[ Goldies Index | Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]

Playing Taps: Bartender Lanny Headrick serves up award-winning suds at Seabright Brewery, winner of this year's Goldie for best microbrewery. Best Food & Drink Readers' Choice Awards THE OTHER EVENING, as we ravenously hopscotched across the county looking for a taqueria, pizza place, Chinese restaurant or deli that didn't have a line of patient patrons snaking out the door, I realized that living in Santa Cruz means never having to cook dinner at home. (Especially never on Sunday, as milling around on the sidewalk outside any restaurant or diner serving brunch has become our equivalent of going to church). We love to eat out, take out and pig out--all while letting someone else julienne the vegetables, shred the cabbage, cube the tofu, bone the chicken and fillet the flounder. Best Food & Drink was our biggest Goldies category and drew the most fervent voting (and, frankly, ballot-stuffing so crude even the late Mayor Richard Daley would be embarrassed by it). The triumvirate of local bakeries--Gayle's, the Buttery and Kelly's--battled cheek-by-croissant all the way to the finish line, although a few stalwarts stuck with Ferrell's Donuts. The barbecue category went sticky-hands down to Cole's, but some voters, blithely ignoring the rules, wrote in the Central Texas Barbecue--a fine establishment indeed, but the last time we checked the map, Castroville wasn't in Santa Cruz County. We were pleased to see Best Burger go to Jack's, definitely not to be confused with Jack in the Box (what were those 10 voters thinking?), whose spume of grill smoke has signaled lunch hour in downtown Santa Cruz for years. As for the lone voice of vegetarianism ("Meat is murder"), have you read what's going into bean sprouts these days? Spread the Bread: Jill Heizman at the Buttery, one of the winners for best bakery. Best bakery GOLD Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria 504 Bay Ave., SC, 462.1200 SILVER The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3020 BRONZE Kelly's French Pastry 1547 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.9059 7486 Soquel Dr., Aptos, 662.2911 Taking Our Cue: Elayne Higbee of Cole's holds up some Goldie-winning barbecue. Best barbecue GOLD Cole's Bar-B-Q & Catering 8059 Aptos St., Aptos, 662.1721 2590 Portola Dr., SC, 476.4424 SILVER Bruno's Barbecue 245 Mount Hermon Rd., SV, 438.2227 BRONZE Hindquarter Bar & Grille 303 Soquel Ave., SC, 426.0313 Best beer on tap GOLD 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall 104 Walnut Ave., SC, 459.9999 SILVER Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC, 426.2739 BRONZE Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant 1220 Pacific Ave., SC, 426.9930 Best bread GOLD Alfaro's Micro-Bakery 412 Riverside Dr., Watsonville 728.5815 SILVER Kelly's French Pastry 1547 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.9050 7486 Soquel Dr., Aptos, 662.2911 BRONZE Gayle's Bakery and Rosticceria 504 Bay Ave., Capitola, 462.1200 Best breakfast GOLD Zachary's Restaurant 819 Pacific Ave., SC, 427.0646 SILVER Walnut Avenue Cafe 106 Walnut Ave., SC, 457.2307 BRONZE Linda's Seabreeze Cafe 542 Seabright Ave., SC, 427.9713 Best brunch GOLD Chaminade 1 Chaminade Lane, SC, 475.5600 SILVER Zachary's 819 Pacific Ave., SC, 427.0646 BRONZE The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Ave., SC, 429.6994 Best burger GOLD Jack's Hamburgers 202 Lincoln St., SC, 423.4421 SILVER Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel, 476.6260 BRONZE Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 Best butcher shop GOLD Shopper's Corner 622 Soquel Ave., SC, 423.1696 SILVER Staff of Life 1305 Water St., SC, 423.8632 BRONZE Live Oak Supermarket 1665 17th Ave., SC, 475.3600 Best Chinese GOLD O'mei Restaurant 2316 Mission St., SC, 425.8458 SILVER King Chwan Chinese Restaurant 415 Ocean St., SC, 429.5898 BRONZE GOLDen Buddha 4610 Soquel Dr., Soquel, 479.0788 Best coffeehouse GOLD Jahva House 120 Union St., SC, 459.9876 SILVER Cafe Pergolesi 418 Cedar St., SC, 426.1775 BRONZE Lulu Carpenter's (a.k.a. Espresso Royale Caffe) 1545 Pacific Ave., SC, 429.9804 Best deli GOLD