My go to place in Santa Cruz.Parking garage 15' away. Diabled friendly. Prices are very reasonable. Quiet atmosphere. Staff is friendly even if you get there early. The food is oh so so good. Cocktails are tragically too tasty (yum) if no designated driver. I wish I could have ordered 20 cocktails!Mahalo Mozaic for Killa Grinds! read more

Mozaic - A Grapefruit Cosmo no cranberry with a sprig of mint on a floating island of candied lemon slice Yum!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I have been enjoying eating lamb the last couple months. So I ordered the lamb kebabs. with me being a Jewish descent I am getting in touch with the historical connection with my ancestors, raising sheep. after I was done eating lamb, it occurred to me Tonight is still passover, and the lamb has special significance in the story of Passover and in the sacrifices made at the Hebrew temple in Jerusalem. May all people of all different backgrounds eat good food. I had special dietary restrictions and I was so happy that the restaurant worked with me to give me what I wanted and needed. Good Service. read more

Very impressed! Hot fresh bread with a wonderful pesto dip was brought out immediately. The mezze plate had generous portions of really top tier falafel -- fresh, hot crispy and lightly fried--baba ghanoush which had a great lemony tang and nice chunks, great garlic, a super fresh hummus and warm dolmas and spanokopita (spinach and cheese filo dough pie), all served with warm fresh pita. Both the lentil soup and the smoked poblano soup were excellent and robust, perfect for a cool autumn evening. Shrimp kebabs were outstanding: the shrimp had been well marinated and then served flash hot, tender and juicy. Even though we were quite full from the other dishes, we overstuffed ourselves because the shrimp (with an excellent saffron rice and perfectly balanced tart fried greens) was so special. Service was friendly and assured. We sat outside in their parklet and enjoyed the setting sun and the outdoor heaters, which were brought out promptly as the air cooled. We are so glad to have a destination restaurant, which we can plan on going to after enjoying the Santa Cruz west cliff drive walk along the ocean. read more

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Fantastic Mediterranean food in an area that is otherwise pretty touristy. The food was absolutely delicious. Cocktails were less inspired and the service was not too speedy. That being said, once we got our food we were extremely happy with the quality of the food and the portion sizes. read more

Mozaic - Ap Middle Eastern Combo Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Really liked Mozaic. It's been a while I felt I had good Mediterranean food and therefore coming here and enjoying that was superb. I came here with my family and it was packed. The service was slow from time to time but our food got to us fairly quickly. It was a weekend so not sure if it usually gets this busy and less staffed. We enjoyed our food and the Falafals were some of the best ever. I have been to Middle East and tried Falafals there too so this was pretty awesome compared to that. Parking can be a problem in this area. We ended up taking a few rounds of the street and got a spot but it wasn't easy. Overall it was fun, food was good (depending on what you order) read more

This place totally needs some Gordon Ramsay's intervention. The food sucked! Pricy and very small serving! The pilaf smelled disgusting and was half cooked. The waitress serving us was very rude and condescending. We ordered pomegranate Mocktail, it was very watered down and barely any pomegranate! The dinning area smelled like pee and mold! DO NOT go here! If I could I would give this place -10! They don't deserve even one star! read more

This place is fantastic. A gem of delicious food downtown Santa Cruz with great ambiance. There it a lot of amazing food in SC unfortunately but Mozaic know how to create a meal with flavor and they don't cut corners. Come support this place and you won't be disappointed. Outdoor seating, full bar and all points in between for a romantic date night, family meal or private event. The service is exceptional, you can feel they care. read more

Stopped by for dinner with my partner and his brother. Solid spot, food was good and the service was nice. They also have a belly dancer who performs , which was cool. read more

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Love this place! Always great food made fresh. A family favorite is the Saganaki appetizer with pita. Last night we went there with family and everything was delicious and the belly dancer's show was a special treat. The hummus is authentic and the complimentary bread with walnut basil pesto is a great starter. read more

