I remember playing here when I was a kid. Climbing on the shortest one (some of my friends managed…read moreto get on the middle but I was never able). I have so many great memories of this place. But I wish the grounds were better maintained.

Since they just repainted & restored the Hats in Three Stages of Landing artwork I had to go see it…read moresince I was already in Salinas for the National Steinbeck Center, & John Steinbeck Public Library. The artwork was made by Claes Oldenburg & his wife, his wife has since passed on, but he's still alive & was at the celebration event Sat 11/23/13 which I missed. At least I went the next day Sun 11/24/13. It's outside, behind Sherwood Hall. There's 3 giants hats that looks like that were thrown - highest, little lower, lowest. I went too late in the day so it wasn't as bright yellow as it should be. Good early in the day to see the art.

This boutique has reopened under a new name Affordable Decor Crafters and Boutique, and under new…read moremanagement, a fantastic new management should I say! This boutique has so many lovely items from every kind of artist &/or crafter you can think of,great prices & a very pleasant staff. Each vendor displays their crafts in their own unique style within their own booth. Such a variety of wares and about 24 different vendors...it's truly eye candy. You have to check out this unique business in Salinas' "old town" it's across from Beverly's fabric store on the first block of old town!

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.

I loved the atmosphere. The building was so cool! The beer was 5/5 but the food was not as good as…read moreexpected. Overall, very cute place and great service.

I've been drinking the beers from Alvarado for years without ever visiting any of their locations…read more(had beers at shares, bought them from stores, and even special ordered and had them shipped to me). A couple of friends and me took the opportunity to stop by on our drive back to LA from the Bay Area (along the 101). First impression: one of those convivial breweries with a thriving locals aspect and vibe. Friends I was with are really into craft beer, so we felt right at home. The folks here were super friendly and welcoming. As a matter of fact, there were some cookies made from another regular that was offered to us while we were there. And those cookies were delish. They have a good variety of styles on draft, but I opted for the BA Barleywine, which was excellent. They also had the football games playing on the TV there so there was that sports bar aspect without being to crowded/ crazy. This place is located in an industrial area of Salinas. We didn't have a problem at all finding parking. Love their beers and love this spot. I would definitely hit it up more if I was able.

I recently heard from some of my clients in Hollister that this winery closed, and I was so sad to…read morehear the news. It's been many years since my last visit, back when I was engaged, but I had been hoping to return this year. Some of my favorite memories are from this place. The wine was always wonderful, but what truly made it special were the people. Anna, her husband, and their son Steph were some of the kindest and most welcoming people you could meet. They made every visit feel personal and memorable, and their warmth was a big part of why so many people loved coming here. Thank you for the memories, the hospitality, and the great wine over the years. You will be missed.

We came around 7:00 on a Thursday evening and it was fairly full, but we were seated right away…read more Staff was the highlight of the night, I can't remember the waiters name, but he had memorable curly hair and a mustache. He was patient and knew the menu, and offered options when he saw our reactions as we tried to decide. The chef even walked out and offered to make the bolognese from scratch and omit the mushrooms. From start to finish the whole Mangia team was great, and it made me happy to see how they treated one another. The dishwasher came up a few times to swap the trays and everyone got along, and I noticed the chef made them each something to eat as the restaurant was closing. As for the food, good Salinas option. The Nonna appetizer was a bruschetta with pistacho, fresh ricotta, and honey. Delicious. Beet salad was good, hearty beets, mixed greens, and balsamic. It was over dressed for my taste, but hubby loved it. I wasn't a huge fan the cheese they used, it was a harder salty cheese in small cubes. I got the penne with a really subtle lemon cream sauce, grilled chicken, and broccoli. Came out hot and it was a generous portion, waiter offered some fresh cheese so took that of course. I'd order it again, but don't think it was the best pasta dish I have ever had. Chicken Parmesan was cooked fresh, and came with the penne and marina. In my opinion the marina was under seasoned, but I'm generally heavy on the garlic and basil. I don't know I'd label it as a culinary hot spot, but the food was good, and made by good people. I appreciate the atmosphere and we will definitely be back.

Everything was great! After seeing the negative reviews I was nervous about eating here. The food…read morewas delicious. We all raved about the meatballs. I had the shrimp scampi and it was so good, I ate the whole thing. The service was excellent. The waitress was very attentive and checked on us often even though it was a Saturday night. This was for a special occasion and it met all of our expectations.

This restaurant has changed owners. Its been awhile since we have come and although the food was…read moregood, it was not the same as the original establishment. We had a terrific server and were easily seated on a Saturday night. The place hardly had anyone there which was unusual for our historical stops there. We ordered an array of items from starters, pasta and pizza and even my favorite Bruschetta Genovese was missing the original recipe and was not worth coming back for. Large portions and better than average ....but kind of disappointed that it appearsbthey have changed many of the recipes that once made this a go to for our family. And I would say a bit overpriced for the quality now. I will stick to Angelinas and Pastabilities to get the food cooked and seasoned like our food memory remembers.

Locals' hangout for the Toro Park neighbors with lots of space for kids to run around & parents to…read moreinteract. Small town vibe with decent-sized bar and server-free dining, but room to hang out with friends & family. No frills and needs a deep clean. Ample parking, but walkable if you live nearby (best option). Conveniently located next to a gas station, Highway 68, and hiking / biking sites. One large bathroom with toilet for a full house must be uncomfortable for anyone who needs to pee in a hurry. This room needs a deep clean & safer door-lock, too. Beverage & food orders are taken from a queue at the one cash register - no issue when the place isn't busy. Cashier is chatty, adorable, local student, & VERY HELPFUL. Management keeps a close eye on her since her effervescent customer service skills aren't appreciated -- makes for an uncomfortable situation when a new customer (like me) has alot of questions. Leave her alone & let her do her job, please!! Aside from the cashier, the next best part of the experience is the food. I guess this is why people don't complain about the cleanliness or bathroom. Yummy pizza!! My friend & I shared a medium - fully loaded, crisp AND chewy crust (perfection!), and great temp. He also likes the pasta & has eaten here in the past. I also ordered some desserts for take-away. They are pricy, but delicious. If you need to use the menu, wash your hands well afterwards. They're sticky & greasy and just dirty - like the tables, walls, and bathroom. Overall... delicious food & decent price, but the grime probably adds a bit of flavoring? I always wonder about the kitchen sanitation & hygiene when the rest of the building is unkempt.

8.3/10 Tried both…read morethe pepperoni pizza and the house combination pizza, overall a surprisingly great experience that honestly brought back some nostalgia for classic pizza parlors. The pepperoni pizza was solid and exactly what you'd expect in the best way. Generous topping of pepperoni with that familiar, classic flavor profile. Nothing overly unique or fancy, but it absolutely hit the craving for a traditional slice. I'd give it an 8/10 for being reliable and satisfying. The House Combination Pizza was the standout. I'm usually not a big fan of combo pizzas, but this one genuinely changed my mind. Everything felt well balanced, and the Italian sausage was the highlight, rich, flavorful, and really elevated each bite. It had a lot more depth than expected and is definitely a must-order if you're trying this place. 8.6/10 The ambiance matched the food well classic, old-school pizza parlor vibe spacious, traditional, and clean, with a relaxed and comfortable feel.