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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Mexican, Latin, Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly
Meals
Dinner, Lunch
View all details
meals, features

Location and contact

0.4 miles from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Reviews (207)
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201 results
Traveller rating
79
53
36
23
10
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LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
79
53
36
23
10
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All reviews taco seafood mexican cuisine wharf restaurant sea lions the santa cruz wharf huge portions margaritas pier
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Reviewed 5 January 2024 via mobile

The wharf in Santa Cruz is a great place to explore and Olitas is a great place to admire the view and have a signature margarita. The food is plentiful ,artfully prepared and expertly served. A wonderful experience.

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 4 September 2023

Olitas Cantina & Grille located at the picturesque Santa Cruz Wharf offers innovative Mexican cuisine featuring seafood in many of their dishes comprising of Tacos, Enchiladas, Ensaladas, Quesadillas etc. The windows offer scenic views of the Wharf and water around. We went on a Sunny...day and relished Blue Moon Beer, Red Sangria, Spicy Cucumber Rita as drinks with Citrus Shrimp, Super Burritos and Vegetarian Tacos as the main course. The dishes were fresh, well cooked, not spicy and delicious. The staff are helpful, friendly and great.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 August 2023 via mobile

Spent the afternoon on the boardwalk and decided to stop to get a late lunch. Everyone’s food was excellent. The chili Rellenos with goat cheese were really good and the Pork Verde got rave reviews.

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 10 June 2023 via mobile

Amazing food here! With great views of the wharf! Try getting there early and get a table near the windows! And don’t forget to try their margaritas!

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed 29 April 2023

Nice place. Fun place. Great views, very good service. Met friends for tacos and margaritas. Both were good sized and they were generous with the tequila. And they validated pier parking. Well done in all aspects.

Date of visit: April 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 18 April 2023

We had a nice dinner - the blackened cod tacos were really good - the empanadas were a bit too doughy for my liking. The view was spectacular but the highlight really was the service. Our server was an absolute delight, and made our evening....It was lovely to not have to wait in a line to get a table and we enjoyed the enormous portions and watching the sunset.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 2 April 2023 via mobile

Located on the Santa Cruz Wharf/Pier, this restaurant offers a fushion of Mexican and Seafood entrees…for example we ordered tamales with scallops and shrimp. If you want just Mexican or just Seafood, you can do that. The food is flavorful and the serving sizes are...big. There is a good view no matter where you sit.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 30 March 2023 via mobile

Absolutely fantastic!! Go on Tuesday’s or Thursdays. They have a taco and margarita deal for $10!! Service and view is wonderful. Highly recommend.

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed 12 September 2022 via mobile

Olitas has incredible views of the Santa Cruz coast line. Unfortunately the food and drink we had was very average. Go for the setting and the views, not the food. If you want good Mexican food then there are better places in town. Same goes...for the Margaritas. If you have visited Baja, then you know how fantastic shrimp tacos can be. Olitas shrimp tacos are nothing like that. The blackened fish tacos were also just okay and not good enough to ever order again. Everything was cooked and presented well. It just didn’t taste as good as it could or should.More

Date of visit: September 2022
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Reviewed 19 August 2022

Enjoyed a fairly late dinner here after visiting other places on the wharf with long waits. The restaurant is up on the second floor, but there is an elevator for old guys like me ! The food is Mexican themed seafood, and was very tasty....We were blessed by an adorable young server named Edona. She spoke no Spanish, but my Peruvian Amiga an I taught her a little, all in fun. I think she said she was from Kosovo. Her charming personality was pure entertainment. Amiga had an excellent ceviche, and I had shrimp and crab enchiladas.More

Date of visit: August 2022
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Reviewed 29 June 2022 via mobile

On the day of what is on the wharf my family and I took my mother to have a celebratory lunch. We had requested skirt steak and we're given Carne Asada. Will you kindly let the ladies who serve the food no that it was...not what we ordered. She told us they were out of skirt steak. But no one let us know that. So high I spoke to the person who took our order. A young man by the name of Noah. I explain to him the error and his answer was skirt steak is the same as Carne Asada. Two for two I decided that I wasn't gonna argue with the staff that was preparing my food and were and sure of what it actually was. I decided to not leave a tip since I tried to talk to two different people and got no understanding or response to the error. Two of our plates were wrong I have been a customer service person and assistant manager to a restaurant many years ago and know that it's very important in the service industry to listen to your customers and make sure they're heard. And the situation I did not and to make matters worse after we left this young man Noah followed me and my family out of the restaurant yelling at us saying that Carne Asada is the same as skirt steak and a Google it. I had written on the check the reason why I did not put a tip was because of the fact that they are not the same. This young man sat there giving us a very ugly stare all the way to our car. When we got to the bottom of the stairs this man was still saying Google it yelling at us causing a scene that made everybody who was standing around look at us. I kindly let him know that my son was a butcher and that they are not the same cut of meat. He continued to do you to yell Google it. I let him know that I would discuss this matter with his manager who could then help him understand that the reason why they differentiate the two items on the menu as because they are in fact very different . I never in my life have ever been treated this way. I don't know where this child's entitlement came from to feel like he should be allowed to treat customers this way. My mother says she never wants to go back there again however this is one bad experience with one employee that I refuse to let this restaurant ruin it for me I'm hoping that the manager gave the situation The proper remedy because it is evident that that employee had no pride in his job or care for the customers he was serving. And I wanted to be known that you guys have a rotten egg with no filter caring for your customers. It was very disgusting.More

Date of visit: June 2022
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Reviewed 6 June 2022 via mobile

Massive portions - order one dish for two people. More American style Mexican than authentic Mexican. Fun to watch the sea lions frolicking in the water out the windows. Very friendly service.

Date of visit: June 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 7 February 2022 via mobile

The Mexican food had a mild spice level. I was thinking that it would be delicious too. The chips were good and crunchy. Nice view also.

Date of visit: February 2022
Helpful?
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Reviewed 19 November 2021 via mobile

Went for the Thursday night tacos and a drink for a tenner! The margaritas were so good that we stayed for a couple more. Eventually left as the restaurant was closing! Would recommend for a very pleasant casual night out!

Date of visit: November 2021
Helpful?
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Reviewed 30 July 2021

This has been our second time in since the new owner took over by the way the owner is the chef. The food is always amazing and we leave feeling super satisfied our server was awesome Dahlia like the flower... One of our favorite spots...on the wharf now.More

Date of visit: July 2021
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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LAS OLITAS CANTINA & GRILL, Santa Cruz - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Las Olitas Cantina & Grill

Yes, Las Olitas Cantina & Grill offers takeaway services.

Las Olitas Cantina & Grill is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 3.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 3.5
  • Atmosphere: 4