STAGNARO BROS. SEAFOOD, INC.

Stagnaro Bros has been a beloved staple at the Wharf in Santa Cruz for as long as I can remember, and it never disappoints! This place holds a special place in my heart, filled with cherished memories from my childhood visits with my dad. The views are absolutely breathtaking, making it a perfect setting for a meal. What I love most is the straightforward yet delicious food. Today, I tried the calamari and the fish tacos (which were on special), and both were fantastic! The beer-battered fish tacos were fresh and flavorful, crowned with crunchy cabbage and a tangy sauce that left me wanting more. The atmosphere is fun and lively, with a cool fish tank at the entrance that adds a unique touch. I appreciate that I've never waited long for a table, even during busy dinner hours, thanks to their efficient staff. Don’t forget to stop by the attached fish market on your way out for some fresh seafood to take home. The crab cocktails are a must-try, and the clam chowder is just awesome! If you find yourself in Santa Cruz, make sure to visit Stagnaro Bros. You won’t be disappointed! Highly recommend!

​You can’t really visit the Santa Cruz Wharf without hitting up Stagnaro Bros at least once. We stopped in for a lunch with a view, and honestly, it hit the spot. It’s definitely a busy, touristy spot, but the seafood quality backs it up. ​Here’s the breakdown of what we ordered: ​Clam Chowder Bread Bowl: This is pretty much mandatory here. The sourdough was fresh with that perfect crust (didn't get soggy too fast), and the chowder was creamy and full of clams. Perfect comfort food, especially with the sea breeze coming through the window. ​Coconut Shrimp: These were a highlight. Super crunchy on the outside and the shrimp inside wasn't rubbery. The sweet chili sauce on the side is standard, but pairs perfectly. ​Fish & Chips(Kids menu): A solid classic. The batter wasn't too thick or oily—it had a nice crisp to it. I appreciate that they serve the thicker steak fries instead of the skinny ones; they hold up better with the malt vinegar. ​Seafood Alfredo(Holiday Special): We decided to switch it up with a pasta dish (Scallop Alfredo). It is rich. Very creamy and cheesy. The scallops were sweet and tender, and the peas added a nice little pop of sweetness, but it’s definitely a heavy dish. Good for sharing if you want to save room for dessert. ​The Vibe: We got a table right in the sun, which was amazing. It’s casual dining—you get your sauces in plastic cups and it’s a bit loud—but that’s part of the charm. The service was quick considering how packed the place gets. ​Verdict: If you want fancy fine dining, this isn't it. But if you want fresh seafood, a cold drink, and a view of the ocean while you eat, Stagnaro’s is still the king of the wharf. Will definitely be back for that bread bowl.

Stagnaro Bros has an amazing location and very friendly staff. On the way there, we spotted lots of sea lions, which made the visit even more fun. For a restaurant in a busy tourist area, the food was quite decent. We tried the clam chowder and fish tacos—both were pretty good. Prices were also reasonable for the area.

Stagnaro Bros. Seafood Inc 🥳is an absolutely fantastic spot, especially if you love fresh seafood and ocean vibes. Located right by the water in Santa Cruz, the setting is unbeatable — relaxing, scenic, and full of character. It’s the kind of place where you can kick back with a cold local beer, enjoy some amazing seafood, and just soak in the view. The food is fresh and flavorful, with a great variety of options — from classic fried seafood baskets to oysters, clam chowder, and grilled fish. Everything tastes just like it should: ocean-fresh and cooked with care. The staff is friendly, and the overall vibe is super laid-back. What really makes it special is the wildlife experience — while you eat, you can often see seals swimming nearby and even hear their playful sounds echoing across the water. It adds a magical, natural touch that makes the visit even more memorable. If you’re in the area, Stagnaro Bros. is a must-visit — for the food, the beer, the oceanfront view, and the chance to watch seals in their natural habitat. Highly recommended for a true coastal dining experience!

