To the doorstep

Having been haunted by the belongings of the departed, the inmates of this household have been doing their best to pare down their own. Among documents being saved for the Austin History Center are neighborhood newsletters and restaurant menus of days gone by. In what seems to be the very first leaflet for EatOutIn, from 1986, the food of just five establishments is offered, plus video delivery from London Video in Dobie and wine and beer from a source unnamed. The establishments were the Courtyard, Chuy's, Katz's, Chnatown, and Botticelli's. Chinatown exists, still, but is gone from downtown, Chuy's has expanded the number of locations, and Katz's remains as it has always been. The Courtyard was perhaps the very best place in town for carnivores expecting the very best. We were beneficiaries of comp meals a time or two and, back when John-Pear (Jean-Pierre what's-his-name) had that funny restaurant show on radio, we won free meals there a time or two. What seemed to be sky-high prices in those days probably wouldn't buy a meal at one of the junk chains.