Bantam

Dude, this place is legit 👌🏼. Bantam is my go-to for killer pizza 🍕 super authentic and packed with flavor. Threw some anchovies 🐟 on there and man… total game changer. Pizza 🍕 was fire 🔥. Tried the fried chicken 🍗 too crazy juicy, crispy, just straight-up delicious. And the bread 🍞 with olive oil 🍾? Bro… next level. Like, simple but perfect. If you’re in Santa Cruz 🏄🏻‍♂️ and not hitting up Bantam, you’re seriously missing out.

Tried their thin crust Margherita pizza that is delicately topped with few blobs of marinara sauce and cheese with few basil leaves. It’s very light and good. However I’d delighted with a bit more of taste and flavourful sauce. Reading about wait times, decided to order online to go. That was a good call, however had to wait for more than 15min to get attention of staff the staff for pickup 🙁 Place is crowded and noisy. Pretty large seating area including outdoor seating. Still, People lineup and have to wait. Fyi - It is only open in the evening hours. Menu is simple.

Their pizza is like, if someone who never had pizza explained to someone else how to make the pizza. Flavor was ok. But the construction of the pizza was poor. Burnt to a crisp hardly any cheese definitely not worth the price. Also kids pasta was watered down and had no real flavor. Staff was pleasant.

Our recent dinner at Bantam restaurant in Santa Cruz was a delightful and memorable experience. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the trendy and cool vibe of the place. Even on a Tuesday night, the restaurant was packed with diners, which added to its lively atmosphere. To start, we ordered a salad that was loaded with fresh vegetables, including crisp pickled cauliflower and tender asparagus. The flavors were fantastic and left us eager to try more. We opted for two pizzas - one with peppery arugula and Brigita cheese and another with creamy ricotta cheese and roasted eggplant. Both were expertly baked, with thin crusts that had just the right amount of chewiness. For dessert, we indulged in Bantam's famous booty pudding - a rich and decadent bread pudding that left us feeling fully satisfied. One highlight of our meal was how small but thoughtfully curated their menu is. We felt like every item on it was there for a reason, carefully chosen to showcase Bantam's focus on fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Bantam and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in Santa Cruz. We look forward to returning soon!

We were really excited to try Bantam - it came highly recommended by staff at another restaurant we loved, and the space itself had a great, lively vibe. But unfortunately, our experience left us disappointed. It started with a wine order. I asked our server for a taste of a red, and several minutes after my partner’s drink arrived, a small, ambiguous pour was dropped off by someone else with no explanation. It looked too much for a taste but nowhere near a full glass. When our server came back, I asked about it. She insisted it was a full pour. I felt awkward pushing, but after noticing every other wine glass around us looked noticeably fuller (even after people had been drinking from them), I mentioned it again. She stood by her answer, until a few minutes later, when she came back to say it actually was a short pour (end of the bottle) and offered to fix it. I appreciated the correction, but by then the vibe had shifted and the service started to feel cold, like asking about the wine had been a faux pas. For food, we ordered a salad, a pizza, and a pasta. The salad (“Mixed Lettuces”) was sparse - basically a few leaves with vinegar (not vinaigrette, just vinegar), a couple radishes, and some sunflower seeds. At $16, it felt underwhelming, especially compared to other restaurants in the area. Still, we were mostly there for the pizza and pasta. Unfortunately, the mains took a very long time, with tables seated after us getting their food first. Our server eventually acknowledged the delay, which we appreciated, but when the dishes finally arrived, only the pizza was hot. The pasta wasn’t even lukewarm - it was fully cold, like it had been sitting out the whole time we waited. In a different setting, we might’ve spoken up, but given the chilly service we didn’t feel comfortable bringing it up. On our way out, my partner mentioned it to the manager, who agreed the pasta shouldn’t have been cold. Still, we left feeling more like a problem than guests. We’re both easygoing and rarely complain, and I’ve worked in restaurants myself, so I know off nights happen. But the mix of missteps and how they were handled didn’t reflect the warmth or hospitality we’ve experienced elsewhere in Santa Cruz.

