Appointment Trader
Search 
Sign In
Developers
How It Works
Get into Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola! 🔥
Chat
Buyer Protection
Option to Cancel
Alias Check-In
Upload Your Reservation Now
6 users watching
Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola Reviews
Great service.
We both had the seafood pasta which had a red sauce that had just the right amount of spiciness to it.
What a beautiful historical restaurant! Our server Shelly,
What a beautiful historical restaurant! Our server Shelly, was gracious, professional, friendly and full of knowledge about the history of The Shadowbrook. We had an amazing experience and wonderful food! Definitely recommend
Food was delightful as I remember it from years ago.
Andrew our waiter was humorous, engaging, attentive and personable. He took great pictures of our group of 7 ladies that had gotten together. The restaurant is certainly iconic. Some of us did not get the chance to ride the tram, but it was a nice touch. We got in the room overlooking the river which was lovely. We have recommended the restaurant over the years and it did not disappoint this time either!
Took my friend at the time for a birthday get away.
It was amazing restaurant with a beautiful view. Customer service was excellent
Incredible atmosphere, great service and decadent mouth
Incredible atmosphere, great service and decadent mouth watering cuisine ! I highly recommend Shadowbrook... the trolley is a sweet experience!
First of all the restaurant experience and ambience is
First of all the restaurant experience and ambience is amazing. The food was all very good from the appetizer to the soup to the salad to the main entree's to the desert. But when you go to a special occasion restaurant such as this you do expect to have at least one thing that was the best thing you ever remembered eating. By all means I believe everyone should make this a bucket list dining experience
Loved everything about this historic restaurant! Amazing
Loved everything about this historic restaurant! Amazing atmosphere and service. God good and drinks.
If you're looking for a low key and classy wedding, BOOK
If you're looking for a low key and classy wedding, BOOK your wedding at Shadowbrook! Great food, great photos, and AMAZING team they have! Shout out to Stephanie, and the rest of her team, for being super patient, helpful and everything you need during a stressful time of planning and hosting a wedding!
Made a reservation for 2 at Shadowbrook which is in
Made a reservation for 2 at Shadowbrook which is in Capitola. They have about 3 parking sites about one block from each other so if one lot is full, go to the next one. They also have a cute old fashioned taxi that we I'll pick and drop you off within a certain mile radius. The place is huge on top of a hillside with beautiful views. You wait in line to take the tram down. It's a limit of 4 people per tram. Or you can walk down the stairs, beware, it's a steep long stairwell. Once checked in, a host will take you to your table. The lace is huge so you will only see your section. We both ordered the 8oz steak, hubby got the blackened one which was really flavorful. Food was delicious served promptly. We were seated in a nook in the middle of a stairwell. I'm still not sure how I feel about the spot. People either commented we were given a bad spot or had the best private spot. Almost everyone that were seated said they had come for a birthday. I would come back!
The food was delish! The pizzas were unique and super yummy.
We also had the soft pretzel bites with mustard and beer cheese as well as baked Brie with jalapeño jelly and crostini's. The vibe in the rock room was chic but not pretentious. The windows have an open air feel while keeping us protected from the rainy coastal day. This hidden gem in capitola is a must do when you create your list. Highly recommend reservations for dining and it's a bit more dress to impress. So no beachwear or baseball hats. It is cozy with a fireplace too. Did I mention that they have a tram? epic experience
Tranquil and comfortable - Classic!
Great place for a quiet dinner in a great setting. Our waiter helped guide us and both of our dinners were wonderful. Bread was okay and salad was good, but not exceptional.
Wonderful evening
The food a the ambiance was excellent. We ordered a steak with mashed potatoes and Italian spinach that was so flavorful. We also got a very decadent beef stroganoff. Both dishes were delicious! We had the mud pie for dessert and it was fabulous! The staff at the restaurant was very friendly and our server was extremely knowledgeable about every menu item.
My husband I had dinner here a week ago.
