Fusion

It’s terrific finding spots like this in unlikely locations. Fusion is located above Pacific Ave and has a loft feel and vibe. The bar was very capable; stocked with finer spirits and mixers. The menu is tapas-​style where four friends were satisfied by six small plates.
A major strength is the late-​night menu that aims to satisfy any foodie. Expect the bar crowd while grabbing a bite any time after 10PM.

Fusion really saved me on the night before my college graduation. If you read my review for Gabriella Café, you’ll know why. After leaving Gabriella’s so hungry and frustrated, I thought Fusion would be the best place to go. I have never made more of a correct decision in my life.
My party of 9 people show up at Fusion at 9PM and they immediately put two tables together to accommodate us. They set up the table so quickly and polished the wine glasses right in front of us. After we were seated, they brought the best bread and olive oil and vinegar for us to munch on before we ordered.
The service was so attentive. We had our water glasses refilled every 5 minutes and I never felt like they were ignoring us. I ordered the hanger steak, which came with risotto and tiny onion rings. The steak melted in my mouth like butter, best steak I’ve had in a looonnng time. Then we ordered chocolate cake and a caramel apple pie (cant remember exactly what it was…) but the waitress forgot to tell us it would take 30 minutes to bake so we decided mid way not to go through with it. Then they brought us another chocolate cake on the house to make up for the lost dessert.
My whole family was impressed with this restaurant and although the techno from downstairs started vibrating our chairs at the end of the meal, we were so satisfied it didn’t even bother us!

Sadly, this place has gone way down hill since it was Pearl Alley. It was once the best Santa Cruz had, and now… not so much.

Went with my girlfriend and a few close friends. The other reviews don’t do the place justice. We had good drinks, good appetizers (late service was cool). If your a foodie and are looking for that go to Theo’s. The music was good the people were nice, the bartender and waitstaff were cool and responsive. Maybe we got lucky but it was scum-​free. They have cool art and a cool comfortable vibe.

Dear Fusion,
It’s time to take down the sign that says Pearl Alley Bistro.
Time to put up a sign that says Fusion.
That way, anybody coming will be warned that this restaurant is crap. You’re on the right track by being called Fusion, now it’s time to let people know from afar.
First, ‘fusion’ cuisine is about the most annoying style of cooking on earth (with the possible exception of tapas, or the forced-​family-​style gestapo that inspired places like Buca de Bepo, etc)
«I’ll open a restaurant that serves all the kinds of food I like,» you probably thought. «If people can’t appreciate eating dolmades on the same plate as their kung pao, they just don’t know what’s good.» Unfortunately, not everybody likes the same food as you. Even assuming that they did, they wouldn’t anymore after eating it at your restaurant. Perhaps you saw an episode of Top Chef and thought, «I could make that! But I’d make it with some mustard sauce. …or maybe something else that tastes like ass.»
Second, and most important, Shame On You for letting anyone think that this culinary disaster is anything like the great Bistro that it replaces. Take that sign down today!
Dear Unilocalers,
Remember what Pearl Alley Bistro was like? The way they had solid, crafted and reliable offerings on the menu? And the way the regular items were complimented by specials that featured fresh seasonal ingredients? Remember the fresh-​baked rolls with seasalt?
Did you like that?
If your answer was NO to all of the above, proceed to Fusion — it’s roughly the opposite of Pearl Alley Bistro. You could also go to Clouds — it’s right down the street. Or the place upstairs from the Redroom, or Ideal on the pier. SC is full of douchefood.
Oh, and the portions are way small. I understand that some places serve small portions because the flavors are rich and meant to be savored. This is not one of those places. I advise going to Fusion with models, so you can (1) be seen with them by all your douche friends and (2) eat the food that they don’t. Maybe that way you won’t go home hungry.

I have to agree with Amber A,
YES Pearl Alley Bistro was a great restaurant !
But no more it has been turned into another shitty bar /​lounge with crap food and even worse service. What a shame, why can’t Santa Cruz figure it out people want good honest food please for the love of god NO MORE FUSION FOOD NO MORE SUSHI ! why can’t we just get a good bistro in Santa Cruz?

Pearl Alley Bistro was an excellent restaurant. When my husband and I came back to Santa Cruz for a trip down memory lane and attempted to go to our favorite nice restaurant in the city, we were disappointed that it was gone. However, the hostess assured us that the new place, Fusion, was «the same.»
Boy was that a lie. This once romantic, adorable spot is now a loud bar with a boring menu. I agree with the previous posts, the place is very bar-​centric and full of scumbags. We rarely go out to expensive restaurants and I would NEVER go here again, it was such a waste of money.
I am giving Fusion a very low rating because they are claiming to be like Pearl Alley Bistro. This could not be further from the truth, and it is misleading to customers. If you want to try it out, be my guest, but don’t be expecting the greatness that was once there.

I agree, quite sad. It’s as if someone passed around ‘free drinks if you are a complete scumbag’ coupons around town and everyone cashes in every time I go in there. I could not imagine that is what the new owners were hoping for.
I personally can’t get passed it to get to the food.

This is where the Pearl Alley Bistro was located and as they say «You can never go home again».
I stopped in for a drink before a show last night and was underwhelmed. The food looked good but the menu has been stripped down to about a dozen appetiser style munchies. As I said I came here for a drink, and drink I did. The house cocktails are top shelf and top notch (Mandarin Cosmo, Pomegranate Martini, etc). I had an 18yo. cask strength Scotch that really hit the spot, I cant remember the name of it to save my life so I guess I better go back to find out.
The worst part is that the place was crawling with frat choads and their chodettes but for a good drink I can hit the ignore button on this level of douchebaggery.
While this place is a shadow of it’s former self it’s still a good place to kill a minute with a kick ass cocktail.