Laili Restaurant in Santa Cruz - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Our server, Gencay, was amazing! Very attentive to us and he had great suggestions for the dishes we had! He even had great wine suggestions! 10/10 service he made our night.

Great food, slightly overpriced

Food and service are excellent. Portions are modest but filling. Patio dining is picturesque.

Good a little bland It's was overall good fresh food great for price

Good place, amazing ambience and service. Very fancy Mediterranean restaurant. We were a group of 10, they handled it well.

We had a reservation but they were very busy and very apologetic to seat us late. We brought out of town guests because we know this place is special. I was really embarrassed that it took a full 15 min after being seated to get water or ask for our order. Again, staff was apologetic. Then the naan came out undercooked. A blob of flat dough with really great dipping sauce. Our meals were really tasty and generous portions. We sat outside on the patio which is lovely. You could be in Italy. And it’s off the street, very quaint and protected from wind and fog. Heated with heat lamps. I think we were there on a tough night for staff. We for sure will return again.

This place was underwhelming. The food didn't taste like authentic cuisine, the server was not that friendly either. Very pretentious and the food was below average.

Excellent food, with good variety. Usually has a short to moderate wait for a table. Pricy, but worth it.

Creative amazing food and romantic setting

Exquisite (heated) patio seating and delicious Mediterranean food had me thinking one visit was not enough. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. It didn’t seem like it would be much, but the beet salad was very tasty—I highly recommend it.

We were delighted by the homemade pasta and delicate sauces. The vegetables were cooked perfectly and presented elegantly. Our server was charming and knowledgeable. Kudos to this cozy place with its European feel in the heart of Santa Cruz.

Incridible place. Food is great

Good service and the food was tasty, but extremely dirty toilet. Coming from Texas, be aware that portions are small and too expensive.

Im so sorry but I literally can’t believe how bad this was… writing a review as a warning bc I’m from nyc so maybe spoiled by the food there but tbh… everything at this restaurant is aggressively mid. I wasn’t even mad it was just so shocking and eye opening I was like oh my god. I think there were like 3 spices in everything we ordered and I could have cooked each dish better at home if I just looked up any recipe. In shock rn.. the only redeeming quality is the service was great and the patio is cute.

Outstanding Mediterranean food and consider it the best in Santa Cruz county. We love sitting outdoors on the patio in the garden, often beautiful evenings enhanced by a very attentive wait staff. We usually have the lamb kabob and the chicken pomegranate, both are always excellent! The staff has never failed to be courteous, informed, and well trained.

This Mediterranean restaurant is located in downtown Santa Cruz! They have seatings in the beautiful courtyard, which I am going to call and reserve next time. Food is good too Greek salad is so fresh and kebab is very tasty, a little pricy thought.

Pleasant, pricy, exactly what one expects from a restaurant and bar in Santa cruz

We LOVE Laili and celebrate our Anniversary there every year!

Laila Restaurant in Santa Cruz is a hidden gem that offers a delightful dining experience. We recently visited and were impressed by the quality and flavor of the dishes. We started with the lamb soup, which was delicious and hearty, served in a generous portion that was just right – not too heavy, not too light. The lamb pasta was exceptional, featuring fresh in-house fettuccine and a perfect tomato cream sauce that left us wanting more. The leek dumplings were another highlight – crazy good with a small portion size that was just perfect. The lamb kebabs came with delicious roasted vegetables on the side and flavorful rice. Although the lamb felt a little overdone, the overall dish was still quite enjoyable. We ended our meal with the pistachio cardamom ice cream, which was excellent – packed with tons of pistachios and very delicious. The service at Laila was great; the staff was friendly and attentive, making our experience even better. One downside is the parking, which is hard to find on the street. However, the great service and fantastic dishes more than made up for it. Laila Restaurant is truly a gem in Santa Cruz, and we highly recommend it for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.

