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✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Cozy venue offers traditional Sicilian recipes along with regional wines in a warm dining room.
Hours
| Friday | 4–9 PM |
| Saturday | 4–9 PM |
| Sunday | 4–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1148 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: (831) 425-2288
Website: https://www.lilliansitaliankitchen.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: lilliansitaliankitchen.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Italian Kitchen | Lillian’s Italian Kitchen | Santa Cruz
Delicious Italian Food Kitchen managed by family. Our meals are prepared with utmost care and love.
Lillian’s Italian Kitchen | Santa Cruz CA – Facebook
We’re a family run Italian restaurant. Our food is influenced by our Sicilian heritage and NY roots. Italian Restaurant · $$$ · (831) 425-2288.
Lillian’s Italian Kitchen: Best Dinner in Santa Cruz
Lillians Italian Kitchen8. Details. $15 – $25 for dinner; Hours: Monday – Friday: 5pm to 9pm, Saturday: 4pm to 10pm; Location: 1148 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA …
Reviews
Brian Williams
I went here for the first time recently. Right away, I found myself enjoying the high energy atmosphere. Everyone is there to eat good food, and have a great time. There was a lot of families and people on dates. Good vibes all around. The drinks appetizers and entrées were all delicious. I would definitely come here again anytime.
… moreK J L
First time here. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was great. Very friendly and attentive. He made sure everything was good. We had the chicken parmesan and it was excellent. Very nice restaurant, clean and great atmosphere. We will definitely be back.
… moreNick
We came in and got seated right away. The man at the front desk was very friendly. We got waters right away and they brought extra lemons. Helen, our server, was great!!! She came multiple times to check on us. She was very nice and made the night enjoyable. The inside is really clean and the layout feels great! She made everyone at the table laugh with her lively personality! I would highly suggest coming here!
… moreRichard LaFace
13 & 15 AUG25: Place was recommended by two friend’s who go to Santa Cruz every year and just chill. The restaurant is in a neighborhood setting and is always filled with locals and others happily being catered to by the friendly staff and great chefs. Shrimp and clams tender and well seasoned, house made pasta perfectly cooked, salads copious and delicious. Sharing starters will not disappoint. Cocktails are amazing. Special call out to
Deanna, Devin, Annie (Manager) and Emma
… moreDeanna, Devin, Annie (Manager) and Emma
Andrew Primus
I’m from Tennessee- I ate at this restaurant once, 13 years ago when they were an unassuming restaurant in a tiny yet charming, building down the street. You had to walk through the kitchen to use the bathroom! But food was so crazy incredible that I had to look it up and come back again on my next trip to Santa Cruz 13 years later.
They have upgraded their venue, but the charm is still there for sure. The service was stellar and the food was just as good as I remembered.
Possibly the best lasagna that I have ever had. Better than my mothers’. Lol.
All of the apps we had were amazing. The pesto primavera was sooo good- love the broccoli in it. And the chocolate pot de crème was an outstanding finish. Ugh. Wish you guys would open a branch in Nashville. 🙂
Thanks!
… moreThey have upgraded their venue, but the charm is still there for sure. The service was stellar and the food was just as good as I remembered.
Possibly the best lasagna that I have ever had. Better than my mothers’. Lol.
All of the apps we had were amazing. The pesto primavera was sooo good- love the broccoli in it. And the chocolate pot de crème was an outstanding finish. Ugh. Wish you guys would open a branch in Nashville. 🙂
Thanks!
Kathy Escott
We had a reservation for 4 at 6pm on a Wednesday night. The place was packed, and had ppl waiting to be seated. Reservation highly recommended. We were seated right away. The restaurant was a bit noisy but tolerable.
We ordered a bread platter served with sun-dried tomato tapenade and baguette slices from Companion bakery, which is the best in town.
We started our dinner with a large Caesar Salad to share, and a bottle of Super Tuscan. The wine was surprisingly good for the price. Caesar salad was okay. If they made the dressing with anchovies and vinegar, they were barely noticable.
Homemade Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Cream sauce was absolutely delicious. The flavor of gorgonzola came through but not overwhelming. The texture of gnocchi was nicely done.
Eggplant Parmesan with homemade marinara sauce was my favorite dish of all. The acidity of the tomato came through and brightened the flavor which made the dish even better.
Lasagna with “Sunday Gravy” just missed the mark. It could have used more cheese and more sauce, but it was nicely baked.
My husband, who is a huge fan of canollis, thought tonite’s canolli had the best filling he’s ever had.
Tiramisu was okay. It had a good flavor but a bit dry.
The service was excellent from the server to the person who bussed the table. Very courteous and efficient.
We were all very happy with our dinner experience and we look forward to going back again soon.
… moreWe ordered a bread platter served with sun-dried tomato tapenade and baguette slices from Companion bakery, which is the best in town.
We started our dinner with a large Caesar Salad to share, and a bottle of Super Tuscan. The wine was surprisingly good for the price. Caesar salad was okay. If they made the dressing with anchovies and vinegar, they were barely noticable.
Homemade Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Cream sauce was absolutely delicious. The flavor of gorgonzola came through but not overwhelming. The texture of gnocchi was nicely done.
Eggplant Parmesan with homemade marinara sauce was my favorite dish of all. The acidity of the tomato came through and brightened the flavor which made the dish even better.
