BAD ANIMAL

The Bad Animal bookstore rates way up there, having left with a novelette by one of my favorite authors of all time Rebecca West and my granddaughter left, with of all topics, Death and Greek Mythology. I'm into Bookstores: including my favorite Clio's Bookstore & Bar in Oakland and quite a few recently in Paris, Budapest and The Berkshires in Massachusetts. Bad Animal is a very classy and well endowed book lovers dream on practically a side street in Santa Cruz. Why I had not, up until today discovered it, probably because I kept walking by on a Monday or Tuesday, hmm. It would have been nice to try their wine bar and from what I heard, astonishing Thai food in such a beautiful dining space. But there will be other chances now that I know what's there. My only desire would be for a few more seating options in order to actually read a book and or converse with other literati.

THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE. Books. Food. Wine. What an incredible gem in Santa Cruz, and such fantastic food- which is saying something because Santa Cruz has great quality food (all the places I went to). Andrew, the owner, has really created a unique space, it's a vast collection of books, art- gives almost a cafe vibe- but instead with a fine dining food experience. I'm definitely coming back. The food- incredible, service just wonderful- the people lovely. Definitely NOT your typical bookstore. Can't wait to visit again. This place is a MUST stop whether you are a local or a tourist traveling through. And now to the food chef they've collaborated with. As a strict veggie person, I always have to be careful about cross contamination during preparation, ingredients, etc. They took such care, but their VEGAN ITEMS WERE DIVINE. MUST TRY Drink recommendations on point, thanks to Hayden! I can't remember all the items we had- pretty much all the veggie options on the menu- from apps, to main course, to dessert. EVERYTHING WAS SPECTACULAR. Come ready to spend a couple hours in the place, but even if you have just a bit of time, it's worth popping in. Thank you all - Andrew, Hayden, Chef, and all of staff for an incredible experience! PS. I enjoyed the food and space so much I forgot to take pictures- so I have a pic of their tote bag! ;)

The only thing better than buying an old book and sitting at the bar to read it alongside a glass of natural wine is to then partake in insanely good Thai food at said bar. As a vegan, I was delightfully surprised to learn I could enjoy half the menu (without any sad substitutions!)

Exceptional bookstore with affordable early editions and great finds in the fiction, non-fiction, and art book realms. Bonus: it houses an even more exceptional, authentic-yet-modern Thai restaurant (open evenings) with a killer natural wine list, that includes unconventional takes like a Georgian orange wine from Kakheti. I just love this place.

My friend and I had a great time visiting this place. The server was knowledgeable about the wine and the food was delicious. It was fun to browse the books while we waited for our food.

Food was amazing. Clearly a ton of thought and care had been put into every dish. Really a unique experience in that regard. The only issue was that we were seated about 20 minutes after our reservation, and didn’t have appetizers until 30 minutes after that, and then main courses about 30 minutes later, so since we were sitting outside, by the time we had food, we were very cold and very hungry. I definitely wouldn’t recommend planning to stop in for a quick dinner, but if you have the time, the food was wonderful.

This beautifully curated store sits inside a wine bar and restaurant. You will see people casually drinking wine while browsing their excellent collection of poetry and literature. Fiction seems to be in two different sections. Don't hesitate to ask the knowledgeable and friendly staff for help. Chances are, they have what you are looking for.

Quite good to food and quite poor service (for example, my waitress spilled food on me while clearing, and wasn't apologetic; that was the overall tenor and vibe of the waitstaff). Food is pretty good, though. Maybe better for takeout?

Food and service was ok, not great. The vibes were pretty solid, though. Honestly, the value wasn't really there for me to go back again.

Another Santa Cruz must try. It's a library... ? A bookstore? A bar? It's the best Thai eatery around ! Flavors are Thai/southest Asian but ingredients are elevated Pumpkin dessert is to due for Tofu curry a must Menu rotates so you won't see the same entrees for long. Keeps us local coming back.

