Erik’s Deli Cafe

First timer! The staff could be more warm and welcoming providing their guest (s) with an overall better dining experience. I did not receive one smile from any of the staff during my dining experience. Restaurant was vastly clean with minimal debris. Silverware area needed replenished as they did not have any spoons for the soup. Food quality overall was good; however, I ordered the tuna no tomato and received tomato on my sandwich. Although my husbands soup was steaming hot mine was a bit more on just the warm side.
Review updated: Management has excellent follow up regarding customer experience and/​or concerns! Another star added.

I have been to this location numerous times, it is always really slow and disorganized. Most locations are very fast getting the food to you. This location, I always have to ask for something, the cup for my drink, etc. For to go, the food sits on the prep counter until it is moved to the to go counter, then it sits there until the cashier notices and had time to give to you. Every time I order a salad, the salad is prepared after sandwiches for others behind me are made. I complained once and they said it was their process. This location could benefit from the practices of the other locations, such as Campbell. They are amazingly fast!

Like their sandwiches, hard working people there. Arrived here with the fiancé ten minutes before closing and they were still able to help us. They were friendly, hard working and took their time. One of the best locations here in Santa Cruz. Sandwiches were well made and ingredients were fresh. Definitely recommend.

I had the Raging Bull– which I had never had before. Roast Beef, Green Chile, pepper jack cheese warmed up on a roll– quite tasty.
The service was a little slow– but overall a solid lunch.
They moved since I had been to there old location years ago around the corner from Capitola Mall– FYI.

This Erik’s deli was actually quite impressive in regards to taking care of me. I have celiac disease and a dairy allergy so dining out can be quite difficult. We came right during dinner time one night and they were not crowded at all. The employee was really helpful and gave me the ingredient book to look at. I decided to get the soup and salad combo with chili and a side salad. He understood the procedures I needed taken to try to avoid cross contamination. The chili ended up being very good and the side salad was tasty as well. I really appreciated his attentiveness and willing to do whatever needed to be done.

Your whole lunchtime is over before they give you what you ordered, the service is ridiculously too slow.

Stayed at capitola best western and this deli so close that hubby walked. We called ahead and got two Fresh bay shrimp salads. Ready when he walked in. Yummy focaccia bread on side. Hubby said clean. Only drawback is salads appear larger on website. Extra bonus points… They use recycled containers and utensils. Will try sammies next time.

3 starts for the food 1star for the staff. It seems the staff is always «lost» and scattered. It’s pretty easy to make a half sandwich and bowl of soup. The clam chowder is one of the best in town but it needs to be hotter.

I love Erik’s and I have been to many different locations. This one I would frequent the most on work days.
As much as I love the food, one thing that I have to point out is I could never make special requests because they would ALWAYS go unnoticed. This is one place I could pick up food for my friend who has a gluten allergy. There were many times when I had to have them remake a sandwich because they ignored the fact that it needed to be on gluten free bread. Sometimes I would ask to not have onions or sprouts but it doesn’t matter because they don’t listen. I realized that I had to stop asking for special requests, but I think that they should really pay closer attention to the details.
The service at this particular one is mediocre. I feel like they never have enough people working even though it’s never particularly busy when i have been in there.

My experience at this location was above average. The cashier was friendly, my Abbotts Habit was delivered promptly, and it was both hot and tasty. I did come at 11 am today so I didn’t see the customer traffic that other reviewers complained about.
This was my second visit to this location, and if I am in the area craving Eriks I would come back.

Stood in a line with only 1 person helping customers but viewed a number of employees in the restaurant. When I got to the front of the line the employee was rude and nowhere close to being helpful. Food was expensive and mediocre at best. Won’t be back.

I ordered the Raging Bull off their «Served Hot» menu and the only thing that was hot was the bread. My friend ordered a regular turkey sandwich and requested it Hot and the only that was hot on that sandwich was the bread. Come on, Erik’s Deli! When a sandwich is supposed to be hot that means heat the meat and the cheese separate from the produce, toast the bread, and add the produce last. It was so weird to bite into a toasty warm bun with super cold meat. It does get 3 stars since it was fresh and good portions, but come on!

