A wonderful experience as always. Take the funicular down and enjoy a relaxing stroll up through the rain forest after dinner. Cocktails are always on point! The menu is varied and the sauces always put each dish over the top. Celiac dining is very easy here between the clearly marked menus and helpful wait staff who ask the chefs about alternatives and accommodations to make sure your food is gluten-free. Like dining in a tree house, every level is almost a different but memorable occasion. Celebrate your special events or just another wonderful day of life.

Absolutely amazing dining experience. Getting to the restaurant, you have the option of a gondola/trolley like ride or stairs. At the bottom of the restaurant, you can find some stunning views that look like they're out of a fairy tale. The calm water makes a beautiful mirrored scene. Getting into the restaurant the staff are all friendly and polite. The views, lighting, and ambience are well on point. The brie appetizer and jalapeno jam was delicious. I enjoyed my lamb entree. The coffee and cheesecake at the end was fantastic. I love that I didn't feel overwhelmed by quantity of food. It was just the right amount to make me satisfied. The only thing I didn't like was I ordered a margarita and the lime inside looked a bit old. In all fairness, it was my mistake to order a margarita. The wine selection was awesome and the server was knowledgeable in his recommendations. I would definitely make a trip out here again when I can.

Wow! I love this restaurant. Came here for lunch and was totally amazed! The ambience is truly unlike anywhere else in the Bay Area, and the romantic theme was definitely captured throughout. While that was great, the food was also excellent. Had the Caesar salad, Blackened Shrimp Mac and Cheese, and the steak sandwich. Each dish was better than the last Cannot wait to come here for dinner!!!

A fabulous spot for some warm/attentive service and delectable bites. Do yourself a favor and get there early to walk the beautiful grounds before checking in at the host table. Take the one minute gondola ride back up to the parking area at the end for the experience and views. If you're staying nearby, have them pick you up in their classic cab. Outdoor seating is right on the waterfront and tables in the garden room overlook the outdoor seating/water area and offer a treehouse feel, as you sit surrounded by greenery and expansive panels of windows, which elevates the dining experience. The fillet was one of the best prepared I've had- charred on the outside and extremely tender. All the seafood was well cooked- firm/bouncy in texture and very moist/flavorful.

We celebrated our 1st marriage anniversary here and I don’t regret it. The best romantic restaurant in Santa Cruz. The ambience is amazing, best place for date night, family get together or even meetings over lunch! They have an elevator which is the main attraction of the restaurant so check that out. Food options are limited but the taste is really different from any other restaurants that I have tried in the area. Also the stuff is good and friendly. Definitely a place to visit.

A unique and beautiful restaurant best for couples for a romantic dining. Fine dinng and wine. To go down to the restaurant you can ride a cable car the can fit up to six people. or you can take the stairs to go up and down and you can enjoy the mountain view and take pictures. Reservation is highly recommended. indoor and outdoor dining available.

If you had one place to visit when you went to the Santa Cruz area, this is the place I'd recommend! Such a unique location, unique experience, and apparently the BEST PLACE TO KISS? Definitely one for the books. Good: This place is just start to finish such a memorable experience! We were in the Green Room which was the lowest level floor (this place has 5 LEVELS) and you have to take a short tram down to get to the restaurant - that by itself was already such a wow factor! You can take the tram up or down. Each level in this restaurant is unique and ours was right next to the water. It is beautiful at night too! I really liked the bread that we started off with - the dinner roll was very crunchy and tasty. The butter was good too. I was recommended the French 75 drink and enjoyed the rec - it was super sweet and didn't feel super alcoholic. I loved the baked brie dish and the seared ahi tuna we got - the baked brie was more memorable as it came with crostinis and a really sweet jelly that seemed to pair super well. Apparently, the mother of the director of Crazy Rich Asians recommended the Honey Glazed Pork Chop so I got it - and it was indeed super tasty! I loved how juicy it was and the sweet potatoes it came with were super unique too and tasty. Bad: Service is a bit slow, apparently, they only have one kitchen in the whole place - so this is understandable, it's just surprising how many people they can serve. Overall, had such a blast here and would come again. It's also not too crazy on the wallet for the experience.