This restaurant was an amazing treat! An extremely well crafted menu with complex flavors for each dish! We ordered the rockfish and the yellow curry with tofu, both were outstanding and also tasted fantastic together! The wine selection was also stunning and supported greatly by the meal! Outside of the amazing food, the atmosphere was fantastic. The bookstore, lighting, and music selection made for a wonderful evening. I highly recommend and may suggest this to be the best restaurant in Santa Cruz!

Tucked inside a funky used bookstore, this little Thai gem makes for the perfect date spot. We signed in, then strolled through the shop, browsing their handpicked selection. As a music bio enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of their collection--definitely a place that knows its vibes. Once seated, we kicked things off with a mushroom salad that was fresh, vibrant, and packed with flavor. I went for the pork belly and crab noodle dish, and my wife chose the curry scallops--both mouthwateringly good. The spice was just right, and the balance of flavors hit all the right notes. We'll absolutely be back!

Ironically I walked by this place and never noticed the restaurant in the bookstore. A quick glance from the outside, you do see some tables, but then again you see something similar at Starbucks. Once you walk inside you know it's something special. Lots of books, wines and more books and more wine. Dinner time was packed but we were fortunate to find two open seating at the bar. Menu is simple with a few app and few entrees. We ordered two apps, the oysters and Thai version of crab dip. Although the crab dip was good it was no match for the Miyagi Oysters; the oysters were excellent and their freshly made sauce drizzled on the oysters just made it magical. We didn't know which Entree to try so we just opted for all three. Our favorite was the double fried chicken with their unique fresh made sauce, follow by their fish, and their curry.

We very much enjoyed the food here and the vibe. I highly recommend the mushroom dish, I was less drawn to the fish dish. Service was professional. Seemed a bit understaffed. It is a must visit, I hope that add staff.

What a great concept and pulled off perfectly. An artful book store, paired with a small restaurant which for the last 2 years has served up great thai dishes. It's a limited size menu, but what they do, they do really, really well. The glass noodles starter was great with a bit of fish sauce funk (in the best way). The perfectly steamed black cod was in a fragrant, light broth. The mushroom curry also had a nice funk. And the double fried chicken was a great complement to the other dishes with a nice chili sauce for a little kick. Everything was served piping hot as it should be. The only item that was a little meh were the nasturtium cups. $14 for 4 leaves with some nuts and coconut shavings were a little under-whelming. But overall, this place is fun, great vibe and a great place to get some off the beaten-path Thai. Highly recommend reservations as it's quite busy and many people were turned away later in the evening.

OMG this was such a unique concept!! Hanlow Thai Food teamed up with this bookstore and created a mini restaurant inside. The ambience was fantastic being surrounded by books while you dine. The service was top notch walking through the menu and describing what's in each dish and what makes it unique. All the dishes we ordered were amazing. My family enjoyed the entire experience and we would definitely go back. Reservations are a must.

My friend and I stopped by Bad Animal after painting ceramics at Petroglyph. The indoor area is very cute with seating for dining, a bar, and a limited book selection. My friend ordered a wine that she really enjoyed, and I ordered the Something & Nothing yuzu soda, which I have never had, but thouroughly enjoyed (even my friend mentioned that she felt she should have ordered the soda, although she enjoyed her wine, because the soda was so good). I'd definitely recommend coming here with a friend- they don't have enough seating for big groups, but it's a great place to catch up with one or two people! Next time I go, I'm going to check out the books and go for dinner.

A Thai place in the guts of a bookstore. How very Santa Cruz. My partner had been here 2 times prior and was telling me I must come here. And I'm glad I did. I found everything here delicious. We ordered the yum tawai, the black cod, phla pla, nam prik lom, pad horapa, some rice, and some wine. I loved all of the big, bold flavors this place used. The 2 big standout dishes for me were the phla pla and nam prik lom. The acidity and fish sauce made the crudo sing while the richness of the crab of the nam prik really was a great counterweight. The cod was more delicate. Honestly, I'll argue this is the best place in Santa Cruz with a bullet. I would definitely come back here.

