I love Zelda's, been going there for years....
The view of the ocean and the beach  (winter, spring, summer or fall) is always great.
The food is good, the service was awsome.....
Like Rosalie C. , I too had my first date there and have / will keep commin back each and every year.......
i dont understand how this place can get soo bad ratings..
i think this is the best service i got in a while!!
she recommended what we should eat which was fresh salmon and i loved my dish.
i guess people doesnt realized that they have to sell their food super expensive cause of their rent. give them a break, order something from the SPECIALS
i cant complain about this place. i had a great time here with the beautiful view too
We stepped into this place for lunch since it looks like a good location. However, that is probably this only thing that was worth it.
The place is location next to beach front. But all the outside tables and chairs are cheap looking backyard furniture.
The food was ordinary. We had a albacore melt which is just a very boring tuna melt sandwiches, and a fish taco plate coming with two unimpressive and no taste taco with small piece of fish. Both dishes were over priced at $13.95. With this price, you would expect some better quality food and at least better settings. The location is although good, but totally not worth the price.
Service was slow but at least attentive.
This place was very meaningful to us as my husband and I came here on our first date and have been coming here for the pass 10 years. From our dating days till this present day with a family of 5, we used to come here countless times and thought highly of this place.
We came this past weekend on Saturday and left disappointed. We weren't given the breakfast menu but the BRUNCH menu, prices were ridiculously high for what we expected over the years. We paid 60.00 for 2 adult plates, 1 child's plate. We couldn't believe that apple juice was 3.50 each for our children. And when my son ordered French toast, they charged us a dollar for the syrup. Â And when we asked if they had toast or bread to go with our dish, they said they didn't have any just the muffins. SERIOUSLY!? This was the first for us to experience in the 10 years we've been coming here. Â
My husband who knew of this place was in total shocked the whole day and came to the conclusion that we will never return to this place again, EVEN if it was a meaningful place for us. Â Just can't believe it!!!
The place is extremely ghetto- practically held together with dict tape. The first bread plate they brought me had chunks of food still on it, totally unclean, and when I asked for a second it never came. To top it all off, I got food poisoning. I will spare the gross details, but honestly I would avoid this place if I want to keep a healthy digestive system.
Review Source:Gosh these reviews are frightening. My experience wasn't bad. It was just as the stars say: meh.
Spent my birthday at the beach in Santa Cruz (yay!!!). Knew we were gonna have a fancy dinner and we were starving, so we just decided to eat somewhere by the beach. What we wanted was the ocean view. We got said ocean view.
Sidenote: Can we stop perpetuating rape culture by talking about the "babes" of waitresses? They are women and they're working and they don't need to be objectified in a review of the restaurant. Ugh.
Service took a fine amount of time. Not quick but not slow. Fruit smoothie was a bit watery and not very exciting, but I wasn't expecting something great. Better than the smoothies at a Red Robin. Had a cheeseburger. Tasted like a cheeseburger you would get at a place by the beach. It was less greasy and questionable than something at a fast food joint, but it wasn't mouth-wateringly delicious. It was exactly what I expected. One of my friends had and finished the fish and chips. Two friends ordered the fish tacos and really liked them.
I agree with Adrian V's review about a month ago: "Zelda's can only be enjoyed if one understands they are not going to be savoring a culinary masterpiece, but rather ordinary food with an extraordinary view."
Awful.Aside from the great view, this place sucks. The service is unattentive and incredibly <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdistracted.it&s=a4215a617a593b7d0297ce5ffd6cb891151b60f119ff297200f76ec70cc18b62" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://distracted.it</a> took us 10 minutes to be greeted, we were ignored when we asked for forks and then hand to chase down someone else for our check. The outside menu advertises breakfast AND pancakes but they really only serve brunch and don't have pancakes (which were the reason we settled on this place instead of contuing to search). Our overpriced $15 eggs benedict were mediocre, at best. We won't be back.
Review Source:Terrible! Terrible! Terrible!
This was quite possibly one of the worst dining experiences I have had. For a bill of over $100 we got drinks in paper cups; we had to get our own silverware as the wait staff didn't bring any - even after serving the food; we had to send one dish back as it came covered in cheese when we explicitly said NO dairy several times, the "Crispy" fish and chips were like rubber (worst I ever had - absolutely vile); and to top it off  the wait staff started closing up as we sat there and our waitress stood behind our table and shouted to a friend "I can't wait to be off work".
