Stumbled in here on a Saturday evening for a quick bite, expecting it to be along the lines of Baja Fresh or something similar. We were pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t. We really didn’t know what to expect though, and we were concerned because the restaurant was empty.
They brought out chips and salsa immediately, and I thought the salsa had a good flavor. It had a good kick, but definitely no bite. Also ordered the mint lemonade, which was surprisingly tasty. I’ve ordered this at Gloria’s a couple times, and the flavors never seemed to blend as well as they did at Berryhill. Very refreshing and cool.
I ordered a variety of their tamales, and my dining companion ordered the corn enchilada, a beef tamale, and the fish taco. He’s from San Diego, so he has high expectations on fish tacos – and he thought they were pretty good. He did comment that it was quite a bit larger than the street tacos that he is used to, but it had a good flavor. He chose to get the fish grilled instead of fried, and is wanting to try it fried next time. He also said the corn enchilada was very good.
As for the tamales – know that they are HUGE. I’ve never seen tamales this big in a restaurant. My only complaint is that the masa was a bit thicker than I like to make them, but the meat seasoning was VERY good. I recommend the pork or chicken tamales, as the bean and beef were a bit bland. The pork was by far the best – very tender, flavorful, and filling. I don’t like to order tamales in restaurants, having been spoiled by homemade ones, but these were very good, all things considered. They are huge though – be warned.
The service isn’t anything to write home about, which is too bad. Our waitress was attentive enough, but she seemed incredibly distracted, and ended up sending someone else over to finish us up when a large party was seated in her section.
As a whole, we were sufficiently satisfied with this experience. It’s in a non-descript strip mall, but they have tried very hard to get away from that image by creating a restaurant with character and a memorable menu. Get the tamales and try the lemonade.
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
17 August 2009
La Cubanita -- Dallas, Texas
After our original plans fell through on a Friday night, we were able to haphazardly get everyone together for dinner around 8:00 at La Cubanita. I was dubious at first, thinking it would be a more pricey version of Cuba Libre, but I was pleasantly surprised.
First off, this is McKinney Avenue, and during peak times, you’re going to have to valet. It’s frustrating, yes, but it’s just part of coming down here. Some areas have more parking than others, but I find it to be less of a hassle, if you just go ahead and valet. I think it is unfortunate that they don’t validate valet, but it’s just part of it.
While we waited for everyone to arrive, the waiter recommended we start off with the mariquitas con Guacamole and a pitcher of Mango Sangria. The black bean dip that was served with the appetizer was extremely tasty. The Cuban salsa was so-so, but it did have a good flavor. Everything was fresh. The Mango Sangria was out of this world. I thought the flavors meshed well together, and it was very smooth. Absolutely incredible. We finished off three of these throughout the meal.
Entrees around the table included the churrasco, the churrasco de pollo, Cuban Lechon Asado, the garlic shrimp, and a side of sweet potato fries. Our waiter recommended the churrasco and the Cuban Lechon Asado as being the best things on the menu. He wasn’t kidding. The churrasco had a great flavor; it was extremely tender, and cooked to perfection. My mouth still waters thinking about it. The Chimmichuri sauce had an excellent flavor, and it wasn’t overpowering. The Cuban Lechon Asado was so tender; it literally would fall apart with a fork. They served it with a garlic sauce on the side that really added another dimension to it. Very tasty. The chicken was slightly overcooked and dry, but the seasoning was tasty, though admittedly, the steak received more rave reviews at our table. All the sides had good flavor, though it can be a LOT of food. Finally, the garlic shrimp was good – served in a sauce, not unlike the Chimmichuri sauce with an addition of cilantro. The shrimp were tiny, but everything was flavored well. The Cuban flatbread was fresh, too. The sweet potato fries weren’t greasy at all.
