Beans and Cornbread D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
October 2009
Table Talk
New Eateries
Silver City recently gained three new places to get good grub. After weathering much construction dust, Diane Holloway finally has opened The Parlor at Diane's, a casual and reasonably priced addition within her popular downtown eatery, Diane's Restaurant at 510 N. Bullard St. Silver Citians looking for something simpler than a full Diane's-style dinner but more than the sandwiches and salads served up by Holloway's team at Diane's Bakery and Deli at The Hub plaza now can find it in The Parlor, which serves up wine, beer, espresso drinks, Italian sodas, panini sandwiches and an assortment of light bites. Locals already are buzzing over the new menu's tasty tidbits, wine offerings and affordability. The Parlor is open Tues.-Sat. 2-9 or 10 p.m., depending. 538-8722.
Speaking of construction waits, with the Oct. 10 grand opening of Vicki's Eatery in the former Elks Club at 315 W. Market (at Texas St.), building owner David Mulvenna will at last also realize his dream of opening a pizzeria. While leasing the space to Vicki's for breakfast and lunch, Mulvenna will turn it into Pazzo Pizza for dinner, serving from 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only. Pazzo Pizza will serve its first pies on Oct. 10 as well.
Vicki's, by the way, will celebrate its new location on that Saturday of Weekend at the Galleries with Old West fun by the Texas Street Outlaws, 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., and a street dance with music by Brandon Perrault, 2-4 p.m. Vicki's hours are Mon.-Sat. 7-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 388-5430.
Thirdly, "Frank" Wu, a 1999 import from Fujian Province in southern China, has opened Asian Buffet at 1740 Hwy. 180, in the spot where China Gate shut down earlier this year. Wu made his way west from New York, eventually settling in Deming, where he opened China Wok, a restaurant he still owns with his uncle. He says his new place in Silver City will serve a mix of standard Chinese fare, as well as Thai, Malaysian and sushi. The eatery will offer a full menu as well as take-out and a buffet. Open seven days: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sun. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. 388-0777.
And Las Crucens have a veritable groaning board of new restaurants from which to choose — ranging all the way from casual to, well, casual.
A new sandwich and pizza haven, McAlister's Deli, has opened on Mall Drive, between Fidencio's Mexican Food and the new Buffalo Wild Wings. McAlister's offers all the usual suspects, describing its menu as sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, pizza flats and potato items. Potato items? Well! Eat-in and carry-out available, as well as catering — good news for those who want potato items at their next cocktail party! More info can be found at mcalistersdeli.com
The eatery that was Jara's Deli at 300 El Molino Blvd. has been replaced by Souper Subs and Salads, offering soups and — drum roll, please! — sandwiches. Phil Marvel, who owns the eatery with partner Mike Stolp, says more changes are in store.
Even Mexican eateries are getting into the sandwich game. J.C. Tortas has opened at 1196 W. Picacho Ave., serving up a varied menu that contains all the Mexican standards, as well as seafood, cocktails, smoothies, a plethora of other assorted items and — yes! — sandwiches. Open seven days. 647-1408.
Still can't get enough of sandwich-oriented fare? Try Simply Toasted Café on El Paseo, across the street from the high school in the long-ago home of Sweet Indulgence. The casual eatery serves up breakfast, grilled and non-grilled sandwiches, soups and salads. No time to take a seat? Call for take-out. 526-1920.
Buns in the Oven
Simply Cupcakes is coming to town. Las Crucens Jeremiah and Lisa Richardson will soon open their shop that delivers and sells cupcakes online. The couple are hoping for a November opening. Patrons can get their goods to go or sit and wash down their sweets with milk, chocolate or coffee. Minimum delivery is for one-dozen cupcakes, and orders of two-dozen or more get free delivery. The business owners say they hope to have up a Web site and phone number soon so as to facilitate the taking of orders. Hungry office-cubicle workers — watch this space for developments!
And a new Mexican restaurant is planned for El Paseo, near the intersection with Idaho Avenue, in the building that used to house a Jack-in-the-Box. A spokesman for NAI First Valley Realty confirms that tacos are on the horizon there.
Make way for more patio dining! The Bean has new owners and they are digging into parking lot and patio improvements to enhance their charming Mesilla coffee spot. Bring your laptop and sit a spell, enjoying all manner of coffee drinks, teas, smoothies, choice baked goods and sandwiches. And The Bean's the place to find out what's going on, thanks to their active community bulletin boards. 2011 Avenida de Mesilla. 523-0560.
Milestone
Happy anniversary to The Curious Kumquat, celebrating five years in business this month. The gourmet and international grocery store, purveyor of fine kitchenwares and café is owned by Tyler and Rob Connoley. "Chef" Rob is the one pulling off miracles in the kitchen on a daily basis, satisfying a growing lunch and dinner-to-go clientele that grows, well, curiouser and curiouser. Look for an anniversary celebration in November when the 'Quat starts its sixth year. 111 E College Ave., 534-0337, www.curiouskumquat.com
The Kitchen Is Closed
Tough times for restaurants at 1120 Commerce Dr. Say arrivaderci to Savino's Ristorante Italiano. Owner Anthony Garcia says business fell off during the summer, thanks to the suffering economy and locals going out of town on vacation. Garcia says that trying to wait out the construction project on Telshor Boulevard would only have dug him further into a financial hole. He will continue to offer catering services and — true to the idea that everyone who opens a restaurant must be an optimist — says he hopes to regroup and open a new eatery in the not-too-distant future, serving the same style of food.
And barely a week after Savino's closed, the Red Mountain Café locked its doors and hung a sign that read, "Closed for business." Perhaps that's the opposite of "Open for business"? According to the eatery's Web site, www.redmountaincafe.com, the business was on the verge of closing in April 2008 when it was purchased by Jameson Dougil and Tim Girard, owners of local hotspot The Planet and J2 Corp. The not-quite-updated site reports, "After only a year of rebuilding this once distinguished hidden caf, Jamie and Tim's experience and passion have turned RMC into the remarkably unique talk of the town it is today." Perhaps not "unique" enough to overcome its "hidden" location?
— Donna Clayton