Pretty Good Advice

This food falls into the munchie category for me. Plenty of greasy goodness between two buns and the service is fast. It’s unfortunate at this location that there is a lack of indoor seating. It gets hot outside and there’s lots of sun exposure.

Pretty Good Advice is a fast casual place with a funny name and great food. Order at one window, pick up at another. There's patio seating around the side. No inside seating or table service. Highly recommend.

This local vegan restaurant is a gem! The salads are fantastic—fresh vegetables, generous portions, and the dressings are truly unique, adding such innovative flavors to every bite. I also loved the chilled corn soup; it was refreshing and packed with flavor. The menu is creative and keeps surprising you with new tastes. On top of that, the location is super convenient, making it a go-to spot for a healthy, delicious meal. Highly recommend for anyone looking for fresh, tasty vegan and vegetarian options!

Pretty nice spot with an interesting take on handheld food items! You order at the counter and they have some nice outdoor seating. Menu seems promising with lots of Santa Cruz locals partaking in the eatery as well. All day breakfast sandwiches is a huge plus! Spicy boy 3.5/5 (would prefer egg cooked medium, needs something more, not spicy in the slightest) Tom’s bright eyes surprise 5/5 House cut French fries with garlic rosemary aioli 3/5 (great seasoning on the fries - maybe too much salt, some of the French fries were kinda mushy, rosemary aioli was great) For local reviews or travel content you can find us on Instagram @sunsetourist

Tried the Deluxe egg sandwich and the Pretty Good Cheeseburger - both were fantastic. The hashbrowns in the egg sandwich were nice and crispy. The toasted almond soft serve was one of the best little treats one could ask for on a hot day. The patio area has three big tables with shade, so if it’s hot out recommend coming off peak hours if possible to ensure a shady spot!

This place has some great vegan offerings. Loved my vegan bfast sandwich. But not everything in my party was as good. It's also fairly messy food with only benches to sit at, so half of us ended up getting something on our clothes, but all in all, we enjoyed it and will be back. Entirely outside seating, so watch out for the weather.

We love PGA and are so happy to have this awesome eatery in Downtown Santa Cruz! Everything is fresh and delicious... Changing menu offerings are wonderful... Great energy and consistently fabulous food... Yummy coffee, tea, and lemonade too. Thank you for being our neighbor!

Amazing breakfast sandwiches and loved their aioli. Super flavorful sandwich and good bread. Their black bean burger was good too- fresh and homemade. They had a nice patio with seating and friendly service.

We were on the way to check in to our Airbnb. I selected a secluded cabin in Soquel to celebrate Gavin's 13th birthday. We were supposed to go during the summer, but we postponed it due to work and our fosters. We couldn't DoorDash it because we were told the delivery driver would not be able to locate the cabin, so they advised against deliveries. We ordered a cheeseburger, a California burger, and two orders of fries from their website and paid. We got there right when they were finishing up our order. Drive slow to ensure you don't miss the place. Parking is tight. Service upon pickup was genuinely friendly and joyful. Gavin and I dug in once we brought our belongings inside the cabin. The burger was juicy and the fries are not on the crispy and crunchy side - which is what I like. Their ranch was amazing!!! Gavin and I both enjoyed his birthday late lunch on the floor of the cabin whilst watching The Simpsons. I wish I can do something like this w/ him once a month. Just he and I somewhere to explore and have a good meal.

