Capitola Diner

EDIT: There is now a change of business owner form up in the front door window. So this place is about to change.
This is a locally owned diner that has some unique quirks.
It’s located directly across from capitola mall in the same strip mall as an hr block and a dollar store. As such the parking close to the diner is for practical terms, unlimited.
The full name of this place is the capitola diner and sports bar. Way back in 2013 the original owners wanted to make this a full sport bar thing with live bands and whatnot. Unfortunately they got into some trouble by not getting the correct permits first and so that plan fell by the wayside. Still has a decent bar area, but it’s more diner then bar.
The space has the usual tables and booths common to diners and the aforementioned underutilized full service bar counter. There is no outside seating. The booths are kept up quite well and are comfortable.
The menu has a lot of choices-​breakfast all day (of course) along with the expected daily specials. The latino selections-taco’s burritos etc. are very well made. The shrimp tacos we had (it’s a daily special) had full size shrimp prawns. Three per taco. That was unexpected and gives the shrimp taco a whole new dimension of awesomeness. The place wasn’t overstaffed-​we came in after the lunch rush (if any) at 1 pm or so, and both employees were fully committed to the three tables that were present. The service was good verging on great, we were well attended on food and drink, but was a small delay with the check. No biggie, but if there had been six tables that could have swamped them.
The pricing conforms to the area, you are looking at 15 – 20 dollars a plate. The happy hour however, is a great deal offering beer on tap (domestic) for 2.50 a pint which is a real bargain. The bar bites offered with this are all the greasy half price goodness you could want (full size shrimp tacos!) The michelada con camerones is truly magnificent, practically a meal by itself. Do note that there is no dedicated bartender, so the waitstaff will be making your drinks. the beer/​wine/​well drinks options are not spectacular but are very agreeable with the better then expected food choices.
Overall this is one of the better diner options available.

We really like this place. Large menu, good food, reasonable prices. Alex always says hello. Sometimes slow service but we’ve never been in a rush. A good place for avoiding pretentious prices.

I was in the mood for some quick and greasy food one Saturday night. Capitola Diner was a nearby option that was still open. Curiously though, there’s no link to a business website and the most recent reviews are pretty poor. However, it turned out surprisingly good! I immediately got excited when I saw «ALL DAY BREAKFAST» written on the specials board outside.
My boyfriend and I arrived as soon as another elderly couple were about to leave. We were the only ones dining throughout our entire meal. Service wasn’t bad at all, but I could see how it could potentially be bad had it gotten any more busy. It’s not really a sports bar, but that’s not important. Prices were decent – we both got breakfast specials for about $ 10 each, enough to satisfy our appetites.
Overall: Don’t be deterred by the reviews! Try it especially if you like breakfast food. I’ll probably come back to try their weeknight dinner specials.

Waitress was nice. A bit in hurry on a slow night… Kept being in a hurry to order. Asked for water, husband got some, she never brought any for me. I asked for water again when we ordered salads and dinner. When our food came. Still no water for me, and didn’t bring any or refill my husband. She went missing. Husband had a burger, he liked it but bread got soggy at the end. Salads were good but really small. I had chicken fried steak. Chicken fried steak was hardly warm, soggy on the bottom, gravy was curdled and thin and had a weird tangy taste. Not at all gravy. The steak also tasted sour and sort of hard. And a ton of pepper. Husband tried it, he didn’t care for it either. So I ate my salad and my steamed veggies, which were good. I left the chicken fried steak. We didnt see the waitress to tell her my chicken fried steak wasn’t any good. So I just drank my tea, ate my salad and vegetables. Finally she comes back to take plates and says. Didn’t like it huh. I said no, and why. She says ok, well I can get you a container for your dog… I said no thank you. I wouldn’t eat this so why would I feed my dog sour meat? She laughed and took our plates away.
She returns with our check and says. The manager tasted your dinner and said it tasted great to him and didn’t see a problem with it. Are you kidding me?!! He ate food from my plate. WOW!!! I said well that’s gross. He ate food from my plate, that I chewed and spit out of my mouth and back on to the plate and he ate from that? All she could do was laugh. I said are you serious? She said yes, he said is was good to him… Then she says well, It was a hard decision for you to order that so maybe it was just a sign for you not to eat food like that… This woman has got to be crazy.
The entire time we were there. I never once complained. We were very nice even though she was inappropriate with her comments and service. The only problem was my main part of the meal. And the manager eating it from my plate. gross. I never got a chance during our meal to tell her I didn’t care for it because she never came back to ask. She disappeared. There didn’t seem to be anyone around to ask about it. In the end. She gave us a bill that that didn’t reflect a % off for a bad meal. I didn’t ask her to but she should have offered that knowing why didn’t eat it. Hell at that point. The manager should have paid for his part of my dinner that he ate. What a idiot. Both of them. We won’t be going back again. Just disgusting all around.

Gross food and slow service. What more can you say? I would not recommend until they do something about the food quality.

Went here for Monday night happy hour to watch some Monday night football as they advertise themselves as a «sports bar». As we walked in we looked for a spot near a tv to watch the game but were directed into a corner of an empty restaurant across the room from a tiny tv. Next on the wall outside it says $ 2.50 beers, this is incorrect, they are $ 3.25 for a 12 oz. pour during happy hour. We ordered the happy hour wings and it turns out happy hour here just means less as we got 5 wings for $ 5. It’s not really a deal if you just give a significantly smaller portion, the waitress even admitted this to us that in their words the happy hour portions are «significantly less food».
All in all the wings actually tasted pretty good but for the price there is absolutely no deal to be found here, go to a real happy hour.

