Ok. This is my second visit here. The first, one year ago, was disastrous. Today we went in to give Gino's another try. Epic failure. We ordered the Blackened Chicken Fettuccini & the Raviolis with meatballs. The bread arrived and was somewhat dry and stale. Our server was terrific and attentive. The fettuccini was pasty and had no flavor. It was bland. The marinara sauce on the raviolis was bland and lacked Italian flavor altogether. There were many flies at all the tables as we, and other diners were swatting them away. This place is far from being "Fine Italian Food. When we were presented the bill for $37, we felt ripped off. We will not be returning here. read more

I really tried, but I couldn't find anything about this place, a long-time Salinas institution, that would make it anything less than five stars. How irritating. Oh, the portions are really big...but that just means I bought the next day's lunch, too! Sure, the wine list is moderately priced, and the Italian wines on offer were en screwcap...but that let me order a second bottle and save a tree! And don't get me started on the service...the waitress who went above and beyond to make sure that our 3-year old dining companion had as many little pieces of bread as he wanted, and arranged it so the wine and the birthday girl's meal got put on my check...all THAT meant was that we had a beautiful peaceful evening and I got to treat my little sister to the first birthday dinner I was able to attend in two years. I mean, really, where's the fun in good food at great prices in a family-friendly atmosphere? Bottom Line: Maybe that left had turn out of the parking lot could use some fixing. C'mon, people! Sheesh. read more

How do people still choose Olive Garden over Gino's?! They're at the same price point, but Gino's has authentic Italian cuisine. Gino's has impeccable customer service. They have two waiters constantly checking on you, making sure the food is subpar, and refilling your drinks. I love the blackened chicken fettuccine, definitely recommend! Attire is "casual" yet many dress in their "Sunday best". I'd say if you eat in, wear a nice shirt at least. Definitely recommend Gino's for excellent food, and great customer service! Don't mind the price! read more

Gino's - Everything here is delicious! Left to right: blackened chicken fettuccine, steak with veggies & ravioli, gilroy garlic shrimp pasta. - Italian Near Me - Salinas, California

Had a craving for the pillow filled with meat and spinach doused in Italian gravy red sauce. I opted for the meatballs along with the ravioli always a good choice. Bring your appetite you will need it always huge portions. read more

Gino's - Italian Near Me - Salinas, California

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Lo e the pasta blackened fettuccini my favorite and what can i say about the tiramisu cake

These place is ok i didn't think the food was all that. They we're nice and friendly,but the food is not what i expected i only liked there ravioli. Its kinda expensive. read more

Never disappointed when I come here. So far, I have tried 4 different entrees here and loved each one. Started with the beet salad and it was fresh and delicious. Next was the artichoke soup and it was heavenly. The main course was the seafood over pasta and it was out this world! Bring your appetite and you will not be disappointed. They serve huge portions. This is my new going out with wife dinner choice number 1. read more

It's good food...for Salinas. Its likely well known that Salinas, CA isn't the culinary mecca of the nation so Gino's is pretty good food given its location. Ill keep it quick and dirty... I had the coconut shrimp appetizer as an entree (wasn't hungry) and they were decent, With the rest of my family having pasta's, steak, and a soup here and there. Everybody was pleased with the food, and i had a sample of each plate to "taste" and it was better than my French dinner i had in PG just a few nights previous for much more money. Service was on point as well, so no complaints there. I think id be mindful of where you sit though as some of the interior areas looked nice to sit but the outdoor or made up outdoor/indoor? i don't know what it is, looks like people were in time out and not allowed in to eat with the adults. read more

Great food, but every other order I make for takeout has the wrong item. Employees, please double check your takeout orders. Thanks

Never again! I am still waiting for someone to take my order and it has been 20 min since we have been seated. I find it difficult to ignore that everyone else around me has gotten water, drinks, & bread. When the food finally arrived the chicken was over cooked and the spaghetti cold. Skip it! There are other places for food. read more

Warning: Gino's is AUTHENTIC northern Italian cuisine. Not Sicilian garbage like Olive Garden. And is extremely good to the point of addictive. Occasionally they make crab bisque and it is what a King or President would eat, putting it lightly. I ordered way too much crab bisque and I couldn't stop eating it even though I was full! This family owned gem has been around for a long time and there are reasons why. Family recipes from Northern Italia. Try their grilled chicken Fettuccini Alfredo.... It's to die for. They have a vast array of many fine dishes. Did I mention it's REAL Italian food? If you find yourself craving Italian food, don't be fooled by the Olive Garden. If you are lucky and Gino's isn't packed, get a seat! Otherwise order to go and on my eternal soul you won't be disappointed. Five stars for its authenticity, wonderful family staff of waiters and cooks, romantic and family friendly atmosphere. If you can't get Gino's, next place I'd recommend is going to Italy yourself. The food would taste about the same, IF it's as good. read more