Mozaic - Greek Chicken Souvlaki - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Found this place on Yelp after a fun beach day in Santa Cruz. Parking is pretty cheap in the structure across the street but there's also opportunities for street parking. It's a really nice restaurant that would be good for upscale meals or date nights but they still welcomed us in our flip-flops anyway. They do have bathrooms too and they are clean and well maintained. The service is outstanding here! Every person I passed greeted me with a smile. We were seated promptly since it wasn't too crowded around 5 PM on a weekday, and the complimentary fresh hot bread and pesto dipping oil were absolutely divine. Our servers were extremely attentive and our water glasses were always refilled quickly before we noticed they were low. We split a Middle Eastern combo dish ($25) and they were so gracious to split it into two plates for us. The portions were quite generous, and the lamb was a stand out. We were so full and happy and the only disappointment was that we didn't have enough room in our stomachs to order everything else (really wanted to try the ravioli...maybe next time). If I had to find any note of constructive criticism, I would say that there should be more french fries with the gyro plate that my friend ordered. Really looking forward to coming back the next time we visit Santa Cruz so I can try everything else on the menu! Thank you Mozaic for a lovely experience. read more

Delicious food and cozy atmosphere! The braised lamb shank was incredibly tender and flavorful, paired perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed greens. The ravioli in pesto cream sauce stuffed with shrimp and crab meat was rich, aromatic, and generously topped with cheese -- absolutely satisfying. The fresh bread with herbed oil was a lovely touch, and the drinks were light and refreshing. Friendly service and a warm, welcoming vibe made the experience even better. Will definitely be back! read more

Mozaic - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Solid 5 Star Restaurant. The food was excellent! We got multiple items, and everything tasted delicious, and the quality of the food was consistent. Teh calamari was crunch and the hummus had a nutty flavor that was great. They had a belly dancer the night we were there. Totally unexpected. Lot's of fun. They also had a very good wine from Lebanon. Jay the owner was very accommodating and super nice. read more

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This is a popular place at a primary location with decent setup and food. We especially enjoyed cioppino. However they have a staffing problem where 50% of the seating is empty on a Saturday night due to short on staff. And the receptionist person is kind of rude to insist taking us to sit somewhere we don't prefer while we offer to wait... read more

Mozaic - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Went here as a last-minute place on a Saturday night and it was worth it! Right from walking in the hostess was extremely nice and we got seated right away which was great, we were greeted by our waitress and she was very helpful when it came to picking our dishes I got the arugula pesto pasta with chicken and my boyfriend got the middle eastern combo platter both were very delicious! The ambiance felt very intimate with the dim lighting and everything we saw was clean. Highly recommend this place! read more

Mozaic - Arugula Pesto Pasta - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I had a choice between two great restaurants, and I decided to go to Mozaic. The food was good, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the restaurant looks quite upscale while still offering reasonable prices. I have nothing bad to say about the place itself. However, the service left a negative impression. The waitress wasn't paying enough attention, and she brought me a dish I didn't order. When we pointed it out, she insisted that it was correct instead of trying to resolve the situation. Unfortunately, we had to pay extra because we ended up ordering the dish I originally wanted. I've been to many places, and I can honestly say I've never experienced this kind of service before. I'm sharing this because I truly hope the restaurant owners will be more careful when selecting their staff. Good service is just as important as good food. In my opinion, this particular woman may not be suited for working with guests. read more

We decided to stop by Mozaic because of its great reviews. The good: the fried calamari was very crispy and I loved the sauce. My friend liked his meats in the combo plate. The complimentary bread with pesto was very tasty. The gyro meat was ok, it is different from the usual kind that we see in strips. The ones here come in chunks. The ok: Cioppino The bad: the pita was hard as a rock for both the combo plate as well as the gyro. The paella was meh. I looked at my friends dish and realized that the paella wasn't like what I thought - cooked in a huge cast iron pot etc but rather the yellow pilaf rice (served with plates) tossed with the seafood and chicken. Also their mussel quality is doubtful. The first one I had was a bad one and so stopped eating it. My friend also later found a bad one in her Cioppino. read more

