In 2007, Pinecrest Wayside Market won the New Times distinction of Best Smoothie. In 99' they won for Best Milkshake. But did you know the open air market has been serving up strawberry shakes since 1948? That's longer than Robert Is Here, who started in 1960. The difference between the two is Pinecrest Wayside Market's ownership changes like the seasons. Currently, and for the past 7 years, the boss is Eli Tako who says, "I just wanted to do something in the food business, so I went through a broker and found this place."
"We get a lot of neghborhood people and tourists here, a lot of families, a lot of kids, after school it's like a happy hour, with ice cream and milkshakes, and the moms on the food side. All our food is prepared on site using all natural, fresh ingredients. We bring local first, when it's in season. The strawberries right now are from California, but we have local mangos, avocados, oranges..."
"My name is Wan Psen. I'm from Thailand. I make all this (points to several refrigerators worth of prepared foods, sandwiches, pastas, dips, and salads). The tuna is the best. So is the black bean salad, pesto pasta, marinara pasta, chicken cashew, tabouleh, hummus, gazpacho, bruschetta, pico de gallo, sandwiches, panini, quiche. The food is the best. And healthy. I love what I'm doing. I have only one helper. We do catering platters too. Thank you to the people who support us. I make good for them. And cheap too."
Pinecrest Wayside Market is located at 10070 SW 57th Ave. They are open 7 days a week from 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. except for Sundays when they close at 6 p.m. Call 305-661-6717 for more info.