Food excellent, service good and prices acceptable. Parking was okay. Weather was good, but I don't think they had anything to do with that.
Olivia P.
What an extraordinary experience! Without a doubt, this establishment stands out as one of the best Italian restaurants in the Bay Area. From the moment we stepped in, the chef's warm welcome set the tone, as they graciously guided us through the evening's specials and highlighted their signature dishes. Our server mirrored this exceptional hospitality, ensuring every detail of our dining experience was flawlessly attended to. The commitment to quality shines through in every bite, with impeccably fresh ingredients sourced for each dish, including imported Italian wheat for their pasta--a testament to their dedication to authenticity. We began with the Culatello, which was the finest proscuitto of Italy, served with truffle "Carasau" cracker bread & rich straciatella cheese. From the first taste of the Carbonara to the rich flavors of the Parpadelle Ragu, featuring a sumptuous lamb-based sauce, every dish was a symphony of taste and texture, with the pasta cooked to a faultless al dente perfection. This dining experience immerses you in an ambiance that transports you to the heart of Italy. And to cap off this unforgettable experience, the special dessert, reminiscent of an Italian wedding cake, provided a sweet finale that left us longing for more. If you're seeking an unparalleled Italian dining experience, this is the place to be. Buon appetito!
Amy C.
This was a magical experience! We brought our college-age daughter. Mid-meal, my partner commented that we saved thousands in airfare to Italy by dining here. He had the branzino, which was flaky, tender, blistered deliciousness. She had the carbonara. I had the special mushroom risotto. They were all delicious. Our desserts were interesting, beautiful, and tasty as well. This restaurant is beautifully decorated in green, white, and black. The evening only got more magical when the power went out mid-meal. Battery-operated candle sconces on all of the tables provided light and ambiance. I highly suggest this restaurant!
Maria F.
One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz, the service is always so great and friendly. The dishes taste very homey, I love it and always stop by when I'm in town. I always get the pasta and they never miss, I have to try the pizzas next time. The ambiance is great for a dinner night with the family or friends.
Steve G.
Service is excellent we have eaten there dozens of times and I would pick the veal scallopini with mushroom sauce as the best on the menu. When u have a large appetite order the seafood stew.
Amanda H.
I would drive for miles to visit this place, and I plan to do so quite often!! This is the cutest, most happening spot and I'm so glad to have found this gem! The Cesare was one of the most mouth-watering Caesar salads I've had in a while. I cannot stress enough the importance of freshly shaven Parmesan coming with every bite, this is crucial and they nailed it. Notice how I dove right in before I could even snap a picture, it's that tasty! The Bistecca & Patate was phenom and the presentation was stunning. With an appetizer and salad, it was more than enough food for two people but as always, treat yourself! Can't wait to be back in this sweet spot, thank you to the incredible staff for an epic evening!
Walter L.
This restaurant has Delicious pasta, and very friendly service. The best in Santa Cruz?
Stephanie Y.
Keep those five star reviews coming. Lago Di Como has to be one of the better restaurants in Santa Cruz. While I don't frequent many restaurants here, it left me impressed. The owner hails from Milan and he'll most likely be there, welcoming you. The place is charming, warm and on a full night, which seemingly is most nights, energetic. The food is great. We started with a Caesar that was heavily dressed (in my eyes that means deliciously dressy) and covered in a nice layer of grated parm. All pastas are homemade and you'd be remiss not to try one. It was hard to choose, but we went with the bolognese and it was delicious. Bonus points for another maitre d'/chef coming by offering more bread to soak up that delicious sauce. The pasta was thick, chewy and perfectly al dente. The branzino deboned at the table was light and crispy, charred in the wood oven and served with crisped potatoes, tomatoes and artichokes. The desserts? Fugettaboutit. Fresh cannoli and apple strudel with perfectly red strawberries and fresh whipped cream. Service was not only on it, but charming. Overall, a great experience from food to service. * No liquor as of April 2024, but a full menu of wine, beer, vermouths and Aperol drinks.
