Potomac’s Flaps Closes After 23 Years; Le Pain Opens

IN THE NEWS: ConnectionNewspapers.com’s Potomac Almanac reports the scheduled Oct. 30 closing of Flaps Restaurant after 23 years in Potomac. … The Washington Times’s Corinna Lothar reviews Proof (775 G St. NW, 202/737-7663). washingtontimes.com … Washington Times’s Tim Carman reviews Hong Kong Palace (6387 E. Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, 703-532-0940). washingtontimes.com … Washingtonian.com’s Erin Zimmer reports that international bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien recently opened its first Washington-area location on Georgetown’s M Street. … Todd Kliman’s Online chat reports that 2941 Restaurant has lost executive chef Jonathan Krinn and chef de cuisine Jon Mathieson and are close to finalizing a deal for a place of their own in Tyson’s Corner. The plan is to open the contemporary American restaurant in late summer or early fall of next year. 2941 will be bringing in an interim chef until it finds a replacement.

The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema gives two stars to Cynthia’s (552-I Governor Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146, 410-315-8088) and has a first bite at newly overhauled The Palm (1225 19th St. NW; 202-293-9091) and reports on the expected Oct. 18 opening of corporate lawyer Brennan Reilly’s Carlyle Club (411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria; 703-549-8957, thecarlyleclub.com), an art deco-style restaurant featuring live piano music at lunch and piano, jazz trios or big-band performances by night. Chef is James Bryant, late of Dataw Island Club in Saint Helena, S.C. … Jane Black considers Cowgirl Creamery, 919 F St. NW, 202-393-6880; www.cowgirlcreamery.com), while Walter Nicholls visits Le Matin de Paris (7326-A Little River Tpk., Annandale Plaza Shopping Center, Annandale, 703-914-0088, www.morningofparis.com). washingtonpost.com …

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Area Reviewers Rate the Not-So-Cheap Cheap

IN THE NEWS: Creative Loafing’s Brian Ries awards three and a half stars to the inappropriately titled — and surprisingly good — Cheap (309 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-258-5878). tampa.creativeloafing.com … St. Pete Times’s Laura Reilley also reviews Cheap . tampabay.com … The Tampa Trib’s Kurt Loft looks at Sarasota dining. tampatrib.com.

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fifteen

IN THE NEWS: St. Louis magazine’s Matthew Halverson weighs in on “15 Things You Should Know About Jim Edmonds’ New Restaurant”, called Fifteen (1900 block of Locust). … Dave Lowry reviews Acero (7266 Manchester, 314-644-1790), while George Mahe takes a first look at Red (1130 Washington Ave., 314-588-7864, redstl.com). stlmag.com … The Post-Dispatch’s Joe Bonwich gives a B to Paulo’s at the Mansion (1680 Mansion Way, O’Fallon, Ill., 618-624-0629, www.mansionsteakhouse.com), while Betha Whitlow reviews The Billy Goat Restaurant and Bar (1449 South Vandeventer, 314-371-4628, www.billygoatstl.com). stltoday.com …

Riverfront Times’s Ian Froeb recommends Monarch (7401 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-644-3995), Terrene (33 North Sarah Street, 314-535-5100), and Savor (4356 Lindell Boulevard, 314-531-0220). … Froeb also notes the openings of Araka (131 Carondelet Plaza in Clayton) and new Mexican restaurant Agave (4198 Manchester Avenue, Oct. 10). riverfronttimes.com … StLEats.typepad.com visits Bevo Mill (4749 Gravois, 314-481-2626, www.bevomillstl.com) and India’s Rasoi (25 N. Euclid Ave., 314-361-6911).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Critics Rate Japanese Restaurant Koi, The Local Vine

