Service is bad , but what can you expect from college kids. My order was wrong and the student had an attitude she had to make another drink. That's her job, makes drinks. Why is it a problem if the cashier wrote the ticket wrong ? Overly sweet and made with an eye roll. Go to a real cafe this place stinks read more

Oakes Cafe - Overly sweet drink but can't ask to be remade because they already have attitudes - Cafes Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Just as a brief disclaimer, I've asked a bunch of people about where the best food is on the UCSC campus, and most people say that it changes year to year just based on who works there, but right now, I would say it is one of my favorite food spots on campus! Menu Options I've had their Cheesy Chicken Pesto (8/10), Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich (8/10), Basic Burger (5/10), Chicken Tender Sandwich (6/10), and even some of their breakfast options. Their French Toast Sticks, Loaded Hashbrowns, and Manresa Breakfast Burrito are some good menu options, and a vegetarian friend absolutely loves the Quesadilla with Grilled Veggies. There definitely is a little bit for everyone here! I would also recommend that people check their food before leaving. I've had times when getting multiple items where they forgot to include a whole item or give me salad dressing. It's not too big of a deal since they were great with providing me the item when I brought my receipt back to them, but for those who don't like having to deal with this, just a notice that it could happen and has happened on multiple occasions. Wait time for food It definitely depends on when you go and what you order. I would say I've usually waited on the lower end of 10-25 minutes, but my experience may not be everyone's! Ambiance (as a study spot) I've studied both inside and outside, and it's my go-to study spot at Oakes! It can get quite loud during peak hours, but that's only if you are sitting inside, and it's nothing some music can't fix. There are outlets next to some of the tables which is great as well! Be careful before putting your stuff down on the tables especially as I've found many a crumb on them. Whenever I've studied at the tables right outside of Oakes, I've loved the outdoor view and it's pretty quiet. There is some foot traffic which helps it not be too quiet (at least for me)! Overall For those who don't want to read the full thing, I would say it's a pretty good place to grab something to bite (recommend some of their Specialties) and study. They have usually had some table open each time I went but it can get pretty busy (line out the door). read more

Pretty good food place here on campus. My go to order is the chicken tender sandwich with fries! read more

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The food was mediocre at best. The first time I went, I got a hot chocolate and it seemed like it could have been made from a package. For the second time I decided to try a rice bowl which was not good. Although the food was hot and the chicken was decent, the "thai green sauce" was more like a paste and had less flavor. I might be willing to try their sandwiches, burgers or other foods but was not impressed by it so far. At least the atmosphere and decor was nice. The service was not good either. It took my friend like an hour to get her food! read more

They no give me ranch on my tenders. Line very long. Food takes two hours. Ran out of rice bowls. Bad customer service. read more

Oakes Cafe - Tenders with no ranch - Cafes Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

OOAKES!!! my oakes pride is unwavered. but my taste buds no longer yearn for this place. the menu continues to get a little pricier, a little more less love put into the food, and the overall crave just disappearing. Maybe because I had a 55 meal plan and I ate here practically everyday. but still. The other day I went in to order my usual Grilled Vegan Chicken Sandwich with a side of fries. Usually cost me $6. now, it costs me $7.50. why why why?? because "food costs have gone up" (I asked the staff) and now instead of charging you $1.50 for a side of fries, they charge you the full $2.75...for a HANDFUL of fries. ok ok, whatever. I still expect a delicious veggie chicken burger! WRONG. they replaced the delicious fried chicken with this white flavorless, stringy, tiny lump of "fake chicken." Just because I'm veg doesn't mean I like flavorless things! yuck! also, the gave me the end of the bucket for fries...so tiny burnt fries were what I received. also, skip the fries. had them one too many times and I never desire to eat them again. The veggie sub and peanut noodle bowl is still decently tasty. I think I'm just over campus food. This is still the place to go when you're sick of Joe's. However, I'm going for my sack lunch from now on. Meals, flexis, card, and cash are accepted here. read more

