Gabriella Cafe

I've always walked by this place and looked in with curiosity. It's not like many other restaurants in Santa Cruz. Small, but charming would be how I'd describe it. Let's see how's the food...

Gabriella Cafe website
Lunch 11:30 - 2:30pm
Dinner 5:30 - close
Weekend brunch 11- 2:30pm

Julie and I stopped in for dinner on a weeknight and we were seated even without reservations. Lucky us! I think they are needed for a Friday or Saturday - there's not that many tables! Our spot was outside past the black metal gate. Lots of flower pots and strings of lights everywhere.

We got the menus and some homemade bread to nibble on. It was wonderful. Spongy and chewy with a hint of salt on the top. What a great way to start dinner.

We decided on an appetizer of Prosciutto Wrapped Melon ($12) covered with pistachios - what a treat! Salty and sweet, the fruit was ripe to perfection. I am liking this "hole in the wall". Such great flavors!

On to the main course - Julie got the Butternut Squash Ravioli ($18) with goat cheese, corn and sage. She was happy with her pick - everything was fresh and tasty. I had to sneak one quick before they disappeared. Maybe a few more for the price would be nice.

Me, myself and I wanted something more robust. Would the Roasted Pork ($24) with mashed potatoes, root veggies and blackberry glaze do the trick? Oh my goodness, did it ever. The sweet and savory on this was to die for. The pork was very tender and could be cut with a fork. It was so good, I knew I wanted to save some for the next day. It was tough, but I managed to get some in the doggie bag.

This place has been around since 1992 and it's gotta be for the food and the fun decor. A perfect place for a romantic meal or even treating your mom. We're going to try the brunch there next.

Scores out of ten:
Food: 9
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Value for price: 8
Overall: 8.5

3 Pigs BBQ - San Carlos

Spring is here and with it comes all sorts of things to do once the weather gets warmer. I'm talking BBQ, people! Here's a place that is about an hour from Santa Cruz, but I am dedicating this review to Conor since he lives close by. (Tell us what you think in the comment, buddy!) To get there, take 101 North, then Whipple Ave. exit to San Carlos.

3 Pigs website

At the end of the charming downtown, you will find 3 Pigs. It came up as highly recommended on Yelp, so let's give it a go. Plenty of street parking around.

Cool decor inside with a country BBQ vibe. Sports on the TVs and cold beer on tap. Scanning the menu, there was all the typical BBQ items with a few surprises. They have "loaded" Mac & Cheese (comes with meat) and Kale Watermelon Feta Salad. Also, fried chicken!

Julie went with the classic St. Louis ribs dinner (half-rack $20.50) with 2 sides - coleslaw and Quinoa salad. The pork was fall-off-the-bone good and she liked the salads too. She was especially happy with the choice of BBQ sauces at the table. She tried them all, but preferred the "house" sauce. The slaw was crunchy and tangy with a sprinkle of sesame seeds - delish!

Beside the house sauce, there was also Memphis (sweet), Spicy, Spicy Vinegar and Mustard. I tried all 5 and liked them all.

My choice for dinner was the Taco Sampler ($10) with shredded beef, chicken and pork. It also had onions, cilantro and a remoulade sauce on the side. I squirted sauces all over the tacos and went a little crazy, but was happily sedated with a full belly.

I think the tacos were more of a deal than the ribs, but we had to try them. Everything was quality, so it's worth the money. I'm coming back to try the mac'n cheese loaded. (The dish, not me...)

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Value for price: 7
Overall: 7

Salsa's Scotts Valley

This will be a quick review since time is running fast and I'm trying to catch up! But better a quick one than nothing. As the song says "A little bit is better than nada..."

Salsa's (somebody please update me!)

Remember where KFC was on Mt. Hermon Road on the way out of SV? Salsa's took over more than a year ago and yes, they still have a drive-thru window. We decided to go in to check out the interior. It was nice and no hints of a fast-food chicken place. Upon entering, there's several barstools and a full bar on the right. Many margaritas are born there. Further up is the cashier and a salsa bar. There's 10 or so tables inside with TVs on the wall and a nice patio out back. We decided to enjoy the sun out there.

