Best Bites: Dining out in Dallas-Fort Worth December 19

by Teresa Gubbins

There's a new member of the Los Lupes "family" -- but it's not like the other Los Lupes. Los Lupes being the local chain of Mexican restaurants from the Ramirez family with seven branches spread throughout Dallas and its suburbs. But unlike the rest of the family, this new one is called Mama's Authentic Seafood, with an emphasis on -- well, guess.

Mama's Authentic Seafood

"We're testing the waters to see how a seafood restaurant would work," says spokesman Antonio Alvarez. "The concept is seafood, to-go mostly, with combination plates priced between $3 and $7. We have a catfish basket with 2-4 pieces of catfish, with fries and hush puppies, for $7. The lunch combo is the most popular item, you get one catfish filet with two fried oysters and two fried jumbo shrimp for $6.95."

They haven't strayed too far from the tree, however, in that they also sell breakfast, which is one of Los Lupes' signatures, along with its famed all-you-can-eat buffet, unique in Mexican restaurants, for $5.95.

Mediterranean buffet

Dallas now has another Houston-spawned Mediterranean buffet concept in the style of Fadi's with the opening on Preston Road of DiMassi's Mediterranean Buffet, in the space that used to be home to Cafe Express.

At DiMassi's Mediterranean Buffet, you serve yourself.

What's interesting about DiMassi's is that it was originally founded by the DiMassi family, who sold it and then went on to open the Fadi chain. The concept is pretty much identical, with a buffet of Mediterranean classics, from hummus to baklava; but at DiMassi's, you serve yourself, while Fadi's is cafeteria-style wherein they serve it for you.

Coffee and internet

In these economically challenging times, the Rizos family knows how to diversify. Their portfolio includes award-winning men's club The Lodge; Mediterranean restaurant (and Uncle Barky hangout) Stratos; and Rizos Wash, a self-serve laundromat/car-wash whose 255 machines have won it recognition by American Coin-Op as the world's largest coin-operated laundromat. Now they've added a 25-seat area they've dubbed the Rizos Internet Cafe where, along with 69-cent bundle service, you can get free internet, coffee, and popcorn. Not since the days of the dearly departed Bar of Soap has a laundromat concept offered so much.