Excellent food! The Verde Enchiladas are the best, with unique flavor that speaks of authentic real Mexican/Spanish food. Chinese Chicken Salad had the freshest veggies and seasoned chicken. prices are reasonable Looking forward to returning again soon. read more

Came pack for the Wednesday Blue Plate special. I'm always wary of other people's turkey meatloaf and I Approve! The glaze was how I like it, sweet. Peas n potatoes perfect! Had the Chinese chicken salad. Excellent ! Get your butt here. Yummy! read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Meatloaf Wednesday Blue Plate Special! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

This is a little known treasure in downtown Salinas. I'm so glad that we finally stopped here for lunch. The service was beyond friendly. I ordered a gyro salad. My husband ordered a croque Monsieur (fancy word for a grilled cheese with a béchamel sauce). Both items were absolutely delicious. The dessert of a Basque cheesecake was absolutely fantastic. It's a very small restaurant and very clean. I was able to use the ladies room, which is always my litmus test to the cleanliness of a restaurant. It passed with flying colors. Average entrée is about $16. We really enjoyed our lunch and will definitely will return again. read more

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Amapola's amazing food is back! Check out their breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. Pictured here, the famous chicken pot pie. So delicious! Next time I'm asking if they have hot sauce for it! The owners are so sweet and thoughtful. Love supporting local! read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Chicken Pot Pie - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

Drop by for lunch and had their blue plate menus clam chowder. It is not thick but actually tasted great. No sand in the calm! Definitely nice place for dinner as well with their wine selection. read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Blue plate menu - clam chowder - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

The owner was extremely kind and knowledgeable. We asked him plenty of questions about the different wines as well as how to pair certain foods. Ordered the Chinese chicken salad and the croquet monsieur sandwich. Both DELICIOUS! Such a cute place for an afternoon or lunch bite. Would most definitely return with friends! read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Chinese chicken salad - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

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They're back!!!! And just as amazing as they were before. They've made some changes to the menu but most importantly they have extended hours and days they are open now! You order at the counter before sitting down and they will bring your food to you. The owners are very kind people and service is great. There are only a few tables but it keeps the vibe of the restaurant so perfectly. You can go with a group or by yourself and it's quite enough to read a book without distraction. They are a family owned, high quality restaurant and worth trying out. Salinas needs more restaurants like this, so make sure you come! read more

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This small wine cafe is a delight to have lunch with a glass of well selected wine. The menu is perfect with a variety of selections and daily specials. The Basque cheesecake is exceptional. The quiche moist and tasty with a delicious crust. Salad options are fresh, and crisp. Other options include homemade humus, goat cheese triangles and olives to enjoy with wine. The service is a walk up counter, and the owner is pleasant and helpful. The prices and portion sizes are affordable and align with the quality and portion provided. I highly recommend this gem cafe! read more

Really nice place to eat if you're in Salinas. Really fresh homemade from scratch food. Their chicken pot pie is fantastic. Really nice wine selection and he's very knowledgeable about wine. It's really nice to have a good place to eat in this area. read more

1st visit with a friend. We were greeted nicely as arrived & directed to menu behind counter. We made our appetizer choice (phyllo triangles,) chicken pot pie, chicken Ceasar salad & wine. All selections were delicious & recommended chocolate dessert was scrumptious. We will return. read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Delicious Chicken Pot Pie - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

Easily the best lunch spot in Salinas. Owner always checking in on the customers and staff is great. Amazing hidden wine gems as well if you know what to look for. On par with anything in Carmel without being overpriced. read more

I had read Yelp reviews on this restaurant and was excited to finally try it out. They did not disappoint. The food was fantastic. Started with the goat cheese with honey appetizers. Moved onto a Cesar salad which honestly was large to be my meal but also ordered cannelloni. The service, one waiter, who never stopped moving and cleared the lunch crowd all the while checking in each person and serving food. He was very friendly, polite and professional. We got there at 11:30, even with the lunch crowd it wasn't loud. Great job guys, I'll be back and will definitely tell others about the hidden treasure. read more

