Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz
Gabriella Cafe
910 Cedar Street,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-3802
(831) 457-1677
| Cuisine | American, American (Regional), Californian, European, Italian |
| Price Level | This restaurant's average entree cost is Expensive |
| Payment Accepted | Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Discover, Cash, |
| Atmosphere | Romantic, Outdoor Dining, Live Music: Thursday |
| Parking | Street |
| Reservations | Suggested |
| Attire | Smart Casual |
| Year Opened | 1992 |
| General Amenities | Private Party Room, Wi-fi |
| Meal Services | Brunch, Lunch, Dinner |
| Bar Info | Beer, Wines |
| Neighborhood | Santa Cruz |
Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz - Summary:
(from metrosantacruz.com) - OIL PAINTINGS line the graceful rooms, white cloths and fresh flowers top the tables. Owner Paul Cocking greets guests, pours wine. Brad Briske's team rocks the kitchen. And between a fine lineup of California wines and a nightly menu showcasing local specialty items, this is arguably the best dining in town.
We began with a pour of bone-dry River Run Chardonnay 2007, which proved the perfect partner for our incredible starters of local halibut crudo ($12) and shaved cucumber involtini filled with albacore conserve ($11). Glistening white cubes of halibut, topping a rich bed of avocado, were grouped in a pretty quartet across a wide rectangular plate. Cucumber juice and preserved Meyer lemon, flecked with nori salt, provided a delicate sauce for this supple creation. A lineup of shaved cucumber cylinders arrived, each pale green involtini filled with a rich stuffing of albacore and frosted with aioli. Sprigs of peppery watercress and a splendid, spicy salsa verde formed calligraphy around each roll of cucumber. A sexy bit of tart and creamy dialogue, the dish had us both licking our forks. The superbly fresh greens and herbs from Lindencroft Farms help transport Gabriella's dishes from the merely wonderful into a higher domain of flavor nuance. Long slices of warm focaccia helped soak up the delicate sauces.
Glasses of red wines arrived--a full-bodied Testarossa Pinot Noir ($12.50) loaded with plums and licorice, and an appealing 2004 Le Bocce Sangiovese ($8.75) filled with Tuscan aromas. Suddenly, well before sundown, the tiny restaurant was packed. On a Tuesday! So busy in fact was the dinner trade that main dishes sold out, and a few luscious pasta dishes had to be added. In all the sudden bustle, our entrees took more time than they should have. In recognition of too long a wait, our appetizers were discounted.
When our entrees did arrive, however, they lived up to our appetites and then some. Jack feasted on an appetizer portion of Devil's Gulch pork meatballs ($10) slathered in a sauce of vibrant roasted dry-farm tomatoes. My dish of pastured pork belly from River Dog Farms arrived in crispy layers, unctuous and juicy underneath ($22). Straddling a bed of bitter greens and pancetta-braised shelling beans, the designer pork 'n' beans proved ridiculously flavorful. Nestling under its layer of belly fat, the rich natural pork tasted exactly like a confit. A nest of paper-thin Armenian cucumbers, lemon-marinated, lay coiled nearby. Relentlessly terrific, every bite.
A slice of Strauss Family yogurt cheesecake was miraculous ($10). Beyond creamy, the tangy cheesecake was inflected with intense summer blackberries transformed into a deep purple coulis. A few triangles of amazing pinenut brittle (!) and a topping of sea salt turned the creamy pastry into the best dessert of the year.
Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz - Reviews:
Positive Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz Review:
The price is average anywhere for a filling lunch/dinner. We sat in the outside nook area, which was great since the weather was perfect and the side of the building cast a nice shadow over our table. There was a lovely lunch menu that had salad and soup included. Very laid-back atmosphere. The Italian candies given to us with our check was the perfect ending. The restaurant is small but perfect for a nice lunch! Nice find! Service was great, just enough.
-Rose T., Oklahoma City, OK
Negative Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz Review:
The only reason I went to this place is because I was visiting the Boardwalk and found a $25 coupon for Gabriella Cafe. The restaurant itself is very cozy and neatly decorated but that's about it.
The bread they start you with is very dry, bland, and tasteless. The menu is very limited and I think it changes daily.
I ordered the chicken, I'm not sure which one, and my wife ordered the trout. I swear for $16 it was the smallest piece of chicken I've ever seen. My wife stated that the trout tasted fine but for $19 they could have provided a little more food.
During my stay I was never asked if I needed anything. They gave me a bottle of water and I guess they thought that would be good enough to keep me quite.
It wasn't a terrible experience, but without the $25 coupon from http://restaurant.com I would have felt cheated. I left Gabriella Cafe hungry.
-Tim O, El Cerrito, CA
Average Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz Review:
Went to Gabriella Cafe for Valentine's Day dinner. There was a fixed price menu for $75 per person. The good news is that the food carried the evening. Both my bf and I agreed the food was excellent. I was really looking forward to the evening as I hadn't been to the place in over 5 years. We made our reservations 7 weeks in advance. Our server was friendly enough but was inattentive and seemed inexperienced/untrained. After initially taking or order she went missing in action for the first 3 or so courses. She forgot to come back to take our wine order. A variety of different people served us. Our soup was delivered and we discovered we had no spoons. After 3 min or so of waiting we flagged someone down to get some spoons. Strangely, it is the first "fine dining" restaurant I have been to where men are served first. Our first glass of wine and about half of the 6 courses, my BF was served first. Also, when I requested ground pepper for my salad, the server nonetheless began with my BF who declined. Around the 4th course our served re-surfaced and finally asked "How are you guys doing?" She offered us additional wine. When we ordered dessert, there were 2 options and we were told we would have to split one. Obviously, we didn't each need a separate dessert after 5 courses but seemed like a strange policy for $75 per person. When we ordered dessert I had intended to order coffee but forgot. At most restaurants the server offers coffee so maybe I have become lazy. The panna cotta with rose flavoring was great. When the server returned our bill (over $200) my coffee was empty but she didn't notice so I had to ask for a refill. Again, seemed like she had never been taught to notice these things. After my 2nd cup, she did, however, offer me a refill which I declined. All of the food was perfectly flavored to enhance the food without being overly flavored. The halibut, beef cheeks, gnocchi, Roman artichokes, arugula salad were all superb. My BF enjoyed the amuse bouche oysters too! All in all, the service didn't match the caliber of the food so the overall experience was needlessly diminished on what should have been a very special evening for all patrons. In all fairness, I have had good service there in the past. Also, there was a cluster of nearby tables with a different server who seemed more consistently attentive and perceptive than our server. Our server received a much better tip than she deserved. Kudos to the chef but time to step up the service.
-Lisa S., Scotts Valley, CA
Gabriella Cafe Santa Cruz - Photos:
