Food Madness
The first round winners in the Final Four Restaurant Challenge are ...
That imaginary sound you just heard was the buzzer ending the 16 first round matchups in the The Big Dance Restaurant Challenge.
Blow-outs were few and far between. The most commanding first round win Uptown Park Italian favorite Arturo's over apparent unknown Teriyaki Experience, 72 percent to 28 percent, establishing Arturo's (for now) as something like a number one seed.
Other restaurants with decisive wins were Quattro beating hotel rival Monarch 62 percent to 38 percent, Ouisie's Table taking down Saks Fifth Avenue's revamped 51Fifteen by a 30-point margin and Maggiano's Little Italy roaring by Mandola's Catering 68 percent to 32 percent.
In the tight races, Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen mounted a comeback against Cadillac Bar and squeaked by with 52 percent, Gigi's Asian Bistro came from behind to turn back P.F. Chang's valiant upset bid and Chili's held off Salt Grass for a nail-biting 51 percent to 49 percent victory (or as George W. Bush calls it, a "mandate").
Of course it wouldn't be interesting without some distinguished restaurant names taking early bows — I call this move "the Jayhawk" based on some bitter feelings left over from my NCAA Tournament brackets past. Gigi's neighbor Del Frisco racked up a respectable win over tough competition in the Rainbow Lodge, Mockingbird Bistro felled downtown steakhouse III Forks, The Breakfast Klub lost out to Max's Wine Dive (there goes our chicken and waffles at The Big Dance), and in the Battle of Tex-Mexican hometown favorites, Ninfa's on Navigation took down Hugo's.
House of Blues, The Tasting Room, Niko Niko's, Sullivan's Steakhouse and Molina's Cantina round out the members of the restaurant challenge Sweet Sixteen.
Who will go all the way? It's up to your votes.
This is March Madness foodie style — and only half of the original 32 restaurants have survived and advanced. The winners of the first round will now battle it out in the the Sweet 16, which runs through Feb. 21 at 2:59 p.m.
The eventual champion of The Big Dance Restaurant Challenge gets to serve food during the Final Four concert series at Discovery Green. The Big Dance concert series will feature free entertainment and A-list musical acts throughout the extended Final Four weekend in Houston.
Remember to vote early and often (you can cast one ballot per day) in round two.
