First off, I've never done a review on yelp but something happened that made me feel like the owners need to hear about. We came here last night for a big birthday celebration ( party of 9). We had some good things and some things that felt not so good. The good: several dishes were great, short rib raviolis, bolognese pasta, pizza. We appreciated the vegan and gf options which they take seriously since apparently a member of the family has celiac as well. So they understand the seriousness. (unfortunately the muscles were extremely fishy) The frustrating stuff: After we spent over $500, I had a cookie box out because we were going to sing happy birthday and pass out cookies. Waitress informs us there a per person cake cutting fee. I said oh no, I'm just passing out cookies, she say oh there's still a fee. Wow!!!! First of all there's no cake to cut, refrigerate, no extra plates or silverware to wash. It made the closure part of our celebration so awkward. We went into the parking lot, sang and had a cookie. We chose your restaurant to celebrate, spend $500 and you want more money to pass out a cookie that I brought! We sat outside, was hot in the tent, we were sweating. We asked about another fan but were told there was no outlet by our table (another table had a fan). I would suggest a simple extension cord so everyone can feel comfortable. read more

Amazing food, great service, wonderful wine list. Fresh and authentic. Locally sourced ingredients. Best Italian restaurant in town. read more

Ok definitely a date spot. The lights were dimmed, the vibe was very romantic. But definitely still can take family here as well as bigger groups. We made a reservation ahead of time because we saw that it can get a bit busy for dinner. But as soon as we got there, we were seated immediately. The staff were very knowledgeable and warm to us. We ordered the lasagna and fettuccine and we shared it. The portion sizes are huge! But definitely worth the money. One of my new favorite Italian spots to go to when I'm out in the area. read more

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Had dinner here today with friends who wanted to check out my son's newish town (first year at UCSC).... Pros- flavors of each dish were quite tasty. We had six people in total and all together ordered the short rib ravioli, seafood stew, spaghetti and meatballs, roasted beets, French onion soup, potatoes with dip, a salad and a pizza. My favorite bite was the lasagna. The top had nicely melted and crispy cheese... very good! I also enjoyed the crispy potatoes with dip. The French onion soup didn't have a lot of color, but it still had a very distinct and tasty flavor. Outside of the food, the restaurant has a great outdoor area that's dog friendly! There is also a nice sized private parking lot. Oh, and if you pay in cash, there's a discount! Cons- I was craving spaghetti and meatballs, it just sounded so good to me! This was I think it's the first time I've ever ordered it at a restaurant (usually make it at home!) while I thought the dish had good flavor, I felt the pasta was slightly overcooked. It was not al dente... the meatballs also didn't have a lot of color, so that was disappointing. The seafood stew a friend ordered was small. She said it was good, but we overheard someone at a different table say that the stew used to be huge and it currently is not... Coloring... typically color equals flavor, so it was odd that several dishes had little coloring, but they did still taste good! Some things I didn't care as much for, but we all enjoyed the flavors of each dish... read more

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A family owned and operated restaurant! Our table of 4 was lucky enough to snag a same-day reservation. Highly recommend booking ahead! This spot was packed with locals, even late into the night at 9 PM. We'd read some reviews about slower service, but our experience was smooth. The team is attentive, kindly flag them down and have some patience, they're managing customers both indoor and patio diners. We had our orders ready before being seated, which helped moved things quickly. Water refills came without asking, & we received our orders in a timely manner. However we did notice if you ordered an oven baked dish--pizza, calzones. Those took much longer. They seemed to be an establishment that liked serving all the orders at once so be prepared to wait. Onto the food! Seriously the most delicious pastas and sauces I have had (and I am an absolute pasta snob)!!! Ranked from best: Gnocchi Tricolore ($28) Trofie Al Pesto ($28) Spaghetti & Meatballs ($29) Prawns Diavola ($21) Gnocchi Tricolore was absolutely perfect! Texture on point, not mushy, tender al dente. The sauce amazing compliment to the pasta, I've never had both pasta and sauce be stars of the whole dish. The Trofie Al Pestowas unique and a fun twist! It swept up the pesto well with its coils. Spaghetti & Meatballs was a comforting classic with tender meatballs. Prawns Diavola were good, but more standard. Bacon-wrapped shrimp with a smaller portion for the price ($21 for 5 pieces, though we did appreciate the extra piece thank you!!) Overall one of the BEST spots in town I would come back to Santa Cruz solely for this restaurant. read more

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Most of your order is are a la carte except maybe pizza. It was just ok. I probably won't return.