After receiving a recommendation to try this place...and naively trusting the Yelp reviews, I ordered a meal from Pretty Good Advice. [Insert bad pun here.] I think it makes it worse because (a) it was for my family; and (b) it was a lot of food: five sandwiches (all types: spicy chicken sandwich, burgers, tofu scrambled sandwich), fries, and the vegan soft serve. Really wanted to love it, but everything but the soft serve was mediocre. From our group of vegans and omnivores, the general consensus is that the food was "meh." My mother, after getting about halfway through her cheeseburger, said, "If I was out in the middle of the forest, and I was really, really hungry, and someone gave me this, I'd be glad to have it." I'll let you make your mind up about the meaning of that. And it's not that I don't love the idea of this place. I love me some vegetarian fast food! BUT the execution was sadly just fair, and the easiest piece of this meal--in terms of preparation--would be the fries...the most disappointing of all. They were cold and had the texture that exposes the cardinal sin of having been prepared much earlier and then having been reheated: mealy and spongy. Terrible! Unfortunately we had several large orders of them, most of which ended up in the compost. So, although the workers were quite lovely, and they promptly fixed the sauce mishap that resulted in several containers of sauce melting and spilling out into the bag onto the food...the food was too bad to recommend this place to anyone. If you eat here and have a great experience, I hope you'll post a wonderful review and prove me wrong!

So good! Such a fun, friendly place. A little irreverent, very tasty, yummy sauces! (The ranch For the fries). Reasonable prices. Will come back for sure. Great kids menu too - the hash brown in the breakfast Sammy!

First time here on a Sunday at 11am after doing a local hike. Really easy to park and order. Ordered the Good Morning and the Roasted Pear and Red Leaf salad. The sandwich was freshly made with a crunchy hashbrown and egg. The house hot sauce went perfectly with it! The roasted pear in the salad was also delicious. Ate it on the shaded patio. Perfect post hike meal!

A very popular spot so parking can be tight. And if you see the line outside don't let it stop you. It goes so quick and you're not going to wait for your lemonade at all it's so delicious with the perfect freshness and flavor . So thirsty quenching on these warm afternoons . Lots of seating in the lovely garden area and food is prepared so quick. I had a black bean burger full of flavor so fresh and tasty. I also had a Fuji persimmon,yellow beet salad with fennel. I am so beyond with the wonderful freshness and flavor of my lunch here today . I also loved the huge clean kitchen. What is being created here is honest , real raw ingredients . The people working are happy and cheering making good energy all aroundDon't miss out on the goodness here.

Pretty Good Advice wasn't too busy when we visited on a Saturday (late) afternoon. I didn't realize at first that the whole menu was vegetarian, with lots of vegan options. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and Spicy Crispy Chick'n Sandwich, and we also got the House Cut Fries with Garlic Rosemary Aioli to share. The food didn't take long and once we picked it up at the window, we snagged some seating on the (dog friendly) patio. There was no interior, so all the seating was outside, and the ambiance was pleasant. I liked the ivy-covered walls and little mural on the side of the building. My Arnold Palmer was tasty and refreshing. The Spicy Crispy Chick'n Sandwich was also great, and reasonably priced at only $8.50. I wouldn't say the protein tasted like chicken, but it did taste very good. It wasn't too spicy, so I ended up trying it with some of their hot sauce, which had the perfect level of heat. The House Cut Fries with Garlic Rosemary Aioli were delicious, and my friends also enjoyed their breakfast sandwiches. Overall, a great spot for lunch - would return!

One of my favorite breakfast spot. Vegetarian. Which I'm not but can't help loving this place. They had this yuzu lemonade that was to die for! THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!! simple but devine. A cute little patio to smash all the sandos.

I've had this place bookmarked for while- the name itself was enough to catch my attention! It is a vegetarian joint, with veggie sub patties for burgers and sandwiches. Pretty little building where you order at the window, and they have outdoor picnic table and bar seating. Currently no indoor seating, but they do have restrooms. My husband's breakfast sandwich was amazing- with a crisp hash brown and well-done sunny side up egg, and light sauce. Loved the thick layer of sauteed mushrooms as well. Highly recommend! I had the Crispy Chicken (not chicken) sandwich, which was good, but I thought the patty was way too thin, and not particularly better than say a morning star patty. That being said the fresh patty, light sauce made it flavorful. I will say someone nearby was like blown away by the veggie chicken and asking around about what it was made of since she felt it tasted just like chicken. Liked that they had an affordable kid's menu, with sandwiches for $5. I thought the Kid's Grilled Cheese was excellent- again loved the super soft bun. The burger wasn't as good- it's just hard to get a black bean patty to be firm enough, always ends up too squishy for my taste. Get the fries. They have desserts (ie soft serve), and drinks as well (coffee, iced tea, etc)

