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    Laili Restaurant

    4.3 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Laili Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Laili Restaurant Middle Eastern Restaurant Photos

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    LAILI RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Laili Restaurant

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    Interior
    Corinna T.

    Laili restaurant serves delicious Mediterranean dishes within a beautiful interior. The waitress spoke the truth when she said every dish is good. Between two people, we tried the branzino from the special menu, the beef kabob plate, and Mousha awa (soup with ginger, lentils, chickpeas, and lamb). The entrees came with salad, rice, and different house made sauces. The sauce combo that stood out to me was the apricot ginger. The dessert menu had several cardamom items which looked tasty but we passed and agreed to make another trip out here next time.

    Chicken apricot appetizer

    We had a chicken apricot app that was delicious. The Naan they served as a free app was papery and flavorless. My son had the fish which he enjoyed, my husband had chicken kebabs which were good. I had the Mediterranean salad with shrimp. The shrimp were dry, over cooked, with a disappointing spice mixture. The salad appeared to have been marinated the day before, it had walnuts and I bit into two walnut shell pieces. I left the salad and remaining shrimp not wanting to break a tooth. This was mentioned to the waiter but was not addressed. The service was excellent with that exception. The courtyard was charming. I really enjoyed the ambiance.

    Outdoor Patio
    Andrea R.

    An amazing meal in Santa Cruz. My friend and I got a 7pm outdoor reservation and the ambience was excellent. Heat lamps, string lights, and greenery everywhere. The food was excellent, I wasn't super hungry so I chose a half Mediterranean salad that was super fresh and the ground beef and onion dumplings. The perfect amount of food after a long day of walking. A memorable meal and dining experience!

    Apricot Chicken Flatbread
    Bella S.

    Friendly staff, nice indoor and outdoor seating. If weather permits, patio area is charming. Food was good. Sautéd veggies were flavorful. Loved the tzatziki and Mediterranean plate. The naan and dipping oil was delicious. Flatbread pizza is something I would definitely order again, but I would like a little heat added to it, (I added the jalapeño sauce from kabob plate and it was perfect!) chicken was decent and rice was cooked evenly. Overall a nice meal.

    Salmon Pasta
    Prasiddha H.

    Had a chance to try Laili's when visiting a friend who recently moved to Santa Cruz and really enjoyed our experience. We went here for lunch, and if you are looking for delicious Mediterranean food this is the place for you. This is a cute upscale spot with good ambiance and really nice service. For food we got: * Bolani w Buttersquash filling - this was a fried app with a nice sweet mashy filling and came with 3 different sauces (white, green and an orange apricot one). This was actually very delicious * Salmon Pasta - I got this based on the pictures and this was SO GOOD. The sauce was creamy and rich but with so much flavor. I loved the pieces of salmon in this pasta as everything tasted so well. * Chicken Kabob - This was really yummy as well and noticed that the chicken was perfectly tender and soft. This came with rice and salad as well as the three sauces we got during our appetizer. Overall the food was delicious and flavors went really well together. I think the portions could be a little bigger though - but cute spot nonetheless!

    7/22/25 FYI. Decor.
    Lee D.

    Quality/Quantity - Moroccan Beet Salad - Interesting salad dressing. I could have used less salad dressing or next time I will order it on the side. It was not bad, just not my preference. My wife liked the salad. Overall, it was still good. Bolani - Butternut Squash; perfect fry. I would have preferred two whole pieces rather than four halves. I think businesses do this to make it seem as if there were more...? I would also have preferred a more solid filling versus the paste. But still, it was overall good. Braised Lamb Pasta - The hit of the meal. And the CORRECT pasta! (See Shadowbrook review...) I believe this is one of the signature entrees and it did not disappoint. Good flavors, textures, quantity, etc. Baklava - My daughter ordered the wrong one, she did NOT see the one with ice cream. But that is okay as I was already full. A light and flaky top, and a moist and not too sweet body/bottom. Specials available, see my pictures or website. Atmosphere - Decent size restaurant. Both indoor and outdoor seating. If you want outdoor (enclosed garden) seating, make sure to have reservations; it was so popular. Open kitchen, my favorite restaurants have open kitchens. Plenty of paid metered or garage parking. Two huge clean unisex restrooms. Open 5 days a week from noon to 8:30pm or 9pm. See their website. Closed Sunday and Monday. Service - 5 stars, Zora was very professional and accommodating, thank you. Price - $74 + tip. Reasonably priced as we are light eaters. But above average prices for regular full meal eaters. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2011.

    Jen N.

    Amazing special occasion restaurant in Santa Cruz! We opted to sit outside and the ambiance was very cozy - braised lamb pasta: soooo good! - chicken kabob: my bf said it was cooked well and loved the sauce - rose meringue: we both hated this. Didn't realize it was going to be like a pavlova and the texture/flavor was not good - flourless torte: just okay The entrees were great but the desserts were below average. Parking is difficult in this area. There are limited "good" restaurants in the area and this one is definitely up there! Definitely get the lamb pasta if you visit

    Ron O.