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GO TO THIS RESTAURANT.
JUST SAY NO! and eat the stale M&Ms at the bottom of you glove compartment you'll be better off.
I spent a month in Santa Cruz last summer when my stoner aunt had her knee replaced. During the day I cooked and ran errands for her, and looked after her old great dane, Zeke. We smoked a bunch of dope and listened to her old Carole King and Parliament records. Her house is in one of those isolated "communities" in a suburb of Santa Cruz that sounds like it's named after a piece of Italian deli meat. The place is about as white and dull as a Barry Manilow concert. The bonus is that it's a short walk from the ocean, though I avoided going into the water because I look kind of bird-chested without my shirt on. This was before I started my new gym regimen, mind you. Now I look sort of passable in the chest and ab area. Or at least I'm getting there. Don't judge.
Anyway, even though I didn't go in the water, I liked sitting near it. Which is how I ended up at Zelda's. Outdoor seating and location can do wonders for a place. Having a staff full of young, attractive women doesn't hurt either. Zelda's is sort of the restaurant equivalent to the worst Michael Bay movie you can think of: pretty ladies, some nice scenery, and zero substance. A summer blockbuster restaurant. Everything about this place outside of the babes and the deck overlooking the ocean was a steaming pile of crapulence. The food was borderline inedible (and I say that as someone who constantly had the munchies and would've found just about anything delicious), the bartenders poured the overpriced drinks about as generously as Scrooge would, and the crowd there was so old and cheesy on a daily basis you felt sorry for the gals working there.
If you're in the area, I'd highly recommend making the trip into the city and grabbing a meal there. I'd give this place one star, but I'll tack an extra star on for the pretty young thangs working there who kept me coming back.
We have been to Zeldas a few times a year in the past only because our local friend has a history of coming here since a child. Â I dont think we will be going back anytime soon though. The food has been disappointing & the prices are outrageous for what you get. We just ate there yesterday for breakfast & they had 2 young greeters at the door to seat you & the first thing they did was sit us furthest from the windows. By the coffee bar in the front actually when there were other tables open that were better. We were behind them in plain view & they just kept chatting not caring that we also were not being waited on at all. 15 minutes later we had to get up & go ask for someone to help us. Wow. The food was flavorless & does not come with any sides. For $13.95 all I got was the scramble & potato's. It sould at least include a toast or muffins as they did offer in the past for that price. Today we went back just for a snack. Ordered 2 calamari & fries plates & the fries were un-edible. They must have been sitting for some time. Not hot either. The price..$40 something for just 2 people , 2 sodas, & a crappy fried plate. There are to many other places that have good food & worth the money. Avoid this place if you want to feel robbed, disappointed & still hungry.
Review Source:Zelda's can only be enjoyed if one understands they are not going to be savoring a culinary masterpiece, but rather ordinary food with an extraordinary view. Â
Even if the food is somewhat average, they have a great happy hour and lobster night is pretty decent. Â Sunday brunch is always good because what better way to start your morning than with a fresh cup of coffee and the smell of the ocean. Â The french toast with strawberries is good, and my current go to omelet is the bacon and cheddar since they use nice big thick pieces of bacon, hmm bacon.
Location! Location! Location! Â We could probably get the same food somewhere else but that somewhere else wouldn't be located right on the beach. Â The view of the Monterrey Bay makes any meal just a little tastier. Â It's the same reason we pay ridiculous prices to live in California, we could live in mansions in Iowa but who enjoys staring at cornfields and scarecrows.
I visited Zeldas on a referral from a friend of a friend and I'm so glad I did. Â I ordered the grilled salmon with honey, white rice, and pickled cucumbers and red onions. Â This dish was so fantastic that my plate was completely clean! Â The waitress told me that I made a great choice and there were only 6 of those dishes left. Â The salmon tasted so fresh and was grilled to perfection. Â Did I say perfection? I meant perfection! Â I would eat that meal over and over again. Â It's going to be hard for me to eat anything else from there because once I find a favorite I like to stick with it but I'm eager for their other dishes.
Review Source:If you're in the area, a cheapskate, and craving lobster definitely stop by. Skip everything else on the menu (mediocre and overpriced), especially the Bloody Mary!
