VOLUME 102, ISSUE 37
www.UniversityStar.com
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
thursday
NOVEMBER 15, 2012
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SECTION B
San Marcos Stars
Tap Room Pub & Grub won the San Marcos Stars Best Burger award. Visit UniversityStar.com to see more.
BEST BREAKFAST TACOS
Lolita’s Cafe
rants that reminded him of home cooking. It took Hernandez awhile before he tried Lolita’s. “It’s not exactly like home, but it’s the next best thing,” Hernandez said. Hernandez said Lolita’s deserves San Marcos Star because it is his favorite breakfast stop. “People are always here from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Hernandez said. “It’s like a club.” Austin Beavers, Staff Photographer Carrillo said her busiest By Karen Zamora days are always Saturdays, News Reporter with her best-selling taco being the Lolita’s Special. The Lolita’s Special includes potaA small blue and red building with a line to, egg, beans, bacon and cheese wrapped of cars and pedestrians can be easily identi- into a homemade tortilla. fied as Lolita’s Cafe, a San Marcos breakKrysta Frank, Kyle resident, said she fast staple. does not mind the lines. Frank said she Since 2004, Lolita’s Cafe has won over travels to San Marcos every Saturday with the hungry stomachs of many San Marcos her family just for Lolita’s breakfast tacos. residents. The cafe has been recognized as “It’s been our Saturday ritual for the a San Marcos Star for the best breakfast ta- last couple of years,” Frank said. “When cos in town for the fourth consecutive year. we moved to Kyle, it was the one that we Marta Carrillo, owner of Lolita’s Cafe, couldn’t let go.” said winning San Marcos Star is a “big, big Carrillo said 70 percent of her customers gift.” Carrillo said seeing her customers ev- are regulars, visiting the location more than ery day is special to her. twice a week. Chris Hernandez, San Marcos resident, Carrillo said when she won last year sevsaid he has been a frequent patron of Lo- eral of her regulars brought in newspapers lita’s since transferring to Texas State in and told her they voted for her cafe. She 2008. Hernandez said when he first moved said that is something that has always made to San Marcos he tried several local restau- her happy.
BEST STEAKHOUSE Saltgrass Steakhouse By Nancy Young News Reporter Residents have voted Saltgrass Steak House as the best of its kind in the San Marcos Stars poll. Saltgrass, located at 211 Sessom Drive, has been in business for a little more than five years and is now thriving. With a casual attire atmosphere, customers can have their meal in the inside dining room or outside on the open patio seating overlooking the San Marcos River. According to the company’s website, the steakhouse recaptures the flavor of open campfires with their chargrilled steaks, chicken and seafood. Natalie Horton has been a trainer at Saltgrass for more than two years. As a trainer, Horton is a hostess as well as a waitress and bartender, and stocks the shelves behind the bar. Horton said she enjoys working for the company. “The staff here is all really cool, and the managers are all really nice too,” Horton said. “Everyone works together to make sure the atmosphere inside the restaurant is suitable for customers that come in.” Horton also added that Saltgrass is about quality over quantity, and the company be-
lieves in better food and superior customer service over making a little extra money. “We’re not a company that believes in turning over tables quickly,” Horton said. “Staff members usually have about three to four tables at a time. We don’t want to staff to have too many at one time. We want to make sure they take care of the customers.” Nic Hinton has been a bartender at the San Marcos establishment for about a year and a half but has been working with the company for more than seven years. “The bar isn’t always too crowded, but a lot of the customers like to sit on the patio and enjoy their drinks out there,” Hinton said. “The majority of our customers like to come during happy hour and enjoy a few drinks.” Milton and Karen Thompson , San Marcos residents, said they come to the steakhouse “every once and a while” to enjoy a nice steak dinner. “We come here a couple of times a year to have a good meal,” Karen Thompson said. “We really do enjoy the food here.” Milton Thompson mentioned that it was his birthday, and that he wanted to come to Saltgrass to enjoy a nice steak dinner. Saltgrass Steakhouse came in third place in the San Marcos Stars last year.
BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT
Rose Garden
BEST BARBEQUE
Fuschak’s By Nora Riordan News Reporter
Family-owned and operated since 1966, Fuschak’s Pit Bar-B-Q was voted San Marcos Star for Best BBQ. Fuschak’s offers a variety of smoked barbeque, such as ribs, brisket, fajitas, sausage, chicken and smoked turkey, along with a number of sides. This restaurant also serves a daily buffet with numerous food options. Julie Fuschak, daughter of owner Morgan Fuschak, said she feels excited about winning Best BBQ. “This makes me feel really proud of my family and really proud of my dad for all of the work he has accomplished over the years,” Julie Fuschak said. “It is a good feeling.” Julie Fuschak said the establishment is the oldest family-owned restaurant in San Marcos. “We have been satisfying customers for decades now,” Julie Fuschak said. “It is just the best barbeque restaurant in Texas in my opinion.” The small, family business aspect of the restaurant is very important to Fuschak.
