G E

I've shared what might seem like a random photo- but I took it because I wanted to remember the beer- Birra Friuli Amber, which was my new favorite- not too hoppy with a rich flavor and an amazing head. And the short ribs and chard were stupendous, as was the mushroom risotto.

Asia Perpetua

I am not usually one to go out to eat at an Italian restaurant. But, holy smokes, this place knocks your socks off. Plus, you'll get a nice glass of house red or white with any pizza or pasta dish (they also have gluten-free). Are you looking for a super romantic, classy, family oriented, and nice authentically Italian dinner? Then look no further and teleport here.

Veronica Zaleha

Last evening a dear friend and I enjoyed our annual, combined birthdays get-together over a meal at La Posta.  I'd been the lucky recipient of gift cards worth the cost of two prefix meals on the restaurant week menu from Good Times Santa Cruz and thought it appropriate we use them this week! The weather was autumn-perfect for eating on the patio while we sipped our respective glasses of white and red Italian wines. We ordered different items from the prefix menu so we could share: butternut squash soup, smoked black cod croquettes, rotolo with chanterelles, scallops and prawns, tiramisu, and almond torte with roasted apples. Everything was flavorful and delicious. The server noted what a good job we did cleaning our plates, but going to a restaurant like La Posta is a rare treat for this reviewer. I didn't want to miss a crumb! I'll look forward to opportunities to return to my neighborhood restaurant for future special occasions!

KC C

Haven’t been here since pre-pandemic and we surely have been missing out. So glad to be back. First and foremost, hands off to our server Misty. She was so nice, very attentive, very knowledgeable about the items being offered as she was so helpful in helping us make some decisions. There are just too many delicious options on the drink and food menu that it was hard to decide. When we asked her questions about some of the items we were thinking about ordering, she would give us a little info and background, to help ease our decision making. She is by far one of the best waitresses we have ever had in our dining lives. Now, the food…..OMG. Can you say authentic Italian? We started with the Affettati Misti which is kinda like a charcuterie platter. There were two cheeses, lots of pickled veggies, walnuts, fruit and a mix of cured meats. We were hungry so we ate it all and fast, but this can easily serve 3-4. No free bread so we purchased the walnut and rosemary bread. Very well worth the $3. The pasta is DEFINITELY freshly made and soooo tasty. I had the Chitarra which consists of fresh pasta noodles that look like spaghetti, mixed with a light tomato sauce adorned with squid. The hubby had the Amatriciana pizza which was also delish. For dessert, we each had a scoop of the gelato. Ford drinks we went light bc we had post dinner drink plans. I had a glass of the Rinaldini Lambrusco which Misty kindly allowed me to taste first. I highly recommend it. Kind threw me off bc I was a RED sparking. I had never seen such a thing; it tasted delish. The man had a Vermouth Torino; his was good but very much on the LIGHT side. A few closing notes: Parking was easy to find even though they are on a busy street. For indoor dining, you must show proof of vaccination, which I really appreciate bc the hubby and I are fully vaccinated and boosted. There’s plenty of outdoor dining seats with heat lamps. Overall, this was one of the best dinner experiences we’ve had in a long time. Everything we ordered was good and the service was over the top (THANKS MISTY). Can’t wait to take my friends and family next time.

Eric Newell

Amazing food, perfectly-paired wine. Nice place to celebrate an occasion, though I wouldn’t classify much of the food we had as “Italian” in my mind. The croquette appetizer and desserts were perfection!

Berna Cruz

Super chill relaxin environment. Waiter super welcoming and the food was excellent portions are a little small we also had dessert to end our dinner night.

David B. Karpf, MD

One of the BEST restaurants in Santa Cruz! I have eaten there many times, and never been dissapointed.

Colca

Friendly service and fresh made pasta, gelato is a bomb, wine is okay-ish but maybe I picked the wrong one

Outstanding food with fresh seasonal ingredients, along with live music, made for a wonderful dinning experience. Must try the rosemary walnut bread and prochutto fig pizza!

La Posta is one of my all time favorite restaurants! I hate to spread the word.....lest there be no table for me.....but everything is fantastic!! I don't even eat bread...but I eat it here. Their quail is TDF!! I had a tagliatelle with braised lamb that I wanted to bathe in and when they do beets- I'm in heaven! Thanks La Posta, servers and chef divine for being in my hood!! My San Francisco foodie snob kids love it too!!

Small local Italian restaurant, with original and very tasty appetizers and entrees. Highly recommended.

