We definitely love coming to Bag O' Crab. It's the most authentic and closest taste to Boiling Crab…read morethat we've found in the Bay Area. I lived in the Bay Area for several years, and this is honestly the closest you'll get in flavor. There is usually a wait, but that's the same experience at Boiling Crab. I also love that they offer combo options that Boiling Crab doesn't. I can get snow crab legs and shrimp together, which are my two favorites.

Ever since I moved here from Sacramento, I have been coming to Bag o Crab for at least once or…read moretwice a week, because there is no seafood boil close to the one in Sacramento. Me and boyfriend came in as a party of 2 with the possibility of one more as the other party just got off of work and already ate and only coming for a drink. We walked in at exactly 4:30pm and the place was not busy. They asked for how many and I said 3 they then stated to us that we must have the entire party before we are seated. This is the first time this has happened to us. I may understand this as most restaurants do this but for it being 4:30, with multiple booths and tables open, no rush, staff just sitting in empty booths, no waitlist, how can they not accommodate this? I understand restaurants have policies that are important, but what happened to hospitality. Dining out is not only about serving good food it's also about providing thoughtful, welcoming service. When the restaurant is clearly not busy, a little flexibility and basic consideration can make a significant difference in a customer's experience. A post like this can easily be avoided if there was a bit of empathy. The food is good so I leave this a 3.

Having Monterey Aquarium season passes means we find ourselves down in Monterey every couple of…read moreweeks because my son absolutely loves the aquarium. And somewhere along the way, Phil's has become part of the tradition. The first few times we came down, we were on a mission to find the best cioppino. We tried multiple places that all made their own claims to the title, but after our very unofficial family taste test, Phil's was the clear winner. Their cioppino is what keeps us coming back -- rich, comforting, loaded with seafood, and exactly what I want after a day on the coast. We also tried the sea bass fish and chips, which were excellent. The fish was buttery and flaky inside with a nice crisp exterior, and the portion was generous with four good-sized pieces of fish. At this point, a Monterey Aquarium trip almost feels incomplete without a stop at Phil's. We may come down for the fish at the aquarium, but we stay for the fish at Phil's.

This is a review on the cod fish and chips. The order was huge. However, the fish had an extreme…read morefishy taste and the breading was thick and kind of doughy. The tartar sauce was pretty much flavorless. The staff is adequate and the restaurant is unique. I would come back but pass on the fish and chips.

This place absolutely deserves five stars! The garlic noodles were the highlight of the…read moremeal--perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and tasted authentic. They had that rich, garlicky, buttery goodness without being overwhelming. You can really tell they put care into their food. The rest of the meal was just as impressive, and the service was friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for a spot with authentic, flavorful Asian fusion cuisine, this is definitely one to check out. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend!

This place is a little out of the way and easy to miss if you're driving by, but it's worth seeking…read moreout. The staff were very friendly, and while the music was a bit loud and the decor is fairly minimal, everything was clean and well maintained. The food is made to order and clearly prepared with quality ingredients. The lumpia were excellent. I ordered them without the ranch seasoning because I find it very salty, and I'm not a fan of the accompanying dip for the same reason. Honestly, they're good enough on their own. The Cajun Parmesan wings were cooked perfectly, but I didn't get much Cajun flavor from them. I'd probably try a different wing flavor next time. The fries were great, and the ranch was even better. The Mongolian beef was another standout. The steak was cooked perfectly, tender, and flavorful. There were plenty of onions, which I loved. It was a little heavy on the sauce, but still very enjoyable. Prices are a bit higher than average, but the quality justifies the cost. It's a locally owned business that's definitely worth checking out and, in my opinion, much better than most restaurants in Salinas.

I loveeeeee Crab bucket! I've been going regularly the last 4 years! I can say that My experience…read moreis always 10000x better when Gaby is my server. She's so sweet and friendly. Checks in to make sure we're doing good and that we're enjoying our food. I love the overall vibe here! The micheladas are so bomb when they put a thick chile/chamoy rim. And the Cajun sauce is to dieeee for! Best seafood boil IMO

Shrimp is very hard to peel and what is up with the no head option... also they don't clean the…read moreinside of it so basically shrimp with poppy!