Attended a bachelorette in Santa Cruz and we met up here for lunch on a Saturday in June. We made a reservation originally for 1:30pm for 5 people and we were all running late so we pushed our reservation down to 2:15. When we got there, we found parking in a parking lot they had right next to it reserved for their guests. They also have some street parking maxed at 2 hours as well as another lot not too far away. It wasn't busy yet so we got to choose either inside or outside and we chose outside and it was nice and comfy. There's only one individual bathroom there. We started with a round of drinks, I got a Negroni spritz which is like an aperol spritz. We did family style and got a contadina salad and added chicken, spaghetti pomodoro, and the tartufo pizza which was a vegetarian truffle pizza. We also started off with their bread which was also really good. We enjoyed our meal and the service was great. read more

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Best Italian restaurant I've ever had. * pesto (5/5) - perfect Al dente, creamy sauce, comes w green beans and potato! * spaghetti meatball (4/5) * gnocchi (4/5) Service is very sweet and prompt. Loved the wooden centerpiece table, booth seating, and more. Awesome ambiance. Would love to come back. read more

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Local-real folk serving delicious food and creating a great place for our community to gather to share food and drinks, laughs and joy. Thanks Tramonti for being one of our pillars in the community. read more

Great local spot! Their pizza is perfectly crispy and delicious. Can't wait to go back. read more

Tramonti - Arugula pesto pizza - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

My husband and I love Tramonti . The food is great , the service is always good. Everyone always so pleasant. Definitely you should give it a try if you've never been it won't disappoint. read more

Beautiful Italian eatery in Santa Cruz with delicious food!! We went for our anniversary dinner with kids and thoroughly enjoyed eating here!! Best was the penne pescatora pasta with seafood and the salmon/calamari/clams were very well cooked with the delicious sauce mixed with white wine. Also enjoyed the mama Rosa pizza with eggplant and zucchini. Surely try the tramonti local red wine very smooth and refreshing! The restaurant is very pretty from inside and open till 9pm and the service was top notch! Highly recommended!! read more

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I want to share this experience because it matters, especially for those who keep kosher. We ordered the eggplant dish, trusting it was vegetarian. After taking a bite, I immediately realized it contained meat. I calmly approached the staff to clarify, and the man confidently insisted it was "just eggplant," pointing to basil on top as proof. I explained again that it wasn't correct, yet he continued to tell me I was mistaken. Eventually, after the waitress brought the plate to the kitchen, it turned out I was right -- it wasn't eggplant at all. It was a regular meat lasagna. No eggplant in sight, and more importantly, it was not kosher. This wasn't only about preference; it was about consuming meat and dairy together, which is a serious issue for anyone who keeps kosher, eats kosher out of respect, or is dining with someone who does. I didn't expect anything taken off the bill, but I did expect basic acknowledgement. Instead, I was told I was wrong when I was clearly correct. Mistakes happen -- but doubling down on them, especially with something so integral to dietary laws, is unacceptable. And beyond that incident, the food overall was average at best, which made the whole experience even more disappointing. read more

What a cute little restaurant! Three of us came at noon on a Saturday and it was really quiet. There was only one other customer in the restaurant. The place is nicely decorated, colorful and joyful. We ordered family style and shared a Seafood Stew, a Spaghetti with Meatballs, and a Boscaiola pizza (sausage and mushrooms). Food was rather delicious. The Seafood Stew was very tasty, it came with shrimps, clams, calamari, and fish. The Spaghetti with Meatballs came with three large meatballs. The sauce was very yummy. Pizza was very well made also. Service was kinda lacking. Our server was nice and he did come and checked on us a couple of times. But other than that, he was working around the restaurant: in the bar area or on the side wrapping utensils with napkins. It was very hard to get his attention. Other than that, it was a pretty nice and relaxing meal. Prices are also very reasonable. read more

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When in Santa Cruz we always make a point of having at least one dinner here. The staff is always so friendly and the service is 1st class. We've tried most of the food on the menu and it's never disappointed! read more

Delicious food, great service. Never disappoints. Fresh fish, pasta, pizza!!This is a yummy spot for lunch or dinner.

We stumbled upon this Italian restaurant in Santa Cruz by chance and ended up having a great time. I could sum it up in five words - laid-back ambiance, delicious food. I had their Honey Kolsch, the rotating brew of the day, and it was refreshing. For food, we ordered the Diavola and Meo Pizza (I asked for half and half, and they accommodated, which was nice), the Diavola Shrimp, and the Minestrone Soup. Everything was delicious! The Diavola Pizza was my favorite - the crust was fresh, tasty on its own, and had the perfect balance of crunch and chewiness. The spicy Soppressata, Peperoncino Calabrese, and that hot chili on top? A-1! The whole vibe of the place is laid-back - no one's in a rush to take your order or your money, but once you do order, the service is quick, which is great. Overall, definitely recommend! read more

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Delightful remodel excellent ambience Pizza is unparalleled in this area Great crust, high-quality ingredients And nothing like the usual; so far above! I lived here 20 years and I'm excited about the remodel and trying their entrées in the new setting. read more

Food was delicious. Really loved that we could bring our pup to join us. Service was fast and attentive.

