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Name: West End Tap & Kitchen
Address: 334 D Ingalls St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Telephone: (831) 471-8115
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.16

West End Tap & Kitchen

334 D Ingalls St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

(831) 471-8115
Store is closed

West End Tap & Kitchen Menu

Greens

Farmer's Market Salad

Farmer's Market Salad (Family Style)

Roasted Heirloom Chicken

Caesar

Citrus Salad

Farmer's Market Salad

Farmer's Market Salad (Family Style)

Roasted Heirloom Chicken

Caesar

Citrus Salad
Sandwiches

Niman Ranch Ham

Chicken

Veggie

Salami Rosa

Niman Ranch Ham

Chicken

Veggie

Salami Rosa
Flatbreads

Fresh Mozzarella

Italian Sausage

Portobello

Spring Veggie

Tomatillo Braised Pork

Bacon & Egg

Fresh Mozzarella

Italian Sausage

Portobello

Spring Veggie

Tomatillo Braised Pork

Bacon & Egg
Charcuterie & Cheese

Smoked King Salmon

Cheese Board

Charcuterie Board

Smoked King Salmon

Cheese Board

Charcuterie Board
Mains

Mary's Heritage Chicken

Stout braised Angus Short Rib

Asparagus Primavera

Seasonal White Fish

Angus Skirt Steak

House Ground Burger

Mary's Heritage Chicken

Stout braised Angus Short Rib

Asparagus Primavera

Seasonal White Fish

Angus Skirt Steak

House Ground Burger
Smalls

Oven Roasted Piquillo Peppers

Salchichero Pastrami Bites

Monterey Bay Calamari

Oven Roasted Piquillo Peppers

Salchichero Pastrami Bites

Monterey Bay Calamari
Snacks

Roasted Shishito Peppers

House Marinated Castelvetrano Olive

Duck Fat Popcorn with Smoked Paprika

Roasted Shishito Peppers

House Marinated Castelvetrano Olive

Duck Fat Popcorn with Smoked Paprika
Finish

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

Dark Chocolate Tart

House Ice Cream & Seasonal Sorbet

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

Dark Chocolate Tart

House Ice Cream & Seasonal Sorbet

Healthy Meal suggestions for West End Tap & Kitchen

Greens

Farmer's Market Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farmer's Market Salad (Family Style) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Heirloom Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citrus Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farmer's Market Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farmer's Market Salad (Family Style) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Heirloom Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Citrus Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Niman Ranch Ham [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salami Rosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Niman Ranch Ham [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salami Rosa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Flatbreads

Fresh Mozzarella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomatillo Braised Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon & Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Mozzarella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portobello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomatillo Braised Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon & Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Charcuterie & Cheese

Smoked King Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charcuterie Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked King Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charcuterie Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Mains

Mary's Heritage Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stout braised Angus Short Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagus Primavera [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal White Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Angus Skirt Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Ground Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mary's Heritage Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stout braised Angus Short Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagus Primavera [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal White Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Angus Skirt Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Ground Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Smalls

Oven Roasted Piquillo Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salchichero Pastrami Bites [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Monterey Bay Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oven Roasted Piquillo Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salchichero Pastrami Bites [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Monterey Bay Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Snacks

Roasted Shishito Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Marinated Castelvetrano Olive [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Fat Popcorn with Smoked Paprika [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Shishito Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Marinated Castelvetrano Olive [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Fat Popcorn with Smoked Paprika [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Finish

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dark Chocolate Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Ice Cream & Seasonal Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dark Chocolate Tart [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Ice Cream & Seasonal Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Nim N.

Nice decor with Edison lighting and wood from old wine barrels. If you get a booth, there are chalk boards for you to doodle. It's a warm atmosphere. Weekends are very busy. Make a reservation or go during the week. It's a large restaurant with a huge bar. Service was good. Good beers on tap. The food is very fresh, organic, and healthy. The portions are quite large. The calamari is very crispy, almost like a tempura. The homemade sausage is delicious. I've never ordered carrots as an appetizer before, but wow they were excellent.
(5)
Zrinko V.

Darn good food, pretty good variety (I went for a very healthy salmon salad). I really quite liked the ambiance and variety of seating. There are some cozy booths, some 4-tops and some bar area setting, a nice mix. If you are looking for something above average American fare and/ or some good food with your beer this place is great!
(5)
Tera K.

They have two flight options on their menu but the bartender offered me an IPA sampler and I was so happy! I love IPA and no one has this option available. It was sooooo tasty! I couldn't have been happier and then there was the service. Our bartender Dustin was fantastic, super attentive and informative. One of his other female colleagues was also super attentive. I didn't get her name but I appreciated the attention she gave when Dustin was on break. beer selection was super solid. Food was as well. My friend had salmon with asparagus and loved it. I had the gnocchi with hazelnut and mushrooms etc. it was super tasty. The portions were really large so neither of us finished our meals. The leftovers died in the heat the next day. Sad... I was a huge fan of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing which is directly across the parking lot but West End has my heart now. It's the IPA. What can I say?
(5)
Greg D.

My bro-in-law and I stopped in here for a beer and some food after a full day on the trails (Wilder State park and some other amazing areas around UC Santa Cruz). The draft beer (all local micro-brews( selection is amazing: any type of beer you can imagine is available. Plus, they had their Stoudt on a Nitro tap. My chicken salad was a HUMONGOUS feed bowl of a salad. I only managed half, the other half came back w/me: chicken, hard-boiled egg, beats, avocado, and blue cheese; it was very tasty w/a light vinaigrette. Co-pilot ordered the burger, (med-rare( fries. Unfortunately the burger came out totally rare, so it went back and was quickly replaced w/what was ordered. The olives appetizer was worth ordering as well. All that said, it was a good feed. Staff at the bar was friendly and courteous. TVs at the bar w/the Giants on so that was a good sign, too
(3)
Lori T.

One of my favorite places. Great ambiance. Great beer. Great food. Pretty awesome interior, with an expansive seating area, high ceilings, very open feel to the restaurant. There's two different locations inside to sit. One side hosts the entrance, the bar, highboys, and a fireplace with couches. The other side has more of a restaurant feel with booths, tables, and yet another bar area. Happy hour is awesome here. Lots to pick from for a great price.And then there's the burger- DELICIOUS with seriously good fries. The salads, which I usually get, are loaded with plenty of high quality ingredient; you won't leave hungry. Tons of beer options, along with wines ON TAP. Just fun. :) Located in the Swift Street Courtyard, there's a lot of other shops, wineries, and the Santa Cruz Brewery right across the way. All I can say is that I do love this place and someone is doing something right!
(5)
Jennifer S. P.

My husband and I loved this place. We had a date night and wanted a great atmosphere great drinks and great food. All three plus friendly and attentive service were provided. It was also not unnecessarily pricey. The wait was a about 20 minutes when we got there so they took my cell number to text us when the table was reAdy. We sat at the bar to grab an Amber and Pale Ale while we waited. Cool bar scene that we enjoyed the wait. Got the text. Ordered food right away because we had looked at the menu. Duck meatballs, calamari, small farmers market salad, gnocchi, and a glass of the tempranillo. Everything was spot on. We enjoyed every bite. Hot food,great flavor. Not too greasy. So fresh and yummy. I would HIGHLY recommend this dinner date experience.
(5)
Vicky T.

Food baby coma rejoice. I do not drink but my girlfriends more than make up for me so this place is great. If you want to get your gourmet fatty on this place definitely delivers. Everything is made in house and it shows Some of the best cauliflower soup ever. I thought I was being "good" by getting soup and salad.. what I got was 2 servings of cauliflower soup and a huge ass salad. It is enough for two meals. Bacon burger is stellar. FLATBREADS ARE A MUST. My girls shared a beer sampler and were happy as clams. I got the Q ginger beer (has a spicy kick) and I was elated there were non-alcoholic options other than iced tea and soda. Servers are knowledgeable about the beer (one would hope but sometimes that is a fail) and gave great suggestions on follow up things to try in the future. Parking can be a pain so patience is a virtue.
(5)
Eva T.

I haven't even moved to Santa Cruz yet, but I know what spot I'm going to frequently hit up during my time at UCSC. I'm not typically a fan of dark beers, but their stout is sooo delicious. Happy hour deals seriously can't be beat, and you can sample their house beers for just $8. Foods are local and seasonal and most importantly, delicious :) My server was also really sweet and attentive even during their busy happy hour. See you later West End!
(5)
Lorraine C.

Beer....beer beer beer Beer....beer beer beer BEER BEER BEER BEER Dunna, dunna-da-na-na HAM!
(5)
Cord N.

This place has a very eye-catching and nicely designed interior. It is located amongst a few Wine-Tasting and Brew-Houses in a fun little boozy area of Santa Cruz. West End dishes out some delicous Gastropub grub. I recently had both theFlatbread margherita & fried chicken sandwich. Both dishes are awesomely good and will be ordered again in the near future. I gulped down the IPA sampler and then had a Hoptopia IPA pint from Hermitage Brewing. The selection and quality of Beers are above average. The Santa Cruz area has hopped on the Craft Beer trend & is fully embracing the high ABV. suds flowing from the endless taps.
(4)
Denny T.

A few miles away from the Santa Cruz area. This brewery restaurant sits on the back side of a building. Large open room with a bar. I came in for lunch. Staff was kind to greet me promptly and seat me. Menu water and staff were quick to arrive. Menu is a unique mix of unexpected combinations. I elected to try the popcorn (duck fat lemon basil infused) and the chicken sandwich (buttermilk chicken thigh, cheddar, vinaigrette onions, and coleslaw on gayles bread- served along a side salad). Food came out quick, appropriately timed, warm hot. Popcorn was first. Description does not sound great but oddly it worked. A bit of sweetness from the lemon and herbs allowed the duck fat savoriness to sing. Like an orgasm in the mouth. I didn't eat it all saving room for the meal. I packed half to go. The chicken sandwich was crunchy and cooked appropriately through. The dark thigh meat (thigh meat is always dark) was flavorful. The slaw and onions were not too creamy and sweet respectively. The side salad was lightly dressed with ranch if preferred. The salad was delicious in it's own. The various dish elements demonstrated a farm to fork freshness. Bill and boxes were quick. Good: farm fresh food, efficient service, delicious combinations. Bad: unless you know about this place you might drive by and miss. I hear they make their own beers but wasn't able to try being in the area for work. I will be back. I am a fan.
(4)
Patrick S.

What ISN'T there to like about West End Tap & Kitchen? This fine establishment is so solid I will drive 45 minutes on a weeknight just to eat here and drive another 45 minutes home. To start off, the food is great and consistent. I've been many times and each time the food is very well prepared and delicious. The burger is one of my go-tos and is always grilled perfectly with amazing house sauce and crispy fries. They have a variety of local beers on tap and all are solid choices. Ambiance is another strong suit. Unfinished wood, open space, strategically-placed succulents are all common themes. There is a very cool bar area with high seating, a fire place, televisions, and a little waterfall and pool. WET&K also has outdoor seating under the night sky with some cool lights hanging overhead. And in the back they have more formal seating right by the open kitchen so you can enjoy all the delicious smells emanating from within. Live music on Tuesday evenings make the atmosphere even more compelling! Parking is normally not an issue but on a weekend night you might have to park in the darker far reaches of the nearby lots. There are several other establishments nearby that can get busy as does WET&K (so be prepared to wait a bit for a table). Service is also always great with friendly wait staff that are attentive but not overly so. They can read your party well and know when you just want to hang out and drink some beer with friends and relax or if you're famished and want the dishes to keep coming. All in all this place leaves nothing to be desired. Good job West End Tap & Kitchen!
(5)
Lauren C.

Wow! Wandered in this place last minute when I was in Santa Cruz for a day trip and wasn't expecting much. I was wrong! The boring facade belies a huge interior full of character and the bartenders are wonderful and attentive even in the midst of a Warriors game. Amazing wine if you don't like beer, and plenty of seating at the bar and tables surrounding.
(4)
Sheila D.

Please please please open a West End in Danville, CA! Whenever we come out to the coast to visit my BFF from elementary school, I beg to come to West End. Luckily, it's not a huge effort cause luckily she's just as die hard of a fan as I am! We got super lucky this past weekend as we showed up at 2pm or so and was able to finegle the prized BIG BOOTH WITH THE CHALKBOARD. OMG. It was perfect for three gorgeous ladies and my little gorgeous munchkin. My little girl had so much fun drawing on the chalkboard that us gorgeous ladies could actually enjoy a rare nice conversation! The food is consistently AMAZING. I could eat the chicken salad with beets, avocado, boiled eggs every single day. French fries? To die for. My friends ordered the burger and the look on their face was pure orgasmic. Hell YES!
(5)
Rachel W.

The burger was excellent. Perfectly cooked, and I loved the pickled onions. The french fries were particularly spectacular, and luckily they don't skimp. The calamari was alright. Not bad, but not especially unique. The lemon dipping sauce was quite tasty though. The charcuterie board was also nice. I had a great Caesar salad, though it was a bit over-dressed, even for my taste. I have a tendency to go overboard when dressing my own salads, and yet I found myself scraping off the excess. The flavor was nice though, and I loved the fried capers. The large cheese plate was very generous, though I found it odd that there were only a few slices of bread to accommodate such a gigantic spread. We had to ask for more, which wasn't a problem. The real star of the show was the popcorn. I already have an unhealthy obsession with popcorn, and this stuff blew my mind. Seriously, if you put a barrel of it in front of me, I'd eat myself to death. Overall I enjoyed my experience and will probably return when I'm back in the area.
(4)
Heather S.

This place hits the spot. The house brews were delicious, and the tastings were reasonably priced. We enjoyed every bite of food. I will return to this place again someday. I highly recommend this establishment.
(5)
Kathryn F.

Best farmers market salad!!!! Love the food here and the beer!
(5)
N M.

