Father-son team opens SLO County deli serving up Mexican-style sandwiches, desserts
A new deli started by a father-son team is serving up Mexican-style sandwiches and desserts in Morro Bay.
Gil Ruiz, Sr., and his son, Gil Ruiz, Jr., opened Luna Llena Deli at 859 Main St. in October. The restaurant’s name translates to “full moon” in Spanish.
The menu features tortas, tacos, tres leches cake and other treats “made the way we’ve cooked them at home for generations,” the younger Ruiz said.
The Ruizes leased the Main Street site, formerly the home of Bumble B Soda Company, about four months ago.
They changed up the interior but kept the original flamingo pink exterior, which makes it easier to spot the eatery along the busy lineup of small shops in that block of Main Street.
The men had to close for a time in mid-November to do some electrical work and other repairs.
During that November break, they also took a quick family trip to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of Gil Ruiz, Sr., and wife Lula.
At the restaurant, the father and son do it all, the younger Ruiz said, and are “taking a bit of time to get everything adjusted.”
Business owners have ties to Morro Bay restaurant
The Ruizes are well known and respected in San Luis Obispo County culinary circles.
Gil Ruiz, Sr., has lived in Morro Bay since 1993.
He and his wife worked together at Bayside Café in Morro Bay for more than 30 years, and Lula Ruiz “still runs Bayside,” her son said.
Gil Ruiz, Jr., whose nickname is Gilito, said he’s also worked at Bayside Café “and at other restaurants throughout my career,” which has included extensive training as an artist.
His logo t-shirts and sweatshirts are for sale at the deli.
New deli serves up sandwiches
The younder Ruiz said he and his dad “came into Luna Llena with a full menu of sandwiches in the style of tortas on buttery rolls” made specially for them, and then grilled on a panini press.
The rolls, he said, are “not as crunchy as a regular French-style roll, and are more a cross between a brioche and a bolillo.”
One of Luna Llena’s most popular offerings is the El Lechon Mojado sandwich, which features seasoned, slow-roasted pork.
The recipe, the younger Ruiz said, is based on a family preparation from Mexico, where an uncle made his living for decades by pit-roasting pigs under agave leaves.
For the Luna Llena version, the Ruizes slowly roast whole pork shoulder in an oven, then lavish the sandwich with guacamole, tomato, onions and spicy housemade pickles.
Another classic torta-style treat is the Juana La Cubana, a traditional Cuban sandwich made with sliced pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard.
Other sandwiches currently on the menu include a tri-tip French dip, a cheesesteak sandwich and a club sandwich with ham, turkey, bacon and provolone. There’s even a twist on a PB&J, with peanut butter, strawberry jam and banana.
Most of the sandwiches are served on rolls but but a cheese and avocado sandwich comes on panini-pressed buttered bread while a quesadilla is made with a grilled flour tortilla.
Luna Llena also serves up soft tacos with shredded chicken in a homemade mole sauce, served with beans and rice inside or on the side.
Desserts on the menu at SLO County eatery
In addition to the dozen or so sandwiches at the core of Luna Llena’s menu, the deli also specializes in homemade desserts.
The menu includes Nieve de Casa seasonal ice creams “freshly made in a traditional way,” and 16 flavors of paletas popsicles “made with the freshest fruit possible,” Gil Ruiz, Jr., said.
Luna Llena also serves house-baked galletas, or, cookies and tres leches cakes in guava, strawberry and rum flavors.
Drink options include fresh, housemade aguas frescas and oatmeal horchatas.
“I also make milkshakes with the freshly made ice cream,” Ruiz said.
Luna Llena Deli is located next to Top Dog Coffee near Coalesce Bookstore and the Morro Bay Art Center.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Customers can call 805-225-1137 to preorder food.
