Reviews

Reviews

As Reviewed at YELP!

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2/22/2010 - 5 Starz

I just want to say that the chocolate frosting at Starz is amazing!!!!! I would eat tubs of it if I could and whomever thinks that there is too much frosting, or there is too much, you are crazy! By the way the velvet is perfection as well, I eat one every day I can! : )

Chocolate L.
Santa Cruz, CA

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2/6/2010 - 4 Starz

Yum!!
The first thing I noticed about these cupcakes is their weight. After three years of eating box mix cupcakes at various birthday parties and other child-related functions, I had forgotten that real scratch made cupcakes have a little heft!
Love the elegant and simple way they wrap the cupcakes in parchment. Would make a lovely presentation for a shower, served on a tiered server.
So far, I've tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter (divine), German Chocolate (if you like German chocolate--you are going to be very happy here) and the carrot cake (not bad, not stellar).
They also sell these cupcakes at the Yogurt Delight on Mt. Hermon in Scotts Valley--Hooray for us SLV dwellers!!

Tess F.
Boulder Creek, CA

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1/27/2010 - 5 Starz

I realize this is a matter of personal taste, but for me NOTHING beats these cupcakes. NOTHING. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. My problem with most cupcakes is they only get one part of the equation- perfect frosting but bland and/or dry cake, or fabulous cake and 'eh' icing. THESE CUPCAKES HAVE IT ALL. The cake is as moist as boxed mix while still retaining that 'baked from scratch' flavor. The frosting is the PERFECT buttercream- sweet, buttery (even a little salty!), creamy, and the different flavorings I've tried have all been spot on. I really can't imagine a more perfect cupcake. AND when I went in right before closing once, I got some free cupcakes from the wonderful ladies who own the shop! Who could ask for more?!?!

Mandy R.
CA
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12/22/2009 - 4 Starz

I love cupcakes and I love Starz! I had the blueberry cupcake, the chocolate peanut butter, the georgia peach and the double chocolate cupcake. I wanted to eat all four of them myself but my friends were with me and I couldn't be rude.

The blueberry cupcake was great, like a gourmet blueberry donut but in cupcake form. The peach was very sweet and very peachy. I recommend the chocolate and chocolate peanut butter- both were awesome!

This place is always on my list of places to visit when I go to Capitola!

G.M.
San Francisco, CA

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12/20/2009 - 5 Starz

I've sampled several of there cupcakes (Holiday Eggnog, Gingerbread man, Santa Funfetti, Sin-something and White Chocolate Cupcakes and they were all amazing. Too bad I live in San Francisco now, hope to see them expand up here soon. Totally worth every penny and will now be a stop on every Santa Cruz trip I take.

Kelly O.
San Francisco, CA

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10/22/2009 - 5 Starz

Great place to take kids. It's alot of fun to go here. Get some yogurt next door and then hop in here for a six pack of snickerlicious cupcakes, awesome. Very clean, nice atmosphere, and huge selection. Im glad they opened up here in Capitola/Santa Cruz 41st Ave.

R.G.
Santa Cruz, CA
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9/13/2009 - 5 Starz

I must say best new buisness of Santa Cruz county bar none so amazing! I went in tonight and met the daughter and she was absolutley amazing! Can't get any sweeter, so I guess it makes a good match working with cupcakes... ;) the lava flow was amazing and so was the tritons daughters! Those were her recamondations so I figured I would trust her, I am so glad I did, talk about a-maze-ing ooooh my! Can't wait to go back and try more so far my fav is the Patron one, god any way to get Patron and I am there.... It's amazing ;) thank u guys for coming to town!

Sherry D.
Santa Cruz, CA

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9/11/2009 - 5 Starz

I LOVE this place! The cupcakes are wonderful. I would highly recommend you try them. They are very creative with ingredients and decorations. Take some to your next party and you'll be a big hit!