Service by Ariana was excellent. I stopped here on an impromptu overnight-by-the-sea with my dog. The place is a little hard to find, as it is located near the back of the clump of warehouse/trendy commercial space. Inside, expect noveau distressed wood paneled walls, concrete floors, and stone-inspired water elements. I ordered the jalapeÃ±o calamari, apple-fennel salad, and a pear cider. The calamari, while tender, had a too-heavy breading that muted the calamari taste. While the tartar sauce was mediocre (I've made better at home), the vinegar had flavorful minced pickles which added a nice spice and sharpness. The apple-fennel salad was more of a deconstructed salad, with peppery greens, toasted pistachios, and ricotta holding their own corners away from the dressed up julienned apples, shaved fennel, and micro greens mixture. The cider complemented the salad perfectly. My only critical observations is that for a fennel lover like me, the fennel was not a strong enough flavor, and there was too much dressing. Still, I'd happily order the salad again. Since I was super full, I splurged on a to-go Chocolate Pot de Creme for a before-bed treat.
(4)
Tom D.

We were with another couple who are somewhat picky eaters so West End Tap & Kitchen seemed like a good choice having a varied menu along with a selection of beer and wine. We didn't have a reservation on a busy Sunday evening but the wait for a table was only about 30 minutes. Just the perfect amount of time to enjoy a brew in their bar area, The space here is kinda cool, large warehouse type area, high ceilings, good vibe. We ordered a couple of appetizers and mains. Started with ROASTED HEIRLOOM CARROTS, maple tamarind glaze and DUCK MEATBALLS, l'orange sauce & parsley chive crÃ¨me fraÃ®che. Both starters were delicious, very flavorful. There were four of us, the women had the PACIFIC KING SALMON, local asparagus, fingerling potatoes & tomato nicoise vinaigrette. They loved it, I had a taste and agree. Us guys had the HOUSE GROUND BURGER, Gayle's challah bun & fries. A large juicy, flavorful burger cooked perfectly as ordered. We had a round of brews with dinner. Service was helpful and friendly. If you are in Santa Cruz, West End Tap & Kitchen is an excellent choice.
(5)
Stevie J.

Absolutely amazing food. Almost any place I've ever eaten, I can always think of a way I would tweak the dish to like it even more. We ordered 3 different dishes. Every single one of them was perfect as they were. I have never been more impressed with a restaurant. Their service was great as well. I'll just say, if u run a little on the cold side like me, bring a jacket because it's drafty inside.
(5)
Amira T.

On our way back from Carmel, our friend (and UCSC alumna) Chloe suggested to stop by West End Tap and Kitchen for dinner. It is a few miles away from downtown, in an area that also features a community market and a few other businesses. It was the best suggestion ever. We were seated immediately, but in case one has to wait they have a friendly texting service to let you know when your table is ready. Max loved the ambiance, a barn turned into a modern, industrial looking restaurant. I loved how they divided the spaces, so it didn't feel too big or too loud. We ordered the beer sampling and it was great. The 6 mini beers came in what I think was a muffin tray and a page with the description - so simple and useful! We had a yummy salad with black berries, ricotta cheese and very fresh greens and a flatbread with prosciutto and dates. Both delicious! We totally recommend it!
(5)
Harry D.

Best hamburger I've had in a long time. Also, waiter was very good at recommending a beer that exactly matched what I was looking for. Only downside, it was more expensive than I expected.
(5)
Kim G.

Stumbled upon this place on our way to Carmel. Excellent menu. Great food, local, fresh food. Fast, friendly service. Favorite beers of the trip. Close to beach if wanted to explore after a good meal. Would definitely come back if in the area.
(5)
Eric D.

Ahhhh West End :) I live a block away and it's a treat to pop in here every now and again. Great joint if you've been longing for a brewery restaurant to serve something simple that's above elevated pub food. This place puts me and my friends in high spirits because it has a very lively atmosphere and comfortable vibes. The food is delicious... Not somewhere you would go for light meal - Their flatbreads, burgers, and apps are excellent. The calamari was unique and was joined by fried jalapeno slices. My pal took a bite and lit up: "They know how to fry sh*t here!!" Haha they are yummy. I knocked a star off because I haven't had the friendliest hosts and my waiters seem to be hit-and-miss. One time we felt ignored by an apathetic waiter and the other time our waiter was like the mega chipper waiter in the movie "Office Space" who talks really fast and pushes you to order apps and entrees. I think he offered us about 12 different options after we'd been seated for 30 seconds. Love the rapid and attentive service! But calm down tiger, you gotta let us whet our whistles first and offer us drinks. It's a Tap first, then Kitchen. I need beer in my system before I can process all the options. Great dining choice on the W. Side! Thanks West End!
(4)
Leslie F.

First, came here for Valentines for my boyfriend and I's anniversary. Sad that most pictures got deleted from that day, but came another time for happy hour and must say overall experience coming twice is a 5/5! Must tries: Beers: they have a wide variety of beers and love the Amber and the stout ones. I first tried the beer sampler which I recommend because you can see what beer you personally like from the varieties that they have. Also during happy hour pints are just $3-5 I believe! Food: Flat breads: have to say my favorite is the mushroom portobello one!! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Another good one is the pork belly flatbread and also the mozzarella one especially for happy hour which is $5! -the calamari is what I absolutely love about this place! Best calamari I've ever had. And my bf knows how much I love calamari. Something about the taste and the sauces that come along are different then usual. I would just come here for that! Also $5 during happy hour! -duck fat popcorn: worth it during happy hour! Never had duck fat popcorn before this but honestly if it wasn't on the happy hour menu I wouldn't really get it. But it's an interesting try! Caesar salad: so worth it during happy hour! Although it does look like 4 lettuce leaves stacked on top. It's still good! Service: very nice service although one of the waitresses messed up our order, but it happens. Overall: one of the best places to eat at in sc! And great happy hour! Must mention that happy hour is just at the bar so first come first serve and it's Monday- Friday 3:00pm-6:00pm. And also Tuesday night $10 pitchers! Another tip is to come to another happy hour besides Fridays because it is PACKED.
(5)
Liesl K.

I had the Santa Cruz Scrumpy and the pasta with shrimp in a creamy sun dried tomato sauce. The cider was delish and the pasta had the best flavor! I also ordered some of their french fries. The fries are amazing, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This place is really chill and our waiter was really nice! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Aron H.

I have fallen in love with this place! For so long I heard great things about it but for some reason never made my way over until the other night. Decided to just go here on a whim for a salad and ended up arriving at happy hour. How can you beat $3 beer, an awesome meat and cheese plate with a deep fried calamari bowl. The answer is you can't! I now have a mission to go back and try everything on the menu since it past my eyeball test, every single plate I saw the waiters bring out I wanted. So now I just need to go back and give them a try. Great job West End.
(5)
George C.

Yesterday (9/12/15) we had an unexpected detour on our way home from LA. We looked at Yelp reviews for local restaurants and chose this one based on menu and price. It was a wise choice. For appetizers we ordered the maple-tamarind glazed carrots (sweet, tangy, and delicious), the duck meatballs (outstanding!). We chose the crispy chicken and the sausage flatbread for the entrees. The chicken was perfectly cooked, with green beans (al dente as they should be), a bread pudding, and a corn puree. Everything went together perfectly. The flatbread - wow! The sausage is house-made and blends so well with a basil pesto and chevre cheese. Plus, the crust was wonderful - nice and crunchy with blackened edges. For dessert, a super lemon blueberry gelato. Oh...almost forgot...really good beer! Such a wonderful place for dinner. One small thing: the place gets pretty noisy. But the food more than offsets that. Can't remember the last meal where we smiled so much!
(5)
Vera O.

Yes, i am a huge fan of this place and will plan on visiting many more times. So far I've visited two times and last time a friend and I specifically drove from Mountain View to Santa Cruz to eat here ;-) Love the food! Decor is nice as well. It does get absolutely insanely busy on weekends but I came on Thursday night last week shortly before closing time and it was really empty, so choose your time wisely. So far I've tried flatbreads -- amazingly delicious! So highly recommended. Smocked appetizer plate is perfect! Bear selection is amazing as well. My next task is to try brunch. Can't wait!
(4)
Todd S.

Love the food and service. Great eats and beer - the West End Stout is awesome. Atmosphere is okay for being in an industry area of the west side. Steer clear on the weekends as it gets Santa Row-ish with all the valley folk.
(4)
Judy V.

Whenever I'm in Santa Cruz, this is one of my go to restaurants. First of all, they have TONS of beers on draft! For those not interested in beer, they also have decent priced wine bottles. I've tried quite a few things here but I always end up craving their burger. It's so juicy and delicious! It also comes with a side of super crunchy shoe string fries. Yum!! The duck fat popcorn is pretty delicious as well, but definitely different. If you're in the mood for a good burger and beer, go to west end!!
(5)
Laura Y.

Just went here last weekend because I was in search of a place with deep fried calamari and I'm glad I found it here! This place 1 upped me with the fact that their deep fried calamari also came with deep fried jalapenos which was the perfect touch! I thought they were really good and it downs the spiciness a little bit for those who are a bit hesitant. It was a huge portion too so I'm really happy with that and may order that alone for a quick snack with a friend.The only thing I recommend to add another little kick/ element of flavor would be black pepper. It also comes with two sauces, one is tartar of course but the other was some sort of vinegar mixture that I didn't care for at all. I prefer the creaminess from tartar sauce because it also helps calm the spiciness from the jalapenos. Besides that awesome appetizer, this place has a ton of seating and theres such a variety too! It's not just booths or just bar seating. Very unexpected and a pleasant surprise! It looks very unique ad it's spacious so that is always a winner in my book. The location is also great because it's right across from a bakery, a winery, and a brewery so you have quite a bit around this place. I ordered the apple and fennel salad which was okay but I'd say it was only okay mostly because of the apples. There needed to be more pistachios to get the crunch and flavor because I'd say only about 3-4 were sprinkled on there but they were still whole so it was hard to eat. But the dish also just called for way more of a dressing than the vinegarette that was lightly drizzled on there. Maybe not something cream-based but something more flavorful like a cranberry or raspberry sauce? I'm not sure but something else needed to bring it all together. I will be back to try more but I will also reorder that calamari again. I hope to try one of their flat breads or a sandwich because both had pretty good sized portions!!
(4)
Pocket C.

Good variety of beers. Food is pretty good, but not omg good. We tried out the calamari and burger. I would say the calamari was soft, not crispy and the burger, although well-intentioned, was also undercooked and had no char texture. Anyway, we just had to drink more beer...cheers!
(3)
T B.

Exhausted but hungry in an unknown town, I found west End. Thank you for great salmon over veggies. I get hungry just thinking about it!
(5)
Grey H.

I've eaten here maybe 3 times, so keep coming back, but only with hesitation. The reason I return is that it is convenient, helping me to stay out of increasingly ugly downtown Santa Cruz. The reason I hesitate is that I like eating at places that are truly dedicated to local AND certified organic foods. The food is okay to good. The beer, same. Most recently, my wife and I ate here and ordered the roasted organic chicken salad and the homemade sausage flatbread. Both dishes were good and great to split to make a whole meal, which was just enough for 2 people ($30 for food isn't too bad). Here's the rub. In perusing their menu, which, in print copy at least, suggests they source organic as much as possible, I noticed the term (salad) 'organic chicken' but elsewhere just 'Mary's chicken' (Mary's has both organic and 'natural' chicken) as well as other odd obfuscating language such as 'heritage' pork, etc. So, we felt like we needed to ask...'Are the strawberries in your special desert organic?' The answer, after checking...'No.' What? Really?? The restaurant is surrounded by the best tasting, organic strawberries in the world. And, here we are in the PEAK of strawberry season and they don't feature these gems (despite their professed standards)? Makes me wonder about the rest of the menu. Oh, but, never had so many people looking after us constantly, almost to a fault. We had one waitperson, two servers, and at least 3 people trying to take our almost finished meals away from us. Nice people, all.
(2)
Jeff W.

In town for business today, our customer took us here for lunch. A terrific experience! We opened with the olives and popcorn. Olives aren't my thing but the guys I ate with loved them. The popcorn is awesome (I'm munching the leftovers as I write this). I had the cheddar burger with fries; perfectly cooked and seasoned, it was great! Fries were off the chart too. My companions has the ham and cheese sandwich which they said was great and I intend to order the next time I'm in town. Great service, Matthew was great and the servers backed him up by topping off our drinks as needed. Great experience, if you are in Santa Cruz a must!
(5)
Matt K.

Simply amazing. Incredible quality in their ingredients and staff. The carrots were one of the best appetizers I've ever had. The burger was great as well with perfect fries. I live in Campbell but would come back to Santa Cruz solely for West End.
(5)
Mark S.

We have a new baby at home and won't be going out anytime soon and apparently won't be picking up food from here as I was just told they don't do that anymore when they are really busy. I was given the option of going in and ordering from the bartender to go, but that seems like a gigantic waste of time. I've never heard of a place turning away customers before, but if they've got more then they can handle, good for them. Of course, that's bad for me... and my baby mama... and my baby.
(3)
Eric V.

The duck fat popcorn, ceasar salad with salmon, summer veggie flatbread - I was blown away by everything! Sorry to make it short but I'm still here!
(5)
Jimmy G.

Literally can't say enough great things about this place. One of my UCSC friends introduced to me this spot and I have not stopped coming since. Great food -- I always need to order an appetizer here and I'm a huge fan of their salads and "flatbreads". They have a really good beer selection with friendly peeps behind the bar every time I've been there. Honestly have no knocks against west end and love that I can walk one minute afterwards to pick up on pastries or more local beer. Ok so maybe I do have one minor thing to harp on: my favorite item use to be the shishito peppers, but it disappeared off the menu a few months ago. I loved those things and miss them!! I'll have to ask next time about it because I wish I could share them with my friends (or to myself) again.
(5)
Tram N.

