Met My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and a friend of ours, we'll call her Miss X, at my favorite place on this planet Tuesday night. Louie's.
With travel back and forth between Dallas and Austin, it has been over a month since I've been there, which is absolutely too long, as I'm typically there one to two nights a week. I figured it was a great night to be in a Chicago bar given the lineup of the Bulls-Pacers playoff game five, and the seventh game of the Blackhawks-Canucks series, and I was right, and also was fortunate enough to leave before the end of the Blackhawks game, and subsequent end to their season in overtime.
When I got there I saw something that really excited me, the chalkboard specials. For the first time in all the time that I've been frequenting Louie's, he had lamb on the menu. Shocking to me that this was the first time given the family's rich Greek history (just ask Louie, and he's happy to go into his family's lineage back to the 300 Spartans who defeated the Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae), and so as a lover of all things lamb, I was as ecstatic as the woman on the men's room wall.
Alright, I'm going to get sidetracked here. I hate this lady. She's relatively new and was drawn over perhaps the greatest men's room graffiti I've ever seen and my all-time favorite. "Does Fecal Matter". Sad day indeed when some bonehead decided to get rid of that for the large and completely out of place peeper that is now there. That said, Louie's still features some of the best graffiti in this part of the country, including among others:
"Go home Dad, you're drunk."
"Fat kids are harder to kidnap."
"Jesus Saves, Gretzky Scores"
"REMINDER THE ALAMO!"
"Wang Chung"
and "34 will always be better than 22. Go Bears!"
OK, sorry. Back to the food. I started with my standard olive and juniper berry appetizer
and from there moved on to a Caesar salad before getting to the main meal. I've learned over the years to take advantage of the specials when he's got them, particularly any fish or meat that is grilled. Clearly it was time for me to try the lamb, which I ordered with a side of his poblano mashed potatoes.
Wow. Were these things ever incredible. They have the same fantastic char flavoring that his well seasoned grill cranks out on a daily basis, resulting in a caramelized and nearly crispy, without any chewiness, exterior which seals in all of the natural juices of the meat, which, with help from the bone, keep the meat inside incredibly juicy and flavorful when cooked to the recommended medium rare. Topped off with a buttery glaze, these four chops imparted their flavoring to the starchy next door neighbor and made for a really, really great meal.
MLWMG opted for one of her rotating staples, the grilled pork chop, with a side of broccoli.
I'm assuming he brines his pork chops overnight, because as usual they came out perfectly, and incredibly moist despite being fully cooked. And I'm not a huge broccoli fan, but the way they do theirs is simple and fantastic. Steamed to perfection and drizzled with a little butter, it's not as healthy as it could be, but the flavor and texture could not be better.
And last, Miss X. She ordered incorrectly, asking for the chicken meaning the chicken breast, but instead got the half chicken with a side of homemade chipotle sauce, which may change her mind on future orders. Also likely brined, the chicken comes out as a whole half chicken, with all of that flavor and juice trapped inside a perfectly edible and flavorful skin. Like the lamb, it's a win win with that oozing out on to the potatoes with the first cut.
I can't say enough about this place, other than it would be my last meal if I had to choose it, it's the best bar to go to in Dallas, and whenever I'm back in Dallas it will be a mandatory stop on my schedule. Hell, I may even make a trip to Dallas just to hit it and stock up on supplies at Jimmy's Food Store, Dallas's finest and best Italian grocery store.
Atmosphere: hole in the wall, Chicago style tavern, good place to watch the game, good place to belly up, good place for a date, good place for a group, good place to meet people, good place to meet new people, good place for a drink
Food: pizza, Italian, Greek, American
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: regulars, journalists, families, angry old guys, Cubs fans, 20somethngs, 30somethings, groups of dudes, groups of girls, mixed groups, no douchers or tight shirts allowed, hotchicks, me
What to Order for the First Timer: I'll be very specific here. Start with a large Greek or Caesar for the table, as well as sauteed oysters and a large sauteed onion, jalapeno, and sausage pizza, then make sure someone gets the pork chop, another the spaghetti with oil and garlic, and another the fettucini alfredo. Report back to me about just how good it all is.
Friday was about perfect in Dallas as far as weather was concerned, so I grabbed the dogs and headed over to Capitol Pub again to meet a friend for lunch.
Got the Capitol Burger this time, and I recommend you do the next time you go.
This burger is fantastic. Thick patty of flavorful ground beef with a char-grilled flavor which oozes juice with every bite. Served on a soft, toasted bun with dijon mustard, bacon, caramelized onions, with your choice of Maytag blue or Cotswold cheese. I love a bacon and blue burger, but it's not often that you find the herb laced Cotswold offered on a burger, so I went with it and wasn't disappointed. Onions are cooked to the point of being sweet and soft, which contrasts perfectly with the sharp cheese and smoky, crisp bacon.
I think I've mentioned the fries here before, but I'll do it again because they are awesome. Fried and tossed with parsley and fresh, chopped garlic, they scream with flavor, AND be sure to get a dipping sauce or two with them, they have several to choose from. I opted for the french onion and the traditional curry. The french onion was a very mild carmelized onion and sour cream mix, which was good but frankly think I'll reserve for potato chips. The curry was an excellent blend of sweet and spicy with strong curry flavoring and the consistency of a whole grain mustard. Went excellent with the fries and was a good option to slather on a bite or two of the burger.
I wish Capitol Pub was open every day for lunch, particularly in this short window of nice weather we have down here before the heat kicks in. But alas, only on Fridays during the week, so head that way and get your fill on Friday, and roll it into happy hour. Selection of beers, both by the bottle and on tap are excellent, with a full range of styles and countries represented.
Summary
Atmosphere: upscale pub, indoor and outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, bar seating, see and be seen, great place on a nice day, great place for happy hour, great place for beer, good for groups, good place for a visitor to grab a bite and drink solo
Food: upscale pub, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: lunch (Fridays and Saturdays), happy hour, dinner, late
Crowd: 20somethings, 30somethings, trendsters, yuppies, douchers, cougars, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of dudes, mixed groups, students
What to Order for the First Timer: Capitol Burger with fries
Dallas, Texas is the birthplace of Tex-Mex, but the best fajitas in town aren't found at one of the numerous hole in the wall institutions around town. Instead they are found at this trendy looking, never crowded, often overlooked Mexican restaurant in Mockingbird Station.
I'm really not sure how this place survives in what has got to be a high rent spot. I got the picture off the web, but it's pretty indicative of their lunch crowd, including Thursday afternoon when we hit it up.
I've never been for dinner, but assume that, plus its advertised happy hours keeps the lights on.
We hit this up often whenever we're craving fajitas in Dallas, and we prefer to sit at the bar, in either one of the spacious booths or at the bar, which is separated from the rest of the restaurant by a half wall, which is enough to make it a more intimate setting than the modern and somewhat cavernous main dining room. Not a bad place to hit with a date, or by yourself, particularly if in addition to craving fajitas, there is a game on the tube.
