Laili Restaurant

Love this place. It's my go-to romantic place to go for dinner. They have a phenomenal wine selection, good food, AND (if you're also from Maryland and excited about this) Flying Dog...! The traditional menu is great and dependable, but also impressed with their Valentine's Day Special Menu. Also, Tallulah is a babe

We had an awesome dinner at Laili. Ordered the Mediterranean plate, butternut squash bolani, anar chicken, lamb shank, and pomegranate sorbet. All of it was outstanding, and they make everything in-house. You could tell - things like the hummus and naan were standouts. They handled allergies (milk, tree nuts) incredibly well and even brought out a menu with all allergens. We will be back.

We had a reservation but they were very busy and very apologetic to seat us late. We brought out of town guests because we know this place is special. I was really embarrassed that it took a full 15 min after being seated to get water or ask for our order. Again, staff was apologetic. Then the naan came out undercooked. A blob of flat dough with really great dipping sauce. Our meals were really tasty and generous portions. We sat outside on the patio which is lovely. You could be in Italy. And it’s off the street, very quaint and protected from wind and fog. Heated with heat lamps. I think we were there on a tough night for staff. We for sure will return again.

The five stars of the service goes to the Manager Xander. He asked about our experiences when we're paying the bill. I told him the pasta was too salty to finish. Actually we didn't expect anything but only want him to know about it, though our server never asks. Glad that Xander followed up with the issue and we really appreciate it.

Laila Restaurant in Santa Cruz is a hidden gem that offers a delightful dining experience. We recently visited and were impressed by the quality and flavor of the dishes. We started with the lamb soup, which was delicious and hearty, served in a generous portion that was just right – not too heavy, not too light. The lamb pasta was exceptional, featuring fresh in-house fettuccine and a perfect tomato cream sauce that left us wanting more. The leek dumplings were another highlight – crazy good with a small portion size that was just perfect. The lamb kebabs came with delicious roasted vegetables on the side and flavorful rice. Although the lamb felt a little overdone, the overall dish was still quite enjoyable. We ended our meal with the pistachio cardamom ice cream, which was excellent – packed with tons of pistachios and very delicious. The service at Laila was great; the staff was friendly and attentive, making our experience even better. One downside is the parking, which is hard to find on the street. However, the great service and fantastic dishes more than made up for it. Laila Restaurant is truly a gem in Santa Cruz, and we highly recommend it for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.

Food was great but the service was awful. Came in on Valentine’s day and our server, a man with a European accent, could not want less to due with us. I have a feeling it was because we were young, perhaps he thought it wasn’t worth his time. I must say I would have loved nothing more than to get great service and leave a 40%+ tip but our waiter wouldn’t even let me finish a sentence before he’d walk away from us. I also saw other tables getting comparatively good service compared to us. Suffice it to say I’m very disappointed. The hostess at the front was great though, huge props to her for being kind and professional. Wish she was our server.

Amazing. The Mediterranean plate is incredible. This appetizer alone can fill two people. The ice tea had the most flavor in tea I’ve ever had. I would recommend the pesto pasta the olives compliment the pasta perfectly. You also can’t go wrong with the lamb wrap. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more if I could’ve controlled myself from eating two naans with the Mediterranean plate.

Exquisite (heated) patio seating and delicious Mediterranean food had me thinking one visit was not enough. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. It didn’t seem like it would be much, but the beet salad was very tasty—I highly recommend it.

Had a chance to try Laili's when visiting a friend who recently moved to Santa Cruz and really enjoyed our experience. We went here for lunch, and if you are looking for delicious Mediterranean food this is the place for you. This is a cute upscale spot with good ambiance and really nice service. For food we got: * Bolani w Buttersquash filling - this was a fried app with a nice sweet mashy filling and came with 3 different sauces (white, green and an orange apricot one). This was actually very delicious * Salmon Pasta - I got this based on the pictures and this was SO GOOD. The sauce was creamy and rich but with so much flavor. I loved the pieces of salmon in this pasta as everything tasted so well. * Chicken Kabob - This was really yummy as well and noticed that the chicken was perfectly tender and soft. This came with rice and salad as well as the three sauces we got during our appetizer. Overall the food was delicious and flavors went really well together. I think the portions could be a little bigger though - but cute spot nonetheless!

