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Established in 2005, Johnny’s Harborside is a local Santa Cruz gem serving coastal Californian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, local seafood. Overlooking the scenic harbor, this restaurant offers a welcoming atmosphere and a menu full of classic favorites and innovative dishes. You can find everything from flavorful clam chowder to expertly prepared fish tacos, ensuring a delicious and satisfying experience for every guest.
An eclectic menu of seafood dishes with Mediterranean & Asian influences amid harbor views.
Hours
| Friday | 12–9 PM |
| Saturday | 12–9 PM |
| Sunday | 12–8 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 12–8 PM |
| Thursday | 12–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 493 Lake Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: (831) 479-3430
Website: http://johnnysharborside.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: toasttab.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Johnny’s Harborside | Discover Coastal Dining Today
Enjoy fresh seafood and coastal cuisine with harbor views at Johnny’s Harborside in Santa Cruz. Experience our inviting atmosphere and curated drinks.
Johnny’s Harborside | Santa Cruz CA – Facebook
Pull up a seat, watch the harbor, and toast to golden hour with us ✨ Johnny’s Harborside ⏰ Daily | 3–5pm Tag your happy hour crew and meet us by the water …
Johnny’s Harborside (@johnnysharborside) – Instagram
2.3K+ followers · 1.8K+ posts · A fresh seafood dining experience overlooking the beautiful Santa Cruz Harbor and Monterey Bay.
Reviews
Charlene Larson Rotandi
What a gem! We were looking for some seafood for our family, and were pleasantly surprised by the freshness and quality of the food! Also, great value and super hospitable staff. The fish and chips are generously portioned, and delicious. The grilled halibut with the corn risotto was excellent and devoured in no time. The fried brussel sprouts and calamari were appetizing and quickly enjoyed by all. The smoked beet and kale salad was scrumptious. We ended the meal with petite key lime pie in a mason jar which was “superb!” New chef and menu, an absolute must-go!
… moreNikolai L.
I was there with my wife, at ~06:00 PM, on 8th October 2025, order two half dozen of oysters, one regular and one premium, just to compare what is the difference.
I’ve tried and actually eat on of the regular oyster which occurs with weird taste, and appear smelly. I give one more try, and was not impressed with second oysters either.
I decided not to eat the remaining part of the dish, as I was very suspicious that the cook is not assessing the oysters for the quality and I don’t want myself become poisoned.
I mentioned to the waiters that the oyster has weird taste and smells. The waiter feedback was a question on how many of the oysters I experience smelly and offer to replace the exact amount of the smelly oyster with new one.
I assume she want me to give another try :))))
This message is for the new customer to beware on the quality assurance to be done by the customer. Do not fully relay on cook.
By the way, even with my negative experience. I paid full charge of the dishes and the restaurant not acknowledge they mistake and not offer the discount.
… moreI’ve tried and actually eat on of the regular oyster which occurs with weird taste, and appear smelly. I give one more try, and was not impressed with second oysters either.
I decided not to eat the remaining part of the dish, as I was very suspicious that the cook is not assessing the oysters for the quality and I don’t want myself become poisoned.
I mentioned to the waiters that the oyster has weird taste and smells. The waiter feedback was a question on how many of the oysters I experience smelly and offer to replace the exact amount of the smelly oyster with new one.
I assume she want me to give another try :))))
This message is for the new customer to beware on the quality assurance to be done by the customer. Do not fully relay on cook.
By the way, even with my negative experience. I paid full charge of the dishes and the restaurant not acknowledge they mistake and not offer the discount.
Jeff Walker
The place is beautiful and well-located. The service was very good, and the food overall was ok. We ordered the halibut dish with rice and bok choy. Honestly, I was expecting more flavor. The rice was good, but the fish was tasteless, and the bok choy had a burnt taste. We also had the clam chowder, which was very good and flavorful, and the house salad was also excellent. As for the halibut — which came as a recommendation — I wouldn’t recommend it, considering also the price $$$, though maybe it was just an off day.
