Pretty Good Advice

d this sandwich spot recently and honestly it did not disappoint. We ordered three sandwiches which were Spicy Boy 2.0, The Final Meltdown, and Pesto and Focaccia. I personally loved Spicy Boy and The Final Meltdown the most. They were packed with flavor and felt very satisfying. That said, all three sandwiches were really good, so there was nothing to complain about. One thing I really liked is how vast their sandwich options are. Literally everything on the menu sounds delicious, which made it so hard to decide. It took us a while to place our order, but we were definitely not let down by our choices, so that struggle was worth it. These are quality sandwiches and you can tell care goes into making them. The prices are reasonable too, especially for the portion size and quality. This is a great place for a quick grab and go bite. The spot itself is quite small with limited seating, so it is not somewhere you would sit for long. We also tried the iced caramel coconut coffee, which I was not a fan of, and a lemonade. I would absolutely come back here for the sandwiches though and would recommend it to anyone craving a good sandwich.

I am delighted by my experience. I walked up right to the cashier without a line on a Saturday night around 5pm. Food came out in an expected amount of time. My toddler's bean patty with vegan cheese on the vegan brioche bun was spectacular. Idk what they're doing with those black bean patties but they need to tell the world. That's what I should have had. My tofu bahn mi was average. My husband had the pesto focaccia whatever and he probably would have preferred dead animal BUT NOT TODAY. Happy to have this place as an option.

Ordered a Tofu Sandwich, a black bean cheese burger and garlic fries. All three things were delicious and properly stuffed. We asked for some customisation on burger and they kindly obliged. No complaints!! There is very little space for seating on a table. Mostly bar stool kond of seating. I was lucky to get a table though. There were only 3 tables.

Fantastic find in downtown Santa Cruz serving vegetarian and vegan food. The staff was so kind and helpful. The food was very tasty and they serve a great variety. We truly enjoyed it. They even offer vegan churros.

So many options! I had the tofu banh mi and it was fantastic. The only change inwould do is to spread the insides even so that one gets the same even taste. In my sandwich it was tofu on one side and carrots and other veggies in the other. Still tasted great! There is not much of seating inside here but there are couple of them out on the street that was cute! Very friendly and welcoming service.

BOMB Vegan spot, Fresh, and they make their own oats, sauces, etc. Would love to try more. A lot of vegan spots use preservative vegan products, but this place is created by a former Michelin chef I believe, and you can taste it for sure. the Brussels are DIVINE. The overnight oats extremely Tasty, the Sandwiches and salad so good- I wanted to try more! I hope to have a place like THIS in Los Angeles. And this place I believe has a smaller menu, they have another location I'd love to try next time I'm in Santa Cruz. This place does NOT disappoint. Vegan/Veggie or not, you must check this out. Also huge shoutout to Employee Nico who made the experience great- it was an overall fantastic experience. Quality taste, fast service, and kind people!

Got excited to see another Veg place in Santa Cruz downtown. Ordered Cheese burger, Final Meltdown and Sweet Potato fries served with a unique Banana ketchup (see pic). Very creative and tasty food. Mandarin juice is so fresh and tiny mandarins come with it. First time tried food here, will go back again. Update- Tried few other like spicy boy ( options egg is replaced with tofu) ain’t chicken burger with fries. They all tasted great. Highly recommend spicy boy served with delicious sauces.

Delicious vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, friendly staff, and good vibes — what more can you ask for? I’m constantly on the hunt for good plant-based fast casual meals, and Pretty Good Advice perfectly fulfilled that craving. I got one of their recommended classics, the Final Meltdown, which features a fried egg, mushrooms, cheese, and a hashbrown between two slices of ciabatta. I’m completely obsessed — the sandwich has mild breakfast sandwich vibes, but feels hearty and really substantial. It’s especially tasty with a splash of hot sauce or more of their vegan sandwich sauce (which I couldn’t tell you what’s in it, but I adored it). My partner got their spicy vegan chicken sandwich, which was beautifully crispy and flavorful. My favorite thing, randomly, was their green bean salad. It was super lemony and garlicky, and I loved how snappy and fresh the beans were; it was a wonderfully crunchy and refreshing way to break up the sandwiches.

my favorite food in Santa Cruz! always so good and affordable and they're always changing up the menu. Great costomer service :)

Very good advice - best plant based burger I've ever had. Get napkins! Limited seating. Outside seating available. Clean bathrooms. Energetic team, welcoming, Upbeat.

