Has the smartphone replaced the server?
At a new Fort Worth Latin takeout restaurant, diners will order and pay by smartphone.
Diners at the forthcoming Mariposa's Latin Kitchen can skip the line and order by iPhone application, even in the restaurant.
Then when it's ready, they can pay by phone or store their payment information, grab dinner and go.
Crystal Padilla and her mother, Irma Gamez, are turning their successful Irma's Catering into daily dining.
Mariposa's will open Sept. 28 in a former catering shop on Locke Avenue near Camp Bowie Boulevard.
"A lot of restaurants let you order online," Padilla said.
"We want something more personal. Irma will greet you. We'll send out coupons and specials."
The application isn't ready until the grand opening Sept. 28.
Gamez's family owned a Lubbock restaurant, and she used to work in the kitchen at the old Balcony, Padilla said.
Gamez started catering tamales about 15 years ago, and became popular for social events.
Mariposa's will be a mostly takeout counter with a few tables, Padilla said.
The menu offers 10 flavors of tamales (plus turkey-and-dressing tamales for the holidays), six enchilada plates, tacos and a pineapple-cilantro tropical ceviche.
On Saturdays, Mariposa's will open early and serve breakfast tamales, burritos, muffins and a huevos rancheros gordita stacked with eggs, potatoes and bacon.
Desserts include lemon-almond cookies, brandy pralines and coconut cupcakes.
Mariposa's will open for lunch and dinner weekdays, all day Saturdays at 5724 Locke Ave., 817-570-9555; mariposaslatinkitchen.com.
The new Toni's Southern Kitchen in far west Fort Worth serves the best fried catfish in the neighborhood and stellar collard greens mixed with bits of smoked turkey.
A couple of dishes didn't live up to the catfish. But the meatloaf and 7UP (lemon-lime) cake stood out.
Toni's has a can't-miss deal: three entrees and three vegetables for $13.99, so you can try it all.
Toni's is open for lunch and dinner weekdays and Saturdays, lunch Sundays; 9116 Camp Bowie Blvd. W., 817-244-2584.
Bud Kennedy's Eats Beat appears Wednesdays in Life & Arts and Fridays in DFW.com Weekend. 817-390-7538
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