Pizza Inn / San Jose Restaurante Mexicano, 4722 Forest Drive: 31 October 2011 13 comments
I liked this San Jose pretty well though I did not go there too often.
I recall being very proud of myself one time here when a young lady of my acquaintance simply refused to put on her bib as requested by her mother. Nothing worked until I took it and put it around my neck, netting me a shocked Hey, that's mine! look coupled with the immediate indication that I should give her bib back at once. I did, and she immediately put it on and kept it on for the rest of the meal...
The food here was the standard Mexican-run Mexican restaurant fare you see all over South Carolina. I did like that they had pico de gallo available as a side item for spicing up the salsa, which Pancho's down the street does not (or did not last time I was there).
The closing sign is interesting in that it suggests they may come back at some point. That raises by implication the issue of why they are leaving in the first place. Could this site be destined for some new building and they couldn't get a lease renewal? And it is hard to think of another space in the general area that isn't either too close to Pancho's or too close to Casa Linda. Note also that the other address name-checked on the sign is the former Santorini Grill.
(Hat tip to commenter Mrs. SK)
UPDATE 3 November 2011: Added Pizza Inn to the post title based on the comments.
UPDATE 17 February 2012 -- Well, it's confirmed that Pasta Fresca will be moving here. Also, they have pulled the whole front addition off of the building:
UPDATE 6 March 2012 -- Construction continues:
UPDATE 5 April 2012 -- And still continues:
UPDATE 16 April 2012 -- It looks like they are adding a patio:
UPDATE 7 May 2012 -- Construction is basically done now for the Pasta Fresca move (and note the new Pasta Fresca logo). I talked briefly to the owner, and he indicated that the menu will have the same dishes they have at the current location but add some new appetizer and meat dishes. They are shooting for a mid-May opening:
UPDATE 25 January 2023: Update tags, add map icon.
13 Responses to 'Pizza Inn / San Jose Restaurante Mexicano, 4722 Forest Drive: 31 October 2011'
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Tom
3 Nov 11 at 5:27 am
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I think so, too, probably until the late 1980s.
badger
3 Nov 11 at 8:33 am
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I can almost guarantee you that building was a Pizza Inn. It's got the trapezoid sign.
Kirby
3 Nov 11 at 8:20 pm
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Yeah, I think y'all are right. I was going to wait until I could verify it in a phonebook, but I'll just go ahead and add it to the title.
ted
3 Nov 11 at 10:48 pm
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Wondering if the owners are having some financial troubles. I was in the Hard Scrabble location Sunday and was told they didn't have a license to serve alcohol on Sundays anymore.
It's my understanding that that's a separate license that costs $3000 a year, vs. $1700 every two years for a license for the other six days a week.
Jason
4 Nov 11 at 2:40 pm
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Pasta Fresca is moving from their current location on Forest Dr. (by Kroger) into this building.
David
5 Nov 11 at 5:43 pm
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Interesting!
ted
5 Nov 11 at 6:33 pm
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That IS interesting. I'm sure Pasta Fresca is a good restaurant - it's been there for a long time. I just can't get over the thought that the building it's in now was a barbershop and then a pet store, two things that aren't that appetizing to me. Maybe in the new location I'll finally want to eat there!
Cary
6 Nov 11 at 12:38 am
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Well, Pasta Fresca is a very small operation in it's current space. They will really have to ramp up to service something the size of this building. I hope they are prepared..
ted
6 Nov 11 at 1:25 am
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I remember this building being a Godfather's Pizza in the early-mid 80's.
Chris
11 Nov 11 at 10:04 am
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Looks like the property was sold and Pasta Fresca is going to move in the location.
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This may have been a Pizza Inn, but if so, it was prior to 1980. It was definitely a Godfather's Pizza from at least 1980 to 1986.
Nicole
14 Jan 12 at 8:43 am
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Godfather's for sure. I don't remember Pizza Inn being here, they had one on Two Notch in front of Spring Valley theaters. and one in Five Points.
Mr. Bill
22 Mar 24 at 1:45 pm
I think this building was originally a Pizza inn