Also, if you eat outside, which will be very likely, be careful of seagulls and pigeons  Inside seating is VERY limited, especially on Lobster Thursdays and (I'm assuming) Prime Rib Fridays so you will have to eat outside.  Therefore, do not feed the birds and, no, they are not more scared of you than you are of them.
This is a favorite spot of a colleague's and so we went here for a celebratory lunch. Â We sat outside and it was a beautiful day so the ambiance was perfect. Â I chose the calamari and fries meal and the calamari was large juice fried pieces - not the usual crispy small pieces you get elsewhere. Â We also got a mile high mud pie to share for dessert which was delicious! Â But, really, the best part of this restaurant was the location right on the Capitola beach.
Review Source:THE VIEW ISN'T WORTH IT. We were sat immediately and waited 15 mins for our server, who we watched begin service at 2 other tables sat AFTER US. The server, once she acknowledged us, was fine. The food was decent but the prices are geared towards unknowing tourists willing to pay $15 for a cafeteria sandwich, a la carte. I consider myself too smart to dine here ever again.
We watched a table that was seated following our party of 3, receive their food and drinks and leave, before we received our appetizer. We also watched 2 hostesses neglect to bus/clean the area directly behind themselves at the hostess station, which attracted several seagulls. In the meantime, we did see one of the hostesses scurry over to her station with a plate of food for herself and her coworker! Oh joy! They get to eat before us too, and while working!
All in all, an embarrassing establisment from a local's point of view. I would never bring out of town guests here. The prices are too high and the service is just too inconsistent and unreliable.
Bottom line, if the seagulls don't get your food, the outrageous prices and mediocre service staff will. Boo.
Zelda's is a good location, right on the beach.. Â Which is the main attraction.. The waitstaff is great, very nice, helpful, and they deserve kudos for that.. Â The food was average cheap, and not bad for basic food, but overpriced for what it is. Â If the meals were 1/2 price, I'd add 1 to 1.5 stars, and say "the foods eh, but the location makes up for it". Â Civeche was made with precooked baby shimp (lame). Â Chicken parm was pretty good, but 2X the price. Â Seared scallops were pretty good. Â With 3 drinks the bill came out to over $100.. Â For that money, there are *way* better choices in capitola..
Stick to cheap drinks, burgers, and fish and chips and you'll probably be happier.. Â No question it's more fun when there's a summer crowd there, but in the restaurant and on the beach (for people watching)..
This place gets 2 stars for location and service, but nothing for food.
Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating today so indoor I sat. Â The service was great as the waitress was very attentive and came around often for refills and other things. Â However, the food here is nothing to brag about. Â I ordered clam chowder which tasted as though it was right out of a can and without any flavors. Â The $7 margarita tasted more like virgin margarita. Â
If you're going to come here for the location or the happy hour $2.99 margarita than it may be worth it, but I don't recommend coming here for a good meal.
I wouldn't come here for a meal, but for a $2.99 happy hour Margarita, why not. Â Not the strongest, but perfect after a day in the sun. Â While the prices for a Marg or a Mai Tai are good, they really need to expand the happy hour menu. Â Come on Zelda's! We know you make a killing selling overpriced, underwhelming food with a fantastic beachfront view, where are the food specials? Half priced appetizers anyone?
Review Source:The. Worst. Meal.
Nothing else to add.
Ordered the special: fresh salmon with pineapple salsa and rice- salmon was most likely frozen, barely warmed. Steamed cheap rice had no flavor, the salsa out of the can.
My son had a burger- said it was ok, but left better half of it un-eaten, and he is a teen that eats everything edible.
Oh, yeah, the bruschetta was soggy and again, lacked any flavor.
Save $50, go ANYWHERE else.
When I'm thinking of a decent place to have lunch at the beach, my mind instantly goes to Zelda's. Mind you, this review is in terms of the outdoor patio seating, not the inside.
It has a wide-variety to choose from, and they usually have a special or two to choose from. There are a bunch of seagulls around, but as long as you're tolerant of them then it's a good oceanfront dining experience. It's a bit expensive, but it's worth the experience, and I always end up going back!
