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Lunch Stop on Main Street Don and I had a memorable little lunch in downtown Bryan, Texas.  This isn't actually where we had planned on having lunch. Martin's Place Since 1924 We had planned on trying out Martin's Place, south of town on College Avenue.  We'd read about the old BBQ place. It's been run by the same family since 1924. But when arrived, there were no cars in the gravel lot.  Martin's wasn't open on Tuesday. Oh well. Next time. Also Since 1924 Luckily I scrambled and found another curious option, a few minutes away.  This burger place in Bryan, also has some history. The Opersteny Burger has been around since 1924. New Place In 1924 Louis Opersteny opened a saloon and grill, at another downtown location.  The building where Opersteny served up his well-loved burgers, burned down in 1955. Louis was able to take the grill and operate in a new location. The Story The story was actually written right on a board, inside the door.  The write-up explained that Louis's son-in-law Jimmy, bought the biz in 1968. He ended up renting the business to a woman who changed the name to Margie's. When Jimmy sold the business to the Wager family in the 1980s, the grill and Opersteny Burger continued! Busy Before Noon The long and narrow space was pretty busy when we arrived before noon.  A woman in a blue t-shirt welcomed us to have a seat anywhere.  We sat not far from a long counter, where I was tempted to hop up and turn the numbers on the flip calendar, to the proper day. Tuesday, June 16. Opersteny's Grill Right across from our table we could smell (and hear and feel) the burgers cooking!  We watched a young man juggle numerous orders as he stood at the old grill, which was rescued after the fire in 1955. We could actually feel the vibrations in our metal chairs, when he pounded each patty with the spatula! Options Lina greeted with a big smile and a couple of menus.  I asked about the Opersteny burger and Lina made sure I understood that the it was only 2 ounces. "They're small!" She warned. Then she wanted to be sure I was okay with mustard and pickles. I assured her I was excited to try the traditional Opersteny style. Cheese Burger and Tots I ordered mine with cheese and also got an order of Tots.  The burger was wrapped in paper when it was served. The story goes that back in the day, patrons loved the juicy burgers so much they used to lick the juice off the paper wrapper. I didn't know that at the time or I might have done the same. "Lina is the Best" Our table was beside an exposed brick wall, with a patch of plaster shaped like the state of Florida. Don noticed a few notes taped to the cream colored patch.
Don noticed some compliments written on pieces of paper. "Lina is the best!" "Justin deserves a raise" Don asked Lina about the notes and she laughed. She said that it had become a joke between her and her brother, Justin... who got the most compliments. I believe they accused each other of creating a few! Lina and Family We had a fun chat with Lina whose grandparents bought the property in the eighties. She said her parents own now, but they were out of town with Justin. Her other brother was the young man who grilled our juicy burgers!  By the time we finished our meal, I'd watched Lina greet and serve about about 8 tables of guests. She seemed to know know every single customer and her warmth with each of them seemed genuine. Lots of laughter and a few hugs! After graciously posing with an old cash register, Lina pointed out the spatula near the photo. She said it was the original tool that Opersteny used when he grilled burgers.  It was fun to see the photo of Louis, the original owner. And it was a treat to meet the Lina, who is a member of the second family to own the wonderful burger business!
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Another Tiki Lounge! Don and I have visited about 10 tiki lounges since I started blogging.  We found Tarantula Tiki Lounge in Fort Worth's New Southside neighborhood.  Actually, Don and I didn't find it at all. Our friends Alan and Christy drove us right to it when we visited last June. Quiet at 5 It was bright outside at 5, on that summer evening. It took a while for eyes to adjust when we entered the dimly lit lounge.  We were the first guests to arrive for happy hour. The barstools were empty, just as they were in 2020 when the tiki lounge first opened for business.  Our bartender said that wasn't exactly ideal timing for opening this kind of business, but he said they were cautious. Masks were required and no guests were allowed to sit on the bar stools at that time. The other 3 sat down and I quickly peeked around while the lounge was quiet. I.don't like to intrude with the camera when folks are enjoying cocktails!  I found quite a display in a case near the door.  I found some cozy seating towards the back, that showed off the exposed brick wall. Evidently this space held a barbershop before it became a tiki lounge.  I headed towards the back to check out the decorated ceiling and bamboo framed albums. Gotta love some exotic tiki vinyl records! Don and I have a few.  I headed back towards our table and stopped to ask our bartender about the TV that was showing a retro island themed movie. We had a quick converstaion about island themed movies and tv shows. Back at the table I joined the others to study the menu.  Luckily my eyes had adjusted, so I could take in all the options inside the colorful menu with the skull and tarantula.  I appreciated the skull rating system in the menu. The night was young and I didn't want to overdo too early. 3 skull drinks are the most powerful. I asked our bartender for suggestions. "I want something that looks festive... like in a fun glass."
