Noni’s Frittata from Surf City Sandwich.
Photo credit: Surf City Sandwich Facebook page
Here is some restaurant news for Santa Cruz and other local areas. Have some food/restaurant/wine/culinary event news to share with me? Please write me at tfatemi@gmail.com.
Openings
Surf City Sandwich opened in late April. All their sandwiches are served with housemade potato chips. Sandwiches include Napa Grilled Chicken with grilled chicken salad, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, melted brie, and organic spring mix on grilled Francese; Surf City Banh Mi with Vietnamese style skirt steak, pickled cucumber, carrots, cilantro, jalapeno, mayo, and Sriracha on sweet baguette; and Noni’s Frittata (a special featured last month) with zucchini, spinach and marinated artichoke hearts, baked with eggs, cream, cheddar, Parmesan and fresh thyme, served with mayo, pickle, tomato and spring mix on ciabatta roll. Other selections include Caesar salad with organic romaine, housemade croutons, shredded Parmesan, and creamy Caesar dressing (option to add grilled chicken or grilled shrimp brochette), and a kids’ menu that includes PB&J, grilled cheese, and tater tots. There is a rotating wine and beer menu. Current beer on tap includes Corralitos Brewing’s Belgian Wheat and Uncle Dave’s Rye IPA from Discretion Brewing.
Visit surfcitysandwich.com
Location: 4101 Soquel Drive (in the new Soquel Tower plaza at the north end of 41st Ave.), Santa Cruz
(831) 346-6952
Santa Cruz Food Lounge got a few new tenants, and some of its existing tenants began regular or semi-regular service. Details:
- Ty’s Eatery: pop-up brunch every Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (dishes include chilaquiles, pancakes, and omelettes) AND pop-up dinner every Wednesday 5-9 p.m. (dishes include Moroccan chicken, broccolini with lemon/toasted garlic/chili flakes, and Live Earth Farm beet salad with citrus)
- Kickin Chicken: pop-up dinner selected Sundays 5-9p.m. Dishes include fried chicken and cornbread waffles.
- Mortal Dumpling: pop-up dinner every Monday 5:30-9p.m. Dishes include steamed or fried dumplings (fillings like chicken/cilantro), garlic green beans, and pork bao.
See my February restaurant news article if you missed original details on the new Food Lounge and the first tenant that was opening there, the Chocolate House operated by Mutari Hot Chocolate.
Visit facebook.com/scfoodlounge for details on the Food Lounge AND the individual businesses
Location: 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz
New Bohemia Brewing Company (or Nubo for short) opened in late March. As their web site says, they make many different kinds of beer but “specialize in brewing European-style craft lagers.” They usually have eight beers on tap. Customers can select from a few snacks that are designed to complement the beer, and these all feature local products including bread from Companion Bakeshop (Rustic Bread Board, which also has churned butter and Hawaiian lava sea salt) and Friend in Cheeses Jam Company (Three Blind Mice Board, which has four cheeses and other items like seasonal Friend in Cheeses spreads). In May, Nubo started weekly event nights: Monday has happy hour prices all night long, Tuesday is trivia & growler night, and Wednesday offers live acoustic music.
Visit nubobrew.com
Location: 1030 41st Ave., Santa Cruz
(831) 350-0253
Main Street Burgers and Brews opened in Watsonville in April, after a postponement from their projected Fall 2014 opening. They offer several burger varieties, hot dogs, and sandwiches like BLTs and grilled cheese. They also feature about a dozen beers on tap.
Visit watsonvilleburgers.com
Location: 1116 Main St., Watsonville
(831) 536-4632
Opening in the Future
Although it’s not in Santa Cruz, it has a Santa Cruz connection: Anna (Nicharat) Sawadpeera used to operate Thai restaurant D’Anna Thai in Marina. She closed that restaurant to open Ginger Thai Kitchen in Salinas at the end of May. Owners of Santa Cruz’s Sabieng Thai and Scotts Valley’s Kao Sook, including Thailand native Wanlop Kachinthorn, are opening a new restaurant in the former D’Anna Thai location at 210 Reindollar Ave. Their new venture will be called Coconut Thai Kitchen and they hope to be open by July.
Perfectly Pressed Juice Bar ‘n’ Eatery is opening a Pleasure Point location at 3617B Portola Drive. The company already has locations in Salinas, Seaside, Marina and Prunedale (the latter just opened in May). They will soon have a second Salinas express location (juice only). At traditional locations, there are many cold-pressed organic juices made with fruits and/or vegetables for sale, plus a small selection of food. Visit perfectlypressedjuice.com.
Soif Wine Bar & Restaurant has been closed for several weeks for renovations. They are re-opening this Thursday, June 4.
Location: 105 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz
soifwine.com
(831) 423-2020
Closings
Two venues in Capitola recently closed:
Tony & Alba’s on 41st closed May 30 after losing their lease. The rumor is that a new brewery is taking over the spot.
Carl’s Jr. at the Capitola Mall has closed.
Changes
Zizzo’s Coffee in Capitola—at Brown Ranch Marketplace adjacent to Trader Joe’s and Bed, Bath and Beyond—added a wine bar and became Zizzo’s Coffee, Wine & Piano Bar
Learn details at zizzoscoffee.com
Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.