La Cubanita has a lot of character, with doors that open onto the patio throughout the restaurant and beautiful lighting during the evening. It has old world charm, reminding me of many restaurants I visited in small towns in Italy. The slight breeze that comes in through the open doors can be refreshing. The dining room is very small, but it’s cozy in a good way. The service was unassuming and prompt. Our waiter was always there when we needed him, but not intrusive throughout the meal. My only complaint is the large television that can be distracting, but it’s not a deal breaker.
As a whole, we felt it was a great experience, though it can be on the pricey side. The food was quality and tasty. If you go, be sure and try the mango sangria. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot summer night. I haven’t been to Cuban, so I can’t comment on the authenticity, but this is definitely one of the better restaurants I’ve been to in Dallas. Everyone in our party of 6 thoroughly enjoyed it.
First off, this is McKinney Avenue, and during peak times, you’re going to have to valet. It’s frustrating, yes, but it’s just part of coming down here. Some areas have more parking than others, but I find it to be less of a hassle, if you just go ahead and valet. I think it is unfortunate that they don’t validate valet, but it’s just part of it.
While we waited for everyone to arrive, the waiter recommended we start off with the mariquitas con Guacamole and a pitcher of Mango Sangria. The black bean dip that was served with the appetizer was extremely tasty. The Cuban salsa was so-so, but it did have a good flavor. Everything was fresh. The Mango Sangria was out of this world. I thought the flavors meshed well together, and it was very smooth. Absolutely incredible. We finished off three of these throughout the meal.
Entrees around the table included the churrasco, the churrasco de pollo, Cuban Lechon Asado, the garlic shrimp, and a side of sweet potato fries. Our waiter recommended the churrasco and the Cuban Lechon Asado as being the best things on the menu. He wasn’t kidding. The churrasco had a great flavor; it was extremely tender, and cooked to perfection. My mouth still waters thinking about it. The Chimmichuri sauce had an excellent flavor, and it wasn’t overpowering. The Cuban Lechon Asado was so tender; it literally would fall apart with a fork. They served it with a garlic sauce on the side that really added another dimension to it. Very tasty. The chicken was slightly overcooked and dry, but the seasoning was tasty, though admittedly, the steak received more rave reviews at our table. All the sides had good flavor, though it can be a LOT of food. Finally, the garlic shrimp was good – served in a sauce, not unlike the Chimmichuri sauce with an addition of cilantro. The shrimp were tiny, but everything was flavored well. The Cuban flatbread was fresh, too. The sweet potato fries weren’t greasy at all.
La Cubanita has a lot of character, with doors that open onto the patio throughout the restaurant and beautiful lighting during the evening. It has old world charm, reminding me of many restaurants I visited in small towns in Italy. The slight breeze that comes in through the open doors can be refreshing. The dining room is very small, but it’s cozy in a good way. The service was unassuming and prompt. Our waiter was always there when we needed him, but not intrusive throughout the meal. My only complaint is the large television that can be distracting, but it’s not a deal breaker.
As a whole, we felt it was a great experience, though it can be on the pricey side. The food was quality and tasty. If you go, be sure and try the mango sangria. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot summer night. I haven’t been to Cuban, so I can’t comment on the authenticity, but this is definitely one of the better restaurants I’ve been to in Dallas. Everyone in our party of 6 thoroughly enjoyed it.
06 July 2009
Breadwinners -- Dallas, Texas
I had been to Breadwinners for lunch, but I’ve heard that breakfast/brunch is truly their forte, so when I had company in town over the 4th of July weekend, we decided to give it a try. We arrived around 11:00 on Saturday morning, and we had a short wait until our entire party arrived. We opted for the patio, as we had a dog in tow and they are a dog friendly establishment.
The hostess was very efficient, but definitely not much on personality. I expect the crowds get overwhelming on the weekends – even on a holiday weekend, this place was hopping. Once we were seated, the service was good. The waitress even brought out a water dish for the pooch.
