Zelda's on the beach — Restaurant in Capitola

If I could give this place zero stars I would. After driving 2 hours in bumper to bumper traffic, my mom wanted some lunch. She told me how great Zelda's was and how popular their food is to everyone in the Bay Area. After trying to park for thirty minutes we walked a mile and a half to the resultant and asked how long the wait was since it was busy and the festival was going on. The hostess told us the shortest it would take for an inside table is twenty minutes. My mom insisted twenty minutes wasn't a long wait and I agreed. After booking the table we decided to go and look at the floats and walk around the shops for ten minutes. As soon as the ten minute timer on my phone went off we walked back to the restaurant. I went back inside for an update on our table and the hostess just looked at me and said "we gave your table away". After driving two hours, parking for thirty minutes, and walking around in this heat for my mother to enjoy her Sunday, you're really telling me you gave our table away? I was livid. After that, the hostess said we were going to have to wait near the door in the heat for another five-ten minutes and to stay there and not leave. First of all, the initial time we booked our table she did not bring up the fact we had to wait near the door and second of all, where is a bench or a pager to let your customers know "hey your table is ready". Angry, hungry, and hot I went up to the front desk and asked for a manager. While I was standing in line the hostess really went up to me and said, "That table over there is cleared off but their isn't any menus, go sit over there". Really? You're a hostess, you get paid to sit people down WITH MENUS!!!! It was absolutely ridiculous. I had to literally point the table out to my family and my mother. When the manger came over, I was very nice about the situation. I told her I understood it's a busy day, it's hot. But I did NOT get the same respect in return. She basically told me that it was my fault they gave the table away and that I'm lucky I didn't have to wait two hours for a table. She also told me that if she had been the hostess I wouldn't have a table right now and blamed the festival/ day for everything instead of owning up to her unprofessional hostess and her own inconsiderate unprofessional excuses. After her blowing me off, not showing my family and I to our table I decided I didn't want to eat there anymore but my family was starving and hot so I put up with it for them. Our waitress was great but our food was cold and tasteless. My clam chowder was lukewarm and salty. Also, my mother got a hamburger with french fries and was adding ketchup to her meal when another waitress asked us to giver her the ketchup and handed it to another table leaving us with NOTHING. Basically, if you go to Santa Cruz hoping for some good food and good company with your family you're better off going to Pizza my Heart/ a grocery store because they'll show you more respect and you'll get your...

I walked in the Zeldas restaurant and initially the staff that greets everyone the was great! And wanted to order and sit outside in the shaded area. I informed them that it was 3 of us and two orders would be placed and one of our family members is a little particular about what she eats, she wanted tacos from Morenos Mexican food next door. And initially the staff lady in the receit server: Bar AM B. she initially told me they dont allow outside to be eaten inside their establishment I said I understand is it ok if we sit outside and she said yes here in from where the was no shade and I said im sorry but we wanted a shaded table and and she said ok ill give you a number and the server will take it to you. As we walked to the tables available in the shaded area where we're plenty tables available about half of them available. She said you cant eat here I said why not? She said this is for Zeldas customers, I replied I am a customer my order wss placed. She said yes, but you didnt order from us the waiters outside. I didnt know aside from ordering their food I also haft to choose the correct waiter ik order to have a table of our preference. We were not allowed to have our meal there, and the young girl who is a teenager had to sit there and watch us eat because we had to cancel at morenos for this reason. After we had out meals we walked to Morenos for my daughter to finally order her meals. This is the worst service I have ever experienced at a restaurant. I will never return to this place. It seemed like a good choice and the waiters are selfish unless you are at their table they will refuse you from sitting where you want. My tab was closed at the bar prior and its her reason for rejecting us from sitting inbher section im a paying customer. And the table and section belong to Zeldas thry confirmed it so there is no reason that for a tip that another waitress is getting, they refuse to attend or even allow us to have a table. Never again if I can do a negative Stars I would. Even 1 star...

I am updating my experiences at Zelda’s today because of the last few times I’ve come in for dinner and recently last night… I was pretty much ignored by staff and had to ask if I could get my order in before the kitchen closed… There was a person bringing food out from the kitchen but neglected to give me any utensils to eat with. I had to get up and go to the bar to ask two women bartenders that had really bad attitudes, acted like they were really put out for being asked if they could give me a fork, knife, spoon and napkin… you know…the basics so that I could eat my dinner. I watched those two bartenders and how they interacted with patrons sitting at the bar and they could not smile or even pretend that they care about you as a patron… I have always supported this restaurant and especially when they got hit with the storms, as you can read from my posts from last year. I used to receive really good service here and the food used to be a LOT better. I’m sad to see this place become what it is now.. just a touristy place w employees that make you feel worthless. (Below my old review) I feel like my recent experiences there could be addressed or even warrant a reply from the owner but looks like he doesn’t even try…. Crickets.. Much like another reviewer (Mr Lacey) on this site has mentioned that they don’t seem to care about the clientele and they’re squandering a good thing that could have more potential, especially for locals that live here.

My old review from 2022; Really hoping Zelda’s is doing okay throughout these storms!! I really feel for all of the restaurant owners there and hope they are all able to come back healthy and strong after the massive clean up! It’s such a wonderful and special place and everyone who works there have made these places special to me and my friends:) Thinking of you during...