Carol C.
Santa Cruz, CA

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9/10/2009 - 5 Starz

There is only one way to describe this place... fun. I went in a few days ago with some friends with some skepticism. Don't get me wrong, I love cupcakes, but a bakery that only does cupcakes is pretty ballsy so they must be amazing, right? Right. We walked into the door and were greeted by three things simultaneously: An environment that I would go as far to say as sterile, yet still has enough going on to make it quirky and homey. A very friendly girl working behind the counter (I wish I got her name to congratulate her.) And, finally, a massive display of cupcakes that could make you believe in God! As my wife and I stood in complete awe, trying to decide from the myriad of choices, waiting for our other friend the owner wandered out. I still don't remember exactly where she came from or how we didn't notice her sneak up to the register but she began to assault us with a brand of sarcasm you could only expect from one who has been your friend forever. Her jokes and quips instantly cemented this place into my future being for all of eternity. After finally deciding on an Almond Cupcake and some whole milk, my friends and I sat down and finally dug in. First off, to properly enjoy a cupcake at this Mecca of cupcakes, you need a fork. Sure, you can go in hand on one of this masterpieces, but you won't be able to savor the complex flavor of each amazing bite of this work of art.

Now, I've been to a lot of bakeries in my life all of them "traditional" bakeries serving slices of cake for $3 or small tarts for $5 or even a "personal cake" for $6-$8. All of these are just a cupcake that, since there is no wrapper, if you get them a few hours after baking, they are drying out and not very good. The beauty of these cakes is that even though they are small, more love is being put into them. Cupcakes are laborious, a full cake is for the lazy. You can taste all of the love in each cake.

After talking to the owner for awhile, we discovered that there are over 115 different recipes they use, 15 at a time, that have been handed down from generation to generation for at least 4 generations if I understood right. You are eating history every time you go there. You can't say that about other bakeries. Almost all of them us a pre-made mix so they can cut costs of labor. This place is all about quality... as it should be.

$3 is an amazing price for a cupcake that you could call a family heirloom, an experience that is both crazy and fun, and for a smiling happy face behind the counter.

Trevor S.
Marina, CA

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9/9/2009 - 5 Starz

Best cupcake experience of m life! I went in with friends yesterday around 11am and got the chocolate peanut-butter cupcake, and a soy latte- I know, not a healthy breakfast, but it made my day! Their espresso beverages were very reasonably priced, and cupcakes were $2.95 each, but I can honestly say that even though I am broke I would have payed $5, it was that good. I got a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter center and peanut butter icing. It had the perfect icing:cupcake ratio! My friends got the chocolate-chocolate-chocolate and the almond, and they were great also. The store itself was small but clean and tidy. We stayed for over an hour talking to the owner, she was so sweet! She even brought over a free banana cupcake for us to share. I don't really like banana that much, but this was a banana-bread cupcake made with real bananas, and I loved it! This is truly a family owned and run business, you can see pictures and short bios of all the bakers in the family going back to the 1800s! All their cupcakes are made fresh and from scratch, (you can taste the difference!) they have over 100 different kinds, (with a different 15 being offered each day- I can't wait for the watermelon and the tequila cupcakes!) and they even have gluten-free and weight watchers approved cupcakes, (I think they were 2 pts), which I will try next time I go in and report on those. It was painfully difficult to only get one cupcake. I will definitely go back whenever I am in Santa Cruz.

Jamie S.
Marina, CA

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9/7/2009 - 5 Starz

This place is an absolute gem! I stumbled upon Starz Cupcakes while exploring my new neighborhood and was instantly delighted. Before I even tried a cupcake, I was dazzled by the owner's friendliness and welcoming nature. As I surveyed the impressive selection of cupcakes, I noticed that they have a chocolate GLUTEN-FREE cupcake. If you are gluten intolerant I highly recommend this cupcake, it tastes absolutely nothing like the cardboard they sell elsewhere. For all gluten tolerant customers, you absolutely must try the chocolate peanut butter cupcake. It has peanut butter in the middle! I tried several varieties of cupcakes and they were all rich and moist with the most amazing frosting ever. Thank you Starz!

Charlotte F.
Capitola, CA

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9/6/2009 - 5 Starz

BEST cupcakes in Santa Cruz, no doubt about it! Don't even think about going to other bakeries to find cupcakes like these (believe me, I've been to them all...the Buttery, Gayles, Brendan's, even Whole Foods!) they are one of a kind!

Sarah M.
Santa Cruz, CA
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9/4/2009 - 5 Starz

You'll find no better place to satisfy your sweet tooth than Starz Cupcakes in Capitola. I kid you not, this tasty spot is seriously AWESOME!!!! With scrumptous flavors rotating daily, you can't help but have a new favorite cupcake at each visit. Today I was completely blown away by the velvety smooth taste of the De Leche -it was an orgasm for the taste buds! The owner, Lisa is an amazing woman with an amazing legacy. Just check out the "wall of fame" for the impressive women in her family that all contributed in some way to the final delight that is Starz Cupcakes. If you have not visited this delicious store yet, run don't walk there right now. You'll mouth will thank you for it!!!!!