We love Mexican food, so it was only a matter of time before we ate here. My go-to Mexican is nachos ($8.95), so I ordered mine with grilled chicken. Would Colonel Sanders be proud?

Si, senor! Mega-loaded with beans, chips and cheese, the meal was very generous. The toppings were fresh and the chicken was cooked well. I added some of the tomatillo salsa to make it even better. This plate was a winner!

She got two shredded chicken tacos with rice and beans ($7.95). She liked the crunchy taco shells and filing but said the chicken could have been better. Not enough flavor. But it looked good and was a nice portion.

There are a handful of Mexican restaurants in SV, Maya's, some taquerias, Cafe Carlos, and Salsa's is as good as any of them. I liked the outside patio option for sunny days and the salsa bar to choose your own. Maybe some bigger salsa bowls, but I can understand why they aren't. Just get a table close by for frequent trips.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: n/a (order and they bring it to you)
Atmosphere: 8
Value for price: 7
Overall: 7

Greek Spot - Sunnyvale

Hello kittens and kaboodles! It is time for another installment in the Santa Cruz Food Blog. I've been driving all around the South Bay these days and found a new place to write up. If you ever are in Sunnyvale and are feeling Mediterranean, you should try the Greek Spot!

Website

On the corner in a strip mall, you will find them at El Camino Real and Mary Ave. Julie and I were looking for a quick bite before a comedy show at Rooster T. Feathers, which was just up the street. We both like Greek food and Yelp said it was good. Let's put it to the test!

All the classic Greek dishes were represented. I appreciated the pictures of the food listed hanging below the menu. Julie opted for the Lamb Gyro and I wanted the Special Plate with chicken. As a treat, we also got the Spanakopita appetizer. You order at the front counter and then they bring you the food at your table. Everything inside was blue and white with pictures and souvenirs from Greece.

The Spanakopita ($5.99) came out first and looked good, but was too hot to eat right away. When I finally did tempt fate and take a bite, thankfully it was manageable. The crispy outer layer was perfect with the spinach and feta cheese interior. I wished there were more in the basket.

The Lamb Gyro ($7.49) was plentiful and big. Red onion, lettuce, tomato were all there and some French fries too! Julie thankfully offered me a bite, which I took whole-heartedly. Wonderful!

My Special plate ($10.99) was very full with a chicken skewer, rice, pita bread and a nice salad. A little Tzatziki sauce on the side filled it out, but the container was too small. The chicken was nicely cooked. The best part was the salad, which had cucumbers, olives, onions and feta. Not bad!

The place was about half full on the Saturday night we were there. It was mostly clean, but we noted the floors were a bit dirty. Maybe they don't sweep up during the day? The food was good quality, so maybe next time, we'll get it to go. There's not much to make you want to eat in.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 7
Service: n/a
Atmosphere: 5
Value for price: 7
Overall: 6

Assembly Santa Cruz

Hello all local food lovers, I am back with another quick review. This time it's a downtown eatery that has materialized some buzz of late - Assembly. Farm to table, yo.

Assembly webpage

After some fun rounds of bowling, our group of hungry adventurers decided to converge here. The warm autumn night allowed us to relax at an outside table and watch the downtown activity. Only once was our meal interrupted by some kids yelling "Cioppino" out of their car window. And we weren't even on the wharf.

We picked a few appetizers from the menu - Chickpea Fries ($5) and the Meat Snacks ($12). Both were very well displayed, but underwhelming. The fries were shaped into long blocks and came with a red pepper sauce. Even with that, however, they lacked flavor. Spencer said he was reminded of cigarettes, but I didn't think they were that bad. A little salt would have helped, but there was none on the table. The meat was served on a wood plank with toast, apple slices, stone-ground mustard and pickled cauliflower. The selections were cotto ham, sliced steak and sausage. It was good, but not $12 good. More would have been welcome.

Spencer ordered the Pork Shoulder and Pork Loin plate ($20), which was abundant with peppers, beans, kale and squash. They happily dug in, but again, the lack of salt for the pork loin made it lack the needed flavor. It seemed to be a nice mix of flavors and textures. I was going to ask Spencer what he thought of it, but his dish was already empty!

