Tye-Dye And Hi-Fives In Santa Cruz, CA

No longer the hippie hang out it once was, Santa Cruz now boasts fine dining, pristine beaches and fabulous shopping. If you are a sushi connoisseur, as I am, you cannot miss the best restaurant, Pink Godzilla. That is its actual name. If you have a four-legged friend of the dog variety make sure you take him to "Its" beach along West Cliff Dr. for some sandy, messy, wet fun with other dogs. If you like to shop, boutique style, check out Pacific Ave. It's taken a Santa Barabara style turn in recent years and has some wonderful shops to offer.

Quick Tips:

Summer months are warm, winter months are rainy and foggy. Plan accordingly.

Best Way To Get Around:

Car, bus or beach cruiser.

Wasabi is an art form to some. Pink Godzilla is a funky, crazy, affordable sushi haven in Santa Cruz. Their house salad miso dressing is creamy, salty and perfect, laden over crisp veggies and lettuce. The miso is mixed perfectly, and the seaweed salad is delicious.

Make sure to order some of the inventive rolls the Pink is known for. The Nia Roll is tuna, steamed broccoli, avocado and spicy sauce. Add some wasabi, and you will be feeling "the burn". Their shrimp tempura roll is "melt in your mouth" amazing. Tempura, avocado, sweet sauce and cucumber combine for a real taste explosion. The Scallops Mitsu is a winner if you love shellfish. Fresh scallops, combined with tobiko and mayo to make a roll you won't forget. Not for the timid at heart is the "Hamchi Sunrise Roll" - a thick slab of fresh hamachi topped with a mound of tobiko, topped with a raw quail’s egg, apparently is a culinary adventure to be had.

If you have a party of four or more, make sure to call ahead and book a tatami room. They are fun, shoeless and private. Enjoy!

Opa!

That's what you'll be yelling after your first trip to Vasili's. A very busy restaurant in the heart of Santa Cruz, Vasili's offers the best in Greek and Mediterranean fare. From flaming kasseri cheese and olives to chicken kabobs and kefetalakia (meatballs), the menu has much culture to offer. A personal favorite, I discovered Vasili's after a few years of passing by and wondering if it was any good. Packed to the brim, even on weeknights, I knew it had to be.

Vasili, the owner, takes pride in his restaurant, and it is filled with photographs of happy restaurant memories and even happier customers. Tuesday nights are always my favorite night to go, as Vasili himself is there making his special chicken and lemon rice soup. It is spectacular. He is the only one who makes it, so it is only available when he is in the kitchen. Call ahead to ask; it is worth the extra planning! The tzatziki (a cucumber-yogurt sauce) is a house specialty. It is thick, creamy, and tangy and served with fresh Greek dipping bread hot from the oven.

Everything is made in house, so you know it is going to be fresh. Hurry up and get there before all the lemon soup is gone!!! Have fun and break a plate for me!

When Cafe Brazil burned down 2 years ago, there was a collective day of mourning in Santa Cruz county. No one was hurt and insurance was going to take care of it, but no one could imagine going on without their weekend brunches filled with pancakes, frittatas, and acai juice.

Finally reopened in June of last year, Cafe Brazil is better than ever. The converted house is located right on Mission Street, Santa Cruz's main "highway." Parking is limited and the place is always busy.

The menu consists of American favorites and Brazilian fare, all for very reasonable prices. The golden frittatas are excellent. Filled with eggs, potatoes, salsa, cheese and beans, they are a bestseller and run about $8. They also have a few different types of benedicts – the traditional one and one that comes with avocado. The Spanish-style tortilla ($8) is also very good. It is similar to the frittata, but without all the potato.

Whenever we go, we always order a stack of banana pancakes for the table. They are thin, slightly crispy, and so good. You can order a single ($3), a double ($5), or a triple ($7) stack. A bite of a sweet pancake is the best way to finish off a South American-inspired breakfast at Cafe Brazil!

This beach is not like the Boardwalk Beach. It is a million times more beautiful. If you don't have children who desperately need to go to the Boardwalk, pass on that and head for Natural Bridges. Named so for the huge rocks that have been formed into natural bridges over the many years.

The Catalyst is a Santa Cruz staple. Big acts come to perform on the main stage, while smaller acts fill in on weekends and weekdays as well. With three bars, one upstairs and two downstairs, there is plenty of space. Upstairs there are pool tables, if you feel like gaming. Tuesday nights are 2-dollar nights, and there is almost always a free band playing in the Atrium on any other night. It's a great way to start or end a barhopping night on Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz.

Rosie's is Santa Cruz's token Irish Pub. Above a Mexican fusion restaurant on the "mall" or main street in Santa Cruz, it is in the most peculiar of places for a pub. But one does not mistake the sound of Irish folk music and a menu full of Irish specialties. Rosie's is a bar and restaurant. The menu has corn beef hash and fish-and-chips, along with more Santa Cruz-friendly entrées like grilled chicken and fish, pasta, and salads.

On the weekends, local rock bands and DJs come in and take over the dance floor, where everyone from rockers to hip-hoppers can be found swaying to the music.

If you are in Santa Cruz for St. Patty's day, there is only one place to go, and that is Ms. McCann's. Green beer for everyone!

Beyond being an extraordinary Afghan restaurant, Parwana is also the sight of weekly belly dancing performances by the dance troupe Heavy Hips. Not the glitter-laden belly dancers one conjures up with the I Dream of Jeanie scenario, but rather REAL belly dancers, with roots in tradition and ceremony. The costuming is authentic, as are all of the dance moves. Heavy Hips combines the best of all traditional belly dance moves and puts on a 15-minute show twice on Friday night and twice on Saturday night. It is beautiful to watch and creates a sense of awe as the beautiful dancers glide around the room in rhythmic succession.

The food is awesome, too. Try the Afghan pizza. Although it sounds weird, it's pretty amazing. Call ahead to make sure the dancers will be there and to make a reservation. The dining room is VERY small and intimate, and there is room for only about 25 diners.