D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
November
2008
Table Talk
A Finnegan's restaurant is moving into the vacated Bennigan's spot at 1745 E. University Ave. in Pan Am Plaza. Texas-based S&A Restaurant Corp., the parent company of the Bennigan's and Steak & Ale chains, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection a couple of months ago and closed — with one day's notice — 300 company-owned locations nationwide, including the Las Cruces Bennigan's. The action was one of the largest restaurant bankruptcies in US history. Finnegan's is a completely independent, locally owned eatery with an Irish theme, and will keep an Irish dcor and a menu similar to Bennigan's.
Long-time Las Cruces eatery Dick's Cafe hopes to settle back into its familiar slot at 2305 S. Valley Dr. later this month. The eatery had been operating on South Main Street, where the now-defunct L&L Steak Co. used to be. It's been a challenging year for Dick's Cafe so far, having weathered a fire this spring — which prompted the move to the temporary Main Street digs in March — and the death of the business' beloved founder, Dick Perez, this summer at the age of 90. Dick Perez started the business in 1959, moving to the South Valley Drive location in the 1970s. The restaurant now is owned by Dick Perez' grandson, Ace Perez. Ace was pleased to report that the restaurant's salsa was named Best in New Mexico at the state fair in Albuquerque this year, beating out 37 competitors, saying, "We blew everybody out of the water!" 2265 S Main St., 524-1360, www.dickscafe.net
Brigid's Cross now offers something for that pint o' Guinness to land on. The long-awaited Irish pub held its grand opening celebration last month and got its kitchen up and running, to boot! Choose from among oysters with chile vinegar, Southwick's Ale barbeque wings, Molly's mussels, a host of salads, burgers, bangers and fish and chips, of course. Irish fare joins American standards like steak, salmon and spaghetti. Wash it all down with "The Perfect Pint." 1338 Picacho Hills Dr., 647-1455, www.lascrucespub.com
Gary Ebert and Anne Marie Boardman hope to open Zeffiro Pizzeria Napoletano and Popular Artisan Bread Bakery, their pizza and bakery, later this month. The couple originally planned to open in October but hit some delays.
And two more casual eateries are opening in Las Cruces. A third Quizno's Sub location is coming soon to the plaza at 3125 N. Main St., and 100 West Cafe has just opened at 119 Gerald Thomas Hall on the NMSU campus. Run by the university's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, the cafe serves lunch Tues.-Fri., 12-1 p.m. for just eight bucks, through Dec. 5, plus a Wednesday evening buffet. See more info online at cahe.nmsu.edu/academics/shrtm/100-west-caf-menus.html.
— Donna Clayton Lawder
Send restaurant news to donna@desertexposure.com