Really unique pizza toppings and always delicious! They have a rotating menu so there’s always something new to try. Great desserts as well! Pizza + fine dining + Santa Cruz beaches. ❤️We’ve been here 3 times and will visit again.

Amazing pizza using local, organic ingredients. Super attentive service too. We arrived shortly after opening and we were lucky to get the last available table. We had two margarita pizzas, one with rocket and a side order of cucumbers. Plenty for three adults and a hungry kid. I highly recommend!

Great meal all the way around. They don’t do reservations so dropped in at 5pm when they opened for an early dinner. Filled up quickly - was rainy no outdoor seating - good vibe inside. Our waiter Spencer was fun and great service. Everything we got pretty darn tasty. Their bourbon specialty cocktail “The Professor” highly recommend. Chicken with sweet potatoes, pepperoni pizza, bread and butter and caesar salad all highly tasty. Going back for sure.

I've driven by and seen the crowds at the Bantan restaurant for years and considering that I live practically around the corner from it, I can't believe that I haven't tried it yet, until tonight! (09/21/2024! What have I been waiting for?!?! This place is Great! With some further research, I'm discovering that Bantam is a specialty pizza kitchen. And people that know me, know one thing...I'm a nut for pizza & consider myself a "pizza snob". I call the center of the pizza "the heart" and live by the belief that I say, "if a place can't make a decent cheese pie, forget it! Because if you can't make a good cheese pizza, I don't care how much other things you put on it, it's not going to be good!" Let's face it people, the foundation to any good pizza is the cheese pie! Everything else on the pizza is just a topping but you need a great cheese pizza to start with! What makes a good cheese pizza? A good cheese pie is a great crust! Crunchy, chewy and delicious, topped with an exceptionally flavorful sauce and enough of the sauce that blends nicely with the cheese that tops your pizza, (unfortunately too many pizzas I've had, skimped on the sauce...). At Bantam, you'll find the perfect blend of cheese and sauce on top of a delicious crust! If you dine at Bantam you'll soon discover why it's always busy there...It's So Good! Go and try it, you won't be disappointed!

Had such a stellar experience at Bantam this evening! From the warm service to DELICIOUS food and wine, I highly recommend if you're in Santa Cruz! We're visiting from LA for a few days and this place is definitely on par with LA standards for GOOD food. We ordered the caesar salad, pickled cauliflower, fried chicken & soppressata pizza, as well as a bottle of Chianti. Highly recommend all of the above and wish we could stomach dessert! The staff were all extremely sweet and personable and we can't wait to come back next time we're in town!

Great food & excellent location. My husband is a very plain eater & wasn't impressed. I love to go on an adventure with my taste buds, so this was my jam! Bit too noisy for our liking, as we couldn't hold a conversation without yelling. Services was average.

This is an update from my last review, and this time I went here for my anniversary dinner. The food remains incredible!

Funky cool place for good food and drinks. I found this place through recommendation and really glad I came. Industrial space vibe with open windows and side lot parking. Pizza was crisp and meaty. Spicy suppressata with honey had a bit of a kick with sweetness. The herby cucumbers were refreshing with a huge crunch. Service was pleasant and friendly at the bar. I'd definitely come back here again. Enjoy!

Bantam has become our go-to for our weekly date night. It's got a great vibe going from the location, the room, with exhibition style kitchen and the west side sunset filling the floor to ceiling windows in the evening. Last time it was not only The Clash but Sandinista playing on the excellent sound system. The pizza here is delicious, the Prosciutto Pie being my personal favorite. The crust is perfectly cooked and the marriage between the rocket, the Parmesan and the prosciutto is amazing, especially with a little chili oil. Their fried chicken is simply amazing, really, just get some! And they offer a variety of garden treats from salads to veggies. And then, they make the best Negroni I've had to date. Now, I've just described our last dinner in reverse order. Lol. Great service, friendly staff complete the package. 5 stars!

