News from the Restaurant Scene

Keegan’s, 7049 Old Canton Road, behind Brookshires on Lake Harbor, (898-4554) began serving their lunch buffet about four weeks ago, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There’s soup, salad, meats, vegetables and breads. All-you-can-eat lunch buffet is $7.95, while soup and salad is $5.95. Drinks are extra.

Mario’s, 2887 McDowell Road Ext. (371-2437) is a traditional Italian dining experience. Their hours have changed, just a bit. Mondays through Thursdays, they’re open from 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open until 10 p.m., and they’re closed on Sundays.

Julep Restaurant & Bar, 1305 E. Northside Drive, at Highland Village (362-1411) now offers a low-carb menu at lunch (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) and dinner (4 p.m. until 10 or 10:30 p.m.). The dishes are similar to the regular ones, but broccoli substitutes for potatoes, for instance.

Basil’s Pasta and Panini Parlor, 2906 N. State Street, in the Fondren Corner Building, (982-2100) offers, according to a well-fed and satisfied vegetarian, “kick-butt veggie sandwiches and deviled eggs.” I find that interesting being that Basil’s is owned by the same people who operate Roosters, where, I can personally attest, you can find some equally kick-butt chicken fried steak, onion rings and hamburgers. Sounds like these restauranteurs know on which side their bread is buttered, don’t it?

Belhaven Station, 1220 N. State Street, across from the Baptist Hospital. Leaning up in the flower-surrounded window of that small white-painted brick building is a blackboard, chalked on it—”Opening Soon.” Owners Dale McIntire and Jeff Kemp were hard at work last week when I stopped by. On the menu: sandwiches, soups, salads and beer as well as ice cream and desserts.

Old Venice Pizza Company, 1428 Old Square Road (366-6872) recently began to host crawfish boils on Saturdays between noon and 5 p.m. For $6, you get a flat of crawfish accompanied by corn and potatoes. Plus, during that same time period, lots of their drinks are on a two-for-one special. Come on out during the rest of crawfish season for your mud-bug-fix. You just might experience an epiphany while dining and see that opening scene from Elvis Presley’s movie “King Creole” where that woman is pushing a cart down the narrow New Orleans streets, singing “Crawfish, craw-aw-aw fish.” If you’ve ever seen this movie, you’ll be able to hear her haunting voice followed by Elvis as he looks down from the balcony, singing, “If you fry him crisp or you boil him right, he’ll be sweeter than sugar when you take a bite.”

So, if y’all know of any restaurant news, e-mail suggestions and details to [e-mail missing] Remember, I don’t accept free food anywhere—except sometimes from my neighbor men, whenever they fry or grill at the Swinging Bridge RV Resort. Yum.