I was actually pleasantly surprised with the Penny. Â I was in Salinas visiting a friend, and she suggested this place. Â When we walked in, it looked like many an other British pub (at least in the US), not something I'd expect from Salinas. Â
When we walked in, we were greeted by a server who asked us if we wanted a booth, tall table, or to sit at the bar. Â Once we sere seated, another server came over with drink menus. Â I was pretty impressed. Â This sort of service is rare! Â BUT we did get there at like 9:30pm, which might have had something to do with it. Â We had an early morning the next day so we left at 11:30pm, as larger groups were starting to arrive.
My only complaint: the gummy bear did not quite taste like a gummy bear. Â But I loved that they put real gummy bears in the drink! Â Nice way to finish such a girly drink.
The little blonde female bartender (christine maybe?) Was super nice! I had a great time on a really hot day. I enjoyed a cold beer at the price of $, but when they told me to check-in with 4square I could get ten dollars off. I don't know if that option is still avail. I never 4square, so I have no idea what the hell I did.
It seemed pretty crowded there for an early day. Mixture of ages mostly 50 +, but as it got later the younger crowd seemed to be entering. Full bar and I think 10 beers on tap?
They had people eating food. Must be good? I don't eat at bars. I know I should, but I'm just a heavy drinker.
I met the owner. Kind of an ass, passive aggressive, but its just because he doesn't know better. I found him to be friendly. He is actually a brit that complains about everything. Love it. He flew up from atlanta, georgia he has a lot of locations, but he complains of money. Love it.
Anyway, its cute. Place has history. Ask one of the old men in there...they will tell you.
Cheers!
I went with some friends on a friday for like a work happy hour. Our first server was exceptionally Great! She checked up on us constantly, kept the drinks coming, etc. But she said she had to switch sections, so we paid which is a good thing because we got to pay that part and tip her because the other girl was... Horrible. She kept forgetting our drinks, didn't really check up on us and was Sooooo slow giving us the bill that we just stood up and stood next to the table so she knew we were done- because obviously asking for it and even our empty plates or drinks didn't cut it. She must of thought we were bailing because she had the security tell us we need to pay... well, its kind of hard to pay when we don't have the bill when we ask for it... and its hard to leave a tip or sign for anything afterwards if you don't give us a pen!! but that's not just the ridiculous part of it all...
We were eating dinner as was most of the people in the dining room and the DJ was playing pretty loud music with STROBE LIGHTS?!?! really?!? is the a club? there was no where to dance and it was pretty early too for a DJ and music to be playing. it was the worst dinner ever!! a flat beer, DRY chicken wings-- they were so crisp and no moisture I could have thought they were weeks old and to top it off by trying to eat and talk while lights were constantly flashing in our eyes.
one good thing... their $5 martinis. I had one with gummy bears! but it won't help their food or that blaring strobe lights
Great atmosphere, mediocre food.
I want to like this place. I really do. Stepping inside does feel like stepping into a tavern, or at least what I imagine a tavern to be like.
I've given this place multiple chances, for burgers, fish n chips, and another dish I can't recall. And each time it was just OK. Not great, not crappy, just mediocre. And that's what this place is.
If you're looking to grab a burger and thought you should try this place out, do yourself a favor and just got to In N Out.
I enjoy the beer selection and love the food. Â The Irish Spring Rolls are awesome and I'm a big fan of the Tortizzas. Â When I'm in the mood for a low-key pub experience, its just what I had in mind. Â
I believe they sometimes have Kareoke nights and live bands as well, though I haven't experienced that. I did show up on Trivia night once by accident, which I would not recommend unless you're excited about playing. There seemed to be just one other table playing, yet they were blasting questions over the microphone so loud that I couldn't hear anything else. However, this really doesn't hurt their score too much for me since I've enjoyed myself every other time I've been.
For our experience, we were well greeted and seated and informed of the happy hour specials - 2 dollar appetizers - Â as well as the "Pick 3" for 25.95 appetizer. Â We chose the "gouda" meatballs (2.00), and for the pick three, the "sausage plate", Â "Irish spring rolls" and the "pretzels and cheese dip".
PROS:
1) Â Price of the appetizers as well as amount, although quality was hit and miss.
