Stagnaro Bros

Stagnaros is a must in Santa Cruz - been on the wharf for many least 30+ years! for Location is at the very end of the wharf and deck dining won't be ocean view is simply relaxing and makes the freshly deep fried calamari & fries that much better! Crab season just opened and the crab cocktail was sweet & fresh! We actually put some of the crab into the hot clam chowder soup to pack in the flavors! Sunday afternoon unusually less crowd, so the service was instant. Our food orders was prepared quickly.

This might sound a bit odd, but if not for the sea lions, I'm not sure that I ever would have discovered Stagnaro Bros. Despite how many times I've made my way down to Santa Cruz, I had never taken the time to check out the wharf until this most recent trip. No particular reason as to why, other than we would always head straight to the beach and the Boardwalk. However, after hearing about how the sea lions like to congregate here, much like they do at Pier 39 in SF, we came here to look for them! Which, quite fortuitously, brought us here, as i had quite the hankering for some fried seafood!Now, this feels awkward to say, given how the portion of this end of the wharf that recently collapsed into the water is so close by, but Stagnaro's location is pretty nice. Not only are they right on top of where a lot of the sea lions gather, but, by virtue of being further out on the water, they have a terrific view that stretches from the Boardwalk to the Pacific Ocean. All together, it made for a perfect spot for us to grab a bite. However, since we weren't that hungry, we opted to get something small from their outside counter rather than dine inside. Little did we know, though, that the menu is almost just as extensive, stretching from fried seafood baskets, hot and cold sandwiches, clam chowder, and tacos to cocktail shrimp, ceviche, raw oysters, and cups of Dungeness crab meat. What's more, they also have counter to pick up fresh seafood, too.-- STAGNARO SUNSET - Pina Colada with Mango on the Bottom and Strawberry on TopHard to argue with a fruit and tropical drink, especially when the weather is so nice! While it's definitely sweet, it's not intensely sweet or sugary. Also, I liked how you it starts with a lot of strawberry flavor, blends, and then ends with more of the mango.-- COMBO FRIED SEAFOOD BASKET - Fried Calamari and Fried Fish with FriesNot as amazing as I had hoped for, but still pretty solid. The portion size was decently generous, the strips of calamari were quite meaty (wish there had been some leg pieces), and the fish was nice and moist. That said, I didn't love the batter on the fish some parts were really thin) and the fries were just okay.Even though we weren't overwhelmed by our basket of seafood, it was nowhere close to being "bad" and far better than what I got from one of the stands at Fisherman's Wharf in SF. Still, I'm not sure I would go out of my way to come back again. If anything, I'd probably opt for one of their many options in their cold seafood case, like their fresh Dungeness crab meat, or actually look to dine-in to try their regular menu, which looked pretty decent. Given their location towards the end of the wharf, I can only imagine how nice it would be to try something like their cioppino while getting to watch the sunset!THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.

A go-to spot if you're at the Santa Cruz Wharf. Ideal place for a laid-back meal and get cover from the cold and wind. We ordered a warm clam chowder and crab cakes. Simple and flavorful; ingredients tasted fresh. We got a table with a nice view of the Wharf. Not a long wait time, got seated pretty much immediately.

****FYI: pay in cash. There's a 3.5% if you pay with cash. And their tipping suggestion is with tax included. ***This place had the most reviews nearby so we wanted to try it. It's located at the end of the pier. Parked at the outside of the neighborhood and walked to the pier. It was free parking at the neighborhood. They only need residential parking during the months of May-September, but always check where you parked to avoid a ticket. Parking at the pier $1/hour up to 4 hours. $2/hour after that. Max $12 daily. No wait on a Saturday when we arrived. They gave us options to sit upstairs or not. The upstairs has bar seating so the tables and seats are high. I sat at the level seating area. I prefer the diner seating. Windows can see the ocean view. We ordered Crab Melt that came with fries and 1/2 Crab Melt with Clam chowder. The clam chowder is good! I think they out in gravy or something to make it taste different. I didn't ask though. The Crab Melt, I felt, was salty! Like a little too salty. I think they salted the crab and the cheese that they put on top of the crab pieces was salty too. Next time if I come here again I would choose just the Crab Sandwich instead. 1 Dozen Oysters were so fresh and isn't fishy. I really liked the sauce that came with it. It was really delicious!!! The price is market so it came out to $33.95 for 12 oysters. The only problem with the oysters is that it isn't easy to eat. We had to take the fork to get the meat off the shell. Our waitress wasn't friendly. She didn't come back to us or ask how we're doing. She only gave us water and food. Never came back to check on us.FYI: there is take out just outside next to the restaurant. I think next time I'll just do that. They sell different oysters, cups of shrimp, crab, and a lot of other things. Next time I would do that instead of dining in.