I love the vibe at Bantam, and we often go here when friends or family are visiting. But as the parent of a baby who doesn't always do so hot at restaurants, we also love getting Bantam pizza for take out. If you call, it's almost always ready within 15 minutes. Even if it's busy.

Summary: Best restaurant on the West Side, gets crowded and loud, no reservations, fresh rotating menu Details: There aren't many high-quality restaurants in Santa Cruz, especially on the West Side. It's Bantam and... not sure. They don't take reservations and there isn't a lot of parking. On Fri and Sat, come right at 5pm or wait until 8pm. If it's a nice night, buy a drink from the to-go register at the bar and sit on the benches by Verve. The menu changes frequently but some items are almost always on it. Yes, it's a pizza restaurant but it's also American/Italian. Don't worry - I've never had a bad dish. Some highlights... House-made bread: Dense and crusty, as it should be. Served with salted butter. Get it even if you're getting pizza. Carrot soup: Labeled spicy but only a little kick. The yogurt added a good balance, and the crispy rice gave it a nice crunch. Didn't look like much but it was excellent. Avocado and beets salad: Another surprise. Chunks of beets and beet puree. Olives and almonds. Yum. Can I have another? Prosciutto pie: pizza as it is supposed to be. Thin crust, wood fired, and slightly charred. No tomato sauce. Mozzarella and Reggiano. I'm still dreaming about this. ... If you don't finish it, add an egg and eat it for breakfast. Bacon pizza: not for the faint of heart or the regular pepperoni chain lovers. The flavors of bacon and nectarine and jalapenos. Didn't think I could eat it all. Didn't have any left. Almond cake: holy third surprise! Paired with house made ice cream (small complaint, we wanted a second scoop). Not too sweet and a perfect way to end our meal. The bartender made us a killer marg and an ever-popular old fashion. The wine list is small but good choices at reasonable prices. There's japanese whiskey, if that's your thing. On our most recent visit, our server Spencer was friendly and knowledgeable. Bantam is top notch. No reason to travel to SF; it's right here on the West Side.

Great pizza joint, with a fun airy vibe. The gem salad Caesar was fantastic with a garlicky and cheesy dressing that had a bit of a kick. Fried chicken with kale salad with stone fruit was also a hit and paired well with a couple pizzas we were all sharing. Pizzas were well made, good dough. The requisite prosciutto with rocket and parm had a good amount of salad and prosciutto which was nice. The bacon and fig had nice thick chunks of bacon studding the pizza with some nice torn figs. Great happy place, good service and a nice outdoor eating area too. No reservations.

Cool vibe. amazing pizza with crispy crust. Very friendly staff. Always new items that surprise.

We loved this experience. Came at around 8pm for a late dinner. Ordered the bacon pizza and pickled cauliflower. The dough was so fresh and crisp but soft and warm and the ingredients complimented each other. Every bite was heaven. The cauliflower is cold pickled with sesame seeds sprinkled on top, wasn't our favorite. We ordered the tumeric, ginger carrot drink with vodka and jalapeño margarita, both sooooo good! I felt almost heathy drinking them. Our server Nick was nice, funny, and had great recommendations. Inside the restaurant is contemporary wood vibes lined with booths and an open kitchen. All staff were kind and accommodating!

Hits and misses. Service was great, and didn't have to wait long for a table despite going on a weekend during dinner hours and there being no reservations. Was able to get a table outside on a nice day as well which was appreciated. Some of the food was great, and others were just meh. Standouts were the pizza-- all three that were ordered were delicious. One had Gouda cheese and it was the standout of the night. The Caesar salad was a steep price for the little salad and the quality was basically indistinguishable from most caesars I've eaten. There was a salad with a peach, and the peach was unripe and dressing forgettable. The chicken part of the fried chicken was underwhelming, but the vegetables, grains, and sauce stole the show. Would come back to order the pizzas, overall a good meal and experience.

