So I went home for the holidays to see my folks in Wall. I usually try to avoid San Angelo but always end up there to see a friend, go to our old Church, or do lights. But usually in and out.

This year we missed a few presents and went into town to shop. I was flabbergasted at how SA has turned into the metroplex light on the southwest part of town. Turning left in Sherwood seems like an impossible feat and all the parking lots at Academy, Target, and Wal Mart were full to the brim with trucks. There were multiple wrecks in the loop while I was there. The amount of new hotels is just stupid.

Did the town just not have enough of a headsup to accommodate for the traffic increase? Also with the traffic came a lot of really crappy drivers. Not that we were brilliant beforehand, but it was at least slow bad drivers.

Now on the plus side, downtown is amazingly different. I had gone to the Zero One Alehouse and liked it in the past, but got to walk the lights and see all the improvement on the river were spectacular. Also nice to see the nightlife and apartments that have been added lately in the area. New library looks legit. The increase in restaurants is great. The idea of a twin peaks in SA flabbergasted me. The improvements to ASU are spectacular.


I know a lot of this is a couple of years old, but like I said, I get in and out usually so a lot of it is new to me.

I was there the Monday and Tuesday before the L$U game. Pretty amazing. Just saw where the census for SA is 100K+ now. Traffic is a zoo.

Lots of new restaurants but miss some of the old places too. Charcoal house is gone, etc...

Sherwood way is worth avoiding. Glad I knew the old shortcuts!

And the Chinese food at the airport is still good!

I know very little about San Angelo, but we ate at Joe's Italian on the drive from Midland to Austin, and it exceeded expectations.

I have eaten many a Stromboli from Joe's in my college years.

Not to derail, but EM, next time you are around San Angelo, PM me and I will buy you a beer!

San Angelo has definitely grown up in the last three years. The dip in oil prices is going to be interesting with all of the hotels we have currently under construction. There is still a lot of optimism that it will rebound, but it is definitely a little scary.

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Not to derail, but EM, next time you are around San Angelo, PM me and I will buy you a beer!

San Angelo has definitely grown up in the last three years. The dip in oil prices is going to be interesting with all of the hotels we have currently under construction. There is still a lot of optimism that it will rebound, but it is definitely a little scary.

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Will do. The plan is to be there the week of Christmas this year. Probably the Monday of that week and leaving on Christmas day heading back to the hills...

Whats a better steakhouse than Zentner's Daughter?

Used to be Twin Mtn or western skies. One of the bad changes in Angelo. Regular Zentners was the best.

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Used to be Twin Mtn or western skies. One of the bad changes in Angelo. Regular Zentners was the best.

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Yeah my dad and his family always had a hardon for Zentner's. Daughter on Knickerbocker. I grew up eating hamburgers there, but as an adult the few times I went it was "ok" when I had steaks.

One thing I will give the old man is that he loved the blue cheese salad there and I always thought it was gross. I was a straight ranch eater till I was forced upon a blue cheese wedge. Upon further eating as an adult, it's pretty darn good.

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Whats a better steakhouse than Zentner's Daughter?

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Any steakhouse is better than that place.

This will sound weird, but Paisano's (Mexican food) over off South Chadbourne is one of the best steaks in town. Maybe one of the best restaurants, too.

Paisanos? Mrs.EMc77 says it's the old Chilangos. Man, I liked Chilangos ...

Top to bottom, there is not a bad thing on the menu.

I do miss Chilangos though...

Born and raised in San Angelo and I can tell you right now Armentas/Franco's is the best Mexican food in that town. Get the chicken veracruzana enchiladas at Armentas and thank me later. As for steakhouses, Zetner's goes over board with the garlic salt in my honest opinion. I would rather make the drive out to Lowake personally.

The downtown area has made quite the revival. It all started back when I was in high school and Sealy Flats first opened up (they since closed for an interim time, renovated and opened back up). That place really brought a lot of business down there and I know the city offers some tax breaks for businesses downtown.

My parents are still there and are going to retire soon. They are a little worried with how the oil boom could affect the town with all the hotels going up on every corner. I plan on making a trip back either next month for the rodeo if possible or in the spring.

The oil boom is going away quickly...

So Henry's isnt that good?
I went to Ms. Hattie's not long ago. Funny it used to be a brothel....food was meh.

