Water Street Grill

Start to finish amazing meal! Rib-eye steak was butter knife soft and seasoned perfectly! The vibe was romantic and relaxed. The mango lemonade was top notch 10/10 for refreshing! Amazing waitress!

J J

Decided I was hungry for a steak dinner with a nice atmosphere. I was welcomed and seated quickly! I was able to order out of a nice selection of items and ordered the ribeye steak! I ordered it medium and sadly it did come well done so keep that in mind when ordering. The food was great though even with that mistake! My waitress’s was very kind and attentive with making sure service was great! I would recommend coming here just maybe ensuring it’s all cooked properly and the food is amazing. Would 100% recommend! Service is great, the waitresses make the place!! However, the cook should probably be a bit more light on the cooking but it was still great! I did get the ribeye with all fries ( usually comes with asparagus and mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes but I decided to do fries and just fyi it’s a $4 upcharge :) ) other than that service was great and food was good. I would recommend sitting by the front window if you want to have an outside view that’s nice and more to the back for private conversations or gatherings!

Ahmad Mohammad

Lovely experience dining here! Dina was super genuine, friendly, and accommodating. We really enjoyed chatting with her. Also, this was the only restaurant that was willing to accommodate our request for deep fried fish that weren't "beer battered" the chef did a great job. Thank you all!

Orwell Was A Prophet 1984

Delicious food! My wife loved it, my 2 year-old loved his kid's meal....and my steak was great! Shelley was our server and she was especially great with kids. A hidden gem for sure, highly recommend.

Rocio Carvajal

I absolutely loved the food and service, and the atmosphere is quite nice. The food was flavorful, and our waiter was so fun and kind and attentive. I didn't catch his name, but he was great. He brought me his recommended choice of wine, which was delicious. The dessert: I was pleasantly surprised. A larger amount of dessert, which I did not expect (amazing surprise), and that was so yummy and beautifully plated. I look forward to returning again soon! Added to my favorites for Santa Cruz.

Stacy Sanborn

The food here was AMAZING. We had a Caesar salad (sooo fresh and good) and the shrimp pasta. I can't even explain how good it was. Our waitress was nice, but she looked at us like we were absolutely crazy when we asked for extra salad dressing. (For some reason, a huge salad for two people is only served with two tiny cups of dressing?) The restaurant is super cute with good ambiance, but the tables are super close together. I guess that is common in California. Anyway the food was perfect, so I definitely would recommend this place.

Mj Stearns - Your Local Santa Cruz Realtor

I had the pleasure of stumbling upon The Water Street Grill today, and what a delightful hidden gem it turned out to be! Despite driving past it countless times, I had never taken the time to stop in. Thanks to a good friend's invitation, I found myself immersed in a few hours of pure enjoyment - relishing the welcoming atmosphere, delectable dishes, and engaging conversations. Our experience was made even better by the exceptional service from our waitress, who was truly a delight. The culinary delights we sampled were nothing short of fantastic. I opted for the blackfish tacos, while my friend savored the Bourbon Street chicken and shrimp. We kicked off our meal with the hummus appetizer, which was not only delicious but also came with a delightful assortment of dippables. For dessert, we tried the crème brûlée.. The overall experience was a a yummy one - from the stellar service to the mouthwatering food, every aspect exceeded my expectations. Needless to say, I will most definitely be returning to The Water Street Grill for more culinary adventures in the near future. Oh yeah, and one last thing the deep-fried mashed potatoes are excellent. Highly recommended!

James Peters

A delightful little spot with a unique atmosphere that is at once cozy and homey, and reminiscent of a classic diner. I ordered a cup of Clam Chowder and an order of Fish and Chips. With the side of toast, I probably could have been full on the chowder alone, but I'm glad I got to try the fish. Perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The cole slaw was creamy and sweet, very fresh. This is definitely a place I hope to come back to.