This place is fun and different. Love the atmosphere and everyone was friendly. They also had great food options for the kids. I had two problems though. One, I ordered a steak medium rare and it came out well done (see my picture). I tried to get my server's attention, but she didn't come out for about 10 minutes so I just ate it. Second issue is parking. There's a small lot but street parking is by permit only in immediate vicinity. The cocktails were nothing to write home about either. I'll try this place again for a date night when I make a reservation so I can try out the dining room.

Great atmosphere and food is amazing. I’ve been to this place a few times for family gatherings. We all enjoyed our food. I removed a star for two reasons. We waited 30 minutes to be seated when we got there. Our reservations was for 6:45 and we were seated at 7:15. They did comp us our appetizers which were delicious but still, we had a party of 8 at the start of the eve so not sure why the big wait. The other reason was the few cocktails we had that were whiskey drinks had lots of ice instead of a single or maybe two ice cubes. They were watered down. For the price of those drinks they shouldn’t have the same ice as the water and sodas. My dad had a scotch served they looked like it was a soda and he had to fish all the ice out. Other than those two things the service was wonderful and food on point. I’d just suggest you order your ice on the side.

An incredible place to go for dinner! My wife and I celebrated our anniversary there and loved every bit of the restaurant. The atmosphere is stunning. Definitely recommend riding the gondola down into the lush gardens below towards the restaurant. The dining room we were in was built around a beautiful Monterey pine. The service was top notch. Kent was a great server and was very kind and knew so much about the surrounding area and restaurant. I got the steak special and it was phenomenal. Will definitely be going again!

This place is tremendous. Even if the food was mediocre the vibe and location would be worth it. But the food is tremendous and the prices are perfect. Must have the baked Brie. That app is a go to for sure. Scallops were cooked perfectly and the filet was fork tender. Perfect date spot

EXPERIENCE The whole experience from start to finish is perfect. You begin by taking a trolley ride down from the parking lot to the restaurant which sits on the water front. Then you're seated in one of three levels with water views with a beautiful interior. The food was all incredibly delicious and perfectly cooked and arrived promptly. They end with dessert and give you a personalized envelope with a print out picture of the evening. FOOD Our party had the calamari and the bacon-wrapped prawns to start and both were among the best we've ever had. The calamari especially was incredible. For the entree we had the sea scallops and the shrimp pasta and both were nothing short of perfect. I'm just glad I got a picture before I started eating because I wouldn't have been able to stop. I loved the cheesecake which was light and not too thick but still very rich and sweet.

I was here to celebrate my daughter's graduation. This is such a beautiful restaurant if you love nature. The place is surrounded by beautiful flowers and lots of trees. The restaurant is located at the bottom of the cliff there's a trolley that goes up and down and I want to say most patrons took the trolley instead of walking. If you decide to walk there are multiple flights of stairs. The staff was great too. Everyone we talked to was super nice and I have to say they excelled at what they did. The food was delicious. It looks like a popular place and reservations are a must since this place looks like it's a hot spot. I'm not a local but when I visit the area again I will definitely dine in this restaurant.

I saw this place on a video a couple of years ago and have been wanting to go since then. Finally decided to drive down from San Francisco and spend a couple days in Santa Cruz. So glad Shadowbrook is just about 10 minutes away from where we were staying. I made the reservation through Yelp almost a month in advance for a Tuesday night dinner for 2. I only told my boyfriend about the restaurant the day before, so he was pleasantly surprised by the funicular when we got there. The staff that greeted us were nice and friendly and were then walked to and seated in the wine cellar. We did notice a little nook with a table for 2 right on the stairs on the way down to the wine cellar. It was so cute! But anyway, we ordered the coconut lavender lemonade (so good!) and the Marine Flyer, which was basically my lemonade with rum. Both were really good and gave us beach vibes. W As for food, we got the baked brie to start, I got the blackened 12 oz prime rib, and my boyfriend got the scampi with sirloin. They do give you warm bread and whipped butter before your appetizers. We both enjoyed and inhaled because we were past our usual dinner time. The Baked Brie was so good and we did finish it, but it's enough for about 3 or 4. I loved the spices on the blackened prime rib. And my boyfriend also enjoyed the scampi and steak. Their entrees are huge, so we almost didn't get dessert, but decided to try their bread pudding with peaches and cream. Yum! But yeah, we left feeling FULL. We also had an amazing server, Monica. She was friendly and kept the mood up. Great menu recommendations as well. I really suggest dropping by. It's a whole experience. The location and ambience is beautiful and the food does keep up with that. It's a whole package. Great place for a special occasion or even for a random weekend trip like what it was for us.