I had not been to Lali for a few years, and I am sorry I took so long to remember how great this local restaurant is. I like everything about this place and I always have. I guess I just don't get out often enough to get back around to this one. I will not let that happen again, because this place is too good to forget, and I think it's in the top two or three restaurants in Santa Cruz, and I sure would not argue if someone claimed it was the best. Our most recent experience was a busy Saturday night, and though we arrived 10 minutes early for our reservation, they were so gracious and sat us almost immediately even though they were full and had folks waiting for tables. Our service was almost perfect, we were served drinks and wine quickly and we all ordered the same fabulous entree, the Filet kabobs. I knew from previous visits that this was not to be missed and my guests took my lead, so all four of us ordered the same thing. I know, not adventurous, but still a great choice as we all raved about how great the whole entree dish was presented and the fabulously tasty and tender steak. The steak is served with saffron rice with black currants and it was a great compliment to the steak and the three dipping sauces that come with it. Even the steamed vegetable were cooked perfectly and looked fresh and appetizing The only glitch was that one of our appetizers didn't make it to the order. The waitress was so awesome about the mistake, and even though we said it was ok, the other appetizers were great, so we didn't miss it, she still had it brought to our table so we could taste it anyway with our entrees, and we were not charged for it. Nice recovery! She also brought us a taste of the pistachio ice cream to taste too. She just went out of her way all through the dinner to make us feel special. Just really great service from start to finish, and that is so nice to complement great food. So, this place has earned a well deserved five stars from me and I will return much sooner.

We come here again and again :) I highly recommend this place. They are so good with allergy information and kids friendly place.

Patio is NOT dog friendly- previous commenters are incorrect or else the restaurant has changed their policy. I made an online rez and 2 days before the rez I received a vmail from the restaurant that they only allow service dogs.

It was pre-pandemic since we had had the pleasure of dining in Laili's beautiful courtyard and we are both so glad that we did. I ordered the delicious salmon with homemade wide fettucine noodles in a tomato/basil sauce. My husband ordered the chicken skewers with 3 sauces, rice, and veggies. We shared the chicken-apricot flatbread which included pomegranates and a flavorful sauce. To top off this dining experience, we shared a baklava and cream brulee with cardamon. Our waiter was attentive and allowed to enjoy our dinner without interruption. We certainly will return and not wait 5+ years to do so.

What a find! Stylish room, great service, and an unusual menu with Afghan appetizers and middle eastern entrees. We loved the karoo and the chicken with pomegranate seeds.

Out of the ordinary and so delicious. The room is stylish with booths, tables and outdoor options and service is quick and efficient. Our server helpfully explained that the appetizers are mostly Afghanwhike the entrees are “Mediterranean,” seemingly a blend of Turkish, Greek, Israeli and other cuisines, with pomegranate seeds, labneb and such.

This is Mediterranean food-like. It’s like med food cooked by someone who has never eaten Mediterranean food. Mantis were cold. Cauliflower dish did not have enough salt and was meh. Eggplant dish was very sweet. Lamb pasta was ok. Bolani was more empanada than bolani. Unleash we got all the awful dishes, this place is truly terrible. Even though I had eaten an edible, this food was terrible.

Vegetarian dumplings and dishes were amazing

I tried the chicken kabob and found that the yoghurt-based marinade had prevented the chicken from being grilled with a good char and was a bit tough. The chicken almost tasted like steamed chicken covered in sauce. I would suggest reducing the amount of yoghurt or cream or whatever it is that prevented the chicken from getting a nice char, or grill on a higher heat perhaps? The sauces, which I asked for on the side to accompany my chicken kabob were very rich (not light). Again possible excess use of cream or strained yoghurt was used? What I was hoping for was a herby fresh sauce with cilantro or something like that. The rice and veggies were fine. Staff, service and wine was good, hence three stars overall.

This restaurant was recommended by a friend and when I walked in I was immediately impressed by how nice the restaurant is decorated. We ordered two appetizers, Mixed Bolani and Mantoo. The Mixed Bolani is "crispy flatbread filled with your choice of spinach or butternut squash". I preferred the spinach and really enjoyed the chutney that came with it. The Mantoo was like Korean mandoo 🥟 but with a delightful tomato sauce on top. We then ordered five different entrees: Salmon Pasta Trout Roasted Cauliflower Filet Mignon Kabob Salmon The ingredients tasted very fresh. The salmon was almost sushi like in its texture although it was fully cooked. The trout did not have the typical strong trout taste. These were good things. However be warned that the trout had bones. The roasted cauliflower and filet mignon were also good. However in the end the four people that got rice 🍚 all thought their plates had too much rice and wished they had ordered a pasta dish instead 🍝. Everyone also agreed that the appetizers were better than the entrees. For dessert we had the Baklava and Rose Meringue. The baklava fans said that the baklava was good. However some of us did not expect the Rose Meringue to be so sour.