Great option for vegan option. I tried their 1. butternut squash soup- 5/5 - great taste of turmeric, ginger with comforting coconut base 2. Squash toastadas - 4/5 : crunchy base with roasted squash topped with fresh purple cabbage 3. House fries with vegan aioli - 4/5 Service was quick, indoor seating. Hoping ti try one of their vegan burgers!

Came here for lunch and got the Tom's bright eyes, the garlic fries, and the roasted squash tostada. Tom's bright eyes was ok but way too much sauce. I felt like that overpowered the sandwich and I couldn't really enjoy the rest of the ingredients. The roasted squash tostada was very underwhelming. Contrary to its name, there was minimal squash and was taken over by the cruciferous instead. I didn't find the fries, but my partner did not enjoy the amount of raw garlic. Unless you are a chunk of garlic, the fries themselves were pretty plain. We ended up not finishing the fries. Also the tables were DIRTY. Lots of food were under all the tables and we grabbed napkins to clean the top of the table.

7.7/10 Starting off with the Cheeseburger, nothing too special, but it was solid. I liked the softness of the bun and the fresh veggies. The patty had a nice crisp to it, though it could've used a bit more seasoning or spice. Still enjoyable overall 8.2/10. Tried the Kids Cheeseburger as well, and honestly, it wasn't the best. It really needed seasoning tasted plain, kind of like a school lunch. Just cheese and no condiments at all. The patty was cooked well and crispy, which was the only real highlight. Overall, both burgers could use more sauce and seasoning 7/10. Service was fast and efficient, and the ambiance was great clean, simple, and exactly what you'd expect from a good burger joint. Even the restroom was spotless and nicely done, which is always a plus.

Food was delicious. We ordered a few sandwiches and they will melt in your mouth. We had the Mike's sandwiches. It had egg, hash brown and avocado. Super yummy. The bread was soft and tasty. The place is nice. Not too big and not too small. The bathroom has a disco vibe. Staff were friendly and very helpful. Garage or street parking. I highly recommend this place.

I had taken a train and two buses to get to downtown Santa Cruz(long story) so I was famished. I was drawn in by the bright, cheerful interior and the menu offerings. The morning breakfast sammy was phenomenal. I will absolutely return when in town for delicious vegan/vegetarian eats.

I'm not a vegan or vegetarian, but once we saw that the chef from Sons and Daughters had come down to Santa Cruz and opened this restaurant, we were open to trying it. Reviews were great too. I got the Tofu Banh Mi, which was decent, but very small. It was $13, and it seemed like a small kid's portion. The house cut French Fries were really great, probably our favorite item. My husband got the California Burger, which had all the regular fixings of a real burger, but just having this black bean patty, which did taste strange to us. I'm one of those believers that food should taste how it comes in life - i.e. if it's black beans, we should eat them as black beans, not some weird constructed patty. But that's just me. Going back to the burger - I think that if it had been a regular meat patty, I would have really enjoyed it. We also got these green beans appetizer to get some greens in, and they were not cooked enough - way too raw. Also, they were too lemony - the flavor wasn't right ont hat either. The ambiance is kind of cute, a to-go style cafe where you order at the front, then find your table. I liked the bold colors and design. The menu is on the wall, and although it looks cute, is actually quite hard to read with the all caps and cut out letters - not my preference. I also find the restaurant name to be quite hard to remember "Pretty Good Advice" is a mouthful and just a phrase that doesn't stick. I think if I had vegan/vegetarian friends that needed a place to eat, we could take them here? Honestly, I don't have any vegan or vegetarian friends, and even if I did, I still wouldn't really want to return here. Just an average, and therefore disappointing meal.