I reviewed this place previously under its old name (which I forget!) but it's mostly the same. The book selection is outstanding, with much of it academic-level non fiction. And tastefully arranged porn! The shelves are dense, and well organized. The space overall is just aesthetically pleasing, with a small restaurant on the side in the front. I haven't eaten there since it became an all Thai menu, but this isn't typical Thai restaurant food either. I look forward to going back and dining.

Pro: An outstandingly curated bookshop, irresistible selection. Cons: Shabby move to not allow patrons to use restrooms. Signs said out of order but clearly worked well enough for the store employee we saw go in and out.

This place is such a vibe. Restaurant: Hanloh Thai Food Book store: Bad Animal This is a restaurant (Hanloh Thai Food) inside a book store (Bad Animal) or a book store inside a restaurant depending on who you're talking to. Whichever version you encounter, they will not fail you. Please see my review on Hanloh Thai for more details on the food/ restaurant. I think people get confused and review the food here meaning to review Hanloh Thai. I love this space and appreciate a book store while waiting for my turn at the restaurant. They offer rare, vintage, and interesting reading material (books, magazines), This is no Barnes and Noble. I love browsing their fun vintage magazine section and staring into their giant disco ball near the back room while music is pumping. There's one giant couch near the front and a smatter of chairs here and there. I noticed some folks enjoying a glass of wine at the window counter while reading. I could see myself reading here in the evening after enjoying a meal. With over 10,000 selections, their literature options mainly focus on humanities, particularly philosophy, and theology, with a specialization in exploring the unconventional aspects of human nature. They prioritize works that embody qualities such as excess, psychedelia, revolution, fierceness, transgression, uncanniness, and lack of civilization. Their collection includes a variety of formats, with an emphasis on rare, fine press, and historically significant editions. I walked away with a vintage Aesop's Fables book for less than $10 and am excited to return.

Incredible place, outstanding food, amazing selection of wine and books. The best vibes. A great place for a date or drinks with friends.

Amazing vibe, good (but not great) food, lackluster service. Most attention paid to curating a great environment including an excellent playlist. Perfect for date night. Check the menu before you go, as it's so limited It may not suit your taste. Indifferent server was not attentive and inconsistent with a place where you should expect to spend $75 a head or more with wine.

What an exceptional dinner! After a long day of travel from the East Coast, I wanted to take myself to a nice dinner in an effort to stay up later and get acclimated to the time zone. I am so thankful I picked Bad Animal and was able to get a reservation on a Friday night! First, I sat at the bar and the bartender (Hayden, I believe) was fantastic at helping me select wine and food! I started with the roti and wish I would have ordered three more servings - it was absolutely fantastic. For my entree, I enjoyed glass noodles with crab and pork belly. It was decadent, filling - but didn't feel too heavy. All the flavors were just so vibrant and it came with a delicious spicy sauce that you could use at your discretion. Finally, I ended with the sticky rice - instead of coming with the typical mango, it was topped with sweet potato and so delicious. I was so full after this meal - but so happy. Every bite was delicious. Service was exceptional. And the ambiance, in a bookstore, was just so calming, with an air of cool.

Great vibe, food and service. Excellent selection of books as well. Enjoyed the vegan options too.

Look, I've got a major problem with this place. The name is extremely misleading. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, "bad" about my experience. Each time I visit, I walk out thoroughly sated gastronomically, stimulated intellectually, and aroused hedonistically. The servers and staff are unbelievably hot and cool. One can't help but want to spend more time with these people, in this place. I avoided Bad Animal for years figuring, "Hey, okay, it's bad. Not interested. Right there in the name. Bad. I prefer elevated Thai restaurants / natural wine sellers / minor regional bookshops that are *good*." After a friend's tip, I decided to pop in for a glass of pink wine anyway. I immediately realized I had been had. This is a deception of the highest order. My experience was not bad in any way. Instead, it was GOOD. Great, in fact. This aggression will not stand. I've got several hundred emails and a few dozen phone calls into their management office about this naming issue. Stay tuned.

Super cool space. Very cozy/old school, yet still modern and clean. Nice wine list, although I will say it would have been nice to have a few more options by the glass. Having said that they were great about giving us little tastes to figure out what we liked. Will review the food on Hanloh Thai's page. Definitely would like to return.

