The new website is awesome and the food is amazing as always.

Old school family restaurant with the best salad bar in the west! I've been dining here since the 80's and have never been disappointed in the quality of the food or the excellent service. The menu has something for everyone, from the pickiest eater to the omnivore. If you enjoy seafood, try any of their seafood dishes, I guarantee 💯 you will be WOWED. The well stocked salad bar puts the fanciest salad buffets to shame. Portions are generous, and pricing is good. Add friendly service from employees eager to make your visit a pleasant experience, and you can't find a reason to complain!

I had the salad and even went back for seconds!

Online order. Was easy to place, and was ready so fast! Counter help was friendly and helpful

I miss this place so much. I now live out of state, but I still remember how delicious their turkey burgers are. Their french fries and vegetables are also yummy. Whenever I was craving a turkey burger, I’d head to Carpo’s because they’re the best.

This is a fun place with silly murals. Your food comes fast. It’s always clean, the service is good. Love the salad bar! Love the tri tip on garlic bread and the blackberry milkshakes

Hamburgers are so delicious 😋 I'll go back for lunch any time

I love Carpos. One of my kids favorite spots so we go there often. The salad bar is a favorite for many. I like their chicken tenders and my kid always orders their pasta on the side. Somehow the way they make it is just amazing. Generous portions and pretty good price. This is a walk-up counter place and then they give you buzzer that lets you know when your food is ready..

I just feel you can’t go wrong at Carpos. Their daily specials are usually amazing at a reasonable price. I always get the salad bar because it’s such a rarity these days to find a great salad bar. The burger, tritip sandwich, and soups are all excellent. Kids love the chicken strips and fries.

This is a great place for a casual dinner or lunch. Lots of options for all different eaters and they take modifications well. Beer selection isn't amazing but they are literally located next door to the best bar in the area, Beer Thirty, and you can order food to their beer garden. Good food, nice people, reasonable prices. What more could you want?

Been coming here for over 25 years and finally compelled to write a review. The food is always fresh cooked and service is very good. Today my wife had the rock cod sandwich and I had carpo burger. They were perfect. Love this place.

They have great food. Excellent fresh fish. Wonderful milkshakes and fresh homemade pies. They also have a salad bar. The outside seating area is very relaxing and pleasant. Even if you have small children it's highly recommended.

This place is reliable a Family Dining institution within Santa Cruz County…not fancy…just great meals. My family have been regular diners of Carpo’s for the past 25 years. While Carpo’s whips-up many fine dishes, I’ve been amazed thru the years at just how consistently great their vat of Chili tastes! Enjoy.

I was camping with my son at New Brighton state beach. We loved camping there but our 1st time camping and learning how to cook on a portable burner.... takes some getting used to. I was looking for a place that was kid friendly, dog friendly (they have an outdoor eating area) and a good salad bar. This place was an oasis in our camping desert! Great, no awesome salad bar! They had spinach, arugula, couscous!?! So good. My son had the Best chicken strips and fries Ever! His words. Our neighboring table had Fish and chips, they looked amazing!!! Love this place. Will be back again!!! And I’ll order those fish and chips! Thank you :)

We were there today. We noticed Carpo's is celebrating their 39th year! We reflected that we regularly visited when our children were little. They loved the perennial fantasy mural on the back wall. It is still there, working its magic on little ones. As a restaurant, we have always enjoyed Carpo's food and quick service. The only downsides are that we avoid the place when the parking lot is full. It can get noisy. That's our choice. If you don't mind the crowd you'll still enjoy the food and atmosphere.

A great local casual restaurant with a good variety of options, from salads, burgers, seafood, and desserts. It would be nice to have a small side option to accompany burger orders, such as fries, and a small side salad option (from the salad bar) to accompany your entree instead of one salad all-you-can eat option.

Birthday dinner for my stepdad! He had the chicken kebabs, my mom had the fish kebabs, and I had the grilled chicken minus the bun with a generous layer of extra lettuce per request. The food was ready when I got there (5 minutes later as should be when serving fish and hot food), the staff was friendly and professional! Thanks for a great dinner in!

Food is delicious and the staff is always wonderful! You should check out the salad bar! Oh my!

The Skirt steak was cooked perfectly, very flavor with good helping of veggies and potatoes. Highly recommend!

Been eating here since it opened. It’s never disappointed even a single time. Now with a new owner after 43 years, the place is still putting out the same amazing food 😋 Keep it up, Carpo’s.

They kindly replaced my son’s hot dog when he dropped it on the floor

Always a family favorite! Chicken tenders are my absolute favorite and the crispy potatoes are sooo good.

