In 1973, Jerry Shalhoob opened his butcher shop, Shalhoob Meat Company, on Gray Avenue, carving a name for himself in the meat industry and foreshadowing the foodie future of the Funk Zone. Forty years and two generations later, Jerry’s son John and grandchildren LJ and Leeandra Shalhoob have evolved within the flourishing arts and epicurean neighborhood by recently opening Shalhoob’s Funk Zone Patio.
“I decided to open Funk Zone Patio to give Santa Barbara locals a place to eat high-quality, elegant food at very affordable prices while doing it in a casual yet very nice setting,” said LJ Shalhoob, whose inventive lunch and dinner menu ranges from an avocado salad with crispy quinoa, grilled broccoli, red onion, and Marcona almonds with buttermilk lemon dressing to a bacon-jam burger with two-year-aged white cheddar and black-pepper aioli. Said LJ, “This is Santa Barbara–style picnic cuisine.”
While you may not be parked on a blanket in the grass, the idyllic and relaxing vibe of their patio is undeniable. Joining friends at one of the large, umbrella-shaded picnic tables over cold brews, upbeat tunes, and delicious fare while gazing out at the mountains is sure to help even the heaviest stresses melt away.