This will become a go-to sandwich spot when we visit the beach. We ordered ahead through their…read morewebsite and they were ready within 15 minutes. The portion sizes are large and the sandwiches were very tasty- especially the bbq boo brisket, which is what my husband got. The Dutch crunch bread wasn't hard, it was super soft and delicious. I got the roasted turkey which wasn't as great but still good. Would've loved to have had the option to add pickles to the sandwiches or pickles on the side but all in all, great experience and we will be back!

Really lovely sandwich here! We got two sandwiches to split, which was more than enough for 4 meals…read more- these sandwiches are very large. We got a turkey sandwich and a BBQ sandwich, both of which were delicious, with tons of ingredients in them. The staff were really friendly as well! The only thing I might say is that it seems like all of the sandwiches are really complex, a mountain high with tons of ingredients. I would have loved a more simple sandwich that focused just on the high quality ingredients. But overall really enjoyed the experience!

In love with the vegetarian burritos, they're affordable and delicious beyond measure... and have…read morenever been disappointed with any meat purchase here. The carnitas inside the burrito as meat looked amazing too !!! Their 3pk 20OZ beer is a great deal.

I visited Carne for the first time after shopping the Sunday Farmer's Market. The selection of…read moremeats and assorted merchandise is outstanding which, coupled with the food preparation services, seems to offer a unique experience. The service definitely needs focused improvement. I had an employee made me feel as if I was a shoplifter. As I browsed the merchandise, I chose a Burrata cheese and held it in my hand. The employee came up to me and took it "to check the price" and told me it would be waiting at the register. As I continued to browse, he called my attention to give me the price and placed it burrata next to the register. When I came back to pay, the employee had placed the Burrata back on display. He then went to pick it back up and told me "he wasn't sure if I was going to buy it". I then made a friendly comment/compliment, that I would like to try one of the steaks, to which he replied "do you want one now?" and acted disinterested and ready to walk away when I replied I would come back since I live in the neighborhood (for 35 years). In order for this upscale business to thrive, excellent service has to be of the highest priority. Santa Cruz is unique in its demographics. It is the responsibility of the business to treat each customer as they should be treated.

Food: A This place…read moreis awesome, definitely a treasure trove for the charcuterie enthusiasts out there. Great selection of house made goodies. Close your eyes and randomly grab a couple items, I'm sure your will end up great board either way. Oh Companion Bakeshop not that far away, do yourself favor and grab a loaf of sourdough. Service: A - John

El Salchichero is a cool little local butchery that specializes in the art of charcuterie in a…read moremodern take. They source meat from specific local farms and utilize most if not all what they receive. They don't do a whole lot of fresh cuts laid out for a home cook like raw roasts and steaks like a regular butchery would. They'll have a few items processed/cut in cryovac ready to go but not a plentiful amount. Maybe there's more in the back, but up front in the display case, i only saw a few. Now in what I saw a ton of were their house made charcuterie. From salamis to different types of bacon to sausages and even jerky. Everything is portioned into smaller quantities and cryovac sealed. And they are modern in terms of they will take newer flavors and concepts versus just using old flavors done for centuries. They do have some classics but I was surprised in some of the labels I was scanning. Pate Campagnola ($12ish/4*) Everything is sold by the pound and most things are cut/portioned to different weights. Just pick a size you like. But this is a rustic and coarse pate. Kinda resembles Spam in looks. Lol. But much different taste. Even tho pretty salty there is a ton of garlic, maybe onion and other mild spicing. Some thin slices of this along some cheese and good bread was a nice treat for me. This has a moist cooked meat texture versus a dry/cured texture of a dried salami. So to have both on a plate/board is a nice ride imo. Dried Finocchiona Salami ($14/4*) Their salamis are pricey compared to commercially made ones. Here a small stick will cost about $14-$23. Whereas a normal store one you'd be able to get for $8-$12. But I still had to try one of their versions to see myself. This version is a thinner stick, dried out pretty well. You don't have to refrigerate these. For some reason the color is quite dark, never seen a salami quite like it. Most salamis I've seen are usually reddish/pinkish. Quite salty that I can only have a few pieces. And a very strong presence of vibrant fennel seed which sets this off for me. Awesome with red wine. Garlic Mushroom Sausage ($12/3.5*) Again quite pricey compared to regular store sausages. This price is for 3 sausages. But after trying these on my grill, these were very substantial sausages that 1 person would be pressed in eating a whole one, these are much bigger and denser than a standard commercial sausage. There were nice big chunks of mushrooms visible, but I didn't really sense a strong mushroom flavor. I did taste a unique spicing profile that you don't normally run into. Similar to a bratwurst but not quite. I definitely got nutmeg in my impression. And not really a knock for me but can be for others, is that the texture of the sausage is very firm and bouncey. Not sure how they get it like that, but it was very noticeable to me. Service top notch, like they will answer any questions and/or try to accommodate any questions or request. To that I say it justifies their pricing. Great find, I'll probably try and hit this up anytime I am in town.

This shop has amazing cooked foods and sides. My recent lunch there was delicious. The store is…read moremodern, spotless and clean and is the best butcher shop I ever seen. There are some nice tables outside to sit and enjoy your meal. This review was for the new location "Carne".

