• Asian Rose, (a lunch spot at the end of Pacific Ave, run by the same people who run Malabar). Vegan Californian/Asian food. $1-5 depending on the number of items; much friendlier and laid-back Santa Cruzian scene.

 • Costa Brava, 1222 Pacific and 505 Seabright. Mexican and South American flavors. Reasonable prices for a nice atmosphere and good service.

 • El Palomar, 1336 Pacific Ave, 831 425-7575 - Open every day for lunch and dinner. Reservations are taken only for large parties on weeknights, and the wait can be very long on weekends. Great Mexican food in dramatic dining room, but not cheap. Brighter cantina in back is a good lunch spot that becomes a bar at night. Lots of seafood specialties. Homemade tortillas are excellent, as are the margaritas. Strolling guitar players some evenings. Kid friendly. Typical entrees $10-$16.

 • Il Trullo, 503 Water St, 831 427-0998. Very good Italian food weighted towards heavier, meatier dishes. Be advised that the space is VERY cramped, and may not be accommodating for small children. Generally not veggie/vegan-friendly, although rumor has it that the chef/owner is happy to improvise. $11-$23.

 • Joe's Pizza & Subs, 841 N Branciforte Ave, 831 426-5955. A dizzying array of affordable and delicious sandwiches, as well as New York-style pizza, calzone, soups, and salads. Especially good is the club sandwich, lentil soup, onion rings, and meatballs. $5-$8.

 • Kianti's, 1100 Pacific Ave, 831 469-4400. This is a great downtown Italian spot. The food is quite good, and it's a very entertaining place to eat. On weekend evenings, you may even get a fully choreographed performance by the entire staff. $8-$10.

 • Malabar, 1116 Soquel Ave. Excellent curried mangos and Kofta Joe. The service can be surly, but don't worry about it. Eat and be happy. Sunday night dinner is a fixed menu consisting of naan, salad, various curries and rice (in small amounts) and a dessert; however, the price is determined by what you think it is worth. Only have $5? It's okay. Feel like it's worth $20, that works too.

 • Mobo Sushi Innovative sushi and jazz club. Check local listings for music.

 • Oswalds, Pacific Ave. near the clock tower. Classy Californian cuisine. $8-25. Reservations recommended on the weekend.

 • Pearl Alley Bistro, 110 Pearl Alley (between Lincoln and Walnut streets, downtown), 831 429-8070 (reservations strongly recommended) - Open from 5 PM for dinner every day. A rotating menu, with monthly themes, but mostly southern European home-style cooking. Cozy dining room, upstairs from street, with bar filling center. Entrees $16-$26.

 • Pizza My Heart, Basic cheap pizza by the slice, salads. $1-$5. Pacific Ave.

 • Saturn Café, corner Pacific and Laurel (the round building). A Santa Cruz institution. A veggie/hippy cuisine in a zany atmosphere. Much to the dismay of many a Santa Cruzian, Saturn Cafe's prices have become a little higher than the average hippy can afford. Burgers and sandwiches will run you around $8. The food is quite excellent, but the service tends to be quite slow.

 • Seabreeze Cafe, 542 Seabright Ave, 831 427-9713 - Still often called "Linda's" even though the personable owner sold this cafe to the her business partner Tex Hintze quite a few years ago, check the webcam on weekends to get an idea of how long the worthwhile wait for a table will be. Cinnamon Rolls on the weekend are a must! Best breakfast in town! Vegan-friendly, kid friendly.

 • Seabright Brewery, 519 Seabright Ave, 831 426-BREW - 11:30 AM - 11:30 PM daily (kitchen closes at 10 PM). Updated pub grub, and fresh beer made on the premises. Salmon fish and chips, with beer battered salmon fried in Japanese bread crumbs and served with sesami-wasabi tarter sauce and teriyaki garlic chili sauce is almost too rich to eat. Lots of vegetarian food. Big patio overlooks a busy road, but is a pleasant place to head after a day at the beach. Beer and pizza specials on some weekdays. $8-$12 sandwiches and entrees.

 • Shogun, 1123 Pacific Ave, 831 469-4477. Excellent sushi restaurant in a convenient downtown location. The exceptionally fresh ingredients and talented sushi staff make this some of the best sushi available in Santa Cruz County. They offer all the traditional sushi, as well as lots of variations, some of which are veggie/vegan friendly. Of particular interest is the "Karaoke," a kind of Japanese hash brown with plum sauce that you won't find in many local Japanese restaurants. Sushi plates are $3-$9. Serves lunch and dinner through the week, dinner Saturdays, closed Sundays.

 • Silver Spur Restaurant, 2650 Soquel Dr, 831 475-2725. It's letting the secret out of the bag to tell you that Linda of Seabreeze Cafe fame bought this larger venue to sling her famous fabulous food. Vegan-friendly, kid-friendly.

 • Taqueria Vallarta, 608 Soquel Ave. There are many taquerias in town, but this one attracts Mexican-American families, college students, and visitors from up and down the coast who come just for the huge traditional style meals. $1-$6.

 • Thai House, 353 Soquel Ave, 831 458-3546. Arguably the best Thai food experience in Santa Cruz. The food is quite good, the ambiance interesting and relaxing, and the staff always friendly. Kids will stay entertained by the two large aquariums. $6-$15.

 • Xin Noodles. A bastion of pan-Asian noodle-y goodness. An average dish will run around $6-10. The setting is quite casual and relaxed, with low lighting. It's a good place to eat and talk with friends or go on a date. Particularly delicious is the Chili Lime Tom Yum Fun. They also do take-out.

 • Zachary's, lower Pacific Ave near the second-hand stores. Fantastic breakfasts featuring homemade bread French toasts, fruit salads, home fries, and more. Finishing Mike's Mess is a worthwhile challenge. Expect a line Saturday and Sunday. $1-$10