Gabriella Café

Gabriella is a cozy, cute cafe with excellent food. Our lunch was delicious and generous. Service was a little mixed. I would have liked the bacon and roasted potatoes that could have come with my bun-free burger, but whether that was confusion on my part or our servers, I can't be completely sure.

In our party of 5, everyone was very pleased with their food. Beautiful atmosphere. I can't wait to go back for their pork entree and I am dreaming of the pumpkin panacotta!

Some places feed you. Some places seduce you. Gabriella Cafe does both, then sends you home a little more in love with the world. This is not some glossy, over-designed coastal concept chasing trends. This is a small, slightly tucked-away, utterly transportive café in downtown Santa Cruz that feels like it was airlifted from a windswept village in Brittany and dropped gently by the Pacific. The dining room is intimate, almost conspiratorial. Low hum of conversation. Wine glasses catching the light. You lean in when you talk. Outside, the café seating is pure California ease. Sun on your shoulders, a breeze off the ocean, and suddenly lunch becomes an event. And the food? The food is love, man. This is French-influenced California cooking that actually means something. Not garnish-as-theater. Not farm names as decoration. Real-deal ingredient worship. You taste it immediately in the produce. Especially the ones coming from Dirty Girl Produce. Those dry-farmed tomatoes? They don’t just taste like tomatoes. They taste like August. Like sunburned fields and salt air and patience. The Tokyo turnips are so delicate they feel like they were handled with white gloves. French green beans that snap with quiet confidence. Then there’s the supporting cast: Route 1 Farms, Pinnacle Farm, and other amazing, local purveyors. This is not farm-to-table as marketing. This is farm-to-table as religion. The butternut ravioli? It’s the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-sentence. Silky. Balanced. Rich but never cloying. The kind of thing you close your eyes for. You don’t shovel it in. You respect it. Seafood is local and sustainable. Poultry from Mary’s and Line 38. Beef raised with care. Rabbit from Devil’s Gulch Ranch. There’s integrity on the plate. You can taste the intention. And then there’s Paul. The quiet architect behind the curtain. He curates the menu with the steady hand of someone who understands restraint. His wine list? Thoughtful. Democratic. Whether you want something minerally and electric or bold and brooding, he’s got you covered. No ego. Just great hospitality. Weekend brunch here is a ritual. Lunch feels like you’ve discovered something the tourists haven’t figured out yet. It is, without exaggeration, one of the true hidden gems of Santa Cruz. Gabriella’s doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need to. It whispers. And if you’re paying attention, it tells you everything you need to know: Food is connection. Food is place. Food is memory. Food is love. This is Gabriella Cafe.

Excellent lamb, duck and sole. Prob best dish is chicken picatta! Very homey environment and food is 5+.

I have been several times, our lunch group goes a couple of times a year and always on our anniversary in September. We always sit outside and make our reservations in advance. The courtyard is really nice and when our group,is really big, they set up a long table for us just outside.

Food was so good, went and sat on the patio for a morning breakfast with my dog and the street was quiet since it was still Early, the staff could be a bit more attentive but i'll let it be. Other than that def a hidden gem.

dusty boyd

Excellent lamb, duck and sole. Prob best dish is chicken picatta! Very homey environment and food is 5+.

Google Google

Food was so good, went and sat on the patio for a morning breakfast with my dog and the street was quiet since it was still Early, the staff could be a bit more attentive but i'll let it be. Other than that def a hidden gem.

G E

Gabriella is a cozy, cute cafe with excellent food. Our lunch was delicious and generous. Service was a little mixed. I would have liked the bacon and roasted potatoes that could have come with my bun-free burger, but whether that was confusion on my part or our servers, I can't be completely sure.

Donna Braden

In our party of 5, everyone was very pleased with their food. Beautiful atmosphere. I can't wait to go back for their pork entree and I am dreaming of the pumpkin panacotta!

Karen Avery

I have been several times, our lunch group goes a couple of times a year and always on our anniversary in September. We always sit outside and make our reservations in advance. The courtyard is really nice and when our group,is really big, they set up a long table for us just outside.

