Following in their family’s restaurant tradition came easily for Ann-Marie, Jacqueline and Dominque Coulon, co-owners of the freshly minted Little Lion Café & Bar in Point Loma.
“We practically grew up in our family’s restaurant, the Belgian Lion, going there after school,” said Jacqueline, the self-appointed bartender/waitress of the three-month-old eatery. “On our days off we’d play restaurant at home. Then, as we were old enough to work, we worked in restaurants.”
Don and Arlene Coulon’s Belgian Lion restaurant was a beloved fixture in Ocean Beach for more than 20 years. Their granddaughters are hoping to build on and extend that tradition.
Jacqueline said the trio of 20-something Coulon sisters absolutely love OB, especially the southern portion. She said the family actually “put offers on several places on Newport Avenue,” but without success.
“I was resigned to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen,” Jacqueline said.
It wasn’t until chef Ann-Marie took the initiative last year and walked into the then-Point Loma Beach Café at 1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and asked the female owner if she’d consider selling that things actually happened.
“The woman said, ‘Yeah, I would,’” said Jacqueline.
Next came a menu revamp.
Jacqueline Coulon said the place they inherited was mostly “smoothies and burritos,” whereas it is now a “farm-to-table café, which gives you some idea of the quality of the ingredients, the seasonal produce we use.
“We wanted to make sure we had something from before on the menu for people who had been loyal,” said Jacqueline, adding, “But we wanted other, healthier options.”
The Coulon’s menu is eclectic, sort of Belgium meets Southern California.
“It’s kind of a blend of the two, you can come in and get a decadent chocolate croissant, or a delicious smoothie,” said Jacqueline.
At Little Lion, customers can get a chocolate hemp smoothie, chia seed pudding, a Cobb salad or homemade Belgian half moon-shaped potatoes from a family recipe.
“Honestly, our menu is just a reflection of how our extended family eats,” said Jacqueline.
Little Lion plans to open for dinner starting this June with extended hours until 8 p.m.
The dinner menu is still in development, but Jacqueline promised it is likely to have items with “European overtones.”
Little Lion’s clientele is as eclectic as its menu. “I love our demographic because it’s really mixed,” said Jacqueline, noting “we’ll have one table with some well-established Point Loma women having wine and Cobb salads, and the next table will have a couple with dreadlocks getting smoothies, and then the couple behind them are on vacation for a week, and they come in every day that they’re here. We cater to that eclectic mix. It’s a good mix.”
Thus far, the Coulon sisters and Little Lion have been a neighborhood hit. “People believe in us,” Jacqueline said. “The support has been overwhelming. We’re happy to be here.”