+ lots of open space + rustic decor + friendly service + clean bathrooms + decent variety on the menu + juicy burger - not really a sports place (TV's at the bar only) - their kid's pasta made Chef Boyardee an instant 5 star - burgers weren't rare like I
(3)
Alex W.

Been wanting to go here for a while and finally got around to it this weekend. Had a sampler of all their West End beers, and I wasn't a fan of any of them (the pale ale was OK). The other beers on tap were very good, however. Had the popcorn appetizer and flatbread pizzas, which were both delicious. Also, the French fries are VERY good (they are very crispy, maybe double fried?). Overall, I will definitely come back at some point. Only 4/5 stars because I didn't think their in-house beer was very good, but I would still recommend the place.
(4)
Rachel O.

Could have been much better for the amount we paid. The burger and fries we had was pretty good but the beers were just okay. The service was really slow and the wait staff was pretty abrasive. Came here with a group of friends and we must not have fit their usual demographic because we definitely did not receive the attentive service that others around us did.
(3)
Erica O.

Love this place!! Food there is amazing, and their Calamari, best one I've had so far. Last time I went, I had their Ham & Cheese Sandwich, amazing! Plus, I love the fact that they have a little outside patio, perfect place to sit on a nice day.
(5)
Kathy W.

My dad and I went here this past week and loved it!! I don't drink beer but the selection had me wanting to try some. Our server Rosy was friendly and very good. The busboy made sure our glasses were never empty. The food seems to be a luxury play on classic favorites without the obnoxious price tag. My dad got the pastrami bites and the mozzarella flat bred so good and I got the chicken sandwich add bacon, of course, and it was amazing! I can't wait to bring more people here. It's not in the dt area but so worth going to find it. I will be back.
(5)
Eric L.

Yes. They serve snacks, notably lemony basil duck fat popcorn. Their local calamari dish was awesomely crispy and delicious. I delved into the house salad and yes, it was also great. On the bar side, the classy gastropub vibe provided for a great experience.
(5)
Kari D.

Stumbled in (almost literally) because the boyfriend and I were wine tasting and wanted some food stat. It looked pretty crowded having it been a holiday weekend and everything (we went a couple days ago on Sunday) so wasn't sure about getting a seat. We walked right in and was seated promptly. I immediately noticed the cool warehouse vibe mixed in with a little bit of rustic hipster. I am not a decorator so I can't really say what exactly it is other than what it looks like from my point of view. The server was nice and we immediately got a flight of beer samples, which was pretty tasty, and yes we are crazy because I don't think I could drink anymore after the wine. The menu was pretty good, lots of tasty looking things. The bf got grilled cheese and I got the ham and cheese. I tell you I was not prepared for the mountain of greens that came with my sandwich, lots of spring mix with the works in my sandwich and a heap of it on my plate. I did read the menu before hand but was not expecting that. The bf said it's a nice change from fries, I agreed but secretly wished I had more carbs in the form of the good tasting kind because I was hungry dang it! I'd come back here with my friends and enjoy more beer and a cheese platter. This place is pretty hidden from your usual run of the mill spots and was glad that we got to experience it.
(4)
Jennifer K.

West End Tap & Kitchen deserves an award for serving the best flatbread, EVER. I came by for a late lunch with a couple of friends, and we decided to split a few menu items since some of us were looking forward to partying in Vegas for the three day weekend. We ordered... + Salchichero pastrami bites - A thick slab of pastrami on a chip with some interesting purple sauce. Delicious. What a great appetizer! + Tomatillo braised pork flatbread - This was recommended to us by our server, and it blew my mind. You MUST get it. + Kale salad with blackberries, feta cheese, and hazelnuts - We added chicken to this. It was just okay. Anyway, back to the star of the show: the tomatillo braised pork flatbread. I don't care if you don't like flatbreads. I don't care if you don't like braised pork. (Actually, you must be crazy if you don't.) I don't care if you only skimmed through this review. Just get the damn braised pork flatbread, and you'll be happy. I promise.
(5)
J. G.

Well what's not to love about a gastropub? I love the bartenders and the vibe. The food has slipped a bit since opening calamari more jalapenos than squid but alas we still go
(3)
Mark M.

one of the best restaurants in all of California and not just in comparison to local ones or in Monterey peninsula..besides the excellent and unique food, the friendly staff makes it worth the high marks. Bee who is a waitress there was very attentive and communicated very well. Id recommend coming here over Bantam. At least the staff doesnt treat you indifferent and discourteous if you dont drink alcohol like they do in Bantam.
(5)
Aja N.

This place deserves 5 stars for sure!! When you walk in, you escape the funkiness of SC. Don't get me wrong, I love my hometown and all, but a lot of establishments are well, funky. The place is super spacious and clean! It's in an old winery. They've redone the inside to be super industrial and modern. The service was outstanding! All of the staff seem to work on a team to give customers the best experience. The food portions were huge!!! Everything ordered was straight from the farm to the table and most was organic. The beef isn't, but it's grass-fed, so they do an excellent job of finding the best ingredients. It shows they take pride and I look forward to being a regular customer!! It's one of my favorite hidden gems in SC!!
(5)
Christine N.

My second time here. The first was for a bridal shower. West End set aside one section of the restaurant for us, with chic bench seating. They were super easy to work with. They let us come in early to decorate and even helped fill mason jars with water for the flowers. It was a nice place for a slightly rustic, casual shower. And the passion fruit beer was a hit with the ladies. I visited again today. It was the perfect place to start my family's weekend in Monterey for my mom's 60th! We got seated at a lovely table under the skylight near the kitchen. In a sunny spot. I'm a fan of how they do wooden tables and linen napkins. Mom and I discussed our plans to install a pizza oven just like West End's. We ordered the beer sampler which was super fun to share. The garlic mushroom flatbread and grilled cheese sandwich were a hit. I also like how they do their calamari. Lightly fried, non-oily, and served with a yummy mignonette. Service was darling and she even surprised my mom with some chocolate gelato complete with birthday candle. I wonder what we'll celebrate here next...
(4)
Martha H.

Went on a Sunday afternoon for a lunch date, we were hoping to sit outside, but that seating area was pretty full. We got a nice booth table close to the kitchen. We ordered the duck meatballs as a starter, the orange sauce that came with them was amazing. We ordered a small farmers market salad and the pork and tomatillo flatbread. Both of those dishes were unreal, they tasted exactly how they looked beautiful! Actually all of the food had beautiful presentation without compromising the size of your meal. We also had a few beers, I had one of their West End stouts, it was pretty tasty and refreshing. We are coming back for sure!
(5)
D S.

If you haven't been here, try this place! Awesome beer, food and ambience! Our server Bee was so accommodating and so friendly and we picked her two fave beers she said! The calamari: YUM! The ham and cheese made with fresh ham and bacon and Brie and arugula and maple aioli.... OMG. So good!! The Citra single hop IPA is so good. We tried the $16 taste of beers and all were really good, but I had to stick with the beer I mentioned. I will be back for sure. I'm from Monterey and love finding new spots when I come to Santa Cruz. I love Santa Cruz!
(5)
Kathleen S.

Recently came here for the first time and I really liked it! It can be a little bit pricey, but I feel like it's worth it for the experience and the exceptional service my friend and I had. We both got the house sampler, which contained six 3oz beers ranging from their own selection of West End beer ($7 a person), and we shared the calamari ($9) and salmon & cheese board ($14). I really enjoyed the calamari; perfectly crispy and the ranch & oil they gave us to dip it in was so good! Especially the oil, it looked like their were little jalapenos in it. As for the salmon and cheese board, there was a fat piece of salmon, cute little selection of onions, garlic, capers, and cheese with a good amount of bread. Surprisingly I was full by the end of the meal and we didn't even get to finish the calamari. I don't know if I would come back often because you can end up spending a good amount here (especially if you're rolling on a college budget), but the ambiance and service made it worth it here. It's cool how some people can have a barrel as a table. Who knew? I definitely want to check out their happy hour sometime.
(4)
Eduardo S.

Very happy with my experience at West End Tap & Kitchen. I came on a Saturday with my family and it was only a decent ten-minute wait. We sat in the lounge area waiting for our table and got some drinks to distract ourselves. Our order included a burger, salad and flat bread for the kids. All was very good. They have a good beer selection. It is a nice location off the beaten path with parking available. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Joseph B.

My girlfriend and I were here in Santa Cruz visiting family and decided to come to west end for some dinner, we were sat instantly with our choice of a happy hour section or a quieter booth option. We chose the booth option and our server was "B" she was awesome! Super attentive, she checked on every single course we received from the beer to the burger, and had tables inside and out. Thanks B!
(5)
Kathy T.

This place was busy busy busy on a Saturday night! We knew we picked the right place the minute we stepped in. Decor was rustic, modern, hip, and casual, all at the same time. I like their semi-private booths with the chalkboards. Seems like such a fun spot to celebrate with friends. We were seated in the back, which turned out great because it wasn't as noisy and I could hear the conversations at the table. I was super greedy that night and ordered a lot of food. Everything I had was amazing. And the beer we had with it was perfect too. Balsamic roasted brussel sprouts were delicious! I couldn't get enough of this dish. I'm not quite sure I want to share this next time. Duck fat popcorn with smoked paprika - these were very addictive. The smoked paprika taste was prominent. I don't think I could distinguish the duck fat from this dish very much. Calamari - very tasty. The fried peppers were a nice contrast and not a bit spicy for me. I was pleasantly surprised with the two dipping sauces. The first dipping sauce was a buttermilk ranch and the second one reminded me of the Vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc mam). Skirt Steak - delicious!!! It was cooked perfectly and was extremely tender. It was served with a croquette and greens. I savored every bite of this! Service was spot on and attentive. Our server checked in with us enough, but left us to our conversations. They have one unisex restroom within the restaurant. If you don't want to wait, you just walk down the hall into a communal/shared restroom. I will definitely be back to try more tasty items on the menu.
(4)
Kendra H.

Once again a delightful meal. We came here for lunch, and I wanted the baked Marin French Camembert which is normally served with crostini. I am gluten intolerant and had brought along a gf shars ciabatta roll which they very graciously sliced and toasted and served. So nice to be able to enjoy a wonderful dish. We also had the soup and salad and the winter veggie flatbread, all of the above were yummy and beautifully prepared. The soup was a potato soup with a touch of German style mustard. Just enough to make it interesting. The also feature Quinta Cruz and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards wines, which we love. It's a great twofer. The tasting room is just around the corner.
(4)
david m.

We had lunch there and the whole experience was great. The receptionist was very accommodating and let us pick a table near our bikes. The waiter was fun and knowledgeable . He gave us a sample of the wines and suggested a beer. Yum! The burger was so tasty that I commented on it. Delicious fries and I'm not a big fries eater. Very reasonably priced. And a great ambiance !
(5)
Tim K.

Consistently good gastropub grub on the far westside of Santa Cruz. Offering very nice variety of housemade brews and other local specialties. Duck fat popcorn, local fried calamari with jalapeÃ±os, housemade corn dogs, battered French fries, and fish of the day are consistent winners for our usual large group of kids and parents enjoying an affordable night out. *the only reason for four stars is the forgetful waiters...
(4)
Derrick Y.

TL;DR: A classic American gastropub, where the food may not be good for you, but it is good. I've been trying to catch up with these reviews - I've already been here several times in the past few months, and I haven't even written a single sentence about the place. This place doesn't quite have the gastropub ambience to it - more of a modernist industrial-chic look. They have some cool seating nooks that have chalkboards you can doodle on and can accommodate between 8-10 people. If you want a snack before your meal, order the duck fat popcorn. If you're at a large table, you better order at least two bowls, because the stuff is good, and it disappears fast. The popcorn itself is not greasy, and has wonderful hits of lemon and herbs. The duck fat imparts a noticeable umami flavor to the popcorn. The duck meatballs are a playful twist on the classic duck l'orange. The meatballs are tender and juicy, and the l'orange sauce complements them with plenty of citrus flavor and a hint of sweetness. On one occasion I had the tomatillo braised pork flatbread. The bread itself serves as a good base for the ingredients. It has similar texture to pizza crust, and the bottom has some char to it. The top is loaded with the classic combination of tender pork, cilantro, lime, and green chile. The portion is ample enough to fill you up and leave 1 or 2 slices to share with friends. The braised short rib is an excellent choice if you appreciate well-executed braised beef and a fan of stout. The beef pulls apart easily on contact with a fork, and melts in your mouth. The jus is salty, but not overwhelmingly so, and the combination of the stout and (non-crimini) roasted mushrooms only serve to complement and accentuate the flavor already imparted into the beef. The jus does double duty by providing the extra seasoning for the generous serving of polenta (made with mascapone, of all things) tucked under the short rib. It is ridiculously creamy and delicious. If you delight in more simple pleasures, the chicken sandwich is for you. I've seen many a friend rave about this sandwich, and I'll rave about it myself here. Take one well-seasoned, breaded and fried piece of chicken breast, add some melted sharp cheddar, and a helping of slaw, and sandwich it between a perfectly toasted bun. If that's not enough for you, you can ask them to add some bacon. After all of that goodness, it is disappointing that the desserts aren't equally fantastic. The panna cotta is creamy and fruity, but perhaps a little too sweet. A similar complaint can be made about the s'mores dessert. In the attempt to elevate the s'more to a tabletop dessert, it feels like there has been too much fussing around, and the homemade marshmallow was so sweet to be reminiscent of store-bought ones, which was off-putting to me. The service here is attentive and quick. I've been here with large groups on several occasions, and every single time there have been no service issues at all. I'll have to write another review once I go back and properly sample and taste their brews, but for now the food has me coming back for sure.
(4)
Vince B.

Fun place, good beer and food. Went there last night and had a nice dinner and brew. Nice helpful staff and some live music playing. I Had a steak dish. The steak was rather small, but very tasty. Kinda pricy for such a small dish. It had lots of green peppers on it. Again it was very good, but a small piece of meat for the price. I would go again!
(4)
John M.

