Gino’s Fine Italian Restaurant
1410 S. Main St., Salinas
422-1814,
www.ginosfamilyrestaurantgroup.com
Part of the allure of a small town is that one place, that one special everything place. Birthday? Gino’s. Graduation? Gino’s. Friends’ lunch? Gino’s. Cocktails and apps? Gino’s. Inside this tiny house, there’s magic going on. The wine list is impressive, the take-out or dine-in menu exquisite and reliable. But more than that, it’s home. On our last visit, we gabbed too long over a bottle of wine, well after closing. “Just shut the gate and turn out the light before you go,” we were asked. It’s that simple—and yet not. It’s that small-town. It’s that perfect.