In the ballroom of the Cactus Hotel yesterday, the San Angelo Restaurant Association held its award ceremony to celebrate the exceptional employees and restaurants of San Angelo.
The San Angelo Restaurant Association is meant to bring restaurants together in San Angelo.
“What is surprising about the restaurant business is that, the better we all are as a group, the better we are all going to be in the long run,” said Tim Condon with the Angry Cactus West Texas Bar & Grill.
About 150 people showed up for the Gala, and they enjoyed food, drinks and music. Some of the people who were there have been part of the restaurant industry in San Angelo for years, while others were new to the association.
“The San Angelo Restaurant Association exists to promote the finest restaurants in the San Angelo, Texas area, and to further culinary arts education,” said Condon. “We are not all competitors, but we are working together, and we are friends.”
Before the awards were handed out, Condon gave a few local organizations some donations.The nonprofits recognized were the Boys and Girls Club, Concho Valley Home for Girls, West Texas Boys Ranch, House of Faith, Tom Green County 4H and the YMCA.
“Everyone in here is part of SARA and know that a big part of what we do is raise money for the nonprofits in our community,” said the owner of Zentner’s Daughter, Bernay Sheffield. “We have a chance to give back even more.”
Once the donations were handed out, the award ceremony commenced. Everyone cheered as individuals were called to collect their awards in specific categories. There were 10 awards handed out, which included the following:
Employee of the Year: Johnny Parra, The Original Henry’s
Intern of the Year: Trevor Shirk
Allied-Member of the Year: Lori Sumerlin, San Angelo Standard Times
Manager of the Year-Front of House: Randye Dunlap, Concho’s Downtown
Manager of the Year-Back of House: Sonia Mitchell, Zentner's Daughter
Restaurant of the Year-Mexican: Fuentes Cafe
Restaurant of the Year-American: Zentner's Daughter
Restaurant of the Year-Barbecue: Packsaddle
Restaurant of the Year-Quick Service Restaurant: Kenney Blaneks
Outstanding Restaurant: Gary Allen, Dickey's Barbecue Pit
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Comments
The list above are typical winners of the awards but not sure how they are chosen. I can name several restaurants better than what was awarded: Shenanigan's, the restaurant (best "everything else" - burgers, sandwiches, chicken, etc), The Grill (best everything), Armenia's (best mexican).
Just my opinion of our local restaurants.
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PermalinkWayne McShan, I totally agree with your statement. There are other/better restaurants locally. I am going to guess that the San Angelo Restaurant Association is made up of restaurants that are "MEMBERS" of this organization. “Everyone in here is part of SARA and know that a big part of what we do is raise money for the nonprofits in our community,” said the owner of Zentner’s Daughter, Renee Shipley." While I do like that SARA raises money for nonprofit organizations in the community, I don't agree that "non-membership" in SARA should be a disqualifier. Unfortunately I have no say so in this organization so all I can do is voice my opinion here. "San Angelo Restaurant Association Members"
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PermalinkIt is fine that they raise money for the nonprofit organizations but some of the places listed makes me wonder if they have ever eaten there. The only place for Mexican food is Franco's. But different taste for different folks. But San Angelo does not have a really good BBQ place. Out of all of them the one place I will not go to is Dickey's. That is like a brisket cooked like a roast. There is no BBQ to it. If you are ever in Kingsland, Texas go to Spykes BBQ. It's better than anything in in San Angelo, priced about like Pack Saddle so it will not cost you a weeks pay like Coopers in other places.
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