Santa Cruz County food & drink changes & closures, as of April 1, 2020

Pasta to go from Lago Di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria
photo courtesy of Lago Di Como

Hi everyone. Thanks to everyone who has emailed me with more restaurants to add, and to those who have thanked me for all the energy I’m spending on these lists. Both are appreciated!

I am publishing new articles as often as I can, to help everyone during this pandemic / shelter in place. Here’s the latest list—current as of the end of the day yesterday, April 1. As always, email me at tara@santacruzfoodie.com if you have information to share, or corrections for me, for future articles.

Restaurants & other food vendors

(listed alphabetically)

  • Akira Sushi: both locations are open Wed-Sun noon to 8 pm for takeout, Santa Cruz (831) 600-7093, https://www.akirasantacruz.com/, & Aptos (831) 708 2154, https://www.akiraaptos.com/
  • Alderwood: takeout and delivery 4-8 pm Tues-Sunday, two lines open 831-588-3238 or 831-888-6901, https://www.alderwoodsantacruz.com
  • Aloha Island Grille: takeout, 831-479-3299
  • Aptos St. BBQ: takeout and delivery, aptosstbbq.com
  • Avanti Restaurant: takeout daily 4-7:30 pm, a la carte or family meals serving four, 831-427-0135, http://avantisantacruz.squarespace.com
  • Back Nine Grill & Bar: takeout with curbside pickup, and delivery, 831-226-2350, http://www.backninegrill.com/
  • Bad Animal Books: Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday from 4-7 pm, take-out “family meals” with curbside pick up. Emergency first responders get a 50% discount. Order at badanimalbooks.com.
  • Bagelry: closed until further notice
  • Barceloneta: started doing takeout April 1, pickup is 4-7pm Wednesday to Saturday, 831-900-5222, https://eatbarceloneta.square.site/
  • Beach Street Pizza & Bar: takeout, curbside pickup and delivery, Monday-Thursday 2-8pm, Friday & Saturday 12-9pm and Sunday 12-7pm. Happy Hour is Mon-Fri 4-7pm for Appetizers & Drinks. 831-471-8530, www.beachstreetpizzaandbar.com
  • Beer Thirty Pour House: 11 am-7 pm daily, https://www.beerthirtysantacruz.com/
  • Betty Burgers: new Aptos location, 415 Trout Gulch Road (831-612-6668) plus two other locations (41st Ave. and Seabright) are doing takeout from noon to 8 pm, bettyburgers.com. Downtown location is closed.
  • Bittersweet Bistro: open Wednesday-Sunday noon-7 pm for take-out, curbside pickup, and delivery (on orders over $75), 831-662-9799 bittersweetbistro.com.
  • Blue Bunny Tacos: closed until further notice
  • The Buttery Bakery: takeout and delivery 7 am to 5 pm, butterybakery.com, 831-458-3020
  • Café Brazil: 8 am to 3 pm daily, 10 percent discount on all order, (831) 429-1855, http://cafebrasil.us/
  • Café Mare: takeout/curbside and delivery, 831-458-1212, http://www.cafemare.com/
  • Café Sparrow: Tues-Sat 4-7 pm, 831-688-6238, http://cafesparrow.com/
  • Carpo’s: noon to 8 pm daily, carposrestaurant.com
  • Charlie Hong Kong: noon-9 pm, takeout (curbside pickup). They will cater & deliver to serve first responders, medical/hospital staff & government workers, charliehongkong.com
  • Chocolate: takeout/delivery daily 4-8pm. They use DoorDash for delivery; menu is updated on DoorDash every day at noon, and there are daily specials Delivery info is at https://www.doordash.com/store/chocolate-santa-cruz-284767/ & pickup info is at https://chocolatesantacruz.com/wine-list/
  • Cilantro’s: daily 11 am to 7 pm, 831-761-2161, https://cilantroswatsonville.com
  • Coffeetopia: Closed until further notice
  • Colectivo Felix: Thursday through Saturday, empanada, soup, and/or dip delivery to Santa Cruz residents, https://colectivofelix.square.site/