Olallieberry shake and pie here (from Gizdich Ranch) is amazing! They are out of that so I ordered the blackberry pie slice and it was yummy.

Still one of my favorite casual places to dine. Always a great meal!

If your around Capitola then you need to visit Carpos. This place is really good and they have an all you can eat salad bar. The only issue is the fact that they are always busy and parking is hard to come by.

Always good and easy to order on line. Fish is fresh and love the fries.

The salad bar is epic! The burgers are so tasty. The staff and service are excellent. Great family experience.

The two gentlemen servers who wrote the window who helped me get my food and gather the things I needed to take home or meals or awesome! They make sure I had everything and it was my first time there and they walk me through the salad bar and how things work. And I walked out of their satisfied in the middle was delicious

I’ve been eating here since the mid 1980s. I moved out of the area about 8 years ago and this was the first place I thought of when I rolled back into town last night. I ordered my favorites: the Carpo Burger and carrot cake. I was happy to find that the quality was still excellent, the staff was courteous and worked meticulously, and the restroom was spotlessly clean. One of my favorite about Carpo’s is thy serve their burgers plain. They have a well-stocked condiments bar so you can dress your burger up any way you want. Thanks, Carpo’s! Some of my other favorite places are no longer with us, like Hoffman’s Downtown 😢I’m so glad that you survived the pandemic. 🤗

A staple for quality and value. Skirt steak is fantastic, I opt for double pasta! Chicken fingers are fantastic, homemade, not frozen distributer bought. Pies and shakes are great.

I liked the fisherman’s basket, it’s a decent value and you get some variety

I had the fish and chips. The fish was good but not the best I've had.

Carpos always has delicious fresh and food. You order at the counter so good for groups who like to make separate payments. They have excellent salad and condiment bars. The prices are reasonable. Plenty of parking. You can sit inside or on the patio.

Super amazing experience today I was late picking up my lunch and because it sat they remade my lunch when I got there!! So ! So! Appreciated!! Thank you !!

In the past, when we ordered takeout, it would not be ready when we arrived. Last night it was ready to go right when we walked in the door. Thank you!

Carpos is a classic, the food is great especially their burgers and sandwiches, they also have amazing homemade pie and wonderful shakes in local berry flavors such as olloliberry and black berry. The place is spacious they recently remodeled to add outdoor seating, with a classic comfy diner vibe. It can get packed as it’s a destination for the retired golf, the food is an order and pick up at counter via buzzer style. It’s overall great food and a great atmosphere all you want from a restaurant.

I ordered our dinners on-line. They were right on time. The fish and chips dinners were perfect-hot, large pieces of fish and not the least bit greasy. 5 stars for Carpos!

I was so worried when they got new owners that I'd be saying goodbye to Carpos! Quite the contrary, it's just as good as ever! Love the black berry smoothies and Carpo Burger medium rare*****

Always my go too. Fish & chips are some of the best. They also have a great salad bar.

Elaine Nicholson

The young lady at the pick up window was very nice. The hamburger was very good and large. Only ate half save other half for later

Victoria B

Always the best place in the neighborhood for dinner! Been a loyal customer for years and years and years! People there are awesome. My order is always right!

stan wilson

Not sure why I can't use the DoorDash app, but when ordering on the Carpo's website, DoorDash delivers. That said, We have been enjoying Carpo's since it opened in 1981. Great food, (best salad bar in town too), great price point, friendly and fast staff. Thanks!

martha m

Awesome fish and chips with multiple other options, including a salad bar. Very well priced food for the quality. Robert was a very welcoming and friendly server. Would recommend 100 %.

R. E. X. (IG: #bushidobites)

Delicious and great portion size for a stellar price. The menu has a lot to offer, not to mention many hard-hitting plates for Diner fans. 😋 A delightful take on casual yet speedy service and a nice atmosphere with room for larger groups. I remember coming here since I moved to town. A must-try staple of Soquel and the location is easy to get to. I have so many favorites: the pesto pasta, hamburgers, fisherman's basket and chicken tenders to name a few. They only get better with time. Carpo's pulls out all the stops, so don't sleep on this amazing eatery.

+2

Mat Lit

The Carpo burger tasted like the best version of burger from your neighbors backyard barbecue. Cooked to order to a perfect medium, dumped sloppily on a delicious toasted and buttered roll before you go to the toppings bar to finish it how you like. Salad bar has a variety of clean greens, veggies and prepared salads to choose from. The beef barley soup was also good. Seems like a place that locals appreciate. Sort of a nice time capsule of what a sizzlers used to be like.

