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Elli's Great American Rstrnt
1250 S Main St
Salinas, CA 93901
Uber
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Main Menu
Early Bird Specials
'til 10:30am. Served with two eggs and your choice of two strips of bacon or two sausage links.
With 2 From-Scratch Pancakes
With Julienne Potatoes
With Half a Big Belgian Waffle
With a Slice of French Toast
Elli's Awesome Three Egg Omelets
The generous fillings for Elli's signature three-egg omelets are sauteed first in a light, special recipe sauce to beautifully blend the flavors. We follow that with a small handful of our four-cheese mix, while everything's in the omelet pan. All Elli's omelets are served with grilled julienne potatoes - plus your choice of corn muffin, housemade English muffin, fresh fruit, or one pancake.
Mexican Omelet
Chorizo, avocado, green chilies, grilled onions, and side homemade salsas.
Four Cheese Omelet
Swiss, Monterey jack, Parmesan and cheddar. Need more heat? Just ask for pico de gallo.
Popeye Omelet
Spinach, grilled onions, mushrooms.
Brutus Omelet
Country-style ham, bacon, sausage, & turkey. Then, tomatoes & mushrooms.
Denver Omelet
Diced onions blended with green & red bell-peppers, tomatoes, and ham.
Veggie Omelet
Three egg-whites-only omelet comes with mushrooms, broccoli, onions, zucchini, green beans, and fresh basil.
Two Egg Breakfasts
Served with grilled julienne potatoes & your choice of pancake, corn muffin, English muffin, biscuit & gravy, or fresh fruit.
How You Like 'Em Eggs
With Bacon, With Ham or Sausage.
The Ultimate Combo
three eggs cooked any way you like them, plus two strips of local bacon, then two sausage links and a ham steak. Why? Because you're hungry, that's why!
Eggs Benedict
Two poached eggs on an English muffin, Elli's house-made Hollandaise; grilled julienne potatoes and fresh fruit ride shotgun.
With Canadian Bacon
With Roasted Turkey & Avocado
Breakfast Sandwiches
Croissant Sandwich
Three fried eggs, Jack cheese, turkey, bacon, and avocado on a croissant, with julienne potatoes.
Fried Egg Sandwich
Three fried eggs, bacon, and American cheese on grilled sourdough, with julienne potatoes.
Spicy Specialties
Egg Tacos
Three eggs over hard on fresh corn tortillas with avocado, guajillo salsa, and chorizo potatoes, served with black beans.
Mexico City Chilaquiles
Crisp strips of tortillas simmered in green salsa with chicken, cheese, and 3 eggs, any style.
Huevos Rancheros
A flour tortilla topped with three fried eggs, rice, beans, avocado, sour cream, and salsa.
Chile Verde Stack and Eggs
Three housemade corn tortillas layered with slowroasted pork in our Chile Verde sauce, eggs either fried or scrambled-then topped with fresh avocado and sour cream. Served with rice and beans.
Breakfast Burrito
Scrambled eggs, ham, turkey, chorizo, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, and Monterey Jack cheese, rolled in a flour tortilla & topped with salsa verde.
Griddle Specialties
With our pecan butter and real maple syrup!
Pancakes
From scratch, Short Stacks, Blueberry, Bluegerm (Blueberries & Wheat Germ) or Wheatgerm.
Waffles
Freshly prepared Big Belgian waffle. Feel free to add on starberries and whipped cream or bananas and pecans.
French Toast
Served up fresh on either Sourdough or Cinnamon baked bread.
Healthy Options
Yogurt Parfait & Granola
Vanilla Yogurt with layers of granola, blueberries, strawberries, and banana.
Old Fashioned Oatmeal
With brown sugar and cinnamon.
Old Fashioned Oatmeal
With your choice of banana, blueberries, or toast.
Bowl of Fresh Fruit
Breakfast Specials
Served with grilled julienne potatoes and your choice of toast, corn muffin, or housmade English Muffin, fresh fruit, or one pancake.
Steak & Eggs
Six-ounce hanger steak with three farm-fresh eggs prepared your way.