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The food is amazing to say the least. Tried almost every appetizer and they even change them every so often, giving you something new to try. Love that they're open for lunch hours, giving it an exclusive and unique touch for a Salinas dining experience. The owner, Jeffrey serves the dishes which gives you a nice space to have a little lunch meeting, date or gathering that won't be bothered by noise and too many extra hands. Everything that's minimal truly highlights the entire experience, I don't drink wine but there are so many to choose from and I can tell Jeffrey would like to help educate and inform us on anything we would try. I am in love with the goat cheese triangles and have to get them to start every meal. The appetizer bread is so soft, def recommend. The hummus & The shrimp cocktail hit the spot for me as well. For lunch I like the chicken pot pie and I can't get anything without the beet salad. The walnuts are the perfect touch for me. For dessert we've tried almost everything and I would get them all again. The cheesecake is something I've only seen on cooking shows so to try it was special and it was so fluffy. The perfect balance of cream to fluff. The names of things are harder for me to remember but I promise everything is great! The ambiance is very warm and welcoming. You'll be greeted with a smile from Jeffrey and you'll be sharing the space with the staff as they prepare your food behind the old subway counter. It's a hidden gem for sure. Won't be disappointed. read more

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Came here for lunch during work. I had seen they have chicken pot pie and really wanted to try it. It's on a corner and there is a little parking on the street however there is a city parking lot across the street with two hour parking. Upon entering was seated right away. Staff was very friendly and checked on us regularly while we were there. I got the chicken pot pie and it came with a salad. The salad was delicious. Simple but great flavor. On to the pot pie. It was a little smaller than I expected but was very good. With the salad and pot pie was very satisfied after eating. I did get the lemon tart for desert after. Very good. Definitely recommend this place. Great food and really good service. read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Meyer Lemon Tart with Fresh Blueberries - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

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Although they have been in business for two and a half years, this was my first time there. The food was excellent. I got the spinach quiche with a beet salad. The quiche was quite good, but the beet salad was a taste experience! Perfectly balanced. Every bite made me want another bite. My friend got the chicken pot pie. I'm pretty sure he only left one or two molecules in his bowl, good to the last morsel! My other friend got the quiche Lorraine and a salad. She cleaned her plate up too! Then even though we were full, we had to eat dessert. The crème brûlée was a perfect accent to our meals, light and sweet and presented well. The best crème brûlée I have ever had! The service was wonderful. Very friendly and helpful. We felt appreciated. Definitely going back. I want to try lots of other menu choices. They're currently only open Monday-Friday from 11:00 to 3:00. Get yourself over there for a nice lunch with friends! read more

I can't say enough good things about this restaurant! A husband and wife run restaurant with superior food and great selection of wines for you to choose from! I have tried most everything and there isn't a bad item in the menu! Great food and great ambiance! If you need a great place to entertain your guests or have a casual business meeting, this is the place! They keep their menu simple and delicious! Great for vegetarians and protein eaters too! Fresh ingredients and unique cooking styles make for a fun classy place to dine! They also have a wine club you can join with fun pick ups! Your one stop shop for all things Salinas Valley read more

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The owner Jeff pointed to the speakers and said, "This is your song. What are the odds of it playing right now out of 600 songs"? He was speaking to our friends who met us at Amapola for lunch last Tuesday. As it turns out, our friends are regulars of Amapola. The last time we came was for my birthday last October. Most of the guests in our party preferred lunch so I chose this spot for my mom's birthday celebration. I ordered the charcuterie platter as our guests straggled in. It was a good value with three different types of meat, crackers and olives. A couple of us had the wine flight, and it is a unique experience at Amapola. The wines are sourced from all over the world and the flights are based on the owner's whim and probably what is left in inventory. So you can return for the flight and never have the same set of glasses. Jeff (the owner) takes his time to explain the wines as he pours the tasting fresh for each wine. He's genuinely interested in what patrons think of each one. Or maybe you'd rather do what our friends did and go with Jeff's recommendation for the menu item you ordered. Either way, this is a place to get a knowledgeable suggestion for a wine pairing. Everyone in the party was more than satisfied with their entrees. From the croque monsieur to the gyro (a new addition) to the quiche, it all was perfectly prepared and worth the price. The service is friendly and accomodating. They didn't mind that my friend got called out to her doctor appointment in the middle of lunch. He brought her check without blinking an eye. They understood when I had to wait for a bus, which was running late. This is a perfect spot for a business lunch or, as it has been for us, to gather for special occasions. The food is special enough to rise to the occasion without breaking your wallet. The place is small yet roomy. There is an open kitchen and even a couple of chairs to sit and lounge if you need to wait for a table. We decided to come here more often and not just for birthdays. You should, too. read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Quiche Lorraine - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

