Cafe Limelight - Santa Cruz

My mom and I each ordered a half panino and half soup combo for lunch. They were absolutely delicious, with perfect crusty toasted bread and cheesy fillings. I got the caprese with pesto, mozzarella, and tomatoes, she got the artichoke hearts, mozzarella, and red pepper pesto. Her lentil soup was spicy, hearty, flavorful. I was so sad I couldn't really eat any since I am allergic, but I snuck a tiny bite for flavor and paid with a mild allergic reaction (not recommended, but was worth it). I got the tomato soup, which was a nice side to the sandwich. There were several other interesting vegetarian sandwich options, and also a make your own grilled cheese section. I recommend coming here for a delicious filling lunch!

Pretty solid location, pleasant ambiance, and tasty panini's. I enjoyed the overall vibe of the cafe. Will hopefully be coming back.

This review is solely based on my cappuccino that I tried here. My friend had a sandwich which he commented on as being decent. Here is the verdict for the cappuccino Espresso: Medium Crema': OK Milk: Frothed Poorly Latte Art: n/a I would say a poor version of cappuccino. One can have a better iteration for main chain offerings. Mind you this place is very laid back kinda fits in the vibe with Santa Cruz but if that's not your scene I would say look elsewhere.

Needed a place to stop on the way to Big Sur as my boyfriend and I were traveling down Highway 1. Saw the great reviews and some fellow Yelp friends loving the place (plus GF bread for sandwiches is a perk for the BF). We made our way there close to their afternoon closing time enough to grab a seat and eat quickly before hopping back on the road. The place had a few leftover lunch goers. I got a 1/2 panini and salad. The dressing on the salad was like a sweet vinaigrette, topped with carrots and cucumbers. The panini bread was perfectly crisped and the filling, while mostly veggies, was hearty and enough to fill me up artichoke hearts, mozzarella and red pepper pesto. That pesto made the sandwich like a spicy grilled cheese. The space has an eclectic vibe with big mirrors on the wall, velvet chairs, and drapery very cozy. They also have outdoor seating. We opted for cool AC inside, and it was drizzling outside. It was afternoon coffee hour and my boyfriend proceeded to ask, Where 's the best spot to grab a coffee in town. Before I can nudge him and say, Let 's check Yelp first, I see the espresso machine and immediately judge that they serve coffee drinks, but can 't be good. So the waiter responds, We do! What can I get for you? We order americanos with reservations. The waiter continues, Most people would say Verve because it 's super trendy, but we know how to make a classic espresso drink. So we get our coffees, pay our tab, and walk around the town for a bit. Once the coffee is cool enough to drink, I take a sip, and it ends up being the best americano I 've ever had. No exaggeration. I actually still dream about it. It was so full bodied and seemingly creamy with a perfect espresso pull. If it weren 't for the caffeine, I would have gone back for a 2nd one before we hit the road. Don 't be like me and judge a book by its cover, order an americano and be amazed, then stay for panini.

Great little gem in downtown area of Santa Cruz. Laid back vibes with a relaxing ambiance. Nice selection of salads and paninis, very rare in Santa Cruz to find a place for an inexpensive lunch.