Shadowbrook Restaurant

Starting out the restaurant staff is incredibly accommodating (I asked to switch tables and was granted that option, no questions asked) towards seating, food allergies, and bringing our own bottle (corking fee is $20 I believe). The atmosphere makes you feel like you’re in a secluded world due to the beautiful foliage throughout the place. Due to the lighting, view of the sunset, and greenery it made you feel like you’re eating in a forest or jungle. In addition, the food was phenomenal and I didn’t leave hungry. I highly recommend going here and I know I’ll be back for another celebration soon. By the way, if given the chance take the little gondola and the stairs to see all the beautiful greenery that encases this restaurant.

A must see even if you only stop for a drink. Several different rooms with different characters. Looks like there are several interesting and well priced mid week specials.

We came to this spot for lunch. we heard about this place from many people. Well, it was very nice. The staff members were extremely nice and we had a great feeling. The meal was delicious. We had a great time and we will visit this place again. Warmly recommended.

My favorite spot for any special occasion. Every item is prepared well, great selection of wines, best dining experience in the area.

Beautiful setting! I had prime rib, hubby had the fillet. We split the dark chocolate mousse torte.... Everything was amazing and the staff was on point!

Great place for a date, anniversary, birthday or any other day to take your wife or girlfriend for a romantic meal. It's by the river side with fantastic views all around. Request a window side table . The tram that goes down the hill taking you to the dining rooms is the highlight of this place. Food and drinks are decent. We loved the buffalo styled cauliflower.

We had an amazing meal, and in such a beautiful setting. Highly recommend the baked brie appetizer, the artichoke soup, and the grilled swordfish. The staff is highly professional and knowledgeable and very attentive.

Loved. The swordfish was delicious and perfectly done. The Korean bowl was cooked with all kinds of spices and super delicious. Service was great and was so clean. Make a reservation to get a good table and don’t have to wait.

One of the best dining experiences of my life. The staff is ultra hospitable and they were on it! They're witty and very attentive. Everything tasted divine. The ambiance is very romantic at any time of day. The experience is well worth it!

At the bar the tenders are attentive and professional. Dined at the bar, drinks were excellent, specialty drinks were not overly expensive, especially considering the venue and live music. Prime rib was ok.

A very classy place to eat. Very unique architecture. Ride a little tram to the entrance from the parking lot. The food is awesome. Several vegetarian dishes to choose from on the menu. They are very much in tune to your special occasion (birthday- anniversary.)

This place is beautifully situated riverside with spectacular views. The food is great and the service is impeccable. Looking for something more low-key? Stay on the top level to enjoy your drinks and meal while listening to live music. They make the best hot buttered rum I've ever had and I bartend for a living. Their recipe puts all my efforts to shame. The tram ride from the street level is a must at least once and the outdoor stairs transport you to the tropics!

Great happy hour on Tuesdays, 2 for 1 pizzas and appetizers in the bar. The food is great, and it's a beautiful restaurant environment.

Outstanding. From ambiance, to service (Thank you Brent!) to food, it doesn't get much better than this. The baked brie is everything the other reviews says it is- just wow. Five very bright stars.

I hadn't been there in 15 years and had dinner there last night, outside, overlooking the brook. it is still as nice as ever. Love the (quiet) little tram, but there is also a beautiful walkway through the garden leading down to the restaurant. Outside, they have overhead, natural gas heaters to keep you warm with a push of a button!The food is interesting and VERY delicious! The service was impeccable. They have different menus for the changing seasons.They even have an old fashioned taxi car that is used as a free shuttle for the customers! What a neat addition!Thank you for another memorable experience!

Excellent. Absolutely beautiful, inside and out. Romantic, especially at night (Guy proposed to his girlfriend right next to us last night). Food is great, and their homemade cheesecake (made on the premises) is the best I've ever eaten!

Great place to go with other adults. Very dim lighting in the light where we were seated, which made for a more personal feeling. The service was the best and made my experience that much better.

