LOCAL HOTSPOT
HISTORIC CHARM
From dancehall to local diner SUNKEN GARDENS WELCOMES HUNGRY DINERS FOR LUNCH by Michelle Banse Stokes, photos by Lori Olivarez-Ligues
Clockwise from above: Kay Villalpando of Sunken Gardens displays one of her famous pecan pies; a photograph in the dining area hangs in tribute to the bands that performed at the Sunken Garden in the 1940s. A variety of music was played and, because Czech and German immigrants were frequent visitors, traditional polkas and waltzes were played often; the patio is popular among diners.
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local hotspot and favorite among travelers, Sunken Gardens’ owner Travis Maeker doesn’t take credit for the restaurant’s success. He’s quick to tell you that the real backbone of the restaurant is actually his mother, Kay Villalpando. “It’s all her ideas, her deal, her vision,” shared Maeker. “Her idea was to serve the type of food to her diners that she serves her family. Momma is a foodie. She’s very strict about food and only uses what’s fresh. She’s even particular about the oils she uses – butter, olive oil, peanut oil and coconut are the only oils in the building. And there’s no high fructose corn syrup, well, unless you have a Coca Cola with your lunch.”
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