Amazing special occasion restaurant in Santa Cruz! We opted to sit outside and the ambiance was very cozy - braised lamb pasta: soooo good! - chicken kabob: my bf said it was cooked well and loved the sauce - rose meringue: we both hated this. Didn't realize it was going to be like a pavlova and the texture/flavor was not good - flourless torte: just okay The entrees were great but the desserts were below average. Parking is difficult in this area. There are limited "good" restaurants in the area and this one is definitely up there! Definitely get the lamb pasta if you visit

Great ambiance. Excellent service. Terrific food. Do not skip the mixed appetizer with the unique flavors for familiar options. We very much enjoyed our experience here- Afghan food is marvelous.

We had a lovely meal at Laili - the food was quite good, but the service was excellent, and very friendly. The lamb was good, as were the dumplings. While it may not be mindblowingly amazing, it was a very pleasant meal experience and I see why this place is so well-renowned!

Food was great but the service was exceptional! I was visiting Santa Cruz and had heard great things about Laili, definitely a great place to try My party and I enjoyed our meal in the outdoor seating area, the waiters were attentive and checked up on us often. The food came out quick and the servers were great with accommodating our needs. I got the filet mignon kabobs, while it was nothing out of the world. I enjoyed it. The portion was good for one person to be fully satisfied, but personally half of an order was enough for me. Meat was tender and went well with the broccoli and zucchini. Wished there were roasted tomatoes, but overall the dish was yummy.

The chicken kabob and lamb shish kabob came in 3-4 pieces only. Small portion for the price of $36. The kabob was not soft and chicken was dry! I was out with my drink and the waiter didn't check on us to see if we need anything. Bathroom was not clean.

What a beautiful restaurant setting! My parents took me here when I was visiting them recently. I didn't even feel like I was in Santa Cruz sitting in their courtyard. The food tasted so fresh and delicious. There was so much flavor in each dish I loved every bite. The hostess and our server were very friendly and incredibly helpful. Everyone was great and I can't wait to come back!

Can I just say...WOW! Such a wonderful birthday dinner. My first time here and can I just say, it has fully lived up to its hype! Everything was delicious. I lovedddd the aushak (leek dumplings) and was literally scrapping the plate afterwards. The Mediterranean plate was a bit small but still superrrr yummy. The spinach salad was unreallllll!!! I almost wish they offered an option to have a warm spinach salad instead though. The chicken kabob was phenomenal... normally chicken breast is super dry and this was soooo moist. The rice was so flavorful and the veggies and dips were so good! Portion sizes for the entrees were awesome too. I love that they let me pick my complimentary birthday dessert. I got the baklava with pistachio ice cream and indulged to the max! So so sooooo good. The service was a bit slow/spotty and it was kinda loud in there. The booth was also soooooo cramped! Like I'm 5'1 and kept hitting the person in front of me because it was so tight together. Also, when they packed the food to go, I asked them to include the dips and they didn't :( To be honest, the quality and taste of the food overshadowed these downsides and I'm still dreaming about my next experience there!

This was by far our favorite eateries during our Santa Cruz trip. The plate were large enough to share as a group, the plates itself were delicious and filled with flavor. There is inside and outside seating. We came on a busy day so our food did take a bit to come out but it was worth the wait. Kid friendly as well, they had a kid menu which was perfect for my niece and nephew. Price, was pricey but compared to other similar restaurants it was decent. Would love to visit again but I'm not from the area.

Beautiful restaurant in downtown SC. Came by for dinner and was seated in their outdoor patio which had a beautiful ambiance. Ordered their braised lamb pasta and was blown away by the fresh ingredients, herbs used and of course the tender lamb. We also ordered the spinach salad and their spinach Bolani which was delicious! Highly recommend this spot for a nicer night out!

Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz with a beautiful, hidden patio. Interior of restaurant looked a little stuffy and formal, but outside patio was amazing!!! Service was friendly. Our appetizer was hands down the best butternut squash I have ever tasted! Had a roasted chicken for dinner which was solid, but not inspired. Looking forward to my next visit and more butternut squash!