We have eaten here a few times in the past 30 years. We have always been happy until this visit. It's been at least 10 years since our last visit. One thing we noticed right away was that everything looks old and dated now. It also wasn't as clean as we remember. Since our last visit, I now require using a cane, for stability, while walking. Unfortunately, stairs can be an issue for me now. We had to walk down some fairly steep stairs in the restaurant. I don't mean the beautiful garden stairs down to the restaurant. We used the tram for that. I mean down to our table. When I mentioned that it was difficult for me to go down and then back up the stairs we were not offered a different table. The hostess just apologized for the stairs and kept walking. She had to wait at our table for us to catch up. So, if you have difficulty with stairs, let them know when you make your reservation. Hopefully they will offer you a table in a different area. Also, I wasn't able to go to the restroom while we were there. That would've required more stairs. Now on to the food and beverages. I ordered the French 75 drink. It was so refreshing! I ordered second one. My husband ordered the Gold Rush. He liked it. Then he ordered the Lucy Goosey. He loved that one. We ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp and artichoke soup. The shrimp was so dry, it was difficult to eat. I'm not sure how long it had sat under a warming lamp...but I'm sure it was too long. The soup was ok. A little bland. My husband ordered the prime rib, medium rare. It was perfect. I ordered the scallop dinner. It too was perfect. Then we ordered the St. Patrick's day special dessert. Whiskey brownie and Stout Ice cream. Well...it was not good. The brownie was dry and so dense that it was more like a chocolate tort, only very dry. The ice cream was ice milk. It was very crystallized. We sent the dessert back. Our waiter even said he had been disappointed with that dessert. As for the service...Our waiter was attentive but not overly so. We appreciated that he knew when to come out and when to let us be. As for the hostess...we feel they need some more training. When a guest is struggling to get down the stairs, and mentions this, something should've been done to accommodate this need. At the very least a compassionate and thoughtful comment would've been nice. But to basically be dismissed...we don't appreciate this. The restaurant was not as clean as we remember. The carpets are looking old and worn. The windows weren't clean. It felt like they have tried to squeeze in more tables and chairs. It felt crowded. To be honest, this may be the last time we go to Shadow Brooke. This makes us sad.
I recently celebrated my birthday at Shadowbrook
I recently celebrated my birthday at Shadowbrook Restaurant, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted warmly, setting the tone for a wonderful evening. The food was nothing short of spectacular. Each dish was crafted with care, bursting with flavor and creativity. From appetizers to dessert, every bite was a delight, leaving me wanting more. Moreover, the service was impeccable. Our waitress was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure that our dining experience was perfect. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she made us feel welcomed and valued throughout the entire meal. Overall, I can't recommend Shadow Brooke Restaurant enough for special occasions or any dining experience. The combination of exceptional food, attentive service, and inviting atmosphere made my birthday celebration truly special. Thank you to the entire team for making it a night to remember!
Been here a couple of times.
Usually pretty good. The lobster this time wasn't the best. We were also outside and alone. I wasn't a fan but wanted to try it one time. Wouldn't do it again. The service was very good and the ride in the vintage taxi was a great perk. I'd still go back because of the experience and how everything else is prepared. I just would order something else.
Gorgeous restaurant, excellent food, great service.
Can't beat the ambiance! Worth a visit and will be back!
I have been here a couple of times and i must say i was
I have been here a couple of times and i must say i was very pleased with the food and the service especially the first time i went for my daughters birthday June 2023 . The food and our time there was nice when my husband and i went back Sept 2023 for our anniversary but our table set up had a napkin that and i quote the waitress after i brought it to her attention reluctantly not desiring to complain but she said " Oh this one is ripped and ready for the trash " also we were left unattended for a LONG period of time the second visit and needed to order . I still love this place and the ambiance. The history of it is interesting . Shadowbrook was a log cabin originally built as a summer home in the 1920s, expanded later by an English family, who added the "Fireside Room," with its hanging balcony and Swiss chalet decor. The ride down in the cable car is a highlight for me . When the restaurant's original partners discovered the house in 1944, it was in ruin. It took those them three years to restore . Im so glad they did because it's certainly a gem in Capitola.
The food is delicious and the server very friendly We
The food is delicious and the server very friendly We celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary great ambiance will be back here again to explore the garden since it was raining when we went Love the cable ride
Staff had amazing patience and were very kind.