One of the better restaurants in town. Menu rotates, dishes depend on what's in season and they're always creative uses of local ingredients. Great spot for a date.

This was the best meal of our Northern California vacation. The service was perfect and every dish was a masterpiece. Do not miss this restaurant!!!! Get reservations asap!

I absolutely cannot get enough of Catherine's culinary excellence. She shines with rustic fundamentals and her own California local flair. I am always thinking about how to get myself to cave in to another dinner at La Posta.

One of the small handful of really great restaurants in Santa Cruz.

The lamb pasta is the best pasta dish I ate in a long time. We really liked salads and desserts too! Will come again!

Dropped in randomly because hungry and in neighborhood and boy did we luck out. The chef here could be at any of the best fine dining establishments of SF or NYC. Delicious, creative, well presented.

Great service. Great Italian food and excellent wines

La Posta is a Santa Cruz gem - excellent food, attentive service, and lovely atmosphere. Perfect place for a reliably delicious and inventive meal that updates to incorporate fresh local ingredients. Also, the bread is made in house and it's phenomenal!

La Posta is an absolute gem! I am always so impressed with the level of attention that is put into curating every item on the menu. The salads and pizzas are next level, and the desserts are divine. The menu changes weekly, but the duck leg is particularly good when it’s available. Servers are all professional, gracious, and warm.

We have come here twice on out-of-town visits, and both times had just excellent meals and service. The food is fresh, unusual, well-prepared and just plain fun to eat! The staff is attentive and very personable which seems to be rarer and rare these days. The space is quite lovely: A large high ceilinged open room with large storefront windows. Quite a gem in my opinion.

An excellent Italian restaurant! The ambience is very cozy and elegant. The food is very good although not a lot of gluten free choices. Vegetarian options are limited but you will not miss the meat because they are soooo delicious. On the way there don't miss the parking lot behind the building.

Great service, truly exceptional food, and a Somm who knows his wines, isn't trying to sell you the most expensive bottle, and is actually interested in giving you the best experience. I would be a regular if I lived in Santa Cruz. Go now.

The best Italian meal I have ever had. The cannelloni was so nicely balanced. homemade ricotta was perfect - so light and fluffy. The pizza was delicious. Better than tartine, cheeseboard etc. Just perfect. The olive oil and blood orange cake was so smooth, light and creamy. Perfect texture, paired with nice homemade gelato. Really brought out the blood orange. It was so good, we didn’t even stop to take pictures.

The chef in this place is amazing! She comes up with amazing specials every week. I love her taste in food. Service is great and the freshly baked bread is delicious. I highly recommend this cute restaurant

Had an excellent evening here on a first date. Service was phenomenal, and the menu (Nov. 5th) paired wonderfully with the bottle of wine we had chosen. In fact, the wine was so good it may have gotten me a second date with her. Will definitely come back when i'm hungry again.

Excellent Italian food, with very good service. Tried their wine pairing and was astounded with wines I enjoyed, but never would have tried. Do let your Waiter/Waitress guide you in both food and wine selection.

The bread is really, really good. Not every dish is a home run, but I've always been impressed with the creativity and use of less common and seasonal ingredients. Nice atmosphere, very good service. Only bummer is that, unless you're driving a truck, you WILL scrape your bumper leaving their parking lot. Get that fixed!

Going to La Posta requires a certain attitude to get the most out of it. The servings aren't huge and the food is almost what I would call posh (almost as if its trying to hard to be fancy). The plating can often get stuck between trying to be artistic, but then just looking like someone through it together. However, the food and service have always been on point when I have gone here. I think some dishes may require a more open palate than others and may not sit well with everyone, but for me, they worked. Furthermore, I really like how they rotate they're menu so frequently, which always makes it fun to return for more trips.

The food is absolutely delicious and authentically Italian. The service is great, the servers are personable and make sure your visit is enjoyable. The atmosphere is wonderful, they have done a great job adapting to the limitations of COVID-19.

Probably the best restaurant in town. Tonight, my wife had a lovely slab of delicately seasoned halibut grilled to perfection, I had a filet with a dab of a blue cheese and olive tapenade on top, cooked quite rare and butter tender.

Still a consistent fan of this well-run culinary gem in the heart of the Seabright neighborhood of Santa Cruz. The pasta dishes are superbly executed: fresh, uncomplicated, and often complimented by locally sourced ingredients. Pizza is to die for: some of the best thin-crust wood-fired samplings this side of Napoli. Service is attentive, the wine selection is broad, and fairly priced. Anyone who loves authentic Italian in a cozy setting will feel right at home from their first step inside the door at this Santa Cruz institution!