IN THE NEWS: Seattle Times’s Providence Cicero gives two and a half stars to Japanese restaurant Koi (14603 N.E. 20th St., Bellevue, 425-644-5388, www.koijr.com) and also reviews #1 Donuts & Deli (20710 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell; 425-486-5358). … Karen Gaudette notes the openings of Venik Lounge (227 Ninth Ave. N., 206-223-3734, veniklounge.com) and Ballard’s Austin Cantina (5809 24th Ave. N.W., 206-789-1277). seattletimes.com … Seattle Weekly’s Jonathan Kauffman goes in search of flapjacks, including the Original Pancake House (8037 15th Ave. N.W., 781-3344, www.originalpancakehouse.com), while Mike Seely visits Grubz Grill (Rainier Avenue South and South Garden Street). seattleweekly.com … Portland Montly magazine’s October issue includes a guide to Seattle, mentioning restaurants Boat Street Cafe (3131 Western Ave, 206-632-4702, boatstreetcafe.com), BOKA Kitchen & Bar (Hotel 1000, 1010 First Ave, 206-357-9000), bokaseattle.com), and Matt’s in the Market (94 Pike St, 206-467-7909, mattsinthemarket.com). portlandmonthlymag.com …

The Post-Intelligencer’s Leslie Kelly reviews The Local Vine (206-441-6000, 2520 Second Ave., thelocalvine.com) and notes the opening of Frontier Cafe (621 Third Ave., on the corner of Third and Cherry), a spin-off of the popular Frontier Room, while Kristin Dizon visits Miro Tea (206-782-6832, 5405 Ballard Ave. N.W., mirotea.com). seattlepi.com … The Stranger’s Angela Garbes finds great pupusas at Burien’s Salva Mex Pupuseria y Comida Mexicana (15019 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien, 988-1234), while Sage Van Wing visits Maekawa Bar (601 S King St, 622-0634). thestranger.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Slice of New York, Manresa’s Kinch Top MetroActive Poll

IN THE NEWS: MetroActive’s Best of the Silicon Valley 2007 issue is out, with readers poll restaurants highlights that include: Best New Restaurant, A Slice of New York (3443 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, 408-247-5423); and Best Chef, David Kinch, Manresa (320 Village Lane, Los Gatos, 408-354-4330). … Meanwhile, Stett Holbrook reviews vegetarian Indian spot Tirupathi Bhimas (1208 S. Abel St., Milpitas, 408.945.1010). metroactive.com … Mercury News’s Aleta Watson gives two and a half stars in reviewing Cafe Rio (131 Esplanade Drive, at Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos, 831-688-8917. www.cafe-rio.com), while Sylvia Ulloa considers Dia de Pesca (55 N. Bascom Ave., San Jose, 408-287-3722). mercurynews.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Critics Rate Cin Cin, Bleu Boheme, Sally’s, Quarter Kitchen

IN THE NEWS: City Beat’s Candice Woo looks at quick breakfast spots, including K Sandwiches (7604 Linda Vista Road in Linda Vista, 858-278-8961). sdcitybeat.com … The Union-Tribune’s Maria Hunt reviews Cin Cin Simply Italian (14471 Pomerado Road, Poway, 858-679-9300). signonsandiego.com … The Reader’s Naomi Wise gives two and a half stars to French bistro Bleu Bohéme (4090 Adams Avenue, at Kensington Drive, Kensington, 619-255-4167, www.bleuboheme.com), while Ed Bedford visits Fred’s Old Fashioned Burgers (2754 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, 619-445-1264). sdreader.com … San Diego Metropolitan’s Terryl Gavre reviews Sally’s (One Market Place, At The Manchester Hyatt, San Diego, 619-564-7584)./ sandiegometro.com … Blogger mmm-yoso!!! reviews Southern Style Kitchen (6990 University Ave, La Mesa), Jimmy’s Family Restaurant Santee (6935 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, 619-448-8994, other locations on Third Avenue in Chula Vista, Campo Road in Spring Valley and on Midway Drive in San Diego), mmm-yoso-typepad.com … San Diego magazine’s David Nelson reviews Quarter Kitchen (600 F Street, downtown, 619-814-2000). saniego-online.com … SanDiegoRestaurantReviews.typepad.com also reviews Quarter Kitchen. … WhatWeDig.com stops by Blanca (437 South Highway 101, Solana Beach, 858-792-0092, www.dineblanca.com) and Pete’s Quality Meats (1742 1/2 India Street, San Diego, 619-234-1684).

