Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pretty Good Advice

    4.6 (514 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Pretty Good Advice Takeout or Delivery

    Pretty Good Advice Photos

    Business Info

    PRETTY GOOD ADVICE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    More like Pretty Good Advice

    Recommended Reviews - Pretty Good Advice

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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

    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.

    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

    See all

    Review Insights

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan B.
    81
    196
    46

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    39 minutes ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of D P.
    30
    85
    34

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 5
    Love this 9
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Shiva D.
    11
    88
    42

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray N.
    69
    699
    13946

    10 months ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 5
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sven W.
    3
    44
    119

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna F.
    7
    22
    36

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    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

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Big Mac M.

    Big Mac M.

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

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 2
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tram N.
    903
    3371
    12644

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Big Mac M.

    Big Mac M.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Billy P.
    391
    57
    37

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Hayley H.
    4269
    1325
    6374

    2 years ago

    Helpful 26
    Thanks 5
    Love this 24
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    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

    You might also consider

    Dharma's Restaurant

    Dharma's Restaurant

    3.8
    (861 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I finally branched out to try something different than my beloved Indian platter and I was rewarded…read morewith another fantastic meal! Tried the fresh spring rolls, SO refreshing -- like a salad -- but with delicious and gluten-free peanut sauce. Loved it. Quite filling as the two rolls are chonky. Chased my rolls with an indulgent vegan GF lemon cake. Super lemony which is awesome. Dense and drier but so tasty, I don't mind a dense cake, actually. A huge hit! Will order both again!!! I took home the extra peanut sauce and used it on steamed potatoes, delicious. My father-in-law had a breakfast burrito which he took home half of, extra value, it's two meals. Hubby had the tofu scramble which was a bit dry, he added some of my peanut sauce to jazz it up. He wish he'd ordered his usual fave, the Bo Thai. But points for trying something new!

    I come here because this is one of the last restaurants in Santa Cruz that I am trusting that their…read morefood sourcing is from holistic, healthy and sustainable outlets. The Chai here is the only house made Chai of quality in Santa Cruz. The prices here are a bit high for a working class budget, but you can understand that almost every meal you order here is good for 2 meals. The owners and employees are what you would expect from people that are serving healthy, soul and body enriching foods. Please continue supporting this Santa Cruz landmark!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Breakfast burr
    Breakfast burr
    Inside

    See all

    Inside
    Jeju Kitchen

    Jeju Kitchen

    4.0
    (415 reviews)
    30.2 mi

    Food was great and our server Kenny was amazing. I highly recommend trying kimchi fried riceread more

    Husband and I were spending a long weekend in Carmel with our dog. We were able to make a…read morereservation ahead of time online- the system only does indoor reservations, so make sure you email them to let them know if you are bringing a pup and need a patio seat! The restaurant is located on the lowest level of the Carmel Plaza, I really loved the location because there are plenty of places to park right around there. Between the two of us, we shared: - Miso cacio e pepe: we came specifically for this! It's one of their most well known dishes, and I highly highly recommend! So creamy and savory, and the mafaldine pasta has such a nice texture, the ruffled edges hold on to sauce perfectly. We also added a bit of gochujang that came with the bibimbap and it was so good with some spice. - Dolsot bibimbap: my husband's favorite Korean dish so of course we had to get it! An excellent variety of veggies, which was nice since we barely got any veg on vacation. The kalbi beef was so juicy and delicious, and not overcooked. - Matcha Tiramisu: absolute must get, so unique. The cake layers were soaked in matcha, and topped off with some fresh fruit. - Grapefruit sake spritz: I was on the fence between this cocktail and the yuzu champagne spritz. Our waitress said that the grapefruit spritz was much less sweet, and I am so glad I decided to go with that option! It was the perfect amount of sweetness, not overwhelming. Overall, my husband and I agreed that the matcha tiramisu was the best bite either of us had all weekend!

