Table Talk

Taking their exit

The popular Sisters Restaurant in San Lorenzo is up for sale. Rita and Nancy, fondly known as the "Baker sisters," well, because they both bake, are finally taking their exit from the biz. The two bought the old Ancheta Place in downtown San Lorenzo in 1990, planning to start up a restaurant and sell it after five years. Now, 17 years later and having weathered brain surgery, breast cancer and the plain-old ravages of time, the couple of ol' Jersey Girls have put the beloved eatery in the quaint, quiet little town on the market. The sisters actually sold the place once, back in 1995, to one of their employees and her husband. Holding the mortgage themselves, the women took the place back two years later when things didn't work out for the new owners. This time, though, feeling their age and acknowledging the stresses of running a restaurant, they say they're out for good. In the meantime, locals and visitors have a last chance to savor a bit of that "From scratch! Nothin' canned!" fare that has been Sisters' trademark. The restaurant is now open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday — and their self-described "weird hours" have gotten a bit flukier — so call ahead for reservations. 536-9888.

Not so fast!

Bill Robertson, who opened Mr. Bill's In and Out Burger on El Paseo in Las Cruces in August (see last month's Table Talk) hit a speed bump recently when a California purveyor of broiled beef told him to cease and desist using their copyrighted "In and Out" appellation. "We've used that name at our other locations in Seattle since the '60s, but this company in California called up and said they have the rights to it, and they were right, so we had to take it out of our name," Robertson said, who has replaced the offending words with "Drive Thru" on the marquee. "Mr. Bill" moved to the area just a few months ago from Seattle. After selling off his six restaurants in the Northwest, and then traveling the world and "going fishin'" for about a year, Robertson settled in Las Cruces on a friend's say-so and opened up his new burger joint. But even though the new venture could be considered a sort-of semi-retirement, Robertson's not resting on his, well, buns. The restaurant is "rapidly moving from Phase Two to Phase Three" and expanding its operations and menu, he says, adding, "Business has been great so far." 525-4220.

Coming and going

Bob Brockhausen says he has his fingers crossed and a deal in the works. The Silver City Brewmeister says he "got an offer right away" after putting his Silver City Brewing Company on the market, as announced in last month's Table Talk. Acknowledging the currently sluggish finance industry, Brockhausen says he's encouraged by negotiations with the potential buyer and just waiting patiently at this point — well, as patiently as Brockhausen knows how to wait. The Beer Man says he loves Silver City and has no plans to leave. In the meantime, he's still the man at the helm, turning out new in-house microbrews this month, like Brocktoberfest, an autumn Dry Stout and Smashing Pumpkins. 101 E. College Ave., Silver City, 534-2739.

Renovations are well underway on the building that used to house Johnny Carino's restaurant near the Mesilla Valley Mall. Michelle Rohde and Santiago Estrada, of Arizona, will open Risotto's Bistro Market and Wine Bar at the site, offering Mediterranean food and an extensive wine list.

Jim Kolb, owner of The Twisted Vine in Silver City, still has his wine bar at the corner of Broadway and Bullard Street for sale — but is now trying to sell it himself. His listing with a real estate agency expired last month, so Kolb is hoping to entice a buyer with his dropped price, now that he no longer has to account for a Realtor's commission.

Chef Geoff Moore, after enlivening the menu at Silver City Brewing Company, his home after departing The Orchid Cafe at Cienega Spa, Salon & Gallery, has found a new place to wear his apron at Adobe Springs restaurant, where his touch with finer fare will certainly be a good fit with the new owners' completely revamped menu.

Keepin' it fresh

Adam Grimes is the new owner of Messiah's Health Shoppe on 13th Street in Silver City. The New Mexico native was born and raised in Farmington, moved to Silver City while he attended WNMU on a basketball scholarship, and is a friend of former Messiah's owner John Fuller. Grimes has a business degree and a couple of years of professional catering under his belt, two good things for a new restaurateur. He also has a number of changes in mind for the eatery, including possibly changing the name, expanding with "a quick call-in and pick-up breakfast business," and moving to a bigger building with drive-thru capacity after 2008. He has a lease until next August, he notes. Though Grimes is planning on "a whole new menu, keeping the stuff that sells and unloading the stuff that doesn't," he says he will keep with the eatery's established "healthy" theme, as "there aren't many restaurants around here with that category." 303 E 13th Street, Silver City. 538-9006.

— Donna Clayton Lawder

We're always looking for news on the food scene! Email donna@desertexposure.com.