King City Grill — Restaurant in King City

I have been making the trek along 101 for decades, King City being mid-way between the Bay Area and the Santa Barbara area. At least 3 trips a year for about 35 years, so believe me when I say we’d pretty much given up hope on a decent lunch spot in these parts. Not a big fan of the fast food joints.

I came across an article about the King City Grill and its young proprietor, Ronald Bonilla. Don’t be fooled by the humble exterior (it had been a Denny’s or something before falling into decay and abandoned for years) wedged between McDonald’s and a Motel 6. Inside, it’s a welcome change from the bleak highway, and Bonilla and his team are welcoming and warm. But it’s the food….. oh my. Bonilla’s menu is not overly long, but there is something for everybody, especially if you are a brunch fan. The ingredients are top shelf. We’ve eaten there twice now, I had the chef salad - absolutely wonderful. And the grilled turkey panini. My family tried eggs Benedict, vegetarian panini and the chicken Caesar salad. Raves all around.

You know when most places give you turkey that tastes slightly chemical and rubbery? That stuff that comes from the factory? Well, Bonilla’s version is fresh, delicious, no hint of slimy chemicals. He also serves a tempting variety of eggs benedict and makes the hollandaise in house daily. The fries are heavenly, light and crisp. Don’t get me started on the onion rings. One of these days, maybe next week, I’ve got to give the fried Oreos a try. In Bonilla’s hands I’m pretty sure it’ll be great.

These are the attention to details that make this place special. The ingredients, the care with which they are prepared and the design of the menu. Bonilla has worked hard to make this dream of his come true, and he deserves to see it thrive. So, do yourself a favor and stop in. This should be a destination spot, and not merely a stop along...

I had heard about this diner from my younger sibling, whom heard about it from a fellow classmate of his, who had also only heard about it from someone else. Naturally, without having spoken to anybody who had actually eaten here, a great curiosity occupied my mind. I am from the King City area, and while the city is home to Denny's, the Cork and Plough, and Wild Horse cafe just a couple minutes South on the 101, neither of those place are comparable to this establishment by any means.

From a more physical stand point, the setting of the diner is relatively modest and discreet. On the outside, it doesn't draw much attention. Upon stepping inside however I was blown away by the upscale yet cozy ambiance. The perfect lighting, the homey decor, and the overall layout; all of these things made me feel like I had just entered an establishment from a bigger city like Monterey or Paso Robles. You walk in and forget you're in a small agriculture town.

I went in for breakfast and had their Chocolate French Toast. The plating was truly remarkable. The layout of the food was created with purpose, leading to me to take a longer look soley to admire the artistry. The food itself was to die for, and if it weren't for my schedule, I would have returned for lunch. Unfortunately, the only critique I have of this establishment is that I wish they would stay open in the evenings for dinner time.

Overall, after finally visiting here, I truly believe I have found my new favorite place to eat. It is tucked away from arguably the more high traffic areas of King City, but is a genuine hidden treasure to say the least. Whether you need rest from traveling up and down highway 101, or a King City local looking to get transported to the Monterey Peninsula, King City Grill is the perfect...

We were full of excitement to try this place out after looking at the reviews. The first thing that threw us off was the front door greeter (tall girl) who didn't care to waste her energy to guide us to our table. (Just points it out). She wasn't doing anything else, so I didn't see any reason why she would't guide us. Moving on... after placing our order we observe the manager doing check-in rounds to tables that only had food out. (Didn't check in with us) After an 1hr long wait, with no one checking in on us for drink refill or just in general, we finally get 1/2 plates. It was esthetically presentable, but the waffles and the side dishes were cold. 🥲😆 The girl who delivered the dishes was kind enough to check in with the remaining dishes, and we finally got everything. No one apologized for the neglected services. 🙃😭 We decided to go to the front to pay for the meal instead of waiting for another hr 🤣 and request a discount. The manager seemed to not care enough to check-in with us to ask about the discounted request and simply provided a sad discount. Hahaha 😆 Well, at this point, we were already over the whole experience and just wanted to leave. To summarize it, the whole experience was a letdown and, sadly, not worth $$$ for 2. Oh...