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515 Kitchen & Cocktails
Categories: Restaurants Greek Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Lounges, Mediterranean [Edit]
515 Cedar StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 425-5051
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 4 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
229 reviews for 515 Kitchen & Cocktails
Review Highlights
"UPDATE (6/29/07): Cheese plate is fantastic."
(in 17 reviews)
"I will say that they serve the best Bloody Mary."
(in 10 reviews)
"After 11 they have Great Fried Chicken."
(in 14 reviews)
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229 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan R.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
I recently moved up to the city, but when I lived in Santa Cruz, 515 was head and shoulders above the other bars in town.
Overall Sentiment: It's not perfect, but it almost is. 515 consistently offers great food and drinks, a great experience, and they have a very welcoming staff.
The Good:
- Great cocktails on par with any San Francisco restaurant/bar.
- An eclectic food menu that changes seasonally, but they keep the classics (truffle fries) on the menu at all times.
- An incredible staff. If you come here a few times and hang out at the bar, they'll quickly learn your name and remember what you like. All the bartenders are passionate about giving you a tasty, creative drink that you'll really enjoy.
- Great ambiance with lounge seating, fine-dining seating, and an outdoor patio with a view. Also a "MIles Davis" private room that you can reserve.
- It's not as classy as it looks, and that's a good thing. Despite the jazz pictures lining the walls and the vintage decorations, almost all the workers have tattoos, and, contrary to some beliefs, are not pretentious at all.
- 515 hosts fun events, too: Movie Nights, Fried Chicken Night, Beer Dinners etc.
The Bad:
- The physical space of the restaurant makes it get cramped and stressful sometimes, but that's not the employees' fault.
- Because of small spaces and a ridiculous amount of customers on a weekend night, sometimes food and drinks come out slow. Just have patience if you're going on a date for some steak at 8pm on a Saturday; the employees are running around trying to accommodate everyone, but the restaurant can only fit so many people.
-------------------------
The 515 is an incredible place. I wish I could have picked it up and taken it with me to San Francisco. It would fit in perfectly in the Mission or downtown. Anyway, first of all, the bar is great. They have passionate bartenders, and they have an impressive list of cocktails that are invented by the manager, Addison. Whether you want a mojito, a whiskey drink, or a vodka concoction, this menu has it covered. I recommend the Phoenix most of all. It's a trip. A delicious trip.
Ryan is the resident whiskey expert, something I appreciate. This man bleeds single malt, and he'll help you find what you need, whether it be a sweeter bourbon, a smoky scotch, or anything in between. Also, he's really good at impressions. Anyway, Allen is probably my favorite bartender. You say 'make me a vodka drink' and he'll make something with crazy ingredients you've never heard of. This man knows what he's doing, and he's always in a good mood. He's one of the most approachable bartenders I've ever met, even when it's Saturday at midnight and his barback just broke a glass in the ice. I'd ride his banana, but that's all I'm saying. My other favorites are Michael Paul, who you'll swear is high but he's actually just really nice and from San Diego (makes sense), and Tristan, who looks like Jesus and also makes drinks like Jesus. Jesus turned water into wine, Tristan turns gin into something that tastes good.
A quick note for people who order drinks here: tip them appropriately. How does it make sense to tip $1 on a gin and tonic and also $1 on a muddle raspberry, citrus vodka, sugar rim shaken drink? You're tipping for their services, so just throw one extra dollar down. Plus, then they'll remember you and you'll probably get your next one faster.
Beers on tap are downstairs but they bring them up to you, and they have a good selection. They have their classics (Chimay, Guinness, Stella, Arrogant Bastard, Brother Thelonious, Framboise for those who want to be hungover) and also rotate different beers. This can be Hoegarden, a dark Porter, a Saison, or double IPAs. They have a good selection of bottled beers upstairs, too.
I've only eaten at a table a few times, but I really liked Jen as my server. She's so small she could probably fit in my pocket, but she was so nice and and genuine, and she really knew the menu inside and out. I even saw her get behind the bar when the bartender was elsewhere and make a few drinks - that's the kind of server I want. The head chef, Caleb, I believe, is really good at mixing interesting flavors and making 'normal' dishes really creative. Their menu changes seasonally, but their burger, steak, and salmon are always consistently good. Just get the salmon, you won't be disappointed.
Really the only negatives of this place are the small spaces, the very occasionally slow service, and the fact that you can't take drinks on the patio after ten. I think this is a city code or something, but that patio would be EPIC at 1am after 6 pints of Arrogant Bastard, singing ELO or some shit.