It's a very honest place, both in the food and the staff. Food was good and the other guests were kind enough to offer to take our picture as a family. Prices could have been cheaper, but it's expected in touristy places. Would return if given the chance.

Hands down the best seafood I’ve had in a long time! The clam chowder soup is absolutely award-worthy—packed with clams and full of rich, savory flavor. You can tell they don’t skimp on quality. The fish was incredibly fresh, cooked perfectly, and tasted like it was caught that morning. Even the complimentary bread served before the meal was warm and delicious—a great start to the dining experience. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of the food more than justifies it. If you're a fan of clam chowder, this is *the* place to try it fresh. Highly recommend for over priced fresh seafood. FYI they charge you more if you pay with credit card which is unusual for a business.

Excellent service. I showed up for some of their famous clam chowder but they were closed. The gentleman working the door saw me and took my order to go. The chowder was delicious and I highly recommend eating here.

My boyfriend and I made a quick trip to the coast. We decided to come to Stagnaros for the first time. We had several things on the menu. One being the lobster tail and new york steak. All I can say is OMG. The steak and all the food was cooked perfectly. The lobster was perfectly seasoned and cooked! It's the biggest and best lobster tail I have ever had. The shrimp cocktail was packed full of crab and they even gave us a side of sauce just in case there wasn't enough. The service we recieved was top notch. We will definitely be going back the next time we are in town. If your ever in Santa Cruz it is worth the money to come here. The picture of the lobster tail was already half eaten. That should give you an idea of the size.

After spending all day with the family at Santa Cruz board walk , Here for dinner & some clam chowder before our long drive home. Service, food was excellent. I recommend their clam chowder its thick, rich and full of flavor.

This might sound a bit odd, but if not for the sea lions, I'm not sure that I ever would have discovered Stagnaro Bros. Despite how many times I've made my way down to Santa Cruz, I had never taken the time to check out the wharf until this most recent trip. No particular reason as to why, other than we would always head straight to the beach and the Boardwalk. However, after hearing about how the sea lions like to congregate here, much like they do at Pier 39 in SF, we came here to look for them! Which, quite fortuitously, brought us here, as i had quite the hankering for some fried seafood! Now, this feels awkward to say, given how the portion of this end of the wharf that recently collapsed into the water is so close by, but Stagnaro's location is pretty nice. Not only are they right on top of where a lot of the sea lions gather, but, by virtue of being further out on the water, they have a terrific view that stretches from the Boardwalk to the Pacific Ocean. All together, it made for a perfect spot for us to grab a bite. However, since we weren't that hungry, we opted to get something small from their outside counter rather than dine inside. Little did we know, though, that the menu is almost just as extensive, stretching from fried seafood baskets, hot and cold sandwiches, clam chowder, and tacos to cocktail shrimp, ceviche, raw oysters, and cups of Dungeness crab meat. What's more, they also have counter to pick up fresh seafood, too. -- STAGNARO SUNSET - Pina Colada with Mango on the Bottom and Strawberry on Top Hard to argue with a fruit and tropical drink, especially when the weather is so nice! While it's definitely sweet, it's not intensely sweet or sugary. Also, I liked how you it starts with a lot of strawberry flavor, blends, and then ends with more of the mango. -- COMBO FRIED SEAFOOD BASKET - Fried Calamari and Fried Fish with Fries Not as amazing as I had hoped for, but still pretty solid. The portion size was decently generous, the strips of calamari were quite meaty (wish there had been some leg pieces), and the fish was nice and moist. That said, I didn't love the batter on the fish some parts were really thin) and the fries were just okay. Even though we weren't overwhelmed by our basket of seafood, it was nowhere close to being "bad" and far better than what I got from one of the stands at Fisherman's Wharf in SF. Still, I'm not sure I would go out of my way to come back again. If anything, I'd probably opt for one of their many options in their cold seafood case, like their fresh Dungeness crab meat, or actually look to dine-in to try their regular menu, which looked pretty decent. Given their location towards the end of the wharf, I can only imagine how nice it would be to try something like their cioppino while getting to watch the sunset! THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.

