31st Grill — Restaurant in Salinas

Our second visit came on February 22, 2024. We came for lunch, at about 12:30 PM. They were busy, which we expected. We were immediately greeted with a smile by Eric. Someone vacated a table after about 5 minutes. The table was immediately cleared and we were seated. Very soon after, our server, Corinna, came to take our drink order while we checked out the sizeable menu.

Coffee was strong (which is not usually to my taste) but it was fresh (both caffeinated and de-caf) and not bitter. Our lunch orders: a burger (for my husband...and one which he said was very good; he was also very impressed by the piping hot French fries) and a patty melt for me. Lots of people can mess-up a patty melt (the patty is way too small for the bread, there isn't enough sauce, the onions are minimal). Although served on sourdough instead of rye, this patty melt was amazing! I did ask for it to be "extra saucy", so it might be a little different if you don't do that. I enjoyed every bite.

Service was attentive throughout our meal. Corinna checked on us and refreshed our coffee three times. Oh! And I almost forgot to say I saved half my sandwich (it was large), so we could treat ourselves to pie; they had peach! (The one disappointment here is how expensive that was; if I can make a suggestion, 31st Grill...$9.95 for a piece of pie is rather pricey, especially since there was no ice cream available to serve it "ala mode". $9.95 would be fair if that included a generous scoop of ice cream.)

Our first experience in January (after they'd been open one month) was still good...but they've gotten even better two months in. I'm pretty sure we'll also be going back soon. There are lots more things to try...

Im new to the Salinas area and have been eager to find a great breakfast option. Decided to take my family to 31st - the pictures and general reviews seemed safe and everything looked delicious.

I ordered a peach mimosa, but I think it was a moscato- did not have peach puree or peach flavoring- just a sweet sparkling wine

I then ordered the 4 berry pancakes - lemon ricotta. They smelled and looked amazing. One bite in and it was not good. 0/10. The batter was missing baking powder or perhaps the batter was old and the leavening agent was not active anymore- regardless it wasn’t edible. I was really shy and embarrassed to tell our server but I could not eat my meal. Pancakes were gummy and dense.

Key lime was ok. Could have more lime, texture was great. Carrot cheesecake was also ok.

My brother ordered the chicken friend steak and he said it was good. No problems there:

We asked for the check and I was disappointed to see we were billed for the ricotta pancakes. I understand that as an establishment , food cost and waste is an issue and I assumed we would be billed but was hoping they would take it off - seeing as I only took one bite.

My family ordered cookies to go and they just lack flavor. Peanut butter cookie has super mild peanut butter flavor. Snickerdoodle has light cinnamon flavor.

All in all I would not come back and I would not recommend. The space itself is beautiful and the staff seems...

Don't let the unassuming diner exterior of 31st in Salinas fool you – step inside, and you'll discover the cutest upgrade! The interior is sleek and modern, yet it beautifully retains its original charm and pays homage to its past with delightful retro upholstery. It's a truly inviting space that feels both fresh and familiar.

The food here is absolutely delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the Pink Lady Beet Salad with Salmon. It was a masterpiece of fresh ingredients and beautiful presentation, with the salmon perfectly cooked and expertly seasoned. Every bite was a delight! To complement my meal, I savored a lovely glass of Chardonnay. And for dessert, I simply couldn't resist one of their giant sugar cookies – it was wonderfully soft with just the right amount of chew, a truly delightful treat.

My kids were equally happy with their meals. They had the pasta with marinara and chicken tenders, both of which were hearty portions and excellent kids' meals, full of flavor. The savory cheese bread served alongside the salad and pasta was a fantastic extra touch that everyone appreciated.

31st in Salinas is truly a wonderful spot. It's perfect for families, great for get-togethers with friends, and an ideal choice for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. This place has quickly become a favorite, and I highly...