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Cactus Jack’s on Lemmon is Closing Today

Candy Evans says Keller’s Cactus Jacks on Lemmon is closing today and will be a Cal’s Roast Beef.

Update: Well, Candy says Cal’s Roast Beef  “is a big chain in the Northwest.” I can’t find it.

Update: Candy, stick to reporting on real estate: “So much for typing on the iphone whilst I drive — I think it is Carl’s Jr which morphed from Cal’s roast beef which I remember eating in suburban Illinois growing up… but I just heard this last night” is not good enough. Please quit texting and reporting.

Update: Wilonsky to the rescue.

Tom Tom in West Village in Dallas is Closed

According to Disher Brown, Tom Tom Noodle House in West Village is closed. Sign on the door says the property was seized for failure to pay state taxes.

Randy “Rib King” Goss, R.I.P.

According to a loyal Disher, Randy Goss, c0-founder of County Line Barbecue restaurant has been found dead in a car submerged in a creek. Our loyal Disher reports:

I’ve known Randy since I was in elementary school.  He and my sister are the same age, graduated high school together at H.P.  His dad’s business was a big used car lot on Ross Avenue.  People of a certain age no doubt remember the big yellow sign: Goss On Ross, Your Tradin’ Hoss.”  Goss and a couple of other Highland Park boys headed to Austin and UT after high school and soon opened their first barbecue place west of town.  It was a home run from the start….had live music in the early years, too.

More details here. And here. Our thoughts go out to the Goss family. I grew up listening to Randy’s father, Gene Goss, sell cars on TV. (h/t JW)

Dave Faries Leaves the Observer: Is Dallas Dude the New Dave? Do Chicks Make Better Dining Critics?

Pigs and chicks in happier times.

I was just catching up on the Dave-less City of Ate and found this line in Dallas Dude’s latest Toque To Toque report.

My health insurance at the Observer hasn’t kicked in yet. And I ate a lot of burgers.

Am I the only one who is curious about Dave’s departure? He was there on Friday and gone on Monday. Well, if Dallas Dude is the next Dave, then then a couple of male chauvinist pigs (wow that came from the dark recesses of my brain) over at Dallasfood.org will be happy as, well, pigs in slop. Some  bloggers over there—Luniz, I’m looking at you—are hoping  a male fills the Observer job. Luniz hopes “they don’t replace him with a chick.” Perhaps you men should subscribe to the Star-Telegram. Your boy is back doing reviews. Cue the Boss.

Who Serves the Best Seafood in Dallas?

The last couple of days I have been working on a story about seafood. In the course of my conversations with people in the restaurant business, I’ve been asked to name the best seafood restaurant in Dallas. It’s a hard question because there are many restaurants that serve great seafood but aren’t considered seafood restaurants. Then you have to consider the different tiers: high-end seafood restaurants, mid-price point, and lower price joints.  I want to open this question up to you. What is the best seafood restaurant in Dallas? Alternatively, what restaurant does a great job with seafood?