We came here for dinner after a friend's recommendation. We were seated right away on a weekday night. There was plenty of seats indoors and outdoors, and I believe we came around 7 PM. They were accommodating and friendly! We asked to sit outside and if they could turn on a heat lamp, and they did it all right away. We ordered the Caesar salad and spicy honey pizza - I believe it just came with mozzarella and marinara sauce, but we added some sausage to it. My favorite was actually the salad. It was fresh and very crisp! Pizza was great too! We also ordered some red wine. My fiancé accidentally left his credit card here that night. We came back the following day, worried and the poor guy working there ran all around the shop looking inside of every cash register/desk. No luck. As we were about to leave the Santa Cruz area, we decided to give it another try. We went back and they held onto it for us - the card had my fiancés name/number around it! Great place, with fresh food and kind people!

I'd heard the buzz from friends about this place and was on the hunt for a great wood-fired pizza spot. Santa Cruz has no shortage of pizza joints, and naturally, I'm on a mission to "catch 'em all." When we arrived, the line was long--usually a good sign--and the wait ended up being better than expected, thanks to the friendly, upbeat staff. We ordered two pizzas, and while the crust was pure perfection--chewy with those beautiful toasty bubbles only a legit pizza oven can deliver--the pizza itself didn't quite hit the mark for me. It was on the greasier side, and the floppiness made for some pretty messy bites, with toppings playing a game of "stay on the slice." Maybe I'd hyped it up too much in my mind, because while it was good, it wasn't quite the slice of heaven I was hoping for.

Great customer service and yummy woodfried pizza with delicious tomato sauce and fresh ingredient. Their fresh crabmeat spaghetti with green garlic and breadcrumbs is my absolute favorite must try!!! Strongly recommend this restaurant for anyone who loves the fresh new American food :)

I've enjoyed and recommended Bantam for years, but unfortunately the last few times I've been there I've left disappointed and wanting for more. Tonight was the cherry on top to consistent bad food and I probably won't be going back :(. I got their fried chicken, which was paired with a season sweet corn succotash, and I don't mean to be rude (truly), but the succotash was a pathetic excuse for a side. The veggies were crunchy and swimming in an unsalted broth? Idk what that was, but it wasn't succotash. And regardless, why are you putting fried chicken into liquid ? Most of the veggies were raw, too. I asked for salt to make the dish better but unfortunately it did not help so I wasn't eating it. The waitress noticed and asked what I thought and I was honest. She happily replaced my veggies with their smashed cucumber appetizer and I tried so hard to like it, but it was just not good and nothing special. The whole experience had me wishing I had just cooked at home instead of spending the money. As far as ambiance goes, it's really nice until the whole restaurant is full and then the acoustics are wild! If you are at a table of 6 or greater, do not expect to hear the person at the other side of the table. If you get overstimulated by noise in the slightest, ask to sit outside if the restaurant is busy.

Overall probably the worst pizza I've ever had, and I have eaten a lot of pizza. The crust was super dry and burned in several spots. They put little dabs of cheese on the pizza, very skimpy. The fresh basil was put on the pizza /before/ it went in the oven so it came out crispy and black. Does anyone cooking there understand flavor? The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't stellar either. It was arguably the worst pizza experience I ever had. I wouldn't recommend to anyone and I would tell people looking for good pizza to try anywhere else

Great pizza! And our server was very good and attentive. While the other menu items (ie salads, etc) look creative, they are a TOTAL rip off. As in, they seemed to have mis-priced the items. We ordered their Wood Oven Corn appetizer. It was literally 1 small corn on the cob, chopped up into 8 pieces, and sprinkled with tajin, and topped with 3-4 thin slices of jalapeño. COGS = maybe 50 cents ($0.50). The dish cost $19! $$$$ Not cool that is actually greedy :( Stick to pizza only, maybe even takeout.

Ambiance of this place was really nice and the pizza and Caesar salad was so delicious! Major plus was that all the wait staff was super attentive and friendly!

