by Victoria Skinner

Locals gather. Photo by Victoria Skinner.

It’s been six weeks since Sullivan’s Restaurant opened its doors on one of La Honda’s busiest weekends. Owner Tim Sullivan says, “We officially opened June 14, the date of the annual La Honda Faire. It was like being thrown into the fire.” If Sullivan’s could weather the crowds of that weekend, they will be ready for anything!

When asked how he ever got into the restaurant business, Sullivan laughs. “It’s all my wife’s fault. Jane has always been an excellent cook. She’s always wanted to do something like this. We lived in La Honda for years. When we saw it [the restaurant which has had multiple owners over the years] standing vacant for so long, we said, ‘Why not?’ La Honda needs a restaurant. It was frustrating when the restaurant was open before to go there and find it was closed when it said it was going to be open. We won’t do that. We will be open when we say we’ll be open.”

Jane Sullivan, who is originally from Yorkshire, England, is an upbeat woman who has many traditional English recipes in her repertoire. “I’d say the shepherd’s pie and fish and chips are our most popular items. Oh, and the tri-tip sandwich,” Tim Sullivan says. “Jane makes some excellent curries, too. We have to work on getting our wait staff to describe the delicious offers on the menu. We want to have an extensive specials menu as well as a small fixed menu.”

Sullivan says, “Jane and I work well together. I could never cook so the kitchen is her domain, and she knows less about the business side. It is almost like two businesses in one. You’ve got the kitchen where you have to worry about the food costs, wasted food, making a good product and getting it out in a timely manner. And then there is the front business, of the public, wait staff, etc.”

“Where else could you come, sit on our beautiful back patio, listen to music for free and eat great food in this kind of setting?” he says, gesturing out the window. “But, as much as we hope to do a brisk tourist trade, especially during the summer, the key to success is the locals. We have such a great community here. There is no place in the Bay Area quite like it. People can come and have a few drinks and some great food and visit with friends. We are hoping to make Sullivan’s a meeting place for the community.” It looks like Sullivan’s is well on its way to being just that!