Fausto & Julia's Food For Thought

Ruddell's Smokehouse
101 D Street
Cayucos / 995-5028

"Today's special:  yes it is."  (Ruddell's Smokehouse sandwich board)

Ruddell's Smokehouse, at 101 D Street in Cayucos, is our subject for this month's column.  Voted by Coastal Living Magazine as having the best fish sandwich on the coast, Jim has earned boasting rights to his fish, pork, and chicken "smoked to perfection."  Call during the hours of 11:00 am until 6:00 pm.  You won't get a surf report, but they can tell you if they will be serving "the ultimate tuna sandwich," which wasn't available either of the two days we visited.  No worries—the tacos more than made up for the missing sandwiches.

The Smokehouse in Cayucos, one of California's last remaining beach towns, needs no dress code since you can literally walk off the sand into the place.  I do suggest that you wear layers—the only tables are outside.  There was constant activity on a foggy week day at the Smokehouse.  Described elsewhere as a hut, I would agree with that characterization, but the hand-painted figures surrounding the windows and the cottage feel softens the definition.  Being right across the street from the ocean makes the funky window boxes filled with beach finds an appropriate extension of the setting.  (They might want to think about putting up some bamboo fencing to hide the dumpster next to the building.)

The smoked fish tacos were recommended by one friend, pork loin by another, so I went with one of each.  The chicken taco and salmon are actually my new favorites, after going back for a second visit.   (What—no beef?)  I did not ask about the veggie option, and I noticed that there was a quesadilla for kids that looked plain but satisfying enough for a seven year old.  Service was decent but busy—the meals were delivered not very many minutes later by a man (or surgeon) wearing white latex gloves and a perky white cap.  We unwrapped the foil holding our lunches and sunk our teeth in.

I quickly grabbed the serving tray to catch the lettuce that was spilling out of my taco, then noticed the chunks of—what's this?—apples!  What a good compliment to the strong, smoked flavors!  It's almost like a salad on top of the taco, with carrots and celery throughout.  (I'm wondering, why not cabbage?)  The outside of the thick, authentic flour tortilla had been dusted with some cuminiferous (don't look it up—it's my word) flavoring.  There was a seasoned mayonnaise spread inside the taco that added some moisture. 

My only disappointments were that the tortilla was not hot, as promised, and I found a need for "on its" other than the bottles of the standard brands of spicy red stuff.  (I'm still not sure what is meant by "all the fixings."  I guess I am used to tacos that are so wet you have to roll your sleeves up and make sure you are well-napkined.  Let's say that Ruddell's Smokehouse has good tacos for first dates, then.)  I would definitely pay for some guacamole on the side.  How about having choices of condiments so guests can customize their orders:  sliced limes, mango salsa, something creamy and white, something chunky and red, and something really hot to slop onto their tacos?  Uh-oh!  There goes the low overhead!

You know me by now.  There is always a "next time."  So, next time I will try a sandwich that I plan to share with Fausto.  (The bread delivery was made moments after we ordered!)  At a cost of eight or nine dollars, it sounds like it might be giant.  Salad is also offered on the very short menu, and that's about it, unless you want to grab some things from the deli to take home for your next party.  (Hey, how about a soup?  Maybe I will take home a package of smoked salmon and create my own.) 

It's a rare day when the waves at the pier are perfect, but I can imagine surfers frequenting this place and getting, oh, maybe four or five tacos whether or not they succeed in shredding out in the water.   We saw long-time Cayucos residents, as well as tourists both young and old, lining up for lunch.  Be prepared to wait, but not for very long, for one of the better tacos on the Central Coast.