Amigo’s Cantina, home to the finest margarita in town (thanks to you, Edgar), Kirkwood’s only smoke-free patio, and some killer shrimp tacos, has plans to open another restaurant in Midtown Alley, according to Amigo’s owner, Roberto Trevino.
Once financing is secured, look for Bandido’s Cantina to mix up some margs in the former Dinks Parrish Laundry building (now known as the Linen Lofts) on Olive St. just east of Compton. At his second cantina, Trevino plans to serve “botanas” (aka small plates, Mexican tapas), and go with the kitschy theme of bandits, outlaws, and mercenaries. Arriba! (I’ll place an early bet that one of the dishes will be called the Frito Bandito.)
With the notoriety and success of The Good Pie (in fact, it’s excellent pie), the Fountain on Locust (voted America’s Best Bathroom in 2010), The U (home of The Graduate—a humongous double burger—and the “Eat The Graduate” Challenge), and Pappy’s Smokehouse (just turn on the Travel Channel), Midtown Alley has become one of the city's emerging dining hot spots, a magnet drawing patrons from as far away as Chesterfield. Wonder of wonders! (Did the earth just stop spinning?)
If all goes as planned, Bandido’s will open in the Spring.
I'm not sure why, but that name conjured the memory of a guy named Woodcock, that hapless train guard from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: “But, you see Butch, I am still in the employ of Mr. E.H. Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad….” KA-POW!
