Spec's newest liquor-and-everything emporium opened this past weekend at Walnut Hill and Central. It's hard to describe this spot because there's just so much going on. You know how we do everything bigger in Texas? Ya, that.
And I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I like my neighborhood place where the flirty Boston ladies remember me every time and I'm in-and-out in less than three minutes.
Spec's can be a sea of confusion and sensory overload. I left with a bottle of the same old stuff. Yes, it was $2 cheaper, but was the extra time worth it? Maybe if I wasn't in a hurry. (Party tip: When leaving, avoid the Walnut Hill exit. There has to be a better way.)
Let's break up this breakdown into digestible parts:
1.Liquor. Lots of it. If you can't find it here, then you probably need a professional smuggler (Facebook message me).
2. Payment. Paying in cash or with a debit card will save you a little.
3. Deli. At least twenty people work in this deli. It's not like just a few kids throwing some meat and cheese together. It's a fully staffed and stocked kitchen. They have chefs at each store and a corporate chef to oversee everything. The towering "Rueben-to-die-for" was popular and at least four inches tall. They have over 22 sandwiches on their menu and soon they will have 15 additional hot items like burgers, chili pie, chili cheese hotdogs, etc.
4. Truffles. Yes. Truffels. They get their chocolates from Xan Confections out of California and carry over a dozen different flavors including a line called "Big Mouth" that are gluten free.
5. Café. When you start to feel exasperated from all the choices, grab a latte or double shot of espresso. They also have a few bakery items like rolls, doughnuts and muffins.
6. Cheese. One could easily put together a snazzy meat and cheese tray from their cooler section. They have a few local items in the mix.
7. Random European goods. It's like a European grocery store sneezed on a liquor store. Lots of things that, who knows, may be considered crap in Luxemburg, but is exotic and affluent up in here. It rings a bit of Central Market or World Market. (But, again, it's a giant liquor store.)
8. Cigar Shop. I know nothing about cigar shops, but they have one.
9. Meats. Schinkenwurst, fleischkase and gelbwurst and a few of their friends.
To well-informed drinkers this is most likely Fantasyland. Given the time to sample and peruse the 35,000 items in the store, a few hours could easily be wasted. Pun completely intended there. Run with it.
Spec's is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