Bantam does not disappoint. Silver lining to the pandemic, they now have outdoor seating and it's great. The Burrata with Heirloom tomatoes was awesome (they always do the burrata so well, but man, those tomatoes...). Pickled green beans were my least favorite part of the night, but they were still good - I just was dreaming of having them a little spicier. The fried chicken itself it always good - both so tender and crispy. But I was particularly please with the sides today - they all came together really nicely, and the eggplant was particularly delicious. Porkbelly with scallops and clams was delicious. There was only one scallop, which was kind of sad, but it was a darn good scallop. The chickpeas as a side here kinda missed the target. But are still a nice dish. This is not about bantam in particular, but why wine pours so small and so expensive? it's sadness. But I know, just how it is.

We arrived at Bantam at 4:55, 5 minutes before they opened at 5, and there was about 8 other people lined up in front of us. We were seated, and as we looked at the menu, I was thinking about the fried chicken, that I did not order on my last visit. There was no fired chicken this time, but there was a crispy duck leg. I was thinking does one duck leg make a dinner? And it is served with yellow beans, bacon, turnips, rosemary and quince? I have had duck before, but never like this. The waitress said it was good, and that the duck leg weighs 6.5 ounces with the bone. I decided to order it, and I am glad I did. It was delicious, I took the duck meat off the bone, and I ate the pieces of salty duck with the beans and the other ingredients, the ingredients really balanced each other out. We also had Margherita and Soppressata pizzas. They were both good, the hot honey really dominated the Soppressata.

Came here for pizza upon hearing this was one of the better places to eat in Santa Cruz. Got two pizzas (one with spicy honey and one with stone fruits) and both were pretty good. The pies might seem big, but one pie a person ended up being like the perfect amount of food. If I'm in town and want pizza, I'd def go back to here

Sitting outside on a nice day or inside any day, this place is amazing. The open kitchen aspect so you can watch from afar your food being prepared and cooked is always a fun time throw in the best homemade pizza in Santa Cruz whattttt more could you want! We also had the fried chicken but it was so good I forgot to take a picture :) The staffs beyond friendly from the cooks to the waitstaff and you never go with an empty glass as they are hawks making sure you're taken care of.

If you love hand crafted Neapolitan style pizza , Bantam is the perfect spot. Their menu changes daily with multiple options. Chefs make the pizzas right in front of you and are baked in a firewood oven. The restaurant feels lively and the mood is set right for a date night. Our server was excellent, she checked in with us throughout our dinner and made sure we were taken care of. Featured above is the Black Trumpet and Prosciutto Pie. Both pizzas were delicious in their own way! The Black Trumpet was super creamy from the parsnip sauce and fontina. I was skeptical at first due to the black trumpet mushrooms but it surprised me. Prosciutto Pie was loaded with rocket arugula were it was borderline overwhelming. The prosciutto was thick and added the perfect amount of savoriness.

Excellent food!! Delicious unique pizzas with a warm welcoming and hospitable vibe that offers as well a gorgeous dejection of wines and desserts!

Everything at this restaurant is obscenely overpriced. They charge you for the bread, which was served cold, burnt on the edges but still somehow raw and doughy in the middle. They charge 15 dollars for just plate of just lettuce and vinegar they call a "salad". To be fair, the pizza is very good here, but it will cost you $20-30. You will overpay for very average food here, and most likely leave disappointed after seeing the large crowds of hipsters, which may lead you to believe that this restaurant is worth your time, it is not. I cannot recommend dining here.

I loved everything about this place. It was my first time and it was a winner. My partner and I showed up on a Saturday evening and waited around 35 minutes, just as the hostess predicted. We walked over to Stockwell and had a glass a wine and enjoyed the live music during our wait (highly recommend) and then were seated at the bar. It was a full house and I don't mind a bar seat, so it worked for me. Our bartender was super freaking sweet and attentive (thank you, it doesn't go unnoticed). We shared the celery root soup (yum), warmed olives (spicy and yum!), and TWO orders of the fried chicken (yum, could've easily shared a 3rd plate). We finished our meal with their gluten-free chocolate torte and it just melted in my mouth. The only bummer was that they don't have any gluten-free flour for the pizzas. The pizzas looked AMAZING but unfortunately those with allergies (hi, it's me), I couldn't indulge. My friend had shared that they lack protein options, which I do agree with, AND I think if you go into it knowing that it's more of a carb-heavy meal than you'll do just fine. I really look forward to going back one day.

