The Park Ave area should gear up for some Louisiana soul, hopefully in time to warm up the winter. French Quarter Cafe, which has been open on Arnett Boulevard for just over a year, will be taking over the former Martini Grille location on South Goodman Street. Nick Brown, who owns French Quarter along with his wife, Raquel, and brother Norell, says he's looking forward to offering up creole flair at affordable prices, and hopes to open the new location in a few months. Brown says they are changing the building's interior color scheme, and removing the bar area to allow for more seating. A menu expansion is planned, and this new location for French Quarter will also do catering and private events (the original location will remain open, at least for now, Brown says). Keep reading Chow Hound for more information as the launch date gets closer.
Abbott's moves to St. Paul Quarter
After Midtown Plaza closed, downtown workers and residents had to truck to Park Ave to get their frozen custard fix. Abbott's just got closer again, with the opening of Abbott's Frozen Custard and Kitchen Keg at 72 St. Paul St, in the Warner Place Building. If you notice the "kitchen keg" part of the name, this spot aims to serve up more than just cold treats. Other food vices can be met here, such as cotton candy and candy apples, and for those looking for something a bit more substantial, breakfast and lunch are served as well. The new Abbott's location is open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 546-3116 for more information.
Mykonos changes name
Rumors of Mykonos Cafe disappearing from Fairport came my way, which would have been surprising considering the restaurant's recent relocation about a year ago from Winton Place. While the name Mykonos may have gone away, the food is still the same at Plaka, the new name for the eatery. ("Plaka" means "old" in the Arvanitic language, and is also the name of a historical neighborhood in Athens, Greece.) A few new menu items have been added, but die-hard Mykonos lovers will be happy to know this is still the same Greek diner that has long fed the Rochester population. Plaka is located at 687 Moseley Road. Plaka is open Sunday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri-Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information call 598-3550.
Casa Azteca re-opens
Casa Azteca re-reopened in late June, bringing back to life a convenient suburban Mexican stop. I personally looked forward to trying out the restaurant's guacamole, remembering it fondly from my guacamole round-up last year. However, our recent visit was disappointing. The guac was runny, and the combination platters we sampled were uninspired, lacking the depth of flavor typically found in Mexican food. Here's hoping we hit the restaurant on a bad night, as I would hate to have this re-opening be not-so-grand. Casa Azteca remains at 6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd, and is open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information call 425-0393.
Mex re-opens restaurant
Another local Mexican favorite has re-fired its grill. Although it had switched to bar-only about a year ago, Mex on Alexander Street is back to serving food, with a new menu filled with Mexican fare. Burritos, fajitas, and enchiladas abound, all with your choice of protein. There is shredded beef, rubbed with brown sugar, chilis, and spices; shredded chicken roasted with an achiote and citrus blend; and those who eschew meat have two vegetarian options, including seitan marinated in tomatoes, onions, and peppers, or fried tofu in a red pepper sauce. There is, of course, always the option to skip the food and enjoy a margarita at the large bar. Mex is located at 295 Alexander St, and the kitchen is open Tuesday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5-11 p.m., with extended hours for the bar. For more information call 262-3060.
The Mez closes
At the end of August, The Mez restaurant/café/performance venue on Gregory Street closed its doors, right after another successful edition of its annual Mezzapallooza festival. According to owner James Rowe, he is looking at several other venues and hopes to re-open the business at a different location shortly. Check houseofhamez.com for details as they come.
Paola's closed
Paola's Burrito Place, located on South Avenue, has closed its doors. Family-run, inexpensive, and generally a good place to grab a quick burrito, the number to the business was disconnected when we tried to reach out for comment. While I didn't get over there as often as I would like, I remember the exuberant praise this place received from a former co-worker, and how happy I was that it lived up to the hype.
Chipotle comes to Rochester
The Chipotle chain was a lunch haunt of mine in Maryland years ago; it served up reliably decent fast food. The chain has now opened in Henrietta at 620 Jefferson Rd. It's probably a good thing I work across town, because I fondly remember the burrito bowl, an affordable mid-day bite. Check chipotle.com for a slick website describing the typical ingredients that will have you pre-planning your burrito toppings during your shopping excursion in Henrietta. For more information call 424-1444.
Five Guys opens in Pittsford
While I not-so-patiently wait for In-N-Out Burger to make its East Coast appearance, Five Guys Burgers fills my beefy yearnings, and now has another area location in Pittsford Plaza. I find the double burger to be a pretty close substitution to my dream burger, with its choice of toppings and juicy grilled meat. The fries are decent, although the cajun option was a little too dusky for my liking. Peanuts to shell while you wait, fast and friendly service, and a filling meal; it's hard to go wrong with this rapidly expanding chain. Visit fiveguys.com for information and hours for the three Rochester locations, which also includes stores in Henrietta and Webster.
Search CITY's online restaurant guide at www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/restaurants.