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Daniel Boone finally comes to Texas

October 29th, 2009

Ok I realize it’s nerdy but one of my first thoughts upon hearing about Daniel Boone’s “Texas Tavern” was, why name a “Texas Tavern” after a man who never set foot in Texas. I can see how in many ways, the man embodies the values which appeal most to Texans, but why not call it “David Crockett’s Texas Tavern?” Well I’ve since discovered that Dan Boone is the owner and operator of the not- so- misnamed establishment.

I recently had a pleasant visit to D.B’s. The burger was good, the beans tasty, and plentiful, and the Blue Bell ice cream refreshing. They also have a pretty nice bar, although it’s a little cramped back there and the service was good, considering I was part of a huge crowd.

The funny thing about Boone’s is, first off there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground when it comes to people’s opinions. Some swear by it as the absolute best eatery in Tyler, a claim I find a bit unrealistic. Others say the food and service were terrible and vow never to eat there again. This is also an extreme reaction I think. Personally I find myself undecided about the restaurant. This is a rare occasion for me, but I simply can’t make up my mind. The rustic decor is similar to that of the Texas Road House, but it’s not really a steak house. It clearly bills itself as serving Texas style dishes, but they don’t serve barbeque. So what kind of restaurant is Daniel Boone’s?

In terms of the casual atmosphere I’d probably compare the place to Chilies or Applebee’s without the institutional trendiness. The menu is simpler, but the burgers and portions are similar. I can already hear the Boone’s apologists ramping up, so let me say the food is better in my opinion, but the prices are compatible. The thing I do really like about D.B’s. is the hometown, locally owned pride of the place. I typically do everything in my power to avoid the monster Tyler Texas restaurant chains. If I want microwavable food, I’ll go to Sam’s Club. But Boone’s is definitely not one of those. While I remain undecided on how to classify it, the Texas Tavern is definitely a better choice than another faceless franchise.

On a scale of one to five, I personally would give Daniel Boone’s a three and a half, out of five stars. Ultimately, since no seems to agree, the reader will have to pay a visit and decide for his or herself. Boone’s is located on the loop, next to Albertson’s and across from Hobby Lobby.

Cheddars

October 23rd, 2009

On a Sunday afternoon the waiting room in the popular Cheddars restaurant begins to pour out on to the sidewalk. People crowd together for a good table. You would think that an extremely popular place would have me saying great praises about the well cooked food and the great service. Well, that was not my experience, and I have returned and again and again both the food and the services were below par.

As I walked into the over populated restaurant I stood shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers. Waiting for a table and, because of the hype, expecting the greatest food. They handed me a vibrating beeper with a red blinking light. As it begins to flash and vibrate I get excited as if I have won the lottery. As the hostess dressed in black lead me to my booth. I sat waiting as the young waiter approached dressed nicely with a blue collar shirt and black pants and a tie.

I flipped through the menu and everything sounded so good with great prices. For a second I started to understand all the people standing in the small crowed waiting area. I ordered my usual Dr. Pepper, what is the point of free refills when the waiter never comes to refill your drinks?

After hearing the amazing rumors, I order the spinach dip. I must admit, my taste buds sang as I dipped the thin chip into the layers of melted different cheese and green spinach topped with a spoon full of sour cream. I started to eat the warm outer sides of the dip but as I got into the center I took a large bite of halfway frozen spinach and cold cheese. I started to get frustrated that my drink still has not been filled, and annoyed that my food was not sitting in front of me after 30 minutes.

Finally my well-done steak and loaded bake potato sat in front of me. In my vocabulary “well-done” steak does not mean bloody and bright red. I was waiting for my food to grow legs moo at my and walk off. I ask the waiter to take it back and put it back on the grill. About twenty minutes of being sick of waiting, the waiter brings it back. As I cut into the slab of meat once again, I was so upset as again it was still really pink.

I was too annoyed and frustrated to ask a second time to re-cook my steak that I just asked for my ticket. I love when I ask for my ticket and the waiter has it in their little pouch on their belt and just hand it to you the second you ask for it. But that is just to easy to do for the waiters at Cheddars. I watch the waiter as he stands at the computer flirting with the cute hostess, with his phone in his hand hoping to win over her number, not even paying attention to what he is suppose to be doing.

Finally after waiting until he is finished his conversation, he brings me my ticket. I pay the amount for the food and leave. Well I was certainly disappointed walking through the crowded parking lot to my car. I don’t understand how they have so much business, I guess quantity is more important than quality. No, that still does not explain it.

