Stacy Tatman Photography

Saturn Cafe

The first impressions I formed of Santa Cruz when I moved here ten years ago are still very vivid. I remember driving through the redwoods in the fog, riding the Big Dipper, seeing the view of the ocean from campus, and hanging out at the Saturn Cafe.

For me, Saturn Cafe embodied many of the different and interesting ideas that I felt were the essence of what makes Santa Cruz special. It was funky and cool and exposed me to new ideas like ratatouille on the menu and vegan bisexual housemate notices on the bulletin board. That period of time in 1990 found Saturn Cafe in the middle of an already established and still continuing tradition.

Saturn Cafe, as would be expected, has a very colorful history. Michael O, an Operations Officer, had a chance to interview the original owner, Don Lane. Don Lane (who later became mayor of Santa Cruz) started Saturn Cafe in 1979 with a couple of friends in a small house on Mission Street. These friends had all worked together in a group called "The Ozones," which organized community events and environmental cleanup projects, as well as many other activities and services. Saturn Cafe owes both its name and community building philosophy to "The Ozones."

Saturn quickly outgrew their space, and contemplated a move across the street. There was an available building, but the long succession of failed businesses in that location indicated the need for an exorcism before Saturn could claim the site as their new home. So the cleansing ritual was performed, including paintings that were cleverly concealed under white paint on the back walls.

Saturn enjoyed many years of success there, serving dishes like their popular tomato soup, the Neptune Sandwich, and my personal favorite...the Chocolate Madness-- "a chocolate o.d.: Two gramma's cookies, one scoop chocolate burnt almond ice cream, hot fudge, chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and chocolate chips!"--$4.50, mini madness--$2.95. (Try starting your week with the "Monday Madness" 2-4-1 special.)

All went well until last New Year's Eve when, according to a melted clock, a midnight electrical fire brought Saturn to a close.

Through the dedicated efforts and skilled hurdle jumping of many talented people, including owners Abigail Andromacha and Tristan Nathe, Saturn reopened on 9/9/99 with a huge celebration.

And the new Saturn looks amazing! Curt Jensen, an Operations Officer, painted giant red and black flames around the circular restaurant. Saturn employees Kat and Yunnie deserve special credit for their elaborate murals, as do the folks at Love Dog Tattoo for their artwork. Volunteers spent hours hand applying gold glitter, and each table has its own theme. From the tiki booths to the Alice in Wonderland--"will I ever reach the end?" hallway, the new Saturn Cafe managed to outshine its former decor. If you haven't been by yet, do so, and bring your family, too. Kids (term used loosely--you know if it applies to you!) love the rocket ride and photo booth.

And although the ambiance is delightful, it is, of course, all about the food. Saturn Cafe has so much to offer. In addition to the great dinners Santa Cruzers have always enjoyed, Saturn now offers expanded breakfast and lunch menus, including beer and wine. Try an organic salad, or a Snappy Meal (veggie or boca burger, fries, soda, and soup or salad, and... a toy! only $6.25). And best of all, Saturn is open 24 hours! Imagine its 4:21 am and you have a place to satisfy your munchies besides the snack aisle of the Quickie Mart.
So the next time you are in search of breakfast and a host person tells you its going to be an hour and 20 minutes, check out Saturn. They have a small wait (if any) and a huge menu--everything from traditional eggs and toast to traditional pop tarts and Tang (depending on your generation). Before 10am, you can start your day with the Early Bird Special (eggs, hash browns, and toast--a mere $3.00).

I enjoyed a lunch at Saturn, and had the "Fakin' Bacon Cheese Burger with french fries and a yummy strawberry shake. I've been vegetarian for over 5 years now, so it been a long time since I had a bacon cheeseburger. It was fantastic! In fact, the staff informed me that because the food is so exceptional, many people don't realize that Saturn is all vegetarian, except for some tuna dishes. So you can have your cake and eat it too--or chocolate madness as the case may be.

So if you haven't been to the Saturn in awhile, I recommend you head over there soon. They are located at 145 Laurel Street in Santa Cruz (next to Washrock) and are open 24 hours, with plenty of parking. Upcoming Saturn Cafe events to look forward to; the Saturn Bowling League, outdoor patio seating, and "secret happenings yet to be revealed!"

--Stacy Tatman