Standard starters come with your waiter, chips and salsa. The salsa is an excellent red salsa, served warm, with mild heat, but a great smoky flavor. Much more complex and tasty than the typical fresh red salsas around town, which are great in their own right, but this is a nice change of pace, and is indicative of the flavors of the food to come.
And though the fajitas are excellent as is, I think it's the butter that puts them solidly in the lead as Dallas's finest.
The beef has a a great char-grilled flavor and come out very tender, still sizzling on the plate, and is served with grilled onions and a whole grilled fresh jalapeno, also both with the same great char flavor. Tortillas are slightly thicker and doughier than your typical store bought variety and are clearly made in house, and served piping hot. Standard sides of beans and rice hit the mark, but I don't get to them until I've finished the main.
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy, nice bar, good for a date, good place to watch a game, decent spot to fly solo to, good people watching when they're there
Nothing quite says "great sandwich" like a blond perm and a red leotard, right? Thankfully the ladies working behind the counter at Great American Hero have neither, but the sandwiches they serve up are every bit as advertised.
An often overlooked hole-in-the-wall sub shop on Lemmon in Dallas, this place has been around for more than thirty years and does things right.
Yep. Looks a lot like a circus, I know.
Roughly fifteen hot and fifteen cold subs, with several breads to choose from, great meats, and really fresh vegetables. Today I went with the #1, Italian, which is my standby for subs. Genoa, capicola, ham, and provolone on French bread, I got it with everything...lettuce, onion, tomato, oil, vinegar, spices and oregano, plus mayo, pickles, and jalapenos. Great sandwich, and I particularly like that the pickles are the chilled Claussen variety, sliced lengthwise very thin, adding crunch, coolness and flavor to the sandwich. Bread seems to be homemade, and the proportions of ingredients, though light on the meat, are great.
If you're in Dallas. If you're in the mood for just a classic sub. And if you can find it. Maybe you should try, Great American Hero.
Summary
Atmosphere: sub shop, tables inside and out, good for lunch
Food: submarines, hoagies, grinders, cold cuts, depending on where you're from
Dog Friendly: I'm guessing they wouldn't have a problem with one outside
When to Go: lunch
Crowd: assorted
What to Order for the First Timer: Italian sub with everything, mayo and pickles
Lunch with a friend today at the relatively new Thai Away in Preston Center in Dallas. Didn't realize it's almost entirely a take-out and delivery place, and thereby had no tables except for two small ones outside, which was fine, because we snagged one of them.
Pretty straightforward Thai menu with some Chinese options. Several types of noodles, fried rices and stir-fry, with your choice meat, as well as each type of Thai curry.
I went simple. Spicy Basil Noodles.
Introduced myself as Ty Land, and told them to give me the heat from the homeland, and none of that American palate junk. My bearded white friend behind the counter laughed, said they were the real deal, and that medium was very spicy and recommended.
I ordered extra extra hot. We settled on extra hot.
Could have gone a couple of notches higher for sure, didn't even break a sweat. So, the way I figure it, either the real stuff isn't nearly as hot as I imagine it to be, or my habanero eating habits have rendered me completely unable to measure heat.
Anyway, the noodles. Tons of 'em. I got mine with pork and they were very well done. Vegetable mix was fresh, sauce and spice flavorful, and the vegetable egg roll I got on the side for an extra buck was also good, served with a small portion of Thai chili sauce.
Now, as for the place. Don't let the fact that there are no or just a few tables out keep you from going there for lunch. Whatever you see, just ask the guy if they've got any more tables, and one may just appear. As for dinner, I'd recommend getting it carry out or delivered. Good spot. Give it a shot.
Summary
Atmosphere: small storefront carry-out
Food: Thai, Chinese
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: lunch, carry-out or delivery for dinner
Crowd: local business
What to Order for the First Timer: I recommend the spicy basil noodles
Had a chance to break out the skin tight black shirt today, as I had a scheduled lunch at this trendy new place in Uptown.
Actually, I can't knock this place. It's one of three places which have been developed on a stretch of McKinney that I always thought was a terrible waste. Old houses between Hall and Lemmon, which for years have housed worthless retail ventures, have long been ripe for being turned into a series of restaurants to complement the Quarter, Primos, and those in West Village. I'm extremely glad to see that it's been done, and am sorry that it has taken me this long to get over there. With these in place, it's easy to make an evening of just this block.
Destination. Lumi.
You're right. I didn't take this picture, though I do take most of mine. Dark = night. Light = day. Simple rule of thumb.
I had lunch there.
So remember this picture, and I'm going to ask you all to close your eyes. I want you to listen to me. I want you to listen to yourselves. Go ahead. Close your eyes, please.
This is a story about a little restaurant on a previously underdeveloped piece of land. I want you to picture this little restaurant.
Suddenly, a car races up. A six foot white guy jumps out and walks up to the porch.
He looks around.
No one is there.
But it's only 11:20.
He sits down on the porch. He's given a menu. He's given silverware.
Now comes the ice water. It's cool. It's refreshing. It's everything that the guys in the street jackhammering are not.
His friend shows up. She sits down. They just can't handle the jackhammering.
So they stand. They walk into the dining room. They sit down.
They're given menus. They order.
Can you see them? Their stomachs pained with hunger? The expressions on their faces yearning for the savory tastes of the dumplings they just ordered?
Can you see them?
I want you to picture those two people, sitting in that dining room. Sitting. Waiting. Waiting for their dumplings.
Can you see them?
Now imagine it's light.
Thank you, Counselor.
Anyway sorry, this place has had a decent amount of fanfare when it opened which, in Dallas, always makes me a little skeptical that it will overpromise and underdeliver, becoming one of those places that is more see and be seen than eat and be ea...well, eat and be satisfied anyway. I will say though, more of these places have surprised me to the positive in the last couple of years, so I need to quash those fears, because Dallas seems to be evolving to the good.
This place is exactly what it needs to be for the location. Great porch, great little bar, spacious dining room, and food that isn't going to make you uncomfortably full as you start an evening of social drinking nearby.
The menu looks great, and after taking a look at their website, I understand it's supposed to be Vietnamese South American fusion. Several good looking soups and salads, a couple of sandwiches, and a focus on homemade dumplings and empanadas.
I decided to try a couple of their dumplings, and my dining companion tried one of the ones I didn't. With six to an order and nothing accompanying them, I figured two orders was the way to go, and think I was right. I walked away satisfied, but not too full. And I probably could have comfortably gone with one more order, or a salad or soup to start.
Classic Pork and Chive Dumplings, served with house sauce, and Chinese 5 Spice Duck and Leek Dumplings, served with spicy plum sauce.
Both excellent.
I'm not sure which was my favorite. The duck had more aggressive flavors, the pork was mild, and both went perfectly with each of the sauces they were served with. I recommend both.