Stagnaros is a must in Santa Cruz - been on the wharf for many least 30+ years! for Location is at the very end of the wharf and deck dining won't be ocean view is simply relaxing and makes the freshly deep fried calamari & fries that much better! Crab season just opened and the crab cocktail was sweet & fresh! We actually put some of the crab into the hot clam chowder soup to pack in the flavors! Sunday afternoon unusually less crowd, so the service was instant. Our food orders was prepared quickly.

****FYI: pay in cash. There's a 3.5% if you pay with cash. And their tipping suggestion is with tax included. *** This place had the most reviews nearby so we wanted to try it. It's located at the end of the pier. Parked at the outside of the neighborhood and walked to the pier. It was free parking at the neighborhood. They only need residential parking during the months of May-September, but always check where you parked to avoid a ticket. Parking at the pier $1/hour up to 4 hours. $2/hour after that. Max $12 daily. No wait on a Saturday when we arrived. They gave us options to sit upstairs or not. The upstairs has bar seating so the tables and seats are high. I sat at the level seating area. I prefer the diner seating. Windows can see the ocean view. We ordered Crab Melt that came with fries and 1/2 Crab Melt with Clam chowder. The clam chowder is good! I think they out in gravy or something to make it taste different. I didn't ask though. The Crab Melt, I felt, was salty! Like a little too salty. I think they salted the crab and the cheese that they put on top of the crab pieces was salty too. Next time if I come here again I would choose just the Crab Sandwich instead. 1 Dozen Oysters were so fresh and isn't fishy. I really liked the sauce that came with it. It was really delicious!!! The price is market so it came out to $33.95 for 12 oysters. The only problem with the oysters is that it isn't easy to eat. We had to take the fork to get the meat off the shell. Our waitress wasn't friendly. She didn't come back to us or ask how we're doing. She only gave us water and food. Never came back to check on us. FYI: there is take out just outside next to the restaurant. I think next time I'll just do that. They sell different oysters, cups of shrimp, crab, and a lot of other things. Next time I would do that instead of dining in.

Stagnaro Ravioli it's delicious, it's hard to find real Ravioli. Great ambience too! I would come here all the time of if I could. Ha!

Stagnaro Bros. is a quintessential spot on the Santa Cruz Wharf, ideal for a relaxing lunch or a leisurely afternoon by the water. While the food is good--not exceptional--the incredible views make this place truly special. We ordered the fish tacos, fish sandwich, and a dozen oysters. The fish tacos were fresh and well-seasoned, with a nice balance of flavors and textures. The fish sandwich was hearty and satisfying, perfect for a casual meal. The oysters were fresh, briny, and a delightful highlight of our seafood experience. But let's talk about the real star of the show: the setting. Sitting on the deck, surrounded by the sound of the waves and the salty ocean breeze, makes dining here a memorable experience. Watching the water shimmer under the sun and spotting marine life while you eat--it doesn't get much better than that. Stagnaro Bros. is a great choice if you're in the area and looking for a laid-back meal with an unbeatable view. Come for the seafood, soak in the coastal vibes, and enjoy everything the Santa Cruz Wharf has to offer.

Decided to have lunch here while attending a car show on the wharf this past Saturday. I was surprised and a little confused when I arrived. They have a food counter on the right hand side selling similar snacks as the restaurant, like sandwiches, fish n chips, chowder, even burgers, as well as sweets like smoothies and milkshakes. But they didn't offer the same items or deals as in the sit down restaurant, particularly alcoholic beverages and the half sandwich and soup deal only available for lunch in the dining room which had about a 20-minute wait on this special event day (probably longer for bigger parties). It was worth the wait for a half crab melt sandwich and cup of new england clam chowder. Award winning taste? Yes indeed, a creamy and satisfying blend of spices and ingredients. The sandwich was tasty too, stuffed with a thick layer of crab meat and melted cheddar oozing from the sizable half sub, fresh lettuce, tomato slices, red onion, and a sauce resembling thousand island served on the side. The entire dish was yummy. Add to that, friendly workers, fast service, and a casual environment with seating along the windows offering views looking out into the water, as well as an upper deck lounge... this is a great option for some good seafood on the wharf.