The service is wonderful. The food is fresh, local and oh so tasty. The wine list is on point. I crave their mixed lettuce salad with shallot vinaigrette like no tomorrow, super good.

Impeccable in every way! So fresh... Literally farm to table. Even the plain green salad was anything but plain. Lightly dressed with grated Parmesan. And the most amazing Pizza. Not to mention that dessert was nothing short of ecstatic.

AWESOME. Not your typical restaurant Italian, more like something that my Italian friends cook at home. You could say the California cuisine version of Italian - fresh and seasonal locally sourced ingredients brought together in creative, colorful, and delicious salads, pasta dishes, meat & fish plates, and desserts. Oh, their amazing breads!

Not every day you have Panna cotta so good it gives you reason to live

Consistent, delicious Italian food with a great wine list and attentive service. We have never had a disappointing meal and guests we bring love it, too.

Everything here is superb. Maintaining this kind of consistency throughout the menu is extremely hard to do - but La Posta makes it look easy. The same attention to detail that’s found in every dish is present in each interaction with the staff which truly makes this deserving of, at least, 5 stars.

Lovely atmosphere as we sat outside. The food was excellent and we all enjoyed our separate mains, good wine and super desserts 🍰. Definitely go back again.

Dinner at La Posta = Italian Perfection! My friends and I shared all the antipasti dishes on the menu and every single one was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. The standout dish was the Gnoccho Fritto- light, airy, golden-fried pillows of dough served with silky proscuitto, creamy blue cheese and pickled onions. A must! Another plus: their extensive wine list! We shared a bottle of Kante Terrano 2019, light and earthy, and a perfect paring with all our appetizers. The house-made sourdough and walnut-rosemary breads were warm, crusty and you can even buy a loaf to take home. Cozy vibe, super friendly staff, and everything made with local, farm-fresh ingredients. Can't wait to go back!

Best Italian food in the county! The staff are friendly, and the dishes are complex and unique.

This place is a treasure. Whenever we are in Santa Cruz, we make a point to have a fabulous dinner here. The salad was so good that we ordered two! Then the specials, which were delicious. All the while enjoying a well chosen bottle of wine. Lovely atmosphere and attentive staff.

We tried the special, lasagna, the pizza with house made sausage and chicken ravioli along with appetizers, (quail, scallops and calamari) and a couple of deserts...and shared everything... Totally Delightful!

The food here is really lovely. We had Gavin as a server and his wine recommendation was perfect! His desert recommendation was excellent as well

Quaint and friendly atmosphere. Food was outstanding, beautiful presentation with balanced flavor profiles and creative recipes using simple ingredients. We had the seared scallops, farm salad, ravioli verde, gnocchi with pork ragu and the halibut. To drink I had a surprisingly good Dolomiti pilsner that was flowery and crisp, and we also had a Borolo red and a fantastic white I can't recall the name of that was recommended by our server. We were pleasantly surprised and will definitely go back. Oh, they change their menu weekly so expect new dishes.

Always, always delicious Italian cooking and a terrific wine list. Sometimes we sit inside, sometimes outside with our dog, but our favorite is to sit just the two of us at the bar and drink wines chosen for us by the amazing Katie, wines that she knows we will like, and that will accompany our food choices. I love this place!

Lovely dining experience. Go for the bread and stay for the pasta. And wine.

What a find! We had a delicious fresh salad dressed with a scrumptious sherry vinaigrette dressing. A yummy pizza and a delicious homemade ice cream. This is a classy restaurant with exceptional food and service.

Great chef makes great dishes. Menu is limited and changes every week. Waiters know their stuff and can tell you more about the food than you ever thought you ask. Outdoor seating very much lacks atmosphere (except for the breathable kind), but indoors is cozy.

The staff really make the spot. They clearly care about the job which speaks volumes to the quality of the restaurant. This is one of the hidden gems of Santa Cruz as far as high quality food, but expect to pay accordingly. Staff is there every day prepping even in their days closed and they receive fresh local ingredient deliveries daily.

