What do elephant seals and Sebastian's Cafe in San Simeon have in common? Well, not a whole lot except that we were driving up the California coast, having spent the night at the wonderful Apple Farm in San Louis Obispo to Piedras Blancs where elephant seals come ashore for birthing, breeding, molting and resting.
Feeling the urge for something to tide us over until dinner, we made a short detour into San Simeon and stopped at Sebastian's General Store and Cafe. Imagine a cute and rustic cafe seemingly in the middle of nowhere with an inviting deck, congenial staff (owners?), and a delicious soup. You're imagining Sebastian's Cafe.
It's a short trip from the cafe to the elephant seal refuge.
Neither Steven nor I can remember what the soup was, but it was creamy, hot, substantial with chunks of red potatoes and exceptionally tasty. We ate on the deck, admiring the plants and country atmosphere and enjoying the sounds of the Pacific Ocean in the background. We were surrounded by locals who gossiped about this and that...always a good sign when locals frequent a restaurant, don't you agree?
The soup was accompanied by either crackers, or, as the server suggested, toasted homemade bread ends. Naturally, we opted for the bread ends. They were perfect, as was this little lunch.
Sebastian's General Store and Cafe
442 San Simeon Road
San Simeon, CA 93452
(805) 927-3307