I need to end this review, but some quick notes: DJ on Friday night is awesome for funk/hip-hop/good music, Speakeasy is on Monday night for you swing dancers, Thursday night is Friend Chicken Night (comes with boubon-bacon gravy, what?).
515 will not disappoint you. -
Review from Evelina E.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I've now had a series of hit and miss experiences at the 515. The first time I went was my big 21 bar crawl. I came before the night turned into a foggy blur, and I remember asking for the bartender's highest recommendation for a drink. Guess what? It was awful. The purple concoction in a martini glass was filled with small pebbles of ice, and the drink tasted like some fruit punch-y mess. I swore never to return.
So then I returned, expecting little from this restaurant/bar. On a date with my charming mate, I ordered a Flannery's Mr. Hazel Motes, one of my favorite concoctions of mint and cucumber, and citrus. I do declare, this drink was probably the best that I've had in all of Santa Cruz. I thought, this place isn't too bad if you're willing to pay the price.
My most recent visit again changed my perspective on this establishment. I went to the restaurant on fried chicken night, which I believe was a Thursday, and did not like the course of the night. It started with good service, which I will thank the 515 for. The restaurant accommodated for my larger than expected party, as we had about 11 people instead of the expected 9. I told my friend to order the Flannery's Mr. Hazel Motes, from my amazing experience before, and he promptly knocked it over on our table before drinking it. The drink went all over the table, getting myself quite drenched in this delicious tasting alcohol. The server replaced our tablecloth and asked me if I wanted a napkin to clean up, but did not offer another drink or even ask if he wanted something else. Next, five or so orders of fried chicken were requested, and they were all burnt and flavorless. The chicken was dark dark dark brown. I know my group consisted of seemingly unruly college students, but I loathe being treated like I don't deserve the best service there is. So, two stars. It looks like I'll have to learn how to create my own divine drink from now on. -
Review from Lauren S.
Pleasanton, CA
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I REALLY wanted to like this place. I went here for drinks once and had a great time, very tasty drinks, nice bartender, etc. But this past December I came here for a more romantic dinner.
First, they lost my reservation, then the waiters ignored us for 10 minutes after we sat down. THEN the waitress suggested this horrible new drink the bartender had created, ugh I couldn't even finish 1/3 of it. Our table's bread came out on the tiniest plate EVER, where as all the other tables had normal sized plates. Our vinegar and oil was a deep bowl of oil with a splash of balsalmic, how is my bread supposed to reach that?!?!? Trust me, I tried and the bread was super sad after only getting to play in the oil with no hope of mingling with the dark vinegar.
Now, I've had bad waitresses in my day, forgetful, stupid, lazy, new, etc., but I rarely, if ever find, a waitress who is a MEGA BITCH. This waitress was acting as though we were bothering her on her day off, rolling her eye, persing her lips, and acting as passive aggressive as that one roommate in college who used to slam the drawers just a little too loud, would leave notes on the back of the toilet seat about the empty TP, and would not so subtly leave the room with a HUFF every time anyone she didn't like entered. Ya that was the person bringing us our food. It's safe to say I didn't want to leave a very big tip.
The only saving grace for this place was that the food was great, and the drink my date was enjoying was pretty good. I had the pork loin and my date had the burger, both were very enjoyable.
As we left the restaurant we had a discussion about if we ever opened a restaurant and a waitress acted like, she would not only get fired, but we would personally make sure no one ever hired the mega bitch again. -
Review from tera m.
Monterey, CA
2/8/2012
Came here with friends a few nights ago and the food was awesome!! Butternut squash ravioli, pancetta wrapped asparagus-while super good with the balsamic reduction thought there would be a little more than a tiny piece wrapped around the center of two asparagus, not so easy to share. The Big spinach salad was yummy as well as the lambjoun-unexpectedly delicious spiced ground lamb, feta cheese and pine nuts baked on flatbread. It was super busy and sometimes the beers were slow to arrive.
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Review from Suki B.
Oakland, CA
12/29/2011
A friend took me here and I fell in love!! Such a cute little cozy/plush place with great drinks! There is a deck area on the 2nd floor which I loved! What made me love this place even more, I discovered my FAVORITE drink at this place - The Marilyn Monroe. Not quite sure what it consists of, but it's SO good!
Their fries, I think they were truffle fries, were SO delicious!
All in all, this is a great place to lounge and have some drinks and appetizers! -
Review from Priscilla S.
Alameda, CA
12/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My friend had a terrible day and we decided to end the day with a bang by trying 515. We were thankful for choosing 515 because everything was amazing, from the ambiance to the customer service to the food.