I love love this place!!! One of the best dining experiences hand down. Atmosphere if amazing, the restaurant is one of the most unique places I have ever had the pleasure to dine. Thank you to all the staff members.

The only way I can describe our engagement dinner here is magical. Delicious food beyond our expectations (which are pretty dang high), sweet staff and walking tour, and the best seat in the house by the fire in the cellar! Will be back again with family.

I know the restaurant gets a lot of love, but you cannot overlook the bar/lounge. I invited several friends out recently for cocktails and appetizers, and the Shadowbrook lounge was a hit. Great drinks. Great food. The unique rock decor was a lot more pleasant to be surrounded by than your typical bar setting. And it was pretty chill for a Sunday evening.

Wonderful!!Andrew our server was just delightful.The food was really great, there was a small issue with an order in our party, and Andrew took care of it quickly. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday, Shadowbrook is a special place that we got to spend our time together there.Thank you everyone!

We love this restaurant, and visit about once a month. Much of its charm comes from the totally unique funicular that carries you down the steep slope to the beautiful, rambling, multi-level creekside restaurant. But the full bar and good menu are nice too. Service is actually very good, and taking the shuttle via one of their vintage cabs is awesome (within their radius).

The food is delicious. The service is friendly and prompt. But I think most people (myself included) go to Shadowbrook for the atmosphere. The tram down the hill, the tropical plants and artificial water installations, and its proximity to the creek make it a magical, almost DisneyLand-esque spot for a Friday night.

Excellent food. Sat outside, got slow service. Maybe that is a theme for restaurants with outdoor seating? Repeats itself for me. Nice setting for romantic dinner, with very nifty funicular to get up and down to the street.

First time at Shadowbrook! Interesting place, the building has 5 levels and dining areas in each. Our hostess gave us a running dialog on the different levels and names of the dining areas on our way down to the lowest area called "The Garden." The wait staff was outstanding and the good devine. Definitely going back when we are in the area again. Love it.

We went there for my birthday, 12/21, so they're very busy for holidays. Fried artichoke hearts appetizer was nothing special, but my scallops were great and my boyfriend's lobster was good, too. The reason I don't give 5 stars was service. It took a long time to stop our waiter to ask for coffee and dessert. I know they're busy but still I expected better.

I'd forgotten how nice this place is. The food was delicious and the service was superb...very respectable. We were celebrating a Birthday and overall we were happy to have chosen Shadowbrook!

Oh my god, what can I say. As you see from my photos the setting is incredible! The food is outstanding and reservations are a must. Parking is pretty good and visiting at Christmas Time is a treat!

I like this restaurant! They provide awesome dishes, their menu is rich, The cook in that place is a real authority in the kitchen, I love a lot trying all their dishes. The dishes are consistently good, the service towards the clients is very good too. I often eat in this place and I was never unhappy. Highly recommended.

We had the best time here for our annual girls gift exchange! Service was incredible and the food was beyond delicious. I can't wait to come back. The atmosphere is truly one of a kind and you just can't describe it! It has to be seen and is worth the trip!

Great place for celebrations, anniversaries, etc. Make sure to get reservation ahead of time. Get the baked brie for appetizer!

Pretty and quirky setting requiring a little cable car ride to get to. The service was quite good and the food was fine, not great. Couples around me seemed to be enjoying themselves but I was with young children which stole a lot of attention from the experience. I would go again especially with my husband.

Shadowbrook has a fantastic location and atmosphere. From the diagonal elevator entryway to the beautiful dining rooms and views, it's a magical place to be. The wine list is top notch, and the waiters all know it well. The service is fantastic, old school class and care. And the food is amazing. An amazing spot for a special occaision.

A uniquely picturesque and popular fine dining establishment for special evenings with family and friends. A full bar and extensive wine list complements the delicious menu choices. Not to be missed!

Consistent great food and service. The view is lovely. The inside is cozy and quaint. A true dining gem.

I didnt know what to expect when I got there, but I know what to expect next time! Fabulous place to eat! Beautiful location, friendly staff, and the food was terrific (I had swordfish with broccolirabe).