    We have been coming here for years. Last night's dinner was very good and I was surprised is not already written a review for this restaurant. Did is pretty consistently high quality, nice ambience, and attentive service. Large indoor dining area, and large side patio with adequate heat lamps as it cools off in the evening (which unfortunately is not pet friendly). Favorite dishes we had last night... * Kadoo Borani: butternut squash, garlic, yogurt, and mint. So good to eat with their (1) complimentary naan flat bread and olive oil dip. Great share dish for 2 or more people. * Koobideh Burger: topped with mint aioli, arugula, caramelized, gorgonzola cheese, served with roasted paprika potatoes and mix greens salad. Available with either ground beef or lamb patty. Lovely Mediterranean spiced meat make this really unique for a burger. * Arugula Pesto Pasta with Chicken (Kebab): house made fettuccine, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts. A creamy, richer version of pesto sauce than is typical. Nice for a change, as we have also had the Chicken Kebab Entree with rice, and over Salad. Nice selection of moderately priced wine and beer. Corkage for BYO wine is currently $25.

    Merengue dessert
    Sonj H.

    Great ambiance. Excellent service. Terrific food. Do not skip the mixed appetizer with the unique flavors for familiar options. We very much enjoyed our experience here- Afghan food is marvelous.

    Wendy F.

    Had an incredible evening at Laili trying their vibes magazine story menu, experiencing dishes that were accompanied with descriptors attached to a chapter of a story being told. This unique dining experience was such a fun way to enjoy dishes at a restaurant I'd never been to before. Absolutely coming back for the ambience and romantic atmosphere!

    Wine list
    Alyssa C.

    Food was great but the service was exceptional! I was visiting Santa Cruz and had heard great things about Laili, definitely a great place to try My party and I enjoyed our meal in the outdoor seating area, the waiters were attentive and checked up on us often. The food came out quick and the servers were great with accommodating our needs. I got the filet mignon kabobs, while it was nothing out of the world. I enjoyed it. The portion was good for one person to be fully satisfied, but personally half of an order was enough for me. Meat was tender and went well with the broccoli and zucchini. Wished there were roasted tomatoes, but overall the dish was yummy.

    Jimmy B.

    Taluela was our waitress, and she was exceptional--well put-together, classy, polite, and incredibly attentive to detail. Honestly, she's the kind of employee any business would be lucky to have--absolutely poachable! The food was excellent, and the ambiance was spot-on. The restaurant is in a great downtown Santa Cruz location, with an old-world, Mediterranean feel. They truly nailed the atmosphere--high ceilings, elegant decor, and a welcoming vibe. Everything was impeccably clean, from the floors and windows to the bathrooms and tables. The staff overall were polite and professional. The European cuisine was absolutely authentic, and we'll definitely be back the next time we're in Santa Cruz!

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    5 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    19 days ago

    I enjoyed eating here overall. The patio seating was peaceful and the menu had a lot of interesting options. Service was friendly.

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    Tasty hummus. Vegan options. Nice vibe. Friendly staff. Dillon is a great server. Good for dates or large groups.

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    16 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Yummy food. Up scale vibes. Good wine selection. Staff was super friendly. Lamb and beef dishes are amazing.

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Great food, great atmosphere and handicap accessible. Really good for a lunch hour because the food came quickly.

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    Page 1 of 39

    Laili Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Laili Restaurant

    Is the meat halal here?

    Yes

    Does the restaurant offer gift certificates? How are they acquired and paid for?

    Gift certificates can be purchased online on their website & emailed to the recipient.

    How does one correctly pronounce "Laili"? :)

    Lie-lee

    Good evening, Are small dogs allowed on the patio while dining? Also, are reservations required to…

    Only service dogs are allowed in the restaurant or patio. Reservations are always recommended.

    Are pets (dogs)allowed?

    Yes, on the patio (during covid at least, can't say how it is regularly)

    Is the food spicy?

    It's Mediterranean food. Typically not spicy. They have hot sauce if you desire.

    Can we do a walk in or is it just reservation only?

    I just walked in but the table I sat at was reserved- promised to be finished with meal within hour.

    Gluten free options pkease?

    I can't say I noticed any items labeled specifically "gluten free" on the menu however they have many meat and veggie options with rice. If you call them they could probably tell you if they have any guaranteed gluten free (ie no cross… Read more

    Is there a place to sit with a dog?

    Only service dogs.

    Corkage fee? anyone know? If not, I'll call them Thanks, John

    $15

    View All 11 Questions

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    Inside

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    Istanbul Kabab $36.95 .skewed charbroiled ground beef mixed with tomato and seasoned with Turkish spices . Greek salad

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    Olives Mediterranean Market And Grill - Chicken kebab plate.

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    DELICIOUS!!! Absolutely delicious. The place is clean,…read moreorganized but the food is amazing!!! The chicken is freshly made - worth the wait. Great price for the combo plates. The baba ganoush is my favorite but the food was perfect! The woman was kind and attentive. Had asked her some questions about some dried herbs she had and she was patient in explaining. They had a sale of dried herbs for $1.50 which is cheap! They sell many other items that i dont know about lol

    One of the best Mediterranean restaurants in south county!…read more The food at Olives is delicious- especially the kofta and the beef/lamb gyro plates. Their baba ganoush is my personal favorite- I only wish they were a little more generous with the serving size! I also really appreciate that they offer smaller appetizers like lentil soup and samosas, which makes it easy to sample a few things or build a lighter meal. Everything is flavorful, well-seasoned, and made with care. When you walk in, you order and pay on a tablet, which is quick and convenient. They've messed up on my order once or twice, so it's worth double-checking your food, but it was never a big deal and definitely wouldn't stop me from returning. The restaurant setup is a bit unconventional: the seating consists of tables in the middle of a small market filled with imported goods. That being said, it's actually part of the charm and gives the place a cozy/casual vibe. Can't wait to come back!

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