I am SO lucky to have La Posta in my neighborhood! An absolute gem. The only problem is deciding what to order but you can’t go wrong. I spend a lot of time in SF and the Bay area but the restaurants up there can’t compete. 🥰

Consistently excellent and authentic Italian fare, house made pasta, an excellent wine list, and gracious service. Come on a Wednesday for the live music. Great date spot, you can usually get a spot at the bar if the dining room is full.

I eat at La Posta on a regular basis. The food is exceptional. The service is always great, and the ambience is casual and atmospheric. One of my faves in Santa Cruz! I'm a regular...I admit it. They even know I like sparkling water with lemon. 😊 I have eaten at La Posta since they opened and it simply gets better and better! Truly the best restaurant in Santa Cruz, and without a doubt one of the best in the Bay area!!!

A great experience for dinner with a variety of very well executed dishes. The bread is not to be missed and the Italian focused wine list is a amazing. The "wine guy" will provide any guidance necessary. Ambience was best indoors.

Food was great, wine list was great. The burrata with citrus we had was a solid combination of flavors. My wife and I split a pasta dish and a pizza. The pasta (rotolo) was nothing short of perfect. Personally I like my pizza with a bit more "wet", but for the style of pizza it was also executed incredibly well. Service was on par with the quality of food. Every member of the staff we engaged with was very polite, courteous and attentive. It's on the expensive side, but considering the quality of staff, worth the money.

Waiter made a great wine recommendation. We had a wonderful selection of dishes starting with the vegetable side dishes of zucchini and shishito peppers. Great pizza. Beautiful outdoor seating.

Incredible Italian food & service! We started with the olives which were perfect and then each had an appetizer and entree. I had a cauliflower garlic dish and a side of roasted vegetables. They were accommodating to a gluten free & vegan diet and kept incredible flavors despite cooking for dietary restrictions. So so good and would recommend to anyone in the Santa Cruz area!

Always incredible! The food is some of the best in Santa Cruz - and has been for years. The wine selection is unique and on point and the staff are just wonderful. (Pro Tip: Sit at the bar, it’s the most fun)

We had another excellent meal at La Posta Saturday evening. The menu, which is seasonal and changes weekly is available their website. We enjoyed superb service, on their beautifully lit and quiet patio. Very effective heaters kept us comfortably warm.

Fantastic! Fabulous service, fabulous food..real Italian food, flavors and serving size with a great selection of Northern Italian wines. You can tell alot of care went into selecting the finest ingredients. The handmade orechiette with sugar snap peas and asparagus and fava peas and peas..the arugula Salad had an amazing dressing with a hint of mint and lemon zest. 🍋 highly recommended this authentic Italian restaurant 😋. Italian husband approved 10/10

Nice welcoming restaurant with real Italian ambience. The staff was very nice and we loved the food.

Fresh pasta noodles! Love the texture

Long overdue review. Have eaten dozens of dinners here over past couple of years. Consistently and absolutely outstanding food and service. Simple as that. Meal tonight deserved a Michelin star (saffron braised lamb lasagnette); not uncommon experience. Inventive but not too out there or too "precious" food. You eat and leave filled and happy. This is a true hidden gem of the Bay Area bar none.

Delicious, fresh and delicately prepared Italian fare. The sourdough bread is incredible, as were the hommade pasta and wine list. Even during these tough times for restaurants, the servers made the evening pleasant and friendly. Outdoor tables w heat lamps, surrounded by the chef's herb garden, citrus trees and grape vines was idyllic. Can't say enough good things!

+1

Always fabulous service at LaPosta! And an innovative and delicious menu. So many dishes sounded like must-haves we ordered more than we usually do. Really wonderful and highly recommend.

Santa Cruz Restaurant week 2022 Price Fix menu $55. Delicious food and the service was spot on.

During a delightful evening in Santa Cruz, I had the pleasure of dining at La Posta, a restaurant renowned for its dedication to Italian culinary traditions and its cozy, inviting ambiance. From the moment I stepped inside, I was enveloped in a warm atmosphere that promised an exceptional dining experience. The standout dish of my visit was the sea scallops, a testament to La Posta's commitment to freshness and quality. Each scallop was expertly seared, presenting a golden crust that contrasted beautifully with its tender, juicy interior. The scallops were served with a thoughtful arrangement of accompaniments that enhanced their delicate flavor without overwhelming it. Complementing my meal was a wine pairing suggested by our host, Daniel, whose knowledge and enthusiasm for wine made the selection process as enjoyable as the dining itself. He recommended a wine that perfectly matched the scallops' light, buttery profile, elevating the entire dish to a sublime culinary delight. Daniel's approachable manner, sprinkled with a touch of humor, added a unique and memorable twist to our interactions, making the evening all the more enjoyable. La Posta's commitment to an authentic Italian dining experience is evident in every detail, from the rustic yet elegant decor to the impeccably curated menu. The restaurant offers a perfect blend of casual comfort and refined taste, making it an ideal spot for anyone looking to indulge in the art of Italian cuisine in Santa Cruz. The evening at La Posta was not just a meal but a celebration of Italian culinary arts, paired beautifully with exceptional wines and enhanced by heartfelt hospitality. It's a gem within Santa Cruz, perfect for anyone who cherishes food crafted with passion and served with warmth.

