by Jay Kerner

I swear I could smell it Monday afternoon. You can’t fool this nose; it
was beef cooking on a grill. I stepped out the door of our offices at
7th and Edmond, and it was definitely on the breeze. I followed the
aroma around the corner where I met the new owner of Casa Santa Fe in the
former Chloe and Bernard’s space.

Unfortunately, I was told by Kristene Urbina that they were just
training, and the restaurant wouldn’t be open until Wednesday, March 5th. I
immediately volunteered for guinea pig duty, but was politely turned
away. The staff would be enjoying the training meals themselves, as they
prepare to open. While I didn’t get to sample the fare, I did get a
chance to look around and examine the menu.

I always liked the space; the long narrow dining room, with the
original tile floor and all the exposed brick. The Mexican art and decorative
treatments go very well with the existing structure, and the waterfall
display adds soothing sounds to dine by.

General Manager Angie Duke will oversee a menu of traditional Mexican
dishes from old family recipes. The Chicken Mole particularly caught my
attention, but even bribery couldn’t persuade the server from giving up
her lunch. It was cruel the way they carried them past me, teasing me
with the sight and smell, before I went back to the sad lunchmeat
sandwich in my office.

The restaurant will be open at 7am, 7 days a week, serving breakfast,
lunch and dinner. They will offer take-out service and provide no charge
delivery to those in the Downtown area. A call to 233-7800 will get
you prompt service.

We would like to welcome Casa Santa Fe as our newest Downtown neighbor,
and would encourage you to stop in and give them a try. How about on
your way to the next event at the Missouri Theater next door? And when
you do, don’t forget to tell em Joe sent you.