We sat and had dinner at Fish and Chips the other night. We enjoyed our fish & shrimp with fries…read moreand a baked potato. We ended up ordering more to go and had the opportunity, while waiting, to chat with the owner. He was a super dope guy! He was really pleasant. The restaurant had a steady flow of customers which is a great indication that the food is delicious. It was busy but not loud or disturbing. If you're in Salinas go check them out!

Today's meal was delicious!!! Small menudo Pata on the side. Piece of fish. Ice Tea. Arrived…read morehot!! Excellent. Happy today.

We visited Patria in to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday, and it was a hit for all of us. We…read moremade reservations ahead of time and were seated promptly. The restaurant has a great drink selection and a great menu. We were pleasantly surprised to learn they offer a Tuesday dinner special that includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for only $32! This menu also had a special drink selection. I ordered the house salad, prawn risotto, and chocolate lava cake. The salad was very fresh with spring mix and butter lettuce, which I especially enjoy, and it was topped with a light vinaigrette style house dressing that was light and delicious. The prawn risotto was creamy, flavorful, and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. The chocolate lava cake was rich and very chocolatey, a bit too rich for my personal taste, but still enjoyable. It also came with vanilla gelato, which was delicious. As a table, we also ordered the tableside tiramisu, which was such a fun and unique experience. I am a tiramisu connoisseur, so anytime I see it on the menu, I ordered it. It is my favorite dessert. Although this was not my favorite one, I very much enjoyed the experience. I will mention the espresso needs a little more time to fully soak into the ladyfingers, but the presentation and experience alone made it worth trying. The ambiance was lovely with nice background music, and the service was attentive and welcoming. Everyone in our party truly enjoyed their meal, especially the birthday girl. Overall, Patria is a fantastic dinner spot in Salinas, and I would absolutely return and highly recommend it.

Food was great, start to finish, and there was finally some ambiance and I say this as my sole…read moreissue in the past was that the place was silent as a library, because when I'm out for dinner and drinks I like at least a little ambiance. I'm glad to report that last night had some music in the bar, it was soft and sounded like Italian folk (Frank Sinatra would've been nice too) but it was perfectly fine because it broke up the atmosphere in a positive way. Calamari appetizer was great and my pork chop was too. Service was equally great as it was prompt and accompanied. I'll be back soon, so if you haven't tried Patria yet, you should.

The Miches were bomb. The menudo was good too. My friend got the carne en su jugo and I really…read moreliked it. The server was attentive and fast. It was a nice environment. We went in for breakfast.

Truly one of the most amazing restaurant experiences you'll have in America today. Best cooking,…read morebest atmosphere, best staff/service, best SALSA and CHIPS! Cold Mexican beers! But come here also for the music: the finest true, authentic south of the border mariachi ballads played faithfully over their great stereo system. You come here and you ARE in Mexico! The food is PERFECTLY prepared. Nothing imitation, all authentic.

Food: the food has been good the times I have visited this restaurant…read more Service has always been good. I enjoy the ambiance, i love how it's in downtown Salinas.

The food had no flavor, I had the tostadas with shrimp and octopus. No flavor and the shrimp tasted…read morelike it had gone bad. Shrimp tasted like stinky water. The service was good tho

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.

The outside area is not the best, but we tend to order to go which works out for us. I do…read moreappreciate the timer, you are not guessing when your food is ready. Honestly everything is delicious. I always ask the same question at seafood spots, "Do you clean the vail out for the shrimp, most places don't. Do do to Some extent. although you will Still find some of it here and there. I have gotten use to this so I will clean them a little more before eating. Other than this... they are quick and the food is good. There is no where to sit, so Expect to eat in your car, which most people do not mind or order to Go. They give you all the condiments and plenty. The ambiance is what you would expect from a food truck on the side of the road. This is our go to place.

Great food, best mariscos in town for sures!! I've been here over 30 times this year 2026read more