Pretty nice spot with an interesting take on handheld food items! You order at the counter and they have some nice outdoor seating. Menu seems promising with lots of Santa Cruz locals partaking in the eatery as well. All day breakfast sandwiches is a huge plus! Spicy boy 3.5/5 (would prefer egg cooked medium, needs something more, not spicy in the slightest) Tom's bright eyes surprise 5/5 House cut French fries with garlic rosemary aioli 3/5 (great seasoning on the fries - maybe too much salt, some of the French fries were kinda mushy, rosemary aioli was great) For local reviews or travel content you can find us on Instagram @sunsetourist

Strange name, great food! I love the PGA salad it is my staple. Today I got a salad for later and a Mike's Deluxe on a gf bun for now!!! I have never had a bad meal here. Funny thing is that my kids love the grilled cheese. I have tried to replicate it with potato bread and it's still "not the same." Compliments to the chef!

I went to downtown Santa Cruz with some friends looking for delicious brunch. The line for Mad Yolks was really long so we stumbled on Pretty Good Advice. First thing's first, FYI this is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. I decided to try the grilled cheese sandwich and french fries with the Iced Coconut Caramel Coffee. I was not disappointed. The grilled cheese came out great with cheese gushing out of the sandwich. The french fries with rosemary aioli sauce came out full of flavor but was a little soggy despite it being made fresh. The Iced Coconut Caramel Coffee was the highlight for me if you love sweet and creamy coffee and it was perfect during this recent heatwave.

A solid 3.75 stars This is an order-at-the-window, wait outside, and eat-wherever-you-want type of place. There are 3 seating areas: in the front where you order, in the back by the roadside, and indoors (only if it is open). The indoor seating area was closed when I was there, so even though it was cold and drizzly, everyone sat outside. The building is super cute from the outside with the ivy climbing up the walls, and there seemed to be a lot of picnic tables and seating, and except most were occupied before we got there. I didn't mind waiting, ordering, and eating outside if the food was stellar, like I had expected. We ordered 3 things to share: a burger with everything on it, fries, and a salad. The fries were crispy and not oily (Yummo!), the salad was fresh and dressing was flavorful (my favorite of the 3 items!), and the burger was nothing special (a disappointment actually). I would return to get the salad... and I will try the soup or something else. I think overall the concept is great, and the venue is quirky and cool with stickers everywhere. The burger flavor and bread texture are lacking, so I'd skip that next time.

I had a great experience at Pretty Good Advice, a vegetarian restaurant that offers a variety of dishes, including a LOT of vegan options. I got the pho-1-1 on the spicy faux chicken patty sandwich, by eating it. it was very sloppy just the way i like my sammys. The patty was crispy and juicy, The sandwich also came with some homemade hot sauce, which was spicy and tangy. I loved the hot sauce so much that I asked for more and used it on everything. The restaurant has a cozy and casual atmosphere, with exclusively outdoor seating. It is located where Taqueria La Cabana used to be many years ago, but it has been renovated and decorated with cool furniture and plants. The patio is very pet-friendly, and I saw many people with their dogs enjoying the food and the sun. The service was fast and friendly, and the attendees at the window were very helpful and attentive. They also gave me some pretty good advice on what to order next time. I would definitely recommend Pretty Good Advice to anyone who is looking for a vegetarian or vegan restaurant in Santa Cruz. It has a great menu, a great location, and a great vibe. I can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes.

