Mentone

Where to even start with my review? I booked this place for a corporate event I was a part of and the entire group absolutely loved our experience dining here at Mentone. They aren't usually able to accommodate larger groups, but they were able to get our group of 15 seated by pushing two high-rise tables together. We had needed to make a change to our reservation last minute but they were able to accommodate this. Our main waiter was super friendly and mentioned that they usually didn't get a lot of corporate events and was interested to know more about what we did. He had a couple of other staff members assisting him throughout the meal who were great about making sure our waters were always filled and that dirty plates were replaced quickly with clean ones. Our waiter gave several of us at the table some recommendations of which drinks to get and also let us know about a special pasta dish that a chef from over the hill had specially prepared only for this evening. However, he was truthful that the plate was a bit lighter and if we wanted something more filling, he could recommend one of the other options off the menu. For our apps, we had some rustic, fresh focaccia bread paired with their fresh, chilled stracciatella, which was a creamy, delicious cheese. We also ordered their caesar salad which was the best caesar salad I've had in my life - the parmesan was super fresh and there was just the right amount of creamy dressing drizzled over fresh greens and crispy home made croutons. We also ordered some olives which were fresh, and tart and made for a nice palate cleanser. Do you notice how fresh is the key theme here?For my main, I decided to get their trenette pasta, based on the waiter's recommendation. This was a linguine pastas with clams, some type of sauce that reminded me of brown butter sauce, and a generous amount of breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. Oh, the breadcrumbs. This dish was heavenly - before you even put a bite in your mouth, your tastebuds already get the taste of the clams and the breadcrumbs give a nice crisp to each bite that complements the texture of the clams and pasta so perfectly. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this review. This dish was the perfect amount of food as well - it filled me up but didn't leave me feeling like a total glutton. Some others at our table ordered a variety of fresh-baked pizzas. You can see them cooking it in the open kitchen with their huge oven kiln and the pizza is absolutely perfect. The crust is nice and crispy but still has a good amount of doughyness to it. The toppings pair perfectly together and everything is super fresh. Mentone received a Michelin star in 2021 and this is a well earned star. Everything we had here was amazing and I would absolutely come back.

Ive been a few times. The food is not consistent. The stracciatella can sometimes be alright, but the last time it was like half melted cheese mixed with warm milk; stringy, lumpy and a bit sour. If you arrive early the pizza will be soggy on the bottom while burnt black on top. The ovens aren't hot enough to fully get the crust cooked. Do not get the steak unless you like eating shoe leather.The pasta dishes are mere appetizers. The service however, is consistently bad, and often nearly offensive. I've had good service just once. Ever since the servers are rude and just don't seem to care. I sat next to a table where their entrees came out an hour apart. The manager has been so extremely rude to customers I was surprised customers didn't walk out. The last time I went I witnessed a yelling match between the manager and a dinner party that was in no way even civil.There's still potential here. It could be a quaint comfy place but there's something seriously wrong. You can tell when employees are happy and enjoy the job, not here. It almost seems the employees and even kitchen staff are sabotaging the place. * Afer reading several other reviews, this sort of treatment seems too common. I can only surmise the manager gives preference to certain ethnic or observed wealth of diners. * Be aware if you decide to go. I won't be back.

Love love love Mentone! What a gem in the heart of Aptos Village. Chef Grubbs creates not only delectable Italian fare, but also beautiful plates as well. I've always appreciated plates that consider the visual of a contrasting colorful drizzle on a plate or the impressive towering shavings of cheese on a salad, for example. They're beautiful without trying to be.Right when you step inside, the restaurant transports you to Italy with its large room, filled with the sounds of happy people eating, and framed posters decorating the walls.Mentone is one of the only restaurants where everything I order is delicious, from salad to dessert. Everything. And the service is always excellent and authentically homey. Mentone is truly a special place.

I've been here a few times now, including one instance at the bar for cocktails and light bites.The food here is consistently excellent, as you would expect from a place started by a 3* Michelin chef. The irony is, I have yet to have the pizza here. I will try on my 4th visit - I promise :). One of my favorites here is the polenta - such great flavors and texture.The cocktails here are also meticulously and deliciously prepared. Mentone will not disappoint!

Been wanting to try this place out for some time now, and finally got the chance. It was a bit of a colder night with drizzle, so it was indoor seating only. We arrived 15 minutes before our reservation, and were told we couldn't get seated until the time we reserved. It did look pretty busy, and seems like seating is somewhat limited. We were quickly greeted by our server, who walked us through the menu. We went with a Margherita pizza and a Caesar. I believe all food options are meant to share. The Margherita was delicious, I just wish it had a bit more cheese. They did offer to add some type of special cheese, but I decided to opt out of it. The Caesar was delicious. I loved the croutons. Parking is limited, but there is some street parking. Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience here and am extremely happy with the food!

Our favorite spot in the Aptos / Santa Cruz area! Great food, outstanding service, very relaxed vibe. Perfect when you want something comfortable, delicious, and reliably high quality.

Great food, service and ambience. We are big fans. Get reservations early. It's popular for a good reason.

Tucked away in the aptos rolling hills, surrounded by trees and the singing of birds lies a little homage to the French Italian riviera, Mentone.Mentone a restaurant brought to us by David Kinch brings us the flavors of the French-Italian riviera in a way that quaint little Santa Cruz hasn't seen before.In my most recent visit I found myself absolutley enchanted by the atmosphere the place holds. It's bright, open, and has a unique personality all its own, a place I would have any special occasion take place.The wait staff was so nice, welcoming, and professional, for a moment my Italian grandmother could even picture us at a relatives house for a Sunday meal!And the food was superb, we got their eggplant starter a try to begin our meal, and it hit on every level, the bright mint and Calabrian pesto really cut through the fried eggplant and made what you might think a heavy dish into a light and beyond satisfying affair! And the pizzas oh my goodness are they the best we've had in this town! From the pizzas light and crispy crust and the simple yet clever arrangements to go on top, it felt like the pizza maker and the baker were composing a a harmony that compares to the likes of Mozart. The cocktails also looked quite elegant and creative however I do not drink so I didn't have a chance to try one, however my brother told me they were "excellent beyond compare" and watching the bar work I could tell that to be true.Overall to have such a fine experience in a restaurant beautifully lit and charismatic, a well oiled kitchen seen through the open kitchen, and food that felt like I could be eating it in the warm dry Italian sun along the riviera. It's an experience I'll not soon forget and I hope to go back many many times in the future. Thank you Mentone team for an excellent dinner, we cannot wait to see you again.

Went there on the last, chilly night of January. Had seasonal black truffle pizza with a bottle of Seghesio Barolo that Zach recommended, both excellent on their own, and a great pairing. Had a reservation so the wait was minimal. Were seated in a comfy corner towards the kitchen. The only complaint is they keep the dining room chilly even in this winter weather. Wine, too, needed to be brought down to room temperature, so it was more enjoyable towards the end of our meal when it had a chance to breathe and warm up a bit.

Favorite local restaurant...Love the Caesar salad and the pizza.If you like cocktails, they are known for theirs.