Alvarado on Main

I really enjoyed my time here. The beer is always great. Ashley was awesome. She was very attentive, friendly, and made some really good suggestions. I will definitely be returning.

Alas, in the blink of an eye it’s finally open! Alvarado Street Brewery: the radical fun loving and well championed brew producers in the world of beer today, is back, and now wearing a fur coat and a string of pearls.

Entering Alvarado on Main you are greeted by a host station adorned with mesmerizing green tile facade. Your first thought is we are no longer at Kings Den, Todo. Three questions: Do you have a reservation? How many in your party? Bar or Booth?

Across a chevron patterned wooden floor are green velvet lined booths and comfy chairs that flanks the circular bar area. You are handed two menus, one premium-grade textured thick stock Lunch menu or depending on time of day, a Dinner menu. The other is the double sided beer menu on basic office paper white because that menu changes nearly daily. But let’s take a moment to chat about the food menu for a second: a couple of starters, couple of tacos, wings, some salads, a few pizzas and a few burgers and sandwiches. To be honest it feels like a training wheels menu, but each menu item has an elevated twist. The taco’s pork are braised in Alvarado Street’s very own Monterey Beer. The cupped pepperoni pizza is drizzled with hot honey. The wings feature fifteen spices that might make you cough if you dare inhale while taking bites. All items have a tantalize hook that’s set them a shelf above. Currently the menu does accommodate with vegan, vegetarian and gluten options, a modern necessity. I’m sure the menu will develop into more challenging dishes but for now, it’s razzle-dazzle with the basics.

The service is formal, warm and well versed. The servers are happy to talk beer and steer you towards the new and popular. Which is quite welcoming because every day folk need the guidance. There’s a brew for near every occasion, every palet, every craving and pairing, a hard days work reward, the weather, a sweet and sour tooth, an afternoon treat. Alvarado Street has got you covered.

Sitting comfortably and taking in the ambiance you can’t help but to appreciate a few things that make Alvarado On Main magical. Acoustics are softer compared to their Monterey location. Art deco style is oozing with elegance. Local artist Lisa Haas was brought in to paint and texture walls and ceilings with period correct charm and design accents. On the way towards the restroom you will find the old bank vault door proudly mounted at the service pass. The tail end of the room, the most glamorous mother of pearl crane panel you could feast your eyes on, trés chic! You forget that you are sitting at a modern day brewhouse, instead it feels like you have been whisked away into a bustling hotel lobby bar in the roaring 20’s. While there is still construction dust still lingering around the nooks & crannies of the place, I’m sure it will settle into a cherished main stay on an evolving Main Street. I’m imagining this place is going to be an absolute riot during New Year’s parties. I will be booking my next few lunch dates here soon, highly recommend you make them on Open Table for smooth entries.

We went today. It is absolutely beautiful. Interesting arrangement for seating with an upper area for parties maybe? Overflow? Whatever it is, it is nice. The showcase of the place is the huge bar. It seems to be more of a place for the professionals in the area, as it is a bit on the pricey side. However, the food was perfectly seasoned. I had a ceaser salad and my friend had one of the sandwiches. She really enjoyed the bread. She expected it to be a hard crusty bread, but said it was a very flavorful soft bread.
My only "complaint" was that the servers were not as attentive as I would have thought. But they were all nice and personable.

You can never go wrong with Alvarado beers and food as well. The crispy cauliflower lived up to its name. Definitely crispy and delicious! The butternut squash tacos with shishito peppers? Whoahhh, yum yum! The pizza with white sauce and crimini mushrooms and brie, mouthwatering! We got our fave Mai Tai on tap as well as Howz It Punch but too bad they didn't have the mai tai 4 pack to go.

Beautiful art deco style bar and eatery with vegetarian options. My husband and I always enjoyed going to the Monterey location and we were ecstatic to find out that the establishment had expanded to Downtown Salinas (a little closer to home for us than Monterey). The cauliflower wings were Asian infusion which we haven't experienced before but glad we did! I had the butternut squash tacos that came with 3 salsas and each one was delicious. My husband ordered the Valley pizza which paired wonderfully with their nonalcoholic beer I ordered. A variety of beer on tap including SOURS which are my hubby's favorite style.

I do suggest making a reservation because they're new and quite popular so you may wait a while if you don't have one.