I honestly really loved this place. It's a vegetarian/vegan restaurant and although I am neither, I believe their food is so delicious and flavorful! I thoroughly enjoyed their coffee as well as their sandwiches!! The cashier was super nice and helped me with my indecisiveness. Overall amazing vibe and would definitely come again.

Update 6 months later: Gave them another try last week. Intentionally went on a weekday after the morning rush and this is what I received. Half a year later and it's still a struggle to get a veggie sandwich with a decent portion of said veggies. I don't want to have to let this place go, but I just might. Sad :(​ Another update because I apparently love toxic relationships..... it still hasn't improved. There is virtually no consistency, and the majority of the time the veggie portions are still lacking

As soon as we turned into the parking lot, there was one spot of parking left. Imma be real & say there's barely parking. Packed asf, but line goes by pretty quick. In front of the shop, there's a cute patio with a few benches & tables to chill & eat on for a little date. There's a small sticker machine with some really cool designs. When we went, the stickers ran out so if that ever happens just ask the employee for your money back & to refill the sticker machine. Anyways, we got the pretty good burger, rosemary aioli fries, & mikes good morning deluxe. I enjoyed my pretty good burger. The fries were pretty aight with the sweet chili sauce. Overall, a good time.

Best breakfast stop! We love this place. Food is fantastic - Mike's Goodmorning Delux is the BEST. The bread is truly delicious, light and airy. And there is a hash brown in the middle - wow. Game changer People who work here are super nice and very friendly. It's always a pleasure to stop here on my way down to Monterey. I wish they had seating inside but this place is worth it nonetheless. Pro tip: order online ahead of arriving so you can pick it up when you get there. Can't wait to come back!

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for a little snack and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Ordered a good morning deluxe without the cheese (basically the regular egg sando but add avocado), a large fries, and an Arnold Palmer. It was a lot of food for a great price. We asked for the sandwich cut in half to share, which was perfect, the hash brown with the egg and avocado and the bun were so good together. Next time I'll ask to add arugula as well. Large fries was the perfect amount to share. Arnold Palmer was just the right amount of not too sweet. Can't wait to try more things like the homemade vegan burger or dessert. Service was great as well - the staff person answered all our questions and was really accommodating. Based on the menu, it was not inherently obvious to me what the flavor/texture/makeup of the burger would be. We are not vegetarian but enjoy vegetarian food, and once the person taking orders explained to us how the patty was made (in house, ground lentils/beans if I'm remembering correctly vs artificial meat or plant-based items trying to resemble meat which I'm not into) we were much more interested in trying it. I can see why this place has so much buzz - it was great and I can't wait to come back and try everything on the menu!

Chef Matt McNamara Crushes it with all their Soups! The Cheesy Poblano Soup is OVER THE TOP DELICIOUS!!! Get it while it's HOT

Cool spot with lots of yummy egg sando options. I ordered the final meltdown with no mushroom and it was very tasty! It definitely was a bit greasy but the flavor was perfect! I also ordered a side of fries which were surprisingly garlicky. Just my jam! Loved it! The location itself was nothing grand, a large entrance with seats across the wall. But with food that good you don't need fancy decor. Everyone seemed happy and they were friendly and willing to help. Overall, great spot to try!

Long wait on a Saturday morning but was impressed how delicious the fries were! Everything was great until we found a piece of hair inside.. we told the lady working there and she proceeded to toss it in the trash with a very unfriendly tone of "sorry" no offer to make another one or ask if we would like something else. Imo just a bit sad because we wanted to support the business but realized this is how they respond to customers.

What we ordered: Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Spicy)- 2/5 The sandwich was ok, not bad, but not good. It reminded us of a McChicken sandwich from McDonald's, again that's not a bad thing, but it's def not my thing. The meat was a chicken patty instead of a piece of friend chicken. House Cut Potato's- 5/5 These are their fries and they were good! Seasoned well and fried to perfection. It was really good with the garlic rosemary aioli. Strawberry and Snap Pea Salad- 5/5 Great tasting salad! Perfect for a light lunch and packed with flavor. Would def order this again Strawberry Lemonade- 5/5 A solid drink to get from here. It tasted great and nothing by was lacking. Arnold Palmer- 5/5 Another solid drink and lacked nothing, would order this again. There is space to eat outside and the location is really cute. Friendly service as well. If I was to come again, I would probably visit for their breakfast sandwiches.