Just came in for a craving of a a Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwich. Hate to do this but it spoiled my lunch. Bread was burned, sandwich loaded with carrot, soggy , tofu not crispy, one jalapeño No kick! Didn't have time to look for another real Vietnamese place. They should call this sandwich something else so you don't get stuck with this.

4.5: Vegan toasted almond soft serve: $5.50. It's probably made with almond milk and almond flavoring. It is more like a sherbet, and kind of watery. The flavor is strong, but a little artificial. 4.2: The Good morning breakfast Sando: $7. The fillings are great, but the bread is really terrible, which kills it for me.

I stopped by for lunch on Sunday, October 19. The food itself was fine, though the portions were very small for the price. What truly disturbed me was what I saw in the bathroom before leaving. The walls and door were covered in graffiti with political and violent messages. The "Free Palestine" graffiti was particularly disturbing. While some may see it as political expression, it's widely used in ways that vilify or exclude Jews, and seeing it on a restaurant bathroom door felt like a message that people like me aren't welcome here. That is unacceptable in any business open to the public. Other messages, such as "murder Musk" and "behead the king," were equally shocking and violent. The overall impression was that the management is not maintaining their facility or ensuring that it's a neutral and respectful space for all guests. If I had seen this before ordering, I would not have eaten here. I sincerely hope the owners remove this graffiti immediately and take steps to ensure that their restaurant remains clean, safe, and welcoming to everyone.

Delicious vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, friendly staff, and good vibes -- what more can you ask for? I'm constantly on the hunt for good plant-based fast casual meals, and Pretty Good Advice perfectly fulfilled that craving. I got one of their recommended classics, the Final Meltdown, which features a fried egg, mushrooms, cheese, and a hashbrown between two slices of ciabatta. I'm completely obsessed -- the sandwich has mild breakfast sandwich vibes, but feels hearty and really substantial. It's especially tasty with a splash of hot sauce or more of their vegan sandwich sauce (which I couldn't tell you what's in it, but I adored it). My partner got their spicy vegan chicken sandwich, which was beautifully crispy and flavorful. My favorite thing, randomly, was their green bean salad. It was super lemony and garlicky, and I loved how snappy and fresh the beans were; it was a wonderfully crunchy and refreshing way to break up the sandwiches.

Came here for lunch with our friends from out of town and the food blew us away! Best chicken sandwich I've ever had in Santa Cruz! And the prices were so fair. The Brussels sprouts are a must try, whatever cashew sauce they use in it is delicious! Amazing ranch. It's a win on every plate for us. Loved the outdoor seating and friendly staff. Will be coming back for more.

I continue to remind folks who read my reviews, I lean more "veggie"... I was in from out of town and was looking for a place that was more veg and I was surprised to find as many options as I did. I landed on Pretty Good Advice and I feel it was a wise choice. They have a smaller menu compared to other establishments but for me, less is often more. It was the salad that provoked me to check it out. The lady at the counter was kind and treated me as though we had met before. Like a friend who I stopped in to have lunch with. The salad that I got came with a vegan ceasar dressing and I admit, I was scared at first but upon tasting it? Oh my goodness how absolutely delicious! The green olives helped balance flavor as well. It had crunch and freshness and I gobbled it up. House cut fries for the win, I was intrigued by the smashed cucumbers although I didn't try them this trip. The house cut fries filled my need and love for potatoes and helped curb any empty space remaining from the salad (which I could have eaten a vat of)... I topped it off with a coconut caramel coffee which was also delicious. Impressed? Yes.

We tried the Jalapeno burger (excellent), the chicken sandwich, kale salad, french fries, and the peanut butter soft serve (also excellent.) Service was fast and friendly. Would definitely get the jalapeno burger again!

When u walk by pretty good advice it's pretty hard not to go in because it smells so heavenly! I've tried multiple items on the menu and it's always so good! The staff is friendly and the food comes out fast! Lots of seating inside and outside. Must try is the fries!!

