Woodstone Marketplace in Avila Beach

Woodstone Marketplace has become our regular pit-stop as we chase our speed-demon four year old son down the Bob Jones Trail — either on foot, bicycles or scooter. It is like an oasis when we come up from under the bridge that gives us safe passage to the other side of San Luis Bay Drive and round the corner through the trees where this quaint little market with it’s adorable outdoor patio peeks out. Owned by long-time friends of our family the service is consistent and warm. The menu is perfect for small bites… share a salad or a personal pizza … or larger fare as in yummy steak sandwiches and bursting-at-the-seams wraps. We grab a glass of a local chilled chardonnay that they have open and ready to go and retire to the pet-friendly patio where my son loves to greet the neighboring tables with dogs and watch the leisurely Bob Jones Trail Traffic as it strolls, jogs and zips by. The wait for fresh-made food is never long and allows us to take our time sipping, noshing and enjoying the scenery.

Some favorite items include the Asian Salad — snow peas, mandarin oranges and toasted almonds (add chicken for an extra charge) lay on a heaping pile of Napa Cabbage and mixed greens crowned with crunchy rice noodles and sesame seeds and finished with a tangy Oriental dressing. Also the Philly Cheesesteak (hubby’s fav) — Choice roast beef melted with Provolone and a mix of roasted peppers and caramelized onions all stuffed into a grilled French roll or freshly-made Ciabatta. My son is all about the Bob Jones Veggie Pizza which is fine by me because it has about a week’s worth of vegetable requirements in one delicious pie.

The only reason for the four-stars is that we have always thought the layout of the interior lacked a certain something. It tends to be a bit dark and it is knocking elbows with the small grocery area that the Marketplace provides for locals not wanting to drive all the way to town. But maybe it’s just that the outside patio is so incredibly inviting that the interior feels like a forgotten step child… However the wine and cheese selection is quite impressive if you have an idea on picking up supplies for a trip to the beach!

So make sure you have time to stop on your return trip along the Bob Jones Trail … or maybe even on the way out. It will provide fuel for the finish line — whatever or wherever that may be — for you and your whole party!