The Texas Roadhouse

January 14th, 2010

The Texas Roadhouse

2101 Southeast Loop 323
Tyler
TX 75701
903 509 0053

Opening hours M-T 4pm-10pm
Friday 4-11pm
Sat and Sun 11am-11pm

If you’ve lived in Texas for long you will have tried the steaks at the Texas Roadhouse, in fact, you’re probably a regular customer. The Texas Roadhouse is known for it’s hand-cut steaks, cooked to your specifications and it’s delicious ribs – all priced very reasonably. The Tyler Roadhouse keeps up this reputation; in fact, it probably adds further credit to this chain of restaurants.

If you have visitors to Texas, an evening at the Texas Roadhouse is a must, part of the cultural experience. Our family from England LOVED it.

First, there is the whole shelling the peanuts and throwing them on the floor thing. Then there is the atmosphere –loud and fun, our waitresses even did a short line dance while waiting for the food to be ready for them to serve. And last but not least, there is the food. We tried a cactus blossom which sounded very Texan. It was! Deep fried, of course, it was a huge battered onion with a spicy dip. There was plenty to share. The salads were good, as was the baked potatoes ‘loaded’ literally with sour cream, bacon and spring onion shavings. We enjoyed our steaks – cutting into my fillet was like cutting butter – and the ribs were a hit too. One criticism – the fries were way too salty. Perhaps it is to encourage you to drink more ice cold beer or maybe a margarita. We did have to re-order fries for the children without seasoning.

There is more than enough food for every size of appetite – The Texas Roadhouse in Tyler must have to buy a lot of ‘take home’ boxes for it’s customers. I had the pleasure of eating steak two days in a row – the second time reheated in my microwave, but still very tasty! I can’t comment on the desserts – I have never been with anyone who has room to order one, but I know that they do have a selection of traditionally southern sweets.

One great thing about the Roadhouse is that it is family friendly. On Tuesdays children eat free and sometimes they have a visiting ‘Andy Armidillo’ or a balloon modeller. Consequently, the place is PACKED, so if you don’t have kids, Tuesday might be a night to avoid. It is certainly good for a family budget too as the food is great but inexpensive. You can make a further saving by eating between 4 and 6pm with their Early Dine menu.

On the downside – you cannot make reservations at this restaurant. ‘Call ahead seating’ is the best they will do and it often still involves quite a wait in the lobby before you are seated. I guess that’s just a symptom of it’s popularity. However, once inside, the service is speedy and the servers are efficient and friendly.

All in all I recommend an evening at the Texas Roadhouse and give it a thumbs up!

Tags: 4pm, Baked Potatoes, Cold Beer, Delicious Ribs, Fillet, Home Boxes, Line Dance, Margarita, Peanuts, Shavings, Sour Cream, Southeast Loop, Southern Sweets, Spicy Dip, Spring Onion, Steaks, Sun 11am, Texas Roadhouse, Texas Roadhouse Tyler TX, The Texas Roadhouse, Tyler TX, Waitresses
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Rudy’s

October 14th, 2009

If you are looking for some good Texan barbecue, or a great place to watch the game and drink a cold beer, come to Rudy’s. Kick back and relax in a great, fun atmosphere.

If you are in the mood for the best brisket around, and great turkey and ham. Walk into the great restaurant scented with the smoky smell roasted meat. Pick out your favorite meat and one of their great sides, potatoes, beans, coleslaw, the best sweet cream corn, and potato salad.

Watch them cut your meat just the way you want it, wrap it up for you. Sit and make yourself a sandwich with their white bread. Walk down the bar and pick out what you wanton your sandwiches, pickles and onions. Top your sandwich with the signature Rudy’s sauce, but if you are not daring try the sissy sauce. Both are available for sale by the bottle. You can buy a meal for just one, two, or a whole group.

Rudy’s also has a gas station and a quick stop. Stop in for a small snack, bag of chips, candy or a refreshingly cold Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper. You can also get a Rudy’s T-shirt with fun sayings. Since the gas station isn’t used that often you will occasionally find visitors in Rudy’s in the gas station area yelling for someone to come help them check out for their gasoline fill up. If you walk too close to that area of the store you might even have a patron waiting to pay for their gas yell at you thinking your an employee. Don’t be upset this is all part of the beauty that makes Tyler Texas Rudy’s what it is, a gasoline station and barbecue restaurant in one.

If your low on gas stop on by and enjoy some great barbeque and a great environment to watch television and bring friends to hang out in a great southern atmosphere.

Tags: Barbecue Restaurant, Barbeque, Brisket, Cold Beer, Cream Corn, Dr Pepper, Gas Station, Gasoline Station, Onions, Pickles, Potato Salad, Rudy, Rudys Tyler TX, Sandwiches, Sayings, Smoky Smell, Southern Atmosphere, Sweet Cream, Tyler Texas, White Bread, Yell
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Double-Dave’s: Improving Tyler, 1 Pepperoni Roll at a Time

October 8th, 2009

East Texas often gets a bad rap for it’s light social scene. People say “there’s nothing to do in Tyler except go to restaurants and watch movies.” I used to complain in this way until I found a gem called “Double Dave’s Pizzaworks” in Times Square off South Broadway, a place where I could hang out day and night for months on end. Easily.

