Best Risotto in Santa Cruz

6 restaurant menus in Santa Cruz, (the ranking and the list of restaurants are based on the number of recommendations received from users in the last month, currently updated)
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Lillian's Italian Kitchen
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
85/100 (347 ratings)
Restaurants
Italian
Gluten Free Options
Italian
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Vegan Options
Dinner
Lunch
Carbonara
Chicken Parmesan
Eggplant
Arancini
Pasta
Pesto
Salad
Fish
Risotto
Antipasti
Salmon
Ragu
Alfredo
Tiramisu
Meatballs
Lasagne
Shrimp
Cannoli
Italian
Serves Alcohol
Accepts Credit Cards
Gift Cards Available
Takeout
Parking Available
Television
Highchairs Available
Reservations
Seating
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Full Bar
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"Very family friendly and lively..."
Destin2talespin
"Fantastic food reasonably priced for upscale Italian. Would dine here regularly if we were locals. A little noisy, but otherwise good ambience...."
Kellye B Owens
"Recently had a trip to Italy and found myself saying 'this is good but it's not as good as Lillian's'. Wonderful restaurant. You must book..."
Ronnie Stanton
"Santa Cruz was an alien town to me and had no idea where to go eat! Heard about this restaurant and never visited another one! The hospitality is..."
Sohrab Singh
"Belly bursting happiness. Lillian's is right down the street where I live, so it proves to be my favorite local restaurant and a usual for my..."
Cheapeats
"After making reservations we headed over there so we would be there right on time. But when we got there, the restauraunt was packed! We had to wait..."
Keri M-H
"Thank you Lillian's. Thank you for coming to Santa Cruz. Love the ambience. Love the food. Love the..."
Flipper
"This place rocks! I called at 430 on saturday to see when we could get in. Her took my mame and number and told me an hour. An jour later we were..."
Agoble
"This place is great. Just left there and had to write a review. Everything was delisous and was very well priced. This place is the besitalian I have..."
Itai Britany
"This was the perfect valentines day spot. The soup is the best I've ever had. The aroma alone will make you fall in..."
Tyler Rossman
"Wow this place is great. One of those small diners with killer food you would see on food networks diners drive in's and dives. The Sunday gravy is..."
Kevin Talbot
"Get there early the place fills up fast. Their meat sauce is..."
Michelle
"Wow this was so good. I got the Gorgonzola fiochetti, a slightly sweet and savory and creamy pasta with prosciutto. So good! My partners pasta w meat..."
Maia Miglio
"After a long day of hiking or day on the boardwalk, drive 10 minutes to this gem of a restaurant! Excellent for families, generous portions and..."
Richard H
"This was my fourth visit here so I felt it was time to give this place the review it deserves. This Italian restaurant is one reason I drive 80 miles..."
Ariane Arnaldo
"Great service. Made a reservation the night before and the host was very friendly and helpful. I asked for a certain table and they said they would..."
Rick Salgado
"We enjoyed a wonderful dining experience all around. During the short time we were waiting to be seated, three servers, as they were passing by,..."
E Graze
"We called ahead on a Friday evening at 6:00PM and of course we were unable to make reservations as it is all booked for the night. When we arrived to..."
Kim C
"Lillian's has been a star since they opened! I moved away and was visiting, so I had an opportunity to visit their new and large, yet comfy and..."
Jeni Brill
"What a delightful surprise finding this restaurant was!! We were staying in Capitola and took a drive to Santa Cruz. As dinner approached, I looked..."
Patti Diamond
Lago Di Como
Lago Di Como
84/100 (892 ratings)
Restaurants
Mediterranean
Pizza
Mediterranean
Italian
Gluten Free Options
Pizza
Italian
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Vegan Options
Dinner
Lunch
Tiramisu
Pasta
Lasagne
Salad
Carbonara
Clams
Prosciutto
Calamari
Pesto
Risotto
Fish
Calamares
Pork
Salmon
Swordfish
Polenta
Sit down
Italian
Mediterranean
Pizza
Takeout
Serves Alcohol
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Highchairs Available
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"My family is from northern Italy and the lakes region has always been a favorite place to visit so when I saw an Italian restaurant featuring Lake..."