The other one shown here was the Shrimp, Cilantro, and Jicama Dumplings, served with sweet and sour sauce. I'm told it was great, but as much as it pains me to say it, I don't do shrimp.
As long as I'm in Dallas, I'll be back here. It's a great spot for lunch but I think an even better spot to grab a drink, some food, and then head down the street to the Quarter for the evening.
Summary
Atmosphere: old house converted to restaurant, bar to sit at, plenty of outdoor seating, good for a group, great for a date, great for a start to the night, good place to see, good place to be seen
Food: dumplings and empanadas
Dog Friendly: doubtful, despite outdoor seating, Dallas sucks
Why did I take the long way from Austin to Dallas yesterday?
Butt when?
Of course it is. Yes, the people of Wenzel Lonestar Meat Company are some savvy marketeers, and they're also good butchers and decent cooks. Wenzel's is a little butcher shop off a side street of the main square in the small town of Hamilton, which is known primarily as the burial place of Brushy Bill Roberts, aka Billy the Kid as self-proclaimed. Wenzel's deals in meats...jerkeys, sausages, bratwurst, steaks, and things of the like. Any given day of the week you can stop in and get a deli sandwich, even a reuben, but on Fridays they stack 'em deep with the promise of pulled pork.
They do a nice sandwich here. A healthy amount of pulled pork on a soft, toasted bun with their homemade barbecue sauce, regular or spicy. Pork was tender with no visible fat or bark, and given the location, I'm assuming it's smoked, but the flavor showed very little smoke flavoring, just good old pig. I chose the spicy sauce, which was good, but really not hot. It had a flavor similar to Arby's sauce, otherwise known as Open Pit Original, with a little more originality and a bit more zing.
This is clearly a family run operation, and the place has an incredibly homey feel to it and little touches that make it feel more like you're at a friendly neighbor's house than a store. Though it is first and foremost a store, and in addition the meats they offer, there is an array of sauces, rubs, pickled vegetables and jams.
Orders are taken at the counter and food is brought out to your table with a thank you and a "if y'all need more napkins, just holler". A pickle spear in a zip lock bag completes the meal, unless you add chips and a drink for another dollar, in which case you can grab a cup, scoop some ice out of the blue travel sized cooler, and fill up with some tea or a soft drink.
Good place to stop if you take the leisurely route between Dallas and Austin. While there is better barbecue around, the sandwich here is a good one, the atmosphere is great, and you can pick up some things to stock the pantry.
Summary
Atmosphere: butcher shop, a few tables, good place to stop for lunch on a Friday
Food: deli sandwiches and pulled pork sandwiches
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: lunch on Fridays
Crowd: locals
What to Order for the First Timer: pulled pork sandwich, spicy
Eighty and sunny last Friday, so I took the dogs and met a friend of mine for a late lunch and afternoon beers at this mainstay of the up and coming Henderson restaurant and bar district.
Great spot for a Friday afternoon. Large porch with ample seating, and unlike most of the places with outdoor seating in Dallas which are hampered by certain ordinances and procedures that DON'T allow dogs, this place welcomes them with open arms and bowls of water. The outdoor seating around the side is covered, and also had a tv if you want to catch a particular game. Inside, there are a variety of tables, community tables, bar seating, and dart boards, so there is something here for everyone, rain or shine.
This place has a great pub feel but comfortably accommodates the crowds that hit it on the weekends. They've got a great selection of beers on draft and also in the bottle, and feature upscale pub fare which has never disappointed me.
I've been on a Belgium kick the last several months, so started with a Maredsous 8, which they've got on tap and serve in the proper glass, and then I focused on what to order, which was a difficult task because this is a good menu. What I did know is that I wanted whatever I got to come with fries, because their fries are awesome. Lightly seasoned, fried perfectly to the point of browning, with a soft crunch on first bite and then a steaming soft center, topped with kosher salt and parsley and served HOT. So I narrowed it down to the Cuban Sandwich, the toasted Ham and Gruyere, and the Reuben, and stopped all decision-making at that point and let our waitress surprise me.
What I really wanted, and what I'd recommend anyone visiting for the first time get, is the Capitol Burger. They do it really well. A sirloin burger with hickory smoked bacon, caramelized onion, dijon mustard and choice of Maytag blur or Cotswold cheese, cooked to your liking and served with those fries. After my last couple of weeks of eating though, I just couldn't bring myself to go with a gut-busting burger.
I was happy with her choice for me, the Cuban:
Slow roasted pork, bacon, pickles, cheddar, swiss and spicy mustard on a pressed hoagie roll. Ok, so it's not perfectly authentic and doesn't have the caribbean hot sauce served with it that I love so much, but this is a good sandwich. There are two things that I particularly like about it. One, they advertise it as slow roasted pork, which lots of places serving Cubans do, but rarely deliver on. While the sliced pork loin may have been slow roasted before it was packaged and shipped to other places, this place appears to do it on their own, and from the fattier shoulder as opposed to the loin. This sandwich contains good sized pieces of seasoned pork, which appear to have been slow cooked, pulled, and then seasoned with thyme and some other things and finished on the flat top. It could have been a little more tender, but it was good for this sandwich nonetheless. The other thing I really liked was the pickle. Normally on these types of sandwiches you end up with the lengthwise sliced, soggy dill that you find on the shelf at the grocery store, but at Capitol Pub they go over to the refrigerated section, grab the never-heated, always cold processed, crispy Claussen dill pickle chips. And they. work. great on this sandwich, providing a refreshing coolness and crisp snap to every bite, they break the monotony of the heat and meltyness of the meats and cheeses on this thing. Oh, and the bread is great here too, not too generic, not too soft and not to hard, and makes this thing something worth ordering.
Summary
Atmosphere: upscale pub, indoor and outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, bar seating, see and be seen, great place on a nice day, great place for happy hour, great place for beer, good for groups, good place for a visitor to grab a bite and drink solo
Food: upscale pub, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: lunch (Fridays and Saturdays), happy hour, dinner, late
Crowd: 20somethings, 30somethings, trendsters, yuppies, douchers, cougars, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of dudes, mixed groups, students
What to Order for the First Timer: Capitol Burger with fries
Not much to report last night as we just had an assortment of grilled cheese sandwiches and Campbell's tomato soup, so I'll take this opportunity to talk to you about my hands down favorite restaurant in Dallas, Louie's.
Louie and his family, transplants from the Chicagoland area, Waukegan to be exact, run this hole in the wall tavern down off of Henderson. Today this area is one of the trendiest and most vibrant areas of Dallas, but Louie's has anchored it for years and years and years, well before this area was popular (or safe...well, it's still not, so watch your back when you go there), and has a loyal following of an old guard, as well as a young post-college population that frequents it. Louie runs the place, his brother Chris does the cooking, and his mother does the books and makes the pies.