The various breads they brought out before the entrees were fresh and tasty. There wasn’t a crumb left of any of them, especially the pumpkin and tomato breads. Everyone’s meals were exceptional – BW’s Benedict, the Farmhouse, and Julio’s Huevos were the favourites around the table. I opted for the classic breakfast, and it was TONS of food. There was more than enough bacon. I definitely prefer the brunch potatoes here to Café Brazil’s, but Charlie Palmer still has the best potatoes in my opinion.
Presentation isn’t much, but the food is tasty, fresh, and served warm. The prices are average for this area, and I think the quality surpasses other cafes around Dallas. The orange juice tasted extremely fresh. If you want to do traditional breakfast, Breadwinners is definitely where it’s at.
The hostess was very efficient, but definitely not much on personality. I expect the crowds get overwhelming on the weekends – even on a holiday weekend, this place was hopping. Once we were seated, the service was good. The waitress even brought out a water dish for the pooch.
The various breads they brought out before the entrees were fresh and tasty. There wasn’t a crumb left of any of them, especially the pumpkin and tomato breads. Everyone’s meals were exceptional – BW’s Benedict, the Farmhouse, and Julio’s Huevos were the favourites around the table. I opted for the classic breakfast, and it was TONS of food. There was more than enough bacon. I definitely prefer the brunch potatoes here to Café Brazil’s, but Charlie Palmer still has the best potatoes in my opinion.
Presentation isn’t much, but the food is tasty, fresh, and served warm. The prices are average for this area, and I think the quality surpasses other cafes around Dallas. The orange juice tasted extremely fresh. If you want to do traditional breakfast, Breadwinners is definitely where it’s at.
25 June 2009
Jiang's -- Dallas, Snider Plaza
We had read a lot of positive reviews on this place, so we decided to try it out for dinner on a week night. The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly, which is why I hate to mark this place as average at all. Our glasses were continuously filled, the waitress was friendly, and the service was prompt. The food was simply okay -- nothing spectacular. They brought us a basket of won ton chips with our soup. We both had won ton soup -- the broth was good, but the won tons were lacking flavor. For entrees, we chose the beef with broccoli and the mandarin chicken. The nice thing about Jiang's is they don't smother the food in sauce. The broccoli on both dishes also appeared to be steamed, instead of frieds. I thought the flavor of the Mandarin Chicken was good, but it definitely didn't need to be labeled as a spicy dish. The beef with broccoli was so-so. The owners have tried to make it nice, but it doesn't have much in the way of character or ambiance. They seem to do a steady takeout business though. Parking was no problem -- plenty of 2 hour spots on a week night. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, it just didn't live up to the hype.
19 January 2009
A few recent Dallas restaurant reviews...
Cuba Libre
2822 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206-6504
Had dinner here late on a Friday night after finding out there was a 45 minute wait at 9:45 at another restaurant. We only waited 10 minutes for a table. The entire menu is very reasonably priced, though it's high for tacos. The ingredients are a bit more gourmet though. I had the brisket tacos with crispy onions and a mango-BBQ sauce. The brisket was extremely tender and everything had a great flavor. There were 2 tacos on the plate. They do allow you to mix and match though, which I think is nice. My companion had the spicy shrimp tacos, and she really enjoyed them, too.
It was served with black beans and rice, which was too much food for me.
Overall, it's a good value, fresh ingredients, and something a little different. There seems to be a hopping bar upstairs with loud music, but we didn't check it out.
Village Burger Bar
3699 McKinney
Dallas, Texas
A friend and I decided to run in here for a quick dinner on a Friday night before catching a movie. I ordered the Chicken Pesto Panini with the famous sweet potato fries. She ordered the Cheddar Burger with regular fries. I had a Watermelon Mojito and she had the Mangorita. Her Mangorita was strong, but extremely tasty. My watermelon mojito tasted like a regular mojito -- perhaps they forgot the watermelon. The place was extremely busy with a line out the door at 8:00. We grabbed a table inside, and there were ample tables for patio seating, which will be nice when the weather is better. Our food came fairly quickly, and the fries were fresh and crispy. My chicken panini was good, but there wasn't a lot of pesto on the chicken. I could have done with a little bit more. Her burger was cooked to perfection with fresh vegetables on it. (Don't you hate limp looking lettuce??) The fries were EXCELLENT. I had never had sweet potato fries, but they were extremely tasty with the right crisp-factor. The regular fries were great, too. Altogether, I was impressed and thought it made for a tasty quick meal..
