Popular SLO restaurant to be featured on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’
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Guy Fieri in SLO County
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The “mayor of Flavortown” made a celebrity appearance in San Luis Obispo earlier this year, but it turns out his visit was for more than just introducing his new line of tequila.
Guy Fieri visited the SLO Costco on March 6 to sign hundreds of bottles of his Santo Tequila for fans who lined up around the store.
But while in town, he also filmed an episode of his television show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” at SLO’s own Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill.
Now, the local eatery will be featured on the show’s 40th season premiere, airing on the Food Network on Friday at 6 p.m.
Located at 1210 Higuera St, Petra is a popular family-run joint that serves quality but affordable Mediterranean food and local craft beers, available in creative make-your-own 6-packs.
Their family-recipe inspired menu features Middle Eastern twists on American plates like the tri-tip shwarma sandwich and their garlic chicken and gyro pizzas, all made from scratch with fresh ingredients and Halal meat.
Opened in 2008 by Todd and Sana Aburashed, the neighborhood mom-and-pop shop has a track record of winning local and national awards.
In 2019, the restaurant was ranked among America’s top 25 pizzerias by USA Today.
Rammy Aburashed, Todd’s youngest son and Petra’s director of operations, thinks that the restaurant’s authentic atmosphere and local success, not just its national recognition, are what attracted Fieri to Petra.
“We’re not a corporation,” Rammy said. “(Fieri’s) mission is to go and help out these mom-and-pop shops, and when he came in and saw our operations, he was actually very impressed.”
Rammy also owns Seeds cafe in downtown SLO.
Petra closed for two days of filming in March. Rammy and Todd remember Fieri pulling up to the restaurant in his signature 1968 cherry red Chevrolet Camaro.
“It was a trip,” Rammy said about the experience. “It was kind of unbelievable.”
The camera crew shot for hours as Fieri sampled some of Petra’s most popular dishes and spoke with the Aburasheds’ about their cooking, offering business advice to Rammy about how to expand their operations and make the most of their family’s dreams.
“It was a pretty fun experience,” said Edmond McGinley, 24, a server and prep cook at Petra. He grew up watching Fieri’s show while cooking dinner at home with his family. “For him to come here and then have him film, that was just crazy cool.”
McGinley said he was surprised when he first heard Fieri would be filming at Petra.
“I was like, oh my gosh, San Luis Obispo? I wouldn’t expect guy Guy Fieri to be coming here, but Petra has just created such a good community,” he said. “I think it makes sense why he came.”
A family dream come true
Originally from Jordan, Todd and Sana came to America with entrepreneurial ambitions of starting their own culinary business.
After years of hard work, raising a family and saving money, the couple realized their dream by opened their first business in 1992, the Sidewalk Market and Deli, a small international grocery store which sold imported liquors and Mediterranean-style deli options.
The market remains today in its original location at 1401 Osos St under a new name and ownership.
Years later, they opened Petra, the true definition of a family-run establishment.
Todd, Sana and their four children were the restaurants’ only employees when they opened, working every stations and performing every role to build Petra into the local staple it is today.
Their hard work paid off when Fieri’s scouting team reached out asking Petra to apply for a spot on the show.
“The Aburashed family’s journey from a humble grocery store to the thriving Petra restaurant reflects their unwavering commitment to providing fresh and quality Mediterranean cuisine,” their application read. “From Todd’s early love for baking to the collaborative efforts of the entire family, Petra has become a testament to the power of familial bonds and hard work.”
“It was a surprise, but it wasn’t a shock that they chose us,” Rammy said. “My dad, he works his butt off.”
After working two jobs most of his life, Todd now works seven days a week in his retirement by choice. He enjoys coming in every day to talk to the restaurant’s regulars and work alongside his family and employees.
“I love it,” Todd said. “It keeps me young.”
Rammy said that Petra is looking to expand and open new stores in the future, but they are in no rush.
“Right now, we’re just really focused on this one,” he said.
This story was originally published July 30, 2024 at 1:12 PM.
CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect that Petra has not moved locations since its opening.