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Great food and amazing service! We stopped by for dinner on a Friday evening. We didn't have reservations but the hostess was very friendly and efficient, and was able to sit us with only a 10-15 minute wait. We ordered the mussels and clams as an appetizer. We are still talking about how good they were. The steaming broth was delicious; we had to get more bread to fully enjoy it. We also had the chicken kebabs, butternut squash ravioli, and the Greek salad with grilled shrimp. The chicken was flavorful and served with a nice portion of rice, sautéed greens and a dinner salad. The entree Greek salad was very good with fresh produce. The ravioli were in a sauce that was way too rich and overwhelmed the delicate butternut squash flavor. Our server was very attentive and friendly. She made sure we had everything we needed. Great experience! read more

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Came here for a pre-triathlon meal, wanting something relatively clean and protein heavy. Mozaic did not disappoint! We sat outside, which was chillier than I expected in mid September! But, chalk that up to being a Santa Cruz noob! The street itself is a little noisy, at least on Saturday evening, when there were multiple classic cars doing the rounds. We shared the mezze plate and followed that with the lamb and beef kebabs. These were cooked to perfection over a bed of saffron rice. No complaints. Loved our waitress too! read more

Mozaic - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The 3 of us shared a small Mezza Platter, I had salmon burger, another had chicken soulvaka, and the other a lamb burger. It was santa cruz burger week. All were good. And the service was spectacular. Our waitress was absolutely the best. read more

Tucked away in the heart of Santa Cruz, this upscale Mediterranean eatery serves up all the Mediterranean favorites like mezze platters, kebabs, and lamb. It was evident they specialized in seafood, as all of their seafood dishes were extraordinarily fresh and perfectly prepared. They also offered a variety of pasta options such as crab or lamb ravioli, pesto or spaghetti entrees and a few other interesting pasta dishes. The saganaki, a tableside flambéed cheese, was a nice touch that enhanced the atmosphere. I highly recommend this restaurant - they had good service and many great choices at reasonable prices. read more

After a nice walk in the Henry Cowell state park we got so hungry that we decided to go to a sushi place but it was busy there and we didn't get a seat. So we decided to come here for lunch. There were eight of us seated. The bread with sauce that was served as complimentary was delicious while we were waiting for our food. Our server was busy but she got all our orders along with the special tea. The food was delicious and we all enjoyed it. read more

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This place is a more recent find by a colleague who loves Mediterranean food and it became a new love of the group. Have been here a few times and sampled many dishes on the menu. I would say here you come for the ambience over the food. The restaurant is located in a real lovely area of downtown Santa Cruz and sitting outsides on a nice day is stellar. You can probably find better Mediterranean food in the Bay Area, but not the ambience! Their drinks are all pretty good, highly recommend the mint tea here, it is made with mint leaves and honey not tea bags! Food wise, we like the fried calamari (cause why not everyone loved fried calamari). They really try to sell the Mediterranean combo plate but I would avoid it (the chicken is really not very good, avoid any chicken dish if you can). The ground beef skewers are okay, gyros are good, hummus is delicious. Favorite is the pistachio pudding dessert, apparently people either love it or hate it (I love it!) There is also belly dancing every Friday night for folks who want some exotic flavors with their food! read more

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This place was listed as the best Mediterranean in town and it did not disappoint! We stopped by and sat on their outside patio from the front. There were a few patio tables, maybe 5-6. We brought our dogs and they were kind enough to promptly brought out water bowls for them. We ordered two wraps and they were absolutely heavenly. I recommend the chicken, and my husbands falafel was on point. Next time we'll stop in to try the drinks too! read more

