A small takeout joint called L&A’s Creations opened recently near St. Petersburg’s historic Roser Park neighborhood, but the launch hasn't exactly been easy.
A few weeks before the planned grand opening at 1035 Martin Luther King Jr. St. S. back in May, owner-chefs Lashoy and Aris Lambert walked into the space to find everything they'd worked for gone. Thieves had stolen at least $3,000 worth of kitchen supplies — a funnel cake maker, sandwich press and rice cooker among them — representing the loss of five years' savings.
Luckily, two kind strangers, whom the Lamberts refer to as Miss Pat and Mr. Howard, sought out the duo, writing them a check to purchase fresh equipment. The doors of L&A’s have now been open for close to three months.
The idea for the restaurant came after Lashoy quit her job as a manager with the fast-food chain Hardee’s and decided she could run a place of her own. Aris, a native of the St. Pete area, has worked in everything from massage therapy and marketing to cutting hair and construction, while Lashoy, who was born in Colorado, came to St. Pete many years ago with her three kids to start a new life. She, too, dabbled in different fields before launching L&A’s, including the cosmetology business.
Walk into the couple’s funky to-go haven and you'll find an extensive menu, stenciled in red and green lettering around the order window on the restaurant’s yellow walls. L&A’s Burritos and Things was the colorful establishment’s original name, but “things” just didn’t seem to cover the diverse food lineup.
Breakfast burritos, burgers, nachos, chili cheese fries, quesadillas, wings, funnel cakes and a Philly cheesesteak that people have been raving about are included on the bill of fare, which Aris describes as “a little of everything in one.” There’s also a kid’s menu, and the two chefs, Lashoy especially, say they’re always looking to make new dishes.
“You get your money’s worth,” Aris says. “It’s very good; it’s a unique taste.”
The Lamberts hope to expand L&A’s into a full-service, sit-down spot, but for now they’re still getting into the swing of things and want to fill up the rest of their walls’ blank space.
The restaurant — which offers call-ahead ordering, delivery and catering — operates 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2015.