We tried the 12 Pacific oysters at Stagnaro Brothers, and they were delicious, though we could have used more than one oyster fork. My girlfriend had the half crab melt and clam chowder, and I had the full crab melt sandwich with fries. The crab was tasty but a bit salty. The clam chowder was a standout surprisingly: rich and flavorful. The service could have been better; - our server wasn't very attentive. Also - keep in mind there's a 3.5% transaction fee for card payments. I wish this was told to us beforehand but good thing we brought enough cash on hand. Next time we will likely order from togo and eat outside on the boardwalk.

Lovely setting on pier with some of the better chowder I've had. Sourdough bowl was on point too! Cioppino was good, not great. Mix of mussels and clams were good, not great as well. The broth for both weren't a hit which is what minimized the rating. Service was friendly and fast. Unnecessary amount of flies but we were on the wharf, however traps would have been a good touch.

We came in here for lunch and a drink, we had the crab melt and honestly we both loved it! Must try! The beer my BF got was gold and I had a glass of cab which was also good. It was pretty busy for a weekday afternoon and the upstairs was closed, overall cute place and delicious food.

Take a walk to the end of the pier in Santa Cruz and try the fresh seafood .the portions are huge fresh and delicious, the staff is ready to answer any questions to make your experience the best, the tacos were really huge fresh and that taco sauce delicious and clam chowder fresh and delicious in sour dough bread bowl loved sitting on the pier and enjoying our meal outdoors altho they have indoor sitting restaurant .so if you ever in Santa Cruz get out and enjoy some delicious seafood and friendly staff thank you so much for making our first time there very memorable We will definitely be back again thank you all ‼

Went to Stagnaro's for the first time. My cousin took me out for my Bday dinner. I normally pick Fire Fish but thought I would give Stagnaro's a try. It wasn't too crowded (we went early, just after 5). Waited about 5 mins to be greeted by our server, Amber. She ended up being the best part of the experience. I ended ordering the Seafood Pasta dish. Calamari, scallops, prawns and fish over fettuccine pasta in a red sauce. It wasn't marinara and it wasn't cioppino but it tasted good. The portion was a fair size. My cousin ordered one of the specials which was Avocado Sauce Sea Bass. It came with rice and sautéed veggies. The portion was good and she said it was yummy. As as the restaurant itself. There were a lot of flies inside and it was very noisy. Conversations were a challenge. Amber checked on us a couple of times. The part that was somewhat annoying is that once we finished dinner they are on a fast track to flip the table. Dishes were cleared and the check was dropped with a couple of minutes. When they cleared the dishes I guess the guy asked us if we wanted coffee and/or dessert but I didn't hear him over the noise. I really wanted to try the bread pudding. Amber saved the day and offered me a scoop of vanilla or spumoni. Thanks Amber! You were the star of the meal!! It's not that it was terrible but when I compare it to Fire Fish or even Riva's this place is a distant second. It's not that

Definitely not the same as it used to be. Calamari was flavorless and greasy. But I was most disappointed in the chowder. It had a heavy flour and chicken broth taste. Stagnaro's has always my go to place when I go to Santa Cruz, but I've noticed decline over the years. For instance the sourdough bread hasn't been as good and now I have to include my favorite clam chowder. Will I go back? Probably because it's hard to break a tradition, but I'm already in search of a new favorite clam chowder restaurant.

Growing up around Monterey Bay since the late 50's, Stagnaro Bros. has never not been there. From the dozens of fishing trips to the wharf and countless times to the beaches on either side of the pier it's been standing proudly. Found childhood memories of buying a handful of salted herring from the outside fish counter or warming up to a bowl of clam chowder on a foggy day fishing. Ahhh! Had some family from up North visiting for the weekend and walked the wharf ending up at StagnaroBro. for some chowder and calamari. Just as I remember. We were all glad we stopped in. Last words...even if just for the memories.