Barbara T.
Lodi, CA
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9/2/2009 - 5 Starz

The people that gave these cupcakes a low rating are delusional and probably have not eaten a real cupcake in their lives..seriously.

And that guy who compared these cupcakes to a hostess cupcake..wow that was SOOOO wrong on so many levels.

Serioulsy people, if you have a hankering for something sweeeet and yummy, and want the REAL thing, come here. My friend and I are obsessed with cupcakes and have tried TONS of cupcake shops, even that sprinkles everyone is talking about - which is SO not better.

Here's the difference:

Sprinkles cupcakes (and all other cupcakes for that matter, including those cupcakes made in whole foods - this is for that awful comment below..) : are dry, filled with air, have NO real substance to them, and you can eat them within one bite. ADDITIONALLY they are too expensive and you have to buy more than one in order to fulfill your craving...basically not worth it at all - might as well make your own.

Sstarz Cupcakes (which is soon to be called Starz.. and I can see why): have HUGE cupcakes that are SUPER moist and dense and probably cost half of what one cupcake at other stores cost. Plus they have totally original flavors that I don't think you could just whip up if you wanted to at your own house.

The bottom line: You'd have to buy at least 2-3 boring sprinkle cupcakes to get your fix instead of just buying one DELICIOUS and one of kind Starz Cupcake.

P.S. I work in a santa cruz bakery myself, and have tried all other cupcakes in town, and beleive me, these ARE the best cupcakes you can get in santa cruz, no doubt about it!

Sarah M.
Santa Cruz
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9/1/2009 - 5 Starz

Just went in today for the first time. Service was great and the cupcakes-hands down, are the BEST in the county. These are the type that you dream of when you are a child, and search for as an adult. The white cake with the vanilla frosting was delicious as was the one that reminded me of a strawberry shortcake, just yummier. Awesome baking guys THANK YOU

Dave S.
Santa Cruz, CA

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8/28/2009 - 5 Starz

This place is ADDICTING!!
I like going in and getting the snicker one. I'd rather spend my money at Starz then at that chain known as Sprinkles.
The employees at Starz are very friendly and outgoing. Cant wait to go back and see the new flavors.

Lucas S.
Santa Cruz, CA

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8/28/2009 - 5 Starz

Everytime i go in there i always receive great service and everyone is so bubbly but not fake. My favorite cupcake is the velvet cupcakes! I love how they change colors everyday. You should all go get some soon! Connie and Lisa are so adorable. I love how they are so engaged in getting to know their customers. I like how I always see the employees having so much fun in the back. It makes it a fun enviroment to go into. You can't help but walk in with a big smile :D

Brooke D.
Santa Cruz, CA

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8/25/2009 - 5 Starz

Being the cupcake connoisseur that I am, I couldn't wait to try Starz Cupcakes since I am a frequent patron at their neighbor, Yogurt Delite. I have a very critical palette for cupcakes and I am not the hugest fan of Kara's or Sprinkle's cupcakes, because I find them overly sweet, but I am always willing to try a new place.

I was very pleasantly surprised with my experience at Starz. The owner was extremely nice and offered my friend and I samples of the various frostings which were delicious. I got the purple velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting which has a hint of cinnamon- YUM! I found the size of the cupcakes very satisfactory (it is a cupcake for a reason!) and the price was good (about $6 for two cupcakes). They are very handcrafted and impressive to look, at and would make an awesome gift.

They also offer a weight watchers cupcake for those who are interested in that kind of thing. They had various drinks on the menu. Also they have a few different kinds of sprinkles so you can add your own sprinkles on your cupcakes. I thought Gayle's was my current fav cupcake but I have a new one. All in all the best cupcake I've had in a while!!! Try it this place it is awesome I will definitely be going back to get my cupcake fix and try all the different flavors!!

Kitty C.
Watsonville, CA

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8/23/2009 - 5 Starz

Been here 3 times and the service is great, the cupcakes homemade and very yummie. My family loved them. They even have a 4 pt Weight Watchers cupcake.

