Use Twitter for great dining deals

Do you use twitter?

• Yes - skip to paragraph 3 (Twitter isn't too popular in the Big Country yet)
  
• No - oh, are you missing out on some deals! Keep reading.
  

First of all, you don't have to sign up to see what people or businesses are writing on twitter, but you do have to sign up to see more than one person at a time. Then, just find who you're looking for and click "follow" and their tweets will show up on your home screen.

Not sold yet? Check out this pretty little micro-example of what deals are out there if you follow the right people. Unfortunately, this is a screen grab, and not an actual feed so you can't click on it. But if you want to be able to interact with these local savings, go to http://twitter.com/bigcountryhome/local-businesses.

Do you want @bigcountryhome to follow you? We love finding out about what's going on in the community in 140 words or less. And if your tweets involve me getting something for cheap, all the better. Ha!

New Schlotzsky's in north Abilene

The old Burger King at North 10th and Judge Ely is going to become a Schlotzsky's.

It will be owned by the same people who own the sandwich shop on South 14th. The owners expect to have the new place open in a couple of months!

The building next to Rosa's has been vacant for a while.

Zoo-Kini's Offers Lower Price Salad Bar

I was pleasantly surprised at Zoo-Kini's today when the waitress told me I could make one trip to the salad bar and bread station for $5.99.

All-you-can-eat salad bar is normally $6.99 and I think it's $7.99 if you add the bread.

I talked to the manager who said they'd continue the $5.99 deal if enough people say they like it. He made sure to ask our opinion about it. I told him that with the advance warning, I was able to pile up my plate and was stuffed at the end of the meal.

He said with everyone raising their prices these days, they decided to offer a cheaper option to the customers who only make one trip anyway.

Yay for that!

Little Italy Offers Limo Pickup

Has anyone else out there in Blog Land noticed the older, white limo parked outside Little Italy at South 14th and Winters Freeway?

We did a little investigating for this here Dining Out blog, and found that $95 dollars will get you and your date a ride to the restaurant, dinner, and a ride home.

Do you think it's a deal?

_

Abilene Gets New Mediterranean Joint

Abilene will soon be home to a new Mediterranean restaurant called "Middle East."

It is located on South 14th Street, right near our studios. It's in that shopping center next to Little Caesar's and Card & Party Factory.

The owner, who recently moved to Abilene from Iraq, will offer traditional Mediterranean cuisine, including felafels and hummus.

The owner says he's hoping to open in the next 4 to 5 days.

The Middle East restaurant will be open seven days a week from 9 am until 10 at night.

Top Rock Band Endorses Abilene Restaurant

Four-piece rock band Papa Roach has sold more than 10 million copies of it music worldwide. When the group visited Abilene for a concert Friday, members could obviously have gone anywhere...or requested anything. So what did they dine on? La Popular.

Papa Roach guitarist Jerry Horton posted the following message on his Twitter page:

"La Popular Bakery & Cafe in Abilene. Some of the best Mexican food!"

Not a bad endorsement, huh? I'm guessing Horton has had some of the best Mexican food in the country.

If you're interested, you can get all sorts of behind-the-scene details on the Papa Roach concert and trip to the Big Country from the band, crew, etc. by searching "abilene" on Twitter.

The picture you see with this blog entry was a twitterpic posted from the sound check earlier in the day Friday.

Free Whataburgers on Tuesday

What-a-deal!

Anyone who comes dressed in orange to any Big Country Whataburger will get a free Whataburger. Free. Just the way you like it.

There are a couple catches. You must wear an orange piece of clothing. Hats and accessories don't count, a press release from the company specified. You also have to be a dine-in customer. No blazing through the drive through in your jail jumpsuit.

"Orange Night Out" is part of a new company initiative called "Whataburger Serves," geared at helping customers, employees and their families. In fact, employees' family members got to eat for half price on Sunday.

Orange you glad I read through all my press releases?

Check this out, too! Great coupons from your favorite Abilene restaurants -- sit down and fast food included. http://www.discountabilene.com/Restaurants.html.