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What a fantastic wine club and wine pick up experience. We have been members of many wine clubs but never had so much fun as this one. The pick up experience is wonderful. Jeff is so educated on all these wines from all over the world. The food, yummy, trying to write this review I am thinking about the food and my mouth is watering. I can sum it up by saying I look forward to my night out once a month at Amapola's Wine Pick Up Event. read more

Popped in for a fresh and delicious lunch! Ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad which was super tasty! Super flavorful chicken and nice mix ins, I loved the cashews! It was also huge. Service was quick and very kind. What a nice addition! read more

They are reopening! yeah! Can not wait to try Amapola again! Nice service and yummy food.

Came to have a celebratory birthday lunch with my awesome coworkers as I had been wanting to stop in since it opened. Limited list of options on the lunch menu, mostly salads. I went with what I thought would be their top item of choice, the lasagna, but ended up a little disappointed. The rest of the team got salads. When we tried to ask for small plates to cut a little cake we brought for the birthday, we were turned off when the owner told us it would be $2.50 to simply cut the cake per person. Although that charge isn't listed anywhere. We instead took the cake back to the office and decided to not return again. Surely not the food quality or service that makes you want to revisit. Hope this place can improve in the future as it definitely has potential though. read more

This place is a hidden gem in Salinas! Came here for first time today and was thoroughly impressed. The atmosphere is relaxing and classy. The goat cheese triangles with honey were AMAZING. I also loved the chicken pot pie with side salad. Quality and presentation were perfection. I would recommend coming in early for lunch because it gets busy! I'm definitely coming back! read more

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Amapola has been on my radar since moving to Salinas. Plenty of parking. Jeff was a great host. As the owner, you can tell he takes pride in his work. Friendly service. Great explanation of the origin of the wine flight I tried today. My fiance and I stopped in for lunch. We started with the Baked goat cheese. Simply delicious. I had to try the chicken pot pie which I think was a good portion size. Consistency was perfect along with the flaky puff pastry. My fiance ordered the lasagna which was also delightful. All the ingredients were fresh. As for dessert we enjoyed the creme brulee and chocolate budino. The ambiance was perfect for an afternoon lunch. Very laid back and cozy. This is truly a gem for Salinas. Adds value to Old Town. Thank you Chef Crystal for preparing an amazing meal. We will be back. read more

Great food, service, and atmosphere. We are happy to find a new lunch place in Salinas. They are close to the freeway if you are driving through the area. read more

I really liked this sweet bistro! The decor is just right. Not too much clutter or kitsch, just cozy and comfy. Plus, even when the dining room is full, I could still hear my low-talking friend! Service was excellent! My friend and I were the first in the dining room and stayed for over an hour catching up with each other. Our server didn't rush us at all. I had the Croque Monsieur with salad. My friend has the Chicken Pot Pie with salad. Of course, we shared. My CM was Americanized so that it could be picked up like a sandwich with delicious crunchy cheese. In France, the cheese sauce is usually pretty drippy and the snack is eaten with knife and fork. I prefer the French version, but this was darn good made with quality ingredients. The salad was gorgeous and had a very vinegar forward dressing. It was not over dressed so the vinegar was not overpowering. The Chicken Pot Pie was delicious! Perfectly seasoned with thyme. Classic vegetables but they looked like they were hand chopped instead of dumped from the bag. Both entrees came to the table so quickly and smoking hot. We shared the Meter Lemon Tart. It was too tart for me but my friend loved it. The presentation was exquisite! This is a delightful restaurant that I'll enjoy returning to. I would love to see them have quality entrees to take home and heat. read more

Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant - Meyer Lemon Tart - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Salinas, California

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Went a few weeks ago. The space is small and seating is limited. Despite the small space the owners value space over crushed seating so the place feels bright and airy. Due to the limited seating though we wound up waiting quiet a while. The menu looked good and the place was selected by the person we were celebrating. The hosts brought us wine while we waited and were very attentive. Once we sat down they took our orders and the food was out shortly. Everyone enjoyed their meals, we had the chicken pot pie, beet salad, croque monsieur, lasagna and a few other items. The service both while waiting and when seated was very attentive. They checked on us, brought water, refilled wine. At the end of the meal we had a few desserts from the host as we had waited quite a while to be seated. We didn't expect them but they were delicious. Overall the food is well executed, looks beautiful and everyone seemed pleased. The basque cheesecake was the favorite of the desserts. Would definitely recommend. The owners are dedicated and attentive. They value their customers and you can tell. On the day we went they had a full house. As the place is small, do realize you may have to wait. It is definitely worth it and the owners make sure you are taken care of. read more

Charming and tasty/something different! Salinas will relish this fun and sophisticated addition to our lunch choices. Close to the courthouse and downtown areas; Amapola is convenient for a business lunch, friends' meet up, or a date. The food is fresh, interesting, flavorful, and well prepared. The restaurant owners are rightfully proud and involved with all that goes on, and their years of experience with some of the best restaurants on the peninsula pays off in the personal design of their offerings. I had a chicken pot pie, beet salad, and shared a petit lemon tart with blueberries. Everything tasted great, looked beautiful, and was served with more of a flourish than most places. We deserve a cute, charming place like this in Salinas. We have taste buds here, too. I am happy to recommend Amapola. read more

On-site parking. So clean and decor is simple and very nice. Easy access from 101. I highly recommend this little restaurant. Get stop. read more

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My Hubby and I have been eyeing this place since they were opening as he works down the street ,we saw all of the lovely additions as they were coming to play inside of the location that was a former subway. I would like to add that they have completely turned it around and it presents five star Ambience inside & again from a former subway sandwich shop location we definitely have to give them some props for that. I had called rather early on Saturday to verify that they would have accommodations for us later that evening the gentleman who answered was very friendly and was not at the restaurant yet he told me he would call me back and he did not too long later and secured us a 6 o'clock reservation. You definitely will want to call ahead to book as they do seem very busy every day as a small focused restaurant I'm sure walk-in would be rather difficult. Especially on the weekends. We arrived a few minutes early however they accommodated us and sat us right away and that was very appreciated. I would like to get started and say everything that we had was extremely delicious however I was so so so disappointed that the spinach gnocchi was not on the menu. For me that was my main point in selecting this location for our date night. I asked the server if the gnocchi was available he said absolutely then a few minutes later was like wait a minute it's not on the menu let me ask they confirmed that we would not be able to order it then when we asked if it would be back on the menu a different gentleman let us know that someone had called in sick/decided to not come in to work that's why it was not available however I did see the head chef there from the articles that we had read prior so I was really unsure of that comment as I am sure the head chef who created this menu could produce BUT I do understand it is a pasta dish that is very time consuming nevertheless I was just a little sad We started our meal with delectable goat cheese triangles with this amazing locally collected honey plated with a gorgeous edible flower. These were so amazing we ordered a second serving for dessert. They were absolutely fabulous and We definitely will be back for them soon. We ordered a bottle of Lucia Chardonnay (local Santa Lucia highlands)that I was extremely pleased with- My Hubby loved it as well. The subtle hints of pear were amazing in this wine. We asked for a half bottle, We were confused as we did see people around us with half bottles in a craft however they did tell us that was unavailable for our bottle so we ended up taking some home. Not a problem just strange as we did see some other patrons with the half bottle. We also tried the gougeres (small baked biscuits with Parmesan cheese lightly melted on top)They were good but to us the triangles reign supreme. For our entrées we both decided to have the short ribs, baby carrots broccolini over a tasty polenta mash. We enjoyed it it was satisfying ,my hubby described it as a deconstructed pot roast and I feel that description is very accurate especially with a lovely chicken pot pie on the menu it does seem very savory homey and satisfying. Our server was a young man named Travis he was very nice however I do feel that as the sole server in the establishment he definitely should've made sure that he was attending to all of us with the same enthusiasm as we did see other more mature patrons get their wine before us they ordered after us ,the descriptions of the food were much more precise and enthusiastic to those patrons than us and even may be a little bit more attentive to them. I also feel that if a restaurant is adding a service charge regardless of the amount of people in the party they should definitely tell you that no matter if it is on the menu at the very bottom or not, we also feel it is a disservice to the server as we personally would have definitely provided a 20% or even 25% tip as we know how important it is especially with our personal household being in the service industry. When we do dine out I do take note of all the little things not only for my yelp experience but also to ensure if we will return or not with that being said all of the other patrons that took home their wine ,they placed it in a bag with a little bit of extra care and that was not done for us again it's OK however noted. Also we did hear them telling other people about the auto gratuity prior to their order again totally OK but just noted. Overall again the food was absolutely delicious the people were nice the chef did come out to see how everything was. I also noticed that the chef and her sous chef were wearing masks when they were in the kitchen I greatly appreciated that she did remove the mask when she came out to check with all the tables to see how they were doing we also appreciated that because we could see her face and see how happy she was to know that we were enjoying the food. read more