  • Companion Bakeshop: Westside location open for takeout 8 am-2 pm daily except Mondays, Aptos location closed, companionbakeshop.com. Also offering aweekly “Bakers Box” where you order & pay in advance and pick up on Tuesday or Thursday. Three different bakery product boxes are available along with several “add on” items (organic milk, hot sauce, etc.),https://companionbakeshop.com/shelter-box-order
  • Crow’s Nest: takeout daily with curbside pickup 11:30 am-8 pm, also Beach Market next door 9 am-8 pm, http://www.crowsnest-santacruz.com/
  • Dharma’s: closed for the foreseeable future
  • East End Gastropub: takeout, visit eastendpub.com for details
  • East Side Eatery from Pleasure Pizza: 11 am-8 pm, takeout/delivery only, with curbside pickup for online orders, pleasurepizzasc.com
  • El Chino Mexican Restaurant: open for takeout, 831-476-7175
  • El Jardin: takeout,831-477-9384, https://www.eljardinrestaurant.net/
  • El Pájaro CDC Commercial Kitchen Incubator: (412 E. Riverside Dr. Watsonville) Daily pop-up takeout program launched April 1 to support small food businesses (Cali Dawg, Dos Hermanos Pupuseria and more), which rotate and offer lunch and dinner. Customers place and pay for food orders ahead of time. For menus and more info, see @elpajarocdc on IG or FB. They will publish weekly menus every Saturday.
  • El Palomar: takeout with curbside service, daily noon to 6 pm, see Instagram & Facebook @elpalomarrestaurant for specials including family packages. Pacific Ave. entrance is closed– enter through Front Street entrance, adjacent to the Soquel/Front Parking Garage, 831-425-7575, elpalomarsantacruz.com
  • El Rosal Bakery: takeout food includes tamales, open 7 am to 8 pm, (831) 462-1308
  • Engfer Pizza Works: 4-9:30 pm daily except Monday, engferpizzaworks.com
  • Erik’s Deli: takeout, online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery are available at four locations, hours vary: Aptos 831- 688-5656, Capitola 831-475-4646, Santa Cruz 831-462-1919, and Scotts Valley 831-438-4646, eriksdelicafe.com
  • Farm Bakery & Café: takeout and delivery, 8 am to 4 pm daily, 831-684-0266, https://www.thefarmbakerycafe.com/
  • Foodsmith: prepared packaged food (heat at home), order by Thursday night for delivery Monday and/or Thursday of following week, myfoodsmith.com
  • Full Steam Dumpling: 4-8 pm Wednesdays they have ready-to-cook ramen dinner (just cook noodles), dumplings, and limited sides. Delivery or pick up on Chestnut St. behind Santa Cruz Food Lounge. Fridays from noon-4 pm, they’re doing frozen pickup of beef Gyoza, vegan Gyoza & Char Siu Bao at discounted prices. Pickup on Chestnut St. Text or call (626) 549-5574
  • Gabriella Café: takeout from 11:30 am-2 pm & 5-7:30 pm Wednesday-Saturday, 831-457-1677, gabriellacafe.com
  • Golden Roots Kitchen: prepared packaged food (heat at home), order by Friday early afternoon for following week, linktr.ee/goldenrootskitchen
  • Gayle’s Bakery: closed until further notice
  • Habit Burger Grill: take-out and delivery from 10:30am-9:00pm daily, (831) 466-9264, https://www.habitburger.com/
  • Hanloh Thai: pre-packaged, ready-to-heat food pick-up Monday (Sante Adairius) and Wednesday (SC Mountain Brewing); pre-order at hanloh.square.site
  • Hidden Fortress Coffee: takeout daily 7:30 am-12:30 pm in Watsonville, menu includes breakfast bowls/burritos, sandwiches, and coffee drinks, https://www.hiddenfortresscoffee.com/cafe-menu
  • Hindquarter: takeout and delivery Wed-Sun 1-6 pm, 831-426-7770, https://www.thehindquarter.com/
  • Holy Smokes Country BBQ: daily except Mondays 11:30 am-7:30 pm, free delivery, takeout, curbside pickup, 831-471-8787
  • Home: takeout with curbside pickup, taking phone orders after 3 pm for pickup 4-7pm Thursday-Saturday, 831-431-6131, http://www.homesoquel.com, also offering soups/stews and (uncooked) sausages at Downtown (Wednesday) and Live Oak (Sunday) farmers markets
