Thursday, until 1am Friday-Saturday) offers sushi, but there are also two dedicated sushi spots—Sushi Daruma (216 Main, 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-9pm daily, open late on weekends) and Kokoro Sushi (216 Main; 11am-2pm, 5-9pm, late on weekends). The recently opened Italian restaurant Mangia (328 Main; 11:30am-2pm and 4:30-8:30pm, closed Sunday) became an instant favorite. Meanwhile Patria (228 Main, 4-9pm, closed Sunday) is a longtime draw, serving German, Italian and French traditions in a lovely, rustic space. Finally, in terms of drinks, Main Street has a lot to offer. Alvarado on Main, Alvarado Street Brewery’s downtown Salinas location, has arrived (301 Main; 11am-9pm daily). It’s spacious and glossy, with an expansive menu including a big raw bar, pizza, and steak and shrimp sandwich, as well as a variety of beers on tap (or cocktails, if you prefer). Dubber’s Old Town Bar And Grill (172 Main; 11am-midnight daily) has long been around and still can compete with its solid bar fare—fish tacos with aioli, sweet corn and mango. If you are into sweet, spicy fish, that is. (If not, the salads are a meal unto themselves.) After Tuesday, late-night fun on Main really starts with XL Public House (127 Main; Monday and Sunday closed, 4:30pm-10pm Tuesday-Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday), Brew-N-Krew Ale House (155 Main; Monday-Tuesday closed, Wednesday 5-9pm; open late on weekends) and La Cantina Brewing Company (165 Main; Monday-Tuesday closed; noon-9pm, noon-midnight Friday-Saturday) is happy to quench your thirst. If you need coffee, don’t forget about The Bearded Bean (210 Main; 6am9pm; 11pm on Fridays-Saturdays). If you want to linger there well beyond coffee hour, just transfer to ordering draft beers. Venture a couple of blocks in any direction and all of a sudden, the offerings expand at any time of day. You will need more than a weekend on Main Street to eat, and drink, your way through it. Go Downtown Alvarado on Main 26 The Best of Monterey Bay ® EAT + DRINK 2023-2024 Portobello’s on Main Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
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