An instant SC fave! Will have their pizzas any day. Potatoes are also really good 👌🏼

Absolutely one of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz. I make a reservation every single time I'm in the area.

Stopped by on a Sunday evening without a reservation. The place was packed, but the staff kindly asked us to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we enjoyed excellent wine and a simple yet superb dinner. The gnocchi was the standout main course, and the panna cotta was truly unforgettable. Service was warm and attentive, and the manager, Seth, introduced himself at the end of the meal and sparked a delightful conversation.

Paul Tokorcheck

Absolutely one of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz. I make a reservation every single time I'm in the area.

Heidi Hoffman

Always fabulous service at LaPosta! And an innovative and delicious menu. So many dishes sounded like must-haves we ordered more than we usually do. Really wonderful and highly recommend.

Food was really pretty good! We ordered Seafood stew and it was amazing 💕 Highly recommend to ordered this one! Pizza was not so good like we are expected… but normal. They’re have a very good sangria and IPA beer. Branzino was good too actually…. It was little bit longer for waiting… but it’s ok…

La Posta is a decent Italian spot with a relatively small menu. We especially enjoyed the tortellini and the pizza, both were flavorful and well-made. The desserts were just okay, nothing extraordinary. Still, we’re planning to come back and try more dishes from the menu.

Loved the spaghetti with crab. Will dream about this, simple dish. Apple tart special left a lot to be desired. Bread was so good. Love this neighborhood gem. Used to go often with friends, but hadn’t been in a long while.

Food was pretty good, we had tagliolini and salsiccia pizza along with coconut gelato and semifreddo. Pasta dish had a lot of great flavors from herbs and capers, fresh noodles with tuna. The pizza was great and had great flavors, the other table had the pizza that was primarily vegetables if I recall, that looked wonderful as well, well probably order two pizzas and a main or pasta next time. Desserts were alright, semifreddo too sweet and the coconut gelato was overpowered by the chocolate in the gelato. Their Italian sodas were great also.

Food is good here these days, whereas in the past I would have rated it excellent. It's still a pleasure to eat at this neighborhood place. On this occasion, some live music which was not too loud. Service is always friendly and helpful.

Oksana Ostrovska

Food was really pretty good! We ordered Seafood stew and it was amazing 💕 Highly recommend to ordered this one! Pizza was not so good like we are expected… but normal. They’re have a very good sangria and IPA beer. Branzino was good too actually…. It was little bit longer for waiting… but it’s ok…

Mark Hassin

La Posta is a decent Italian spot with a relatively small menu. We especially enjoyed the tortellini and the pizza, both were flavorful and well-made. The desserts were just okay, nothing extraordinary. Still, we’re planning to come back and try more dishes from the menu.

D. Yaley

Loved the spaghetti with crab. Will dream about this, simple dish. Apple tart special left a lot to be desired. Bread was so good. Love this neighborhood gem. Used to go often with friends, but hadn’t been in a long while.

nate carroll

Food was pretty good, we had tagliolini and salsiccia pizza along with coconut gelato and semifreddo. Pasta dish had a lot of great flavors from herbs and capers, fresh noodles with tuna. The pizza was great and had great flavors, the other table had the pizza that was primarily vegetables if I recall, that looked wonderful as well, well probably order two pizzas and a main or pasta next time. Desserts were alright, semifreddo too sweet and the coconut gelato was overpowered by the chocolate in the gelato. Their Italian sodas were great also.

Paul Humphreys

Food is good here these days, whereas in the past I would have rated it excellent. It's still a pleasure to eat at this neighborhood place. On this occasion, some live music which was not too loud. Service is always friendly and helpful.

Great food and nice atmosphere. A little on the pricey side. Location is great if you want to get away from the touristy downtown Santa Cruz scene. I would definitely recommend!

