8th street developmental tidbits

**ryberg** · 04-13-2005

Saw several things of possible interest on my walk in this morning that I thought I might pass on:

Passing the little place called (at least formerly) La Sala it seems at least a name change may be underway, as one of the signs now cleverly says La Salamandra (lit. "the salamander").

Across the street, the former Body Works locale would appear to be nearing the end of its renovation and sports a sign labelling it El Zócalo and smaller "help wanted" signs for restaurant staff of all sorts.

Passed the old TGI Friday's/alleged location of new Burger King next but saw no signs of life there.

Down the way closer to us, Sol Food was closed, unlike in the past, and the signs on the door state that it is now open only 1 pm to 11 pm. Don't know if that is significant or not.

Then right next to that, Alhambra has a very elegant new side entrance with glass doors which Claudine, the manager, told me is going to be for their massage service (though I didn't get whether that was expanding somehow or just getting a sort of facelift or something).

And all that just on 8th in a 2-block stretch!

Steve

Softy57 · 04-13-2005

Just made me feel like I took a walk in Playa after I worked my 8 hr. day.

Love getting the news!

birdman · 04-15-2005

Ready or not, your little piece of paradice is growing.

Page · 04-15-2005

Across the street, the former Body Works locale would appear to be nearing the end of its renovation and sports a sign labelling it El Zócalo and smaller "help wanted" signs for restaurant staff of all sorts.

El Zocalo opened tonight and we had dinner there with the owners of the Playa Maya News (newspaper and website). It was in a word, wonderful. Paul, the owner, had promised us a unique menu and it sure lived up to the advance billing.

My friend Sara and I had the seabass - tender and juicy do not describe how good it was. My husband had the lamb shanks and Steve had the duck breast. Having sampled both, I can only say:

Paul, for the first night, without doubt you served food no one else in Playa even dreams about. For the second night and as you go on, all best wishes and hopes that your food continue to delight the palate as tonight's offerings did!

Wow! Check out Playa Maya News' website starting May 1st for the stories in the new edition, including El Zocalo.

Cheers all,

Caroline Page

**ryberg** · 04-16-2005

For the record and to avoid any confusion, please note that there is no connection between Playa Maya the hotel and any other operation or promotion using the same name, except for example where a relationship has been explicitly established and announced for some specific purpose (for example, our inclusion along with other hotels in the Playa.Info Directory and Playa Deal Card offer).

This seems particularly important to point out with respect to the above post, as it inadvertently copied the first paragraph from my first post on this thread without the usual use of the quote feature, and as it mentions a Steve who is not me.

Steve

**ryberg** · 04-20-2005

Following up, today there was a sign posted outside Sol Food to the effect that they're selling a grill and deep fryer, both said to be stainless steel and in virtually new condition, as well as another couple of smaller items. Could be just a coincidence, of course, and not bode any ill for the place. It was closed and no one was there to ask so I couldn't verify...

Steve

Sol · 04-20-2005

Sol Food has been practically empty in the evening. Only a couple of tables are occupied. I had dinner there last week. It was their special, shrimp, veggies, and asian noodles. It was very good. My dinner companion had the risotto with mushrooms. It was very tasty, but it could have been better. They used basmati rice instead of arborio rice. It makes a difference.

Sol · 04-20-2005

The Mayan Gallery that is located on la Quinta between calles six and eight closed yesterday. They will be locating further north on la Quinta. They plan to re-open on the 3rd of May.

This the place that has cool masks, carvings, and beautiful paintings.

Dave y Stacey · 04-20-2005

I sure hope Sol Food stays open for just a bit longer - I've been looking forward to trying it.

Stacy-J · 04-26-2005

Zocalo is now open and FANTASTIC! Paul has really raised the bar on dinning out in Playa. Zocalo will soon be added to our directory, and all the merchants on our directory participate with the Playa Deal Card.

Sol Food is in the process of moving to the newer part of 5th so they can get more exposure. GREAT food as well!

Dave y Stacey · 04-26-2005

That's great to hear about Sol Food - certainly better than the what I was thinking.

jeevers · 04-26-2005

i think the reason zocolo is empty is the seating arrangment

dinner is in back with no street view

drinks are in front where the view is

the menu looks interesting but i want to watch the parade go by while dining so we just had drinks and went to the glass bar for dinner

other than that the place looks great

**ryberg** · 04-27-2005

Well I'm personally very interested in this news about Sol Food as they did pretty extensive renovation in the space they're currently in on 8th. Part of that is right behind us so naturally I'm curious when this move will take place and what will happen next. But I must say that Bill at Treetops, who has been there in that space some 15 years now and so really should know from experience, commented some months ago to me that the turnover rate in terms of restaurants in such locations is quite high.

Anyway, I for one certainly appreciate the update, Stacy!

Steve

Sol · 05-03-2005

Sol Food is officially closed. On Monday, I went by there and there is a " Se Renta" sign on the doors.

**james** · 05-04-2005

not really, I don't think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stacy-J

Sol Food is in the process of moving to the newer part of 5th so they can get more exposure. GREAT food as well!