Sandra M.
Soquel, CA

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8/20/2009 - 5 Starz

This is a family owned and run business. The family has been making and selling homemade fresh baked / cooked food for generations and it shows!

The ladies who work there (3 generations) are amazing, friendly people.

I've had two of their cupcakes - the chocolate peanut butter and the white cake peanut butter (can you tell I like peanut butter) and both were so yummy.

I recommend to anyone looking for a real cupcake. they are large and exactly like the previous yelper said "muffin consistency cake taste".

good price too!

Kelsey W.
Santa Cruz, CA

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8/20/2009 - 5 Starz

i am so in love with this place. what a hapy place to be! if i have to choose a favorite i must say the peanut butter chocolate is a great choice for a last meal!! the velvets are probably the best i've ever had and hello! you better get in there before Gayle and Oprah find out cause after that point the lines will be too long!!! Everything is made from scratch and with real butter and you can taste it in every bite.
Starz you ROCK!!!

Jynel
La Selva Beach

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8/19/2009 - 5 Starz

I loved the Starz Cupcakes. I thought they were very tasty and HUGE! I tried the pink velvet which almost had a bit of cinnamon in it. Very surprising but delish. My favorite was the Snickerlicious and the Strawberry one (forgot the name). For those questioning the "white" cupcake- it is not super white because they don't use bleached four in it. So yeah, it is not going to be completely white. Also, I thought the prices were quite reasonable.

I highly recommend Starz and the owner is wonderful. Support your local mom and pop cupcake shop!

Gabriela M.
Oakland, CA

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8/18/2009 - 4 Starz

Fantastic cupcakes. I recommend the snickers or peanut butter flavored variety. Owner is extremely friendly and courteous. This place exemplifies American entrepreneurship. I completely disagree with those reviews complaining about the portion size? Jesus Christo?! How big do you want your cupcakes?! You should just by two if you want an assload of dessert, but I think for most people, one cupcake should suffice.

I do have one gripe which is the ratio of frosting to cake on which is about 2:1. I know most people are all about the frosting, but I am more into the cake. Just a matter of personal taste. Please give this place a try.

Johnny V.
Scotts Valley, CA

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8/18/2009 - 5 Starz

The selection of cupcakes and friendly staff is amazing! After trying five different cupcakes, the Triton's Daughter and Bridal Sin-Sation are my favorites so far. There are so, many to choose from and it will be fun to try some more! The cupcakes are perfect size and I was able to finish every last bite

Sherman T.
Palm Springs, CA

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8/17/2009 - 5 Starz

This place is new so I was a little bit skeptical about going there. I mean, can you really make a living selling cupcakes? Once I went in though, I didn't want to come out. The cupcakes are almost muffins consistency but taste as sweet as cupcakes! I'm not a big fan of frosting, but this stuff was amazing. They have over 160 flavors like key lime, purple velvet, and chocolate peanut butter-which has a peanut butter dollop in the middle of the chocolate cupcake. They are going to give the fro yo place next door a run for it! I can't wait to go back.

Julia C.
Santa Cruz, CA

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8/13/2009 - 5 Starz

I love this place! The banana cupcake rocked my world. The rest have also been delicious! The owner is really nice and the store has a nice feel. Highly recommended!

An idea, I'm not a huge frosting fan. Maybe make a line with limited frosting?? Sounds like heaven to me!

Ally J.
Santa Cruz, CA

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8/4/2009 - 5 Starz

We took our little ones for a family outing to Starz last weekend. All 4 of us picked different cupcakes and all were yummy except for the gluten free M & M variety (although it's great this option is available). The place is adorable, the owner was lovely and sweet, and I got my pastry/chocolate fix for the day. The only not so good thing was the tables and chairs are not kid friendly - an accident waiting to happen. We will be back!

Bianca M.
San Jose, CA

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8/3/2009 - 5 Starz

LISTEN....

This is THE BEST in cupcakery ooow k! Not only do they look yummy but they taste.. a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! I am in love!

2 words: cappuccino cupcake!!!

Ninja P.
Santa Cruz, CA

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7/30/2009 - 5 Starz

WOW! These absolutely yummy cupcakes are now my newest addiction!
I took my family there on a Saturday afternoon and the line was out the door! It was totally worth the wait! We had the Cookies and Cream and M&M cupcakes - they are to die for! Friendly service is hard to find these days and they have this covered! The lady behind the counter was so gracious and kind! Starz Cupcakes will be our Saturday afternoon tradition! I can't wait to go back! Kudos to Starz team!

