High above the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor sits a Coast Guard lookout called a Crow's Nest, much like the ones on sailing ships of old. Beneath it is a restaurant of the same name, known for its ambiance, views and great food.

The Crow's Nest restaurant and second-story lounge afford one of the most magnificent views on the West Coast. On a clear day you can look across the bay to Monterey, then track across an expanse of open ocean north to the wharf and lighthouse at Santa Cruz. The pure ocean waters you see are under lasting federal protection as part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Outdoor decks provide an excellent vantage point for the steady parade of small craft coming in and out of the harbor and a ringside seat for the colorful Wednesday evening sailboat races.

For lunch and dinner the Crow's Nest serves seafood as fresh as the catch brought in that morning by the local fleet. Daily specials and regular menu items include specially aged beef, pasta and fresh chicken, along with a children's menu.

The grill in the upstairs lounge offers a variety of appetizers and light lunches, along with live comedy, music and dancing. It's easy to see why readers of the largest circulation local paper voted it "Best Place to Meet People" in Santa Cruz County.

The restaurant's history dates back to the opening of the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor in 1964. It started out as a small coffee shop, but despite a beautiful view, no one came. It became a pancake house. No one came. It became a hamburger place. No one came.

Then, in 1969, Palo Alto restaurateurs Mike Clark and Mike McClellan bought it, remodeled it, and renamed it "The Crow's Nest." With a menu featuring steak and lobster, it became a dinner destination and a success.

In 1976, Clark and McClellan remodeled again, nearly doubling the dining room capacity. Two years later they sold the restaurant to Robert Munsey and Ted Burke.

Munsey and Burke enlarged the dining room again in 1983, adding the 4,000 square-foot second-story lounge, including two outdoor decks to complement the popular one below. A new outdoor deck for the lounge was completed in January 1999.