Coho Boy
"Really warm, attentive staff and very authentic italian dishes. Great outdoor seating options as..."
Katrina Wagner
"Simply pleasant place. Tasty food, fast service. What's more important in restaurant business the owner is in place, which makes you feel like you're..."
Vlad Ga
"So delicious!! I got the mushroom ravioli and it was so..."
Kyle Bergerson
"I hadn’t been in a number of years, my recollection was good not great. However I’ve been twice in about the past six weeks and it has been..."
Randall Nacamuli
"Great food, even BETTER service, don't miss Lago di..."
J C
"Good scene for tasty Italian food. I love snacking here. Certainly worth a return visit. It has an awesome feel to it. Food is similar to a cafe in..."
Laurie Moses
"The food was delicious and the staff was amazing. The patio was nice and warm..."
Aden Shannon
"Authentic family friendly Italian restaurant. My boyfriend and I went there for dinner yesterday. We believe their food was authentic and service was..."
Kayoko
Ristorante Avanti
Ristorante Avanti
82/100 (566 ratings)
Restaurants
Italian
Gluten Free Options
Italian
Vegetarian Friendly
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Dinner
Lunch
Pasta
Salad
Duck
Calamari
Risotto
Calamares
Polenta
Meatballs
Lamb
Pesto
Fish
Sit down
Italian
Accepts American Express
Reservations
Seating
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Serves Alcohol
Parking Available
Free off-street parking
Full Bar
Accepts Credit Cards
Takeout
Accepts Mastercard
Accepts Visa
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"Traveled last week to Santa Cruz from Texas, this place was truly amazing. The hostess was also our waitress and the staff made our experience..."
FW TXW70
"Came here for an early valentine's day best decision! The food and atmosphere 😍 is wonderful and..."
Davisu Echo
"Excellent local restaurant with nicely done contemporary decor. All the dishes were excellent. Flavorful sauces without excessive salt. Full bar. ..."
Robert Bixby
"Food is wonderful. I had the squash ravioli in butter sauce with crisp fried of what I remember to be sage. The contrast in textures is marvelous. It..."
Sarah
"What a lovely place to dine in. Their cauliflower and burrata appetizers were delicious. And all main dishes were delicious as..."
SKnari
"Such a great and cozy atmosphere. Great service, great bar. The food is good, though too hot when it was served! Took a long time to be able to eat..."
Meera Collier
"Delicious food in West Side Santa Cruz! Jonathan and Tatiana do it right: delicious food, great atmosphere, friendly service...and in 2020...amazing..."
Matt Orbach
Johnny's Harborside
Johnny's Harborside
80/100 (681 ratings)
Restaurants
Seafood
American
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Seafood
American
Bar
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Brunch
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Breakfast
Prawns
Cakes
Risotto
Polenta
Pesto
Mussels
Cioppino
Fish
Tuna
Shrimp
Ceviche
Calamares
Salmon
Crab Cake
Pasta
Chowder
Salad
Fish & Chips
Clam Chowder
Tapas
Crab
Fish Taco
Scallops
Tacos
Clams
Oyster
Sandwiches
Cod
Halibut
Tempura
Calamari
Burger
Fish & chips
Sit down
Bar
American
Seafood
Wine and Beer
Parking Available
Highchairs Available
Full Bar
Free Wifi
Accepts Credit Cards
Takeout
Reservations
Television
Accepts Mastercard
Accepts Visa
Seating
Accepts American Express
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Accepts Discover
Serves Alcohol
Drinks
Brunch
Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"Visited Johnny's rather last minute with 9 of us. They accommodated us in about 30 minutes even though they were packed. Laura was our waitress. ..."
Shelley Davidson Cummings
"Great service and good food! A gem place on a Friday night especially for locals. A server named Nina has exceptional customer service! She can make..."
Fredrick Wing
"Excellent seafood, perfect, professional service and a lovely unpretentious neighborhood vibe. The best Creme Brulee I have ever had, anywhere. Don't..."
Susan Pemble
"Just wow!! Best meal I’ve had in months!! Crab cakes were amazing, steak was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. And those mini desserts will..."
Sheri Lunamoré
"Super lekker gegeten , voorgerecht was verassend lekker en hoofdgerecht was top . Jammer alleen dat je nadat je je vork neerlegt voordat de wijn op..."
Eric Bartels
"Love this local spot. Friendly staff, fresh food, great views and parking is typically great. Fish tacos or Fish n Chips are always a great option...."
Jen Lorenzini
"Superb food, excellent drinks, an amazing view and happy staff. My favorite seafood restaurant in Santa..."
Payson Mcnett
"First time at Johnny’s, very friendly wait staff, good service, delicious food and a wonderful view over the..."
Debbie Macdonald
"Love this place. Excellent food, cocktails and fun atmosphere. My family visiting from San Diego were very impressed and loved taco..."
George Daniel DeLeon
"Hard to feed a family of five well, until you go to Johnny’s. Calamari, beef sliders, chicken sliders, chicken wings & margaritas all at happy hour..."
Tammy Giulian
"Amazing service, amazing views, amazing calamari and fish bites and great crab cake! Potato skin was good and the margarita was ok (never had one..."
Jub Jub
"Loved the clam chowder, salmon burger and dessert bites! We went for happy hour and ended up staying for dinner, went home stuffed and with plenty of..."
Sheila Grammond
"The food was pretty good. Drinks were good. We decided to come here because Phil's Fish Market was way too busy and crowded. The garlic bread was..."
Steve Sabu
"Clam chowder was super delicious! The food was fresh… but very less options to choose from… The place altogether has great service and comes with..."
RUTUJA GIRMAL
"Really a perfect treat. Fish right off the boat and onto our plates, into our mouths, now swimming in our belly’s and the fish seems to have had a..."
Cyclistlaw Motorcycle and Bike Crash Attorneys
"A lovely seaside setting to enjoy the excellent offerings at Johnny's Harbor. Fresh fish prepared straight from the dock, "undressed" or "decked out"..."
Lisa Greco
"WOW - What amazing service from a server, Michelle plus kitchen manager, Greg. I found Johnny's Harborside menu to be exactly what we needed due to..."
Joanne Day
"Views of Santa Cruz marina. Good Service, good food. Clam chowder soup was surprisingly flavorful and zesty. The tangy salsa with fish tacos elevated..."
Anu Potnis
"Nice view and exceedingly eager service. Wasn't crazy about the food, but that has more to do with my Croatian expectations of seafood than the..."
Ida Martinac
Firefish Grill
Firefish Grill
75/100 (1452 ratings)
Restaurants
Bar
Vegetarian Friendly
Bar
Gluten Free Options
Seafood
American
Seafood
American
Vegetarian Friendly
Gluten Free Options
Brunch
Drinks
Dinner
Lunch
Prawns
Pesto
Risotto
Cioppino
Fish
Tuna
Bass
Shellfish
Shrimp
Jambalaya
Calamares
Salmon
Fish & chips
Crab Cake
Pasta
Chowder
Salad
Fish & Chips
Clam Chowder
Tapas
Crab
Tacos
Scallops
Seafood Platters
Clams
Cod
Oyster
Burger
Swordfish
Halibut
Cakes
Calamari
Sit down
American
Bar
Seafood
Full Bar
Takeout
Waterfront
Reservations
Seating
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Serves Alcohol
Parking Available
Highchairs Available
Drinks
Brunch
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range
"My wife and I both had the Baby Spinach Salad and it was absolutely great! The view was great! The staff and service was great! Would recommend..."
