Chocolate the Restaurant, Santa Cruz, CA

Chocolate the Restaurant

4.7 (111)

$31 to $50

Californian

1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Make a reservation

2 people

May 5, 2025

8:30 PM

Booked 6 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Great for outdoor dining
Good for special occasions

Now celebrating 25 years, Chocolate the Restaurant provides an attractive dining environment for couples on dates, friendly meetings, and special occasion meals. Dine outside on the heated garden patio. Celebrate special occasions with up to 25 guests in the private street-side party room. Maybe start with a Chocolate Martini or a Passion Fruit Margarita. Chef David Jackman's fresh baked pasta rosettes, slow-roasted meats, and delicious seasonal organic vegetable dishes are all a prelude to our many chocolaty desserts. Our wine list focuses on local and on Italian wines. Our cocktails are all made from scratch; often using locally distilled spirits, and always using fresh house-made mixers. We are at your service for dinner every night! Afternoon walk-up cafe' service Friday thru Sunday. . We are open for dinner every holiday except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Californian, Mediterranean, Dessert
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(831) 427-9900
Website
http://www.chocolatesantacruz.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
David Jackman
Catering
Offsite catering for up to 150 guests. Weddings, or any other kind of occasion. Wedding cakes, or other special desserts. Chocolate mousse truffles. We can work with you to design a custom menu, based on your comfortable budget parameters.
Private party facilities
Rehearsal Dinners, Graduation Parties, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties are our specialty

Location
1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Cross street
Cooper Street
Parking details
Large multi-level public lot one half block away. Also, several parking spaces in front of restaurant on the street.
Public transit
Metro bus station with links to San Jose, three blocks away.
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 111 people are saying

Chocolate the Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Overall
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Food
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Best Value
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Innovative
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Healthy
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Neighborhood gem
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for fine wines
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Great for outdoor dining
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Good for special occasions
Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Chocolate the Restaurant is celebrated for its "excellent service" and "great food," with a particular emphasis on its chocolate desserts, including the "chocolate sin cake" and "Victoria hot chocolate." Regulars rave about the Oaxacan chicken mole and hand-rolled pasta dishes. The ambiance is cozy, making it ideal for special occasions.

295 Reviews

E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
4/25/25 weekly visit. Usual Oaxacan Mole Chicken with chocolate sin cake and chocolate cream pie with Victoria hot chocolate. They ran out of the mini loaf so had our usual foccacia bread basket.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
4/18/25 weekly visit. Usual oaxacan Chicken and dessert
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R
Robyn
Central Coast2 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We loved everything we tried. We had the antipasto platter, rigatoni, chicken pie, mushroom soup, polenta and finished with cheesecake, mouse and gelato.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
04/11/25 weekly dinner. Drove from San Jose. No pics of dinner ( forgot ) - hot mini loaf always hot and fresh. Chicken parmasan and Oaxcan Chicken mole. Dessert was chocolate cream pie and chocolate sin cake with chocolate gelato. Always excellent service and great food.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
4/4/25. Weekly dinner. Mini bread loaf - hot and fresh, Two chicken parmasan for dinner. Chocolat sin cake with chocolate gelato, chocolate cream por, Victoria hot chocolate extra thick with oatmilk. Always a great meal
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E
Erinn
San Francisco5 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 30, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Excellent restaurant and great service. Nice for a fancier meal.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
3/28/25 our weekly visit from San Jose. We both got the Oaxacan Chicken Mole dish - always excellent and mini hot loaf, ectasy sundae, chocolate gelato, and Victoria hot chocolate. Excellent service!
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 23, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
3/21/25 weekly visit. Saturday not Friday due to music event in San Francisco. Mini bread loaf - hot and amazing appetizer. Oaxacan chicken mole and chicken parmasan. Dessert was chocolate cream pie, chocolate sin cake with gelato side and Victoria hot chocolate. Always great experience.
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
3/14/25. Weekly outing. Ordered mini loaf ( really good fresh bread hot from oven), chicjen mole plate, and chicken pie. Both dishes excellent as always. Ectasy sundae, coconut cream pie with Victoria hot chocolate closing out the meal
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E
Eddie VIP
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
03/07/25 weekly visit. Had the usual pasta rosettes for 2 and the Oaxacan chicken mole. Finished with chocolate ecstasy sundae, sinc cake, Victoria hot chocolate.
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FAQs

Chocolate the Restaurant is rated 4.7 stars by 111 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

May 5, 2025

8:30 PM

Booked 6 times today

1522 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Additional information

Cross street
Cooper Street
Neighborhood
Santa Cruz
Hours of operation
Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Californian, Mediterranean, Dessert
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Large multi-level public lot one half block away. Also, several parking spaces in front of restaurant on the street.
Public transit
Metro bus station with links to San Jose, three blocks away.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
David Jackman
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.chocolatesantacruz.com/
Phone number
(831) 427-9900
Catering
Offsite catering for up to 150 guests. Weddings, or any other kind of occasion. Wedding cakes, or other special desserts. Chocolate mousse truffles. We can work with you to design a custom menu, based on your comfortable budget parameters.
Private party facilities
Rehearsal Dinners, Graduation Parties, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties are our specialty

Chocolate the Restaurant

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Menu

What 111 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Chocolate the Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is Chocolate the Restaurant currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information