I love this place so much! The blackened chicken Alfredo is to die for! I don't even like salad but their salad is amazing!!! The service is always charming & the drinks are delish read more

I came here with my dad and fiancé during a special time in my hunny and my's relationship. It is more expensive than what I'd like to pay for a meal, but the food is delicious and the service is awesome! The menu options are not just your average dinner choices but add a bit of excitement with different spices and variety on your average dish like chicken. The soups are fantastic and the bread is yum too! Although it's not in my budget to regularly come eat here, it is set aside for special occasions! Also helps that Costco sells gift cards for this place so you can get $100 worth and only pay $75. read more

A group of five of us showed up for dinner at about 8:30 without a reservation. As we walked in to a pretty full restaurant, we hoped they'd be able to seat us. And they did! From the host, to the waitress, to the bus boy, everyone was very friendly and service was great. They seated us in a back room that was not warm at all (despite the overhead heat lamps blasting away), but I think it was their only open table, so I won't really complain about that. However, I did keep my coat on the entire meal, as did everyone in our group. Finding a way to seal off the wind in that room would be a great improvement! Despite the chilliness, we all enjoyed our meal. I had the special "Gino's Salad" and a cup of the Artichoke Soup. The soup was delicious! I'm not sure what was in it that turned it the color of tomato soup, but it certainly tasted like artichoke, and there were big delicious chunks of the vegetable in there too. The Gino's Salad consisted of spinach and arugula topped with manchego cheese, candied walnuts, crispy prosciutto, and I added some freshly grilled chicken breast. I also tried a bite of my boyfriend's Rib Eye (that was topped with gnocchi) and it was a really good steak! They herb rub they use was fantastic, and it was cooked perfectly medium-rare. read more

Great Pizza. Decent place for a quick yelp search of some food near my airbnb. Saw a lot of families (regular dinner & b-days) so it must be a go to for people in the area. read more

I've had lunch here a couple of times and they also catered an event at work. Usually your entree comes with soup or salad and fresh baked bread. I highly recommend their artichoke bisque-delish. Portions are big. My favorite item on the menu would probably be the Calamari entree. It comes with fries. Really tasty. I've also had their Blackened Chicken Fettucini (catered). It's decent, but I feel like it's missing something. Chili flakes perhaps? The pasta did seem over cooked. The last time I was there, I ordered their Chicken Penne Pasta with sundried tomatoes. The atmosphere at this place is really nice, especially when you sit in the patio for lunch. An escape to Little Italy almost. It does get really crowded for lunch so arrive early for parking. read more

I would give this restaurant 4 stars but I have 2 minor complaints. 1st complaint: The part of the restaurant that is added on is not weather proof. The walls are a building but the ceiling is a tarp and in December it is miserable to eat in there. Seriously? A tarp ceiling in this part of the state? They have a bunch of heaters attached to the ceiling but there are too many hot and cold spots, with an emphasis on cold spots. I had to wear my wool coat while eating my dinner. 2nd complaint: The food is too hot. I know this sounds stupid, but what degree are they cooking their food at? I was actually thinking that they over heat their food so it doesn't get cold in their ceiling-less restaurant. I ordered the Manicotti and right up to the last bite I had to blow on my food so it didn't burn my mouth. The table next to me was the same way. I watched their pasta and it was steaming for their entire dinner. Other than that, the food was delicious and the staff was friendly and attentive. I wish that they had some music playing but it was so busy in there that it was not that noticeable. I had the manicotti and it was wonderful and my husband has the sea bass and he said that it was amazing. The butter that they serve with their bread is garlic butter! Yummy! Oh wait, dessert! I had panna cotta and I fell in love! It was thick and creamy and the blueberries and raspberries they serve with it is very complimentary. My husband ordered their 'most popular' dessert and we know why now. It is cake with marscapone and chocolate ganache. Need I say more? read more

