Irish-style tavern The Kilt Pub and Grill opens Friday and will bring a winning tradition to San Luis Obispo. The original Kilt opened in 2006 and the restaurant has claimed the “Best Bar” crown the past four years.
For The Kilt Pub and Grill co-owner Donovan Schmit and his partners, the move south was a no-brainer.
“The price was right and we got good vibes, so we went for it,” Schmit said. “People aged 5 to 80 are going to be blown away.”
Set between a handful of different hotels and neighboring Cal Poly’s campus, The Kilt fills the vacancy left by 1865 Restaurant, where Grand Avenue meets Monterey Street. Schmit said the restaurant’s location is different from the same-old downtown scene.
“We didn’t want to be just another place down there,” Schmit said. “Plus, there are 65 parking spaces out back and you won’t have to deal with police.”
And being as far from local police as possible could be a good thing — or not.
Cal Poly agricultural science junior Alex Elgas lives twenty steps from the restaurant.
“I am not 21, but I will definitely check it out as long as it has deals for students,” Elgas said.
Schmit said as the business settles in there will be student discounts during the day. But with fines upwards of $7,500 for serving alcohol to minors, he said there is zero tolerance for illegal consumption of alcohol.
Still, the Kilt is also reaching out to students. The restaurant has recently become a sponsor of Cal Poly athletics and performing arts and will also offer student discounts on food and drinks when they bring in ticket stubs.
One of the many goals, Schmit said, is to start a buzz with the Cal Poly students and create a trickle-down effect for future generations.
“I want students to tell other students that The Kilt is the place to be, and I hope each new class takes the advice,” he said.
The new location will be filled with authentic Irish decorations and unique pieces of bric-a-brac, most of which Schmit said he got off the Internet.
“Imagine a bunch of grandma’s old crap — just a bunch of funky stuff,” Schmit said.
But don’t expect the food to be “funky.” Schmit said the recipes his chefs use are “super good” and the menu will “make mouths water.”
“Our chefs put their own twist on things,” he sad. “We want people to take a bite of something and say ‘Oh my god!'”
Food prices range from $9 to $12, and appetizers include calamari and oysters, chicken wings, nachos and potato skins. Some of the main courses include boneless buffalo chicken salad, the restaurant’s award-winning chili and gourmet burgers.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday through Wednesday, 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.. It will offer 20-ounce drafts of Guiness, Newcastle and Sierra Nevada and $3 well drinks and margaritas.
But Vallarta’s Mexican Food Cantina manager April Simpson isn’t worried about competition.
“(The Kilt) isn’t taking anything away from here because it’s a totally different atmosphere,” she said. “I hope they’ll bring more business up this way.”
The original idea to bring an Irish pub to the Central Coast stemmed from weekly trips to San Francisco where he and his restaurant partner Troy Larken hoped to find inspiration for their Italian restaurant.
Schmit said they wanted to create an atmosphere where customers can relax and feel comfortable.
“A lot of places I’ve been to are uptight when it comes to atmosphere, so we wanted a place where you don’t have to be quiet on your birthday,” Schmit said.