Engfer Pizza Works

I don’t know what happened! I used to really like their pizza, but I’ve been out of the country for 5 months and the pizza isn’t the same when I just got one tonight. It used to be a nice crunchy chewy crust, now mushy and chewy. I doubt I’ll me back.

Gotta say– I’m losing faith in Unilocal.I don’t think of my myself as picky and I’m not a foodie, but… I expected more from a place with such high ratings, and I’ve been warned about Unilocal payola scheme. Pay them or they’ll put your worst ratings first. This place is mediocre– The pizza sauce is more like paste and very tart. Even amateur cooks know how to take the bite out of tomatoe sauce ?? Very sparse toppings, the thin crust was not crisp, with a huge doughy edge, and when after being asked by the owner how it was, I said OK, and then she gets surly. Really nice kid cooking that tried hard, but at these prices, they should know how to make a good pie.

Have been a several time customer over the years, when we’re in the Santa Cruz area. Had always enjoyed their pizza until this last weekend. It’s been a year or so since we ordered from them, as we hadn’t made it to Santa Cruz in nearly a year, so we were looking forward to a good pizza when we ordered off our old menu. $ 53 later for two pizzas, we were totally disappointed!!! The sauce was awful, one pizza was cold and hard, not the good chewy crust I remembered. We ate a few pieces and threw the rest of both pizzas in the trash. It’s pretty bad when you wish you’d have bought a DiGiorno pizza instead! So long Engfer’s…I just feel like that for $ 53, we should’ve been fighting over who got the most slices, not over who had to get up and throw the rest out…

We used Unilocal to find a good pizza place while in Santa Cruz, it didn’t help this time. This place was barely average, and that’s being generous.
You should try somewhere else, and keep in mind the Unilocal reviewers may not have you in mind.

This place has a real California beach town feel – genuine as opposed to kitsch, I mean. The pizza was good and I liked the selection of toppings (great gluten-​free crust), and a wide selection of cider and beers in a refrigerated area. It’s a very casual, somewhat noisy place where you order at the counter. Good place to go after an afternoon at Seabright beach.

went in and ordered a pizza to go. The lady, short blond hair, took my order and money, gave me change and then proceeded DIRECTLY to the back counter pulled out a bag of lettuce/​greens for salad and stuck her unwashed hands into the bag pulling out lettuce and put it into individual containers. Funny because I was at the counter thinking about adding a salad to my order. Immediately changed my mine after watching her. I believe she is the owner or manager. Sorry, but you should know better and do better– why wouldn’t you wash your hands after handling money (or anything else)?
After seeing this I was watching to see who was going to make my pizza.
There was a guy with longish dark hair that just rang up the people behind me. He had his hands in the register and then went over to make pizzas-​my pizza. I asked him if he washed his hands, he mumbled something and all I heard was he did 10 minutes ago. I said would you wash your hands, he said he already did, like 10 minutes ago. Well sorry, but that’s disgusting! If you handle food you should be washing your hands right before you touch food.
and pull back your hair, wear a hair net or cut it off if you are working with people’s food!
oh and the pizza wasn’t good, had an odd taste to it. and overpriced for what you get.

Eh, this place was just OK. Glad to have found a place open ‘late’ — until 10 PM on a Tuesday night, but we found it really expensive for what you get. Especially being that the pizza is not that good … We paid $ 62 for a large pizza, small pizza, and a $ 20 bottle of wine. Oh and we also got the ‘large’ mixed green salad which was a total rip off at $ 6 or 8, can’t remember but it was small and not memorable at all. The pizzas are not big… Just to get an idea my husband and I easily ate the entire large and my 7 & 8 year olds ate the small. Giving it 3 stars for a cool vibe, ping pong table, and open late.

This place is inexpensive and delicious. The staff is sweet, attentive and quick. The pizza and salad are delicious and the price is pretty cheap. It’s also close to some rad bars. So yup, definitely recommend this spot

Excellent pizza and a really friendly staff. Feels like a small-​town community business.