The boyfriend and I decided to get out of Monterey for our 3 year anniversary and found ourselves at Ginos. We had gone on one date there about 2 years ago so it was fun to go back again. When we arrived (without a reservation) and I saw that the parking lot was full I was concerned we wouldnt be able to get a table. However, one more circle around the lot and a car pulled out. We went inside and were immediately seated. Our waiter was so kind I wish I had gotten his name. He was so sweet and very attentive. (Young tall male) The food was delicious from the home made bread, pesto/pine nut bruschetta, and my chicken picatta. After we finished dinner my boyfriend still had a little over half of his beer left. A nice lady (I believe the owner) came by to check on us and I apologized for holding up the table. However she was so nice and told us not to worry at all. She then talked to us about living in Italy and how a meal can take up to 4 hours! I felt so welcomed at Gino's and the staff was genuinely warm and friendly. There was no pressure and the food was excellent. We will definitely be back again. read more

4 stars for my favorite blackened chicken fettucini!! This place definitely gets crowded and why? Because the food is AMAZING! They have huuuuge portions, especially when you order To Go. Imagine one of those foil containers that you fill up to the TOP with the fettucini. The food can last you an entire 2 weeks! Their other dishes are also pretty amazing but this place is known for the blackened chicken fettucini. It has hint of spice when you eat it that you can't stop digging your fork into your plate. Sad to hear the rumors of it being closed. I really wanted to come back soon to have more deliciousness. read more

This is by far the best dinner I had in Salinas! Originally I was planning to go to Olive Garden, but after yelping it found Gino was highly praised by locals for fine Italian. Per yelpers' recommendation, I ordered Blackened Chicken Breast which came with artichoke bisque. They were both delicious and I can barely finish half of the dish. It was tough to find decent restaurant in Salinas, I was so lucky to find Gino. The only complaint I have is the overpriced menu, otherwise it would be a 5-star dining, for a town like this. read more

Expensive meal, better than average food, slow and somewhat inattentive service. This place needs to either bring in more wait staff or they need to take some tables out and serve fewer patrons at one time. They just cannot get the job done during peak dinner times. I'll also go so far as to say that if they did have fewer tables then that would also help with the parking lot problem as there are NEVER enough spots to park on the premises. Several times now I have had to park down the street at the grocery store and walk to Gino's. I would personally rather be on a list waiting for a table for 20 or 30 minutes than sitting at a table waiting for a server to show up for 15 minutes. read more

I was severely disappointed with Gino's my last visit: Our server never came back to our table. Bad (gross-tasting) lasagna. The food is still incongruently priced for what you get. This is one of the only great, locally-owned restaurants in Salinas, and a fave in Monterey County. It's disappointing that the quality and service hasn't gotten better. read more

This was my first time going to Gino's and I will MOST definitely go again! Seemed like my husband and I arrived during a busy dinner hour, but we were quickly greeted and seated by the hostess/manager. What really stood out was that she immediately asked if we needed a booster chair and quickly brought it to us. Sometimes at nicer restaurants it's understandable to not want/tolerate little children, but she was very friendly with my son and accommodated us. Appetizers and drinks came out to us very quickly. We ordered calamari and this was extremely delicious. I've never had calamari sticks and this was a great treat. I had the penne adriatico and there was so much food! I had plenty of leftovers for the following day. All in all, our experience was excellent. The service excellent. The food was excellent. We will definitely be coming back again read more

Everyone can have a bad day. It's what you do for your customers who tell you about it that shows your true colors. Gino's apparently doesn't give a damn. I'd eaten several enjoyable lunches here with co-workers and decided to take my wife for a dinner date. Unfortunately we picked a night when the chef decided to dump way too much salt into every dish. Our artichoke soup? Ultra-salty. Our entrees? Both heavily oversalted to the point of disaster. Our cheerful waiter dumped a comment card on the table with our check, so we filled it out and explained the offense. Despite having our e-mail, phone numbers, and address, management ignored the opportunity to make things right. Maybe you'll have better luck. We're done tossing the dice at Gino's. read more

This is an update. Ginos has new ownership and the food is not the same. I understand the new owners are buying cheaper product and the traditional Ginos food has suffered. Really disappointing as this used to be one of the best spots in town. read more

