Best Bites of January 2025
Best Bites of January: The Double Meat Please Team’s Top Picks
January was a good one. While the rest of the world might be on their New Year’s resolution kick, our team stayed true to what really matters—finding the best bites in Santa Cruz. And let’s just say, we were not disappointed.
From indulgent fried chicken sandwiches to unexpected pizza toppings that just work, here’s what we couldn’t stop talking about this month.
Marcus’ Pick: The Fried Chicken Sandwich @ Emerald Mallard
📍 6256 CA-9, Felton, CA 95018
Only available during Happy Hour (Thursday & Friday, 4-5PM)
Fried chicken lovers, take note: this sandwich is the real deal. Crispy, juicy, perfectly seasoned, and stacked between a soft bun—it’s the kind of sandwich that has you planning your whole week around happy hour just to get another bite. Don’t sleep on it.
Tricia’s Picks: The Cauliflower & Coffee Panna Cotta @ HOME
📍 3101 N Main Street, Soquel, CA 95073
If you think cauliflower is boring, HOME is here to prove you wrong. Their version? Charred to perfection with pine nuts, currants, and chili for a mix of smokiness, sweetness, and spice that just hits.
And for dessert? The Coffee Panna Cotta—smooth, creamy, and full of rich espresso flavor. It’s the kind of dessert that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about panna cotta.
Daniel J’s Picks: Pizza That Hits Different
🍕 Date With a Hot Pig @ Ozzy’s
📍 2510 S Main Street, Soquel, CA 95073
Let’s break this one down: Cayenne and candied Corralitos bacon, dates, olive oil, shaved garlic, blue cheese crumbles, hot honey, and fresh sage. Sweet, spicy, salty, and rich—it’s basically everything you want in a single bite.
🍕 The “Potato” Pizza @ Buzzo’s
📍 2510 S Main Street, Soquel, CA 95073
You might not think bacon, white sauce, egg yolks, red onion, mozzarella, and chives belong on a pizza—but trust us, they do. This one’s creamy, savory, and full of bold, unexpected flavors that somehow just make perfect sense.
Final Verdict: January Came Through
If this lineup says anything, it’s that Santa Cruz restaurants did not hold back this month. Whether it’s a next-level fried chicken sandwich, perfectly executed veggies, or pizza with toppings that change the game, we’re kicking off the year right.
Now it’s your turn—what was the best thing you ate in January? Drop your favorites in the comments!