Best calamari that I have ever had in my entire life. Period. And the duck fat popcorn is not what you'd think. It's how I now believe popcorn should be made. I would personally just sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on top. And the beer sampler is worth it
(5)
Anne F.

My boyfriend and I ate here last night and were really impressed. He had the salmon entree, I had the heirloom tomato salad. Both dishes were delicious and fresh. We weren't in the mood for booze but the beer and wine lists were tempting. It's a great place for adults but there were lots of kids as well. It really reminded me of restaurants in Austin.
(5)
Rodrigo V.

What a great place to go for either hanging with a group of friends or a fun night with your significant other. Great beer, great food and great atmosphere. Overall a great place to go. Two thumbs up!
(5)
Hannah B.

Great beer and wine selection. Consistently quality food, good service, and a fun atmosphere. I've always left satisfied! A great go-to restaurant for a date night, a beer, or a delicious meal. Crowded on weekends but they try their best to seat you quickly.
(4)
Cynthia B.

The ambiance is good, it is reminiscent of the previous restaurant/tasting room. Our service, the apps and drinks were also very good. We had the stuffed peppers, brussel sprouts and calamari to start. Along with some beers for the boys and sparkling rose for the ladies. We were all very pleased at this point. (Despite several beers being out. But, it's a new place so understandable.) Between the table we had a couple salads, a sandwich, and a "open faced sandwich." The quotes were intentional because it was called an open face caprese sandwich... but I call it a pizza! The salads and sandwich all included chicken. They were fresh and seasoned well but the chicken left something to be desired.... we were all hoping for it to have been grilled. All in all it was a-ok. But, with a little fine tuning this can move up a star or two in no time flat.
(3)
Glenn M.

Went for the second time to give them a another chance. The food was terrible- happy hour meat and cheese plate was a joke! Two Oscar Meyer ham slices with a small piece of brie and berries. We asked about the dish first and were shown a list with three high end meats and three cheeses- bait and switch? Tried the calamari and it was so rubbery and overcooked- could not each more than a couple of bites. Server never asked about the uneaten remainder. FYI- House brews are from the Tied House in Mountain View. Tied House has better everything. Saw a couple chased from a high top table in an almost empty restaurant and told it was for 4 people?? Not going back.
(1)
Sherri C.

There's beer and wine, for sure, but I love the flatbreads and salads! You can see the skirt steak and the short rib dishes being served quite often throughout the restaurant; they are popular for good reason. The specials always include the freshest, latest ingredients of the season. We had a yummy appetizer of pumpkin gnocchi with bits of short rib in mushroom-parmesan sauce last time. Hubby said this should also be offered in a larger portion as an entree. All in all, a great open space for "upscasual" (upscale yet casual) dining.
(4)
Denis B.

Love this place. Friendliest bar staff I can remember. Solid beer selection and great happy hour deals on food. Good place to take people visiting from out of town
(4)
Rick C.

Not a bit disappointed. In fact, I can't wait take my daughter back to college so that I can go have the market salad and a yummy flat bread again. The large Market Salad was huge and was enough for 4 to share. And the Duck Meatballs were divine!
(5)
Colleen L.

The flatbreads were excellent. It's in a great area near other wineries and breweries. I'm glad we ate here rather than near the boardwalk.
(5)
crystal r.

Great new spot in Santa Cruz. My girlfriends and I went in for a little Sunday Funday before stopping in to all the great tasting rooms around the area. The food and ambiance were absolutely amazing but the beer selection was not up to par. If they brought in a few more craft and local brands and not just stuck mainly to two it would be a worthy 5 stars.
(4)
Kenyon K.

We like the decor, our bartender was great and informative, and the food was good. The beer was not bad but not the most interesting I have had. Overall it was a good place unti we went to pay the bill. We had a coupon for $8 dollars off. We spent over $50 there so this seems like a resonable deal. The bar tender told us it could only be used on m-f and it was sunday. We showed him the txt of the coupon where it said nothing of the kind. He as nice about it but then the manager came out and though she gave us the deal she also gave nothing but attitude making the experience distasteful. The point of coupons is to bring in customers not drive them away with a bad attitude. I will not go back so I hope your argument over the $8 was worth it. A shame as otherwise things were nice.
(1)
Michael S.

Cool warehouse space with an energetic ambiance. House beers were delicious. Food was OK not great. House flat bread is soggy and the spring vegetables on top lacked flavor. Could have really used some fresh herbs and salt. Seasonal fish was sitting atop brocollini swimming in a flavorless broth. Kitchen timing need some work too: our mains came out about 10 mins after our salad.
(3)
Jon M.

Don't bother. Go next door. The food was super bland and they made us sit in a specific area of the bar if we wanted to partake in happy hour prices. It had the vibe of a chain.
(2)
Brooke K.

This is the sort of establishment that I don't normally go to since bar/pub type restaurants usually have absolutely nothing on the menu I can eat. I am gluten-free and dairy-free. I ordered a very nice tasting gluten-free Belgian beer, and the burger. I requested that the burger be served on a lettuce "bun" instead of Gayle's challah bun that the burgers usually come served on. My friend ordered the burger on the regular bun and it looked lovely and he said it was delicious. I had the waiter check with the cook about the quality of the meat...he said it was grass raised and GMO-free grain finished, which fit my standards just fine. It was perfectly cooked and had that bit of smokey grill flavor that places like Burger. are lacking. I thought it was a very good sized, delicious and satisfying burger. The fries were incredible...though I"m not sure they were gluten-free and I didn't ask...they definitely had some sort of crispy coating that made them extra yummy...crispy on the outside and smooth and potato-y on the inside. I would go back and order the same exact thing. Oh, and we ordered some popcorn cooked in duck fat with paprika which was also delicious. No complaints and a very helpful, friendly waitstaff as well.
(4)
Kelly E.

Tasty local yummies and a great happy hour as I've just learned...4-6pm and wine on tap. Not crappy wine, great wine! I got their pork sandwich and lemme just say I love greasy fallbacks and so this health central meal was already looking grim...until I bit into it of course. That's why I'm here. Anyway, really great. I don't even like honey mustard but they just put a taste on there and mmmmm so good. I'm even eating greens!
(5)
Lisette C.

Finally, somewhere relaxing to go for lunch on the westside besides the daily New Leaf quickie and then back to the office! Great food, beer, and really personable staff. That's where all those stars come from. My experience: I was immediately sat at the bar (there were open tables otherwise, but I usually choose to eat there when dining alone) and given some yummy recommendations to select from. The bartender was the perfect mix of friendly and ok leave me alone now so I can eat. I enjoyed a medium-rare burger and fries, and both were impressive. The fries were crispy and different than your run-of-the-mill offering, which I liked. I had arrived after a long meeting and was happy to hear that ordering a half-pint beer was an option - the perfect midweek lunchtime amount! Most importantly, I was in and out in under 40 minutes and left feeling relaxed, not rushed. I will certainly be back for more yummy sitdown eats, the relaxing atmosphere and effiicient waitstaff. Additionally, when I have work guests to entertain this will be a top pick! Thank you West End!
(5)
Lauren K.

The place itself is great, they did a wonderful job transforming this from the old Bonny Doon tasting room. Unfortunately, I think they are just having some significant growing pains. The beer is meh. Nothing really exceptional, cold but not much flavor. The food is alright. You can't really go wrong with a cheese plate, the flatbread was tasty, calamari was so-so and the pastrami bites were weird cubes of beef on top of aggressively crunchy bread slices. Their waitresses lack a bit of enthusiasm and could learn to serve the ladies the same as they do attractive guys. The bartenders on the other hand are absolutely great.
(2)
Chris H.

Tried this place for the first time on the 2nd day they were open. It was great! Especially being a person that has worked at a brand new restaurant before in my life, I was impressed that these people were ready to go at opening. Beer was excellent and I liked the building (i wasn't there to eat, but will definitely go back). It is a huge improvement of the old Bonny Doon restaurant that used to be here (which had the worst service in Santa Cruz). I think it's great there is finally a real restaurant in this part of town - Kelly's is great, but we all know it's not really a full menu. I'm excited to go back for dinner - everyone was nice and helpful. Kudos to the new spot!
(5)
Paula L.

Went by for a beer after having had dinner elsewhere. Wish we had spent the evening here instead. Great service. Had a the 6-beer sampler and enjoyed them all, 4 were especially good. Cannot wait to have a meal based on what friends have said and Yelp reviews. Kid friendly.
(4)
Tamra A.

A well needed foodie addition to Santa Cruz! Service is pretty good, food is excellent, atmosphere is awesome. We shared just about every appetizer they have and they were all great. The dinner was very good too. I tried the stakesteak, the burger, potpie, all were very good. It does get pretty crowded and crazy on the weekends. I went there before I had a baby. I did notice that it is very family-friendly and I will be bringing my baby.
(4)
Jason M.

As promised, My review of westendtap.com It has been a while since Natalie and I have been out on a date, and we had run into Shane Winovich at practice a few weeks back talking about West End. So of course we had to check it out. The Location is somewhat surprising, but ends up being fantastic, in the renovated warehouse district of West side Santa Cruz, right off of Hwy 1, just at the North end of Santa Cruz. We arrived at 8pm, probably mid high point of dinner rush. Initial Service: 3.5 The Hostess seemed somewhat distracted and busy, and the front desk location will need to be adjusted. A little tuning is all that needed and after speaking to the E.C. I think it will be adjusted. Layout: 9.5 Wonderful use of space with a Tap-room area, dining area and an open kitchen. These folks have nothing to hide and watching this clean, efficient, well organized and well coordinated staff work was enjoyable!** Seating time: 8.5 less than five minutes after arriving, and the place was moving at full tilt. Secondary service: 8.5** We were given a few minutes to look around before the waitress came to bring water and menus. Atmosphere: 9.0 Most folks would classify this as a bar and grill, but it goes beyond that, really. It is a Tap and Kitchen, and it has several points of decor that emphasize that point, nothing over done like some restaurants tend to do. Continued service: 10 We had around three wait staff, at various points, making sure we had what we needed/wanted and our table waitress was welcoming, helpful, gave suggestions and a recommendation that I took up. Appetizers: 6.5 & 8.5 House Roasted Almonds go with the tap, but the fire roasted chilies, lightly salted were Delish!!! Presentation and taste: 7.0 & 8.0 respectively. Simple works for presentation here as far as the appetizers, but the flavor made the chilies worth finishing off completely. Brew: 8.9 West End T&K has a large selection of beer on tap, seasonals and regulars, all local brew.One thing we didn't know was that they offer it in Half Pints for folks who don't consume mass quantities. Main: Taste: 9.5. Presentation 9.5 This place is amazing. When we were walking in, a beautiful chunk of flesh passed us by and my eyes watched it with envy.. so of course I had to order the spare-rib, while Natalie had the West End Burger with fries. Please look at their menu!! Finish: Presentation:10 Flavor:10 The desserts we had were OMG!! Dark Chocolate and Olive Oil Terrine, and Strawberry Shortcake with a carafe of French Press Coffee from Verv of Santa Cruz. If you know about Verve, you know it is going to be good! (Refer to the menu to induce salivation.) Pricing: 9.5 For all we had to eat and drink last night, we could have spent significantly more and been very disappointed, been less charmed, less comfortable, and had less fun. We spent a little over $60 before a good tip, and both felt it was very well worth it. Our one regret was not having enough room in our stomachs to try the Flat Bread selections from a dedicated section of the kitchen, each item on the menu looked so delicious. West End Tap & Kitchen would be a great place.. For a first date, For a date night for couples, For a gathering spot to have a beer and snacks with a few friends. This place works very very well. The noise level never prevented conversation, the staff were present without being invasive, and in general, it was time and money well spent. ** Special thanks to Ruby (our wait staff) and Justin W.(assistant wait staff) For making the experience one which bears repetition in the future. ** Special thanks to the E.C. Geoff, who we got to watch command the kitchen with seasoned experience and an air of calm control. and Shane who planted the seed for this adventure.
(5)
Paul B.

our party of 6 enjoyed the duck fat popcorn and the police snacks. both were very good. All the entrees were superb. I can vouch for the Portobello flatbread. Crust was crisp, vegetables flavorful, portion large. Service was slow, however. I think we slipped through the cracks the.first 15 minutes but after we alerted a waiter things picked up. The place has a loud, lively feel even when sparsely populated (we arrived at 5:30) so if your party has folks who struggle to make out words in a loud place, you are now forewarned. Finally,.a.great selection of beers.
(4)
Ginger R.

20 minutes waiting to get my credit card and still waiting...I keep asking for it and I keep getting brushed off...never coming back to this joint. This is crap.
(1)
Meghan O.

We tried this place because Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery didn't have wine and I wanted a beverage. Very cool, open, modern atmosphere and good happy hour. The food we ordered was outstanding--the piquillo peppers stuffed with goat cheese were divine, as were the balsamic Brussels sprouts. The fried calamari with jalapeÃ±os was amazing--we especially loved the vinaigrette dipping sauce. Our server/bartender wasn't the most friendly (and he didn't seem amused by my jokes) but maybe I'm just not very funny. ;)
(4)
Amy S.

Terrible hostess service yet incredible food. We hear they are expanding their kitchen. Awesome- they have talent! Hopefully the girls are ready for that!
(3)
John U.

We had such a great time at tap. Very good food, beers and wine on tap. We hung out at the bar and tried some delicious plates and local beers. We just went for the 2 super cute bartenders' recommendations. The "last call" attitude was way better than in other places where they just want to kick you out. Great bar ambience and service! If you're in Santa Cruz you should totally stop by.
(5)
T S.