Pretty good place a bit funky /​cheap but prices are fair and it’s not crowded. ihop down the street was packed with a line out the door and their food is pretty mediocre. This food was in the same ball park. Think Denny’s quality food and you won’t be disappointed. That said they certainly could improve the quality. Service was prompt really can’t complain. So using the old rule of fast cheap or good this place delivers on fast and cheap.

Tonight, Saturday, October 24, 2015, at about 6:45, 4 adults and 2 nine year olds went here. There seemed to be a adequate number of cars in the parking lot to assure us that the place wasn’t bad.
The host took our orders, and we told him that everyone was hungry.
After what seemed a long while, we hunted him up and he brought 2 root beer floats, some chips that tasted funny and a tiny cup of salsa.
After a longer while, he brought fish and chips for me, prime rib for one, roast beef and dip sandwich, some cheese meat sandwich, a slice of pizza, and a hamburger. In terms of the meat, with one exception, it was inedible. It was too tough to cut or pull apart and it was 30% or more fat. The «fish and chips» was almost warm fish sticks — 3 to be precise with some almost warm French fries.
One adult ate his sandwich. The kids, who were starving drank the root beer floats, but passed on the meals. None of the other adults are.
It took a long while to get the bill, and get the credit card run.
The meal cost about $ 60, and we left a 15% tip.
Then we drove home over the hill, and raided our refrigerators because we hadn’t had dinner.

It’s an OK place — nothing wow about it. It was dead on a Friday night and our waitress must have been new she didn’t know that Tierra & Mar was surf & turf in English. The steak was tough and the portions were small — we were expecting a bit more on the plate. Kinda reminded me of a Denny’s.

This review is way overdue! My husband and I love coming here whenever we have a chance. Jeff and the rest of the staff are so sweet and always take such great care of us. The food is good and the prices are too. Definitely our favorite local diner!

absolutely gross. service was horrible, the food was gross, and the waiter i had ignored my party as we flagged him down. I got probably the worst french dip ive ever had, it seemed like the cook just microwaved the mead and bread. My grandmother also got steamed vegetables that looked like they were out of a frozen bag you microwave. If i could give no stars i would cause this is a gross diner at best. Highly UNrecommended!

We were up in the area wasting some time and decided to stop for a bite. It wasn’t very busy but we were in need of some lunch. It was a little dark and in need a facelift inside but it was ok. Service was good. I noticed that every customer that walked in after us was a regular as the staff knew them by name. Glad to see how friendly they were.
We started out with guac and chips. I don’t know if it’s because avocado’s are from California, but this was really great guacamole. My husband isn’t much of a guac eater but he even liked it.
I chose one of the lunch specials of cajun tilapia with rice and beans. Had a good flavor but a little overcooked. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.
Overall everything was ok for our lunch visit.

This place was not bad, it is a converted Carrow’s I believe. The food was pretty good, our waitress was nice, and the price was reasonable. I would go back here again, it is no frills, but it gets the job done

This place feels like it used to be a Lyons. After driving past this place for years I finally decided to stop for breakfast. It was dark, and a little run down looking, but I figured I’ve seen works. Our server, Cynthia, was pleasant, attentive without being overbearing and fast. The food on the other hand was pretty miserable. I give the place one star for the food, and 5 stars for service, but the food and the décor drag it down to two.

I’ve been there a few times and never had a problem. my kids actually love it, however for lunch the other day I ordered a shrimp Louie and was the grossest thing I’ve ever had. The shrimp was actually frozen prawns sliced in half that tasted like a rubber band and the lettuce was old and smelled like cardboard. I ate the avo and some of the eggs because I was hungry. So nasty. I don’t think I’ll be back. Service was also horrible

Dad had a patty melt dads gf had a cheesesteak both said ten outta ten. Now I had the clam chowder with the wedge cut fries, not the best chowder I’ve had but it was ok (I like my clams chewy).
Signed,
The Lone Reviewer.

10 minute wait without even a greet, asked a server and they rebuffed us saying something about us not being their table. We just left. Would give zero stars if possible.
HORRIBLE service.

Really tasty lunch. Group of four of us chose different entrees inc. Monterey chicken sandwich, buffalo strips and the appetizer platter.
All exceeded expectations and had fresh ingredients. Friendly service too!

Inexpensive and perfectly okay diner across the street from the Capitola Mall. They serve all of the basic diner items at the usual diner prices.
They do have a full bar, but the families and retirees who make up the customers don’t seem to be sucking back too many martinis or even ordering any beer. Instead, the bar is just kinda in the back. Sad and lonely.
The poorly-​spelled «Sport Bar» signs make the place look much worse than it is. Just pretend that it says «Inexpensive place for you to take your kids on a Wednesday night». But that likely would take up too much space.

Stopped by here on my way surfing. It is a Diner, so I knew there would be a nice greasy breakfast waiting inside.
The décor was diner like with lots of booths. It was clean and the booths weren’t all torn up.
I ordered the Joe’s Special breakfast with country potatoes. It arrived in a reasonable amount of time and was very good.
My buddy ordered the veggie omlette and devoured it, so it must have been good.
The service was attentive but not annoying. Our server was really cool and did not rush us at all. He even kept the drinks filled while we just hung out & talked.
Overall, the experience was very good and I’ll be back.