I had an awesome experience here for my anniversary, everything from the cocktails to the complimentary truffles was heavenly. The location is such a romantic/unique spot and I highly recommend waiting to try out the cable car! It was a fun little end to the restaurant

This restaurant was absolutely amazing everything was cooked so perfectly. They are great gluten free options and were always accommodating. The fried calamari was even gluten free and they said they had a whole separate fryer to make sure there was so cross contamination. Overall had a great experience our waiter was amazing and super friendly. Loved the experience as well super fun place to eat while also being calming and having a good ambiance

This restaurant is so wonderful. Great nature vibes and aesthetics all around. Wonderful staff to curate everyone’s individual experience. Great place for any special occasion or event.

My wife surprised me with a birthday visit to this restaurant, and I was genuinely astonished by the vastness of the restaurant's premises. I must applaud the remarkable vision of those who initiated this restaurant; it's no small feat to conceive and bring to life such a place, especially considering it dates back to 1947. The heart of Shadowbrook is a log cabin originally constructed as a summer residence in the 1920s, which adds a delightful historical touch. From the moment you step aboard the Hillavator(cable car), every part of the restaurant is filled with captivating details. It's a sprawling establishment, and we felt like explorers navigating a maze as we ventured through its seven dining rooms, wine cellar, and the deck overlooking Soquel Creek. It's the kind of place you can simply visit to experience its unique charm. Now, onto the occasion itself. We visited for lunch and ordered dishes like creamy artichoke, blackened shrimp mac and cheese, chicken pizza, and a couple of cocktails. While we didn't have overly high expectations for the food, it surprised us pleasantly; the blackened shrimp mac and cheese was a standout and a must-try. Mud pie in desserts was delicious. We couldn’t put our spoons down. Although the menu didn't offer an extensive array of choices, the selections were carefully curated. The only hiccup in our experience was the service, which moved at a leisurely pace. Each order took approximately an hour to reach our table, extending our stay to more than three hours. Despite this minor inconvenience, our overall experience at the restaurant was enjoyable and memorable.

This place is an institution in the beautiful seaside town of Capitola, CA. The grounds, that fun cable car, and some solidly amazing food! Sadly, COVID-19 rendered the Shadowbrook closed on this particular day. But I assure you, you won't be disappointed. I've been several times over the years, and have enjoyed it every time!

If I opened a restaurant I would hire who ever came up with this place. Est 1947 and very unique. Multilevel on a steep slope above a river. Upscale, put on a tie, romantic, great special date place. Varied types of rooms. Greenhouse, wine cellar. By the big fireplace or out side on different patios. Make reservations. Oh yeah, the food is great too.

This was the most gorgeous and romantic spot - perfect for a date night. Their food was absolutely incredible, each dish having well constructed flavors. I recommend the house salad and truffle gnocchi! Not only was the meal delicious, but the staff was top notch and even brought us dessert on the house! Can’t recommend enough!

We came here on a recommendation and weren't disappointed. The restaurant began as a small space on the hillside in the 1920s and has grown over the century into the gorgeous, sprawling estate it is today. Take the stairs or trolley down the steep embankment to the bar and host station and enjoy the view of the beautiful garden along the way. Accommodations are available for wheelchairs. Staff is very friendly, welcoming, attentive and knowledgeable. My husband and I began our visit with a classic cocktail in the outdoor bar area prior to our reservation. For our meal we were seated on the patio adjacent to the chef's herb garden that afforded a lovely view of the river below. Our server educated us on the long and fascinating history of Shadowbrook and then proceeded to take excellent care of us for the rest of the evening. We had a fabulous time and our meal was excellent. Shadowbrook offers it all; a unique location, unmatched ambience, excellent service and delicious food and drink. You won't be disappointed.

