Food Talk Santa Cruz

The food is amazing! My husband and I had medium rare burgers and they were some of the best burgers we ever had so we went back to get more. This time, my husband tried the tomato soup with the grilled sandwich with cheese and bacon and it was very delicious. The sandwich had the perfect combination of softness and crunch. I also got french fries and they were very tasty.

Cool little place you get to by walking down the ally behind the club on the bottom floor. Wasn’t sure what to expect from $20 Mac n cheese, but the chef didn’t disappoint! I couldn’t stop eating even after I was stuffed. The flavors came together perfectly. You just walk up to the counter and order like you would from the bar. The chef/owner was really nice and would explain anything.

Great grilled cheese and tomato soup! Perfect combo for a cold Santa Cruz night. My partner had the burger and said it was really good. The chef and bartender were super friendly.

Super creative small menu inside of Ulterior, Chef Donnie creates some seriously tasty meals! He has a great attitude which makes the whole experience even better. It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite thing I’ve had but the burger is pretty dang tasty.

This is one place you need to experience in Santa Cruz. You may walk up stairs wondering if you've entered the right place but you know you have when you get a warm welcome from Chef Donnie and the awesome bartenders here. Key Notes: - First off best Burger in Santa Cruz and I've tried a ton of joints here -Beef Tallow Frying Oil used on the killer seasoned French Fries -Best Ingredients (healthy) sourced locally in Santa Cruz -Family Secret Sauces **passed down for generations** -And a DJ pumping the Jams to get the body moving Go follow them on Instagram @foodtalk_santacruz Don't mind me (I'm the plaid jacket, I just finished a boxing class)...

Super rad spot downtown! The secretive speakeasy door leading upstairs starts the cool vibe of this place. It feels like you’re being let in to an ultra-secret food experience. Once you’re upstairs, the food and service is absolutely amazing. Awesome creative menu with seasonal updates. We had the burger and mac n cheese with pork belly. Both were exceptional! I would post a pic but I licked the plate clean. If you’re in Santa Cruz, this is a must-stop!

We are pleased that we were able to try a couple of Food Talk’s yummy dishes last night. The Caesar salad/buffalo chicken wrap perfectly balanced the Caesar dressing and buffalo sauce, and the mac & cheese Wellington offered the cheesiest of experiences. Both dishes were covered with a delicious grated Reggio parmigiana, and when I commented on it to Donny, he sent us home with a little sample of this delicious cheese! We are encouraging all of our friends to grab a bite at Food Talk Santa Cruz upstairs from Motive in the Ulterior space on Pacific Avenue.

Food Talk was an absolute highlight for us in Santa Cruz. Chef Donnie welcomed us with genuine warmth and friendliness. We had the burger and the scotch egg; the burger was one of the best we had on our holiday in the US and the scotch egg was delicious and really special. The ingredients are locally sourced and a lot of thought and love has obviously gone into the dishes. This little restaurant is a hidden gem and highly recommended!

The chef is creative and isn't afraid to push culinary boundaries and try new things. He's traveled to different counties and experiments trying new spices Brussels spurts are like crispy chips without the bitterness, really out of the is world. Burger and the au jus/birria was done well and tasty Crunchwrap was a fun concept. I loved chowing down on that. It was messy and totally worth it. A novel soon in Taco Bell's crunch wrap and elevated with fresh high quality ingredients. Highly recommend this place for delicious food

Fantastic spot! Menu is always evolving and the food is phenomenal. Chef Donnie is super kind and engaging. The kitchen is a one-man operation, and it's pretty incredible how much he does!

Amazing food, unbeatable vibes, and run by the coolest human around. You'll feel right at home from the first bite. Come eat, drink, vibe and Let the FOOD TALK!

Excellent and understated. Went there last week, going back again this evening! Menu is small but seems to change seasonally. Donnie knows what he is doing, a real positive addition to the santa cruz food scene.

The food was ok but way overpriced for what you get,portions are small The burger was more like an appetizer The service was terrible,,really bad We ordered 4 dishes They all came out 5 minutes apart And we ordered one of the burgers w no chees,, well, it came with cheese. And it's dark and the menu is hard to read Bring a flashlight and readers It was loud,,,don't plan on having a conversation unless you can yell Our son wanted some ranch for his awful frozen fried fries,,they said we don't do ranch,,, And they only take cash,,, We will never go back We came in town for the weekend.And this was our first stop What a disappointment.

The burger I had... I don't know what to say and I like to talk. It was crazy. Perfect needing rear and the cherry bacon jam (i think that's what it was called) made me want to cry. Everyone is really cool and nice and the drinks are really really good too Following so I know all the new stuff on the menu

One of the best restaurants i've been to in a lonnnngggg time. Heard of it from a local while visiting SC for a few days. It's a small, but mighty, kitchen. Chef Donny clearly has a lot of passion for his craft and the food speaks for itself. The burger is insane, and do yourself a favor and order the scotch eggs. Holy moly. Will recommend this to anyone visiting the area and i will for sure be back again.

Donnie of Food Talk is a culinary creative, crafting food that's both imaginative and delicious. He's kind, attentive, and genuinely cares about your experience. The challenge? His kitchen lives inside Ulterior which is a speakeasy bar above Motive with a vibe that's more "grungy afterthought" than hidden gem. The bartenders seem indifferent at best and downright cantankerous at worst, which does a disservice to the excellence Donnie is putting out. Santa Cruz isn't exactly overflowing with well-run spaces and solid service, so I'm sending Donnie all the luck in the world, whether that means finding a new space that matches his talent, or somehow lighting a fire under Ulterior to finally live up to its name. Maybe he'll take over the whole gestalt one day (yes, please!). Pro tip: There is a sign in the alley, but when you walk in, you're greeted by a closed downstairs bar and a bookcase. That bookcase is the door. Pull it open and head upstairs. Donnie, consider keeping that bookcase open while you're open. Let people find you without needing to solve a mystery. You're worth the discovery!

Food was absolutely amazing. Donnie brings together great ingredients and creates amazing dishes. highly recommend and definitely will come back every time I visit.