Cozy Italian restaurant, good for a romantic dinner. The staff are great and so is the food. I recommend their minestrone soup.

Liked it better when they served flat noodles, about two years ago. Loved them, now the food is good, but my favorite food was removed, so can't call it great.

Very delicious Italian food at an incredibly affordable price. I was treated with fantastic service the whole night and was incredibly satisfied. Pro tip: go heavy with the anitpastas and starter dishes, because those were my absolute favorite. The vegetables in the salad were so fresh and tasty and the meat was cooked perfectly.

Solid food, although small portion size. One pasta dish was not enough for a meal. Fast service. Would recommend but just be prepared to pay for more than 1 plate per person.

It's a little different Italian restaurant. First place I've been to (in the US) that served rabbit, which I had not had in years. That's what I ordered and it was pretty good. The pasta and pizza are a little fancier than most Italian restaurants I know. It's not a bad thing but it can be a tad disconcerting. Deserts were decent as well. Will probably go there again and hopefully they'll have more bunny :)

Food and service were excellent. The menu changes every few weeks but there are some standard items. Everything we ordered was well-prepared I highly recommend the balsamic zucchini chips. The bread is also good

Food is excellent and Service is just a bit above average, but the corkage fee is outrageous. First bottle is charged at $35 which is high but could be understood. Second bottle is $50 which is highway robbery. And the killer is that the waiter doesn't mention either when they offer to open your bottle. When I invite another couple to join us for dinner, I like to generously bring two bottles (usually older high quality wine from my cellar) to share and compare with the food. Given the other wonderful options in Santa Cruz's food scene, I will not select this restaurant as a high option and I gather that they feel the same way about guests who bring their own bottles of wine.

Been there twice now and the food is top notch. Pizzas are excellent and the variety of dishes on a small but ever changing menu is terrific. Most recently we tried the flat iron steak, cannelloni, chitarra vongole and black cod. All prepared perfect and delicious! This is a can’t miss spot for the food. The only letdown is both visits we encountered slightly pretentious staff. Service was good, but it came with an aura of superiority that was a bit off putting. Won’t stop us from going back though!

Danny DeBruine

Been there twice now and the food is top notch. Pizzas are excellent and the variety of dishes on a small but ever changing menu is terrific. Most recently we tried the flat iron steak, cannelloni, chitarra vongole and black cod. All prepared perfect and delicious! This is a can’t miss spot for the food. The only letdown is both visits we encountered slightly pretentious staff. Service was good, but it came with an aura of superiority that was a bit off putting. Won’t stop us from going back though!

We decided to meet a friend in Santa Cruz and because of their dog we chose this restaurant that offers outdoor seating restaurant is Quaintance small but the backyard is pretty large parking can be somewhat of a challenge, but we manage to find the location quickly. The selection is entirely Italian wines so if you’re looking for the New World wines, you’re gonna have a hard time finding anything, they have a large selection of Italian wines depending on your budget you can spend over several hundred dollars or you can find one for around $50-$60. The menu changes regularly and this particular night I decided to have the squid pasta with seafood I was disappointed to say the least because the flavor and when I asked for Parmesan, the waitress told me that they charge extra, part of the meal was the appetizers were very good and fresh made bread with butter a great start. They have heaters in the back which kept us warm. The short ribs were excellent

Overall it was fine. There was one table already seated when we arrived early for our reservation, and the hostess attempted to seat us at the table right next to the entrance to the kitchen/bar. And when I asked to be seated at a different table further away from the kitchen, she directed us to the table immediately next to the first one. Mind you the entire restaurant was empty. The food was mediocre sadly at best. The shrimp appetizer was a joke for $19 - a few pieces of fried shrimp, a handful of fried artichoke hearts and some olives. The corzetti with fruiti di mare my friends ordered seemed tasty but still just fine. The gnocchi with ragu was maybe a little off balanced. There was a ton of ragu with the oily sauce at the base and the gnocchi was oddly shaped and kind of soft. There were a group of servers that were lingering in the side area of the bar/kitchen having loud conversation about tv shows and such - not great for customers to see or hear that you have workers that are just loitering around. Not a place that I would necessarily return to or recommend. There are better Italian places.

