Where to get good eats... Highway 1 Santa Cruz to San Francisco
The family and I have had it with the 110 valley heat, so we're going on a day trip from Stockton to Santa Cruz up Highway 1 to San Francisco... any suggestions on where to eat?
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14 Comments:
made the trip up to stockton a while back...i remember much of the freeway passing just those dinky pizza hut/taco bell outposts, so good luck finding some tasty treats! i feel like santa cruz should have plenty of good spots, even if the surrounding freeways are a bit a sparse in their offerings.
billyburgwife at 10:18PM on 07/09/08
duarte's in pescadero has really good artichokes, baked oysters, crab louis, and ollalieberry pie. i wouldn't bother with most of the rest of the stuff on the menu, but those things are always a good bet.
cybercita at 10:52PM on 07/09/08
In the little town of Capitola (near Santa Cruz) there is a pizza joint called Pizza My Heart if you are looking for a good slice.
Dillionay at 12:22PM on 07/10/08
We recently drove up from Palo Alto and spent a typical Northern California day at the beach at Half Moon Bay. Foggy, freezing, windy. But we made the drive and attempted to remain positive. When we left at dinnertime, we attempted to eat at Pasta Moon, a fancypants restaurant on the main street in HMB. They had a 90 minute (!) wait, however, and directed us to "It's Italia" -- what appeared to be a little pizzeria in a strip center about a block away. We felt a bit defeated, as we were looking for something more interesting than pizza, but we were cold and hungry and decided to go for it. Well, this place exemplifies why we foodies are so darn spoiled in the bay area. This little "pizzeria" had the most amazing menu, and a list of chalkboard specials that nearly made me weep. Wild boar osso buco with citrus risotto, an array of designer salads and one gorgeous entree after another being delivered to the tables around us. An excellent option as you head up the coast.
latteaday at 12:39PM on 07/10/08
I'm originally from Santa Cruz, so this is right up my alley.
I'm not sure how much money you're looking to spend, but these are my favorite places, and I'll try to list them in the order you'd see them on your trip as you go up Hwy 1.
Cafe Cruz - In Capitola, on 41st Avenue. Moderate prices, really great California cuisine. If it's warm out, which it will be, I highly recommend the strawberry lemonade, it's fresh, and the bartender muddles whole strawberries into it. We moved to Fresno, but whenever we go back to Santa Cruz to visit my family, we almost always make a trip back here.
Vasilli's - Greek place on Mission St in Santa Cruz, which you'll naturally pass through as you take Hwy 1 through Santa Cruz. Their flatbread is fresh and super tasty. I usually just get a bunch of flatbread, keftethakia, which are little meatballs, and tzatziki, a yogurt based dip with cucumber and garlic and go to town, instead of getting a whole meal. This would be on the less expensive side. The saganaki is also fun, they fry cheese in a skillet, then bring it out to the table, and dump brandy on it and flame it at the table, and serve it with bread.
Pasta Moon - If you're taking Highway 1 up to San Francisco, you'll pass through Half Moon Bay, and Pasta Moon is there. California style Italian. A little more on the expensive side. Would be better for a fancy dinner, so I'm not sure how it would go with a whole family. :)
San Benito House - Also in Half Moon Bay. If I remember correctly, which I may not, they have a restaurant inside at the bar, and a small deli on the side. The small deli is awesome, super thick slices of bread that they bake. If I'm wrong about the deli, there is a deli like that nearby, and it's tiny, just enough room to walk in and order. Ask around and someone would probably know what I'm talking about.
Out of all of them, Cafe Cruz gets my highest recommendation.
iancmoore at 12:44PM on 07/10/08
cybercita beat me to it -- Duarte's is great little greasy spoon type place!
Tactful_Cactus at 1:10PM on 07/10/08
You might want to check before you go-- parts of Hwy 1 in that area are still closed due to the wildfires.
Penelope at 9:58PM on 07/10/08
Thanks for the ideas...
evilchefmom at 11:08PM on 07/10/08
If you hit Duarte's be sure to have the artichoke soup, but ask for half artichoke soup, half anaheim chile soup - they'll know what you're talking about. You wont regret it. My husband and 3.5 year old were in a few weeks ago after olallieberry picking nearby. I had the crab melt (just ok) and soup (awesome, as usual), he had a fried oyster po'boy (yum!) and my daughter shared both with me. They also have a good cioppino.
missus_p at 1:52AM on 07/11/08
Heading south...
In Moss Beach, at California Street, El Gran Amigo Taqueria. Doesn't look like much, but it's been there over 10 years and the food is excellent.
About 1 mile south of Moss Beach is the 3-O Cafe at the HMB airport. Great breakfasts and lunches. Neil Young's been spotted there several times.
On Capistrano Road, right off of the highway, before the harbor light, is Capistrano Cafe. Food from the Yucatan, very reasonable. Dungeness crab melt sandwiches in season are phenomenal. As are the fish tacos. My kids consider it the location for the best hamburger anywhere, as well. The ribeye steak sandwich is great!
In HMB, the San Benito House deli on Main Street, just south of 92, does homemade bread sandwiches and soups. Always great food.
Also, Raman's coffee and chai for the best chai anywhere. Get it the way Raman makes it. No lo-fat, no soy, and plenty of sugar and spices. Head east on Main Street, away from the MacDonalds.
Tres Amigos taqueria on 1 is a great family favorite. Just south of 92.
Just south of Ano Nuevo is Swanton Berry Farms. Longtime organic farmer and a honor system fruit stand. Fantastic strawberries and strawberry pies.
In Santa Cruz, on 1 (Mission Street in SC), at the U-Save Liquor at Almar, is a great hot dog stand -- Snappy Dogs. Great ballpark-style hotdogs and cheap.
Farther south near Bay Street is Falafel of Santa Cruz, on the west side, next to MacDonalds. My kids love the falafel here.
coastways at 9:22PM on 07/11/08
When I was travelling through that area about 10 years ago I stopped (somewhere) and looked in the yellow pages hoping to find a good Mexican resaurant....I did but I can't recall town or restaurant name. It advertised the Greatest Chili Colorado anywhere, and they were absolutely right!!! Would you have any info on this place. Chili Colorado was their biggest draw and advertised prominantly. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
puppieluv at 4:49PM on 07/14/08
i confess i was disillusioned about the artichoke soup at duarte's when i saw gigantic cans of campbell's cream of mushroom in the kitchen and realized what they use as a base.
cybercita at 1:07AM on 07/20/08
@cybercita - oh no! say it isn't so! I don't think I want to go back now :(
missus_p at 2:08PM on 07/22/08
Does anyone know the name of a small English restaurant near Half Moon Bay that serves breakfast. Visited many years ago, not sure if it's still around.
sharono at 4:26PM on 04/18/09