Let me start by saying that without question, this is the best pizza in Dallas. It's a cracker thin crust cooked to perfection, topped with a sweet, homemade pizza sauce, and wonderful toppings. I mention homemade, but it goes without saying for the rest of this entry, because at Louie's, everything is homemade. Chris grinds and makes his own Italian sausage, grinds his own beef for the burgers, makes his own chipotle sauce for the quarter chicken, corns his own beef for the corned beef on the reuben, and creates from basic ingredients everything else on the menu. I think the only thing on the menu that he doesn't make himself is the thousand island dressing for the salads, but you're not going to order that anyway, but we'll get to that.
Most people think of Louie's as solely a pizza joint, but in doing so, all too many people miss out on the other incredible foods that come out of that kitchen, including chops, steaks, and fish, as well as incredible basic pastas. I don't know where their grill came from or how long they've had it, but its worth its weight in gold, because the flavor that it puts on the meats that come off of it is just incredible. This may be a bit long, and without many pictures because I haven't taken them or eaten there since I started doing this, but this is a place I typically hit at least once a week, and is my go to spot with my wife, in-town friends, out of town guests, or if I'm by myself. I'll walk through the things that I typically rotate through given my mood on any given evening, but will lead in first with a clip from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives which gives you a sense of the place, and will also give you some tips on how to behave there to truly enjoy your experience.
Now, to the etiquette. Ever since this aired, the crowds have gotten bigger, so Louie has a hostess work the front door and take names. Head in, put your name on the list, grab a drink at the bar, and then get out of the way of the waitresses, who will run the length of the bar taking orders and delivering orders. If you find yourself in a situation where there is no hostess and the tables are full, you walk up to the bar, tell Louie, John, or Casey that you're waiting on a table, and they'll take care of you. Do not hover or take a table that has just been vacated. It's not yours. As far as the food goes, minor variations on orders are tolerated, sometimes, but this isn't Burger King, and it's not "your way". They do it right, so go with it.
Most importantly though, DON'T BE AN ASS. Louie is a tough, old-school guy who doesn't take any shit, and isn't afraid to physically toss you out of his bar if he doesn't like you, or doesn't like how you're acting. Regardless of how you feel you're being treated by him or anyone working there or anyone eating there, treat everyone with the utmost respect, and don't treat the place like your bachelor party.
Now, on to the food. Like I said, the pizzas here are absolutely incredible. A couple of my favorites include
- sauteed onions, jalapenos, and sausage
- pepperoni and capers
- pepperoni and jalapenos
The sauteed onions completely transform one of these pizzas. They cover the top of the pizza after having been sauteed until caramelized in butter and what I'm guessing is paprika, giving a sweetness to the pie which is just unbelievable. The jalapenos add the spice, and the house-ground Italian sausage, dropped in clumps on the top, lends the savory component that makes this the perfect combination of ingredients and the perfect pizza. Without the sauteed onions, what I'll call a true pizza flavor shines through, with the sweetness of the sauce and the crunch of the crust giving it the flavor that defines it.
Let's back up a minute though and talk about the pre-game. You are going to start every meal with a salad for the table, either the Greek salad or the Caesar salad. Both are the best representations of either type that I've ever eaten, and certainly are the absolute best that you can get in Dallas. You're also going to want to start out with an appetizer of any and all of the following, which are in the order that I prefer them:
1. Sauteed Oysters - I hated oysters before I tried these, and when I'm with a few other people now, you can't stop me from eating these things. Lightly battered and sauteed in at least a stick of butter, you squeeze a little lemon on them, gobble them up, and then mop up the rest of the butter with the nice french bread they give you with it. I guarantee you you'll be able to eat off that plate when you're done...wait, that's what plates are for, right? Yeah, that doesn't make any sense.. Let's just say that plate'll be cleaner than it was when it was purchased. Even if you don't like or don't think you like oysters, order these. Everyone I've ever introduced to these has been more than satisfied, and you will be too.
2. Clams Casino - awesome. Again, not a fan of clams before having these, but these are even less frightening for the non-mollusker than the oysters. Half a clam shell piled high with a stuffing consisting of clam bits (tastes like chicken), bacon, onion and bread, baked to a temperature of 290 degrees Kelvin and served piping hot. Put a little Crystal on top and have at it.
3. Meatballs - two big all beef meatballs in their incredible red sauce, served with bread.
Or, what we do quite a bit is split a pizza as an appetizer and then order some of the non-pizza items. As far as those non-pizza items go, let's do this...
1. Spaghetti with Oil and Garlic - this simple dish absolutely smacks you upside the head with flavor, and surprisingly, this is a tough dish to pull off, but Chris executes it perfectly. The garlic is browned and caramelized absolutely perfectly without turning bitter, which is how this dish gets ruined at other places or at home. My recommendation is to add capers, and get a side of chipotle sauce to dip it in, just to change things up periodically. I order this more than anything else at Louie's, it's incredible.
2. Pork Chop - grilled to perfection on their unbelievably seasoned grill, this thing has NEVER come out dry, and I've got to believe it's brined beforehand to impart the flavor and juiciness that it consistently has. This thing has a char flavoring that will have you rethinking ever cooking a pork chop or ordering a pork chop anywhere else again. It is as we in the business (of eating) call, The Gold Standard. There are a few sides to choose from, and you can go with a massive piece of broccoli if you want to be healthy, but I recommend going with their poblano mashed potatoes, a creamy mashed potato littered with chunks of carrots and poblano peppers. I also recommend asking for a side of chipotle sauce for this. The dish is perfect as is, but if you want to kick it up, by all means do so.
3. Lasagna - not on the menu and not always available, check out the chalkboard and/or ask the waitress if they have it. It's incredible, and I don't know how he does it. First off, it's massive, and looks like it's going to be a gut bomb, but when you take a bite its the lightest and fluffiest and lightest lasagna I've ever had. I don't know if he just whisks that ricotta to oblivion like a meringue or what, but he does it like no one I've ever seen before. Combine that perfection with the homeground beef and/or sausage, and the red sauce...DAMN! You're in heaven.
4. The Don - Hole. Lee. Shit. The Don. Though I've never met Don, I want to kiss him. Take a patty melt, baste that patty with a special jus, use those sauteed onions I talked about earlier, add cheese, bacon and jalapenos and you've got yourself the best damn burger this side of Mishewaka (where? whatever.)
No substitutions on sides here so go with Big Jim's potato salad.
5. Fettucini Alfredo - incredible. Unbelievable creaminess. Unbelievable flavor. Unbelievable effects to your heart and arteries. If you are a fan of this dish, then get it here, because it's hard to get better. This is not your basic Italy-Italian butter and cheese alfredo, it's the northeastern stop your heart variety saturated with butter, cream and cheese. My left arm just tingled thinking about it.
Man, I could go on and on, but will simplify it from here. Try anything after you've been there a couple of times, as it's going to be great. Get yourself a martini, which they're known for, and go to town. You'll be back, I guarantee it.
