Articles about Bad critters
Michael Costa, Owner of The Office Grill in Dallas, Arrested
Michael Costa's mug shot. September 7, 2011.
I have been chronicling the career of Michael Costa for a couple of years. Costa has been a restaurant consultant in Dallas since the early ‘90s. In spring of 2009, I wrote several posts about his misbehavior and his penchant for writing hot checks at Las Colinas Prime . In October of 2010, I reported that Costa had resurfaced as a principal partner at The Office Grill. Soon after The Office opened, I received phone calls and emails from disgruntled workers who claimed Costa was writing bad checks and not paying vendors. I spoke with Costa and wrote a story his shady operations in the May issue of D Magazine.
This morning, I learned Costa was arrested last night for an outstanding warrant. So far, the only details I have received from James Yarbrough at the Dallas County Sheriff’s office are that Costa was picked up last night for “a bond forfeiture for theft of $1,500<20k.” According to another source, Costa spent the night at Decker Detention Center in jail and was released this morning. I am waiting for the full police report.
16 Comments »History of Dallas Food: The Golden Pheasant
In 1992, Renie Steves, a food and wine writer in Fort Worth, wrote a book called Dallas is Cooking. In the forward, Caroline Rose Hunt reminisces about the Golden Pheasant. “The steaks served at the Golden Pheasant located on Commerce between the Adolphus and Neiman Marcus were the best in town. A stuffed Chinese golden pheasant looked down on the diners, many who came fro out of the city to engage in the booming oil business.”
This week, Amy Severson and I continue our History of Dallas Food series on SideDish with a look at The Golden Pheasant, a French restaurant known for their sizzling steak platters. If you would like to take a look back at some of our earlier reports, here are the links: La Tunisia, Ida Chitwood. and Eltee O. Dave.
The Golden Pheasant Restaurant was a Dallas institution for over 45 years. If its story were a play, it would be a tragedy filled with mobsters, mysterious murders, and fires. The opulent restaurant opened in 1915 and operated under four different owners in four locations until it burned to the ground in 1964 and left four firemen dead. The last location was in the grassy lot which now sits next to the valet stand at the Magnolia Hotel. The fountain behind the hotel is a silent memorial of what was, even to this day, the worst loss in the history of the Dallas Fire Department.
Jump for the whole story.
Continue reading "History of Dallas Food: The Golden Pheasant"
8 Comments »Two Things That Have Already Ruined My Day
1. Ann Hathaway is going to play Ruth Reichl in Garlic and Sapphires. I would have picked Tina Fey
2. Groupon for tickets to see Stevie Nicks. I feel old.
4 Comments »Let’s Discuss: Is Yelp Deleting Customer Comments to Sell Ads?
I know very little about Yelp. I see it when I am searching for restaurants but I have never stop to read the reviews. Anywhoo, several people emailed me this week with complaints and concerns about Yelp. One loyal Disher sends this post found on Cavilli Pizza’s Facebook page. (Cavilli, that will be $15 for the link.)
Fans, just wanted to let you know that YELP has been removing our 5 star reviews for our McKinney location, we have talked to them and they have told us we can’t do anything about it. YELP has been unfair and removed 24 reviews all of which were 4 and 5 stars. But they keep calling us to advertise, and told us it would get better if we advertised. It’s all about making money, what a shame they used to be a great site.
Ouch! Maybe their cyber technicians can detect comments left by the same person. I don’t know. However, this morning comes a note from another just-as-loyal Disher.
I think you’d better take a seat and get ready for this rumble. Oh, and if you know Jack Perkins of Maple & Motor, you might want to text him a link. Okay? Let’s go.
Continue reading "Let’s Discuss: Is Yelp Deleting Customer Comments to Sell Ads?"
36 Comments »Toddlers and Toques: Should Fine Dining Restaurants in Dallas Ban Children?
Tall toques and toddlers: good or bad idea?
Lots of chinwagging taking place in the webosphere. Fine dining restaurants, such as this place in Pennsylvania, are banning children under six years of age. I tend to dine early and have witnessed children who squeal and squirm while their parents sip wine and attempt to enjoy a fine meal. I believe it is a good practice to take children into fine dining restaurant. It’s important to learn manners at an early age. The only time it chaps my sass is when the parents don’t reprimand their misbehaving offspring or take charge of the situation. Take this recent example from a loyal Disher.
Jump for the shrilling report.
