By Marie McNally

Just be nice... Please

“People come here because they’ve heard about the Texicalli...”

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves and in our lives that we miss the fun and the good things happening all around us. Danny Young found a way to help us snap out of our day-to-day routine. He carved out a corner of the world where toys and posters line the walls and cover the ceilings of his restaurant, the Texicalli Grille. These relics remind us to leave our troubles behind so that we can enjoy ourselves.

Danny started flipping burgers 40 years ago at his family’s hamburger stand in Kingsville, Texas. He was instantly drawn to the “people part” of the restaurant business, so he didn’t mind the grueling work and long hours.

Once in Austin, he was determined to make it in the restaurant business. He opened his own grille in 1981 and named it after his famous steak sandwich, the Texicalli. Danny had given hundreds of them away in Kingsville before finding the right recipe. The sandwich has thinly-sliced steak, grilled with mushrooms and onions and topped with jalapeños and cheese.

“People come here because they’ve heard about the Texicalli, and others have been coming for years and have never ordered anything else,” Danny said. Also on the menu are several hero sandwiches, burgers, fried chicken fingers, a grilled chicken platter, and ice cream floats.

And so the tradition continues with a good attitude, hard work, long hours, and a sign on the door asking us to Just be nice... Please.

Texicalli’s hours are Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to

4 p.m.; and Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. If customers show enough interest, Texicalli Grille may change its hours so that it is open until

9 p.m. every weekday. Bring your own beer & wine.

Texicalli Grille 534 E. Oltorf St. 442-2799 MAP 4