CHICO — The foodies of the north state can rejoice again with the reopening of the Foodie Cafe.
The restaurant reopened Tuesday on Marauder Street next to the Chico Regional Airport with a smaller menu but with many tasty dishes The original location was there but the restaurant moved to Cohasset Road for about two years to be closer to the city. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and Camp Fire did a number on restaurant sales.
“My cooks and servers lived in Paradise and couldn’t afford to live in California so I lost them,” owner Boyd Atkin said. “I also had cooks who wouldn’t show up for work or quit.”
Now Atkin is back in business with four employees and is continuing his popular catering business. He said the pastrami sandwich with Swiss cheese is his most popular dish. Everything is made fresh at the cafe and he makes his own condiments, such as garlic aioli, Russian dressing and salad dressings. He also makes his own pickles.
The menu items cost between $12 and $18. Atkin serves mostly salads, sandwiches, soups and chilis. Atkin caters Christmas parties, weddings, corporate events, funerals, etc. He can cater with any type of food, including Mexican, Italian or Asian food.
“I like to do what people ask for,” Atkin said.
Atkin has been catering for 18 years. Food and cooking was a big part of his life growing up. Atkin cooks the food himself with another cook helping him out.
There were other restaurants located at the Marauder Street location but they ultimately failed. Atkin gets a lot of retired people and families as customers. Before working at restaurants he worked in child care for about 12 years, where he said he “played for a living” and drove kindergartners back and forth.
Atkin moved to Chico when he was 11. His father worked on the Oroville Dam and on a missile base. He moved away for awhile during his twenties but ultimately returned. He knows a lot of people from having grown up in Chico.
He also serves beer and wine and cocktails. The virgin and boozy milkshakes are famous and the flavors are strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and salted caramel. Atkin places a donut from the Donut Nook on East Avenue on top. He said Moscow mules and Margaritas are popular drinks as well.
The Foodie Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The cafe is closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but Atkin does a lot of catering on the weekends and weeknights. The cafe is located at 999 Marauder St. near the Chico Regional Airport. The website is www.chicocateringco.com. The phone number is 530-892-8775. The Foodie Cafe can be found on Instagram under foodiechico and on Facebook under Foodie Cafe. The restaurant website is thefoodiecafe.com.