Julie K.
Santa Cruz, CA

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7/26/2009 - 4 Starz

Starz Cupcakes are seriously delicious! Since they have so many varieties of cupcakes, we try a new one each time we go. So far, my faves are the Triton's Daughter, the Cookies and Cream , and the hazelnut one (not sure what it's called). My fiance, who is a self-proclaimed non-dessert eater even loves these treats!
I also love supporting a local, family business... especially one that donates its leftovers instead of throwing them out.
Side note, our dog loves the cupcake for dogs... and so do we
,
Tacy A.
Soquel, CA

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7/15/2009 - 5 Starz

I went in with my two kids today to try out this cute new cupcake shop and what a treat it was! We went in to get a cupcake for each of us and left with those plus some for dessert tonight. The Mother-Daughter team running this shop is adorable and really have found their niche! Now onto the cupcakes.... all I can say is Out of this world good!! I will have to lock up the remaining cupcakes so I don't eat them all. The only other place I have been to a cupcake shop is at Downtown Disney and Starz blows them out of the water! Can't wait to try more of their yummy treats.

Melissa B.
Santa Cruz, CA

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7/15/2009 - 5 Starz

OMG I went into this cute little shop thinking ok all this hype I am hearing is probably the same thing I heard about sprinkles! Which when I went there with my husband we were anything but impressed but I figure I'd try a cupcake shop one more time and I am soooo glad I did, words can't discribe how amazing these were!!!! I had the snicker one and a tritons something and I couldn't believe what I had just eaten it was amazing!!! And love the fact that it's a mother daughter team! I went in around 7:30 and I think it was the daughter that helped me and she couldn't have been sweeter!!! I didn't get a chance to meet the mom but I have no doubt I will cause I'll be back! I loved being able to read all about the family on the walls! It's great to go into a place and feel the history without people making all about them, great way they have it laid out! Just have to say it's amazing and the people and the taste is amazing which you never find these days!!!! So ;) they are in town it's a must go to spot.

Sherry D.
Santa Cruz, CA

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7/14/2009 - 5 Starz

i just created a yelp account so i could write a review for Starz Cupcakes. my boyfriend dragged me into Outdoor World today and as we walked across the parking lot i spotted this new cupcake bakery... it was all over from there.
the woman who owns the place (i think her name is Lisa) is absolutely adorable. she was so excited to help my boyfriend and i pick out our cupcake flavors. my boyfriend picked the classic yellow cake with chocolate frosting because it is a recipe that has apparently been in the family since the 1800s (check out and read about all the portraits on the walls). i spotted an empty row behind a sign that read "chocolate peanut butter " and was about to settle for the standard chocolate cupcake, when lisa suggested the chocoate peanut butter which was coming fresh out of the oven. she read my mind. she even asked for my hand once the cupcakes were ready so she could place it in my palm. "see, it's still warm on the bottom," she said. amazing. i wanted to invite this lady over for my birthday and pay her to make me birthday cupcakes. the cupcakes at are the Starz most insane desert i have ever tasted. the creamy peanut butter center made my life. i wonder if they sell them by the dozen? something tells me i've just developed a serious addiction. go in and see for yourself. these cupcakes are life changing.

Erin S.
Soquel, CA

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7/4/2009 - 5 Starz

Starz Cupcakes opened (soft opening) Thursday June 25th and it is really yummy!

My FAV is the red velvet. They also come in blue, green, and I am not sure what other color... but they are all YUMMY!

Jennifer C.
Santa Clara, CA

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7/2/2009 - 5 Starz

OMG - these cupcakes are amazing. This place just seemed to pop up overnight. While they are just getting up and running, what is amazing about this place is the variety of wonderful flavors! Their Orange Palermo (moist orange cake with actual mandarin oranges baked inside) is to die for! I'm going back to try one of the many different chocolate flavors next.

Vicki B.
Santa Clara, CA

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Open: Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
We are closed Mondays

If we are closed always check next door with
Yogurt Delite... Life is still sweet as
they have will a good slection of our cupcakes.

Starz Cupcakes
1420 – 41^st Avenue, Suite "B"
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-8911
Email your questions or orders to: info@StarzCupcakes.com

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