Bittersweet Bistro

Amazing experience. Found this little gem on a google search. The food was amazing and loved the indoor decor. The drinks were creative and it was affordable for the quality. We had a great anniversary dinner. We will be repeat customers for sure.

What can I say but "Wow", this place is really great. It is one of my favorite places to eat for multiple reasons - I would come much more often in fact, if I lived closer than San Jose.

I usually stop here after a relaxing day at Rio Del Mar State Beach nearby since it is just around the corner. But it is close to many places south of Santa Cruz, so I highly recommend trying it out when you are in the area.

The place is gorgeous, both outside in the patio area, beautiful layout and beautiful decoration makes for a very relaxing place to hang out with friends and enjoy great food. The koi pool in the corner is very pretty as well as watching the fish swim. Outside is well lighted from the sun and surroundings, however there is enough cover to keep you in the shade during the summer and there are heaters to keep you warm during the winter.

The inside is also very spacious with separate different areas with lots of room between tables so that you can have a nice dining experience with plenty of company and yet feeling in your own space. The bar is also very nice with vaulted ceilings and a beautiful bar.

The food, drinks and dessert are all really excellent. There is an enormous selection of different foods of all types, pastas, appetizers, meats and fish as well as various seafood too. There's a huge cocktail menu including CBD options both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The mocktails are well thought out and appetizing for those who don't want alcohol.

There are many things I would recommend, but I really recommend the beat salad or the roasted brussel sprouts, the French onion soup, and the sesame crusted ahi tuna - You can't go wrong with any of these. But there are so many options that if you are in a good group of people, you can share and really enjoy a wonderful selection.

The staff is always perfectly friendly and willing to meet your every challenge 🙂. Once again, one of my most recommended restaurants especially down in the Santa Cruz area.

Best hamburger in town. Fairly pricing menu but you can get a hamburger with fries for about $20 and if you want it with sweet potato fries I think the upcharge was four or five dollars. They have great beer. The atmosphere is wonderful. Our waite person was wonderful

Hudson was great Server and the meal was fabulous!!

I never had a Calamari salad and was delicious, the Hawaiian & the Italian pizzas was yummy as well; plus they allow dogs on the patio and offer menu for them, my dog ate all.

Fun spot to take clients or celebrate a birthday. Note: they do charge a cake cutting fee per slice if you decide to bring your own cake.

Above excellent food and presentation! They offer small plates on many entrees. Beautiful patio with cozy heaters and lighting. Staff is personable and very accommodating! Do not leave without sharing a dessert! One of the best in Santa Cruz County by far.

Amazing staff. Stoped in to grab to go food and ended up staying for a drink just to converse with the amazing staff.
Food was the best I’ve had on my trip.
Can’t wait to come back!

Wow!! I can’t believe I found this restaurant!! You need to try this restaurant if you’re able around 😍😍 this is one of the best dishes I’ve ever had

Bittersweet is one of my favorite restaurants in the area! Definitely a little pricey but worth it for a fancy feel dinner or morning Bloody Mary.

The service was wonderful, very attentive.
Good food, and desserts.

Great atmosphere, service and people! Elizabeth in the front of the house and Cliff behind the bar are the best!

Went for a Christmas Eve meal and was not disappointed. The scallops and shirt ribs were amazing!!

Great restaurant with good food. Pricey if you have a drink, but still a good value and if you don't drink is very reasonable. The servings are also large enough split.

They have a lot of covered outdoor seating in their enclosed courtyard with very powerful overhead heating (even though it was your typical foggy chilly evening we still needed to ask to have the heat turned down).

The inside seating is also very nice and probably a better choice if you wanted a quieter dinner; outdoors is more festive and can get a little noisy at times. The outdoors is also dog friendly.

Fantastic food & cocktails. Pricey but worth it for the experience.

Amazing ambiance and food. The chicken gnocchi was to die for. Definitely going back

Wonderful, pet friendly patio and great service and food.

A bit pricey so keep for a special occasion or celebration.

Convient, just off highway 1.

Came here with a large group for a work event and was blown away by the food and service. The weather was fantastic for our outdoor patio seating (although maybe a little cool for some), and the staff was super-friendly and efficient.

All of the food we had was incredible. I particularly liked the Calamari and Tempura string beans with our appetizers, and the soy skirt steak I had was a fantastic main course. Will definitely return if I'm in the area again to try out more of the menu.

We loved everything about our dinner at the Bittersweet Bistro. Our food was excellent, our service was impeccable, so I have to give this place five stars, they earn it...., but...., I have only one complaint and it's a general kind of thing. They charge a 6% service charge on top of very expensive menu prices. We had four dinners and two of us drank water. No appetizers, no desert and our bill was still $220. We didn't have any of the more expensive items. One of us had pizza, one Stroganoff, one halibut and another a pork tenderloin.
It clearly states on the menu that they are charging the 6% surcharge, to compensate their employees other than the wait staff. I worked in the business for many years and anywhere I worked we as waiters tipped out to the rest of the staff from our tips. It seems now days things are changing and the customer must now pay 30% (a tip plus a surcharge) on top of expensive menu items to compensate the staff. This feels like the resort fees that they charge in Vegas and tack onto your hotel bills..... Just another way to extract money from customers.
As much as I liked our meal, it's so expensive that I will not return, and that is a shame for many of these places.... they are being priced out of business.

Excellent food, their chef is the best, their Apricot glazed salmon is the best I have ever tasted. The waiters that served us was awesome. This place doesn't discriminate, all races are treated with respect. We are from out of town, but visit this area frequently, will certainly be back