Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Santa Cruz by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Santa Cruz using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Riva Fish House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (1385 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 31 Municipal Wharf Ste 500 Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Suda
- Rating: 3.6/5 (495 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3910 Portola Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Gabriella Cafe
- Rating: 3.6/5 (486 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 910 Cedar St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Johnny's Harborside
- Rating: 3.6/5 (1382 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 493 Lake Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Charlie Hong Kong
- Rating: 3.6/5 (1149 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1141 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. El Palomar
- Rating: 3.7/5 (1056 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1336 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Taqueria Santa Cruz
- Rating: 3.7/5 (386 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1002 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Aloha Island Grille
- Rating: 3.8/5 (586 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1700 Portola Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Hawaiian, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#22. I Love Sushi
- Rating: 3.8/5 (1303 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 516 Front St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#21. El Chino Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2525 Soquel Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. At Thai Recipe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2106 Mission St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge
- Rating: 3.8/5 (343 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 175 West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Seafood, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Sala Thai
- Rating: 3.8/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 353 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#17. La Posta
- Rating: 3.9/5 (410 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 538 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Hula's Island Grill - Santa Cruz
- Rating: 3.9/5 (2474 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 221 Cathcart St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Hawaiian, Tiki Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Akira Seabright
- Rating: 3.9/5 (919 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1222 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Oswald
- Rating: 3.9/5 (517 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 121 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (781 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 49A Municipal Wharf Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Hawaiian, Cocktail Bars, Tiki Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Bantam
- Rating: 4.0/5 (445 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1010 Fair Ave. Ste J Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Pizza, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Water Street Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (758 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 503 Water St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Tramonti
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1018 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 528 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Copal
- Rating: 4.2/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1203 Mission St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Lago Di Como Ristorante
- Rating: 4.2/5 (580 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 21490 East Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Mozaic
- Rating: 4.3/5 (854 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Church St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Halal, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Lillian's Italian Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2802 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1148 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Italian, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Laili Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1472 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101B Cooper St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Bad Animal
- Rating: 4.4/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1011 Cedar St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Used Bookstore, Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Special Noodle
- Rating: 4.5/5 (695 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 Ocean St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Noodles, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Hanloh Thai Food
- Rating: 4.7/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1011 Cedar St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#1. VIM Dining & Desserts
- Rating: 4.8/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2238 Mission St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