Everything was so great! Food, service, food, ambiance, food, drinks, and food! The food was so delish!! We love the soppressata pizza with the fab honey on top!! the ceasar was also so so good! Our hostess was Mari and she was so friendly and attentive! Go her! We'll definitely be back! we want to try the fried chicken!!

AMBIENCE 5 Whether you are new to town or having a catch up with some friends, this joint on the west side of town is your place to be. Parking was easy in the parking lot behind the restaurant. There are also other areas along the street that you can find free parking. They had plentiful indoor seating (shared tables, bar-style tables, and regular. As well as several outdoor booth style seats with warmers. I would definitely recommend coming right when they open or expect to wait 40 minutes to an hour and a half on a Friday or weekend. Now one of the reasons why I gave the ambience such a positive review, it's just the vibe of the place. It's busy, everyone's friendly, and just have a fun groovy vibe. There is a bar in the restaurant that you can grab drinks from while you're waiting to be seated. All so lovely! SERVICE 4 Now, don't get me wrong, everyone was extremely friendly. I just chose to come here during the peak rush-hour, so service was a lot slower. We ordered almost immediately after sitting and started with some bread that we nibbled on for about 30 minutes. A little over a half an hour later, our pizza and side arrived. Also, had to hunt someone down for water, the check, and our card back. But overall very great service! FOOD 4.5 Now the food really made it. We got the $5 bread and salted butter, the $21 roasted beet (avocado, wild rice, spring onion, kumquats, and almond) second, and the house sausage pizza (tomato, creon , and Calabrions). Perfect amount for two people (we were both stuffed. The bread was fresh made and super dense LOL... the beet second was PERF, covered with olive oil, with complimenting flavors and the exploding flavor and crunch of toasted almonds... magnificent! The pizza dough was also perfectly toasted to crunchy perfection... Overall, a great place to go for a nice night out! :) would recommend

Pinot and margarita pizza just like Conan! the chicken is always amazing as well as craft cocktails also had a nice asparagus soup and awesome pork belly sweet potato appetizer. Go early try everything!

We have been customers of Bantam pretty much since it opened. It is our favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz. The menu changes daily so it is hard to pick specific dishes - except for their fried chicken which is gf, made with rice flour and is the best I know of gf or otherwise. It is usually on the menu, but check the website to be sure. Most other dishes are also gf and the staff will definitely tell you.

Fabulous food. That is the real reason to come unless you are friends with the staff. Nice drinks but nothing special. We got okay service, but it was slow. Staff seems to spend a lot of time talking to their friends. We were really comfortable here, but in talking about it later, we could not quite put a finger on what vibe they want to present. Prices are reasonable. We will be back, especially for the food.

Great place to eat and hang. Minus 1 star for the pizza being delicious but the crust is too soggy/floppy so the toppings slide off.

Food was tasty but barely anything on the plate for $29. We had the Fried chicken thinking to was enough to share. the chicken is considered a main entree but not sure how anyone would get full from the Fried chicken. It was more of an appetizer. We had a gourmet fried chicken a week earlier and paid half that price from a 4 star restaurant. Ambience was good, wine was good.