While I cannot speak for women, Double-Dave’s Pizzaworks certainly offers guys exactly what they want: Excellent pizza, cold beer, large TV’s and video games. Who could ask for more?

“But wait,” you might argue. “That’s not unique at all. One pizza joint can’t make Tyler cooler all by itself.” Technically, this is true. Even if I was to rave about Double-Dave’s outrageously good lunch pizza buffet, you might still object. But I would smile confidently. Because I know something you do not know: Pepperoni Rolls. Double-Dave’s secret weapons. Many places have great pizza. Only Double-Dave’s can offer spicy pepperonis blanketed with hot, smooth mozzarella cheese and wrapped in a piping hot roll. Okay, other places have them too. But not like this.

How good are they? Good enough to make Tyler a cooler, happier, and possibly more peaceful place to live.These babies will keep you up at night, not from heartburn but from heartache and regret. You could have eaten one more. You should have eaten one more. When can you go back? Is there a football game coming up which would give you an excuse to go back? No? A baseball game then? Soccer? A reality show? Perfect. Because even that kind of visual nonsense would be worth an order of Pepperoni Rolls.

If you can enjoy a football game at Double-Dave’s, you should plan on it. The big screens are more than sufficient, and the scoreboard makes the experience seem even more realistic somehow. Throw in a large Pepperoni-Sausage-and-Mushroom and a drink–they have a modest selection of Coke and Beer–and you’re set. If your kids get bored during the second half, slip them five bucks in quarters and they will disappear into the game room, leaving you alone with your buddies, the game, and your boy’s half-eaten pepperoni rolls all to yourself.

And after the game is over and you find yourself at home and half-hungry already, thank your lucky stars that Double-Dave’s will now deliver more of those perfect pepperoni rolls directly to your front door.

Isn’t Tyler awesome?

Tags: Bad Rap, Baseball Game, Cold Beer, double-dave's pizza tyler, Double-Dave's pizzaworks, East Texas, Football Game, Great Pizza, Heartache, Heartburn, Hot Roll, Large Tv, Mozzarella Cheese, Peaceful Place, pepperoni rolls, Pepperonis, Piping, pizza, Pizza Buffet, pizza in tyler, Sausage, Secret Weapons, South Broadway, Times Square, tyler tx pizza
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Rudy’s Bar-B-Q: An Authentic Texan Experience

September 24th, 2009

In my book, there is one food that, by its very nature, defines Texas: Barbecue. Think about it. There is a reason Hank Hill can make a pretty decent living selling propane even in a small town like Arlen. Everybody has a grill. Everybody uses it. And everybody loves red meat.

Rudy’s BarBQ in Tyler Texas is about as Texan as they come. The original Rudy’s Country Store was founded more than a hundred years ago near San Antonio. But it wasn’t until 1989 that the owners added Bar-B-Q to the outfit. Today, you can find Rudy’s all over the Southwest. What makes it so good? Two words: Slow burning. Rudy’s roasts its meats over an oak flame, which is said to burn even longer than mesquite. The results are irresistible.

When you walk in Rudy’s on the West Loop 323, you will hear country music, see lots of picnic tables, and smell the sweet aroma of grilled beef. You’ll order meat by the half-pound. The cashier will repeat your order to the big guy in the back, and he’ll cut it up fresh. (Get the brisket. Seriously.) He’ll give you your cut of meat on wax paper and throw in a loaf of white bread.

If brisket isn’t your thing, there’s also Turkey Breast, Pork Loins, Chopped Beef, Ribs, Chicken and Sausage (regular and jalapeno!) With these choices, you really can’t go wrong. Grab a side, too: Potato Salad, Corn Slaw, Beans… or even a Jumbo Smoked Potato! You’ll find a wide variety of specialty barbeque sauces to slather on your makeshift sandwich at the table. Be bold and try some different flavors, including the hot stuff.

If you can, try to make your Texas experience count with your beverage also. A glass of sweat tea, a Dr. Pepper, or a cold beer would all be in order.

Finally, eat slowly. Say hi to the good folks behind the counter. Make a joke about filling up your gas tank (Rudy’s sells gas, but it’s always expensive.) And when they say, “Y’all come back now,” go ahead and admit it. Because you will.

Rank and Review Rudys BarBQ from 1 – 10 stars by clicking here

Tags: Barbecue, Barbq, Beef Ribs, Brisket, Cold Beer, Cut Of Meat, Dr Pepper, Experience Count, Flavors, Gas Tank, Grilled Beef, Hank Hill, Picnic Tables, Pork Loins, Rudy's Bar-B-Q, Rudy's General Store & Bar-B-Q, Rudy's Tyler, Sweet Aroma, Texan Food, Texas Barbecue, Texas Experience, Turkey Breast, Wax Paper, West Loop, White Bread
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Rudy’s Bar-B-Q: An Authentic Texan Experience