Lunch meal was expensive, but sat in outdoor courtyard under heat lamps, enjoying a sunny day. Food was good, creative, and cravable. Fine service, Mediterranean cuisine

Dinner last night was excellent! I had the pear flatbread as recommended by my waiter - it was sooooo good!

I had a patio table request for two reserved 2 months in advance for a birthday celebration. When we arrived, we were seated indoors and told the patio was unavailable, not sure why OpenTable had the patio available to select in the first place if they couldn’t honor the seating request. I had also informed of a birthday celebration in my request and most peer restaurants will offer a desert or at least a birthday greeting at the very least but not here. Food was great our server was good as well.

Had a quick lunch on our way through town. It was surprisingly good. 3 different plates and we were all happy with our choices. I had the flatbread with pear and bluecheese. It was excellent.

My friends and I had an excellent meal here on Saturday night. I was surprised to find our check (4 guests) had autogratuity added and not noted in any way. The service was excellent, but I have never had a check autogratted for 4 people... It felt sneaky so I'm not sure if I would return. Thank you everyone for a wonderful meal!!

Great burgers with great presentation and service was top notch

Really fresh ingredients, loved the chicken pomegranate dish. Creative recepies.

Laili is a wonderful place for good food and ambiance especially the outside area.

My first time here. The food was great, the space is modern/clean/comfortable/quiet, and the service was excellent. I will definitely be back to try more of their dishes.

We were accommodated graciously; service was excellent. The menu seems thoughtfully worked out. We were there for “hamburger event’ and the two we had were excellent. We’ll be back.

Went on Burger Week. Specialty burgers were tasty and creative.

Excellent food. Interesting options. Parking garage nearby.

Two grandparents, two parents and one three-years old grandchild. Three lamb burgers, one beef burger, carrots and hummus, small pizza - all exquisit! Staff attentive and responsive. Especially Katherine.

The lamb shank was delicious as were the leek dumplings.

Laili is always a treat.My only issue was the chicken kabobs were a bit dry. The lamb was perfect.Service was great.

First time there and will be coming back again. It was clean, nice and service was great

The food choices and flavors are wonderful and delicious. Nice ambience and service. It’s a pleasure to dine at Laili.

Laili's patio dining blends the Mediterranean atmosphere with Middle East cuisine. The meats melt in your mouth and the "Secret Garden" brings the ambience to the flavor filled menu to excite the palate and the mind.

Our waiter was very attentive excellent service he provided well done

Experience was underwhelming, the service was so poor that my friends, and I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time. We felt like we were being punked by the waiter. He didn’t want us there, was short with us and rushed us out. Won’t be coming back, even though the food was pretty tasty.

We’ve been trying to visit this restaurant on our trips to Santa Cruz for a few years. It was worth the wait! Fantastic food - excellent staff (friendly, great recommendations, attentive) and a great menu! Can’t wait to go again.

This was the third time we have been here and the food was amazing. we've gotten different dishes each time but the chia is out of this world. It's made so nicely. I would def recommend trying here

We sat outside -- ambiance was amazing -- service was even better -- food was terrific. Lots of road noise but not sure you can do much about that. This restaurant is very alive -- in the heart of downtown, positivity and good times. Will definitely be back.

Amazing. The Mediterranean plate is incredible. This appetizer alone can fill two people. The ice tea had the most flavor in tea I’ve ever had. I would recommend the pesto pasta the olives compliment the pasta perfectly. You also can’t go wrong with the lamb wrap. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more if I could’ve controlled myself from eating two naans with the Mediterranean plate.

Our Favorite special occasion dinner outings. The savory dishes are fabulous. The outside secluded patio dining area has a European ambiance. Christopher Mark Jones

Foods on another level. Stupendous.

Been a regular for about 10 years. An amazing place. Bean soup stunning. Pomegranate eggplant amazing.

Food is usually good, but when the waiter is non existent it ruins everything. We waited about 15 minutes before given water and then another 15 minutes went by before I had to go and ask our waiter to come and take our order. He delivered our salad and I had to ask for plates to eat it and he would walk by and see our empty plates, but not remove them. We had finished our meals at least 30 minutes before our friend got up to ask him to please bring out bill. Worthless for the experience! Also, when waiters come out of the back, chewing, they should be fired!!! One of my biggest pet peeves, I can't stand that!!! Did they take something off my plate and eat it or are they just chewing over my plate as they bring it out? Gross!