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Mom & I came here for lunch and it was magnificent to say the least. My mom comes here very frequently & I totally get why. We ordered the Greek salad & the Chinese chicken salad & they were both a solid 10/10. The Greek salad had so much flavor, the meat was cooked perfectly and the side of pita totally brought it together. The Chinese chicken salad was so fresh, the crisps on it were perfect and the flavor was great. We finished off with a slice of cheesecake & it was definitely some of the best I've ever had. Fluffy, not too sweet or bitter, just right. I totally recommend this place & love supporting local that deserve it! The customer service is excellent and the ambiance is my kind of vibe, nice & hospitable. Thankyou guys for an amazing experience always!! read more

The amapola restaurante was delicious! We loved the service. Our food was ready shortly after we placed our order. The ambiance is really great. I can't wait to go back again. read more

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Previously, I dined at this restaurant and I did not have a pleasant experience. The owner quickly reached out to me and asked me to come back in and he would make it right. I finally had the chance to revisit when I was here for the week on a work trip. I ordered the goat cheese triangles and my co worker and I thoroughly enjoyed them. This time, I ordered the Chinese chicken salad and it didn't disappoint. The salad was crispy and fresh. The salad wasn't drowning in dressing even as I was getting to the end of it. It was a generous portion! My coworker ordered the lasagna and deemed it average as he felt the sauce was a bit bland. For dessert we shared the Meyer lemon tart. Thank you for inviting me back to your restaurant! Your hospitality exceeded my expectations! Best wishes to you and your wife for continued success! read more

Food was cold that is better served warm. Lack luster service, but probably short staffed. Nice ambience. read more

What an absolute gem this restaurant is! The service, the food, and the ambiance and spot on. Occasionally you walk into a business and know that the owners and managers are viewing their business as their customers do, and this is absolutely one of them. I found absolutely nothing wrong with the food, the service, the ambience, h*ll even the bathroom was clean and well designed. Crème brûlée is fantastic! read more

