Mexican Restaurants Archives - Page 26 of 33

Wonderkid Restaurant From the Owners of Bon Ton Closes at Atlanta Dairies on Memorial Drive

Posted on07/11/202230/11/2022Author

Wonderkid, the Memorial Drive restaurant owned by Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins (Bon Ton, The Lawrence), closed over the weekend after nearly three years at Atlanta Dairies in Reynoldstown.

Rumors of its impending closure began circulating earlier in November, with one reader telling Eater that their server stated the restaurant’s last day was set for December 1. However, Wonderkid instead closed following dinner service SundayNovember 27.

“There just comes a time when you either lick your wounds and move on or just keep battling,” Carr said of the decision to close Wonderkid. “We felt the best move was to admit defeat. I could make a lot of excuses about the pandemic being the only reason, but it was a combination of the last three years and not being good enough. I don’t think we conceptually nailed it.”

Wonderkid opened in December 2019, just three months prior to the start of the pandemic. During its first year, the restaurant sported a food menu from chef Justin Dixon that included everything from chili-spiced sticky wings and pan-roasted duck with red cabbage spätzle to a diner-style cheeseburger, deviled eggs topped with bacon and pickled okra, and a falafel waffle served with sides of tabouleh and roasted eggplant. Brunch featured familiar comfort dishes like steak and eggs, eggs in hell, and bagels and lox.

Dixon left Wonderkid in 2021 to focus on his critically acclaimed sandwich pop-up Humble Mumble, currently in residence at Collective at Coda food hall in Midtown.

Like both Bon Ton and the Lawrence, Wonderkid quickly became known for its happy hour specials and cocktails, including takes on classics like the pisco sour with overproof rum and a Hanky Panky made with Japanese gin, Cocchi Torino, and Ramazzotti amaro.

In 2020, the restaurant played host to holiday bar Miracle, a move which offered more outdoor seating and social distancing during the height of the global health crisis that year. In addition to seating on Wonderkid’s covered patio, Atlanta Dairies allowed Miracle bar to expand into the green space beyond the restaurant to create an outdoor “Christmas district” at the complex.

For now, Carr says he and Simpkins are focused on their next venture together. The pair plan to open the Waiting Room at the end of December, a cocktail lounge with live music taking over the former Top Flr space above their Midtown restaurant Bon Ton.

Three two top tables set along the banquette at Wonderkid at Atlanta Dairies

A dining area with vintage diner tables and chairs and a banquette along the wall at Wonderkid at Atlanta Dairies

Atlanta Dairies is currently home to Three Taverns Brewery’s Imaginarium, Cold Brew Bar coffeehouse, and the Eastern’s concert hall and rooftop bar, from the owners of the Variety Playhouse.

Fishmonger owners Skip Engelbrecht, Nhan Le, and chef Bradford Forsblom open counter-service restaurant Small Fry next year at Atlanta Dairies, serving fried chicken and fish sandwiches, falafel burgers, fish nuggets, and shrimp baskets from a takeout window. A rum bar called El Malo and Spina Pizza from Anthony Spina Jr. are also expected to open in 2023 at the Memorial Drive complex.

674 Myrtle St., Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 996-6161

225 Rogers Street Northeast, , GA 30317

These 13 San Antonio-area restaurants will be closed in 2022

Posted on03/11/202230/11/2022Author

San Antonio saw quite a few restaurant openings this year and there is still another on the way with a California hot chicken chain set to open next month. But 2022 also saw a lot of restaurants closing their doors this year. The summer saw a lot of restaurants close, whether they announced their last days or just shuttered abruptly.

Hello Paradise

The Pearl-area outdoor lounge concept from local restaurant and cocktail guru Jeret Peña just celebrated one year of being in business. Then in February, Peña said Hello Paradise would close its doors.

You can't grab these pork ribs and turkey from Bandit BBQ anymore. — You can’t grab these pork ribs and turkey from Bandit BBQ anymore.

Mike Sutter /Staff file photo

BBQ bandits

Chef and pitmaster Brandon Peterson and business partner Mark Garcia announced in May that it would close San Antonio barbecue favorite Bandit BBQ after only two years. However, Peterson and Garcia said they would team up to open Bad Animal at the former Hello Paradise spot.

Alamo BBQ

Lauded San Antonio chef Jason Dady said in May that he was bringing an end to the Pearl-area barbecue joint Alamo BBQ after four years.

Playland

This one kind of came out of nowhere, but Chef Stefan Bowers took to Instagram in June to say that he would close the downtown San Antonio pizzeria Playland with plans to open a new concept elsewhere. Now the old building will be home to Voodoo Donuts.