Been here before and loved it. Hard to believe they continue to improve every time. The level of service is impeccable, everyone one of the staff work so seamlessly together, with great enthusiasm, I don't want to call out one person because everyone was superb. We started with a glass of Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon which are incredible recommendation from the server. We enjoyed the complimentary naan and oil. Plus ordered Mediterranean Plate and the Apricot Chicken Flatbread which were so delicious, then another round of wine. I highly recommend this place and will hopefully order an entree the next time. Shout out to the owner who was just as attentive as his employee's Thank you for an enjoyable and memorable evening.

Been here before and loved it. Hard to believe they continue to improve every time. The level of service is impeccable, everyone one of the staff work so seamlessly together, with great enthusiasm, I don't want to call out one person because everyone was superb. We started with a glass of Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon which are incredible recommendation from the server. We enjoyed the complimentary naan and oil. Plus ordered Mediterranean Plate and the Apricot Chicken Flatbread which were so delicious, then another round of wine. I highly recommend this place and will hopefully order an entree the next time. Shout out to the owner who was just as attentive as his employee's Thank you for an enjoyable and memorable evening.

Unique ingredients and amazing flavors! Can’t wait to go back!!

The flavors were wonderful. There was such a nice combination of fresh ingredients with interesting spices. We thoroughly enjoyed our vegetarian meal.

Fantastic pomegranate eggplant dish

Hands down, best restaurant in Santa Cruz. Flavors are always spot on. I go here only for the food, but the service and ambience are great in case that matters to you. Tasty vegetarian and gluten-free options. Be sure to make a reservation.

Food was delicious. Service was pleasant but felt rushed.

Delicious food, many vegetarian options and friendly service.

What an amazing staff. Everyone was so nice and worked like a team. The food was outstanding once again! We are on the beautiful patio with heat lamps keeping us nice and toasty.

I went with a table of 3 vegetarians who were happy with their menus choices. My husband and I had the group which was very good. A fun talkative time was had by all. Very pleasant waitress.

My wife and I had an excellent lunch at Laili. Flavors and preparation of the food were very good. We have always had a great experience dining at Laili and will definitely be back.

Terrible hours, on/off service but decent food. My first time there I had an amazing "kadoo Barani" and a few other things. Almost every time since I have either been turned away like at 8pm because the place looked sorry and they were closing, OR I called in advance and they said they were going home. In my opinion (freedom of speech) a restaurant is the sum of many factors, not just taste of food. They have good food, but the worst hours and consistency. Please improve that!

We have been coming here for over 5 years, food is delish! Burgers, kabab, whatever they serve is usually A-1. Last visit was on Wed Dec. 27, 2023. Kudos to Jaden! Awesome server! The other young man in the man bun however, needs a little training, especially when people are paying $100. Also, meat was a tad fatty this time, must been an off day, otherwise fine.

We enjoyed sitting outside and the food was delicious as usual.

Always a wonderful experience. Excellent food and service and we love the outside patio. Thank you !!!

Food was ok (at best). Ambience was good. Service was meh.

Chard was tough. We took it home and re-cooked it but it remained too chewy.

Delicious food. We were in the mood for something different and this delivered. Katherine our server was fantastic!!! I’d highly recommend an experience at this restaurant

Excellent food, setting, customer service. Thank you!

Delicious food. Great service. Lovely patio. Thoughtful menu.

Fabulous food! Great atmosphere! Loved every bit.

Tried a wide variety of dishes and appetizers and it seems hard to go wrong here. So many unique and delicious flavors. Super good!

This was such a great dinner place for a date night. had great service from Katherine and delicious food. highly recommend the Mediterranean plate as an appetizer. Ordered The filet mignon kabob. Filet was great, sides were alright. Rice was a little dry and vegetables were pretty standard. Also ordered the arugula pesto pasta. Very good! The meringue dessert was amazing!

Excellent food with great service. Such a great place to reconnect with friends and family.

I love lamb it's my favorite of all. I ordered the lamb pasta, not enough lamb in there for me. I should have ordered the lamb burger, my mistake. My girlfriend had the pear gorgonzola on flatbread. She loved it it looked delicious also. Everything else was great

We enjoyed our lunch. Waiter was helpful. Had a table near the windows which great.