Beat meal I've had in forever! I hope they get a star in the future!!! The service was good as well!

Best restaurant in Santa Cruz, hands down. The service, creative composition of their dishes, and sheer freshness of their ingredients can't be beat. Plus they will pour you a glass of lovely wine to sip as you browse the expertly curated used books on display while you wait for your table. My own, fervent "cherry on top"? In a time when every restaurant feels the same (too much tile; bright, bare LED lightbulbs; and noise): Bad Animal actually has an atmosphere. It is moody, candlelit, romantic, and beautifully art-directed. Check out their gorgeous gallery wall, especially the taxidermy skunk!

I love everything about this place. Great and unique selection of books. Wine, comfy couches, the most relaxed convivial vibe. Had the 2022 winter menu and it was so GOOD. We got the pork belly, crab claypot and the blackened chicken. I was shocked at how great they were. Usually I find upscale asian food to be slightly disappointing and watered down. I also have a really high standard for pork belly, but this place blew me out of the water. It was actually thai level of spicy (sauce on the side) so you can control your own levels. The pork belly melted in my mouth and was also marinated in seasoning, always a sign that the chef knows what they are doing when it comes to getting the right flavors in asian preparations. I can't wait to try more food here. One of the most loveliest nights in recent memory. Thank you so much Bad Animal!

This place is a gem. Cozy swanky decor. Restaurant and a book store. House staff, welcoming and warm. Trusted all our needs in Hayden's hands. All recommendations phenomenal. Only had orange wine by the glass, definitely going back to dig into their bottle list. Menu rotates, all the more reason to go back and check in on the new items.

It's been 5 years since I was last here. It's really bustling compared to the rather tame and small crowd back then. Different food of course (now Thai) but the vibe is also different (in a good way). The four of us shared two appetizers and the three entrees, which was plenty. Food was delicious. Our only problem was the blaring music. Much too loud for some inexplicable reason. Hard to hear our server sometimes. Tone it down.

Such a unique spot. Bookstore, wine bar, and delightful restaurant. The food menu changes seasonally and each season we've visited has been great. The food has a Thai influenced menu and the wine is phenomenal.

Definitely not worth what you get. The ambiance is the best part of the experience along with a decent wine list. To call this a restaurant though is an insult. Nothing on the menu makes actual sense as a meal especially in the way they prepare items. The starter "meing" was a pile of nuts for 14 dollars wrapped in a barely edible leaf. The waitress was hardly attentive and didn't notice when we hadn't touched the cold fish soup dish that was way too spicy for its own good and tasted like straight grass. The fried chicken thigh dish was barely redeemable. That's honestly it.

I loved the food, wine, and the ambiance of this restaurant. We ordered lots of plates and shared. My favorites were the scallop curry and the fried mushrooms, but all of the dishes were excellent. I tried an orange wine and loved it. Definitely not cheap especially if you order a lot and share between 2 people, but it's definitely worth it for a a special girl's night or date night.

Blown away by new Thai food menu! Incredibly authentic and delicious. Worthy of Michelin review.

