“Honey, the boys want to know where you want to celebrate your ‘Birthday Dinner’ so they can be sure to be available,” casually remarked Vivian Themer a few weeks before the event.
With about a week to go and time running out for a decision, she again and again prompted Dad/ Don about a choice, and he finally answered, “Oh, I guess at EL FENIX in ‘old Dallas’ Casa Linda.”
This shopping/dining area of Dallas had been a favorite of the Paul Themers, when Don was a boy and the family were members of Hope Lutheran Church on Day Street. Then, many years later, when the Don Themers were members of Hope on Peavy Road and also had doctors and retail outlets in the general area, the Casa Linda area remained a favorite. But, quite a bit of time has passed since then, and the present-day Mom and Boys were a little shocked by the choice and the area, even though they admitted it “brought back good memories.” (Chili’s, Ashburn’s, the picture show (McLendon’s Casa Linda Theatre), Wyatt’s, Mobil, Elliott’s, and even an early CiCi’s), and many, many shops that have opened and closed throughout the years.
But all agreed to meet there, and the night was a wonderful, nostalgic experience and a great Birthday celebration—even though the guest of honor spilled some of the drink in his slippery glass!
The food was scrumptious and delicious and more than enough to fill all the “eaters,” and the interior surroundings and decorations did not seem to have changed much, if at all! The bowl of Chili con Queso (with all the additions) started things off right, and the Botana Sampler was tasty and enough for several to share. The EL Jefe (all your El Fenix Favorites on one Platter) won the vote for “best menu item,” and the enchiladas & tacos were still “worth the drive” to Dallas. In fact, nothing was not good!
The waiters and all the staff were friendly and helpful, and the noise level was not bad—we could converse across and around the table easily, and we were not rushed to “settle the bill” and get the table cleaned.
Some words of advice: “Don’t save enough room during the meal, but buy pralines and a bag of chips and a jar of salsa to take home with you for the next day.”
So, if you need a place for your 58th Birthday celebration, or any other event, or just a place to enjoy good Tex-Mex and Mexican food, try the journey to “Casa” Linda. Their “house” (casa-house-home connection) can still be your “home” for a few hours! And, if you take the Buckner Boulevard route, you can see the back of our “old church” (in use by another denomination now) across the creek that runs through the Peavy/Buckner area.
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