The coliflour plate w rice, salad and assorted sauces was wonderful. The way they blend the sauces and spices is perfection, leaving wonderful after notes of spices from exotic places, so pleasing and satisfying. We agree it’s one of our favorite places to always get a beautifully prepared meal, served with aplomb by sweet staff, and in an ambiance which we appreciate for its charm and COVID safe outside patio! We’d probably eat inside in a pinch too cuz the high ceiling and well spaced tables are inviting, but we really love the beauty of the patio with its ivy lined high walls, feeling like a pre war bistro in Europe. Thank goodness they’re staffed up again with the excellent wait staff and superb chefs ( can’t believe they chop the tahini so finely every day for the dipping sauce accompanied by fresh Nan (!), magic if you ask me!

As always, outstanding menu, (don’t miss the braised lamb pasta), friendly and professional service and lovely setting.

This place has one very important thing to figure out: portion size. I think folks don’t mind paying $16 for a beet salad, but considering the cost of ingredients it is insulting to get a tiny salad that not even two people could share. Same goes for their bolani and soup; soup portion was about right but one bolani? Come on… in East Bay when you order a dish of bolani you get like 8 or so pieces; in this restaurant you get one small bolani. Taste of the food was good but we left feeling like we got ripped off due to portion size. Service was the one redeeming factor of the meal, with Gillian being a very attentive and helpful waiter.

Was really looking forward to eating here but was disappointed with the experience. The food was subpar and the ambiance was terrible. It was incredibly loud and chaotic, not the peaceful ambience from the pictures. We were looking for a nice restaurant experience but this was not it, except for the price. Partway through we were able to move to a table outside which was much better but still very loud. We had some young waiters who were very friendly and commiserated on the chaotic atmosphere. The food wasn’t awful, it just wasn’t great. I was excited to order the cilantro Caesar salad only to find it had no cilantro in it and tasted like an airport Caesar salad. The chicken dish was equally unmemorable. The apricot chicken flatbread was good but nothing that lives on in my head. I would not come back and was disappointed with both the food and the ambiance/experience. Friendly service though.

Fantastic service and food. Courtyard is intimate and warm with heaters for an enjoyable winter evening. Easy to get a table for early seating on a Friday night.

The eggplant pomegranate dish was amazing. I got it with the potatoes instead of the rice. My friend got the lamb shank and he really enjoyed that as well. Maybe a little bit too much cinnamon on the lamb. Overall we were very pleased. And the new manager is a lot of fun

The food was delicious and I love the outdoor seating area, surrounded by plants. Very nice ambiance. The servers were attentive. Everything was great.

Absolutely amazing food, really fast and professional service! Loved the outdoor seating with the heaters. I would add that the price is actually really good for the quality and amount that you get.

This is a lovely location. Sitting outside in the courtyard is very festive . . . and well heated! However, it was $100 for the two of us, and I don't think I'll be going often after this.

Everything is always excellent. Phenomenal food and service. Great ambiance. A Santa Cruz gem.

Such a wonderful complex mix of flavors in their ingredients. It is always a hard choice which salads, hors d'oeuvres, entree's, desserts to pick. Whatever I pick we tend to still have a take-home box because their helpings are plenty large. When in a group, we often share tastes and their servings are large enough to accommodate this. My preference for seating is the patio but with winter's cold nights we opted to be inside. Of course that is always noisier than when I was there recently on the patio for a luncheon. Altogether special place. Not cheap but worth every dime!

Always unique and excellent menu! Need to come back soon to taste more of the wonderful offerings

Atmosphere was very nice but meat was very tough.

Loved the food and portion size. Nice location in santa cruz.

One of the nicer restaurants in the downtown Santa Cruz area. Our party of four diners were very impressed with the selection, quality, and reasonableness of price. Desserts were awesome. We sat out on the patio under heat lamps which worked well.

The pear and Gorgonzola Flat bread was fantastic as was the rest of our meal. It was our 50th Wedding Anniversary our waiter was very helpful and we had a wonderful evening.

Our second time to eat at Laili, it wasnt crowded, but we came early. Loved the food, drinks and service. The hot Chai tea was delicious, as was the cold ginger lime drink. We two vegetarian dishes. Love the pomagranate accents.