Zoccoli's Delicatessen 1534 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.1711 SILVER Mike's Deli Cafe 1222 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.2328 BRONZE Erik's Deli Cafe 712 Front St., SC, 425.5353 1664 Soquel Ave., SC, 462.1919 102 Rancho del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos, 688.5656 1601 41st Ave., Capitola, 475.4646 222 Mount Hermon Rd., SV, 438.4646 1074 S. Green Valley Rd., Watsonville, 724.7575 Best desserts GOLD Gayle's Bakery and Rosticceria 502 Bay Ave., Capitola, 462.1200 SILVER Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 BRONZE The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3020 Best french fries GOLD Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 SILVER McDonald's Various locations BRONZE Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel, 476.6260 Best grocery store GOLD Shopper's Corner 622 Soquel Ave., SC, 423.1696 SILVER Safeway Various locations BRONZE New Leaf Community Markets 2351 Mission St., SC, 426.1299 1134 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.1793 1210 41st Ave., Capitola, 479.7113 6240 Highway 9, Felton, 335.7322 13159 Central Ave., Boulder Creek, 338.7211 Coning Out: Lukas Holocher enjoys a treat at Marianne's, Readers' Choice for best ice cream. Best ice cream/frozen yogurt GOLD Marianne's 1020 Ocean St., SC, 458.1447 SILVER Polar Bear Ice Cream 1224 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.5188 BRONZE Baskin-Robbins Various locations Best inexpensive restaurant GOLD Charlie Hong Kong 1141 Soquel Ave., SC, 426.5664 6249 Hwy. 9, Felton, 335.9770 SILVER Taqueria Vallarta 608 Soquel Ave., SC, 457.8226 893 41st Ave., SC, 464.7022 BRONZE Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 Best Italian GOLD Ristorante Italiano 555 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.2321 SILVER Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC, 427.0135 BRONZE Star Bene 2-1245 East Cliff Dr., SC, 479.4307 Best late-night eatery GOLD Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 SILVER The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Dr., SC, 429.6994 BRONZE Denny's Restaurant 1515 Ocean St., SC, 426.4628 6014 Scotts Valley Dr., SV, 438.2023 Best local wine GOLD Bonny Doon Vineyard 10 Pine Flat Rd., SC, 425.3625 SILVER Bargetto Winery 3535 N. Main St., Soquel, 475.2258 BRONZE Storrs Winery 303 Potrero, SC, 458.5030 Best wine-tasting room GOLD Bonny Doon Vineyard 10 Pine Flat Rd., SC, 425.3625 SILVER Bargetto Winery 3535 N. Main St., Soquel, 475.2258 BRONZE Storrs Winery 303 Potrero, SC, 458.5030 Best Mexican GOLD El Palomar 1336 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.7575 SILVER Taqueria Vallarta 608 Soquel Ave., SC, 457.8226 893 41st Ave., SC, 464.7022 BRONZE Casa Rosita's 2608 Portola Dr., SC, 462.6116 Best microbrewery GOLD Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC, 426.2739 SILVER Santa Cruz Brewing/ Front St. Pub 516 Front St., SC, 429.8838 BRONZE Boulder Creek Brewery 13040 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek, 338.7882 Best muffins GOLD Rebecca's Mighty Muffins 514 Front St., SC, 429.1940 SILVER Emily's Good Things to Eat 1129 Mission St., SC, 429.9866 BRONZE Blue Sun Cafe 1307 Hwy. 9, BC, 338.2105 Best natural foods store GOLD New Leaf 2351 Mission St., SC, 426.1299 1134 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.1793 1210 41st Ave., Capitola, 479.7113 6240 Hwy. 9, Felton, 335.7322 13159 Central Ave., Boulder Creek, 338.7211 SILVER Staff of Life 1305 Water St., SC, 423.8632 BRONZE Food Bin 1130 Mission St., SC, 423.5526 Best neighborhood market GOLD Shopper's Corner 622 Soquel Ave., SC, 423.1696 SILVER New Leaf 2351 Mission St., SC, 426.1299 1134 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.1793 1210 41st Ave., Capitola, 479.7113 6240 Hwy. 9, Felton, 335.7322 13159 Central Ave., Boulder Creek, 338.7211 BRONZE Staff of Life 1305 Water St., SC, 423.8632 Best new restaurant GOLD Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 SILVER Shogun 1123 Pacific Ave., SC, 469.4477 BRONZE Convivio Trattoria 655 Capitola Rd., SC, 475.9600 Best outdoor dining GOLD The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Dr., SC, 