Everything was simply amazing! From the service, the comfortable atmosphere, to the incredible food. We indulged in delicious cocktails, 2 delicious appetizers: the stracciatella and foccia, and the peaches with prosciutto and Parmesan. They had the best Caesar salad we've ever had (better than the Zuni cafe even). We also enjoyed a pasta dish (beef dumplings in tomato sauce) and a Genovese and pistachio pesto pizza. We didn't really have room for dessert but had to try them anyway. The lemon curd with pistachio was divine as was the affogato. We will be back next time we are in Santa Cruz! read more

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Good: - marg pizza - trenette bolognese - ravioli (wouldn't get it again cuz not my palate) - strachiatella Meh: - root vegetables Black cod was weird, like it seemed nice but we all thought the fish was too slimy, too...alive? Too recently slaughtered? But I mean, maybe we're just not cool enough to appreciate it lol. read more

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Food was great, drinks were great. The fancy pizza oven! Best gnocchi ever. Like biting into a cloud. Mushroom sauce was tasty Surprised they only 2 options for meat & seafood entrée read more

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Lunch was fantastic! Wine list: 5 stars, stracciatella: 5 stars, pesto Genovese pizza: 5 stars. Super fresh ingredients all around. Pizza crust was chewy and toasty, service was friendly and attentive, and we will definitely be back! Indoor and outdoor seating available, full bar, wood-fired oven, bright and airy atmosphere. read more

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4% surcharge. 4/5: The Genovese pizza $26 was a daily special, with pesto, pistachio, ricotta, moz, basil. the flavors were great. But their Neapolitan pizza has a very soft crust; it's very pillowy, with very little char on the bottom. There is not enough contrast between the crust and the toppings; you can't tell where the crust ends and where the toppings begin. I prefer Neapolitan pizza with more chew on the crust and char on the bottom, like at Pizzeria Delfina, Che Fico, and Doppio Zero. 5/5: Eggplant appetizer $20. Perfectly seared/caramelized eggplant, with just enough chili to give it a boost. 2/5: Lemon curd dessert $12, with fior di latte gelato and pistachio praline. This dessert doesn't work. The super intense lemon curd obliterates the subtle flavors of the fior di latte gelato; they should never be served together. Don't get this dessert; instead, just get a single scoop of the fior di latte gelato, which is 5/5 excellent $9 Random points: - My table was wobbling like a tilt-a-whirl because the weld connecting the base to the post failed. - When they deliver the bill, they stick it to a small metal tray using a magnet. That risks de-magnetizing the stripe on my credit card. read more

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Went to Aptos for their 4th of July festival but was intrigued by this peach sorbet colored restaurant. So glad that I checked it out! The ambience was perfect summer vibes, the food was absolutely delicious, and the wine selection was perfect. Definitely recommend sharing so you can try several plates. Their special was a bluefin crudo that was amazing. Unfortunately we went during lunch hours so we couldn't try a dessert. Highly recommend! read more

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Lovely restaurant with fabulous service. Homey and comfortable yet still a little fancy. Open kitchen, high ceilings and an Italy-meets-France vibe. I loved it. Offerings were diverse and plentiful. Once again, I was struck with wanting all of the things. My server was accommodating with my request to taste two different white wines and two different reds throughout my meal. I opted for the Chardonnay to go with the special halibut crudo, which was outstandingly prepared. The fish itself was a bit on the fishy side (especially for halibut) but I don't fault the restaurant. The treatment of the fish was perfection. I'm a bit of a Caesar salad aficionado and considered skipping Mentone's mostly because I'd just enjoyed one the night before. But I just had to try it and I'm glad I did. It was certainly not traditional but it was very well made, even better with the added anchovies ~ although I did suffer some sticker shock when I got the bill and found that those little fish were $2 each. Ooof. Switched gears to some Pinot Noir and went for the ricotta sage browned butter ravioli, which were fabulous. I probably should have stopped there but ordered the tiramisu and it was a miss for me. Just way (way) too boozy and totally lacked balance, although it was pretty. All in all, a very nice experience ~ although very pricey for a single diner. Appetizer, salad (with the pricey little fishies), entree, dessert and two 5-ounce pours of wine left my wallet $185 lighter (with tax, tip and 4% kitchen wages surcharge). I know everything is very expensive these days, but whoa. Definitely a special occasion kind of place! read more

