South Beach Bar Is Tacos Runner-Up

Brooklyn’s Peter Luger Steak House and New Orleans’ Willie Mae’s Scotch House were among the winners in Bon Appetit magazine’s recent Food Network special. Winning restaurants were selected from each of three semifinalists for the best versions of six quintessential American classics: pizza, steak, tacos, hamburgers, fried chicken, and ribs. The winners were announced on [...]

Southern Illinois BBQ Joint Tops Ribs

Brooklyn’s Peter Luger Steak House and New Orleans’ Willie Mae’s Scotch House were among the winners in Bon Appetit magazine’s recent Food Network special. Winning restaurants were selected from each of three semifinalists for the best versions of six quintessential American classics: pizza, steak, tacos, hamburgers, fried chicken, and ribs. The winners were announced on [...]

‘Boston’ Mag Picks Craigie Street, O Ya

IN THE NEWS: Boston magazine’s The Best of Boston 2007 readers poll results in the August issue include Craigie Street Bistrot (6 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, 617-497-5511, craigiestreetbistro.com) for General Excellence, Barbara Lynch (No. 9 Park, B&G Oysters, the Butcher Shop) as Best Chef, and O Ya (9 east St., 617-654-9900) as Best New Restaurant. … [...]

Critics Weigh In on Mariposa Mexican Grille

IN THE NEWS: Creative Loafing’s Brian Ries awards three stars in reviewing Mariposa Mexican Grille (17623 N. Dale Mabry, Lutz, 813-264-1212, mariposamexicangrille.com). tampa.creativeloafing.com … The Tampa Trib’s Kurt Loft reviews Las Vegas Sports Cafe (502 N. Tampa St, Tampa, 813-223-9051). tampatrib.com … The St. Pete Times‘ Laura Reiley reviews Mariposa. tampabay.com
Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Three Monkeys, Hawks, Vientiane Open

IN THE NEWS: Sacramento Bee critic Mike Dunne rounds up newly opened or soon-to-be opened restaurants, including Three Monkeys (723 K St, 916-441-4860), Hawks (5530 Douglas Blvd., Granite Bay, in the Quarry Pond shopping complex, 916-791-6200), Vientiane (1001 Jefferson St., 530-749-2808), Anatolian (Blue Oaks Marketplace, 6815 Lonetree Blvd. in Rocklin), Maritime Seafood & Grill (6440 [...]

State Running Out of Liquor Licenses

IN THE NEWS: An increasing demand among restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages has resulted in the state nearly running out of available liquor licenses, the Associated Press reports. The Legislature has set up a quota system for licenses that is dictated by state population. Alcoholic Beverage Control commissioners can only issue one license to serve [...]

Pike Street’s 1200 Bistro Shutters Doors

IN THE NEWS: The Seattle Times‘ Ellen Banner reports on the Aug. 2 closing — for an ownership and management change, and for at least a month — of 1200 Bistro (1200 E. Pike St.) while Leson gives two and a half stars in reviewing Marcello Ristorante (7115 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle. 206-527-4778 www.marcelloseattle.com), and [...]

Post Dining Critic Lands National Award

IN THE NEWS: Best newspaper restaurant criticism first place award winner Gail Shepherd of New Times Broward/Palm Beach, runner-up Tom Sietsema of The Washington Post, and third place winner Besha Rodell of Creative Loafing in Atlanta have been honored by The Association of Food Journalists in its 2007 awards competition. They received their awards Aug. [...]

West’s Largest Whole Foods Opens Doors

IN THE NEWS: The Mercury News‘ Aleta Watson gives two and a half stars to Fatima Restaurant (10125 Bandley Drive, Cupertino 408-257-3893), while Carolyn Jung reviews The Counter (3055 Olin Ave., Suite 1035, in Santana Row, San Jose, 408-423-9200; also 369 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-321-3900. www.thecounterburger.com). … Jung also notes the opening of largest [...]

Waterfront Project Lands Peruvian Eatery

IN THE NEWS: San Francisco Waterfront Partners has snagged its first major restaurant tenant for the Piers, the boutique redevelopment just north of the Ferry Building, the San Francisco Business Times reports. La Mar Cebichería Peruana, a Lima, Peru-based restaurant with operations in Mexico City will open its first U.S. venture at Pier 1½. Scheduled [...]