Love this place! Food is stellar, the wine and beers are great. Never had a bad meal or bad experience. The wait is short but even if it were longer, it's worth it. The menu changes often enough and has a creative twist on familiar foods. The Monterey Bay calamari is super fresh and I usually start the meal with this appetizer. The selection of name sake crafted beers are great, so far, they don't slap me around with hops. I've tried the amber, gold and mai bock. Also tried the lunch, have been trying to go vegetarian but I was pulled to the dark side by the fried chicken sandwich. It was tender, juicy and not greasy at all. Did I mentioned the sandwich was topped with coleslaw. If you are not from this South, this may seem disgusting, however, it provides a nice contrast to the chicken and it's just the way we do things. The side dish was salad. At first, this struck me as insulting because beer needs fries, however, I got over it and decided that perhaps I need people in my life to force me to eat more salad. One word of caution, they put creamy sauces on the pizza, which in Italy would be considered a mortal sin. Look out for the mustard sauce, it over powers the pizza. Also, besamel is for lasagna or pasta bolognese, if you like to dip your pizza in dressing, then this pizza is for you. If not, you may find the sauce makes the pizza wet for no reason.
(5)
Cinthia G.

A family member of ours that attends UC Santa Cruz had us meet him here for a late lunch. The atmosphere is really chill, the beer was great, and the service was on point. I tried the Farmer's Market Salad with the smoked salmon (for an extra charge), and it was so delicious. The fried calamari was also delicious. I can't remember what beer we tried, but I sure wish I did because I really liked it. It was light in flavor and very floral. It was a great spot to catch up with our cousin and a great place for a large group.
(4)
Zach L.

First time visit, we were impressed with the service. Our server Chance was really nice and helpful, and Jake was very attentive to making sure we were doing well the whole time with water and everything. (We got their names to give them a well-deserved name drop). Heard good things about the burger, and it didn't disappoint! Juicy, and cooked a proper medium rare. I'm sure I'll be back!
(5)
Gwen T.

AWESOME! Food is fabulous...fresh, creative and delicious! Beers are good. Ambience is fun. Gone back multiple times...and sometimes I'm bummed when menu changes because I loved certain dishes, but then I love the new additions so much that I love that it changes! One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz...for a date night or even for lunch with the kids!
(5)
Betsy V.

This is my new favorite place for dinner and drinks! Everything was great. I had a house sampler to start and ordered an amber ale to follow up. Yummy. Plus, the food was amazing! Seasonal fish (wild caught) for me, my husband had the skirt steak, and chicken strips for our kids. The service was also really great. We were seated quickly and our server was friendly but not overbearing. I will most definitely be back. Love love love.
(5)
Penni T.

I had lunch here today with a friend and I must say I loved the Ambiance. The calamari was delicious. My salad was more than enough and my friend loved the burger. I gave 4 stars because our server wasn't the best. I will definitely return.
(4)
Ryan H.

My wife and I ate here on a Saturday and it was pretty packed. Altough there were a lot of people, we were sitting quickly. The food was really good. I got the burger and it was delicious! They also have a good selection of Hermitage beers. I tried all their IPA's on tap and was impressed. Overall fun place with good food and service.
(4)
Carolyn G.

Great food, good beer, and excellent service. We've been to West End Tap and Kitchen several times since we moved to Santa Cruz 6 weeks ago; it has quickly become one of our favorite places. Every dish I've had here has lived up to my expectations and the beer is always good. I wish Santa Cruz had more places like this...
(5)
Susanne M.

This was our first time to the West End Tap. The food was amazing! The staff was very friendly and and top of everything. We had locally caught salmon and scallops as well as the sashimi special. We will be back!
(5)
Justine M.

The food was amazing and decently priced. I wasn't too impressed with the beer selection, but there are definitely some quality crafts. I enjoyed the house West End Pale Ale, Simcoe Single Hop, and the Ale of the Imp Double IPA. For lunch I had the mushroom flat bread, which was delicious. I will have to come back to try their squash blossoms and dinner entrees.
(5)
Jennifer R.

First food review since 2009! I'm a bit rusty but here it goes.... I was excited to hear that a restaurant filled the void left by bonny doon. Food is important after a day of wine tasting! Although I did not try this restaurant after a day of wine tasting, I did try it on a Friday night. I give the food 4 stars but the restaurant itself has some details to work out (hence the three star review). Three of us shared the farmer's market salad and the large was plenty for three of us. It was delicious, but unfortunately it came after our main courses had already arrived. I ordered the short ribs, which came with polenta and rapini. All were delicious, but the short ribs were a tad bit dry. The tables are huge - the person sitting across from you seems so far away. If it were a quiet restaurant that might not be a problem (or if you don't care to have a conversation at dinner), but the restaurant is pretty noisy. I like the decor - it's pretty much the same as bonny doon. However, they need to work out some kinks with having both a bar/party area and dining area. The restaurant is overall too noisy but perhaps that's not a minus for everyone. The menu looks good enough that the noise won't deter me from eating here a second time.
(3)
Noah W.

Hey, this place is pretty great! Many people may not agree, but I think SC needs a few more trendy-ish places. This place looks great inside. It's open and spacious, and as importantly, the food and drink are great. I had a plate of pastrami bites, which were basically pastrami bruschetta. I also ordered their farmer's market salad which was very delcious. so much so, in fact, that over the course of a week or so i was able to duplicate that awesomeness at home. anyway, nice new place in santa cruz.
(4)
NC Y.

Huge portions! I just ordered the calamari appetizer and its a huge bowl of calamari and jalapenos mixed with garlic. So good! My husband got the bacon and egg flatbread and that is huge as well. I got the flight of beers and liked all of them. Overall it was a great experience. Service was a bit slow but the food was great so we will be back.
(4)
Valerie H.

Excellent dinner! We sat in one of the booths on the bar side of the restaurant. Great ambiance. A little loud, but clearly a popular place. Broad beer selection. Great service. Delicious food--calamari was great with a spicy jalapeÃ±o dip. Family friendly place and with decent prices. We'll definitely go back!
(4)
Jo P.

Love this place. Friendly staff, good beer, good food.
(5)
Chloe A.

I have been curious to try this place for awhile, and I finally went with a friend tonight. It was absolutely delicious! It's my new favorite place in Santa Cruz and is conveniently located for anyone who lives on the west side! I had the roasted shishito peppers, heirloom tomato salad with burrata, and a burger with bacon, avocado, and cheese. Everything was amazing I will most definitely be going back.
(5)
Dick A.

I very much enjoy this place. Start with a Charcuterie Board and a Pint of one of their great Draft Beer selections. The Cesar Salad with the Parmesan Crip and those yummy fried capers is a winner. Other items we have liked are the Balsimc Brusssel Sprouts, Calamari and those KILLER Pastrami Bites (They have a bright red cabbage sauce...Crazy and the is meat sourced from El Salchichero). Getting to the entrees I like the "White Fish" choice. Each time I have had it is has been spot on. At $18 it is a great deal. The Short Ribs are my second favroite choice. The Mrs. loves the Mary's Chicken and the Veggie Sandwich. Getting back to the beer...they know what they are doing. They come from the "Tied House" clan and have great beers!
(5)
Benjamin D.

Ok, they nailed the decor, but the food...not so much. Calamari was really good, but I've got to say their flatbread was pretty gross, and not even worth giving the leftovers to a homeless person. This is the second time I've eaten here, and the ambiance and beer way outdo the food and service. Bartender was hipster to the max, and either is deaf or the music was too loud. I'll give him the benefit of it being loud, but the service was less than stellar.
(2)
L G.

If I were the owner, I would've opened up the west side into patio. Brewpub without outside seating doesn't make a lot of sense to me. The front area looks like a sport bar instead. So I'm not sure what this place is trying to be. I tried this place once for dinner with a group of friends. The beer was just mediocre. The calamari was overcooked and dry. It looked and tasted like the calamari from TGI Friday's. The dipping sauces came with it were also family restaurant quality. Then the salmon arrived. It was again overcooked and dry. The presentation of the meal was also meh. The service was average. The place wan't busy that night, but she wasn't very attentive. She only cleaned our table half way after we've done with our meals and beer.
(2)
Rob B.

Great interior. Looks like a fun place to watch a game. Good service. Sausage pizza was hands-down the worst pizza I have ever eaten. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing?
(2)
Marie H.

one thing, duck fat popcorn, wow! so good! had a burger too and it was great! they sat us right away, party of 10! it was kinda of more open and less atmosphere than I like but, good food!
(5)
john s.

Sixth visit too the West End since they opened. Four of us had a wonderful experience. Sunday evening and a six o'clock seating and the resturant was full but our table was ready without a wait. Service was absolutely five star. Food, wine, IPA, and French press coffee and house made strawberry sorbet. The only complaint I would offer is we all eat too much. Oh well.
(5)
Fernan M.

Nice space, good beer, great for kids but the food is avarage. Fun place to hang out and get beers but both times I've gone, we all thought the food was just ok.
(3)
Jonathan L.

Excellent beer, good food, nice wine list. A little noisy. The service could be a bit more attentive; we came early and it wasn't all that busy. Even so...
(4)
Jeff H.

I have been here twice in the last two weeks. I was really impressed both times. The first time I had the House Burger and the West End Gold. Both the burger and beer were good, the service was good and I said I would definitely go back. The second time I had the Angus Skirt Steak and the beer sampler. This was more than good, it was great, great enough for me to write a review on. We had a group of 16 (with two infants) and they went out of their way to accommodate us even though we didn't have a reservation. West End Tap and Kitchen is now on the short list of places I'd recommend when people are visiting my home town.
(5)
Harry Z.

This was easily some of the best food I have ever had - starting with the Salchichero Pastrami bites appetizers, and ending with the Heirloom Roasted Chicken w/ Cauliflower purÃ©e - it was amazing. Furthermore the super friendly and helpful staff pointed us to a special of Pork Belly w/ Seared Tuna - 'foodgasm' would be the best description. Definitely recommend, and you will not be disappointed.
(5)
B G.

Solid beer selection, but recommend they also focus on rare, more sought-after beers (e.g., Pliny). We had Hamburger & Fries, and the Chicken sandwich which came with a small salad. Both were delivered hot and fresh, and overall they were both very good. Our server was great; she knew her stuff (beer and food), gave us the right amount of attention, and was patient with all our questions. Almost 4 stars, so giving them something to shoot for.
(3)
Judi G.

My husband and I came here on a Thursday night and were greeted by a very friendly hostess, who asked if we preferred to be seated in the front or back. Though there was a cozy fireplace in the front, I prefer to avoid the TVs showing sports that seem to be installed in every restaurant. The back area was a large open space with a view of the kitchen activity. The fake-wood look of our table was a little cheesy but that's secondary to the food. The menu was varied, and based on another Yelp review I ordered the mushroom flat bread. The waitress was informed about the dishes and there was no problem substituting spinach for arugula. The crust was excellent and all flavors merged nicely. My husband enjoyed his burger and the crispy fries in particular. I would return here.
(4)
kc K.

I have been to west end tap and kitchen 4 times since finding out about them and have had excellent service each time. From the front of the house, the hostess charmed us with her smile and found us the perfect spot without too much sun. The waitress was sweet and efficient and suggested a great brew with my appetizers and another for my dinner. The manager Amy even came over to make sure we were well accommodated, which we were. She chatted with us for a few and made us feel at home. We have and will be back to the west end tap and kitchen because of the five star service, the great food and excellent brews.
(5)
Casey N.

The food was yummy, prices were reasonable, and the ambience was good, but what made this 5 stars was the service. We were on the west side of Santa Cruz visiting Habitat for Humanity Restore (a must go if you are looking to repurpose building supplies, fixtures, furniture) and decided we needed lunch. Using Yelp to find restaurants nearby, we were drawn to West End Tap & Kitchen, and amused to see that it now occupies the former home of Le Cigare Volant and Bonny Doon Tasting Room (we enjoyed that place too.) Greeted by friendly and attentive ladies at the front desk, we were given our choice of a few tables since we were there between traditional lunch and dinner times. We started with the West End Wheat ale and a glass of Tempranillo on tap. Our server, Malena, blew us away. She was pleasant, funny, attentive, personable, efficient, educational, and helpful. She gave us the scoop on the restaurant, helped us choose our meals, and mastered the art of engaging at the right time for the perfect amount of time. She had several tables, but was unflustered and really emanated a joy to be working and seemed to take great pleasure in serving. So good, so refreshing, and she made our time very enjoyable. We split an order of the calamari - fresh rings and tentacles with thin slices of jalapenos in a light panko breading flash fried (no oily residue; light and crunchy) with a spicy sweet jalapeno dipping sauce and an aoili sauce. We also had roasted piquillo peppers stuffed with herbed goat cheese on greens. I ordered a small salad with greens, pomegranate seeds, roasted hazelnuts, and feta cheese in a light vinegrette. My companion had a burger with fries. Everything was very good. We'd order it all again! We also ordered their sampling of 12 beers (we didn't have a pressing engagement afterward) and shared them, rating each one. I love all types of beer and my companion likes some beers, so we are far from beer or ale aficionados, but we enjoyed all the flavors from blond ale to seasonal single hops and brews, IPA, amber, dark, stout, and a honey/wheat/barley beers. That the 3 oz glasses were served in two muffin tins made it that much more fun. We're looking forward to returning with friends and family.
(5)
Jason M.

Delicious burgers! Really. A medley of meat, something like: ground chuck, pot roast and some bacon. Done to perfection. Delicious fries. French press coffee too. I'll be back.
(4)
Charles K.

Menu wasn't really geared to food allergies, but our server (Ryan) knew the menu and made some modifications on the fly that delighted our 6 year old and this his parents! Food was outstanding (I had the ham and cheese sandeich)
(5)
Fe L.

Came here for lunch with my boyfriend's parents and that place looks really modern. It made me wonder what it's like to come for dinner to see the night life. I had a chicken sandwich with a salad and it was delicious. 3 of us shared a pitcher of beer but the restaurant has lots of beers to choose from. Food was great and filling. If you don't eat a lot, you might be able to split a sandwich or burger since the portion seems big (at least for me it is).
(4)
PJ W.

