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MyspaceHalle-freakin-lujah! Someone might want to check the ice situation in Hades or the status of pig aviation because the previously unthinkable has happened. At the corner of De la Guerra and the miracle mile of tacos and such that is Milpas, a small culinary miracle occurred back in mid-December: The Shop Café opened its doors, ushering in a new and long overdue era of tasty and affordable homemade American eats and — wait for it — high-quality coffee and espresso drinks in this otherwise ethnic- and fast food–dominated part of town.
Brought to the neighborhood by Chris Vigilante and his wife, Amy, (who live right around the corner) along with co-owners Scott Manser and Dudley Michael, the Shop is a product of four veteran S.B. restaurant- and bar-industry workers deciding to roll the dice, become their own bosses, and deliver a concept they’d long felt Milpas — and, really, Santa Barbara — was sorely lacking. As Vigilante, who previously headed restaurant operations at San Ysidro Ranch, said, “Amy and I live just down the street, and we always thought it was crazy that we would have to go like eight blocks to find anything even close to this. It just made no sense. … We had been talking about it for a couple years.”
Driving home one evening last summer, Vigilante noticed a “for rent” sign at 730 North Milpas Street, a place that has been a bit of a revolving door for taquerias in recent years and, before that, was home to the late, great Doghouse hotdog emporium. A lease was signed before the business plan was even finished, but the quartet of newbie owners rolled up their sleeves and, with some consulting help from Cádiz Executive Chef John Pettit, developed a modest yet wide-ranging and flavorful breakfast and lunch menu. Head chef Richie Maxwell was brought on to help deliver the magic, and, on December 16, The Shop Café opened for business.
By Paul Wellman
The Shop’s Fried Chicken Sandwich
Previous Month
Comments
This is such a great place, already been there so many times. They've spiffed the place up and have awesome food! I highly recommend everyone try it. We are going back for lunch tomorrow!
Meridith (anonymous profile)
January 29, 2013 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope there's more put on the menu than sandwiches.
mgreg (anonymous profile)
January 30, 2013 at 4:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is great that a restaurant is owned by four young individuals instead of all the chain food on Milpas. I tried the mac on crack this weekend and it was very good. Will be back to try more. They have breakfast as well.
bobfromla (anonymous profile)
January 30, 2013 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)