Summary
Atmosphere: hole in the wall, Chicago style tavern, good place to watch the game, good place to belly up, good place for a date, good place for a group, good place to meet people, good place to meet new people, good place for a drink
Food: pizza, Italian, Greek, American
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: regulars, journalists, families, angry old guys, Cubs fans, 20somethngs, 30somethings, groups of dudes, groups of girls, mixed groups, no douchers or tight shirts allowed, hotchicks, me
What to Order for the First Timer: I'll be very specific here. Start with a large Greek or Caesar for the table, as well as sauteed oysters and a large sauteed onion, jalapeno, and sausage pizza, then make sure someone gets the pork chop, another the spaghetti with oil and garlic, and another the fettucini alfredo. Report back to me about just how good it all is.
I f'ing love this place and if I knew when my last meal might be, this would be it.
If I had to pick a food that Dallas should be known for, it'd be the hamburger. I don't know how a chain can survive here with all of the great burgers served by independent restaurants and bars in the area inside the loop.
Ketchup Burger Bar, which I tried yesterday, is the latest addition to the Dallas burger scene, and takes a slight departure from the standard burger joint and toward the gourmet, offering thick patty burgers made with everything from beef to lamb to tuna. And they do it well.
This is a fairly trendy looking place with a full bar, complete with high tops and tvs, and serve yourself assorted soft drinks and...ketchups.
These are homemade and bottled, and each very different from each other and nothing like a regular ketchup. Quick summary of each:
House - tastes more like a sweet whole grain mustard than a ketchup, good, but my least favorite
Chipotle - closest to a classic ketchup, laced with mild spice and good smoked chipotle flavor
Green Tomato - tastes like apple butter, not ketchup, but is great
Spiced - curry ketchup, the best of the bunch
There were about five burgers on the menu that I wanted to order, and not only do they have a great selection of burgers, but a great selection of fries and sides.
I opted for The Roadhouse, medium rare. This one is served on a fresh baked Brioche bun with melted Gruyere cheese, cherrywood smoked bacon, onion rings, garlic mayo and tomato. It was awesome. The burger was full of great beefy flavor and was juicy as hell (so much so that broke the strength of the bottom bun but I'm not going to take points away for it because I'll take a broken bun with that burger any day), the bacon was well cooked and remained chewy, which I prefer, and the mayo added a great flavor to the whole thing. The onion rings looked like the frozen variety and not the homemade variety but it doesn't matter because for this burger they were perfect. Very crispy, and they maintained that crispness throughout the entire meal, not greasy or soggy at all.
I also was happy to see a Trio of Fries available, a you pick em mix and match of their various fry offerings. I opted for the garlic chive, white truffle parmesean, and spicy buffalo fries. All were good, with the white truffle parmesean leading the pack with the most flavor, the best flavor, and best cooking execution. The spicy buffalo fries had incredible flavor as well, but unfortunately came off a little soggy after being tossed with wing sauce after frying. The garlic chive were good, but didn't have the punch I was hoping for, and I actually wonder if I didn't accidentally get the House Fries by mistake. The other side options available are sweet potato fries, zucchini fries, house fries and onion rings.
Thought I'd also share a picture of what my friend ordered, the Turkey Burger, which he said was very, very good. Ground turkey with white cheddar, jalapeno-corn salsa, arugula and spiced aioli on a fresh baked molasses wheat bun.
My only real knock on this place is that they don't have root beer. It's my go to drink when I go for a burger, and they don't have it. Other than that, this place is legit. These guys are innovative and execute perfectly, they've got a neighborhood spot with a great atmosphere whether you want to just have a drink, catch a game, or hit it up for lunch or dinner. I hope this place makes it, but I fear for it's survival. My meal ran me $18 before tip (would have been $15 if I'd have gone with just one type of fries), parking is non-existent, and unless you're seeking it out you won't ever notice it. We met at 12:15 and it should have been packed, but it wasn't. And it's not because of the food. So please hit this place up and frequent it, get some more money in their pockets so that they can solve the parking issues and spend on some marketing, because this is a place that you'll love and want to keep around. I'm out of here, but am looking out for YOU!
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy neighborhood restaurant and bar, good for catching a game, good if you're flying solo, good for groups, good for a date
Food: gourmet burgers
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: lunch, happy hour, dinner
Crowd: there wasn't one on this visit, but it'll end up the Uptown crowd of 20somethings, 30somethings, credit card millionaires, hotchicks
What to Order for the First Timer: The Roadhouse, Trio of Fries
I haven't had Creole food this good since the weekend that I hitched a ride to Bourbon Street from the New Orleans Police Department.
Alligator Cafe. Not necessarily a place (ok neighborhood) you'd think to stop despite the accolades on the sign out front indicating that it just might be the real deal. It is.
Not sure what this place used to be, looks like maybe a Wendy's, but it doesn't really matter because these days its serving up Cajun and Creole classics in a hole in the wall setting which takes you right back to some of the best places New Orleans has to offer.
Let's go over protocol first. Head to the counter, order, sit down, and your food will be out in ten to fifteen minutes. Don't expect this place, despite its former life, to operate like a fast food joint. It doesn't. The food is given the proper love back behind that counter, which really shows when it comes to you.
Food. I'm not a crawfish or shrimp guy, but still had a number of options to choose from here, and quickly narrowed it down to the pork chops and dirty rice (Tuesday's special), blackened alligator, oyster po-boy, chicken and andouille gumbo, muffaletta, and chicken and alligator jambalaya.
Everything sounded fantastic, smelled incredible, and looked ridiculously good, but I opted for the chicken and gator jambalaya, and I'm glad I did. The meat was tender, the flavor of of the vegetables were fresh and held their own against the Creole seasonings and tasso ham, and the rice was perfect. Topped with some of the Louisiana Gold (my second favorite Louisiana hot sauce next to Crystal) that is at every table, this meal was perfect.
I only wish that the bread served with it was authentic New Orleans, but it wasn't. Just a soft piece of what seemed like a french roll bought at Kroger, there was no crust and no joy in using it to mop up the end of the bowl. Surprising given what the bread on the muffaletta looked like, which was as authentic as it gets.
This is a great spot for lunch or dinner if you've got a cravin' for cajun. I'll be back soon for sure.
What? Oh, the ride with the cop. Yeah. Well it was 2003 and a few of us were down in New Orleans for the Final Four. On Saturday, it was good to be in the Superdome watching the semifinals, since what seemed like a tropical depression was sitting over the city. After the game, my friend John and I were lucky enough to hop into a cab right as we exited the stadium, and took it to the apartment we were staying at over by the convention center. The rain was letting up and we figured we'd have a beer or two, change into some dry clothes, and then catch a cab over to Bourbon Street to catch up with our other friends, who had a hotel over near the French Quarter. Good plan. Poor timing.