  • Hula’s: closed until further notice
  • Ideal Bar & Grill: Daily noon-6 pm, takeout food plus brewed coffee and espresso drinks. Orders can be placed in person at café or at 831-423-5271. Only two guests at a time will be allowed in Ideal for pickup. www.idealbarandgrill.com
  • India Joze: open for takeout Tues-Sat from 5-8 pm, 831-325-3633, Indiajoze.com/order/eat
  • Jack O’Neill Restaurant at the Dream Inn: Takeout family breakfast Saturday-Sunday 8-11 am and family dinner daily 5-7:30 pm; each serves 4-6 people, see menu at https://www.jackoneillrestaurant.com/. Gift cards: there’s a current promotion—if you buy a gift card of $100 or more, and are one of the first 50 customers, you will receive a complimentary breakfast voucher for a later date. Call 831-460-5012.
  • Jeffery’s Restaurant: daily 7 am to 5 pm (sometimes later than 5), 831-425-1485
  • Kaito: 4-9 pm daily except Monday, takeout plus delivery to limited areas – delivery ends at 8 pm, https://www.smilekaito.com/
  • KFC: open for takeout, (831) 476-1170
  • Kianti’s: takeout with curbside pickup, or delivery, https://www.kiantis.com/
  • La Posta: takeout with curbside pickup, options include fresh bread loaves lapostarestaurant.com
  • Lago di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria: open daily except Tuesdays noon-8 pm, takeout/delivery including free delivery to limited areas, menu includes family-size options and they also offer deli case up front for “quick grab and go foods to warm/cook at home,” lagodicomoristorante.com
  • Laili: takeout/delivery, lailirestaurant.com
  • Lillian’s Italian Kitchen: takeout, 831-425-2288, lilliansitaliankitchen.com
  • Linda’s Sea Breeze: 8 am-1 pm, takeout, cash (ATM available) or check, 831-427-9713, https://www.restaurantji.com/ca/santa-cruz/lindas-seabreeze-caf-/
  • Loard’s Ice Cream: takeout Monday-Thursday 2-8pm, Friday & Saturday 12-9pm and Sunday 12-7pm, next door to Beach Street Pizza & Bar, 831-471-8530.
  • Lupulo Craft Beer House: food and beer pickup and delivery noon to 8 pm daily, lupulosc.com
  • Manuel’s: takeout, 831-688-4848, manuelsrestaurant.com
  • Marianne’s Ice Cream: takeout, both locations, mariannesicecream.com
  • Mattia Pizza: delivering from 3-7 pm daily; place order by texting 669-236-9182 or via Instagram (@mattiapizza04) or email (mattiapizza04@gmail.com). Delivery is free if you buy three or more pizzas.
  • Mentone: David Kinch’s new restaurant opened March 25 with takeout only at 174 Aptos Village Way, mentonerestaurant.com. Call 831-708-1174 to pre-order from 11 am until sell-out. Rotating selections including pizza, salad, cocktails, and wine for Wednesday-Sunday pickup (4 pm onward)
  • Mission Hill Creamery: 2-9 pm Tues-Sat, 2-7 Sun, selections include ice cream, fresh bread, chicken pot pies, missionhillcreamery.com
  • Mission Street BBQ: takeout, 831458-2222, https://www.missionstbbq.com
  • Naka Sushi: takeout and delivery, Tuesday-Sunday 5:30-8:30 pm, nakasushi.org
  • Nick the Greek: takeout/delivery, nickthegreeksj.com/locations, and they’re giving out one roll of toilet paper per family per visit
  • Olive Garden: takeout and delivery,https://www.olivegarden.com/order-togo
  • Pacific Cookie Company: cookies and treats to go and offering curbside pick-up; order at 831-429-6905
  • Panda Express: takeout and delivery, pandaexpress.com
  • Parish Publick House: takeout, both locations, theparishpublick.com
  • Pasatiempo Golf Course: MacKenzie Bar & Grill is closed until further notice; Hollins House is doing take-out dinner. thehollinshouse.com/restaurant
  • Persephone: take-out menu available Fridays and Saturdays (may expand in future). Menu will change week to week, see https://www.toasttab.com/potter/v3