429.6994 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr., SC, 476.4560 BRONZE Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC, 426.2739 Best pizza GOLD Pizza My Heart 1116 Pacific Ave., SC, 426.2511 209 Esplanade, Capitola, 475.5714 5401 Scotts Valley Dr., SV, 439.0880 SILVER Tony & Alba's Pizza 817 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.8669 1501 41st Ave., Capitola, 475.4450 226 Mount Hermon Rd., SV, 439.9999 BRONZE Round Table Pizza Various locations Best restaurant overall GOLD Thai House 353 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3546 SILVER Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 BRONZE Cafe Cruz 2621 41st Ave., SC, 476.3801 Best restaurant service GOLD Thai House 353 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3546 SILVER Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola, 475.1511 BRONZE Casablanca 101 Main St., SC, 426.9063 Most Romantic: Gina Occhipinti and Shawn Kelley ride the cable car to the Shadowbrook in Capitola. Best romantic restaurant GOLD Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola, 475.1511 SILVER Casablanca 101 Main St., SC, 426.9063 BRONZE Gabriella Cafe 910 Cedar St., SC, 457.1677 Best salad GOLD Fresh Choice 3555 Clares St., Capitola, 479.9873 SILVER Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel, 476.6260 BRONZE Dharma's Restaurant 4250 Capitola Rd., Capitola, 462.1717 Best sandwich GOLD Mike's 1222 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.2338 SILVER Erik's Deli Cafe 712 Front St., SC, 425.5353 1664 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.1414 102 Rancho del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos, 688.5656 1601 41st Ave., Capitola, 475.4646 BRONZE Zoccoli's Delicatessen 1534 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.1711 Best seafood GOLD Riva Fish House Municipal Wharf, SC, 429.1223 SILVER Stagnaro Brothers Municipal Wharf, SC, 423.2180 BRONZE Cafe Rio 131 Esplanade, Rio Del Mar, 688.8917 Best steak GOLD Hindquarter 303 Soquel Ave., SC, 426.7770 SILVER Portola House 3326 Portola Dr., SC, 476.2733 BRONZE Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr., SC, 476.4560 Best splurge restaurant GOLD Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola, 475.1511 SILVER Oswald 1547 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7427 BRONZE Bittersweet Bistro 783 Rio del Mar Blvd., Aptos, 662.9799 Best sushi/Japanese GOLD Takara 1800 Soquel Ave., SC, 457. 8466 SILVER Pink Godzilla 830 41st Ave., SC, 464.2586 BRONZE Mobo Sushi 105 River St., SC, 425.1700 Best takeout GOLD Charlie Hong Kong 1141 Soquel Ave., SC, 426.5664 6249 Hwy. 9, Felton, 335.9770 SILVER Taqueria Vallarta 608 Soquel Ave., SC, 457.8226 893 41st Ave., SC, 464.7022 BRONZE Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel, 476.6260 Best taqueria GOLD Taqueria Vallarta 608 Soquel Ave., SC, 457.8226 893 41st Ave., SC, 464.7022 SILVER Jalapeños Taqueria 206 Laurel St., SC, 457.0159 1201 Soquel Ave., SC, 466.9739 BRONZE Tacos Moreno 1053 Water St., SC, 429.6095 303 Beach St., SC, 427.2200 Best Thai GOLD Thai House 353 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3546 SILVER Real Thai Kitchen 1632 Seabright Ave., SC, 427.2559 BRONZE Bangkok West 2505 Cabrillo College Dr., Soquel, 479.8297 Best vegetarian offerings GOLD Dharma's 4250 Capitola Rd., Capitola, 462.1717 SILVER Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429.8505 BRONZE Blue Sun Cafe 1307 Hwy. 9, BC, 338.2105 Best wine list GOLD Pearl Alley Bistro & Wine Bar 110 Pearl Alley, SC, 429.8070 SILVER Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf Rd., Capitola, 475.1511 BRONZE Casablanca 101 Main St., SC, 426.9063 Best Food & Drink       Critic's Choice Best Arts       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Music & Nightlife       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Goods & Services       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best People & Places       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Sports & Recreation       Reader's Choice       Critic's Choice Best Write-in Web Exclusive: More Goldies [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]