Changes on the Food, Wine and Beer Scene
2013 has been a very eventful year, with more openings and closings than there is space to write about, but here is a partial list:
Booka Restaurant & Bar opened in the spring in the historic Bayview Hotel at 8041 Soquel Drive in Aptos Village—a great new addition to the dining scene.
Rebecca’s at the Tannery closed. Something else is to open soon in its place, with new owners.
Bonny Doon Vineyard closed its wonderful restaurant La Cigare Volant on the Westside and moved its tasting room to a new location. Visit them at 450 Highway 1, Davenport—adjacent to the Roadhouse Bar & Grill. Call 471-8031 or visit bonnydoonvineyard.com for more information.
West End Tap & Kitchen is the new kid on the block in the Swift Street Courtyard complex—opening in the space that was Bonny Doon Vineyard. West End serves up excellent food and premium beers—and wine, too.
Lupulo Craft Beer House will be opening soon at 233 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz. Owners Stuyvie Bearns Esteva and Noelle Marie Antolin will be serving up a menu with a Latin-American influence.
Discretion Brewing opened in a great space on 41st Avenue in Soquel (behind Café Cruz and across the street from Home Depot) and has been doing a brisk business with their wonderful ales. Discretionbrewing.com.
Kauboi Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar opened in September—by the same people who own burger. in Santa Cruz and burger. in Aptos. It’s in the location of what was the Britannia Arms in Aptos Village.
It’s a Sweet Conspiracy opened in Capitola Village—a new bakery which supplies the sweet toothed with cakes, cookies, confections, and more, at 200 Monterey Ave., Capitola—right next to Souza’s Ice Cream. Another sweet spot opened in the form of Loganberry Bakery at 16 Camp Evers Lane in Scotts Valley. Visit loganberrybakery.net for more info.
Mission St. BBQ opened on Mission Street, run by the same people who own Aptos St. BBQ; and Sake Japanese Steak & Sushi opened on Water Street—offering a Benihana-type experience—in the space that was formerly Adolph’s.
The Penny Ice Creamery owners are to open a restaurant on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz—in the space that was Aqua Bleu—called Assembly. With Kendra Baker and Zach Davis at the helm, Assembly promises to be a sizzling new hot spot.
Royal Taj on Soquel Avenue has been closed for several months for a much-needed makeover. Maharaja has opened in its place—a welcome change, for sure.
Sadly, we bade a fond farewell to downtown icon Acapulco, which served us Mexican fare for nearly 50 years.