+2

Elizabeth Ignizio

Wonderful restaurant.Awesome employees.Fantastic food.Love the soup n salad bar which I got today along with a diet Coke and complimentary butter n bread.Pleanty of parking in their own lot and street parking.Under new ownership but keeping the restaurant menu the same which is awesome

JOANN SKYWATCHER

Carpo's has a large parking lot, however, be advised, that on a Friday night you may have to walk a couple of blocks to park on the street. That was how it was for us last Friday night. Carpo's is a great place to take a family with different eating needs. We went with a group of 5 including 2 vegetarians, some omnivores, and a very finicky child with a limited palate. Carpos worked well for our needs! We all walked away with smiles on our faces. They have a solid bar that I enjoyed going back to several times. It reminded me of salad bars from 50 years ago, however, since we were in Santa Cruz they even had yummy sunflower seed sprouts available at the salad bar. I also had a bowl of their clam chowder soup. Their sourdough bread was very fresh! My son-in-law and daughter were impressed with their Grilled Veggie Burger that happens to be Carpo's own recipe. It was huge--big enough to split and share! And it was only $8.50. We all enjoyed our dinners! I plan on coming here again!

+7

Alex W

I have been coming here for over 20 years and I still love the food. The atmosphere is very laid back and the food is delicious and affordable. You can also get the salad bar if you want to be healthy. Great deserts and milk shakes. Small selection of beer. Restaurant is always clean and staff is always friendly.

Tara Gooden

We love eating at Carpo's. They have the best salad bar in the area (all the standard salad fixings, plus potato salad, pasta salad, bean salad, fruits, veggies, loads more) and their entrees are consistently very good. We especially like the burgers and fish and chips (pictured). It's very family friendly, the prices are decent, and I love the old-school vibe and decor. It can get busy at lunch and dinner and parking can be hard to find.

Looking for some down home cooking and large portions....this is the place. The building itself could use some TLC but only because it's probably been there a long time! Definitely a more mature clientele. My husband and I fit right in, and while the teens enjoyed the food, they would've preferred take out.

One of the best salad bars in the county. Blue cheese dressing is excellent as their Thousand Island (good with their French fries). Go early to avoid dinner rush and send one person to find a table!

Food was good something that you can enjoy at any other restaurant that offers the same. The staff wasn’t too friendly. And the table I sat in was not too clean. Overall I liked the food.

Nice place our first time after a hike at medicine Buddha Trail we enjoyed them service and the food

Excellent Burgers!!! Very nice salad bar. The fries are really good. I also sometimes get the Calamari but it's only good about 80% of the time. I have had the Calamari sometimes when it wasn't as good. I love everything else about this place. Prices are reasonable... a little more expensive than a typical burger joint but still reasonable and worth the price. Casual, self-seating restaurant. On crowded days can get somewhat noisy. A lot of families and kids. Overall very enjoyable. I used to go every week until I moved out of the area 3 months ago.

My wife used to be a regular here but only this week was I finally able to join her at Carpo's for the first time. Carpo's is a local favorite for good reasons -- the food is great, the menu selection is wide, the prices are inexpensive for the area, it's easy to get to, and they have some good craft beer on tap. I enjoyed an outstanding tri-tip sandwich for $11.90 ($11.50 + 3.5% for paying with a credit card). It came on a delicious roll with garlic and onions, loved it despite the lack of any sides. She had the grilled chicken breast sandwich $13.97 and remarked that it was one of the best she had had anywhere. The actual menu prices are $11.50 and $13.50 but there is a 3.5% surcharge for using a credit card. Draft craft beer was $6.21 ($6 + 3.5%). Service was fine but minimal -- order at the register and take a pager. Return to register when pager goes off to pick up your food. My beer order got mixed up, but it's mostly my own fault for not paying enough attention when it was read back.

Great fries, good portion sizes, difficult parking.

Entree, salad bar and soft drinks for 2 came to $50. Fish & chips were good, but 1 piece was a bit fishy. Fries were great. Burger was good, salad bar had nice options (artichoke hearts, sunflower seeds). Salad bar is all-you-can-eat, just give them your used plate to get a clean one for a second trip. Good option for people who can't agree on what they want, but don't want to go to Sizzler.

Carpos is my favorite place for an easy dinner- I love their salad bar with a grilled chicken breast or cod fish fillet added. The outdoor seating is relaxing and pretty too!

