Ariana&#x27;s Restaurant

My family and I have been coming to First Awakenings in Salinas for the past six years, and it…read morenever disappoints whenever we're in town. The place is always bustling, even on a Monday morning, which says a lot. Despite how busy it gets, the service has consistently been excellent and never feels rushed. It's the kind of spot where you can relax and enjoy your meal. We always start with the fresh-squeezed orange juice, which has become a must for us. I haven't strayed from their corned beef and hash since trying it two years ago. It's perfectly cooked every time, and they're always happy to swap out the eggs for bacon, which I appreciate since I'm not an egg eater. My daughter loves the biscuits and gravy. The portion is huge, and she never manages more than one biscuit along with the potatoes that come on the side. First Awakenings is always a breakfast or brunch treat we genuinely look forward to. It's a staple for us anytime we're in town and well worth the stop.

I only ordered a fruit bowl, but what I got was a bunch of…read moregrapes, 4 smaller pieces of pineapple, and a diced banana. They threw in a 1 sliced strawberry. $12 dollars

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Bacon skillet with carnitas added

El Chilacatazo

4.8(183 reviews)

0.7 mi

I took my grandma and grandpa here on Friday, and this place exceeded my expectations. My grandma…read morereally enjoyed her tacos, and my grandpa liked his food too--although he thought the salsa was a little too spicy (I personally loved the kick). The tortillas were amazing--soft, fluffy, and delicious. My molcajete had great flavor as well. My only personal preference was that the steak was cooked more well-done than I typically like, which made it a little dry for me. I understand that may be how many customers prefer it, but it could be nice to give guests the option on how they'd like their steak cooked. The beans were creamy, the rice had great flavor, and overall everything tasted fresh and well made. It does get busy, so parking can be a little difficult, and it can get pretty loud inside during peak hours--but that's also a sign that people clearly enjoy this place. Overall, delicious food and I definitely want to come back to try more items on the menu.

Food was good. I ordered carne asada. It was 3 thin slices--juicy, fresh. It came with rice, beans…read morea grilled chile serrano, a cebolla and 3 home made corn tortillas. My daughter had the birria plate and a chavela. I was checked on about 5 times.

Interior

Carne Asada Taco ($4)

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Quessabiria Y Consommé ($17)

The 31st Grill

4.2(154 reviews)

0.5 mi

This was our first time visiting this restaurant…read more My wife ordered the New York steak, which was cooked perfectly and had great flavor, along with mashed potatoes. However, the vegetables were overwhelmed with garlic, so much so that she couldn't eat them. My daughter had the French dip. The seasoning was a bit different but still pleasantly mild, and dipping it in the au jus really enhanced the flavor. She also had the sweet potato fries, which she enjoyed. I had the Cali Cubano with sweet potato fries. The Cubano was outstanding--everything came together with the right balance of ingredients and flavors. The service was fast and attentive, and the atmosphere was warm, friendly, and inviting. Overall, we enjoyed a great meal in a comfortable setting and would gladly recommend this restaurant.

10/10 recommend. The service is always stellar and the food is always delicious! I was so impressed…read moretoday. I always order a "medium" burger at restaurants and it's never "medium"... not a big deal, I eat it and don't complain. Today is the first time in a long time my cowboy burger was perfectly cooked!! Everything was perfect. We will be back!!

Our view for breakfast

Yummy baked goods will entice you!

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Storefront

The Butter House

4.5(2.4k reviews)

10.7 mi

This place is packed but they're great with customer service, finding seating, and serving quality…read morefood! When we walked in, we were asked to join the waitlist. we waited MAYBE 5 minutes if that and seated at a booth. Our server was attentive, and brought us our drinks shortly after we ordered them. something I liked was how efficient the service was despite how busy they were that morning. I ordered the spam an eggs, potato cakes, and sourdough toast and jelly with a cup of hot tea. everything was amazing! I totally recommend this place if you're visiting the Monterey area or even if you're a local!

The restaurant is actually pretty nice and the servers were polite. I think this place must be a…read morelocal favorite as they were pretty busy. The food here is a fusion between Filipino type ingredients and American breakfast. Those familiar enough with Filipino food has to know that it is going to be oily, salty, sweet, heavy, and rich in flavor. That's exactly what we got. The longanisa must be a favorite at the restaurant but it wasn't my favorite. It's a little too lean to be an authentic longanisa. I needed the fatty sweetness of it. Lol. None the less we enjoy this place.

Croissant Breakfast Sandwich with sausage patties, fried egg, cheddar cheese and house made aioli.

TBH Benedict

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Chicken & Waffles

Villa Azteca

4.1(725 reviews)

This is hands down one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been too. Already just walking in…read morethe place, it is decorated super cute and cozy as if I'm in someone's home. Decor on the wall was very chic with a barnyard backyard type of feel; good ambiance for a simple date night or a night out with friends. We ordered: Paloma flight - you get to choose 3 flavors, super worth because 3 full cocktails for $38 ?! That's a steal. Usually for flights I get a smaller sample of each flavor so I was shocked when it came out so big as a flight Lobster enchiladas- OMG this was my absolute favorite! The sauce was amazing! The lobster pieces were huge. They were not skimpy on the lobster at all! It had so many amazing flavors combined together. Comes with beans and rice and I for sure mixed that sauce with the rice. Definite recommend!!! Ribeye aguachile - meat was cooked perfectly with a balance of chewy and tenderness, more on the citrus side but goes great with the tortilla Salsa and chips - comes complimentary but extra orders would incur a charge ($2) Service was exceptional, everyone was very nice and polite. This is a must go to when you're in Salinas and my go to every time I'm in town.

