Back to the Biz Chi Chi’s opened its first restaurant in 20 years, in the Twin Cities where it all began. Chi-Chi’s closed down completely in 2004 after a hepatitis outbreak tied to green onions in their salsa sickened 650 people, left four dead and spurred a slew of lawsuits against the chain. Founded in 1975 by Marno McDermott and former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee, the chain once boasted more than 200 locations nationwide. Its West Des Moines store was a hot spot in the metro for a decade.
Chain gang news. McDonald's broke a long streak of flat or declining same store sales with a really good quarter report this month - up 2.4% for three months ending with September. To win back cash-strapped consumers, McDonald’s resumed advertising Extra Value Meals, running $5 and $8 combo-meal promotions. The chain also brought back wraps, pricing them at $2.99... Yum Brands announced it would sell Pizza Hut... Denny’s allowed itself to go private... Chipotle reported slumping same store sales. Analysts blamed their concentration on Gen Z diners and their relatively high prices for fast food.
Deals today • It's catfish night at Waterfront stores. Dinners cooked any way you like it $19.99.
• Kids eat free on Monday at Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Suite 200, Ankeny).
• It's Meat Loaf Monday at Mickey's in Yale and hot beef sandwich day at Pelican Post.
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) Monday special is three for $25 on all appetizers.
• Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) has a Monday night sirloin dinner special for $20.
• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Monday grind" special grinder and fries basket for $9.50.
• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).
• Trostel's Greeenbriar (Merle Hay Road, Johnston) has a Monday burger with a side and beer deal for $14.
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) has $8 omelets and $10 hot beef sandwiches or Mexican bowls on Mondays.
• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken de Burgo special on Mondays before 4 p.m., $14 including beverage.
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts Shelby Smokehouse Soul Food on Mondays 5-9 p.m. • G Mig's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today with a side. • The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12. • The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smash burger and shoestring fries, $12. • Bad Dog Burgers include three 1/3-pound patties, six pieces of bacon, choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion for $10.95 on Mondays at Kathy’s East 14th Street Tavern (3418 East 14th St., Des Moines). • Jethro's have a Monday chicken tenders and fries special, $9.95.
• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $15 with garlic bread and salad.
• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday special is a burger with domestic beer, soft drink or well drink for $10. Those are good, generously sized burgers too.
• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.
• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are offering a Monday special meat loaf dinner with green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy for $8.
• Who's on First (810 E. First St., Ankeny) has steak night on Monday, and it's an 8-ounce filet with salad, mashed potatoes and beans for $22.95
• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays.
• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.
• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle on wine.
• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9.
• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20.
• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich for $12.50.
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.
• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners with two sides and a roll, for $6 on Mondays.
• Fareways have specials through Saturday on red grapes at $1.88/pound, boneless USDA Choice rump roast (pot roast) at $6.99/pound, and 10-pound bags of russet potatoes for $4.88.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |