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Nest Best Thing: The view, the service, the atmosphere--readers love everything about the Crow's Nest at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. Photograph by George Sakkestad Best Food and Drink WHILE THE DOTCOM industry and NASDAQ investors continue to eat crow, the rest of us enjoy the deck (Silver), the Service (Silver) and Seafood (Bronze) at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, which added up to a Gold for Best Restaurant Overall for local institution (although the food is anything but institutional) the Crow's Nest. In close competition was Ristorante Avanti, scoring a Bronze for Wine List, a tie Gold for Service and a Gold for Best Italian Restaurant--which resulted in a Silver for Restaurant Overall. The third leg of the culinary trifecta went to another venerable eatery: Shadowbrook, which was rated by readers a tie in Best Service and a Gold in letting go of what profits might remain from your portfolio after last week (Best Splurge). When it comes to Sushi, Takara, newly relocated, proved to be the people's choice. For Burritos (truly the staff of life when cost effectiveness is paramount), Taqueria Vallarta, now with three locations, took top honors, and won a Silver (behind El Palomar) for Best Mexican Restaurant. As for those voters who picked McDonald's French fries third (after Jack's and Carpo's), we can only think that their votes certify the conclusion of Eric Schlosser's new book, Fast Food Nation, which points to the homogenization of America's taste buds at the hands of a certain megacorporation. Best Bakery GOLD Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria 504 Bay Ave., Capitola 462.1200 SILVER The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave., SC 458.3020 BRONZE Emily's Good Things to Eat 1129 Mission St., SC 429.9866 Best Barbecue GOLD Cole's Bar-B-Q & Catering 8059 Aptos St., Aptos 662.1721 2590 Portola Dr., SC 476.4424 SILVER Bruno's Barbecue 245 Mount Hermon Rd., SV 438.2227 BRONZE Hindquarter Bar & Grille 303 Soquel Ave., SC 426.7770 Best Beer on Tap Selection GOLD 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall Beer Pub 110 Walnut Ave., SC 459.9999 SILVER Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC 426.2739 BRONZE The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., SC 423.1336 Best Bread GOLD Alfaro's 412 Riverside Dr., Watsonville 728.0350 SILVER Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria 504 Bay Ave., SC 462.1200 BRONZE Beckmann's Old World Bakery 2341 Mission St., SC 423.2566 104 Bronson St., SC 423.9242 Best Breakfast GOLD Zachary's 819 Pacific Ave., SC 427.0646 SILVER Walnut Avenue Cafe 106 Walnut Ave., SC 457.2307 BRONZE Linda's Seabreeze Cafe 542 Seabright Ave., SC 427.9713 Best Brunch GOLD Chaminade at Santa Cruz 1 Chaminade Lane, SC 475.5600 SILVER Zachary's 819 Pacific Ave., SC 427.0646 BRONZE Walnut Avenue Cafe 106 Walnut Ave., SC 457.2307 Best Burger GOLD Jack's Hamburgers 202 Lincoln St., SC 423.4421 SILVER Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel 476.6260 BRONZE Pontiac Grill 429 Front St., SC 427.2290 Best Burrito GOLD Taqueria Vallarta 608 Soquel Ave, SC 457.8226 893 41st Ave., SC 464.7022 1101-A Pacific Ave., SC 471-2655 SILVER Tacos Moreno 1053 Water St., SC 429.6095 303 Beach St., SC 427.2200 BRONZE Jalapeños Taqueria 206 Laurel St., SC 457.0159 1201 Soquel Ave., SC 466.9739 Best Chinese GOLD O'mei Restaurant 2316 Mission St., SC 425.8458 SILVER King Chwan Chinese Restaurant 415 Ocean St., SC 429.5898 BRONZE Golden Buddha 4610 Soquel Dr., Soquel 479.0788 Best Coffeehouse GOLD Cafe Pergolesi 418 Cedar St., SC 426.1775 SILVER Lulu Carpenter's 1545 Pacific Ave., SC 429.9804 BRONZE Jahva House 120 Union St., SC 459.9876 Best Desserts GOLD Gayle's Bakery and Rosticceria 504 Bay Ave., Capitola 462.1200 SILVER The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave., SC 458.3020 BRONZE Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC 429.8505 Best French Fries GOLD Jack's Hamburgers 202 Lincoln St., SC 423.4421 SILVER Carpo's 2400 Porter St., Soquel 476.6260 BRONZE McDonald's Various locations Best Grocery Store GOLD Shoppers Corner 622 Soquel Ave., SC 423.1398 (groceries); 423.1696 (meat department) SILVER New Leaf Community Markets 2351 Mission St., SC 426.1306 1134 Pacific Ave., SC 425.1793 1210 41st Ave., Capitola 479.7987113 6240 Hwy 9, Felton 335.7322 13159 Central Ave., Boulder Creek 338.7211 BRONZE Zanotto's Family Markets 700 Front St., SC 423.4994 14 Victor Sq., SV 438.4324 Best Ice Cream/ Frozen yogurt GOLD Marianne's Ice Cream 1020 Ocean St., SC 458.1447 SILVER Polar Bear Ice Cream 1224 Soquel Ave., SC 425.5188 BRONZE Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream Stores Various locations Best Italian GOLD Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC 427.0135 SILVER Ristorante