Over the holiday weekend, I was down south visiting family. Deciding where to eat out is always a challenge, between everyone’s various taste preferences and schedules, we quickly ate through the usual places. Time to try someplace new.
We ventured into Klondike Pizza, located in the downtown village of Arroyo Grande (about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast). It’s got a fun, flunky, family-friendly Alaskan atmosphere. Where you get a basket of peanuts while you’re waiting for your food, and toss the shells onto the sawdust floor. It’s probably the most fun I ever had shelling peanuts.
For lunch, I got the Veggie Pizza – mushrooms, zucchini, black olives and tomatoes. It comes with onions and the much dreaded bell peppers which I had them leave off as well as the cheese. Instead of red sauce, I got garlic sauce – olive oil, herbs and lots of minced garlic.
They also make their own dough which is vegan. The crust is thick, I prefer thin crust. Still, I’m very happy to have a vegan option without any fuss. It’s not listed as vegan anywhere on the menu, but the super nice people working there confirmed it.
After waddling out of Klondike’s extra full, we crossed the street to Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab for a little sorbet (there’s always room for dessert). For some sweet vegan baked treats, Eclair Bakery is also just down the street.
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I like thick crust pizza (and thin crust) and the pizza looks good to me. Any pizza with mushrooms and olives looks good! I’ve noticed most of the vegan pizzas I’ve had here are very skimpy on the toppings, and I like my pizza crust buried!
that sounds like a fun place. The drive down from SF is GORGEOUS too. Is AG where there is a famous hot spring or am I thinking of somewhere else?
It’s great being able to find placing willing to make small tweaks in order to accommodate vegan requests- Sounds like a really fun dinner!
YUM! Looks super delicious! I have been wanting some good pizza…hmm
That pizza looks killer! But I’ve got to wonder how they clean up the floor after every diner throws peanut shells on it…I guess they use new sawdust every day?
I thought there was going to be peanut butter on the pizza from the title! I was going to commend your bravery but instead I’ll say, the pizza looks super fresh. Sounds like fun.
That’s a great looking pizza! And now I’m hungry.
Andrea – They definitely do not skimp on the toppings. :-)
India-leigh – I’m sure you’re thinking of Sycamore Hot Springs. It’s not in AG but very close by in Avila Beach.
Hannah – I know!
Noelle – Yup, it was good.
Jes – It looks like they probably use a rake to get rid some of the peanut shells. I saw what looks like rake lines in the floor.
FoodFeud – Maybe not peanut butter but I wouldn’t mind a Thai peanut kind of sauce on pizza.
Christina – Me too. :-)
I’m the owner of Klondike Pizza in Arroyo Grande and also in Santa Maria.
We can do any pizza without cheese. One of our sons is a vegan, so we totally understand. I am vegetarian, but eat cheese, but put less on my pizza than normal. Our crust is a blend of whole wheat and flour. We don’t consider our crust to be thick . . . not like Chicago style, nor is it thin like New York style. Maybe that means it’s perfect! Our floor is not sawdust, just peanut shells. We rake it every night, because some people think they can throw anything on the floor, along with their peanut shells. When it gets too thick, we shovel it out.
Our restaurant is Alaskan themed, because we moved here 24 years ago from Alaska. We still have family up there, so we go up often to visit.
Pam Dennis – Thanks for stopping by and setting the record straight! :-)