This might be my favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz! What worked: - it's really beautiful inside. There are these long, flowing curtains and high ceilings that give the space a very elegant feel - the food is good. Like, really good. The most memorable dish I've had is the braised lamb pasta--it tastes the way wrapping up in a thick fleece blanket by a crackling winter fireplace feels. Cozy, rich, and comforting. The flatbread is also really tasty and they have some more unique toppings - the portions are big and you get full quickly, especially with the complimentary bread and olive oil they provide. Both times I've visited I have made the mistake of over-ordering but hey, it's not my fault that everything looks so good - the Qay Maag Chai is the beverage counterpart of the braised lamb pasta. It's sweet, comforting, and bright on the palate--so good. - servers were very kind and attentive without being overbearing What didn't work: - I think my main complaint (and it's not really a complaint) is that I've always been way too stuffed to make my way to trying their desserts. If they could start offering sampler platters so that I can taste-test as much as possible without committing to a full plate, I might finally have enough space for some of those sweets! - it's on the pricey side, unfortunately. Otherwise I'd be eating there each week! Great spot for a date, birthday, celebration, or just because.

Food. Fusion requires to understand the taste - what to fuse - Kebab with chutney? Why? Chocolate mousse with Sabayon? Ruin both?? Sabayon is very delicate and needs a not too sweet cookie (not American!!) to go with it. Marsala is a wine not a liqueur. In an upscale restaurant the server cannot bring replacement flatware in their hands. It has to come on a plate. Preferably with a napkin and presented properly. Bad cell coverage - offer wifi The Fettuccine al pesto were overcooked and the olives unnecessarily over powered with their salty taste

A bit on the high price point but very well worth it. Service was good. Food was delicious. Portion sizes are a bit small so make sure you order all the courses.

Will add this to our list of regular for Santa Cruz. We had the Mediterranean plate, Kadoo Boranee, chicken kabob, lamb kabob and Roasted Cauliflower. The kadoo boranee was my favorite followed by the hummus from the Mediterranean plate and roasted cauliflower (note we are not vegetarian). Even my husband said he could eat all vegetarian here.

One of the better restaurants in Santa Cruz. Been here a couple times and have enjoyed each visit. Today, we came for lunch on a Sat and it was not busy. Mousha awa soup (sp?) 5/5 - been on a hearty bean soup phase and I like how this soup wasn't chalky and the lamb pieces added a nice umami flavor. Spinach watermelon salad 4/5 - it was the special of the day and it was pretty good but presentation was kind of messy. Also would've liked the server informing us that the main dishes would come with salad, which we didn't know. Lamb burger - great lamb flavor, came with potatoes and salad. I liked the sauce it came with as well. Filet kabob 4/5 - solid dish, would've liked the meat to be a BIT more tender. Sauces, esp the yogurt sauce, was good. Rice came really oily, so we couldn't eat it all. One last nitpick is our waiter didn't seem to time the dishes well. After we were done with the soup and salad, it seems he put in the order after and it took awhile for our main dishes to come out. Overall, would recommend!

Happy the are open for lunch again so I can order my favorite....lamb wrap. I feel I'm in Europe seated in the enchanted courtyard.

Outstandingly delicious Roasted Cauliflower and Eggplant Pomegranate dishes! Will go again when in Santa Cruz!

We had a lovely Saturday lunch at Laili. A late lunch around 215 meant very few people. We pretty much had the entire patio to ourselves. If the weather permits, I highly recommend dining out in the patio as it is beautiful - lots of vines and creepers, pretty lights, and heaters to keep you toasty. The Mediterranean plate was a good start to the meal. We enjoyed all the 4 lunch entrees - roasted cauliflower, chicken kabobs, veggie wrap, and the braised lamb pasta. The pasta was probably my favorite. I was a little surprised to see only 4 pieces of chicken though. Both the veggie wrap and the cauliflower were satisfying and filling. Oh and the dips accompanying the dishes - walnut-jalapeño, tomato-ginger, yogurt - are all delicious!

Delicious food and incredibly fast service. We started with the Mediterranean Plate and Mantoo, and they were both fantastic! For our entrees, we got the Filet Mignon kabob and the Roasted Cauliflower. The filet was cooked to perfection, and there were some delicious sauces on the side that paired perfectly. The cauliflower was a bit mushier than expected, but the flavor was on point. We ate outside on the patio, which offered a more quiet and intimate setting. Even on a cold winter evening, we stayed really warm next to the heaters. We loved this spot, and look forward to coming back next time we're in Santa Cruz!