    Photos
    Inside dining area - 1/2/2024
    Inside dining area - 1/2/2024
    Kalbi: Korean Beef Short Ribs w/ rice, banchan | $40
    Kalbi: Korean Beef Short Ribs w/ rice, banchan | $40
    Korean bbq beef ribs

    See all

    Korean bbq beef ribs
    Wildseed

    Wildseed

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    32.9 mi
    $$

    Wildseed restored my faith--and my spirit!…read more As someone who spent 30 years rolling out Zero Waste programs across the Bay Area, I've been feeling increasingly disheartened watching how much single-use and food waste has surged lately. With my mother currently at Stanford Hospital, I've been eating on the go constantly and witnessing this excess firsthand. Then came Brenya. This incredible young server didn't just bring me fantastic summer cuisine--she brought pure heart. When she served me an extra dish of Mexi corn fritters simply because she couldn't bear to see good food go to waste, it moved me deeply. Her empathy, thoughtfulness, and natural alignment with the Zero Waste spirit lifted my soul at a time I truly needed it. Bravo, Brenya, and bravo, Wildseed! You have a customer for life. I'll be back! XX

    It was my mistake not doing full research beforehand, as I didn't realize it was a vegan…read morerestaurant. My rating reflects the food from a vegan standpoint. Everyone ordered different dishes so we could try a lot of things from the menu. 1/5 Athenian Eggplant - Far too sour and the flat bread was SO HARD. Even carb lovers didn't want to finish it. 4/5 Green Falafel - Came warm and the tzatziki sauce was pretty good. 4/5 French fries - Sauces were interesting. 1/5 Mushroom bao - ONE small piece of fried mushroom in each of the two baos that came out. It was stuffed with sour lettuce instead. 2/5 Corn pizza - That coconut mozz was not it for me. 3/5 Chicken sandwich - Solid. Drinks were good! What's up Doc was my fave. Located in the corner of the plaza next to CVS. Good service.

    Photos
    Menu cover
    Menu cover
    BEET TOSTADAS
    BEET TOSTADAS
    Probiotic bowl with neat balls

    See all

    Probiotic bowl with neat balls
    Vegetarian House

    Vegetarian House

    4.2
    (1.3k reviews)
    24.7 mi
    $$

    Great food Great service…read moreCentral location Nice variety All Vegan (or almost fully) Ambiance is quite decent

    Interesting place to eat. The main restaurant is open during the weekends. They only have the…read moreoutdoor patio open during the week. I walked up to the window to see how they operate. I was informed that the patio is open and to order using a QR code at one of the tables in the patio. You have to sign in and create an account to order. It took me a minute to order. I wanted to try their specialty dishes especially because they have mushroom dishes and soy protein dishes. But by the time I was able to figure out how to order and sign up, I was pressed for time to order a meal and ended up ordering crispy spring rolls. Once your order is placed, you wait for a text to let you know your order is ready. Then I have to pick up at the window. Spring rolls were okay. I really wanted to try the crispy oyster mushrooms or the lion mane mushroom dish. Or even the Sea Fruits plate but I wasn't going to have enough time to enjoy them. The patio was fine. A few picnic tables. You bus your own table at the end. Everything they used was biodegradable. I wish it was a better experience. The food looked delicious in pictures, but eating in an outdoor patio, ordering from a QR code, and picking up your food from the window made for a sad and sub par experience.

    Photos
    Dancing Asparagus
    Dancing Asparagus
    Quinoa Sushi
    Quinoa Sushi
    Tom Ka Thai Soup

    See all

    Tom Ka Thai Soup
    Veggie Garden

    Veggie Garden

    4.4
    (675 reviews)
    29.5 mi
    $$

    Nice little vegetarian lunch spot that I keep forgetting is out there! I came with my veg coworker…read moreand we both enjoyed what we got. I got their ja jang mien, and I really liked it--especially the thick, chewy noodles! My coworker got General Tso's, and we also got some veggie dumplings to share. The dumplings were a bit on the bland side, but otherwise good. Service was relatively quick. The interior is clean and well kept (I guess more than you'd think looking at the little strip it is part of), and the wait staff are friendly. The parking lot for the strip mall this is in is on the small side, though, and may be tough to find parking during the lunch rush if you don't arrive early (and I would highly suggest carpooling). Tasty and friendly, I need to remember to suggest this place for lunch more often over the closer places we tend to think of first! I will definitely be back!