There's 2 options, sit down dining and quick service. Prices in the dining room are a few dollars more, but a lot more comfortable. Quick service does have a few outdoor tables for guests too! Or you could eat on one of the many benches along the pier. We decided to sit on the upper floor with a wide open view of the broad walk. Our server was also the best! Very accommodating and offered great suggestions. Food wise, we got: half crab sandwhich with chowder $19 - a decent portion of Dungeness crab between 2 slices of sourdough bread with all the fixings. The chowder was thick and creamy. I wish there were more clam bits, but still a solid soup! Fish sandwhich with side salad $18 - thin snapper fillets fried to perfection on a French roll. It came with 1 tomato and 1 piece of lettuce, which was enough for half the sandwhich. Wish there were more veggies for the sandwhich, but the side salad was great and pretty generous in this case. Prices here were fair for what we got. It's not a must-visit place. But it's solid restaurant in such a touristy location. Would come again if I'm in the area craving solid seafood.

The food was really good with mussels that weren't over cooked and in a tasty broth that wasn't overly salty. The staff were friendly and efficient but didn't hover while we had a slow lunch and talked. We stopped in on a weekday and it was slow and easy to get a window seat. Always sit at the windows as you have a great view of the bay while eating.

A go-to spot if you're at the Santa Cruz Wharf. Ideal place for a laid-back meal and get cover from the cold and wind. We ordered a warm clam chowder and crab cakes. Simple and flavorful; ingredients tasted fresh. We got a table with a nice view of the Wharf. Not a long wait time, got seated pretty much immediately.

I was gonna give 3 stars mainly cause the kid at the counter is a goddam trip someone train him before letting him be on his own. I order an assortment of a dozen and he served us a box w no ice and missing half the toppings you'd put on oysters. I come here everytime I'm in Santa Cruz cause they don't disappoint and oysters are fresh so I ordered another half dozen the lady at the counter changed our whole experience. She was lively great conversation and when we got our order received fully iced tray w all the fixings of in house made tartar sauce. This place is a novelty too for me as a lover of oysters. A must hit to enjoy the sea life surrounding you. Outside seating mainly so enjoy the wind in your hair.

This is one of my favorite seafood places to go to. I believe that they have a restaurant if you decide to dine in. Otherwise, they have food selections you can order from if you decide to do a takeout. They also sell other raw seafood just like how you can buy them in Asian supermarkets. The service needs some improvement. One of the employees kept on asking me to order already when I'm still thinking what I want to get, which is quite rude if you ask me. Anyways, I got what I wanted and decided to get calamari and fries. The portions are big I gotta say. Kinda wish that they put more calamari with tentacles since they're my favorites. Also, the pricing of it is fair compared to other restaurants. Some cost at least $20! Good place to stop by though which is why I parked almost close to it.

We took our son and wow! The customer service was great and the food was chefs kiss! We got oysters and got a couple of sandwiches and everything was delicious. My son loved the wiki stix and we had a blast! Fun family friendly environment!

I am regular and Love a drink or two or more. Weekends are more busy than some weekday evenings, enjoying good conversations at the bar with sunsetting in the background is amazingly relaxing experiance.

I have been coming to this Stagnaro Bros restaurant for many years now. I remember always enjoy eating here on the Santa Cruz Wharf right on the water. I absolutely love the Amazing Views here! Plenty of Seafood Options! I usually always order my favorite Seafood Ciopino here. Beside the restaurant, they also offer Fresh Wholesale seafood togo with Spacious Indoor/outdoor Seatings Available. Gorgeous Sunshines, especially during this time of year!! 08162024

The place is a nice setting but the food is a little lack lust. Service was good. Not sure if we would go back with so many other options in the area.