"Ambience: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Food : 5/5 Service: 5/5 I recommend it Very clean Very organized I had the 5 beans soup / meat Pomegranate Chicken was so good Good for group Good for romantic night

Had a great experience. We sat outside on the little patio. Service was friendly and attentive. I ordered the Albariño wine - which was delicious. We skipped straight to entrees - chicken and filet kabobs. It came with veggies, LOTS of rice, and some great dipping sauces - apricot, garlic cream, and jalapeño mix. Lots of food. Very comfortable outside with heaters. Great service.

AWESOME! We had an amazing anniversary dinner here, would recommend as a great underrated date/family dinner spot. The place is really really beautiful all-around - there's great high-ceiling architecture and the vines and heaters give the outside a really cozy, romantic feel. Portions are insanely worth and the food is undeniably good and uniquely flavorful. Our server was also extremely kind and attentive Won't be a place you'll go to every week because of the price, but pretty much a perfect spot for any special occasion!

Just came back after having a team dinner here. Last time I visited this place was back in 2019. I remember the food being great. Today, I tried some new vegetarian things on the menu. I do want to say that the device today was not great. Our server took our order, but wouldn't show up for a while to check if we needed anything. We also ordered a second round of flatbread two times - but it never showed up. So hope the service gets better here. Now to the food: - Mediterranean plate: this is an assortment of different dips, and all of them are delicious. - Eggplant Parmesan flatbread: my favorite appetizer. It's so so good. Just order it without thinking. It's amazing. The caramelized onions added an incredible flavor. - Kadoo Borani: this is a squash dish and was ok. A bit too sweet for my liking. But if you like squash, definitely try it out. - Pesto Arugula Pasta: this is quite heavy and very filling. I loved the pesto flavor and this dish. Delicious. Overall, love this place. Tons of vegetarian options available, and the food is delicious. - Aushak: these are leak dumplings and were delicious.

Take out / delivery from here is bad! Just moved from San Francisco and even I was shocked by the prices for such tiny/average concoctions. A mini side of baba - in like those plastic little cup things- was $6 (and it wasn't good / didn't include bread ... huh?) and a measly chicken and rice dish that was barely okay (would be $15 tops literally anywhere) was $29... trying to figure out if I'm missing something. In any case, total rip off. Bad portions and average food that's trying to hide behind a high price. Two enthusiastic thumbs down!

Food and service is always incredible. I always eat here. The patio is lovely. The different appetizers (especially the squash dish) and tray with naan and multiple sauces are incredible.

Service- The service was alright but could be worked on. Our waiter was very odd. The bathrooms were very dirty. Food- Fish had many bones and was very salty. Appetizers were ok but no very flavorful. The worst part was that my wife's dish had a metal piece in it that she almost choked on. My daughter said her broccoli was very overcooked too. The place did have a nice atmosphere though and a good design but I am NOT coming back.

We made a reservation to sit outside on the patio, I loved the ambience. There were vines crawling on the walls, candles and glass art everywhere, heaters and nice table settings. The inside seating was also very nice and had a ambient feel to it. Staff was friendly and attentive. Wine list was decent size. There were different options on the menu, everything looked delicious. Most of the entrees seemed to be in these long plates, I got the trout and I think the portion couldve been a bit larger. Also got the flourless chocolate raspberry torte for dessert and it was cold and very small which I did not like. Some fresh raspberries on it would've been a nice touch too. Was disappointed in the dessert. Overall the food was good and I liked the decorating.

Although listed as a Mediterranean restaurant, the menu has afghani influences with mantoo, bolani, kadoo. Lamb dishes are particularly well done. Save room for the chocolate mousse with sabayon sauce! Large airy restaurant space inside with heated patio outside.

