Alderwood Santa Cruz

Best dining experience in years. The head chef is amazing and the staff was incredible. Tasty dishes and great atmosphere.

Very nice restaurant, modern ambiance with a nice bar in the dining area. The food was good, we had the pork chop, pesto cavatelli and broccolini. Definitely $$$

Do yourself a favor and visit this lovely restaurant. The service is unmatched. The staff truly cares about your experience and the atmosphere . The food is absolutely amazing, well balanced, – everything we tasted melted in other mouths. The atmosphere was fantastic, as were the lighting and table settings. I felt relaxed and picked up on all of the wonderful vibes from the chef to each and every member of the crew. Absolutely the best tasting menu so far. My phone was stolen, and all images and names of meals were lost but I was able to recover pictures from my google drive. Enjoy.

1/2025. Heard they have announced closure. Not surprised. The horrible new manager - talk about damaged goods - put herself above patrons and experience. Her claim of Michelin starred restaurant bonafides was clearly - if true - coincidental. Will miss the excellent food and experiences enjoyed in its original incarnation. ps - if anyone ever asks you if you want a Manhattan up or on the rocks, leave. 2024: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Details to follow, but as a diehard fan of this place from the start, I do not see how they can succeed with the current floor management. Single worst upper management (presumed) experience of my life. Almost comical. Menu and kitchen has changed, please disregard previous reviews. Excellent all around. Fantastic cocktails, great food. Easily the most polished place in SC, clearly drawing on the experience of having restaurants elsewhere. Can’t wait to go back. Been back several times, food continues to be superlative. The Western Bacon Cheeseburger with mushrooms added on is the best. Ever. Props to Alex for suggesting this. Update 2/2024 Still excellent. We tried the inaugural Wednesday 3-course tasting menu, and I have to say I felt as though it was a good value. Salad and a popover, main course, dessert for $65. I thought the duck leg confit was excellent, and paired very well with the barbecued carrots. My wife and a friend had the mushroom rigatoni which although had good flavor, was about 30 seconds shy of being al dente everyone agreed. So, that dish would have received a better rating if the pasta was cooked correctly.

On my third visit to this gem in Santa Cruz, I found the culinary experience as impressive as ever. The bavette steak scored a 8/10 served in a generous portion, though the sauce could have been thicker. The beef tartare was a standout, earning an 8.5/10 for its freshness and the delightful pairing with mustard seeds. The grilled avocado, rated at 9/10, showcased innovation, offering a unique twist to a familiar favorite. Similarly, the grilled mushrooms, also receiving a 9/10, were exceptional and a must-try for their unique preparation. The desserts, while satisfactory, didn't stand out as much, so they got a 7.5/10. Overall, this restaurant continues to excel, making it one of the best dining spots in Santa Cruz. A definite go-to for anyone craving quality and creativity.

The Trout was amazing! I would recommend my mom to this place because she’s the type of person who doesn’t like fishy fish. The trout was light and delicious with flavors! Would love to come back!

The food was delicious! A bit pricey, but worth it. My drink was also very good! I was there on NYE as solo diner, at the beginning of the night. There were only 5 of us in the restaurant and my service was terrible!!! I waited over 10 minutes for my waiter to even bring me water. He only came by 3 times and left so much to be desired! I would have loved at least 1 more drink, but the waiter was nowhere to be seen until after my food came. IF you decide to dine here, I would recommend sitting at the bar where you can have the bartender help you if you need, she seemed like she was better at checking in with her guests.

Phenomenal! My husband and I went to dinner last night and it was spectacular. All of the servers were attentive and cheerful, the decor was beautiful, great music, and the food was out of this world. I hate when you go to dinner and spend your hard earned money on lackluster food. This was worth every penny and more. So balanced, seasoned, great textures etc. This will definitely become apart of our go to list!! Thanks for the wonderful date night Alderwood 💛💛

Heaven in hell. This concept contrasts with my wonderful dining experience in downtown Santa Cruz. This might be extreme, but being in that area Saturday night was like visiting the slums with cool restaurants and shops. The three of us were relieved to find Alderwood. It looked so fancy outside with the glass windows and the romantic lighting. I'm surprised this place only has an overall rating of three and a half stars. I felt lucky to be seated at the bar where we watched the chefs in action. Woo! The food was as top-notch as this fine dining place. We started with Oysters, which were perfectly smooth and velvety with a balanced briny and salty flavor. Then we had a dish with Yellowfin that was truly magnificent due to the fish's delicate flavor and smooth texture. We then moved on to the Brussels Sprouts which was surprisingly delectable. The little bits of pork lend smoky, warm, and comforting flavors to the tiny little cabbages. We also had something called Tenga, like two strips of long nachos loaded with seasoned beef, guacamole, and other goodness. For our final dish, we chose the Vanilla Soft Serve. Oh man, I'm drooling just thinking about it. Light, soft, flawless. The chocolate bits and niblets on top added a sweet and savory crunch that made it fun to eat. The caramel syrup added a rich, sweet, and silky texture. This soft serve was to DIE for. We ordered our usual drinks off the menu. Negroni for my man and a Pisco Sour for me. We were impressed and relieved the bartender was able to create our drinks. We enjoyed our drinks, however, we know a place that could deliver them better. We had a couple of servers and hosts. They were all outstanding. Our main guy was friendly and attentive. Overall dinner was superb! What a relief to find this haven in the ghetto of downtown Santa Cruz.

