Hola Alito’s

By Richard Mineards   |   April 11, 2019
Sheriff Bill Brown, Diana Starr Langley, Mollie Ahlstrand, Ali Mollie Ahlstrand, Gail Kvistad, Catherine Gee, Chris Lancashire, and Nina Johnson (photo by Priscilla)

Just ten months after opening their new State Street outpost, Mollie’s, next to the Granada theatre in the former Tupelo Junction space, culinary dynamic duo Mollie Ahlstrand and her son, Ali, have launched another eatery, Alito’s, further downtown on the busy thoroughfare.

However, unlike their former nosheteria on Coast Village Road which closed in August, known for its Italian cuisine, the new 100-seat eatery, formerly Cadiz, which closed last June after six years, will be offering high-end Mexican food.

‘We have had four brothers, Eduardo, Victor, Julio, and Juan Carlos, working for us as chefs for many years,” explained Ali.

“Two of them are running the kitchen at Mollie’s, which has been a great success, and the other two, led by Eduardo, are running the kitchen at Alito’s, so it has worked out well. The menu is based on food their mother cooked for them while growing up in Mexico City.”

The restaurant has undergone a complete makeover by Santa Barbara interior designer Eileen Dill and welcomed nearly 200 guests for the opening bash, including Ginni Dreier, Fred Brander, sheriff Bill Brown, Rebecca Brand, Wendy McCaw, Eric and Nina Phillips, Mara Abboud, Christopher Lancashire and Catherine Gee, Diana Starr Langley, and Arthur von Wiesenberger.

Mara Abboud, Treesa Robinson, and Nina and Eric Phillips at the opening of Alito’s (photo by Priscilla)
Tatiana and James Fenkner, Ryan Comperatore, Patrick Braid, and Taylor Roberts celebrate the new restaurant (photo by Priscilla)
Fred Brander, Melissa Laine, Alito’s owner Ali Alstrand, with Wendy McCaw and Arthur “Nipper” Von Wiesenberger (photo by Priscilla)
Chef Eduardo Carranza, Irene Robles, Nina Johnson, Julio Carranza, Kate Schwab, Mayor Cathy Murrillo, and Bob Stout (photo by Priscilla)
Greg Huron, SBPD Chief Lori Luhnow, Luci and Rich Janssen, and Bea Molina with son Rey Molina (photo by Priscilla)
 

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