My experience here was beyond horrible. First off the cashier, Elizabeth, was hostile and rude. Then the panini I ordered came out cold. I asked then to warm it fully and they gave it back completely mutilated. I’m never coming back here. Total waste of time and money.

YUM. I’d never been to an Erik’s prior to this visit, but everything was fresh and served quickly. There’s a ton of different food options, and you can switch up your bread on any of the sandwiches they make. Would definitely come back!

I’m reviewing specifically this location, I prefer Soquel much more but have gone in here a few times. Recently phoned in a pick up order and they were ‘out’ of several things, it was confusing on the phone so I was nervous to see how our food would turn out. When I walked in I was blown away by the smell of bleach. I almost turned around and said forget it, the smell was intense! As I stood in line I watched the lady making sandwiches touch a rag that was on the counter sitting next to food, touch food, then touch the rag. It didn’t seem very sanitary, especially if it was soaked with the chemicals I was smelling. I wondered if she handled our food in the same way as I warily took the bag of take-​out. I paid with a debit card and the guy behind the counter couldn’t find a pen and stated someone yanked it. He sort of tried to find one around the register & then looked at me as if it was my problem. I dug around in my purse and found a pen, but if I didn’t have one he didn’t appear to have a solution. Strange! Not sure I’ll go back to this location. The food is decent so I’ll give two stars, but hesitate after the food handling that I saw.

Hands down the best sandwich by far from eriks. The staff was friendly very prompt and fast. My order was ready when I got their.

I always enjoy eating at Eriks Deli. I think my favorite part of the different locations has to be the decorations. The one here in Capitola has photos of what old Capitola village looked like in the 1800s-​Present.
As for the food it always tastes fresh. The staff is helpful and timely.
If you havent tried a sandwich a good choice is always the Pilgrims Progress.

I swear I see Erik’s Delis everywhere, so I was excited to give it a shot. I got the Ragin’ Bull sandwich with a side of clam chowder soup. The sandwich was alright, I personally think I could make a better one. The meat was really tough and chewy, while the bread was just so-​so. It didn’t seem fresh at all. I felt like they just heated everything up and added on the condiments. The only thing I really liked about the sandwich was that it had sprouts in it. Ordering soup was a big mistake. It was chunky and thick. You could really tell that it had just been sitting in a heated pot all day. Disappointing!

Maybe 2.5 stars, but I’m being generous today, since the Pilgrim’s Progress sandwich (turkey, avocado, standard goo of mayo/​mustard and sprouts on multigrain) was really fresh and yummy. I got a regular iced tea and added the free fresh lemon offered and was quite happy with my sandwich. Good deal!
My b/​f, though, made the huge mistake of ordering the Cross-​Eyed Charlie (Meatloaf sandwich)! Like the gross picture on the table top brochure, this monstrosity also looked bad up front and close and ended up being inedible. Good thing he also got some chips and desserts to make up for it.
Things I liked:
–Clean space
–Good service
–Calorie counts on the menu (wow!)
–Lots of options (veggie, vegan, gluten-​free, etc.)
Things I didn’t like:
–Foster Farms products — really? This is a mostly local chain and you can’t be bothered with getting less processed meat? Are you implying that there are no local butchers?
–the Cross-​Eyed Charlie (Meatloaf sandwich)! NASTY… do not keep this around… hopefully, no one else will eat it
–Smelled like Subway inside — yikes, bleah
I would stick to the items that you recognize and it should be fine.

I am so happy that Erik’s is offering Gluten-​Free bread! I had an Erik Berger for the first time in six years! It was delicious!
Although I miss the old farm/​ranch décor – I’ve been eating at their various locations pretty much since they opened in Scotts Valley, I was rather pleased at the historical pictures of Capitola that were present.
Service was fast and polite, food was FRESH!
I will be eating here again.
~AM