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    The Cook House

    3.6 (166 reviews)
    InexpensiveBreakfast & Brunch
    Closed • 7:00 am - 1:30 pm

    The Cook House Photos

    Business Info

    THE COOK HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Sue S.

    IMHO This is a cute locals favorite, right around the corner from Gayle's. IYKYK They're open for breakfast and lunch from 7 - 2:15. The owner/proprietor (I think) warmly greeted us and told us to choose our table. There are about 8 tables in this cozy establishment, or you can sit at the counter and watch the Cook cook! We were lured here by the reviews of the hash browns. I am not an afficionado of hash browns, I just know what I like. I expect my hash browns to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and not greasy. These fit the bill! Super yummy! My husband and I shared the "three extra-large ranch eggs any style with hash browns and English muffin, and choice of bacon, sausage or ham" for $17.95. I opted for scrambled eggs, and bacon. Normally I'd eat fried eggs, but I only eat those when I'm staying at home. Again, IYKYK. My eggs were a tad rubbery, but I ate 'em. The four pieces of bacon were thick and flavorful! You already know the hashbrowns were my favorite on the plate! This plate's portion was perfect for the two of us! We certainly got bang for our buck! Our friends ordered the Popeye omelet; spinach, onion & cheese, with mushrooms added, $17.95, and the Strawberry French Toast special. Suffice it to say, they cleaned their plates as well. Friendly service, good food, homey vibe. What more can you ask for?

    Kitchen
    Andrew R.

    WOW this place was quite the experience... We walked in and were IMMEDIATELY greeted with an instant whiff of oil and grease, since the kitchen isn't separate from the dining area. This doesn't usually bother me, but the smell seemed way more potent than usual, and if you're sensitive to this kind of environment, might be best to skip this place. Anyway, the food here was really tasty, and you can literally watch as everything is being freshly prepared. This is such cute little business and it really feels like you're in a small town diner :-) Overall it's nothing fancy or amazing, but a really fun and unique spot for a quick bite!

    Hash browns and eggs for me and the same with bacon for my hubby - so good, 3/6/24
    Lisa A.

    I agree with another Yelper - best hash browns I've ever had! I order a little crispy, flavor and texture were wonderful. Service was good, simple with no hovering. The place is super small but a flow of regulars confirmed the quality of the place. Highly recommend for a diner breakfast

    Really good food! Costumer service is amazing !!!! If I were to give it 10 stars I would!!!!!

    Omelette and hash browns
    Lewis C.

    Yikes - we had breakfast here recently and it was less than memorable. The omelettes and the pancakes were just ok - but the hash browns were feeble. They were not crispy and tasted heavily of stale oil. It's surprising that a place that specializes in breakfast can mess up hash browns this badly. Service was decent. But we probably won't return. Too many other choices in the area.

    2 eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon.
    Kori S.

    Food is simple, classic, breakfast cafe food. It was delicious and the service was lovely. A small space, so plan accordingly, but well worth a visit. Easy parking with its own lot.

    Make your own omelette. And that bacon.
    Bree G.

    First time dining here and had a really satisfying experience. The wait moved at a nice pace and the staff was ultra friendly. I made my own omelette and bacon on the side is a must.

    Scrambled eggs with bacon, linguica, and green Chili. Fries and French toast.

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    10 months ago

    My family and I love this place and come a few times a month. A neighborhood gem! Has a cozy family feel to it.

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    2 years ago

    The closet to at home breakfast. Staff is always very nice and attentive. Been coming to this spot for years

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    3 years ago

    Awesome spot! Great hash browns and omelettes. My daughter said it's her new favorite breakfast spot.

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    The Midway - Root Down Farm Duck Breast with Rainbow Chard and. Beets

    The Midway

    4.6(61 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Came by for dinner the other night and it was an excellent world-class experience. Made a…read morereservation and my table was ready upon arrival. Parking was available on nearby surface streets and was pretty easy to find. Service throughout the evening was pleasant although I did get the vibes that I had to hurry on out towards the end of my meal and I was only there for an hour...interesting. Loved the dining room featuring an open kitchen along with a few seats facing the street. The dining room was slightly uncomfortable, as it was quite stuffy and warm, despite the door being wide open. Perhaps, A/C isn't a thing in Santa Cruz? Started off with the avocado and cucumbers and it was excellent. Super light and refreshing with contrasting textures which made this dish an A+. Moved on to the local king salmon, requested medium and it came out medium well+... The crispy skin was the highlight of this. Loved the texture of king salmon along with the accoutrements including the jimmy nardelo and squash. Finished off the meal with the panna cotta which was surprisingly on the bland side. The orange was very fresh and the pistachios were tasty though. ~$90/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

    We (me, husband and baby) came here on a Saturday evening during a long weekend and the place was…read morepretty busy (highly recommend booking ahead!). The restaurant is very cozy. It's got a modern vibe and the service is very friendly. The food was excellent!! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The sourdough bread is superb, probably one of the best we've ever had. The lettuce salad was super fresh. The halibut was cooked perfect with a delish broth. The pork belly was delicious but probably too rich, even for a pork belly (we shared the mains so having half the pork belly dish was just right for me). Drinks are interesting - I had a house-made apple cider something shrub and it was tangy with the right amount of sweetness to take the edge off. Loved this place! The logo of the place I must said doesn't scream out to me but when you look inside the interior of the restaurant, it's gorgeous, relaxed and modern.

