Celebrating their 10-year anniversary in Los Alamitos, the Shenandoah at the Arbor restaurant will be having a southern backyard barbeque on Sunday, July 21 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrating their 10-year anniversary in Los Alamitos, the Shenandoah at the Arbor restaurant will be having a southern backyard barbeque on Sunday, July 21 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The restaurant, known for American regional cuisine and famous complimentary appetizer apple fritters, is set in a converted residential bungalow with a backyard patio under large mulberry trees complete with koi pond and water fall. Lunch favorites include San Antonio chicken sandwich, Texas fried chicken salad and barbeque chicken quesadilla, while dinner favorites include Cajun rib eye, Galveston pasta and baby back ribs. They also serve hickory smoked prime rib on Friday and Saturday nights, too.
“Our building was once a home, and we want all to be a part of the family,” said Marketing and Event Planner, Allie Wilson. Shenandoah is owned and operated by her parents, Rick and Jill Wilson, and her brother, Clint Wilson, is general manager. “We want all to come (to the barbeque), like going to a friend’s or family’s home.”
Shenandoah’s averages about 200 patrons a day with about 1,500 patrons coming during the week in summer. “I think we started with a good concept and paid close attention to the restaurant as owners/operators,” said co-owner Jill Wilson. “My husband has a good knowledge of the kitchen, and I have a good knowledge of the front to the business.” Her husband, Rick, will be serving his Cabo seasoned corn on the cob at their anniversary barbeque, with a custom mixture of spices that he put together and is being sold in bottles at the restaurant.
Rick and Jill Wilson started in the restaurant business more than 40 years ago, and originally opened Shenandoah Café in Naples in 1983. In 1984, they relocated to Belmont Shore and the café closed in 2005. They opened Shenandoah at the Arbor in Los Alamitos on July 28, 2003.
At the celebration, they will be serving pulled pork sliders, smoked sausage sliders, barbeque chicken and salmon, specialty cocktails and more while their favorite band, 8-Track, plays classic and today’s rock ‘n roll tunes throughout the day. Presale tickets for the barbeque can be purchased at Shenandoah’s, located at 10631 Los Alamitos Blvd., or by calling them at 562-431-1990. Adults pay $25 for 30 sample platter tickets with children’s tickets costing $10 for 12 tickets. The tickets allow patrons a chance to sample all barbeque items, sides and cocktails.