Leah N.
Our waitress Brook was knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Food was excellent! Everything came out together and piping hot. Ambience is great and we really appreciated Mateo bringing us little sauces and pate to try as well as taking time to explain different things to us. Highly recommend the bolognese! Will definitely come back!
Stephanie Z.
Delicious food. We tried lots of different menu items and they were all fantastic. I recommend this place.
Wonderful experience, a nice surprise combo of fine dining & and welcoming hideaway. Accommodated our group of 6 (4 adults & 2 kids) in their back patio room, offered a nice list of wines and fresh made pasta made from semolina wheat imported from Italy! The restaurant boosts tailored-kid made pasta plates and attentive, personable staff. Very much enjoyed the mushroom burrata bruschetta, calamari, rib eye, the Cesar salad with anchovies and our kids' meat bolognese. We were offered a complimentary duck pate, bread and olive oil, which went well with the food (nice add-ons that you can't expect with every Italian restaurant). A yummy tiramisu to top off. We had an enjoyable dinner with our young kids, and the atmosphere and food was worth every $. We will certainly come back!
Mark Hassin
We went out to eat with friends at Lago Di Como Ristorante in Santa Cruz. It's a nice Italian place that serves really good food, including pasta they make right there. We started with polenta sticks for an appetizer, and they were really tasty and super crispy. For our main dishes, we had steak cooked medium-rare, which was done just right, and grilled fish that was very fresh and delicious. Everything we had was great, and we enjoyed our dinner.Vegetarian options: Also few good vegan options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Sauce
Barbara D.
Excellent food, service & ambiance! Super fresh ingredients, unique Italian dishes...knowledgeable, friendly wait- staff. The place to go for 'the Best Italian' in Santa Cruz!
Jan B.
Escape to Italy at this cozy, lively spot with friendly and attentive service and flavorful food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Mousse Bomb, Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese
Craig Jones
Excellent meal with a personal touch. Servers were all attentive and thoughtful.
Food excellent, service good and prices acceptable. Parking was okay. Weather was good, but I don't think they had anything to do with that.
What an extraordinary experience! Without a doubt, this establishment stands out as one of the best Italian restaurants in the Bay Area. From the moment we stepped in, the chef's warm welcome set the tone, as they graciously guided us through the evening's specials and highlighted their signature dishes. Our server mirrored this exceptional hospitality, ensuring every detail of our dining experience was flawlessly attended to. The commitment to quality shines through in every bite, with impeccably fresh ingredients sourced for each dish, including imported Italian wheat for their pasta--a testament to their dedication to authenticity. We began with the Culatello, which was the finest proscuitto of Italy, served with truffle "Carasau" cracker bread & rich straciatella cheese. From the first taste of the Carbonara to the rich flavors of the Parpadelle Ragu, featuring a sumptuous lamb-based sauce, every dish was a symphony of taste and texture, with the pasta cooked to a faultless al dente perfection. This dining experience immerses you in an ambiance that transports you to the heart of Italy. And to cap off this unforgettable experience, the special dessert, reminiscent of an Italian wedding cake, provided a sweet finale that left us longing for more. If you're seeking an unparalleled Italian dining experience, this is the place to be. Buon appetito!
This was a magical experience! We brought our college-age daughter. Mid-meal, my partner commented that we saved thousands in airfare to Italy by dining here. He had the branzino, which was flaky, tender, blistered deliciousness. She had the carbonara. I had the special mushroom risotto. They were all delicious. Our desserts were interesting, beautiful, and tasty as well. This restaurant is beautifully decorated in green, white, and black. The evening only got more magical when the power went out mid-meal. Battery-operated candle sconces on all of the tables provided light and ambiance. I highly suggest this restaurant!