Food good mostly. Drinks weak. Bone marrow starter --- not…read moremuch there. Slow service. Not a place for celebration. Went to celebrate my mom's birthday Nothing mentioned--- not even a happy birthday.

Dining area

Guacamole $10 + Ribeye Chicharron $5

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Cazuelita $30 "filet mignon, salsa roja, salsa verde, queso fresco, grilled cactus, grilled scallions, avocado, handmade tortillas"

Portobello's

3.8(282 reviews)

I stopped by Portabello's for a Sunday brunch and overall, I had a very nice experience. We were…read moreseated right away and provided menus promptly, which is always a good start. We ordered avocado toast, French toast, banana pecan pancake, house potatoes, and an Aperol spritzer. My avocado toast was served on a single very thick piece of bread, which had a very generous amount of avocado smash and was topped off with this delightful and fresh arugula salad. I added an over easy egg for an extra charge that was the perfect balance. The house salad was simple with butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radish, cucumber, with a light lemon house dressing that brought the salad together. It was refreshing. The French toast is pretty standard. Nothing that particularly stood out. The banana pecan pancake was delicious and shared with everyone at the table. The house potatoes were extra crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, which I found particularly satisfying. Overall, we had a pleasant experience and found Portabello's to be a good brunch spot in Salinas. The service was fast, the food portions were big, the food tasted fresh, and it was a nice ambiance. I would definitely return for the avocado toast and potatoes. Side note - I noticed Caesar Salad was misspelled on the menu as "Caeser"

Mother's Day breakfast was 65$ dollars for food that is regularly 25$. Maybe the 65$ was for…read moreunlimited mimosas lol NOPE!!!!!!! 65 dollars for mid food and horrible music. Don't recommend this place at all.

The most delicious dinner ever!

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Caffe Soleil

4.6(24 reviews)

Here's the complete list of everything I disliked about Caffe Soleil:…read more Please note the generous white space above, there were no complaints. Even arriving close to closing, we were met with exceptional customer service, a thoughtfully designed menu, delightful pairings, and truly outstanding espresso. All of this unfolded in an intimate, charming setting that basically transported us to a European bistro. It's a rare and wonderful experience to feel so completely taken care of, and this café delivers it effortlessly.

First time trying Caffe Soleil, and overall I had a good experience. It's a very small café with…read moretwo counters and a few small tables, but the inside is adorable. The atmosphere feels warm and welcoming, with trendy décor that is very appealing to the eye. When I arrived, it was a little challenging to find the full menu, and I wasn't greeted right away. However, I understand places can get busy, so I didn't let that affect my overall impression too much. I ordered the Panini Caprese sandwich, and my son ordered the Caesar salad wrap. My sandwich didn't look quite as full as the photo, but honestly, the flavor made up for it. It was delicious with great texture, and I loved every bite. I also appreciated that it came with pickled jalapeños on the side, which was a nice extra touch since I love adding those to sandwiches. My son rated his wrap a 3 out of 5. He felt there wasn't much chicken inside, and there also wasn't much Caesar dressing, so it mostly tasted like a wrap with lettuce. It would have been a much better experience if they had included more chicken and Caesar dressing on the side to add more flavor. Overall, I'd definitely come back and try this place again because I really enjoyed my sandwich and the café itself has such a cute, cozy vibe.

Interior Sign

Pain au chocolat

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Macarons

The Village Restaurant

4.0(259 reviews)

3.2 mi

Really fast and friendly service. The best breakfast I've had in a while. I'll definitely be back.read more

I'm sorry to leave a bad review. But we ordered the fried calamari and it's like chewing on a…read moregarden hose. It was cold, flavorless, and chewy. The lobster ravioli was decent though but also cold. The service was nice, no complaints there. Maybe I will try them again for breakfast or lunch? I hope this was just one bad meal.

Menu At The Village Restaurant.

Cinnamon French Toast & Blueberry Pancakes

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Menu

El Charrito

4.4(1.6k reviews)

1.0 mi

•$

Locally owned & operated

Grab-and-go

Located in the heart of Salinas and a local staple to community. El Charrito brings flavors that…read morecome from tradition and years of experience. It's a must have and always part of the detours when I'm driving near the area. The first touch is everything of the burrito. Your fingertips meet the surface and pick up a whisper of the flour. fine, almost silky, clinging just enough to remind you this was made by hand, not machine. It dusts your skin like a memory and suddenly, you're not just standing in your kitchen anymore. You're back with your mama or your abula kitchen. 10/10 on of my favorite places in the area and always worth the detour

New spot here in Marina opened about a month ago…read more Hand made tortillas from scratch (you don't see this very often). Got the burrito with Chili Verde, meat was tasty and tender. Burrito is a basic meat, rice, beans and salsa...anything else is an add-on but all reasonably priced. Horchata was good but a little on the sweet side for my taste. Enjoyed the nice patio outdoor seating to enjoy the great weather. Staff was all very friendly.

Burritos made with tortillas right off the grill

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Salinas City BBQ

4.3(2.1k reviews)

1.5 mi

Delicious BBQ! First time and definitely will be back. Friendly service! Must try!!!read more

Great experience! Good wine and food. Love the character of the restaurant. Visiting out of town…read morefrom Texas and truly enjoyed. Highly recommend.