Emily Lo

Overall it was fine. There was one table already seated when we arrived early for our reservation, and the hostess attempted to seat us at the table right next to the entrance to the kitchen/bar. And when I asked to be seated at a different table further away from the kitchen, she directed us to the table immediately next to the first one. Mind you the entire restaurant was empty. The food was mediocre sadly at best. The shrimp appetizer was a joke for $19 - a few pieces of fried shrimp, a handful of fried artichoke hearts and some olives. The corzetti with fruiti di mare my friends ordered seemed tasty but still just fine. The gnocchi with ragu was maybe a little off balanced. There was a ton of ragu with the oily sauce at the base and the gnocchi was oddly shaped and kind of soft. There were a group of servers that were lingering in the side area of the bar/kitchen having loud conversation about tv shows and such - not great for customers to see or hear that you have workers that are just loitering around. Not a place that I would necessarily return to or recommend. There are better Italian places.

Tareq Barakzoy

We decided to meet a friend in Santa Cruz and because of their dog we chose this restaurant that offers outdoor seating restaurant is Quaintance small but the backyard is pretty large parking can be somewhat of a challenge, but we manage to find the location quickly. The selection is entirely Italian wines so if you’re looking for the New World wines, you’re gonna have a hard time finding anything, they have a large selection of Italian wines depending on your budget you can spend over several hundred dollars or you can find one for around $50-$60. The menu changes regularly and this particular night I decided to have the squid pasta with seafood I was disappointed to say the least because the flavor and when I asked for Parmesan, the waitress told me that they charge extra, part of the meal was the appetizers were very good and fresh made bread with butter a great start. They have heaters in the back which kept us warm. The short ribs were excellent

Went for a birthday celebration. Cold night, sat inside. Back door open and drafty. No special attention to birthday guest, not even a cookie. Food delicious, but atmosphere sterile and cold. Prices very high for small portions. Benches hard, no placemats. No table decor. Kind of full of themselves. Won’t be going back.

I'm very off-put by a menu that's all in Italian. Snooty. It's a real PITA when I'm sitting at home in Bonny Doon, trying to decide if what they're offering is worth an hour-plus round trip to eat something I can cook from the same farm/ocean-to-table resources I have. We've had meals there that are well worth it, but having to google every word in every menu-item more often causes us to stay home!

La Posta has a lovely ambiance and great staff. However, we were disappointed with the quality of our food. The lasagna was watery and bland, and the portion was way too small for its price. The pizza was okay, but again not worth the cost. Unfortunately, the service and dessert (which was excellent) did not make up for the quality and how expensive our bill was.

While the servers were nice and the atmosphere was pleasant, the food was just alright. That coupled with a pretty high price tag made this place just okay in my opinion. Perhaps we managed to avoid the best foods this place has to offer, but I believe other options in Santa Cruz have similar or better food for a lower price. If you like strawberry rhubarb pie, the strawberry rhubarb soda is quite lovely though! Edit: we had the pancetta pizza as well as the squid ink seafood pasta (I forget the exact name) to eat. We appreciated that the pasta came with a good number of mussels and clams, and also that both dishes had a nice amount of spice. However, neither dish was particularly great and overall the food was just okay. We only had water and a strawberry rhubarb soda to drink.

Doesn't make me want to come back. :( i was excited for this place. Bread was cold, squid pasta dish was cold and blend. Pizza is pretty good. Taste was not special enough for the price. Wine was good.

Carmen Q.

Doesn't make me want to come back. :( i was excited for this place. Bread was cold, squid pasta dish was cold and blend. Pizza is pretty good. Taste was not special enough for the price. Wine was good.

Yeah, didn't blow up my skirt. $35-45 a plate, snooty Italian minimal menu. Nice waitstaff. Fantastic bread, can I just buy loaves of the bread? Oh, and Italian menu, with French portions. :-/

Atmosphere good, food bad. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly and fun. Unfortunate the food really needs to match and it very much did not. The rotini was 50% water by weight and the tops where burned. Fully carbon not toasted. Please don't boil chanterelles.

Saw the reviews, expected more. Nice ambiance, great staff. Not amazed by the food. Pork belly was not bad. Pasta a little bland, you can tell they care about the food etc but just seemed to be missing something. Cauliflower side was underwhelming.....