Lovely dinner party and mostly great food and service. The 2 things they could have done to improve; my bolognese was dry, needed a lot more sauce and the pasta menu is a bit slanted to red sauce. No carbonara which i seek out! Service was very good. However with a party of 6 they added the tip, then taxed the tip which should not happen as it's labor, then added another 2% for the CC use. So we paid an extra 12% tax for the tip. The ambiance is simple and the outside area was welcome and quieter than inside. Nothing fancy which was fine with us. read more

The food is great. I recommend the short rib ravioli. They will let you have it with their marinara. The staff is always helpful. The stromboli calzone is great. Get it with house marinara over it. read more

This place is becoming our go to favorite for Italian. The food is amazing, service impressive and overall atmosphere is welcoming and inviting. We started with the Bruschetta made with homemade toasted bread. This is by far one of our favorites! We also had the Burrata & Caponata Siciliana. The flavors just pop. Our table raved over the fresh ingredients and the cheese. Great starters! We had the Lobster and Crab Ravioli and the Margherita Pizza for our mains. The Ravioli was a special menu item and was a decadently, delicious dinner. We love how the tables are all around the main table in the middle of the restaurant. It makes for a great community dining experience. Table interacted with other diners and sent drinks back and forth to new acquaintances. It makes for such an enjoyable dining experience. I can't wait to go back to try a list of menu items that caught my eye. The Gnocchi and the Seafood Stew are definitely in our future! read more

Tramonti - Homemade Bruschetta and Burrata & Caponata - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Let's get this out there first: the portions are HUGE. No seriously. All four of the entrees could easily have fed two people each. No other review seems to have mentioned that so we were shocked. Generous leftovers for lunch the next day. Summary: cozy throwback eatery with super friendly staff and solid food up and down the menu Details: first impression is the room is smallish but it's surprisingly spacious with seating on covered side and back patios. We had a dedicated server but everyone seemed to help out throughout the meal. One staff was still taking our order while another showed up with the bottle of wine we just asked for. Super nice and super efficient. One drawback: the acoustics aren't great so can be hard to hear each other. Cauliflower gratin: rich, bordering on decadent. Finished under broiler. Perfect to share with four but two of us would probably finish it. Burrata & beets: Burrata was silky (as it should be). Worked better with bread than pita (although pita was excellent) Olives: generous portion. Contains pita. Meatballs & polenta: solid but not crave worthy. marked as gf but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Lingcod Portuguese: did I say this was huge? Must have been the whole fish with a full potato as wedges. Even a large appetite couldn't finish it. Tartufo pizza: two mushrooms (porcini, cremini) amped up with fontina and white truffle. veggie and expertly cooked. Lasagna: what lasagna should be. Layers and layers of cheesy goodness but somehow delicate. I had my leftovers for breakfast :) Tramonti is an inviting, cozy family-run restaurant with good wholesome food. read more

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My family always comes here when we visit Santa Cruz. Never disappoints. Sometimes the wait can be long, but it's worth it. read more

The ambience of this place was stunning. There was dim lighting and lots of heating for the outdoor seating so it was very comfortable. My biggest issue however would be that it took about 25 minutes for our order to be taken and about 45 minutes for our order to be served. The table sat next to us received their bread and water much quicker than ours as well. Besides this, the food was great and the portions were large. I enjoyed the gnocchi dish and the Margherita pizza a lot. All things aside, it was an enjoyable Valentine's Day dinner. read more

Tramonti - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I used to go here often for the lunch specials and occasionally dinner back around the time it opened well over 10 years ago. I remembered the food always being pretty good for the reasonable price point. It had been years so we decided to come for dinner last weekend. We were sat at a table right between the bathrooms, the kitchen and the exit door so there was a lot of service and bathroom goer traffic moving right behind us while we tried to enjoy a family dinner together. The place was noticeably loud and uncomfortably hot inside. I order the bolognese and my wife got the short rib raviolis. My wife's raviolis were pretty dry and the bolognese was underseasoned. The portions were generous, as I had remembered them. Unfortunately the food was just so-so. And with a higher price point, comparable to a much better Italian restaurant on East Cliff, we won't be coming back. read more