Franco's, Armentas, Paisanos are way better than Henry's. Used to be good 30 years ago, but now, not so much. He actually started in the little building that Franco's on MLK is now in. And he was a cook for Zentners before he had his own place.

Not a native San Angeloan, but there's a place that just opened up called La Chilanga, and I think it's the daughter of the Chilango's owner that runs it. La Chilanga has the BEST Mexican food in town.

Where is it? I haven't heard of it.

https://www.facebook.com/lachilangamexicancocina

On Vanderventer near ASU.


Google is your friend!

If you're willing to get shanked, I will submit that Franco's may be the best TexMex in the state.

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If you're willing to get shanked, I will submit that Franco's may be the best TexMex in the state.

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Daytime, baby, daytime.

When my boys were younger they'd really throw a fit to go to MLK park when we'd leave Franco's. Really hard to explain to a 3 & 4 year old that you can't go to the park because we don't need any crack cocaine. Zero 1, The Grill, & Peasant Village all have top notch steaks.

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If you're willing to get shanked, I will submit that Franco's may be the best TexMex in the state.

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Or you have better shanking skills.

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When my boys were younger they'd really throw a fit to go to MLK park when we'd leave Franco's. Really hard to explain to a 3 & 4 year old that you can't go to the park because we don't need any crack cocaine. Zero 1, The Grill, & Peasant Village all have top notch steaks.

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The crack cocaine is just an added bonus! Nobody "needs" it!

I was in SA a couple of weeks ago. Working with a couple of restaurant clients looking for locations there. Those that know SA well, give me your thoughts! Naturally, the draw of the major retail on Sherwood and the Loop was appealing to my group. What about Knickerbocker though. Used to be the place to be. Still seems pretty good if you can be near the Loop. What about outside the Loop out towards Bentwood CC? Seems to be where the new housing growth is, but a little light on retail out that direction.

What type of restaurant? I'd say Knickerbocker @the loop, 67 near the bluffs, and the loop near the new cavender's/hotel row are good locations.

It all depends on the type of restaurant. If you need lots of retail drive by traffic I don't think towards Bentwood / the lake is the answer. With that said, San Angelo is the eating outsest place I've ever seen, so if it's casual cafe level or above that's as good as any location. WalMart is preparing to build near the northeast corner of Jackson & Bryant, so that area should really pick up in the near future.

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It all depends on the type of restaurant. If you need lots of retail drive by traffic I don't think towards Bentwood / the lake is the answer. With that said, San Angelo is the eating outsest place I've ever seen, so if it's casual cafe level or above that's as good as any location. WalMart is preparing to build near the northeast corner of Jackson & Bryant, so that area should really pick up in the near future.

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My thinking as well. Seems like a fast casual or above that is little more of a destination draw could do well out there, but a sandwich shop, etc. needs to be over near the retail on Sherwood or perhaps just inside the Loop on Knickerbocker. Now, if I could just find a site in either of those areas!

Check out corner of southwest and Sherwood way...building already there, used to be sunset grill...,they are building a large park, walking trail next to it

I work at the Firestation on knickerbocker and we have to eat the same old chain restaurants over and over...we need a non chain healthy option I. That area....something with organic gluten free options would make a killing in that area

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It all depends on the type of restaurant. If you need lots of retail drive by traffic I don't think towards Bentwood / the lake is the answer. With that said, San Angelo is the eating outsest place I've ever seen, so if it's casual cafe level or above that's as good as any location. WalMart is preparing to build near the northeast corner of Jackson & Bryant, so that area should really pick up in the near future.

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My thinking as well. Seems like a fast casual or above that is little more of a destination draw could do well out there, but a sandwich shop, etc. needs to be over near the retail on Sherwood or perhaps just inside the Loop on Knickerbocker. Now, if I could just find a site in either of those areas!

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Contact Brandon Sanders at Steve Eustis Commercial Real Estate. 325-653-1489
Brandon keeps up with the local commercial market better than anyone in town.

http://athlonsports.com/overtime/slideshows/hottest-texas-am-aggies-girls#5

Aggiemathgirl is right on Best Mexican food in town right now..... Pomar opened it up after recovering from a divorce (it is what caused him to close his original location) and is running it with his daughter... Byob right now but he getting his license and expanding next door.

Really would love to see an Alamo Drafthouse come into town.... New one in New Braunfels, so no reason could not make it here.