The dining room is elegant, the servers are attentive and pleasant, and the food is exquisite. My family was skeptical in my choice of this "Mediterranean" restaurant, thinking it was going to be the basic fair of dips and pita, dry falafels and dry kebobs, but they were surprised at how good the food was--in taste, variety, and presentation. The fried bolani with its three dips was very satisfying, as was the fresh fettucine, with a choice of lamb (delicious!) or arugula pesto. The whole trout dish was superb. We would have stayed for the excellent housemade (I think) desserts but we were just too stuffed! read more

Ambiance: 5 Food: 3 Service: 3 This place is overpriced for what you get. The presentation is nice but they give you quite small portions for the $30 price tag. The service was inconsistent. We only saw our waiter twice throughout the meal. We had to ask for everything we needed. The one nice thing was they brought over a birthday candle on a chocolate cake since i told them it was my dad's birthday. Things to improve; value for money Make sure the food is hot when it comes out Check in more Make sure portions and quality match price read more

We celebrated my sister's 70th birthday here, and the evening was absolutely exceptional. The ambiance was elegant and inviting, creating the perfect setting for such a special occasion. The food was exquisite, beautifully presented, and every dish was outstanding. The service was equally impressive -- gracious, attentive, and truly elevated the entire experience. Thank you for making our celebration so memorable. We look forward to returning again soon. read more

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. read more

Laili Restaurant - Interior - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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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. read more

Laili Restaurant - Chicken apricot appetizer - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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! read more

Laili Restaurant - Outdoor Patio - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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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. read more

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Came on a Saturday evening to celebrate two birthdays in the family. Located centrally in downtown Santa Cruz, this place has the best chicken kabobs and an iced cardamon chia that is so good! The ambiance is a more formal setting and a great place for date night. We sat outside in the tucked away patio where they have heaters, string lights, and speakers that play music to enhance the mood. Some things to improve: The table we sat at was right next to open windows to the kitchen/dishwasher. You could hear lots of pots and pans and dishes crashing about which killed some of the ambiance. There should be more servers as our server seemed really busy and we did not get the level of attention one would expect from a classier restaurant. As we were leaving through the restaurant, our party noticed that it was really warm inside. I even saw one person fanning themselves to cool down. One thing to keep in mind is that they serve wine and beer but not cocktails. With all this said, this place is worth trying. My family has celebrated birthdays here and special occasions. They do take reservations so if you have a larger party make sure to call or book a reservation ahead of time. read more

Excellent service, nice decor. We shared the Mediterranean Plate sampler which was good but should probably come with more naan from the start (our server did bring us more when we ran out.) I had the Koobideh kabob which came with three delicious sauces. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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 read more

Laili Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Very excited to try a Mediterranean restaurant. We ordered eggplant medley on flat bread as an appetizer, a Mediterranean salad to share as well as the chicken kabob with basmati rice as the main coarse. Waited asked if we wanted the appetizer and salad together and we agreed. Salad came first, it was described to have walnuts, Greek olives and chickpeas with feta cheese. There were a few pieces of walnut, no olives and a few chickpeas. The salad was mostly cucumbers and tomatoes. Flat bread came later just before the main course. The appetizer was delicious. The main course, chicken did not have much flavor and the chicken breast was dry. Basmati rice was Al dente, should have been cooked longer. The service was good, the courtyard was beautiful. read more

Ambiance is charming & modern but still warm & inviting. Staff was very friendly & made great recommendations. We had the salad & the branzino. Both were outstanding. The salad is a combination of fresh vegetables, herbs, mulberries & a homemade dressing - no lettuce, which suited me just fine. The branzino was served whole but fileted - not sure how they did that, but was delighted to not pick out bones. Cardamon ice cream was the perfect ending. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Laili Restaurant - Merengue dessert - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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! read more

Laili Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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

First when you walk in this place is charming. The hostess was lovely and we were seated right away. I had a delicious glass of a local Chardonnay. I ordered the branzino which was perfectly prepared , my husband had the pasta with lamb was also fantastic. Probably the best meal we've had during our week of travel in central California. read more

We arrived without a reservation and were offered a table on the lovely patio on a cool evening. Several servers made sure we had several patio heaters and were comfy. Good start. Then came the food. Heaven. Best kadoo borani I've had, lovely beet salad, and oh my oh my the branzino. Even the chard and onions were amazing, and the fish ... just wow. When can I eat all of that all over again? read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Laili Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We had a lovely meal at Laili - the food was quite good, but the service was excellent, and very friendly. The lamb was good, as were the dumplings. While it may not be mindblowingly amazing, it was a very pleasant meal experience and I see why this place is so well-renowned! read more

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We had the most delicious lunch here with a great waiter, Jerritt. We had the Mediterranean plate, Bolani with spinach, eggplant flatbread, lamb pasta, cauliflower plate..ALL WERE DELICIOUS Can't wait to go back! read more

Beautiful restaurant in quaint Santa Cruz. The menu offered an array of eclectic choices. Each of us had something different and we enjoyed our meal and appetizers. The service was prompt and the waiter was knowledgeable. I highly recommend. read more