Really weird experience here, and posting not to out the place, but as a general watch out. My wife and I go to Santa Cruz for our anniversary every year. It's one of our favorite towns in CA. With Alderwood closing, we were looking for a new spot. We thought it was this...the space was cool. The wine list was great. We bought a $90 bottle. We were ready to spend some money. And then my wife found a parasite worm in the middle of her halibut. Like a legit worm. Yes, I get it. Halibut has worms. But just like you wash veggies and don't serve them covered in shit, you inspect your halibut filets. It's basic stuff. Especially if you're charging 40-$50 plates. All that aside, we were ready to let that go, until the parade of staff tried to downplay it as some faux "ocean to table" nonsense and explain it away as part of the seafood experience. C'mon, folks. We're not talking $10 fish and chips on the Boardwalk here. The indifference is what killed me. I mean, imagine my wife's experience. A wonderful anniversary dinner and then she's trying to stay present and eat something hoping she doesn't have a parasite swimming inside of her. Barely an apology. Not even an attempt to comp anything. But, hey, they redid the plate. And acted like we should be grateful for that. A parasite worm, folks. There. In the fish. On the plate. So when the check arrives, I'm like, okay, any normal upper-end spot will try to comp something. Especially when you don't know where people work these days and the collateral damage. But nothing. So I go up to the front counter and have to call out the situation. And lo and behold they had two checks waiting. To their credit, they comped the parasite fish (as they should have, and the only reason that I'm not giving a single star) so I'll give them that, but would they have had I not said anything? I'm not confident. Which is so weird. They had two checks ready. And only the comped one if I said something. Sorry, folks. That's amateur hour. As is serving parasite fish to a wonderful person on her anniversary.

My wife and I ate dinner at La Posta yesterday. While the service was excellent, our meals were uneven and, after reading so many strong reviews, very disappointing. I had the much vaunted roasted chicken, a meager dish that consisted of a sinewy leg and nothing more - for 25 dollars. I sent the plate back not because the chicken was undercooked, but because beneath its seductively crispy brow skin it was uncooked. The response from the kitchen was, I suspect, to microwave the entire plate including what had previously been a sweet medley of vegetables. Whatever the kitchen did to warm the dish, it relieved it of any discernible flavors. My wife enjoyed her Margareta pizza without reservation. Working back to my appetizer, the laughably expensive house cured meats were delicious, but would not have produced a stack the thickness of a poker chip had the ultra-thin slices been so arranged. We both enjoyed the peppers with sea salt. Our diner salads were quite good; the lettuces were tender, the shavings of brittle cheese were properly pungent, and the light dressing interfered with neither. The table bread was fresh and tasty with just the right chewiness. The bill, like half the meal, was hard to swallow.

went there on Saturday. Very pricey fish for ok flavor, the pork belly was cold and extremely fatty that we couldn't eat it. took a long time to serve us and although we specifically noted in the reservation that it was our first time and would appreciate to have a nice table they seated us in the worst table possible, next to where the service station. Not recommend to go

Had a terrible experience here. Food was unimaginative and pretentious with both flavors that didn't work and awful preparation. Main fish entree was served horrendously undercooked--more than half the fillet was raw and completely inedible. The Pearl onions on the other hand were overcooked to the point of being mushy and tasteless. And to end the meal, the polenta cake was completely rock hard stale, easily several days old at minimum. I had great difficulty even trying to chip away a portion to eat. Served alongside the cake, the apple marmalade tasted like a Treetop applesauce cup. Abysmal food overall. The only positive note of the entire meal was the bread. The malt barley bread in particular was exceptional, which made everything following it that much more disastrous. Two atrociously bad plates, one awful dessert, and one bland appetizer(fontina pizzetta) means that I'll never go back here at any price. I'm always willing to give a mediocre experience a second chance, but this was inexcusable, failing at the basic level of simply serving edible food(particularly at these prices).

Have eaten here many times as we are able to stay in the neighborhood at a family home. The food is always excellent, and we have been very happy. However tonight we were very unhappy with the service. We were completely taken by surprise. We had 615pm reservations. Ordered a bottle of wine. Each of us had a salad and our own pizzas. $120 for 2 people. At 745pm, after we had asked for boxes for our leftovers the waitress brought us our bill. We didn't reach to pay immediately, as we were finishing the wine in our glasses and enjoying our conversation. 5 minutes later the waitress came back and said I have to tell you that we need your table. We got out our credit cards. But then I looked around. No one was waiting. There was another table for 2 that was empty. We were not being loud, noisy. It seems like they could have asked us to move to the bar if they needed the table, or something to accommodate us. It felt like we were being kicked out. It was a bad ending to an evening that had started out well. When we told our family what happened they were surprised also. I mentioned it to the hostess as we walked out. She said that she was sorry but they were just running behind. Since we are regular customers we were disappointed.