Rebecca’s at the Tannery might be hard to find at the far end of the Tannery Arts Center complex, but the combination of healthful meals and sinful desserts is worth the search.
The breakfast menu includes bagels, Breakfast Burritos ($5.25) with bacon, egg and spinach, Egg White Wraps ($4.50) with feta, sundried tomatoes and spinach, and a Breakfast Croissant stuffed with ham, egg and provolone cheese. House-made granolas ($4-5) are either agave-sweetened, or unsweetened and gluten-free.
The large, sweetly spiced Chai Nub ($4.25) with a hint of pepper was served with nonfat milk in a shapely, clear glass mug.
A Bagel with Lox ($6.50) is always a treat. Lox is traditionally cured in brine, but not smoked. I was grateful for the misnomer, as the pale smoky aroma of the thinly sliced pink fish hit me before my first bite. The perfectly toasted Bagelry bagel was thinly coated with cream cheese, and topped with salmon and pickled onions, which were a beautiful beet-colored crimson.
How can you visit Rebecca and leave without a muffin? First there was the scone ($3.50), a tender, crumbly disc topped with lemon curd and blueberries. Hidden in the center of the moist, oversized raspberry and poppy seed cheesecake muffin was a pond of raspberry purée. 
For lunch you’ll find large green spinach and chicken Caesar salads ($7.50 to $8.50), all served with crostini. Sandwich fillings include tofu, tuna, turkey and tri-tip, each filled with flavorful surprises.
For the Signature Tri-Tip ($7.50) I chose the thin, four-seed whole wheat bun, which bore panini-like grill marks, toasting the seeds to nutty perfection. Inside, thin slices of meat were joined by spinach, the sweetness of caramelized onions and roasted tomato jam, and the earthiness of mild horseradish cream.
Rebecca’s recently added an extensive dinner and tapas menu. | KP
Rebecca’s at the Tannery, 1060 River St. #112, Santa Cruz, 426-3353. Espresso bar, wi-fi, beer and wine. Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Visit rebeccasatthetannery.com.
