KEANA PARKER
Aquarius
An A-Z Guide to SANTA CRUZ RESTAURANT WEEK By AARON CARNES, MARIA GRUSAUSKAS, ANNE-MARIE HARRISON, STEVE PALOPOLI, JACOB PIERCE, JUNE SMITH, ANDREW STEINGRUBE, LILY STOICHEFF AND MAT WEIR
515 KITCHEN & COCKTAILS After five years of working at 515 Kitchen & Cocktails, Bar Manager Ethan Samuels is excited for another savory Santa Cruz Restaurant Week. “I love how it brings in customers who might not normally eat here,” Samuels says. “We have a very dedicated following, but there are still people who have never taken
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the opportunity to try us out.” Samuels says that this year’s SCRW patrons are in for a delectable treat that didn’t have to travel far to be on their table. “We’ll be showcasing some aperitif cocktails and delicious local ingredients from Santa Cruz and California,” he hints, “along with beer and wine pairing with our entrees and some of our limited sipping spirits to pair with dessert.” 515 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. 425-5052, 515santacruz.com. (MW)
AQUARIUS Aquarius isn’t just a destination restaurant for special occasions, says General Manager CJ Hartman— they’ve got a seven-day happy hour and a “light bites” tapas-style menu in the lounge. “Restaurant Week gives the local community the opportunity to dine at a local establishment at a great value,” says Hartman, adding that it also allows them to explore beyond their
normal gustatory range. Having something for everyone is important to Hartman, which is why he says there will be a vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian option in each course of the prix-fixe menu. For the meat lovers, though, he says steak is always a triumph—this year it’ll be prime sirloin with horseradish mashed potatoes and port demiglace. And it’s not only the patrons who get excited for the week of dining delights, says Hartman, who
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