Value lunches: downtown Santa Cruz

July 9, 4:47 PMSanta Cruz Restaurant ExaminerTara Fatemi Walker

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Most people appreciate good values, and with today’s economy that’s never been more true. For those who live or work in Downtown Santa Cruz, here are some recommended restaurants for value lunches. For Westside Santa Cruz lunch values, click here. Also available: lunch choices for Aptos, Capitola, and Soquel. If you’d like more suggestions on any area in particular, let me know and I’ll do my best to post more listings quickly.

Kianti’s
Kianti’s is your place if you are seeking a great value and you have time for a leisurely lunch. Service can be a bit slow, but the food is excellent and priced right. Choose from several $6-8 lunch specials including a mini one-topping pizza with a small salad for $7. Kianti’s offers traditional and gourmet toppings such as artichoke hearts, feta, grilled chicken, mushrooms, pepperoni, and sun-dried tomatoes. This mini pizza and salad may sound small, but it’s a satisfying lunch. Other lunch special options include ravioli (meat or cheese) or pasta (spaghetti or penne) with salad; restaurant staff refer to them as “child” or “half” portions” (compared to dinner) but they are good-sized for lunchtime especially with salad. The comfortable patio at Kianti’s overlooks Pacific Avenue so it’s great for people-watching. Lunch specials are offered Monday-Friday from 11am-3pm, excluding holidays, and are not valid for to-go orders. Note: the Pacific location began serving in 2004. In June 2009, Kianti’s opened a second location near Santa Cruz Wharf – at 46 Front Street across from Las Palmas – that offers pizza-by-the-slice (the Pacific location doesn’t have this), whole pizzas, and sandwiches, but no pastas or salads.
Located on Pacific Ave. at Cathcart
Favorites: Pasta with pesto cream sauce or Mini Pepperoni Pizza, plus salad with house balsamic dressing

Little Shanghai
This restaurant has some of the best Chinese food in Santa Cruz, and its lunch specials (Monday-Friday from 11:30-2:00) are an easy way to try out a couple dishes. Whether your tastes run to stir-fried or deep-fried, tofu or beef, you’ll be happy at Little Shanghai (open in Santa Cruz since 1986, at this location since 1993). Customers walk up to a counter and view all of that day’s choices for lunch combinations, which start at $4.95 for one item (two items are $5.75, etc.). In addition to the entrée, the lunch comes with a cup of soup plus rice or noodles and a small (optional) side of pickled cabbage. Three soup choices include spicy hot-and-sour (my favorite, with lots of tofu, black mushrooms, and carrots); soup is not included on to-go orders. There are three rice choices: brown, white fried rice, or chile-fried rice. Noodle options are veggie chow mein or chow fun. Because you order lunch at a counter and pay at a register, you receive your food quickly. You can also order food off of the menu instead of the already-prepared specials; in that case you order and pay, then wait for your food to be cooked (recommended off the menu: peanutty Dan Dan Noodles, $4.50; add tofu for $1.95, and if you want dessert try Sesame Balls, 3 for $1.25). Beverage choices include “Bobas” for $2.50. These milk tea-tapioca drinks come in Jasmine, Thai, and Black Tea flavors. There is patio seating if you feel like enjoying your lunch outside. If you’re willing to wait until 2pm and risk your favorite food being sold out, you can get an even cheaper lunch. From 2-2:30pm Little Shanghai cuts prices on any remaining lunch items (this only applies to specials, not to anything on the printed menu). A one-item combination is only $3.75 instead of $4.95. It’s a great way for the restaurant to reduce food waste while offering customers a bargain.
Located on Cedar Street at Locust
Favorites: Tofu Mushroom Garlic Sauce or Gan Pong Chicken with brown rice

Woodstock’s Pizza
Woodstock’s opened its Santa Cruz location in 2007; it has several other California locations in Central and Southern California. If you’re craving a quick pizza lunch, this is a good spot. Specials are available from 11am-4pm daily for both dine-in and take-out orders. Pepperoni and cheese slices are $2.49; veggie slices on wheat crust and slices-of-the-day are $2.99. Or try a combination such as slice-and-soda ($3.99), sandwich and soda, or slice-salad-soda (the latter two are $6.99). With the combinations, if you’re hungry you can add an extra slice for $1.99. If you’re in a group of 2-3 people and have time to wait a few minutes, another special to consider (available at dinner too, not just at lunch) is one of the restaurant’s “all-the-time” deals: get one medium 1-topping pizza plus one 8-inch “CinnaBread” (cinnamon – for dessert) or “WildeBread” (garlic/herb) for $15.99. Woodstock’s has a large indoor seating area plus a spacious patio.
Located on Front Street in the Trader Joe’s/Long’s plaza
Favorites: BBQ Bird slice (barbecued chicken, bacon, red onions – Thursday’s special) or Kauai pie (grilled chicken, jalapeno, pineapple – Wednesday’s special) and salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Erik’s Deli
Erik’s has more than 25 Bay Area locations including 5 in Santa Cruz and its surrounding areas. It first opened in 1973 in Scotts Valley. Erik’s doesn’t offer lunch specials, but its affordable menu is available at lunch or dinner (it’s open until 9pm Monday-Saturday and 8pm on Sunday). Erik’s offers many sandwich combinations, including both hot and cold choices. There aren’t many vegetarian selections; options include cheese, avocado (very fresh), or both of these plus other ingredients. The other dozen choices include a variety of meats such as chicken, turkey, ham, roast beef, and tuna salad. Prices are $5.99-$6.49 or $3.99 for a half sandwich. Erik’s “combos with character” work for people who are especially hungry and for those seeking a light meal. A cup of soup plus salad is $5.99, a half sandwich with a bowl of soup or house salad is $6.99, and a full sandwich with cup of soup or side salad is $7.99. The house salad contains lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, croutons, and a little pasta salad on top. There are several soups always on the menu – including tomato basil – plus varieties that rotate. Erik’s also has a large selection of entrée salads such as Chinese Chicken Salad ($6.99). If you dine in and order a fountain drink, refills are free. Drinks – even if you just get free water from the soda machine – are served in Mason-Jar-like glasses, a fun touch. Another way to save money: ask for an Erik’s customer card at the register and receive a punch each time you order a sandwich or combo. After ten punches, your next sandwich or combo is free.
Located on the corner of Cedar Street and Walnut
Favorites: Sweet Liberty (turkey, swiss, red bell peppers and sweet hot mustard on 9-grain wheat bread)

Because downtown Santa Cruz is filled with restaurants, it’s impossible to talk about all of them in one article – even just those with good lunch values! Feel free to comment online and offer your own choices, and let me know if you might like a “downtown part two!” Also, don’t forget to check my Santa Cruz Restaurants page often -- I post new articles several times per week. Thanks and Bon Appetit!

The Details:
Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar, 1100 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz 95060, (831) 469-4400
Little Shanghai, 1010 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz 95060, (831) 458-2460
Woodstock's Pizza, 710 Front Street, Santa Cruz 95060, (831) 427-4444
Erik’s Deli, 155 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz 95060, (831) 425-5353