Kind of hit or miss! And the manager seemed to be the only friendly person we encountered, all other staff were inattentive and completely disinterested :'D They were shoving our dishes and glasses on the table like serving slop to pigs. You can even see their spillage on our table in my pictures. Not my favorite experience LOL I was intrigued by Alderwood after seeing them mentioned on the Michelin guide. I noted on our reservation that it was our anniversary but it wasn't acknowledged at all. Open concept kitchen is neat. But service is slow... Even when we were one of 2 parties in the restaurant. OYSTERS: Served with herb infused oil. Delicious albeit a bit silty! We always love Kumamoto oysters. HOT FRIED QUAIL: 10/10. Incredible. Addictively crispy on the outside, luscious and juicy inside. STEAMERS: ... This is bland. Just... Flat and bland. Not even the sausage nor squid ink could save it. On the contrary, my bf loved his grilled trout. Pretty disappointed, between the subpar food and terrible service. Wonder if we just came on a bad day. NOTE: I made a reservation for early dinner but it was definitely unnecessary, the restaurant was totally empty at 5 pm on a weekend.

Nice ambient restaurant with good vibe. We parked on the street near the front. The menu is limited and was told it can change daily. We place our order and the appetizer came out quickly. The brussels sprouts, fried quail were nicely done. But then, that's where time stops.. the next time we see our entree was 45+ minutes later. Restaurant wasn't that packed with about 7 tables, but with five person in the kitchen I would've expected the food to be out sooner. The Shrimp Rigatoni had good taste, but is on the spicier side. The fish was good but not sure if the liquid was a sauce or soup. The Ribeye was cooked to perfection. The cream of corn was not what we expected as it was too sweet and the hot sauce seem out of place. The price are on the very high end. The 9oz Ribeye (my fault as the menu said "12 oz", and I thought it was a 12 oz Ribeye but in fact meant $12.00 an ounce) was $108.00.. it was good, but not $108 good (and it was a la carte).

Overall visit was very satisfying & had us wanting more which led us to making a reservation for the next day. Upon attempting to make a reservation via telephone call which was unsuccessful, we were handed to the manager who was very accommodating and offered a small table for us on a busy night, we were very grateful and pleased to be accommodated! The ambiance was exceptionally sophisticated & perfectly lit. Service was very quick & attentive for both nights, that being a Fri. & Sun. Food being very savory and fit the ambiance of the location, perfectly explained and suggested based on what we liked as our server spoke with us and asked about our preferences. Overall I feel the location of Alderwood is perfect and requires those looking to get away from the touristy restraunts out by the pier area. Parking is on the opposite corner which makes it prefect as you won't have to walk for blocks or drop the wife off while you look for parking!

Service was great, but the food had my partner and I pretty disappointed. It was our 1st anniversary and we had head great things from friends + Michelin Guide, so thought this spot would be worth the trip. Oysters (4/5): very fresh and go down extremely smoothly with the sauces provided Crab Beignet (3/5): Fancier term for a crab cake. Felt pretty average for a crab cake, though fresh! Cocktail (4/5): Good cocktail overall! Very rich and deep. I believe this is the Director's Cocktail? It's decorated with a pineapple Pesto Pasta w/ mushrooms (2/5): was pretty disappointed in this dish as the noodles were overcooked. The mushrooms were good though. Steak (3/5): nothing too special about the steak. Was juicy, but didn't melt in mouth and quite chewy. This was a cute and classy Californian spot, but the food didn't live up to what we were fully hoping for unfortunately.

First off, the interior design of this space was really captivating to me. I really appreciated and took in all the details. We were warmly greeted and given choice to where we could sit. I knew I wanted to take my time at a place like this because it is on the more expensive side. Our waitress was sweet, kind, but we did feel rushed to order. Her first greeting to us also included asking if we were ready to place an order. We had barely touched the menus as it had only been a few minutes. Kind of a minor detail to call out and I would've appreciated more patience and attunement. She seemed a bit inexperienced and/or disinterested. Besides that, the food and drink was nice. They have limited gluten-free options but we made it work. The best part of the meal was the pork belly brussel sprouts. The short rib was phenomenal but I personally didn't love what came with it. The trout plate was fun and had a lot of cool flavors happening. All that's to say, this is a nice dining spot. I don't know that I'll go back, unless the menu shifted and sparked curiosity. This was more of a "check" off my restaurant bucket list as the pricing was a bit excessive.

