Q-Tips Reviews

SHADOWBROOK – 1750 Wharf Rd. Capitola, CA – (831) 475-1511, shadowbrook-capitola.com

Q-tips say: Love this place. Full Bar, Happy Hour and bar bites. Went with our daughter and grandson who loved  the  cable car up the hill. Went on TWO-FER TUESDAY, All night in the Rockroom Lounge (ONLY), 2-for-1 Pizzas & Appetizers, (Two for the price of one), Select cocktails, beers and wines for $6.95.  All Year on Tues. Almost thought we were back in Florida – many older types eat here.

Our food choices were: Pizza, and two appetizers.  Each pizza enough for two people. They had the salad pizza and we had the sausage & garlic pizza. We all shared the two appetizers. Baked Brie – Delicate pastry, Jalapeño jelly, herb crostini. and Seared and Crusty Tuna Served with Wasabi cream, passion fruit and soy-tempura dipping sauce.

You pay for the pizza/ appetizer that cost more and the other is FREE.  Mrs. Q likes FREE. Then later in the evening they have a band. Needless to say the place was crowded. Will go back on Mon. 8oz Prime Rib, Garlic-whipped potato, creamed spinach, horseradish cream and Cabernet jus for around $18.00.

The Q’s were disappointed with the Prime Rib. Asked for Med. and it was Well Done. Mrs. Q says: we will stick with the Two fer Tuesday.
They did offer to redo for us – but it would take too long because the place was busy – so we declined.

SOTOLA  Seafood Rest. – 231 Esplanade, Capitola, CA,  (831) 854-2800, sotolabarandgrill.com

Q-tips say: Nice bar type restaurant. Full Bar, we had a oysters on the half shell and split a burger along with house made chips. The bartender was awesome –  made the drinks just like we like them.  Nice water views.

Went on a holiday weekend so parking is scarce but we eventually found a parking space and walked to the restaurant.

JADE CATHAY – Dim Sum/Cantonese  1339 N 1st St., San Jose, CA –(408) 392-9388, jadecathay.com

Q-tips say: Great way to celebrate Chinese New Years in CA.  Good food, nice clean restaurant and, as you probably know, they walk around with carts filled with food and you can pick and choose what you want to eat.

Chinese New Year celebration in San Jose Museum of Art in San Jose CA – 110 S.  Market St.,  San Jose CA 95113, (408) 271-684, sanjosemuseumofart.org

Q-tips say: Nice museum and this Chinese New Year’s Celebration offered making your own fortune cookie out of paper, since this was “the year of the dog,” we made dog faces on paper and bookmarks.  The little people were enjoying the creative crafts along with the older people. Then we colored our astrological sign and they made a button out of it.

Then came the dance of the snake, etc. The best part of all it was “FREE.”  You need to get tickets earlier to participate but all was free.

Then off to lunch for Sum Dim.

CANEPA CAR MUSEUM – 4900 Scotts Valley Dr.,  Scotts Valley, CA –(831) 430-9940,  canepa.com

Mrs. Q found this museum and knew it would be a hit for the Mr.  Heaven for any car aficionado.  Alll types Just Arrived, Collector Cars, Race Cars,Motorcycles,Transporters and they are all for sale.   canepa.com/inventory

Make sure you stop where they are actually repairing the cars.

Planning on taking our grand-son to see them – just remember look in awe but NO touching please.

MALONES Grille Rest. – 4402 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley, CA – (831) 438-2244,  http://Malonesgrille.com

Q-tips say:  Full Bar, decent ambiance, and good service. Great drinks from the full bar. Mrs. Q had: The FRED: sliced prime rib, caramelized onions, tillamook cheddar & jack blend, au jus. The Mr. had: Prime Sirloin: sauteed mushroom, shallot cream pa sauce, robuchon potatoes. Mrs. Q liked “FRED” but the Mr. did not like the prime sirloin because the meat was too tough.

Cowboy Bar & Grill – 5447 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 

Q-tips say:  The Q’s shared the Yahoo Plate$18 –pound of St Louis cut spareribs, smoked for 6 hours, finished on the char broiler with your choice of sauce: Kansas Red, ginger bbq, sweet jalapeno, or Carolina mustard wash. Asked for the sauces to be on the side and also came with corn bread and honey butter &  we ordered a side of slaw. Was just ok – but the drinks were good, as was the service.  Mrs. Q is willing to try this place again but the Mr. is not so sure.

OK – tried them again because it is so close and convenient and they have a full bar and Mrs. Q really wanted to it to be so good so decided to try the hamburgers. This time we got take out. Well, another disappointment. Asked for them to be cooked Medium and they were well done. YUCK! Think it is ADIOS to Cowboy Bar & Grill.

OK – The Q’s were with out a car (our daughter had a follow up Dr. apt. and our son-in-law was at work), so Mrs. Q suggested to the Mr. that we take a walk, on a very dreary rainy day, to Cowboy. Well, the Mr. had a cup of Chile and some of Mrs. Q’s chicken wings and she had the rest.  We enjoyed our lunch.   Perhaps, there is hope yet for Cowboy Bar & Grill.

Riva Fish House – 31 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA,  (831) 429-1223,  (831) 429-1223,  (831) 429-1223,   http://rivafishhouse.com – Great views from the Wharf.

Q-tips say: AWESOME seafood. We shared a whole dungeness crab with butter – the special of the week. Began with a cocktail from the full bar and enjoyed steamed clams with garlic, wine, butter, and lemon.

Along with a cocktail and some bread & butter made for a really delicious dinner.

Mrs. Q says: Can’t wait to go back and try something else on the menu.