The laid-back vibe isn’t the only aspect of the Big Chill Surf Cantina reminiscent of Southern California living.

From the tacos and surfboards to the fire pit and outdoor projection screen, the pet-friendly atmosphere at the Big Chill calls to mind images of the sunny West Coast, where there is a taco shop around every corner and nearly everyone surfs.

Out West, residents are confident enough in their weather to mount televisions on trees and move the football party outside, but here on the East Coast, things are a little bit different. For starters, it rains here, and then there's the temperatures, which don't always invite moving the football party outside all season.

Regardless of weather patterns, since the project started just a few short months ago, management at the Big Chill Surf Cantina transformed the former ice cream store next to Liquid surf shop into a Baja-style café with East Coast touches, like an innovative epicurean menu, in spite of minimal kitchen space.

“There are a lot of bars around here, but this one is the coolest,” Georgetown resident Steve Robison said, looking around at the cozy quarters. “Look around at everybody smiling. It’s like Cheers, except its real, and the food is incredible.”

Owners of the Big Chill Surf Cantina include Josh Grapski of Nage restaurant and Derek Shockro, who also owns next-door-neighbor Liquid. The product of their collaboration is the warm cantina with a beer list from international surf spots and a menu that elevates tacos and nachos from bar grub to dining delights.

With the modest kitchen located behind the bar – which was hand-crafted from reclaimed wood to look like a longboard by General Manager Matt Martin – there is no noticeable broiler and the abbreviated menu features fewer than 20 different items.

But somehow, when food arrives, it’s easy to wonder how they pull off crab nachos, queso poblano rangoons, edamame – two ways – or delicate fish tacos with cilantro crema in such an unassuming space.

“We’ve had nothing but good responses,” Martin said. “We thought this area was missing something. so we wanted to create a place for the locals to hang out, outside of Dewey and Rehoboth Beach.”

So far, patrons agreed the plan has worked. Since the start of September, when the Big Chill opened, the general manager said the cantina has been building a clientele who are picking up what the Baja-style cantina is putting down, an East Coast take on West Coast surf style.

With soft lighting, warm tones and music like favorites from Jack Johnson and Dispatch piped in, Big Chill Cantina prompts patrons to chill out at the surfboard tables, play some beer pong or catch a game by the fire outside.

And most evenings, the staff supplies s’mores for the bar crowd, on the house.

“The food, the colors, the fire pit, the free s’mores – it’s just like a little oasis,” Robison said. “You have to experience it to know.”

The Big Chill Surf Cantina is open 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; and noon to 1 a.m., Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 1-302-227-2029