We had four Abita Turbo Dogs left in the fridge, as well as four cans of Bud Light...two sets of two still in their seagull stranglers. We cracked two of the Turbo Dogs, shoved the other two in our pockets, and like true white trash hooked those Bud Light sixers to our belts. Because you need four beers for a five minute cab ride.
Now, keep in mind it's still drizzling, a couple of hundred thousand people are in town for the games, 80,000 people just left a game, and it's dinner time. We couldn't get a cab on the phone to save our lives. I also knew that our location was just enough out of the way that we were unlikely to hail a cab out front, but it was our only option so we decided to give it a try. Out front was an off-duty New Orleans police officer making some extra money by playing security guard for the apartment complex, which means he was sitting in his patrol car in front of the place eating a sandwich. We told him what we were up to and waited fifteen minutes for a cab to drive by while we continued to call, which never happened, as I knew would be the case, and as the cop also knew and had told us.
Now, it's only about a thirty minute walk from where we were to Bourbon Street, but it requires a walk under an interstate and through a few unsavory areas, which no doubt would be trouble for two white 25 year old out of towners with beer strapped to their belts. It was after sunset, and I knew that officer would never let us walk it, and I turned and whispered to John that we were going to take a chance on a bluff. I headed back up to his window, thanked him for humoring us for a few minutes, acknowledged we were never going to get a cab, and told him it was only a couple of miles so we were going to walk it.
He rolled his eyes.
"Get in."
"Do we need to finish these beers before we get in?"
"No, you can drink them in here, just get in."
Awesome. So I saddled up shotgun, actually next to a shotgun, and John jumped in the back and found it surprising more comfortable with a beer in his hand than it had been the last time he rode back there with his hands zip-tied behind his back. So here we are, hitching a ride with a New Orleans police officer, in a New Orleans police car, to a bar. Classic. And it only got better from there. As we pulled up to Canal on whatever cross street we were coming across, we needed only to make a left and then a right to get to Bourbon Street. The light had just turned red. We were the first car at the light. But this was a police car. Yep, he flipped the lights and sirens and made that left on red, pulled up on the sidewalk on the other side of Canal and told us we were here and to have a good time. As we were in the car. With lights flashing. On the sidewalk. With a curious crowd gathering. We polished off the last of the beers we were working on, and asked our driver if he really wanted us to get out of the car in front of all those people with our beers including the empty ones we had just visibly pounded.
"I don't care what you do, but don't leave them in here."
OK.
So we thanked him, got out to a wondering crowd, turned and raised our beers to him and yelled, "THANKS FOR THE RIDE!" and headed to the bar. Ahhhhh, New Orleans....who's up for a road trip?
Summary
Atmosphere: hole in the wall, order at the counter, somewhat rough part of town, no frills inside
At Exit 353 between Dallas and Austin straddling I-35 lies a small Czech community which contains perhaps the best snack in the state of Texas.
For a small town touting several authentic Czech bakeries, the single best item is at a gas station, right off the interstate.
I give you...
...drum roll please...
...the Hot Chubbie with Cheese
Don't even get me started on the name. It's one of the reasons, but not the reason, that you order it with cheese, so that you don't have to say to the girl behind the counter, "give me a hot chubbie"...which may leave you wondering..."IS IT, OR ISN'T IT"?
These things used to have a name you could be proud of, Czech Stop Hots, which were nearly identical to the Chubbies, but the sausage was cut in half lengthwise, so you just got half. Somewhere along the line, the old Czech ladies making these things got lazy, stopped cutting them, upped the price, and changed the name to something quite ridiculous, despite the fact that the CSH's half-sausage made that kolache the perfect size, gave it the perfect meat to cheese to pastry ratio (M:C:P), and helped the whole thing stay together better. (I've raised this with them, and it was very, very clear that they didn't give a damn what I thought) Anyway, sorry...the real reason you order it with cheese is because the cheese is the some of the most perfect processed American cheese that I've ever had. I don't know whether it's Velveeta, Land O'Lakes Extra Melt Yellow, or some top secret government cheese that they've gotten their hands on, but it stays melted once heated and provides the perfect flavor and texture to go with the sweetness and softness of the buns and the snap and the heat of the sausage (WHOOOOAAAA! IS IT, OR ISN'T IT?)
And the cheese isn't the only great part of these things. One of the things that really makes a Chubbie are the sweet, soft buns (what?), which despite being melt in your mouth soft, do really well in contain the spicy sausage (huh?). The sausage is homemade, and has great flavor and pretty substantial, but not overbearing, heat. These ingredients come together perfectly, and it's the ultimate road food too. This Chubbie is self-contained, not messy at all, and fills you up. If you're going to eat it on the road, ask them to heat it up, but you can also get them boxed up to go, or even frozen. They're all great, and allow you to have a Chubbie at home!
Now, as many times as I've stopped in this place, I've had a chance to try most of their kolaches. Here's what they've got:
From a traditional fruit kolache point of view, I'm guessing you're going to get more authentic and probably better kolaches a half mile away in town, as well as some of the traditional non-fruit kolaches. Try them here if you want, but don't come here for them.
Simply put, when you stop here, get the Hot Chubbie with Cheese. There are other ones that are pretty good, and which I still sometimes get in addition to a HCwC...poppy seed, sausage swiss and kraut, jalapeno sausage with cheese, sausage with cheese, and breakfast sausage with cheese (runner up to the HCwC, and one I get on morning drives)...but I always come back for a Chubbie, which stands much taller than all the rest.
Summary
Atmosphere: gas station, bakery, cleaner bathrooms on the bakery side, better drink selection on the gas station side
Food: kolaches, pastries, sandwiches
When to Go: every single time you get to exit 353 on I-35
Crowd: it's a gas station, does it really matter?
What to Order for the First Timer: Hot Chubbie with Cheese, or two
Headed down the street tonight with MLWMG to our neighborhood Italian joint, Scalini's. Now I love this place, and it's been a couple of months since I've been here, so I went with my favorite order which is as unhealthy as you can positively get, but which I do only periodically so as not to die. Italian Meatloaf with a side of Fettucini Alfredo.
Giggity.
Giggity.
Giggity.
Yeah, it's incredible.
And yes, that fettucini is as unhealthy as it looks. Check that, moreso. It's absolutely the creamiest, richest fettucini alfredo that I've ever had, homemade at the restaurant, consistently creamy throughout, with I don't want to know how many sticks of butter, pints of cream, and pounds of cheese in it. Oh so good, and oh so deadly. Use it sparingly, friends.
The meatloaf is also great, a blend of the holy trinity of meats, aggressively seasoned with garlic, onion and salt. The tartness of the tomatoes (balanced by a perfect sweetness) and saltiness of the meat cuts through the creamy alfredo perfectly, making it a combo they should have on the menu....but don't. That said, when they ask you, "would you like vegetables or potatoes", just tell them this isn't your first rodeo, and order the fettucini.
