Santa Cruz County, California - Sustainable seafood has long been a bellwether for Santa Cruz County's culinary landscape for many years. A recent critical mass of newly opened eateries have elevated their menu offerings to highlight this mindful way to enjoy the bounty of the Monterey Bay. New restaurants in Aptos, Capitola and Santa Cruz have debuted within the past few months, all dedicated to this global movement.   

In the picturesque Aptos community of Seascape, the menu at Dos Pescados is headed up by Chef-partner Trent Lidgey whose background includes Michelin-starred seafood destinations Atelier Crenn in San Francisco and Brae in Birregurra, Australia. Trent created a menu that features raw options like caviar, oysters, razor clams, Hokkaido scallops and an 11-course tasting menu at this California-inspired Mexican spot. Mahi mahi tacos with chipotle aioli and mango salsa, carnitas hard shell tacos with sour orange salsa, and summer squash tacos with salsa matcha on blue-corn tortillas are just some of the signature items that can be enjoyed alongside creative cocktails with a tequila-forward flair.  

In Mediterranean-inspired Capitola Village, a mere four miles south of Santa Cruz, patrons at Pete's Fish House on the picturesque esplanade can enjoy views with Hog Island oysters from the San Francisco Bay Area, crudo, and other chilled coastal dishes including a soft-shell crab sandwich, fritto misto and clam linguini on the seafood-forward menu. Oysters of the Day, chilled scallops and caviar have an elevated presence during Pearl Hour daily from 4PM to 5PM with beer and wine choices. Restauranteur Sarah Orr brings her love of culinary arts to the village, as the owner of the iconic Stokes Adobe in Monterey.  

And in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz, the long-awaited Hook + Line has opened on iconic Walnut Avenue, two blocks away from a picturesque tree-lined street filled with historic Victorian homes. Two-years in the making, Hook + Line leveraged the mild, sunny weather by employing plentiful windows to bring in natural sunlight, turquois tilework and ocean-inspired light fixtures and a custom-made oyster shucking station to blend the energy of the kitchen with the lively atmosphere of the dining room. Hook + Line features three types of oysters: Miyagi from Tomales Bay, Kumamoto from Humboldt Bay and Hood Canal from Washington State. Each are served with house fermented hot sauce, lemon and shallot Champagne mignonette. The eclectic menu features raw gems like halibut ceviche and kampachi crudo, along with exquisite small bites like Manresa brioche topped with cured salmon and crème fraiche, and deviled eggs with shallots, capers, green onion and tobiko. Plates to share include Tomales Bay mussels with lemongrass fish broth and chili garlic fries, and fried calamari and uni toast with crème fraiche horseradish. Although the menu is seasonal, recent entrées that have proven popular have been roasted halibut with braised greens and potato skordalia, Dungeness crab risotto and whole fried Monterey Bay rockfish. Bouillabaisse, slow cooked pork shoulder and a vegetarian dish with Japanese eggplant round out the main courses.  

For more information on restaurants and eateries in Santa Cruz County, visit SantaCruz.org. 

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Getting There:   

Located along the Central Coast, Santa Cruz County, California, is approximately 70 miles/113 km south of San Francisco and 349 miles/562 km from Los Angeles. Many visitors choose to take scenic Highway 1 along the California coastline to Santa Cruz or Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Visitors can also choose to fly into San Francisco International Airport or San Jose Mineta International Airport.   

Press Contact:  

Christina Glynn, Director of Communications  

Visit Santa Cruz County   

Phone:  +1.831.425.1234 ext.111

Email:  cglynn@santacruz.org.  

Mail:  303 Water Street, #100, Santa Cruz, CA  95060  

About VSCC: A private, non-profit corporation, Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) exists to enhance tourism and the economy by positioning Santa Cruz County as a visitor, conference, and film destination. For more information, contact VSCC at +1.831.425.1234 or visit VSCC's website at SantaCruz.org.