Monkey Box
Two random words, chosen by Bill Mackey and Rachel Yaseen because both can be used as verbs and nouns, make up the name for the husband-and-wife duo's new 1,000-square-foot downtown restaurant, at 100 N. Stone Ave., in the Pioneer Building. Yaseen also owns Rachel's Market in the same building. Monkey Box boasts a full bar and serves gourmet hot sandwiches, cheese and meat plates and ice cream desserts, featuring Berto's ice cream. Closed Sunday. 623-3500.
Little Mexico Steakhouse
Family-owned and operated in the former Mesquite Willie's location at 2851 W. Valencia Road, Pat and George Palomarez recently opened the Little Mexico Steakhouse, because there are so few steakhouses on the southside. They also own Little Mexico Restaurant at 12th Avenue and Irvington Road. Steaks are served with interesting sides like green chili salsa. Open Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 578-8852.
Primavera Cooks Café Terra Cotta
The Primavera Foundation continues its summer fund-raiser at Café Terra Cotta on June 9 with guest chefs Sylvia Chan and Maurice Sevigny for an east-meets-west dining theme. Cost is $100. RSVP at 577-8100.
Change of Ownership
John Burke and Tess O'Shea recently sold FioRito's to employee Padraic Finan, who is joined by partners Jennifer Andrews and Craig Pretzinger. Lunch will soon be reinstituted, along with summer tour menu and drink specials. Tess will embark on a real estate career, and John will grow the bus-bench advertising biz. FioRito's is located at 2702 E. Grant Road, 325-6913.