I visited a ‘big local hangout’ spot in SLO County. What I got on a $25 budget
Tucked between San Luis Obispo and Atascadero, right off Highway 101, a tiny town with one main street is home to around 1,100 people and a handful of shops, restaurants and a winery.
It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it type of town, unless you’re one of the loyal locals who has set down roots here, craving a close-knit community, warm temperatures and easy access to the Carrisa Plains and Santa Margarita Lake.
That’s what longtime Santa Margarita resident Jan Sprague-Chaffin told me when she recommended I visit the small town and its main lunch spot for On a Budget, a monthly series where Tribune reporters try reader-suggested eats and activities around the area while spending no more than $25.
“The Porch Cafe in Santa Margarita has a motto: ‘We are Santa Margarita’s living room.’ That’s because it’s a big local hangout,” she said.
Sprague-Chaffin suggested I swing by the popular breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant for a cheap meal and to get a feel for the town’s character and history.
This is the first time I’ve traveled over the Cuesta Grade for the series, so I was excited to escape the June gloom in San Luis Obispo and experience the small town from a local’s perspective.
Here’s how my visit to The Porch Cafe & Bar went:
What it’s like to visit The Porch Cafe & Bar in Santa Margarita
Location: 22322 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita
I got to The Porch around 12:30 on Monday, happy to leave behind SLO’s chilly weather for Santa Margarita’s sunny skies.
Inside, I quickly found Sprague-Chaffin, who was kind enough to meet me for lunch to share her perspective on all there is to do in town. She moved from Los Osos to Santa Margarita back in 1982, seeking warmer weather and a safe community where she felt comfortable raising her family.
Now 42 years later, she said The Porch is one of the main places that people in town gather, with weekly events like bingo on Wednesday nights and live music every Saturday evening. Over the years, the establishment has gone through several iterations, but it remains a busy eatery that “doesn’t feel like a greasy spoon,” she said.
After browsing the menu for a minute, I decided to give in to my childish taste buds for the day and ordered an adult grilled cheese for $16. I had a bit of my budget left, so I also got a Coastal Peaks mango iced tea for $3.50.
Sprague-Chaffin and I took a seat at a two-person table by the front window. While the restaurant’s exterior is reminiscent of an old-timey, Wild West-type building, the restaurant is updated inside with the menu posted on flatscreens and a bar serving local wines and beer on tap. Still, the eatery is proud of its history — Santa Margarita was first founded in 1889 — and most walls hold framed black-and-white photos of the town’s early days.
While I sipped my refreshing iced tea, Sprague-Chaffin told me all there was to do on the main street. The Educated Gardener, a family-run nursery, had native plants for sale, The Barn Antiques & Unique had a plethora of vintage offerings in its 6,000 square-foot space and Ancient Peaks Winery had delicious vino and bites to eat.
Across the street, the cash-only restaurant, The Range, served fantastic seafood and steaks, but for those on a $200 budget, she laughed.
After a few minutes, Sprague-Chaffin was handed her $15 chopped salad containing lettuce, tomato, cucumber, garbanzo beans, carrots, cheddar, olives and crispy onions all covered in a red wine vinaigrette.
The giant salad looked delicious, and I started regretting my order right up until my grilled cheese was plopped in front of me. The sandwich was massive. Cut in half, gooey American and cheddar cheeses were oozing out of all sides of the fluffy sourdough bread. I could also see heaps of bacon layered in the middle along with a generous portion of caramelized onions.
The sandwich comes with fries or a salad, but I opted to be a tad healthy. The side was a mini-version of the chopped salad with diced cucumbers and tomatoes in a bright vinaigrette.
It was a perfect pairing with the decadent sandwich.
Is The Porch Cafe & Bar affordable?
With tax and tip, my total was $24.91, coming in a few cents under budget.
Even though it’s not the cheapest place in the county, I thought it was reasonably priced, especially for how large the portions were. I even ended up taking half of my sandwich home and eating the rest for dinner that night.
Less expensive options are available at the restaurant too.
For breakfast, you can get sourdough toast with homemade seasonal jam and whipped butter for $5 or yogurt, granola and berries for $10. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, vanilla or chocolate soft serve with sprinkles and a waffle cone is just $4.75.
Chef Trevor Rocco, who owns The Porch with his wife Nikki, said they officially reopened the restaurant in February 2023.
They moved from Los Angeles seeking a quieter lifestyle and a restaurant that they could make their own. Now, after more than three years in the spot, he said they had an incredibly loyal customer base.
“What we wanted to do was find a nice, amazing community and support them, and hopefully also be supported, and that’s really what’s happened,” he said.
Even though everything is more expensive than it used to be — and it now pains him to sell a $20 burger — Rocco said he’s focused on providing tasty, elevated meals with good-sized portions for all customers.
“I’m okay making a little bit less as long as everybody that comes through the door feels like they got bang for their buck,” he told The Tribune.
How to visit the Porch Cafe & Bar
The Porch at 22322 El Camino Real in Santa Margarita is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Where should I go next?
Got any ideas on where I should visit next in SLO County on a budget?
Send me recommendations at hpoukish@thetribunenews.com or by filling out the form below.