---While I was hoping for two elegantly small meatballs of  Gouda cheese we received two morbidly obese tennis ball size creations sprinkled with Gouda with the flavor  heavy on the oregano.
--The sausage plate was enormous featuring five excellent and differing flavors and served with mustard on the side - it was a meal unto itself.
--The Irish spring rolls filled with corned beef, cabbage, and cheese, wrapped in an egg roll wrapper were inventive and excellent.
--The pretzels were under cooked, soggy and pasty, and the cheese sauce was disgusting with the viscosity nearer to water than cheese. Â Simply unpleasant.
2) Â The Drinks
--We ordered a Big Sur and a Black and Tan and were pleasantly surprised to be given literal "pints" - not what passes for such in Americanized pubs. Â Both were decent and the Black and Tan was made with appropriate proportions. Â The price was 7.50 for the Big Sur and 8.00 for the B&T
3) Service
--Susie was effusive and friendly - stopping by several times to check on us. Â Our meal was served by another waitress who was even more cheerful making me wonder if there was a bowl of Prozac substituting for peanuts on the bar.
CONS:
The condition of the restaurant. Â The tables were old and tacky - both literally and figuratively. Â The common seating area which is carpeted smelled either of mildew or old vomit not properly cleaned. Â The bathrooms were adequate.
So....If what you're looking for is an American version of a British Tavern with the requisite large screen television, Californian/American appetizers (style and volume), as well as unpretentious service, and cheap beer, then look no further. Â However, if you are bothered by the smell of musty carpets, Â over-friendly wait staff, and tacky furnishings, then take a pass or sit and order at the bar. Â :)
It's a pretty chill place to get drinks after a longs day work, or maybe a pit stop to a good night. There's not a lot of selection to go bar hopping in the city of Salinas but this place does have that pub theme to it. They sometimes have bands that play from time to time, not too sure when but from the day I went, Thursdays are not really that popular for people to come out I guess. There were people that came through, so it wasn't like it we were the only group in the place.
They have an alright selection of beers on tap and they do have an alright selection of liquor. Come check the place out, and if you catch yourself on Weekend here or Wednesday night, you can walk across the way and pretty much bar hop from this place to Casa Serrento, or Jaimes or Kings Den or walk further to Grind House.
I used to be a long time regular here. That all changed when the management changed. It wasn't because of the atmosphere. And while they ditched a traditional English menu in favor of some ridiculous and pricey California nouveau cuisine BS, it wasn't because of the food. No the co-owner of this place decided to piss us off and let us know what he thinks of his customers. As part of their typical and otherwise friendly routine, the co-owner came to our large group's table to ask how our meal and drinks were. We told him it was all good and we were long time patrons and the new management was doing a good job. Easily our tab was a few hundred bucks so he offered a few of us complementary sips of some dark ale and we thought that was cool. Then he asked if we had any recommendations and, because they had served Monk's Brown Ale in the past, we asked if he would be serving it ever again. He said no and we did the disappointed mass-awwwwww. But this is where it got stupid: we asked him out of curiosity why that was and he said he just never thought about it. Again we asked why, just making friendly small talk, and he said that in all his preparation and investment in the bar, he talked to many vendors and considered many options and told us "I don't take recommendations from people who drink alcohol". Awkward silence as we all stared at each other trying to figure out if this guy was really kidding. He wasn't and wished us a good evening. I still wtf over that night. We all felt disgusted and it made no f-ing sense whatsoever...when he walked away one of us asked "...did that guy just insult us for buying his beer???" We haven't gone back in 2 years.
Review Source:We were looking for something that we wouldn't find at home and literally happened upon this place. Despite urbanspoon saying it was closed, it was in fact very open. We were promptly greeted by a very polite hostess. Our drinks came quickly as did our food: between three of us we had a Philly cheese, the Original Dunwoody Doozie, and the kids chicken strips. The chicken strips were very slightly overcooked but the dipping sauces were very good. The Philly cheese was very good, although it could have used some grilled bell peppers and a tad more cheese; it was still delicious. The Dunwoody Doozie, however, was a masterpiece: juicy, flavorful, and large. For 9.95, this is exactly what a burger should be, making this an absolute must have on any visit. On top of all of this, the fries were perfectly made as well. Not bad for a 25 minute stop. Anyone visiting Salinas MUST go here.