We were visiting Santa Cruz for a wedding and was excited about the this place. Well! Mikey Adams (the new exec chef) did not disappoint. The chefs table seating was an amazing experience getting first hand view of all the preparations. The food was amazing. We shared the Kale salad which had a great dressing and a bed of "manchego custard" on the bottom to die for. The NY strip and the Cacio e Pepe tasted so delicious we didn't want it to end. The soft serve was a nice finishing touch ... maybe a little too big of a portion after so much delicious food but we were not the type to tap out of it. The cocktails were delicious and refreshing to start with; "mexican firing squad" was my favorite. And the Cab Sauv bottle of wine which is local paired great with the food. All in all a great experience and definitely something we look forward to come back to.

Oysters were so so incredible and the wait staff were all so kind! The kumamoto oysters were so delicious and high quality. Ambiance was gorgeous too.

Wonderful dinner and service. Thank you for making our day special. Noodles were perfectly aldente Panna Cotta is a must have.

This is our second visit in two weeks since we discovered this great restaurant. Our first experience was at the chef's table, and I highly recommend this experience. Mikey is friendly and engaging if you get there early before it gets busy. The service is superb at the chef's table. Last night we invited a friend to join us at a very comfortable booth, and we shared all the dishes. I prefer to create 4 - 5 course dinners and it was easy at Alderwood. We started with each of us ordering a different cocktail. These are all delicious and creative - characteristic of all the dishes. I suggested that we not finish this drink and save some to sip in between courses as a palate cleanser. I brought a very nice French red wine to enhance the meal. The corkage fee is on the high side ($40), but they will decant and provide very nice glasses. First course: Kale salad paired with Heirloom Tomatoes. The Kale salad has creamy Manchego custard that is perfectly balanced with the tartness of the kale. The toasted pumpkin seeds provide an almost bacon-like smokiness. Absolutely delicious way to start the meal. The tomatoes are on a bed of cream corn and the flavors pop. Nice to have with the more subdued kale salad. Second course: Roasted potato paired with the Brussels sprouts. As usual, the sprouts are intensely flavored which is balanced with the potato. But the surprise is how the potatoes are prepared. The are baked then fried three times to create an amazing texture and flavor. Third course: At this point, we are no longer eating because we need nourishment, it is all for the enjoyable experience. We had the roasted squash entrée. The texture is very firm and the flavor is intense. This is accomplished by slowly cooking the squash over 5 days so it becomes compact and chewy. This careful preparation results in amazing flavor and texture. Fourth course: The Santa Cruz greens are a mix of flavors from fresh greens that are perfect including mint and also what I think was basil. The dressing was light enough to make this a perfect pre-dessert salad. Dessert: We got both choices and these were amazing. The crème brulee was creamy but the surprise was the slow roasted pineapple. Intense and rich. The Alderwood Soft Serve is the perfect sundae. Moderately light with caramel, cashew and chocolate nib. I could have eaten a second one myself! Overall, the service was great--the best we've experienced in Santa Cruz. Since we were sharing, we were given new plates and silverware with every course. This is my new favorite in Santa Cruz!

Ambiance- Modern, simplistic, open Service- Amazing, friendly, helpful, willing to work with gluten free requests Food- Higher end ingredients, and/or the presentation is fancy so the price is a little higher than an average restaurant. -The food was good but not exceptional unlike the dessert. Brussel sprouts will never be fancy regardless of the glaze, cheese, or meat you add. The pasta dish was tasty, hand made by the staff, and served with a pesto sauce. Serving sizes were decent for both the pasta and the Brussel sprouts. -The desserts were unique, delicious, creative and ample in size. -The cocktail drinks were overpriced, good but not worth $18. -Sitting at the chefs counter, which faces the kitchen and prep staff, added to the experience. There are dried food items hanging all around the kitchen that will be used later for their changing menu. This piqued our curiosity as to how much the chef and his crew pour into the food with their artistry and skill, which makes us want to come back and try the changing menu.

This place is amazing! We sat at the chefs table and had a blast for date night. The vibe was relaxing and fun. My manhattan was incredible! The food was delicious. All the staff was professional and talented. My favorite tonight was the cod, I would come in just for that. Will be back in soon! Thank you for everything!

Cultured food experience at its finest. Santa Cruz finally has a restaurant worthy of a Michelin star. Chef Michael and his team are meticulous with their menu creations. Attention to detail is seen with every presentation. Service was amazing. Cocktails were creative and executed perfectly. Highly recommend to any foodie.