Great dinner in all respects - servers were great , food was amazing and the restaurant decor has been freshened up since our last visit. I hope to return soon - really super good mid-town Italian food that has upped its already high standards. read more

I had heard so much about this restaurant, but honestly was pretty disappointed. The food is okay, it's not horrible, but it is also not the best pasta around. I would say it's pretty overpriced based on the food and service you get, but honestly the ambiance of the restaurant is absolutely stunning!! The interior was beautiful and the drinks were very pretty as well. If you do end up coming here, I wouldn't recommend getting the pesto pasta. It's only, but definitely not the best pasta. It has potatoes and asparagus in it, and personally I really was not a fan of that. read more

Tramonti - Trofie Al Pesto - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Service was great, but food was easily the worst Italian I've ever had. Came with 6 dudes (not picky at all when it comes to restaurants) and nobody finished their food. Pizza was obviously microwaved/pre frozen, ravioli had no flavor, pasta was okay, wouldn't come here again. read more

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Today we discovered this by accident, and fell in love with it. Highly recommend, great service and delicious Italian cuisine. Felt and tasted like homemade. Thank you! read more

Amazing food...great fresh local caught specials!!! Servers are amazing and friendly and the pizza is world class!

My family and I make our way up to Santa Cruz once a year, and have an annual dinner over at Tramonti. I look forward to having the Gnocchi Tricolore all 364 days of the year that I don't get to eat it. The outdoor patio is a great area, with a fan for warm evenings and space heaters for cooler nights. Although Tramonti lacks a kid's menu, the staff is accommodating to children, offering to adjust portion size of pizza and pasta dishes. read more

Everything about our experience here for dinner was amazing. The staff was so friendly, checked on us often and just made for a lovely visit. The interior is SO cute and such a great place to catch up and relax with friends and family. Food was absolutely delicious (super fresh and hot!) and the bread to start was a bonus. Had some great wine, great food, and just an overall lovely visit. Would absolutely return. read more

Staff didn't let my tired 5 year old sit in a puff just because. This business is tagged as family friendly under yelps preferences but it is obviously not What a disgrace read more

The food is great and the service is good. These folks definitely know how to celebrate your birthday! Strongly recommend. Thanks for a great birthday dinner Tramonti! read more

Came here on my birthday with my little family. Great service overall! Our waitress, Blaise, was very attentive, and kind. The male Italian host was respectful and attentive to our needs as well. The food was delicious, fresh and flavorful. read more

Came in with my family excited to try Tramonti as it was HIGHLY recommended to us to try while in Santa Cruz so we made it our first stop for dinner. It was a beautiful Friday night so we sat outside and waited probably around 8 mins for our server to finally come. We at that point had decided what everyone was getting and ordered all at once. We ordered 2 French onion soups which were pretty good but nothing over the top amazing and a garlic focaccia bread which was THE FLATTEST focaccia I've ever had but the seasoning on it was really good. As for the mains, we ordered a cheese pizza for the kids and they said it was delicious. I had the short rib ravioli and it was the most disappointing meal especially for the price. The meat had zero flavor and it was SWIMMING in oil. The only thing you could taste was the Parmesan cheese garnish. We also ordered the mussels which was alright, but nothing to write home about. The service was also mediocre overall. I think she was more focused on getting closing work done than checking on her table. We waited for her to come around and just had our card ready to go. Not sure if we would come back but seeing all the good reviews makes me think maybe it was just a one off hopefully. The vibes are great and definitely seems like a fun place to visit. read more

I love going to Tramonti! It's like going to Italy without hopping on a plane. From the minute you walk in you feel like you're in Italy. The ambiance is wonderful! The servers and busboys are very attentive and have been trained well. Most importantly the food tastes great and comes hot to your table. Not an overblown fancy restaurant, just down home food like you'd get In Italy. read more

The food here is AMAZING. I've gone twice here in the last 2 months. The first time I got the spring and summer pizza special, Pizza mortadella stracciatella and pistachio. Came back a second time to get it again! Huge portion it's amazing. Also go the Penne alla pescatora pasta the first time but decided on the sea food stew the second and enjoyed it more. Both are amazing choices. Contadina salad was good but nothing insane. Tiramisu was delicious but small. Atmosphere was so amazing. Loved the ambience, music, decor, and vibes. Service wasn't great. Had to ask to get water multiple times and plates were never cleared even after we ordered dessert. Took a lot to get our servers attention. read more

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The ambience is delightful as is the food. We celebrated our wedding anniversary. They comped us two bubbly drinks. Salute! read more

Tramonti - The ambience is delightful as is the food. We celebrated our wedding anniversary. They comped us two bubbly drinks. Salute! - Italian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California