Candidate Responses

The results are in!  Three candidates want to be mayor.  As of posting time, Betsy Price, Nicholas Zebrun and Dan Barrett have responded to the First Official Fort Worth Hole In The Wall Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire (TM).  Thank you to the above listed candidates for responding.

Below, you will find the questions asked, with the answers in bold.  I hope the citizenry of Fort Worth appreciates this contribution to their voting education as well as the time each of these candidates took in responding.  Responses are in order that I received them and i have added a small commentary to the end of each set of responses.

NICHOLAS ZEBRUN

1. Do you have a favorite local hole in the wall restaurant? If so, what is the restaurant and do you know the owners or would they recognize you?

Yes, a wonderful place off of Granbury Road called Charley's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. To my recollection this is the original one, even though they've now built a new location or two elsewhere in the city. I've never met the owners of the restaurant, but I'm sure some of the workers there would recognize me for always ordering the bacon cheeseburger with everything on it.

2. Please list your favorite restaurant for each of the following categories:

a. Mexican - Authentic - The Original
b. Mexican - Tex/Mex - On the Border; Close second - Chuy's
c. Mexican - Trailer/shack - N/A
d. Italian - Prima Pasta
e. Pizza - Mama's; Close second - Mellow Mushroom
f. BBQ - Cousins
g. American - Old Neighborhood Grill
h. Breakfast - N/A
i. Fried Food - Zeke's
j. Bar - Yupp's; Close second - 7th Haven; Close third - Scat Jazz Lounge
k. Patio - N/A
l. Best Live Music at a restaurant - N/A
m. Eclectic or other styles I have neglected on this list - Maharajah Indian Restaurant, King Tut's Egyptian Restaurant, Zeke's (best fish in FTW)

3. If Fort Worth citizens want to find you at a restaurant in the morning, where will you be?
I'm not much on eating out until lunch, preferring instead to stay at home for breakfast. If I am out early enough, though, you can usually find me at Starbucks, getting whatever frap I'm in the mood for and usually partaking of a pastry or sandwich.

4. Have you ever ridden a bike or walked to a restaurant in Fort Worth? If so, which restaurant?
No. Sadly most of the restaurants I frequent are not by my house; certainly not within walking distance. I can think of no greater rationale for a public transit line.

5. What is your view towards locally owned and operated restaurants and how do you think these establishments impact the character of the city?
I think everyone on the city council and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce should promote the development and creation of as many locally owned restaurants by local entrepreneurs and investors as much as possible. The city welcomes new restaurants and chains from other areas of the country, but our homegrown establishments are where the true history and flavor of our city is and there's nothing that makes us feel more at home than walking into one, knowing the owners by name, and anticipating a great, authentic, Fort Worth meal. That can never be replicated.

6. Why haven't you posted on Fort Worth Hole In The Wall before?
Honestly, I have only heard about the blog on and off and, as a rule, I don't post on many sites. However blogs such as this need to be more heavily promoted by members of the council and other institutions so that everyone can partake of the vast knowledge and insight that's out there from our city and area.

FWHITW COMMENTARY - Good call on Charlie's - which actually inspired me to head to Charlie's for the first time - but, On The Border?  Also, I agree to your response to #6 - City Funding for Blogs!!!

BETSY PRICE

1. Do you have a favorite local hole in the wall restaurant? If so, what is the restaurant and do you know the owners or would they recognize you?

Yes, Bella, we are good friends with Sal the owner

2. Please list your favorite restaurant for each of the following categories:

a. Mexican - Authentic - Paco and John Mexican Diner

b. Mexican - Tex/Mex - Joe T Garcia’s

c. Mexican - Trailer/shack - Melis Taqueria on Vickery

d. Italian - Bella

e. Pizza - Mellow Mushroom

f. BBQ - Railhead

g. American - Hoffbrau

h. Breakfast -  Panera Bread or Old Neighborhood Grill

i. Fried Food -  Flying Fish

j. Bar - Eddie V’s or Winslow’s

k. Patio - Hot Tub’s [Back Porch Grotto]

l. Best Live Music at a restaurant - 8 0’s

m. Eclectic or other styles I have neglected on this list -  Hamburgers, come see us at Fred’s Café

3. If Fort Worth citizens want to find you at a restaurant in the morning, where will you be?

Panera Bread

4. Have you ever ridden a bike or walked to a restaurant in Fort Worth? If so, which restaurant?

Yes, Panera Bread, Fuzzy’s Taco, La Madeline, Old Neighborhood Grill and Esperanza’s North Side

5. What is your view towards locally owned and operated restaurants and how do you think these establishments impact the character of the city?

Locally owned businesses are our core and what makes Fort Worth unique. Strong, vibrant small businesses build a strong city core. While chains still have their place, locally owned businesses add character to our city, and provide the flavor.

6. Why haven't you posted on Fort Worth Hole In The Wall before?

I haven’t had time to blog a lot

FWHITW COMMENTARY - You need to join the "Sal's Pals" club and get a shirt to wear to Bella. 

DAN BARRETT

 

1. Do you have a favorite local hole in the wall restaurant?   If so, what is the restaurant and do you know the owners or would they recognize you? I have several- is it breakfast, lunch or dinner?

I know many of the owners (and staff) at the ‘holes in the wall’ I frequent, including: Old Neighborhood Grill, Paris Coffee Shop, Montgomery Street Café, Chadra, Lili’s, Tommy’s… . And, yes, they would recognize me.

2. Please list your favorite restaurant for each of the following categories:

a. Mexican - Authentic - La Playa

b. Mexican - Tex/Mex - Old Rips

c. Mexican - Trailer/shack - Melis

d. Italian - Taverna

e. Pizza - Chadra

f. BBQ - Railhead

g. American - Lili’s or Ellerbe

h. Breakfast - Old Neighborhood Grill or Paris Coffee Shop

i. Fried Food - Drews

j. Bar - The Usual

k. Patio - Nonna Tata

l. Best Live Music at a restaurant – 8.0

m. Eclectic or other styles I have neglected on this list

3. If Fort Worth citizens want to find you at a restaurant in the morning, where will you be?

Old Neighborhood Grill or Paris Coffee Shop

4. Have you ever ridden a bike or walked to a restaurant in Fort Worth? If so, which restaurant?

Yes- almost all of the downtown spots when we lived downtown.

5. What is your view towards locally owned and operated restaurants and how do you think these establishments impact the character of the city?

I greatly prefer locally owned and operated establishments to virtually any chain. They play a vital role in giving Fort Worth its unique flavor.

6. Why haven't you posted on Fort Worth Hole In The Wall before?

“I was not aware of Fort Worth Hole in the Wall,” he said sheepishly. 

FWHITW COMMENTARY - That hurts Dan.  So I guess you spend your free time "working" and "being productive" and not "wasting time online"? 

Thanks to Nicholas, Betsy and Dan for their participation.  Unfortunately, Jim Lane and Cathy Hirt did not respond so we'll never know how they truly feel about these questions. 

Early Voting starts on May 2nd and Election Day is May 14th.