Love this place. So good! Nice to see a really solid restaurant in Santa Cruz! They do a great job without trying to hard.
(5)
Katie J.

3.75 stars if i could. Awesome atmosphere, communal tables and booths for larger groups. Great wait staff with smiles! Out waitress was lovely. We ordered the flank steak and the chicken apple blue cheese flat bread as well as the mushroom flatbread. 1. Flank steak- the steak was cooked nicely- rare/ medium rare. the portion size was very small, FYI. The Gorgonzola Mac and cheese that was served with the steak was mild flavored and very creamy and delicious. Don't be afraid the Gorgonzola is not strong. 2. The apple, chicken, blue cheese flatbread- all the ingredients was chopped so small that you will not notice the apple. My boyfriend ended up eati g the pizza and hates sweet fruit on any savory meal. We didnt taste the apple. It was a nice plate, be warned, THE CHILI FLAKES ARE ALL OVER the dish and it's HOT! avoid this if you don't like hot food! 3. The mushroom flatbread was ordered because the other chicken apple flatbread was too hot to consume. This was delicious!! Perfect amount of garlic and mushrooms!! My favorite dish on the table by far.
(4)
Priscilla V.

Tucked amongst dimly-lit residential and commercial buildings, west end tap & kitchen is a blossoming Santa Cruz gem. We were in town for a company family event and decided to stay the night, so of course, we had to have a dinner date! The dÃ©cor is a sophisticated, modern wine cellar that has been enhanced to please the eye and appetite. We sat at the bar to dine, but did not partake of any alcohol as we were saving our livers for the Scoprion Bowl at Hula's Island Grill. We had a couple of appetizers (fried squash blossoms and calamari) and an entree (braised short rib) to share. The calamari, although lacking in seasoning in the breading, was compensated by a deliciously acidic tartar sauce. The squash blossoms were great - the batter was delightfully salty, the ricotta filling was not overpowering and the pesto sauce added just another level of flavor to the dish. This appetizer came with 3 squash blossoms, of which 2 were perfect and 1 was utterly bitter. I was not upset because I understand how certain vegetables can ascertain bitterness that may not be avoidable. We told our bartender, who wanted to take it off the bill or bring out another appetizer for us, but we refused. It was great of him to offer, but we were very satisfied by the dish and ate 2 of the 3 blossoms, so there was no need to compensate. The short rib was fall-apart tender with a couple of complementing sides (broccolini and polenta) with an au jus to top it all off. Nothing to complain about there. It was overall a great new experience to start off our night on the town in Santa Cruz. Oh, and the bartender took the squash blossoms off the bill anyway! We really appreciate his notion. Keep it up, west end! This is the right direction for this beach town to be heading.
(4)
Bryce B.

Great service, great food. Had the house burger it was cooked to perfection and delicious! Are server Tay was outstanding very personable and educated about the menu. I Defentialy will be coming back!
(5)
justin h.

Finally decided to come in and see what this place was all about. I live here in town and had my reservations about some random tap room that decided to open up shop 20 feet from a real brewery..which all came true.. talking with the bartender.. the owner is the daughter of the family who owns the tide house in San Jose... not as "local and small business as advertised" fine.. but I thought for a second she would at least do her own thing with her "local restaurant".. sadly mistaken.. other than the renovations to the old bonny doon tasting room... it was the stereotypical corporate brew pub. I opted for the two things we do right in this town..pizza and craft beer..the house beers are mediocre at best.. I thought they could contract brew a better beer than a Gordan biersh but no.the best beer offerings are their guest taps..Drakes and Santa cruz ale works. On to the pizza.. ordered the most simple pie that if you mess up.. god help you.. a mageritta.. cheese..sauce..basil....the sauce tasted like it was from a can of chef boyardee and the cheese..waxy..not fresh at all.. just wrong period... If I want a real pizza..I'll go down the block to Bantam.. if I want a real beer ill go to any other real brewery in town or the parish down the street..this place is catered to hip older locals and tourists who love the stereotypical fake brewpub with shitty house beer and big screen tv's.
(1)
David B.

Great beer and food. Kid friendly as well. Skirt steak with Mac and cheese and spinach was excellent!
(5)
natasha m.

I really like this place. The food is consistent the service is good ,the place is big and cool. I love the flat bread, the calamari and the cab on tap (red wine). Very nice to have such s cool place on the neighborhood.
(5)
Val D.

Just ate at West End Kitchen for the first time. I was kind of apprehensive when I showed up because it was new and still improve.. All my doubts were assuaged though when we got our burger and salad. My fingers hurt while typing this cuz I bit my fingers like three times trying to get this delicious burger in my mouth. I consider myself an expert when it comes to burgers (my double chin proves it), and this is now the best burger I've eaten in Santa Cruz. Do yourself a favor and eat here. You'll want to shake my hand and kiss your waiter when you do.
(5)
Sultana B.

Super good food and service. Everything was fresh, well conceived, and nicely executed with beautiful presentation.
(5)
The H.

Charming building, but the high ceilings make for a horribly noisy atmosphere. I don't understand this trend for noisy restaurants where all you can hear are clanking plates, but it needs to go away ASAP. Not good for having conversations. Friendly, but slow service. Mediocre food. It's a new restaurant though that's gained popularity fast (perhaps out of lack of good dinner options in Santa Cruz). I do think it has potential.
(2)
Joe S.

I've been here a few times and really want to like it since it's new, it's in a great location, and the space is really nice inside. But the beer is mediocre at best (and brewed offsite by a separate vendor - don't confuse this with a micro-brew!) the waitstaff is awful and none of the prices of the beer are posted anywhere, which leads one to think they assign prices on the fly. West End could be so greatly improved with a change of most of the existing staff. A fellow female friend and I went one day after work for a drink and appetizers. There were about 15 guests in West End, 5 wait staff and the hostess. My friend and I decided what we wanted and tried to get the attention of a waitress and then tried flagging one down for over 15 minutes. Every waitress avoided eye contact, one was in the corner making out with a man at a bar table, who I would assume was her boyfriend. Tired of waiting, my friend and I went to the bar directly, ordered and sat back down. A bit later, two very handsome men sat down across from us and asked us about what beers we got and how we liked them and what food we recommended. Not two minutes after they sat down a waitress was at their side, talking over our conversation with these men, and trying to take their orders. My friend and I laughed and realized the female wait staff was ignoring us because they were clearly there to hit on and wait on the men. So, on the whole, between odd pricing, crap service and so-so beer, this isn't a place I'll be going again unless I hear there's a change in one of those three areas. **Side note** The bartender, Matt, is fantastic. This incident happened on my second visit to West End, my first being 3 weeks prior. When I walked up to the bar, the bartender remembered my name, asked how I'd been, and remembered what beer I liked. He was friendly and professional and was busting his butt behind the bar - he was the silver lining!
(2)
Walter J.

This place has a great selection of beers and the food all looks and tastes greaT. My Salad with chicken was delicious and the hard boiled eggs were cooked perfect. Even Martha Stewart would approve. The noise level is kinda high but you could still carry on a conversation. Two thumbs up.
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Some of the absolute best food I've ever had, the New York strip paired with a recommended glass of red wine was amazing. Love the ambiance, sat in one of the booths with the chalk boards and it was fun to draw on and laugh with my friends!
(5)
Patty L.

Good beer selection Nice environment. Happening spot on the Westside for casual dining
(3)
Allan G.

Burgers are great,beer excellent, service excellent as well and the ambiance was Fun and lively. A really good mix of age groups which is an indication it is here to stay and not just the trendy spot of the month.
(5)
Hector O.

Great burger, Great beer, Great service! Thanks Ruby for the beer samples. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Brent V.

Ate her once, and I'll be back. The food was good and the service really friendly, albeit a little slow
(4)
Brian P.

Let me just say this: I've not been nor will I ever go. West End Tap will never get my money. Despite the annoyed words that are about to follow describing my brief experience with WETK, I am also a nice person and I don't expect much. My girlfriend tried calling to make a reservation for her birthday on a Friday night. I get it: 20 is a lot of people on any night, especially a Friday. But that many people also means a lot of money, a lot of tips, and a lot of word of mouth. What are the alternatives? We show up anyways and it's hard on them to fit us in, serve us, split our checks, etc....or we show up, get split up, have a long wait, and have a generally not amazing time. Or we just don't go. Yeah, we're doing the last one. The gentleman was not accommodating at all. Don't have room for 20? Well, how many of us can you accommodate? Maybe we could split up? What if we agree to have one giant bill and not be hard on the servers? We're calling because we've heard about this place and want to give you business; it just seems like you'd want to accommodate us. Or lose quite a few customers for the future. Service and quality are two things that Santa Cruz restaurants aren't big on, and this place just lowered the curve a little.
(1)
Amber M.

I had high hopes for this place after reading the reviews. We started with the famous Duck Fat Popcorn which tasted like regular popcorn with lemon salt, then moved onto the bowl of fried jalapeÃ±os with pieces of Calamari mingled among them so they could actually call this "Fired Calamari" on the menu (the calamari did taste good, though). After that my husband ordered the "Pork Shank on Brie Grits" that came drowning in the balsamic "au jus" that basically overpowered every other flavor on the plate. My son had a burger but complained of the saltiness. Their crowning failure was the plate of mashed potato turds in salty tomato sauce that they served under the guise of "Gnocchi with Romesco". It was so awful I couldn't eat it. I doubt the chef has ever actually seen gnocchi before. The ONLY thing that was good was the beer, the decor, and our waitress was sweet. The food was pretty awful and the amount of salt used was criminal. Bottom line, go here for beer, but eat somewhere else.
(2)
Zooraw G.

SO good! I was a little hesitant because they just opened and it usually takes a little bit for restaurants to work out all the kinks, but everything was excellent. Service, food and value. We had the farmers market salad (lettuce, arugula, fennel, pomegranate seeds, candied walnuts, herbed ricotta, shallot vinaigrette good salad) short ribs w/ smoked polenta and rapini and the burger--all excellent, and really reasonably priced. They have wine on tap and the ambiance is great. Can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu!
(5)
H H.

Had a great meal here with my 2 adult sons. Beautiful space, very cool and industrial but at the same time warm and welcoming. Loved the fireplace with couches in the waiting area. There are a few different spaces -which make the whole place seem intimate instead of one huge large room. The food was really good, and very reasonable. We LOVED the burrata and fig salad. The pan roasted fresh fish and the chicken was a hit also. We didn't have dessert since we ate so much. Very nice place, will definitely go back. Santa Cruz needs more places like this.
(5)
Thomas S.

Im so excited to have West End Tap & Kitchen on this side of town! There are so few places to eat a nice meal and grab a drink with friends on the West side of town. The beer and food are great and the ambiance is perfect. Such a fun place to introduce friends to, its definitely going to be my regular goto when on the westside!
(5)
Linda C.

We took a group of 12 to West End Tap for lunch after our son's graduation from UC Santa Cruz. The service and food were great. Everyone enjoyed their orders. There were 3 vegetarians in our group who were thrilled with the very generous servings of flat bread pizza, one with portobello mushrooms and broccolini and another with fresh crisp asparagus! The carnivores loved their burgers. Everyone was extremely satisfied. Our waiter was attentive and made sure everything was right. West End Tap is located in a charming little center with other restaurants, shops and bakeries. The prices are very reasonable. After a hectic but joyful morning at the graduation we were thankful that West End Tap let us relax and took care of us.
(5)
Eli E.

Tried this place out for the first time and I loved it. The salad was delicious, along with the flat bread and the burger. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Robby O.

Great beer selection with a focus on IPAs (but plenty of smooth, malty options too), delicious pizza/flatbreads, and top-notch salads (we had the mushroom flatbread, the baby kale and spinach salad, and the fall fruit & burrata salad). The service was quick and friendly. The server was happy to suggest beers and bring as many samples as we needed to decide. We'll be back.
(5)
E W.

Wanted to go to dinner with my boyfriend but we decided we wanted to try a new place. We always go to our usual spots and wanted something different for once. We googled places in Santa Cruz and came across West End and it was a definite "yes!". The wait wasn't long, the decor was fun and beer related as it should have been, and almost every person we encountered who worked there was extremely nice and attentive. We ordered the duck meatballs which were good but not an acquired taste for me, though my boyfriend liked them a lot. He ordered a bacon cheeseburger and a Hermitage Citra and I ordered the gnocchi and a Hermitage Ale of the Imp. Both meals were delicious and the perfect amount of food, and the beers were a great accompaniment. I also wanted to try one of their own beers so I got the West End Gold, and though it was lighter than the usual IPAs I like best, it was still full of flavor. Our waitress, I want to say she went by "B" or that her name started with a "B" was friendly, attentive, gave us some good suggestions, and made our dining experience pleasant overall. I would definitely recommend West End, and already have, to friends and family. I hope to be back soon!
(4)
Jason N.

A beautiful restaurant! I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance. The flat breads and short rib are amazing as is the strawberry shortcake. Perfect portion sizes and reasonable prices. Our waitress, Sam, was very fun and we're looking forward to going back.
(5)
Constance C.

I have eaten here a few times, so I think this could be a quality control problem...the food prep appears to be inconsistent. I was here for lunch on a Monday. The lemon basil and duck fat popcorn was literally swimming in olive oil...there was a big puddle of it at the bottom of the dish. The calamari had globs of raw garlic interspersed with the other ingredients - this is garlic that ruins the taste of the dish, permeates your membranes, and stays with you for days! The Caesar salad, while uniquely presented in a sort of tall pile, was small in size and was also saturated with dressing and too much garlic. I might try here again, as there are a limited number of fine dining venues on the west side, but would steer clear of any dishes that are prepared using garlic, and would look around to see what other diners orders look like before ordering - the burgers actually looked good, and generously proportioned.
(1)
John C.