All of the food was great, and the service was excellent. The drink menu had some great cocktails, I really liked the lemon berry drop. We started with appetizers, the bacon wrapped prawns and the baked brie with jalapeno jelly. Both were excellent. The 14oz new York steak was cooked perfectly, juicy and flavorful. The sides were both really good, I had the garlic Yukon potatoes gratin, and the asparagus. The desserts were good, but I'm not sure that they're made in house. Our server explained everything on the menu really well including the specials, and the atmosphere was really nice. I'd definitely come back.

Went to the shadowbrook to have lunch with friends I had not seen for a while the staff was courteous and very good in every way the food was excellent what else can I say we had a great time!

WONDERFUL customer service from Shania, Sandra, and Glen! Very satisfied.

They took care of us, much appreciated

First time diner, wonderful dinning experience....even in spite of COVID take out only!

Food is always on point!

Great food, great service. Can't ask for anything more.

Closed for Covid-19

We came here Fathers Day with our two children also celebrating my 40th birthday. It was a wonderful experience, our first time here, recommended by friends since we moved to Monterey. The garden path walking down is exquisite. Fountains all within the restaurant. The terrace and outdoor courtyard scenery are both delightful. The dinner and dessert were lovely. William was our server and he was wonderful. It was a beautiful experience and we look forward to coming back here with friends to share this gem.

I came here twelve years ago with my best friend. Was one of the best experiences. Then for our anniversary, my husband took me here about a year ago. Love the filet mignon. They also gave truffles to finish our meal and celebrate our anniversary. Would love to go again

One of your customers used stolen money to eat on your restaurant

First timer! Me and my gf absolutely loved this place! It was very nice, quite location, service was 10/10 and the liquor on the drinks was heavy! Haha. Beautiful restaurant. The wasabi sauce that comes with the salmon dish was fire. Wish I had that in a bottle. Surf and turf was great as well. Steak cooked to perfection and lobster tail was pretty damn big. Would love to go back soon! Also the Thai chili sauce that came with the calamari was amazing.

I had Thanksgiving dinner at shadowbrook in 2022. Parking is a bit difficult but if you can access a side street the restaurant is only a block away. It is a quaint and beautiful setting. If you are feeling gregarious, you can take numerous flights of winding stairs down to the restaurant, or wait to take a steep escalator/elevator down. The environment is warm and cozy, with multiple levels for dining. The food was excellent although I am a vegetarian so I couldn't speak to the dishes that contained meat or fish. However, family and friends spoke very highly of their meals. Given the high quality of the food I thought the prices were reasonable. I would recommend this restaurant!

Everything was perfect! Can't pick a better place for a date!

This is one of the consistently best restaurants in our area. We had lunch outside in time of covid-19. The deck and the view is wonderful. At lunch the bar menu is available and it's far better than almost any restaurant here. The prices remain reasonable. If you're familiar with dining in Santa Cruz, you'll be surprised to experience the top notch service at Shadowbrook.

Just a wonderful place for a special occasion meal. The steak dishes are delectable and I was impressed by the decent $30 bottles of wine on the specials menu. Also liked how they didn’t charge for mineral water (plastic wastage and just a nice touch). Lovely spot! Tip: if you can, recommend to take your time and walk down from the parking through the path in the lovely garden - then don’t miss taking the funicular on the way up! (Or both ways it’s a fun part of the experience!)

Venue situated in beautiful location with views onto the ocean and local scenery. The restaurant is entered at the top of the hill and seating is reachable by exterior stairs or a exterior lift on a slope down. Dining is also at the river at the bottom. Food is pricey but very good. Their margarita is excellent. The wild boar ribs as appetizer were delicious and a large serving plenty for two. The salmon dish was very delicious along with seaweed salad. The steak sandwich was a large portion just perfectly prepared. You don’t want to be in a hurry when you visit. It’s a place to relax and enjoy.

Shadowbrook is one of our favorites. Excellent food, service and ambiance. Walk down the garden path and enjoy the beautiful garden or take the funicular for a fun experience (also handy when you are leaving, are full and don't want to schlep up to the street level). Great choice for special events or just a relaxing drink by the fire in the bar. Highly recommended!

