Something wasn’t washing. A community institution in the heart of Salinas was getting its groove back, and one of the principals involved, David Drew, is a serious promoter, responsible for bringing A-Listers like Jessica Simpson, the Scorpions and Mary J. Blige to town along with ample accompanying fanfare.

But when Drew helped his self-described “significant other,” Dawn Madri (they’re unmarried, though they’ve been together 12 years), open Growers Pub last week, there was maybe a murmur audible on local wavelengths. (Leading to another quiet noise: Hmmm.)

A closer look reveals why: a plan that makes a lot of sense, especially for a place with this much history: They’re not boostering, but rebuilding, relying on a storied reputation and community connections to create a stronger base.

“We want to get word of mouth going,” Madri says. “It’s better than big shish boom bah, the bright lights. The regulars can come in and try it, we can take our time – and things that grow slowly have a more lasting effect.”

They are clearly taking the legacy of the place with the iconic prime rib marquee seriously. “Owners come and go,” Madri says, “but it’s still the community’s restaurant. I meet people who ate here before I was born – some who came every Sunday, a woman that remembers hiding under the table eating cherries as a kid – we want to bring that back.”

Within reason, of course. “Let’s be honest,” Madri adds. “We’re not going to recreate the past, but have a glimpse of it and move it into the future.”

That means the sign will remain, even as it gets a facelift. The “Pub” moniker will live on, while “Growers” honors the ag people that made it a pillar. The dining room will still be 100 percent booths, but they’ve been reupholstered.

It also means that the liver and onions is still available, but so is an ahi tuna salad; the steaks that made it famous (including the prime rib and skirt steak, both 100 percent certified Angus beef) are still on the menu, but are joined by a new rack of lamb and a diversified range of lighter fare.

Madri says the lamb is one of chef Hugo Barragán’s specialities; after working with Cal Stamenov at Pacific’s Edge and Bernardus, Barragán took the Madri-and-Drew interpretation of the Pub’s past menu and made it his own.

A ribbon cutting and more marketing are scheduled for spring. In the meantime, Madri’s team will work out the kinks, and locals keen to rekindle a classic can find their way to 227 Monterey St. in Salinas Tuesday through Friday for lunch and Saturday for dinner. 754-1488.

Bring on the green eggs and ham. The Belle is in business.

Down in the Doude Arcade, Carmel Belle is championing savvily sourced and lovingly prepped coffees, cheeses, sandwiches and wines – about what I expected from Kristin and Stephen Viguerie after I met them at a Slow Food event in Carmel Valley – and then some.

Their itch for the best ingredients is present across a menu that includes salads (think citrus, pistachio, olives and goat cheese with mixed greens and a lemon vinaigrette, $5-$8.50), sandwiches (open-faced roasted mushroom melt with truffle oil and St. George cheese on country toast, $8.50), breakfast sandwiches, and simple breakfasts like the poached eggs and American proscuitto la Quercia – a dish given its Dr.-Seuss-invoking, ham-accompanying hue by an arugula-herb puree ($10). And there’s a lot more where that came from. 8am-5pm daily, 624-1600, www.carmelbelle.com.

As first reported at www.montereycountyweekly.com, the new46-seattapas restaurant in Carmel with the funky name (Mundaka) and the promising pedigree (restaurateur Gabe Georis ran Casanova for years) took a big step in the right culinary direction by tabbing Brandon Miller, former executive chef of Stokes Restaurant and Bar, as the new executive chef. Mundaka, located at San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh, is set to open mid-March.

During the month of March, Miller will partner with guest Chef Amanda Laporte from Barcelona.624-7400, www.mundakacarmel.com.

Squeeze it all in: Monterey Wine and Auction and Gala this Saturday, Feb. 21: Thirty great local wineries pour against a beautiful backdrop at Jackson Family Wineries, with food from Todd Fisher, music from Grammy Award-winning Louie Ortega, a Tahiti-Bora Bora expedition among the auction options, proceeds going to local causes… Tom Hlasny, after rising as highly as wine and spirits manager of Pebble Beach Resorts, is now directing sales and marketing for Bernardus Winery. Zeph’s is up to their palatable ways with a Cab tasting Thursday, Feb. 19: Cakebread, Pine Ridge Oakville, Rodney Strong Rockway among the many offerings. $20, 757-3947, www.zephsonestop.com… River Inn has Mexican specials for an 8 spot on Mondays; 50 percent off Winter Wednesdays and then Friday night all you can eat shrimp for $8… Radio station KTOM will host its 7th annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® radiothon Thursday and Friday, Feb. 19-20 from 6am to 7pm… Check, please.