hundred dollars or you can find one for around $50-$60. The menu changes regularly and this particular night I decided to have the squid pasta with seafood I was disappointed to say the least because the flavor and when I asked for Parmesan, the waitress told me that they charge extra, part of the meal was the appetizers were very good and fresh made bread with butter a great start. They have heaters in the back which kept us warm. The short ribs were excellent read more

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Cozy. Charming. Good service. Nice patio in back. Highly curated food. Everything is local except the 100% Italian wine list.

This was a wonderfully romantic, simple yet elegant dinner spot. The food was fantastic, there was a good variety of things to choose from, and everyone on staff was extremely attentive and kind. Highly recommended read more

***Updated 3/22/2023***It doesn't get any better than this! We had a birthday dinner here last weekend. From the moment we walked in, we could feel the welcoming warmth of the staff. Ehrin was a wonderful waitperson looking after us throughout the meal. We started with the fresh green salad. Wow was the produce fresh with just the right amount of dressing and flavors. We moved on to the main courses. I had the special fettuccini in a rich Bolognese sauce. Not to thick and not to thin. So amazing! which was just outstanding! It rivals anything else I have tasted including that from a 3 Michelin star chef. The others had the Gnudi - ricotta-spinach gnudi, brown butter, sage, parmigiano and the Corzetti ai Frutti di Mare - herbed corzetti, rock shrimp, clams, mussels, chili, capers, crushed tomato. Both perfectly prepared. I forgot to mention the amazing bread. I'm a carbaholic and this was my fix...a Walnut-Rosemary Brown bread. I cannot remember when we has such a perfect meal. I chose not to include any photos as it was a special birthday dinner and didn't want to distract from the evening. Anyway, photos wouldn't have done it justice. Many thanks to Ehrin, the kitchen staff and others for making this one perfect meal. read more

Simply wonderful. First the food is a 5 star experience- the dining room, setting is a 4. This is a neighborhood restaurant and a fine experience. We started with a glass of red each and ordered a sausage pizza. Very thin crust and rest was history. Just Wow! Next the burrata salad. One of the best we've had in a long time. Tomatoes so sweet and tasty. Very high quality burrata accompanying. Both pastas were excellent/ I couldn't believe how much pork was in mine and thought the Ragu brought out the green fettuccine flavor very well. Pesto pasta was a winner. They have outside seating behind the restaurant- a leftover from COVID. Not my favorite since it's in the parking lot but it is separated and there are umbrellas. It was warm night but they leave the front door open and likewise the back and that made inside the restaurant super comfortable. Prices are extremely fair. They even do their famous home made bread for $3! Are you kidding me? Go. Now. Enjoy. read more

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The best Italian Cuisine in Santa Cruz and don't get me started on the exceptional service Thank you for a memorable evening read more

One word that captures La Posta is wow. It is a rustic little retreat nestled in Santa Cruz and offers amazing ambience and delicious food, whether you sit in the terrace or dine inside. The corkage for the Alpha Omega wine we brought was only $20 (which is reasonable for a restaurant at this price point since others often charge $30), and the food complemented our wine beautifully. The staff was friendly and our waitress attended to us very satisfactorily, getting our delicious food to us in good time. They even allowed us to make a substitution to meet our vegetarian palettes. All in all, I highly recommend this place. read more

Love this restaurant they always have some new freshly dish , food is delicious! And the costumer care is amazing! I haven't been there in years, can't wait to go back and try something new and delicious read more

This is a great place. The food is outrageous.! I would recommend anyone come here that just wants some great food.!!

We dined here about 10 years ago and I could not remember why we had not returned. I was reminded last night. We happened to come here on their 18th anniversary. How did they choose to celebrate 18 years of fleecing their cherished guests? A $55 mushroom and pasta dish and a 2 oz glass of wine (the volume noted on the menu so as to reduce your shock when you get your two sips of wine). There are already plenty of expensive wines on their list. It's telling that this is the way they choose to thank their customers for putting their kids through college. Not sure if the bread here always goes for $1 per half slice. Maybe for their 20th anniversary they will throw in a mint with the bill. We were seated on plastic chairs, at a plastic patio table, outside in a rundown patio that was composed of all the random furniture you might expect to find unsold at the end of a garage sale. Imagine: zero ambiance. Indoors was nice but the patio should have come with a different menu or at least different prices. The waitress betrayed exhaustion with a barely suppressed agony bubbling underneath, as if she had been forced to leave children at home without a babysitter. It was a little distressing to watch but she was nice enough. I certainly was not going to skimp on her tip. I'm guessing the owners are as stingy with their employees as they are with their guests. I had a glass of their house Montefalco Rosso and it was delicious (hence the 2 stars). I ordered the gnocchi with oxtail ragu. Flavor profile was okay. I received an unacceptable amount of tendon and globs of unrendered fat which should have been picked out before plating. At $30 for mostly boiled potato dough, the portion was truly pathetic. In all fairness it does appear as though we got smaller portions than some of the pictures seen here. Perhaps they were spread a little thin for their big anniversary night but in that case we should not have been seated. My partner got about 6 small ravioli on her plate. They were good but not great. Combined with the miserly portions, a truly underwhelming experience overall! So, until I start feeling philanthropic about the owner's net worth I will be staying away. There are other Italian restaurants in our area with better food, better service, better ambiance, and bigger portions. And they do not gouge their customers like La Posta. I think what's going on with this place is that it has a very loyal local following made up of retired folks with faltering taste buds, tiny appetites and a penchant for routine, who stopped noticing the difference between $20 and $50 about 18 years ago, or they just like forking it over for the right amount of personal fawning from the owner. Again, I'll pass. read more

