If you're looking for an amazing birthday cake- try the banana split cake! Such a great surprise. The cake is like a banana bread with chocolate ganache layered in. Will be craving this cake from now on! I had never seen this flavor anywhere else and am so glad we tried it.

We stayed 3 days in Santa Cruz for a fun family vacation, and, I kid you not, we ate at Gayle's Bakery every single day we were there. Wow. The selection! Insane! Everything from sandwiches and hot plates like teriyaki chicken, bbq ribs, salmon, mac and cheese, to pastries and desserts like chocolate cake, princess cake, pies, cookies, parfaits -- there were so many options that we had to come back multiple times just to try everything we wanted! The place is BUSY. Even if you don't know what you're going to pick yet, grab a ticket ASAP because the line is just gonna' get longer. Top items we can recommend: * Ruben sandwich (wow) * Raspberry Neapolitan (so flaky and good!) * Princess Cake (mmm) * Chocolate Eclair (can't go wrong with that fresh Creme) Yum! I wanna go back. I wish there was a Gayle's near me! The place has been open since 1976, so it has a lot of repeat clientele. You can tell the food is good when there's a healthy mix of elderly and young patrons flooding through the front doors every morning. My new favorite bakery for sure!

This is an isolated review to discuss only one stand out item sold at busy, busy Gayle's. Hands down Gayle's rye bread is the best I have ever had. This includes the rye breads I have enjoyed back east where rye bread is as common as sourdough is to the Santa Cruz and Bay Areas. The bread itself is dense and hearty and has a strong rye flavor. The seeds are incorporated into the loaf (as opposed to being stuck to the outside) and have a lower propensity to get stuck between your teeth. Toasting the bread only amps up the flavor, magnificent! I can only imagine how good a Reuben would be with this bread as a foundation.

Gayle's is a classic Capitola gem, no frills but all thrills on the menu. Their Chocolate Mousse Cake is a scrumptious as it looks. Super decadent. Indulge in a slice or 3. This was a special cake memorializing my uncle brought by my cousin all the way from Capitola to South San Francisco. Cute heart inscription, courtesy of the sweet bakery staff. Thank you, Gayle's, for adding a personalized touch to end our services.

Gayle is a magnificent bakery with fresh pastries, breakfast, and lunch items. Salads, garlic bread, salads to go dinner items, and the most fabulous pastries, cookies, coffee bar, and cakes. If you dont visit Gayles you are truly missing out ! It's a must!!!

Visited on my birthday this past weekend and it exceeded all expectations. Loved how casual (the process of ordering the food) yet sophisticated (decor, seating, etc.) it was. We were lucky enough to find parking right in front and it got busier shortly after we got there (around 9:30am on a Sunday). We first ordered a hot chocolate with oat milk & whipped cream. Such a big fan. So simple & delicious. Our number was called to order and we chose a few different things to share which included the almond croissant cookie & the cinnamon bun. Both so decadent. My boyfriend also got plain Challah bread & a bearclaw for his family. Definitely recommend coming here as they have choices for anyone with a specific craving. 11/10. Though expect a bit of a wait before ordering, it's definitely worth it.

Came here for lunch on a Saturday of a holiday weekend. It was absolutely fantastic. It's busy and bustling with a fast moving line, but people are friendly and it's a casual self-service vibe with lots of tables. There's so much food (sandwiches, pastas, soups) and so much dessert (cookies, cakes, pies, tarts etc), and all of it is good. Got the garden turkey sandwich, Italian sandwich, penne pasta, cookie with brownie, and their fruit tart - all fantastic. Can't wait to come back!

Belated review for Summer 2023 visit. Perhaps one of the most famous eateries in Capitola with an extremely loyal following. This review is based on my first visit on a summer afternoon. ++. Ambiance is busy, clean and cheerful bakery restaurant. Reminded me of NyC and ChaiTown delis. Take a number and wait to order and do it in an efficient manner. The numbers moved fast. ++. Food is quite good with a huge variety. They have everything! Coffee bar, bakery and ready made salads, sides, mains as well as ready to cook fresh made meals. I tried theirs roasted chicken breast for lunch and it was moist and flavorful. Their sourdough boule was the better than those from SFO bakeries. Definitely my fave sourdough on this trip. ++. Service is friendly and fast moving. ++. Prices are slightly higher but reasonable for what you get +. Parking is a shared lot. It's smaller but you can find more spots in the back Overall, one of my best finds on this trip and my favorite spot for sourdough bread :)) MY RATINGS - - - Inhumane - - Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark + Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been all my LiFe!

This spot reminds me of Disneyland. I walked in bright eyed and full of wonder at the beautiful pastries behind the glass. The decor is like walking into Main Street's Plaza Inn -- think bright, mismatched china adorning the walls and floral drapery. This was recommended to us by my masseuse from Well Within and the front desk staff at the Venetian court. Of course we had to check it out! My husband and I came on a weekend and it was bustling with people. We were so overwhelmed and just started lining up against the counter. To our surprise, other people skipped us in line and were assisted before us. It was off putting to say the least. And it wasn't until another patron informed us that they serve on a ticketing system. (I know I know, I should've read the reviews on Yelp for more insight, but instead I looked at the photos -- per yooj). For someone new - the ticket machine is easy to miss with little to no signage. Service otherwise was very helpful. The gentleman who assisted us was very patient as we decided on what pastries to get to-go on top of our hot breakfast items and coffee order that we were having in-house. I got the ham and egg biscuit and it was the most flakiest biscuit I've had in a long while! Each bite melted in my mouth with buttery goodness. They also kept a bowl on top of the biscuit to maintain the warmth from ordering, payment and to transportation (to a table). My husband got the breakfast burrito and it was so flavorful from the medley of veggies they used in their salsa. ~ Tips ~ - Grab a ticket, wait for your name to be called and then place your order. - Order ahead! You can do so online. Saves you the hassle of trying to figure out what to order like most people in line. - If you're too lazy to cook, they offer prepackaged dinners that you can just pop in the oven or microwave. - The coffee bar is located at the back of restaurant. - Parking is available in the back of the restaurant. It's a bit deceiving driving up to it as it appears that there's only a handful of spots in front, but continue on to the left hand side past the women's clothing store. There's more parking. I can definitely see what the hype is about. Will definitely make this a stop the next time I'm in the area!