Joseph Powell

Awesome!! Great staff. Cozy atmosphere. I had Filet Mignon(rare) with Lobster. My wife had Sirloin(medium). My daughter had the Shrimp and Chips. Calamari for an appetizer. All of it was perfect. The Lava Cake came out a little soon so it wasn’t quite lava-like but was still tasty. I think they thought we wanted to leave sooner than later since we had been there so long. But they gave us a discount because the lava wasn’t flowing. Very generous of them. Great experience. Great place. Go here for dinner.

Susan Runowicz-Smith

called to verify outdoor seating with dogs. heaters were not operating so no. in 2 minutes they called us back and offered indoors with the pups!! hell yes. staff was so friendly and competent. Shelley was great. offered off menu dog menu where pups got big high quality burgers. we had house salad with the freshest greens outside of my garden with housemade blackberry vinaigrette and tiny warm carrots and asparagus. great start! i got the small filet ( half shared ahd some even came home!! with perfectly cooked prawns 8 which had me filled up. beautifully cooked asparagus for these low carb eaters. hubby’s salmon was med rare and delish with lemon dill sauce. great place and will come back when in town.

Justin Hannah

Smaller place. Always really tasty food. Great service. A definite favorite of ours. I believe very reasonably priced for the quality of food delivered. Ribeye, garlic mashed potatoes with the best asparagus (have had multiple times). Pesto Ravioli with chicken and mozzarella. No photo of Ceasar salad, but good also.

Lynn Jaspersen

Start to finish amazing meal! Rib-eye steak was butter knife soft and seasoned perfectly! The vibe was romantic and relaxed. The mango lemonade was top notch 10/10 for refreshing! Amazing waitress!

12/10 would recommend. Called in to see if they would take a last minute walk in, 5 minutes after telling they were all booked for valentine's they called back to let me know someone had cancelled their reservation and that we could come in. They were so nice and friendly. Made sure to pick up my jacket when it was hanging too low off the side of my chair, recommended my partner and I share a salad and get another appetizer from their prefixed menu (which I really appreciated), the portions were big, the food was really well seasoned, everything was absolutely beautiful. Thank you!!

Love love love this establishment. Finally, a chef that knows how to prepare and cook. We had the seafood pasta dish and I ate it all. After experiencing Italy a couple of times, I thought America couldn't, let alone Santa Cruz, compare but was I wrong. Finally, a place you can assure you'll get the best. So happy to know my hard earned earnings will give me the best experience...bravo

Our family spent the weekend in Santa Cruz for my son's birthday. On Sunday evening our dinner plans got delayed a bit and we ended up looking for a restaurant at the last minute for a nice family dinner. My sister came across reviews for the Water St Grill which seemed favorable, but it was about an hour before closing, so we were unsure that they could still seat our party of 8. Another big table arrived right before us and despite the small dining area, we were all immediately welcomed in. Most in our party ordered steaks, I ordered a salad which was shareable and delicious, the clam chowder and my son ordered a pasta entree. Everyone was happy with their selections, as mentioned in other reviews, there were some steaks that were cooked a bit more but overall everything was delicious. Some reviewers may have issues with the amount of asparagus served, yet many steak restaurants don't even include sides with their steak entrees so we felt it was a win! What truly won me over however was our server Dina. She kept going back and forth that evening taking care of both groups and making sure we were all doing well. Unfortunately it had been a long day for my daughter who has special needs and, wanting to leave, she began whining and crying loudly. I stood up so I could go to the car and wait with her while they finished dessert. However Dina came right over and said, "Don't worry, you dont have to go. We're fine, the other group is fine you dont have to leave". I honestly cant remember the last time someone at a restaurant told me that. Not only did she provide excellent service but she showed kindness and compassion. So in the grand scheme of life, the small issues don't matter. Our family will definitely be returning because we found something more than just good food... we found a balance of great food and a welcoming place to enjoy it. For us that is priceless!