I ordered a steak and she ordered the salmon. Both AMAZING, especially with the affordable price, it also came with sides. I could definitely not ask for anything more. I only wish the upstairs lounge was bigger, but other than that, I was satisfied to no end. I also love the novelty of the whole restaurant. The waitresses presented the checks to us wedged inside a novel.
Absolutely precious! The waiters were attentive and they checked in occasionally, but not too overbearing. I had a perfect experience. -
Review from Megan C.
Salinas, CA
1/21/2012
They play old movies on the first floor so that's cool. I don't know how the food is, but the drinks are really good, and that's what matters most. This is a classy joint.
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Review from Gabby G.
Felton, CA
I am a fan, but the environment is a little on the overly funky (as in dirty) side. Aside from that, it's a funky (as in cool) place with good food and cocktails. Bring in the carpet and upholstery cleaners and you've got 5 stars!!
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Review from Charlotte M.
Alhambra, CA
11/10/2011
Thursday night FRIED CHICKEN. NUFF' SAID.
515 serves probably the best fried chicken in all of Santa Cruz (not like there is any competition) but sadly it only comes once a week, Thursdays at 11pm. Even sadder is the fact that it's sold out before 11 pm every time. To prevent the sad possibility of not having some of the delicious, moist, and crispy chicken that comes piping hot on a plate of four large pieces, make sure to get there by around 10:30. Oh and dip it in that coffee gravy. The gravy is delicious but isn't completely necessary. I also have to state that this delicious plate is only about $10 which is a steal.
The decor is also great at 515. It looks like a cool lounge with PERFECT lighting. I love the right lighting. This place alone would get a 5 star rating for lighting. They have a lot of unique cocktails and serve some interesting flavors of hot teas.
Come here for the must have fried chicken and ease your way into some of their cocktails. This place is worth a try. -
Review from Guinnivere B.
Hayward, CA
11/7/2011
One of the best dirty sapphire martinis i've had in a looooong time...was there late on a saturday night and received great service from a skilled bartender....the crowd was younger, but very welcoming
We were able to lounge near the fireplace and have a wonderful conversation even with music playing...this was the perfect ending to our night and we will definitely be going back
NOTE: they stop serving food at midnight -
Review from Faye A.
10/7/2011
I used to love coming here...bartenders knew how to make a proper cocktail, and the space is comfortable. Food is ok - nothing notably terrible, and nothing notably outstanding.
The thing is, the service is just abysmal. I could detail my three recent visits, but I won't waste your time...all in all, each visit was just...disappointing, and frustrating.
Can NOT recommend. Unless you want to be ignored, and then made to feel as if it was your fault for wanting to be served within 60 minutes of your arrival. And don't expect an apology, either. -
Review from Adalayne S.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/28/2011
Preface: I just turned 21 and went on the classic Santa Cruz bar crawl. I had heard so much about the 515 that I decided to have my first legal drink as a 21 year old there. The place was packed with twenty-something hipsters all chatting amongst themselves in the dimly-lit upstairs bar. I casually took a seat at the bar and told the bartender (who was friendly and helpful) that it was my birthday and what drink would he recommend. Now, being a naive 21 newb, I thought that my drink would have been "on the house". Long story short, the bartender made me pay for my first drink on my birthday.
In the moment I was a little peeved because I hadn't expected to shell out almost 8 bucks on a drink. However, it was probably the best cocktail that I had that night. So while they have delicious cocktails, I don't think my bank account is going to allow me to return again nor would I recommend anyone to go there on their 21st bday. -
Review from Marc I.
Fairfield, CT
12/13/2011
Very hip little spot with plenty of couches. It's got more of a living room feeling than a restaurant which is cool. Staff is young and engaging. Definitely worth a return trip.
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Review from Marissa H.
San Francisco, CA
9/19/2011
This review is only for the bar upstairs.
Cool spot - downstairs is a nice restaurant but upstairs is the bar action. Comfortable seating options ranging from sofas to seats to highback booths. There's an outdoor patio w/ heat lamps where people can smoke/relax & a "private room" for big groups. Kind of eclectic like your grandmother's house. ;)
Was there on a Saturday night & it was busy but not packed so we were able to get a drink from the 2 bartenders (who work in a very tiny bar space) pretty quickly -
Review from Cheryl H.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/24/2011
A great place for a romantic evening or even if you are just catching up with old friends! They have a private (intimate) room that can be reserved for special occassions.
The food is amazing. I recommend the cheese plate, the lambjoun and applejoun, and their soup of the day (THEIR SOUPS ARE TO DIE FOR!)!!!!
