San Carlos Business Spotlight: Refuge

Refuge is this month’s winner for the San Carlos Business Spotlight Article.  Each month the San Carlos Blog selects a San Carlos business which took a risk on San Carlos and has transformed their business into part of the local community.  Refuge has managed to carve out its own niche in the San Carlos dining arena.  Not an easy task when you consider the competition on Laurel Street.  Here is what I have discovered about Refuge:  it has perhaps the most loyal following of any restaurant in San Carlos.  People that eat here on a somewhat regular basis don’t just like it, they love it.
Refuge is different than your average Laurel Street restaurant, and people respect that.  For starters, its location is not mixed in with the madness on the north end of Laurel.  It quietly sits south of Arroyo. Next, their menu is not what you would expect from a San Carlos restaurant.  Pastrami is its pride and joy, and they flat-out nail it.  Also, their 18 Belgian Ales on tap, with more in bottles, is a unique collection unto itself.  The rest of the menu is an unexpected mix of everything from cheesesteaks, to burgers, to a selection of charcuterie and cheese which includes items such as: Foie gras torchons, housemade pates, chopped liver, and dry-cured salami.
Each time I have been to Refuge the service and the food has been outstanding.  Refuge took a risk on opening in San Carlos, but they clearly believed in the uniqueness and the quality of their menu.  It’s a risk that is paying dividends as its reputation grows well beyond San Carlos.  If you have not had an opportunity to visit Refuge, please do so.  You can be taken directly to the Refuge website by clicking here.