It's the start of a new year, and a new year means new beginnings, right? In the spirit of new beginnings, we've decided to spruce the place up a bit with an all new design. The most dramatic changes are on the home page. We've greatly simplified the home page to draw attention to what matters most: Waco restaurants.
Another Mexican food restaurant has taken over the space recently vacated by Sebas Cocina.
This morning, I stopped in to verify that Mi Tequila had expanded its universe to include the Austin Avenue location. The new joint is called Me Tequila Too and despite the difference in spelling and other dissimilarities, it's the same operation.
Merry Christmas, friends.
Out and about today on WacoFork business, everyone seemed to have that laid-back, holiday easiness. Most of us have our Christmas shopping and wrapping done and now it's just a matter of coasting out the rest of the year.
Speaking of the rest of the year, I'm looking forward to writing a "Thank you, Lord, for Texas" blog from the Alamo Bowl next week.
As of Thursday, there are TWO great reasons to drive to McGregor for lunch or dinner. Actually, there might be more than two reasons, but I'm focusing on the two dining options right next door to each other just down Highway 84.
Coach's opened this week to a full parking lot and lots of customers interested to try Central Texas' newest barbecue joint. Coach's is the new next-door neighbor of The Coffee Shop, which has long been one of the area's best options for good old country cooking.
In sports, it's called taking what the defense gives you.
In evolution, it's adapting to survive.
In business, it's just good business. In the six months or so that I've known Joseph and Alexandra Parrilla, I've been impressed by their willingness to try new things to get new customers through the Cafe Viejo San Juan doors.
There's bad new and good news regarding the availability of fried chicken in the downtown area.
The bad news: Krispy Chicken on 11th Street has closed. The sign on the window claims that it has closed temporarily for repairs to the building. However, the Krispy Chicken folks aren't planning to reopen it as a Krispy Chicken at least. Perhaps they're making repairs in order to sell it.
When I wrote yesterday's blog, enthusiastically proclaiming the high volume of dining and entertainment options available in our town this weekend, I had an annoying voice in my head telling me I would inevitably leave out something.
That little voice was right. I left out something that could be pretty cool — the launching of the Waco Downtown Farmers Market.
But that adds to my original argument that we live in a vibrant place. I wrote a long list of things going on and managed to not cram everything into it. So I'm taking credit for being right. See how that works?
The picture accompanying this blog is not a picture of food, but it is relevant to this restaurant website and to people who dine out in Waco nonetheless.
The picture shows a backhoe doing work near Richland Mall at the location where an office building formerly stood. It's also the location where a BJ's Brewhouse will soon begin to take shape.
Jimmy John's strategy for taking over a big chunk of the area sandwich game will soon move into phase 2.
A quick stop by the Hewitt shopping center currently anchored by Rosati's on Monday revealed several different crews at diligent work preparing the new Jimmy John's store to open. It appeared electricians were readying the drive thru menu, while Jimmy John's staff members were meeting inside.
Oh yeah, here's the important thing: a sign in the window announced that the Hewitt Jimmy John's store will open November 15, which is a week from today.
The Castillo family has an idea that might be just enough of a twist to work
At 5 this evening, the restaurant formerly known as La Fiesta in Hewitt will officially become Cantina Texas — a sort of fusion restaurant that marries Tex-Mex staples with foodie culture. They're calling it "new Texas comfort food" and it includes things like chicken and dumplings, street tacos and a Lone Star Philly Cheesesteak.
In theory, Cantina Texas will continue to attract La Fiesta's loyal customers, while capturing a new audience that has been seeking its straight Mexican food and Tex-Mex elsewhere.
