Dining in Style

Houlihan's is hoping to generate a lot of hoopla by unveiling a new prototype restaurant building that officials say will serve as a model for all 82 restaurants nationwide.

Scheduled to open today, the new 64,000-square-foot restaurant at 1508 S. Randall Road features an open kitchen, enhanced bar and a patio to better serve the chain's casual clientele, says CEO Bob Hartnett.

The Algonquin location marks the first newly constructed "Houlihan's of the next century," according to Hartnett. The prototype, he said, includes new architecture, interior design, uniforms, music, menu format, patio-style dining and a spacious centerpiece bar. ... He says the sweeping changes will help distance the restaurant from older casual dining concepts of the '70s, '80s and '90s. ... continue to read.

Dining: What's new with local restaurants

The local Capp & Gino's franchise makes the most of its small buildings. The drive-up-only coffee shop has gained a loyal following. Now, a two-story building at 119 N. River Road is still dwarfed by next-door neighbor McDonald's. However, the newer West Lafayette Capp & Gino's has full dining menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The coffee menu is there but so are Sausage & Cheese Omelets, Steak Sandwiches and Eggplant Parmigiana. The upstairs contains a sleek, elegant and full bar. "A lot of people still don't know about the bar up here," said Barbara Huddleston, bar manager of Capp & Gino's. Huddleston has helped Capp & Gino's compile an impressive wine list. It has about 75 vintages from all over the world. "This month, we're featuring wines from Chile and Argentina," said Huddleston, who has paid her way through Purdue University by tending bar around West Lafayette. She will graduate with a degree in hospitality and tourism management in a couple weeks... ( By Tim Brouk )

Full Service Restaurant and Lounge

Casual Luxury and Fine Dining Overlooking St. Paul Harbor On the Emerald Isle Kodiak

Fine dining in Kodiak is synonymous with the Chart Room Restaurant. Serving a Full Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu including daily specials. Alaska King Crab is served year-round. Other favorites include generous portions of Prime Rib and Classic Filet Mignon.

Our full-service lounge carries a wide selection of fine wines, including award winning local Alaska Wilderness Wines, premium beers and your favorite cocktails.

For those planning a fishing or sightseeing excursion box lunches may be ordered the evening before for pick up the next day.

The view from the lounge and The Chart Room provide non-stop entertainment with all the harbor activities, frolicking killer whales, stellar sea lions, and soaring eagles. With our convenient location on the second floor of the Best Western Kodiak Inn, overlooking St. Paul Harbor and Chiniak Bay, visitors don't have far to travel for a delectable wholesome meal, beverage or nightcap....

Truck dining acquires a touch of class

Customers of the food trucks behind Building 56 got a pleasant surprise last Thursday when undergraduates donned black and white waiter attire, and placed chairs and cloth-covered tables on the grassy area nearby so that truck diners could eat their lunch in a makeshift caf.

Although Chez Camions (roughly, "house of trucks" in French) served only iced spring water, the caf had a steady stream of customers who seemed happy with the BYOL (bring your own lunch) arrangement. Most diners carried the ubiquitous styrofoam container from the trucks to the caf�, where waiters seated them at tables with white cloths and napkins, vases of bright red mini-carnations and flatware.

A strolling violinist serenaded the many diners in the area, including those sitting on the benches and grass nearby.

Four students in 4.301 (Foundations in the Visual Arts, taught by Professor Ritsuko Taho of architecture) created the temporary dining area as a class project to study how changes in a public space would affect social interaction. They operated the four-table caf� from about 11:45am-1:15pm on May 14. ...