Mentone - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

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This review is much over due. While the visit was a bit ago... the memory is like yesterday. It was that satisfying. Elegant, classy and romantic. Full bar, casual atmosphere with exceptional food. Brought to you by Michelin Chef David Kinch and Santa Cruz local. Mentone is located in the newer Aptos Village area. A sweet addition to the Santa Cruz region dining scene. My food was delicious. An elevated and untraditional caesar salad started off the meal. I loved it! Radicchio... yum. Then the star of the show. A wood-fired, delectable Margherita pizza. Crust soooo fantastic. Memorable to the last bite. And of course an unforgettable, lovely Italian red with which to savor it all. Service was impeccable. Professional and our waitperson was knowledgeable about everything Mentone. Checking in just at the right times. She definitely added to the pleasing rhythm of the meal. The ambiance is stunning. Low lights and exquisite art work. Nice spacing between seating. My fondest memory... being able to meet David Kinch and share a photo at his very cool bar! Such a nice and approachable person. I want to go back soon! 2026 here I come:). You will want to also. read more

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Overall positive experience at Mentone! The stracciatella was fantastic, with very high quality olive oil on it. Loved the focaccia that came with it, too. The pizza was really decent for the area, too. The only thing I wished was that it had more marbling. The sauce and crust were both excellent though, definitely some of the better pizza in the area! The ox tail was decent, though not mindblowing. Similar to the desserts, all decent but not amazing. Similar to other reviews the only thing I would say is that everything felt ~20% more expensive than it should have been. The food was quite good, but at the pricepoint I'm not sure I'd return. read more

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Delicious food (see photo captions), great service, and a comfortable, cozy atmosphere! Highly recommend! read more

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Food is not terrible but the portion is very small tho. I ordered black cod (see photo) & it came with almost no sides & a small piece of fish. Pizza is not bad but on the more salty side. Pasta is not bad in flavor but pricy with small portion & no protein. Dessert is not great. Salt in the dessert is not distributed evenly so you may taste some saltier part. On top of that they charged 4% extra service fee which is included in the taxable subtotal ~ if you're into presentation ~ well, really not much to see either ~ in all, not worth it read more

Mentone - $42 Black cod ... tiny - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

The service and drinks were great. The pasta is bland af. This place needs seasonings for the love of God. The gnocchi is edible! read more

Condensed menu but still very hard to choose an item. The Focaccia is the best on planet Earth. Everything is prepared with fresh ingredients and amazing care. We have traveled Extensively to Europe and the one common thread with most European cuisine is fresh, lively, and memorable. Mentone creates that same sensation. read more

Took my mother here years ago; the restaurant has been consistently on-point (i.e. great food, customer service, etc.) Always a must if you seldom visit Aptos Village. read more

We have eaten several times at Mentone with mixed experiences. The wonderful and very large Caesar salad and an order of focaccia bread have made it almost worthwhile. However, we have been disappointed several times at both the limited choice of entrees and the cost vs satisfaction. Last night may have been our last visit there. $41 for a very small piece of black cod on top of a tasteless sauce was bad enough, but there were also issues with the service. Our server mixed up our order and rather than being apologetic became defensive and hostile. The overly lemon and overly crunchy lemon curd dessert did not help. Sorry not to return, but we will find another "go to" restaurant with better ambiance, service, food and value for our money. read more

Our server Sandra was amazing, as was the food! We loved the bean soup (lemony and lots of umami) and lemon curd dessert. I also really enjoyed my walnut-cream pansotti (like a ravioli). My partner loved his cod dish as well. read more

This place blew me away. I was on a local girls trip in Santa Cruz and my friend made us a reservation here for dinner. Everyone from the hostess to our waitress was super friendly and the food was phenomenal. I had the mentone martini which I highly recommend. For food we ordered the Margherita pizza, sardenaira pizza, arugula salad, eggplant starter (my fav!), stracciatella (yum!) and broccolini. While everything was delicious I absolutely loved the eggplant. Overall, it was the perfect setting for me and my high school besties to catch up and have a wonderful night. Thank you Mentone! I hope to be back soon! read more

