The Midway

“If you need a hug in the edible form, The Midway will pacify you back to comfort. Juxtaposed the high energy of the Rio next door, they’ve designed a peaceful & homey environment that’s undoubtedly intentional from the moment you cross the entrance threshold. We were the very last reservation of the evening, and despite being the latest served, kindness and quality were not compromised. I tend to find the truth of a restaurant when you take the last available reservation. I’m not encouraging a walk-in 5min before closing, but I do occasionally take a business’s indicated last few reservations allowed. We ordered a simple salad, the gnocchi, and the salmon. The salmon had so many elements that really made it sing. This dish is served hot over a bed of soupy greens and chickpeas that married impeccably with the texture of the salmon. They topped this with a cold contrasting flavored cream sauce with dill and cucumbers. It was the winner for both if us. The gnocchi was so good- although my Italian partner did find it overcooked. We still agreed it was flavorful and nice take of the morel. The perspective that morels have to be overly buttered and salted to sell in a restaurant does not exist here, and I love it. We will come back to try the season’s menu!”

“Fantastic food. This is my new favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz. We had cauliflower soup, salmon tartare, and chickpeas. And almond cake as a dessert. All well balanced, with good flavors. Vegetables were all cooked or prepared perfectly, with varies textures that were very satisfying. Dishes were beautifully presented without being overly fussy or being over the top, making use of the natural colors and beauty to their best. Cornbread in chickpea dish was amazing - not sugary sweet, yet full of corn's natural sweet smell and very crispy, well caramelized outside. All in all, amazing food.”

“The food and flavors were outstanding — truly among the best in town. Every dish was perfectly cooked and beautifully seasoned, and each one was deeply satisfying. The friendly service and the chef’s cooking were both refined and elegant”

“My wife and I just finished an incredible dinner at The Midway. The atmosphere was casual and inviting and the service was friendly and attentive. The food was the star of the show. The menu was relatively small, but there was a wide variety of dishes that were clearly carefully thought out and based on the freshest seasonal ingredients. We started out with the house made sourdough bread and butter. The four generous slices of bread were hearty, with a soft inside and thicker crust. Very tasty. Next we had the chicory salad which was reminiscent of a gourmet Caesar salad with the most beautiful chicory leaves imaginable, crunchy breadcrumbs, and finely grated Parmesan. Fantastic dish. Next we had homemade pappardelle with black trumpet and chanterelle mushrooms and shaved brussel sprouts. The flavors were very subtle, but the really scrumptious. The fresh and bright flavors shined through. Next we had the Mt. Lassen trout on chickpeas and butternut squash. The trout skin had a wonderful char and the flavors of the chickpeas and butternut squash really combined nicely. We finished with the braised beef dish on mashed potatoes with roasted carrots, mushrooms, and a salsa verde sauce. This dish blew us away. The beef was perfectly braised so it was super tender, extra flavorful, and not fatty at all. The mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and mushrooms paired perfectly with the beef and the salsa verde took the wonderful dish to a new level. In summary, this is the best meal we’ve had in Santa Cruz in a very long time. The quality of the ingredients and preparation was top notch and all of the dishes were reasonably priced. We can’t wait to go back again soon!”

“Incredible food, incredible service, cozy atmosphere. The chef was able to accommodate my friend’s dairy intolerance, and the menu was labelled with gluten free. I tried a Japanese vermouth that was amazing, a must-try. I had the halibut and my friend had the chicken, both were cooked perfectly, served with veggies that tasted like they were just picked today, cooked perfectly, mine with a light and flavorful broth. A new favorite in town!”