Mozaic - Entry - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Chris 5/5 Ari 4.5/5 Total 4.75 Bread with pesto FREE AND DELICIOUS, pesto is really good 5/5 Greek Chicken Souvlaki 5/5 Rice had really good flavor and texture Service 5/5: super friendly 必點：Greek chicken souvlaki 超好吃！ read more

Mozaic - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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First time eating here. Recommended by family members. The food was very tasty and served by friendly wait staff. The restaurant was clean and welcoming. The restroom was also well kept. We will definitely return here. read more

Mozaic - Falafel wrap and salad. - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Maybe I should have ordered the lamb shank but I didn't want to eat heavy at the moment. So, I opted for the Greek salad with gyros. It wasn't on par with my expectations but It was tasty though. When I think Greek salad, I envision lots of cucumbers and tomatoes and olives and feta cheese. While it did have those ingredients they weren't as plentiful as I expected based on Greek salads I've had from other Mediterranean places. Nice restaurant in a nice location though. I will try again next time I'm in the area perhaps for a lamb shank dinner instead. read more

Mozaic - Front of restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This place deserves attention. From the simple things such as warm bread served with a pesto dipping oil to the complexities in their delicious Greek-style Eggplant moussaka, this place is to die for (dine for... had my chance.) This is among our favorite Mediterranean spots in all of California and we would make special trips here for a good time. Their hummus is smooth and garlicky. And their salad has just the right sweet and savory to get you going. Almost forgot to share that their gyros is sliced thick yet no less delicious and their rice has this umami that can't be explained. read more

Mozaic - Follow them at @Mozaic.SC The SC being for Santa Cruz - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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It's pretty basic Mediterranean wood service was slow convenient to downtown Santa Cruz entertainment venues

I've supported this place for years but I think I'm done. I've had my bachlorette and many birthday parties here. Tonight my husband and myself and our 7 yr old ate here. I ordered a kids meal for my kid... chicken Slovakia. So the bill comes and she charged us for the adult chicken Slovakia even though it's under a different name! Kids is $11 and adult is $28 I think? She goes you should have specified and called it by name... which we did! Wtf? After going back and forth she wouldn't budge and said o'well, next time clarify. How much more clarification do you need that I ordered the kids meal BY THE NAME ON THE MENU and it was for my 7 year old. Wtf. I couldn't believe she wouldt budge even though SHE was in the wrong. Left a super bad taste in my mouth and I just don't think I want to support them anymore. read more

Delicious food - tried the mezza platter, Greek chicken souvlaki, Turkish kafta kebab. Meat was very well-flavored. Good service, server was attentive and helpful. Beautiful seating area and decor. Highly recommend! read more

Interesting amalgam of Mediterranean dishes- from paella to moussaka, and many things in between. We were seated right under a speaker, and with my mom and dad already wearing hearing aids and both having trouble with background noise, we were off to a great start. They were kind enough to turn it down slightly until the belly dancer came out for 10 minutes, when it was amped up even higher. Oy. Food was decent- pretty large portions. It's a totally solid choice, but if you are a connoisseur of Mediterranean, you know there's a lot even better out there. It got the job done. Dessert of pistachio pudding was unusual - more like a custard or flan, and tasty. read more

I found the opportunity to break out of the quarantine lifestyle for a day visit to the beach. Before, heading that way, my guy and I were craving a gyro. My trusty Yelp app led me to Mozaic! What a gem! The guy on the phone appeared to be the owner/manager. He was super friendly and grateful we were there. I peered inside at the restaurant interiors which was decked out in Morroccan/Arabic style motifs. This place would be great for a date night. We both ordered the same gyro wrap with pita bread. I had a Greek salad with mine, and he had fries. We also ordered the grilled octopus with lemon and capers. He paired up a nice bottle of sauvignon blanc for us and provided some paper sippy cups for our lunch also. OMG, this might be one of the best gyros we've every had. The meats were thick and juicy. The veggies were all so fresh. I had every last bit of my Greek salad. There was some garlicky green oil dip for the extra pita bread which I had to finish. The octopus was light, tasty and pliable. This was the perfect lunch by the beach! I'd love to dine in once the paranoia subsides. read more