B Olivares

Our family spent the weekend in Santa Cruz for my son's birthday. On Sunday evening our dinner plans got delayed a bit and we ended up looking for a restaurant at the last minute for a nice family dinner. My sister came across reviews for the Water St Grill which seemed favorable, but it was about an hour before closing, so we were unsure that they could still seat our party of 8. Another big table arrived right before us and despite the small dining area, we were all immediately welcomed in. Most in our party ordered steaks, I ordered a salad which was shareable and delicious, the clam chowder and my son ordered a pasta entree. Everyone was happy with their selections, as mentioned in other reviews, there were some steaks that were cooked a bit more but overall everything was delicious. Some reviewers may have issues with the amount of asparagus served, yet many steak restaurants don't even include sides with their steak entrees so we felt it was a win! What truly won me over however was our server Dina. She kept going back and forth that evening taking care of both groups and making sure we were all doing well. Unfortunately it had been a long day for my daughter who has special needs and, wanting to leave, she began whining and crying loudly. I stood up so I could go to the car and wait with her while they finished dessert. However Dina came right over and said, "Don't worry, you dont have to go. We're fine, the other group is fine you dont have to leave". I honestly cant remember the last time someone at a restaurant told me that. Not only did she provide excellent service but she showed kindness and compassion. So in the grand scheme of life, the small issues don't matter. Our family will definitely be returning because we found something more than just good food... we found a balance of great food and a welcoming place to enjoy it. For us that is priceless!

L

Love love love this establishment. Finally, a chef that knows how to prepare and cook. We had the seafood pasta dish and I ate it all. After experiencing Italy a couple of times, I thought America couldn't, let alone Santa Cruz, compare but was I wrong. Finally, a place you can assure you'll get the best. So happy to know my hard earned earnings will give me the best experience...bravo

Small local spot where we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and service. 4.5 stars Food: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere 4 Cost to worth it rating: 4 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Good variety: lots for all to chose from on the menu and family friendly for simpler tastes - Sofia: our waitress was the best and a real hoot - Shrimp alfredo: LOVED. Was the perfect about of rich and not too much, cheesy and creamy. Shrimp were plump and cooked well. 5 stars - Salads: large size 2 were enough for our table of 6 to share. Loved the one with the nuts and blue cheese and fruit. 5 stars - Chicken and shrimp dish: very tasty and served on a skillet. 4.5 stars - Lava cake: solid version with the oozy center. 4.5 stars - Steaks: simple and very reasonably priced and came with a potato and asparugus. 4 stars - Dining room: only a few tables and felt like we were in someone's house which was quaint Midlights: - Pretty empty for a Saturday night so hope it was just a slow time Lowlights: - They were out of most bottles of wine and only had La Crema which is fine but what we typically have on hand at home. It's good we also brought a bottle of champagne they opened for us.

Had a great dinner at the Water Street Grill the other day. I'm a pretty tough critic regarding restaurants and food. So here goes. I will start with my only gripe and get that out of the way. Though I realize real estate is a high commodity in Santa Cruz County, it was definitely a tight fit in there. But for a mostly full house and close tables it was quiet and quaint. The food: For starters we went to our staple appetizer of Calamari which was cooked well and not too heavy on the batter with an abundent amount of tentacles. My boyfriend had the Filet and Lobster Tails. Both delicious and cooked to perfection with some great asparagus and mashed potatoes. I had the Skirt Steak with bleu cheese butter and double broccoli which was also absolutely delicious. We topped it off with the Killer Choclate Cake which was decent. And the bread pudding which was good but the whiskey sauce was a little overpowering. All in all a decent bite and we will definitely return. I'd suggest reservations as again the footprint is rather small.

Eve Kosol

Small local spot where we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and service. 4.5 stars Food: 4 Service: 5 Atmosphere 4 Cost to worth it rating: 4 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Good variety: lots for all to chose from on the menu and family friendly for simpler tastes - Sofia: our waitress was the best and a real hoot - Shrimp alfredo: LOVED. Was the perfect about of rich and not too much, cheesy and creamy. Shrimp were plump and cooked well. 5 stars - Salads: large size 2 were enough for our table of 6 to share. Loved the one with the nuts and blue cheese and fruit. 5 stars - Chicken and shrimp dish: very tasty and served on a skillet. 4.5 stars - Lava cake: solid version with the oozy center. 4.5 stars - Steaks: simple and very reasonably priced and came with a potato and asparugus. 4 stars - Dining room: only a few tables and felt like we were in someone's house which was quaint Midlights: - Pretty empty for a Saturday night so hope it was just a slow time Lowlights: - They were out of most bottles of wine and only had La Crema which is fine but what we typically have on hand at home. It's good we also brought a bottle of champagne they opened for us.