Didn't get much this time around. Just an order of garlic bread to share and a couple of drinks. Previous experiences have always been great. They have one of the best salad bars around...and the food is always delicious. They also work with their neighbors "Beer Thirty" and have a pick up window in the Beer Thirty picnic area! The only reason I put four stars is silly...I just didn't want people thinking it's a five star restaurant...however if you compare it to other restaurants in it's class...it is by far way over the top...oh...and both Carpo's back patio and Beer Thirty are dog friendly! 🐾🐕 I would highly recommend them to anyone who was asking me for a good family dining place!

If you like deep-fried food, this place will be good for you. The quality of the food was good, but like I was stating that the food was mostly deep-fried. But they did have other choices as well. And pretty much self-service, you place your order at the counter, and they give you a buzzer and let you know when your food is ready. And you pick it up yourself.

Cody was my cashier and he had a great personality and answered all my questions genuinely and with a smile. Made me feel like we knew each other and that's the kid of service that makes me want to come back. For the price, I wish there was table service. The food was good, but not incredible. Worth visiting once.

Carpo's had no fish, leading us to sample the Teriyaki Chicken Kabob, which, in my opinion, falls short of a 2-star rating. Similarly, the Tri-tip steak sandwich doesn't warrant more than 2 stars. The salad bar, however, was decent, earning a tentative 3.5 stars. Considering this, I might give it a second chance to explore if other dishes fare better.

First time dining here. Love the atmosphere, the food is decent! Will be back!

+2

We had a good outing. The food was good. Parking was a challenge, but we found a spot. We had the fish and chips and the sausage sandwich.

The food quality is good and the salad bar is well stocked. I wish they had better process to combine salad bar with a sandwich. You'll pay over $20 for both which is a bit too much for lunch in my opinion. I would eat here far more frequently if the prices were better.

Great place parking not so much food is worthy!!!

Really a great local spot, historically scrumptious food, courteous staff, quick eats for the hungry and great environment. My only suggestion is to add raisins or cranberries to the salad bar. Thank you for the sticker!

Just a good old place to eat. Nothing fancy.

Blast from the past! Opened since 1981. Open salad bar! Very rare to find now a days. Soquel has a jewel. Keep it in business! Good home style meals.

Carter Jergensen

Came here after a short hike looking to try out a new place and wasn't disappointed but I wasn't happily surprised either. Super solid good but nothing that stood out the pasta with vegetables was a nice side and so were the fries. I think those two were the best food here, the only real complaint was that the chicken on the sandwich was overcooked and barely had any moisture left which didn't help that the bun was floppy. Wouldn't desire to come back but wouldn't be upset either.

judy bregante

Best hot dog I had ever had!!!! Chile always good. Getting in and out of parking lot was horrible.. not enough space to turn around. I thought I was going to collide with other cars.. no real space to get out. Not even sure where to park

Gloria Heistein

Food was well prepared. My cod was tasty, but no tartar sauce so a bit dry. Hamburger good, but bun was chewy. Was it microwaved. Very busy holiday n night so hard to find parking to pickup food. Next time, will remind about sauce and ask about the bun. Overall, Carpos does a good job even when super busy!

Michael Ruso (Mikey)

Had a great time at Carpos with the family it’s a Santa Cruz staple. I had the chicken teriyaki with rice and I would recommend it for sure. My milkshake was also great!

+1

Robert Jones

Decent burger, but have to order fries separately? Place was filled with screaming children, which it seems they cater to with the decore. Pretty pricey for what it was and all the screaming.

MaivEmm

More for elderly adults, food was good for the price. Fish n chips were crispy and moist. The basil pasta substitute for fries àre good 👍. Fries are crunchy and hot. Would recommend the fisherman's basket. They don't bring the food to you, you get a buzzer and it rings when food is ready, for pick up. Wasn't busy mid afternoon on a Saturday. Pie is a good option for dessert.

TheBayArea.831

Birthday dinner at Carpo’s was nice. We sat in a booth away from the larger crowd. First time eating here. You walk up and stand in line to order your food. They give you a buzzer for when the food is ready. Food was good. The only encounter we had with staff was when we ordered and picked up the food. Its kinda like a fast food restaraunt only the food is better. The dining area had nice clean booths. A salad bar available also. Parking lot is small, we went before the dinner rush.

Lynn Murphy

One of the best burgers I've had in a long time! The Francese Bun and the burger itself was also delicious, as were the fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onion and many other optional items (mushrooms - yum-yum!) French Fries were also spot on and condiments were fresh. Restaurant was clean and well taken care of and plenty of seating was available (but it was later in the day - halfway between lunch and dinner). Staff is/was friendly, accommodating and helpful. We'll definitely be back (can't wait!) for more and try something different, too!