Chicken Apple Sausage & Eggs
A flavorful & healthy alternative, served with three eggs, any style.
Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs
Tender beef, lightly floured and fried golden brown, then covered with country gravy and served with three eggs, any style.
Green Eggs & Ham
Diced ham and scrambled eggs topped with salsa verde and avocado. Just what the Doctor (Seuss) ordered.
Breakfast Combos
Elli's breakfast combinations come with two bacon strips, two sausage links, and grilled julienne potatoes.
Three Eggs & Two Pancakes
Three Eggs & Two Pancakes
Three Eggs & a Belgian Waffle
House-made Soups
Soup of the Day
Ask your server what’s in Elli’s soup kettle today. With corn bread or garlic bread, your choice.
Soup & Salad Combo
Salinas greens topped with your choice of dressing, plus a cup of soup & garlic bread.
Soup & Greek Salad Combo
Greek salad, cup of soup & garlic bread.
Soup & Caesar Salad Combo
Caesar salad, cup of soup & garlic bread.
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
With our house-made sour cream & cheddar butter on the side, plus soup or salad.
Sauteed Vegetables & Cheddar Cheese
Bacon & Cheddar Potato
Plain Baked Potato
Appetizers
A mini-tour of our culinary world, featuring flavors from all over the globe.
Nacho Party
Made-here corn tortilla chips topped with diced chicken, melted cheese, cilantro, Mexican rice, fresh corn, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeño peppers and salsa; served on a giant party platter.
Deep Fried Artichoke Hearts
Served with our tangy Cuban “mojo” sauce.
Firecracker Fries
Seasoned with garlic, chipotle chili powder & cilantro; with Ranch dressing on the side.
Calamari Strips
Filet strips tossed with lemon, parsley, red pepper flakes & garlic, then fried; served with a cocktail sauce & tartar sauce.
Chicken Quesadilla
Grilled chicken, black bean chili & cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla; served with pico de gallo, avocado & sour cream.
Famous Jumbo Wings
Traditional Buffalo Wings
Served with a cool, blue cheese dipping sauce.
Sweet Chili Wings
With the classic blue cheese dipping sauce.
Spicy Thai Wings
Comes with our sriracha-orange side sauce.
Combo Platter
Potato skins, nachos, calamari strips & firecracker fries.
Mad Dog My Wings
Just say those words and we'll turn your order into a spicy inferno with a few drops of Mad Dog 357, rated among the world's hottest sauces.
Big Salads
Colossal Chef Salad
Ham, turkey, chicken, pepperoni, bacon, mozzarella & cheddar cheese, pepperoncinis, and chopped egg; sprinkled with oregano, and served with our house Italian dressing & garlic toast.
Shrimp & Strawberries Salad
Sautéed shrimp on a big bed of fresh greens, with juicy ripe strawberries and feta, roasted corn, cherry tomatoes, sweet onions, dried cherries, & jicama; Raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
Big Cobb Salad
Chopped grilled chicken, avocado, hard-boiled egg, tomato, blue cheese, spinach & bacon bits; served with garlic toast and our Italian dressing on the side.
BBQ Chicken Salad
Grilled chicken breast with our Coca-Cola BBQ sauce, avocado, black beans, tortilla chips, jicama, corn, cilantro, green onion & cheddar cheese, served with ranch dressing & garlic toast.
Taco Salad
Your choice of spicy chicken or seasoned beef, with beans, cilantro, avocado, house-made sour cream, cheddar & Jack cheese, served in a flour tortilla with pico de gallo.
Ahi Tuna Niçoise Salad
Seared Ahi, served rare over grilled romaine hearts, with red potatoes, Niçoise olives, tender green beans & hard boiled eggs; Mediterranean dressing.
Pistachio Crusted Chicken Salad
Chicken breast strips rolled in pistachio nuts and grilled; served on crisp romaine lettuce with Granny Smith apples, dried cranberries & cherries, roasted onion & crumbled feta. Honey-mustard dressing.
