The restaurant business is a notoriously tough one to succeed in, but Erich and Patricia Koberl must have had a secret recipe when they struck out on their own almost five years ago.

EP Koberl at Blue, a stylish little restaurant nestled in the corner of the historic J.P. Andrews Building in downtown San Luis Obispo, thrived through its first year under new ownership, and has continued to do well even through a down economy.

Even on nights when their dining tables aren’t as full as they used to be, the after-work crowd keeps the cocktail bar lively, Patricia Koberl said. “Being a restaurant with two options — white tablecloth dining and a bar — has really helped us through the economy,” she said. “There are some nights when the whole bar is full.”

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