Found this vegetarian gem while in town for a doctor's appt. The California Ranch Burger was absolutely delicious. Outdoor patio had ample seating in a natural setting. Service was friendly and order was received in a timely manner. We' will be back!!

Delicious. Cute. Friendly. Loved this establishment while driving by. We got the good morning deluxe and the final meltdown and large fries. Both were great but the final meltdown really hit the spot with the sauce and mushrooms. The buns was perfect. We waited in line again for a persimmon lemonade after seeing everyone else get it and it was perfect. So good!

It was pretty ok! I would definitely try some more menu options and would be happy to bump the stars up if I find something I really like but for now my one experience was just ok! I got Mike's morning deluxe sandwich. I liked the crispy hashbrown but otherwise wasn't blown away. The cashier let me try a little taster of their coconut caramel latter and while it was super tasty, it was way too sweet for me. So I opted for their hot coffee. Unfortunately it was one of the worst cups of coffee I've ever had due to it tasting almost nothing like coffee and it had grinds of grinds/sediment floating in the cup. Super nice customer service though and beautiful patio.

We ordered a lot of food and everything was delicious! I was thrilled they also had vegan soft serve :) so so good . The homemade burger patties were great and fit the bun perfect. I loved the location and seating outside. It's quintessential beach outside seating. I will definitely be coming back for more . I think you can order anything and be happy. I can't wait to try the potato salad with artichoke! They were out but I'll be back to try it . I didn't take pictures because we scarfed it up to quickly :/

This local vegan restaurant is a gem! The salads are fantastic--fresh vegetables, generous portions, and the dressings are truly unique, adding such innovative flavors to every bite. I also loved the chilled corn soup; it was refreshing and packed with flavor. The menu is creative and keeps surprising you with new tastes. On top of that, the location is super convenient, making it a go-to spot for a healthy, delicious meal. Highly recommend for anyone looking for fresh, tasty vegan and vegetarian options!

My friend who studied at UCSC recommended this spot, and it did not disappoint at all. If you're into stacked breakfast sandwiches and other salty, tasty items you will love it here. The breakfast sandwich (can't remember which I got but it had a ton on it) was filling and the perfect start to the day. Would definitely come back next time I'm in the area.

All time delicious EVERYTHING I've had there from when they opened till present!! I just wish I knew how they got their name‍‍

- California ranch burger - fries The burger was pretty yummy and I enjoyed the overall flavor!! Very ranchy as explained by the name. The "patty" part I didn't realize was a black bean patty, but I wasn't mad at it. It definitely doesn't make you that sort of heaviness after eating a beef patty. The patty itself didn't have the most interesting texture but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. The fries...they're either really small or they gave me the bits. But hey! I do like the bits because they were flavorful and crunchy!

Good for a quick stop for lunch- vegan and veg options. Outdoor patio. Order at the outdoor counter. Easy parking.

Burgers, fries, dessert. Super casual. If you miss being able to eat meat, this is okay. Fries were good. Vegan potato salad missed the mark. Decent outdoor seating. Nice young'un took our order.

Great spot to grab a quick bite! All of the sandwiches we tried were delicious and satisfying. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and make it on the spot too. Everyone who worked there was sweet and welcoming, no matter how small or short our interaction was. There's no indoor seating, but there's a few tables around the counter where you order that you can sit at. The parking lot isn't the biggest either, but there's still a good amount of street parking nearby. I'd come back to try more menu items and their featured drinks!