I did return to Cheddars for my dear friend’s 21st birthday, but this time we sat at the bar. I was surprised at the amazing service and a great atmosphere, besides the strange girl hitting on my married sister, and a bar fly trying to ease-drop into our conversations. Was I really in the same restaurant? They had great drinks and really good prices. Even our food was cooked and everything came out really fast. Even our drinks were constantly refilled. I don’t really know how everything was so much better and different, but I really did enjoy my bar-experience and walked away with great stories and wonderful memories.

So I don’t know what to expect each time I eat there. I could have horrible service and uncooked meat or decent food and great service. But I still don’t see why it is one of the most popular restaurants in Tyler.

Fast Food Freak Out

October 21st, 2009

Tyler has so many different locations for each of your fast food cravings. Each place has it’s own feel and more importantly taste. Every restaurant you eat at it is very important to know how clean the restaurant and kitchen is, but also how clean the food is.

Taco Bell is know for its cheap prices and one of the few successful Mexican fast food restaurants. But to most people it is known for its puddles of grease, and want to be ground beef. There has been so many times that I have been there and the floors were dirty, the bathrooms filthy, and walked out discussed. I will not return to Taco Bell after once being grossed out by the mold growing on the side of my cheesy gordita crunch and one time I had someone’s hair in my taco. It was so disgusting that I can hardly drive by a taco bell with out my stomach turning.

Everyone across the world has seen the two golden arches. McDonald’s cheese burger is one of the most famous burgers. Kid’s faces light up every time you drive up and they see the huge play place. For some reason all the McDonald’s except a couple, have taken out their play places. Personally, I don’t see what people like about the food here. I recently went to a McDonald’s that was inside the Wal-Mart off of Broadway. My family ordered and not a single thing was made the way we asked for. I was so frustrated that I wanted to complain along with half the other customers whose order was wrong, but it took so long for the food to come out the first time that I did not have the time to deal with waiting that long again. I get frustrated walking into a McDonald’s restaurant and how dirty the play places are. But the play place is the thing that kids love the most about McDonald’s.

Subway is the healthy way to go when you decide to go to eat at a fast food restaurant. Walk through the great vegetable bar and pick out exactly what you want on your sandwich and how you want it. Toasted or not, pick out the bread, meat and cheese. You can look on the menu to get the healthiest sandwich that is advertised to help you loose weight. You can always find fresh vegetables and fresh sandwich meat. They even sell pizzas that you can put whatever you want on it. They also have great new flat bread that is my new favorite thing to get there. So if you want to get fast food I suggest to go healthy and stop by Subway.

I don’t know how people can still eat at Long John Silver’s. I have not eaten there in a long time but I have all the reason to not go there. I got so sick when I went there when I was little. I don’t know why some one would think that “rubbery” fake sea food would taste good. Even the thought of the food just sounds really gross.

Texas has a great fast food chain. From miles away you can spot the bright orange and white metal roof or Whataburger. It is no regular fast food restaurant each one has it’s own feel. There you can also have a great place to watch a game and hang out with your friends. Have a great juicy burger and some great fries. Enjoy the real ice cream taste and have a great strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla shake. Whataburger’s prices are usually higher than other chain fast food restaurants but the food is so much better. You can be able to make your burger your way. Stop by for the best specials around. Stop and enjoy great food, environment, people and enjoy a cold Dr. Pepper.

The ultimate drink stop in the United States is the well known drive threw, Sonic. Have fun hanging out side and play some sand volleyball, or play with the kids on the play place. Come over to get a drink for half off from 2:00 to 4:00. You can get a lot of different flavors in your soda or get a refreshing slushy in any flavor. The food is terrible. I have mentioned before that I hate greasy food. I get discussed by the puddles of grease floating on the top of chili cheese tots. But there is not many things more wonderful than to cool down with a cold drink or ice cream on a hot Texan summer. So stop by and get a drink for half off.

I hate watching the television and seeing those retarded Jack In The Box commercials. I hate them so much that I wont even eat there. I once ate there and my burger and fries were cold. I heard of great deals on food there, but because of the nasty creepy commercials I refuse to go there.

