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    Pretty Good Advice

    4.6 (513 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Pretty Good Advice Takeout or Delivery

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    PRETTY GOOD ADVICE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

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    Brussel sprouts
    Erica S.

    Came for the burger, stayed for the crispy brussel sprouts! Everything was tasty, but the brussel sprouts were especially divine. Easily the best we've ever had.

    Aswathi C.

    this was our stop 2 in Highway 1 roadtrip. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this vegetarian food joint on the way. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is known for its playful, retro roadside diner vibe[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the spot specializes in making incredibly satisfying, affordable vegetarian and vegan versions of classic comfort food. I had the classic cheeseburger, which had a black bean patty, The Absolute best burger I have had in the US. The banh mi we tried was also good; and so was the fries, the coconut caramel coffee and peanut butter ice cream. Pretty Good Advice was founded by chef-owner Matt McNamara, who previously co-owned and was the executive chef of Sons & Daughters, a highly acclaimed fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco that earned a Michelin star in 2012.. After years in the high-end fine dining scene, McNamara chose to step away to live on his family's 83-acre farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He opened Pretty Good Advice with the explicit mission to take that same Michelin-level dedication to flavor, technique, and sourcing, but apply it to affordable, casual, $10-and-under vegetarian comfort food for the whole community. A lot of the seasonal produce, herbs, and citrus used to elevate the flavors in their dishes, sauces, and drinks come directly from his local mountain farm. [[HIGHLIGHT]]So while the setting is a relaxed roadside counter, the culinary backbone definitely has a Michelin pedigree![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Turns out Soquel is one of its hidden gem locations, and it has branched to Santa Cruz as well.

    Pretty Good Advice in Soquel
    Rachel H.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Pretty Good Advice in Soquel is a fun, unfussy spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Think sandwich-shop meets vegetarian cooking. This was our second [[HIGHLIGHT]]time here, and it's worth a visit. Located off the freeway in a repurposed fast-food restaurant, all dining here is outdoor only (on picnic tables) so try to [[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]visit when the weather is good. Cue up and order the messy vegan delicata squash tostadas with creamy components, a hash brown filled breakfast sandwich, or their vegan burger. We also tried persimmon[[HIGHLIGHT]] lemonade. It's quick, funky and la[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]id-back spot.

    The walk up window.
    Ray N.

    " Pretty Good Advice" Soquel is a simple, amazing, dynamite, tasty must stop just 1.4 miles north of the beautiful Capitola village area in Santa Cruz, Ca and 4 hours past Santa Barbara. April - you are a Superstar. You have infinite passion, care, patience, attention to detail and unbelievable multi tasking skills ensuring all 9 customers in line( some with screaming and straying kids) were taken care of in those 5/6 minutes. You came out from behind the counter and viewed the menu board with us making 2 great suggestions. Loved the sunrise tostada and tofu and the spicy boy 2.0 version with the egg. The coffee was lovely. Thank you for making me a fresh special second pot. Love Pretty Good advice. Everyone please make it to this gem any day from 8-6. It is just north of Hwy 1, park your car ( 10 spots) in the private lot; then place your order at the convenient walk up window and pick it up from the other window 5 feet away. Proceed to the lovely patio in the back with seating for 35. Enjoy the lovely fare. Make sure the kids get the fantastic ice cream ( horchata was outstanding) and you finish up with the coconut chia pudding with lemons and strawberries. We will definitely be back on our drive back from San Francisco.

    Lemony artichoke soup and pga salad

    I've been coming here regularly for breakfast and lunch, and it's one of my favorite local spots. The breakfast sandwiches are delicious, the salads with the chicken patty are a go to for me, and the soups, sides, soft serve, and drinks are all consistently great. The only item I'm not a huge fan of is the bean burger, which I find to be on the salty side. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the inconsistency in customer service. Most of the staff are friendly and welcoming, but one dark haired employee with bangs has repeatedly come across as though customers are inconveniencing her just by asking for their food or requesting anything. I always make a point to say "please" and "thank you," but those courtesies are rarely returned. My boyfriend has noticed the same behavior from her as well. There is another dark haired employee who is always kind, approachable, and great to interact with so I don't want to have these two lady's mixed up. I believe the impolite one is older, I don't know their names yet, but I hope management can identify who I'm referring to. I normally wouldn't mention an occasional bad day, but after experiencing this several times, I felt it was worth sharing. As someone who visits multiple times a week and tips regularly, I'd love to see the customer service be as consistently great as the food. If that improved, this would easily be a 5 star place for me. One other suggestion: it would be nice to have a few hot drink options available, especially with the cold summer we've been having.