My favorite cocktails include 515, flannery and the Sophia.
Our waiter Addison was exquisite. When asked if he carried a special kind of whiskey, he replied with "No, but I will have it in stock for you by Tuesday!"
The staff makes you feel like you right at home. They have 2 floors to choose from and outdoor seating (with a heat lamp!).
Loove this place! -
Review from Kailey O.
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came for happy hour (till 7 PM) and wanted a stella. since they were out of stella, they were offering a PBR for the same price as a substitute. that was disappointing.
I ordered the hummus plate to share with a friend. its definitely big enough for 2 people, and will fill you up. I was not hungry for dinner after :(
Sitting outside upstairs is quite nice on a summer afternoonListed in: Santa Cruz College Nightlife
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Review from Mikaela s.
San Francisco, CA
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Horrible, horrible, horrible service.
Literally such a horrible traumatic experience; NEVER in my life have I been treated with such complete and utter disrespect. If it had not happened to me I do not know if I could actually believe that it was possible.
We had a completely inept waitress who did not bring out any of the 4 appetizers we ordered before the meal. After waiting for our appetizers,water and bread for 30minutes, I found out she was going to be bringing four appetizers and two entrees all out at the same time. I then informed her that we did not want the food at this point and we would be eating elsewhere.
Her answer: You should have told me you wanted your appetizers first.
!$$%!%T!%^!%@* WTF
Listen, 1st of all we did, that's what we will start with means, 2nd it's not my job that you did not understand. I'm not the one getting paid. I ask to speak to her manager.
She sends over her manager who tells us he believes his waitress and he thinks we are lying about informing her we wanted to start with four apps. (Our super small little table could not have even had all that food on it) He then tells us that we can take all the food to go and that is our only option; I tell him we do not want the food, again, we will be eating elsewhere. We are talking to him for about 10 minutes, calmly and rationally, when suddenly the waitress appears with all the food. By this time one in my party had already left about 20 minutes ago and my girlfriend and I were trying to politely deal with this manager who was all of 21.
I reiterate that I am not taking the food to go, nor am i paying for it but I will pay for the drinks and tip the waitress 20% because I always do no matter what the service. He then informs me if I do not take the food to go he will call the POLICE on me. I'm serious.
So again I say very calmly, "I'm not taking the food, I told you a half an hour ago I did not want it. I am only paying for the drinks."
He leaves to call the police. I wait and he comes back 10 minutes later and asked me to leave because he felt I was causing a scene?!
I left the money for the drinks including tax and 20% tip.
I will NEVER go there again.
Nor will any of my friends who are all huge foodies in Santa Cruz.
If you want better cocktails, better food and way better service got to Oswalds.
You want a more partying atmosphere upstairs at Motiv is fun, the owner is super hot and awesome local surfers guy.
Do not waste your money on this place.
***side note not only did I spend my teens and early twenties as a waitress and bartender, but my girlfriend who was with me use to work at the 515's sister bar/restaurant the red for years. She did most of the talking because I was literally sick to my stomach on how they were treating us. We are probably the most tolerable people this could have happened to. this place is the bad.
***AVOID AVOID AVOID -
Review from Ellen M.
Aptos, CA
8/24/2011
Love the lambjoun, order it every time. Servers are friendly and attentive. Wine list is good although the restaurant definitely specializes in specialty cocktails.
There are so few decent restaurants in downtown Santa Cruz, we should frequent this one to keep them in business! -
Review from Ryan B.
*brunch review*
I came here around eleven a.m. on a sunny summer Sunday while visiting from NYC. All around, this was one of the most proper brunches of my life. My friend that I was visiting in Santa Cruz had recommended this place highly, and made us a reservation to dine outdoors. I urge you, fine people of Yelp, to follow suit and make a reservation to brunch on their beautiful upper deck on a gorgeous late morning. You'll be quite pleased.
I also have a few other things to urge you to try, but I think If you've made it as far as the brunch reservation you'll be guaranteed a 'win'.
Other things I'm urging you to try:
-Their Bloody Mary
-Country Benedict
-Prosciutto Hash
Ok, here's the deal. I LOVE bloody marys. I obsess over them actually. There is just nothing like a spicy gratuitous alcoholic beverage when you first wake up. The bloody mary at 515 is WONDERFUL. You can choose from several different types of infused vodkas. It is good and strong, spicy, garnished-da-f*ck-up, and served in a pint glass (the only way it should be, imo)
Now, I couldn't help but order the country benedict. I love benedicts, and all things rustic, so this was a no-brainer for me. Here's the lineup: biscuits, local pork sausage, poached eggs, and a portabello mushroom gravy on top. Served with delicious home-fries. This dish blew my mind. If this sounds at all appealing to you, GET IT.