This place was amazing! Staff was very polite and friendly. Our food didn't take very long to come out, even while it was moderately busy. As a vegan I very much enjoyed the variety of options for me, and I settled on the It Ain't Chicken Sandwich. It was very good, and not overly salty like I've found a lot of other vegan chicken sandwiches can be. The sauce and pickles complimented it well. The house fries were very consistent and yummy, and I appreciated that they had a vegan aioli option to go with them. The aioli leaned more towards a ranch flavor, which I didn't have a problem with, but just FYI. My omnivore partner got Mike's GM Deluxe, which he says was good. I also got the vegan horchata soft serve (not pictured) which we both found super tasty. And again, vegan soft serve isn't the easiest to come across, and I love that they had a unique flavor rather than vanilla/chocolate! All in all, one of the best places we tried in Santa Cruz and I will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

A coworker recommended the fry's here. After that I was hooked to this place. I'm not vegan but I enjoy staying meat free a few days a week. I opted for the cheeseburger without onion. Omg it's so good. Honestly can't tell there's not an unseasoned beef patty in there. I also got the lemonade. My goodness the food is delicious. Will be coming here probably once a week now. Good service and chill ambiance. Check this place out.

I love that I have a vegan food option. Although I am not vegan I am lactose intolerant so I lean more towards vegan and vegetarian options when eating out. The vegan cheeseburger was absolutely delicious and I was able to have vegan cheese on top. The service was quick and I loved the vibe of the place. They were playing blues and I was bobbing my head to the music. Highly recommended.

My daughter would give it 6 stars. Her kid's chicken sandwich she says was "the best burger she ever had." Although they didn't have a kids menu listed - the cashier told me about it, so ask if you need it. I also really enjoyed my "Mike's Good Morning Deluxe" Sandwich. Yummy sauce. Crispy potato. Putting high quality avocado on things just really does so much. What would have made it better is if it were on a flaky biscuit. That's not to say the Ciabatta roll was bad - it just wasn't anything to write home about - and a biscuit could have really put it over the top. Fries were good - not amazing, but solid. Coffee was coffee. Not busy at 10am on a Wednesday. Staff was kind. I look forward to coming back.

While in Santa Cruz, we wanted a quick breakfast before continuing on with our day, & found this spot offered quite a few vegan & vegetarian options. The line was a bit long, but the food came out hot & quickly! You order at the window & find yourself a table (we sat outside & it was beautiful), then come back & wait until they call your name. I ordered the PGA Spicy Crispy Chick'n Sandwich, that came with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, & sauce, & it was SO delicious! Not very spicy, but still had great flavor. He ordered the Spicy Boy, which came with a fried egg, crispy potatoes, red bell pepper, PG Aioli, roasted jalapeños, & caramelized onions. Also another delicious sandwich! We split an order of their house cut fries & dipped them in garlic aioli. & for drinks, I got the watermelon cucumber lemonade (very refreshing!), & he got an iced coconut caramel coffee. Only wish they had mimosas! Highly recommend this place!

Yummy, Fresh & Totally Delicious! From my first bite .... I feel something unique with the food. Savor ... savor ... savor .... Wow! What a lovely surprise! The food here is so tasty--it honestly made my day. The salad was superbly refreshing with sweet mango and juicy watermelon (yes, fruit in salad can be amazing!). And the burger? Wow. So good I didn't want it to end. Everything just feels fresh, happy, and content. Can't wait to come back again! Yummy! PS: bread can use a bit of improvement

OMG, so happy that Pretty Good Advice has opened up a Santa Cruz location, meaning I don't have to go all the way out to Soquel anymore to enjoy their amazing plant-based burgers! Since they've opened, I've gone three times with twice in just a week. They are a burger/sandwich shop with fries, salads, and desserts when available. All of their burgers are vegetarian and use a black bean/soy patty base, and everything can be made vegan upon request if it isn't already designated as such. I've tried their PGA Burger and their Spicy Chick'n Burger ($9 each), along with a regular size side of fries with their vegan ranch. The sandwiches were delicious each time I've had them. Although a bit on the smaller side, they're still great and one of the cheaper spots for a plant-based burger in town. What's cool is that they also offer tiny mandarins when you pick up your food - free of charge! There is very limited seating inside so you are better off grabbing takeout and finding a public bench or sitting at Abbott Square to enjoy your meal. This is truly a great addition to Downtown Santa Cruz and especially to the vegan food scene since losing a couple of big namers in the last few years. Thank you PGA! Keep on rocking.