Heads down the best restaurant in Santa Cruz! This place is good. I live in the bay. I've been going to this place every time I go to Santa Cruz. Every single time we love it . All their dishes are amazing. Super cute ambiance a a great service

I've been back several times since my first review, including 3x since reopening. Hmm... the reviews seem to be consistent with result - inconsistent. It has such TREMENDOUS potential to be amazing, yet something noticeable usually falls short. I too really want this place to work, and I'll definitely be back. We need it and want it. I hope the continued refinement focuses on total experience and quality of delivery.

Disappointed and unimpressed with the service and menu here. We love to dine in upscale restaurants and this used to be the best high-end place to go in Santa Cruz, but not anymore. The service was sub-par. It took 30 minutes to get our first cocktails and another 40-50 minutes AFTER our drinks to get our food. Reservations were at 7, and didn't leave until after 9. Usually we love spending hours at a restaurant but we ate about a quarter of our steaks that were $98.00 and left. The menu is a bit pretentious and not worth the quality or price. I hate leaving negative reviews but I just can't not with this experience. I am giving it two stars for the ambiance and the cocktails. Other than that we will probably not return :(

The staff not friendly and mostly disinterested from the moment our party of six arrived until we left. The service was slow. We were there for 30 minutes and had to ask for someone to take our drink order and each time we were ready to place an order we had to ask for the server who seemed bored at best. The food was good except for the trout which was lukewarm and pink inside. Over priced menu for the level of service received. Will not return.

No sure how this place does not have 6 stars . The dishes looks simple on the menu but each and every dish is fricking amazing, full of taste. This is our go to when we in town . They keep changing the menu and keep blowing our minds. Hands down best place in the area

Honestly, I usually don't leave bad reviews, but my level of dissatisfaction is so great that I want the restaurant owners to know. The Santa Cruz salad was good for a bowl of only greens. The ribeye was good, but not as good as I was expecting. The menu overall was a HUGE disappointment, lackluster at best. It's definitely not the stellar restaurant it was before. It appears that the owners thought they could do it without the former chef. They are wrong. No offense to the new chef, but the menu makes it seem like he is in over his head. With a menu this small, do you need 2 vegetable and 2 fish main courses? Where is the pork chop and lamb? Wagu beef? What happened to the appetizers? This was my favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, not any more. After we left, we went and got pizza. We won't be back.

If you're looking for a fancy dinner treat in downtown Santa Cruz, I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is excellent. Good and easy street parking or parking garage/lot. Would definitely try again next time I want to splurge on a meal.

Still a high bar for great food in Santa Cruz. I was a fan of the prior version of Alderwood - mainly for special occasions due to the price. And I was a bit worried about the reboot but finally returned a few weeks ago - and again last night. I'd say the food is even better, and more affordable. If you like high quality ingredients, excellent refined and thoughtful flavors, great service, and food unlike anything else in Santa Cruz, I highly recommend Alderwood.

Completely disappointed. The new menu is horrible. The service slower than slow. The food cold. The service inconsistent with drink orders. Had NY steak, Cold and waited 40 minutes to get it served, all the while my kids mushroom burger sat waiting to be served in the kitchen under a heat lamp. Really the old menu with the burger was outstanding and why don't they tell you when you call to reserve that the menu is new. I won't ever go back.

My husband and I went to Alderwood for dinner last night and it was pure perfection. The space was gorgeous, friendly attentive staff, great music (that wasn't too loud), and the food was phenomenal. We ordered about 10 dishes and every single one was perfection. Chef Mikey clearly knows what he is doing and we will recommend this place over and over.

The manager on staff seemed to be monitoring the bar throughout the evening taking away from the relaxing experience of having drinks at the bar. The saving grace was the exceptional bartender and his 5 star service. The cocktails were delicious along with the appetizers that we tried. I would suggest that there is a difference between being attentive versus being overbearing when it comes to the guests who come in. A simple hello or smile can make a big difference.

Had a really lovely experience here! Food was excellent, plated thoughtfully, service was on point and the ambience is really lovely. We dined on the last day before the temporary closure and new chef; we cannot wait to come back and try the new menu!