My sister's boyfriend's words: "10/10 pasta.. made my eyes roll in the back of my head. Best pasta I've had in my life." We ordered a Margherita pizza and the fungi special pizza for the table, warm olives, and my sister's boyfriend ordered the rabbit/pork/sausage pasta and fell in love. Wonderful service and amazing food. Can't wait to come back again read more

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Let's start the new year off right, with a review of my favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz, La Posta. We were here shortly before Christmas, and it had been years since I had eaten here last. I am happy to say it has kept up its high quality. The food is amazing, and the fresh pasta is always top-notch. They have a fantastic wine list as well. Gavin, our server, was great. He gave us some some funny anecdotes and offered to help with wine suggestions if we needed them. He was attentive but not overbearing. The ambiance is fantastic; it is relaxed and friendly. There is no pretension or stuffiness, just friendly folks and good food, and the night we were there, they also had live music. It isn't cheapest, but it also isn't "break the bank" expensive. Considering the quality, I feel it is actually a bargain. Anytime I am in Santa Cruz, I will be sure to stop in and get my pasta fix. read more

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I've never experienced such blatant racism in all of my days. The food is absolutely amazing but I was kicked out because of the color of my skin. If ever in La Posta notice if you ever see an African American in the restaurant? I've never scene one besides myself and now they said I can't come back. read more

Love love this little neighborhood restaurant! Love that the menu changes often which keeps us coming back to try new things! The food is always so fresh and their seafood dishes are always perfectly cooked. It's a wonderful date night that's not too fussy or trendy, just a really good meal and great wine! read more

La Posta - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Absolutely wonderful...again...3rd time here and it gets better every time...creative and delicious food and superlative service...doesn't get any better...thanks all!! read more

Haven't been here since pre-pandemic and we surely have been missing out. So glad to be back. First and foremost, hands off to our server Misty. She was so nice, very attentive, very knowledgeable about the items being offered as she was so helpful in helping us make some decisions. There are just too many delicious options on the drink and food menu that it was hard to decide. When we asked her questions about some of the items we were thinking about ordering, she would give us a little info and background, to help ease our decision making. She is by far one of the best waitresses we have ever had in our dining lives. Now, the food.....OMG. Can you say authentic Italian? We started with the Affettati Misti which is kinda like a charcuterie platter. There were two cheeses, lots of pickled veggies, walnuts, fruit and a mix of cured meats. We were hungry so we ate it all and fast, but this can easily serve 3-4. No free bread so we purchased the walnut and rosemary bread. Very well worth the $3. The pasta is DEFINITELY freshly made and soooo tasty. I had the Chitarra which consists of fresh pasta noodles that look like spaghetti, mixed with a light tomato sauce adorned with squid. The hubby had the Amatriciana pizza which was also delish. For dessert, we each had a scoop of the gelato. Ford drinks we went light bc we had post dinner drink plans. I had a glass of the Rinaldini Lambrusco which Misty kindly allowed me to taste first. I highly recommend it. Kind threw me off bc I was a RED sparking. I had never seen such a thing; it tasted delish. The man had a Vermouth Torino; his was good but very much on the LIGHT side. A few closing notes: Parking was easy to find even though they are on a busy street. For indoor dining, you must show proof of vaccination, which I really appreciate bc the hubby and I are fully vaccinated and boosted. There's plenty of outdoor dining seating with heat lamps. Overall, this was one of the best dinner experiences we've had in a long time. Everything we ordered was good and the service was over the top (THANKS MISTY). Can't wait to take my friends and family next time. read more

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I would give La Posta 10 stars if I could. This is my all time favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz. The FOOD. La Posta's seasonally-changing menu always provides me with novelty, exploration, and satisfaction. Their pasta, bread, and gelato are made in house. Region-specific, farm to table Italian food with incredibly high quality ingredients. Don't skip the rosemary walnut brown sourdough! If there is a salad with burrata and seasonal fruit, nab one of those as well. Incredibly warm, kind, smiley, attentive, articulate, and fast service. Ambiance and decor indoors and outdoors is wonderful. There are ample heat lamps outside. Such a unique menu. Don't miss La Posta. read more