Summers HERE!! With Delicious food from Matt & the PGA Team! The Cold Corn Chowda is OFF DA SHIZZLE! Don't forget the killer sides with your amazing breakfast sandwiches or burgers like the Beet Salad and Potato Salad both Bursting with Flavors!! Lucky to have this quality of food in our community!!

This place was delicious. Got the bbq burger and it was absolutely the best vegetarian burger I have ever eaten.

Super juicy and loaded vegetarian burgers! They also delivered on DoorDash shockingLy quick to hotel

BOMB Vegan spot, Fresh, and they make their own oats, sauces, etc. Would love to try more. A lot of vegan spots use preservative vegan products, but this place is created by a former Michelin chef I believe, and you can taste it for sure. the Brussels are DIVINE. The overnight oats extremely Tasty, the Sandwiches and salad so good- I wanted to try more! I hope to have a place like THIS in Los Angeles. And this place I believe has a smaller menu, they have another location I'd love to try next time I'm in Santa Cruz. This place does NOT disappoint. Vegan or not, you must check this out. Also huge shoutout to Employee Nico who made the experience great- it was an overall fantastic experience. Quality taste, fast service, and kind people!

You would never know this place is vegetarian/vegan. I'm not sure if all their food is. But I ordered the vegetarian burger and let me tell you it was delicious! Juicy, and full of flavor. The fries are fresh cut fries and they have this special sauce (I forget the name) but it's soooo good! Yummy teas, iced coffee, and good treats like an ice cream for the day. I really love this place. It's kind of hidden in Soquel off of Soquel Ave. past the Safeway. It's a little gem!

Delicious! Got a vegan chicken sandwich and fries. Really yummy and wished I lived there again locally to try more.

good breakfast sandwich, all vegetarian, reasonably priced! Staff was friendly and helpful while I decided what to get. Would definitely go back. Great for vegetarian and vegan options!

Came here during vacation. Loved the pesto breakfast sandwich. The caramel coconut coffee was surprisingly delicious as I don't typically like coconut. I highly recommend!

Hey! Great Burgers, awsome fries. Even the Arnold Palmer was great. Nothing else to say.

We enjoy this vegan friendly restaurant often. Yummy fries, and delicious fast food. The non chicken sandwich is one of my favorites. Their lemonade and other drink options is so fresh and not too sweet. Our Omni friends like the food here too. Yay. Service is always friendly. They have a few tables inside but we like to sit outside and watch the goings on in downtown Santa Cruz.

Pretty good sandwiches for pretty good advice! The atmosphere is really clean and nice with a few seatings and spacious walking area. There are only 3 tables and some standing tables near the pickup area. The staff was patient and kind while they wait for us to decide and order. The menu was detailed and I got the final meltdown while my friend got the spicy boy. We also got the lemonade, which was refreshing and cold for the hot weather. The final meltdown was a blast of multiple textures and flavors with the crispy harsh brown and well cooked vegetables. My friend also enjoyed their spicy boy sandwich. The price is reasonable for a vegetarian place and decent quality. It would be better if there's more seatings but overall, would recommend if you want a vegetarian meal.

What a cute little hole in the wall - delicious and healthy breakfast options. Idk what kind of bread they use, but it melts in your mouth. They have some cute outdoor seating so you can grab some morning rays along with the delicious breakfast. One word of caution- their trash and recycling are mounted in the wall near the pickup counter.

I only write reviews for the best things to share with the world. Pretty Good Advice is worthy of the hype!! Uber delicious, healthy breakfast sandwiches, and other things. Go see Adrian, he helped me order, so amazing. I came back the next morning. Take my advice and go eat here.

Absolutely phenomenal. Delicious breakfast sandwiches, teas and coffees. I wish we had one in SF. We got the Pesto sando (as listed) and the Final Meltdown (extra egg, plus arugula) and both were fantastic. Fresh, hot, crispy, delicious farm egg. If you can only get one, slight preference for the pesto because the aioli is out of this world. If you love an iced coffee, the coconut caramel coffee is a divine refreshing treat. Really can't recommend this place highly enough. Please open one in Glen Park in SF. We would be there every day.

