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Crow's Nest Restaurant

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2218 E Cliff Dr
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

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(831) 476-4560
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Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Crow's Nest Restaurant - Santa Cruz, CA
Reviews
( 5 )
( 5 )
( 1 )
( 2 )
( 0 )

Best

The food is really good, bountiful salad bar, hearty soups and great fish! I've had the burgers too, also quite good and HUGE! Go on Wednesdays when the beer can races are hap...

Worst

The Crow's Nest was a let down. From the moment we arrived for our reservations we felt like we were a nuisance.The hostess was rude and snobby, our table wasn't ready, finally wh...

Great Food, Great Views 11/13/2009

The food is really good, bountiful salad bar, hearty soups and great fish! I've had the burgers too, also quite good and HUGE! Go on Wednesdays when the beer can races are happening - so much fun! Pros: Fun place with good food and reasonable prices Cons: It can be crowded! more
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Good food and atmosphere 11/7/2009

Crows Nest during the day for lunch is a nice break from the usual and the views of the ocean are beautiful. The atmosphere at night is completely different when the lights illuminate the etched ocean glass. Have been going here for years and have always had great service and good food. Pros: Nice variety of fish and seafood Cons: Pay for parking more
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It was an expensive let down 6/12/2008

The Crow's Nest was a let down. From the moment we arrived for our reservations we felt like we were a nuisance.The hostess was rude and snobby, our table wasn't ready, finally when we were seated our waiter ignored us. It wasn't until we confronted the bussboy for service that we recieved attention from the waiter, who then said that he was the ONLY one who could wait on our table. The waiter never introduced him self and it was a good 30 minutes untill we got drinks and horsd'oeuvre. The location is beautiful and the food was ok, however they need to work on their smelly sewer system and service! Pros: it's by the beach Cons: expensive and horrible service more
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Delicious Sunset Dinner with a View! 9/21/2007

What a view! Add delicious seafood, a great salad bar, good service, friendly staff, and prompt seating, and you have a perfect evening! The calamari and dungeness crabcakes were scrumptious as were both our seafood entrees. We enjoyed watching the sailboats return to the harbor as the sun went down, a parade of beautiful sails just feet from our table. A great blue heron stood on a rock below our table fishing for his dinner while we ate ours! Photography here was ideal, and we have several excellent snapshots to remind us of our lovely evening. We will return when we are in the area and hope to hang around for the live entertainment. more
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Great view, great appetizers... 1/28/2007

But dinner was terrible! Our 9 year old did not even like the child's burger! We had 2 orders of the fried calamari because it was so good. I was expecting a great dinner so I was disappointed. The clam chower tasted like rosemary, I like rosemary but I did not order rosemary chowder it was too much. I ordered the blackened halibut, I don't think they know what blackened means. The fish was tender & flaky not dry but the flavor was awful, not at all what I was expecting. Kind of like basic a pan seared fish dinner with a fatty butter sauce. I'd go only for the view, drinks and appetizers although the regular burger looked great when I saw it go by so I may try that next time. It has to be better than the fish & steak we had! more
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Spectacular view 11/24/2006

The Crow's Nest is an easy choice for exceptional service, great food, and one of the nicest locations on the central coast. Always choose the deck if you elect to dine upstairs (in the bar) - watching the boats coming and going from the yacht harbor is somehow relaxing, and there's nothing like the feel of the ocean air (yes, they have heaters). I am always impressed with the service here - friendly, efficient staff that go out of their way to bring exactly what you are craving. If you're munching while you enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine (even their house wine is decent), try the nachos with skirt steak, or the classic calamari is always great. The parking lot is pay by the hour, but it's really inexpensive (just do it). The bar scene is refreshingly middle-aged (dare I say it?) - it's one of the few places we 40-somethings can go (and even DANCE!!) without looking ridiculous. Might be boring for young crowd. Be prepared to pay cover for good live music and dancing. Pros: You can't beat it Cons: Often busy - bar seating is first come, first served more
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Great food, great service 6/22/2005

It's right on the water, they offer fresh, delicious seafood, great service, and nice atmosphere. This is a good place to drop by, have a drink, and munch on some goodies when you get tired of touring around Santa Cruz. I will be going back. Pros: Food, Service, Ambience Cons: Nothing more
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crow's nest 5/15/2004

very nice place for happy hour on the patio upstairs or romantic dinner downstairs the staff is always great especially on special occations and the best part is the food is fantastic! Pros: great food more
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Fantastic views 2/10/2003

This restaurant has fantastic views, great food and good ambiance. It has a big terrace in front of the beach. I am lookig forward to go there one saturday night for live music. more
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A Nice Dinner Spot 6/9/2002

The Crow's Nest is a nice place for a quiet dinner, but don't let their music ads in the weeklies confuse you -- this is not a hip place to hang out and hear cutting edge bands. It's an older crowd, so expect music that cater to older crowds. It can be a good spot to catch up with friends or to take a date. The views outside on the patio are quite nice, especially at sunset. Pros: nice atmosphere, pretty views Cons: older crowd more
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Menu for Crow's Nest Restaurant


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Owner Message

  • On the beach at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, the Crow's Nest is the place where locals meet to enjoy fine dining, dancing to live entertainment, and a unique harborfront ambiance unmatched in the area. The downstairs dining room features fresh seafood and steaks, pasta dishes and an impressive salad bar. Upstairs guests enjoy a bar & grill menu, live entertainment and stand-up comedy. Complete bar and extensive California wine list.
    Entertainment: Comedy, Dancing, Live Music, Nightclub, TV

    Accomodates Private Parties
    Accomodates Groups


    Features: Award Winning, Bar, Brunch, Business Lunches, Kid-Friendly, Fireplace, Outdoor Dining, Parking, Private Parties, Reservations, Salad Bar
    Reservations: Takes Reservations.
    Smoking Available: Special Section, Bar Only

Additional information
  • Hours: Lunch hours: Mon - Fri, 11:30am - 2:30pm; Sat, 11:30am - 3pm; Sun, 11am - 3pm; Dinner hours: Mon - Fri, from 5:30pm; Sat - Sun, from 4:30pm
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