Stagnaro Ravioli it's delicious, it's hard to find real Ravioli. Great ambience too!I would come here all the time of if I could. Ha!

Stagnaro Bros. is a quintessential spot on the Santa Cruz Wharf, ideal for a relaxing lunch or a leisurely afternoon by the water. While the food is good--not exceptional--the incredible views make this place truly special.We ordered the fish tacos, fish sandwich, and a dozen oysters. The fish tacos were fresh and well-seasoned, with a nice balance of flavors and textures. The fish sandwich was hearty and satisfying, perfect for a casual meal. The oysters were fresh, briny, and a delightful highlight of our seafood experience.But let's talk about the real star of the show: the setting. Sitting on the deck, surrounded by the sound of the waves and the salty ocean breeze, makes dining here a memorable experience. Watching the water shimmer under the sun and spotting marine life while you eat--it doesn't get much better than that.Stagnaro Bros. is a great choice if you're in the area and looking for a laid-back meal with an unbeatable view. Come for the seafood, soak in the coastal vibes, and enjoy everything the Santa Cruz Wharf has to offer.

Decided to have lunch here while attending a car show on the wharf this past Saturday. I was surprised and a little confused when I arrived. They have a food counter on the right hand side selling similar snacks as the restaurant, like sandwiches, fish n chips, chowder, even burgers, as well as sweets like smoothies and milkshakes. But they didn't offer the same items or deals as in the sit down restaurant, particularly alcoholic beverages and the half sandwich and soup deal only available for lunch in the dining room which had about a 20-minute wait on this special event day (probably longer for bigger parties). It was worth the wait for a half crab melt sandwich and cup of new england clam chowder. Award winning taste? Yes indeed, a creamy and satisfying blend of spices and ingredients. The sandwich was tasty too, stuffed with a thick layer of crab meat and melted cheddar oozing from the sizable half sub, fresh lettuce, tomato slices, red onion, and a sauce resembling thousand island served on the side. The entire dish was yummy. Add to that, friendly workers, fast service, and a casual environment with seating along the windows offering views looking out into the water, as well as an upper deck lounge... this is a great option for some good seafood on the wharf.

We tried the 12 Pacific oysters at Stagnaro Brothers, and they were delicious, though we could have used more than one oyster fork. My girlfriend had the half crab melt and clam chowder, and I had the full crab melt sandwich with fries. The crab was tasty but a bit salty. The clam chowder was a standout surprisingly: rich and flavorful. The service could have been better; - our server wasn't very attentive. Also - keep in mind there's a 3.5% transaction fee for card payments. I wish this was told to us beforehand but good thing we brought enough cash on hand. Next time we will likely order from togo and eat outside on the boardwalk.

Lovely setting on pier with some of the better chowder I've had. Sourdough bowl was on point too! Cioppino was good, not great. Mix of mussels and clams were good, not great as well. The broth for both weren't a hit which is what minimized the rating. Service was friendly and fast. Unnecessary amount of flies but we were on the wharf, however traps would have been a good touch.

Definitely not the same as it used to be. Calamari was flavorless and greasy. But I was most disappointed in the chowder. It had a heavy flour and chicken broth taste. Stagnaro's has always my go to place when I go to Santa Cruz, but I've noticed decline over the years. For instance the sourdough bread hasn't been as good and now I have to include my favorite clam chowder. Will I go back? Probably because it's hard to break a tradition, but I'm already in search of a new favorite clam chowder restaurant.