New Square Market deli opens on downtown Rockwall square

If you’re a fan of the wide assortment of fresh, organic and gourmet foods and beverages that Central Market has to offer in Dallas but wished there was one closer to Rockwall, then you’ll be happy to learn there’s now a smaller but similar style marketplace on the downtown square in Old Town Rockwall.

Called “Square Market,” and especially designed for people who prefer takeout to cooking, the new store with the bright red awnings over the doors and windows was patterned after Central Market because the owners also tired of having to drive all the way to Dallas or Plano to visit the popular store.

Owned by the same three men who own and operate the popular year-old Zanata restaurant, also on the downtown square, Square Market is located at the intersection of North Goliad and Hwy. 66, across from the old courthouse, at 101 N. Goliad.

Partners Ted Grieb and brothers Kevin and Alidor Lefere met when they worked as executive and sous chefs at Dakota’s Steakhouse in Dallas. Ted continues now as executive chef at Zanata’s, which is famous for its wood-fired pies and delicacies like crab cakes, wild salmon, Paella and Steak Florentine. The Lefere brothers focus on operations and new endeavors.

Read more at rockwallrocks.com

Very tasty Vietnamese food at Pho Garden!

I almost forgot to write that my wife and I enjoyed a light dinner last Friday night at Pho Garden Vietnamese Noodle House, a clean, contemporary restaurant next to Office Depot in Rockwall. Roxana Roxana found her ”small” (actually quite large) bowl of Vietnamese soup to be very tasty and filling. It included large portions of cabbage, carrots and other veggies, plus some slowly-simmered, tender strips of beef. She was very pleased!

I went for the simple chicken and rice plate, which I also found to be tasty and well worth trying. The thin breasts of chicken were covered with a sweet, Teriyaki-type sauce, which gave the boiled rice more flavor. It was probably more rice than I needed, but rice is the staple in Vietnam and people expect plenty of it.

Both dinners were reasonably-priced, about $7 each, and the service was exceptional. The waiter was very friendly, assisting plenty of customers to figure out what to order. Owners Ha and Quin are also very friendly and were visiting with their customers to be certain we were all pleased. Both are American citizens, having immigrated to the U.S. 14 years ago.

We recommend Pho Garden as a great little place to go for something a bit different!