The beach is perfect for strolling or napping. At the northern end, there are great rock formations with action-packed tide pools. The sea anemones fascinated Giselle. In the late afternoon we were rewarded by a performance by a school of dolphins. No matter how many times you see it, it's still an awe-inspiring sight.
Steps away from the beach is the Hula Hut which is a combination gift shop, ice cream parlor and cafe. The staff is friendly and the cafe features daily specials in addition to traditional deli offerings. We selected the Italian sub with chips and the shrimp tacos to carry back to the beach. The sub ingredients were good, spicy salami and sopressata with provolone and an oil and vinegar dressing. The roll was fresh, but not of artisan quality which would have elevated the whole experience. The shrimp tacos were tasty with a kicky chipotle sauce, plus rice and well-seasoned beans on the side. All-in-all a delight.
After a late afternoon dip in the pool, we relaxed on the balcony and prepared for dinner at Giuseppe's in Pismo that evening. To ensure that we didn't suffer the same fate as Sunday night, we planned for a 6:30 meal. We have visited Giuseppe's many times during our visits to the central coast. The restaurant was started many years ago by a Cal Poly student and expanded over the years to include a deli and pizza takeout spot across the street from the original and a new location in San Luis Obispo. We have always enjoyed our meals there and they get an A for consistency. And, the drinks are big and always served properly.
Every meal starts with the house-baked bread served with a slurry of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and parmesan for dipping. Go slow or you will be too full for the large portions to follow. On the appetizer front, we love the antipasto platter which can be a meal in itself. The large plate features salami, prosciutto, provolone, mozzarella, tomatoes, giardiniera, and eggplant. I also enjoy the italian salad which is a simple mix of butter lettuce, red lettuce and gorgonzola dressed with a light vinaigrette.
We always enjoy the pizzas which are cooked in a real wood-burning oven. The crust is the desired mix of crunchy and chewy and the toppings are of high quality. We like the sausage most of all. I also like the tortelloni Giuseppe which has a tomato cream sauce spiked with prosciutto and peas. It's a big carb load, but delicious.
This trip I decided on the eggplant parmesan because it is a favorite of mine and one of the few dishes I'm afraid to tackle at home. Often in California restaurants there is a need to reduce the calorie load in Italian-American dishes, but some things should not be tampered with. Thankfully, Giuseppe's does bread and fry the eggplant, although I must say it did seem lighter than what I'm used to on the east coast, which enabled me to clean the plate. I was recently inspired by an episode of Takedown with Bobby Flay to replicate the eggplant parmesan created by a deli from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. I really wanted to step into the TV and take a bite. Stay tuned for the results. The only weak link is the espresso. It's just a little weak and watery. Somehow we always forget this until after we've ordered dessert. No problems there. Georges and Giselle usually share the tiramisu. I tried the mocha chip semifreddo which was rich and creamy.
I think that any time you're in the Pismo Beach area, Giuseppe's is worth a stop for lunch, dinner or picnic provisions.
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