A casual, elegant restaurant near Seabright Beach, La Posta is a critically acclaimed choice for Italian cuisine in Santa Cruz. The menu favors local, organic and sustainably sourced ingredients, adding a progressive, eco-conscious edge to the traditional Italian dining experience. Built in 1895, La Posta's building is a landmark in Seabright as the old general store and post office.

Fresh, Skillfully Crafted Italian Cuisine

The regional Italian menu draws on influences from the varying culinary realms of Italy, changing frequently to reflect specific highlights from each region. The natural ingredients are deftly woven into dishes with centerpiece ingredients like house-made pastas, freshly caught seafood, fresh produce and tender, high-quality cuts of meat.

While the menu changes often, the chef’s creativity is reflected in past inclusions like linguini with fresh Dungeness crab, radicchio and garlic; crispy confit of pork with butter beans and sage; pizza with house-made sausage; asparagus Milanese with fried egg and pamigiano; roasted beats with pistachios and ricotta salata; and spicy, brick oven-roasted poussin (or young chicken) with wild arugula salad. Additionally, there is always a selection of house-cured salumi and house-marinated olives on the menu.

A selective wine list that favors Italian wines over Californian options supports the fare gracefully with a well-rounded display of wines from boutique producers all over Italy. To finish, a selection of vini dolci, or desert wines, is available alongside a tempting desert menu that often includes treats like vanilla bean panna cotta, meyer lemon tarts, warm chocolate and date cake, and strawberry gelato crafted from fresh, local strawberries.

Affordable Prix Fixe Dining in Santa Cruz

To keep the experience of indulging in fine Italian cuisine affordable, La Posta in Santa Cruz offers a prix fixe Italian four-course family-style dinner every Sunday for a mere $30 per adult and $15 per child for children under the age of 12. Though wine, tax and gratuity are not included, this exquisite deal is not one to be missed.

The bright setting of La Posta is casually elegant, with an atmosphere that is as appealing for impromptu lunches with friends as it is for romantic dates. And with the reliably delicious fare and innovation on the ever-changing menu, it’s no wonder La Posta was honored for providing “One of the Top Ten Memorable Meals” in 2007 by Aleta Watson of the San Jose Mercury News.

Commitment to Sustainable Practices

This Santa Cruz Italian restaurant is also certified in the City of Santa Cruz Green Business Program, they have received Clean Water Certification from the City of Santa Cruz, and they adhere to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch regulations in obtaining all seafood.