Michael Smith’s Extra Virgin Opening Next to Namesake Spot

IN THE NEWS: The Kansas City Star’s Joyce Smith details the scheduled Dec. 9 opening of Michael Smith’s highly anticipated Extra Virgin, a Mediterranean tapas bistro next to his namesake restaurant, Michael Smith, at 7 W. 19th St. … Smith also reports, “The Raphael Restaurant will close after breakfast Dec. 14 for a remodeling, the […]

Medina’s Good Taste Market Closes; Taste Opens on Lee

IN THE NEWS: The Plain Dealer’s Joe Crea reports the closing of Good Taste Market (985 Boardman Alley in Medina), while Bob Migra reviews Stone Mad (1306 West 65th Street, Cleveland). www.cleveland.com … The Scene’s Douglas Trattner reviews Frank Sterle’s Slovenian Country House (1401 E. 55th St., Cleveland, sterlescountryhouse.com) and details the opening of Taste […]

Openings Include Down South Grill, Taste, Angler’s Seafood

IN THE NEWS: The Star’s Lauren Chapin reviews Cantina Del Ray (7100 Wornall Road) and Czar Bar (just outside the Power & Light District), while Joyce Smith reports the openings of Down South Grill (3834 Main St. in the former Antonio’s Pizza space) and Taste in downtown Overland Park (7938 Santa Fe Drive). www.kansascity.com … […]

Openings Include Thai Fresh, 2nd Mesa Ranch

IN THE NEWS: The Chronicle’s Virginia B. Wood details the new Thai Fresh (909 W. Mary, www.thai-fresh.com) and the second Mesa Ranch outlet (2200 S. I-35; 8108 Mesa Dr., www.mesaranchaustin.com). www.austinchronicle.com … The American-Statesman’s Dale Rice reviews Taste (202 W. Cesar Chavez St.). www.austin360.com
Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Reviewers Rate Union, La Dolce Vita, Marcela’s

IN THE NEWS: The Seattle Times’s Providence Cicero reviews Union (1400 First Ave., Seattle, www.unionseattle.com), while Kim Eckart considers Pabla Indian Cuisine (364 Renton Center Way S.W., No. C60, Renton, www.pablacuisine.com). seattletimes.com … The PI’s Leslie Kelly reviews La Dolce Vita (234 First Ave. W., ladolcevitaseattle.com) and reports that Craig Hetherington is the new executive […]

Belvedere Square’s Upscale Eatery Taste Closes

IN THE NEWS: Upscale restaurant Taste in Belvedere Square will close in April after three and a half years in business, the Baltimore Business Journal reports. baltimore.bizjournals.com … The Sun’s Karen Nitkin reviews Gianni’s (3720 Washington Blvd., Arbutus), while Elizabeth Large . baltimoresun.com
Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Reviewers Rate Sagra, Brewpubs, Manuel’s, Chez Nous

IN THE NEWS: The American-Statesman’s Dale Rice gives three stars to the pizza at Sagra (1610 San Antonio St.,535-5988). austin360.com … ChicagoBites.com visits Manuel’s (310 Congress Ave., Austin), Chez Nous (510 Neches Street, Austin) and Old Pecan Street Cafe (310 E 6th Street, Austin). … The Chronicle’s Wes Marshall rounds up brewpubs, including The Draught […]

‘Top Chef’ Host Lauds Vermilion, Avec, Table Fifty-Two

IN THE NEWS: The Tribune’s Phil Vettel gives two stars to one-time Oprah chef Art Smith’s new Table Fifty-Two (52 W. Elm St., 312-573-4000). … Joe Gray has a first bite at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine’s new s second location (53 E. Lake St.; 312-658-1250) and chats with Padma Lakshmi, host of Bravo […]