The Steinbeck House, located in Salinas, California, is a historic Victorian-style property that was once home to the family of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck. Preserved and restored, it offers visitors a glimpse into early 20th-century life through furnished rooms and period decor. The house also features a restaurant serving meals inspired by the era’s recipes, allowing guests to dine in a historical setting. Additionally, the site includes a gift shop where visitors can purchase books, souvenirs, and items related to John Steinbeck and his literary works. It stands as a tribute to the author’s legacy and offers a unique blend of history, literature, and dining experiences.
American cuisine in a Queen Anne-style Victorian house that served as John Steinbeck’s boyhood home. Based on 246 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.7 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No delivery
Address:
132 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901
Phone: (831) 424-2735
Website: http://www.steinbeckhouse.com/
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Friday |
11 AM–2 PM |
| Saturday |
11 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday |
Closed |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday |
11 AM–2 PM |
| Wednesday |
11 AM–2 PM |
| Thursday |
11 AM–2 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Reviews
Clarisse Decker
It’s beyond me how nice and accommodating everybody is in this place! My husband and I stopped by here on our way to Monterey to celebrate our birthdays and they treated us like we’re their family! Definitely coming back!
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Grace Cheng
What a great place to have a meal. The house was renovated to match the era. So beautifully done Staffed by volunteers, the service was absolutely outstanding. We really enjoyed our lunch there.
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R Kin
A wonderful experience conducted under the very professional guidance of a team with outstanding customer service skills. The volunteers are a credit to this establishment. They make the visit such a personal and memorable occasion. The Steinbeck Family heritage is safe in their hands.
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Joshua A.
It would really pain me to hear one day that this place went under. Not only are the basics covered (good food, attentive staff, etc.), but it goes above and beyond in every way. The staff are not only friendly, but very informative, and if you catch them at a slow period, they may even show you around like they did me. It is a firm contention of mine that more places like this need to exist, and the ones that do are a dying breed–that’s not to mean restaurants with this specific of a theme in particular, but ones with this caliber of character and creativity.
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Mardie
The volunteers from this place are doing a fantastic job! The food was great, it seemed like it was my grandmother who cooked for me and my husband. A very nice ambiance overall! Thank you to all the volunteers who keep the history and soul of litterature living.
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Sarah Schol
I love taking my parents here. The house is run by volunteers and the service is always friendly. We’ve yet to have a meal we didn’t like! I recommend making a reservation. I also leave a generous tip, since all the tip money goes towards the preservation of the house. There’s a small gift shop in the cellar- if you buy a book, they’ll emboss it for you. Have a great time and try all the desserts!
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Maria Schell
Did you know that the Steinbeck House is mostly run by volunteers? It is, and they do a fantastic job with service and treating you special for your lunch or dinner out. Every corner of this house is historic, beautiful,and preserved well. I recommend eating here for that very special meal you will not regret it.
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Rosalie Arntzen
Fun day trip to both the Steinbeck Museum and Steinbeck House was a perfect outing. Steinbeck House is staffed by volunteers which explains why the service was a little chaotic but they made up for little mix-ups with bright smiles and good humor. Food was good. I really enjoyed spending time in the childhood home of one of my favorite writers.
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Alisa Tsenko
The place is really nice and historic but the food could’ve been better. The sandwich was made from the cheapest bread. The creme brulé was too sweet.
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Mary Newman
My husband and I came to the house on our honeymoon road trip as we’re both big Steinbeck fans. Wow, were we treated well! The food was excellent and the volunteers were all lovely. They gave us complimentary champagne and delicious bread to take away with us as we were going camping. One volunteer even gave us a little wedding gift! We also were taken on a tour of some of the house and learnt about Steinbeck’s childhood. I’m so glad we got to come here!
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