Jesse and I both got the West Coast Burger ($13) and what a plate it was! I got extra avo ($2.50), but it didn't even need it. The burger was cooked very well and was juicy and delicious. The small brioche bun held up well to the stack and the pickled onions were a nice touch. The fries were firm and tasty - I'd definitely order this again.

Too full for any dessert, we thanked our friendly waiter and he offered to split the checks for us. Sometimes waitstaff will roll their eyes at you when you ask for this, but our guy was very good about it.

I think they struck out on the apps, but made up for it with the entrees. I had higher hopes, but still was satisfied and will go back again.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 7
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Value for price: 6
Overall: 6.75

Sushi Garden SV

Guess who's back? Back again. The blog is back. Tell a friend. This time we are trying the new sushi place in Scotts Valley that replaced Yamamori. That was one of our favorites (see its review here from last Spring), so how does it compare?

Sushi Garden SV

Around the corner from Starbucks at the north end of SV, Sushi Garden just opened a few weeks ago. It was sad to see the former sushi place replaced, but we were willing to give this new one a try. We being my teenage, sushi-obsessed daughter and me.

Inside, they kept mostly the same layout for booths and tables, but brightened the area with lighter colors, tablecloths and walls. It was a nice contrast with the new darker chairs. Our friendly server asked where we wanted to sit. Coming from a long line of booth people, our choice was easy.

What to get? I enjoy the salads that Japanese places serve with its Miso dressing, so we started on that. I didn't even look up the price, since how much could a small salad cost? If you guessed $4.50, you'd be right. It was way too much for wet lettuce, cucumbers and carrots served with a scant amount of dressing. Off to a bad start!

The sushi, however, was much better. First up was the Golden California Roll ($7.50), served deep-fried with sweet sauce. This was a great value and the crab and avocado tasted spot on. I liked the purple flower too (didn't check to see if it was edible).

Next up were two rolls: one with pork Gyoza ($6.50) and one with Yam Tempura ($5.90). Both were tasty, but my daughter preferred the Yam one. It had a nice fresh flavor and a small crunch.

One more deep fried roll to try: the Regulator ($12.50), which came with Unagi, spicy Tuna, cream cheese and a sweet sauce. It was another winner that we both very much enjoyed.

It looked like all the guests were given a free dish, probably since they had just opened. Ours was some deep-fried Hamachi (Yellowtail), but it didn't have a strong taste. Just a mild fish flavor covered in crunchy tempura. Free is free.

I'm sorry to say that overall they didn't measure up to the previous restaurant. Maybe they are still working out the kinks? I think it is good enough for your "go-to" north-end sushi place. Hopefully, they can improve on a few things.

Scores out of 10:

Food: 7 (knocked down by the salad)

Service: 7

Atmosphere: 7

Value for price: 6

Overall: 6.75

El Burro - Campbell

This week, one of my best friends, Dan was in town. He used to live here, but now calls San Diego home. When he visits, we use it as an excuse to dine out at our favorite places. This time we wanted to hit up some record stores in San Jose, so El Burro in Campbell was the choice.

El Burro (Yelp)

Take the Hamilton exit from Hwy 17 and turn left, then left again on Bascom. El Burro is in the Pruneyard Shopping Center and has been there for years. It's a magical place, if you like Mexican food. Big wooden doors greet you as you walk in.

It's dark and authentically decorated. Deep reds and iron bars make you feel south of the border. We sat in one of the many back rooms (this place is huge) and our chips and salsa came quick.

The salsa was fresh and definitely had a kick. The over-sized menus had dozens of choices. For huge appetites, try the Nina, Pinta or Santa Maria platters! Dan and I enjoy a filling meal, but we're not in high school anymore.

But before the main course, they serve a small salad with dinners. There are two choices for the dressing: oil & vinegar or 1,000 Island. Ha! When's the last time you were only given those options? They were not much to write home about, except for the slice of beet included in each.