Mozaic - Take-out Lunch: gyro wrap, Greek salad and grilled octopus- sooooo delicious - especially outside in the coastal sun - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This spot is a taste bud's paradise! The food is always fantastic and comes in generous portions. Everything we have tried over many visits is delicious. Whatever you order, make sure to try the artichoke starter! The cocktails are strong and fabulous, and they've got a solid wine selection. The servers are top-notch - friendly, quick, and on point. Plus, the owner is super nice and always around. Highly recommend for a great dining experience! read more

Mozaic - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Excellent food! Nice ambiance not noisy. High prices because it is located in a tourist area.

Nice place in heart of downtown Santa Cruz. Ordered a couple of lamb dishes and the Mezze platter. Everything was great and service was even better. Enjoyable belly dancing added to the fun read more

Was in the mood for some food and a drink so we came into this restaurant excited to try something new. We got greeted very nicely and sat right away by a nice lady. A younger gentleman took our drink order which we never received and still got added to the bill and when it was mentioned the waiter didn't even apologize at all. We ordered calamari and the jumbo prawns. The calamari was delicious probably the best I've ever had. We wanted to order more food but after our drink incident we decided to go spend our money somewhere else. read more

I give four stars for the location, and how clean it is. Regarding the food and service still need improvement . There was only two tables at the time we came. Bread for a party of 7 only 4pieces while we waited for long time for the food . We kept asking for Bread and only served two more times at only 4pieces at the time. After all food came to table waiter said to my they are out of some ingredients for his dish so to order something else . Really? Wish they would have noticed it before we placed the order. Out of all of us the only dishes that was good as per my family members the Paella . read more

What a culinary treat...The food was delicious! Also, the service was impeccable. We ate outside and it was just lovely, and the ambiance inside looked nice, too. Definitely order the appetizer plate (meza). I had the roasted salad which was so tasty. The rest of the table ordered various wraps and my husband ordered the lamb plate. We were all highly satisfied and oh btw, order the Turkish coffee. It's legit! read more

We went to Mozaic during restaurant week in Santa Cruz and was a bit underwhelmed by our food selection. The first item you choose is the appetizer, and I had the spanakopita. The filo dough was undercooked and still doughy, and had very little filling. My partner had the shrimp, which were very flavorful, and cooked in a light buttery sauce and well seasoned. For our main dish, I had the salmon with rice and spinach. This dish did not have any Mediterranean seasoning and tasted just as good as what we could cook at home. It was disappointing to come out for dinner to get a mediocre dish like this. I was hoping to try a dish that made me excited for every bite. This was not the case. The best thing about the dinner was their pistachio pudding dessert. It obviously just came out of the freezer since it was very cold. Though it's saving grace was the interesting flavor of sweet pistachio. I enjoyed it immensely. read more

Mozaic - Pistachio pudding - Mediterranean Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We visited Mozaic on a Sunday (late) afternoon, after a day of hiking. It was that awkward time between lunch and dinner, so the restaurant was mostly empty and our party of 3 was seated right away. The interior was spacious and nicely decorated, but not in a trendy way. Our server was sweet/attentive and quickly brought us menus and complimentary bread with a tasty pesto dip. We decided to skip drinks and ordered the Grilled Octopus starter to share - very good, my favorite part of the meal! Both my friends ordered Falafel Wrap Sandwich and I chose the Lamb Kebab. The food came out fairly quickly and overall, it was pretty good. I enjoyed my kebab and side greek salad, but the cooked vegetables it came with (I think kale?) were not great. My friends enjoyed Falafel Wrap Sandwich, but both wished it was more flavorful. They ended up requesting Tzatziki sauce to dip it in, which really improved the dish. Overall, good not great! read more

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