“ Magical place! A bit of a wait on a Friday night but the staff was so amazing. We started with the cauliflower and the "big" salad (that wasn't that big) but both were delicious. We had two pizzas - the Napoli (couldn't have been better!!) and the Margarita. It's a little loud but we're old, haha. Loved it here! ”

“ Cool vibe. amazing pizza with crispy crust. Very friendly staff. Always new items that surprise. ”

“ I've driven by and seen the crowds at the Bantan restaurant for years and considering that I live practically around the corner from it, I can't believe that I haven't tried it yet, until tonight! (09/21/2024! What have I been waiting for?!?! This place is Great! With some further research, I'm discovering that Bantam is a specialty pizza kitchen. And people that know me, know one thing...I'm a nut for pizza & consider myself a "pizza snob". I call the center of the pizza "the heart" and live by the belief that I say, "if a place can't make a decent cheese pie, forget it! Because if you can't make a good cheese pizza, I don't care how much other things you put on it, it's not going to be good!" Let's face it people, the foundation to any good pizza is the cheese pie! Everything else on the pizza is just a topping but you need a great cheese pizza to start with! What makes a good cheese pizza? A good cheese pie is a great crust! Crunchy, chewy and delicious, topped with an exceptionally flavorful sauce and enough of the sauce that blends nicely with the cheese that tops your pizza, (unfortunately too many pizzas I've had, skimped on the sauce...). At Bantam, you'll find the perfect blend of cheese and sauce on top of a delicious crust! If you dine at Bantam you'll soon discover why it's always busy there...It's So Good! Go and try it, you won't be disappointed! ”

“ Had such a stellar experience at Bantam this evening! From the warm service to DELICIOUS food and wine, I highly recommend if you're in Santa Cruz! We're visiting from LA for a few days and this place is definitely on par with LA standards for GOOD food. We ordered the caesar salad, pickled cauliflower, fried chicken & soppressata pizza, as well as a bottle of Chianti. Highly recommend all of the above and wish we could stomach dessert! The staff were all extremely sweet and personable and we can't wait to come back next time we're in town! ”

“ This is an update from my last review, and this time I went here for my anniversary dinner. The food remains incredible! ”

“ Great pizza joint, with a fun airy vibe. The gem salad Caesar was fantastic with a garlicky and cheesy dressing that had a bit of a kick. Fried chicken with kale salad with stone fruit was also a hit and paired well with a couple pizzas we were all sharing. Pizzas were well made, good dough. The requisite prosciutto with rocket and parm had a good amount of salad and prosciutto which was nice. The bacon and fig had nice thick chunks of bacon studding the pizza with some nice torn figs. Great happy place, good service and a nice outdoor eating area too. No reservations. ”

“ Funky cool place for good food and drinks. I found this place through recommendation and really glad I came. Industrial space vibe with open windows and side lot parking. Pizza was crisp and meaty. Spicy suppressata with honey had a bit of a kick with sweetness. The herby cucumbers were refreshing with a huge crunch. Service was pleasant and friendly at the bar. I'd definitely come back here again. Enjoy! ”

“ Summary: Best restaurant on the West Side, gets crowded and loud, no reservations, fresh rotating menu Details: There aren't many high-quality restaurants in Santa Cruz, especially on the West Side. It's Bantam and... not sure. They don't take reservations and there isn't a lot of parking. On Fri and Sat, come right at 5pm or wait until 8pm. If it's a nice night, buy a drink from the to-go register at the bar and sit on the benches by Verve. The menu changes frequently but some items are almost always on it. Yes, it's a pizza restaurant but it's also American/Italian. Don't worry - I've never had a bad dish. Some highlights... House-made bread: Dense and crusty, as it should be. Served with salted butter. Get it even if you're getting pizza. Carrot soup: Labeled spicy but only a little kick. The yogurt added a good balance, and the crispy rice gave it a nice crunch. Didn't look like much but it was excellent. Avocado and beets salad: Another surprise. Chunks of beets and beet puree. Olives and almonds. Yum. Can I have another? Prosciutto pie: pizza as it is supposed to be. Thin crust, wood fired, and slightly charred. No tomato sauce. Mozzarella and Reggiano. I'm still dreaming about this. ... If you don't finish it, add an egg and eat it for breakfast. Bacon pizza: not for the faint of heart or the regular pepperoni chain lovers. The flavors of bacon and nectarine and jalapenos. Didn't think I could eat it all. Didn't have any left. Almond cake: holy third surprise! Paired with house made ice cream (small complaint, we wanted a second scoop). Not too sweet and a perfect way to end our meal. The bartender made us a killer marg and an ever-popular old fashion. The wine list is small but good choices at reasonable prices. There's japanese whiskey, if that's your thing. On our most recent visit, our server Spencer was friendly and knowledgeable. Bantam is top notch. No reason to travel to SF; it's right here on the West Side. ”

“ We loved this experience. Came at around 8pm for a late dinner. Ordered the bacon pizza and pickled cauliflower. The dough was so fresh and crisp but soft and warm and the ingredients complimented each other. Every bite was heaven. The cauliflower is cold pickled with sesame seeds sprinkled on top, wasn't our favorite. We ordered the tumeric, ginger carrot drink with vodka and jalapeño margarita, both sooooo good! I felt almost heathy drinking them. Our server Nick was nice, funny, and had great recommendations. Inside the restaurant is contemporary wood vibes lined with booths and an open kitchen. All staff were kind and accommodating! ”