My girlfriend ordered the dish that was my second choice, the Prosciutto Hash. Lucky me, I got to try two mind blowing dishes in one sitting. It is a very well done hash, but with Prosciutto; a medley of several types of potatoes (including yams) mixed up with the delectable cured ham and fragrant herbs. [+1 for whole springs of rosemary].
My friend ordered the french toast, which looked amazing, and he loved. However, he is a vegetarian, so we got to have all the tasty, pig-derived fun!! MUHAHAH!! (sorry to all the veggie heads out there, no offense. I had to take a jab at my crunchy friend on here).
An amazing experience, through and through. The dinner menu and cocktail menu looked amazing. Inspired fare all around. I also noticed that they have a fried chicken night. If I lived in the area, I would totally be a regular here. The service and the ambiance are through the roof, to boot. If you live in the area and have not tried 515 Kitchen & Cocktails yet, what are you waiting for? -
Review from Angela C.
7/7/2011
My review is based on the best meal of the day: Sunday Brunch.
I friggin love you!
I friggin love you back! (so it would say)
And then we go make love on a rainbow.
This place is an awesome gem! I met up with some friends and shimmied up the little stairwell to this cute sort of 30's style lounge. The place is really small, and I'm not exactly sure how many tables are in there, so when you be prepared to wait. The patio only had 5, maybe 6 tables, and if you can wait for outdoor seating, do it.
So its Sunday, and its morning-ish, so naturally, I want to reactivate the alcohol that is in me from the night before with a little mimosa. The bar is fantastic and they have a great array of awesome drinks on the menu. Their grapefruit mimosa is top notch!
Then this lady was walking around with a platter of these home made biscuits that looked amazing, and the various dishes on people's tables were mouth watering.
I opted for a lunch item and got the chorizo sammich. I 'bout chorizo'd in my pants because that shit was amazing. Highly recommended with the sweet potato fries!
Their coffee is fantastic too! french pressed and rich with flay-va!
This may replace Cafe Brasil as my new favorite Santa Cruz food spot -
Review from Stephanie B.
South San Francisco, CA
8/10/2011
4.5
LOVE THEIR CHICKEN. It's no wonder this place is packed Thursday nights; their chicken is so delicious. Perfectly cooked! When it comes out, you can tell it's fresh off the oven. Crispy, moist, flavorful - everything fried chicken should be. Dip it in gravy, mmm good. For $10 bucks, it comes with 4 pieces. Worth it. Share with a friend if you can't nom nom it all (I usually can't)!
Beware, although their chicken serving hours are 11:00PM-midnight, be sure to be there early! I would say 10:30 at the latest! Even if you're just ordering to-go, you gotta be there before 11. Past 11PM, they won't take any more chicken orders. One time, I came around 10:45. There wasn't a table, but a server gladly volunteered to put me on the waiting list and call me when a table is open. I thought that was really nice of him! Even better, he already ordered the chicken for us. So kind. =)
My usual drink is the Frida - light, girly, and fruity. Cute cocktail to have. I also love the setting! This is another nice place to take a date to because of its dim lighting and sophisticated decor. They give your bill in books, how classy lol.
To be honest, I wouldn't go to the usual places I went to for SC night life as a post grad (ahem MOTIV ahem). But I would come here! -
Review from Britney L.
Corte Madera, CA
6/16/2011
You must come to 515 on a Thursday for their special fried chicken. It is crispy deliciousness and a perfect start to a night out! I have come here a few times on Thursday nights. To get the fried chicken you should come early like around 10:30 to ensure that you get an order.
The chicken is my favorite part about visiting 515. It is served fresh fried and burning hot. You are served about 4 large pieces and each one is juicy, crispy, and of course delicious. The gravy is an extra plus which adds amazing flavor. To top it all off you must try their drink, the "Frida."
This place has a fun, laid back environment. It is usually crowded on the nights I have come so usually large parties have to squish together on the couches. -
Review from Tammy T.
San Jose, CA
7/9/2011
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed after reading the other reviews. Took someone here on a date and it was partly my fault I had a mediocre experience. I totally forgot my ID so I couldn't try any of their drinks but my date did and he thought it was Okay. Not so great. He was super amused by the creative menu being the nerd that he is and it was really relaxing but the food was Meh.
