Bon Temps restaurant, rebuilding after fire, isn't ready to celebrate yet

A popular Cajun restaurant in San Luis Obispo that was damaged by a fire in November did not reopen in time for Fat Tuesday festivities, as some customers had hoped.

Reconstruction started just last week at Bon Temps Creole Café, said owner Phil Lang, who said “needless delays” postponed the work.

The restaurant, at 1000 Olive St., is known for its spicy, New Orleans-style food and zydeco music and is most active during Mardi Gras, when Cajun cuisine is in demand.

A passerby called 911 at 3:50 a.m. Nov. 30 after seeing smoke coming from the roof of the restaurant, and 20 firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, according to the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. Flames were confined to the cashier island of the restaurant, where the fire started, and there was no structural damage to the building.

Lang said at the time that he felt lucky the fire was caught so early. Since the fire, he said people have been leaving supportive messages on the restaurant’s voice mail. “I am thankful for all the people who have called, vowing they will be back.”

Lang has been at the building for 15 years.

He estimates the reconstruction, which will feature new booths and counters and a higher ceiling, will be complete in April.

When it reopens, Lang will celebrate with a delayed Mardi Gras party he’ll call “Tardy Gras.”

This story was originally published March 8, 2011 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Bon Temps restaurant, rebuilding after fire, isn't ready to celebrate yet."