Daniel Ku
Staff Writer
Kyle’s Kitchen is a local restaurant chain that sells burgers and salads. With locations in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and now Isla Vista (IV), they place a special emphasis on sustainability and philanthropy. They use fresh non-frozen potatoes for their french fries and their chicken is antibiotic free.
Their mission is inspired by the owners’ son, Kyle, a special-needs child who thrived after going through a program called, The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential. Kyle’s Kitchen was created for them to give back to the community. They donate money every month to an organization that supports people with special needs.
The Bottom Line interviewed Emily Kadri — the marketing manager for Kyle’s Kitchen — to gain some insight about the opening of Kyle’s Kitchen in Isla Vista and to understand how they are adapting their business model to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In terms of adjusting to the pandemic, we have gone above and beyond local government regulations for customer and staff safety in our restaurants…
The opening of Kyle’s Kitchen in Isla Vista was not planned before COVID-19, but was created as a way for the owners to adapt to the changing circumstances of the college town. “We had to pivot and shift from Silvergreens to Kyle’s IV due to the strains COVID-19 put on the business . . .
“The owners have four school-age kids, including Kyle who has special needs, and pre-pandemic five restaurants (Silvergreens, Kyle’s Kitchen, and Kyle’s Protein Grill) . . . Once UCSB [UC Santa Barbara] resumed we wanted to open our IV location again, but in the vein of simplification, we transitioned Silvergreens into Kyle’s IV to streamline operations and the owner’s lives,” Kardi explained.
…We use a weekly virus vaporizer service that coats all surfaces in the restaurant with a food-safe and hospital-grade disinfectant that lasts up to a week and kills all viruses, including COVID-19, on surface contact.”
Emily Kadri, Kyle’s Kitchen’s marketing manager.
“In terms of adjusting to the pandemic, we have gone above and beyond local government regulations for customer and staff safety in our restaurants. We use a weekly virus vaporizer service that coats all surfaces in the restaurant with a food-safe and hospital-grade disinfectant that lasts up to a week and kills all viruses, including COVID-19, on surface contact,” continued Kardia. “Additionally, all staff wear masks and gloves while working, and are temperature checked before each shift. Plus, we encourage employees who aren’t feeling well to stay home,” continued Kardi.
Kadri also listed several things Kyle’s Kitchen has planned to fit the demographics of the young students in Isla Vista, which includes a new online ordering system through an app, advanced rewards programs, changed closing hours from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., and “a discounted late-night combo that will appeal to students who wait to eat dinner or are hungry after 8 p.m.”
Kyle’s Kitchen in Isla Vista is located where Silvergreens used to be down at the intersection of Pardall and Embarcadero. It opens at 11 a.m.
Their menu is simple with several different types of salads, burgers, and fries. They discount a different item on their menus each week which encourages customers to try different things. Their burgers are high quality with flavors that allow them to differentiate themselves from other competitors in Isla Vista. Their prices are also in line with the places around them. Want to try something new? Come check this place out.