We waited for the fried chicken and all but all it turned out to be was fried chicken and gravy...sad day. -
Review from Connie Y.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2011 1 photo
I came here for a drink with some friends last week. I always drove by this place but never went in to eat nor drink until now. It is definitely a place you need to try if you're 21+. I love the ambiance. The dim lighting and the soft couches are great for having a drink to just catch up with some friends. However, it does get crowded so if you want a place to sit, come a little earlier.
The cocktails here are unique. They have a wide variety. I loved the Sophia & the pouplemousse (sp). They have a wide selection. I didn't come for happy hour but I saw that happy hour was 4-7pm. Will come again for that.
The food was good. Portions were small though. I got the rigatoni and my friend got the porcini mushroom ravioli. We both enjoyed the food and cocktails while we were there but I think she had food poisoning the next day... -
Review from Amy C.
6/18/2011
Love, Love, LOVE this place during cocktail hours!
Cocktails are delicious, but i would definitely come back for food sometime.
The setting at night is nice and cozy (unlike most bars and lounges at night). One can have a casual conversation without screaming at the top of your lungs. Staff is friendly and you can CHOOSE what type of liquor you want in your drink e.g. vodka. I was surprised when they asked me. YUM, YUM,YUM.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, I would go and check it out! -
Review from Mina D.
Menlo Park, CA
All I can say about this place is WOW! I haven't been to such an amazing, unique, heartening place in a log time!
Food -- 5 star: we got the steak and salmon, both perfectly cooked, great sauce, fresh veggies on the side and great price! If I were to get this in Palo Alto it would definitely cost twice as much.
Drink -- 5 star: we got Le pamplemousse, Flannery's mr. hazel motes, little john's cabronita, and some beer. All absolutely delicious! have't had such delicious mix drinks in a while!
Service -- 5 star: great service, very caring, friendly and chilled staff.
Atmosphere -- 5 star! This place is so cute and unique. they have vintage sitting, also they have a lot of couches that you can lounge, Ah I'm not even try to describe it more! you just have to go :)!
We randomly came across this place while looking for a restaurant in Santa Cruz. Our original plan was to get food here and drinks somewhere else, but the place is so cozy, comfortable and cute that we just staid there by the fireplace on the couch and got drinks and desert :)!
I can't wait to go back here, and I recommend it to everyone :)! They also have happy hour everyday 4-7 (which we missed :P). -
Review from M S.
Alpine, CA
1/5/2012
515 is my favorite drinking spot in Santa Cruz, not even because of the drinks/food, but because of the atmosphere - Cozy, dark, lounge with comfy couches for big groups of people. They have xbox on big screen TVs in case you came to the bar to play video games. I love their outdoor balcony/patio, which looks out over Cedar St. Only downside is, you can't take drinks outside.
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Review from Tonya T.
Santa Cruz, CA
6/25/2011
This is my favorite lounge in town. It has a really chill atmosphere, with mellow music, a phenomenal beer menu (I don't even like beer, but will get one from here!). In my humble opinion, it's a little more classy than the Red Room, and it is mellow enough that you can hold a conversation without having to raise your voice.
There is a fire place, a balcony, full bar upstairs, and a billion beers at the bar downstairs. And my favorite is the private room with couches upstairs. It's good for a party of 2+, and you can pull the curtain and not be interrupted by the waitress too often. I'm sure people get wild in there, but I like it because it feels cool (and a little VIP) to have your own cozy room at a club. Plus, it can be a little awkward to get food at a lounge, so we sometimes get appetizers in there. You just have to be lucky to notice the room is empty, and just go in (there aren't any reservations as far as I know, and I've never been kicked out).
When I used to go back in the day, there was a pretty hip (college) jazz group that jammed there on certain nights. Now, there are nights with a cool DJ.
Oh, the only thing I don't like is that you can't drink on the balcony. It has such a nice view, that it's really enticing to go out there, but if you take your drink, an observant waitress will politely inform you that you can't have drinks out there (for whatever reason). People can smoke on the balcony, but make sure you finish your drink before you go out for a cigarette. Regardless, I always slip out there with my drink, and can enjoy the outside atmosphere for 15 minutes before I'm reminded of the rules. =) -
Review from Katrina T.
Cupertino, CA
6/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I'm basing this review on the "night life" at 515.
Thursday nights, come early like at 10pm and place your order for their Fried Chicken that they serve at 11 pm. Their chicken is plated really nice and even tastes as good as it looks! The best part is the gravy they serve with it. Definitely tops the dish off. Their drinks are reasonably priced and tastes really goood. I always get the "Holly Golightly" my faveeee. I really like fruity drinks and this has everything I enjoy in it.