Our second time at Alderwood. The first was during the pandemic period, so we wanted to come back and see what might be different since we were in town for the weekend. One thing I noticed is that the portion sizes were HUGE. I we likely should have only ordered one starter and one main instead of one each and then sides for our main. We started with a bottle of Paul Bara grand cru rosé champagne. It had a little tartness to it but lovely bottle, highly recommend. For starters, I got the parmesan popover and my hubby got the avocado. The popovers were gigantic, and I got three, and it was a deconstructed sort of finish with items to assemble - overall, it was tasty but not amazing, would likely not get this one again. My hubby's avocado was very tasty and he gave it an 8 out of 10, and a little on the smaller side, with it being a half an avocado (which was perfect as a starter for portion size). For mains, I did the 8oz fillet accompanied by the Hen of the Woods side. The fillet was perfectly done. Highly recommend. The Hen of the Woods had me concerned but it was one of the dishes that made them a known name, so I rolled with it. It did NOT disappoint. Wow, who knew that mushrooms and maple could go together? Highly recommend this side dish. My hubby, as a Mainer, ordered the diver scallops from Maine. He gave it a 7 out of 10 and said he would have likely picked something else. It was ok, but nothing exciting that made it memorable. His side was the broccoli and peppers. It was a substantial portion but didn't have a pop with flavor in any way. We passed on dessert because everything was so big and filling lol! My colleague who is in Santa Cruz a lot stated that she only eats a burger about 3x per year, and Alderwood's is one that she's make one of her three (she likes it that much). I saw it go by and it did look amazing. Service was a little wonky at seating. And initial communication - as the server made a lot of odd assumptions and interrupted us several times. We just smiled and rolled with it, but candidly was a bit strange. Things improved after that and the rest of the evening was great. If you're in Santa Cruz, you'd be an idiot not to make a stop here.

Happy hour on Sat. Yes please. I had the oysters, burger, frits, Caesar salad, happy hour cocktail, bone marrow and some lobster roll. Everything was amazing. Needed more toast for the bone marrow but it was real tasty.

Overpriced and small portions. Over $500 for 5 people. No wine, but four cocktails. My steak looked like spam and my potato dish was simply burned. The steak was alleged to be 5 ounces, but I can assure it was not. They charge $12 per ounce with a minimum of 5 ounces. We laughed at the portion sizes. We did not however complain because we were dining with friends and dropping our son at UCSC. He hated the pasta btw. He literally will eat anything and rarely complains. His pasta was overcooked. We frequently dine out and live in Santa Barbara. We are used to high prices for amazing food. This spot missed the mark. You can preach, but you can't deliver.

Awesome food. Pricey but worth it. Creative dishes and cocktails with beautiful presentation.

Finally went to go check out the new menu and chef. Everything we had was amazing and top notch. We had the yellowtail tuna appetizer and the grilled veggies appetizer with some oysters and all were excellent! We had both fish dishes and wow absolutely awesome. Another one of us had the steak which was really good but they drenched it with steak sauce which was odd. Ask for it on the side because it's home made and very good but you might not want it on every bite. Will definitely go back!!

We started with making a reservation on a wrong date, but staffs were so kind and able to get us a table. Food was good and fresh with fusion element offered by the new chef. They were also willing to accompany with dietary restrictions, such as nut and gluten free. - Oysters: fresh and highest quality - Broccolini and Brussels Sprouts: Both are amazing and perfectly cooked - Roasted Potato: Creamy "Pizza" like potato dish - Fried Quail: tender and moist, goes well with the mashed potato and gravy that comes with it - Creekstone Aged New York Strip: Reminded us the steak we would get at an Italian steakhouse - Cacio e Pepe: Al Dante and perfectly cooked - Miso Glazed Black Cod: We like this but it would be even more amazing to serve this with rice It took a while for the dishes to be served, order early if you are hungry. Also, please let the host know if anyone from your table cannot take any hot/spiciness, there is a very mild hot/spiciness to some of the dishes.

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Parking was plentiful in downtown Santa Cruz with either street parking or garages available at $1.25/hour until 8 pm. Came by with a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival. Both indoor and outdoor dining were available. There were heaters for outside tables too. I loved how the staff wore casual uniforms featuring a uniform blue dress shirt along with an Alderwood apron. With the open kitchen, most of the staff were wearing nitrile gloves, including the dishwasher. Our waiter, Steven, was fantastic from introductions, guidance on the menu, through checking in with us throughout the evening. Started off with the seared ahi tuna, grilled shrimp & corn pasta along with the buttermilk fried calamari as a first course. The textures and flavors from the freshly made pasta dish were great, although the pasta came out on the harder side, although still al dente. The buttermilk fried calamari was mediocre as it came out cold and quite salty... The seared ahi tuna was good, a touch on the bland side, although the sauce definitely added some pizazz to the dish. The heirloom tomato salad was phenomenal. Every item from the salad was very fresh. Flavors and textures were excellent. A must try! Split the Australian bavette and hen of the woods as the main entrée and it was a fantastic idea. The 8 oz. bavette seemed much more than that, and I'm super glad the kitchen split the dish. The bavette was seared on each side and came out rare. Bavette was quite lean and the sauce was excellent. The hen of the woods that others were raving about was good. I'm a huge fan of maitake mushrooms! Meal ended off with their summer berry napoleon which was also excellent! The napoleon was served with numerous cookie like pastries with some cream and fruit in between each layer and a side of ice cream which was a phenomenal way to end the meal. ~$130/head after tax and gratuity with a 2.9% "bussiness" processing fee for payments by credit/debit cards.