Ryan Beauregard

This place reminds me of something I would find in a quaint European city. The feeling is warm and friendly. The same staff has been there for years proving that the work environment is very special and it fells good to be at a place where staff is obviously well appreciated. The owner Paul is gracious and he is almost always there. It feels like going to someone’s home. The wine list is suburb and not overpriced. A true gem.

I really enjoyed my pasta, but I do wish it had larger pieces of mushrooms. The crispy brussel sprouts were pretty good, a little salty for me (but I like less salt). I think it is a little expensive for what we ordered, but it is in Santa Cruz. I wish I had more of the pasta after I finished my plate. The foccacia was really nice, so soft. I enjoyed my deconstructed affogato, and the brownie reminded me of the puercito Mexican sweet bread. I think a richer and more moist brownie would have fit better. I would have liked a bit more ice cream. Overall, I would return, but I think it is a bit pricey, so maybe every once in a while. The service was great, and our waitress was very nice too. I didn't enter the establishment, just the patio area, so that's the only pictures I have.

Cute cafe with patio seating. Don’t skip on the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the tagliatelle with bolognese- both fantastic. Skip on the weird butternut squash that comes with beets and apples, texture is missing on this one and the ravioli turns red from the beets. Service was fantastic and the mimosas with fresh squeezed OJ are on point. Definitely a place you should check out.

This charming little house restaurant is very cozy. The staff is welcoming and attentive very small place. If you wanna break from the ordinary this place is a good option. This place is old and has some holes but still very nice. Food is very good and fresh check it out for a date or solo is good too.

Nice Italian restaurant. Pasta was good especially the ravioli. Tasty fluffy bread and good cauliflower. We sat outdoor with heaters and it was ok but it's nicer inside. Good service

Rocio Carvajal

I really enjoyed my pasta, but I do wish it had larger pieces of mushrooms. The crispy brussel sprouts were pretty good, a little salty for me (but I like less salt). I think it is a little expensive for what we ordered, but it is in Santa Cruz. I wish I had more of the pasta after I finished my plate. The foccacia was really nice, so soft. I enjoyed my deconstructed affogato, and the brownie reminded me of the puercito Mexican sweet bread. I think a richer and more moist brownie would have fit better. I would have liked a bit more ice cream. Overall, I would return, but I think it is a bit pricey, so maybe every once in a while. The service was great, and our waitress was very nice too. I didn't enter the establishment, just the patio area, so that's the only pictures I have.

Stormtrooper 24

Cute cafe with patio seating. Don’t skip on the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the tagliatelle with bolognese- both fantastic. Skip on the weird butternut squash that comes with beets and apples, texture is missing on this one and the ravioli turns red from the beets. Service was fantastic and the mimosas with fresh squeezed OJ are on point. Definitely a place you should check out.

Davisu Echo

This charming little house restaurant is very cozy. The staff is welcoming and attentive very small place. If you wanna break from the ordinary this place is a good option. This place is old and has some holes but still very nice. Food is very good and fresh check it out for a date or solo is good too.

Yuval K

Nice Italian restaurant. Pasta was good especially the ravioli. Tasty fluffy bread and good cauliflower. We sat outdoor with heaters and it was ok but it's nicer inside. Good service

On the way to Monterey we decided to stop here for lunch at this cute, cozy cafe. On a cold day the butternut squash soup was heartwarming, roasted beet salad was perfect. My husband liked chicken panini. The portions size was good & maybe we ordered a bit more. My son said to the waitress that he will finish his salmon lox and get the boxes for other leftovers. By mistake she picked up the plate of his remaining lox and took to the kitchen to throw away😀 Overall it was a good experience.

I read reviews highly recommending the cauliflower. Perhaps it placed my expectations much higher than it deserved. It was crisp but that's all that was enjoyable about it. Thank God the waitress recommended we also try the melon wrapped in prosciutto. It was a nice balance of sweet and salty and it was a refreshing appetizer. We also decided to try the Bigoli spaghetti. Loved the depth of the sauce so I forgave that the pasta was very slightly overcooked.