Gloria's -- The Original Location
3715 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206-5311
A friend and I visited this restaurant on a Sunday afternoon as a celebration lunch. I was surprised that it wasn't busy, but apparently they do a busy evening crowd. The salsa and bean dip served was quite tasty. The salsa has a really good flavor. We ended up splitting fajitas for two, and there was PLENTY of meat. We probably could have split an order for one. The beans served with the fajitas were different than the ones seved with the salsa, and they had a fantastic flavor. The beef was extremely tender, and the chicken was well seasoned. The pieces could have been cut a little smaller, but not a big deal. Service was great -- I don't think our drinks ever fell below half a glass. It was a little overwhelming, to tell you the truth... but I'll take it!
Over all, we had a fantastic lunch experience. The food was good, the service was great, and I'll definitely be back. I have heard that this is the original and best location in Dallas -- so I'll stick to it.
2822 N Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206-6504
Had dinner here late on a Friday night after finding out there was a 45 minute wait at 9:45 at another restaurant. We only waited 10 minutes for a table. The entire menu is very reasonably priced, though it's high for tacos. The ingredients are a bit more gourmet though. I had the brisket tacos with crispy onions and a mango-BBQ sauce. The brisket was extremely tender and everything had a great flavor. There were 2 tacos on the plate. They do allow you to mix and match though, which I think is nice. My companion had the spicy shrimp tacos, and she really enjoyed them, too.
It was served with black beans and rice, which was too much food for me.
Overall, it's a good value, fresh ingredients, and something a little different. There seems to be a hopping bar upstairs with loud music, but we didn't check it out.
Village Burger Bar
3699 McKinney
Dallas, Texas
A friend and I decided to run in here for a quick dinner on a Friday night before catching a movie. I ordered the Chicken Pesto Panini with the famous sweet potato fries. She ordered the Cheddar Burger with regular fries. I had a Watermelon Mojito and she had the Mangorita. Her Mangorita was strong, but extremely tasty. My watermelon mojito tasted like a regular mojito -- perhaps they forgot the watermelon. The place was extremely busy with a line out the door at 8:00. We grabbed a table inside, and there were ample tables for patio seating, which will be nice when the weather is better. Our food came fairly quickly, and the fries were fresh and crispy. My chicken panini was good, but there wasn't a lot of pesto on the chicken. I could have done with a little bit more. Her burger was cooked to perfection with fresh vegetables on it. (Don't you hate limp looking lettuce??) The fries were EXCELLENT. I had never had sweet potato fries, but they were extremely tasty with the right crisp-factor. The regular fries were great, too. Altogether, I was impressed and thought it made for a tasty quick meal..
Gloria's -- The Original Location
3715 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206-5311
A friend and I visited this restaurant on a Sunday afternoon as a celebration lunch. I was surprised that it wasn't busy, but apparently they do a busy evening crowd. The salsa and bean dip served was quite tasty. The salsa has a really good flavor. We ended up splitting fajitas for two, and there was PLENTY of meat. We probably could have split an order for one. The beans served with the fajitas were different than the ones seved with the salsa, and they had a fantastic flavor. The beef was extremely tender, and the chicken was well seasoned. The pieces could have been cut a little smaller, but not a big deal. Service was great -- I don't think our drinks ever fell below half a glass. It was a little overwhelming, to tell you the truth... but I'll take it!
Over all, we had a fantastic lunch experience. The food was good, the service was great, and I'll definitely be back. I have heard that this is the original and best location in Dallas -- so I'll stick to it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