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Liberty Bar Owner Set to Buy Old Convent on S. Alamoou

IN THE NEWS: The Current’s Ron Bechtol reviews Columbian spot Fonda Latina Restaurante (6714 San Pedro Ave., 210-824-2544). … Elaine Wolff reports that Liberty Bar proprietor Dwight Hobart has entered into a contract to buy the old St. Scholastica Convent on South Alamo, next to Steve Yndo’s St. Benedict Hospital redevelopment. Rumors of the original bar’s demise are as of yet premature, says Hobart. sacurrent.com … The Express-News’s Karen Harem gives three stars to Mongolian barbecue restaurant Genghis Grill (1903 N. Loop 1604, Building 1, Suite 1106, 210-496-5426) and notes the opening of the first Panera Bread in San Antonio (999 E. Basse Road, 210-822-7000), the first of five to six restaurants the company hopes to open in the next four years. … Bonnie Walker visits Ruthie’s Mexican Restaurant (11423 West Ave., 210-308-0253) and chats with Timothy Guillen, owner, Timo’s Coffeehouse. mysantonio.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Former Log Haven Chef Moves to Bambara

IN THE NEWS: City Weekly’s Ted Scheffler reviews La Caille (9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy, 942-1751, LaCaille.com) and reports that Dave Jones — formerly executive chef at Log Haven — has been hired as the new executive chef for Bambara restaurant in the Hotel Monaco. slweekly.com … The Tribune’s Vanessa Chang gives two stars to Thai Lotus (212 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City; 801-328-4401). sltrib.com … The Deseret Morning News’s Stacey Kratz stops by Les Madeleines (660 South State Street, Salt Lake City, 801-355-2294, les-madeleines.com) for cupcakes. deseretnews.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Mimis Cafe Set for Lincoln Crossing in December

IN THE NEWS: Mimis Cafe is aiming for a December opening of its new restaurant in Lincoln Crossing, the Sacramento Business Journal reports. It will be the sixth Mimis in the four-county region, with restaurants in Folsom, Roseville, Arden, Elk Grove and Natomas. sacramento.bizjournals.com … The Sacramento Bee’s Allen Pierleoni gives three stars to Boudin SF (Loehmann’s Plaza, 2573 Fair Oaks Blvd., 916-973-1849, www.boudinbakery.com). sacbee.com … The News & Review’s Josh Fernandez visits Luigi’s Slice in Midtown (1050 20th Street, Space 150). newsreview.com … Sacramento magazine notes the opening of Paul Martin’s American Bistro (1455 Eureka Rd., Roseville; 916-783-3600) and new chef David Feldman at Piatti Restaurant (3003 Douglas Blvd in Roseville), while Kira O’Donnell reviews Auburn Alehouse (289 Washington St., Old Town Auburn; 530-885-2537; auburnalehouse.com) and Fins Market & Grill (1901 S St., Sacramento; 916-442-9300; finsmarket.com). sacmag.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Grand Super Buffet Opens Another Area Location

IN THE NEWS: The Democrat and Chronicle’s Karen Deyle reviews LaSalle’s Steak and Crab (1300 Empire Blvd., Penfield, 585-482-5740), while Karen Miltner considers Critic’s on the Mall (362 Greece Ridge Center Drive, entrance No. 6 at The Mall at Greece Ridge, Greece. 585-227-5520). … The paper notes the Grand Super Buffet Restaurant has opened a second location in Henrietta (1100 Jefferson Road, Tops Plaza, 585-424-7188). democratandchronicle.com … City Newspaper’s James Leach reviews Blue Cactus Mexican Grille (5 East Liftbridge Lane, Fairport, 377-9590). citynewspaper.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com