Another of the best fast food chains in Tyler is the most popular, Chick-fil-a. Everyone knows the cows that are able write, yet misspell the word “more”. Get the best chicken and a wonderful fresh salad. Get a drink of great sweat tea or one of their new milkshakes. Try all their great sauces. They have wonderful waffle fries and the best chicken sandwiches. Enjoy a fun time and let your kids play in the fun play places. Come to “cow appreciation day” and dress up like a cow for a free meal. have some fun and great food. Bring your kids to Chick-fil-a.

For the worst food of all the fast food restaurants, but one of the cheapest places to get ice cream, go to Dairy Queen. Last time I went there it took forever to get my food and the Dairy Queen was dirty. But kids have a fun time eating ice cream and playing, but the food was awful. The chicken was hard and the salad brown. It was one place that I wont go back to.

Want to eat at a place whose bread is old, the wait is long, your food always is brought out wrong, but the food is good? The stop by Wendy’s. Try food off of the one dollar menu. I do admit that they have great new chicken and some times there are things that are pretty good. But I don’t think there was once that I went there and it didn’t take for ever for the food to come out, or my order was wrong. I don’t have the time to eat there, but if your patient enough for it, go ahead and eat cheap at Wendy’s.

So here is my opinion of the fast food restaurants to go eat or stay clear. Tyler has a great variety of fast food restaurants, you just need to know which ones to stay clear of. Take out your kids to have a fun time, and enjoy a quick bite on your lunch break, just know where to go.

Bruno’s, the Best Pizza in Town

October 15th, 2009
Tyler Texas Pizza

Best Pizza in Tyler TX

Until recently if someone had asked me about a restaurant in Tyler called Bruno’s, I would have responded rather indifferently, “Yeah; that sounds familiar.” After trying their food recently however I’m now anything but indifferent. With as long as I’ve lived in Tyler Texas, I find that I’m sort of annoyed with myself for never having tried Bruno’s until now.

Even with all the other pizza places in Tyler, I can say with some confidence that Bruno’s is easily the best in town. While Double Dave’s makes a great pie, even they cannot measure up to Bruno’s work. And Cici’s, my least favorite pizza of all time, (this includes Totino’s by the way), hardly seems like the same food. But Bruno’s serves more than just great pizza. They have all sorts of Italian dishes, including salads and sandwiches. But their signature dish may well be their legendary lasagna.

If you go to Bruno’s however, don’t go for the atmosphere. It’s not the sort of place lovers go to meet in the middle of a spaghetti noodle. The space is limited, so a lot of customers opt for take out. Where the food is eaten matters little though; carry their food across state lines and it’s the best Italian in Arkansas. So for authentic Mediterranean cuisine try a visit to Bruno’s. Business hours are from 11:00am to 9:00pm weekdays and Saturdays, and the store is closed on Sudays. Located at 1400 South Vine in Tyler. For pick-up call (903) 595-1676‎.

For more information on Tyler area Italian food see the Tyler Blog section of this website and look for the titles “Local Italian relaxed atmosphere,” or “A pizza, a beer and a ball game.” Also, see “The best of the Buffets” under the Articles section.

Jersey Mike’s Wins in the End

October 15th, 2009

For those looking for a great place to stop for lunch, Jersey Mike’s makes a delicious sandwich for a reasonable price. Now, I like an occasional Subway sandwich as much as anyone but I find that on completing one, I can hardly remember having eaten it. Not so with Jersey Mikes. At JM they build their sandwiches using only the freshest ingredients. And trust me when I say that this sandwich shop can satisfy even the biggest appetite.

My personal favorite is the cheese steak sub. Now as someone who has eaten a genuine Philly Cheese steak sandwich on the actual streets of Philadelphia, allow me to testify to the fact that they are pretty hard to beat. Well Jersey Mikes can’t beat them, but they come closer to matching them than anything I’ve tasted in Tyler or East Texas. The meatball sub is also one of their delicious signature sandwiches.

Jersey Mike’s is no big secret in Tyler. Lunch time brings out quite a mixed crowd. This store is a great place for a bite on the go, or an informal business lunch. In comparison to other area sandwich chains, I would place Mike’s near the top of the heap. In my opinion it beats out both Subway and Quizno’s. McAlister’s serves delicious fare, but due to personal reasons makes for awkward social situations. Newk’s is good, but priced too high for what you get. Schlotzsky’s is also serves some excellent food, so I find it a close call between them with JM winning by a nudge.

So the next time you find yourself craving a sub sandwich, try something other than the usual stops. Try Jersey Mike’s, it is located at 4754 South Broadway next to Eye Mart Express. I think I can guarantee you will remember eating there.