Feel like I def need to do an update since I had dinner here today, and the restaurant part of this book store is so yummy with friendly service! I got this super delicious chicken dish with broccolini and garbanzo beans with a super yummy sauce. I literally ate everything on my plate; if I had been in my own home I would have licked the plate clean, it was so good. I also got this lemon poppy seed cake that came with little orange slices and lemon cream...dude it was flipping delicious. I am obsessed with lemon poppy seed muffins, and this cake was so good and just to die for. I'm already planning to stop by again tomorrow solely for another slice of this cake with the hopes that they still have some. Might have to eat one there and also grab a slice to go lol. Seriously, if you love lemon poppy seed, stop by here for some of this cake. You won't regret it. I also love that they updated their sparkling wine selections for wines by the glass. Sparkling wine is like my fave thing to drink and they've updated the menu with two new ones by the glass. What was super nice is the bartender let me try a tasting of the sparkling wine to make sure I liked it before I grabbed a glass too. So appreciated. I ended up getting the Pomalo Debit sparkling wine from Croatia. It was soooo yummy and the perfect sparkling wine to pair with my dinner and cake. Thanks again for letting me try it before getting a full glass - I ended up getting two glasses total lol and likely would have just settled for some water if he hadn't let me try it. Will def be stopping by more for wine by the glass and some food in the restaurant section of this store. Also, I love love love that they have heated lamps on their outdoor patio. I'm just still not comfortable eating inside places, so if there isn't an outside patio, I'm either just skipping it or getting my order to-go. But they have a lovely patio section in the front and even put up heated lamps that take the chill away during these cool January nights. It was really lovely to just sit outside with my food and wine by a nice heated lamp for a couple hours. Overall, the restaurant part of this book store is super yummy and also has friendly service. Def stop by for dinner! Maybe browse the bookshop before you eat too? lol

Absolutely love this restaurant & bookstore. I showed you well before they normally serve wine but the 'wine' guy just happened to be there. I asked for a Chardonnay and he let me taste two which have their skins left on when being made do it has a lovely orange color! They have a wonderful collection of vintage books that blew my mind! The books are wonderful probes and the back of the store has a wonderful room that offers a cool vibe for friends or to hang and do work during the day. The only downside that I highly recommend this place getting is WiFi, they don't have any but maybe they want you to unplug. Who knows but it was great on a Wednesday midday.

Food, drink, service. All amazing. This place is an oasis in the food desert that is Santa Cruz.

I hated this place. Very hipster condescending vibe and severely overpriced wine. My party felt super judged and not very welcome at all. The bookstore itself is nice with a cool vibe. The menu on the website is not the same as the website in person.

Hands down our favorite place in town. Authentic, delicious food with excellent service and vibes. We literally go here every week and have never been disappointed, you need reservations in advance usually is say.

I do NOT give 5 stars out lightly! You cannot miss this Chef! I love the whole concept at Bad Animal, the DJ was so on point, just enough funk for a Brooklyn/Berkeley vibe, and the books and ambiance are eclectic, interesting and warm. They have a killer collection of books and poetry. But this gets 5 stars because of the current resident chef, Chef Lailita Kaewsawang. She and her Chef de Cuisine Mauricio Ortiz literally blew my mind on Saturday night last weekend. The authentic Thai food was the real deal, complex in layers of flavors, the incredible balance of sweet, heat, salt, texture...It is hands down the best meal I've had in Santa Cruz, but also in the greater state of CA in like a decade. I've lived in some hotbeds for culinary nerds; Sonoma, NYC, DC, Culver City, and I LOVE good food. I've been let down so many times in Santa Cruz, where we live in the middle of an agricultural oasis... but no more! I hope to GAWD Lailita opens a full time restaurant here. It was worth the money, the portions were right on, the flavor was OUT OF THIS world. Here's my recommendations: Get the quirky little starter Mieng, it's tiny but if you like awesome textures, and a peppery finish, this is the bomb. We had Gaeng Daeng with seared scallops, so flipping good, but not sure if the menu changed already. We had a fantastic salad as well that is also not on the menu anymore and paired it with the Vinho Verdhe... but the salad looks like it's not longer on the menu... so run, do not miss this chef before the next chef in resident swaps out. I am begging her to open a permanent restaurant here. ALSO, the staff, was brilliant. Our server, and I may have her name wrong, it might be Kiara? She was blonde, lovely, and so professional. She tended to us, but didn't hover, she was helpful with our ordering, and was friendly to boot. She gave us info about the menu, the chef, etc. And the other server, we confused him a little when we didn't realize he was bringing what we ordered, but he was ALSO friendly and professional. The whole thing was at once the most chill and exciting culinary experience I've had in a long while. If I can go back with my husband this weekend I will. I plan on making it my new spot! Thank you to the whole staff, and particular kudos to Chefs Lailita and Mauricio!

