Lidos is hitting the road.
Literally! Lidos, a staple in Santa Maria in various formats for years, is now a food truck focused on sandwiches such as Philly cheesesteaks and and hot pastrami.
I can’t testify to how the food truck compares to the original Lidos restaurant because, sadly, I never had a chance to try it for myself. But I have been enjoying the truck at various stops around town, and I can say that Alisa and Daniel Urquhart are bringing something unique and satisfying to Santa Maria’s growing fleet of food trucks.
The Urquharts’ story of how they came to be part of the Lidos tradition is pretty fascinating, too. Daniel started work at the venue when he was a student at Righetti High School; by the time he graduated he was ready to run it on his own. Alisa joined him in 2004, and as their family grew, they worked together on the business. But by 2006, Lidos had shuttered as a brick-and-mortar business. But that didn’t mean the couple was done.
They hung on to the company’s trademark and revamped Lidos through concession sales and catering. In 2017, they bought a bright red trailer and jumped into the food truck business. Today, the couple and their three kids—Mackinzie, 13; Tanner, 8; and Parker, 4—criss-cross the Santa Maria Valley serving up hot Philly-style sandwiches and more.
One of the first best menu items that you absolutely must try is the curly cheesy chili fries. They are loaded with seasoned curly fries, no-bean chili (because real chili does not have beans, folks), and nacho cheese. You need a fork (or possibly a pickaxe) to eat this hearty meal. This is also the perfect kind of food to snack on at places like Naughty Oak Brewing Company or Riverbench Vineyard and Winery, just a few of the places where the truck parks around town.
The big sandwich star of the menu is the Philly cheesesteak. You know it, you love it: A big pile of top sirloin smothered in cheese and grilled onions on an Amoroso roll. Amoroso’s bread has been synonymous with cheesesteaks for decades; you will immediately taste the difference from other types of bread.
To me, a good Philly cheesesteak is all about the cheese-to-meat ratio. And that meat should be sliced just thin enough but still be nice and juicy. When you bite into Lidos’ cheesesteak, you get the perfect combination of those flavors.
I also really like their chicken parmesan sandwich. That’s not a sandwich you see too often on menus around here, and I like that Lidos keeps it simple. I don’t want lettuce on a hot sandwich (this is a controversial position that has gotten me ostracized from many in the hot sandwich aficionado community).
Another popular menu item is the hot pastrami, layered with cheese on an Amoroso roll. The venue offers the choice of adding mustard and pickles. Other sandwiches Lidos has on their concession menu (which may not always be available at the truck) include a “veggie” cheesesteak, made with pepperoncinis, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, jalapeños, and mushrooms; a turkey hoagie; and an Italian hoagie, among others.
But let’s get serious for a moment and talk about something important. Funnel. Cake. As in, the funnel cake served by Lidos, which is topped with a giant mountain of strawberries, whipped cream, powdered sugar, and chocolate syrup. This should be illegal. What kind of monster would do this to me, a person who is supposed be counting calories and cautiously laying off the sweets.
Because I can’t resist this dessert, it’s not a thing I can control. With places like Lidos around, I’m just going to have to enjoy the ride.
Eats Writer Rebecca Rose wishes everything in the world was covered in strawberries and whipped cream. Contact her at rrose@santamariasun.com.
• A great thing about our local restaurants is how hard they work to bring locally-sourced items to the plate. Scratch Kitchen features locally foraged mushrooms (pictured) in menu items that are part of their three for $30 special. The special (not always with mushrooms) is offered every Sunday at 610 N. H St., Lompoc.
• I know it’s all about the steak at the Hitching Post 2, but their cheeseburgers are slammin’. Bacon, avocado, grilled onion—you can pretty much get any toppings you want. Plus, the french fries are absolutely perfect at 406 E. Highway 246, Buellton.
• It’s your last chance to ride the Santa Maria Wine Trolley this year. The last ride of the season is Oct. 1. Purchase tickets in advance for $10 at the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitor and Convention Bureau, 614 S. Broadway, Santa Maria.
This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 5, 2017.