He could tell I was a serious drinker. Alan actually got the most festive, (or maybe silliest) glass of all!  You have to love a drink served with a straw coming out of a shark's mouth!  My glass wasn't too unusual, but my one skull Painkiller was just right. The creamy mix of rum, pineapple and coconut was just perfect!  Cheers to hitting one more tiki bar! Cheers to heading off at 6, with the evening ahead of us.  Next time we'll have to check out the patio and I hear there's a collection of 1,000+ swizzle sticks. Who knows maybe I'll go for 2 skulls next time.
Austin's Original Honky Tonk For over 2 decades I've said the same thing every time we've passed Broken Spoke on South Lamar.  "Let's go there sometime." Motivation It took a 5-year-old cowgirl to get us motivated to give it a try.  Last week, Charlie told her grandparents she was game. She put on her boots and so did I. Wheels and Spokes After a 45 minute drive in traffic we arrived, ready to see wheels and spokes. That's because we'd had a mighty long discussion about the name Broken Spoke.  Charlie was excited to count about 8 wagon wheels right away. She was extra excited to see that each had a broken spoke. 4 on a Friday We arrived when doors opened at 4. There was a lot to read, around the door.  I glanced at the historic marker and learned that James M. White opened the dance hall in 1964, just south of the city limits...at a former lumber yard. Rowdy and Others When we stepped inside the dimly lit saloon, we heard greetings from the only occupied table in the front room.
A handful of employees were seated at an octagonal table finishing a meal. This odd character sat with them.  One of the upbeat voices was Mandy. She complimented Charlie's boots and later introduced her to Rowdy, the sad looking character who sits permanently at the table. Decor Mandy noticed Charlie looking around at the curious decor.  I never expected Charlie to feel so at home in an old saloon, but Mandy knew all the right questions to warm Charlie up. They talked about boots and music. Charlie suddenly was eager to tell Mandy about her dance recital the next day. Dance Hall Mandy decided that since Charlie was a "dancer", she should take a peek inside the dance hall.  It was hours before the doors would open for music and dancing. We felt pretty lucky to enjoy the 1,500 square foot space with no one around.  The sign above Charlie reminded us not to STAND on the dance floor. It also insisted "NO LINE DANCING". Charlie followed rules and ran instead. Authentic Little has changed since the dance hall opened over 60 years ago.
Checked tablecloths and folding chairs... a big fan and some neon here and there. On Stage Mandy invited Charlie to get on the stage.  Charlie wanted me to step up there with her. I think she looks a little perplexed. Maybe because no one handed her a mic. She's been known to do a little karaoke with her mom. "Tourist Trap" As we headed back to the front room, Charlie peeked into a glowing room filled with photo displays.  A voice from behind the bar said "Your welcome to look around the Tourist Trap! We were happy to wander around a bit.  Most of the old photos and magazines had faces of western singers and performers that I didn't recognize. I recognized the name of the president who was born not far from Austin. I couldn't figure out if this hat actually once belonged to President Johnson.
Charlie didn't need help figuring out what the wooden holder was. "This is for a violin." She announced. Was that actually some kind of fiddle stand? Should Have Counted It was a little like an Easter egg hunt, looking for wagon wheels.  We should have counted all the wheels inside the saloon and dance hall. Some of the spokes were more broken than others.