Matthew Quesada
"The snapper was absolutely delicious and the service (Carmen) was fantastic. With a gorgeous view and full bar, this place is a must when visiting..."
Heather Mechling Eckels
"I only go for the abalone � Their specials always sound so great! Because there was only 2 of us, we were seated right away. Last night, my..."
Cassie Hart Arellano
"Excellent, friendly service and amazing food. I had scallops Monterey and the dish was to die for. My husband had he halibut and it looked delicious..."
Cyn Graves
"My husband, father & I went for lunch today, The service and food were both excellent. I had the crab cakes which are the best I have ever had. My..."
Judy Busalacchi Bekker
"My favorite seafood restaurant in Santa Cruz. They have always been great, the food is amazing, and they are nice to my kids. The Rockefeller is my..."
Nicholas Michael Ranger
"Amazing crab cakes and risotto was absolutely delicious!!! From appetizer to cocktails to entree it was all magnificent! I used to live here I now..."
Theresa Wiles
"Great company, Awesome weather, great view. During the week not so crowded and we got right in and had a cute waitress that was pretty attentive ...."
Jarrod Kane
"Best place to have a romantic dinner in Santa Cruz. Food and service were excellent. Having the ocean as your backdrop made it even more appealing...."
Vince Tuzzi
"Best salmon dish (I'm pretty sure) I've ever had. Awesome service, great view of the ocean. Top..."
Mark Crutchfield
"My husband and I were looking for this restaurant for one hour and nobody could help us. So, finally we are here and they did a good quick service...."
Inna Nechypurenko
"Awesome fish dishes of course Sand Dabs! Wonderfully accompanied with a Chardonnay caper sauce! I sit at the bar where the drinks come fast...."
Bruce B
"Overall, we all liked it. We ordered Grilled Seabass topped with lobster sauce & served with mashed potatoes and spinach on bottom . We also ordered..."
Glamagirl
"Excellent food and service. My husband got fish stuff which he loves and I go chicken. Excellent on..."
Bernice
"The dinner specials were awesome. Mom had tender cooked albalone, big sis had a perfectly seared ahi, little sis a moist and flavorful stuffed..."
Kim B
"Enjoyed our meals. My wife and I had lunch here at a recent trip. My wife is from the East coast, and rarely likes the Crab Cakes she gets in the..."
JB
"Best on the Wharf!. Had the steak and rockafeller prawns, very good. Service was great and the place looks nice. The new kitchen was a cool idea. Way..."
Bryan
"Loved it!!!!!!. My family and i enjoyed firefish!! chowder is the best!!! i had mesquite grilled salmon with hollandaise sauce.maybe the best i've..."
Charlie
"We were celebrating our anniversary here again. It's a nice place to be for special occasions. Restaurant is located Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and..."
Amir Virani
"Well made cocktails. The food was fabulous. So beautifully presented and the flavors amazing. I had the 5 coarse special; crusted chicken over..."
Margaret Lund
"Great fish and chips - I especially like the mixed seafood platter with fried prawns,scallops, calamari and fresh fish. Visit and say hi to the sea..."
Lainey Cameron
Las Olitas Cantina & Grill
Las Olitas Cantina & Grill
70/100 (1000 ratings)
Restaurants
Latin
Southwestern
Latin
Vegetarian Friendly
Seafood
Seafood
Mexican
Mexican
Vegetarian Friendly
Dinner
Lunch
Fajitas
Beef
Fish
Lobster
Salad
Chili
Scallops
Oyster
Risotto
Tapas
Fish Taco
Tacos
Burrito
Tortillas
Shrimp
Sit down
Seafood
Mexican
Southwestern
Latin
Reservations
Seating
Table Service
Serves Alcohol
Parking Available
Full Bar
Takeout
Television
Dinner
Lunch
Mid-range