We shared the combo and it hit the hunger spot for us both - so good. It's been a favorite for years and we have to hit it when in town.

Looked like an interesting place to visit, as we drove by and smoke from the pit was billowing onto the street - smelled great as well. Sadly, it didn’t live up to expectations- we shared the tri tip (beef apparently) plate with chilli. Taste was not as expected and we ended up leaving more than half. Would I eat here again? No - not to my liking.

Food and service were great! Patio is dog friendly :)

Love This Place, There's always some leftover. Great BBQ...

Well I have lived in santa cruz for 54 years and have never been here. Now I know why. I had high hopes. Ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a jalapeño burger and fries. Ok let's start with the fries. They filled the bag with fries to bad they were very old, very old and greasy. The pulled pork sandwich had lots of meat in it but no flavor. The hamburger I ordered with bacon. All I can say was the jalapeños had flavor but the patty was also old and very dry. I will not go back.

I have been coming to Coles for nearly 25 years. I remember the old Aptos location,, but we have eaten at the smaller Pleasure Point location many times too.. The food has always been very consistent, friendly service, and those famous French fries can't be missed 🍟. It's a great place for outdoor lunch in the cool breezes. I look forward to my next visit.

This place is insane. Not “good for Santa Cruz” but GOOD. I was driving to Home Depot or something and drawn in from Cole’s enticing fumes. They got the meat and the smoke and the wood, the whole shebang. I would take a date here, I would take my family here, I would have my last meal here. Highly recommend garlic bread, tri tip, pulled pork, chili burger. Everyone working here deserves a raise.

Delicious, mouth-watering BBQ! The reggae music playing set the tone as soon as we walked in. I loved Amalia's welcoming vibe and suggestive. The best bbq in Santa cruz hands down! 🔥🔥🔥

Our ribs were not thoroughly cooked. They were very tough. We put it in the oven at home for a few hours but we're still disappointed. Garlic bread was good

Chicken 🔥 Ribs 🔥 Tri Tip 🔥 Pulled Pork 🔥 Potato Salad 🔥 Cheese Fries 🔥 12/10 Will be back again soon

I have lived in the Santa Cruz area for 45 plus years and I have driven by this place countless times but I have never eaten food at this place until 12/21/2023 and let me tell you the food here is excellent. I had the lunch special. The food portions are huge, so bring your appetite. The fries are the best I have ever eaten. The BBQ sauce and ribs are out of this world so damn good. The staff is very friendly and kind. I will return soon. Highly recommended for great BBQ food and fries!!!!

Went here for the first time. I thought it was going to be fantastic food beings you can see the guy bbqing it there but that's not the case. I got a tri tip sandwich and it was horrible. The meat tasted hella old. It seems they put a lot of bbq sauce on it to mask the taste cuz it sucked. I've made tri tip and mine tastes way better. You can tell it definitely is not marinated or nothing. It didn't taste like seasoning at all. The meat tasted like it was old and left out. I threw it away it was not good at all. I know someone else who had been here before too and he didn't like it either. I wouldn't tell anyone to go here. It was a big disappointment 😥. Not worth the $77.00 for real. They must be sending the fresh bbq elsewhere because they sure weren't using it fresh there. I think they even microwave it before they put it in the sandwich because it did not taste anything like bbq. Almost like hot lunch meat. Yuck. Don't waste your money here. Better off going to the wharf for fresh chowder . Will not be back.

An absolute classic in the area. I came here many times as a teen and still do when I can. Sadly it's the only location now, but the food is still as worth it now as it was back then. I visit any chance I can cause they can't be beat. They're also dog friendly, which is a major plus. Hoping to pop back in as soon as possible.

The onion rings were probably the best I've ever eaten. I ordered a full rack of pork ribs. They were tough and chewy. Definitely not fall off the bone. If not for a slathering of bbq sauce, they would have been tasteless.

You can't find real Mexican food in SC but you sure can find real BBQ! This place is awesome, super friendly service, cooked to order Racks of Ribs, outside seating and super cold beer. Excellent sides and a very reasonable wait. Definitely going back...

I haven't had Coles for a while but they're still holding it down with big flavor. Must try the tri tip sandwich! Delicious

Sorry for the tough review but the ribs were unbeatable. So tough I couldn’t even get the meat off the bone. Potentially better things on the menu??

Great food and good prices! Everything prepared on site and is very delicious food. You can taste the love here!!

My husband bought pork ribs today, with beans, bread, 2 salads and french fries, and the ribs were super dry, they were definitely not cooked today and the beans are not the same as before. We are really disappointed.

Had lunch special 2 ribs; 😋 yummy!!

Wow this place was bomb. Delicious and cool environment . Definitely what we needed after the beach. Food is great and service on the super busy 4th of july was awesome the girl did everything she could to make it a great meal. Attentive and nice. We will be eating here each time now. Grilled and wood fire BBQ food is even healthier than random street food. You are the best Coles bar-B-q

Husband Expected more smoke flavor on the ribs and chicken. His tri tip was dry. It's nearly 3am and I'm still up not sure if it was spice in beans or the BBQ sauce I slathered on the pulled pork. Waitress was kind, she actually bought a homeless person dinner.

I had some fries and chicken that both tasted like they had been cooked 8 hours before and reheated in the deep fryer. I was really bummed out, probably the worst BBQ I’ve ever had. Some of the other reviews look like they had solid meals, maybe the main cook was out sick the day I went. I thew most of my meal away, really disappointed