At first sight it may seem like Floriano’s restaurant in Lompoc has a bit of an identity problem—caught between being a butcher shop and a restaurant—but at first bite it all becomes clear.
The unassuming Mexican restaurant looks like a small specialty market from the outside, but this Lompoc gem has gained a huge following for its fresh cut meats and authentic Mexican food.
Floriano’s began as a small butcher shop with three tables for people who wanted to dine in. That was in 2006. Now the restaurant has 12 tables and plans to expand thanks to its growing popularity.
“We went from a little market with a little restaurant to a lot more restaurant,” said Floriano’s manager, Antonio Rodriguez.
Patrons can dine in but in the back, Floriano’s has a full butcher and grill area where they cut the meat and grill it as orders come in. A case in the dining area displays fresh cuts of meat for those who want to pick up something to cook at home.
It’s also a convenience for people because it’s a one-stop eat-lunch-and-bring-home-dinner place, Rodriguez said.
“People say ‘let’s get some lunch but hey we can also get some meat there and take it home for dinner,’” he said.
Rodriguez’s mother, Maria, who owns the restaurant along with her husband Floriano, worked the grill recently as a steady stream of customers placed their orders. She said she credits the restaurant’s popularity to attention to quality.
“We focus on everything made fresh. Fresh and quality food is our priority,” she said.
At Floriano’s, it’s a family affair, and Rodriguez agreed that the restaurant’s emphasis on homemade food is part of the reason for its popularity. Everything from carne asada to the chile relleno is made to order. But the other part is the family atmosphere. He said he and his two brothers work there along with their parents and extended family members. He added that his brothers’ good memories mean they remember their customers.
“We know most of the customers by name,” he said.
Because family is a big part of the business, the recipes reflect that as well. Rodriguez said the recipes have a little bit of history with a family twist.
“My mom and dad somewhat learned it from their family and then perfected it,” he said.
Patrons love indulging in the flavorful and generously sized dishes like the Mar y Tierra Burrito with grilled shrimp, grilled steak, rice and beans, cilantro, onions, and salsa or the Mexico City Torta with ham, Mexican cheese, lettuce, tomato, jalapeno, mayonnaise, avocado, cilantro, and onions, served on a bolillo roll.
Though much of the food at Floriano’s is authentic, the family does sometimes step out of the box with the California Burrito, which is filled with fries, carne asada, guacamole, sour cream and cheese, but their most popular dish is called the Man-wich Burrito. This hulking burrito is filled with cooked-to-order rib eye steak, thick bits of bacon, pepper jack cheese, rice, beans, cilantro, onions, and salsa.
Maria first made the dish for Rodriguez as a sandwich. Eventually she tried it as a burrito. His brothers then nicknamed it something they thought represented the healthy portions of meat it holds and the mighty appetite it fills. Rodriguez said as soon as they put it on the menu it became a favorite.
“It has a lot of meat, which everybody loves. You throw in the cheese and it kicks it up a notch,” he said.
All of Floriano’s meals are Rodriguez family-approved. He said the meals are dishes they would serve in their own kitchens.
“If we don’t like it, we wouldn’t serve it. We pretty much perfect everything here. We’re proud of the food we serve,” Rodriguez said.
Working at the family business is something he loves as much as the food they serve. However one of the best parts is feeding hungry Lompocans. Rodriguez said the thing he loves best about working at Floriano’s is the response they get from people. Even with nearly 10 years at their current location, people are often surprised to find them. “Especially people who come in for the first time and they’re surprised at the food, or they’ll say ‘I didn’t know you were here,’” he said.
For Maria, her reward lies in the preparation of tasty meals, “I love to cook it’s my passion,” she said.
Floriano’s is located at 319 E. Ocean Ave., in Lompoc. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sun contributor Shelly Cone likes bacon with her steak. Contact her through the interim editor at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 18-25, 2015.