Caesar Salad with Chicken (or Salmon)
Crisp romaine lettuce with garlic croutons, bacon bits, Parmesan cheese & our Caesar dressing, with grilled or blackened chicken, plus garlic toast.
The Iceberg
Crisp Iceberg lettuce with blue cheese crumbles, chives, and blue cheese dressing.
Organic Quinoa
This "mother's grain" is an extremely nutritous seed with high levels of protein. We add chunks of blackened chicken, dried cranberries, feta, cucumbers, bacon, grilled onions, cilantro, apples, toasted walnuts, & arugula. Served with a cherry vinaigrette.
Chinese Chicken Salad
Fried won ton with hot rice noodles, snow peas, bean sprouts, toasted sesame seeds, mandarin orange wedges, lettuce, cilantro and celery, with Asian sesame dressing and garlic toast.
Starter Salads
The House
The Valley’s finest - crisp iceberg and romaine lettuces, cherry tomatoes, pepper curls, celery, cucumbers, carrots & broccoli, with our house-made Italian dressing.
The Greek
Crisp romaine, cherry tomatoes, onions, cucumbers & Kalamata olives topped with feta cheese dressing.
Caesar Salad
Heart of romaine tossed with croutons, bacon bits, Parmesan cheese & our house-made Caesar dressing.
Mini Salads
Mini Chinese Chicken Salad
Down-sized, but with all the flavor: fried won ton with hot rice noodles, snow peas, bean sprouts, toasted sesame seeds, mandarin orange wedges, lettuce, cilantro, celery & our asian sesame dressing.
Mini Cobb
Same ingredients, just smaller. Grilled chicken, avocado, hard-boiled egg, tomato, blue cheese, spinach, bacon bits & our Italian dressing.
Flatbeard Salads
Warm flatbread fresh from our wood-burning pizza oven, topped with a cool salad. Just fold and eat like a sandwich.
Greek with Chicken
Grilled chicken with romaine, feta & mozzarella, tomatoes, cucumber, and olives; Feta dressing.
Mediterranean
Grilled romaine lettuce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, pesto, roasted tomatoes and Italian vinaigrette.
Blue Cheese & Steak
Tender hanger steak, blue cheese crumbles, chopped iceberg lettuce, diced bacon, chopped spinach, sweet grilled onions, cherry tomatoes, and chives, with blue cheese dressing.
Sandwiches
Included with Elli’s spectacular sandwiches are any one of the following (your choice): Soup, House Salad, Sautéed or Steamed Vegetables, Rice & Beans, Black Bean Chili, Onion Rings, Fresh Cut Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Country Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Corn Bread, Fresh Fruit, Cottage Cheese, Scoop of Ice Cream.
Cuban ‘Mojo’ Sandwich
A spicy twist: This Cuban treat of slow-roasted pork & ham with Swiss cheese, pickles & a tangy citrus sauce called ‘Mojo’.
Dagwood Sandwich
Mr. Bumstead’s favorite: Layered ham, turkey, grilled chicken, bacon, cheddar, provolone & avocado served on ciabatta bread.
Chicken Wrap
Chicken, grilled onions, avocado, lettuce, salsa & cheddar cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Tuna & Cheddar Melt
Served piping hot on our fantastic grilled sourdough bread.
Pastrami Reuben
Lean pastrami with sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese & Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye.
Vegetarian
Mushrooms, cucumbers, sprouts, tomatoes, avocado & Monterey Jack cheese on wheat toast.
Zucchini Madness
Grilled zucchini, Parmesan cheese, sautéed mushrooms & provolone cheese with tomato-herb sauce on garlic bread.
Meatloaf Sandwich
Meatloaf, provolone, caramelized onions, mushrooms & bacon on a toasted ciabatta roll.
Ellen’s Roasted Turkey
Roasted turkey breast on ciabatta with deli mustard, spinach, pepperoncinis, tomatoes, provolone, iceberg lettuce & mayo.
Grilled Cheese
Provolone, Muenster, and white cheddar on grilled sourdough.