Surprised and very Good. This is a Vegetarian restaurant. Menu is really diverse, lots of good combinations. Oder at the window, pickup at a different window, two patios to sit at. The final melt down was great, the mushrooms were nicely cooked and seasoned. Hash brown patty and an egg. Mmm good! The California Ranch burger was also very good. But the over the top hand cut fries were the bomb.

Very delicious! I ate my matcha soft serve first! The fries are perfect and I like the vegan ranch. We'll be back!

Oh my goodness, I can't explain how delicious this place was! My husband and I came down to Soquel on vacation and were staying in a studio without a kitchen so we thought we'd give their breakfast sandwiches a try. We ordered two Morning Deluxe's and an order of fries and it was absolutely delicious. Can definitely say it was the best breakfast sandwich I've had in years. Only thing I'm sad about is that we don't have this place local to us.

Delicious food which never disappoints for very reasonable prices. Quite rare these days so I recommend you go there and check out their menu!

Excellent food. I got a vegan burger and it was perhaps one of the most delicious vegan burgers I've ever had. Fries were good but not great. Service was not incredible but not negative. Outdoor area is nice but I didn't see any seating area in any immediate areas. But I didn't look for one.

Probably one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. The bread was soft and fluffy and there is a bun shaped crispy hash brown inside. Pure deliciousness.

While searching for a vegan breakfast spot, we stumbled upon this gem. With modest expectations, we were pleasantly surprised. Their sandwiches exceeded all expectations and perfectly fulfilled our cravings. We had the "Madi's Moody Morning" and our favorite, "Tom's Bright Eye Surprise." Though I highly recommend it, it's more suited for grab-and-go dining, but I'll definitely be going back for more!

Very average cheese burger and garlic aioli fries. The aioli sauce tasted more like tartar than aioli.. patty was thin. However the staff was very friendly and food did taste fresh.

Great vegetarian breakfast sandwiches. Period. Please understand that this is a meatless establishment. If you order a burger, it will be black bean. I made that mistake early on in its existence. Did I say good breakfast sandwiches? Yes, they're really good.

Definitely yummy. They make great lemonade. The weather was great so we sat outside on their tables and enjoyed the food and sunshine.

I got a final meltdown, and a matcha softserve here and it was really good. The final meltdown was greasy but that's expected since it has a hash brown, and still was pretty good. The matcha softserve was my personal favorite, and i enjoyed the fact that it had oatmilk. I would go here again, since it's in a nice location and theres more things on the menu I want to try. It's nice to go on a sunny day but otherwise theres no indoor seating. Service was nice and food didnt take too long. Cute patio area and nice ambiance.

Quick with quality. I have tried many things here and it is always so tasty. I can remember the days of dining in, which I miss, as they now only offer to-go. It's still a great option, especially if you're looking for a casual experience.

I've been going here like 3x a week for years, & LOVE it! They are always friendly, they always get my order right, they change their sides with the seasons & grow some of their food in a nearby garden, & the food is tasty. You can sit outside (with your dog, too) in the sun, it's in an easy location to both find & park in, & their fries are soooo good. I also love their cheeseburger, fancy lemonades, fake chicken sando, & salads. We need more all vegetarian restaurants like this in Santa Cruz!

Pretty good advise to go to this establishment! My only complaint is the lack of indoor seating, but otherwise, it's the perfect spot for a bite to eat for breakfast. The sandwiches are awesome, and I don't even identify as a vegetarian. The fries are crispy and delicious, and the coconut coffee is great. Highly recommend for a tasty and satisfying breakfast.

Cute little Vegetarian/Vegan breakfast/brunch spot in Soquel! Was visiting the area with my family and was looking for a vegan-ish place to check out on our trip there! The sandwiches are yummy! Service is nice and happy to explain the menu. It's order then sit and wait for your name to be called kinda place which is a little odd since the seating is on the other side of the building? Just leave someone there to wait no biggie. Anyway great place love the vibe.

Service was to say the least subpar. The girl taking orders was very impolite and rude. Food was okay