Food wasn't too bad. I know seafood is already pricey but wasn't in love with the price to taste ratio there. There wasn't anything particularly bad- except the rice, but I always never like how American places cook their rice- but nothing particularly amazing. Except maybe the fried fish sticks, those were a lot better than I expected of fish sticks. You could definitely feel it was something that was once swimming in the ocean. Broccoli and cauliflower are always a hit when they're soaked in some kind of sauce. Not too bad but also not really thinking of returning.

Food Always good the clam chowder in a bowl is a must it really is "award winning " and Service the employees are so on top of everything and fast hot food service Ambiance lay back peaceful eat there or get it to go You guys rock !

Came here on a whim after reviewing some TikTok videos. I was really craving some live seafood like they have down in Redondo pier in LA. I wasn't too impressed about the oysters, but I was surprisingly impressed about the crab. When it came out, it was cold. I thought it was gonna be steamed and fresh but then they told me that they steam it and then keep it cold after. I thought it was in a taste of frozen or with no flavored, but needless to say I was wrong. I wish I would've ordered two of them. It was so sweet and very flavorful. The staff were really nice too. I definitely would be back. Probably will order 2 though lol

This is one of Best clam chowder (outside counter) in Santa Cruz. I like stopping by the pier after a long coastal drive and picking up some chowder and eating it on the benches or the back of the truck. They keep the food area clean, if a line forms, they get it moving pretty fast. Always a great spot to stop.

Was told this was an old-school, style establishment and the best fish restaurant on the wharf. It was Saturday night around 6:30 PM p.m.. The wharf was busy with tourists as was a hot day in July. Yet our party of four was seated immediately. Our friendly server, Alexis, was entertaining, attentive, and efficient. Bravo! Two of us ordered the Bloody Mary, apparently a signature cocktail of the house. As far as bloody Mary's go, they were extra spicy and satisfied immensely. My lightly breaded sole fish was delish. The rest of party ordered fish and chips and grilled fish (which was apparently a little dry). The view is beautiful as the restaurant is at the end of the West Coast's longest wharf. I fell in love with Santa Cruz because of this wharf. Check it out.

pretty good 8/10 Wouldn't say it was bad but it is really good.recommend. Service was nice.had some sparkling water. fish was on the wall interior was cool.could smell crab from afar

Right on the pier at the end. You can order your food from the outside and sit at a table, or take it to go, or eat indoors in the restaurant. All three times I've been here, I've had a fish sandwich, and each time it has been good, but this last time, didn't enjoy it as much as the time prior years ago. Felt the fish has gotten smaller, and the flavors aren't as good.

It was a perfect spring evening on the pier at Stagnaro's. We had a pleasant experience with the snapper and petrale sole being some of our favorite dishes. The crab melt was okay but a little dry- having the tartar sauce was helpful. Our server was really friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was pretty busy so our food took a little longer than expected but the server kept us posted so we didn't mind.

This isn't the same place from my childhood ( by the by... I became a AARP member this summer. ) This has been a 'thing' for me for some time, many wonderful memories of my grandparents taking me here. Sadly they are no more, and so I found myself in Santa Cruz with my wife and mentioned having dinner - only for her to say, lets go. First off, I really don't remember there being a fly issue. I can understand one/couple of flies - I wasn't expecting a cloud. The entire time I was wondering why was this a thing tbh. Reading through other reviews, apparently this is a new thing. ( Again, last time I was here was with my Grandpa, before the pandemic. ) The food has never been something amazing, but rather something that's just OK. As in perfectly OK - in it's honestly and humbleness. This has not changed. The service was also OK - just OK. When normalized for the price, probably not...but this is a tourist spot, so I can overlook a lot. I wasn't going to write a review ( even with the fly situation, and lack of 'value'/food that's just OK ) ;however, it was something that my wife was confused by and something that I saw in other reviews... The check came, just as I was going to restroom and my wife asked me what was "NCA"?... I figure it was some sort of 'service charge'. Well, she looked it up and it was something about a credit card service charge. I actually didn't think anything of it, until the next day... That was on the check...before we agreed upon use of a credit card... i.e.: it was on our check (and others) regardless of our payment methods. Not cool. Also, the tip amount was after tax ( and these bs charges ). Overall, not a great experience. I guess you really can't go home.