Charlie was a little amused by a framed photo of George Strait, behind one wheel. She wanted me to explain why there were lipstick kisses all over the glass. Willie and Others A lot of performers got their start at Broken Spoke. Willie Nelson played with Kris Kristofferson in the mid sixties.  That was long before Willie had braids. He had a crewcut then, when he came back to Texas after some time in Nashville. George... Dolly Charlie posed with George Strait, even though she didn't know who he was.  Too bad we couldn't find a life-sized Dolly Parton. Charlie is a big fan... after a visit to Dollywood last year. Dolly spent some time at Broken Spoke, when she filmed a TV movie here in 1987. Early Dinner After exploring the Tourist Trap, we headed past the old bar to find a table in the front room.  Our plan was to have an early dinner before the Friday night crowds arrived.  We had lots of entertaining booths to choose from.  Charlie choose a table where she could keep an eye on Rowdy.  We were also near a saddle, enclosed in glass. We wondered if anyone would join Rowdy at his table since the staff was up and working. He looked pretty lonely. Food Mandy gave us some good advice for ordering. We started with a salad covered in Thousand Island.  Then Chicken Fried Steak smothered in gravy. Since Mandy had warned about the CF Steak being bigger than Charlie's head, we took her advice and split.  Charlie had chicken quesadillas. She was a little afraid of our chicken fried, but she was very excited when we shared our fries. We did not share our Lone Star Beer. Tracie From our table we had fun watching some activity near the front door. They were setting up for some live music.  Tracie paused from setting up, to chat with Charlie. She showed her the pool table in another room. Tracie said she was mighty jealous of Charlie's name. She'd always wanted it, since it was her dad's name. Live Music We were too early for the dance hall, but we got live entertainment in the saloon!  When Broken Spoke opened in '64, they only had a juke box. These two filled the saloon with some fine country music and entertaining banter. A Dancing Friend By 5:00, 2 more tables were occupied. A 4-year-old girl and her parents took the table right next to us. The girls had something in common. Dance! The sweet 4-year-old had just been in a dance recital that afternoon.
Tracie encouraged the "Tiny Dancers" to get up and enjoy the music. And they absolutely did! Charlie's favorite was "These Boots Are Made For Walking". I could hear her singing the song later that night in her bed. Bye George After 2 hours at the Spoke, it was time to get going. Charlie and I headed for the Ladies Room first and found a bathroom full of Georges.
We counted and came up with about 45 George smiles! Add one more for the giant George on the ceiling! To Be Continued Skies were stormy and damp when we headed out. That helped us see the neon!  What a fun evening, enjoying this iconic honky tonk... sort of through the eyes of a 5-year-old.
We headed to the car with plans to come back another night with Charlie's parents. 2-Step dance lessons are available at 8 and kids are welcome! I see more Broken Spoke Adventures in our future! 2 Mini-Feasts in Sicily Last October Don and I had only a few hours in Taormina. Sinfully short! Yet somehow we managed to explore AND have 2 quick "dining" adventures.  First we had a quick bite at Caffe Wunderbar. It was indeed Wonderful! Gelato! I squeezed in a speedy gelato adventure before we departed!  Cheers to enjoying some refreshing pistachio gelato, at Gelato Fresla! 56 Years Ago The last time I was in Taormina was in 1969. I was 11 and my dad was on the faculty of a study abroad program with Florida State.  It was nearly 60 years ago.My family spent a day touring ruins with 2 busloads of college students. Then we picnicked and then I picked flowers. Roman Greco Theatre When Don and I visited in fall of 2025, we worked up a good appetite while climbing up to catch a stunning view at the top of the old Roman Greco Theatre.  Our nephew was with us and took this photo. I told Andy how I remembered sitting on those stone seats, 56 years ago. I told him about watching a Greek Tragedy, that his (my dad) had directed.  I still remember being so very jealous, because my brother (Andy's uncle) got to play a small part in a scene. Caffe Wunderland from 1870 I remember the theatre and the flowers, but I recall very little about the charming hilltop town. I certainly have no memory of Caffe Wunderland, but it was there in the 1969. The old cafe (once an inn ) had already been sitting there on the piazza for nearly a century.  