We had a very nice meal. And also thanks to Covid and cold weather were able to get a table - ha! They now have outdoor seating and we were able to walk in and get an outdoor table even though they were packed inside on a Friday at 6:30 pm. They have heat lamps outside though so wasn't bad at all. I forgot to take a photo of the menu, which is too bad because they had some really nice complex things going on that I just can't remember all the details of. Oysters we're good (when are they not?) The crispy shrimp were really good. Loved how they paired the cauliflower with it. The snapper was quite nice - crispy on the outside, raw inside. The calamari was good - nice and crispy, but didn't stand out as much to me as the shrimp. The poblano sauce served with it though was outstanding. The lobster tail was fine. Not so much to write home about. The pomme frites were also good but not particularly special. They have super fancy cocktail ice. I was impressed. They do have a $200 steak. I did not get it. But if you are looking for one - there it is. My husband and I got a couple oysters a piece, 3 appetizers, one entree to share and one side to share and were plenty full.

This is our second time here. The first time was in 2019, right when Alderwood opened. Now, in 2024, they still do not disappoint t. The food was magnificent and delicious. We sate at the chef's counter, we were able to observe all of the unique servings and platters that they offer. Being out of town, coming here is always a special treat. We will be sure to return soon!

First time at Alderwood after many years of driving by. Came in for two burgers, $16 each +2 dollars for avocado and got these fancy fried potato things. The experience was great, the entire bar was open, but we got seated rather close to the door, which was OK but it was slightly cold. Staff didn't seem like they wanted to chat, which is fine, but sometimes it's fun to chat, especially at the bar, and we're going to tip you 20% no matter what, so at least put some effort in, especially if it's not busy. The personality of staff alone knocks a star off what would've been a five star review.

Santa Cruz dining scene...aint ever going to be as hot s the weather, but Alderwood just in the outskirts of downtown makes the Michelin Star Guide making it a must try. Alderwood presents itself as a high end restaurant/bar that serves delicious cuisine with local and sustainably sourced ingredients. The entire aesthetic feels natural, chic, and contemporary. I like how there was lots of open small tables with a decent sized bar. My favorite drink from here is that really tall glass one... The fruity one.. not sure but if the word tequila is listed im all in. At the bar we were immediately greeted by the lovely bar tender. I can't remember her name, but she was attentive, patient, and quick! As for what we ordered we chowed down on the longest potato wedges I've ever seen. Swear they were so long SZA would be able to see the all the way from Saturn. Not sure what they're putting in their fertilizer but maybe it's their big secret recipe just like at the Kristy Krab. The potatoes were crunchy on the outside incasing a super fluffy smooth inside topped off with a little Parmesan and garlic. They were so good im willing to drive an hour just to meet those potatoes wedges again. Best believe i would spend every day eating these for breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner and i would still be satisfied (Punches the Air). The oysters which are responsibly sourced were smooth, fragrant, and addicting. I really do love this place and i had a great experience, so hpefullly I'll be fortunate enough to make a few more visits to really explore their seasonal menu.

Made a reservation for 5 a week before our reservation on a Friday through Open Door. When we arrived, we were seated immediately. Our server, who was from Minnesota, was very nice and attentive. She was great at explaining the menu items and even told us about her love for working at Alderwood. She was great! The ambiance was nice. It was very cozy feeling but at the same time, a bit fancy. I liked the lights that came from the back of the bar and the outfits the servers were wearing. It got really busy around 630pm and it was hard to hear each other since it was so loud. The food was overall good. We shared the Allen Brother's Bone-In Ribeye which was a good amount for 5 people. The steak was okay. It didn't have much flavor but the sauce it came with really amped it up in a good way. Our favorite thing we tried was the calamari. It was crispy and had jalapeños in it, so it had a kick. The Crispy Rock Shrimp was good, but I wish it had more flavor. For drinks, I got the Director's Cut. I liked the pineapple and the salt around the rim. I would def get this again. Overall, great experience. Some food was better than others but it was still good!