Three stars for the service, one star for the food. Terrible Caesar salad, thought I'd maybe received the house salad by accident as it bared little semblance to a traditional Caesar dressing. The tomatoes and cucumbers apparently subbing for the croutons were also not fresh-tasting even though Salinas is in one of the great agricultural regions of the US. They were out of cracked pepper, but the waitress could at least have asked me if I wanted any pepper instead of just ignoring the common courtesy and my having to ask for it. I was not even halfway slogging through my salad when the entree came out, it was still about 30 minutes from closing so rushing the food especially when the restaurant was totally dead is unacceptable. My server was polite and well-intentioned but was still part of the overall lack of attentiveness that permeated everything about this place. The pork "scallopini" with vegetables and polenta cake had a butter wine garlic sauce that tasted like someone had put it together in 2 minutes and cooked it in 5 minutes as the sauce was completely watery instead of going through any type of proper reduction process. The pork itself had no seasoning on the meat that I could detect, totally bland and tasteless and meager portions as well. My waitress was very polite when I gave honest feedback on what I found lacking with the meal. She probably should have had a manager come over to see if there was anything they could do to make things right. I wasn't looking for any freebies, and I said that I was full, but they could have done something simple like comp the club soda that very few restaurants charge people for in the first place. If it wasn't for an epically bad Italian restaurant (with a corresponding epic rant; believe me this review is nothing in comparison) I dined at not too far away in neighboring Monterey about 5 years ago this easily would have been the worst Italian place I've been to. read more

I have been here twice, both for take out and it has been great. The service is great, the food is awesome and the prices are good. I really want to come inside and sit down one day and eat when I have time. read more

Went here for my birthday dinner a few nights ago. The food was good...but not amazing. Artichoke bisque is quite good, as well as their garlic bread and pizza. I'd stick with those. Service was friendly and attentive. The drinks were good and definitely a generous pour. People definitely come here to get bombed then eat...and by then....food doesn't have to be exquisite...just good. Pasta dishes were good but a tad salty. Steak and shrimp was ok, but steak was burnt...too much char. Pizza was good (ordered the rustica). I would come back....but l would stay with ordering pizza. read more

Love this place. Food is consistently good and service is great. The take out set up is amazing and all my food is always there as ordered. I have been coming here for 12+ years and love it! Wonderful family owned business. read more

Really good food and atmosphere. Calamari steak with lemon sauce and capers was excellent. Was alone, so I sat at the bar with a few of the locals. Was very welcome and enjoyed the conversation as much as the food. Very nice evening. read more

Some of the reviewers of Gino's have commented that if you've experienced anything outside of Salinas, the impressiveness of Gino's would be lost upon you. I don't think this is the case at all. I grew up in Salinas but have been living out of state for the past decade and have quite a bit of travel both domestic and international under my belt. Gino's may be a big fish in our little pond but that doesn't mean that it's absolutely disappointing when compared to what exists beyond county lines. Besides, part of what makes Yelp so helpful is that it's about helping people discover what's in their own backyard and this is a heck of a place to have in my hometown backyard. No, it's not exactly cheap eats. Also, I can't speak for the wine menu as when I usually go I'm either driving or testing the bartenders' mixology skills (and I must say, I've never been disappointed by the many lemon drop martinis I've ordered). Parking is a DISASTER as their lot probably holds no more than 15 vehicles (and that includes handicap parking) but there's street parking and the lot across the street is usually free. Plus, considering it's Salinas, you most likely won't get towed. But despite these complaints, this is a must stop for anyone who finds themselves in Salinas looking for Italian cuisine as it is definitely a hometown favorite amongst the locals. Every time I come home I always have at least one dinner here and am rarely disappointed. In fact, I just ate here last night with my parents & my cousin and his family. The service was great - everyone's always so kind and helpful - and the food was DELICIOUS. We started with the appetizer combo sampler. It came with prosciutto, salami, cheese cubes, olives, grilled zucchini & eggplant, and peppers. Combine that with their delicious breads and you could have a meal by itself. Other great appetizers are their meatballs or any of the bruschettas. My parents ordered the minestrone for their starter which is always a good Gino's standby choice. Everyone else opted for salads. I chose the vinaigrette on the side for my dressing which was a little tart for my usual tastes (it was a very balsamic vinaigrette which I wasn't completely expecting) but was still pretty good. Onto the entrees... My cousin ordered the blackened chicken fettuccine, his daughter had the plain fettuccine alfredo, and his wife enjoyed the fettuccine with shrimp. My dad ordered the cannelloni, my mom had a small combo pizza and I had their scampi dish which I had never before ventured to try. In past visits I'd definitely sampled their fettuccine which is always a good safe choice for people who aren't too adventurous or those who just appreciate a good alfredo dish. Their cannelloni is equally delicious for any and all cheese lovers and the pizzas are great for sharing as they come in three sizes. Even the small isn't exactly personal pan size so you'll probably be walking out with a to go box after dinner unless you opt to share with a friend. As for my meal - the Scampi - it was delicious (as everything usually is here). Butterflied shrimp and artichoke hearts (mmm... I love the central coast) over spinach ravioli in a light cream sauce. I think I found a new favorite Gino's dish. Rarely having been disappointed by any of my Gino's eating experiences, I'm happy to report that I was again, completely pleased and satisfied with my dining experience. read more