This place is a gem. Put it into your rotation. If you live on the Monterey peninsula it's worth the 20-30 minutes to get to Salinas. Run by a husband and wife team (Jeff and Crystal) you can see the passion and quality they put it into the food and wine list. Crystal runs the kitchen and has created some of the best meals we've had locally in the last few years. Jeff runs the dining room and the wine list. Appetizers. We started with the filo / goat cheese/ honey appetizer and ended up fighting over the last piece! The flavor of the gnocchi was subtle but rich. My one little complaint is that maybe the gnocchi was slightly over cooked. But that detail was swept away by the flavor. Wine. The wine list is mostly Californian and Italian and really thoughtfully constructed. It turns out that Jeff is a level 3 Sommelier so that explains the outstanding choices. In addition to a lot of affordable glass wines, they also have some very high end glass wines which was exciting to see. It's rare to be able try more expensive wines without having to buy a whole bottle. But speaking of whole bottles, the restaurant is also a retail wine shop so if you like something you see on the list you can take it home with you. Entrees. The short rib flavor was amazing. The texture was steak like, yet simultaneously pull apart, which made me think I was eating a much more expensive cut of meat. My wife had the chicken pot pie and shared several spoonfuls of the soupy part with me at the end - outstanding. The flavor for the filling was a well balanced mix of the best of everything you'd expect: savory, herby, creamy. Probably the best pot pie I've had in a long time. Dessert. The dessert choices were somewhat standard but really well executed. We had the s'mores and pot de creme. We agreed that the latter was our favorite of the two. Price/Value. One thing you kind of get used to if you dine out in the Monterey/ Carmel area is the prices are usually a bit higher. Not here. We would have paid 30% more had we been in Monterey. But that's what happens when two people working together on their shared passion open a restaurant together: Amazing food and wine, good prices. Rating rationale. The small imperfections I found were pretty minor and will probably work themselves out with more practice (they've only been open 3 weeks at the time of this review). I couldn't find a substantive reason to rate them any lower than 5 stars. For now the restaurant is dinner only. I can't wait to see the breakfast and lunch options when they are able to open up for more hours. read more

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Stopped by for lunch! Great ambience with nice deco and bright atmosphere. The still mineral water tasted so refreshing - I know but I can picky about my water. Overall everyone enjoyed their dish. The little one got the muffeleta with the meats and olive tapenade and she ate half of it in record time for her so I know it was good. Hubby enjoyed his Turkey and pesto and said everything tasted pretty fresh including the bread. However he did nite that he the artichokes were very subtle. I had the chicken pot pie - the whole reason why I stopped by. It's a deconstructed chicken pot pie and ingenious. It's kinda like a creamy chicken soup with a crispy, flaky pastry on top. You get the best of the best crispy flakiness and creaminess to eat at your own discretion. We had great service. Food came out in a timely manner. Wine recommendation was great - although I'm not too much of a wine drinker but it was light and accompanied the meal well. I was so stuffed by the end. And look at that gorgeous red velvet cupcake. I only wanted a bite as the hubby ordered it but the cream frosting was so good that I ended up eating 1/3. I enjoyed the fact that it was over killed with sweetness and allowed me to actually taste flavors from it although I have to note it tasted a little dry. Still would order again. read more

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Magic, that's the term you hear referenced when everything is going right at a restaurant, creativity, ingredients, management, service and of course quality and flavor are all encompassed in that definition. With that being the case, Amapola is pure sorcery. I like to eat at a place a few times before solidifying an opinion and at each return the experience only improved. What is happening in this small building is a culmination of years of lived experience and experimentation as all bets hit and the payout is big. I've had the staples, such as a madam croque, seasonal salads, the quiche, as well as some of the specials including the Southwest Sandwich, noodle salad, and watermelon salad with Feta and nothing disappoints the tastebuds. I can't recommend them enough. I have to say that the honey drizzled, flaky pastry wrapped, goat cheese triangles were a huge hit for me. You can tell that Chef is considering flavors, freshness, textures and local as she creates the offerings, as the front of the houses expertise on wines and pairings has never disappointed. read more

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This is a great spot for lunch or dinner, reservation suggested during peak times. The food is a great mix of comfort food done creatively and traditional. Would love to see a vegan/vegetarian options, other than salads. Otherwise, a great spot. read more

Love this place, but every time we plan a lunch, seems they are closed due to their catering

Delicious food. Great service. We had the goat cheese triangles, chicken pot pie with beet salad, quiche Lorraine with mixed salad and the Panna cotta and Meyer lemon tart for dessert. I did prefer the dressing on the mixed salad but the fig dressing was still good just a tad too sweet for my personal taste. read more

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