Top 10 Places to Dine on Super Bowl Sunday WITHOUT a TV:

BELL’S https://www.bellsrestaurant.com/

THE SPOON TRADE https://thespoontrade.com/

PUFFER’S https://puffersofpismo.com/

MOON OVER AVILA https://www.bluemoonoveravila.com/

NOVO https://www.novorestaurant.com/

GRANADA https://www.granadahotelandbistro.com/

BRASSERIE SLO https://www.hotelcerro.com/slo-restaurants/brasserie-slo/

MISTURA https://www.misturarestaurants.com/

THE OLDE ALEHOUSE https://www.facebook.com/theoldealehouse945/

TOP DOG https://topdogcoffeebar.com/

LUNADA GARDEN BISTRO https://www.lunadagardenbistro.com/

ROBIN’S https://www.robinsrestaurant.com/

BLACK CAT BISTRO https://www.blackcatbistro.com/

BISTRO LAURENT http://www.bistrolaurent.com/

I WAS going to write a Hall-of-Shame list denouncing the BIGGEST disappointments in local dining who inexplicably have succumbed to the 2-digit-IQ crowd and installed –EVEN SILENT–the boob-tube above the bar. But i’m just not feelin that mean this morning. By “biggest disappointment” of course I do not mean Mother’s or Siren or Streetside-type stuff, I mean places who should KNOW better: who serve great food in an otherwise sophisticated and uncluttered atmosphere and where the TV is a garish intrusion, cheapening and littering the vibe. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

Bunch of corrections and additions to last week’s RESTY GOSSIP 1.6.22 but that goes without saying. As I know most of you realize, these are NOT carefully researched bits of news or well-vetted rumors. And–honestly–there’s 4 or 5 people in town I want to read my posts–and I know they do–and just shake their heads and go, “What a trainwreck!”

I ignored my notes concerning Mandarin Gourmet’s closure. Somewhat related: LOTUS looks to have finally relieved her last sigh, ending the visible decline from STALWART at the train station to *meh* downtown to WTF in The Network. Also, this leaves ONE solitary server of pho in town: @bites.

Vegetable Butcher did in fact become a salon. A huge salon. Because SLO needs another salon.

I learned MARK is expanding into the old Oasis space.

HarborWalk Plaza in Morro Bay at the former off the hook and cannery and something else and something else and something else otter Rock ? Seems to be completely stalled at the demolition stage.

HIGHWATER SLO opened to much enthusiasm, and while the vibe is a bit different, it’s nice to feel the same sort of warmth and care experienced long ago in this space.

Yes I said Russell’s instead of Riddell’s Smokehouse. Thus is my concern. I ate there once 20 years ago and no amount of money could ever make me do it again. So long.

Another glitch in syntax: Templeton Market vs. Templeton Mercantile. The former an established liquor store in a barn; the latter a new gastro-mall in the old AJ Spur’s spot.

Spencer Johnston’s spot is NOT–as I off-handedly described–a “brick & mortar” which you can drop in to to dine on a Tuesday or Wednesday night when your family is in town. It is merely a commercial kitchen where he headquarters the catering business that JUST HAPPENS to have a little extra room for a couple large tables, where BYOB, prix fixe, in-kitchen chef’s dinners are being held on select dates approx. once a month. I’d put a link here, but I honestly don’t know how he’s marketing. IG is probably your best bet.

KULT SLO has added another perk to their ‘VIP Membership’: a coffee & workspace throughout the day with Country Club rules: member +1.

Mee Heng Low isn’t open Sunday.

The new wine-bar in Atascadero is next door to Whiskey & June in the smokehouse BBQ place that lasted about 12 minutes. Around the corner, Grape Encounters has the ABC transfer up in the window and appears COMPLETELY gutted and polished of the various accouterments the former owner adorned the walls and window-wells with. You can actually see in now–and out–and everything’s white and shiny. Fully open and packed the other night.

I’ll think of something else.