I'm from out of town but this place popped up as a good place for some local beer. We had the full sampler and it did not disappoint! The Gold and the Amber were excellent (definitely get the Gold if you like lighter beers). The Stout was also solid. It might sound a bit boring, but I was in the mood for chicken and their main chicken dish was excellent. It paired well with several of the beers. The space is very open and gives a good gastropub vibe. We sat in the back, but the bar area looked really cool. Lots of large wooden tables and high ceilings. Warm and friendly lighting. Parking was easy for us, with a big parking lot and street parking right there, too. Definitely check this place out!
(4)
Chuck A.

Went there for the second time for lunch today. Excellent food (I've had the burger and the ham/cheese/bacon sandwich), attentive service, nice room/ambiance. Good selection of beers. Will definitely return!
(4)
Kay G.

I dont even know where to start!!! i have to say from the min i walked in i liked the place.. the way it looked in side and the Host where every nice... The Food Was so so yummy , Thin Crust pizza a HUGE PLUS... So yummy... Cheese board so good... i will be back for sure... only sad part i think was they were out of root beer :(. its ok though more of a reason to go back and have AMAZING food... oh yeah the our Server was super nice and made sure that we had everything we need. That Goes for the busier too!
(5)
Laura W.

This place is so good. I recently discovered it and have been back twice. Their burgers are soo juicy! The interior is super cool. It looks like it came straight from Pinterest! The only negative is that due to the structure of the building it can get a little loud. If you have a bigger party you get a neat circle table thing with a chalkboard that wraps around it that you can write/draw fun stuff on. Very creative! I also love how they divide up the space and have an open kitchen. Love this place! Try it out :)
(5)
Sherri N.

Service was great from the moment we entered. Very attentive. I ordered the Heriitage chicken. Juicy, flavorful. Cooked just right. My hubby order the skirt steak, amazing flavors. We will be back again!
(4)
Joey S.

Excellent service good beer. Flatbread pizzas are real good. Recommend the full flight beer sampler
(5)
Scot C.

Had the flight of beers. None of them was memorable. The pork sandwich was not bad, but suffered from a lack of sufficient pork. The biggest problem was the outstandingly bad service. We were "served" by the bartender, who had a significant attitude and apparently had no interest in bring our check even 20 minutes after we had finished. Many more options in the local area, so it seems like they'd be trying harder.
(2)
Meredith K.

Delicious food, yummy beer, great atmosphere! Brought our kids here twice now and sat in the large booths by the bar. Booths are cozy and even have a chalk wall for the kids to draw on! Had amazing fried squash blossoms and calamari. So far every food item has been delicious. Their beer list is expansive and hard to go wrong with anything you choose. I'm a huge fan who will come here again and again and again!
(5)
M T.

Beautiful modern structure, lively ambiance and great open kitchen with delicious food to match. Visiting from Boulder, found this place on Yelp and made the best choice in town as far as I could tell. Thank gawd for Yelp. And this great place.
(5)
Kathryn T.

This place is a blessed addition to Santa Cruz. I've been there many times. The food is amazing. I had the ROASTED HEIRLOOM CHICKEN SALAD at my first visit and couldn't stop thinking about it afterward. My husband loves the SALMON BOARD. The STOUT BRAISED ANGUS SHORT RIB is fantastic. Simple food - done to perfection. I usually go for the beer sampler (served in a cupcake tin) and my hops loving Huz digs the vast selection of IPAs. I just love the place. Had a chance to talk to the owner and get some of the history. Fascinating family who lives in - and has roots in Santa Cruz County 5 generations deep! I saw a review above that indicated West End's owners not being local. WRONG! They've been here for over a hundred years! I don't know any other family who's been here that long! Just wanted to set the record straight on that because I, like most people around here, love supporting local business and this family is AS LOCAL AS IT GETS! I also LOVE CRAFT BEER and I love the selection that they offer from 4 local breweries. I think having 2 craft beer venues in the same spot is awesome. A beer lover's dream. Great place for date night, bringing visitors, gathering with friends, even great for kids (have you seen the chalk board booths?!? We've always had great service. Check it out!
(5)
Steve D.

I was very pleasantly surprised with dinner here. Friday night, crowded, loud. But the food was fantastic. Started with two appetizers - the house olives (very fresh and tasty) and the Brussels sprouts in balsamic (excellent flavor, soft on the inside, nicely caramelized on the outside.) My wife had a chicken salad - large, fresh and tasty; I had the uncured prosciutto flatbread (fancy name for a pizza) and my father in law had the paparadelle with squash - shared some with me and it had most interesting flavor and wonderful homemade and thick pasta, delicate and flavorful chunks of squash. I plan to return during lunch when the the crowds is hopefully thinner and the sound level better.
(5)
Brittany D.

Awesome beer, atmosphere, and food! Best new spot Ive been to in a long time!!!
(5)
Jamie V.

Overall, a great place! Stopped in around 6pm on a Friday. Excellent service, food, and beer. Looking forward to going back again soon.
(5)
Ayesha S.

Had an awesome burger here this afternoon. Also tried their West End Amber and really liked it. Love the industrial vibe of the space. Great service. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Jasmine W.

I went here for the first time last night and I loved it! Great vibe, great beer, great food. We got the house sampler of beers so we could try a lot of them out and they did not disappoint. I got the mushroom flatbread and it was delicious! And bigger than I expected. My friend got the farmers market salad and although it seemed a little pricey she loved it and said it was her perfect salad. We can't wait to go back!
(4)
Joanna G.

The food was great, the kids enjoyed their food and the adults were impressed with the presentation and taste of the food. I dropped 1 star because the pasta came with cheese sprinkled on top which it didn't say on the menu and my son doesn't like cheese. I managed to mix it in a bit before he saw it but it did put him off a bit.
(4)
Lilith O.

Wow, beautiful new restaurant, great service, friendly. I had the most amazing, delicious chicken dish tonight! It was superior. Beer was exquisite. The staff was so friendly, and prompt, which impressed me since they just opened. The surroundings are simple, modern and elegant! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Mike C.

slow.slow.slow. salads were bland. flat bread was salty. skirt steak was amazing. felt like we were forgotten.
(2)
Denna M.

Decor is very nice, waitress was welcoming and beer was good. Our salads came out wrong, then our main dish came out.. then our appetizer. Seems a bit a$$ backwards. The food was ok, the only thing I can say is PLEASE ADD SALT. Nothing had flavor, I was super disappointed because it had so much potential. I'm not a salt head at all, but really, nothing had any flavor. Chef... use a pinch of salt here and there, if it was prepared properly your guests wouldn't have to ask for it.
(3)
Gina V.

Three visits to West End so far and enjoyed all! A good spot for girlfriends, dates and even with kiddos...not common to be able to take all those groups to one spot. The decor is awesome industrial chic, so you feel like you're a super hip 20-something, even if you're partying with your kids or old girlfriends! And the beer is good...I'm not a beer person, although I like it more and more, so it's great that they offer a half pint option...it's perfect for people like me. And the food is inspiring and delicious! It's relatable and simple (hey, I could make this!), but all dressed up and interesting..never been disappointed! Squash blossoms, short ribs and olive oil/chocolate terrine are my favorites! Service has always been attentive and friendly, no crowding but offering the right amount of advice and recommendations. Prices and portions are reasonable. People seem to have issues with the beer prices not being posted...not an issue for me, it's a bit of a "market price" item because of the craft and small batch brews.
(5)
California G.

This place is super fun, classy, and festive. Perfect for a large group of people! It has intimate high-walled booths that fit 8-10 and a chalkboard. The food is perfect to order and share. You can order pitchers of beer or bottles of wine. Our waitress was so kind and attentive. I enjoyed their Amber on tap. We ordered padrones, salads and flatbread pizzas which were all very tasty. Definitely going back!
(5)
BN C.

I am only giving this 3 starts because the food was good, and our hostess and server were excellent. We came in on a saturday around 5pm. It was already busy and we were told we could wait or eat in the bar. Since we would be eating AND drinking we opted for the bar. We pushed two bar tables together for the 10 of us and we were cozy and fine. 2 and a half hours later a guy comes up and starts cleaning everything off the tables....mind you there was still some food we were eating and some of us still had some wine left. He said to us "I didn't know you were going to be here for three freaking hours. We have an hour wait". We were shocked. We were in the middle of paying our bill (which was almost $300 BTW) and when our server came back he was appalled and sorry by what this guy said to us. Words were exchanged and to make a really long story short, a few of us said something back to this guy and we found out that this guy was the MANAGER. FYI his name is JEREMY. I am not sure what kind of manager or any one in the food industry for that matter, (many of us there that night are in the industry) would talk to paying customers that way. And we were never told there was a wait for BAR TABLES. Its not like we were sitting there not buying anything. I'm having a hard time wanting to go back. I loved it the few times I have been before. But I think until JEREMY is fired, I won't be back.
(3)
Jill T.

I've now been to the West End for 3 dinners and one lunch and feel I have enough experience there to write a really accurate review. I have had the salads, smoked salmon board, burger, calamari, and short ribs and many different beers- all were delicious and top quality. I love the booths which are perfect for larger parties. One night there were 12 of us family members in this cozy eating space which felt like we were in our own private little room. The tables are just the right size and shape so no one was left out of the conversation. Our waiter brought us chalk so we could draw on the chalk board wall that surrounded us as we waited for our dinners to come. While the adults enjoyed scribbling on the walls, it was especially appreciated by the children in our group. At lunch, my friend and I sat at a small table for two and were having a hard time deciding which beer to order. So, our waiter, Tay, suggested he bring us 3 tastes to help us decide. He was attentive but not overbearing. Very polite, friendly and prompt with the food. His timing was just right. Then, last night, our group of 5 got to enjoy Alexis serving us. She was the perfect waitress in every way: helpful, full of smiles, and informative about all of the choices available to us. Alexis was the kind of waitress that you feel so comfortable with, you feel like inviting her to sit down and join your for dinner! What I like about the West End is that there is really something for everyone there. The prices are reasonable and the quality is superior. My only complaint is that I had this GREAT beer the first time I went that hasn't been offered on the menu again: Almanac Honey Saison, which had the description of having tastes of honey and ginger in it. I hope they will make it a permanent fixture on the menu as it was delicious!
(5)
Gary H.

I was torn between a 2 or a 3, but after not once being asked how my meal was, I went for 2 stars. The ambiance is great and the welcome pleasant. The wait staff were all very cheerful but I did not get a feeling they were engaged or thinking about quality control. The taste of the food fell well short of my anticipation based on the menu descriptions The calamari sounded fantastic and there were some positive reviews so I had to give it a go. Sadly all I got was what seemed like a bowl full of fried breading. I am confident there must have been some calamari in there, I just couldn't taste it My waitress said the chicken was one of her favourite dishes so that helped my decision making process. The chicken itself was quite tasty; however the risotto was very very bland. For me that really detracted from the dish and led me to 2 star rating. I was looking for the opportunity to provide feedback, but the speed at which dishes were cleared away and bills delivered, there was not an opportunity Not a great experience and likely would not make a return visit
(2)
Kailey O.

After wine tasting at MJA tasting room, we were looking for a little more to satisfy our pallets. We arrived at 7:30 on a Tuesday evening. There were plenty of open tables. The hostess ignored us while she stood next to us at the booth. After 2 minutes of standing there, we had to acknowledge her. She told us there are no tables available for the next 30 minutes, but we could sit at the bar. So we chose one of the booths at the bar, where she then came to kick us out, informing us those were for "bigger parties". We moved to a middle of the bar table where we were continually ignored. Then the couch area opened up so we opted to move there. Still no menus, no service, no nothing. My friend finally went up and asked the hostess for some menus, because, you know, we're actually here to buy things. Still no service. Finally I asked the hostess since there were so many open tables if she could seat us, and she said yes - it wasn't going to be a 30 minute wait after all. ::waiting:: After about 15 minutes, we just got up and left. A hop skip and a jump took us over to BANTAM where we were not only served, but appreciated and treated like respectable patrons.
(1)
Neesy B.

The food is very good and the building is kind of a fun atmosphere. Do not miss the popcorn appetizer, dressed with duck fat and basil! They make wonderful salads and flatbreads and a really terrific roast chicken. Once I ordered the chocolate pots de creme and it was grainy and horrible. I pointed out the problem and sent it back ,and they thanked me for saving them from serving a bad batch! Also on the patio we got a tippy table and several servers came out to help us adjust it until it was stable, at a very busy time I might add. We're not beer drinkers much but their wine list, while short, had choices we really enjoyed. My only problem is the noise level, lunch time was okay but happy hour and dinner attract a young and loud crowd, and it's impossible to have a conversation with your dining companions. We ate dinner outside and that was fine. They're doing a good job here.
(4)
Adriana G M.

Great modern and great decoration. Great selection of beer and awesome bar tender. We got there for my son's 22 birthday. We did not have reservation, the place was packed and still the front desk managed to give us a table as they had promised. I liked the fact that they calculate the waiting time just perfectly and they text you when your table is ready. The food is just fantastic and there are choices for people like me who I like to keep the carbohydrates at the minimum. I could even eat the flatbread and just fork out the excellent topping. It is not just bread with toppings, its a dish served on bread. Delicious!!! We all enjoyed the intellectual feeling of the ambiance.
(5)
Ty M.

Nice bar. Good food but sometimes greasy. The shrimp pasta and pizza had a lot of oil. But overall tasty. They have a good afternoon special where you can get flat bread pizza for cheap. Overall very good.
(4)
Ricky D.

Order their flatbreads! Ordered one for dinner and had enough for lunch the next day. Had a lovely (great atmosphere with open kitchen) with friends. Good beer and good times. A place you want to take someone to impress them.
(5)
Jessica R.

Can I just say... the service was pretty amazing. We had a 45 minute wait ahead of us, but Monica at the bar not only served us, but kept an eye out for a table, was kind and attentive, facilitated a table jump and menu changes with ease.. The food was excellent. Our medium rare steak was prepared perfectly and my salmon was amazing! A good time was had by all...
(5)
Jerry M.