I am letting a friend write this review with my account, as she doesn't have her own yelp account:
I have given Zelda's too many chances because of the beautiful scenery, but I have had several disappointing experiences there. Â Today's experience takes the cake. Â My friend and I had lunch here, and as we went to leave, we separated briefly while my friend paid the check and I made my way to the door. Â I passed a gaggle of waitstaff, and then turned when I heard my friend exclaiming, "EXCUSE ME! That is my friend you are making fun of!" Â Apparently, after I passed, one of the waiters was making fun of the way I walk (I have a disability and use a cane). Â Obviously, I was hurt and offended by this, so we asked to talk to the head manager on site. Â Although I was offended and hurt by the insensitive waiter who made fun of me, I was completely outraged by the manager's response. Â She completely dismissed us and said "He just likes to dance. Â You misunderstood." She wasn't present, nor did she ask to talk to anyone who was present. Â Her complete dismissal of our negative experience with her staff member was so outrageous I will never go back. Â The view isn't worth it.
Yeah this place is pretty much crap. I'm not usually this harsh but it was pretty bad. The service was very slow to the point people were getting up to get their own refills. We sat in the patio area to enjoy the view but the waves made some kinda of a river next to our seats and you could see sewage floating by. And to top it off some kids were still playing in it! The view was gross to say the least.
  We ordered the calamari and french fries. The food came out soooo fast I was very surprised. Then I saw what they had given us. The calamari was room temperature and the fries were cold. Like they had been sitting under a heat lamp. Food sucked, Service sucked, the view was gross. Sorry but there was nothing about this place that warrants me to come back.
Oh and let's not talk about price! Those poor excuses of Calamari and Fries, two soft drinks.......$25. I don't mind paying money for good food, but the audacity!
So much potential, so poor execution! Maybe Chef Ramsey needs to pay a visit!
Zelda's gets 3 stars for location and service. However the food is okay and the drinks are eh. People come here for the scenery I think, not necessarily the food. We always sit outside when we come here and just get appetizers or a sandwich.
Note that the Bloody Mary's are a premix out of a machine.
Bathrooms are a little dirty
Really don't understand all the negative reviews. Â We've been coming here for several years now, typically on a Friday skipping out of work early so we can catch happy hour. Â The food is pretty good and the view is great. Â
Yes there are a ton of birds flying around more recently, blame it on the tourist that like to feed them. Â You're eating on the beach, not sure why you wouldn't expect that. Â I've only eaten in the outdoor seating so I can't say much for the indoor, the live music adds a nice touch.
Horrible! Â I will never be back! Â Ordered mac and cheese from the kids menu and I was apprehensive about it to begin with because it was $8! Â When the dish arrived it was Kraft mac and cheese! Â I commented to the server that it should be listed on the menu as Kraft mac and cheese so people know before they ordered it and didn't expect something restaurant made for $8. Â He said he would talk to the manager to see of he could take it back. Â The manager on duty, Jeremy said no! Â I talked to him directly and he was very uninterested about how we felt as customers. Â Horrible service and very dirty! Â The birds are constantly Sh_tting on the tables outside. Â The umbrellas are covered in bird sh_t! Â There is a layer of grease and grime over the entire inside of the restaurant. Â The only reason the place is in business is due to the fact that it has the best location on the beach. Â
One more rant...during happy hour we paid $30 for 6 coronas! Â Sorry thats not happy hour.
The only great thing about this place was the view.  We were up on our way to Santa Cruz from Monterey and decided to stop in Capitola for lunch.  It was nice and sunny  so the view of the beach/ocean was spectacular.
Their menu didn't have quite as much choices that interested me. Â I opted for fish tacos and my friend decided on a Caesar salad with shrimp. Â I expected my fish tacos to just consist of fish, tomatoes, cilantro, and maybe some onions (I should've read the menu description). When I got it, Â I got 2 tacos covered in lettuce, corn, beans, tomatoes, and onions--basically Southwest flair. Â It was meh..I've had better. I could've dont without the corn and beans but I tolerated it with the view.
When we got the tab, my friend was pissed off because they added $6 to have shrimp on her salad.. Â Should've looked at the menu, too, I guess..haha
Service was absolutely wonderful and friendly..maybe I'll try something else on the menu next time..
Why are there 2 yelp entries for this restaurant? I'm not sure. I figured safer bet with the one that has more reviews.
This place is okay. Service was average, at best. They were pretty busy for a Monday lunch though, considering. And they do have the benefit of being right out on the beach. Heat lamps can be turned on, if it happens to be chilly/foggy.
