Limited-time items coming to Meso Maya, Snuffer's, El Fenix

The new year means means new menu items at Local Favorite Restaurants.

The company — which owns concepts including Meso Maya, Snuffer’s and El Fenix — has several offerings planned to kick off the year.

These options, which have never been featured before, are available at all locations of these local chains.

El Fenix has been in our neighborhood for decades. It came to Casa Linda in 1956, and as a brand, it celebrated 103 years in business last September. The Tex-Mex place will launch a new brunch menu Jan. 17, featuring migas, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, huevos can papas, huevos con papas y chorizo and huevos con papas y bacon. These options, ranging $10-$12, are planned to be available through March at least.

It is located at 255 Casa Linda Plaza.

: Chilaquiles. Photo courtesy of El Fenix.

: Huevos Rancheros, Chilaquiles, Migas. Photo courtesy of El Fenix.

Starting Jan. 10 at Meso Maya, and lasting through February, neighbors can munch on a gourmet cheeseburger ($17) and sip a guava cocktail ($13). Margarita flights will be available beginning in February. The Lakewood location, which opened in 2016, is at 4123 Abrams Road.

: Photo courtesy of Meso Maya.

: Photo courtesy of Meso Maya.

Snuffer’s is adding grilled cheese to its menu Jan. 10. Through February, try the classic ($7.99), deluxe ($8.99) or buffalo chicken ($9.99). The original location is in our neighborhood, at 3526 Greenville Ave.

But there’s a caveat to that. The structure was demolished in 2013 and rebuilt.

Here’s a little back story on the drama surrounding the restaurant. In March 2013, Snuffer’s Restaurant Inc. filed for bankruptcy and was bailed out just a few months later, in July, by Firebird Restaurant Group. By November, Firebird had taken over six Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar locations, though the Lower Greenville location was kept under the care of Pat Snuffer.

Then Snuffer said he was going to open a Pat’s Burger & Cheddar Fries in the completed location in our neighborhood. Right away, Firebird filed a lawsuit against Snuffer, claiming he was attempting a “last-minute, desperate and unlawful conspiracy.” A judge signed a temporary restraining order against Snuffer so he couldn’t open the new concept until everything was settled.