This is the first I visit Santa Cruz. I am touring the UC. As we are driving around searching for a place to eat, this place caught our attention. It was delicious! However, expensive! For the four of us, it was $ 57 But definitely worth it. The pizza was homemade. Self serve of beverages, and really friendly workers. There’s a ping pong table in a room. The balls cost 50 cents from the machine, but you can get it for free if you go up to the front desk and ask for a ping pong ball. To end on a good note, it was delicious! Must eat here

I love this place and so do my kids. The pizza is amazing… you create your own. Nice selection of drinks and wines by the glass. And the kids love the ping pong. Always a stop for us when we visit Santa Cruz.

Superior! This is a great place for pizza, wine and ambience. The staff is the best! You feel like family there. If you are in Santa Cruz and want a good place to eat and relax go there… You will love it!!! And did I mention the staff… Super nice people!

First time here and we will definitely return when we visit Santa Cruz next year. We came at 4pm right when they opened and we were able to chat with the owner and head pizza maker (Liz) who made our pizzas. We had a small no name pizza and a large ½ ham/​pineapple ½ cheese and a side slice of pepperoni. Crust is thin and pie is baked evenly to perfection. Flavor is excellent but the no name pizza (veg combo) my personal favorite. Beers on tap (they have organic beer) and wine $ 5 (bargain). We left with pizza for another meal all under $ 50. Place has a very cool funky vibe and staff is nice and accommodating. The menu has a variety of pizzas, salads, desserts, beers & wines. If we lived in the area we’d be going weekly and never get bored of the menu or place. Highly recommend this spot.

After visitng Engfer’s last week I realized I have dramatically underutilized this place! Cool and casual– great pizza with unique flavor equations that work well (triple P is my fave).
The best part is the back wall of cold cases offering a wide variety of bottled beers everyone in the group is sure to find a friend in.
You’ll order first, then select your beverages, eat and drink your hearts out and upon exiting you’ll be rung up… At least that’s how it worked for us.

would have given 5 stars because the food is awesome but unless you have been there before it is a little confusing and no one is really helpful and they sort of act like your bothering them. Did takeout, my pizza was great & we got cake which was great also. Just up the customer service & everything will be great.

What attracts me to this place is sitting by the bar in front of the Italian wood fire oven. It’s the only one (or perhaps only one of two) in all of Santa Cruz! Not even Tramonti’s across the street has one. It makes for a great chat by the fireside especially when the pizza makers are not in a hurry. Sit and chat with’em for a bit. It’s a very casual place.
Pizza is great but I feel like it’s lacking a little something. Still, it’s cheap for a fast slice meal.
The drinks/​dessert coolers intrigue me. A bit tacky way to present your drinks but it’s all out in the open! Also love the selection of ice cream (Polar Bear Paws, go for them!)

Nicest people, excellent salads, but oh my golly goodness the pizza from a real wood fired stove is totally worth the drive!

I don’t know why, but the coolest part is the pick your own drink from the many cooler cases. Cal me crazy, but that is pretty fun and unique. The pizza is also very good. Like the many pizza options, each one sounds like a pie worth trying.
Service is friendly. Our pizza came out fast and hot and was delicious. Definitely on our list of places to eat in Santa Cruz.

Pizzas from here are quick and tasty (usually an oxymoron).
They could be a bit more generous with their toppings but they’re generous enough for this to only stop them from being a five star experience.
For the record, corralitos sausage, pineapple and jalapeño is the current combo of go to toppings.

This is my favorite pizza place in Santa Cruz. The pies are a touch on the pricey side but well worth it. You really cant beat a wood fired pizza but there are many styles of pies that come from these ovens. Engfer rolls out their dough with this cool double roller machine and then finishes it by folding the edges up under the pie. This makes the outer crust a bit thicker so the toppings dont spill out onto the oven floor AND it makes for a tasty crust with a slightly doughy fold in the middle. I like to unfold it at the end and sop up any spilt goodies on the pizza pan.
They have draft beers featured from some of the local breweries and a liquor store type fridge where you can choose from lots of tasty bottle beers and some sodas as well. You wont find a Coke or Pepsi or Coors as the owners like to keep it «real» featuring only micro type beverages.
My favorite combo here pesto (as a topping), ground beef, and Garlic… What tasty creation will you come up with?
Oh and for desert, they have Santa Cruz’s own Polar paws, an updated version of the «Its It» Ice cream sandwich that comes in way more fun flavors.
I love this place!