Food used to be great, still good but definitely seems that they have cut corners (ie tri tip they use now is pretty poor quality to the point I would never order it again). What gets me is the staff cannot be bothered to answer the phone for pick up/to go orders. This is the 4th encounter I’ve had trying to order pick up, each time made numerous calls. Lazy staff (not including the cooks or bussers).

A great place to enjoy dinner with the fam or people you care about. Service is very fast, employees seem happy attentive and focused. Diverse American food menu with burgers, hot dogs and fish and chips just to mention a few. The pie slices are delicious and the shakes are great too but a little pricey. The remodeled patio with heating is a big highlight, very nice ambiance with plants. I really wish they would invest in a dining room remodel because it feels crowded and loud inside but it's not unbearable. Everyone just seems to be running into each other so I think a better interior design would be beneficial. EDIT : I knocked it down to 3 stars because it is so arduous trying place a phone order and have it ready you arrive. They need to have an online ordering system because they just don't pick up the phone or they neglect the order. Mine sat in the kitchen ready but everyone just forgot I was waiting and I sat there for 20 minutes. It's the only reason I don't go there much anymore, I just can't order food unless I travel down there and listen to the loud echoing conversations of dozens of people for minimum 20 minutes...it's just not worth the hassle.

Was just ok. Had the fish and chips, chicken strips, and the salad bar. Salad bar didn't have a lot of options. Ranch tasted like bottled. Chicken strips were pretty good though, and fish and chips are decent. No kids menu either, so an eight year old had to get the regular order of chicken strips.

Just aight. Nothing too special. Prices were it's only saving grace as it was quite affordable compared to everything else these days. The fish and chips were meh. The carpo burger was a frozen Patty that was much too small for the ciabata roll that it comes with.

John Hawklyn

Minimal service. More deli style. Order, pay, get pager, go pickup your food. Self serve soda. Food is good, nice cafeteria atmosphere. Parking is usually difficult to find. They do have delicious homemade pies. [NOT from Gizdich as I had thought and initially written]

Love this place. Food is great. Healthy options too. Prices are great. Even good for a meal prep. Honestly you can't lose here. Be warned parking can be a hassle. I updated my review to lower the stars from full stats to two. They no longer give out condiments unless you buy certain things. Well spending hundreds of dollars on food doesn't count for a few thousand islands to go with my food. Bummer. I really love this place but am rethinking giving them my business over a few dollars worth of condiments. I've never had an issue before. I'm very disappointed.

I have been coming here since this place opened. It sold recently, and unfortunately it is just not up to par any longer. The service was incredibly slow, the prices have skyrocketed, and the food is not as great. I’m sad and disappointed 😢

We are staying in a beach house in Aptos, we had a hunger for fish n chips. Carlos was suggested to us as a place to get Clam Chowder and Fish n Chips, so we drove over to try the food, we were sorely disappointed! The fries were good but the Fish was absolutely terrible! The batter they were dipped in was off tasting, and I suppose the green specks in it was herbs of some kind, but I could only eat one and a half pieces, and I threw the rest away. I also ordered the Cole Slaw it was terrible, it tasted like it had horseradish in it! I can’t eat horseradish it makes me sick and I payed for it all night. I was so very disappointed! I had high hopes for a good meal of fish n chips and I normally love Cole Slaw, so none of what I ordered was good except the fries! I won’t make this mistake again!!!

Eddie Shimmon

The food tasted like it was heated up from Costco from being frozen. I had the chicken kabobs was horrible and rice tasted like it was heated up from a bag. Had the salad bar and the ranch was not good either. Overall not a good experience. I am not a returning Costmer.

Well, I had the joy of eating at Carpos in the 90's, I reluctantly went to get my favorite today (worried about post covid changes) grilled chicken sandwich/fries and ranch dressing. Everything was gross, even the ranch dressing is not homemade anymore. This is not the Carpos I once loved. No suprise the Westside location closed. My heart is broken 😞

Charges $12 for a sandwich that costs them $4 to make (no hate for corralitos meat market, we love you), doesn't include sides, but does include rotten pineapple! 🎉 Edit: reducing from two to one star given owners response. The pineapple rots from the head, so to speak.

The owners offloaded orders to a QR code that doesnt work- it takes you to their menu but then says "Merchant does not exists" (sic). Wasted 20 minutes and staff didnt bother doing anything, and Im sure Im not the only person to have this issue.

Team was overwhelmed. Didn't know I had even ordered. I used your mobile order system and order was not ready at promised time... It wasn't even started... Like you didn't know I had ordered. I tried to order with a phone call but when asked for a person... Your system said you were busy and hung up on me. Very bad experience today.