Vim Dining and Desserts — Restaurant in Santa Cruz

The food here is unbeatable—sophisticated, creative, and truly exceptional. However, the interior feels basic and doesn't quite live up to the standard of the cuisine. We had a 7:00 reservation for a party of four, and the young man who seated us was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer our questions about the sous vide steak we enjoyed on a previous visit when the two of us sat at the bar. It was delicious then, and we were excited for this return visit.

When we and our friends were seated, our waitress hurried over, speaking to us before she even reached the table, interrupting our conversation with a rushed tone. It was uncomfortable, especially given that the restaurant was only half full. We laughed awkwardly and ordered cocktails, which required a few questions due to their elaborate nature—cocktails here are fantastic, but some of the ingredients and techniques needed clarification. However, our inquiries seemed to test her patience, as she abruptly asked if she should come back once we’d made up our minds. "No!" we replied in near unison, and placed our order. She was already inching away from our table as the last order was placed. Despite the awkward interaction, the cocktails, as last time, were exceptional.

When it came time to order food, the rushing continued. Again, we felt hurried, though we were fully ready to order. It was so blatant, that my friend asked, "Just asking... are we in a hurry?" She shook her head no, but the rushed feeling continued throughout the rest of our stay.

Our appetizers included the Za'atar potatoes and tomato bisque, both delicious, but the standout was the Gouda Crème Brûlée, served with roasted grapes in rosemary, marinated olives, Spanish chorizo, and light, crisp crackers—an absolutely surprising and extraordinary dish.

Unfortunately, the waitress tried to clear our plates before we were finished. It was only 7:30 and their last seating is at 8:00, so we weren’t sure why there was such a sense of urgency.

Once our appetizers were cleared, the mains arrived, and again, the food was exceptional—this is why we came back. We shared a beautifully prepared sea bass with crispy skin, served on a bed of couscous with a refreshing and complex pomegranate relish, a perfect balance of flavors and textures. I can’t recall exactly what our companions ordered (the menu on the website isn’t up to date), but we played musical entrees, and every dish was a hit.

The young man who had seated us checked in, and we expressed our appreciation for the meal, ordering wine to pair with the mains. Meanwhile, the waitress zipped by a couple times, eager to clear plates. By 8:30, we started wondering—was that really too long?

We know we're in sleepy Santa Cruz and not San Francisco, so we understand that things wrap up a little earlier here, but the rushed service still felt excessive.

We ended with a sophisticated chocolate bread pudding for dessert, wrapping up just before 9:00, to find half the chairs already stacked on tables, as if signaling that we’d overstayed our welcome.

It's too bad. The chef here is phenomenal and deserves a staff that matches the quality of the food. For the price we paid, so do the diners. Hopefully, this rushed vibe was just a one-time occurrence—our experience at the bar was far more relaxed. We’ll give it another shot, but it’s hard to ignore the feeling that we were being hurried...

Dear friends invited us out to Vim tonight. It has been highly recommended so we went with high expectations (usually a bad idea!). I have seldom been moved to write such a positive review.

If you read no further, suffice to say that four words describe the Vim experience: extraordinary; exceptional; excellent; exquisite.

It would be an understatement to say that Chef Jesikah’s dishes are works of creative genius; more accurately, they are divinely inspired. Appetizers (and we tried three!) were inventive combinations of delicate and complementary flavors. Your entree plate will be completely clean, guaranteed. Our table echoed with “Wows!”

Desserts, the Chef’s specialty, are worth breaking any promises you have made to yourself about counting calories (even if you have to restart your 75 Hard). They are rich but light, and completely unique. Definitely do not deny yourself.

The food is the linchpin of an all-around amazing experience. The gorgeous interior includes stunning original artwork by Shauna Stolaroff. Attention to detail is evident in every aspect, from the silverware to the flower arrangements. Last but not least, the service is stellar, enthusiastic and professional.

Come to Vim for a special occasion or just to treat yourself. The menu is always changing to keep up with new inspiration and seasonal offerings. Your biggest disappointment may be that the item you loved last time you came has given up its place on the menu to something...

It was my wife’s Birthday and we made reservations for four people. We got to the restaurant and sat at a nice table and started looking at the menu. It took a few minutes, but we realized that the menus on the table were customized with a Happy Birthday wish. Through out the evening, we ordered two drinks each, the drinks were all good, but I think the favorite was the Pomegranate Margaritta. For appetizers, we ordered the Moroccan Spiced Lamb Meatballs with fresh garlic naan, the Kimchi Rice Fritters, and the Fried Artichoke Salad. They were good, fresh, and delicious. That fresh garlic naan with the lamb meatballs was the best. For entrees, we ordered the Red Wine Filet Mignon; the meat just melted in your mouth, the best I had in a very long time. We also ordered the special Stiped Bass, Curry Yogurt Chicken, and the Spring Leek Fettuccini. Those dinners were amazing, we all tried a bite. They were all done to perfection and had their specialized taste. I never order chicken but ordered the Curry Yogurt Chicken just based on the description, and it did not disappoint, it was really good. For desert, we ordered the Vim Chocolate Cake (chocolate heaven), Lemon Pistachio Churro (amazing), and the Tahini Semifreddo (vegan and good). Our waitress Laura and the rest of the staff were very professional, excellent, super nice, and easy to talk to. We will definitely come back to VIM. Thank you for a...