Harding's Gravy Turns Into Trout On Smith

(The New Trout Restaurant on Smith)

(Harding's Restaurant Row on Pacific)

( Pacifico's unappetizing neighbor on Pacific)

Alan Harding, one of the first restaurateurs on Smith, has surely come up with a clever way of squeezing tables and chairs into the most unusual places. Where others may only see abandoned lots, Harding sees a way of making money. Take for example the corner of Pacific and Smith Streets , on which Harding managed to open not one but three eating establishments and one drinking place. Lets see: There is Pacifico, there is La Rosa Pizza, there is Trout, the beer garden and now, there is Trout, the fish shack which replaces Gravy, the ill fated diner.
I don't even know if this cluster of ramshackle establishments even has separate kitchens or if the food all comes out of a single cooking spot. One think I know is that Pacifico and Trout The Bar are located in formerly abandoned lots. Hammered together with what seem to be a few boards, decorated à la chabby chic, the initial investment for Harding was a minimum. The rent for any of these lots and the one story building along Smith that houses the new Trout Fish Shack and La Rosa must be cheap compared to the other storefront on Smith. All of which means that Harding is sure squeezing the most profit out of these places.
What amazes me more than anything about Hasting's cluster restaurants, especially Pacifico, is that the customers obviously don't care that they are sitting right next to a parking lot. Not too appetizing as far as I am concerned, but hey, maybe I am just too finicky. But it sure ain't fine dining.