California Club Croissant
Sliced turkey breast, avocado, bacon and cheddar jack cheese served on a croissant.
Big & Beefy
Our roast beef is slowly, carefully cooked right here, then we slice it thin and pile it high.
French Dip
Lots and lots of roast beef on toasted ciabatta bread served with au jus.
Philly Cheese Steak
Roast beef grilled with onions and provolone cheese on ciabatta bread. (Add Serrano peppers for a Philly Inferno!)
Prime Rib on Ciabatta
Served with creamed horseradish, Jack cheese & au jus on ciabatta bread.
Deli Club
Ham, turkey, Swiss & cheddar cheese with bacon; on grilled rye bread with deli mustard.
California Chicken
Marinated & charbroiled chicken breast served hot with melted Monterey Jack cheese & avocado on ciabatta bread.
B.L.A.S.T.
Bacon, lettuce, avocado, sprouts & tomato on toasted sourdough bread.
Half-Sandwich & Two Sides
For your half-sandwich, pick from: Turkey, Ham & Swiss, California Club, Cal Chicken, French Dip, Deli Club, or BLAST - then add any two sides.
Great American Burgers
All-American
Half-pounder with Elli’s special burger sauce, pickles, lettuce & tomato. Onions on request.
Patty Melt
A half-pound patty with grilled onions, American & Swiss cheese, plus a dab of Thousand Island dressing, served on grilled rye bread.
Veggie Burger
Our own delicious blend of black beans, eggs, faro, and quinoa - the high protein, natural grain-like seed native to South America, the “Gold of the Incas.” We top it off with Monterey Jack cheese, our burger sauce, pickles, fresh tomato & lettuce.
BBQ Western Burger
Half-pound burger with our own tangy & slightly sweet Coca-Cola BBQ sauce. Comes with lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese & bacon.
Blue Cheese Burger
Half-pounder with melted blue cheese, bacon, Elli’s burger sauce, lettuce & tomato.
San Francisco Burger
Half-pounder with ham, Swiss cheese & pesto; served on grilled sourdough.
PG Beach Burger
Nostalgia at its best–our version of the famous burger once served at Lover's Point Beach in Pacific Grove. A quarterpound burger cooked to order on the griddle with American cheese. Topped with mayo, mustard, catsup, relish, onions, chopped lettuce, and tomato.
Bacon Burger
We grind bacon into our proprietary all natural burger mix. Plus bacon strips, American Cheese, sauce, pickles and lettuce.
Quadruple Chile Cheeseburger
Roasted poblano chilies, pepperjack cheese, sliced jalapeños, chipotle mayo, grilled onions, and guacamole on a toasted house-made bun.
Pizzas
10-inch neapolitan pizzas out of Elli’s own wood-burning oven. Elli's pizzas begin with the pure simplicity of a crust made from super-fine Caputo 00 flour imported from Naples, which is blended with water, salt & yeast - and nothing else. No oil, no sugar. Oh sure, it sounds easy except, these classic ingredients only yield their signature texture & flavor when fired in the ultra-hot, subtly smoky environment found in a wood-fired, brick oven-like the one here at Elli's.
Francesca's Spicy Chicken
San Marzano tomato sauce, Sriracha spicy chicken mozzarella, thinly sliced red onions, chorizo, minced garlic, paprika, and jalepeno.
Marco's Little Italy
San Marzano tomato sauce, spicy soppressata, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, prosciutto cotto, red pepper flakes, black olives, and mozzarella cheese.
Gianni's Bianca
White sauce, sausage, bacon, black olives, and green onions.
Dominick's Mediterranean
White sauce, sautéed spinach, feta cheese, golden grilled chicken, oven-dried tomatoes, mozzarella and asiago cheese.
Margherita
San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella & parmesan cheeses, topped with fresh basil.
Classic Pepperoni
San Marzano tomato sauce & mozzarella cheese piled with lots of pepperoni.
Big John’s
Italian sausage, pepperoni, bacon, roasted turkey and pepperoncinis for just a hint of spice. Oh, and cheese, of course.