    I really wanted to love this place because the vegan wonton soup was absolutely delicious. It was…read moreflavorful, comforting, and worth every bite. Unfortunately, the customer service left a lot to be desired. I arrived shortly after they opened, and there was no greeting or acknowledgment when I walked in, even though the restaurant was empty. When I approached the counter to pick up my order, I gave the name it was under. Instead of confirming the order or asking any questions, the first thing I heard from the cook was, "Get her card first." The cashier then immediately said, "Give me your card." Only after my payment was processed did they hand me my food and say, "Thank you." I completely understand that businesses need to protect themselves and ensure orders are paid for before they're released. That's not the issue. It's the way it was handled. As a customer, it felt like I was being treated as if I might take the food and run, rather than being welcomed into a local, family-owned business. A simple greeting, confirming the order, and then politely requesting payment would have made all the difference. Great customer service and protecting your business can absolutely go hand in hand. The food was outstanding, but the experience made me feel unwelcome. Sadly, because of the customer service, I don't see myself returning.

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
    E6. Mongolian Vegetarian Chicken Lunch
    E6. Mongolian Vegetarian Chicken Lunch
    B10. Thai Ice Tea (made with oat milk)

    See all

    B10. Thai Ice Tea (made with oat milk)
    Avenue Cafe

    Avenue Cafe

    4.4
    (500 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    We've walked by this spot many times and decided to finally try it on a recent Friday morning. We…read moregot an "early" start because we've heard this place fills up and were able to get our choice of outdoor tables at about 9 am. We brought our dog, who was welcome outside, but keep in mind that if you have a large dog or one who likes to sniff everyone in the surrounding area, you might want to leave them at home as it's close quarters there. Coffee was delicious and they kept the refills coming. We ordered the Capitola Chaos after seeing many positive reviews, and The Avenue (eggs scrambled with feta, artichoke, and tomato). The eggs came with hashbrowns - super good - and toast. Portions were really big! Everything was tasty. The staff was friendly and attentive. Check this place out for brunch!

    We just finished camping at New Brighton Beach campgrounds over the weekend. Before heading home…read morewe decided to eat breakfast at a local cafe in Capitola about 10-15 minutes away from the campgrounds. We arrived at Avenue Cafe on a Sunday morning for breakfast recently. The cafe is located in a nice area down the street from Capitola Beach in downtown Capitola. Paid parking is accessible along the streets and the parking lot across the street. Avenue Cafe is a small, family friendly, local neighborhood cafe. There is a mom and pops vibe to it. The cafe space looks like it was formally a house. They did a great job transforming the space into a nice cozy cafe. The outdoor patio looks inviting. We ordered a mimosa, coffee, country fried steak with sunny side up eggs, smoked salmon avocado eggs Benedict, and an eggs combo with pancakes & bacon. Everything was delicious. The breakfast definitely hit the spot after a long weekend camping. My country fried steak was scrumptious with every bite. The gravy was hearty. The fried potatoes were crispy and tasty. Our son said his pancakes combo was yummy. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Avenue Cafe. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The bustling local neighborhood environment was wonderful. The price point was fair. We hope to be back to try other food items on the menu.

    Photos
    Avenue Cafe
    Chilaquiles with Salsa Verde
    Chilaquiles with Salsa Verde
    Mimosa & coffee

    See all

    Mimosa & coffee

    Pretty Good Advice - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...