… moreWeslynn Finfrock
I am a self professed Caesar salad snob. Harborside’s Caesar was excellent! It was very fresh and perfectly dressed. I haven’t had a Caesar that good in a long time. The clam chowder was very tasty with a nice creamy texture but was shy on clams. Would I order it again? Absolutely. Is it the best clam chowder I’ve ever had? That would be a no. On the whole, our entire meal was very pleasant, and we would not hesitate to enjoy another meal there!
… moreTery Ayers
Our first visit hear and we were not disappointed. They offer fresh fish options daily and 3 ways to have them served. I chose the Halibut, Mashed Potatoes and mixed veggies so good! My hubby had the Fish Tacos which he ravee about. Starter was Crab Cakes Highly recommend! The Garlic Bread was good but I expecting more of a sourdough it was french bread. For our anniversary they comped dessert and I chose Creme Brulee. Great Dinner and experience.
… moreKate Sadovenko
Delicious fresh fish and seafood! Tasty salad and bread. Amazing view. Good service. Recommended
… morePatricia Tierney
Have not been at Johnny’s for over a year but tried it again and was pleasantly surprised at how everything was perfect this time!
Halibut and corn risotto were cooked to perfection. Burrata appetizer was so good! Service was welcoming, none of the previous aggressive upselling. I will definitely go again and bring friends. Thanks for dialing in a great experience!!
… moreHalibut and corn risotto were cooked to perfection. Burrata appetizer was so good! Service was welcoming, none of the previous aggressive upselling. I will definitely go again and bring friends. Thanks for dialing in a great experience!!
Chelsea Ramsey
This place has delicious food and incredible views of the marina area! It’s lovely to watch out the windows at sunset and keep your eyes open because you may just spot a few sea lions!! The place is a bit expensive but when you combine the amazing view and the delicious, super fresh sea food, it is completely worth it!! The bar area can make the place a bit loud so Fair warning on that but it would be a very romantic place to go at sunset!!
Our part of three shared a salad and it was crazy because we still had extra since it was pretty large sized. It was fresh and tasty though! I got the shrimp scampi and garlic bread and boy did it not disappoint!! It was delicious that evening and I had the leftovers for dinner the next night and it was just as good! Thinking about the food again is totally making me hungry for it again!
… moreOur part of three shared a salad and it was crazy because we still had extra since it was pretty large sized. It was fresh and tasty though! I got the shrimp scampi and garlic bread and boy did it not disappoint!! It was delicious that evening and I had the leftovers for dinner the next night and it was just as good! Thinking about the food again is totally making me hungry for it again!
Liz P.
We ordered the daily special of raw oysters—absolutely delicious! We also tried the fresh halibut, brought in straight from the boat; it was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. Their appetizers are always creative, and while the execution sometimes varies, they get high marks for originality.
We don’t frequent places that feel redundant, so this spot keeps us coming back.
Service is consistently good, and the view of the harbor is spectacular, making it a fun place to enjoy beautiful summer days. The vibe is casual, with a lively bar full of regulars.
For parking, there’s a paid meter conveniently near the restaurant, with an additional machine at the far end of the larger lot.
If you have some extra time, walk down the harbor on the other side to visit the lighthouse (see photos).
… moreWe don’t frequent places that feel redundant, so this spot keeps us coming back.
Service is consistently good, and the view of the harbor is spectacular, making it a fun place to enjoy beautiful summer days. The vibe is casual, with a lively bar full of regulars.
For parking, there’s a paid meter conveniently near the restaurant, with an additional machine at the far end of the larger lot.
If you have some extra time, walk down the harbor on the other side to visit the lighthouse (see photos).
Jason Hall
Stopped in for a late lunch with my wife and tried the blue crab stuffed avocado. Ordered the Huli Huli halibut with roasted Bok Choi and wifey ordered the fish tacos. The service was outstanding (I think it was the owner and he showed a lot of pride in the establishment) and the blue crab stuffed avocado was so good I had to order another one. The Bok Choi was delicious, delicious, delicious and the Halibut was cooked perfectly! The plate of fish tacos was huge and a good flavor. Will for sure go back for the food and the view was awesome!
… more