A new name has come to San Luis Obispo’s restaurant culture. Charlie’s Place arrived with 34 years of experience, a full-service bar and grill ready to serve up American-Mexican-style flavor.
Charlie’s Place opened in San Luis Obispo on March 28. However, Charlie is no stranger to the area. Charlie’s Place has been in Los Alamos, approximately 45 minutes south of San Luis Obispo, since opening in 1978, manager and owner Cecilia Gonzales said. Her father, Charlie Gonzales, wanted to start a business and found the property in Los Alamos, she said. Before that, he helped his parents with their business, the Los Alamos Meat Locker. Because he knew about food and meat products, Charlie decided to open a restaurant, she said.
Charlie’s Place moved to San Luis Obispo with the help of a customer. Gonzales said the customer owned the property and offered it to them a few times before they were finally convinced.
“It’s a good location and a good way to branch out the business,” she said.
Gonzales said Charlie’s Place provides a comfortable atmosphere that isn’t too chaotic. She said it is also a good place to bring friends, take someone out or even just visit as a party of one.
“(Charlie’s Place) has a little bit of everything for everyone,” Gonzales said.
Charlie’s Place offers a full-service bar and grill as well. “Charlie’s Hour” is from 4 to 9 p.m., and customers can get half-priced appetizers when they purchase a drink from Charlie’s specialty cocktail menu. On Sundays, Charlie’s Place offers $12 bottomless mimosas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gonzales said the menu for the San Luis Obispo restaurant is the same as the menu in Los Alamos. The difference between the two places is the size: There are 18 tables inside the San Luis Obispo restaurant and eight outside, rather than eight tables all together at Los Alamos.
And Gonzales said the item most seen on those tables is Charlie’s chili verde. The chili verde contains pork meat chunks and starts out green, but turns red by the time it hits the plates, she said. In San Luis Obispo specifically, Gonzales said the super burrito has also been very popular.
So far, Charlie’s Place is doing fairly well in the city, according to Gonzales. She said the restaurant is seeing more and more people. She also said returning customers are bringing in friends, exposing the restaurant to more people. She said Charlie’s Place didn’t advertise its opening as much as other businesses because she wanted the restaurant to take time to settle in.
“We wanted to prepare our employees to act as we’d expect them to act,” Gonzales said.
Morning manager Jane Arreguyn got her job at Charlie’s Place via a friend who’d been with the restaurant for seven years. Arreguyn worked for Starbucks for six years, and when Charlie’s Place wanted to add espresso to its menu, she was asked to help. That help she gave turned into her current position.
“(Charlie’s Place) treats their customers and their employees right,” Arreguyn said. “Treating both right is very important to me.”
Liberal studies sophomore Emily Dewey works as a server at Charlie’s Place. She said she saw the “For Hire” sign outside Charlie’s Place’s door and went in with a résumé. After a few interviews, she was hired.
According to Dewey, the job is very flexible and works well with her schedule.
“It’s a good college job,” Dewey said. “The food is good and makes me want to serve it.”
Charlie’s Place is located at 981 E. Foothill Blvd. On Monday, Tuesday and Sunday the restaurant is opened until 10 p.m., and that time is extended until midnight on Wednesday. Thursday through Saturday, Charlie’s Place stays open until 1 a.m.