Bhavana Thakur

On the way to Monterey we decided to stop here for lunch at this cute, cozy cafe. On a cold day the butternut squash soup was heartwarming, roasted beet salad was perfect. My husband liked chicken panini. The portions size was good & maybe we ordered a bit more. My son said to the waitress that he will finish his salmon lox and get the boxes for other leftovers. By mistake she picked up the plate of his remaining lox and took to the kitchen to throw away😀 Overall it was a good experience.

T Loc

I read reviews highly recommending the cauliflower. Perhaps it placed my expectations much higher than it deserved. It was crisp but that's all that was enjoyable about it. Thank God the waitress recommended we also try the melon wrapped in prosciutto. It was a nice balance of sweet and salty and it was a refreshing appetizer. We also decided to try the Bigoli spaghetti. Loved the depth of the sauce so I forgave that the pasta was very slightly overcooked.

My wife and I decided to go out for lunch on Saturday. We live in Monterey area so we went to Santa Cruz and found this place. It was very nice clean. The people who work there were not all that friendly.I had A mushroom omelette with cheese and onions. Pesto. The taste was not bad I liked it but the real reason why I am writing this is what my wife ended up having a hamburger and the patty was so thin and so small it did not fit the bun and they charge five dollars for a 12 ounce Coke My wife thought fries came with the meal, but it turned out it did not come with the meal just another five dollars and there was only 10 french fries wedgy style. Thank you for your cooperation.

The ambience was very nice and we were looking forward to eating here as the reviews were good. However, we felt the service was not as enjoyable as others have said. We didn’t make a reservation so I’m not sure if that was the reason but we simply felt unprioritized and felt the service was flippant and unenthusiastic. We never really felt welcome and for the price—150.00 for two without alcohol, we felt a better experience was expected. The food was okay but not worth the price.

Kiara A

The ambience was very nice and we were looking forward to eating here as the reviews were good. However, we felt the service was not as enjoyable as others have said. We didn’t make a reservation so I’m not sure if that was the reason but we simply felt unprioritized and felt the service was flippant and unenthusiastic. We never really felt welcome and for the price—150.00 for two without alcohol, we felt a better experience was expected. The food was okay but not worth the price.

Gianluca Magro

I visited Gabriella with the hope of enjoying a comforting Italian meal. The gnocchi were nicely plated, but the flavors didn’t quite meet expectations. The sausage tasted fairly generic, and the mushroom flavor was quite subtle. While the dish might appeal to a broader audience, it didn’t capture the depth and character I associate with traditional Italian cuisine. For the price point, I was expecting a bit more in terms of flavor and ingredient quality. That said, the setting is charming, and the staff was kind—there’s definitely potential with a few refinements.

Valentines Day nightmare. Show up for reservations and old man Host says "we have no reservation for you" and I had to repeat verbatim the conversation i had 2 hours prior. Then he says ok, but now we need to push you back 30 minutes. Hmmm, ok. Not starting off well here.... then we sit down and nobody acknowledges us for a good 10 minutes. The we get water and then ignored for another 10 minutes. No bread tbis entire time. Then the Waitress says "here is our fixed menu $95 a piece" and im like...hmm ok nobody mentioned that on the phone while making reservations and you guys set the high price so we expect good service and attentive staff. Then the waitress says "we dont have the crab cake app that you picked from the fixed menu".. and I say.. hmm ok. So they forced you to pay $95 and got a late reservation, no bread for 20 minutes. Then when we finish our main course, nobody gives us the desert for 30 minutes!! We were literally twiddling our thumbs. THEN THE CHECK COMES! $250! JUST WOW. The chef and her daughter are AWESOME. But man this was awful, and it cost a TON of money. No thank you .

Terrible service, missing items off the "$95 fixed menu". Inattentive service if served at all. Flippant attitude about a very important day for many. It PAINED ME to pay hundred of dollars for this terrible experience. Please do not put it on the customer to have to hold you accountable. I just want to eat and have a good time. This was unacceptable.