Gabriella Cafe

4.5 (1037)

$50 and over

Italian

910 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Make a booking

Gabriella Cafe

4.5

$50 and over

Italian

Santa Cruz

Make a booking

2 people

12 Nov 2026

19:00

Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Neighbourhood gem
Great for brunch

Zagat rated as "OUTSTANDING". Gabriella Cafe is a 50 seat, picturesque and romantic dining experience in downtown Santa Cruz.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian, Californian
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–14:30 Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00–14:15 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–21:00
Phone number
(831) 457-1677
Website
http://gabriellacafe.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Gema Cruz

Location
910 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Area
Santa Cruz
Cross street
Church Street
Parking Details
Parking Garages are very close
Entertainment
Come listen to the acoustic jazz guitar on Thursdays and jazz vocals (no amp) on Fridays.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

House Marinated OlivesUS$7.00
Pan AmoreUS$9.00
goat cheese, arugula pesto & roasted garlic
Crispy Rodoni Farms Brussel SproutsUS$9.00
apple gastrique & toasted hazelnuts
Rodoni Farms Grilled ArtichokeUS$9.00
lemon aioli
Prosciutto Wrapped AsparagusUS$15.00
tallegio & balsamic reduction
QuesadillasUS$9.00
oaxaca queso fresca & epazotas

Salad

Roast BeetsUS$12.00
honey pistachio puree, arugula, candied citrus & goat cheese
Gabriella CaesarUS$11.00
lemon boquerones emulsion, croutons & reggiano
Farmers Market LettucesUS$10.00
balsamic vinaigrette, red onions, carrots & avocado

Pasta

Housemade PappardelleUS$17.00
rustic bolognese & reggiano
Porcini GnocchiUS$18.00
cream sauce, carrots, spinach, asparagus & reggiano
Butternut Squash RavioliUS$18.00
truffle honey, kale, apples, walnuts & goat cheese
TagliatelleUS$18.00
tomato sauce, calabrese sausage, cabbage, leeks, chili flakes & reggiano

Entrees

California Sea BassUS$27.00
cream pipian sauce, carrots, romanesco & polenta
Grilled Sonoma QuailUS$19.00
market vegetables, mashed potatoes & romesco sauce
Organic Duck ConfitUS$19.00
apple gastrique, kale, carrots & mashed potatoes
All Natural Pork MoleUS$21.00
cabbage, carrots & potato croquets
California Lamb ShankUS$24.00
herb chimichurri, cabbage, carrots & potato croquettes
Allen Bros Angus New York SteakUS$32.00
porcini cream sauce, grilled asparagus, carrots & mashed potatoes

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Gabriella Cafe.

4.5

(1037)

4.5Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Overall
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Food
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Innovative
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Healthy
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for fine wines
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Gabriella Cafe is a charming and intimate restaurant celebrated for its "outstanding Oso Buco," "extraordinary service," and "delicious, fresh ingredients." The quaint atmosphere and varied menu offer a delightful dining experience, enhanced by creative dishes like "crispy honey-infused Brussels sprouts." Ideal for special occasions, Gabriella consistently impresses with "exceptional food and ambiance."

1,037 Reviews

E
Emily Gold
Chicago / Illinois4 reviews
2.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
We had a reservation for 8:30 for a birthday dinner and were told on arrival that Open Table (as if it’s a sentient being) messes with them and “likes to keep them open longer than they are” so basically we’d better hurry and order and eat before the kitchen closed. Even after I told them it was a birthday dinner, they blamed Open Table. The food was really good but not enough to justify the inflated prices and awful service.
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K
Katelyn
Unspecified1 review
4.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was absolutely delicious and our server was very kind. However, I had an interesting experience after dining at the restaurant. I left my wallet at the restaurant and when I called to ask if they had seen it, the girl on the phone was super dismissive and rude. She simply told me they didn’t have it; she didn’t ask me where I left it, she didn’t take down my number to contact me if they found it… I searched my whole house and my girlfriends house for my wallet, and once I figured out it had to be at Gabriella, I called again (probably like half an hour later). This time, I told the girl on the phone I had an AirTag in the wallet that said it was at Gabriella, and she then told me they had found the wallet. I expressed that I had called earlier about the wallet, to which the person on the phone replied “we didn’t have it but now we do”. I was really confused why they didn’t try to contact me when they found my wallet, and really wish they had been nicer to me about it. The steak with the shiitake cream sauce is really good though.
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S
Steve Gold
San Francisco Bay Area37 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Two of us had the Oso Buco, which was outstanding. The service was great and the menu selections were varied and lots of good options. We shared the crispy Brussels sprouts, which was a very generous portion and nice small sprouts. Everything was excellent. We’ll be back.
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M
Mary
San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food, great wine list, charming atmosphere.
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G
Gustavo Gold
Sacramento / Sacramento Valley543 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 November 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful quaint and romantic restaurant. The food was spectacular and the service was beyond excellent. Thank you for a great evening.
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t
tim
Orange County17 reviews
5.0
Dined on 25 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Got lucky....Was there during restaurant week. Worth a return trip. Very European...
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S
Sherry Gold
San Francisco Bay Area71 reviews
2.0
Dined on 25 October 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
This reservation was made after viewing the restaurant's website a few days in advance. We saw the regular menu and decided to try the restaurant for our 33rd wedding anniversary with our family. When we sat down and were handed only Prix Fix menus stating it was for restaurant week, we very completely surprised. While we were aware of restaurant week, there was no mention of a special Prix Fix menu on the restaurant's website. When I mentioned this to our server, she said the signs were on the outside of the building. (We live 10 miles away.) Who would assume every customer is walking by the restaurant in advance?! She said the menu on the website is dated, so we should have known that last week's dated menu would not apply to our 10/24/26 reservation. You are kidding me with this comment!! Tone deaf. When I asked to speak to a manager, the server said she was the manager. We wanted to order the chicken parm that was on the regular menu. She said there was nothing that could be done to change from the Prix Fix or the fixed price. Due to the restaurant not informing us on the Open Table reservation confirmation or noteing the limited Prix Fix menu dates, we will not return to this restaurant. We previously celebrated another anniversary with a dinner at the newly-opened Santa Cruz's Bahia Hotel restaurant High Tide. The service was so poor that we sent a note to the restaurant's management. They did not respond. I don't understand what is going on with the management of some restaurants in Santa Cruz, however we won't be trying any new ones. We'll stick to those who understand how to provide good service, like the Dream Inn's Jack O'Neill's.
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M
Mark Gold
San Francisco Bay Area30 reviews
5.0
Dined on 23 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Gabriella Café never disappoints! The food and service are over the top. Intimate and relaxing!
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M
Michael
Greater Boston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 17 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food. Fresh ingredients. Nice ambiance. Not noisy. Attentive service. Will go back!
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S
Sheila Gold
San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews
4.0
Dined on 11 October 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Has gotten much more pricey than last time was there a year ago. Food is still good.
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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian, Californian
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–14:30 Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00–14:15 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–21:00
Phone number
(831) 457-1677
Website
http://gabriellacafe.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Gema Cruz

