I have some sad news for many of the older (and poorer...) readers of the East Valley Tribune. Pancho's Mexican Buffet at 1356 W. Southern Avenue across from the Fiesta Mall has closed its doors. My Buddy and I would go there once a month for a nice (under $10) lunch. The food was good, not gourmet, no costly ingredients or stacked up like the Tower of Babel, but tasty. Being a buffet meant that us senior citizens could choose items that weren't that spicy or were easier to chew (think it won't happen to you in your 60s, think again). The servers and wait staff were friendly and super-accommodating to families with small children and us older folks too.
Many of you are saying right now, "Who the heck was Pancho's?" That's a good question. You never saw a review in this newspaper or any other of the local newspapers. You also never saw Pancho's being reviewed on our local cable or TV stations either. It was to "low-brow" for them. The "beautiful crowd" never went there.
Just your everyday, run-of-the-mill, hard-working, budget-scrimping citizens of Mesa. The last restaurant north of Southern Avenue, between Dobson Road and Stapley Drive.
HoneyBaked Ham: gone. Lonestar Steak House: gone.
Black Angus: gone. Bennigan's: gone. Marie Callender's, JB's, AZ Country USA: all gone. Another great small restaurant, the Hideaway Cafe across from Superstition Ranch Market: gone. Would some press recognition have helped, or a TV review? It would never happen. Too "low-brow." Too American.
Leon Ceniceros
Mesa
Arizona Willie posted at 9:13 am on Wed, Feb 22, 2012.
Hmmm that area wouldn't happen to be infested with invading aliens by any chance?
They send their money back south of the border instead of going out to eat ... they go to a food truck to celebrate their anniversaries etc. etc.
Dale Whiting posted at 10:24 am on Wed, Feb 22, 2012.
Willie,
Get serious! Leon's on to something here.
Leon, and others,
There's an excelent Oriental Buffet on the east side of Gilbert Road, South of Southern, about half way to Hampton. As I recall it's all you can eat for less than $8. Before it goes the way of others, stop by. We need these good independent local merchants to help keep us unique and special. And there's also an Indian [not native American indian, but real India Indian] buffet on the same side of the road and a bit closer to Southern. Haven't tried it yet.
sockratties posted at 10:43 am on Wed, Feb 22, 2012.
Gee Leon… You’d think those new signs the city put up all over the so called Fiesta District would have saved them. Once property values have hit rock bottom, developers will appear from the firmament to rescue the city. The intentional neglect of that part of the city is one way to hasten the project by starving out those nasty hangers-on like Pancho's. It’s surprising the power was left on!
That’ll happen after the city has spent millions of your tax dollars on the beautification project that is under way. Mesa is currently paying a California company to draw up the plans (check on Mesa.gov for details). Once developers start negotiating for concessions from the city (which they will get) the city council can conclude that the millions spent on reducing traffic lanes to slow traffic, putting in walkways that no one will use and planting trees that need to be maintained was what attracted the developers.
We all know what attracts developers, it’s money. If the taxpayer puts up most of it, so much the better.
sockratties posted at 11:02 am on Wed, Feb 22, 2012.
Dale – I think you’re talking about Hunan Buffet, and you’re right. Unfortunately I have the problem of reading the “All You Can Eat” as “Eat All You Can.”
Also there’s Giant Hamburgers for what may be the best burgers in the East Valley. They’re on the west side of Lindsey just south of Broadway. They also serve breakfast items, burrito’s, etc. Doug, the owner is usually around to greet the customers.
And don’t forget Grandma’s Kitchen at the SW corner of Main and Country Club. Grandma runs the place but she’s just as likely to be taking your order as tending the cash register.
samkat posted at 6:23 pm on Thu, Feb 23, 2012.
My wife and I used to eat at Panchos frequently before they moved to the West Southern location. We still went there but not as often as the old location.