There was a large party so I give service so I understand that the server made a few mistakes. But the item was comped and staff was very friendly. Would definitely go again. To quote my father, "I think this is the best food we've had in Santa Cruz"

I believe this is an Afghan fusion restaurant. They have a lovely patio area that is similar to a garden. They also give you complementary naan bread that was really good with the dipping sauce. For appetizers we started with Mash soup which was 5 out of 5 for sure. For mains we got the arugula pesto pasta with chicken kabob and the lamb braised pasta. I would say although the arugula pesto pasta tasted good, the chicken kabob just didn't go with it. Also the lamb braised pasta was not my favorite. The noodles were very thick also. Although the pasta was homemade they should have rolled the dough more. I would stick to a more traditional dish such as kabab and rice next time. Also the staff were very nice and good service overall :)

Enjoyed delicious food to celebrate my mother's birthday. We had wonderful service from Jo and thoroughly enjoyed the food. My favorites were the chicken flat bread and the lamb pasta. My grandmother enjoyed the chicken entree while my mother enjoyed the lamb shank. My bf also had the lamb shank and said it was a bit dry for his taste. At the end we enjoyed the flourless chocolate cake but would have preferred it to be hot, not room temperature. Bonus: there was live music playing outside at the square

Made reservations for 5 a week before our reservation. It was easy to make through Open Door. The area around this restaurant is nice! It has a lot of cute stores around it. It's in downtown Santa Cruz. I called about 15 mins before our reservation because we were running 10 mins late. They said it would be fine. When we arrived 10 mins late, they didn't even have our table set up despite having a reservation and calling in late, so we waited for like 5-10 mins for our table making us even more late. When we sat down, they took a while to get our order. Basically, giving one star off because of the service. It was just okay. They didn't seem prepared or attentive to us. Now aside from service, the food is really good. The only thing that I personally didn't care for was the Aushak appetizer. Imo, it was bland and I can only taste the leek. But to be fair, my guests preferred this one over the Mantoo. I liked the Mantoo way better. It had a lot of flavor especially with the qurut yogurt and the ground beef inside. I would get the Mantoo again, but not the Aushak. Each came with 4 dumplings. The lamb kebab was really good and the portions were perfect. It doesn't look like a lot, but I was pretty satisfied when I finished this dish. The vegetables were seasoned perfectly. My favorite dipping sauce was the sweet one (red). The Rose Meringue was out of this world. It had a good crunch and the inside was filled with fresh strawberries. It was refreshing! Overall a great place for Mediterranean food!

Great dinner here tonight! We had reservations and we're grateful since the restaurant was busy on a Friday night! Beautiful ambiance and wonderful food! Menu has a little bit of everything, there's something for everybody here. We had: *Trout: pan roasted with lemon garlic sauce, saffron basmati rice, salata *Salmon pasta: house made fettuccine, creamy tomato basil sauce, capers *Pomegranate eggplant: saffron basmati rice, chard, caramelized onion, gurut yogurt *Braised lamb pasta: house made fettuccine, tomato cream sauce, zucchini, carrots, green onion, parsley *cardamom crème brûlée Everything was delicious!

This restaurant was recommended by a friend and when I walked in I was immediately impressed by how nice the restaurant is decorated. We ordered two appetizers, Mixed Bolani and Mantoo. The Mixed Bolani is "crispy flatbread filled with your choice of spinach or butternut squash". I preferred the spinach and really enjoyed the chutney that came with it. The Mantoo was like Korean mandoo but with a delightful tomato sauce on top. We then ordered five different entrees: Salmon Pasta Trout Roasted Cauliflower Filet Mignon Kabob Salmon The ingredients tasted very fresh. The salmon was almost sushi like in its texture although it was fully cooked. The trout did not have the typical strong trout taste. These were good things. However be warned that the trout had bones. The roasted cauliflower and filet mignon were also good. However in the end the four people that got rice all thought their plates had too much rice and wished they had ordered a pasta dish instead. Everyone also agreed that the appetizers were better than the entrees. For dessert we had the Baklava and Rose Meringue. The baklava fans said that the baklava was good. However some of us did not expect the Rose Meringue to be so sour.

Excellent food, service, and love the ambiance outside. Inside a bit noisy inside if lots of dinners.

I've eaten at Laili quite a bit since my first experience with it back in 2011. It still has amazing food, fabulous service and my favorite outdoor patio. So many places let quality slip over time, but not Laili. It's still a little loud for me inside, but, I do love that patio.