Location
910 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Area
Santa Cruz
Cross street
Church Street
Parking Details
Parking Garages are very close
Entertainment
Come listen to the acoustic jazz guitar on Thursdays and jazz vocals (no amp) on Fridays.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

FAQs

Yes, Gabriella Cafe has outdoor seating, including a covered patio/courtyard and street-side/ alley-way tables that many guests choose for a more spacious, relaxed meal.

Gabriella Cafe seats you in an intimate indoor dining room and also offers outdoor seating, guests mention a covered patio/courtyard and charming alley‑way or street‑side tables.

Yes, Gabriella Cafe is a romantic, intimate spot in downtown Santa Cruz, well suited to a special evening out.

Weekend brunch at Gabriella Cafe is a highlight, Saturday and Sunday brunch (10:00 am–2:30 pm) is a favorite experience for many guests.

Smart casual is the guide at Gabriella Cafe, polished but relaxed, a nice fit for the restaurant's romantic, slightly dress-up evenings.

Gabriella Cafe feels like a small, romantic cottage, intimate, warmly decorated with live plants and eclectic décor, a low hum of conversation indoors and relaxed California-style outdoor seating.

Yes, the patio/courtyard is dog‑friendly: guests describe dining there with their dogs and note staff gave special attention to a dog during the visit.

Portions at Gabriella Cafe are often described as generous, several guests note entree sizes are substantial and plentiful.

Yes, Gabriella Cafe welcomes families: guests report pleasant family dinners, a granddaughter visiting, and staff happily accommodating a three‑year‑old’s request for eggs.

For families, Gabriella Cafe’s staff will adjust seating, guests report being moved from tiny two‑tops to larger 4‑tops for more comfortable dining.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a booking

Gabriella Cafe

4.5

$50 and over

Italian

Santa Cruz

Make a booking

2 people

12 Nov 2026

19:00

Booked 7 times today

Gabriella Cafe

Make a booking

Gabriella Cafe

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Starters

House Marinated OlivesUS$7.00

Pan AmoreUS$9.00

Crispy Rodoni Farms Brussel SproutsUS$9.00

Rodoni Farms Grilled ArtichokeUS$9.00

Prosciutto Wrapped AsparagusUS$15.00

QuesadillasUS$9.00

Salad

Roast BeetsUS$12.00

Gabriella CaesarUS$11.00

Farmers Market LettucesUS$10.00

Pasta

Housemade PappardelleUS$17.00

Porcini GnocchiUS$18.00

Butternut Squash RavioliUS$18.00

TagliatelleUS$18.00

Entrees

California Sea BassUS$27.00

Grilled Sonoma QuailUS$19.00

Organic Duck ConfitUS$19.00

All Natural Pork MoleUS$21.00

California Lamb ShankUS$24.00

Allen Bros Angus New York SteakUS$32.00

Loved For

Review summary

Dining areas

Additional information

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FAQs

Does this restaurant have outdoor seating?

What seating arrangements/rooms does this restaurant have?

Is this a good pick for date night?

What is the best day to go to Gabriella Cafe?

What is the dress code for Gabriella Cafe?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

Is this restaurant dog-friendly?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

Does this restaurant have accessible or family-friendly seating?

Make a booking

Gabriella Cafe

Make a booking