04-13-2005	#1 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,540	8th street developmental tidbits Saw several things of possible interest on my walk in this morning that I thought I might pass on: Passing the little place called (at least formerly) La Sala it seems at least a name change may be underway, as one of the signs now cleverly says La Salamandra (lit. "the salamander"). Across the street, the former Body Works locale would appear to be nearing the end of its renovation and sports a sign labelling it El Zócalo and smaller "help wanted" signs for restaurant staff of all sorts. Passed the old TGI Friday's/alleged location of new Burger King next but saw no signs of life there. Down the way closer to us, Sol Food was closed, unlike in the past, and the signs on the door state that it is now open only 1 pm to 11 pm. Don't know if that is significant or not. Then right next to that, Alhambra has a very elegant new side entrance with glass doors which Claudine, the manager, told me is going to be for their massage service (though I didn't get whether that was expanding somehow or just getting a sort of facelift or something). And all that just on 8th in a 2-block stretch! Steve

04-13-2005	#2 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,697	Gracias Just made me feel like I took a walk in Playa after I worked my 8 hr. day. Love getting the news!

04-20-2005	#7 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 9,193	Food snob Sol Food has been practically empty in the evening. Only a couple of tables are occupied. I had dinner there last week. It was their special, shrimp, veggies, and asian noodles. It was very good. My dinner companion had the risotto with mushrooms. It was very tasty, but it could have been better. They used basmati rice instead of arborio rice. It makes a difference.

04-20-2005	#8 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 9,193	Mayan Gallery relocating The Mayan Gallery that is located on la Quinta between calles six and eight closed yesterday. They will be locating further north on la Quinta. They plan to re-open on the 3rd of May. This the place that has cool masks, carvings, and beautiful paintings.

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04-15-2005	#3 (permalink)
birdman añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wa state Posts: 1,566	Ready or not, your little piece of paradice is growing.

04-15-2005	#4 (permalink)
Page life=playa Join Date: May 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico and Tweed, Ontario Posts: 706	Across the street, the former Body Works locale would appear to be nearing the end of its renovation and sports a sign labelling it El Zócalo and smaller "help wanted" signs for restaurant staff of all sorts. El Zocalo opened tonight and we had dinner there with the owners of the Playa Maya News (newspaper and website). It was in a word, wonderful. Paul, the owner, had promised us a unique menu and it sure lived up to the advance billing. My friend Sara and I had the seabass - tender and juicy do not describe how good it was. My husband had the lamb shanks and Steve had the duck breast. Having sampled both, I can only say: Paul, for the first night, without doubt you served food no one else in Playa even dreams about. For the second night and as you go on, all best wishes and hopes that your food continue to delight the palate as tonight's offerings did! Wow! Check out Playa Maya News' website starting May 1st for the stories in the new edition, including El Zocalo. Cheers all, Caroline Page

04-16-2005	#5 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,540	For the record and to avoid any confusion, please note that there is no connection between Playa Maya the hotel and any other operation or promotion using the same name, except for example where a relationship has been explicitly established and announced for some specific purpose (for example, our inclusion along with other hotels in the Playa.Info Directory and Playa Deal Card offer). This seems particularly important to point out with respect to the above post, as it inadvertently copied the first paragraph from my first post on this thread without the usual use of the quote feature, and as it mentions a Steve who is not me. Steve

04-20-2005	#6 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,540	Following up, today there was a sign posted outside Sol Food to the effect that they're selling a grill and deep fryer, both said to be stainless steel and in virtually new condition, as well as another couple of smaller items. Could be just a coincidence, of course, and not bode any ill for the place. It was closed and no one was there to ask so I couldn't verify... Steve

04-20-2005	#9 (permalink)
Dave y Stacey way into it Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 242	I sure hope Sol Food stays open for just a bit longer - I've been looking forward to trying it.

04-26-2005	#10 (permalink)
Stacy-J deadbeat Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 73	Zocalo is now open and FANTASTIC! Paul has really raised the bar on dinning out in Playa. Zocalo will soon be added to our directory, and all the merchants on our directory participate with the Playa Deal Card. Sol Food is in the process of moving to the newer part of 5th so they can get more exposure. GREAT food as well!

04-26-2005	#11 (permalink)
Dave y Stacey way into it Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 242	That's great to hear about Sol Food - certainly better than the what I was thinking.

04-26-2005	#12 (permalink)
jeevers beachaholic Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 409	i think the reason zocolo is empty is the seating arrangment dinner is in back with no street view drinks are in front where the view is the menu looks interesting but i want to watch the parade go by while dining so we just had drinks and went to the glass bar for dinner other than that the place looks great

04-27-2005	#13 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: wandering between the Village Vanguard, NYC, 1961 and the Plugged Nickel, Chicago, 1965 Posts: 9,540	Well I'm personally very interested in this news about Sol Food as they did pretty extensive renovation in the space they're currently in on 8th. Part of that is right behind us so naturally I'm curious when this move will take place and what will happen next. But I must say that Bill at Treetops, who has been there in that space some 15 years now and so really should know from experience, commented some months ago to me that the turnover rate in terms of restaurants in such locations is quite high. Anyway, I for one certainly appreciate the update, Stacy! Steve

05-03-2005	#14 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 9,193	Sol Food is officially closed. On Monday, I went by there and there is a " Se Renta" sign on the doors.

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