Finding Falafel in a Pool Hall

Cowboy bars and burrito joints, check. Wine tasting rooms and steakhouses, of course. Italian restaurants and homespun bakeries, sure. These all make the Santa Ynez Valley go ‘round. 

But falafel and shawarma sold by a Syrian family in a pool hall with country tunes on the radio and sports shows on TV? This is the daily scene at Santa Ynez Billiards & Café, and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable experience, blending distinctive spices, authentic cooking, and genuine smiles with that satisfying sense of stumbling upon a secret that’s hiding in plain sight.

“We always wanted to open our own restaurant,” explains Amal Abdulaziz, as a batch of yogurt gurgles in the kitchen. “But we waited until our kids got older.” The mother of three — 34-year-old son is a Boeing engineer; 19-year-old daughter just graduated from Santa Ynez High and is attending SBCC — runs the restaurant with her husband, Riyad “Ray” Abdulaziz, while their 28-year-old son, Matt Abdulaziz, handles front-of-house operations, namely the walk-up orders, small bar, and sporadic billiard rentals.