  • Picnic Basket: 9am-3pm daily, takeout or delivery, you can add an ice cream pint to your order from sister business The Penny Ice Creamery, http://thepicnicbasketsc.com
  • Pixie Deli: 831-688-1115, https://www.pixiegoodeats.com/
  • Pino Alto Restaurant at Cabrillo College: closed until further notice
  • Pizza My Heart Various locations open for takeout and/or curbside pickup and delivery, https://www.pizzamyheart.com
  • Pono Hawaiian Grill: closing downtown location for the foreseeable future
  • Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap: (Capitola) noon to 7:30pm. Sunday-Thursday, noon to 8 pm Fri-Saturday, 831-476-7458, menu at ponohawaiiangrill.com (not all items are available; customers can ask when they call)
  • Pretty Good Advice: takeout daily 11 am-7 pm
  • Red Apple Café: 8 am-3 pm daily, 831-685-1224, https://www.redappleaptos.com
  • Robbie’s Sandwiches: takeout and delivery, 10 am-3 pm,(831) 515-7411
  • Rosie McCann’s: takeout and delivery, (831) 426-9930, https://rosiemccanns.com
  • Sabieng Thai: food to go from 3-8 pm daily, 831-425-1020, https://www.sabiengthaicuisine.com
  • Sala Thai: takeout and delivery, salathaisantacruz.com
  • Salsa’s: window service only, 831-465-1105
  • San Marcos Charquito Tacos y Tortas: takeout, 831-888-6697
  • Scopazzi’s: noon to 7 pm Wednesday-Sunday, 831-338-6441
  • Seabright Deli: 11 am-7 pm daily, walkup window and curb service, 831-515-7484
  • Shadowbrook: closed until at May 1
  • Showtime Pizzeria: takeout (pizza, wings, ravioli, lasagna & more), 831-662-3362, http://showtimepizzeria.com/
  • Slice Project Pizza: takeout through side window, Thurs-Sat 4-9 pm (last order at 8:30 pm), 831-319-4581, 300 Main St. Watsonville, sliceprojectpizza.com
  • Soif: UPDATE April 5: food service has stopped, takeout with curbside pickup, Tues-Sat 4-8 pm, soifwine.com
  • South Point Coffee Bar & Tap Room: coffee bar open daily 7 am to noon, limited bar menu 4-8pm Thurs-Sun but may soon add Wednesday, southpointseascape.com
  • Surf City Sandwich: 10:30 am-3 pm, takeout or delivery, see surfcitysandwich.com.
  • Taqueria Los Gordos: 9 am to 7:30 pm daily except Sunday when hours may vary, call 831-688-0911 or see IG Losgordosaptos
  • Taqueria La Cabana: 9 am-8 pm daily, 831-425-7261
  • Taqueria Tepeque: open for takeout, Brown Ranch Marketplace (same Capitola complex as Trader Joe’s), 831-462-2758, https://taqueriatepeque355.wixsite.com/tepeque
  • Togos: takeout with curbside pickup, and delivery, six locations covering Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, hours vary, https://www.togos.com
  • Tortilla Flats: call 831-476-1754 starting at 1 pm to place order; pick up between 4-8 pm, tortillaflatstogo.com
  • Tramonti: takeout and delivery, 11:30 am-9 pm, 831-426-7248, http://www.tramontisantacruz.com
  • Upper Crust: takeout and delivery, 831-423-9010 (Westside location), https://uppercrustsc.com/
  • Vasili’s: takeout, vasilisgreekrestaurant.com
  • Vim Dining & Desserts: main restaurant is closed but owner/chef Jesikah Stolaroff is doing take-out and delivery of “celebration cakes and desserts” including brownies and cookies, on a sliding scale. They are also selling bottles of wine. Email jesikah@vimsantacruz.com to place an order.
  • Wasabi Sushi: open for takeout and offering free miso soup, Brown Ranch Marketplace (same Capitola complex as Trader Joe’s), 831- 515-7455, https://www.instagram.com/wasabicapitola/
  • Woodstock Pizza: open for take-out and delivery, 831-427-4444, https://woodstockscruz.com, also they’ve partnered with The Salvation Army to provide pizzas to the hungry, doubling every donation a person makes. A $25 donation will provide pizza for up to 10 people, see https://bit.ly/2UuhOXJ
  • Zameen: They re-opened Aptos location March 26 (other branches remain closed) for take-out food Thursday-Sunday 4-7:30, 831-688-4465