The food couldn't have been more perfect after a long day in Santa Cruz. The inside is beautiful as well as the view before you get to the restaurant. Love love
You have to get the bacon wrapped prawns as a starter! They
You have to get the bacon wrapped prawns as a starter! They were the best things we ate that night - not to say that the other items weren't good. We also got the prime rib and the pork chop and both were equally as delicious! For dessert, you can't go wrong with the creme brulee.
Now this restaurant is definitely worth all the hype and
Now this restaurant is definitely worth all the hype and makes for a perfect date night with your partner or dinner with your loved ones. Two things to note off the bat, they do have a dress code so any tourist coming from the beach, be sure to have an appropriate change of clothes with you. Secondly, the outdoor dining space is quite intimate as in you will be able to hear the conversations of the people sitting by you because it is super quiet. Those are the only two things I wish I knew beforehand. The trolley is definitely a great addition to the restaurant experience but most of the time there will be lengthy wait so be sure to get there at-least 10 mins earlier to honor your reservation time especially on busier nights like the weekends. The max capacity for people in the trolley is four but there is also a long beautiful stair case to the restaurant as well if you don't feel like waiting. Now let's get to the nitty gritty: the food. I had seen the thousands of good reviews but I truly wasn't expecting too much. First things first the appetizers. This was one of the best calamari I've had in my life, the crunch, the batter, the seasoning was absolute perfection. The clam chowder was also spectacular, the perfect amount of creamy and savory. I'm not even a fan of clam chowder and fell absolutely in love with it. Those are my two must-try appetizers. I didn't care for the bacon wrapped prawn whatsoever. It was dry nothing special wasn't worth the price. I had the Black Prime Rib medium rare and it was exceptional. The steak was soft as butter when I started cutting it and cooked perfectly. One thing I will note is that the cut of steak took away from the quality of the plate because it had that sliver of chewy fat running through it so I had to cut that part out which probably made up 1/5 of the steak. I also wasn't a fan of the horseradish but everything else on the plate was delicious. My friends got the New York steak and the Grilled Salmon and both really enjoyed their plate as well. My friend wanted to add that the portions are perfect, it's enough to fill you up without making you feel sluggish from eating too much. Lastly regarding food, they had an extremely wide selection of desserts. We ended up getting the boysenberry pie and blueberry cheesecake. A bit too tart for me but my friends really enjoyed it. Finally service was phenomenal I will say. As I mentioned before, you can almost hear everybody in the particular dining room so I was able to hear every server though that might come off a little annoying to some people it was noticeably delightful that every server had a great attitude and lots of patience with the guest especially, older guest. I'm happy to see that customer service is something this restaurant harps on. My server Hannah was very kind, helpful, and bubbly. I also have to say the team is also very organized and that the bussers and runners were doing their part attentively as well. My party of three's total bill ended up being around $340 for all the food after including an 18% tip. I would definitely return to try some more of their seafood and vegan options.
The most amazing calamari I've ever had in my life.
The entire visit was wonderful and has an amazing view!
Ok for events, go elsewhere for the food
Fanciful setting seen only at night after dark, seems perched on a hillside, and serviced by a short run funicular. Its kitschy. Comfortable spot yielded a good, but not spectacular meal. Best for events and celebrations with larger groups. Food was ok, but not really great. Clam chowder a distinct disappointment at $12/cup, it looked and tasted no different than canned Snow’s chowder sold in New England markets. Very disappointed. Found two solitary corn kernels, yet marketed as having corn niblets… one reason I ordered. The base was supposed to be milk/cream, but I got predominantly roux. Avoid this item
This is the restaurant experience you are looking for
Never had a bad experience here! Love, love the experience from the old-time cabby picking us to the unique restaurant ambiance and yummy and unusual food. The deep fried artichoke hearts are da best.
Nice tranquil dinning experience in capitola, CA
Lovely landscape, nice festive decor. Nice service and good food selection. The speical prime rib and the trouffle with filet are very good. Good selection and reasonable price wine and corkage fee.