OOooooh How Much I will Miss Thee Oakes Cafe is definitely ranked #2, falling just short of Owl's Nest for the best food at UCSC. Everything at this Cafe is cooked to perfection and tastes great! By far, the best thing to get is the Guacamole Burger. Ok it is kinda pricey. But 8 dollars for a burger and Curly Fries, is not that bad considering everything else on campus. (It is about 7 dollars for a plain turkey sandwich and drink at College 8 Cafe). Everything from their burgers, fries, to their chicken tenders are a winner in my book. I used to come here with my roommate from College Eight just to grab a bite of the Guacamole Burger. It has been two years since I bought it again. When I bought the burger and fries, I definitely was the guy in the Carl's Junior Commercial where I strategical planned how I was going to devour this burger. I first laid out the BBQ Sauce and Ranch to the left. (Always ask for these two sauces otherwise they will never give it to you). Then I unwrapped the burger and examined the product. The Curly fries were nestled far into the bag, and when I took out the basket of fries out of the bag, a couple stragglers were left behind. But they always do make for a pleasant surprise when your finished with everything. Afterwords, I preceded for the Guac-Burger. It was amazing!!! As I was eating it gave me profound memories of College. I walked all the way from College 9/10 and then walked all the way back to eat it. I walked from Oakes Cafe, Up Science Hill and back to College 9/10, just for this burger. This is what I call dedication or fat ass. Overall, Great Place, Great Food, Great People, The lines are always a pain in the ass, but its all worth it for the Guac-Burger! read more

Super close by to my apartment and has a good variety of options for some late night meals. Highly recommended for Oakes residents to try.

This was one of my favorite places to eat on campus. I love their sandwiches/subs/burgers/breakfast burritos but my favorite thing to eat here is the chicken ceasar wrap, it's so big and totally worth the price and not only that but so yummy! There are always a lot of people here and they play music, the music is very fun and upbeat I would say. Definitely come here if you want to eat on campus. read more

When I was a student it was a taqueria.. then the couple who were running Kresge Cafe took over for a period of time (I also worked there for a minute).. then I guess the dining hall service operates it... Whatever keeps my hs students happy... the espresso is mainly what I go for when up on campus...this place happens to fulfill that avoid. I would concur it is rather pricey... much has changed in my old stomping ground since I was there.. I have some found memories of that space... read more

Needless to say, I eat the food from here A LOT and its great!! I like their bacon cheeseburger (you can substitute onions for onion rings!), chicken tender sandwich (which also has bacon in it!), chicken tenders, fries, iced tea, and chocolate croissants. Oh and the staff is really nice too. Hands down, my favorite place to grab a bite to eat on campus! :) read more

Alright, so this is probably one of the less healthy dining establishments on campus...but that doesn't matter. The burgers here are legit. Try the chicken bacon ranch, or the guacamole burger. Both of them are very tasty. The curly fries are definitely good, but if the regular fries were the seasoned fries there was no reason to pay more because those fries were already good. This place has been changing a lot since I first started at UCSC. They used to have a "late night only menu," Ribs, and different entrees. They've been revamping for students and now have all these candy/ice cream choices, sweet smoothies (mmmm peach mango), and just little extras to put a smile on your face. When I was in College 8 dorms, I'd never even heard of this spot. Though, had I actually known this place was right down the hill I would have NEVER wasted my money at college 8 café. And if you are on a 55/75 meal plan, this place is a nice respite from the dining hall. I think this place can be best utilized for study munchies. Seriously. Open Late with a big selection. They have been expanding the menu, per request of the students, and they have some pretty good additions. If you aren't craving their burgers, chicken, grilled cheese with bacon, nachos....they have added the pasta and grilled veggie plates to combat the moderately healthy owls nest. It is a tad expensive, but not really relatively to the other places on campus that accept meals...expect to use the full 8 on your main meals without much extra impulse buying. I have yet to try breakfast here, but if you are going to do breakfast I recommend owls nest. It has a huge selection and most of the things are pretty decent actually--like a real restaurant; not just campus dining. Also, Oakes has some pretty sweet chill out stuff to do. It's a nice place to come back and chat with friends. Maybe watch TV. Maybe play foosball. They have good music (generally the music of the student workers) so its just a nice spot to chill--sometimes there is even an epic view out the window. So even if you are on the other side of campus, come by and check it out. It is a tasty little burger joint, with a lot of local and cultural flair. Some people often miss it because its out on the perimeter where a lot of students never visit once, but you should at least try it just to say you have tried it all. read more