Get info for more downtown SC restaurants, & downtown SC food/drink venues, at https://downtownsantacruz.com/downtown-delivered. See menus for some restaurants at the Instagram account whatsopensantacruz & the site whatsopensantacruz.com—they also have some info on other services that are open (I’m not affiliated with any of these–just wanted to share resources).

Grocery stores

(listed alphabetically)

  • Aptos Natural Foods has reduced hours of 10 am to 7 pm with senior hours of 8-10 am (65 years and up, and 10 percent discount during this time), aptosnaturalfoods.com
  • Black Point Market: still open for business, groceries and ready-to-eat food, 831- 713-5842
  • Costco: effective March 30, hours are reduced (closing earlier): 10 am-6:30 pm weekdays, 9:30 am-6 pm Saturdays, 10 am to 6 pm Sunday. Seniors and vulnerable customers can shop Tues through Thurs 8-9 am—note, “official (published) hours to non-seniors” don’t start until 10 am weekdays, but unofficially, on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays Costco is letting non-seniors in right after the senior hour ends at 9. Updated gas station hours are 7:30 am-7 pm weekdays, 7:30 am-6:30 weekends, 831-469-0961, https://www.costco.com/
  • Deluxe Foods: open for business, see deluxefoodsofaptos.com
  • Food Bin & The Herb Room: open 8 am to 8 pm, call 831-423-5526 (Food Bin) or 831-429-8108 (Herb Room) or visit https://www.foodbinherbroom.com
  • Grocery Outlet: hoursare8 am to 9 pm daily, https://groceryoutlet.com/store-locator
  • New Leaf Community Markets: reduced hours 9 am to 8 pm daily, 8-9 am is for pregnant, senior, and immune-compromised individuals. Extended senior discount (formerly Wednesday, now Monday-Friday). There are temporary store capacity limits at all locations and new waitlist technology at some locations that gives customers the option to join a waitlist queue via text with their mobile phone upon arrival at the store. New Leaf asks that families elect one member to do the shopping whenever possible and to limit store visits to 30 minutes or less to help minimize potential wait times, https://www.newleaf.com/
  • Nob Hill: open, visit raleys.com/stores/nob-hill-foods-bay-capitola-california
  • Safeway: reduced hours & senior early morning hours on certain days depending on location, https://www.safeway.com/
  • Shopper’s Corner: as of April 1, they had not reduced hours (still 6 am – 9 pm). For seniors and vulnerable guests, they will take your order via email (shoppers.statements@gmail.com) and shop for you Monday-Friday, & call when ready to pick up—when you email your list, include your name & phone #. http://www.shopperscorner.com/
  • Staff of Life: reduced hours 9 am-8 pm, seniors 60 & older can shop at 8 am from Monday-Friday, online shopping with pickup/delivery is coming soon, https://www.staffoflifemarket.com
  • Target: reduced hours at stores including Capitola & Watsonville (8 am-9 pm), starting this week the 8-9 am slot on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is for vulnerable populations only (65 and older, those with underlying health concerns, and pregnant women), https://www.target.com/store-locator/find-stores
  • Trader Joe’s: both Santa Cruz and Capitola locations are open with reduced hours: 9 am to 7 pm daily. On March 30 they began hosting an early shopping hour from 8-9 am for seniors and disabled, https://www.traderjoes.com/
  • Whole Foods: reduced hours 9 am-8 pm, seniors 60 & older can shop at 8 am https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores

Farmer’s Markets – currently open:

  • Downtown Santa Cruz Wednesday
  • Aptos/Cabrillo College Saturday
  • Westside SC Saturday
  • Live Oak Sunday

Breweries

  • Discretion Brewing: online ordering (toasttab.com/discretion-brewing) and parking lot pick up from 11 am to 4 pm daily
  • Humble Sea Brewing Co. is to-go only. Hours are daily noon to 6 pm  Visit humblesea.com.
  • Sante Adairius is offering to-go sales, from noon to 6 pm daily. Visit rusticales.com.

Wineries

For a comprehensive winery list, see what Laura Ness wrote for Edible Monterey Bay on March 20 athttps://www.ediblemontereybay.com/blog/wineries-want-to-help-you-cope-with-covid/ (sharing this with her permission)

Seafood

Local vendors offering fresh fish for delivery include H&H Fresh Fish and Ocean2Table.

H&H’s weekly subscription program: choose between one or two meals and pause subscriptions when you need to. See hhfreshfish.com/community-supported-fishery. They have a retail shop at 493 Lake Ave. (below Johnny’s Harborside).

Ocean2Table: order seafood to be delivered as frequently or rarely as you choose. They recently expanded so that people can add limited amounts of local vendors’ eggs, chicken, and produce to their fish delivery. See getocean2table.com.

Other

  • Deke’s Market on 7th Ave., with In Mah Belly Deli, is open. Contact 831-476-5897 or dekesmarket.com
  • Mutari Chocolate is open for delivery and pickup Wednesday-Sunday noon to 7 pm; visit mutarichocolate.com and check their Instagram @mutarichocolate for promotions/discounts
  • Sushi Market Sprouts: still open, they carry prepared packaged sushi (same family that runs Kaito Restaurant) & a few Japanese groceries & housewares, also refrigerated miso dressing from Hakouya, https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-market-sprouts-santa-cruz
  • Toque Blanche: store hours are 11am-6pm daily. They are offering curbside pickup at our Santa Cruz store, and shipping to customers with flat rate $9.99 shipping for orders over $50, or free shipping for over $99, (831) 426-1351, https://www.mytoque.com/pages/toque-blanche-and-the-coronavirus
  • Capitola’s The Vitamin Center is taking phone orders and offering curbside pickup. Call 831-462-4697 after 10 am daily except Sunday.

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