Italiano 555 Soquel Ave., SC 458.2321 BRONZE Mama Mia's Family Style Italian Restaurant 6231 Graham Hill Rd., Felton 335.4414 Best Late-Night Eatery GOLD Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC 429.8505 SILVER The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Dr., SC 429.6994 BRONZE Denny's Restaurant 1515 Ocean St., SC 426.4628 6014 Scotts Valley Dr., SV 438.2023 Best Local Wine GOLD Bonny Doon Vineyard 10 Pine Flat Rd., SC 425.3625 SILVER Bargetto Winery 3535 N. Main St., Soquel 475.2258 BRONZE Storrs Winery 303 Potrero, SC 458.5030 Best Mexican GOLD El Palomar 1336 Pacific Ave., SC 425.7575 SILVER Taqueria Vallarta 608 Soquel Ave, SC 457.8226 893 41st Ave., SC 464.7022 1101-A Pacific Ave., SC 471-2655 BRONZE Tampico Kitchen 820 Pacific Ave., SC 458.2821 Best Microbrewery GOLD Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC 426.2739 SILVER Boulder Creek Brewery 13040 Hwy. 9, Boulder Creek 338.7882 BRONZE Santa Cruz Brewing Co. 516 Front St., SC 429.8838 Best Natural Foods Store GOLD New Leaf Community Markets 2351 Mission St., SC 426.1306 1134 Pacific Ave., SC 425.1793 1210 41st Ave., Capitola 479.7987 6240 Hwy 9, Felton 335.7322 13159 Central Ave., Boulder Creek 338.7211 SILVER Staff of Life 1305 Water St., SC 423.8632 BRONZE Food Bin 1130 Mission St., SC 423.5526 Best Neighborhood Market GOLD Shoppers Corner 622 Soquel Ave., SC 423.1398 SILVER New Leaf Community Markets (See Best Natural Foods Stores for locations) BRONZE Food Bin 1130 Mission St., SC 423.5526 Best Outdoor Dining GOLD The Crepe Place 1134 Soquel Dr., SC 429.6994 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 E. Cliff Dr., SC 476.4560 BRONZE Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Ave., SC 426.2739 Best Pizza GOLD Pizza My Heart 1116 Pacific Ave., SC 426.2511 209 Esplanade, Capitola 475.5714 SILVER Tony & Alba's Pizza 817 Soquel Ave., SC 425.8669 1501 41st Ave., Capitola 475.4450 226 Mount Hermon Rd., SV 439.9999 BRONZE Round Table Pizza Various Locations Best Restaurant Overall GOLD Crow's Nest 2218 E. Cliff Dr., SC 476.4560 SILVER Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC 427.0135 BRONZE Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf St., Capitola 475.1511 Best Restaurant Service GOLD (Tie) Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf St., Capitola 475.1511 Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC 427.0135 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 E. Cliff Dr., SC 476.4560 BRONZE Thai House 353 Soquel Ave., SC 458.3546 Best Romantic Restaurant GOLD Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf St., Capitola 475.1511 SILVER Gabriella Cafe 910 Cedar St., SC 457.1677 BRONZE Casablanca 101 Main St., SC 426.9063 Best Sandwich GOLD Zoccoli's Delicatessen 1534 Pacific Ave., SC 423.1711 SILVER Erik's Deli Cafe 712 Front St., SC 425.5353 1664 Soquel Ave., SC 462.1919 102 Rancho del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos 688.5656 1601 41st Ave., Capitola 475.4646 222 Mount Hermon Rd., SV 438.4646 1074 S. Green Valley Rd., Watsonville 724.7575 BRONZE Togo's Various locations Best Seafood GOLD Riva Fish House 500 Municipal Wharf, SC 429.1223 SILVER Stagnaro's 59 Municipal Wharf, SC 423.2180 BRONZE Crow's Nest 2218 E. Cliff Dr., SC 476.4560 Best Steak GOLD Hindquarter 303 Soquel Ave., SC 426.7770 SILVER Crow's Nest 2218 E. Cliff Dr., SC 476.4560 BRONZE Portola House 3326 Portola Dr., SC 476.2733 Best Splurge Restaurant GOLD Shadowbrook 1750 Wharf St., Capitola 475.1511 SILVER Oswald's 1547 Pacific Ave., SC 423.7427 BRONZE Casablanca 101 Main St., SC 426.9063 Best Sushi/ Japanese GOLD Takara 3775 Capitola Rd., SC 464.1818 SILVER Pink Godzilla 830 41st Ave., SC 464.2586 BRONZE Mobo Sushi 105 River St., SC 425.1700 Best Thai GOLD Thai House 353 Soquel Ave., SC 458.3546 SILVER Bangkok West 2505 Cabrillo College Dr., Soquel 479.8297 BRONZE Star of Siam 3005 Porter St., Soquel 479.0366 Best Vegetarian Offerings GOLD Dharma's 4250 Capitola Rd., Capitola 462.1717 SILVER Saturn Cafe 145 Laurel St., SC 429-8505 BRONZE Asian Rose 1116 Soquel Ave., SC 423.7906 1547 Pacific Ave., SC 458.3023 Best Wine List GOLD Pearl Alley Bistro & Wine Bar 110 Pearl Alley, SC 429.8070 SILVER Gabriella Cafe 910 Cedar St., SC 457.1677 BRONZE Ristorante Avanti 1711 Mission St., SC 427.0135 Readers' Choice Awards Best Music & Nightlife Best Goods & Services Best Sports & Recreation Best Arts Best People & Places Best Write-Ins Critics' Choice Awards Jesse Davis: All the Shoes That Fit Stuart Finch: Rock Balancing Act Isabel Piekarski: Latin Dance Sensation Juan Cuellar: Compassionate Warrior Nate Brunskill: Film Fanatic Warren Odell: Tour Guide to an Anomaly Sarah Gerhardt: Woman Who Rides Mountains Seema Weatherwax: Late-Blooming Photographer Stephanie Smith: Student of the Sciences Theo Paige: The Not.So.Mad Fiddler [ Santa Cruz Week | MetroActive Central | Archives ]