Cafe Limelight - Santa Cruz

I'm so saddened to see that Cafe Limelight has closed after so many years. It was such a charming and unique spot, known for its incredibly delicious panini sandwiches! Thank you for the wonderful memories, both social and tasty.

I enjoyed the outdoor seating—it’s very nice—but unfortunately, they don’t have umbrellas. If your table isn’t in the shade, you’ll be baking in the sun. I started off in the shade, but by the end of my lunch, the sun had moved, and I was quite warm, so I paid and finished the rest of my sandwich at home. They do offer indoor seating as well, but I’m avoiding eating indoors at restaurants right now. The service was friendly; the guy who runs the place was really nice and brought out my food in a timely manner. He also quickly brought my check when I asked. I will definitely be back for another panino!

I am deeply saddened to see the cafe closed down. It's a significant loss for the Santa Cruz community. Thank you for all the wonderful lunches, especially the turkey brie panini, which was my favorite. You will be missed.

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.