Gino's, you sure are fine. I came here to celebrate my roommate's birthday. Since it was her birthday, I decided to treat her out! :) She got the popular blackened chicken fettucine & I got their pollo marsala with the bed of penne pasta! Both were so delicious and I have no complaints. When they ask for "soup or salad", definitely go with the "artichoke bisque" soup!! I never thought I was a fan of artichoke until I have tried this bisque. It's this creamy tomato-based soup with artichokes and UGH, I can't even explain how great it was. We also got their tiramisu & their house white zinfandel wine. I would omit the tiramisu because I am still a die hard Costco tiramisu fan ;) and the wine was great! They weren't cheap with their pouring and they gave us a full glass. It was around $63~ for both of us including wine, entrees, and dessert. I would definitely come back or visit surrounding Italian restaurants! read more

Though I'm a fourth generation Salinas native, I don't live in the Valley and I had never been to Gino's until the night before Thanksgiving last month. I was part of a party of ten for a family dinner. I can't comment on what others had. They are all Gino's veterans and dove into their food with gusto. What I can say is that I started with a very well made Caesar Salad, then had a heavenly ribeye steak. I ordered it medium, and that's what I got. Happy me. I can see why Gino's is so popular among locals. It is hard to walk in there without knowing someone. Good Italian eats. Good wine list with emphasis on some of the fabulous local wineries. Full bar with a bartender who does good pours. I can't wait for my next visit. I'm a fan. read more

+ Large portions + Artichoke bisque, Linguini w/ Clams ($22), Blackened Chicken Fettucini - could have used mushrooms ($17). All meals come with soup or salad. +Attentive service. - Salad was drowning in dressing. Good crowd on a Monday night during the holidays. Three star prices for 4 star food. read more

I had their Blackened chicken fettuccine, it's out of this world! Their lasagna is ok. Good portions. Good atmosphere. read more

The Gnocchi was the best I ever had and the Salmon was cooked a perfect medium rare per my request. All items were perfect including the Seafood Pasta & Blackened Chicken Pasta. read more

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This Salinas landmark has been serving up delicious Italian cuisine for as long as I can remember. Consistent, delicious, full bar. Local favorites are the artichoke bisque and the blackened chicken Alfredo. Most of their tasty menu is Both available for catering, take away, or in house. I've always had wonderful experiences here. Some nice steak and seafood and incredible pasta and pizza options. Check the specials too. read more

After many years attending many racing events at Laguna Seca/Mazda Raceway we have passed Gino's Italian restaurant and have never stopped. Tonight, leaving the track we decided to stop and delighted we did! The food and service was spectacular! We initially went to the bar to wait for our table and ended up staying because bartender Brittany provided such exceptional service. The artichoke bisque was as advertised... Best I've ever had. And the Pan fried chicken over penne was so tender you could cut it with a fork - all topped with a very zesty arrabiata red sauce. Guaranteed we will be going back the next trip and highly recommend read more

Walking up to the restaurant, the outside is very lush with plants! Outdoor seating is also available which I think is nice. They have a take-out side to the restaurant which was busy and seemed very convenient. The wait to be seated was about 5 minutes at 7pm on a Wednesday even though there were plenty of tables open and no one else waiting in front of us it took 5 minutes for someone to seat my husband and I and our three boys. After being seated in the dark corner next to the kitchen doors my husband decided that maybe this place isn't family friendly. I think it was, they had children's menus with coloring pages and crayons, so to me it's family friendly. We ordered the spaghetti Carbonara, medium pepperoni pizza, and the special for the evening being seafood artichoke Ravioli! Bread, soup and salad was served along with the meals. It was all very good and very flavorful! And our waiter was very friendly and came to see how we were doing during the meal. read more

If you're looking for authentic Italian food this is the place. The service was great, the food was expeditions, and very tasty. The bread was soft and fresh with an herb butter. Right when we completed the bread our home made sausage appetizer came out, once we finished that delicious plate our salads were served. My wife ordered the Canilonni platter which she describes as unbelievable. I enjoyed the Chicken Parmesan however if you don't like calamari avoid this plate as I could taste the fishiness but it was still delicious. The environment was very warm and inviting. I love the atmosphere and that they're kid friendly! Thank you Gino's see you soon. read more

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