If you’ve ever eaten at The West Side Kitchen, you already know it’s not just food, it’s community and soul. It’s showing up and serving lunch to Orcas Island on a Monday.

In September 2025 Andi’s life changed overnight with the completely unexpected arrival of his son, Frankie. Francisco is incredibly loved and a miracle in every way but he was a huge surprise that reshaped Andi’s life in a moment’s notice. While stepping into fatherhood, Andi was also trying to hold together the restaurant that so many on Orcas rely on for lunch.

Since September, it’s been one hit after another.

Andi extended a startup loan that was never repaid, one of his main support staff walked out. Ongoing building issues have forced the restaurant to close unexpectedly, sometimes for days at a time which has cost thousands of dollars in profit. And most heartbreakingly, he lost one of his right hand people to their mental health struggles.

And now, after all of these challenges and the resulting loss of income, Andi has fallen $23,000 behind in taxes, an urgent burden that threatens the future of The West Side Kitchen. We’ve reached out to the IRS to request a payment plan, but even with that option, the weight of the debt is too heavy to manage alone. It has become increasingly difficult to keep the doors open to feed the community and keep a roof over his growing family's heads. Through all of this, Andi has kept showing up for Orcas Island and for his employees. He always makes sure his staff are paid and taken care of, all the while putting himself on the back burner. Last year Andi brought home a humble $30,000 in take home pay. This modest amount was barely enough to keep his family afloat, and leaves no room for surprise expenses.

When Andi and Lex had their surprise baby in September the island rallied around them and brought diapers and formula, clothing and toys. For that they will always be grateful. And now they need more community support. Raising a baby takes a village, saving a restaurant takes an island.

Our goal is to raise $75,000.

This will cover the $23,000 in back taxes and create a small but critical cushion to keep Andi and his family above water.

Andi isn’t asking for a handout, he’s asking for a chance to keep doing what he loves and keep the doors open. He wants to keep supporting local farmers and keep feeding you an affordable and unique lunch.

If you believe in small, community driven food, in resilience, in supporting the underdog, and in showing up for the people who show up for lunch on a Monday when there aren’t a lot of other options, please consider donating to this fundraiser.

And as a thank you, if we reach our goal, we will bring back Andi’s most requested dish, the Drunken Noodles. Family Tides Farm has generously offered to host a community banquet at Gil’s Kitchen. Please consider donating to help save The West Side Kitchen and ease some of the financial strain on Andi’s family. Your support is a chance to keep this space alive, to keep the doors open, and to keep showing up for one another. Drunken Noodles deserves a comeback, and so does Andi.