Today, we made a stop at Stagnaro Bros on the pier for lunch. It was our first visit, and we were pleasantly surprised by the freshness and deliciousness of everything we ordered. Our server, Fernando, mentioned that he usually worked as a bartender, but today marked his first day as a server. We found him to be exceptionally kind and skilled, and we're confident he'll excel in both roles. For our meal, we tried the clam chowder, chili lime prawn tacos, and fish and chips. The portions were generously sized, and even though we shared, we still had to take home two large, delicious soft tacos. Parking on the pier was a bit challenging today due to the beautiful weather, with seals making an appearance. Normally, in my experience, parking is easier. It's worth noting that it wasn't expensive to park on the pier. I recommend this restaurant for families or casual outings. It has a relaxed seafood vibe, a fantastic view of the water and boardwalk, and it's a great spot for people-watching. They also offer a to-go counter, although we dined in this time. This being our first experience, we'll see how things go in the future, but all in all, we were extremely satisfied with our lunch choice today.

Horrible service... couldn't even get bread... never refilled drinks... portions are tiny for the price... food is barely even quality of a fast food joint.

No wait. We were seated right away. Party of five. Very disappointed eating here. We thought it would be fresh delicious seafood restaurant. Started off with fried calamari appetizer- seemed to be previously frozen then over fried. Hard. Not crunchy. Chewy. WORST CALAMARI IVE EVER HAD Clam chowder was flour thick TERRIBLE. Lacked flavor, clams and potatoes. Not impressed. The oyster crackers were excellent! The grilled salmon was perfectly cooked but was not seasoned. Add your own salt and pepper. Rice pilaf was bland lacking flavor as well. The steamed vegetables were the biggest portion on the plate. That's it. No flavor The other meals ordered I was told were just okay. Nothing to rave about DO NOT ORDER THE OVERPRICED Bubbling Berry Drink $16 mostly ice - don't waste your money. Order a beer instead

Getting a crab and shrimp cocktail and a bowl of clam chowder at the end of the Santa Cruz wharf and sitting (or standing), looking at the ocean, and hearing the sea lions on the wharf is a fairly affordable must do while in Santa Cruz.

This name is known well for seafood and fishing in the central CA region. Seeing the restaurant on the Wharff, we decided this would be our lunch stop. The restaurant was packed and the waitresses, a seasoned group, seemed stretched. It took a bit longer to place our orders, and when we ordered a crab dish, we're told they "were out." In looking back to the menu to make a different selection, our waitress disappeared. We had a shrimp Louie, clam chowder, the fisherman's pasta and fried fish sampler. The salad was loaded with shrimp, but had too much dressing, which made the salad heavy. The seafood sampler had nicely fried clams and calamari, but the fish was overcooked and there was only one prawn and one scallop. The fisherman's pasta was delicious, with an amazing sauce, but also one prawn and one scallop. I suppose this is a cost saving measure, but at least two bites of everything would have made it more satisfying. I would say my expectations were higher than what was delivered, here.

Service was amazing and the food was really good! The fried scallops were FANTASTIC which made up for the forgettable fried fish. The chowder wasn't anything special but was still good and the fish tacos had a lovely sauce which made the dish. Highly recommend!

We frequent the outside walk up window ever time we come to the wharf. The chowder was creamy and well seasoned. I prefer mine spicy so I applied Tapatio and four pepper packets... Perfect for my pallet in this sourdough bowl. If the bread bowl had a crispier shell that would've been great, but I don't know how they can pull it off being 1000 yards from shore. The fish tacos, they are super size for what I am used to coming from LA. Down in LA typically you get street size fish tacos. Here I had 2 -6" corn tortillas With a whole grilled fish fillet on each one, plus the usual extras. They were outstanding with some Tapatio and provided lime wedges. Overall, the best dining experience we have had in the last five days here in the Santa Cruz area. The fish tacos were beyond amazing! I

We recently took a cruise while dining here and loved it! The cruise was a bit short and choppy, like the food, but we survived the experience. A once in a lifetime experience!