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What a great place in Aptos Village. When you walk in the restaurant is nice and bright and welcoming. My boyfriend and I visited on a Friday evening. We luckily found a spot at the bar and ordered drinks and the stracciatella with local olive oil and focaccia. OMG this was delicious! I would come back here just for this! We also had the margherita pizza with mozzarella di bufala and parmigiano reggiano. This was rather tasty too! The staff was very attentive and friendly throughout our visit. Overall a great spot and I highly recommend it if you're in the area! read more

Mentone - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

Focaccia bread was magnificent. Eggplant appetizer was perfectly seasoned and very tasty. Sungold pizza was simple, elegant and delicious. And the Farm Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon was superb. But I wanted to give a special shoutout to our server, Kat, who made our dining experience a delight. She was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu and made us feel welcomed and important. Thank you! read more

This was our second time dining at the restaurant. Our first visit was back in 2020 during Covid, when we sat outside. We'd been wanting to return to experience the indoor ambiance, so we decided to visit again for my birthday. Unfortunately, the restaurant did nothing to acknowledge the occasion, which was disappointing. The cocktails were excellent, and the pizza was delicious. However, the portion size of the gnocchi felt small for the price. Service was inconsistent. Our server disappeared for long stretches, and we noticed several staff members gathered behind the bar chatting. I asked a server to describe one of their sparking wines & she was unable to do so. She mumbling something, then walked away. Overall, the experience fell short of expectations. A simple gesture, like a candle on the dessert, would have gone a long way. Sadly, we won't be back. read more

Mentone - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

Love love love Mentone! What a gem in the heart of Aptos Village. Chef Grubbs creates not only delectable Italian fare, but also beautiful plates as well. I've always appreciated plates that consider the visual of a contrasting colorful drizzle on a plate or the impressive towering shavings of cheese on a salad, for example. They're beautiful without trying to be. Right when you step inside, the restaurant transports you to Italy with its large room, filled with the sounds of happy people eating, and framed posters decorating the walls. Mentone is one of the only restaurants where everything I order is delicious, from salad to dessert. Everything. And the service is always excellent and authentically homey. Mentone is truly a special place. read more

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We were the first to arrive at 5 and asked for a to go order. We called ahead of time but they don't take to go orders on the phone. We ordered a gluten free Bolognese and a regular Bolognese, soup and Caesar salad. We waited for 50 minutes and watched food coming out of the kitchen for the seated diners. $129 later, portions were small. Hardly any meat in either Bolognese. The GF pasta was so salty we could not eat it. Will not visit here again. read more

Mentone - Cesar salad (is it?) GF Bolognese and regular Bolognese. Soup - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

Amazing food we loved it! Their pizzas and pasta are fire! Me and partner would go back.

Excellent service but ...the food was less than exciting. Ordered chioppino and a pizza. That was not chioppino. Please try harder. read more

Food was delish and service was really good. I loved the fact that the pasta dishes were not only sublime but they were a reasonable size. You felt like you were eating a special dish. read more

I've been here a few times now, including one instance at the bar for cocktails and light bites. The food here is consistently excellent, as you would expect from a place started by a 3* Michelin chef. The irony is, I have yet to have the pizza here. I will try on my 4th visit - I promise :). One of my favorites here is the polenta - such great flavors and texture. The cocktails here are also meticulously and deliciously prepared. Mentone will not disappoint! read more

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I heard about this place from multiple foodie friends and it definitely did not disappoint! Incredible service and even better food and drinks. read more

Terrible service, the pizza we got was just uninspired and burnt. It's a bland excessively expensive menu, with small drink and food portions. Also a Hidden 4% kitchen service charge. We had to wave our waitress down for service, multiple time and even though it was on the reservation and I politely reminded the hostess, they did nothing for a birthday. We won't be back. You should go elsewhere too. read more

I hate to write such a bad review for a local spot but we have given Mentone multiple shots and last night was the final straw. The portion sizes are crazy small for a non-coursed meal. My daughters each had the ravioli and it looked like a toddler portion-literally 7 very small raviolis. My lamb was tough and exactly three bites with lentils that were terribly salty. The menu options are pretty limited-only a lamb and a fish (overpriced cod) for entrees other than pasta or a pizza-no beef or chicken. The chef's curated salame appetizer most definitely came out of packages from the grocery store and slapped onto a wooden serving tray. It's like they're not even trying. I'm super bummed because even after our appetizers, salad, and "entrees" we were still hungry and literally ordered food from another restaurant to be delivered to our house so we had a meal when we got there. $340 bucks to order another meal is insane. One star for the very nice hostess. read more