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

This is a mixed review. The food was excellent. But the treatment of a disabled guest was so appalling that I would never go back. We had a reservation for 5:45 on a Saturday. When we arrived the restaurant was half empty with many vacant 4 tops because it was on the early side. Our companions included a disabled older friend who has multiple disabilities including serious mobility impairments and uses a cane. They seated us in a booth, which was incredibly tight, and had huge trestle legs on the tight table (!) and awkward. It was very clear to us it would be hard for our friend to get in and out of the booth based on his disability. My husband discreetly asked the hostess to move us to one of the several empty table that had normal chairs rather than a booth, *specifically telling her our friend was disabled.* She came to the table and told us in a very condescending manner how it would just be impossible, because seating is all very complicated. I told her that it was not at all complicated, since we are in a 4 top and there are at least 4 empty 4 tops right next to us that we could move to, leaving our table free for another party. She refused and it was clear from her demeanor that she thought the request was unreasonable and we were somehow being entitled. Later, the staff kept handing us our friend's cane because they didn't want it next to the table but there was no where to put it. They did not offer to store it for us. I had to go ask the host to store it. All very unnecessary and a very bad experience, embarrassing for our friend, upsetting to us. For this reason I would not return. As I said above the food was good, maybe even excellent, but they need to learn about accessibility for all patrons. read more

Went here after a few months! It is a great setting inside and out pretty attentive servers too. Beer and wine only and i do wish they had some Mediterranean alcoholic beverages. We all had the lamb shish which was cooked nicely (more char please) served with veg and rice. We also tried the platter with hummus baba and tzatziki all were good not super traditional. The big hit for me was the naan-not traditional really either but so tasty thin warm. Its expensive and a little more fancy but definitely a good time. read more

Laili Restaurant - Rose Meringue - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Beef koobideh kabab was so greasy and tasted like fat only. The tomato was not grilled read more

This place was amazing! Dylan our server was knowledgeable, efficient and friendly. My husband had the braised lamb pasta which he said was the most delicious meal he had ever eaten (and he's eaten a lot of meals ). I had the Mediterranean salad with chicken which was fresh, healthy and so flavorful. We may come back to Santa Cruz just for this restaurant. Atmosphere was lovely! read more

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

What a beautiful restaurant setting! My parents took me here when I was visiting them recently. I didn't even feel like I was in Santa Cruz sitting in their courtyard. The food tasted so fresh and delicious. There was so much flavor in each dish I loved every bite. The hostess and our server were very friendly and incredibly helpful. Everyone was great and I can't wait to come back! read more

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Beautiful restaurant in downtown SC. Came by for dinner and was seated in their outdoor patio which had a beautiful ambiance. Ordered their braised lamb pasta and was blown away by the fresh ingredients, herbs used and of course the tender lamb. We also ordered the spinach salad and their spinach Bolani which was delicious! Highly recommend this spot for a nicer night out! read more

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

I have always eaten here and done a lot of delivery. The last delivery of the squash menu item was about 1/2 the size as all other deliveries. I was really disappointed. It seems like a lot of the restaurants are slashing portions for the same price. I am not happy about it. read more

This was by far our favorite eateries during our Santa Cruz trip. The plate were large enough to share as a group, the plates itself were delicious and filled with flavor. There is inside and outside seating. We came on a busy day so our food did take a bit to come out but it was worth the wait. Kid friendly as well, they had a kid menu which was perfect for my niece and nephew. Price, was pricey but compared to other similar restaurants it was decent. Would love to visit again but I'm not from the area. read more

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I'm not sure what to say about this other than that we love Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food and this place hit the mark with the atmosphere, the service, and the food. Everything was outstanding we would bring our family back. The Branzino was excellent as well as the Mediterranean plate. And to top it all off, they make their baklava in house. Overall, excellent! read more

Service was great. Very much on top of taking care of us. Cute place, big with outdoor seating. The food was, unfortunately, ok. Meat a bite on the dry side. Very different from kabobs and portion size from Glendale area. read more

Laili Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This might be my favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz! What worked: - it's really beautiful inside. There are these long, flowing curtains and high ceilings that give the space a very elegant feel - the food is good. Like, really good. The most memorable dish I've had is the braised lamb pasta--it tastes the way wrapping up in a thick fleece blanket by a crackling winter fireplace feels. Cozy, rich, and comforting. The flatbread is also really tasty and they have some more unique toppings - the portions are big and you get full quickly, especially with the complimentary bread and olive oil they provide. Both times I've visited I have made the mistake of over-ordering but hey, it's not my fault that everything looks so good - the Qay Maag Chai is the beverage counterpart of the braised lamb pasta. It's sweet, comforting, and bright on the palate--so good. - servers were very kind and attentive without being overbearing What didn't work: - I think my main complaint (and it's not really a complaint) is that I've always been way too stuffed to make my way to trying their desserts. If they could start offering sampler platters so that I can taste-test as much as possible without committing to a full plate, I might finally have enough space for some of those sweets! - it's on the pricey side, unfortunately. Otherwise I'd be eating there each week! Great spot for a date, birthday, celebration, or just because. read more

Just came back after having a team dinner here. Last time I visited this place was back in 2019. I remember the food being great. Today, I tried some new vegetarian things on the menu. I do want to say that the device today was not great. Our server took our order, but wouldn't show up for a while to check if we needed anything. We also ordered a second round of flatbread two times - but it never showed up. So hope the service gets better here. Now to the food: - Mediterranean plate: this is an assortment of different dips, and all of them are delicious. - Eggplant Parmesan flatbread: my favorite appetizer. It's so so good. Just order it without thinking. It's amazing. The caramelized onions added an incredible flavor. - Kadoo Borani: this is a squash dish and was ok. A bit too sweet for my liking. But if you like squash, definitely try it out. - Pesto Arugula Pasta: this is quite heavy and very filling. I loved the pesto flavor and this dish. Delicious. Overall, love this place. Tons of vegetarian options available, and the food is delicious. - Aushak: these are leak dumplings and were delicious. read more

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