The SANDABS Dining Experience
At the Bistro by Jean Beraud
Sandabs is best described as “a bistro”—a small, crowded, lively, can be noisy restaurant serving fresh, house made dishes that showcases local seafood and produce in a modest and informal setting (some call it funky).
Sandabs is not easy to find. Medals should be awarded to first timers who make the voyage and arrive. BUT don’t come expecting an environment with Bling ’cause you won’t find it. Sandabs is housed in the historic (emphasis on “historic”) Camp Evers complex in Scotts Valley. Remodeled in 2008, there are two dining areas: The rustic (added on by a previous owner) back room wine bar and the more traditional front dining room.
Dining in the winebar
Shaina with patrons near the fireplace
The wine bar is oh so cozy (made even more so when the rains come and play upon the sheet metal roof). It seats about 25 along the long wooden bar or at small, high, round-topped tables. On cold days the fireplace is lit and indirect lighting closes in the wood walled room. Be prepared for noise as the informality lends itself to making friends with those seated around you and perhaps even “flavor” sharing with fellow diners.
Dining room corner, our new look — ready for a crowd
Front Dining room — happy group
The more traditional front dining room seats about 30 at tables for 2 to 4 (or more as needed). It too is intimate but we are told a bit less noisy and perhaps a bit less crowded in feel than the “back” room.
The kitchen is small and open to view. On busy nights, you will find our 3 chefs working in concert in very tight quarters.
Fresh seafood to take home
Between the two entrance doors, lay tanks that hold either live Dungeness Crabs (in season) or live, Atlantic Hard Shell lobsters. Here also is the small but mighty, iced, fish laydown where seasonal, locally caught seafood is presented for take home purchase. From November until June, you can call ahead and pick up crabs snatched from the tanks, cooked, cracked and cleaned for your enjoyment.
If you are looking for an off-beat place where you can experience amazing seafood, excellent wines or find fresh seafood to take home, Sandabs will be worth a try.