Great environment, great food (I'm middle eastern myself), fantastic service but the white rice was like Chinese rice. Sticky. The dish I got with lule kebab, should have rice that separates and is cooked well. Overall, I'd go back when I'm in the area.

Good but not out of this world Enjoyable atmosphere however a bit noisy. Feels a bit overpriced but I assume local food providers are going to cost more

Love the quality of food here at Laili You never get a bad meal or service. The atmosphere is great, indoors is large with high ceilings and outdoor is cute and quaint. The service is very well done. U don't typically see the owners of the business here but the staff seem to completely have it together. I love the lamb kabobs and the complimentary Naan and sauces.

It was a very busy service on a Wednesday night. It is highly recommended to make a reservation in advance. We ordered the Mediterranean Plate - which I highly suggest you order for an appetizer, and to order more flat breads to eat up all the spreads (one was not enough). They had a separate Kids Menu for children. The adults' orders were quite good. I had their cauliflower dish - it was quite delicious, but there was too much rice, which made me think it's likely a sharing plate. Despite the food being very good, I was not happy with the service. We've had three to four different waiters come to our table so there was no consistency with the main waiter who was serving us, and it was difficult ordering something or asking for something when there's someone else serving us. One of my nephews ordered milk from the Kids Menu and came out with sour spoiled milk. I was shocked and upset that they didn't check the quality of the milk before serving it. Overall, the quality of the food is good and would suggest coming here for it.

The atmosphere was nice. The food was a bit overcooked. Overall it was ok but I've had better food for half the cost. The waiter did his job but I definitely wouldn't say he was friendly. There wasn't a long wait for anything which was good but I definitely feel like you're paying mostly for a nice environment with ok food.

Pasta softness varied. Order 3, all of them were not consistent. One was mushy, other was too al dente, last one was devoured. Appetizer was small, didn't include enough bread. It was alright.

So this restaurant is quite amazing food wise! Let me start off with the all around positive! Food 5 stars! My friends and I came here for the first time and let me tell you the food was off the Hook! Everything was really fresh and the herbs were spot on. Our waiter was Cesar and poor guy was running around like a chicken with his head cut off the entire evening. We sat on the patio and it seemed as though he was the only server out there however Ali did help out a lot and tended to our needs when Cesar was preoccupied with other tables. No fault of his own I must add. He was doing a really great job for all he had to handle. Shout out to Ali for the assist! The dock in stars came from the lack of friendliness from the other staff members. The hostess at the front was rude to a few of my friends and honestly none of them even seemed to want to help Cesar out! They didn't take any of the dishes off our table leaving it to poor Cesar who was already so busy. One of the hostess walked past our table eyeing the dishes then decided not to stop and pick them up even though our table was clearly full but once Ali seen it he sent him right back to grab some stuff. Overall it was a good experience and I will come back hopefully next time they have help staff for the waiters!

We came at opening time on a Wednesday and ordered the chicken kebab, trout, filet mignon, and Mediterranean plate. Everything was fresh and delicious. My kid has a dairy and nut allergy so dining out always keeps on edge. But when I brought this up to the waitress, she made us feel at ease and assured us that the kitchen can make any adjustments needed. We were able to swap out the cucumber yogurt, which had dairy, with extra hummus. She also informed us which sauces had nuts or dairy and offered to put them on the side. As we were finishing up our first naan bread, she told us they got another one coming. We dine out quite a bit and have not received this level of service in a long time. She was attentive, cheerful, helpful, kind and ready with things before we even asked for them. The outdoor patio is so serene and lush. Feels like an oasis, another world. 5 star food with 5 star service at a 5 star place!

Convenient downtown location. Food and service were both excellent, and the place has a nice feel. This is a keeper.

The food and service were excellent. Many items can be made vegan by leaving out the yogurt. Service staff were knowledgeable and accommodating. Our party of vegans and non-vegans enjoyed their meals.

This is one of our favorite restaurants downtown Santa Cruz. The outdoor patio is enchanting! Great service, delicious dishes and a special atmosphere to enjoy wine with friends. Highly recommend!

Delicious food and quick service definitely recommend to anyone ! A good environment too with a good aesthetic