Well for me unfortunately, did not feel I got the best out of this place compared to others reviews. Came here on a Friday evening and the place was buzzing. That always seems to be a good sign knowing everyone wants to come here. It was a long wait close to 40 minutes, which was not a problem as they were packed and it's understandable. Once a table opened the hostess got us in promptly which was great. Problem came with the service and food experience. The waiter took a bit to greet us, and when he did, it wasn't a greet and more of a "sup" and then waited for us to order lol. Asked the waiter his personal preference and/or what was good there as we were new. He basically described word for word the menu, so not much help there. Ordered the Prociutto Pie as it seemed delicious and was the most expensive, so figured they put the most work into it. But tbh, didn't seem the case. Honestly felt they grabbed a handful of rocket salad and threw on top of a already cooked cheese pizza. Then took some slices of prociutto and neatly placed on top. It was messy and hard to eat. Plus the prociutto is hard to cut, so you basically get one slice with the meat and the rest of the pizza is salad. As well the wines by the glass seemed pretty expensive compared to to other places. So all in all was a pricey not filling experience. I definitely would like to come back and try a different pizza and hopefully have a different experience. Sorry for the review, but thanks for having me.

Slightly obsessed with this restaurant. If I lived around here it would totally be my go to recommendation. All the food hit all the spots. The crust on the pizza was the perfect amount of burnt. The salads were so freshly and lovely. The fried chicken was light and balanced while pulling off a southern flavor. For the four of us, two pizzas, the fried chicken, and three appetizers was plenty.

Our go-to restaurant for fresh and super tasty food. Local and seasonal ingredients. Friendly staff. Too bad you can't make a reservation. When you come in a rush hour the wait might be pretty long.

Fantastic pizza, wine selection, cocktails and dessert. We both ordered pizzas with no cheese and were surprised that we didn't miss it. Bantam does close early - 9 PM on a Saturday night. No reservations, no problem if you're willing to wait about 15 minutes. No noise issues that prohibited having a conversation across the table.

Looonngg wait but it is so worth it! The staff here were very kind and kept us updated on our wait time. Our server took our orders correctly and made sure the food matched our preferences. The food came quickly and was delicious, some of the best pizza i've ever had. The restaurant is also decorated so nicely and has an incredible atmosphere. I would 100% recommend!

Amazing service and food, super nice decor, very friendly staff my second visit I can't wait to be back.

We loved this spot!!! They have the best pizza in town. The food tasted like Italy. We loved our olive and shishito pepper appetizer. The staff is all extremely friendly and the vibes are great.

i love this restaurant. they're pizzas are amazing. the menu items changes depending on the season. it's a chill place, very Santa Cruz, or very california. they have seating outside and a small bar area. the music playing gets you in the mood to chill and relax, maybe have a drink or two.

Saw this restaurant recommended on tik tok, tourist trap. There is better pizza, better staff. Save your money go else where. Rude staff especially the waitresses with the blonde Bob. When we politely inquired about the status of our order, we realized the waitress forgot to put in our order. Instead of acknowledging her mistake and apologizing, the waitress became defensive and attempted to shift the blame onto us. she had the audacity to argue that we never placed our order correctly. This blatant lie was both frustrating and insulting, as we knew for certain we had given her our selection. The food was meh, leaving a lot to be desired. The restaurant decor is nice, wish the focused as much on the taste and staff as they do on aesthetics.

Amazing amazing food, and great service. We loved our appetizers, pizzas, and dessert. They made everything from the scratch. It also has such an amazing and waRm ambiance for family and friends gatherings. Highly recommend :)

Super happy joy joy vibes at Bantam! Great pizza, amazing citrus and fennel salad and ragu perfection. Paired with craft cocktails and quality service.

Good service and friendly people plus great cocktails. It's always a nice evening at Bantam.

Absolutely loved our meal at Bantam. We were just visiting the area, and can say with confidence this was one of the best meals we had on our entire trip, let alone in Santa Cruz. The staff were lovely, drinks were great and food was excellent. If you are in the area, and looking for a good meal for a reasonable price I wouldn't suggest anywhere other than Bantam.

great place. great! but you know what would make it even better..... ceaser salad tableside

This place knows crust Neapolitan style thin! The fried chicken was also excellent Had great service Could use a better tequila menu but not complaining Come early - the locals bitch about gettin tables just saying Appreciate the local and organic offerings