September 14-20, 2006
Food
Feeding FrenzyThe historic Robin's Nest will debut its new addition tomorrow, Sept. 15, with drink specials, free apps and entertainment. The patio bar overlooks the Rancocas Creek, and will feature live music. Also, if you're that guy/girl, there's a nonsmoking area even though the place is frickin' outside. Hear that, Nutter? It's the sound of my diseased heart weeping tar.
Opening a taqueria across from Dave Frank and Stephen Simons' wildly popular La Cantina is risky, but here's why it'll work: Cantina's expert plates and ambience have endeared it to the notoriously fickle Schwinns 'n' tats contingentan accomplishment in itself. El Zarape, on the other hand, is less about hipmosphere and more about simple, dirt-cheap grub in all its misspelled-menu glory (beef = biff, cheese = chees, etc.). Tres cheers for el coexistence. Bite This: The "El Zarape Especial" features beef, pork, onions, peppers, cheese and bacon.
This 80-seat BYO looks to spice up Bella Vista with an ambitious lunch-brunch-dinner approach. Co-owners Clemente Perez Sandoval and Jose Guadalupe Tellez have worked at La Veranda, Positano Coast and Coyote Crossing. While the menu is mostly regional (both owners hail from Puebla, Mexico), it also delves into European dishes. Bite This: Nontraditional offerings include a hearty Valencian paella and fettuccine Alfredo.
La Boheme owner Athmane Kabir is close to passing the keys along to Caribou Café's Olivier de Saint Martin, but the deal's not official yetthe chef says he'll have more details about his plans in the coming weeks. Contrary to previous media reports, the place is not open this week. How'd we find out? Easy: They called CP critic Elisa Ludwig to inform her that her reservation had been cancelled. Hell has no wrath like a foodie scorned kidding. E's a doll.