I ordered the ceviche, a cup of clam chowder, and a coffee. Ceviche was way too watery and was too heavy on the tomato and onions, but  I'll admit had plenty of fish/shrimp. Clam chowder was decent though. The potatoes could have been sliced a bit smaller to make it easier to eat, and it was just the slightest bit salty too.
I did see a 1lb lobster dish for $12 served only on Thursdays after 4:30pm. Now that was tempting to come back for. But otherwise, I'd say this place was just okay.
I am torn about my experience at Zelda's. Â
The service has never been good at Zelda's. Â In fact, the staff are usually unfriendly and make it known that they are extremely burdened by having more tables, additional customers, or requests made of them. Â There is a lot of huffing and puffing involved, some near throwing down of plates on tables because they are in such a "rush," and, of course, the occasional eye roll at a customer.
The food is okay but nothing special. Â However, I am impressed that they offer tofu as an alternative to eggs in their breakfast items. Â However, for vegans this doesn't help much because they have no cheese alternative and, based on what the servers have told me, their cooking involves a great deal of butter.
That said, the location and the view is incredible, so that alone makes dining at Zelda's a worthwhile experience.
I'm only giving them two stars because the ladies there are super sweet and yes "VERY" attractive but that's as good as it gets. You can tell that all of the staff is trying their best but their under staff for the amount of traffic that comes through. Their bar is in a bad location and their seating is all over the place. Some family had a table right next to the men's bathroom.
Their is a patio but if you choose that route you're going to wait awhile to get drinks and food. As far as the food goes, it's decent but very over priced. I paid $18. for Teriyaki Chicken and Rice.
In conclusion the girls there are very sweet and attractive but their over worked. The food is overpriced for what you get and it's kind of a mad house unless you go on off peak hours. Next time I go to Capitola, I'll probably pass.
I think the reviews here are mostly accurate, and I'll add my 2 cents.
Very poor food, all around. Â I had the famed $11+ lobster special which comes with 'rice pilaf.' Â The rice pilaf was right out of some pre-packaged packet complete with too much salt and an odd 'old' flavor to it. Â The lobster was overcooked (lobster chewing gum, anyone?) and wasn't cleaned properly - full of green lobster poop: devein it, folks, before you serve it...that's why you cracked the tail down the middle, right? Â Messy, yes- claws were uncracked and left for me....I don't mind the work, but it IS work.
I ordered their curiously named 'billionaire's margarita' which was large and delicious, so given the other reviews, this is a 'drinking establishment,' rather than a food establishment. Â The views were nice.
The table was permanently dirty with baked on old drink grunge. Â There was broken glass and a pool of salt from a broken salt shaker that staff begrudgingly and barely cleaned up around us.
I ask the waitress for olive oil for the +/- okay sourdough bread they give you...she forgot...asked the wandering floor person for same...he never brought it...finally waitress had someone else bring it, later. Â Same round of problems asking for napkins. Â Never got silverware for everyone at the table. Â
Cookie, we were warned about - was stale, but 'we'll warm it up in the microwave...that helps' - really?? If anyone ever thinks putting baked goods with flour in the microwave 'helps' they are LOONY - always makes for a good jaw workout, if that what you think 'helps.'
Finally, the sun went down and the propane heaters start getting lit. Â The person lighting them tries ours, but has trouble, gives up...disappears, comes back when beckoned, gives up again. Â Waitperson says she'll get him back, notes they are arguing over who has the lighter...guy still doesn't come...our teeth are chattering...finally, they light it, but right before we leave.
They comped the coffee and jaw work out cookie, how nice of them. Also, apologies. Â Okay- rare apology from another human helps. But, still, not recommending this place. Â
Isn't it amazing that the owners don't seem to read Yelp? Â Must not care as long as the money comes in!
Zelda's is a sort of all in one restuarant/space.
Weekend nights; it's a loud and crowded bar with it's happy hour specials ($2 margaritas), there's also a patio for live music, etc.
They have a Thursday Maine lobster special ($12) and Friday prime rib special ($12) that we just missed out on but seem to be real popular.
We walked down here for brunch on a Sat morning (they open at 7am) and it was the opposite. Quiet, relaxed, mellow. and filled with families. Â
As you expect, the food for a waterfront resto was average and a little overpriced ($8 for 2 Denny's pancakes?). The service at Denny's is better too but then you look up, see the sunny skies, ocean waves, kids playing, and the diner grub starts tasting better.
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