One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz, the service is always so great and friendly. The dishes taste very homey, I love it and always stop by when I'm in town. I always get the pasta and they never miss, I have to try the pizzas next time. The ambiance is great for a dinner night with the family or friends.
Service is excellent we have eaten there dozens of times and I would pick the veal scallopini with mushroom sauce as the best on the menu. When u have a large appetite order the seafood stew.
I would drive for miles to visit this place, and I plan to do so quite often!! This is the cutest, most happening spot and I'm so glad to have found this gem! The Cesare was one of the most mouth-watering Caesar salads I've had in a while. I cannot stress enough the importance of freshly shaven Parmesan coming with every bite, this is crucial and they nailed it. Notice how I dove right in before I could even snap a picture, it's that tasty! The Bistecca & Patate was phenom and the presentation was stunning. With an appetizer and salad, it was more than enough food for two people but as always, treat yourself! Can't wait to be back in this sweet spot, thank you to the incredible staff for an epic evening!
This restaurant has Delicious pasta, and very friendly service. The best in Santa Cruz?
Keep those five star reviews coming. Lago Di Como has to be one of the better restaurants in Santa Cruz. While I don't frequent many restaurants here, it left me impressed. The owner hails from Milan and he'll most likely be there, welcoming you. The place is charming, warm and on a full night, which seemingly is most nights, energetic. The food is great. We started with a Caesar that was heavily dressed (in my eyes that means deliciously dressy) and covered in a nice layer of grated parm. All pastas are homemade and you'd be remiss not to try one. It was hard to choose, but we went with the bolognese and it was delicious. Bonus points for another maitre d'/chef coming by offering more bread to soak up that delicious sauce. The pasta was thick, chewy and perfectly al dente. The branzino deboned at the table was light and crispy, charred in the wood oven and served with crisped potatoes, tomatoes and artichokes. The desserts? Fugettaboutit. Fresh cannoli and apple strudel with perfectly red strawberries and fresh whipped cream. Service was not only on it, but charming. Overall, a great experience from food to service. * No liquor as of April 2024, but a full menu of wine, beer, vermouths and Aperol drinks.
Our waitress Brook was knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Food was excellent! Everything came out together and piping hot. Ambience is great and we really appreciated Mateo bringing us little sauces and pate to try as well as taking time to explain different things to us. Highly recommend the bolognese! Will definitely come back!
Delicious food. We tried lots of different menu items and they were all fantastic. I recommend this place.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful experience, a nice surprise combo of fine dining & and welcoming hideaway. Accommodated our group of 6 (4 adults & 2 kids) in their back patio room, offered a nice list of wines and fresh made pasta made from semolina wheat imported from Italy! The restaurant boosts tailored-kid made pasta plates and attentive, personable staff. Very much enjoyed the mushroom burrata bruschetta, calamari, rib eye, the Cesar salad with anchovies and our kids' meat bolognese. We were offered a complimentary duck pate, bread and olive oil, which went well with the food (nice add-ons that you can't expect with every Italian restaurant). A yummy tiramisu to top off. We had an enjoyable dinner with our young kids, and the atmosphere and food was worth every $. We will certainly come back!
We went out to eat with friends at Lago Di Como Ristorante in Santa Cruz. It's a nice Italian place that serves really good food, including pasta they make right there. We started with polenta sticks for an appetizer, and they were really tasty and super crispy. For our main dishes, we had steak cooked medium-rare, which was done just right, and grilled fish that was very fresh and delicious. Everything we had was great, and we enjoyed our dinner.Vegetarian options: Also few good vegan options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Sauce
Excellent food, service & ambiance! Super fresh ingredients, unique Italian dishes...knowledgeable, friendly wait- staff. The place to go for 'the Best Italian' in Santa Cruz!
Escape to Italy at this cozy, lively spot with friendly and attentive service and flavorful food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Mousse Bomb, Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese
Excellent meal with a personal touch. Servers were all attentive and thoughtful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5