Eager to try the actual restaurant part though, I'll come back to try their brunch/dinner one day! -
Review from Mitchell B.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Starting to realize I hate this place.
I haven't eaten any of the food, so I can't talk about the restaurant. But god the bar is just awful.
Things to Look Forward To:
Shitty Drinks! (I've ordered a Tom Collins, Gimlet, and Vodka Tonic all of which were terrible)
No People! (This place is always suspiciously abandoned)
Mean Bartenders! (I was made fun of for ordering the above mentioned Tom Collins)
No Music! (Or it's just really quiet, who can say)
Little Seating!
And It's Expensive! -
Review from Lisa V.
Pomona, CA
8/23/2011
This place has wonderful cocktails but it takes so long to get our order in.
drinks were so good I decided to go back for brunch. The food was a little bland but the coffee was great. -
Review from Robyn R.
Santa Cruz, CA
3/25/2011
Wellllll.... It would've been 3 or 4 stars, all the way until we were shaken down by the waitress outside the place!
Started out with decent food and drinks (drinks are a little weak, but taste good, and none of us were looking to get buzzed). We ordered the lamb kebabs, short ribs, shrimp salad, asparagus, and cheese plate. We enjoyed the food immensely, all of it shared between 3 people.
When the 86 dollar bill came, I handed over a 20, and my friends slapped down their card. Now, here's where something went wrong. When the credit card slip came back, it was for 66 dollars - right. So my friend, not thinking, tipped on the 66 dollars. Innocent faux pas on her part. She should have tipped on the 86. We didn't realize this though, until...
...we stepped outside, and were chatting near the front door, talking about how nice our meal was, when our waitress came out and asked, "Was there something wrong with the service? Did I do something wrong?" I immediately knew it had something to do with the bill, she had it in her hand. We were like, "No, you were great..."
She proceeded to ask again, to make sure. Again we reassured her. "Well, she said, you didn't tip 15%...".
I don't know... It was rather passive aggressive. If I was a waitress and didn't get my 15% I'd think the patrons were assholes, or stupid, or stupid assholes even - but I'd never hunt them down and confront them over it.
It changed our opinion in a split second. We would never stiff a waitress on purpose! My friend who had settled the bill the first time, took out her wallet and forked over some more money. It felt dirty.... And then she said, picking up our conversation where we left off, "Well , now I may not come back...".
Bad form on us for screwing up, but worse on the waitress. Way worse.... -
Review from Celeste H.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/26/2011
Upstairs/bar review:
Love it - probably my favorite bar in downtown Santa Cruz. Their signature cocktails are exquisite & if you ladies are looking for the best mojito in town, then the search stops here. Ask for MICHAEL (cute bartender with glasses, looks like a cross between Buddy Holly & Dexter) to bring you a CUCUMBER MOJITO, you will not be disappointed.
But enough about Michael & mojitos, back to the point at hand...
The atmosphere is comfortable but classy, definitely NOT a dive-bar. The interior makes you feel like someone raided an antique store & I'm pretty sure the owner raided UCSC in order to employ most of the establishment, which i might add isn't a bad thing. Speaking of, the staff is amazing, they're all so friendly without being superficial & you can have an intelligent conversation with any one of them...
Overall, this place has a great combination of all the right elements to make it the perfect place for whatever you're looking for, whether its a dinner date, going out for girl's night, or you just want to enjoy the scenery...there's even a private room for big groups & a patio with a fireplace for all you smokers to enjoy a cigarette...
On a side note, while you're there, do not leave anything unattended for any reason what so ever, regardless of who may be watching it. I've had things go missing while i was there & that is the only reason I can't give a 5-star review... -
Review from Johnny G.
Fremont, CA
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for a quick drink with my buddy before dinner. Since it's summer, we opted for seating outside on the balcony. It was quite nice and relaxing. Also, there is happy hour, but we did not make it this time. I agree that this is a classier lounge that allows you to carry out a normal conversation without yelling.
The drinks are very fairly priced and the servers/bartenders are all pretty chilled.
Tips:
- If it is nice outside, why not choose to the balcony. If the balcony is occupied when you get there, you can just let your server know that you like like to move outside once it is available. Your server will keep an eye on the balcony for you.
Overall:
- Great place to hangout, I will definitely come back -
Review from edith g.
Long Beach, CA
10/21/2011
This one is for my ladies.