    The High Horse
    Laura L.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute shop with a decently-sized parking lot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's an outdoor patio to eat your food after you order and pick it up at the counter. No indoor seating![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got a few items to share. The standouts for me were the morning deluxe and cheeseburger, but honestly everything was pretty great. 1. Mike's morning deluxe 5/5 Great tasting sandwich with the egg, hash brown, and house made sauce. 2. High horse 4.5/5 This is a cold sandwich that is packed with veggies. Good flavor and bigger sandwich than the other two! 3. Cheeseburger 5/5 I really liked this one too but it was a tad salty. The party was quite tasty. 4. House fries with garlic rosemary aioli 5/5 The fries had a great seasoning on them. The aioli was the star though! 5. Persimmon lemonade 4.25/5 Very good lemonade but lacking the persimmon flavor! Still a good drink though

    Iced Coconut Caramel Coffee
    Anna F.

    What a treat! Might be my new favorite spot in Santa Cruz. Food is Farm to Table and you can taste it. Everything tastes extremely fresh and flavorful. God the California burger not realizing it was a black bean patty and was very pleasantly surprised. So delicious I might not ever eat a beef patty again. The Mikes Deluxe was so yummy, the egg was cooked to perfection. Coconut coffee was amazing. Sweet but not overwhelming. Employees were kind and patient. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was so adorable and had an outdoor patio to enjoy the food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Outside

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    1 month ago

    Love this place! I always order the final meltdown breakfast sandwich and it is soooo good. The staff is always super friendly too

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    Big Mac M.

    Abhilasha thank you so much for your review!! You made our day.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Pretty Good Advice

    Is there gluten free bread?

    Yes

    What are the crunchy things in the chopped salad?

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes I believe so

    Anything for the kids, both food wise and in terms of distractions?

    They offered my kids crayons and coloring pages...so you could ask next time!

    What kinds of gluten-free options are available here?

    The Whole Bowl and the Pretty Good Cereal. Sometimes they have a special that is gluten free.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Linda's Seabreeze Cafe

    4.5
    (1.6k reviews)
    3.2 mi
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    The cinnamon rolls are what draw a lot of people to this restaurant, and I would be one of them…read more Also their granola is even better than what I make, and there's enough to eat there and take some home for another meal to boot. I would rate this one right up there with the Walnut Street Cafe, which is excellent.

    Tried this place out for the first time since it had so many good reviews but in all honesty, I…read moredon't get the hype. We got there about 10 am and had a bit of a wait with people continuously arriving so it's clearly popular. You write your name down and request inside or out or first available. It was a bit chilly so we opted for inside. We were seated after about 20 minutes. It's pretty small inside so the addition of the picnic tables outside is a plus. We all ordered different items, sausage and eggs, bacon and eggs and blueberry pancakes. The egg breakfasts came with a side of either toast, a pumpkin muffin or a cinnamon roll. We ordered a muffin and a roll. The food arrived fairly quickly which was good because after a 2 hour drive we were ready to grub. The egg breakfasts were pretty average in taste and portion. The blueberry pancakes however were good a good size and came with 3. I did think the pumpkin muffin was fire and my bf said the cinnamon roll was excellent so maybe it's their baked goods that are part of what makes this place so popular? I didn't think the amount of food we got was that much of a value as it was a $60 breakfast. Other downsides for me was the parking situation which is common in SC. We found a spot about 2 blocks away. Also, the bathroom is outside and in dire need of a makeover. Lastly, they don't take cards. It's cash or check only. WTH? I haven't seen a restaurant take checks since I was a kid so that's been a minute, lol. Overall I can't really see myself returning other than to get the pumpkin muffin or cinnamon roll. Maybe I just need to try something different.