Mentone is always a 10/10. Staff, food, service is always excellent! The margarita pizza is a standout. read more

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Came here for my graduation dinner expecting a great experience. A family member previously managed this location, so I came in with high expectations. After staring at the lackluster menu for fifteen minutes and having my request to substitute the lentils that come with the rack of lamb denied, I eventually settled on the black cod, the only other protein option on the menu. The waitress mentioned she had never tried it herself due to a food allergy. Unfortunately, the dish was one of the worst restaurant meals I have ever been served. In front of me was what appeared to be a roughly 2 ounce piece of cod that seemed undercooked, sitting in a sauce that reminded me of SpaghettiOs or Chef Boyardee, accompanied by just three green beans. The price? $45. I immediately sent it back and ordered the ravioli instead. That was not much better. The portion consisted of only seven tiny ravioli, each about an inch square. By the end of the meal, I left feeling disappointed, unsatisfied, and still hungry. The one redeeming aspect of the experience was the service. Our waitress and the staff taking care of my family's table were friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the evening. Unfortunately, great service alone could not make up for the quality and value of the food. read more

Great service, very attentive and quick service. Right when we got there they asked what kind of water we wanted. Server explained specials to us and she recommended some starters as well and yummy drinks. Will be back soon! It's such a cute little fun place inside even though it's still fancy. read more

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Been wanting to try this place out for some time now, and finally got the chance. It was a bit of a colder night with drizzle, so it was indoor seating only. We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation, and were told we couldn't get seated until the time we reserved. It did look pretty busy, and seems like seating is somewhat limited. We were quickly greeted by our server, who walked us through the menu. We went with a Margherita pizza and a Caesar. I believe all food options are meant to share. The Margherita was delicious, I just wish it had a bit more cheese. They did offer to add some type of special cheese, but I decided to opt out of it. The Caesar was delicious. I loved the croutons. Parking is limited, but there is some street parking. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience here and am extremely happy with the food! read more

Mentone - Caesar - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

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The service was amazing! From the moment you walk in, the wonderful people who work there are working to make the experience great! Love the inviting and Italian ambiance. I highly recommend ordering the Manresa bread and stracciatella! The Negroni is on point too! There was a great buttery fish we also ordered with our appetizers but I don't remember what it was called. read more

Mentone is our go-to spot for celebrating, every single time! The space is open and airy, the art is effortlessly cool, and the whole place hums with that perfect mix of energy and ease. We never skip the Caesar, and if the ravioli makes an appearance, it's non-negotiable. Yes, the portion is small, but each piece is a delicate, flavor-packed pillow that absolutely earns its place on the table. We've also enjoyed the oysters, pizza, and eggplant. Honestly, it's hard to go wrong here. Dessert is a ritual: the decaf affogato (bless them for the decaf espresso) is a must, and a recent lemon mousse with pistachios was bright, balanced, and memorable. The service seals the deal: warm, personable, and perfectly attentive without ever hovering. And here's a pro tip: no reservation? Show up a little early and you'll likely snag a bar seat. Once it fills, they switch to a waitlist system, so you can relax without anyone hovering over your shoulder. It's the kind of place that makes any night feel like an occasion, and we are thrilled to have it so close by! read more

Had the Sardenaira Pizza. Warning it has no cheese which they fail to mention. And has the nerve to charge 27 dollars! I mentioned that I was not happy and they offered graded Parmesan cheese. That's not more mozzarella!!!! read more

The eggplant appetizer was hands down the best eggplant I've ever eaten. We followed with an arugula salad, that was bright and crisp. The soppressata pizza was highly recommended and did not disappoint. Just the perfect amount of spice. Finished with the lemon curd which just writing about makes my mouth water. Can't wait to come back! read more

Mentone - Old Fashioned - Italian Near Me - Aptos, California

We had tried coming a few times but never had reservations and didn't want to wait. It's definitely worth the wait! Great cocktails, appetizers, and food! The building is beautiful and classy and the artwork is great. read more

5 stars just for the eggplant. All the food was good but as an eggplant hater, this restraints eggplant has single handedly changed my mind. It has a special place in my cherished food memories. read more

Been wanting to come here since they opened. Pizza was good and the Cesar salad was very cheesy/Parmesan Cheese. The Gazpacho soup was excellent. Drinks was good read more

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