Its a BITTER feeling that we can’t eat out right now, but it’s pretty SWEET we can get take out and delivery from Bittersweet Bistro!

While we all are feeling confined as we try to stay at home and keep people safe, it’s refreshing to get a little fresh air with a walk and enjoy the beauty here! It’s especially a treat when we take a break from cooking and get meals to go, and that can certainly can be said for our Santa Cruz Doors local featured business today, Bittersweet Bistro.

An award-winning restaurant and a favorite in Aptos and Santa Cruz, Bittersweet is known for it’s beautiful ambiance, gourmet food and excellent desserts. It's a noteworthy establishment, with the building holding a unique place in Aptos history and a popular dining spot since the 1930's.

Speaking personally, we have had some fabulous anniversary dinners with family over the years at Bittersweet. We also have loved going to the Bittersweet Cafe part of the restaurant for a great breakfast with the kids. Today we are shining the spotlight on this local business who has remained open during this time and we all want them to continue to keep their beautiful doors open!

Please read the interview with one of the owners, Elizabeth Vinolus:

Tell us how long you've been in business here?
Bittersweet Bistro opened June 13, 1996; formerly we were a small restaurant, Café Bittersweet, located on the west side of Santa Cruz from June 27, 1992 until June 2, 1996.

How did you get started?
The Bittersweet Bistro was a dream come true for chef Thomas Vinolus and myself. Thomas was born in Missouri and spent his formative years in Battle Creek, Michigan. Growing up in a large family, he enjoyed cooking at home. His Greek and Polish heritage exposed him to a love of hospitality combined with food. He continued to cook for friends throughout college and upon graduation, saw the natural combination of his business education and his love of cooking as a means to go into business for himself. Thomas’ first cooking position was at the Hilton Hotel in Irvine, California where he was introduced to the use of superior ingredients in fine dining and pastry making. From there, he honed his skills at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Following was an internship at Aureole’s in New York City and a period at Casanova’s in Carmel where we met and became business and life partners. And the rest is history!

What do you love about Aptos/Santa Cruz?
It has been a warm and welcoming community with a small town feel. Throughout the years, our customers have been a local and loyal group and we’ve been blessed by that. We have always enjoyed the abundance and amazing quality of local produce, seafood and wines available to us year round. Many of our customers have become our dear friends and are part of our extended family.

How has your business been affected by the pandemic and shelter-in-place?

Business is down about seventy-five percent and we unfortunately, we had to lay off about 70% of our staff. We are looking forward to hiring back all of them!

How have you made adjustments and how can we as a community support you?
We realized there was a need for a Market/General Store, so we turned our dining room into a mini market. We believe we can offer our community the essentials they need as a convenience. You are able to purchase these items and more without the long lines and delayed delivery dates.
Our wine bottle collection are now offered at half price, and we are also selling beer and liquor. We offer our full menu for takeout, curbside and delivery. Chef Thomas came up with a line of moderately priced entrees at $20 each which includes Mom’s Meatloaf, Bistro Steak, Chicken Parmesan, St. Luis Ribs, Pork Tenderloin, Blackened Cod, Cheese Raviolis and Pesto Pasta. Our popular pizzas from our Italian woodfired oven can be ordered all day but are discounted to $15. from 12- 4:00pm. As well as your favorite libations, Cliff and Thomas have developed a new line of cocktails and mocktails that can be made to go.
It has been awesome that our community continues to place orders for take-out, pick up and curbside. It still allows us to do what we love during these difficult and uncertain times.
We are so grateful for the calls and look forward to your next order! All of our menus can be found on our website. Just type in on our address www.bittersweetbistro.com - click on menus upper left hand corner and all of our menus, plus our latest grocery list which features over three hundred items.

What are your favorite dishes that you serve? Or customer fave?
Our salmon, stroganoff, meatball pasta, skirt steak, chicken parmesan and shrimp dynamite are some of Chef Thomas’ favorites. You can’t go wrong with any of our house-made desserts. Our number one dessert is chocolate mousse and our son JT is also a huge fan of the chocolate mousse!