Well, I guess Chez Zee/Fred, tho it got a little hoity-toity for me in its later years.

Virginia's home cooked place that used to be on First Street. Ever heard of it? The Armadillo kitchen. I'll think of more. Give me time.

Chronicle readers say: Les Amis Runners-up: Martin Brothers Cafe, Night Hawk Honorable Mentions: Coyote Cafe, Skyline Grill, Mad Dog & Beans

Tears for Les Amis and Martin Brothers. The booths from Les Amis are at my house and cottage! And assorted salt shakers, etc.

Les Amis? Skyline Grill? And Coyote Cafe already??? oh, so sad.

The great ones are biting the dust!

Oh.. the memories. D'ya know. Les Amis was the LAST place we ate in Austin as we left on our way to Denver? We met a friend there for lunch on our way out of town -- car fully loaded and all.

Well, when you come back you're welcome to sit at my Les Amis booth once more.

Would you happen to serve their soups and crusty bread as well?

Perhaps we can dig up a recipe, do you want a total holodeck recreation with Margaret Flynn and Connie as waitresses as well?

Why on earth would you want a holodeck recreation? Heck, you've got the benches... go get the waitresses!

OK now we're talking.

Martin Brothers. The Armadillo World Headquarters. Nighthawk. Can we have a moment of silence please?

And Grace's Home Cooking. Pass me the handerchef.

***sniff*** Here, use mine! I know....I miss Dick's Coffee House. *sigh*

John wrote: I miss "What's Cookin?" an inexpensive, but good quality Italian restaurant that has been replaced by Pescatore, a good quality but pricey Italian restaurant. I also miss the old Paramount Grill and "the best fried rice in Hilo." But, on the plus side, Luquin's in Pahoa is the best Mexican food in the state and can rival most Mexican restaurants in California and Texas.

Is Pahoa an Island or a City?

Pahoa is a tiny little town on a secondary road on the way to the former Kalapana Black Sand Beach. Former, because it was covered up by a lava flow. It is on Route 137 for those of you with maps (or those of you who know where the ones are that I have posted.)

This is the place with the 39 restaurants?

Nope. Pahoa is just a little spot in the road on the way to lower Puna. I'd be surprised if it had 5. I think Kamuela had the 39.

7 according to Infospace, any comments on these: Godmother Restaurant 808-965-0055 15-2969 Government Rd Pahoa, HI Go Go Pizza 808-965-0698 15-2929 Government Main Rd Pahoa, HI Jahmani 808-965-0200 15-2941 Government Main Rd Pahoa, HI Luquin's Mexican Restaurant 808-965-9990 Pahoa Government Rd Pahoa, HI Pahoa Chop Suey House 808-965-9533 Po Box 427 Pahoa, HI Paolo's Bistro 808-965-7033 333 Pahoa Rd Pahoa, HI Sawasdee Thai Cuisine 808-965-8186 15-2955 Government Main Rd Pahoa, HI

That figures! It is the pot-growing capital in lower Puna and one gets the muchies smoking pot, I hear. I asked John for his opionions on these eateries. I've only been to Godmother's and if it is the one I think it is, they serve excellent deli style sandwiches.

From John Burnett Godmother Restaurant 808-965-0055 15-2969 Government Rd Pahoa, HI As Marcia said, a sandwich shop with etched glass windows. Not bad, but Manono Mini-Mart and Freddy's in Hilo have better sandwiches cheaper. Go Go Pizza 808-965-0698 15-2929 Government Main Rd Pahoa, HI Have not eaten there. Friends tell me it is "acceptable" or "okay," but most Pahoa residents I know will drive the 10 miles to Keaau to eat at Chief's Pizza, which has the reputation for being the best pizza in East Hawaii (an area that includes Hilo, Keaau, Pahoa). Am not even sure Go Go's is still in business. I will drive the 6 miles from Hilo to Keaau to get Chief's pizza as well, as Pizza Hut is the best pizza in Hilo. A travesty for a town of 40,000. JB Jahmani 808-965-0200 15-2941 Government Main Rd Pahoa, HI A hangout for the hippies, rastas and burnouts. Believe it to be a vegetarian joint. Have not eaten there and will not. JB Luquin's Mexican Restaurant 808-965-9990 Pahoa Government Rd Pahoa, HI Luquins is the finest Mexican food in the state. The brightly colored, cantina-style bar and restaurant is clean, cozy with moderate prices and terrific service. The homemade red salsa is the best on the Big Island and the only restaurant in the state with salsa as good is Eggs 'n Things (a breakfast-only restaurant in Waikiki). Red Hook IPA Ale and Steinlager on draft. Moderate prices. If more people in Hilo were not so distrusting of Pahoa in general, Luquin's quality would put the popular but dingy and dirty Hilo bayfront Mexican restaurant Reuben's out of business. To me, Reubens is proof that Hawaii health inspectors can be bribed or bamboozled. Mama's Mexican Kitchen, a BYOB joint on School Street in Honolulu is excellent. Luquin's is even better. JB Pahoa Chop Suey House 808-965-9533 Po Box 427 Pahoa, HI Like most Chinese restaurants in Hawaii, the food is cheap, plentiful, and good. Not much for atmosphere. Service acceptable. A good addition to Pahoa restaurants, but unlike Luquin's, not worth driving from Hilo for, since there is no shortage of good Chinese restaurants in Hilo, most notably Sun Sun Lau and New China Restaurant. JB Paolo's Bistro 808-965-7033 333 Pahoa Rd Pahoa, HI A relatively new Italian restaurant right across the street from Luquin's. The food is delicious, but like Pescatore in Hilo, way too pricey. But at least the portions at Pescatore are decent. You can easily drop $60-70 for dinner for two and leave Paolo's still hungry. If you must have Italian food in East Hawaii, I recommend Topo Gigio's in Hilo (which may be changing it's name because they are being threatened with a lawsuit for using the name by someone associated with the old Ed Sullivan show) or Cafe Pesto (if you can't beat the yuppies, join them). JB Sawasdee Thai Cuisine 808-965-8186 15-2955 Government Main Rd Pahoa, HI Have not eaten there only because Hilo has several excellent Thai restaurants, most notably Royal Siam, but both my cousin Tom and my author friend Alan both give it a thumbs-up, and I trust their judgment. JB Terry: a note on Pahoa Town in general. It is a flashback to 1968. Ten years ago before the crackdown on the marijuana growing industry in the Puna district of the Big Island, it was like Dodge City on a Saturday night...and I'm talking about on noon Wednesday. Locals, hippies, rastas, bikers, burnouts and the occasional tourist make Pahoa a picturesque blast from the past. Ten years ago, you would see people both smoking and dealing herb openly on the street. There is a brand spanking new police substation in the middle of town and the law has cracked down on the obvious, but it is still a haven for "characters." Haleiwa on Oahu and Paia on Maui are similar towns with similar seedy reputations, although Haleiwa is a surf spot and Paia has Ho`okipa beach, the world's most famous boardsailing beach. Pahoa is inland. There is a relatively new song out locally called "Pahoa Town" by Bruddah Kuz. It is a catchy little number that has become quite popular with our KWXX listeners. Marcia's note: It is a good song! John is on the internet live each weekend on webradio http://www.webradio.com/kwxx/

Dot's Place in Austin, Texas. Home cooked meals. Burned down.