This is the best lunch gem in the Soquel Capitola area. The parking lot is tight so if coming with a group try and take one car. The local school has kids during the school year flock here around 12:30 too. The black bean burger was phenomenal, tried many of their drinks and all were just sweet enough. The fries were good. The staff were helpful and the service was quick(about 10 minutes after ordering). Best place to take non vegans to eat with vegans too! They don't skimp on flavor. Tip - walk around the front to eat in their garden area.

Possibly the best sandwiches I've ever had. So glad to have found a vegetarian place which is now my go-to for grabbing a bite before the beach. The pesto and the final meltdown are both phenomenal, the service is quick and friendly, so I'll definitely be a new regular.

Great prices, food is always great, makes me feel a little bit better when I'm in the mood for junk food and the best vegan burgers I've had!

Opened near me downtown and did not disappoint. Things are clearly marked GF, Vegan or veggie. Lots of vegan options and soft serve! Shut up and take my money. Store is super clean and they have condiments etc to go which I appreciate. I went with the Madi's sandwich - I am a sauce queen so all the sauces and flavors were delicious. The tofu scramble was perfect. The fries are delicious I should have gotten a large. Definitely will be back to try the rest of the menu. Gift cards work at both locations.

Great vegan-vegetarian food. I had the it's not chicken sandwich and it was delicious. Their free hot sauce is gear. I would go again soon.

Delicious, cool vibes for a good joint! Music, hangout and eat and hangout! It's awesome & I dig it! Folks are super friendly and offer suggestions!

Came here during our Valentine's Day date for a quick snack! Looks like it just recently opened. Order: The Good Morning $6 - 5/5 Great breakfast sandwich! Comes with crispy potato ( basically a hash brown ) & egg cooked to how you like it. Interior was super cute, with limited seating. Prices were fair, and the employees were very kind! Would come back here again whenever I'm in the area. Great addition to downtown!

For me it's all about their seasonal. Arnold Palmer whether it's a peach or a satsuma iced tea with lemonade. Next up on the list is always a soft serve in whatever fresh flavor they have that day. Finally, it's the spicy boy. Oooooooh yeaaash.

I had a arugula w/ goat cheese, beets, almonds & mandarin and an iced caramel coconut milk coffee; both where excellent. My partner had a mushroom burger that fell apart but tasted delicious. I only gave it 4 stars because it's super loud and the chairs are not very comfortable.

I love this place! The flavors of EVERYTHING are spot on! I always eat my dessert first (matcha soft serve is muh fave). The fries are second favorite (2nd to Saturn {rip}). All the sandos ate yummo. Just close your eyes and point- you can't go wrong.

The ambiance was nice, it was giving trendy vibes and had this cool black and white theme. I went here on a Saturday, and it wasn't too busy. Wait time including ordering and pickup was less than 20 minutes. The staff were friendly and were helpful in asking questions. They were also patient when ordering and picking up the order. The food was a bit pricey, $8.50 for a sandwich that's a bit small (size of my hand), lemonade was good it was about $5 for a lemonade.   But, the taste was amazing. I got the Spicy Boy sandwich which comes with sautéed jalapeños, crispy hash brown, sunny side up egg, etc. The taste was good, I would recommend adding more extra sauce when you're eating to the sandwich if you're looking for something spicer. But the hash brown was very crispy and the sunny side up egg was well cooked yet the perfect amount of runny-ness. The lemonade was good, it was a perfect balance between sweet and sour and not too much ice. I feel like I would order the lemonade again but maybe try another sandwich. I also like that there's vegan and dairy-free options on the menu, so there's plenty to try from.   Overall, my experience was nice and thought the store was really aesthetic! I would definitely be back to try this store again and maybe a different sandwich (when my wallet agrees with me). Huge thank you to the staff!

I'm giving it two stars because the staff was very friendly and helped explain the menu. The only thing I didn't like was that everything pretty much was fried and considering that it was a vegetarian restaurant I thought there would be some more healthy options. My friend really liked what she had. She had the burger and french fries I just don't care for fried food.