Tough Guy Pizza
Sausage, pepperoni, bacon, soppressata, smoked mozzarella, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and mushrooms.
Pastas
Served with our warm & delicious garlic bread. Feel free to substitute protein-rich Barilla Plus pasta in any of the dishes below.
Pasta Carbonara with Rigatoni Noodles
The famous Italian dish with bacon, sausage, eggs, and cheese.
Shrimp & Vegetable Pasta
Sautéed shrimp tossed with julienned zucchini, cherry tomatoes & fresh basil, atop imported angel hair pasta.
Garlic Chicken Pasta
Strips of chicken breast sautéed in a creamy garlic & herb sauce with veggies and sun dried tomatoes. Served on house-made fettuccine.
Blackened Chicken Fettuccine
Cajun blackened chicken served with fettuccine and creamy Alfredo sauce.
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Elli’s own family-recipe, house-made meatballs served in marinara sauce with spaghetti.
Vegetable & Roasted Garlic Pasta
Fresh veggies sautéed with roasted garlic and tossed with protein-rich Barilla Plus pasta.
Small Pasta Plates
Served with garlic bread and your choice of today's soup or Elli's house salad. Choose either: Angel hair pasta with marinara or Fettuccine with alfredo sauce.
Authentic Mexican Street Tacos
Made with fresh, house-made corn tortillas and served with a big side order of refried black beans.
Baja Shrimp Tacos
Made with eco-friendly Laughing Bird shrimp, Mexican cabbage, chipotle mayo, pickled jalapeño, cilantro, onions & queso fresco.
Chargrilled Chicken Tacos
Adobe chile marinated chicken breast, with chopped white onion, cilantro & avocado.
Carne Asada Tacos
Chargrilled steak, chopped white onion, cilantro & avocado.
Enchiladas, Etc
Carne Asada Burrito
Freshly grilled steak packed inside a flour tortilla along with Monterey Jack cheese, rice, pico de gallo, Mexican crema & our Oaxaca guacamole.
Chicken Burrito
Lots of grilled chicken, rice & Monterey Jack cheese inside a big flour tortilla. Then we add a zesty pico de gallo sauce, Oaxaca guacamole, and a helping of tangy Mexican crema.
Chili Verde Burrito
This one’s stuffed with slow-roasted pork livened up with chili verde sauce & pico de gallo. There’s rice & Monterey Jack cheese, too. We finish it with Mexican crema & Oaxaca guacamole then wrap it neatly in a flour tortilla.
Chicken or Beef Green Enchiladas
Our hand-made corn tortillas stuffed with spicy chicken or beef, cheddar & Jack cheese, then topped with chili verde sauce and drizzled with Mexican crema. Served with beans & rice.
Prime Rib
Prime Rib
Before roasting, we pack the whole Standing Rib Roast in rock salt, to draw out the flavors (and intensify the au jus sauce). Then we slowly roast the beef to create a wonderfully tender and juicy cut. Served with au jus sauce and your choice of any TWO of the side dishes listed at the bottom of this page. 8 ounce, 16 ounce, or 21 ounce.
Steaks
Elli’s all-natural, hormone-free steaks are served with a combination of any two side dishes you prefer.
12-Ounce Hanger Steak
Traditionally known as a “butcher’s steak” because they would often reserve this prized cut for themselves due to its intense flavor.
Famous Brando Steak
Live large with this sizeable 14-ounce steak that rivals the filet mignon for tenderness. Sometimes called a Bistro Filet, this unique cut takes uncommon skill to extract, but it’s worth it. Ours is topped with roasted mushrooms & tomatoes, chopped bacon, and grilled onions. Blue cheese crumbles provide the perfect finishing touch.
8oz Flat iron with Roasted Poblano Steak Sauce
Seared 8oz Flat Iron steak for a caramelized outside and a juicy middle. Topped with melted muenster cheese and roasted poblano pepper sauce.
The Melting Pot
Elli’s Meat Loaf
Anything but ordinary, this comfort-food classic is served on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes with grilled onions and mushrooms. We top it with our signature “Big Taste” gravy and serve green beans on the side.