They love it here! Like the red (same owners) but quieter and a little classier, I guess. The happy hour menu's not too extensive but still a deal. The food is alright, a little over priced. I like the grilled veggie plate except it comes with grilled fennel which is just plain barf. I love the cheese plate (how can you go wrong?). And the truffle fries! the truffle fries! The main reason it's low stars for me is that it always smells kind of rank...the smell does not match the decor! It's like a fishy smell coming from the kitchen (never a good sign! Wouldn't order the fish) and a stale liquor smell coming from the carpet. Not a fan of carpets in bars to begin with, for that reason.
Most of all, the champagne cocktails are divine. Pools of Mercury has I don't know, something yellow and sweet and tangy and mint. There's other ones that are even better but I don't know their names. This is a great place to go feel swanky in SC. Oh yeah, and they have bacon-infused vodka bloodies, so that's pretty much a deal maker!
Could you get any hipper than to serve the check in a vintage book? love it. -
Review from ginger t.
Soquel, CA
10/29/2011
It has such potential! the space is so beautiful. the service (Flo) needs a great deal of training. The entire order should not come to the table at one time. if you are unsure about how your customer would like to be served... ask them! The food... the apple joun was fantastic, the salads were good, the polenta should be sold as a soup? Doubt if we will return.
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Review from Andrea B.
Costa Mesa, CA
8/5/2011
I'm not a Santa Cruz native. I was here with my boyfriend's grandparents for a business-ish type meeting.
That being said, this is easily one of my new favorite places. The atmosphere was really nice. While I didn't get to hang out upstairs (which I hear is fabulous) the downstairs was comfortable. The service was very friendly and accommodating. Not a single frown to be seen.
The cocktails were delicious! The old fashioned theme of the drinks are right up my alley. I stuck with the Classic Champagne Cocktail (because of a personal favorite movie) and didn't regret it. I sipped on my boyfriend's beverages, a Salinger followed by a rye old fashioned and they were likewise delicious.
For dinner my boyfriend ordered the Bavette Steak with greens, rare. I'm not fan of mooing meat usually but this was amazingly flavorful and palatable. I ordered the Rigatoni which I can safely say is the best pesto based dish I have ever had the delight to consume.
I plan on coming back next time I visit Santa Cruz. An overall enjoyable, pleasant, and fun experience. -
Review from Flor D.
2/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Unsuspecting joint that will satisfy your FRIED CHICKEN craving...YES, sign me up!
From the outside, this joint looks like someone's house.
From the inside, this joint looks like an awesome place to throw KILLER PARTIES.
Multi level venue boasts an open floor plan complete with multiple lounge areas nestled around comforting fireplaces. In addition, you will probably find board games lying around, sexy lighting, drinks, and FOOD. What's not to love, right?
If you are looking for a place to read, go to the parking loud. This spot can get a little loud with conversations and finger licking sounds, thanks FRIED CHICKEN.
2 floors, 2 bars, 2 opportunities to find a nook to chill.
Check out the extensive cocktail menu and DIVE IN. The names and descriptions are enough to make you want to try all of them:
flux-incapacitator-ronald reagan? The actor?!
little john's cabronita -cary elwes is awesome
le pamplemousse-parlez-vous francais?
the tricorder companion-i'm a doctor, not a pool man
HELLO...F U N!
Besides, why wouldn't you want to support a dope joint, with awesome drinks, fried chicken, and this:
We principally use organic vegetables, meats and dairy products and adhere to seafood watch guidelines. Our used vegetable oil is donated to local bio-diesel producers. The restaurant features signature items based on seasonal availability from our local farmer's market.Listed in: Libations: It's beer o'clock…
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Review from lorraine L.
Los Gatos, CA
Updated - 9/1/2011
I tried to come here for dinner with my bf but we never ate because no one came to our table! We walked out after waiting for nearly half an hour.
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7/12/2011
Here on a saturday night.... Servers, door man and bar tender were nothing but rude. I love the… Read more »
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Review from Chai G.
Santa Cruz, CA
Came here with a friend on a weekday night ready to sip a cocktail and just enjoy the end of exams and the start of an interesting summer. As soon as we walked in, I heard jazz music and saw a black and white film being projected onto the wall. The ambience is similar to a vintage, late 40s lounge, especially with a cute couple ballroom dancing and doing the jive.
We went upstairs and found a comfy spot right next to the fireplace where I ordered a Holly Golightly cocktail and my friend ordered the baked spinach salad and a Flannerys' Mr. Hazel Motes. I loved mine, it tasted exactly like a lemon drop candy, especially with the sugar rim. Her's was way strong but she finished it.. champion haha.
Instead of the boring plastic checkbook at the end of the meal, they give it in an old, worn novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this cute, retro touch. Service is great and I am definitely looking forward to coming here for happy hour.
