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EAT THIS: SMASH BURGER AT THE POINT MARKET IN SCOTTS VALLEY
This week, Pleasure Point café The Point Market opened a new outpost in Scotts Valley, bringing its extensive menu of burritos popular at the East Cliff location to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The newest Point opened its doors on Tuesday in a shopping center on Mount Herman Road, in the former Flashbird spot next to Safeway. Although this location lacks the ocean views at the original, it offers a nearly identical menu to the one in Santa Cruz, with more than 15 burritos — particularly, breakfast burritos — at the forefront, alongside Mexican classics like quesadillas and tacos, sandwiches, as well as smoothies, acai bowls, and coffee.
While the Pleasure Point location is known for its breakfast burritos, my vote is for the smash burger, one of several special menu items unique to the Scotts Valley location.
The smash burger’s thin, caramelized yet juicy patty has popularized the burger style throughout the county over the past few years, but getting that balance without ending up with a dry hockey puck takes skill. The Point does a fair job, and stacks their version on a fluffy griddled bun with crunchy lettuce, tomato and sweet caramelized onions. It’s finished with a healthy swipe of special sauce with a noticeable kick of cayenne. And yes, it comes with fries: thick, squat, well-seasoned potato wedges.
Early and unofficial polling indicates that the smash burger may steal the crown from the breakfast burrito, at least in Scotts Valley. Adnan Ayadd, the owner’s son, was working the counter and said they sold more than 200 on the first day. “The response has been incredible,” he said.
BEST OF THE WEEK AHEAD
Below, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
ICYMI – here are the food news stories from Lookout that you might have missed, plus important news from beyond our borders picked by yours truly.
Slowed by immigrant crackdown, innovative home kitchens begin to serve Santa Cruz County (Lookout)
Early morning blaze severely damages Capitola’s Sushi Garden (Lookout)
‘We had a good run’: Izakaya West End closes after 12 years, bar open through July (Lookout)
Three Santa Cruz County restaurants receive PG&E grants (Lookout)