Had to get to that first, sorry. Back to the atmosphere. This is the ultimate neighborhood Italian restaurant, frequented nearly exclusively by regulars and neighbors. In the middle of an in-line retail strip smack in the middle of Lakewood, it's not a big place at all, and offers two outdoor tables, five bar seats, and probably around 15 to 20 tables. Always a wait unless you're the Luby's early-bird type, low lit, blackboard special, mural on the wall, corner Italian spot. And here's another great thing about it, carafes of wine. Full carafe for $23, half for $13, and a glass for $5. I always go with the house chianti and we did the same tonight. It's wine. Decent wine. Not the fermented grape juice you worry about when buying by the bulk...and if you order a carafe, get ready. More than a bottle and I don't care what size of bottle you're talking about. It's a lot. Stick with a half carafe if you're on a date and want to remember it.
Alright, back to the meal real quick, we started with toasted cheese ravioli. Now I grew up going to St. Louis, the birthplace of this delicacy, pretty regularly as a child, and this is something I love. The toasted ravioli offered at Scalini's is good for a fix, but not the best I've had by any means. Cheese ravioli, dropped in hot oil, topped with marinara and shredded mozzarella and served piping hot. My only knock is that it doesn't come out with any breaded crispiness, but with a rather chewy texture that naked pasta dropped in a deep fryer could be expected to have. Not bad though, don't get me wrong. It's a standard order for us.
Entrees also come with a salad. Cut green leaf lettuce with a simple vinaigrette, small jarred olives and pepperocini, it's best enjoyed with a sprinkle of parmigiana, and is a good interim step to push the ravioli down to make room for the meatloaf.
Since I've been here quite a bit, I feel the need to mention some basics in ordering. First, this is a place that I go when I don't feel like red sauce Italian. In other words, I'm not going to order spaghetti and meatballs here. Not bad, but not something to go there for. Stick to their special pastas with cream sauces, their pizza, and most of all, save room for their cappuccino pie. Pizza's are some of the best in town, though not the best (Louie's), have incredibly thin nearly cracker crusts, and come served on a cafeteria tray. Toppings are varied and liberally applied, and the pizza is rarely a disappointment.
This is the ultimate in neighborhood spots, always packed and always good. A mix of all people, young and old, family and newly dating, foreign and domestic. Just good, good stuff.
I had to pour a Cynar back here at home, which for those who don't know is an Italian amaro made primarily from artichoke, which is bitter and acts as a digestiv, helping you digest and sleep well. But I think it's got it's work cut out for it tonight, because that fettucini and meatloaf are going to go down swinging.
Summary
Atmosphere: small neighborhood Italian joint, small bar with tv, good for groups, good for mass consumption of wine, good for a date, good neighborhood spot to belly up if the wife or husband is out of town
Food: American Italian with southwest influences
Dog Friendly: if you get one of the two outside tables
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: locals, young and old, ranging from 10 to 90
What to Order for the First Timer: meatloaf with a side of fettucini alfredo, chicken lasagna, penne romano, spicy chicken scallopini, fettucini alfredo
Seventy and sunny yesterday, and the Big Ten Conference Championship was entering round two. I decided to take this opportunity to take the dogs and meet a friend of mine for lunch, and watch a little basketball, so we settled on the Barley House.
First off, great porch! I hadn't been there since the days when it was the Green Elephant, and they've made some significant upgrades, most notably replacing the old flimsy wire beer-leaks-on-your-legs tables with some sturdy wooden picnic tables which look like they can seat ten pretty comfortably. Also, they've added a couple flat screens out there, visible from every table and shaded enough to reduce glare. Best of all, dog-friendly, and mine found it very comfortable...
Fairly typical bar menu, with a few nice innovations. Several burgers, appetizers, and sandwiches, all of which sounded pretty good. I opted for the Texas Cheesesteak, and given the choice of fries, tater tots, or mac and cheese, I went with the latter. We had some issues with the food delivery, which resulted in my mac and cheese coming out with my buddy's Wing Sandwich, but I solved that problem by reaching across the table and grabbing it quickly. It was pretty good, really, more than I might have expected from a bar not known as a place to grub. Basically just penne tossed with their queso, topped with breadcrumbs, baked in its own ramekin, and brought to your table with your friend's food. Their queso actually works really well as a sauce here, because it's as mild as you could possibly imagine, no spice at all, and makes the dish incredibly creamy.
My Texas Cheesesteak came out a little bit later, an wasn't at all what I expected (they had me at Texas Cheesesteak so I pretty much never read the ingredients). The no frills presentation in a basket on a piece of foil contained what was the spitting image of an Arby's Beef & Cheddar. You can imagine my excitement. (Seriously, I love the ABC.)
So this sandwich was pitched as roast beef topped with sauteed onions, queso, and a horseradish bbq sauce on an onion bun. This thing was so close to being great, but I think the horseradish bbq sauce was it's ultimate downfall. First, it was abundant, having been tossed with the roast beef before being put on the bun. Second, it was just a pretty harsh flavor which overpowered the entire sandwich, not pungent like a vinegar based sauce at all, just...big. This sandwich needed either a mild tang or something sweet. If I was back in the kitchen, I'd rename it the ABC, axe the horsey bbq, and serve it with a side of Open Pit Original bbq sauce, that's right, Arby's Sauce. Other than the sauce, the sandwich was great. Soft bun, tender roast beef, that same mild melty queso that was in the mac, and sauteed onions with an unnamed superstar mixed in, sauteed jalapenos.
So, what do we think?
Well, I'd go back for sure on a nice day with the dogs to watch a game outside. The place was barren when I was there, but given proximity to campus, I would guess this place gets a good mix of students and people in the 20-30 range. Place with a good porch and a good vibe, and I think you can find something decent to eat, but I wouldn't say go there for the food.
Summary
Atmosphere: neighborhood bar, great porch with tvs outside and large tables, good for groups, good for happy hour, good for lunch on a nice day, good for watching the game, good for taking the dogs, good for meeting people
Food: decent innovated bar food
Dog Friendly: yep
When to Go: lunch or happy hour on a nice day
Crowd: no one there when I was there, but I'd guess students and 20and30somethings, beer lovers
What to Order for the First Timer: not sure, but I'd probably try a burger
I've lived in Dallas for 16 years. I've been a 1.8 mile straight shot away from Pietro's for five years. I love Italian food. I've driven by this place countless times, always saying to myself, "I need to go there". And when I finally did yesterday, I found out it is fantastic. And now I'm moving.
Seriously, this has vaulted up my charts to my favorite Italian restaurant in Dallas. Food and atmosphere, this place is great. This has to be the most under the radar 50 year old restaurant in the state of Texas. Opened up in 1960, this place advertises on it's sign as Genuine Home Cooking, and that's exactly right. It's a family run operation that makes true Sicilian food from scratch, and its easy to figure out that they're cooking to order with a comment on the menu that warns, "Please allow thirty minutes for your food", and then it comes out piping hot.