This review is for Carne, the new location in Live Oak. We went for the soft opening and holee…read moremolee it was sooooooo sooo good. There was a long line of happy people patiently waiting to order hot food at the counter. The butcher shop has a different line and register. The Brisket was insane, fatty, tender, perfect. The meaty ribs OMG so so tasty and tender. The hot link was hot and well cooked, but not really my thing. I didn't really care for the bbq sauce, but who cares bc the meat was flawless and needed nothing at all. The beans were a little hard, I've no doubt that is a one off, bc they were hustling so hard. The service is kind and attentive. Lots of enthusiastic diners tucking into generous piles of food, a happy sight.

We Ordered 2 large Brisket meals . Sides: Potato salad,…read moreMac-n-cheese and baked beans. The brisket was very tasty and juicy. All the sides complimented the meat so well. The service was excellent. As patrons finished their meals, and left.the tables were cleaned quickly and ready for the next guests to sit down.

We ordered a variety of different meat for our anniversary celebration. The online system was clear…read moreand easy to use. Food was ready for pick up and clearly labeled in pans that fit in our chafing dishes. Everything was delicious!

We popped in here for some road trip snacks on a recommendation from a local. A cute neighborhood…read moregrocery store with ample parking in the back. They had a terrific selection of wine and nuts/other goodies to make your own trail mix (although they also sold trail mix there). We picked up some fruit for the road too! Cashier was very friendly & prices were reasonable.

We don't live in Santa Cruz, but had browsed in a magazine that morning that this was the top rated…read moregrocery store and had to check it out. They are known for their butcher/meat station and wine collection. The produce and food selection is more than sufficient for shopping as well. One could spend hours browsing the wine collection. I felt like I was in a bookstore there's labels and descriptions of almost all the wines so it's very helpful guidance. Everyone who worked there was also very helpful and friendly. Easy parking lot.

Sampa served me the one of the best meals I've had so far this meal. It's one of my favorite…read morerestaurants in the Bay Area and I would drive from San Jose to Santa Cruz just to get their muqueca. Their muqueca is a wonderful coconut seafood stew served with farofa (toasted cassava) and I subbed rice for black beans. Their hot sauce is great as well. Every bite was delicious and I can't wait to go back. Would also love to try the torta de frango (chicken pot pie) next time.

Used to dine here every week for at least 18 months, then we moved out of state. Imagine my…read moresurprise when the owner remembered me. This time I brought my husband and children to experience Sampa. Girls ordered grilled cheese & chicken pasties. I ordered the chicken pasties and hubby had cheese pasties and mushroom tacos. Spouse & kids absolutely enjoyed every bite. Now the kids have a new go to for date nights. Obrigado. Be back next year.

Two of us were going to a concert at the Rio Theatre, coming from the Bay Area. We didn't know…read morewhere we would have dinner. And here it is, Lillian's, right across the street. Figured we would give it a try. Everything about it was excellent. Food was superb, the service was excellent and fun. Everyone who worked there seemed to be enjoying what became a very busy dinner time. Very comfortable, and even though it was filled with people, it was easy to have a conversation. If we lived closer, we would definitely make it a destination spot. Truly highly recommended!

The food hit the spot. I had the chicken Parmesan on a bed of rigatoni noodles and marinara. It was…read moredelicious. The service was very friendly. I was seated right away. I thought it was going to be a wait because the place was packed. The table service was very friendly and always timely. She checked backed on me more than just taking the initial order. Since the place was packed it was pretty loud inside. You could still hear the piano music in the background. Next time I am back in town, I will definitely recommend Lillian's for a dinner for the team I work with. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.

Best breakfast burritos around. Must have the chorizo and eggs…read more This market also has a great selection of meat and canned goods. The tortilla packs come in all sizes. The basic fresh produce.

4.79 for a yerba??? Then asked for the receipt and was scoffed at. Yea I Forsure deserve to see a…read morereceipt for this kind of price... 5 stars because this place is awesome. But just shocked about the Yerba price and want to make sure this is correct :) I still recommend this place for the burritos etc.

A real Italian deli in Boca! authentic all the way, and so many delicious dishes to choose from…read moreI will be back and try many different items on the menu Expertly done and a true treasure

If you ever imagined what a friendly urban NY do-it-all local market with deli, butcher, coffee…read morestation, and ethnic selection would look like, then AJ's Market at the Chevron gas station in Soquel will completely change how you think about convenience stores. Yes, they have gas and a car wash, but that is just the beginning. Inside, there is a gourmet kitchen serving up locally harvested seafood and Harris Ranch meats. The burger here is hands down one of the best in the county. It is technically fast food, but nothing like what you would expect from that term. AJ's goes way beyond typical gas station fare. You will find organic produce and treats from around the world like English biscuits, real maple syrup, and a Southeast Asian spice rack. They also offer an impressive selection of local wines, baked goods, ice creams, and coffees. Owner Akhtar Javed, originally from Pakistan, opened the market in 1987 after falling in love with Santa Cruz. He became a local legend after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake when he let customers take what they needed and pay later during the power outage. AJ's Market is a true gem and worth the stop whether you need gas or not. P.S. AJ also carries dried cuttlefish so you don't have to travel to San Jose or find a Ranch 99. P.P.S. In addition to the coffee station, they also had a full cooler of Marianne's Ice Cream!