In the 1960s, Taormina was a popular destination for Hollywood elite. Celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams and Greta Garbo were known to spend time at Caffe Wunderbar. October 2025 There were no celebrity sightings when we first noticed the tables outside the lovely Ristorante.  There were no people sightings at all, when I peeked inside the the lovely and modern interior. No one wanted to sit inside on such a glorious day. Most dining guests were enjoying meals on Wunderbar's terrace overlooking the sea.  The panoramic terrace had sweeping views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. Chris & Karen We spotted my brother and sister-in-law who had already enjoyed a feast with pasta and seafood.  We were able to find a table not far from them. The historic town was swarming with tourists, but our table was a laid back oasis.  We enjoyed a few little tidbits. Crackers and olives and sweet cookies of some kind.  A bottle of wine would have been nice, but we didn't have time for lingering long. Don and I each ordered cappuccino, served in china cups, with the Wunderbar logo.  We split a large Toast with prosciutto, wrapped in paper. Andy shared some of his bruschetta, or was it called "pane croccante", which means crisp bread... I'm trying to remember.  I don't recall exactly. But I do recall we were very content that day.  It was one of my very favorite days on our 15-day cruise! Gelataria Fresla Earlier while wandering up the main street, I noticed a Sicilian cart filled with pomegranates.  After we finished our quick lunch, I raced back to where I'd seen the cart, outside of Gelateria Fresla! Pistachio! I knew what flavor I needed to enjoy before we left Taormina. 
Here are some of the sights we saw while wandering in Taormina. Next time we need to stay a few days and find out what the town is like when the day tourists are all gone!
No Clowns No Elephants Don and I have dined at a few silly circus-themed restaurants over the years. This past April at Ringling Grillroom, they had no colorful clown or tent decorations.  Instead we had a lovely lunch with a more sophisticated circus focus. The cafe was on the property once owned by the famous circus magnate, John Ringling. Our dining adventure included lots of exploring before and after our meal. Touring the Ringling Property We started working up an appetite in the morning, while touring the incredible 66-acre Ringling estate property.  I was as giddy as a kid going to the circus, when we walked through this entrance to buy tickets. My kid-like exuberance had to do with my memories of exploring the Ringling Property with my siblings, in the '60s & '70s. Bayside Property Our family spent quite a bit of time in Sarasota. Mostly summers. Dad directed plays at the historic Asolo Theatre, which was on the magical Ringling property, sitting beside Sarasota Bay.  I found this photo in an old brochure. The aerial view of the estate shows the 4 areas I remember. Art museum, theatre, Ringling mansion and circus museum. Ca'd'Zan, the Ringling Mansion I was eager to show Don the splendid 56-room winter retreat that John and Mable Ringling built in the Roaring Twenties. I fondly recall going through the rooms of this Venetian Gothic mansion as a kid. I had never been in a mansion before and my imagination went wild. If I lived here, where would I sleep? Would I have servants? Could I fish in the bay? When Don and I visited, it was as grand as I remembered. The Circus & Art Museums After the mansion Don and I roamed through the buildings that make up the Ringling Museums. The exhibits that feature circus history, are housed in 2 buildings now.  As an adult it's pretty fascinating trying to wrap your head around the idea of a circus empire that involved nearly 2,000 people. The history is amazing. As a kid these exhibits inspired my imagination and a few backyard circuses with neighborhood kids. A visit to the Ringling Art Museum was also a must. The 21-gallery museum was established in 1927, by John & Mable Ringling.  I remember being 11 and wandering inside the pink palace, with rooms that held paintings bigger than my bedroom. Just a year later, I toured the museum again, with wiser eyes. Our family had just returned from 6 months in Italy, so I'd experienced a lot of impressive museums. But it only made me appreciate the Ringling galleries much more! Bayfront Gardens During our visit in April, the weather was ideal. Exploring the grounds was as satisfying as visiting the mansion and museums. We found the Dwarf Gardens and the Ringling cemetery. We strolled on paths through clusters of enormous banyan trees. I spent a moment in Mable's Rose Garden and recognized the little gazebo, where I once sat with childhood friends. There must be 100 statues on the property, but Don and I weren't able to find the mythical character with the tail... that I recall from nearly 60 years ago. My brothers and I came upon it one day in 1968, while exploring the property, while Dad was in rehearsal. My very convincing older brother explained to his younger siblings that we too were born with tails and they'd been cut off at birth. We believed him! Hungry By 1:00 our feet were tired and stomachs were empty. If only the old Banyan Cafe had been open. The curious looking cafe was designed by William Rupp in 1961. It's now being restored.  