Caffè Lucca Returns — Well, Sort Of

In June, Coastside residents were shocked and saddened to discover that Caffè Lucca, a popular neighborhood coffeehouse located off Highway 1 in Montara, had after seven years in business.

Now, those who lamented the loss of Italian-roasted coffee with an ocean view will be able to return to Caffè Lucca for both.

They just won't be coming back to the same building.

Modd Salim, the enterpreneur who spent the summer preparing to in a building just north of the café, bought the rights to use the original café's name, the coffee served at Caffè Lucca and its espresso equipment.

As a result, Salim has renamed the eatery that he originally christened Mediterraneo Stop (after the type of food served by Salim, who originally hails from Jordan) to Caffè Lucca, the Coastside resident said yesterday.

Salim said that he still plans to offer Mediterranean food, barbeque, cooked wraps such as shawarma and fresh salads, but will now run his eatery as a café as well due to his acquistions from Lucchesi.

Though the café is now open for business, it is not serving food that needs to be prepared using the stove, oven, or vertical revolving cooker. Salim said that he is waiting for the Coastside Fire Protection District to come by and conduct a fire hazard check by the end of the month.

"We'll be having a tasting demonstration in a few weeks so people can sample the food on our menu," he said.

The café has received all other permits needed, Salim said.

Situated on a gently sloped hill just north of the original Caffè Lucca, customers will be able to enjoy an even wider vista to look out on than at the café's original location.

Lucchesi provided Salim with all of the road signs for her old business, which has since been installed for wide visibility to passing motorists.

There has been some confusion as to which building is the new Caffè Lucca, Salim said. While a sign in the window of the building containing the original Caffè Lucca reads that coffee will be served at that location, an old sign reading "Mavericks Roadhouse" hangs directly above the Caffè Lucca sign.

"That needs to be removed," Salim said of the Mavericks sign.

Both Salim and Dolphin Real Estate, the agency that listed the building as available for lease, said they are not aware of what kind of business will occupy the original Caffè Lucca building.

Salim also said he plans to install patio chairs and tables on the gradually-stepped area of the café facing west.

The new Caffè Lucca is located at 8465 Cabrillo Highway in Montara. It opens at 5:30 a.m and closes at 6 or 7 p.m. Hours will be extended to 2 a.m. once it receives its license to serve beer and wine.

Reporting contributed by Kayla Figard

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