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Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Cajun Food Returns To Tyler Texas

January 8th, 2010

Tyler has had a number of Cajun restaurants over the years. And while they served excellent food they didn’t last. But Tyler Texas should be fertile ground for an establishment of that nature. We certainly love restaurants. Cajun food and culture are not so far removed; in fact the Texas gulf coast often serves similar cuisine. So why is it that a town like ours, with all kinds of restaurants can’t seem to keep a good Louisiana kitchen open? Well, we have another opportunity with “Fat Catz.” Located at Southeast Crossing Center, 3320 Troup Highway in Tyler, Fat Catz serves authentic Cajun seafood.        

            While the seating is of course indoor, the openness of the place gives it a sort of Café Du Monde feel. The menu has all the favorites one would expect to find in a New Orleans restaurant just off the River Walk. There are gumbos, jambalayas, and Poboys, as well as hushpuppies, fried pickles, oysters, etc. There are also more local favorites like catfish.

            So the question remains, will Fat Catz survive in Tyler. I for one, hope so. It’s a unique departure from the usual Tex-Mex restaurants, (some of which I happen to love by the way), and the Chinese buffets. If variety is the spice of life, Fat Catz will stick around. But it remains to be seen how much spice Tylerites can handle.  See also http://www.fatcatzkitchen.com/ .

Cafe Tazza

January 8th, 2010

Caffe Tazza

Walking into Café Tazza was like entering the conflicted mind of a middle aged east Texan woman who feels her true home is somewhere on the border of Texas and Italy. But for all the nauseating cuteness and Spanish pastel it was undeniably a comfortable place to be. 

Fresh flowers sat on every table while live Spanish guitarists serenaded the customers, literally serenaded, as awkward as that sounds for the person involved it was worth it in the entertainment the fellow café goers enjoyed while watching the slightly overweight but unmistakably suave guitarist enter the personal bubble of an individual trying desperately not to divert eye contact from his book.

In the other corner of the store there were tiny half cubicles which housed a modest gallery of local art. The artist, a fiftyish year old woman talked to the perusers as they strolled through the door and into the coffee line.

There is something to be said about the Cafés coffee, it’s expensive but high quality. Now it is personal preference whether a cup of coffee is worth seven dollars to you but this price range does seem to keep one demographic of income prevalent in the consumer base. So expect a lot of golf talk and shoulder sweaters if you know what I mean. However, if you are able to stomach the egocentric lemmings that are the Tyler elite than it’s a nice place to spend your time but if not than you could always move to the patio.

Sunday mornings at Café Taza are another bonus not usual in coffee shops because for one glorious morning they become one of the best restaurants to have ever put food in my mouth. Their breakfast items are one hundred percent delicious but unfortunately just as expensive as the coffee. I would recommend Cafe Taza in Tyler primarily for its free Wi-Fi and free entertainment but if you do come across the means for a little luxury than it’s certainly not a bad idea.
Caffe Tazza in Tyler TX
Caffe Tazza Coffee Shop

Barbeque With The Pig

January 8th, 2010

Texas Barbeque

Got a craving for some meat? “The Purple pig” is just the antidote! With everything from brisket to ribs, this meat is truly fall off the bone goodness. Cooked over a flame at a nice slow roast, everything the pig has to offer tastes like it was slaved over with love. Need a compliment to that Pull-Pork? Try some baked beans. Or try the Purple Cow which is a briskit sandwich lobbed with cole slaw and a side of their signature sauce. Ever notice that most sauces are either to sour or way too sweet? The sauce at the Purple Pig finds the perfect balance- tangy yet still sweet.

Getting Here

Take highway 155 south in Tyler Texas toward Coffee City. After the Ace Hardware it will be the next building on the right. Just Look for the Tee Pee!

A Refreshing Break From The Summer Heat

January 8th, 2010

With the summer heat rising already, keeping cool is becoming more and more difficult. So if you’re sitting in traffic either on South Broadway, or on troop highway, and you see the sign for Braum’s Ice Cream, consider making a quick stop. The variety of ice cream is second to none. On a hot Tyler Texas afternoon a cool scoop of peppermint ice cream is the most refreshing thing this East Texan can think of, unless of course you throw in a cherry lime-aid. By the way, the Braum’s cherry lime-aid is just about the best drink in town that doesn’t require an ID to buy. It’s a great blend of both tart and sweet.

Although their signature items are dairy products, Braum’s also offers conventional lunch time foods like burgers and fries.

So whether you’re on your way home from work or a day at the lake, escape the traffic for a few minutes and make your commute a little less tedious. Swing into Braum’s for a cone and a cold drink. It might even become part your summertime routine.

A Pizza A Beer And A Ball Game

January 8th, 2010

Double Daves Pizza
Located on South Broadway, Double Dave’s Pizzeria serves some of the best pizza in town. From 11:00 to 1:00 the restaurant offers a buffet. However, Dave’s isn’t like the other cheap pizza buffets in town. The higher quality is evident in every bite. The signature item on the menu is the pepperoni roll. Available by the half dozen, dozen, or on the buffet, this item is worth the trip by itself.

The atmosphere at Dave’s is sort of a guy’s Chucky Cheese. With numerous large screen TVs, all tuned to a different sports channel, and a short list of favorite beers to choose from, D.D.’s is a great place to watch the game. They also deliver.

So next time your going out for pizza in Tyler Texas, whether a lunch buffet, or just picking up a pie, choose a better pizza, and don’t forget the pepperoni rolls.