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Readers' Choice Best Food & Drink Bakery GOLD Gayle's Bakery 504 Bay Ave., Capitola, 462.1200 SILVER The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3020 BRONZE Emily's 1129 Mission St., SC, 429.9866 Barbecue GOLD Cole's 8059 Aptos St., Aptos, 662.1721 2590 Portola Dr., SC, 476.4424 SILVER Bruno's 245 Mount Hermon Rd., SV, 438.2227 BRONZE Mike's Soul Food 139 Water St., SC, 423.7200 Breakfast GOLD Linda's Seabreeze Cafe 542 Seabright Ave., SC, 427.9713 SILVER Zachary's 819 Pacific Ave., SC, 427.0646 BRONZE Walnut Avenue Cafe 106 Walnut Ave., SC, 457.2307 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 Burrito GOLD Taqueria Vallarta 1101 Pacific Ave., SC, 471.2655 608 Soquel Ave., SC, 457.8226 893 41st Ave., Capitola, 464.7022 SILVER Tacos Morenos 1053 Water St., SC, 429.6095 BRONZE El Palomar 1336 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.7575 Cheap Eats GOLD Charlie Hong Kong 1141 Soquel Ave., SC, 426.5664 SILVER Taqueria Vallarta locations above BRONZE Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429. 8505 Chinese GOLD O'mei 2316 Mission St., SC, 425.8458 SILVER King Szhwan 415 Ocean St., SC, 429.5898 BRONZE Golden Buddha 4610 Soquel Dr., Soquel, 479.0788 Coffeehouse GOLD Jahva House 120 Union St., SC, 459.9876 SILVER Caffe Pergolesi 418 Cedar St., SC, 426.1775 BRONZE Starbucks Coffee various locations Desserts GOLD Gayle's Bakery 504 Bay Ave., Capitola, 462.1200 SILVER The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3020 BRONZE Bittersweet Bistro 787 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Aptos, 662.9799 Grocery Store 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 BRONZE Staff of Life 1305 Water St., SC, 423.8632 Ice Cream GOLD Marianne's 1020 Ocean St., SC, 458.1447 SILVER Polar Bear 1224 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.5188 BRONZE Baskin Robbins 245 Mount Hermon Rd., SV, 438.3167 1601 41st Ave., Capitola, 476.3155 100 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, 688.3166 Indian GOLD Royal Taj 270 Soquel Ave., SC, 427.2400 SILVER Asian Rose 1547 Pacific Ave., SC, 458.3023 1116 Soquel Ave., SC, 423.7906 Innovative Menu GOLD Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429. 8505 SILVER Pearl Alley Bistro 110 Pearl Alley, SC, 429.8070 BRONZE (TIE) O'mei 2316 Mission St., SC, 425.8458 Asian Rose 1547 Pacific Ave., SC, 458.3023 1116 Soquel Ave., SC, 423.7906 Italian GOLD Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC, 427.0135 SILVER Ristorante Italiano 555 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.2321 BRONZE Ciao Bella 9217 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond, 336.9221 Late-Night Dining GOLD The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Ave., SC, 429.6994 SILVER Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429. 8505 BRONZE Santa Cruz Diner 909 Ocean St., SC, 426.7151 Local Wine, Red GOLD Bonny Doon Big House Red 10 Pine Flat Rd., SC, 425.3625 SILVER Bargetto 3535 N. Main St., Soquel, 475.2258 BRONZE Storrs 303 Portrero, SC, 458.5030 Local Wine, White GOLD Storrs Chardonnay 303 Portrero, SC, 458.5030 SILVER Bonny Doon (Ca del solo) 10 Pine Flat Rd., SC, 425.3625 BRONZE Bargetto 3535 N. Main St., Soquel, 475.2258 Mexican GOLD El Palomar 1336 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.7575 SILVER Taqueria Vallarta locations above BRONZE Tampico Kitchen 820 Pacific Ave., SC, 425.9820 Little Tampico 2605 Main St., Soquel, 475.4700 Microbrewery GOLD Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC, 426.2739 SILVER Santa Cruz Brewing Co. (R.I.P.) 516 Front St., SC, 429.8838 BRONZE Boulder Creek Brewery 13040 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek, 338.7882 Outdoor Dining GOLD Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Ave., SC, 429.6994 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr., SC, 476.4560 BRONZE Ciao Bella 9217 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond, 336.9221 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 817 Soquel Ave., SC, 425.8669 1501 41st Ave., Capitola, 475.4450 226 Mount Hermon Rd., SV, 439.9999 BRONZE Pleasure Pizza 4000 Portola Dr., Capitola, 475.4999 1917 Mission St., SC, 426.1400 Restaurant to Blow the Rent In GOLD Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf St., Capitola, 475.1511 SILVER Oswald 1547 C Pacific Ave., SC, 423.7427 BRONZE Pearl Alley Bistro 110 Pearl Alley, SC, 429.8070 Sandwich GOLD Zoccoli's 1534 Pacific Ave., SC, 423.1711 SILVER Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel, 476.6260 BRONZE Eric's Deli various locations Seafood GOLD Riva Fish House 500 Municipal Wharf, SC, 429.1223 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr., SC, 476.4560 BRONZE Stagnaro's 59 Municipal Wharf, SC, 423.2180 Steak GOLD Hindquarter 303 Soquel Ave., SC, 426.7770 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 East Cliff Dr., SC, 476.4560 BRONZE Pearl Alley Bistro 110 Pearl Alley, SC, 429.8070 Sushi GOLD Mobo Sushi 105 River St., SC, 425.1700 SILVER Shogun 1123 Pacific Ave., SC, 469.4477 BRONZE Takara 1800 Soquel Ave., SC, 457.8466 3775 Capitola Rd., Capitola, 464.1818 Thai GOLD Thai House 353 Soquel Ave., SC, 458.3546 SILVER Sabieng 1218 Mission St., SC, 425.1020 BRONZE Star of Siam 3005 Porter St., Soquel, 479.0366 Vegetarian GOLD Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC, 429. 8505 SILVER Dharma's 4250 Capitola Rd., Capitola, 462.1717 BRONZE Asian Rose 1547 Pacific Ave., SC, 458.3023 1116 Soquel Ave., SC, 423.7906 Wine List GOLD Pearl Alley Bistro 110 Pearl Alley, SC, 429.8070 SILVER (TIE) Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC, 427.0135 Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf St., Capitola, 475.1511 BRONZE Casablanca 101 Main St., SC, 426.9063 Critics' Picks: These are a few of our favorite things. Readers' Choice: Best Arts & Culture Best Goods & Services Best Music & Nightlife Best People & Places Best Sports & Rec Best You-Name-Its It's a Sign! Readers speak out on the not-so-beloved River Street landmark. Beat the Stuffers: Our amateur forensic analysts keep the voting honest. [ Santa Cruz | Metroactive Central | Archives ]