Really liked west end tap and kitchen. Excellent beer! The happy hour menu is nice and inexpensive. I had the portobello burger and it was perhaps the best portobello burger i have ever had. Their fries were perfect. The service is also excellent. The wait staff is quick and attentive. I also liked the decor. The resturant is also spotlessly clean. So five out of five stars for west end tap. Highly recommend.
(5)
John H.

A nice, hip gastropub on the west side of Santa Cruz. Ok wine selections as well as many beers on tap and other choices. We had dinner which started with probably the best salad of kale, spinach, pomegranates, roasted hazel nuts and feta cheese. Perfect. Worth the trip by itself. From there I can't say the flavors were very good. We tried the dried meats (3). Nothing spectacular. Finished with the flat bread of figs, and blue cheese bÃ©chamel. Perhaps some might have enjoyed this but there was too much cheese and the figs were mushy. Perhaps we made the wrong choices. The service was very good even on a busy night. We will give it another try and make different selections. Do call ahead for reservations as it can get very busy on Fridays and Saturdays.
(3)
Megan G.

After a long drive up to Santa Cruz from Orange County this was such an awesome place to end the night. We arrived on a Friday night at about 8 and was told the wait was about half an hour and they would text us when our table was ready. I love how convenient that was. Great beer selection, my boyfriend and I both got a pint and some duck fat popcorn. OMG. The popcorn has an incredible flavor about it with a hint of lemon?? that makes it perfect. I ordered the baby kale&baby spinach salad but added chicken. Hands down BEST salad I have ever had. As I type this I have a tiny bit of a replica salad I made. I've been thinking about for days so I had to try and make it. It turned out great but with only my dog and Gilmore girls as my companions its just not the same. Till next time Santa Cruz...
(5)
Nicole W.

Id say this is one of the top three best bar/restaurants in santa cruz. Hip atmosphere with a great selection of drinks apps and food. Flat screens to watch the game at the bar or a more intimate atmosphere in one of the booths or tables
(5)
Randall H.

Stopped by West End last week and this is an understated gem in Santa Cruz. The beer is fantastic, a great mix of lighter ales all the way to earlier stouts and porters. In addition, our table also got the calamari, salmon and cheese plate along with a flatbread and all were fantastic. The service was also excellent.
(5)
Tessa M.

Two flights of beer (12 tastes served in cupcakes tins!) for $16. Great burgers. I got a portobello burger that was amazing! Fun atmosphere, not too loud, a nice place to relax.
(5)
Shree M.

I very much enjoyed my meal. Great salmon and the salad was perfect. Clean, healthy and tasty meal. Look forward to returning.
(5)
Kira L.

One of My favorite places in town . Excellent quality and excellent customer service. Love coming here I always leave happy and full :-)
(5)
Sonia L.

I love this place! Honestly, compared to every other restaurant in SC... West End takes the cake. They have a diverse, but reasonably sized menu that will please almost everyone. It's a great way to get good grub without the tourists. The ambience and overall vibe is trendy without being stuffy or stuck up. Must try: the burger with fries (literally the best fries I've had) and the gnocchi (feed that to me as my last meal please). I will always stop by here when I'm in the neighborhood.
(5)
L D.

Great restaurant for a group of friends. Came here with 12 girls for a reunion dinner and we got our own private secluded table. I recommend the portobello pizza!
(5)
Andrea K.

West End Tap has really tasty food with decent portions. We've been here many times. For some reason we usually think of coming here on a Friday or Saturday night-bad choice. It's really popular on those nights, like most Santa cruz eateries. We usually try to come up with another idea of where to eat after realizing what we've done. Now, you'd probably think of a tap room as a place to get beer. To me their beer is secondary and not the best brews I've had. They have a decent selection of wines. The real reason to come is the food. Everything I've had is delicious. I usually end up having a Flat Bread-they change their menu seasonally so it varies. There are usual four or five different flatbreads to choose from. All the varieties I've tried have been great. My favorite was one with tiny bits of speck and two runny yolk eggs. Fantastic! Plus it's two meals in one for me. The portion is generous, so I get leftovers for lunch the next day (provided someone at home doesn't get to it before I do). We've also had the burger-juicy and delicious, The fish is always a great selection that usually comes in a bowl with white beans and some sort of sautÃ©ed greens. The fish is cooked perfectly, and we are fish snobs. My only not-so great choice was the duck fat popcorn. Under popped and icky. Too many kernels and an off flavor. I'll just skip that in the future. The calamari as a starter is pretty tasty. My recommendation is to come during the week or for lunch or maybe early for dinner. It gets super noisy, especially on the bar side. It is kind of cool if you get one of the booths. We got it once for my son's birthday and that was fun. Somebody please just remind me to think of this earlier in the evening! BTW-parking can be tough too, so be prepared. Apparently there is some sort of animosity toward West End Tap in this central parking lot-not sure what the story is but park on the street to avoid the bad parking mojo.
(4)
Smudge T.

Can't get enough of the West End Tap & Kitchen!!! Looks like this has become my Friday - after-work tradition. Although their burger and fries are THE BEST in the county, I've been slowly branching out to try other items, none of which have let me down. The happy hour continues to rock my world. Impeccable ales. Amazing Flatbread pizza. Best fried calamari EVER! Try the Caesar salad with chicken or salmon. The home-made Caesar dressing is perfect. Living in Felton, this drive is a stretch for me, but TOTALLY worth it! Love it. Love it. Love it.
(5)
Sharon L.

I always love coming here not only for dinner but they have a great happy hour. Tuesday nights are the best with $10 pitchers all night. I usually like to drink fruitier beers and they have a great passion beer, although it's not a west end tap brew and doesn't apply for $3 pints at happy hour. Review of their happy hour foods: Their duck fat popcorn is surprisingly good, seasoned with paprika and duck fat drizzled over it, it's the perfect snack. Their pastrami bites are absolutely perfect. The pastrami is extremely tender and the purple sauce they top it off with is perfect. It's priced at 5 bites for $4 during happy hour. I also think that their ceaser salad is amazing, the $5 happy hour price for the small size is a bit overpriced but it's surprisingly really good. The lettuce they use topped with the fried capers is delectable. Last but not least their calamari is probably some of the best in Santa Cruz! For $5, the sauces they have for dipping is so good, I had to order two! I would definitely come here again! Especially on Tuesdays for a $10 pint!
(4)
Prime O.

Came in here for happy hour, and was very impressed with the food and beer. I had the dark ale, and the stout (served on nitrous), both if which were quite tasy at 3 dollars a pint on happy hour. For food we got the calamari ($5), Caesar salad ($5), mozzarella flat bread ($5), and the cheese & meat platter ($8). The calamari was easily my favorite, if not my favorite in all of Santa Cruz so far. It comes with both rings and tentacles as well as some fried jalapeÃ±o added in with ranch and a mignonette sauce on the side. Amazing! The Caesar was well presented with a light house made Caesar dressing, fried capers, and grana padana crostinis. Very tasty. The flatbread was made with a light tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. We thought the outside edges of the crust needed a bit more salt or maybe a, garlic butter to dip it in as it was a bit underseasoned. We asked for some extra tomato sauce which was brought to us quickly and that fixed it right up. The cheese and meat (El Salchichero) platter was nice, but we thought it needed more meat for the price point at happy hour. The pickled veggies were delicious, and the two mustards were quite nice. I will definitely be back to try their entrees next time. Highly recommended happy hour.
(4)
Bob K.

Bad food and over priced. Lovely servers but nuke the kitchen as they are in over their heads.
(1)
Ken L.

The Duck Fat Popcorn with paprika was delicious. Difficult to stop eating it. So we didn't, making it disappear in no time. I couldn't discern any duck taste. The chicken salad - I don't remember exactly what I got - was quite good. And so was the Uncommon Brewers Long Form Tripple, a Belgian style triple brewed with long peppers, adding a tiny bit of spice to the brew. Comfortable patio seating, attentive and friendly service, and casual atmosphere in what appears to be a re-purposed industrial place, so it's got wood planks but still has that former feel.
(5)
Holly B.

Love love love. Rad rustic industrial decor, cozy lighting, diverse seating possibilities, friendly servers. Their burger and calamari are definitely the best I've ever had. The much enthused duck popcorn wasn't that special in my opinion, good, but wouldn't have it outside of happy hour.
(5)
Brian M.

Simple Review: Go for happy hour, $3 drafts (for their own brew) $4 house wine (drinkable). $5 appetizer menu highlighted by the some of best calamari (the real stuff tubes/tentacles) a nice portion with a remoulade olive oil dip and tarter, some of the best of this often botched appetizer I've tasted in the area.
(4)
Jackie H.

Great environment. Great beer selection. Highly recommend the Pork Shank. The spinach and kale salad was very flavorful. Also, the roasted cauliflower appetizer was amazing!
(4)
Leona Z.

The food was WAY better than the beer. Surprising for a tap room... They better keep their chef! Brussel sprouts - So nice and carmelized, sweet, not bitter at all, with a lovely blaslamic glaze. Calamri - Super crispy, seasoned well, and the jalapenos thrown in were perfect. Every last piece was devoured from table. Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Good, kinda hard to mess up. The front area is way more trendy than the back area. They put a lot of thought into the decor and it paid off. The place looks amazing. I'll be back. A flatbread at the table over looked worth a try, and there were a few other menu items that looked tasty. Wish I could say the same for the beer. Ordered a sampler and it all tasted a little bitter... The wheat was unremarkable, the stout mild, one IPA was nice, crisp and clean, the others just overwhelming hoppy. Despite the beer, I'll still be back for the food... (and then go wine tasting at one of the tasting rooms in the same complex!)
(4)
Michelle W.

We stopped by this place for a quick lunch when visiting Santa Cruz. Loved the decor and the food was amazing. Big portions and delicious fresh food. We started with the garlic mushroom pizza which was great. Big enough for an entree but we split it. Then onto salads for the main course, the roasted chicken salad was enormous and the favorite of the table. Definitely will be saving this place to come back to.
(5)
William C.

Beer selection was awesome with something for everyone. Food was way better than expected. The open kitchen and very homey vibe it makes for a great experience
(4)
Linda C.

One of my favorite tap rooms. They had a coffee stout that was to die for. The place is always really crowded and finding a seat can be a little tricky sometimes. They have great little bar appetizers and they are dog friendly.
(4)
Aarash Z.

Usually when you go to a tap room, you're in for a wide selection of fine beer and some food that's okay, but not as good as the food... Today I found Bizzaro World version of a tap room. West End has kick ass food! We had the calamari, brussels sprouts and grilled cheese sandwich (with bacon added on... a very good idea) along with the House Beer sampler and another beer. The beer was unremarkable. At best, okay... The food? Fantastic! The brussels sprouts were roasted hard so they had a nice char on them. The calamari had fried jalapeno along with garlic and parsley. Those two were completely awesome! We wanted the ham and cheese (trust me, it looks awesome on the menu) but they were out of it, so we got the grilled cheese and added bacon. Also great. Overall, the beer for me is 2-3 stars but he food is 4-5 (probably closer to 5) I think next time we go back, I'm just gonna get a soda and pig out on food! There was so much good looking stuff!
(4)
Sheena N.

When I came in here, I was STARVING. My friends and i had just finished the relay (it goes from napa to santa cruz) and needless to say we were sleep deprived and exhausted. To our surprise the host guy seated us and also was our waiter. We ordered water up front and he didn't bring anything to us for at least 20 minutes. Finally we ask him where our water is and then he grabs pre-filled cups of water from the bar. DOH! We order two flatbreads and explicitly state that one of our guys doesn't eat cheese so we need half of each pizza to have no cheese. They bring out the pizzas, one correctly has half cheese, the other one has cheese on all of it. We tell the waitress that only half should have cheese. We wait another 20 minutes... she brings a pizza that has ABSOLUTELY no cheese on any of it! I thought it was pretty funny and didn't want to send it back again so we just ate it and pretended that she got it right this time lol I will say that it is a very clean looking and nicely designed restaurant and has lots of potential. Also, the kitchen is completely open to the dining room so they aren't likely to be spitting on your food :)
(3)
Vanessa B.

I made reservations for 10 people on a Saturday, during the lunch hour rush. Luckily, there was a sign holding our booth +1. I had their flight, and it hit the spot +1, their amber is my favorite! The food was amazing; 10 people, 10 different dishes +2. Lastly, I have a 2 yr old nephew that is the epitome of thee terrible twos. The booths had a chalk board all around which was perfect for keeping him calm +1000! The kids menu is also delicious, how many places serve sides of broccoli for children (my nephew loves broccoli)! Great service, great atmosphere, great food, and pretty damn good brew. That was my first time there, but it's always first impression that makes it or breaks it, right? Well I want to go back already!
(5)
Yellowrose K.

Accidentally stumbled on this place headed back to SF and the food and service was great. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Julie S.

This is a great place for atmosphere and food. It always feel bright and lively. The crowd always has a good vibe. I haven't gotten any dish here that I haven't enjoyed.
(4)
B K.

My neighbor told me to go in for the best burger in Santa Cruz. Do not take this reveiw lightly, as we have done ALL the research on the best burger in Santa Cruz for years now. She was right. Love the vibe, love the food, and happy to see some alternatives to beer.
(5)
Stephany B.

update! Still my favorite place in Santa Cruz and apparently many others! Get there early to get a seat... although I have never had to wait more than 15 minutes they are really on the seating! Great food, great service!!
(5)

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Address : 334 D Ingalls St
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Phone (831) 471-8115
Website https://www.westendtap.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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West End Tap & Kitchen

334 D Ingalls St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

West End Tap & Kitchen Menu

Greens

Sandwiches

Flatbreads

Charcuterie & Cheese

Mains

Smalls

Snacks

Finish

Healthy Meal suggestions for West End Tap & Kitchen

Greens

Sandwiches

Flatbreads

Charcuterie & Cheese

Mains

Smalls

Snacks

Finish

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