Cerroni’s Purple Garlic

In keeping with the pizza theme, a longtime Italian eatery called Cerroni’s Purple Garlic on Austin Highway announced in July it was going to close the beloved spot after over 20 years.

Cerveceria Chapultepec

This closure took people by surprise only because the Mexican chain Cerveceria Chapultepec shuttered both of its San Antonio locations in late June without any word after just a year.

William and Addie Garner, owners of Mr. and Mrs. G's Home Cooking and Pastry on WW White Road, closed the restaurant this year. — William and Addie Garner, owners of Mr. and Mrs. G’s Home Cooking and Pastry on WW White Road, closed the restaurant this year.

JOHN DAVENPORT, Staff Photographer / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Mr. & Mrs. G’s

This San Antonio soul food staple on the Eastside announced via social media in July that the restaurant would close after serving the community for 32 years.

5 Points

This European concept at 1017 N Flores said that it would close its doors in July because it had trouble finding staff after the COVID-19 pandemic.

You could find the Big Over Easy Pizza with eggs at Broken Stone when it was open.

Chuck Blount/Staff

Broken Stone Pizza Co.

This Boerne pizzeria that opened its doors 10 years ago said in a Facebook post in July that it would have to close at the end of the month, saying that it was the only option they had.

Flagstop Cafe

Another Boerne restaurant that fed the community for 36 years closed its doors in August. Any chance at a return to the same location was dashed as the building was later demolished.

Sol Y Luna made a variety of giant cookies.

Yelp / Tara T.

Sol y Luna Baking Company

A popular bakery on the Northside known as Sol y Luna Baking Company closed in August after 14 years because the family decided to “hang up our rolling pins” and retire.

Hometown Burger closed all of its chains abruptly.

Google Maps

Hometown Burgers

This local burger chain abruptly closed all eight of its locations in September with very little explanation in a Facebook post that said: “It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the permanent closing of all of our Hometown Burger locations. We thank you for your business over the years. We’ll see you on the flip side.”

Truth Pizzeria

Truth Pizzeria, a pizza joint on the Eastside that received praise, announced “with a heavy heart” that it would close its doors in October.

How Restaurants Are Making More Money Off of Customers

Posted on25/10/202230/11/2022Author

burger from red robin — Photo: JJava Designs (Shutterstock)

With food prices at uncomfortable levels right nowconsumers are carefully weighing each potential trip to a restaurant. Those businesses, in turn, are finding strategies to keep people coming through the door, experimenting with promotions and tweaking their overall approach. But one method that’s actually working out for some chain restaurantss is a marketing strategy called barbell pricing. Even if you haven’t heard of it, you might have already experienced this model without realizing it.

What is barbell pricing?

As explained by trade publication Restaurant Business Online, barbell pricing is when a restaurant lures you in with promotions deals while simultaneously pushing higher-end items. Denny’s has been employing this strategy this yearand Red Robin is also making moves toward this model by offering a $10 meal promo while also promoting its higher-end Cheese Lovers burgers, priced at over $15 per burger.

What this does is draw in multiple types of customers. Lower-income diners, who are most impacted by inflation, come in for lower prices, while customers who might be less affected by rising food costs are drawn in by the allure of premium items, which they are willing to spend extra to get. Plus there’s always the old-fashioned upsell: Once you’re in, the restaurant has the opportunity to convince you to upgrade from lower-end items to fancier ones on the spot. Or tack on some drinks. Or maybe dessert.

Traditional across-the-board discounts (“All entrees half off!”) don’t necessarily make sense for large chains, as those price cuts guarantee that the restaurant will net less money per bill no matter what. In the case of barbell pricing, the customers dropping money on the costly items can offset the purchases of price-conscious patrons who have only come for the discounted items.

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If it feels manipulative, understand that it’s not a new concept. Deal seekers will forever remain a constant in the dining landscapeand for every one of themthere’s someone else (sigh, me) willing to impulsively upgrades on the spot—so it makes sense that restaurants have figured out how to cater to both simultaneously. Fast food chains like Taco Bell are in on barbell pricing too, by offering a $2 Cravings Menu and a $6.49 Double Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito.

It’s sort of a mixed bag for corporations, however. Restaurant Business Online reports that Chili’s has decided it’s more worthwhile to offer fewer discounts, a strategy that results in less foot traffic but nets the company a higher overall profit. The next time you’re out to eat, looking for the best deals, keep a close eye on what’s actually being offered on the value menu. The choices might be restrictive by design, in an attempt to push you toward the more expensive stuff.