Delicious food, wonderful staff, beautiful food, and love overlooking the brook. Would definitely come back. Highly recommend.

Always wanted to try this place and finally had the opportunity - it exceeded expectations. The lodge building is beautiful, and the ground, at least what we could see in the dark were also special, but the food and service are what impressed us. Not as expensive as I thought it would be, but worth the price.

My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary dinner here. He ordered the surf and turf and I ordered scallops. The food was good. The service and atmosphere was phenomenal! We will return

Wow!!! I dont have enough words that can describe this place. 1st- the pickup in a vintage taxi cab was fabulous. It was so clean and well kept. The driver was a doll as well. The funicular down.... oh my... how fun is that. A great introduction to the attention to detail that encompasses this establishment. The gardens are amazing, well care for and thoughtfully put together. The building itself it fabulous. So much detail at every glance that you miss so much. We were so impressed that the bartender even knew some of our favorite retro drinks as well. The food.... unbelievable. We had so many dishes that we tried and they were all spectacular. Service was great and the staff was friendly. We will be back next time we are in the area

We've been there 3 times and have never been disappointed. The beautiful gardens and wonderful team down to the restaurant are charming. Dinner was wonderful. We began with the calamari appetizer and I selected the filet and my wife ordered the swordfish, both of which were delicious. We finished the night with a mud pie which was quite large and enjoyable. There were several Birthday celebrations there including mine as well as anniversaries. It's truly a place for special occasions.

My first time here with my husband who has been several times. The staff are all very friendly, helpful and attentive. The food and service were all excellent. Would definitely like to go back again sometime. The gondola ride down to the entrance is really neat.

Beautiful restaurant with fantastic garden. I love the place, the atmosphere is lively and foods are good. People are friendly even though they are busy. They get busy so you may want to have reservations. They have a casual dinning room and also a patio which are first come first serve but you may wait for about half an hour to get a table on busy nights.

This place is amazing! My wife and I dined here in the recommendation of a friend and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere alone is stunning and invites romance. The salmon and steak were delicious and the hosts/waiters are very accommodating. I would highly recommend this place!

Beautiful place! A wonderful setting with amazing food. Great service. Again the experience is amazing.

My favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz County is the Shadowbrook Restaurant. Starting with its beautiful setting and stairs down to the restaurant or take the tram, if you don't feel like walking. Shadowbrook's food is outstanding. Try the prime rib, one of my favorites. The bacon wrapped prawns are an excellent starter. And to finish, a few of their deserts feature Marianne's homemade ice cream as a main component!! You can never go wrong there! Marianne's Ice Cream is amazing. Another must do in Santa Cruz. Shadowbrook is an experience restaurant you don't want to miss, if you come to Santa Cruz County!!

Beautiful inside with seemingly endless levels and nooks and crannies with dark wood and glass and indoor trees everywhere. The hillside gardens are beautiful, and you can ride the tram from the parking area to the restaurant. If you're staying nearby, they will send a car to pick you up and drop you off for free. The food is expensive but outstanding and beautifully presented. The staff is good and professional. This is a place where people go for special occasions, so expect several birthdays and anniversaries around you, but the atmosphere is mostly quiet and romantic. The salmon, scallops and steaks are always great.

My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here and we had an amazing evening! I ordered the swordfish and he ordered the blackened lamb which he raved about. We also had the baked brie appetizer and the chocolate mousse torte for dessert. Our waiter also brought us homemade chocolate truffles for our anniversary which was very sweet. All of the food we ordered was absolutely delicious and we will definitely be back!

Great ambiance. Great food. Friendly staff.This is one of the best restaurants I have been to. This is very close to Bay Area. Do get a reservation. Food is very very good and not expensive for the quality and ambiance and the service provided.

You can't beat this dining experience in Santa Cruz. The space is so cozy and relaxing. Great menu, staff is very friendly. The trolley is very special, my kids loved it.