Continue reading "Toddlers and Toques: Should Fine Dining Restaurants in Dallas Ban Children?"
33 Comments »Anthony Bourdain to Appear at Majestic Theatre in Dallas
You asked for him, you’ll have Tony for one night only, Thursday, October 27th at 8:00pm at The Majestic Theatre. According to his handlers “Bourdain will spend the evening sharing candid and often hilarious insights about his life’s work and travels, including an open question and answer session with the audience.” I’ve invited John Tesar to be my date. Anybody in for a group session!
Details below. Continue reading "Anthony Bourdain to Appear at Majestic Theatre in Dallas"
10 Comments »Something’s Going on With Michael Costa at The Office Grill in Dallas
I got a tip this morning from a loyal Disher. He/she spotted chains on the front door of The Office Grill in North Dallas. I called the restaurant at noon and got voicemail. (They are usually open for lunch.) Sarah Reiss happened to be nearby and I asked her to go over and check on the situation. She pulled up to find owner Michael Costa standing with two Smith Security employees. Sarah snapped a picture and walked over to ask them what was going on. After identifying herself as an employee of D Magazine, she asked Costa what was happening.“Nothing,” he said. “We are open. I‘m not going to comment.”
When a worker carrying what appeared to be his chef knives tried to enter the building, Costa had a conversation with him and the worker got back in his car and took off.
They may be open, but The Office Grill (Lucky 7 Private Club) has been on the TABC delinquent payments lists published on May 3, May 18, June 3, and June 18. Carolyn Beck, of the TABC in Austin, confirmed that Lucky 7 is on the list because they owe Goody Goody Liquors $7,700 and have since March. If you are on the list, you are not allowed to buy liquor from wholesalers. She also said that the TABC has not suspended Lucky 7′s permit.
Being on this list does not always indicate the restaurant has hit hard times. Sometimes many restaurants make an accounting oversight or the payment gets delayed in the mail. Either way, if you miss the strict deadline you go on the list. Four straight? That’s a problem.
51 Comments »Two Contestants From Dallas Compete on Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef
Another day, another TV reality show with a contestant from Dallas. This season’s MasterChef, on Monday and Tuesday nights on Fox, features two local heroes: Jennie Kelley, a singer with Polyphonic Spree, and travel writer Ben Starr. Intrepid intern, Harrison Smith, is all over the show like hot on fries. Each week he will file his take on the show. Go:
Is Gordon Ramsay a raging lunatic? I’m not sure—this is reality TV, after all, so who can really say who the nice guy is or who the mean-tempered award-winner is in real life. Maybe all the cursing and screaming he’s done in eight seasons of Hell’s Kitchen and now two seasons of MasterChef is just an act put on by a kind Scottish soul who loves to cook.
Or maybe he’s just an…
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10 Comments »Woman Raped and Beaten Near Capitol Pub on Henderson
Several days ago, I received an email warning women to be careful when leaving the bars and restaurants clustered on Henderson near Capitol Pub, J-Blacks, and Neighborhood Services Tavern. The email says:
Please be careful around J-Blacks and Capitol Pub. A friend of a co-worker’s was brutally beaten and raped while walking to her car last night from J Blacks. She was with the group watching the game and left the bar around 2AM. She was apparently parked on the street behind Capitol (near that park/school). No one knows exactly yet how and when it happened, but she was found early this morning on the street near Capitol naked and severely beaten.
I’ve located the PoliceReport that verifies this incident took place in the 2300 block of N. Garrett Ave. which is southeast of the Neighborhood Services, J-Black, and Capitol Pub area on Henderson, not near the park and elementary school.
1 Comment »Monday Morning Food News
Higher food prices are on the way.
California fisherman need fish in the ocean.
Flaming Bananas Foster injures four in Florida.
Where to sign the “Carne Asada is Not a Crime” petition.
LeBron James has all summer to choke chew on his mouthguard.
Somebody Help These Poor Fans: Miami Heat
They’ve been Dirked! Dallas is about to host a few fans from Miami Heat fans. Shall we tell them where to go eat?
11 Comments »Weekend Reading: How Dallas Restaurateur Michael Costa Keeps Screwing Restaurants
Michael Costa has made a lot of enemies. Costa has made a lot of enemies. Illustration by Sean McCabe.
Remember the saga of Las Colinas Prime? It’s a sordid tale of TABC raids, bounced paychecks, and unpaid vendors. At the time, Michael Costa and his Rainmaker Consulting Group were working with LCP owner Bill McCrorey to get the business on track. If you need to catch up on the trail go here, here, here, here, and here.
