And if he chooses, Ferrara can take off anytime for another sail around the Caribbean. It sends a message that if you don't get greedy, you can make a profit out of the restaurant business. It used to be a dark neighborhood bar called the Peanut Barrel Pub. But fueled by imagination and a lot of help from friends, Ferrara and partner Bobby Staerker have transformed Cabos into much more. Now, it is a brightly colored vision of its namesake, the Mexican seaside village of Cabos San Lucas.
Televisions play surfing and snow skiing videos.
One of Ferrara's old surfboards adorns the wall, as do group photos of the nine annual community parties thrown by Ferrara. Cabos 156 seats are filled at lunch and dinner by a clientele that ranges from high-powered lobbyists and legislators to aging hippie carpenters to middle class families. But while much can be said for the food, atmosphere and prices of Cabos, its success is a tribute to attitude. With all the chain restaurants, it's neat to know we can compete. For 14 years, he ambled from wave to job to wave.