My husband and I came here for dinner and got the crab melt sandwich and their famous bowl of clam chowder and a few drinks. The crab melt sandwich was delicious! It was filled with real crab and the cheese went well with it! It also came with lots of fries. We enjoyed it! 5/5 We also got their famous clam chowder. There was clam in every bite that we took! It tastes like your normal clam chowder, super creamy. We enjoyed it. 5/5 The service was great! Our waiter was on top of it and super helpful. I loved how we were seated near the ocean as well! It was a great way to end our day at the boardwalk.

Poor service. No water while others got theirs. We requested for them through another person. Other people's food came out before ours, and we were there way before them. Ordered clam chowder and didn't come. Ordered no sauce on sandwich, and it had sauce. Ordered grilled calamari and waitress said it was when it was lightly battered. She said I am not going to argue. I told her I am not even arguing. Wow. Food is bland. Clam chowder: No flavor. Left disappointed.

Our server was initially nice, except he did not check on us at all. Not ONCE. He checked on his other customers and asked if they wanted dessert. He did not refill my water. Coca-Cola was flat and did not ask if we wanted dessert. I picked up this restaurant because it had the most stars and wanted to celebrate my birthday. I will say the ladies are very sweet and nice. My husband and I were there around 230. Can't remember his name. Short and Hispanic.

While visiting the Monterey Peninsula, we drove up to Santa Cruz for lunch. We decided to eat out on the pier and looked at all of the options. We ultimately decided to go with Stagnaro Brothers walk up counter. We ordered the fish and chips, crab sandwich and fries, and a bowl of New England clam chowder to share. The soup was delicious, the fish and chips were tender and juicy, and the crab sandwich was excellent. We really enjoyed the food and eating outside on a bench as we watched everything the wharf has to offer. If you are in Santa Cruz and want some great food, give Stagnaro Bros a try. Enjoy!

Great food and great service ! Me and my family came in randomly on Friday and it was absolutely fantastic I'm shocked that the only have three stars I think that the food was great we got everything promptly and had great service from the bartender Justin. I hope that this influences you to give this place a try

Restaurant on the pier in Santa Cruz. . Service was great but not the food. Clam chowder was thick, starchy, unflavorful. Lobster roll was all mayo and Celery. Where is the lobster??? Such a disappointment. Fries looked good but the taste was oily and bland. I ordered a Pinot Grigio which tasted like a cheap Sauvignon Blanc. I ate the meal since I was starved. My adult daughter refused to eat. Our server was so nice that she didn't want to disappoint him. There are many options on the Santa Cruz pier, unfortunately this was not a good one. I do not recommend this restaurant and think our server would do better finding another job.

We bought their delicious clam chowder soup which was so tasty and scrumptious that we bought a quart home . I bought sonw to go food like the sheimp , octopus prawn ceviche , smoked salmon nuggets. Then I got 3 lbs of cooked crabs which was so packed with ice . Dave and Woody did an excellent service . The aura is so refreshing that I can smell fresh catch of the day .

We were looking forward to some great Fish and Fries at the Santa Cruz Wharf. Yuck, it could have been chicken. Tasteless. Sorry I gave them a tip. Old fish, tasteless. Very disappointing.

Worth a try but you're not missing out, about 3.5 stars All the way at the end of the pier, so a bit further to walk. Tried the crab melt + clam chowder. Crab melt is ok, there is decent amount of real crab. Clam chowder is a bit salty, could use more stuff, but does have extra flavor and is thick. Overall, decent, and of course, a few $ extra for the tourist tax but not horrendous. More flies than I would like inside though. Service was slow the day I went.