Sizzling dish: The Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen in Texas City always packs in the hungry crowds. So is it far-fetched to think the La Porte-based chain is cooking up a second eatery in the county? A reader reports being privy to a site plan that puts a Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen in front of the Best Buy store at Victory Lakes Town Center, northeast corner of Interstate 45 and FM 646.
“Looks to be a lot bigger than the one in Texas City,” the reader reports.
While sizzling, the rumor is unconfirmed. A woman answering the phone at the chain’s corporate offices said she had not heard about any such plans and referred inquiries to another employee who did not immediately respond. Russell Ybarra launched the eight-restaurant chain, with flair for fajitas, in Pearland in 1993. Stay tuned.
All rise: What Hurricane Ike did to San Leon’s dining and entertainment scene was a crime. But sometimes justice prevails. After losing their Buccaneer bar in San Leon to the storm, Justice of the Peace Mark Foster and wife, Judy, decided to replace it with Judge’s Bar and Grill, 113 Sixth St. The restaurant, which opened Oct. 22, already has collected some culinary kudos.
Judge’s Shrimp and Crab Gumbo won the “best entree” award at last month’s Cowboys and Cowgirls Who Cook event in Clear Lake, which helps to support Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo scholarships. The eatery also serves up shrimp barbecued and fried. Another specialty is barbecue rib eye. Judge’s Bar and Grill overlooks Galveston Bay and is accessible by boat.
One reader e-mailed: “Great Ahi Tuna, good bar staff/drinks, tropical atmosphere and locally owned and operated. The building is hot pink!”
For information, call 281-339-1515.
Quiet opening: More than a year after Hurricane Ike smashed it to pieces, the island’s Murdoch’s Pier, 2215 Seawall Blvd., has returned — but not completely, reports Jim Little, whose family owns the famous souvenir shop.
The east side of the shop, where Murdoch’s sells gifts, lamps, sea shells, T-shirts and more, is open for business. But the west side, where Murdoch’s sells snacks and beverages, will return before Thanksgiving, Little said. Little said he plans to make a bigger splash when the entire business returns. Hurricane Ike, which struck September 2008, had left only a gutted shell or the world-renowned shop on a pier over the Gulf of Mexico, which was built in the 1800s for beach visitors to rent bathing suits and take showers.
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Welcome back: Financial advisers, associates and support staff with Merrill Lynch will make a post-Ike return to their downtown island office Monday, manager Marty Baker said in an e-mail.
Crews have completely renovated and newly designed the office on the first floor of the historic Heidenheimer Building, 306 22nd St. Mitchell Family Historic Properties owns the building.
Baker wanted to extend his appreciation to Bill Ross and Ernie Conner of Mitchell Historic Properties for helping with such a complex renovation.
Storm surge in downtown was devastating and repairing historic buildings is painstakingly slow, Ross has said.
“We look forward to having our clients and friends coming into the office to see our newly restored facility,” Baker said.
Gobbling this up: Here’s some Turkey Day news you can use. With the island’s Luby’s Cafeteria out of the picture, some residents want to know where to order Thanksgiving dinner to go. Island catering firm and sit-down restaurant Chopin Mon Ami is accepting orders for a turkey and all the trimmings.
Chopin Mon Ami, 1508 39th St., will prepare a whole turkey, pan of cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, a quart of gravy, a pint of cranberry sauce, one apple pie and one pumpkin pie for $119.
The firm will stop taking orders Nov. 18. For information, call 409-762-2622.