This is a beautiful vintage restaurant in the North CA. They also provide the a very cute and classic cable car from the uphill to down hill which is the selling point of this restaurant. They also have antique taxi to pick up and drop off customers upon reservation within 3 miles of distance. It feels like a Time Machine to bring you back the 70’. Service are great and we came here during lunch time and were seated at the patio area. They didn’t open the dining room area for lunch time and some menu dishes are only for dinner time. The lowest level patio seating had great river View but it wasn’t opened for seating. Very cute and classic restroom. I simply love it here for the atmosphere. Food was average and not impressive. Nothing special here about the food.

Went with some good friends on Friday, Nov 6. The Shadowbrook never disappoints! Our server, Chris, was top-notch. I enjoyed the prime rib, my husband ordered scallops. Very tasty all-around. I don't remember what my friends ordered. We are looking forward to going back again in the somewhat near future.

The food was absolutely amazing!! Thank you to Ethan and Mason for the fabulous wait services from beginning to end you both were an amazing team. All of Ethan and Mason’s suggestions from the appetizer, entrée and dessert were exactly how they described. My friend loved the clam Chowder but I was unable to taste due to the bacon in the clam chowder!!! I am from New England and do understand why there is bacon in a seafood dish….lol. However, the special for the evening was a Hawaiian Fish that was seasoned correctly that was delicious. The portions of food were perfect. I wish I had more of the Chard that was absolutely incredible . I am so glad I saved room for dessert and wished I had met the Bakery Chef to express my appreciation of the Bread pudding and Cheesecake. Yum yum. Thank you again for a wonderful meal.

First time there for my birthday! So beautiful, the food was fabulous!!! The atmosphere stunning! Staff excellence! Can't think of a better way to spend my 57th! Loved the cab that picked us up to get to the restaurant and was there to take us back when we were done. Just a wonderful experience! I will go back

Great atmosphere, friendly staff. Great food.

Celebrated my birthday there tonight. It was wonderful! Great food, great service, and you simply cannot beat the beauty of the setting!!!

My favorite location for tasty american food. The service was friendly and sociable. The bill was good for how much you get.

My boyfriend and I got medium and omg it was so spicy (good spicy)! We asked for water but they were nice enough to give us raspberry tea instead because they saw we were dying. It's those little things that count.

Always amazing service and good. The blackened lamb is always my favorite. Brent is our server almost every time and he's knowledgeable!

Very good, old school type restaurant.

Beautiful restaurant. Food was delicious! Can't wait to go back.

An amazing experience! My birthday dinner couldn't have been more perfect! Very safe, incredible service and the food & couldn't have been more perfect!

Very friendly and attentive staff, clean outdoor seating, fantastic dishes. Perfect for couples but also great for family get togethers.

The best. Creative and eclectic. You ride a rail car down a slope to the restaurant. Even with covid, the outdoor eating area was well lit with lots of heaters and good distancing.

Delicious as ever! Haven't had a bad experience in the 15 years I've been coming here!

Very good service and food for a great price

It is a great restaurant, and a great location. The staff is engaged, and they have a good selection of fish and meats.

What a beautiful place. Service is excellent Food is awesome One of my favorite places!!

Reliably classic dining with seasoned staff who know what they are doing so your experience is lovely and easeful.

Always hauntingly great.

Excellent service and the food was outstanding!! Great experience, highly recommend..🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Food was EXCELLENT and the AMBIANCE was BEAUTIFUL

Very beautiful ambiance! Customer service was excellent!

Great friendly staff. Even better food! Hughly recommend

Awesome gnocchi

An excellent restaurant to visit and a beautiful atmosphere. My family has been going there for years. I love walking through the garden amongst the trees and flowers. Highly recommended!

Very consistent. Relaxing outdoors eating.

A little pricey but it is so worth it. Everything is so flavorful! They also have a huge list of cocktails (I got the carmel appletini and omg definitely one of the best cocktails I've ever had) It doesn't just stop at the food though, inside it is beautiful and outside there are beautiful views. The staff is super sweet and friendly. Yesterday was my first time eating there and I will definitely be back!

love the food here!!!!