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The star is for the great food. The pasta and pizza were tasty. I was even looking forward to the dessert. However, as we were halfway through our meal, an older woman who I assume is the owner, approached us. She first greeted the table ahead of us and asked if they needed drinks. When it came to our table, she didn't greet us and instantly made a comment that made me uncomfortable so I didn't want to stay for too long. I also saw the waiter offer another table a water bowl for their pup and didn't do the same for us. read more

We had dinner here recently on a Friday night. The service was great and the food was good, with a couple of missteps. Our best dish was the crab cake appetizer, which was nicely seasoned with a crispy exterior and a good ratio of crab meat, topped with a delicious spicy aioli. The special of the night (off menu) was a pan fried pork cutlet topped with a very light lemony-caper-butter. It was simple, but delicious. We also had the short rib ravioli, which sounded better than they tasted (the edges of the pasta were undercooked but the center was properly cooked). The sausage pizza had a nice crust and good flavor, but they had to re-do it because of a mistake on the preparation. Overall, we did have a very enjoyable dinner - probably helped by the fact that our server was incredibly friendly and courteous and prompt. We will be back again, since the menu is updated frequently. read more

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Went here because place next door had a long wait & we saw they had a seafood stew special. The service was excellent. Super nice people. The kid had a pizza (burrata/sausage/kale) which he inhaled. My friend and I both ordered the stew. Hers arrived cold and went right back. I was still waiting for mine which arrived hot but was really, really...not good. Aggressively flavorless to the point it tasted like canned soup. Not even the seafood could save it. Felt awful sending two more back, but did and they were so nice about it. I hate doing that, but at $30 a plate, if it's not enjoyable... Ended up with two more pizzas instead, which were delicious. I had the speck one which was fantastic and even better as leftovers. My friend had a veggie one. So - service: excellent. Pizzas - very good. Special - not so special. All in all would definitely go back. read more

Sat in the Court yard last night and had another great dinner with friendly, smart, helpful service. My wife and I have been coming here for many years and it still is the best restaurant in Santa Cruz. The food and friendliness are perfect. The pastas are all homemade and the ingredient's are super fresh. I always order the Blue Heron Farm Salad with shaved Parmesan. The lettuce is always crisp and has a very light fresh vinaigrette with light fresh pepper. I like to pick up each leaf with my fingers and eat each one delicately. I love it. Two people can share it. Last night we had the calamari. The sauce on the calamari is incredible. It tastes like a very light chimichurri with very fine Italian parsley and olive oil. The fennel is sliced very thin and with the addition of the garbanzo beans, makes a really wonderful fresh dish. Every time I come here I try to find a dish with fennel. I can't seem to match La Posta's ability to use it so well. Finally, we had two pastas. The pasta dishes always change and it is a surprise to come here and try something different every time. At the end of the night, I had some sauce left over and our waiter brought over some bread to clean it all up. Great service, great sauce, great bread. La Posta is a local treasure. read more

Amazing , peaceful environment. Quiet , it was warm with a slight breeze so; of course, outdoor seating :) Inside was nice too but wanted the sun and brightness. Croquette di merluzzo - The best part of the meal to me (besides the Panna Cotta for Dessert) black cod croquettes, scallions, radish, snoked paprika aioli--- It wasn't too "fishy " it was very unique in taste In a beautiful way. Couldn't even put my finger on the exact tastes. So many flavors blending exquisitely. Grilled Kashiwase Peaches- Loved the dish went perfectly with the prosciutto I wonder , if the peaches were flambéed , how it would have set a contrasting tone to the fatty meat . But it was good:) Agnolotti del Plin - "pasta parcels with pork, chicken, rabbit, & spinach, butter sauce, parmigiano" The texture and the flavor was mine blowing. Cooked to a perfect consistency, the meat had such a great flavor. I loved this dish. The small bath of broth was PERFECT amount for the pasta served. I loved it and it was totally worth the experience. I also want to thank our server for a peaceful experience. Maxim brought us some of our dishes and helped us though the night along side our servers, and took care of our table so well. We were served so smoothly it was so seamless, that we were having an amazing time without a worry. Plates cleared so smoothly, plates served timely, Extremely respectful and personable staff Thank you for the great experience with my parents:) Recommended for a nice night out. read more

One of the best Italian (American) cuisine in Santa Cruz. Unfortunately couldn't get a last minute reservation for David Kinch's Mentone but this unexpected runner-up has me wanting to come back to La Posta. Antipasti - a farmers platter of a sort. Presentation is A1 out of the park no doubt. Combination of flavors provide rich sweet, salty, and savory palate teasers. Primi - The pasta here had a nice meaty shredded meat ragu. Great dish but I do wish there was more sustenance. Secondi - Huge meaty balls. Amazing sauce. Finished every bite. My girl ordered this and I wish I had ordered it. Not as heavy as I thought it would be and each bite is a flavor explosion. Pairs really nice with a cabernet. Plating and presentation here is second to none. Not an entirely fancy setting but recommended for expensive casual dining. Would come back. I forgot his name but the bald guy was my favorite server. He recommended all of our drink pairings and deserves a lot. Thank you guys for the experience! read more

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