Blackened Steak & Noodles
12-ounce Hanger steak seared at very high heat to seal in the juices; served on a bed of angel hair pasta. Blue Lake green beans accompany.
Frontier Chicken Fried Steak
A big favorite in the South, except our cut of steak melts in your mouth. Smothered in our country gravy and served with garlic mashed potatoes & Blue Lake green beans.
Jambalaya
Full of chicken, prawns, chorizo, Andouille sausage & rice. For a change of pace, we serve ours over flat noodles with garlic bread.
Chicken
Chargrilled Chicken Breast
A tender chicken breast is chargrilled and topped with charred tomatoes, avocado, fresh basil & a light Italian vinaigrette. With garlic mashed potatoes & Blue Lake green beans.
Chicken Marsala
Tender chicken breast sautéed with mushrooms in the rich & sweet wine that’s named after the famous Sicilian port city of Marsala. We serve it over imported angel hair pasta with garlic bread.
Chicken Piccata
Lightly breaded chicken breast browned in a lemon-caper butter sauce. With garlic mashed potatoes, Blue Lake green beans & garlic bread.
Brick Chicken
A free-range, organic1/2 chicken is deboned and grilled to order under a foil-wrapped brick – to create a marvelous, crispy exterior and a moist bird. Garlic mashed potatoes & Blue Lake green beans come with.
Seafood
Grilled Monterey Sand Dabs
Local sand dab filets lightly breaded and grilled, then topped with a citrus brown butter sauce and served with smashed potatoes and a medley of vegetables.
Grilled Salmon
Full of flavor, with a firm texture, this salmon steak is grilled and served alongside smashed potatoes, a zucchini squash julienne & roasted tomatoes. We finish it with a tomato-basil sauce.
Classics
Chocolate Mousse
A rich, creamy, chocolatey indulgence, with fresh whipped cream in a chilled martini glass.
Double Chocolate Gorilla Cake
A King Kong sized slice o our signature sevenlayer, made from scratch chocolate cake. We use rich belgian chocolate for the batter and the chocolate fudge frosting, then serve it with espresso ice cream & hot fudge sauce.
Bread Pudding
Elli's version has a grownup flair because we infuse our rich custard and cranberries with a little dash of whiskey. Then it's topped with a decadent Vanilla Bean Caramel sauce and served with vanilla ice cream.
Creme Brûlée
Rich and creamy vanilla custard with a caramelized sugar crust on top.
Blackberry Apple Crisp with Pecan Streusal Topping
When available, we use fresh, local blackberries. Served warm, with vanilla ice cream.
Devil Dog
Devil's food cake topped with hot fudge and vanilla ice cream.
Cookies & Ice-Cream Mix & Match
Pick one of our Giant Cookies, then we'll top it with a big scoop of the ice-cream flavor you choose below.
Giant Cookies
Chocolate Chip, Cranberry & White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal, Classic Peanut Butter, Snicker Doodle.
Ice Cream
Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Espresso, Strawberry, Cookies & Cream, Mint Chip, Double Fudge Brownie.
The Place For Pies
Just let your server know if you'd like ice-cream on the side with any slice of pie for just $2 more.
Coconut Cream Pie
Toasted coconut and vanilla filling are topped with real whipped cream. Our Graham cracker crust adds a nice crumbly touch.
Chocolate Banana Cream Pie
Toasted coconut and vanilla filling are topped with real whipped cream. Our Graham cracker crust adds a nice crumbly touch.
Dutch Apple Pie
Pecan streusel topping; a dash of lemon and cinnamon in the filling. As are Elli's pies & desserts, this one's made from scratch.
Lemon Meringue Pie
A favorite in the Southern States, this tangy and sweet filling has lots of fluffy meringue peaks on top.
Pumpkin Pie (seasonal)
'Tis the season to be jolly and eat pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Available in November and December.
Fresh Strawberry Pie (seasonal)
Locally grown Salinas strawberries are what make this summer specialty a favorite around here. Depending on availability, we start offering it around the middle of April.