Lasagna with “Sunday Gravy” just missed the mark. It could have used more cheese and more sauce, but it was nicely baked.
My husband, who is a huge fan of canollis, thought tonite’s canolli had the best filling he’s ever had.
Tiramisu was okay. It had a good flavor but a bit dry.
The service was excellent from the server to the person who bussed the table. Very courteous and efficient.
We were all very happy with our dinner experience and we look forward to going back again soon.
L
Came here a couple months ago and was very happy with the meal. Came back this week and ordered the same as last time and even when it was put in front of me I knew it looked different. The color and consistency of the sauce was totally different (I liken it to real cheese vs Velveeta but real tomato vs… oil?) what further confirms this is reheating my leftovers and it’s all an orange/yellow oil, no consistency to it but oil. It’s actually a bit nauseating. *See photo*
I can only assume based on look and taste that that only tomatoes in the tomato cream sauce are the few select fresh raw diced tomatoes put on top of the pasta when served, and that there is only tomato flavoring or tomato paste in the actual sauce itself. The sauce seemed to be buttery and oily with something added for color and a hint of tomato flavor. I ended up basically splitting my fiancés dinner.
The server was nice enough but didn’t feel like it was one of those great memorable experiences. The women next to us were shouting in our ears for about 5 minutes talking to somebody that walked past. But more importantly, we felt really rushed out by the bussers. I was still taking a bite of food when plates were picked up. I felt like our plates were being pushed to get picked up and pack us up when the people around us weren’t having the same experience (the loud women sat with plates on the table for at least 15 minutes not touching them.)
I felt like we were being watched and waited for to leave for whatever reason even though it was busy but no lines for tables. They were younger kids though so I don’t want to fault them fully vs what maybe their training was and could be the reason for making us feel like we had to leave quickly.. regardless, it was not an enjoyable dinner for multiple reasons. Sad because we thought we found a new Italian place after we gave up our other spot for similar quality and pricing issues. Guess we’re back on the hunt for something better.
****Tip for those still wanting to try- make a reservation not matter the day of the week
… moreI can only assume based on look and taste that that only tomatoes in the tomato cream sauce are the few select fresh raw diced tomatoes put on top of the pasta when served, and that there is only tomato flavoring or tomato paste in the actual sauce itself. The sauce seemed to be buttery and oily with something added for color and a hint of tomato flavor. I ended up basically splitting my fiancés dinner.
The server was nice enough but didn’t feel like it was one of those great memorable experiences. The women next to us were shouting in our ears for about 5 minutes talking to somebody that walked past. But more importantly, we felt really rushed out by the bussers. I was still taking a bite of food when plates were picked up. I felt like our plates were being pushed to get picked up and pack us up when the people around us weren’t having the same experience (the loud women sat with plates on the table for at least 15 minutes not touching them.)
I felt like we were being watched and waited for to leave for whatever reason even though it was busy but no lines for tables. They were younger kids though so I don’t want to fault them fully vs what maybe their training was and could be the reason for making us feel like we had to leave quickly.. regardless, it was not an enjoyable dinner for multiple reasons. Sad because we thought we found a new Italian place after we gave up our other spot for similar quality and pricing issues. Guess we’re back on the hunt for something better.
****Tip for those still wanting to try- make a reservation not matter the day of the week
Tiffany Sun
Haven’t been here in over a decade!
It was such a pleasant surprise to see that the hole in the wall Italian place expanded so much over the last few years. I remember the old location you had to walk through the kitchen to use the bathroom!
The food hasn’t changed- it’s still the great quality Italian food in Santa Cruz.
I got the strawberry blue cheese salad, fresh and citrusy- I love a good summer salad!
We also got the ragu and shrimp seafood pasta. Both are so delicious and cooked perfectly. The shrimp was so soft, I’m glad they didn’t over cook it- the fresh tomatoes on top with lemon was a great addition to the meal.
My ragu was great flavor, the meat was so tender! I’m so glad that the place expanded so now there’s more space to dine in. We were there and it seemed pretty busy! Looking forward to coming back.
… moreIt was such a pleasant surprise to see that the hole in the wall Italian place expanded so much over the last few years. I remember the old location you had to walk through the kitchen to use the bathroom!
The food hasn’t changed- it’s still the great quality Italian food in Santa Cruz.
I got the strawberry blue cheese salad, fresh and citrusy- I love a good summer salad!
We also got the ragu and shrimp seafood pasta. Both are so delicious and cooked perfectly. The shrimp was so soft, I’m glad they didn’t over cook it- the fresh tomatoes on top with lemon was a great addition to the meal.
My ragu was great flavor, the meat was so tender! I’m so glad that the place expanded so now there’s more space to dine in. We were there and it seemed pretty busy! Looking forward to coming back.
M W
What a find! Reservations needed even on a Tuesday night as the place was packed but they fit us in. Lots of big family groups but not crazy loud. Great cocktails, delicious Sicilian food and top wait staff adds up to a special night out.
… moreJacob Notowitz
This place serves really good food with excellent service. Hailey, our server, was a true professional. The buss boy and other staff made sure our water was full and the plates got cleared. This is obviously 5 for a reason! As a tourist, you don’t always know. But this place is a gem of a restaurant!!! Seafood pasta, beet salad, and the fettuccine Alfredo with the steak we’re all PERFECT! Very busy place!!!
… more