Santa Cruz Sky attempted to test the waters again of fine dining, actually claiming they were aiming for a Michelin star (even after the racist scandal they had not too long ago). However, this place is nowhere even close to ever obtaining that goal. The structure of the Alderwood company itself has an incredibly negatively skewed perception of what they believe a good restaurant should be. This is not just your typical Bay Area "small portion for a large price" business. The executive chef composed a menu that really seems as though it was made for only his taste, lacking in broadness and restricting your experience of trying an all-inclusive meal that keeps you coming back as a loyal customer. With god-awful wait times, ignorant staff/management, and food that is most definitely not worth the hiked-up price, I'm surprised they lasted this long. This place definitely has some-sort-of ambience, (almost as though their executive director of "Santa Cruz Sky" restaurants has a "Fashion" degree and has never worked in a restaurant before- makes for good interior design, but absolutely rancid everything else) On top of it all, they just closed their secondary location indefinitely on Pacific Ave. within less than a year of opening. If that doesn't say anything: Unfortunately, even after new management and a "remodel" (which was in reality just a cover of a calming period for their past history) racism and harassment still continue to persist within this business. It is especially sad the absence of respect and consideration Alderwood has for their employees. It becomes increasingly apparent to us guests who sit for a mere ten minutes and witness a sh*tshow. TLDR: If you ever want to come here, expect to wait hours to receive your overpriced and disappointing order or never receive it at all- and if you ask for a manager, they're probably drinking one-too-many at the bar right across from you.

Alderwood is a classy and ambient restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz recognized in the 2021 Michelin Guide -- so we had to try it. Reservations highly recommended. There was a two hour wait when we arrived without reservations at the start of dinner time on a Saturday, but we asked for bar seating and, fortunately, that was available. The highlight of Alderwood is definitely its service. Bar seating may not be the most ideal place to sit at most restaurants, but we had a great time getting recs from the friendly bartenders and watching them work their magic on outgoing drinks. Buttermilk Fried Calamari - Has a tang from the tomato vinaigrette dipping sauce and the lime you squeeze over the calamari. Overall really solid and a sizeable portion, but we both agreed that it wasn't incredibly mindblowing. Alderwood Cheeseburger - I seldom crave a cheeseburger but I always love it after first bite. This one was no exception -- it's a classic two-patty cheeseburger with crunchy pickles (and onion jam!), and they went as far as splitting the burger in half since we intended to share without us having to ask! Hen of the Woods - Alderwood's signature dish. We loved the overall texture and crispness of the torched edges on the maitake mushrooms. There's a sweet-and-burnt taste that probably comes from the maple gastrique, and picking up as much celery root cream as I could on my bites of mushroom made this dish way tastier. Creme Brûlée - Solid, sweet, warm, and just what you'd expect when you imagine a creme brûlée! Shout-out to the bartender who invented the Con Amor (and the other bartender who made mine!) -- it was adorable and tasted like a strawberry candy.

The food was pretty good. The service was excellent. The drinks were great. One of my friends informed the waiter that it was my birthday and at the end of the night, the waiter put a small birthday candle on an empty plate. strange way to end my birthday dinner.

This was unexpected. Yelp brought us here. When we first arrived, the restaurant was pretty bare and the hostess wasn't very attentive. Took her a while to finally greet us and have us seated. Everything turned around when our server introduced himself. He had a cheery disposition and was knowledgeable about the menu so we moved quickly with our order because we were STARVING! What we ordered: First off, Bloody Mary was delicious said hubby. Saved him from falling over. Our server called the mussels that were $4.50 each "Gucci", lol! Honestly, I didn't think they were all that. The sauce was in an amber bottle with a squeeze dropper - that was Gucci! The fish burger that I requested to be split in half so I could share it with my mom, friggen SLAPPED!!! It was crispy and perfectly seasoned! Paired with their potato fries, I DIED!! The Caesar salad was light and refreshing. Hubby ordered the chicken dish which was well prepared and beautifully plated. The vibe and decor of the restaurant were also beautiful! Modern, clean, and the bar was captivating IMHO. I appreciated their taste in dining tables, chairs, and light fixtures. I will point out that it took some time for the food to arrive but when it did, we understood why. It might have been a different story if we weren't hungry hippos. We had the best time (that I had to post 7 pics) and our server- think his name was Zach- made it even better! We will definitely come back when we're in town!

This restaurant has it all- Great staff and decor when you walk in, and most of all the food- everything was amazing. When I go back I will order the fries zuccini, lamb, hen of the woods

We came here once before the chef change-over, and has an amazing experience. This time, while the food was good, it wasn't anywhere near the mind-blowing amazing meal we had the first time. We are a little disappointed that the quality no longer reflects the price you pay. The menu also was pared down quite a bit, leaving few options to choose from: even two of the four available entrees were fish. Staff was excellent as always, just bummed that the changes made aren't worth it anymore.

I've only eaten at Alderwood one time and it was very good. I have been back several times for cocktails though. Very professional mixologists and great atmosphere at the bar. They know their stuff!