    Photos
    The masters at work over there! | August 2022
    The masters at work over there! | August 2022
    Homemade biscuits and country gravy
    Homemade biscuits and country gravy
    Cinnamon roll

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    Crow's Nest Restaurant

    Crow's Nest Restaurant

    3.4
    (2.7k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$$

    Yelp Elite Review: Great Food, Beautiful Views & a Server With Heart…read more My wife and I have been coming here for years, not just for the food, but to soak in the view--especially when we can grab a window seat. There's something about enjoying a good meal while taking in the scenery that makes you slow down and appreciate the moment. On this visit, we had the swordfish, and it was excellent! It came with mashed potatoes and vegetables, and everything was delicious. The salad bar is fantastic, and the bread rolls deserve a shout-out too. Let's just say the rolls have a way of disappearing before you realize you've eaten three. We arrived before the rush, and we were blessed to have Carla as our server. Carol gets five stars all by herself. She was attentive, cheerful, and completely on point with her service. But more than that, you could sense her positive energy. Carol genuinely loves what she does and clearly loves her community. That kind of attitude is contagious. We mentioned that we were celebrating our anniversary a little late because my wife's father had passed away. Carol was so touched that she had tears in her eyes--and then she surprised us by comping our dessert. That wasn't just good service. That was kindness. In a world where excellent customer service can sometimes feel like a rare commodity, Carla reminded us that sometimes the best part of a restaurant experience isn't what's on the plate--it's the person serving you. We will absolutely be back, and when we do, I'm requesting Carla! Great food. Beautiful views. Wonderful atmosphere. And a server who understands that hospitality is about more than taking an order. Thank you, Carla, for making a special anniversary even more special. Yelp Elite approved! #YelpElite #SantaCruzEats #SantaCruz #AnniversaryDinner #Swordfish #GreatService #CustomerService #CarolDeservesARaise #FoodWithHeart #CaliforniaEats #SupportLocal #FiveStars

    Have reviewed this before years back and remains a go to. This review is of the front outdoor patio…read moreupstairs. Food: 4 Atmosphere: 4.5 Service: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Wes: our server was on top of it, friendly, cheerful and so kind to us on a very emotional day. Very much appreciated and such a genuine young soul. - Atmosphere: right on the beach with upstairs and downstairs dining rooms and patios. - Calamari: not your traditional crispy crunchy version but I loved the seasoning in the breading and the tenderness of the calamari rings. 4.5 stars - Fish sandwich: enjoyed the soft focaccia bread and the tender grilled fish filet. 4 stars - Cocktails: long menu for those who like fruity vacation type drinks or just a beer or wine. Midlights: - Different menu on the patio which is limited and more casual the the restaurant downstairs with a full meal. That's fine but good to know. Lowlights: - Can't make reservations on the patio so it's a bit of a craps shoot whether you can get a seat especially on a weekend. - Cover fee of $5 per person for upstairs early on a Saturday night was unexpected though live musicians were cool.

    Photos
    The upstairs bar and restaurant
    The upstairs bar and restaurant
    Crab & shrimp omelette
    Crab & shrimp omelette
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    Johnny's Harborside

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    3.6
    (1.5k reviews)
    2.9 mi
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    Locally owned & operated
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    I will give this great place a 5 star rating is because the food is amazing! I stopped in to get…read moresome great food. I asked for a burger (they are amazing) and a side of fries. I asked to get a small portion of fries and salad like I usually do (they would split the portion so it's smaller for each) and the chef/manager denied it. I spoke to him mentioning how this has not been an issue over the past year I have been coming here. The guy asked me to sit down at a table with him to explain portion sizes and the guy had slurred speech and an extremely strong smear of liquor radiating from him. I asked if he is on the clock and he said I will be in a few minutes. Doesn't seem like a good idea to be wasted at work. This guy has created some very good tasting foods (hence why I like to return) and the prices are reasonable. The owner is a super sweet gal and you can tell she's pouring her heart and soul into this spot. It has a perfect view of the harbor while you enjoy some good eats. Even though this guy was wasted today, it won't detour me from returning for the 5 star food flavors! He later came to my table as I am indulging in a burger that explodes with flavor and apologized for being brash. I shook his hand and told him there are no hard feelings. I complimented him on his menu, flavors of the foods, and told him we will still be coming in. Do come check this place out as you'll will leave impressed by the food if you know what good food tastes like.

    We had a staycation in Scotts Valley, found this place and made my trip fantastic! We ordered 6…read moreoysters, Pan-roasted halibut, and Dungeness Crab Bucatini. All are above expectations. Price is affordable and it's the best value with great service and food. Ambiance is great it's playing World Cup and my dog enjoys seeing other dogs, they allow interior seating with dog too! If I have to pick one, I highly recommend Dungeness Crab Bucatini, they are generous with the crab meat. I'll definitely come again when I'm in the area :)

    Photos
    Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges
    Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges
    Fresh Oysters
    Fresh Oysters
    Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

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    Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

    Pretty Good Advice - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

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