Dan got the Carnitas Plate ($14.95) which came with rice, beans and salsa fresca. It's a favorite and he made short work of it all. The beans were very tasty, not runny and the rice was fluffy. I'm not sure if he squeezed the lemon on there.

I went with the Pollo Fajitas ($14.95) and it came with onions, peppers and sour cream and guac. But that guac was really "green" sour cream - no avocado flavor. But what big portions! The chicken was succulent and slightly charred. Just the way I like it. I couldn't finish it and got the perro bag.

Authentic, homemade Mexican dishes - not fancy like El Palomar in Santa Cruz. Just great tasting food at huge sized plates for a good price. Check it out if you are hungry or at least, want great leftovers the next day. Muy bueno!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Value for price: 9
Overall: 8.5

Tampico Kitchen + Lounge

Game night! The Santa Cruz Warriors were playing last Saturday night in town, so we needed food close to the arena. Tampico Kitchen, located at Pacific and Maple Avenue, fit the bill. It's been around forever and I've been a few times, but not for awhile. Let's try it out and write it up!

Tampico Kitchen + Lounge

Alan and I were looking for a filling, hot meal since it was like 40 degrees outside. Not typical Santa Cruz weather! Some rice and beans in our bellies should keep us happy as we watched the game.

We sat in the main dining room as opposed to the bar lounge area. The place was packed for a Saturday night and I didn't see an empty table. And they didn't have the playoffs on, so the dining room was it for us.

Our chips and salsa came quick, which was great. Not a full basket, but they offered free refills. The salsa was thin, but packed a punch. I'd rate it a 6 out of 10 since it did spice up the food, but not spectacularly. And why so little in the bowl?

Alan got the Killer Quesadilla (($12.95) - he had heard it was pretty good from others. His pint of Negra Modela draft was $4.50. Well, I thought quesadillas were flat with two tortillas and everything squeezed in between. Not here! He said it looked more like a big soft taco. The chicken inside was good-sized and plentiful. But he was sad the rice and beans were cold.

I got the Chicken Mole ($12.95), which also came with rice and beans. My domestic bottle of beer was $3.50. The chicken was tender and had a mix of breast and thigh meat. A few bits of gristle didn't deter me from enjoying the dish. The mole sauce was decent, but not amazing. I did like the flour tortillas that came with it to roll my own.

So if you said "Mexican food downtown", I'd still pick El Palomar over Tampico, but it's a decent second place. And it's a shorter walk to the Arena.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Value for the price: 6
Overall: 6.25

Casa Rosita's

Who likes Mexican food? A show of "manos", por favor. Aha, I knew it. You can't escape it here in California, but why would you want to? Melty cheese, spicy salsa, succulent meats all served with beans and rice. Sign me up!

Casa Rosita's (Yelp)

There are a lot of Mexican spots around town, so what makes this place any different? Let's find out. We got there on a Friday night and we had to wait about 5-10 minutes for a table. That is a good sign.

They have a small bar with about four bar-stools if you are thirsty, but they only serve beer and wine. Ever have a Beer-rita?

We were seated in the corner and chips and salsa were promptly delivered. They have two kids: pico de gallo and a spicy red. The red didn't kick in at first, but had a slow burn if you like that sort of thing. Not too hot, but I'd advise against guzzling it by the gallon.

She went with the #1 combo of a Beef Taco and Steak Enchilada with rice and beans ($11.50). It arrived hot with lots of cheese on top. She liked how the meat was cooked and the little bit of guacamole on the side. A star of the plate was the enchilada sauce, which had just the right amount of chili flavor.

I went a la carte (that's how I roll) with a Spinach Enchilada, Chicken Tamale and 1/2 beans for $11. I didn't miss the rice and I got some avocado slices on my tamale. Mmm... just looking at this picture now as I'm writing up this review makes me want to drive down there again tonight. Everything in this meal  was delicious. The tamale had a nice light cheese sauce over it that was a good contrast to the slightly spicy enchilada sauce. Magnifico!

This place is a bit far for me, being out on Portola Drive (right behind Cole's BBQ). But if you want a homey, feel-good Mexican meal, you know where to go. Tell 'em Juan sent you!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Value for price: 8
Overall: 7.75