Cheryl Noon

Had a great dinner at the Water Street Grill the other day. I'm a pretty tough critic regarding restaurants and food. So here goes. I will start with my only gripe and get that out of the way. Though I realize real estate is a high commodity in Santa Cruz County, it was definitely a tight fit in there. But for a mostly full house and close tables it was quiet and quaint. The food: For starters we went to our staple appetizer of Calamari which was cooked well and not too heavy on the batter with an abundent amount of tentacles. My boyfriend had the Filet and Lobster Tails. Both delicious and cooked to perfection with some great asparagus and mashed potatoes. I had the Skirt Steak with bleu cheese butter and double broccoli which was also absolutely delicious. We topped it off with the Killer Choclate Cake which was decent. And the bread pudding which was good but the whiskey sauce was a little overpowering. All in all a decent bite and we will definitely return. I'd suggest reservations as again the footprint is rather small.

We had steaks that were prepared the way we each liked it...medium rare and rare. They were cooked right and the sides were tasty. The salad with arugula was so fresh and flavorful. The service was friendly and personal with the right amount of conversation to get to know each other. Definitely added to our sea-side, pre-Christmas memorable experience in Santa Cruz.

We were the only customers , first for lunch my burger was cooked perfectly and flavorfully seasoned . Wife had fish and chips she enjoyed it. $50 lunch but way better than fast food lunch, way better. Will try dinner someday estimating $120+- per couple with drinks. No I'm not related or affiliated Google caught me bored.

George Kim

We had steaks that were prepared the way we each liked it...medium rare and rare. They were cooked right and the sides were tasty. The salad with arugula was so fresh and flavorful. The service was friendly and personal with the right amount of conversation to get to know each other. Definitely added to our sea-side, pre-Christmas memorable experience in Santa Cruz.

Jerald W

We were the only customers , first for lunch my burger was cooked perfectly and flavorfully seasoned . Wife had fish and chips she enjoyed it. $50 lunch but way better than fast food lunch, way better. Will try dinner someday estimating $120+- per couple with drinks. No I'm not related or affiliated Google caught me bored.

David Yarwood

Small restaurant experience with a personal touch. I don't think they have 15 tables crammed into this little place. Excellent clam chowder! Fish and chips and fish tacos were a tad less exciting. Parking is around back.

Alex Drake

Wonderful place in inland Santa Cruz. We called ahead for a party of ten. No problem there. A small cafe/grill, but don't let that fool you. Big personalities and welcoming atmosphere with the amazing staff. If you've spent all day at the beach or boardwalk and want a proper dinner. Don't pass this place up. Incredible food.

Arrived planning to have clam chowder, but they didn’t have any ready. The waitress was lovely. I had the small kitchen sink salad with shrimp and garlic bread. The salad was basic, but good. The garlic bread was basically two pieces of toast for $8. I parked in the lot behind the restaurant and there were several people just hanging out in their vehicles, which was odd. Overall, not worth the $44 my meal cost.

I was given 2 asparagus! $48 and 2 asparagus when I asked is that all that comes with the meal they said yes it's weighed! Looked at me like I was rude for asking! I asked for a medium steak and mine was over done! Along with watery mashed potatoes. I didn't finish my meal I left still hungry and with a check! Don't come here not worth it the set ups horrible and service takes forever! This place is dirty bathroom has dust all in it! Stay away!

Katie Shaw

I was given 2 asparagus! $48 and 2 asparagus when I asked is that all that comes with the meal they said yes it's weighed! Looked at me like I was rude for asking! I asked for a medium steak and mine was over done! Along with watery mashed potatoes. I didn't finish my meal I left still hungry and with a check! Don't come here not worth it the set ups horrible and service takes forever! This place is dirty bathroom has dust all in it! Stay away!