Las Manitas hangs up sign on the door: CLOSED FOREVER!
After we returned from the Labor Day weekend, my inbox was full of surprised and somewhat confused emails from readers who had gone to Las Manitas for breakfast tacos on Monday only to see a sign on the door reading “Closed Forever!” I suspect this is the Perez sisters displaying some ill feelings over being […]
Does the Concept of a “Jinxed” Restaurant Location Really Exist?
At face value, one would think that the notion that there are just some locations that will just never work for a restaurant is true. Look at the site on Walsh Tarlton in Westlake off Bee Caves Road. It has housed at least 10 restaurants since the early 1980’s (including Chez Fred, Interurban, Serrano’s, Rock […]
“Kids Eat Free” Promotion at ZuZu
ZuZu is offering “Kids Eat Free” Monday through Wednesday nights after 5:30 pm. Two kid items free with the purchase of an adult platter. In house only, no take out and not valid with any other offers. Click here to see the MENU for ZuZu.
What I Expect from a Good Restaurant Server
I think that regardless of the pedigree of the establishment, every restaurant patron should be able to expect competent and efficient service from their waitperson. Here are some things I always look for and upon which I tip accordingly: 1. Be polite and friendly. That is not meant to read overly solicitous and or casually […]
Ninfa’s on 183 Closes
One of my favorite spots for carnitas, Ninfas on 183 near IH 35 closed last Friday. Ninfas was a thriving chain out of Houston back in the 90’s but then went through a sale of a number of its restaurants. After that, things did not seem to go as well for the company owned by […]
Rob Meets with Rusty Coco, Co-Founder of Jason’s Deli Chain!
The first things that struck me about Rusty Coco were his genuineness and his east Texas charm. It’s not often that I come away from a meeting with the head of a large hospitality chain wanting to go have dinner with the guy. But Rusty is not your average button-downed executive type. He’s interested in […]
Trans Fats Banned Throughout California
California achieved another first recently: they became the first state to ban the use of trans fats in restaurant foods. State restaurants have got a year and a half, to Jan.1, 2010, to find alternate sources for shortenings, margarines, or frying media that contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Ironically, donut makers were given an extra […]
Tough Times on E. 11th St.
When Brenda McGowan, proprietor of Ms. B’s on Mesa was lured over to the new E. 11th St. retail center several years ago, she was told by the non-profit Austin Revitalization Authority that she would anchor what would become a booming revival of what had once been a rundown and generally decrepit area. Two years […]
New Executive Chef Jeffrey Cummins Debuts at Finn and Porter
Jeffrey Cummins is the new executive chef at downtown favorite Finn and Porter at the Hilton. His credits include a seven-year stint as chef du cuisine at the Grand Californian Hotel in Disneyland. He trained at the prestigious California Culinary Arts Academy. What I like about Cummins philosophy is that he lets the food speak […]
Café Panini is Worth a Visit on North Mays in Round Rock
Had the good fortune last week to have lunch at a seriously good little eaterie in Round Rock on N. Mays called Café Panini. Owned by a husband and wife who are entrepreneurs and helmed by a CIA trained chef, these are Paninis to get excited about. I tried a Turkey Club Panini that was […]
Are You Ready for Shochu?
First it was Cachaca, the Brazilian liquor made from the distillation of fermented sugarcane juice,that began to attract attention internationally. Perhaps because it has a alcohol strength of between 38%-48% and is the basis for the famous Caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil. Now, keeping with the current culinary craze for all things Asian, comes […]
What Happened to and What May be in Store for the Former Cibo’s: El Chilito?
As noted in these pages last month, Cibo which had to close its doors in the spring, was supposed to have been bailed out by an investor from New York who was apparently going to open a restaurant called Luciles. That deal crashed and burned at the 11th hour. Now, news has it that the […]
