Ideal Bar & Grill

Fresh fish for the poke ! Lots of it. Make your cocktail a double for only $3 more (ahem, bacon Bloody Mary ).

Buster's Vision Visits "IDEAL BAR & GRILL" on the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, CA! Excellent Food & Awesome Customer Service! ONE VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Read more

Came for lunch at noon on Memorial Day. The fish tacos were awesome, the food came so fast, and the waitress kept my root beer full. Great service!

Service was excellent! Clam chowder sourdough bowl creamy and tasty...ceviche awesome! Fish N chips delish! Definitely recommend this place

Fried calamari is highly recommended, was very fresh and delicious; too much as an appetizer though, didnt have any space left to try sth else :)

Clam chowder was delicious! Sit outside & enjoy Santa Cruz beach (don't forget your sunscreen !). They'll make your drink a double fir $2.00!

The food here is delicious....and you def get what you pay for, nice place to have dinner with a great view of the beach and the boardwalk.

Cool place to stop on the beach for a brew. They also seem cool with you bringing in food if you don't want theirs.

Chowder is so good. Be nice to the servers and they'll treat you like family. Had a great time 💓

Stopped here for cocktails . I got a margarita and you couldn’t taste any tequila , just salt and strawberries

Great location and good food. Had a good clam chowder watching the waves.

The food is great. And the clams 😋

Clam chowder is good. Great place for people & sea lions watching.

Don't be a douche and complain about Santa Cruz's premier waterfront sports bar . Come in, have a drink,. GET SOME!!

Great location. Not great food. Grab a beer and kick back in the sun. If you have to eat - get the clam chowder .

Perfect views , nice crowd, try the baby back ribs

Super quick service - meals were huge and yummy

We just ha an amazing meal here, excellent service and we sat outside in the sun!

Good food, live music was there, amazing views

Stuffed salmon with sundried tomato beurre blanc was amazing

The baby back ribs were best. They melted in the mouth and fell off the bone

Great service, great food! 9 p.m. Sunday, not so many people

Food isn't the best. Perfect for drinks and people watching . Ocean front dining.

Decent food but beer and wine selection is weak at best. Try the calamari or any of the simply prepared fish dishes .

The pleasant baristas are a great way to greet the morning.

Sunday and Monday nights special = baby back ribs for 9.95. They are great

The mai tai 's were great great but now me and my girlfriend are both sick to our stomachs.

I got bad food poisoning here, which resulted in two hospital visits. When I was finally able to make it to the restaurant to let them know two days later, the manager refused to remedy the situation.

Get the mahi mahi sandwich but get it blackened!!

Awesome bartender , Devon (looks like a young Ben Afleck) and good food!

Go during happy hour on a weekday to avoid too much tourist traffic.

The french toast is great here.

Had Great Time and the staff was great!

Best restaurant on the beach

Merry Christmas

Food is suuuuper overpriced but portions are mighty. You will pay a lot but you won't go hungry.

The menu is overpriced, but the specials can be a deal

They make a mean michelada !!

Probably better for drinks and apps at happy hour . Definitely sit outside.

Try the Prime Rib - Tasty!

Mahi Mahi Sandwitch is pretty good

Great fish and chips

Live music is good.

Mahi mahi and fish and chips .

Best Bloody Mary EVER...make it a double for $2

Fish and chips ....

At least on weekdays they stop taking food orders at 9pm.

YUMMY SEAFOOD !

Service was a little better than I expected, food was 3.5/5.

Really fast and good!