Disappointed
In the past, my husband and I frequented Shadowbrook restaurant and enjoyed dining there. However, we went to this beautiful restaurant on Thanksgiving and were highly disappointed. The turkey dish was not edible. the mashed potatoes were watery and maybe not from scratch. My husband liked his dish but suffered from a bad stomach for almost 24 hours. I have written 3 times to the restaurant, but no response what so ever. Very disappointing.
Beautiful setting, delicious food. Iconic.
Great courteous service, interesting menu, delicious menu. Great drinks menu. The decor is gorgeous, and the setting is unparalleled.
Highly recommended!
Excellent restaurant. We had a really good time and ate like heaven. Friendly and very competent waiters. Amazing salmon, special tuna tartare!
Make the reservation ahead of time
Always enjoy this restaurant. Definitely want to make a reservation to reduce the wait time, but worth it.
Such a memory
I went with friends to celebrate earning my masters degree. There is a dress code which was fun to dress up for. We were picked up by a classic taxi cab. The driver was so friendly and fun. It’s complimentary if you get picked up within 3 miles. We had him pick us up and drop us off in Capitola by the beach. The food was amazing. The drinks were strong . The service was excellent and the ride in the cable car to get to the restaurant was fun. The grounds were beautiful too full of beautiful plants. I definitely recommend this place as a fun experience.
Great setting, but disappointments
Our table wasn't quite ready, so we ordered a drink in the Back Room. Our drink had just arrived when we were told our table was ready. The staff person told us to follow him down to our table. We are not very nimble, and we had to carry our own drinks down the stairs (slight spill). Any decent restaurant would have had the person carry the drinks for us. The prime rib was a thin cut that while tasty, was very tough. The Oso Bucco was excellent. Of course the setting is beautiful. Might be worth a return but not very soon.
If you are in Capitola you must go to Shadowbrook!
I’ve been seeing this lovely historic restaurant for a very long time, and never have visited it. First the property overlooking a little river in Capitola, CA is magical. Lush greenery and a quaint building with many little alcoves and patios. The food and service were outstanding. Burrata appetizer, house salad and prime rib dinner and a delicious bread putting and banana to top off the meal. I will definitely be back.
Shadowbrook is a Capitola must stop.
The decor and tram to the restaurant are reason enough to go, but what keeps us coming back is the exceptional food and drink (and outstanding staff). We have this on our to do list for out of town visitors and it's always one of the highlights for our guests.
Shadowbrook is a great place to have a special dinner.
Went there a few weeks ago with friends, it's outstanding.
shocked by the 4% Covid surcharge.
The waiter said it does not benefit them. Prime rib was below standard; roll were counted out with only one per person. asked manager to take surcharge off bill; he refused. Will not return to this fleecing event.
The food is always good as well as the atmosphere.
The service can take a bit even when they aren't busy. Highly recommend getting a reservation.
We loved Shadowbrook restaurant.
What a unique place! We had the prime rib and a roasted vegetable platter, both which were excellent. The staff were friendly and the ambiance was perfect. We wished we had taken their free cab but we didn't know about it until we saw it on our way out. Highly recommend Shadowbrook.
Years ago this place was great.
Since the plandemic, the food quality is gross. They are selling top sirloin. Gross.
Always charming, beautiful setting, memorable views,
Always charming, beautiful setting, memorable views, bountiful gardens, wide menu selection, breathtaking cable car, complimentary 50's taxi, a wonderful culinary experience.
OMG! What a wonderful dining experience.
We went to Shadowbrook on the recommendation of our CA neighbors (we live in TX). Anyway, we had an early dinner on a Sunday afternoon. Wonderful service and great food. We shared the salmon and it was great. The chowder was smooth and tasty, served with warm bread. My neighbors said this was a "special" place and I wholeheartedly agree. I hope to go back someday!
What a beautiful restaurant and great experience overall.
Well deserved reputation as our area's special occasion restaurant.
I had a very good entree.
....gnocchi.The service/waitress was awesome.But the sides were not good. Upon contacting the owner, he gave me a very negative response, as if he really did'nt care about my feedback.The salad dressing tasted like nothing(supposed to be ranch) and the salad was swimming in crappy white stuff. Couldnt eat it. The response from the owner was I should have asked for the dressing on the side. Why cuz his cooks can't dress a salad properly? And flavor is not important? And he doesn't want to fix any of that? Supposedly housemade......housemade crap.Did not care from the attitude of the owner.I paid for a whole meal........not part crap.HE should CARE...........SHOULDN'T HE?