    Photos
    The Midway - Dinner area

    Dinner area

    The Midway - Blue House Beans (with guajillo, winter squash and brussels)

    Blue House Beans (with guajillo, winter squash and brussels)

    The Midway - Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookie

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    Harbor Cafe - Spicy Machaca

    Harbor Cafe

    4.4(1.7k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    •$$

    There was a short line when we arrived, but they do a great job of keeping things moving and…read moregetting people seated quickly, which we really appreciated. The food here is always fun, fresh, and consistently good. We shared the carnitas omelette with sourdough toast, and it was excellent--lots of flavor and a perfect start to the morning. We also had a couple of Irish coffees, and the homemade whipped cream definitely put them over the top. Another huge plus is the dog-friendly patio. Our little guy Milo was very happy to join us for breakfast--and maybe even happier when some bacon came his way. Great food, friendly vibe, efficient service, and a patio where we can bring the pup. We'll definitely keep coming back!

    Yelp Elite Review: Where the Coffee Is Bold & the Stories Are Even Better…read more Some restaurants serve breakfast. This place serves breakfast with a side of Santa Cruz history. This spot has been around for years, and when my boys were younger, we would come here after a day at the beach. It has gone through a few owners over the years, but the improvements they've made are awesome. The place still has that classic beach-town chill--lots of laughter, good food, and people enjoying life. Parking? Let's just say Santa Cruz and parking have never exactly been best friends. But once you get inside, you have the choice of indoor or outdoor seating, and it's worth the effort. One of my favorite things about this place is the history. For years, a group of local fishermen have been coming here. Two of them are still regulars, sitting around telling fish stories. And if you know fishermen, you know those stories have probably gotten a little bigger every year. My wife and I split the all-meat omelette, and it was delicious. They also do a fantastic job with the hash browns--crispy, hearty, and exactly what you want with breakfast. The coffee deserves its own paragraph. Bold, flavorful, and strong enough to make you believe you can conquer the day. Our server was wonderful. She has worked here since graduating from high school, and you could tell she genuinely cared about taking care of people. Friendly, positive, helpful, and the kind of service that makes you want to come back. There's a wonderful selection of food, but honestly, part of the experience is simply being there. You can almost feel the decades of stories in the walls--families, fishermen, beach days, laughter, and countless cups of coffee. This isn't just a place to grab breakfast. It's a place where Santa Cruz history is still being served--one omelette, one cup of coffee, and one slightly exaggerated fish story at a time. Yelp Elite approved! #YelpElite #SantaCruzEats #SantaCruz #BreakfastInSantaCruz #BeachTownVibes #SantaCruzFoodie #Breakfast #Omelette #HashBrowns #Coffee #LocalFavorites #CaliforniaEats #FoodAndMemories

    Photos
    Harbor Cafe - The open kitchen area

    The open kitchen area

    Harbor Cafe - Carnitas omelet

    Carnitas omelet

    Harbor Cafe - The outdoor seating

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    The outdoor seating

    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Lava Cake

    The Point Kitchen and Bar

    4.1(92 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    •$$

    I found Point Kitchen on yelp it had a high star review so we wanted to give them a try & watch the…read moregame while there. Unfortunately the Dallas game wasnt playing but we stayed for dinner & we are so glad we did! We had the spicy edamame as an app, I ordered the fish tacos made with blackened salmon & hubby ordered the dinner BLT w/ fries. The Point salad that comes with the fish tacos is AMAZING! Delicious food at great prices. We loved it so much we came back the next day for take-out. I ordered the fish tacos again with the sauce on the side & hubs ordered the half rack of ribs. We also had the spicy mango chicken wings. All of it was delicious! Highly recommend. The Point Kitchen & Bar is a new favorite of ours we will definitely be back again when we visit Santa Cruz. Thanks guys!

    Came here for dinner last Friday before catching a movie. We arrived before 6pm when it wasn't busy…read moreyet; there're more people when we left. I liked their causal vibe and Christmas decorations. They even had an upside down Christmas tree! I had pork chop, which came with smashed potato and spinach. Unfortunately, the sauce was so salty making the spinach inedible. The pork chop was not bad after removing the sauce and so was the smashed potato as it wasn't all covered in sauce. Our server, Simone, was very nice and offered to get me another side order of spinach, which saved the day! My husband enjoyed his baked salmon entree, which was recommended by Simone. We skipped appetizers so that we could have room for dessert and the lava cake didn't disappoint. Overall, not a bad dinner experience.

    Photos
    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Beautiful wall planter box

    Beautiful wall planter box

    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Chocolate cake

    Chocolate cake

    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Steak

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    Johnny's Harborside - The broth alone is a flavor bomb, with fresh halibut, stone clams, mussels, rock shrimp, and plenty of Dungeness crab, and garlic bread.

    Johnny's Harborside

    3.6(1.5k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Wheelchair accessible

    Food is really good! Very friendly service and the view of the harbor is amazing. I will be backread more

    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.

    Photos
    Johnny's Harborside - 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

    Johnny's Harborside - Fresh Oysters

    Fresh Oysters

    Johnny's Harborside - Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

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    Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

    The Cook House - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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