Alright, so let's back up here. First off, go here for the food. This is not a typical Dallas see and be seen place, or a fancy space in a popular spot, or a good spot to take a first date unless she's from the Bronx. It's easy to miss this spot, and its really easy to drive by and think its been out of business for years. Set aside your expectations and any impatience you may have, and enjoy it for what it is. A family run, true Italian hole in the wall, with an incredibly loyal customer base, many of who have been coming here their entire lives. I love it for the atmosphere it is. Old school.
Let's talk about the atmosphere. Red and white checkered tableclothed tables spread out across three rooms, one of which is a nice sunroom right in front. Salt and pepper shakers of the thick tinted brown curved glass variety with dinnerware of the same vintage that makes you wonder if you're having dinner at grandmas and not at a restaurant. Starting to believe this Genuine Home Cooking bit now? This is like going to your Italian grandmother's house for dinner...correction, for the best Italian dinner you can get. There's a bar, but it serves more as a place for the patriarch to greet you, and doesn't offer any seating, but would be a nice place to grab a glass of wine and talk to him if there is a wait. He's a great guy who loves what he does, and is very personable.
On to the menu. They opened in 1960 and moved to this location in 1972, and I'm guessing at that time they printed new menus, and those are the exact same menus that you get when you sit down. Don't get frustrated when they don't have the wines that are printed on the back pages of the menu. The wines available when your mom and dad slapped on their bellbottoms and headed over there were different than they are today. There are about thirty Italian reds listed, primarily Sicilian, Chiantis, and Chianti Classicos as well as about twenty or so domestic cabs, merlots, and others. The whites are similar. They're also really affordable, starting at about $16, with the bulk being below $30, and a couple, labeled only as "Brunello Selection" or the other prime Italian wine regions, which go for up to $65. So I asked if there was a moderately priced one that he'd recommend. He asked if I liked chianti and I said, "yes, but what about these three wines from Montepulciano over here". A concerned glance washed over his face as he said, "ooooohhhh, I'm pretty sure we don't have those". "Okay, what about this one?" Again the squinted eyes and pursed lips..."nope, probably not". BUT, the do have wine, and with 50+ reds on that menu, he said, "we've got a nice Sicilian table wine for $28". Not on the menu. One please.
The menu has a really big selection of pastas, meats, vegetarian options, appetizers, and seafood. I don't think they left off anything. I was excited to see about fifteen different veal dishes on the menu for under $20, all of which were medallion based, and all of which sounded incredible. I figured getting the meat would allow me to sample their basic pasta, as it comes with a side of spaghetti with the homemade house red sauce.
Now, I've tried to read up on this place and have seen many mixed reviews, people seem to either love it or hate it. It appears to me the people who hate it don't appreciate Italian home cooking, with authentic sauces and simplicity, and also probably didn't get the service and atmosphere that they expect when they go out to dinner in Dallas. Well, those who don't like it are dead wrong. This place is flat out awesome. It's science.
So I was with a good friend of mine who, upon setting foot in the parking lot, was equally as excited as I was to give this place a shot. He got even more excited when he opened up the menu. We decided to try a few of the basics as an appetizer, and though not on the menu as an appetizer, we had our waiter bring us out a couple of meatballs and a couple of Italian sausages, as well as a piece of cheesy garlic bread.
Wow. Does that look like a picture straight off of a 1970s Italian menu? How about that plate? Yeah. Well I took that picture last night.
Let's start with the meatballs. They're great. Medium sized and of the finer ground spongy variety, they keep their integrity and are easily cuttable with a fork without falling apart, and they nearly melt in your mouth. Only slight seasoning, primarily provided by onion, garlic and salt, which makes for the essence of simplicity. The sausage is also homemade, and tastes like it was just packed. It's great. Relatively lean compared to what you might expect, no grease runs from it when you cut into it, and it doesn't appear that extra fat was added to the grind. They let the pig do the talking, complimenting it with a light fennel seasoning with a hint of spice. It's also not a consistent grind, which I like, and some of the pieces in the sausage show evidence of being shredded from the shoulder. It is really a great Italian sausage, that you know is homemade when you bite into it.
I'll take this opportunity to talk about their red sauce, not to be confused with marinara, as some people may think are one in the same. I've seen some reviews of pasta with the red sauce here which were fairly scathing in describing it as a basic watery tomato sauce ladled over store bought pasta resulting in an incohesive (not sure that's a word) dish. Thin would be a better word to describe it, which is just fine, because the flavor is what counts here. This isn't your bright red chunky sugar and herb laced marinara sauce. No, this is clearly a sauce that begins with the sauteing of beef and pork bones and perhaps a few short ribs in olive oil, and then is built from there with pureed tomatoes maybe a little onion or garlic, minced so small you don't notice it, a little salt, and maybe just a slight touch of oregano somewhere in there, before it's left to simmer all day letting the flavors come together in perfect harmony. Yes folks, this is the real deal. A relatively thin, but consistent red sauce with incredible meaty backbone. Wonderful.
We both got veal dishes, both very similar. My friend had the Saltimbocca...thin, tender, naked scallops of veal topped with prosciutto and cheese sauteed in a light wine sauce and served with a broiled spinach pancake. Mine was similar, the Veal Champagne. The same veal medallions topped with prosciutto, cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes, sauteed in a light champagne based sauce. It was great. So simple, and so good. The veal was done perfectly, pounded to tender oblivion and cuttable with a fork, it was a large plate of food that came across clean and light.
It was served with a side of spaghetti with red sauce, pictured, which is all about the sauce, which we've already talked about. We also had the choice of salad or soup. My friend opted for the house salad, which was nicely torn chunks of crisp iceberg lettuce, some tomatoes and other vegetables, topped with simply red wine vinegar and olive oil. I heard no complaints from that side of the table. My minestrone soup was great. Very rustic, and not as tomato laced as other varieties of this Italian classic can be. Good potato and escarole content, very light on beans (if there were any), it screams comfort and home cooking.
We...oh, crap, the cheesy garlic bread! Wow, this was incredible. An inch thick slice of fresh, soft italian bread, mopped with butter and garlic and topped with cheese before being broiled to perfection.
I can't say a single bad thing about this place. Go, and enjoy it. I'll be back very soon and can't wait to try the vegetarian lasagna, the veal francese, the eggplant parmigiana, the veal siciliana, and about 30 other things. Mmmmmmmm, anyone free tonight?
Summary
Atmosphere: old school red and white checkered Italian, good for families, good for groups, as untrendy as it gets, family run
Food: classic Italian
When to Go: dinner
Crowd: loyalists, neighbors, families
What to Get for the First Timer: I'd have to say pick a veal, get the side of spaghetti and the minestrone, and start with meatballs sausage and cheesy garlic bread. Will update after my next trip, my sense is that most everything is great.