One of the better eateries available to you on-campus. Open late night! Anything fried is good (which is the usual case with food on-campus). My personal favorite are the chicken tenders. It USED to be the blackened salmon salad which was a nice light guilt-free meal. HOWEVER, one time (just once!) I had a BUTTERFLY IN MY SALAD. Not, not alive. but the soggy wings blended in the spring greens quite efficiently. Regardless, the body was noticed and I was thoroughly disgusted. The staff was extremely kind about it and offered me (and the others I was with who also ordered the salad) something else on the menu free of charge to replace it. We all opted for the chicken tenders. Battered and Fried to a crisp - not even a bug could taste that horrible. It seemed to be the safest choice overall (not in the long-run but for that moment - yes!). I enjoy their fries too since they are seasoned. They're kinda like straight curly fries. So! Give this place a try if you can, be wary of the fresh food. Opt for something greasy - healthy choices are limited anyhow. Eat in since there is always ample clean space. read more

Finding a good place to eat on campus may be a little difficult especially at UCSC. Oakes Cafe is one of the better places to eat at along with Owl's Nest. They have a variety of options but I always go with the Chicken Ceasar Salad Wrap. They have smoothies too! The taste of their food can be plain and bland, but it is decent enough where you will be satisfied afterwards. The prices are student friendly and it is open pretty late compared to the other cafes on campus. read more

I would only come here if I'm near Oakes and if I have flexes. I don't think I would spend money here or come here regularly: 1. the location isn't that great unless you're from Oakes. 2. the quality of their food is just so-so 3. the prices are higher than necessary based on the quality of their food...but it's campus food...so what do you expect. Yeah, I'm not a fan of this place, but I guess it's better than dinning hall food and it's better to use a meal here than in the dinning hall...but then again I'd rather go to the dinning hall and make myself a better sandwich. read more

I went to Oakes Cafe almost everyday when I was living there, and I would never get tired of it! They aren't the cheapest option of food on campus, but I've always though they were worth it. One of my favorite things about this place is that you can add on toppings to pretty much anything. I always got the salad with tofu and added avocado (their avocado is SO GOOD) or the thai noodles with tofu. Their grilled cheese with tomatoes is to die for, too. I think their breakfast is just okay, but they have really good coffee! read more

This place is a hidden gem! I ventured my way down here from Kresge after my housemate brought back a delicious veggie quesadilla. So far I've only had a couple things off the menu, but each thing has been delicious! I really like the steak and cheese sub (lots of meat and peppers) as well as the grilled chicken sandwich. I will be coming here a lot more often. read more

Everything is too expensive here now. Guacomole burger is my favorite. They added a whole lot of different menu items since i started going here, and the prices have definitely gone up. Still good when you need a bit of good ol' grease in your tummy. read more

Goddamn! I lived by here so I got to eat a lot of the stuff on the menu. It was pretty good I guess. The grilled bacon and cheese was pretty baller. But, the homie Froylan, he is the best. Dude is nice AF. And the scenery is cool I guess. Go there. Eat there. read more

I loooovee Oakes cafe!! If you're looking for a quick in and out meal its the right place to go. You will get whatever you ordered in less than 10 minutes unlike owls nest. The staff is friendly and the food is great. read more

Service here can be slow and the lines are 10-15 students long during rush hour! Many of the items here are kinda pricey for my taste but it is good. Not amazing. I used to think it was amazing until I realized they took my favorite item off the menu!! The hot link sandwich!! And they had a really good special mustard they spread on it too! Because they took off my favorite item I haven't gone there much. But with food and service, it's A-OK. read more

I've always had good food when I come here. I mean I'm never at Oakes but when I am I make sure to stop by to grab a sandwich or a burger. You can use felxis here or cash. I've also had their mango smoothies and they are pretty good as well. A nice overall meal if your on campus and your trying to satisfy your growling stomach. Definitely beats getting a pastry at a coffee cart or the dinning hall. read more

Probably my favorite cafe on campus. Many tables to sit at, and a wide variety of foods to choose from. The only thing is I wish the location were more convenient but whenever I have class in the area I try to stop by here. You can also use your meals and flexis which is pretty nice. read more