Costa disappeared from the Dallas scene after Las Colinas Prime closed in fall of 2009. However, he is back in business at The Office Grill in the former Tre Amici space in North Dallas.
Two weeks after The Office Grill opened, my phone started ringing. Employees and vendors were not being paid and checks were bouncing. It’s sounded all too familiar. I called a lot of people who have been in business with or worked for Michael Costa. I called Michael Costa. He claims that all of his accounts are in order. It still sounded shady to me—where there is billowing smoke there is usually a fire–so I checked (hah!) into his criminal records. What I found was rather interesting. I have written a story in the June issue of D Magazine. It’s all here. Have a nice weekend.
Jump for the mugshots. Continue reading "Weekend Reading: How Dallas Restaurateur Michael Costa Keeps Screwing Restaurants"
20 Comments »Mexican Bologna Smuggler Busted at the Border
I know, this little story I am about to tell you has nothing to do with Dallas other than the fact that I read DMN editor Bruce Tomaso’s post on Scoop.
According to Tomaso, whose witty reporting on the opening of In-N-Out Burger gave us the phrase “hot on fries,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 385 pounds of contraband bologna. (Which is a good name for a band.) Tomaso infers implies “some people who come to the United States from Mexico prefer the flavor of their native bologna to the comparatively bland varieties found in American supermarkets.”
Which begs the question: Do Mexican bologna manufacturers have a secret ingredient we need to know about? Maybe Maple & Motor needs to get the word out on their stellar baloney sandwich. Oh, I have a joke on the edge of my tongue but I can’t type it. Feel free to fill in the blank.
Kelly Hightower Leaves Nova For Dallas Restaurant Group
I’d heard the rumor and reached out to Kelly Hightower for a comment and some details, but Cravedfw has the story. Apparently, the boisterous chef will now be in charge of Dallas Restaurant Group’s Wild Salsa, the seemingly endless project under construction at the Merc. (It’s located in an historical building and one can only imagine the permit process.)
Bunny Suit Optional.
From the press release department:
On April 23, Brackets will host a FREE adult Easter egg hunt and bunny costume contest (6 and 8 pm, respectively). Guests can enjoy drink and shot specials while hunting eggs filled with grown-up prizes such as gift certificates, drink tickets, tokens for free game play, candy, and one golden egg containing a voucher for one lucky participant to throw a keg party for 25 of his or her best buds. Throw on your favorite bunny suit or Easter gear because at 8 pm the best dressed bunny will receive a $100 Brackets gift certificate.
Lost and Found: Anyone Recognize This Boot I Spotted at Côtes du Coeur
There were plenty of things to marvel at Saturday night at the festive Côtes du Coeur, but these boots I found particularly amazing. Can you guess the person whose feet is crammed into these boots?
Clue 1: Seen at Côtes du Coeur on Saturday night.
Clue 2: They are hand grooved.
Teresa Gubbins Makes a Great Point: Throwing Away Food at Fundraisers is Politically Incorrect
Gross. Photo by Marc Lee.
Last night the Chefs for Farmers dinner at the Highland Park Cafeteria was the talk of the town. Over 250 folks showed up to support farmers, raise money, and bow to local producers and everything organic. All the current politically correct buzzwords were in place until reporter Teresa Gubbins noticed the huge number of half-eaten plates left on the tables. She writes:
I didn’t eat. I was too stunned by the rampant waste. Given the nature of the crowd — one that seemed heavy on foodies — I was flabbergasted to see how much food got thrown away, and how little respect it seemed to show for the work the chefs did, and the very nature of the event itself, with its emphasis on farmers and reverence for food.
I thought the idea of holding the event in a cafeteria was a great idea–it could have been a teaching experience. Instead of piling on globs of food, the chefs should have dished out smaller tasting portions. One diner quipped: “I paid $92 and I’m going to get my money’s worth.” Dude, it’s a fundraiser. You aren’t supposed to get your money’s worth. Stay true to the movement, chefs. Gubbins, you rule #WINNING.
28 Comments »Dough Pizzeria Napoletana Debuts on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana, a popular San Antonio pizza joint, is getting ready to move into the Chocolate Angel Too space at Preston Forest in May (move in date is tentative). They will be a shoo-in for a mob scene looking for some Guy Fevah. On April 11 the San Antonio restaurant will star on Diner drive-ins and Dives.
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