New Mexican spot

Picante Mexican Grill is open at 1500 W. Morehead St., a quick-service place with burritos, tacos (including fish tacos), salads and more, including vegetarian options and ... Mexican Coke! (Worth the trip if you haven't yet tried.) Open daily; www.picantemexicangrill.com; 704-375-6000.

'Over the Moon Mondays'

Harvest Moon Grille starts "Over the Moon Mondays and Mandolin" tonight (April 30): three courses and live entertainment for $30. Musician Chris English will perform; the menu includes charcuterie, pork confit in puff pastry and ice cream. 235 N. Tryon St., 704-342-1193.

Links of the week

Have you tried Kobe beef in America in the last two years? Larry says: No. You haven't. This Forbes writer goes through the issue of Kobe's reality and reputation, and posits that the very specific beef's reputation has been stolen, here. It's all interesting, but skip to here if you're short on time for a sort-of-summary version -- that's both more subtle and more clear on several points.

Define "we" in this list from Zagat called "8 Chain Restaurant Dishes We Secretly Love." (My personal tally: no, yes, yes but only for the first 90 seconds, no, never had, never had, never had, never had.)


Ever wonder about wasabi? (The REAL wasabi, I mean?) Take a look here.

Oysters up

April 29 is Growlers Pourhouse's oyster roast benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: live music, oysters and beer food 1-7 p.m. at the corner of North Davidson and 35th streets. $5 gets you in, with food and drink tickets costing $3 each. Info: http://ht.ly/askaj.

Coming up: Cinco de Mayo

Both Cantina 1511s (1511 East Blvd. and 7708 Rea Road) will do drink specials for Cinco de Mayo, from $2 Coronas to the 1511 top-shelf margarita for $8, as well as outdoor beverage service, with music, contests and more for the day (beginning at 4 p.m.). Sibling Paco's Tacos & Tequila (6401 Morrison Blvd.) will host an outdoor beer garden beside the restaurant (also beginning at 4), with Miss Kitty's margaritas for $5 and more. Designated drivers can get $2 Fiji bottled waters.

Also for Cinco de Mayo: Jim 'N Nick's, the national chain known for barbecue, offers taco and drink specials 11 a.m.-10 p.m. that day, describing the fare as "Southern food meets Mexican street food." That means a barbecued pork taco, fried catfish taco, brisket and hot link taco, and Mexican beers for $1.99.

Delta's is opening tonight uptown

Delta’s is slated to open to the public tonight (April 26), offering "fine Southern cuisine" and live jazz and R&B music in the former G.W. Fins spot at 525 N. Tryon St. The original, in New Jersey, opened in 1999, and Coretta King and Joshua Suggs say they plan to open in Houston, Atlanta and more in the next five years. In Charlotte, lunch, brunch and dinner are planned, and the place includes a banquet room, soundstage and patio dining. The dinner menu ranges from fried catfish and whiting to smothered chicken and pork chops to oxtails, and includes a "Tour of the South" that offers fried chicken, "BBQ pork ribs" and fried catfish.
704-612-2633; www.deltasrestaurant.com.

Two locations of national chain How Do You Roll? make-your-own-sushi spots are scheduled to open this summer: in the Overstreet Mall uptown (BB&T Center, 200 S. College St.) and at Ballantyne (11318 N. Community House Road). The idea: You walk in, follow a line offering a range of ingredients and build your own rolls. (Yes, there'll be grilled chicken, gluten-free and vegan ingredients, too.)

'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' comes to Charlotte

The well-received documentary about one of the world's most acclaimed sushi masters, "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," opens April 27 at the Regal at Ballantyne. Here's the trailer: Beautiful.