Comments on: Don Pablo's Mexican Restaurant, 7201 Two Notch Road (Columbia Mall outparcel): late 90s

By: James Greek

James Greek — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:56:31 +0000

There is still a Cuco's in Montgomery Alabama. In fact, they just opened a new location on Chantilly Parkway. Also, I think they either moved to downtown Montgomery or they are still at their location on the Eastern Bypass off I-85.

By: J.P.

J.P. — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:13:11 +0000

Went to a Don Pablo's just last night in Delaware. Thrivin' on Cinco de Mayo!

By: ted

ted — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:15:25 +0000

That was a "Cucos" in Capitol Centre. I plan to make a post about it at some point. I never got around to trying the beer at Hops, or the house-brewed root-beer either though that sounded pretty neat. And I really liked those croisants.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:10:04 +0000

I remember a Chi Chi's in Capital Centre, in the very early 1990's. I have a Polaroid that they took of me in a sombrero on my birthday. Glad I got the picture, because that's all I remember about the night.

I agree with J.P. regarding Hops. Very good food, but the beer never was anything special. No seasonals, just cut and dry. The A-1 was about as flavorful as it got.

I remember Tomato Rumbas in that (Harbison) location, that was good. The ape inside on the wall ended up at the Par 3 on Broad River Road.

By: ted

ted — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:46:52 +0000

What happened to Don Pablo's and Hops seems to be a bit convoluted, but apparently the owner, Avado Brands went bankrupt in Feb 2004. I'm guessing that's when the Columbia Hops stores closed. The article has the new CEO talking a good game about turning things around, but apparently they ended up having to sell a number of still existing Hops and Don Pablos to Rita Restaurant Corp earlier this year.

By: J.P.

J.P. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:29:29 +0000

The Don Pablo's on Decker had very decent food, but their prices always seemed to be higher than the "authentic" Mexican places that are all over Decker/Two-Notch/Park Lane. Their staff were always rather slow to serve, which really didn't work all that well for the business lunchtime crowd. As far as the Hops stores in Columbia, their popularity wasn't that great, and they continually had to run specials to keep attracting customers. Their beers were decent, but they didn't follow any traditional styles, and therefore the homebrewers and fans of microbrewed beers never 'cicked' with their beers.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:02:54 +0000

You need to make a post about Hops, both the locations on Two Notch and Fernandina have subsequently been turned into Hooters. I waited tables there for two years (on Fernandina) until the day it closed and I have no idea as to why it closed.