I was pretty excited to find the Ringling Grillroom in the Visitor's Pavilion, which was built about 20 years ago.  The hostess said we didn't need reservations since it was fairly quiet that afternoon. She said the cafe can get pretty packed, before and after Asolo Repertory Theatre shows.  There were a few inside tables available. The small bar had seating as well. Outside Dining Don and I asked to be seated on the outside terrace if possible.  There was a nice view of the entrance to the main circus museum building.  We watched a group of school kids exiting and felt lucky we'd toured earlier. It had been peaceful in the museums, earlier. Menu Options There was no circus decor in the restaurant, but there were some fun nods to the old circus world, in the menu.  I was surprised that prices were so reasonable. G-Room Salad I didn't see any popcorn or peanuts, so I ordered the "G-Room Salad". G-Room is the nickname for Grillroom, but it took me a moment to figure that out.  My salad was good enough to be named after the restaurant! The spiced toasted seeds, crumbled feta Granny Smith apples and crisp veggies made it a refreshing choice. It really was perfect! Bigger and tastier than my photo. Don's Grilled Chicken Panini was thick and hearty. I stole many of his tasty fries!  After finishing, we had time to chat with our server quite a bit. I asked what she knew about the Asolo Theatre. She knew the 18th century theatre was dismantled in Italy and moved to the property in 1951. She said in 2006 it was moved again. I was confused to realize the gorgeous U-shaped "jewel-box theatre" was inside the 20-year-old Visitor's Pavilion. Late '60s We gabbed a bit and I shared briefly about my memories of the theatre, going back to 1968. I didn't force our kind server to listen to anymore rambling. I didn't tell her that I was obsessed with my memories and still had old programs and brochures in boxes back home.  I didn't mention that the first Asolo play my dad directed was the Greek Tragedy Antigone, done in modern times with Neru jackets! I could have mentioned that I recently studied the program and found the name Paul Rubenfeld. Evidenly young Paul played the part of a page. He was a teenager then and just an apprentice at Asolo. That was long before he became "PeeWee Herman". Closed Instead of boring our server I just asked where the entrance to the theatre was. She gave directions but wasn't hopeful that I could get inside. The door was indeed locked.  Rats! We paused a moment and I studied a curious poster next to the door. An animated fellow named Luciano Rosso was evidently opening in 2 days. Just then I heard the door handle rattle. Out came a woman carrying a broom and cleaning supplies. She spoke little English and I probably spoke too fast. I tried to explain why I was so eager to peek inside. She seemed somewhat amused and also a little worried... something about not having the authority.  "I'll be so quick!" I begged. She let me in and waited for me. There were 2 men working on the stage and they likely saw me as I snapped 2 photos. I stood for less than a minute, but absorbed the charm and recalled my thrill at sitting in those box seats. I headed back out, where my dear lady was waiting.  As I thanked her, the door opened and a man walked out. Before registering his concern (or lack of) I began to do the talking. I questioned what was going on in there, as if I was some kind of amateur reporter. He laughed and pointed to the poster. "Prepping for a show." he answered. My eyes went from the poster to the man and I concluded. "Is that you?" His eyebrows went up and he laughed again, claiming he wasn't Luciano. The ice was broken and we got to chat a bit. I felt free to babble about childhood memories. When he mentioned that he was from Sarasota, I wanted to talk for days. What it was like to grow up in "Circus Town" where public school offers classes in circus arts? But it was time to move on. I thanked the man and the very kind woman and we were on our way... after a quick trip to the gift shop.
What a fun and nostalgic dining adventure! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
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