I have to say this place is beyond my expectations! I was unsure about it at first when we walked in but I have to say, both food and services are amazing! I would recommend this place to everyone! We've ordered a few dishes to try, they are all very different and creative, the best dish has to be Hens of the Woods mushrooms, the texture the taste and the sauce they use blend so well together! This other dish I'm not sure the name, it's the 3rd picture, it's fried potatoes over raw egg(I think?), when you blend it together, it is amazing! It has such a great mixture. Grilled avocado with yogurt sauce is very interesting mix, it is very creative and delicious. Crab cake is very juicy and goes well with the sauce. Dessert is a must have for sure. I'm not a lavender ice cream lover but I got to say I loved every bite of it! The ice cream blends so well with fig. I would love to come back to try their dinner menu next time when I visit

I had eaten here before the remodel/new menu and I loved it. Now, it's even more amazing! The attention to detail, the creativity without showing off is top level deliciousness. We had a beautiful combo of the bread that is cooked with wagyu fat (I was so blown away not sure if I got that right) with bone marrow and the most beautiful tartare ever. Smear a little marrow and tartare on the toast and you have magic! We also had this super detailed potato tart is the best I can describe. Layer upon layers of thin slices of potato that had been brushed with brie! For me it was all about steak this time - bavette of wagyu, perfectly cooked over fire with an au jus that I thought about taking a swig of. Drinks were lovely - a white negroni perfect for a warm evening and a St Joseph which paired perfectly with the meat. Didn't do dessert though we did do a little Sauternes wine to finish off the meal with a little sweetness. Great attentive service, the room is airy yet cozy because of the wood fire grill and Chef Jeffrey is connected to the kitchen and dining room with great care. Loved the meal!

We LOVE nice restaurants! I made reservations for our last dinner in Santa Cruz here. Note: There were no children present at dinner except mine :). Which kinda worried me. Was he allowed to be here? Luckily he's pretty well behaved and no one gave us any issues. Also, all staff wore masks. For appetizers we had: 1. Fresh oysters - I loved the little dropper situation that accompanied this dish. Plus the oysters tasted super fresh, right out of the ocean. 2. Tuna Tartare - The hubs is a sucker for tartare. It was good. Our first course: 1. Caesar salad with anchovies - the kid totally devoured this salad. Super fresh and tasty! Main course: 1. Bone in Rib eye - the kid and I shared this dish. He loves steaks as much as we do. For the price, I'm hoping I was eating prime. However, the silver skin in the steak threw me off that I felt like I was eating choice. 2. Filet Minion- The hub's favorite cut, so of course he had to have it. The steaks were good. I wish they were sous vide or reversed seared. But I get it, I'm in a restaurant and they only have a broiler. The experience was still good. Service was good, ambiance was good, decorations were peaceful, just an all good experience. The sides: we had the egg plant and the baked potatoes frites. The frites were coated in parmesan powder - so so yummy! The eggplant was crispy and tasty. We also ordered a bottle of wine to go with dinner after our cocktails during appetizers. For dessert, I happened to step away for a bathroom break. When I came back, I was reminded why my husband is my soul mate. He ordered a crème Brule (he knows I'm a sucker for those) AND a pavlova (my most favorite dessert). PSA: Marry partners who love to eat with you!!! I love eating everywhere with my husband and kid. It's my most favorite memories. Also note: Nice dinner = upscale = $$$$. We knew what we were getting into, so no complaints here.

We had the privilege of eating here and the food was amazing! I have a couple points regarding our dining experience 1. Seating -We were seated at the bar for our entire dinner. It was jammed packed..... I was literally hitting elbows with my neighbor that I did not know. I really wish they would spread the bar seating out so it would be more enjoy. 2.Food Caesar salad was amazing! It was huge and the dressing was very citrusy. You have yo try this. Heirloom Tomato Salad this is a must! The tomatoes are very fresh and the mint and other ingredients were so delicious! We had the best dessert see photo. It was filled with Chico ice cream and some amazing pastry. 3. Bar Staff-bar staff was so friendly and fun to watch. They mix drinks with such ease and are amazing servers as well. I just hope the managers at Alderwood see this and spread the bar seating out a bit.

Wanted to try a different place in Santa Cruz besides the standbys Crows Nest and Shadowbrook. Pretty good food, although we thought we were going to the steak house location. Wasn't aware they had two locations but according to our server, it's a common issue. Apparently, people are sent from other location to this one for those people that wanted the burgers. Our server was really friendly and helpful which is always a plus. My husband and brother in law enjoyed their burgers and my sister in law enjoyed the hen of the woods (mushrooms) and grilled broccolini. I ordered the pomme frites to share and the ceasar salad with grilled chicken. All tasty bites, although a bit pricey, but I think you pay for the presentation and ambiance too. Would love to try the other location in the future. Oh and the La Paloma drink was delicious and refreshing!