Review Source:Our "Dine Out" group enjoyed a Christmas Party in their private room and we loved it. Â They gave us separate checks, Â The new owners changed the menu and added some great salads. Â I ordered great salad with exra dressing...it was Oriental. Â It really filled me up. Â I also had a establishment beer. Â All 19 of us were served well and were able to celebrate our time together. Â I ordered a dessert to go and was pleasantly surprised at home to enjoy the the "Tuxedo" Cheesecake". Â
We will be back to enjoy St. Patrick's Day" lunch.
Dinner service Saturday evening was great (Suzie or Susie was our server), but the food was just so so. Fish tacos were okay, the pesto "tortizza" was okay. Nothing special. The place seemed surprising deserted for a Saturday evening.
They have an extensive beer list on their menu, but asking for a bottled beer there is like asking for cheese at the proverbial Monty Python cheese shop--"Nope--don't have that one...haven't had that one in years...The dog drank it...Ah! It's been on order, sir, for two weeks. Was expecting it this morning...Well,.. It's very runny, actually..."
"You...do *have* some beer, don't you?"
"Of course, sir. It's a tavern, sir."
A passerby in the street who I'd seen @ Monterrey Brewery (terrible place -no atmosphere/jive at all) showed me this place down the block further on Main St and around the corner.
Standard English pub look. Â Thanked the lad w/an Irish carbomb and he recipricated with a micro brewery beer. It all went down wonderfully and I proceeded to enjoy the ambiance - numerous large flatscreens, lively and friendly crowd. Didn't eat any food, but overal think this to be a good palce to have a few.
Has been a few years since I first went here and now it's under new management. The atmosphere is still pretty good British Pub style right down to the dark woods, exposed beams fireplace and deep red paint on the walls. Service was with a smile...even on a slow weeknight. Recommend a Black Velvet...not the whiskey.... as they have both Strongbow and Guinness on Tap. As close as you will get to the real thing in Salinas.
Parking wasn't an issue when I went, but on weekends or at busy times you could have to walk a bit.
while on our way towards a camping adventure my brother, a couple of friends and I were driving through Salinas when my brother called from the other car and said he needed to pull over immediately for an emergency bathroom break. We pulled off the highway and into a parking lot. I had mentioned that I spotted a pub around the corner (I always seem to spot out the pubs), and he should try there. While he was squeezing cheeks trying to make it into the pub, my friends and I decided it would be a great opportunity to have a little beer break. It was about noon and it was a hot day...it felt like it was 147 degrees out when in actuality it was probably around 88. We stepped inside the pub and were immediately transported from Salinas California 20009, to London England circa 1881. The place was more English than most of the pubs in London that I've been to. We had a friendly bartender who served us refreshing pints of Bass on rather hot day. I seemed to forget about the heat, the long drive I had ahead of me, and the fact that I was in California in the 21st century. There was a group of elderly patrons who were talking and laughing and having a great time, the youngest one looked like he was about 94 years old. They bought my buddies and I a round and we returned the favor....and then they returned the favor once more since they outnumbered our group about 10-3. I'll be absolutely sure to stop by here again when I'm anywhere remotely close to Salinas.
Review Source:As a frequent traveler to this part of the world, some distance from my home in LA - I have to say I love this place. In a town dominated by strip malls, chain restaurants and taco joints, this is a great spot to get some Irish Stew and a decent beer.
I had the corned beef and cabbage, not a huge plate of food but really tasty and caught happy hour. Lots of good beers to choose from.
Nice to sit amongst wood and brick. Nice feel. Only thing that kinda kills it is the obligatory country music station (Salinas) that a *real* British pub might only play ironically. Lol.
Try the reuben. Avoid the fish and chips, while you'd think an English pub would serve that correctly, I've tried it twice, both times soggy and undercooked. The beer selection is impressive, and I miss the old crowd of wait staff that used to work there before they reopened. The audience has become a lot younger and I avoid it on the weekends to stay away from the college crowd. Overall a fun spot in Salinas and local favorite, with good food, and an even better beer menu.
Review Source:Re-opened recently
Great servers/barkeeps, food has improved, and chill crowd. I'd recommend any of the burgers or the Reuben. The prime rib was delicious (a little overcooked), and the Misses loved the tenders. They served them in a flower pot, which was pretty cool. All in all, awesome place to hang out and get drunk.
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