The Bakery Station — Restaurant in Salinas

T'was a Thursday afternoon when the hunger set in. I couldn't remember the last time I ate for the life of me. Driving aimlessly, my weary self pulled into what I initially thought was a gas station, content with filling up on some kind of trivial snack and generic coffee before fueling up and hitting the open road once more. As I put the car in park, however, I realized that there were no gas pumps to speak of but instead a scene resembling Edward Hopper's Nighthawks.

I pulled open the door and was overwhelmed with the scent of freshly baked dough, the tantalizing scent of freshly prepared toppings and a hint of warm deli meats. It at first seemed a trick of light; such a heavenly venue was in stark contrast with the surely disappointing feast I'd imagined awaiting me inside. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to test the sandwich makers mettle and filled out a short form calling for a roast beef and turkey sandwich on wheat.

My sandwich was prepared shortly thereafter and snapped me back into reality. Wrapped ever so delicately in paper, I unfolded the delicatessen treasure and admired the gratuitous amount of toppings and luncheon meat inside. Upon my first bite, I cast aside the notion that this was a mirage and chose instead to enjoy the fleeting moment.

A complex juxtaposition of textures and flavors, it seemed as though this mere sandwich had ascended into songs of legend. I nearly inhaled the first half to assuage my pangs of hunger and chose to savor the second half instead. It was just as scintillating to my taste buds as the first. As I finished my sandwich, I gingerly folded the paper in honor of what I had just eaten, much like one folds a flag at a formal military funeral, and lowered it into the trashcan.

As I walked out the door, instead of risking awakening from this wondrous dream, I chose not to pinch myself, as to not ruin...

The Bakery Station has some of if not the best sandwiches available in Salinas. The Bel Air in particular is a favorite of mine. With reasonable prices, a great selection, and excellent customer service, I can strongly recommend this location for any lunch goer.

A few notes: First, lunchtime is BUSY, as any good place should be, so call ahead. Second, this is a takeout only location, so do not plan on sitting in place for lunch, but this also makes it perfect for office takeout. Third and final, parking nearby can be a challenge, so prepare for a couple of minutes on some days just to find a nearby spot.

This review was completed during the...

my boyfriend was parked in their parking while me and my mom went to get coffee and the woman who worked there told us we had to move and then told my boyfriend he had to move while he was sitting in the car waiting, then once he got told he then left their parking lot the woman then got in her car and followed my boyfriend all around town until she noticed that he was going to pick us up she sped past him watching us and went back to work, she is very unprofessional and that was...