She said that is one of the ways Fuschak’s is set apart from the other barbeque restaurants. “More and more barbeque restaurants are starting to branch out into chains,” Julie Fuschak said. “We have remained local and loyal to our customers, (just) as they have remained for us.” Julie Fuschak recommended her ultimate favorite food from the menu, the “Bar burrito.” She said it is also one of the customers’ all time favorites. “The Bar burrito is kind of a favorite of mine,” Julie Fuschak said. “When I run into someone and they tell me they love Fuschak’s, they always tell me they are addicted to the Bar burrito.” The Bar burrito is a tortilla with brisket, refried beans, onions, cheese, hot sauce and barbeque sauce. Scott Davis, history freshman, is a satisfied customer of Fuschak’s Pit Bar-B-Q. Davis said he sometimes goes to Fuschak’s because he likes the homey atmosphere. “Fuschak’s Pit Bar-B-Q is a good, local barbeque restaurant,” Davis said. “I like going there because I like their brisket and barbeque sauce.”
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Garcia’s By Sarah Stephens Trends Reporter
As soon as they walk into Garcia’s Mexican restaurant, customers can’t help but feel at home. The restaurant’s walls are filled with pictures that represent the Hispanic culture and festive music can usually be heard playing softly in the background from speakers. Salena Ybarra, the restaurant’s owner, opened Garcia’s twenty-three years ago in the fall of 1988 with the encouragement of family friends. It has since evolved into a favorite among students and residents who appreciate Garcia’s budget-friendly menu and fresh food. “Even though I’ve only been in San Marcos for a few months, Garcia’s has already become a staple for me,” said Katrina Bland, education freshman. “I find myself coming here all the time not just because of the awesome food, but because the staff is always so friendly and helpful.” Garcia’s menu offers an array of options ranging from traditional Mexican dishes like beef quesadillas, burritos and
tamales while also providing a list of American dishes for those who wish to try something they are more familiar with. “Everything we serve on the menu is homemade,” Ybarra said. “Our cooks use recipes that have been in my family for decades and were passed down from generation to generation.” Because of its success and positive reputation, Garcia’s has since been able to open up in six other locations that spread from San Marcos to Seguin. “I was very excited to be able to have the opportunity to extend the restaurant out across different parts of Texas,” Ybarra said. “I know that probably wouldn’t have been possible if Garcia’s didn’t have such great customers who spread the word about their great experiences from coming here.” Ybarra knows that college-aged students are some of her best customers, and she hopes that they will keep coming in flocks for many years to come. “My service to them makes me feel like their mother away from home,” Ybarra said. “I hope they continue to come and view Garcia’s as a place where they can always get a good home-style meal.”
Kristen Lefebvre, Staff Photographer
Rose Garden was voted best Asian restaurant in San Marcos. They offer a variety of Asian cuisine such as sesame chicken. Irma Delgado, interdisciplinary studies By Hannah Mills freshman, said she is a regular customer at News Reporter Rose Garden. “The staff is really great,” Delgado said. Rose Garden China Bistro offers a variety of Chinese cuisine and dishes at a price “They have good customer service and they ideal for Texas State students and San Mar- always give me three fortune cookies every cos residents. It has earned the Best Asian time I go there.” Restaurant honor in the San Marcos Stars Chen said the restaurant’s most popular poll. menu item is the sesame chicken. Another Manager Ellena Chen said she is “full of favorite among customers is the chicken excitement.” She is hoping the recognition and broccoli dish. as best Asian restaurant will bring Rose Delgado said Rose Garden has the “best Garden an increase in business from the chicken and broccoli in the world.” York students and citizens in the San Marcos said he always orders edamame and lemon area. Chen said all of the staff has worked chicken with a side of water chestnuts. very hard and is sure they feel just as thrilled Delgado said the restaurant is very deas she does. serving of the San Marcos Stars honor. Matthew York, music studies junior, said “That’s great that they won,” Delgado the service is the best thing about Rose Gar- said. “I am satisfied every time I eat here. den. It’s just overall a really good restaurant.” “They are really respectful and they are York said he is consistently satisfied with just nice people,” York said. the restaurant and its staff, prices and food. Upon entering the restaurant, customers “It’s better than other surrounding are immediately greeted by a welcoming restaurants,” York said. “They’re always staff who is quick to seat and assist them. on par.”
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT Italian Garden By Randi Berkovsky Trends Reporter Italian Garden has been named the best Italian food in San Marcos for the fourth year in a row. The restaurant, located on 415 North LBJ Drive, was opened in 1999 by the parents of the current owner, John Zeneli, who has been running the restaurant for six years. It was opened to bring great food to the city and create a casual and affordable family setting for all to enjoy. “It feels so good to be named best in San Marcos,” Zeneli said. “I’m glad people like the food and the restaurant.” There is an array of the dishes at Italian Garden including the owner’s favorites: chicken and spinach cannelloni, chicken
parmesan and the always popular lasagna. The menu has plenty of options for Italian food lovers. “That place is great,” said Katie Dec, psychology junior. “My favorite dish is the classic spaghetti and meatballs. If you are craving Italian food, that is the place to go.” Italian Garden is also a place that allows BYOB, and the owner said he has all kinds of wine and bottle openers in the kitchen just waiting to be used. For those looking for a deal, Italian Garden accepts Bobcat Bucks. The restaurant also uses College Delivery so students and residents can have their favorites delivered to their doors. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.