Great location and food
We came here primarily because of he cute and quaint this restaurant was, with the tram that takes you down and the view of the creek. But the food did not disappoint. It was one of the best restaurants on our trip. The seafood was so-so, but the steaks were incredible. Cocktails were just okay, I’d suggest maybe getting wine instead. We’re excited to come back when it isn’t raining so we can enjoy the outdoor seating.
Quaint, intimate & great food
The adorable little tram you can take down to the restaurant is just perfect to bring you down to a quaint little oasis among the trees. The service was fabulous and the food was outstanding.
It was a nightmare
Would give 0 starts if I could. It was a horrendous experience. Usually, I don't bother to write a review for a restaurant but this one was so bad I just had to let people know about this. The first thing that stood out was the terrible service from our server. She was giving us a lot of attitude when taking our order and interacting with us as if looking down on us for being college students and chinese. The second thing was how the servers kept coming to our table asking if we were finished with the food when we still had plates filled with food. They once even tried to take away a plate with food and we had to tell them to return it since we weren't done yet. The most ironic thing was when we asked them to clear off the bread plates, since we ran out of space to eat our mains comfortably, the server took away one plate and never came back to get the rest. Next was the food quality. For the price and their "prestige" the taste and quality was just disappointing. The lamb was overcooked, tough, and tasteless. The carrots tasted like how a toilet smells. The pasta bolognese was so overcooked it melted in your mouth and the sauce was so bland and tasteless. It was overall just a bad experience and honestly left everyone leaving with a bad mood and a ruined appetite. Travelling to Santa Cruz was supposed to be a fun day trip with friends for Thanksgiving break and the dinner ruined a perfectly amazing day. We felt bullied, unwelcomed, and rushed. Will not ever be coming back here and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Honestly, so upsetting.
Ultimate Dining experience
We arrived and were seated promptly. The arrival and the cable car started the experience ambiance perfect. Service superior and food presentation awesome. We sat on lower level near the Soquel Creek with water setting behind us - what an experience. Food was excellent and ppesentation was divine. The service was wonderful and very gracious. The sun set and the interior with all lighting and stained glass windows with light reflection added to the ambiance. I can't wait to return and go to their brunch. We had a 12 year old and she was given her own menu which was wonderful all her selections like ours and choices to make. They also offer a taxi service within 3 mile radius complimentary. Two large parking lots complimentary as well. This restaurant is a treasure.
Excellent in every way!
Love the Shadowbrook!! Unusual setting and great ambiance, no matter what room you are in! The food was delicious, from the Osso Bucco to the Scampi. The staff is wonderful, friendly, accommodating. We will return....again and again!!
Superb value for 5 star setting and service.
A gorgeous little restaurant with a five star setting and yet fantastic value. I went for lunch with a friend and upon seeing the entrance (a funicular railway!!) we thought it might be crazy expensive but it was lovely food at a good price. Highly recommended.
Amazing Anniversary Dinner
The glowing recommendations from friends were accurate. Shadowbrook Restaurant was the perfect place to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. My husband, a wood craftsman, was immediately impressed with the restaurant’s gorgeous redwood construction. I loved the surroundings - a green, green landscape of so many lovely trees and flowering plants. The cable car ride down the hill was a trip - what a really fun entry! But the food, drinks and service were what made the evening so special for us. Cocktails and baked Brie en croute with jalapeño jelly. Sea scallops with mushroom sherry cream. Prime top sirloin with wild mushrooms. All perfectly prepared and presented. The wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. A wonderful evening capped by a gift of Champagne. We definitely won’t wait 40 years to return.
Connect with users posting reservations for Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* FamousStation67, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* FamousStation67 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to FamousStation67 for any questions Peter may have as FamousStation67 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* FamousStation67 now uses their connections at Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If FamousStation67 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, FamousStation67 receives the $200 reward which is credited to FamousStation67's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
Capitola's Best Restaurants that are most frequently booked by customers of Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola
Ranked #7 in Capitola's Best Restaurants.