The concept ambience and delivery are fully accomplished on all fronts here. I will be back to enjoy the expert execution of the food, and will definitely be buying at least a few books per year here. It's wonderful to see the logos Community connecting with this wonderful young culinary delight!

Very Unique experience. Good Wine, good service, even better food! A book store to wander while you wait for a table makes the time pass quickly, walking with a glass of wine makes it even better. The food is fresh, excellent, and reasonable priced for what you're getting.

We had a fun time here as well as a great meal! Ate at the bar and we were wowed by the food. Small appetizer first... unreal!

Amazing dinner and service. The food was delicious and light. Cool vibe- can't wait to return.

This was such a fabulous experience. The books are all super unique or used classics. The wine pairing was also nothing I've seen before and I wine taste a fair amount. The service was amazing and Nick took great care of us. Perfect meet up spot for a gals day or book club hang.

Visited last Saturday, it's a fantastic used bookstore with a restaurant and dining area inside. This is a review for the bookstore since I didn't eat or drink, but will try out the dining next time. There is an excellent collection of humanities and literature reading. Books are very well organized, fiction is by alphabetical order, other books are sorted by category and also by era e.g. 1000-1500 BCE. Prices are very reasonable, most books are selling for half of the list price printed on the book or even less. The ambiance is very pleasant, not too dim and not too loud. I could spend hours here!

The food was exquisite! The wines were superb. The atmosphere was artsy, cozy and friendly. Nice neighborhood too. Highly recommended.

Wow. I would have been happy with the books, particularly the reasonably priced art books and curated selection of brainiac creative soul food, but some nut job decided to triple the joy and pair a great bookstore with a ridiculously excellent Thai restaurant with astonishing wines. Up there with one of the top bookstores in the world therefore.

Two pros and one con. The place is vibey. Good location, wine and books! It's pretty cool. The food is really tasty. The chicken and the cod we had were really tasty. But...the con is that it was $29 and $33 for those dishes. The portion was small like an appetizer size. And it was called "large plate". So for the 2 plates, rice, 3 chiles and a glass of wine it was $90 without tip but with tip more. I mean now a days that's how much it is to go out now a days. But I would pay that for a good amount of food! Not little appetizer plates. In my opinion the most I would pay for that is $15 each plate. Not worth $30 each. In this economy!! so we won't get food again here even if it's good. It's just not enough for a dinner. Overpriced as heck! Probably I'll just go to drink wine next time.

Great atmosphere. Cozy seating in a bookstore. Love the chef in house when we went. Thai style food with great flavor. Our host was super helpful and made some great recommendations. Loved the wine we chose and would definitely come back.

We've only dined there once under the current chef and I usually check a place out more before reviewing, but our meal was spectacular and I can't wait. The menu is based on Thai flavors. For starters we had the som tum butternut squash salad, which was like a green papaya salad with perfect romaine leaves for scooping and a balanced, wonderful dressing: salty, sweet, spicy and delicious. The ob woonsen clay pot with pork belly and crab, glass noodles had amazing flavors. The fried chicken lacked the vibrant flavors of the other dishes and the caramelized banana dessert was too salty and too sweet and generally unappealing. The wine list is spectacular and we thoroughly enjoyed our choices. Beyond the food, you are eating in a book store! For people like us, communing with books, with outstanding food and wine is pig heaven.

Chose Bad Animal for a date night. Love that the space is shared with a bookstore so the ambiance is intellectual and friendly. The menu is limited so you can try almost everything, order as shared plates. The menu is Thai inspired and a little spicy but the flavors are incredible. We will share this place with friends when in town!

Some of the best Thai food we've ever had! And a super fun atmosphere- very unique, playful and upbeat!

I really want this place to become famous! As a nerd and wine lover, the used bookstore/wine bar combo is a dream come true. You can grab a glass of wine as you weave through stacks of books. You can also sit and enjoy your wine, and perhaps order a meal if you are there around dinner time. The book selection is stellar, and since they are used the price point is very reasonable. Do not miss out on this place!

Hanlo x Bad Animal is KILLING IT. Every time keeps getting better and I just don't know how that is possible. Make a reservation!!