Love the fish and chips, very fresh, crispy and big portion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish & Chips
Michael Serio
Thoroughly enjoyed my time at this wonderful place! With good food & a nice atmosphere, I was well-positioned for pleasure with the view of the water with all the natural activity. Nothing like eating on a wharf.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish & Chips
Joe L
Excellent burger and fries for a good price and a fantastic view from the wharf!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anthony Young
The views are great right off the pier. We’ve eaten here a couple times and honestly it’s not great but it’s okay. At this cafe there’s no wait staff taking your order. You order from the menu on the wall and then grab it yourself when it’s ready and have a seat. It’s expensive for what they give you but if you’re hungry and you want a relaxed atmosphere with no wait staff then this is the place to go. They do have a traditional restaurant next door if you want the full dining experience. Their fish is pretty good tho. Like I said, not WOW but decent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Autumn Schaare
Had the crabcake sandwich and a Kona big Wave beer. It was a heavenly lunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melody Moody
Wanted the halibut fish and chips, supposedly they were sold out, and had the regular fish and chips(crinkle cut fries, which were tepid warm at best) the regular fish is snapper, never had it before, didn't care for it, something tasted off. Hubby and I shared the plate as is it was $18, plus a drink was $5 for a fountain soda that you have to get yourself. We both had upset stomachs the rest of the night. It had been 31 yrs since we last visited Santa Cruz, we could not find any soup other than clam chowder,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Nikki Judge
Our experience at Woodies Cafe on the Santa Cruz wharf was excellent from start to finish. Beginning with the best clam chowder in the area, followed by an exceptional crab melt special, and concluded with attentive and efficient service. Highly recommend dining here during your next visit.Restaurant is always clean and inviting and we never have an issue getting seated even on the busiest of day.Parking: Parking on the warf can be tricky and crowded. But if you can score parking on the street it’s just a short walk in.Kid-friendliness: Always kids there and not like an upscale restaurant that would discourage kidsWheelchair accessibility: There is a ramp to access inside
This is my 2nd time coming over here in the last 2 months. Today I'm very disappointed. I ordered some really good food. 2 Half baked crab and clam chowders and halibut and Fry's. I ask for a cup to share some of my calm chowder and they gave me a plastic spoon stated that they ran out of the real spoons, yet there's a ton right in front of me. After that the waitress came and ask if she can take our plates in which we was still eating some fries. I think it's because we're under dressed. They probably though that were unhoused because of our sweaters, or maybe cause my tip wasn't to there linking. I would never come back over here. But the half bake crabs will be missed. The scenery is great here also. Especially when the sun is about to set. Besides the services, this place is great. Just don't wear any sweatpants, sweat pants, slippers and hide them dreads ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Ivan Roslak
Went in on a rainy weekday. The California burger was excellent - staff was very friendly and helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger, Fries
Mark Scofield
We've been dining here for years. We've loved the food, personable service, and lovely atmosphere. We recently had our first return since covid hit. The kids behind the counter did great in their demeanor. When asked for somring extra or different, they were cheerful and prompt. The food seemed to have taken a hit since our previous times there. We weren't disappointed in the flavor, but the presentation was not 1st class as we have come to expect. They've reduced the number of individual ingredients' quality by using the same main item(breaded fish) in our two different dishes. It wasn't that way before. In short, the food felt more like boardwalk food for tourists. We didn't bother eating up the take-home leftovers as we always have.
I had the cheeseburger and garlic fries. The burger was really good, but the fries had a fishy taste. It was $110 before tip for 4 burgers with fries, and 4 fountain drinks. Although it was a little pricey, we enjoyed our window seat view of the coast.
Love the fish and chips, very fresh, crispy and big portion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish & Chips
Thoroughly enjoyed my time at this wonderful place! With good food & a nice atmosphere, I was well-positioned for pleasure with the view of the water with all the natural activity. Nothing like eating on a wharf.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish & Chips
Excellent burger and fries for a good price and a fantastic view from the wharf!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The views are great right off the pier. We’ve eaten here a couple times and honestly it’s not great but it’s okay. At this cafe there’s no wait staff taking your order. You order from the menu on the wall and then grab it yourself when it’s ready and have a seat. It’s expensive for what they give you but if you’re hungry and you want a relaxed atmosphere with no wait staff then this is the place to go. They do have a traditional restaurant next door if you want the full dining experience. Their fish is pretty good tho. Like I said, not WOW but decent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Had the crabcake sandwich and a Kona big Wave beer. It was a heavenly lunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wanted the halibut fish and chips, supposedly they were sold out, and had the regular fish and chips(crinkle cut fries, which were tepid warm at best) the regular fish is snapper, never had it before, didn't care for it, something tasted off. Hubby and I shared the plate as is it was $18, plus a drink was $5 for a fountain soda that you have to get yourself. We both had upset stomachs the rest of the night. It had been 31 yrs since we last visited Santa Cruz, we could not find any soup other than clam chowder,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Our experience at Woodies Cafe on the Santa Cruz wharf was excellent from start to finish. Beginning with the best clam chowder in the area, followed by an exceptional crab melt special, and concluded with attentive and efficient service. Highly recommend dining here during your next visit.Restaurant is always clean and inviting and we never have an issue getting seated even on the busiest of day.Parking: Parking on the warf can be tricky and crowded. But if you can score parking on the street it’s just a short walk in.Kid-friendliness: Always kids there and not like an upscale restaurant that would discourage kidsWheelchair accessibility: There is a ramp to access inside
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake Sandwich, Fries, Chowder
Typical beatnik coffee shop.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
The clam chowder tasted like raw seafood, it was a very lackluster experience and I was very disappointed with the Clam Chowder.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Smash Burger & Fries-YumWheelchair accessibility: Plenty of room.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger
Restaurantji Recommends
This is my 2nd time coming over here in the last 2 months. Today I'm very disappointed. I ordered some really good food. 2 Half baked crab and clam chowders and halibut and Fry's. I ask for a cup to share some of my calm chowder and they gave me a plastic spoon stated that they ran out of the real spoons, yet there's a ton right in front of me. After that the waitress came and ask if she can take our plates in which we was still eating some fries. I think it's because we're under dressed. They probably though that were unhoused because of our sweaters, or maybe cause my tip wasn't to there linking. I would never come back over here. But the half bake crabs will be missed. The scenery is great here also. Especially when the sun is about to set. Besides the services, this place is great. Just don't wear any sweatpants, sweat pants, slippers and hide them dreads ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Went in on a rainy weekday. The California burger was excellent - staff was very friendly and helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger, Fries
We've been dining here for years. We've loved the food, personable service, and lovely atmosphere. We recently had our first return since covid hit. The kids behind the counter did great in their demeanor. When asked for somring extra or different, they were cheerful and prompt. The food seemed to have taken a hit since our previous times there. We weren't disappointed in the flavor, but the presentation was not 1st class as we have come to expect. They've reduced the number of individual ingredients' quality by using the same main item(breaded fish) in our two different dishes. It wasn't that way before. In short, the food felt more like boardwalk food for tourists. We didn't bother eating up the take-home leftovers as we always have.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
This is the best restaurant on the wharf!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Clam Chowder Bread Bowl of Soup, Hamburger, Fries, Seafood Pasta, Chowder
I had the cheeseburger and garlic fries. The burger was really good, but the fries had a fishy taste. It was $110 before tip for 4 burgers with fries, and 4 fountain drinks. Although it was a little pricey, we enjoyed our window seat view of the coast.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Hamburger